Psychometric properties of the environmental factors' questionnaire for undergraduate medical students taking online learning during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Environmental factors are important for students' learning during online classes, especially during a pandemic, such as COVID-19. This study aimed to validate the environmental factors' questionnaire during online learning.

Methods: A total of 218 undergraduate medical students at the Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, participated in a cross-sectional study that involved an online survey.

Supradiaphragmatic central venous catheter malposition detection using the parasternal long-axis echocardiographic view and dextrose 50% contrast solution: A pilot study.

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) using saline was studied to detect supradiaphragmatic central venous catheter malposition. Commonly used echocardiographic views are apical 4-chamber (A4c) and subcostal views. However, this standard method is not feasible in certain situations.

Predictors of Repeat Cesarean Section in Women with One Previous Lower Segment Cesarean Section: A Retrospective Study from Malaysia.

Background: The rates of repeat cesarean section (CS) among women with previous CS are increasing worldwide. The predictors of a repeat CS can vary across different populations.

Objective: To determine the predictors of repeat CS among women from Malaysia with one previous lower segment CS (LSCS) who underwent trial of labor (TOLAC).

Master of Science in Medical Statistics Programme at Universiti Sains Malaysia: 20 Years Ongoing.

Health and medical research are important parts of the curriculum of medical and health programmes in universities and play an important role in the functioning of organisations related to health care. There is a shortage of well-trained health and medical research statisticians. This article describes the courses and structure of the Master of Science in Medical Statistics programme at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), as well as the graduates' achievements.

Factors affecting central macular thickness of diabetic macular oedema patients after an induction treatment of intravitreal ranibizumab.

Objective: Intravitreal ranibizumab is one of the anti-vascular endothelial growth factors used for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema, not always successfully. We aimed to identify the factors affecting the changes of central macular thickness after induction treatment with intravitreal ranibizumab, to predict the treatment effect and facilitate early treatment decisions.

Methods: Cross-sectional study involving a retrospective record review of diabetic macular oedema patients who received an induction treatment of three monthly 0.

Structural Relationships between Environmental Factors, Psychological Health, and Academic Performance in Medical Students Engaged in Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and the enforced quarantine, universities in Malaysia were required to switch to an online class format. The resulting changes in the environmental factors of students may have had an impact on their psychological health and academic performance. This study aimed to determine the effects of environmental factors and the psychological health of students and examine their structural relationship with academic performance.

Endocan-microvascular Density in Primary Ovarian Carcinoma.

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer is among the leading causes of death in women and is driven by angiogenesis. Microvascular density (MVD) can be used to evaluate angiogenesis in carcinomas and thus it can be used as a potential biomarker for ovarian cancer. This study is aimed to establish the association between endocan-MVD with clinicopathological factors in primary epithelial ovarian cancer.

Evaluation of TNF-α and IL-6 in saliva among diabetic retinopathy patients in East Coast Malaysia.

Objective: To compare tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in saliva between different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2018 and November 2020. This study included diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with no DR, non-proliferative DR (NPDR), and proliferative DR (PDR).

Evaluation of Cyclooxygenase-2 and p53 Expression in Pterygium Tissue Following Preoperative Intralesional Ranibizumab Injection.

Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and p53 are the postulated aetiopathogenesis in pterygium. VEGF is responsible for the induction of COX-2 expression, whereas p53 plays an important role in the regulation of VEGF. This study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemistry of COX-2 and p53 expressions from excised pterygium tissue from patients who received intralesional ranibizumab (anti-VEGF) injection 2 weeks prior to pterygium surgery.

The Validity and Reliability of the Malay Version of the Cyberbullying Scale among Secondary School Adolescents in Malaysia.

The effect of cyberbullying among adolescents in Malaysia is not much studied. The Cyberbullying Scale (CBS) has been validated to be used among English speaking adolescents to measure cyberbullying but not in Malay language. Therefore, its validity should be established before use in the Malaysian context.

BRAF V600E and Mismatch Repair Proteins Expression in Sporadic Young-onset Colorectal Cancer in Kelantan, Malaysia.

Objectives: We sought to determine the immunohistochemistry expression of mismatch repair (MMR) and BRAF V600E proteins in sporadic young-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) and their association with clinicopathological features in the Kelantan population.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of sporadic young-onset CRC over 11 years from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2017 in Kelantan. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies for MMR (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2) and BRAF V600E.

Survival and Prognostic Factors of HIV-positive Patients after Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation at a Malaysian Referral Hospital.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and significantly improved survival rates, but there is lack of such survival data from Malaysia.

Objective: The objective was to determine the survival rates and prognostic factors of survival in HIV-infected adults treated with ART in Malaysia.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study considered all HIV-positive adult patients registered in Sungai Buloh Hospital, a major referral center in Malaysia, between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2016.

Association between secondhand smoke exposure at home and cognitive performance among rural primary school children in Malaysia.

Introduction: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is linked to a series of serious health problems. Children may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of SHS exposure at home. This study aimed to determine the association between SHS exposure at home and cognitive performance in school children.

Foetal and maternal outcomes in hyperuricaemia pre-eclampsia patients in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Preeclampsia patients have frequently been found to experience hyperuricaemia and this may result in poor outcomes compared to those with normal uric acid levels. This study aimed to determine the relationship of hyperuricaemia in pre-eclampsia patients with foetal and maternal outcomes. This prospective cohort study involved 79 patients in a tertiary centre from year 2016 to 2018.

Survival Time of Visual Gains after Diabetic Vitrectomy and Its Relationship with Ischemic Heart Disease.

Vitrectomy surgery in proliferative diabetic retinopathy improves the vision-related quality of life. However, there is lack of data on the duration of maintenance of visual gains post vitrectomy. This study thus aimed to determine the survival time of visual gains and the prognostic factors of vision loss after vitrectomy surgery for complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Associated factors of dialysis-dependence among acute kidney injury patients in intensive care unit.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common problem in hospitals and many end up requiring dialysis. The aim was to identify the associated factors of dialysis-dependent of AKI patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs). A retrospective cohort study was conducted where a list of 121 AKI patients admitted to ICU in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia was retrospectively reviewed.

Evaluation of vascular endothelial growth factor levels in tears and serum among diabetic patients.

Objective: Detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in ocular tissue may perhaps provide insight into the role of VEGF in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of VEGF in tears and serum amongst type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2016 and May 2018 involving type 2 DM patients with no DR, non-proliferative DR (NPDR), and proliferative DR (PDR).

Effect of physical activity on severity of primary angle closure glaucoma.

Objective: To determine the association between physical activity and severity of primary angle closure glaucoma in Malay patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 150 primary angle closure glaucoma patients between April 2014 and August 2016. Using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the physical activity status was assessed and divided into three categories: mild, moderate and heavy physical activity.

Evaluation of Optic Nerve Head Parameters, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness, and Ocular Perfusion Pressure in Migraine Patients.

Background Neurovascular changes occur during the migraine is believed to cause alteration in cerebral and retinal circulation that possible result in damage to the brain and even retina or optic nerve. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurement can be used as an index to assess ganglion cell and retinal nerve fiber damages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the optic nerve head (ONH) parameters, RNFL thickness, and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) in migraine patients.

Validation of Malay Version of Body Self- Image Questionnaire-Short Form among Malaysian Young Adults.

Background: Body self-image questionnaire-short form (BSIQ-SF) is developed to measure body image perceptions. Due to the cultural, language and environmental differences between western and eastern population, the validity and reliability need to be established. The aim of this study was to determine validity and reliability of Malay version BSIQ-SF.

Acute kidney injury in intensive care unit, hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia: A descriptive study.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) was frequently encountered complication among intensive care unit (ICU) patients and recognized as a major public health problem. The present study aimed to determine the basic features of AKI patients admitted to ICU. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 106 AKI patients admitted to ICU, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from January 1, 2007 until the end of December 2013.

Prognostic factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients in a tertiary referral hospital: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) exhibits a distinctive racial and geographic distribution. Many studies have reported varied significant prognostic factors affect the survival of NPC patients. Hence, this current study aimed to identify the prognostic factors of NPC patients registered in a tertiary referral hospital.

Median Survival Time of Endometrial Cancer Patients with Lymphovascular Invasion at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Background: Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecologic malignancy among females worldwide. The purpose of this study was to determine the median survival time of endometrial cancer patients at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Methods: A list of 121 endometrial cancer cases registered at Hospital USM between 2000 until 2011 was retrospectively reviewed.