Cross-linked enzyme aggregates of polyethylene terephthalate hydrolyse (PETase) from Ideonella sakaiensis for the improvement of plastic degradation.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most produced plastics globally and its accumulation in the environment causes harm to the ecosystem. Polyethylene terephthalate hydrolyse (PETase) is an enzyme that can degrade PET into its monomers. However, free PETase lacks operational stabilities and is not reusable.

Simultaneous determination of tramadol and paracetamol in human plasma using LC-MS/MS and application in bioequivalence study of -fixed-dose combination.

The study aimed to develop a sensitive and high-throughput liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method to quantify concentrations of tramadol and paracetamol simultaneously in human plasma. Sample preparation involved single-step protein precipitation using methanol and two deuterated internal standards, tramadol D6 and paracetamol D4. Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 (100 × 2.

Fucoidan/chitosan layered PLGA nanoparticles with melatonin loading for inducing intestinal absorption and addressing triple-negative breast cancer progression.

Melatonin and fucoidan are naturally active compounds that have been reported to have therapeutic benefits for patients receiving cancer treatment. However, both compounds face significant challenges, including physical, chemical, and biological metabolisms in the gastrointestinal tract, which limit their ability to achieve therapeutic concentrations at the tumor site. Furthermore, the effectiveness of melatonin and fucoidan as adjuvants in vivo is influenced by the route of administration through the digestive system and their accumulation at the endpoint of the tumor.

Validating lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as a component of the PLASMIC predictive tool (PLASMIC-LDH).

Background: The PLASMIC score is a convenient tool for predicting ADAMTS13 activity of <10%. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is widely used as a marker of haemolysis in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) monitoring, and could be used as a replacement marker for lysis. We aimed to validate the PLASMIC score in a multi-centre Asia Pacific region, and to explore whether LDH could be used as a replacement marker for lysis.

A longitudinal study of physical activity among Malaysian breast cancer survivors.

Regular physical activity (PA) after a breast cancer diagnosis is associated with reduced mortality and better quality of life. In this prospective cohort study, we aimed to explore the trends of PA among breast cancer survivors over three years and identify factors associated with low PA. Interviews on 133 breast cancer patients were conducted at baseline, one and three years after the diagnosis of breast cancer at University Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Lance Adams Syndrome After Hypoxic Cardiac Arrest: A Case Report.

Lance-Adams syndrome (chronic post-hypoxic myoclonus) is a rare syndrome occurring in patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Awareness of this condition is important to distinguish it from myoclonic status epilepticus, which is a poor prognostic sign. We present the case of a 32-year-old woman who developed Lance-Adams syndrome after an episode of hypoxic cardiac arrest from severe pneumonia.

Exploring Usability and Patient Attitude towards a Smart Hospital Service with the Technology Acceptance Model.

The demand for health care has increased with the development of global technology and the rise of public health awareness, and smart service systems have also been introduced to medical care to relieve the pressure on hospital staff. However, the survey found that patients' willingness to use smart services at the time of consultation has not improved. The main research purpose of this study was to understand the willingness of patients from various groups to use smart medical service systems and to explore the influencing factors on patients' use of smart service systems in hospitals through the technology acceptance model.

Simultaneous determination of duloxetine and 4-hydroxy duloxetine glucuronide in human plasma and back-conversion study.

To develop an LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of duloxetine and its metabolite, 4-hydroxy duloxetine glucuronide (4HDG) in human plasma and to investigate the potential back-conversion of 4HDG to duloxetine using stability study. The LC-MS/MS method was validated according to the EMA and USFDA Bioanalytical Method Validation Guidelines and applied to pilot bioequivalence study. The method validation results were within the acceptance limits.

Profound Hypoxemia From Right Ventricular Failure Following Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Acute aortic dissection is a catastrophic event with high mortality rate if left untreated. Complications of aortic dissection are fairly common, and some of them increase mortality rates further, necessitating early diagnosis and treatment. We present a case of Stanford type A aortic dissection with an uncommon complication of right ventricular failure, which resulted in a rare presentation of persistent hypoxemia despite intubation and maximal ventilatory support.

Is hypotensive anaesthesia guided by invasive intraarterial monitoring required for orthognathic surgery? - A retrospective review of anaesthetic practice and intraoperative blood loss in orthognathic surgery in a tertiary hospital.

Background And Aims: Orthognathic surgeries for maxillofacial deformities are commonly performed globally and are associated with significant blood loss. This can distort the surgical field and necessitate blood transfusion with its concomitant risks. We aimed to review if invasive intraarterial (IA) line monitoring and/or hypotensive anaesthesia is required for orthognathic surgeries, and their effects on intraoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements.

Mouthpiece Noninvasive Ventilation in a Patient With Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report.

The use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been associated with improved patient satisfaction and comfort compared to tracheostomy in patients who are ventilator dependent. We present a case of a young man who fell off a platform and sustained a traumatic third and fourth cervical vertebrae (C3/4) fracture dislocation with bilateral facet dislocation, in whom a trial of mouthpiece NIV was attempted. We discuss the issues surrounding this method of ventilation in ventilator-dependent patients.

Secular trends of patients hospitalized for major osteoporotic fractures based on a national claims database.

Unlabelled: There was a reduction in the hospitalization rate for major osteoporotic fractures. As per our analysis, hospitalization for site-specific fractures showed a declining trend for hip and vertebral fractures for both the sexes. However, an increasing trend was noted in women regarding hospitalization for forearm fracture.

Tracking the early depleting transmission dynamics of COVID-19 with a time-varying SIR model.

The susceptible-infectious-removed (SIR) model offers the simplest framework to study transmission dynamics of COVID-19, however, it does not factor in its early depleting trend observed during a lockdown. We modified the SIR model to specifically simulate the early depleting transmission dynamics of COVID-19 to better predict its temporal trend in Malaysia. The classical SIR model was fitted to observed total (I total), active (I) and removed (R) cases of COVID-19 before lockdown to estimate the basic reproduction number.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) outcome for multiple myeloma in a tertiary referral centre in Malaysia.

Background: Multiple Myeloma (MM) is characterized by the presence of clonal plasma cells. These often result in complications including bone destruction, hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, and anaemia. Induction with a triplet or quadruplet regimen followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been the standard of care for transplant eligible patients to achieve durable remission.

Correction to: Intra-cluster correlation coefficients in primary care patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Simple and rapid LC-MS/MS method for determination of sitagliptin in human plasma and application to bioequivalence study.

A simple, rapid, sensitive, and reproducible liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to determine sitagliptin in human plasma. Diphenhydramine HCl was used as internal standard (IS). The chromatographic separation was achieved using Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 - Fast LC column (100 × 2.

Difficult and failed intubation in Caesarean general anaesthesia: a four-year retrospective review.

Introduction: General anaesthesia is associated with higher maternal morbidity and mortality when compared with regional anaesthesia, related mainly to failure of intubation, hypoxia and aspiration. The aim of this retrospective review was to define the incidence of failed and difficult intubation in parturients undergoing general anaesthesia for Caesarean delivery at a high-volume obstetric hospital in Singapore.

Methods: All parturients who underwent Caesarean delivery under general anaesthesia from 2013 to 2016 were identified and their medical records were reviewed to extract pertinent data.

Lung ultrasound in a Singapore COVID-19 intensive care unit patient and a review of its potential clinical utility in pandemic.

Point-of-care bedside lung ultrasound is a diagnostic adjunct in the management of respiratory diseases. We describe the clinical progress and lung ultrasound findings of a Singaporean COVID-19 intensive care unit patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. The clinical course of one COVID-19 patient managed in the intensive care unit was traced.

Intra-cluster correlation coefficients in primary care patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Introduction: There are few sources of published data on intra-cluster correlation coefficients (ICCs) amongst patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and/or hypertension in primary care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. ICC values are necessary for determining the sample sizes of cluster randomized trials. Hence, we aim to report the ICC values for a range of measures from a cluster-based interventional study conducted in Malaysia.

Non-cirrhotic hyperammonaemia: are we missing the diagnosis?

Hepatic encephalopathy secondary to hyperammonaemia is a known complication of chronic liver disease. In contrast, non-cirrhotic hyperammonaemia is a lesser-known entity that should be considered in a patient with acute encephalopathy as part of the diagnostic workup as prompt identification can help to avoid complications such as seizures and cerebral oedema. We present a case of a middle-aged woman who presented electively for a total pancreatectomy-duodenectomy with splenectomy, hepatico-jejunostomy, gastro-jejunostomy and developed encephalopathy on postoperative day 10 due to non-cirrhotic hyperammonaemia.

Schistosoma egg antigens suppress LPS-induced inflammation in human IMR-90 cells by modulation of JAK/STAT1 signaling.

Background: The regulation of the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory events during the treatment of pulmonary infection is very important. Soluble Schistosoma egg antigens (SEA) can effectively inhibit the expression of cytokines during hepatic acute inflammation. However, the mechanisms by which these proteins suppress the inflammatory responses in lung cells remain unclear.