Expressed emotion and help-seeking behaviours among elderly adults with depression symptoms in northeast Malaysia: qualitative findings from a mixed methods investigation.

Background: Stressful life events greatly increase the risk of depression, which affects about 22% of older persons in northeast Malaysia. But how emotional distress manifests itself in reaction to these stressful events differs from person to person. Therefore, this study aims to delve into the nuances of emotional expression among older adults with depression symptoms in northeast Malaysia, alongside their help-seeking behaviours and utilisation of professional support.

The rate of blood culture contamination and common organisms isolated in Malaysian public hospitals.

Introduction: Blood culture contamination remains a dilemma issue in the diagnosis of bloodstream infection. However, to date, there is no national data on blood culture contamination and the common organism isolated in Malaysia. This is a pioneer multi-centre study involving public hospitals with medical microbiologists in Malaysia to determine the blood culture contamination rate and the common organism isolated.

Spontaneous ruptured pyomyoma: A rare yet critical postpartum complication: A case report.

Pyomyoma, a rare complication of leiomyoma, presents a unique clinical challenge due to its infrequency with potentially fatal complications. Herein, we report the case of a 44-year-old Para 3+1 woman with red degeneration of uterine fibroids during pregnancy, who experienced worsening abdominal pain and foul smelling vaginal discharge 1 week post Caesarean section. Despite hemodynamic stability, her septic markers were markedly raised.

Technology-Based Strategy to Improve Medication Compliance Among Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders.

Introduction: Non-compliance to medications remains a challenging problem in schizophrenia. Newer strategies with high feasibility and acceptability are always being researched. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of technology-based intervention in improving medication compliance in individuals with schizophrenia.

Validation of the Malay Translation of Drug Attitude Inventory.

Introduction: The Drug Attitude Inventory 9 (DAI-9) is a nine-item self-rated questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed positive and negative attitudes of patients toward taking medication, presence of medication side effects and perceived autonomy in treatment decision. Aim This study aimed to validate the psychometric properties of the Malay translation of Drug Attitude Inventory 9 (MDAI-9).

Psychometric Properties of the Malay Translation of the Medication Adherence Rating Scale.

Introduction: The Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) is a self-rated questionnaire that assesses medication compliance.

Aim: This study aimed to validate the Malaysian language translation of the MARS (MARS-M).

Method: The original scale was translated to Malay via forward and backward translation process.

Utilizing medical thoracoscopy for the diagnosis of myelomatous pleural effusion: 2 case reports.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by neoplastic proliferation of monoclonal antibody producing plasma cells. In clinical practice, pleural effusion is seen in up to 6% of MM patients, with many causative factors. Nevertheless, true myelomatous pleural effusion, defined as infiltration of the pleura by myeloma cells, is very rare.

Rare Encounter of Cerebral Fat Embolism Post Motor Vehicle Accident: A Case Report.

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is known to occur when fat macroglobules get embolized into the blood circulation, whereby they then get dispersed out to multiple organs including the brain. It's typically diagnosed when the patient sustains a neurological dysfunction, respiratory insufficiency, and petechial rash, the classical triad of FES. Cerebral fat embolism occurrence is rarely seen.

Association between childhood trauma, intimate partner violence, and perceived parental competence among women abusing amphetamine-type stimulant.

Introduction: This cross-sectional study examines the correlation between childhood trauma, intimate partner violence (IPV), and parenting self-efficacy among women who reported using amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) in an institutional drug rehabilitation center.

Methods: A total of 106 participants were recruited by purposive sampling, of which 88 were mothers. Questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic data and study variables.

Ertapenem-induced neurotoxicity in an end-stage renal disease patient on intermittent haemodialysis: a case report.

Background: Carbapenem-induced neurotoxicity is an unusual side effect, with seizure being the most commonly reported symptom. Among the carbapenems, imipenem-cilastin is classically associated with the most severe neurotoxicity side effects. Carbapenem is mainly excreted by the kidney and its half-life is significantly increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Use of Psychotropic "Pro Re Nata" Medications by Patients Attending the Outpatient Clinic in a Hospital: A Qualitative Exploration.

Administration of psychotropic (PRN) medications is influenced by diverse factors such as legal use of PRN medications, the attitude of patients, personal bias, and stigma toward such medication use. While PRN prescriptions increase the efficiency of care and encourage patients to participate in self-care, the use of psychotropic PRN medications by outpatients has raised concerns about its risks of harm, especially for the outpatients. This study explored the use of psychotropic PRN medications by patients attending the outpatient clinic in a hospital.

Psychometric Properties of the Malay Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF-M): Evidence from a Sample of Malaysian Undergraduates.

In recent years, increased interest in Internet Gaming Disorder has led to the development of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form. Translation and subsequent validation of such a scale are important for cross-cultural use. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties (factor structure, reliability, and validity) of the Malay Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form using a sample of Malaysian undergraduates.

Topical mitomycin-C as an adjuvant to multimodal endoscopic treatment for tracheobronchial stenosis secondary to endobronchial tuberculosis.

Tracheobronchial stenosis secondary to endobronchial tuberculosis (TSTB) is a rare but debilitating complication of endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB). Topical mitomycin-C (TMC) has been successfully utilized to restore airway patency and to prevent recurrence of TSTB, although little is known about its exact efficacy. Here, we report the biggest case series to date involving seven patients who received TMC as part of multimodality endoscopic treatment for TSTB with varying levels of success.

Pulmonary mucormycosis masquerading as endobronchial tumour in an immunocompetent pregnant young lady.

Pulmonary mucormycosis is a rare but rapidly progressing and life-threatening fungal infection, usually affecting immunocompromised patients. We report a case of a previously healthy young lady who presented with prolonged cough, weight loss, and haemoptysis. Imaging showed left hilar mass with infiltration into the left main bronchus and concurrent mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Conservative management of airway tear as a complication of silicone endobronchial stenting in bronchomalacia secondary to endobronchial tuberculosis.

Tracheobronchial stenosis due to tuberculosis (TSTB) is a potentially debilitating complication of endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB). Endobronchial interventions including silicone stent insertion is an acceptable approach to improve quality of life among patients with TSTB. However, little is known about the optimal management strategy for patients with bronchomalacia secondary to EBTB (B-EBTB) and whether stent-related complication rates are higher among this group of patients.

Index of suspicion with appropriate timing of CT scan helps prevent missed diagnosis in urologic trauma.

Ureteric and bladder injuries are uncommon, difficult to diagnose and rarely occur in isolation. Diagnosis is often delayed or missed at presentation. Therefore, high clinical suspicion and appropriate timing of computed tomography (CT) are of paramount importance.

Management of T1DM in children and adolescents in primary care.

The Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Children & Adolescents was developed by a multidisciplinary development group and approved by the Ministry of Health Malaysia in 2015. A systematic review of 15 clinical questions was conducted using the evidence retrieved mainly from MEDLINE and Cochrane databases. Critical appraisal was done using the Critical Appraisal Skills.

Hospital-based community psychiatric service for patients with schizophrenia in Kuala Lumpur: a 1-year follow-up study of re-hospitalization.

Introduction: Hospital-based community psychiatric service (HCPS) is a developing intervention in Malaysia targeted for patients with severe mental illnesses (SMIs). Its effectiveness had not been systematically measured. This study aimed to assess the outcome of HCPS with respect to re-hospitalization and factors associated with low re-hospitalization among patients with schizophrenia in the metropolitan city of Kuala Lumpur.

Functional remission and employment among patients with schizophrenia in Malaysia.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the rates of functional remission and employment as well as the factors associated with functional remission among patients with Schizophrenia, receiving community psychiatric service in an urban setting in Malaysia.

Methods: From a total of 250 patients randomly selected, 155 fulfilled the study requirement and were assessed on their functional remission status using the Personal and Social Performance Scale. The relationships between functional remission and socio-demographic factors, clinical factors, social support, symptom remission and rates of hospitalization were examined.