Ramadan fasting in people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) during the COVID-19 pandemic: The DaR global survey.

Background And Aims: The DaR Global survey was conducted to observe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the intentions to fast and the outcomes of fasting in people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: Muslim people with diabetes and CKD were surveyed in 13 countries shortly after the end of Ramadan 2020, using a simple Survey Monkey questionnaire.

Results: This survey recruited 6736 people with diabetes, of which 707 (10.

Patient Characteristics, Disease Burden, Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in Patients with Acromegaly: Real-World Evidence from the Malaysian Acromegaly Registry.

Objective: This study aims to report the demographic features of patients with acromegaly, the disease burden, and the corresponding treatment patterns and outcomes in Malaysia.

Methodology: This is a retrospective study that included patients from the Malaysian Acromegaly registry who were diagnosed with acromegaly from 1970 onwards. Data collected included patient demographics, clinical manifestations of acromegaly, biochemical results and imaging findings.

Cardiometabolic risk factors among children who are affected by overweight, obesity and severe obesity.

Background: The increasing severity of obesity is expected to lead to more serious health effects. However, there is limited information on the prevalence and clinical characteristics of cardiometabolic risk factors in severely children affected by obesity in Malaysia. This baseline study aimed to investigate the prevalence of these factors and their association with obesity status among young children.

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (NAM) related to SARS-Cov-2 infection: a case report.

Background: There is a growing body of evidence that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) or COVID-19 infection is associated with the development of autoimmune diseases. A recent systematic review reported that the new-onset autoimmune disorders during or after COVID-19 infection included inflammatory myopathies such as immune-mediated necrotizing myopathies.

Case Presentation: We described a 60-year-old man diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and later presented with a two-week history of myalgia, progressive limb weakness, and dysphagia.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of patients towards orthodontic treatment.

Background: Orthodontic treatment is a time-consuming and highly technique-sensitive clinical procedure. A patient's comprehension and compliance with oral hygiene instructions and appliance maintenance are critical to the success of orthodontic treatment. This study was performed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of patients seen at government orthodontic clinics in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya towards orthodontic treatment.

Parental Factors Associated with Child or Adolescent Medication Adherence: A Systematic Review.

Medication adherence, especially among children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders, is often seen as a major treatment challenge. The purpose of this study is to systematically review studies addressing specific aspects of parental factors that are positively or negatively associated with medication adherence among children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. A systematic literature search of English language publications, from inception through December 2021, was conducted from PubMed, Scopus, and MEDLINE databases.

Clinical Spasticity Assessment Assisted by Machine Learning Methods and Rule-Based Decision.

The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) is commonly used to assess spasticity in clinics. The qualitative description of MAS has resulted in ambiguity during spasticity assessment. This work supports spasticity assessment by providing measurement data acquired from wireless wearable sensors, i.

Use of Combination of Oral Levothyroxine and Liothyronine in Severe Hypothyroidism With Massive Pericardial Effusion.

Thyroid hormone plays an important role in cardiovascular function. Pericardial effusions are commonly seen in cases of severe hypothyroidism. However, large to massive pericardial effusions with cardiac tamponade are exceptionally rare.

Glycaemic Changes Among Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Before and During Ramadan Fasting Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring.

Objectives: This study described and compared glycaemic changes with the use of the following Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) metrics: time in range, time in hyperglycaemia and time in hypoglycaemia from retrospective CGM data among children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), before and during Ramadan to better understand the impact of fasting during this season.

Methodology: This study was conducted in 2 tertiary centres: Hospital Putrajaya (HPJ) and Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) from February to May 2020. Muslim T1DM patients between ages 8 to18 who intended to fast during Ramadan were given Ramadan-focused education.

Caregiver Burden among Caregivers of Patients with Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Due to the increasing importance of caregivers in the treatment outcomes of patients with mental illness, this study aimed to systematically review studies investigating the former's caregiver burden and determine its prevalence. An open search, without filters, was conducted. Articles were selected from Medline, Scopus, and PubMed from inception to 30 April 2022 using the PRISMA protocol.

Fenofibrate for the prevention of progression of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy: review, consensus recommendations and guidance for clinical practice.

The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and associated morbidity is high in the Asia-Pacific region. Emerging evidence suggests a potential role for fenofibrate in the prevention of progression of DR, especially in patients with cardiovascular risk, and pre-existing mild-to-moderate DR. Fenofibrate has also been found to reduce maculopathy, and the need for laser treatment in these patients.

Effect of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes during Ramadan on volume status, ketonaemia, and hypoglycaemia.

Background And Aims: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) carry higher risk of glycaemic variability during Ramadan. Glucose-lowering medications such as SGLT2 inhibitors are also associated with genitourinary infection, acute kidney injury, and euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis. Limited data is available on the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on T2D patients during Ramadan.

Clinical characteristics, management, and quality of life of psoriasis patients with coexistent lupus erythematosus: Data from the Malaysian Psoriasis Registry.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics, management and quality of life of psoriasis patients with and without coexistent lupus erythematosus (LE).

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study uses data from the Malaysian Psoriasis Registry (MPR) from January 2007 to December 2018.

Results: Of 21 735 psoriasis patients, 34 (0.

The Associations of Breastfeeding and Postnatal Experiences With Postpartum Depression Among Mothers of Hospitalized Infants in Tertiary Hospitals.

Background Postpartum depression has been linked to undesirable outcomes for mother-infant dyads, interfering with childcare and breastfeeding practices. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among mothers during the postpartum period and its association with breastfeeding and postpartum experiences. Methodology This cross-sectional study involved mothers of hospitalized infants (n = 219) at two tertiary hospitals in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

A Case Series of Spinal Infections Following COVID-19: A Delayed Complication.

Spinal infection in the form of tuberculous vertebral osteomyelitis or pyogenic spondylodiscitis is a commonly associated state of an immunodeficient host from various pathologies. For example, secondary infections can be seen following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We report three cases of different forms of spinal infections that occurred as delayed complications to recent COVID-19 infection.

Validation of the Malay Version of the Decisional Balance Inventory (MDBI) among secondary school-going adolescents.

Introduction: The Decisional Balance Inventory is a tool used to measure propensity to maintain or change a habit which takes into consideration the perceived advantages and disadvantages. This study aimed to establish the validity and reliability of a Malay language version of the DBI for assessing inclination for change in smoking behavior among secondary school-going adolescents in Malaysia.

Methods: We administered the MDBI to 669 secondary school students selected through multistage sampling.

A rare case of a mother with gestational diabetes complicated with fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus post-delivery.

Fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (FT1DM) is recognised as a novel subtype of type 1 diabetes mellitus characterised by the abrupt onset of insulin-deficient hyperglycaemia and ketoacidosis. Fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus is known to be associated with pregnancy and had been associated with high fetal mortality. We report a case of a gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) mother complicated with FT1DM immediately post-delivery.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of metabolically healthy obese versus metabolically unhealthy obese school children.

Introduction: Children with obesity in the absence of traditional cardiometabolic risk factors (CRF) have been described as metabolically healthy obese (MHO). Children with MHO phenotype has a favorable metabolic profile with normal glucose metabolism, lipids, and blood pressure compared to children with metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) phenotype. This study aimed to compare several parameters related to obesity between these two groups and to examine the predictors associated with the MHO phenotype.

Genetic Biomarkers as Predictors of Response to Tocilizumab in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a lifelong, debilitating disease which incredibly impacts a patient's quality of life if not treated to the optimal target. The clinical response of tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitor, is associated with several gene polymorphisms, particularly targeting the IL-6 pathway. This systematic review and meta-analysis seeks to investigate genetic biomarkers that predict the treatment outcome of tocilizumab therapy in RA patients.

Study protocol on risk factors for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus in different trimesters and their relation to maternal and neonatal outcomes (GDM-RIDMAN).

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is often associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the association of risk factors with GDM diagnosis, maternal and neonatal health outcomes is less established when compared with women without GDM. We aim to examine the diagnostic accuracy of the conventional and novel risk factors for a GDM diagnosis and their impact on maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

Effect of UV-C germicidal irradiation (UVGI) on the structural integrity of N95 and KN95 respirators.

This study focuses on reprocessing a group of filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). The aim is to explore the possibility of disinfecting selected KN95 FFRs, in comparison with the N95 FFRs, and assess their viability for reusage. For this purpose, five models of unused N95 and KN95 FFR models obtained from the hospital were exposed to UV-C light using a customized UVGI chamber.

Correlates of dual/poly tobacco use among school-going adolescents in Malaysia: Findings from a nationwide school-based study.

Introduction: Dual/poly tobacco use is common among youths globally. However, in Malaysia information on dual/poly tobacco use is scarce, thus the present study examines the prevalence and factors associated with dual/poly tobacco users among school-going adolescents in Malaysia.

Methods: We derived data on tobacco and e-cigarette use among Malaysian adolescents from a nationwide school-based study conducted in 2016.

Assessment of association between smoking and all-cause mortality among Malaysian adult population: Findings from a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Smoking is a known risk factor for many chronic diseases. Illness and death due to smoking are a significant public health burden in many countries. This study aims to address the information gap in smoking-related mortality in Malaysia by estimating the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortalities due to smoking among Malaysian adults.

Anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis after COVID-19 vaccination: a case-based review.

Anti-MDA5 (Melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5) myositis is a rare subtype of dermatomyositis (DM) characterized by distinct ulcerative, erythematous cutaneous lesions and a high risk of rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD). It has been shown that SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) replicates rapidly in lung and skin epithelial cells, which is sensed by the cytosolic RNA-sensor MDA5. MDA5 then triggers type 1 interferon (IFN) production, and thus downstream inflammatory mediators (EMBO J 40(15):e107826, 2021); (J Virol, 2021, https://doi.