Phylogenetic and Sequence Analyses of the Variable Region in the Glycoprotein Gene of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Isolated from Iraqi Patients.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common aetiological agent that causes respiratory infections, especially among infants. Identifying circulating RSV genotypes is an essential strategy for understanding the spread of the virus in a certain area. Sequencing the variable regions of the attachment glycoprotein (G) gene of RSV is a quick and direct approach for identifying the genotypes.

Systematic Localisation Based on History and Clinical Examination.

Localisation in neurology is an important step in determining the location of a neurological lesion based on history taking and clinical examination before confirmation with imaging. Lesions can vary from the cortical to the subcortical, brainstem, and spinal cord levels, in which every presentation and finding from the patient can provide a rough idea of where the pathology is located. A differential diagnosis can later be made according to the duration of the symptoms and the cumulative signs and symptoms presented.

Predictors of Psychosocial Functioning Among Long-stay Schizophrenia Patients in a Malaysian Mental Institution.

Background: A considerable number of schizophrenia patients still require long-term hospital care despite psychiatric deinstitutionalisation, especially in developing nations. Prolonged hospitalisation is associated with greater impairment in psychosocial functioning. This study aimed to determine the level of psychosocial functioning and its predictors among long-stay schizophrenia patients in a Malaysian mental institution.

Reflecting on Progress of the : 2023-2024.

This editorial reviews the ' performance over 2023-2024, highlighting key achievements and challenges. It aims to provide a detailed analysis of the journal's processes and identify areas for improvement.

Moving Away from the Blame Culture: The Way Forward to Manage Medical Errors.

When a medical error occurs, the instinct to blame healthcare professionals may seems like a way to ensure they learn from their mistakes. However, in today's healthcare landscape, the blame culture, coupled with the fear of litigation, proves detrimental to improving patient care. This culture fosters a reluctance among healthcare professionals to openly disclose mistakes, depriving them of valuable learning opportunities.

Global Research Trends in Cervical Cancer Survival in the Last Two Decades: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Cervical cancer poses a significant challenge to global health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Tracking the survival rates of cancer patients through data gathered by population-based cancer registries constitutes a crucial aspect of cancer management. In recent years, attention within bibliometric studies has been directed towards examining the correlation between inflammation and radiotherapy in cervical cancer.

Current Trend and Outcomes on Immunonutrition in Medical and Surgical Fields: An Updated Perspective.

Immunonutrition, which involves the targeted use of specific nutrients to enhance immune function and mitigate inflammation, has recently become a mainstay for both medical and surgical benefits. This review explores the evolution, mechanisms, and clinical applications of immunonutrition, with a focus on essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine, arginine, and vitamins. These immunonutrients modulate immune responses, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, and support tissue repair.

The Outcome of Hospital-Acquired Bloodstream Infection and Its Associated Factors in Critical Care Unit.

Background: Hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (BSI) are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. This study was conducted to describe the outcomes and the prognosis of hospital-acquired BSI in the Critical Care Unit, Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM), as well as to identify associated factors of treatment failure and mortality at 28 days.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in the Critical Care Unit of HPUSM from September 2019 to March 2021.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with a High Risk of Malnutrition among Older Adults in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Background: Older people are more susceptible to malnutrition. Malnutrition is defined as imbalances and deficiencies of nutrients that result in diminished function. However, malnutrition identification through nutrition screening is not routinely performed at Malaysian health clinics or hospitals.

The Relationship between Parental Smartphone Addiction and Preschool Children's Emotional Regulation.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between parental smartphone addiction and preschool children's emotional regulation.

Methods: A total of 818 preschool children, aged between 3 and 6 years, and their fathers and mothers were included in the study. Data were collected using the Chinese version of the Emotional Regulation Checklist and the Chinese version of the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale.

Postbiotic studies of mixed cultures of and B-5P produced b rumen producing short-chain fatty acid.

Background And Aim: Postbiotics are functional bioactive compounds or bioactive molecules with beneficial effects on health and functional activities in humans or livestock, produced by probiotic bacteria or yeast. Several postbiotics, including enzymes, short-chain fatty acids, amino acids, extracellular polysaccharides, microbial cell fragments, and teichoic acids, are currently being widely studied. This study aimed to explore the potential of secondary metabolites of and as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast isolated from Budu (fermented fish) which can act as postbiotics through rumen fermentation.

Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Borophene: Puckering Mechanism and the Role of Coordination Number.

Using the free energy of hydrogen adsorption (Δ ) as the indicator, five borophene phases are previously shown to possess high catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). On these borophene phases, we investigate the role of the coordination number (CN = 4, 5, 6) of the adsorption sites and the puckering of the adsorption site. CN is discovered to have a profound effect on the Δ distribution, charge, and puckering height () of adsorption sites.

Evening Primrose Oil for Menopause Hot Flashes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to treat hot flashes has side effects, such as an increased risk of coronary heart disease and breast cancer. There are ongoing controversies regarding the risk of ovarian cancer associated with HRT. HRT is best avoided in conditions such as liver or gallbladder disease and gastrointestinal disorders.

A time series analysis of Medicare-reimbursed telepsychiatry consultations across Australian states and territories before and after telehealth item expansion: Enabling policy can improve access to care.

Objective: We aimed to examine the associations of telepsychiatry consultations with the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth policy changes (pandemic-related expansion and subsequent consolidation).

Methods: We performed a time series analysis of MBS telepsychiatry usage (January 2016-December 2023) using state/territory-level Medicare panel data. Linear regression analyses with panel-corrected standard error and autocorrelation were performed for telepsychiatry consultations (overall and age and sex subgroups).

Chitosan-based hydrogels: A comprehensive review of transdermal drug delivery.

This article provides a comprehensive review of chitosan-based hydrogels for transdermal drug delivery. It covers various aspects including the chemical structure of chitosan and its derivatives, crosslinking agents, hydrogel morphology, and drug loading and release behaviors. The review draws on 16 studies sourced from Scopus, focusing on how the composition and structure of hydrogels influence drug release.

Profiling the broad antibody diversity of lymphatic filariasis immune antibody repertoire by deep sequencing.

Lymphatic filariasis is caused by infections of thread-like filarial worms, namely Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia Malayi and Brugia timori. However, in-depth analysis of the antibody repertoire against Lymphatic filariasis is lacking. Using high-throughput sequencing of antibody repertoires, immunome analysis of IgG (LG) and IgM (LM) repertoires were studied.

Thematic analysis of perceptions from both patients and dental students on a digital clinical decision aid in prosthodontics: A qualitative study.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the impact of utilizing an innovative and comprehensive patient-centered digital clinical decision aid designed to facilitate shared decision-making in missing tooth replacement between dental students and their patients.

Methods: A qualitative study using interview approach was conducted in Hong Kong SAR and Malaysia. Thirty dental undergraduate students, each with one patient from the Faculty of Dentistry at The University of Hong Kong (n = 15) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (n = 15), were introduced to a digitally designed decision aid in missing tooth replacement prior to their treatment appointments.

A modelling technique to determine the high frequency transformer leakage inductance using the winding structure.

The operation and efficiency of isolated DC-DC converters, critical components in solid-state transformers, are significantly impacted by leakage inductance in high-frequency transformers (HFTs). Different converters have varying demands regarding leakage inductance, ranging from precise control to minimal inductance. For instance, the performance of bidirectional isolated converters (BIDCs) and resonant converters is dependent on leakage inductance for the delivery of power.

Swarm-initialized adaptive controller with beetle antenna searching of wearable lower limb exoskeleton for sit-to-stand and walking motions.

In recent years, exoskeleton robots have attracted great interest from researchers in the area of robotics due to their ability to assist human functionality improvement. A wearable lower limb exoskeleton is aimed at supporting the limb functionality rehabilitation process and to assist physical therapists. Development of a stable and robust control system for multi-joint rehabilitation robots is a challenging task due to their non-linear dynamic systems.

Appendicectomy versus antibiotics for acute uncomplicated appendicitis in children: an open-label, international, multicentre, randomised, non-inferiority trial.

Background: Support for the treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis with non-operative management rather than surgery has been increasing in the literature. We aimed to investigate whether treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis with antibiotics in children is inferior to appendicectomy by comparing failure rates for the two treatments.

Methods: In this pragmatic, multicentre, parallel-group, unmasked, randomised, non-inferiority trial, children aged 5-16 years with suspected non-perforated appendicitis (based on clinical diagnosis with or without radiological diagnosis) were recruited from 11 children's hospitals in Canada, the USA, Finland, Sweden, and Singapore.

Assessment of Outcomes & Anatomical Changes in the Upper Urinary Tract following Flexible Ureteroscopy with a Flexible and Navigable Suction Ureteral Access Sheath (FANS): 3-Month Results from a Multicenter Study.

Objectives: To study the long-term outcomes of the flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS) in flexible ureteroscopy (FURS). FANS has well-established efficiency and 30-day perioperative safety; however, its influence on pelvicalyceal and ureteric anatomy remains to be investigated.

Methods: This was a prospective study of patients with normal renal anatomy who underwent FURS with FANS for renal stones from April 2023 to August 2024 in 16 centers worldwide.

Understanding the structural and functional diversity of ATP-PPases using protein domains and functional families in the CATH database.

ATP-pyrophosphatases (ATP-PPases) are the most primordial lineage of the large and diverse HUP (high-motif proteins, universal stress proteins, ATP-pyrophosphatase) superfamily. There are four different ATP-PPase substrate-specificity groups (SSGs), and members of each group show considerable sequence variation across the domains of life despite sharing the same catalytic function. Owing to the expansion in the number of ATP-PPase domain structures from advances in protein structure prediction by AlphaFold2 (AF2), we have characterized the two most populated ATP-PPase SSGs, the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthases (NADSs) and guanosine monophosphate synthases (GMPSs).

Drug repurposing using artificial intelligence, molecular docking, and hybrid approaches: A comprehensive review in general diseases vs Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent form of dementia, remains enigmatic in its origins despite the widely accepted "amyloid hypothesis," which implicates amyloid-beta peptide aggregates in its pathogenesis and progression. Despite advancements in technology and healthcare, the incidence of AD continues to rise. The traditional drug development process remains time-consuming, often taking years to bring an AD treatment to market.

Advancements and prospects of molecularly imprinted polymers as chemical sensors: A comprehensive review.

The scientific literature on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) has grown significantly in the past decades, reflecting an increasing interest in their potential applications. MIPs are valued for their ability to selectively detect a broad range of analytes and mimic biological recognition in different environmental conditions. This review utilises data (Scopus data from 2010 to 2024) from a bibliometric visualisation with VOSviewer (version 1.