Unveiling TIMPs: A Systematic Review of Their Role as Biomarkers in Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death globally and is a heart condition involving insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to atherosclerotic plaque formation. Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease in which plaques, made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances, build up on the inner walls of arteries. Recently, there has been growing interest in finding reliable biomarkers to understand the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis.

Smoking and Unstable Plaque in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systematic Review of The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases.

Smoking is a risk factor of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) that could increase matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) levels, leading to unstable coronary artery plaque. The current review aimed to identify the relationship between smoking and MMPs in patients with ACS. Literature search was conducted from inception until March 2022 in three online databases.

Biomarkers for Premature Coronary Artery Disease (PCAD): A Case Control Study.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is often associated with the older generation. However, in recent years, there is an increasing trend in the prevalence of CAD among the younger population; this is known as premature CAD. Although biomarkers for CAD have been established, there are limited studies focusing on premature CAD especially among the Malay male population.

Brief Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy and Its Effects on Negative and Positive Emotions Among Healthy Working Adults: A Feasibility Study.

Background: The primary purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of a short-term virtual reality exposure therapy among healthy working adults sample. The secondary aim is to measure the effect of virtual reality exposure therapy on negative and positive emotions by comparing it to the standard stress management program and the wait-list groups.

Methods: We enrolled 67 participants allocated into 3 groups to receive virtual reality exposure therapy, standard stress management, or wait-list group.

Phosphate Dysregulation and Metabolic Syndrome.

Phosphorus is one of the most abundant minerals in the human body. It is essential for almost all biochemical activities through ATP formation, intracellular signal transduction, cell membrane formation, bone mineralization, DNA and RNA synthesis, and inflammation modulation through various inflammatory cytokines. Phosphorus levels must be optimally regulated, as any deviations may lead to substantial derangements in glucose homeostasis.

Microwave Synthesis of Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoparticles Using Response Surface Methodology for Tribological Application.

We used response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD) model to optimize the synthesis time and temperature of the molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanoparticles using the flexiWAVE microwave. Furthermore, the synthesized MoS nanoparticles were used in SAE 20W50 diesel engine oil to study the tribological properties according to ASTM standards using a four-ball tribotester. The optimization result shows that the synthesis temperature and time for the MoS nanoparticles in the microwave were ~200 °C and ~15 min, respectively, with a coefficient of friction (COF) and average wear scar diameter (WSD) of 0.

Domperidone Use as a Galactagogue and Infanticide Ideation: A Case Report.

Domperidone is an antiemetic that is commonly used as an off-label prescription to induce lactation. Neuropsychiatric adverse effects of domperidone such as akathisia and depression are previously described. It has never been reported to be associated with infanticide ideation.

Magnetic exposure using Samarium Cobalt (SmC) increased proliferation and stemness of human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hUC-MSCs).

Despite the extensive reports on the potential hazard of magnetic field (MF) exposures on humans, there are also concurrently reported on the improved proliferative property of stem cells at optimum exposure. However, the effect on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of induced static MF (SMF) on human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) using Samarium Cobalt (SmCO5).

The Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associated Factors among Older Persons: Findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015.

Background: There is limited evidence on the association of anemia with chronic diseases and disabilities among older persons in Malaysia. We assessed the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among community-dwelling older persons.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using data from the nationwide National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015 (NHMS 2015) on the health of older adults conducted by the Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Malaysia.

Targeting Specific Checkpoints in the Management of SARS-CoV-2 Induced Cytokine Storm.

COVID-19-infected patients require an intact immune system to suppress viral replication and prevent complications. However, the complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection that led to death were linked to the overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines known as cytokine storm syndrome. This article reported the various checkpoints targeted to manage the SARS-CoV-2-induced cytokine storm.

Electromagnetic field exposure as a plausible approach to enhance the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in clinically relevant scenarios.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)‍-based therapy has been regarded as one of the most revolutionary breakthroughs in the history of modern medicine owing to its myriad of immunoregulatory and regenerative properties. With the rapid progress in the fields of osteo- and musculoskeletal therapies, the demand for MSC-based treatment modalities is becoming increasingly prominent. In this endeavor, researchers around the world have devised new and innovative techniques to support the proliferation of MSCs while minimizing the loss of hallmark features of stem cells.

Prevalence and factors associated with multimorbidity among older adults in Malaysia: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with multimorbidity among community-dwelling older adults in Malaysia.

Design: A population-based cross-sectional study.

Setting: 13 states and 3 Federal Territories in Malaysia.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors among older people: Data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015.

Study on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and their prevalence among the older people in Malaysia is limited. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with CVD risk factors using the non-laboratory Framingham Generalized 10-Year CVD risk score among older people in Malaysia. This was a population-based cross-sectional study using data of 3,375 participants aged ≥60 years from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015.

Hits and misses of Bangladesh National Health Policy 2011.

National Health Policy (NHP) is a guiding principle for a country to identify the priority of health-care needs, resource allocations according to prioritization, and to achieve specific health-care goals. In addition, NHP is usually wide-ranging, all-inclusive plan that pursues each and every population to move on the road to better health. NHP targets to achieve universal health coverage and delivering quality health-care services to all at inexpensive cost, through a preemptive, protective, and prophylactic health-care program in all national and international developmental policy and planning.

Antibiotic resistance and sensitivity pattern of Metallo-β-Lactamase Producing Gram-Negative Bacilli in ventilator-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit of a public medical school hospital in Bangladesh.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection in intensive care units (ICU), accounting for 25% of all ICU infections. Antimicrobial resistance is increasing and becoming a significant health problem worldwide, increasing hospital length of stay, mortality and costs. Identifying antibiotic resistance patterns in VAP is important as this can cause outbreaks in ICUs.

Deferasirox in thalassemia: a comparative study between an innovator drug and its copy among a sample of Iraqi patients.

Background: The health care industry is witnessing an increasing trend in the use of generic medicines because of their presumed low cost compared with innovator medicines. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the performance of the copy drug Osveral and its innovator drug deferasirox (Exjade).

Methods: A prospective observational study including 223 patients receiving the branded medicine Exjade and 101 patients receiving the copy Osveral was carried out.

Perceptions of medical students regarding community-based teaching experiences: an observation from Bangladesh.

Introduction: Community orientation in medical education, which prepares medical students to become more effective practitioners, is now a global movement. Many medical schools around the world have adopted the concept as the main curricular framework in order to align learning programs with the needs of the community and the learner. Despite many changes over the past few decades, many improvements are still needed in medical education in Bangladesh.

The ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic gastrointestinal microorganisms - an appraisal.

The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a vast population of bacteria, numbering ~100 trillion. These microorganisms have been shown to play a significant role in digestion, metabolism, and the immune system. The aim of this study was to review and discuss how the human body interacts with its gut microbiome and in turn the effects that the microorganisms have on its host, overall resulting in a true mutualistic relationship.

Cognizance and utilization about breast cancer screening among the health professional female students and staffs of University Kuala Lumpur, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Malaysia.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a major life-threatening problem and a global concern including Malaysia. BC is an equal threat for both developing and developed countries. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between sociodemographic factors with knowledge, attitude, and perception on BC screening among the females of University Kuala Lumpur, Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP).

Internet use and addiction among medical students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia.

Background: The use of Internet has now become indispensable, and the technology has revolutionized the medical education and practice worldwide. Currently, medical students and professionals have an enormous opportunity to keep them always updated with the exponential growth of knowledge because of potential progression of Internet throughout the world that enables them to become a lifelong learner. Internet addiction is a widespread phenomenon among students and academicians at universities in Malaysia.

Effectiveness of the EMPOWER-PAR Intervention in Improving Clinical Outcomes of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Primary Care: A Pragmatic Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: The chronic care model was proven effective in improving clinical outcomes of diabetes in developed countries. However, evidence in developing countries is scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of EMPOWER-PAR intervention (based on the chronic care model) in improving clinical outcomes for type 2 diabetes mellitus using readily available resources in the Malaysian public primary care setting.

Emotional maturity of medical students impacting their adult learning skills in a newly established public medical school at the east coast of Malaysian Peninsula.

Emotional maturity (EM) is defined as the ability of an individual to respond to situations, control emotions, and behave in an adult manner when dealing with others. EM is associated with adult learning skill, which is an important aspect of professional development as stated in the principles of andragogy. These principles are basically a characteristic feature of adult learning, which is defined as "the entire range of formal, non-formal, and informal learning activities that are undertaken by adults after an initial education and training, which result in the acquisition of new knowledge and skills".