The Influence of Remote Hearing Aid Adjustment Technology on the Current Practice of Tele-Audiology among Audiologists in Malaysia.

Objective:  Many hearing aid manufacturers have developed application programs that allow audiologists to fine-tune or adjust their patients' hearing aids remotely. This study aims to explore audiologists' experiences in using the remote hearing aid adjustment in Malaysia.

Method:  This is a qualitative research design where focus group discussions among audiologists were held.

Interruption reduction during oral medication rounds among nurses in hematology-oncology wards: a best practice implementation project.

Objectives: The aim of the project was to reduce interruptions during oral medication rounds among nurses working in hematology-oncology wards by improving compliance with best practices by 20%.

Introduction: Medication errors can adversely affect patient safety. Hence, understanding the underlying contributors to medication errors is necessary.

Optical coherence tomography-guided vs. intravascular ultrasound-guided percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) are superior to coronary angiography for guiding percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, whether one technique is superior to the other is inconclusive.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.

Current practices and challenges in genetic testing and counseling for women with breast and ovarian cancer in Asia.

Aim: This study assesses current practices and challenges in genetic testing and counseling (GT and C) for breast cancer gene (BRCA)1/2 mutations in Asia, considering the increased risk of ovarian cancer (OC) and breast cancer (BC) in women carrying these mutations.

Methods: Insights were gathered through a questionnaire from breast surgeons, gynecologists, oncologists, and genetic clinicians in 10 Asian countries: Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia. The questionnaire covered their knowledge, attitudes, and practices in GT and C for BRCA1/2 mutations, along with information on perceived gaps and unmet needs in the region.

Personalised care and support planning in Singapore: qualitative interviews with people living with diabetes.

Background: Personalised care and support planning (CSP) is a person-centred approach for the care of people living with long-term conditions. Patient Activation through Community Empowerment/Engagement for Diabetes Management (PACE-D) adapts the Year of Care Partnerships (YOCP) approach to CSP in the UK for people living with diabetes at Singapore polyclinics. Polyclinics are multi-storey primary care hubs that provide affordable, multidisciplinary, comprehensive, and high-throughput public health care for the multi-ethnic, multilingual Singapore population.

Postoperative Scar Management Protocol for Asian Patients.

Background: Postoperative scar formation remains a morbidity for patients even with the advent of minimally invasive techniques. Furthermore, the significant difference between the Asian and Caucasian skin results in poorer postoperative scar outcomes in Asians, supporting the need for an evidence-based scar management protocol.

Methods: Following a literature review of the PubMed and the Cochrane databases over the past 10 years, we constructed a novel postoperative scar management protocol for the Asian skin, utilized in a Singaporean tertiary healthcare institution.

Comparing outcomes of thulium fiber laser versus high-power Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy in pediatric patients managed with RIRS for kidney stones. A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate thulium fiber laser (TFL) safety and efficacy compared to high-power (HP) Holmium:YAG laser in pediatric patients who have undergone retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for kidney stones.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from pediatric patients who underwent RIRS for kidney stones between 2018 and 2020. Complications were assessed 4-6 weeks postoperatively.

Nurse-led speech therapist referral initiative for older adult patients at risk of dysphagia: a best practice implementation project.

Introduction And Objectives: Dysphagia is common among older patients, affecting their nutritional status, hospital readmission, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization costs. Nurses can play a key role in early identification of dysphagia through systematic screening. This project sought to (i) achieve 80% compliance among nurses in using the 4-point questionnaire test (4QT) swallow screening test on patients and (ii) ensure all patients screening positive for dysphagia were referred to a speech therapist within 1 day.

Dysfunctional Autophagy, Proteostasis, and Mitochondria as a Prelude to Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell dysfunction is a key driving force of AMD. RPE cells form a metabolic interface between photoreceptors and choriocapillaris, performing essential functions for retinal homeostasis. Through their multiple functions, RPE cells are constantly exposed to oxidative stress, which leads to the accumulation of damaged proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and cellular organelles, including mitochondria.

Outcomes Associated with Moberg and Modified Moberg Flaps in Thumb Reconstruction: A Systematic Review.

Appropriate thumb function is critical as it is makes up approximately 40% of the hand's function leading to the greatest influence in activities of daily living (ADLs). Local flaps are the primary option for thumb reconstruction, of which the Moberg flap has been reported to have the added advantage of its advancement capacity relative to other flaps. This systematic review aims to describe the outcomes of the Moberg advancement flap and its associated modifications for coverage of palmar thumb defects.

Unblinding de Quervain: A systematic review of ultrasound-guided injection of corticosteroids for treatment of stenosing tenosynovitis of the 1st extensor compartment.

A systematic review was conducted on studies reporting steroid injections with ultrasound for de Quervain. From 10 studies included and 379 wrists, 73.9% reported complete resolution of symptoms, 18.

Chicken Feet: A Model for Practising Locoregional Flaps of the Hand.

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of the chicken foot model for surgical trainees interested in practising the designing, harvesting and inset of locoregional flaps of the hand. A descriptive study was performed to demonstrate the technical aspects of harvesting four locoregional flaps in a chicken foot model: fingertip volar V-Y advancement flap, four-flap and five-flap Z-plasty, cross-finger flap and first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap. The study was performed in a surgical training laboratory on non-live chicken feet.

Prevent postoperative urinary retention in day surgery adult patients: evidence-based quality improvement project.

Introduction And Aims: Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a complication that often leads to adverse outcomes and prolonged hospital stay if treatment is delayed. The aim of this project was to improve the competence of nurses in the provision of preoperative POUR education and ensure all patients received preoperative POUR education, and hence reduce the incidence of POUR.

Methods: The evidence-based quality improvement project utilized JBI's Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice module, adopting two POUR best practice recommendations and two audit criteria.

Customized strategies for high-yield purification of retinal pigment epithelial cells differentiated from different stem cell sources.

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell dysfunction and death are characteristics of age-related macular degeneration. A promising therapeutic option is RPE cell transplantation. Development of clinical grade stem-cell derived RPE requires efficient in vitro differentiation and purification methods.

Electrolyte imbalances as poor prognostic markers in COVID-19: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Serum electrolyte imbalances are highly prevalent in COVID-19 patients. However, their associations with COVID-19 outcomes are inconsistent, and of unknown prognostic value. We aim to systematically clarify the associations and prognostic accuracy of electrolyte imbalances (sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, chloride and phosphate) in predicting poor COVID-19 clinical outcome.

Diagnostic accuracy and validity of image-assisted versus face-to-face wound assessments for the management of chronic wounds: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: This review aims to evaluate the accuracy and validity of diagnostic decisions derived from image-assisted wound assessments compared with face-to-face consultations for chronic wound care.

Introduction: Images are often used within the inpatient, outpatient, and community settings to facilitate interdisciplinary transfer of care, objective wound assessments, and accurate treatment decisions. An ever-changing and ever-improving selection of image-capturing devices has been created and studied in recent years.

A rapid simple point-of-care assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.

Background: Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) prevent pathogens from infecting host cells. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 NAbs is critical to evaluate herd immunity and monitor vaccine efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. All currently available NAb tests are lab-based and time-intensive.

Finger stick blood test to assess postvaccination SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody response against variants.

There is clinical need for a quantifiable point-of-care (PoC) SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody (nAb) test that is adaptable with the pandemic's changing landscape. Here, we present a rapid and semi-quantitative nAb test that uses finger stick or venous blood to assess the nAb response of vaccinated population against wild-type (WT), alpha, beta, gamma, and delta variant RBDs. It captures a clinically relevant range of nAb levels, and effectively differentiates prevaccination, post first dose, and post second dose vaccination samples within 10 min.