Reliability and Validity of the Short Falls Efficacy Scale International in English, Mandarin, and Bahasa Malaysia in Malaysia.

While the prevalence of falls among Malaysian older adults is comparable to other older populations around the world, little is currently known about fear of falling in Malaysia. The Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) and short FES-I scales to measure fear of falling have not yet been validated for use within the Malaysian population, and are currently not available in Bahasa Malaysia (BM). A total of 402 participants aged ≥63 years were recruited.

Gestational age at time of in utero lipopolysaccharide exposure influences the severity of inflammation-induced diaphragm weakness in lambs.

The preterm diaphragm is functionally immature compared with its term counterpart. In utero inflammation further exacerbates preterm diaphragm dysfunction. We hypothesized that preterm lambs are more vulnerable to in utero inflammation-induced diaphragm dysfunction compared with term lambs.

Increased serum vascular endothelial growth factor is associated with acute viral encephalitis in Bangladeshi children.

Encephalitis causes significant global morbidity and mortality. A large number of viruses cause encephalitis, and their geographic and temporal distributions vary. In many encephalitis cases, the virus cannot be detected, even after extensive testing.

Additivity vs Synergism: Investigation of the Additive Interaction of Cinnamon Bark Oil and Meropenem in Combinatory Therapy.

Combinatory therapies have been commonly applied in the clinical setting to tackle multi-drug resistant bacterial infections and these have frequently proven to be effective. Specifically, combinatory therapies resulting in synergistic interactions between antibiotics and adjuvant have been the main focus due to their effectiveness, sidelining the effects of additivity, which also lowers the minimal effective dosage of either antimicrobial agent. Thus, this study was undertaken to look at the effects of additivity between essential oils and antibiotic, via the use of cinnamon bark essential oil (CBO) and meropenem as a model for additivity.

Aldosterone-induced protein kinase signalling and the control of electrolyte balance.

Aldosterone acts through the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) to modulate gene expression in target tissues. In the kidney, the principal action of aldosterone is to promote sodium conservation in the distal nephron and so indirectly enhance water conservation under conditions of hypotension. Over the last twenty years the rapid activation of protein kinase signalling cascades by aldosterone has been described in various tissues.

Ecological perspectives on youth alcohol consumption in the Kuala Lumpur conurbation: a place-based study in Malaysia.

Objective The objectives of this study were to investigate the patterns of alcohol consumption and ecological factors influencing those patterns in the Klang Valley. The study focuses on youth from the Chinese, Indian and Malay ethnic groups in Malaysia, resident in urban and semi-urban areas of the Klang Valley. Methods Data were collected with a combination of interviews and self-administered questionnaires available in Bahasa Malaysia and English were adapted from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Impact of a rapid molecular test for positive blood cultures from neonatal intensive care patients on clinical management: a retrospective audit.

Background: Both Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative Staphylococci are common causes of late-onset neonatal sepsis in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), usually relating to intravascular access device infections.

Aims: This project aimed to review the impact on antimicrobial treatment and clinical outcome in the NICU setting, of the introduction of the Xpert MRSA/SA BC test (Cepheid, USA) for the identification of staphylococci in blood cultures.

Methods: A retrospective audit was carried out of the pre- and post-intervention periods; the intervention was the introduction of the Xpert MRSA/SA BC test.

A review on Lactococcus lactis: from food to factory.

Lactococcus lactis has progressed a long way since its discovery and initial use in dairy product fermentation, to its present biotechnological applications in genetic engineering for the production of various recombinant proteins and metabolites that transcends the heterologous species barrier. Key desirable features of this gram-positive lactic acid non-colonizing gut bacteria include its generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status, probiotic properties, the absence of inclusion bodies and endotoxins, surface display and extracellular secretion technology, and a diverse selection of cloning and inducible expression vectors. This have made L.

Shisha (waterpipe) smoking initiation among youth in Malaysia and global perspective: a scoping review (2006-2015).

Objective: To explore the initiating factors of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) among youth.

Study Design: The analytic framework for this scoping review was performed using the methodology outlined by Arksey and O'Malley, which includes identification of the research question, study selection, charting the data, collating, summarizing and reporting the results that were primarily guided by the research question; 'what is known about the initiation of shisha smoking among youth?'

Methods: Electronic databases such as Cochrane, MEDLINE and PsycINFO were used to search for relevant articles. Articles included were all in English and published within the year of 2006 to 2015.

Tamoxifen Suppresses the Growth of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Cells.

Introduction: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy most often associated with exposure to asbestos. Recent evidence points to oestrogen receptor (ER)-β having a tumour-suppressor role in MPM progression, and this raises the question of whether selective modulators of ERs could play a role in augmenting MPM therapy.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the action of tamoxifen in inhibiting the growth and modulating the cisplatin sensitivity of four MPM cell lines.

Human mesenchymal stromal cells modulate T-cell immune response via transcriptomic regulation.

Background Aims: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been identified as pan-immunosuppressant in various in vitro and in vivo inflammatory models. Although the immunosuppressive activity of MSCs has been explored in various contexts, the precise molecular signaling pathways that govern inhibitory functions remain poorly elucidated.

Methods: By using a microarray-based global gene expression profiling system, this study aimed to decipher the underlying molecular pathways that may mediate the immunosuppressive activity of umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) on activated T cells.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Antagonism and Polycystic Kidney Disease Progression.

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is a systemic disease characterised by the formation of multiple renal cysts that adversely affect renal function. ADPKD shows significant progression with age when complications due to hypertension are most significant. The activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) occurs in progressive kidney disease leading to hypertension.

A Qualitative Study of Prescription Contraception Use: The Perspectives of Users, General Practitioners and Pharmacists.

Background: The oral contraceptive pill (OCP) remains the most popular form of prescription contraception in many countries, despite adherence difficulties for many. Uptake of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), which are less reliant on user adherence, remains low. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of, and attitudes towards, prescription contraception amongst samples of contraception users, general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists.

Prescription contraception use: a cross-sectional population study of psychosocial determinants.

Objective: Many forms of contraception are available on prescription only for example, the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). In this analysis we aim to identify key determinants of prescription contraceptive use.

Design: Cross-sectional population survey.

Profiling medical school learning environments in Malaysia: a validation study of the Johns Hopkins Learning Environment Scale.

Purpose: While a strong learning environment is critical to medical student education, the assessment of medical school learning environments has confounded researchers. Our goal was to assess the validity and utility of the Johns Hopkins Learning Environment Scale (JHLES) for preclinical students at three Malaysian medical schools with distinct educational and institutional models. Two schools were new international partnerships, and the third was school leaver program established without international partnership.

Differential p16/INK4A cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor expression correlates with chemotherapy efficacy in a cohort of 88 malignant pleural mesothelioma patients.

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and essentially incurable malignancy most often linked with occupational exposure to asbestos fibres. In common with other malignancies, the development and progression of MPM is associated with extensive dysregulation of cell cycle checkpoint proteins that modulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, DNA repair and senescence.

Methods: The expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16/INK4A was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using tumour biopsy specimens from 88 MPM cases and a semi-quantitative score for p16/INK4A expression was obtained.

Remote Monitoring of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Remote monitoring (RM) of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) is an established technology integrated into clinical practice. One recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) and several large device database studies have demonstrated a powerful survival advantage for ICD patients undergoing RM compared with those receiving conventional in-office (IO) follow-up.

Objectives: This study sought to conduct a systematic published data review and meta-analysis of RCTs comparing RM with IO follow-up.

Factors associated with crisis pregnancies in Ireland: findings from three nationally representative sexual health surveys.

Background: Findings on the demographic and sexual health characteristics associated with the experience of a crisis pregnancy are important to inform the public health policy of a country, including Ireland. Studies from other jurisdictions have suggested that certain demographic groups are at risk for unintended pregnancies and the disparity between the groups has been growing in recent years. Ireland is a country which experienced much economic and societal change in the first decade of the 21(st) century; changes which are likely to have affected demographic variables pertaining to sexual health.

Relationship between performance barriers and pharmacist competency towards the implementation of an expanded public health pharmacy role.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between performance barriers and competency, and implementation of an expanded public health role for community pharmacists.

Methods: A validated questionnaire was utilised for this study whereby three variables of the study (performance barriers, competency and public health role) were measured using a 5-point Likert scale. Three hundred questionnaires were distributed to target respondents of registered community pharmacies in five states (Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak and Penang) in Malaysia.