Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment and the risk of post-COVID condition over 180 days in Malaysia.

Background: The effect of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir on preventing post-COVID condition (PCC) in the BA4, BA5, and XBB Omicron predominant periods is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to assess how nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment affected both PCC and health-related quality of life.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 2,524 adults aged 18 years and older who were eligible for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir between July 14 to November 14, 2022.

Harnessing the Degloved Palm in Crush Injury Management.

Degloving injuries of the upper limbs, common in industrial settings, pose significant reconstructive challenges. The injury's severity dictates the approach, from primary closure and skin grafting to complex free tissue transfer. Proper preparation of both the wound bed and degloved tissue is crucial, as the degloved tissue can serve as an effective biological dressing.

Post-discharge spirometry evaluation in patients recovering from moderate-to-critical COVID-19: a cross-sectional study.

Understanding the prevalence of abnormal lung function and its associated factors among patients recovering from COVID-19 is crucial for enhancing post-COVID care strategies. This study primarily aimed to determine the prevalence and types of spirometry abnormalities among post-COVID-19 patients in Malaysia, with a secondary objective of identifying its associated factors. Conducted at the COVID-19 Research Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University Technology MARA, from March 2021 to December 2022, this study included patients at least three months post-discharge from hospitals following moderate-to-critical COVID-19.

Economic Evaluation of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Among Adults Against Hospitalization During the Omicron Dominated Period in Malaysia: A Real-World Evidence Perspective.

Background And Objectives: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was administered orally to manage mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 in adult patients. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of prescribing nirmatrelvir/ritonavir within 5 days of a COVID-19 illness in order to avert hospitalization within a 30-day period in the Malaysia setting; (ii) determine how variations in pricing and hospitalization rates will affect the cost-effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir.

Methods: The 30-day hospitalization related to COVID-19 was determined using 1 to 1 propensity score-matched real-world data in Malaysia from 14 July 2022 to 14 November 2022.

Pre-operative psoas muscle index, a surrogate for sarcopenia; as a predictor of post-esophagectomy complications.

Background: Esophagectomy is the standard of care for curative esophageal cancer. However, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Esophageal cancer is known to negatively affect the nutritional status of patients and many manifest cancer sarcopenia.

Public's Willingness to Perform COVID-19 Self-Testing During the Transition to the Endemic Phase in Malaysia - A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Malaysia entered the transition to the endemic phase of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on 1st April 2022. This study aims to determine the public's willingness to perform COVID-19 self-testing. Factors that influenced their willingness were also assessed.

Post-COVID-19 Condition Characterization: Insights From a Cross-Sectional Study in a Malaysian Rehabilitation Center.

Although post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) is a major public health concern, studies on PCC in Southeast Asia are lacking. This study aimed to describe PCC symptoms and its functional impact among COVID-19 survivors undergoing outpatient rehabilitation in Malaysia. We evaluated 3037 patients with confirmed COVID-19, referred between November 2020 and September 2022, 3 to 6 months after infection.

Stroke Riskometer Application (SRA™) influence on lifestyle changes of home bound familial Malaysian stroke caregivers: a randomised controlled trial in a primary care based longer term stroke care facility.

Background: In countries where access to Specialist stroke care services are limited, primary care physicians often manage stroke patients and the caregiving family members. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Stroke Riskometer Application (SRA™) on promoting healthier lifestyles among familial stroke caregivers for primary prevention.

Methods: A parallel, open-label, 2-arm prospective, pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted at a long-term stroke service at a university based primary care clinic.

Real-world nirmatrelvir-ritonavir outpatient treatment in reducing hospitalization for high-risk patients with COVID-19 during Omicron BA.4, BA.5 and XBB subvariants dominance in Malaysia: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine if nirmatrelvir-ritonavir 300mg/100mg treatment for 5 days in high-risk outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms was associated with a reduction in hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and death.

Methods: This 1:1 propensity score matched cohort study from 647 public health clinics in Malaysia included all patients with COVID-19 with positive tests aged 18 years and older, who were eligible for nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment within 5 days of illness from July 14, 2022, to November 14, 2022. The exposed group was patients with COVID-19 initiated with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment, whereas those not initiated with the drug served as the control group.

Analysis of Trauma Characteristics Between the Older and Younger Adult Patient from the Pan Asian Trauma Outcome Study Registry (PATOS).

Objective: Asia is experiencing a demographic shift toward an aging population at an unrivaled rate. This can influence the characteristics and outcomes of trauma. We aim to examine different characteristics of older adult trauma patients compared to younger adult trauma patients and describe factors that affect the outcomes in Asian countries.

Guidelines from an expert panel for the management of diabetic macular edema in the Malaysian population.

Aim: To derive a Malaysia guideline and consensus as part of the Malaysia Retina Group's efforts for diagnosis, treatment, and best practices of diabetic macular edema (DME). The experts' panel suggests that the treatment algorithm to be divided into groups according to involvement the central macula. The purpose of DME therapy is to improve edema and achieve the best visual results with the least amount of treatment load.

Phenotypic and genotypic comparison of pathogenic group B Streptococcus isolated from human and cultured tilapia (Oreochromis species) in Malaysia.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a major cause of several infectious diseases in humans and fish. This study was conducted to compare human and fish-derived GBS in terms of their antimicrobial susceptibility, serotype, virulence and pili genes and sequence type (ST), and to determine whether there is a potential linkage of zoonotic transmission in Malaysia. GBS isolated from humans and fish had similar phenotypic characteristics and differed in virulence gene profile, antimicrobial susceptibility, serotype and sequence type.

Supraglottic Schwannoma: Dilemma and Challenges in Management.

Laryngeal schwannomas are rare lesions that represent less than 1.5% of all benign laryngeal tumors. Its slow and submucosal growth may cause a delay in consultation and management.

Clinical predictors of efavirenz-based regimen treatment durability: A two-year case-control study of antiretroviral-naïve patients.

Background: While efavirenz-associated adverse drug events (ADEs) were widely established, the clinical relevance is uncertain.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the extent of treatment interruption caused by efavirenz-associated ADEs.

Methods: A case-control study of efavirenz recipients who did, versus did not (control) develop adverse drug events (ADE), and who were matched for baseline CD4 + at a ratio of 1:1.

Agreement between the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and the heaviness of smoking index (HSI) for assessing the intensity of nicotine dependence among daily smokers.

Introduction: Measuring the level of nicotine addiction among smokers is an integral part of enhancing smoking cessation as nicotine dependence is one of the barriers to smoking cessation. In this study, we compared the level of agreement between FTND and HSI in detecting high nicotine dependence among daily smokers.

Methods: We collected data from participants of a public smoking cessation clinic in Selangor.

Sexual assault cases presenting in One Stop Crisis Centre of a tertiary hospital in Malaysia: A retrospective study.

Introduction: Sexual assault is a serious social problem. Due to its stigma, it is severely underreported with the survivors delay in seeking treatment. We aim to study the patterns, clinical characteristics, and time taken to manage sexual assault cases in our One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC), and determine the factors associated with delayed presentation.

Characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 in Klang Valley, Malaysia: a retrospective observational study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of neonates born to mothers with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), along with the incidence and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) positivity in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

Methods: The clinical records of all neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 who were admitted to Sungai Buloh Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Data collected included demographic details and the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of neonates with SARS-CoV-2 positivity.

A quality improvement project: Reducing bloodstream infection by improving adherence to the care bundle of peripheral vascular catheters at the COVID-19 treatment centre.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, bloodstream infection (BSI) rates were substantially rising in Sungai Buloh Hospital (HSB). It is believed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on BSI incidence caused by contaminated periphery vascular catheters (PVCs). The study's objective is to reduce the BSI rates in HSB by improving adherence to the PVC care bundle via the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) approach.

Clinical severity of COVID-19 with omicron variant predominance in relation to vaccination status, age, comorbidities- a single center in Selangor, Malaysia.

Introduction: Recently, the rapid surge of reported COVID-19 cases attributed to the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) created an immediate concern across nations. Local information pertaining to the new variant of concern (VOC) is lacking. We aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 during a period of Omicron prevalence among patients hospitalised from February 1 to 21, 2022 at Sungai Buloh Hospital and to estimate the risks of disease progression presumably caused by this variant in association with gender, age, comorbidity, and vaccination status.

Head and face anthropometric study for respirators in the multi-ethnic Asian population of Malaysia.

Background: Existing anthropometric studies for respirator designs are based on the head and facial dimensions of Americans and Chinese nationals, with no studies for multi-ethnic countries like Malaysia. This study aimed to create head and facial morphological database for Malaysia, specifically to identify morphological differences between genders, ethnicities, and birthplaces, as well as predictors of the dimensions.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Efficacy of telemedicine for the management of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Telemedicine has been increasingly integrated into chronic disease management through remote patient monitoring and consultation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting effectiveness of telemedicine interventions for the management of patients with cardiovascular conditions.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from database inception to Jan 18, 2021.

Weight Status and Associated Risk Factors of Mealtime Behaviours among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Atypical mealtime behaviours in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been linked with oral sensory hypersensitivity that may contribute to food selectivity and weight issues. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the association between atypical mealtime behaviours and associated risk factors besides exploring the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Malaysian children with ASD in community settings. A total of 150 children with ASD aged 3−11 years participated in this study.

Clopidogrel Vs Aspirin Monotherapy Following Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Current guidelines recommend 6-12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) followed by aspirin monotherapy indefinitely. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of clopidogrel vs aspirin in the post-PCI population after completing DAPT. We systematically searched 5 electronic databases to identify studies comparing clopidogrel with aspirin following completion of DAPT after PCI.