Browse publications by year: 2019

  1. Chendran P, Meng Hsien Y, Wan Abdul Halim WH
    Case Rep Ophthalmol Med, 2019;2019:6862487.
    PMID: 31885979 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6862487
    Incidence of cornea melting or perforation is commonly seen in variety of cornea conditions. It can cause debilitating vision loss and impair patient's daily activity. Several techniques have been described to surgically treat cornea perforation and melting. In this article, a series of corneal diseases treated with corneal patch graft are highlighted to relate different approach of cornea patch graft surgery. Post-operative management and complications are discussed.
    MeSH terms: Cornea; Corneal Ulcer; Humans; Vision Disorders; Incidence; Corneal Perforation
  2. You X, Gopinath SCB, Lakshmipriya T, Li D
    J Anal Methods Chem, 2019;2019:6526850.
    PMID: 31886023 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6526850
    Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive health issue and influences an increasingly larger number of people, especially at older ages, affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Alpha-synuclein is a biomarker closely correlated with the CNS and PD. The loss of neuronal cells in the substantia nigra leads to the aggregation of alpha-synuclein in the form of Lewy bodies, and Lewy neuritis is a neuropathological hallmark. The therapeutic approach of PD focuses on alpha-synuclein as an important substrate of PD pathology. So far, research has focused on antialpha-synuclein to minimize the burden of extracellular alpha-synuclein in the brain, and as a consequence, it ameliorates inflammation. Interdigitated electrode (IDE) biosensors are efficient tools for detecting various analytes and were chosen in this study to detect alpha-synuclein on amine-modified surfaces by using antiaptamer-alpha-synuclein as the probe. In addition, a gold nanoparticle-conjugated aptamer was used to enhance the detection limit. The limit of detection for the binding between alpha-synuclein and aptamer was found to be 10 pM. Control experiments were performed with two closely related proteins, amyloid-beta and tau, to reveal the specificity; the results show that the aptamer only recognized alpha-synuclein. The proposed strategy helps to identify the binding of aptamer and alpha-synuclein and provides a possible method to lower alpha-synuclein levels and inflammation in PD patients.
  3. Mohamad SA, Zunaina E, Wan Hitam WH
    Cureus, 2019 Nov 08;11(11):e6101.
    PMID: 31886042 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6101
    Optic perineuritis (OPN) is a subtype of optic neuritis (ON) in which the inflammatory process involves meningeal sheath surrounding the optic nerve. Clinically, OPN simulates ON. However, in contrast to ON, patient with OPN shows sparing of central vision, improves dramatically with high-dose corticosteroid, are more likely to experience recurrence after stopping treatment. We report a rare case of caecocentral scotoma observed in a female with typical ON symptoms. Her magnetic resonance imaging showed features in line with OPN. She was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone 1 g/day for five days followed by slow tapering dose of oral prednisolone for one month. Her vision improved dramatically with a resolution of visual field defect. No relapses seen within two years of follow-up.
    MeSH terms: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Methylprednisolone; Optic Nerve; Optic Neuritis; Scotoma; Vision Disorders; Visual Fields; Visual Field Tests
  4. Aziz S, Sheikh Ghadzi SM, Abidin NE, Tangiisuran B, Zainal H, Looi I, et al.
    J Diabetes Res, 2019;2019:1794267.
    PMID: 31886276 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1794267
    Background and Purpose: Diabetes mellitus has been reported as a strong independent risk factor for stroke recurrence. Data on the modifiable factors contributing to the recurrence of stroke in type 2 diabetic Malaysian population with a history of stroke stratified by genders are lacking, and this supports the importance of this study.

    Method: The data of 4622 patients with T2DM who had a history of stroke was obtained from the Malaysian National Stroke Registry. Univariate analysis was performed to differentiate between genders with and without stroke recurrence in terms of demographics, first stroke attack presentations, and other clinical characteristics. The significant factors determined from the univariate analysis were further investigated using logistic regression.

    Results: Ischemic heart diseases were found significantly associated with the stroke recurrence in males (OR = 1.738; 95% CI: 1.071-2.818) as well as female (OR = 5.859; 95% CI: 2.469-13.752) diabetic patients. The duration of hypertension, as well as the duration of diabetes, has been associated with the recurrence in both male and female subjects (p value < 0.05). Smoking status has an impact on the stroke recurrence in male subjects, while no significant association was observed among their peers.

    Conclusions: Most of the predictive factors contributing to the recurrence of stroke in type 2 diabetic Malaysian population with a history of stroke are modifiable, in which IHD was the most prominent risk factor in both genders. The impact of optimizing the management of IHD as well as blood glucose control on stroke recurrence may need to be elucidated. No major differences in recurrent stroke predictors were seen between genders among the Malaysian population with type 2 diabetes mellitus who had a previous history of stroke.

    MeSH terms: Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/ethnology*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/mortality; Female; Health Status; Humans; Life Style/ethnology; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Comorbidity; Risk Assessment; Stroke/diagnosis; Stroke/ethnology*; Stroke/mortality
  5. Lee KKS, Silim UA
    Int J Health Care Qual Assur, 2019 Dec 16;ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print).
    PMID: 31886638 DOI: 10.1108/IJHCQA-08-2018-0199
    PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to review the findings from an audit of the implementation of a consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLiP) database in all inpatients referred to a CLiP service at the largest hospital in Malaysia with the aim of improving the quality CLiP services.

    DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: All inpatient referrals to the CLiP team were recorded over a three-month period and compared to previous audit data from 2017. Four audit standards were assessed: the reporting of referrals, timeliness of response indication of reason for referral and presence of a management plan.

    FINDINGS: The compliance of reporting using the CLiP form was 70.1 per cent compared to 28 per cent in the audit data from 2017 after interventions were conducted. Analysis of the completed CLiP form reveals that 89 per cent of referrals were seen within the same working day. All referrals included the reason for referral. The most common reason for referral was for depressive disorders, but post-assessment, delirium was the most common diagnosis. In total, 87.8 per cent satisfied the audit criteria for a completed written care plan.

    ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Specialised CLiP services are relatively new in Malaysia and this is the first paper to examine the quality of such services in the country. Interventions were effective in improving the compliance of reporting using the CLiP database. The findings suggest that the CLiP services are on par with international audit standards. Furthermore, data from this clinical audit can serve as a benchmark for the development of national operating policies in similar settings.

    MeSH terms: Hospital Administration/methods*; Humans; Malaysia; Patient Care Team/organization & administration; Pilot Projects; Psychiatric Department, Hospital/organization & administration*; Psychiatric Department, Hospital/standards; Referral and Consultation/organization & administration*; Referral and Consultation/standards; Time Factors; Databases, Factual
  6. Khasmohammadi M, Ghazizadeh Ehsaei S, Vanderplasschen W, Dortaj F, Farahbakhsh K, Keshavarz Afshar H, et al.
    J Genet Psychol, 2019 12 30;181(2-3):39-53.
    PMID: 31886741 DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2019.1700896
    Studies exploring excessive Internet use and gambling are rapidly expanding concerns regarding its impact on mental health, especially in young people due to the increased prevalence of Internet and gambling addictions. Research suggests that perceived peer support plays a significant role in adolescents' psychological well-being. However, no empirical study has dealt with the mediating effect of perceived peer support on the relationship between Internet and gambling addictions and psychological well-being. Thus, the present study aimed to examine whether perceived peer support mediates the relation between Internet and gambling addictions and psychological well-being of adolescents. A sample of 347 Iranian adolescents aged 14 to 18 (Mean age 16.14, 50.4% male) who were studying in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia participated in this study. Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS), Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS), Six-item Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ6), and The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) were used to collect data. Mediation analyses showed a significant indirect effect of compulsive Internet use and problem gambling on psychological well-being through perceived peer support. The total effects of compulsive Internet use and problem gambling on psychological well-being were negative. This study implies the significance of strengthening the knowledge about the impact of peer relationships among adolescents.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior/psychology*; Female; Gambling/psychology*; Humans; Iran; Malaysia; Male; Peer Group*; Personal Satisfaction*; Social Support*
  7. Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Ambrogi F, Asilar E, Bergauer T, et al.
    Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2019;79(11):969.
    PMID: 31886778 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-019-7451-7
    Measurements are presented of the triple-differential cross section for inclusive isolated-photon+jet events in

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    , and jet transverse momentum,

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    . The measurements are compared to next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations, which reproduce the data within uncertainties.
    MeSH terms: Gamma Rays; Motion; Photons; Uncertainty
  8. Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Ambrogi F, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2019;79(11):893.
    PMID: 31886779 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-019-7402-3
    The average total energy as well as its hadronic and electromagnetic components are measured with the CMS detector at pseudorapidities - 6.6 < η < - 5.2 in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy s = 13 TeV . The results are presented as a function of the charged particle multiplicity in the region | η | < 2 . This measurement is sensitive to correlations induced by the underlying event structure over a very wide pseudorapidity region. The predictions of Monte Carlo event generators commonly used in collider experiments and ultra-high energy cosmic ray physics are compared to the data. All generators considered overestimate the fraction of energy going into hadrons.
  9. Rusmili MRA, Othman I, Abidin SAZ, Yusof FA, Ratanabanangkoon K, Chanhome L, et al.
    PLoS One, 2019;14(12):e0227122.
    PMID: 31887191 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227122
    Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus) is a medically important snake species found in Southeast Asia. The neurotoxic effects of envenoming present as flaccid paralysis of skeletal muscles. It is unclear whether geographical variation in venom composition plays a significant role in the degree of clinical neurotoxicity. In this study, the effects of geographical variation on neurotoxicity and venom composition of B. candidus venoms from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand were examined. In the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation, all venoms abolished indirect twitches and attenuated contractile responses to nicotinic receptor agonists, with venom from Indonesia displaying the most rapid neurotoxicity. A proteomic analysis indicated that three finger toxins (3FTx), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors were common toxin groups in the venoms. In addition, venom from Thailand contained L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO), cysteine rich secretory protein (CRISP), thrombin-like enzyme (TLE) and snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP). Short-chain post-synaptic neurotoxins were not detected in any of the venoms. The largest quantity of long-chain post-synaptic neurotoxins and non-conventional toxins was found in the venom from Thailand. Analysis of PLA2 activity did not show any correlation between the amount of PLA2 and the degree of neurotoxicity of the venoms. Our study shows that variation in venom composition is not limited to the degree of neurotoxicity. This investigation provides additional insights into the geographical differences in venom composition and provides information that could be used to improve the management of Malayan krait envenoming in Southeast Asia.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Bungarotoxins/analysis; Bungarotoxins/toxicity*; Chickens; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Indonesia; Malaysia; Male; Neuromuscular Junction/drug effects*; Neurotoxins/analysis; Neurotoxins/toxicity*; Severity of Illness Index; Snake Bites/complications; Thailand; Bungarus*; Neurotoxicity Syndromes/diagnosis; Neurotoxicity Syndromes/etiology; Proteome/analysis; Proteome/toxicity; Reptilian Proteins/analysis; Reptilian Proteins/toxicity*; Proteomics/methods
  10. Charon J, Grigg MJ, Eden JS, Piera KA, Rana H, William T, et al.
    PLoS Pathog, 2019 12;15(12):e1008216.
    PMID: 31887217 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008216
    Eukaryotes of the genus Plasmodium cause malaria, a parasitic disease responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality in humans. Yet, the nature and abundance of any viruses carried by these divergent eukaryotic parasites is unknown. We investigated the Plasmodium virome by performing a meta-transcriptomic analysis of blood samples taken from patients suffering from malaria and infected with P. vivax, P. falciparum or P. knowlesi. This resulted in the identification of a narnavirus-like sequence, encoding an RNA polymerase and restricted to P. vivax samples, as well as an associated viral segment of unknown function. These data, confirmed by PCR, are indicative of a novel RNA virus that we term Matryoshka RNA virus 1 (MaRNAV-1) to reflect its analogy to a "Russian doll": a virus, infecting a parasite, infecting an animal. Additional screening revealed that MaRNAV-1 was abundant in geographically diverse P. vivax derived from humans and mosquitoes, strongly supporting its association with this parasite, and not in any of the other Plasmodium samples analyzed here nor Anopheles mosquitoes in the absence of Plasmodium. Notably, related bi-segmented narnavirus-like sequences (MaRNAV-2) were retrieved from Australian birds infected with a Leucocytozoon-a genus of eukaryotic parasites that group with Plasmodium in the Apicomplexa subclass hematozoa. Together, these data support the establishment of two new phylogenetically divergent and genomically distinct viral species associated with protists, including the first virus likely infecting Plasmodium parasites. As well as broadening our understanding of the diversity and evolutionary history of the eukaryotic virosphere, the restriction to P. vivax may be of importance in understanding P. vivax-specific biology in humans and mosquitoes, and how viral co-infection might alter host responses at each stage of the P. vivax life-cycle.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anopheles; Australia; Birds; Humans; Malaria; Parasites; Plasmodium; RNA Viruses; Russia; Viruses; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Eukaryota; Transcriptome; Coinfection
  11. Muhammad II, Kong SL, Akmar Abdullah SN, Munusamy U
    Int J Mol Sci, 2019 Dec 25;21(1).
    PMID: 31881735 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010167
    The availability of data produced from various sequencing platforms offer the possibility to answer complex questions in plant research. However, drawbacks can arise when there are gaps in the information generated, and complementary platforms are essential to obtain more comprehensive data sets relating to specific biological process, such as responses to environmental perturbations in plant systems. The investigation of transcriptional regulation raises different challenges, particularly in associating differentially expressed transcription factors with their downstream responsive genes. In this paper, we discuss the integration of transcriptional factor studies through RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq). We show how the data from ChIP-seq can strengthen information generated from RNA-seq in elucidating gene regulatory mechanisms. In particular, we discuss how integration of ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data can help to unravel transcriptional regulatory networks. This review discusses recent advances in methods for studying transcriptional regulation using these two methods. It also provides guidelines for making choices in selecting specific protocols in RNA-seq pipelines for genome-wide analysis to achieve more detailed characterization of specific transcription regulatory pathways via ChIP-seq.
    MeSH terms: Plants/genetics; Plants/metabolism*; Gene Library; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods*; RNA, Plant/metabolism*; RNA, Plant/chemistry; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; Gene Regulatory Networks*; Transcriptome*
  12. Kidokoro T, Suzuki K, Naito H, Balasekaran G, Song JK, Park SY, et al.
    BMC Public Health, 2019 Dec 27;19(1):1737.
    PMID: 31881869 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-8079-0
    BACKGROUND: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and television viewing are independently associated with cardiorespiratory fitness. However, limited evidence is available on their combined effects, specifically of MVPA and watching television, on cardiorespiratory fitness in the young Asian population. Therefore, the present study examined whether MVPA can attenuate the detrimental effects of prolonged television viewing on the cardiorespiratory fitness of Asian adolescents.

    METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study on 9553 adolescents (aged 12-15 years) from 8 Asian metropolitan cities (Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, and Singapore). Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by using a 15-m progressive aerobic capacity endurance run (PACER) test. The time spent on MVPA and watching television was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form.

    RESULTS: MVPA was more closely associated with the PACER score than the duration of watching television. Compared with the reference group (i.e. those with the lowest levels of MVPA [

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Asia; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Television*; Exercise/physiology*; Sedentary Lifestyle*; Cardiorespiratory Fitness/physiology*
  13. Menchaca A, Rossi NA, Froidevaux J, Dias-Freedman I, Caragiulo A, Wultsch C, et al.
    BMC Genet, 2019 12 27;20(1):100.
    PMID: 31881935 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-019-0801-5
    BACKGROUND: Connectivity among jaguar (Panthera onca) populations will ensure natural gene flow and the long-term survival of the species throughout its range. Jaguar conservation efforts have focused primarily on connecting suitable habitat in a broad-scale. Accelerated habitat reduction, human-wildlife conflict, limited funding, and the complexity of jaguar behaviour have proven challenging to maintain connectivity between populations effectively. Here, we used non-invasive genetic sampling and individual-based conservation genetic analyses to assess genetic diversity and levels of genetic connectivity between individuals in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We used expert knowledge and scientific literature to develop models of landscape permeability based on circuit theory with fine-scale landscape features as ecosystem types, distance to human settlements and roads to predict the most probable jaguar movement across central Belize.

    RESULTS: We used 12 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci to identify 50 individual jaguars. We detected high levels of genetic diversity across loci (HE = 0.61, HO = 0.55, and NA = 9.33). Using Bayesian clustering and multivariate models to assess gene flow and genetic structure, we identified one single group of jaguars (K = 1). We identified critical areas for jaguar movement that fall outside the boundaries of current protected areas in central Belize. We detected two main areas of high landscape permeability in a stretch of approximately 18 km between Sittee River Forest Reserve and Manatee Forest Reserve that may increase functional connectivity and facilitate jaguar dispersal from and to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Our analysis provides important insights on fine-scale genetic and landscape connectivity of jaguars in central Belize, an area of conservation concern.

    CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study demonstrate high levels of relatively recent gene flow for jaguars between two study sites in central Belize. Our landscape analysis detected corridors of expected jaguar movement between the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We highlight the importance of maintaining already established corridors and consolidating new areas that further promote jaguar movement across suitable habitat beyond the boundaries of currently protected areas. Continued conservation efforts within identified corridors will further maintain and increase genetic connectivity in central Belize.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Belize; Conservation of Natural Resources; Genetics, Population/methods*; Genetic Variation*; Ecosystem; Microsatellite Repeats; Evolution, Molecular; Panthera/genetics*; Gene Flow
  14. Seow D, Tengku Yusof TNB, Yasui Y, Shimozono Y, Kennedy JG
    J Foot Ankle Surg, 2019 12 29;59(1):112-116.
    PMID: 31882133 DOI: 10.1053/j.jfas.2018.12.041
    Turf toe is hyperextension injury of the plantar plate at the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Etiologies have often included sports/activities with excessive forefoot axial loading and/or violent pivotal movements. The purpose of the systematic review was to systematically review and present an overview for the current evidence-based treatment options of turf toe. Both authors systematically reviewed the PubMed and EMBASE databases from inception to April 2016 based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The level of evidence and quality of evidence were assessed by using the Level of Evidence for Primary Research Question of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and the quality of evidence was assessed with use of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data were collected and categorized into: case reports and case series. Eight studies (16 turf toes) met the aforementioned criteria and were included. Five case reports and 3 case series reported various treatment options for turf toe. Specifically, 3 studies reported solely conservative treatment (n = 5), 1 study reported solely surgical treatment (n = 1), and 4 studies involved patients in conservative and/or surgical treatments (n = 10). All studies were of level of clinical evidence 4 and quality of clinical evidence score 2 (poor quality). Conservative treatment included closed reduction and immobilization, and surgical treatment included plantar plate tenodesis. Restricted dorsiflexion was the most common complication reported. Turf toe is an underreported injury with no evidence-based treatment guideline to date. Future studies of higher level and quality of evidence with a specific classification system (Jahss or Anderson) consistently reported are warranted for the development of an optimal guideline to determine the most appropriate treatment for each specific severity in injury.
  15. Mokhtar MH, Giribabu N, Salleh N
    In Vivo, 2019 12 29;34(1):225-231.
    PMID: 31882482 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.11764
    BACKGROUND/AIM: It was hypothesized that endometrial tight junction morphology and expression of tight junction proteins i.e., claudin-4 and occludin in the uterus, are affected by testosterone. Therefore, the effects of testosterone on these parameters in the uterus during receptivity period were investigated.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ovariectomized adult female rats were given testosterone (1 mg/kg/day) alone or in combination with flutamide or finasteride between days 6 to 8 of sex-steroid replacement treatment, which was considered the period of uterine receptivity. Ultramorphology of tight junctions was visualized by transmission electron microscopy while distribution and expression of claudin-4 and occludin were examined by immunofluorescence and real-time polymerase chain reaction respectively.

    RESULTS: Administration of testosterone caused loss of tight junction complexity and down-regulated expression of claudin-4 and occludin in the uterus.

    CONCLUSION: Decreased endometrial tight junction complexity and expression of claudin-4 and occludin in the uterus during receptivity period by testosterone may interfere with embryo attachment and subsequent implantation.

    MeSH terms: Androgens/pharmacology; Animals; Endometrium/drug effects; Endometrium/physiology*; Female; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects*; Ovariectomy; Gonadal Steroid Hormones/metabolism; Testosterone/pharmacology*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tight Junctions/drug effects; Tight Junctions/physiology*; Rats; Claudin-4/genetics; Claudin-4/metabolism*; Occludin/genetics; Occludin/metabolism*
  16. Nabih MF, Puteh SEW, Nur AM
    Sci Rep, 2019 12 27;9(1):19923.
    PMID: 31882645 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56314-0
    In 2007, HIV treatment services were established in five main governorates out of twenty-two which resulted in low access to services and poor treatment outcomes. The main goal of this study was to evaluate and analyse the selected treatment outcomes of eight cohorts of PLHIV who were treated with cART during 2007-2014. The method used was a retrospective descriptive study of 1,703 PLHIV who initiated cART at five public health facilities. The results: Retention rate was less than 80%, male: female ratio 1.661, with a mean age of 35 years (±9.2 SD), 85% had been infected with HIV via heterosexual contact. 65% of patients presented with clinical stages 3 and 4, and 52% of them were initiated cART at a CD4 T-cell count ≤200 cells/mm. 61% of cART included Tenofovir and Efavirenz. TB treatment started for 5% of PLHIV, and 22% developed HIV-related clinical manifestations after cART initiation. 67% of PLHIV had experienced cART substitution. The mean AIDS-mortality rate was 15% and the mean LTFU rate was 16%. Conclusion: Although cART showed effectiveness in public health, mobilization of resources and formulation of better health policies are important steps toward improving access to cART and achieving the desired treatment outcomes.
    MeSH terms: Tenofovir/therapeutic use; Adult; Alkynes; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination/methods; Female; Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Yemen; HIV Infections/drug therapy*; Treatment Outcome; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use*; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active/methods; Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use*; Benzoxazines/therapeutic use; Young Adult
  17. Foo CY, Andrianopoulos N, Brennan A, Ajani A, Reid CM, Duffy SJ, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2019 12 27;9(1):19978.
    PMID: 31882674 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56353-7
    Literature studying the door-to-balloon time-outcome relation in coronary intervention is limited by the potential of residual biases from unobserved confounders. This study re-examines the time-outcome relation with further consideration of the unobserved factors and reports the population average effect. Adults with ST-elevation myocardial infarction admitted to one of the six registry participating hospitals in Australia were included in this study. The exposure variable was patient-level door-to-balloon time. Primary outcomes assessed included in-hospital and 30 days mortality. 4343 patients fulfilled the study criteria. 38.0% (1651) experienced a door-to-balloon delay of >90 minutes. The absolute risk differences for in-hospital and 30-day deaths between the two exposure subgroups with balanced covariates were 2.81 (95% CI 1.04, 4.58) and 3.37 (95% CI 1.49, 5.26) per 100 population. When unmeasured factors were taken into consideration, the risk difference were 20.7 (95% CI -2.6, 44.0) and 22.6 (95% CI -1.7, 47.0) per 100 population. Despite further adjustment of the observed and unobserved factors, this study suggests a directionally consistent linkage between longer door-to-balloon delay and higher risk of adverse outcomes at the population level. Greater uncertainties were observed when unmeasured factors were taken into consideration.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Australia/epidemiology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Cohort Studies; Treatment Outcome; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/mortality; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/epidemiology*; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/therapy*
  18. Zadeh-Ardabili PM, Rad SK, Rad SK, Movafagh A
    Sci Rep, 2019 Dec 27;9(1):19953.
    PMID: 31882885 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56360-8
    Oxidative stress has significant role in pathophysiology of any kind of depression through actions of free radicals, non-radical molecules, and unbalancing antioxidant systems in body. In the current study, antidepressant responses of fish oil (FO), Neptune krill oil (NKO), vitamin B12 (Vit B12), and also imipramine (IMP) as the reference were studied. Natural light was employed to induce stress in the animals followed by oral administration of the drugs for 14 days. The antidepressant effect was assessed by tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST), antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress markers were then measured in the brain tissue of the animals. The administration of FO and NKO could significantly reduce the immobility of the animals; while, increasing climbing and swimming time compared to the normal saline in CUS-control group in TST and FST, similarly to IMP but not with Vit B12. Vit B12 could not effect on SOD activity and H2O2 level, but, cause decrease of the malondialdihydric (MDA) level and CAT activity, as well as increased the GPx and GSH activities. The rest treatments led to decrease of MDA, H2O2 levels and CAT activity and increase of GPx, SOD, GSH activities.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antidepressive Agents/pharmacology; Antioxidants/pharmacology; Depression/metabolism*; Depression/physiopathology; Depressive Disorder/metabolism; Depressive Disorder/physiopathology; Dietary Proteins/pharmacology; Disease Models, Animal; Fish Oils/pharmacology*; Imipramine/pharmacology; Male; Pilot Projects; Stress, Physiological/drug effects; Stress, Psychological; Vitamin B 12/pharmacology*; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Euphausiacea/metabolism; Mice
  19. Harun D, Che' Din N, Mohd Rasdi HF, Shamsuddin K
    PMID: 31877917 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17010115
    The aim of this study was to describe the employment experiences of persons with learning disabilities (LDs) in developing countries, such as Malaysia. Factors associated with respondents' employment were also determined. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among young adults with LD who left the special education programs in secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Ninety young adults with LD, aged 18 to 25 years were interviewed face-to-face at an agreed upon convenient place on their working experiences after leaving secondary schools. A total of 13 respondents were excluded from the analysis because their intellectual quotient (IQ) score demonstrated a high possibility of intellectual disability with IQ estimation <70. Of the 77 young adults analyzed, 74.0% reported having work experience and 64.9% were working at the time of interview. Statistical analysis showed significant associations between individual, family, and community factors with respondents' employment. Two factors made a unique statistically significant contribution to the model (gender, p = 0.043 and adult service: Financial support p = 0.012). This study suggests the current school-to-work transition program at secondary and post-secondary schools should be improved to better prepare young adults with LD with necessary skills relevant for the current job market so that they could improve their employability.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Education, Special; Employment*; Female; Disabled Persons*; Humans; Learning Disorders/epidemiology*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Intellectual Disability; Schools; Young Adult
  20. Ozer J, Alon G, Leykin D, Varon J, Aharonson-Daniel L, Einav S
    BMC Med Ethics, 2019 12 26;20(1):102.
    PMID: 31878920 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-019-0439-x
    BACKGROUND: The ethical principle of justice demands that resources be distributed equally and based on evidence. Guidelines regarding forgoing of CPR are unavailable and there is large variance in the reported rates of attempted CPR in in-hospital cardiac arrest. The main objective of this work was to study whether local culture and physician preferences may affect spur-of-the-moment decisions in unexpected in-hospital cardiac arrest.

    METHODS: Cross sectional questionnaire survey conducted among a convenience sample of physicians that likely comprise code team members in their country (Indonesia, Israel and Mexico). The questionnaire included details regarding respondent demographics and training, personal value judgments and preferences as well as professional experience regarding CPR and forgoing of resuscitation.

    RESULTS: Of the 675 questionnaires distributed, 617 (91.4%) were completed and returned. Country of practice and level of knowledge about resuscitation were strongly associated with avoiding CPR performance. Mexican physicians were almost twicemore likely to forgo CPR than their Israeli and Indonesian/Malaysian counterparts [OR1.84 (95% CI 1.03, 3.26), p = 0.038]. Mexican responders also placed greater emphasison personal and patient quality of life (p 

    MeSH terms: Clinical Decision-Making*; Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Culture*; Female; Humans; Indonesia; Israel; Male; Mexico; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Logistic Models; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation*; Health Care Surveys
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