Browse publications by year: 2021

  1. Issa MR, Awanis Muslim N, Mat Sharif Z
    SAGE Open Nurs, 2021 12 09;7:23779608211065213.
    PMID: 35155775 DOI: 10.1177/23779608211065213
    Background: All hospitals are required to provide high-quality pain management; one of the most critical issues in achieving high-quality pain management is that the hospitals have a clear plan to manage the patients' pain and improve the nurses' awareness of pain management during the COVID 19 pandemic. However, there is a significant gap in the literature that this study can cover.

    Aim: This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of model-based learning on nurses' attitudes toward nurses' pain management awareness during the COVID 19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia government hospitals.

    Method: The Heath Beliefs Model was used, with a quasi-experimental design, with per experimental one group pre-test post-test design, and a quantitative approach using self-administered questionnaires obtained from 330 nurses working with patients suffering from pain. IBM SPSS V23 and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS)V23 were applied to analyze the causal relationships between the variables.

    Results: A two-step approach to analyze the study: the first step was to test the measurement models' constructs' reliability and validity. The second step was to test research hypotheses in the structural models. The results show a significant positive relationship between model-based learning and pain management awareness among nurses during COVID 19 pandemic. Furthermore, model-based learning fully mediated the relationship between nurses' attitudes and pain management awareness.

    Conclusions: The study successfully improved nurses' attitudes toward pain management awareness among nurses during COVID 19 pandemic. These findings will help strengthen the debate in the existing literature, and this is a new development window in the pain management area.

  2. Ngah NA, Dias GJ, Tong DC, Mohd Noor SNF, Ratnayake J, Cooper PR, et al.
    Molecules, 2021 Nov 25;26(23).
    PMID: 34885714 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26237131
    BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has gained popularity in craniofacial surgery, as it provides an excellent reservoir of autologous growth factors (GFs) that are essential for bone regeneration. However, the low elastic modulus, short-term clinical application, poor storage potential and limitations in emergency therapy use restrict its more widespread clinical application. This study fabricates lyophilised PRF (Ly-PRF), evaluates its physical and biological properties, and explores its application for craniofacial tissue engineering purposes.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: A lyophilisation method was applied, and the outcome was evaluated and compared with traditionally prepared PRF. We investigated how lyophilisation affected PRF's physical characteristics and biological properties by determining: (1) the physical and morphological architecture of Ly-PRF using SEM, and (2) the kinetic release of PDGF-AB using ELISA.

    RESULTS: Ly-PRF exhibited a dense and homogeneous interconnected 3D fibrin network. Moreover, clusters of morphologically consistent cells of platelets and leukocytes were apparent within Ly-PRF, along with evidence of PDGF-AB release in accordance with previously reports.

    CONCLUSIONS: The protocol established in this study for Ly-PRF preparation demonstrated versatility, and provides a biomaterial with growth factor release for potential use as a craniofacial bioscaffold.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Blood Platelets/metabolism; Blood Platelets/chemistry; Bone Regeneration/drug effects; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Freeze Drying; Humans; Leukocytes/chemistry; Male; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/biosynthesis*; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/genetics; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/metabolism; Tissue Donors; Tissue Engineering*; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/therapeutic use; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/chemistry*; Young Adult
  3. Chen X, Rahman MK, Rana MS, Gazi MAI, Rahaman MA, Nawi NC
    Front Psychol, 2021;12:760051.
    PMID: 35145450 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.760051
    This work has aimed to investigate the consumers' green product purchase attitudes and behavioral intention during COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected through a survey method of 503 consumers in Malaysia. Data were analyzed using the partial least square method. The findings revealed that fear of COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on green product behavioral intention. Green product literacy, green product orientation, and social influence have a significant influence on green product purchase attitudes. The results also indicated that consumers' green product purchase attitudes mediate the effect of green product literacy, green product orientation, and social influence on behavioral intention. The findings of this work will provide strategically relevant references to green marketers and retail managers in the understanding of consumers' green product purchase attitudes and green product behavioral intention during the ongoing uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  4. Skowron K, Bauza-Kaszewska J, Grudlewska-Buda K, Wiktorczyk-Kapischke N, Zacharski M, Bernaciak Z, et al.
    Front Microbiol, 2021;12:811157.
    PMID: 35145498 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.811157
    Among the diseases that pose a serious threat to public health, those caused by viruses are of great importance. The Nipah virus (NiV) belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family was reported in Malaysia in 1998/1999. Due to its high mortality in humans, its zoonotic nature, the possibility of human-to-human transmission, and the lack of an available vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized it as a global health problem. Depending on strain specificity, neurological symptoms and severe respiratory disorders are observed in NiV infection. In most confirmed cases of NiV epidemics, the appearance of the virus in humans was associated with the presence of various animal species, but generally, bats of Pteropus species are considered the most important natural animal NiV reservoir and vector. Consumption of contaminated food, contact with animals, and "human-to-human" direct contact were identified as NiV transmission routes. Due to the lack of vaccines and drugs with proven effectiveness against NiV, treatment of patients is limited to supportive and prophylactic.
  5. Lim SYM, Alshagga MA, Alshawsh MA, Ong CE, Pan Y
    Drug Metab Pers Ther, 2021 Aug 17;37(1).
    PMID: 35146975 DOI: 10.1515/dmpt-2021-1000196
    OBJECTIVES: Khat, a natural amphetamine-like psychostimulant plant, are widely consumed globally. Concurrent intake of khat and xenobiotics may lead to herb-drug interactions and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This study is a continuation of our previous study, targeted to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory effects of khat ethanol extract (KEE) on human cytochrome (CYP) 1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C19, CYP2E1, CYP2J2, and CYP3A5, major human drug metabolizing enzymes.

    METHODS: In vitro fluorescence enzyme assays were employed to assess CYPs inhibition with the presence and absence of various KEE concentrations.

    RESULTS: KEE reversibly inhibited CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C19, CYP2E1, CYP2J2 and CYP3A5 but not CYP1A2 with IC50 values of 25.5, 99, 4.5, 21, 27, 17, and 10 μg/mL respectively. No irreversible inhibition of KEE on all the eight CYPs were identified. The Ki values of CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C19, CYP2E1, CYP2J2 and CYP3A5 were 20.9, 85, 4.8, 18.3, 59.3, 3, and 21.7 μg/mL, respectively. KEE inhibited CYP2B6 via competitive or mixed inhibition; CYP2E1 via un-competitive or mixed inhibition; while CYP2A6, CYP2C8, CYP2C19, CYP2J2 and CYP3A5 via non-competitive or mixed inhibition.

    CONCLUSIONS: Caution should be taken by khat users who are on medications metabolized by CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C19, CYP2E1, CYP2J2, and CYP3A5.

  6. Silva H, Chellappan K, Karunaweera N
    Comput Math Methods Med, 2021;2021:4208254.
    PMID: 34873414 DOI: 10.1155/2021/4208254
    Skin lesions are a feature of many diseases including cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Ulcerative lesions are a common manifestation of CL. Response to treatment in such lesions is judged through the assessment of the healing process by regular clinical observations, which remains a challenge for the clinician, health system, and the patient in leishmaniasis endemic countries. In this study, image processing was initially done using 40 CL lesion color images that were captured using a mobile phone camera, to establish a technique to extract features from the image which could be related to the clinical status of the lesion. The identified techniques were further developed, and ten ulcer images were analyzed to detect the extent of inflammatory response and/or signs of healing using pattern recognition of inflammatory tissue captured in the image. The images were preprocessed at the outset, and the quality was improved using the CIE L∗a∗b color space technique. Furthermore, features were extracted using the principal component analysis and profiled using the signal spectrogram technique. This study has established an adaptive thresholding technique ranging between 35 and 200 to profile the skin lesion images using signal spectrogram plotted using Signal Analyzer in MATLAB. The outcome indicates its potential utility in visualizing and assessing inflammatory tissue response in a CL ulcer. This approach is expected to be developed further to a mHealth-based prediction algorithm to enable remote monitoring of treatment response of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
    MeSH terms: Smartphone; Algorithms; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods; Photography; Sri Lanka; Telemedicine/methods*; Telemedicine/statistics & numerical data; Computational Biology; Principal Component Analysis
  7. Hu N, Li S, Li L, Xu H
    Front Psychol, 2021;12:759094.
    PMID: 35140652 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.759094
    In children's learning subjects, English courses has its relative particularity compared with Chinese courses and the mathematics. Children's English teaching is often inefficient because of the lack of students' timely consolidation after class. Given this, the present work starts with the analysis of the current situation of children's learning, and introduces the film-assisted English teaching. In the specific teaching links, English teaching is carried out in a three-dimensional teaching mode. Before that, topics of the films are selected for the English teaching, and the films are edited and processed. Initially, the present work expounds the English children's films and their educational functions. Then, children can obtain teaching effect from the films. An English questionnaire is designed to analyze the application effect of English films in children's English teaching. The results show that the film teaching mode improves children's learning interest and motivation, and English film teaching can stimulate students' learning interest. Students are also more active to participate in teaching activities, thus improving their language skills. Under the teaching in the scenes of films, students can perceive the functions of language in certain contexts. Comprehensible language input promotes students' English listening ability and oral expression ability. The films can intuitively show the humanistic style, historical geography, cultures, and customs of English countries, and then cultivate students' western cultural literacy. Practice has proved that the method proposed here can achieve good teaching effect, and it provides certain references for children's English education.
  8. Abualjubain IJ, Al-Chalabi MMM, Wan Sulaiman WA
    Cureus, 2021 Dec;13(12):e20811.
    PMID: 35141069 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20811
    Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a complex autosomal dominant, multisystem genetic disease affecting about 1 in 3500 individuals. Plexiform neurofibromas represent a rare variant (30%) of NF1 in which the spread of tumor cells along nerve fascicles leads to a diffuse mass of thickened nerve fibers. Affected patients with NF1 have a greater chance of developing soft tissue sarcomas than the general population. Leiomyosarcoma is one of the most frequent soft tissue sarcomas, seldom observed in patients with NF1. Herein we report a rare concurrency of bone leiomyosarcoma in a patient with a plexiform neurofibroma, adding to the few reported cases of leiomyosarcomas in patients with NF1. Our case is a 14-year-old male who is a known case of NF1 and presented with a four-month history of pain and swelling on the medial side of the right knee. Imaging and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. Based on the authors' knowledge and search, this is the first reported case of plexiform neurofibroma with a primary bone leiomyosarcoma, representing an extremely rare concurrency. Patients with such uncommon tumors should be assessed regularly, and continuous follow-up is essential.
  9. Kuan HC, Ivan Cheng EY, Yong MH, Wan Abdul Halim WH, Othman O
    Cureus, 2021 Dec;13(12):e20822.
    PMID: 35141078 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20822
    Corneal nodular lesions are not uncommon in clinical practice. Diagnosing and managing this condition can be challenging due to its variable causes. This article highlights three cases of corneal nodular lesions. A common clinical pathway for the diagnosis and treatment of cornea nodular lesions is discussed. Two young females and an elderly man presented with a unilateral corneal nodule of variable duration, which was further demonstrated on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Several diagnoses were made after thorough history and examination which include herpetic stromal keratitis, phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis secondary to blepharitis, and Salzmann nodular degeneration. All cases were initiated on topical antibiotics and topical steroids with additional medication or surgical procedure onboard according to their clinical condition. The corneal nodules resolved with scarring after a period of treatment. In conclusion, corneal nodular lesions can be associated with various pathologies. Thorough history, examination, and appropriate investigations are needed to reveal the underlying causes. Serial anterior segment images and AS-OCT are useful to monitor progression and treatment response. Prompt diagnosis and initiation of treatment are crucial to prevent further complications.
  10. Collaboration for Research, Implementation and Training in Critical Care - Asia Investigators, Pisani L, Rashan T, Shamal M, Ghose A, Kumar Tirupakuzhi Vijayaraghavan B, et al.
    Wellcome Open Res, 2021;6:251.
    PMID: 35141427 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17122.1
    Background: The value of medical registries strongly depends on the quality of the data collected. This must be objectively measured before large clinical databases can be promoted for observational research, quality improvement, and clinical trials. We aimed to evaluate the quality of a multinational intensive care unit (ICU) network of registries of critically ill patients established in seven Asian low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: The Critical Care Asia federated registry platform enables ICUs to collect clinical, outcome and process data for aggregate and unit-level analysis. The evaluation used the standardised criteria of the Directory of Clinical Databases (DoCDat) and a framework for data quality assurance in medical registries. Six reviewers assessed structure, coverage, reliability and validity of the ICU registry data. Case mix and process measures on patient episodes from June to December 2020 were analysed. Results: Data on 20,507 consecutive patient episodes from 97 ICUs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam were included. The quality level achieved according to the ten prespecified DoCDat criteria was high (average score 3.4 out of 4) as was the structural and organizational performance -- comparable to ICU registries in high-income countries. Identified strengths were types of variables included, reliability of coding, data completeness and validation. Potential improvements included extension of national coverage, optimization of recruitment completeness validation in all centers and the use of interobserver reliability checks. Conclusions: The Critical Care Asia platform evaluates well using standardised frameworks for data quality and equally to registries in resource-rich settings.
  11. Mukherjee D, Kumar S, Donthu N, Pandey N
    Manag Int Rev, 2021;61(5):599-642.
    PMID: 34658534 DOI: 10.1007/s11575-021-00454-x
    The Management International Review (MIR) celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2020. In commemoration of this event, we use a bibliometric analysis to present a retrospective on the journal by analyzing its content for the years between 2006 and 2020. We find that the collaboration culture in MIR has risen over time with the increase in the median size of author teams. Moreover, the collaboration network has become more global over time. The methodology used in the journal is predominantly empirical and quantitative with archival data sources most commonly used. The bibliographic coupling of the MIR corpus reveals that the major themes in the journal revolve around "culture," "emerging economies," "innovation, knowledge transfer, and absorptive capacity," "internationalization process," "culture and entry modes," and "internationalization and performance." A comparison with other leading international business journals provides distinct pathways in which MIR may continue to grow. Finally, it is important to note that while the share of conceptual studies has decreased significantly in the last 15 years, the MIR editors want to see more novel and theoretically grounded conceptual articles in the journal.
  12. Yang C, Wang W, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Shen L, Li Y, et al.
    Mach Learn, 2021;110(11-12):2993-3013.
    PMID: 34664001 DOI: 10.1007/s10994-021-06052-0
    Machine learning (ML) lifecycle is a cyclic process to build an efficient ML system. Though a lot of commercial and community (non-commercial) frameworks have been proposed to streamline the major stages in the ML lifecycle, they are normally overqualified and insufficient for an ML system in its nascent phase. Driven by real-world experience in building and maintaining ML systems, we find that it is more efficient to initialize the major stages of ML lifecycle first for trial and error, followed by the extension of specific stages to acclimatize towards more complex scenarios. For this, we introduce a simple yet flexible framework, MLife, for fast ML lifecycle initialization. This is built on the fact that data flow in MLife is in a closed loop driven by bad cases, especially those which impact ML model performance the most but also provide the most value for further ML model development-a key factor towards enabling enterprises to fast track their ML capabilities. Better yet, MLife is also flexible enough to be easily extensible to more complex scenarios for future maintenance. For this, we introduce two real-world use cases to demonstrate that MLife is particularly suitable for ML systems in their early phases.
  13. Rahamathulla M
    Int J Child Maltreat, 2021;4(4):375-400.
    PMID: 34664035 DOI: 10.1007/s42448-021-00087-5
    The present study aimed to critically review the legal frameworks on cyber safety of children living in the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and related policy implications. Data for the present research were collected from secondary sources. The results revealed numerous inconsistencies among the ASEAN countries in legislation pertaining to the online safety of children. The present study argues that these inconsistencies could be used by criminals to easily exploit children. The study identified loopholes in legislation on age of consent, possession of child pornography, cyber bullying and sexual grooming of children. Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam have no clear definition of the term child pornography, which means it may be possible for criminals to evade conviction for production, possession and distribution of child pornography. Legislation in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam does not prohibit an individual from possessing child pornography. Only three ASEAN nations have a legal framework regarding child grooming for sexual purposes, while only two have policies regarding cyberbullying, and just three ASEAN nations have a formal global alliance with international law enforcement initiatives. Based on these findings, the study argues that the legal inconsistencies among ASEAN nations might result in cross-border sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Accordingly, it is suggested that countries in the ASEAN region need to urgently identify these legal inconsistencies and collaborate to improve the safety of their children in cyberspace.
  14. Marthoenis, Htay MNN, Arafat SMY
    Indian J Psychiatry, 2021 12 03;63(6):597-600.
    PMID: 35136259 DOI: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_285_21
    Background: Media reporting of suicide has an essential role in the suicidal behavior of the general population.

    Aims: The aim of this study is to assess the quality of online news reports of suicidal behavior in Myanmar against the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting guidelines.

    Methods: We performed a content analysis of all available suicide-related news reports published in vernacular online newspapers of Myanmar.

    Results: A total of 285 reports were analyzed, consisting of 87.4% suicides and 12.6% nonfatal suicidal attempts. Potentially, harmful information reported in the text includes the methods of suicide (100%), the word or term in Burmese related to suicide (89.5%), the name of the person (56.5%), life event (50.5%), and photo or suicidal person (17.9%). Meanwhile, helpful information such as prevention programs and the contact information for suicide services to the readers have been infrequently reported.

    Conclusion: The study found that the newspaper reporting of suicide in Myanmar is grossly nonadherent to the WHO media guidelines.

  15. Leong CR, Daud NS, Tong WY, Cheng SY, Tan WN, Hamin NS, et al.
    Food Technol Biotechnol, 2021 Dec;59(4):422-431.
    PMID: 35136367 DOI: 10.17113/ftb.59.04.21.7069
    Research background: Microbial contamination of food products is one of the significant causes of food spoilage and foodborne illnesses. The use of active packaging films incorporated with antimicrobial agents can be a measure to improve food quality and extend shelf life. Nevertheless, antimicrobial agents such as silver, copper, titanium and zinc in the packaging films have raised concerns among consumers due to toxicity issues.

    Experimental approach: The current study aims to develop biodegradable gelatine-based edible films incorporated with microcapsules of Clitoria ternatea-derived anthocyanins as a natural antimicrobial agent. The impact of incorporation of microcapsules with anthocyanins on the morphology, thermal, mechanical, water vapour barrier and physicochemical properties of the gelatine films was evaluated in this study. The effectiveness of the developed films against foodborne pathogens and their application for perishable food protection were also investigated.

    Results and conclusions: The results show that incorporating anthocyanin microcapsules enhances the gelatine film physical and mechanical properties by increasing the thickness, tensile strength, Young's modulus and elongation at break of the films. Scanning electronic microscopy analysis revealed that the film surface morphology with anthocyanin microcapsules had a homogeneous and smooth surface texture compared to the control. The thermogravimetric analysis also showed a slight improvement in the thermal properties of the developed films. Agar well diffusion assay revealed that the developed films exhibit significant inhibition against a broad-spectrum of bacteria. Furthermore, the films composed of gelatine with anthocyanin microcapsules significantly reduced the total viable count of microorganisms in the bean curd during storage for 12 days compared with the control films.

    Novelty and scientific contribution: Increasing global awareness of healthy and safe food with minimal synthetic ingredients as preservatives has sparked the search for the use of antimicrobial agents of natural origins in active food packaging material. In this study, a safe and effective active packaging film was developed using an environmentally friendly biopolymer, gelatine film incorporated with microcapsules of Clitoria ternatea-derived anthocyanins as a natural antimicrobial agent. This study demonstrated that such a method is not only able to improve the film physical properties but can also significantly prolong the shelf life of food products by protecting them from microbial spoilage.

  16. Bhuiyan MR, Abdullah DJ, Hashim DN, Farid FA, Uddin DJ, Abdullah N, et al.
    F1000Res, 2021;10:1190.
    PMID: 35136582 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.73156.2
    BACKGROUND: This paper focuses on advances in crowd control study with an emphasis on high-density crowds, particularly Hajj crowds. Video analysis and visual surveillance have been of increasing importance in order to enhance the safety and security of pilgrimages in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Hajj is considered to be a particularly distinctive event, with hundreds of thousands of people gathering in a small space, which does not allow a precise analysis of video footage using advanced video and computer vision algorithms. This research proposes an algorithm based on a Convolutional Neural Networks model specifically for Hajj applications. Additionally, the work introduces a system for counting and then estimating the crowd density.

    METHODS: The model adopts an architecture which detects each person in the crowd, spots head location with a bounding box and does the counting in our own novel dataset (HAJJ-Crowd).

    RESULTS: Our algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-art method, and attains a remarkable Mean Absolute Error result of 200 (average of 82.0 improvement) and Mean Square Error of 240 (average of 135.54 improvement).

    CONCLUSIONS: In our new HAJJ-Crowd dataset for evaluation and testing, we have a density map and prediction results of some standard methods.

    MeSH terms: Algorithms; Crowding; Humans; Saudi Arabia/epidemiology; Neural Networks (Computer)
  17. Goud EVSS, Gulati S, Agrawal A, Pani P, Nishant K, Pattnaik SJ, et al.
    J Family Med Prim Care, 2021 Nov;10(11):4247-4252.
    PMID: 35136797 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_885_21
    BACKGROUND: Down syndrome which is also known as "trisomy 21" is the commonest chromosomal defect that has been associated with intellectual disability or impairment. Clinically, it has been characterized by the generalized presence of hypotonic musculature, variety of neurobiological alterations, numerous respiratory diseases, and significantly higher risk of developing infection along with various dental abnormalities and oro-facial dysmorphological changes. Periodontal diseases are the most prominent oral health issue among individuals diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

    AIM: The objective of the present prevalence analysis was to study the implications of Down's syndrome on oral health status among patients.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional prevalence analysis conducted within a duration of 1 year. A total of 100 children diagnosed with Down syndrome (aged between 5 and 16 years) were selected as the study sample. Inclusion criteria were (a) cytogenetic positive trisomy 21, (b) cooperative behavior, and (c) written informed consent obtained from the legal care-takers. Exclusion criteria were (a) any debilitating form of systemic diseases, (b) any other disability, and (c) extremely uncooperative children. The gingival health status was assessed using gingival index (GI) [Loe and Silness], calculus index (CI) [Ramfjord], and plaque index (PI) [Silness and Loe]. Information involving the practice of oral hygiene maintenance, diet plans, and parental educational status was derived from each parent. Based upon their intelligence quotient (I. Q.) values, the subjects were classified into three groups: a) mild (I. Q. level = 50 to 70), b) moderate (I. Q. level = 35 to 50), and c) severe (I. Q. level ≤35). Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical software tool Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Qualitative data were recorded as frequencies, and percentages and quantitative data were recorded as mean and standard deviation values. All categorical outcomes were analyzed by means of the Chi-square test. The quantitative outcomes of Calculus Index, Gingival Index, and Plaque Index were analyzed by either student's t-test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significance was set at a cut-off value of P < 0.05.

    RESULTS: Down syndromic children between 12 and 16 years were reported to have statistically significant higher Calculus Index, Gingival Index, and Plaque Index values in comparison with younger age syndromic children (P < 0.01). Those with severe mental retardation had significantly higher Plaque Index (P < 0.001) and Gingival Index (P < 0.04) values when compared with those with mild and moderate mental retardation. No significant difference in comparing Calculus Index was noted.

    CONCLUSION: Higher age group children with Down syndrome require close monitoring by parents for assisting in maintaining oral hygiene practices just as in younger age group children.

  18. Tay JS, Kim YJ
    Medicine (Baltimore), 2021 Dec 10;100(49):e28173.
    PMID: 34889293 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000028173
    BACKGROUND: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus. The main clinical manifestations of DPN include pain, numbness, paraesthesia, and weakness of the lower limbs which often leads to diabetic foot ulceration, eventually resulting in amputation. Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, moxibustion has a great effect on treating and preventing DPN. However, randomized clinical trials done to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment are still lacking. Hence, this study is carried out to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion therapy on diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

    METHODS: This study will be a pilot, interventional, randomized, 2-armed, parallel, singled-masked, controlled trial. A total of 40 diabetes mellitus patients with peripheral neuropathy will be recruited and assigned randomly into 2 groups (moxibustion group and waiting group) at a 1:1 ratio. This trial consists of an 8-week intervention period and a 4-week follow-up period. During the intervention period, the moxibustion group will take 3 moxibustion sessions per week, whereas no intervention will be done on the waiting group to act as the control group. The outcome will be assessed by an outcome assessor who is unaware of the group assignment. The primary outcome will be pain assessment measured with algometry, Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs pain scale, visual analogue scale, and neuropathy pain scale. The secondary outcome will be an evaluation of functional performance capacity with 6 minutes walking test, evaluation of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure, and serum HbA1c and albumin levels.

    DISCUSSION: We hope that this trial will provide valuable insights on the efficacy of moxibustion in the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry No.: NCT04894461 (URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04894461?term=NCT04894461&draw=2&rank=1) Registered on May 20, 2021.

    MeSH terms: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications*; Diabetic Neuropathies/complications; Diabetic Neuropathies/therapy*; Humans; Moxibustion/adverse effects*; Pain; Pain Measurement; Acupuncture Therapy; Treatment Outcome; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Diabetic Foot/complications; Diabetic Foot/therapy
  19. Han W, Chai X, Liu Y, Xu Y, Tan CP
    Food Chem, 2021 Dec 04;381:131745.
    PMID: 35124493 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131745
    The effect of different types of oils including camellia oil (CLO), sunflower oil (SFO), corn oil (CO) and linseed oil (LO) on the formation, crystal network structure and mechanical properties of 4%wt beeswax (BW) in oleogel was investigated. BW oleogels containing oils with higher contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids gelled first (1%wt), especially LO with higher contents of linolenic acid rather than CLO with higher contents of monounsaturated fatty acids. In comparison, oils with higher polyunsaturated fatty acid contents exhibited higher Db with more extensive microstructure at different cooling rates, which was related to shorter nucleation induction time of crystal and higher crystallinity. Stronger van der Waals forces were observed in oleogels with higher polyunsaturated fatty acid contents especially for LO oleogel. Rheology also showed that LO oleogel with higher content of linolenic acid had higher crystallinity and lower crystal melting interfacial tension, resulting in the formation of a more stable network structure.
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