Browse publications by year: 2023

  1. Huang Z, Hu Z, Wong LP, Lin Y
    BMJ Open, 2023 Jul 20;13(7):e073925.
    PMID: 37474189 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073925
    OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the determinants of gastric cancer screening attendance among individuals aged 40 years in a region with high gastric cancer in China.

    DESIGN: An anonymous, cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and March 2022.

    SETTING: A self-administered online survey was conducted in Fujian Province in Southeastern China.

    PARTICIPANTS: People aged 40 years living in five selected cities in Fujian Province with no history of cancer.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gastric cancer screening attendance was measured with the question 'Have you ever been screened for gastric cancer in the past'.

    RESULTS: In total, 2547 complete responses were obtained. The mean age of respondents was 47.72±7.20 years, and 59.8% were men. A total of 42.6% of participants reported that they had undergone gastric cancer screening. The result of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that participants with a first-degree relative affected with gastric cancer (OR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.58 to 2.59) and high perceived susceptibility of gastric cancer (OR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.58 to 2.59) were the strongest facilitators for screening attendance. Other factors positively associated with screening attendance were age 51-60 years (OR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.31 to 2.18), living in urban regions (OR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.55), friends/neighbours/colleagues with gastric cancer (OR=1.30, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.58), history of chronic gastric disease (OR=1.90, 95% CI: 1.57 to 2.30), perceived high cost (OR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.61) and physician recommendation (OR=1.71, 95% CI: 1.36 to 2.16). On the other hand, factors negatively associated with screening attendance included perceived barriers, namely screening is only necessary when symptoms present (OR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.58 to 0.87) and perceived appointment for gastroscopy screening is difficult and time-consuming (OR=0.75, 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.94). No significant association was found between knowledge level and participation in screening.

    CONCLUSION: This study highlights important individual-level factors and barriers to gastric cancer screening. Strategies targeting under-screened populations and eliminating patient-perceived barriers to gastric cancer screening are essential.

    MeSH terms: Adult; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Early Detection of Cancer
  2. Hobeika A, Stauffer MHT, Dub T, van Bortel W, Beniston M, Bukachi S, et al.
    Lancet Glob Health, 2023 Aug;11(8):e1301-e1307.
    PMID: 37474236 DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00246-2
    The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need for better global governance of pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) and has emphasised the importance of organised knowledge production and uptake. In this Health Policy, we assess the potential values and risks of establishing an Intergovernmental Panel for One Health (IPOH). Similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an IPOH would facilitate knowledge uptake in policy making via a multisectoral approach, and hence support the addressing of infectious disease emergence and re-emergence at the human-animal-environment interface. The potential benefits to pandemic PPR include a clear, unified, and authoritative voice from the scientific community, support to help donors and institutions to prioritise their investments, evidence-based policies for implementation, and guidance on defragmenting the global health system. Potential risks include a scope not encompassing all pandemic origins, unclear efficacy in fostering knowledge uptake by policy makers, potentially inadequate speed in facilitating response efforts, and coordination challenges among an already dense set of stakeholders. We recommend weighing these factors when designing institutional reforms for a more effective global health system.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Health Policy; Humans; Policy Making; Pandemics/prevention & control
  3. Jimmy JL, Karn R, Kumari S, Sruthilaxmi CB, Pooja S, Emerson IA, et al.
    Funct Integr Genomics, 2023 Jul 20;23(3):249.
    PMID: 37474674 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01167-0
    In plants, pathogen resistance is brought about by the binding of certain transcription factor (TF) proteins to the cis-elements of certain target genes. These cis-elements are present upstream in the motif of the promoters of each gene. This ensures the binding of a specific TF to a specific promoter, therefore regulating the expression of that gene. Therefore, the study of each promoter sequence of all the rice genes would help identify the target genes of a specific TF. Rice 1 kb upstream promoter sequences of 55,986 annotated genes were analyzed using the Perl program algorithm to detect WRKY13 binding motifs (bm). The resulting genes were grouped using Gene Ontology and gene set enrichment analysis. A gene with more than 4 TF bm in their promoter was selected. Ten genes reported to have a role in rice disease resistance were selected for further analysis. Cis-acting regulatory element analysis was carried out to find the cis-elements and confirm the presence of the corresponding motifs in the promoter sequences of these genes. The 3D structure of WRKY13 TF and the corresponding ten genes were built, and the interacting residues were determined. The binding capacity of WRKY13 to the promoter of these selected genes was analyzed using docking studies. WRKY13 was considered for docking analysis based on the prior reports of autoregulation. Molecular dynamic simulations provided more details regarding the interactions. Expression data revealed the expression of the genes that helped provide the mechanism of interaction. Further co-expression network helped to characterize the interaction of these selected disease resistance-related genes with the WRKY13 TF protein. This study suggests downstream target genes that are regulated by the WRKY13 TF. The molecular mechanism involving the gene network regulated by WRKY13 TF in disease resistance against rice fungal pathogens is explored.
    MeSH terms: Promoter Regions, Genetic; Gene Regulatory Networks; Disease Resistance/genetics
  4. Bar AR, Mondal I, Das S, Biswas B, Samanta S, Jose F, et al.
    Environ Monit Assess, 2023 Jul 20;195(8):975.
    PMID: 37474709 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11552-8
    The study explores the spatio-temporal variation of water quality parameters in the Hooghly estuary, which is considered an ecologically-stressed shallow estuary and a major distributary for the Ganges River. The estimated parameters are chlorophyll-a, total suspended matter (TSM), and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The Sentinel-3 OLCI remote sensing imageries were analyzed for the duration of October 2018 to February 2019. We observed that the water quality of the Hooghly estuaries is comparatively low-oxygenated, mesotrophic, and phosphate-limited. Ongoing channel dredging for maintaining shipping channel depth keeps the TSM in the estuary at an elevated level, with the highest amount of TSM observed during March of 2019 (41.59g m-3) at station A, upstream point. Since the pre-monsoon season, TSM data shows a decreasing trend towards the mouth of the estuary. Chl-a concentration is higher during pre-monsoon than monsoon and post-monsoon periods, with the highest value observed in April at 1.09 mg m-3 in station D during the pre-monsoon period. The CDOM concentration was high in the middle section (January-February) and gradually decreased towards the estuary's head and mouth. The highest CDOM was found in February at locations C and D during the pre-monsoon period. Every station shows a significant correlation among CDOM, TSM, and Chl-a measured parameters. Based on our satellite data analysis, it is recommended that SNAP C2RCC be regionally used for TSM, Chl-a, and CDOM for water quality product retrieval and in various algorithms for the Hooghly estuary monitoring.
    MeSH terms: Environmental Monitoring*; Rivers; Water Quality*; Estuaries
  5. Phang P, Labadin J, Suhaila J, Aslam S, Hazmi H
    BMC Public Health, 2023 Jul 20;23(1):1396.
    PMID: 37474904 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16300-8
    BACKGROUND: In Sarawak, 252 300 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases have been recorded with 1 619 fatalities in 2021, compared to only 1 117 cases in 2020. Since Sarawak is geographically separated from Peninsular Malaysia and half of its population resides in rural districts where medical resources are limited, the analysis of spatiotemporal heterogeneity of disease incidence rates and their relationship with socio-demographic factors are crucial in understanding the spread of the disease in Sarawak.

    METHODS: The spatial dependence of district-wise incidence rates is investigated using spatial autocorrelation analysis with two orders of contiguity weights for various pandemic waves. Nine determinants are chosen from 14 covariates of socio-demographic factors via elastic net regression and recursive partitioning. The relationships between incidence rates and socio-demographic factors are examined using ordinary least squares, spatial lag and spatial error models, and geographically weighted regression.

    RESULTS: In the first 8 months of 2021, COVID-19 severely affected Sarawak's central region, which was followed by the southern region in the next 2 months. In the third wave, based on second-order spatial weights, the incidence rate in a district is most strongly influenced by its neighboring districts' rate, although the variance of incidence rates is best explained by local regression coefficient estimates of socio-demographic factors in the first wave. It is discovered that the percentage of households with garbage collection facilities, population density and the proportion of male in the population are positively associated with the increase in COVID-19 incidence rates.

    CONCLUSION: This research provides useful insights for the State Government and public health authorities to critically incorporate socio-demographic characteristics of local communities into evidence-based decision-making for altering disease monitoring and response plans. Policymakers can make well-informed judgments and implement targeted interventions by having an in-depth understanding of the spatial patterns and relationships between COVID-19 incidence rates and socio-demographic characteristics. This will effectively help in mitigating the spread of the disease.

    MeSH terms: Family Characteristics; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Socioeconomic Factors; Incidence
  6. Maresova P, Krejcar O, Maskuriy R, Bakar NAA, Selamat A, Truhlarova Z, et al.
    BMC Geriatr, 2023 Jul 21;23(1):447.
    PMID: 37474928 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04106-7
    BACKGROUND: Attention is focused on the health and physical fitness of older adults due to their increasing age. Maintaining physical abilities, including safe walking and movement, significantly contributes to the perception of health in old age. One of the early signs of declining fitness in older adults is limited mobility. Approximately one third of 70-year-olds and most 80-year-olds report restrictions on mobility in their apartments and immediate surroundings. Restriction or loss of mobility is a complex multifactorial process, which makes older adults prone to falls, injuries, and hospitalizations and worsens their quality of life while increasing overall mortality.

    OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to identify the factors that have had a significant impact on mobility in recent years and currently, and to identify gaps in our understanding of these factors. The study aims to highlight areas where further research is needed and where new and effective solutions are required.

    METHODS: The PRISMA methodology was used to conduct a scoping review in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Papers published from 2007 to 2021 were searched in November 2021. Of these, 52 papers were selected from the initial 788 outputs for the final analysis.

    RESULTS: The final selected papers were analyzed, and the key determinants were found to be environmental, physical, cognitive, and psychosocial, which confirms the findings of previous studies. One new determinant is technological. New and effective solutions lie in understanding the interactions between different determinants of mobility, addressing environmental factors, and exploring opportunities in the context of emerging technologies, such as the integration of smart home technologies, design of accessible and age-friendly public spaces, development of policies and regulations, and exploration of innovative financing models to support the integration of assistive technologies into the lives of seniors.

    CONCLUSION: For an effective and comprehensive solution to support senior mobility, the determinants cannot be solved separately. Physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and technological determinants can often be perceived as the cause/motivation for mobility. Further research on these determinants can help to arrive at solutions for environmental determinants, which, in turn, will help improve mobility. Future studies should investigate financial aspects, especially since many technological solutions are expensive and not commonly available, which limits their use.

    MeSH terms: Aged; Humans; Physical Fitness; Quality of Life*; Exercise; Walking*; Databases, Factual
  7. Lee WS, Aziz HA, Tajarudin HA
    Water Environ Res, 2023 Aug;95(8):e10913.
    PMID: 37475142 DOI: 10.1002/wer.10913
    Groundwater is one of the alternatives to surface water that can be used for drinking water; however, it normally exists with high iron and manganese content. In this study, a column study was conducted to observe the elimination of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in the groundwater under different retention times by using zeolite immobilized with iron-oxidizing bacteria (IOB). Rossellomorea sp., representing an IOB, was found from the isolation process and was further cultured in the laboratory for immobilization into the natural zeolite as replacement materials for the sand filter. When the zeolite assisted with the Rossellomorea sp. was used, the elimination of Fe and Mn were 99.34% and 88.92%, respectively, compared to the removal of Fe and Mn, which were 93.62% and 93.73%, respectively, for media without immobilization. The presence of Rossellomorea sp. enhances the Fe oxidation, resulting in high removal of Fe. The Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models were performed in both raw zeolite and zeolite with IOB. The total coliform (most probable number [MPN]) increased from 70.8 to 307.6 MPN/100 mL because of the Rossellomorea sp. present that promotes the growth of coliform bacteria. In conclusion, the immobilization of zeolite with IOB is a potential technique to extract the Fe and Mn in the groundwater. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Zeolite incorporated with Rossellomorea sp. has higher removal performance of Fe, whereas the removal of Mn reduced compared to the raw zeolite. The presence of Rossellomorea sp. enhances the oxidation of ferrous iron and improves the removal of Fe in the groundwater because the ferric iron is the priority ion to be exchanged. The removal of UV254 increase when Rossellomorea sp. present in the zeolite because the Rossellomorea sp. consume the natural organic matter as carbon source.
    MeSH terms: Iron; Manganese; Oxidation-Reduction; Zeolites*; Groundwater*
  8. Lim SM, Law BP
    J Hum Nutr Diet, 2023 Oct;36(5):2073-2084.
    PMID: 37475527 DOI: 10.1111/jhn.13213
    BACKGROUND: Children are vulnerable, and they may experience their first serious food allergy reaction at school, where they spend much of their time. The present study aims to determine the level of food allergy knowledge, attitude and management (KAM) among preschool personnel in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 292 personnel working in Klang Valley preschools. The participants completed an online questionnaire asking about sociodemographic information and food allergy KAM. Mann-Whitney U and chi-squared tests were used to compare the KAM level between public and private preschool personnel and examine the association of KAM of food allergy with various sociodemographic factors, respectively.

    RESULTS: Some 86.3% of the participants demonstrated a low level of food allergy knowledge, 64.7% showed a negative food allergy attitude and 57.9% indicated fair food allergy management. The total mean score for food allergy knowledge was higher (p 

    MeSH terms: Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Schools
  9. Marshall ME, Jacobs JP, Tretter JT
    Cardiol Young, 2023 Jul;33(7):1071-1078.
    PMID: 37475655 DOI: 10.1017/S1047951123001695
    Dr Krishna Kumar is the focus of our sixth in a series of interviews in Cardiology in the Young entitled, "Global Leadership in Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Care." Dr Kumar was born in Raurkela, India. He attended medical school at Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, graduating in 1984. Dr Kumar then went on to complete internal medicine, emergency medicine, and adult cardiology training at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1988, 1989, and 1990, respectively. He then pursued paediatric cardiology training at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, USA. Dr Kumar began his clinical position as a paediatric cardiologist at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, Kerala, India.During his impressive career, Dr Kumar has made significant contributions to educational advancement, research and innovation, public health advocacy, and clinical care. Dr Kumar is credited for distinguishing paediatric cardiology as a distinct subspecialty in India. He was a founding member of the Pediatric Cardiology Society of India and the original editor of the society's academic journal. Recognising the deficit of paediatric cardiology-trained physicians in low- and middle-income countries, Dr Kumar helped establish formal structured training programmes for paediatric cardiology in India. More recently, he established the Children's HeartLink Fellowships in paediatric cardiac sciences at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi and Institut Jantung Negara in Malaysia. Through educational programmes, Dr Kumar has taught countless caregivers and paediatricians, in India and neighbouring countries, the early identification and management of children with CHD. Dr Kumar has established a premier paediatric heart programme at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences. As department Chief, he emphasises the importance of teamwork, advocacy, and continuous quality improvement. He has developed numerous low-cost strategies for the management of CHD. He has established large community-based studies on rheumatic heart disease and CHD in South India. Dr Kumar's focus on advocacy and policy change in India has made a substantial impact on early identification and treatment of CHD in the subcontinent. He has made a global impact on the care of paediatric cardiology patients through his educational programmes, research and innovation, large-scale research registries, and advocacy for public health policy changes. He is an incredibly humble and generous leader, and his patients and community are the source of his unending motivation.
    MeSH terms: Boston; Cardiology*; Child; Developing Countries*; Humans; India; Leadership
  10. Mohamed M, Tandon N, Kim Y, Kopp I, Tanaka N, Mikamo H, et al.
    PMID: 37475682 DOI: 10.1177/19322968231186402
    Globally, health care workers (HCWs) are at a high risk of occupational exposure to needlestick injuries (NSIs). Needlestick injuries not only are associated with an increased risk of infections caused by bloodborne pathogens but are also a primary source of emotional distress and job burnout for HCWs and patients. Insulin injection-related NSIs are common among HCWs working in hospitals in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and impose a significant burden. Insulin pen needles have a high risk of transmitting infections (at both the patient-end and cartridge end of the sharp) after use. Recapping a needle after administering an insulin injection poses a major risk to HCWs. Currently, several safety-engineered needle devices (SENDs) are available with active or passive safety mechanisms. Passive insulin safety pen needles with dual-ended protection and automatic recapping capabilities have resulted in a significant drop in accidental punctures to HCWs while administering insulin to patients with diabetes. In this article, we have reviewed the burden and common causes of NSIs with insulin injections among HCWs in the APAC region. We have discussed current approaches to address the issues associated with NSIs and the benefits of introducing SENDs in health care settings, including long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and home care settings where patients may require assisted insulin injections. This review also summarizes key strategies/recommendations to prevent NSIs in HCWs and patients with diabetes in the APAC region.
  11. Khairul Amin KHA, Bujang NNA, Abas SA, Zulkifli NI, Amir SA, Shah SM, et al.
    PMID: 37475779 DOI: 10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.2.985
    OBJECTIVE: Malaysia's first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was reported in January 2020, with the first case in the state of Negeri Sembilan diagnosed on 17 February 2020. The National COVID-19 Immunization Programme commenced in early March 2021 in Negeri Sembilan. This study describes the COVID-19 cases and vaccination coverage in Seremban District, Negeri Sembilan, during 2021.

    METHODS: The demographic and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 cases and the district's vaccination coverage were described. Vaccination coverage was plotted against COVID-19 cases on the epidemic curve. The χ2 test was used to examine the differences between the vaccination status of COVID-19 cases and severity category, hospitalization status and mortality.

    RESULTS: In Seremban District, there were 65 879 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 2021. The data revealed that the 
21-30-year age group had the highest proportion of cases (16 365; 24.8%), the majority of cases were male (58.3%), and most cases were from the subdistrict of Ampangan (23.1%). The majority of cases were Malaysian. Over half (53.5%) were symptomatic, with fever (29.8%) and cough (22.8%) being the most frequently reported symptoms. COVID-19 vaccination status was significantly associated with severity category, hospitalization and mortality (P 

    MeSH terms: Female; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Vaccination
  12. Nitu NS, Sultana SZ, Haq A, Sumi SA, Bose SK, Sinha S, et al.
    Cureus, 2023 Jul;15(7):e42103.
    PMID: 37476298 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42103
    Context The cerebellum is a part of the hindbrain and consists of cortical gray matter (GM) at the surface and a medullary core of white matter (WM). The GM contains a cell body of neurons that helps process and transmit any command type through nerve fibers found in the WM. The main functions of GM in the central nervous system empower persons to control motor activity, recollection, and passion. So, this research aims to assess the thickness of GM at the summit and bottom of folia by histologically studying the cerebellum cortex. Methods The collection of data was a descriptive type of cross-sectional study. The method was the purposive type. This study was conducted from August 2016 to March 2017, and the research was carried out at Mymensingh Medical College's Department of Anatomy, Bangladesh. Specimens containing cerebellum were preserved from Bangladeshi cadavers according to sexes and ages ranging in years. We chose fresh specimens from people who died within the last 12 hours and preserved them in 10% formol saline. The size of the tissue that was collected for the histological study was not more than 2 cm2 and not more than 4-5 mm thick. Then the tissue was placed in 10% formol saline. This fluid was used for quick fixation and partial dehydration of the tissue. After dehydration, each tissue segment is processed for infiltration and embedding separately. Every section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E) before being coated with dibutyl phthalate polystyrene xylene (DPX) coverslips on slides. Result The mean (±SD) thickness of GM at the summit of folium was 886.2±29.7µm in Group A, 925.2±25.9µm in Group B, 912.7±22.3µm in Group C, and 839.9±40.7µm in Group D. Mean (±SD) GM thickness at the bottom of the fissure was 395.6±12.2 µm, 403.9±26.0µm, 380.4±23.4 µm, and 375.8±28.8 µm in Groups A, B, C, and D respectively. Conclusion The thickness of the cortex is an essential factor in the normal development process, and it was similar in the current study. Normal aging, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias cause reduced GM which makes the cortical sheet thin. Huntington's disease, corticobasal degeneration, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and schizophrenia are all examples of neurological disorders. Cortical thinning is typically locally localized, and the progression of atrophy can thus disclose much about a disease's history and causal variables. The present study correspondingly found that GM was reduced after the age of 50 years onward. Furthermore, longitudinal investigations of cortical atrophy have the potential to be extremely useful in measuring the efficacy of a wide range of treatments.
  13. Jameel MH, Sufi Bin Roslan M, Bin Mayzan MZH, Agam MAB, Zaki ZI, Fallatah AM
    R Soc Open Sci, 2023 Jul;10(7):230503.
    PMID: 37476508 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230503
    In the present research, the structural, electronic and optical properties of transition metal dichalcogenide-doped transition metal oxides MoS2-doped-V2O5 with various doping concentrations (x = 1-3%) of MoS2 atoms are studied by using first principles calculation. The generalized gradient approximation Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof simulation approach is used to investigate the energy bandgap (Eg) of orthorhombic structures. We examined the energy bandgap (Eg) decrement from 2.76 to 1.30 eV with various doping (x = 1-3%) of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) atoms. The bandgap nature shows that the material is a well-known direct bandgap semiconductor. MoS2 doping (x = 1-3%) atoms in pentoxide (V2O5) creates the extra gamma active states which contribute to the formation of conduction and valance bands. MoS2-doped-V2O5 composite is a proficient photocatalyst, has a large surface area for absorption of light, decreases the electron-hole pairs recombination rate and increases the charge transport. A comprehensive study of optical conductivity reveals that strong peaks of MoS2-doped-V2O5 increase in ultraviolet spectrum region with small shifts at larger energy bands through increment doping x = 1-3% atoms of MoS2. A significant decrement was found in the reflectivity due to the decrement in the bandgap with doping. The optical properties significantly increased by the decrement of bandgap (Eg). Two-dimensional MoS2-doped-V2O5 composite has high energy absorption, optical conductivity and refractive index, and is an appropriate material for photocatalytic applications.
  14. Liew SK, Park JK, Gong HS
    J Rheum Dis, 2023 Jul 01;30(3):204-207.
    PMID: 37476673 DOI: 10.4078/jrd.2023.0007
    Hand involvement in sarcoidosis is rare and it presents as tenosynovitis, dactylitis, nodules and osteoarticular bony destruction. We describe an unusual presentation of progressive intrinsic muscle contracture of both hands in a 42-year-old woman with sarcoid myopathy who presented with painful swelling and weakness of all four extremities. Her systemic symptoms improved with oral corticosteroids, but the hand muscle contracture remained after resolution of myositis. Serial soft tissue releases of intrinsic muscle contracture improved hand function markedly. This case highlights that surgery is a viable option to treat intrinsic muscle contracture in patients with chronic sarcoid myopathy complicated with severe muscle contracture.
  15. Goh KW, Abdul Kari Z, Wee W, Zakaria NNA, Rahman MM, Kabir MA, et al.
    Front Vet Sci, 2023;10:1149514.
    PMID: 37476823 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1149514
    Edwardsiellosis caused by Edwardsiella tarda resulted in significant economic losses in aquaculture operations worldwide. This disease could infect a wide range of hosts, including freshwater, brackish water, and marine aquatic animals. Currently, antibiotics and vaccines are being used as prophylactic agents to overcome Edwardsiellosis in aquaculture. However, application of antibiotics has led to antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria, and the antibiotic residues pose a threat to public health. Meanwhile, the use of vaccines to combat Edwardsiellosis requires intensive labor work and high costs. Thus, phytobiotics were attempted to be used as antimicrobial agents to minimize the impact of Edwardsiellosis in aquaculture. These phytobiotics may also provide farmers with new options to manage aquaculture species' health. The impact of Edwardsiellosis in aquaculture worldwide was elaborated on and highlighted in this review study, as well as the recent application of phytobiotics in aquaculture and the status of vaccines to combat Edwardsiellosis. This review also focuses on the potential of phytobiotics in improving aquatic animal growth performance, enhancing immune system function, and stimulating disease resistance.
  16. Wan Roselan WN, Bawawi SN, Baharuddin IH, Wan Mokhtar I
    Spec Care Dentist, 2023;43(4):409-415.
    PMID: 36087053 DOI: 10.1111/scd.12774
    AIM: The study evaluated parents' oral health care experiences and practices for their children with Down syndrome and its effect on the child's teeth and gingiva's condition METHOD: 75 parents of children with Down syndrome between 0 and 16 years of age responded to 18-item bilingual questionnaire concerning their child's oral health status RESULT: Most parents rated their child's teeth and gingiva health as good. There is no correlation found between experience score and practice score (r = -0.057), and no correlation between practice score on the child's both teeth (r = -0.001) and gingiva's condition (r = 0.031).

    CONCLUSION: The parental oral health care experience and practices for their children with Down syndrome are deemed sufficient. However, a tailor-made comprehensive oral health care for them is very advisable, thus eradicating the barriers and challenges.

  17. Saleh ZT, Elshatarat RA, Almarwani AM, Alahmadi HA, Elneblawi NH, Al-Za'areer MS, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2023 Apr 01;24(4):1289-1295.
    PMID: 37116151 DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.4.1289
    INTRODUCTION: Testicular cancer (TC) incidence is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to investigate Saudi nursing students' knowledge and perception about TC.

    METHOD: This cross-sectional study was done using convenience sampling method. In this study, 280 nursing students from different nursing schools in six cities of Saudi Arabia were recruited. A structured self-report questionnaire was used to collect data.

    RESULT: About 49.2% of the participants received education about TC in their nursing schools. The findings showed lack of enough knowledge about TC among Saudi nursing students. Mostly, the participants reported that heredity factor and having family history of TC (48.9%) and age between 56 and 70 years (41.8%) were the most common risk factors of TC. According to the participants, physical examination was the most common diagnostic test usually used for early detection of TC (40.4%) and biopsy test was the most accurate test to confirm TC diagnosis (45.4%). Only one third of the participants (34.6%) knew that between 75% and 100% of TC cases can be cured in case of early detection. About half of the participants (51.8%) reported that surgical procedure was the most common treatment for TC. The nursing students who had high GPA (r=0.86, p<0.001), were unwilling to get more information on TC (r=0.24, p=0.04), had family history of TC (r= 0.53, p=0.02), medical problems with testicles (r= 0.69, p=0.01), received education about TC in their school of nursing (r=0.65, p=0.02), and were more self-confident in assessing and managing TC (r=0.38, p=0.03) had higher level knowledge about TC.  Conclusion: Despite the importance of nurses' roles in assessing and managing TC, nursing students in Saudi Arabia still did not have enough knowledge about TC. Improving nursing programs' curricula and conducting health education programs are recommended.

    MeSH terms: Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Male; Middle Aged; Perception; Surveys and Questionnaires; Saudi Arabia/epidemiology; Students, Nursing*
  18. Thwe PN, Yeong KY, Choo WS
    Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 2023 Sep;78(3):613-619.
    PMID: 37466824 DOI: 10.1007/s11130-023-01081-7
    Betacyanin-rich extract from red beet (Beta vulgaris) was recently reported to inhibit amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation, a main pathological event in Alzheimer's disease. However, the anti-Aβ aggregation effect of individual betacyanin isolates has not been reported before. This study investigated the anti-Aβ aggregation activity and cytotoxicity of betacyanins from red pitahaya or red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus). Betacyanin fraction (IC50 = 16.02 ± 1.15 µg/mL) and individual betacyanin isolates exhibited anti-Aβ aggregation activity in a concentration-dependent manner using a thioflavin T fluorescence assay. The highest to lowest IC50 was in the order of betanin (426.30 ± 29.55 µM), phyllocactin (175.22 ± 1.52 µM), and hylocerenin (131.73 ± 5.58 µM), following a trend of increase in functional groups of carboxyl, hydroxyl, and/or carbonyl. Further, the betacyanin fraction of 135.78 µg/mL and below, which were concentrations with an anti-Aβ aggregation effect, were validated as non-neurotoxic based on an in vitro cytotoxicity assay using human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells. These findings highlight the potential neuroprotective activity of betacyanins for Alzheimer's disease.
    MeSH terms: Cell Survival; Humans; Neuroblastoma*; Cactaceae*; Betacyanins/pharmacology
  19. Mohanadas HP, Nair V, Doctor AA, Faudzi AAM, Tucker N, Ismail AF, et al.
    Ann Biomed Eng, 2023 Nov;51(11):2365-2383.
    PMID: 37466879 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-023-03322-x
    Additive Manufacturing is noted for ease of product customization and short production run cost-effectiveness. As our global population approaches 8 billion, additive manufacturing has a future in maintaining and improving average human life expectancy for the same reasons that it has advantaged general manufacturing. In recent years, additive manufacturing has been applied to tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. Additive Manufacturing combined with tissue engineering and biocompatibility studies offers future opportunities for various complex cardiovascular implants and surgeries. This paper is a comprehensive overview of current technological advancements in additive manufacturing with potential for cardiovascular application. The current limitations and prospects of the technology for cardiovascular applications are explored and evaluated.
    MeSH terms: Biomedical Engineering; Humans; Models, Cardiovascular*; Prostheses and Implants; Tissue Engineering/methods; Bioengineering*
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