Browse publications by year: 2024

  1. Geeitha S, Prabha KPR, Cho J, Easwaramoorthy SV
    Sci Rep, 2024 Dec 30;14(1):31641.
    PMID: 39738223 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-80472-5
    Cervical cancer is a deadly disease in women globally. There is a greater chance of getting rid of cervical cancer in case of earliest diagnosis. But for some patients, there is a chance of recurrence. The chances of treating the Recurrence of cervical carcinoma arelimited. The main objective of a research is to find the key features that will predict the cervical cancer recurrence and survival rates accurately by utilizing a neural network that is bidirectionally recurrent. The goal is to reduce risk factors of cervical cancer recurrence by identifying genes with positive coefficients and targeting them for preventive interventions. First step is identification of risk factors for cervical carcinoma recurrence by utilising clinical attributes. This research uses following Random forest, Logistic regression, Gradient boosting and support vector machine algorithms are applied for classification. Random forest offers the maximum precision of these four techniques at 91.2%. The second step is identifying long noncoding RNA (lnRNA) gene signatures among people with cervical carcinomaby implementingHSIC model. Intended to discover biomarkers in initial cervical carcinoma clinical data from people who experienced a distant repetition that could be connected to lnRNA gene signatures and utilized for forecasting survival rates using a bidirectional recurrent neural network(Bi-RNN). The results shows that Bi-RNN model effectively forecast the cervical cancer recurrence and survival.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Algorithms; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics; Survival Rate; Neural Networks (Computer)*; Support Vector Machine; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics
  2. Qamar T, Ibrahim N
    J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad, 2024;36(4):681-685.
    PMID: 40121622 DOI: 10.55519/JAMC-04-13584
    BACKGROUND: Language is a very important aspect for the adaptation and translation process. For many people, their native language is not just a means of communication but a vessel of cultural identity and emotional expression. When individuals are experiencing the difficulties of life, they should have the chance to address them using a language that truly connects with their personal experiences. Adapting and translating therapeutic modules to align with cross-cultural settings is important to ensure effectiveness and practicality among different populations. The objective of this article is to provide the guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation and translation-back-translation of the therapeutic modules, and also provide the guidelines to test the reliability and validity of the translated version of therapeutic modules.

    METHODS: The Back-to-Back translation model (10) was used in this study for the guidelines of adaptation and translation of therapeutic modules. Following the instructions in this document made the process of adaptation and translation simpler.

    RESULTS: Results showed that the (10) is a significant model and provided a systematic and comprehensive way for adaptation and translation of therapeutic module with make little changes in reaction to feedback and cultural awareness.

    CONCLUSION: At the end, it emphasised how important it is to conduct an extensive study to determine the effectiveness and cultural compatibility of the updated modules. However, these principles ultimately enhance effective and inclusive health care, providing health professionals with a foundation for adapting and translating therapeutic processes to diverse cultural conditions.

    MeSH terms: Humans; Translating*; Translations; Reproducibility of Results; Culturally Competent Care/standards
  3. Zhao J, Xiang C, Tengku Fadilah TK, Luo H
    J Sports Sci Med, 2024 Jun;23(2):289-304.
    PMID: 38841637 DOI: 10.52082/jssm.2024.289
    Perception is an essential component of children's psychological development, which is foundational to children's ability to understand and adapt to their external environment. Perception is also a crucial tool for understand and navigating one's surroundings, enabling children to identify objects and react appropriately to settings or situations. Substantial evidence indicates that engaging in physical activity is beneficial for the development of children's perceptual abilities, as the two are closely intertwined. Still, more research is necessary to gain a full understanding of the impact of physical activity on children's perception. To further identify and quantify the effects of physical activity on a number of specific perceptions in children. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Searches were performed using five online databases (i.e., PubMed, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) for articles published up to and including June 2023 to identify eligible citations. A total of 12 randomized controlled trials, encompassing 1,761 children under the age of 12, were analyzed. Overall, physical activity as an intervention showed a notable effect on the development of children's perceptions. The meta-analysis indicated that participating in physical activity for 30 minutes around, daily, had a greater impact on children's visual perception and executive functioning than on their motor perception, body perception, and global self-worth (SMD = 1.33, 95% CI: 0.75, 1.91, p < 0.001). The effects of physical activity on children's perception performance varied by participant characteristics, with physical activity having better effects on body perception and overall self-worth in children who were obese or overweight. Furthermore, physical activity can also enhance executive function and attention in children with developmental coordination disorders. The effects of physical activity on children's perception performance varied according to the intervention time, with different activity durations resulting in different perception performances. Therefore, parents and educators must prioritize an appropriate length of physical activity time for children to ensure their optimal growth and development. Registration and protocol CRD42023441119.
    MeSH terms: Body Image; Child; Child Development; Humans; Visual Perception; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  4. Bian Z, Liu X, Hu S, Li H, Wood JS, Williamson RT, et al.
    J Nat Prod, 2024 Oct 25;87(10):2459-2467.
    PMID: 39315450 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.4c00759
    We report here the orchestration of molecular ion networking (MoIN) and a set of computationally assisted structural elucidation approaches in the discovery and assignment of a new class of rearranged 4,5-seco-abietane diterpenoids including serra A (1), which possesses an unusual 6/6/5/5 fused-ring skeleton system, together with two previously unreported diterpenoids serras B-C (2-3) and five known compounds were isolated from Isodon serra (I. serra). The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis in conjunction with computationally assisted structure elucidation tools. In silico, serras A-C (1-3) bind well to PXR, suggesting their potential role in reducing inflammation. The results of serra A (1) with hPXR demonstrated agonist activity with an EC50 value of 15 μM. Serra A (1), graciliflorin F (4), gerardianin C (5), 11,12,15-trihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-7-one (6), rabdosin D (7), and 15-hydroxysalprionin (8) exhibited promising anti-inflammatory activities in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 267.4 cells, and their inhibition rates on NO production were more than 65% at 10 μM.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Ligands; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology; Receptors, Steroid; Molecular Structure; Diterpenes, Abietane/pharmacology; Diterpenes, Abietane/chemistry; Mice
  5. Conta C, O'Byrne R, Ukkola P, Bhutta S, Adeeb F, Maheshwari P
    Int J Rheum Dis, 2024 Oct;27(10):e15366.
    PMID: 39382239 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.15366
    MeSH terms: Drug Resistance; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome
  6. Nedbal C, Kar Kei Yuen S, Tramanzoli P, Maggi M, Giulioni C, De Stefano V, et al.
    Cent European J Urol, 2024;77(3):547-565.
    PMID: 40115468 DOI: 10.5173/ceju.2024.89
    INTRODUCTION: To provide a comprehensive review of survey trends in urology, aiming to provide insight into changes in publication in the new millennium. Surveys in healthcare allow for a better understanding of the knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns as well as gaps in healthcare systems.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comprehensive review of all "surveys in urology answered by urologists" was performed through the PubMed and Scopus databases, according to the SPICE framework. Included surveys were divided according to the subject: "Uro-oncology", "Urolithiasis", "Mental health" "Resident training", and "Miscellaneous". Publications were then divided into 2 main periods: Period-1 (2000-2011) and Period-2 (2012-2023).

    RESULTS: A total of 361 surveys have been published since 2000, with a significant overall increasing trend in the recent decade (p <0.001). A significantly increasing focus is seen for publications on resident training (n = 86; +660%; p = 0.003), mental health (n = 31; +650%; p = 0.001), urolithiasis (n = 40; +371%; p = 0.002), and uro-oncology (n = 94; +230%, p ≤0.001). In subanalysis, the largest increase in publications was noted for surveys on radical prostatectomy (+175%, p = 0.024), surgical treatment of urolithiasis (+320%, p = 0.040), quality of resident education (+483%, p <0.001), and personal satisfaction with resident training (+500%, p = 0.005).

    CONCLUSIONS: Over the decades, surveys have served as an effective interactive tool for urologists to engage and investigate different aspects of practice and training across sub-specialties. In modern times, better evaluation tools integrated with AI will provide a bigger platform for urologists to use surveys as part of their armamentarium to address and evaluate not only clinical practices but also emotional challenges, training needs, and inequalities that hinder progress in urology.

  7. Kioh SH, Paczek K
    J Chiropr Humanit, 2024 Dec;31:28-32.
    PMID: 39346746 DOI: 10.1016/j.echu.2024.01.002
    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the variables influencing patients' preferences in choosing their chiropractor in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study included patients from 5 different chiropractic centers in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Demographic information and variables influencing patients' decisions were obtained through an online questionnaire via quick-response code. Descriptive statistics were used to describe patients' demographics and factors influencing patients' preferences in choosing their chiropractors.

    RESULTS: Data were available for 198 chiropractic patients with a mean age of 31.5 years. Approximately 90% of the participants agreed that a chiropractor with good technical and interpersonal skills and excellent service by chiropractic center staff strongly influenced their preference in choosing their chiropractor, while only 13.6% agreed that referral by other health care professionals influenced their preference in choosing their chiropractor.

    CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the influence of a chiropractor's technical and interpersonal skills, as well as friendly staff, on a patient's preferences when choosing their chiropractor. Our findings may provide chiropractic centers and health care providers with a better understanding of the variables that influence a patient's decisions and assist them in improving their services.

  8. Wong WY, Ismail SM, Phan CW, Tan YS
    Int J Med Mushrooms, 2024;26(9):17-31.
    PMID: 39093399 DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2024054164
    Cellular damage resulting from elevated levels of free radicals can lead to persistent health issues. Pleurotus floridanus, an edible white oyster mushroom, is rich in β-glucans with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this research, we examined the β-glucan content, total phenolic content, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of hot water extracts with varying particle sizes (< 75, 75-154, 154-300, and 300-600 μm) of both whole and sliced fruiting bodies of P. floridanus. The findings revealed that the в-glucan content increased as the particle size increased, although no significant differences were observed. Conversely, smaller particle sizes (< 75 μm) of whole and sliced fruiting bodies of P. floridanus exhibited higher phenolic content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hy-drazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activity, and reducing ability compared with larger particle size (> 75 μm). Of the four samples (AW2, AW3, AS1, and AS2) with the highest antioxidant activity selected for anti-inflammatory assays, all demonstrated the ability to reduce nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels, but did not enhance interleukin-10 expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Interestingly, particle size < 75 to 300 μm did not appear to influence the anti-inflammatory activity, because no significant differences were observed among the particle sizes. Therefore, a particle size < 300 μm in a P. floridanus hot water extract could serve as a valuable source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds to counteract the harmful effects of free radicals.
    MeSH terms: RAW 264.7 Cells; Animals; Biological Products/pharmacology; Biological Products/chemistry; Cell Survival/drug effects; Nitric Oxide/analysis; Particle Size; Phenols/analysis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/analysis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics; Interleukin-10/analysis; Interleukin-10/genetics; Mice
  9. Geng Q, Amini M, Binti Hashim SNA, Zhu M
    PLoS One, 2024;19(10):e0311959.
    PMID: 39401217 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311959
    Teacher guidance can positively impact students' learning interest and mathematical behavior engagement. As a crucial part of classroom teaching, effective teaching styles play an indispensable role in middle school students' mathematical behavior engagement. This study addresses the gap in understanding how different teaching styles influence junior high school students' math behavior engagement in China, by examining the underexplored mediating roles of academic self-efficacy and learning interest in this relationship, which are critical yet often overlooked factors in fostering student engagement and improving educational outcomes in mathematics. Students from grades 7 to 9 in six middle schools in Jiangsu Province, China participated in the survey. The results indicate that: (1) academic self-efficacy mediates the relationship between effective teaching styles (humorous and lively style, rigorous and logical style, caring and sharing style) and mathematical behavior engagement among Chinese middle school students; (2) math learning interest mediates the relationship between effective teaching styles (humorous and lively style, rigorous and logical style, caring and sharing style, innovative and exploratory style) and mathematical behavior engagement among Chinese middle school students. Recommendations include encouraging teachers to adopt diverse teaching styles that foster both self-efficacy and interest.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Child; China; Female; Humans; Learning*; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Schools*; Teaching*; Self Efficacy*
  10. Adzahar S, Rameli N, Hussin S, Nik Mohd Hassan NFF, Yusoff WNW, Yusoff SM, et al.
    Oman Med J, 2024 Sep;39(5):e669.
    PMID: 40104282 DOI: 10.5001/omj.2024.96
    OBJECTIVES: Hemoglobin Constant Spring (Hb CS) is one of the most common non-deletion types of alpha (α) thalassemia in Southeast Asia. The nature of this abnormal globin gene is unstable, labile, and present in minute amounts in the peripheral blood, leading to underdiagnosis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Hb CS among the Kelantan population in Malaysia, compare the levels of Hb CS detected by capillary electrophoresis (CE) among three groups of Hb CS (heterozygous, homozygous, and compound heterozygous), and evaluate the efficacy of CE and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in detecting Hb CS.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from secondary school students in Kelantan from 2017 to 2018 who participated in a thalassemia screening program conducted by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. Hb analysis was performed using an automated CE system (CAPILLARYS 2 Flex-Piercing System Sebia) and HPLC (VARIANT II, Bio-rad Laboratories). DNA analysis was used multiplex polymerase chain reaction and multiplex amplification refractory mutation system to detect deletion and non-deletion α-thalassemia.

    RESULTS: Termination codon CS mutation was confirmed among 376 (99.5%) samples with a peak value in zone 2 of CE. Heterozygous Hb CS was the most common type, detected in 344 samples (91.5%), followed by compound heterozygous Hb CS in 31 samples (8.2%) and one sample (0.3%) of homozygous Hb CS.

    CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of Hb CS is most accurately achieved by combining CE and HPLC methods, with confirmation by DNA molecular study, although the latter is more expensive.

  11. Prarthana KG, Suja P, Nayanatara AK, Adarsh S, Chaitra U
    Clin Ter, 2024;175(5):287-290.
    PMID: 39400092 DOI: 10.7417/CT.2024.5132
    PURPOSE: Obesity is one of the lifestyle disorders which is slowly and steadily extending throughout the world. Women especially are showing an upward shift in Body mass index (BMI) in this modern era. Obesity in females has been associated with various risk factors. Less studies have been explored on the influence of BMI on different parameters of menstrual cycle The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of BMI on different parameters of the menstrual cycle.

    METHODS: A total of 50 healthy female volunteers with regular menstrual cycle were selected after prior consent, and among them based on the body mass index, 32 females were categorized into obese group based on the BMI. Menstrual cycle history was monitored for 3 months for confirming regularity. Serum Progesterone and Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were recorded.

    RESULTS: Progesterone levels were very highly significant in the luteal phase when compared to early follicular and ovulatory phase. The PEFR value in luteal phase was higher when compared to early follicular and ovulatory phase which was statistically highly significant. Positive correlation between progesterone and PEFR was observed in the luteal phase, but it was not statistically significant. Positive correlation between BMI and PEFR was also observed.

    CONCLUSION: The study reveals significant hormonal and respiratory changes throughout the menstrual cycle. Progesterone levels and PEFR are markedly higher in the luteal phase, while BMI positively correlates with PEFR. A significant negative correlation exists between Waist Hip ratio (WHR) in the luteal phase. Further studies are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms driving the correlations between progesterone, respiratory parameters, BMI, and WHR in more diverse population.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Body Mass Index*; Waist-Hip Ratio; Young Adult
  12. Rath A, Wong M, Li K, Wong A, Tan L, Tan K, et al.
    Int J Dent Hyg, 2024 Nov;22(4):802-813.
    PMID: 38461488 DOI: 10.1111/idh.12795
    OBJECTIVES: This randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of octenidine hydrochloride and chlorhexidine mouthwashes as adjuncts to instrumentation in stage I-II periodontitis patients.

    METHODS: Forty-five patients with mild-to-moderate periodontitis were randomly allocated to three groups: 0.1% octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT), placebo, and 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwashes. Patients were instructed to use the mouthwash after instrumentation for twice a day up to 3 weeks. Periodontal parameters such as probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), O'Leary plaque index (PI), Loe and Silness gingival index (GI), Lobene stain index (SI), and oral soft tissue changes were recorded at baseline and once every week for 3 weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was also recorded as a self-administered questionnaire at the end of the study. The one-way ANOVA was used to compare VAS scores between the groups. The repeated measures ANOVA and post hoc Newman-Keuls tests were used to assess the differences in the periodontal parameters between groups at different time intervals. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the mean SI.

    RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in the mean GI of the OCT and CHX groups compared to placebo (p 

    MeSH terms: Adult; Dental Plaque Index; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Imines*; Male; Middle Aged; Periodontal Index*; Periodontitis; Dental Scaling/instrumentation; Dental Scaling/methods; Treatment Outcome; Periodontal Attachment Loss
  13. Goel S, Walia D, Bhojani U, Bhatnagar N, Chopra M
    Front Public Health, 2024;12:1358834.
    PMID: 39371218 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1358834
    INTRODUCTION: The tobacco industry (TI), driven by profit motives, consistently conceals health risks through deceptive strategies, notably in countries like India. These tactics create vulnerabilities that hinder effective tobacco control measures and enable the TI to exploit legal gaps. Understanding these TI strategies is essential for policymakers to take appropriate preventive and corrective measures in order to limit tobacco industry interference (TII) in policy-making. The study aims at understanding the trend of TII in India between 2019 and 2023.

    METHODOLOGY: The secondary data from the Global Tobacco Industry Interference report, consisting of seven major domains of the TII index, viz. policy participation, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, industry benefits, unnecessary interaction, transparency, conflict of interest, and preventive measures, were retrieved. A composite score was obtained after adding scores of different domains, for each year.

    RESULTS: The findings of the study demonstrated an initial improvement in India's implementation of WHO FCTC Article 5.3, as evidenced by a decreasing score between 2019 and 2021. However, this trend halted in 2023, with data showing a slight increase in the score. When compared with other Asian countries, India shows marginal improvement in score than Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and South Korea. Some of the countries in the region, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Brunei, China, and Vietnam experienced a decline in TII.

    DISCUSSION: There has been a rise in CSR activities, forms of unnecessary interactions of TII with policymakers, and participation in policy development; however, improvements are observed in providing benefits to the TI, conflict of interest, and preventive measures. In order to fortify the regulatory framework, it is imperative to create awareness among stakeholders on conflict of interest, denormalize corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives by the TI, provision of a watchdog for TII in the country and "whole of government" approach in implementation of FCTC Article 5.3.

    MeSH terms: Humans; India; Policy Making; Social Responsibility; Conflict of Interest
  14. Hidayat Y, Machmud A, Zulhuda S, Suartini S
    F1000Res, 2024;13:722.
    PMID: 40083803 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.148322.3
    BACKGROUND: Indonesia currently could not make it to the top ten global halal due to some external and internal factors, although it is the largest Muslim country. In the external sector, the competition map is getting tougher, while internally, there are handicaps in the form of weak public awareness of competition. As a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia can become one of the largest markets in the world. As indicated in the Global Islamic Economic Report (GIER), Indonesia is one of the top ten countries that control the Islamic economic market, yet it fails to dominate its Islamic market. Accordingly, the government needs to play a stronger role through regulatory policies to encourage the development of the Islamic economic ecosystem in Indonesia (halal value chain). The purpose of this study is to find out and analyse the existence of Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia in the world's market for Halal products and Services.

    METHODS: The researchers have conducted a form of normative juridical research with the analytical descriptive method, namely by collecting, describing, analysing, and presenting what is ( das sein) and what ought to be ( das sollen).

    RESULTS: Support from the government and stakeholders has not been optimal in improving welfare - capital access, management, and halal certification, so the existence of the global halal ecosystem has not yet impacted MSMEs' ability to compete competitively.

    CONCLUSIONS: The conclusion of this study shows that the quadruple helix innovation system is capable of guaranteeing the development of MSMEs in a manner to achieves a high level of competitiveness - efficiency, and effectiveness of the products and services produced.

    MeSH terms: Government; Humans; Indonesia; Islam; Ecosystem*
  15. Khati A, Wickersham JA, Gautam K, Paudel K, Phiphatkhunarnon P, Lim SH, et al.
    JMIR Res Protoc, 2024 Oct 23;13:e60962.
    PMID: 39441624 DOI: 10.2196/60962
    BACKGROUND: HIV continues to have a disproportionate impact on specific populations in Malaysia, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM). HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a strategy that has been shown to scale up HIV testing rates. However, it faces shortcomings because of concerns about self-efficacy, result interpretation, and lack of counseling and linkage to care. This underscores the need for an innovative approach that integrates HIVST with timely counseling, expert guidance, and referrals to enhance engagement in relevant HIV prevention or treatment.

    OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the protocol used in developing and testing a web-based platform (ie, CINTAI) providing an HIVST kit and real-time e-counseling to support online-to-offline linkage to HIV care services for MSM in Malaysia.

    METHODS: The methods are reported according to the SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials) 2013 guidelines. In phase I, we will adapt existing HIVST web-based platforms to create a new online-to-offline HIVST and counseling platform called "CINTAI" for Malaysian MSM. In phase II, we will use a type 1 hybrid implementation trial design to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of "CINTAI" compared with treatment as usual among Malaysian MSM, with assessments conducted over 6 months. Multilevel implementation factors will also be collected to guide future adoption and scale-up. We will enroll 78 MSM in the pilot randomized controlled trial. Baseline characteristics will be tested for homogeneity between groups using appropriate statistical tests. A generalized linear mixed model with random subject effects will account for within-subject correlation. Treatment assignment, time, interaction, and confounders will be included. The proportion of MSM tested for HIV over 6 months and other outcomes (pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV or antiretroviral therapy linkage, HIV risk behaviors, and chemsex harm reduction) will be compared using linear contrasts.

    RESULTS: We completed phase I of the proposed study in April 2024 and started phase II in May 2024, with 15 participants recruited (7 in the CINTAI and 8 in the treatment-as-usual groups). On the basis of a series of formative works completed during phase I, we developed a fully functional, web-based platform that provides a digital platform for MSM in Malaysia to order HIVST kits for free and to receive HIV counseling, followed by offline linkage to HIV prevention services (if HIV negative) or HIV treatment services (if HIV positive).

    CONCLUSIONS: Despite being at high risk for HIV transmission, MSM in Malaysia have alarmingly low testing and linkage to HIV care services, prompting the need for innovative approaches to support HIV prevention efforts. If found to be feasible and acceptable, CINTAI can be easily adapted for a range of health outcomes and health care delivery services for MSM, including adaptation to other low- and middle-income countries.

    INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/60962.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Counseling; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Homosexuality, Male*; Internet
  16. Khalid K, Lim HX, Hwang JS, Poh CL
    AAPS J, 2024 Aug 13;26(5):93.
    PMID: 39138686 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-024-00963-1
    The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause infections and deaths, which are attributable to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC). Moderna's response to the declining protective efficacies of current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines against Omicron was to develop a bivalent booster vaccine based on the Spike (S) protein from the Wuhan and Omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains. This approach, while commendable, is unfeasible in light of rapidly emerging mutated viral strains. PubMed and Google Scholar were systematically reviewed for peer-reviewed papers up to January 2024. Articles included focused on specific themes such as the clinical history of recombinant protein vaccine development against different diseases, including COVID-19, the production of recombinant protein vaccines using different host expression systems, aspects to consider in recombinant protein vaccine development, and overcoming problems associated with large-scale recombinant protein vaccine production. In silico approaches to identify conserved and immunogenic epitopes could provide broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 VOCs but require validation in animal models. The recombinant protein vaccine development platform has shown a successful history in clinical development. Recombinant protein vaccines incorporating conserved epitopes may utilize a number of expression systems, such as yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), baculovirus-insect cells (Sf9 cells), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Current multi-epitope subunit vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 utilizing synthetic peptides are unfeasible for large-scale immunizations. Recombinant protein vaccines based on conserved and immunogenic proteins produced using E. coli offer high production yields, convenient purification, and cost-effective production of large-scale vaccine quantities capable of protecting against the SARS-CoV-2 D614G strain and its VOCs.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Epitopes/immunology; Humans; Recombinant Proteins/immunology; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
  17. Peng TS, Mohamad H, Kanagaratnam K, Mahbob HBM, Kamalden TMIT
    Oman Med J, 2024 Sep;39(5):e681.
    PMID: 40060979 DOI: 10.5001/omj.2024.32
    Myiasis is the term referring to an infestation of dipterous larvae in the living body tissue, where they feed on the tissue and cause infection. It is typically found in individuals living in unhygienic conditions, with foul-smelling odor emanating from neglected wounds or body discharge, which attract flies to lay their eggs in the affected area. Myiasis can cause life-threatening complications if maggots invade vital organs, resulting in sepsis, hemorrhage, and organ dysfunction. The mainstay of treatment includes mechanical removal of the maggots, wound debridement, daily wound dressing, and administration of antibiotics for concurrent bacterial infections. Recently, we encountered a patient who presented with bleeding and foul-smelling discharge from a tracheostomy wound, which was found to be infested with maggots.
  18. Yi F, Mohamed ASA, Noor MHM, Che Ani F, Zolkefli ZE
    PeerJ Comput Sci, 2024;10:e2548.
    PMID: 40061243 DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.2548
    Defects in printed circuit boards (PCBs) occurring during the production process of consumer electronic products can have a substantial impact on product quality, compromising both stability and reliability. Despite considerable efforts in PCB defect inspection, current detection models struggle with accuracy due to complex backgrounds and multi-scale characteristics of PCB defects. This article introduces a novel network, YOLOv8-DSC-EMA-EIoU (YOLOv8-DEE), to address these challenges by enhancing the YOLOv8-L model. Firstly, an improved backbone network incorporating depthwise separable convolution (DSC) modules is designed to enhance the network's ability to extract PCB defect features. Secondly, an efficient multi-scale attention (EMA) module is introduced in the network's neck to improve contextual information interaction within complex PCB images. Lastly, the original complete intersection over union (CIoU) is replaced with efficient intersection over union (EIoU) to better highlight defect locations and accommodate varying sizes and aspect ratios, thereby enhancing detection accuracy. Experimental results show that YOLOv8-DEE achieves a mean average precision (mAP) of 97.5% and 98.7% on the HRIPCB and DeepPCB datasets, respectively, improving by 2.5% and 0.7% compared to YOLOv8-L. Additionally, YOLOv8-DEE outperforms other state-of-the-art methods in defect detection, demonstrating significant improvements in detecting small, medium, and large PCB defects.
  19. Mustufa C, Ghani HA, Nayak M, Khamis MF, Ariffin Z, Rahman NA
    J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2024 Dec;16(Suppl 5):S4785-S4791.
    PMID: 40061676 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1200_24
    BACKGROUND: This study aimed to translate and validate the rating-of-fatigue (ROF) scale in the Kannada language.

    METHODS: This current study involved two steps, where forward translation, backward translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and test of a pre-final version of the ROF scale were conducted in the first step. Content validity, face validity, and construct validity of the ROF scale were performed in five stages. This study enlisted the help of eight experts to create the ROF scale in the Kannada language. Moreover, 50 patients participated by responding to a variety of Likert scale and numeric scale questionnaires that surveyed the intention of measuring the ROF scale. The content validity and face validity were assessed by using the index prepared for the content validity and face validity, respectively, along with mean and standard deviation (SD). The correlation between the Kannada version of the ROF measure and a numerical rating scale-facial rating scale (NRS-FRS) was assessed by the Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC). Moreover, a comparison of the mean value of ROF and NRS-FRS was performed by the paired t-test.

    RESULTS: The Kannada version of the ROF scale was prepared after getting consensus from all the experts. The fatigue questionnaire met a high level of expert content validity (0.93) and showed that most experts opined high relevance (1.00) for measuring dental fatigue. The fatigue questionnaire meets a high level of response in face validity (0.92) based on the face validity indices. PCC showed a high level of construct validity (r = 0.819) of the ROF scale. No significant difference (P = 0.858) was observed between ROF and NRS-FRS by the paired t-test.

    CONCLUSION: The Kannada version of the ROF scale is a valid tool to assess dental fatigue.

  20. Aljarousha M, Alghamdi WM, Attaallah S, Alhoot MA
    PMID: 40065803 DOI: 10.51329/mehdiophthal1510
    BACKGROUND: The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was first introduced and developed in 1997 by the Outcomes Research Group, and was adopted by Allergan, Inc. (Irvine, Goleta, CA). While several tools are available for evaluating dry eye syndrome (DES), the OSDI questionnaire is known to have high reliability and validity. Additionally, although more complex questionnaires are available, the goal of the OSDI is to ensure a rapid diagnosis of ocular surface disease. The OSDI consists of a 12-item questionnaire designed to assess the visual disability caused by DES. The OSDI score can range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater disability. This language-inclusive mini-review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of previous studies that translated the OSDI into various languages and validated the translated versions.

    METHODS: OSDI validation studies were identified through a PubMed / MEDLINE and Google Scholar search spanning the 27 years since the establishment of the OSDI, using the broad term "Ocular Surface Disease Index-12 questions" and keywords that is "ocular surface disease index-12," "translation and validation," "transcultural validation," "development," "cross-cultural adaptation," and "reliability and validity." We included original studies that validated the translated version of the OSDI in various languages, presenting the key findings with a focus on reliability and repeatability outcomes.

    RESULTS: Thirteen full-text articles were thoroughly reviewed, including those identified through targeted keyword searches and the reference lists of these studies. The papers examined the translation of the English version of the OSDI-12 questionnaire into nine languages: Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Chilean Spanish, Japanese, Filipino, Farsi, Bahasa Melayu, and Brazilian Portuguese. Key details regarding the development, translation, and validation phases were summarized. Most of the included studies adhered to standard guidelines throughout the translation process to create a final version of the OSDI questionnaire. This was followed by clinical validation of the final translated version. The majority of the translated versions were assessed for internal consistency, reliability, test-retest repeatability, and discriminant validity.

    CONCLUSIONS: The original English version of the OSDI was translated into validated versions to achieve a final version in nine different languages. The majority of the translated versions demonstrated high reproducibility and reliability. The different language versions of the questionnaire removed language barriers in informing the eye-care community, evaluating DES, and assisting physicians in advising and managing their patients more suitably. Therefore, the validated versions of OSDI can be used as tools for clinical practice and DES research. Validating the OSDI questionnaire in various languages is essential to eliminate the language barrier in the assessment of dry eye disease.

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