Browse publications by year: 2024

  1. Fulltext An Atypical Squamous Papilloma of the Uvula
    Apandi A, Sai Guan L, Mohamad A, Muhamad Tamyez F, Ishak MN
    Cureus, 2024 Apr;16(4):e58008.
    PMID: 38738073 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58008
    Squamous papilloma of the oral cavity is frequently seen in adult patients and is typically presented as painless exophytic granular or cauliflower-like lesions over the tongue, floor of the mouth, palate, uvula, lips, and faucial pillars. Most of the lesions are solitary and grow rapidly to about 0.5 cm. Oral squamous papilloma has no known malignant potential, with conservative surgical excision being the treatment of choice. Recurrence is rare. It occasionally causes symptoms, unless the presentation is atypical, as in our case. An elongated uvula can cause discomfort and reduce a patient's quality of life. This study aims to report an atypical presentation of a squamous papilloma over the soft palate.
  2. Fulltext The Fabrication of a Customized Surgical Template for a Miniscrew Placement Using a Fully Digitized Process
    Su L, Luo C, Song H, Wang YP, Ab Rahman N
    Cureus, 2024 Apr;16(4):e58119.
    PMID: 38738106 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58119
    This report presents a clinical case involving the application of a computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM) guide to insert miniscrew anchorage at the zygomatic alveolar ridge. A 24-year-old male adult came in with overcrowded teeth and a protruding facial profile, particularly severe overcrowding in the upper teeth and moderate overcrowding in the lower teeth. The orthodontic treatment plan involved extracting four first premolars and adding a mini-implant in the upper jaw to enhance anchorage. A miniscrew was placed in the patient's left zygomatic alveolar ridge using a guide and in the right zygomatic alveolar ridge based on experience. The use of a mini-implant guide improves the accuracy of mini-implant positioning and angulation in the infrazygomatic crest zone, reduces the risk of tooth root damage, and enhances mini-implant stability.
  3. Fulltext Fishing Out a Bone From the Neck
    Munusamy T, Uthaya Kumar S, Ramachandran K, Ami M
    Cureus, 2024 Apr;16(4):e58010.
    PMID: 38738110 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58010
    Foreign body ingestion is a common medical issue in Asian populations. Fish bones are the most commonly ingested foreign bodies due to the practice of cooking fish whole with bones intact, unlike in Western countries where fish are typically prepared as fillets or patties. Patients who have swallowed fish bones usually present with foreign body sensations, odynophagia, and pricking sensations during deglutination. Fish bones can generally be removed in an outpatient setting, but in some cases, patients must be placed under general anesthesia, where rigid esophagoscopy is performed. In some cases, neck exploration is required to extricate the bone. Here, we report the case of a 71-year-old man who underwent neck exploration for a 2.1 cm fish bone lateral to his thyroid cartilage, penetrating the left thyroid lobe.
  4. Fulltext Magnetic Resonance Imaging after Nasopharyngeal Endoscopic Resection and Skull Base Reconstruction
    Rondi P, Ravanelli M, Rampinelli V, Hussain IZ, Ramanzin M, Di Meo N, et al.
    J Clin Med, 2024 Apr 29;13(9).
    PMID: 38731151 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092624
    Background: Postoperative imaging after nasopharyngeal endoscopic resection (NER) and skull base reconstruction is quite challenging due to the complexity of the post-surgical and regional anatomy. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we included patients treated with NER from 2009 to 2019 and submitted to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 6 and 12 months after surgery. A radiologist with 15 years of experience analyzed all MRI scans. Results: A total of 50 patients were considered in this study, 18 of whom were excluded due to imaging unavailability, and 16 of whom were not considered due to major complications and/or persistent disease. Sixteen patients were evaluated to identify the expected findings. Inflammatory changes were observed in 16/64 subsites, and regression of these changes was observed in 8/64 at 1 year. Fibrosis was observed in 5/64 subsites and was unmodified at 1 year. The nasoseptal flap showed homogeneous enhancement at 6 months (100%) and at 1 year. The temporo-parietal fascia flap (TPFF) showed a decrease in the T2- signal intensity of the mucosal layer in 57% of the patients at 1 year and a decrease in enhancement in 43%. Conclusions: Identifying the expected findings after NER and skull base reconstruction has a pivotal role in the identification of complications and recurrence.
  5. Fulltext Editorial for the Special Issue "Machine Learning in Computer Vision and Image Sensing: Theory and Applications"
    Chakraborty S, Pradhan B
    Sensors (Basel), 2024 Apr 30;24(9).
    PMID: 38732978 DOI: 10.3390/s24092874
    Machine learning (ML) models have experienced remarkable growth in their application for multimodal data analysis over the past decade [...].
  6. Baseline characteristics of patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction: The FINEARTS-HF trial
    Solomon SD, Ostrominski JW, Vaduganathan M, Claggett B, Jhund PS, Desai AS, et al.
    Eur J Heart Fail, 2024 Jun;26(6):1334-1346.
    PMID: 38733212 DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.3266
    AIMS: To describe the baseline characteristics of participants in the FINEARTS-HF trial, contextualized with prior trials including patients with heart failure (HF) with mildly reduced and preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF/HFpEF). The FINEARTS-HF trial is comparing the effects of the non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist finerenone with placebo in reducing cardiovascular death and total worsening HF events in patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF.

    METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with symptomatic HF, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥40%, estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥ 25 ml/min/1.73 m2, elevated natriuretic peptide levels and evidence of structural heart disease were enrolled and randomized to finerenone titrated to a maximum of 40 mg once daily or matching placebo. We validly randomized 6001 patients to finerenone or placebo (mean age 72 ± 10 years, 46% women). The majority were New York Heart Association functional class II (69%). The baseline mean LVEF was 53 ± 8% (range 34-84%); 36% of participants had a LVEF <50% and 64% had a LVEF ≥50%. The median N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was 1041 (interquartile range 449-1946) pg/ml. A total of 1219 (20%) patients were enrolled during or within 7 days of a worsening HF event, and 3247 (54%) patients were enrolled within 3 months of a worsening HF event. Compared with prior large-scale HFmrEF/HFpEF trials, FINEARTS-HF participants were more likely to have recent (within 6 months) HF hospitalization and greater symptoms and functional limitations. Further, concomitant medications included a larger percentage of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors than previous trials.

    CONCLUSIONS: FINEARTS-HF has enrolled a broad range of high-risk patients with HFmrEF and HFpEF. The trial will determine the safety and efficacy of finerenone in this population.

    MeSH terms: Aged; Double-Blind Method; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate/physiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ventricular Function, Left/drug effects; Ventricular Function, Left/physiology; Treatment Outcome; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/blood
  7. Myxobolus acanthogobii Hoshina, 1952 and Myxobolus selari n. sp. (Myxosporea: Myxobolidae) infecting brain of commercial fishes in Terengganu, Malaysia
    Samshuri MÁ, Borkhanuddin MH
    Syst Parasitol, 2024 May 11;101(3):39.
    PMID: 38733439 DOI: 10.1007/s11230-024-10162-3
    Myxosporean infection in marine water fishes has drawn less attention than in freshwater fishes, which resulted in a higher taxonomic variety in freshwater in Malaysia. This study aimed to address the gap by conducting a myxosporean survey on two commercially significant marine fish species, Nemipterus furcosus (Valenciennes) (Eupercaria incertae sedis: Nemipteridae) and Selar crumenophthalmus (Bloch) (Carangiformes: Carangidae), collected from the northeastern part of peninsular Malaysia. During the examination of the organs, two distinct Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 species were discovered in the brain tissue of these fishes, despite the absence of any observable pathological signs. The two Myxobolus species were characterized through morphometry, morphology, and analysis of partial small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rDNA) gene. As a result, Myxobolus acanthogobii Hoshina, 1952, which infects 2.3% of N. furcosus, is synonymous with a myxobolid species commonly found in Japanese waters, based on its morphological traits, tissue tropism, and molecular diagnostics. Furthermore, a novel species, Myxobolus selari n. sp., was described, infecting the brain of one (11%) individual S. crumenophthalmus. This unique species displayed distinctive features, placing it within a well-supported subclade primarily comprising brain-infecting myxobolids. Maximum likelihood analysis further revealed the close relationships among these brain-infecting myxobolids, underscoring the significance of tissue tropism and host taxonomy for myxobolids. This study represents the initial documentation of Myxobolus species within the southern South China Sea, shedding light on the potential diversity of marine myxosporean in this region. This article was registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank) as urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7C400E35-7CB8-4DEE-92B7-F75FF3926441.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Fish Diseases/parasitology; Fishes/parasitology; Malaysia; Phylogeny*; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics; Species Specificity*
  8. Uv-vis spectroscopy for simple chloride content analysis in edible oil using charged amino-functionalized carbon quantum dots fluorophore reagent
    Abu Bakar MH, Azeman NH, Mobarak NN, Nazri NAA, Daniyal WMEMM, Othman MQ, et al.
    Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc, 2024 May 07;317:124419.
    PMID: 38733916 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124419
    The utilization of UV-Vis spectroscopy with amino-functionalized carbon quantum dots (NCQD) as a positive fluorophore reagent for chloride sensing in oil marks a notable advancement in analytical spectroscopy chemistry. This approach streamlines the detection process by eliminating the need for lengthy procedures and pretreatment steps typically associated with chloride detection in edible oil. By incorporating NCQD in chloride detection within the oil matrix, the wavelength analysis transitions from the UV to the visible region. This shift eliminates interference from oil matrix interactions, ensuring more accurate results. Molecular analysis of NCQD reveals significant shifts in its Fourier Transformation Infrared and photoluminescence spectroscopy peaks due to interaction with chloride in edible oil. It has two impressive sensitivity ranges spanning from 0.1-1.0 to 1.0-8.0 ppm, with a value of -0.4656 au. ppm-1 (R2 = 0.998) and -0.0361 au. ppm-1 (R2 = 0.931), respectively, the technique meets regulatory standards while achieving a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1 ppm. This places it on par with conventional methods and commercial sensors. The NCQD-UV-Vis spectroscopy method not only enhances the efficiency and accuracy of chloride detection but also holds promise for various industrial applications requiring simple and precise monitoring of chloride levels in oil samples.
  9. Thioredoxin system in colorectal cancer: Its role in carcinogenesis, disease progression, and response to treatment
    Abdullah NA, Md Hashim NF, Muhamad Zakuan N, Chua JX
    Life Sci, 2024 May 09;348:122711.
    PMID: 38734065 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122711
    The thioredoxin system is essential for many physiological processes, including the maintenance of redox signalling pathways. Alterations in the activity, expression and interactions with other signalling pathways can lead to protective or pathophysiological responses. Thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase, the two main components of this system, are often overexpressed in cancer, including colorectal cancer. This overexpression is often linked with tumour progression and poor outcomes. This review discusses the role of the Trx system in driving colorectal carcinogenesis and disease progression, as well as the challenges of targeting this system. Additionally, the recent advancements in the development of novel and effective thioredoxin inhibitors for colorectal cancer are also explored.
  10. Fulltext Unveiling carcinogenic pollutant levels in environmental water samples through facile fabrication of gold nanoparticles on sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride
    Gowthaman NSK, Arul P, Ajith A, Chang WS, Balakumar V, Shim JJ
    Environ Res, 2024 May 09.
    PMID: 38734291 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119121
    Extensive utilization of pesticides and herbicides to boost agricultural production increased the environmental health risks, which can be mitigate with the aid of highly sensitive detection systems. In this study, an electrochemical sensor for monitoring the carcinogenic pesticides in the environmental samples has been developed based on sulfur-doped graphitic-carbon nitride-gold nanoparticles (SCN-AuNPs) nanohybrid. Thermal polycondensation of melamine with thiourea followed by solvent exfoliation via ultrasonication leads to SCN formation and electroless deposition of AuNPs on SCN leads to SCN-AuNPs nanohybrid synthesis. The chemical composition, S-doping, and the morphology of the nanohybrid were confirmed by various microscopic and spectroscopic tools. The as-synthesized nanohybrid was fabricated with glassy carbon (GC) electrode for determining the carcinogenic hydrazine (HZ) and atrazine (ATZ) in field water samples. The present sensor exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity than GC/SCN and GC/AuNPs electrodes due to the synergism between SCN and AuNPs and the amperometric studies showed the good linear range of detection of 20 nM - 0.5 mM and 500 nM - 0.5 mM with the limit of detection of 0.22 and 69 nM (S/N=3) and excellent sensitivity of 1173.5 and 13.96 μA mM-1 cm-2 towards HZ and ATZ, respectively. Ultimately, the present sensor is exploited in environmental samples for monitoring HZ and ATZ and the obtained results are validated with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. The excellent recovery percentage and close agreement with the results of HPLC analysis proved the practicability of the present sensor. In addition, the as-prepared materials were utilized for the photocatalytic degradation of ATZ and the SCN-AuNPs nanohybrid exhibited higher photocatalytic activity with the removal efficiency of 93.6% at 90 min. Finally, the degradation mechanism was investigated and discussed.
  11. The 67th UN CND-upholding human rights in drug policy
    Ahmad A, Kamarulzaman A, Kazatchkine M, Dreifuss R, Clark H
    Lancet, 2024 May 11;403(10439):1851-1852.
    PMID: 38734469 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00763-3
    MeSH terms: Drug and Narcotic Control/legislation & jurisprudence; Health Policy/legislation & jurisprudence; Humans; Human Rights*; United Nations*
  12. Abrogation of ORF8-IRF3 binding interface with Carbon nanotube derivatives to rescue the host immune system against SARS-CoV-2 by using molecular screening and simulation approaches
    Suleman M, Murshed A, Imran K, Khan A, Ali Z, Albekairi NA, et al.
    BMC Chem, 2024 May 11;18(1):99.
    PMID: 38734638 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-024-01185-4
    The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has led to over six million deaths worldwide. In human immune system, the type 1 interferon (IFN) pathway plays a crucial role in fighting viral infections. However, the ORF8 protein of the virus evade the immune system by interacting with IRF3, hindering its nuclear translocation and consequently downregulate the type I IFN signaling pathway. To block the binding of ORF8-IRF3 and inhibit viral pathogenesis a quick discovery of an inhibitor molecule is needed. Therefore, in the present study, the interface between the ORF8 and IRF3 was targeted on a high-affinity carbon nanotube by using computational tools. After analysis of 62 carbon nanotubes by multiple docking with the induced fit model, the top five compounds with high docking scores of - 7.94 kcal/mol, - 7.92 kcal/mol, - 7.28 kcal/mol, - 7.19 kcal/mol and - 7.09 kcal/mol (top hit1-5) were found to have inhibitory activity against the ORF8-IRF3 complex. Molecular dynamics analysis of the complexes revealed the high compactness of residues, stable binding, and strong hydrogen binding network among the ORF8-nanotubes complexes. Moreover, the total binding free energy for top hit1-5 was calculated to be - 43.21 ± 0.90 kcal/mol, - 41.17 ± 0.99 kcal/mol, - 48.85 ± 0.62 kcal/mol, - 43.49 ± 0.77 kcal/mol, and - 31.18 ± 0.78 kcal/mol respectively. These results strongly suggest that the identified top five nanotubes (hit1-5) possess significant potential for advancing and exploring innovative drug therapies. This underscores their suitability for subsequent in vivo and in vitro experiments, marking them as promising candidates worthy of further investigation.
  13. Fulltext Investigating a hybrid extreme learning machine coupled with Dingo Optimization Algorithm for modeling liquefaction triggering in sand-silt mixtures
    Hameed MM, Masood A, Srivastava A, Abd Rahman N, Mohd Razali SF, Salem A, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2024 May 11;14(1):10799.
    PMID: 38734717 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61059-6
    Liquefaction is a devastating consequence of earthquakes that occurs in loose, saturated soil deposits, resulting in catastrophic ground failure. Accurate prediction of such geotechnical parameter is crucial for mitigating hazards, assessing risks, and advancing geotechnical engineering. This study introduces a novel predictive model that combines Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) with Dingo Optimization Algorithm (DOA) to estimate strain energy-based liquefaction resistance. The hybrid model (ELM-DOA) is compared with the classical ELM, Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System with Fuzzy C-Means (ANFIS-FCM model), and Sub-clustering (ANFIS-Sub model). Also, two data pre-processing scenarios are employed, namely traditional linear and non-linear normalization. The results demonstrate that non-linear normalization significantly enhances the prediction performance of all models by approximately 25% compared to linear normalization. Furthermore, the ELM-DOA model achieves the most accurate predictions, exhibiting the lowest root mean square error (484.286 J/m3), mean absolute percentage error (24.900%), mean absolute error (404.416 J/m3), and the highest correlation of determination (0.935). Additionally, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) has been developed, specifically tailored for the ELM-DOA model, to assist engineers and researchers in maximizing the utilization of this predictive model. The GUI provides a user-friendly platform for easy input of data and accessing the model's predictions, enhancing its practical applicability. Overall, the results strongly support the proposed hybrid model with GUI serving as an effective tool for assessing soil liquefaction resistance in geotechnical engineering, aiding in predicting and mitigating liquefaction hazards.
  14. Fulltext Investigating the in-vitro bioactivity, biodegradability and drug release behavior of the newly developed PES/HA/WS biocompatible nanocomposites as bone graft substitute
    Salimi E, Asim MH, Abidin MNZ
    Sci Rep, 2024 May 11;14(1):10798.
    PMID: 38734777 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61586-2
    The nucleation of carbonate-containing apatite on the biomaterials surface is regarded as a significant stage in bone healing process. In this regard, composites contained hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, HA), wollastonite (CaSiO3, WS) and polyethersulfone (PES) were synthesized via a simple solvent casting technique. The in-vitro bioactivity of the prepared composite films with different weight ratios of HA and WS was studied by placing the samples in the simulated body fluid (SBF) for 21 days. The results indicated that the the surface of composites containing 2 wt% HA and 4 wt% WS was completely covered by a thick bone-like apatite layer, which was characterized by Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, field emission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX). The degradation study of the samples showed that the concentration of inorganic particles could not influence the degradability of the polymeric matrix, where all samples expressed similar dexamethasone (DEX) release behavior. Moreover, the in-vitro cytotoxicity results indicated the significant cyto-compatibility of all specimens. Therefore, these findings revealed that the prepared composite films composed of PES, HA, WS and DEX could be regarded as promising bioactive candidates with low degradation rate for bone tissue engineering applications.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Dexamethasone/pharmacology; Dexamethasone/chemistry; Humans; Materials Testing; Polymers/chemistry; X-Ray Diffraction; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Calcium Compounds/chemistry; Drug Liberation
  15. Induction of Oxidative Stress in Sirtuin Gene-Disrupted Ashbya gossypii Mutants Overproducing Riboflavin
    Kato T, Azegami J, Kano M, El Enshasy HA, Park EY
    Mol Biotechnol, 2024 May;66(5):1144-1153.
    PMID: 38184809 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-01012-6
    AgHST1 and AgHST3 genes encode sirtuins that are NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases. According to previous reports, their disruption leads to the overproduction of riboflavin in Ashbya gossypii. In this study, we investigated the potential causes of riboflavin overproduction in the AgHST1Δ and AgHST3Δ mutant strains of A. gossypii. The generation of reactive oxygen species was increasd in the mutants compared to in WT. Additionally, membrane potential was lower in the mutants than in WT. The NAD+/NADH ratio in AgHST1Δ mutant strain was lower than that in WT; however, the NAD+/NADH ratio in AgHST3Δ was slightly higher than that in WT. AgHST1Δ mutant strain was more sensitive to high temperatures and hydroxyurea treatment than WT or AgHST3Δ. Expression of the AgGLR1 gene, encoding glutathione reductase, was substantially decreased in AgHST1Δ and AgHST3Δ mutant strains. The addition of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, an antioxidant, suppressed the riboflavin production in the mutants, indicating that it was induced by oxidative stress. Therefore, high oxidative stress resulting from the disruption of sirtuin genes induces riboflavin overproduction in AgHST1Δ and AgHST3Δ mutant strains. This study established that oxidative stress is an important trigger for riboflavin overproduction in sirtuin gene-disrupted mutant strains of A. gossypii and helped to elucidate the mechanism of riboflavin production in A. gossypii.
    MeSH terms: Antioxidants/metabolism; Fungal Proteins/genetics; Fungal Proteins/metabolism; Glutathione Reductase/genetics; Glutathione Reductase/metabolism; Mutation; NAD/metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Oxidative Stress*
  16. 1H NMR-metabolomics studies on acute toxicity effect of lead in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) model
    Chong SG, Ismail IS, Chong CM, Mad Nasir N, Saleh Hodin NA
    Drug Chem Toxicol, 2024 Sep;47(5):573-586.
    PMID: 38726945 DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2024.2346751
    Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is ideal for studying the effects of toxins like lead or plumbum (Pb) which persist in the environment and harm body systems when absorbed. Increasing Pb concentration could result in a higher mortality rate and alteration of behavior and metabolism. The present study evaluates the acute toxicity effect of Pb on metabolome and behavior in adult zebrafish. The zebrafish were exposed to various Pb concentrations ranging from 0 to 30 mg/L for different periods (24, 48, and 72 h) before the fish samples were subjected to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-multivariate data analysis (MVDA) with additional support from behavioral assessment. The behavior of zebrafish was significantly altered after Pb inducement and the differential metabolites increased in low (5 mg/L) while decreased in high (10 mg/L) Pb concentrations. An ideal Pb induction could be achieved by 5 mg/L concentration in 24 h, which induced significant metabolite changes without irreversible damage. Continuing research on the effects of lead toxicity is crucial to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug*; Male; Time Factors; Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity; Zebrafish*; Toxicity Tests, Acute; Metabolomics*; Metabolome/drug effects; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  17. Pectoralis Major Tendon Rupture in a Spastic Hemiplegic Shoulder: a Complication of Home Stretching Pulley System
    Zainudin MF, Cha MY, Aziz AFA
    Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 2024 May 10.
    PMID: 38726964 DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002525
    Pectoralis major (PM) injuries are uncommon, typically affecting young male athletes engaging in high-intensity activities like weight-lifting. A 62-year-old male, who previously suffered a stroke leading to left hemiparesis, hemisensory loss, and spasticity, exhibited a left chest swelling during a rehabilitation clinic visit. Subsequent inquiries revealed his recent incorporation of a home-based pulley system for stretching exercises. On examination, the swelling was diffuse, firm, and non-tender, located at the midclavicular line of his left chest, with a positive dropped nipple sign and loss of the left anterior axillary fold sign. An ultrasound confirmed a low-grade injury to the left PM tendon. Spastic muscle ruptures are extremely rare, with only three published reports linked to traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury. Spasticity increases muscle vulnerability due to structural and mechanical changes to the skeletal muscles. This is the first report of a spastic PM tendon rupture and the first following a stroke. This case highlights the need for optimized multimodal spasticity management and reinforces the importance of comprehensive patient education on the safe execution of home-based stretching exercises.
  18. Single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry: Advances and implications in cancer research
    Tan YC, Low TY, Lee PY, Lim LC
    Proteomics, 2024 May 10.
    PMID: 38727198 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202300210
    Cancer harbours extensive proteomic heterogeneity. Inspired by the prior success of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in characterizing minute transcriptomics heterogeneity in cancer, researchers are now actively searching for information regarding the proteomics counterpart. Therefore recently, single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry (SCP) has rapidly developed into state-of-the-art technology to cater the need. This review aims to summarize application of SCP in cancer research, while revealing current development progress of SCP technology. The review also aims to contribute ideas into research gaps and future directions, ultimately promoting the application of SCP in cancer research.
  19. Bibliometric Mapping of Psychological Flexibility Research: Trends and Future Directions
    Wider W, Ping Pang NT, Lin J, Fauzi MA, Jiang L, Tanucan JCM
    Percept Mot Skills, 2024 Aug;131(4):1207-1232.
    PMID: 38727563 DOI: 10.1177/00315125241253946
    In this article, we offer an exhaustive analysis of academic work on psychological flexibility using bibliometric techniques. We identify emerging trends in a dataset of 3535 scholarly articles from the Web of Science database. We highlight key publications, map out the field's intellectual framework, and anticipate future research avenues through co-citation and co-word analytics. The co-citation assessment revealed five distinct clusters, while the co-word analysis showed three. Although research regarding psychological flexibility has gained recent popularity, there remains a need for more scholarly initiatives to achieve a nuanced understanding of this subject.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Research/trends; Bibliometrics*
  20. Economic Evaluation of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Among Adults Against Hospitalization During the Omicron Dominated Period in Malaysia: A Real-World Evidence Perspective
    Low EV, Teh HS, Hing NYL, Chidambaram SK, Pathmanathan MD, Kim WR, et al.
    Drugs Real World Outcomes, 2024 May 10.
    PMID: 38727886 DOI: 10.1007/s40801-024-00427-0
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was administered orally to manage mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 in adult patients. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of prescribing nirmatrelvir/ritonavir within 5 days of a COVID-19 illness in order to avert hospitalization within a 30-day period in the Malaysia setting; (ii) determine how variations in pricing and hospitalization rates will affect the cost-effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir.

    METHODS: The 30-day hospitalization related to COVID-19 was determined using 1 to 1 propensity score-matched real-world data in Malaysia from 14 July 2022 to 14 November 2022. To determine the total per-person costs related to COVID-19, we added the cost of drug (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or control), clinic visits and inpatient care. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per hospitalization averted was calculated.

    RESULTS: Our cohort included 31,487 patients. The rate of hospitalization within 30 days was found to be 0.35% for the group treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and 0.52% for the control group. The nirmatrelvir/ritonavir group cost an additional MYR 1,625.72 (USD 358.88) per patient. This treatment also resulted in a reduction of 0.17% risk for hospitalization, which corresponded to an ICER of MYR 946,801.26 (USD 209,006.90) per hospitalization averted.

    CONCLUSION: In Malaysia, where vaccination rates were high, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir has been shown to be beneficial in the outpatient treatment of adults with COVID-19 who have risk factors; however, it was only marginally cost effective against hospitalization for healthy adults during the Omicron period.

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