MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyse surveillance data from 2015 to 2023 to examine the epidemiological characteristics of rabies in Malaysia. Data from multiple sources were used, and descriptive statistics, incidence rates, and reproductive numbers were calculated. QGIS software was used to map the distribution of rabies cases, and statistical methods were employed to evaluate associations between rabies incidence, vaccination coverage, and risk factors. We further explored the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns and public health interventions in reducing rabies transmission.
RESULTS: Our findings revealed 995 confirmed rabies cases in animals. Sarawak reported the highest proportion of rabies cases at 97.99 %, showing a significant correlation between location and rabies cases (p
METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among children with primary simple unilateral congenital ptosis and their parent/guardian who attended three tertiary hospitals from 2022 to 2024. The patients and their parents/guardians answered Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Social Anxiety and the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scale, at the time of recruitment and 3 months after ptosis surgery.
RESULTS: This study involved 45 children, of which 26 (57.8%) were female. At enrollment, 18 (40.0%) had severe ptosis, and 15 (33.3%) had amblyopia. All surgeries were successful, with a mean margin to reflex distance (MRD) 1 and mean intereye MRD1 difference of 4.07 ± 0.62 and 0.29 ± 0.46 mm, respectively. Significant improvements in both social anxiety and HRQoL of children and parent were observed following surgery (p < 0.001). A decrease in intereye MRD1 difference postoperatively was the only significant factor affecting social anxiety of children with ptosis following surgery (p < 0.001). Together with the presence of amblyopia (p < 0.001), the intereye MRD1 difference was found to have a significant impact on the improvement in HRQoL (p = 0.021). Age, sex, and education level of parent/guardians were found to significantly affect the change in social anxiety following ptosis surgery (p < 0.05), while the factor most associated with improvement of parental HRQoL was an improvement in the MRD1 of the ptotic eye (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Ptosis surgery significantly improved social anxiety and HRQoL in children with congenital ptosis and their parents/guardians. Psychosocial function should be a consideration when identifying indications for surgery in children with congenital ptosis.
METHODS: This self-controlled case series study used nationwide health database from Malaysia. The study included individuals aged ≥18 years who were hospitalised between 24 February 2021 and 30 June 2022. Outcomes were composite of MACCE: stroke, acute ischaemic heart disease, and cardiovascular death. Exposures were COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The risk period was day 1 to day 21 following exposure. Conditional Poisson regression model was used to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) comparing the outcomes in the risk and control periods.
RESULTS: The risk of MACCE within 21 days after vaccination per 100,000 doses administered were 12.0 (95% CI 11.9-12.1) (BNT162b2), 9.2 (95% CI 9.1-9.3) (CoronaVac), and 6.8 (95% CI 6.6-7.0) (ChAdOx1). The incidence rate ratios showed no increased risk of MACCE associated with the first, second, or third doses of BNT162b2, CoronaVac, and ChAdOx1 vaccines for individuals without prior cardiovascular disease (CVD). This finding was consistent for individuals with CVD. Vaccine booster dose, whether in a homologous or heterologous schedule, did not show increased risk of MACCE. Analysis by ethnic groups detected a slightly elevated risk of MACCE in Indian after the first dose of ChAdOx1 (IRR 1.64; 95% CI 1.08-2.48) in those without CVD. No significant association were observed in other subgroup analyses. SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with significantly increased risk of MACCE in individuals without CVD (IRR 3.54; 95% CI 3.32-3.76) and with CVD (IRR 1.98; 95% CI 1.61-2.34).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the favourable safety profile of these COVID-19 vaccines and indicate that the overall benefit-risk ratio of the COVID-19 vaccines remains positive.
OBJECTIVES: This review explores the application of radiomics in Wilms tumour management, including its potential in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Additionally, it discusses the future prospects of AI in this field and potential directions for automation-aided Wilms tumour treatment.
METHODS: The review analyses various research studies and articles on the use of radiomics in Wilms tumour management. This includes studies on automated deep learning-based classification, interobserver variability in histopathological analysis, and the application of AI in staging, detecting, and classifying Wilms tumours.
RESULTS: The review finds that radiomics offers several promising applications in Wilms tumour management, including improved diagnosis: it helps in classifying Wilms tumours from other paediatric kidney tumours, prognosis prediction: radiomic features can be used to predict both staging and response to preoperative chemotherapy, Treatment response assessment: Radiomics can be used to monitor the response of Wilms and to predict the feasibility of nephron-sparing surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: This review concludes that radiomics has the potential to significantly improve the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of Wilms tumours. Despite some challenges, such as the need for further research and validation, AI integration in Wilms tumour management offers promising opportunities for improved patient care.
ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the potential applications of radiomics in Wilms tumour management and highlights the significant role AI can play in improving patient outcomes. It contributes to the growing body of knowledge on AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment of paediatric cancers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study of cancer patients and healthy individuals receiving vaccines was conducted in Malaysia. All participants were aged 18 or above at recruitment and received at least two doses of vaccine. We excluded patients who had missing serum antibody data post-first dose and post-second dose. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected at baseline, prior to vaccination. Data on self-reported breakthrough infection was collected at six months. Multivariable linear mixed-effects regression models were used to investigate the association between the type of vaccine and serum IgG titer.
RESULTS: A total of 389 patients with solid (n=276, 71.0%) or hematologic cancers (n=113, 29.0%) were included, along with 246 healthy individuals. Most cancer patients received BNT162b2 (n=358, 92.0%), followed by AZ1222 (n=19, 4.9%) and Coronavac (n=12, 3.1%). Most healthy individuals received BNT162b2 (n=151, 61.4%), followed by Coronavac (n=95, 38.6%). Vaccination, after adjustment for confounders (pre-vaccine infection, age, ethnicity, comorbidity, timepoint, income, cancer type, and booster), with Coronavac was associated with lower log IgG titer (-3.09 U/ml, 95% confidence interval=-4.37 to -1.80, p<0.01) than that of BNT162b2 in patients with cancer and also lower log IgG titer (-2.64 U/ml, 95% confidence interval=-2.97 to -2.30, p<0.01) than that of BNT162b2 in healthy individuals. No effect modification by sex was observed. Among the cancer cohort, 76 patients (19.5%) reported breakthrough infections after vaccination, while 33 (13.4%) participants in the healthy cohort reported breakthrough infections after vaccination. Coronavac was associated with greater odds of breakthrough infection among healthy individuals (odds ratio=7.34 compared to BNT162b2, confidence interval=1.40 to 33.49, p=0.02).
CONCLUSION: Vaccination with BNT162b2 yields higher IgG titer than Coronavac in all groups and fewer breakthrough infections in healthy subjects. The effect of vaccination is not modified by sex.