Browse publications by year: 2024

  1. Mostapha G, Aziz NAA, Ali MF
    PLOS Glob Public Health, 2024;4(12):e0002759.
    PMID: 39630654 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002759
    Primary-care long-term stroke care service offers comprehensive management at the community level. A clinical audit was carried out to assess the services of this clinic as compared to the established standardized criteria for longer-term stroke care.A retrospective audit was performed to evaluate the adherence to service parameters based on eleven criteria adapted from the Canadian Post-Stroke Checklist. The following clinical parameters were audited using the Malaysian CPG on Cardiovascular Disease 2017 and Malaysian CPG on Ischemic Stroke 2020: systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), HbA1c, and weight, and smoking status. 113 registered patients from the 2022 clinic census were audited using paired Student's t-test and McNemar's test.Overall, only 2 out of 11 criteria for service parameters did not meet the standard: inquiring about patient fatigue (43.4%) and access to community resources (26.5%). The attainment of the target for BP and HbA1c meets the standards set for this audit. Patients experienced reduced SBP, DBP, LDL-C, and HbA1c levels, and a statistically significant reduction was observed in DBP (4.15 mmHg, p<0.05) and LDL-C (0.30 mmol/L, p<0.05). A notable reduction in the percentage of smokers (p<0.05) was also seen.Post-stroke patients at a specific-service clinic within the primary care setting benefited from clinicians' high adherence to clinical guidelines, observed from improved clinical parameters. These may serve as an impetus for clinicians to include long-term stroke service as a specialized service within primary care specialties.
  2. Uddin MR, Siddique MAB, Sultana S, Bithi UH, Akter N, Idris AM, et al.
    PLoS One, 2024;19(12):e0311846.
    PMID: 39630685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311846
    Sonneratia apetala, a nutrient-rich mangrove fruit, presents an opportunity for innovative food product development, offering potential health benefits and economic value through the creation of jam, jelly, and pickle. This innovative invention reveals the nutritional content including vitamins and minerals of Sonneratia apetala jam, jelly, and pickles from Nijhum Dwip in Hatiya Upazila, Noakhali District. These products contain Na, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn, which are essential for human nutrition. The texture and sensory qualities of the products depend on their Total Soluble Solids (TSS), acidity, moisture, pH, and total sugar content, with each parameter receiving an average score of 7 to 8 out of 9 (hedonic scale). Trace amounts of Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg were found to be significantly below the safe consumption limits. F-, Cl-, SO42-, soluble and total PO43- concentrations were also below safety thresholds. The moisture, ash, protein, fat, fiber, pectin, sugar, carbohydrate, and caloric values highlight the dietary benefits and energy content of these products. The products exhibited higher levels of vitamin C and minerals compared to other citrus fruits. All tested parameters met safe consumption standards, ensuring product safety. These products underwent testing for Heterotrophic Bacterial Count to guarantee their safety. A one-year shelf life is ensured by conducting quarterly storage data checks and organoleptic tests by a 10-member jury panel. The one-way ANOVA test for sensory analysis and shelf life detection indicates statistically significant results. These products help mitigate nutrient deficiencies and promote health by regulating the diet. Applying this technology in grassroots jam, jelly, and pickle production could potentially boost the local economy by approximately $10,000 annually through the creation of small industries among the coastal population.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Minerals/analysis; Nutritive Value*
  3. Widhanti A, Iwansyah AC, Yelliantty, Kurniawan T, Pramareti GMJ, Indriati A, et al.
    An Acad Bras Cienc, 2024;96(suppl 3):e20240006.
    PMID: 39630800 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202420240006
    Food drying is still a crucial step in the food manufacturing process for food preservation, and the foam-mat drying method can be utilized to further enhance food preservation. This study aims to develop an instant L. powder enriched with Moringa oleifera L. extract and to evaluate the effect of foam mat drying conditions on physicochemical and antioxidant properties.The experimental design used a factorial completely randomized block design (FCBD), with triplicates. Based on the results showed that the interaction between the different forms of moringa extract, when added, and drying temperature affected color, water activity, bulk density, hygroscopicity, total acid titration, moisture content, ABTS, antioxidant activity and total flavonoid contents (p<0.05) but did not affect solubility, total soluble solids, flow rate, pH, DPPH antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents (p>0.05). Samples dried at a temperature of 70°C (T3), both liquid (F1) and microencapsulated (F2), exhibited the best physicochemical and antioxidant properties. These findings confirmed the suitability of foam mat drying to produce P. angulata instant powder enriched with M. oleifera extract for functional food ingredients.
    MeSH terms: Desiccation/methods; Flavonoids/analysis; Food Preservation/methods; Temperature
  4. Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS, Thiruchelvam K
    Respir Med, 2024 Dec 02;236:107902.
    PMID: 39631549 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107902
  5. Balan S, Ibrahim N
    Eur J Hosp Pharm, 2024 Dec 30.
    PMID: 39632063 DOI: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2024-004169
    OBJECTIVES: Inappropriate prescriptions are known to cause medication-related problems, but little is known about the prevalence of this issue in paediatric patients. This systematic review provides an overview of the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions identified through tools developed for the paediatric population and delineates the strengths and limitations of the identification tools.

    METHODS: Literature from PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane database and Google Scholar was searched with a combination of medical subject headings (MeSH) and free-text terms related to inappropriate prescriptions, paediatrics and potentially inappropriate prescription tools. Studies reported in English and published from inception of the databases until May 2023 were selected based on fulfilment of eligibility criteria. All eligible articles were assessed for methodological quality and examined using thematic analysis.

    RESULTS: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies were of high quality. Four themes emerged-namely, evaluation tools and calculation methods of inappropriate prescriptions, prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs), and predictors of PIM and PPO in children. Among the nine tools identified, the original and modified version of the POPI tool was most commonly used. The prevalence of PIM and PPO ranged from 0.04% to 69% and from 1.5% to 55.9%, respectively. Age was the most common predictor reported, whereby PIMs and PPOs were more likely in children aged 2-6 and 6-12 years, respectively.

    CONCLUSIONS: Potentially inappropriate prescriptions in paediatric patients is highly prevalent, despite the wide variation in the reported prevalence range and limited implementation of the available tools in practice. Future efforts need to be focused on the development and implementation of age-, disease- or country-specific tools to effectively evaluate and further determine the economic impact of PIMs in children.

  6. Thong TX, Wai JMW, Nimbalkar S, Patil PG
    J Prosthet Dent, 2024 Dec 03.
    PMID: 39632229 DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.10.022
    STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Sleep bruxism, characterized by teeth grinding during sleep, is often managed with an occlusal device. Despite the abundance of YouTube videos discussing occlusal device therapy, their educational quality remains unclear.

    PURPOSE: The purpose of this process-based audit was to assess the educational value (EV), clarity (COI), reliability (ROI), understandability (UOI), and actionability (AOI) of information regarding occlusal device therapy for sleep bruxism in YouTube videos provided by dental professionals.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: YouTube was searched systematically using 4 search terms. A total of 19 videos were identified using predetermined criteria. EV was assessed using a 4-point scoring system across 10 predetermined domains. A 3-point scoring system was applied to evaluate COI. Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria was applied to evaluate ROI. Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for audio-visual material (PEMAT-A/V) was used to determine UOI and AOI. Descriptive statistics, interrater and intrarater reliability tests were conducted using a statistical software program.

    RESULTS: Most videos had been uploaded by general dental practitioners (95%) followed by orthodontists (5%). The mean number of reported domains was 4.68 ±2.73 (out of 10), with the highest scoring domain being "Indications of occlusal device" (1.24 ±0.87), and the lowest being "Cost of occlusal device" (0.00 ±0.00). Overall, the EV score per video was 5.61 ±5.10 (out of 30), while the COI score was 0.55 ±0.50 (out of 2). The ROI averaged 1.95 ±0.40 (out of 4), with "Attribution" scoring lowest (0.026 ±0.11) and "Currency" highest (1). Overall, the videos had a mean understandability of 66.6% and actionability of 45.6%.

    CONCLUSIONS: Videos uploaded by dental professionals lack sufficient educational value pertaining to the cost of occlusal devices. The videos demonstrated low reliability regarding the credibility of sources and poor understandability and actionability.

  7. Wang L, Gong Y, Zhang Q, Sun R, Wong PPW, Zhou WW
    Acta Psychol (Amst), 2024 Nov;251:104627.
    PMID: 39632323 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104627
    Few research studies attempt to merge the theory of planned behaviour and value-belief-norm theory in explaining consumers green hotels visits although they may deem to be complementary. This study attempts to merge both theories by investigating the relationships between the different aspects of values, attitudes, norms, perceived behavioural control, awareness of consequence, ascription of responsibility and intention. A total of 596 young responses were collected, and the results showed that altruistic value positively influenced subjective norm, extrinsic attitude and perceived behavioural control. Biospheric value positively influenced extrinsic attitude, intrinsic attitude and perceived behavioural control while collectivistic value positively influenced subjective norm, extrinsic attitude, and intrinsic attitude. A causal effect from extrinsic attitude and intrinsic attitude on awareness of consequence, then on ascription of responsibility, subsequently on personal norm, finally on intention had been found. Subjective norm positively influenced extrinsic attitude, intrinsic attitude, perceived behavioural control and personal norm. Furthermore, perceived behavioural control positively influenced intention. Lastly, theoretical and practical implications and limitations of the study were discussed accordingly.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude*; China; Female; Humans; Male; Psychological Theory*; Social Values; Universities; Intention*; Young Adult; Social Norms
  8. Nik Zainal Abidin NZ, Shamsuddin NA, Mohd Radzi NRS, Yew Huat JT, Ishamri I
    Food Sci Technol Int, 2024 Dec 05.
    PMID: 39632725 DOI: 10.1177/10820132241299840
    The study investigated phosphate's effects on tenderness and lipid oxidation in beef cooked sous-vide. Semitendinosus beef cuts were treated with 0.15% and 0.3% sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), and plain water (0% STPP). These cuts were then sous-vide cooked at two different temperatures, 60 °C and 70 °C, for two different durations, 3 h and 6 h. Analytical techniques including Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed. STPP concentration did not yield a statistically significant impact on the pH and FTIR spectrum of sous-vide beef (p > 0.05). However, STPP markedly enhanced tenderness by loosening the myofibril structure (observed in SEM) and weakening myosin and actin bands (observed in SDS-PAGE). This improvement led to lower WBSF values with 0.3% STPP, particularly noticeable at 60 °C for 6 h. Additionally, 0.3% STPP delayed lipid oxidation, evidenced by lower oxidation values after 4 weeks of refrigerated storage at 4 °C. These findings highlight STPP's potential to improve tenderness and lipid oxidation stability in sous-vide beef.
  9. Mousavian S, Ariana MA, Mansourizadeh A, Lau WJ
    Sci Rep, 2024 Dec 05;14(1):30285.
    PMID: 39632957 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-81850-9
    Carbon dioxide (CO2) is responsible for increment of the Earth surface temperature and the subsequent environmental issues. In this regard, membrane contactor is one of the emerging technologies that can be applied for controlling CO2 emission. More specifically, the intrinsic structure of membrane plays an important role to govern the performance of CO2 absorption. In this study, considering stretching ratio (SR) as a key factor to affect membrane structural properties, highly porous poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) hollow fiber membranes were fabricated by a non-solvent induced phase separation method. The results showed that the membrane dimension and thickness were significantly reduced by optimizing the SR. The optimum membrane structure was found at SR of 1.5 where the mean pore size, CO2 permeance, collapsing pressure and liquid entry pressure of 0.032 μm, 3440 GPU, 550 kPa and 500 kPa were achieved, respectively. The prepared membranes showed open structure with overall porosity of more than 80%. The upgraded membrane at SR of 1.5 presented the maximum CO2 absorption flux of 9.8 × 10- 4 mol/m2 s and the minimum mass transfer resistance of 49,544 (m/s)-1. Furthermore, a stable CO2 absorption performance was achieved during 80 h continuous operation with a flux decline of only about 9%. The findings of this work demonstrated that by applying a cost-effective fabrication method, we can potentially enhance the PVDF-HFP membrane properties for CO2 adsorption without requiring an additional post-modification step.
  10. Subramaniam H, Lim CK, Tey LH, Wong LS, Djearamane S
    Sci Rep, 2024 Dec 04;14(1):30198.
    PMID: 39632962 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-81384-0
    The field of green synthesis, namely using plant extracts for the production of metal nanoparticles, is rapidly gaining traction. Therefore, this study investigated the process of producing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using a water-based extract derived from the stem bark of Calophyllum teysmannii. Notably, this is the first documented utilization of this particular plant source. The presence of a distinct Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption peak at 372 nm provided evidence for the creation of ZnO nanoparticles. The X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) investigations indicated that the nanoparticles exhibited sizes ranging from 31.5 to 59.9 nm and had spherical morphologies. Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffractometer (EDX) analysis verified the elemental composition of the ZnO nanoparticles, whereas the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra showed clear peaks, demonstrating their production. The FTIR examination of the C. teysmannii extract revealed peaks at around 3370 cm- 1, indicating the presence of phenolic compounds. These chemicals are likely responsible for the reduction and stabilization of the ZnO NPs. The high-resolution X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) spectra clearly revealed separate peaks corresponding to Zn 2p and O 1s, providing confirmation of the chemical states and bonding contexts. The Raman Spectroscopy analysis revealed a distinct peak at around 425 cm⁻¹, confirming the presence of the wurtzite structure. The harmful effects of ZnO nanoparticles on HCC2998 (a kind of human colon cancer) and Vero (a type of monkey kidney epithelial) cells were evaluated using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), and boron-Dipyrromethene (BODIPY) assays. The cancer cells underwent cell death due to oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by microscopic and flow cytometry investigations.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Cell Survival/drug effects; Cercopithecus aethiops; Colonic Neoplasms/metabolism; Colonic Neoplasms/pathology; Humans; Vero Cells; Cell Line, Tumor
  11. Pashazade H, Maarefvand M, Abolfathi Momtaz Y, Abdi K
    BMC Public Health, 2024 Dec 04;24(1):3373.
    PMID: 39633325 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20327-w
    OBJECTIVE: The sandwich generation refers to individuals who are simultaneously responsible for caring for their aging parents and their own children. Research shows that the number of sandwich generation caregivers is increasing, and they face significant physical, psychological, social, and economic challenges. Therefore, it is crucial for these caregivers to develop effective coping strategies. This study aimed to identify the coping mechanisms used by sandwich generation caregivers.

    METHODS: In 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 18 sandwich generation caregivers in Tehran, Iran, who were responsible for both elderly parents and their own children. These interviews were conducted either in person or by telephone. Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed using the inductive content analysis method within the MAXQDA software (2018 version).

    RESULTS: Data analysis revealed three categories of coping strategies: "distancing from the situation", "self-soothing" (including sub categories of spiritual matters, establishing relationships, emotional outlet, and engaging in favorite activities), and "diversifying responses to needs" (including transferring responsibility to the family members, prioritizing needs for responsiveness, utilizing available community services, mediating to reduce conflict, and remote monitoring of the older adult).

    CONCLUSION: Sandwich generation caregivers use various coping strategies, each with different outcomes. This study found that self-care and using social resources can greatly reduce caregiving burdens. Therefore, providing these caregivers with training in problem-solving and self-care skills is recommended to better prepare them for their responsibilities.

    MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological*; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Iran; Male; Middle Aged; Parents/psychology; Intergenerational Relations; Qualitative Research*
  12. Kaveh O, Sharif-Nia H, Hosseini Z, Kaur H, Shafipour V
    BMC Med Educ, 2024 Dec 05;24(1):1419.
    PMID: 39633360 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-06318-w
    BACKGROUND: The topic of patient safety and attitudes toward patient safety among health professionals is a main priority of healthcare systems globally. This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of APSQ-III among Iranian nursing students.

    METHODS: There were 307 undergraduate nursing students who participated in the cross-sectional methodological study, from December 2022 to January 2023. Content validity, Construct validity and reliability of the APSQ-III was evaluated.

    RESULTS: In the exploratory factor analysis, three factors were identified from 11 items, accounting for 58% of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis indices confirmed the model fit (χ2(38) = 91.851, p 

    MeSH terms: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Iran; Male; Psychometrics*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Reproducibility of Results; Young Adult; Patient Safety*
  13. Adi NS, Othman A, Kuay HS, Mustafa QM
    BMC Psychol, 2024 Dec 05;12(1):725.
    PMID: 39633446 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-02151-4
    INTRODUCTION: Dyslexia is a widespread Specific Learning Difficulty, and children with dyslexia often face significant psychological difficulties due to their challenges with reading, spelling, and writing. Objective This study examines the psychological functioning of children with dyslexia and compares it with typically developing children.

    METHOD: This cross-sectional study used the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to evaluate behavioral issues and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to assess anxiety levels. Primary school teachers, who had known the children for at least a year, provided the reports. Data were analyzed using an independent sample t-test.

    RESULTS: Forty children with dyslexia (n = 40) and fifty typically developing children (n = 50) were assessed, in which both groups are predominantly boys (70%, 54%) aged 7-12 years (Mean age:9.3 ± 1.5). The results indicate a significantly greater degree of behavioural problems t(88) = 8.39,p 

    MeSH terms: Problem Behavior/psychology; Specific Learning Disorder/psychology; Child; Child Behavior/psychology; Child Development; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression/psychology; Female; Humans; Male
  14. Liu H, Stanslas J, Ren J, Suleiman NB, Chong GH
    BMC Chem, 2024 Dec 04;18(1):239.
    PMID: 39633458 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-024-01329-6
    This study explores the use of green solvent systems by investigating the solubility and thermodynamic properties of xanthone (1) in triglyceride-based tricaprin (2) and tricaprylin (3) mixtures, aiming to replace traditional organic solvents. The solubility profile exhibited a concave trend, and the highest solubility was observed at a solute-free fraction (x2) of 0.36. The solubility exponentially increased with increasing temperature in the range from 30 °C to 75 °C. The solubility data were effectively correlated using the local composition-regular solution theory (LC-RST) model and achieved an ARDln value of 4.8 × 10-3. The model indicated strong interactions between tricaprin and tricaprylin, followed by interactions between tricaprylin and xanthone and between tricaprin and xanthone. The dissolution process of xanthone was primarily enthalpy driven. Based on the structural analysis, xanthone maintained its molecular structure after dissolution in tricaprin and tricaprylin; however, changes in crystallinity levels were observed. These findings provide insights into the use of triglycerides as solvents to improve the solubility and bioaccessibility of hydrophobic compounds such as xanthone.
  15. Putri IS, Shamsudin NF, Abdullah MA, Nurcholis M, Imran S, Yu CX, et al.
    J Biomol Struct Dyn, 2024 Dec 05.
    PMID: 39633610 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2436553
    Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is crucial for the breakdown of monoamine neurotransmitters, making it a promising target for treating neurodegenerative disorders, such as depression, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. In this study, we investigated the selective inhibitory activity of chromone-based compounds against MAO-A and MAO-B for neurodegenerative disease treatment. In literary sources, thirty chromone derivatives have been identified as potential ligands for MAO-A and MAO-B inhibitors. We utilized molecular docking to evaluate how the most active compound interacted with the targeted MAO-A and MAO-B. Compound 2 g, the most active for MAO-A, demonstrated a lower CDOCKER energy compared to the co-crystallized ligand. Meanwhile, compound 2f, the most active for MAO-B, showed a CDOCKER energy similar to the co-crystallized ligand and exhibited similar binding patterns. Furthermore, we constructed a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model to predict the properties and estimate IC50 values for 30 chromone derivatives functioning as MAO-A and MAO-B inhibitors. The model predictions were validated against experimental measurements. Our 2D QSAR model demonstrated robustness, with a statistically significant non-cross-validated coefficient (r2 < 0.9), cross-validated correlation coefficient (q2 < 0.6), and predictive squared correlation coefficient (r2pred < 0.8). Additionally, MD simulations confirmed the stable binding of compounds 2 g and 2f with MAO-A and MAO-B, respectively, displaying substantial binding energy. The most effective pharmacophore model identified key features, such as hydrogen bond acceptors and hydrophobic interactions, that contribute significantly to inhibitory potency. This study offers valuable insight into the selection of compounds with improved selectivity for MAO inhibition.
  16. Chen Q, Chen H, Luo CH, Lai XH
    MycoKeys, 2024;111:21-40.
    PMID: 39633616 DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.111.126446
    Fuscoporia is a polypore genus of Hymenochaetaceae that causes wood decay, although some species in the genus have medicinal values. Phylogenetic analyses of concatenated ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-nLSU sequence data and morphological features identified three new species, F.eucalypticola, F.resupinata and F.subtropica from Australia, China and Malaysia, and these new species derived from the Fuscoporiaferrea group. These three species are illustrated and described. A key to resupinate species of Fuscoporia without mycelial setae in the world is provided.
  17. Lim ZY, Ong LY, Leow MC
    Data Brief, 2024 Dec;57:111101.
    PMID: 39633969 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.111101
    This study presents the "ESP32 Dataset," a dataset of radio frequency (RF) data intended for human activity detection. This dataset comprises 10 activities carried out by 8 volunteers in three different indoor floor plan experiment setups. Line-of-sight (LOS) scenarios are represented by the first two experiment setups, and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios are simulated in the third experiment setup. For every activity, the volunteers performed 20 trials, hence there were 1,600 recorded trials overall per experiment setup in the sample (8 people × 10 activities × 20 trials) . In order to obtain the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and Channel State Information (CSI) values from the recorded transmissions, the D-Link AX3000 router and ESP32 microcontroller were used as the transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) in the data collection process. This collection is an invaluable resource for academics and practitioners in the field of human activity detection since it offers rich and diversified RF data across a wide range of experiment setups and activities. In contrast to other datasets with different hardware configurations, this dataset records one RSSI value and fifty-two CSI subcarriers using the ESP-CSI Tool RF data capture tool. The number of RSSI and CSI signals, specific to the ESP32 hardware, allows for the exploration of resource-efficient activity detection algorithms, which is crucial for Internet of Things (IoT) applications where low-power and cost-effective solutions are required. This dataset is particularly valuable because it reflects the constraints and capabilities of the widely used ESP32 microcontrollers, making it highly relevant for developing and testing new algorithms tailored to IoT environments. The availability of this dataset enables the development and evaluation of activity detection algorithms and methodologies, enhancing the potential for improved experimental setups in IoT applications.
  18. Vijai Indrian P, Chong WW, Ali A, Mhd Ali A
    Open Access J Contracept, 2024;15:119-133.
    PMID: 39634191 DOI: 10.2147/OAJC.S487417
    BACKGROUND: The patient-centred counselling tools are a comprehensive resource to assist community pharmacists in providing effective treatment choices and assisting with decision-making.

    AIM: To identify and select suitable tools community pharmacists use with targeted patient-centred outcomes for dispensing contraceptives.

    METHODS: Five electronic databases, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar as additional sources for published and unpublished studies, were searched to identify literature for contraceptive tools or strategies for pharmacists to decide on contraceptive choice and dispensing by pharmacist. Studies involving pharmacists or tools suitable for pharmacists from any country, published since 1990 were considered.

    RESULTS: A total of 21 publications met the inclusion criteria. Robvis' tool was used for visualizing the risk of bias for each result. There were three studies that used the tools specifically by community pharmacists and others focused on general family planning users and pharmacists. The suitability of patient-centred interventions in community pharmacy settings was further evaluated.

    CONCLUSION: The evidence for special tools for pharmacists for dispensing contraceptives in community settings is limited and further research is needed to develop and evaluate novel interventions for pharmacists in community settings.

  19. Ajayi FF, AlShebli F, Yap PG, Gan CY, Maqsood S, Mudgil P
    Food Chem X, 2024 Dec 30;24:101998.
    PMID: 39634518 DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101998
    Fermented milk (FM) is well-known to confer health-promoting benefits, particularly for managing chronic metabolic diseases. However, the specific cholesterol esterase (CE) inhibitory activities of FM produced from different animal milk sources have not been extensively explored. This study for the first time investigates the CE inhibition potential of FM derived from bovine (F_BM), camel (F_CM), sheep (F_SM), and goat milk (F_GM), each fermented with five different probiotic strains and stored for 14 days under refrigeration. Further, peptides identification was performed and in silico approaches were used to dock potent peptides with CE enzyme (PDB: 1AQL) to decipher mechanism of enzyme inhibition. Comprehensive approach of this study combined CE inhibition assays, peptide identification, and in silico molecular docking with the CE enzyme (PDB: 1AQL) to elucidate mechanisms underlying enzyme inhibition. Upon fermentation improvements in CE-inhibition (lower IC50 values) were observed compared to non-fermented counterparts. Moreover, the CE-inhibition potency of the FM varies significantly among the milk types and probiotic strain (p 
  20. Chin WV, Khaw MJ
    POCUS J, 2024;9(2):42-45.
    PMID: 39634694 DOI: 10.24908/pocus.v9i2.17706
    Dengue fever is an arthropod-borne viral disease that is widespread throughout the world. We report a case of dengue cardiomyopathy that was detected and treated to best effect using point of care ultrasound (POCUS) and the VExUS score. A 75-year-old lady with no known comorbidities presented with a ten-day history of fever, vomiting, loose stool, and poor appetite. Upon arrival, she was febrile and hypotensive. POCUS examination showed reduced left ventricular systolic function, inferior vena cava measuring 2.27 cm and VExUS grading of 2 to 3. Dengue serology IgM and IgG were positive and NT-proBNP was raised at 12500 pg/ml. Instead of fluid resuscitation, diuretic and inotropes were initiated along the line of cardiogenic shock secondary to dengue cardiomyopathy. Serial normal cardiac enzymes and electrocardiogram excluded acute coronary syndrome. She was discharged well, and repeated echocardiography one-month post discharge showed normal left ventricular systolic function with no clinical signs or symptoms of heart failure.
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