METHODS: A literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane on October 20, 2023. The included studies reported the number of pregnant women and the count of those who were dual users. Quality assessment was undertaken using the JBI tool. The pooled prevalence of dual use was determined via a random-effects model. All statistical analyses were executed using R software, version 4.3.
PROSPERO: CRD42023486020.
RESULTS: Eighteen studies were analyzed, encompassing 5,983,363 pregnant women. The meta-analysis indicated an overall prevalence of 4.6% (95% CI: 2.0-10.3) for dual users with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 100%). Subgroup analysis based on the country showed a prevalence of 4.9% (95% CI: 2.0 to 11.6) for USA and 8.1% (95% CI: 0.00 to 1.00) for UK. Meta-regression revealed reduction of prevalence of dual use from 2019 to 2023. A potential publication bias was indicated by the LFK index and the Doi plot.
CONCLUSION: The dual consumption of e-cigarettes and traditional tobacco in pregnant women is a significant health concern, with a notable prevalence. Given the established risks of tobacco smoking during pregnancy and the uncertainties surrounding e-cigarettes, more comprehensive research and public health interventions are urgently needed to address this issue.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all SGT cases undergoing surgical resection at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) and Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ) in Malaysia from April 2022 to April 2023. IHC staining was performed on paraffin-embedded tissues at the Pathology Laboratory, HUSM, to evaluate the expression of p16, HPV16-L1, and HPV18-E6 oncoproteins. The clinicopathological data were correlated with the staining results.
RESULTS: 49 SGT cases were identified, mainly in middle-aged Malay women, with most tumours originating from the parotid gland. Malignant tumours included mucoepidermoid carcinoma (22.4%), adenoid cystic carcinoma (4.1%), acinic cell carcinoma (4.1%), and adenocarcinoma (2%). Benign tumours primarily consisted of pleomorphic adenoma (49%) and Warthin tumours (16.3%). Positive p16 expression was detected in 67% of cases, while HPV16 and HPV18 were detected in 65% and 90% of tumours, respectively. HPV16-L1 exhibited 75.8% sensitivity and 56.3% specificity, while HPV18-E6 showed 100% sensitivity and 31.2% specificity compared to p16.
CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest a correlation between the presence of high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 and the development of SGT, as evidenced by the overexpression of p16, HPV16-L1, and HPV18-E6 oncoproteins. Both HPV16-L1 and HPV18-E6 tests are acceptable, reliable, and sensitive for detecting high-risk HPV in SGT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-024-04779-5.
PURPOSE: To determine OSD prevalence and dry eye severity among glaucoma patients at nine private clinics in Malaysia.
METHODS: This multicentre, cross-sectional observational study recruited glaucoma patients undergoing routine eye examinations, with IOP ≤21mmHg receiving anti-glaucoma eye drops. OSD was assessed through National Eye Institute (NEI) scoring, tear film break-up time (TBUT), hyperaemia grading, Schirmer's tests and questionnaires on symptom evaluation, OSD index and quality of life (QoL).
RESULTS: Our cohort (n = 406, mostly male, ethnically Chinese, mean 63.5 ± 11.5 years, mean IOP 15.34 ± 2.95mmHg) frequently used prostaglandin analogues or PGA/beta-blockers and had cornea total NEI scores of 3.64 ± 2.76, mostly with minimal (51.2%) or mild (40.4%) epitheliopathy. Mean TBUT was 6.59 ± 3.08s (25.0%) in patients with severe lipid deficiency dry eye (DE). Bulbar conjunctiva hyperemia (70.4%) and palpebral conjunctiva hyperemia (68.0%) were mild. Schirmer's test showed that most had tear deficiency (70.2%) with severe DE (38.9%). Questionnaires reported ocular symptoms in few patients, but 69.2% had DE symptoms (13.1% moderate/severe). While QoL was good, several patients had QoL and OSD index scores suggesting some adaptation to ocular symptoms and discomfort, with most patients being unconcerned (43-60%) by the occurrence of eye drop side effects (75.4%).
CONCLUSION: Normal-mild DE or OSD can be asymptomatic, and the symptoms are unlikely to bother most patients. However, as OSD severity varies in patients with glaucoma, it should be evaluated using questionnaires and clinical tests to ensure that subjectively asymptomatic individuals are not missed.
METHODS: A total of 62 participants aged between 13 and 17y were involved. A self-administered questionnaires containing 12 items was used to evaluate the smartphone usage patterns. This was followed by an eye examination, involving a battery of accommodation and convergence assessments before and after the smartphone use. The data analysis comprised descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and correlation coefficients.
RESULTS: The use of smartphones is at a high level and at an optimal distance daily, with more than 6h a day watching video films, games, and completing school projects. Majority of the participants not reported eye strain factors and eye prescription changes with the use of digital devices. The use of a smartphone continuously for 30min was found to significantly decrease amplitude of accommodation, accommodative facility, and positive relative accommodation (P<0.001). Meanwhile, the lag of accommodation parameters and negative relative accommodation increased with the use of smartphones significantly (P<0.001). The near point of convergence (NPC) and distance and near negative fusional vergence decreased significantly (P<0.001). The NPC parameter was found to have a weak negative association with the frequency of smartphone use (R=-0.276, P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Frequent and continuous use of smartphones have increased visual stress and resulted in weakness of accommodation and vergence functions. Therefore, frequent break is mandatory when using a smartphone and appropriate visual hygiene, the 20-20-20 rule (every 20min, view something 20 feet away for 20s) are required during smartphone use to maintain visual function.