Browse publications by year: 2024

  1. Du Y, Zhen F, Ding S, Zhong Y, Li P, Zhan K, et al.
    ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2024 Nov 27;16(47):65366-65377.
    PMID: 39540851 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c15588
    Effective heat redistribution in specific directions is vital for advanced thermal management, significantly enhancing device performance by optimizing spatial heat configurations. We have designed and fabricated a hierarchical fibrous membrane that enables precise heat directing. By integrating hierarchical structure design with the anisotropic thermal conductivity of two-dimensional (2D) materials, we developed a fibrous membrane for anisotropic heat transfer. Such a structure is fabricated by aligning a 1D structured fiber in the 2D plane to achieve anisotropy at each scale level. The fiber units, where 2D nanosheets circumferentially and axially aligned, achieved a high axial thermal conductivity of 16.8 W·m-1·K-1 and advanced heat directing ability, confirmed by characterizations and simulations. The assembled membrane demonstrated an exceptional tensile strength (365 MPa) and high thermal conductivity (10.5 W·m-1·K-1) along the fiber axis. Our membranes are seen as a refined model for thermal management materials, combining the benefits of heat spreaders and thermal interface materials, thus being proficient in directing heat along programmed pathways. A practical wireless charging cooling demonstration illustrated this. Our methodology also proved versatile with different 2D fillers and various geometries. This research presents a method to achieve precise heat directing at the material's level, facilitating the systematic design of thermal management in electronics.
  2. Kamruzzaman M, Shariot-Ullah M, Islam R, Amin MGM, Islam HMT, Ahmed S, et al.
    PMID: 39541022 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-35487-w
    This study evaluates the potential impacts of climate change on Bangladesh by analyzing 19 bioclimatic indicators based on temperature and precipitation. Data from 18 bias-corrected CMIP6 global climate models (GCMs) were used, covering four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs)-SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585-across three future timeframes: near-term (2015-2044), mid-term (2045-2074), and long-term (2075-2100). Under the high-emission SSP585 scenario, average temperatures are projected to rise by up to 3.76 °C, and annual precipitation could increase by 52.6%, reaching up to 3446.38 mm by the end of the century. The maximum temperature (Bio5) could reach 32.91 °C, while the minimum temperature (Bio6) might rise by 4.43 °C, particularly during winter. Precipitation seasonality (Bio15) is projected to increase by as much as 7.9% in the northwest, indicating heightened variability between wet and dry seasons. The diurnal temperature range (Bio2) is expected to decrease by up to - 1.3 °C, signifying reduced nighttime cooling, which could exacerbate heat stress. Significant reductions in temperature seasonality (Bio4) are forecast for the northeast, with notable declines in isothermality (Bio3) under SSP585, pointing to increased climatic extremes. These climatic shifts pose severe risks to agricultural productivity, water resource availability, and biodiversity, particularly in flood-prone regions. The findings highlight the need for urgent adaptation measures, including improved flood management systems, efficient water resource use, and climate-resilient agricultural practices. By providing robust region-specific projections, this study offers critical insights for policymakers and stakeholders to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and safeguard environmental and economic sustainability in Bangladesh.
  3. Ruslan NF, Ahmad N, Abas A, Sanfilippo A, Mahmoud K, Munaim MSA, et al.
    PMID: 39541025 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-35406-z
    The escalation of the global population has accelerated the demand for sustainable energy sources such as bioethanol. Traditionally, bioethanol was obtained by the fermentation of sugar from agricultural crops and grains. However, this technique creates serious threats on the global food supplies, thus hindering the commercial production of bioethanol. Therefore, there is a need to develop new technologies and low-cost raw materials in order to ensure that bioethanol is economically comparable to the first generation of bioethanol. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has been in the limelight within the scientific community because of its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and promising technology to produce bioethanol. SSF involves the cultivation of microorganisms on a solid substrate in the absence of free-flowing water, which eliminates the need for sugar extraction and reduces wastewater production. This systematic review provides an overview of the applications of SSF in bioethanol production while presenting recent studies and advancements of this technology for producing sustainable and cost-effective bioethanol.
  4. Peng Y, Ishak Z
    Discov Ment Health, 2024 Nov 14;4(1):56.
    PMID: 39541057 DOI: 10.1007/s44192-024-00114-0
    Self-compassion (SC) and its influence on mental health have always been a significant focus in psychological research, especially given the alarming prevalence of depression among Chinese university students. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between SC, encompassing both self-warmth and self-coldness, and depression among Chinese undergraduates, with emotion regulation strategies (ERS) serving as a mediator. The sample comprised 21,353 undergraduates from Yunnan Province, China, with data collected at two time points (T1 and T2). SC was measured using the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF), while depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). ERS were measured using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-short (CERQ-short). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results demonstrated that the model of self-warmth, self-coldness, ERS, and depression fit the data well. Upon controlling for depression at T1, both self-warmth and self-coldness were significant predictors of depression through ERS. ERS were found to be a significant mediator in this study. The results indicated that self-warmth enhances adaptive ERS and reduces maladaptive ERS, leading to lower levels of depression, while self-coldness has the opposite influence.
  5. Ghani NDH, Mohamad Fadzil N, Mohammed Z, Abd Rahman MH, Che Din N
    PLoS One, 2024;19(11):e0313220.
    PMID: 39541317 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313220
    BACKGROUND: Treating children's eyes is not just a privilege for a child, it is an essential requirement for their visual health. Parents, as caregivers, have a paramount responsibility to make decisions regarding their children's eye health. Thus, this review aims to identify and summarise published information about parents' knowledge and practices on children's eye health care.

    METHODS: Relevant articles searches were performed through a systematic search of databases (EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Scopus) using the keywords 'knowledge', 'practice', 'parent', 'eye', 'problem', and 'children'. This review was conducted and reported in line with the PRISMA-ScR. The methodological quality of the listed studies was assessed using A Modified McMaster Critical Review form based on the total score.

    RESULT: From a total of 235 studies retrieved through literature review and pearling, 219 remained after removing duplicates. After screening titles and abstracts, 204 irrelevant studies were excluded, leaving 15. After a detailed full-text review, four studies were excluded due to not meeting inclusion criteria. Thus, this review includes the remaining 11 studies. All eleven studies (n = 11) show that parents's knowledge and practices vary. Some parents display good knowledge regarding children's eye health care, for example, understanding the importance of wearing spectacles, the significance of children having normal vision, and where to seek eye examinations. Five studies (n = 5) showed that parents have good practices such as consulting doctors and seeking eye examinations and treatment at the hospital. Six studies (n = 6) showed that parents have misconceptions regarding knowledge, practices, and treatment of children's eye health.

    CONCLUSION: This scoping review found that parents' knowledge and practices regarding children's eye health are poor. Parents' perceptions and practices about the cause and treatment of eye problems were tainted with misconceptions. Therefore, implementing structured programs to enhance awareness and promote the adoption of healthy practices for children's eye health is required.

    MeSH terms: Child; Eye Diseases/therapy; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  6. Gyamfi E, Delvallez G, Cheng S, Meng S, Oeurn K, Sam C, et al.
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2024 Nov;18(11):e0012652.
    PMID: 39541393 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012652
    Melioidosis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, endemic to Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. Despite its increasing global public health and clinical significance, the molecular epidemiology of melioidosis and genetic diversity of B. pseudomallei in Cambodia remains poorly understood. This study aims to elucidate the genetic diversity and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of B. pseudomallei isolates responsible for melioidosis in humans. For this purpose, 14 clinical isolates cryopreserved at the Medical Biology Laboratory at Institut Pasteur du Cambodge from 2016 to 2020 were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST). Phenotypic testing revealed that 92.86% (13/14) of the isolates were sensitive to all tested antibiotics, while one isolate exhibited resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. MLST analysis resolved our isolates into 14 unique Sequence Types (STs), including 10 previously documented in Southeast Asia. Notably, ST1858, ST2064, ST2065, and ST2066 were identified as novel STs, while ST54, ST99, ST211, and ST1359 were reported in Cambodia for the first time in this study. Comparing our MLST data with available sequences on PubMLST (n = 165), our study unveiled a high genetic diversity of B. pseudomallei in Cambodia. The identified STs were closely associated with isolates from other Southeast Asian countries, particularly Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. In conclusion, this study provided insight into the genetic diversity among B. pseudomallei clinical isolates in Cambodia and their close genetic association with Southeast Asian isolates. To further our understanding, a One Health approach, incorporating human, environmental (mainly soil), and animal compartments, is essential to decipher the epidemiology of B. pseudomallei in Cambodia.
    MeSH terms: Cambodia/epidemiology; Female; Humans; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phylogeny; Genetic Variation; Molecular Epidemiology; Multilocus Sequence Typing*
  7. Huang DM, Sigid MF, Yusup Y, Fadhlullah W, Salleh S
    Mar Environ Res, 2024 Nov 12;203:106833.
    PMID: 39541794 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106833
    The Strait of Malacca is well-known as an important trade route with high marine biodiversity. Among the organisms residing in the strait are the reef-building hard corals. Studies have shown that climate change and other anthropogenic stressors have induced severe degradation of coral reefs through the disruption of coral productivity and metabolisms. Moreover, in-depth investigations of causal inference of coral degradation and its correlations with potential coral-affecting physicochemical factors within the strait are limited. Hence, this study presents the analyses of the latest bi-decadal time-series trend from 1995 to 2016 of the live hard coral coverage (or live coral cover) and six coral-affecting physicochemical factors (significant wave height, sea surface salinity, particulate inorganic carbon, particulate organic carbon, turbidity, and sea surface temperature) using remote sensing and reanalysis datasets. Their potential correlations were interpreted by implementing meta- and statistical analyses of past coral surveys and remote sensing data. This study revealed the overall persistent bi-decadal decline in live hard coral coverage within the Strait of Malacca and the complex correlations among the factors that correspond to the spatial stratification of the marine environment. Among the six physicochemical factors, sea surface temperature, turbidity, and sea surface salinity were determined to be the most influential parameters on live coral cover distribution within the strait.
  8. Ng'etich A, Nkombo N, Hounkpatin H, Van de Pas R, Riha J
    BMJ, 2024 Nov 14;387:q2528.
    PMID: 39542446 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.q2528
  9. Dong W, Xiang C, Kamaruddin AY, Ali SKS, Yang Z, Wang X
    Sci Rep, 2024 Nov 14;14(1):28043.
    PMID: 39543230 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79507-8
    The motivational process of physical education (PE) in schools is significantly influenced by social factors, as demonstrated by a number of research based on self-determination theory (SDT). As a proximal factor affecting students' learning motivation, the relatedness support of dancesport teachers plays a key role in promoting the learning motivation and sustainable development of dancesport students. This research aims to test the validity of the second-order model of perceived teacher relatedness support behavior (RSB) and investigate how students' perceptions of their professional teachers directly or indirectly predicted their motivation to learn dancesport. To validate the relationship between the higher-order model and perceived teacher RSB among dancesport majors, this study used the structural equation modeling method for validation and 302 undergraduates majoring in dancesport participated in this investigation. The results showed that students' perceived teacher relatedness support was positively related to intrinsic, integrated, identified, and introjected regulations during dancesport learning and negatively related to external regulation and amotivation. These findings revealed the importance of teacher RSB in dancesport. And this study provides a practical reference for improving the teaching effectiveness of dancesport in universities, promoting harmonious teacher-student relationships, and inspiring students' learning motivation in dancesport. At the same time, it also lays a research foundation for the reform of dancesport teaching in universities and the system of dancesport talent training programs.
  10. Wang C, Yuan Y, Ji X
    BMC Public Health, 2024 Nov 14;24(1):3170.
    PMID: 39543547 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20469-x
    BACKGROUND: The importance of physical education in higher education is widely recognized, as it improves not only exercise attitudes and motor skills but also physical fitness, social skills, and academic performance. However, physical education courses in Chinese colleges and universities face various constraints, such as a shortage of teachers, limited teaching methods, and insufficient resources, resulting in low student motor skills, negative attitudes toward sports, and low participation rates. This study explores the effectiveness of a blended learning model, which integrates traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning components, in improving university students' exercise attitudes and basketball skills.

    METHODS: The research was conducted in 2022 at Luoyang Normal University in China, utilizing a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) with 78 healthy first-year university students. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (blended learning) or the control group (traditional learning), and the intervention lasted 16 weeks. Exercise attitudes were assessed via the Exercise Attitude Scale, whereas basketball skills were evaluated via set shot and half-court dribbling and shooting tests.

    RESULTS: Both instructional models improved students' exercise attitudes and basketball skills; however, the blended learning model demonstrated significantly superior outcomes. Effect sizes (d) ranging from 0.57 to 1.92 indicated that the experimental group showed greater improvements in behavior attitude, target attitude, behavior cognition, behavior intention, emotional experience, behavior control, and subjective standards. In basketball skills, the experimental group outperformed the control group in set shots (d = 0.56) and half-court dribbling and shooting (d = 0.46).

    CONCLUSION: Compared with traditional methods, blended learning significantly enhances university students' exercise attitudes and basketball skills. Future research should explore the long-term effects and underlying mechanisms of blended learning in physical education, involving larger and more diverse samples to validate these findings.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Attitude to Health*; China; Female; Humans; Learning; Male; Motor Skills*; Universities*; Young Adult
  11. Yosep I, Mardhiyah A, Hazmi H, Fitria N, Lukman M, Yamin A, et al.
    BMC Nurs, 2024 Nov 14;23(1):834.
    PMID: 39543631 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-02453-3
    BACKGROUND: Incidences of domestic violence against women are increasingly every years. Domestic violence has the negative impacts on physical problems, psychological problems, and can even cause death. Nurses have a role for providing interventions to reduce the impact of domestic violence on women.

    AIM: The purpose of this study is to explore methods of nursing interventions in reducing the traumatic effect of domestic violence among women.

    METHOD: This study used a scoping review method. The literature used in this study from CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Search articles used the keywords domestic violence, impact, women, and victims. PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews are used for selecting articles. The inclusion criteria for the articles in this study were that the sample was female victims of sexual violence, randomized control trial or quasi-experimental research design, and last 10 years for publications period (2013-2022).

    RESULT: From three databases, we found 579 articles. After elimination-based inclusion and exclusion criteria, we found 10 articles discussing the effect of nursing interventions in reducing the impact of domestic violence on female victims. Most of the studies from USA and the range of respondents in the articles is 112-1250 respondents. The methods used in providing nursing interventions are classified into three, namely self-management programs, counseling programs, social support programs. The activities carried out in nursing interventions in the form of psychoeducation, relaxation, meditation, and also discussions about solving problems encountered. All articles show that nursing interventions are effective in reducing the impact of domestic violence on women.

    CONCLUSION: Nurses have an important role to provide comprehensive nursing care to victims of domestic violence by paying attention to various aspects, namely physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects to improve safety and comfort of patients.

    IMPLICATION FOR NURSING: This study is the basis for nurses to provide comprehensive nursing care to reduce the impact of domestic violence among women victims of domestic violence.

  12. Choi SJ, Choi S, Park S, Nam KC, Jang HJ, Kim JK, et al.
    BMC Health Serv Res, 2024 Nov 14;24(1):1402.
    PMID: 39543640 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11885-1
    BACKGROUND: The reporting of adverse events in medical devices (MD) is a starting point of post-market surveillance and the most common source of initial safety signals. Because MD adverse events (AE) occur globally and involve high-profile international public health crises, international regulators implanted standard codes for MDAE reporting. This study aimed to assess the application of MDAE terminology and codes by providing examples of virtual events.

    METHODS: An online survey was conducted among participants of the MD Training Program for Regulatory Authorities which provide International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) adverse event terminology and codes, and six virtual MDAE cases.

    RESULTS: All 29 of the 72 participants were regulators. In all cases, most participants selected the broad (level 1) codes rather than the detailed (level 2 or level 3) codes. While responders selected a variety of codes for all annexes in case 1, over 50% of responders selected the intended codes in case 6. The codes for cause investigation were chosen more frequently than other annexes for device problem, components, and health effect. No differences were observed in code selection amongst different stakeholders.

    CONCLUSIONS: We identified the diversification in terminology and code selection for reporting MDAEs.

    MeSH terms: Equipment and Supplies/adverse effects; Equipment and Supplies/standards; Equipment Safety/standards; Humans; Terminology as Topic; Surveys and Questionnaires
  13. Apalasamy YD, Awang H, Hairi NN, Tan CL, Mohamad M, Zainal Abidin AF
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2024 Nov;36(8):797-800.
    PMID: 39543957 DOI: 10.1177/10105395241283131
  14. Basivi PK, Raman J, Tippana A, Kakani V, Kumar R, Rao PV, et al.
    Nat Prod Res, 2024 Nov 14.
    PMID: 39543990 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2425804
    Drug-resistant microorganisms pose a significant threat to public health as they can undermine the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and other medications. Additionally, the formation of free radicals, can contribute to various health problems. Diospyros buxifolia (D. buxifolia) belonging to Ebenaceae family is a large tropical evergreen tree utilised in traditional medicine to cure several health ailments. The present study was set out to separate bioactive speciation of aqueous and methanolic extracts of stem and leaves from D. buxifolia by using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) followed by evaluation of its antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities. GC-MS identified 14 different bioactive compounds, with four compounds common for both (leaf and stem) extracts. The methanolic extracts of leaf demonstrated significant antibacterial activity) while stem extracts exhibited notable antioxidant potential. Thus, D. buxifolia is proved source of natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agent, that could address the challenges posed by drug-resistant microorganisms and oxidative stress in global health.
  15. Kamaruzaman HF, Grieve E, Ku Abd Rahim KN, Izzuna M, Sit Wai L, Romli EZ, et al.
    Int J Technol Assess Health Care, 2024 Nov 15;40(1):e57.
    PMID: 39544076 DOI: 10.1017/S0266462324004665
    OBJECTIVES: Healthcare disinvestment requires multi-level decision-making, and early stakeholder engagement is essential to facilitate implementation and acceptance. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of Malaysian healthcare stakeholders to disinvestment initiatives as well as identify disinvestment activities in the country.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from February to March 2023 among Malaysian healthcare stakeholders involved in resource allocation and decision-making at various levels of governance. Response frequencies were analyzed descriptively and cross-tabulation was performed for specific questions to compare the responses of different groups of stakeholders. For free-text replies, content analysis was used with each verbatim response examined and assigned a theme.

    RESULTS: A total of 153 complete responses were analyzed and approximately 37 percent of participants had prior involvement in disinvestment initiatives. Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness ranked as the most important criteria in assessment for disinvestment. Surprisingly, equity was rated the lowest priority despite its crucial role in healthcare decision-making. Almost 90 percent of the respondents concurred that a formal disinvestment framework is necessary and the importance of training for the program's successful implementation. Key obstacles to the adoption of disinvestment include insufficient stakeholder support and political will as well as a lack of expertise in executing the process.

    CONCLUSIONS: While disinvestment is perceived as a priority for efficient resource allocation in Malaysian healthcare, there is a lack of a systematic framework for its implementation. Future research should prioritize methodological analysis in healthcare disinvestment and strategies for integrating equity considerations in evaluating disinvestment candidates.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Cost-Benefit Analysis*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Decision Making*; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Technology Assessment, Biomedical/organization & administration; Resource Allocation
  16. Hamid Z, Akbar A, Kamran K, Achakzai JK, Wong LS, Sadiq MB
    Int J Food Sci, 2024;2024:5589506.
    PMID: 39544277 DOI: 10.1155/2024/5589506
    The Prunus armeniaca L. (bitter apricot) is an apricot fruit tree categorized on the basis of the bitter taste of its seed kernel. In this study, the functional, medicinal, and therapeutic potential of bitter apricot seed kernel oil (BASKO) was evaluated. The qualitative screening of BASKO was performed using standard methodologies. The chemical profile of the oil was analyzed with the help of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results revealed the presence of different phytochemical constituents comprising steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and cardiac glycosides. The antioxidant activity of the oil was determined by a 2,2,diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical inhibition essay. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 10.6 ± 1.32 mg GAE/g and 4.75 ± 0.11 mg QE/g, respectively. DPPH inhibition of 89.5% was achieved at 1000 μg/mL of BASKO, with IC50 = 90.44 μg/mL (83.47-96.67 μg/mL with 95% CI). The antimicrobial potential of the BASKO revealed the inhibition of Escherichia coli (20.3 ± 2.08 mm), Salmonella typhi (19.3 ± 2.51 mm), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.6 ± 1.52 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17 ± 2 mm), and Staphylococcus aureus (25 ± 1.01 mm). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value was 250 μL/mL for K. pneumoniae, S. typhi, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus, whereas 62.5 μL/mL for E. coli. Moreover, BASKO showed antifungal potential against Trichophyton tonsurans (77.3 ± 2.08%), Epidermophyton floccosum (69.6 ± 3.51%), Aspergillus niger (74.3 ± 2.56%), Aspergillus flavus (90 ± 3%), and Mucor mucedo (78.3 ± 2.51%). Antileishmanial activity of oil was evaluated against Leishmania major by MTT assay, and an IC50 value of 89.75 μg/mL was observed. The study revealed that BASKO is a good source of biologically active compounds to be used as functional, therapeutical, and antimicrobial agents in food and pharmaceutical products.
  17. Alamri SA, Alzahrani MM, Alamri AA, Khalifa WW, Alsulami RY, Bardesi J, et al.
    Ann Thorac Med, 2024;19(4):275-283.
    PMID: 39544349 DOI: 10.4103/atm.atm_111_24
    CONTEXT: Early detection of lung cancer through screening can improve outcomes; yet public knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding lung cancer screening in Saudi Arabia are limited.

    AIMS: The aim is to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward lung cancer risk factors and screening, and understand the impact of demographic factors on these variables.

    SETTINGS AND DESIGN: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to March 2024, involving 708 participants.

    METHODS: A validated questionnaire from a previous Malaysian study, translated into Arabic, was distributed to participants.

    STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk test, one-way analysis of variance, Tukey's test, and logistic regression were used.

    RESULTS: Most participants (95.9%) recognized smoking as a major risk factor. Common misconceptions included viewing lung cancer as infectious (84.0%) or affecting only men (14.4%). Nonetheless, 66.4% expressed willingness for future screening. Younger participants (18-40 years) and those with higher education demonstrated better knowledge scores (mean score: 11.33 ± 2.97 for ages 18-40; 11.42 ± 2.88 for those with master's or doctorate degrees), with significant differences based on age (P = 0.007) and education level (P = 0.025). No significant differences were observed based on gender, region of residence, or monthly family income.

    CONCLUSIONS: There is a positive inclination toward lung cancer screening among the Saudi public, but there are significant knowledge gaps, particularly regarding nonsmoking-related risk factors and misconceptions, suggesting a need for enhanced public education and screening programs.

  18. Leong ZCW, Kong JHL, Khor SY, Liew YF
    Cureus, 2024 Oct;16(10):e71535.
    PMID: 39544564 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71535
    Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a serious complication that may affect post-renal transplant recipients. De novo TMA has been linked to the use of transplant immunosuppressive agents, including calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi). We report a case of a 41-year-old female renal transplant recipient who presented with hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute allograft dysfunction. Before her presentation, she was on immunosuppression with oral tacrolimus, oral prednisolone, and oral everolimus. Her renal biopsy showed features of TMA, which led to extensive workup to identify the underlying cause. Eventually, everolimus was recognized as the cause of secondary TMA as her hemolytic parameters and renal allograft function recovered following discontinuation of this drug. This case report highlights the association of everolimus with TMA in a post-renal transplant patient. Early recognition and drug withdrawal can prevent allograft loss.
  19. Ong MN, Loo GH, Muthkumaran G, Md Pauzi SH, Ritza Kosai N
    Cureus, 2024 Oct;16(10):e71497.
    PMID: 39544575 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71497
    Abdominal wall hernia is a common condition seen in the clinical practice of surgery. However, malignant tumors in the hernia sac are rare and there are limited studies on this subject. We report a case of a 77-year-old female who presented with generalized abdominal pain and vomiting. She was treated for an incarcerated incisional hernia and underwent an exploratory laparotomy, which showed a multiseptated incisional hernia sac. Histopathological examination revealed a metastatic endometrial serous carcinoma (ESC). ESC is an aggressive variant associated with poor prognosis, characterized by metastasis and extrauterine spread. Its treatment mainly involves a multidisciplinary approach, including surgical treatment and chemoradiotherapy. This report highlights the importance of considering malignant tumors in the differential diagnosis of hernia sac contents. Raising awareness among healthcare professionals and the general public can aid in the prompt diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and improved outcomes for individuals with such rare presentations.
  20. Alam BF, Yusof A, Ali Shah S, Abdullah JY, Awang Nawi MA
    Cureus, 2024 Oct;16(10):e71496.
    PMID: 39544581 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71496
    OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the dimensions and differences in distances from several anatomical structures to the mental foramen (MtF) in Pakistani participants using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

    METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, retrospective CBCT data of Pakistani individuals from both genders were assessed using the Mimics software (Materialise NV, Leuven, Belgium). The participants were selected from the Mahajir and Pukhtoon ethnic groups in Pakistan. The dimensions of the MtF, which included vertical and horizontal diameter and area of foramen, were measured. The distance of the foramen to various anatomical structures was measured, which included the alveolar crest, inferior border of the mandible, and anterior mandible. Data were assessed using SPSS version 28 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Statistical analysis was performed using an independent sample t-test and a paired t-test. P-values greater than 0.05 and 0.001 were considered significant.

    RESULTS: Greater measurements had been recorded for the Pukhtoon ethnicity with respect to the vertical, horizontal, and area of the foramen. In relation to the dimensions, males showed larger measurements than females. MtF's distance to the alveolar crest, inferior border of the mandible, and anterior mandible (p < 0.001) was greater in Pukhtoon ethnicity. Males displayed longer measurements.

    CONCLUSION: CBCT proved to be a highly accurate and useful tool for the analysis of the dimensions and distances from the MtF in both ethnicities. The Pukhtoon ethnicity exhibited overall greater measurements with respect to the dimensions, highlighting a significant difference between the two ethnicities. Analysis of MtF distance to various landmarks resulted in longer measurements being observed in males and Pukhtoon ethnicity.

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