Browse publications by year: 2024

  1. Ayub S, Guan BH, Ahmad F, Soleimani H, You KY, Nisa ZU, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Nov 15;10(21):e39828.
    PMID: 39524851 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39828
    Electromagnetic pollution, or electromagnetic interference (EMI), is a phenomenon that has arisen due to the fast spread of electronic gadgets. To overcome EMI problem, polymer-based composites have sparked considerable attention among researchers owing to their superior qualities. Hence, this work utilizes magnetite-modified graphene (MMG) filler with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer to form polymer composites in various proportions ranging from 2 to 10 wt% to study the EM properties in the X-band. It was observed that the sample composite having a MMG filler content of 10 wt% possesses a relatively higher electrical conductivity of 0.65 S/cm as compared to the other prepared composites in this research work. The same sample composite also attained a total shielding efficacy of 53.04 dB at a thickness of 3 mm. Moreover, it was observed that the filler has improved the material's thermal stability and microwave absorption capacity, making it a high-efficiency EMI shielding material appropriate for usage in the electronic and aviation industries.
  2. Chai AWY, Tan YH, Ooi S, Yee PS, Yee SM, Cheong SC
    Heliyon, 2024 Nov 15;10(21):e39677.
    PMID: 39524880 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39677
    Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is known to be driven by multiple intricated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) including EGFR, PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. However, whilst targeting EGFR with cetuximab has been approved for the treatment of OSCC, other single-agent inhibitors of the RTKs have shown modest effects in improving survival. From the genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen on 21 OSCC cell lines, we have identified PTPN11 among the top essential genes in OSCC. PTPN11 encodes for SHP2, a phosphatase that acts as a master signal transducer, downstream of various RTKs. Although PTPN11 overexpression has been reported in OSCC, little is known about its role as an essential gene for OSCC survival and its potential as a therapeutic target. Herein, we confirmed that PTPN11 is an essential gene in OSCC where its deletion significantly impacted cell survival. We evaluated three SHP2 inhibitors on 21 OSCC cell lines and found TNO155 to be significantly associated with CRISPR dependency score. We showed that TNO155 caused dose-dependent suppression on p-ERK and p-MEK, and suppresses the JAK/STAT pathway via downregulating p-JAK1, p-STAT1, p-STAT3. Furthermore, we confirmed that the combination of the mTOR inhibitor, everolimus with TNO155 is synergistic in OSCC. In summary, PTPN11 is a promising therapeutic target in OSCC that can be selectively targeted by SHP2 inhibitor such as TNO155. Our findings on the use of mTOR inhibitor, everolimus to overcome resistance to TNO155 are essential to inform on next phases of clinical trials which is warranted for the treatment of OSCC.
  3. Sadu Singh RS, Loo GH, Muthkumaran G, Azna Ali A, Ritza Kosai N
    Cureus, 2024 Oct;16(10):e71240.
    PMID: 39525114 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71240
    Obesity stands as a prominent health challenge in our society, with metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) emerging as a solution due to its efficacy in addressing obesity-related type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) remain the most common MBS after sleeve gastrectomy. Complications from RYGB are uncommon but include anastomotic stricture, marginal ulcers, small bowel obstruction, and nutritional complications. We present a 52-year-old lady with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 27.6 kg/m2 and poorly controlled T2DM who presented with generalized body weakness and uncontrolled weight loss after an RYGB performed four months earlier. She was cachexic with a BMI of 17 kg/m2,with generalized anasarca with a multitude of electrolyte disturbances. After nutritional optimization, she underwent a reversal surgery back to normal anatomy. Reversal of RYGB to normal anatomy is a complex surgical procedure and is often the last resort undertaken in patients experiencing severe complications from the initial surgery. Indications include malnutrition, severe dumping syndrome, excessive weight loss, and recalcitrant marginal ulcers. Our case outlines the importance of proper patient selection for MBS and highlights the preoperative management of RYGB reversal to normal anatomy. We also describe the surgical procedure using a stepwise approach. In conclusion, the reversal of RYGB to normal anatomy should only be undertaken after a careful period of prehabilitation to reduce perioperative complications. The inclusion of dietitians, endocrinologists, and physiotherapists is crucial to ensure the best possible outcome.
  4. Syed Afandi SFS, Ibrahim R, Musa Z, Mohamad S, Husain S
    Cureus, 2024 Oct;16(10):e71185.
    PMID: 39525151 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71185
    Although Luc's abscess represents a rare complication of otitis media, it is an important complication to be considered by clinicians, by which infection spreads from the middle ear and can result in subperiosteal collection beneath the temporal muscle. Because of its rare occurrence, the diagnosis and treatment might be delayed. Here, we report the case of a 48-year-old female with Luc's abscess with the involvement of the mastoid bone and discuss its clinical presentation and successful management.
  5. Zulkharnain EM, Muhamad Ariffin MH, Tan JA, Zakaria MAA
    Cureus, 2024 Oct;16(10):e71166.
    PMID: 39525210 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71166
    Giant cell tumour (GCT) is a benign bone tumour characterised by osteoclastic-like multinucleated cells. This tumour predominantly occurs in adults during the third decade of life, commonly in the distal femur, proximal tibia, distal radius, and sacrum. Treatment options include wide local excision with possible adjuvant therapy depending on tumour size and site. We present a case of an 18-year-old lady with no prior medical history complaining of worsening insidious onset localised back pain and preceding numbness of the bilateral lower limbs, diagnosed with a giant cell tumour of the spine (T11).
  6. Fan SWD, Ong LT
    touchREV Endocrinol, 2024 Oct;20(2):91-99.
    PMID: 39526051 DOI: 10.17925/EE.2024.20.2.12
    Objectives: Hyperthyroidism has a significant impact on the cardiovascular system, causing thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy, which is characterized by atrial fibrillation, left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, and may lead to heart failure. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for heart failure in patients with hyperthyroidism. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, SCOPUS and Ovid SP up until April 2023. Pooled prevalence and pooled odds ratio for risk factors were calculated using the generic inverse variance method. Results: Studies involving 30,889 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of heart failure in patients with hyperthyroidism was 8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6-11%). Further analyses revealed that the prevalence of heart failure in patients who underwent treatment with radioactive iodine ablation, antithyroid medication and thyroidectomy was 8% (95% CI: -1 to 16%), 6% (95% CI: 2 to 11%) and 4% (95% CI: -2 to 10%), respectively. The risk factors of heart failure in hyperthyroidism include atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, anaemia, hypertension, history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack, history of coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: Heart failure occurs in 8% of patients with hyperthyroidism, with the most common risk factor being atrial fibrillation.
  7. Tian Q, Mustapha SM, Min J
    Psychol Res Behav Manag, 2024;17:3779-3798.
    PMID: 39526220 DOI: 10.2147/PRBM.S479189
    PURPOSE: To identify the relationship between academic procrastination, performance, self-efficacy, and satisfaction, we investigate the mediational role of academic self-efficacy between academic procrastination and satisfaction, and between academic performance and satisfaction, respectively, among undergraduate students of local technology universities in China.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 388 undergraduate students from 22 local technology universities in Hubei, China. Data was collected through an online questionnaire measuring academic procrastination, performance, self-efficacy, and satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to analyze the relationship between variables. Structural equation modeling analysis and the bootstrap method were employed to examine the mediating effect of academic self-efficacy on the relationship between academic procrastination, academic performance, and academic satisfaction, respectively.

    RESULTS: (a) Academic procrastination was widespread, with 47.6% of respondents exhibiting high levels and 30.2% showing moderate tendencies. (b) Academic procrastination exhibited a negative and statistically significant relationship with academic self-efficacy and satisfaction, respectively. Conversely, academic performance was positively and statistically significantly associated with self-efficacy and satisfaction. Furthermore, academic self-efficacy displayed a positive and statistically significant correlation with academic satisfaction. (c) Academic self-efficacy mediated the relationship between academic procrastination and satisfaction as well as between academic performance and satisfaction.

    CONCLUSION: This study highlights the mechanism of academic satisfaction of undergraduate students, with a particular emphasis on the mediating role of academic self-efficacy, especially verifying its mediating role between academic performance and satisfaction. The findings hold significant implications for policymakers, university administrators, educators, and undergraduate students, offering insights for enhancing academic satisfaction in undergraduate learning and contributing to expanding the mechanistic understanding of academic satisfaction.

  8. Shahbaz M, Al-Maleki AR, Cheah CW, Aziz J, Bartold PM, Vaithilingam RD
    Int J Rheum Dis, 2024 Nov;27(11):e15415.
    PMID: 39526323 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.15415
    Periodontitis (PD) is characterized by the host's inflammatory responses to microbial dental biofilm dysbiosis, potentially resulting in tooth loss if left untreated. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease leading to synovial inflammation and destruction of joint cartilage and bone. The suggested association between PD and RA is based on the potential of chronic inflammation present in periodontitis, which could induce alterations in proteins through post-translational modifications, leading to the formation of citrullinated and carbamylated protein antigens. Antibodies directed against these antigens can serve as biomarkers for the underlying immunological processes in RA. Recent studies have also focused on bacterial proteolytic enzymes released from PD-associated bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, which are also sources of these antibodies. Chronic inflammation in PD causes increased levels of inflammatory cytokines (interferon-α, interleukins-6 and 8, tumor necrosis factor-α) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The oral microbiota in PD is also associated with the release of NETs (a process known as NETosis). Elevated NET levels are a source of citrullinated and carbamylated proteins which highlights their role in an individual's risk of developing RA (pre-RA individuals) and the progression of chronic RA. This narrative review describes periodontitis and the dysbiotic subgingival microbiota and its role in NETosis as risk factors for inducing early RA and the prospects of identifying pre-RA individuals and seronegative RA patients with these risk factors.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Risk Factors; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Microbiota; Dysbiosis*
  9. Zhen Y, Peng C, Gao H, Bai L, Song Y, Gao P, et al.
    Biomacromolecules, 2024 Dec 09;25(12):7767-7776.
    PMID: 39526987 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01082
    This study found that the sources of cellulose have a significant effect on the parameters related to the kinks present in nanocellulose. During nanocellulose preparation, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation induced partial depolymerization on whole cellulose and made the amorphous regions more susceptible to consequent mechanical treatment irrespective of cellulose sources. However, plant cellulose microfibrils were prone to break into shorter nanocellulose with fewer kinks, while bacterial and tunicate cellulose were more likely to bend rather than break, thus leading to the generation of more kinks. The kinks did not show significant effects on the size, crystallinity index, and thermal properties of nanocellulose for each cellulose source, though the kink numbers were positively related to the mechanical performance of nanocellulose. Collectively, this study elucidated the kink formation mechanisms and clarified the effects of kinks on nanocellulose performance, thus providing new insights into understanding the source and behaviors of microdefects present in nanocellulose.
    MeSH terms: Oxidation-Reduction*; Surface Properties; Nanostructures/chemistry
  10. Ranasinghe R, Mathai M, Alshawsh MA, Zulli A, Ranasinghe R
    Acta Diabetol, 2024 Nov 11.
    PMID: 39527296 DOI: 10.1007/s00592-024-02401-2
    BACKGROUND: This study identifies a new set of salient risk factors that may trigger danger signals of vascular dysregulation in T1D. Vascular abnormalities and impairment of CVD is a major adverse effect of T1D, particularly affecting children, adolescents and young adults.

    METHODS: The patients of T1D were compared with the healthy control (HC) for the risk factors of vascular dysregulation in published studies from year 2013 to 2023. The PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched from 1/1/2013 to 1/9/2023. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane (ROBINS-I ) tool, relevant to clinical subjects. A random effects model was followed and analysed by RevMan 5.4 and GraphPad Prism software.

    RESULTS: 80 relevant case-control studies having 7492 T1D patients and 5293 HC were included. The age and sex-matched HC consisted of persons free of disease and not under any medication while clinical subjects of

  11. Song W, Shari NI, Song J, Zhang R, Mansor NS, Leong Bin Abdullah MFI, et al.
    PLoS One, 2024;19(11):e0312669.
    PMID: 39527516 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312669
    BACKGROUND: Breast cancer patients face significant psychological challenges, including difficulties in accepting the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term impact of the disease. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has shown promise in enhancing acceptance and psychological flexibility in various populations. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of ACT in promoting disease acceptance among breast cancer patients through a randomized controlled trial.

    METHODS: This study will recruit 90 breast cancer patients and randomly allocate them to an ACT intervention or control group. The ACT intervention, focusing on acceptance, mindfulness, value clarification, and committed action, will be delivered over 4 weeks. Meanwhile, the control group will receive standard care with non-therapeutic intervention. The study's primary outcome is disease acceptance, while secondary outcomes include depression, anxiety, social support, quality of life (QoL), and psychological inflexibility. Data will be collected at three points: baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up. Statistical analysis will compare outcomes between groups to evaluate the effectiveness and mechanism of this intervention using covariance and mediation analysis.

    DISCUSSION: This study evaluates the effectiveness of ACT in promoting disease acceptance among breast cancer patients. It hypothesizes that the ACT group will show higher disease acceptance and improvements in social support, QoL, and psychological flexibility compared to the control group. The findings will contribute to research on psychological interventions and demonstrate ACT's effectiveness in enhancing disease acceptance.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: The research project is registered in the ClinicalTrials (NCT05327153).

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Anxiety/psychology; Anxiety/therapy; Depression/psychology; Depression/therapy; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Quality of Life*; Social Support; Mindfulness/methods
  12. Mohd Amin NI, Mohd Nordin NA, Ismail A, Pillai SGK, Mohd Rasdi HF
    PLoS One, 2024;19(11):e0309648.
    PMID: 39527590 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309648
    INTRODUCTION: Parkinson disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder that progresses over time, is steadily growing in number and prevalence worldwide. PD in Malaysia is expected to increase five-fold by 2040 from the existing estimate of 20,000 patients in 2018. Treatment program of PD in Malaysia is rather unstructured, and there is no known comprehensive PD family caregiver training program available to date. To ensure the quality of a program, it must be tested for feasibility, effectiveness and sustainability. This paper describes the protocol of a study that evaluates the effectiveness of a structured, comprehensive training program of family caregiver to persons with PD in comparison to usual care.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS–STUDY PROTOCOL: A total of 60 pairs of persons with PD of stage II and III, and their primary family caregiver will be recruited and allocated into either an experimental or a control group for 12 weeks of intervention. The experimental group will undergo initial training from multi-disciplinary healthcare providers and will be given a physical module containing weekly tasks that must be practised at home. While the control group will receive a usual care. Both groups will be assessed in terms of physical functions, functional mobility, quality of life (QoL), caregiver burden and knowledge using standardised assessment tools namely Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), European Quality of Life five-dimensions (EQ-5D), Malay version of Zarit Burden Interview (MZBI) and Knowledge of Parkinson Disease Questionnaire (KPDQ). In addition, the feasibility and sustainability of the interventions will be evaluated, alongside its cost-effectiveness based on the average and incremental cost effectiveness ratio. All data will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly mixed model ANOVA.

    DISCUSSION: There is a significant gap in the literature pertaining family caregiver training programs for people with PD. Documented programs are lacking in term of comprehensiveness of content, application approach and the measurement of training outcomes including the program cost-effectiveness. The feasibility and effectiveness of such training program in a Malaysian setting also requires investigation due to differences in living environment, support system and population's perception. This study will assist to fulfil the existing literature gap and demonstrate the potential benefit of caregiver involvement in mediating the care and therapy for PD in the home setting. Optimum knowledge and skills gained through the training are expected to enhance the confidence and ability of the family caregivers and may possibly reduce their perceived caregiving burden.

    PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The protocol of this study is registered in the Australian-New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ANZCTR) with a registration number ACTRN12623000336684.

    MeSH terms: Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Quality of Life*; Single-Blind Method
  13. Wang L, Chen X, Xi X, Lee SH, Lum WC, Huang Y, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Dec;282(Pt 6):137438.
    PMID: 39528202 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137438
    Condensed tannin was solidified onto chitosan microspheres to prepare chitosan-tannin (CT) composite microspheres with a simple preparation method to study its performance in adsorbing copper (Cu2+) and lead ions (Pb2+) in aqueous media. The study investigated the influence of the mass ratio of tannin and chitosan, pH value, adsorption time, and initial concentrations of Cu2+ and Pb2+ on the adsorption capacity of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions. Additionally, the study examined the adsorption isotherms and kinetics of Cu2+ and Pb2+ on CT composite microspheres. The adsorption process aligns more closely with the fitting results of the Langmuir model. The maximum capacity for saturated monolayer adsorption of CT composite microspheres for Cu2+ and Pb2+ was 37.6 and 52.9 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption process of CT composite microspheres for Cu2+ and Pb2+ was primarily driven by single-layer chemical adsorption. In addition, metal ions adsorbed onto CT composite microspheres can be released by treating them with a dilute solution of strong acid. Furthermore, the CT composite microspheres exhibited impressive removal efficiencies of 82 % and 95 % for Cu2+ and Pb2+ respectively, even at low concentrations of 2 mg/L. The CT composite microspheres have the ability to easily separate the adsorbed Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions.
    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ions/chemistry; Kinetics; Microspheres*; Tannins/chemistry; Water/chemistry; Proanthocyanidins/isolation & purification; Proanthocyanidins/chemistry
  14. Syasyila K, Gin LL, Jamaludin ANSJ
    J Cogn Psychother, 2024 Nov 11;38(4):353-359.
    PMID: 39528297 DOI: 10.1891/JCP-2023-0031
    This clinical case assessed the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating major depressive disorder in a 26-year-old female, Sara, attributing her depression to pregnancy, financial constraints, parental duties, and emotional stress. Sara had eight sessions of CBT, during which her symptoms were measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II). Sara's depressive symptoms dramatically decreased after the intervention, moving her HAM-D and BDI-II scores from moderate to mild depression and from clinically depressed to mild, respectively. The assessment showed improved interest, concentration, energy levels, and a more positive self-perception. Integrating Malaysian cultural elements into CBT, emphasizing family support, community engagement, and spirituality positively impacted Sara. This study emphasizes the value of culturally appropriate CBT for depression as it can help with symptom management, challenging negative thoughts, and bolstering self-esteem. This method identifies and addresses cultural impacts on mental health, recommending the incorporation of cultural aspects in therapy, enhancing relapse prevention and quality of life for Malaysians experiencing depression.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Cognitive Therapy*; Culturally Competent Care*
  15. Phang P, Ling CY, Liew SH, Razak FA, Wiwatanapataphee B
    Sci Rep, 2024 Nov 11;14(1):27562.
    PMID: 39528569 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79002-0
    The nonlinear progression of COVID-19 positive cases, their fluctuations, the correlations in amplitudes and phases across different regions, along with seasonality or periodicity, pose challenges to thoroughly examining the data for revealing similarities or detecting anomalous trajectories. To address this, we conducted a nonlinear time series analysis combining wavelet and persistent homology to detect the qualitative properties underlying COVID-19 daily infection numbers at the state level from the pandemic's onset to June 2024 in Malaysia. The first phase involved investigating the evolution of daily confirmed cases by state in the time-frequency domain using wavelets. Subsequently, a topological feature-based time series clustering is performed by reconstructing a higher-dimensional phase space through a delay embedding method. Our findings reveal a prominent 7-day periodicity in case numbers from mid-2021 to the end of 2022. The state-wise daily cases are moderately correlated in both amplitudes and phases during the Delta and Omicron waves. Biweekly averaged data significantly enhances the detection of topological loops associated with these waves. Selangor demonstrates unique case trajectories, while Pahang shows the highest similarity with other states. This methodological framework provides a more detailed understanding of epidemiological time series data, offering valuable insights for preparing for future public health crises.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Nonlinear Dynamics; Wavelet Analysis*; Pandemics
  16. Baikerikar AV, Ganachari V, Khed VC, Bheel N, Alraeeini AS, Almujibah H
    Sci Rep, 2024 Nov 11;14(1):27573.
    PMID: 39528578 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79263-9
    This study investigates the combined use of waste glass powder and nano titanium dioxide (TiO2) on the mechanical and durability properties of the concrete. Waste glass being one of the major municipal wastes going into the landfill sites can be used as a pozzolanic material in the concrete, in this study cement is replaced with waste glass powder by 10% along with nano TiO2, it is used as an addition to cementitious material by 0.5%, 1% and 1.5%. Fresh and mechanical properties like setting time, workability, compressive strength and flexural strength is evaluated along with durability properties such as sorptivity, acid, sulphate and chloride attacks, elevated temperature test. Scanning electron microscope is done to understand the morphology of the blended concrete. Combined use of glass powder and nano TiO2 is found beneficial in mechanical and durability parameters whereas addition of nano TiO2 has resulted in decreased workability of the concrete.
  17. Ong SQ, Safree ASA, Ismai NBA
    Malar J, 2024 Nov 11;23(1):337.
    PMID: 39529029 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-05132-5
    BACKGROUND: Borneo, the third largest island in the world, is facing a significant burden of emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases due to rapid changes in primary tropical rainforests and urban landscapes. These vector-borne diseases include the endemic epidemic cycles that occur in the more populated and urbanized areas, as well as the possible transmission through enzootic and sylvatic transmission cycles that occur mainly in the overlapping landscapes or among the indigenous population in the forest. The island will be changed significantly in the future due to the increase in human activities, especially mega events such as the relocation of the Indonesian capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan Borneo, increasing urbanization, agriculture, hydropower projects, ecotourism activities in Sabah, North Borneo, and Sarawak, Central and South Borneo. Therefore, an overview of the current situation of vector-borne diseases is crucial for the next possible epidemic preparedness.

    METHODS: This study conducted the PRISMA-ScR scoping review and formulated a set of research questions to identify current trends in vector-borne diseases in Borneo. These questions aim to identify which diseases have been studied, what geographical areas have been covered by the research, how the One Health approach-encompassing human, animal and environmental factors-is integrated, and what gaps and challenges exist in addressing these diseases.

    RESULTS: A total of 2241 references were screened for eligibility and 117 articles were selected for review. The majority of the materials focused on mosquitoes and malaria, and the One Health elements focused mainly on humans.

    CONCLUSIONS: This review has identified the most and least studied vector-borne diseases and highlighted some of the gaps in knowledge and research on vector-borne diseases on the island of Borneo. Future studies should particularly focus on other neglected diseases such as Zika, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, filariasis and tick-borne diseases. In addition, advanced surveillance systems will be developed to improve early detection and response specifically for remote regions where vector-borne diseases are endemic or emerging.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Borneo/epidemiology; Humans; Mosquito Vectors
  18. Qin L, Ho WKY, Khoo S
    BMC Public Health, 2024 Nov 11;24(1):3117.
    PMID: 39529046 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20563-0
    BACKGROUND: The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) is one of the most commonly used questionnaires for assessing adolescents' levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (PA). Although a Chinese version of the PAQ-A (comprising nine items) exists, it has been assessed for only internal consistency coefficients, test-retest reliability, and correlations with the GT3X + accelerometer. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the PAQ-A among Chinese adolescents.

    METHODS: This study included three samples of 1,101 secondary school students (12-19 years old). The first sample consisted of 518 participants (50.4% males, 49.6% females) for correlation tests and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The second sample consisted of 227 participants (55.75% males, 44.24% females) for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent validity, and sample size invariance tests. The third sample consisted of 356 participants (54.50% male, 45.50% female) for the internal consistency reliability test, invariance test (cross sample size, education level and gender), and t-test.

    RESULTS: Pearson correlation analysis of the PAQ-A indicated that all the total-item correlations exceeded 0.2, indicating good consistency across the items. Subsequent EFA of the Chinese version of the PAQ-A revealed a two-factor structure. CFA subsequently validated this structure. One of the items exhibited a standardized loading below 0.4 and was excluded. The exclusion of this item resulted in increased standardized loadings for the remaining items, ranging from 0.40 to 0.82, which indicates improved fit indices. This adjustment underscores the questionnaire's satisfactory convergent validity and robust discriminant validity. The overall Cronbach's alpha was 0.821, with the values for the first and second factors being 0.757 and 0.716, respectively. The questionnaire demonstrated stable invariance across sample sizes and education levels and additionally showed partial scalar invariance across genders. A t-test revealed a significant difference between males and females, which aligns with previous findings. These findings supported the construct validity of the questionnaire.

    CONCLUSION: This study validated the Chinese version of the PAQ-A for assessing adolescent PA in China, with a two-factor structure improved by removing one item.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Child; China; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Male; Psychometrics*; Surveys and Questionnaires/standards; Reproducibility of Results; Young Adult
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