METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from 19,402 individuals collected as part of a health and demographic surveillance system survey conducted in the Segamat district of Malaysia in 2018-2019. Descriptive statistics and measures of central tendency were produced. Differences in QoL among demographic sub-groups were examined using the t-test and analysis of variance, while the correlations between the WHOQoL-BREF and EQ-5D were evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients.
RESULTS: Based on complete case analysis (n=19,129), the average scores for the 4 WHOQoL-BREF domains were 28.2 (physical), 24.1 (psychological), 12.0 (social relationships), and 30.4 (environment). The percentages of participants not in full health for each EQ-5D dimension were 12.8% (mobility), 3.1% (self-care), 6.9% (usual activities), 20.9% (pain/discomfort), and 6.8% (anxiety/depression). Correlations between the 4 WHOQoL-BREF domains and the 5 EQ-5D dimensions were relatively weak, ranging from -0.06 (social relationships with self-care and pain/discomfort; p<0.001) to -0.42 (physical with mobility; p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Although health-related QoL as measured by the WHOQoL-BREF and the EQ-5D are correlated, these 2 measures should not be considered interchangeable. The choice between them should be guided by the specific research questions and the intended use of the data.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two phases: (1) translation and cultural adaptation of the DHI into Malay and (2) evaluation of its psychometric properties. Content validity was assessed by a panel of nine experts using the Content Validity Index (CVI). Face validity was evaluated through a pilot test with 10 individuals with DPN. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, ICC) were measured in 30 participants with DPN. Known-group validity was examined by comparing DPN participants with healthy individuals.
RESULTS: The content validity of the Malay-DHI was excellent and face validity confirmed that the Malay-DHI was clear and comprehensible. Internal consistency was strong across all categories (α = 0.84-0.97). Test-retest reliability demonstrated excellent stability (ICC = 0.996-1.000). Known-group validity showed a significant difference between individuals with DPN and healthy individuals (Z = -6.93, p < .001).
CONCLUSION: The Malay version of the DHI demonstrated strong validity and reliability, making it a culturally relevant and robust tool for assessing hand function in individuals with DPN. This tool may facilitate targeted rehabilitation interventions and improve clinical outcomes.
METHODS: A retrospective study of 141 geriatric patients with NOF fractures admitted to Kuala Lumpur General Hospital between 2022-2023, treated operatively, was conducted. Associations of age, gender, ethnicity, BMI, education, smoking status, comorbidity, pre-fracture mobility, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) level, and perioperative nutritional parameters with post-surgical complications, mobility, and WOMAC scores 1-year post-surgery were analyzed using logistic regression.
RESULTS: Higher BMI (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.07-1.42, P = 0.03) and ASA levels ≥2 (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.30-4.91, P = 0.01) were significant predictors of post-surgical complications. Abnormal hematological variables, including hemoglobin (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.45-2.45, P < 0.001), urea (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.15-1.60, P = 0.002), creatinine (AOR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.00-1.52, P = 0.04), and HbA1c (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.25-1.67, P = 0.004), were also associated with complications. BMI (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.30, P = 0.049) and abnormal hematological variables, including hemoglobin (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.05-2.70, P = 0.003), urea (AOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.06-1.95, P = 0.006), creatinine (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.09-1.38, P = 0.048), and HbA1c (AOR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.25-2.57, P = 0.002), were significant predictors of reduced post-surgical mobility. No significant factors were associated with WOMAC scores at 1 year.
CONCLUSION: Preoperative nutritional status significantly impacts outcomes in geriatric patients undergoing arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures. Comprehensive preoperative nutritional assessments are essential for improving postoperative outcomes.
METHODS: Under Review Manager 5.3 and Stata17.0, subgroup analyses were conducted on data from 514 subjects across 10 studies from Chinese and English literature. The analyses examined intervention content, intervention period, single intervention duration and intervention frequency. A random effects model was employed to assess the overall effect size and heterogeneity.
RESULTS: The exercise intervention demonstrated a significant effect on reducing anxiety among college students, with a large effect size (d = -0.83). The heterogeneity test of intervention content (I2 = 0%) revealed high consistency in the specific content of exercise intervention across studies. However, substantial heterogeneity was observed in single intervention time (I2 = 75%), intervention frequency (I2 = 75%), and intervention period (I2 = 72%), indicating significant variations across studies. These differences suggest that varying durations, frequencies, and periods of intervention yielded different effects on college students' anxiety levels.
CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis has found that structured physical exercise programs, especially mind-body integrative exercises, can alleviate anxiety to the greatest extent, offering evidence-based guidance for implementing targeted exercise interventions in college mental health programs.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2024.11.0006.
METHODS: A total of 78 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy who underwent pacemaker implantation at a single center between March 2020 and March 2022 were randomly assigned to two groups based on different pacing methods: LOT-CRT group (n = 39) and biventricular pacing (BVP) group (n = 35). Pacing threshold, impedance, electrocardiogram QRS wave duration during pacing, ventricular pacing ratio during follow-up, and cardiac ultrasound-related indicators were compared immediately after surgery and at the six-month follow-up.
RESULTS: The two groups were similar regarding baseline characteristics, cardiac ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, and overall cardiac function. However, the BVP group demonstrated higher pacing thresholds and impedance levels immediately after surgery and at the six-month follow-up (p < 0.001). Moreover, the X-ray exposure time was significantly longer in the BVP group compared to the LOT-CRT group. While no significant differences in QRS duration were observed between the groups preoperatively, the QRS duration in the LOT-CRT group was significantly shorter both immediately after surgery and during follow-up (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), or left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). Six months post-surgery, both groups showed modest improvements in NYHA class, LVEF, and LVEDD, with the LOT-CRT group demonstrating significant improvements (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: LOT-CRT may be an alternative treatment for patients with heart failure complicated by left bundle branch block due to ischemic cardiomyopathy in whom BVP is ineffective.
METHODS: In this study, we developed ensemble models based on deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for the classification of colorectal cancer histopathology images. The method first involved data preprocessing techniques such as patch cropping, stain normalization, data augmentation and data balancing on histopathology images with different magnifications. Subsequently, the CNN models were fine-tuned and pre-trained using transfer learning methods, and models with superior performance were then selected as the base classifiers to build the ensemble models. Finally, the ensemble models were used to predict the final classification outcomes. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed models, we tested their performance on a publicly available colorectal cancer dataset, Enteroscope Biopsy Histopathological Hematoxylin and Eosin Image (EBHI) dataset.
RESULTS: Experimental results show that the proposed ensemble model, composed of the top five classifiers, achieved the promising classification accuracy across sub-databases with four different magnification factors. Specifically, on the 40× magnification subset, the highest classification accuracy reached 99.11%; on the 100× magnification subset, it reached 99.36%; on the 200× magnification subset, it was 99.29%; and on the 400× magnification subset, it was 98.96%. Additionally, the proposed ensemble model achieved exceptional results in recall, precision, and F1 score.
CONCLUSIONS: The proposed ensemble models obtained good classification performance on the EBHI dataset of histopathological images for colorectal cancer. The findings of this study may contribute to the early detection and accurate classification of colorectal cancer, thereby aiding in more precise diagnostic analysis of colorectal cancer.
METHODS: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched from their start date until December 2024. Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) were included, comparing intravesical lignocaine and control for bladder irrigation in adults undergoing urological surgery. The odds ratio (OR) of the incidence of severe, moderate, and mild catheter-related bladder discomfort and the incidence of rescue analgesia were assessed. The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs was applied to evaluate the risk of bias in all included studies. GRADEpro was used to evaluate the quality of the evidence.
RESULTS: Compared to the control group, our pooled analysis of three RCTs showed that intravesical lignocaine significantly reduced the incidence of severe catheter-related bladder discomfort (OR: 0.27, 95% confidence interval (Cl): 0.12, 0.58, P = 0.0008, grade of evidence: low) and the incidence of moderate catheter-related bladder discomfort (OR: 0.31, 95% Cl: 0.14, 0.67, P = 0.003, grade of evidence: low). It also statistically decreased the incidence of rescue analgesia (OR: 0.06, 95% Cl: 0.02, 0.15, P < 0.00001, grade of evidence: low).
CONCLUSIONS: The intravesical administration of lignocaine statistically reduced moderate and severe catheter-related bladder discomfort. There was a significant decrease in the number of patients requiring rescue analgesia in the intravesical lignocaine group.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to radiographers (n = 50) requesting information regarding demographics and knowledge of AI. In the retrospective part, chest radiographs were collected (n = 40), and an AI report was generated using Siemens AI software. A Likert scale was used by a radiologist to rate the report's accuracy. Ethical approval was obtained. Data are presented as mean ± SD.
RESULTS: The survey results showed that most participants agreed that radiographers must adapt the AI technology, and they showed interest in taking courses about AI within radiography (98%, 92%, n = 50). Participants' opinions on AI correlated with their perceptions of AI education (p
METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using PRISMA guidelines, analyzing published studies (2017-2024) from Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Two authors determined the eligibility of studies based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
RESULTS: A total of 35 studies were included in this review. Regarding cognitive appraisal, risk perception generally promotes household preparedness. Hazard intrusiveness, perceived efficacy, and perceived response efficacy encourage preparedness. Regarding motivation and intention, self-efficacy and perceived benefits boost preparedness, and the transfer of responsibility regulates the influence of trust on household preparedness. Regarding social interaction, formal support, and community resilience promotes preparedness, whereas informal support and social norms may impede it. Regarding bonds with the living environment, place attachment promotes housing protection but hinders relocation. Sense of place hinders permanent evacuation or relocation.
DISCUSSION: Disaster prevention and management should emphasize the responsibility of individuals and families in reducing disaster risks, clarify the consequences and probabilities of disasters, refine social norm indicators, and develop a resettlement planning incorporating place identity cultivation to improve effective household preparedness.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in the Hand and Microsurgery Unit of Hospital Selayang, Batu Caves, Malaysia, which included all patients who sustained non-pathological DRFs over 24 months, from 01 January 2022 to 31 December 2023. Medical records were analyzed in terms of detailed demographic data, fracture characteristics, and mode of treatment.
RESULTS: Over the two-year study period, we identified 446 patients with DRF, totaling 450 DRFs (four patients had bilateral injuries). Male patients outnumbered female patients 114 (64%) to 63 (36%) in 2022 and 145 (54%) to 124 (46%) in 2023. The mean age of patients was significantly higher in 2023 compared to 2022 (54.51 ± 22.20 vs. 45.25 ± 23.64 years, respectively; p < 0.0001). The most common fracture type was type A, based on the Orthopaedic Trauma Association(OTA) classification, accounting for 83.6% of cases in 2022 and 87.4% of cases in 2023. In terms of treatment, most DRFs were treated conservatively as opposed to operatively (77.4% vs. 71.3%), with plate fixation being the most common operative intervention, accounting for 57.5% of cases in 2022 and 73.3% of cases in 2023.
CONCLUSION: The incidence of DRF was higher among male patients than among female patients in our study population, with an increasing annual trend. Most cases were the result of low-impact trauma and were closed fractures that were conservatively managed.