METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study and data collection took place from May 2022 to May 2023. Information regarding healthy participants was gathered from healthcare workers without any comorbidities. Data for non-healthy participants were collected from individuals diagnosed with various conditions across four specialist clinics: nephrology, oncology, psychiatry, and cardiology. All participants completed the Significant Quality of Life Measures (SigQOLM), a comprehensive assessment tool consisting of 69 items that evaluate 18 domains of QOL and well-being.
RESULTS: The study included a total of 452 participants, with 284 (62.8%) classified as healthy. Among the non-healthy participants, 41 (9.1%) had end-stage renal diseases (ESRD), 48 (10.6%) were diagnosed with cancer, 40 (8.8%) had depressive disorder, and the remaining had heart disease (8.6%). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p
METHODS: A school-based cluster randomized controlled trial of the MyBFF@school obesity intervention program was conducted among overweight and obese schoolchildren aged 9-11. Out of 1,196 eligible government primary schools in central Peninsular Malaysia, 23 were randomly assigned into seven intervention schools (647 children) and 16 control schools (750 children). A standard nutrition education module was delivered for 24 weeks to the intervention group, whereas children in the control group followed only the currently existing school nutrition education program. The main outcome measures were nutrition knowledge and attitude scores. Changes of nutrition knowledge and attitude scores from follow up until end of 6 months was assessed using the mixed effect model taking into account the cluster effect.
RESULTS: A total of 563 children in the intervention group and 482 in the control group completed the six-month program and were included in the analysis. The overall nutrition knowledge score was significantly higher in the intervention group (adjusted mean difference (AMD): 4.75%, p = 0.028 ) after controlling for mean nutrition knowledge score at baseline, gender, location school group (intervention vs control) and ethnicity. There was also a significant improvement in the nutrition knowledge score with AMD among boys (6.02%), urban children (8.07%), and non-Malays (10.4%). In contrast, after controlling for mean nutrition attitude score at baseline, gender, location, school group (intervention vs control) and ethnicity, there was no significant difference in the nutrition attitude scores between the intervention and the control groups in the overall, gender, location and ethnicity.
CONCLUSIONS: The MyBFF@school program with an adjunct NEI improves the overall knowledge on nutrition but has no positive effect on the nutrition attitude of younger schoolchildren, necessitating additional improvements.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial number: NCT04155255, November 7, 2019 (Retrospective registered). National Medical Research Register: NMRR-13-439-16563. Registered July 23, 2013. The intervention program was approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of Health Malaysia and Educational Planning and Research Division (EPRD), Ministry of Education Malaysia. It was funded by the Ministry of Health Malaysia.
RESULTS: Target-site EPSPS gene sequencing revealed two partial sequences of the EPSPS transcripts (1001 bp and 998 bp), and the full-length sequence (1551 bp) containing the 1001-bp transcript was cloned as it was found in the resistant plants. A known resistance-endowing target-site mutation in the 1551-bp transcript was identified in the resistant plants, resulting in the Pro-106-Ser substitution. The subpopulation derived from these mutant plants exhibited >10-fold resistance to glyphosate compared to the susceptible population. Additionally, the EPSPS gene (1551 bp) was constitutively expressed at a higher level (4.3-fold) in the resistant than in the susceptible populations. However, 14C-glyphosate foliar uptake was similar with no visual difference in 14C-glyphosate translocation from leaves to other parts of a plant, between the resistant and susceptible population.
CONCLUSION: Glyphosate resistance in the studied population is associated with both a target-site mutation (Pro-106-Ser) and increased EPSPS gene expression. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
METHODS: This study engaged in a secondary data analysis derived from a closed prospective cohort consisting of 579 students, who were recruited at the age of 13 in 2012 and followed up at ages 15 (2014) and 17 (2016) as part of the Malaysian Health and Adolescents Longitudinal Research Team (MyHeART) study, which was conducted across three states in Peninsula Malaysia. Physical activity levels were evaluated using the Physical Activity Questionnaire, and outcomes were assessed based on the National-Based Examinations at ages 15 (Form 3, Year 9) and 17 (Form 5, Year 11) in Malaysia. A multivariate ordinal regression employing complex sample analysis was applied to ascertain the relationship between physical activity and national examination results.
RESULTS: In Form 3 (Year 9), those physically active performed better in Malay Language, English Language, Mathematics and Science. Those physically active in Form 5 (Year 11), performed better in Modern Mathematics, Chemistry, and Principles of Accounting. Longitudinally, there was an increase in the overall percentage of those who were overweight and obese and an increase in those with suboptimal dietary and iron intake.
CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that those physically active students fared better in several subjects in the national-based examinations. Suitable physical activity intervention should be tailored accordingly to support adolescents' optimum achievement in academia.
METHODS: A mixed-methods approach with quantitative and qualitative data was collected between September 2021 and November 2022. Implementer surveys were undertaken at pre- and post-intervention phases to understand the perceptions of low-intensity monitoring strategy. A sample of stroke care nurses were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews at an early stage of post-intervention. Qualitative data were analyzed deductively using the normalization process theory; quantitative data were tabulated.
RESULTS: Interviews with 21 nurses at 8 hospitals have shown low-intensity monitoring was well accepted as there were less time constraints and reduced workload for each patient. There were initial safety concerns over missing deteriorating patients and difficulties in changing established routines. Proper training, education, and communication, and changing the habits and culture of care, were key elements to successfully adopting the new monitoring care into routine practice. Similar results were found in the post-intervention survey (42 nurses from 13 hospitals). Nurses reported time being freed up to provide patient education (56%), daily living care (50%), early mobilization (26%), mood/cognition assessment (44%), and other aspects (i.e., communication, family support).
CONCLUSIONS: Low-intensity monitoring for patients with mild-to-moderate AIS, facilitated by appropriate education and organizational support, appears feasible and acceptable at US hospitals.
METHODS: We conducted a systematic review by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus to identify articles reporting epidemiological models in snakebite envenoming from database inception to 31st December 2023. A narrative synthesis was performed to summarise types of models, methodologies, input parameters, model outputs, and associating factors.
RESULTS: Thirty-nine modelling studies were included from 2426 retrieved articles, comprising statistical models (76.9%) and mathematical models (23.1%). Most of the studies were conducted in South Asia, (35.9%) and Latin America (35.9%), and only a few (5.1%) were a global burden estimation. The eligible studies constructed 42 epidemiological models, of which 33 were statistical models that included regression, (60.6%) geostatistical (21.2%), and time series, (18.2%) while 9 mathematical models comprised compartmental, (44.4%) agent-based, (22.2%) transmission dynamics, (11.1%) network, (11.1%) and a simple mathematical model (11.1%). The outputs of the models varied across the study objectives. Statistical models analysed the relationship between incidence, (83.3%) mortality, (33.3%) morbidity (16.7%) and prevalence (10.0%) and their associating factors (environmental, [80%] socio-demographic [33.3%] and therapeutic [10.0%]). Mathematical models estimated incidence, (100%) mortality (33.3%), and morbidity (22.2%). Five mathematical modelling studies considered associating factors, including environmental (60%) and socio-demographic factors (40%).
CONCLUSION: Mathematical and statistical models are crucial for estimating the burden of snakebite envenoming, offering insights into risk prediction and resource allocation. Current challenges include low-quality data and methodological heterogeneity. Modelling studies are needed, and their continued improvement is vital for meeting WHO goals. Future research should emphasise standardised methodologies, high-quality community data, and stakeholder engagement to create accurate, applicable models for prevention and resource optimization in high-burden regions, including Africa and Asia.