METHODS: Data on notifiable diseases from 2014 to 2022 were sourced from the Klang District Health Office. The 11 diseases with more than 100 notifications each were included in the study. For these 11 diseases, a negative binomial regression model was used to explore the effect of the pandemic on case notifications and registrations by year, and a quasi-Poisson regression model was used to explore the changes by week.
RESULTS: The results showed a reduction in the number of notifications and registrations for all 11 diseases combined during the pandemic compared with previous years. Changes between expected and observed notifications by week were heterogeneous across the diseases.
DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that restrictive public health and social measures in Klang district may have impacted the transmission of other infectious diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. The differential impact of the pandemic on disease notifications and reporting highlights the large ancillary effects of restrictive public health and social measures and the importance of building resilience into infectious disease surveillance systems.
METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from January 2018 to June 2019, involving patients with grade II-III trigger finger requiring surgical intervention. Patients were randomized into two groups: group I (open A1 pulley release with flexor tendon traction tenolysis) and group II (open A1 pulley release without flexor tendon traction tenolysis). Postoperative assessments were conducted at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 4 months, documenting finger range of motion, QuickDASH scores, complications, and surgery duration.
RESULTS: A total of 50 patients met the selection criteria, with 46 completing the study. The majority were women, with an average age of 56 ± 9.6 years. The patients were predominantly diabetic with the condition affecting the left hand and middle finger and presenting as grade III trigger finger. Baseline characteristics, including age, gender (female/male), ethnicity, occupational status, diabetes status, and trigger finger severity, were comparable between the two groups. Preoperative QuickDASH scores were also similar. The mean preoperative finger range of motion at the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joint were lower in group I but were not statistically important. Patients in group I exhibited consistently better postoperative finger range of motion and QuickDASH scores compared to group II throughout the follow-up period. The difference was statistically important at the 2-week follow-up. Although group I continued to show better outcomes at 2 and 4 months, the differences were not statistically important. Surgery duration was importantly longer in group I (16.4 ± 5.7 minutes) compared to group II (11.43 ± 3.8 minutes). Two patients in group I experienced wound infections, which resolved with a week-long course of antibiotics.
CONCLUSIONS: Open A1 pulley release with flexor tendon traction tenolysis resulted in better early postoperative (2 weeks) finger flexion range of motion and QuickDASH scores, albeit with a longer surgery duration.
TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Ib.
METHODS: To comprehensively analyze the gut microbiome diversity of three endangered primate species at Matang Wildlife Centre-Hylobates abbotti, Macaca fascicularis, and Macaca nemestrina, using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.
RESULTS: A total of 18 phyla, 84 families, 188 genera, and 46 species were successfully classified. H. abbotti exhibited the highest microbial diversity with a distinct microbiome profile from the Macaca species. The presence of Treponema (nonpallidum), Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is critical for gut health, promoting digestion and maintaining the microbial balance.
CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of monitoring microbial diversity in captive primates to better understand their health and facilitate the early detection of potential pathogens. This also offers insights into microbiome-based strategies for improving overall animal welfare.
METHODS: The current systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guideline for the identification of relevant studies in various electronic databases up to April 2023. After reviewing and screening 193 articles, 18 were chosen for this study based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria.
RESULTS: It was shown that quercetin significantly reduced cancer cell proliferation, cell viability, tumor volume, invasion, metastasis and migration. This anti-cancer agent induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the cancer cells. Quercetin treatment could also induce some biochemical alterations in the cancer cells.
CONCLUSION: According to the results, it can be mentioned that quercetin administration has an anti-cancer effect against oral cancer cells. This agent exerts its anticancer effects via reduced cell viability and different mechanisms, including induce oxidative damage, apoptosis, and reduced invasion and metastasis. However, suggesting the use of quercetin as a therapeutic agent of oral cancer patients requires further clinical studies due to its poor absorption rates, and the exact molecular mechanisms are still not well understood.
METHODS: This is an economic evaluation. We constructed an individual-based Monte Carlo method to simulate with probabilistic sensitivity analysis the development of breast cancer over a woman's lifetime in a hypothetical birth cohort aged 20 years in 2018 (n = 33500) using best available data mainly from government statistics. We predicted the cases of, and deaths due to breast cancer in the base case (with the actual breastfeeding rate in 2018) and two hypothetical optimal scenarios (90% exclusive breastfeeding for six months or cumulative exclusive/partial breastfeeding for at least 12 months). The healthcare cost-savings, the number of deaths averted and the increase in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to the prevention of breast cancer attributed to a higher breastfeeding rate were then deduced, assuming an annual discount rate of 3%.
RESULTS: Increasing the proportion of parous women breastfeeding exclusively for six months from 26 to 90% averted 266 (95% CI 259, 273) or ~ 10% of all-stage breast cancer cases, 18 deaths (95% CI 17, 19) and 399 DALYs (95% CI 381, 416), over the lifetime of each annual cohort of women in Hong Kong. The lifetime medical costs that could be saved would be ~ USD3 million using 2018 prices. However cost-savings were 5-times less in another scenario where the cumulative partial/exclusive breastfeeding for 12 months in parous women is increased to 90% due to its weaker protection against breast cancer compared to exclusive breastfeeding.
CONCLUSIONS: Promoting and protecting breastfeeding could lead to cost-savings for treating breast cancer in Hong Kong. Our analysis can inform the annual healthcare budget that could be allocated to promote exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
METHODS: This observational study, from the Pan-Asia Trauma Outcomes Study (PATOS), included 76,645 trauma patients from 12 Asian Pacific countries. We analysed in-hospital mortality and functionality at discharge using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Logistic regression models were built to test the association of sex on the outcomes.
RESULTS: Males exhibited higher in-hospital mortality (1.6%) compared to females (1.06%) ( p 50 years and ISS > 15.
CONCLUSION: This study indicates no difference in the general trauma outcomes in the Asia Pacific between females and males. Although younger females with less severe injuries had better functional outcomes, this advantage disappeared in severe injuries and those over 50 years. These results align with some previous studies, and understanding the nuances may lead to more tailored trauma care, potentially improving patient outcomes.
METHODS: Twenty volunteers were recruited for this study. The participants performed the self-test under the observation of trained observers who recorded if any procedural error was committed. The results of each test were interpreted by the participants using a given interpretation table.
RESULTS: Ninety-five percent (95%) of the study participants found the instruction manual was easy to follow and 70% felt the test kit was easy to use. Additionally, 80% of the participants successfully obtained the expected results. A majority (80%) would consider using the test kit if needed and would recommend it to family members and friends. Seventy percent (70%) of the participants, most of whom with monthly income of less than USD417, were willing to pay less than USD2 for the test kit.
CONCLUSION: Findings from the study suggested that a self-test diagnostic for dengue fever is highly acceptable and, hence, could be a viable approach for the early detection of the infection. Trial registration MRECID.NO: 2022628-11345.