METHODS: A cross-sectional study of hemodialysis patients from 10 hemodialysis centers was used. FibroTouch examination was performed on all patients. Fatty liver was diagnosed based on ultrasound attenuation parameter ≥248 dB/m while advanced liver fibrosis was diagnosed based on liver stiffness measurement ≥10 kPa.

METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 38 patients who had AIBG and uncemented cup reconstruction of the acetabulum performed between 2008 and 2021 for complex primary and revision surgery. Graft incorporation, radiological loosening and cup migration were evaluated in follow-up X-rays.

METHODS: A series of 400 consecutive patients (416 hips) who underwent navigated (Brainlab) cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) in 2022 (Corail or Actis stem DePuy Synthes) via a direct anterior approach (DAA) was analyzed. Preoperative data were collected based on patients' demographics, radiographic information [critical trochanteric angle (CTA), centrum collum diaphyseal (CCD) angle, greater trochanter overhang, femoral neck resection angle, femoral neck resection height and Door classification], and these were correlated with the postoperative stem position. Univariable and multivariable linear regression were carried out to determine significant factors that contribute to varus and valgus stem malalignment.

RESULTS: With the DAA approach, 56.5 % of stems were placed in an optimal neutral position, 38.4 % were in acceptable position of 0.1°-2° varus/valgus and only 5 % had a deviation larger than 2° varus/valgus. The critical trochanteric angle (CTA) was statistically significant in determining varus stem placement whereas centrum collum diaphyseal angle (CCD) was found to affect valgus stem malpositioning. All other factors have shown no relevant effect on stem placement using stepwise regression method.

METHODS: A nationwide population-based survey involving 3977 community-dwelling older persons aged ≥60 years was conducted via face-to-face interview, of whom 3466 older persons were eligible for screening using a locally validated tool. Elder abuse was defined as any one occurrence of neglect, financial, psychological, physical or sexual abuse perpetrated by someone in a position of trust that was experienced in the past 12 months.

RESULTS: About 9.0% of older persons in Malaysia have experienced elder abuse in the past 12 months, with neglect being the commonest type experienced (7.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.54, 10.07). There is no significant difference by age group and geographical location. Males (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.7; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.60), poorer social support (aOR 5.0; 95% CI: 2.25, 11.22), dependency in activities of daily living (aOR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.44) and a previous history of abuse (aOR 10.1; 95% CI: 4.50, 22.86) show higher odds of experiencing elder abuse. Almost 5% of abused older persons reported experiencing multiple types of abuse. Reporting is low at 19.3% with none reporting to healthcare personnel.

METHODS: MyCoSS was a cross-sectional household survey involving 1440 adults age 18 years and above. This study utilized stratified cluster sampling to obtain a nationally representative sample. Data was collected between October 2017 and March 2018. Socio-demographic information, dietary assessment using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and away from home meal consumption were assessed through a face-to-face interview by trained health personnel. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were applied to identify the association of socioeconomic status and away from home meal consumption with dietary sodium intake.

RESULTS: A total of 1032 participants completed the FFQ, with a mean age of 48.8 + 15.6 years. Based on the FFQ, slightly over half of the participants (52.1%) had high sodium intake. Results showed that 43.6% of participants consumed at least one to two away from home meals per day, while 20.8% of them had their three main meals away from home. Participants aged less than 30 years old were the strongest predictor to consume more sodium (adjusted OR: 3.83; 95%CI: 2.23, 6.58) while those of Indian ethnicity had significantly lower sodium intake. Surprisingly, having three away from home meals per day was not associated with high dietary sodium intake, although a significant association (crude OR; 1.67, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.35) was found in the simple logistic regression. Obese participants were less likely to have high dietary sodium intake compared with the normal BMI participants in the final model.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern of polysubstance use and its associated factors among general adults in Malaysia.

METHODOLOGY: This was a secondary data analysis from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019), a cross-sectional population survey with a two-stage stratified random sampling design. A total of 10,472 Malaysians aged 18 years and above participated in this survey. Polysubstance use was defined as concurrent use of more than one substance, either alcohol, tobacco, or drugs (opioids, marijuana, amphetamine/ methamphetamine or kratom). A latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify the membership of polysubstance groups. The association of class membership with demographic profiles was examined using Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis.

RESULTS: Fit indices (AIC = 16458.9, BIC = 16443.6) from LCA supported 3 classes solution: Class 1; "moderate-drug" group primarily combination used of tobacco and alcohol (2.4%), Class 2; "high-drug" group using multiple substance including kratom (0.3%) and Class 3; "low-drug" group reporting minimal alcohol and tobacco use or non-user (97.3%). The multinomial model showed young adults (18-40 years) had a higher likelihood of being polysubstance users both for moderate-drug class (OR = 4.1) and high-drug class (OR = 3.9) compared to older age (≥60 years). Chinese (OR = 18.9), Indian (OR = 23.3), Indigenous Sabah & Sarawak (OR = 34.6) and others ethnicity (OR = 8.9) showed higher odds of being moderate-drug users than Malays. The greater odds of moderate-drug use for males (OR = 35.5), working groups (OR = 1.5) and low education level group (OR = 3.2).

OBJECTIVE: To identify the studies on premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and synthesise their findings on YLL based on the regional area, main CVD types, sex, and study time.

METHOD: We conducted a systematic review of published CVD mortality studies that reported YLL as an indicator for premature mortality measurement. A literature search for eligible studies was conducted in five electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The synthesis of YLL was grouped into years of potential life lost (YPLL) and standard expected years of life lost (SEYLL) using descriptive analysis. These subgroups were further divided into WHO (World Health Organization) regions, study time, CVD type, and sex to reduce the effect of heterogeneity between studies.

RESULTS: Forty studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Of these, 17 studies reported premature CVD mortality using YPLL, and the remaining 23 studies calculated SEYLL. The selected studies represent all WHO regions except for the Eastern Mediterranean. The overall median YPLL and SEYLL rates per 100,000 population were 594.2 and 1357.0, respectively. The YPLL rate and SEYLL rate demonstrated low levels in high-income countries, including Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Slovenia, the USA, and South Korea, and a high rate in middle-income countries (including Brazil, India, South Africa, and Serbia). Over the past three decades (1990-2022), there has been a slight increase in the YPLL rate and the SEYLL rate for overall CVD and ischemic heart disease but a slight decrease in the SEYLL rate for cerebrovascular disease. The SEYLL rate for overall CVD demonstrated a notable increase in the Western Pacific region, while the European region has experienced a decline and the American region has nearly reached a plateau. In regard to sex, the male showed a higher median YPLL rate and median SEYLL rate than the female, where the rate in males substantially increased after three decades.

CONCLUSION: Estimates from both the YPLL and SEYLL indicators indicate that premature CVD mortality continues to be a major burden for middle-income countries. The pattern of the YLL rate does not appear to have lessened over the past three decades, particularly for men. It is vitally necessary to develop and execute strategies and activities to lessen this mortality gap.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients listed for bariatric surgery in a single tertiary referral center were recruited, where 31 (77.4% female, mean age 46.3 ± 8.9 years) fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Of the eligible patients, 54.8% and 45.2% underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and gastric bypass (GB), respectively. LPR symptoms were assessed using the self-reported reflux symptom index (RSI). Video-recorded endolaryngeal signs were scored using the reflux finding score (RFS) by two blinded otolaryngologists. Patients' presurgical and 3-month postsurgical body mass index (BMI), RSI, and RFS were determined. Patients were deemed as having LPR when RSI > 13 or RFS > 7.

RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between the postsurgical RSI and RFS changes (Pearson's r = 0.474, p = 0.007). Of the 31 patients, 12.9% (RSI) and 6.4% (RFS) recovered from preexisting LPR, whereas 22.6% (RSI) and 3.2% (RFS) developed new de novo LPR postsurgery. The postsurgical mean RFS change improved significantly in the GB group compared with that of the SG group (p < 0.05).

Materials and methods: This study was a retrospective research using data collected from Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Kedah between the years 2008-2018. We measured outcomes such as age, gender, hospital stay, default rate, ambulation post-surgery, American Society of Anaesthesiologists score (ASA) and surgical timing in correlation with mortality rate and 10-year survival of elderly patients treated with Total Hip Arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures in this centre.

Results: A total of 291 traumatic femoral neck fractures aged above 60 years post total hip arthroplasty performed were included. There was higher number of female (n =233) compared to male (n=53) Estimated 10 years survival from Kaplan Meier was 42.88% (95% CI: 33.15, 52.54). One year mortality rate in our study was found to be 18.9%. The average time to event was 7.1 years (95% CI:33.15, 52.24) with a mean age group of 75.

Discussion: Total hip arthroplasty patients not ambulating after surgery had a 4.2 times higher hazard ratio compared to ambulators. Those with pre-existing systemic disease (ASA III and IV) were found to have the highest hazard ratio, almost five times that of healthy patients, after adjusting for confounding factors. Delay of more than seven days to surgery was found to be a significant factor in 10-year survival with a hazard ratio of 3.8, compared to surgery performed earlier.

METHODS: A study was carried out in 2013, which involved a total of 40 secondary schools. They were randomly selected using a two-stage clustering sampling method. Subsequently, all upper secondary school students (aged 16 to 17 years) from each selected school were recruited into the study. Data was collected using a validated standardised questionnaire.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest radiographs of patients confirmed with COVID-19 in Hospital Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia were retrospectively analyzed by two radiologists. The radiographic pattern, distribution among subgroups and evolution of the disease over time were determined.

RESULTS: Among the 82 patients studied, 65 (79.3%) were males. Mean age of our cohorts was 37 ± 15 years. Baseline chest radiographs were abnormal in 37 patients (45.1%). Over half (52.9%) of the symptomatic patients had abnormal baseline radiograph. Among the children, patients with comorbidities, and patients 60 years of age and above, the abnormal radiographs were 14.3%, 71.4% and 69.3% respectively. Ground glass opacities were the commonest abnormal radiographic feature (35.4%), were peripherally located (35.4%) with predilection for the lower zones (29.3%). Most radiographic abnormalities were multifocal (20.7%) and frequently located in the left lung (19.5%). Radiographic recovery was observed in 15 of 18 patients (83%). Computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated greater extent of the disease than observed in radiographs of the same patient.

METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study on KTRs with functioning renal allograft and at least 3 months post transplant. Dietary protein, salt, and dietary acid load were estimated using 24-hour urine collection. Demographic characteristics, concomitant medications, medical history, and laboratory results were obtained from electronic medical records.

RESULTS: A total of 204 KTRs were recruited with median age of 48 years (interquartile range [IQR], 18 years); male to female ratio was 61:39. A total of 79.9% (n = 163) were living related kidney transplants. The median duration after transplant was 71 months (IQR, 131 months), and median eGFR was 65 mL/min/1.73 m2 (IQR, 25 mL/min/1.73 m2). The prevalence rates of proteinuria (defined as ≥ 0.5 g/d) and metabolic acidosis (defined as at least 2 readings of serum bicarbonate ≤ 22 mmol/L in the past 6 months) were 17.7 % and 6.2%, respectively. High dietary protein of > 1.2 g/kg ideal body weight (adjusted odds ratio, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.35-7.28; P = .008) was significantly associated with proteinuria. Dietary protein, salt, and acid load did not correlate with chronic metabolic acidosis.

METHODS: This study included all deaths that occurred in Malaysia in 2018. The YLL was derived by adding the number of deaths from 113 specific diseases and multiplying it by the remaining life expectancy for that age and sex group. Data on life expectancy and mortality were collected from the Department of Statistics Malaysia.

RESULTS: In 2018, there were 3.5 million YLL in Malaysia. Group II (NCDs) caused 72.2% of total YLL. Ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of premature mortality among Malaysians (17.7%), followed by lower respiratory infections (9.7%), road traffic injuries (8.7%), cerebrovascular disease (stroke) (8.0%), and diabetes mellitus (3.9%).

DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Patients with AI on twice-daily hydrocortisone, who had low or moderate risk and intended to fast, were recruited. Patients were converted to prednisolone 5 mg once daily taken at sahur (predawn) and Ramadan education given. Weight, sleep duration, biochemical parameters and quality of life measures (SF-36 questionnaire) were analysed at the end of Ramadan and compared against baseline.

RESULTS: Twenty patients (13 men) were recruited, with a mean age of 59.9 ± 15.0 years. All patients were on hydrocortisone 15 mg daily (in divided doses) as pre-Ramadan glucocorticoid replacement. Half had type 2 diabetes with low IDF-DAR risk. Eighty-five percent of patients completed the full 29 days of fasting with no complications. There was a significant reduction in weight (-1.1 ± 1.6 kg, p = .005), with no significant change in blood pressure or sleep duration. There was a significant increase in urea (0.80 ± 1.1 mmol/L, p = .005) and haematocrit, (0.011 ± 0.019 L/L, p = .019) and decrease in serum sodium (-1.6 ± 3.0 mmol/L, p = .028), with no change in serum creatinine or liver function. Quality of life measures were preserved in all domains with significant improvement in role limitation due to physical health (15.3 ± 21.6, p = .005) and bodily pain (8.8 ± 16.3, p = .031).