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Fulltext Moringa Genus: A Review of Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Abd Rani NZ, Husain K, Kumolosasi E

Front Pharmacol, 2018;9:108.
PMID: 29503616 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00108

Moringa
is a genus of medicinal plants that has been used traditionally to cure wounds and various diseases such as colds and diabetes. In addition, the genus is also consumed as a source of nutrients and widely used for purifying water. The genus consists of 13 species that have been widely cultivated throughout Asia and Africa for their multiple uses. The purpose of this review is to provide updated and categorized information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and toxicological research ofMoringaspecies in order to explore their therapeutic potential and evaluate future research opportunities. The literature reviewed for this paper was obtained from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar journal papers published from 1983 to March 2017.Moringaspecies are well-known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antihyperglycemic activities. Most of their biological activity is caused by their high content of flavonoids, glucosides, and glucosinolates. By documenting the traditional uses and biological activities ofMoringaspecies, we hope to support new research on these plants, especially on those species whose biological properties have not been studied to date.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A Narrative Review of Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions within In-patient Settings and Resultant Patient Outcomes

Shirazi OU, Ab Rahman NS, Zin CS

J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2020 10 08;12(4):369-380.
PMID: 33679082 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_311_19

The overuse of antibiotics has led to various healthcare problems such as the emergence of resistance in infectious microbes and mortality due to antibiotic resistant healthcare associated infections (HAIs). An antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) program is the set of interventions used worldwide to enhance the rational use of antibiotics especially for the hospitalized patients. This review aimed to describe the characteristics of the implemented AMS programs in various hospitals of the world mainly focusing on the interventions and patients outcomes. The literature about AMS program was searched through various databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Cochran Library, Ovid (Medline), Web of Science and Scopus. In this review the literature pertaining to the AMS programs for hospitalized patients is sorted on the basis of various interventions that are categorized as formulary restriction (pre-authorization), guideline development, clinical pathway development, educative interventions and prospective audit. Moreover a clear emphasis is laid on the patient outcomes obtained as a result of these interventions namely the infection control, drop in readmission rate, mortality control, resistance control and the control of an overall cost of antibiotic treatment obtained mainly by curbing the overuse of antibiotics within the hospital wards. AMS program is an efficient strategy of pharmacovigilance to rationalize the antimicrobial practice for hospitalized patients as it prevents the misuse of antibiotics, which ultimately retards the health threatening effects of various antibiotics.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A Review of Quercus infectoria (Olivier) Galls as a Resource for Anti-parasitic Agents: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Zin NNINM, Rahimi WNAWM, Bakar NA

Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Nov;26(6):19-34.
PMID: 31908584 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.6.3

Parasitic diseases represent one of the causes for significant global economic, environmental and public health impacts. The efficacy of currently available anti-parasitic drugs has been threatened by the emergence of single drug- or multidrug-resistant parasite populations, vector threats and high cost of drug development. Therefore, the discovery of more potent anti-parasitic drugs coming from medicinal plants such as Quercus infectoria is seen as a major approach to tackle the problem. A systematic review was conducted to assess the efficacy of Q. infectoria in treating parasitic diseases both in vitro and in vivo due to the lack of such reviews on the anti-parasitic activities of this plant. This review consisted of intensive searches from three databases including PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus. Articles were selected throughout the years, limited to English language and fully documented. A total of 454 potential articles were identified, but only four articles were accepted to be evaluated based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Although there were insufficient pieces of evidence to account for the efficacy of Q. infectoria against the parasites, this plant appears to have anti-leishmanial, anti-blastocystis and anti-amoebic activities. More studies in vitro and in vivo are warranted to further validate the anti-parasitic efficacy of Q. infectoria.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A Systematic Review of the Protective Actions of Cat's Whiskers (Misai Kucing) on the Central Nervous System

Chung YS, Choo BKM, Ahmed PK, Othman I, Shaikh MF

Front Pharmacol, 2020;11:692.
PMID: 32477146 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00692

Orthosiphon stamineus (OS) or Orthosiphon aristatus var. aristatus (OAA) is commonly known as cat's whiskers or "misai kucing". It is an herbaceous shrub that is popular in many different traditional and complementary medicinal systems. Its popularity has been justified by the plethora of studies that have shown that the secondary metabolites of the plant has effects that range from anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective to anorexic and antihypertensive. As such, OS could also be a potential treatment for Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders. However, a cohesive synthesis of the protective actions of OS was lacking. This systematic review was therefore commenced to elaborate on the various protective mechanisms of OS in the CNS. The PRISMA model was used and five databases (Google Scholar, SCOPUS, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, and PubMed) were searched with relevant keywords to finally identify four articles that met the inclusion criteria. The articles described the protective effects of OS extracts on Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, learning and memory, oxidative stress, and neurotoxicity. All the articles found were experimental or preclinical studies on animal models or in vitro systems. The reported activities demonstrated that OS could be a potential neuroprotective agent and might improve CNS conditions like neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A Systematic Review on Non-mammalian Models in Epilepsy Research

Johan Arief MF, Choo BKM, Yap JL, Kumari Y, Shaikh MF

Front Pharmacol, 2018;9:655.
PMID: 29997502 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00655

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by seizures which result in distinctive neurobiological and behavioral impairments. Not much is known about the causes of epilepsy, making it difficult to devise an effective cure for epilepsy. Moreover, clinical studies involving epileptogenesis and ictogenesis cannot be conducted in humans due to ethical reasons. As a result, animal models play a crucial role in the replication of epileptic seizures. In recent years, non-mammalian models have been given a primary focus in epilepsy research due to their advantages. This systematic review aims to summarize the importance of non-mammalian models in epilepsy research, such as in the screening of anti-convulsive compounds. The reason for this review is to integrate currently available information on the use and importance of non-mammalian models in epilepsy testing to aid in the planning of future studies as well as to provide an overview of the current state of this field. A PRISMA model was utilized and PubMed, Springer, ScienceDirect and SCOPUS were searched for articles published between January 2007 and November 2017. Fifty-one articles were finalized based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria and were discussed in this review. The results of this review demonstrated the current use of non-mammalian models in epilepsy research and reaffirmed their potential to supplement the typical rodent models of epilepsy in future research into both epileptogenesis and the treatment of epilepsy. This review also revealed a preference for zebrafish and fruit flies in lieu of other non-mammalian models, which is a shortcoming that should be corrected in future studies due to the great potential of these underutilized animal models.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A brief review on multimedia-based health education applications: current trend and future potential

Lua Pei Lin, Nor Khaira Wahida Khairuzzaman

Education in Medicine Journal, 2014;6(4):0-0.
MyJurnal

Objective: This paper intended to review and analyse relevant published articles which have studied or applied multimedia as the educational medium for patients or their caregivers. The benefits were also recorded.

Method: The search was performed across the databases EBSCO Host, Springer Link, Science Direct and PubMed for relevant studies. Only full-text articles using English as a language of publication were included. Eligible articles included any usage of multimedia intervention as health information delivery for patients or caregivers. No restriction for publication date was set to permit a wider capture.

Result: Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria involving a total of 1,797 respondents. The studies have been conducted in various countries mostly in North American region followed by Europe. The focused disease for each study varied from asthma to cognitive impairment but most were on cancer. Problems in caregiving and depression were also reported. The overall data suggested that the multimedia-based education had generated modest improvement in self-efficacy, patient satisfaction, coping skills, and perceptions of social support. Cost benefits were also recorded. Additionally, patients’ behavioural changes were well maintained in parallel with the intervention programme.

Conclusion: The evolution of multimedia as an educational medium is growing and its incorporation has benefited health education management especially in improving patients’ and their family’s psychosocial outcomes. However, due to still limited scientific evidence to support its value, further multimedia-based interventions should be developed out of the need to share information and knowledge among patients as well as caregivers.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
A review of heart valve disease research in Malaysia

Khoo PLZ, Poon JS, Tan GJS, Yahya A, Chan KMJ

Med J Malaysia, 2020 11;75(6):722-730.
PMID: 33219184

INTRODUCTION: Heart valve disease comprises a cluster of conditions affecting the aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid valves. This paper reviews all the research on heart valve disease in Malaysia published between the years 2000- 2016.
METHODS: The methodology was based on the search process described in the paper, "Bibliography of clinical research in Malaysia: methods and brief results". The search databases included PubMed, Scopus and several Malaysian journals such as MyJurnal and UKM Journal Repository, by using the following keywords: (heart valve disease OR infective endocarditis OR rheumatic heart disease) and (Malaysia).
RESULTS: In all 94 papers were identified of which 39 papers were selected and reviewed on the basis of their relevance. The local studies contributed to the knowledge and understanding of the epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentations, investigations, treatment, and outcomes of heart valve disease in the country.
DISCUSSION: The clinical relevance of the studies performed in the country is discussed along with recommendations for future research.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A review of knowledge, belief and practice regarding osteoporosis among adolescents and young adults

Chan CY, Mohamed N, Ima-Nirwana S, Chin KY

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2018 08 12;15(8).
PMID: 30103534 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15081727

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide. Increasing knowledge, correcting health belief and promoting osteoprotective practices are effective measures for building and maintaining strong bone throughout ones' life-span. This review aims to summarize the contemporary evidence on the knowledge, beliefs and practice of adolescents and young adults on bone health. We performed literature searches using the PubMed and Scopus databases to identify original studies from 2008 to May 2018 using the search terms "(knowledge OR beliefs OR attitude OR practice OR behaviours OR physical activity OR exercise OR diet OR nutrition) AND (young OR youth OR adolescents OR children OR young adults OR students OR teenager) AND (osteoporosis OR bone health)". Of the 3206 articles found, 34 met the inclusion criteria. Studies showed that most adolescents and young adults had poor knowledge and expressed disinterest in osteoporosis. They believed that other diseases were more serious than osteoporosis, contributing to low perceived susceptibility and seriousness towards this disease. Popular media emerged as a platform to obtain information regarding osteoporosis. The lack of knowledge and misconceptions about osteoporosis led to poor osteoprotective practices. As a conclusion, the current evidence revealed a lack of awareness about osteoporosis among adolescents and young adults. Educational interventions may be useful to improve the awareness of osteoporosis among this population.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A review of pharmacist-led interventions on diabetes outcomes: an observational analysis to explore diabetes care opportunities for pharmacists

Iqbal MZ, Khan AH, Iqbal MS, Syed Sulaiman SA

J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2019 10 18;11(4):299-309.
PMID: 31619911 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_138_19

A strict and adherence treatment is required by the patient with diabetes mellitus and it demands a proper self-medication by the patient. Pharmacists are involved in providing self-management support to the patients. This review evaluates the interventions of pharmacist for patients to improve self-management with diabetes mellitus and also to improve the clinical outcomes of diabetes mellitus. A comprehensive literature search was performed by using different keywords "pharmacist-led intervention," "diabetes," "effect of pharmacist on outcome of diabetes," and "self-management of diabetes" with the help of various electronic databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from the beginning of the database through September 2018. The primary outcome was glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), whereas the secondary outcomes were blood glucose level, blood pressure (BP) measure, body mass index, lipids, adherence to medication, and quality of life. Twenty-five studies comprising 2997 diabetic patients were included in the analysis. Pharmacist-led intervention was involved in all included studies in the form of education on diabetes and its complications, medication adherence, lifestyle, and education about self-management skills. Pharmacist-led interventions are able to reduce HbA1c levels with a mean of 0.75%. Most studies do not expose the material and methods used in pharmacist-led intervention. The variation in the reduction of HbA1c, fasting blood sugar, BP, and lipid profile was due to the lack of this standardization. The included studies indicated that pharmacist-led interventions in diabetes mellitus can significantly improve the outcomes of diabetes mellitus and its complication later on. Hence, these long-term improvements in outcomes added more value of pharmacists in health-care system of the world.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A review on hindering factors to maximize healthcare potential in poverty and Islamic way of promoting health

Farrah Farzana Abdullah, Mohd Rahman Omar

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(104):106-106.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Malaysia has been nominated among the top four well-established healthcare system in the world. However, with the status of a developing country, there are still lacking in offering healthcare services and aware-ness among poverty. The objective of this review is to look into the factors hindering healthcare coverage in poverty. Methods: These literature reviews were carried out by using the electronic databases included, Google Scholars, Medline, PUBMED and EBSCOhost. Results: In current economic status, poverty status needs to be revised as the cost of living has markedly increased especially in the urban. Many factors affect the health status, which include the issues in term of rising health expenditure, demography-geography and imbalance workload distribution. Less expo-sure to health and wellness and geographical-demographic profile are the main reasons for the lack of self-awareness in assessing health services. Various actions had been taken by the stakeholders to improve health statuses such as telehealth, referral system and integration between agencies. Suggestion to improve the existing plan with the atten-tion given especially in the rural area which composed of multi-ethnicity and demography-geographical distribution. In Islam, Prophet Muhammad PBUH promotes health through his eating habits, physical activities include prayer and sports, proper sleep habit and through fasting. Conclusion: Poor and lack of awareness of healthcare services and health ownership have been the main reason for low health-seeking in poverty. Factors such as rising health expenditure, demography-geography factors and lack of facilities provided and unbalance workload distribution in the public-private sector contribute to the issue of concern.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A review on phonological awareness and visual-spatial ability among children with dyslexia

Normah Che Din, Agnes Chong Shu Sze, Norhayati Ibrahim, Mahadir Ahmad, Rogayah Abdul Razak, Pheh Kai Shuen

Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia, 2018;16(101):145-154.
MyJurnal

This review aims to present an overview of current research findings on the possible relationship between phonological awareness and visual-spatial skills among individuals with dyslexia. Narrative review of the relevant articles were obtained through computerized searches of databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC) and Google Scholar which included articles from SAGE, Taylor & Francis and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Press from the year 2000 to 2014. The key words were explored, both exclusively and in combination with each other, so as to provide a better understanding of the relationship between them among individuals with dyslexia. Although it is evident that there is a phonological deficit in individuals with dyslexia, however, it is inconclusive with regards to the visual-spatial deficit and strength. There is a consensus on the nature of phonological awareness skill deficits but not on the visual spatial abilities in dyslexia. In fact, the relationship between phonological awareness and visual spatial abilities in dyslexia is dependent on the area of visual ability measured.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A review on the accuracy of bladder cancer detection methods

Zhu CZ, Ting HN, Ng KH, Ong TA

J Cancer, 2019;10(17):4038-4044.
PMID: 31417648 DOI: 10.7150/jca.28989

Background and purpose: Bladder cancer is the most common malignant tumour in the urinary system, with a high incidence and recurrence rate. While the incidence of bladder cancer has been rising in recent years, the prevalence of bladder carcinoma is showing an increasing tendency in the younger age group. There are several methods to detect bladder cancer, but different methods have varying degrees of accuracy which intrinsically depends on the method's sensitivity and specificity. Our aim was to comprehensively summarize the current detection methods for bladder cancer based on the available literature, and at the same time, to find the best combination of different effective methods which can produce a high degree of accuracy in detecting the presence of cancerous cells in the bladder. Materials and Methods: We used key word retrieval method for searching related references in English that had been indexed in PubMed and Medline. Results and Discussion: This paper discussed the different detection methods and their sensitivities/specificities as well as the advantages and disadvantages. We summarized the best identified cancer cell detection methods with higher sensitivity/specificity. Conclusion: The results of this review can positively help to identify accurate methods for detecting bladder cancer and highlight areas to be further improved for future research work.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext A review on the assessment of the efficacy of common treatments in polycystic ovarian syndrome on prevention of diabetes mellitus

Dashti S, Latiff LA, Zulkefli NABM, Baharom AB, Minhat HS, Hamid HA, et al.

J Family Reprod Health, 2017 Jun;11(2):56-66.
PMID: 29282412

Objective: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition amongst women of reproductive age that can result in increased mortality and morbidity in women due to increased risk of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of common treatments of PCOS on the predictors of diabetes in non-diabetic PCOS women. Materials and methods: An extensive search was performed on the publications in three medical databases including pubmed, scopus and google scholar from 1995 till 2017. The articles were screened based on their quality and included in this systematic review. A total of 25 articles including cohort, randomised controlled trial, review and meta-analysis were included in the review. Results: This systematic review revealed that the effect of lifestyle modification might be low in PCOS subjects due to high drop-out rate while the benefits of this intervention including weight and fat reduction may not be achieved by medical interventions. Metformin treatment may result in improvements in insulin sensitivity while its weight reduction effect is still not documented in PCOS subjects. Thiazolidendiones might be tolerated by the PCOS subjects and may result in similar effects as metformin but this effect should be documented by further studies. Conclusion: Combination of lifestyle modification with metformin or thiazolidinedions might improve the outcome of the prevention strategies. On the other hand this study revealed a different response to treatments in non-obese compared with obese PCOS subjects.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
A systematic review of the cost-effectiveness of medicationadherence-enhancing intervention for asthma

Khaw SM, Li SC, Mohd Tahir NA

J Asthma, 2021 Feb 08.
PMID: 33435775 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1875483

Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of medication adherence-improving interventions in patients with asthma.Data source: Search engines including PubMed, Scopus and EBSCOhost were used to locate relevant studies from the inception of the databases to 19 October 2018. Drummond's checklist was used to appraise the quality of the economic evaluation.Study selection: Economic studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness of medication adherence enhancing interventions for asthmatic patients were selected. Relevant information including study characteristics, quality assessment, health outcomes and costs of intervention were narratively summarized. The primary outcome of interest was cost-effectiveness (CE) values and the secondary outcomes were costs, medication adherence and clinical consequences.Results: Twenty studies including 11 randomized controlled trials, 6 comparative studies and 3 modeled studies using Markov models were included in the review. Among these, 15 studies evaluated an educational intervention with 13 showing cost-effectiveness in improving health outcomes. The CE of an internet-based intervention showed similar results between groups, while 3 studies of simplified drug regimens and adding a technology-based training program achieved the desirable cost-effectiveness outcome.Conclusion: Overall, our results would support that all of the identified medication adherence-enhancing interventions were cost-effective considering the increased adherence rate, improved clinical effectiveness and the reduced costs of asthma care. However, it was not possible to identify the most cost-effective intervention. More economic studies with sound methodological conduct will be needed to provide stronger evidence in deciding the best approach to improve medication adherence.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
A systematic review of the prevalence of limited health literacy in Southeast Asian countries

Rajah R, Hassali MAA, Murugiah MK

Public Health, 2019 Feb;167:8-15.
PMID: 30544041 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2018.09.028

OBJECTIVES: Health literacy is increasingly recognized as a public health concern. Most of the literature on health literacy concentrate in the Western countries. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review and examine the available studies on health literacy in Southeast Asian countries and estimate its prevalence in this region.
STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review.
METHODS: A search for relevant articles was carried out using Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and MEDLINE (via EBSCOhost), Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar with multiple search terms. Inclusion criteria comprised articles published in English language and assessing general health literacy. Risk of bias reduced with the involvement of two independent reviewers in the screening of the literature and the quality assessment process.
RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included, which only consist of studies from five countries out of 11 making up the Southeast Asian region. The overall prevalence of limited health literacy varied considerably, 1.6%-99.5% with a mean of 55.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.1%-75.6%). A much higher prevalence was noted in studies conducted in healthcare settings, 67.5% (95% CI: 48.6%-86.3%). The most common factors associated with limited health literacy were education attainment, age, income and socio-economic background. Other factors identified were gender and health behaviours.
CONCLUSIONS: In summary, despite the little evidence available and existences of high heterogeneity among studies, limited health literacy is still prevalent in Southeast Asian countries. Urgent strategies to improve and promote health literacy in the region are highly warranted. Besides, more studies on health literacy with better quality on the methodology aspect are needed.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext Adiponectin, Leptin and Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Adults: A Narrative Review

Nurnazahiah A, Lua PL, Shahril MR

Malays J Med Sci, 2016 Nov;23(6):7-24.
PMID: 28090175 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2016.23.6.2

The objective of this study was to compile and analyse existing scientific evidences reporting the effects of objectively measured physical activity on the levels of adiponectin and leptin. Articles related to the effects of objectively measured physical activity on the levels of adiponectin and leptin were searched from the Medline and PubMed databases. The search was limited to 'objectively measured' physical activity, and studies that did not objectively measure the physical activity were excluded. Only English articles were included in the search and review. A total of 18 articles encompassing 2,026 respondents met the inclusion criteria. The eligible articles included all forms of evidence (e.g., cross-sectional and intervention). Seventeen and 11 studies showed the effects of objectively measured physical activity on adiponectin and leptin, respectively. Five and four cross-sectional studies showed the effects of objectively measured physical activity on adiponectin and leptin, respectively. Two out of five studies showed a weak to moderate positive association between adiponectin and objectively measured physical activity, while three out of four studies showed a weak to moderate inverse association between leptin and objectively measured physical activity. For intervention studies, six out of 12 studies involving adiponectin and five out of seven studies involving leptin showed a significant effect between the proteins and objectively measured physical activity. However, a definitive conclusion could not be drawn due to several methodological flaws in the existing articles and the acute lack of additional research in this area. In conclusion, the existing evidences are encouraging but yet not compelling. Hence, further well-designed large trials are needed before the effectiveness of objectively measured physical activity in elevating adiponectin levels and in decreasing leptin levels could be strongly confirmed.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext An overview of fractional anisotropy as a reliable quantitative measurement for the corticospinal tract (CST) integrity in correlation with a Fugl-Meyer assessment in stroke rehabilitation

Zolkefley MKI, Firwana YMS, Hatta HZM, Rowbin C, Nassir CMNCM, Hanafi MH, et al.

J Phys Ther Sci, 2021 Jan;33(1):75-83.
PMID: 33519079 DOI: 10.1589/jpts.33.75

[Purpose] Understanding the essential mechanisms in post-stroke recovery not only provides important basic insights into brain function and plasticity but can also guide the development of new therapeutic approaches for stroke patients. This review aims to give an overview of how various variables of Magnetic Resonance-Diffusion Tensor Imaging (MR-DTI) metrics of fractional anisotropy (FA) can be used as a reliable quantitative measurement and indicator of corticospinal tract (CST) changes, particularly in relation to functional motor outcome correlation with a Fugl-Meyer assessment in stroke rehabilitation. [Methods] PubMed electronic database was searched for the relevant literature, using key words of diffusion tensor imaging (dti), corticospinal tract, and stroke. [Results] We reviewed the role of FA in monitoring CST remodeling and its role of predicting motor recovery after stroke. We also discussed the mechanism of CST remodeling and its modulation from the value of FA and FMA-UE. [Conclusion] Heterogeneity of post-stroke brain disorganization and motor impairment is a recognized challenge in the development of accurate indicators of CST integrity. DTI-based FA measurements offer a reliable and evidence-based indicator for CST integrity that would aid in predicting motor recovery within the context of stroke rehabilitation.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext An overview of indices used to measure treatment effectiveness in patients with cleft lip and palate

Haque S, Alam MK, Arshad AI

Malays J Med Sci, 2015 Jan-Feb;22(1):4-11.
PMID: 25892945 MyJurnal

In the contemporary era, the demand for orthodontic treatment is ever rising. Orthodontic treatment duration can range from a year to a few years. Our aim is to assess the available techniques of categorising treatment effectiveness in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and to study their effect on improvement of treatment outcomes. The electronic databases including Medline-PUBMED, Science Direct, and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched from 1987 to 2013, and 40 311 relevant articles were found. Of these, we identified 22 articles including original articles as well as literature reviews. The different parameters and indices that are applied to speed-up orthodontic treatment outcomes in patients with CLP were identified as the GOSLON Yardstick, 5-year-old index, EUROCRAN index, Huddart Bodenham system, modified Huddart Bodenham system, GOAL Yardstick and, Bauru-Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Yardstick. This overview can create better awareness regarding the uses, advantages, and disadvantages of the different indices. It can enable better assessment and provide the impetus needed for a sustained upgrade in the standards of care for CLP in daily orthodontics.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext An update of the Malaysian Clinical Guidance on the management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, 2015

Yeap SS, Hew FL, Damodaran P, Chee W, Lee JK, Goh EML, et al.

Osteoporos Sarcopenia, 2017 Mar;3(1):1-7.
PMID: 30775497 DOI: 10.1016/j.afos.2017.01.001

Objectives: This Clinical Guidance is aimed to help practitioners assess, diagnose and manage their patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO), using the best available evidence.

Methods: A literature search using PubMed (MEDLINE) and The Cochrane Library identified all relevant articles on GIO and its assessment, diagnosis and treatment, from 2011, to update from the 2012 edition. The studies were assessed and the level of evidence assigned. For each statement, studies with the highest level of evidence were used to frame the recommendation.

Results: Consider treatment early in all patients on glucocorticoids (GC) as fracture risk increases within 3-6 months of starting GC. The decision to start treatment for GIO depends on the presence of prior fracture, category of risk (as calculated using Fracture Risk Assessment Tool), daily dose and duration of GC treatment, age, and menopausal status. General measures include adequate calcium and vitamin D intake and reducing the dose of GC to the minimum required to achieve disease control. In patients on GC with osteoporotic fractures or confirmed osteoporosis on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, bisphosphonates are the first-line treatment. Treatment should be continued as long as patients remain on GC. Algorithms for the management of GIO in both pre- and post-menopausal women and men have been updated.

Conclusions: In post-menopausal women and men above 50 years, bisphosphonates remain the mainstay of treatment in GIO. In pre-menopausal women and men below 50 years, bisphosphonates are recommended for those with a prevalent fracture or at very high risk only.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed
Fulltext Anthropometry measurements to determine nutritional status among cerebral palsy children: a scoping review

Mahnon Suria Mokhy, Rosita Jamaluddin, Abd Rasyid Ismail, Woan Yie Siah, Norhasmah Sulaiman, Siti Nur ‘Asyura Adznam, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(106):213-218.
MyJurnal

This article aimed to review the available anthropometry measurements used in the assessment of nutritional sta- tus among Cerebral Palsy (CP) children. Searched journals were from Medline, PubMed and Ovid published from 2015 to 2018. The search identified 443 articles, and eight studies met the criteria. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, recumbent length, knee height, tibia length, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), Bio- electrical impedance (BIA), Mid arm circumference (MUAC) subscapular skinfold (SFT), Triceps skinfold (TSF) and prediction equations. Body fat composition can be obtained by DXA, BIA, skinfold measurement, and also prediction equation. The predictive equation is the most reported method to determine nutritional status among CP. This review found that TSF and SFT are more accurate to determine body fat percentage when using together with the predictive equation. Besides, predictive equations using segmental length are reliable in estimating the height and can be used to evaluate the nutritional status using the specific CP growth chart.

Matched MeSH terms: PubMed

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