Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 25 in total

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  1. Look ML, Tan SB, Hong LL, Ng CG, Yee HA, Lim LY, et al.
    BMJ Support Palliat Care, 2021 Dec;11(4):433-439.
    PMID: 32788274 DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002382
    CONTEXT: There has been increasing evidence of the role of mindfulness-based interventions in improving various health conditions. However, the evidence for the use of mindfulness in the palliative care setting is still lacking.

    OBJECTIVES: The objective of our study was to determine the efficacy of a single session of 20 min mindful breathing in alleviating multiple symptoms in palliative care.

    METHODS: Adult palliative care in patients with at least one symptom scoring ≥5/10 based on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) were recruited from September 2018 to December 2018. Recruited patients were randomly assigned to either 20 min mindful breathing and standard care or standard care alone.

    RESULTS: Forty patients were randomly assigned to standard care plus a 20 min mindful breathing session (n=20) or standard care alone (n=20). There was statistically significant reduction of total ESAS score in the mindful breathing group compared with the control group at minute 20 (U=98, n 1 = n 2 = 20, mean rank 1 = 15.4, mean rank 2 = 25.6, median reduction 1 = 6.5, median reduction 2 = 1.5, z=-2.763, r=0.3, p=0.005).

    CONCLUSION: Our results provided evidence that a single session of 20 min mindful breathing was effective in reducing multiple symptoms rapidly for palliative care patients.

    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  2. Nasution A, Yusuf A, Lean Keng S, Rasudin NS, P Iskandar YH, Ab Hadi IS
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2021 Oct 01;22(10):3151-3163.
    PMID: 34710991 DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.10.3151
    BACKGROUND: Mobile health technologies are widely being used for delivering health behaviour interventions. However, there is insufficient evidence that they are integrating theory and only a few researchers utilized a qualitative approach in their study.

    OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to identify requirements in developing a breast examination awareness mobile app based on the component of the Health Belief Model (HBM) for integration in health promotion strategy.

    METHODS: A qualitative approach using semi-structured in-depth interview was utilized in this study. A purposive sampling method was conducted among public women attending hospital services, software and content experts in a tertiary teaching hospital in the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. These interviews were recorded, transcribed and organized using NVIVO 11. The main themes were identified through thematic analysis of the interview transcripts.  Results: A total of 37 participants recruited in this study. The themes that emerged from the analysis are vulnerability, forecasting, reactive, influence, outcome and obstacles. The sub-themes findings supported the HBM's component in terms of the requirement for are an infographic risk factor, video (symptoms, self-examination), info (metastasis, survival, screening, triple assessment, treatment, myth and facts, benefit of early treatment, support groups), features (screening reminder, sharing button, prompt) and mobile app's design.

    CONCLUSION: The research findings could provide a guide for future app development from public women, content and software experts.  The information will be used to develop a breast examination awareness mobile app integrated with health theories.

    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  3. Tan JK, Leong D, Munusamy H, Zenol Ariffin NH, Kori N, Hod R, et al.
    BMC Infect Dis, 2021 Mar 09;21(1):249.
    PMID: 33750347 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-05849-7
    BACKGROUND: Presymptomatic COVID-19 patients have been identified as a major stumbling block in efforts to break the chain of transmission. Studies on temporal dynamics of its shedding suggests it peaks 1-2 days prior to any symptom onset. Therefore, a large proportion of patients are actively spreading the disease unknowingly whilst undetected. However, lengthy lockdowns and isolation leads to a host of socioeconomic issues and are impractical. Conversely, there exists no study describing this group and their clinical significance despite their key role in disease transmission.

    METHODS: As a result, we devised a retrospective study to look at the prevalence of presymptomatic patients with COVID-19 from data sourced via our medical records office. Subsequently, we identify early indicators of infection through demographic information, biochemical and radiological abnormalities which would allow early diagnosis and isolation. In addition, we will look into the clinical significance of this group and their outcome; if it differs from asymptomatic or symptomatic patients. Descriptive statistics were used in addition to tabulating the variables and corresponding values for reference. Variables are compared between the presymptomatic group and others via Chi-square testing and Fisher's exact test, accepting a p value of symptoms like chest pain while symptomatic patients commonly present with respiratory symptoms like cough and shortness of breath. Besides that, there were more females presenting as presymptomatic patients compared to males (p = 0.019) and these group of patients were likely to receive treatment (p 

    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  4. Ng SL, Ong YS, Khaw KY, Teh SP, Tan CS, Ming LC, et al.
    Medicina (Kaunas), 2021 Feb 23;57(2).
    PMID: 33672384 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57020189
    The global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 is a known consequence of infection of severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has affected nations worldwide with soaring number of cases daily. Symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are commonly presented in COVID-19 patients. This focused review aims to discuss these uncommon and atypical COVID-19 symptoms that may be presented which might affect neurological, cardiovascular, cutaneous and ocular systems and their possible mode of actions. Nonetheless, there are some cases of reported uncommon or atypical symptoms which may warrant healthcare professionals to be aware of, especially when in contact with patients. The knowledge and information concerning these symptoms might be able to provide additional cues for healthcare professional by subjecting patients to COVID-19 screening. Meanwhile, it might be able to further enhance the alertness and additional precautions being taken by healthcare personnel, which eventually lead to reduced risk of infections.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment/methods*
  5. Jha NK, Sharma A, Jha SK, Ojha S, Chellappan DK, Gupta G, et al.
    Open Biol, 2020 12;10(12):200286.
    PMID: 33352062 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200286
    Excessive exposure to toxic substances or chemicals in the environment and various pathogens, including viruses and bacteria, is associated with the onset of numerous brain abnormalities. Among them, pathogens, specifically viruses, elicit persistent inflammation that plays a major role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as dementia. AD is the most common brain disorder that affects thought, speech, memory and ability to execute daily routines. It is also manifested by progressive synaptic impairment and neurodegeneration, which eventually leads to dementia following the accumulation of Aβ and hyperphosphorylated Tau. Numerous factors contribute to the pathogenesis of AD, including neuroinflammation associated with pathogens, and specifically viruses. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is often linked with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) following permeation through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and induction of persistent neuroinflammation. Further, HIV infections also exhibited the ability to modulate numerous AD-associated factors such as BBB regulators, members of stress-related pathways as well as the amyloid and Tau pathways that lead to the formation of amyloid plaques or neurofibrillary tangles accumulation. Studies regarding the role of HIV in HAND and AD are still in infancy, and potential link or mechanism between both is not yet established. Thus, in the present article, we attempt to discuss various molecular mechanisms that contribute to the basic understanding of the role of HIV-associated neuroinflammation in AD and HAND. Further, using numerous growth factors and drugs, we also present possible therapeutic strategies to curb the neuroinflammatory changes and its associated sequels.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  6. Ng BH, Andrea YLB, Nuratiqah NA, Faisal AH, Soo CI, Najma K, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2020 09;75(5):582-584.
    PMID: 32918430
    The world feels strange as we face what is for most of us our first ever pandemic. The number of newly diagnosed cases rises daily in many parts of the world, and we are faced with the reality that there are still many things to learn about this new disease. We share here our experience of treating our first 199 COVID-19 patients in the Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM).
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  7. Soh TV, Dzawani M, Noorlina N, Nik F, Norazmi A
    Med J Malaysia, 2020 09;75(5):479-484.
    PMID: 32918413
    BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), Pahang, Malaysia and to identify the clinical and laboratory markers for severe disease, complications and virologic clearance according to clinical staging.

    METHODS: This was a single-centre, retrospective, descriptive study. All COVID-19 patients admitted to HTAA from March 9 to April 15, 2020, were included in the study. Patients were categorised according to clinical staging. Data obtained from the medical report includes baseline characteristics of patients, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, laboratory findings, treatments, complications, and outcomes.

    RESULTS: Of the total of 247 patients hospitalised, the majority consisted at clinical-stage 1 (43%) and stage 2 (39%) disease. Older patients, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney disease were found more common among patients with severe disease. Fever was uncommon and the majority had normal haemoglobin levels, white cell counts, and platelet counts. C-reactive protein (CRP) was found statistically significant to predict pneumonia or hypoxia at a cut-off value of 14mg/L (sensitivity 73.8%, specificity 91.3%) and 50mg/L (sensitivity 100%, specificity 96.4%) respectively. Pneumonia was mostly diagnosed radiologically using chest radiography, especially among clinical stage 3. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was a significant complication, with 31% of clinical stage 3 and above developed AKI and 44% of them requiring haemodialysis. Median virologic clearance time was 15 days from onset of illness, and asymptomatic patients had longer clearance time.

    CONCLUSION: COVID-19 presented with a wide spectrum of clinical patterns. CRP was a valuable predictor of severe disease. In this study risk and severity of acute kidney injury were found to be higher. A longer duration of virologic clearance was observed among the asymptomatic patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  8. Lim SL, Ong PS, Khor CG
    Mod Rheumatol Case Rep, 2020 07;4(2):237-242.
    PMID: 33086999 DOI: 10.1080/24725625.2020.1754567
    Tuberculosis (TB) and its association with rheumatic diseases have been widely recognised. Occurrence of multifocal skeletal involvement constitutes <5% of all skeletal TB cases. We present a Malay patient with multifocal osteoarticular TB (OATB). A 35 year-old SLE woman with background usage of corticosteroid therapy and Azathioprine presented with lupus nephritis flare. Renal biopsy revealed diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis and intravenous (IV) Cyclophosphamide 0.5 g/m2 (850 mg) was initiated. One week later, patient complained dorsum of left hand and right knee swelling. On physical examination, patient was afebrile and the left hand swelling was cystic in consistency while right knee was warm and tender. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) was 50 mm/hr and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) was 9.4 mg/L. Her Mantoux test was positive with 20 mm induration. Wrist radiograph and chest radiograph was normal. Musculoskeletal ultrasound showed 4th extensor compartment tenosynovitis with Doppler signal and right knee effusion with synovial proliferation. Extensor tenosynovectomy and right knee aspiration was performed. Left hand excised tissue and right knee synovial fluid for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stain, TB PCR, bacterial and fungal cultures were negative. Urgent histopathological examination of the excised tissue showed necrotising granulomatous inflammation. Patient was empirically started on TB treatment and subsequent mycobacterial culture confirmed the diagnosis of TB. The joints swelling resolved after one month of TB treatment. Multifocal OATB is an infrequent form of extrapulmonary TB and diagnosing OATB requires high index of suspicion particularly in SLE patient on immunosuppression. Prompt investigations are essential to the diagnosis of this rare condition for early initiation of anti-tuberculous therapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  9. Schliemann D, Ismail R, Donnelly M, Cardwell CR, Su TT
    BMC Public Health, 2020 Apr 06;20(1):464.
    PMID: 32252721 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-08581-0
    BACKGROUND: Cancer incidence in Malaysia is expected to double by 2040. Understanding cancer awareness is important in order to tailor preventative efforts and reduce the cancer burden. The objective of this research was to assess nationwide awareness about the signs and symptoms as well as risk factors for various cancers in Malaysia and identify socio-demographic factors associated with awareness.

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March-November 2014 in the form of a telephone survey. Participants aged 40 years and above were randomly selected across Malaysia and interviewed using the validated Awareness Beliefs about Cancer (ABC) measurement tool. Linear regression was conducted to test the association between symptom and risk factor recognition and socio-demographic variables.

    RESULTS: A sample of 1895 participants completed the survey. On average, participants recognised 5.8 (SD 3.2) out of 11 symptoms and 7.5 (SD 2.7) out of 12 risk factors. The most commonly recognised symptom was 'lump or swelling' (74.5%) and the most commonly recognised risk factor was 'smoking' (88.7%). Factors associated with prompted awareness were age, ethnicity, education and smoking status.

    CONCLUSION: Recognition of symptom and risk factors for most cancers was relatively low across Malaysia compared to previous studies in high-income countries and to studies conducted in Malaysia. There is a need to conduct regular public health campaigns and interventions designed to improve cancer awareness and knowledge as a first step towards increasing the early detection of cancer.

    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment/psychology*
  10. Ching S, Chia YC, Chew BN, Soo MJ, Lim HM, Sulaiman WAW, et al.
    BMC Public Health, 2019 Nov 29;19(1):1602.
    PMID: 31783831 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7922-7
    BACKGROUND: Information regarding the knowledge on the action to be taken during stroke and good recognition of stroke symptoms is mandatory in helping to plan out educational strategies to deliver health education to the community.

    METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of adults aged 18 and above attending a blood pressure screening program in community in conjunction with May Measurement Month 2017 in Malaysia. A structured self-administered questionnaire was given to the participants who gave verbal consent. Data analysis was done using SPSS v. 23 and multiple logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of knowledge on actions to be taken during stroke and recognition of stroke symptoms.

    RESULTS: Out of 4096 respondents, 82.9-92.1% of them able to recognise the common stroke symptoms. and 74.2% of the study respondents will go to hospital within 4.5 h of stroke onset. According to binomial logistic regression analyses, adults aged 45 years old and above (OR 1.39 95%CI 1.01-1.92), being Malay (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.27-2.40), being non-smokers (OR = 2.491, 95% CI: 1.64-3.78), hypertensives (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.02-2.42)and diabetics (OR: 2.54, 95% CI:1.38-4.69) are determinants of right actions to be taken during stroke. Meanwhile, respondents aged 45 years old and older (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.39-2.03), being Malay (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.24-1.79), hypertensive (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04-1.66) and those who had a previous history of stroke (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.01-5.00) are determinants of good recognition of stroke symptoms.

    CONCLUSIONS: The overall knowledge of stroke in our study population was good. Older age, being Malay, non-smokers, hypertensives and diabetics are determinants of right actions to be taken during stroke. Meanwhile, older age, being Malay, hypertensive and those who had a previous history of stroke are determinants of good recognition of stroke symptoms.

    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment/psychology*
  11. Ochani RK, Batra S, Shaikh A, Asad A
    Infez Med, 2019 Jun 01;27(2):117-127.
    PMID: 31205033
    The Nipah virus was discovered twenty years ago, and there is considerable information available regarding the specificities surrounding this virus such as transmission, pathogenesis and genome. Belonging to the Henipavirus genus, this virus can cause fever, encephalitis and respiratory disorders. The first cases were reported in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998, when affected individuals presented with severe febrile encephalitis. Since then, much has been identified about this virus. These single-stranded RNA viruses gain entry into target cells via a process known as macropinocytosis. The viral genome is released into the cell cytoplasm via a cascade of processes that involves conformational changes in G and F proteins which allow for attachment of the viral membrane to the cell membrane. In addition to this, the natural reservoirs of this virus have been identified to be fruit bats from the genus Pteropus. Five of the 14 species of bats in Malaysia have been identified as carriers, and this virus affects horses, cats, dogs, pigs and humans. Various mechanisms of transmission have been proposed such as contamination of date palm saps by bat feces and saliva, nosocomial and human-to-human transmissions. Physical contact was identified as the strongest risk factor for developing an infection in the 2004 Faridpur outbreak. Geographically, the virus seems to favor the Indian sub-continent, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Pakistan, southern China, northern Australia and the Philippines, as demonstrated by the multiple outbreaks in 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012 in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan as well as the initial outbreaks in Malaysia and Singapore. Multiple routes of the viremic spread in the human body have been identified such as the central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory system, while virus levels in the body remain low, detection in the cerebrospinal fluid is comparatively high. The virus follows an incubation period of 4 days to 2 weeks which is followed by the development of symptoms. The primary clinical signs include fever, headache, vomiting and dizziness, while the characteristic symptoms consist of segmental myoclonus, tachycardia, areflexia, hypotonia, abnormal pupillary reflexes and hypertension. The serum neutralization test (SNT) is the gold standard of diagnosis followed by ELISA if SNT cannot be carried out. On the other hand, treatment is supportive since there a lack of effective pharmacological therapy and only one equine vaccine is currently licensed for use. Prevention of outbreaks seems to be a more viable approach until specific therapeutic strategies are devised.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  12. Chan PY, Mohd Ripin Z, Abdul Halim S, Kamarudin MI, Ng KS, Eow GB, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2019 05 31;9(1):8117.
    PMID: 31148550 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44142-1
    There is a lack of evidence that either conventional observational rating scale or biomechanical system is a better tremor assessment tool. This work focuses on comparing a biomechanical system and the Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale in terms of test-retest reliability. The Parkinson's disease tremors were quantified by biomechanical system in joint angular displacement and predicted rating, as well as assessed by three raters using observational ratings. Qualitative comparisons of the validity and function are made also. The observational rating captures the overall severity of body parts, whereas the biomechanical system provides motion- and joint-specific tremor severity. The tremor readings of the biomechanical system were previously validated against encoders' readings and doctors' ratings; the observational ratings were validated with previous ratings on assessing the disease and combined motor symptoms rather than on tremor specifically. Analyses show that the predicted rating is significantly more reliable than the average clinical ratings by three raters. The comparison work removes some of the inconsistent impressions of the tools and serves as guideline for selecting a tool that can improve tremor assessment. Nevertheless, further work is required to consider more variabilities that influence the overall judgement.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment/standards*
  13. El-Desouky S, Taalab YM, El-Gamal M, Mohamed W, Salama M
    Methods Mol Biol, 2019;2011:451-464.
    PMID: 31273716 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9554-7_27
    Leigh syndrome (LS) is a common neurodegenerative disease affecting neonates with devastating sequences. One of the characteristic features for LS is the phenotypic polymorphism, which-in part-can be dedicated to variety of genetic causes. A strong correlation with mitochondrial dysfunction has been assumed as the main cause of LS. This was based on the fact that most genetic causes are related to mitochondrial complex I genome. The first animal LS model was designed based on NDUFS4 knockdown. Interestingly, however, this one or others could not recapitulate the whole spectrum of manifestations encountered in different cases of LS. We show in this chapter a new animal model for LS based on silencing of one gene that is reported previously in clinical cases, FOXRED1. The new model carries some differences from previous models in the fact that more histopathological degeneration in dopaminergic system is seen and more behavioral changes can be recognized. FOXRED1 is an interesting gene that is related to complex I assembly, hence, plays important role in different neurodegenerative disorders leading to different clinical manifestations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  14. Kannan M, Ismail I, Bunawan H
    Viruses, 2018 09 13;10(9).
    PMID: 30217014 DOI: 10.3390/v10090492
    Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) is a serious maize pathogen, epidemic worldwide, and one of the most common virus diseases for monocotyledonous plants, causing up to 70% loss in corn yield globally since 1960. MDMV belongs to the genus Potyvirus (Potyviridae) and was first identified in 1964 in Illinois in corn and Johnsongrass. MDMV is a single stranded positive sense RNA virus and is transmitted in a non-persistent manner by several aphid species. MDMV is amongst the most important virus diseases in maize worldwide. This review will discuss its genome, transmission, symptomatology, diagnosis and management. Particular emphasis will be given to the current state of knowledge on the diagnosis and control of MDMV, due to its importance in reducing the impact of maize dwarf mosaic disease, to produce an enhanced quality and quantity of maize.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  15. Yahya N, Ebert MA, House MJ, Kennedy A, Matthews J, Joseph DJ, et al.
    Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2017 02 01;97(2):420-426.
    PMID: 28068247 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2016.10.024
    PURPOSE: We assessed the association of the spatial distribution of dose to the bladder surface, described using dose-surface maps, with the risk of urinary dysfunction.

    METHODS AND MATERIALS: The bladder dose-surface maps of 754 participants from the TROG 03.04-RADAR trial were generated from the volumetric data by virtually cutting the bladder at the sagittal slice, intersecting the bladder center-of-mass through to the bladder posterior and projecting the dose information on a 2-dimensional plane. Pixelwise dose comparisons were performed between patients with and without symptoms (dysuria, hematuria, incontinence, and an International Prostate Symptom Score increase of ≥10 [ΔIPSS10]). The results with and without permutation-based multiple-comparison adjustments are reported. The pixelwise multivariate analysis findings (peak-event model for dysuria, hematuria, and ΔIPSS10; event-count model for incontinence), with adjustments for clinical factors, are also reported.

    RESULTS: The associations of the spatially specific dose measures to urinary dysfunction were dependent on the presence of specific symptoms. The doses received by the anteroinferior and, to lesser extent, posterosuperior surface of the bladder had the strongest relationship with the incidence of dysuria, hematuria, and ΔIPSS10, both with and without adjustment for clinical factors. For the doses to the posteroinferior region corresponding to the area of the trigone, the only symptom with significance was incontinence.

    CONCLUSIONS: A spatially variable response of the bladder surface to the dose was found for symptoms of urinary dysfunction. Limiting the dose extending anteriorly might help reduce the risk of urinary dysfunction.

    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  16. Lim LY, Mohd Firdaus CA, Fam XI, Goh EH
    J Comput Assist Tomogr, 2017 Jan;41(1):65-66.
    PMID: 27680416 DOI: 10.1097/RCT.0000000000000487
    Computed tomography (CT) is a widely used imaging modality. Although hyponatremia after CT imaging is rare, its effects can be devastating. Hyperosmolar radiocontrast acts as effective osmoles and causes fluid migration from intracellular into extracellular compartment. Dilutional hyponatremia will ensue if translocation of fluid is in excess of diuresis. This case report detailed an unusual case of acute symptomatic hyponatremia after CT renal protocol and the treatments given after its recognition.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  17. Nealon J, Taurel AF, Capeding MR, Tran NH, Hadinegoro SR, Chotpitayasunondh T, et al.
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2016 Aug;10(8):e0004918.
    PMID: 27532617 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004918
    Dengue incidence has increased globally, but empirical burden estimates are scarce. Prospective methods are best-able to capture all severities of disease. CYD14 was an observer-blinded dengue vaccine study conducted in children 2-14 years of age in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The control group received no vaccine and resembled a prospective, observational study. We calculated the rates of dengue according to different laboratory or clinical criteria to make inferences about dengue burden, and compared with rates reported in the passive surveillance systems to calculate expansion factors which describe under-reporting. Over 6,933 person-years of observation in the control group there were 319 virologically confirmed dengue cases, a crude attack rate of 4.6%/year. Of these, 92 cases (28.8%) were clinically diagnosed as dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever by investigators and 227 were not, indicating that most symptomatic disease fails to satisfy existing case definitions. When examining different case definitions, there was an inverse relationship between clinical severity and observed incidence rates. CYD14's active surveillance system captured a greater proportion of symptomatic dengue than national passive surveillance systems, giving rise to expansion factors ranging from 0.5 to 31.7. This analysis showed substantial, unpredictable and variable under-reporting of symptomatic dengue, even within a controlled clinical trial environment, and emphasizes that burden estimates are highly sensitive to case definitions. These data will assist in generating disease burden estimates and have important policy implications when considering the introduction and health economics of dengue prevention and control interventions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  18. Marsden PA, Satia I, Ibrahim B, Woodcock A, Yates L, Donnelly I, et al.
    Chest, 2016 06;149(6):1460-6.
    PMID: 26973014 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.02.676
    BACKGROUND: Cough is recognized as an important troublesome symptom in the diagnosis and monitoring of asthma. Asthma control is thought to be determined by the degree of airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness but how these factors relate to cough frequency is unclear. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationships between objective cough frequency, disease control, airflow obstruction, and airway inflammation in asthma.

    METHODS: Participants with asthma underwent 24-h ambulatory cough monitoring and assessment of exhaled nitric oxide, spirometry, methacholine challenge, and sputum induction (cell counts and inflammatory mediator levels). Asthma control was assessed by using the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) classification and the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ). The number of cough sounds was manually counted and expressed as coughs per hour (c/h).

    RESULTS: Eighty-nine subjects with asthma (mean ± SD age, 57 ± 12 years; 57% female) were recruited. According to GINA criteria, 18 (20.2%) patients were classified as controlled, 39 (43.8%) partly controlled, and 32 (36%) uncontrolled; the median ACQ score was 1 (range, 0.0-4.4). The 6-item ACQ correlated with 24-h cough frequency (r = 0.40; P < .001), and patients with uncontrolled asthma (per GINA criteria) had higher median 24-h cough frequency (4.2 c/h; range, 0.3-27.6) compared with partially controlled asthma (1.8 c/h; range, 0.2-25.3; P = .01) and controlled asthma (1.7 c/h; range, 0.3-6.7; P = .002). Measures of airway inflammation were not significantly different between GINA categories and were not correlated with ACQ. In multivariate analyses, increasing cough frequency and worsening FEV1 independently predicted measures of asthma control.

    CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory cough frequency monitoring provides an objective assessment of asthma symptoms that correlates with standard measures of asthma control but not airflow obstruction or airway inflammation. Moreover, cough frequency and airflow obstruction represent independent dimensions of asthma control.
    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment/methods
  19. Thiagarajan M, Chan CM, Fuang HG, Beng TS, Atiliyana MA, Yahaya NA
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2016;17(1):171-6.
    PMID: 26838205
    BACKGROUND: Much has been done to examine the psychological impact of cancer treatment, but it remains unclear to what extent anxiety and depression is related to symptom prevalence. The present study concerned the characteristics and frequency of distress as related to symptom prevalence in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in Malaysia.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were 303 consecutive adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in an academic medical center. The short form Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS-SF), which covers three domains of symptoms (global distress, physical- and psychological symptoms) was used to cross-sectionally measure symptom frequency and associated distress via self-reporting. One-way ANOVA and t-tests were used to test mean differences among MSAS-SF subscale scores.

    RESULTS: Complete data were available for 303 patients. The mean number of symptoms was 14.5. The five most prevalent were fatigue, dry mouth, hair loss, drowsiness and lack of appetite. Overall, symptom burden and frequency were higher than in other published MSAS-SF studies. Higher symptom frequency was also found to be significantly related to greater distress in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

    CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing chemotherapy suffer from multiple physical and psychological symptoms. Better symptom control or palliative care is needed. Greater frequency of reported symptoms may also indicate a subconscious bid by patients for care and reassurance - thus tailored intervention to manage distress should be offered.

    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment
  20. Lim YJ, Rosita J, Chieng JY, Hazizi AS
    PLoS One, 2016;11(12):e0167243.
    PMID: 27997551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167243
    BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Functional constipation is very common with heterogeneous symptoms that have substantial impact on patient quality of life as well as medical resources which are rarely reported as life-threatening. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence and symptoms characteristic of functional constipation (FC) by using Rome III diagnostic criteria among tertiary education students with an intention to introduce treatment in the future.

    METHODS: Demographic, socio-economics characteristics and symptoms of FC using the Rome III criteria were sought using a questionnaire administered to Malaysian students in a tertiary education setting. Other data obtained were the general health status, lifestyle factors and anthropometric measurements. Using a simple random sampling method, a total of 1662 students were recruited in the study with a response rate of 95.0%. Sampled data are presented as frequency and percentage and stratified accordingly into categories for Chi-square analysis.

    RESULTS: The prevalence of functional constipation among the students was 16.2%, with a significantly higher prevalence among women (17.4%) than men (12.5%). Hard or lumpy stool, incomplete evacuation, anorectal obstruction and straining were reported as the commonest symptoms experienced. Type 3 was the most frequent stool consistency experienced among the constipated individuals (35.2%). Only 4.4% of individuals reported having less than three defecations per week. Using univariable analysis, FC was significantly associated with sex (odds ratio: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.06-2.06) and age group (odds ratio: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.01-1.79) with P value < 0.05 significance level. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only sex was found significantly associated with FC (adjusted odds ratio: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.08-2.17, P < 0.05).

    CONCLUSIONS: Based on the prevalence rate, constipation is a common problem among tertiary education students (16.2%), with significantly more prevalence among the female respondents. Early detection of symptoms and further intervention studies focusing on treatment recommendation in improving the symptoms are essential.

    Matched MeSH terms: Symptom Assessment*
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