METHODS: This is a single-center, cross-sectional study using in-patient data maintained by the Case-Mix Unit of a teaching hospital in Malaysia from 2016 to 2017. The study included all patients with International Classification of Disease (ICD) code 164 (stroke, not specified as hemorrhage or infarct). The significance of association was determined using nonparametric tests in the form of the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test.
RESULTS: A total of 162 stroke patients from 2016 to 2017 from Case-Mix database were included in the study. The age ranged from 31 to 97 years old. The minimum and maximum LOS for patients with stroke ranged from 1 to 17 days. The severity of illness was found to be significantly associated with longer LOS (p < 0.001); however, age, sex, and presence of co-morbidities did not show any significant association.
CONCLUSION: Despite its limitations, this study is an essential first step to examine the characteristics of patients with stroke and to determine the factors associated with LOS.
PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between marrow fat and cortical bone thickness in β-thalassemia and to identify key determinants influencing these variables.
STUDY TYPE: Prospective.
SUBJECTS: Thirty-five subjects in four subject groups of increasing disease severity: 6 healthy control (25.0 ± 5.3 years, 2 male), 4 β-thalassemia minor, 13 intermedia, and 12 major (29.1 ± 6.4 years, 15 male).
FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0 T, 3D fast low angle shot sequence and T1-weighted turbo spin echo.
ASSESSMENT: Analyses on proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and R2* values in femur subregions (femoral head, greater trochanter, intertrochanteric, diaphysis, distal) and cortical thickness (CBI) of the subjects' left femur. Clinical data such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and disease severity were also included.
STATISTICAL TESTS: One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), mixed ANOVA, Pearson correlation and multiple regression. P-values <0.05 were considered significant.
RESULTS: Bone marrow PDFF significantly varied between the femur subregions, F(2.89,89.63) = 44.185 and disease severity, F(1,3) = 12.357. A significant interaction between subject groups and femur subregions on bone marrow PDFF was observed, F(8.67,89.63) = 3.723. Notably, a moderate positive correlation was observed between PDFF and CBI (r = 0.33-0.45). Multiple regression models for both PDFF (R2 = 0.476, F(13,151) = 10.547) and CBI (R2 = 0.477, F(13,151) = 10.580) were significant. Significant predictors for PDFF were disease severity (βTMi = 0.36, βTMa = 0.17), CBI (β = 0.24), R2* (β = -0.32), and height (β = -0.29) while for CBI, the significant determinants were sex (β = -0.27), BMI (β = 0.55), disease severity (βTMi = 2.15), and PDFF (β = 0.25).
DATA CONCLUSION: This study revealed a positive correlation between bone marrow fat fraction and cortical bone thickness in β-thalassemia with varying disease severity, potentially indicating a complex interplay between bone health and marrow composition.
EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 521 cranial MSCT datasets of Malaysian sub-adults (0-20 years old) consisting of Malay, Chinese, and Indian populations were analysed and constructed into three-dimensional (3D) cranial models using Mimics software version 21. Fourteen selected craniometric parameters were measured on the 3D models, adhering to the plane-to-plane protocol. All measurements were statistically analysed using discriminant function analysis.
RESULTS: Cranial measurements such as maximum cranial width, biasteronic width, and occipital chord showed significant differences among Malays, Chinese, and Indians. In addition, a high similarity of the measurements between Chinese and Malays compared to Indians and Malays and Chinese and Indians was demonstrated. The highest classification accuracy was obtained by the age group of 10-12 years old, with Indians achieving the highest accuracy (72.2%), followed by Chinese (71.8%) and Malays (58.3%). The accuracy percentages between the pooled-sex and male/female formulas were relatively similar.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the presence of morphometric variations among the three different sub-adult populations in Malaysia using MSCT datasets.
METHODS: A mixed-method study was conducted with pre-clinical medical students at Newcastle University Medical School, UK, and Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia. A total of 266 students participated in an online survey questionnaire, with 25 students participating in focus group discussions (FGD). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive analysis and qualitative data was analysed with thematic analysis.
RESULTS: The majority of students (94.7%) recognised that active learning is important for their learning, but had a narrow definition of what active learning constituted, and familiarity with active learning techniques was lacking. Many students' independent learning techniques were centred around methods of 'active recall', with factors affecting the utilisation of active learning techniques mainly focused on time availability, group dynamics in active teaching sessions and teaching styles of educators.
CONCLUSION: Students acknowledged the importance of active learning but are generally unfamiliar with ways to effectively utilise a broad range of active learning strategies. This study demonstrated that it is important for educators to understand firstly how students define active learning as well as how students interact with active learning taught sessions, to ensure that they create an environment where students feel confident to engage in active learning techniques.