MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups. Mandibular molar teeth were prepared using a low-speed round bur. In Group I, no material was applied; in Group II, teeth were treated with Ca(OH)2; and in Group III, teeth were treated with Propolis extract-Ca(OH)2, followed by Cention N filling. Immunohistochemistry was conducted on pulp tissue samples obtained on the third and seventh days post-treatment to assess malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase expression. Statistical analyses included the Shapiro-Wilk test, Levene test, ANOVA, and Tukey's HSD.
RESULTS: The samples treated with propolis extract-Ca(OH)2 combination exhibited significantly lower malondialdehyde expression on both days compared to samples treated with Ca(OH)2 (P<0.05), indicating reduced oxidative stress. Superoxide dismutase expression in the propolis extract-Ca(OH)2 group was higher (P<0.05), suggesting an enhanced antioxidant activity. The control group showed intermediate results. Statistical analyses confirmed significant differences between groups for both malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase expressions (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the propolis extract-Ca(OH)2 combination holds promise for direct pulp capping applications by minimizing oxidative stress and promoting antioxidant defense mechanisms in dental pulp.
METHODS: The website development involved three stages: content analysis, web development, and validation. The model of Internet Intervention was used to guide the development of the website, in addition to other learning and multimedia theories. The content was developed based on literature reviews and clinical guidelines on hypertension. Then, thirteen experts evaluated the website using Fuzzy Delphi Technique.
RESULTS: The website was successfully developed and contains six learning units. Thirteen experts rated the website based on content themes, presentation, interactivity, and instructional strategies. All experts reached a consensus that the web is acceptable to be used for nutrition education intervention.
CONCLUSION: D-PATH is a valid web-based educational tool ready to be used to help disseminate information on dietary and physical activity to manage hypertension. This web application was suitable for sharing information on dietary and physical activity recommendations for hypertension patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study adapted and translated the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) developed by the WHO SAGE Working Group. The scale underwent a sequential validation process, including back-back translation, content, face, and construct validity for Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The reliability was tested using internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha composite reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE)).
RESULTS: The data for EFA and CFA were completed by a separate sample of 125 and 300 HCWs, respectively. The EFA analysis of the C19-VHS-M scale was unidimensional with 10 items. A further CFA analysis revealed a uniform set of nine items with acceptable goodness fit indices (comparative fit index = 0.997, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.995, incremental fit index = 0.997, chi-squared/degree of freedom = 1.352, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.034). The Cronbach's alpha, CR and AVE results were 0.953, 0.95 and 0.70, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire was valid and reliable for use in the Malay language.
METHODS: This observational study analysed secondary data from the self-reported HAT within MySejahtera. It included all patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 through molecular assays such as RT-PCR or RTK-Ag on 1-21 February 2021, aged >18 years and residing in Selangor. Patients who had documented their symptoms at least once in the HAT during the prescribed 10-day isolation period were classified as HAT users.
RESULTS: A total of 4438 patients were included, of whom 39.4% were HAT users, while 60.6% were non-HAT users. Logistic regression analysis revealed three significant factors associated with low utilisation of the HAT: absence of medical condition (odds ratio [OR]: 9.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.49-12.01), advanced age (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.20-1.52) and non-Malaysian citizenship (OR: 3.4; 95% CI: 2.50-4.72).
CONCLUSION: The utilisation of the HAT is low, which is associated with advanced age (>65 years), absence of medical conditions and foreign nationality. It is imperative to develop inventive strategies tailored to address the unique needs of these particular demographics.
METHODS: MON extract phytochemical analysis was conducted to examine active compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, quinones, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, and steroids. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay for antioxidant capacity was evaluated, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the detection of volatile active compounds in MON extract was performed. Turax was used to create MON extract at concentrations of 1% and 2%, and then a particle size analysis was carried out. Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) were tested for antibacterial activity of MON extract, comparing them with doxycycline as the reference drug and using the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), and diffusion zone methods.
RESULTS: MON extract has lower antioxidant capacity than vitamin C. Flavonoids, saponins, quinones, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, and steroids were found in MON extract. 1% and 2% of MON extract has 10-40 d nm particle size. MIC, MBC and diffusion examination of 1% and 2% MON extract on Aa, Pg, Pi, and Fn were seen at concentrations of 25% and 12.5% with significantly different (p
METHODS: In this study, a systematic review and a meta-analysis study were conducted on CT phantom for resolution study especially based on the low contrast detectability (LCD). Furthermore, the association between the CT parameter such as tube voltage and the type of reconstruction algorithm, the amount of phantom scanning affecting the image quality and the exposure dose were also investigated in this study. We utilize PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Scopus databases to search related published articles from the year 2011 until 2020. The notable keywords comprise "computed tomography", "CT phantom", and "low contrast detectability". Of 52 articles, 20 articles are within the inclusion criteria in this systematic review.
RESULTS: The dichotomous outcomes were chosen to represent the results in terms of risk ratio as per meta-analysis study. Notably, the noise in iterative reconstruction (IR) reduced by 24%, 33% and 36% with the use of smooth, medium and sharp filters, respectively. Furthermore, adaptive iterative dose reduction (AIDR 3D) improved image quality and the visibility of smaller less dense objects compared to filtered back-projection. Most of the researchers used 120 kVp tube voltage to scan phantom for quality assurance study.
CONCLUSION: Hence, optimizing primary factors such as tube potential reduces the dose exposure significantly, and the optimized IR technique could substantially reduce the radiation dose while maintaining the image quality.
METHODOLOGY: A single-center cohort study was performed at Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan, between April 1, 2021, and October 31, 2021. This study included 333 hospitalized hypertensive COVID-19 patients and evaluated their clinical characteristics and survival outcomes. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied in IBM SPSS 27.0 to determine the predictors of mortality.
RESULTS: The majority of patients were females (54.7%), the median age was 62 [55-70] years, with co-existing diabetes (56.5%) and severely ill (52.6%). The independent predictors of mortality identified were age ≥ 65 years (aOR 20.89, 95% CI, 5.81-75.15; p < 0.001), pulse rate (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.63; p = 0.006), serum creatinine (aOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.11-1.63; p = 0.002), use of antibiotics (aOR 3.40, 95% CI 1.29-8.98; p = 0.014)), corticosteroid (aOR 49.68, 95% CI 1.83-1350.31; p = 0.020), and who needed high flow oxygen supply (aOR 13.08, 95% CI 1.70-100.54; p < 0.001), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (aOR 229.01, 95% CI 29.30-1789.71; p < 0.001) and invasive mechanical ventilation (aOR 379.54, 95% CI 36.60-3935.87; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that older age, elevated pulse rate, serum creatinine, use of antibiotics and corticosteroids, and the need for mechanical ventilation predict mortality among hypertensive COVID-19.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of patients with moderate to severe TBI treated with Sterofundin (SF) versus NS.
DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: A double-blinded randomised controlled trial of patients aged 18 to 65 years with TBI was conducted at the University Malaya Medical Centre from February 2017 to November 2019.
INTERVENTION OR EXPOSURE: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either NS or SF. The study fluids were administered for 72 h as continuous infusions or boluses. Participants, investigators, and staff were blinded to the fluid type.
OUTCOMES MEASURE AND ANALYSIS: The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated.
MAIN RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were included in the analysis, with 38 in the NS group and 32 in the SF group. The in-hospital mortality rate were 3 (7.9%) in the NS group vs. 4 (12.5%) in the SF group, RR = 1.29 (95% CI, 0.64 to 2.59; p = 0.695). No patients developed AKI and required renal replacement therapy. ICP on day 3 was significantly higher in the SF group (18.60 ± 9.26) compared to 12.77 ± 3.63 in the NS group, (95% CI, -11.46 to 0.20; p = 0.037). There were no significant differences in 3-day biochemical parameters and cerebral perfusion pressure, ventilator-free days, length of ICU stay, or Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E) score at 6 months.
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with moderate to severe TBI, the use of SF was not associated with reduced in-hospital mortality, development of AKI, or improved 6-month GOS-E when compared to NS.
METHODS: In this study, we performed a hybrid assembly of 454 and Illumina sequencing reads from Polygonum minus root and leaf tissues, respectively, to generate a combined transcriptome library as a reference.
RESULTS: A total of 34.37 million filtered and normalized reads were assembled into 188,735 transcripts with a total length of 136.67 Mbp. We performed a similarity search against all the publicly available genome sequences and found similarity matches for 163,200 (86.5%) of Polygonum minus transcripts, largely from Arabidopsis thaliana (58.9%). Transcript abundance in the leaf and root tissues were estimated and validated through RT-qPCR of seven selected transcripts involved in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids. All the transcripts were annotated against KEGG pathways to profile transcripts related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.
DISCUSSION: This comprehensive transcriptome profile will serve as a useful sequence resource for molecular genetics and evolutionary research on secondary metabolite biosynthesis in Polygonaceae family. Transcriptome assembly of Polygonum minus can be accessed at http://prims.researchfrontier.org/index.php/dataset/transcriptome.