Displaying publications 2281 - 2300 of 4587 in total

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  1. Amal RN, Aisah MY, Fatmah MS, Hayati MI
    PMID: 21329303
    In a prospective, observational study, 380 women attending a family planning (LPPKN) clinic and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinic in Kuala Lumpur between January 2008 and November 2008 were enrolled. Patient information was obtained from the medical records and patients voluntarily completed questionnaires. Three vaginal swabs from the posterior fornix were taken from each patient examined. Different staining methods and cultivation in Diamonds medium were performed on the collected samples. Study subjects recruited in this survey were mostly young, with a geometric mean ages of 37.31 years (LPPKN clinic) and 32.06 years (STD clinic). Malay, Chinese, Indians and others ethnic groups accounted for 91, 4, 2 and 3%, respectively, at the LPPKN clinic. At the STD clinic, almost all subjects were Chinese. The prevalence rate of trichomoniasis was 0.36% at the LPPKN clinic and 0.0% at the STD clinic. Our findings suggested no association between contraceptive methods used and trichomoniasis infection at the LPPKN clinic. At the STD clinic, it was found a high risk for STD acquisition was not associated with trichomoniasis positivity. The data demonstrated the prevalence of trichomoniasis was very low at LPPKN clinic and absent at STD clinic. The high prevalence rates of other STD among sex workers found in this survey suggest the need for more active interventions focused on this group.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  2. Azura MN, Norazah A, Kamel AG, Zorin SA
    PMID: 21323173
    We have analysed DNA fingerprinting patterns by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of 52 unrelated Burkholderia pseudomallei strains isolated from septicemic and localized infections from Malaysian subjects. A total of 38 PFGE types were observed among 36 septicemic and 16 localized strains with no predominant pattern. Type 25 was seen in 2 epidemiologically related strains, suggesting human to human transmission. Twelve PFGE types were shared among 26 strains (21 septicemic and 5 localized) showing close genetic relatedness with coefficient of similarity of 0.81 to 1.0. The other 26 strains (15 septicemic and 11 localized) were unrelated as shown by the similarity coefficient of < 0.8. This study showed that our B. pseudomallei strains in Malaysia were mainly heterogenous with no predominant type both in septicemic or localized strains.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  3. Heo CC, Latif B, Hafiz WM, Zhou HZ
    PMID: 23691629
    We report a series of dermatitis cases caused by the staphilinid beetles, Paederusfuscipes Curtis, among university students staying in the residential college in Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia from 1 January to 31 December 2010. A total of 360 cases (6.0%) were recorded in the Student Health Center throughout the year; the majority of patients stayed at a hostel near an oil palm plantation. Skin symptoms included erythema, edema, vesicular papules, painful blisters, burning sensation, pruritus, hyper pigmentation and peeling of skin. The commonly involved sites were the face, neck, shoulders and arms. Most students noticed the symptoms upon awakening in the morning. The patients were treated with fusidic acid cream and the symptoms resolved within 5 days. These beetles are nocturnally active and enter the room whenever a light source is available. The unintentional crushing of these beetles during sleep causes the release of its hemolymph (paederin) which is the cause of the dermatitis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  4. Loy SL, Marhazlina M, Azwany YN, Hamid Jan JM
    PMID: 22299448
    Maternal nutrition has a programming effect on fetal growth. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between maternal micronutrient, fruit and vegetable intake with birth size. Nutrient and food intake were examined using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. One hundred twenty-one pregnant women at 28 to 38 weeks gestation aged 19-40 years, were recruited from the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital, Malaysia. Birth weight, length and head circumference were obtained from the medical records. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Results indicate no significant association between any of the measured micronutrients and birth size. However, 2 of the 6 vegetable subgroups and those consumed fruit during pregnancy had children whose birth size was significantly associated with consumption. An increase of 10 g of leafy vegetables per day was associated with a 1.78 cm increase in head circumference (p = 0.04), and tuber vegetable intake was associated with birth length (beta = 0.21, p = 0.03) and head circumference (beta = 0.21, p = 0.01). Fruit intake was associated with birth weight (beta = 0.19, p = 0.04), birth length (beta = 0.20, p = 0.04) and head circumference (beta = 0.19, p = 0.03). The lack of association between maternal nutrient intake and fetal growth and the significant association between fruit and vegetable intake and birth size suggests the existence of other micronutrients and phytochemicals present in foods that play an important role in birth size. The types of nutrients and their roles in birth size warrant further investigation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  5. Jamaludin NI, Sahabuddin FNA, Hanafi H, Shaharudin S
    J Bodyw Mov Ther, 2024 Oct;40:1238-1242.
    PMID: 39593440 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.07.045
    BACKGROUND: Single leg squat (SLS) is an important motion commonly observed in sports. Excessive dynamic knee valgus (DKV) during SLS may increase non-contact knee injury risks particularly in physically active females. As muscular strength plays crucial role in controlling DKV, the present study aims to evaluate the correlation between hip strength and knee frontal plane angle during SLS among females with and without excessive DKV.

    METHODS: Thirty-four volunteers were allocated to the valgus (n = 17) and non-valgus (n = 17) groups. Their motions during SLS at 45° and 60° knee flexion were captured and analyzed using three-dimensional motion analysis system. Isokinetic hip strength was examined at 180°/s in flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction for both legs. Pearson's correlation test was computed to evaluate the relationship between hip strength and knee angle during SLS.

    FINDINGS: Non-dominant hip extensor strength (r = -0.56, p = 0.02) and dominant hip adductor strength (r = -0.51, p = 0.04) were significantly related to the knee frontal plane angle during 45° SLS among those without DKV. Meanwhile, those with DKV showed a significant relationship between the knee frontal plane angle for both legs and non-dominant hip abductor strength during 60° SLS.

    INTERPRETATION: Both groups demonstrated the relationship of hip strength on knee frontal plane angle during SLS, whereby increased hip strength may minimize excessive DKV. Those with excessive DKV should train to strengthen their hip abductor to reduce knee valgus particularly during deep squats.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  6. Menon BS, Juraida E, Ibrahim H, Mohamed M, Ho C, Khuzaiah R
    PMID: 19058612
    The aims of this study were to determine the types of cancers and hematological disorders in patients attending a pediatric hematology-oncology clinic. This was a prospective study at the Pediatric Institute, General Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from June 2005-November 2006. During the 18-month study, 803 patients attended the clinic, 730 had oncological problems and 73 had hematological problems. The age range was from 2 months to 28 years (median 6 years). The patients were Malay (66%), Chinese (23%), Indian (10%) and other races (1%). Of the oncological patients, 51% had either leukemia (n=293) or lymphoma (n=77). The other most common diagnoses were retinoblastoma, followed by Wilm's tumor and germ cell tumors. Six patients (0.8%) developed a second malignant neoplasm. Of the hematological patients, 60% had platelet disorders, most commonly chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Twenty-four per cent had bone marrow failure and 16% had red cell disorders.

    Study site: Pediatric Institute, General Hospital Kuala Lumpur
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  7. Muzaffar TM, Shaifuzain AR, Imran Y, Haslina MN
    PMID: 19058606
    In this study, we compared the platelet count with erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) in patients with tuberculous spondylitis to evaluate the correlation. This was a retrospective 3-year study covering January 2004 to December 2006 at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Platelet counts, hemoglobin levels, ESR, peripheral blood counts and peripheral blood smears on 17 patients with tuberculous spondylitis were obtained. The ages of the patients ranged from 20- to 70-years-old. The male to female ratio was 3.2:1. The majority of the patients were anemic (88.2%) and 52.9% of the patients had thrombocytosis. All the patients had normal lymphocyte counts and a high in ESR at diagnosis. There was a linear correlation between the platelet count and ESR (r = 0.60, p < 0.01). The platelet count was also significantly correlated with the hemoglobin level (r = -0.6, p < 0.02). The degree of thrombocytosis was related to the degree of inflammation measured by the ESR. Thrombocytosis also correlated with the hemoglobin level. We suggest that evaluating hematological values in suspected cases of tuberculosis should be considered. The presence of hematological changes should raise the suspicion of tuberculosis in spondylitis patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  8. Radzi M, Rihan N, Vijayalakshmi N, Pani SP
    PMID: 19842436
    We report 34 cases of gastrointestinal TB from Malaysia and present an overview of the diagnostic challenges. A concerted effort is necessary to improve the existing diagnostic methods, and develop and evaluate newer diagnostic tools through well designed multi-center studies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  9. Azma RZ, Hidayati N, Farisah NR, Hamidah NH, Ainoon O
    PMID: 21073074
    Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is one of the commonest causes of neonatal jaundice in Malaysia. Screening of cord blood for G6PD deficiency by the semiquantitative fluorescent spot test (FST) is performed in Malaysia but this test can miss cases of partial G6PD deficiency. The OSMMR-D kit assay measures G6PD activity and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, allowing direct expression of results in U/gHb. We evaluated this method and established the normal range for G6PD activity in normal term neonates and adults. EDTA blood from 94 neonates and 295 adults (age 15-59 years old) with normal Hb and FST were selected. The normal means for G6PD activity for neonates and adults were 12.43 +/- 2.28 U/gHb and 9.21 +/- 2.6 U/gHb, respectively; the reference ranges for normal G6PD activity in neonates and adults were 10.15-14.71 U/gHb and 6.61-11.81 U/gHb respectively. There were no significant differences in mean normal G6PD activity between the Malays and Chinese racial groups or between genders. The upper and lower limit cut-off points for partial deficiency in neonates were 7.4 U/gHb (60% of the normal mean) and 2.5 U/gHb (20% of the normal mean), respectively. For adults, the upper and lower limit cut-off points for partial deficiency in adults were 5.52 U/gHb (60% of the normal mean) and 1.84 U/gHb (20% of the normal mean), respectively. The quantitation of G6PD enzymes using this OSMMR-D kit with Hb normalization was simple since the Hb was analyzed simultaneously and the results were reproducible with a CV of less than 5%.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  10. Suhaimi AH, Rajendram A, Khaidizar FD, Mir P, Pulido-Lucas E, Quirce S, et al.
    Food Funct, 2024 Nov 25;15(23):11715-11725.
    PMID: 39539124 DOI: 10.1039/d4fo03301a
    Pathogenesis-related-10 (PR10) proteins play significant roles in plant defence against biotic and abiotic stresses. Recently, two banana PR10 proteins (MaPR10-BeB5 and MaPR10-GNA5) were characterised and shown to exhibit antifungal properties against Aspergillus fumigatus in vitro. In rice, transgenic overexpression of PR10 proteins conferred resistance to pathogen infection and drought tolerance without affecting productivity, highlighting their potential for agricultural applications. However, PR10 proteins also include the Bet v 1-like family of allergens implicated in pollen food allergy syndromes, raising concerns about potential adverse effects on human health. In this study, we evaluated the allergenic potential of the recently isolated banana PR10 proteins. We first predicted the presence of IgE epitopes of the Bet v 1 allergen family in the deduced PR10 peptide sequences in silico. We then predicted the structures of four human IgE scFv protein sequences and three plant PR10 protein sequences. Based on the quality of the predicted structures, one IgE scFv protein structure was selected for docking with the three plant PR10 proteins. We confirmed the docking results with immunoblot analysis performed using recombinant MaPR10-BeB5 and MaPR10-GNA5 proteins against the sera of banana-allergic patients. Our experimental results substantiated the notion that both protein variants are potentially allergenic since these proteins were recognised by 26.6% of banana-allergic patients with broad PR10 protein recognition. We caution that the allergenic potential of MaPR10 proteins should be carefully considered before implementing transgenic overexpression strategies to improve crops, with a suggestion to limit their expression to non-edible plant tissues.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  11. Mohd Mossadeq N, Mohd Khairuddin KA, Zakaria MN
    J Voice, 2024 Nov;38(6):1527.e27-1527.e35.
    PMID: 35760635 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.05.018
    Auditory-perceptual rating of voice is one component of voice evaluation, and the CAPE-V is one of the tools for this purpose. Because of its advantages, the CAPE-V has been adapted into several languages. Accordingly, the adaptation of the CAPE-V into Malay is essential for its utility among the Malaysian population, which this study aimed to accomplish. This study involved translating the CAPE-V into Malay, termed the Malay CAPE-V, followed by establishing its validity. The translation processes (ie, forward translation and backward translation) involved four different translators ie, three speech-language therapists (SLTs), and one linguist with at least 14 years of experience. Most items were similarly translated, except for a few, which were subsequently accepted as similar, following consensus among the translators. In the examination of content validity, two raters (ie, SLTs) with at least 12 years of clinical experience reviewed and scored the tested items. Given that the scale-level content validity index average value (S-CVI/Ave) was above the acceptable level, all items were retained. The examination of construct validity and concurrent validity involved ratings of voice samples recorded from 38 participants, comprising 19 individuals with normal and disordered voices, respectively. The ratings were performed by three raters (ie, SLTs) with at least 12 years of clinical experience. For the construct validity, the Mann-Whitney U test indicated significantly higher scores of the vocal parameters of the Malay CAPE-V for the disordered voice group than for the normal voice group. Meanwhile, for the concurrent validity, the Spearman correlation indicated that all relationships between the scores of the vocal parameters of the Malay CAPE-V and GRBAS Scale were significant, with most of them achieving a very strong positive correlation. The results demonstrated that the Malay CAPE-V is a valid tool for an auditory-perceptual rating of voice among the Malaysian population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  12. Chirtkiatsakul B, Jani R, Hairi FM, Talib MA
    J Am Coll Health, 2024 Dec;72(9):3429-3438.
    PMID: 36723413 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2163853
    Objective: To investigate attitudes and practices toward smoking among university students and to identify associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,299 students from five public universities in Thailand. Factor analysis and multiple regression were used for analysis. Results: A higher score of anti-smoking attitude was associated with female gender, majoring in science, living on campus, having a father with primary or secondary school, and those whose father was employed in the private sector. A more positive perceptions about smoking was associated with male gender, having a family income of 30,001-50,000 baht, and having a smoking friend. High positive preventive practice score was associated with those who came from rural areas, having a mother who was self-employed, and having a smoking family member. Conclusions: Although students showed strong anti-smoking attitudes, their preventive practices were poor. These findings should be taken into consideration when developing preventive smoking programs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  13. Kong KK, Ong SC
    Int J Pharm Pract, 2024 Nov 14;32(6):490-497.
    PMID: 39258472 DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riae046
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the public perception of the role of hospital pharmacists, their satisfaction with the pharmacy service provided, and the factors associated with their perception and satisfaction.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional, questionnaire survey was conducted on adults older than 18 years who utilized public pharmacy services. A self-developed, validated questionnaire consisting of three parts was used, i.e., demographic data, perception, and satisfaction. The questionnaire was tested in a pilot study of 50 study participants and demonstrated good reliability results of 0.900 for the perception section and 0.836 for the satisfaction section. Therefore, all items were used in the final questionnaire.

    KEY FINDINGS: Four hundred and seventy-nine completed questionnaires were collected with a response rate of 91.6%. The Cronbach's α for perception and satisfaction scores were 0.938 and 0.841, respectively. The median total score for public perception was 83 (interquartile range [IQR]: 15), whereas the median total score for public satisfaction was 38 (IQR: 33). The level of public perception was significantly associated with the age groups (P = .009), ethnic groups (P < .001), respondents' locality groups (P < .001), the level of education achieved group (P = .017), and the income groups (P = .006). Satisfaction was not significantly associated with any sociodemographic factors.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study has found that the general public had a favorable perception of the role of hospital pharmacists, and they were generally satisfied with the pharmacy service provided.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  14. Kafle S, Jha N, Bhandary S, Ravi Shankar P
    JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc, 2024 Jun 30;62(275):427-432.
    PMID: 39369416 DOI: 10.31729/jnma.8651
    INTRODUCTION: Counterfeit medicines are a significant problem globally. In a developing country like Nepal, community pharmacists play an important role in dispensing medicines. The study was done to assess community pharmacists' perceived prevalence, awareness and attitude towards counterfeit medicines in Kathmandu valley.  Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Data was collected conveniently from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur districts in March 2022 after obtaining ethical clearance from Nepal Health Research Council (reference no. 2200) and taking written informed consent from Community Pharmacists.  Results: Among the 343 pharmacists who participated, 250 (72.89%) were from Kathmandu, 57 (16.62%) were from Lalitpur, and 36 (10.50%) from Bhaktapur. Most 252 (73.47%) were aged between 20 to 30 years, 222 (64.72%) were male, 239 (69.68%) had done a Diploma in Pharmacy, 201 (58.60%) had working experience of more than 5 years and 342 (99.71%) had done their education in Nepal. Their median perceived prevalence of counterfeit drugs was 10.00% but only 2.30% had clear knowledge of such practice. 332 (96.79%) believed that actions should be taken against community pharmacists dispensing counterfeit drugs, 325 (94.75%) believed that pharmacists who dispense counterfeit medicines are unprofessional; 338 (98.54%) stated that there should be strong law against counterfeit medicine sales.

    CONCLUSIONS: Median perceived prevalence of counterfeit medicines was 10.00% but only 2.30% were aware of counterfeit medicine dispensing. Out of 343 pharmacists, 332 (96.79%) mentioned that  action should be taken against those pharmacists knowingly dispensing counterfeit medicines and 338 (98.54%) stated that there should be strong law against counterfeit medicines.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  15. Gebrezihier BG, Abdulkadir M, Sbhatu DB, Tsegay E, Berhe GG
    BMC Res Notes, 2024 Nov 12;17(1):336.
    PMID: 39533436 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-024-06998-z
    OBJECTIVE: Dandruff, a condition caused by lipophilic Malassezia fungi, is an excessive shed of dead skin cells from the scalp. Effective preventive and curative measures of the condition depend on knowledge and understanding of the prevalence of the condition, the common etiologic species, and the associated factors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, common etiologic species, and associated factors of Malassezia infection in Mekelle City, Ethiopia.

    METHOD: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2019 to June 2020 involving 217 participants who were visiting dermatology clinics to seek treatment for dandruff conditions. Information on the socio-demographic characteristics and hair care behaviors of the participants was obtained. Isolation and identification of Malassezia species from scalp scrapings using cultural and biochemical tests were carried out.

    RESULTS: Out of the 217 participants with dandruff, 111 (51.15%) were positive for Malassezia fungi. One hundred forty (140) Malassezia isolates were collected from the 111 positive participants. Further study of the isolates yielded three etiologic species: Malassezia globosa (67.15%), M. furfur (21.70%), and M. restricta (12.15%). Demographic characteristics, namely gender (AOR = 2.605; 95%CI: 1.427 - 4.757) and age (AOR = 2.667; 95%CI: 1.046 - 6.795), as well as hair care behaviors, namely use of hair oil (AOR = 2.964; 95%CI: 1.288 - 6.820), were associated with the presence of Malassezia species. However, the use of anti-dandruff shampoo (AOR = 2.782; 95%CI: 1.301 - 10.993) was negatively associated with the presence of Malassezia species among the participants with dandruff conditions. These findings open opportunities to devise effective prevention, management, and control measures for Malassezia-based dandruff conditions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  16. Zolotenkova GV, Valetov DK, Poletaeva MP, Vassilevski YV
    Sovrem Tekhnologii Med, 2024;16(2):29-38.
    PMID: 39539748 DOI: 10.17691/stm2024.16.2.03
    The aim of the investigation is to study the possibility of using artificial intelligence technologies for age prediction based on CT studies of some structures of the skull and cervical vertebrae.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 223 tomograms of the head and neck in sagittal projection from patients without any pathology of the studied structures. Morphometric analysis was carried out using PjaPro and Gradient programs, statistical analysis was performed by SPSS Statistics software. A fully convolutional EfficientNet-B2 neural network was used, which was trained in two stages: selection of the area of interest and solution of regression tasks.

    RESULTS: Morphometric assessment and subsequent statistical analysis of the selected group of features have shown presence of the strongest correlation with age in the indicator characterizing the involution of the median atlantoaxial joint. A deep learning method using the convolutional network, which automatically selects the desired area in the image (the area of the vertebral junction), classifies the sample, and makes an assumption about the age of the unknown individual with an accuracy of 7.5 to 10.5 years has been tested.

    CONCLUSION: As a result of the study, a positive experience has been obtained indicating the possibility of using convolutional neural networks to determine the age of the unknown person, which expands the evidence base and provides new opportunities for determining group-wide personality traits in forensic medicine.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  17. Wang S, Shuai Y, Kueh YC, Yaacob NM, Kuan G
    BMC Psychol, 2024 Nov 07;12(1):636.
    PMID: 39511602 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-02079-9
    BACKGROUND: Sporting success relies not only on athletes' physical qualities but also involves psychological, technical, and environmental factors. Given the lack of effective tools to comprehensively measure sporting success in the Chinese context, this study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Sport Success Scale (SSS-C).

    METHODS: A total of 604 adolescent basketball players, comprising 301 (49.8%) males and 303 (50.2%) females aged between 12 and 19 (M = 15.53, SD = 1.42), were recruited from secondary schools across 17 cities in Shandong Province, China, to answer the questionnaire, which measured their views on 29 items through a six-point Likert scale. The SSS was translated into Chinese language (SSS-C) using forward-backward translation techniques. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed using Mplus 8.0 software to assess the structural validity of SSS-C. The reliability and convergent validity were also evaluated.

    RESULTS: CFA results demonstrated an excellent fit to the hypothesized six-factor model based on the fit indices (CFI = 0.997, TLI = 0.997, RMSEA = 0.016 [90% CI: 0.005, 0.022], SRMR = 0.018). All items displayed significant factor loadings above 0.40, supporting the robustness of the model. The SSS-C exhibited high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α ranged from 0.95 to 0.96; Composite Reliability ranged from 0.95 to 0.96) and strong convergent validity (Average Variance Extracted values > 0.50).

    CONCLUSION: The SSS-C with 29 items was a valid and reliable instrument for comprehensively assessing sport success among Chinese adolescent athletes. The multidimensional approach of the SSS-C provides a new perspective for understanding the psychological factors contributing to athletes' success, which can inform the development of targeted interventions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  18. Sayuti NASA, Ibrahim FW, Jufri NF, Masre SF, Abdullah AHA, Raub SHA, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2024 Sep 01;41(3):257-263.
    PMID: 39548778 DOI: 10.47665/tb.41.3.004
    Tuberculosis (TB) is a critical disease that predominantly affects the lungs. This disease remains a global health threat. Currently, the incidence of TB is estimated to be 92 cases in every 100 000 population. However, latent TB infection (LTBI) cases among Malaysians are another great health concern that requires immediate steps to be taken to detect, diagnose, and treat LTBI as one of the key strategies to end TB. Although individuals with LTBI are unlikely to infect others, the threat of infection is still imminent as these individuals can potentially develop into active TB cases. As such, this study aims to identify the prevalence of LTBI among asymptomatic individuals that underwent QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus test from a private laboratory in Malaysia to determine the association between the risk factors and the detected LTBI cases. A retrospective study was conducted by analyzing the archive records of 3 877 samples from January 2021 to March 2022. The cases underwent QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus tests for LTBI at Premier Integrated Labs. This study underlines that those who were LTBI positive had a prevalence of 638/3 877 (16.46%) with males contributing to 343/638 cases (53.76%). Furthermore, the majority of the positive cases were between the age of 30-43 years old with 197/638 (30.88%), and Chinese ethnicity with 225/638 (35.27%). The risk factors significantly associated with LTBI cases were age (p = 0.001) and ethnicity (p = 0.001). The prevalence of LTBI determined through this study is considered remarkably low for an intermediate TB burden country. Although LTBI is not contagious, specific clinical and preventative considerations are needed for the diagnosis, treatment, and implementation of appropriate safety measures to curb the spread of TB in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  19. Boonsuya A, Arunsan P, Pechdee P, La N, Thanchonnang C, Rattanapitoon NK, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2024 Sep 01;41(3):264-270.
    PMID: 39548779 DOI: 10.47665/tb.41.3.005
    Liver fluke infection, particularly Opisthorchis viverrini, poses a significant public health risk in Thailand, where it is closely associated with cholangiocarcinoma and contributes to substantial mortality in the northeastern region. Diagnosis of this condition employs various parasitological approaches. This research aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy of three parasitological techniques: the Kato Katz technique (KKT), the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT), and the Fully Automatic Feces Analyzer (FAFA) for O. viverrini identification. A total of 455 fecal specimens were collected from rural areas across five provinces in northeastern Thailand. The specimens were processed according to each method and examined through microscopy for KKT and FECT, and by utilizing an artificial intelligence-based machine for FAFA. Data analysis was conducted to assess parasitic infection rates and observe diagnostic accuracy. The results revealed a parasitic infection rate of 19.34%, with the majority of infections attributed to O. viverrini (18.02%), followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (0.88%). FECT exhibited the highest positive detection of O. viverrini eggs (16.48%), followed by FAFA (10.55%), and KKT (8.57%), respectively. Statistical analysis indicated sensitivity and specificity values for O. viverrini detection by KKT (100% and 89.21%), FECT (98.67% and 97.63%), and FAFA (97.92% and 91.15%). The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and kappa were reported for FECT (89.16%, 99.73%, 0.92), FAFA (56.63%, 99.73%, 0.67), and KKT (45.78%, 100%, 0.58). Additionally, the preparation time for KKT, FECT, and FAFA was 30, 15, and 10 min, respectively. In conclusion, this study highlights FECT, KKT, and FAFA as comparably sensitive in diagnosing O. viverrini. The FAFA machine emerges as a potentially valuable tool for detecting O. viverrini and other parasitic infections, showcasing promise for clinical use. The findings provide valuable insights into the diagnostic landscape and underscore the potential of FAFA in enhancing efficiency and accuracy in parasitological assessments.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  20. Wang Y, Zhang J, Yuan J, Li Q, Zhang S, Wang C, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2024 Jul 29;14(1):17403.
    PMID: 39075134 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65755-1
    Traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (TCSCI) often causes varying degrees of motor dysfunction, common assessed by the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI), in association with the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale. Accurate prediction of motor function recovery is extremely important for formulating effective diagnosis, therapeutic and rehabilitation programs. The aim of this study is to investigate the validity of a novel nested ensemble algorithm that uses the very early ASIA motor score (AMS) of ISNCSCI examination to predict motor function recovery 6 months after injury in TCSCI patients. This retrospective study included complete data of 315 TCSCI patients. The dataset consisting of the first AMS at ≤ 24 h post-injury and follow-up AMS at 6 months post-injury was divided into a training set (80%) and a test set (20%). The nested ensemble algorithm was established in a two-stage manner. Support Vector Classification (SVC), Adaboost, Weak-learner and Dummy were used in the first stage, and Adaboost was selected as second-stage model. The prediction results of the first stage models were uploaded into second-stage model to obtain the final prediction results. The model performance was evaluated using precision, recall, accuracy, F1 score, and confusion matrix. The nested ensemble algorithm was applied to predict motor function recovery of TCSCI, achieving an accuracy of 80.6%, a F1 score of 80.6%, and balancing sensitivity and specificity. The confusion matrix showed few false-negative rate, which has crucial practical implications for prognostic prediction of TCSCI. This novel nested ensemble algorithm, simply based on very early AMS, provides a useful tool for predicting motor function recovery 6 months after TCSCI, which is graded in gradients that progressively improve the accuracy and reliability of the prediction, demonstrating a strong potential of ensemble learning to personalize and optimize the rehabilitation and care of TCSCI patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
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