RESULTS: The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto anion-exchange Q-sepharose solid particulate support was investigated in batch adsorption experiments. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were developed as a function of key industrially relevant parameters such as polymer loading, stirring speed, buffer pH, protein concentration and the state of protein dispersion (solid/aqueous) in order to optimize binding performance and adsorption capacity. Experimental results showed that the first order rate constant is higher at higher stirring speed, higher polymer loading, and under alkaline conditions, with a corresponding increase in equilibrium adsorption capacity. Increasing the stirring speed and using aqueous dispersion protein system increased the adsorption rate, but the maximum protein adsorption was unaffected. Regardless of the stirring speed, the adsorption capacity of the polymer was 2.8 mg/ml. However, doubling the polymer loading increased the adsorption capacity to 9.4 mg/ml.
CONCLUSIONS: The result demonstrates that there exists a minimum amount of polymer loading required to achieve maximum protein adsorption capacity under specific process conditions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quality improvement (QI) project was employed over four months, from June to September 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in HSB. All adults hospitalised for COVID-19 with intravenous lines were subjected to data collection. A baseline audit was conducted to study BSI incidence from April to May 2021. Implementation was carried out by PDSA cycles and data on BSI rates per 100 admissions was described using a monthly run chart.
RESULTS: At baseline, the BSI rate per 100 admissions was 5.44 before implementing our QI project. Initial changes via PDSA cycles did not bring significant improvements to BSI rates and a rising trend in BSI rates was observed after two PDSA cycles. Further audits identified the problem of noncompliance with the practice of aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT) and a lack of effective leadership in implementing the PVC care bundle. The third PDSA cycle focused on adopting practical leadership skills among senior clinicians to ensure compliance with the prevention bundle and to encourage the use of ultrasound guidance for difficult line insertion. After the third PDSA cycle, the BSI rate per 100 admissions was reduced from 6.41 to 4.34 (p < 0.05). The BSI rates continued to decline down the line for another five months.
CONCLUSION: Through QI initiatives, the risk of BSI can be significantly reduced.
METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study involving community-dwelling individuals aged >55 years was conducted. Information on sociodemographic factors, medical history, and lifestyle were obtained by computer-assisted interviews in participants' homes. Cognitive performance was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool during subsequent hospital-based health checks. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted with continuous MoCA scores as the dependent variable.
RESULTS: Data were available for 1,140 participants, mean (standard deviation [SD]) = 68.48 (7.23) years, comprising 377 (33.1%) ethnic Malays, 414 (36.3%) Chinese, and 349 (30.6%) Indians. Mean (SD) MoCA scores were 20.44 (4.92), 23.97 (4.03), and 22.04 (4.83) for Malays, Chinese, and Indians, respectively (p = 0.01). Age >75 years, <12 years of education, and low functional ability were common risk factors for low cognitive performance across all three ethnic groups. Cognitive performance was positively associated with social engagement among the ethnic Chinese (β [95% CI] = 0.06 [0.01, 0.11]) and Indians (β [95% CI] = 0.16 [0.09, 0.23]) and with lower depression scores (β [(95% CI] = -0.08 [-0.15, -0.01]) among the ethnic Indians.
CONCLUSION: Common factors associated with cognitive performance include age, education, and functional ability, and ethnic-specific factors were social engagement and depression. Interethnic comparisons of risk factors may form the basis for identification of ethnic-specific modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and provision of culturally acceptable prevention measures.
METHODS: All second-year undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students were invited to participate in a TBL-CBL session. These participants were randomly allocated to six different groups of 10-12 students, and the session was conducted by one lecturer as the facilitator. A 23-item questionnaire assessing four domains (perceptions of effectiveness, teacher, team interaction and learning environment) was administered at the end of the TBL-CBL session.
RESULTS: The response rate was 91.9% (n = 68). Mean scores for the questionnaire items ranged from 4.13 to 4.60 suggesting a positive perception among the students towards the hybrid TBL-CBL approach. Regarding the open-response questions, students emphasised that the TBL-CBL session was effective for team interaction and group discussions. However, students wished to have a better venue for future sessions.
CONCLUSION: Positive perceptions of the students encourage future educators to consider the use of TBL-CBL approach in teaching dental materials science and to avoid the reliance on standalone conventional lectures. Future research could consider examining its effects on students' academic achievement as well as the perspectives of teachers regarding its adoption in different dental specialities.
OBJECTIVES: This study developed a model that predicted 30-day mortality for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and compared the SMR among 41 Malaysian public hospitals using statistical process control charts.
METHODS & RESULTS: Data from referral centres and specialist hospitals with cardiology services were analysed. Both referral centres and specialist hospitals had comparable mortality, except for Hospitals A and B, which the study considered outliers. Two-thirds of the remaining hospitals had an SMR of above one (SMR 1.05-1.51), but the indices were still within the expected variations.
CONCLUSION: The SMR coupled with a funnel plot and variable life adjusted display (VLAD) can identify hospitals with potentially higher than expected mortality rates.