METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 among 285 COMBI CHVs from 5 health operational zones in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. The CHVs were stratified proportionately, with 45.5% of respondents randomly selected from each stratum based on their zones. Self-administered questionnaires assessed their performance level and associated factors, including training, supervision, knowledge, motivation, and job satisfaction. Chi-square and Multiple Logistic Regression tests were used to determine the factors and predictors of high-performance COMBI CHVs.
RESULTS: The prevalence of high-performance COMBI CHVs was 59.3%, significantly associated with training factors (experience, duration, and adequacy of training), supervision factors (being supervised, supervision frequency, and encouragement from supervision), motivation and job satisfaction level. As for significant predictors, having at least one day of training (AOR=14.557), being supervised by medical personnel (AOR=4.997), having a high motivation level (AOR=5.538) and having a high job satisfaction level (AOR=4.562) were more likely to have a high-performance level.
CONCLUSION: Training duration, supervisor background, motivation and job satisfaction can contribute to high-performance levels among COMBI CHVs, which can applied in evidence-based policies and strategies for performance improvement and more effective community healthcare delivery.
DESIGN: A quasi-experimental and longitudinal study was conducted among mothers with premature infants.
METHODS: Forty-eight mother-infant dyads were enrolled per arm in the control and experimental groups. The control group received standard routine care, while the experimental group received a maternal kangaroo care education program. Data were collected through self-administered Kangaroo Care Questionnaires. Chi-square, the general linear model and repeated measures ANOVA were used to analyse data.
RESULTS: The demographics are a majority of Malay mothers with multipara, a caesarean delivery with prematurity. At 3 months post-intervention, the experimental group reported a significant reduction in stress, a positive perception and good knowledge towards kangaroo care implementation. The mothers' perceived barriers towards kangaroo care significantly decreased after 3 months in the experimental group.
METHODS: General Electric (GE) Senographe DMR Plus mammography unit was used for MGD and MTF evaluation. The measured MGD was compared with the dose reference level (DRL), whereas the MTF was evaluated using ImageJ 1.46o software. A modified Mammography Accreditation Phantom RMI 156 was exposed using different target-filter combinations of molybdenum-molybdenum (Mo-Mo), molybdenum-rhodium (Mo-Rh) and rhodium-rhodium (Rh-Rh) at two different tube voltages, 26 kV and 32 kV with 50 mAs.
RESULTS: In the MGD evaluations, all target-filters gave an MGD value of < 1.5 mGy. The one-way ANOVA test showed a highly significant interaction between the MGD and the kilovoltage and target-filter material used (26 kV: F (2,12) = 49,234, P = 0.001;32 kV: F (2,12) = 89,972, P = 0.001). A Tukey post-hoc test revealed that the MGD for 26 kV and 32 kV was highly affected by the target-filter combinations. The test of homogeneity of variances indicates that the MGD varies significantly for 26 kV and 32 kV images (0.045 and 0.030 (P < 0.05), respectively). However, the one-way ANOVA for the MTF shows that no significant difference exists between the target-filter combinations used with 26 kV and 32 kV images either in parallel or perpendicular to the chest wall side F (2,189) = 0.26, P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Higher tube voltage and atomic number target-filter yield higher MGD values. However, the MTF is independent of the X-ray energy and the type of target-filter combinations used.
METHODS: Archives of our institute were reviewed. Cases diagnosed as odontogenic myxoma were retrieved. Demographic, clinical, radiographic, and histopathological features of these cases were analyzed. In addition, immunohistochemical markers including vimentin, Ki-67, Bcl-2, and CD117 were performed. The correlation between immunohistochemical profiles and clinicopathological characteristics was evaluated.
RESULTS: Sixteen cases of odontogenic myxoma were discovered. Fourteen cases were central type while two cases were peripheral type. The mean age of patients was 34.6 years with male-to-female ratio of 1:2.2. Mandible (68.8 %) was more affected than the maxilla (31.2 %). Bony expansion or jaw swelling (43.8 %) was the most common clinical feature. Most cases (71.4 %) presented with multilocular radiolucency. Histopathologically, tumors show stellate and spindle-shaped cells in a myxoid stroma with varying amounts of collagen fiber. All cases were positive for vimentin and Bcl-2. Half of the cases showed positive for Ki-67. Mast cells were presented in most cases (75.0 %). A significant correlation was found between the immunoexpression level of Bcl-2 and border of lesion in radiograph (p = 0.024).
CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to better understanding of the characteristics of odontogenic myxoma. Clinicians and pathologists should be aware of odontogenic myxoma, as its clinical and histopathological features may overlap with other tumors. The expression of Bcl-2 and presence of mast cell in this tumor may relate to its growth and aggressiveness. Despite its benign nature, odontogenic myxoma exhibits high recurrence, especially in lesion managed conservatively.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in five schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, among a representative random sample of female adolescent students aged 13 years old-18 years old. A simple random sampling method was used to select the participants. An online self-administered questionnaire, the Arabic version of eating attitude test (EAT-26) and socio-cultural attitudes toward appearance questionnaire (SATAQ-4), was used.
RESULTS: More than half (53.6%) of adolescent girls scored at or above the cut-off point of EAT-26. Around 45% of the participants had experienced family influence on their appearance and body shape, 36.7% had experienced peer influence on these factors, and 49.4% had experienced media influence. Family influence was significantly associated with EDs (P = 0.013).
CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of EDs among female going-school adolescents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is of great concern. To mitigate this problem, effective programmes must be designed to change their dietary habits while considering the effects of family, peer and media influence, as well as focusing on the importance of eating breakfast and practising physical activity.