METHODS: A 5-year retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Hospital Pulau Pinang. Patients aged ≥65 years of age with confirmed diagnosis of skin infection were included in the study.

RESULTS: A total of 455 patients were included and the most prevalent skin infections were eczema (27.6%) followed by dermatitis (13.8%), xerosis (13.8%), and bullous pemphigoid (8.8%). Cloxacillin (18%), Tetracycline (7.9%), and Unasyn (Ampicillin and Sulbactam) (5.7%) are the common antibiotics prescribed to treat skin infections. Age, alcohol consumption, polypharmacy, and presence of other co-morbidities are the most important factors that affected the treatment outcomes of skin infections among geriatrics.

METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017056150). We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ERIC for articles published up to January 2017. Articles that measured HL levels in adult patients with T2DM; that used validated HL tools; and that were reported in English were included. Two reviewers assessed studies for eligibility and quality, and extracted the data. Prevalence of limited HL is calculated from the number of patients with less than adequate HL over the total number of patients with T2DM in the study. Meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis were conducted using the Open Meta-analyst software.

RESULTS: Twenty-nine studies involving 13,457 patients with T2DM from seven countries were included. In total, seven different HL measurement tools were used. The prevalence of limited HL ranged from 7.3% to 82%, lowest in Switzerland and the highest in Taiwan. Meta-regression analysis of all included studies showed the country of study (p<0.001), HL tool used (p = 0.002), and the country's region (p<0.001) contributed to the variation findings. Thirteen studies in the USA measured functional HL. The pooled prevalence of inadequate functional HL among patients with T2DM in the USA was 28.9% (95% CI: 20.4-37.3), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 97.9%, p <0.001). Studies were done in the community as opposed to a hospital or primary care (p = 0.005) and populations with education level lower than high school education (p = 0.009) reported a higher prevalence of limited HL.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among lifelong residents (n = 1,155) aged 9 and 12 years old living in fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas. Malaysian children aged 12 years were born when the level of fluoride in the public water supply was 0.7 ppm while those aged 9 years were born after the level was reduced to 0.5 ppm. Fluorosis was blind scored using standardized photographs of maxillary central incisors using Dean's criteria. Fluoride exposures and other factors were assessed by parental questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-squared analyses, and logistic regression.

RESULTS: Fluorosis prevalence was lower (31.9 percent) among the younger children born after the reduction of fluoride concentration in the water, compared to a prevalence of 38.4 percent in the older cohort. Early tooth brushing practices and fluoridated toothpaste were not statistically associated with fluorosis status. However, the prevalence of fluorosis was significantly associated with parents' education level, parents' income, fluoridated water, type of infant feeding method, age breast feeding ceased, use of formula milk, duration of formula milk intake, and type of water used to reconstitute formula milk via simple logistic regression. Fluoridated water remained a significant risk factor for fluorosis in multiple logistic regression.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2020 and January 2021, in the Infectious Disease clinic and ward. One hundred ninety-one patients were recruited via convenience sampling. Patients' sociodemographic were obtained, followed by Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale -21 (DASS-21), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and M.I.N.I. international neuropsychiatric interview (M.I.N.I.) The cut off DASS-21 point for depression is ≥5, for anxiety, ≥ 4. Mann-Whitney U and Chi square test were used to analyse the association between variables, and logistic regression to find predictability.

RESULTS: Of the 191 participants, 89.5% outpatient, mean age 40 years (SD 0.742), 91.1% male, 65.4% single, 71.2% working, 46.1% Malaysian Chinese, 59.8% non- heterosexual, mean 6 years of being HIV positive; mean CD4 count 449/μL; mean viral load 116,690 (median = 20). 85.9% were taking antiretroviral therapy. The prevalence of depression was 35.1% (n = 67); anxiety was 42.9% (n = 82). Regression analysis revealed anxiety and stress increased odds of depression by 3.8 times (p = .001) and 12 times (p < .001) respectively. Those 40 years old and younger had 2.3 times odds of anxiety (p = .048). Increased social support from friends increased odds of anxiety by 1.7 times (p = .018). Depression and stress increased odds of anxiety by 4.4 times (p = .001) and 3.7 times (p = .008) respectively.

METHOD: A systematic review and meta-analysis approach was adopted as per the PRISMA guidelines, targeting articles published in PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus from January 2021 to March 30, 2021. The screening resulted in 82 papers.

RESULTS: The overall pooled depression prevalence among 201,953 respondents was 34% (95%CI, 29-38, 99.7%), with no significant differences observed between the cohorts, timelines, and regions (p > 0.05). Dominant risk factors found were fear of COVID-19 infection (13%), gender (i.e., females; 12%) and deterioration of underlying medical conditions (8.3%), regardless of the sub-groups. Specifically, fear of COVID-19 infection was the most reported risk factor among general population (k = 14) and healthcare workers (k = 8). Gender (k = 7) and increased workload (k = 7) were reported among healthcare workers whereas education disruption among students (k = 7).