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  1. Tan JN, Husain K, Jubri Z, Chan KM, Ugusman A, Jantan I, et al.
    Int Immunopharmacol, 2024 May 07;134:112148.
    PMID: 38718657 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112148
    BACKGROUND: Vascular inflammation is the key event in early atherogenesis. Pro-inflammatory endothelial cells induce monocyte recruitment into the sub-endothelial layer of the artery. This requires endothelial expression of adhesion molecules namely intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), alongside chemokines production. Christia vespertilionis (L.f.) Bakh.f. (CV) possesses anti-inflammatory property. However, its potential anti-atherogenic effect in the context of vascular inflammation has yet to be explored.

    PURPOSE: To evaluate the anti-atherogenic mechanism of 80% ethanol extract of CV leaves on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

    METHODS: Qualitative analysis of the CV extract was carried out by using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The cell viability of HUVECs treated with CV extract was determined by MTT assay. The effect of CV extract on monocyte adhesion was determined by monocyte-endothelial adhesion assay. Protein expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway were determined by western blot while production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was determined by ELISA.

    RESULTS: LC-MS/MS analysis showed that CV extract composed of five main compounds, including schaftoside, orientin, isovitexin, 6-caffeoyl-D-glucose, and 3,3'-di-O-methyl ellagic acid. Treatment of CV extract at a concentration range from 5 to 60 µg/mL for 24 h maintained HUVECs viability above 90 %, therefore concentrations of 20, 40 and 60 μg/mL were selected for the subsequent experiments. All concentrations of CV extract showed a significant inhibitory effect on monocyte adhesion to TNF-α-activated HUVECs (p 

  2. Chia XK, Hadibarata T, Kristanti RA, Jusoh MNH, Tan IS, Foo HCY
    Bioprocess Biosyst Eng, 2024 May;47(5):597-620.
    PMID: 38456898 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-024-02978-6
    The use of pesticides and the subsequent accumulation of residues in the soil has become a worldwide problem. Organochlorine (OC) pesticides have spread widely in the environment and caused contamination from past agricultural activities. This article reviews the bioremediation of pesticide compounds in soil using microbial enzymes, including the enzymatic degradation pathway and the recent development of enzyme-mediated bioremediation. Enzyme-mediated bioremediation is divided into phase I and phase II, where the former increases the solubility of pesticide compounds through oxidation-reduction and hydrolysis reactions, while the latter transforms toxic pollutants into less toxic or nontoxic products through conjugation reactions. The identified enzymes that can degrade OC insecticides include dehalogenases, phenol hydroxylase, and laccases. Recent developments to improve enzyme-mediated bioremediation include immobilization, encapsulation, and protein engineering, which ensure its stability, recyclability, handling and storage, and better control of the reaction.
  3. Chiung HK, Lo TS, Ayedh AA, Harun F, Jhang LS, Tan YL
    Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 2024 May 08.
    PMID: 38720419 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15569
    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of extensive vaginal pelvic reconstruction surgery (PRS) on advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) patients with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO).

    METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective analysis of women who received extensive vaginal pelvic reconstruction surgery for advanced POP (POP-Q ≥3) with BOO from January 2006 to January 2016. Data regarding preoperative evaluation, surgical procedure, and postoperative management were abstracted from medical records. Patients were considered to have BOO when detrusor pressure at maximum flow (Dmax) was ≥20 cm H2O and peak flow rate (Qmax) was ≤15 mL/s. Patients with postoperative value of Dmax lower than 20 cm H2O or Qmax higher than 15 mL/s were regarded as objectively cured.

    RESULTS: A total of 1894 patients with POP stages III or IV were assessed. The incidence of BOO was 22.8% (431/1894) within this patient population of advanced POP. One year after the vaginal PRS, the objective cure rate of BOO was 98.1%. Urodynamic parameters showed a significant increase in Qmax (P 

  4. Lim JY, Ker CJ, Lai NM, Romantsik O, Fiander M, Tan K
    Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2024 May 02;5(5):CD012361.
    PMID: 38695625 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012361.pub2
    BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2 agonist with minimal impact on the haemodynamic profile. It is thought to be safer than morphine or stronger opioids, which are drugs currently used for analgesia and sedation in newborn infants. Dexmedetomidine is increasingly being used in children and infants despite not being licenced for analgesia in this group.

    OBJECTIVES: To determine the overall effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine for sedation and analgesia in newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation compared with other non-opioids, opioids, or placebo.

    SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and two trial registries in September 2023.

    SELECTION CRITERIA: We planned to include randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs evaluating the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine compared with other non-opioids, opioids, or placebo for sedation and analgesia in neonates (aged under four weeks) requiring mechanical ventilation.

    DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were level of sedation and level of analgesia. Our secondary outcomes included days on mechanical ventilation, number of infants requiring additional medication for sedation or analgesia (or both), hypotension, neonatal mortality, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. We planned to use GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence for each outcome.

    MAIN RESULTS: We identified no eligible studies for inclusion. We identified four ongoing studies, two of which appear to be eligible for inclusion; they will compare dexmedetomidine with fentanyl in newborn infants requiring surgery. We listed the other two studies as awaiting classification pending assessment of full reports. One study will compare dexmedetomidine with morphine in asphyxiated newborns undergoing hypothermia, and the other (mixed population, age up to three years) will evaluate dexmedetomidine versus ketamine plus dexmedetomidine for echocardiography. The planned sample size of the four studies ranges from 40 to 200 neonates. Data from these studies may provide some evidence for dexmedetomidine efficacy and safety.

    AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increasing use of dexmedetomidine, there is insufficient evidence supporting its routine use for analgesia and sedation in newborn infants on mechanical ventilation. Furthermore, data on dexmedetomidine safety are scarce, and there are no data available on its long-term effects. Future studies should address the efficacy, safety, and long-term effects of dexmedetomidine as a single drug therapy for sedation and analgesia in newborn infants.

  5. Poh KW, Ngan CH, Tan SN, Burhan AA, Wong JY, Er CK, et al.
    Ultrasound, 2023 May;31(2):119-125.
    PMID: 37144225 DOI: 10.1177/1742271X221124467
    INTRODUCTION: The clinical implication of intrarenal venous flow patterns in decompensated heart failure with worsening renal function is unknown. We aimed to study the relationship between intrarenal venous flow patterns, inferior vena cava volume status, caval index, clinical degree of congestion and the renal outcome in patients with decompensated heart failure and worsening renal function. Secondary objectives were to study the combined endpoint of readmission and mortality rate within 30 days (after the last scan) among intrarenal venous flow patterns and the effect of congestion status on the renal outcome.

    METHODS: Twenty-three patients admitted for decompensated heart failure (ejection fraction ⩽40%) with worsening renal function (absolute increase in serum creatinine of 26.5 µmol/L or ⩾1.5-fold increment from baseline) were enrolled in this study. A total of 64 scans were performed. Patients were visited on day 0, 2, 4 and 7 (or earlier if discharged). Patients were called 30 days after discharge to evaluate readmission or mortality. Intrarenal venous flow patterns were ranked from continuous, interrupted, biphasic, to monophasic. Clinical congestion was scored from 0 to 7.

    RESULTS: Intrarenal venous flow patterns had statistically significant positive correlations with inferior vena cava volume status (Spearman's ρ, 0.51; p 

  6. Ng WL, Tan JK, Gnanaraj C, Shah MD, Nor Rashid N, Abdullah I, et al.
    Nat Prod Res, 2024 Jul 02.
    PMID: 38953123 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2370521
    The pantropical Physalis minima are traditionally used for the prevention and treatment of various illnesses, diseases, and cancers. While most earlier studies on the species have focused on the phytochemistry of the leaf and stem extracts, recent studies have indicated that its fruit may contain bioactive compounds of medical interest. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of extracts from the fruit of P. minima against colorectal cancer cell lines and revealed its phytochemical profile via high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Following a 24-h treatment with the fruit extract, cytoplasm shrinkage and nucleus condensation were observed in the colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116 and HT29, indicating the induction of programmed cell death. Phytochemically, 71 putative metabolites were identified. Some of these metabolites have been reported to inhibit cancers to varying degrees, further supporting the correlation of the putative metabolites with the cytotoxicity against colorectal cancer cells demonstrated in this study.
  7. Xu Z, Yang Q, Zheng X, Liu X, Zhao J, Huat Tan S, et al.
    J Colloid Interface Sci, 2024 May 11;669:864-876.
    PMID: 38749225 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.058
    Solar-driven photothermal conversion can produce clean water from dye wastewater while leaving the dye in the evaporation medium. Herein, a biomass-based composite hydrogel via down-fiber carbon (DFC) aerogel modified with chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (CS-PVA) hydrogel was designed to address the aforementioned problem. The CS-PVA@DFC hydrogel integrated the capacity of simultaneous clean water production/dye adsorption during the day and continuous dye adsorption during the night. Furthermore, the modification of the CS-PVA hydrogel endowed the composite hydrogel with enhanced compression stress of 190.07 kPa (76.03 times that of DFC aerogel of 2.50 kPa) and impressive resilient recovery. Moreover, the CS-PVA@DFC hydrogel possessed solar light absorption of 99.56 % and strengthened water replenishment capacity due to the high porosity and CS-PVA hydrophilic network structure. The CS-PVA@DFC hydrogel demonstrated a stable, high evaporation rate of 2.34 kg·m-2·h-1 and simultaneous dye adsorption capacity of 70.39 % for treating methyl orange dye solution within 5 h. Additionally, the 24-h outdoor test showed that the CS-PVA@DFC hydrogel possessed excellent clean water production capacity during the daytime (reaching 4.17 kg·m-2·h-1 at 1:00p.m.) and continuous satisfactory dye adsorption capacity all day (89.68 %). These findings will inspire researchers seeking opportunities to improve the mechanical properties of aerogel and its application for treating wastewater, especially wastewater with harmful dyes.
  8. Lim JJY, Hoo DY, Tang SY, Manickam S, Yu LJ, Tan KW
    Ultrason Sonochem, 2024 May 07;106:106898.
    PMID: 38749103 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2024.106898
    Nanocellulose (CNF) has emerged as a promising alternative to synthetic petroleum-based polymers, but the conventional preparation process involves multiple tedious steps, heavily dependent on chemical input, and proves cost-inefficient. This study presented an, in situ ultrasound-assisted extraction using deep eutectic solvent (DES) based on choline chloride and oxalic acid for more facile production of CNF from raw durian husk fibers. FESEM analysis confirmed the successful extraction of web-like nanofibril structure with width size ranging from 18 to 26 nm. Chemical composition analysis and FTIR revealed the selective removal of lignin and hemicellulose from the raw fiber. As compared to post-ultrasound treatment, in situ ultrasound-assisted extraction consistently outperforms, yielding a higher CNF yield with finer fiber width and significantly reduced lignin content. Integrating this eco-friendly in situ ultrasonication-assisted one-pot extraction method with a 7.5 min interval yielded the highest CNF yield of 58.22 % with minimal lignin content. The superior delignification ability achieved through the proposed in situ ultrasound-assisted protocol surpasses the individual efficacy of DES and ultrasonication processes, neither of which yielded CNF in our experimental setup. This single-step fabrication process significantly reduces chemical usage and streamlines the production steps yielding web-structured CNF that is ideal for sustainable application in membrane and separator.
  9. Wang P, Tan Y, Soh KL, Soh KG, Ning C, Xue L, et al.
    Nutr Cancer, 2024;76(7):573-583.
    PMID: 38757365 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2024.2352901
    It is critical to screen and assess malnutrition in cancer patients early. However, there is no uniform standard for nutritional risk screening and malnutrition assessment. We aimed to analyze the effects of the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002) in screening for nutritional risk among adult cancer patients, using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) as the reference standard. A systematic search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP). Studies comparing NRS2002 with PG-SGA in adult cancer patients were included. To assess the quality of the included studies, the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) was used. The combined sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated. In addition, sensitivity, subgroup, and publication bias analyses were performed. Thirteen articles involving 3,373 participants were included. The combined sensitivity, specificity, DOR, and AUC were 0.62 (95% CI, 0.60-0.64), 0.86 (95% CI, 0.84-0.88), 11.23 (95% CI, 8.26-15.27), and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.82-0.88), respectively. For adult cancer patients, NRS2002 has moderate sensitivity, high specificity, and high AUC in screening for nutritional risk.
  10. Tan JJ, Murugan DD, Ling WC, Lee SK, Kang WH
    Curr Vasc Pharmacol, 2024 Jun 06.
    PMID: 38847159 DOI: 10.2174/0115701611295900240529104225
    BACKGROUND: Hypertension is associated with endothelial dysfunction. An imbalance in the production of Nitric Oxide (NO) and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), leading to impaired NO-cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) pathway, contributes to this disorder. Red Yeast Rice (RYR), produced from the fermentation of rice with Monascus purpureus, is a traditional functional food originating from China. Although recognized for its anti-dyslipidemia properties, there has been growing evidence regarding the anti-hypertensive effects of RYR. However, these studies only focused on its direct and short-term effects.

    AIM: This study aims to investigate the vasoprotective effects of chronic oral RYR administration using Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR).

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: SHR were randomly divided into 3 groups: SHR - Control; SHR - RYR extract (100 mg/kg/day); SHR - lovastatin (10 mg/kg/day). Wistar-Kyoto Rats (WKY) were used as normotensive controls. All animals were treated for 12 weeks by oral gavage. Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) was measured weekly (tail-cuff method). Vascular reactivity was determined using isolated rat aortic rings in an organ bath. Aortic ROS, NO, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4 ), and cGMP levels were evaluated.

    RESULTS: Administration of RYR attenuated SBP elevation and enhanced endothelium-dependent vasodilation in aortic rings. In addition, RYR decreased ROS production and significantly improved the level of vascular NO, BH4, and cGMP.

    CONCLUSION: In an SHR model, treatment with RYR for 12 weeks exerts an SBP lowering effect that can be attributed to improved vascular function via reduction of oxidative stress, decreased endothelial NO Synthase (eNOS) uncoupling and enhanced NO-cGMP pathway.

  11. Tan BH, Goh SSL, Ganesan D, Sri La Sri Ponnampalavanar S
    World Neurosurg, 2024 Sep;189:e612-e623.
    PMID: 38944194 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.06.126
    BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the adherence to surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) guidelines in elective neurosurgery and assess the impact on surgical site infection (SSI) rates in a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.

    METHOD: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent elective neurosurgical procedures from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, in a 1600-bed tertiary teaching hospital. The study assessed adherence to national and hospital SAP guidelines, focusing on the choice of antibiotic, dosage, timing, and duration. Additionally, a survey was conducted among neurosurgeons to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding SAP.

    RESULT: Out of 202 patients included, there was a 99% compliance rate with antibiotic choice and 69.8% with the antibiotic duration. The SSI rate was identified at 6.4%. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices survey highlighted a strong awareness of SAP guidelines among surgeons, albeit with variations in practice, particularly in antibiotic duration and choice of antibiotics.

    CONCLUSIONS: While there is high adherence to the correct choice of antibiotic for SAP in elective neurosurgery, there are gaps in compliance with the recommended duration of antibiotic use. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve adherence to SAP guidelines, which could potentially reduce the incidence of SSI in neurosurgery. Ongoing education and auditing are essential to optimize SAP practices and enhance patient outcomes in neurosurgery.

  12. Tan MS, Cheah PL, Chin AV, Looi LM, Chang SW
    PeerJ, 2024;12:e17643.
    PMID: 39035156 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17643
    BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia that affects the elderly population. Lately, blood-based proteomics have been intensively sought in the discovery of AD biomarkers studies due to the capability to link external environmental factors with the development of AD. Demographic differences have been shown to affect the expression of the proteins in different populations which play a vital role in the degeneration of cognitive function.

    METHOD: In this study, a proteomic study focused on Malaysian Chinese and Malay prospects was conducted. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in AD patients and normal controls for Chinese and Malays were identified. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to further interpret the biological functions and pathways of the DEPs. In addition, a survey investigating behavioural practices among Chinese and Malay participants was conducted to support the results from the proteomic analysis.

    RESULT: The variation of dysregulated proteins identified in Chinese and Malay samples suggested the disparities of pathways involved in this pathological condition for each respective ethnicity. Functional enrichment analysis supported this assumption in understanding the protein-protein interactions of the identified protein signatures and indicate that differentially expressed proteins identified from the Chinese group were significantly enriched with the functional terms related to Aβ/tau protein-related processes, oxidative stress and inflammation whereas neuroinflammation was associated with the Malay group. Besides that, a significant difference in sweet drinks/food intake habits between these two groups implies a relationship between sugar levels and the dysregulation of protein APOA4 in the Malay group. Additional meta-analysis further supported the dysregulation of proteins TF, AHSG, A1BG, APOA4 and C4A among AD groups.

    CONCLUSION: These findings serve as a preliminary understanding in the molecular and demographic studies of AD in a multi-ethnic population.

  13. Lim HJ, Tang SY, Chan KW, Manickam S, Yu LJ, Tan KW
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Aug;274(Pt 1):133329.
    PMID: 38908640 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133329
    Neoterically, food packaging systems designed solely for prolonging shelf life or monitoring freshness could not fulfil the dynamic demands of consumers. In this current investigation, using the solvent casting method, a versatile halochromic indicator was created by integrating black currant anthocyanin and cinnamon essential oil-loaded Pickering emulsion into a starch/gelatin matrix. The resulting indicator film underwent scrutiny for its structural, pH-sensitive, antioxidant, and antimicrobial attributes. Unexpectedly, the amalgamation of anthocyanin and essential oil led to decreased antioxidant activity, dropping from 73.23 ± 2.17 to 28.87 ± 2.50 mg Trolox equivalent/g sample. Additionally, no discernible antimicrobial properties were detected in the composite film sample against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Fourier transform infrared analyses unveiled robust intermolecular interactions among the film-forming components, providing insights into the observed antagonistic effect. The indicator film displayed distinctive colour changes corresponding to the fresh (greyish-brown), onset of decomposition (khaki), and spoiled (dark green) stages of the stored fish sample. This highlights its promising potential for providing real-time indications of food spoilage. These findings are important for the efficient design of composite films incorporating anthocyanins and essential oils. They serve as a guide towards their potential use as multifunctional packaging materials in the food industry.
  14. Raman P, Sagadevan Y, Dhanapalan S, Fernandez BJ, Tan SY, Appalasamy JR, et al.
    J Prev (2022), 2024 Aug;45(4):579-609.
    PMID: 38839738 DOI: 10.1007/s10935-024-00782-2
    Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in middle-income countries such as Malaysia. There is a significant gap in knowledge between cardiovascular disease-related risk assessments and interventions in the Malaysian population. In this scoping review, we have determined the status of cardiovascular research in Malaysia by prioritising lifestyle-related risk assessments and interventions. We searched five electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, APA PsychINFO, Embase and Scopus) to identify relevant research articles that had been published. The Joanna Briggs Institute and the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews served as a guide for the scoping review. Study selection was made using the Covidence platform, screened, and extracted. Thirty-one studies were included in this review. Studies reviewed reported a significant positive association between physical inactivity, smoking, poor dietary patterns, working hours, clustering of lifestyle risk, and cardiovascular disease risk. Most interventions focused on physical activity and a multimodal lifestyle approach, significantly improving primary and secondary cardiovascular disease-related outcomes. The findings suggest improving lifestyle-related risk assessments and interventions to prevent cardiovascular diseases in this population. It is unclear if these outcomes can translate to higher effectiveness in preventing cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, intervention using the multifaceted lifestyle approach can improve cardiovascular disease-related outcomes.
  15. Wong PL, Zolkeflee NKZ, Ramli NS, Tan CP, Azlan A, Abas F
    J Tradit Complement Med, 2024 Jul;14(4):456-466.
    PMID: 39035686 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2024.02.001
    BACKGROUND AND AIM: Interest in the safety of herbal medicine is growing rapidly regarding knowledge and challenges in natural products. Hence, this study aimed to reveal the toxicological profile of Ardisia elliptica, a traditional medicinal plant used in the treatment of various illnesses.

    EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: Acute toxicity study was performed on female and male Sprague Dawley rats with a single oral administration of 2000 mg/kg BW of 70% ethanolic A. elliptica leaf extract, using a combination of conventional investigations and 1H-NMR-based metabolomics approaches.

    RESULTS: Physical, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological assessments demonstrated the usual rat profile, with no mortality and delayed toxicity 14 days after administration. 1H NMR serum metabolomics depicted similar metabolites between normal and treated groups. Nevertheless, 1H NMR of urinary metabolomics revealed perturbation in carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolism within 24h after extract administration, while no accumulation of toxic biomarkers in the collected biological fluids on Day 14. A minor gender-based difference revealed the influence of sex hormones and different energy expenditure on response to extract treatment.

    CONCLUSION: This study suggested that 2000 mg/kg BW of 70% ethanolic A. elliptica leaf extract is considered as safe for consumption and offered a comprehensive overview of the response of physiological and metabolic aspects applicable to food and herbal product development.

  16. Liew YM, Ooi JH, Azman RR, Ganesan D, Zakaria MI, Mohd Khairuddin AS, et al.
    Phys Med, 2024 Jul 11;124:103400.
    PMID: 38996627 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2024.103400
    BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a leading cause of disability and mortality, with skull fractures being a frequent and serious consequence. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of these fractures is crucial, yet current manual methods via cranial CT scans are time-consuming and prone to error.

    METHODS: This review paper focuses on the evolution of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems for detecting skull fractures in TBI patients. It critically assesses advancements from feature-based algorithms to modern machine learning and deep learning techniques. We examine current approaches to data acquisition, the use of public datasets, algorithmic strategies, and performance metrics RESULTS: The review highlights the potential of CAD systems to provide quick and reliable diagnostics, particularly outside regular clinical hours and in under-resourced settings. Our discussion encapsulates the challenges inherent in automated skull fracture assessment and suggests directions for future research to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient care.

    CONCLUSION: With CAD systems, we stand on the cusp of significantly improving TBI management, underscoring the need for continued innovation in this field.

  17. Tan HJR, Ling SL, Khairuddin N, Lim WY, Sanggar A, Chemi NB
    Cureus, 2024 Jun;16(6):e62106.
    PMID: 38993397 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62106
    INTRODUCTION:  Non-compliance to medications remains a challenging problem in schizophrenia. Newer strategies with high feasibility and acceptability are always being researched. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of technology-based intervention in improving medication compliance in individuals with schizophrenia.

    METHOD: This was a prospective intervention study where participants were required to use the SuperMD smartphone application (Digital-Health Technologies Pte Ltd, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) for a month. A change in the Medication Adherence Rating Scale-Malay Translation (MARS-M) and Malay Translation of Drug Adherence Inventory-9 (MDAI-9) scores indicated a change in compliance and attitude to medication. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess change in symptoms and insight. Medication compliance was also obtained from the SuperMD application. Paired T-test was used to evaluate the significance of changes in mean scores of research variables over the study period. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze the subscale of MDAI-9 and the change in PANSS score. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine the effect of the change of insight on the level of compliance with medication.

    RESULTS: There were 36 participants in this study. The results showed statistically significant improvement in compliance (0.65, p ≤ 0.01) but not in attitude towards medication (0.78, p = 0.065). There was also an improvement in PANNS score (-2.58, P ≤ 0.01). There was no significant change in insight (χ2(2) = 3.802, p = 0.15).  Conclusion:The use of technology-based strategies like SuperMD is effective in improving medication compliance for individuals with schizophrenia.

  18. Khong JHC, Tuan Mahmood TM, Tan SL, Voo JYH, Wong SW
    PLoS One, 2024;19(7):e0304974.
    PMID: 38991042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304974
    BACKGROUND: Food-drug interaction (FDI) is prevalent in our day-to-day life. Widely recognised as drug expert, pharmacists are responsible to provide patient education, including on FDI, to ensure optimum safety and efficacy of treatment. Most pharmacists have knowledge and experience regarding FDI to certain extent. However, the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards FDI among pharmacists were yet to elucidated for many countries, including for Malaysia.

    OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess pharmacists' KAP on FDI, their inter-association, as well as association with sociodemographic characteristics in Sabah, Malaysia.

    METHODS & MATERIALS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 31 May 2023, using online, self-administered Google Form questionnaire, involving 24 government hospitals and 113 government health clinics in Sabah.

    RESULTS: A total of 273 (or 35.5%) out of 768 pharmacists responded. Over two-third were female and serving government hospitals (79.6%). Mean score of KAP were 72.5 ± 14.3%, 93.2 ± 8.3% and 56.0 ± 16.7%, respectively, reflected good attitude but moderate knowledge and practice. Knowledge gaps identified include common medications such as paracetamol and metformin.Additionally, 28.2% respondents reported lack of FDI coverage during undergraduate, while merely 17.2% have received formal training on FDI after started working. Although 89.0% respondents agree that informing patients about possible FDIs is their responsibility, only 35.9% of the respondents usually or always practiced this. Such discrepancy maybe attributed to insufficient pharmacists' knowledge on FDI, where pharmacists with good level of knowledge have almost 2 times higher odd for good level of practice, compared to those with poor/moderate knowledge (odds ratio, OR: 1.92; 95% CI 1.02-3.61; p = 0.040) in this study.

    CONCLUSION: There are significant training gaps to be filled in. Pharmacist possessing good knowledge is a prerequisite for better pharmacy practice. Adequate education strategies covering FDI should be emphasised for all pharmacy undergraduates and practising pharmacists.

  19. Kuan G, Sut Txi MR, Mat Salleh FN, Wong KY, Tan H, Kueh YC
    Malays J Med Sci, 2024 Jun;31(3):241-251.
    PMID: 38984247 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2024.31.3.19
    BACKGROUND: In the world of sports, motivation is an essential concept that can affect the sporting performance of athletes and help them accomplish their goals. The coach is regarded as an important individual with the ability to significantly influence the athlete's motivation. To assess the impact of the coach-athlete relationship on motivation, the objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q) for coaches and athletes.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the coaches and athletes in Malaysia. Data were collected using a convenience sampling approach over a 6-month period. The study was carried out in two phases using two independent samples of coaches and athletes to assess the construct validity and internal consistency of the Malay version of the CART-Q. The CART-Q consisted of 11 items measuring three constructs: i) closeness (four items), ii) commitment (three items) and iii) complementarity (four items). In phase 1, the subjects consisted of 211 coaches (21 years old-65 years old) from both sexes and from individual and team sports, ranging from levels 1 to 5. In phase 2, the subjects consisted of 362 athletes (12 years old-39 years old), also from both sexes and from individual and team sports. The statistical analyses performed included confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate the translated version scale, composite reliability (CR), average variance extracted (AVE) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha).

    RESULTS: In phase 1, the sample of coaches, with 190 males (90.0%) and 21 females (10.0%), had a mean age of 38.6 (SD = 8.74) years old. The major sport type was archery (19.0%). The CFA revealed adequate fit indices with all 11 items retained (root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.059, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.964, Tucker and Lewis Index [TLI] = 0.950, standardised root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.037). The CR values were closeness = 0.874, commitment = 0.566 and complementarity = 0.757. The AVE values were closeness = 0.357, commitment = 0.194 and complementarity = 0.275. The Cronbach's alpha values were closeness = 0.867, commitment = 0.553 and complementarity = 0.794. In phase 2, the sample of athletes, with 175 males (48.1%) and 189 females (51.9%), had a mean age of 20.2 (SD = 3.35) years old. The major sport type was archery (11.5%). The CFA revealed satisfactory fit indices with all 11 items retained (RMSEA = 0.092, CFI = 0.948, TLI = 0.924, SRMR =.038). The CR values were closeness = 0.893, commitment = 0.786 and complementarity = 0.949. The AVE values were closeness = 0.401, commitment = 0.253 and complementarity = 0.418. The Cronbach's alpha values were closeness = 0.900, commitment = 0.772 and complementarity = 0.900.

    CONCLUSION: Overall, the study findings supported the conclusion that the Malay version of the CART-Q has adequate psychometric properties to assess the perceptions of coaches and athletes regarding their relationship.

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