MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, our objective was to explore the potential of Citrus aurantifolia peel extract (CAPE) on 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) induced colitis in mice. Twenty-eight male Balb/c mice were divided into four groups: (1) normal group, (2) TNBS group, (3) 125 mg/kg CAPE group and (4) 250 mg/kg CAPE group. Colitis was induced through rectal administration of TNBS. The anti-inflammatory effects of CAPE against colitis were assessed by body weight, DAI score, colonic length, weight-to-length ratio, haematology profile and histopathological examinations.

RESULTS: Our results showed that CAPE maintained the body weight of mice, repressed the increase of DAI score, maintained mice colonic length and weight, improved blood profile and suppressed the excessive production of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. Furthermore, CAPE improved the histopathological score of colitis mice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 30 male New Zealand rabbits underwent laparotomy and gastric perforation. These animals were then divided into three groups, with each group comprising 10 rabbits. Group 1 underwent primary repair, group 2 underwent omental patch repair, and group 3 underwent H-DAM patch repair. The rabbits were euthanised on the 7th day and the adhesion score and abscess classification were evaluated.

RESULT: A total of 30 samples of rabbits were homogeneous. On macroscopic evaluation, it was found that the H-DAM had the lowest mean adhesion score and the lowest incidence of abscess formation compared to all other groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as quasiexperimental with a control group that only received posttests. We performed in vivo study with an induction bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) model and vitamin D injection for 10 days. A total of 24 rats were divided into four groups (n = 6): Sham operation (SO [control]), BCCAO (transient global cerebral ischemic model not given vitamin D), VD1 (BCCAO + vitamin D 0.125 μg/kgBW), and VD2 (BCCAO + vitamin D 0.5 μg/kgBW). The spatial memory function was tested with the Morris water maze. We performed immunohistochemistry to localise p16 expression. p16, p21 and NGF mRNA expression were assessed by reverse transcriptase (RT-PCR) method.

RESULTS: The vitamin D treatment group required shorter mileage to find the platform and probe test. The total time spent was longer in the target quadrant than in non-target. The Vitamin D-treated group had lower p16 and p21 mRNA expression and higher NGF mRNA expression than the BCCAO group. Immunostaining showed p16 signal in the pyramidal cell of CA1 area in the BCCAO group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive analysis research was done for children with HSCR long-segment and TCA who underwent an operation at our institutionfrom 2013 to 2020. We assessed the functional outcome and HAEC by the Krickenbeck and the HAEC scoring, respectively.

RESULTS: We ascertained 13 HSCR long-segment and six TCA. We performed the following surgical procedures: Duhamel (n=7), Martin (n=4), Kimura (n=1), transabdominal Yancey-Soave (n=3) and transanal endorectal pull-through (n=4). All long-segment patients revealed good functional outcomes, whereas two TCA children suffered soiling and failed to achieve voluntary bowel movement. HAEC was noted in three long-segment and four TCA patients. Furthermore, surgical site infection and diaper rash were noticed in 10 and two patients, respectively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted at Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada starting on July 20th, 2020. A total of 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (four rats per group), i.e., control, DM 1.5 months (DM1.5), and DM 2 months (DM2); and DM groups treated with CGA in three different doses, namely CGA1 (12.5 mg/kg BW), CGA2 (25 mg/kg BW), and CGA3 (50 mg/kg BW). Control group was only injected with normal saline, while diabetic model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Blood glucose levels were measured twice (one week after diabetic induction and before termination). The soleus muscle tissue was harvested to analyse the mRNA expressions of SOD-1, SOD- 2, CN and PGC-1α using RT-PCR. In addition, the tissue samples were stained with immunohistochemistry for CN and haematoxylin-eosin (HE) for morphologic analysis under light microscopy.

RESULTS: The mRNA expressions of SOD-1 and SOD-2 in the CGA1 group were relatively higher compared to the DM2 groups. The mRNA expression of CN in the CGA1 group was significantly higher compared to the DM2 group (p = 0.008). The mRNA expression of PGC-1α in the CGA1 group was significantly higher compared to the DM2 group (p = 0.025). Immunohistochemical staining showed that CNimmunopositive expression in the CGA1 group was more evident compared to the other groups. Haematoxylin-eosin staining showed that muscle tissue morphology in the CGA1 group was similar to that in the control group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: TGBII was performed in male Wistar rats (3 to 5 months, 150 to 300 g) which underwent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) for 20 minutes, then reperfused for 10 days (BCCAO group, n = 6). Two groups of BCCAO were treated with intraperitoneal injection of calcitriol 0.125 μg/kgBW (VD1 group) and 0.5 μg/kgBW (VD2 group). The spatial memory function was tested using a probe test with Morris water maze (MWM). mRNA expression of BAX and SOD2 were assessed by the RT-PCR method. Meanwhile, immunohistochemical staining was used for identification of SOD2 protein. Statistical analysis is tested using one-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc LSD.

RESULTS: MWM showed a shorter duration in target quadrant of BCCAO group than the SO group, which is associated with BAX upregulation and SOD2 downregulation. The VDtreated groups had longer duration probe test compared to BCCAO. Furthermore, VD-treated groups had a longer duration in probe test with lower mRNA expression of BAX and higher expression of SOD2. However, there was no significant difference in VD1 and VD2. Immunostaining showed a reduced SOD2 signal in pyramidal cell of CA1 area in BCCAO group and ameliorated in VD1 and VD2 groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study involved children aged 6 months to 6 years who were hospitalised for febrile seizures in Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar Seremban (HTJS) from January 2021 to June 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the differences in demographics and clinical presentations. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 febrile seizures.

RESULTS: Of the 345 patients (median age 22 months, IQR 15- 32; 59.7% were males) included in the study, 130 (37.7%) tested positive for COVID-19, while 215 (62.3%) tested negative. There were no significant differences between both groups based on age, comorbidities, history of febrile seizures, seizure types, temperature on arrival, cough and rhinorrhoea. Multivariate analysis revealed that a family history of febrile seizures and leucocytosis were associated with increased odds of non-COVID-19 febrile seizures. In contrast, lymphopenia was associated with decreased odds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted through cloud-data-based digital questionnaires completed by randomly selected residents in the Johor River Basin (n=647). Data was analysed with descriptive statistics using SPSS 27 (IBM®) Software. Comparisons between indigenous and non-indigenous communities were performed using Chi square analysis.

RESULTS: Respondents in this study consisted of indigenous people (n=79) and non-indigenous people (n=568). Indigenous respondents generally perceived more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events in the next 20 years, even for the phenomena unfamiliar in Malaysian settings. All respondents showed similar concerns for health impacts of global warming, although the non-indigenous respondents perceived the risk further into the future (25 years) compared to the indigenous respondents who perceived current or imminent (<10 years) risks. Intense concerns for self, children, family members and community were shown by nearly all indigenous respondents (97-99%), while the non-indigenous people in this study expressed stronger concerns at country level and for future generations. During the last haze episode, most indigenous respondents (85%) did not notice any change in air quality nor discomfort among family members, in contrast 70% of the nonindigenous respondents claimed to have suffered from breathing problems themselves as well as others in the family. All respondents were concerned about air quality in their surroundings, indigenous people were concerned for the near future (<10 years), and non-indigenous people were concerned for the next 25 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a comparative, crosssectional and hospital-based study. We recruited 83 children with VKC and 83 healthy children as controls. All children underwent complete ocular examinations, CCT measurement using an ultrasound pachymeter and corneal topography using a Placido disc corneal analyser.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference of means CCT and topographic indices in children with VKC compared to controls (p<0.05). The probability keratoconus reached 18% in children with VKC. The mean CCT was observed to be thinnest in the severe-to-very severe groups of VKC compared to the mild-to-moderate (p<0.05). The means simulated-K1 and -K2, apical keratometry, apical gradient curvature, superior-inferior index and keratoconus prediction index were significantly different in severe-tovery severe VKC compared to mild-to-moderate VKC and controls (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in mean cylinder value and percent probability keratoconus when comparing different groups of severity of VKC (p=0.912 and 0.070 respectively).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study design involving 132 subjects (88 subjects of hypertension patients for case group and 44 subjects for control group) aged 18 to 40 years old of both genders was conducted at HUSM primary care clinic and physician clinic from May 2020 to May 2021. Blood samples were collected from each of the case and control subjects and analysed for serum uric acid, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL on chemical analyser Architect c8000. The data were analysed by using SPSS Statistics 26.0 version.

RESULTS: The proportion of subjects with hyperuricaemia in the case group was 48.9%. A significant difference in the uric acid levels between the case group (390.64±92.65μmol/L) and control group (352.09±86.07μmol/L), (p<0.05) was observed. There was no significant difference in the serum uric acid mean ± SD based on the duration of hypertension (<5 years and ≥5 years), (p=0.331) and stages of hypertension (p>0.05). In case group, significant correlations were established between uric acid and triglycerides (r=0.255, p<0.05), uric acid and HDL (r= -0.223, p<0.05), uric acid and urea (r=0.299, p<0.05), uric acid and creatinine (r=0.486, p<0.01). No correlation among uric acid and total cholesterol levels (p>0.05), uric acid and LDL (p>0.05). Serum uric acid was a vital variable in developing hypertension (p<0.05) but not when adapted for age and body mass index (BMI) (p>0.05).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parents of 30 children with ASD with ages ranging from 8 to 12 years attending Child Development Clinic, Hospital Pulau Pinang (CDC HPP) were recruited. Parents attended two-hour virtual parent sexual health training and educational materials were provided to be utilised at home. Follow-up via phone consultation were done at three and six months to ensure training was carried out. Both structured interview and Vineland adaptive behaviour scales (VABS-3) were done at recruitment and at eight months via phone consultation. Wilcoxon-signed rank test was used to analyse differences between pre- and postintervention outcome measures.

RESULTS: Statistically significant increase in number of sexual health topics taught by parents and appropriate socio-sexual behaviours of children were found. Intellectual function of children with ASD influenced the study outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the National Eye Database (Malaysia) for cataract surgery performed at Hospital Taiping, Perak, between January 2019 and December 2020 were reviewed. The medical records of patients with LIG were retrieved to obtain demographic data, clinical profiles and visual outcomes.

RESULTS: Of 3233 patients who underwent cataract surgery at Hospital Taiping, Perak, between 2019 and 2020, 25 underwent emergency surgery for LIG. However, only 24 patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for LIG were included in the study: 14 (58.33%) patients with phacomorphic and 10 (41.6%) patients with phacolytic glaucoma. The mean age of the patients was 66±12 years. Women and men were equally affected. Most patients were Malay (75%), followed by Chinese (16.67%) and Indian (8.33%). The anterior chamber depth (ACD) was significantly shallow with a mean value of 2.72 mm. Nineteen (79.1%) patients presented with visual acuity of worse than counting fingers. The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) at presentation was 47.5±13.66mmHg, which improved to 15.08±8.09mmHg postoperatively. A best-corrected visual acuity of 6/15 and better was achieved in 20 patients (83.33%) despite glaucomatous optic neuropathy being present in 41.67% of the cases. The majority (58.3%) of surgeries were performed via extracapsular cataract extraction, while six (25%) of our patients underwent successful phacoemulsification. Seven (29.17%) patients had intraocular complications: five with zonular dialysis and two with posterior capsule rupture. Of these seven cases, four ended up with intracapsular cataract extraction, leaving two of them aphakic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: cCMV-infected neonates aged ≤3 weeks old were recruited and underwent clinical and laboratory tests to detect viremia and symptomatic infection, hearing examinations at three and six months of age, and radiological imaging of brain auditory pathways using diffusion tensor imaging.

RESULTS: From 26 eligible infants (52 ears), we detected symptomatic infection in nine (34.6%), viremia in 14 (14/25; 56.0%) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in 14 infants (53.8%). We observed 40 ears (76.9%) with unstable hearing thresholds, 17 (42.5%) of which fluctuated. Hearing fluctuation and progressivity were more common in symptomatic infection (66.7% vs. 14.7%, p<0.001; and 38.9% vs. 2.9%, p=0.002; respectively). A substantial proportion of ears had reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in the medial geniculate body (59.1%), superior olivary nucleus (45.5%), trapezoid body (40.9%), auditory radiation (36.4%) and inferior colliculus (31.8%). Symptomatic infection was associated with an increased FA in the medial geniculate body (mean difference, MD: 0.12; 95% Confidence Intervals, 95%CI: 0.03, 0.22) and viremia in the inferior colliculus (MD: 0.09; 95%CI: 0.02, 0.16). An FA in the inferior colliculus of ≥0.404 had a sensitivity and specificity of 68.8% and 83.3% in predicting viremia (area under the curve 0.823; 95%CI: 0.633, 1.000, p=0.022).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of epilepsy patients from the neurology clinic, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Kuala Lumpur. The dental assessment included the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) criteria, as well as the plaque and periodontal status by dentists.

RESULTS: A total of 151 patients were recruited. The median age of onset of epilepsy was 16 (IQR 7-30) years, with generalised seizures at 59.6% and focal seizures in 40.4% of patients. Fair or poor oral health was present in 59 (39.1%) and gingivitis was seen in 65 (43%). The median DMFT decayed (D), missing (M) and filled teeth (FT) was 3 (IQR 1- 7). The median age of patients with fair or poor oral health was older (40 years, IQR 31-51) than the patients with excellent or good oral health (33 years, IQR 26-45), (p=0.014). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that carbamazepine (Odds Ratios, OR: 3.694; 95% Confidence Intervals, 95%CI: 1.314, 10.384) and hypertension (OR 6.484; 95%CI: 1.011, 41.594) are the risk factors for fair or poor oral health. Phenytoin use is 4.271 times more likely to develop gingivitis (OR 4.271; 95% CI: 1.252, 14.573).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study is conducted at the Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS) clinic of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. The forward and backward translation of the OSA- 18 questionnaire into the Malay language (Malay OSA-18) was performed and tested for content and face validity. The questionnaire's internal validity and reliability were tested using Pearson's correlation, Cronbach α and inter-reliability coefficient tests. The psychometric properties (validity, reliability and reproducibility) were assessed.

RESULTS: We observed 84 patients ranging from six months up to 12 years of age. The mean age was 8 years old, and 63.1% were male patients. Among the samples, 96.4% presented with palatine tonsillar enlargement, and 84.5% presented with adenoid tonsillar enlargement. Based on the questionnaire the patient's caregiver answered, Pearson's correlation demonstrated that all the symptom scales correlate and measure the same things. The Cronbach's α coefficient value for each symptom scale was acceptable, within 0.6-0.8. The total Cronbach's α coefficient value was 0.89. The test-retest evaluation was excellent, with the value of intraclass correlation (ICC) more than 0.90.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 34 house officers were enrolled in the study on joining the paediatric unit of Hospital Kulim. They were given the "Textbook of NRP" to prepare for the theory paper that consisted of 30 multiplechoice questions (MCQs). Two to four weeks later they went through a day of training on the resuscitation of the newborn using low-fidelity simulation manikins. They were taught to recognise a newborn who needed resuscitation after delivery, prepared the equipment for resuscitation and learned the skills of resuscitation. The skills included the initial steps, bag valve mask ventilation, intubation, cardiac massage, umbilical vein cannulation and use of medications. They were also taught the performance of objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) A and B. They were evaluated at 3, 6, and 9 months after the completion of their training using the MCQs and the performance checklist in the NRP textbook.

RESULTS: The results showed that there was a significant reduction in their knowledge retention as shown by their performance in multiple choice questions. Similarly, there was a significant loss of competency in their skills and competency in resuscitation using bag mask ventilation, intubation and performance of OSCE A and OSCE B. However, their performance at initial steps showed no significant reduction.