Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 288 in total

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  1. Das Gupta E, Gun SC, Abdul Rahman YR
    Family Physician, 2003;12(1):16-8.
    1. Revised ARA criteria (1987) the diagnosis of RA requires presence of at least 4 of the following 7 features: 1) morning stiffness> 1 hour 2) swelling of 2 or more joints (of 6 weeks duration) 3) symmetrical joint involvement 4) arthritis of more than 1 hand joints (of at least 6 weeks duration) 5) positive rheumatoid factor, 6) presence of rheumatoid nodule 7) X-ray changes. 2. Use of DMARD should start early, along with pain control by non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID) 3. Early referral to rheumatologists is the current recommendation 4. Indications for early referral include: i. Early morning stiffness (EMS) of 30 mins ;- ii. Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) / metacarpophalageal (Mep) involvement. iii. 2 or more swollen joints.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  2. Deborah Xinyi Yong, Tze-Peng Wong
    MyJurnal
    “Following the child’s lead” and “collaborative consultation with parents” are solidly grounded in the best practice of
    early language intervention. However, the success of these two practices are based on assumptions that they are valued by
    families and that they can be feasibly implemented by the attending speech-language pathologist (SLP). Such assumptions
    can be unjustified in cultures that value the use of “adult-guided instructions” over following the child’s lead and when
    the work setting of the SLP does not readily accommodate those practices. This article takes the form of a position paper.
    Through review of the literature, the paper (1) identifies the research-cultural practice gap in early language intervention
    in Malaysia; (2) positions the two research-informed practices – following the child’s lead and collaborative consultation
    with parents, on the continuum of intrusiveness in early language intervention; and (3) proposes the techniques of Milieu
    Teaching as an approach to bridge the research-cultural practice gap in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  3. Deepak AS, Ong JY, Choon D, Lee CK, Chiu CK, Chan C, et al.
    Malays Orthop J, 2017 Mar;11(1):41-46.
    PMID: 28435573 MyJurnal DOI: 10.5704/MOJ.1703.018
    INTRODUCTION: There is no large population size study on school screening for scoliosis in Malaysia. This study is aimed to determine the prevalence rate and positive predictive value (PPV) of screening programme for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 8966 voluntary school students aged 13-15 years old were recruited for scoliosis screening. Screening was done by measuring the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) on forward bending test (FBT) using a scoliometer. ATR of 5 degrees or more was considered positive. Positively screened students had standard radiographs done for measurement of the Cobb angle. Cobb angle of >10° was used to diagnose scoliosis. The percentage of radiological assessment referral, prevalence rate and PPV of scoliosis were then calculated.

    RESULTS: Percentage of radiological assessment referral (ATR >5°) was 4.2% (182/4381) for male and 5.0% (228/4585) for female. Only 38.0% of those with ATR >5° presented for further radiological assessment. The adjusted prevalence rate was 2.55% for Cobb angle >10°, 0.59% for >20° and 0.12% for >40°. The PPV is 55.8% for Cobb angle >10°, 12.8% for >20° and 2.6% for > 40°.

    CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study of school scoliosis screening in Malaysia. The prevalence rate of scoliosis was 2.55%. The positive predictive value was 55.8%, which is adequate to suggest that the school scoliosis screening programme did play a role in early detection of scoliosis. However, a cost effectiveness analysis will be needed to firmly determine its efficacy.

    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  4. Devaraj NK
    Med J Malaysia, 2017 08;72(4):252-253.
    PMID: 28889141 MyJurnal
    This is a rare but interesting case of Mr. MZ who had a lifethreatening pericardial effusion presenting to the primary care clinic. Through great clinical acumen and prudent targeted investigations, diagnosis of this rare condition was reached and urgent referral made to the cardiology team which performed an emergency pericardiocentesis which proved to be life -saving. However, the hovering poor prognosis of Mr. MZ may prompt for a referral to the palliative care team to provide quality end of life care for this unfortunate patient.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  5. Erni Noor, Nur Azielyana Noor Kamaruzaman, Nur Syahira Mohd Jeffri, Nik Nazurah Nik Eezammudden, Nur Zety Mohd Noh
    Compendium of Oral Science, 2018;5(1):37-45.
    MyJurnal
    Objectives: Periodontitis is a chronic disease which remain undiagnosed and untreated without proper examination and referral to specialist clinic for further management Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the pattern of referrals to Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Periodontal Specialist Clinic. Materials and methods: A total of 176 periodontal cases referred to UiTM Periodontal Specialist Clinic in year 2011 and 2016 were identified and patient’s referral forms were collected. The data obtained were the referred cases from undergraduate student clinics, other specialist clinics, UiTM primary dental care clinic and private dental clinics. Descriptive data analysis was conducted using frequency distribution by SPSS. Chi square analysis was used to evaluate the association of source of referral, diagnosis and reason for referrals to Periodontal Specialist Clinic. Results: There was increased referral cases to Periodontal Specialist Clinic in 2016 (86.9%) compared to 2011 (13.1%). Most referral to Periodontal Specialist Clinic were received from faculty’s undergraduate student clinic in both 2011 and 2016 (46%), followed by other specialists (27.3%), primary care clinic (25.6%) and private practice (1.1%). 96% of cases were referred for intervention by periodontist as more than half of the cases were referred for the non-surgical periodontal treatment. Chi square analysis showed the association between source of referral and reason for referral was statistically significant (p value=0.000). Conclusion: Proper periodontal screening in all patients and necessary referral to specialist clinic is crucial to prevent undiagnosed periodontal disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  6. Faria G, Virani S, Tadros BJ, Dhinsa BS, Reddy G, Relwani J
    Malays Orthop J, 2021 Mar;15(1):100-104.
    PMID: 33880155 DOI: 10.5704/MOJ.2103.015
    Introduction: COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the entire health system. The trauma and orthopaedic service has been compelled to alter working practices to respond proactively and definitively to the crisis. The aim of this study is to summarise the impact of this outbreak on the trauma and orthopaedic workload and outline the response of the department.

    Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected data comparing patient numbers pre-COVID-19, and prospectively during the early COVID-19 pandemic. We have collected the numbers and nature of outpatient orthopaedic attendances to fracture clinics and elective services, inpatient admissions and the number of fracture neck of femur operations performed.

    Results: The number of outpatient attendances for a musculoskeletal complaint to Accident and Emergency and the number of virtual fracture clinic reviews reduced by almost 50% during COVID-19. The number of face-to-face fracture clinic follow-ups decreased by around 67%, with a five-fold increase in telephone consultations. Inpatient admissions decreased by 33%, but the average number of fracture neck of femur operations performed has increased by 20% during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID-19 levels.

    Conclusion: We have noted a decrease in some aspects of the trauma and orthopaedic outpatient workload, such as leisure and occupational-related injuries but an increase in others, such as fracture neck of femurs. Many injuries have significantly reduced in numbers and we consider that a model could be developed for treating these injuries away from the acute hospital site entirely, thereby allowing the acute team to focus more appropriate major trauma injuries.

    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  7. Faridah Hanim Zam Zam, Nazimah Idris, Tham, Seng Woh
    MyJurnal
    Background: Fetal surveillance in labour is performed mostly to identify fetuses at risk of hypoxia in order to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality by initiating timely intervention. While normal and abnormal fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns have been well recognised and characterized for the first stage of labour, FHR patterns during the second stage of labour commonly showed some forms of abnormalities leading to problems in interpretation, particularly in predicting fetal hypoxia and acidosis. This study aims to identify patterns of FHR tracing during the second stage of labour associated with neonatal acidosis. Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was conducted in the Labour Ward of a state referral hospital. The study population were patients with low-risk
    singleton pregnancies between 37 to 42 weeks gestation who had normal cardiotocograph (CTG) tracing in the first stage of labour. CTG was recorded during the second stage of labour and neonatal umbilical cord blood was obtained for acid-base analysis immediately after birth prior to the delivery of placenta. FHR patterns were grouped according to modified Melchior and Barnard’s
    classification and matched with neonatal acid-base status. Patients with normal FHR pattern in the second stage acted as control. Results: A total of 111 matched pairs were analysed. Ninety nine (89.2%) second stage FHR tracings showed abnormal features when compared to control. There were significantly more neonatal acidosis and hypercapnia in type 1b, type 2a, type 2b and type 3 CTG patterns compared to control, in increasing order of severity. In addition, types 2b and 3 showed significant difference in the base excess. Conclusion: Certain second stage fetal heart rate
    patterns were found to be associated with neonatal acidosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  8. Fauziah D, Anggoro R R
    Malays J Pathol, 2020 Dec;42(3):409-414.
    PMID: 33361722
    BACKGROUND: Ovarian tumours are a very heterogeneous group of tumours, consisted of non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Preoperative diagnoses in most conditions are inconclusive due to similar clinical, radiological and laboratory findings. Intraoperative consultation is crucial because it can provide rapid diagnosis leading to a suitable surgical management for the patients.

    OBJECTIVE: To obtain profile, accuracy and concordance rates of ovarian intraoperative consultation in Dr. Soetomo Hospital Surabaya, a teaching hospital in Indonesia.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational retrospective study, using data from archives of intraoperative consultation reports in Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya within 2012-2016 period. There were 734 cases of ovarian intraoperative consultations, all then proceed to permanent sections. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity rates were calculated.

    RESULTS: Overall accuracy was 89.5%. Sensitivity for benign, borderline and malignant cases were 98.49%, 71.19% and 84.01%, respectively. Specificity were 90.32%, 95.11% and 98.72%, respectively.

    CONCLUSION: Intraoperative consultation for ovarian tumours has a reliable diagnostic value in benign and malignant lesion, but lower value in borderline tumours.

    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  9. Feiz Haddad MH, Maraghi S, Ali SA, Feiz Haddad R, Nasser Zadeh R
    Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):915-925.
    PMID: 33601841
    Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are among the most important infectious diseases in Iran. A cross sectional study was designed to determine frequency of intestinal parasites among referrals to a large teaching hospital in Khuzestan, Southwest of Iran, 2017. A total number of 5613 stool samples were examined through direct smear and formalin-ether concentration methods to detect possible parasitic infections. Samples consisted of 2643 (47.09%) male and 2970 (52.91%) female. A total of 1468 (26.15%) samples were positive (13.11% male and 13.4% female) and 4145 (73.85%) were negative. The results also showed that 255 of samples had more than one type of parasite (mix infections). Counting single and mix parasite infections, the total number of positive cases reached to 1723. Helminthes parasites were present in 12 (0.7%) cases, while intestinal protozoan parasites were in 1711 (99.3%) cases. Almost equally, pathogenic and nonpathogenic parasites infected 860 (49.91%) and 863 (50.09%) of patients, respectively. The frequency for helminthes was determined at 0.52% with Hymenolepis nana and Enterobius vermicularis however, Giardia lamblia in 38.54% and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar at 10.68% were concluded as protozoa elements. The IPIs frequency was recorded in female and male patients at 49.16% and 50.14%, respectively. According to the current results the infection rate of intestinal parasites has been significantly reduced especially for helminths infections in this region possibly due to public attention to health issues such as; increased awareness of people, improvement of sanitation, seasonal variations, health education and personal hygiene.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  10. Flaherty G, Md Nor MN
    J Travel Med, 2016 Jan;23(1).
    PMID: 26782127 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tav010
    Risk assessment relies on the accuracy of the information provided by the traveller. A questionnaire was administered to 83 consecutive travellers attending a travel medicine clinic. The majority of travellers was uncertain about destinations within countries, transportation or type of accommodation. Most travellers were uncertain if they would be visiting malaria regions. The degree of uncertainty about itinerary potentially impacts on the ability of the travel medicine specialist to perform an adequate risk assessment, select appropriate vaccinations and prescribe malaria prophylaxis. This study reveals high levels of traveller uncertainty about their itinerary which may potentially reduce the effectiveness of their pre-travel consultation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  11. Flaherty G, De Freitas S
    Ir Med J, 2016 Dec 12;109(10):486.
    PMID: 28644591
    Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in adult international travellers. Patients living with heart disease should receive specific, individualised pre-travel health advice. The purpose of this article is to provide evidence-based advice to physicians who are consulted by travellers with cardiovascular disease. Fitness-to-travel evaluation will often be conducted by the general practitioner but other medical specialists may also be consulted for advice. Patients with chronic medical conditions should purchase travel health insurance. The general pre-travel health consultation addresses food and water safety, insect and animal bite avoidance, malaria chemoprophylaxis, and travel vaccinations. Patients with devices such as cardiac pacemakers should be familiar with how these may be affected by travel. Cardiac medications may cause adverse effects in cold or hot environments, and specific precautions must be followed by anticoagulated travellers. The physician should be aware of how to access medical care abroad, and of the potential for imported tropical diseases in returned travellers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  12. Flaherty GT, Leong SW, Finn Y, Sulaiman LH, Noone C
    J Travel Med, 2020 Sep 26;27(6).
    PMID: 32634210 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa110
    BACKGROUND: Little is known about the awareness of travellers with diabetes about the health effects of international travel. This study aimed to design and validate a questionnaire to examine the travel health knowledge, attitudes and practices of people living with type 1 diabetes.

    METHODS: A set of 74 items based on a conceptual framework analysis underwent revision and its content validity was established. Items were grouped into three domains. A development study was conducted to establish evidence regarding their factorial structure. A construct validation study was then conducted in which the retained items were tested in an independent sample using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

    RESULTS: Four factors emerged from our development study and were labelled as pre-travel preparation-insect bites, pre-travel preparation-consultation, insulin and glycaemic control and travel risk behaviour. A CFA confirmed the factorial structure identified in the development study in an independent sample. Each factor loading had a significant (P 

    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  13. Flaherty GT, Chen B, Avalos G
    J Travel Med, 2017 Sep 01;24(6).
    PMID: 28922821 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tax059
    The purpose of this study was to examine the principal travel health priorities of travellers. The most frequently selected travel health concerns were accessing medical care abroad, dying abroad, insect bites, malaria, personal safety and travel security threats. The travel health risks of least concern were culture shock, fear of flying, jet lag and sexually transmitted infections. This study is the first to develop a hierarchy of self-declared travel health risk priorities among travellers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation*
  14. Fletcher E, Burns A, Wiering B, Lavu D, Shephard E, Hamilton W, et al.
    BMC Prim Care, 2023 Jan 20;24(1):23.
    PMID: 36670354 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-023-01973-2
    BACKGROUND: Electronic clinical decision support tools (eCDS) are increasingly available to assist General Practitioners (GP) with the diagnosis and management of a range of health conditions. It is unclear whether the use of eCDS tools has an impact on GP workload. This scoping review aimed to identify the available evidence on the use of eCDS tools by health professionals in general practice in relation to their impact on workload and workflow.

    METHODS: A scoping review was carried out using the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework. The search strategy was developed iteratively, with three main aspects: general practice/primary care contexts, risk assessment/decision support tools, and workload-related factors. Three databases were searched in 2019, and updated in 2021, covering articles published since 2009: Medline (Ovid), HMIC (Ovid) and Web of Science (TR). Double screening was completed by two reviewers, and data extracted from included articles were analysed.

    RESULTS: The search resulted in 5,594 references, leading to 95 full articles, referring to 87 studies, after screening. Of these, 36 studies were based in the USA, 21 in the UK and 11 in Australia. A further 18 originated from Canada or Europe, with the remaining studies conducted in New Zealand, South Africa and Malaysia. Studies examined the use of eCDS tools and reported some findings related to their impact on workload, including on consultation duration. Most studies were qualitative and exploratory in nature, reporting health professionals' subjective perceptions of consultation duration as opposed to objectively-measured time spent using tools or consultation durations. Other workload-related findings included impacts on cognitive workload, "workflow" and dialogue with patients, and clinicians' experience of "alert fatigue".

    CONCLUSIONS: The published literature on the impact of eCDS tools in general practice showed that limited efforts have focused on investigating the impact of such tools on workload and workflow. To gain an understanding of this area, further research, including quantitative measurement of consultation durations, would be useful to inform the future design and implementation of eCDS tools.

    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  15. Florentino R, Tee ES, Poh BK
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 1999 Dec;8(4):291-9.
    PMID: 24394232
    The 3-day seminar-workshop on 'Food-based Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Education' was held from 22-24 July 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to present the latest scientific information on nutrition and health and to discuss its impact on the rationale and process for the development of food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG). The first two sessions were devoted to a review of the current information on the relation between lifestyle factors and chronic diseases, particularly obesity; the present health status and food consumption patterns in Malaysia; the current consensus on carbohydrates and fats and oils and the importance of considering the glycemic index of foods; and the importance of micronutrients in health and disease. The third and fourth sessions dealt with the rationale of FBDG and the process of their development, drawing from the 1990 FAO/WHO Consultation on Development of FBDG and the experience in the Philippines and in Europe. The importance of effective dissemination of nutrition messages to the public was thoroughhly discussed. The workshop sessions arrived at recommendations on important issues in the development of FBDG in the region, including main research and information needs, the steps in the development of FBDG, and strategies for their dissemination.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  16. Ganeshan M, Bujang MA, Soelar SA, Karalasingam SD, Suharjono H, Jeganathan R
    J Obstet Gynaecol India, 2018 Jun;68(3):173-178.
    PMID: 29895995 DOI: 10.1007/s13224-017-1000-9
    Aims: The aim of this study is to compare obstetric outcomes between overweight and class 1 obesity among pregnant women in their first pregnancy based on WHO's BMI cut-offs and the potential public health action points identified by WHO expert consultations specific for high-risk population such as Asians.

    Methods: This is a retrospective cohort review of data obtained from the Malaysian National Obstetrics and Gynaecology Registry between the year 2010 and year 2012. All women in their first pregnancy with a booking BMI in their first trimester were included in this study. The association between BMI classifications as defined by the WHO cut-offs and the potential public health action points identified by WHO expert consultations towards adverse obstetric outcomes was compared.

    Results: A total of 88,837 pregnant women were included in this study. We noted that the risk of adverse obstetric outcomes was significantly higher using the public health action points identified by WHO expert consultations even among the overweight group as the risk of stillbirths was (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.0,1.4), shoulder dystocia (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2,2.9), foetal macrosomia (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.6,2.0), caesarean section (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.8,2.0) and assisted conception (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.6,2.1).

    Conclusion: A specifically lower BMI references based on the potential public health action points for BMI classifications were a more sensitive predictor of adverse obstetric outcomes, and we recommend the use of these references in pregnancy especially among Asian population.

    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  17. Gendeh HS, Abdullah AB, Goh BS, Hashim ND
    Ear Nose Throat J, 2019 Aug;98(7):416-419.
    PMID: 31018687 DOI: 10.1177/0145561319840166
    Intracranial complications secondary to chronic otitis media (COM) include otogenic brain abscess and sinus thrombosis. Intravenous antibiotics and imaging have significantly reduced the incidence of intracranial complications secondary to COM. However, the same does not apply to a developing country like Malaysia, which still experiences persisting otogenic complications. This case series describes 3 patients with COM and intracranial complications. All 3 patients had COM with mastoiditis, with 1 of the 3 having a cholesteatoma. Postulated reasons for the continued occurrence include poor access to health care, poor compliance with medication, and the lack of pneumococcal vaccination during childhood. In conclusion, public awareness and a timely specialty referral can reduce the incidence of intracranial complications of COM.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  18. Ghatwary N, Ahmed A, Grisan E, Jalab H, Bidaut L, Ye X
    J Med Imaging (Bellingham), 2019 Jan;6(1):014502.
    PMID: 30840732 DOI: 10.1117/1.JMI.6.1.014502
    Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition that has an increased risk to turn into esophageal adenocarcinoma. Classification and staging of the different changes (BE in particular) in the esophageal mucosa are challenging since they have a very similar appearance. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is one of the newest endoscopy tools that is commonly used to identify the pathology type of the suspected area of the esophageal mucosa. However, it requires a well-trained physician to classify the image obtained from CLE. An automatic stage classification of esophageal mucosa is presented. The proposed model enhances the internal features of CLE images using an image filter that combines fractional integration with differentiation. Various features are then extracted on a multiscale level, to classify the mucosal tissue into one of its four types: normal squamous (NS), gastric metaplasia (GM), intestinal metaplasia (IM or BE), and neoplasia. These sets of features are used to train two conventional classifiers: support vector machine (SVM) and random forest. The proposed method was evaluated on a dataset of 96 patients with 557 images of different histopathology types. The SVM classifier achieved the best performance with 96.05% accuracy based on a leave-one-patient-out cross-validation. Additionally, the dataset was divided into 60% training and 40% testing; the model achieved an accuracy of 93.72% for the testing data using the SVM. The presented model showed superior performance when compared with four state-of-the-art methods. Accurate classification is essential for the intestinal metaplasia grade, which most likely develops into esophageal cancer. Not only does our method come to the aid of physicians for more accurate diagnosis by acting as a second opinion, but it also acts as a training method for junior physicians who need practice in using CLE. Consequently, this work contributes to an automatic classification that facilitates early intervention and decreases samples of required biopsy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation
  19. Gil Cuesta J, van Loenhout JAF, de Lara Banquesio ML, Mustaffa M, Guha-Sapir D
    Disaster Med Public Health Prep, 2020 02;14(1):34-38.
    PMID: 31679549 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2019.99
    INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Typhoon Haiyan partially destroyed the Ormoc District Hospital in the Philippines. A field hospital was established to replace its outpatient department for 5 weeks. We investigated the reasons for medical consultation in the field hospital.

    METHODS: We described the consultations by sex, age, week, and diagnosis according to the Surveillance in Post-Extreme Emergencies and Disasters system. We compared the number and proportion of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) with a control season in 2014.

    RESULTS: We included 6785 consultations, 55.9% from women. The majority of consultations were communicable diseases (88.2%) followed by noncommunicable (7.1%) and injuries (5.6%). Males suffered more often from injuries than women (66.0% vs 34.0%). Consultations due to injuries decreased from 10.0% in the first to 2.9% in the last week. The most frequent diagnosis over the study period was acute respiratory infections (ARIs) (73.1%), of which 83.0% were children. The number of daily URTIs was higher than in a similar 2014 period.

    CONCLUSIONS: ARI was the most prevalent diagnosis. We recommend ARI treatments being fully accessible after such a disaster. During the first week, injury prevention should focus on adult men. Studies after natural disasters should include control periods to better understand disease distribution, ultimately improving the prioritization in disasters.

    Matched MeSH terms: Referral and Consultation/trends*; Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data
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