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  1. Boo NY
    Malays J Pathol, 2016 Dec;38(3):223-227.
    PMID: 28028291 MyJurnal
    Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is the most commonly acquired gastrointestinal disease of neonates, particularly the very preterm (gestation <32 weeks) and/or very low birth weight (<1500g). It is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite improvement in neonatal care and increased use of expressed breast milk (EBM), the incidence remains high in many neonatal intensive care units (NICU), and even shows increasing trend in some countries. Numerous studies have pointed to the infective nature of NEC. Some investigators have reported an increase in the incidence of NEC in their NICU when the percentage of infants with pathogens isolated from their gut increased, and decreased when gut colonisation rate was low. Both bacteria and viruses have been reported to be associated with outbreaks of NEC. The majority (>90%) of the NEC cases occurred in neonates on enteral feeding. Studies have shown that milk (whether EBM or formula) fed to neonates was not sterile and were further contaminated during collection, transport, storage and/or feeding. Other investigators have reported a reduction in the incidence of NEC when they improved infection control measures and hygienic procedures in handling milk. It is, therefore, hypothesised that the most common cause of NEC is due to the feeding of neonates, particularly the vulnerable very preterm small neonates, with milk heavily contaminated during collection at source, transport, storage and/or feeding. Because of the immaturity of the immune system of the neonates, excessive inflammatory response to the pathogen load in the gut leads to the pathogenesis of NEC.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  2. Mazlan MZ, Ali S, Zainal Abidin H, Mokhtar AM, Ab Mukmin L, Ayub ZN, et al.
    Respir Med Case Rep, 2017;21:161-163.
    PMID: 28560149 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2017.05.002
    INTRODUCTION: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is not proven to be effective in treating respiratory failure in severe pneumonia. However, some clinicians nevertheless attempt NIV to indirectly deliver adequate oxygenation and avoid unnecessary endotracheal intubation.

    CASE PRESENTATION: In this article, we report the case of a 24-year-old woman at 32 weeks' gestation who presented with hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. She was successfully managed by NIV.

    DISCUSSION: However, NIV must be managed by providers who are trained in mechanical ventilation. This is of the utmost importance in avoiding any delay should the patient's condition worsen and require endotracheal intubation. Moreover, in pregnant women, the severity of illness may progress quickly due to the immunosuppression inherent in these patients.

    CONCLUSION: Special attention should be given to the choices of invasive ventilation and NIV to manage community acquired pneumonia patients in third trimester.

    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  3. Janssen SMJ, Haque S
    Memory, 2018 01;26(1):131-143.
    PMID: 28585471 DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2017.1335327
    Cultural life scripts are shared knowledge about the timing of important life events. In the present study, we examined whether cultural life scripts are transmitted through traditions and whether there are additional ways through which they can be attained by asking Australian and Malaysian participants which information sources they had used to generate the life script of their culture. Participants hardly reported that they had used cultural and religious traditions. They more often reported that they had used their own experiences and experiences of relatives and friends. They also reported the use of comments of relatives and friends and the use of newspapers, books, movies and television programmes. Furthermore, we examined the stability of life scripts and similarities and differences across cultures. We found that life scripts are stable cognitive structures and that there are, besides cross-cultural differences in the content, small cross-cultural differences in the valence and distribution of life script events, with the Australian life script containing more positive events and more events expected to occur before the age of 16.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  4. Mohd Norsuddin N, Mello-Thoms C, Reed W, Rickard M, Lewis S
    Br J Radiol, 2017 Aug;90(1076):20170048.
    PMID: 28621548 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20170048
    OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether certain mammographic appearances of breast cancer are missed when radiologists read at lower recall rates.

    METHODS: 5 radiologists read 1 identical test set of 200 mammographic (180 normal cases and 20 abnormal cases) 3 times and were requested to adhere to 3 different recall rate conditions: free recall, 15% and 10%. The radiologists were asked to mark the locations of suspicious lesions and provide a confidence rating for each decision. An independent expert radiologist identified the various types of cancers in the test set, including the presence of calcifications and the lesion location, including specific mammographic density.

    RESULTS: Radiologists demonstrated lower sensitivity and receiver operating characteristic area under the curve for non-specific density/asymmetric density (H = 6.27, p = 0.04 and H = 7.35, p = 0.03, respectively) and mixed features (H = 9.97, p = 0.01 and H = 6.50, p = 0.04, respectively) when reading at 15% and 10% recall rates. No significant change was observed on cancer characterized with stellate masses (H = 3.43, p = 0.18 and H = 1.23, p = 0.54, respectively) and architectural distortion (H = 0.00, p = 1.00 and H = 2.00, p = 0.37, respectively). Across all recall conditions, stellate masses were likely to be recalled (90.0%), whereas non-specific densities were likely to be missed (45.6%).

    CONCLUSION: Cancers with a stellate mass were more easily detected and were more likely to continue to be recalled, even at lower recall rates. Cancers with non-specific density and mixed features were most likely to be missed at reduced recall rates. Advances in knowledge: Internationally, recall rates vary within screening mammography programs considerably, with a range between 1% and 15%, and very little is known about the type of breast cancer appearances found when radiologists interpret screening mammograms at these various recall rates. Therefore, understanding the lesion types and the mammographic appearances of breast cancers that are affected by readers' recall decisions should be investigated.

    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  5. Walker P, Scallon G, Francis B
    Perception, 2017 Jul;46(7):772-792.
    PMID: 28622755 DOI: 10.1177/0301006616684369
    Everyday language reveals how stimuli encoded in one sensory feature domain can possess qualities normally associated with a different domain (e.g., higher pitch sounds are bright, light in weight, sharp, and thin). Such cross-sensory associations appear to reflect crosstalk among aligned (corresponding) feature dimensions, including brightness, heaviness, and sharpness. Evidence for heaviness being one such dimension is very limited, with heaviness appearing primarily as a verbal associate of other feature contrasts (e.g., darker objects and lower pitch sounds are heavier than their opposites). Given the presumed bidirectionality of the crosstalk between corresponding dimensions, heaviness should itself induce the cross-sensory associations observed elsewhere, including with brightness and pitch. Taking care to dissociate effects arising from the size and mass of an object, this is confirmed. When hidden objects varying independently in size and mass are lifted, objects that feel heavier are judged to be darker and to make lower pitch sounds than objects feeling less heavy. These judgements track the changes in perceived heaviness induced by the size-weight illusion. The potential involvement of language, natural scene statistics, and Bayesian processes in correspondences, and the effects they induce, is considered.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  6. Jumat NR, Chong MY, Seman Z, Jamaluddin R, Wong NK, Abdullah M
    Front Immunol, 2017;8:680.
    PMID: 28649252 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00680
    Sexual dimorphism in immune response is widely recognized, but few human studies have observed this distinction. Food with endo-immunomodulatory potential may reveal novel sex-biased in vivo interactions. Immunomodulatory effects of Carica papaya were compared between healthy male and female individuals. Volunteers were given fixed meals supplemented with papaya for 2 days. Changes in blood immune profiles and hormone levels were determined. In females, total natural killer (NK) cell percentages decreased (12.7 ± 4.4 vs 14.6 ± 5.8%, p = 0.018, n = 18) while B cells increased (15.2 ± 5.5 vs 14.5 ± 5.0, p = 0.037, n = 18) after papaya consumption. Increased 17β-estradiol (511.1 ± 579.7 vs 282.7 ± 165.0 pmol/l, p = 0.036, n = 9) observed in females may be crucial to this change. Differentiation markers (CD45RA, CD69, CD25) analyzed on lymphocytes showed naïve (CD45RA(+)) non-CD4(+) lymphocytes were reduced in females (40.7 ± 8.1 vs 46.8 ± 5.4%, p = 0.012, n = 8) but not males. A general suppressive effect of papaya on CD69(+) cells, and higher percentage of CD69(+) populations in females and non-CD4 lymphocytes, may be relevant. CD107a(+) NK cells were significantly increased in males (16.8 ± 7.0 vs 14.7 ± 4.8, p = 0.038, n = 9) but not females. Effect in females may be disrupted by the action of progesterone, which was significantly correlated with this population (R = 0.771, p = 0.025, n = 8) after papaya consumption. In males, total T helper cells were increased (33.4 ± 6.4 vs 32.4 ± 6.1%, p = 0.040, n = 15). Strong significant negative correlation between testosterone and CD25(+)CD4(+) lymphocytes, may play a role in the lower total CD4(+) T cells reported in males. Thus, dissimilar immune profiles were elicited in the sexes after papaya consumption and may have sex hormone influence.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  7. Dietz HP, Chatel C, Atan IK
    Int Urogynecol J, 2018 May;29(5):703-707.
    PMID: 28733790 DOI: 10.1007/s00192-017-3410-8
    INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) commonly presents with a "vaginal lump or bulge" and/or a "dragging sensation." The first symptom correlates strongly with clinical and imaging data. However, a "dragging sensation" may be less specific. Hence, we investigated the predictive value of both symptoms for POP.

    METHODS: This was a retrospective study involving archived data sets of women seen between November 2013 and May 2014. All underwent a clinical interview, POPQ examination, and 4D translabial ultrasound (TLUS). The main outcome measure was organ descent on clinical examination and TLUS. Offline analysis for organ descent was undertaken blinded against all other data.

    RESULTS: A total of 224 women were assessed. Mean age was 57 (23-84) years. Median parity was 3 (0-7). Ninety-three percent (n=208) were vaginally parous. Fifty-eight percent (n=129) complained of symptoms of prolapse: 49% (n=110) of a vaginal lump, 27% (n=61) of a dragging sensation. Clinically, mean point B anterior (Ba) was -0.86 (-3 to +7.5) cm, mean cervical station (C) was -4.1 (-9 to +8) cm, mean point B posterior (Bp) was -1.1 (-3 to +5) cm. On imaging, mean bladder, uterine, and rectal descent were -8.3 (-68.0 to 34) mm, +18.6 (-56.4 to 46.3) mm, and -5.3 (-39.8 to 36) mm respectively. On univariate analysis, both symptoms were strongly associated with objective prolapse clinically and on TLUS, with "vaginal lump" consistently the stronger predictor.

    CONCLUSIONS: The symptom of a "vaginal lump or bulge" was consistently a stronger predictor of objective POP than "dragging sensation." This finding was insensitive to adjustments for potential confounders. However, a "dragging sensation" is clearly a symptom of prolapse.

    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  8. Abdollahi A, Hosseinian S, Asmundson GJG
    J Gen Psychol, 2018 01 18;145(1):93-105.
    PMID: 29345535 DOI: 10.1080/00221309.2017.1421137
    To better understand depression among adolescent university students, this study was designed to examine coping style as a potential mediator between perfectionism and depression. Participants comprised 510 undergraduate students from Malaysia. Structural Equation Modelling demonstrated that personal standards perfectionism and task-focused coping style were negatively associated with depression, while emotion-focused coping style, avoidant coping style, and evaluative concerns perfectionism were positively associated with depression. Multiple mediator modelling provided evidence that coping styles partially mediated the relationship between perfectionism and depression. These findings advance current knowledge by suggesting how perfectionism may contribute to depression and may inform the development of more effective prevention and intervention programs for depression.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  9. Islam KMM, Asadullah MN
    PLoS One, 2018;13(1):e0190807.
    PMID: 29351305 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190807
    Using government secondary school English language textbooks from Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh, we conducted a quantitative content analysis in order to identify gender stereotypes in school education. In total, 21 categories of exclusion and quality of representation were used to study gender stereotypes. Our analysis confirms a pro-male bias in textbooks: the aggregate female share is 40.4% in textual and pictorial indicators combined. Female occupations are mostly traditional and less prestigious while the characters are predominantly introverted and passive in terms of personality traits. Women are also shown to be mostly involved in domestic and in-door activities while men have a higher presence in professional roles. Systematic underrepresentation of females is evident regardless of whether we look at the text or pictures. A cross-country analysis shows that the female share in picture content is only 35.2% in Malaysia and Bangladesh. Overall, the proportion of female to male characters (text and pictures combined) is balanced in Malaysia and Indonesia (44.4% and 44.1% respectively) while this share is only 24.4% and 37.3% in Pakistani and Bangladeshi textbooks respectively. The finding of underrepresentation of women in Pakistani textbooks, in terms of quality and quantity, is robust to the selection of province-, grade- and subject-specific textbooks, as well as the range and type of categories used.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  10. Almaslami F, Aljunid SM, Ghailan K
    J Int Med Res, 2018 Apr;46(4):1537-1544.
    PMID: 29350090 DOI: 10.1177/0300060517749329
    Objectives To assess the demographic characteristics and outcomes of couples undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment at a private hospital in Al Qassim district, Saudi Arabia. Methods For this retrospective study, information was extracted from the hospital electronic database and IVF unit medical records. Results 2259 couples underwent 2703 IVF/ICSI cycles during 2014 to 2016. The utilization rate was approximately 1000 cycle per million of inhabitants. Mean ages ± standard deviation (SD) for women and men were 32.9 ± 5.7 and 39.2 ± 7.4 years, respectively. More couples were diagnosed with secondary infertility (55.2%) than primary infertility (44.8%). Male factor was the commonest single indication for IVF (36.2%). Mean ± SD infertility duration was 4.70 ± 4.03 years. Overall, 949 couples had a successful pregnancy. Age-specific pregnancy rates (PR) were highest for women <35 years (39.8%) and lowest for women >40 years (11.6%). Male age and infertility duration had no effect on PR but sperm source (fresh vs. frozen) and female age had significant impacts. However, fresh sperm was used in 90.6% cycles whereas frozen sperm was used in 9.4% cycles. Conclusions IVF treatment outcomes in the Al Qassim district are within the boundaries of average international success rates. Infertile couples seeking IVF services should be counselled with regard to important prognostic factors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  11. Tey NP, Lai SL, Ng ST
    J Biosoc Sci, 2019 01;51(1):77-94.
    PMID: 29352813 DOI: 10.1017/S0021932017000682
    There has been a secular decline in age at menarche since the 19th century. Early-maturing women are more likely to have their sexual debut at a younger age, which in turn gives rise to a host of reproductive health and social problems. This study used data from five waves of National Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in the Philippines between 1993 and 2013 to examine the trends and socioeconomic differentials in age at menarche and sexual debut. The changing trend in age at menarche and sexual debut was examined across birth cohorts, and logistic regressions were used to identify the determinants of early sexual debut. In the Philippines, the mean and median ages at menarche declined from 13.2 years and 12.6 years, respectively, among young women born in 1973-1977, to 12.9 years and 12.3 years, respectively, among those born in 1993-1997. The proportion who had their sexual debut by age 20 increased from 41.2% for the 1968-1972 birth cohort to 53.4% for the 1988-1992 birth cohort. Filipino women with low education, from poor families and living in rural areas were more likely to have earlier sexual debut despite attaining menarche at a later age as compared with their higher educated counterparts, and those from wealthier families and urban areas. Logistic regression analysis showed that, besides marital status, women's education and age at menarche were important determinants of early sexual debut. However, ethnicity, place of residence and family wealth had no significant effects on age at menarche. An increasing proportion of young women were found to be having unprotected sexual debut and at a younger age, with health and social ramifications. Hence, apart from increasing the enrolment of girls in schools and discouraging teenage marriage, there is a need for social and health agencies to implement appropriate adolescent sexual and reproductive health programmes such as counselling and educational campaigns, as well as support services, to address sexual problems among the youth.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  12. Acharya UR, Koh JEW, Hagiwara Y, Tan JH, Gertych A, Vijayananthan A, et al.
    Comput Biol Med, 2018 03 01;94:11-18.
    PMID: 29353161 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2017.12.024
    Liver is the heaviest internal organ of the human body and performs many vital functions. Prolonged cirrhosis and fatty liver disease may lead to the formation of benign or malignant lesions in this organ, and an early and reliable evaluation of these conditions can improve treatment outcomes. Ultrasound imaging is a safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective way of diagnosing liver lesions. However, this technique has limited performance in determining the nature of the lesions. This study initiates a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system to aid radiologists in an objective and more reliable interpretation of ultrasound images of liver lesions. In this work, we have employed radon transform and bi-directional empirical mode decomposition (BEMD) to extract features from the focal liver lesions. After which, the extracted features were subjected to particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique for the selection of a set of optimized features for classification. Our automated CAD system can differentiate normal, malignant, and benign liver lesions using machine learning algorithms. It was trained using 78 normal, 26 benign and 36 malignant focal lesions of the liver. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of lesion classification were 92.95%, 90.80%, and 97.44%, respectively. The proposed CAD system is fully automatic as no segmentation of region-of-interest (ROI) is required.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  13. Walker P, Bremner JG, Lunghi M, Dolscheid S, D Barba B, Simion F
    Dev Psychobiol, 2018 03;60(2):216-223.
    PMID: 29355921 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21603
    Amodal (redundant) and arbitrary cross-sensory feature associations involve the context-insensitive mapping of absolute feature values across sensory domains. Cross-sensory associations of a different kind, known as correspondences, involve the context-sensitive mapping of relative feature values. Are such correspondences in place at birth (like amodal associations), or are they learned from subsequently experiencing relevant feature co-occurrences in the world (like arbitrary associations)? To decide between these two possibilities, human newborns (median age = 44 hr) watched animations in which two balls alternately rose and fell together in space. The pitch of an accompanying sound rose and fell either congruently with this visual change (pitch rising and falling as the balls moved up and down), or incongruently (pitch rising and falling as the balls moved down and up). Newborns' looking behavior was sensitive to this congruence, providing the strongest indication to date that cross-sensory correspondences can be in place at birth.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  14. Islam MA, Khandker SS, Alam F, Kamal MA, Gan SH
    Autoimmun Rev, 2018 Mar;17(3):226-243.
    PMID: 29355608 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2017.10.014
    BACKGROUND: Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune multifactorial disorder. Genetics is believed to play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of APS, especially in thrombosis development and pregnancy morbidity. In the last 20 years, extensive research on genetic contribution on APS indicates that APS is a polygenic disorder, where a number of genes are involved in the development of its clinical manifestations.

    AIMS: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the genetic risk factors in thrombotic primary APS. Additionally, to assess the common molecular functions, biological processes, pathways, interrelations with the gene encoded proteins and RNA-Seq-derived expression patterns over different organs of the associated genes via bioinformatic analyses.

    METHODS: Without restricting the year, a systematic search of English articles was conducted (up to 4th September 2017) using Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases. Eligible studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Two researchers independently extracted the data from the included studies. Quality assessment of the included studies was carried out using a modified New-Castle Ottawa scale (NOS).

    RESULTS: From an initial search result of 2673 articles, 22 studies were included (1268 primary APS patients and 1649 healthy controls). Twenty-two genes were identified in which 16 were significantly associated with thrombosis in primary APS whereas six genes showed no significant association with thrombosis. Based on the NOS, 14 studies were of high quality while 6 were low quality studies. From the bioinformatic analyses, thrombin-activated receptor activity (q = 6.77 × 10-7), blood coagulation (q = 2.63 × 10-15), formation of fibrin clot (q = 9.76 × 10-10) were the top hit for molecular function, biological process and pathway categories, respectively. With the highest confidence interaction score of 0.900, all of the thrombosis-associated gene encoded proteins of APS were found to be interconnected except for two. Based on the pathway analysis, cumulatively all the genes affect haemostasis [false discovery rate (FDR) = 1.01 × 10-8] and the immune system [FDR = 9.93 × 10-2]. Gene expression analysis from RNA-Seq data revealed that almost all the genes were expressed in 32 different tissues in the human body.

    CONCLUSION: According to our systematic review, 16 genes contribute significantly in patients with thrombotic primary APS when compared with controls. Bioinformatic analyses of these genes revealed their molecular interconnectivity in protein levels largely by affecting blood coagulation and immune system. These genes are expressed in 32 different organs and may pose higher risk of developing thrombosis anywhere in the body of primary APS patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  15. Yaghoobzadeh A, Gorgulu O, Yee BL, Wibisono AH, Pahlevan Sharif S, Sharif Nia H, et al.
    J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc, 2018 01 22;24(6):522-530.
    PMID: 29357723 DOI: 10.1177/1078390317753676
    BACKGROUND: Aging perception plays a central role in the experience of healthy aging by older people. Research identified that factors such as hope, life satisfaction, and socioeconomic status influence the perception of aging in older populations.

    OBJECTIVE: This study sought to test a hypothetical model to quantitatively evaluate the relationship between hope, life satisfaction, and socioeconomic status with aging perception.

    DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used with 504 older aged participants who live in Qazvin, Iran. Data were collected using the Barker's Aging Perception Questionnaire, Life Satisfaction Index-Z, and Herth Hope Index.

    RESULTS: The results of path analysis showed that hope was the most important factor affecting aging perception. Results drawn from correlation analysis indicated that there was a positive significant correlation ( r = .383, p < .001) between hope and aging perception. Further analysis found that hope had the strongest impact on aging perception compared with the other variables analyzed (e.g., life satisfaction and socioeconomic status).

    CONCLUSIONS: A model of aging perception in Iranian elders is presented. The findings suggested that hope had a significant and positive impact on aging perception. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.

    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  16. Jin RR, Sutcliffe A, Vento M, Miles C, Travadi J, Kishore K, et al.
    Acta Paediatr, 2018 10;107(10):1733-1738.
    PMID: 29385272 DOI: 10.1111/apa.14242
    AIM: The diagnosis of tongue-tie (or ankyloglossia) has increased more than 10-fold in some countries. Whether this is a global phenomenon or related to cultural and professional differences is uncertain.

    METHODS: An online survey in English, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish was disseminated between May and November 2016 via 27 international professional bodies to >30 clinical professions chosen a priori to represent occupations involved in the management of neonatal ankyloglossia.

    RESULTS: A total of 1721 responses came from nursing (51%), medical (40%), dental (6%) and allied health (4%) clinicians. Nurses (40%) and allied health (34%) professionals were more likely than doctors (8%) to consider ankyloglossia as important for lactation problems, as were western (83%) compared to Asian (52%) clinicians. Referrals to clinicians for ankyloglossia management originated mainly from parents (38%). Interprofessional referrals were not clearly defined. Frenectomies were most likely to be performed by surgeons (65%) and dentists (35%), who were also less likely to be involved in lactation support. Clinicians performing frenectomies were more likely to consider analgesia as important compared to those not performing frenectomies.

    CONCLUSION: The diagnosis and treatment of ankyloglossia vary considerably around the world and between professions. Efforts to standardise management are required.

    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  17. Tai ELM, Kueh YC, Wan Hitam WH, Wong TY, Shatriah I
    PLoS One, 2018;13(2):e0191434.
    PMID: 29389952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191434
    PURPOSE: Childhood obesity is associated with adult cardiometabolic disease. We postulate that the underlying microvascular dysfunction begins in childhood. We thus aimed to compare retinal vascular parameters between obese and non-obese children.

    METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 166 children aged 6 to 12 years old in Malaysia. Ocular examination, biometry, retinal photography, blood pressure and body mass index measurement were performed. Participants were divided into two groups; obese and non-obese. Retinal vascular parameters were measured using validated software.

    RESULTS: Mean age was 9.58 years. Approximately 51.2% were obese. Obese children had significantly narrower retinal arteriolar caliber (F(1,159) = 6.862, p = 0.010), lower arteriovenous ratio (F(1,159) = 17.412, p < 0.001), higher venular fractal dimension (F(1,159) = 4.313, p = 0.039) and higher venular curvature tortuosity (F(1,158) = 5.166, p = 0.024) than non-obese children, after adjustment for age, gender, blood pressure and axial length.

    CONCLUSIONS: Obese children have abnormal retinal vascular geometry. These findings suggest that childhood obesity is characterized by early microvascular abnormalities that precede development of overt disease. Further research is warranted to determine if these parameters represent viable biomarkers for risk stratification in obesity.

    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  18. Ang BH, Chen WS, Ngin CK, Oxley JA, Lee SWH
    Public Health, 2018 Feb;155:8-16.
    PMID: 29274898 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2017.11.003
    OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the English and Malay versions of the Driving and Riding Questionnaire.

    STUDY DESIGN: An observational study with a mix-method approach by utilising both questionnaire and short debriefing interviews.

    METHODS: Forward and backward translations of the original questionnaire were performed. The translated questionnaire was assessed for clarity by a multidisciplinary research team, translators, and several Malay native speakers. A total of 24 subjects participated in the pilot study. Reliability (Cronbach's alpha) and validity (content validity) of the original and translated questionnaires were examined.

    RESULTS: The English and Malay versions of the Driving and Riding Questionnaire were found to be reliable tools in measuring driving behaviours amongst older drivers and riders, with Cronbach's alpha of 0.9158 and 0.8919, respectively. For content validity, the questionnaires were critically reviewed in terms of relevance, clarity, simplicity, and ambiguity. The feedback obtained from participants addressed various aspects of the questionnaire related to the improvement of wordings used and inclusion of visual guide to enhance the understanding of the items in the questionnaire. This feedback was incorporated into the final versions of the English and Malay questionnaires.

    CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrated both the English and Malay versions of the Driving and Riding Questionnaire to be valid and reliable.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  19. Hadizie D, Munajat I
    Malays Orthop J, 2017 Nov;11(3):1-9.
    PMID: 29326760 MyJurnal DOI: 10.5704/MOJ.1711.009
    Introduction: Both-bone forearm fractures in children can be treated non-operatively with a cast. Most previous studies have shown favourable outcome; however, information on the functional outcome after skeletal maturity is still scanty. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the functional outcome after skeletal maturity in fractures with at least four years of growth remaining. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from March 2012 until March 2013. Age at the time of fracture was taken as until 10 years for females and until 12 years old for males with at least four years of growth remaining. Fractures occurring in the diaphysis were included in the study. Functional outcomes were assessed at or after skeletal maturity. Results: Forty-four children fulfilled the criteria. The ages of the youngest and the oldest at the time of fracture was five and 12 years old respectively. Follow-up of the male and female patients were 7.4 years and 5.5 years respectively. There was a significant difference between post-reduction angulation and angulation at skeletal maturity of the radius and ulna (p<0.001). Out of 44 patients, 39 had excellent and five had good functional outcomes. No patient had fair or poor functional outcome. There was no association between the functional outcome and the angulation of forearm bones after skeletal maturity. Age at the time of fracture had a significant association with the functional outcome. Conclusion: Non-operative treatment of both-bone diaphyseal forearm fractures in a cast has good to excellent functional outcomes in children who still have four years of growth remaining.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  20. Amran HS, Aziz MA, George E, Mahmud N, Lee TY, Md Noor S
    Malays J Pathol, 2017 Dec;39(3):321-326.
    PMID: 29279598 MyJurnal
    Hb Tak is one of more than 200 high affinity haemoglobin variants reported worldwide. It results from the insertion of two nucleotides (AC) at the termination codon, between codon 146 and codon 147 of the beta-globin gene [Beta 147 (+AC)]. Polycythaemia is the main clinical feature although affected carriers are usually asymptomatic and do not require intervention. Several case studies in this region have reported the co-inheritance of Hb Tak with Hb E, delta beta and beta thalassaemia with one case of homozygous Hb Tak in a Thai boy. In this case report, a cluster of haemoglobin Tak was found in a family of Malay ethnic origin. Cascade family screening was conducted while investigating a 4-year old girl who presented with symptomatic polycythaemia. She had 2 previous Hb analysis done, at 7-month and 2-year-old with the diagnosis of possible Hb Q Thailand and Homozygous Hb D, respectively. Both diagnosis did not fit her clinical presentations. She was plethoric, had reduced exercise tolerance as well as cardiomyopathy. Her parents were consanguineously married and later diagnosed as asymptomatic carriers of Hb Tak. Consequently, re-analysis of the girl's blood sample revealed a homozygous state of Hb Tak. In conclusion, high oxygen affinity haemoglobin like Hb Tak should be considered in the investigation of polycythaemic patients with abnormal Hb analyses. In this case, DNA analysis was crucial in determining the correct diagnosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
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