MATERIALS AND METHODS: An injectable silane-based antimicrobial aimed to modulate macrophage polarisation was manufactured. Experimental analysis included colorimetric cell migration assays on gingival fibroblasts, macrophage phagocytosis characterisation, immunofluorescence staining, triacylglycerol accumulation within macrophages by LCMS, cellular metabolic/proliferation assays, macrophage exposure quantification with morphology assessment using FE-SEM, Raman spectral analysis, RNA isolation for relative gene expression and animal study model to morphometrically and microscopically analyse partial thickness burn wound healing under QAS/K21.
RESULTS: M1 and M2 polarisation both appeared exaggerated under QAS/K21 treatment. The wounds treated with K21 had depicted accelerated healing as compared to control (P < .05) in dorsal skin of rabbits. Relative gene expression results demonstrate reduced cytokine and anti-inflammatory response under the influence of K21. While M1 expression, TG accumulation, and associated characterisations demonstrate the programmed inflammatory potential of K21.
CONCLUSION: the antimicrobial and reparative efficacy of K21 silane aids in programmed inflammation for enhanced tissue healing and repair.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy male Wistar rats, 1-2 months old and 250-300 g body weight, were divided into seven groups, namely K1: control group; K2: 100 μl LPS; K3: hyperglycemia (≥230 mg/dL); K4: 100 μl LPS with hyperglycemia; K5: LPS, hyperglycemia, and 100 μl NEP; K6: LPS, hyperglycemia, and 100 μl HUCMSCS; and K7: LPS, hyperglycemia, and 100 μl HUCMSCS and NEP. Escherichia coli`s LPS was used to induce osteolysis on the calvaria. NEP and HUCMSCS were formulated and collected, then injected subcutaneously on the calvaria. Hyperglycemia-induced streptozotocin 30 mg/kg injection for one week, intraperitoneally. All samples were sacrificed on day 8. Blood samples were collected to examine TRAP and Ctsk levels with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NFATc1, sclerostin, and RANK-RANKL-OPG expression investigated with immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: HUCMSCS and NEP administration inhibit TRAP and Ctsk levels, reduce NFATc1, sclerostin, and RANK-RANKL, but enhance OPG expression in LPS-induced osteolysis with hyperglycemia with significant differences between groups (P ≤ 0.05).
CONCLUSION: HUCMSCS and NEP post-administration reduced osteoclastogenesis in LPS-induced osteolysis calvaria with hyperglycemic in rats in the early phase of bone remodelling.
METHODS: COVID-19 samples that tested positive by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and with cycle threshold values <30 were obtained throughout Malaysia. Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 complete genomes was performed using Illumina, Oxford Nanopore, or Ion Torrent platforms. A total of 6163 SARS-CoV-2 complete genome sequences were generated over the surveillance period. All sequences were submitted to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data database.
RESULTS: From June 2021 to January 2022, Malaysia experienced the fourth wave of COVID-19 dominated by the Delta variant of concern, including the original B.1.617.2 lineage and descendant AY lineages. The B.1.617.2 lineage was identified as the early dominant circulating strain throughout the country but over time, was displaced by AY.59 and AY.79 lineages in Peninsular (west) Malaysia, and the AY.23 lineage in east Malaysia. In December 2021, pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia facilitated the introduction and spread of the BA.1 lineage (Omicron variant of concern) in the country.
CONCLUSION: The changing trends of circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages were identified, with differences observed between west and east Malaysia. This initiative highlighted the importance of leveraging research expertise in the country to facilitate pandemic response and preparedness.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 2,200 dentists from 21 countries. Three scales - Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and Affect Balance Scale (ABS) - were used to measure the subjective responses. Data related to demographic and social characteristics were recorded. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used as appropriate. Scales were correlated, and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to identify the independent determinants of SHS, SWLS and ABS. Data were analysed using the SPSS software program; a value of P <0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS: The overall mean scores of SHS, SWLS and ABS were 18.53 ± 5.06, 23.06 ± 6.25 and 1.26 ± 2.40, respectively, with significant differences found across countries: dentists working in Croatia, Peru and Serbia recorded the highest scores, unlike dentists practicing in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, who recorded the lowest scores. There were significant, moderately positive correlations between the various scales: SHS and SWLS: r = 0.535, P
METHODOLOGY: A total of 571 healthcare workers at COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards as well as the emergency department and laboratory staff at COVID-19 testing labs were recruited. The presence of novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and IgM/IgG antibodies were confirmed in all healthcare workers. The healthcare workers responded to an online Google Forms questionnaire that evaluates demographic information and comorbidities, exposure and adherence to infection prevention and control measures against COVID-19. Descriptive analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 24.0.
RESULTS: Three healthcare workers (0.5%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while the remaining 568 (99.5%) were negative. All were negative for IgM and IgG antibodies during recruitment (day 1) and follow-up (day 15). More than 90% of the healthcare workers followed infection prevention and control practices recommendations regardless of whether they have been exposed to occupational risk for COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS: The healthcare workers' high level of adherence to infection prevention practices at this hospital helped reduce and minimize their occupational exposure to COVID-19.
METHODS: A cross-sectional multicentre study with tissue analysis of Malaysian patients diagnosed with primary OPSCC within a five-year period, from 2015 to 2019 between 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2019 was undertaken. Determination of HPV status was carried out using p16INK4a immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays constructed from archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue.
RESULTS: From the cases identified, 184 cases had sufficient tissue material for analysis. Overall, median age at diagnosis was 63.0 years (IQR = 15) and 76.1% of patients were males. In our cohort, 35.3% of patients were Indian, 34.2% were Chinese, 21.2% were Malay and 9.2% were from other ethnicities. The estimated prevalence of HPV-associated OPSCC in our cohort was 31.0% (CI 24.4-38.2%). The median age for the HPV-associated OPSCC sub-group of patients was not significantly lower than the median age of patients with HPV-independent OPSCC. More than half of HPV-associated OPSCC was seen in patients of Chinese ethnicity (54.4%). Patients with HPV-associated OPSCC had a much better overall survival than patients with HPV-independent OPSCC (Log rank test; p
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted, and a protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022346051). Publications from 30 April 1980 to 30 April 2023 were retrieved from multiple databases. Data were analysed using random-effects and common-effects models with subgroup and sensitivity analyses.
FINDINGS: Forty-four studies met the inclusion criteria, with 29 studies used for meta-analysis of vaginal prolapse surgery outcomes. Sixteen studies focused on patients who had undergone hysterectomy alongside prolapse repair.
INTERPRETATION: Patients who underwent vaginal prolapse surgery with hysterectomy experienced higher operative and postoperative complication rates than those without hysterectomy. Increased risks included hospital readmission, POP recurrence and re-operation. The review highlighted a lack of diversity in terms of ethnicity, age and comorbidity status, which are essential to fully understanding the impact of POP. Future research should focus on these underrepresented factors.
METHODS: A web-based survey on GD management was conducted on practicing clinicians. Responses from 542 clinicians were received and subsequently analysed and compared to outcomes from similar surveys from other regions.
RESULTS: A total of 542 respondents participated in the survey, 515 (95%) of whom completed all sections. Of these, 86% were medical specialists, 11% surgeons, and 3% nuclear medicine physicians. In addition to serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine assays, most respondents would request TSH-receptor autoantibody (TRAb) measurement (68%) during initial work-up. Thyroid ultrasound is requested by about half of respondents (53%), while the use of nuclear medicine scans is limited. The preferred first-line treatment is anti-thyroid drug (ATD) therapy (79%) with methimazole (MMI) or carbimazole (CBZ), followed by radioiodine (RAI; 19%) and surgery (2%). In case of surgery, one-third of respondents would opt for a subtotal rather than a total thyroidectomy. In case of mild Graves orbitopathy (GO), ATDs (67%) remains the preferred treatment, but a larger proportion of clinicians prefer surgery (20%). For a patient with intention to conceive, the preferred treatment pattern remained unchanged, although propylthiouracil (PTU) became the preferred ATD-agent during the first trimester. In comparison to European and American practices, marked differences were noted in the relatively infrequent usage of nuclear medicine scans and the overall higher use of a ATDs and β-blockers and adjunctive ATD-treatment during RAI in the APAC-group.
CONCLUSION: Although regional differences regarding the diagnosis and management of GD are apparent in this first pan-Asia-Pacific survey, this study reveals the overall approach to the management of this disease in Asia-Pacific generally tends to fall between the trends appreciated in the American and European cohorts.
METHODS: This was an interrupted time series study of patients who underwent any of the three emergency bellwether procedures (caesarean section, laparotomy and open fracture fixation) from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021 at one of eight institutions in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Vietnam. We compared the weekly volumes, baseline characteristics and outcomes of each procedure across different time periods in each institution defined by different levels of COVID-19 restrictions using selected indicators from a city-level and hospital-level response index.
RESULTS: Weekly volumes of emergency caesarean section decreased significantly in Guwahati Neurological Research Centre (GNRC) (p=1.62×10-5) and Ulin General Hospital (UGH) (p<2.2×10-16) but increased in Adam Malik Hospital (AMH) (p=1.45×10-5). For laparotomies, volume increased in Singapore General Hospital (p=2.38×10-5) but decreased in Military Hospital 175 (p=6.30×10-7). The volume of open fracture fixations decreased in GNRC (p=3.08×10-8), AMH (p=1.68×10-6) and UGH (p=8.15×10-6).
CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 restrictions on the city and hospital level were associated with a decrease in surgical volumes of the three bellwether procedures in some of the institutions. There was some suggestion of surgical capacity limitations in UGH and Military Hospital 175 during periods of more stringent COVID-19 restrictions.