Displaying publications 61 - 70 of 70 in total

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  1. Chong KM, Rajiah K, Chong D, Maharajan MK
    Front Med (Lausanne), 2022;9:884482.
    PMID: 35665362 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.884482
    INTRODUCTION: In supplying medicines to patients and consumers waste can occur in prescribing, dispensing, and leftover stages. Pharmacists in community pharmacies play a crucial role in dispensing and should share information on appropriate medicines disposal with consumers. This qualitative study explored how Malaysian community pharmacists manage medication wastage, returned medicines, and medicines disposal by eliciting their opinions on medicines wastage, the challenges faced, and feasibility of medicine return and safe medicine disposal in the setting of Malaysian community pharmacy.

    METHODS: Telephonic interviews were conducted using a pre-validated interview guide among community pharmacists. Purposive sampling was used to ensure heterogeneity of participants in terms of gender, age, and position in the pharmacy. The interview was conducted until a point where no new information was obtained. Interview data were thematically analyzed.

    RESULTS: The analysis identified nine themes organized into four domains. The results revealed that pharmacists have positive perceptions of the safe disposal of medicines. Pharmacists mentioned that medicine returns to service in community pharmacies are not common due to a lack of facilities in the management of unwanted, expired, and returned medicines. As such pharmacists have suggested a few ways to minimize medicinal wastage.

    CONCLUSIONS: Respondents aimed to minimize medicines wastage (unused medicines) in order to minimize loss of revenue. Respondents did not usually accept returned medicines due to the operational costs of safe disposal. Disposal of unused medicines was undertaken by centralizing the stocks at an organization facility before being disposed of by outsourced waste management companies.

  2. Patel P, Macdonald JC, Boobalan J, Marsden M, Rizzi R, Zenon M, et al.
    Front Med (Lausanne), 2023;10:1275817.
    PMID: 38020129 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1275817
    The appropriate use of regulatory agilities has the potential to accelerate regulatory review, utilize resources more efficiently and deliver medicines and vaccines more rapidly, all without compromising quality, safety and efficacy. This was clearly demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic where regulators and industry rapidly adapted to ensure continued supply of existing critical medicines and review and approve new innovative medicines. In this retrospective study, we analyze the impact of regulatory agilities on the review and approval of Pfizer/BioNTech's BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine globally using regulatory approval data from 73 country/regional approvals. We report on the critical role of reliance and provide evidence that demonstrates reliance approaches and certain regulatory agilities reduced review times for the COVID-19 vaccine. These findings support the case for more widespread implementation of regulatory agilities and demonstrate the important role of such approaches to improve public health outcomes.
  3. Liu Y, Wang Y
    Front Med (Lausanne), 2023;10:1305733.
    PMID: 38020090 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1305733
    PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and manipulative therapy Tui-na techniques in the treatment of patients with patellofemoral joint pain syndrome, and to evaluate their impact on pain relief, functional improvement, and joint range of motion.

    METHODS: In this study, 25 patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome were enrolled, comprising of an intervention group of 13 patients who received IASTM treatment and a control group of 12 patients who received Tui-na manipulation therapy. The treatment cycle lasted for 4 weeks, featuring two interventions per week. Before treatment, the visual analog pain scale (VAS) of the knee, Lysholm score of the knee, modified Thomas test (MTT), and maximum isometric strength of the extensor muscles of the lower limbs were measured and recorded for both groups. After the first and last treatments, the aforementioned indexes were reassessed, and the maximum isometric muscle strength of the lower extremity extensors was measured only after 4 weeks of treatment had been completed.

    RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the basic information of the two intervention groups (p > 0. 05). After the first treatment and 4 weeks of treatment, the Lysholm score in both groups significantly improved (p 

  4. Gharaibeh M, Alfwares AA, Elobeid E, Khasawneh R, Rousan L, El-Heis M, et al.
    Front Med (Lausanne), 2023;10:1276434.
    PMID: 38076239 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1276434
    AIMS: To assess the diagnostic performance of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in older women across varying breast densities and to compare its effectiveness for cancer detection with 2D mammography and ultrasound (U/S) for different breast density categories. Furthermore, our study aimed to predict the potential reduction in unnecessary additional examinations among older women due to DBT.

    METHODS: This study encompassed a cohort of 224 older women. Each participant underwent both 2D mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis examinations. Supplementary views were conducted when necessary, including spot compression and magnification, ultrasound, and recommended biopsies. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated for 2D mammography, DBT, and ultrasound. The impact of DBT on diminishing the need for supplementary imaging procedures was predicted through binary logistic regression.

    RESULTS: In dense breast tissue, DBT exhibited notably heightened sensitivity and NPV for lesion detection compared to non-dense breasts (61.9% vs. 49.3%, p  0.05) between DBT and the four dependent variables.

    CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that among older women, DBT does not significantly decrease the requirement for further medical examinations.

  5. Sakthiswary R, Uma Veshaaliini R, Chin KY, Das S, Sirasanagandla SR
    Front Med (Lausanne), 2022;9:962969.
    PMID: 36059831 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.962969
    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, in which the inflammatory processes involve the skeletal system and there is marked destruction of the bones and the surrounding structures. In this review, we discuss the current concepts of osteoimmunology in RA, which represent the molecular crosstalk between the immune and skeletal systems, resulting in the disruption of bone remodeling. Bone loss in RA can be focal or generalized, leading to secondary osteoporosis. We have summarized the recent studies of bone loss in RA, which focused on the molecular aspects, such as cytokines, autoantibodies, receptor activator of nuclear kappa-β ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG). Apart from the above molecules, the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), which is a potential key mediator in this process through the generation of the Th17 cells, is discussed. Hence, this review highlights the key insights into molecular mechanisms of bone loss in RA.
  6. Peng Q, Zhu X, Jiang Y, Peng M, Zheng D, Wang X, et al.
    Front Med (Lausanne), 2024;11:1462513.
    PMID: 39618816 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1462513
    INTRODUCTION: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. The rapidly increasing incidence of NAFLD is becoming an essential precursor of HCC globally. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the progression of NAFLD and HCC.

    METHOD: Potential miRNAs associated with NAFLD in HCC tumorigenesis were identified through a systematic review, and their roles were evaluated by data mining analysis. The biological function of the potential miRNA and its target genes in NAFLD and HCC were evaluated by bioinformatic analysis.

    RESULT: MIR122 was identified as the potential miRNA associated with NAFLD and HCC. Then, MIR122 expression was significantly lower in HCC patients, and higher MIR122 levels were associated with significantly better overall survival. Next, the biological functions of MIR122 and target genes were predicted to be involved in inflammation, fibrosis, cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and apoptosis. In particular, the FOXO signaling pathway may regulate the above biological functions.

    CONCLUSION: MIR122 was suggested to be involved in progressing from NAFLD to HCC through the PI3K/AKT/FOXO pathway.

    SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, identifier: CRD 42024517940.

  7. Rath A
    Front Med (Lausanne), 2024;11:1357068.
    PMID: 39911677 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1357068
    BACKGROUND: While health professions education has embraced collaborative and co-creative learning approaches, the integration of digital technologies into feedback practices remains limited, especially in undergraduate dental education. This study investigated the impact of Padlet, a digital pinboard, on collaborative learning and feedback literacy among undergraduate dental students during a formative assessment activity guided by Nicol and MacFarlane's feedback principles.

    METHODS: A convenience sample of 39 Year 3 dental students (25 women and 14 men, mean age = 22) enrolled in a Bachelor of Dental Surgery program at a private dental school in Malaysia participated in a week-long Padlet-based peer feedback activity focused on periodontics. Thematic analysis was conducted on student interactions and reflections collected from Padlet posts and individual student reflections.

    RESULTS: The study yielded promising outcomes. Padlet's asynchronous and anonymous nature fostered in-depth discussions, broader participation, and constructive feedback. Students reported a boost in confidence, increased engagement, and a sense of camaraderie. Thematic analysis revealed the successful application of Nicol and MacFarlane's feedback principles, including clarifying expectations, promoting self-assessment, facilitating teacher-student dialogue, and encouraging reflection and action.

    CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that Padlet, with its unique features, offers a valuable tool for educators seeking to foster collaborative learning and feedback literacy in dental education. Padlet's affordances can significantly enhance collaborative learning and feedback literacy, promoting a trusting environment for student-centered learning and self-regulation in dental education. The study's findings suggest that Padlet can foster cognitive flexibility, allowing students to consider multiple perspectives and adapt their thinking. The platform's asynchronous nature and anonymity feature appeared to contribute to a sense of community and psychological safety, fostering trust among students. The findings of this study have practical implications for educators seeking to implement effective feedback practices and leverage technology to create engaging learning experiences that foster trust, collaboration, and, ultimately, student success.

  8. Jing M, Chui P, Chong MC, Maoting T
    Front Med (Lausanne), 2024;11:1479466.
    PMID: 39726680 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1479466
    INTRODUCTION: Community-based learning approaches are gaining recognition in nursing education as a means to address the needs of aging societies by fostering empathy, emotional intelligence, and caring behaviors among nursing students. These attributes are essential for enhancing the quality of care and building strong interpersonal connections with older adults. While community-based education programs offer promising benefits, there is still limited understanding of their impact on nursing students' empathy, emotional intelligence, and caring behaviors. This scoping review aims to examine how community-based educational interventions can assist nursing students in developing these essential competencies, ultimately contributing to better outcomes in geriatric care.

    METHOD: A scoping review was conducted following the framework of Arksey and O'Malley. The following electronic databases were searched: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, Web of Science, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Gray literature was also searched through Google Scholar and ProQuest. Studies included reports on nursing students' emotional changes due to educational engagements with older adults.

    RESULTS: A total of 3,001 abstracts were screened, with 78 full texts reviewed, resulting in 9 studies being included in the analysis. The results demonstrate that interactions with older adults enhance nursing students' empathy and emotional intelligence while fostering positive changes in their caring behaviors. Participants reported greater sensitivity to the feelings and physical discomforts of older adults, contributing to improved care and stronger relational dynamics.

    DISCUSSION: Community-based education programs involving older adults represent an effective strategy for enhancing nursing students' empathy, emotional intelligence, and caring behaviors, suggesting valuable implications for nursing education methodologies.

  9. Kumar K, Hallikeri K, Oli AK, Radder K, Jain A, Shilpasree AS, et al.
    Front Med (Lausanne), 2024;11:1456963.
    PMID: 39659621 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1456963
    BACKGROUND: H19, a 2.3 kb lncRNA, has been linked to tumor metastasis and progression, but its significance in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. H19 was initially thought to have a tumor-suppressive function, but recent studies have shown that it possesses both tumor-promoting and suppressive functions. The variation in H19 expression may be due to the influence of tobacco or low basal expression levels. However, there are limited studies available on the association between H19 and its role in the prognosis of OSCC.

    OBJECTIVE: The present study analyzes the expression of H19 correlated with clinicopathological parameters, tobacco habit, loco-regional recurrence, and overall survival.

    METHODS: A longitudinal study was undertaken using 96 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) OSCC tissues and 30 FFPE adjacent normal mucosa (NM) tissues from patients who had surgery between 2015 and 2018. The tissues were subjected to quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) to determine H19 expression. The differential expression levels of H19 in OSCC were compared to clinicopathological variables and risk habits using the t-test and ANOVA. H19 expression correlated overall survival was analyzed by drawing the Kaplan-Meier curve followed by the log-rank test. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to determine the ability of H19 to independently predict loco-regional recurrence and overall survival for OSCC.

    RESULT: H19 was significantly underexpressed in OSCC compared to NM in both the study cases and the TCGA OSCC database. The lower expression of H19 was significantly associated with the tobacco smoking habit and was not associated with any clinical or pathological features. Multivariate Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that low H19 expression and positive lymph node metastasis were independent predictors of overall survival for OSCC. Higher age, higher TNM staging, and low H19 expression were independent predictors of loco-regional recurrence.

    CONCLUSION: The findings in the present study indicate that H19 is a novel prognostic marker and may provide a therapeutic strategy for the targeted treatment of OSCC, and tobacco may play a role in the expression of H19.

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