Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 152 in total

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  1. Ooi, Cheng Lee, Nazri Abdul Muthalib
    MyJurnal
    Many factors contribute to the reluctance towards blood donation, but available studies done in Malaysia involving University students does not reflect the knowledge of the public in general. The objective of this study is to determine knowledge, attitude practice towards blood donation among the Sandakan population. A cross-sectional study was employed using an adapted 29-item structured validated questionnaire available in English and Bahasa, consisting of subject’s demography, questions regarding knowledge, attitude, and perception of blood donation. Convenient random sampling was done within the hospital compound, 79 healthy adults consented, and their data were used for the final data analysis, yielding an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α coefficient = 0.816). Out of all, 74.7% of the respondents had a high level of knowledge, and independent t-tests showed that those who were not married, had tertiary education, donated blood in the past, had a statistically significant higher level of knowledge and 96.2% of respondents have a positive attitude. Some donors (40.6%) donated blood for moral satisfaction, and only a quarter (25%) experienced adverse events. Fear of pain, needle, fainting was the highest reason for reluctance in blood donation (36.2% of non-donors), followed by self-perception of being medically unfit to donate (31.9% of non-donors). Even though the sampled population in Sandakan showed an adequate level of knowledge as well as a positive attitude towards blood donation, blood product shortage is still present. This study may contribute by serving as an educational platform for awareness and education to improve the number of blood donors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  2. Vo MTH, Thonglor R, Moncatar TJR, Han TDT, Tejativaddhana P, Nakamura K
    Public Health, 2023 Sep;222:215-228.
    PMID: 36229238 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.08.012
    OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the prevalence, measurement scales, related factors and interventions for fear of falling (FOF) among older adults in Southeast Asia.

    STUDY DESIGN: This was a systematic review.

    METHODS: Published research studies on FOF among older adults were searched using the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ASEAN Citation Index, Thai Journal Citation Index, Malaysian Journal Citation Report and Google Scholar. All observational and experimental studies investigating FOF among community-dwelling older adults in Southeast Asia were eligible. A narrative synthesis was used to describe the findings. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to assess the quality and risk of bias of the included studies.

    RESULTS: A total of 15 observational studies and three experimental studies were included after screening 2112 titles and abstracts. These studies, published between 2011 and 2021, were conducted in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The FOF prevalence ranged from 21.6% to 88.2%. The most commonly used FOF assessment tool was the Falls Efficacy Scale-International. Well-reported related factors of FOF were female sex, advanced age, balance impairment and fall history. All experimental studies utilising single- or multi-component interventions comprised an exercise approach. Limited studies have considered environmental factors.

    CONCLUSIONS: Various related factors of FOF and the interventions implemented were revealed. Public health researchers and policymakers should consider the factors related to FOF in practical FOF intervention and prevention strategies. Further evidence on FOF issues is required to understand the multidimensional characteristics of FOF, specifically the environmental aspects of older adults in Southeast Asia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear*
  3. Kyaw L, Pereira NK, Ang CX, Choo CSC, Nah SA
    Eur J Pediatr, 2020 May;179(5):735-742.
    PMID: 31897841 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-019-03555-w
    Studies show that conservative management in acute uncomplicated appendicitis (AUA) is an alternative to surgery. This study aims to determine factors affecting parental preference in management of AUA and their decision for research participation. We conducted surveys on parents whose children were admitted with suspicion of appendicitis but later confirmed not to have appendicitis. Information on appendicectomy versus conservative treatment with antibiotics was provided using a fixed script and standard information leaflet. Questionnaires covered factors influencing decisions, opinions regarding research, treatment preference and demographic data. We excluded parents not fluent in English. Of 113 respondents, 71(62.8%) chose antibiotics, 39(34.5%) chose appendicectomy, and 3(2.7%) had no preference. Reasons given for choosing antibiotics were fear of surgical risks and preferring less invasive treatment. Those choosing appendicectomy expressed preference for definitive treatment and fear of recurrence. Majority were against randomisation (n = 89, 78.8%) and blinding (n = 90, 79.7%). Over half found difficulty involving their child in research (n = 65, 57.5%). Most thought that research is important (66.4%) and beneficial to others (59.3%). Parents who perceived their child as healthy found research riskier (p = 0.039). Educated parents were more likely to find research beneficial to others (p = 0.012) but less accepting of randomisation (p = 0.001).Conclusion: More parents appear to prefer conservative treatment for acute uncomplicated appendicitis. Researchers must consider parental concerns regarding randomisation and blinding.What is Known:• Conservative management of acute uncomplicated appendicitis in paediatric patients is safe and effective, sparing the child the need for an operation; however, neither conservative nor surgical management is proven to be superior.• Randomised controlled trials provide the highest level of evidence, but it is challenging to recruit paediatric patients as participants in such clinical trials.What is New:• More parents prefer conservative management of uncomplicated appendicitis over surgical management for their children due to fear of surgical risks and complications• Randomisation in trial design is significantly associated with a parent's decision to reject their child's participation in a clinical trial.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  4. Pahlevan Sharif S, Ahadzadeh AS, Ong FS, Naghavi N
    Health Promot Perspect, 2020;10(3):220-229.
    PMID: 32802758 DOI: 10.34172/hpp.2020.35
    Background: Mammography screening tends to reduce mortality rate through early detection. One of the barriers to mammography screening is fear of negative appearance evaluation(FNAE). This study investigated the impact of internal health locus of control, breast cancer worries and age on the relationship between FNAE and attitude towards mammography. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey design was used. Samples were Iranian women, living in Iran, aged at least 30 years old, without any history of cancer, and had not performed mammography previously based on self-report. In total, 823 samples were collected through conducting an online survey from April to June 2016. The questionnaire consisted of several instruments including attitude toward breast cancer screening procedures scale, FNAEscale, the internal dimension of the multidimensional health locus of control, and two items to measure breast cancer worry. Using covariance-based structural equation modeling the model was tested. Results: The interaction of FNAE with internal health locus of control (β = -0.128, P<0.05,CI: -0.200, -0.056), breast cancer worry (β = 0.090, P<0.05, CI: -0.162, -0.017), and age (β =-0.095, P<0.05, CI = -0.163, -0.026) was significant. The three tested moderators dampened the positive relationship between FNAE and negative attitude towards mammography. Conclusion: More information about the screening procedure should be given to women to overcome their fear. The findings indicate the need for interventions seeking to shift women's health locus of control from external to internal. Women with low level of cancer worry need more attention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  5. Zaki, R.A., Roffeei, S.N., Hazwan, A.E., Musa, N.
    JUMMEC, 2018;21(2):38-44.
    MyJurnal
    Objective: The study was designed to determine the risk perception of the public population in Kota Kinabalu towards childhood immunisation.
    Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study where self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the public in Kota Kinabalu. The respondents who consented were 18 years old and older. The illiterate persons and the foreigners were excluded. The calculated sample size was 400. Only 313 samples collected were suitable for analysis using SPSS v21.0.
    Results: Fever, pain swelling and allergic reaction were correctly identified as risks of immunisation. Autism, mental retardation and even death could also result from vaccination. Of the total respondents, 76.7% agreed with the practice of childhood vaccination, 70.0% thought that childhood vaccinations were safe and effective and 58.1% felt that its benefit outweighed the risk. Other than that, 32.0% refused childhood vaccination from fear of its risks, and this fear was the main reason for the refusal of childhood vaccination. Age, marital status, race and income were the factors which influenced parental willingness to vaccinate their children (p<0.05).
    Conclusions: Most participants understood the risks of childhood vaccination, but few agreed to the practice of childhood immunisation for herd immunity. Public health campaigns are needed, to increase the understanding and acceptance of childhood vaccination especially in the rural community.
    Keywords: Childhood Immunisation, Parental Risk, Perception, Public Acceptance
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  6. Ahmad Fuad Abdul Rahim, Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff
    ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 2010;11(2):180-0.
    MyJurnal
    Objective: Postgraduate medical training has always been regarded as a highly stressful environment to students. This article described an initial finding on prevalence and sources of stress among postgraduate students. Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on postgraduate students in the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Sample size as calculated for this preliminary study was 38 and convenient sampling method was applied. The 12 items General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Postgraduate Stressors Questionnaire (PSQ) were administered during a workshop involving postgraduate students. Data was analysed using SPSS version 12. Results: Thirty three participants participated in this study. This study found that the prevalence of distressed postgraduate students was 36.4%. The top ten stressors were tests and examinations, large amount of content to be learnt, time pressure to meet deadlines, doing work beyond
    ability, work overload, unfair assessment by superior, fears of making mistakes that can lead to serious consequences, doing work that mentally straining, work demands affect my personal and home life, and lack of time to review what have been learnt. Conclusion: This study found that there was a high prevalence of distressed postgraduate students. It also found that the major stressors were related to academic and performance pressure.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  7. Chu SY, Sakai N, Lee J, Harrison E, Tang KP, Mori K
    J Fluency Disord, 2020 09;65:105767.
    PMID: 32535211 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2020.105767
    PURPOSE: Adults who stutter (AWS) often develop social anxiety disorder. This study was to provide comparative data on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Japanese version (LSAS-J) from AWS and non-stuttering adult controls.

    METHODS: LSAS-J, a 24-item self-reported survey of social phobia and avoidance across various daily situations, was administered to 130 AWS (Mean Age = 41.5 years, SD = 15.8, 111 males) and 114 non-stuttering adults (Mean Age = 39.5, SD = 14.9, 53 males). The test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the LSAS-J were assessed. A between-subject multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was also conducted to determine whether attitude toward social anxiety differed between AWS and AWNS, or by age (<40 and ≥ 40 years old), or sex (female and male).

    RESULTS: AWS reported higher scores on both fear subscales of the LSAS-J. Age had no significant influence on the social anxiety levels reported by either participant group. Sex differences were found in the fear subscales, with females scoring higher on both fear subscales, although these were only marginally significant (p = .06). LSAS-J showed good test-retest reliability and high Cronbach's alpha coefficient, indicating that it is an internally consistent measure of attitudes about social anxiety.

    CONCLUSION: Given the similarly high incidence of social anxiety in adults in Japan who stutter compared with those in other countries, social anxiety should be identified and assessed during clinical decision making and before decisions are made about stuttering treatment. LSAS-J is an easy tool to administer, and showed reliable results of social phobia and avoidance for AWS.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  8. Afiq Izzudin A Rahim, Mohd Ismail Ibrahim
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Initially, studies showed that graphic warning signs (GWSs) on cigarette packages encouraged smok- ing cessation. However, there have been recent concerns over the effectiveness of GWSs to change smoker percep- tions and behavior over time. Our goals were to assess the latest perceptions of GWSs among smokers in Kelantan and to determine the factors associated with them. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among re- spondents who attended outpatient clinics in a teaching hospital in Kelantan. Their perceptions were analyzed with a validated Malay questionnaire containing four domains: fear, influence, credibility, and picture content. Results: The average smoking age was 17 (3.04) years old. The mean smoking time was 11 (7.49) years. The average daily cigarettes smoked was 8 (6.26). Most respondents perceived low levels of fear (83%), poor picture content (65.5%), low influence (87.6%), and low levels of credibility (70.1%) in GWSs. Those with low levels of education were significantly associated with poor perceptions of GWSs. Conclusion: Despite vigorous efforts by the government to discourage smoking in Kelantan, smokers still poorly perceive GWSs. More effective health-promotion strategies are essential to influence smokers in this area.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  9. Mohd Hussain H
    JUMMEC, 2002;1:62-66.
    Malaysia has been swamped by migrant workers from nearby countries like Indonesia, Phillipine and also Bangladesh since 1980's. The main pulling forces which motivated them to migrate to Malaysia are better economy, political stability and religious freedom in Malaysia. Another way of classifying migration pattern is to divide it into push and pull migration or a combination of the two. Pull migrants are those who migrate to obtain better economic opportunity while push migrants are those who try to run away from being prosecuted or due to fear of political and religious suppression. Whatever the push and the pull factors, they are bound to encounter some acculturation challenges. This will inevitably produce certain psychological sequelae. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to determine the point prevalence of psychiatric morbidity experienced by the migrant population. The psychological impact of push and pull migrations is fundamentally distinct. There were significant numbers of migrants admitted to University Hospital psychiatric units who suffered from psychological distress and para suicide. The reasons for these problems are multi-faceted. Hence, another purpose of this study was to investigate factors which make them to be at risk of developing psychiatric morbidity. The findings of this study can be used as a basis for making recommendations to the government of the rationale to include psychological assessment as one of the important components in the pre-employment selection criteria.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  10. Sharif Nia H, Lehto RH, Farhadi B, She L, Goudarzian AH, Khoshnavay Fomani F, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2024 Mar 01;25(3):1087-1096.
    PMID: 38546091 DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.3.1087
    BACKGROUND: A cancer diagnosis can be psychologically challenging to individuals due to perceptions that the disease is potentially incurable truncating life expectancy. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships among religious well-being, existential well-being, fear of progression and quality of life in Iranian patients with cancer and to evaluate the potential mediating role of hope on these relationships.

    METHODS: This study with predictive cross-sectional design was done in 2023. Data was gathered from 398 patients with cancer that was selected with accessible sampling method from cancer center of Mazandaran university of medical sciences (Sari, Iran). Study constructs included the religious and existential wellbeing, cancer fear of progression, Snyder Hope, and quality of life. Analysis of a Moment Structures (AMOS) software (v27) was utilized for all study analyses. Covariance based-structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the mediating role of hope.

    RESULTS: The mean age of patients with cancer was 49.14 (SD = 16.16). The results of the direct effect showed a significant positive relationship between religious well-being and hope (B = 0.164, p < .001), and between hope and quality of life (B = 0.212, p < 0.001). Also, significant negative relationship between fear of progression and hope (B = -0.147, p < 0.05) was founded.

    CONCLUSION: A significant positive relationship between hope and quality of life, as well as religious well-being and hope, suggests the influential effects of hope and religious well-being on improving quality of life in patients with cancer. Negative relationships between fear of progression and hope conclude that managing fear of progression may be an important factor in increasing hope and improving quality of life in patients with cancer.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  11. Yuvaraj R, Murugappan M, Acharya UR, Adeli H, Ibrahim NM, Mesquita E
    Behav Brain Res, 2016 Feb 1;298(Pt B):248-60.
    PMID: 26515932 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.10.036
    Successful emotional communication is crucial for social interactions and social relationships. Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients have shown deficits in emotional recognition abilities although the research findings are inconclusive. This paper presents an investigation of six emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust) of twenty non-demented (Mini-Mental State Examination score >24) PD patients and twenty Healthy Controls (HCs) using Electroencephalogram (EEG)-based Brain Functional Connectivity (BFC) patterns. The functional connectivity index feature in EEG signals is computed using three different methods: Correlation (COR), Coherence (COH), and Phase Synchronization Index (PSI). Further, a new functional connectivity index feature is proposed using bispectral analysis. The experimental results indicate that the BFC change is significantly different among emotional states of PD patients compared with HC. Also, the emotional connectivity pattern classified using Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier yielded the highest accuracy for the new bispectral functional connectivity index. The PD patients showed emotional impairments as demonstrated by a poor classification performance. This finding suggests that decrease in the functional connectivity indices during emotional stimulation in PD, indicating functional disconnections between cortical areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  12. Zainal Abidin H, Omar SC, Mazlan MZ, Hassan MH, Isa R, Ali S, et al.
    Glob Pediatr Health, 2021;8:2333794X211007975.
    PMID: 33889680 DOI: 10.1177/2333794X211007975
    Over the years, the number of pediatric patients undergoing surgeries are increasing steadily. The types of surgery vary between elective to emergency with involvement of multidisciplinary teams. The development of day care surgery unit is expanding where the patients will only come to the hospital on the day of surgery and discharge home after such as satisfactory parameters achieved, minimal to no pain, minimal to no bleeding from surgical site and able to tolerate fluids. Hospitalization and surgery could contribute to significant psychological disturbance to the children. These issues are not being addressed as children have difficulty in conveying their problems and fear. They do however express it through negative behavioral changes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  13. Lai WX, Chan AW, Matchar DB, Ansah JP, Lien CTC, Ismail NH, et al.
    BMC Geriatr, 2023 Sep 22;23(1):586.
    PMID: 37740182 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04294-2
    BACKGROUND: Falls in older adults are the result of a complex web of interacting causes, that further results in other physical, emotional, and psychological sequelae. A conceptual framework that represents the reciprocal dynamics of these causal factors can enable clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to clarify goals in falls intervention in older adults.

    METHODS: A Group Model Building (GMB) exercise was conducted with researchers and clinicians from academic units and public healthcare institutes in Singapore. The aim of the exercise was to produce a shared visual representation of the causal structure for falls and engage in discussions on how current and future falls intervention programmes can address falls in the older adults, especially in the Asian context. It was conducted in four steps: 1) Outlining and prioritising desirable patient outcomes, 2) Conceptual model building, 3) Identifying key intervention elements of effective falls intervention programmes, 4) Mapping of interventions to outcomes. This causal loop diagram (CLD) was then used to generate insights into the current understanding of falls causal relationships, current efforts in falls intervention in Singapore, and used to identify gaps in falls research that could be further advanced in future intervention studies.

    RESULTS: Four patient outcomes were identified by the group as key in falls intervention: 1) Falls, 2) Injurious falls, 3) Fear of falling, and 4) Restricted mobility and life space. A CLD of the reciprocal relationships between risk factors and these outcomes are represented in four sub-models: 1) Fear of falling, 2) Injuries associated with falls, 3) Caregiver overprotectiveness, 4) Post-traumatic stress disorder and psychological resilience. Through this GMB exercise, the group gained the following insights: (1) Psychological sequelae of falls is an important falls intervention outcome. (2) The effects of family overprotectiveness, psychological resilience, and PTSD in exacerbating the consequences of falls are not well understood. (3) There is a need to develop multi-component falls interventions to address the multitude of falls and falls related sequelae.

    CONCLUSION: This work illustrates the potential of GMB to promote shared understanding of complex healthcare problems and to provide a roadmap for the development of more effective preventive actions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear*
  14. Sukeri S, Man NNN
    J Taibah Univ Med Sci, 2017 Dec;12(6):477-482.
    PMID: 31435282 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2017.05.009
    Objectives: This qualitative study aims to discover the factors that influenced the decisions of women who successfully escaped domestic violence by attaining a divorce.

    Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 women, ages 21-56 who were either divorced or currently in the process of getting divorced in Kelantan, Malaysia.

    Results: Several themes emerged, indicating the following five reasons for divorce: 1) reaching the point of ultimatum, 2) having adequate support pre- and post-divorce, 3) concern for children's welfare, 4) seeking financial independence, and 5) fear of harm.

    Conclusion: The identification of the driving factors for divorce may spark a change in our society's mindset to empower female divorcees and allow them to lead happy, abuse-free lives.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  15. Su TT, Azzani M, Donnelly M, Majid HA
    Eur J Cancer Care (Engl), 2020 Jul;29(4):e13232.
    PMID: 32050305 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13232
    OBJECTIVES: The main aims of the study were to identify barriers to seeking help for cancer, appraise demographic and socio-economic differences in relation to barriers and evaluate the association between barriers and cancer symptoms awareness and delayed help-seeking.

    METHODS: A total of 2,360 adults (18 years and above) from randomly selected households in metropolitan Kuala Lumpur completed face-to-face interviews with trained research assistants that incorporated the validated Malay version of the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM). Logistic regression was the main statistical technique that was used to investigate the study objectives and relationships (noted above).

    RESULTS: The most commonly reported barriers to help-seeking were emotional barriers. The probability of delaying seeking help was 49% higher in participants who reported emotional barriers (OR = 1.49; CI: 1.32-1.68; p 

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  16. Farid H, Pasha L, Majeed M
    Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Mar;27(2):112-119.
    PMID: 32788847 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.2.12
    Background: The objective of the current study was to adapt the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C) in the Urdu language and measure its validity and reliability.

    Methods: Original English questionnaire of IDAF-4C was translated into Urdu language by a panel of dentists and language experts (Urdu and English) followed by critical evaluation, modification and back translation into English language. A final Urdu questionnaire was distributed among 250 patients visiting the Endodontics section at Margalla Institute of Health Sciences (MIHS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the reliability of the Index whereas validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Mean rank scores of IDAF-4C for male and female participants were evaluated using Mann-Whitney U tests (P < 0.05).

    Results: Of 250 questionnaires, 209 were returned with a response rate of 84%. Cronbach's alpha for the Urdu version of IDAF-4C was 0.88. Exploratory factor analysis of the IDAF-4C revealed one factor explaining 55.55% of the common variance (Eigenvalue = 4.5). The mean rank scores of all eight items of IDAF-4C were greater for female participants as compared to male participants with a statistically significant association (P < 0.05).

    Conclusion: The psychometric analysis of the Urdu version of IDAF-4C showed good reliability and consistency compared to the original version as well as other translated versions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  17. Loh KY
    Int J Palliat Nurs, 2006 Jan;12(1):38-41.
    PMID: 16493304 DOI: 10.12968/ijpn.2006.12.1.20396
    AIM: To document the perception of terminally ill patients and their family members on the care provided to them, and to look at the components of holistic care that are viewed as inadequate.
    METHODS: Thirty cancer patients from a 10-bed palliative ward and their family members who were the chief carers were interviewed. They were asked to give their perceptions on four major areas of care: physical, social, psychological and spiritual. The participants were asked to report which area(s) of the service were inadequate.
    RESULTS: Most patients and family members perceived that they received adequate physical care. However, the psychosocial and spiritual aspect of care were perceived as inadequate by the majority of patients and their families. None of the patients interviewed had ever been asked about spiritual distress.
    CONCLUSION: The holistic model of care in caring for terminally ill patients is not practised fully. Further development in the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of care is necessary. There is a need to conduct further research to address these domains.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  18. Mai CW, Tan JSH, Koay GWL, Lim LYX
    Pharmacy (Basel), 2020 Sep 13;8(3).
    PMID: 32933158 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy8030170
    Dietary supplementation is increasingly sought after by consumers looking to meet the demands of a modern lifestyle. Effective supplementation requires knowledge of the purpose and proper use of nutritional supplements. Unverified or inadequate guidance on supplementation can propagate misconceptions and increase undue fears of side effects. Community pharmacists are best placed to guide consumers on nutritional supplement use. In this review, a panel comprised of community pharmacists, pharmacy academia, and dietitians (n = 6) convened to provide an experience- and evidence-based guidance on rational drug use, patient education, and integrated and personalized nutrition care in both community and hospital pharmacy settings. A novel framework to guide community pharmacist-led consultations on supplementation is proposed. The four-step CARE (Categorize, Assess, Recommend, Empower) guide was developed to facilitate and optimize outcomes of pharmacist-led nutritional supplement consultation. Telehealth advancements in the form of digital health applications and personalized nutrigenomic DNA testing support Integrative Nutrition Care, and will further promote appropriate supplementation use to improve overall well-being in the community. Practical implementation of the CARE guide is necessary to ascertain its applicability for optimizing outcomes of pharmacist-led consultation and the recommendation of nutritional supplements.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  19. Poon CH, Heng BC, Lim LW
    Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2021 01;1484(1):9-31.
    PMID: 32808327 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14458
    Advances in characterizing molecular profiles provide valuable insights and opportunities for deciphering the neuropathology of depression. Although abnormal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in depression has gained much support from preclinical and clinical research, how it mediates behavioral alterations in the depressed state remains largely obscure. Environmental factors contribute significantly to the onset of depression and produce robust epigenetic changes. Epigenetic regulation of BDNF, as one of the most characterized gene loci in epigenetics, has recently emerged as a target in research on memory and psychiatric disorders. Specifically, epigenetic alterations of BDNF exons are heavily involved in mediating memory functions and antidepressant effects. In this review, we discuss key research on stress-induced depression from both preclinical and clinical studies, which revealed that differential epigenetic regulation of specific BDNF exons is associated with depression pathophysiology. Considering that BDNF has a central role in depression, we argue that memory extinction, an adaptive response to fear exposure, is dependent on BDNF modulation and holds promise as a prospective target for alleviating or treating depression and anxiety disorders.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear/physiology
  20. Tan SZK, Temel Y, Chan AY, Mok ATC, Perucho JAU, Blokland A, et al.
    Brain Struct Funct, 2020 Sep;225(7):1957-1966.
    PMID: 32594260 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02102-w
    Electrical stimulation of the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dlPAG) in rats has been shown to elicit panic-like behaviour and can be a useful as an unconditioned stimulus for modelling anticipatory fear and agoraphobia in a contextual fear conditioning paradigm. In this study, we further analysed our previous data on the effects of escitalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI) and buspirone (a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist) on dlPAG-induced anticipatory fear behaviour in a rat model using freezing as a measure. We then attempted to unravel some of the interactions with dopamine signalling using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry to probe the effects on dopaminergic neurons. We showed that acute treatment of escitalopram, but not buspirone, was effective in reducing anticipatory freezing behaviour, while chronic administrations of both drugs were effective. We found that the dlPAG stimulation induced increase number of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) which was reversed in both chronic buspirone and escitalopram groups. We further found a strong positive correlation between the number of dopaminergic neurons and freezing in the VTA and showed positive correlations between dopaminergic neurons in the VTA and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in escitalopram and buspirone groups, respectively. Overall, we showed that chronic treatment with an SSRI and a 5-HT1A agonist reduced anticipatory freezing behaviour which seems to be associated, through correlative studies, with a reversal of dlPAG stimulation induced increase in number of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA and/or SNpc.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear/drug effects; Fear/physiology
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