MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 480 students from different faculties in a Malaysian public university participated in this study. They were selected by simple random sampling method. They completed self-administered questionnaires including the Malay Version of Internet Addiction Test (MVIAT)) to measure internet addiction and Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Symptom Checklist, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) and UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3) to assess for ADHD symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness respectively.
RESULTS: The prevalence of IA among university students was 33.33% (n = 160). The respondents' mean age was 21.01 ± 1.29 years old and they were predominantly females (73.1%) and Malays (59.4%). Binary logistic regression showed that gender (p = 0.002; OR = 0.463, CI = 0.284-0.754), ADHD inattention (p = 0.003; OR = 2.063, CI = 1.273-3.345), ADHD hyperactivity (p<0.0001; OR = 2.427, CI = 1.495-3.939), stress (p = 0.048; OR = 1.795, CI = 1.004-3.210) and loneliness (p = 0.022; OR = 1.741, CI = 1.084-2.794) were significantly associated with IA.
CONCLUSION: A third of university students had IA. In addition, we found that those who were at risk of IA were males, with ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity, who reported stress and loneliness. Preventive strategy to curb internet addiction and its negative sequelae may consider these factors in its development and implementation.
STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study.
SETTING: Spinal Rehabilitation outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-one sports participants (SP) and thirty-four non-sports participants (NSP) (N = 65) met the following inclusion criteria; chronic SCI more than one year, age between 18 and 50 years, both traumatic and non-traumatic SCI at C5 level and below, complete or incomplete SCI (AIS A-D) and mobilizing with either manual or motorized wheelchair independently.
METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were performed with a 22-item self-constructed questionnaire which contained four domains of variables; socio-demographic, SCI-related, environmental and sports-related factors. Data collection was done between June 2017 and May 2018.
RESULTS: Traumatic SCI, pre-injury interest in sports, pre-injury sports participation, ability to drive own vehicles, and being employed were significantly associated with sports participation post-SCI (p
CASE REPORT: The patient presented with upper respiratory tract infection, fever, seizures and abdominal pain. An initial diagnosis of encephalitis was made. In view of the unexplained abdominal pain with other clinical findings such as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome by CT brain, temporary blindness as well as hyponatraemia, acute intermittent porphyria was suspected. Urine delta aminolaevulinic acid (δ-ALA) and porphobilinogen were elevated confirming the diagnosis of AIP. Genetic studies were done for this patient. The patient had a complete resolution of her symptoms with carbohydrate loading and high caloric diet.
CONCLUSION: Although rare, AIP should be considered as a cause of hyponatraemia in a patient who presents with signs and/or symptoms that are characteristic of this disease.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 months in the two main tertiary centres for CAH patients in Malaysia. Participants including 59 female-raised CAH patients (mean age ± SD = 16.3 ± 4.2 years, range 10-28 years) compared to 57 age-matched female diabetic patients (mean age ± SD = 16.5 ± 3.4 years, range 10-26 years). Socio-demographic and medical profiles was obtained through semi-structured interviews. HRQOL of participants were evaluated utilising validated, Malay translated questionnaires which were age appropriate: Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL v4.0) scales for Child (8-12) and Adolescent (13-18) and Medical Outcome Survey 36-item Short Form version. These were then compared to the diabetic controls.
RESULTS: The CAH participants consisted of children (ages 10-12 years, n = 12), adolescents (ages 13-17 years, n = 29) and adults (≥ 18 years, n = 18). The majority were Malays (64.4%) and had salt-wasting CAH (67.8%). There were no significant differences between the total mean score of the HRQOL of the combined children and adolescents CAH group (total mean score ± SD = 81.6 ± 17.9, 95% CI = 75.6-87.6) when compared to age-matched diabetic patients (total mean score ± SD = 80.8 ± 11.0, 95% CI = 77.0-84.5, P = 0.81, effect size = 0.05); no significant difference between the adult CAH and diabetic controls in the physical [median score (IQR) CAH vs diabetics; 49.3 (11.4) vs. 50.2 (6.1), P = 0.60, effect size = 0.09] and the mental composite scores [median score (IQR) CAH vs. diabetics; 47.8 (14.1) vs. 50.0 (10.8), P = 0.93, effect size = 0.01].
CONCLUSIONS: The HRQOL of the Malaysian CAH cohort were comparable to the diabetic controls.
DESIGN: Multi-center cross-sectional study.
SETTING: Two tertiary medical centers in Malaysia.
PARTICIPANTS: A total of 59 patients with CAH who were raised as females and more than 10 years old, and their parents.
METHODS: The CAH respondents completed the validated and translated Body Image Disturbance Questionnaires (BIDQ). All CAH respondents and their parents underwent semi-structured interviews to explore their views on FG.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body image disturbance score and perspectives on FG.
RESULTS: The 59 CAH respondents consisted of 12 children, 29 adolescents, and 18 adults. The majority were of Malay ethnicity (64.4%) with classical CAH (98.3%) and had undergone FG (n = 55, 93.2%). For the BIDQ scores, the median score (interquartile range) for general body image was 1.29 (0.71), range 1.00-3.29, whereas the genital appearance score was 1.07 (0.39), range 1.00-4.29, revealing a greater concern for general body parts over genitalia. With regards to FG, it was perceived as necessary. Infancy and early childhood were perceived as the best timing for first FG by both respondents and parents, most preferring single-stage over 2-stage surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: General body appearance concerns were greater than for genital appearance, with more impact on the patients' lives. Contrary to much international opinion, feminizing surgery was perceived as necessary and appropriate by CAH respondents and their families, and should be offered in infancy or early childhood. Future qualitative studies are recommended.
METHODS: Questionnaire of dietary changes was modified from WHEL study and adapted to typical Malay's food intake in Malaysia. A total of 23 items were listed and categorized by types of food and cooking methods. Four categories of changes "increased", "decreased", "no changes" or "stopped" were used to determine the changes in dietary practices. Score one (+1) is given to positive changes by reference to WCRF/AICR and Malaysia Dietary Guideline healthy eating recommendations. Malay EORTC QLQ-C30 were used to determine the QoL. Sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and anthropometric measurement were also collected.
RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects (n=77) was 50.7±7.8 years old with duration of survivorship 4.0±3.1 years. Subjects mean BMI was 27.8±4.9 kg/m2 which indicate subjects were 31.2% overweight and 32.5% obese. The percentage score of positive dietary changes was 34.7±16.4%. Positive dietary changes were increased intake of green leafy vegetable (49.4%), cruciferous vegetable (46.8%) and boiling cooking methods (45.5%). Subjects reduced their intake of red meat (42.9%), sugar (53.2%) and fried cooking method (44.2%). Subjects stopped consuming milk (41.6%), c 2008-5862 heese (33.8%) and sweetened condensed milk (33.8%). With increasing positive dietary changes, there was a significant improvement on emotional function (rs=0.27; p=0.016) and reduced fatigue symptoms (rs=-0.24; p=0.033).
CONCLUSION: Positive changes in dietary intake improved emotional function and reduced fatigue symptoms after cancer treatment. By knowing the trend of food changes after cancer treatment, enables the formation of healthy food intervention implemented more effective.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 95 breast and gynaecology cancer survivor subjects. The Malay International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess physical activity and sitting time. Quality of life was assessed using the Malay EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and anthropometric measurements were also obtained in this study.
RESULTS: The mean age of the subject was 51.8 ± 7.7 years old and the duration of survivorship was 4.3 ± 3.4 years. A total of 76.8% of subjects were categorized as having low physical activity level with a mean MET 403.5 ± 332.7 minutes/week and sitting time of 416.9 ± 151.0 minutes/day. Overall, subjects aged 50 years and above (p=0.006), widowed (p=0.032), retired (p=0.029) and had other non-communicable diseases (p=0.005) showed lower levels of physical activity. Increased physical activity had a positive effect on physical function (r=0.2, p=0.038), reduced insomnia (r=-0.3, p <0.001) and constipation symptoms (r=-0.3, p=0.012) domains of quality of life. The longer the sitting period showed more severe insomnia symptoms (r=0.2, p=0.03) but improved social function (r=0.2, p=0.012).
CONCLUSIONS: Increasing physical activity and reducing sitting time have a positive effect on the quality of life of cancer survivors. The focus of health education should be prioritized to older adults (50 years and above), widows, retirees, and those with other comorbidities as they are at risk of being not physically active.
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METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to March 2021 in Ophthalmology Clinic Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HCTM UKM). Subjects diagnosed with center-involved DME aged between 20 to 80 years who experienced delayed anti-VEGF injection were recruited. Level of depression, anxiety and stress were assessed using DASS-21 questionnaire. Statistical analysis using non-parametric tests were performed to determine the relationship between the DASS-21 score and duration of last injection, in those whose vision was affected by delayed injection and the relationship to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Statistical significance was denoted as p < 0.05.
RESULTS: A total of 86 respondents with median age of 69 years old participated in this study. Most respondents were Malays (n = 47,54.7%) males (n = 51, 59.3%), had education up to secondary level (n = 37, 43%), unemployed (n = 78, 90.7%), married (n = 72, 83.7%) and living with their family (n = 82, 95.3%). The number of intravitreal injections received was at least three times among the respondents (n = 81, 94.2%). More than half of the respondents (n = 46, 53.5%) had been postponed for more than 12 weeks and felt that their vision was affected after delayed intravitreal injection (n = 47, 54.7%). Most of the subjects did not experience depression, anxiety, or stress. However, there was a significant level of stress scores among those with delayed injection of 9 to 12 weeks (p = 0.004), and significant anxiety (p = 0.029) and stress (p = 0.014) scores found in subjects with vision affected due to delayed treatment.
CONCLUSION: The level of anxiety and stress can be significant in DME patients who experienced delay in intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment. Assessment of psychosocial impacts is important to identify early mental health issues potentially leading to the onset of psychiatry illness, thus early intervention is indispensable.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: An extensive systematic electronic review (PUBMED, CINAHL, PsyINFO and Ovid) and handsearch were carried out to retrieve published articles up to November 2012, using Depression OR Dysthymia AND (Cancer OR Tumor OR Neoplasms as the keywords. Information about the design of the studies, measuring scale, characteristics of the participants, prevalence of depression and its associated factors from the included studies were extracted and summarized.
RESULTS: We identified 32 eligible studies that recruited 10,826 breast cancer survivors. Most were cross-sectional or prospective designed. The most frequent instrument used to screen depression was the Center for Epidemiological Studies for Depression (CES-D, n=11 studies) followed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI, n=6 studies) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS, n=6 studies). CES-D returned about similar prevalence of depression (median=22%, range=13-56%) with BDI (median=22%, range=17-48%) but higher than HADS (median=10%, range=1-22%). Depression was associated with several socio-demographic variables, cancer-related factors, treatment-related factors, subject psychological factors, lifestyle factors, social support and quality of life.
CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer survivors are at risk for depression so that detection of associated factors is important in clinical practice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving patients aged ≥18 years. Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) was assessed. Skin pH, TEWL and hydration were measured at 18 pre-determined sites.
RESULTS: Forty-eight patients participated, 33(68.8%) females and 15(31.3%) males aged 28.46 ± 12.07 years. The overall skin pH was 5.32 ± 0.68 ranging from 5.16 ± 0.75 to 5.52 ± 0.59. The lowest pH 5.16 ± 0.75 was at anterior leg, popliteal fossae 5.18 ± 0.67, lower back 5.21 ± 0.64, forehead 5.22 ± 0.62, upper back 5.25 ± 0.65 and neck 5.26 ± 0.76. Highest pH was at the cheek 5.52 ± 0.59, anterior thigh 5.47 ± 0.68, dorsal arm 5.46 ± 0.68, volar arm 5.43 ± 0.67 and abdomen 5.39 ± 0.67. Lesional areas' pH (5.40 ± 0.13) was higher than nonlesional (5.27 ± 0.14), P = .01. pH at AD predilection sites was significantly lower non-predilection sites (5.26 ± 0.59 vs 5.34 ± 0.64). pH did not correlate with TEWL (r = .23, P = .12), EASI (r = .19, P = .20) and itch (r = .06, P = .70) but correlated with hydration r = -.33, P = .02.
CONCLUSION: Skin pH was lower at AD predilection sites. There was no correlation between pH with AD severity and TEWL, pH correlated with hydration.