METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 346 adult males aged 18 years old to 68 years old. Socio-demographic characteristics, oral hygiene practices, and shammah use history were surveyed by using a structured interview questionnaire. The clinical assessment for the presence or absence of periodontal pockets was assessed on the basis of community periodontal index. The chi-square test was used to assess significant differences in study groups in terms of the presence of periodontal pockets. Multivariable logistic regression was selected to assess potential associated factors with the development of periodontal pockets.

RESULTS: Among the 346 adult males, 248 (71.7 %), 30 (8.6 %), and 68 (19.7 %) males never used shammah, were former shammah users, and were current shammah users, respectively. The significant associated factors with the development of periodontal pocket were age group (30 years old and above) (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.03, 95 % CI: 1.13, 3.65; P = 0.018), low family income category (AOR = 2.35, 95 % CI: 1.39, 3.99; P = 0.001), former shammah user (AOR = 2.66, 95 %: CI: 1.15, 6.15; P = 0.022), and current shammah user (AOR = 6.62, 95 %: CI: 3.59, 12.21; P = 0.001).

METHODS: We derived the data from the TECMA study, which used a cross-sectional study design and multi-stage sampling method to obtain a representative sample of school-going adolescents aged 11-19 years in Malaysia in 2016. Data were collected through a self-administered approach using a pre-validated standard questionnaire. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were used to analyze the data, and results are presented as adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

RESULTS: SHS exposure for the past seven days was higher outside the home (51.2%; 95% CI: 49.2-53.2) compared to at home (37.8%; 95% CI: 35.8-39.9) while 27.3% (95% CI: 25.1-29.5) of school-going adolescents reported exposure to SHS inside the school in the past one month. In the regression analyses, older adolescents, those of Malay and Bumiputra Sarawak ethnicities, adolescents from rural areas and current smokers had higher likelihood of exposure to SHS at home, outside home and inside the school. Our study also found that adolescents who were current smokers had higher odds of being exposed to SHS at home (AOR=2.87; 95% CI: 2.57-3.21), outside the home (AOR=3.46; 95% CI: 3.05-3.92) and in the school (AOR=2.25; 95% CI: 2.01-2.51).

METHODS: We enrolled all patients referred for SCI rehabilitation from 2012 to 2015 that fulfilled our study criteria. Data that were retrospectively reviewed included demographic and clinical characteristic data; and US KUB surveillance studies.

RESULTS: Out of 136 electronic medical records reviewed, 110 fulfilled the study criteria. The prevalence of NB in our study population was 80.9%. We found 22(20%) of the patients showed evidence of US diagnosed NB complications with the mean detection of 9.61±7.91 months following initial SCI. The reported NB complications were specific morphological changes in the bladder wall 8(36.4%); followed by unilateral/bilateral hydronephrosis 7(31.8%); bladder and/or renal calculi 5(22.7%); and mixed complication 2(9.1%) respectively. Half of the patients with NB complications had urodynamic diagnosis of neurogenic detrusor overactivity with/without evidence of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia. We found co-existing neurogenic bowel, presence of spasticity and mode of bladder management were significantly associated factors with US diagnosed NB complications (p<0.05), while spasticity was its predictor with adjusted Odds Ratio value of 3.93 (1.14, 13.56).