METHODS: Healthy soft CL wearers were invited to participate in this study. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using the Snellen chart, and subjective refraction was performed using cross-cylinder technique. Standard ocular assessments were conducted using a slit lamp biomicroscope and morphology of corneal endothelial cells (endothelial cell density, ECD, coefficient variation, COV, hexagonality, HEX and central corneal thickness, CCT) were evaluated using a non-contact specular microscope. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA and data from the right eye only is included.

METHODS: A total of 8500 self-administered questionnaires were distributed in eight selected secondary schools. The results were analysed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: A total of 2474 (29%) completed questionnaires were collected. The mean age of the respondents was 14.8 ± 1.5 years, and approximately 7.2% were CL wearers. The majority of the wearers were females (76.0%) and wore soft CLs (92.2%). Cosmetic purposes (58.1%) and comfort (24.6%) were the main reasons for wearing CLs. Many of the respondents purchased their lenses from optical shops (50.1%) and beauty accessory shops (15.6%), and approximately 10% did not disinfect their lenses properly. Regarding knowledge about CL care, approximately 56% of the respondents responded correctly.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using self-administered validated questionnaires. A total of 2500 questionnaires were distributed to secondary school students (aged 13 to 18 years) from 5 selected schools in Kuala Lumpur. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results.

RESULTS: A total of 987 completed questionnaires were returned and analyzed. The response rate was 39.5%. Mean age of respondents was 15.5±2.5 years with 54.6% females. Around 9.9% of the respondents were contact lens wearers with female majority (78.6%) and the main reasons for wearing contact lenses were cosmesis (42.8%) and comfort (32.7%). Majority (92.2%) were soft contact lens wearers and daily wear (monthly disposable) is the preferred modality. Nevertheless, 42.4% purchased their lenses from unlicensed vendors and 18.4% rinsed their lenses using tap water. Regarding contact lens care, more than 50% of the respondents were not aware about the correct way of handling contact lenses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight patients diagnosed with AS were enrolled from the Rheumatology Unit at Baghdad Teaching Hospital. Participants were categorized into two groups based on disease status: inactive (n = 44) and active (n = 44). Additionally, 44 matched healthy individuals were included as controls. Comprehensive medical histories were obtained, including disease duration, body mass index, sex, and age. Laboratory parameters related to the disease-such as C-reactive protein, human leukocyte antigen (HLA-B27), and rheumatoid factor-were also measured. Serum IL-41 levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS: The study revealed a significant difference in levels of IL-41 in patients with AS (17.721±0.705 ng/L) compared to controls (8.495±0.984 ng/L; P = 0.009). The mean serum IL-41 concentration was highest in the active group (23.037±5.268 ng/L), followed by the inactive group (12.411±1.672 ng/L; p = 0.001) and controls (8.495±0.984 ng/L). Serum IL-41 levels demonstrated strong validity for diagnosing AS, with a cutoff value of ≥ 9.35 ng/mL and an area under the curve of 0.991. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 97.7%, 79.5%, and 92.38%, respectively (p = 0.002).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Atrial arrhythmogenesis was investigated in Langendorff-perfused young (3-4 month) and aged (>12 month), wild type (WT) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ coactivator-1β deficient (Pgc-1β-/-) murine hearts modeling age-dependent chronic mitochondrial dysfunction during regular pacing and programmed electrical stimulation (PES).

METHODS: A total of eighty-four data samples were extracted from forty-two myopic Malay school children. Measurements of the central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal curvature, corneal diameter, and axial length were measured using Lenstar LS900, a non-contact optical biometer. Data were later stratified by the spherical equivalent refraction (SER) into a low myopic group and a moderate myopic group, and paired t-test were employed to determine the differences in the corneal characteristics between these two groups. Univariate and multivariate linear regressions were performed to identify factors that are significantly associated with axial length.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the CCT, corneal curvature and corneal diameter between the low myopic group and the moderate myopic group (t82=0.015, P=0.99), (t82=-0.802, P=0.43) and (t82=-0.575, P=0.57), respectively. Pearson univariate correlation analysis found that axial length significantly correlated with corneal curvature (r=-0.765, P<0.001) and corneal diameter (r=0.614, P<0.001) but no significant correlation found with CCT (r=0.046, P=0.68). Multiple regression analysis showed that axial length was significantly associated with a flatter corneal curvature (P<0.001), older age (P<0.001) and larger corneal diameter (P=0.02).