Materials & Methods: Total of 45 volunteers aged 18-65 years were included in this study. The degree of overlap in percentage, depth of IJV from skin, antero-posterior (AP) and transverse diameters (TD) of IJV were measured in real time with ultrasound (US). Measurements were taken in the HA, CA and MA in neutral and 30° head rotation on both the right and left side of the neck.

Results: The HA had lower percentage of overlap when compared to CA and MA in neutral and 30° head rotation (p= 0.002 to ≤0.001). The IJV was more shallow in the CA and MA. The AP and TD of the IJV were larger in the MA when compared to HA (p=<0.001) and CA (p =0.026 to < 0.001) and the right IJV has a larger AP and TD in all approaches.

Discussion: The HA had the least percentage of overlap compared to CA and MA, therefore the risk of accidental ICA puncture can be reduced. The apparent overlap seen in MA may not reflect the actual scenario because of the way the US beam cuts the vessel. The AP and TD of IJV were significantly increased in the MA, which would ease CVC.

METHODS: This was a parallel, open-label randomised controlled trial with participants recruited from psychiatric outpatient services of a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur and a secondary hospital in Melaka. Adults (≥18 years) diagnosed with major depressive disorder; capable of reading and understanding English or Bahasa Malaysia; prescribed with at least one antidepressant and owns a smart phone were subsequently randomly assigned (1:1) to receive treatment reminders (intervention) or standard treatment without reminders (control), using a computergenerated randomisation programme. The intervention group received two reminder categories: Outpatient appointment reminders (a day before appointment); and medication reminders (weekly basis). Participants were followed-up over two months. We utilised Montgomery- Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) to measure the severity of depression; and Brief Adherence Rating Scale (BARS) to assess medication adherence. Primary outcomes were outpatient attendance rates and medication adherence assessed at two months. Secondary outcomes included changes in depression severity within each group at two months; comparison of changes in depression severity between both groups; preferences of participants towards treatment reminders, and reasons for non-attendance among participants. This trial was registered with the National Medical Research Registry, NMRR-19-3466-52001.

RESULTS: Between February and April 2020, 183 participants were randomised to each group, of whom 179 reached study endpoint (91 [98.9%] of 92 in intervention group and 88 [96.7%] of 91 in control group). All recruited participants (n=183) were analysed using intention-to-treat approach. At two months, intervention group has significantly higher outpatient attendance rates (76.8%) than control group (56.4%) (p=0.002), and reported higher medical adherence percentage (mean difference 23.1, [95%CI 0.4, 35.8]; p<0.001). There was also significant difference in the MADRS score change between both groups (mean difference 3.4, [95%CI 0.4, 6.3]; p=0.025). Treatment reminders preferences among participants varied; forgetfulness was the most commonly reported reason (53%) for missing outpatient appointments.

METHODS: A retrospective record review of all CAPD patients on follow-up at the Miri Hospital, Sarawak, Malaysia from 2014 until 2017 was done.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: During the 4-year period, the overall peritonitis rate was 0.184 episodes per patient-year. Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria each constituted one-third of the peritonitis; fungi (2.6%), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) (5.3%), polymicrobial (2.6%) and sterile culture (26.3%). The most commonly isolated gram-positive bacteria were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Our peritonitis rate is comparable to that of other centres i.e., Japan 0.195 and Indonesia 0.25. In comparison, countries like India (0.41), Korea (0.40) and Singapore (0.59) had relatively higher rate of PD-associated peritonitis. Two tuberculosis peritonitis patients died. The rate of catheter removal was approximately 20%. Gram-negative bacteria and MTB have a higher risk of catheter loss. About one-fifth used rainwater to clean their CAPD exit site. Out of this group, 33% did not boil the rainwater prior to usage.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of β-glucan prepared from L. rhinocerotis using an enzymatic method on epithelial restitution during intestinal mucosal damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on FT-IR, MALDI-TOF-MS, HPSEC-MALLS-RID, and AFM, the structure of polysaccharides from L. rhinocerotis was analysed. In addition, polysaccharides were used to test for wound healing activity in IEC-6 cells by measuring cell migration, proliferation, and expression of cell division control protein 42, Rac-1, RhoA, and Par-3.

RESULTS: β-glucan was extracted using enzyme-assisted extraction, and a yield of approximately 8.5 ± 0.8% was obtained from the dried biomass. The β-glucan extracted by enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) of polysaccharides was composed entirely of D-glucose with a total carbohydrate content of 95.5 ± 3.2%. The results of HPLC, FTIR, and MALDI-TOF-MS analyses revealed EAEP to be confirmed as β-glucan. The molecular weight of prepared β-glucan was found to be 5.315 × 104 g/mol by HPSEC-MALLS-RID. Furthermore, mucosal wound healing studies showed that the treatment of IEC-6 with a β-glucan concentration of 200 μg/mL promoted cell migration and proliferation, and it enhanced the protein expression of cell division control protein 42, Rac-1, RhoA, and Par-3.