METHODS: This cross-sectional study analysed secondary data obtained from the health clinics in Sabah, Malaysia from January to August 2016. The Pearson Chi-square test was used to analyse the relationships between malaria infection and socio-demographic characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression was performed in order to determine the risk factors for malaria in Sabah.
RESULTS: Out of 1222 patients, 410 (33.6%) had a laboratory-confirmed malaria infection. Infection by Plasmodium knowlesi accounted for the majority of malaria reports in Sabah (n=340, 82.9%). Multivariable analysis indicated that males (prevalence odds ratio 0.023, 95% confidence interval 0.012-0.047) and those living in a rural area (prevalence odds ratio 0.004, 95% confidence interval 0.002-0.009) were at higher risk 24.0-95.9) and those living in a rural area (adjusted odds ratio 212.6, 95% confidence interval 105.8-427.2) were at higher risk of acquiring a malaria infection.
CONCLUSIONS: Malaria infections in Sabah, Malaysia are common, with P. knowlesi being the most common malaria parasite. The infection was associated with several socio-demographic and geographical factors. Thus, mitigation measures should be considered to address modifiable risk factors for malaria infection.
METHODS: An in vitro cell model for tamoxifen-resistant HER2 overexpressed UACC732 cells was created using the pulse method. Cells were exposed to oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) separately. Effects on cell morphology was studied using phase contrast microscopic changes. Percentage of cell viability was measured using proliferation assay kit. Development of tamoxifen resistance was determined based on P-gp expression with flow cytometry. Further analysis includedcell death measurement with flow cytometry method.
RESULTS: UACC732 cells exposed to VLDL exhibited fibroblast-like morphology. This was further supported by proliferation assay, where the percentage of cell viability achieved more than 100% with 100 μg/ml of VLDL exposure, indicating cell proliferation. Findings also showed that VLDL caused reduction in expression of Pgp in resistant cells compared to resistant cells alone (p = 0.02).
CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that VLDL may play a role in growth of drug-resistant HER2-overexpressing cells. Lower expression of P-gp in presence of VLDL need to be investigated further.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 174 patients with psoriasis at the dermatology clinic of Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar. All patients were instructed to complete four sets of questionnaires relating to: sociodemographic profile, clinical characteristics of illness, the validated Malay version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Malay validated version of Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Data were analysed using a descriptive analysis and correlational and multiple logistic regression analyses.
Results: We have found that 8.5% patients had depressive and 16.9% had anxiety symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that higher DLQI scores, presence of lower limbs' lesions and dyslipidaemia were associated with depression in the sampled population.
Conclusion: This study has shown that the cohort with psoriasis exhibited notable symptoms of depression and anxiety. This emphasises the need for the assessment of anxiety and depression among patients with psoriasis as these symptoms predict poor quality of life. Such correlation of psoriasis with anxiety and depression essentially leads to psychological sequelae. Affected psoriasis patients need appropriate intervention. Our study paves the way for further research by involving other underlying constructs such as perceived body image and stigma.
Materials: This is an interventional study that involved 57 eyes of 45 patients with symptomatic floaters for more than 3 months. Patients underwent one to three sessions of vitreolysis via Neodymiun-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. We examined the CSF using the computer programs Freiburg Acuity and Contrast Test (FrACT) and VRQoL survey using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25) before, and 1 month after, vitreolysis.
Results: Twelve patients had both eyes lasered and 33 patients had one eye lasered. The mean CSF improved from 3.20 ± 0.85%W to 2.64 ± 0.63%W 1 month after vitreolysis. Each use of the laser showed a significant mean difference in CSF (%W) as analyzed by paired t-test before and after the first laser (0.29 ± 0.49%W [P ≤ 0.001]); after the first and second laser (0.35 ± 0.53%W [P = 0.01]); and after second and third laser (0.21 ± 0.31%W [P = 0.02]). There was improvement in the median of four subscales in NEI VFQ-25 scores post treatment: general vision (z = -3.30, P = 0.001), near activity (z = 3.396, P = 0.001, distance activity (z = -2.788, P = 0.005), and mental health (z = -2.219, P = 0.026). The mean scores increased to 79.55 ± 9.45 from the baseline 75.06 ± 9.69 (P ≤ 0.001). No adverse events were recorded 1 month after the laser treatments.
Conclusion: Vitreolysis by Nd:YAG laser improved the CFS and VRQoL in symptomatic PVD patients.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done in Kuching, Sarawak, involving 173 randomly selected respondents among manufacturing factory workers. Data collected were respondents' workplace monitoring data and their audiometry records obtained from the factory record, and the otoscopy examinations performed. In addition, respondents were required to fill up an interviewer-guided questionnaire.
RESULTS: The prevalence of NIHL was high (49.7%). The factors which were found to have a significant association with NIHL in bivariate analysis were age (p < 0.05, 95% CI), male gender (p < 0.05; OR - 7.60; CI 3.34 -18.38), duration of employment (p <0.05), knowledge of noise level (p < 0.05; OR - 4.11; CI 1.10 - 15.28), working at polishing department (p < 0.05; OR - 4.23; CI 2.13 - 8.43), and smoking (p < 0.05; OR - 39.6; CI 16.5 - 94.8). Pack-years of smoking were also found to have a significant association with p < 0.05. However, only smoking was statistically significant in multivariate analysis, where the risk of developing NIHL was 27.55 (p < 0.005; CI 10.74 - 70.64) among smokers.
CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of NIHL despite the existing Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) may indicate that there may be some elements in HCP that require close monitoring by the factory management, and the importance of smoking cessation among the workers exposed to noise at the workplace should be highlighted.