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Introduction: Tobacco use is synonymous with the military. Despite that military personnel are trained to follow commands, opportunities exist to implement various tobacco control strategies. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the impact of tobacco control policy employed in military settings., Materials and Methods: We searched for published English articles in Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases using relevant subject headings without year restriction. We included randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled trials, case-control, cohort, controlled before and after, and uncontrolled before and after studies evaluating the impact of tobacco control policy in the military population. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, three independent reviewers independently screened initially identified articles, reviewed the full text, and extracted the data and any disagreements resolved by consensus after data recheck. Five reviewers used a validated tool to assess the quality of the included studies. The primary outcome was the reduction of any tobacco or nicotine-contained products (TNCPs) use among the troops. The impacts of the tobacco control policy were synthesized and analyzed qualitatively. This study is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (CRD42022314117)., Results: Fourteen studies were included in the analysis from 5372 studies screened. Most of the studies were from the USA, and fractions were from Thailand, France, and Taiwan. These studies were methodologically heterogeneous. Most studies employed a total ban policy on TNCP use during basic military training or operational deployment as the primary strategy. Other methods utilized were the brief tobacco intervention, targeted treatment, support, and counseling provided through telephone or mailing systems, the adjunctive behavioral intervention, providing free nicotine gum, the "Pharsai clinic", active and regular smoking restriction, and interventions aimed at intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational levels. There is a moderate quality of evidence that the tobacco control policies effectively reduced the prevalence of TNCP use, increased the cessation rate, reduced the intake, and lowered the dependency. The adjunctive interventions provided after the total ban on TNCP use may increase its effectiveness. However, findings from this review need to be carefully considered as the definition of TNCP use status was not universal between studies and lacked a biochemical validation procedure., Conclusions: There is reasonable evidence to support that the tobacco control policy employed in the military population has multiple positive impacts in reducing the prevalence of TNCP use, increasing the cessation rates, reducing the intake, and lowering dependency. Other evidence-based strategies need to be fully utilized to materialize the tobacco endgame., (© The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2024. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Macrobrachium rosenbergii , or giant river prawn, is the most economically crucial cultured freshwater crustacean. A predominant challenge in developing crustacean aquaculture is reproduction management, particularly ovary maturation, where identifying regulative mechanisms at the molecular level is critical. Ovary is the primary tissue for studying gene and protein expressions involved in crustacean growth and reproduction. Despite significant interest in M. rosenbergii , its gene discovery has been at a relatively small scale compared to other genera. In this study, comprehensive transcriptomic sequencing data for different maturation stages of the ovary of M. rosenbergii were observed. The 20 female M. rosenbergii samples evaluated were categorised into four maturation stages, 1 to 4. A total of 817,793,14, 841,670,70, 914,248,78 and 878,085,88 raw reads were obtained from stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The assembled unique sequences (unigenes) post-clustering ( n = 98013) was 131,093,546 bp with an average size of 1,338 bp. The BLASTX unigene search against National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), non-redundant (NR), nucleotide sequence (NT), Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes Orthology (KO), Swiss-Prot, Protein Family (PFAM), Gene Ontology (GO), and euKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG) databases yielded 27,680 (28.24%), 7,449 (7.59%), 13,026 (13.29%), 22,606 (23.06%), 29,907 (30.51%), 30,025 (30.63%) and 14,368 (14.65%) significant matches, respectively, totalling to 37,338 annotated unigenes (38.09%). The differentially expressed genes (DEG) analysis conducted in this study led to identifying cyclin B, insulin receptor (IR), oestrogen sulfotransferase (ESULT) and vitellogenin (Vg), which are critical in ovarian maturation. Nevertheless, some M. rosenbergii ovarian maturation-related genes, such as small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-activating enzyme subunit 1, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase RNF25, and neuroparsin, were first identified in this study. The data obtained in the present study could considerably contribute to understanding the gene expression and genome structure in M. rosenbergii ovaries throughout its developmental stage., (© Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2024.)

Sleep disorders present significant challenges to public health, necessitating effective and sustainable solutions beyond conventional pharmacological interventions. This study aims to investigate the potential of honey and its compositions as a functional food for addressing sleep disorders. A comprehensive review of existing literature explores honey's intrinsic properties and impact on sleep quality. The findings suggest that honey, with its unique composition and soothing effects, offers a promising avenue for enhancing sleep patterns without relying on pharmaceutical drugs. This study also discusses the possible mechanism of action and the challenges of using honey in this field. While further research is needed to elucidate specific mechanisms and optimal utilisation, integrating honey into holistic sleep management strategies holds promise for improving overall well-being and quality of life.

This study addressed the limited antibacterial durability of textile materials, which has suppressed their applications in preventing infectious disease transmission. A class of highly durable antibacterial textiles was developed by incorporating protonated polyaniline (PANI) textile with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as the functional binder via cross-linking polymerization. The resulting PAA-PANI textile exhibits exceptional electrical conductivity, reaching 8.33 ± 0.04 × 10 -3 S/cm when cross-linked with 30% PAA. Remarkably, this textile maintains its electrical stability at 10 -3 S/cm even after 50 washing cycles, demonstrating unparalleled durability. Furthermore, the PANI-PAA textile showcases remarkable antibacterial efficacy, with 95.48% efficiency against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 92.35% efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, even after 50 washing cycles. Comparatively, the PAA-PANI textile outperforms its PANI counterpart by achieving an astounding 80% scavenging activity rate, whereas the latter only displayed a rate of 3.22%. This result suggests a solid integration of PAA-PANI into the textile, leading to sustainable antioxidant release. The successful cross-linking of PAA-PANI in textiles holds significant implications for various industries, offering a foundation for the development of wearable textiles with unprecedented antibacterial durability and electrical stability. This breakthrough opens new avenues for combating infectious diseases and enhancing the performance of wearable technologies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

The paramount importance of lithium (Li) nowadays and the mounting volume of untreated spent LIB have imposed pressure on innovators to tackle the near-term issue of Li resource depletion through recycling. The trajectory of research dedicated to recycling has skyrocketed in this decade, reflecting the global commitment to addressing the issues surrounding Li resources. Although metallurgical methods, such as pyro- and hydrometallurgy, are presently prevalent in Li recycling, they exhibit unsustainable operational characteristics including elevated temperatures, the utilization of substantial quantities of expensive chemicals, and the generation of emissions containing toxic gases such as Cl 2 , SO 2 , and NO x . Therefore, the alternative electrochemical method has gained growing attention, as it involves a more straightforward operation leveraging ion-selective features and employing water as the main reagent, which is seen as more environmentally benign. Despite this, intensive efforts are still required to advance the electrochemical method toward commercialisation. This review highlights the key points in the electrochemical method that demand attention, including the feasibility of a large-scale setup, consideration of the substantial volume of electrolyte consumption, the design of membranes with the desired features, a suitable layout of the membrane, and the absence of techno-economic assessments for the electrochemical method. The perspectives presented herein provide a crucial understanding of the challenges of advancing the technological readiness level of the electrochemical method., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they possess no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background Acute ischemic stroke, particularly in cases involving large vessel occlusion (LVO), poses a significant challenge due to the potential for rapid infarct expansion in the early phase. Such expansion, if not managed promptly, can lead to severe neurological deficits and poor clinical outcomes. Understanding the contributing factors that accelerate early infarct expansion is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient prognosis. The main aim of the study is to determine the factors contributing to rapid early infarct expansion in acute ischemic stroke patients with LVO. Methodology The retrospective study was conducted at Liaquat National Hospital in Karachi from August 2023 to December 2023. Data were collected from 685 patients with anterior circulation LVO-related acute stroke with witnessed stroke onset and baseline perfusion imaging. Extracted clinical data included age, gender, medical history (hypertension, diabetes, etc.), and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. Results The mean age of the included patients was 67.4 years, with a relatively balanced gender distribution, i.e., 48.5% male (n = 332) and 51.5% female (n = 353). The mean baseline NIHSS score was 14.2, reflecting initial neurological severity. Imaging parameters revealed that 294 (42.6%) patients exhibited infarct expansion, with an average penumbra size of 23.5 mL. Hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR) quartiles demonstrated a notable association with progression rates, escalating from 27 (4%) patients in the first quartile to approximately 527 (77%) patients in the fourth quartile, highlighting a significant correlation between HIR and infarct expansion (p < 0.001). Conclusions HIR emerged as a pivotal factor strongly associated with rapid infarct expansion, underscoring its significance in predicting the trajectory of ischemic injury., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Abidi et al.)

Introduction: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is complicated in 10 to 20% of cases by permanent visual ischemia (PVI). International guidelines advocate the use of intravenous pulse of methylprednisolone from 250 to 1000mg per day, for three days, followed by oral prednisone at 1mg/kg per day. The aim of this study is to assess whether this strategy significantly reduces the risk of early PVI of the second eye, compared with direct prednisone at 1mg/kg per day., Methods: We conducted a multicentre retrospective observational study over the past 15 years in 13 French hospital centres. Inclusion criteria included: new case of GCA; strictly unilateral PVI, prednisone at dose greater than or equal to 0.9mg/kg per day; for the intravenous methylprednisolone (IV-MP) group, total dose between 900 and 5000mg, close follow-up and knowledge of visual status at 1 month of treatment, or earlier, in case of contralateral PVI. The groups were compared on demographic, clinical, biological, iconographic, and therapeutic parameters. Statistical analysis was optimised using propensity scores., Results: One hundred and sixteen patients were included, 86 in the IV-MP group and 30 in the direct prednisone group. One patient in the direct prednisone group and 13 in the IV-MP group bilateralised, without significant difference between the two strategies (3.3% vs 15.1%). Investigation of the association between IV-MP patients and contralateral PVI through classical logistic regression, matching or stratification on propensity score did not show a significant association. Weighting on propensity score shows a significant association between IV-MP patients and contralateral PVI (OR=12.9 [3.4; 94.3]; P<0.001). Improvement in visual acuity of the initially affected eye was not significantly associated with IV-MP (visual acuity difference 0.02 vs -0.28 LogMar), even in the case of early management, i.e., within the first 48hours after the onset of PVI (n=61; visual acuity difference -0.11 vs 0.25 LogMar). Complications attributable to corticosteroid therapy in the first month were significantly more frequent in the IV-MP group (31.8 vs 10.7%; P<0.05)., Discussion: Our data do not support the routine use of pulse IV-MP for GCA complicated by unilateral PVI to avoid bilateral ophthalmologic damage. It might be safer to not give pulse IV-MP to selected patients with high risks of glucocorticoids pulse side effects. A prospective randomised multicentre study comparing pulse IV-MP and prednisone at 1mg/kg per day is desirable., (Copyright © 2023 Société française de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Implementing taxes on sugary drinks, or SSBs, has been a controversial topic in many countries, including Malaysia. This study aimed to examine how Malaysian Facebook users responded to the announcement and implementation of the SSBs tax through netnography., Methods: This cross-sectional study employed qualitative and quantitative methods and used an inductive approach and thematic content analysis to analyze online commentaries on news articles published on popular online news portals from November 2018 to August 2019. Data was collected by downloading the commentaries onto Microsoft Word and importing them into NVivo., Results: Of the commentaries analyzed, 60.9% rejected the SSBs tax, and 39.1% favored it. No association was found between the online news articles and the slants of the commentaries., Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate a clear divide in public opinion regarding the SSBs tax in Malaysia, with many online readers expressing opposition to the tax despite evidence of the harmful effects of sugar presented in the articles they are commenting on. These findings have implications for policymakers and public health advocates seeking to implement similar taxes in the future., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The demand for wearable electronics has driven the development of conductive fabrics, particularly those incorporating polyaniline (PANI) that is known for its high electrical conductivity, flexibility, and ease of fabrication. However, the limited stability and durability of the conductive fabric, especially during washing, present significant challenges. The drawbacks can be traced by weak physical attachment between the fabric and the conductive coating, leading to a decrease in conductivity over time. These drawbacks significantly impact the fabric's functionality and performance, highlighting the need for effective solutions to enhance its stability and durability. This study focuses on addressing these challenges by employing a thermochemical treatment. A hydrophilic surface of the polyester fabric is obtained after the treatment (hydrolysis), followed by grafting of PANI on it. The adhesion between PANI and the polyester fabrics was found to be enhanced, as proved by contact angle analysis. Furthermore, the PANI-hydrolyzed fabrics (treated) demonstrated stable conductivity (∼10 -3 S cm -3 ) even after 10 washing cycles, showcasing their excellent durability. In comparison, the unhydrolyzed PANI fabric experienced a drop in conductivity by three orders of magnitude. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy via N 1s core line spectra showed chemical shifts and quantified the level of doping through PANI's protonation level. We found that PANI-hydrolyzed fabrics preserved their dedoping level from 44.77 to 42.68%, indicating improved stability and extension of their electrical properties' lifetime after washing as compared to unhydrolyzed (untreated) fabrics, from 36.99 to 26.61%. This investigation demonstrates that the thermochemical approach can effectively enhance the durability of conductive PANI fabrics, enabling them to withstand the washing process while preserving their electrical endurance., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Amphioctopusaegina is an economically important species that has been intensively exploited in the marine areas along the Chinese coast. However, the genetic variation and population genetic structure, which would provide valuable information for their fisheries management, have rarely been investigated. In this study, the genetic variation within and among four A.aegina populations throughout its full distribution range were estimated based on mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA sequences. Our results indicated low (Qinzhou) to high (Dongshan) genetic diversities among the four populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), ΦST statistics, phylogenetic tree and haplotype networks revealed two significant ( p < 0.01) divergent lineages with a ΦST value of 0.7116 between them, one from a population in Qinzhou and the other from the remaining three populations of Dongshan, Huizhou and Zhanjiang. However, the low genetic distance (0.0032) and only two fixed substitutions between them suggest their recent divergence is possibly due to the last glacial period barriers to gene flow produced by the Leizhou Peninsula. The observed lineage divergence suggests that populations of A.aegina in China are genetically subdivided and may represent evolutionary lineages that should be managed individually., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Yantao Liu, Long Hou, Liqin Liu, Amna Sulaman, Faiz Muhammad.)

Non-invasive prenatal testing was first discovered in 1988; it was primarily thought to be able to detect common aneuploidies, such as Patau syndrome (T13), Edward Syndrome (T18), and Down syndrome (T21). It comprises a simple technique involving the analysis of cell-free foetal DNA (cffDNA) obtained through maternal serum, using advances in next-generation sequencing. NIPT has shown promise as a simple and low-risk screening test, leading various governments and private organizations worldwide to dedicate significant resources towards its integration into national healthcare initiatives as well as the formation of consortia and research studies aimed at standardizing its implementation. This article aims to review the reliability of NIPT while discussing the current challenges prevalent among different communities worldwide.

Postoperative bleeding following cardiac surgeries is still an issue that deranges the medical resources and cost. The oral and injection administrations of blood coagulation protein, Factor VII (FVII), is effective to stop the bleeding. However, its short half-life has limited the effectiveness of this treatment and frequent FVII intake may distress the patients. Instead, incorporating FVII into synthetic biodegradable polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL) that is commonly used in drug delivery applications should provide a solution. Therefore, this study aimed to immobilize FVII on PCL membranes through a cross-linkage polydopamine (PDA) grafting as an intermediate layer. These membranes are intended to provide a solution for cardiac bleeding in coagulating blood and sealing the sutured region. The membranes were evaluated in terms of its physio-chemical properties, thermal behavior, FVII release profile and biocompatibility properties. The ATR-FTIR was used to analyze the chemical functionalities of the membranes. Further validation was done with XPS where the appearances of 0.45 ± 0.06% sulfur composition and C-S peak have confirmed the immobilization of FVII on the PCL membranes. The cross-linked FVIIs were viewed in spherical immobilization on the PCL membranes with a size range between 30 and 210 nm. The surface roughness and hydrophilicity of the membranes were enhanced with a slight shift of melting temperature. The PCL-PDA-FVII0.03 and PCL-PDA-FVII0.05 membranes, with wide area of FVII immobilization released approximately only 22% of FVII into the solution within 60 days period and, it is found that the PCL-PDA-FVIIx membranes projected the Higuchi release model with non-Fickian anomalous transport. While the cytotoxic and hemocompatibility analyses showed advance cell viability, identical coagulation time and low hemolysis ratio on the PCL-PDA-FVIIx membranes. The erythrocytes were viewed in polyhedrocyte coagulated structure under SEM visualization. These results validate the biocompatibility of the membranes and its ability to prolong blood coagulation, thus highlighting its potential application as cardiac bleeding sealant., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: According to the World Bank, Malaysia reported an estimated 97 tuberculosis cases per 100,000 people in 2021. Chest x-ray (CXR) remains the best conventional method for the early detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) infection. The intervention of artificial intelligence (AI) in PTB diagnosis could efficiently aid human interpreters and reduce health professionals' work burden. To date, no AI studies have been evaluated in Malaysia., Objective: This study aims to evaluate the performance of Putralytica and Qure.ai software for CXR screening and PTB diagnosis among the Malaysian population., Methods: We will conduct a retrospective case-control study at the Respiratory Medicine Institute, National Cancer Institute, and Sungai Buloh Health Clinic. A total of 1500 CXR images of patients who completed treatments or check-ups will be selected and categorized into three groups: (1) abnormal PTB cases, (2) abnormal non-PTB cases, and (3) normal cases. These CXR images, along with their clinical findings, will be the reference standard in this study. All patient data, including sociodemographic characteristics and clinical history, will be collected prior to screening via Putralytica and Qure.ai software and readers' interpretation, which are the index tests for this study. Interpretation from all 3 index tests will be compared with the reference standard, and significant statistical analysis will be computed., Results: Data collection is expected to commence in August 2023. It is anticipated that 1 year will be needed to conduct the study., Conclusions: This study will measure the accuracy of Putralytica and Qure.ai software and whether their findings will concur with readers' interpretation and the reference standard, thus providing evidence toward the effectiveness of implementing AI in the medical setting., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): PRR1-10.2196/36121., (©Muhammad Faiz Mohd Hisham, Noor Aliza Lodz, Eida Nurhadzira Muhammad, Filza Noor Asari, Mohd Ihsani Mahmood, Zamzurina Abu Bakar. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 25.07.2023.)

The present work aims to interpret the mass and heat transferal flow through Darcy Forchheimer porous medium involving, simultaneously, microorganisms and nanoparticles. The involvement of gyrotactic microorganisms in the flow of nanoparticles reinforces the thermal characteristics of several energy systems. The amalgamation of microorganisms (microbes) in the nanofluids not only enhances the thermal properties of the fluid but it also causes the stability in the flow. Some other prominent effects such as chemical reaction and heat generation have also been taken into account. The reduced form of the governing model equations is further simplified in order to obtain the algebraic system of equations. Afterward, the approximate solution is obtained by developing an algorithm in the MATLAB software. To check the validity and efficiency of code, we have correlated our numerical outcomes with the previously accomplished ones. The outcomes are explained via the tabular and graphical representations. The flow of nanofluids will be more stable if it involves the motile microorganisms. Another example of the utilization of microorganisms is the microbial-enhanced oil recovery. In order to maintain the variation in the oil bearing layers, the microorganisms along with other nutrients can be incorporated. A significant enhancement is noticed in temperature in case of an increase in the values of heat generation and thermophoresis parameter., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Apart from the major drawback of black staining once lesion is arrested, few studies have indicated that dental personnel's perception and attitude towards silver diamine fluoride (SDF) influences its usage. This report aims to provide a systematic review presenting dental personnel's knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions, (KAPs) regarding SDF. A search of multiple electronic literature databases and a manual search were performed. The review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 statement. A comprehensive search yielded 719 publications and 14 cross-sectional studies matching the inclusion criteria. Awareness of SDF among respondents ranged from 29.6% to 87.8%, whereas awareness of its use in dentistry ranged from 14.4% to 94.5%. Regarding attitude towards SDF, the mean score ranged from 3.39 to 14.35. An increase in knowledge of and attitude towards SDF is significantly associated with the usage of SDF and may increase the usage of SDF. This review provides vital information on dental personnel's KAPs regarding SDF. It is anticipated that the adaptation of SDF usage will be more widespread in the future, especially among children. Findings from the review may assist intervention programs to change misperceptions and to enhance awareness regarding SDF among dental personnel.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection is 1 of the 20 notable neglected tropical diseases according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. In 2010, it is estimated that 1.73 billion people are infected with STH globally, of which 70% of cases occur in Asia. To date, there is a dearth of published literature on the prevalence of STH infection throughout Malaysia., Objective: The objectives of this study are to review research activity on STH infection in Malaysia, to estimate the prevalence of STH infection among Malaysians, and to identify significant risk factors associated with the infection. This review aims to provide the current state of evidence pertaining to STH infections, focusing on the main areas, limitations, and biases of research and mapping out the morbidity distribution of the diseases and their causative agents, and to identify significant risk factors for preventive measures., Methods: We will conduct a scoping review based on the 6-stage structured framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley. A comprehensive search strategy focusing on STH infection will be executed using electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase). A systematic approach for searching, screening, reviewing, and data extraction will be applied based on the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Mendeley software and Microsoft Excel will be used to manage the references and to remove duplicates. Relevant data from selected articles will be extracted using a standardized data extraction form., Results: A total of 164 potential manuscripts were retrieved. Data extraction is currently in progress and completion is expected by the end of 2022., Conclusions: Our scoping review will summarize the current state of research in this field and provide comprehensive information regarding STH infections in Malaysia for future reference., Trial Registration: National Medical Research Register NMRR-20-2889-54348; https://nmrr.gov.my/research-directory/e52ea778-d31c-4eb4-9163-a45bb3680bbf., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/36077., (©Muhammad Faiz Mohd Hisham, Fazila Haryati Ahmad, Hasmah Mohamed Haris, Noor Aliza Lodz, Norzawati Yoep, Eida Nurhadzira Muhammad, Rafidah Ali, Nor Asiah Muhamad. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 05.10.2022.)

The objective of this study was to describe the perioperative findings during temporal artery biopsy (TAB) and the characteristics associated with a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Perioperative findings were prospectively described by a single operator blinded to the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients on 40 consecutive TABs, of which 21 were positive (53%) for GCA. Patients with a TAB positive for GCA (TAB+) more frequently had abnormalities on palpation of the temporal artery than negative TAB (TAB-) patients (mainly pulse abolition (p=0.007), indurated artery (p=0.002), and painful artery (p=0.021)). The appearance of a big artery (p<0.001), a thickened artery (p<0.001), and an indurated artery at incision (p<0.001) was significantly associated with a positive TAB. A multivariate model identified a big artery, no local bleeding, and pain during artery traction as being associated with TAB positivity (sensitivity 71.4% and specificity 89.5%). The appearance of the temporal artery during TAB is important in predicting the positivity of the biopsy. Whether this should influence the optimal length of the TAB warrants a prospective study., (Copyright © 2021 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

During the last few years, there has been an increase in public awareness of antimicrobial fabrics, as well as an increase in commercial opportunities for their use in pharmaceutical and medical settings. The present study reports on the optimized fabrication of protonated polyaniline (PANI)-integrated polyester (PES) fabric. Para -toluene sulfonic acid ( p TSA) was used to protonate the PANI fabric and thus grant it antibacterial performance. The results of a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay showed high antioxidant activity of protonated PANI fabric at a scavenging efficiency of 84.83%. Moreover, the findings revealed remarkably sensitive antibacterial performance of PANI-integrated fabric against the following Gram-positive bacteria: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), S. epidermidis, and S. aureus ; and also against the following Gram-negative bacteria: P. aeruginosa , E. coli , and S. typhi . Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) were used to determine the changes in the structural and elemental compositions of PANI fabric upon treatment with bacterial strains. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that the electrical conductivity value of protonated PANI fabric decreased by one (1) order of magnitude against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus , from 3.35 ± 7.81 × 10 -3 S cm -1 to 6.11 ± 7.81 × 10 -4 S cm -1 and 4.63 ± 7.81 × 10 -4 S cm -1 , respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the disruption of bacterial membranes and their structures when exposed to protonated PANI fabric; meanwhile, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated that the fabric retained its thermal stability characteristics. These findings open up potential for the use of antimicrobial fabrics in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors.

Background: Cardiac tamponade occurs when fluid or blood, fills the pericardial space, and causes hemodynamic compromise due to compression of the heart. It is a potentially life-threatening condition, that requires rapid recognition and immediate treatment. Formerly, blind or surgical techniques were used, and it is associated with complications. Medical technology development has enabled us to perform the procedure safely, with the assistance of ultrasound devices. This article will highlight the novel use of an in-plane subcostal technique, as a safe option for pericardiocentesis in cardiac tamponade., Case Presentation: A 50-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) with shortness of breath and shock. He was intubated for respiratory distress. His bedside echocardiography showed cardiac tamponade. Ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis was carried out using an in-plane technique, at the subcostal region, with a high-frequency linear ultrasound transducer. This particular method provided full visualization of needle trajectory throughout the procedure. It was successfully completed with no complications and patient's hemodynamic status improved post-procedure. He was successfully discharged on day 13., Conclusions: The in-plane subcostal pericardiocentesis is a safe, and simple approach that can be performed in the ED for patients with cardiac tamponade. We recommend this new in-plane method, with high-frequency linear transducer at the subcostal area as an alternative when cardiac window for other approaches cannot be visualized., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objectives: New permanent visual loss (PVL) in treated patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a rare but worrisome occurrence. In this study, we aimed to describe the frequency and main features of new PVL occurring after the beginning of glucocorticoid therapy in patients with newly diagnosed GCA., Methods: We included in an inception cohort all consecutive patients newly diagnosed with GCA in the internal medicine department of a tertiary-care hospital between 1976 and May 2020. The study population comprised all the patients without bilateral PVL before treatment who were followed for at least one year. Only well-documented visual events that set after the initiation of glucocorticoid treatment were regarded as new PVL., Results: Eleven out of 502 patients (2.2%) experienced a new PVL including 6 occurrences during the initial therapeutic phase and 5 during the tapering phase. Patients with new PVL during treatment had higher mean age, more often displayed temporal artery abnormalities on physical examination, and had higher mean platelet counts at GCA onset. There was a strong excess risk of contralateral recurrence during treatment in patients with unilateral loss at GCA onset compared with patients with uncomplicated GCA (10.5% vs 1.1%, OR=10.26, p<0.001)., Conclusions: New PVL in treated GCA is a rare, but significant occurrence. Older patients and patients who already had unilateral PVL at diagnosis have higher risk of new ischaemic visual loss during treatment compared to the other patients. Close clinical, laboratory, and eye monitoring of these high-risk patients is of paramount importance.

Moringa concanensis Nimmo (Moringaceae) belongs to the same family of M. oleifera (miracle tree) and is a medicinal plant traditionally used by Indians to treat various ailments related to diabetes, tumours, inflammation, and blood pressure. Despite its versatility, the photoprotective properties of the plant remain unclear. This study revealed the UV-protective properties of its methanol bark extract and respective subfractions, chloroform, hexane, and ethyl acetate through total phenolic and flavonoid content (TPC & TFC), antioxidant (DPPH), sun protecting factor (SPF) value, and UV absorption spectra analysis. This study also investigated on the inhibitory effect of the tested samples on collagenases and elastase, which are well-known for their role in the skin. The cytotoxic and H 2 O 2 scavenging properties of M. concanensis in 3T3-L1 cells were explored. Finally, the phytochemical profiling of the active fraction was conducted through UPLC-QTOF/MS analysis. Among the tested fractions, the chloroform fraction of M. concanensis showed the highest TPC (30.92 ± 0.71 mg GAE/DW), TFC (29.05 ± 0.09 mg QE/DW), and antioxidant properties (IC 50 -6.616 ± 1.90  μ gml -1 ). Additionally, chloroform fraction demonstrated the highest SPF value, 10.46 at 200  μ gml -1 , compared to the other tested fractions. All the fractions showed a broad absorption spectrum covering both UVA and UVB ranges. The chloroform fraction of M. concanensis also showed collagenase (50%) and elastase (IC 50 -2.95 ± 1.23  μ gml -1 ) inhibition properties similar to the positive control. Cytotoxic results revealed that the chloroform fraction of M. concanensis prevented the H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative damage in 3T3-L1 cells even at lower concentrations (1.56  μ gml -1 ). UPLC-QTOF/MS analysis tentatively identified the presence of bioactive flavonoids and phenolics such as astragalin, quercetin, isoquercetin, and caffeic acid in the active fraction of M. concanensis bark. Overall, it is suggested that the chloroform fraction of M. concanensis bark has the potency to be used as an active ingredient in sunscreen products., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Rameshkumar Santhanam et al.)

The study of geopolymers has become an interesting concern for many scientists, especially in the infrastructure sector, due to having inherently environmentally friendly properties and fewer energy requirements in production processes. Geopolymer attracts many scientists to develop practical synthesis methods, useful in industrial-scale applications as supplementary material for concrete. This study investigates the geopolymerization of fly ash and geothermal silica-based dry activator. The dry activator was synthesized between NaOH and silica geothermal sludge through the calcination process. Then, the geopolymer mortar was produced by mixing the fly ash and dry activator with a 4:1 (wt./wt.) ratio. After mixing homogeneously and forming a paste, the casted paste moved on to the drying process, with temperature variations of 30, 60, and 90 °C and curing times of 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28 days. The compressive strength test was carried out at each curing time to determine the geopolymer's strength evolution and simulate the reaction's kinetics. In addition, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was also used to observe aluminosilicate bonds' formation. The higher the temperature, the higher the compressive strength value, reaching 22.7 MPa at 90 °C. A Third-order model was found to have the highest R 2 value of 0.92, with the collision frequency and activation energy values of 1.1171 day -1 and 3.8336 kJ/mol, respectively. The utilization of coal fly ash and silica geothermal sludge as a dry activator is, indeed, an approach to realize the circular economy in electrical power generations.

As foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) can be life-threatening, it has to be promptly diagnosed and treated. We report a case series of three patients presenting to the emergency department with cardiac arrest due to FBAO. In each case, ventilation was difficult due to high airway resistance. As FBAO was suspected, the emergency physician did a prompt flexible bronchoscopy to confirm the diagnosis and retrieve the foreign body. Flexible bronchoscopy is an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool for emergency airway management, and is a relatively safe procedure if performed by a trained personnel. The life-saving benefits of bronchoscopy outweigh the small risks of complications such as bleeding, desaturation and pneumothorax. In the three cases, the removal of the obstructing material led to immediate improvements in oxygenation and ventilation. The patients had return of spontaneous circulation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and definite airway control., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) has been declared as pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. As of 28 November 2021, there were more than 260 million cases and nearly 5.2 million deaths caused by COVID-19. The most affected system by COVID-19 infection was the respiratory system although several other studies suggested multi-organ involvement with pathophysiology that was not clearly understood. Autopsy findings were beneficial to researchers to determine the mechanism behind these organ failures. The objective of this review was to summarize the autopsy findings related to COVID-19 death., Method: Online literature search was conducted via online databases such as Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar. The keywords inputted during the search were "post-mortem", "autopsy" and "COVID-19" in title, abstract and keywords. The inclusion criteria were the topic related with the title of this review, published in 2020-2021, have full text available and in English language. Any articles that were not related, duplicated studies, review articles including systematic review and meta-analysis and in other languages were excluded., Results: A total of 20 articles were included in this review. The articles reviewed were mostly case reports and case series while others were case-control and cohort study ranging from one to 348 cases. Majority were originated from the United States of America (USA)., Conclusion: The most frequent system described in autopsy findings in COVID-19 death was the respiratory system, with the most common histological finding of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). Majority of the findings of other organs were related to chronic diseases., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Honey has a long history of therapeutic properties for multiple diseases, including inflammation and oxidative stress. This review aimed to provide a better understanding and renewed interest in the potential role of honey in obesity control, obesity-related diseases treatment and weight management, with specific reference to its components and the effect of honey overall. There is compelling evidence that honey possesses the desired properties for this purpose, as seen in the in vitro , in silico, in vivo and clinical analyses discussed in this review. This review also highlights the components potentially responsible for the health benefits of honey. Honey and its components reduce blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism by reducing triglycerides, and reduce total cholesterol and LDL levels while increasing HDL levels that prevent excessive weight gain and reduce the risk of obesity and its complications. Further controlled studies are necessary to validate the role of honey in the management of obesity, both as a preventive and as a therapeutic agent.

Silver (Ag) particles have sparked considerable interest in industry and academia, particularly for health and medical applications. Here, we present the "green" and simple synthesis of an Ag particle-based silicone (Si) thin film for medical device applications. Drop-casting and peel-off techniques were used to create an Si thin film containing 10-50% ( v / v ) of Ag particles. Electro impedance spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and tensile tests were used to demonstrate the electrical conductivity, crystallinity, morphology-elemental, and mechanical properties, respectively. The oriented crystalline structure and excellent electronic migration explained the highest conductivity value (1.40 × 10 - 5 S cm - 1 ) of the 50% Ag-Si thin film. The findings regarding the evolution of the conductive network were supported by the diameter and distribution of Ag particles in the Si film. However, the larger size of the Ag particles in the Si film resulted in a lower tensile stress of 68.23% and an elongation rate of 68.25% compared to the pristine Si film. The antibacterial activity of the Ag-Si film against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Bacillus cereus ( B. cereus ), Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K. pneumoniae ), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( P. aeruginosa ) was investigated. These findings support Si-Ag thin films' ability to avoid infection in any medical device application.

Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of electro-conductive chitosan-gelatin-agar (Cs-Gel-Agar) based PEDOT: PSS hydrogels for tissue engineering. Cs-Gel-Agar porous hydrogels with 0-2.0% ( v / v ) PEDOT: PSS were fabricated using a thermal reverse casting method where low melting agarose served as the pore template. Sample characterizations were performed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Our results showed enhanced electrical conductivity of the cs-gel-agar hydrogels when mixed with DMSO-doped PEDOT: PSS wherein the optimum mixing ratio was observed at 1% ( v / v ) with a conductivity value of 3.35 × 10 -4 S cm -1 . However, increasing the PEDOT: PSS content up to 1.5 % ( v / v ) resulted in reduced conductivity to 3.28 × 10 -4 S cm -1 . We conducted in vitro stability tests on the porous hydrogels using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution and investigated the hydrogels' performances through physical observations and ATR-FTIR characterization. The present study provides promising preliminary data on the potential use of Cs-Gel-Agar-based PEDOT: PSS hydrogel for tissue engineering, and these, hence, warrant further investigation to assess their capability as biocompatible scaffolds.

Background: In Malaysia, the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) tax was announced during the parliament's 2019 Budget Speech. The tax was slated to be enforced by April 2019 but was later postponed to July 2019. The announcement has since generated significant media coverage and public feedback., Objective: This study presents a qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional study using netnography to examine how Malaysian online news articles responded to the SSBs tax after the announcement and postimplementation., Methods: Online news articles published on popular online news platforms from November 2018 to August 2019 were downloaded using NCapture and imported into NVivo for analysis using the inductive approach and thematic content analysis following the initial SSBs implementation announcement., Results: A total of 62 news articles were analyzed. Most of the articles positively portrayed the SSBs tax (46.8%) and highlighted its health impacts (76%). There were 7 key framing arguments identified in the articles. The positive arguments revolved around incentivizing manufacturers to introduce healthier products voluntarily, positive health consequences, the tax's impact on government revenue, and the use of the generated revenue toward beneficial social programs. The opposing arguments included increased operating costs to the manufacturer, the increased retail price of drinks, and how the SSBs tax is not a robust solution to obesity. The top priority sector considered in introducing the tax was the health perspective, followed by economic purposes and creating policies such as regulating the food and drinks industry., Conclusions: The majority of online news articles positively reported the implementation of the SSBs tax in Malaysia. This suggests media played a role in garnering support for the health policy. As such, relevant bodies can use negative findings to anticipate and reframe counteracting arguments opposing the SSBs tax., (©Muhammad Faiz Mohd Hanim, Budi Aslinie Md Sabri, Norashikin Yusof. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 18.08.2021.)

Surface electromyography (sEMG) has been widely used in evaluating muscle fatigue among athletes where electrodes are attached on the skin during the activity. Recently, infrared thermography technique (IRT) has gain popularity and shown to be another preferred method in monitoring and predicting muscle fatigue non-obstructively. This paper investigates the correlation between surface temperature and muscle activation parameters obtained using both IRT and sEMG methods simultaneously. Twenty healthy subjects were required to perform a repetitive calf raise exercise with various loads attached around their ankle for 3 min to induce fatigue on the targeted gastrocnemius muscles. Average temperature and temperature difference information were extracted from thermal images, while root mean square (RMS) and median frequency (MF) were extracted from sEMG signals. Spearman statistical analysis performed shows that there is a significant correlation between average temperature with RMS and between temperature difference with MF values at p<0.05. While ANOVA test conducted shows that there is significant impact of loads on RMS and MF where F=12.61 and 3.59, respectively, at p< 0.05. This study suggested that skin surface temperature can be utilized in monitoring and predicting muscle fatigue in low intensity dynamic exercise and can be extended to other dynamic exercises., (© 2021. International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.)

Background & Aims: Previous studies have shown that end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO 2 ) is lower with the presence of supraphysiological ketones as in the case of chronic ketogenic diet (KD) and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This study aimed to determine changes in EtCO 2 upon short term KD., Methods: Healthy subjects were screened not to have conditions that exerts abnormal EtCO 2 nor contraindicated for KD. Subjects underwent seven days of KD while the EtCO2 and blood ketone (beta-hydroxybutyrate; β-OHB) parameters were sampled at day zero (t0) and seven (t7) of ketosis respectively. Statistically, the t-test and Pearson's coefficient were conducted to determine the changes and correlation of both parameters., Results: 12 subjects completed the study. The mean score ± standard deviation (SD) for EtCO 2 were 35.08 ± 3.53 and 35.67 ± 3.31 mm Hg for t0 and t7 respectively. The mean score ±SD for β-OHB were 0.07 ± 0.08 and 0.87 ± 0.84 mmol/L for t0 and t7 respectively. There was no significant difference of EtCO 2 between the period of study (p > 0.05) but the β-OHB increased during t7 (p < 0.05). There was also no correlation between the parameters., Conclusions: These findings suggest that EtCO 2 may not be utilized to determine short term nutritional ketosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None to report., (Copyright © 2021 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is an important aspect of well-being for the caregivers of children with disability, making it a noteworthy outcome. Little is known about the challenges faced by the caregivers in Asian countries and its association to their QoL. The purpose of this study was to examine a model describing the relationship between sociodemographic and disability-related factors on caregivers' QoL, mediated by the caregivers' psychosocial factors such as perceived stress, coping skills, and social support., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving caregivers of children with special needs in Kelantan, a state of Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 383 caregivers completed questionnaires measuring sociodemographics, disability-related factors, psychosocial factors and QoL outcome. Structural equation modelling was performed to examine the relations of the variables in the conceptual model., Results: In the final model, childcare dependency, caregiver's age, financial support, negative perception of stress and maladaptive coping skills were significant predictors of QoL ( R 2 = 0.65). Caregiver's age had a direct effect on QoL, while financial support had an indirect effect on QoL via negative perception of stress. Childcare dependency had direct and indirect effects on QoL via negative perception of stress. Higher perceived stress was associated with lower QoL directly and indirectly via maladaptive coping skills. The final model fitted the data well (root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.046; CFI = 0.923; χ 2 /df = 1.798)., Conclusion: Intervention strategies to improve the QoL of caregivers should target the family unit and take into account the factors of child's disability, demographic and caregiver's psychosocial status., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None., (© Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2021.)

Background: Organic solvents play an indispensable role in most of the radiopharmaceutical production stages. It is almost impossible to remove them entirely in the final formulation of the product., Objective: In this presented work, an analytical method by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) has been developed to determine organic solvents in radiopharmaceutical samples. The effect of injection holding time, temperature variation in the injection port, and the column temperature on the analysis time and resolution (R ≥ 1.5) of ethanol and acetonitrile was studied extensively., Methods: The experimental conditions were optimized with the aid of further statistical analysis; thence, the proposed method was validated following the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) Q2 (R1) guideline., Results: The proposed analytical method surpassed the acceptance criteria including the linearity > 0.990 (correlation coefficient of R 2 ), precision < 2%, LOD, and LOQ, accuracy > 90% for all solvents. The separation between ethanol and acetonitrile was acceptable with a resolution R > 1.5. Further statistical analysis of Oneway ANOVA revealed that the increment in injection holding time and variation of temperature at the injection port did not significantly affect the analysis time. Nevertheless, the variation in injection port temperature substantially influenced the resolution of ethanol and acetonitrile peaks (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The proposed analytical method has been successfully implemented to determine the organic solvent in the [ 18 F]fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine ([ 18 F]FET), [ 18 F]fluoromisonidazole ([ 18 F]FMISO), and [ 18 F]fluorothymidine ([ 18 F]FLT)., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Bone metastases are a common source of malignancy in the skeleton and occur much more often than primary bone cancer. Several works were being performed to identify early markers for bone metastasis and novel drug targets to improve patients' quality of life. As some concerns exist with the [18F]sodiumfluoridein positron emission tomography (PET) bone imaging, there has been an increase in the number of targeted radiopharmaceutical markers for bone metastases imaging in its competitor, 68Ga. Since 18F properties are superior to those of 68Ga, there is a distinct motivation for developing 18F radiopharmaceuticals for bone metastases imaging., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Epilepsy is marked by seizures that are a manifestation of excessive brain activity and is symptomatically treatable by anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Unfortunately, the older AEDs have many side effects, with cognitive impairment being a major side effect that affects the daily lives of people with epilepsy. Thus, this study aimed to determine if newer AEDs (Zonisamide, Levetiracetam, Perampanel, Lamotrigine and Valproic Acid) also cause cognitive impairment, using a zebrafish model. Acute seizures were induced in zebrafish using pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and cognitive function was assessed using the T-maze test of learning and memory. Neurotransmitter and gene expression levels related to epilepsy as well as learning and memory were also studied to provide a better understanding of the underlying processes. Ultimately, impaired cognitive function was seen in AED treated zebrafish, regardless of whether seizures were induced. A highly significant decrease in γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) and glutamate levels was also discovered, although acetylcholine levels were more variable. The gene expression levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (CAMP) Responsive Element Binding Protein 1 (CREB-1) were not found to be significantly different in AED treated zebrafish. Based on the experimental results, a decrease in brain glutamate levels due to AED treatment appears to be at least one of the major factors behind the observed cognitive impairment in the treated zebrafish., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Serum Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker that is frequently used to diagnose an infection. In some cases of thoracic malignancy, procalcitonin level appears to increase. However, the role of procalcitonin to diagnose malignancy is not certain yet, and the causes have not been known., Aim: This study aimed to investigate procalcitonin levels in non-small cell lung cancer patients., Methods: This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design. All lung cancer patients did not diagnose based on cytology/histopathology results with no evidence nor were signs and symptoms of infection recruited through consecutive sampling. The subtypes of lung cancer include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma, staged III and IV. The procalcitonin levels were analysed from blood using immunofluorescent assay. Data were then analysed with the Chi-Square test by Epi Info™ 7 programs in which p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: A total of 68 lung cancer patients fulfilled the criteria of this study, 55 men (80.9%) and 13 women (19.1%). The highest percentage of cytology/histopathology type found was adenocarcinoma (80.9%), and 60.3% of those were diagnosed in stage IV. An increased procalcitonin level (greater than 0.01 ng/mL) occurred in 80.9% of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients. It appears that the higher the stage of lung cancer, the lower procalcitonin levels would be, although it was not statistically significant. There was no association between lung cancer subtype with procalcitonin levels., Conclusion: An increased level of procalcitonin may be an indication not only for infection but also for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Octopus minor is an economically important resource commonly found in Chinese coastal waters. The nuclear gene (RD and ODH) approach of investigation has not reported in this species. Rhodopsin (RD) and octopine dehydrogenase (ODH) genes were used to elaborate the genetic structure collected from eight localities ranging from the northern to the southern coast of China. In total, 118 individuals for the RD gene and 108 for the ODH were sequenced. Overall (RD and ODH) genes resulted in high (0.741±0.032; 0.805±0.038) haplotype and low nucleotide (0.01261±0.00165; 0.00747±0.00086) diversity. Molecular variance displayed higher values among the populations and lower values within the population where the fixation index F ST denoted 0.880 and 0.584 in RD and ODH genes respectively. The Dongshan population clustered separately in a phylogenetic tree as in the haplotype networking assessment. The current data suggests that the Dongshan population needs separate management.

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by seizures which result in distinctive neurobiological and behavioral impairments. Not much is known about the causes of epilepsy, making it difficult to devise an effective cure for epilepsy. Moreover, clinical studies involving epileptogenesis and ictogenesis cannot be conducted in humans due to ethical reasons. As a result, animal models play a crucial role in the replication of epileptic seizures. In recent years, non-mammalian models have been given a primary focus in epilepsy research due to their advantages. This systematic review aims to summarize the importance of non-mammalian models in epilepsy research, such as in the screening of anti-convulsive compounds. The reason for this review is to integrate currently available information on the use and importance of non-mammalian models in epilepsy testing to aid in the planning of future studies as well as to provide an overview of the current state of this field. A PRISMA model was utilized and PubMed, Springer, ScienceDirect and SCOPUS were searched for articles published between January 2007 and November 2017. Fifty-one articles were finalized based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria and were discussed in this review. The results of this review demonstrated the current use of non-mammalian models in epilepsy research and reaffirmed their potential to supplement the typical rodent models of epilepsy in future research into both epileptogenesis and the treatment of epilepsy. This review also revealed a preference for zebrafish and fruit flies in lieu of other non-mammalian models, which is a shortcoming that should be corrected in future studies due to the great potential of these underutilized animal models.

Aims: Recent data showed an alarming rise of new dialysis cases secondary to diabetic nephropathy despite the growing usage of RAAS blockers. Primary objective of this study is to explore the prevalence of RAAS blockers usage among type II diabetic patients, secondary objectives are to compare the prescribing pattern of RAAS blocker between primary and tertiary care center and to explore if the dose of RAAS blocker prescribed was at optimal dose as suggested by trials., Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at one public tertiary referral hospital and one public health clinic in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia., Results: RAAS blockers in T2DM patients was found to be 65%. In primary care, 14.3% of the RAAS blockers prescribed was ARB. Tertiary care had higher utilization of ARB, which was 42.9%. In primary care setting, the most commonly used ACEI were perindopril (92.4%) followed by enalapril (7.6%), meanwhile perindopril was the only ACEI being prescribed in tertiary care. The most prescribed ARB was irbesartan (63.6%) and telmisartan (54.2%) respectively in primary and tertiary care. Overall, 64.9% of RAAS blockers prescribed by both levels of care were found to be achieving the target dose as recommended in landmark trials. Crude odd ratio of prescribing RAAS blocker in primary care versus tertiary care was reported as 2.70 (95% CI: 1.49 to 4.91)., Conclusion: RAAS blockers usage among T2DM patients was higher in primary care versus tertiary care settings. Majority of the patients did not receive optimal dose of RAAS blockers., (Copyright © 2017 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Caregivers of children with learning disabilities have been shown to experience increased stress and greater negative caregiving consequences than those with typically developing children. There remains a lack of studies focusing on stress and coping mechanisms among caregivers of a wider age group and diagnosis of individuals with disabilities in Asian countries. The current study examines levels of perceived stress and associated child and caregiver factors among caregivers of children with learning disabilities in the Malaysian context. An additional aim was to determine whether caregiver coping styles may be predictors of perceived stress., Methods: The Malay version of the Perceived Stress Scale with 10 items and the Brief COPE Scale were administered to a sample of 190 Malay caregivers of children with learning disabilities registered with community-based rehabilitation centres in Kelantan, a state in Peninsular Malaysia. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to determine the predictors of perceived stress., Results: The mean total perceived stress score of caregivers was 16.96 (SD = 4.66). The most frequently used coping styles found among caregivers included religion, acceptance and positive reframing, while substance use and behavioural disengagement were least frequently used. Higher perceived stress was significantly predicted among caregivers with fewer children, frequent use of instrumental support and behavioural disengagement coping, and lack of emotional support and religious coping., Conclusion: Findings indicate that the perceived stress levels among caregivers were significantly predicted by different coping styles. It is vital to help the caregivers improve their good coping styles in order to reduce their stress levels.

Families caring for children with disabilities face particular challenges and demands compared to those caring for children without disabilities. Evidence suggests that there is considerable variation in how caregivers of children with disabilities adapt to their caregiving demands and stressors. The different adaptations to the children with disabilities may cause different impacts on the health and well-being of caregivers. This paper provides a brief overview of the literature on the impact of caring for children with disabilities on the health and quality of life of caregivers and the factors related to the health outcomes and quality of life. A literature search was conducted by using various electronic databases, including PsychINFO, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and MEDLINE using specific key terms. Thirty-one articles published in peer-review journals from the last six years (2009-2014) were reviewed. Most of the studies were quantitative studies. Factors discussed that impact on caregivers' health and quality of life include the caregivers' sociodemographic background and child's disability-related factors. Several mediators and moderators including coping strategies, social support, parental stress, self-esteem and self-efficacy are described in this paper. This review highlighted the importance of these factors to better understand the complex nature of stress processes and the caregivers' adaptations to their children's disabilities., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Microwave is the most reliable sample digestion method. However, it requires expensive microwave digester automation and has relatively low productivity. In this study, three non-automated digestion methods, i.e. wet acid digestion using nitric acid (HNO 3 ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), wet acid digestion using HNO 3 , and dry washing, are compared in order to determine the best approach., Methods: Certified reference material IAEA-086 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Austria) and hair and nail samples from 20 female students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, aged 19 to 30 years, were collected and analysed using the three digestion methods., Results: For hair samples, analysis of variance of repeated measures showed significant differences in the level of all elements ( P < 0.001) between the three methods. For nail samples, only the copper (Cu) level showed no significant difference ( P = 0.100) between methods. Wet acid digestion using HNO 3 and H 2 O 2 showed the best within- and between-run relative standard deviation (RSD) values, with within-run RSD for all elements, except for selenium (Se), < 5%. The between-run precision ranges from 6.14% to 17.96% for hair and from 3.53% to 11.52% for nail samples. Wet acid digestion using HNO 3 and H 2 O 2 showed both good accuracy and precision for manganese (Mn) and magnesium (Mg), with percentage recoveries of 110% and 96.9%, respectively. All elements show higher method detection limit (MDL) values than the previous study: 0.05 μg/g Mg for wet acid digestion using HNO 3 , 0.02 μg/g Se for wet acid digestion using HNO 3 and H 2 O 2 , and 0.2 μg/g Mg for dry ash method., Conclusion: Wet acid digestion using HNO 3 and H 2 O 2 proved to be the best method in terms of precision, accuracy, recovery, and MDL. However, only Mn and Mg showed adequate precision, accuracy, and percentage of recovery., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None.

The pathway-based microarray classification approach leads to a new era of genomic research. However, this approach is limited by the issues in quality of pathway data. Usually the pathway data are curated from biological literatures and in specific biological experiment (e.g., lung cancer experiment), context free pathway information collection process takes place leading to the presence of uninformative genes in the pathways. Many methods in this approach neglect these limitations by treating all genes in a pathway as significant. In this paper, we proposed a hybrid of support vector machine and smoothly clipped absolute deviation with group-specific tuning parameters (gSVM-SCAD) to select informative genes within pathways before the pathway evaluation process. Our experiment on canine, gender and lung cancer datasets shows that gSVM-SCAD obtains significant results in identifying significant genes and pathways and in classification accuracy.

Human cognition involves many mental processes that are highly interrelated, such as perception, attention, memory, and thinking. An important and core cognitive process is memory, which is commonly associated with the storing and remembering of environmental information. An interesting issue in memory research is on ways to enhance memory performance, and thus, remembering of information. Can colour result in improved memory abilities? The present paper highlights the relationship between colours, attention, and memory performance. The significance of colour in different settings is presented first, followed by a description on the nature of human memory. The role of attention and emotional arousal on memory performance is discussed next. The review of several studies on colours and memory are meant to explain some empirical works done in the area and related issues that arise from such studies.

FOXL2 is a member of the forkhead box family, a transcription factor essential for the early regulation of ovarian development that is expressed in a sexually dimorphic manner in vertebrates. However, data on this gene in invertebrates are rare. In this study, we cloned a full-length cDNA sequence of foxl2 from the scallop Chlamys farreri, an important commercial mollusk in China. The cDNA sequence of Cf-foxl2 (C. farreri foxl2) has 1,824 bp with an open reading frame of 1,107 bp encoding 369 amino acid residues containing the conserved domain forkhead box. Semiquantitative RT-PCR showed that Cf-foxl2 was expressed mainly in the ovary. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we found that the highest expression was in the ovary of proliferative stage animals, about 62-fold higher than that in the testis and about twofold higher than that in the ovary of growing and mature stages. In situ hybridization revealed that Cf-foxl2 mRNA was located in the cytoplasm of follicle cells and germ cells in the ovary and testis except in the spermatozoa. Our data imply that Cf-foxl2 is expressed in a sexually dimorphic pattern at the RNA level, which is conserved with vertebrates.

Pathway analysis has lead to a new era in genomic research by providing further biological process information compared to traditional single gene analysis. Beside the advantage, pathway analysis provides some challenges to the researchers, one of which is the quality of pathway data itself. The pathway data usually defined from biological context free, when it comes to a specific biological context (e.g. lung cancer disease), typically only several genes within pathways are responsible for the corresponding cellular process. It also can be that some pathways may be included with uninformative genes or perhaps informative genes were excluded. Moreover, many algorithms in pathway analysis neglect these limitations by treating all the genes within pathways as significant. In previous study, a hybrid of support vector machines and smoothly clipped absolute deviation with groups-specific tuning parameters (gSVM-SCAD) was proposed in order to identify and select the informative genes before the pathway evaluation process. However, gSVM-SCAD had showed a limitation in terms of the performance of classification accuracy. In order to deal with this limitation, we made an enhancement to the tuning parameter method for gSVM-SCAD by applying the B-Type generalized approximate cross validation (BGACV). Experimental analyses using one simulated data and two gene expression data have shown that the proposed method obtains significant results in identifying biologically significant genes and pathways, and in classification accuracy.