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Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has multiple physical and psychosocial effects on individuals. Therefore, this study aims to determine the sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, depression and attention span in patients with OSA. This was a cross-sectional study among patients who were recently diagnosed with OSA in a Malaysian hospital. The socio-demographic and clinical data, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Patients Health Questionnaire and Comprehensive Trail Making Test were used as instruments. Findings were analysed and presented using Chi-Square, One-Way ANOVA and Independent- Sample T-test statistical analyses. Most of the respondents presented with poor sleep quality and impaired attention span. Approximately, half of the respondents had excessive daytime sleepiness. There were significant associations between sleep quality and daytime sleepiness (p-value=0.051), daytime sleepiness with depression (p-value=0.049) and severity of OSA with depression (p-value=0.026). Daytime sleepiness was significantly associated with working status (p-value=0.009) and driving status (p-value=0.033). In conclusion, most patients with OSA had poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and impaired attention span. Hence, OSA should be diagnosed and treated early, particularly in patients who are still working and actively driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was based on selected daily haze occurrences between the year 2006 until 2015 in five regions of Malaysia (Borneo, Central, Eastern, Northern, and Southern regions). The generalized linear model (GLM), principal component regression (PCR), incorporation of artificial neural network and sensitivity analysis (ANN-SA) techniques were applied in this study to generate respective models namely as MLP-HM-GLM, MLP-HM-PCR, and MLP-HM-LO and identify the relationship of air pollutants and meteorological factors to particulate matter (PM10) variability. The performances of these models were compared based on coefficient of determination (R²), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and squared-sum error (SSE). From the findings, ANN-SA that generated the MLP-HM-LO model was the most suitable technique to identify the main contributors to PM10 variability. Ultraviolet-b (UVb) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) were found as the most significant pollutants that affected the PM10 variation. UVb also had consistently influenced PM10 variability over five regions. MLP-HM-LO model had rendered the highest R², with the lowest RMSE and SSE values compared with MLP-HM-GLM and MLP-HM-PCR models. Thus, the ANN-SA technique was highly practicable in determining future haze circumstances in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Total thyroidectomy or at least hemithyroidectomy is routinely performed alongside total laryngectomy in patients with advanced carcinoma of the larynx. Life-threatening hypocalcaemia and hypothyroidism are common sequelae especially with adjuvant radiation. The study aims to determine the incidence of microscopic thyroid gland invasion and challenge the idea of routine thyroidectomy in advanced carcinoma of the larynx. Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective observational study. It was done in two tertiary centres in Malaysia between 2003 and 2013 for a total duration of 11 years. A total of 72 patients were included in this study. Data from medical records, operative notes, and histopathological reports were collected and analysed. Results: Three patients (4.2%) had the presence of microscopic thyroid gland invasion. There were no significant associations between microscopic thyroid gland invasion and tumour subsites, histological types of a tumour nor T staging (p>0.05) Conclusion: The incidence of microscopic thyroid gland invasion in advance carcinoma of the larynx is low, disavowing routine thyroidectomy. Limitations: Some factors such as cartilage invasion on CT imaging and central lymph node treatment were not considered due to limitations in case documentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]