Search

Abstract Ischemic retinopathies are the major causes of blindness, yet effective early-stage treatments remain limited due to an incomplete understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Significant changes in gene expression often precede structural and functional alterations. Transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are emerging as novel gene regulators, involved in various biological processes and human diseases. In this study, tsRNA-Gln-i-0095 was identified as a novel regulator, which was significantly upregulated in retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Reducing the levels of tsRNA-Gln-i-0095 suppressed reactive gliosis, lowered inflammatory cytokine levels, and protected retinal ganglion cells from I/R injury. These effects led to reduced structural and functional damage, inhibited glial activation and inflammation, and enhanced neuronal function. Mechanistically, tsRNA-Gln-i-0095 downregulated the expression of NFIA and TGFBR2 through a miRNA-like mechanism. Collectively, this study highlights the potential of targeting tsRNA-Gln-i-0095 as a novel therapeutic approach to reduce retinal I/R injury and preserve visual function. Graphical abstract

Abstract Diabetes is a major risk factor for compromised visual health, leading to retinal vasculopathy and neuropathy, both of which are hallmarks of neurovascular unit dysfunction. Despite the critical impact of diabetic retinopathy, the precise mechanism underlying neurovascular coupling and effective strategies to suppress neurovascular dysfunction remain unclear. In this study, the up‐regulation of a tRNA‐derived stress‐induced RNA, 5′tiRNA‐His‐GTG, in response to diabetic stress is revealed. 5′tiRNA‐His‐GTG directly regulates Müller glia action and indirectly alters endothelial angiogenic effects and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival in vitro. Downregulation of 5′tiRNA‐His‐GTG alleviates diabetes‐induced retinal neurovascular dysfunction, characterized by reduced retinal vascular dysfunction, decreased retinal neurodegeneration, and improved visually‐guided behaviors in vivo. Mechanistically, 5′tiRNA‐His‐GTG acts as a key regulator of retinal neurovascular dysfunction, primarily by modulating arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism via the CYPs pathway. The 5′tiRNA‐His‐GTG‐CYP2E1‐19(S)‐HETE signaling axis is identified as a key driver of retinal neurovascular dysfunction. Thus, targeting 5′tiRNA‐His‐GTG presents a promising therapeutic strategy for treating vasculopathy and neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus. Modulating this novel signaling pathway can open up new avenues for intervention in diabetic retinopathy and its related complications.

Abstract Background Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), defined as a capability of aggressive tumor Cells to mimic embryonic vasculogenic networks, caused poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Rho kinases (ROCK), p21-activated kinase (PAK), hypoxia or epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributed to the VM potential. However, the details underlying these biological behaviors have not been completely elucidated. Methods Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to predict relationship with hypoxia Inducible factor (HIF-1α), EMT related markers: Vimentin and patient prognosis. CD34/periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) double staining was examined to differentiate VM-positive (VM+) and VM-negative (VM-) samples. Cells were cultured under controlled hypoxic environments (1% O2) or normoxic conditions. The effect of hypoxia on RhoA/ROCK, Rac1/PAK and EMT were evaluated by real time-qPCR and western blot. HIF-1α small interfering RNA (siRNA), overexpressed or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) of ROCK and kinase inhibitors were used to explore the effect of HIF-1α, RhoA/ROCK, Rac1/PAK and Vimentin on VM. Results HIF-1α or Vimentin was upregulated in VM+ HCC tissues, compared to non-cancerous tissues (P

The liver is the central metabolic organ and plays a pivotal role in regulating homeostasis of glucose and lipid metabolism. Aberrant liver metabolism promotes insulin resistance, which is reported to be a common characteristic of metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There is a complex and bidirectional relationship between NAFLD and T2DM. NAFLD patients with hepatic insulin resistance generally share a high risk of impaired fasting glucose associated with early diabetes; most patients with T2DM experience non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and other more severe liver complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Additionally, hepatic insulin resistance, which is caused by diacylglycerol-mediated activation of protein kinase C epsilon (PKC𝜀), may be the critical pathological link between NAFLD and T2DM. Therefore, this review aims to illuminate current insights regarding the complex and strong association between NAFLD and T2DM and summarize novel and emerging targets for the treatment of hepatic insulin resistance based on established mechanistic knowledge.

Abstract Background Periodontal diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are among the most prevalent oral health issues globally. They compromise the supportive structures of teeth and are influenced by both local and systemic factors. This study aimed to systematically assess the impact of systemic conditions on periodontal health in Malaysian population, addressing the gap in understanding these factors as potential risk factors. Methods A retrospective, non-interventional study was conducted using medical records from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, from September 2019 to December 2022. The study included patients with periodontitis and systemic conditions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, Fisher’s exact tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Spearman’s correlation, and logistic regression. Results Out of 600 records, 274 patients were included. The cohort was 51.8% male, with a median age of 51 years. Malays accounted for 92.3% of the sample. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most common comorbid conditions. Severe periodontitis was significantly associated with age (45–64 years, p = 0.018) and Malay ethnicity (p = 0.011). Logistic regression revealed that age and ethnicity were significant predictors of periodontitis severity, with Malays being 12.5 times more likely to develop severe periodontitis. Conclusion Systemic conditions significantly influence periodontitis development and progression. Age and ethnicity are crucial predictors of periodontitis severity in the Malaysian population. Comprehensive risk assessment tools are necessary to incorporate a broader spectrum of risk factors for better management and prevention.

Objective: To determine the association between oral health-related symptoms and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among diabetic patients. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 202 diabetic patients. The Malay version of the Short Oral Health Impact Profile [S-OHIP(M)] questionnaire was used to assess OHRQoL. A higher S-OHIP(M) score indicates greater oral impact and worse OHRQoL. The prevalence of oral impact was determined by the percentage of participants who reported experiencing one or more impacts ‘very often’ or ‘fairly often’. An additional self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain perceived oral health symptoms. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent t-test, and ANOVA. Results: 45.6% of respondents reported at least one oral health symptom. The most common symptoms were bad breath (30.2%), cavities (29.7%), and toothache (16.8%). The prevalence of oral impact was 33.7%, and the total mean S-OHIP(M) score was 6.15 (SD=6.09). The mean of the S-OHIP(M) score was significantly higher in participants with toothache, cavities, sore gums, swollen gums, bleeding gums, mobile teeth, and bad breath. Conclusion: Oral health symptoms are significantly associated with poorer OHRQoL among diabetic patients. Preventive care and timely treatment of oral health issues are critical to improving the overall quality of life and well-being of this population.

Through the use of technology in the classroom, teachers can improve their ability to deliver effective and relevant content. Teachers should be more prepared to apply this technology to ensure that students will have more fun and have a high interest in continuing to learn in the era of globalization which is based on the use of these information communication technology elements in the classroom during the teaching and facilitation process. Thus, this study was to identify the relationship between technological knowledge, technological content knowledge, technological pedagogical knowledge, technological pedagogical content knowledge, and inventive skills for teachers. The questionnaire was distributed to 400 teachers who teach Malay language subjects at Secondary schools in Malaysia. To test the hypothesis, the structural equation using a PLS-SEM framework was used. The results showed that technological knowledge, technological content knowledge, technological pedagogical knowledge, and technological pedagogical content knowledge have a positive relationship with inventive skills for teachers.

This paper surveys various edge detection techniques in image processing, focusing on their applicability to disease detection. Many researchers encompass studies conducted in the context of various crops and fruits, shedding light on their effectiveness and adaptability. However, the more techniques are used and improved, less comparison has been made between them to look further at their challenges, such as noise sensitivity, scale variability, edge linking, and real-world variability. Also, the study will systematically survey and analyze literature on the ability of edge detection, including classical methods like Robert, Sobel, Prewitt, and Canny, as well as more advanced techniques such as gradient-based and Gaussian-based. This research aims to comprehensively understand the strengths and limitations of different edge detection techniques and can be used as a reference point for selecting and enhancing novel techniques in image processing. Overview, this paper makes a substantial contribution to the field by addressing both traditional edge detection in image processing and applied disease detection. It serves as a comprehensive guide, offering insights, practical advice, and a consolidated view of current research trends, and highlights the potential of edge detection in contributing to advancements in disease detection methodologies making it a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners.

Introduction: Assessing and understanding pregnant women's knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 infection and its implications for pregnancy is critical for meeting their specific needs. However, currently, there is a lack of validated questionnaires to assess this issue. This study aims to determine the validity and reliability of the Knowledge and Attitude on the effect of COVID-19 Infection on Pregnancy (KACIP) Questionnaire Among pregnant women in Malaysia. Materials and methods: KACIP was developed using the Health Belief Model (HBM), extensive literature review and expert judgement. The questionnaire underwent a sequential validation process, content validation, face validation, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and internal consistency reliability-based Cronbach's alpha statistic. For the construct validation, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital. Results: The final KACIP consisted of two sections; Knowledge and Attitude on COVID-19 infection effect on pregnancy. The Knowledge section comprises three domains (13 items) and the Attitude section has two domains (9 items). Preliminary KACIP demonstrated a high item Content Validity Index and Face Validity Index. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin values for the Knowledge and Attitude sections were 0.785 and 0.783 respectively and had a significant p-value of

Abstract Presenting new molecular and scanning electron microscope (SEM) features, this study gives additional data to the better knowledge of Thaparocleidus vistulensis (Siwak, 1932) (Monopisthocotyla, Ancylodiscoididae), a parasite of the European catfish Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758 (Siluriformes, Siluridae) cultured in a commercial fish farm in Hungary. In addition, notes on the early development of sclerotized anchors are also provided. The main morphological difference of T. vistulensis compared to other congeneric species is associated with the male copulatory organ, which exhibits 5–7 loops in the middle of the penis length and a long open V-shaped sclerotized accessory piece, dividing terminally into two parts, securing the terminal part of the penis tube. The present study provides for the first time molecular characterization data based on the 2694 bp long nucleotide sequence of rDNA (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, and flanked with partial 18S and partial 28S) submitted in GenBank with the accession number OR916383. A phylogenetic tree based on ITS1 sequences supports a well-defined clade including T. vistulensis, forming a sister group with T. siluri, a species-specific monopisthocotylan parasite to S. glanis. The morphological characterization of T. vistulensis, especially for the male copulatory organ, together with the molecular data in the present study, extends knowledge about this monopisthocotylan species and provides new information for future phylogeny studies.

Operational cost is important in any system. In the case of the earth station system, operational cost is very crucial. The operational cost can be divided into three costs: maintenance, failure, and replacement costs. There are many complex subsystems incorporated in the earth station system, for instance a high-power amplifier, modulators, and antennas, to name a few. In this research, only the replacement cost was considered. Moreover, there are many replacement methods that are available. These replacement methods implicitly influence both the replacement and the replacement costs. The aim of this research is to provide a new cost model based on which replacement method yields the lowest cost. Two replacement methods are involved in this research: failure-triggered and age-based. The failure-triggered and the age-based replacement methods were considered because these methods are the most used in previous research work. Furthermore, three types of cost models were also considered, and they were linear, polynomial, and exponential operational cost models. The outcomes show that the failure-triggered and age-based replacement methods of 2-parallel configuration of polynomial and linear operational cost models yielded the lowest RMSE value of 2.5. Therefore, both polynomial and linear operational cost models of the 2-parallel configuration were the most optimal operational cost models. ABSTRAK: Kos operasi adalah penting dalam mana-mana sistem. Dalam kes sistem stesen bumi, kos operasi adalah sangat penting. Kos operasi boleh dibahagikan kepada tiga kos: kos penyelenggaraan, kegagalan dan penggantian. Terdapat banyak subsistem kompleks yang digabungkan dalam sistem stesen bumi, contohnya penguat kuasa tinggi, modulator, dan antena. Penyelidikan ini hanya membincangkan tentang kos penggantian. Selain itu, terdapat banyak kaedah penggantian sedia ada. Kaedah penggantian ini secara tersirat mempengaruhi kedua-dua kos penggantian dan penggantian. Matlamat penyelidikan ini adalah bagi menyediakan model kos baharu berdasarkan kaedah penggantian yang menghasilkan kos terendah. Dua kaedah penggantian yang terlibat dalam kajian ini: penggantian yang dicetuskan oleh kegagalan dan berdasarkan umur. Kaedah cetusan kegagalan dan penggantian berasaskan umur telah dipertimbangkan kerana kaedah ini paling banyak digunakan dalam penyelidikan terdahulu. Tambahan, tiga jenis model kos turut dipertimbangkan, iaitu model kos operasi linear, polinomial dan eksponen. Dapatan menunjukkan kaedah penggantian cetusan kegagalan dan berdasarkan umur melalui konfigurasi model 2 selari bagi kos operasi polinomial dan linear menghasilkan nilai RMSE terendah iaitu 2.5. Oleh itu, kedua-dua model kos operasi polinomial dan linear bagi konfigurasi model 2 selari adalah kos operasi paling optimum.

Background: Healthcare providers must possess the necessary knowledge and skills to perform effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In the event of cardiopulmonary arrest, basic life support (BLS) is the initial step in the life-saving process before the advanced CPR team arrives. BLS simulation training using manikins has become an essential teaching methodology in nursing education, enhancing newly employed nurses’ knowledge and skills and empowering them to provide adequate resuscitation. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential effect of BLS simulation training on knowledge and practice scores among newly employed nurses in Jordanian government hospitals. Methods: A total of 102 newly employed nurses were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group (n = 51) received standard training, and the experimental group (n = 51) received one full day of BLS simulation training. The training program used the American Heart Association (AHA)-BLS-2020 guidelines and integrated theoretical models such as Miller’s Pyramid and Kolb’s Cycle. Both groups were homogeneous in inclusion characteristics and pretest results. Knowledge and practice scores were assessed using 23 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Data were analyzed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The results indicated significant differences in knowledge scores, F(2, 182) = 58.514, p

Background: Investigating the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations and their impact on brain tumor progression remains a significant focus in cancer research. The research aimed to explore the specific contributions of mtDNA copy number changes and their correlations with patient survival, large mtDNA deletions, and TFAM mutations in brain tumor patients. Methods: A total of 41 patients with confirmed brain tumors underwent DNA extraction from both tumor tissues and blood samples. The relative mtDNA copy number in comparison to the nuclear genome was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Long-range PCR assessed largescale mtDNA deletions, and Sanger sequencing was applied to detect exon 4 TFAM mutations. Results: Analysis revealed significantly increased mtDNA copy numbers in brain tumor tissues (80.5%) compared to matched blood samples (P < .001). Median delta Ct (∆Ct) values were 7.35 in cancerous tissues and 11.81 in blood (P < .001), with median relative mtDNA content of 0.0123 and 0.0006, respectively (P < .001). Patients with higher mtDNA copy numbers experienced longer overall survival periods (P=.045) and notably favorable outcomes, particularly in high-grade tumor cases (P=.016). Furthermore, a singlenucleotide deletion was identified in exon 4 of TFAM in a patient with glioblastoma IV, while no large-scale mtDNA deletions were found in brain tumor patients. Conclusion: Our study strongly supports the role of increased mtDNA copy numbers as a reliable predictor for improved survival and positive outcomes in high-grade brain tumor patients.

The life cycle of Thaparocleidus vistulensis (Siwak, 1932), a host-specific monogenean parasite of European catfish (Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758), was investigated by detailed observation of infection dynamics, egg development, hatching rate and in vitro survival rates of the parasite at different life stages at 23 °C. A total of 30 naive fingerlings were infected in three exposure trials by co-habitation with donor fish carrying adult parasites. Two fish were dissected every two days during the 10-day experimental period to explore the development of larvae and juvenile parasites on the host gills. Freshly laid eggs by adult monogeneans were collected and observed daily under a light microscope until hatching. A total of 445 eggs were collected and distributed into wells of 96-well microtiter plates containing filtered fish tank water to determine their hatching rates. A similar method was used to investigate the survival rates of isolated parasites at different developmental stages (larvae, juveniles, and adults). T. vistulensis populations on the European catfish in fish tanks increased markedly within ten days, dependent on the severity of the initial infection levels of the donor fish. The first eggs hatched three to four days after oviposition, and the hatching rate peaked on the fifth day (89.7%). The survival rate for freely swimming oncomiracidia without host was 7.4% after five days, whereas isolated juvenile and adult parasites showed a higher dependence of host contact (survival rates three days post-isolation of 0.9% and 1.6%, respectively). The data allows prediction of parasite-host dynamics and may improve control of gill-disease in cultured European catfish stocks in fish farms.

Objective: Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetic questionnaire (PIDAQ) is an efficient subjective measure for quality of life. The purpose of this study was to assess the linguistic validity and reliability of the URDU version of the PIDAQ. Methods: PIDAQ questionnaire in English was selected and translated to Urdu language. This process included forward translation and backward translation. The primary draft was then discussed in detail is a committee of different personnel including public health professional, orthodontists, and translators. Pretesting was conducted at Rashid Latif Dental College in Lahore involving ten participants via face-to-face interviews. Inclusion criteria in- cluded all patients coming for orthodontic treatment, that had not yet started their treatment and were able to read and comprehend in Urdu language. Exclusion criteria included those who had any other underlying treatment needs such as caries or periodontal treatment and or any mental or learning disability. The pretest included face to face interviews with 10 subjects to further clarify the understanding and cultural significance of the translated questions. A test-retest reliability study was undertaken over a period of two weeks involving another 24 patients. Cronbach and kappa scores were calculated to assess the sematic, idiomatic, experimental, conceptual as well as content and face validity of the questionnaire. Twenty-three translated questions under four subscales were produced. Results: The Intraclass correlation coefficient values achieved for the translation were between 0.81 to 0.97 for the multiple subscales. The Cronbach was 0.91 for dental self-confidence, 0.81 for social impacts, 0.88 for psy- chological impacts and 0.97 for aesthetic concerns. Conclusion: The PIDAQ-Urdu appeared to be linguistically valid and reliable with excellent test-retest results.

The emergence of COVID-19 in Malaysia in January 2020 marked the beginning of a significant public health challenge. Despite the transition to the endemic phase on April 1, 2022, the global impact of the virus remains substantial. This research aims to forecast the cumulative number of detected cases and deaths by employing a state-space model derived from the Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) model, capturing the multi-wave dynamics of COVID-19. The modeling focuses on estimating the trends within the time interval spanning from week 1 to week 12, commencing in mid-June 2022. Real-time data sourced from the Ministry of Health in Malaysia serve as the basis for model development and validation, utilizing MATLAB and Simulink for simulation purposes. The findings of the simulation reveal a direct correlation between the number of detected cases and deaths, suggesting a positive relationship with the real-life situation. This mathematical representation contributes to a deeper understanding of the ongoing dynamics of COVID-19 and provides a tool for predicting future trends, aiding in public health planning and response efforts.

Background Pregnancy is one of the risks for severe COVID-19 infection, and receiving a vaccination is one of the effective methods to reduce disease severity. However, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women remains an issue. This study aims to develop and validate the pregnancy Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (pVHS) toward COVID-19 vaccine for Malaysian pregnant women. Method An 8-item Malay language pregnancy Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (pVHS-M) for COVID-19 was adapted from the adult Vaccine Hesitancy Scale and validated using Exploratory Factor Analysis. Six expert panels were involved in content validity, and ten pregnant women were involved in face validity. A cross-sectional study on 200 pregnant women was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023 at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan. Result The item-level content validity index is 1.00, demonstrating good relevance of the eight items used to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The item-level face validity index obtained is 0.99, indicating that the items were clear and comprehensible. The Cronbach alpha score was 0.944, with factor loadings ranging from 0.79 to 0.89. Conclusion The pVHS-M demonstrated good internal consistency, indicating that it is a valid and reliable tool for assessing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women.