Browse publications by year: 2023

  1. Gan BC
    Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ), 2023;21(82):235-237.
    PMID: 38628021
    Foreign body over the hard palate is a rare clinical entity that happen almost exclusively in young pediatric age group with only about 40 odd cases ever reported. Most cases in the literature are described as incidental findings of hard palate mass causing heightened anxiety to parents and clinicians alike during routine oral cavity examination. Owing to its rarity and lackluster presenting symptoms, this simple condition are often overlooked but has high propensity to develop into life threatening condition if dislodged into the airway.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Infant; Sialorrhea*; Palate, Hard
  2. Adewole MO, Faniran TS, Abdullah FA, Ali MKM
    PMID: 38620099 DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2023.113722
    The global impact of COVID-19 has led to the development of numerous mathematical models to understand and control the pandemic. However, these models have not fully captured how the disease's dynamics are influenced by both within-host and between-host factors. To address this, a new mathematical model is proposed that links these dynamics and incorporates immune response. The model is compartmentalized with a fractional derivative in the sense of Caputo-Fabrizio, and its properties are studied to show a unique solution. Parameter estimation is carried out by fitting real-life data, and sensitivity analysis is conducted using various methods. The model is then numerically implemented to demonstrate how the dynamics within infected hosts drive human-to-human transmission, and various intervention strategies are compared based on the percentage of averted deaths. The simulations suggest that a combination of medication to boost the immune system, prevent infected cells from producing the virus, and adherence to COVID-19 protocols is necessary to control the spread of the virus since no single intervention strategy is sufficient.
  3. Calder PC, Bach-Faig A, Bevacqua T, Caballero Lopez CG, Chen ZY, Connolly D, et al.
    BMJ Nutr Prev Health, 2023;6(2):392-401.
    PMID: 38618551 DOI: 10.1136/bmjnph-2023-000755
    The importance of self-care to improve health and social well-being is well recognised. Nevertheless, there remains a need to encourage people to better understand how their body works, and how to keep it healthy. Because of its important role, part of this understanding should be based on why the immune system must be supported. This highly complex system is essential for defending against pathogens, but also for maintaining health throughout the body by preserving homeostasis and integrity. Accordingly, the immune system requires active management for optimal functioning and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. In addition to regular exercise, healthy sleeping patterns, cultivating mental resilience, adequate nutrition through healthy and diverse dietary habits is key to the daily support of immune function. Diet and the immune system are closely intertwined, and a poor diet will impair immunity and increase the risk of acute and chronic diseases. To help elucidate the roles of primary healthcare providers in supporting individuals to engage in self-care, an international group of experts reviewed the evidence for the roles of the immune system in maintaining health and for nutrition in daily immune support, and discussed implications for population health and clinical practice.
  4. Deverell L, Bhowmik J, Al Mahmud A, Lau BT, Islam FMA, Sukunesan S, et al.
    Br J Vis Impair, 2023 Jan;41(1):33-48.
    PMID: 38602998 DOI: 10.1177/02646196211019070
    Since the 1960s, many electronic travel aids have been developed for people with low vision or blindness to improve their independent travel skills, but uptake of these specialist devices has been limited. This study investigated what technologies orientation and mobility (O&M) clients in Australia and Malaysia have, use, like, and want to support their travel, to inform technology research and development. This two-phase mixed-methods study surveyed O&M clients face-to-face in Malaysia (n = 9), and online in Australia (n = 50). Participants managed safe walking using a human guide, long cane, or guide dog when their vision was insufficient to see hazards, but a smartphone is now a standard travel aid in both Australia and Malaysia. Participants relied on smartphone accessibility features and identified 108 apps they used for travel: for planning (e.g., public transport timetables), sourcing information in transit (e.g., GPS location and directions, finding a taxi), sensory conversion (e.g., camera-to-voice, voice-to-text, video-to-live description), social connections (e.g., phone, email, Facebook), food (e.g., finding eateries, ordering online), and entertainment (e.g., music, games). They wanted to 'carry less junk', and sought better accessibility features, consistency across platforms, and fast, reliable, real-time information that supports confident, non-visual travel, especially into unfamiliar places.
  5. Kalanjati VP, Hasanatuludhhiyah N, d'Arqom A, Arsyi DH, Marchianti ACN, Muhammad A, et al.
    F1000Res, 2023;12:1007.
    PMID: 38605817 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.130610.3
    BACKGROUND: Sentiments and opinions regarding COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccination on Indonesian-language Twitter are scarcely reported in one comprehensive study, and thus were aimed at our study. We also analyzed fake news and facts, and Twitter engagement to understand people's perceptions and beliefs that determine public health literacy.

    METHODS: We collected 3,489,367 tweets data from January 2020 to August 2021. We analyzed factual and fake news using the string comparison method. The difflib library was used to measure similarity. The user's engagement was analyzed by averaging the engagement metrics of tweets, retweets, favorites, replies, and posts shared with sentiments and opinions regarding COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination.

    RESULT: Positive sentiments on COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination dominated, however, the negative sentiments increased during the beginning of the implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM).  The tweets were dominated by the importance of health protocols (washing hands, keeping distance, and wearing masks). Several types of vaccines were on top of the word count in the vaccine subtopic. Acceptance of the vaccination increased during the studied period, and the fake news was overweighed by the facts. The tweets were dynamic and showed that the engaged topics were changed from the nature of COVID-19 to the vaccination and virus mutation which peaked in the early and middle terms of 2021. The public sentiment and engagement were shifted from hesitancy to anxiety towards the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, whilst changed again into wariness on an uprising of the delta variant.

    CONCLUSION: Understanding public sentiment and opinion can help policymakers to plan the best strategy to cope with the pandemic. Positive sentiments and fact-based opinions on COVID-19, and COVID-19 vaccination had been shown predominantly. However, sufficient health literacy levels could yet be predicted and sought for further study.

    MeSH terms: Humans; Indonesia; Language; Vaccination
  6. Bradshaw L, Koumanov F, Berry S, Betts JA, Gonzalez J
    Exp Physiol, 2023 Apr;108(4):543-548.
    PMID: 36809567 DOI: 10.1113/EP091005
    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Physical activity interventions improve almost all modifiable CVD risk factors, but the effect of physical activity on low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is uncertain. This may be due to lack of research on the feeding status in which the physical activity is performed. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of fasted versus fed exercise on LDL-C concentrations in males and females. One hundred healthy participants, equal males and females, aged between 25 and 60 years will be recruited and will undergo a home-based 12-week exercise intervention. After baseline testing, participants will be randomized to a fasted exercise (exercise after an 8-h fast) or fed exercise (exercise 90-180 min after ingestion of 1 g kg-1 CHO) group and will perform 50 min of moderate intensity exercise (e.g., 95% heart rate of lactate threshold 1) three times a week either before or after a high carbohydrate (1 g kg-1 ) meal. Participants will visit the laboratory again at week 4 and week 12 and measurements will be taken for body composition, resting blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, lipid profiles and systemic inflammation, lactate threshold, and 14-day blood glucose control.
    MeSH terms: Body Composition; Cardiovascular Diseases*; Female; Humans; Infant; Cholesterol, LDL; Male; Exercise/physiology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  7. Ng SH, Kaur S, Cheah PY, Ong ZL, Lim J, Voo TC
    Wellcome Open Res, 2023;8:391.
    PMID: 38595706 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.19572.2
    BACKGROUND: Asia hosts the second-largest international migrant population in the world. In Southeast Asia (SEA), key types of migration are labour migration, forced migration, and environmental migration. This scoping review seeks to identify key themes and gaps in current research on the ethics of healthcare for mobile and marginalised populations in SEA, and the ethics of research involving these populations.

    METHODS: We performed a scoping review using three broad concepts: population (stateless population, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people), issues (healthcare and ethics), and context (11 countries in SEA). Three databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science) were searched from 2000 until May 2023 over a period of four months (February 2023 to May 2023). Other relevant publications were identified through citation searches, and six bioethics journals were hand searched. All searches were conducted in English, and relevant publications were screened against the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were subsequently imported into NVivo 14, and thematic analysis was conducted.

    RESULTS: We identified 18 papers with substantial bioethical analysis. Ethical concepts that guide the analysis were 'capability, agency, dignity', 'vulnerability', 'precarity, complicity, and structural violence' (n=7). Ethical issues were discussed from the perspective of research ethics (n=9), clinical ethics (n=1) and public health ethics (n=1). All publications are from researchers based in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. Research gaps identified include the need for more research involving migrant children, research from migrant-sending countries, studies on quality of migrant healthcare, participatory health research, and research with internal migrants.

    CONCLUSIONS: More empirical research is necessary to better understand the ethical issues that exist in the domains of research, clinical care, and public health. Critical examination of the interplay between migration, health and ethics with consideration of the diverse factors and contexts involved is crucial for the advancement of migration health ethics in SEA.

  8. Xin TY, Saniasiaya J, Kulasegarah J, Fan CS
    Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove), 2023;66(4):158-160.
    PMID: 38588394 DOI: 10.14712/18059694.2024.11
    Pilomatricoma, also known as Pilamatrixoma or Malherbe's calcifying epithelioma, is a benign skin tumour with a bimodal age distribution between the paediatric and elderly age groups. Although it was previously thought to be rare, recent studies have revealed that it is quite common. Typically, pilomatricoma is diagnosed following histopathological examination of the lesion as it is frequently misdiagnosed with other types of skin pathology. In our case, the child presented with painless swelling of the left infraauricular region. The initial cytology and imaging were unable to provide a definite diagnosis. An excision biopsy was done, and a histopathological examination was suggestive of Pilomatricoma. Therefore, Pilomatricoma ought to be considered in the differential diagnosis of head and neck lesions in hopes of providing a better understanding on this pathological lesion.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Biopsy; Child; Diagnostic Errors; Humans
  9. Syarifah S, Rambe AS, Putra A, Ichwan M, Pane YS, Muhar AM, et al.
    Acta Inform Med, 2023;32(1):4-10.
    PMID: 38585603 DOI: 10.5455/aim.2024.32.4-10
    BACKGROUND: The rapid development of medical technology in managing breast cancer patients still cannot solve the problem of recurrence and resistance. One of the causes of recurrence and molecular resistance is the presence of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Clinacanthus nutans (C.nutans) is a plant found in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. This plant is believed to have anticancer activity in community.

    OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to assess phytochemical of C.nutans leaves, isolate breast cancer stem cells and determine the cytotoxic effects of the ethanolic extract and water extract of C.nutans leaves on breast cancer stem cells at 24, 48, and 72 h of observation.

    METHODS: We underwent the cytotoxic test by using MTT assay and isolated breast cancer stem cells by using MACS and validated them by mammosphere test.

    RESULTS: We found alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins in simplicia and all extracts. BCSCs was valid with the diameter of the mammosphere BCSCs was > 60 μm. The IC50 values of 100%, 60%, 40%, 20% EE, and WE of C.nutans leaves were 227.30; 46.05; 31.12; 98.54, and 16.16 μg/ml respectively in the first 24 hours. In administering WE of C.nutans leaves, BCSCs viability was decreased at 24,48 and 72 hours of observation, namely 69.29±26%; 75.82 ± 21.02% and 38.94±9.34 % (p < 0.0001).

    CONCLUSION: The WE of C.nutans leaves had more substantial cytotoxic potential against BCSCs than the EE. The capability of WE C.nutans leaves to suppress BCSC's viability was time-dependent. The anticancer activity were believed originate from alkaloid and flavonoid group.

  10. Ja'apar SAN, Ichwan SJA, Mustaffa M
    PMID: 38584992 DOI: 10.34172/joddd.2023.39163
    BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of four bioceramic root canal sealers (RCSs) in vivo. The embryonic zebrafish characteristics, such as mortality, survival, hatching, and general morphology, served as the parameters for assessing cytotoxicity.

    METHODS: The RCSs, namely GuttaFlow Bioseal, MTA Fillapex, CeraSeal Bioceramic, and iRoot SP, were mixed according to the manufacturer's guidelines. The extract solution was prepared by immersing the set RCS into 1X dilution of E3 solution. Then, the extract solution was delivered into a Petri dish where zebrafish embryos were allowed to develop. Cytotoxicity was evaluated 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after fertilization.

    RESULTS: The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that except for GuttaFlow Bioseal, the mortality, survival, and hatching of zebrafish embryos for the remaining three bioceramic RCSs were significantly different from the negative controls (P<0.05). Significant differences were also evident in the mortality, survival, and hatching of zebrafish embryos between GuttaFlow Bioseal and three other RCSs (P<0.05).

    CONCLUSION: GuttaFlow Bioseal was less cytotoxic than other bioceramics RCSs; MTA Fillapex, CeraSeal Bioceramic root canal sealer, and iRoot SP root canal sealer exhibited comparable cytotoxicity.

  11. Piyaphanee W, Stoney RJ, Asgeirsson H, Appiah GD, Díaz-Menéndez M, Barnett ED, et al.
    J Travel Med, 2023 May 18;30(3).
    PMID: 36637429 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taad002
    BACKGROUND: International travellers may seek care abroad to address health problems that arise during their trip or plan healthcare outside their country of residence as medical tourists.

    METHODS: Data were collected on travellers evaluated at GeoSentinel Network sites who reported healthcare during travel. Both unplanned and planned healthcare were analysed, including the reason and nature of healthcare sought, characteristics of the treatment provided and outcomes. Travellers that presented for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis were described elsewhere and were excluded from detailed analysis.

    RESULTS: From May 2017 through June 2020, after excluding travellers obtaining rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (n= 415), 1093 travellers reported care for a medical or dental issue that was an unanticipated part of the travellers' planned itinerary (unplanned healthcare). Travellers who sought unplanned healthcare abroad had frequent diagnoses of acute diarrhoea, dengue, falciparum malaria and unspecified viral syndrome, and obtained care in 131 countries. Thirty-four (3%) reported subsequent deterioration and 230 (21%) reported no change in condition; a third (n = 405; 37%) had a pre-travel health encounter. Forty-one travellers had sufficient data on planned healthcare abroad for analysis. The most common destinations were the US, France, Dominican Republic, Belgium and Mexico. The top reasons for their planned healthcare abroad were unavailability of procedure at home (n = 9; 19%), expertise abroad (n = 9; 19%), lower cost (n = 8; 17%) and convenience (n = 7; 15%); a third (n = 13; 32%) reported cosmetic or surgical procedures. Early and late complications occurred in 14 (33%) and 4 (10%) travellers, respectively. Four travellers (10%) had a pre-travel health encounter.

    CONCLUSIONS: International travellers encounter health problems during travel that often could be prevented by pre-travel consultation. Travellers obtaining planned healthcare abroad can experience negative health consequences associated with treatments abroad, for which pre-travel consultations could provide advice and potentially help to prevent complications.

    MeSH terms: Delivery of Health Care; Diarrhea; Humans; Travel; Travel Medicine
  12. Siraji MA, Rahman M
    Clocks Sleep, 2023 Dec 20;6(1):1-10.
    PMID: 38534796 DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep6010001
    Achieving research reproducibility is a precarious aspect of scientific practice. However, many studies across disciplines fail to be fully reproduced due to inadequate dissemination methods. Traditional publication practices often fail to provide a comprehensive description of the research context and procedures, hindering reproducibility. To address these challenges, this article presents a tutorial on reproducible research using the R programming language. The tutorial aims to equip researchers, including those with limited coding knowledge, with the necessary skills to enhance reproducibility in their work. It covers three essential components: version control using Git, dynamic document creation using rmarkdown, and managing R package dependencies with renv. The tutorial also provides insights into sharing reproducible research and offers specific considerations for the field of sleep and chronobiology research. By following the tutorial, researchers can adopt practices that enhance the transparency, rigor, and replicability of their work, contributing to a culture of reproducible research and advancing scientific knowledge.
  13. Konsam M, D'Souza SRB, Praharaj SK, Nayak BS, Shetty J, Bhat S, et al.
    Indian J Psychol Med, 2023 Nov;45(6):565-572.
    PMID: 38545536 DOI: 10.1177/02537176231167077
    BACKGROUND: Perinatal anxiety affects the antenatal woman, the growing fetus, and the newborn. This systematic review evaluated the effect of listening to music on perinatal anxiety among pregnant women and on newborn behaviors. No available reviews focus on interventions that include only classical forms of music or its benefit on perinatal anxiety among low-risk pregnant women or on newborn behaviors.

    METHODS: We included peer-reviewed primary research studies on the effect of music on perinatal anxiety, published in English, between January 2010 and August 2022. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and ProQuest were searched using specific keywords, resulting in 225 studies for screening by title, abstract, and full text. Two independent reviewers screened them and assessed the quality of the included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using Cochrane's Risk of Bias 2.0 tool (RoB2) and non-randomized controlled trial studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool. Due to the heterogeneity of outcome measures, the review's findings were summarized qualitatively.

    RESULTS: Nine studies with 1646 pregnant women and one with 260 pregnant women and their neonates were included. Results of all studies suggest that listening to classical music reduces the anxiety levels among pregnant women, as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Only one study reported the beneficial effect of antenatal exposure to music on improving newborn behaviors like orientation (ES 1.13, 95% CI: 0.82-1.44, P < 0.0001) and habituation (ES 1.05, 95% CI: 0.53-1.57, P = 0.0001). The risk of bias was unclear in most of the studies.

    CONCLUSIONS: Listening to classical music during the perinatal period may be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for reducing anxiety and pain and improving sleep quality and newborn behaviors. There is a need to conduct further interventional studies on the types of music provided and their effects on perinatal health outcomes.

    REGISTRATION OF THE PROTOCOL: The review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021256806.

  14. Mohammed S, Savage T, Smith J, Shepley MM, White RD
    J Perinatol, 2023 Dec;43(Suppl 1):40-44.
    PMID: 38086966 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-023-01794-2
    Design charettes have been utilized in architectural and design practice to generate innovative ideas. The Reimagining Workshop is a version that combines practical and blue-sky thinking to improve healthcare facility design. The workshop engages diverse stakeholders who follow a human-centered design framework. The Reimagining the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit workshop sought to generate ideas for the future, optimal NICU without specific site or client constraints. Key themes include family-centered care, technology-enabled care, neighborhood and village design and investing in the care team. Recommendations include a supportive physical environment, celebrating milestones, complementary and alternative medicine, enhancing the transition of care, aiding the transition period, and leveraging technology. The workshop showcased the potential for transformative change in NICU design and provided a roadmap for future advancements. These findings can inform regulatory standards for NICU design and drive improvements in family-centered care, patient experiences, and outcomes within the NICU environment.
    MeSH terms: Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal*; Parents; Professional-Family Relations; Patient-Centered Care*
  15. Mohammad A, Zheoat A, Oraibi A, Manaithiya A, S Almaary K, Allah Nafidi H, et al.
    Front Mol Biosci, 2023;10:1306179.
    PMID: 38516396 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1306179
    Introduction: The pursuit of effective therapeutic solutions for SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 necessitates the repurposing of existing compounds. This study focuses on the detailed examination of the central protease, 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), a pivotal player in virus replication. The combined approach of molecular dynamics simulations and virtual screening is employed to identify potential inhibitors targeting 3CLpro. Methods: A comprehensive virtual screening of 7120 compounds sourced from diverse databases was conducted. Four promising inhibitors, namely EN1036, F6548-4084, F6548-1613, and PUBT44123754, were identified. These compounds exhibited notable attributes, including high binding affinity (ranging from -5.003 to -5.772 Kcal/mol) and superior Induced Fit Docking scores (ranging from -671.66 to -675.26 Kcal/mol) compared to co-crystallized ligands. Results: In-depth analysis revealed that F6548-1613 stood out, demonstrating stable hydrogen bonds with amino acids His41 and Thr62. Notably, F6548-1613 recorded a binding energy of -65.72 kcal/mol in Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born Surface Area (MMGBSA) simulations. These findings were supported by Molecular Dynamics simulations, highlighting the compound's efficacy in inhibiting 3CLpro. Discussion: The identified compounds, in compliance with Lipinski's rule of five and exhibiting functional molecular interactions with 3CLpro, present promising therapeutic prospects. The integration of in silico methodologies significantly expedites drug discovery, laying the foundation for subsequent experimental validation and optimization. This approach holds the potential to develop effective therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2.
  16. Jalaluddin HA, Burud IAS, Yew RPC, Loh XT, Tan QGJ, Nathan N, et al.
    Ghana Med J, 2023 Jun;57(2):102-111.
    PMID: 38504755 DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v57i2.4
    OBJECTIVES: Among the vital measures to effectively curb the incidence of COVID-19 is the use of face masks. Little is known about what people understand and how they perceive and use face masks. This study aimed to determine the community's knowledge, attitude, and practice on the correct use of face masks.

    DESIGN: A cross-sectional study.

    SETTING: The study was carried out in Seremban 2, Malaysia using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from validated questionnaires of two previous studies.

    PARTICIPANTS: Through opportunistic sampling, three hundred and ninety-two literate adults (above 18) residing in Seremban 2, Malaysia, participated in this study.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were assessed among the participants.

    RESULTS: Three hundred seventy (94.4%) respondents demonstrated satisfactory knowledge. A satisfactory attitude score was achieved by 349 (89%) respondents, while 281 (71.7%) achieved a satisfactory practice score. Better knowledge was significantly associated with college or university education (p=0.028). Female gender (p=0.011) and college or university education (p=0.043) were significantly associated with better practice (p<0.05). Significant but weak to fair correlations between knowledge, attitude and practice were observed.

    CONCLUSION: Overall, there was satisfactory knowledge, attitude, and practice of face mask use among the Seremban 2 adult population in Malaysia. However, future public health education targeted toward the use of face masks requires more emphasis on proper usage and disposal to translate good knowledge into a good attitude and practice of face mask use to ensure the effectiveness in curbing the spread of infection.

    FUNDING: None declared.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Masks; Surveys and Questionnaires; Pandemics
  17. Luke SH, Roy HE, Thomas CD, Tilley LAN, Ward S, Watt A, et al.
    Insect Conserv Divers, 2023 Mar;16(2):173-189.
    PMID: 38505358 DOI: 10.1111/icad.12637
    Entomology is key to understanding terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems at a time of unprecedented anthropogenic environmental change and offers substantial untapped potential to benefit humanity in a variety of ways, from improving agricultural practices to managing vector-borne diseases and inspiring technological advances.We identified high priority challenges for entomology using an inclusive, open, and democratic four-stage prioritisation approach, conducted among the membership and affiliates (hereafter 'members') of the UK-based Royal Entomological Society (RES).A list of 710 challenges was gathered from 189 RES members. Thematic analysis was used to group suggestions, followed by an online vote to determine initial priorities, which were subsequently ranked during an online workshop involving 37 participants.The outcome was a set of 61 priority challenges within four groupings of related themes: (i) 'Fundamental Research' (themes: Taxonomy, 'Blue Skies' [defined as research ideas without immediate practical application], Methods and Techniques); (ii) 'Anthropogenic Impacts and Conservation' (themes: Anthropogenic Impacts, Conservation Options); (iii) 'Uses, Ecosystem Services and Disservices' (themes: Ecosystem Benefits, Technology and Resources [use of insects as a resource, or as inspiration], Pests); (iv) 'Collaboration, Engagement and Training' (themes: Knowledge Access, Training and Collaboration, Societal Engagement).Priority challenges encompass research questions, funding objectives, new technologies, and priorities for outreach and engagement. Examples include training taxonomists, establishing a global network of insect monitoring sites, understanding the extent of insect declines, exploring roles of cultivated insects in food supply chains, and connecting professional with amateur entomologists. Responses to different challenges could be led by amateur and professional entomologists, at all career stages.Overall, the challenges provide a diverse array of options to inspire and initiate entomological activities and reveal the potential of entomology to contribute to addressing global challenges related to human health and well-being, and environmental change.
  18. Fessi MS, Ben Saad H, Soares Oliveira RF, Washif JA, Chamari K, Moalla W
    Tunis Med, 2023 Nov 05;101(11):795-799.
    PMID: 38468578
    AIM: This research design protocol outlines the methodology for a thorough evaluation of workload monitoring and management strategies in football.

    METHODS: The study involves conducting a global survey to fitness coaches, sports scientists, analysts, and physicians with experience in load monitoring within football. The research adheres to the principles of the Helsinki Declaration and complies with General Data Protection Regulation standards, with ethical approvals obtained from multiple Ethics Committees across various countries, including Tunisia. A consortium of professionals collaboratively crafted the survey instrument, dividing it into seven sections, each addressing specific aspects of workload monitoring in football. Survey reliability will undergo evaluation in a pilot study utilizing Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient. To ensure inclusivity, the survey will be translated into multiple languages, facilitating participation from diverse regions. As such, survey distribution will consider online platforms (such as social media) and email invitations, with a specific focus on engaging football clubs, federations, and professional networks. The targeted sample size will remain at 385 participants. Statistical analysis planning encompasses descriptive examination, exploration of variable relationships, hypothesis testing, and qualitative analyses of participant feedback and recommendations regarding load monitoring practices.

    EXPECTED RESULTS: Expected outcomes include i) A comprehensive global overview of training and match load monitoring practices in football, ii) The identification of emerging trends, an improved understanding of training optimization processes, and iii) The development of practical recommendations to enhance player well-being and performance.

    CONCLUSION: This study will contribute to the ongoing development of knowledge in the field of football workload monitoring.

    MeSH terms: Humans; Pilot Projects; Reproducibility of Results; Workload
  19. Alzain AF, Elhussein N, Hamd ZY, Fadulelmulla IA, Omer AM, Alotaibi A, et al.
    Front Med (Lausanne), 2023;10:1243014.
    PMID: 38486825 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1243014
    BACKGROUND: Volunteering is a beneficial activity with a wide range of positive outcomes, from the individual to the communal level. In many ways, volunteering has a positive impact on the development of a volunteer's personality and experience. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of health volunteering on improving the self-skills and practical capacities of students in the western region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional electronic web-based survey that was submitted on a web-based questionnaire; 183 students answered the survey, and then, the data were analyzed using SPSS.

    RESULTS: This study shows that 95.6% of participants agree and strongly agree that the health volunteering experience was useful, 2.7% of the participants neither agree nor disagree, and 1.6% disagree and strongly disagree. Regarding the distribution of the participants on skills learned from volunteering experience, the largest proportion of student (36.1%) volunteers in the health sector acquired communication skills and the smallest proportion of student (14.8%) volunteers in the acquired time management skills. Regarding the disadvantages, 81.4% of the participants do not think there were any disadvantages to their previous health volunteering experience, while only 18.6% of them think there were any disadvantages to their previous health volunteering experience. Additionally, the study found that the type of the sector affects the skills acquired from health volunteering.

    CONCLUSION: Research revealed that the majority considered volunteering a great experience. Volunteering increased the self-skills and practical capacities of radiology students, which proved the hypothesis.

  20. Amriviana MP, Khairunnisa C, Sasongko TH
    Narra J, 2023 Aug;3(2):e144.
    PMID: 38450260 DOI: 10.52225/narra.v3i2.144
    Stunting is defined by height of more than two standard deviations below the World Health Organization's (WHO) child growth standard median. It is a significant nutritional problem in developing countries, where in 2021, Indonesia recorded a stunting prevalence at 24.4%, slightly higher than the global prevalence (22%). Reducing the prevalence of stunting has been the focus of the current administration in the Indonesian government, as delineated in the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan. Globally, many studies have addressed parental stature as a risk factor of stunting. However, systematic reviews that summarized and critically appraised the relationship between parental stature and the incidence of stunting in Indonesia was scarce. This systematic review aimed to assess parental stature as a risk factor for stunting among Indonesian toddlers. Studies were searched through PubMed (MEDLINE), Google Scholar and Mendeley. Studies on Indonesian toddlers under five years old living in Indonesia were included. The quality of the included studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. Data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form and were analyzed using Cochrane's RevMan 5.3. Twenty-seven prospective and retrospective cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies were included with a total 4041 children. Out of 27 included studies, eight were found to be of low, seven of moderate and twelve of high quality. The result showed that parental stature was associated with the incidence of stunting among toddlers in Indonesia, either the mother only (odds ratio (OR) 1.92; 95% confidence interval (95%CI: 1.71-2.15), the father only (OR 5.21; 95%CI: 1.71-15.86) or both parents (OR 3.01; 95%CI: 2.41-3.75). However, studies on father and both parental statures suffered from substantial heterogeneity, imprecision and mixed qualities, therefore, they should be cautiously interpreted.
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