MATERIALS AND METHODS: PDLSCs were treated with 0, 5, 10 and 20 µg/mL of Escherichia coli LPS. At 48 and 96 h, total cell numbers of control and LPS treated PDLSCs were counted by haemocytometer under a microscope. The VEGF concentration in the conditioned media of the PDLSCs was measured by ELISA.
RESULTS: Rate of cell proliferation of PDLSCs decreased significantly in all LPS treated groups at both 48 h and 96 h except for the group treated with 5 µg/mL of LPS at 48 h. At both 48 and 96 h, VEGF secretion from PDLSCs was reduced significantly at all three LPS concentrations. There was no statistically significant difference in cell proliferation and the amount of VEGF secretion of PDLSCs among the groups treated with different LPS concentrations. No statistically significant change was found in cell proliferation of LPS treated PDLSCs over time, whereas VEGF secretion of PDLSCs was found to have increased significantly with time despite the LPS treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: LPS reduced cell proliferation and VEGF secretion of PDLSCs, suggesting that periodontal pathogens might reduce the capability of PDLSCs in periodontal regeneration. Yet, LPS treated PDLSCs remained viable and VEGF secretion increased significantly over time. Further research is needed to study the potential use of PDLSCs in periodontal regeneration and the relationship of biofilm LPS accumulations.
METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study design was used. Two different scales were used to measure the readiness for and perception of interprofessional learning; these were the 'Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale' and the 'Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale'. A convenience sampling method was employed. The sample was drawn from undergraduate students enrolled in years 1 to 5 of medical, dental, pharmacy and health sciences programme. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.
RESULTS: The overall response rate was 83%. The students mentioned that shared learning with other healthcare professional students will increase their ability to understand clinical problems. The students also mentioned that such shared learning will help them to communicate better with patients and other professionals. The students preferred to work with individuals from their own profession. Participants from medical, dental, pharmacy, and health sciences had a difference in opinion about 'negative professional identity', a domain of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale. Based on the different year of study of the students, 'team work and collaboration', 'negative professional identity' and 'roles and responsibility' were the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale domains where students had a difference in opinion.
CONCLUSIONS: Attitudes and readiness towards interprofessional learning showed significant differences among students of various healthcare professions; these differences also depended on the students' year of study. Interprofessional learning should be incorporated in the curriculum of all healthcare professional programs, which may foster students to become competent healthcare providers and understand each profession's role.
PURPOSE: To determine OSD prevalence and dry eye severity among glaucoma patients at nine private clinics in Malaysia.
METHODS: This multicentre, cross-sectional observational study recruited glaucoma patients undergoing routine eye examinations, with IOP ≤21mmHg receiving anti-glaucoma eye drops. OSD was assessed through National Eye Institute (NEI) scoring, tear film break-up time (TBUT), hyperaemia grading, Schirmer's tests and questionnaires on symptom evaluation, OSD index and quality of life (QoL).
RESULTS: Our cohort (n = 406, mostly male, ethnically Chinese, mean 63.5 ± 11.5 years, mean IOP 15.34 ± 2.95mmHg) frequently used prostaglandin analogues or PGA/beta-blockers and had cornea total NEI scores of 3.64 ± 2.76, mostly with minimal (51.2%) or mild (40.4%) epitheliopathy. Mean TBUT was 6.59 ± 3.08s (25.0%) in patients with severe lipid deficiency dry eye (DE). Bulbar conjunctiva hyperemia (70.4%) and palpebral conjunctiva hyperemia (68.0%) were mild. Schirmer's test showed that most had tear deficiency (70.2%) with severe DE (38.9%). Questionnaires reported ocular symptoms in few patients, but 69.2% had DE symptoms (13.1% moderate/severe). While QoL was good, several patients had QoL and OSD index scores suggesting some adaptation to ocular symptoms and discomfort, with most patients being unconcerned (43-60%) by the occurrence of eye drop side effects (75.4%).
CONCLUSION: Normal-mild DE or OSD can be asymptomatic, and the symptoms are unlikely to bother most patients. However, as OSD severity varies in patients with glaucoma, it should be evaluated using questionnaires and clinical tests to ensure that subjectively asymptomatic individuals are not missed.
METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study that recruited 503 healthy males from 3 community-based clinics in Selangor, Malaysia. Genital and anal samples were collected from each participant for 14 high risk and 2 low risk HPV DNA detection and genotyping. All participants responded to a set of detailed sociodemographic and sexual behaviour questionnaire.
RESULTS: The median age at enrolment was 40 years old (IQR: 31-50). The anogenital HPV6/11 prevalence was 3.2% whereas high risk HPV prevalence was 27.1%. The genital HPV prevalence for HPV6/11 was 2.9% while high risk HPV was 18.8%. HPV6/11 prevalence in the anal canal was 1.6% and high risk HPV was 12.7%. HPV 18 was the most prevalent genotype detected in the anogenital area. There was a significant independent association between genital and anal HPV infections.
CONCLUSION: Anogenital HPV infection is common among Malaysian men. These findings emphasize the ubiquity of HPV infection and thus the value of population-wide access to HPV prevention.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study where 1293 healthy women aged between 18 and 60 years were recruited via convenience sampling from five community-based clinics in Selangor, Malaysia. Cervicovaginal self-samples were obtained and DNA was extracted for HPV detection and genotyping. A comprehensive questionnaire was administered to determine the sociodemographics and behavioural patterns of participants.
RESULTS: The median age at enrolment was 37 years old (IQR: 30-47). In total, 86/1190 (7.2%) of the samples collected were positive for HPV infection, with the highest HPV prevalence (11.9%) detected in the subgroup of 18-24 years old. The top three most prevalent HPV genotypes were HPV 16, 52 and 58. The independent risk factors associated with higher rates of HPV infection included Indian ethnicity, widowed status and women with partners who are away from home for long periods and/or has another sexual partner.
CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of HPV infection in this Malaysian multiethnic population was 7.2%, with 6.5% being high-risk genotypes. The top three most common high-risk HPV types were HPV 16, 52 and 58. This information is important for the planning of primary (HPV vaccination) and secondary (screening) cervical cancer prevention programmes in Malaysia.