METHOD: Using a cross-sectional design, a systematic random sampling method was used to select respondents aged 18-64 years on antiretroviral therapy for at least six months at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, outpatients of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Clinic. Socio-demographics, belief in medicine and adherence to ART were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression were used for data analysis.
RESULTS: Among the 385 people who took part in the study, about 67.5% were females and 32.5% were males. About 54% of adults adhered to ART. More than half (55.8%) of the respondents had negative perceptions (beliefs) of personal need for ART medication and about 42.3% of the respondents had more concerns about the potential negative effects of the ART medication. Government employment (odds ratio (OR) = 2.842, p = <0.01), self-employment (OR = 2.6, p = <0.001), and being divorced or widowed (OR = 2.0, p = <0.01), negative perceptions (beliefs) of personal need for the ART medication (adjusted OR (AOR) = 1.525, p=<0.01) and more concerns about the potential negative effects of the ART medication (AOR= 1.362, p = <0.05) were all significantly associated with ART adherence.
CONCLUSION: Employment, marital status and belief in medicine were associated with adherence to ART. Therefore, during adherence counseling, healthcare personnel should address respondents' false views and fears regarding ART medication in order to strengthen proper information and the benefits of ART. This article was previously presented as a meeting poster at the 36th Scientific Conference of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (7th and 8th September 2021).
METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 184 Malaysian HD patients. Anthropometric measurements and handgrip strength (HGS) were obtained using standardized protocols. Relevant biochemical indicators were retrieved from patients' medical records. Nutritional status was assessed using the dialysis malnutrition score. The sleep quality of patients was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire on both dialysis and non-dialysis days.
RESULTS: Slightly more than half of the HD patients were poor sleepers, with approximately two-third of them having a sleep duration of <7 hours per day. Sleep latency (1.5±1.2) had the highest sleep component score, whereas sleep medicine use (0.1±0.6) had the lowest score. Significantly longer sleep latency and shorter sleep duration were observed in the poor sleepers, regardless of whether it was a dialysis day or not (p<0.001). Poor sleep quality was associated with male sex, old age, small triceps skinfold, hypoproteinemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, and poorer nutritional status. In a multivariate analysis model, serum potassium (β=1.41, p=0.010), male sex (β=2.15, p=0.003), and HGS (β=-0.088, p=0.021) were found as independent predictors of sleep quality.
CONCLUSIONS: Poor sleep quality was evident among the HD patients in Malaysia. The sleep quality of the HD patients was associated with nutritional parameters. Routine assessment of sleep quality and nutritional parameters indicated that poor sleepers have a risk of malnutrition and may benefit from appropriate interventions.
METHODS/DESIGN: This open-labelled, randomised controlled trial (RCT) will randomly allocate patients into intervention and control groups. Ambulated Malaysian aged over 18 years and scheduled for elective surgery for (suspected) GC, will be included in this study. The intervention group will be given whey-protein-infused carbohydrate-loading drinks on the evening before their operation and 3 h before their operation as well as started on early oral feeding 4 h post-operatively. The control group will be fasted overnight pre-operation and only allowed plain water, and return to a normal diet is allowed when bowel sounds return post-operatively. The primary outcomes of study are length of post-operative hospital stay, length of clear-fluid tolerance, solid-food tolerance and bowel function. Additional outcome measures are changes in nutritional status, biochemical profile and functional status. Data will be analysed on an intention-to-treat basis.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03667755. Retrospectively registered on 12 September 2018; Protocol version: version 3 dated 27 September 2017.
METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among surgical GC patients who were admitted for elective surgery. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, clinical status (diagnosis, the staging of cancer, comorbidities and family history on cancer), anthropometric measures [ Body Mass Index (BMI), weight changes, the percentage of weight loss past one month, muscle mass, fat mass, fat-free mass and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)], biochemical profiles [C-reactive protein, albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR)], handgrip strength, total daily energy and protein intake, and malnutrition status [scored Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA)] were assessed during admission.
RESULTS: Study recruited 124 participants and 57.2% (n = 71) were malnourished. Mean for age, weight changes past one month, handgrip strength, total daily energy and protein intake, PG-SGA score and CAR of participants were 49.9 ± 12.5 years, -4.9 ± 7.2%, 15.6 ± 6.2 kg, 25±7 kcal/kg/day, 1.0 ± 0.3 g/kg/day, 6.5 ± 5.4 and 0.7 ± 1.9, respectively. Multiple linear regression test revealed that the percentage of weight loss past one month, haemoglobin, CRP and handgrip strength were the significant predictors of malnutrition.
CONCLUSION: Malnutrition is common among GC patient even before elective operation. The early malnutrition screening following with proper nutritional intervention is crucial to optimize nutritional status among GC patients before elective operation.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A total of 294 eligible participants will be recruited and allocated into 3 groups comprising of mHealth intervention alone, mHealth intervention integrated with personal medical nutrition therapy and a control group. Pretested structured questionnaires are used to obtain the respondents' personal information, anthropometry data, prenatal knowledge, physical activity, psychosocial well-being, dietary intake, quality of life, sleep quality and GWG. There will be at least three time points of data collection, with all participants recruited during their first or second trimester will be followed up prospectively (after 3 months or/and after 6 months) until delivery. Generalised linear mixed models will be used to compare the mean changes of outcome measures over the entire study period between the three groups.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approvals were obtained from the ethics committee of human subjects research of Universiti Putra Malaysia (JKEUPM-2022-072) and medical research & ethics committee, Ministry of Health Malaysia: NMRR ID-22-00622-EPU(IIR). The results will be disseminated through journals and conferences targeting stakeholders involved in nutrition research.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinicaltrial.gov ID: NCT05377151.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed records of medico-legal autopsy cases performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Hospital Sungai Buloh, for a period of five years, from January 2012 until December 2016. Subjects' demographic data such as age, gender, nationality, ethnicity and cause of death were recorded.
RESULTS: A total of 122 homicide cases were documented. 90% of the victims were 18 to 65 years old. Males contributed 80% of the subjects. An alarming 42% of the subjects comprised of non-Malaysians. Indonesian subjects contributed one-third of the non-citizen category, followed by Bangladeshis at 20.4%. Other nationalities were Burmese, Nepalese, Pakistani, Vietnamese and unspecified. Among Malaysians, 50% of the subjects were Indians, followed by Malay (31.5%) and Chinese (17.8%). Sharp and blunt force traumas were the most common injuries found, contributing 33% and 32% respectively. Asphyxiation and firearm injuries recorded an almost similar frequency, contributing 25% in combination. Other patterns included combined sharp and blunt objects (4.9%) and burns (3%).
CONCLUSIONS: A large number of immigrants in the country have significantly increased the forensic casework. Sharp and blunt objects continue to be the weapon of choice due to its easy accessibility. As domestic violence including fatal spousal and child abuse continue to rise, in-depth study in the area is warranted.
METHODS: Twenty-six patients on HD underwent US and CT scans on the same day, postdialysis session. QMT for rectus femoris (RF) and vastus intermedius (VI) muscles was taken at the midpoint (MID) and two-thirds (2/3) of both thighs and CSA of the RF muscle (RFCSA ), respectively. Correlation between US and CT measurements was determined by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plot.
RESULTS: ICC (95% CI) computed between US and CT was 0.94 (0.87-0.97), 0.97 (0.93-0.99), 0.94 (0.87-0.97), 0.94 (0.86-0.97), and 0.92 (0.83-0.97) for RFMID , VIMID, RF2/3, VI2/3 , and RFCSA , respectively (all P < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis indicated no bias in agreement between both methods.
CONCLUSION: The US imaging offers a valid and quick bedside assessment approach to assess muscle wasting in HD patients.