Aedes mosquito-borne Dengue morbidity is predominantly high in the tropics and subtropics regions. Dengue is also a
public health problem in Malaysia since the first epidemic in 1973. Reducing the vector population and personal
protection still plays an important role in dengue prevention and control. With the information of community’s dengue
knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP), the authorities could construct evidence-based, community- empowered vector
control program. Upon the understanding of the value of baseline data, a cross-sectional study was carried out in dengue
hotspot areas in Seberang Takir using universal sampling. The study results showed that 54.6% of the population had high
level of knowledge, 18.6% had good attitude and 91.7% were performing good practices against Dengue infection. After
adjusting confounding variables, age and educational levels of respondents, knowledge as well as attitude were found to
be significant associated factors for having good practice against Dengue. The study findings provide the need for further
information to undertake a holistic approach which is in need of community participation and cooperatio
The occurrence of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) after total salvage laryngectomy following radiotherapy
as primary treatment is quite common. In most cases, pharyngocutaneous fistula can heal spontaneously
with conservative measures. Here, we are reporting a 69-year-old male with a residual carcinoma of the
larynx following failed radiotherapy as primary treatment whose later underwent a salvage total
laryngectomy. Post-operatively, it was complicated by the formation of pharyngocutaneous fistula which
was failed to heal with conservative measures and few attempts of surgical repair. The fistula later healed
with the application of Montgomery Salivarybypass tube after 3 weeks. The application of the salivary
bypass tube should be considered and used to promote healing in persistent pharyngocutaneous fistula
especially in a post radiotherapy patient.
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) may result in progressive visual impairment and blindness which affects the diabetic patients‟ morbidity and quality of life significantly. The objective of this study was to determine the proportions and prognostic factors of DR severity among Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. A cross sectional study was conducted at the Ophthalmology Clinic in a tertiary hospital using the medical record database from 2005 to 2011. A total of 216DR patients were randomly selected. The study outcome was DR severity which was classified into four grading based on the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Scale. Descriptive statistics and Ordinal Logistic Regression were applied using Stata SE/11. The mean (SD) age of DR
in this study was 56.06 (9.98) years old with almost equal sex ratio. Proportion of mild non proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) was 48.6% (95% CI: 40.0, 60.0), moderate NPDR was 28.2% (95%CI: 22.0, 40.0), severe NPDR was 6.9% (95% CI: 4.0, 11.0) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was 16.2% (95%CI: 10.0, 22.0). Diabetic patients that suffered from diabetes mellitus for more than 10 years, having nephropathy, every increased of HbA1c by 1% and higher total cholesterol were at increased risk of worsening DR.
Note: content of full text inconsistent with title and abstract. Author informed.