To investigate some morphological and molecular characteristics of fungal parasites isolated from wild tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus. Methods: A series of culture methods were used to obtain fungal isolates from field-collected bed bugs. Characteristics of the isolates such as colony appearance, mycelial texture and pigmentation were studied to explore their morphology. Isolates were also subjected to a PCR-based genotyping test. Results: There were noticeable differences in morphological characteristics among the four isolates. Conidial areas of one isolate were dark green, whereas those of the remaining colonies were olive-green, black or dark brown. Conidia of the dark green isolate were globose, while those of olive-green, black and dark brown isolates were globose to subglobose, globose to spherical and globose to subglobose/finely roughened, respectively. These morphological specificities and the molecular analyses showed that the fungal internal transcribed spacer ribosomal region and β-tubulin gene sequences of the isolates shared clade with Trichoderma and Aspergillus sequences. Conclusions: Overall, the new discovery of common pathogens in agricultural field developed in live bed bugs storage tank may initiate the use of biological agents in later years.

Background: The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has been gaining popularity for resection of adult craniopharyngiomas. However, the safety and effectiveness of the procedure in comparison to the traditional transcranial approach (TCA) remains unestablished as previous reviews are outdated. Methods: A literature search without language restriction was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane database, and Web of Science from conception to July 9, 2021. Cohort studies and case series that compared EEA with TCA and assessed postoperative complications, recurrence, and 30-day mortality were included. Articles, where data for adult populations could not be extracted or calculated, were excluded. Article selection and data extraction in a predesigned data extraction form were conducted in duplicate. Pooled participant data were included in a random-effects model. Results: The search yielded 227 articles, from which eight cohort studies containing 11,395 patients were included (EEA: 6,614 patients, TCA: 4,781 patients). Six studies were good quality and two were fair quality according to the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. There were significantly higher rates of cerebrospinal fluid leak (risk ratio [RR]=0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17–0.32, p<0.00001, I2 =0%) and lower rates of postoperative hypopituitarism (RR=1.40, 95% CI 1.30–1.51, p<0.00001, I2 =0%), hydrocephalus (RR=6.95, 95% CI 5.78–8.36, p<0.00001, I2 =0%), visual impairment (RR=1.52, 95% CI 1.34–1.73, p<0.00001, I2 =0%), and 30-day mortality (RR=5.63, 95% CI 3.87–8.19, p<0.00001, I2 =0%) after EEA. Non-significant lower rates of postoperative diabetes insipidus (RR=1.12, 95% CI 0.78–1.61, p=0.53, I2 =85%) and recurrence of tumor (RR=2.69, 95% CI 0.35–20.81, p=0.34, I2 =47%) were seen after EEA. Conclusion EEA may be associated with reduced postoperative hypopituitarism, hydrocephalus, visual impairment, and 30-day mortality and higher rates of cerebrospinal fluid leak. These findings do not account for differences in tumor size and extension between the EEA and TCA cohorts. Further research on patients with comparable tumor characteristics is required to fully assess outcomes.

Aims: Distillers dried grains are the nutrient rich co-product of dry-milled ethanol production. The present study aimed to prove that the nutritional composition of distillers dried grain from a crude hydrolysate of rice husk fermented by co-cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with Candida tropicalis difference from unfermented crude rice husk hydrolysate and mono-cultured S. cerevisiae or C. tropicalis. Methodology and results: The effects of mono- and co-cultures S. cerevisiae with C. tropicalis on the nutrient compositions of distillers dried grain were investigated. The crude rice husk hydrolysate in distilled water contained molasses, urea, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, potassium phosphate and magnesium sulfate heptahydrate were fermented by mono- and co-cultures of S. cerevisiae with C. tropicalis for 7 days at 28-30 °C and stored with a relative humidity of 60-70% in the dark. A mono- and a co-culture fermentation of S. cerevisiae and C. tropicalis increased the crude protein, crude fat, crude fibres, ash, and calcium contents of the rice husk feedstock and decreased the metabolic energy reducing sugars. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Some nutrient components of the DDG crude rice husk hydrolysate performed higher than the non-fermentation of rice husks. The finding of this study will serve as a basic reference for future studies to utilize by-product of ethanol production from rice husks for animal feed formulation.

Quality use of medicine is crucial not only to optimize health resources, but to safeguard consumers from unsafe use of medicine. Knowing Your Medicine (KYM) Campaign was launched by the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia as an initiative to raise awareness to consumers on quality use of medicines in ensuring wise, safe and effective use of medicines. Materials of the campaign which is the KYM Module, is integrated in one of the elective course in UKM which is offered to undergraduate students across different faculties to increase knowledge and practice on quality use of medicine. This study aims to identify the impact of the KYM Module towards knowledge and practice of the undergraduates enrolled into the course. A one group pre and post-test research design was employed to students using purposive sampling (n=62). The questionnaire consists of three sections which are i) demographic profile, ii) knowledge assessment (14 items) and iii) practice assessment (15 items). Frequency analysis and paired sample T-test were used to measure the impact of the module. Knowledge of the undergraduates increased from fair/good to good/excellent, as knowledge score of 64.5% students reached excellent post-test compared to 35.5% pre-test. In terms of practice, a paired T-test analysis shows that there is a statistically significant increase in practice scores from pre-test (M = 4.2, SD = .472) to post-test (M = 4.57, SD = .341), t (61) =-3.859, p<.05 (two tailed). In summary, both knowledge and practice improved significantly among undergraduates after completing the module. This research serves as an important data to support the effectiveness of MOH initiative in disseminating important information regarding quality use of medicine to the public.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To analyze the incidence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) sepsis in the early (July to September) and later (October to June) academic months to assess the “July effect”. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample (2010–2014) was used to identify ERCP-related adult hospitalizations at urban teaching hospitals by applying relevant procedure codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification. Post-ERCP outcomes were compared between the early and later academic months. A multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the odds of post-ERCP sepsis and its predictors. RESULTS: Of 481,193 ERCP procedures carried out at urban teaching hospitals, 124,934 were performed during the early academic months. The demographics were comparable for ERCP procedures performed during the early and later academic months. A higher incidence (9.4% vs. 8.8%, p<0.001) and odds (odds ratio [OR], 1.07) of post-ERCP sepsis were observed in ERCP performed during the early academic months. The in-hospital mortality rate (7% vs. 7.5%, p=0.072), length of stay, and total hospital charges in patients with post-ERCP sepsis were also equivalent between the 2 time points. Pre-ERCP cholangitis (OR, 3.20) and post-ERCP complications such as cholangitis (OR, 6.27), perforation (OR, 3.93), and hemorrhage (OR, 1.42) were significant predictors of higher post-ERCP sepsis in procedures performed during the early academic months. CONCLUSIONS: The July effect was present in the incidence of post-ERCP sepsis, and academic programs should take into consideration the predictors of post-ERCP sepsis to lower health-care burden.
Adult ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Demography ; Hemorrhage ; Hospital Charges ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; International Classification of Diseases ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatitis ; Sepsis ; United States

Rationale: Neurocysticercosis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the larvae of Taenia solium and may occur in immunocompetent people. We report a case of diffuse parenchymal neurocysticercosis mimicking tuberculous meningitis in an immunocompetent patient. Patient concerns: A 24-year-old immunocompetent woman presented with serial focal to generalized seizure, left body weakness, left abducens palsy, chronic cough, and body weight loss. She came from an area where she was unlikely to have contact with Taenia solium. Diagnosis: Diffuse parenchymal neurocysticercosis. Intervention: Valproic acid, dexamethasone and 15 months of albendazole therapy. Outcome: Complete recovery without any neurological sequelae. Lessons: Prolonged anthelminthic treatment may benefit neurocysticercosis patients with multiple cerebral parenchymal lesions.

Objective: To investigate some morphological and molecular characteristics of fungal parasites isolated from wild tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus. Methods: A series of culture methods were used to obtain fungal isolates from field-collected bed bugs. Characteristics of the isolates such as colony appearance, mycelial texture and pigmentation were studied to explore their morphology. Isolates were also subjected to a PCR-based genotyping test. Results: There were noticeable differences in morphological characteristics among the four isolates. Conidial areas of one isolate were dark green, whereas those of the remaining colonies were olive-green, black or dark brown. Conidia of the dark green isolate were globose, while those of olive-green, black and dark brown isolates were globose to subglobose, globose to spherical and globose to subglobose/finely roughened, respectively. These morphological specificities and the molecular analyses showed that the fungal internal transcribed spacer ribosomal region and β-tubulin gene sequences of the isolates shared clade with Trichoderma and Aspergillus sequences. Conclusions: Overall, the new discovery of common pathogens in agricultural field developed in live bed bugs storage tank may initiate the use of biological agents in later years.

Introduction: Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is still a major cause of mortality and morbidity globally. One of the factors that cause a prehospital delay is the delay in early detection and inaccuracy of early treatment of ACS. The Internet of Things, which is supported by the high use of smartphones with the DETAK application, can be an opportunity to facilitate ACS education programs so that ACS can be detected early. Method: This study has used a quantitative research design with a quasi-experimental approach which pretest and posttest, in which both the experimental and control groups participate. The inclusion criteria of this study were age >45 years; obesity; smoker; Respondents with a history of: hypertension/diabetes mellitus/hyperlipidemia/hypercholesterolemia/CVD/families with cardiovascular disease. 252 respondents who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into control (n=126) and intervention groups (n=126). The intervention group was given education through the DETAK application and the control group was given leaflet about ACS. Results: The results of the study showed that there was an increased in early treatment ability was only found in the intervention group (p<.001). Mean differences of the ability of early detection (p<.001) and early treatment (p=.019)between intervention and control groups were both significance. Conclusion: There is potential for DETAK applications to improve the early detection and treatment capabilities of ACS.