We gathered and analyzed date on respiratory diseases suffered by Japanese adults treated in Ram Hospital in Chiang Mai and Subang Jaya Medical Center in Kuala Lumpur. In both hospitals, the percentages of patients undergoing treatment for respiratory diseases was the greatest. Of these, relatively mild symptoms such as upper respiratory tract infection account for the majority of the diseases, but also included are instances of lower respiratory tract infection or chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic sinusitis and COPD⁄bronchial asthma. In Kuala Lumpur, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey targeted on Japanese people living there, in order to detemine the currnt status of respiratory deseases. The date showed that many Japanese had symptoms of respiratory diseases and felt that air pollution was serious.
It is important for Japanese people living in Asia to be aware of preventative measures to prevent respiratory diseases, such as those caused by air pollution and infection.

OBJECTIVETo assess the correlation between five anthropometric parameters and the distance from tibial tuberosity to medial malleolus in 100 volunteers.

METHODSSix anthropometric parameters were measured in 50 male and 50 female medical students using a metallic scale: medial knee joint line to ankle joint line (K-A), medial knee joint line to medial malleolus (K-MM), tibial tuberosity to ankle joint (TT-A), tibial tuberosity to medial malleolus (TT- MM), olecranon to 5th metacarpal head (O-MH) and body height (BH). Nail size predicted based upon TT-MM measurement was chosen as ideal nail size. A constant was derived for each of the six anthropometric parameters which was either added or subtracted to each measurement to derive nail size. A regression equation was applied to BH measurements. Nail sizes calculated were compared with that obtained from TT-MM measurement and accuracy was evaluated. Accuracy of O-MH and BH regression equations recommended by other authors were calculated in our data.

RESULTSAdding 11 mm to TT-A distance had highest accuracy (81%) and correlation (0.966) in predicting nails correctly. Subtracting 33 mm from K-MM measurement and 25 mm from K-A distance derived accurate sizes in 69% and 76% respectively. Adding 6 mm to O-MH distance had a poor accuracy of 51%. Nail size prediction based upon body height regression equation derived correct nail sizes in only 34% of the cases. Regression equation analysis by other authors based on O-MH and BH distances yielded correct sizes in 11% and 5% of the cases respectively.

CONCLUSIONTT-A, K-A and K-MM measurements can be used simultaneously to increase accuracy of nail size prediction. This method would be helpful in determining nail size preoperatively especially when one anatomic landmark is difficult to palpate.

Adult ; Anthropometry ; Body Height ; Bone Nails ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Male ; Preoperative Care ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

Displaced olecranon fractures constitute a challenging problem for elbow surgeons. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of suture anchor fixation for treating patients with displaced olecranon fractures. Methods: A retrospective review was performed for all consecutive patients with displaced olecranon fractures treated with suture anchor fixation with at least 2 years of clinical follow-up. Surgical repair was performed acutely in all cases with nonmetallic suture anchors in a double-row configuration utilizing suture augmentation via the triceps tendon. Osseous union and perioperative complications were uniformly assessed. Results: Suture anchor fixation was performed on 17 patients with displaced olecranon fractures. Functional outcome scores were collected from 12 patients (70.6%). The mean age at the time of surgery was 65.6 years, and the mean follow-up was 5.6 years. Sixteen of 17 patients (94%) achieved osseous union in an acceptable position. No hardware-related complications or fixation failure occurred. Mean postoperative shortened disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (QuickDASH) score was 3.8±6.9, and mean Oxford Elbow Score was 47.5±1.0, with nine patients (75%) achieving a perfect score. Conclusions: Suture anchor fixation of displaced olecranon fractures resulted in excellent midterm functional outcomes. Additionally, this technique resulted in high rates of osseous union without any hardware-related complications or fixation failures. Level of evidence: IV.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: PET scanning with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) is a non-invasive method that measures regional glucose metabolic rate. Phenylalanine (Phe) and its metabolites appear to impair several aspects of brain energy metabolism. 1) To evaluate brain glucose metabolism with FDG-PET imaging in phenylketonuria (PKU) patients before and 4 months after sapropterin therapy; 2) to evaluate neurodevelopmental changes, blood Phe levels and dietary Phe tolerance before and after sapropterin therapy; 3) to generate pilot data to assess the feasibility of evaluating brain glucose metabolism with FDG-PET imaging and to explore potential trends resulting from the administration of sapropterin therapy. METHODS: We enrolled 5 subjects, ranged in age from 22 years to 51 years, with PKU. Subjects underwent FDG-PET brain imaging, blood tests for Phe and tyrosine levels, and neurocognitive evaluations before and 4 months after sapropterin therapy (20 mg/kg/day). All subjects' Phe and tyrosine levels were monitored once a week during the study. Subjects kept 3 day diet records that allow calculation of Phe intake. RESULTS: None of the subjects responded to sapropterin therapy based on 30% decrease in blood Phe level. The data show that glucose metabolism appeared depressed in the cerebellum and left parietal cortex while it was increased in the frontal and anterior cingulate cortices in all five subjects. In response to sapropterin therapy, relative glucose metabolism showed significant increases in left Broca's and right superior lateral temporal cortices. Interestingly, there was corresponding enhanced performance in a phonemic fluency test performed during pre- and postneurocognitive evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm the above changes in both sapropterin non-responsive and responsive PKU patients.
Biopterin ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Diet Records ; Electrons ; Energy Metabolism ; Glucose ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Neuroimaging ; Phenylalanine ; Phenylketonurias ; Pilot Projects ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Sample Size ; Tyrosine

The introduction of the recent 2017 classification of periodontal diseases has been welcomed by the periodontal fraternity. The new classification has used available evidence as the backbone for its development. It has been felt by many experts that a good understanding is required for its practice. Towards this, a Malaysian PerioSymposium was organised in May 2019 to comprehend the classification and also to identify the right path towards its learning among undergraduate students of dentistry in Malaysia. The symposium was conducted and moderated by local and international experts. Apart from the few limitations identified, the new classification was recommended to be taught in the undergraduate dental programme across schools in Malaysia.

Timely removal of oxidatively damaged proteins is critical for cells exposed to oxidative stresses; however, cellular mechanism for clearing oxidized proteins is not clear. Our study reveals a novel type of protein modification that may play a role in targeting oxidized proteins and remove them. In this process, DSS1 (deleted in split hand/split foot 1), an evolutionally conserved small protein, is conjugated to proteins induced by oxidative stresses in vitro and in vivo, implying oxidized proteins are DSS1 clients. A subsequent ubiquitination targeting DSS1-protein adducts has been observed, suggesting the client proteins are degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The DSS1 attachment to its clients is evidenced to be an enzymatic process modulated by an unidentified ATPase. We name this novel protein modification as DSSylation, in which DSS1 plays as a modifier, whose attachment may render target proteins a signature leading to their subsequent ubiquitination, thereby recruits proteasome to degrade them.
Free Radicals ; metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; genetics ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Modification, Translational ; genetics ; Ubiquitin ; metabolism ; Ubiquitination ; genetics

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused 1.4 million deaths globally and is associated with a 3-4 times increase in 30-day mortality after a fragility hip fracture with concurrent COVID-19 infection. Typically, death from COVID-19 infection occurs between 15 and 22 days after the onset of symptoms, but this period can extend up to 8 weeks. This study aimed to assess the impact of concurrent COVID-19 infection on 120-day mortality after a fragility hip fracture. METHODS: A multi-centre prospective study across 10 hospitals treating 8% of the annual burden of hip fractures in England between 1st March and 30th April, 2020 was performed. Patients whose surgical treatment was payable through the National Health Service Best Practice Tariff mechanism for "fragility hip fractures" were included in the study. Patients' 120-day mortality was assessed relative to their peri-operative COVID-19 status. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. RESULTS: A total of 746 patients were included in this study, of which 87 (11.7%) were COVID-19 positive. Mortality rates at 30- and 120-day were significantly higher for COVID-19 positive patients relative to COVID-19 negative patients (p < 0.001). However, mortality rates between 31 and 120-day were not significantly different (p = 0.107), 16.1% and 9.4% respectively for COVID-19 positive and negative patients, odds ratio 1.855 (95% CI 0.865-3.978). CONCLUSION Hip fracture patients with concurrent COVID-19 infection, provided that they are alive at day-31 after injury, have no significant difference in 120-day mortality. Despite the growing awareness and concern of "long-COVID" and its widespread prevalence, this does not appear to increase medium-term mortality rates after a hip fracture.
COVID-19 ; Hip Fractures/surgery* ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; State Medicine ; United Kingdom/epidemiology*