Cerebral palsy children have increased tendency to develop fractures later in life, for which low bone mineral density might be one of the factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone mineral density in children with cerebral palsy and factors affecting it. A total of 82 diagnosed children with cerebral palsy were sampled by non-probability purposive sampling from the outpatient department of Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. Bone mineral density (BMD), z-score was measured at lumbar spine with Dual Energy X Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) at L1- L4 lumbar vertebra. Analysis was done using SPSS (Version 20). Statistical comparisons were made using independent sample t-test. Of the 82 children 37 (45.1%) were males and 45 (54.9%) females. The mean age for all the children was 5.6 + 2.34 years and mean BMDz- score was -2.12 + 0.67. There were statistically significant differences in BMDz score with respect to age groups, pattern of involvement and ambulation status (p<0.05) but there were no statistically significant differences in gender, physical therapy programme and nutritional status (p>0.05). The BMDz-scores were lower, especially in the quadriplegic and non-ambulant children. BMD if identified early and managed timely can prevent future fragility fracture risk and avoid delay in rehabilitation process.

The aim of this study was to determine the stress level of medical students and the relationship between stress and academic year. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at an undergraduate medical school with a five-year curriculum, in Pakistan, from January 2014 to April 2014. Medical students in the first four years were included in the study. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), a self-administered questionnaire, was distributed to the students. A total of 445 medical students completed the questionnaire. The average stress score was 19.61 (SD=6.76) with a range from 10 to 43. Stress was experienced by 169 students (41.7%). The scores of female students were higher than scores of males, indicating a higher stress level (P=0.011). The relationship between stress and academic year was insignificant (P=0.392).
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Curriculum ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pakistan* ; Schools, Medical ; Stress, Psychological ; Students, Medical* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that caused a worldwide pandemic in 2020. Medical students are public advocates for COVID-19 vaccination to achieve herd immunity. Our objective is to ascertain the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19 immunisation among medical students in Malaysia. The online study included four public universities in Peninsular Malaysia: Universiti Putra Malaysia, International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. Data collected include sociodemographic characteristics, history of COVID-19 infection, knowledge, attitude and practice towards COVID-19 immunisation. Analytical statistics were analysed with IBM Statistical Package Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) v27.0 using Pearson chi-square or Fisher’s exact test (significant if p < 0.05). From the total of 427 respondents, 60.2% had good knowledge whereby clinical students 67.0% had a higher proportion of good knowledge as compared to preclinical students 53.5% (p = 0.004). Respondents in the age group of 21 to 24 years old (p < 0.001) and 25 to 29 years old (p = 0.016), and Indian ethnicity (p = 0.006) were more likely to have good knowledge. Respondents registered in Malaysia’s National COVID-19 vaccination program were considered as having a positive attitude (n = 264, 61.8%). A vaccination rate of 100% was observed. In conclusion, 60.2% of medical students had good knowledge, 61.8% had a positive attitude and 100% were vaccinated in these four public medical schools in Malaysia. Sociodemographic factors (age group and Indian ethnicity) have an association with only good knowledge but none with the level of attitude and practice towards COVID-19 immunisation.
COVID-19