Patient cancer care education aims to inform and empower patients by providing clear, relevant information about cancer, including its mechanisms, treatment options, and management strategies. This study evaluated the effectiveness and accuracy of existing patient cancer care education materials in Malaysia, specifically assessing patients’ understanding of treatment, side effects, and their management. Method: A descriptive, correlational study was conducted involving 20 cancer patients at Gleneagles Penang Medical Center, using the Patient Cancer Education Needs Assessment questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0 and Microsoft Excel 2013. Result: Patient age, education level, occupation, and socioeconomic status were not significant factors influencing understanding. Findings highlight the need to improve existing educational materials to enhance patient comprehension and ensure materials are comprehensive, culturally appropriate, and innovative. Conclusion: Patient cancer care education materials should be comprehensive, interactive, and patient is friendly. Current materials require revision and enhancement to keep pace with technological developments, ensuring they are accessible, understandable, and effective in supporting patients’ knowledge of cancer treatment, side effects, management strategies, and psychosocial aspects.

Perception of Urban Air Pollution Among Working Individuals During Work-Related Commute in the Klang Valley Introduction Malaysia’s rapid economic growth, urbanization and motorization cause air pollution problems in addition to intense regional transboundary air pollution. The Klang Valley is often plagued by low-visibility air pollution, which has a negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of the public. This study aims to explore the commuters’ perception of air quality during their daily commute to work. Methods A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on air quality perception and travel behavior among working adults (N = 197). Pearson’s Chi-Square analysis was used to analyse public perceptions on air quality with demographic data, transportation modes and health concerns. Sixty-seven percent of the respondents perceived that the air quality was unhealthy. Results There were no significant associations between air quality perception with gender, age, or health status. However, air quality perception was significantly associated with educational background (p<0.05). A very small number (9.1%) of respondents checked the air quality status daily prior to leaving their dwelling. Conclusions There was widespread awareness of the health concerns posed by air pollution when commuting to work, however, none of the respondents significantly altered their commuting route. Our findings are broadly consistent with those of others and underscore a need for improved communication to the public of risks posed by air pollution.

Cost-Effectiveness of Mobile Application Use in Managing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a debilitating condition that imposes a significant economic burden on its management. This study aims to systematically review the published evidence on the cost-effectiveness of mobile health (mHealth) application interventions for T2DM. Methods A search strategy was conducted using electronic bibliographic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus for published studies. The inclusion criteria included original articles that reporting cost-effectiveness evaluation studies on mHealth application interventions directed at patients diagnosed or at risk of T2DM, English-language articles and published in the year 2016 to 2020. Results A total of 6 eligible studies were selected. The cost savings per person for treating T2DM ranged from USD 1,346 to USD 3,781 per year. The major contributor to cost savings was reduced complication management resulting from good glycaemic control. The direct impacts of the intervention include reduced hospitalisation and fewer unplanned clinic visits, while diabetes- related mortality was indirectly reduced usingmHealth. Conclusions The mHealth intervention was cost-effective in managing patients with T2DM. Implementation can be extended to other disease management areas to not only reduce total healthcare expenditure but also improve patients’ quality of life.

Introduction: Prediabetes or intermediate hyperglycemia (IH) represents a critical phase in the trajectory toward type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent evidence from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) suggests that 1-hour OGTT (1HOGTT) ≥8.6 mmol/L is a more sensitive biomarker for early beta-cell dysfunction, with enhanced detection of IH and future T2DM risk. Conventional screening using hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) or 2-Hour OGTT (2HOGTT) may delay identification of prediabetes, narrowing the window for early intervention. This study evaluates 1HOGTT as a screening tool for prediabetes among Malaysians. Methodology: This cross-sectional study enrolled adults without prior T2DM or prediabetes. Participants underwent 1HOGTT, 2HOGTT, and HbA1c, classified as per the Malaysian Clinical Practice Guideline for T2DM (6th Edition) and IDF 2024 criteria. Agreement between tests was assessed using McNemar’s test and Cohen’s kappa. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Cost-effectiveness was determined using reagent cost only. Results: The majority of the 310 participants were female (71.6%), Malay (87.1%), with average age of 40. The 1HOGTT identified prediabetes in 21.6% (n = 67) compared to 17.1% (n = 53) by HbA1c and 2.6% (n = 8) by 2HOGTT. McNemar’s test confirmed statistically significant discordance between 1HOGTT and 2HOGTT (chi-square = 53.397, p <0.001): 61 participants were prediabetic by 1HOGTT but normal by 2HOGTT, versus only 2 in the reverse direction. No significant discordance was found between 1HOGTT and HbA1c (chi-square = 2.817, p = 0.093). 1HOGTT demonstrated excellent discriminatory ability against 2HOGTT (AUC = 0.908; 95% CI: 0.837–0.978), significantly outperforming HbA1c (AUC = 0.664; CI: 0.462– 0.867; DeLong p = 0.012). In a population-level cost analysis, 1HOGTT achieved lowest cost per prediabetes case detected (RM 5.79) – approximately 8.3 times and 8.1 times more cost-effective than 2HOGTT (RM 48.08) and HbA1c (RM 46.78) respectively. Conclusion 1HOGTT identifies a significant proportion of individuals with prediabetes missed by 2HOGTT and HbA1c. Incorporating 1HOGTT enhances the detection of prediabetes, is cost-effective, and enables timely preventive measures in our population with high diabetes burden.
Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Prediabetic State

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major healthcare problem worldwide, yet high percentage of patients are undiagnosed. There is a dire need for effective screening strategies. We examine the use of modified Asian FINDRISC (M-FINDRISC) and POCT random capillary blood glucose (rCBG) for the detection of dysglycemia Methodology: This cross-sectional, observational study included 151 adults aged ≥30 years without a prior history of diabetes in healthcare and community settings. Hemoglobin A1c of ≥6.3% was used for the diagnosis of diabetes, and 5.7– 6.2% for prediabetes. Areas under the receiver operating curve (ROC-AUC) for M-FINDRISC were analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of the combined use of M-FINDRISC and rCBG for the detection of dysglycemia were evaluated. Results: The mean age of the participants was 44.6 ± 11.0 years. They had high body mass index (27.8 ± 4.9 kg/m²). Most were sedentary (only 25.2% reported physical activities of ≥30 min/day). A total of 52.3% had first-degree relatives with diabetes, but less than 12% were taking antihypertensive medication. Out of 151 participants, 3.3% (n = 5) were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and 37.7% (n = 57) with prediabetes, giving an overall prevalence of 41.1% for dysglycemia. The mean age of participants with dysglycemia was significantly older (47.9 vs. 42.3 years, p-value 0.002). Other parameters were not statistically different for the two groups. Mean M-FINDRISC score was 9.7 ± 3.9 in the normal and 10.8 ± 4.0 in the dysglycemic group, while rCBG was 6.4 ± 1.1 mmol/L and 7.1 ± 3.1 mmol/L, respectively. ROC-AUC of M-FINDRISC for dysglycemia was 0.561. A combined screening strategy (M-FINDRISC score ≥7.5 and CBG ≥7.8 mmol/L) yielded high specificity (89.9%) but low sensitivity (17.7%) for dysglycemia. Conclusion While the combined screening strategy utilizing M-FINDRISC and POCT random CBG improves specificity, M-FINDRISC showed limited predictive value for dysglycemia in this specific cohort, making it a less ideal tool for screening.

Introduction: Phase angle (PhA) derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis reflects cellular integrity and has emerged as a potential marker of metabolic health. Its role in detecting early physiological changes during lifestyle intervention remains underexplored in workplace obesity programmes. Methodology: This longitudinal study included 30 adults with complete paired measurements enrolled in a 12-month workplace lifestyle programme. Body composition was assessed using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Measurements included whole-body PhA, body cell mass (BCM), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and extracellular water to total body water ratio. Paired comparisons and correlation analyses were performed. Results: Mean PhA increased modestly from 5.59 ± 0.70° to 5.67 ± 0.69°, although this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.17). Changes in PhA were not significantly associated with changes in BCM (r = −0.03, p = 0.89). However, baseline PhA demonstrated a moderate positive association with SMI (r ≈ 0.51, p <0.01), suggesting a link between cellular integrity and muscle status. Individual trajectories revealed heterogeneous responses despite minimal weight change. Conclusion Whole-body phase angle provides insight into cellular health beyond conventional anthropometric measures. While short-term changes were modest, PhA may serve as a clinically useful adjunct for monitoring physiological response in obesity management programmes.
Workplace

Introduction: Obesity is a heterogeneous metabolic disease in which individuals with similar body weight may exhibit markedly different physiological risk profiles. Conventional monitoring using weight alone may fail to capture underlying metabolic and cellular changes during lifestyle intervention. Integrating body composition and biochemical markers may improve risk stratification in clinical practice. Methodology: A prospective observational analysis was conducted among participants enrolled in a structured lifestyle programme. Baseline and follow-up assessments included biochemical markers (fasting glucose, renal function, lipid profile, and liver enzymes) alongside body composition parameters derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis, including percent body fat, visceral fat area, skeletal muscle index (SMI), and phase angle (PhA). Changes over time and associations between metabolic and body composition variables were analyzed. Results: Metabolic responses varied substantially despite similar anthropometric profiles. Renal function improved significantly, with increased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) observed over time (p = 0.01), and was inversely associated with fasting glucose (r = −0.41, p <0.01). Lipid abnormalities persisted, although reductions in lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol were noted (p = 0.04). Total cholesterol remained elevated and correlated positively with fasting glucose (r = 0.36, p = 0.02). Improvements in aspartate aminotransferase were observed (p = 0.03), while other liver markers remained stable. Notably, body composition parameters, including PhA and SMI, demonstrated variability independent of weight change, reflecting heterogeneous physiological adaptation. Conclusion Metabolic and physiological responses to lifestyle intervention are heterogeneous and not fully captured by changes in body weight alone. The integration of bioimpedance-derived parameters with biochemical markers provides a more comprehensive approach to metabolic risk stratification and may support more personalized clinical management in obesity care.
Biomarkers ; Risk Assessment ; Body Composition

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by complex alterations in body composition and metabolic health. Traditional reliance on body weight may overlook important physiological adaptations during lifestyle intervention. Methodology: A cohort of 99 participants at programme entry underwent body composition assessment using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Parameters included percent body fat (PBF), visceral fat area (VFA), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and phase angle (PhA). Correlation analyses were performed to explore relationships between adiposity, muscle mass, and cellular health. Results: Participants demonstrated elevated adiposity (PBF 38.9 ± 8.9%; VFA 142.9 ± 56.1 cm²). PhA was inversely associated with VFA (r ≈ −0.23, p <0.05) and positively associated with SMI (r ≈ 0.49, p <0.001). Notably, a subset of overweight individuals exhibited relatively preserved PhA, indicating heterogeneity in metabolic health despite similar adiposity levels. Conclusion Body composition and PhA provide complementary insights into metabolic health beyond body weight. These findings support the role of bioimpedance-derived parameters in identifying metabolic heterogeneity and guiding personalized obesity management.
Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Workplace ; Obesity

Introduction: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare endocrine malignancy found in 1–5% of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. It commonly presents with severe hypercalcemia and markedly elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. We report a challenging case of parathyroid carcinoma presenting with refractory hypercalcemia with incidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Case: A 63-year-old female with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and ischemic heart disease had been followed for primary hyperparathyroidism since 2014 (PTH5.5 pmol/L, calcium range 2.3–4.7 mmol/L). Initial neck ultrasound was suggestive of parathyroid adenoma over left side, but parathyroid scintigraphy failed to localize a lesion. She refused surgical intervention initially until April 2025, then she later agreed. Re-evaluation prior to operation revealed PTH level 76 pmol/L, and repeated parathyroid scintigraphy showed mild sestamibi avid uptake on left thyroid nodule. While awaiting surgery, she was admitted with a hypercalcemic crisis (serum calcium 3.7–5.38 mmol/L), complicated with acute kidney injury. Repeated ultrasound neck revealed extrathyroidal lesion adjacent to inferior pole of left thyroid (1.6 × 1.7 × 1.2 cm). She required aggressive intravenous hydration, intravenous pamidronate, calcitonin, and Denosumab to optimize her calcium level peri-operatively. She underwent left neck exploration with en-bloc left inferior parathyroidectomy, left hemithyroidectomy, and central neck dissection in November 2025. Histopathological examination confirmed parathyroid carcinoma (pT3N1) with nodal metastasis (1/4 lymph nodes positive) and an incidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma measuring 1 mm (pT1a). Conclusion This case highlights the challenges of perioperative hypercalcemia management in parathyroid carcinoma. Effective preoperative control often requires multiple treatment modalities. Severe refractory hypercalcemia and high PTH level should raise a high index of suspicion for malignancy. Early complete resection is the cornerstone of treatment and is associated with optimal outcomes.
Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma ; Calcium ; Parathyroid Neoplasms

Introduction: Mediastinal paragangliomas (PGLs) are extremely rare extra-adrenal neuroendocrine tumors, accounting for approximately 2% of all PGLs and commonly associated with pathogenic germline variants (PGVs), particularly those involving succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) mutations. Case: We report a 35-year-old female presenting with chronic cough and hemoptysis, accompanied by paroxysmal symptoms and new-onset hypertension. She had a history of pheochromocytoma treated 15 years earlier with right adrenalectomy and liver lobectomy due to intraoperative adrenal adherence to the liver. Histopathology confirmed adrenal pheochromocytoma, with no evidence of PGL in the liver. She remained in biochemical remission for 3 years but subsequently defaulted. Biochemical evaluation revealed markedly elevated 24-hour urinary normetanephrine (58,950 nmol/L; ~26-fold increase). Computed tomography of the thorax demonstrated a mediastinal mass compressing the right bronchus, resulting in luminal narrowing and segmental lung collapse. Endobronchial biopsy confirmed PGL (Ki-67 index 5%). Functional imaging with DOTATATE, FDG-PET, and MIBG demonstrated metastatic disease involving the lungs and lymph nodes. Genetic testing identified a heterozygous pathogenic SDHB mutation (c.79C>T; p.Arg27), consistent with autosomal dominant hereditary PGL-pheochromocytoma syndrome; family screening confirmed the same mutation in her father and two siblings. She underwent two sessions of bronchoscopic intervention, including cryoablation, balloon dilation, argon plasma coagulation, and intratumoral alcohol injection for airway control and hemoptysis. Multidisciplinary evaluation deemed complete surgical resection high risk and not feasible; therefore, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy was initiated. Conclusion This case demonstrates the aggressive and metastatic nature of SDHB-mutated PGLs. This group of patients require long term surveillance given the risk of developing new tumors even years or decades after primary tumor resection. It highlights the importance of genetic testing following pheochromocytoma surgery to guide targeted therapy, lifelong surveillance, and family screening within a multidisciplinary care approach.
Paraganglioma