Factors Influencing Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Among Pregnant Women in Urban Malaysia Introduction Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is a growing public health concern due to its association with higher risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Recognising the key factors of underlying GWG incidence is thus crucial for developing targeted interventions. This study aims to determine the prevalence of excessive GWG and its associated factors among pregnant women in an urban district of Klang Valley, Malaysia. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted (betweenNovember 2017 and October 2018) among 472 pregnant women who gave birth between January 2015 and December 2016. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical illnesses, and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) were retrieved from the birth registry and maternal health records. The classification of GWG is based on the Institute of Medicine's recommendation Results The classification of GWG is based on the Institute of Medicine's recommendation. A total of 113 (23.9%) pregnant women had excessive GWG. Multiple logistic regression showed the odds of getting excessive GWG were higher among those with lower education levels (Adj. OR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.084, 3.147), being employed (Adj. OR = 2.30; 95% CI = 1.342, 3.928), nulliparous (Adj. OR = 2.46; 95% CI = 1.450, 4.164), and having pre-pregnancy BMI of ≥25kg/m2(Adj. OR = 6.47; 95% CI = 3.909, 10.721). Conclusions Lifestyle interventions, such as weight reduction programs and health education, should focus on women with high pre-pregnancy BMI, nulliparous women, working women and women with low education levels. Pre-pregnancy clinics and workplaces can serve as platforms to promote healthy dietary choices and encourage regular physical exercise.

OVERVIEW OF THE ANTENATAL DETECTION OF LYMPHATIC MALFORMATION, ITS ASSOCIATED GENETIC FACTORS, AND THE COMPLICATIONS Lymphatic malformation (LM) is a dysfunction of the lymphatic system that is associated with genetic diseases. The clinical manifestation is established, but the outcome concerning genetic abnormalities is still not well understood. This review reports the advancement of technology in detecting LM antenatally, its associated genetic factors, and the complications of LM. Articles which were mainly case reports published from 1983 to 2023 were obtained from the search in Ovid MEDLINE and Scopus using the keywords “gene*”, OR, “DNA”, OR “epigenetic*” AND “lymphatic malformation” OR “cystic hygroma”. The advancement of technology over the years has contributed to the various types of genetic investigations conducted on a foetus with LM, including fluorescence in situ hybridization and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Poor prognosis indicated by the presence of genetic or karyotype abnormality results in opted termination of pregnancy, intrauterine death, or death at early hours of life. The PTPNII, FOXC2, FOXF1, and SRY genes and various chromosome abnormalities are associated with LM. The complications of LM include bone deformity, cardiac and urinary anomalies, and the worst is foetal hydrops. This critical dysfunction warrants future research directions to identify risk factors or biomarkers to prevent future cases of pregnancy with LM.

Pregnant adolescents have been shown to have a higher incidence of health and non-health-related complications that affect both mothers and infants. These include increased risk of pregnancy-related diseases such as anemia and pre-eclampsia, preterm and low-birth-weight babies, as well as other social consequences such as educational and financial difficulties. This mini review evaluates selected articles which explain the attitudes, knowledge, behavior and other risk factors associated with pregnancy among adolescents in developing countries. It also revealed that inadequate knowledge among adolescents about reproductive and sexual health, other social, cultural and peer influences, parenting values, and poor financial and educational status were factors that contribute to adolescent pregnancy. Likewise, a lack of support from parents, educators and healthcare workers had negative impacts on healthy sexual behavior among adolescents, which may ultimately lead to adolescent pregnancy. We conclude that the factors discussed in this review need to be evaluated and taken into consideration by policymakers and healthcare workers when formulating strategies to prevent pregnancies among adolescents.

Background and aims: Forest bathing or Shinrin-Yoku is a practice of being mindful of nature and it offers multiple health benefits in both physiological and psychological factors. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) medical students towards forest bathing and its relationship with the sociodemographic factors. Materials and methods: A total of 165 UKM medical students were recruited using proportionate random sampling. The subjects were then categorized based on the academic year (Year 1 - Year 5). Exclusion criteria includes those who deferred their academic year and/or who were hospitalized. A questionnaire was given via a google form consisting of sociodemographic data details and 15 questions for each knowledge and attitude on forest bathing. Results: The prevalence of good knowledge and good attitude of UKM medical students towards forest bathing were 64.2% (n=106) and 50.9% (n=84) respectively. Female medical students had a good knowledge (n=63, 73.3%) and good attitude (n=52, 60.5%) compared to male medical students' knowledge (n=43, 54.4%) and attitude (n=32, 10.5%) leading to a p-value of 0.012 and p-value of 0.010. Otherwise, other sociodemographic factors including race, level of medical year and level of lifestyle did not affect participants' knowledge and attitude on forest bathing. Conclusion Majority of UKM medical students have a higher prevalence of good knowledge compared to good attitude on forest bathing. Therefore, intervention is recommended especially towards male medical students as forest bathing has enough evidence as preventive medicine.