MEDICAL AESTHETIC AWARENESS AMONG PUBLIC IN MALAYSIA AND THE FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE IT: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY Introduction: Medical aesthetic practice is growing rapidly in Malaysia due to rising market demand, yet public understanding of these practices remains limited. This study evaluated the awareness and attitudes towards medical aesthetics among Malaysians. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among individuals aged ≥ 18 years old in Malaysia from December 2021 to May 2022. The survey was distributed both online and in public settings. The survey comprised of respondents’ sociodemographic, perception of physical attractiveness, knowledge and attitude towards medical aesthetic practices. The factors influencing respondents’ attitudes towards medical aesthetic practices in the country were analysed using binary logistic regression, with the significance level set at P<0.05. Results: A total of 382 respondents participated in this study with average age of 30.81 (±9.38) years, ranging from 18 to 68 years. The majority were women (77.5%), Malay (53.7%) and Muslim (57.1%). Although most respondents had no prior experience in medical aesthetic treatment (68.1%), 76.2% respondents demonstrated good knowledge and 70.2% had positive attitude towards these services. Additionally, 53.9% of the respondents highly valued the importance of physical attractiveness. The Buddhists and Hindus exhibited more positive attitude than the Muslims. Conversely, those who placed higher importance on physical attractiveness were 0.5 times less likely to develop a positive attitude towards medical aesthetic services. Conclusion: In conclusion, despite limited experience in medical aesthetic treatments and practice, most Malaysians possess good knowledge and positive attitudes towards medical aesthetics, indicating a growing interest and potential willingness to consider these services for enhancing their appearance.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SMEAR-POSITIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS WITH NORMAL CHEST RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS DURING A TUBERCULOSIS OUTBREAK IN NORTHEAST MALAYSIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a highly prevalent disease in Malaysia. Early identification using cost-effective methods such as chest radiography can reduce the health burden of a TB epidemic. However, normal chest radiographic findings are common. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of smear-positive pulmonary TB with normal chest radiographic findings during an outbreak. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of 56 pulmonary TB cases registered at Kodiang Health Clinic from April to October 2022. Smear-negative and extrapulmonary TB cases were excluded. Relevant information was extracted from the medical records and recorded in a case report form for data management and analysis. Results: Approximately 60.7% of the cases had symptoms lasting >2 weeks, and 89.3% showed abnormal findings upon clinical examination. Additionally, 73.2% had sputum acid-fast bacilli counts of ≥1+, and the sputum Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture and sensitivity test findings were positive in 82.1% of the cases. The proportion of smear-positive pulmonary TB with normal chest radiographic findings was 42.9%. The factors associated with smear-positive pulmonary TB with normal chest radiographic findings included being under 18 years old (P=0.021), being a student (P=0.010), being single (P=0.012) and being asymptomatic (P=0.04). Conclusion: Normal chest radiographic findings may lead to a misdiagnosis of smear-positive pulmonary TB, especially during an outbreak. Therefore, active case detection among close contacts with risk factors for normal radiographic findings should consider additional supportive tests.

This review aims to present an overview of current research findings on the possible effects of circadian rhythm (CR) disruption towards metabolic stress and mental health. CR can be described as an internal biological clock that regulates our body functions, based on our sleep/wake cycle. Any time that our normal 24-hour circadian rhythm is altered or interrupted, it will have physiological and psychological impacts. However, in today’s demanding working world, most of us are working defying the normal conditions without realising the significant drawbacks of it. Therefore, this review summarises the findings from several researches on the physiological (metabolic stress) and psychological (cognitive functioning and mental health) impacts of the CR disruption in order to assist people to have a holistic view on the effects of CR to our mind and body. Evidences that linked these aspects to health circumstances of shift workers have also been highlighted.