Despite publishing and securing research grants being obligatory in research universities, the literature on the factors influencing academic productivity is relatively scarce. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine the personal and behavioural-related factors that influence the culture of publishing and securing research grants among academicians with lower research-related performance. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 49 academic staff members of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). A self-administered questionnaire consisting of personal, attitude and behavioural (barriers, perceived stress scale, work extrinsic and intrinsic motivation scale, psychological well-being scale, and basic needs satisfaction scale) questions were distributed during a workshop and online. Simple linear regression (SLR) analyses were performed for each variable, followed by multiple linear regression (MLR) to identify the associated factors of research output. After adjusting for covariates, having a doctoral degree (β=0.396, 95% CI=0.221-2.146, p<0.05) and integrated regulation (β=0.574, 95% CI=0.036-3.612, p<0.05) were found to be associated with research grant acquisition (R2=0.273). Moreover, increasing age (β=0.426, 95% CI=0.088-0.397, p<0.05), living alone (β=0.331, 95% CI=0.944-6.626, p<0.05), having a doctoral degree (β=0.248, 95% CI=0.174-6.747, p<0.05), environmental mastery (β=0.318, 95% CI=0.013-0.347, p<0.05), self-acceptance (β=0.284, 95% CI=0.010-0.242, p<0.05), satisfaction incompetence (β=0.273, 95% CI=0.001-0.200, p<0.05) and relatedness (β=0.280, 95% CI=0.001-0.116, p<0.05) were found to be the factors that influence the publications produced among participants (R2 =0.423). The findings of this study could be used by management to formulate effective strategies to increase the productivity of academics in their research-related performance.

In Malaysia, the government has made it mandatory to label sodium content on food packaging effectively from 1st January 2024. This study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics, sodium content, and sensory evaluation of selected commercial soy sauce without sodium labelling in Malaysia. 25 soy sauce samples were studied. Each soy sauce has a significant difference (p<0.05) in physicochemical properties except for the pH value. Results found that the sodium content in light soy sauce was the highest (5766.50±968.37mg) while sweet soy sauce was the lowest (3289.09± 589.14mg). For total soluble solids, sweet soy sauce was the highest (52.73°B). The range of pH values for soy sauce is between 4.90-5.19. Sweet soy sauce showed the highest viscosity (145.78cP) and brightness (L* = 2.48). Light soy sauce showed the highest values for redness and yellowness (a* = 1.34 and b* = 1.57). Soy sauce without caramel has a significantly higher (p<0.05) sodium content and is less viscous than the one with caramel. The sensory evaluation shows that sweet soy sauce has significantly (p<0.05) the highest score for overall acceptance. Sodium content information on all soy sauce available in the Malaysian market to help consumers make smarter choices.

Dialisis merupakan rawatan yang lazim bagi pesakit kegagalan buah pinggang. Dari tahun ke tahun, bilangan pesakit yang menjalani dialisis semakin meningkat dengan kadar yang membimbangkan. Tahap keupayaan fungsi pesakit dialisis adalah lebih rendah berbanding pesakit diabetes yang tidak menjalani dialisis. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti bagaimana dialisis mempengaruhi prestasi Aktiviti Kehidupan Seharian (ADL) dalam kalangan pesakit diabetes di Kuala Selangor serta faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi prestasi ADL mereka. Kajian berkaitan prestasi ADL dalam kalangan pesakit dialisis yang menghidap diabetes masih terhad. Oleh itu, kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif melalui sesi temu bual bersemuka secara separa berstruktur. Seramai sepuluh peserta telah direkrut berdasarkan kriteria kemasukan yang ditetapkan. Lima tema utama telah dikenal pasti daripada temu bual, iaitu: (i) meningkatkan kualiti kehidupan seharian: perspektif baharu terhadap aktiviti harian; (ii) kesan diabetes terhadap aktiviti kehidupan seharian; (iii) kesan dialisis terhadap aktiviti kehidupan seharian; (iv) prestasi fungsi dalam aktiviti asas kehidupan seharian; dan (v) aktiviti harian yang dianggap penting. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa pelbagai jenis aktiviti kehidupan seharian telah terjejas akibat kelemahan fizikal yang dialami oleh peserta. Kajian ini dapat memberi pemahaman yang lebih mendalam kepada ahli terapi cara kerja dan bidang pemulihan lain mengenai keupayaan fizikal pesakit diabetes yang menjalani hemodialisis

This report describes an approach to recover SARS-CoV-2 RNA from rapid antigen test kit (RTK-antigen) cassettes for whole-genome sequencing (WGS). RNA samples were recovered from 33 RTK-antigen cassettes for WGS, with 18 samples achieving more than 80% genome coverage. This work provides a proof-of-concept that positive RTK-antigen cassettes can be safely transported, stored and subjected to WGS, enabling swift identification of circulating variants.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted disease surveillance systems globally, leading to reduced notifications of other infectious diseases. This study aims to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the infectious disease surveillance system in Klang district, Selangor state, Malaysia. Methods: Data on notifiable diseases from 2014 to 2022 were sourced from the Klang District Health Office. The 11 diseases with more than 100 notifications each were included in the study. For these 11 diseases, a negative binomial regression model was used to explore the effect of the pandemic on case notifications and registrations by year, and a quasi-Poisson regression model was used to explore the changes by week. Results: The results showed a reduction in the number of notifications and registrations for all 11 diseases combined during the pandemic compared with previous years. Changes between expected and observed notifications by week were heterogeneous across the diseases. Discussion: These findings suggest that restrictive public health and social measures in Klang district may have impacted the transmission of other infectious diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. The differential impact of the pandemic on disease notifications and reporting highlights the large ancillary effects of restrictive public health and social measures and the importance of building resilience into infectious disease surveillance systems.

Background: Evidence indicates that central sensitization (CS) plays a role in subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Reduced treatment response has been associated with pretreatment pain sensitization features, such as CSrelated symptoms. Methods: Patients who received subacromial steroid injection were evaluated before the injection, at the first and third months. CS-related symptoms were investigated through the central sensitization inventory (CSI), and pain hypersensitivity was investigated by pressure pain threshold (PPT). Patients were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Short Form-36. Results: With the injection, all participants had a significant reduction in shoulder pain (P < 0.05). In all follow-ups,VAS values did not differ significantly between the groups, and patients with CSI ≥ 40 had higher levels of disability,anxiety, depression, and worse quality of life before treatment (P < 0.05). Post-injection disability decreased significantly in the CS group and reached similar levels in both groups at the third month (P > 0.05). Although both groups' PPT values were comparable pre-treatment and at the third month, the CS group's affected shoulder showed a notable PPT decline at the first month (P < 0.05). Conclusions Pre-treatment CS-related symptoms had no effect on SIS patients' responsiveness to steroid injections.

Background: The co-occurrence of frailty, sarcopenia, and malnutrition was well studied in inpatient and nursing home settings, which was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality. Multicentre data in community-dwelling outpatient setting were lacking. We aimed to find the prevalence of frailty, possible sarcopenia and malnutrition, their overlap and the associated factors in community-dwelling older outpatients. Methods: We collected data from community-dwelling outpatients aged ≥60 years in Indonesian geriatric care centres to conduct this cross-sectional study with bivariate and multivariable analyses. Frailty, possible sarcopenia, and malnutrition diagnoses were based on FRAIL scale, Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus, and Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form, respectively. Results: The prevalence of frailty, possible sarcopenia, and malnutrition in community-dwelling older outpatients were 13.6%, 45.5%, and 5.3%, respectively. The prevalence of co-occurrence of frailty, possible sarcopenia and malnutrition was 3.3%. It was associated with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and cerebrovascular accident (odds ratio [OR]=5.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48–20.61), cognitive impairment (OR=3.70, 95% CI 1.21–11.31), and dependent functional capacity (OR=11.62, 95% CI 3.38–39.99). Overlap of three evaluated syndromes was found in 24.1%, 7.2%, and 61.3% of subjects with frailty, possible sarcopenia, and malnutrition, respectively. It was characterized by a substantial proportion of female sex, older adults with low educational attainment, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cognitive impairment, multimorbidity, and dependent functional status. Conclusion Approximately 1 in 30 community-dwelling older outpatients had overlapping frailty, possible sarcopenia, and malnutrition. The condition is associated with TIA and cerebrovascular accident, cognitive impairment, and dependent functional capacity. Standardized screening in community-dwelling older population is necessary.

Background: Understanding the relationship between muscle mass, muscle strength, and bone density in older adults is crucial for addressing age-related conditions like osteoporosis and sarcopenia. This review aims to evaluate the relationship between muscle mass and muscle strength with bone density in older adults. Methods: This systematic review, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, involved a comprehensive search across seven databases from 2014 to April 2024. Included were observational studies in English and Indonesian on adults aged 60 and older. The Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS) tool assessed the risk of bias, and the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) framework evaluated the evidence quality. Study selection was independently reviewed, and consensus was reached through discussion. Results: Ten studies were included. For muscle mass and bone density, five studies showed a significant association, while four did not. For muscle strength and bone density, four of seven studies reported a significant association. However, the evidence quality was low due to inconsistency. Conclusion The relationship between muscle mass, muscle strength, and bone density in older adults shows variability and inconsistent evidence.

Background: Evidence indicates that central sensitization (CS) plays a role in subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Reduced treatment response has been associated with pretreatment pain sensitization features, such as CSrelated symptoms. Methods: Patients who received subacromial steroid injection were evaluated before the injection, at the first and third months. CS-related symptoms were investigated through the central sensitization inventory (CSI), and pain hypersensitivity was investigated by pressure pain threshold (PPT). Patients were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Short Form-36. Results: With the injection, all participants had a significant reduction in shoulder pain (P < 0.05). In all follow-ups,VAS values did not differ significantly between the groups, and patients with CSI ≥ 40 had higher levels of disability,anxiety, depression, and worse quality of life before treatment (P < 0.05). Post-injection disability decreased significantly in the CS group and reached similar levels in both groups at the third month (P > 0.05). Although both groups' PPT values were comparable pre-treatment and at the third month, the CS group's affected shoulder showed a notable PPT decline at the first month (P < 0.05). Conclusions Pre-treatment CS-related symptoms had no effect on SIS patients' responsiveness to steroid injections.

Background: Evidence indicates that central sensitization (CS) plays a role in subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Reduced treatment response has been associated with pretreatment pain sensitization features, such as CSrelated symptoms. Methods: Patients who received subacromial steroid injection were evaluated before the injection, at the first and third months. CS-related symptoms were investigated through the central sensitization inventory (CSI), and pain hypersensitivity was investigated by pressure pain threshold (PPT). Patients were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Short Form-36. Results: With the injection, all participants had a significant reduction in shoulder pain (P < 0.05). In all follow-ups,VAS values did not differ significantly between the groups, and patients with CSI ≥ 40 had higher levels of disability,anxiety, depression, and worse quality of life before treatment (P < 0.05). Post-injection disability decreased significantly in the CS group and reached similar levels in both groups at the third month (P > 0.05). Although both groups' PPT values were comparable pre-treatment and at the third month, the CS group's affected shoulder showed a notable PPT decline at the first month (P < 0.05). Conclusions Pre-treatment CS-related symptoms had no effect on SIS patients' responsiveness to steroid injections.