Objective: In Malaysia, a cytology based program for cervical screening was implemented in 1969. Unfortunately, pap smear uptake has been low. The most common barriers to screening were embarrassment, time constraint and poor awareness to screening. As Malaysia is transitioning from a cytology-based screening to self-sampling human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the primary screening method, it is therefore important to assess the acceptability of this screening approach in this multiethnic setting. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which recruited women aged 30–65 from several community-based cervical screening programs using self-sampling HPV testing across urban and suburban areas in all over Malaysia from April 2018 to May 2022. All women were instructed to self-collect vaginal samples for HPV testing using a dry flocked swab. All samples were genotyped on a clinically validated platform which allowed the detection of any high-risk HPV DNA. Approximately 2,000 women were randomly selected and interviewed to document their screening experience after the self-sampling procedure. Results: A total of 19,835 women participated in the community-based cervical screening program using self-sampling HPV testing. The major ethnic group was Malay (68.4%) followed by Chinese (16.4%) and Indians (9.9%). Of these, 1,113 (5.7%) were positive for any high-risk HPV infection whereas 371 (1.9%) did not yield valid HPV results due to insufficient human DNA. A total of 2,012 participants responded to an interview regarding their screening experience using self-sampling HPV testing. Among these women, 1,179 (58.5%) did not attend regular Pap smear screening. Out of those who had ever performed Pap smear, 83.2% of them indicated a preference towards self-sampling HPV testing over Pap smear. Furthermore, 99% of them were willing to repeat this screening test as a routine screening method in the future. More than 95% of women perceived self-sampling HPV testing as easy, convenient and not embarrassing. Additionally, more than 80% of women felt comfortable and confident collecting their vaginal samples. This implies that self-sampling HPV testing is highly acceptable in our setting. Conclusion HPV testing via self-collection method is highly acceptable and preferred over Pap smear in the Malaysian multiethnic population. It is a promising approach to increase screening coverage which is an essential key target to be achieved in order to eliminate cervical cancer in Malaysia.

Objective To explore the role of antioxidant enzymes and free radicals in the pathogensis of schizophrenia and effects of risperidone treatment.Methods Ninety first-episode schizophrenia inpatients according to the Dignostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder Fouth Edition,were treated only with risperidone, observed for 12 weeks, and the clinical effects estimated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).The biological markers including total anti-oxidant activity (TAC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), cupro-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-ZnSOD), manganecesuperoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and S100B, were measured both in patients and controls (87 subjects).Results Activity of T-SOD and Cu-ZnSOD, S100B were significant increased in patients compare to controls [(732±126)×102U/Lvs.(672±115)×102 U/L;(578±175)×102 U/Lvs.(440±148)×102 U/L;(180±181) ng/Lvs.(101±115)ng/L;t=3.2, 5.6, 2.2;v=169,169, 60; P< 0.05].Mn-SOD activity was marked lower in patients compared to controls [(153±145)×102U/Lvs.(232±161)×102 U/L,t=-3.3,v =169, P<0.05].TAC activity was higher posttreatment compare to baseline [(150 ± 54)×102 U/L vs.( 174 ± 59)×102 U/L; t = - 2.6,v= 66,P<0.05].Mn-SOD activity in pre-treatment set up the regression equation with the improvement of PANSS total score(R =0.62 ,R2 = 0.38, F = 7.89, P = 0.02).TAC activity in pre-treatment set up the regression equation with the improvement of positive symptoms ( R = 0.71, R2 = 0.50,F=12.9,P = 0.00).Mn-SOD activity in pre-treatment and the changes in TAC between post-treatment and pre-treatment set up regression equation with the improvement negative symptoms( R =0.76, R2 = 0.58, F = 8.24, P = 0.00).Conclusion The free radicals and antioxidant enzymes may be involved in the pathology of schizophrenia, and risperidone treatment may improve antioxidant activity of first-episode schizophrenic patients.

Objective To explore the role of antioxidant enzymes and free radicals in the pathogensis of schizophrenia and effects of risperidone treatment.Methods Ninety first-episode schizophrenia inpatients according to the Dignostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder Fouth Edition,were treated only with risperidone, observed for 12 weeks, and the clinical effects estimated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).The biological markers including total anti-oxidant activity (TAC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), cupro-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-ZnSOD), manganecesuperoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and S100B, were measured both in patients and controls (87 subjects).Results Activity of T-SOD and Cu-ZnSOD, S100B were significant increased in patients compare to controls [(732±126)×102U/Lvs.(672±115)×102 U/L;(578±175)×102 U/Lvs.(440±148)×102 U/L;(180±181) ng/Lvs.(101±115)ng/L;t=3.2, 5.6, 2.2;v=169,169, 60; P< 0.05].Mn-SOD activity was marked lower in patients compared to controls [(153±145)×102U/Lvs.(232±161)×102 U/L,t=-3.3,v =169, P<0.05].TAC activity was higher posttreatment compare to baseline [(150 ± 54)×102 U/L vs.( 174 ± 59)×102 U/L; t = - 2.6,v= 66,P<0.05].Mn-SOD activity in pre-treatment set up the regression equation with the improvement of PANSS total score(R =0.62 ,R2 = 0.38, F = 7.89, P = 0.02).TAC activity in pre-treatment set up the regression equation with the improvement of positive symptoms ( R = 0.71, R2 = 0.50,F=12.9,P = 0.00).Mn-SOD activity in pre-treatment and the changes in TAC between post-treatment and pre-treatment set up regression equation with the improvement negative symptoms( R =0.76, R2 = 0.58, F = 8.24, P = 0.00).Conclusion The free radicals and antioxidant enzymes may be involved in the pathology of schizophrenia, and risperidone treatment may improve antioxidant activity of first-episode schizophrenic patients.