Malaria is a life-threatening, preventable, and curable vector borne disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles. The WHO Global Report 2010-2016 reported insecticide resistance in malaria. The main objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of new generation Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) compared to standard LLIN and untreated nets in terms of the mortality rate of adult female Anopheles gambiae. A comprehensive review of the literature was published in three databases (PubMed, Ovid, EBSCO Host) since 2010. Publications were searched with keywords including malaria, long-lasting treated bed net, long lasting insecticide-treated bed net, LLIN, and experimental hut. The search has identified 60 articles. Based on the PRISMA flowchart, 10 articles are qualified for data collection and analysis. The gathered data was analysed using Review Manager. Following meta-analysis between subgroups, a risk difference of 0.31 between standard LLINs versus untreated net (p<0.001, I²=100% 95% CI:0.01,0.60). A comparison of upgraded LLINs with the untreated net has shown a significant difference with a pooled risk difference of 0.54 favours upgraded LLINs (p<0.001, I²=100% 95% CI: 0.54,0.84). Comparison between upgraded LLINs versus standard gave an overall risk difference of 0.24 (p < 0.001, I² = 100%, 95% CI: 0.10–0.39). Upgraded LLINs significantly increase Anophelesmortality compared to standard LLINs and untreated nets, suggesting their potential for improved malaria control. Thus, using upgraded nets in the field and translating them into malaria preventive programs would help achieve the target and improve healthoutcomes for those living in endemic areas.

Dengue remains a public health threat that consumes a significant number of resources for its prevention and control. This systematic review aimed to solidify recent costing evidence in dengue management among South East Asian (SEA) countries. All studies conducted between 2010 and 2020 were retrieved using four international databases i.e. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Emerald Insight. The review was reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Quality assessments were done independently by two reviewers using a checklist adapted for the cost of illness studies. We identified 13 original articles representing several SEA countries. Among the common reported costing measure include total cost/ health expenditure; direct medical cost; direct non-medical cost; and indirect cost. The estimated total cost for dengue management varied between countries largely due to the difference in the total incidence of dengue cases. The estimated cost spent on dengue per capita GDP ranges from less than 0.001% to 0.1%, depending on the recorded number of dengue cases of the year. The majority of the articles focused on the economic burden from the perspective of treatment such as hospitalization and ambulatory care. In a nutshell, the economic burden of managing dengue infection is costly and the evidence suggests a steady increase in health expenditure with the growing number of dengue cases

Introduction: Acne is the most common skin disease among adolescents and has significant psychological distress. Our objective is to assess acne severity, functional disability, and its psychological distress among acne patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to May 2022 among 163 acne patients attending Dermatology Clinics in the district of Kuantan, Pahang. The severity of acne was graded using the Comprehensive Acne Severity Scale (CASS). The functional disability index was measured using a Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI), while Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaires were used as a screening tool to detect the psychological distress of acne. Data were analysed using a Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test and multiple logistic regression. Results: The mean age was 23 years, 60.1% were female, 94.5% were Malay, and 68.1% were unemployed. The severity of acne was more prominent in the mild (30.7%) and moderate (28.2%) categories. A total of 20.2%, 11.7%, and 4.9% of the respondents had anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms, respectively. Regarding the respondents’ functional disability, 40.5% had mild impairment, 38.0% had moderate impairment, and 13.5% had severe impairment. Acne severity was found to be significantly associated with the functional disability index (P<0.05). The functional disability index was also found to be significantly associated with depression (p=0.019) and anxiety symptoms (p=0.042). Conclusion: Clinical management of acne patients should include not only pharmacological treatment but also consideration of the disease’s functional disability status and psychological distress.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia affecting millions of individuals worldwide and posing significant challenges to healthcare systems. The growing body of research has uncovered sex-related differences in AF pathophysiology, including the role of fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) and leptin as potential biomarkers. FABP4 and leptin, key adipokines involved in cardiovascular health, have been linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which may contribute to AF development. These adipokines exhibit sex-specific differences in their concentrations, with females generally showing higher FABP4 levels and males displaying distinct leptin profiles. Furthermore, hormonal influences, particularly estrogen, and testosterone, play significant roles in shaping AF risk and atrial remodeling. Estrogen is associated with cardioprotective effects, while testosterone may exert proarrhythmic effects. Understanding these sex-specific mechanisms could lead to more tailored and effective clinical management of AF. The future of AF research holds promise for precision medicine, novel therapeutic targets, artificial intelligence integration, and personalized care approaches. Emphasizing patient-centered care, telemedicine, and multidisciplinary collaboration can further enhance AF management and improve patient outcomes. In conclusion, recognizing and addressing sex-related factors in AF pathophysiology offer opportunities for gender-responsive interventions and advancements in AF management. Implementing these insights may pave the way for targeted therapies and improved quality of life for individuals affected by AF.

Background: and Purpose Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the cerebellar hemisphere represents a new option in treating essential tremor (ET) patients. We aimed to determine the efficacy of cerebellar rTMS in treating ET using different protocols regarding the number of sessions, exposure duration, and follow-up duration. Methods: A randomized sham-controlled trial was conducted, in which 45 recruit patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups. The first (active group) comprised 23 patients who were exposed to 12 sessions of active rTMS with 900 pulses of 1-Hz rTMS at 90% of the resting motor threshold daily on each side of the cerebellar hemispheres over 4 weeks. The second group (sham group) comprised 22 patients who were exposed to 12 sessions of sham rTMS. Both groups were reassessed at baseline and after 1 day, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin tremor-rating scale (FTM). Results: Demographic characteristics did no differ between the two groups. There were significant reductions both in FTM subscores A and B and in the FTM total score in the active-rTMS group during the period of assessment and after 3 months (p=0.031 and 0.011, respectively).However, subscore C did not change significantly from baseline when assessed at 2 and 3 months (p=0.073 and 0.236, respectively). Furthermore, the global assessment score was significantly higher in the active-rTMS group (p>0.001). Conclusions Low-frequency rTMS over the cerebellar cortex for 1 month showed relative safety and long-lasting efficacy in patients with ET. Further large-sample clinical trials are needed that include different sites of stimulation and longer follow-ups.

A plethora of paraneoplastic syndromes have been reported as remote effects of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However, there is a dearth of data pertaining to the association of this cancer with demyelinating neuropathies. Herein, we describe the case of a young woman diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins and prednisone did not improve her condition, and her neurological symptoms worsened. Subsequently, she was readmitted with exertional dyspnea, lightheadedness, malaise, and black stools. Colonoscopy revealed a necrotic mass in the ascending colon, which directly invaded the second part of the duodenum. Pathologic results confirmed the diagnosis of locally advanced CRC. Upon surgical resection of the cancer, her CIDP showed dramatic resolution without any additional therapy. Patients with CRC may develop CIDP as a type of paraneoplastic syndrome. Clinicians should remain cognizant of this potential association, as it is of paramount importance for the necessary holistic clinical management.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare providers have been in great fear due to the high risk of contracting COVID-19 infection at any time. This study aimed to determine the mediating role of resilience on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and burnout in primary care healthcare providers in Malaysia. Methods: This was an online cross-sectional study involving 1280 healthcare providers aged 18 years and older from 30 government primary care clinics in Malaysia. We used the COVID-19 Fear Scale, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory Scale, and the Short Brief Resilience Scale to collect data from the respondents. Smart-PLS was used to perform mediation analysis. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 36 years old and mean duration of working experience was 11 years. The majority of the respondents were female (82.4%) and Malays (82.3%). The study population consisted of nurses (47.4%), doctors (26%), medical assistants (11.9), healthcare assistant (7.1%), medical laboratory technicians (6.4%) and drivers(1.3).The results show that fear of COVID-19 positively predicts burnout. According to the results, resilience mediates the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and all the three burnout domains, namely personal burnout (β=0.175,p<0.001), work-related burnout (β=0.175,p<0.001) and client-related burnout (β=0.172,p<0.001). Additionally, resilience reduces the impact of COVID-19 fear on the three domains of burnout. Conclusion: Our study has reported a mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and burnout.

Introduction: Metal artifacts can degrade the image quality of computed tomography (CT) images which lead to errors in diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the performance of Laplace interpolation (LI) method for metal artifacts reduction (MAR) in CT images in comparison with cubic spline (CS) interpolation. Methods: In this study, the proposed MAR algorithm was developed using MATLAB platform. Firstly, the virtual sinogram was acquired from CT image using Radon transform function. Then, dual-adaptive thresholding detected and segmented the metal part within the CT sinogram. Performance of the two interpolation methods to replace the missing part of segmented sinogram were evaluated. The interpolated sinogram was reconstructed, prior to image fusion to obtain the final corrected image. The qualitative and quantitative evaluations were performed on the corrected CT images (both phantom and clinical images) to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed MAR technique. Results: From the findings, LI method had successfully replaced the missing data on both simple and complex thresholded sinogram as compared to CS method (p-value = 0.17). The artifact index was significantly reduced by LI method (p-value = 0.02). For qualitative analysis, the mean scores by radiologists for LI-corrected images were higher than original image and CS-corrected images. Conclusion: In conclusion, LI method for MAR produced better results as compared to CS interpolation method, as it worked more effective by successfully interpolated all the missing data within sinogram in most of the CT images.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is rare with the common presentation of megaduodenum from entrapment of the third part of the duodenum (D3) by the SMA. We present a case report of a thin, fit 16-year-old boy, active smoker complaining of generalized colicky abdominal pain associated with persistent postprandial vomiting. Small bowel study demonstrated partial duodenal obstruction from compression of the third part of the duodenum by the SMA. Computed tomography of the abdomen shows an aorto-mesenteric angle of 13 degrees with aorto-mesenteric distance of 0.32 cm, indicating SMA syndrome. His symptoms resolved spontaneously with watchful waiting and nutritional care plan. The success was contributed to restoring the fat cushion around the SMA, hence, widening the aorto-mesenteric angle. In conclusion, watchful waiting with a nutritional care plan is a feasible initial strategy in the approach to SMA syndrome. However, should this strategy be unsuccessful, the choice of surgical treatment is duodenojejunostomy.

Introduction: Women with uncontrolled diabetes may conceive but will result in poor pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and attitude and determine factors associated with attitude towards preconception care. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in various government health clinics from all districts in Terengganu by using multistage random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was applied to assess the level of knowledge and attitude towards preconception care. Multiple logistic regressions were applied to determine factors associated with attitude towards preconception care. Results: A total of 422 respondents were involved. The prevalence of respondents with unsatisfactory knowledge and attitude were 41.7% and 84.1%, respectively. Knowledge was not significantly associated with attitude. Respondents who used contraception had a better attitude (Adj. OR: 0.44, 95% CI:0.23,0.84). Low household income was associated (Adj. OR: 2.40, 95% CI:1.10,5.26) with an unsatisfactory attitude towards preconception care. Conclusion: Attitude towards preconception care amongst diabetic women who were attending primary care clinics was unsatisfactory. A structured and focused preconception educational programme care is necessary, especially amongst low-income women.