1.Prevalence and Associated Factors of General Health Literacy Among Adults in Malaysia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Cheong Lieng Teng ; Pei Kuan Lai ; Hian Jie Heng ; Mun Hong Tiew ; Chun Wai Chan
International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education 2024;18(3):33-47
Introduction:
There is an increasing number of publications on health literacy from Malaysia. We conducted a systematic review of Malaysian studies to determine the prevalence of limited general health literacy and the associated factors among Malaysian adults.
Materials and Methods:
We conducted a comprehensive search for Malaysian studies on health literacy using PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. Cross-sectional studies that measured general health literacy using specific rating scales among adults in Malaysia were retrieved for qualitative analysis. Quantitative synthesis of the prevalence of limited health literacy measured using two rating scales (Newest Vital Sign, NVS and various versions of European Health Literacy Survey, HLS) was performed using random effect model.
Results:
Twenty-five studies measuring general health literacy were retrieved for qualitative analysis; the majority were various versions of HLS and NVS. Pooled prevalence rates of limited health literacy were: HLS: 48.59%; NVS: 91.41%. Subgroup analysis of participant type revealed prevalence of limited health literacy measured using NVS was lower in clinical samples vs non-clinical samples (85.67% vs 94.70%). Moderator analysis revealed a small effect of ethnicity on prevalence of health literacy measured using HLS. Assessment of included studies showed very few of them had statistically significant associations between socio-demographic factors and limited health literacy.
Conclusion
Prevalence of limited health literacy in Malaysian adults was very high: almost one in two adults in HLS studies and nine out of ten adults in NVS studies. Socio-demographic factors associated with limited health literacy were inconsistent with other studies.
Adult
;
Health Literacy
;
Malaysia
;
Prevalence
;
Systematic Review [Publication Type]
2.Prostate health index can stratify patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score 3 lesions on magnetic resonance imaging to reduce prostate biopsies.
John Shung-Lai LEUNG ; Wai-Kit MA ; Brian Sze-Ho HO ; Stacia Tsun-Tsun CHUN ; Rong NA ; Yongle ZHAN ; Chi-Yuen NG ; Chi-Ho IP ; Ada Tsui-Lin NG ; Yiu-Chung LAM
Asian Journal of Andrology 2023;26(1):20-24
We aim to evaluate prostate health index as an additional risk-stratification tool in patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score 3 lesions on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. Men with biochemical or clinical suspicion of having prostate cancer who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging in two tertiary centers (Queen Mary Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, China) between January 2017 and June 2022 were included. Ultrasound-magnetic resonance imaging fusion biopsies were performed after prostate health index testing. Those who only had Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score 3 lesions were further stratified into four prostate health index risk groups and the cancer detection rates were analyzed. Out of the 747 patients, 47.3% had Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score 3 lesions only. The detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer in this group was 15.0%. The cancer detection rates of clinically significant prostate cancer had statistically significant differences: 5.3% in prostate health index <25.0, 7.4% in prostate health index 25.0-34.9, 17.9% in prostate health index 35.0-54.9, and 52.6% in prostate health index ≥55.0 (P < 0.01). Among the patients, 26.9% could have avoided a biopsy with a prostate health index <25.0, at the expense of a 5.3% risk of missing clinically significant prostate cancer. Prostate health index could be used as an additional risk stratification tool for patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score 3 lesions. Biopsies could be avoided in patients with low prostate health index, with a small risk of missing clinically significant prostate cancer.
3.Association between HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphisms and genetic susceptibility of early-onset severe preeclampsia.
Chun-Chi LAI ; Lu-Lu ZHANG ; Meng-Ya SUN ; Jun-Fang SUN ; Hong JIANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2023;25(10):1022-1027
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the correlation between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of rs3135388, rs114293611 and rs142804168 of HLA-DRB1 gene and early-onset severe preeclampsia (sPE).
METHODS:
Blood samples were collected from 102 early-onset sPE mothers and their neonates (sPE group), as well as 120 normotensive mothers and their neonates (control group). Sanger sequencing was performed to compare the genotype distribution, allele frequencies, and differences in genotype distribution after maternal-infant compatibility between the two groups.
RESULTS:
Statistically significant differences in genotype distribution at rs114293611 of HLA-DRB1 gene were observed between sPE and control groups in both mothers and neonates (P<0.05). The frequency of the T allele at rs114293611 was higher in the sPE group of neonates than that in the control group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was found between the two groups of mothers (P>0.05). The maternal-infant genotype compatibility analysis showed significant differences in genotype distribution between sPE and control groups (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequencies at rs3135388 and rs142804168 of HLA-DRB1 gene between the two groups of mothers and neonates (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The SNP at rs114293611 of HLA-DRB1 gene may be associated with the development of early-onset sPE in mothers. Maternal-infant genotype compatibility abnormality at rs114293611 of HLA-DRB1 gene may be a predisposition factor for the development of sPE.
Female
;
Pregnancy
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Humans
;
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
;
HLA-DRB1 Chains/genetics*
;
Pre-Eclampsia/genetics*
;
Gene Frequency
;
Genotype
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
;
Alleles
4.Research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Viola plants.
Min ZHANG ; You-Heng GAO ; Ye LI ; Ya-Qiong BI ; Chun-Hong ZHANG ; Min-Hui LI ; Zhi-Lai ZHAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(5):1145-1175
There are 500 species of Viola(Violaceae) worldwide, among which 111 species are widely distributed in China and have a long medicinal history and wide varieties. According to the authors' statistics, a total of 410 compounds have been isolated and identified from plants of this genus, including flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, organic acids, nitrogenous compounds, sterols, saccharides and their derivatives, volatile oils and cyclotides. The medicinal materials from these plants boast anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor activities. This study systematically reviewed the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Viola plants to provide a basis for further research and clinical application.
Viola/chemistry*
;
Plant Extracts/pharmacology*
;
Flavonoids
;
Terpenes/pharmacology*
;
China
5.Outcomes of radical prostatectomy in a 20-year localized prostate cancer single institution series in China.
Xiao-Hao RUAN ; Tsun Tsun STACIA CHUN ; Da HUANG ; Hoi-Lung WONG ; Brian Sze-Ho HO ; Chiu-Fung TSANG ; Terence Chun-Ting LAI ; Ada Tsui-Lin NG ; Rong NA ; James Hok-Leung TSU
Asian Journal of Andrology 2023;25(3):345-349
The long-term survival outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) in Chinese prostate cancer (PCa) patients are poorly understood. We conducted a single-center, retrospective analysis of patients undergoing RP to study the prognostic value of pathological and surgical information. From April 1998 to February 2022, 782 patients undergoing RP at Queen Mary Hospital of The University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China) were included in our study. Multivariable Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis with stratification were performed. The 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year overall survival (OS) rates were 96.6%, 86.8%, and 70.6%, respectively, while the 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year PCa-specific survival (PSS) rates were 99.7%, 98.6%, and 97.8%, respectively. Surgical International Society of Urological Pathology PCa grades (ISUP Grade Group) ≥4 was significantly associated with poorer PSS (hazard ratio [HR] = 8.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42-51.25, P = 0.02). Pathological T3 stage was not significantly associated with PSS or OS in our cohort. Lymph node invasion and extracapsular extension might be associated with worse PSS (HR = 20.30, 95% CI: 1.22-336.38, P = 0.04; and HR = 7.29, 95% CI: 1.22-43.64, P = 0.03, respectively). Different surgical approaches (open, laparoscopic, or robotic-assisted) had similar outcomes in terms of PSS and OS. In conclusion, we report the longest timespan follow-up of Chinese PCa patients after RP with different approaches.
Male
;
Humans
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Prostate/pathology*
;
Prostatectomy
;
Prognosis
;
Neoplasm Grading
6.Chinese expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment strategies for SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised populations(2023 edition-2)
Chun-Rong JU ; Mei-Ying WANG ; Jing YUAN ; Yong-Hao XU ; Zhi-Bin XU ; Pei-Hang XU ; Yu-Peng LAI ; Li-Yan CHEN ; Shi-Yue LI ; Wu-Jun XUE ; Hong-Zhou LU ; Yi-Min LI ; Yun-Song YU
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2023;22(12):1411-1424
Since the end of 2019,severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)infection has swept the world,bringing great harm to human society and significantly increasing the health burden.Due to stron-ger infectivity,faster transmission,and higher reinfection rate of the Omicron variant,it has now replaced the Delta variant as the main epidemic strain for both imported and local outbreaks in China.Chinese Diagnosis and treatment protocol for SARS-CoV-2 infection(10th trial version)emphasizes"strengthening the protection of key popula-tions,"which includes the increasing number of immunocompromised population.These people have a high inci-dence of severe diseases and a high fatality rate after infected with SARS-CoV-2,and belong to the high-risk popula-tions of severe or critical diseases.Moreover,due to underlying diseases,these people take immunosuppressants and other related drugs chronically.The interactions between anti-SARS-CoV-2 infection treatment drugs and origi-nal drugs are complicated,thus bring significant challenges to the treatment after the SARS-CoV-2 infection.Cur-rently,there is a lack of guidelines or consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection among im-munocompromised population.Therefore,the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health and National Center for Respiratory Medicine organized experts from multiple disciplines(respiratory and critical care medicine,organ transplantation,rheumatology and immunology,hematology,infection,critical care medicine,etc.)in China.Af-ter multiple rounds of discussions,13 items of recommendations are made as the reference for peers based on evi-dence-based medical evidence,so as to provide a theoretical and practical reference for the diagnosis and treatment strategies of this population.
7.Predictive value of four items of new thrombus markers combined with conventional coagulation tests for thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome.
Li Rong HONG ; Yu Jia CHEN ; Qing Lai JIANG ; Ru Lin JIA ; Chun LI ; Liang Hua FENG
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2023;55(6):1033-1038
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the predictive value of four items of new thrombus markers combined with conventional coagulation tests for thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome.
METHODS:
A total of 121 antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients who hospitalized at Peking University People's Hospital from March 2022 to January 2023 were selected and divided into thrombus group (50 cases) and nonthrombus group (71 cases) according to whether thrombosis occurred. The differences of laboratory characteristics including antiphospholipid antibodies were compared between the thrombotic and non-thrombotic groups. Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used to detect thrombomodulin (TM), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), Plasmin-α2 plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC), and tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor complex (t-PAIC) in plasma from venous. The independent risk factors of thrombosis in patients with APS were determined using binary Logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to evaluate the efficacy of each index on the prediction of thrombosis.
RESULTS:
Compared with the patients without thrombosis, the patients with thrombosis were older [49 (32, 64) years vs. 36 (32, 39) years, P < 0.05]. The percentages of male, smoking, hypertension, and global antiphospholipid syndrome score (GAPSS)≥10 in the patients with thrombosis were significantly higher than those in the patients without thrombosis (P < 0.05). The positive rates of anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) and lupus anticoagulant (LA) in the thrombotic group were significantly higher than those in the non-thrombotic group (P < 0.05), and the levels of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, fibrin degradation product in the thrombotic group were significantly higher than those in the non-thrombotic group (P < 0.05).Among the thrombosis group, venous thrombosis accounted for 19 (38.00%), including deep vein thrombosis (16, 84.21%) and pulmonary embolism accounted (5, 26.32%); Arterial thrombosis accounted for 35 (70.00%), including myocardial infarction (6, 17.14%) cerebral infarction (30, 85.71%). The patients in the thrombotic group had significantly greater TM levels than those in the non-thrombotic group (P < 0.05).There were no significant dif-ferences between the two groups in TAT (Z=-1.420, P=0.156), PIC (Z=-0.064, P=0.949), and t-PAIC (Z=-1.487, P=0.137). Univariate and binary Logistic regression analysis of relevant variables showed that advanced age [OR=1.126, P=0.002], elevated TM [OR=1.325, P=0.048], prolonged prothrombin time (PT) [OR=4.127, P=0.008] were independent risk factors for thrombosis in the patients with APS. ROC curve analysis of the above three independent risk factors showed that the combined detection of age, PT and TM had the highest Yoden index (0.727) and sensitivity (83.0%), with a specificity of 89.7%.
CONCLUSION
TAT, PIC, TM, and t-PAIC may reflect thrombus formation from the coagulation system, fibrinolysis system, and endothelial system. The combined of age TM and PT is superior to the application of a single marker, which has diagnostic value for the early identification of APS thrombosis.
Humans
;
Male
;
Antiphospholipid Syndrome/diagnosis*
;
Tissue Plasminogen Activator
;
Thrombosis/etiology*
;
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid/analysis*
;
Blood Coagulation Tests/adverse effects*
8. The neuroprotective effect of p-benzoyl salidroside, a derivative of salidroside, on MCAO model rats
Jing-Wen NIE ; Chun-Xiao SUN ; Si-Ying HUANG ; Rui LUO ; Wen-Fang LAI ; Ying-Zheng WANG ; Gui-Zhu HONG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2022;38(1):67-72
Aim To study the neuroprotective effect of p-benzoyl salidroside (pOBz), a derivative of salidroside, on MCAO model rats.Methods ( 1 ) Thirty healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into Sham group, MCAO group and MCAO + pOBz group (25, 50, 1(X) mg • kg"1).MCAO model was made by suture-embolus method.The rats were scored for neurological function impairment and weighed every day.pOBz was intraperitoneally injected and administered continuously for two days after preparation of MCAO model.The cerebral infarction volume of rats was detected by MRI.( 2 ) Twenty-four healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into Sham group, MCAO group, MCAO + pOBz group (50 mg • kg"1 ) and MCAO + Sal group (50 mg • kg 1 ).The model was made by the suture-embolus method.pOBz was in-traperitoneally injected and administered continuously for one day.Western blot was used to detect the ex pression of NeuN, EGR1 , Bcl-2 and Bax.(3) Eighteen healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided j j into Sham group, MCAO group and MCAO + pOBz group ( 50 mg • kg 1 ).Administration continued for 2 days.Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of NeuN.Results Intraperitoneal injection of pOBz for 2 days could reduce the cerebral infarction volume of MCAO rats, improve neurological impairment and increase the expression of NeuN and EGR1 , and the effect was better than that of Sal.pOBz improved Bcl-2/Bax in brain tissues of MCAO rats to the same extent as Sal did.Conclusions pOBz can reduce the volume of cerebral infarction in MCAO rats and has better neuroprotective effect than that of salidroside.
9.Chlamydia trachomatis infection and its associated factors among asymptomatic outpatients attending sexually transmitted disease-related clinics.
Ning NING ; Yu Mao CAI ; Rong Xing WENG ; Hong Lin WANG ; Li Zhang WEN ; Chun Lai ZHANG ; Jian Bin YE ; Xiangsheng CHEN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2022;43(9):1436-1440
Objective: To understand the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection and its associated factors among asymptomatic outpatients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD)-related clinics in Shenzhen and provide evidence for development of future interventions. Methods: From April 15 to May 16, 2018, a cross-sectional study was conducted and patients attending STD-related Clinics were recruited from 22 medical institutions in Nanshan, Luohu, Bao'an, Longgang, Yantian, and Longhua districts of Shenzhen. After the informed consent from each participant was obtained, social-demographic information was collected through a structured questionnaire and urine samples were collected for CT nucleic acid detection. In addition, logistic regression was used to explore associated factors of CT infection. Results: In asymptomatic outpatients, the prevalence of CT infection was 7.16% (250/3 492). Being single (aOR=2.29, 95%CI:1.65-3.16), without registered Shenzhen residency (aOR=1.49, 95%CI:1.04-2.13), and without previous CT testing in the past year (aOR=2.04, 95%CI:1.03-4.05) were the risk factors of CT infection in asymptomatic outpatients. Among participants without registered Shenzhen residency, 89.25% (2 176/2 438) were college-degree or below, and 51.29% (1 255/2 447) were aged ≤30 years, and the risk of CT infection among those ≤30 years old was 1.73 times higher than those >30 years old (95%CI:1.28-2.34). Conclusions: The prevalence of CT infection was high among asymptomatic outpatients attending STD-related clinics in Shenzhen. Routine CT screening should be carried out for this population, especially for those with sexually active age, being single, with low educational level, and without previous CT testing in the past year. Also, raising their awareness of knowledge and adverse outcomes of CT infection should be considered to promote routine CT screening and timely treatment.
Adult
;
Chlamydia Infections/epidemiology*
;
Chlamydia trachomatis
;
Cross-Sectional Studies
;
Humans
;
Nucleic Acids
;
Outpatients
10.Herbal Textual Research on Violae Herba in Famous Classical Formulas
Ya-qiong BI ; Guo-qing HAN ; Ai-xiang WANG ; Ye LI ; Min-hui LI ; Chi ZHOU ; Xiao-lei HE ; Chun-hong ZHANG ; Zhi-lai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(10):130-139
By referring to the relevant ancient herbal literature, medical records and prescription books, the textual research of Violae Herba has been conducted to verify the name, origin, producing area, quality evaluation and processing method changes. The results showed that the name of Zihua Diding originated from its flower color and plant morphological characteristics. The primitive plant of Violae Herba is Viola genus of Violaceae, V. yedoensis, as stipulated in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, has been the mainstream in past dynasties of China. Violae Herba is mainly wild, and it is widely distributed throughout the country. Since modern times, the quality of Violae Herba is better with integrity, green color and yellow root. There are few records on the harvesting and processing methods of Violae Herba in ancient times, most of which are directly used after drying. It is suggested that the collection and processing methods of Violae Herba in the famous classical formulas can be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.


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