A series of comprehensive focus group discussions with active firefighters revealed that inconsistencies in incorporating a rigorous physical training program during work hours contributed significantly to the challenges of maintaining functional fitness, particularly strength. This article outlines a process for identifying the specific exercises required to enhance strength, drawing on the expertise and experience of physical trainers. Modified nominal group technique (mNGT) sessions were conducted to identify and rank exercises for five functional strengths (i.e., pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, and dragging). A total of six physical trainers from the firefighter academy were interviewed to 1) identify the skeletal muscles involved in the functional movements using a visual aid; 2) generate ideas for exercises via brainstorming; 3) privately rank the displayed list of exercises for each muscle group involved in each functional movement; and 4) design a physical training programme for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels by manipulating loads. Males dominated the expert group (66.7%) and had a mean of 11.50 (SD 5.20) years of experience in physical training. The mNGTs yielded three top-ranking exercises for each functional strength: 1) Pushing: the push-up, sit-up, and jumping jack; 2) pulling: the push-up, jumping jack, and sit-up; 3) lifting: the jumping jack, push-up, and jumping squat; 4) carrying: the push-up, plank, and sit -up; and 5) dragging: the jumping jack, sit-up, and jumping squat. Then each exercise was designed for the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels by manipulating loads (i.e. additional weight or number of repetitions). This study demonstrated that mNGT is an effective tool for identifying the three top-ranking exercises that address firefighter recruits’ functional strength. The experts chose multi-joint exercises targeting agonist and antagonist skeletal muscle groups and mimicking movements of daily work life. The exercises, corroborated by previous empirical evidence, provide opportunities for common skeletal muscle groupings to be targeted simultaneously to increase cardiovascular adaptations over a shorter period. The physical exercise is now ready to be implemented for piloting purposes among firefighter recruits.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has fundamentally reshaped anatomy education, offering invaluable insights to guide the future of anatomy pedagogy. As we transition into a post-pandemic era, it is crucial to integrate the lessons learned to create a more resilient, flexible, and effective educational environment. This paper examines the transformative strategies implemented at Universiti Sains Malaysia during the pandemic, focusing on the empowerment of blended learning, technology-enhanced tools, student-centered learning practical sessions, and enhancement of formative assessment. These strategies include integrating digital learning resources, such as the Virtual Anatomy Museum and online histology quizzes, with in-person instruction, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment. Additionally, practical sessions were redesigned to emphasize collaborative learning, peer teaching, and developing critical thinking and communication skills. Formative assessments were integrated to provide continuous feedback and support ongoing learning. This comprehensive approach not only enhanced students’ understanding of anatomical concepts but also improved their emotional well-being and overall learning experience. The lessons learned from the pandemic have paved the way for a more innovative and adaptive anatomy education that is well-prepared for future challenges.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has fundamentally reshaped anatomy education, offering invaluable insights to guide the future of anatomy pedagogy. As we transition into a post-pandemic era, it is crucial to integrate the lessons learned to create a more resilient, flexible, and effective educational environment. This paper examines the transformative strategies implemented at Universiti Sains Malaysia during the pandemic, focusing on the empowerment of blended learning, technology-enhanced tools, student-centered learning practical sessions, and enhancement of formative assessment. These strategies include integrating digital learning resources, such as the Virtual Anatomy Museum and online histology quizzes, with in-person instruction, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment. Additionally, practical sessions were redesigned to emphasize collaborative learning, peer teaching, and developing critical thinking and communication skills. Formative assessments were integrated to provide continuous feedback and support ongoing learning. This comprehensive approach not only enhanced students’ understanding of anatomical concepts but also improved their emotional well-being and overall learning experience. The lessons learned from the pandemic have paved the way for a more innovative and adaptive anatomy education that is well-prepared for future challenges.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has fundamentally reshaped anatomy education, offering invaluable insights to guide the future of anatomy pedagogy. As we transition into a post-pandemic era, it is crucial to integrate the lessons learned to create a more resilient, flexible, and effective educational environment. This paper examines the transformative strategies implemented at Universiti Sains Malaysia during the pandemic, focusing on the empowerment of blended learning, technology-enhanced tools, student-centered learning practical sessions, and enhancement of formative assessment. These strategies include integrating digital learning resources, such as the Virtual Anatomy Museum and online histology quizzes, with in-person instruction, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment. Additionally, practical sessions were redesigned to emphasize collaborative learning, peer teaching, and developing critical thinking and communication skills. Formative assessments were integrated to provide continuous feedback and support ongoing learning. This comprehensive approach not only enhanced students’ understanding of anatomical concepts but also improved their emotional well-being and overall learning experience. The lessons learned from the pandemic have paved the way for a more innovative and adaptive anatomy education that is well-prepared for future challenges.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has fundamentally reshaped anatomy education, offering invaluable insights to guide the future of anatomy pedagogy. As we transition into a post-pandemic era, it is crucial to integrate the lessons learned to create a more resilient, flexible, and effective educational environment. This paper examines the transformative strategies implemented at Universiti Sains Malaysia during the pandemic, focusing on the empowerment of blended learning, technology-enhanced tools, student-centered learning practical sessions, and enhancement of formative assessment. These strategies include integrating digital learning resources, such as the Virtual Anatomy Museum and online histology quizzes, with in-person instruction, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment. Additionally, practical sessions were redesigned to emphasize collaborative learning, peer teaching, and developing critical thinking and communication skills. Formative assessments were integrated to provide continuous feedback and support ongoing learning. This comprehensive approach not only enhanced students’ understanding of anatomical concepts but also improved their emotional well-being and overall learning experience. The lessons learned from the pandemic have paved the way for a more innovative and adaptive anatomy education that is well-prepared for future challenges.

Medication review is an intervention with the potential to reduce drug-related problems (DRPs) in the elderly. This study aimed to determine the effect of pharmacists’ medication reviews on geriatric patients. This study accessed two online databases, MEDLINE Complete and Scopus, and examined all studies published in English between 2019 and 2023, except for reviews. The studies included (1) participants over 65 years of age and (2) medication reviews conducted by pharmacists. The titles, abstracts, and full texts were reviewed for data extraction to determine whether the studies satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Forty-four of the initial 709 articles were included in this study. The articles included discussions on the incidence rates of DRPs and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) (n=21), hospitalization (n=14), medication adherence (n=9), quality of life (QoL) (n=8), and falls (n=7). Pharmacist medication reviews were associated with a reduced incidence of DRPs and PIMs, and improved adherence to medications. Patients’ overall QoL is also increasing. However, pharmacist medication reviews were not strongly associated with decreased hospitalization or falls. A pharmacist’s medication review may be a feasible intervention for reducing the incidence rates of DRPs and PIMs, regardless of whether it is performed as a sole intervention or supplemented with other interventions. The intervention was also effective in increasing medication adherence and QoL.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have undergone extensive investigation for their potential therapeutic applications, primarily attributed to their paracrine activity. Recently, researchers have been exploring the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by MSCs. METHODS: MEDLINE/PubMed and Google scholar databases were used for the selection of literature. The keywords used were mesenchymal stem cells, extracellular vesicles, clinical application of EVs and challenges EVs production. RESULTS: These EVs have demonstrated robust capabilities in transporting intracellular cargo, playing a critical role in facilitating cell-to-cell communication by carrying functional molecules, including proteins, RNA species, DNAs, and lipids. Utilizing EVs as an alternative to stem cells offers several benefits, such as improved safety, reduced immunogenicity, and the ability to traverse biological barriers. Consequently, EVs have emerged as an increasingly attractive option for clinical use. CONCLUSION From this perspective, this review delves into the advantages and challenges associated with employing MSC–EVs in clinical settings, with a specific focus on their potential in treating conditions like lung diseases, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.

Introduction: Commuting accidents (CAs) caused significant detrimental impacts on the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (FRDM). Therefore, this study aims to identify factors of CA by mainly focusing on environmental factors Methodology: The qualitative data was obtained from FRDM accident investigation reports from five states (Kedah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan and Johor) between 2017-2021. The data were analysed using content analysis. Results: Four environmental factors that contribute to CA were identified. The factors were environmental conditions (rainfall, strong wind, light glare, and insufficient lighting), time (twilight and night time), road physical conditions (hilly road, curvy, steep, and narrow road, weak manhole cover, soft ground, wet and slippery road), and road environment (traffic congestion and sudden animal crossing) Conclusion These findings provide environment-related hazards input for risk assessment and management of CA in FRDM, as well as valuable information for future research. Therefore, it has the potential to improve road safety for firefighters, the general public, and animals

Aims: The Indo-Pacific coral populations are under increasing threats from bleaching events and coral disease outbreaks. However, there is a significant gap in data and research on coral diseases in Malaysian waters. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of coral diseases and signs of compromised health at 27 reef sites in the coastal waters of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Methodology and results: We conducted coral surveys using the Coral Video Transect (CVT) method and measured the prevalence using Coral Point Count with Excel Extension (CPCe) software. Our findings indicated that the majority of reefs appeared healthy (82.9% ± 1.8), while a smaller percentage displayed signs of disease (5.0% ± 0.6) or compromised health (12.1% ± 1.5). Reef sites exposed to higher levels of human activities exhibited a greater prevalence of coral diseases (e.g. yellow band disease, ulcerative white spots and skeletal eroding band) and signs of compromised health (e.g. sediment necrosis, skeletal damage and algal overgrowth). A total of 51 scleractinian hard coral genera were affected, with Porites and Acropora being the most predominantly affected by sediment necrosis and skeletal damage, respectively. A review of molecular approaches identified various coral pathogens, including Vibrio spp., which could potentially contribute to the occurrence of coral disease. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Unsustainable coastal development with unregulated human activities can exacerbate the severity of coral diseases and signs of compromised health. Therefor