ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Sleep is essential for both physical and mental health. Studies have shown that sleep problems are prevalent among university students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between sleep quality and academic performance among dental students at a Malaysian university. Methods: All dental students of the university were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study, which used a self-administered Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale and the psychological health domain of the Lifestyle and Habits Questionnaire- Brief. The academic performance was determined by their Grade Point Average (GPA). Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, Pearson’s Chi square test for independence, and ANCOVA tests were used to analyse the data. Results: A total of 341 students (233 females and 108 males) participated in the study, with 36.7% reporting poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5). There was a significant difference in academic performance between students with good and poor sleep quality. Controlling for gender and psychological health, poor sleep quality was associated with lower GPA in both preclinical (adjusted mean GPA: 2.84 for poor sleepers, 3.28 for good sleepers, P < 0.001) and clinical year students (adjusted mean GPA: 2.99 for poor sleepers, 3.13 for good sleepers, P = 0.003). Conclusion: Dental students with poor sleep quality performed worse academically than students with good sleep quality after controlling for gender and psychological health. This finding was consistent in both the preclinical and clinical phase groups.
ABSTRACT
To determine the association between histological grade of tumour and estrogen progesterone receptors [ER/PR] expression in unselected invasive carcinoma of breast in Malaysian patients. An observational study. Advanced Medical and Dental Institute and Hospital, Kepala Batas, from year 2002 to 2007. Ethical approval from Ministry of Health of Malaysia was obtained. Retrospective case records of patients presented between 2002- 2007 were reviewed for obtaining information on grade of tumour and expression of ER/PR in unselected carcinoma of breast patients. Records with missing data were discarded. Out of 195 cases evaluated, 42 cases of grade-l tumour were recorded of which 08 [19%] tested positive for ER and 34 [81%] tested negative, 86 cases represented grade-ll tumour of which 33 [38%] tested positive for ER and 53 [62%] were negative for ER, while out of 67 grade-Ill tumours 22 [33%] were positive for ER receptors while 45 [67%] were negative, [chi[2] statistic [df] 4.831, p=0.089]. For PR, 192 cases were evaluated and data was missing for 3 cases on PR status. Grade-l tumour consisted of 39 cases of which PR +ve represented 07 [17.94%] and 32 [82.05] cases PR -ve; 86 cases were of grade-ll of which 31 [36.04%] were PR +ve and 55 [63.95%] PR -ve. Sixty seven cases of grade-Ill tumour of which 19 [28.35%] were PR +ve and 48 [71.64] were PR -ve [chi[2] statistic [df]: 4.297; p=0.117]. ER/PR positivity trend was highest for grade-ll tumours compared to grade-l and grade-l 11 tumours. In general ER positivity was more with grade-ll and grade-Ill tumours compared to grade I tumours. Although results did not reach statistical significance but there was a trend towards ER/PR positivity in grade-ll and III tumours. So far, studies from South East Asia reported ER/PR expression more with low grade tumours