Knowledge and Acceptance of COVID-19 (SARS CoV2) Vaccination among Foundation students in a College in Kedah, Malaysia

@#Introduction: To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia started vaccination of front-liners and adults in the community. The latter group might have insufficient knowledge to accept COVID-19 vaccination, therefore this research was to assess the knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among youths, specifically students in a Malaysian college. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 481 foundation students in Kolej MARA Kulim (KMKU). The minimum sample size, using Epi Info was 214. Students answered an online questionnaire using google form which included demographic data (age, gender) and ten questions on knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. For knowledge questions, students answered “yes”, “no” or “don’t know”, correct answer scoring 1. For acceptance questions, a 5-point Likert scale was used ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”. EXCEL and SPSS version 23 were used for analysis with Chi-square test done to test association (significant for p-value <0.05). Results: The response rate was 65.1% with 313 students, (45.4% males, and 54.6% females) aged 18-19 years. The majority (83.7%) had satisfactory to excellent knowledge scores (mean = 6.66 (SD=2.299, 95% CI 6.40-6.91), median = 7 (± IQR =3), while 16.3% obtained poor scores (≤ 4). The majority (90%) accepted vaccination. Higher knowledge scores were associated with higher acceptance rates in both genders (p-value= 0.000). Significantly more females (90.6%) than males (80.3%) had positive attitude towards vaccination (p-value = 0.009). Conclusions: The majority of the foundation students in KMKU were knowledgeable on COVID-19 vaccination and willing to receive the vaccination against the novel coronavirus.

Comparison of cataract surgery refractive outcomes in a tertiary hospital and an outreach cataract service centre

@#Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative refractive outcome after cataract surgery between a hospital-based and an outreach-based cataract service centre. Methods: This study was conducted at the Hospital Selayang (HS), Selangor, Malaysia, a tertiary referral centre and an outreach-based cataract service centre (Pusat Pembedahan Katarak MAIWP, PPKM). Data was sourced from the Cataract Surgery Registry (CSR) in the National Eye Database (NED). Results: A total of 2318 surgeries were analysed. PPKM achieved postoperative refraction outcome within ±1.0D in 94.3% of cases compared with 88.4% in Selayang Hospital. Mean absolute prediction error was also better in PPKM (0.39±0.27D vs. 0.33±0.24D, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the tertiary hospital, persons of Chinese ethnicity, history of uveitis, previous history of ocular surgery and intraoperative complications as significant independent predictive factors for poor refractive outcomes. Conclusion: The outreach-based cataract service centre, which incorporates streamlined process designs and workflows, achieved superior refractive outcomes within ±1 dioptre after cataract surgery compared to a tertiary hospital.

Antimicrobial Activity of Bacterial Intracellular and Extracellular Pigment Extract Against Potent Pathogens

A strain of pigmented Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from soil and was analyzed for its pigment’santimicrobial properties. The isolated bacteriaum was able to produce two types of pigments viz,extracellulat and intracellular. The extracellular pigment was green and was water soluble andintracellular pigment was dark red and was not diffusible in water. Both these pigments were extractedand extracted pigments were used for antimicrobial studies. Many potent pathogens were used for thisstudy. Both Gram positive, negative and fungal pathogens were used in this study. The antimicrobialproperties were explored by using well diffusion method. MIC values for extracellular pigment againstmany pathogens were also determined. The extracellular pigment showed notable antimicrobial activityagainst C. albicans ATCC10231 followed by M. luteus ATCC9341, S. aureus ATCC 6538, E.coli ATCC8739 and P. aeruginosa ATCC9027. The lowest MIC value was recorded forC.albicans (360±00 µg/mL), E. coli ATCC8739 (433.3±0.4 µg/mL). The results of this studyshowed that the bacterium produces extracellular pigment as a protective weapon against manypathogens and competitors on the other hand the intracellular pigment’s role is different fromextracellular pigment.

Hypercalciuria and febrile convulsion in children under 5 years old / 소아과

PURPOSE: The association between hypercalciuria and febrile convulsion is controversial. The present study aimed to investigate the statistical association between hypercalciuria and childhood febrile convulsions. METHODS: Overall, 160 children aged 6 months to 5 years, including 80 children with febrile convulsion and 80 febrile children without convulsion (comparison group), were recruited. All laboratory tests, including 24-hour urine calcium, were undertaken in an academic clinical laboratory. RESULTS: Forty-five children of the febrile convulsion group (60%) and 30 of the comparison group (40%) had hypercalciuria. There was a significant difference between the 2 groups (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that there is a statistical association between convulsion and hypercalciuria in children. Since we found this association with a cross-sectional assessment, further studies, especially prospective and controlled designs, are needed.

A cholera outbreak in Alborz Province, Iran: a matched case-control study / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: A total of 229 confirmed cholera cases were reported in Alborz Province during an outbreak that lasted from June 2011 to August 2011. This study aimed to identify potential sources of transmission in order to determine suitable interventions in similar outbreaks. In other words, the lessons learned from this retrospective study can be utilized to manage future similar outbreaks. METHODS: An age-matched and sex-matched case-control study was conducted during the outbreak. For each case, two control subjects were selected from the neighborhood. A case of cholera was defined as a bacteriologically confirmed case with signs and symptoms of cholera. This study was conducted from June 14, 2011 through August 23, 2011. The data were analyzed by calculating odds ratios (ORs) using the logistic regression method. RESULTS: In this outbreak, 229 confirmed cholera cases were diagnosed. The following risk factors were found to be associated with cholera: consumption of unrefrigerated leftover food (OR, 3.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.72 to 5.41), consumption of vegetables and fruits in the previous three days (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.95 to 3.89), and a history of traveling in the previous five days (OR, 5.31; 95% CI, 2.21 to 9.72). CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of vegetables and fruits has remained an unresolved risk factor in cholera outbreaks in Iran in recent years. In order to reduce the risk of cholera, sanitary standards for fruits and vegetables should be observed at all points from production to consumption, the population should be educated regarding hygienic food storage during outbreaks, and sanitary standards should be maintained when traveling during cholera outbreaks.

Metabolic Impact of Nigella sativa extracts on Experimental Menopause Induced Rats.

The aim of current study was to investigate the effects of different extracts of Nigella sativa on metabolic profile of ovariectomized rats. Forty ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats were used in the study and randomly allotted into one of five experimental groups: treated with Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE), Methanol Extract and Hexane Extract of N.S (300mg/kg/day) compared to vehicle control (Olive oil 1ml) and estrogen group (0.2mg/kg Conjugated Equine Estrogen) by intra-gastric gavage as negative and positive control group respectively for 21 days. Food and water intake were measured daily and body weight and biochemical parameters were measured at baseline, 11th day and at the end of experiment. The treatment groups showed significant (P < 0.05) improvement with reference to low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and blood glucose (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein and serum triglyceride concentration. These results suggested that treatment with Nigella sativa extracts exert a therapeutic and protective effect by modifying weight gain, improving lipid profile and blood glucose as well as hormonal level which is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome during menopause.

Aggressive angiomyxoma of scrotum presenting as an Inguinal Hernia

Aggressive Angiomyxoma [AAM] is a rare mesenchymal tumor with a locally aggressive course. The most common location is in the pelviperineal region and occurs mostly in females of childbearing age. In males, it is extremely rare and thus is apt to be mistakenly diagnosed as an inguinal hernia or hydrocele. We report a case of 45 year old man who had right sided scrotal swelling for about four years. It was diagnosed as an inguinal hernia clinically. On further investigations, it was found to be a soft tissue tumor of the scrotum. The patient underwent scrotal exploration. At surgery, a huge lobulated gelatinous mass surrounding the right testicle was found. The mass was excised including the testicle and sent for histopathological analysis. Histologic examination of the excised mass revealed a nonencapsulated lesion composed of sparse spindle-shaped cells and a myxoid stroma with a prominent vascular component. The cells showed focal and weak positivity for desmin. The findings were thus consistent with aggressive angiomyxoma of the scrotum. The margins of the specimen were clear. The patient we report has so far done well with no evidence of recurrence

Inferior lumbar hernia of petit in a patient with neurofibromatosis type-1

Lumbar hernias are rare lesions that account for less than 1.5% of total hernia incidence. Only 250-300 cases have been reported in literature. Diagnosis may be difficult because they are either asymptomatic or may present with vague complaints. Differential diagnosis includes a lipoma, a fibroma, a retroperitoneal or intra-cavitary tumor, hematoma or a chronic abscess. They may occur in association with defects of the musculoskeletal system including some syndromes. Lumbar hernia in patients with neurofibromatosis has been reported in a very few number of cases. We report a case of 40 year old female with type 1 neurofibromatosis who presented with left lumbar hernia of Petit

Palynological studies of some medicinal plants from Margallah Hills, Islamabad

The present research work is confined to the palynological studies of some selected medicinal plants of Margallah hills Islamabad, Research work was conducted in Plant Taxonomy Lab of Quaid-i-Azam University during the year 2004 to 2005. Frequent trips were arranged to collect fresh plant specimens from different locallties of lower Margallah hills. 17 plant species belonging to 7 genera and 15 families were studied. Pollen fertility of 17 plants from Margallah hills ranges from 2-100%. Higher pollen fertility [100%] is of Erigeron conyzanthus, Indigofera iinifolia and Verbena officinale, Partiulaca grandiflora and Digera muricata [4%, 2%] have lowest percentage of pollen fertility. Pollen size of selected plants ranges from 20-90 micro m in size. All pollen is monad, and pollen shape ranges from obovate spheroidal to prolate spheroidal. Exine surface is smooth except Ipomoea carnea, Boerhaavia procumbens, Portulaca grandiflora which have echinulate exine surface. It is concluded from: the study carried out that these information about pollen characteristics in relative taxa were found to be useful or correct identification and future research in respective lipids

Outcome of mesh repair for incisional hernia

To determine the results of incisional hernia repair with prosthetic mesh. It is a retrospective descriptive study, conducted at Surgical "D" ward Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from January, 2002 to October, 2006. A total of 121 patients were included in this study. Those patients with incisional hernia, who were repaired with mesh and completed the minimum of 9 months of follow up, were included. Patients who were clinically diagnosed to have incisional hernia were admitted and after necessary preparation, were operated and defect in the abdominal wall was closed by a synthetic mesh. During the early post operative and follow up period, patients were looked for complications like seroma, infection, chronic discharging sinus formation and recurrence. Out of 121 patients, 73 were female and 48 were male. In most of the patients the incisional hernia resulted from emergency procedures. In 35 [28.9%] patients, there was post operative seroma formation, 17 [14%] patients had wound infection. one [0.8%] patient developed subcutaneous heamatoma due to unidentified bleeding which later on required evacuation under general anesthesia. Eight [6.6%] developed recurrence of hernia out of which some patients were treated by repeat Mesh repair. In 12 [9.9%] patients there was mild to moderate skin margin necrosis and in these cases debridement was a proof of successful treatment. Partial wound dehiscence was found in 3.3% of patients. Incisional hernia is more common in midline laparotomy wounds specially performed in emergency conditions and onlay mesh repair procedure has high acceptable outcomes

Sensitivity patterns in patients of acute secondary bacterial peritonitis, and suggested empirical treatment

The objective of this study was to determine the common pathogens in acute secondary bacterial peritonitis patients in tertiary care hospitals and their sensitivity to the antibiotics commonly prescribed for acute bacterial peritonitis. We conducted culture sensitivity studies on 25 consecutive laprotoniies for secondary peritonitis presented to our Surgical-A ward through Accident and Emergency Department without any advance knowledge of their prior antibiotic therapy or culture sensitivity of the pathogens involved. We were able to get the results for 19 out of 25 cases. They yielded mixed cultures of Gram negative rods and staphylococci. There were three cases of MRSA. They were tested against various antibiotics. Resistance of the Gram negative rods to various antibiotics was also high. Our study revealed a very disturbing trend of occurrence of high resistance strains in patient coming directly from the community. We suggest empirical therapies in view of our results and current medical literature. The high bacterial resistance encounteted necessitates use of broad-spectrum and expensive antibiotics

Pressure necrosis of articular cartilage; types of connective tissue fibers involved in its repair

OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis that was evolved in the present study was to investigate the repair of damaged articular cartilage by connective tissue fibers other than collagen fibers. Setting: Anatomy Department. Period: Seven Weeks. At the end of sixth week of immobilization reticular fibers were seen invading the collagenous scar in the floor of ulcer. The obtained result indicates that it is not only the collagen fibers, which fill the gap, but reticular fibers are also involved in the repair of articular cartilage by fibrosis