Stress resilience in patients with drug-resistant TB.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide increase in drug-resistant pulmonary TB (DR-PTB) has a significant impact on patient´s physical and mental health. The objective of this study is to assess the stress resilience of DR-PTB patients along with the factors associated with it.METHODS: A total of 385 adult DR-PTB patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) and pre-extensive drug-resistant (pre-XDR) TB admitted to the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest Hospital (Dhaka, Bangladesh) between January 2020 and March 2021 were conveniently recruited. Resilience data were collected using a validated Stress Resilience Scale (RS 25) questionnaire.RESULTS: The mean resilience scores were significantly higher for patients with MDR-PTB than those with pre-XDR-PTB (P = 0.02). A majority of the MDR-PTB (77.0%) and pre-XDR-PTB (65.1%) patients belonged to the ≤45 years age group. Multiple linear regression revealed that sex (P < 0.001), level of education (P < 0.001), employment status (P = 0.003) and presence of asthma (P = 0.010) were significantly associated with stress resilience.CONCLUSION: We observed that stress resilience significantly differed between patients with MDR-PTB and those with pre-XDR-PTB based on sociodemographic characteristics.

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among postpartum women on the East Coast of Malaysia.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual health is a key component of the overall health and quality of life of both men and women. Sexual dysfunction is a common condition, but it lacks professional recognition. This study aims to determine the prevalence and types of sexual dysfunctions among postpartum women in primary care clinics and their associated factors in a Malaysian cohort. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 420 women from nine primary care clinics in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. All participants had given livebirths within six weeks to six months and had attended either a postnatal or a well-child clinic at a government primary care clinic. The assessment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) was done using a validated Malay version of the female sexual function index (MVFSFI). Data were statistically analysed using appropriate methods. RESULTS: More than one-third (35.5%) of women had postpartum sexual dysfunction. The most common types were lubrication disorder 85.6% (n = 113), followed by loss of desire 69.7% (n = 92) and pain disorders 62.9% (n = 83). Satisfaction disorder 7.3% (n = 27), orgasmic disorder 9.7% (n = 56) and arousal disorder 11.0% (n = 41) were less common sexual problems. The independent associated factors for FSD were high education level (adjusted odd ratio = 1.717, 95% CI 1.036-2.844; p < 0.05) and usage of hormonal contraception (adjusted odd ratio = 0.582, 95% CI 0.355-0.954; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed a high prevalence of postpartum sexual dysfunction in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. The most common type of sexual dysfunction was lubrication disorder. Efforts at increasing awareness in healthcare professionals should be made.

An Acute Stress Model in New Zealand White Rabbits Exhibits Altered Immune Response to Infection with West Nile Virus.

The immune competence of an individual is a major determinant of morbidity in West Nile virus (WNV)-infection. Previously, we showed that immunocompetent New Zealand White rabbits (NZWRs; Oryctolagus cuniculus) are phenotypically resistant to WNV-induced disease, thus presenting a suitable model for study of virus-control mechanisms. The current study used corticosteroid-treated NZWRs to model acute "stress"-related immunosuppression. Maximal effects on immune parameters were observed on day 3 post dexamethasone-treatment (pdt). However, contrary to our hypothesis, intradermal WNV challenge at this time pdt produced significantly lower viremia 1 day post-infection (dpi) compared to untreated controls, suggestive of changes to antiviral control mechanisms. To examine this further, RNAseq was performed on RNA extracted from draining lymph node-the first site of virus replication and immune detection. Unaffected by dexamethasone-treatment, an early antiviral response, primarily via interferon (IFN)-I, and induction of a range of known and novel IFN-stimulated genes, was observed. However, treatment was associated with expression of a different repertoire of IFN-α-21-like and IFN-ω-1-like subtypes on 1 dpi, which may have driven the different chemokine response on 3 dpi. Ongoing expression of Toll-like receptor-3 and transmembrane protein-173/STING likely contributed to signaling of the treatment-independent IFN-I response. Two novel genes (putative HERC6 and IFIT1B genes), and the SLC16A5 gene were also highlighted as important component of the transcriptomic response. Therefore, the current study shows that rabbits are capable of restricting WNV replication and dissemination by known and novel robust antiviral mechanisms despite environmental challenges such as stress.

Community-based approach for a flood preparedness plan in Malaysia.

Floods have caused inevitable major disasters around the world as well as in Malaysia. This paper demonstrates that lessons can be taken from the previous flood disasters when developing an effective flood preparedness plan. As a common practice, disaster management is based on a top-down approach or is government-centred. This article attempts to highlight the significance of developing a flood preparedness plan by involving the communities affected. Qualitative analysis was adopted in order to gain in-depth insight of the communities. Two flood-prone communities were chosen: (1) Machang, Kelantan; and (2) Kuala Lipis, Pahang. There were two important things executed by the community for the preparation: (1) community-based disaster risk management; and (2) intensive mutual assistance.

Thermoluminescence properties of strontium doped magnesium tetraborate.

It is worth to continuous and systematic investigations related with magnesium tetraborate (MBO) due to its attractive candidate for dosimetric application. The study was done to develop new phosphor with adding strontium (Sr) into MBO which was prepared by the simple high temperature solid state method. Its main dosimetric properties, like glow curve structure, dose response, trapping parameters and fading, were investigated for the first time in the literature. The experimental results indicated that Sr doped MBO ensured essential characteristics for applicability in medical dosimetry, except for the fading (45% lost in 7 days) feature. It had main glow peak with highest intensity at nearly 200 °C with good linearity of the dose-response up to 1150 Gy. This study suggests that Sr-doped MBO is a promising material for dosimetric application, just need to solve the fading problem with addition of another activators as a co-dopant.

Characterization of the banana streak virus capsid protein and mapping of the immunodominant continuous B-cell epitopes to the surface-exposed N terminus.

This study identified the structural proteins of two badnavirus species, Banana streak MY virus (BSMYV) and Banana streak OL virus (BSOLV), and mapped the distribution of continuous B-cell epitopes. Two different capsid protein (CP) isoforms of about 44 and 40 kDa (CP1 and CP2) and the virion-associated protein (VAP) were consistently associated with purified virions. For both viral species, the N terminus of CP2 was successfully sequenced by Edman degradation but that of CP1 was chemically blocked. De novo peptide sequencing of tryptic digests suggested that CP1 and CP2 derive from the same region of the P3 polyprotein but differ in the length of either the N or the C terminus. A three-dimensional model of the BSMYV-CP was constructed, which showed that the CP is a multi-domain structure, containing homologues of the retroviral capsid and nucleocapsid proteins, as well as a third, intrinsically disordered protein region at the N terminus, henceforth called the NID domain. Using the Pepscan approach, the immunodominant continuous epitopes were mapped to the NID domain for five different species of banana streak virus. Anti-peptide antibodies raised against these epitopes in BSMYV were successfully used for detection of native virions and denatured CPs in serological assays. Immunoelectron microscopy analysis of the virion surface using the anti-peptide antibodies confirmed that the NID domain is exposed on the surface of virions, and that the difference in mass of the two CP isoforms is due to variation in length of the NID domain.

Determination of dosimetric properties of MgO doped natural amethyst samples.

In this paper, the thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetric characteristics of MgO doped natural amethyst samples (Mg-NA) are presented. The morphologies and chemical structures of the powder form samples were identified using XRD, FTIR, SEM, SEM mapping and EDX. Comparison of the TL intensities showed that 10wt% Mg-NA was nearly 150 times more sensitive than undoped amethyst and the main dosimetric properties proved that 10wt% Mg-NA may be a promising phosphor for clinical and radiotherapy purposes.

Characterization of the Gacka River basin karst aquifer (Croatia): hydrochemistry, stable isotopes and tritium-based mean residence times.

The Gacka River basin aquifer is a highly-developed karst system, located in the Croatian Dinarides. It is mostly composed of permeable Jurassic and Cretaceous carbonate rocks, and clastic sedimentary rocks of Paleogene age. Gacka River provides high quality water for the town of Otocac and several villages; together with the neighboring Lika River, the water is used for the Hydroelectric Power Plant at Senj on the coast. About 10 perennial and over 20 seasonal springs are located at 450 to 460 ma.s.l. (above sea level). Three major springs (Pecina, Majerovo and Tonkovica) provide 57% of the mean annual river flow. Similarities between the average groundwater temperatures as well as between the average specific electrical conductivity values (9.0°C-328 µS/cm, 9.6°C-350 µS/cm and 8.9°C-312 µS/cm) of the springs imply that they are fed from aquifers with similar mean residence times (MRTs). The mean δ(18)O contents of Majerovo, Tonkovica, and Pecina are around -10.1‰, -9.2‰ and -8.9‰, respectively, revealing differences in the mean recharge area elevations. Compared to the temporal amplitude of the(18)O signal of precipitation, the (18)O signal variations of the springs are substantially attenuated because the recharges occurring at different times are well mixed within the aquifers. This indicates MRTs of more than just a few years. The average tritium contents of Pecina, Majerovo and Tonkovica are 5.48 TU, 6.13 TU and 6.17 TU, respectively. Serially connected exponential-plug type unsteady lumped-parameter models run on an annual time scale resulted in rather satisfactory matches between the observed and calculated tritium contents for all studied springs. The models revealed similar MRTs (and corresponding reservoir volumes) for Pecina, Tonkovica and Majerovo of 12 years (470 Mm(3)), 12 years (1,190 Mm(3)), and 12.2 years (1,210 Mm(3)), respectively. Plug flow conditions dominate in about 90% of the total aquifer volumes.

Amplification of surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 5-(perfluoro-n-alkyl)norbornenes by macroinitiation.

This article reports the enhanced rate of the surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) of 5-(perfluoro-n-alkyl)norbornenes (NBFn) by combining two SIP techniques, namely surface-initiated atom-transfer polymerization (SI-ATRP) to grow a macroinitiator and surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (SI-ROMP) to produce the final coating. This polymerization approach promotes the rapid growth of dense partially fluorinated coatings that are highly hydrophobic and oleophobic and yield thicknesses from 4-12 µm. Specifically, the growth rate and the limiting thickness of pNBFn with different side chain lengths (n = 4, 6, 8, and 10) at various monomer concentrations and temperatures are evaluated through two approaches: growing the polymer from an initiator-terminated monolayer (control) or from a modified poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) macroinitiator. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis shows that 38% of the hydroxyl termini in the macroinitiator react with a norbornenyl diacid chloride (NBDAC) molecule, and 7% of such anchored norbornenyl groups react with a catalyst molecule. The kinetic data have been modeled to determine the propagation velocity and the termination rate constant. The PHEMA macroinitiator provides thicker films and faster growth as compared to the monolayer, achieving a 12 µm thick coating of pNBF8 in 15 min. Increasing the monomer side chain length, n, from 4 to 10 improves the growth rate and the limiting polymer thickness. Performing the polymerization process at higher temperature increases the growth rate and the limiting thickness as evidenced by an increase in the film growth rate constant. Arrhenius plots show that the reactions involved in the macroinitiation process exhibit lower activation energies than those formed from a monolayer. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals that the films exhibit resistance against ion transport in excess of 1 × 10(10) Ω·cm(2).

A knowledge of asthma in school children: a survey among primary school teachers.

A survey was carried out among primary school teachers in the district of Kota Bharu, Malaysia to assess the level of knowledge on asthma and its management. Our findings revealed that primary school teachers were less informed about the management and treatment of asthma. They were relatively more knowledgeable about the causes and symptomatology of asthma. The majority of respondents had misunderstanding regarding the effect of rain, smoking and cold weather on asthma. It is important that teachers should be able to recognise symptoms of an asthmatic attack or take the necessary precautions to avoid such an attack. Many teachers agreed on the need to have an asthma education programme in their teaching curriculum.

On estimating the proportion of variance in a phenotypic trait attributable to a measured locus.

The measured genotype approach can be used to estimate the variance contributions of specific candidate loci to quantitative traits of interest. We show here that both the naive estimate of measured-locus heritability, obtained by invoking infinite-sample theory, and an estimate obtained from a bias-corrected variance estimate based on finite-sample theory, produce biased estimates of heritability. We identify the sources of bias, and quantify their effects. The two sources of bias are: (1) the estimation of heritability from population samples as the ratio of two variances, and (2) the existence of sampling error. We show that neither heritability estimator is less biased (in absolute value) than the other in all situations, and the choice of an ideal estimator is therefore a function of the sample size and magnitude of the locus-specific contribution to the overall phenotypic variance. In most cases the bias is small, so that the practical implications of using either estimator are expected to be minimal.