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The study aimed to determine the prevalence of continuity of illicit drug use and its associated factors among Malay opioid users receiving methadone treatment in Kelantan, Malaysia. This cross-sectional study involved a total of 150 respondents. Sociodemographic characteristic of participants, level of religiosity, and quality of life were collected using the self-administered questionnaires. The prevalence of continuity illicit drug use was 38.7% (n = 58) by self-report and 40.7% (n = 61) by positive urine test result for drugs. Positive hepatitis C status and high quality of life in the psychological health domain were associated with low continuity of illicit drug use by self-reported data and urine drug test results. In conclusion, the continuity of illicit drug use among methadone program users is still high, especially among those on methadone therapy for less than 2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder in reproductive age women and is characterized by hyperandrogenic anovulation and oligo-amenorrhea, which leads to infertility. Anovulation in PCOS is associated with low follicle-stimulating hormone levels and the arrest of antral follicle development in the final stages of maturation. L-carnitine (LC) plays a role in fatty acid metabolism, which is found to be lacking in PCOS patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of LC supplementation for patients with PCOS. Methods. Wesearched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Psychological Information Database (PsycINFO), and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for all randomized control trials, comparing LC alone or in combination with other standard treatments for the treatment of PCOS from inception till June 2021. We independently screened titles and abstracts to identify available trials, and complete texts of the trials were checked for eligibility. Data on the methods, interventions, outcomes, and risk of bias from the included trials were independently extracted by the authors. The estimation of risk ratios and mean differences with a 95 percent confidence interval (CI) was performed using a random-effects model. Results. Nine studies with 995 participants were included in this review. Five comparison groups were involved. In one comparison group, LC reduced the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (mean differences (MD) -5.10, 95% CI [-6.25 to -3.95]; P = 0:00001), serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (MD -25.00, 95% CI [-27.93 to -22.07]; P = 0:00001), serum total cholesterol (MD -21.00, 95% CI [-24.14 to -17.86]; P = 0:00001), and serum triglyceride (TG) (MD -9.00, 95% CI [-11.46 to -6.54]; P = 0:00001) with moderate certainty of evidence. Another comparison group demonstrated that LC lowers the LDL (MD -12.00, 95% CI [-15.80 to -8.20]; P = 0:00001), serum total cholesterol (MD -24.00, 95% CI [-27.61 to -20.39]; P D0:00001), and serum TG (MD -19.00, 95% CI [-22.79 to -15.21]; P D0:00001) with moderate certainty of evidence. Conclusion. There was low to moderate certainty of evidence that LC improves Body Mass Index (BMI) and serum LDL, TG, and total cholesterol levels in women with PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between cardiovascular disease risk and preventive activity-associated factors and shift work in female nurses at a teaching hospital in Peninsular Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 180 female nurses older than 40 years old. A self-administered questionnaire was used that had been adapted from the World Health Organization's STEPS instrument. The blood pressure, blood glucose, serum lipids and body mass index readings of each participant were taken to calculate cardiovascular disease risk based on the Framingham Risk Score. Descriptive statistic, simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 22. Results: The proportion of female nurses with a moderate to high cardiovascular disease risk was 30%, while 70% had a low risk. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that physical inactivity, dietary habits, fewer screenings for diabetes mellitus (DM) and shift work were significantly associated with moderate to high cardiovascular disease risk. Conclusion: The prevalence of moderate to high cardiovascular disease risk among these female nurses at the teaching hospital was 30%. Physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, fewer screenings for DM and shift work were significantly associated with moderate to high cardiovascular disease risk. These results may be useful in the future as a reference for creating or innovating preventive methods regarding the protection, safety and health of nurses in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent striae are more common in girls. The striae in boys can be misinterpreted as a result of non-accidental injuries such as physical abuses and violence. We reported a case of a 16-year-old boy who presented with multiple linear purplish striae on the upper trunk and both axillae area. The skin lesion was initially interpreted as lesions resulted from physical abuse and bully activities at his school. The parent was concerned about the skin lesions and they thought their son had been assaulted at school. The diagnosis of physiological striae in adolescence was made after excluding other endocrine disorders and related diseases. Further assessment revealed there was no history of recent physical assaulted at his school. This case illustrates that the unfamiliarity with this skin condition can be resulted in misinterpretation of the cases. However, suspiciousness for non-accidental injury is crucial, especially among adolescent groups who are at risk to be involved in the bully activities. The misinterpreted of the adolescent striae may cause stress to the parent or other family members and it has sometimes led to the unnecessary legal acts which might be taken by the protective parent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Every pregnancy faces unpredictable complications and risks associated with the risk of maternal morbidity, mortality, and neonatal complications. The aim of the study is to determine birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) among antenatal women and their determinants. Methods: The involved a total of 100 pregnant women at a public university hospital in Kelantan state, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: A total of 47.0% of participants were well prepared for their birth and its complications. There were no associations between being well prepared for birth and its complications with parity, gestational age, the total number of antenatal visits, or other sociodemographic data. Conclusion: BPCR among women were still low among women in Kelantan. Knowledge of the danger signs during pregnancy, labor, and the postnatal period among pregnant women is important to reduce maternal mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]