Testing the Transtheoretical Model in Predicting Smoking Relapse among Malaysian Adult Smokers Receiving Assistance in Quitting

The role of The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) in predicting relapse is limited. We aimed to assess whether thismodel can be utilised to predict relapse during the action stage. The participants included 120 smokers who hadabstained from smoking for at least 24 hours following two Malaysian universities’ smoking cessation programme.The smokers who relapsed perceived significantly greater advantages related to smoking and increasing doubt intheir ability to quit. In contrast, former smokers with greater self-liberation and determination to abstain wereless likely to relapse. The findings suggest that TTM can be used to predict relapse among quitting smokers.     

Comparison of Two Ovarian Malignancy Prediction Models Based on Age Sonographic Findings and Serum Ca125 Measurement

Objective: The aim of our study is to compare an ovarian malignancy prediction model based on age andfour sonographic findings (OMPS1) with a new model called OMPS2 which differs just by adding serum CA125measurement to (OMPS1). Methods: In a cross sectional comparative study OMPS1 was validated in 830 operatedovarian masses within a 3 years period (2006-2009). Logistic regression analysis was used to construct OMPS2based on OMPS1 adding serum CA125 findings. The area under the curve for two models was compared in411 patients. Results: OMPS2 was calculated as follows: OMPS1 + 1.444 (if serum CA125= 36-200) or 3.842 (ifserum CA125 is more than 200). AUC of OMPS2 was increased to 84.3% (CI 95% 78.1- 89.8) in comparison toOMPS1 with AUC of 78.1% (CI 95% 71.8-84.5). Conclusion: Our second model is more accurate in predictionof ovarian malignancy, compared with our first model.     

Predictors of the outcomes of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure

AIM:To identify the risk factors in predicting the outcome of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure patients.METHODS:We retrospectively divided 113 patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure-hepatitis B virus(ACLF-HBV) and without concurrent hepatitis C or D virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma into two groups according to their outcomes after anti-HBV therapy.Their demographic,clinical,and biochemical data on the day of diagnosis and after the first week of treatment were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test,Fisher's exact test,and a multiple logistic regression analysis.RESULTS:The study included 113 patients(87 men and 26 women) with a mean age of 49.84 years.Fiftytwo patients survived,and 61 patients died.Liver failure(85.2%),sepsis(34.4%),and multiple organ failure(39.3%) were the main causes of death.Multivariate analyses showed that Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE) Ⅱ scores ≥ 12 [odds ratio(OR) = 7.160,95% CI:2.834-18.092,P 0.001] and positive blood culture(OR = 13.520,95% CI:2.740-66.721,P = 0.001) on the day of diagnosis and model for end-stage liver disease(MELD) scores ≥ 28(OR = 8.182,95% CI:1.884-35.527,P = 0.005) after the first week of treatment were independent predictors of mortality.CONCLUSION:APACHE Ⅱ scores on the day of diagnosis and MELD scores after the first week of anti-HBV therapy are feasible predictors of outcome in ACLFHBV patients.     

Serum Irisin levels as a marker in some phenotypes of PCOS

Study objectives

The aim of the study was to assay the serum levels of Irisin in women with PCOS.

A Quality Model to Select Patients in Cupping Therapy Clinics: A New Tool for Ensuring Safety in Clinical Practice

Cupping therapy is a popular treatment in various countries and regions, including Saudi Arabia. Cupping therapy is regulated in Saudi Arabia by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Health. The authors recommend that this quality model to select patients in cupping clinics - version 1 (QMSPCC-1)—be used routinely as part of clinical practice and quality management in cupping clinics. The aim of the quality model is to ensure the safety of patients and to introduce and facilitate quality and auditing processes in cupping therapy clinics. Clinical evaluation of this tool is recommended. Continued development, reevaluation and reassessment of this tool are important.     

Crossing two types of implementation intentions with a protection motivation intervention for the reduction of saturated fat intake: a randomized trial

Implementation intentions, namely specific plans regarding when, where and how an individual will act, increase the likelihood of action. There is evidence that implementation intentions should be particularly efficacious when combined with motivational interventions. However, this is yet to be tested in relation to the reduction of unhealthy behaviour. Thus the aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of combined motivation and implementation intention interventions for the reduction of saturated fat intake. It also tested a new form of implementation intention (reasoning implementation intentions). Participants from the UK (n = 210) were randomized to condition and asked either to form standard implementation intentions, reasoning implementation intentions, or received no implementation intention manipulation; and were exposed to protection motivation-based information, or not. Results showed that standard and reasoning implementation intentions were successful in reducing the proportion of food energy derived from saturated fat but the effects of the standard implementation intention were dependent on whether participants read the motivational message or not.     

法舒地尔对大鼠急性高眼压视网膜神经节细胞的保护作用及其机制

目的 观察法舒地尔对大鼠急性高眼压视网膜神经节细胞(RGCs)的保护作用并探讨其机制.方法 实验研究.24只SD大鼠被随机分入正常组(N组)、模型组(M组)、模型+磷酸缓冲液组(MP组)、模型+法舒地尔组(F组),正常组不做任何处理,后三组制作急性高眼压模型(生理盐水灌注法).其中MP组和F组于造模前1周、当天及其后每天分别腹腔注射磷酸缓冲液(PBS) 25 mg/kg和法舒地尔25 mg/kg,各组于造模后7 d取眼球和心脏血,采用TUNEL法测定RGCs凋亡指数(AI)反映RGCs凋亡情况,免疫组化法观察各组视网膜中Rho激酶-2(ROCK-2)和内皮素(ET-1)的分布,并用吸光度值(OD)反映各自表达量;采用Western blotting法测定各组视网膜中磷酸化的肌球蛋白磷酸酶靶单位(p-MYPT-1)的表达,放射免疫法测定血浆中ET-1含量,血液流变仪测量不同剪变率下的全血黏度、红细胞聚集指数(BCAI)和红细胞压积(HCT).各指标组间比较采用单因素方差分析,两两比较采用LSD-t检验.结果 各组RGCs AI差异具有统计学意义(F=402.041,P=0.000),其中F组RGCs AI为33.3%±2.0%,少于M组(64.3%±2.2%)或MP组(62.5%±2.2%)(P<0.05).N组视网膜的节细胞层(GCL)中仅散在几个ROCK-2和ET-1阳性细胞,M、MP和F组ROCK-2阳性细胞分布于GCL、内丛状层(IPL)、内核层(INL)、外丛状层(OPL)和外核层(ONL)中,而ET-1阳性细胞分布于前4层,ONL中无表达,且两者在M和MP组中的OD值高于N组(N、M及MP组ROCK-2:0.21±0.03、0.52±0.06、0.54±0.03;ET-1:0.22±0.05、0.51±0.03、0.51±0.04)(P均<0.01),F组OD值(ROCK-2:0.37±0.04;ET-1:0.35±0.06)低于M或MP组(P均<0.05),但仍高于N组(P均<0.05).ROCK-2和ET-1在各组表达差异具有统计学意义(F=82.862、56.491,P=0.000).Western blotting检测发现各组视网膜中P-MYPT-1表达差异具有统计学意义(F=606.236,P=0.000),M和MP组表达量分别为0.522±0.013和0.520±0.013,高于N组(0.263±0.014)(P<0.01),F组表达量(0.302±0.015)低于M或MP组(P<0.05),但仍高于N组(P<0.05).放射免疫法检测发现各组血浆ET-1含量差异有统计学意义(F=8.750,P=0.000),M和MP组含量均为(96±10)pg/ml,高于N组[(72±10)pg/ml](P<0.05),F组含量为(78+10)pg/ml,低于M或MP组(P<0.05),但仍高于N组(P<0.05).血液流变仪检测发现各组低切、中切、高切状态下全血黏度,BCAI和HCT差异有统计学意义(F=7.086、4.279、14.780、37.351、143.264,P均<0.05),且各指标中M或MP组较N组高(P<0.05),F组较M或MP组低(P<0.05),但仍高于N组(P<0.05).结论 法舒地尔可以抑制大鼠急性高眼压模型中RGCs的凋亡,对RGCs有保护作用,推测其机制可能与抑制ROCK-2、减少p-MYPT-1、减少肌动蛋白-肌球蛋白交联、抑制平滑肌收缩、减少缩血管因子ET-1表达、降低血黏度有关.