INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

Mammographic Breast Density and Its Associated Findings Among IIUM Kuantan Staff

RADHIANA HASSAN — 2024-07-26

Mammographic breast density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. In this study, we investigate the distribution of mammographic density in female staff members from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in Kuantan. We also explore associations between mammographic density and various factors, including age, parity, body mass index (BMI), breastfeeding history, and usage of hormonal replacement therapy. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 54 female staff volunteers from IIUM Kuantan. All participants underwent digital mammography screening, and their mammographic density was evaluated using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification, which categorizes breast density composition A to D, from being entirely fatty to extremely dense. Demographic and other data were collected through structured questionnaires and review of medical records. Logistic regression was performed to assess the association between mammographic density and the selected factors. The majority of breast density fell into category B (51.9%) and category C (48.1%), with no participants falling under category A or D. Further analysis revealed no statistically significant association between mammographic density with age, parity, BMI, breastfeeding history, or usage of hormonal replacement therapy. In conclusion, the relatively even distribution between the mammographic density of B and C categories suggests a balanced representation of breast parenchymal patterns in this population. Even though not statistically significant likely due to small sample cohort, some factors such as age, BMI and breast-feeding history have shown some weak association with breast density. These findings contribute to the existing knowledge on breast health and may aid in the future development of tailored screening and prevention strategies.

Keywords: breast density, digital mammography, BI-RADS

CASE REPORT OF FOUR SUBSEQUENT RECURRENT MISCARRIAGES – APLS OR NOT

YASHDEV ATRI ROOP KISHORE — 2024-07-04

Introduction: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS) usually clinically suspected in antenatal woman presented with recurrent miscarriages. Screening usually has been conducted especially for those with persistent unexplained recurrent miscarriages in first trimester. However, most patients might not seek medical attention earlier causing the delay in screening. Nevertheless, it is a dilemma for patients with recurrent miscarriages, especially up to four miscarriages to be presumed as APLS until proven otherwise. Case: We reported a 37-year-old Gravida 5 Para 0+4 at four weeks period of amenorrhea presented with one episode per vaginal bleeding. APLS and other relevant causative screening had been performed. However, all the results were normal. Surprisingly, her pregnancy is still viable and progress well. Discussion: This case proved that recurrent miscarriages even more than three does not always equivalent to antiphospholipid syndrome. The cause can be idiopathic or other causes that not be investigated yet including previous possibility of congenital anomaly. Conclusion: Suspicion of APLS is definitely warranted and should be verified with the gold standard screening tests. In any case whereby the results were normal, further assessment such as uterine evaluation, infectious disease screening, and pathological examination should be considered. Pre pregnancy screening should be a minimal requirement for all women in reproductive age for evaluation and prevention of similar outcomes to other women.

THE EFFECTS OF EARLY PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERVENTION ON PATIENTS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

ALYA BASYIRAH MOHD AZMI — 2024-07-04

Patients with a prolonged ICU stay may have several complications such as physical deconditioning and general body weakness which affect their overall quality of life. Physiotherapy intervention upon ICU admission may prevent such complications. Nevertheless there is no solid conclusion on the benefits of early physiotherapy intervention on the occurrence of intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) syndrome and physical performance. Hence, this study is aimed to systemically synthesize the evidence of early physiotherapy intervention in decreasing the occurrence of (ICU-AW) syndrome and improving physical performance in ICU patients. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect databases. All relevant articles published in English between 2010 to 2022 were selected. The risk of bias assessment of the selected articles was performed using The McMaster Quantitative Critical Appraisal Tool (MQCAT). A narrative synthesis was employed to describe the findings. After a thorough screening, four articles met the eligible criteria and were included in this systematic review for further analysis. The methodological quality of the selected articles was found to be satisfactory. The review revealed that positive outcomes of early physiotherapy intervention on ICU-AW were reported in three studies. Yet, only one study reported positive outcome of early physiotherapy intervention on physical function outcome. This systematic review provide insight on the effects of early physiotherapy intervention on the incidence of ICU-AW as well as physical function that will inform the healthcare practitioners and future researchers.

MAPPING THE INTELLECTUAL STRUCTURE OF TELEHEALTH RESEARCH IN GERIATRICS: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

NOR AZREEN OMAR — 2024-07-04

Purpose: The current investigation seeks to perform a bibliometric analysis of the geriatric telehealth research literature disseminated from 1989 to 2023. The objective will be achieved through the utilization of the databases known as Scopus and Web of Science. To exhibit the bibliometric study, open-source tools, namely ScientoPy, VOSviewer, and Harzing’s POP, are utilized. We also identified the contributions of journals, countries, and widely cited articles. European nations, dominating most publications on this topic, have made significant contributions to recovery research in telehealth-related studies among older adults. Notably, the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare has been granted the opportunity to disseminate the most publications in this specific field. The most common co-occurring terms were shown and mapped visually to represent the relationships, specifically highlighting each connection. The paper entitled "A systematic review of the benefits of home telecare for frail elderly people and those with long-term conditions" had the most citations with 242. This bibliometric analysis will make it worthwhile for an apprentice to survey ongoing research on telehealth in the geriatric population.

NARRATIVE REVIEW ON RADIATION EXPOSURE IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS: UNVEILING THE RISKS AND SAFETY MEASURES

NOR ARTIKA HASSAN — 2024-07-04

Introduction: The use of ionizing radiation in medical imaging and therapeutic procedures has witnessed a significant rise in recent years. This, however, has led to an increased risk of radiation exposure for both patients and healthcare providers. The cumulative exposure received by healthcare workers in clinical settings has been a major cause of concern. While limited studies have provided a narrative review of the health effects of radiation on radiation workers, this study aims to provide a comprehensive narrative review of the effects of radiation exposure on healthcare workers. It includes a rigorous assessment of the current state of knowledge, potential risks, and strategies for minimizing exposure.

Methods: unstructured literature review in which the original articles were screened during the period from January to April 2023, using the following sources: PubMed, Springer Link, TheBMJ, Oxford Journal, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar and were limited to articles written in English. The screening process was limited to articles written in English and aimed to identify studies that examine the health effects of radiation among healthcare workers in clinical settings.

Results : In total, 30 articles were identified, and 15 were selected. Various factors in relation to the health effects of radiation have been discussed. Mitigating measures are presented well at the end of this article.

Conclusion : In a conclusion, understanding the potential health effects of exposure especially among radiation workers is crucial to better tailor targeted preventive interventions to reduce harmful exposure to ionizing radiation and the health issue due to ionizing radiation is crucial.