Blood banking in small animal medicine: a survey of current practices and assessment of a technique to prevent transfusion-related complications

Blood transfusions can be life-saving in dogs and cats, but they are not without risk. Transfusion-related complications occur despite following expert recommendations on blood banking and transfusion administration. The risk of these complications is likely exacerbated when expert recommendations are neglected. Prior to our survey of Australian veterinarians, there were no published reports outlining common blood banking or transfusion practices in Australia. We found Australian veterinary blood banking and transfusion practices were largely inconsistent with expert recommendations. For example, only around half of veterinarians surveyed compatibility-tested dogs and cats prior to transfusion, and more than half pre-medicated animals prior to transfusion. The causes for the inconsistences must be identified and addressed to align blood banking and transfusion practices with expert recommendations, with the overall goal of decreasing transfusion-related complications in dogs and cats. Even with optimal blood banking practices, transfusion-related complications including post-transfusion inflammation can occur. Inflammatory mediators are known to accumulate in blood during storage, and a pre-storage blood banking technique, leukoreduction, prevents this accumulation. Our randomised, blinded, interventional clinical trial was designed to determine if leukoreduction, compared with no leukoreduction, decreases inflammatory biomarker concentrations over time in critically ill dogs. We found no significant difference in the concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers over time between the two groups, however the heterogeneity of our small population likely precluded us from finding a difference. Our randomisation and blinding protocol was successful, and together with the data to now power a larger study, we can plan a trial to determine if leukoreduction will help decrease post-transfusion inflammation in critically ill dogs. In conclusion, we have found that there is a high risk for transfusion-related complications in dogs and cats due to poor alignment with veterinary expert recommendations on blood banking and transfusion administration. Additionally, there may still be room to improve upon expert recommendations on blood banking to help decrease the risk for transfusion-related inflammation with the implementation of leukoreduction, however additional research is required

Gambling risk and protective factors among community and clinical samples in Singapore

Objectives: Problem Gambling (PG) has been linked to several socio-cognitive risk and protective factors; However, knowledge on their impact on problem gamblers in Asia remains. This study compares gambling risk and protective factors between clinical problem gamblers and community individuals in Singapore. Methods: Data on gambling risk and protective factors, and PG severity were collected from 150 clinical problem gamblers and 150 community individuals through paper surveys. Results: Clinical problem gamblers scored significantly higher in PG severity, gambling-related negative thoughts and urge and psychological distress, and scored significantly lower in gambling refusal self-efficacy, hope, resilience and life satisfaction, than community participants. There were also more significant relationships between risk and protective factors among clinical than community participants. Conclusion: Gambling-related protective factors are relevant to clinical problem gamblers in the Singapore context, which could be further leveraged upon to inform and refine existing PG rehabilitation efforts

Teachers’ and Parents’ Perspectives on the Feasibility of a Preschool-Based Behavioral Intervention to Prevent Obesity: An Embedded Qualitative Study within ToyBox Study Malaysia

The aim of this qualitative study, an embedded component of ToyBox Study Malaysia (TSM), was to elicit the perspectives of teachers and parents regarding the implementation of TSM. TSM is a preschool-based behavioral intervention program aimed at improving healthy energy balance-related behaviors among young children attending preschools. The qualitative study adopted a descriptive-interpretive methodology, and triangulated data collected through semi-structured focus groups with artifacts collected. The setting involved rural and metropolitan preschools in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, respectively. In Sarawak, 11 teachers and 20 parents from six intervention preschools participated in this study. In Peninsular Malaysia, 14 preschool teachers and seven assistant teachers representing all 15 intervention preschools participated in the study. Data were analyzed thematically and four overarching themes were identifed: impact of TSM on the children’s knowledge and practices of healthy energy balance-related behaviors; spheres of infuence upon the children’s energy balance-related behaviors; constraints and afordances related to the implementation of TSM; and prospective sustainability of TSM. The triangulation of data from teachers, parents, and the artifacts related to TSM enabled the corroboration of evidence to support the themes identifed. This study provides evidence on the reciprocal interactions between the teachers and parents who played key roles in facilitating behavioral change in the children, and the children who, in turn, served as change agents beyond the preschool. Furthermore, the mediational tools such as the TSM crockery and availability of healthy food and water led to the reported behavioral changes at both rural and metropolitan settings

From ToyBox Study to eToyBox : Advancing Childhood Obesity Reduction in Malaysian Kindergartens

Prevention and treatment of childhood obesity is a global concern, and in Malaysia, it is considered a national public health priority. Determinants of childhood obesity are multifactorial and include factors that directly and indirectly influence energy balance-related behaviours, including energy intake and energy expenditure. Interventions to address childhood obesity that have multiple components at different levels have been shown to be the most influential. The ToyBox-study is a childhood obesity intervention aimed at preschool-aged children and their families that had been shown to be effective in several European countries and so was chosen for adaption for the Malaysian setting. Materials were translated and adjusted for the Malaysian context and audience and implemented in kindergartens in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, teaching transitioned to being online. This brought an opportunity to reach a wider audience and consider the long-term sustainability of the intervention, and thus eToybox was born. eToybox aims to bring support for healthy energy balance behaviours directly to the teachers, into kindergartens and homes, to encourage families to be active and eat healthily, and prevent or reduce obesity. Through online innovation, the Toybox Study Malaysia programme has been expanded to enhance its potential to impact the promotion of healthy lifestyles among preschoolers and their families, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to preventing and treating childhood obesity in Malaysia

Validity and Reliability of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to Assess Dietary Intake of Preschool Children

As there are few food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) to assess the dietary intake of preschool children, this study examined the validity and reliability of an FFQ for this purpose. A total of 210 preschoolers aged 4 to 6 years participated in the validation study, while a subsample of 66 participants joined the reliability study. The FFQ is modified from the ToyBox-study and South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS), and comprised 108 food items from 13 food groups. A three-day estimated dietary record (3DR) was used as reference and reliability was assessed through a second administration of the FFQ (FFQ2), four weeks after the first administration (FFQ1). For the validation study, Spearman’s correlation coefficients showed moderate to high correlations (p < 0.001) between FFQ and 3DR. Cross-classification of quartile analysis showed moderate agreement between the two methods. As for reliability, Spearman’s correlation coefficients showed moderate to high correlations (p < 0.001) between FFQ1 and FFQ2. Cronbach’s alpha values (0.708 to 0.824) and intraclass correlation coefficients (0.710 to 0.826) showed good agreement between repeated FFQs. The results suggest that the FFQ has acceptable validity and good reliability. Hence, the FFQ can be used to assess preschool children’s food intake

Kajian Rintis Penilaian Literasi Digital : Kesediaan Guru Prasekolah Menggunakan Platform Pembelajaran dalam Talian untuk Pendidikan Pemakanan = (A Pilot Study Assessing Digital Literacy: Preschool Teachers’ Readiness to Use Online Learning Platforms in Nutrition Education)

eToyBox is a learning management system for preschool teachers to improve their health literacy, which ultimately aims to improve children’s obesity-related behaviour. As part of the development process of eToyBox, assessment on digital literacy, acceptance of digitization of education materials, and perceived barriers in adopting online learning is needed. Fifty-four preschool teachers under the Community Development Department (KEMAS) in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Sarawak, who participated in ToyBox Study Malaysia intervention in 2018, took part in this cross-sectional study. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic background, use of communication tools and media, and teacher’s views on adapting the ToyBox modules to digital education materials. Respondents were contacted, and questionnaire link was shared through WhatsApp messages. Most participants (74.0%) were Malay females aged 31 to 40 years old. Most participants had internet access (94.4%) and owned at least a smart phone, laptop or tablet (94.4%). Participants perceived their computer skills to be average (75.0%). Majority of respondents (65.0%) reported advanced and higher abilities in word processing and email, but only 22.0% in spreadsheet skills. The main barrier to accessing online material was unstable internet connection (74.1%). Most respondents (90.0%) agree that adapting effective modules to online learning will be beneficial for professional development and teaching practices. In conclusion, most participants supported digitizing Toybox Study Malaysia educational content and were comfortable 72 with its implementation via an online learning platform. The findings from this study can advise future development of online learning materials for preschool teachers in Malaysia

Panduan Aktiviti Kelas : Jom Aktif!

Aktiviti fizikal – cara untuk membina personaliti Kehidupan harian kanak-kanak kita semakin banyak dipengaruhi oleh aktiviti yang tidak aktif. Aktiviti sedentari adalah kelakuan atau aktiviti yang terdiri daripada duduk dan baring. Contohnya, menonton televisyen dan/atau DVD, menggunakan komputer, mewarna, dan membaca buku. Oleh itu, bukan sahaja penting kepada keluarga, tetapi juga kepada pihak prasekolah dan sekolah, untuk memberi perhatian kepada jumlah masa kanak-kanak menjadi aktif setiap hari. Kanak-kanak prasekolah harus aktif setiap hari selama 3 jam, tidak kira berapa kali bersenam. Selain itu, kanak-kanak perlu diberi peluang 2-3 kali seminggu untuk menyertai sesi pendidikan jasmani yang berstruktur

Panduan Aktiviti Kelas : Jom Minum!

Minuman sangat penting untuk kanak-kanak dan kita semua. Kanak-kanak yang berumur 3 hingga 6 tahun harus minum 800 ml hingga 1 liter air setiap hari. Bagaimanapun, ramai kanak-kanak gemar minum minuman bersoda dan jus dalam kotak/botol (contohnya Cola dan Cola Light, kordial, jus oren manis atau tanpa gula dan lain-lain). Kebanyakan minuman ini mengandungi gula dan kalori yang tinggi, dan kebiasaannya diambil dengan makanan utama harian. Dalam jangka masa panjang, penggunaan biasa minuman berkarbonat dan jus dalam kotak/ botol boleh membawa kepada peningkatan lebih berat badan dan obesiti

Multiple novel prostate cancer susceptibility signals identified by fine-mapping of known risk loci among Europeans

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous common prostate cancer (PrCa) susceptibility loci. We have fine-mapped 64 GWAS regions known at the conclusion of the iCOGS study using large-scale genotyping and imputation in 25 723 PrCa cases and 26 274 controls of European ancestry. We detected evidence for multiple independent signals at 16 regions, 12 of which contained additional newly identified significant associations. A single signal comprising a spectrum of correlated variation was observed at 39 regions; 35 of which are now described by a novel more significantly associated lead SNP, while the originally reported variant remained as the lead SNP only in 4 regions. We also confirmed two association signals in Europeans that had been previously reported only in East-Asian GWAS. Based on statistical evidence and linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure, we have curated and narrowed down the list of the most likely candidate causal variants for each region. Functional annotation using data from ENCODE filtered for PrCa cell lines and eQTL analysis demonstrated significant enrichment for overlap with bio-features within this set. By incorporating the novel risk variants identified here alongside the refined data for existing association signals, we estimate that these loci now explain ∼38.9% of the familial relative risk of PrCa, an 8.9% improvement over the previously reported GWAS tag SNPs. This suggests that a significant fraction of the heritability of PrCa may have been hidden during the discovery phase of GWAS, in particular due to the presence of multiple independent signals within the same regio