A METHOD AND A CONNECTING DEVICE FOR ASSOCIATING USERS AND PHILANTHROPIC ENTITIES

The present disclosure relates to a method and a connecting device for associating users and philanthropic entities to help in community movement. In the present disclosure, initially a connecting device 103 may receive a request from an authorization entity to connect to a philanthropic entity 105. The authorization entity may send the request to the connecting device 103 when the user device 101 initiates a transaction with a merchant. The authorization entity may determine if the user device 101 is enrolled in the charity program. Further, the connecting device 103 may send a request to retrieve the event data associated with the charity program to philanthropic entity 105. The connecting device 103 may further transmit the retrieved event data associated with the charity program to the user device 101. Finally, the connecting device 103 triggers the contribution as charity to the philanthropic entity 105 based on the received response

Access to dental care and caries experience among children with cerebral palsy: a Singapore experience

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most severe childhood neurodevelopmental disabilities resulting from non-progressive insult to the developing brain. We aimed to report our experience regarding dental visit attendance, caries prevalence and factors affecting dental access in children with CP in Singapore. // METHODS: Patients diagnosed with CP who were born in or after 1994 were included in this study. We reviewed the data of all 151 patients recruited under the CP Registry in Singapore (SingCPR) from September 2017 to May 2020. The SingCPR was launched in September 2017 to assist in future planning of services and resources for CP in Singapore. // RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 7.8 years, with the interquartile range being 3 years and 8 months-10 years and 10 months. Only 41.7% reported a visit to the dentist ever, with 25.4% reporting presence of dental caries. Age was the only statistically significant factor influencing access to dental care. None of the children less than 2 years old ever received any dental care, and 20% of the children with CP aged 2-6 years had received dental care before. Age range with the highest percentage of dental visits was 7-12 years, with up to 44.0% having ever received dental care. We believe the prevalence of dental caries was underreported as many children did not receive any dental care and therefore may have undetected dental caries. // CONCLUSION: Dental care in children with CP should be advocated early for prevention and detection of caries

Roles and recommendations from primary care physicians towards managing low-risk breast cancer survivors in a shared-care model with specialists in Singapore-a qualitative study.

BackgroundBreast cancer is prevalent and has high cure rates. The resultant increase in numbers of breast cancer survivors (BCS) may overwhelm the current oncology workforce in years to come. We postulate that primary care physicians (PCPs) could play an expanded role in comanaging survivors, provided they are given the appropriate tools and training to do so.ObjectiveTo explore the perspectives of PCPs towards managing BCS in a community-based shared-care programme with oncologists.MethodsEleven focus groups and six in-depth interviews were conducted with seventy PCPs recruited by purposive sampling. All sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded by three independent investigators. Thematic data analysis was performed and the coding process facilitated by NVivo 12.ResultsMajority of PCPs reported currently limited roles in managing acute and non-cancer issues, optimizing comorbidities and preventive care. PCPs aspired to expand their role to include cancer surveillance, risk assessment and addressing unmet psychosocial needs. PCPs preferred to harmonize cancer survivorship management of their primary care patients who are also BCS, with defined role distinct from oncologists. Training to understand the care protocol, enhancement of communication skills, confidence and trust were deemed necessary. PCPs proposed selection criteria of BCS and adequacy of their medical information; increased consultation time; contact details and timely access to oncologists (if needed) in the shared-care programme.ConclusionsPCPs were willing to share the care of BCS with oncologists but recommended role definition, training, clinical protocol, resources and access to oncologist's consultation to optimize the programme implementation

Physicochemical and sensory analyses of high fibre bread incorporated with corncob powder

The primary objectives of the present work were to produce corncob powder (CCP) from corncobs and incorporate the CCP into bread formulation in order to develop high fibre bread, and to investigate the physicochemical and sensory properties of the produced high fibre bread (HFB). The corncobs were collected and washed before they underwent the grinding and drying processes. The obtained CCP was incorporated into the bread formulation in three different proportions (5, 10 and 20%) to partially substitute bread flour in the formulation. All three bread samples and the control (0% CCP in the formulation) were analysed to obtain their physicochemical and sensory properties. The incorporation of CCP significantly affected the texture, colour and volume attributes of the produced breads. Increasing the content of CCP in the formulation was found to be responsible for firmer, smaller and darker bread loaves as compared to the composite bread samples. The bread formulation incorporated with 10% CCP had the highest mean scores (7.00) of overall acceptability among all the other formulations, and it was comparable to the commercial breads in the current market

Differential osteogenic activity of osteoprogenitor cells on HA and TCP/HA scaffold of tissue engineered bone.

Biomaterial, an essential component of tissue engineering, serves as a scaffold for cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation; provides the three dimensional (3D) structure and, in some applications, the mechanical strength required for the engineered tissue. Both synthetic and naturally occurring calcium phosphate based biomaterial have been used as bone fillers or bone extenders in orthopedic and reconstructive surgeries. This study aims to evaluate two popular calcium phosphate based biomaterial i.e., hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite (TCP/HA) granules as scaffold materials in bone tissue engineering. In our strategy for constructing tissue engineered bone, human osteoprogenitor cells derived from periosteum were incorporated with human plasma-derived fibrin and seeded onto HA or TCP/HA forming 3D tissue constructs and further maintained in osteogenic medium for 4 weeks to induce osteogenic differentiation. Constructs were subsequently implanted intramuscularly in nude mice for 8 weeks after which mice were euthanized and constructs harvested for evaluation. The differential cell response to the biomaterial (HA or TCP/HA) adopted as scaffold was illustrated by the histology of undecalcified constructs and evaluation using SEM and TEM. Both HA and TCP/HA constructs showed evidence of cell proliferation, calcium deposition, and collagen bundle formation albeit lesser in the former. Our findings demonstrated that TCP/HA is superior between the two in early bone formation and hence is the scaffold material of choice in bone tissue engineering

On-demand priority traffic optimizer with fuzzy logic microcontroller

Current traffic control system in Malaysia is developed based on predetermined setup, where the system is not able to analyse the surrounding condition to optimize the green time. When there is an unusual traffic flow, the control system fails to control traffic flow efficiently, causing delays and requiring the assistance of traffic police. The main objective of this project is to explore the potential of fuzzy logic embedded control system in optimizing the traffic congestion corresponding to the priority traffic signal. The developed real time traffic-adaptive control system operates by prioritising the green light based on the received priority signals such as high flow rate phases and the emergency vehicles. A microcontroller-based traffic controller with computed algorithm was developed. The performance of the controller in reducing average waiting time and average vehicle queue length at a traffic intersection was evaluated. In overall, Fuzzy Logic managed to reduce 23% of average waiting time and 11% of average vehicles in queue at the intersection as compared to the conventional control

Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis due to anti-tuberculosis medications, rifampin and pyrazinamide

Anti-tuberculosis drugs frequently result in cutaneous adverse reactions, including pruritus, maculopapular exanthems, and urticaria. However, anti-tuberculosis drug-associated cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (CLV) has been rarely reported. We describe a case of CLV induced by rifampin and pyrazinamide. A 38-year-old male had been diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis two months ago and then he started standard anti-tuberculosis therapy with isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. Purpuric lesions developed in the extremities after 1.5 months of anti-tuberculosis medication; the lesions progressively spread over the entire body. Histopathology of the purpuric skin lesion was consistent with leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The skin lesion improved after cessation of anti-tuberculosis medications and treatment with oral corticosteroids and antihistamines. Anti-tuberculosis drugs were rechallenged one at a time over 3 days. Purpura recurred on the right forearm and forehead after taking 300 mg of rifampin. The skin lesion disappeared after taking oral prednisolone. Finally, 1,500 mg of pyrazinamide was readministrated, and then purpuric lesions recurred on both forearms. This report describes a case of leukocytoclastic vasculitis secondary to rifampin and pyrazinamide therapy

Transient bilateral abducens neuropathy with post-tetanic facilitation and acute hypokalemia associated with oxaliplatin: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Oxaliplatin is a cytotoxic platinum compound that is in widespread use in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. It has been occasionally associated with acute motor neuropathy, but the precise mechanism is uncertain. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of a patient demonstrating post-tetanic facilitation in the setting of transient bilateral abducens neuropathy and hypokalemia, after being infused with oxaliplatin.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 47-year-old Indian woman with metastatic gastric cancer was receiving an oxaliplatin infusion at the initiation of her third cycle of palliative chemotherapy. She developed acute bilateral abducens neuropathy with post-tetanic facilitation alongside acute laryngopharyngodysesthesia and hypokalemia. Following supportive management, including potassium infusion and warming, her neurological signs and symptoms were spontaneously resolved. This syndrome did not recur in subsequent cycles following prolongation of infusion duration and the addition of supportive calcium and magnesium infusions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The novel clinical observation of post-tetanic facilitation highlights a possible involvement of voltage-gated channels at the presynaptic terminals in the mechanism of acute oxaliplatin neurotoxicity.</p

Mindful gratitude journaling: psychological distress, quality of life and suffering in advanced cancer: a randomised controlled trial

Context Numerous studies have shown that gratitude can reduce stress and improve quality of life. Objective Our study aimed to examine the effect of mindful gratitude journaling on suffering, psychological distress and quality of life of patients with advanced cancer. Methods We conducted a parallel-group, blinded, randomised controlled trial at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia. Ninety-two adult patients with advanced cancer, and an overall suffering score ≥4/10 based on the Suffering Pictogram were recruited and randomly assigned to either a mindful gratitude journaling group (N=49) or a routine journaling group (N=43). Results After 1 week, there were significant reductions in the overall suffering score from the baseline in both the intervention group (mean difference in overall suffering score=−2.0, 95% CI=−2.7 to −1.4, t=−6.125, p=0.000) and the control group (mean difference in overall suffering score=−1.6, 95% CI=−2.3 to −0.8, t=−4.106, p=0.037). There were also significant improvements in the total Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score (mean difference=−3.4, 95% CI=−5.3 to −1.5, t=−3.525, p=0.000) and the total Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being score (mean difference=7.3, 95% CI=1.5 to 13.1, t=2.460, p=0.014) in the intervention group after 7 days, but not in the control group. Conclusion The results provide evidence that 7 days of mindful gratitude journaling could positively affect the state of suffering, psychological distress and quality of life of patients with advanced cancer