Medical Journal of Malaysia最新文献

{"title":"Utilizing perfusion index for early identification of circulatory shock in neonates.","authors":"U Navin, C Varshini, D V Lal, A S Vaanmathi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Neonatal circulatory shock poses a significant challenge in intensive care settings and necessitates early recognition and intervention to prevent adverse outcomes. The perfusion index (PI), derived from pulse oximetry signals, is a potential adjunct tool for assessing peripheral perfusion and predicting shock in neonates. This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate the correlation between PI and circulatory shock in neonates with the goal of establishing PI as an objective parameter for early shock identification.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Saveetha Medical College Hospital, India, in 2023, between January and June. This study enrolled 100 neonates who underwent hemodynamic monitoring over 48-72 hours. Hemodynamic parameters including heart rate, blood pressure, and PI were systematically recorded. Statistical and Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to assess the relationship between PI and shock.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Neonates experiencing shock exhibited significantly lower PI values than those without (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis identified a PI threshold of 0.7 for predicting shock, demonstrating a high sensitivity (92.5%) and specificity (94.78%). Additionally, a significant association was observed between PI and serum lactate level (p < 0.05), underscoring the utility of PI as a predictor of shock severity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study suggests that a PI < 0.7 may serve as an indicator of circulatory shock in neonates, offers good sensitivity and specificity. The PI, along with clinical parameters and serum lactate levels, is a valuable tool for early shock identification in neonatal intensive care. Further research, including multicenter studies, are warranted to validate these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 Suppl 1","pages":"65-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142956513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of cognitive function impairment in patients with psoriasis: A single-centre study in Malaysia.","authors":"K V Chan, D W Low, K K Kong","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition often associated with comorbidities that may impact cognitive function. This study aims to determine if psoriasis is associated with the risk of cognitive impairment and to assess the relationship between cognitive impairment and various disease-related factors, including psoriasis severity, disease duration, and the presence of psoriatic arthropathy, using the Virtual Cognitive Assessment Tool (VCAT).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 160 individuals were selected, comprising 80 psoriasis patients and 80 controls, matched for age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education levels, and prevalence of comorbidities. Cognitive function was assessed using the VCAT. The relationship between cognitive impairment and various disease-related factors, including psoriasis severity measured using Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI scores), disease duration, and the presence of psoriatic arthropathy, was examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean VCAT scores for the psoriasis and control groups were 25.38 (SD = 3.18) and 25.94 (SD = 2.67), respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.227). While most cognitive domains showed no significant differences, the VCAT attention sub-score was significantly lower in psoriasis patients (p < 0.05). There was no significant association between psoriasis and cognitive impairment. No significant association was found between cognitive function and PASI scores nor psoriatic arthropathy. A negative association was found between disease duration and VCAT scores, suggesting longer disease duration correlates with lower cognitive function (p = 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study did not find broad cognitive impairment in psoriasis patients compared to controls, the specific deficit in attention and its association with the duration of psoriasis warrants further investigation. Understanding and addressing the cognitive aspects of psoriasis could significantly improve the overall quality of life for these patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 1","pages":"25-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142985104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A randomized comparative study to prevent supine hypotension syndrome in pregnant females undergoing LSCS after giving spinal anesthesia using a wedge and novel 3D printed uterine displacement device.","authors":"H Kaur, L Narayanan, V S G Yachendra, B Bhaskaran","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Pregnancy induces physiological changes, including alterations in cardiovascular dynamics, predisposing pregnant women to supine hypotension syndrome (SHS) during lower-segment cesarean section (LSCS) under spinal anesthesia. Various methods, including manual displacement of the uterus and use of wedges or cushions, have been proposed to prevent SHS, but their effectiveness remains variable. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of a novel 3D-printed uterine displacement device with that of a traditional wedge in preventing SHS during LSCS after spinal anesthesia.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This prospective, randomized, controlled trial enrolled pregnant females undergoing LSCS after spinal anesthesia. The participants were randomized into two groups: a novel 3D device group and a traditional wedge group. Primary outcome measures included the incidence of SHS, while secondary outcomes included maternal hemodynamic parameters, fetal outcomes, feasibility, ease of use, and the safety profile of the devices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. Although some differences in maternal hemodynamic parameters were noted, the incidence of SHS was significantly lower in the novel 3D device group than that in the traditional wedge group. Fetal outcomes did not differ significantly between the groups. The novel 3D device demonstrated high compatibility with various patient anatomies and was easy to integrate into routine practice. The adverse event profiles were similar between the groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the potential of a novel 3D-printed uterine displacement device for preventing SHS during LSCS, thereby improving maternal and fetal outcomes. Future research should further validate these findings and explore the long-term implications of the maternal and neonatal outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 Suppl 1","pages":"37-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142956452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The rare cases of pneumatic colorectal perforation: A cautionary tale of compressed air misuse.","authors":"M K Govindarajan, B Durai, V S Sundar, M B Uppupettai Ganeshbabu, S Chiramel","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Barotrauma is a medical condition caused by sudden pressure changes in the body causing damage to multiple parts of the body. However, it is an infrequent occurrence when it comes to Colo-rectal perforation, wherein the trauma occurs due to the insufflation of compressed air through the anus. Several factors influence the outcome of a patient with colonic perforation due to barotrauma such as the severity of the injury, hemodynamic status of the patient, the patient's general health and well-being, the time taken for active medical/ surgical intervention since the injury, aggressive intravenous antibiotics administration to prevent sepsis, post-operative complications like surgical site infection, post-op ileus, anastomotic leak, etc. Overall, the patient's prognosis largely depends on early diagnosis, effective initial resuscitation, timely surgical intervention, and intensive post-operative care for a favorable outcome. Recently, we came across 2 cases of extensive pneumoperitoneum with Colo-rectal perforation as a result of the forceful insufflation of compressed air through the anus. Prompt medical intervention was necessary to prevent any further complications and they underwent surgical repair of the colorectal perforation.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 Suppl 1","pages":"77-79"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142956496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short-term outcome of hodgkin lymphoma patients and its prognostic factors in northeast peninsular Malaysia: A single centre experience.","authors":"N F N Ab Wahab, H H Wan Hanafi, N M Yaacob, A A Dzarr, H Azlan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by the presence of Reed Sternberg cells, with generally favourable outcomes compared to other hematological malignancies. This study aims to determine the socio-demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics, as well as the short-term overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates, of HL patients treated at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), a tertiary centre in northeast peninsular Malaysia.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective cohort study of HL patients treated from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2018, with follow-up until December 31, 2021. Data on demographics, clinical features, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. OS and PFS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 126 patients, the median follow up was 41 months. Most were male (55.6%) and of Malay ethnicity (97.6%). Nodular sclerosis was the predominant histology (52.4%), with 77.8% presenting with advanced-stage disease. All patients received chemotherapy, while 23.1% underwent combined modality therapy either with radiotherapy or immunotherapy. Post-treatment, only 34.1% achieved complete response. The 3-year OS and PFS rates were 74.9% and 59.5%, respectively-relatively lower than rates reported in developed countries. Independent adverse prognostic factors for OS and PFS included advanced-stage disease, bulky disease, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the need for tailored treatment approaches to improve HL outcomes in northeast Peninsular Malaysia. The relatively modest OS and PFS rates compared to developed nations suggest potential benefits from enhanced access to advanced therapied and diagnostic tools like positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET-CT) scan.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 1","pages":"31-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142984839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Empathy and listening style among occupational therapists in Malaysia.","authors":"N Aznan, M S Murad, S N Zulkifli, U Abdulmatin","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>As an occupational therapist, listening and empathy are critical components of practice because they are the foundation for developing therapeutic rapport with patients and their relatives. Currently, there is still no study regarding the level of empathy and listening styles among Occupational therapists in Malaysia. This study investigates the level of empathy and listening styles among occupational therapists in Malaysia and to examine their correlations.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted with 244 occupational therapy practitioners; 43 males; and 181 females. The level of empathy and listening style were assessed using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy Health Professional version and Listening Styles Profile- Revised questionnaires. Data were collected using Google Form. Analysis data were done using IBM SPSS Statistical Software version 26.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Statistical analysis showed that Malaysia occupational therapists preferred perspective taking (mean 55.67, Standard Deviation, SD 10.54) in empathy and the analytical listening in listening styles approach (mean 34.71, SD 6.76). In addition, there was a moderate to strong significant correlation between the level of empathy and listening styles (r= 0.419 to 0.648, p<0.05). Furthermore, there is significant difference between listening styles and empathy in relation to gender (male>female) p=0.001-0.038), race (Indian higher than Malay and Chinese) and areas of practice (paediatric higher than psychiatric) (p= 0.016 to 0.039).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings are helpful for occupational therapists to improve their quality services by being more listening and empathetic while providing proper intervention to the patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 1","pages":"37-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142985107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In vitro biological evaluation of silver nanoparticles synthesized using zingiber officinale and ocimum gratissimum herbal formulation.","authors":"S S Shanmuga, I Mariraj, S Rajeshkumar, M Dhanyaa, M Pradeep","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The biomedical potential of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) synthesized with Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum herbal formulation was investigated in this study. The study aims to reveal their applications in various biomedical fields. The study evaluates the antioxidant, thrombolytic, and antimicrobial potential of Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum herbal formulation-mediated Ag NPs.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Biogenically synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) from an herbal formulation containing Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum were tested at various concentrations using the DPPH (2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. The absorbance was measured at 517 nm to quantify DPPH free radicals. With Ag NP concentrations, the H2O2 test exhibited increased activity. This work evaluated the antibacterial activity of Ag NPs mediated by Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, and Enterococcus faecalis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The utilization of herbal formulations from Z. officinale and O. gratissimum to synthesize Ag NPs revealed considerable therapeutic effectiveness. At a concentration of 50 μl, the maximal inhibition was 76%, which is comparable in effectiveness to that of standard ascorbic acid. Significant blood clot dissolution was observed during thrombolytic testing at a concentration of 100μg/ml, indicating promising prospects for the treatment of thrombotic disorders. Nanoparticles dose-dependently inhibited E. faecalis, C. albicans, S. aureus, and S. mutans in antibacterial testing. These results show the potential of the nanoparticles as supplementary or alternative treatments to conventional antibiotics, particularly in light of the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The further investigation of nanoparticles into their mechanisms and efficacy in therapeutic applications, positioning Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum formulation-mediated Ag NPs as viable candidates in developing antioxidant, thrombolytic, and antimicrobial treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 Suppl 1","pages":"20-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142956374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In vitro evaluation of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant activity of pomegranate peel extract mediated calcium sulfate nano particles.","authors":"P Dathan, D Nallaswamy, S Rajeshkumar, S Joseph, I Shahin, M Tharani","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Pomegranate peel is considered a reservoir of biologically active compounds, the presence of which provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to peel extracts. Calcium sulfate is considered an ideal boneaugmenting material, and in the present study, pomegranate peel extract-mediated calcium sulfate nano particles (PPE CaSo4 NPs) were synthesized and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties were evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the biological effects of PPE CaSo4 NPs, with a focus on their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The objectives were to green - synthesize PPE CaSo4 NPs, analyze their optical characteristics using UV-visible spectra analysis, and subsequently evaluate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>UV-visible spectra analysis was employed to investigate the optical characteristics and surface morphology, such as the size and shape of PPE CaSo4 NPs synthesized at different time intervals, which were characterized using a Scanning Electron Microscope. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using bovine serum albumin denaturation assay (BSA), and egg albumin denaturation assay (EA) was compared with diclofenac sodium as a standard. Antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2 Diphenyl -1- Picryl hydraxylhydrate assay (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assay (H2O2), and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Comparison made with ascorbic acid as the standard.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Anti-inflammatory activity was observed at all concentrations of PPE CaSo4 NPs, and there was no significant difference between the test material and the standard p>0.05. A significant difference was found for the antioxidant activity between PPE CaSo4 NPs and the standard in concentrations of 10 μl, for DPPH, 10 μl and 20 μl for H2O2 (p<0.05) between the concentrations of 30, 40, and 50, and there was no significant difference between the test material and the standard in all three tests conducted.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study concluded that the PPE CaSo4 NPs have Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant activities and are concentration-dependent.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 Suppl 1","pages":"44-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142956478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation between auditory brainstem responses, hyperacusis, and severity of autism spectrum disorder in young children with normal hearing at a tertiary referral center in Indonesia.","authors":"M Simamora, S Zizlavsky, T J A Harjoprawito, T Wiguna, B E Medise, R Wibawanti","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex condition impacting social communication, behavior, and interests. ASD affects 1 in 100 children globally, with a higher prevalence in boys. Auditory disorders, including hyperacusis, are common in ASD, yet the correlation between Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) wave latencies and ASD severity, especially with hyperacusis, is under-researched. This study investigates ABR wave latencies in ASD children, exploring their relationship with ASD severity and h as a potential screening tool for ASD. Early diagnose and therapy could enhance the quality of life in ASD patients.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting normal-hearing children aged 3-8 years old with ASD presenting to a national referral ENT clinic between October and December 2023. The severity of ASD was assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), while hyperacusis was diagnosed using Modified Check List for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 26 children with ASD, 23 of whom were male (88%), aged 3-8 years, were included in the analyses. Among these children, 18 (69.2%) had hyperacusis. Analysis of ABR click revealed a prolonged interpeak latency wave I and III (88.5%), followed by a prolonged latency in wave III (42.3%) and V (21.2%). Neither ABR wave latencies nor hyperacusis were correlated with the severity of ASD, although there was a marginally significant association between wave III latency and CARS score in the left ear (r=0.359, p=0.072). However, wave V latency and interpeak wave I-V latency were significantly longer in children without hyperacusis (right ear: p=0.042 and p=0.050; left ear: p=0.005 and p=0.004), while interpeak wave III-V only in the left ear (p=0.006) and wave III only in the right ear (p=0.029).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There was no significant correlation between ABR wave latencies or hyperacusis and the severity of ASD, while ABR wave latencies were generally longer in children without hyperacusis. Further large studies involving a broader spectrum of children with ASD are warranted to confirm our findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"79 6","pages":"677-682"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cardiac manifestations of post-acute withdrawal syndrome from a history of synthetic cathinone and opioid use.","authors":"A Shukimbayeva, M Prilutskaya, J Mansurova","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Synthetic cathinones and opioids are among the most commonly used illicit drugs in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan. Despite the advent of synthetic cathinones, opioids have not lost their relevance. Patients frequently report poly-dependence, combining cathinones and opioids. The use of synthetic cathinones and opioids is associated with cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality. However, there is limited data describing the cardiac effects of synthetic cathinones and opioids in patients with post-acute withdrawal syndrome. The aim of this work is to describe and compare the cardiac manifestations in patients using synthetic cathinones and opioids with post-acute withdrawal syndrome.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this case-control study, we examined 294 patients over the age of 18 who were using synthetic cathinones and opioids. All patients underwent electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study involved 183 patients using synthetic cathinones and 111 patients reporting opioid use. The average age of the patients was 32.4 ± 8.5 years. In patients using synthetic cathinones, electrocardiography showed a lengthening in the average duration of the ventricular QRS complex (70.5 ± 13.3 ms vs. 69.6 ± 11.7 ms), T wave (154.1 ± 27.5 ms vs. 140.4 ± 24.1 ms), and QT interval (338.2 ± 28.5 ms vs. 334.8 ± 33.5 ms), as well as a shortening of the P wave (79.1 ± 12.2 ms vs. 82.6 ± 14.4 ms) and PQ interval (146.4 ± 19.6 ms vs. 148.3 ± 20.1 ms). Echocardiography confirmed left ventricular hypertrophy in 10.9% of the synthetic cathinones group and 17.1% of the opioid group. Transmitral left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed in 23.5% of patients in both groups. Additionally, 31.1% of patients using synthetic cathinones and 44.1% of those using opioids had a reduced ejection fraction on echocardiography.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In patients using synthetic cathinones the QT interval was longer compared to those using opioids. The ejection fraction was lower in the opioid group. Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic screening should be conducted for all patients with post-acute withdrawal syndrome to prevent life-threatening arrhythmias and heart failure.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"79 6","pages":"703-707"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}