abstract:Objectives: Hydroxyapatite (HA) has osteoconductive properties and is widely used as a bone graft substitute. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous product with osteoinductive effects. Hypothetically, a combination of both would augment the bone formation effect of HA and widen its application in spinal fusion surgeries. This study aimed to compare new bone formation with HA granules alone and in combination with PRP versus an autologous bone graft during a lumbar intertransverse process spinal fusion. Methods: A total of 16 adult New Zealand white rabbits underwent single-level bilateral intertransverse process fusion at the L5-L6 vertebrae. One side of the spine received either HA granules alone or a combination of HA granules and PRP, while the contralateral side received an autologous bone graft. Four animals each from the HA group and the HA plus PRP group versus the autograft group were assessed either at six or 16 weeks by undecalcified histology and histomorphometry. The mean percentage of new bone areas over the corresponding fusion masses were compared between groups. Results: No significant difference in new bone formation was observed between the HA and HA plus PRP groups at six or 16 weeks. The autograft group had significantly more new bone formation at six and 16 weeks (P = 0.004 and <0.001, respectively). Conclusion: An autologous bone graft remains superior to HA granules, with or without PRP. HA granules demonstrated an excellent osteoconductive scaffold but had poor biodegradability. While PRP enhances the properties of HA granules, these biomaterials do not have a synergistic effect.
Krisis Pandemik COVID-19 menyebabkan perubahan mendadak dan menjadi cabaran baharu terhadap amalan pengajaran dan pembelajaran (PdP) di institusi pendidikan tinggi, termasuklah bidang Pengajian Islam. PdP dalam Pengajian Islam lebih sinonim dengan amalan PdP secara bersemuka meskipun Pendidikan 4.0 menekankan kaedah penyampaian yang transformatif dan pengaplikasian pentaksiran alternatif. Keupayaan bidang Pengajian Islam mengadaptasi ciri-ciri ini khususnya pentaksiran alternatif dianggap terhad dan kurang diyakini kerana umumnya masih ramai pensyarah yang selesa melaksanakan penilaian sumatif atau peperiksaan akhir. Artikel ini bertujuan menganalisis amalan pentaksiran alternatif dalam kursus-kursus yang ditawarkan oleh semua program prasiswazah Pengajian Islam di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia serta menganalisis bentuk-bentuk penilaian yang digunakan dalam PdP. Kajian ini adalah kajian kualitatif yang menggunakan reka bentuk analisis kandungan. Data dikumpulkan daripada analisis dokumen ke atas proforma kursus berdasarkan penawaran kursus pada sesi akademik 2018-2019 dan 2019-2020, kemudiannya dianalisis secara statistik deskriptif. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa amalan pentaksiran alternatif dalam pengajian Islam telah bermula pada sesi 2012-2013 namun jumlah kursusnya sangat sedikit dan tidak konsisten. Namun, dengan adanya pelbagai inisiatif di bawah Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia (Pendidikan Tinggi) 2015-2025 dan Kerangka Pendidikan 4.0 UKM yang dilaksanakan pada tahun 2017 telah mendorong peningkatan bilangan kursus yang menggunakan penilaian berterusan pada sesi 2018-2019 dan 2019-2020. Kajian mendapati pelbagai kaedah penilaian yang memenuhi elemen Pendidikan 4.0 telah digunakan merangkumi pembelajaran berasaskan aktiviti, kerja lapangan, penulisan esei dan pembentangan, penganjuran seminar serta penggunaan teknologi digital. Hal ini menjelaskan bahawa amalan PdP Pendidikan 4.0 dalam bidang Pengajian Islam mampu dilaksanakan dan berpeluang dijalankan secara maksima khususnya dalam mengimplementasi kaedah pentaksiran alternatif yang sahih dan autentik. Ia juga memberi impak positif ke atas kemahiran insaniah pelajar dan pengalaman pembelajaran, selain mengurangkan kebergantungan pensyarah kepada peperiksaan akhir untuk mengukur hasil pembelajaran kursus.
Introduction: Critical size defects (CSD) in the long bones of New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have been used for years as an experimental model for investigation of the effectiveness of a new bone substitute material. There are varieties of protocols available in the literature. This technical note attempts to present an alternative surgical technique of a CSD in the New Zealand white rabbit tibia. Methods: Thirty-nine New Zealand White rabbits were used in this study. A CSD of approximately 4.5 mm (width) X 9.0 mm (length) was surgically drilled at the proximal tibial metaphysis, approximately 1 cm from the knee joint. The surrounding of soft tissue was repositioned and sutured layer by layer with bioabsorbable surgical suture. Two x-rays of anteroposterior and lateral were taken before assessed under computed tomography scan at 6, 12 and 24 weeks. Results: This alternative method created CSD with less bleeding from the muscle observed. No mortality or other surgical complications observed within 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks following surgery. Conclusion: A simple and safe method for performing CSD was demonstrated and recommended as an alternative approach for surgery on New Zealand White rabbits.
BackgroundIn light of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, vaccination is one of the most important defensive strategies in combating the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Vaccine hesitancy or anti-vaccination attitude has become a barrier to the nationwide vaccination program, potentially sabotaging the effectiveness of vaccination. Thus far, Google Trends (GT) has been used extensively for monitoring information-seeking behavior during the pandemic. We aimed to investigate the association between Google search, the vaccination rate, and the number of vaccinated and infected cases among the Malaysian population. Material and methodGT's customizable geographic and temporal filters were applied to include results for predetermined keywords from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021. Both Malay and English languages were used to reflect the multi-racial and multi-lingual community in Malaysia. The search volume index (SVI) derived was compared with the numbers of vaccinated and infected cases which were extracted from the open-access database (COVIDNOW in Malaysia) within the same period. Both analyses were performed independently by two authors to ensure accuracy of the data extraction process. A descriptive analysis was used to compare GT analyses and the number of daily vaccinations and positive COVID-19 cases. ResultsThe information-seeking behavior in the public fluctuated from time to time. The interest surged during the initiation of vaccination program and upon the outbreak of COVID-19 in Malaysia. The surge in interest prior to the peak of vaccination rate also indicated that the public tended to get information online prior to getting the vaccines. ConclusionThis observational study illustrates the ability of GT to monitor the interest of vaccination among the Malaysian population during the pandemic. By monitoring the dynamic changes in Google Trends, healthcare authorities can get a glimpse of public perceptions such as attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine, hence potentially identify and stymie any dangerous online anti-vaccination rhetoric swiftly.
Two common ways to invest gold in Malaysia, either physical gold investment or by way of opening gold saving account. Investing in physical gold can be done by means of buying and selling instrument. Meanwhile gold investment account can be done by means of buying and selling as well as mudarabah. Due to gold which is capital in mudarabah in E Qirad is in the form of dinar, while dinar is no longer considered as a currency, but dinar is a commodity. Therefore, the question arises whether dinar is valid either based on currency or commodity ( c arud). This study aims to determine the above mentioned position, and to study the profit of investing in E Qirad gold.
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