INTRODUCTION: Mood disorders, such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder, deeply affect a person’s spirituality and Quality of Life (QoL). While spirituality is a vital part of mental health care, especially in deeply religious communities like Kelantan, Malaysia, local research on this connection remains limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2024 and May 2025 at two major hospitals in Kota Bharu. We recruited adults (aged 18–60) diagnosed with mood disorders. Participants completed validated Malay versions of questionnaires measuring spiritual well-being, depression severity, and QoL, while clinicians assessed mania severity. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29.0. RESULTS: Among the 169 participants, the majority were female (73.4%), Malay (93.5%), and Muslim (94.7%). Most reported moderate spiritual well-being (75.7%) and moderate average QoL scores. Regression analysis showed that being married (adjusted b=3.92, p=0.034), being female (adjusted b=5.66, p=0.007), having milder depression (adjusted b=-0.56, p<0.001), and having higher mania scores (adjusted b=0.52, p=0.030) predicted better spiritual well-being. Additionally, better psychological (adjusted b=0.28, p<0.001) and environmental QoL (adjusted b=0.36, p<0.001) strongly predicted higher spirituality. Overall, spirituality was strongly tied to all areas of QoL. CONCLUSION: Demographic factors, symptom severity, and everyday quality of life are closely linked to a patient's spiritual well-being. In highly religious communities, bringing spiritual assessments and care into standard psychiatric practice is essential for truly holistic healing.
INTRODUCTION: Existing lung imaging lacks the dual assessment and spatial resolution needed for functional-avoidance radiotherapy. This proof-of-concept (PoC) feasibility study aimed to validate the technical feasibility of a novel voxel-level lung functional imaging technique based on ventilation-perfusion (VP) mapping and explore its preliminary utility in radiotherapy treatment planning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 20 lung cancer patients with 4D-CT and PET/CT scans. Ventilation was calculated from 4D-CT deformable image registration, and perfusion from pre-processed PET images. High-function lung regions were defined as the top 40%. Three functional imaging modalities were generated: ventilation (V), perfusion (P), and VP imaging. The Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) and Bland-Altman plots evaluated agreement, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans were optimized for dosimetric comparison. RESULTS: The automated workflow took 45±15 minutes per patient, meeting clinical efficiency requirements. V-VP and P-VP showed moderate-to-good agreement in whole and low-function lungs (DSC up to 0.71; r up to 0.943) but poor agreement in high-function regions. VP-IMRT significantly reduced ipsilateral high-function lung V20Gy (81.03±56.03 to 61.14±64.44, p<0.001), with favourable dosimetric differences versus single-modality plans and no increased dose to organs at risk. CONCLUSION: VP-Imaging effectively integrates ventilation and perfusion data, establishes a reproducible workflow, and shows preliminary dosimetric advantages. This study prioritizes technical viability over diagnostic accuracy relative to SPECT V/Q, supporting the feasibility of VP-Imaging for personalized RT.
INTRODUCTION: Understanding mental health literacy among women is important in improving mental health outcomes and promoting help-seeking. Despite increasing attention to mental health, little is known about the mental health literacy of women in Kelantan. This study aimed to assess the level of mental health literacy (MHL) and identify the associated factors among women in Kelantan, Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2023 to March 2024, involving 431 women aged 18 to 60 years selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Malay versions of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) and Mental Help Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS). RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 39.7(9.9) years, with the majority being Malay (98.6%), Muslim (99.1%), and married (77.5%). Most had completed secondary (43.4%) or tertiary education (55.9%), and 64% were from the B40 income group. The mean MHL score was 111.9 (13.5). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that higher education (b=8.36, p<0.001), higher monthly income (b=3.31, p=0.002), and higher scores of attitudes toward mental help-seeking (b = 2.70, p<0.001) were significantly associated with better MHL scores. Married women had significantly lower MHL scores (b=-3.82, p=0.004) and a family history of mental illness (b=-3.41, p=0.014). CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the need for targeted mental health awareness programmes for those with lower education and socioeconomic groups to improve their awareness and mental help-seeking behaviour.
INTRODUCTION: Heart failure is a global concern, with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICMP) contributing significantly. Myocardial fibrosis is a hallmark feature, and early detection is crucial for management and prognosis. Endomyocardial biopsy is the gold standard but invasive. Cardiac MRI offers a non-invasive alternative; however, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is limited in detecting diffuse fibrosis and unsuitable for chronic kidney disease. Native T1 mapping enhances tissue characterization. This study evaluates native T1 values in NICMP patients, comparing them with published reference values and LGE findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analysed 34 NICMP patients who underwent 3.0T cardiac MRI between January 2021 and October 2023. Mid-ventricular septal native T1 values were measured by two blinded readers and compared to a normal reference (1097 ms). Statistical analysis included one-sample T-tests for reference comparison and independent T-tests for differences between LGE-positive and LGE-negative groups. Inter-observer agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: The cohort (mean age 45.09 years) showed a mean native T1 value of 1307.97 ± 68.99ms, significantly higher than the reference (p<0.001). Inter-observer agreement was excellent (ICC: 0.98). Twelve patients (35.3%) were LGE-positive. No significant difference in native T1 values was observed between LGE-negative (1291.68 ms) and LGE-positive (1337.83 ms) groups. CONCLUSION: Native T1 values are significantly elevated in NICMP, potentially detecting diffuse fibrosis missed by LGE. T1 mapping shows promise as a non-invasive, gadolinium-free tool for diagnostic assessment and may contribute to risk stratification. Larger studies are needed to establish local reference values and validate these findings.
INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is frequently linked to psychological challenges, including post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depressive symptoms, and emotional regulation difficulties. Despite the high prevalence of these issues in individuals with TBI, research on their interrelationships remains limited. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of PTSS, depressive symptoms, and emotional regulation difficulties among individuals with TBI and to explore the relationships between these challenges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 individuals with a history of TBI. Participants completed self-report measures: the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were employed to assess the prevalence and interrelationships between the variables. RESULTS: The results revealed that 80.7% of participants met the clinical threshold for PTSS, 83.3% exhibited moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and 32% demonstrated low cognitive reappraisal scores. Additionally, 74% of participants showed medium to high levels of expressive suppression. Strong positive correlations were found between expressive suppression and PTSS (Spearman’s ρ=0.532, p<0.001) and between PTSS and depressive symptoms (Spearman’s ρ=0.728, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study highlights significant psychological challenges in individuals with TBI, emphasizing the role of emotional regulation in the co-occurrence of PTSS and depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that emotional regulation strategies, particularly expressive suppression, play a crucial role in the psychological outcomes of TBI. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand these relationships and their long-term implications.
