Healthscope: The Official Research Book of Faculty of Health Sciences, UiTM

Diagnostic utility of CT Hounsfield unit for accurate classification of ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke

Nur Adlina Abd Basri — 2025-12-31

This study examines the diagnostic value of Hounsfield Unit (HU) measurements on computed tomography (CT) in differentiating ischemic from haemorrhagic stroke, a distinction critical for timely and appropriate clinical intervention. The study aims to quantify HU values for both stroke types and assess their correlation with stroke lesion size and volume. Non-contrast enhanced CT brain images were retrospectively reviewed from the PACS. HU values, demographic characteristics, clinical risk factors, and stroke classifications were analysed quantitatively. The results demonstrated a lower mean HU value in ischemic strokes (24.37 ± 5.85) compared with haemorrhagic strokes (57.17 ± 20.10). Lesion volume was significantly correlated with haemorrhagic stroke (r = 0.829, p = 0.041). These findings highlight the utility of HU values as a potential imaging marker for distinguishing ischemic from haemorrhagic stroke. This may improve diagnostic accuracy and support more informed clinical decision-making, hence contributing to better stroke assessment and management.

The Prevalence of Pulmonary Embolism (PE) among Cancer Patients as Incidental Findings using Computed Tomography (CT): A Single-Centre Study

Ann Erynna Lema Thomas Sudin — 2025-12-31

Incidental pulmonary embolisms (PE) are defined as an unsuspected filling defect of the pulmonary arteries identified on the computed tomography (CT) images. Due to its asymptomatic nature, PE was knowns as the most common cause of death for patients who are bedridden and the second most common cause of death for cancer patients. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of incidental PE in cancer patients undergoing routine CT scans at a single institution. This study seeks to categorize primary cancer types, assess the prevalence of incidental PE, and identify the typical locations of emboli within the branches of the pulmonary artery. The relationship between risk factors and the occurrence of PE was subsequently assessed. 534 cancer patients’ data who underwent CT scans from January to June 2023 were reviewed. The results indicated that accidental PE was most prevalent in lung cancer (25.6%), followed by gastrointestinal tract cancer (21%) and breast cancer (16.3%). The right lower pulmonary artery was the most frequently affected arterial site, accounting for 25.6%. The findings underscored the importance of thorough physical examination screening for cancer patients to facilitate early detection and intervention of incidental PE.

Comparative evaluation of soft-tissue foreign body detection using ultrasound and radiography: A phantom study

Faikah Zakaria — 2025-12-31

Soft-tissue foreign bodies (STFBs) are common clinical presentations requiring accurate imaging for diagnosis and management. This experimental phantom study compared ultrasound and general radiography in detecting STFBs of varying materials and depths using anatomically relevant cow foreleg models. Eight foreign bodies; metallic, organic, and inorganic were inserted at depths of 1 cm, 3 cm, and 5 cm. Both modalities were performed, and image visibility was scored by two radiologists using standardized criteria, achieving substantial inter-rater agreement (κ = 0.74). Ultrasound demonstrated significantly higher visibility scores than radiography (p = .01), confirming superior diagnostic performance. Although ultrasound image quality declined slightly with depth, differences were not statistically significant (p = .75). Radiographic detection remained consistent across depths (p = .14) but was strongly influenced by material radiopacity, limiting its utility for radiolucent objects. These findings align with existing literature supporting ultrasound as a reliable modality for STFB detection, particularly when foreign body composition is unknown. Despite limitations, including small sample size and lack of clinical variability, this study provides clinically relevant evidence reinforcing ultrasound as a potential first-line imaging technique for suspected STFBs.

The effectiveness of coconut-dreg-based mudballs in kitchen wastewater treatment from restaurants and poultry shops

Nur Sabrina Maklen — 2025-12-31

This study investigates the effectiveness of coconut-dreg-based mudballs as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for treating kitchen wastewater from restaurant and poultry shop sources. Kitchen wastewater, characterized by its high organic load and potential pathogen content, poses significant environmental and public health risks if not adequately treated. Leveraging the principles of circular economy and sustainable waste management, coconut dregs, a by-product of the food industry, are harnessed for their potential in bioaugmentation to develop mudballs for wastewater treatment. Mudballs is a well-known biological treatment method for wastewater. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the removal efficiency of pollutants, including pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and ammoniacal nitrogen, comparing the performance of coconut-dreg-based mudballs with conventional mudballs. Coconut- dreg-based mudballs demonstrated significant turbidity reduction (91.33%), COD reduction (84.84%), and effective ammoniacal nitrogen reduction (89.13%), particularly in kitchen wastewater from restaurants. The alkaline and fibrous nature of coconut dregs were identified as the key factors contributing to these favourable results. The enhanced effectiveness of coconut-dreg-based mudballs highlights their viability as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for kitchen wastewater treatment.

Wound healing properties of selected tropical fruits in Malaysia: A Narrative Review

Emida Mohamed — 2025-12-31

Reduction in healing time is crucial for minimizing pain and preventing wound-related complications. Wound dressings and topical products such as antibiotics are commonly used in chronic wound management; however, they can be costly and may be associated with adverse effects. Consequently, natural products have emerged as promising alternatives, as numerous plants and fruits possess wound-healing properties. This review focuses on five fruits from different genera—banana, papaya, mangosteen, pomegranate, and pineapple—that have been scientifically validated for their wound-healing potential between 2010 and 2025. Relevant studies were identified using the Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. Most wound-healing investigations employed in vivo models, demonstrating the efficacy of fruit extracts in accelerating wound closure and tissue repair. Although these fruits have shown significant wound-healing activity in experimental settings, further research, including the isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds, is necessary before the development of safe and widely accepted herbal therapies for wound management.