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The Duke-NUS research team, collaborating with Duke University and the National University of Singapore, conducted a preclinical comparison between nasal and subcutaneous administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Their findings were published in eBioMedicine. It revealed that the intranasal route not only induces a strong mucosal antibody response but also enhances long-term mucosal and systemic immune protection.

The Department of Health (DoH) shared encouraging news on New Year’s Day: a marked decrease in fireworks-related injuries (FWRIs) compared to the previous year, even with lifting COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. This positive development is attributed to a combination of factors. It includes implementing Executive Order 28 and confining firecrackers to community fireworks displays. 

In a concerning statistic emerging from Malaysia, almost 100,000 individuals succumbed prematurely to various non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in 2022, falling short of the national average life expectancy of 75 years.  The primary culprits behind these early deaths were heart and cerebrovascular diseases, along with pneumonia, underscoring a pressing health crisis in the country.

Dengue infections in Malaysia nearly doubled in 2023 compared to 2022 amid global surge in dengue cases. According to the Malaysian government’s iDengue portal, a total of 123,300 dengue cases were reported from January 1st to December 31st 2023, 86.5% more compared to 2022 (66,102 cases). This was the highest number of recorded cases since 2019 when 130,101 dengue cases were reported.

The vibrating capsule, likened to the feeling of drinking a glass full of water before eating, targets the brain’s perception of satiety. When ingested 20 minutes prior to a meal, it stimulates mechanoreceptors, which in turn signal the brain via the vagus cranial nerve. This signal initiates the production of hormones such as insulin, GLP-1, C-peptide, and PYY, reducing hunger and enhancing the digestion process. In animal models, this mechanism resulted in a reduction of food consumption by about 40%.