Introduction: We aimed to investigate the moderating role of internal health locus of control, breast cancer worry and age in the relationship between fear of negative appearance evaluation and attitude towards mammography in women with no prior mammography screening experience. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional, questionnaire- based survey was conducted. Participants included 823 Iranian women aged 30 years and above. We used covariance- based structural equation modeling to test the research hypotheses. Results: The findings provided evidence for the negative association between fear of negative appearance evaluation and women’s attitudes towards mammography. Internal health locus of control, breast cancer worry, and age weakened the detrimental effect of fear of negative appearance evaluation on mammography screening. We found that fear of negative appearance evaluation could more likely act as a barrier towards mammography screening in women who were less likely to have a sense of control over their own health, who were less worried about developing breast cancer, and who were younger. Conclusion: Implications of the study are discussed with recommendations for future research.
Introduction: Lipoprotein L21 (LipL21) has been used as a molecular marker for leptospirosis as it is highly expressed in pathogenic Leptospira species during infection. However, it lacks specificity due to the newly emerging pathogenic serovars. Therefore, interrogation of LipL21 in all serovars needed to understand the pathogenesis of leptospirosis to enable early diagnosis. This study was carried out to determine the suitability of LipL21 as a molecular marker for leptospirosis by identifying the conserved sequences of LipL21 mRNA and amino acids in different Leptospira strains. Methods: Location of LipL21 conserved regions in 15 pathogenic and 2 non-pathogenic strains of five Leptospira species, were identified using bioinformatics database and tools such as National Center of Biotechnology, Rapid Annotation Subsystem Technology blast search, Muscle program and Jalview software. Results: Multiple sequence alignment analysis revealed that two conserved regions were observed in 10 pathogenic Leptospira strains from nucleotide position 29 to 53 and 100 to 137, however conserved amino acid sequences (111-149 and 155-192) were found in all the pathogenic strains. The distinction between gene and amino acid results is due to the degenerate genetic code feature. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study suggests that LipL21 protein has a potential to be used as a diagnostic marker for detection of Leptospira pathogens compared to LipL21 mRNA.
Introduction: The application of nanofibers in biomedicine has gained increasing interest due to their characteristic large surface area, high porosity and chemical tunability. Electrospinning is one of the most versatile techniques for the production of uniform nanofibers. It has been used for the fabrication of extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking fibrous scaffolds for several decades. Electrospun fibrous scaffolds provide nanoscale to microscale fibrous structures with interconnecting pores, resembling natural ECM in tissues, and showing a high potential to facilitate the formation of artificial functional tissues. Furthermore, electrospinning demonstrated potential as a vehicle for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, which was suggested to have significant potential to treat wounds caused by trauma, diabetes, ischemic syndromes and other pathological diseases. This study investigates the application of electrospun nanofibers as bioactive carriers of phenolic acids, where gallic, caffeic and p-coumaric acids were incorporated to zein nanofibers at different concentrations (5%, 10% and 20%). Methods: The morphology of the produced fibers were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and exhibited diameters ranging from 396 to 655 nm. Meanwhile, the interaction between the phenolic compounds and zein was examined with attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR). Results: The antioxidant activity of the fibers was determined using 1,10-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and showed that gallic and caffeic acid had retained their active properties after the incorporation to zein electrospun fibers. Conclusion: Overall, the study provides an outline on the potential of electrospinning technique to produce nanofibers that may serve as substrates in skin tissue engineering and carriers for bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) is one of the key populations affected by HIV epidemic with infection rates exceeding five percentages. Due to a strict and prohibitive socio-cultural and legal environment, male-to-male sexual practices are often misunderstood and highly stigmatised, thus creating barriers for MSM to access HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.
Cerebral aneurysm is an exceedingly rare aetiology of neonatal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH). Detailed history and pattern recognition of the SAH is crucial in suspecting aneurysm.
Occupation-related fatigue and sleep loss are common among shift workers in the emergency department (ED), who deliver round-the-clock critical care service to patients. These factors affect their performance and impose an unnecessary hazard to patients, while also endangering themselves.
In Malaysia, there is an increase in both demand and prescribing of supplements. Such trend raises the likelihood of adverse events and treatment costs. Numerous prescribing policies have been suggested for better utilization of resources. However, the adherence and improvement from such policies are yet to be fully characterized.
The success of cataract surgery is accessed by the improvement in visual acuity and accuracy of the post-operation refractive outcome against the pre-operation refractive target. Hence, the benchmark of 85% of patients achieving a final spherical equivalent within 1D of the desired target is used to monitor the refractive outcome. Meanwhile, the unaided visual acuity threshold of 6/12 after cataract operation is chosen as a yardstick because it allows patients to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) independently without relying on spectacles.
Introduction: Critically-ill patients are commonly fed with EN via open system (OS) or closed system (CS). Several studies showed that patients on CS had received greater volume of EN compared to OS.
Objective: As there was no study conducted in Malaysia, hence this study is conducted to compare the energy and protein adequacy of both systems.
Methodology: This cohort prospective study was conducted in GICU (OS) and NICU/NHDW (CS) in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Patients aged ≥18 years and fed by feeding pump in OS were included. Patients who were moribund or not given EN were excluded. Patients’ demographic data and disease severity score were collected on day 1 in ICU and followed for 5 days until decease or discharge. Adequacy was determined by percentage of energy/protein received from requirements.
Results: Fifty-five patients were included (25 OS and 30 CS) with mean aged 45.41±17.46 years old, 78.2% male and 65.5% Malay. The mean SAPS II, SOFA score and ICU LOS were 46.47±10.65, 8.60±3.64 and 9.24±7.91 days respectively. The ICU mortality was 20%. EN was started about 2.56±2.89 days after ICU admission and the mean adequacy of energy was 74.56±32.23%, while protein adequacy was and 69.15±35.78%. Compared with the CS, OS were significantly older than CS (51 years old vs 42.5 years old; p=0.035) and had a higher SOFA score (10 vs 7.5; p= 0.014). No difference in ICU LOS and mortality between group were found. Energy (45.64% vs 96.71%; p<0.001) and protein adequacy (38.78% vs 94.12%; p<0.001) were significantly higher in the CS than the OS.
Conclusion: CS as compared with OS may improve nutritional adequacy as CS delivered more 108% energy and 141% protein than OS. The difference in adequacy might be attributed to these factors; feeding method used in the system, patients’ characteristics and condition rather than the feeding system itself.
Keywords: enteral nutrition, critically-ill patients, open system, closed system, adequacy
Introduction: Vision is an important requirement for learning and plays a critical role in the development of a child during the first three years of life. Little is known regarding the extent of visual impairment amongst preschool children in Sabah.
Objective: To determine visual status among preschool children in Kota Kinabalu and to determine prevalence of refractive error among children who were referred by the programme.
Methodology: A retrospective cohort study of clinical records was conducted at Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from May to September 2017. Criteria for failed vision were VA 6/12 (0.3 LogMar) or worse. All records of referred children were selected for prevalence of refractive error. Data collected include basic demographic data, visual acuity and refractive error. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent (SE) ≥−1.00 DS, hyperopia SE ≥+3.00 DS and astigmatism ≥−1.50 DC.
Results: A total of 192 children age 4 to 6 years old were screened, comprised of 102 (53.1%) male and 90 (46.9%) female (mean age: 5.81 ± 0.41 years). Of the 192 students, 39 (20.3%) of them failed vision screening. Among the 39 children, only 17 children came for further eye assessment. Twelve (70.6%) of them had a binocular visual impairment (VI) while 5 (29.4%) children had monocular VI. Six years old children were found to have VI more compared to other age groups (n= 14, 82.4%) and majority of this age group having binocular VI (n=10, 83.3%). Mean SE was −0.60 ± 0.94. Astigmatism is the commonest type of refractive error found with a prevalence of 41.4% followed by myopia, 27.6%.
Conclusion: This study was the first attempt to investigate the visual status among preschool in Kota Kinabalu. As most children were found with astigmatism, early detection of significant refractive error could help to minimize the effect of VI.
Critical aortic stenosis (AS) is very severe narrowing at aortic valve in newborns, causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). It is lethal if not treated soon after birth.
MeSH terms: Aortic Stenosis, Subvalvular; Borneo; Humans; Infant, Newborn*; Malaysia
Lung cancer is by far the most lethal cancer, causing approximately 1.4 million deaths in 2008. Meanwhile, tuberculosis (TB) presents a global threat. Various research and studies had been reported in correlation of pulmonary tuberculosis and lung carcinoma. These cause diagnostic challenges from the multi-faceted presentations and lesions in radiograph mimicking each other.
Sabah is a high tuberculosis (TB) burden area with incidence rate of 120 – 138 per 100,000 population. Until now, TB is still unable to control due to high loss to follow up rates. Loss to follow up TB treatment can cause to increase notification rate, prolonged infection, recurrent TB infections, increase multiple drug-resistance, and increase morbidity and mortality rates. To know the factors that contribute towards loss to follow up will better understand the epidemiology of treatment outcome and guide for appropriate strategies planning to improve the situation. Previous study by Liew et al. indicated that, incidence rate for loss to follow up in 2012 in Malaysia was 10.5%.
Introduction: Long-term survival in beta-thalassaemia major is strongly influenced by adherence to iron chelation therapy. Identifying factors that influence the compliance remains the first step in improving iron chelation therapy. Objective:Due to increase in number of non-compliance to iron chelation therapy for patients in Hospital Keningau, Keningau, Sabah, we aim to evaluate the compliance, identify the factors and assess disease knowledge of patients so that preventive measurement can be formulated. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Hospital Keningau by a combination of self-administered and interviewer-administered survey. The survey consists of 3 domains – knowledge assessment based on 10 items, identifying factors for non-compliance and compliance to treatment. Percentage of compliance was measured based on amount taken reported by patients over the intended therapy. Association between knowledge and compliance was measured using Pearson’s Chi Square. Results: A number of 52 patients completed the survey. The average age was 18 ± 4.77 years. The mean knowledge score was 6.15 out of 10. The percentage of compliance to desferrioxamine was 78.2 ± 30.2% while for deferiprone it was 72.4 ± 32.6%. There were no association between knowledge score and compliance to desferrioxamine (p = 0.893) and deferiprone (p = 0.874). Lazziness and pain were the main reasons for non-compliance chosen by patients on desferrioxamine ABSTRACTCompliance and Barriers of Beta-Thalassaemia Patients towards Iron Chelation Therapy in Hospital Keningau, SabahElfira Cassandra Enderik1*, Syahrizal Azizi bin Shaharudin1, Gan Siaw Yun1, Tan Wei Chong1, Arthur James Adong1, Jackie Ho Chit Khong1, Shamadevi Pasupathi1, Maggie Low May Yee1, Sivaraj Raman1Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences (BJMS), Special Issue, Volume 2, March 2019: 7 – 81 Pharmacy Department, Hospital Keningau, Keningau, Sabah, Malaysia* Corresponding author’s email: elfira_11@yahoo.comBorneo Journal of Medical SciencesBJMSKeywords:thalassaemia, compliance, knowledge, factor NMRR Research ID: NMRR-18-404-39581
8Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences (BJMS),Special Issue, Volume 2, March 2019: 7 – 811 (3): 35 – 38(19.2%) while for deferiprone it was lazziness (23.1%) and side effects (19.2%). The poor compliance was reflected on the high average ferritin levels of respondents (7573 ± 5749). Conclusion: Even though most adolescents had knowledge about their disease, it did not affect patients’ compliance to therapy. Lazziness was the most prominent factor for non-compliance in adolescents in our study. This might be because iron chelation therapy is usually seen as a hindrance to independence. Thus in order to improve compliances, further study is needed to investigate the association between compliance and the affecting factors identified in our study.
Widespread over-prescription of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) without an appropriate indication has financial and potentially adverse clinical consequences.
The number of new dialysis acceptance and dialysis prevalence rate in Malaysia has been increasing steadily for the past 10 years, and forecasting models predict that these numbers will continue to increase. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) awareness may slow the progression of CKD. As CKD awareness is dependent upon general knowledge of CKD, assessing the knowledge of CKD of the local population is important, to direct future CKD education efforts.
Introduction: Polymyxin B (PMB) is one of the remaining antibiotics that is effective against multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. However, PMB monotherapy is not able to achieve sustained killing hence, combination with other antibiotics are usually employed. Besides antibiotics, studies are now moving towards non-antibiotic alternatives such as metabolite feeding against MDR pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the susceptibility
and bacterial killing of PMB in combination with metabolite phenylpyruvate against Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. Methods: Broth microdilution was used to determine PMB minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) alone and with phenylpyruvate against two Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. Time kill studies were performed over 24 h (initial inoculum: ~106 CFU/mL), using PMB 2 mg/L and phenylpyruvate 2 mmol/L, alone and in combination, against the
PMB-resistant isolate. Microbiological responses were examined using the log-change method. Results: The MIC of PMB was reduced by phenylpyruvate in both isolates. In the time kill studies, during the first hour, PMB monotherapy demonstrated the highest bacterial killing activity even compared to the combination. Phenylpyruvate monotherapy showed negligible activity against K. pneumoniae. A significant reduction in bacterial burden was seen at 1 h following PMB monotherapy and combination therapy but an equally rapid regrowth was seen at 4 h. Notably at 24 h, the regrowth following combination therapy was >1-log10 CFU/mL less than PMB monotherapy. Conclusion: Our results suggest that phenylpyruvate increased PMB susceptibility in K. pneumoniae and may minimise the emergence of resistance to PMB. Future studies investigating phenylpyruvate at higher concentrations against more isolates are
warranted.
Introduction: Polymyxins are used as the “last-line therapy” for multi drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections. However, the development of nephrotoxicity is a major concern. The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence and severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) and to identify risk factors associated with AKI and mortality rate in Malaysian patients on polymyxin B (PMB) for MDR Gram-negative bacterial infections. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Medical and
medication charts were reviewed for all intensive care unit (ICU) patients who received intravenous (IV) PMB from 1st May 2008 to 1st May 2018. Simple and multiple logistic regression were performed to identify risk factors of PMB induced nephrotoxicity. Results: Among the total 572 patients identified, only 31 patients were eligible to be included. The incidence rate of AKI was 45.2% (14 of 31 patients). Univariate analysis showed that age was a significant risk factor of PMB associated nephrotoxicity [OR 1.074; 95% CI 1.002-1.151; P=0.045]. Other four variables (P
Introduction: The incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has increased worldwide including Malaysia, which may be attributed partly to inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials. Antimicrobial prescribing form has been introduced to mandate appropriate antimicrobial prescription including documented indication as a key standard of antimicrobial stewardship practice. Hence, this current study aimed to determine the usage and completeness of the designated antimicrobial prescribing form that had been implemented in the General Intensive Care Unit (GICU), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out in GICU UKMMC from 30 August 2018 to 30 November 2018 by convenience sampling. The information that was recorded in the antimicrobial prescribing form was collected by using the designated data collection form. A total of 68 patients were included and 205 antimicrobial prescribing forms were evaluated. Results: There were 100% usage of antimicrobial prescribing forms found in this study. However, only 81 ± 8 % of these forms were completely filled. Indication for the antimicrobial prescription was not filled in 47% of the forms. Almost two thirds of the antimicrobial prescriptions were empirically indicated and one percent de-escalation of antimicrobial therapy was filled in the forms. These prescriptions comprised of 91.7% antibiotics, 7.8% antifungals and 0.5% antivirals. The suspected site of infections were primarily from the lungs (27%), gastrointestinal (16%), blood (16%) and central nervous system (14%). Piperacillin/Tazobactam was the most frequent antibiotic prescribed (21%), followed by third and fourth generation cephalosporins (20%). Conclusion: This study provided an overview of the uptake of the antimicrobial prescribing form implementation and highlighted the requirement for supplementary efforts to maximize the compliance of this form.
MeSH terms: Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Antiviral Agents; Cephalosporins; Data Collection; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Malaysia; Prospective Studies; Incidence; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Prescriptions; Inappropriate Prescribing
Introduction: One of the most common aetiology of opportunistic fungal infections in humans is Candida species. The virulence of Candida species is due to repertoire of factors, specifically, the ability to form biofilms. Medical devices such as intravenous catheters, prosthetic heart valves and surgical interventions provide pathogenic microorganisms with a surface to adhere to form biofilm. Fungi present as biofilms are often resistant to antifungal treatment because these biofilms offer a protective barrier that prohibits the drugs to get to the active site of the fungi. The objective of this study is to investigate the biofilm architecture of Candida rugosa (C.rugosa) at different developmental phases and to identify Sessile Minimum Inhibition Concentrations (SMICs) of amphotericin B, caspofungin, fluconazole, and voriconazole for the biofilm of C. rugosa. Methods: Confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to visualize C. rugosa biofilms at different developmental phases. The antifungal susceptibility test was performed using serial doubling dilution. The growth kinetics of Candida biofilms was quantified using XTT reduction assay and crystal violet assay. Results: From the antifungal susceptibility test, the biofilms had SMIC of >16μg/mL for amphotericin B, 6µg/mL for caspofungin, >64μg/mL for fluconazole and >16μg/ mL for voriconazole. From the SEM micrographs, C. rugosa biofilm have a structure composed of an adherent yeast cells and blastopores with hyphal elements. There were significant alterations in the morphology after exposure to antifungal agents. The quantitative measurement of the matrix thickness of embedded yeast cells were obtained from CLSM micrographs. Conclusion: In conclusion, the ability of C. rugosa to form biofilms may attribute to one of the virulence factors that causes reduced susceptibility to antifungal agents.