Browse publications by year: 2019

  1. Alcohol Toolkit: Empowering Sabah Indigenous Communities to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harm
    Helen Benedict Lasimbang, Eckermann, Liz, Shoesmith, Wendy, James, Sandi, Aisat Ellik bin Igau @ Oswald Iggau, Lee, Kuok Tiung, et al.
    Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019;13(3):11-18.
    MyJurnal
    Alcohol misuse compromises the quality of life of individuals, families, communities and whole societies in a variety of ways. Malaysia acknowledges the problems, implementing policies and health promotion activities in line with the World Health Organization Global Strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol by 10% between 2010 and 2025. Sabah, one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo, has more than 30 different indigenous ethnic groups. Alcohol production and consumption have traditional and unique roles in the cultural practices of many of these groups, making one common programme difficult to implement. Preliminary research suggests that alcohol is a serious problem in indigenous communities in Sabah. It also shows lack of knowledge on recommended limits for alcohol consumption and understanding of alcohol-related harm. The objective of this action-research is to produce a toolkit that will transfer knowledge and empower communities to adopt safer drinking and reduce alcohol-related harm. It must be attractive, appropriate, easily understood and be able to be tailored to suit different communities. The alcohol tool-kit was developed by a group of academicians using evidence-based information. Qualitative research methods were used to evaluate the initial alcohol tool-kit. A purposive sample of 45 village representatives was selected and divided into 5 groups for focus group discussion. Their feedback was recorded and transcribed verbatim. The alcohol tool-kit was edited accordingly. All participants agreed the alcohol tool-kit was important and can empower communities to reduce alcohol-related harm directly improving their quality of life. The amended alcohol tool-kit will be recommended for health promotion material and evaluated from time to time.
  2. Visual Acuity after Posterior Capsular Rupture during Cataract Surgery
    Nurulhuda Md Amin, Nurul Hafizah Mohd Norizan, Nor Fadzillah Abdul Jalil, Raja Norliza Raja Omar, Mushawiahti Mustapha
    Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019;13(2):15-24.
    MyJurnal
    Posterior capsular rupture (PCR) is a common and serious complication of cataract surgery. It complicates the process of inserting posterior chamber intraocular lens and affects the visual outcome. This study is a review on visual acuity of patients that had PCR during cataract surgery in Hospital Melaka, risk factors of PCR, and factors that cause poor visual outcome. The record of all patients that had PCR during cataract surgery from 1 January 2014 till 31 March 2017 was traced using National Eye Database (NED) and the patients’ folders were reviewed retrospectively. Data collected was demographic data, type of cataract surgery, status of surgeon, underlying ocular diseases, risks factors for PCR, postoperative visual acuity, and factors that cause poor visual outcome. There were 238 eyes that had PCR during cataract surgery, from 126 (53%) female and 112 (47%) male patients. The mean age was 66.62 years old, ranging from 9 to 87 years old. Major risk factors identified were hard cataract, polar cataract, uncooperative patients, extended continuous capsulorhexis, subluxated lens, myopia, vitrectomised eyes, and poor pupil dilatation. From 153 cases that had no pre-existing ocular diseases, 119 (78%) cases had normal vision (best corrected visual acuity – BCVA) two months after surgery, 10 (7%) cases had moderate visual impairment, and four (2%) cases had severe visual impairment. Causes of BCVA poorer than 6/18 were high astigmatism, CMO, and prolonged inflammation. Cataract surgery, even complicated by PCR, is compatible with good visual outcome if the complications are managed promptly.
  3. Comparison of the Activities among Three SUL Genes Present in Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli
    Yun, Mei Lai, Myo, Thura Zaw, Tin, Sabai Aung, Tin, Win, Lin, Zaw
    Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019;13(1):17-22.
    MyJurnal
    The three plasmid borne alternative dihydropteroate synthetase (DHPS) genes namely sul1, sul2 and sul3 genes were heterologous in amino acid sequence and have about 40 – 50% identity. However, they have same DHPS activity with disc diffusion zone size of 6 mm with suphamethoxazole disc in our previous study. Sul1, sul2 and sul3 genes were observed in sulphamethoxazole resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). In this study, all the three genes were cloned into E. coli host and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was investigated for each sul gene to compare the activities of sul genes. The MIC values of E.coli containing sul2, sul1 and sul3 genes inserted recombinant plasmid were observed to have 18.5 mg/ml, 18 mg/ml and 17.5 mg/ml respectively as mean value of five experimental results. Although comparable MICs were obtained as a result, the MIC value was highest in E. coli carrying sul2 gene indicating that this DHPS enzyme activity of sul2 was strongest among three sul genes.
  4. Effects of hydrogen peroxide treatment on the particle size distribution of hydrothermal vent sediments: A case study in Guishan Island, Taiwan
    Ng, Wei-Ling, Chen, Cheng-Ann, Stephenie Demie ak. Kawi, Baba Musta, Chan, Tin-Yam
    Borneo Journal of Marine Science and Aquaculture, 2019;3(2):52-56.
    MyJurnal
    Particle size analysis is able to reveal essential information about processes like production, transportation, sorting, and deposition of a study area. Pre-treatment of sediment by using hydrogen peroxide is recommended for more accuracy of particle size distribution as it removes organic matter which is adsorbed on the grain particle. A shallow water where hydrothermal vents site are located in Guishan Island is selected as the study site in this research. Sediment samples were collected at the depth of 3 – 5 cm from the seabed surface by SCUBA diving. Particle size analysis was conducted by dry sieving before and after hydrogen peroxide treatment. Results showed significant differences in very coarse sand (p < 0.05) as it decreases significantly in weight after treatment (10.62% of change). The other particle size level of sediment increases slightly in weight and the changes ranged from 1.20% to 2.60%, showing no significant difference (500μm=0.59; p value 250μm=0.67; p value 125μm=0.48; p value 63μm=0.47; p value >63μm=0.38). Therefore, in order to accurately determine the particle size distribution at hydrothermal vent site, pre-treatment using hydrogen peroxide is recommended to remove organic material because hydrothermal vent is proved to have high organic matter content.
  5. Degeneration of the olfactory epithelium in the Anguilid eels by hormone treatment
    Ching, Fui Fui, Gunzo, Kawamura, Kazuhiko, Anraku, Bensan Bin Alex, Nabilah Zieha Binti Sikh Mohamad, Shigeharu, Senoo
    Borneo Journal of Marine Science and Aquaculture, 2019;3(2):48-51.
    MyJurnal
    While the olfactory cue hypothesis has been proposed for spawning migration of silver eels, it has been shown that olfactory cells and associated mucus cells degenerate in male and female eels after hormonally induced sexual maturation. However, the degeneration of the olfactory organ could be a real event in the sequence of maturation, or may be an unnatural side effect of the hormone treatment itself. We morphologically and histologically examined the olfactory rosettes of hormone-untreated and hormone-treated (mixture of hCG and PG) giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata) and Japanese eel (A. japonica). The olfactory rosette from all the hormone-treated specimens significantly degenerated at various degeneration levels even in sexually immature specimens, indicating the side effect of the hormone-treatment. However, a sexually immature non-hormone treated female A. marmorata (87.4 cm TL, 199.4 g BW, at less advanced maturity) had slightly degenerated olfactory rosette. Further studies should focus on conducting natural degeneration of the olfactory rosette during the sexual maturation in tropical eels.
  6. Growth performance and feed utilization of juvenile marble goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata) fed acidified diets
    Teoh, Chui-Fen, Lim, Leong-Seng, Gunzo, Kawamura, Yong, Annita Seok-Kian, Rossita Shapawi
    Borneo Journal of Marine Science and Aquaculture, 2019;3(2):41-47.
    MyJurnal
    The present study was aimed at evaluating the growth performance and feed utilization of marble goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata) juveniles fed with the acidified diets (AD). In feeding trial I, five fish meal-based diets were prepared [control (pH 6.0), AD 5.3, 4.3, 3.2 and 2.5]. Each diet was fed to triplicate batches of wild-caught O. marmorata (19 fish/ tank; total length, TL = 4.72±0.46 cm) for 8 weeks. The control, AD 5.3, and AD 4.3 treatments were terminated at week 4, due to drastic decline in total feed intake (TFI=0–0.05 g) and weight loss (weight gain, WG = -15.3 to -16.9%) in the fish. The AD 3.2 and AD 2.5 treatments were continued until week 8. Fish fed with the AD 3.2 showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) TFI (0.98 g) compared to those fed with the AD 2.5 (0.73 g) at the end of the trial. Feeding trial II was done to assess the long-term effects of AD for another 7 weeks. Thirty fish specimens were randomly selected from each of AD 3.2 and AD 2.5 treatments and stocked individually in 7 L aquaria to eliminate the territorial behaviour that was observed in the first trial. At the end of the experiment, fish fed AD 3.2 attained significantly higher (P < 0.05) WG (34%) than those fed AD 2.5 (13%). However, the growth performance and feed utilization results of the present study were very poor compared to those fed the normal fishmeal-based diet as is evident from synthesis of data from the literature review. Feeding of acidified diets was, therefore, not recommended for an extended period (> 3 weeks). Nevertheless, based on the strong preference of the fish for AD, it is worth trying to develop a weaning protocol using these diets as the starter feed and then slowly replacing them with the normal diet.
  7. First record of marine wood borer (Mollusca: Teredinidae) Dicyathifer mannii Wright (1866) in Sabah, Malaysia, with detailed measurement metrics
    Loo, Zhen-An, Cheng-Ann, Chen, Khairul Adha A. Rahim, Farah Diba
    Borneo Journal of Marine Science and Aquaculture, 2019;3(1):37-40.
    MyJurnal
    The present study describes the new record of Dicyathifer mannii under the family Teredinidae Rafinesque, 1815. Sampling was conducted in the mangrove area of Kuala Penyu and sample was collected from dead wood debris. The pallets of Dicyathifer is half-conical in shape and 8mm in length. The cone measured 3.9mm in length and 3.6mm in width. The cavity is 1.2mm deep; the curve of the opening on the cone is about 98% of the depth of the cone. Inside the cone cavity, from the center, a ridge with rib-like feature runs down the length of the cavity. Only one species of Dicyathifer is recorded and the present species is the first new record described in Malaysia with some additional measurement metrics for future taxonomic identification purposes.
  8. Visual field of the mud crab (Scylla tranquebarica), and the whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei
    Gunzo, Kawamura, Cheah, Hue-Sin, Saito, Hiroaki, Mohd Yazreen Syahmie Yusof, Yong, Annita Seok-Kian, Lim, Leong-Seng
    Borneo Journal of Marine Science and Aquaculture, 2019;3(1):33-36.
    MyJurnal
    The previous behavioural studies on vision of decapod crustaceans were often based on the assumption that the visual field of the test animals was all around and there was little or no blind area above or to the rear of the animals. In the present study, we determined the visual field of the wild captured purple mud crab (Scylla tranquebarica) and the farmed whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) by eliminating the directions in which vision is anatomically blocked in all directions around the eyes. The mud crab had the visual field covering the entire visual world except for the ventral-most blind area. The whiteleg shrimp has the visual filed with a 66˚ binocular field and can see all around but is morphologically blocked by the scaphocerite extended forward between the eyes. While the transparent scaphocerites transmit 80 % of light from 400 to 700 nm wavelengths, an object seen through the scaphocerites is faded due to the light refraction, indicating that the morphological blocking is not always negligible. The trait of these visual fields should be taken into consideration in the design of visual behaviour experiments.
  9. Leveraging scientific knowledge in aquaculture for entrepreneurship -Case studies at Universiti Malaysia Sabah
    Sitti Raehanah M. Shaleh, Rossita Shapawi, Abentin Estim, Saleem Mustafa
    Borneo Journal of Marine Science and Aquaculture, 2019;3(1):25-32.
    MyJurnal
    Aquaculture has emerged as an important sector for addressing the challenge of global food security. In order for it to play this role, certain supporting policies and mechanisms are necessary. Because aquaculture is a subject where there is a convergence of science, art and business, this has a better chance of knowledge-based entrepreneurship. With the demand of seafood steadily rising, the market potential is high to strengthen the business activity related to aquaculture. Aquaculture can be conducted in a wide variety of aquatic environments, whether on land or in the sea, using different methods to produce many kinds of plants and animals for human consumption. This sort of diversity offers entrepreneurship of different types and scales. Not many subjects have as much advantages for entrepreneurship as aquaculture. Government demands that universities in Malaysia should impart entrepreneurship education to students and researchers to commercialize their findings. Aquaculture is one of the niche areas of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and thus, it becomes a priority to implement the national policies pertaining to this sector. Steps taken by the University to demonstrate our response through specific case studies are explained in this paper. Borneo Marine Research Institute developed aquaculture as its flagship program of education and research. This included building of infrastructure and expertise. UMS is the only university in the country with two on-campus hatcheries (for finfish and shellfish) to offer education, training and research. Entrepreneurship is an integral part of the undergraduate program. Worthwhile research carried out yielded results of great significance in promoting aquaculture industry. Selection of need-based research topics and problem-solving approaches applied to produce tangible outcomes are highlighted here. The paper also elaborates what it takes to be an aquaculture entrepreneur and constraints of applying industrial model of aquaculture under the academic culture of institutions of higher education. It is evident from an in-depth analysis of the scenario that academic entrepreneurship requires a radical departure from the past practices and a paradigm shift to successfully unify the art, science and business of aquaculture to achieve seafood sustainability and security.
  10. Species diversity and distribution of mud crab in Marudu Bay mangrove forest reserve, Sabah, Malaysia
    Nurul Ain Mohd Sharif, Noor Amalia Shaiful Kahar, Muhammad Ali Syed Hussein, Julian Ransangan, Annita Seok-Kian Yong
    Borneo Journal of Marine Science and Aquaculture, 2019;3(1):18-24.
    MyJurnal
    Sabah has extensive mangrove forests surrounded by oceanic waters which provide suitable habitat for many species of animals including mud crabs (Scylla spp.). This study was conducted to obtain information on the species composition, distribution and catch per unit effort in Marudu Bay, Sabah. Samplings were done monthly in five mangrove areas along the river channels in Marudu Bay (06°33’N; 114°44’E) from October 2012 to September 2013 using collapsible baited crab traps. From a total of 1859 mud crab specimens caught in Marudu Bay, three species were identified. Scylla tranquebarica was the dominant species forming 78% of the total followed by S. paramamosain 13% and S. olivacea 8%. The number of males (n=1224) was higher compared to females (n=635) with an average sex ratio male : female of 1.0:0.5. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) showed an average value of 0.55 trap-1 day-1 and revealed a declining trend throughout the sampling. S. tranquebarica was widely distributed in all the rivers surveyed, however, it mostly occurred in near the lower reaches of the river near the areas open to the sea where average water salinity ranged from 12.98 to 14.28 ppt and the environment favoured the growth of Rhizophora sp. Other species, S. paramamosain and S. olivacea, were mostly found in upstream areas covered generally by Nypa sp. and where average water salinity varied from 6.93 to 7.50 ppt. The information on the species composition, distribution and CPUE of the mud crabs in Marudu Bay can be useful for mud crab fisheries resources management in Sabah.
  11. RNA/DNA ratio in milkfish (Chanos Chanos) larvae reared at different stocking densities
    Rukisah Saleh, Sitti Raehanah Muhamad Shaleh, Saleem Mustafa, Sujjat Al-Azad2
    Borneo Journal of Marine Science and Aquaculture, 2019;3(1):13-17.
    MyJurnal
    Stocking density can induce stress in fish in an aquaculture system if not handled properly, and the chronic stress may lead to mortality. Several studies have reported that the capability to deal with a range of stocking densities differs among fish species and maturity stage. Hence, fish larvae may have different resilience to stress from the adult fish. Milkfish larvae were reared in hatchery for 50 days using a recirculating culture system at four different stocking densities (8,12,16 and 20 larvae/liter). The growth performance was not significantly different (P>0.05) except at stocking density of 20 larvae/liter. The highest survival rate (88.04%) was recorded in the system with 8 larvae/liter while the lowest (55.44%) in the culture tank where stocking rate was 20 larvae/liter. The stocking density also influenced the RNA / DNA ratio of the milkfish larvae. The RNA/DNA ratio showed a pattern that was identical with that of sigmoid growth where stocking rate of 8, 12, and 16 larvae/liter gained weight until 30 days of rearing. Highest RNA/DNA ratio was recorded at 16 larvae/liter (2.85±0.004), while the lowest was at 20 larvae/liter (2.25±0.217). Food availability might play a limiting factor that leads to the lower RNA/DNA ratio of larvae reared at a high density due to competition.
  12. Fulltext In Vitro Macrophage Nitric Oxide and Interleukin-1 Beta Suppression by Moringa peregrina Seed
    Albaayit SFA, Al-Khafaji ASK, Alnaimy HS
    Turk J Pharm Sci, 2019 Sep;16(3):362-365.
    PMID: 32454736 DOI: 10.4274/tjps.galenos.2018.52244
    Objectives: Moringa peregrina has long been used in folk medicine to treat diseases including fever, headache, burns, constipation, gut pains, and inflammation. Nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) play an important role in the pathophysiology of inflammation. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of M. peregrina seed ethanolic extract (MPSE) on the viability of and NO and IL-1β production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophage (J774A.1) cell line.

    Materials and Methods: The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to determine the cytotoxic effect of MPSE treatment at concentrations ranging from 31.15 to 1000 μg/mL. The NO concentration was determined by Griess assay and IL-1β proinflammatory cytokine concentration by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the supernatant of MPSE-treated LPS-activated J774A.1 cell culture.

    Results: The results show that the MPSE was not cytotoxic at 1000 μg/mL but significantly (p<0.001) inhibited NO and IL-1β production by the LPS-activated macrophage J774A.1 cells.

    Conclusion: These findings suggest that M. peregrina seed extract can be used to treat and prevent inflammatory diseases through the inhibition of inflammatory mediators.

  13. Fulltext Anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of Morinda citrifolia L. shoot on breast, liver, and colorectal cancer cell lines
    Mohd Amir Ashraf Meli, Nurul Husna Shafie, Su Peng Loh, Asmah Rahmat
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(201):129-135.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Morinda citrifolia or also known as noni is commonly consumed raw or blanched as side dishes or ‘ulam’. As cancer is one of the most leading causes of death in the world, we aimed to evaluate the anti-prolifera- tive potential of noni shoot against various types of cancer cell lines. Methods: The breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), liver cancer (HepG2), and colorectal cancer (HT-29) cell lines were treated with 70% ethanol extract of noni shoot for cytotoxicity testing using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptosis induction effects were examined using AO/PI dual fluorescent assay and cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) was also carried out to characterize the active compounds in noni shoot. Results: The cytotoxicity assay demonstrated noni shoot had IC50 of 49.72 µg/mL, 307.5 µg/mL and 65.43 µg/ mL against MDA-MB-231, HepG2, and HT-29 cell lines, respectively. The AO/PI staining showed apoptotic bodies such as cell blebbing, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation was markedly induced in the selected cancer cell lines-treated with noni shoot extract. Apoptosis induction by noni shoot was showed by a significant increase in sub G0/G1 phase in MDA-MB-231 and HT-29 cell lines of cell cycle analysis. It was found that noni shoot extract contained mostly acetic acid and ethriol that may contribute to its anti-cancer properties. Conclusion: These findings showed the potential anticancer properties of noni shoot extract thereby, further studies are needed to un- derstand the mechanism of noni as anti-cancer agent and possibility to be developed as a nutraceutical or functional food products.
  14. Fulltext Total antioxidant activity and enzymatic inhibition against alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase of irradiated Archidendron bubalinum
    Nor Liyana Ja’afar, Chai Pui Teng, Noor Syafiqa Aqila Mohd Rosmi, Siti Nur Atiqah Rambli, Nurul Husna Shafie, Daryl J. Arapoc, et al.
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(201):120-128.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Archidendron bubalinum is an underutilised plant with numerous antioxidant properties and has a great potential to inhibit enzymes linked with diabetes and obesity. Food irradiation is an advanced technology to prolong the lifespan of plant, prevent physical spoilage and eradicate food borne disease. Present study was aimed to determine the total antioxidant activity, enzymatic inhibition against alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and pancre- atic lipase and the toxicity levels of non-irradiated and irradiated (3, 6, 9 & 12 kGy) hot aqueous extract of A. bubal- inum. Methods: The antioxidant ability of the extract was determined by total phenolic content (TPC), total flavanoid content (TFC), Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), β-carotene assay and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay. The inhibitory activities were evaluated using α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase inhibition as- say. The toxicity levels of A. bubalinum extract were determined using Brine shrimp and Zebra-fish assays. Results: Results showed that irradiated A. bubalinum at 12 kGy demonstrated the highest TFC (448.99 ± 5.02 mg GAE/g), FRAP (2.55 ± 0.40 mmol Fe2+/g) and β-carotene bleaching activity (79.49%). Whereas, non-irradiated A. bubalinum samples expressed the highest TPC (2517.07 ± 15.81 mg GAE/g) and exhibited the lowest IC50 values of α-amylase (31.99 ± 3.15 μg/ml), α-glucosidase (23.40 ± 0.69μg/ml) and pancreatic lipase (32.81 ± 7.96 μg/ml) activity. The toxicity assays also showed no significant different between irradiated and non-irradiated samples. Conclusion: The study suggests that gamma irradiation has the prospective future to increase antioxidant properties and maintaining the enzyme inhibitory activities to preserve the sample of A. bubalinum for commercial purposes.
  15. Fulltext Evaluation of acute toxicity induced by supercritical carbon dioxide extract of Canarium odontophyllum (CO) Miq. pulp oil in SPF Sprague Dawley rats
    Nurdiyana Abdul Manap, Azrina Azlan, Hazilawati Hamzah, Sharida Fakurazi, Noor Atiqah Aizan Abdul Kadir
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(201):113-119.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Different solvents extraction was used to extract the good fatty acid composition of Dabai fruits. Nev- ertheless, solvents extraction may exhibit harmful effects. The present study was aimed to evaluate the safety of using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SCO2) of dabai pulp oil by acute toxicity study in Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: The CO pulp oil extract was prepared by SCO2 extraction of the freeze- dried pulp and was administered orally to SPF SD rats (consisted of 5 rats/sex/group) at upper limit dose 5000 mg/kg body weight (BW) for 14 days. The study includes the control and treatment groups, each consisting of 5 male and female rats. The rats were fed and allowed to drink sterilized water ad libitum. Fatty acid composition (FAC) of the extract was determined using GC-FID. Electrolytes and biochemical parameters in blood, as well as relative organs weight were measured. Results: The extract at a single dose of 5000 mg/kg did not cause any acute toxicity effects or mortality to the treatment of rats during observation periods in 14 days. FAC of the SCO2 extracted oil exhibited high content of palmitic and linoleic acids. The relative organs weights (ROW) and histopathology of rats were within normal range. Conclusion: Thus, the LD50 was estimated to be more than 5000 mg/kg of CO pulp oil extract and can be considered for further investigation for its therapeutic efficacy in a larger animal model.
  16. Fulltext Comparison of sugar content, mineral elements and antioxidant properties of Heterotrigona Itama honey from suburban and forest in Malaysia
    Mohamad Zulhafiz Shafiq Zulhilmi Cheng, Maznah Ismail, Kim Wei Chan, Der Jiun Ooi, Norsharina Ismail, Norhasnida Zawawi, et al.
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(201):104-112.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: In Malaysia, Heterotrigona itama sp. (stingless bee) industries start to grow rapidly since 2015 but the study on its health benefit is still lacking. This study was aimed to analyse and compare the sugar content, minerals and antioxidant properties of stingless bee honey collected from forest and suburban area in Malaysia. Methods: Sugar content was determined by HPLC, minerals and heavy metals was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetry method, respectively. For determining the antioxidant activity of the samples, 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azi- no-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were used. Results: Fructose, glucose and sucrose are found in all samples in range of 16.03-33.13 g/100g, 8.63-20.72 g/100g and 2.68-34.04 g/100g, respectively. Potassium and sodium were major minerals in all stingless bee honey with an average of 622.36 and 496.01 mg/kg, respectively. Sample from the forest (Sibu, F2) has the highest TPC and TFC with value 520.663±8.119µg GAE/g and 443.25±18.194µg RE/g, respectively. The higher antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) also found in samples collected from the forest (F2) with 602.15±12.7 µg TE/g, 575.18±9.38 µg TE/g and 641.36±42.11µg TE/g, respectively. Conclusion: All stingless bee honey studied shown a significant amount of important minerals and antioxidant properties with samples from forest clearly shown significantly higher TPC and TFC as well as the antioxidant activity than samples collected from the suburban area.
  17. Fulltext Coffee and gastrointestinal health: a review
    Wan Syamimi Wan Kamarul Zaman, Su Peng Loh, Norhaizan Mohd Esa
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(201):96-103.
    MyJurnal
    Coffee is a well-known beverage being processed from coffee beans of either Arabica and/or Robusta. Observational and experimental research on coffee shows positive health impact. Coffee often relates with dyspeptic condition (i.e. Gastric release) and manifest Gastro-esophageal Reflux (GERD) and peptic ulcer (PU) diseases. Despite much con- tradictive results, epidemiological studies were inclined towards debunking the possible relationship between coffee and gastrointestinal diseases. Putative compounds were experimentally found to be chlorogenic acid (CQA), caffeine (CAFF), βN-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide (C5HT), N-methylpyridinium (NMP), chlorogenic acid lactones (CQL) and hydroxybenzenes in coffee that leads to gastric release. The type 2 bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs), were physiologi- cally involve in the gastric acid secretion. These contrarily results need much considerations involving genetic, types of coffee used and the compounds in coffee that might interact causing gastrointestinal problem.
  18. Fulltext Inter-ethnic dialogue as platform in enhancing social relation among students of higher learning institutions: a preliminaryy surve
    Suzy Aziziyana Saili, Khairulnizam Mat Karim, Rosila Bee Mohd Hussain
    Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2019;4(3):92-103.
    MyJurnal
    Racial polarisation issues in public higher learning institutions has long been debated and continues to
    exist even with the many effort for unity seen through nation’s education policies. Despite the
    existence of opportunities for students to interact with the other ethnic throughout their studies, their
    social relation was relatively moderate. Past findings suggested further studies be made to the factors
    contributing to racial polarisation and that there should be a platform which encouraged students to
    cooperate and enabled them to reached a common ground. The objective of this paper is to do a
    preliminary survey on inter-ethnic dialogue which could become a platform in enhancing good social
    relation between students of different ethnics in public and private universities. A successful interethnic
    dialogue must include the four dimension of social relation: assimilation, amalgamation,
    acculturation and accommodation, with which the social relation in Malaysia revolves, contributed
    primarily by its historical and political factors.
  19. Fulltext Assessment of health-related quality of life in the elderly on maintenance hemodialysis
    Fatin Izzaty Mohd Shahrin, Noraida Omar, Zulfitri ‘Azuan Mat Daud, Nor Fadhlina Zakaria
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(201):90-95.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is one of the main indicators of health and wellbeing among dialysis patients which has attracted mounting interest in recent years in the initiation of intervention measures. Thus, this study aimed to determine the correlations between socio-demographic factors and medical characteristics with HRQOL among elderly on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in nine HD centers in Selangor. Socio-demographic data and HRQOL were assessed using structured questionnaire and Kidney Disease Quality of Life Instrument (KDQOL-36), respectively whilst medical profile and laboratory data were collected from subjects’ medical record. Results: The mean age of subjects was 67±6 years where majority (57%) of the subjects was on maintenance HD for less than 5 years. The mean physical component summary and mental com- ponent summary scores were 33.89±11.83 and 50.23±8.88, respectively. Symptoms/problems subscale, effects of kidney disease on daily life subscale and burden of kidney disease subscale scores were 73.37±17.01, 72.63±19.74 and 54.62±30.42, respectively. There was a significant correlation between serum sodium with physical component summary (r=0.237, p
  20. Fulltext Plate wastage among hospitalized cancer patients
    Zalina Abu Zaid, Vivien Lim Chiau Chiann, Norshariza Jamhuri
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(201):84-89.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Plate wastage in hospital contributes to malnutrition-related complications including longer hospital- ization among cancer patients. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between patients’ ex- periences of access to food hospital and plate wastage among hospitalized cancer patients. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-one cancer patients in the National Cancer Institute, Malaysia were recruited for this study. All eligible patients were undergoing cancer treatments and provided with informed consent. Data obtained included socio-de- mographic characteristics and patients’ experiences of access to food hospital which will contribute to plate wastage. Plate wastage was determined by weighing the unwanted food left on the plate. Results: Prevalence of plate wastage among cancer patients was high at approximately 54%. The appearance of food served was associated with higher plate wastage (p
External Links