Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 45 in total

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  1. Abdullah F, Jaafar MH, Ahmad MI, Ismail ZS
    Int J Environ Health Res, 2024 May;34(5):2280-2298.
    PMID: 37552824 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2023.2243843
    In Malaysia, chemical management in workplaces is managed under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994. Hence, the introduction of the Occupational Safety and Health (Use and Standards of Exposure of Chemicals Hazardous to Health) Regulations 2000 has strengthened the chemical management level in workplaces, including higher academic institutions. The introduction of chemical health risk assessment through the regulation required management to conduct the assessment at workplaces. Poor levels of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in chemical laboratories may also cause discomfort among workers when there is sick building syndrome in laboratories. IAQ is managed through the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010. Although both are different in method and approach, both are meant to ensure the workers' safety and comfort. This study is aimed to investigate the need to integrate both chemical health risk assessment and IAQ assessment in laboratories to ensure optimum safety levels among workers.
  2. Mat Nasir N, Md Isa Z, Ismail NH, Ismail R, Mohd Tamil A, Jaafar MH, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2024 Apr 13;14(1):8590.
    PMID: 38615144 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59206-0
    Hypertension (HPT) is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and premature death worldwide. Currently, attention is given to various dietary approaches with a special focus on the role of micronutrient intake in the regulation of blood pressure. This study aims to measure the dietary intake of selected minerals among Malaysian adults and its association with HPT. This cross-sectional study involved 10,031 participants from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological study conducted in Malaysia. Participants were grouped into HPT if they reported having been diagnosed with high blood pressure [average systolic blood pressure (SBP)/average diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 140/90 mm Hg]. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to measure participants' habitual dietary intake. The dietary mineral intake of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc was measured. The chi-square test was used to assess differences in socio-demographic factors between HPT and non-HPT groups, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess differences in dietary mineral intake between the groups. The participants' average dietary intake of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc was 591.0 mg/day, 3.8 mg/day, 27.1 mg/day, 32.4 mg/day, 0.4 mg/day, 1431.1 mg/day, 2.3 g/day, 27.1 µg/day, 4526.7 mg/day and 1.5 mg/day, respectively. The intake was significantly lower among those with HPT than those without HPT except for calcium and manganese. Continuous education and intervention should be focused on decreasing sodium intake and increasing potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and calcium intake for the general Malaysian population, particularly for the HPT patients.
  3. Mohd Tamil A, Ismail NH, Jaafar MH, Md Isa Z, Ismail R, Mat Nasir N, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Jan 15;10(1):e23042.
    PMID: 38192831 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23042
    INTRODUCTION: In Malaysia, the prevalence of depression has increased from 1.8 % to 2.3 % within a decade. Thus, this study was performed to identify depressive symptoms and its associated factors among Malaysian adults.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the adult population aged 35-70 residing in rural and urban areas in Malaysia. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the short form Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) questionnaire. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify the associated factors related to depressive symptoms.

    RESULTS: About 3.7 % (95 % CI: 2.33-4.83) of the respondents reported having depressive symptoms. Younger adults aged 35-40 years old (AOR: 3.087; 95 % CI: 2.021-4.717), females (AOR: 2.318; 95 % CI: 1.669-3.219), widows and divorcees (AOR: 2.294; 95 % CI: 1.085-4.848), smokers (AOR: 1.843; 95 % CI: 1.334-2.545) and alcohol consumers (AOR: 1.843; 95 % CI: 1.264-2.688) showed a higher odds compared to their other counterparts. Underweight individuals (AOR: 1.899; 95 % CI: 1.177-3.065) and those diagnosed either with hypertension (AOR: 1.442; 95 % CI: 1.11-1.873), diabetes (AOR: 1.554; 95 % CI: 1.133-2.13), angina (AOR: 2.73; 95 % CI: 1.596-4.67), COPD (AOR: 4.187; 95 % CI: 1.528-11.472) or asthma (AOR: 1.906; 95 % CI: 1.309-2.774) were more likely to have depressive symptoms. Additionally, individuals with difficulty trusting people (AOR: 1.477; 95 % CI: 1.024-2.13) and those reported to experience either home or work-related stress (AOR: 2.584; 95 % CI: 2.003-3.331) were more prone to have depressive symptoms.

    CONCLUSION: In this broad population-based study, about 3.7 % (95 % CI: 2.33-4.83) of respondents reported having depressive symptoms. Timely and well targeted collaborative intervention on the identified risk factors by the relevant authorities, would mitigate their effect on the quality of life and retard the progression into depression, especially among younger adults.

  4. Jaafar MH, Xu P, Mageswaran UM, Balasubramaniam SD, Solayappan M, Woon JJ, et al.
    J Anim Sci Technol, 2024 Jan;66(1):178-203.
    PMID: 38618031 DOI: 10.5187/jast.2023.e93
    Constipation, which refers to difficulties in defecation and infrequent bowel movement in emptying the gastrointestinal system that ultimately produces hardened fecal matters, is a health concern in livestock and aging animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of dairy-isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains to alleviate constipation as an alternative therapeutic intervention for constipation treatment in the aging model. Rats were aged via daily subcutaneous injection of D-galactose (600 mg/body weight [kg]), prior to induction of constipation via oral administration of loperamide hydrochloride (5 mg/body weight [kg]). LAB strains (L. fermentum USM 4189 or L. plantarum USM 4187) were administered daily via oral gavage (1 × 10 Log CFU/day) while the control group received sterile saline. Aged rats as shown with shorter telomere lengths exhibited increased fecal bulk and soften fecal upon administration of LAB strains amid constipation as observed using the Bristol Stool Chart, accompanied by a higher fecal moisture content as compared to the control (p < 0.05). Fecal water-soluble metabolite profiles showed a reduced concentration of threonine upon administration of LAB strains compared to the control (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis also showed that the administration of LAB strains contributed to a higher colonic goblet cell count as compared to the control (p < 0.05). The present study illustrates the potential of dairy-sourced LAB strains as probiotics to ameliorate the adverse effect of constipation amid aging, and as a potential dietary intervention strategy for dairy foods including yogurt and cheese.
  5. Spooner M, Larkin J, Liew SC, Jaafar MH, McConkey S, Pawlikowska T
    BMC Med Educ, 2023 Nov 22;23(1):895.
    PMID: 37993832 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04842-9
    INTRODUCTION: While feedback aims to support learning, students frequently struggle to use it. In studying feedback responses there is a gap in explaining them in relation to learning theory. This study explores how feedback experiences influence medical students' self-regulation of learning.

    METHODS: Final-year medical students across three campuses (Ireland, Bahrain and Malaysia) were invited to share experiences of feedback in individual semi-structured interviews. The data were thematically analysed and explored through the lens of self-regulatory learning theory (SRL).

    RESULTS: Feedback interacts with learners' knowledge and beliefs about themselves and about learning. They use feedback to change both their cognitive and behavioural learning strategies, but how they choose which feedback to implement is complex. They struggle to generate learning strategies and expect teachers to make sense of the "how" in addition to the "what"" in planning future learning. Even when not actioned, learners spend time with feedback and it influences future learning.

    CONCLUSION: By exploring our findings through the lens of self-regulation learning, we advance conceptual understanding of feedback responses. Learners' ability to generate "next steps" may be overestimated. When feedback causes negative emotions, energy is diverted from learning to processing distress. Perceived non-implementation of feedback should not be confused with ignoring it; feedback that is not actioned often impacts learning.

  6. Abd Kadir NA, Azzeri A, Mohd Noor MI, Kefeli Z, Abdullah MF, Ramlee MNA, et al.
    Medicine (Baltimore), 2023 Apr 25;102(17):e33590.
    PMID: 37115076 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033590
    BACKGROUND: Adequate health literacy is necessary for individuals as it enables them to readily acquire information, process it, and apply it to health-related decisions. Various factors including geographical area will determine the disparity in health literacy status. Communities living in protected areas have limited health literacy and health status owing to a lack of access to infrastructure and medical facilities. Existing studies have discussed health literacy among various populations disproportionately affected by certain diseases. However, research remains underdeveloped, and the causal factors are largely untested. This research aims to better understand how population living conditions especially those who are living in protected areas are affected and exposed to limited health literacy.

    METHOD: This study will comprehensively review full-text papers published between 2013 and 2023. We will search 3 databases, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science, using the keyword search strategy to find articles related to the issue. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses will be used to guide the selection of relevant studies. The results will then be assessed using the standard Cochrane Quality assessment method. The outcome is addressed in light of a narrative synthesis that utilizes a theme category and focuses on each component's main conclusions.

    RESULT: This protocol describes the planned scope and methodology for the systematic review and meta-analysis that will provide current evidence on; The status of health literacy among the community in protected areas and; The effect of Protected Areas on health literacy according to their types and characteristics.

    CONCLUSION: Meta-analysis of low-to-high health literacy status will benefit the development of policy recommendations for protected areas.

  7. Mat S, Jaafar MH, Razack AHA, Lim J, Ong TA, Khong SY, et al.
    Neurourol Urodyn, 2023 Mar;42(3):641-649.
    PMID: 36728321 DOI: 10.1002/nau.25136
    INTRODUCTION: The common assumption that urinary incontinence occurs in osteoarthritis (OA) due to poor mobility is supported by limited evidence. The influence of gender in such associations is also yet to be elucidated.

    OBJECTIVE: This study, therefore, identified any potential associations between knee OA symptoms and urinary incontinence and further explore sex differences in the associations.

    DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

    SETTING: University Hospital.

    PARTICIPANTS: This was a cross-sectional study from a longitudinal research study comprising 1221 community-dwelling older persons (57% women), mean age (SD) 68.95 (7.49) years.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Presence of urinary incontinence: mixed, stress and urge symptoms. Physical performance and C-reactive protein levels were also assessed.

    RESULTS: Two hundred and seventy-seven (22.83%) individuals reported the presence of urinary incontinence: mixed (41.5%), stress (30%), and urge (28.5%) symptoms. In an unadjusted analysis, stratified by gender, the association between knee pain and urinary incontinence was only present in women with mixed symptoms. After further adjustment of demographics differences and body mass index, the association between knee pain with any urinary incontinence and mixed symptoms remained significant with the odds ratios (95% confidence interval): 1.48 (1.02-2.15) and 1.73 (1.06-2.83), respectively. This relationship was attenuated after further adjustment for waist circumference and impaired lower limb mobility.

    CONCLUSION: Our study refutes previous assumptions that urinary incontinence in individuals with OA is attributed to impaired mobility alone, but introduces the role of abdominal obesity in this relationship, particularly in women. Future studies should assess the temporal relationship between body fat distribution and OA with urinary incontinence.

  8. Md Isa Z, Ismail NH, Mohd Tamil A, Jaafar MH, Ismail R, Mohamed Noor Khan NA, et al.
    BMC Nutr, 2023 Feb 07;9(1):27.
    PMID: 36750888 DOI: 10.1186/s40795-023-00687-z
  9. Jaafar MH, Ismail R, Ismail NH, Md Isa Z, Mohd Tamil A, Mat Nasir N, et al.
    BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 2023 Jan 28;24(1):74.
    PMID: 36709276 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06181-8
    INTRODUCTION: Handgrip strength (HGS) measures the maximum voluntary force of the hand, which has been used to assess individual health status indirectly. Although several factors related to HGS have been identified, studies among adults in Malaysia are lacking. This study aimed to provide the normative reference HGS values and determine its predictor factors among healthy adults of Malay ethnic in Malaysia.

    METHODOLOGY: This study was a part of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study carried out among adults aged between 35 to 70 years old residing in urban and rural Malaysian communities. A standardised questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic information and physical activity level of respondents who provided written informed consent to participate in this study. HGS was measured using Jamar's dynamometer. A total of 3,446 healthy adults of Malay ethnic were included in this study. Descriptive data were used to derive the normative reference values for HGS using means and standard deviations stratified by age and gender. The predictors of HGS were determined using a general linear model (GLM).

    RESULTS: Mean HGS ranged from 38.48 (± 9.40) kg for the dominant hand of men aged 35-40 years to 16.53 (± 5.69) kg for the non-dominant hand of women aged 61-70 years. The ANOVA indicated that there was a significant descending trend of HGS as age increased for both genders (p 

  10. Jaafar MH, Ismail NH, Ismail R, Md Isa Z, Mohd Tamil A, Md Yasin M, et al.
    BMC Nutr, 2023 Jan 09;9(1):6.
    PMID: 36624521 DOI: 10.1186/s40795-022-00649-x
    BACKGROUND: Despite their low energy density and high nutrient content, legumes may be under-recognised as a beneficial food for the prevention and management of obesity and related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aims to analyse the moderation effect of legume intake on the relationship between BMI and the prevalence of CVD among the Malaysian adult population.

    METHODS: This study addressed communities of urban and rural Malaysia, including adults aged between 35 and 70 years old at the baseline recruitment. A series of standardised questionnaires were used to assess legume intake, history of comorbidities and socio-demographic information. Resting blood pressure measurements and physical examinations were performed to collect blood pressure and anthropometric data. Bivariate analysis was completed to determine the association between legume intake, socio-demographic characteristics and CVD prevalence. Moderation analysis was used to quantify the moderation effect of minimum daily legume intake on the relationship between BMI and CVD prevalence.

    RESULTS: This study found that those who consume less than 3 servings of legumes per day benefit from protective effects against CVD risk (POR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.37 - 0.85). Moderation analysis of a minimum of three servings/day for the relationship between BMI and CVD prevalence showed significant effects. The group that benefited the most from this effect was those with a BMI in the range of 26 to 34 kg/m2.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new insights into the recommendation for legume intake according to the relationship between BMI and the prevalence of CVD in Malaysian adults. This study recommends that those with a BMI of 26 to 34 kg/m2 should consume at least 3 servings of legumes per day to reduce the risk of CVD. Further prospective research is warranted to affirm these findings throughout the Malaysian population.

  11. Yunus MNH, Jaafar MH, Mohamed ASA, Azraai NZ, Amil N, Zein RM
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 Oct 31;19(21).
    PMID: 36361112 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114232
    Back injury is a common musculoskeletal injury reported among firefighters (FFs) due to their nature of work and personal protective equipment (PPE). The nature of the work associated with heavy lifting tasks increases FFs' risk of back injury. This study aimed to assess the biomechanics movement of FFs on personal protective equipment during a lifting task. A set of questionnaires was used to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain experienced by FFs. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) motion capture was used in this study to record the body angle deviation and angular acceleration of FFs' thorax extension. The descriptive analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the FFs' age and body mass index with the FFs' thorax movement during the lifting task with PPE and without PPE. Sixty-three percent of FFs reported lower back pain during work, based on the musculoskeletal pain questionnaire. The biomechanics analysis of thorax angle deviation and angular acceleration has shown that using FFs PPE significantly causes restricted movement and limited mobility for the FFs. As regards human factors, the FFs' age influences the angle deviation while wearing PPE and FFs' BMI influences the angular acceleration without wearing PPE during the lifting activity.
  12. Azzeri A, Ramlee MNA, Noor MIM, Jaafar MH, Rocmah TN, Dahlui M
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 Oct 13;19(20).
    PMID: 36293741 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013157
    Economic burden issues in SARS-CoV-2 patients with underlying co-morbidities are enormous resources for patient treatment and management. The uncertainty costs for clinical management render the healthcare system catatonic and incurs deficits in national annual budgets. This article focuses on systematic steps towards selecting and evaluating literature to uncover gaps and ways to help healthcare stakeholders optimize resources in treating and managing COVID-19 patients with multi-morbidity. A systematic review of all COVID-19 treatment procedures with co-morbidities or multi-morbidity for the period from 2019 to 2022 was conducted. The search includes studies describing treatment costs associated with multi- or co-morbidity cases for infected patients and, if concurrently reported, determining recurring expenses. Study selection will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Galbraith plots and I2 statistics will be deployed to assess heterogeneity and to identify potential sources. A backward elimination process will be applied in the regression modelling procedure. Based on the number of studies retrieved and their sample size, the subgroup analysis will be stratified on participant disease category, associated total costs, and degree of freedom in cost estimation. These studies were registered in the PROSPERO registry (ID: CRD42022323071).
  13. Fadhullah W, Imran NIN, Ismail SNS, Jaafar MH, Abdullah H
    BMC Public Health, 2022 Jan 05;22(1):1.
    PMID: 34983455 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12274-7
    BACKGROUND: Poor waste disposal practices hamper the progress towards an integrated solid waste management in households. Knowledge of current practices and perception of household solid waste management is necessary for accurate decision making in the move towards a more sustainable approach. This study investigates the household waste practices and perceptions about waste management in Panji, one of the sub-districts in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.

    METHODS: A stratified random sampling technique using a cross-sectional survey questionnaire was used to collect data. A total of 338 households were interviewed in the survey and data were analyzed using SPSS. Chi-square goodness of fit test was used to determine the relationships between categorical variables, whereas Chi-square bivariate correlation test was performed to observe the correlation between the perceptions of waste segregation with socio-demographic background of the respondents. The correlation between perception of respondents with the locality, house type and waste type were also conducted. Principal component analysis was used to identify grouping of variables and to establish which factors were interrelated in any given construct.

    RESULTS: The results of the study revealed that 74.3 % of households disposed of food debris as waste and 18.3% disposed of plastic materials as waste. The study also showed that 50.3% of the households segregate their waste while 49.7% did not. About 95.9% of the respondents were aware that improper waste management leads to disease; such as diarrhea and malaria. There were associations between locality, age and house type with waste segregation practices among respondents (Chi-square test, p<0.05). Associations were also found between locality with the perception of improper waste management which lead to disease (Chi-square test, p<0.05). Principal Component Analysis showed that 17.94% of the variance has high positive loading (positive relationship) with age, marital status and, type of house.

    CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance to design waste separation programs that suit the needs of targeted population as a boost towards sustainable solid waste management practices.

  14. Parthiban N, Boland F, Fadil Azim DH, Pawlikowska T, O'Shea MT, Jaafar MH, et al.
    Med Educ Online, 2021 Dec;26(1):1927466.
    PMID: 33999787 DOI: 10.1080/10872981.2021.1927466
    Background: Professionalism is the basis of trust in patient-physician relationships; however, there is very limited evidence focusing on attitudes towards professionalism among medical students. Hence, the main aim of our study was to investigate Malaysian medical students' attitudes towards professionalism with specific emphasis on the comparison between pre-clinical and clinical students. Our secondary aim was to compare the differences in perception of medical students in Malaysia (pre-clinical and clinical) with Asian medical students studying in Dublin, IrelandMethods: This study utilized the Professionalism Mini-Evaluation Exercise (P-MEX) instrument which consists of 25 items that represent four skill categories: Doctor-Patient Relationship skills, Reflective skills, Time Management and Inter-Professional Relationship skills. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic information of students and given the ordinal nature of the data, Mann-Whitney U-tests were used.Results: Overall, students have positive attitudes to all the professionalism items with more than 80% of the students agreeing that each of the professionalism attributes is important or very important. There was evidence of a significant difference between Malaysian pre-clinical and clinical students in relation to 'avoiding derogatory language' only (p = 0.015). When comparing between Malaysian and Dublin Asian students, there was a statistically significant difference in relation to 'show interest in patient as a person' (p 
  15. Mamat NI, Amil N, Mohd Hanif MH, Zuknik MH, Norashiddin FA, Jaafar MH
    PMID: 34520290 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1976735
    Schools are considered sensitive areas to noise pollution. The objective of this study is to ascertain the sound level in schools with respect to different sampling time sessions and sampling points. Five sampling points, consisting of two classrooms (Classroom A and Classroom B), a canteen, a staffroom and a field, were chosen to obtain an overview of the noise level within the whole school in three different time sessions (morning, afternoon and evening), as well as 8-h continuous sampling in both classrooms and the staffroom. The average noise level (LAeq,10min) obtained in this school was found to be in the range of 48.8 dBA to 83.7 dBA, where most of the values exceeded the permissible maximum sound pressure level set by the Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE). Classroom B recorded the highest average noise level (LAeq,8h) of 77.9 dBA, which exceeded the maximum value set by the Department of Environment.
  16. Yunus MNH, Jaafar MH, Mohamed ASA, Azraai NZ, Hossain MS
    PMID: 34444087 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168342
    Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are among the most common disorders in any work sector and industry. Ergonomic risk assessment can reduce the risk of WMSDs. Motion capture that can provide accurate and real-time quantitative data has been widely used as a tool for ergonomic risk assessment. However, most ergonomic risk assessments that use motion capture still depend on the traditional ergonomic risk assessment method, focusing on qualitative data. Therefore, this article aims to provide a view on the ergonomic risk assessment and apply current motion capture technology to understand classical mechanics of physics that include velocity, acceleration, force, and momentum in ergonomic risk assessment. This review suggests that using motion capture technologies with kinetic and kinematic variables, such as velocity, acceleration, and force, can help avoid inconsistency and develop more reliable results in ergonomic risk assessment. Most studies related to the physical measurement conducted with motion capture prefer to use non-optical motion capture because it is a low-cost system and simple experimental setup. However, the present review reveals that optical motion capture can provide more accurate data.
  17. Hor YY, Ooi CH, Lew LC, Jaafar MH, Lau AS, Lee BK, et al.
    J Appl Microbiol, 2021 Apr;130(4):1307-1322.
    PMID: 32638482 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14776
    AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of Lactobacillus strains in improving ageing of the musculoskeletal system.

    METHODS AND RESULTS: The anti-ageing mechanism of three probiotics strains Lactobacillus fermentum DR9, Lactobacillus paracasei OFS 0291 and L. helveticus OFS 1515 were evaluated on gastrocnemius muscle and tibia of d-galactose-induced ageing rats. Upon senescence induction, aged rats demonstrated reduced antioxidative genes CAT and SOD expression in both bone and muscle compared to the young rats (P 

  18. Isa ZM, Ibrahim N, Ismail NH, Jaafar MH, Tamil AM, Yusof KH
    J Pak Med Assoc, 2021 Feb;71(Suppl 2)(2):S68-S73.
    PMID: 33785945
    OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of hypertension and its relationship with dietary sodium intake among the Malay population in Selangor, Malaysia.

    Methods: Respondents were recruited from the year 2013 to 2015 from households in Klang Valley (urban area) and several settlements of the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) in Selangor (rural area). Data were collected using two questionnaires, a sociodemographic questionnaire and a food frequency questionnaire.

    RESULTS: A total of 3,453 adults participated in this study. The mean age of the respondents was 50.9 (±10.23) years. The prevalence of hypertension was 23.3%. Mean dietary sodium consumption was 3.6 (±6.63) grams/day, 1.6 grams higher than the current WHO recommendation. The prevalence of hypertension was higher among males aged 60 years and older; among rural population with low education level; among housewives and those with high dietary sodium intake. After adjusting for age, gender and marital status in a multiple logistic regression analysis, rural location (OR = 5.81) and high sodium intake (OR = 2.33) have been shown to affect the incidence of hypertension.

    CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of Malay population in Selangor was hypertensive with a higher sodium intake than the WHO recommendation. Hypertension was associated with rural location and high sodium intake. Sustainable and cost-effective population-based health promotion and prevention interventions using a multi-sectoral approach are needed to ensure sufficient community sodium intake.

  19. Nor NSM, Yip CW, Ibrahim N, Jaafar MH, Rashid ZZ, Mustafa N, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2021 01 28;11(1):2508.
    PMID: 33510270 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81935-9
    The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 in the COVID-19 pandemic had raised questions on the route of transmission of this disease. Initial understanding was that transmission originated from respiratory droplets from an infected host to a susceptible host. However, indirect contact transmission of viable virus by fomites and through aerosols has also been suggested. Herein, we report the involvement of fine indoor air particulates with a diameter of ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) as the virus's transport agent. PM2.5 was collected over four weeks during 48-h measurement intervals in four separate hospital wards containing different infected clusters in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Our results indicated the highest SARS-CoV-2 RNA on PM2.5 in the ward with number of occupants. We suggest a link between the virus-laden PM2.5 and the ward's design. Patients' symptoms and numbers influence the number of airborne SARS-CoV-2 RNA with PM2.5 in an enclosed environment.
  20. Zaydi AI, Lew LC, Hor YY, Jaafar MH, Chuah LO, Yap KP, et al.
    Benef Microbes, 2020 Dec 02;11(8):753-766.
    PMID: 33245015 DOI: 10.3920/BM2019.0200
    Aging processes affect the brain in many ways, ranging from cellular to functional levels which lead to cognitive decline and increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the potentials of Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 on brain health including cognitive and memory functions during aging and the impacts of high fat diet during a 12-week period. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into six groups: (1) young animals on normal diet (ND, (2) young animals on a high fat diet (HFD), (3) aged animals on ND, (4) aged animals on HFD, (5) aged animals on HFD and L. plantarum DR7 (109 cfu/day) and (6) aged animals receiving HFD and lovastatin. To induce ageing, all rats in group 3 to 6 were injected sub-cutaneously at 600 mg/kg/day of D-galactose daily. The administration of DR7 has reduced anxiety accompanied by enhanced memory during behavioural assessments in aged-HFD rats (P<0.05). Hippocampal concentration of all three pro-inflammatory cytokines were increased during aging but reduced upon administration of both statin and DR7. Expressions of hippocampal neurotransmitters and apoptosis genes showed reduced expressions of indoleamine dioxygenase and P53 accompanied by increased expression of TPH1 in aged- HFD rats administered with DR7, indicating potential effects of DR7 along the pathways of serotonin and oxidative senescence. This study provided an insight into potentials of L. plantarum DR7 as a prospective dietary strategy to improve cognitive functions during aging. This study provided an insight into potentials of L. plantarum DR7 as a prospective dietary strategy to improve cognitive functions during aging.
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