Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 32 in total

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  1. Fulltext Contributing factors of obesity among stressed adolescents
    Tajik E, Zulkefli NA, Baharom A, Minhat HS, Latiff LA
    Electron Physician, 2014;6(1):771-8.
    PMID: 25763144 DOI: 10.14661/2014.771-778
    BACKGROUND: Many adolescents suffer from common mental disorders such as stress, which affects health through the psychosocial process, eating behavior, food choices and physical activity. During adolescence, dietary patterns are formed and can affect the occurrence of diseases in later life. This is a review of the results in the pertinent literature, from 1989 until November 2013, concerning stress and the contributing factors that lead to obesity among adolescents. The aim of this review is to identify obesity among stressed adolescents as well as the contributing factors.
    METHODS: A descriptive design was used for both quantitative and qualitative studies while, in addition, psychological theories were used for the qualitative studies. The articles were screened to ensure their quality and included in this review accordingly. Ten articles were included in the review comprising cross-sectional, cohort, review and meta-analysis. Interviews and questionnaires were used for data collection.
    RESULTS: The literature provided obvious information focusing on emotional stress and obesity for both boys and girls. This review revealed that stress results in overweight and obesity among adolescents through changes in lifestyle including decreased physical activity and increased food intake. Gender and economic status are the main components that affect obesity in stressed adolescents.
    CONCLUSION: Obesity is a consequence of stress among adolescents and is exacerbated by the wrong eating attitude. Developing proper food choices among adolescents can help prevent obesity and other complications in adulthood.
    KEYWORDS: Adolescent; Body Mass Index; Eating; Obesity; Stress
  2. Fulltext Designing and validating a questionnaire on healthy lifestyle to reduce depressive symptoms among adolescents
    Tajik E, Latiff LA, Yit Siew C, Awang H, Adznam SNA
    Iran J Psychiatry, 2020 Jan;15(1):27-40.
    PMID: 32377212
    Objective: Most adolescents do not meet national recommendations for healthy lifestyle and reducing depressive symptom. A comprehensive educational program with its specified questionnaire is needed to improve healthy lifestyle to assess the lifestyle components. This study aimed to confirm the validity of a healthy lifestyle questionnaire to assess depressive symptoms among adolescents.
    Method: A descriptive predictive study using simple random sampling was performed in a secondary school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, among 235 school-going adolescents (13-15 years old) with Malaysian nationality. The instrument consisted of a set of dual language (English and Malay) for both researcher-administered questionnaires (knowledge, attitude, eating behavior, and relaxation activities) and standard-validated questionnaires (Physical Activity questionnaire for Adolescents, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale- 21, and Brief Copping). Data were analyzed using the kappa statistics (k) and the intraclass correlation coefficient test for reliability and Partial Least Squares (PLS) for validity.
    Results: The reliability of all variables was over the substantial level (ICC and/or k > 0.61). The model and construct variables were predictive of depressive symptoms by 49.4%. To analyze the validity of the questions, 11 questions were removed from the initial model for factorial loading less than 0.5. In convergent validity of theory of information-motivation-behavioral skills, AVE (average variance construct), the outer loading, was higher than 0.5.
    Conclusion: PLS confirmed the existence of sufficient correlations between different items of the construct. Thus, the weights of indicators appeared to be appropriate indicators for the model. The results proved that the information, motivation, and behavioral skills model was efficient for healthy lifestyle and can be a good base for further research.
  3. Fulltext Anxiety, depression, coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus; an association study in ghaem hospital, iran
    Tajfard M, Ghayour Mobarhan M, Rahimi HR, Mouhebati M, Esmaeily H, Ferns GA, et al.
    Iran Red Crescent Med J, 2014 Sep;16(9):e14589.
    PMID: 25593715 DOI: 10.5812/ircmj.14589
    There is an increasing trend in the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Iran.
  4. Fulltext Serum inflammatory cytokines and depression in coronary artery disease
    Tajfard M, Latiff LA, Rahimi HR, Mouhebati M, Esmaeily H, Taghipour A, et al.
    Iran Red Crescent Med J, 2014 Jul;16(7):e17111.
    PMID: 25237578 DOI: 10.5812/ircmj.17111
    Severe depression may be accompanied by immune dysregulation and is also associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD).
  5. Relationship between serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein with angiographic severity of coronary artery disease and traditional cardiovascular risk factors
    Tajfard M, Tavakoly Sany SB, Avan A, Latiff LA, Rahimi HR, Moohebati M, et al.
    J Cell Physiol, 2019 07;234(7):10289-10299.
    PMID: 30548615 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27945
    Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is predictive of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to examine the possible association of hs-CRP with presence and severity of CAD and traditional CAD risk factors. This case-control study was carried out on 2,346 individuals from September 2011 to May 2013. Of these 1,187 had evidence of coronary disease, and were subject to coronary angiography, and the remainder were healthy controls (n = 1,159). Characteristics were determined using standard laboratory techniques and serum Hs-CRP levels were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, and severity of CAD was assessed according to the score of obstruction in coronary artery. Serum hs-CRP levels were higher in those with severe coronary disease, who had stenosis ≥ 50% stenosis of at least one coronary artery (all p 
  6. Serum concentrations of MCP-1 and IL-6 in combination predict the presence of coronary artery disease and mortality in subjects undergoing coronary angiography
    Tajfard M, Latiff LA, Rahimi HR, Moohebati M, Hasanzadeh M, Emrani AS, et al.
    Mol Cell Biochem, 2017 Nov;435(1-2):37-45.
    PMID: 28534120 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-017-3054-5
    Cytokines play a key role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of current study was to investigate the relationship between the serum concentrations of 12 cytokines with mortality and extent of CAD in individuals undergoing angiography and healthy controls. 342 CAD patients were recruited and divided into 2 groups: those with ≥50% occlusion in at least one coronary artery [Angiography (+)] or <50% obstruction in coronary arteries [Angiography (-)]. Also 120 healthy subjects were enrolled as control group. Lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, body mass index, and blood pressure were evaluated in all the subjects. An Evidence Investigator® was used for measuring 12 cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1, IFN-γ, EGF, VEGF) using sandwich chemiluminescent assays. Univariate analysis, multivariate regression models, ROC, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used for exploring the candidate markers in CAD patients. Serum level of IFN-γ, IL-4, MCP-1, EGF, IL-6, and IL-8 were markedly higher in angiogram-positive patients, while VEGF concentrations were significantly (P 2.16 pg/mL IL-6 had a > 94% sensitivity and 70% specificity in predicting 2 years mortality in the subjects with a serum MCP-1 > 61.95 pg/ mL, and patients having IL-6/MCP-1 combination had a shorter survival.Our findings demonstrate that CAD patients with serum MCP-1 and IL-6 levels of >61.95 and >2.16 pg/mL had a higher mortality with 94.1% sensitivity and 70.5% specificity for predicting mortality in CAD patients.
  7. Mental Trauma Affliction and Infliction: Punishment and Atonement for Sins?
    Syed Hassan ST, Jamaludin H, Latiff LA, Raman RA, Khaw WF
    Bull Emerg Trauma, 2014 Oct;2(4):139-40.
    PMID: 27162885
  8. Fulltext Effect of Nigella sativa on reproductive system in experimental menopause rat model
    Parhizkar S, Latiff LA, Parsa A
    Avicenna J Phytomed, 2016 Jan-Feb;6(1):95-103.
    PMID: 27247926
    Menopause is the condition when regular menstrual periods cease and may be accompanied by psychological and physical symptoms. The purpose of current study was to determine Nigella sativa effects on reproductive system in experimental menopause animal models.
  9. Dietary intake of patients with angiographically defined coronary artery disease and that of healthy controls in Iran
    Nazeminezhad R, Tajfard M, Latiff LA, Mouhebati M, Esmaeily H, Ferns GA, et al.
    Eur J Clin Nutr, 2014 Jan;68(1):109-13.
    PMID: 24219895 DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.205
    The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary intake and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in individuals with and without angiographically defined coronary artery disease.
  10. Fulltext IoMT amid COVID-19 pandemic: Application, architecture, technology, and security
    Mohd Aman AH, Hassan WH, Sameen S, Attarbashi ZS, Alizadeh M, Latiff LA
    J Netw Comput Appl, 2021 Jan 15;174:102886.
    PMID: 34173428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnca.2020.102886
    In many countries, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has been deployed in tandem with other strategies to curb the spread of COVID-19, improve the safety of front-line personnel, increase efficacy by lessening the severity of the disease on human lives, and decrease mortality rates. Significant inroads have been achieved in terms of applications and technology, as well as security which have also been magnified through the rapid and widespread adoption of IoMT across the globe. A number of on-going researches show the adoption of secure IoMT applications is possible by incorporating security measures with the technology. Furthermore, the development of new IoMT technologies merge with Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Blockchain offers more viable solutions. Hence, this paper highlights the IoMT architecture, applications, technologies, and security developments that have been made with respect to IoMT in combating COVID-19. Additionally, this paper provides useful insights into specific IoMT architecture models, emerging IoMT applications, IoMT security measurements, and technology direction that apply to many IoMT systems within the medical environment to combat COVID-19.
  11. Emotional health and coping mechanisms among adolescents in Malaysian residential foster care homes: A comparative study with adolescents living with families
    Mohammadzadeh M, Tajik E, Awang H, Latiff LA
    Asian J Psychiatr, 2018 Feb;32:156-158.
    PMID: 29278817 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2017.12.011
  12. Fulltext Contraceptive use among women with chronic medical conditions and factors associated with its non-use in Malaysia
    Manaf RA, Ismail IZ, Latiff LA
    Glob J Health Sci, 2012 Sep;4(5):91-9.
    PMID: 22980381 DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v4n5p91
    INTRODUCTION: Women with chronic medical conditions are at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, which may be minimized through optimal preconception care and appropriate contraceptive use. This study aimed to describe contraceptive use among women with chronic medical conditions and factors associated with its non-use.
    METHODS: This study used cross-sectional data from a family planning survey among women with chronic medical conditions conducted in three health facilities in a southern state of Malaysia. A total of 450 married women in reproductive age (18-50 year) with intact uterus, and do not plan to conceive were analysed for contraceptive use. Both univariate and multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with contraceptive non-use among the study participants.
    RESULTS: A total of 312 (69.3%) of the study participants did not use contraceptive. Contraceptive non-use was highest among the diabetics (71.2%), connective tissue disease patients (68.6%) and hypertensive patients (65.3%). Only 26.3% of women with heart disease did not use contraceptive. In the multivariate analysis, contraceptive non-use was significantly more common among women who received their medical treatment in the health clinics as compared to those who received treatment in the hospital (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09, 2.79), being in older age group of 41-50 year (adjusted OR=2.31, 95% CI: 1.19, 4.48), having children (adjusted OR=4.57, 95% CI: 1.66, 12.57) and having lower education (adjusted OR=2.87, 95% CI: 1.43, 5.77).
    CONCLUSION: About two-third of women with chronic medical conditions who needed contraceptive did not use them despite the higher risk of pregnancy related complications. The high unmet need warrant an effective health promotion programme to encourage the uptake of contraceptives especially targeting women of older age group, low education and those who received their medical treatment at health clinics.
    Study site: Outpatient clinic, three hospitals; 8 health clinics, Malaysia
  13. Comparison of gait parameters across three attentional loading conditions during timed up and go test in stroke survivors
    Manaf H, Justine M, Ting GH, Latiff LA
    Top Stroke Rehabil, 2014 Mar-Apr;21(2):128-36.
    PMID: 24710973 DOI: 10.1310/tsr2102-128
    Little is known about the effects of attentional loading on performance of turning during walking in individuals with stroke.
  14. Fulltext Predictor of cardiovascular risks in end stage renal failure patients on maintenance dialysis
    Lim CT, Yap XH, Chung KJ, Khalid MA, Yayha N, Latiff LA, et al.
    Pak J Med Sci, 2015 Nov-Dec;31(6):1300-5.
    PMID: 26870086 DOI: 10.12669/pjms.316.8039
    OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of morbidity and premature mortality in end stage renal failure patients (ESRD) receiving dialysis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of various risk factors in this group of high CVD risk patients in local population.
    METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional retrospective study in a single hospital. A total of 136 ESRF patients, consisted of 43 haemodialysis (HD) and 93 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, were recruited and followed up for 36 months duration. Midweek clinical and laboratory data were collected. The occurrence of existing and new CVD events was recorded.
    RESULTS: Multiple Logistic Regression showed pre-existing cardiovascular event (odds ratio, 4.124; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.990 to 17.187), elevated total cholesterol level (odds ratio, 0.550; 95% CI, 0.315 to 0.963), elevated serum phosphate level (odds ratio, 5.862; 95% CI, 1.041 to 33.024) and elevated random blood glucose level (odds ratio, 1.193; 95% CI, 1.012 to 1.406) were significantly associated with occurrence of CVD events.
    CONCLUSIONS: History of cardiovascular event before the initiation of dialysis, elevated level of serum phosphate and random blood glucose levels are the risk factors of CVD whereas paradoxically a high total cholesterol level has CVD protective effect towards the ESRF patients.
    KEYWORDS: CVD risk; End Stage Renal Failure (ESRF); Haemodialysis; Peritoneal dialysis
  15. Assessment of the reliability of a novel self-sampling device for performing cervical sampling in Malaysia
    Latiff LA, Rahman SA, Wee WY, Dashti S, Andi Asri AA, Unit NH, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2015;16(2):559-64.
    PMID: 25684487
    BACKGROUND: The participation of women in cervical cancer screening in Malaysia is low. Self-sampling might be able to overcome this problem.The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of self-sampling for cervical smear in our country.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 258 community dwelling women from urban and rural settings who participated in health campaigns. In order to reduce the sampling bias, half of the study population performed the self-sampling prior to the physician sampling while the other half performed the self-sampling after the physician sampling, randomly. Acquired samples were assessed for cytological changes as well as HPV DNA detection.

    RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 40.4±11.3 years. The prevalence of abnormal cervical changes was 2.7%. High risk and low risk HPV genotypes were found in 4.0% and 2.7% of the subjects, respectively. A substantial agreement was observed between self-sampling and the physician obtained sampling in cytological diagnosis (k=0.62, 95%CI=0.50, 0.74), micro-organism detection (k=0.77, 95%CI=0.66, 0.88) and detection of hormonal status (k=0.75, 95%CI=0.65, 0.85) as well as detection of high risk (k=0.77, 95%CI=0.4, 0.98) and low risk (K=0.77, 95%CI=0.50, 0.92) HPV. Menopausal state was found to be related with 8.39 times more adequate cell specimens for cytology but 0.13 times less adequate cell specimens for virological assessment.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that self-sampling has a good agreement with physician sampling in detecting HPV genotypes. Self-sampling can serve as a tool in HPV screening while it may be useful in detecting cytological abnormalities in Malaysia.

  16. Comparative Assessment of a Self-sampling Device and Gynecologist Sampling for Cytology and HPV DNA Detection in a Rural and Low Resource Setting: Malaysian Experience
    Latiff LA, Ibrahim Z, Pei CP, Rahman SA, Akhtari-Zavare M
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2015;16(18):8495-501.
    PMID: 26745108
    PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the agreement and differences between cervical self-sampling with a Kato device (KSSD) and gynecologist sampling for Pap cytology and human papillomavirus DNA (HPV DNA) detection.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women underwent self-sampling followed by gynecologist sampling during screening at two primary health clinics. Pap cytology of cervical specimens was evaluated for specimen adequacy, presence of endocervical cells or transformation zone cells and cytological interpretation for cells abnormalities. Cervical specimens were also extracted and tested for HPV DNA detection. Positive HPV smears underwent gene sequencing and HPV genotyping by referring to the online NCBI gene bank. Results were compared between samplings by Kappa agreement and McNemar test.

    RESULTS: For Pap specimen adequacy, KSSD showed 100% agreement with gynecologist sampling but had only 32.3% agreement for presence of endocervical cells. Both sampling showed 100% agreement with only 1 case detected HSIL favouring CIN2 for cytology result. HPV DNA detection showed 86.2%agreement (K=0.64, 95% CI 0.524-0.756, p=0.001) between samplings. KSSD and gynaecologist sampling identified high risk HPV in 17.3% and 23.9% respectively (p= 0.014).

    CONCLUSION: The self-sampling using Kato device can serve as a tool in Pap cytology and HPV DNA detection in low resource settings in Malaysia. Self-sampling devices such as KSSD can be used as an alternative technique to gynaecologist sampling for cervical cancer screening among rural populations in Malaysia.

  17. Alternative supplement for enhancement of reproductive health and metabolic profile among perimenopausal women: a novel role of Nigella sativa
    Latiff LA, Parhizkar S, Dollah MA, Hassan ST
    Iran J Basic Med Sci, 2014 Dec;17(12):980-5.
    PMID: 25859301
    The aim of this open label crossover study was to investigate the effects of Nigella sativa on reproductive health and metabolic profile of perimenopausal women in Rawang, Malaysia.
  18. Fulltext Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) and its prevention: a cross sectional study on patients' knowledge, attitude and practice among patients attending primary health care clinic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Latiff LA, Parhizkar S, Zainuddin H, Chun GM, Rahiman MA, Ramli NL, et al.
    Glob J Health Sci, 2012 Feb 29;4(2):95-102.
    PMID: 22980156 DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v4n2p95
    The World Health Organization confirmed that the novel influenza A, H1N1 as a pandemic on 11 June 2009. After less than three months, 182 countries were affected by the pandemic accounting for about 150,000 infected cases and 3000 mortality. Successful H1N1 pandemic management strategies' shaped by making changes in health behavior. The aim of this study was to document patients' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) and its prevention. We performed a cross-sectional study on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on preventive measures of Influenza A (H1N1) involving 322 patients attending Klinik Kesihatan Jinjang, a primary health care clinic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from May 10 to 26, 2010 using a face to face interview with a structured pre-tested questionnaire. The majority of the respondents were females (56.8%), Malays (43.2%) aged between 18-27 years old (28.9%). There were significant association between knowledge on the complication of H1N1, effectiveness of the treatment, preventive measures of Influenza A (H1N1) and race (p<0.001) and educational level (p<0.001). There were also significant associations between attitude scores of these patients and their gender (p=0.03), and educational level (p=0.001). Practice scores related to H1N1 were found to be significantly associated with race (p<0.001) and educational level (p<0.001). The significant associations were observed between knowledge and attitude (p<0.001), knowledge and practices (p<0.001), as well as attitude and practices related to H1N1 (p<0.001). Knowledge has a crucial effect on patients' attitude and practice particularly in a pandemic spread. So health policy makers should attempt to disseminate information about preventive measures to community in order to improve their preventive practices during pandemics.
  19. Thymoquinone prevents β-amyloid neurotoxicity in primary cultured cerebellar granule neurons
    Ismail N, Ismail M, Mazlan M, Latiff LA, Imam MU, Iqbal S, et al.
    Cell Mol Neurobiol, 2013 Nov;33(8):1159-69.
    PMID: 24101432 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-013-9982-z
    Thymoquinone (TQ), a bioactive constituent of Nigella sativa Linn (N. sativa) has demonstrated several neuropharmacological attributes. In the present study, the neuroprotective properties of TQ were investigated by studying its anti-apoptotic potential to diminish β-amyloid peptide 1-40 sequence (Aβ1-40)-induced neuronal cell death in primary cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). The effects of TQ against Aβ1-40-induced neurotoxicity, morphological damages, DNA condensation, the generation of reactive oxygen species, and caspase-3, -8, and -9 activation were investigated. Pretreatment of CGNs with TQ (0.1 and 1 μM) and subsequent exposure to 10 μM Aβ1-40 protected the CGNs against the neurotoxic effects of the latter. In addition, the CGNs were better preserved with intact cell bodies, extensive neurite networks, a loss of condensed chromatin and less free radical generation than those exposed to Aβ1-40 alone. TQ pretreatment inhibited Aβ1-40-induced apoptosis of CGNs via both extrinsic and intrinsic caspase pathways. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that TQ may prevent neurotoxicity and Aβ1-40-induced apoptosis. TQ is, therefore, worth studying further for its potential to reduce the risks of developing Alzheimer's disease.
  20. Fulltext A randomised controlled trial on hypolipidemic effects of Nigella Sativa seeds powder in menopausal women
    Ibrahim RM, Hamdan NS, Mahmud R, Imam MU, Saini SM, Rashid SN, et al.
    J Transl Med, 2014;12:82.
    PMID: 24685020 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-12-82
    The risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is increased tremendously among menopausal women, and there is an increasing demand for alternative therapies for managing factors like dyslipidemia that contribute to CVD development.
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