Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 375 in total

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  1. Noor Aini Mohd. Yusoff, Zalina Abu Zaid, Raiza Sham, Rosita Jamaluddin, Suzana Shahar, A. Rahman A. Jamal
    MyJurnal
    Malnutrition is common among pediatric oncology patients. Factors contributing to malnutrition include physiological abnormalities, response to the tumors and side effects of the treatment. A pilot study was carried out to determine the nutritional status of 17 pediatric oncology patients aged 4 to 12 years old in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. The
    nutritional status was assessed via anthropometric measurements and dietary intake through 3 days repeatitive 24 hours diet recall with subjects and their carers. Biochemical profiles (serum albumin and hemoglobin) were reviewed from the medical record. Through anthropometry measurements, weight and height were used to calculate Z-scores and further determine the percentile weight-for-age, height-for-age using NCHS percentile charts (WHO 1983). Frisancho’s standards (1981) were used to define malnutrition based on MUACfor- age. Underweight as determined using z scores below -2 for weight-for-age was observed in 70.6% of the subjects. Whilst, 76.5% of the subjects were classified as stunted (z score < –2) for height-for-age. Based on MUAC-for-age percentile, the sign of severe malnutrition category (<5 percentile) was observed in 35.3% of the subject and 23.6% of the subject were in the moderate malnutrition (>5 – <10 percentile). About 70.6% of the subject had low haemoglobin (< 11 g/dl) and 29.4% of the subject were hypoalbuminemia (< 35 g/dl) . Total macronutrient intake was assessed and compared with the individual requirement (Seashore 1984) for energy and protein intake were satisfactory, except for subjects in age group 10 – 12 years who achieved only 70% of the individuals requirements. As a conclusion, although food intake of the subjects was satisfactory but chronic malnutrition was prevalent. Early recognition of malnutrition is essential in order to plan for a nutritional intervention and further enhancing the quality of life.
    Key words: Nutritional status, pediatric oncology, anthropometric, dietary intake, biochemical profile.
  2. Yusoff, A.N., Te, L.H., Mukari, S.Z.M., Abd Hamid, A.I.
    MyJurnal
    Heschl’s gyrus (HG) is known to interact with other auditory related areas of the same hemisphere during the performance
    of an auditory cognitive task. However, the information about how it interacts with the opposite HG is still lacking.
    The aim of this study was to investigate the psychophysiologic interaction (PPI) between the bilateral HG during a
    simple arithmetic addition task and to verify the role of noise as an experimental factor that would modulate the PPI.
    Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were performed on eighteen healthy participants, in which a
    single-digit addition task were solved during in-quiet (AIQ) and in-noise (AIN) conditions. The fMRI data were analysed
    using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM8). The interaction between the bilateral HG was investigated using PPI
    analysis. The response in right HG was found to be linearly influenced by the activity in left HG, vice-versa, for both
    in-quiet and in-noise conditions. The connectivity from right to left HG in noisy condition seemed to be modulated
    by noise, while the modulation is relatively small oppositely, indicating a non-reciprocal behavior. A two-way PPI
    model between right and left HG is suggested. The connectivity from right to left HG during a simple addition task in
    noise is driven by a higher ability of right HG to perceive the stimuli in a noisy condition. Both the bilateral HGs took
    part in the cognitive processes of arithmetic addition from which the interactions between the two were found to be
    different in noise.
  3. Rokiah Abu Bakar, Siti Hajar Abu Bakar Ah, Abd. Hadi Zakaria
    MyJurnal
    Kajian rintis telah dilakukan di Kuala Lumpur dalam kalangan 30 orang kanak-kanak berumur 10-18 tahun bagi mengumpulkan pandangan mereka mengenai strategi pemasaran kempen anti-merokok. Hasil kajian menunjukkan kempen tersebut kurang berkesan mencegah kanak-kanak daripada merokok. Faktor-faktor yang menyebabkan kempen ini kurang berjaya mengurangkan tabiat merokok dalam kalangan kanak-kanak adalah kanak-kanak tidak merasa takut dengan poster dan gambar penyakit kritikal yang dipaparkan (60%), mereka dengan mudah boleh mendapatkan rokok (66%), serta kekurangan kerjasama semua sektor masyarakat dalam menyokong kempen ini (77%). Strategi pemasaran kempen anti-merokok dari aspek produk, harga, aksesibiliti, promosi, dasar sosial dan perkongsian komuniti perlu diperbaiki dan diberi penekanan seimbang untuk menjamin keberkesanan kempen secara komprehensif.


  4. Mansor M, Oo SS, Abdullah KL
    MyJurnal
    Family planning is an important practice for women as it can help to improve financial and social status. Unwanted pregnancy has negative effects for husband and financial. However, couples married at a late age may not practice family planning because they want to have kids. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence, factors associated with
    husband’s socio demography and decision making in family planning practices among women in reproductive age who attended a polyclinic in Serdang, Malaysia. A cross sectional study was conducted on 245 women with a systematic random sampling. Descriptive analysis, Fisher exact and Chi-square tests were conducted to identify the influence of husband’s socio demographic factors and decision making in family planning practices. The prevalence of family planning practices among married women was moderate (53.9%). Family planning practices among women showed significant relationship with the husband’s socio demography which were husband’s race (p = 0.018), religion (p = 0.008) and making decision in family planning (p = 0.002). The husband’s socio demography showed a significant relationship with the prevalence of the wife practicing family planning. This clearly indicates that the husband is the individual that influence the wife to use contraceptive method. Decision making in family planning by both the husband and wife is important in choosing to use contraceptive method. Health promotion in the concept of health education for male contraceptive method such as pamphlet and booklet is important to promote husband involvement in family planning.
    Study site: Klinik Kesihatan Seri Kembangan, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  5. Hanif Farhan, M. R., White, P. J, Warner, M., Adam, J. E.
    MyJurnal
    The aim of this review was to systematically explore the underlying musculoskeletal biomechanical mechanisms of carrying and to describe its potential relationship with low back pain. This literature review was carried out using AMED, CINAHL, Compendex and MEDLINE electronic databases. Articles published from 2004 to 2012 were selected for consideration. Articles were considered if at least one measurement of kinetics, kinematics or other related musculoskeletal parameters related to biomechanics were included within the study. After combining the main keywords, 677 papers were identified. However, only 10 studies met all the inclusion criteria. Age, body mass index, gender and level of physical activity were identified as the factors that may influence the biomechanics of carrying activity. Carrying a loaded backpack was reported leading to posterior pelvic tilt, reduced lumbar lordosis, but increased cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis and trunk forward lean. Furthermore, while carrying bilaterally, lumbo-pelvic coordination was also reported to be more in-phase, as well as reduced coordination variability in transverse plane. Future studies investigating the biomechanics of a standardized carrying activity for clinical test are recommended.
  6. Nizafaziasyida Fauzee Andylim, Norazirah Md Nor, Adawiyah Jamil
    MyJurnal
    Doctor shopping increases health economic burden and morbidities. Its prevalence and predisposing factors have to be identified in order to formulate preventive measures. We aimed to determine the prevalence of doctor shopping, its reasons and predisposing factors by conducting a cross sectional study of new patients at the Dermatology Clinic, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Doctor shopping was defined as having consultation with ≥3 healthcare providers without a referral for the same illness prior to the patients’ visit to UKMMC. Reasons and contributing factors were classified as disease, healthcare provider, logistic and cost related. Data was collected by a face to face interview. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire determined disease impact on the patients. A total of 58 (55.8%) female and 46 (44.2%) male patients participated. Referral was patient-initiated in 51.9% while 40.4% were doctor shopping. Age, gender, ethnicity, income, occupation and type of health finance provider were not associated with this behaviour. About 95% doctor shopped due to disease factors: searching for a cure (95.2%), lack of improvement (88.1%), worsening disease (50.0%), dissatisfaction with treatment (31.0%), seeking other opinions (26.2%) and exploring treatment options (26.2%). Impaired DLQI (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.08,1.38), p 0.04, and disease related factors (OR 6.57; 95% CI 1.52, 7.72), p 0.041 were significant independent risk factors. Doctor shopping is very common among our patients. Reasons and predisposing factors are predominantly disease related. Patient education and counselling is important in management of dermatological diseases to prevent doctor shopping.
  7. Trihandini, Indang, Adiwoso, Adiningrum Wiradidjaja
    MyJurnal
    Perbezaan penjagaan kesihatan di antara orang-orang kurang upaya intelektual dan penduduk umum adalah jelas. Olimpik Khusus Indonesia (SOIna) adalah organisasi NGO yang berkaitan dengan kegiatan olahraga olimpik sedunia yang berkesempatan bekerja dengan warga kurang upaya intelektual. Kajian ini dilakukan untuk mengukur prevalen pereputan karies dan gingivitis di kalangan atlet-atlet Indonesia yang kurang upaya intelek. Jumlah peserta yang terlibat adalah 1452 atlet daripada 11 wilayah (Jawa Timur, Bali, Selatan Sabah, Utara Sumatera, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Kalimantan tengah, DKI, Jawa Barat, Yogyakarta, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Banten) di Indonesia. Pengumpulan data bermula dari tahun 2004 hingga 2009. Setiap tahun pengambilan data minimum dilakukan di dua wilayah yang berbeza. Purata usia atlet adalah 15.04 ± 4,62 tahun. 77.6% atlet mengalami rasa nyeri di rongga mulut kerana karies yang tidak dirawat. Karies tertinggi dijumpai pada atlet yang tinggal di pulau Jawa (81.5% Yogyakarta; Jawa Barat 83.8%. DKI Jakarta 80.2%, dan Jawa Timur 83.5%) berbanding dengan atlet yang tinggal di luar pulau Jawa. Secara umumnya prevalens inflamasi gusi pada atlet kurang upaya intelektual adalah 29.47%. Atlet dari wilayah DKI Jakarta menunjukkan prevalen inflamasi gusi tertinggi iaitu 51.04% berbanding dengan atlet daripada wilayah Nusa Tenggara Barat dengan 14.84%. Berdasarkan hasil tersebut, prevalen karies dan gingivitis adalah tinggi. Atlet yang tinggal di pulau Jawa mengalami kerosakan gigi yang tidak dirawat dan inflamasi gusi yang lebih tinggi berbanding dengan atlet yang tinggal di luar pulau Jawa.


  8. Maarof, M.F., Mhd Ali, A., Makmor Bakry, M., Taha, M.A., Adliah Mohd. Ali
    Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia, 2018;16(101):115-163.
    MyJurnal
    Previous studies explain the time course of withdrawal symptoms among smokers pre and post quit attempt, either with or without the help of medication. Studies showed that male Muslim smokers could quit smoking during Ramadan since fasting relate to the changes in psychosomatic, daily activities and nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the time course of withdrawal symptoms among smokers who used nicotine patch to quit smoking during fasting in Ramadan. A total of 40 eligible Muslim males who tried to quit smoking was selected and provided with smoking cessation counseling for the duration of 8 to 10 weeks while on nicotine patch. Participants level of withdrawal symptoms was recorded by using nine items of Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale over a period of 60 days. Participant’s carbon monoxide reading and body weight were measured within six months including pre and post-Ramadan fasting. Over four weeks of the fasting month, the measured withdrawal symptoms such as urge to smoke (P ≤ 0.001), depressed mood (P ≤ 0.001), irritability/frustration or anger (P ≤ 0.05), anxiety (P ≤ 0.05), difficulty concentrating(P ≤ 0.001), restlessness (P ≤ 0.001), difficulty going to sleep (P ≤ 0.001) and impatient (P ≤ 0.05) significantly decreased except appetite by the end of week 4. Time course analyses demonstrated that all outcome measures showed good effects during cessation in fasting month. The point prevalence abstinence at first month of quitting was 67.5% which is higher in fasting month. This has shown positive clinical implications in managing smoking cessation program during Ramadan with the aid of nicotine patch.
  9. Xinyi, Deborah Yong, Affizal Ahmad
    MyJurnal
    Awareness, involvement and training in dysphagia management are essential to ensure that patients are appropriately
    assessed for dysphagia and provided with intervention. The study aimed to identify levels of awareness, involvement and
    training of medical officers in dysphagia management. A total of 51 medical officers from the family medicine, medical,
    otorhinolaryngology, surgery, and neurosurgery departments in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia participated in the
    study. Levels of awareness, involvement and training of medical officers in dysphagia management were reported using
    descriptive analysis. Results indicate that medical officers lacked awareness and training in dysphagia management.
    Referral rates to speech-language pathologists for dysphagia management were low with 58.4% of medical officers having
    had seldom or never referred patients. The results provide valuable information for addressing dysphagia management
    in the hospital.
  10. Ahmad Nazrun Shuid, Mohd Syukri Anwar, Ahmad Asmadi Yusof
    MyJurnal
    This study was carried out to compare the rate of burn wound healing with the applications of the latex of Carica papaya Linn. (papaya) or of silver sulfadiazine cream (SSD). Partial and full thickness burn wound (2 cm x 2 cm) was induced on the dorsal part of anaesthetized rats by using heated metal plates. The rats were divided into three groups, i.e. untreated group and groups treated daily with SSD and papaya latex, respectively. A digital camera was used to take photographs of the burn wounds daily to monitor their healing. It was found that there was no significant difference in the healing time of papaya latex treated group compared to the SSD treated group. Papaya latex contained digestive enzymes which might clean burn wounds but might also cause wound bleeding in a few rats of the papaya latex group.
  11. Abdul Aziz Ismail, Mazlyfarina Mohamad, Rozilawati Ahmad, Ahmad Bazlie Abdul Kadir
    Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia, 2015;15(22):173-178.
    MyJurnal
    The aims of this study were to compare the entrance surface dose (ESD) between anteroposterior (AP) supine with
    posteroanterior (PA) prone projection of computed radiography (CR) abdominal examination and to determine the
    relationship between body mass index (BMI) and ESD of a patient. AP supine and PA prone projections on the same
    patients for CR abdominal examination of intravenous urography (IVU) were acquired on 50 patients at Hospital Raja
    Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh. All the radiographic examinations were carried out on a Siemens Multixtop general x-ray unit
    and the images were processed with CR Carestream Direct view Max. Entrance surface dose (ESD) in miligray (mGy)
    was measured using optical stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLD) calibrated by the Malaysian Nuclear Agency.
    Data were analyzed using dependent t-test comparing the AP and PA projections on the same subject and Pearson
    correlation was used to determine the relationship between BMI and percentage of reduction of ESD. Results showed a
    significant different (p < 0.01) between AP supine (mean ESD = 6.42 ± 7.13 mGy) and PA prone (mean ESD = 3.92 ± 3.56
    mGy) projection at all BMI. The BMI has a positive correlation with percentage of reduction of ESD (r = 0. 61) and was
    statistically significant (p < 0.01). In conclusion, PA abdomen prone projection significantly reduces the radiation dose
    and there is a positive correlation between BMI and percentage of reduction of ESD. The use of PA prone projection for
    CR abdominal examination should be considered as the routine projection at all BMIs level. Awareness that as the BMI
    increases the ESD also increases at a moderate positive linear relationship.
  12. Lee, Szu Ming, Poh, Bee Koon, Mohd Ismail Noor, Ahmad Fuad Shamsuddin
    MyJurnal
    Kafein mempunyai kesan ergogenik terhadap golongan yang terlatih; walaubagaimanapun, kajian kesan fisiologi kafein terhadap golongan sedentari adalah amat terhad. Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji kesan kafein ke atas penggunaan oksigen dan tanggapan tahap lesu semasa senaman intensiti sederhana dalam kalangan dewasa muda perempuan yang sedentari. Subjek terdiri daripada 16 orang mahasiswi yang berumur antara 22 hingga 24 tahun. Kriteria penerimaan adalah tahap aktiviti fizikal yang rendah dan pengambilan kafein adalah kurang daripada 50 mg sehari, disaring dengan menggunakan Soal Selidik Aktiviti Fizikal Antarabangsa (versi pendek) dan soal selidik pengambilan kafein. Reka bentuk kajian eksperimental ini adalah buta tunggal, pindah silang, kawalan plasebo dengan semua subjek menjadi kawalannya tersendiri. Subjek dikehendaki malaporkan diri ke makmal untuk menjalankan dua sesi eksperimen selepas masing-masing mengambil kapsul plasebo atau kafein dengan selang masa 3 hari antara dua sesi eksperimen tersebut. Enam puluh minit selepas mengambil kapsul plasebo (Glucolin, glukosa) atau 100 mg kafein (Pro-plus, United Kingdom), subjek dikehendaki berlari di atas treadmill selama 30 minit pada kuasa kerja yang bersamaan 60% daripada anggaran maksimum kadar denyutan jantung. Penggunaan oksigen, kadar denyutan jantung dan tanggapan tahap lesu direkod pada minit ke-20, ke-25 dan ke-30, manakala tekanan darah direkod serta-merta selepas subjek menghabiskan larian. Perbezaan direkod selepas kesemua subjek menyempurnakan kedua-dua eksperimen plasebo dan kafein. Min peratus lemak tubuh subjek adalah 28.4 ± 5.4. Ujian t bersandar menunjukkan tiada perbezaan signifikan antara trial plasebo dengan trial kafein ke atas penggunaan oksigen (13.99 ± 2.47 vs 14.49 ± 1.73, p = 0.440), tanggapan tahap lesu (12.3 ± 2.5 vs 12.3 ± 2.1, p = 1.000), tekanan darah sistolik (113 ± 10 vs 117 ± 11, p = 0.129), tekanan diastolik (67 ± 8 vs 69 ± 10, p = 0.408) dan kadar denyutan jantung (127.3 ± 11.0 vs 127.1 ± 11.6, p = 0.912). Terdapat korelasi negatif tinggi yang signifikan antara peratusan lemak tubuh dengan pengambilan oksigen (r = –0.568, p < 0.05) serta korelasi positif tinggi yang signifikan antara peratusan lemak tubuh dengan tanggapan tahap lesu (r = 0.515, p < 0.05). Hasil kajian tidak meningkatkan kesan yang signifikan mungkin disebabkan oleh kesan saiz (effect size) kajian ini yang kecil (d = 0.24). Justeru itu, kajian masa depan yang melibatkan lebih ramai subjek harus dijalankan untuk mengkaji kesan kafein semasa senaman dalam kalangan populasi sedentari.
  13. Ahmad Nazlim Yusoff
    MyJurnal
    Kajian pengimejan resonans magnet kefungsian (fMRI) subjek tunggal ini menyelidiki kesan daya dan laju tepikan ke atas sifat pengaktifan korteks berkaitan motor semasa tepikan jari rentak sendiri secara bilateral. Subjek melakukan empat cara tepikan jari rentak sendiri iaitu sentuh-perlahan (SP), sentuh-laju (SL), tekan-perlahan (TP) dan tekan-laju (TL) dalam satu imbasan fMRI. Model linear am (GLM) digunakan dalam penjanaan pengaktifan otak. Pentaakulan statistik kemudiannya dibuat mengenai pengaktifan otak menggunakan teori medan rawak (RFT) Gaussian pada aras keertian diperbetulkan (α = 0.05), dengan andaian tiada pengaktifan berlaku. Keputusan mendapati otak mengkoordinasi tepikan jari bilateral rentak sendiri dengan penglibatan korteks berkaitan motor iaitu girus presentral (PCG) bilateral, serebelum bilateral dan juga kawasan motor tambahan (SMA). Peningkatan daya tepikan menonjolkan pengaktifan yang bererti (p < 0.05 diperbetulkan) pada PCG bilateral (Kawasan Brodmann (BA) 6) sejajar dengan fungsinya dalam mencetus tindakan motor seperti mengawal daya tepikan. Peningkatan laju tepikan pula menyebabkan peningkatan pengaktifan otak secara bererti (p < 0.05 diperbetulkan) hanya pada korteks kesatuan somatoderia iaitu pada lobus parietal superior (SPL) kanan atau BA7 kanan. Ini mencadangkan bahawa SPL memainkan peranan penting dalam mengkoordinasi pergerakan berkemahiran terancang.


  14. Abdul Hamid Abdul Aziz, Nur Fariza Mat Reffin, Mohamed Kamel Abd Ghani, Hing, Hiang Lian, Ahmad Zorin Sahalan
    MyJurnal
    Suatu kajian mengenai pemencilan dan pengenalpastian mikroflora bakteria dari kolam air panas telah dilakukan di kolam air panas Bentong, Pahang. Kebanyakan bakteria yang dipencil dari kolam air panas adalah dari Bacillus sp. kerana ia mempunyai ciri adaptasi yang membolehkannya hidup di kawasan suhu yang tinggi dengan pembentukan endospora. Objektif kajian adalah untuk mengenal pasti spesies bakteria selain daripada spesies Bacillus sp. yang boleh dipencilkan dari kolam air panas. Tiga buah kolam air panas (A, B dan C) dikenal pasti dengan julat suhunya antara 36°C-52°C dan nilai pH antara 7.88-8.65. Kajian ini telah berjaya memencilkan dua pencilan bakteria kokus Gram positif dan tiga spesies basilus Gram negatif. Spesies Gram positif tersebut adalah dari genus Streptococcus dan Staphylococcus, manakala bagi Gram negatif pula terdapat masalah dalam pengenalpastian dan hanya dikenali sebagai X, XI and XII.


  15. Nuramira Azizan, Nihayah Mohamad, Ahmad Zorin Sahalan
    MyJurnal
    Bunga rafflesia cantleyi Solms-Laubach merupakan salah satu jenis tumbuhan liar boleh ditemui di hutan tanah rendah di Semenanjung Malaysia dan digunakan secara meluas dalam ubatan tradisional. Objektif utama dalam kajian ini adalah untuk menguji keberkesanan ekstrak tumbuhan ini sebagai agen aktiviti antibakteria. rafflesia cantleyi Solms-Laubach diesktrak dengan menggunakan tiga kaedah pengekstrakkan berperingkat iaitu petroleum eter (PE) diikuti dengan etil asetat (EA) dan berakhir dengan etanol. Kesemua ekstrak ini kemudiannya diuji terhadap beberapa bakteria ujian iaitu Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 dan Salmonella typhimurium dengan menggunakan kaedah resapan telaga. Hasil keputusan menunjukkan ekstrak etil asetat dan etanol mempunyai kesan perencatan bakteria yang baik, manakala ekstrak petroleum eter langsung tidak menunjukkan sebarang aktiviti antibakteria. Hasil kajian juga mendapati bahawa ekstrak etil asetat lebih ketara merencat kesemua bakteria yang diuji berbanding dengan ekstrak ethanol. Dua ujian lain yang dijalankan iaitu ujian penentuan nilai kepekatan perencatan minimum (MIC) dan nilai kepekatan minimum bakterisidal (MBC) didapati menyokong keputusan ujian kaedah resapan telaga di mana nilai MIC yang diperoleh bagi ekstrak etil asetat adalah lebih rendah iaitu dalam julat 6.25 hingga 12.5 mg/ml dan nilai MBC pula dalam julat 25.0 hingga 50.0 mg/ml berbanding ekstrak etanol dengan nilai MIC yang lebih besar iaitu dalam julat 25.0 hingga 50.0 mg/ml dan nilai MBCnya adalah 100.0 mg/ml.
  16. Ng, Sok Bee, Ahmad Nazlim Yusoff, Teng, Xin Ling, Aini Ismafairus Abd. Hamid
    MyJurnal
    Knowledge about the hemodynamic model that mediates synaptic activity and measured magnetic resonance signal is essential in understanding brain activation. Neural efficacy is a hemodynamic parameter that would change the evoked hemodynamic responses. In this work, brain activation and neural efficacy of the activated brain areas during simple addition task in two different backgrounds were studied using fMRI. The objectives were to determine the activated areas during the performance of arithmetic addition in quiet (AIQ) and noisy (AIN) background and to investigate the relationship between neural efficacy and height extent of activation for the respective areas. Eighteen healthy male participants performed simple arithmetic addition in quiet and in noise. Bilateral cerebellum, superior temporal gyrus (STG), temporal pole (TP) and supplementary motor area (SMA) were significantly (p < 0.05) activated during AIQ and AIN. Left middle frontal gyrus (L-MFG), right superior frontal gyrus (R-SFG), right superior orbital gyrus (R-SOG) and bilateral insula were more active in quiet as compared to in noise while the left middle cingulate cortex (L-MCC), left amygdala (L-AMG), right temporal pole (R-TP) and left cerebellum (L-CER) were more active in noise as compared to in quiet. The t value for most of the activated regions was found to be inversely proportional to the neural efficacy. Significant (p < 0.05) negative relationship between t value and neural efficacy were found for R-STG and bilateral cerebellum during AIQ, while for AIN, similar relationships were found in R-CER, R-STG and R-TP. This study suggests that while being significantly activated, the hemodynamic responses of these brain regions could have been suppressed by the stimulus resulting in an intensity decrease with increasing neural efficacy.
  17. Chew, Poh Ling, Noor Hayati Mohd Isa, Siti Nor Azreen Abdul Manap, Ismail Mohd Ghauth, Aisah Md Yunus
    MyJurnal
    Demodex sp. merupakan ektoparasit kulit dan dikenali sebagai tungau folikel yang selalu didapati pada manusia pada semua peringkat umur, kaum dan kumpulan geografi. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan prevalens infestasi Demodex sp. di kalangan orang dewasa berumur antara 20 hingga 29 tahun di kawasan Lembah Klang dan menentukan kaitan infestasi ektoparasit ini dengan jantina dan masalah jerawat. Kajian ini merupakan kajian pertama penentuan prevalens infestasi Demodex sp. di Malaysia. Seramai 350 orang subjek telah dikaji yang mana pemilihan sampel dilakukan secara pensampelan rawak berstrata. Pengambilan spesimen dilakukan secara kikisan kulit pada kawasan muka iaitu dahi, hidung, pipi dan dagu. Spesimen dititiskan dengan medium Hoyer dan pemerhatian dijalankan di bawah mikroskop cahaya. Borang soal selidik diedarkan untuk mengetahui kehadiran jerawat pada kulit muka. Hasil kajian mendapati prevalens keseluruhan infestasi Demodex sp. adalah 18.9% dan lelaki menunjukkan infestasi lebih tinggi (25.7%) berbanding perempuan (12.0%) manakala tiada perbezaan bermakna antara masalah jerawat dan infestasi Demodex sp. Kesimpulannya, infestasi Demodex sp. hadir di kalangan satu perlima dari subjek dengan lelaki didapati lebih bermasalah.
  18. Firdaus Kamarulzaman, Ahmad Rohi Ghazali, Kai, Li Lim, Julenah Ag Nuddin, Aishah Adam
    MyJurnal
    Quassia borneensis has been traditionally used as antihypertensive agent without any scientific literature on its mechanism
    of action. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferation properties of
    Q. borneensis extracts. The hexane, chloroform and aqueous extracts of root and bark of Q. borneensis were subjected to
    nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assay in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein
    level was analyzed by Western blot. The antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of the extracts on HL-60 cells were
    determined using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and MTT assays, respectively. The chloroform extract of
    Q. borneensis root obtained by soxhlet method (CSR) significantly inhibited 97.64 ± 0.96% of NO production (p < 0.001)
    and suppressed iNOS expression (p < 0.05) at the highest concentration of 1.0 µg/ml. The chloroform extract of bark
    obtained by maceration (CMB) exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity in the absence and presence of HL-60 cells,
    where the FRAP value were 125.45 ± 9.10 µM FeSO4
    .7H2
    O and 181.55 ± 3.45 µM FeSO4
    .7H2
    O, respectively. The greatest
    inhibition of HL-60 cell proliferation was exhibited by the chloroform extract of bark obtained by soxhlet method (CSB)
    with the IC50 of 5.0 µg/ml. The findings suggested that the chloroform extracts of Q. borneensis possess antiinflammatory,
    antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.
  19. Ghazali SE, Mohd Zulkifly MF, Che Din N, Desa A, Ali RA
    MyJurnal
    Stroke is a causal factor that commonly caused physical impairments and activity limitations among patients to perform daily activities until at certain level stroke patients will experience disability. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship of each demographic and clinical factors that is believed to associate with physical functioning of patients
    those who experienced stroke. This present study also try to compare physical functioning of patients with associated factors and then examine the correlation between those factors with physical functioning. A total of 147 respondents that pass for cognitive screening test involved in this study. Barthel Index (ADL) was administered to the respondents after 6 weeks of stroke attack in order to measure their physical functioning status. Results found that there was a significant difference [F(3, 143) = 4.06; p < 0.01] between level of educations with physical functioning of patients. With respect to clinical factors also showed a significant difference (p < 0.01) was higher in physical functioning when stroke attack
    occurred at right hemisphere of brain. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) in physical functioning with respect to belief of recovery. Furthermore, number of stroke attack also showed a significant difference [F(1, 145) = 11.19; [p < 0.01] in physical functioning of patients. Correlation test that was carried out found a positive significant correlation
    (r = 0.24; p < 0.01) between physical functioning with respect to the affected lesion side. In conclusion, demographic and clinical factors also played the roles to determine level of physical functioning among stroke patients and thus these factors should be considered in any studies that intended to enhance physical functioning of patients in future.
    Keywords: stroke; physical functioning; disability; physical impairment
  20. Chew, S.C., Nagendra Prasad, K., Yang, Bao, Amin Ismail
    MyJurnal
    Changes in nitrate and nitrite contents (leaves and stem) of Amaranthus gangeticus (AG) and Amaranthus paniculatus (AP), resulting from blanching, storage time (0-4 days), storage temperature (0 and 4ºC), and reheating were analysed. Results showed that fresh AG (1859 ± 7.07 mg/kg) had higher nitrite content than AP (1262 ± 2.12 mg/kg). Nitrites content was 506 ± 2 and 825 ± 3.5 mg/kg for AG and AP, respectively. Reheating and storage times significantly increased the conversion of nitrate to nitrite in AG and AP. Storage at 0 and 4oC exhibited a significant change (P < 0.05) in nitrate and nitrite contents for both samples. Higher nitrite content was found in AP when stored at 4oC and 0oC. The present study indicated that storage time and temperature affected the nitrite contents in blanched AG and AP when stored in low temperatures. Apart from that reheating was also found to increase the formation of nitrite.
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