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Displaying publications 21 - 27 of 27 in total

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Effect of alpha lipoic acid on oxidative stress and vascular wall of diabetic rats

Balkis Budin S, Othman F, Louis SR, Abu Bakar M, Radzi M, Osman K, et al.

Rom J Morphol Embryol, 2009;50(1):23-30.
PMID: 19221642

PREMISES AND OBJECTIVES: Antioxidant plays an important role in preventing the progression of diabetes mellitus (DM) complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on plasma lipid, oxidative stress and vascular changes in diabetic rats.
Spectral variations of the output spectrum in a random distributed feedback Raman fiber laser

Sarmani AR, Abu Bakar MH, Bakar AA, Adikan FR, Mahdi MA

Opt Express, 2011 Jul 18;19(15):14152-9.
PMID: 21934778 DOI: 10.1364/OE.19.014152

We report an ultra-long Raman laser that implemented a variable pumping scheme in backward and forward configurations. Rayleigh backscattering effects were realized in the 51 km fiber length that functioned as a virtual mirror at one fiber end. With the employment of a fiber Bragg grating that has a peak reflection wavelength at 1553.3 nm, spectral broadening effects were observed. These occurred as the pump power level was diverted more to the forward direction. Owing to this fact, a maximum width of 0.9 nm was measured at 100% forward pumping. The obtained results show that the efficient exploitation of four-wave mixing interactions as well as strong Rayleigh backscattering are beneficial to influence the lasing performances. Both of these nonlinear responses can be adjusted by varying pumping distributions along the fiber longitudinal dimension.
Mitochondrial dysfunction as a central event for mechanisms underlying insulin resistance: the roles of long chain fatty acids

Hafizi Abu Bakar M, Kian Kai C, Wan Hassan WN, Sarmidi MR, Yaakob H, Zaman Huri H

Diabetes Metab Res Rev, 2015 Jul;31(5):453-75.
PMID: 25139820 DOI: 10.1002/dmrr.2601

Insulin resistance is characterized by hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress prior to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. To date, a number of mechanisms have been proposed to link these syndromes together, but it remains unclear what the unifying condition that triggered these events in the progression of this metabolic disease. There have been a steady accumulation of data in numerous experimental studies showing the strong correlations between mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and insulin resistance. In addition, a growing number of studies suggest that the raised plasma free fatty acid level induced insulin resistance with the significant alteration of oxidative metabolism in various target tissues such as skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue. In this review, we herein propose the idea of long chain fatty acid-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions as one of the key events in the pathophysiological development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species, lipotoxicity, inflammation-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and alterations of mitochondrial gene subset expressions are the most detrimental that lead to the developments of aberrant intracellular insulin signalling activity in a number of peripheral tissues, thereby leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Knowledge and attitude of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation among home-based child daycare caregivers in Kelantan

Abdullah AR, Mohd Shukri MF, Sjahid AS, Abu Bakar MA, Yaacob N, Fauzi MH

Med J Malaysia, 2025 Mar;80(2):199-205.
PMID: 40145163

INTRODUCTION: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is indeed a basic skill that should be acquired by everyone in the community. Early CPR is an important element in the chain of survival and home-based child daycare (HBCD) caregivers play a vital role as early responders in case of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The study aims to determine the level of knowledge and attitude of CPR among HBCD caregivers in Kelantan and the factors that contribute to them. This study covers a research gap in Kelantan, Malaysia, evaluating HBCD caregivers' knowledge and attitudes towards CPR.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a quantitative crosssectional study conducted from November 2020 until March 2021 which involves 139 HBCD caregivers in Kelantan. Validated questionnaire was used which consisted of 27 questions based on demography, knowledge and attitude towards CPR. The data was keyed in and analysed using software SPSS version 26.
RESULTS: A total of 139 respondents participated in the study. The mean attitude score obtained by the caregivers was 16.67 with SD = 4.22. There were 89 caregivers (64%) with poor knowledge among the 139 HBCD caregivers in the study compared to 50 HBCD caregivers (36%) who had good knowledge. Caregivers who were exposed with CPR training had 5.91 higher odds of having good CPR knowledge compared to those without being exposed to CPR training (Wald-statistic (df) = 21.12 (1), OR (95% CI) = 5.91 (2.77, 12.61), p<0.001). Caregivers with experience in handling CPR were 5.91 of higher odds in having good CPR knowledge compared to those without the experience in handling CPR when adjusted for the duration of caregiver's experience (Wald-statistic (df) = 21.12 (1), OR (95% CI) = 5.91 (2.77, 12.61), p<0.001). HBCD caregivers' experience was the only variable that had a significant p-value when tested in the regression model (p = 0.023).
CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that HBCD caregivers in Kelantan had inadequate CPR knowledge, potentially increasing the risk of OHCA. Planned and regular training for them is mandatory. Exposure to CPR was the associated factor that contributes to knowledge level among HBCD caregivers whereas years of experience as HBCD caregivers influence attitude towards CPR.
Fulltext From the Front or Back Door? Quantitative analysis of direct and indirect extractions of α-mangostin from mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)

Eukun Sage E, Jailani N, Md Taib AZ, Mohd Noor N, Mohd Said MI, Abu Bakar M, et al.

PLoS One, 2018;13(10):e0205753.
PMID: 30321238 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205753

The pulp and pericarp of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) fruit are popular food, beverage and health products whereby 60% of the fruit consist of the pericarp. The major metabolite in the previously neglected or less economically significant part of the fruit, the pericarp, is the prenylated xanthone α-mangostin. This highly bioactive secondary metabolite is typically isolated using solvent extraction methods that involve large volumes of halogenated solvents either via direct or indirect extraction. In this study, we compared the quantities of α-mangostin extracted using three different extraction methods based on the environmentally friendly solvents methanol and ethyl acetate. The three solvent extractions methods used were direct extractions from methanol (DM) and ethyl acetate (DEA) as well as indirect extraction of ethyl acetate obtained via solvent partitioning from an initial methanol extract (IEA). Our results showed that direct extraction afforded similar and higher quantities of α-mangostin than indirect extraction (DM: 318 mg; DEA: 305 mg; IEA: 209 mg per 5 g total dried pericarp). Therefore, we suggest that the commonly used method of indirect solvent extraction using halogenated solvents for the isolation of α-mangostin is replaced by single solvent direct extraction using the environmentally friendly solvents methanol or ethyl acetate.
Fulltext Experience repatriation of citizens from epicentre using commercial flights during COVID-19 pandemic

Shaikh Abdul Karim S, Md Tahir FA, Mohamad UK, Abu Bakar M, Mohamad KN, Suleiman M, et al.

Int J Emerg Med, 2020 Oct 28;13(1):50.
PMID: 33115412 DOI: 10.1186/s12245-020-00308-7

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries instituted closure of borders from international and local travels. Stranded citizens appeal to their governments to embark on citizen repatriation missions. Between February and April 2020, the Government of Malaysia directed repatriation of its citizens from China, Iran, Italy and Indonesia. We describe the preparation and execution of the repatriation mission using chartered commercial aircraft. The mission objectives were to repatriate as many citizens based on aircraft capacity and prevent onboard transmission of the disease to flight personnel.
RESULTS: Five repatriation missions performed was led by the National Agency for Disaster Management (NADMA) with the Ministry of Health providing technical expertise. A total of 432 citizens were repatriated from the missions. The operations were divided into four phases: the pre-boarding screening phase, the boarding and in-flight phase, the reception phase and the quarantine phase. The commercial aircraft used were from two different commercial airlines. Each mission had flight crew members between 10 and 17 people. There were 82 positive cases detected among the repatriated citizens. There was a single positive case of a healthcare worker involved in the mission, based on the sample taken on arrival of the flight. There were no infections involving flight team members.
CONCLUSION: Medical flight crew must be familiar with aircraft fittings that differ from one commercial airline to another as it influences infection control practices. A clear understanding of socio-political situation of a country, transmission routes of a pathogen, disease presentation, and knowledge of aviation procedures, aircraft engineering and design is of great importance in preparing for such missions. Our approach of multidiscipline team involvement managed to allow us to provide and execute the operations successfully.
Ongoing strategies to improve the management of upper respiratory tract infections and reduce inappropriate antibiotic use particularly among lower and middle-income countries: findings and implications for the future

Godman B, Haque M, McKimm J, Abu Bakar M, Sneddon J, Wale J, et al.

Curr Med Res Opin, 2020 02;36(2):301-327.
PMID: 31794332 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2019.1700947

Introduction: Antibiotics are indispensable to maintaining human health; however, their overuse has resulted in resistant organisms, increasing morbidity, mortality and costs. Increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health threat, resulting in multiple campaigns across countries to improve appropriate antimicrobial use. This includes addressing the overuse of antimicrobials for self-limiting infections, such as upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), particularly in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where there is the greatest inappropriate use and where antibiotic utilization has increased the most in recent years. Consequently, there is a need to document current practices and successful initiatives in LMICs to improve future antimicrobial use.Methodology: Documentation of current epidemiology and management of URTIs, particularly in LMICs, as well as campaigns to improve future antimicrobial use and their influence where known.Results: Much concern remains regarding the prescribing and dispensing of antibiotics for URTIs among LMICs. This includes considerable self-purchasing, up to 100% of pharmacies in some LMICs. However, multiple activities are now ongoing to improve future use. These incorporate educational initiatives among all key stakeholder groups, as well as legislation and other activities to reduce self-purchasing as part of National Action Plans (NAPs). Further activities are still needed however. These include increased physician and pharmacist education, starting in medical and pharmacy schools; greater monitoring of prescribing and dispensing practices, including the development of pertinent quality indicators; and targeted patient information and health education campaigns. It is recognized that such activities are more challenging in LMICs given more limited resources and a lack of healthcare professionals.Conclusion: Initiatives will grow across LMICs to reduce inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of antimicrobials for URTIs as part of NAPs and other activities, and these will be monitored.