MyMedR

Fulltext Work related determinants of breastfeeding discontinuation among employed mothers in Malaysia

Amin RM, Said ZM, Sutan R, Shah SA, Darus A, Shamsuddin K

Int Breastfeed J, 2011;6(1):4.

PMID: 21342506 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4358-6-4

This cross-sectional study assesses factors that contribute to discontinuing breastfeeding among employed mothers in Malaysia.

Protective effects of total alkaloidal extract from Murraya koenigii leaves on experimentally induced dementia

Mani V, Ramasamy K, Ahmad A, Parle M, Shah SA, Majeed AB

Food Chem Toxicol, 2012 Mar;50(3-4):1036-44.

PMID: 22142688 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2011.11.037

Dementia is a syndrome of gradual onset and continuous decline of higher cognitive functioning. It is a common disorder in older persons and has become more prevalent today. The fresh leaves of Murraya koenigii are often added to various dishes in Asian countries due to the delicious taste and flavor that they impart. These leaves have also been proven to have health benefits. In the present study, the effect of total alkaloidal extract from M. koenigii leaves (MKA) on cognitive functions and brain cholinesterase activity in mice were determined. In vitro β-secretase 1 (BACE1) inhibitory activity was also evaluated. The total alkaloidal extract was administered orally in three doses (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) for 15 days to different groups of young and aged mice. Elevated plus maze and passive avoidance apparatus served as the exteroceptive behavioral models for testing memory. Diazepam-, scopolamine-, and ageing-induced amnesia served as the interoceptive behavioral models. MKA (20 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant improvement in memory scores of young and aged mice. Furthermore, the same doses of MKA reversed the amnesia induced by scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Interestingly, the brain cholinesterase activity was also reduced significantly by total alkaloidal extract of M. koenigii leaves. The IC50 value of MKA against BACE1 was 1.7 μg/mL. In conclusion, this study indicates MKA to be a useful remedy in the management of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Sexual dysfunction and its determinants in Malaysian women with rheumatoid arthritis

Shahar MA, Hussein H, Sidi H, Shah SA, Mohamed Said MS

Int J Rheum Dis, 2012 Oct;15(5):468-77.

PMID: 23083037 DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-185X.2012.01753.x

AIM: To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction (FSD) among women with rheumatoid arthritis attending the Rheumatology Clinic in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) and Hospital Putrajaya, Malaysia, and to determine its associations with potential clinical and disease activity factors.
METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study involving women with rheumatoid arthritis between the ages of 20 and 60 years. A validated Malay Version Female Sexual Function Index (MVFSFI) was administered to diagnose FSD. Sociodemographic and disease activity profiles were obtained and those who had and did not have FSD were compared.
RESULTS: Among 63 respondents, 51 patients were included in the analysis for FSD. The prevalence of FSD in women with rheumatoid arthritis attending UKMMC and Hospital Putrajaya Rheumatology Clinic was 29.4%. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28-ESR) correlates with MVFSFI score with r=-0.364 (P=0.009) and r=-0.268 (P=0.057), respectively. Sociodemographic factors that correlate with MVFSFI score were: patient's age (r=0.520, P<0.001); duration of marriage (r=-0.355, P=0.001); husband's age (r=-0.460, P=0.001); age of oldest child (r=-0.449, P=0.001); and age of youngest child (r=-0.627, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION: We found in this study that the prevalence of FSD in rheumatoid arthritis in our centers was 29.4%. Age and family dynamics appear to be more important predictors compared to disease activity.
Study site: Rheumatology Clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM) and Hospital Putrajaya, Malaysia

Assessment of body fluid status in hemodialysis patients using the body composition monitor measurement technique

Mamat R, Kong NC, Ba'in A, Shah SA, Cader R, Wong V, et al.

J Clin Nurs, 2012 Oct;21(19-20):2879-85.

PMID: 22646855 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04091.x

The main objective of the study was to correlate the target dry weight in haemodialysis (HD) patients as assessed clinically by nephrologists to those measured by the Body Composition Monitor (BCM - Fresenius) machine. The second objective was to compare pre and postdialysis changes of extracellular fluid and clinical parameters.

The use of warning lights and siren by the ambulance crew in the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre

Ismail AK, Mohd Salleh NI, Hamdan NA, Mohd Jawi MI, Abdul Razak SN, Md Jamal S, et al.

Eur J Emerg Med, 2012 Dec;19(6):408-9.

PMID: 22343753 DOI: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e328351e62e

Fulltext N'-[(E)-2,3-Dihy-droxy-benzyl-idene]-2-meth-oxy-benzohydrazide

Taha M, Baharudin MS, Ismail NH, Shah SA, Yousuf S

Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2012 Dec 1;68(Pt 12):o3256.

PMID: 23468775 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536812042390

The title compound, C15H14N2O4 adopts an E conformation about the azomethine double bond. Intra-molecular N-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds generate S(6) rings and help to establish the molecular conformation. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 17.84 (10)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a two-dimensional network with a herring-bone pattern arranged parallel to the bc plane.

Fulltext N'-[(E)-2-Hy-droxy-5-meth-oxy-benzyl-idene]-2-meth-oxy-benzohydrazide

Baharudin MS, Taha M, Ismail NH, Shah SA, Yousuf S

Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2012 Dec 1;68(Pt 12):o3255.

PMID: 23468774 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536812042389

The mol-ecule of the title compound, C16H16N2O4, adopts an E conformation about the azomethine C=N double bond. The dihedral angle formed by the benzene rings is 18.88 (9)°. The mol-ecular conformation is stabilized by an intra-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bond, which forms an S(6) ring. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are linked into chains parallel to [001] by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The chains are further connected into a three-dimensional network by π-π stacking inter-actions with centroid-centroid distances of 3.6538 (10) and 3.8995 (11) Å.

Preferences of Malaysian cancer patients in communication of bad news

Eng TC, Yaakup H, Shah SA, Jaffar A, Omar K

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2012;13(6):2749-52.

PMID: 22938453

BACKGROUND: Breaking bad news to cancer patients is a delicate and challenging task for most doctors. Better understanding of patients' preferences in breaking bad news can guide doctors in performing this task.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the preferences of Malaysian cancer patients regarding the communication of bad news.

METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Oncology clinic of a tertiary teaching hospital. Two hundred adult cancer patients were recruited via purposive quota sampling. They were required to complete the Malay language version of the Measure of Patients' Preferences (MPP-BM) with minimal researcher assistance. Their responses were analysed using descriptive statistics. Association between demographic characteristics and domain scores were tested using non-parametric statistical tests.

RESULTS: Nine items were rated by the patients as essential: "Doctor is honest about the severity of my condition", "Doctor describing my treatment options in detail", "Doctor telling me best treatment options", Doctor letting me know all of the different treatment options", "Doctor being up to date on research on my type of cancer", "Doctor telling me news directly", "Being given detailed info about results of medical tests", "Being told in person", and "Having doctor offer hope about my condition". All these items had median scores of 5/5 (IQR:4-5). The median scores for the three domains were: "Content and Facilitation" 74/85, "Emotional Support" 23/30 and "Structural and Informational Support" 31/40. Ethnicity was found to be significantly associated with scores for "Content and Facilitation" and "Emotional Support". Educational status was significantly associated with scores for "Structural and Informational Support".

CONCLUSION: Malaysian cancer patients appreciate the ability of the doctor to provide adequate information using good communication skills during the process of breaking bad news. Provision of emotional support, structural support and informational support were also highly appreciated.

Fulltext Improvement of quality of life following 6 months of methadone maintenance therapy in Malaysia

Baharom N, Hassan MR, Ali N, Shah SA

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy, 2012;7:32.

PMID: 22853701 DOI: 10.1186/1747-597X-7-32

BACKGROUND: Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) is one of the popular choices for drug substitution therapy and is fairly new in Malaysia. Aside from its role in harm reduction against HIV infection, MMT programme may potentially enhances clients' quality of life. This study aims to identify the impact of MMT programme on clients' quality of life after 6 months in treatment and to explore factors that may be associated with changes in their quality of life.
METHODS: In this retrospective report review, 122 subjects from 2 government MMT clinics were selected from the district of Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The raw score from the WHO Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), at baseline and 6 months after therapy were collected and converted to 0-100 scale form to give quality of life scores for four domains; physical, psychological, social relationships and environment. Other variables of interest were socio-demography, age when joining MMT programme, age and duration of illicit drug use, HIV and Hepatitis C status, and the Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) score on drug use, sexual and social aspect at the baseline. Statistical analysis used the SPSS version 16.
RESULTS: There was significant improvement in all four domains of quality of life, after 6 months of MMT. The largest improvement was for psychological domain (mean score difference 15.54 ± 20.81). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that, for the physical domain, there was no significant predictor. For both the psychological and social domains, having tertiary education is a significant predictor for improvement in both aspects of quality of life. Negative HIV status is associated with improvement for the environment domain.
CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant short term improvement in the quality of life of MMT clients who stayed in the programme for at least 6 months in the district of Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Study site: MMT clinic, Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

Fulltext The negative impact of living environment on intelligence quotient of primary school children in Baghdad City, Iraq: a cross-sectional study

Ghazi HF, Isa ZM, Aljunid S, Shah SA, Tamil AM, Abdalqader MA

BMC Public Health, 2012;12:562.

PMID: 22839101 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-562

Environmental factors play a very important role in the child development process, especially in a situation like that of Iraq. Thirteen years of economic sanctions followed by the 2003 war and 8 years of unstable security have affected the daily life of Iraqi families and children. The objective of this study was to assess the associations between living environment domains and child intelligence quotient (IQ) score.

Fulltext Dietary patterns and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review of cohort studies (2000-2011)

Yusof AS, Isa ZM, Shah SA

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2012;13(9):4713-7.

PMID: 23167408

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review of cohort studies aimed to identify any association between specific dietary patterns and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Dietary patterns involve complex interactions of food and nutrients summarizing the total diet or key aspects of the diet for a population under study.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: This review involves 6 cohort studies of dietary patterns and their association with colorectal cancer. An exploratory or a posteriori approach and a hypothesis-oriented or a priori approach were employed to identify dietary patterns.

RESULTS: The dietary pattern identified to be protective against CRC was healthy, prudent, fruits and vegetables, fat reduced/diet foods, vegetables/fish/poultry, fruit/wholegrain/dairy, healthy eating index 2005, alternate healthy eating index, Mediterranean score and recommended food score. An elevated risk of CRC was associated with Western diet, pork processed meat, potatoes, traditional meat eating, and refined grain pattern.

CONCLUSION: The Western dietary pattern which mainly consists of red and processed meat and refined grains is associated with an elevated risk of development of CRC. Protective factors against CRC include a healthy or prudent diet, consisting of vegetables, fruits, fish and poultry.

Fulltext (E)-2-Meth-oxy-N'-(2,4,6-trihy-droxy-benzyl-idene)benzohydrazide

Taha M, Baharudin MS, Ismail NH, Shah SA, Yousuf S

Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2013 Feb 1;69(Pt 2):o277.

PMID: 23424550 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536813001748

In the title hydrazone derivative, C(15)H(14)N(2)O(5), the benzene rings are twisted by 7.55 (8)° with respect to each other. The azomethine double bond adopts an E conformation. The mol-ecular structure is stabilized by intra-molecular O-H⋯N and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating S6 ring motifs. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

Fulltext (E)-N'-(4-Chloro-benzyl-idene)-2-meth-oxy-benzohydrazide

Baharudin MS, Taha M, Ismail NH, Shah SA, Yousuf S

Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2013 Feb 1;69(Pt 2):o276.

PMID: 23424549 DOI: 10.1107/S160053681300175X

In the title hydrazone derivative, C(15)H(13)ClN(2)O(2), the dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 2.36 (2)°. An intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond is present. In the crystal, N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into chains running parallel to the b axis.

Fulltext 3-[2-(Triphenyl-phosphanyl-idene)acet-yl]-2H-chromen-2-one

Taha M, Ismail NH, Aziza AN, Shah SA, Yousuf S

Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2013 Feb 1;69(Pt 2):o245.

PMID: 23424524 DOI: 10.1107/S160053681300127X

In the title compound, C(29)H(21)O(3)P, a coumarin-substitued ylid, the P atom is linked to three benzene rings and a planar coumarin moiety via a methyl-enecarbonyl group. The bond lengths in the P=C-C=O fragment clearly indicate a delocalized system involving the olefinic and carbonyl bonds. The mol-ecular structure is stabilized by an intra-molecular C-H⋯O inter-action that results in an S7 graph-set ring motif. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked into a three-dimensional framework by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

Fulltext Sexual abuse and substance abuse increase risk of suicidal behavior in Malaysian youth

Chan LF, Maniam T, Saini SM, Shah SA, Loh SF, Sinniah A, et al.

Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2013 Apr;5 Suppl 1:123-6.

PMID: 23857848 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12057

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the association between sexual abuse, substance abuse and socio-demographic factors with suicidal ideation (SI), plans (SP) and deliberate self-harm (DSH) and propose steps to prevent youth suicidal behavior.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 6786 adolescents aged 17-18 years, selected randomly from all Malaysian adolescents to undergo compulsory youth camps located in Selangor, Malaysia (2008-2009). Participants were assessed using self-administered questionnaires developed to reflect the local cultural setting. However, only 4581 subjects were analyzed after excluding incomplete data.
RESULTS: The rates of SI, SP and DSH were 7.6%, 3.2% and 6.3%, respectively. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratio showed that sexual abuse was associated with SI 1.99 (95% CI: 1.56-2.55), SP 1.57 (95% CI: 1.09-2.27) and DSH 2.26 (95% CI: 1.75-2.94); illicit drug use was associated with SI 4.05 (95% CI: 2.14-7.67), SP 2.62 (95% CI: 1.05-6.53) and DSH 2.06, (95% CI: 1.05-4.04); for alcohol use DSH was 1.34 (95% CI: 1.00-1.79). Being female was associated with all suicidal behaviors: SI 2.51 (95% CI: 1.91-3.30), SP 2.07 (95% CI: 1.39-3.08) and DSH 1.59 (95% CI: 1.19-2.11).
DISCUSSION: Given the well-founded concern of increasing risk of suicidal behavior among youth, preventive efforts should adopt a more comprehensive approach in dealing with sexual abuse and substance abuse, and their sequelae, especially in girls.
KEYWORDS: adolescent; risks; sexual abuse; substance abuse; suicidal behavior

Physician, heal thyself: the paradox of anxiety amongst house officers and work in a teaching hospital

Tan SM, Jong SC, Chan LF, Jamaludin NA, Phang CK, Jamaluddin NS, et al.

Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2013 Apr;5 Suppl 1:74-81.

PMID: 23857841 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12048

Anxiety among house officers may impair functioning and health care delivery. This study aimed to determine the association between anxiety among house officers at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, sociodemographic and work-related factors.

Externalizing and internalizing syndromes in relation to school truancy among adolescents in high-risk urban schools

Nik Jaafar NR, Tuti Iryani MD, Wan Salwina WI, Fairuz Nazri AR, Kamal NA, Prakash RJ, et al.

Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2013 Apr;5 Suppl 1:27-34.

PMID: 23857834 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12072

To examine the relationship between externalizing/internalizing syndromes and school truancy among Form Four (10th grade) students attending "high-risk" schools in Kuala Lumpur.

Correlates of depression, anxiety and stress among Malaysian university students

Shamsuddin K, Fadzil F, Ismail WS, Shah SA, Omar K, Muhammad NA, et al.

Asian J Psychiatr, 2013 Aug;6(4):318-23.

PMID: 23810140 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2013.01.014

University students face not only challenges related with independent living, but also academic challenges. This predisposes them to depression, anxiety and stress, which are fairly common.

Behavioral and emotional problems in a Kuala Lumpur children's home

Abd Rahman FN, Mohd Daud TI, Nik Jaafar NR, Shah SA, Tan SM, Wan Ismail WS

Pediatr Int, 2013 Aug;55(4):422-7.

PMID: 23617604 DOI: 10.1111/ped.12115

There is a dearth of studies on behavioral and emotional problems in residential care children in Malaysia. This study describes the behavioral and emotional problems in a sample of children in a government residential care home and compares them with their classmates living with their birth parents.

Fulltext Exploration of risk taking behaviors and perceived susceptibility of colorectal cancer among Malaysian adults: a community based cross-sectional study

Al-Dubai SA, Ganasegeran K, Alabsi AM, Shah SA, Razali FM, Arokiasamy JT

BMC Public Health, 2013 Oct 07;13:930.

PMID: 24093502 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-930

BACKGROUND: Perceived susceptibility to an illness has been shown to affect Health-risk behavior. The objective of the present study was to determine the risk taking behaviors and the demographic predictors of perceived susceptibility to colorectal cancer in a population-based sample.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 305 Malaysian adults in six major districts, selected from urban, semi-urban, and rural settings in one state in Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was used in this study. It was comprised of socio-demographics, risk-taking behaviors, and validated domains of the Health Belief Model (HBM).

RESULTS: The mean (± SD) age of the respondents was 34.5 (± 9.6) and the majority (59.0%) of them were 30 years or older. Almost 20.7% of the respondents felt they were susceptible to colorectal cancer. Self-reported perceived susceptibility mirrored unsatisfactory screening behaviors owing to the lack of doctors' recommendation, ignorance of screening modalities, procrastination, and the perception that screening was unnecessary. Factors significantly associated with perceived susceptibility to colorectal cancer were gender (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.3), age (OR = 2. 2, 95% CI 1.2-4.0), ethnicity (OR = 0. 3, 95% CI 0.2-0.6), family history of colorectal cancer (OR = 3. 2, 95% CI 1.4-7.4) and alcohol intake (OR = 3.9, 95% CI 2.1-7.5).

CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that screening behavior among respondents was unsatisfactory. Hence, awareness of the importance of screening to prevent colorectal cancers is imperative.

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