The prevalence and incidence rate of hypertension among Orang Asli had been increasing due to
modernization and assimilation of outside practices such as intake of high cholesterol food, alcohol, and
smoking. Orang Asli utilize their herbs or plants to treat some illness due to the factor of logistics and the
knowledge on these nature resources since decades ago that is carried out from their ancestors. In this review
paper, hypertension genes of Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and the utilization of ethno-medicinal plants
in reducing the clinical manifestation in hypertension were deliberated. There are quite a number of related
hypertensive genes particularly in renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) playing a pivotal role in
pathogenesis of hypertension. A genome-wide association studies showed potential candidate genes in
hypertension among Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia. However there is yet molecular study on these genes
among Orang Asli with their unique genetic profile. Noteworthy information on mechanism of ethnomedicine in treating hypertension are scarce, even the efficacy of modern medicine in treating hypertension
on Orang Asli are rare. Therefore, study on efficacy of ethno-medicine plant by Orang Asli and the
regulation effect on hypertension genes are needed to be further explored and elucidated.
Attentional problem associated with negative emotions can prolong irritable episodes, and apparently
related to inhibitory incapability and memorial dysfunction. Quantitative Verse, the first chapter with
rhymed proses and beauty literary rhythms, found to be endowed with cognitive and
psychoacoustical effects that eliminate negative emotions and improving emotional and speech
fluency. Twenty-eight normal subjects’ brainwaves were analyzed after given auditory stimulation of
Quantitative Verse recited by Abdul Basit Abdul Samad. The alpha waveforms were analyzed by
Fast Fourier Analysis (FFT) to get the power in frequency bands. Results were further analyzed by
the Brain Electrical Stimulation Analysis (Besa 6.1) and XLSTAT for statistical analysis. Results
showed areas modulate emotion and speech were strikingly significant decreased with p
A normal health status is highly depends on body weight. Many health problems may occur or impose risk for
extremely obese individuals. Etiopathology of obesity includes interaction of several factors inclusive of
genetic and non-genetic factors such as lifestyle changes. This study aimed to launch Malaysian Obesity
DNA Bank and determine the prevalence of obesity along with anthropometric measurements of the subjects.
The cross-sectional study was conducted on total of 340 subjects (obese = 95, overweight = 122 and normal =
123), aged 19-60 years, in Terengganu. The BMI and well appropriate anthropometric measurements (waist
circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio, fat percentage and ASindex) were determined through
standard protocols and formulae. The mean difference of anthropometrics was determined by independent ttest. Data was analysed using SPSS ver.16.0.0. The BMI was determined for all subjects and it was found that
out of 340 subjects, a total of 95 (27.9%) subjects were obese , followed by a total of 122 (35.8%) subjects
were overweight and normal individuals were 123 (36.1%). The mean of the BMI, WHR, Fat% and ASindex,
in Malay obese were 32.83, 0.88, 33.5 and 13.21 respectively, while in normal healthy individuals were 22.1,
0.78, 24.2 and 20.1 respectively. The difference of mean of BMI, WHR, Fat% and ASindex was calculated to
be 10.73, 0.1, 9.3 and 6.89 respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in Malaysia,
reporting that this is very first Obesity DNA Bank in South East Asia region and prevalence of obesity in
Terengganu, Malaysia to be 27.9%. In addition, it indicates a significant mean difference for anthropometric
measurements among obese and normal individuals. For Asindex calculations suggest that the prevalence of
genocide obesity is greater 89.9% of android obesity in Malay obese attributes
.
In Malaysia, chest radiograph is a part of compulsory investigations during routine medical examination. Majority of these chest radiographs are interpreted by medical officers at the outpatient clinic. This study was to determine the concordance of chest radiograph interpretations between medical officers and radiologist. Medical officers' report of routine chest radiographs at the outpatient clinic Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia over a 6-month period were compared to that of a radiologist. Of 408 chest radiographs reported, the concordance of interpretation between medical officers and radiologist was 93.6% (382 of 408). Medical officers correctly interpret 98.2% (378/385) of normal chest radiograph compared to 17.4% of abnormal chest radiographs (4/23). Therefore, routine chest radiograph interpretations of normal radiographs by medical officers were generally accurate. However, they were weak in interpreting abnormal chest radiographs. Medical officers need to be trained on detecting abnormalities on chest X-ray since most routine chest X-ray reporting is done based on their interpretation.
Study site: outpatient clinic Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women in
Malaysia, accounting to 32.1% of all cancer among women. Preventive activities of breast health especially
mammogram screening was found to be effective in reducing the mortality and morbidities related to breast cancer. .
However, the number of people who come for screening is still unsatisfactory. Many patients come in advanced stage
of breast cancer attributed by lack of awareness and knowledge of the disease. The aim of this study was to introduce
a multimodality online course on breast cancer and its screening; and to measure its effectiveness in providing the
awareness and knowledge in breast cancer. Methodology: An online course was designed incorporating essential
knowledge regarding breast cancer and its screening. Group sampling was done to sample 30 undergraduate students.
Knowledge and awareness on breast cancer and its screening was measured using a validated questionnaire pre and
post exposure to the online course. Results: There was significant difference in Pre- &Post-exposure test knowledge
(p
Acne vulgaris is a typical skin disorder among adolescence, causing inflammation of pilosebaceous follicle
which characterized by comedones, papules, pustules, cysts, nodules and often scars in face, neck, upper trunk
and arms. Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis have been recognized that play as a major
role in acne formation. This study was conducted to compare the antimicrobial activity of five plant extracts
namely Piper betle, Aloe vera, Solanum lycopersicum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cucumis sativus against P.
acnes and S. epidermidis. The well diffusion assay was used to determine the sensitivity of the samples, while
the liquid dilution method was used for the determination of the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC). The
result showed a remarkable antibacterial activity of Piper betle extract compared to other plant extracts and
Doxycycline (positive control) against both of acne-inducing bacteria, P. acnes and S. epidermidis.
Health care personnel are important role models for promoting healthy lifestyle to general populations. Being
overweight and obese are commonly associated with stigmas and discriminations. Stigma against obese people is
common and it may relate to individual’s attitude on obesity. The study objective was to determine the correlation
between body mass index of nursing students and their attitude towards obesity. A cross-sectional study was
conducted between December 2011 and February 2012. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 297
nursing students in private colleges in Kelantan, Malaysia. Socio-demographic data, body mass index (BMI) and
attitude towards obesity by using the ATOP score were obtained. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.
Majority of the participants were Malays (99.7%), female (89.9%) and single (96.3%). About 64.3% had normal
BMI, 18.9% underweight, 13.8% overweight, 2.4% obese type I and 0.7% obese type II. The ATOP score were
ranging from 26.0 to 99.0 with mean (SD) of 62.8 (13.36). The attitude towards obese persons among the
participants was more toward positive attitude. Body mass index (BMI) was skewed to the left distribution with
the median (IQR) 20.8 (3.9). The correlation between attitude score and BMI was found to be not significant with
p-value of 0.47 and Pearson correlation coefficient 0.04. Thus, there was no correlation between attitude towards
obesity and individual’s BMI. Nursing students has positive attitude towards obesity. Their BMI does not seem to
affect their attitude towards obese persons and reflects that there was no stigma towards obese person.