Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 389 in total

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  1. Al Azzam KM, Saad B, Adnan R, Aboul-Enein HY
    Anal Chim Acta, 2010 Aug 3;674(2):249-55.
    PMID: 20678638 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2010.06.046
    A capillary electrophoretic method for the separation of the enantiomers of both ofloxacin and ornidazole is described. Several parameters affecting the separation were studied, including the type and concentration of chiral selector, buffer pH, voltage and temperature. Good chiral separation of the racemic mixtures was achieved in less than 16 min with resolution factors Rs=5.45 and 6.28 for ofloxacin and ornidazole enantiomers, respectively. Separation was conducted using a bare fused-silica capillary and a background electrolyte (BGE) of 50 mM H(3)PO(4)-1 M tris solution; pH 1.85; containing 30 mg mL(-1) of sulfated-beta-cyclodextrin (S-beta-CD). The separation was carried out in reversed polarity mode at 25 degrees C, 18 kV, detection wavelength at 230 nm and using hydrodynamic injection for 15 s. Acceptable validation criteria for selectivity, linearity, precision, and accuracy were studied. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantitation (LOQ) of the enantiomers (ofloxacin enantiomer 1 (OF-E1), ofloxacin enantiomer 2 (OF-E2), ornidazole enantiomer 1 (OR-E1) and ornidazole enantiomer 2 (OR-E2)) were (0.52, 0.46, 0.54, 0.89) and (1.59, 1.40, 3.07, 2.70) microg mL(-1), respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the assay of enantiomers of both ofloxacin and ornidazole in pharmaceutical formulations. The computational calculations for the enantiomeric inclusion complexes rationalized the reasons for the different migration times between the ofloxacin and ornidazole enantiomers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  2. Al Azzam KM, Makahleah A, Saad B, Mansor SM
    J Chromatogr A, 2010 Jun 4;1217(23):3654-9.
    PMID: 20409552 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2010.03.055
    A three-phase hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) coupled either with capillary electrophoresis (CE) or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection methods was successfully developed for the determination of trace levels of the anti-diabetic drug, rosiglitazone (ROSI) in biological fluids. The analyte was extracted into dihexyl ether that was immobilized in the wall pores of a porous hollow fiber from 10 mL of aqueous sample, pH 9.5 (donor phase), and was back extracted into the acceptor phase that contained 0.1M HCl located in the lumen of the hollow fiber. Parameters affecting the extraction process such as type of extraction solvent, HCl concentration, donor phase pH, extraction time, stirring speed, and salt addition were studied and optimized. Under the optimized conditions (extraction solvent, dihexyl ether; donor phase pH, 9.5; acceptor phase, 0.1M HCl; stirring speed, 600 rpm; extraction time, 30 min; without addition of salt), enrichment factor of 280 was obtained. Good linearity and correlation coefficients of the analyte was obtained over the concentration ranges of 1.0-500 and 5.0-500 ng mL(-1) for the HPLC (r(2)=0.9988) and CE (r(2)=0.9967) methods, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantitation (LOQ) for the HPLC and CE methods were (0.18, 2.83) and (0.56, 5.00) ng mL(-1), respectively. The percent relative standard deviation (n=6) for the extraction and determination of three concentration levels (10, 250, 500 ng mL(-1)) of ROSI using the HPLC and CE methods were less than 10.9% and 13.2%, respectively. The developed methods are simple, rapid, sensitive and are suitable for the determination of trace amounts of ROSI in biological fluids.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  3. Al-Hamodi Z, Ismail IS, Saif-Ali R, Ahmed KA, Muniandy S
    Cardiovasc Diabetol, 2011;10:23.
    PMID: 21414238 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2840-10-23
    Increased plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity and decreased tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity could be considered a true component of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and fibrinolytic abnormalities. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of tPA and its inhibitor PAI-1 with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and MetS and interrelationship between PAI-1 and tPA activities and antigens in Malaysian T2D and normal subjects.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  4. Al-Mansoob MAK, Al-Mazzah MM
    Med J Malaysia, 2005 Aug;60(3):349-57.
    PMID: 16379191
    The aim of study was to investigate the role of climate on the Malaria Incidence Rates (MIR) in some regions in of Yemen. For such purpose, the monthly (MIR) were calculated from the records of the hospitals' laboratories and centers of the Malaria Rollback centers in the main cities of the governorates Hudeidah, Taiz, Sana'a and Hadramout for the period 1989-1998. The readings of the climatic factors (CF) particularly the average monthly temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), volume of rain fall (RF) and wind speed (WS) for the same period of time were also collected from different weather and climatic information resources. Descriptive statistics, simple linear regression and multiple linear regression techniques were used to analyse the relationship between MIR and CF. The analysis shows highly significant relationship between MIR and the CF in these regions of Yemen (p-value 0.001).
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  5. Al-Naggar RA, Kadir SY
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(1):103-9.
    PMID: 23534705
    BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to determine knowledge about lung cancer among secondary school male teachers in Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among three secondary schools located in Kudat district, Sabah, Malaysia during the period from June until September 2012. The protocol of this study was approved by ethics committee of Management and Science University, Malaysia. The aims were explained and a consent form was signed by each participant. Respondents were chosen randomly from each school with the help of the headmasters. Self-administrated questionnaires, covering socio-demographic characteristics and general knowledge of lung cancer, were distributed. Once all 150 respondents completed the questionnaire, they passed it to their head master for collecting and recording. All the data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 13. ANOVA and t-test were applied for univariate analysis; and multiple linear regression for multivariate analysis.

    RESULTS: A total of 150 male secondary school teachers participated in this study. Their mean age was 35.6 ∓ 6.5 (SD); maximum 50 and minimum 23 years old. More than half of the participants were Malay and married (52%, 79%; respectively). Regarding the knowledge about lung cancer, 57.3% of the participants mentioned that only males are affected by lung cancer. Some 70.7% mentioned that lung cancer can be transmitted from one person to another. More than half (56.7%) reported that lung cancer is not the leading cause of death in Malaysian males. As for risk factors, the majority reported that family history of lung cancer is not involved. However, 91.3% were aware that cigarettes are the main risk factor of lung cancer and more than half (52%) believed that second-hand smoking is one of the risk factor of lung cancer. More than half (51.3%) were not aware that asbestos, ionizing radiation and other cancer causing substances are risk factors for lung cancer. Quitting smoking, avoiding second-hand smoking and avoiding unnecessary x-ray image of the chest (53.3%, 96.0%, 87.3%; respectively) are the main preventive measures mentioned by the participants. For the factors that influence the participants knowledge, univariate and multivariate analysis showed that only race was significant.

    CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the knowledge of school male teachers about lung cancer was low. However, few items were scored high: cigarettes are the main risk factor; avoiding second-hand smoking; and avoiding x-rays. Interventions to increase lung cancer awareness are needed to improve early detection behavior. Increase the price of pack of cigarettes to RM 20 and banning smoking in public places such as restaurants are highly recommended as primary preventive measures.

    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  6. Al-Naggar RA, Anil Sh
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2016 10 01;17(10):4661-4664.
    PMID: 27892680
    Background: Artificial light at night (ALAN) has been linked to increased risk of cancers in body sites like the breast
    and colorectum. However exposure of ALAN as an environmental risk factor and its relation to cancers in humans has
    never been studied in detail. Objective: To explore the association of ALAN with all forms of cancers in 158 countries.
    Materials and Methods: An ecological study encompassing global data was conducted from January to June 2015,
    with age-standardized rates (ASR) of cancers as the outcome measure. ALAN, in the protected areas, as the exposure
    variable, was measured with reference to the Protected Area Light Pollution Indicator (PALI) and the Protected Area
    Human Influence Indicator (PAHI). Pearson’s correlations were calculated for PALI and PAHI with ASR of cancers for
    158 countries, adjusted for country populations, electricity consumption, air pollution, and total area covered by forest.
    Stratified analysis was conducted according to the country income levels. Linear regression was applied to measure the
    variation in cancers explained by PALI and PAHI. Results: PALI and PAHI were positively associated with ASR of all
    forms of cancer, and also the four most common cancers (p < 0.05). These positive correlations remained statistically
    significant for PAHI with all forms of cancer, lung, breast, and colorectal cancer after adjusting for confounders. Positive
    associations of PALI and PAHI with cancers varied with income level of the individual countries. Variation in all forms
    of cancers, and the four most common cancers explained by PALI and PAHI, ranged from 3.3 – 35.5%. Conclusion:
    Artificial light at night is significantly correlated for all forms of cancer as well as lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate
    cancers individually. Immediate measures should be taken to limit artificial light at night in the main cities around the
    world and also inside houses.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  7. Al-Naggar, Redhwan Ahmed
    MyJurnal
    Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of the most common phobias and associated factors among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Management and Science University (MSU). Random sampling was performed throughout all faculties. The questionnaires were distributed randomly at classes, library and university cafe within MSU. Diagnosis of anxiety disorders were established according to DSM-IV criteria. These criteria are included in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). The questionnaire consists of two sections. The first section consists of socio-demographic characteristics such as (age, sex, race, type of faculty and income); the second section is LSAS standard questionnaire. Multiple linear regression using backward analysis was performed to obtain the associated factors. Results: A total number of four hundred sixty eight (468) students participated in this study. The majority of them were older than 20
    years old, female, Malay and from non-medical and heath faculties (59.6%, 69.6%, 77.8%, 68.8%; respectively). Regarding history of abuse during childhood, the majority of the university students reported that there was no sexual, physical and emotional abuse during childhood (98.5%, 97.4%, 82.1%; respectively). The majority of the students (53.85%) reported that they have phobia. The highest type of phobia reported among university students was phobia from snake (11.5%), followed by speaking in front of crowd (9.2%) and the lowest were phobia of speed, dolls phobia, ropes phobia. Types of faculty, smoking status and history of physical abuse during childhood were the factors that significantly influence the social anxiety among university students in univariate and multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of phobic symptoms among university students was
    high types of faculty; smoking status and history of physical abuse during childhood significantly influenced social anxiety among university students. Education and counseling university students is necessary to educate the students who suffer from phobia to cope with different situations during study period.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  8. Al-Odaini NA, Zakaria MP, Yaziz MI, Surif S
    J Chromatogr A, 2010 Oct 29;1217(44):6791-806.
    PMID: 20851398 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2010.08.033
    Pollutants such as human pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones that are not covered by environmental legislation have increasingly become important emerging aquatic contaminants. This paper reports the development of a sensitive and selective multi-residue method for simultaneous determination and quantification of 23 pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones from different therapeutic classes in water samples. Target pharmaceuticals include anti-diabetic, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic agents, β2-adrenergic receptor agonist, antihistamine, analgesic and sex hormones. The developed method is based on solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by instrumental analysis using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) with 30 min total run time. River water samples (150 mL) and (sewage treatment plant) STP effluents (100 mL) adjusted to pH 2, were loaded into MCX (3 cm(3), 60 mg) cartridge and eluted with four different reagents for maximum recovery. Quantification was achieved by using eight isotopically labeled internal standards (I.S.) that effectively correct for losses during sample preparation and matrix effects during LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Good recoveries higher than 70% were obtained for most of target analytes in all matrices. Method detection limit (MDL) ranged from 0.2 to 281 ng/L. The developed method was applied to determine the levels of target analytes in various samples, including river water and STP effluents. Among the tested emerging pollutants, chlorothiazide was found at the highest level, with concentrations reaching up to 865 ng/L in STP effluent, and 182 ng/L in river water.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  9. Aldubai SAR, Aljohani AM, Alghamdi AG, Alghamdi KS, Ganasegeran K, Yenbaawi AM
    J Family Med Prim Care, 2019 02;8(2):657-662.
    PMID: 30984690 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_268_18
    Background and Aim: Burnout is a common problem for interns and residents. It has been associated with physical and mental health of health care providers as well as low job satisfaction and medical errors. Few studies have investigated this problem among residents. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout and its associated factors among family residents in Al Madina city, Saudi Arabia.

    Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 75 residents in the family medicine residency programs in Al Madina, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was used that includes questions on sociodemographic characteristics and sources of stress and burnout. T test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, and multiple linear regression analysis were employed.

    Results: Majority were female (54.7%) and aged 26 to 30 years (84.0%). The significant predictors of burnout in the final model were "tests/examinations" (P = 0.014), "large amount of content to be learnt" (P = 0.016), "unfair assessment from superiors" (P = 0.001), "work demands affect personal/home life" (P = 0.001), and "lack of support from superiors" (P = 0.006).

    Conclusion: Burnout is present among family medicine residents at a relatively high percentage. This situation is strongly triggered by work-related stressors, organizational attributes, and system-related attributes, but not socio-demographics of the respondents. Systemic changes to relieve the workload of family medicine residents are recommended to promote effective management of burnout.

    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  10. Algamal ZY, Lee MH, Al-Fakih AM, Aziz M
    SAR QSAR Environ Res, 2016 Sep;27(9):703-19.
    PMID: 27628959 DOI: 10.1080/1062936X.2016.1228696
    In high-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modelling, penalization methods have been a popular choice to simultaneously address molecular descriptor selection and QSAR model estimation. In this study, a penalized linear regression model with L1/2-norm is proposed. Furthermore, the local linear approximation algorithm is utilized to avoid the non-convexity of the proposed method. The potential applicability of the proposed method is tested on several benchmark data sets. Compared with other commonly used penalized methods, the proposed method can not only obtain the best predictive ability, but also provide an easily interpretable QSAR model. In addition, it is noteworthy that the results obtained in terms of applicability domain and Y-randomization test provide an efficient and a robust QSAR model. It is evident from the results that the proposed method may possibly be a promising penalized method in the field of computational chemistry research, especially when the number of molecular descriptors exceeds the number of compounds.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models*
  11. Ali Z, Elamvazuthi I, Alsulaiman M, Muhammad G
    J Voice, 2016 Nov;30(6):757.e7-757.e19.
    PMID: 26522263 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2015.08.010
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Automatic voice pathology detection using sustained vowels has been widely explored. Because of the stationary nature of the speech waveform, pathology detection with a sustained vowel is a comparatively easier task than that using a running speech. Some disorder detection systems with running speech have also been developed, although most of them are based on a voice activity detection (VAD), that is, itself a challenging task. Pathology detection with running speech needs more investigation, and systems with good accuracy (ACC) are required. Furthermore, pathology classification systems with running speech have not received any attention from the research community. In this article, automatic pathology detection and classification systems are developed using text-dependent running speech without adding a VAD module.

    METHOD: A set of three psychophysics conditions of hearing (critical band spectral estimation, equal loudness hearing curve, and the intensity loudness power law of hearing) is used to estimate the auditory spectrum. The auditory spectrum and all-pole models of the auditory spectrums are computed and analyzed and used in a Gaussian mixture model for an automatic decision.

    RESULTS: In the experiments using the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary database, an ACC of 99.56% is obtained for pathology detection, and an ACC of 93.33% is obtained for the pathology classification system. The results of the proposed systems outperform the existing running-speech-based systems.

    DISCUSSION: The developed system can effectively be used in voice pathology detection and classification systems, and the proposed features can visually differentiate between normal and pathological samples.

    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  12. Alizamir M, Kisi O, Ahmed AN, Mert C, Fai CM, Kim S, et al.
    PLoS One, 2020;15(4):e0231055.
    PMID: 32287272 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231055
    Soil temperature has a vital importance in biological, physical and chemical processes of terrestrial ecosystem and its modeling at different depths is very important for land-atmosphere interactions. The study compares four machine learning techniques, extreme learning machine (ELM), artificial neural networks (ANN), classification and regression trees (CART) and group method of data handling (GMDH) in estimating monthly soil temperatures at four different depths. Various combinations of climatic variables are utilized as input to the developed models. The models' outcomes are also compared with multi-linear regression based on Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, root mean square error, and coefficient of determination statistics. ELM is found to be generally performs better than the other four alternatives in estimating soil temperatures. A decrease in performance of the models is observed by an increase in soil depth. It is found that soil temperatures at three depths (5, 10 and 50 cm) could be mapped utilizing only air temperature data as input while solar radiation and wind speed information are also required for estimating soil temperature at the depth of 100 cm.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  13. Alsharif AM, Tan GH, Choo YM, Lawal A
    J Chromatogr Sci, 2017 03 01;55(3):378-391.
    PMID: 27903555 DOI: 10.1093/chromsci/bmw188
    Hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) techniques coupled to chromatographic systems have been widely used for extraction and determination of diverse compounds. HF-LPME was able to provide better results in precision, accuracy, selectivity and enrichment factor, in addition to reduction of matrix effect and carry over. It is applicable within a wide pH range and compatible with most analytical instruments which enable the utilization of HF-LPME in a wide variety of applications. This review focused on the modified HF-LPME techniques, efficiency, comparison to other LPME methods and applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  14. Alshishani A, Salhimi SM, Saad B
    PMID: 29241085 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2017.12.013
    A new salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) sample preparation method for the determination of the polar anti-diabetic biguanide drugs (metformin, buformin and phenformin) in blood plasma, urine and lake water samples were developed. The SALLE was performed by mixing samples (plasma (0.2mL), urine or lake water (1.0mL)) with acetonitrile (0.4mL for plasma, 0.5mL for urine or lake water), sodium hydroxide powder was then added for the phase separation. The effects of type of salting-out reagent, type of extraction solvent, volumes of acetonitrile and sample, amount of sodium hydroxide, vortexing and centrifugation times on the extraction efficiency were investigated. The upper layer, containing the biguanides, was directly injected into a HPLC unit using ZIC-HILIC column (150mm×2.1mm×3.5μm) and was detected at 236nm. The method was validated and calibration curves were linear with r2>0.99 over the range of 20-2000μgL-1for plasma and 5-2000μgL-1for urine and lake water samples. The limits of detection were in the range (3.8-5.6)μgL-1, (0.8-1.5)μgL-1and (0.3-0.8)μgL-1for plasma, urine and lake water, respectively. The accuracies in the three matrices were within 87.3-103%, 87.4-109%, 82.2-109% of the nominal concentration for metformin, buformin and phenformin, respectively. The relative standard deviation for inter- and intra -day precision were in the range of 1.0-17% for all analytes in the three matrices.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  15. Altowayti WAH, Othman N, Al-Gheethi A, Dzahir NHBM, Asharuddin SM, Alshalif AF, et al.
    Molecules, 2021 Oct 13;26(20).
    PMID: 34684757 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26206176
    Sustainable wastewater treatment is one of the biggest issues of the 21st century. Metals such as Zn2+ have been released into the environment due to rapid industrial development. In this study, dried watermelon rind (D-WMR) is used as a low-cost adsorption material to assess natural adsorbents' ability to remove Zn2+ from synthetic wastewater. D-WMR was characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). According to the results of the analysis, the D-WMR has two colours, white and black, and a significant concentration of mesoporous silica (83.70%). Moreover, after three hours of contact time in a synthetic solution with 400 mg/L Zn2+ concentration at pH 8 and 30 to 40 °C, the highest adsorption capacity of Zn2+ onto 1.5 g D-WMR adsorbent dose with 150 μm particle size was 25 mg/g. The experimental equilibrium data of Zn2+ onto D-WMR was utilized to compare nonlinear and linear isotherm and kinetics models for parameter determination. The best models for fitting equilibrium data were nonlinear Langmuir and pseudo-second models with lower error functions. Consequently, the potential use of D-WMR as a natural adsorbent for Zn2+ removal was highlighted, and error analysis indicated that nonlinear models best explain the adsorption data.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  16. Aminnudin AN, Doss JG, Ismail SM, Chai MB, Abidin MZ, Basri CSJM, et al.
    Ecancermedicalscience, 2020;14:1118.
    PMID: 33209109 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2020.1118
    Background: Oral cancer and its treatment impact patients' post-treatment outcomes, challenging clinicians to manage them optimally. Addressing patients' concerns is central to holistic patient-centred care.

    Objectives: This study aimed to determine post-treatment oral cancer patients' concerns and its relationship with patients' clinical characteristics, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), psychological distress and patient satisfaction with the follow-up consultation.

    Methods: A total of 85 oral cancer patients were recruited from a three-armed pragmatic RCT study on the patient concerns inventory for head and neck cancer (PCI-H&N), which was conducted at six hospital-based oral maxillofacial specialist clinics throughout Malaysia. Malaysians aged 18 years and above and on follow-ups from 1 month to 5 years or more were eligible. Patients completed the PCI-H&N, functional assessment of cancer therapy -H&N v4.0 and Distress Thermometer at pre-consultation and satisfaction questionnaire at post-consultation. The data were analysed descriptively; multiple linear regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine possible predictors of patients' HRQoL and psychological distress.

    Results: 'Recurrence or fear of cancer coming back' (31.8%) was most frequently selected. 43.5% of patients selected ≥4 concerns. A significantly high number of concerns were associated with patients of '1-month to 1-year post-treatment' (n = 84%; p = 0.001). A significant association existed between 'time after treatment completed' and patients' concerns of 'chewing/eating', 'mouth opening', 'swelling', 'weight', 'ability to perform', 'cancer treatment' and 'supplement/diet-related'. 'Chewing/eating' was predicted for low HRQoL (p < 0.0001) followed by 'appearance' and 'ability to perform recreation activities' (personal functions domain). Patients with high psychological distress levels were 14 times more likely to select 'ability to perform recreation activities' and seven times more likely to select 'feeling depressed'. No significant association was identified between patients' concerns and patients' satisfaction with the consultation.

    Conclusion: Routine follow-up consultations should incorporate the PCI-H&N prompt list to enhance patient-centred care approach as the type and number of patients' concerns are shown to reflect their HRQoL and psychological distress.TRIAL REGISTRATION: NMRR-18-3624-45010 (IIR).

    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  17. Amir Hamzah A, Abu Bakar Z, Abdul Sani N, Tan JK, Ahmad Damanhuri M, Makpol S, et al.
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1371-1380.
    Higher level of education is associated with better cognitive performance and lower risk of developing dementia. However, the effect of education on cognitive performance varies across different cognitive domains and in different populations. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between education and performance of different cognitive domains among healthy Malay adults. A total of 53 individuals aged 29 to 77 years participated in a battery of neurophysiological tests consisting of Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, digit span, visual reproduction and digit symbol speed test (DSST). Blood test was performed for each participant to obtain their biochemical profile. Educational level was divided into level 1 (PMR), level 2 (SPM), level 3 (STPM), level 4 (Diploma) and level 5 (Degree). Simple linear regression indicated that years of education was positively associated with scores of delayed visual reproduction (b=1.348, p=0.002) and DSST (b=3.257, p=0.012). However, scores of all the tests were not significantly different among different levels of education after controlling for age, gender and blood test profile by ANCOVA. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that MMSE score was associated with red cell distribution width (b=-0.628, p=0.005), age (b=-0.119, p<0.001) and there was interaction between high density lipoprotein (HDL) with age (b=0.047, p<001). MoCA score was associated with age (b=-0.121, p<0.001), gender (male compared to female, b=1.870, p=0.020) and HDL (b=1.681, p=0.047). Age was associated with backward digit span (b=-0098, p<0.001) and immediate visual reproduction (b=-0.348, p<0.001), resp. Delayed visual reproduction was associated with age (b=-0.323, p<0.001) and potassium level (b=-4.471, p=0.016). DSST was associated with age (b=-0.911, p<0.001) and alanine aminotransferase (b=-0.754, p=0.002). The lack of association between educational level and cognitive performance after adjusting for confounders in this study maybe due to multiple factors influencing cognitive performance and further studies with a larger sample size are needed to further identify the factors involved.
    Keywords: Cognitive performance; education; healthy Malay adults
    ABSTRAK
    Tahap pendidikan yang tinggi telah dikaitkan dengan prestasi kognitif yang lebih baik dan risiko perkembangan dementia yang lebih rendah. Namun, kesan pendidikan terhadap prestasi kognitif berbeza antara domain kognitif dan populasi yang berlainan. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan hubungan antara pendidikan dengan prestasi pada domain kognitif yang berlainan pada individu dewasa Melayu yang sihat. Seramai 53 individu yang berumur antara 29 hingga 77 tahun telah menyertai ujian neuropsikologi yang terdiri daripada Pemeriksaan Keadaan Mental Mini, Penilaian Kognitif Montreal, digit span, penghasilan semula visual dan ujian kelajuan simbol digit (DSST). Tahap pendidikan dibahagikan kepada tahap 1 (PMR), tahap 2 (SPM), tahap 3 (STPM), tahap 4 (Diploma) dan tahap 5 (Ijazah Sarjana Muda). Regresi linear mudah menunjukkan bahawa tahap pendidikan berhubung kait secara positif dengan penghasilan semula visual tertunda (b=1.348, p=0.002) dan DSST (b=3.257, p=0.012). Namun, semua skor ujian menjadi tidak berbeza antara tahap pendidikan yang berbeza selepas mengambil kira kesan konpengasas dengan menggunakan ANCOVA. Regresi linear berganda menunjukkan bahawa skor MMSE berhubung kait dengan lebar taburan sel merah (b=-0.628, p=0.005), umur (b=-0.119, p<0.001) dan interaksi antara lipoprotein ketumpatan tinggi (HDL) dan umur (b=0.047, p<001). MoCA didapati berhubung kait dengan umur (b=-0.121, p<0.001), jantina (lelaki berbanding perempuan, b=1.870, p=0.020) dan HDL (b=1.681, p=0.047). Umur juga berhubung kait dengan digit span ke belakang (b=-0098, P<0.001) dan penghasilan semula visual segera (b=-0.348, p<0.001). Penghasilan semula visual tertunda berhubung kait dengan umur (b=-0.323, p<0.001) dan tahap kalium (b=-4.471, p=0.016). DSST berhubung kait dengan umur (b=-0.911, p<0.001) dan alanin aminotransferase (b=-0.754, p=0.002). Hubungan antara tahap pendidikan dan prestasi kognitif tidak dikesan selepas mengambil kira kesan konpengasas yang mencadangkan bahawa prestasi kognitif mungkin dipengaruhi oleh pelbagai faktor dan kajian lanjut dengan bilangan sampel yang lebih besar diperlukan untuk mengenal pasti faktor ini.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  18. Ammatawiyanon L, Tongkumchum P, Lim A, McNeil D
    Malar J, 2022 Nov 15;21(1):334.
    PMID: 36380322 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04363-8
    BACKGROUND: Malaria remains a serious health problem in the southern border provinces of Thailand. The issue areas can be identified using an appropriate statistical model. This study aimed to investigate malaria for its spatial occurrence and incidence rate in the southernmost provinces of Thailand.

    METHODS: The Thai Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Public Health, provided total hospital admissions of malaria cases from 2008 to 2020, which were classified by age, gender, and sub-district of residence. Sixty-two sub-districts were excluded since they had no malaria cases. A logistic model was used to identify spatial occurrence patterns of malaria, and a log-linear regression model was employed to model the incidence rate after eliminating records with zero cases.

    RESULTS: The overall occurrence rate was 9.8% and the overall median incidence rate was 4.3 cases per 1,000 population. Malaria occurence peaked at young adults aged 20-29, and subsequently fell with age for both sexes, whereas incidence rate increased with age for both sexes. Malaria occurrence and incidence rates fluctuated; they appeared to be on the decline. The area with the highest malaria occurrence and incidence rate was remarkably similar to the area with the highest number of malaria cases, which were mostly in Yala province's sub-districts bordering Malaysia.

    CONCLUSIONS: Malaria is a serious problem in forest-covered border areas. The correct policies and strategies should be concentrated in these areas, in order to address this condition.

    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  19. Amrizal, M.N., Rohaizat, Y.B., Saperi, S., SyedMohamed Aljunid
    MyJurnal
    Hospital UKM is the first hospital to implement case·mix system in Malaysia. The objective of the programme is to utilise case-mix system as a tool in improving efficiency and quality of care. From July 2002 to June 2004, a total of 35,568 cases were grouped using IRDRG-Version 1.1 case-mix grouper. Out of these, 3,622 cases or 10.2 % were cardiology cases in MDC 05 (Diseases and Disorders of the Circulatory System). Medical Cardiology cases consist of 86.5% and the remaining 13.5% were Surgical Cardiology. Most of the cases were in severity level one (43.4%), 29.5 % in severity level two and 27.1% in severity level three. The mortality rates for severity level one, two and three were 1.0%, 2.6% and 11.5% respectively. Top three cardiology cases were Acute Myocardial Infarction Without Comorbidity and Complication (IRDRG 05331) (8.4%), Acute Myocardial Infarction With Major Comorbidity and Complication (IRDRG 05333) (7.6%) and Cardiac Catheterization for Ischemic Heart Disease Without Comorbidity and Complication (IRDRG 05311) (7.4%). Step-down costing was carried out to obtain the cost for each DRG group. The mean cost per episode of care for Medical Cardiology cases was RM 3,562 (SD= RM 2, 1 19) with average LOS of 6.4 days (SD= 3 .8days) . For the Surgical Cardiology cases, the mean cost per episode ofcare was RM 6,526 (SD= RM 4,585) and average LOS of5.8 days (SD= 4.1 days). The main components of cost for Medical Cardiology cases are ICU cost (28.8%), pharmacy (17.3%) and Ward Services (15.3%). In Surgical Cardiology, the biggest component of cost was for Operation Theatre (27.9%), followed by Ward Services (25 .4%) and pharmacy (8.5%). Multivariate analysis using multiple linear regression showed that factors which significantly influence the treatment cost of cardiology cases were length of stay, age of the patient, discharge outcome, case type ('surgical partition') and severity level.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
  20. Ang KH
    Sains Malaysiana, 2018;47:471-479.
    In recent years, Malaysia has experienced quite a few number of chronic air pollution problems and it has become a
    major contributor to the deterioration of human health and ecosystems. This study aimed to assess the air quality data
    and identify the pattern of air pollution sources using chemometric analysis through hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA),
    discriminant analysis (DA), principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression analysis (MLR). The air
    quality data from January 2016 until December 2016 was obtained from the Department of Environment Malaysia. Air
    quality data from eight sampling stations in Selangor include the selected variables of nitrogen dioxide (NO2
    ), ozone (O3
    ),
    sulfur dioxide (SO2
    ), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM10). The HCA resulted in three clusters, namely low
    pollution source (LPS), moderate pollution source (MPS) and slightly high pollution source (SHPS). Meanwhile, DA resulted
    in two and four variables for the forward stepwise mode and the backward stepwise mode, respectively. Through PCA,
    it was identified that the main pollutants of LPS, MPS and SHPS came from industrial and vehicle emissions, agricultural
    systems, residential factors and natural emission sources. Among the three models yielded from the MLR analysis, it was
    found that SHPS is the most suitable model to be used for the prediction of Air Pollution Index. This study concluded that
    a clearer review and practical design of air quality monitoring network would be beneficial for better management of
    air pollution. The study also suggested that chemometric techniques have the ability to show significant information on
    spatial variability for large and complex air quality data.
    Matched MeSH terms: Linear Models
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