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Fulltext Time, love and tenderness: Doctors' online volunteering in Health Virtual Community searching for work-family balance

Mohd Yusof SA, Mohd Noor N, Othman N

J Infect Public Health, 2021 Jan;14(1):1-5.
PMID: 33341478 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2020.11.004

BACKGROUND: This study will explore and understand the experience of doctors volunteering online in managing the boundaries between work and family in health virtual communities (HVC).
METHODOLOGY: A qualitative case study approach was used to explore and understand how doctors volunteering online balances between work and family in a Health Virtual Community called DoktorBudak.com (DB). A total of seventeen (17) doctors were interviewed using either face-to-face, Skype, phone interview or through email.
RESULTS: The results of this study suggested that doctors perceived the physical border at their workplace as less permeable though the ICT has freed them from the restriction to perform other non-related work (such as online volunteering (OV) works) during working hours. In addition, doctors OV use ICTs to perform work at home or during working hours, they perceive their work and family borders as flexible. Furthermore, the doctors used different strategies when it came to blending, whether to segment or integrate their work and family domains.
CONCLUSION: This study has defined issues on work-family balance and OV. Most importantly this study had discussed the conceptual framework of work-family balance focusing on doctors volunteering online and how they have incorporated ICTs such as Internet technology to negotiate the work-family boundaries, which are permeable, flexible and blending.
Knowledge, perceived barriers and facilitators of medication error reporting: a quantitative survey in Malaysian primary care clinics

Samsiah A, Othman N, Jamshed S, Hassali MA

Int J Clin Pharm, 2020 Aug;42(4):1118-1127.
PMID: 32494990 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-020-01041-0

Background Medication errors are the most common types of medical errors that occur in health care organisations; however, these errors are largely underreported. Objective This study assessed knowledge on medication error reporting, perceived barriers to reporting medication errors, motivations for reporting medication errors and medication error reporting practices among various health care practitioners working at primary care clinics. Setting This study was conducted in 27 primary care clinics in Malaysia. Methods A self-administered survey was distributed to family medicine specialists, doctors, pharmacists, pharmacist assistants, nurses and assistant medical officers. Main outcome measures Health care practitioners' knowledge, perceived barriers and motivations for reporting medication errors. Results Of all respondents (N = 376), nurses represented 31.9% (n = 120), followed by doctors (n = 87, 23.1%), pharmacists (n = 63, 16.8%), assistant medical officers (n = 53, 14.1%), pharmacist assistants (n = 46, 12.2%) and family medicine specialists (n = 7, 1.9%). Of the survey respondents who had experience reporting medication errors, 56% (n = 62) had submitted medication error reports in the preceding 12 months. Results showed that 41.2% (n = 155) of respondents were classified as having good knowledge on medication error and medication error reporting. The mean score of knowledge was significantly higher among prescribers and pharmacists than nurses, pharmacist assistants and assistant medical officers (p
Fulltext Head and neck tuberculosis: The great mimic

Mohamad I, Nik Hassan N, Nik Othman NA

Malays Fam Physician, 2016;11(2-3):38.
PMID: 28461859
Update on laboratory diagnosis of amoebiasis

Saidin S, Othman N, Noordin R

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 2019 Jan;38(1):15-38.
PMID: 30255429 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-018-3379-3

Amoebiasis, an enteric protozoan disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica, is a public health problem in many developing countries, causing up to 100,000 fatal cases annually. Detection of the pathogenic E. histolytica and its differentiation from the non-pathogenic Entamoeba spp. play a crucial role in the clinical management of patients. Laboratory diagnosis of intestinal amoebiasis in developing countries still relies on labour-intensive and insensitive methods involving staining of stool sample and microscopy. Newer and more sensitive methods include a variety of antigen detection ELISAs and rapid tests; however, their diagnostic sensitivity and specificity seem to vary between studies, and some tests do not distinguish among the Entamoeba species. Molecular detection techniques are highly sensitive and specific and isothermal amplification approaches may be developed into field-applicable tests; however, cost is still a barrier for their use as a routine laboratory test method in most endemic areas. Laboratory diagnosis of extraintestinal amoebiasis faces challenges of lack of definitive detection of current infection and commercially available point-of-care tests. For both types of amoebiasis, there is still a need for highly sensitive and specific tests that are rapid and cost-effective for use in developing countries where the disease is prevalent. In recent years, new molecules of diagnostic value are being discovered and new tests developed. The advances in 'omics' technologies are enabling discoveries of new biomarkers that may help distinguish between different infection stages.
Multimodality cardiac imaging of submitral left ventricular aneurysm with concurrent descending aorta mycotic aneurysm

Abdullah H, Jiyen K, Othman N

BMJ Case Rep, 2017 Sep 27;2017.
PMID: 28954754 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-221466

We present a case of a 20-year-old Malay man with underlying tuberculous (TB) lymphadenitis who presented with shortness of breath and found to have submitral left ventricular aneurysm (SLVA). SLVA is well recognised but rare. Incidence of SLVA in Malay has never been documented. This is the first reported case of SLVA in Malays with concomitant thoracic aorta mycotic aneurysm. TB has been reported to be associated with SLVA. Treatment is either surgical or conservative. Imaging is required for diagnosis and preoperative assessment. Multimodality imaging include echocardiography (ECHO), cardiac CTangiography and the robust multiparametric cardiac MR (CMR). ECHO is the first line imaging and useful for initial detection of the aneurysm. CMR including the late gadolinium enhancement allows excellent visualisation of the LV aneurysm, tissue characterisation, cardiac function and detection of associated pathology as shown in this case.
Fulltext In Vitro Testing of Potential Entamoeba histolytica Pyruvate Phosphate Dikinase Inhibitors

Saidin S, Othman N, Noordin R

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2017 Oct;97(4):1204-1213.
PMID: 28820699 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0132

Adverse effects and resistance to metronidazole have motivated the search for new antiamoebic agents against Entamoeba histolytica. Control of amoeba growth may be achieved by inhibiting the function of the glycolytic enzyme and pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK). In this study, we screened 10 compounds using an in vitro PPDK enzyme assay. These compounds were selected from a virtual screening of compounds in the National Cancer Institute database. The antiamoebic activity of the selected compounds was also evaluated by determining minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and IC50 values using the nitro-blue tetrazolium reduction assay. Seven of the 10 compounds showed inhibitory activities against the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)/inorganic phosphate binding site of the ATP-grasp domain. Two compounds, NSC349156 (pancratistatin) and NSC228137 (7-ethoxy-4-[4-methylphenyl] sulfonyl-3-oxido-2, 1, 3-benzoxadiazol-3-ium), exhibited inhibitory effects on the growth of E. histolytica trophozoites with MIC values of 25 and 50 μM, and IC50 values of 14 and 20.7 μM, respectively.
Fulltext On the duration of trade competitiveness: the case of the Malaysian palm-based oleochemical industry

Othman N, Tahir MS, Joremi L

Heliyon, 2022 Nov;8(11):e11903.
PMID: 36458305 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11903

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a surge in demand for oleochemicals, due to the increased demand for cleaning and disinfectants products. Since Malaysia is one of the world's largest palm oil producers, the demand for oleochemicals will be a key driver supporting the Malaysian palm oil industry. Palm oil is used in millions of products, from foods to soaps, personal care products cosmetics, and biodiesel feedstock. Currently, palm oil related exports are still highly dependent on the upstream segments such as crude palm oil (CPO), with a total contribution to the overall industry of 81.4%. In comparison, that downstream contribution is still low at about 18.6%. It is thus important to expand the production and export of high-value-added palm oil downstream products, including oleochemicals products. Therefore, this study aims to assess Malaysia's relative competitiveness in oleochemical products as compared to the main oil and fat producing countries - namely Indonesia, China, the European Union (EU) member states, the United States and Argentina. We examine the trade competitiveness by using the Revealed Trade Advantage (RTA) developed by Vollrath (1991) and utilizing yearly data spanning from 1999 until 2019. We also analyze the duration of comparative advantage using Kaplan-Meier Analysis. The results indicate that Malaysia has higher and more stable trade advantages relative to other main producers of oleochemical products.
Fulltext Viable Properties of Natural Rubber/Halloysite Nanotubes Composites Affected by Various Silanes

Hayeemasae N, Masa A, Othman N, Surya I

Polymers (Basel), 2022 Dec 21;15(1).
PMID: 36616378 DOI: 10.3390/polym15010029

Natural rubber (NR) is incompatible with hydrophilic additives like halloysite nanotubes (HNT) due to their different polarity. The silane coupling agent is the ideal component to include in such a compound to solve this problem. Many types of silane are available for polymer composites depending on their functionalities. This work aimed to tune it to the composite based on NR and HNT. Four different silanes, namely Bis[3- (Triethoxysilyl)Propyl]Tetrasulfide (TESPT), 3-Aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES), N-[3-(Trimethoxysilyl)Propyl] Ethylenediamine (AEAPTMS), and Vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) were used. Here, the mechanical properties were used to assess the properties, paying close attention to how their reinforcement influenced their crystallization behavior after stretching. It was revealed that adding silane coupling agents greatly improved the composites' modulus, tensile strength, and tear strength. From the overall findings, AEAPTMS was viable for NR/HNT composites. This was in direct agreement with the interactions between NR and HNT that silanes had encouraged. The findings from stress-strain curves describing the crystallization of the composites are in good agreement with the findings from synchrotron wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). The corresponding silanes have substantially aided the strain-induced crystallization (SIC) of composites.
Pontine stroke: a rare mimicker of Bell's palsy

Mabel HM, Othman NB, Cheah WK

Med J Malaysia, 2022 May;77(3):403-405.
PMID: 35638501

Pontine infarct is a rare but clinically significant cause of an isolated facial nerve palsy. Prompt diagnosis with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows early initiation of treatment for such patients. We report a 62-year-old gentleman with diabetes, hypertension, and gout, presenting with lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy. This report highlights that isolated facial nerve palsy is not always associated with Bell's palsy, which remains the commonest cause of facial nerve paralysis. A thorough neurological examination and good clinical correlation with the patient's history and physical findings, coupled with the use of facial nerve anatomical knowledge and early employment of MRI, are imperative in clinching the diagnosis.
Fulltext Does Entrepreneurship Education Affect Pre-start-up Behavior in Malaysia? A Multi-Group Analysis Approach

Othman NH, Othman N, Juhdi NH

Front Psychol, 2022;13:738729.
PMID: 35242071 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.738729

This study investigates the moderating effect of students' programs on entrepreneurship education aimed at pre-start-up and its effect on the students' behavior. This study also attempts the level of entrepreneurship education and pre-start-up behavior among students. A survey was carried out among 441 final year students, including 214 students from business programs, and 227 students from non-business programs. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 22 and SmartPLS 3.3.0, to perform descriptive and multi-group analysis (MGA), including assessment of measurement invariance of the composite model (MICOM). The results reveal that all direct relationships were supported. It was also found that student programs do have a moderating effect on the relationship between entrepreneurship education and pre-start-up behavior. Furthermore, the results discovered that risk control is a crucial component of entrepreneurship education and should be highlighted in the curriculum. This study contributes to the literature by considering student programs as a moderator, a comparatively new factor in the pre-start-up behavior among university students at the tertiary level. Therefore, entrepreneurship education must be properly designed, and the co-curriculum must be properly organized, so that entrepreneurship will be the preferred career choice in the future.
Fulltext Perceptions and Attitudes towards Medication Error Reporting in Primary Care Clinics: A Qualitative Study in Malaysia

Samsiah A, Othman N, Jamshed S, Hassali MA

PLoS One, 2016;11(12):e0166114.
PMID: 27906960 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166114

OBJECTIVE: To explore and understand participants' perceptions and attitudes towards the reporting of medication errors (MEs).
METHODS: A qualitative study using in-depth interviews of 31 healthcare practitioners from nine publicly funded, primary care clinics in three states in peninsular Malaysia was conducted for this study. The participants included family medicine specialists, doctors, pharmacists, pharmacist assistants, nurses and assistant medical officers. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Analysis of the data was guided by the framework approach.
RESULTS: Six themes and 28 codes were identified. Despite the availability of a reporting system, most of the participants agreed that MEs were underreported. The nature of the error plays an important role in determining the reporting. The reporting system, organisational factors, provider factors, reporter's burden and benefit of reporting also were identified.
CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare practitioners in primary care clinics understood the importance of reporting MEs to improve patient safety. Their perceptions and attitudes towards reporting of MEs were influenced by many factors which affect the decision-making process of whether or not to report. Although the process is complex, it primarily is determined by the severity of the outcome of the errors. The participants voluntarily report the errors if they are familiar with the reporting system, what error to report, when to report and what form to use.
Waste newspaper as cellulose resource of activated carbon by sodium salts for methylene blue and congo red removal

Hao YS, Othman N, Zaini MAA

Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Oct;277(Pt 4):134353.
PMID: 39089559 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134353

The work was aimed at evaluating the adsorptive properties of waste newspaper (WN) activated carbons chemically produced using sodium salts for methylene blue (MB) and congo red (CR) removal. The activated carbons, designated as AC1, AC2, AC3 and AC4 were prepared through impregnation with NaH2PO4, Na2CO3, NaCl and NaOH, respectively and activation at 500 °C for 1 h. The activated carbons were characterized for surface chemistry, thermal stability, specific area, morphology and composition. The AC1 with a surface area of 917 m2/g exhibits a greater MB capacity of 651 mg/g. Meanwhile, a greater CR capacity was recorded by AC2 at 299 mg/g. The pseudo-second order model fitted well with the kinetic data, while the equilibrium data could be described by Langmuir model. The thermodynamic parameters, i.e.., positive ΔH°, negative ΔG° and positive ΔS° suggest that the adsorption of dyes is endothermic, spontaneous and feasible at high solution temperature. To conclude, WN is a potential cellulose source for producing activated carbon, while NaH2PO4 activation could be employed to convert WN into activated carbon for effective dye wastewater treatment.
Fulltext Direct growth inhibition assay of total airborne fungi with application of biocide-treated malt extract agar

Er CM, Sunar NM, Leman AM, Othman N

MethodsX, 2015;2:340-4.
PMID: 27077051 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2015.07.002

Indoor air pollution by airborne fungi has risen to become a common issue all over the world and it is hazardous to indoor occupants' health as it is associated with a series of respiratory-related and skin-related diseases. Selected bioactive compounds from the food industry have been suggested to be effective against individual fungus isolated from indoor environment. However, the techniques used to evaluate these compounds were lengthy and unsuitable against total airborne fungi. Therefore, this paper describes an assay to assess the effectiveness of a bioactive compound to inhibit growth of total airborne fungi.•A combination and modification of previous methods and the NIOSH Manual Analytical Standard Method (NMAM 0800) is proposed.•This method concurrently samples the total airborne fungi and evaluates the ability of bioactive compounds (potassium sorbate in this paper), as a biocide, to treat these indoor airborne fungi.•The current method shortens the time of evaluation from 30 days to only 5 days and employs the counting of colony forming units (CFUs) to ease the measurement of the growth of fungi.
Selective removal and recovery of Black B reactive dye from simulated textile wastewater using the supported liquid membrane process

Harruddin N, Othman N, Ee Sin AL, Raja Sulaiman RN

Environ Technol, 2015 Jan-Feb;36(1-4):271-80.
PMID: 25514128 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2014.943301

Effluent containing colour/dyes, especially reactive dyes, becomes a great concern of wastewater treatment because it is toxic to human life and aquatic life. In this study, reactive dye of Black B was separated using the supported liquid membrane process. Commercial polypropylene membrane was used as a support of the kerosene-tridodecylamine liquid membrane. Several parameters were tested and the result showed that almost 100% of 70 ppm Black B was removed and 99% of 70 ppm Black B was recovered at pH 2 of the feed phase containing 0.00001 M Na2SiO3, flow rate of 150 ml/min and 0.2 M NaOH. The membrane support also remained stable for up to 36 hours under an optimum condition.
Fulltext Radiolytic formation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles: influence of radiation dose on structure and magnetic properties

Abedini A, Daud AR, Abdul Hamid MA, Kamil Othman N

PLoS One, 2014;9(3):e90055.
PMID: 24608715 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090055

Colloidal Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using a gamma-radiolysis method in an aqueous solution containing iron chloride in presence of polyvinyl alcohol and isopropanol as colloidal stabilizer and hydroxyl radical scavenger, respectively. Gamma irradiation was carried out in a 60Co gamma source chamber at different absorbed doses. Increasing the radiation dose above a certain critical dose (100 kGy) leads to particle agglomeration enhancement, and this can influence the structure and crystallinity, and consequently the magnetic properties of the resultant particles. The optimal condition for formation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with a uniform and narrow size distribution occurred at a dose of 100 kGy, as confirmed by X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. A vibrating sample magnetometry study showed that, when radiation dose increased, the saturation and remanence magnetization decreased, whereas the coercivity and the remanence ratio increased. This magnetic behavior results from variations in crystallinity, surface effects, and particle size effects, which are all dependent on the radiation dose. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was performed to investigate the nature of the bonds formed between the polymer chains and the metal surface at different radiation doses.
Fulltext Bcl-xL silencing induces alterations in hsa-miR-608 expression and subsequent cell death in A549 and SK-LU1 human lung adenocarcinoma cells

Othman N, In LL, Harikrishna JA, Hasima N

PLoS One, 2013;8(12):e81735.
PMID: 24339958 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081735

Bcl-xL is an anti-apoptotic protein that is frequently found to be overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer leading to an inhibition of apoptosis and poor prognosis. Recently, the role of miRNAs in regulating apoptosis and cell survival during tumorigenesis has become evident, with cancer cells showing perturbed expression of various miRNAs. In this study, we utilized miRNA microarrays to determine if miRNA dysregulation in bcl-xL silenced lung adenocarcinoma cells could be involved in regulating cell death. Short interfering RNA-based transfection of A549 and SK-LU1 lung adenocarcinoma cells was successful in inducing a reduction in bcl-xL expression levels, resulting in a decrease in cell viability. A total of 10 miRNAs were found to be significantly differentially expressed when compared between siRNA-transfected and non-transfected cells including hsa-miR-181a, hsa-miR-769-5p, hsa-miR-361-5p, hsa-miR-1304 and hsa-miR-608. When overexpression studies on hsa-miR-608 was performed via transfection of miRNA mimics, cell death was found to be induced in A549 and SK-LU1 cells in comparison to untreated cells. This effect was reversed when knockdown studies involving anti-sense inhibitors were introduced. Combination of siRNA based silencing of bcl-xL (siBcl-xL) followed by anti-sense inhibitor transfection led to a decrease in the apoptotic population of A549 and SK-LU1 cells in comparison to cells only treated with siBcl-xL, illustrating the connection between bcl-xL, hsa-miR-608 and cell death. Gene target prediction analysis implicated the PI3K/AKT, WNT, TGF-β, and ERK signaling pathways as targets of bcl-xL induced miRNA alterations. We have demonstrated that bcl-xL silencing in A549 and SK-LU1 cells leads to the occurrence of cell death through the dysregulation of specific miRNAs. This study also provides a platform for anti-sense gene therapy whereby miRNA expression can be exploited to increase the apoptotic properties in lung adenocarcinoma cells.
Fulltext Importance of screening for macroprolactin in all hyperprolactinaemic sera

Jamaluddin FA, Sthaneshwar P, Hussein Z, Othman N, Chan SP

Malays J Pathol, 2013 Jun;35(1):59-63.
PMID: 23817395 MyJurnal

Prolactin (PRL) exists in different forms in human serum. The predominant form is monomeric PRL (molecular mass 23 kDa) with smaller amounts of big PRL (molecular mass 50-60 kDa) and at times macroprolactin (molecular mass 150-170 kDa). Macroprolactin, generally considered to be biologically inactive, accounts for the major part of prolactin in some patients. Different immunoassays for prolactin differ in reactivity with this macromolecular complex.
Fulltext Human pentastomiasis caused by Armillifer moniliformis in Malaysian Borneo

Latif B, Omar E, Heo CC, Othman N, Tappe D

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2011 Nov;85(5):878-81.
PMID: 22049042 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0404

We report a case of visceral pentastomiasis caused by Armillifer moniliformis in a 70-year-old aboriginal farmer from rural Malaysian Borneo. The patient complained of upper abdominal pain, jaundice, and loss of weight. Radiological investigations and subsequent histopathological examination revealed an adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with an adjacent liver nodule containing a nymph of A. moniliformis. This report constitutes the first documented human pentastomid infection in the whole of Malaysia after nearly 40 years, and it is the third description from Malaysian Borneo. Cases of human and animal pentastomiasis in Malaysia are discussed.
Fulltext Intraventricular angiolipoma

Lee HK, Ghani AR, Sayuthi S, Abdullah J, Mustaffa F, Othman N, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Oct;62(4):339-40.
PMID: 18551942 MyJurnal

We report a case of 50-year-old man who was presented with recurrent episodes of left sided hemiparesis. CT scan and MRI brain revealed a large intraventricular fatty lesion. Histopathological examination showed a picture of angiolipoma.
Severe leptospirosis with unusual manifestation

Othman N, Intan HI, Yip CW, Alias M, Amran F

J Trop Pediatr, 2007 Feb;53(1):55-8.
PMID: 17237115

We report a case of an 8-year-old aborigine boy referred to our hospital for respiratory insufficiency with skin eruptions over the trunk and limbs. The skin condition was diagnosed as acquired ichthyosis. He also had a non-bleeding form of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Radiograph of the lungs showed bilateral perihilar opacities with bilateral pleural effusion. The diagnosis of leptospirosis was confirmed by a 4-fold rise in microagglutinating titre and polymerase chain reaction assay.

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