Displaying publications 41 - 57 of 57 in total

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  1. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations of apoptosis proteins with potential anticancer compounds present in Clinacanthus nutans extract using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
    Ismail NZ, Mohamed WAS, Ab Rahim N, Hashim NM, Adebayo IA, Mohamad Zain NN, et al.
    J Biomol Struct Dyn, 2023;41(13):6104-6120.
    PMID: 35899385 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2101530
    Clinacanthus nutans is a medicinal plant recognised for its anticancer properties. We previously discovered that the C. nutans extract had the most potent inhibitory effect on MCF7 breast cancer cell and significantly induced apoptosis. However, there is a scarcity of studies demonstrating the molecular interactions of C. nutans-derived chemical compounds associated with apoptosis-related proteins. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the potential chemical compounds found in the C. nutans extract and examine their interactions with the targeted apoptotic proteins using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. To address this objective, the compounds found in the SF2 extract of C. nutans were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The molecular interaction of the compounds with the targeted apoptotic proteins were determined using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. GC-MS analysis revealed a total of 32 compounds in the SF2 extract. Molecular docking analysis showed that compound β-amyrenol had the highest binding affinity for MDM2-P53 (-7.26 kcal/mol), BCL2 (-11.14 kcal/mol), MCL1-BAX (-6.42 kcal/mol), MCL1-BID (-6.91 kcal/mol), and caspase-9 (-12.54 kcal/mol), whereas campesterol had the highest binding affinity for caspase-8 (-10.11 kcal/mol) and caspase-3 (-10.14 kcal/mol). These selected compounds were subjected to molecular dynamic simulation at 310 K for 100 ns. The results showed that the selected protein-ligand conformation complexes were stable, compact, and did not alter much when compared to the protein references. The findings indicate that β-amyrenol and campesterol are potentially significant compounds that might provide insight into the molecular interactions of the compounds with the apoptosis-related proteins.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
  2. Antidepressant evaluation of Andrographis paniculata Nees extract and andrographolide in chronic unpredictable stress zebrafish model
    Aldurrah Z, Mohd Kauli FS, Abdul Rahim N, Zainal Z, Afzan A, Al Zarzour RH, et al.
    Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol, 2023 Sep;271:109678.
    PMID: 37301417 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2023.109678
    Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) showed an anti-depressive effect in rodent models. Zebrafish has recently emerged as a worthy complementary translational model for antidepressant drug discovery study. This study investigates the anti-depressive effect of A. paniculata extract and andrographolide in the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)- zebrafish model. Four groups of zebrafish (n = 10/group), i.e. control, CUS (stressed, untreated), CUS + A. paniculata (100 mg/L) and CUS + fluoxetine (0.01 mg/L) were assessed in open-field and social interaction tests, 24 h after treatment. After extract screening, behavioural and cortisol analysis of andrographolide (5, 25 and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) were evaluated. Before the behavioural study, acute toxicity and characterization of A. paniculata extract using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS were performed. A significant reduction in freezing duration was found in A. paniculata- (t-test, p = 0.0234) and fluoxetine-treated groups (t-test, p 
  3. Fulltext Impact of ZnO nanoparticles as additive on performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fueled with waste plastic oil
    Suhel A, Abdul Rahim N, Abdul Rahman MR, Bin Ahmad KA, Khan U, Teoh YH, et al.
    Heliyon, 2023 Apr;9(4):e14782.
    PMID: 37064486 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14782
    Neat waste plastic oil (WPO) application as a fuel in engines reduces BTE and increases deleterious emissions of CO, UHC, NOx, and smoke due to the presence of insufficient oxygen and unbreakable hydrocarbon chains in WPO. Present investigation was performed to evaluate the impact of ZnO nanoparticles on the performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine operated with the waste plastic oil (WPO20) blend. The objective of doping ZnO nanoparticles with WPO20 was to enhance the oxidation reaction and heat transfer rate between fuel droplets during combustion, which aids in completing the combustion. The sol-gel technique was adopted to successfully synthesize the ZnO nanoparticles using zinc acetate (Zn(CH3CO2)2.2H2O) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) precursors. The structure and morphology of resulted particles were studied by XRD and FESEM tests. Both results indicate the stable formation of ZnO, and exhibit the crystallinity nature, spherical surface, and size consistency. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were infused in WPO20 blend in the amounts of 50, 100, and 150 ppm with the aid of the ultrasonication technique. Engine test was conducted with diesel fuel, WPO20 blend, and nano-infused fuels at a constant speed of 1500 rpm under various loads. The disparities in performance and emission characteristics were examined and compared with pure diesel fuel. The findings demonstrated that adding nanoparticles to WPO20 significantly lowers the smoke, CO, UHC, and NOx emissions and simultaneously improves the BTE and decreases the BSFC of the diesel engine. Optimum results were obtained for 100 ppm concentration of ZnO nanoparticles. Reduction of smoke by 11.86%, CO by 5.7%, UHC by 28%, and NOx by 14.93%, along with the enhancement of BTE by 2.47%, were noticed at maximum load with 100 ppm particles. Based on the test results, it is concluded that ZnO nanoparticles can be used as a suitable additive in WPO blends to improve the overall engine characteristics. Further scope of the present work is to study the effect of organic nanoparticles with WPO on engine behaviour, the detailed combustion of nanoparticles infused WPO, and the nanoparticles doped WPO on engine wear and corrosion.
  4. Fulltext Proof-of-concept for incorporating mechanistic insights from multi-omics analyses of polymyxin B in combination with chloramphenicol against Klebsiella pneumoniae
    Hanafin PO, Abdul Rahim N, Sharma R, Cess CG, Finley SD, Bergen PJ, et al.
    CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol, 2023 Mar;12(3):387-400.
    PMID: 36661181 DOI: 10.1002/psp4.12923
    Carbapenemase-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) resistant to multiple antibiotic classes necessitates optimized combination therapy. Our objective is to build a workflow leveraging omics and bacterial count data to identify antibiotic mechanisms that can be used to design and optimize combination regimens. For pharmacodynamic (PD) analysis, previously published static time-kill studies (J Antimicrob Chemother 70, 2015, 2589) were used with polymyxin B (PMB) and chloramphenicol (CHL) mono and combination therapy against three KP clinical isolates over 24 h. A mechanism-based model (MBM) was developed using time-kill data in S-ADAPT describing PMB-CHL PD activity against each isolate. Previously published results of PMB (1 mg/L continuous infusion) and CHL (Cmax : 8 mg/L; bolus q6h) mono and combination regimens were evaluated using an in vitro one-compartment dynamic infection model against a KP clinical isolate (108 CFU/ml inoculum) over 24 h to obtain bacterial samples for multi-omics analyses. The differentially expressed genes and metabolites in these bacterial samples served as input to develop a partial least squares regression (PLSR) in R that links PD responses with the multi-omics responses via a multi-omics pathway analysis. PMB efficacy was increased when combined with CHL, and the MBM described the observed PD well for all strains. The PLSR consisted of 29 omics inputs and predicted MBM PD response (R2  = 0.946). Our analysis found that CHL downregulated metabolites and genes pertinent to lipid A, hence limiting the emergence of PMB resistance. Our workflow linked insights from analysis of multi-omics data with MBM to identify biological mechanisms explaining observed PD activity in combination therapy.
  5. Fulltext Adaptation of an in vitro one-compartment pharmacodynamic chemostat for testing efficacy of ceftazidime against Burkholderia pseudomallei outside a BSL3 facility
    Zamri HF, Mohd Ali MR, Sha'ari AII, Mohd Mazalan NH, Ahmad N, Nor Amdan NA, et al.
    MethodsX, 2025 Jun;14:103167.
    PMID: 39897649 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103167
    Non-clinical pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) models are crucial in the initial design of drug-dosage regimens and in drug development but has rarely been employed for testing high-risk organisms due to stringent handling procedures. Burkholderia pseudomallei is classified as a Tier 1 select agent with international guidelines recommending this organism to be handled within a biosafety level 3 (BSL3) facility. Unfortunately, BSL3 facilities are not widely available in low-resource settings. This paper describes a detailed guide for setting up an in vitro pharmacodynamic infection model specific for testing B. pseudomallei outside BSL 3 laboratory. Briefly in this study,•All procedures involving active handling of live B. pseudomallei cultures were performed strictly inside a class II BSC in BSL-2 plus negative airflow laboratory.•The model was set to simulate B. pseudomallei-bacteremia treated with ceftazidime, a 1st-line anti-melioidosis drug with an approximate 2-hour half-life. Model validation was performed by simulating ceftazidime half-life.•For the pharmacodynamic study, ceftazidime was given as bolus injections at 8-hour intervals into the central culture chamber containing actively growing B. pseudomallei.
  6. Fulltext Feasibility of Patient Navigation to Improve Breast Cancer Care in Malaysia
    Yeoh ZY, Jaganathan M, Rajaram N, Rawat S, Tajudeen NA, Rahim N, et al.
    J Glob Oncol, 2018 11;4:1-13.
    PMID: 30398950 DOI: 10.1200/JGO.17.00229
    PURPOSE: Late stage at presentation and poor adherence to treatment remain major contributors to poor survival in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Patient navigation (PN) programs in the United States have led to improvement in diagnostic or treatment timeliness, particularly for women in lower socioeconomic classes or minority groups. To date, studies of PN in Asia have been limited. We aimed to assess the feasibility of PN in a state-run hospital in an LMIC and to report the impact on diagnostic and treatment timeliness for patients in its first year of implementation.

    METHODS: We established PN in a dedicated breast clinic of a Malaysian state-run hospital. We compared diagnostic and treatment timeliness between navigated patients (n = 135) and patients diagnosed in the prior year (n = 148), and described factors associated with timeliness.

    RESULTS: Women with PN received timely mammography compared with patients in the prior year (96.4% v 74.4%; P < .001), biopsy (92.5% v 76.1%; P = .003), and communication of news (80.0% v 58.5%; P < .001). PN reduced treatment default rates (4.4% v 11.5%; P = .048). Among navigated patients, late stage at presentation was independently associated with having emotional and language barriers ( P = .01). Finally, the main reason reported for delay, default, or refusal of treatment was the preference for alternative therapy.

    CONCLUSION: PN is feasible for addressing barriers to cancer care when integrated with a state-run breast clinic of an LMIC. Its implementation resulted in improved diagnostic timeliness and reduced treatment default. Wider adoption of PN could be a key element of cancer control in LMICs.

  7. Fulltext Development and validation of Malaysia Medication Adherence Assessment Tool (MyMAAT) for diabetic patients
    Hatah E, Rahim N, Makmor-Bakry M, Mohamed Shah N, Mohamad N, Ahmad M, et al.
    PLoS One, 2020;15(11):e0241909.
    PMID: 33157549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241909
    Medication non-adherence remains a significant barrier in achieving better health outcomes for patients with chronic diseases. Previous self-reported medication adherence tools were not developed in the context of the Malaysia population. The most commonly used tool, MMAS-8, is no longer economical because it requires a license and currently every form used is charged. Hence, there is a need to develop and validate a new medication adherence tool. The Malaysia Medication Adherence Assessment Tool (MyMAAT) was developed by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in medication adherence and health literacy. The face and content validities of the MyMAAT was established by a panel of experts. A total of 495 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from the Ministry of Health facilities consisting of five hospitals and five primary health clinics. A test-retest was conducted on 42 of the patients one week following their first data collection. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to evaluate the validity of the MyMAAT. The final item for MyMAAT was compared with SEAMS, HbA1c%, Medication Possession ratio (MPR) score, and pharmacist's subjective assessment for its hypothesis testing validity. The MyMAAT-12 achieved acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.910) and stable reliability as the test-retest score showed good to excellent correlation (Spearman's rho = 0.96, p = 0.001). The MyMAAT has significant moderate association with SEAMS (Spearman's rho = 0.44, p = < 0.001) and significant relationship with HbA1c (< 8% and ≥ 8%) (χ2(1) = 13.4, p < 0.001), MPR (χ2(1) = 13.6, p < 0.001) and pharmacist's subjective assessment categories (χ2(1) = 31, p < 0.001). The sensitivity of MyMAAT-12, tested against HbA1c% was 72.9% while its specificity was 43%. This study demonstrates that the MyMAAT-12 together with other methods of assessment may make a better screening tool to identify patients who were non-adherence to their medications.
  8. Adsorption of methyl orange from aqueous solution onto calcined Lapindo volcanic mud
    Jalil AA, Triwahyono S, Adam SH, Rahim ND, Aziz MA, Hairom NH, et al.
    J Hazard Mater, 2010 Sep 15;181(1-3):755-62.
    PMID: 20538408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.05.078
    In this study, calcined Lapindo volcanic mud (LVM) was used as an adsorbent to remove an anionic dye, methyl orange (MO), from an aqueous solution by the batch adsorption technique. Various conditions were evaluated, including initial dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, contact time, solution pH, and temperature. The adsorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms of the LVM were studied using pseudo-first-order and -second-order kinetic equations, as well as the Freundlich and Langmuir models. The experimental data obtained with LVM fits best to the Langmuir isotherm model and exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity (q(max)) of 333.3 mg g(-1); the data followed the second-order equation. The intraparticle diffusion studies revealed that the adsorption rates were not controlled only by the diffusion step. The thermodynamic parameters, such as the changes in enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy, showed that the adsorption is endothermic, random and spontaneous at high temperature. The results indicate that LVM adsorbs MO efficiently and could be utilized as a low-cost alternative adsorbent for the removal of anionic dyes in wastewater treatment.
  9. Placenta microRNA profile of patient with Obstetric Antiphospholipid Syndrome
    Mohamad MA, Ahmad Asnawi AW, Suhiman MS, Sathar J, Hayati AR, Abdul Rahim NS, et al.
    Malays J Pathol, 2023 Dec;45(3):425-440.
    PMID: 38155384
    The onset of obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) occurs when antiphospholipid antibodies act upon the placenta. During pregnancy, APS exhibits traits such as vascular thrombosis, inflammation, and hindered trophoblast implantation. The involvement of microRNA expression has been proposed as a genetic factor contributing to the syndrome's development. MicroRNAs play a role in regulating gene expression in various cellular processes, including the formation of placental tissue. Therefore, additional research is needed to explore the control of placental miRNA in APS. In this study, we aimed to profile miRNA expressions from placenta tissue of patients with APS. Differentially expressed miRNAs were determined for its targeted genes and pathways. Agilent microarray platform was used to measure placental microRNA expressions between normal placental tissue and those obtained from patients with APS. Differentially expressed miRNAs were detected using GeneSpring GX software 14.2 and sequences were mapped using TargetScan software to generate the predicted target genes. Pathway analysis for the genes was then performed on PANTHER and REACTOME software. Selected miRNAs and their associated genes of interest were validated using qPCR. Microarray findings revealed, 9 downregulated and 21 upregulated miRNAs expressed in placenta of patients with APS. Quantitative expressions of 3 selected miRNAs were in agreement with the microarray findings, however only miR-525-5p expression was statistically significant. Pathway analysis revealed that the targeted genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in several hypothesised signalling pathways such as the vascular endothelial (VE) growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory pathways. VE-cadherin, ras homolog member A (RHOA) and tyrosine kinase receptor (KIT) showed significant downregulation while Retinoblastoma gene (RET), Dual specificity protein phosphatase 10 (DUSP10) and B-lymphocyte kinase (BLK) genes were significantly upregulated. These preliminary findings suggest the involvement of miRNAs and identified novel associated genes involvement in the mechanism of obstetric APS, particularly through the alteration of vascular-associated regulators and the inflammatory signalling cascade.
  10. Fulltext In-vitro diagnosis of single and poly microbial species targeted for diabetic foot infection using e-nose technology
    Yusuf N, Zakaria A, Omar MI, Shakaff AY, Masnan MJ, Kamarudin LM, et al.
    BMC Bioinformatics, 2015;16:158.
    PMID: 25971258 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-015-0601-5
    Effective management of patients with diabetic foot infection is a crucial concern. A delay in prescribing appropriate antimicrobial agent can lead to amputation or life threatening complications. Thus, this electronic nose (e-nose) technique will provide a diagnostic tool that will allow for rapid and accurate identification of a pathogen.
  11. A comparative study based on performance and techno-economic analysis of different strategies for PV-Electrolyzer (green) hydrogen fueling incinerator system
    Majeed Butt O, Shakeel Ahmad M, Kai Lun T, Seng Che H, Fayaz H, Abd Rahim N, et al.
    Waste Manag, 2023 Feb 01;156:1-11.
    PMID: 36424243 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.11.016
    The integration of hydrogen in the primary energy mix requires a major technological shift in virtually every energy-related application. This study has attempted to investigate the techno-economic solar photovoltaic (PV) integrated water electrolysis and waste incineration system. Three different strategies, i.e., (i) PV + Battery(Hybrid mode with required batteries); (ii) auto-ignition (Direct coupling); and (iii) PV + Secondary-Electrolyzer(Direct coupling assisted with secondary electrolyzer), have been envisioned. The 'PV + Battery' consume 42.42 % and 15.07 % less energy than the auto-ignition and 'PV + Secondary-Electrolyzer' methods. However, the capital cost of 'PV + Battery' has been calculated to be 15.4 % and 11.8 % more than auto-ignition and 'PV + Secondary-Electrolyzer, respectively.The energy consumption relative to waste input, the 'PV + Battery' method used 80 % less energy, while auto-ignition and 'PV + Secondary-Electrolyzer' showed 70.5 % and 77.5 % less energy, respectively. Furthermore, these approaches showed a vast difference in cost-benefit for the longer run. 'PV + Battery' was forecasted to be 73.3 % and 23.3 % more expensive than auto-ignition and 'PV + Secondary-Electrolyzer' methods, respectively, for 30 years. Overall, this study can benefit from using either of these methods depending on the application, usage scale, and climatic conditions.
  12. Barriers to help-seeking for Malaysian women with symptoms of breast cancer: a mixed-methods, two-step cluster analysis
    Rajaram N, Jaganathan M, Muniandy K, Rajoo Y, Zainal H, Rahim N, et al.
    BMC Health Serv Res, 2023 Mar 01;23(1):206.
    PMID: 36859265 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09046-x
    BACKGROUND: Improving help-seeking behaviour is a key component of down-staging breast cancer and improving survival, but the specific challenges faced by low-income women in an Asian setting remain poorly characterized. Here, we determined the extent of help-seeking delay among Malaysian breast cancer patients who presented at late stages and explored sub-groups of women who may face specific barriers.

    METHODS: Time to help-seeking was assessed in 303 women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer between January 2015 and March 2020 at a suburban tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Two-step cluster analysis was conducted to identify subgroups of women who share similar characteristics and barriers. Barriers to help-seeking were identified from nurse interviews and were analyzed using behavioural frameworks.

    RESULTS: The average time to help-seeking was 65 days (IQR = 250 days), and up to 44.5% of women delayed by at least 3 months. Three equal-sized clusters emerged with good separation by time to help-seeking (p 

  13. Comparative review of translational approaches in lipid-based and water-based encapsulation strategies for coenzyme Q10
    Mohamad Sukri N, Abd Rahim N, El Enshasy HA, Aman Nor NF, Wan Azelee NI, Md Salleh L, et al.
    Drug Deliv Transl Res, 2026 Feb;16(2):415-438.
    PMID: 41284153 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-025-02015-3
    The global coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) market is expanding, driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular disorders. Forecasts project a compound annual growth rate of 9.68% from 2025 to 2034. Despite its critical role in cellular energy metabolism and antioxidant defense, CoQ10's clinical potential is constrained by poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability. This review delivers a critical and translational comparison of lipid-based and water-based encapsulation strategies, offering novel insights into their mechanistic advantages, formulation challenges, and clinical applicability for enhanced CoQ10 delivery. Lipid-based systems, such as self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS), liposomes, and nanoemulsions, improve solubility and gastrointestinal absorption, protect CoQ10 from degradation, and promote lymphatic transport. However, they often require high excipient content and exhibit stability concerns, such as susceptibility to oxidation. Water-based approaches, including β-cyclodextrin complexation, polymeric nanoparticles, solid dispersions, and CoQ10-nicotinamide cocrystals, enhance aqueous solubility and absorption while offering better chemical stability and lower formulation cost. This review highlights the mechanistic differences, benefits, and limitations of each strategy, providing critical insights for the rational design of CoQ10 delivery systems. The findings support formulation optimization to improve therapeutic efficacy and inform manufacturing decisions for clinical and commercial applications. Looking ahead, future directions may include nano-enabled personalized medicine strategies based on individual metabolic profiles and the development of intranasal CoQ10 delivery platforms that leverage nanoscale lipid or water-based carriers for direct nose-to-brain transport in neurological disease therapy.
  14. Fulltext Novel Polymyxin Combination with the Antiretroviral Zidovudine Exerts Synergistic Killing against NDM-Producing Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
    Lin YW, Abdul Rahim N, Zhao J, Han ML, Yu HH, Wickremasinghe H, et al.
    Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2019 04;63(4).
    PMID: 30670431 DOI: 10.1128/AAC.02176-18
    Polymyxins are used as a last-line therapy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae However, polymyxin resistance can emerge with monotherapy; therefore, novel strategies are urgently needed to minimize the resistance and maintain their clinical utility. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacodynamics of polymyxin B in combination with the antiretroviral drug zidovudine against K. pneumoniae Three isolates were evaluated in static time-kill studies (0 to 64 mg/liter) over 48 h. An in vitro one-compartment pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model (IVM) was used to simulate humanized dosage regimens of polymyxin B (4 mg/liter as continuous infusion) and zidovudine (as bolus dose thrice daily to achieve maximum concentration of drug in broth [Cmax] of 6 mg/liter) against K. pneumoniae BM1 over 72 h. The antimicrobial synergy of the combination was further evaluated in a murine thigh infection model against K. pneumoniae 02. In the static time-kill studies, polymyxin B monotherapy produced rapid and extensive killing against all three isolates followed by extensive regrowth, whereas zidovudine produced modest killing followed by significant regrowth at 24 h. Polymyxin B in combination with zidovudine significantly enhanced the antimicrobial activity (≥4 log10 CFU/ml) and minimized bacterial regrowth. In the IVM, the combination was synergistic and the total bacterial loads were below the limit of detection for up to 72 h. In the murine thigh infection model, the bacterial burden at 24 h in the combination group was ≥3 log10 CFU/thigh lower than each monotherapy against K. pneumoniae 02. Overall, the polymyxin B-zidovudine combination demonstrates superior antimicrobial efficacy and minimized emergence of resistance to polymyxins.
  15. Fulltext Conspectus of flora, fauna and micro-climate data in Tasik Kenyir from Mac 2015-February 2016
    Afiq Ramlee MN, Hussin MF, Roslan A, Rosmidi FH, Pesiu E, Aisyah A Rahim N, et al.
    Data Brief, 2020 Apr;29:105328.
    PMID: 32181296 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.105328
    This data article presents the diversity of flora and selected fauna in Tasik Kenyir, Malaysia. This man-made lake once suffered huge loss of biodiversity for allowing an earth-dam construction during 1980s. Series of publications on different types of target taxa have been published separately after the post-dam construction. A biodiversity assessment was conducted in Tasik Kenyir from March 2015 until February 2016. The one year assessment were compiled with the previous published data to document and updated the biodiversity checklist in the lake. The data show that Tasik Kenyir is occupied by 113 tree species, 217 butterfly species, 35 bee species, 26 reptile species, 267 aves species and 153 mammal species. The micro-climate data was downloaded from the Malaysian Meteorological Department and analysed in R Studio to highlight the relationship between climate data and biodiversity data.
  16. Factors contributing to food insecurity among older persons in Malaysia: Findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2018
    Salleh R, Man CS, Ahmad MH, Palaniveloo L, Zulkafly N, Ab Halim SA, et al.
    Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2020 Dec;20 Suppl 2:73-78.
    PMID: 33370860 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14006
    AIM: Older persons are vulnerable to food insecurity. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of food insecurity and associated factors among older persons in Malaysia.

    METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with two-stage stratified random sampling. In total, 3977 older persons participated in this study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a mobile device to obtain information about socio-demographic background, food insecurity, non-communicable diseases, social support and living arrangements. Descriptive and multiple complex sample logistic regression analyses were performed for data analysis.

    RESULTS: The overall prevalence of food insecurity among older persons was 10.4%. Older persons from rural areas with no or only primary and secondary education, income less than RM 2000 (USD 477.57), at risk of malnutrition and not receiving very high social support were more likely to be food-insecure.

    CONCLUSION: Approximately, one-tenth of Malaysian older adults were classified as food-insecure; particularly those living in rural areas from lower socio-economic status, not receiving very high social support and malnourished were more likely to be at risk. A specific nutrition program, such as meals on wheels and food vouchers, should be targeted toward older persons who are at risk to improve their malnutrition status. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 73-78.

  17. Fulltext Presentation of Breast Cancer and Impact of Patient Navigation on Timeliness of Diagnosis and Treatment and on Adherence to Treatment Recommendations in a Multicenter Network in Malaysia
    Jaganathan M, Ang BH, Ali A, Sharif SZ, Mohamad M, Mohd Khairy A, et al.
    JCO Glob Oncol, 2024 Mar;10:e2300297.
    PMID: 38484197 DOI: 10.1200/GO.23.00297
    PURPOSE: Breast cancer deaths disproportionately affect women living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Patient navigation has emerged as a cost-effective and impactful approach to enable women with symptoms or suspicious mammogram findings to access timely diagnosis and patients with breast cancer to access timely and appropriate multimodality treatment. However, few studies have systematically evaluated the impact of patient navigation on timeliness of diagnosis and treatment in LMICs.

    METHODS: We established a nurse- and community-navigator-led navigation program in breast clinics of four public hospitals located in Peninsular and East Malaysia and evaluated the impact of navigation on timeliness of diagnosis and treatment.

    RESULTS: Patients with breast cancer treated at public hospitals reported facing barriers to accessing care, including having a poor recognition of breast cancer symptoms and low awareness of screening methods, and facing financial and logistics challenges. Compared with patients diagnosed in the previous year, patients receiving navigation experienced timely ultrasound (84.0% v 65.0%; P < .001), biopsy (84.0% v 78.0%; P = .012), communication of news (63.0% v 40.0%; P < .001), surgery (46% v 36%; P = .008), and neoadjuvant therapy (59% v 42%, P = .030). Treatment adherence improved significantly (98.0% v 87.0%, P < .001), and this was consistent across the network of four breast clinics.

    CONCLUSION: Patient navigation improves access to timely diagnosis and treatment for women presenting at secondary and tertiary hospitals in Malaysia.

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