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  1. Environmental surface sampling of SARS-CoV-2 in selected hospitals in Malaysia
    Rajendiran S, Thahir SSA, Veloo Y, Suppiah J, Pahrol MA, Shakor ASA, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2021 Sep 01;38(3):462-468.
    PMID: 34608120 DOI: 10.47665/tb.38.3.089
    COVID-19 has spread rapidly worldwide. The role of fomites in facilitating onward transmission is plausible. This study aimed to determine the presence of viable virus and its persistence on the surfaces of fomites in wards treating COVID-19 patients in Malaysia. This study was conducted in two stages. First, environmental sampling was performed on random days in the intensive care unit (ICU) and general wards. Then, in the second stage, samples were collected serially on alternate days for 7 days in two selected general wards. In Stage 1, a total of 104 samples were collected from the surfaces of highly touched and used areas by patients and healthcare workers. Only three samples were tested positive for SARS-COV-2. In Stage 2, three surface samples were detected positive, but no persistence of the virus was observed. However, none of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA was viable through tissue culture. Overall, the environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 was low in this hospital setting. Hospitals' strict infection control and the compliance of patients with wearing masks may have played a role in these findings, suggesting adherence to those measures to reduce occupational exposure of COVID-19 in hospital settings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Exposure/statistics & numerical data*; Hospitals/statistics & numerical data; Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data; Patients' Rooms/statistics & numerical data
  2. The environmental Kuznets curve in the presence of corruption in developing countries
    Masron TA, Subramaniam Y
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2018 May;25(13):12491-12506.
    PMID: 29464597 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-1473-9
    Environmental degradation is at an alarming level in developing economies. The present paper examines the direct and indirect impacts of corruption on environmental deterioration using the panel data of 64 developing countries. Adopting the generalized method of moments (GMM) technique, the paper finds evidence that corruption exhibits a positive impact on pollution. Subsequently, there is also evidence indicating that the level of pollution tends to be higher in countries with a higher level of corruption, eliminating the effectiveness of income effect on environmental preservation. These results also suggest that environmental degradation is monotonically increasing with higher corruption and invalidate the presence of the EKC. Hence, a policy focuses that an anti-corruption particularly in the environmental and natural resources sector needs to be emphasized and enforced in order to reduce or possibly to totally eliminate the rent for corruption.
    Matched MeSH terms: Crime/statistics & numerical data*; Developing Countries/statistics & numerical data*; Environmental Pollution/statistics & numerical data; Economic Development/statistics & numerical data*
  3. Fulltext The contribution of nearshore fish aggregating devices (FADs) to food security and livelihoods in Solomon Islands
    Albert JA, Beare D, Schwarz AM, Albert S, Warren R, Teri J, et al.
    PLoS One, 2014;9(12):e115386.
    PMID: 25513808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115386
    Fish aggregating devices, or FADs, are used widely in developing countries to concentrate pelagic fish, making them easier to catch. Nearshore FADs anchored close to the coast allow access for rural communities, but despite their popularity among policy makers, there is a dearth of empirical analysis of their contributions to the supply of fish and to fisheries management. In this paper we demonstrate that nearshore FADs increased the supply of fish to four communities in Solomon Islands. Estimated total annual fish catch ranged from 4300 to 12,000 kg across the study villages, with nearshore FADs contributing up to 45% of the catch. While it is clear that FADs increased the supply of fish, FAD catch rates were not consistently higher than other fishing grounds. Villages with limited access to diverse or productive fishing grounds seemingly utilized FADs to better effect. Villagers believed FADs increased household income and nutrition, as well as providing a source of fish for community events. FADs were also perceived to increase intra-household conflict and reduce fishers' participation in community activities. FADs need to be placed within a broader rural development context and treated as another component in the diversified livelihoods of rural people; as with other livelihood options they bring trade-offs and risks.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fisheries/statistics & numerical data; Food Supply/statistics & numerical data*
  4. Fulltext Where and how are roads endangering mammals in Southeast Asia's forests?
    Clements GR, Lynam AJ, Gaveau D, Yap WL, Lhota S, Goosem M, et al.
    PLoS One, 2014;9(12):e115376.
    PMID: 25521297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115376
    Habitat destruction and overhunting are two major drivers of mammal population declines and extinctions in tropical forests. The construction of roads can be a catalyst for these two threats. In Southeast Asia, the impacts of roads on mammals have not been well-documented at a regional scale. Before evidence-based conservation strategies can be developed to minimize the threat of roads to endangered mammals within this region, we first need to locate where and how roads are contributing to the conversion of their habitats and illegal hunting in each country. We interviewed 36 experts involved in mammal research from seven Southeast Asian countries to identify roads that are contributing the most, in their opinion, to habitat conversion and illegal hunting. Our experts highlighted 16 existing and eight planned roads - these potentially threaten 21% of the 117 endangered terrestrial mammals in those countries. Apart from gathering qualitative evidence from the literature to assess their claims, we demonstrate how species-distribution models, satellite imagery and animal-sign surveys can be used to provide quantitative evidence of roads causing impacts by (1) cutting through habitats where endangered mammals are likely to occur, (2) intensifying forest conversion, and (3) contributing to illegal hunting and wildlife trade. To our knowledge, ours is the first study to identify specific roads threatening endangered mammals in Southeast Asia. Further through highlighting the impacts of roads, we propose 10 measures to limit road impacts in the region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Motor Vehicles/statistics & numerical data*; Endangered Species/statistics & numerical data*
  5. Suicide among the youth in Malaysia: What do we know?
    Bahar N, Ismail WS, Hussain N, Haniff J, Bujang MA, Hamid AM, et al.
    Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2015 Jun;7(2):223-9.
    PMID: 25367507 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12162
    This article aims to study the pattern of youth suicide cases in Malaysia, following which preventive actions can then be planned and practiced to reduce these suicide cases.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/statistics & numerical data*; Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data*
  6. Fulltext 100 top-cited scientific papers in limb prosthetics
    Eshraghi A, Osman NA, Gholizadeh H, Ali S, Shadgan B
    Biomed Eng Online, 2013;12:119.
    PMID: 24237942 DOI: 10.1186/1475-925X-12-119
    Research has tremendously contributed to the developments in both practical and fundamental aspects of limb prosthetics. These advancements are reflected in scientific articles, particularly in the most cited papers. This article aimed to identify the 100 top-cited articles in the field of limb prosthetics and to investigate their main characteristics. Articles related to the field of limb prosthetics and published in the Web of Knowledge database of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) from the period of 1980 to 2012. The 100 most cited articles in limb prosthetics were selected based on the citation index report. All types of articles except for proceedings and letters were included in the study. The study design and level of evidence were determined using Sackett's initial rules of evidence. The level of evidence was categorized either as a systematic review or meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial, cohort study, case-control study, case series, expert opinion, or design and development. The top cited articles in prosthetics were published from 1980 to 2012 with a citation range of 11 to 90 times since publication. The mean citation rate was 24.43 (SD 16.7) times. Eighty-four percent of the articles were original publications and were most commonly prospective (76%) and case series studies (67%) that used human subjects (96%) providing level 4 evidence. Among the various fields, rehabilitation (47%), orthopedics (29%), and sport sciences (28%) were the most common fields of study. The study established that studies conducted in North America and were written in English had the highest citations. Top cited articles primarily dealt with lower limb prosthetics, specifically, on transtibial and transradial prosthetic limbs. Majority of the articles were experimental studies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Publishing/statistics & numerical data*; Science/statistics & numerical data*
  7. In response to "suicide and ethnicity in Malaysia"
    Babu GR
    Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2011 Jun;32(2):e15.
    PMID: 21540724 DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e318219c81b
    Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups/statistics & numerical data*; Suicide/statistics & numerical data*
  8. Integrated technologies for solid waste bin monitoring system
    Arebey M, Hannan MA, Basri H, Begum RA, Abdullah H
    Environ Monit Assess, 2011 Jun;177(1-4):399-408.
    PMID: 20703798 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-010-1642-x
    The integration of communication technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID), global positioning system (GPS), general packet radio system (GPRS), and geographic information system (GIS) with a camera are constructed for solid waste monitoring system. The aim is to improve the way of responding to customer's inquiry and emergency cases and estimate the solid waste amount without any involvement of the truck driver. The proposed system consists of RFID tag mounted on the bin, RFID reader as in truck, GPRS/GSM as web server, and GIS as map server, database server, and control server. The tracking devices mounted in the trucks collect location information in real time via the GPS. This information is transferred continuously through GPRS to a central database. The users are able to view the current location of each truck in the collection stage via a web-based application and thereby manage the fleet. The trucks positions and trash bin information are displayed on a digital map, which is made available by a map server. Thus, the solid waste of the bin and the truck are being monitored using the developed system.
    Matched MeSH terms: Refuse Disposal/statistics & numerical data; Waste Products/statistics & numerical data
  9. Fulltext National Transplant Registry
    Hooi LS, Lela Yasmin M
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Sep;63 Suppl C:9-12.
    PMID: 19230241
    Matched MeSH terms: Tissue and Organ Procurement/statistics & numerical data*; Organ Transplantation/statistics & numerical data*
  10. Current status of organ transplants in Asian countries
    Ota K
    Transplant Proc, 2004 Nov;36(9):2535-8.
    PMID: 15621082
    The Asian Society of Transplantation, founded in 1989 includes Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Republic of China, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The registry was also started from the same year in cooperation with these 16 countries. A questionnaire was sent to the key person of each country every year. The questionnaire includes (a) number of centers that performed organ transplants, (b) varieties and numbers of organ transplants performed in 2000 and 2001, (c) present status of dialysis, number of dialysis patients, and number of the candidates on the list for transplantation, (d) number of patients going abroad for transplantation, and (e) recent transplant highlights, news and issues affecting each country during 2000 and 2001. We previously gathered data for 2000, except for Indonesia, Singapore, and the UAE. Regarding 2001 data, we will send the questionnaires to the countries involved.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tissue Donors/statistics & numerical data; Organ Transplantation/statistics & numerical data
  11. Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events, and Human Health Implications in the Asia Pacific Region
    Hashim JH, Hashim Z
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2016 Mar;28(2 Suppl):8S-14S.
    PMID: 26377857 DOI: 10.1177/1010539515599030
    The Asia Pacific region is regarded as the most disaster-prone area of the world. Since 2000, 1.2 billion people have been exposed to hydrometeorological hazards alone through 1215 disaster events. The impacts of climate change on meteorological phenomena and environmental consequences are well documented. However, the impacts on health are more elusive. Nevertheless, climate change is believed to alter weather patterns on the regional scale, giving rise to extreme weather events. The impacts from extreme weather events are definitely more acute and traumatic in nature, leading to deaths and injuries, as well as debilitating and fatal communicable diseases. Extreme weather events include heat waves, cold waves, floods, droughts, hurricanes, tropical cyclones, heavy rain, and snowfalls. Globally, within the 20-year period from 1993 to 2012, more than 530 000 people died as a direct result of almost 15 000 extreme weather events, with losses of more than US$2.5 trillion in purchasing power parity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disasters/statistics & numerical data*; Public Health/statistics & numerical data*
  12. Are Malaysian Children Achieving Dietary Guideline Recommendations?
    Koo HC, Poh BK, Lee ST, Chong KH, Bragt MC, Abd Talib R, et al.
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2016 07;28(5 Suppl):8S-20S.
    PMID: 27073200 DOI: 10.1177/1010539516641504
    A large body of epidemiological data has demonstrated that diet quality follows a sociodemographic gradient. Little is known, however, about food group intake patterns among Malaysian children. This study aimed to assess consumption pattern of 7 food groups, including cereals/grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat/poultry, and milk/dairy products, among children 7 to 12 years of age. A total of 1773 children who participated in SEANUTS Malaysia and who completed the Food Frequency Questionnaire were included in this study. A greater proportion of children aged 10 to 12 years have an inadequate intake of cereals/grains, meat/poultry, legumes, and milk/dairy products compared with children 7 to 9 years old. With the exception of meat/poultry, food consumption of Malaysian children did not meet Malaysian Dietary Guidelines recommendations for the other 6 food groups, irrespective of sociodemographic backgrounds. Efforts are needed to promote healthy and balanced dietary habits, particularly for foods that fall short of recommended intake level.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diet/statistics & numerical data*; Guideline Adherence/statistics & numerical data*
  13. Fulltext Major limb amputations in Seremban Hospital: a review of 204 cases from 1997-1999
    Hazmy W, Mahamud M, Ashikin N, Jamilah S, Yee LE, Shong HK
    Med J Malaysia, 2001 Jun;56 Suppl C:3-7.
    PMID: 11814245 MyJurnal
    We conducted a retrospective study of 3 years duration beginning from the 1st January 1997 to the 31st December 1999 in order to identify the epidemiology of major limb amputations in Seremban Hospital. Two hundred and four patients were included in this study out of which 65.7% were male and 34.3% were female. The mean age of the amputees was 39.7 years old. Non traumatic amputations constitute 85.8% of the cases mainly due to diabetic ulcers or gangrene (91%) followed by peripheral vascular disease (7%) and malignancy (2%). Traumatic amputations represent 14.2% of the cases with road-traffic accident as the major cause (82.8%) followed by industrial accident (17.2%). Lower limb amputations were performed in 97.5% of the cases with below knee amputations as the commonest procedure (72%), followed by above knee amputations (27%) and Syme amputations (1%). Five patients had upper limb amputations done. Four of them were below elbow amputations while one had forequarter amputation done of the left shoulder. Of note, there were increasing number of amputations done over the last three years with alarming increasing trends of traumatic amputation. The three main risk factors for major limb amputations are diabetes mellitus, male gender and road traffic accident.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amputation/statistics & numerical data*; Hospitals/statistics & numerical data*
  14. Authorship in the East African Medical Journal
    Lore W
    East Afr Med J, 1994 Dec;71(12):762-7.
    PMID: 7705242
    Between 1978 and 1987, Kenyan authors contributed an average of 47% of papers published in the East African Medical Journal (EAMJ), in comparison to 24% originating from Nigeria and 29% from other countries, mainly those in the eastern and central African region. From January 1988 to December 1993, 44.1% of the papers published in EAMJ originated from Kenyan authors as compared to 26.7% from Nigerian authors and 29.2% from authors in other countries. During this six year period, there has been a steady increase in authorship from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Tanzania, whereas authorship from Uganda and Zambia has declined. Many authors from Saudi Arabia are individuals originally from Nigeria now working in Saudi Arabia. These data indicate that Kenyan authorship has dropped by 3% over the last six years compared to the 1978-1987 period, while that of Nigeria has increased by at least 3% over the same period. During the period under review, EAMJ has attracted papers from as far as China, Turkey, Malaysia, Canada, USA, France, Sweden and Hungary. Similarly, papers have been received from other African countries not previously contributing to the journal; these include: Gabon, Mozambique, RSA, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Burundi, Namibia, Liberia, Egypt, Somalia and Zaire. Possible factors influencing authorship in the EAMJ are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Periodicals as Topic/statistics & numerical data*; Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data*
  15. Effect of interactions on the nutrient status of a tropical soil treated with green manures and inorganic phosphate fertilizers
    Bah AR, Rahman ZA, Hussin A
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2004 Jun 08;4:393-414.
    PMID: 15252691
    Integrated nutrient management systems using plant residues and inorganic P fertilizers have high potential for increasing crop production and ensuring sustainability in the tropics, but their adoption requires in-depth understanding of nutrient dynamics in such systems. This was examined in a highly weathered tropical soil treated with green manures (GMs) and P fertilizers in two experiments conducted in the laboratory and glasshouse. The treatments were factorial combinations of the GMs (Calopogonium caeruleum, Gliricidia sepium, and Imperata cylindrica) and P fertilizers (phosphate rocks [PRs] from North Carolina, China, and Algeria, and triple superphosphate) replicated thrice. Olsen P, mineral N, pH, and exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg were monitored in a laboratory incubation study for 16 months. The change in soil P fractions and available P was also determined at the end of the study. Phosphorus available from the amendments was quantified at monthly intervals for 5 months by 33P-32P double isotopic labeling in the glasshouse using Setaria sphacelata as test crop. The GMs were labeled with 33P to determine their contribution to P taken up by Setaria, while that from the P fertilizers was indirectly measured by labeling the soil with 32P. The P fertilizers hardly changed Olsen P and exchangeable cations during 16 months of incubation. The legume GMs and legume GM+P did not change Olsen P, lowered exchangeable Ca, and increased exchangeable K about threefold (4.5 cmol[+]kg(-1) soil) in the first 4 months, even as large amounts of NH4-N accumulated (approximately 1000 mg kg soil(-1)) and soil pH increased to more than 6.5. Afterwards, Olsen P and exchangeable Ca and Mg increased (threefold) as NH4+-N and soil pH declined. The legume GMs also augmented reversibly sorbed P in Al-P and Fe-P fractions resulting in high residual effect in the soil, while fertilizer-P was irreversibly retained. The GMs increased PR-P utilization by 40 to over 80%, mobilized soil P, and markedly enhanced uptake of N, K, Ca, and Mg. Thus GMs+PRs is an appropriate combination for correcting nutrient deficiencies in tropical soils.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture/statistics & numerical data; Fertilizers/statistics & numerical data*
  16. Fulltext Caesarean section rates in government hospitals in Malaysia, 2000-2001
    Ravindran J
    Med J Malaysia, 2003 Jun;58(2):294-5.
    PMID: 14569754
    Matched MeSH terms: Cesarean Section/statistics & numerical data*; Hospitals, Public/statistics & numerical data*
  17. Under pressure: facilitating the emergency use of portable hyperbaric chambers at altitude
    Flaherty GT
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2014 Sep-Oct;12(5):420-1.
    PMID: 25246227 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2014.09.001
    Matched MeSH terms: Mountaineering/statistics & numerical data*; Travel/statistics & numerical data*
  18. Fulltext COVID-19 in the elderly: A Malaysian perspective
    Mustaffa N, Lee SY, Mohd Nawi SN, Che Rahim MJ, Chee YC, Muhd Besari A, et al.
    J Glob Health, 2020 Dec;10(2):020370.
    PMID: 33214887 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.10.020370
    Matched MeSH terms: Frail Elderly/statistics & numerical data*; Pandemics/statistics & numerical data*
  19. Is there plagiarism in the most influential publications in the field of andrology?
    Baskaran S, Agarwal A, Panner Selvam MK, Henkel R, Durairajanayagam D, Leisegang K, et al.
    Andrologia, 2019 Nov;51(10):e13405.
    PMID: 31489696 DOI: 10.1111/and.13405
    Plagiarism is a common form of academic misconduct that extensively jeopardises the quality of scientific publication. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of plagiarism in the most influential andrology articles. A total of 77 highly cited andrology articles were analysed for their similarity index using iThenticate and Turnitin. The articles were categorised based on the year (before and on/after 2000) and type of publication (review and research articles), and the similarity indices were compared. Furthermore, the analysed articles were categorised based on the level of similarity using an arbitrary similarity index range (low: ≤10, moderate: 11-20, high: 21-50 and very high: >50) and average incidence rate (%) was determined. Our analysis revealed a higher percentage of the similarity indices for reviews than research articles. We noticed a higher similarity index for articles published on/after 2000 than those published before. The majority of the influential articles in the field of andrology showed a low similarity index, while some articles exhibited moderate to high levels of similarity. These findings support the need for the development of similarity index guidelines as a major pre-requisite for establishing a more transparent and efficient system to address plagiarism in scientific publications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Publications/statistics & numerical data*; Andrology/statistics & numerical data*
  20. The Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Spine Surgeons: An Asia Pacific Spine Society (APSS) Survey
    Chan CYW, Chiu CK, Cheung JPY, Cheung PWH, Gani SMA, Kwan MK
    Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2020 Sep 15;45(18):1285-1292.
    PMID: 32756270 DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003622
    STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey.

    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical practices of spine surgeons within the Asia Pacific region.

    SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: COVID-19 pandemic had changed spine surgeons' clinical practices and their concerns toward personal and family risk of infection.

    METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was carried out from May 4, 2020 to June 4, 2020. The questionnaire was administered using REDCAP. The online questionnaire includes four sections. First section includes surgeon's demographics, background, type of clinical practice, and status of pandemic in their country. Second section includes volume and the type of spine surgery practice before the COVID pandemic. Third section includes changes of clinical practice during the pandemic and the last section was regarding their concern on COVID transmission.

    RESULTS: Total of 222 respondents from 19 countries completed the questionnaire. During the pandemic, 92.3% of the respondents felt their clinical practice was affected. 58.5% respondents reported reduced outpatient clinic hours and 74.6% respondents reported reduced operation theatre hours due to the enforcement by the hospital administration. The mean reduction of clinic volume for all countries was 48.1%. There was a significant reduction in the number of surgeries performed in Japan, Malaysia, India, Philippines, and South Korea. This was due to reduced patient load. More than 60% of respondents were worried being infected by COVID-19 virus and >68% were worried of transmission to their family members.

    CONCLUSION: COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the clinical and surgical practice of spine surgeons in the Asia Pacific region. Clinics were closed or the practice hours reduced. Similarly, surgical theaters were closed, reduced, or limited to semi-emergency and emergency surgeries. Spine surgeons were moderately concerned of contracting COVID-19 during their clinical practice but were extremely concerned to transmit this disease to their family members.

    LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

    Matched MeSH terms: Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data; Surgical Procedures, Operative/statistics & numerical data*
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