Background: Interleukin-10 (IL10) genotypes have been closely correlated to the susceptibility for oral squamous cell carcinoma. More than half of oral cancers in the world occur in Asia with estimated 168,850 new cases were diagnosed in this geographical region alone. Considering the rising numbers of oral cancer cases in Malaysia, association of IL10 A1082G gene polymorphism was correlated. Methodology: 41 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cases and 48 healthy controls of comparable age, gender, and with habits like smoking, alcohol consumption and betel quid chewing were selected. In this case-control study, samples were collected from the Oral Cancer Research and Coordinating Centre (OCRCC), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Malaysia. Genotyping conditions were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The PCR products were subjected to digestion by MnlI enzyme (NEB, UK) to screen for the IL10 A-1082G. Digested DNA products were analyzed by electrophoresis on 4% (w/v) agarose gel, stained with ethidium bromide and imaged under UV illumination. Chi-square test and Fisher’s Exact test were used in statistical analysis. Results: AG genotypes were present in 81.3% and 86.0% of healthy control and OSCC cases respectively (OR=0.468, 95% CI=0.133-1.653). No significant association was found between IL10 A1082G polymorphism with risk habits, clinico-pathological parameters and 5-years overall survival. The findings also show no significant correlation between the IL10 genotype and features of OSCC within the case group as measured by tumor size, lymph node involvement, stage, invasive front, grading, depth, pattern of invasion. Conclusion: This study suggests that functional polymorphism AG of IL10 A1082G may have no influence with OSCC susceptibility. However, further investigation with larger sample sizes can be conducted to provide additional evidence to support the lack of association of IL10 A1082G polymorphism in oral cancer.
Borylated porphyrin is one of building blocks in coupling reactions to obtain the multiporphyrin containing two,
three or more subunits of porphyrins. In this study, one of borylated porphyrin derivatives, 5-(4,4,5,5 – tetramethyl
– 1,3,2 – dioxoborolane) -10,20 – diphenylporphyrin (B-DPP) was synthesized through four steps of reactions. The
building block of porphyrin, dipyrromethane was synthesized through a condensation reaction in the presence of
trifluoroacetic acid as catalyst. Subsequently, A2
B2 type of porphyrin was obtained by Lindsey condensation reaction
followed by bromination reaction to produce porphyrin halide. Suzuki cross coupling reaction between porphyrin
halide and pinacolborane with Pd (II) catalyst afforded 40% of borylayed porphyrin. The product was successfully
characterized by using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). This
compound crystallized from a mixture of dichloromethane/methanol to give violet needle-like crystal. Crystallographic
studies showed this compound crystallized in monoclinic system with space group of P21
/c.
Slow lorises (Nycticebus) consist of eight species native to Southeast Asia while three species are recognised in
Malaysia - N. coucang, N. menagensis and N. kayan. This study reports on the rediscovery of the subspecies N. coucang
insularis Robinson, 1917 in Tioman Island and the genetic assessment of its mitochondrial DNA variation. Morphological
measurements conform the specimen as the putative N. coucang but with distinct colour and markings. Two mitochondrial
DNA segments (cytochrome b and control region) were produced from the subspecies representing their first registered
sequences in GenBank. Genetically, the subspecies showed 99% of nucleotide similarity to N. coucang species type for
both the DNA segments and constitute its own unique haplotype. Phylogenetic trees constructed using three methods
(neighbour joining, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) showed two major groups within Nycticebus; the
basal group was formed by N. pygmaeus while the second group consisted of the remaining Nycticebus species. The
phylogenetic position of the subspecies, however, remains unresolved due to the observed mixing between N. coucang and
N. bengalensis. Several reasons could lead to this condition including the lack of well documented voucher specimens and
the short DNA fragments used. In addition, the possibility of hybridisation event between N. coucang and N. bengalensis
could not be excluded as a possible explanation since both species occur sympatrically at the Isthmus of Kra region
until the Thailand-Malaysia border. The rediscovery of this subspecies displays the unique faunal diversity that justifies
the importance of Tioman Island as a protected area.
Introduction: Evidently, stigma has potentially prompted the negative outcome in Tuberculosis (TB) control through delayed diagnosis and poor adherence to treatment. Amidst accelerating treatment interruption in Selangor, little attention is paid to the quantitative assessment of stigma, thus warrant further characterisation of TB stigma in ur-ban districts, Selangor. This study aimed to determine the predictors of internalised stigma among newly diagnosed PTB smear positive in urban districts, Selangor. Methods: A multi-centric longitudinal study recruited 345 newly diagnosed PTB smear positive patients who started TB treatment from November 2018 until June 2019. Baseline assessments utilised pre-tested self-administered questionnaire and standardised data collection form. Using IBM SPSS version 25.0, multiple linear regression was computed to determine the predictors. Results: The response rate was 84.7% with most of respondents were married and attained educational level up to secondary school. Other than low mean score of social support [mean (SD)=33.39(5.86)], the prominent findings were lacking knowledge of anti-TB side effect and wrongly perceived damaging effect of anti-TB drug to internal organ. The mean internalised stigma score was 24.88 (SD=4.70), which predicted by age, educational level (no formal education), employment status (retiree), alternative medicine practice, baseline symptoms score, perceived barrier, and social support, with entire group of variables significantly predicted TB stigma (F [9, 331] =21.476, p
The primary objectives of the present work were to produce corncob powder (CCP) from
corncobs and incorporate the CCP into bread formulation in order to develop high fibre bread,
and to investigate the physicochemical and sensory properties of the produced high fibre
bread (HFB). The corncobs were collected and washed before they underwent the grinding
and drying processes. The obtained CCP was incorporated into the bread formulation in three
different proportions (5, 10 and 20%) to partially substitute bread flour in the formulation. All
three bread samples and the control (0% CCP in the formulation) were analysed to obtain their
physicochemical and sensory properties. The incorporation of CCP significantly affected the
texture, colour and volume attributes of the produced breads. Increasing the content of CCP
in the formulation was found to be responsible for firmer, smaller and darker bread loaves as
compared to the composite bread samples. The bread formulation incorporated with 10% CCP
had the highest mean scores (7.00) of overall acceptability among all the other formulations,
and it was comparable to the commercial breads in the current market.
Suzaimah Ramli, Tuan Khalisah Tan Zizi @ Tuan Zizi, Norulzahrah Mohd Zainudin, Nor Asiakin Hasbullah, Norshariah Abdul Wahab, Noor Afiza Mat Razali, et al.
Thermal imaging technology can be used to detect aggressive levels in humans based on the radiated heat from their face and body. Previous researches have proposed an approach to figure out human aggressive movements using HornSchunck optical flow algorithm in order to find the flow vector for all video frames but still not strong enough to confirm and verify the existence of an aggressive movement. In this work, we propose an approach by using thermal videos for frontal views of the human body which is face view. Then, video frames are collected using thermal camera and further extracted into thermal images. We use thermal imaging to monitor the face including prefrontal and periorbital region’s thermal variations and test whether it can offer a discriminative signature for detecting aggressiveness. We start by presenting an overview of 3400 thermal images extracted from 50 participants. The results obtained is promising where aggressive and non-aggressive features can be detected by using color-based approach.
This study aims to develop a year one STEM Comic for science and mathematics subjects. The STEM comic was developed based on the Technology Knowledge, Pedagogy and Content (TPACK) model. The development of this comic involves two phases which is development phase and assessment phase. However, this article only discusses the development phase of STEM comic. 13 Excellent teachers of science and mathematics from the Hulu Langat district were involved in the analysis of syllabus year one science and mathematics subjects and the preparation of scripts while the STEM comic illustrator was created by two lecturers from the Faculty of Art, Computing and Creative Industry from the Sultan Idris Education University. As a result, a STEM comic that contains 10 series for year one science and mathematics subjects has been successfully developed. This comic is expected to attract and enhance the achievement of year one students in science and mathematics. Implication of this study, STEM comic can be used by teachers as science and mathematics teaching aids.
Bystander rate of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is still low worldwide because of inadequate skills and knowledge. Training the public on CPR is one of the methods to increase the bystander CPR rate. This study aimed to compare the efficacy in acquiring and retaining CPR skills and knowledge among secondary school students in Klang Valley trained by school teachers and medical students. We recruited five school teachers and five medical students as trainers. They were trained in several sessions by American Heart Association (AHA)-certified instructors using the video-assisted CPR training module. The recipients were 44 secondary school students divided between the teacher’s group and the medical student’s group. We compared knowledge and psychomotor skills between these two groups prior, immediately after and at three months after CPR training. Students in the teacher’s group showed a higher increase in knowledge comparable to the medical student’s group (median score difference 3 vs 2, p>0.05) and in psychomotor skill (median score difference 5 vs. 7, p
The number of new dialysis acceptance and dialysis prevalence rate in Malaysia has been increasing steadily for the past 10 years, and forecasting models predict that these numbers will continue to increase. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) awareness may slow the progression of CKD. As CKD awareness is dependent upon general knowledge of CKD, assessing the knowledge of CKD of the local population is important, to direct future CKD education efforts.
Introduction: Long-term survival in beta-thalassaemia major is strongly influenced by adherence to iron chelation therapy. Identifying factors that influence the compliance remains the first step in improving iron chelation therapy. Objective:Due to increase in number of non-compliance to iron chelation therapy for patients in Hospital Keningau, Keningau, Sabah, we aim to evaluate the compliance, identify the factors and assess disease knowledge of patients so that preventive measurement can be formulated. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Hospital Keningau by a combination of self-administered and interviewer-administered survey. The survey consists of 3 domains – knowledge assessment based on 10 items, identifying factors for non-compliance and compliance to treatment. Percentage of compliance was measured based on amount taken reported by patients over the intended therapy. Association between knowledge and compliance was measured using Pearson’s Chi Square. Results: A number of 52 patients completed the survey. The average age was 18 ± 4.77 years. The mean knowledge score was 6.15 out of 10. The percentage of compliance to desferrioxamine was 78.2 ± 30.2% while for deferiprone it was 72.4 ± 32.6%. There were no association between knowledge score and compliance to desferrioxamine (p = 0.893) and deferiprone (p = 0.874). Lazziness and pain were the main reasons for non-compliance chosen by patients on desferrioxamine ABSTRACTCompliance and Barriers of Beta-Thalassaemia Patients towards Iron Chelation Therapy in Hospital Keningau, SabahElfira Cassandra Enderik1*, Syahrizal Azizi bin Shaharudin1, Gan Siaw Yun1, Tan Wei Chong1, Arthur James Adong1, Jackie Ho Chit Khong1, Shamadevi Pasupathi1, Maggie Low May Yee1, Sivaraj Raman1Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences (BJMS), Special Issue, Volume 2, March 2019: 7 – 81 Pharmacy Department, Hospital Keningau, Keningau, Sabah, Malaysia* Corresponding author’s email: elfira_11@yahoo.comBorneo Journal of Medical SciencesBJMSKeywords:thalassaemia, compliance, knowledge, factor NMRR Research ID: NMRR-18-404-39581
8Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences (BJMS),Special Issue, Volume 2, March 2019: 7 – 811 (3): 35 – 38(19.2%) while for deferiprone it was lazziness (23.1%) and side effects (19.2%). The poor compliance was reflected on the high average ferritin levels of respondents (7573 ± 5749). Conclusion: Even though most adolescents had knowledge about their disease, it did not affect patients’ compliance to therapy. Lazziness was the most prominent factor for non-compliance in adolescents in our study. This might be because iron chelation therapy is usually seen as a hindrance to independence. Thus in order to improve compliances, further study is needed to investigate the association between compliance and the affecting factors identified in our study.
Introduction:Diabetes is high in the agenda of public health issues with significant prevalence of diabetic-related amputations. Prosthetic restoration post-amputation is imperative to reduce disability, but its success is influenced by several factors. This study analysed the practice, and the determining factors affecting prosthetic restoration among major lower limb amputees with diabetes in Sabah. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study among 65 major lower limb amputees with diabetes referred for rehabilitation medicine services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2017. Demographics data, pre-morbid diseases, levels of amputation and prac-tice on prosthetic restoration (suitability for restoration, duration from prosthetic application to restoration, funding issue) are primary evaluated factors. Results: Forty-nine, fifteen and one amputees had below knee amputation, above knee amputation and hip disarticulation respectively. Forty-three amputees (66.2%) were deemed suitable for prosthetic restoration but only 27 were prosthetically restored, with mean duration from prosthetic application to res-toration of 5.92±2.189 months. Having additional pre-morbid diseases did not reduced the likelihood of suitability for prosthetic restoration compared to those only with diabetes (p=0.082). Funding issue is the key factor affecting prosthetic restoration with higher likelihood for restoration among those eligible through governmental agencies funding (p=0.027). Conclusion: In Sabah, low rate of suitability for prosthetic restoration is observed among major lower limb amputees with diabetes. A larger study is warranted to investigate causes of such low rate of suitability for prosthetic restoration among this specific population in the effort to reduce public health burden from major lower limb amputation-related disability.
Global warming is the main concern in today’s century as it comes with numerous side effects to the natural environment. Open Top Chambers (OTC) consist of metal constructions with transparent vertical side-walls and a frustum on top. An opening in the middle of the frustum allows an air exchange to reduce temperature and humidity effects in the chamber. The size of the open top chamber which is located in Universiti Putra Malaysia is slanted 60o, 50cm tall, 2.08m basal diameter hexagon chamber. The Open Top Chamber experiments were carried out to determine how much global warming has affected and is still affecting the temperature, pH, the moisture and the growth of the microbes in the tropical soil. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effects of temperature increase on the soil microbes’ population and on the pH of the soil. The study was conducted to observe the effect of heat on the population of soil microbes and the pH of the soil which was collected on the same day for 6 consecutive months. The microbes from the samples were grown on agar plates. The population of microbes on the plates were used as values were for Colony Forming Unit (CFU) value calculations. The effects of OTCs on mean temperature showed a large range of CFU values throughout the 6 months but did not differ significantly between studies. Increases in mean monthly and diurnal temperature were strongly related, indicating that the presence of warming effect by the OTCs. Such predictive power allows a better mechanistic understanding of observed biotic response to experimental warming. This study will be useful for the understanding of the global warming effect on microbes. The Open Top Chamber experiment has proven to be one of the effective model for global warming research and data collected especially on the growth of soil microbial obtained would be of great use for further experiments.
Pink Guava Puree (PGP) factory produces tons of residues from its unit operation [refiner (R),
siever (S), and decanter (D)]. These residues represent a waste of nutrients and can contribute
to environmental problem. However, it can benefit related industries if the properties of the
residues are known. Thus, this research aims to determine the compositions of the residues
from PGP processing factory in order to evaluate possible value-added by-product and energy
sources. The residues from each unit operation were being tested for proximate composition,
dietary fibre components, pH value, emulsifying activity (EA) and emulsifying stability (ES),
carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and sugar analysis. The sugar content was analysed using High
Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-RI detector). Results showed that the residues
have good composition of carbohydrate (11.82–12.18%), and thus potential as carbon source
and can be a good substrate for fermentation. These residues may also benefit the food industry
as a good source of dietary fibre (18.63–29.86%). The pH value for these PGP residues is 4;
thus they were considered as acidic food by-product. The low pH value also contributed to the
low EA and ES value other than the low content of protein in the sample. C/N ratio for PGP
residue from R (46:1) is the lowest compared to the C/N ratio from S (84:1) and D (115:1). The
amount of sugars detected in the PGP residues in descending order were fructose > glucose >
sucrose.
There are 50-100 million dengue infections each year, but dengue encephalitis is relatively
uncommon. The aetiology of neuronal injury is proposed to be due to direct viral neurotropism or
host immune response-mediated inflammation causing neuronal damage. We report a case of severe
dengue encephalitis, presenting during the acute viraemic phase of the disease. This was associated
with inflammation and haemorrhage of the internal medullary lamina of both thalami which, to our
knowledge, has not yet been reported in other infections of the central nervous system.
Introduction: Self-awareness and reflective-skill are important components of personal and professional development of medical students.
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether self awareness and reflective skill could be improved by direct teaching intervention.
Method: This was a cross sectional intervention study conducted among 75 third year medical students of UKM Medical Centre Malaysia in 2010. Malaysian Emotional Quotient Inventory (MEQI) was used to measure self-awareness and reflective writing scripts were used to measure the reflective skills of the respondents before and after teaching intervention. Experimental group comprised of 30 students while the control group constituted the rest 45 students selected randomly. The factors contributing to self awareness with gender and learning styles were determined.
Result: There was no significant improvement observed in self-awareness of the respondents but reflective skills was significantly improved (p=0.007) following intervention. A non-significant relationship between self-awareness and gender (p=0.588) as well as self-awareness and learning styles (p=0.435) was also noticed.
Conclusion: It is concluded that intervention programs improved students' reflective skills but not their self-awareness. Effectiveness of the intervention programme is an important factor. Continuous effort should be focused to train students in an effective way in order to be more self-reflective, self-regulative as well as self-corrective, to ensure a high level of personal and professional development in their daily practices.
Background and Objective: Intravenous thrombolysis service for stroke was introduced at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) in 2009, based on the recommendations of a multidisciplinary team of clinicians. We report the experience at our center in establishing a stroke protocol incorporating computed tomography perfusion (CTP) of the brain, to assess the feasibility of incorporating CTP in the stroke protocol.
Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who had a CTP between January 2010 and December 2011 was performed. Results: Of 272 patients who were admitted with acute ischemic stroke, 44 (16.2%) arrived within 4.5 hours from symptom onset and had a CTP performed with the intention to treat. The median time for symptom-to-door, symptom-to-scan and door-to-scan was 90.0 minutes (62.5 – 146.3), 211.0 minutes (165.5 – 273.5) and 85.0 minutes (48.0 – 144.8) respectively. Eight patients (2.9%) were thrombolysed of whom five received IV thrombolysis and three underwent mechanical thrombolysis. The median symptom-to-needle and door-to-needle times were 290.5 minutes (261.3 – 405.0) and 225.0 minutes (172.5 – 316.8) respectively. Four patients were thrombolysed despite being outside the window of treatment based on the CTP findings. Six of the thrombolysed patients had a Modified Rankin Score (MRS) of 1-2 at 5 months post procedure.
Conclusions: CTP provides a benefit to management decisions and subsequent patient outcome. It is feasible to incorporate CTP as a standard imaging modality in a stroke protocol. The delays in the time-dependent pathways are due to our work flow and organisational process rather than performing the CTP per se.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the commonest primary cerebral malignancy consisting of 12- 20% of intracranial brain tumours.1 We report here a patient with GBM with very unusual marked and widespread leptomeningeal GBM.