Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 451 in total

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  1. Fulltext Impact of medical student well-being workshop on the medical students’ stress level: a preliminary study
    Ahmad Fuad Abdul Rahim, Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff
    ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 2010;11(1):56-63.
    MyJurnal
    Objective: Medical training has always been regarded as a highly stressful environment to students. This article described a preliminary data on impact of a stress-management programme on medical students’ stress level. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental before after comparison study design. The programme was run over half-day and convenient sampling method was applied. Sample size as calculated for this preliminary study was 38. The 12 items General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was administered prior to the
    programme and four months later. Data was analysed using SPSS version 12. Results: 34 participants were involved in this study. This study found that there was a significant difference in participants’ GHQ-12 scores before and after the programme (p
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  2. Fulltext Persediaan sebelum kehamilan di kalangan etnik India di Semenyih Selangor
    Rosnah, S., Wan Aishah, W.N.
    Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2010;16(2):29-35.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Pre-pregnancy care is an important strategy in prevention of adverse maternal and fetal health as well as continuity of good child care. In multi-ethnicity country such as Malaysia there are many cultural, religion and beliefs related to certain life stages.
    Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among the Indian ethnic group to assess the prevalence and factors associated with pre-pregnancy care. A study was conducted in Taman Manickavasangam Hulu Langat Selangor among the age group of 18-45 year old women.
    Result: There were 90 respondents participated in self administered questionnaires. There were 65 respondents (72.2%) married, 24 (26.7%) single and one widow (1.1%). Using a scoring method of analysis (high and low) showed that 55 (61.1%) have high score in knowledge on pre-pregnancy care. The prevalence of pre-pregnancy care practice showed that 63 (70%) scored as high practice. Using correlation analysis showed that there was a significant association between the practice score and increasing age (P=0.03). However, only history of previous pregnancy showed a significant association with the pre-pregnancy care practice and no association found between the practice and knowledge score.
    Conclusion: Prepregnancy care helps in screening risk factors of women before conception. This will help in prevention of adverse effect on maternal and foetal. Giving awareness on the importance of having prepregnancy care screening may help women to continue practicing good antenatal care.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  3. Fulltext Application of statistical experimental designs for optimization of medium composition in biodegradation of procion red MX-8B
    Khadijah, O., Lee, K.K., Abdullah, M.F.F.
    ASM Science Journal, 2010;4(2):103-112.
    MyJurnal
    Two sequential statistical experimental designs were used to screen and investigate the dependence of the amount of biodegradation of Procion Red MX-8B (PR-MX8B) on the fermentation variables. Fourteen factors were screened using the Plackett-Burman design. Among these factors, the most significant variables which included yeast extract, corn steep solids and starch influencing PR-MX8B decolourisation were statistically elucidated for optimization. The optimum concentrations of 5.00 g/l yeast extract, 2.99 g/l starch and 1.89 g/l corn steep solids were predicted by applying the Box-Behnken design to the second order polynomial model fitted to the results obtained. The best predicted optimal conditions verified experimentally yielded 72.11% while the predicted value from the polynomial model was 79.17%. The experimental values were in good agreement with the predicted values with a 90.81% degree of accuracy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  4. Trend of the research on construction and demolition waste management
    Yuan H, Shen L
    Waste Manag, 2011 Apr;31(4):670-9.
    PMID: 21169008 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2010.10.030
    Research interests in addressing construction and demolition (C&D) waste management issues have resulted in a large amount of publications during the last decade. This study demonstrates that there is no systematic examination on the research development in literature in the discipline of C&D waste management. This study presents the latest research trend in the discipline through analyzing the publications from 2000 to 2009 in eight major international journals. The analysis is conducted on the number of papers published annually, main authors' contributions, research methods and data analysis methods adopted, and research topics covered. The results exhibit an increasing research interest in C&D waste management in recent years. Researchers from developed economies have contributed significantly to the development of the research in the discipline. Some developing countries such as Malaysia and China have also been making good efforts in promoting C&D waste management research. The findings from this study also indicate that survey and case study are major methods for data collection, and the data are mostly processed through descriptive analysis. It is anticipated that more future studies on C&D waste management will be led by researchers from developing economies, where construction works will remain their major economic activities. On the other hand, more sophisticated modeling and simulating techniques have been used effectively in a number of studies on C&D waste management research, and this is considered a major methodology for future research in the discipline. C&D waste management will continue to be a hot research topic in the future, in particularly, the importance of human factors in C&D waste management has emerged as a new challenging topic.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design*
  5. Fulltext An analysis of predictive biomarkers in routine histopathological reporting of infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia with a focus on limitations and directions for future development
    Teoh KH, Looi LM, Sabaratnam S, Cheah PL, Nazarina AR, Mun KS
    Malays J Pathol, 2011 Jun;33(1):35-42.
    PMID: 21874750 MyJurnal
    Predictive biomarkers such as oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein have become a staple in breast cancer reports in the country as they increasingly play an important role in the treatment and prognosis of women with breast cancers. This study reviews the practice of histopathology reporting of these biomarkers in a Malaysian tertiary hospital setting. Retrospective data on demographic, pathological and biomarker profiles of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma who had undergone mastectomy or lumpectomy with axillary node clearance from 2005 to 2006 were retrieved from the Department of Pathology, Penang Hospital and analysed. The prevalence of ER positivity (55.8%), PR positivity (52.5%), c-erbB-2 oncoprotein overexpression (24%) and triple negativity (ER negative, PR negative, c-erbB-2 negative) (15%) by immunohistochemistry were comparable with other studies. Notably, c-erbB-2 overexpression was equivocal (2+) in 15% of cases. Since about a quarter of equivocal (2+) cases usually show amplification by FISH, a small but certain percentage of patients would miss the benefit of anti-c-erbB-2 antibody therapy if FISH is not performed. New ASCO/CAP guidelines on the quantitation of ER and PR will probably increase the prevalence of ER/PR positivity, invariably leading to significant ramifications on the management of patients as more patients would be deemed eligible for endocrine therapy, as well as categorisation of triple negative breast cancers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  6. An appraisal of the quality of published qualitative dental research
    Masood M, Thaliath ET, Bower EJ, Newton JT
    Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 2011 Jun;39(3):193-203.
    PMID: 21070318 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2010.00584.x
    To appraise the quality of published qualitative research in dentistry and identify aspects of quality, which require attention in future research.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design/standards
  7. Fulltext The Malaysian Childhood Obesity Treatment Trial (MASCOT)
    Sharifah WW, Nur HH, Ruzita AT, Roslee R, Reilly JJ
    Malays J Nutr, 2011 Aug;17(2):229-36.
    PMID: 22303576 MyJurnal
    INTRODUCTION: The present study describes a randomised controlled trial (RCT) based on a novel, generalisable intervention for childhood obesity, comparing the intervention with a no-treatment control group.
    METHOD: The Malaysian Childhood Obesity Treatment Trial (MASCOT) was a single-blind RCT of a dietetic treatment for childhood obesity in children of primary school age (7 to 11 years old) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The MASCOT comprising eight sessions, of an 8-hour family-centred group treatment programme is described, based on behavioural change techniques. The study sample was characterised by BMI z-score, health related quality of life reported by participants and their parents (PedsQL questionnaire), objectively measured habitual physical activity and sedentary behaviour (Actigraph accelerometry)
    RESULTS: The MASCOT sample of 107 children was characterised by a low quality of life, mean total score on PedsQL 67.7 (4.5) as reported by the children, and 66.0 (16.4) as reported by their parents. The children spent, on average, 89% of their waking day on sedentary activity, and 1% of the day in moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity, equivalent to only around 8 minutes/day.
    CONCLUSION: Obese children in the MASCOT study had an impaired quality of life, high levels of sedentary behaviour and very low levels of physical activity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  8. Do variations in allocation concealment methods influence the effects found in intervention reviews?
    Naing C, Hasan SS, Aung K
    J Evid Based Med, 2011 Nov;4(4):255-8.
    PMID: 23672756 DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-5391.2011.01156.x
    (i) To explore any discrepancies in intervention effects between a set of Cochrane reviews that includes trials with liberal criteria and a set with restrictive criteria in which trials with liberal design have been removed from the review, and (ii) to suggest ways to improve the quality of evidence.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design/standards*
  9. Fulltext The Sabah Biodiversity Experiment: a long-term test of the role of tree diversity in restoring tropical forest structure and functioning
    Hector A, Philipson C, Saner P, Chamagne J, Dzulkifli D, O'Brien M, et al.
    Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2011 Nov 27;366(1582):3303-15.
    PMID: 22006970 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0094
    Relatively, little is known about the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in forests, especially in the tropics. We describe the Sabah Biodiversity Experiment: a large-scale, long-term field study on the island of Borneo. The project aims at understanding the relationship between tree species diversity and the functioning of lowland dipterocarp rainforest during restoration following selective logging. The experiment is planned to run for several decades (from seed to adult tree), so here we focus on introducing the project and its experimental design and on assessing initial conditions and the potential for restoration of the structure and functioning of the study system, the Malua Forest Reserve. We estimate residual impacts 22 years after selective logging by comparison with an appropriate neighbouring area of primary forest in Danum Valley of similar conditions. There was no difference in the alpha or beta species diversity of transect plots in the two forest types, probably owing to the selective nature of the logging and potential effects of competitive release. However, despite equal total stem density, forest structure differed as expected with a deficit of large trees and a surfeit of saplings in selectively logged areas. These impacts on structure have the potential to influence ecosystem functioning. In particular, above-ground biomass and carbon pools in selectively logged areas were only 60 per cent of those in the primary forest even after 22 years of recovery. Our results establish the initial conditions for the Sabah Biodiversity Experiment and confirm the potential to accelerate restoration by using enrichment planting of dipterocarps to overcome recruitment limitation. What role dipterocarp diversity plays in restoration only will become clear with long-term results.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  10. Fulltext Anxiety disorders and quality of life among patients with hematological cancer in a Malaysian hospital
    Priscilla, D., Hamidin, A., Azhar, M. Z., Noorjan, K. O. N., Salmiah, M. S., Bahariah, K.
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2011;7(2):9-16.
    MyJurnal
    Objective: The purpose of this study is to access the prevalence of anxiety disorders and quality of life factors among hematological cancer patients in a Malaysian hospital. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional research design. It was conducted at the Ampang Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, a tertiary referral center for hematological cancer. Anxiety disorders were diagnosed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI); quality of life was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQC30) questionnaire. Results: A total of 105 hematological cancer patients participated in the study, which constituted a response rate of 83.3%. The prevalence of anxiety disorders in our sample ranged from 1% to 24.8%. Overall, compared to patients without anxiety disorders, hematological cancer patients with anxiety disorders reported impaired quality of life in regards to emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, insomnia, dyspnoea, nausea and vomiting, appetite loss and constipation (p
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  11. Fulltext Manufacturing process variability:a review
    Djauhari, M.A.
    ASM Science Journal, 2011;5(2):123-137.
    MyJurnal
    Almost a half century after it was introduced, Wilks’ statistic has come into application in industrial manufacturing process variability monitoring. This is an important breakthrough in the way experts monitor the variability of manufacturing processes which is vital in modern industry. It leaves behind the traditional practice characterized by the use of sample size n which equals 1, if the process variability monitoring is based on individual observations and is greater than the number of variables p if one works with subgroup observations. The use of Wilks’ statistic allows us to work with n < p. This paper contains a review on process variability monitoring based on individual observations. First, some historical backgrounds of process variability monitoring in the general scheme was reviewed before it was revealed where the philosophy of Wilks’ statistic could be further interpreted. Subsequently it was indicated that the way to monitor the process variability depended on how the variability itself was measured. Finally, a new statistic for detecting the shift in variability based on individual observations was introduced and then a new control chart was proposed. The performance of the proposed chart as compared with Wilks chart, was quite promising. Therefore, some recommendations were given to better understand the history of manufacturing process variability.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  12. On comparison of some variation of ranked set sampling
    Kamarulzaman Ibrahim
    Sains Malaysiana, 2011;40.
    Many sampling methods have been suggested for estimating the population median. In the situation when the sampling units in a study can be easily ranked than quantified, the ranked set sampling methods are found to be more efficient and cost effective as compared to the simple random sampling. In this paper, the superiority of several ranked set sampling methods over the simple random sampling are illustrated through some simulation study. In addition, some new research topics under ranked set sampling are suggested.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  13. Fulltext The effect of different sealer placement techniques on sealing Ability: An in vitro study
    Said HM, Bakar WZ, Farea M, Husein A
    J Conserv Dent, 2012 Jul;15(3):257-60.
    PMID: 22876014 DOI: 10.4103/0972-0707.97952
    The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the sealing ability of an endodontic sealer following different techniques of its placement.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  14. Fulltext Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): an adjuvant to hasten hamstring muscle recovery. A randomized controlled trial protocol (ISCRTN66528592)
    A Hamid MS, Mohamed Ali MR, Yusof A, George J
    BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 2012 Aug 06;13:138.
    PMID: 22866670 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-138
    BACKGROUND: Muscle injuries are one of the commonest injuries affecting athletes. It often leads to significant pain and disability causing loss of training and competition time. With current treatment, the duration to return-to-play ranges form six weeks to never, depending on injury severity. Recent researches have suggested that autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection into the injured site may hasten soft tissues healing. To-date, there has been no randomised clinical trials to evaluate the effects of PRP on muscle healing. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of autologous PRP on duration to return-to-play after muscle injury.

    METHODS AND DESIGN: A randomised, single blind controlled trial will be conducted. Twenty-eight patients aged 18 years and above with a recent grade-2 hamstring injury will be invited to take part. Participants will be randomised to receive either autologous PRP injection with rehabilitation programme, or rehabilitation programme only. Participants will be followed up at day three of study and then weekly for 16 weeks. At each follow up visit, participants will be assessed on readiness to return-to-play using a set of criteria. The primary end-point is when participants have fulfilled the return-to-play criteria or end of 16 weeks.The main outcome measure of this study is the duration to return-to-play after injury.

    CONCLUSION: This study protocol proposes a rigorous and potential significant evaluation of PRP use for grade-2 hamstring injury. If proven effective such findings could be of great benefit for patients with similar injuries.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISCRTN66528592.

    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design*
  15. Fulltext The association between tobacco and the risk of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in children and adolescents: analyses from Phase Three of the ISAAC programme
    Mitchell EA, Beasley R, Keil U, Montefort S, Odhiambo J, ISAAC Phase Three Study Group
    Thorax, 2012 Nov;67(11):941-9.
    PMID: 22693180 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-200901
    BACKGROUND: Exposure to parental smoking is associated with wheeze in early childhood, but in 2006 the US Surgeon General stated that the evidence is insufficient to infer a causal relationship between exposure and asthma in childhood and adolescents.
    AIMS: To examine the association between maternal and paternal smoking and symptoms of asthma, eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis.
    METHODS: Parents or guardians of children aged 6-7 years completed written questionnaires about symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema, and several risk factors, including maternal smoking in the child's first year of life, current maternal smoking (and amount) and paternal smoking. Adolescents aged 13-14 years self completed the questionnaires on these symptoms and whether their parents currently smoked.
    RESULTS: In the 6-7-year age group there were 220 407 children from 75 centres in 32 countries. In the 13-14-year age group there were 350 654 adolescents from 118 centres in 53 countries. Maternal and paternal smoking was associated with an increased risk of symptoms of asthma, eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in both age groups, although the magnitude of the OR is higher for symptoms of asthma than the other outcomes. Maternal smoking is associated with higher ORs than paternal smoking. For asthma symptoms there is a clear dose relationship (1-9 cigarettes/day, OR 1.27; 10-19 cigarettes/day, OR 1.35; and 20+ cigarettes/day, OR 1.56). When maternal smoking in the child's first year of life and current maternal smoking are considered, the main effect is due to maternal smoking in the child's first year of life. There was no interaction between maternal and paternal smoking.
    CONCLUSIONS: This study has confirmed the importance of maternal smoking, and the separate and additional effect of paternal smoking. The presence of a dose-response effect relationship with asthma symptoms suggests that the relationship is causal, however for eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis causality is less certain.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  16. Making evidence more wanted: a systematic review of facilitators to enhance the uptake of evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses
    Wallace J, Byrne C, Clarke M
    Int J Evid Based Healthc, 2012 Dec;10(4):338-46.
    PMID: 23173658 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-1609.2012.00288.x
    The increased uptake of evidence from systematic reviews is advocated because of their potential to improve the quality of decision making for patient care. Systematic reviews can do this by decreasing inappropriate clinical variation and quickly expediting the application of current, effective advances to everyday practice. However, research suggests that evidence from systematic reviews has not been widely adopted by health professionals. Little is known about the facilitators to uptake of research evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  17. Fulltext Optimization of a Bacillus sp signal peptide for improved recombinant protein secretion and cell viability in Escherichia coli: Is there an optimal signal peptide design?
    Low KO, Jonet MA, Ismail NF, Illias RM
    Bioengineered, 2012 Nov-Dec;3(6):334-8.
    PMID: 22892592 DOI: 10.4161/bioe.21454
    Recombinant protein fused to an N-terminal signal peptide can be translocated to the periplasm and, eventually, to the extracellular medium of Escherichia coli under specific conditions. In this communication, we described the use and optimization of a heterologous signal peptide (G1 signal peptide) from a Bacillus sp for improved recombinant protein secretion and cell viability in E. coli. Significant advantages in maintaining high cell viability and high specificity of target protein secretion were achieved by using G1 signal peptide compared to the well-known PelB signal peptide. Signal peptide sequence analysis and site-directed mutagenesis of G1 signal peptide demonstrated that an 'MKK' sequence in n-region and the presence of a helix-breaking residue at the centre of h-region are important elements for the design of an optimal signal peptide.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  18. Fulltext Ultrasound exposure during pregnancy affects rabbit foetal parathyroid hormone (PTH) level
    Md Dom S, Abdul Razak HR, Ahmad Zaiki FW, Saat NH, Abd Manan K, Che Isa IN, et al.
    Quant Imaging Med Surg, 2013 Feb;3(1):49-53.
    PMID: 23483040 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2223-4292.2013.02.06
    The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in parathyroid hormone (PTH) level of rabbit foetal bodies exposed to ultrasound at different gestational stages. A total of 9 pregnant rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were insonated for 60 minutes at the middle of 1(st), 2(nd) and 3(rd) gestational stages for group A (n=14 newborns), group B (n=7 newborns) and group C (n=24 newborns) respectively. Seven pregnant rabbits with 41 newborns severed as negative control group. Blood samples were withdrawn from each newborn rabbits for Parathyroid Hormone-Intact (PTH-I) test. Results of the independent samples t-test implied statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between the control group and the 1(st) stage (P=0.001), the 2(nd) stage (P<0.001) and the 3(rd) stage group (P<0.001). This in-vivo study revealed diagnostic ultrasound heating has the potential of affecting foetal PTH level. This study observed significantly low PTH level for all the treated groups. A further study should be instituted to determine whether this finding in rabbit may also occur in human by means of clinical trials.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  19. Fulltext The In-Vitro Effects of Sea Cucumber (Stichopus sp1) Extract on Human Osteoblast Cell Line
    Shahrulazua A, Samsudin A, Iskandar M, Amran A
    Malays Orthop J, 2013 Mar;7(1):41-8.
    PMID: 25722806 MyJurnal DOI: 10.5704/MOJ.1303.015
    Despite its claimed therapeutic effects, the action of sea cucumber (known as gamat in the Malay language) on human osteoblast cells is still unknown. We performed in vitro studies utilising extract of Stichopus sp1 (gamat) to elucidate its effects on cell viability and functional activity. We found an inverse relationship between gamat concentration and its effect on osteoblast cell viability (p<0.001). Only gamat concentration at 1mg/ml significantly promoted cell viability at day 3 of incubation. There was a trend towards increased osteoblast cell function in the presence of gamat at 5mg/ml and 10mg/ml but this observation was not consistent at different incubation periods.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design
  20. Design of the South East Asian Nutrition Survey (SEANUTS): a four-country multistage cluster design study
    Schaafsma A, Deurenberg P, Calame W, van den Heuvel EG, van Beusekom C, Hautvast J, et al.
    Br J Nutr, 2013 Sep;110 Suppl 3:S2-10.
    PMID: 24016763 DOI: 10.1017/S0007114513002067
    Nutrition is a well-known factor in the growth, health and development of children. It is also acknowledged that worldwide many people have dietary imbalances resulting in over- or undernutrition. In 2009, the multinational food company FrieslandCampina initiated the South East Asian Nutrition Survey (SEANUTS), a combination of surveys carried out in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, to get a better insight into these imbalances. The present study describes the general study design and methodology, as well as some problems and pitfalls encountered. In each of these countries, participants in the age range of 0·5-12 years were recruited according to a multistage cluster randomised or stratified random sampling methodology. Field teams took care of recruitment and data collection. For the health status of children, growth and body composition, physical activity, bone density, and development and cognition were measured. For nutrition, food intake and food habits were assessed by questionnaires, whereas in subpopulations blood and urine samples were collected to measure the biochemical status parameters of Fe, vitamins A and D, and DHA. In Thailand, the researchers additionally studied the lipid profile in blood, whereas in Indonesia iodine excretion in urine was analysed. Biochemical data were analysed in certified laboratories. Study protocols and methodology were aligned where practically possible. In December 2011, data collection was finalised. In total, 16,744 children participated in the present study. Information that will be very relevant for formulating nutritional health policies, as well as for designing innovative food and nutrition research and development programmes, has become available.
    Matched MeSH terms: Research Design*
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