The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics and pattern of the betel/tobacco quid chewing habit in the estate Indian community. The study was conducted in 6 randomly selected estates. It involved oral mucosal examination and an interview to solicit personal data as well as history and details of oral habits. Of a total of 618 subjects studied, 19.3 % (n= 119; 89 females and 30 males) were betel !tobacco quid chewers. The youngest age of onset of betel quid chewing is 10 years. The mean frequency of chewing quid is 4.3 times/day and the mean duration of chewing is 8.1 minutes. Initiation to the habit occur at a young age and a major role is played by family and friends in initiation to the habit. Practises of adding tobacco and lime appear to have adverse effects and are associated with higher occurrences of precancer lesions in this study (p
In this paper, the problem of steady laminar boundary layer flow of an incompressible viscous fluid over a moving thin needle is considered. The governing boundary layer equations were first transformed into non-dimensional forms. These non-dimensional equations were then transformed into similarity equations using the similarity variables, which were solved numerically using an implicit finite-difference scheme known as the Keller-box method. The solutions were obtained for a blunt-nosed needle. Numerical computations were carried out for various values of the dimensionless parameters of the problem which included the Prandtl number Pr and the parameter a representing the needle size. It was found that the heat transfer characteristics were significantly
influenced by these parameters. However, the Prandtl number had no effect on the flow characteristics due to the decoupled boundary layer equations.
All road users are at risk of being involved in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). Approximately 52.2% of all fatalities and 70.9% of all casualties related to MVCs in Kelantan were motorcycle riders and pilliori riders. A number of risk factors have been established in the relationship between traffic accidents and road-user, the vehicle as well as road and traffic conditions. The study was a cross-sectional study to identify factors associated with the severity of injury sustained by motorcyclist accident patients admitted to the Emergency Department, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), assessed through face to face interview based questionnaire and, at the same time the severity of injury was determined through Revised Trauma Score. Data analysis was done using simple and multiple logistic regressions. The study revealed that age more than 5O years, no motorcycle license, no stressful condition and crashes on two·way road showed higher risk of sustaining a more severe injury. However, sleep time of six to less than nine hours per day, crash on a straight roadway and wet road surface were associated with less severe injury. We recommend that public education, licensing and enforcement on accident prevention and safety riding should be given a priority.
Non-Leisure Time Physical is the main component of physical activity in Malaysia. The aim of this study is to study the associated factors related to Non-Leisure Time Physical (occupational & travel) in Malaysia. This data is from the Third National Health and Morbidity Survey, consisting of 32,575 respondents. It was a cross-sectional study among Malaysian adult, aged 18 years and was conducted using proportional to the size stratified sampling method. Chi square test and logistic regression model were used to analyse the data. The result showed that non-leisure time physical activity (NLTPA) gives more contribution to total physical activity, as compared to leisure time physical activity with percentage of 64.3% and 35.7% respectively. There was a significant association between NLTPA with age (P < 0.001), gender (P < 0.001), ethnicity (P < 0.001), education (P < 0.001), occupation (P < 0.001), income (P < 0.001), marital status (P < 0.001), region (P < 0.001). The main component of physical activity in Malaysia is NLTPA. Promoting NLTPA may have potential to increase physical activity levels in Malaysia.
Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-2006)
Pneumonia is one of the most common complications of stroke with significant impact on patients’ outcome. The aim of this study is to look for the predictors of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) and its 30-day mortality and to analyse the survival of ischaemic stroke patients with pneumonia. Methodology: This is a prospective observational study, involving all acute first time ischaemic stroke patients admitted to a tertiary hospital that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria over a 6-month period. Demographic data were obtained on admission. Patients were reassessed for SAP, on day 5 and day 30. Assessment was done using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, Barthel index and modified Rankin scale (MRS). All patients with pneumonia were assessed with the pneumonia severity index (PSI) for SAP. Results: One hundred and twenty patients were enrolled consecutively within the 6-month study period. 15.8% developed SAP. Independent predictors of SAP were clinical dysphagia (OR 76.32; 95%CI 4.46 to 1307.05), random blood glucose (RBS) on admission (OR 1.34; 95%CI 1.06 to 1.68) and NIHSS score on admission (OR 1.15; 95%CI 1.02 to 1.30). Independent predictors for 30-day mortality were NIHSS score on day 5 (OR 1.20; 95%CI 1.08 to 1.33) and occurrence of pneumonia (OR 14.90; 95% CI 3.34 to 66.42). There was a significant difference in mean survival between SAP and non-SAP patients. Conclusions: Clinical dysphagia, RBS on admission and NIHSS score on admission were independent predictors of SAP. NIHSS score on day 5 and pneumonia were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. SAP patients had shorter survival
time compared to non-SAP patients.
Objectives: This paper aims to report on a case in which re-challenging with clozapine in combination with lithium in a patient who developed neutropenia was carried out. Methods: The patient was treated with clozapine for treatment- resistant schizophrenia. After five weeks he showed much improvement but developed neutropenia. Withdrawal of clozapine brought on a relapse of psychotic symptoms. Subsequently, clozapine was reintroduced along with Lithium. The neutrophil count was monitored closely. Results: The neutrophil and white blood cell count were noted to return to normal upon re-challenging, and the patient’s clinical condition also improved. Conclusion: Simultaneous administration of lithium and clozapine to patients experiencing neutropenia on clozapine is a possible strategy. However, very close monitoring of the white count is needed. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 15 (1): January - June 2014: 90-92.
This study was done to investigate the background level on microbiological indoor air pollutants in new constructed 8 stories buildings (2 level of Hostel facilities, 3 level of Training Room level, 2 level of Offices and 1 Exhibition Halls and Rooms) in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor. The offices and exhibition hall are carpeted furnished. All these spaces were using centralized air conditioning system. Airborne microbes’ concentrations were determined by using a single stage impactor (Biosampler) as per requirement of National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH method NIOSH Manual Analytical Method MAM 0800. Mean concentration of total bacteria detected is 1351 CFU/m3 and it was found significantly higher compared to maximum exposure limit 500 CFU/m3 in office room. The mean concentration of total fungi in the office rooms is 479 CFU/m3 and it was found slightly lower compared to maximum exposure limit 500 CFU/m3. The airborne microbe levels were found slightly lower in the accommodation, training and exhibition rooms compared to office room. These findings indicate that although a new constructed building should be having a significant background level of airborne microbe (total bacteria and total fungi).
Tropical greenhouses require active evaporative cooling system such as pad-and-fan to ensure a suitable microclimate for crop production. Excess heat causes indoor temperature to become hotter than desired resulting in detrimental effects to crop growth and production. Solar radiation intensity and outside temperature affect temperature and relative humidity level inside a greenhouse, while wide gradients in temperature and relative humidity can cause problems related to crop growth and production uniformity. A 300 m2 greenhouse, equipped with evaporative pad and four exhaust fans at each end walls, was used in the study. Horizontal and vertical profiles of the temperature and relative humidity inside the greenhouse were investigated. Results showed that temperature increased from evaporative pad area to exhaust fans area in a horizontal plane, while relative humidity showed an inverse pattern from temperature. In the vertical plane, temperature increased, while relative humidity decreased from lower level to the upper level. ANOVA results showed that in overall, temperature and relative humidity inside the greenhouse were uniform as there was no significant difference at 95% confidence interval. Thus, it was concluded that greenhouse cooling system by evaporative pad and exhaust fans are suitable for application in a tropical country such as Malaysia.
Ameloblastoma is a slow growing benign tumour of the jaw and patients usually present late after the tumour achieved considerable size to cause facial disfigurement. Diagnosis mainly from tissue biopsy and characteristic findings on plain X-rays does assist in differentiating between types of ameloblastoma. The challenges in the management of this tumour are to provide complete excision as recurrence may occur in incomplete removal and also to reconstruct the bony defect in order to give reasonable cosmetic and functional outcome to the patient.
This is a cross-sectional study to evaluate the outcome of posterior cruciate ligament
reconstruction in chronic injuries using ipsilateral Bone-patella tendon-Bone graft in nine patients, between January 2000 and January 2003 at our institution.
Introduction: Accurate yet inexpensive methods for measuring free-living energy expenditure (EE) are
much needed. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of heart-rate monitoring method
(HRM) in measuring EE as compared to the established activity diary (AD) method. Methodology:
Minute-by-minute HRM and an activity diary (AD) were used simultaneously in 34 young adults (18
females, 16 males; mean age 21.5 ± 1.5 years). Estimates of the EE from HRM were based on individual
calibration using the Flex-HR procedure while EE from AD were calculated using both individually
measured and published energy cost of various activities. Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and its
components (EE during sleep, during rest and during physical activity) were compared using Student
paired-t tests. Results: TDEE from HRM method averaged 8.17 ± 2.00 MJ/day compared to 8.50 ±
1.28 MJ/day from AD method. Although large intra-individual differences were found (ranging from
-36.9% to 47.4%), there was no significant difference between the two methods (mean difference -3.6 ± 19.4%). The limits of agreement (mean ± 2SD) were -3.77 and 3.11 MJ/day. There were no significant
differences for any of the TDEE components between the two methods, except for EE during sleep
(p
Chitosan was chemically modified with bulky structure, cis-5-norbornene-2, 3-dicarboxylic anhydride and the characteristic of this modified chitosan was studied. The resulting material was analyzed by FTIR, TGA, DSC, XRD and SEM to study the effect of N-acylation to the polysaccharide structure. FTIR results show that the anhydride monomer was successfully bound to amine group of chitosan. Thermal analysis of the modified structure provides the chitosan fibers with thermal stability while XRD and SEM show the lost of crystallinity of modified chitosan. XRD of modified chitosan shows broader peak pattern and a considerable increase in a dimension while SEM of chitosan presented the single particle morphology while norbornene-chitosan shows aggromolarate behaviour due to the hydrophobic nature of norbornene pendant group which induced aggromolaration of the particles in modified structure.
Biocompatibility and growth of osteoblast on bone scaffolds play an important role towards their therapeutic application.
The presence of oxidative stress generated by bone scaffolds highly influences osteoblast growth and its functional
performance. In this study in-vitro interaction of developed Alginate/Cockle Shell powder nanobiocomposite bone scaffold
on osteoblast with regards to cytotoxicity and oxidative stress are evaluated. Cytotoxicity studies using MTT assays
revealed a significant increase in viability of cultured osteoblast in the presences of the scaffold extracts. The growth of
osteoblast on the scaffold were not deterred with the presence of any major oxidative stress factors as determined through
oxidative stress profile studies using SOD, GSH and ROS assays. The nanobiocomposite scaffold evaluated in this study
shows promising use in regards to facilitating osteoblast proliferation, growth and viability.
Delayed tooth eruption (DTE) is the emergence of a tooth into oral cavity that
deviates from norms established for different races, ethnics and sexes, which commonly caused
either by local or systemic conditions. (Copied from article).
Nowadays, food safety and quality have become critical issues of great concern throughout the world. The issue of Halal food particularly has attracted public attention in Malaysia. Muslim consumers should be sure about the food quality in Halal Food Products starting from the ingredients. The confidence can be gained when the whole processes from the production, processing and distribution of the products are traced and confirmed to be Shariah-compliant ones. One of the current important issues nowadays which set as a background of this research is feeding animals with unclean food or unnatural feed to the animals. According to Islamic Jurisprudence, these animals are termed as al-Jallalah or contaminated animals, they are called Coprophagia or Coprophagy. ‘Jalla’ means contaminant or impurity. There are several issues of aquatic animals which need a clear clarification on their status whether they are Halal or haram to be consumed. For example, catfish (Clariasbatrachus, Linnaeus), which is fed with filth or najs and catfish (Pangasiushypopthalmus) which is fed with derivatives of pig organs in several ponds at Batu Gajah, Tronoh and Papan, Perak. The mixture in animals feed with such impurities is applied to save the maintenance and fasten the growing of fish. This research aims to identify the concept of al-Jallalah and its characteristics. It also aims to develop the standard of the contaminated animals (al-Jallalah) and to create new mobile application on this issue for the future development of meat and poultry industry. This study helps to enhance the quality of meat and poultry, to provide consumers with informative choices and it can be used as a marketing tool for the Halal Industry in the future.
Computer vision is applied in many software and devices. The detection and
reconstruction of the human skeletal structure is one of area of interest, where the
camera will identify the human parts and construct the joints of the person standing in
front. Three-dimensional pose estimation is solved using various learning approaches,
such as Support Vector Machines and Gaussian processes. However, difficulties in
cluttered scenarios are encountered, and require additional input data, such as
silhouettes, or controlled camera settings. The paper focused on estimating the threedimensional
pose of a person without requiring background information, which is
robust to camera variations. Each of the joint has three-dimensional space position and
matrix orientation with respect to the sensor. Matlab Simulink was utilized to provide
communication tools with depth camera using Kinect device for skeletal detection.
Results on the skeletal detection using Kinect sensor is analysed in measuring the
abilities to detect skeletal structure accurately, and it is shown that the system is able
to detect human skeletal performing non-complex basic motions in daily life.
The repair process of airway epithelium involves cell migration, spreading, proliferation and re-differentiation. Objective: Cellular and molecular responses to tracheal brush induced injury were investigated using a rabbit model. Methods: Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were divided into uninjured and injured groups. After tracheal brushing, the animals were maintained in the laboratory before being sacrificed at given time points (1, 12 hours, 3, 7, and 21 days). The trachea of each rabbit was retrieved and preserved before being subjected to haematoxylin and eosin staining and real time PCR. Results: After injury, the remained epithelial cells underwent an instant response by proliferating and migrating into the damaged site. This finding was in accordance with the proliferative and migration activity-related gene expression results (MMP-9, TIMP1, vimentin, and ß-integrin). The increased activity of these genes was crucial at the early time points, as it encouraged the remaining cells to repopulate the damaged area. Conclusions: Continuous regulation of MMP-9, vimentin and ß-integrin plays important roles in promoting cellular homing especially the cells bordering the lesion to migrate and repair of the damaged ECM. Thus, this activation enhanced regeneration and repair of the damaged tracheal epithelium as early as 1 h and complete at 21 d following injury.
In recent years, the search for natural, safe and effective therapies for the management of obesity has become important. The present study investigated the potential of brown seaweeds Sargassum oligocystum and Padina australis from Malaysian waters as natural alternatives for the management of obesity. Both seaweeds were macerated using acetone at room temperature for ten hours. The S. oligocystum extracts (SE) and P. australis extracts (PE) were then applied to 3T3-L1 cells during the differentiation stage and during the mature stage of the adipocyte life cycle to assess the effects of extracts on adipogenesis and adipolysis. Application of SE at 12.5 and 50 µg/ml to the cells decreased adipogenesis by 71.7%, and 84.8%, respectively, while cells treated with 12.5 and 50 µg/ml PE showed 85.7%, and 89.0% adipogenesis respectively, compared to control. Application of SE and PE to mature lipid cells stimulated adipolysis and the release of glycerol into the culture media. Application of SE at 12.5 and 50 µg µg/ ml in the cell media induced glycerol release by up to 88.6 and 93.0%, respectively, while PE increased glycerol release up to 92.9 and 95.6% respectively, compared to isoproterenol. This study demonstrates the potential of whole brown seaweed extracts from S. oligocystum and P. australis collected from Malaysian waters as natural anti- obesity agents. Incorporation of the brown seaweed into the diet as a functional food will be useful for prevention and treatment of obesity.
Symptomatic arterial pseudoaneurysm is not an uncommon emergent
vascular case presenting to a tertiary hospital. These are mainly associated with
infection, iatrogenic puncture or trauma. The resultant morbidity, limb loss and
mortality present a challenge to the surgeons managing these cases. (Copied from article).
Lightning is among the most deadly natural phenomena to mankind. This phenomenon
is seen to increase globally as well as in Malaysia. Lightning does strike open areas
such as playing fields and playgrounds and these areas are places people gather.
Sensors that can detect the early occurrence of lightning have been developed for
detecting approaching lightning activity in this project. The main objective is to provide
early lightning warning system to the public and hence to reduce the number of
fatalities due to lightning strike. The warning circuit was designed and simulated using
Multism11. Basic operational method of the circuit is based on the comparative
voltage method using LM339N integrated circuit comparator (IC). Light Emitting Diodes
(LEDs) were used as indicators to indicate if the incoming voltage level is higher or
lower than that of the safety level.