Kajian ini dijalankan untuk memencilkan Acanthamoeba spp. daripada pelbagai persekitaran akuatik di Semenanjung Malaysia. Sebanyak 160 sampel diambil dengan 140 sampel menggunakan kaedah swab manakala 20 sampel lagi menggunakan kaedah pensampelan air dengan botol Schott 500 ml yang steril. Sampel swab diambil daripada kepala paip air (50), sinki (50), serta kolam renang (40) manakala sampel air diambil dari laut. Sampel swab diinokulasi secara terus ke atas agar tanpa nutrien (NNA) yang dilapisi dengan Escherichia coli matian haba secara aseptik. Sampel air dituras menggunakan membran turas bersaiz liang 0.45 µm sebelum membran turas itu dipindahkan secara aseptik ke atas piring NNA yang dilapisi dengan E. coli matian haba. Semua piring dieram pada suhu 30°C dan diperiksa setiap hari untuk kehadiran Acanthamoeba spp. sehingga hari ke-14 sebelum disahkan negatif. Secara keseluruhannya, terdapat 20% sampel yang positif untuk kehadiran Acanthamoeba. Acanthamoeba spp. paling banyak dipencilkan daripada sampel air laut dengan peratusan sebanyak 40% manakala paling sedikit dipencilkan daripada swab paip air dengan peratusan sebanyak 4% sahaja. Pencilan positif Acanthamoeba spp. daripada sinki dan kolam renang masing-masing adalah 20% dan 30%. Ketiga-tiga kumpulan genus Acanthamoeba dalam bentuk sista dapat ditemui dalam sampel yang diambil.
A survey was conducted to investigate the level of consumption of ‘ulam’ in Selangor State among 252 adults (> 17 years) (male 28.6%, female 71.4%) of major ethnics (Malays-51.6%; Chinese-30.5%; Indians-17.5%) with the mean age of 42.7 ± 13.9 years. Consumption data were collected using 24 hours duplicate samples together with questionnaire on perceptions of ‘ulam.’ Results showed that ‘ulam’ was preferred by majority of the subjects (82.1%), especially amongst Malays (92.3%). A total of 52% of the subjects consumed partially or boiled ‘ulam.’ Factors that affect their preferences on ‘ulam’ were the perception of therapeutic effects of the ‘ulam’ towards health, its good taste and unique
aroma. The most consumed ‘ulam’ were cucumber (Cucumis sativus) (60.6%) ‘kacang botol’ (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) (33%), Indian pennywort (Hydrocotyle asiatica) (31.5%), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) (27.6%), ‘petai’ (Parkia speciosa) (29%) and ‘ulam raja’ (Cosmos caudatus) (21.9%). The most preferred partially or boiled ‘ulam’
were tapioca shoot (Manihot esculenta) (31.5%), ocra (Hibiscus esculentus) (12.5%) and ‘jantung pisang’ (Musa sapientum) (20.1%). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) amongst the three different ethnic groups on the consumption of ‘ulam’ and the median for total intake per day was within the range of 30-39 g/day. Ulam is a potential
source for increasing vegetable consumption to meet recommendation by World Health Organization (WHO), which is 400 g per day.
Keywords: Adults; perception; ‘ulam;’ Selangor State
This study aimed to develop and examine the validity and reliability of a pregnancy symptoms questionnaire. A total of 214 pregnant women aged 19 to 40 years old were purposive randomly recruited from December 2009 to January 2010 in Antenatal Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Pregnant mothers at second and third trimesters were interviewed to complete the Pregnancy Symptoms Questionnaire (PSQ). The PSQ was developed by experts in nutrition, obstetrics and statistics. The PSQ consists of 38 items on frequency and severity of pregnancy symptoms. Factor analysis was done using Promax rotation method to check for construct validity. A total of 16 items which had poor correlation (<0.3) and less important content were removed during the final revise. The 22 remaining items were found to be loaded on the three components (general, constitutional and somatic pain). The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.93 and for each three components ranges from 0.70–0.87. The results suggest that the final PSQ consisting of 22 items is valid and reliable for measuring the frequency and severity of the symptoms experienced during pregnancy. It can be used in nutritional studies related to pregnancy and its outcome.
Keywords: Pregnant mothers; Pregnancy symptoms; Questionnaire; Validation
Study site: Antenatal Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia
Kajian ini dijalankan untuk membentuk formula demi menganggar ketinggian tubuh badan dan menentukan jantina dengan menggunakan panjang dan lebar kaki. Seramai 150 orang subjek yang berumur 20-30 tahun diambil dari Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Kampus Kuala Lumpur (UKMKKL). Subjek tersebut adalah Melayu (45 lelaki dan 45 perempuan) dan Cina (30 lelaki dan 30 perempuan). Ketinggian, panjang dan lebar kaki diukur menggunakan alatan antropometrik dalam ukuran milimeter. Hasil statistik menunjukkan bahawa pelbagai ukuran kaki kanan dan kiri tidak mempunyai perbezaan yang signifikan (Panjang kaki/FL: t(298) = -0.235, p = 0.815; Lebar kaki/FW: t(298) = 0.932, p = 0.352). Perbezaan yang signifikan pada semua ukuran pula dapat dilihat pada jantina (Tinggi/S: t(148) = 12.550, p < 0.05; FL:t(148) = 11.692, p < 0.05; FW:t(148) = 8.321, p < 0.05). Bagi kaum, ketinggian tubuh badan kaum Cina adalah lebih tinggi berbanding kaum Melayu secara signifikan (t(148) = -3.103, p < 0.05) tetapi tiada perbezaan yang signifikan diperhatikan pada ukuran kaki (FL: t(148) = 0.002, p = 0.999; FW:t(148) = 1.362, p = 0.175). Korelasi yang paling tinggi telah ditunjukkan antara ketinggian tubuh badan dengan panjang kaki pada semua kumpulan. Analisis Regresi Garis Lurus dan Regresi Berganda telah digunakan untuk membentuk formula menganggar ketinggian tubuh badan. Walau bagaimanapun, didapati formula yang dibentuk dari Regresi Berganda adalah lebih tepat kerana kombinasi panjang dan lebar kaki menghasilkan korelasi koefisen yang lebih tinggi dalam semua formula (S = 585.298+(4.898xFL)-(1.453xFW), F(2,149 = 149.324, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.670). Formula untuk penentuan jantina juga telah dibina menggunakan Analisis Pokok Klasifikasi. Keputusan menunjukkan ketepatan untuk menentukan jantina seseorang adalah di antara 86.3-87.5% bagi perempuan dan 85.2-85.7% bagi lelaki dengan menggunakan panjang kaki manakala di antara 68.4-76.8% bagi perempuan dan 77.8-81.0% bagi lelaki dengan menggunakan lebar kaki.
Acanthamoeba is a free living protozoa that can cause keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Physiological characteristics of this amoeba are found to have a medical importance in which it can be related to the pathogenicity potential of the organism. This study was carried out to investigate the physiological characteristics of survivability during axenization. Six Acanthamoeba strains from three clinical isolates (HSB 1, HKL 48 and HKL 95) and three environmental isolates (PHS 2, PHS 11 and PHS 15) were used in this study. Axenization test was done by treating cysts with hydrochloric acid (3%) and Page saline containing Gentamicin (100 μg/ml). Cysts were then cultured into PYG enrich media, incubated at 30oC and the presence and proliferation of trophozoites of Acanthamoeba were observed. This study showed that PHS 15, HSB 1, HKL 48 and HKL 95 could be axenized but they have poor proliferation rate in PYG enrich media. The result showed that the difference between both clinical and environmental isolates was observed in two strains; PHS 2 and PHS 11. This indicates that there is a possibility that the physiological traits of strains from both isolates are the same and strains from the environment are able to show the pathogenic potential and capable of causing infection to human.
Keywords: Axenization, Survivability, Acanthamoeba, Clinical and environmental strains
Dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of each plant were tested for their antiplasmodial activity on chloroquineresistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum (FCB strain), based on lactate dehydrogenase activity. Cytotoxicity was assessed with the MTT test on MRC-5 human diploid embryonic lung cells. Most extracts of ten selected plants used in Malay traditional medicine in Malaysia had activity in vitro. This supports continued investigations of traditional medicine in the search for new antimalarial agent. The compounds responsible for the observed antiplasmodial effects are under investigation.
The effect of low power 0.95 mW He-Ne laser irradiation (? = 632.8 nm) on the subpopulations of human blood parameters such as hemoglobin concentration (HGB), mean cellular volume of red blood cell (MCV), and mean cellular hemoglobin (MCH) were investigated by electronic sizing at the Wellness Centre of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). These parameters were correlated with human characteristics such as age, gender, ethnic, and blood types. The correlations were obtained by finding patterns in changes of blood parameters after radiation, non-parametric tests using SPSS version 11.5, centroid and peak positions, and flux variations. The analysis revealed significant changes according to human characteristics, for age (p = 0.067), gender (p = 0.044), ethnic (p = 0.094), and blood types (p = 0.099). This finding shows that the centroid and peak positions, flux peak and total flux, were highly correlated with human characteristics and can become a significant indicator for blood analysis. Furthermore, the encircled flux analysis demonstrated a good future prospect in blood research, thus leading the way as a vibrant diagnosis tool to clarify diseases associated with blood.
Bunga rafflesia cantleyi Solms-Laubach merupakan salah satu jenis tumbuhan liar boleh ditemui di hutan tanah rendah di Semenanjung Malaysia dan digunakan secara meluas dalam ubatan tradisional. Objektif utama dalam kajian ini adalah untuk menguji keberkesanan ekstrak tumbuhan ini sebagai agen aktiviti antibakteria. rafflesia cantleyi Solms-Laubach diesktrak dengan menggunakan tiga kaedah pengekstrakkan berperingkat iaitu petroleum eter (PE) diikuti dengan etil asetat (EA) dan berakhir dengan etanol. Kesemua ekstrak ini kemudiannya diuji terhadap beberapa bakteria ujian iaitu Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 dan Salmonella typhimurium dengan menggunakan kaedah resapan telaga. Hasil keputusan menunjukkan ekstrak etil asetat dan etanol mempunyai kesan perencatan bakteria yang baik, manakala ekstrak petroleum eter langsung tidak menunjukkan sebarang aktiviti antibakteria. Hasil kajian juga mendapati bahawa ekstrak etil asetat lebih ketara merencat kesemua bakteria yang diuji berbanding dengan ekstrak ethanol. Dua ujian lain yang dijalankan iaitu ujian penentuan nilai kepekatan perencatan minimum (MIC) dan nilai kepekatan minimum bakterisidal (MBC) didapati menyokong keputusan ujian kaedah resapan telaga di mana nilai MIC yang diperoleh bagi ekstrak etil asetat adalah lebih rendah iaitu dalam julat 6.25 hingga 12.5 mg/ml dan nilai MBC pula dalam julat 25.0 hingga 50.0 mg/ml berbanding ekstrak etanol dengan nilai MIC yang lebih besar iaitu dalam julat 25.0 hingga 50.0 mg/ml dan nilai MBCnya adalah 100.0 mg/ml.
Acanthamoeba is a free living protozoa that can cause keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Physiological characteristics of this amoeba are found to have a medical importance in which it can be related to the pathogenicity potential of the organism. This study was carried out to investigate the physiological characteristics of survivability during axenization. Six Acanthamoeba strains from three clinical isolates (HSB 1, HKL 48 and HKL 95) and three environmental isolates (PHS 2, PHS 11 and PHS 15) were used in this study. Axenization test was done by treating cysts with hydrochloric acid (3%) and Page saline containing Gentamicin (100 µg/ml). Cysts were then cultured into PYG enrich media, incubated at 30oC and the presence and proliferation of trophozoites of Acanthamoeba were observed. This study showed that PHS 15, HSB 1, HKL 48 and HKL 95 could be axenized but they have poor proliferation rate in PYG enrich media. The result showed that the difference between both clinical and environmental isolates was observed in two strains; PHS 2 and PHS 11. This indicates that there is a possibility that the physiological traits of strains from both isolates are the same and strains from the environment are able to show the pathogenic potential and capable of causing infection to human.
The present study was carried out to determine the concentrations of selected metal elements (lead, copper, manganese, zinc and iron) in 51 samples of commercial drinking water and tap water available in Malaysia. The results indicated that low metal elements were found in the studied water samples. Lead, manganese, zinc and iron were not detected in some of the studied samples, except copper. The concentrations of the metal elements in the studied samples were well below the maximum permitted concentrations as recommended. Therefore these drinking water are safe for consumption and do not pose adverse effect to the health of consumers due to metal toxicity.
This survey was carried out to examine the habits of practising optometrists in private practice around Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. A questionnaire survey was prepared that encompassed questions on ophthalmic intruments and appliances, services offered, eye examinatians carried aut and patient management, failure ta carry out comprehensive eye examination, community engagements and their opinion on optometrists as primary eyecare practitioners. The questionnaire was sent to 100 registered optometrists practising in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. About 64 optometrists responded and returned the questionnaire, but 3 of them were excluded because they were incomplete. The results showed almast all aptornetric practice has all the equipment related to optometry practice except for tonometer and visual field measurement. F orty~four percent ( 44%) of aptometrists undertook comprehensive eye examinatians and necessary referred patients far further examinations. Optometrists who did not perform comprehensive eye examinations give reasons of inadequate equipment and clients who want a quick examination. ln conclusion optometric practice provide almost all the equipments required for optometrists to practice as primary health care practioners but only 44% of optometrists carriedout comprehensive eye examinations. Optometrists in private practice need to practice all the skills they learned and play important roles in educating the public in an effort to improve the primary eyecare of society. Keywords: optometric practice, private practice, primary health eyecare
Daging memainkan peranan penting dalam diet seseorang. Daging kaya dengan sumber protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, asid lemak Omega 3 dan mineral seperti zink dan ferum. Walaupun daging membekalkan pelbagai keperluan nutrien yang diperlukan oleh tubuh, tetapi pengambilan daging juga boleh membawa kesan negatif kepada kesihatan. Oleh itu, di dalam artikel ini perbincangan akan menyentuh kepada risiko pengambilan daging merah kepada kesihatan. Pengambilan daging merah dalam kekerapan dan kuantiti yang tinggi boleh menyebabkan pelbagai penyakit antaranya seperti kanser dan kardiovaskular. Perbincangan juga di lakukan terhadap risiko pengambilan daging putih terhadap kesihatan. Pengambilan daging putih boleh mengundang pelbagai kesan negatif kepada kesihatan disebabkan oleh penggunaan hormon, antibiotik dan vaksin. Sebagai alternatif, daging ayam organik merupakan daging yang dicadangkan diambil oleh pengguna di dalam diet seharian. Prinsip penternakan ayam organik yang mementingkan sumber makanan ternakan tanpa penggunaan baja kimia dan racun perosak, aspek perumahan dan persekitaran yang mengutamakan kebajikan ternakan serta penjagaan kesihatan ternakan tanpa menggunakan hormon, antibiotik dan vaksin turut dibincangkan.
This study was carried out to observe thermotolerance ability of Acanthamoeba spp. A total of 32 Acanthamoeba spp. isolates obtained from water taps, sinks, swimming pools and sea water were used. Trophozoites of Acanthamoeba spp. were inoculated onto non-nutrient agar (NNA) seeded with heat-killed Escherichia coli using aseptic technique and incubated for 14 days at 30°C to obtain the cyst. The cysts were subcultured onto new agar plates for thermotolerance test at 37°C and 42°C. The plates were observed until 96 hours after incubation for excystation of Acanthamoeba before being declared negative. Overall, 81.25% of samples were able to excyst at 37°C while 37.5% were able to excyst at 42°C. Thermotolerant Acanthamoeba is associated with high pathogenicity potential.
The study was conducted to create specific formulae for stature estimation of adult male population in Malaysia based on measurements of femur, tibia and fibula lengths using radiographic method. A number of thirty two Malaysians from hospitals involved as subjects in this study. The subjects were Malays (14), Chinese (8) and Indians (10) from 25-45 years old. The standing height of the subject was recorded before femur, tibia and fibula were scanned with an x-ray
machine. The bones length was measured on the x-ray film in centimetres (cm) and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19.0 for Windows. The results showed a significant relationship (p < 0.05) between stature and measurements of length of femur, tibia and fibula. Stature of Malays and Indians were significant (p < 0.05) with measurements of length of femur, tibia and fibula but insignificant in Chinese. Simple Linear Regression Analysis was used to derive regression equation for single bone and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis was used to derive regression equation for combination of femur, tibia and fibula. Six formulae for stature estimation of adult male population in Malaysia were derived. The formulae consist of three formulae for single bone, a formulae for combination bones with unknown race, a formulae for combination bones of Malays population and a formulae for combination bones of Indians population. Formulae for combination bones had the highest correlation coefficient compared to the formula using a single bone. Standard error was found to be high in all the formulae due to small sample size. Extension for this study is essential to provide Malaysia with accurate formulae.
Perkembangan industri permotoran telah menyebabkan pencemaran udara yang menjadi faktor kepada peningkatan simptom masalah respiratori dalam kalangan kanak-kanak sekolah rendah. Kajian ini mengkaji perkaitan antara peningkatan simptom masalah kesihatan respiratori dalam kalangan kanak-kanak sekolah rendah dengan pendedahan terhadap pencemaran udara akibat lalu lintas. Kajian school-based jenis keratan lintang telah dilakukan di dua buah sekolah di daerah Kota Bharu, Kelantan iaitu Sekolah Kebangsaan Langgar dan Sekolah Kebangsaan Demit dengan melibatkan pelajar berumur 10, 11 dan 12 tahun. Saiz sampel seramai 124 orang (n = 124) dipilih menggunakan corak persampelan kebarangkalian iaitu persampelan rawak mudah. Responden disoal menggunakan instrumen yang telah disahihkan dan diadaptasi dari International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Analisis data dilakukan dengan menggunakan Statistical Package For Social Sciences (SPSS). Hasil kajian menunjukkan peningkatan simptom masalah respiratori yang dihadapi oleh pelajar di dua buah sekolah rendah di Kota Bharu adalah berkait rapat dengan pencemaran udara yang berpunca dari lalu lintas dengan p < 0.05. Kajian mendapati pendedahan kepada bahan pencemar udara yang berpunca dari lalu lintas telah meningkatkan simptom masalah respiratori dalam kalangan kanak-kanak sekolah di rendah lokasi kajian.
Fungsi penglihatan dipengaruhi oleh proses penuaan dan tanpa intervensi yang bersesuaian boleh mengakibatkan kemerosotan tahap penglihatan. Keadaan ini jika berterusan akan mengakibatkan kesukaran melakukan aktiviti kehidupan seharian dan memberi kesan kepada kualiti hidup kepada warga emas. Kajian ini mengkaji kesan gangguan penglihatan terhadap aktiviti harian dan kualiti hidup warga emas. Ukuran yang dilakukan ialah tahap penglihatan jauh menggunakan carta LogMAR untuk menilai gangguan penglihatan. Ujian kualiti hidup dilaksanakan menggunakan soalan kualiti hidup penglihatan terhad (LVQOL) dan ujian keupayaan melakukan aktiviti harian menggunakan indeks Barthel (BI). Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa gangguan fungsi penglihatan bertambah teruk dengan peningkatan umur, begitu juga didapati bahawa BI berkurangan apabila fungsi penglihatan merosot. Skor kualiti hidup LVQOL pula berkurangan bersama-sama kemerosotan tahap penglihatan. Tiga puluh lima peratus warga emas dalam kajian ini memerlukan intervensi optometri dan penglihatan terhad, Kesimpulannya, kemerosotan tahap fungsi penglihatan di kalangan warga emas boleh menyebabkan penurunan keupayaan dalam melakukan aktiviti harian. Di samping itu, akuiti visual yang tidak dibetulkan akan menyebabkan penurunan kualiti hidup warga emas.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common disorder among elderly and may worsen to dementia. The aim of this study is to develop a nutrition and lifestyle booklet to implement better lifestyle modification, as an effort to delay cognitive decline. A series of discussions with a research group comprising of dieticians, nutritionists, a geriatrician and a public health physician were conducted to ascertain the content of the booklet. There were seven guidelines in the booklet including; eat more fish, eat more foods rich in folic acid, eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, do activities to stimulate memory, stop smoking and alcohol drinking and stay cheerful and positive. Evaluation of acceptance for the booklet was carried out which comprised of assessment on content, graphic and design among elderly and health staff at health clinic in Cheras. The assessment involved 15 Malay elderly subjects aged 60 to 81 years (mean age 66.1 ±6.6 years), with 60.0% men and 40.0% women and 10 health staff aged 36.6 ± 12.0 years, with range of 27 to 58 years, consists of 20.0% men and 80.0% women also participated. Most of elderly subjects (80.0%, n = 12) indicated they understood information in the booklet. Meanwhile, 20.0% (n = 3) of elderly expressed they did not fully understand the content of the booklet in particular on sentence and terminology. All health staff (100.0%) understood the information in the booklet. This booklet was well accepted by elderly subjects and health staff, however adding more graphics, simplifying sentence structures and minimizing scientific terminologies to improve understanding were suggested. The booklet has the potential to increase the nutritional and health knowledge of elderly specifically with MCI. This would motivate them to adopt healthy eating and lifestyle, thus reducing cognitive decline and prevent dementia.
Keywords: Cognitive, education, booklet, elderly, lifestyle
Changes in nitrate and nitrite contents (leaves and stem) of Amaranthus gangeticus (AG) and Amaranthus paniculatus (AP), resulting from blanching, storage time (0-4 days), storage temperature (0 and 4ºC), and reheating were analysed. Results showed that fresh AG (1859 ± 7.07 mg/kg) had higher nitrite content than AP (1262 ± 2.12 mg/kg). Nitrites content was 506 ± 2 and 825 ± 3.5 mg/kg for AG and AP, respectively. Reheating and storage times significantly increased the conversion of nitrate to nitrite in AG and AP. Storage at 0 and 4oC exhibited a significant change (P < 0.05) in nitrate and nitrite contents for both samples. Higher nitrite content was found in AP when stored at 4oC and 0oC. The present study indicated that storage time and temperature affected the nitrite contents in blanched AG and AP when stored in low temperatures. Apart from that reheating was also found to increase the formation of nitrite.
Kajian terdahulu banyak menunjukkan perbezaan dalam dimensi okular mengikut kaum. Walau bagaimanapun hanya terdapat sedikit data mengenai dimensi okular bangsa Melayu di Malaysia yang dilaporkan. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menetapkan nilai normal dimensi okular bangsa Melayu muda di Malaysia. Seramai 584 orang telah diundang untuk menjadi subjek untuk kajian secara sukarela. Pengukuran yang dilakukan meliputi kelengkungan dan ketebalan tengah kornea, nilai esentrisiti kornea (e), diameter iris horizontal dan vertikal yang kelihatan, saiz pupil dan bukaan palpebral. Subjek dibahagikan kepada 3 kumpulan berikut mengikut umur dan dipadankan mengikut jantina dan umur: Kumpulan 1 (7-12 tahun, n = 188), Kumpulan 2 (13 to 18 tahun, n = 196) and Kumpulan 3 (19 to 24 tahun, n = 200). Pengukuran dilakukan menggunakan topografer kornea (CTK 922 dari Haag Streit, Jerman), pakometer ultrasonik (Corneo-Gage Plus 2 dari Sonogage Incorporated) dan auto refraktometer (Auto-Ref R1 dari Canon, Jepun). Dimensi okular bangsa Melayu yang diukur didapati lebih kecil dari bangsa lain di seluruh dunia. Perbezaan yang signifikan juga didapati untuk semua pengukuran dengan peningkatan umur (p < 0.05). Keputusan kajian ini boleh dijadikan rujukan untuk nilai dimensi okular populasi Melayu muda Malaysia di masa hadapan.
Elektroretinogram paten (pERG) adalah pengrekodan respons retina terhadap stimulus paten yang dipancarkan bersilih ganti. Ia memberi maklumat mengenai integriti sel dalaman retina khasnya sel ganglion. Pengrekodan pERG dalam sesebuah makmal boleh dipengaruhi oleh beberapa faktor, maka piawai makmal perlu ada untuk memastikan bacaan pERG yang diperolehi boleh diulang dan dihasilkan semula. Objektif kajian ini ialah untuk menentusahkan faktor yang mungkin mempengaruhi pengukuran pERG untuk paiwaian Makmal Elektrofisiologi Jabatan Optometri, Fakulti Sains Kesihatan (FSK), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Kajian ini melibatkan 45 orang subjek yang berumur di antara 20 hingga 25 tahun yang dibahagikan kepada 3 kumpulan. Faktor yang dikaji adalah 1) kesan penggunaan anestetik Alcaine 0.5%, 2) variasi pengukuran pada waktu pagi dan petang dan 3) saiz dan bentuk target fiksasi yang berbeza terhadap bacaan pERG (amplitud dan tempoh pendam). Ujian-t berpasangan mendapati tiada perbezaan yang signifikan antara pengukuran sebelum dan selepas penggunaan Alcaine 0.5% bagi amplitud (p = 0.116) dan tempoh pendam
(p = 0.557). Pengukuran pada waktu pagi dan petang juga menunjukkan tiada perbezaan signifikan bagi amplitud (p = 0.864) dan tempoh pendam (p = 0.174). Untuk bentuk dan saiz target yang berbeza, didapati tiada perbezaan yang signifikan untuk parameter amplitud (p = 0.125) dan tempoh pendam (p = 0.404). Kesimpulannya, penggunaan Alcaine 0.5%, pengukuran pada waktu pagi dan petang dan target fiksasi yang berbeza tidak mempengaruhi bacaan pERG di Makmal Elektrofisiologi, FSK, UKM. Hasil kajian boleh diguna pakai untuk perbandingan dalam penyelidikan ataupun tujuan pendiagnosan penyakit retina di masa hadapan.