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Displaying publications 101 - 120 of 782 in total

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Estimation of basic reproduction number for dengue fever in Lahore, Pakistan

Noor Badshah, Hassan Shah, Muhammad Javid

Sains Malaysiana, 2015;44:1423-1430.

Dengue fever is a vector-borne viral disease which is now endemic in more than 100 countries affecting more than 2.5 billion people worldwide. In recent years, dengue fever has become a major threat to public health in Pakistan. In this paper, we derived an explicit formula for reproduction number R0 (the most important epidemiological parameter) and then used real data of dengue fever cases of different hospitals of Lahore (Pakistan) on R0. Conditions for local stability of equilibrium points are discussed. In the end, simulations are carried out for different situations.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Helicobacter pylori overcomes natural immunity in repeated infections

Stenström B, Windsor HM, Fulurija A, Benghezal M, Kumarasinghe MP, Kimura K, et al.

Clin Case Rep, 2016 11;4(11):1026-1033.
PMID: 27830066

Repeated experimental reinfection of two subjects indicates that Helicobacter pylori infection does not promote an immune response protective against future reinfection. Our results highlight the importance of preventing reinfection after eradication, through public health initiatives, and possibly treatment of family members. They indicate difficulties for vaccine development, especially therapeutic vaccines.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
A simple exercise protocol in the evaluation of growth hormone adequacy

Wan Nazaimoon WM, Wu LL, Osman A, Ng ML, Hashim MD, Khalid AK

Family Physician, 1992;4:19-21.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
The growth of public health services in Singapore in relation to preventive medicine in war time

Scharff JW

Journal of the Malaya Branch of the British Medical Association, 1939;3:339-48.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Some methods of malaria control

Scharff JW

Journal of the Malaya Branch of the British Medical Association, 1938;2:165-8.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Status of malaria in Malaysia

Oothuman P

Family Practitioner, 1988;11:81-83.

In Malaysia malaria is still a major public health problem. At the end of 1986 it was estimated that 14.6% of the population lived in malaria prone areas and 8.4% lived in endemic areas. Malaria eradication and control programmes were instituted separately at different times in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Inaccessibility of endemic areas, opening of lands for developmental projects and emergence of drug resistant strains of P. falciparum are problems that make control of this infection difficult. Malaria vaccine is being developed.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Fulltext Environment as the risk factor for tuberculosis in Malaysia: a systematic review of the literature

Mohidem NA, Hashim Z, Osman M, Muharam FM, Elias SM, Shaharudin R

Rev Environ Health, 2021 Dec 20;36(4):493-499.
PMID: 34821116 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0096

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and incidence of TB by focusing on its environmental risk factor in Malaysia.
CONTENT: Databases search of Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Plus, MyJournal, Biblioteca Regional de Medicina (BIREME), BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health, Medline, Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux (CAB), EMBASE (Excerpta Medica dataBASE) OVID, and Web of Science (WoS) was performed, which include the article from 1st January 2008 until 31st August 2018 using medical subject heading (MeSH). Articles initially identified were screened for relevance.
SUMMARY: Out of 744 papers screened, nine eligible studies did meet our inclusion criteria. Prison and housing environments were evaluated for TB transmission in living environment, while the other factor was urbanization. However, not all association for these factors were statistically significant, thus assumed to be conflicting or weak to end up with a strong conclusion.
OUTLOOK: Unsustainable indoor environment in high congregate setting and overcrowding remained as a challenge for TB infection in Malaysia. Risk factors for transmission of TB, specifically in high risk areas, should focus on the implementation of specialized program. Further research on health care environment, weather variability, and air pollution are urgently needed to improve the management of TB transmission.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Perceived impacts of Urban Heat Island phenomenon in a tropical metropolitan city: Perspectives from stakeholder dialogue sessions

Aghamohammadi N, Ramakreshnan L, Fong CS, Noor RM, Hanif NR, Sulaiman NM

Sci Total Environ, 2022 Feb 01;806(Pt 1):150331.
PMID: 34571225 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150331

The stakeholders' perceptions on the impacts of Urban Heat Island (UHI) are critical for reducing exposure and influencing their response to interventions that are aimed at encouraging a behaviour change. A proper understanding of the UHI impacts on the society, economy and environment is deemed an essential motivating factor for the stakeholders to work towards UHI mitigations in the local context. This study adopted an inductive qualitative approach using Stakeholder Dialogue Sessions (SDSs) to assess the perceived impacts of UHI among various stakeholders, comprising policy makers, academicians, developers and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), in a tropical metropolitan city. The results revealed five themes such as deterioration of public health, acceleration of urban migration patterns and spending time in cooler areas, reduction of workers' productivity, increased energy consumption by the households and deterioration of environmental quality and natural resources that were categorized into social, economic and environmental impacts. Although most of the stakeholders were quite unfamiliar with the term UHI, they still display a good understanding of the potential impacts of UHI due to their posteriori knowledge and ability to rationalize the physical condition of the environment in which they live. The findings provide useful insights and valuable information to the local authorities to tailor necessary actions and educational campaigns to increase UHI awareness among the stakeholders. Being among the earlier studies to use a qualitative approach to attain the aforementioned objective, the findings are crucial to determine the level of understanding of the stakeholders on the impact of UHI. Through this study, the authors have highlighted the gaps and needs for knowledge improvements aimed at behaviour change among the stakeholders.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Inexpensive Portable Infrared Device to Detect and Quantify Alcohols in Hand Sanitizers for Public Health and Safety

Ng JK, Tay FH, Wray PS, Mohd Saberi SS, Ken Ting KK, Khor SM, et al.

Anal Chem, 2021 11 16;93(45):15015-15023.
PMID: 34730329 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02652

The onset of Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the exponential growth of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR)/hand sanitizer use. Reports have emerged of ABHR products containing methanol, a highly toxic compound to humans, exposing users to acute and chronic medical illnesses. While gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) remains the gold-standard method for the detection and identification of impurities in ABHRs, there exist limitations at widespread volume testing. This paper demonstrates the capability of an inexpensive portable pyroelectric linear array infrared spectrometer to rapidly test ABHR and compare the performance with a benchtop Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and HS-GC-MS. Multicomponent partial least square quantification models were built with performance found to be comparable between the two spectrometers and with the HS-GC-MS. Furthermore, the portable spectrometer was field-tested with real-world samples in Malaysia on both retail products (Group A) and freely deployed public dispensers (Group B) between May and November 2020. A total of 386 samples were tested. Only 75.2% of Group A met the criteria of safe and effective ABHR [no detectable methanol and alcohol concentration above 60% (v/v)], while <50% of Group B did. In addition, 7.4 and 18.8% of Group A and Group B, respectively, were found to contain methanol above permissible limits. The high percentage of sub-standard and methanol-containing samples combined with the frequent use of ABHR by the public highlights the need for and importance of a portable and rapid testing device for widespread screening of ABHR against falsified products and protects the general public.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Fulltext Effects of Smart City Construction on the Quality of Public Occupational Health: Empirical Evidence From Guangdong Province, China

Cheng H, Wang FF, Dong DW, Liang JC, Zhao CF, Yan B

Front Public Health, 2021;9:769687.
PMID: 34746088 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.769687

This article takes the Guangdong Province of China as the research object and uses the difference-in-difference model to evaluate the impact of smart city construction on the quality of public occupational health and intercity differences. The obtained results show that smart city construction significantly improves the quality of public occupational health, and it is still valid after a series of robustness tests. The effect of this policy is stronger in cities that belong to the Pearl River Delta region or sub-provincial level cities. This study indicates that the central government should improve the pilot evaluation system and the performance appraisal mechanism of smart cities from the perspective of top-level design during the process of promoting smart city construction, which aims to correctly guide local governments to promote the construction of smart cities. To achieve the full improvement effect of smart city construction on the quality of public occupational health, local governments should implement smart city strategies in a purposeful and planned way according to the actual situation of the development of the jurisdiction.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Fulltext The emergence of cholera in multiple countries amidst current COVID-19 pandemic: Situation and implications for public health and travel medicine

Reda A, Sah R, Abdelaal A, Shrestha S, Rodriguez-Morales AJ

Travel Med Infect Dis, 2022;49:102423.
PMID: 35952967 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102423
Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Fulltext Modeling the potential public health impact of different vaccination strategies with an omicron-adapted bivalent vaccine in Malaysia

Thakkar K, Spinardi J, Kyaw MH, Yang J, Mendoza CF, Dass M, et al.

Expert Rev Vaccines, 2023;22(1):714-725.
PMID: 37548520 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2245465

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case numbers have increased following the emergence of the Omicron variant. This study estimated the impact of introducing and increasing the coverage of an Omicron-adapted bivalent booster vaccine in Malaysia.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A combined cohort Markov decision tree model was used to compare booster vaccination with an Omicron-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine versus no booster vaccination in Malaysia. The model utilized age-specific data from January 2021 to March 2022 derived from published sources. The outcomes of interest included case numbers, hospitalizations, deaths, medical costs, and productivity losses. The population was stratified into high-risk and standard-risk subpopulations, and the study evaluated the benefits of increased coverage in different age and risk groups.
RESULTS: Vaccinating only high-risk individuals and those aged ≥ 65 years was estimated to avert 274,313 cases, 33229 hospitalizations, 2,434 deaths, Malaysian ringgit (MYR) 576 million in direct medical costs, and MYR 579 million in indirect costs. Expanding vaccination coverage in the standard-risk population to 75% was estimated to avert more deaths (31%), hospitalizations (155%), infections (206%), direct costs (206%), and indirect costs (281%).
CONCLUSIONS: These findings support broader population Omicron-adapted bivalent booster vaccination in Malaysia with potential for significant health and economic gains.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Assessing the impact of temperature on the duration of COVID-19 transmission in Terengganu, Malaysia: Implications for public health strategies

Noramira SM, Dom NC, Samsuri A

Med J Malaysia, 2024 Mar;79(Suppl 1):122-127.
PMID: 38555896

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic and its associated high morbidity and mortality, continues to be a significant public health concern. This study investigates the influence of temperature variables on COVID-19 transmission in Terengganu, Malaysia, which, despite having experienced a comparatively lower number of cases, presents a unique environment for understanding how temperature factors may play a critical role in virus transmission dynamics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a descriptive analysis to assess the spatial distribution of COVID-19 cases in our study area. To explore the relationship between temperature variables and COVID-19 transmission, we employed Pearson correlation analysis, examining the correlations between daily average, minimum, and maximum temperature data and the temporal distribution of COVID-19 cases as reported by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. This approach allowed us to comprehensively investigate the impact of weather on the transmission dynamics of COVID-19.
RESULTS: Our findings reveal a noteworthy correlation (p<0.05) between average and maximum temperatures and COVID-19 transmission, highlighting the influence of weather on disease dynamics. Notably, exceptions were observed in the Hulu Terengganu district, where fewer than 10 cases occurred in each sub-district throughout the study period, warranting special consideration.
CONCLUSION: In summary, our study highlights the significance of temperature in shaping COVID-19 transmission. This stresses the importance of including weather variables in pandemic strategies. We also suggest comparing various cities to broaden our understanding of how weather affects disease spread, aiding future public health efforts.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Fulltext Deep learning in public health: Comparative predictive models for COVID-19 case forecasting

Tariq MU, Ismail SB

PLoS One, 2024;19(3):e0294289.
PMID: 38483948 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294289

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia, emphasizing the importance of developing accurate and reliable forecasting mechanisms to guide public health responses and policies. In this study, we compared several cutting-edge deep learning models, including Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), bidirectional LSTM, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), hybrid CNN-LSTM, Multilayer Perceptron's, and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), to project COVID-19 cases in the aforementioned regions. These models were calibrated and evaluated using a comprehensive dataset that includes confirmed case counts, demographic data, and relevant socioeconomic factors. To enhance the performance of these models, Bayesian optimization techniques were employed. Subsequently, the models were re-evaluated to compare their effectiveness. Analytic approaches, both predictive and retrospective in nature, were used to interpret the data. Our primary objective was to determine the most effective model for predicting COVID-19 cases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia. The findings indicate that the selected deep learning algorithms were proficient in forecasting COVID-19 cases, although their efficacy varied across different models. After a thorough evaluation, the model architectures most suitable for the specific conditions in the UAE and Malaysia were identified. Our study contributes significantly to the ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, providing crucial insights into the application of sophisticated deep learning algorithms for the precise and timely forecasting of COVID-19 cases. These insights hold substantial value for shaping public health strategies, enabling authorities to develop targeted and evidence-based interventions to manage the virus spread and its impact on the populations of the UAE and Malaysia. The study confirms the usefulness of deep learning methodologies in efficiently processing complex datasets and generating reliable projections, a skill of great importance in healthcare and professional settings.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Fulltext Emerging stronger from COVID-19 through arts

Ong CY, Wai Ching Deanna L

Glob Health Promot, 2023 Jun;30(2):28-34.
PMID: 36052969 DOI: 10.1177/17579759221118256

OBJECTIVES: To assess art initiatives and programmes communicating health messages and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia from 2020 to 2021.
STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative narrative study.
METHODS: Grey literature on COVID-19 art initiatives and programmes in Malaysia was reviewed.
RESULTS: The art initiatives and efforts in Malaysia to promote health and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic were compelling and notable. These initiatives can be classified into five major categories, namely performing arts, visual arts, culture, literature and digital art. The main health messages conveyed through these initiatives included public education regarding COVID-19, health precautionary steps recommended for the public, and solidarity in the fight against COVID-19. These art initiatives cultivated positive responses from the public and increased their awareness of COVID-19.
CONCLUSION: From the public health perspective, the use of arts to educate and create awareness of COVID-19 in Malaysia were encouraging. The public is made more informed and prepared to face the challenges ahead.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Fulltext Methodological guidance for incorporating equity when informing rapid-policy and guideline development

Dewidar O, Kawala BA, Antequera A, Tricco AC, Tovey D, Straus S, et al.

J Clin Epidemiol, 2022 Oct;150:142-153.
PMID: 35863618 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.07.007

OBJECTIVES: We provide guidance for considering equity in rapid reviews through examples of published COVID-19 rapid reviews.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: This guidance was developed based on a series of methodological meetings, review of internationally renowned guidance such as the Cochrane Handbook and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for equity-focused systematic reviews (PRISMA-Equity) guideline. We identified Exemplar rapid reviews by searching COVID-19 databases and requesting examples from our team.
RESULTS: We proposed the following key steps: 1. involve relevant stakeholders with lived experience in the conduct and design of the review; 2. reflect on equity, inclusion and privilege in team values and composition; 3. develop research question to assess health inequities; 4. conduct searches in relevant disciplinary databases; 5. collect data and critically appraise recruitment, retention and attrition for populations experiencing inequities; 6. analyse evidence on equity; 7. evaluate the applicability of findings to populations experiencing inequities; and 8. adhere to reporting guidelines for communicating review findings. We illustrated these methods through rapid review examples.
CONCLUSION: Implementing this guidance could contribute to improving equity considerations in rapid reviews produced in public health emergencies, and help policymakers better understand the distributional impact of diseases on the population.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Primary aldosteronism: molecular medicine meets public health

Azizan EAB, Drake WM, Brown MJ

Nat Rev Nephrol, 2023 Dec;19(12):788-806.
PMID: 37612380 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-023-00753-6

Primary aldosteronism is the most common single cause of hypertension and is potentially curable when only one adrenal gland is the culprit. The importance of primary aldosteronism to public health derives from its high prevalence but huge under-diagnosis (estimated to be <1% of all affected individuals), despite the consequences of poor blood pressure control by conventional therapy and enhanced cardiovascular risk. This state of affairs is attributable to the fact that the tools used for diagnosis or treatment are still those that originated in the 1970-1990s. Conversely, molecular discoveries have transformed our understanding of adrenal physiology and pathology. Many molecules and processes associated with constant adrenocortical renewal and interzonal metamorphosis also feature in aldosterone-producing adenomas and aldosterone-producing micronodules. The adrenal gland has one of the most significant rates of non-silent somatic mutations, with frequent selection of those driving autonomous aldosterone production, and distinct clinical presentations and outcomes for most genotypes. The disappearance of aldosterone synthesis and cells from most of the adult human zona glomerulosa is the likely driver of the mutational success that causes aldosterone-producing adenomas, but insights into the pathways that lead to constitutive aldosterone production and cell survival may open up opportunities for novel therapies.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Dietary Guidelines for the Asia Pacific Region

Binns CW, Lee MK, Kagawa M, Low WY, Liqian Q, Guldan GS, et al.

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2017 Mar;29(2):98-101.
PMID: 28325079 DOI: 10.1177/1010539517694295

Nutrition is a major determinant of health throughout all stages of life and together with smoking is the most important risk factor for morbidity and mortality in the Asia Pacific Region. The workshop participants examined Dietary Guidelines and Food Guides that are in use in our region, together with additional materials from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World Cancer Research Foundation. The resulting set of guidelines is meant as a reminder of the main issues to be covered in a general public health education program. It may also be of value in reminding public health practitioners, educators, administrators, and policy makers of current nutrition issues. It may additionally be useful as a checklist of the issues to be considered in public health programs and regulations. The main areas of nutrition that are included in the Guidelines are eating a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals, and nuts. Choose fish, poultry, and meats grown in a sustainable way. Appropriate growth, including avoiding obesity, and physical activity are important. Breastfeeding is the basis of infant nutrition and nutrition of mothers is an important public health measure. Negative factors in the Asian diet include salt, refined sugar, alcohol and fats. The APACPH Dietary Guidelines will need to be kept under review and modified to meet regional differences in food supply. The Guidelines will be useful as a checklist of the issues to be considered in public health programs, addressing both acute and chronic diseases.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Fulltext A 10-Year Journey of the USM Master and Doctoral Degrees in Public Health

Sukeri S, Daud A, Musa KI, Idris N

Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Nov;26(6):1-4.
PMID: 31908582 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.6.1

The article introduces readers to the Master of Public Health and Doctor of Public Health programmes, offered by the Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. The programme vision, structure and accomplishments over the decade are presented to provide an understanding of the programme. It is hoped that this professional programme will continue to flourish and produce new generations of public health medicine specialist equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to make significant contribution towards improving the health of the population.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health
Medics and Marine Mammals - An Unlikely but Important Connection for Humanity's Survival

Ponnampalam LS

Malays J Med Sci, 2014 Mar;21(2):1-3.
PMID: 24876801

Marine mammals, as top predators in the marine food web, are sentinels of changes in the oceans and public health. Pollution in the sea and overfishing of seafood resources affects these organisms just as much as it affects human beings. Medics, especially doctors, have an influential reach to patients, and are in an ideal position to get better acquainted with ongoing marine environmental issues and subsequently disseminating such information to them. While seemingly an out-of-the-box approach, it is one that can help with environmental conservation and preservation for the future of humanity.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Health

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