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Fulltext Comparison of heavy metal levels in natural spring and bottled drinking water in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Mohd Hasni J, Aminnuddin M, Ariza Z, Azwani A, Engku Nurul SE, Nor Asikin J, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2017;17(1):46-50.

A spring is a result of karsts topography where surface water has infiltrated the earth's surface recharge area, becoming part of groundwater and emerges from below to become natural spring water. From few observations, local people tend to consume this water directly for many health reasons. The objective of the study was to determine the concentration of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in natural water resources and bottled drinking water sources, and compared with the existing standard. This field assessment was carried out in 2014 as part of the educational module for public health master student. About 13 water samples were collected directly from the tubing into the pre-washed sample bottle and rinse with the sampling water in the field. Sample preservation was achieved by acidifying to pH less 4.0 with nitric acid (HNO3). Samples were stored in a cooler with temperature between 0 to 4oC. Heavy metals were analysed by standard method for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GFAAS) with Zeeman’s correction. Pb and Cd content were analysed from 13 samples which consists of eight natural spring water and five flavoured bottled drinking water. The result showed that Pb content in spring water ranges between 1.8 and 37.3ppb, while the Cd content in spring water ranges between 3.0 and 23.0ppb. In the commercialised drinking water, the amount of Pb ranges between 0.4 and 2.6 ppb, while the content of Cd ranges between 0.8 and 7.0 ppb. This study indicates that there are high content of Pb and Cd in most of the natural spring water points and some bottled drinking water that are available within Klang Valley. In the absence of any specific point sources, the possibility of urban area and high traffic source leading to run off as well as rock types may result in variations observed. Hence, very worrying, especially that these sources of water were consumed directly as drinking water or eye drops without knowing its content. Further tests, coupled with supportive soil and conductivity studies, are required to test all possible similar natural sources to safeguard the health of people.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Health manpower planning for 2020 and beyond: confrontinq the challenges

Abdul Gani MD

JUMMEC, 2001;6:1-5.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Empowering Malaysians

Yahya H

Ministerial Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, 2015.

Citation: Yahya H. Empowering Malaysians. Ministerial Meeting on Universal Health Coverage. Singapore, 2015

Lecture focused on: Komuniti Sihat Perkasa Negara (KOSPEN)

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext KOSPEN: Challenges in empowering the community [Abstract]

Ramly R

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2016;16 Suppl 4:7-8.

The prevalence of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) and its risk factors among Malaysian adults are still high. National Health Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015 shows that 17.5% of Malaysian adults have diabetes, out of which 53% are undiagnosed, 30.3% are hypertensive whereby 57% of them were undiagnosed. 1 in every 2 Malaysian adults is overweight or obese. Except for hypertension which prevalence is slightly lower compared to 2011 NHMS, all of these prevalences are increasing over the years in spite of vigorous efforts that have been conducted in educating and creating public awareness on the disease and its prevention and control. The increasing trend in NCD and its related risk factors have proved that the educational sensibility is not sufficient in prompting the adoption of healthy behaviors. Obstacles include lack of perceived priority for health, and lack of perceived priority for NCD within the health sector itself. NCD is very much associated with human behavior, environment, economic and social factors. Many studies and experiences have shown that carefully planned and fully implemented community-based intervention program play a big role in overcoming the problem of NCD. The intervention should consist of community and individual empowerment, environmental support and reorienting health services. In 2013, the ministry has taken a big step by embarking on a nationwide community based intervention program namely Komuniti Sihat Perkasa Negara (KOSPEN). This initiative brings the NCD prevention and control program to the community through trained health volunteers, who will function as health agent of change or health enablers that introduce and facilitate healthy living practices amongst their respective community members. This would serve as a mean to control NCD such as high blood pressure and diabetes and its associated risk factors such as obesity, unhealthy diet, smoking and sedentary life style within local communities Combining public education and efforts to prompt behavioral changes, KOSPEN is based on three main strategies which are advocacy and awareness, health policy adoption and establishment of healthy environments and routine NCD risk factors screenings. Trained volunteers are also capable of measuring blood pressure, blood glucose levels and body mass index (BMI) following which, at risk cases are referred to nearby health clinics for further confirmation and management. In addition to these, the volunteers who will be known as Gerak Sihat Malaysia (GSiM) are also trained to plan and organize related intervention programs at the community level for those who need it. As of May 2016, there is 5,000 KOSPEN localities nationwide with 30,000 volunteers trained. 300,000 adults have been screened for high Blood Pressure, at risk blood sugar level, overweight and smokers, out of which 70% have been referred to health clinics for Diabetic confirmation, 36% for high risk Blood Pressure and 6.5% for class II Obesity. In addition to this, weight management program is now being piloted in 134 KOSPEN localities. The Health Ministry is targeting as many as 10,000 KOSPEN localities and 50,000 GSiM by 2022. With this individual and community empowerment effort, almost six million citizens is estimated to get benefit from the program, while 1.6 million adults are expected to undergo NCD screening tests by KOSPEN volunteers.
8th National Public Health Conference 2016, Managing Society in Combating Public Health Challenges, 2-4 August 2016

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Technical report. Evaluation of effectiveness of implementation of “Komuniti Sihat Perkasa Negara” (KOSPEN) programme in Malaysia- phase 1

Citation: Technical report. Evaluation of effectiveness of implementation of “Komuniti Sihat Perkasa Negara” (KOSPEN) programme in Malaysia- phase 1. Kuala Lumpur: Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health, Malaysia; 2015

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
The biotechnology and bioeconomy landscape in Malaysia

Arujanan M, Singaram M

N Biotechnol, 2018 Jan 25;40(Pt A):52-59.
PMID: 28668584 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2017.06.004

Since 1990s Malaysia aspired to make biotechnology and bioeconomy as her engines of economic growth to utlise the abundance of natural resources and biodiversity. The public sector plays an integral role in developing the sector and various incentives are in place for the private sector to be actively involved and to forge collaboration with the public sector. The country launched its National Biotechnology Policy in 2005 and later launched its National Bioeconomy Programme in 2010 to become the first country in South East Asia and second in Asia after China to have such an initiative. Malaysia is also very proactive in its biosafety law and regulations and has most of the related legal instrument in place. A lot of success has been recorded since the inception of the National Biotechnology Policy in terms of job creation, contribution to GDP through biobusinesses and investment from foreign companies, but the sector is not spared from challenges too. Due to the nature of the discipline that is multidisciplinary and that requires huge amount of investment, expertise and political will, there are a lot of barriers before the country emerges as a bioeconomy player. This paper discusses the public policies, initiatives and funding mechanisms in place in Malaysia that drive its research, development and commercialisation in the area of biotechnology and bioeconomy. The authors also discuss the challenges faced in Malaysia in implementing the policies.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Prevalence of type-2 diabetes and prediabetes in Malaysia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Akhtar S, Nasir JA, Ali A, Asghar M, Majeed R, Sarwar A

PLoS One, 2022;17(1):e0263139.
PMID: 35085366 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263139

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the pooled prevalence of prediabetes and type-2 diabetes in the general population of Malaysia.
METHOD: We systematically searched Medline (PubMed), Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Malaysian Journals Online to identify relevant studies published between January 1, 1995, and November 30, 2021, on the prevalence of type-2 diabetes in Malaysia. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to obtain the pooled prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes. Subgroup analyses also used to analyze to the potential sources of heterogeneity. Meta- regression was carried to assess associations between study characteristics and diabetes prevalence. Three independent authors selected studies and conducted the quality assessment. The quality of the final evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
RESULTS: Of 2689 potentially relevant studies, 786 titles and abstract were screened. Fifteen studies with 103063 individuals were eligible to be included in the meta-analyses. The pooled prevalence of diabetes was 14.39% (95% CI, 12.51%-16.38%; I2 = 98.4%, 103063 participants from 15 studies). The pooled prevalence of prediabetes was 11.62% (95% CI, 7.17%-16.97%; I2 = 99.8, 88702 participants from 9 studies). The subgroup analysis showed statistically significant differences in diabetes prevalence by the ethical sub-populations with highest in Indians (25.10%; 95% CI, 20.19%-30.35%), followed by Malays (15.25%; 95% CI, 11.59%-19.29%), Chinese (12.87%; 95% CI, 9.73%-16.37%), Bumiputeras (8.62%; 95% CI, 5.41%-12.47%) and others (6.91%; 95% CI, 5.71%-8.19%). There was no evidence of publication bias, although heterogeneity was high (I2 ranged from 0.00% to 99·8%). The quality of evidence based on GRADE was low.
CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggest that a high prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes in Malaysia. The diabetes prevalence is associated with time period and increasing age. The Malaysian government should develop a comprehensive approach and strategy to enhance diabetes awareness, control, prevention, and treatment.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration no. PROSPERO CRD42021255894; https://clinicaltrials.gov/.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology; Malaysia/epidemiology
Fulltext A mini review on aflatoxin exposure in Malaysia: past, present and future

Mohd-Redzwan S, Jamaluddin R, Abd-Mutalib MS, Ahmad Z

Front Microbiol, 2013;4:334.
PMID: 24312084 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00334

This mini review article described the exposure of aflatoxin in Malaysia, including its presence in the foodstuffs and the detection of aflatoxin biomarkers in human biological samples. Historically, the exposure of aflatoxin in Malaysia can be dated in 1960s where an outbreak of disease in pig farms caused severe liver damage to the animals. Later, an aflatoxicosis case in Perak in 1988 was reported and caused death to 13 children, as up to 3 mg of aflatoxin was present in a single serving of contaminated noodles. Since then, extensive research on aflatoxin has been conducted in Malaysia. The food commodities such as peanuts, cereals, spices, and their products are the main commodities commonly found to be contaminated with aflatoxin. Surprisingly, some of the contaminated foods had levels greater than the permissible limit adopted by the Malaysian Food Regulation 1985. Besides, exposure assessment through the measurement of aflatoxin biomarkers in human biological samples is still in its infancy stage. Nevertheless, some studies had reported the presence of these biomarkers. In fact, it is postulated that Malaysians are moderately exposed to aflatoxin compared to those high risk populations, where aflatoxin contamination in the diets is prevalent. Since the ingestion of aflatoxin could be the integral to the development of liver cancer, the incidence of cancer attributable by dietary aflatoxin exposure in Malaysia has also been reported and published in the literatures. Regardless of these findings, the more important task is to monitor and control humans from being exposed to aflatoxin. The enforcement of law is insufficient to minimize human exposure to aflatoxin. Preventive strategies include agricultural, dietary, and clinical measures should be implemented. With the current research on aflatoxin in Malaysia, a global networking for research collaboration is needed to expand the knowledge and disseminate the information to the global scientific community.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Ridleyandra chuana (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Peninsular Malaysia

Kiew R

PhytoKeys, 2013.
PMID: 24198708 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.25.5178

Ridleyandra chuana, a new species of Gesneriaceae, is described and illustrated. It is endemic in Peninsular Malaysia and known from two small and restricted populations in montane forest. Its conservation status is assessed as vulnerable.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Extreme differences in forest degradation in Borneo: comparing practices in Sarawak, Sabah, and Brunei

Bryan JE, Shearman PL, Asner GP, Knapp DE, Aoro G, Lokes B

PLoS One, 2013;8(7):e69679.
PMID: 23874983 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069679

The Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak are global hotspots of forest loss and degradation due to timber and oil palm industries; however, the rates and patterns of change have remained poorly measured by conventional field or satellite approaches. Using 30 m resolution optical imagery acquired since 1990, forest cover and logging roads were mapped throughout Malaysian Borneo and Brunei using the Carnegie Landsat Analysis System. We uncovered ∼364,000 km of roads constructed through the forests of this region. We estimated that in 2009 there were at most 45,400 km(2) of intact forest ecosystems in Malaysian Borneo and Brunei. Critically, we found that nearly 80% of the land surface of Sabah and Sarawak was impacted by previously undocumented, high-impact logging or clearing operations from 1990 to 2009. This contrasted strongly with neighbouring Brunei, where 54% of the land area remained covered by unlogged forest. Overall, only 8% and 3% of land area in Sabah and Sarawak, respectively, was covered by intact forests under designated protected areas. Our assessment shows that very few forest ecosystems remain intact in Sabah or Sarawak, but that Brunei, by largely excluding industrial logging from its borders, has been comparatively successful in protecting its forests.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Welcome from the editors of Asia Pacific Psychiatry

Tasman A, Alcaron RD, Chiu HF, Herrman H, Ng CH

Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2013 Apr;5 Suppl 1:1.
PMID: 23857828 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12071
Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Municipal solid waste management at Taman Beringin Transfer Station in Malaysia

Ghasimi SM, Tey BT, Suyot R, Ghasimi S

Waste Manag, 2010 Feb;30(2):357-9.
PMID: 20050080
Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Aleocharine rove beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) associated with Leptogenys Roger, 1861 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) II. Two new genera and two new species associated with L. borneensis Wheeler, 1919

Maruyama M, von Beeren C, Witte V

Zookeys, 2010.
PMID: 21594196 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.59.511

Two new genera and two new species of Aleocharinae (Staphylinidae) from Malaysia are described: Parawroughtonilla Maruyama, gen. n. (type species: Parawroughtonilla hirsutaMaruyama, sp. n.), Leptogenonia Maruyama, gen. n. (type species: Leptogenonia roslii Maruyama, sp. n.), which are associated with Leptogenys borneensis Wheeler, 1919. They are closely related and share a unique character state of the aedeagus.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext The Kuala Lumpur Declaration - a misattributed authorship?

Looi LM, Lapeña Jr JF

Med J Malaysia, 2013;68(1):91-2.
PMID: 23466781
Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext [Malaysia]Food Safety in Malaysia

Philip A

Japan Med Assoc J, 2015 Dec;58(4):180-4.
PMID: 27081606
Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Current perspectives on dengue episode in Malaysia

Pang EL, Loh HS

Asian Pac J Trop Med, 2016 Apr;9(4):395-401.
PMID: 27086160 DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.03.004

Prevalence of dengue transmission has been alarmed by an estimate of 390 million infections per annum. Urban encroachment, ecological disruption and poor sanitation are all contributory factors of increased epidemiology. Complication however arises from the fact that dengue virus inherently exists as four different serotypes. Secondary infection is often manifested in the more severe form, such that antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) could aggravate ailment by allowing pre-existing antibodies to form complexes with infecting viruses as means of intrusion. Consequently, increased viraemic titter and suppression of antiviral response are observed. Deep concerns are thus expressed in regards to escalating trend of hospitalisation and mortality rates. In Malaysia, situation is exacerbated by improper clinical management and pending vector control operations. As a preparedness strategy against the potential deadly dengue pandemic, the call for development of a durable and cost-effective dengue vaccine against all infecting serotypes is intensified. Even though several vaccine candidates are currently being evaluated in clinical trials, uncertainties in regards to serotypes interference, incomplete protection and dose adequacy have been raised. Instead of sole reliance on outsourcing, production of local vaccine should be considered in coherent to government's efforts to combat against dengue.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Draft Genome Sequence of Erythrobacter vulgaris Strain O1, a Glycosyl Hydrolase-Producing Bacterium

Yaakop AS, Chan CS, Kahar UM, Ee R, Chan KG, Goh KM

Genome Announc, 2015;3(3).
PMID: 25977433 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00457-15

Erythrobacter vulgaris strain O1, a moderate halophile, was isolated from a beach in Johor, Malaysia. Here, we present the draft genome and suggest potential applications of this bacterium.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Selected papers of the 32nd Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1999 May;28(3):315-464.
PMID: 10610660
Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext X-ray based radiological procedures in Malaysia--1990-1994

Ng KH, Abdullah BJJ, Rassiah P, Sivalingam S

Med J Malaysia, 1999 Jun;54(2):185-91.
PMID: 10972028

X-ray based radiological procedure statistics and trend in Malaysia for 1990-1994 is reported; this information allows comparisons to be made with the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) Report. Additionally it is essential information for health care planners and providers. Malaysia is categorised as a health care level II country based on the UNSCEAR definition. In 1994, the number of physicians, radiologists, x-ray units and x-ray examinations per 1000 population was 0.45, 0.005, 0.065 and 183 respectively. 3.6 million x-ray examinations were performed in 1994, with chest radiography being the commonest study (63%). Information on x-ray examinations, number of hospitals and x-ray units is reported for the Ministry of Health, private practice and teaching hospitals. Examination frequency increased in computed tomography (161%), cardiac procedures (190%), and mammography (240%); while a decrease in barium studies (-23%), cholecystography (-36%), and intravenous urography (-51%) was noted. There is a potential and need to expand and upgrade radiological services.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Another RSNA Malaysian journey

Cobb RJ

Radiology, 1995 Jul;196(1):47A-49A.
PMID: 7784587

The RSNA International Visiting Professor program gave us an opportunity to live in a different and exciting country for 6 months. We had adequate travel opportunities to visit in Southeast Asia. Most of all, the feeling of appreciation and accomplishment we received from the master students as exemplified by their concern for us made our adventure extremely rewarding. For example, on the day of departure about half the class came to the airport to bid us farewell. This gesture, as well as several farewell parties in our honor, was certainly very gratifying. I enthusiastically recommend the opportunity afforded by the RSNA Visiting Professor program, and, specifically, I am enthusiastic about the program at Universiti Malaya.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia

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