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  1. Azmi S, Feisul MI, Abdat A, Goh A, Abdul Aziz SH
    Value Health, 2015 Nov;18(7):A600.
    PMID: 26533372 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2015.09.2060
    Conference abstract:
    Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the association of waist circumference with glycaemic control in Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes.
    Methods: We utilised data of type 2 diabetes patients followed up in Malaysian public sector primary care clinics contained in the National Diabetes Registry in the year 2012. The variable of interest was poor glycaemic control, defined as HbA1c≥ 6.5%. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore the association between glycaemic control and waist circumference, which was adjusted for age, sex, duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, use of insulin and other medications.
    Results: A total of 98,825 patients with type 2 diabetes were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 59.9 years (SD: 10.9) and 38.9% were males. The mean duration of diabetes was 6.8 years (SD: 5.0) and 76.2% of patients had HbA1c ≥ 6.5%. The mean waist circumference was 94.0 cm (SD: 11.8) for male and 90.7 cm (SD: 11.8) for female; while 78.3% of the patients had waist circumference above the cut-off (≥ 90 cm for men and ≥ 80 cm for women). Larger waist circumference was found to be significantly associated with HbA1c≥ 6.5% (adj. OR 1.009; p< 0.001; 95% CI: 1.007–1.011) after adjusting for confounding factors.
    Conclusions: Analysis showed that glycaemic control was poorer in patients with higher waist circumference than in patients with lower waist circumference.
  2. Azmi S, Feisul MI, Abdat A, Goh A, Abdul Aziz SH
    Value Health, 2015 Nov;18(7):A597.
    PMID: 26533354 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2015.09.2042
    Conference abstract:
    Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the association of waist circumference with microvascular complications in Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes.
    Methods: We utilised data of type 2 diabetes patients followed up in Malaysian public sector primary care clinics contained in the National Diabetes Registry in the year 2012. Variables of interest were the presence of microvascular complications, namely nephropathy and retinopathy. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore the association between presence of microvascular complications and waist circumference, which was adjusted for age, sex, duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, insulin use, total cholesterol and HbA1c.
    Results: A total of 114,719 patients with type 2 diabetes were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 59.8 years (SD: 11.2) with mean duration of diabetes of 6.8 years (SD: 5.1). Male
    patients comprised 39.9% of the sample population and 83.5% of the patients were overweight with BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2. Nephropathy and retinopathy was present in 9.1% and 7.9% of patients respectively. The mean waist circumference was 94.1 cm (SD: 11.8) for males and 90.8 cm (SD: 11.8) for females; while 78.4% of the patients had waist circumference above the cut off (≥ 90 cm for men and ≥ 80 cm for women). Larger waist circumference was found to be significantly associated with nephropathy (adj. OR 1.005; p-value< 0.001; 95% CI: 1.003–1.008) after adjusting for confounding factors. However, waist circumference was not significantly associated with retinopathy (adj. OR 0.998; p= 0.209; 95% CI: 0.996–1.001).
    Conclusions: Analysis showed that patients with higher waist circumference were more likely to have nephropathy than patients with lower waist circumference. The analysis also showed that waist circumference was not associated with retinopathy in the study population.
  3. Jamaludin S, Mustaffa N, Che Hamzah NA, Syed Abdul Aziz SH, Lee YY
    BMC Gastroenterol, 2015;15:101.
    PMID: 26264957 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-015-0332-0
    Unchanged substrate in a negative rapid urease test may be reused to detect Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This could potentially reduce costs and wastage in low prevalence and resource-poor settings. We thus aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of reused Pronto Dry and CLOtest kits, comparing this to the use of new Pronto Dry test kits and histopathological evaluation of gastric mucosal biopsies.
  4. John CM, Mohamed Yusof NIS, Abdul Aziz SH, Mohd Fauzi F
    Int J Mol Sci, 2018 Dec 05;19(12).
    PMID: 30563117 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123894
    Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) carries many risks, where high blood pressure, preeclampsia and future type II diabetes are widely acknowledged, but less focus has been placed on its effect on cognitive function. Although the multifactorial pathogenesis of maternal cognitive impairment is not completely understood, it shares several features with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this review, we discuss some key pathophysiologies of GDM that may lead to cognitive impairment, specifically hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. We explain how these incidents: (i) impair the insulin-signaling pathway and/or (ii) lead to cognitive impairment through hyperphosphorylation of τ protein, overexpression of amyloid-β and/or activation of microglia. The aforementioned pathologies impair the insulin-signaling pathway primarily through serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substances (IRS). This then leads to the inactivation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling cascade, which is responsible for maintaining brain homeostasis and normal cognitive functioning. PI3K/AKT is crucial in maintaining normal cognitive function through the inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSκ3β), which hyperphosphorylates τ protein and releases pro-inflammatory cytokines that are neurotoxic. Several biomarkers were also highlighted as potential biomarkers of GDM-related cognitive impairment such as AGEs, serine-phosphorylated IRS-1 and inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and IL-6. Although GDM is a transient disease, its complications may be long-term, and hence increased mechanistic knowledge of the molecular changes contributing to cognitive impairment may provide important clues for interventional strategies.
  5. Abdullah Z, Abdul Aziz SH, Sodri NA, Mohd Hanafiah AN, Ibrahim NI, Johari MZ
    J Prim Care Community Health, 2020 10 23;11:2150132720956478.
    PMID: 33089737 DOI: 10.1177/2150132720956478
    BACKGROUND: Primary healthcare is the earliest gateway for patient care, and improvisations are often needed to accommodate the ever-increasing demand in public health. The Enhanced Primary Healthcare (EnPHC) initiative is aimed at improving such needs, and one core intervention is the introduction of a care coordinator (CC). The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators in implementing a new intervention in primary healthcare clinics.

    METHODS: This qualitative exploration study. All healthcare providers who were involved in EnPHC at the intervention clinics were selected as participants. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were carried out among healthcare providers working in the intervention clinic. Thematic analysis was used to categorize data, based on the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR) theoretical framework domains.

    RESULTS: A total of 61 healthcare providers participated. All 5 domains with 19 CFIR constructs emerged from the analysis. Inner setting played a significant role in facilitating CC intervention, in which culture, networking, and collaboration and leadership engagement played an essential role in supporting CC activities. Although CC tasks are complex, concerns of losing clinical skill and resource constraints were identified as potential barriers in CC implementations. Criteria for appointing new CCs emerged from the characteristics of individual constructs, in which the individual must be familiar and interested in community health, have good communication skills, and at least 3 years' experience in the primary healthcare setting.

    CONCLUSION: The implementation of the CC intervention faces varying challenges in different settings. This is partially resolved through teamwork, guidance from mentors, and support from superiors. The complexity of the responsibility of the CC intervention is perceived as both a validation and a burden. Above all, it is seen as paramount in EnPHC intervention.

  6. Maran S, Lee YY, Xu S, Rajab NS, Hasan N, Syed Abdul Aziz SH, et al.
    World J Gastroenterol, 2013 Jun 21;19(23):3615-22.
    PMID: 23801863 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i23.3615
    To identify genes associated with gastric precancerous lesions in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-susceptible ethnic Malays.
  7. Abdul Aziz SH, John CM, Mohamed Yusof NI, Nordin M, Ramasamy R, Adam A, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2016;2016:9704607.
    PMID: 27379252 DOI: 10.1155/2016/9704607
    This study attempts to develop an experimental gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) animal model in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were fed with high fat sucrose diet, impregnated, and induced with Streptozotocin and Nicotinamide on gestational day 0 (D0). Sleeping patterns of the rats were also manipulated to induce stress, a lifestyle factor that contributes to GDM. Rats were tested for glycemic parameters (glucose, C-peptide, and insulin), lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL), genes affecting insulin signaling (IRS-2, AKT-1, and PCK-1), glucose transporters (GLUT-2 and GLUT-4), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), and antioxidants (SOD, CAT, and GPX) on D6 and D21. GDM rats showed possible insulin resistance as evidenced by high expression of proinflammatory cytokines, PCK-1 and CRP. Furthermore, low levels of IRS-2 and AKT-1 genes and downregulation of GLUT-4 from the initial to final phases indicate possible defect of insulin signaling. GDM rats also showed an impairment of antioxidant status and a hyperlipidemic state. Additionally, GDM rats exhibited significantly higher body weight and blood glucose and lower plasma insulin level and C-peptide than control. Based on the findings outlined, the current GDM animal model closely replicates the disease state in human and can serve as a reference for future investigations.
  8. Vadivelu S, Ma ZF, Ong EW, Hassan N, Nik Hassan NFH, Syed Abdul Aziz SH, et al.
    Dig Dis, 2019;37(2):100-107.
    PMID: 30384376 DOI: 10.1159/000494386
    BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GERDQ) and Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia Questionnaire (QOLRAD) are reliable tools for evaluation of GERD.

    AIM: We aimed to test validity and reliability of Malay language translations of GERDQ and QOLRAD in a primary care setting.

    METHODS: The questionnaires were first translated into the Malay language (GERDQ-M and QOLRAD-M). Patients from primary care clinics with suspected GERD were recruited to complete GERDQ-M, QOLRAD-M, and Malay-translated 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36 or SF-36-M), and underwent endoscopy and 24-h pH-impedance test.

    RESULTS: A total of 104 (mean age 47.1 years, women 51.9%) participants were enrolled. The sensitivity and specificity for GERDQ-M cut-off score ≥8 were 90.2 and 77.4%, respectively. Based on this cut-off score, 54.7% had a high probability of GERD diagnosis. GERD-M score ≥8 vs. < 8 was associated with erosive esophagitis (p < 0.001), hiatus hernia (p = 0.03), greater DeMeester score (p = 0.001), and Zerbib scores for acid refluxes (p < 0.001) but not non-acid refluxes (p = 0.1). Mean total scores of QOLRAD-M and SF-36-M were correlated (r = 0.74, p < 0.001). GERDQ-M ≥8, erosive esophagitis, and DeMeester ≥14.72 were associated with impaired QOLRAD-M in all domains (all p < 0.02) but this was not seen with SF-36.

    CONCLUSIONS: GERDQ-M and QOLRAD-M are valid and reliable tools applicable in a primary care setting.

  9. Low LL, Ab Rahim FI, Johari MZ, Abdullah Z, Abdul Aziz SH, Suhaimi NA, et al.
    BMC Health Serv Res, 2019 Jul 16;19(1):497.
    PMID: 31311538 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4312-x
    BACKGROUND: Amid the current burden of non-communicable (NCD) diseases in Malaysia, there is a growing demand for more efficient service delivery of primary healthcare. A complex intervention is proposed to improve NCD management in Malaysia. This exploratory study aimed to assess primary healthcare providers' receptiveness towards change prior to implementation of the proposed complex intervention.

    METHOD: This study was conducted using an exploratory qualitative approach on purposely selected healthcare providers at primary healthcare clinics. Twenty focus group discussions and three in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Consent was obtained prior to interviews and for audio-recordings. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), a framework comprised of five major domains promoting implementation theory development and verification across multiple contexts.

    RESULTS: The study revealed via CFIR that most primary healthcare providers were receptive towards any proposed changes or intervention for the betterment of NCD care management. However, many challenges were outlined across four CFIR domains-intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, and individual characteristics-that included perceived barriers to implementation. Perception of issues that triggered proposed changes reflected the current situation, including existing facilitating aspects that can support the implementation of any future intervention. The importance of strengthening the primary healthcare delivery system was also expressed.

    CONCLUSION: Understanding existing situations faced at the primary healthcare setting is imperative prior to implementation of any intervention. Healthcare providers' receptiveness to change was explored, and using CFIR framework, challenges or perceived barriers among healthcare providers were identified. CFIR was able to outline the clinics' setting, individual behaviour and external agency factors that have direct impact to the organisation. These are important indicators in ensuring feasibility, effectiveness and sustainability of any intervention, as well as future scalability considerations.

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