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Fulltext Examining the relationship between big data analytics capabilities and organizational ambidexterity in the Malaysian banking sector

Aziz NA, Long F

Front Big Data, 2023;6:1036174.
PMID: 37007906 DOI: 10.3389/fdata.2023.1036174

Drawing on previous literature on dynamic capability view (DCV), we examine the effects of data analytics capabilities (BDAC) on organizational ambidexterity and the paradoxical tensions between exploration and exploitation in the Malaysian banking sector. Although banks are often considered as mature commercial organizations, they are not free of issues concerning technological advancement and organizational changes for long-term competitiveness. Through statistical analysis by using data from 162 bank managers in Malaysia, it is confirmed that BDAC positively influences the two contradictory aspects of organizational ambidexterity (i.e., explorative dynamic capabilities and exploitative dynamic capabilities), and explorative dynamic capabilities also mediate the positive relationship between BDAC and exploitative marketing capabilities. The findings provide meaningful insights to researchers and bank managers on how to obtain sustainable competitive advances in the current digital era.
To travel, or not to travel? The impacts of travel constraints and perceived travel risk on travel intention among Malaysian tourists amid the COVID-19

Aziz NA, Long F

J Consum Behav, 2022;21(2):352-362.
PMID: 38607869 DOI: 10.1002/cb.2008

The tourism and hospitality industry has been deeply disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic since its inception in December 2019. Many tourists are too anxious to travel. Thus, understanding how travel constraints and perceived travel risk influence travel intention is crucial for many destinations in their post-crisis recovery. Drawing upon 357 Malaysian respondents, this study finds that structural constraints initiate tourists' negotiation process for travel decisions, which is inconsistent with the original Leisure Constraints Model. Nevertheless, it is reaffirmed that intrapersonal constraints remain the centrality of the negotiation process as they mediate the relationship between structural constraints, perceived travel risk and travel intention. These findings provide some theoretical contributions with regard to the Leisure Constraints Model and perceived travel risk in the context of the COVID-19. Based on the theoretical contributions, this study also sheds light on tourism revival from a practical perspective. Tourism authorities, destination marketing organizations, and business operators are suggested to take measures to restore tourists' confidence toward travel by reducing structural constraints and mitigating tourists' risk perception in a cooperative manner.
Physico-chemical characteristics and sensory evaluation of wheat bread partially substituted with banana (Musa acuminata X balbisiana cv. Awak) pseudo-stem flour

Ho LH, Abdul Aziz NA, Azahari B

Food Chem, 2013 Aug 15;139(1-4):532-9.
PMID: 23561142 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.01.039

The physico-chemical and sensorial properties of the control (BCtr), commercial wheat flour (CWF) bread substituted with 10% BPF (banana pseudo-stem flour) (B10BPF) and B10BPF with added 0.8% w/w (flour weight basis) xanthan gum (XG) or sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) (B10BPFXG and B10BPFCMC, respectively) were examined. The proximate analyses revealed that the composite bread had significantly higher moisture, ash, crude fibre, soluble, insoluble and total dietary fibre contents but lower protein, fat and carbohydrate contents than the BCtr. Bread incorporated with BPF resulted in a lower volume, darker crumb and lighter crust colour than the BCtr. The addition of CMC improved the bread volume. All breads containing BPF had greater total phenolics, and antioxidant properties than the control bread. Sensory evaluation indicated that the B10BPFCMC bread had the highest acceptability.
Fulltext Neuropsychiatric manifestation after a stroke: newly developed symptoms or side-effect of drug?

Tan EC, Aziz NA, Ahmad S

BMJ Case Rep, 2012;2012.
PMID: 22907854 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2012-006518

A 55-year-old woman presented with sudden onset of left-sided body weakness and numbness, which was diagnosed as multifocal cerebral infarct with right thalamic bleed. She had concurrent hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. She suffered from central poststroke pain and reactive depression as poststroke complications, for which amitriptyline was prescribed. Unfortunately, she developed symptoms suggestive of mania and psychosis upon initiation of medications, which resolved upon withdrawal of amitriptyline. Amitriptyline is effective for treatment of poststroke pain and particularly useful in concomitant depression. Unexpectedly, this patient developed new psychopathologies after initiation of this medication. This case highlights the development of new psychopathologies that could be due to the antidepressant, underlying bipolar disorder or a complication of the stroke itself. Primary care providers need to actively enquire regarding neuropsychiatric symptoms because they can adversely affect the patient's quality of life as well as impede rehabilitation efforts.
Fulltext Mammography screening uptake among hospital personnel in Kuala Lumpur tertiary hospital

Abdullah NN, Aziz NA, Rampal S, Al-Sadat N

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2011;12(10):2643-7.
PMID: 22320967

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Malaysia. Of the total cancer cases registered in the National Cancer Registry for 2006, 3,525 were female breast cancer cases. The overall age standardized rate was 39.3 per 100,000 population in 2006. An estimated 30%-40% were diagnosed in the late stages and this had resulted in poor survival rates. The purpose of the study was to determine the factors and barriers related to mammography screening uptake among hospital personnel.

METHODS: This mixed method explanatory study was carried out on a universal sampling of 707 female personnel aged 40 and above, from June 2007 until November 2007. The study was conducted at University Malaya Medical Centre, a tertiary hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Pre-tested self-administered questionnaires were mailed to eligible personnel.

RESULTS: The prevalence of mammography screening uptake was 80.3% (95%CI: 76.8%,83.5%) among 534 respondents. Personnel who had physician recommendation had significantly higher odds of mammography screening uptake compared to those who did not have recommendation, adjusted odds ratio of 21.25 (95%CI:12.71,36.56). Reported barriers can be grouped into several themes; negative perception of the procedure like embarrassment due to the presence of male technicians/radiographers; low confidence with radiologist/radiographers in detecting abnormality; lack of coping skills in dealing with expected results and pain during procedure.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study highlighted that 20% of personnel did not undertake mammography screening although there is no cost incurred and the procedure is fully accessible to them. Opportunistic recommendation by physician and concerns on the procedure should be addressed.
Fulltext Factors related to poor practice of Pap smear screening among secondary school teachers in Malaysia

Abdullah F, Aziz NA, Su TT

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2011;12(5):1347-52.
PMID: 21875295

INTRODUCTION: The Pap smear test has been regarded as a promising cervical screening tool since 1940s. Yet its importance has been overlooked by beneficiaries in Malaysia. This underlines the need to identify the prevalence of Pap smear practice and influencing factors towards the practice among educated working women.

METHODS: A survey was conducted with 403 female teachers from 40 public secondary schools in Malaysia selected by cluster random sampling. Data were collected from January to March 2010 using a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the factors related to the Pap smear practice.

RESULTS: The rate for participants who ever had Pap test was only 38% and poor practice of was significantly higher among: those with aged less than 35 years; those practicing hormonal contraceptive method; and individuals perceiving barriers to the Pap smear screening test. In contrast, the findings were significantly lower in women with longer duration of teaching service; higher income groups; ever pregnant; having chronic diseases; health insurance coverage; and who had perceived benefit of Pap smear screening.

CONCLUSION: Barriers towards practicing Pap smear exist even among educated career women. Tailor-made health promotion and education on cervical cancer and the benefit of Pap smear screening are essential to change the behavior of the study population.
Cefepime-associated thrombocytopenia in a critically ill patient

Lim PP, Chong CP, Aziz NA

Int J Clin Pharm, 2011 Dec;33(6):902-4.
PMID: 21986835 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-011-9571-5

CASE: Cefepime-induced thrombocytopenia is a rare adverse event (incidence <1.0%), based on data from clinical trials. However, there is limited post-marketing surveillance documentation on thrombocytopenia associated with cefepime. We describe a 45-year-old male who was admitted to the intensive care unit after allegedly being hit by a large metal bar in the right upper chest and shoulder. Rhabdomyolysis secondary to the trauma, pneumothorax, acute renal failure, and nosocomial sepsis were subsequently diagnosed. Four days after intravenous cefepime initiation, the patient developed thrombocytopenia with platelet count dropping from 102 × 10(3)/μL to 15 × 10(3)/μL. Cefepime was discontinued and the platelet count normalized to 140 × 10(3)/μL after 6 days. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated a possible relationship between the patient's thrombocytopenia and cefepime therapy.
CONCLUSION: Although cefepime-induced thrombocytopenia is rare, clinicians should be alert to this potential adverse effect among critically ill patients.
Fulltext Drug reaction with herbal supplement: a possible case of drug induced lupus erythematosus

Muthupalaniappen L, Jamani N, Muhammad M, Adawiyah J, Aziz N

Malays Fam Physician, 2010;5(2):99-100.
PMID: 25606196 MyJurnal

A 24-year-old lady presented with four days history of fever, non-pruritic rash, ankle pain and swelling. She had consumed herbal supplement five days before the onset of symptoms. Examinations revealed erythematous maculo-papular lesions of varying sizes on sun exposed areas. Patient was suspected to have Drug Induced Lupus Erythematosus (DILE) and subsequently symptoms subsided rapidly on withholding the herbal medication.
An assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions of pharmacy students regarding HIV/AIDS

Ahmed SI, Hassali MA, Aziz NA

Am J Pharm Educ, 2009 Feb 19;73(1):15.
PMID: 19513153

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions of University Sains Malaysia final-year pharmacy students regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunity deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
METHOD: A cross-sectional study among pharmacy students. Data were analyzed with Chi-square to find difference at p value < 0.05.
RESULTS: The majority of students (83.07%) responded showing a difference in gender and race. Students showed low willingness (9.2%) to assist patients and low confidence (36.1%) in their education about HIV/AIDS patients. Students recommended HIV testing for health care professionals (69.4%) and patients (75.9%) before surgical procedures. Students knew little about Post Exposure Prophylaxis (18.5%) or about the time for HIV to develop into AIDS (57.4%). About 40% of students were unaware of the inability of antivirals to treat HIV/AIDS. Students had low awareness for opportunistic infections (18.5%), and low agreement on competency to treat and counsel HIV patients (12.9%).
CONCLUSION: The study highlighted students' misconceptions, negative attitudes, and risk perceptions towards HIV/AIDS.
Fulltext Predictive value of thrombocytopaenia in the diagnosis of dengue infection in outpatient settings

Tong SF, Aziz NA, Chin GL

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Dec;62(5):390-3.
PMID: 18705473 MyJurnal

Thrombocytopaenia is often relied upon as an important criterion for the diagnosis of dengue infection among patients presenting with an acute non-specific febrile illness. This study was aimed to assess usefulness of thrombocytopaenia in the diagnosis of acute dengue virus infection. This was a clinic based prospective cohort study from May to November 2003. Consecutive patients presenting with acute non-specific febrile illness of less than two weeks were selected from two urban primary care centres. We did full blood count examination (FBC) on the day of visit and dengue serology on day five of illness for all patients enrolled. We repeated the FBC examination for patients who had initial normal platelet counts. Thrombocytopaenia was defined as platelet count < 150 X 10(9)/L. Eighty-seven patients enrolled in the study. Complete data was available for 73 patients. The prevalence of acute dengue virus infection was 27.6%. The sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 71% respectively. The likelihood of acute dengue infection in the presence of thrombocytopaenia was 2.52 and likelihood of not having dengue infection in normal platelet count patients was 5.22. Thrombocytopaenia has fair predictive value in diagnosing acute dengue virus infection. It was more useful to exclude than to diagnose dengue infection.

Study site: Primary Care Centre of Hospital Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) and Batu 9 Health Clinic Hulu Langat,
Thyroid rupture secondary to blunt neck trauma

Sow YL, Aziz NA, Ng KL

Am J Emerg Med, 2013 Apr;31(4):760.e3-5.
PMID: 23399341 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2012.12.005

Rupture of the thyroid gland is uncommon in cases of blunt neck trauma. We report a case of thyroid rupture after a motor vehicle accident in a patient without a preexisting goiter. He presented with a painful anterior neck swelling associated with dysphagia and hoarseness of voice. Computed tomographic scans showed lacerations of the right thyroid lobe and isthmus with features suggestive of slow active bleeding. Neck exploration was subsequently performed, and a ruptured right thyroid lobe was found with ongoing venous hemorrhage. A right hemithyroidectomy was performed, and the patient recovered without complications.
A study of patients' self-interpretation of prescription instructions

Sarriff A, Aziz NA, Hassan Y, Ibrahim P, Darwis Y

J Clin Pharm Ther, 1992 Apr;17(2):125-8.
PMID: 1583080

This study examined out-patients' interpretation of prescription instructions at a community hospital. The results showed a wide range of misinterpretation with respect to drug name, dose schedule, and auxiliary labels. Age level, education and financial status emerged as the most significant variables associated with the patient's response. Therefore, both physicians and pharmacists may wish to review their traditional prescribing and dispensing procedures to help out-patients make better use of potent medication.
An analysis of clinical pharmacist interventions in an intensive care unit

Hassan Y, Aziz NA, Awang J, Aminuldin AG

J Clin Pharm Ther, 1992 Dec;17(6):347-51.
PMID: 1287026

In a 6-month study period, 170 pharmacist interventions in an intensive care unit (ICU) were analysed. Of the interventions, 68.8% were solicited and 31.2% were initiated by the pharmacists. The majority of the interventions were initiated by specialists (69.4%) followed by the medical officers (15.9%) and nurses (9.4%). Most of the interventions occurred during the grand rounds (75.9%), followed by ward visits (12.9%) and communication through the satellite pharmacy (10.5%). The most frequent type of intervention made was for indication or therapeutic efficacy followed by general product information, drug regimen, laboratory assessment, disease state, pharmaceutical availability and adverse drug reaction or side effect. It was also found that 83.7% of pharmacists' suggestions were accepted, 6.4% were accepted with changes, and 9.9% were not accepted. The majority of the interventions were made by direct verbal communications followed by telephone and written communications. In conclusion the study indicates that pharmacist therapeutic recommendations form an important integral element of patient care in an ICU.
Fulltext Barriers in Adopting Healthy Body Weight Among Malaysian Population: A Cross-Sectional Study of Body Weight Perception and Misperception Versus Actual Body Weight

Wan Abdul Hamed WN, Abd Aziz NA

J Prim Care Community Health, 2020 2 14;11:2150132720907472.
PMID: 32052684 DOI: 10.1177/2150132720907472

Perception of body weight has been recognized as an important barrier in the adoption of healthy lifestyles. Several factors affect perception of body weight, but the outcomes have been varied. This study aimed to study the perception and misperception of body weight and its association with the measured body mass index. A clinic-based cross-sectional study was done in the clinic using systematic sampling. Data were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire consisting of the sociodemographic profile, body weight perception question adopted from Weight Management Questionnaire and Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) 1991-2017. The prevalence of body weight misperception in the sample population was 58.6%. Most of the respondents were overweight (33.9%) and obese (33.9%). Respondents aged 25 years and older were 2.98 times more likely to have misperception compared with other age groups (95% CI: 1.21-3.19, P = .006). Divorced respondents were 4.70 times more likely to have body misperception compared with married respondents (95% CI 1.44-15.32, P = 0.01). This study showed that misperception of body weight could be influenced by reversible factors and measured body mass index. Hence, the rectification of these misperceptions is important in the clinical setting especially in these vulnerable groups of respondents.
Safety and effectiveness of a biosimilar biphasic insulin in the management of diabetes mellitus during routine clinical practice in Asian patients

Hussein Z, Aziz NA, Dhanaraj E, Brahmachari B, Kothekar M

Med J Malaysia, 2020 07;75(4):372-378.
PMID: 32723997

INTRODUCTION: Biosimilar insulins have the potential to increase access to treatment among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), reduce treatment costs, and expand market competition. There are no published studies evaluating the performance of biosimilar insulins in routine clinical practice in Asia. This study assessed the safety and effectiveness of biphasic isophane insulin injection in Malaysian DM patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this open label, single-arm, observational, post marketing study, patients received biphasic isophane insulin injection as per the Prescribing Information; and were assessed for safety (adverse events including hypoglycaemia), effectiveness (glycosylated haemoglobin [HbA1c]; fasting blood sugar, [FBS]; and patient's condition by patient and physician) over a period of 24 weeks.
RESULTS: Adult male and female diabetes patients (N=119; type 2 DM, n=117) with a mean (SD) diabetes duration of 13 years were included. No new safety signals have been identified. Significant reduction in HbA1c was observed at weeks 12 and 24 (mean [SD] - baseline: 9.6% [1.9]; Week 12: 9.0% [1.7] and at Week 24: 9.1% [1.7]; p < 0.001). There were 10 serious and 9 non-serious adverse events reported in the study. Expected mild events included hypoglycaemia and injection site pruritus. However, the majority of the adverse events were non-study drug related events. No deaths were reported during the study.
DISCUSSION: Biphasic isophane insulin injection was well tolerated with no new safety concerns. It was found effective in post- marketing studies conducted in routine clinical settings when administered in DM patients in this study.
Fulltext Prevalence of non-dengue thrombocytopaenia among adult patients presenting with acute febrile illness in primary outpatient clinics

Tong SF, Aziz NA, Chin GL

Medicine & Health, 2006;1(1):25-30.
MyJurnal

A proportion of patients with acute viral fever with thrombocytopaenia does not necessary have dengue infection. Managing them indiscriminately as dengue infection may not be appropriate. The prevalence of this problem is not exactly known. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of acute non-dengue febrile thrombocytopaenia among adult patients presenting with acute non-specific febrile illness in an outpatient setting. This was a clinic-based cross sectional study. Consecutive patients presenting with non-specific febrile illness of less than two weeks were selected from the Primary Care Centre of Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) and the Batu 9 Cheras Health Clinic. Full blood count was done on the day of visit and dengue serology was done on day five of illness for all patients enrolled. Seventy three patients participated in this study from May to November 2003. Among the patients, 35 (47.9%) were noted to have thrombocytopaenia. Fourteen (40%) patients with thrombocytopaenia were serologically negative. The prevalence of non-dengue febrile thrombocytopaenia was 19.2%. A significant number of patients with acute non-specific febrile illness with thrombocytopaenia were negative for dengue serology. These patients should be differentiated from those with acute febrile thrombocytopaenia, as they might differ in their natural history from those with dengue infection, and hence require different management strategies.

Study site: Primary Care Centre of Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM)
Hysterectomy in a phenotypic male with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

Aziz NA, Mohd Ali MH, Ramli R

BMJ Case Rep, 2022 Feb 08;15(2).
PMID: 35135794 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-246603

A young adult patient with 46XX congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) presented with recurrent painful haematuria. CAH was diagnosed at birth following ambiguous genitalia. Hormonal treatment was started, female gender was assigned and feminising genitoplasty was planned, however the patient was lost to follow-up. Gender dysphoria started to occur during childhood which prompted the family to raise the patient as a boy. He eventually identified himself as a male. Examination revealed a male phenotype with severely virilised genitalia. Imaging studies confirmed the presence of uterus with low confluent urogenital sinus. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed, and the troublesome symptoms were cured.
Fulltext Bioactive Compounds, Nutritional Value, and Potential Health Benefits of Indigenous Durian (Durio Zibethinus Murr.): A Review

A Aziz NA, Mhd Jalil AM

Foods, 2019 Mar 13;8(3).
PMID: 30871187 DOI: 10.3390/foods8030096

Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is an energy-dense seasonal tropical fruit grown in Southeast Asia. It is one of the most expensive fruits in the region. It has a creamy texture and a sweet-bitter taste. The unique durian flavour is attributable to the presence of fat, sugar, and volatile compounds such as esters and sulphur-containing compounds such as thioacetals, thioesters, and thiolanes, as well as alcohols. This review shows that durian is also rich in flavonoids (i.e., flavanols, anthocyanins), ascorbic acid, and carotenoids. However, limited studies exist regarding the variation in bioactive and volatile components of different durian varieties from Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Experimental animal models have shown that durian beneficially reduces blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Durian extract possesses anti-proliferative and probiotics effects in in vitro models. These effects warrant further investigation in human interventional studies for the development of functional food.
Fulltext Molecular DNA identification of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Malaysia

Aziz NA, Ahmad MI, Naim DM

Genet. Mol. Res., 2015;14(4):15937-47.
PMID: 26662385 DOI: 10.4238/2015.December.7.5

Plants have been used throughout human history for food and medicine. However, many plants are toxic, and cannot easily be morphologically distinguished from non-toxic plants. DNA identification solves this problem and is widely used. Nonetheless, plant DNA barcode identification faces a number of challenges, and many studies have been conducted to find suitable barcodes. The present study was conducted to test the efficiency of commonly used primers, namely ITS2, rpoC1, and trnH-psbA, in order to find the best DNA barcode markers for the identification of medicinal plants in Malaysia. Fresh leaves from 12 medicinal plants that are commonly used by Malay traditional healers were collected from the Tropical Spice Garden, Pulau Pinang, and subjected to polymerase chain reaction amplification using ITS2, rpoC1, and trnH-psbA DNA markers. We found that trnH-psbA is the best DNA marker for the species-level identification of medicinal plants in Malaysia.
Fulltext A synchronous-asynchronous particle swarm optimisation algorithm

Ab Aziz NA, Mubin M, Mohamad MS, Ab Aziz K

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:123019.
PMID: 25121109 DOI: 10.1155/2014/123019

In the original particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm, the particles' velocities and positions are updated after the whole swarm performance is evaluated. This algorithm is also known as synchronous PSO (S-PSO). The strength of this update method is in the exploitation of the information. Asynchronous update PSO (A-PSO) has been proposed as an alternative to S-PSO. A particle in A-PSO updates its velocity and position as soon as its own performance has been evaluated. Hence, particles are updated using partial information, leading to stronger exploration. In this paper, we attempt to improve PSO by merging both update methods to utilise the strengths of both methods. The proposed synchronous-asynchronous PSO (SA-PSO) algorithm divides the particles into smaller groups. The best member of a group and the swarm's best are chosen to lead the search. Members within a group are updated synchronously, while the groups themselves are asynchronously updated. Five well-known unimodal functions, four multimodal functions, and a real world optimisation problem are used to study the performance of SA-PSO, which is compared with the performances of S-PSO and A-PSO. The results are statistically analysed and show that the proposed SA-PSO has performed consistently well.

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