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Development of an objective method for the comparison of fired projectiles using an air pistol as a template

Hamzah NH

Forensic Sci Int, 2016 07;264:106-12.
PMID: 27081766 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.03.050

The ability to objectify ballistic evidence is a challenge faced by firearms examiners around the world. A number of researchers are trying to improve bullet-identification systems to address deficiencies detailed within the National Academy of Science report (2009). More recently focus has turned to making use of more sophisticated imaging modalities to view entire regions of the projectile and the development of automated systems for the comparison of the topographical surfaces recorded. Projectiles from a newly bought air pistol with 0.177 calibre pellets (unjacketed), fired series of 609 pellets were examined using an optical microscope. A mathematical methodology was developed to pre-process the resultant topographical maps generating point data for comparison, analysed using the principal component analysis (PCA). In most cases limited to reasonable success was achieved. The objective method still requires an operator to identify the Land Engraved Areas to be scanned, however the mathematical alignments were objectively achieved. The PCA results illustrated that the striation marks were neither exclusive nor specific to the LEA regions but rather crossed over regions. This study also proves that a single weapon does not necessarily leave identical marks of projectiles on its surface.
Fulltext Blunt force trauma to skull with various instruments

Sulaiman NA, Osman K, Hamzah NH, Amir SP

Malays J Pathol, 2014 Apr;36(1):33-9.
PMID: 24763233 MyJurnal

Deaths due to blunt force trauma to the head as a result of assault are some of the most common cases encountered by the practicing forensic pathologist. Previous studies have shown inflicting injury to the head region is one of the most effective methods of murder. The important factors that determine severity of trauma include the type of weapon used, type and site of skull fracture, intracranial haemorrhage and severity of brain injury. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of blunt force trauma to the skull produced by different instruments. Nine adult monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) skulls were used as models. Commonly found blunt objects comprising of Warrington hammer, hockey stick and open face helmet were used in this study. A machine calibrated force generator was used to hold the blunt object in place and to hit the skulls at forces of 12.5N and 25N. Resultant traumatic effects and fractures (linear, depressed, basilar, comminuted, and distastic) were analyzed according to type of blunt object used; surface area of contact and absolute force (N/cm(2)) delivered. Results showed that all investigated instruments were capable of producing similar injuries. The severity of trauma was not related to the surface area of contact with the blunt objects. However, only high absolute forces produced comminuted fractures. These findings were observational, as the samples were too small for statistical conclusions.
Fulltext The Effect of Different Coverings on Total Body Score Development of Buried Carcasses

Teo CH, Hing HL, Hamzah NH, Hamzah SPAA

Malays J Med Sci, 2021 Aug;28(4):103-112.
PMID: 34512135 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.4.11

Background: Examination of post-mortem changes is one of the ways to assess decomposition process on buried bodies. Nonetheless, studies on such assessment are still lacking, especially on the effects of body coverings by different materials in burial conditions. The aim of this research is to study the effect of different types of covering towards decomposition on buried rabbit carcasses by using Total Body Score (TBS) system.
Methods: Twenty-seven rabbit carcasses were divided into: (i) No Clothing; (ii) Thick Clothing and (iii) Plastic Wrapping groups, and buried into individual shallow graves. One subject was exhumed from first to ninth post-burial week and assessed by using TBS system.
Results and Discussion: There are significant differences among TBS between different coverings while controlling the time factor, F (2, 23) = 4.80, P < 0.05, partial η 2 = 0.294. TBS score for Plastic Wrapping group is significantly lower than No Clothing group over times at α = 0.05, P < 0.05. The slightly delaying effect of thick clothing is caused by design of jacket, which allows arthropods access and microbial activity. Relatively strong delaying effect by plastic covering could be caused by impermeable property that caused accumulation of decompositional products and slow down the degradation.
Conclusion: In conclusion, TBS system is a potential tool in describing rate of decomposition for buried cases in Malaysia.
Fulltext The First Report of Ruminant Fascioliasis in Sabah, East Malaysia

Kamaruddin NC, Razali MAI, Busayo IE, Hamzah NH, Idris LH, Md Isa NM

J Parasitol Res, 2021;2021:6691483.
PMID: 33953962 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6691483

Ruminant fascioliasis is a neglected yet important tropical zoonotic disease that affects both the livestock and humans. The disease has a worldwide distribution, and Malaysia is one of the countries that face problems related to this parasite. These retrospective studies were conducted in Makmal Diagnosa Veterinar Kota Kinabalu (MDVKK) and Sabah Meat Technology Centre (SMTC), Kinarut over a period of eleven years (2008-2018). For MDVKK, the overall occurrence of fascioliasis was 24.9%. Out of 769 cattle's and buffaloes' faecal samples submitted, Fasciola spp ova were detected in 189 of the samples. A total of 2297 cattle, buffaloes, and goats were slaughtered at SMTC over that period, and 21 livers were condemned due to fascioliasis, giving the total occurrence of 0.91%. This investigation provides information on the occurrence of ruminant fascioliasis in Sabah, East Malaysia. The results from this study highlight the alarming incidence of fascioliasis and the urgent need for action to control this neglected tropical disease in East Malaysia.
Fulltext Association between maximal oxygen consumption and physical performance tests among older adults with cognitive frailty

Ibrahim A, Mat Ludin AF, Shahar S, Hamzah NH, Chin AV, Singh DKA

Exp Gerontol, 2023 Dec;184:112326.
PMID: 37967590 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112326

INTRODUCTION: Cardiorespiratory fitness has an inverse relationship with cognitive impairment and frailty in older adults. Direct assessment of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) is the gold standard to assess cardiorespiratory fitness. However, it is costly and requires a laboratory setting. Therefore, VO2 max estimation among older adults with cognitive frailty (CF) will allow the assessment of aerobic capacity, which is commonly overlooked due to the complexity of the test.
AIM: This study aims to determine the use of one of three physical performance tests (2-minute step, 2-minute walk, and 1-minute sit to stand) to effectively estimate cardiorespiratory fitness among older adults with CF.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, community-dwelling individuals aged 60 years old and above in Klang Valley were screened for CF. The participants performed three physical performance tests (2-minute walk, 2-minute step, and 1-minute sit to stand) followed by treadmill-based maximal exercise testing on another day.
RESULTS: A total of 32 older adults with cognitive frailty (mean age; SD: 67.1;4.7 years) participated in this study. Nearly half of them had hypertension (43.5 %), hypercholesterolemia (43.5 %), and multimorbidity (47.8 %). Among the endurance tests performed, only the 2-minute walk test independently predicted VO2 max by sex-specific with men (R2 = 0.58, p = 0.03) and women (R2 = 0.34, p = 0.01). The 2-minute walk test had good agreement with VO2 max (ICC = 0.77, 95 % CI: -3.1-2.4).
CONCLUSION: The 2-minute walk test is a valid tool for estimating cardiorespiratory fitness among older adults with CF. However, it should be further tested across a larger population.
Morphological and molecular identification of lymnaeid snail and trematodes cercariae in different water bodies in Perak, Malaysia

Tookhy NA, Isa NMM, Mansor R, Rahaman YA, Ahmad NI, Bui DT, et al.

Parasitol Res, 2023 Jul;122(7):1475-1488.
PMID: 37145225 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07845-z

Lymnaeid snails play a crucial role in the transmission of trematode cercariae as an intermediate host that can infect humans, ruminants like buffalo, and other animals, resulting in serious economic losses. The purpose of the study was to identify the morphological and molecular characteristics of snails and cercariae collected from water bodies near buffalo farms that were integrated with palm oil in Perak, Malaysia. The presence or absence of snails in 35 water bodies was examined via cross-sectional study. From three marsh wetlands, 836 lymnaeid snails were gathered in total. Each snail's shell was morphologically identified to determine its family and species. The cercarial stage inside each snail's body was observed using the crushing method and trematode cercariae types were determined. In addition, the target gene Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) and the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region were used to identify the snail species and cercarial types according to the species level. The findings indicated that the collected snails belong to the family lymnaeidae and Radix rubiginosa species. In snails, the cercarial emergence infection rate was 8.7%. Echinostome, xiphidiocercariae, gymnocephalous, brevifurcate-apharyngeate distome cercariae (BADC), and longifurcate-pharyngeal monostome cercariae (LPMC) are the five morphological cercarial types that were observed. The cercariae were identified using morphological and molecular techniques, and they are members of the four families which are Echinostomatidae, Plagiorchiidae, Fasciolidae, and Schistosomatidae. Interestingly, this is the first study on R. rubiginosa and several trematode cercariae in Perak water bodies near buffalo farms that are integrated with palm oil. In conclusion, our research shown that a variety of parasitic trematodes in Perak use R. rubiginosa as an intermediate host.