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  1. Phytogenic effects of Brachiaria decumbens saponin extract on growth performance, immune response, and telomere dynamics in broiler chickens under tropical conditions
    Chung ELT, Kassim NA, Zheng ALT, Jesse FFA, Loh TC, Dunshea FR
    Trop Anim Health Prod, 2026 Jan 20;58(2):58.
    PMID: 41557061 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-025-04840-7
    Excessive reliance on antibiotics in poultry farming has heightened global concerns over antimicrobial resistance, driving the need for sustainable and effective natural substitutes. This study assessed the impact of incorporating different levels of Brachiaria decumbens saponins extract into broiler diets on growth performance, hematological and biochemical indices, and telomere dynamics under tropical rearing conditions. A total of 300 one-day-old female Ross 308 chicks were randomly allocated to six treatment groups consisting of a negative control (no additives), a positive control (100 mg/kg oxytetracycline), and four groups supplemented with 25, 50, 75, or 100 mg of B. decumbens saponins extract per kg of feed. Over the 42-day trial, feed intake and body weight were recorded weekly. On day 42, blood samples were collected to evaluate leukocyte profiles, hepatic and lipid parameters, stress and immune biomarkers, and relative telomere length. Birds receiving 100 mg/kg of the extract (T6) demonstrated superior weight gain, improved feed conversion efficiency, and exhibited no adverse clinical manifestations. Additionally, T6 broilers showed enhanced immune competence, reflected in increased total WBC counts, reduced heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios, improved lipid metabolism, decreased levels of stress-associated markers (SAA, AGP, corticosterone, HSP70), elevated immunoglobulin and cytokine concentrations, and markedly longer telomeres. Collectively, these results highlight B. decumbens saponins extract at 100 mg/kg as a potential phytogenic alternative to antibiotics for enhancing broiler health and productivity in tropical environments.
  2. Effect of Brachiaria decumbens as a novel supplementation on the production performance of broiler chickens
    Alghirani MM, Chung ELT, Kassim NA, Ong YL, Jesse FFA, Sazili AQ, et al.
    Trop Anim Health Prod, 2022 Nov 18;54(6):386.
    PMID: 36399259 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-022-03384-4
    The primary goal of this research was to elucidate the novel influence of Brachiaria decumbens supplementation on broiler chicken growth performance, nutritional digestibility, cecal microbiota, intestinal histomorphology, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. A total of 300 male day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly subjected to six different treatment groups having five replicates per treatment with 10 birds in each replicate. In treatment 1, broiler chickens were fed commercial diets with no added additives; in treatment 2, broiler chickens were offered commercial diets containing 100 mg/kg of the antibiotic oxytetracycline. However, in treatments 3, 4, 5, and 6, broiler chickens received similar commercial diets supplemented with 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg of B. decumbens ground leaf powder, respectively, without antibiotics. Throughout the 42-day trial, the body weight gain and total feed intake for each replicate were recorded every week to determine the growth performance. Then, on 21th and 42nd day, ten broilers from each treatment (two in each replicate) were randomly selected and slaughtered to assess the digestibility of nutrients, histomorphology of the small intestine, the population of the cecal microbiota, carcass characteristics, as well as quality of both breast and drumstick muscle. There were differences (p 
  3. Prevalence and determinants of hearing disability among older persons in Malaysia: Finding of National Health Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2018
    Harith AA, Ahmad NA, Sahril N, Wahab NA, Kassim NA, Othman S, et al.
    Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2020 Dec;20 Suppl 2:43-48.
    PMID: 33370862 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14039
    AIM: An aging population is a potential burden for unprepared developing countries. Malaysia is foreseen to be an aging country by 2035. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with hearing disability among older persons in Malaysia.

    METHODS: Data from a nationwide survey implemented using a stratified cluster sampling design were analyzed. This study was carried out through face-to-face interviews and guided questionnaires. The questions were based on the Washington Group of Disability (WG) questionnaires, which produce multiple disability identifiers. Hearing disability is defined as at least one domain or question out of four questions coded as "A lot of difficulty" or "Cannot hear at all".

    RESULTS: The prevalence of hearing disability among older persons aged ≥60 years was 6.4% (95% CI 5.0-8.3), whereas 1.5% (95% CI 0.90, 2.50) older persons were reported to be using a hearing aid. The determinants of hearing disability are being male (aOR 2.67, 95% CI 1.94-3.66), being unemployed (retired, homemaker, unemployed; aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.86-4.14) and had no formal education (aOR 18.25, 95% CI 4.18-79.55).

    CONCLUSIONS: Promoting healthy aging is important and crucial for Malaysia, in preparation toward an aging nation, as it could reduce the country's financial burden in the long term. Health-related agencies should promote health awareness and treatment centers in relation to hearing disability among older persons, as they should be educated and informed about healthcare choices availability, which is aligned with the Global Disability Action Plan 2014-2021. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 43-48.

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