MyMedR

Microplastic pollution is an emerging environmental and public health threat worldwide including Malaysia. Microplastics are widespread in drinking water, but also food products especially seafood, an important dietary source for the Malaysians. Potential health hazards may be a result of chemicals, physical properties and microbial disturbance associated with microplastic exposure. However, most studies were performed in animals rather than in human. Nevertheless, in recognition of rising threat from microplastics, in 2018, the Malaysia's Roadmap to Zero Single-use Plastics 2018-2030 has been released. In this editorial, we firstly discussed the potential impact of microplastics on human health, followed by the strategies or limitations highlighted in the Malaysia's Roadmap.

Fulltext Food Allergy and Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Systematic Review

Ma ZF, Majid NA, Yamaoka Y, Lee YY

Front Microbiol, 2016;7:368.

PMID: 27047479 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00368

Based on the hygiene hypothesis, a low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may explain the recent high prevalence of allergic diseases including food allergy. However, there are very few studies that investigate the relationship between H. pylori and food allergy.

Fulltext Editorial: simultaneous, prolonged monitoring of the acid pocket and oesophageal reflux. Authors' reply

Ma ZF, Deraman MA, Coyle C, Lee YY

Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2020 07;52(2):398-399.

PMID: 32592257 DOI: 10.1111/apt.15835

Corrigendum: Food Allergy and Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Systematic Review

Ma ZF, Abdul Majid N, Yamaoka Y, Lee YY

Front Microbiol, 2016;7:1232.

PMID: 27512393 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01232

[This corrects the article on p. 368 in vol. 7, PMID: 27047479.].

Monitoring of salt iodisation programme in Iran; Health outcomes, shortages and perspective

Ma ZF, Zhang Y, Zhou H, Pan B

J Trace Elem Med Biol, 2019 May;53:135.

PMID: 30910196 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.02.012

Fulltext Phytochemical Properties and Nutrigenomic Implications of Yacon as a Potential Source of Prebiotic: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Cao Y, Ma ZF, Zhang H, Jin Y, Zhang Y, Hayford F

Foods, 2018 Apr 12;7(4).

PMID: 29649123 DOI: 10.3390/foods7040059

The human gut is densely populated with diverse microbial communities that are essential to health. Prebiotics and fiber have been shown to possess the ability to modulate the gut microbiota. One of the plants being considered as a potential source of prebiotic is yacon. Yacon is an underutilized plant consumed as a traditional root-based fruit in South America. Yacon mainly contains fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin. Therefore, it has bifidogenic benefits for gut health, because FOS are not easily broken down by digestive enzymes. Bioactive chemical compounds and extracts isolated from yacon have been studied for their various nutrigenomic properties, including as a prebiotic for intestinal health and their antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. This article reviewed scientific studies regarding the bioactive chemical compounds and nutrigenomic properties of extracts and isolated compounds from yacon. These findings may help in further research to investigate yacon-based nutritional products. Yacon can be considered a potential prebiotic source and a novel functional food. However, more detailed epidemiological, animal, and human clinical studies, particularly mechanism-based and phytopharmacological studies, are lacking for the development of evidence-based functional food products.

Fulltext Randomised clinical trial: the effectiveness of Gaviscon Advance vs non-alginate antacid in suppression of acid pocket and post-prandial reflux in obese individuals after late-night supper

Deraman MA, Abdul Hafidz MI, Lawenko RM, Ma ZF, Wong MS, Coyle C, et al.

Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2020 06;51(11):1014-1021.

PMID: 32343001 DOI: 10.1111/apt.15746

BACKGROUND: Late-night supper increases the risk of postprandial reflux from the acid pocket especially in obesity. An alginate-based, raft-forming medication may be useful for obese patients with GERD.

AIMS: To compare the efficacy of Gaviscon Advance (Reckitt Benckiser, UK) and a non-alginate antacid in post-supper suppression of the acid pocket and post-prandial reflux among obese participants.

METHODS: Participants underwent 48 h wireless and probe-based pH-metry recording of the acid pocket and lower oesophagus, respectively, and were randomised to single post-supper (10 pm) dose of either Gaviscon Advance or a non-alginate antacid on the second night. Primary outcomes were suppression of median pH of acid pocket and lower oesophagus, measured every 10-minutes post-supper for 1 h. Secondary outcomes were suppression of % time pH

Fulltext Geographical distribution of hyperuricemia in mainland China: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis

Huang J, Ma ZF, Zhang Y, Wan Z, Li Y, Zhou H, et al.

Glob Health Res Policy, 2020 11 30;5(1):52.

PMID: 33292806 DOI: 10.1186/s41256-020-00178-9

BACKGROUND: Fructose plays an important role in the complex metabolism of uric acid in the human body. However, high blood uric acid concentration, known as hyperuricemia, is the main risk factor for development of gout. Therefore, we conducted an updated meta-analysis on the prevalence and geographical distribution of hyperuricemia among the general population in mainland China using systematic literature search.

METHODS: Five electronic databases were used to search for relevant articles published until 2019. All calculations were conducted using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software. We included 108 eligible articles (172 studies by sex, 95 studies by regions, and 107 studies by study type) and an overall sample size of > 808,505 participants.

RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of hyperuricemia among the general population in mainland China was 17.4% (95% CI: 15.8-19.1%). Our subgroup analysis indicated that the pooled prevalence by regions ranged from 15.5 to 24.6%. Those living Northeast region and being males had the highest prevalence (P 20%), particularly in males. An increasing prevalence was reported since 2005-2009 until 2015-2019. No publication of bias was observed as indicated by a symmetrical funnel plot and Begg and Mazumdar rank correlation (P = 0.392).

CONCLUSION: Prevalence of hyperuricemia is increasing in China, and future studies should investigate the association between the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its risk factors in order to tackle the issue, particularly among the vulnerable groups. Also, our study was the first comprehensive study to investigate the overall prevalence of hyperuricemia in mainland China covering the six different regions.

Fulltext Low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polypols diet and irritable bowel syndrome in Asia

Zhang Y, Ma ZF, Zhang H, Pan B, Li Y, Majid HA, et al.

JGH Open, 2019 Apr;3(2):173-178.

PMID: 31061894 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.12125

Functional bowel disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are a chronic condition that can significantly reduce patients' quality of life. Therefore, this paper will review the roles of a low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polypols (FODMAP) diet in treating IBS, particularly in an Asian setting. About 20% of the general population is diagnosed with IBS. However, there are limited effective medical therapies available for treating IBS. Therefore, IBS presents a major challenge to the health-care providers. Recently, there is an increasing interest in the use of a diet low in FODMAP for the treatment of IBS. A low FODMAP diet can decrease the delivery of readily fermentable substrates to the small intestine and colon, thereby improving functional gastrointestinal symptoms.

Fulltext Is Gut Involvement a Cause or Effect of COVID-19?

Zulkifli KK, Tan PO, Mustaffa N, Chuah YY, Muthukaruppan R, Ma ZF, et al.

Malays J Med Sci, 2021 Dec;28(6):186-193.

PMID: 35002498 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.6.14

Digestive disorder symptoms in COVID-19 may be similar in form to post-infectious functional gastrointestinal disorder (PI-FGID). To cause clinical effects, SARS-CoV-2 must reach the bowels and gastric hypochlorhydria may facilitate such transit. Asian elderly are predisposed to greater infection rate and severity of COVID-19, and the high prevalence of gastric atrophy and intake of proton-pump inhibitor in this aged group might explain the risk. Persistence shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in stools indicates that faecal transmission should not be disregarded. Gut involvement in COVID-19 is mediated by angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which serves as the entry point for SARS-CoV-2 in the small bowel. ACE2 dysregulation has an impact on the homeostasis of gut microbiota and altered inflammatory response. Liver injury is variable in COVID-19 and is likely a result of by-stander effects rather than actual viropathic process. Further research is needed to understand if gut involvement is a cause or effect of SARS-CoV-2.

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 35 in total