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Fulltext Learning parts of speech using poems

Syed,A,B,S,S,, Rahim,M, I,, Zainal,A,Dz,

Jurnal Inovasi Malaysia, 2019;1(1):33-42.
MyJurnal

ABSTRACT
Many language learners face difficulties in applying and using the parts
of speech in a given situation. It has become a challenge for teachers to
navigate a grammar lesson in a creative way that can help learners to
understand and apply the concepts most appropriately. Thus, POS-UP
designed as a supplementary teaching tool to allow language learners to
practice using the most suitable parts of speech in a sentence. Targeted at
English language learners, POS-UP is a game which provides players with
the opportunity to learn details of a lesson using poems written by local
poets. In this game, language learners must complete a poem by using
words with the correct parts of speech. In making sure that this game reaches
its objectives and fulfils the needs of the students, a survey was carried out
to find out the perceptions of English language learners towards POS-UP.
The result shows that learners who play this game find it enjoyable and
helpful in enhancing their understanding of parts of speech. It is hoped
that POS-UP will be a useful supplementary teaching tool for teachers in
the classroom. It is also expected that students will build an appreciation
towards poems written by local poets.
Fulltext Relationship between Psychosocial Risk Factors and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Public Hospital Nurses in Malaysia

Amin NA, Nordin R, Fatt QK, Noah RM, Oxley J

Ann Occup Environ Med, 2014;26:23.
PMID: 25852937 DOI: 10.1186/s40557-014-0023-2

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationships between psychosocial work factors and risk of WRMSDs among public hospital nurses in the Klang Valley, Malaysia.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 660 public hospital nurses. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the occurrence of WRMSDs according to body regions, socio-demographic profiles, occupational information and psychosocial risk factors. 468 questionnaires were returned (response rate of 71%), and 376 questionnaires qualified for subsequent analysis. Univariate analyses were applied to test for mean and categorical differences across the WRMSDs; multiple logistic regression was applied to predict WRMSDs based on the Job Strain Model's psychosocial risk factors.
RESULTS: Over two thirds of the sample of nurses experienced discomfort or pain in at least one site of the musculoskeletal system within the last year. The neck was the most prevalent site (48.94%), followed by the feet (47.20%), the upper back (40.69%) and the lower back (35.28%). More than 50% of the nurses complained of having discomfort in region one (neck, shoulders and upperback) and region four (hips, knees, ankles, and feet). The results also revealed that psychological job demands, job strain and iso-strain ratio demonstrated statistically significant mean differences (p
Fulltext An overview of polymeric nano-biocomposites as targeted and controlled-release devices

Rahim M, Mas Haris MRH, Saqib NU

Biophys Rev, 2020 Oct;12(5):1223-1231.
PMID: 32901426 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-020-00750-0

In recent years, controlled drug delivery has become an important area of research. Nano-biocomposites can fulfil the necessary requirements of a targeted drug delivery device. This review describes use of polymeric nano-biocomposites in controlled drug delivery devices. Selection of suitable biopolymer and methods of preparation are discussed.
Isolation and characterization of an acrylamide-degrading yeast Rhodotorula sp. strain MBH23 KCTC 11960BP

Rahim MB, Syed MA, Shukor MY

J Basic Microbiol, 2012 Oct;52(5):573-81.
PMID: 22144174 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201100116

As well as for chemical and environmental reasons, acrylamide is widely used in many industrial applications. Due to its carcinogenicity and toxicity, its discharge into the environment causes adverse effects on humans and ecology alike. In this study, a novel acrylamide-degrading yeast has been isolated. The isolate was identified as Rhodotorula sp. strain MBH23 using ITS rRNA analysis. The results showed that the best carbon source for growth was glucose at 1.0% (w/v). The optimum acrylamide concentration, being a nitrogen source for cellular growth, was at 500 mg l(-1). The highest tolerable concentration of acrylamide was 1500 mg l(-1) whereas growth was completely inhibited at 2000 mg l(-1). At 500 mg l(-1), the strain MBH completely degraded acrylamide on day 5. Acrylic acid as a metabolite was detected in the media. Strain MBH23 grew well between pH 6.0 and 8.0 and between 27 and 30 °C. Amides such as 2-chloroacetamide, methacrylamide, nicotinamide, acrylamide, acetamide, and propionamide supported growth. Toxic heavy metals such as mercury, chromium, and cadmium inhibited growth on acrylamide.
Fulltext Blood immune function parameters in response to combined aerobic dance exercise and honey supplementation in adult women

Rahim M, Ooi FK, Wan Abdul Hamid WZ

J Tradit Complement Med, 2017 Apr;7(2):165-171.
PMID: 28417086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.06.001

To date, information on the effectiveness of combined aerobic dance exercise with honey supplementation on immune function in women is lacking. The present study investigated the effects of 8 weeks of combined aerobic dance exercise and honey supplementation on blood immune function parameters in adult women. In this study, forty four healthy sedentary women (25-40 year-old) were assigned into four groups with n = 11 per group: sedentary without supplementation control (Con), honey supplementation (H), aerobic dance exercise (D) and combined aerobic dance exercise with honey supplementation (HD) groups. Aerobic dance exercise was carried out for one hour per session, three sessions per week for eight weeks. Honey drink was consumed by H and HD groups, in a dosage of 20 g of honey diluted in 300 ml of plain water, consumed 7 days a week for 8 weeks. In HD group, the participants were required to consume honey drink 30 min before performing exercise. Before and after 8 weeks of experimental period, blood samples were taken to determine the concentrations of immune parameters which include full blood counts and immunophenotyping measurements. It was found that after 8 weeks of experimental period, there were statistically significant increases in T cytotoxic (CD8) (p
Current prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini infection and associated risk factors in Nakhon Phanom Province, Northeastern Thailand

Chuangchaiya S, Navanesan S, Jaichuang S, Rahim MAFA, Idris ZM

Trop Biomed, 2020 Dec 01;37(4):986-999.
PMID: 33612751 DOI: 10.47665/tb.37.4.986

Opisthorchiasis caused by Opisthorchis viverrini infection is a major public health concern in Thailand. Despite many decades of national campaigns in place to reduce and control opisthorchiasis in Thailand, the infections remain to exist particularly in the northern and northeastern parts of the country. This study aimed to evaluate the current prevalence of O. viverrini infection in rural communities in northeast Thailand. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and October 2018 in three districts (Na Kae, That Phanom and Wang Yang) in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand. Demographic data were collected using a standardised questionnaire. Stool samples were collected and processed using the Kato-Katz technique to determine the presence of O. viverrini and other intestinal parasites. In total, 564 individuals were enrolled. The overall intestinal helminth infections were 15.2% (95% CI: 12.4-18.5). Species distribution included a majority of O. viverrini mono-infections (12.9%), followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (1.4%) and Taenia spp. (0.4%). The prevalence of O. viverrini was significantly higher in Wang Yang district (P = 0.022), in males (P = 0.004) and those previously positive with helminth infections (P<0.001) and received treatment of anti-helminths (P<0.001), than in their counterparts. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that being male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.77, P = 0.035) and those who previously tested positive for helminth infections (aOR 8.69, P<0.001) were significantly associated with a higher odd of O. viverrini infections, but lower in those who had previous stool examination (aOR 0.22, P = 0.001). This study demonstrated that the updated prevalence of O. viverrini infection is still high in rural communities in northeast Thailand. The data of this study will be useful to guide and improve strategies for future O. viverrini and other helminths prevention and control in this region.
Fulltext Correction of failure in linear antenna arrays with greedy sparseness constrained optimization technique

Khan SU, Rahim MKA, Aminu-Baba M, Murad NA

PLoS One, 2017;12(12):e0189240.
PMID: 29253852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189240

This paper proposes the correction of faulty sensors using a synthesis of the greedy sparse constrained optimization GSCO) technique. The failure of sensors can damage the radiation power pattern in terms of sidelobes and nulls. The synthesis problem can recover the wanted power pattern with reduced number of sensors into the background of greedy algorithm and solved with orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) technique. Numerical simulation examples of linear arrays are offered to demonstrate the effectiveness of getting the wanted power pattern with a reduced number of antenna sensors which is compared with the available techniques in terms of sidelobes level and number of nulls.
Comparison of various creatinine-based estimates of glomerular filtration rate equations in the Malaysian setting

Mohd Hanafiah FH, Azrina MR, Abdul Rahim MS

Med J Malaysia, 2022 Nov;77(6):684-688.
PMID: 36448385

INTRODUCTION: Kidney disease is a worldwide health concern with an increasing mortality in the past 10 years. The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guideline advocates the use of estimated glomerular filtration rate equation (eGFR) to estimate renal function. We evaluated the performance of Cockroft Gault (CG), Modified Diet of Renal Disease (MDRD), and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations to measured GFR 99mTc- DTPA taking into account body mass index (BMI) and age group.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of patients referred for 99mTc-DTPA scan at the Nuclear Medicine Centre of International Islamic University Malaysia. The record was taken from patients visiting the centre from January 2016 to December 2019.
RESULTS: The mean measured GFR by 99mTc-DTPA scan was 42.2 ± 20.38 ml/min. These were lower than that estimated by CG, MDRD, and CKD-EPI equations. CKD-EPI had the highest correlation of 0.72, least bias (mean bias of 11.08 ± 23.08) and was more precise (r2 = 0.4) as compared to MDRD and CG. In patients < 65 years old, CKD-EPI had the highest correlation; however, MDRD had the least bias and highest accuracy. In terms of BMI, CKD-EPI had the least bias and highest accuracy for BMI >30 and with the highest correlation for all classes of BMI.
CONCLUSION: CKD-EPI has the best estimation of GFR taking into account the effect of BMI and age. A further study can be done to determine the correlation of estimated GFR equations with different ethnicity in Malaysia.
Fulltext Defining p47-phox deficient Chronic Granulomatous Disease in a Malay family

Gill HK, Kumar HC, Dhaliwal JS, Zabidi F, Sendut IH, Noah RM, et al.

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2012 Dec;30(4):313-20.
PMID: 23393912

BACKGROUND: The most common autosomal form of Chronic Granulomatous Disease, p47-phox deficient CGD, generally features a GT (deltaGT) deletion in the GTGT sequence at the start of exon 2 on the NCF-1 gene. This consistency is due to the coexistence of and the recombination between 2 homologous pseudogenes (psi s) and NCF-1. The GTGT: deltaGT ratio mirrors the NCF-I: NCF-1 psi ratio and is 2:4 in normal individuals.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the molecular basis of the Autosomal-CGD in a family with 2 children, a male and female, affected by the disease. The female patient suffered recurrent infection, retinitis pigmentosa and discoid lupus.
METHODS: Chemiluminescence (CL) was used to study the respiratory burst, while genetic analysis was done by RT-PCR, PCR, deltaGT and the 20bp gene scans.
RESULTS: The CL response of the patient was profoundly low. The patient's p47-phox band was absent in the RT-PCR for NADPH-oxidase component mRNAs. The deltaGT scan showed that the patient's GTGT: deltaGT ratio was 0:6, the parents' and the younger brother's was 1:5 and the younger sister's was 2:4. Examination of other NCF-1/ NCF-1 psi s differences showed that the father had a compound deltaGT allele ie. deltaGT-20bp, inherited by the patient, and that both parents had compound GTGT alleles with a single 30bp segment in intron 1.
CONCLUSIONS: The patient was a classic, homozygous deltaGT p47-phox deficient CGD with one allele harbouring a compound deltaGT-20bp gene. The deltaGT and 20bp gene scans offer a relatively simple and efficient means of defining a p47-phox deficient CGD patient.
Key words: Chronic Granulomatous Disease, Primary Immunodeficiency, NCF-1, p47-phox, NADPH-oxidas
Fulltext Association of the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene polymorphism with susceptibility and clinical-immunological findings of systemic lupus erythematosus

Azizah MR, Kuak SH, Ainol SS, Rahim MN, Normaznah Y, Norella K

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2004;22(2-3):159-63.
PMID: 15565953

The etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is unknown but genetic factors seem to play a role in the disease pathogenesis. The tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) gene, encoded at the TNF locus in the MHC class III region, is now known to be an important candidate gene in SLE, due to the proinflammatory activities of the TNFa. The objectives of this study were to examine the role of the TNFa polymorphism for the susceptibility of Malaysian Chinese lupus patients to SLE and to determine its association with organ involvement. The allelic frequencies of the TNFa polymorphic variant (TNF2) of seventy lupus patients were determined during follow-up at the Medical Clinic of the National University Hospital Malaysia by PCR-RFLP technique. Sixty-four females and 6 males with a mean age of 33+/-12 years were included. Clinical data were obtained from case records. Autoantibody levels were measured by ELISA. Fifty-nine ethnically-matched blood donors were used as controls. The allelic frequency of the TNF2 variant was found to be significantly increased in the patients compared to the controls (52.8% vs 33.8%). SLE patients with the polymorphic TNF2 variant were found to be at increased risk of central nervous system involvement (p = 0.004, RR = 2.59) and to have an increased frequency of anti-La antibodies (p = 0.03). In view of these findings we suggest that TNF2 variant is playing a role in conferring susceptibility to SLE and in the disease pathogenesis.
Study site: Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fulltext The association of the HLA class II antigens with clinical and autoantibody expression in Malaysian Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Azizah MR, Ainoi SS, Kuak SH, Kong NCT, Normaznah Y, Rahim MN

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2001 Jun;19(2):93-100.
PMID: 11699726

The frequency of the HLA class II antigens/alleles (HLA-DR, DQ and DP) were studied in 70 Malaysian Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to examine the contribution of these genes to disease susceptibility, their clinical expression and Immunological responses. This was done using modified PCR-RFLP technique. These samples were then compared with 66 ethnically matched controls. We found a strong association of the DQA1*0102 (p corr = 0.032, rr = 3.39), DQB1*0501 (p corr = 0.003, rr = 4.55), *0601 (p corr = 0.006, rr = 4.22) and DPB1* 0901(p corr = 0.02, rr = 4.58) with SLE. Clinically, we found a strong association of DR2 and DQA1*0301 with renal involvement and DQA1*0102 with alopecia. Immunologically, statistical analysis (Chi-square test ) showed a strong association of DQA1*0102 with anti-Ro/La antibodies while DQA1*0301 was observed to be strongly associated with antibodies to ds DNA. DQA1*0102 was found more frequently in those with a later disease onset (30 years of age or above). From these data we suggest that the HLA class II genes play a role in conferring disease susceptibility and clinical and immunological expression.
Study site: SLE clinics, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fulltext Gender differences in the clinical and serological features of systemic lupus erythematosus in Malaysian patients

Azizah MR, Ainol SS, Kong NCT, Normaznah Y, Rahim MN

Med J Malaysia, 2001 Sep;56(3):302-7.
PMID: 11732074

An analysis of the clinical and serological features of 12 male and 122 female patients with SLE was done to determine whether sex related differences exist. We found a lower incidence of mucocutaneous symptoms and arthritis but an increased incidence of discoid lesions, pleuritis and pericarditis in males at disease onset. During the disease course, there was a lower incidence of arthritis, a similar prevalence of mucocutaneous symptoms but an increased incidence of pleuritis in males with a trend towards renal involvement. These findings were however not statistically significant except for the higher incidence of thrombosis among males. Serologically, both groups showed similar frequencies of autoantibodies and hypocomplementaemia. Although the study was small, it was shown that several sex-related differences in the clinical and serological features exist in Malaysian SLE patients.
Study site: SLE Clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fulltext HLA antigens in Malay patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: association with clinical and autoantibody expression

Azizah MR, Ainol SS, Kong NCT, Normaznah Y, Rahim MN

Korean J. Intern. Med., 2001 Jun;16(2):123-31.
PMID: 11590899 DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2001.16.2.123

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that certain genes within the major histocompatibility complex predispose to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may influence clinical and autoantibody expression. Thus, we studied the frequency of HLA-DR, -DQA, -DQB and -DPB alleles in ethnic Malays with SLE to determine the role of these genes in determining disease susceptibility and their association with clinical and immunological manifestations.
METHODS: Fifty-six Malay SLE patients were enrolled into the study. Demographic, clinical and immunological findings were obtained from medical records. HLA-DR, DQ and DP typing were done using modified PCR-RELP. Controls were from ethnically-matched healthy individuals.
RESULTS: We found a strongly significant association of the DR2 and DQB1 *0501 and DQB1*0601 (pcorr = 0.03, rr = 3.83, pcorr = 0.0036, rr = 4.56 and pcorr = 0.0048 and rr = 6.0, respectively). There was also a weak increase of DQB1*0.201 and DPB1*0.0901 with a weak decrease of DQA1*0601 and DQB1*0503 and *0301 which were not significant after corrections for multiple comparisons were made. There was a significant positive association of DR2 and DQB1*0501 with renal involvement and DR8 with alopecia. A nonsignificant increase of DQB1*0503 in patients with photosensitivity was noted. Significant autoantibody associations were also found: DQB1*0601 with anti-Sm/RNP, DR2 with antiSSA (Ro)/SSB (La), and DR2, DQB1*0501 and *0601 with antibodies to ds DNA. There was no specific DR, DQ or DP associations with age of disease onset (below 30 years or those at or above 30 years).
CONCLUSION: Our data suggests the role of the HLA class II genes in conferring SLE susceptibility and in clinical and autoantibody expression.
Study site: SLE Clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Self-assembly programming of DNA polyominoes

Ong HS, Syafiq-Rahim M, Kasim NH, Firdaus-Raih M, Ramlan EI

J Biotechnol, 2016 Oct 20;236:141-51.
PMID: 27569553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.08.017

Fabrication of functional DNA nanostructures operating at a cellular level has been accomplished through molecular programming techniques such as DNA origami and single-stranded tiles (SST). During implementation, restrictive and constraint dependent designs are enforced to ensure conformity is attainable. We propose a concept of DNA polyominoes that promotes flexibility in molecular programming. The fabrication of complex structures is achieved through self-assembly of distinct heterogeneous shapes (i.e., self-organised optimisation among competing DNA basic shapes) with total flexibility during the design and assembly phases. In this study, the plausibility of the approach is validated using the formation of multiple 3×4 DNA network fabricated from five basic DNA shapes with distinct configurations (monomino, tromino and tetrominoes). Computational tools to aid the design of compatible DNA shapes and the structure assembly assessment are presented. The formations of the desired structures were validated using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imagery. Five 3×4 DNA networks were successfully constructed using combinatorics of these five distinct DNA heterogeneous shapes. Our findings revealed that the construction of DNA supra-structures could be achieved using a more natural-like orchestration as compared to the rigid and restrictive conventional approaches adopted previously.
Measuring the Daily Activity of Lying Down, Sitting, Standing and Stepping of Obese Children Using the ActivPALTM Activity Monitor

Wafa SW, Aziz NN, Shahril MR, Halib H, Rahim M, Janssen X

J Trop Pediatr, 2017 04 01;63(2):98-103.
PMID: 27539845 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmw052

This study describes the patterns of objectively measured sitting, standing and stepping in obese children using the activPALTM and highlights possible differences in sedentary levels and patterns during weekdays and weekends. Sixty-five obese children, aged 9-11 years, were recruited from primary schools in Terengganu, Malaysia. Sitting, standing and stepping were objectively measured using an activPALTM accelerometer over a period of 4-7 days. Obese children spent an average of 69.6% of their day sitting/lying, 19.1% standing and 11.3% stepping. Weekdays and weekends differed significantly in total time spent sitting/lying, standing, stepping, step count, number of sedentary bouts and length of sedentary bouts (p < 0.05, respectively). Obese children spent a large proportion of their time sedentarily, and they spent more time sedentarily during weekends compared with weekdays. This study on sedentary behaviour patterns presents valuable information for designing and implementing strategies to decrease sedentary time among obese children, particularly during weekends.
Enzymatically synthesised fructooligosaccharides from sugarcane syrup modulate the composition and short-chain fatty acid production of the human intestinal microbiota

Hajar-Azhari S, Hafiz Abd Rahim M, Razid Sarbini S, Muhialdin BJ, Olusegun L, Saari N

Food Res Int, 2021 11;149:110677.
PMID: 34600679 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110677

Fructooligosaccharides can be produced by direct enzymatic conversion from sucrose-rich sugarcane syrup (SS) consisting of 58.93% sucrose yielding 21.28 g FOS/100 g sucrose. This study evaluated the prebiotic effect of unpurified/purified SS containing FOS for the modulation of the human intestinal microbial composition and short-chain fatty acid production. The unpurified and purified FOS substrates, which were a mixture of 1-kestose, nystose and 1F-fructosylnystose, were supplemented into human faecal culture using a pH-controlled batch fermentation system and significantly increased the Bifidobacterium counts after 5 h fermentation, while Bacteroides/Prevotella counts were highest throughout 24 h fermentation. Meanwhile, Lactobacillus/Enterococcus exhibited a slight increase after 5 h fermentation before reaching a plateau afterwards. The steady Bacteroides/Prevotella growth and increased Bifidobacterium population promoted an increase in the production of short-chain fatty acids acetate (58 ± 2.70 mM), propionate (9.19 ± 5.94 mM) and butyrate (7.15 ± 2.28 mM). These results provide evidence that representative gut microbiota could utilise the enzymatically synthesised FOS to generate short-chain fatty acids as metabolites in pH-controlled conditions, thus FOS from SS are a potential prebiotic ingredient for foods and health drinks.
Fulltext Assessing a megadiverse but poorly known community of fishes in a tropical mangrove estuary through environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding

Zainal Abidin DH, Mohd Nor SA, Lavoué S, A Rahim M, Mohammed Akib NA

Sci Rep, 2022 Sep 29;12(1):16346.
PMID: 36175455 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19954-3

Biodiversity surveys are crucial for monitoring the status of threatened aquatic ecosystems, such as tropical estuaries and mangroves. Conventional monitoring methods are intrusive, time-consuming, substantially expensive, and often provide only rough estimates in complex habitats. An advanced monitoring approach, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, is promising, although only few applications in tropical mangrove estuaries have been reported. In this study, we explore the advantages and limitations of an eDNA metabarcoding survey on the fish community of the Merbok Estuary (Peninsular Malaysia). COI and 12S eDNA metabarcoding assays collectively detected 178 species from 127 genera, 68 families, and 25 orders. Using this approach, significantly more species have been detected in the Merbok Estuary over the past decade (2010-2019) than in conventional surveys, including several species of conservation importance. However, we highlight three limitations: (1) in the absence of a comprehensive reference database the identities of several species are unresolved; (2) some of the previously documented specimen-based diversity was not captured by the current method, perhaps as a consequence of PCR primer specificity, and (3) the detection of non-resident species-stenohaline freshwater taxa (e.g., cyprinids, channids, osphronemids) and marine coral reef taxa (e.g., holocentrids, some syngnathids and sharks), not known to frequent estuaries, leading to the supposition that their DNA have drifted into the estuary through water movements. The community analysis revealed that fish diversity along the Merbok Estuary is not homogenous, with the upstream more diverse than further downstream. This could be due to the different landscapes or degree of anthropogenic influences along the estuary. In summary, we demonstrated the practicality of eDNA metabarcoding in assessing fish community and structure within a complex and rich tropical environment within a short sampling period. However, some limitations need to be considered and addressed to fully exploit the efficacy of this approach.
Lichenoid uvula mass as a rare cause of hot potato voice and progressive dysphagia

Kandiah R, Aziz A, Nik Min NFA, Rahim MR, Zawawi N, Sayuti KA, et al.

Malays J Pathol, 2021 Dec;43(3):457-461.
PMID: 34958068

Lichenoid uvula mass is an unusual entity and the clinicopathologic entities are important for the diagnosis. In this case report, we report an elderly lady presented with dysphagia and "hot potato voice" due to a lichenoid uvula mass. Apart from muffled voice, the other associated symptoms are dysphagia, sore throat, globus pharyngeus and snoring. She was a non-smoker, and not on any medications except for hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Apart from the enlarged uvula, other parts of the oral cavity, oropharynx and larynx were normal. She has no other signs such as cutaneous lesions. The mass was excised under general anaesthesia followed by resolution of symptoms. Awareness of this entity, the clinical and histopathological features should be highlighted to differentiate it from other diagnosis.
Fulltext DNA-based taxonomy of a mangrove-associated community of fishes in Southeast Asia

Zainal Abidin DH, Mohd Nor SA, Lavoué S, A Rahim M, Jamaludin NA, Mohammed Akib NA

Sci Rep, 2021 Sep 07;11(1):17800.
PMID: 34493747 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97324-1

The Merbok Estuary comprises one of the largest remaining mangrove forests in Peninsular Malaysia. Its value is significant as it provides important services to local and global communities. It also offers a unique opportunity to study the structure and functioning of mangrove ecosystems. However, its biodiversity is still partially inventoried, limiting its research value. A recent checklist based on morphological examination, reported 138 fish species residing, frequenting or subject to entering the Merbok Estuary. In this work, we reassessed the fish diversity of the Merbok Estuary by DNA barcoding 350 specimens assignable to 134 species initially identified based on morphology. Our results consistently revealed the presence of 139 Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs). 123 of them are congruent with morphology-based species delimitation (one species = one MOTU). In two cases, two morphological species share the same MOTU (two species = one MOTU), while we unveiled cryptic diversity (i.e. COI-based genetic variability > 2%) within seven other species (one species = two MOTUs), calling for further taxonomic investigations. This study provides a comprehensive core-list of fish taxa in Merbok Estuary, demonstrating the advantages of combining morphological and molecular evidence to describe diverse but still poorly studied tropical fish communities. It also delivers a large DNA reference collection for brackish fishes occurring in this region which will facilitate further biodiversity-oriented research studies and management activities.
Predictors of quality of life among individuals with paraplegic spinal cord injury after discharge from hospital to community in Pakistan

Khanzada FJ, Masuri MG, Abdul Rahim MD, Che Daud AZ

Med J Malaysia, 2024 Mar;79(Suppl 1):23-28.
PMID: 38555881

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the predictors of quality of life (QOL) among persons with paraplegic spinal cord injury (SCI) after discharge from the hospital to the community in Pakistan, based on the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) components, including participation, impairments of body function/structures, personal factors, and environmental factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with, one hundred and forty individuals with paraplegic SCI, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and attended an outpatient rehabilitation clinic. The impairment of body function/structures of participants was assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Scale, which classified them as A, B, C, D, or E. A set of questionnaire survey forms was used to collect sociodemographic information, occupational participation, environmental factors, and QOL by using a demographic questionnaire, World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS-II), Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) scale and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) BREF form respectively.
RESULTS: The results showed that occupational participation was the strongest predictor of QOL among persons with paraplegic SCI (β=-0.586, p<0.001). In the second step, variables representing body function/structure factors (ASIA-A, B, C, D, E) were added, and the overall model explained 40.7% of the variance in QOL. In the third step, personal factors (age groups, gender, marital status, level of education, and rehabilitation duration) were added, and the overall model explained 51.4% of the variance in QOL. In the final step, environmental factors (CHIEF 12 Items scale) were added, but they did not significantly explain the model.
CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that occupational participation was found to be the most significant predictor of QOL among individuals with paraplegic SCI. Body function/structure factors, personal factors, and environmental factors were also significant predictors, but to a lesser extent. The findings of this study can inform healthcare professionals and policymakers in developing interventions and, policies targeting occupational participation, and personal factors that may be effective to improve the QOL of individuals with paraplegic SCI in Pakistan.

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