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Fulltext A game system for cognitive rehabilitation

Shapi'i A, Mat Zin NA, Elaklouk AM

Biomed Res Int, 2015;2015:493562.
PMID: 25815320 DOI: 10.1155/2015/493562

Brain injury such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke is the major cause of long-term disabilities in many countries. The increasing rate of brain damaged victims and the heterogeneity of impairments decrease rehabilitation effectiveness and competence resulting in higher cost of rehabilitation treatment. On the other hand, traditional rehabilitation exercises are boring, thus leading patients to neglect the prescribed exercises required for recovery. Therefore, we propose game-based approach to address these problems. This paper presents a rehabilitation gaming system (RGS) for cognitive rehabilitation. The RGS is developed based on a proposed conceptual framework which has also been presented in this paper.
Myxozoan infection of the Malaysian mahseer, Tor tambroides, of Tasik Kenyir Reservoir, Malaysia: description of a new species Myxobolus tambroides sp.n

Székely C, Shaharom F, Cech G, Mohamed K, Zin NA, Borkhanuddin MH, et al.

Parasitol Res, 2012 Oct;111(4):1749-56.
PMID: 22782473

Tor tambroides, a common and appreciated cyprinid fish of the Tasik Kenyir water reservoir in Malaysia, is one of the species selected for propagation. This fish was first successfully propagated in Malaysia by the Department of Agriculture, Sarawak, Malaysia, and the breeding program continued throughout the country. The gills were frequently infected by a Myxobolus species to be described as Myxobolus tambroides sp. n. The small, 50 to 70 μm, round plasmodia of this species is located intralamellarly. Plasmodia were filled with pyriform myxospores, 9.9 and 7.4 μm wide. In sutural view, the caudal end of the myxospores had a distinctive valvular groove, parallel with the suture. Plasmodia caused deformations on the affected and the neighbouring gill lamellae. The 18S rDNA sequence of M. tambroides sp.n. did not show a close relationship with any other Myxobolus spp., represented in the GenBank. This might be an emerging parasite likely to impact the propagation of this fish.
Mobile-assisted and gamification-based language learning: a systematic literature review

Ishaq K, Mat Zin NA, Rosdi F, Jehanghir M, Ishaq S, Abid A

PeerJ Comput Sci, 2021;7:e496.
PMID: 34084920 DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.496

Learning a new language is a challenging task. In many countries, students are encouraged to learn an international language at school level. In particular, English is the most widely used international language and is being taught at the school level in many countries. The ubiquity and accessibility of smartphones combined with the recent developments in mobile application and gamification in teaching and training have paved the way for experimenting with language learning using mobile phones. This article presents a systematic literature review of the published research work in mobile-assisted language learning. To this end, more than 60 relevant primary studies which have been published in well-reputed venues have been selected for further analysis. The detailed analysis reveals that researchers developed many different simple and gamified mobile applications for learning languages based on various theories, frameworks, and advanced tools. Furthermore, the study also analyses how different applications have been evaluated and tested at different educational levels using different experimental settings while incorporating a variety of evaluation measures. Lastly, a taxonomy has been proposed for the research work in mobile-assisted language learning, which is followed by promising future research challenges in this domain.
Fulltext Identifying and validating game design elements in serious game guideline for climate change

Razali NEM, Ramli RZ, Mohamed H, Mat Zin NA, Rosdi F, Mat Diah N

Heliyon, 2022 Jan;8(1):e08773.
PMID: 35146153 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08773

Climate change can simply be defined as an increase in temperature, normally referred to as global warming. Recent studies have confirmed the failure of many climate communication efforts due to the one-directional transmission of information that has transformed the audience into passive consumers of information. The young generation tends to be avid gamers, thus serious games could be a suitable medium to increase climate change awareness in order to cultivate a better attitude towards nature among this group. However, very few games focus on carbon cycle fundamentals that are directly related to climate change. Existing climate change games have been unable to improve the quality of knowledge on environmental issues due to the lack of contextualization of the carbon cycle. Thus, the purpose of this study was to develop and verify a guideline of game design elements to assist game developers in developing a climate change game that can facilitate experiential learning on climate change based on the carbon cycle. The guideline consists of 13 game elements derived from previous studies. Seven experts from both game and environmental areas were selected to review the designed guideline. The experts were given two to six weeks to evaluate the guideline and were asked to rate and comment on each game element. At the end of the review, the experts' feedback and comments were analysed and scrutinised. The results showed positive feedback from all experts. The guideline was updated based on the experts' comments, and finally a total of 12 game elements for a climate change game remained. This guideline can be applied to develop a new climate change game. This paper discusses the validation of the guideline proposed for a climate change game design.
Fulltext Desmoplastic Fibroma of the Phalanx of the Hand: A Rare Case Report

Singh BP, Abdul Halim S, Yahaya S, Mat Zin NA, Tuan Sharif SE, Wan Ismail WF

Case Rep Oncol, 2023;16(1):478-483.
PMID: 37485013 DOI: 10.1159/000529895

Desmoplastic fibroma is a rare primary benign bone tumour that typically affects the long bones, mandible, and pelvis. It has a similar local aggressiveness to soft tissue fibromatosis. It rarely involves the small bones of the hand. We describe an extremely rare case of desmoplastic fibroma of the proximal phalanx of the hand in a patient who presented with an aggressively enlarging but painless mass on the left ring finger. Radiological features suggested malignancy; however, an initial biopsy revealed fibrotic tissue. Trans-metacarpal amputation of the ring and little fingers and soft tissue reconstruction were performed using a local ulnar-based flap of the little finger. The final histopathological evaluation revealed desmoplastic fibroma. Aggressively growing masses in the hand should be treated according to a sarcoma management protocol, and desmoplastic fibroma should be included in the differential diagnosis.
Chemokine Like Receptor-1 (CMKLR-1) Receptor: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Management of Chemerin Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cancer

Perumalsamy S, Aqilah Mohd Zin NA, Widodo RT, Wan Ahmad WA, Vethakkan SRDB, Huri HZ

Curr Pharm Des, 2017;23(25):3689-3698.
PMID: 28625137 DOI: 10.2174/1381612823666170616081256

BACKGROUND: Chemerin is an adipokine that induces insulin resistance by the mechanism of inflammation in adipose tissue but these are still unclear. A high level of chemerin in humans is considered as a marker of inflammation in insulin resistance and obesity as well as in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite the role of chemerin in insulin resistance progression, chemerin as one of the novel adipokines is proposed to be involved in high cancer risk and mortality.
AIM: The aim of this paper was to review the role of CMKLR-1 receptor and the potential therapeutic target in the management of chemerin induced type 2 diabetes mellitus and cancer.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Increased chemerin secretion activates an inflammatory response. The inflammatory response will increase the oxidative stress in adipose tissue and consequently results in an insulin-resistant state. The occurrence of inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance leads to the progression of cancers.
CONCLUSION: Chemerin is one of the markers that may involve in development of both cancer and insulin resistance. Chemokine like receptor- 1 (CMKLR-1) receptor that regulates chemerin levels exhibits a potential therapeutic target for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cancer treatment.
The molecular phylogenetic signature of Bali cattle revealed by maternal and paternal markers

Syed-Shabthar SM, Rosli MK, Mohd-Zin NA, Romaino SM, Fazly-Ann ZA, Mahani MC, et al.

Mol Biol Rep, 2013 Aug;40(8):5165-76.
PMID: 23686165 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-013-2619-y

Bali cattle is a domestic cattle breed that can be found in Malaysia. It is a domestic cattle that was purely derived from a domestication event in Banteng (Bos javanicus) around 3,500 BC in Indonesia. This research was conducted to portray the phylogenetic relationships of the Bali cattle with other cattle species in Malaysia based on maternal and paternal lineage. We analyzed the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial gene and SRY of Y chromosome obtained from five species of the Bos genus (B. javanicus, Bos gaurus, Bos indicus, Bos taurus, and Bos grunniens). The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) was used as an outgroup. The phylogenetic relationships were observed by employing several algorithms: Neighbor-Joining (PAUP version 4.0), Maximum parsimony (PAUP version 4.0) and Bayesian inference (MrBayes 3.1). Results from the maternal data showed that the Bali cattle formed a monophyletic clade, and together with the B. gaurus clade formed a wild cattle clade. Results were supported by high bootstrap and posterior probability values together with genetic distance data. For the paternal lineage, the sequence variation is low (with parsimony informative characters: 2/660) resulting an unresolved Neighbor-Joining tree. However, Bali cattle and other domestic cattle appear in two monophyletic clades distinct from yak, gaur and selembu. This study expresses the potential of the COI gene in portraying the phylogenetic relationships between several Bos species which is important for conservation efforts especially in decision making since cattle is highly bred and hybrid breeds are often formed. Genetic conservation for this high quality beef cattle breed is important by maintaining its genetic characters to prevent extinction or even decreased the genetic quality.
Calcaneal Reconstruction With Free Deep Circumflex Iliac Artery Osseocutaneous Flap Following Aggressive Benign Bone Tumor Resection

Rosli MA, Wan Ismail WF, Wan Sulaiman WA, Mat Zin NA, Abdul Halim S, Mat Johar F, et al.

Foot Ankle Int, 2021 Dec;42(12):1570-1578.
PMID: 34286617 DOI: 10.1177/10711007211025280

BACKGROUND: Advances in limb-salvage techniques have made total calcanectomy and primary reconstruction possible in managing calcaneal aggressive benign tumors and selected cases of intraosseous malignant tumors. However, there is still no consensus on the operative approach, oncologic margin, and the best reconstruction method to date. These 2 cases describe our experience in calcaneal reconstruction with the free deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) osseocutaneous flap in benign aggressive calcaneal tumors.
METHODS: We reported 2 consecutive male and female patients, with an average age of 25 years (age 19 and 31, respectively), who underwent total calcanectomy and primary calcaneal reconstruction with the free DCIA osseocutaneous flaps for calcaneal chondroblastoma and giant cell tumor. A marginal resection of the entire calcaneus through the subtalar and calcaneocuboid joints (intra-articular approach) was performed in the first case and a wide local resection leaving 1 cm normal calcaneal bone margin anterosuperiorly (intraosseous approach) was performed in the second case.
RESULTS: The follow-up period averaged 48 months. Negative oncologic margins were achieved in both cases. The first case was complicated with venous thrombosis; however, the graft remained viable after emergency reexploration. Normal foot function was restored with good solid osseous union and bony hypertrophy observed. Both patients achieved good short-term functional and aesthetic outcomes with no donor site pain or disability. No local recurrence was reported either.
CONCLUSION: Primary calcaneal reconstruction with the free DCIA osseocutaneous flap can lead to good short-term functional and aesthetic outcomes.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.