Displaying publications 201 - 220 of 785 in total

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  1. Knowledge, attitude, and practice among staff associated with Human Papillomavirus Vaccine of young children in Iran
    Soltanizadeh N, Ameri Shahrabi M, Masjedi MR, Ainy E, Kavousy E, Hashemi SM
    Med J Malaysia, 2020 09;75(5):543-547.
    PMID: 32918424
    INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, practice associated with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine for Young Children among lecturers and health staffs of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU).

    METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study with 220 adults from five different specialties, randomly selected. Data was collected using 45-item questionnaire on knowledge (12- item), attitude (18-item) and practice (15-item) (KAP) about HPV. The demographic questionnaire included information on age, gender, level of education, occupation, and marital status. Content validity was calculated by content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI). Reliability was evaluated using test-retest and by Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, internal consistency was calculated values >0.81 which considered as satisfactory.

    RESULTS: The mean age of the studied population was 37.70± 8.07 (23-67) years. Of the 220 participants, 80 (36.4%) were males and 140 (63.6%) were females. In evaluating KAP in the men and women, the mean and standard deviation of knowledge were estimated at good level and one-way ANOVA analysis showed significant differences between women and men (p=0.019). There was no significant difference in men and women related to attitude (p=0.92) and practice (p=0.38).

    CONCLUSION: The KAP about HPV among participants was significantly higher at good levels compared to average levels. Women's knowledge was significantly higher than men. Attitude and practice could have been higher because there was consensus to the usage of vaccine among the specialists to prevent HPV.

  2. Fulltext Major inorganic elements in tap water samples in Peninsular Malaysia
    Azrina A, Khoo HE, Idris MA, Amin I, Razman MR
    Malays J Nutr, 2011 Aug;17(2):271-6.
    PMID: 22303580 MyJurnal
    Quality drinking water should be free from harmful levels of impurities such as heavy metals and other inorganic elements.
  3. Fulltext Antioxidant levels and activities of selected seeds of malaysian tropical fruits
    Norshazila S, Syed Zahir I, Mustapha Suleiman K, Aisyah MR, Kamarul Rahim K
    Malays J Nutr, 2010 Apr;16(1):149-59.
    PMID: 22691862 MyJurnal
    The aims of this study are to determine and compare the antioxidant levels and activities (i.e. primary and secondary) between selected seeds of Malaysian tropical fruits - guava (Psidium guajava), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and papaya (Carica papaya L.). Seeds are among byproducts from the processing of fruitsbased products. Instead of discarding seeds as waste, seeds with high potential as antioxidants could be utilised for commercial purposes. Accordingly, the selected seeds of Malaysian tropical fruits were tested in this study for total phenolic content (TPC), free radical scavenging activity by 1, 1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and metal ion chelating effect by ferrous ion chelating (FIC) assay. Extraction of antioxidant compounds from sample was done with 70% ethanol. TPCs of the seeds were expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE) in mg per 100 g fresh seed weight. TPC assay showed that mango seeds had the highest TPC (i.e. 32 ± 0.001 mg GAE) followed by guava seeds (i.e. 20 ± 0.001 mg GAE) and papaya seeds (8 ± 0.003 mg GAE). For DPPH assay, IC50 data showed that mango seed extract scavenged 50% DPPH radicals at the lowest concentration (0.11 ± 0.01 mg/mL) followed by the positive control BHA (0.13 ± 0.01 mg/mL), guava seed extract (0.26 ± 0.01 mg/mL) and papaya seed extract (0.34 ± 0.01 mg/mL). Interestingly, all seed extracts showed higher free radical scavenging activities than BHA after sample concentration of 0.60 mg/mL. However, FIC assay indicated that metal ion chelating effects of all seed extracts were weaker than BHA suggesting that the fruit seeds are not sources of good metal ion chelators. Overall, present results suggest that TPC of the seeds show strong negative correlation with their primary antioxidant activity (r= -0.985, R2= 0.970), and not all compounds in extracts which could scavenge DPPH radicals are good metal ion chelators. Mango seeds relatively showed the highest antioxidant level and primary antioxidant activity followed by guava seeds and papaya seeds.
  4. Fulltext Larval aggregation on a burned human remain
    Kumara TK, Abu Hassan A, Che Salmah MR, Bhupinder S
    Trop Biomed, 2012 Mar;29(1):197-9.
    PMID: 22543622 MyJurnal
    A burned human remain was found outdoor (5º 27' N, 100º 16' E) in Penang Island. The deceased was last seen alive on 23 April 2010 at 2230 h and was found burned on 24 April 2010 at 1920 h. Larval aggregation of second instar Chrysomya megacephala was observed on the chest of the deceased.
  5. Fulltext Infestation of gill copepod Lernanthropus latis (Copepoda: Lernanthropidae) and its effect on cage-cultured Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer
    Kua BC, Noraziah MR, Nik Rahimah AR
    Trop Biomed, 2012 Sep;29(3):443-50.
    PMID: 23018508 MyJurnal
    Twenty Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer from a floating cage in Bt. Tambun, Penang were examined for the presence of parasitic gill copepod, Lernanthropus latis. The prevalence of L. latis was 100% with the intensity of infection ranging from 1 to 18 parasites per host or 3.75 of mean intensity. Female parasites having oblong cephalothorax and egg-strings were seen mainly on the entire gill of examined Asian sea bass. The infected gill of Asian sea bass was pale and had eccessive mucus production. Under light and scanning electron microscopies (SEM), L. latis was seen grasping or holding tightly to the gill filament using their antenna, maxilla and maxilliped. These structures are characteristically prehensile and uncinate for the parasite to attach onto the host tissue. The damage was clearly seen under SEM as the hooked end of the antenna was embedded into the gill filament. The parasite also has the mandible which is styliform with eight teeth on the inner margin. The pathological effects such as erosion, haemorrhages, hyperplasia and necrosis along the secondary lamellae of gill filaments were seen and more severe at the attachment site. The combined actions of the antenna, maxilla and maxilliped together with the mandible resulted in extensive damage as L. latis attached and fed on the host tissues.
  6. Fulltext Life table of Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Van der Wulp) (Diptera: Muscidae) under uncontrolled laboratory environments - a preliminary study
    Aruna Devi A, Abu Hassan A, Kumara TK, Che Salmah MR
    Trop Biomed, 2011 Dec;28(3):524-30.
    PMID: 22433881
    The life history of the male and female of the indoor forensic fly, Synthesiomyia nudiseta was studied under fluctuating temperature of indoor environments and analysed based on the age-stage and two sex life table. The life cycle of S. nudiseta was 14.0±1.0 days from the egg stage to adult emergence. The population parameters calculated were; net reproduction rate (R(o)= 108.6), mean generation time (T(o)= 12.2), intrinsic rate of increase (r(m)= 0.38), and finite rate of increase (λ= 1.46). The pre-oviposition period (APOP) was 6.0± 0.1 days. All population parameters suggested that S. nudiseta exhibits the r-strategist characteristics.
  7. Fulltext A report on the pupae of Desmometopa sp. (Diptera: Milichiidae) recovered from a human corpse in Malaysia
    Kumara TK, Abu Hassan A, Che Salmah MR, Bhupinder S
    Trop Biomed, 2010 Apr;27(1):131-3.
    PMID: 20562823
    The pupae of Desmometopa sp. (Diptera: Milichiidae) were collected from a human corpse found indoor in active decay stage together with the larvae of Sarcophagidae, Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart). This research note is the first report of the Desmometopa sp. recovered from a human corpse in Malaysia.
  8. Fulltext The infestation of Dermestes ater (De Geer) on a human corpse in Malaysia
    Kumara TK, Abu Hassan A, Che Salmah MR, Bhupinder S
    Trop Biomed, 2009 Apr;26(1):73-9.
    PMID: 19696730 MyJurnal
    A human corpse at an advanced stage of decomposition was found in a house in the residential area of Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia. Entomological specimens were collected during the post-mortem and the live specimens were subsequently reared at room temperature. The time of death was estimated to have been 14 days previous to the discovery of the body based on the police investigation. Both adult and larvae of the beetle Dermestes ater (De Geer) were found to be infesting the corpse and from the stage of decomposition of the body and the estimated time of death it would appear that infestation may have begun at a relatively early stage of decomposition.
  9. Fulltext Larval growth of the muscid fly, Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp), a fly of forensic importance, in the indoor fluctuating temperatures of Malaysia
    Kumara TK, Abu Hassan A, Che Salmah MR, Bhupinder S
    Trop Biomed, 2009 Aug;26(2):200-5.
    PMID: 19901906 MyJurnal
    Larvae of the Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp) were collected from a decomposed human corpse at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Penang Hospital. A colony of this species was established and the eggs were collected for rearing. The developmental times, rearing temperatures, and relative humidity were recorded twice daily from the time the eggs collected until adult emergence. An average of 5 larvae were randomly collected from the rearings twice daily, warm-water killed and preserved in Kahle's solution. The larval instar stages were determined by observing the number of posterior spiracular slits and the length of the preserved larvae were measured. When the larval life cycle was completed, the accumulated developmental times were calculated. A total of 8 replicates were carried out. The temperature of the rearing room was 28.5+/-1.5 degrees Celcius while the relative humidity was within 67-85%. The total developmental time for S. nudiseta was 322+/-19 hours (13.4+/-0.8 days).
  10. Fulltext Population analysis of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera:Culicidae) under uncontrolled laboratory conditions
    Nur Aida H, Abu Hassan A, Nurita AT, Che Salmah MR, Norasmah B
    Trop Biomed, 2008 Aug;25(2):117-25.
    PMID: 18948882
    A semi laboratory experiment using 3 cohorts of Aedes albopictus adults was performed to obtain age-specific mortality and fecundity information and to derive statistical estimates of some population growth parameters. Life expectancy was calculated for both males and females. The following population parameters were estimated: intrinsic rate of increase (rm= 0.21), net reproductive (replacement) rate (Ro= 68.70), age at mean cohort reproduction (To=10.55 days), birth rate (B=0.23), death rate (D=0.02) and generation time (G=20.14 days). The high rm/B (0.91) and B/D (11.50) ratios indicated the high colonizing ability of Ae. albopictus in nature.
  11. Fulltext Daily foraging pattern and proteinaceous food preferences of Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)
    Norasmah B, Abu Hassan A, Che Salmah MR, Nurita AT, Nur Aida H
    Trop Biomed, 2006 Dec;23(2):134-9.
    PMID: 17322814
    A field study on foraging activity and proteinacous food preference was performed on the tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata) (Fabricius) at the School of Biological Sciences and Desasiswa Bakti Permai, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang. Foraging activity studies of 4 colonies of S. geminata were conducted in the field for 24 hours. Foraging activity significantly increased 4 hours before sunset and maximum foraging occurred at midnight until early morning. Three types of proteinacous food; anchovy, meat and egg yolk were tested among the five colonies of S. geminata in the field. The egg yolk was the most preferred food (100%) followed by meat (31%) and anchovy (15%).
  12. Fulltext In vitro screening of five local medicinal plants for antibacterial activity using disc diffusion method
    Zaidan MR, Noor Rain A, Badrul AR, Adlin A, Norazah A, Zakiah I
    Trop Biomed, 2005 Dec;22(2):165-70.
    PMID: 16883283 MyJurnal
    Medicinal plants have many traditional claims including the treatment of ailments of infectious origin. In the evaluation of traditional claims, scientific research is important. The objective of the study was to determine the presence of antibacterial activity in the crude extracts of some of the commonly used medicinal plants in Malaysia, Andrographis paniculata, Vitex negundo, Morinda citrifolia, Piper sarmentosum, and Centella asiatica. In this preliminary investigation, the leaves were used and the crude extracts were subjected to screening against five strains of bacteria species, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, using standard protocol of Disc Diffusion Method (DDM). The antibacterial activities were assessed by the presence or absence of inhibition zones and MIC values. M. citrifolia, P. sarmentosum and C. asiatica methanol extract and A. paniculata (water extract) have potential antibacterial activities to both gram positive S. aureus and Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA). None of the five plant extracts tested showed antibacterial activities to gram negative E. coli and K. pneumoniae, except for A. paniculata and P. sarmentosum which showed activity towards P. aeruginosa. A. paniculata being the most potent at MIC of 2 g/disc. This finding forms a basis for further studies on screening of local medicinal plant extracts for antibacteria properties.
  13. Seroprevalence and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in young healthy blood donors in Northern Iran
    Kalantari N, Sheikhansari MR, Ghaffari S, Alipour J, Gorgani-Firouzjaee T, Tamadoni A, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):1017-1027.
    PMID: 33601849
    T. gondii is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients which may be transmitted through blood transfusion. The present study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and molecular detection of T. gondii infection and the associated risk factors among young healthy blood donors in the central part of Mazandaran province, northern Iran. Blood samples were taken from 500 participants and the serum was separated. All serum samples were tested for the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies (IgG) and then all positive samples were evaluated for IgM antibodies using commercial ELISA kits. All IgM positive samples and 66 randomly selected IgG positive samples were further tested by PCR of the REP-529 gene. Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG) avidity test was performed for 142 IgG positive samples which were randomly selected. In the current study, anti-T. gondii antibodies (IgG) and (IgM) were found in 316 (63.2%) and 3 (0.95 %) participants, respectively. Seropositivity rate of Toxoplasma was higher among blood donors living in rural areas (P=0.000) and those with a history of soil and animal contact (P<0.05). PCR of the REP-529 gene showed T. gondii DNA in 21 out of 66 samples. The REP-529 gene was not detected in IgM positive samples. Low avidity antibodies (IgG) was found in 23.2% of the IgG positive samples. In conclusions, this study found that the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among young healthy blood donors in north of Iran was high. To reduce the risk of parasite transmission, leukofilteration method are recommended for donated blood used for immunosuppressed patients.
  14. Fulltext Conductometric and volumetric studies of atorvastatin in aqueous solution of arginine from 298.15 to 313.15 K
    Affandi MM, Tripathy M, Majeed AB
    J Adv Pharm Technol Res, 2016 Jul-Sep;7(3):80-6.
    PMID: 27429926 DOI: 10.4103/2231-4040.184589
    Categorized as a Biopharmaceutics Classification System Class II drugs, atorvastatin (ATV) exhibits low aqueous solubility and bioavailability thus presenting an obstacle and great challenge to formulation researchers. Numerous studies are available in regard to the solubility enhancement of ATV, but very few actually describe this phenomenon in terms of thermodynamics and the solute-solvent interaction. Arginine (ARG) is an amino acid that has been reported to enhance the solubility of the highly insoluble wheat protein gluten through hydrogen bonding and π electron-cation interaction. To our knowledge, ARG has never been investigated as a solubility enhancement agent of aqueous insoluble drugs. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the solute-solvent and solute-cosolute interactions and derive thermodynamic parameters that bolstered the solubility of ATV in the presence of ARG. We examined the electrolytic conductance and densities of ATV-ARG binary system covering the temperature ranging from 298.15 K to 313.15 K. Conductometric and volumetric parameters such as limiting molar conductance, association constants, limiting partial molar volumes, and expansibility values were calculated. Additionally, thermodynamic parameters (ΔG(0), ΔH(0), ΔS(0), and Es) involved in the association process of the solute in the aqueous solution of ARG were also determined.
  15. Fulltext Depression and associated factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
    Hashim NA, Ariaratnam S, Salleh MR, Said MA, Sulaiman AH
    East Asian Arch Psychiatry, 2016 Jun;26(2):77-82.
    PMID: 27377489
    OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of major depressive disorder and its association with socio-demographic and clinical factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

    METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended the hospital-based primary care clinics at the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The patients were interviewed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview to diagnose depression based on the DSM-IV criteria. The socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained by interviewing the patients and subsequently verified against their respective case notes.

    RESULTS: A total of 204 patients were recruited. The prevalence of major depressive disorder was 15.7%. Major depressive disorder was significantly associated with younger age of patients (mean ± standard deviation, 57.8 ± 15.1 years, p = 0.04), younger age at diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (46.2 ± 13.0 years, p = 0.01), having secondary education (p = 0.02), and having a history of depression (p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that current age (p = 0.04), duration of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.04), age at diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.01), and secondary education (p = 0.01) were significant factors.

    CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of major depressive disorder was high among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Screening of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus for depression should be performed periodically or routinely, especially in the primary care setting.
  16. Occurrence of human respiratory syncytial virus in summer in Japan
    Shobugawa Y, Takeuchi T, Hibino A, Hassan MR, Yagami R, Kondo H, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 2017 Jan;145(2):272-284.
    PMID: 27682641
    In temperate zones, human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) outbreaks typically occur in cold weather, i.e. in late autumn and winter. However, recent outbreaks in Japan have tended to start during summer and autumn. This study examined associations of meteorological conditions with the numbers of HRSV cases reported in summer in Japan. Using data from the HRSV national surveillance system and national meteorological data for summer during the period 2007-2014, we utilized negative binomial logistic regression analysis to identify associations between meteorological conditions and reported cases of HRSV. HRSV cases increased when summer temperatures rose and when relative humidity increased. Consideration of the interaction term temperature × relative humidity enabled us to show synergistic effects of high temperature with HRSV occurrence. In particular, HRSV cases synergistically increased when relative humidity increased while the temperature was ⩾28·2 °C. Seasonal-trend decomposition analysis using the HRSV national surveillance data divided by 11 climate divisions showed that summer HRSV cases occurred in South Japan (Okinawa Island), Kyushu, and Nankai climate divisions, which are located in southwest Japan. Higher temperature and higher relative humidity were necessary conditions for HRSV occurrence in summer in Japan. Paediatricians in temperate zones should be mindful of possible HRSV cases in summer, when suitable conditions are present.
  17. Morphological and ultrastructural studies of human spermatogonial stem cells from patients with maturation arrest
    Mirzapour T, Tengku Ibrahim TAB, Movahedin M, Nowroozi MR
    Andrologia, 2017 Sep;49(7).
    PMID: 27682317 DOI: 10.1111/and.12700
    Destruction of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) along the chemotherapy and radiotherapy is one of the side effects of cancer treatments that lead to infertility. In vitro propagation of hSSCs is necessary to obtain an adequate number of cells for successful transplantation. In this study, hSSCs were isolated from testis biopsies of the patients with maturation arrest and proliferated in DMEM in the presence of LIF and bFGF for 5 weeks. The various types of human spermatogonia were identified in culture system and compared with testis tissue using morphological criteria at the ultrastructural level. The results showed that although many various types of spermatogonia were identified, but no remarkable difference was observed between spermatogonial cells in culture system and testis tissue. Electron and light microscopic studies of hSSC colonies did not show differentiated SSCs in the culture system. The results also showed that probably the suitable time for transplanting of SSCs in recipient testis is 2-3 weeks after culture. Because apoptosis which may affect the development of germ cells has not started in colony cells at this time and the population of apoptotic cells are low.
  18. Reduction and biofixation of carbon dioxide in palm oil mill effluent using developed microbial granules containing photosynthetic pigments
    Najib MZM, Salmiati, Ujang Z, Salim MR, Ibrahim Z, Muda K
    Bioresour Technol, 2016 Dec;221:157-164.
    PMID: 27639234 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.08.119
    The developed microbial granules containing photosynthetic pigments had successfully achieved approximately 18-21% of carbon dioxide (CO2) removal in POME for one complete SBR cycle. Also, the granules had reached CO2 removal at 15-29% within 24h and removal of 25% after 5 days. Both results were inconsistent possibly due to the slow mass transfer rate of CO2 from gas to liquid as well as the simultaneous effect of CO2 production and respiration among the microbes. Furthermore, results showed the removal of CO2 from air increases proportionally with the CO2 removed in liquid. The CO2 biofixation of granules attained was approximately 0.23g/L/day for a week. Using the regression model, the removal of CO2 between liquid and gas, CO2 biofixation rate were highly correlated with the treatment time. A statistically significant relationship was obtained between CO2 concentration in liquid, biomass productivity and treatment time for the CO2 biofixation rate of the granules.
  19. Recent advances in DNA-based electrochemical biosensors for heavy metal ion detection: A review
    Saidur MR, Aziz AR, Basirun WJ
    Biosens Bioelectron, 2017 Apr 15;90:125-139.
    PMID: 27886599 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2016.11.039
    The presence of heavy metal in food chains due to the rapid industrialization poses a serious threat on the environment. Therefore, detection and monitoring of heavy metals contamination are gaining more attention nowadays. However, the current analytical methods (based on spectroscopy) for the detection of heavy metal contamination are often very expensive, tedious and can only be handled by trained personnel. DNA biosensors, which are based on electrochemical transduction, is a sensitive but inexpensive method of detection. The principles, sensitivity, selectivity and challenges of electrochemical biosensors are discussed in this review. This review also highlights the major advances of DNA-based electrochemical biosensors for the detection of heavy metal ions such as Hg(2+), Ag(+), Cu(2+) and Pb(2+).
  20. Fulltext Effect of growth time on Ti-doped ZnO nanorods prepared by low-temperature chemical bath deposition
    Bidier SA, Hashim MR, Al-Diabat AM, Bououdina M
    Physica E Low Dimens Syst Nanostruct, 2017 Apr;88:169-173.
    PMID: 28373813 DOI: 10.1016/j.physe.2017.01.009
    Ti-doped ZnO nanorod arrays were grown onto Si substrate using chemical bath deposition (CBD) method at 93 °C. To investigate the effect of time deposition on the morphological, and structural properties, four Ti-doped ZnO samples were prepared at various deposition periods of time (2, 3.5, 5, and 6.5 h). FESEM images displayed high-quality and uniform nanorods with a mean length strongly dependent upon deposition time; i.e. it increases for prolonged growth time. Additionally, EFTEM images reveal a strong erosion on the lateral side for the sample prepared for 6.5 h as compared to 5 h. This might be attributed to the dissolution reaction of ZnO with for prolonged growth time. XRD analysis confirms the formation of a hexagonal wurtzite-type structure for all samples with a preferred growth orientation along the c-axis direction. The (100) peak intensity was enhanced and then quenched, which might be the result of an erosion on the lateral side of nanorods as seen in EFTEM. This study confirms the important role of growth time on the morphological features of Ti-doped ZnO nanorods prepared using CBD.
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