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Fulltext Muslim female healthcare personnel dress code: a proposed guideline

Saidun, S., Akhmetova, E., Awang Abd Rahman, A.

International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2018;17(2):57-70.
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Introduction: The struggle of Muslim women to comply with Islamic teaching while working in the healthcare sector has been a long-standing issue. Following the case of a Muslim nurse who was allegedly fired for non-adherence to the short-sleeve uniform rule, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association highlighted the need for a uniform guideline to prevent similar instances. Yet, no guideline has been issued to date. Materials and Methods: This conceptual study employed library research method to gather relevant materials. Library research was able to retrieve guidelines from seven Muslim-minority countries but none from Muslim-majority countries. Document analysis of the materials gathered was undertaken. The different guidelines were compared, with special reference to awrah-related issues. Results: Several major issues that healthcare personnel dress code considers are the safety, health, cleanliness, and comfort for both patients and healthcare personnel. Islamic dressing requirement is not only in line with clinical practice but Islam also highly promotes maintenance of safety, health, cleanliness, and comfort. The widely adopted ‘bare below the elbows (BBE) policy is the only practice that may contradict Islamic rules. However, some healthcare institutions in Muslim-minority countries allow modifications of uniform rules on religious grounds; some of the modifications are not observed in Muslim-majority countries. When providing direct patient care that requires BBE, the use of disposable over-sleeves is a good alternative to adhere to both clinical and Islamic standards. Conclusion: Healthcare personnel dress code policy that is concordant to both clinical and Islamic standards is possible although it may require greater resources.
Fulltext Vasectomy--experience in a Malaysian hospital

Sivanesaratnam V, Abd Rahman A

Med J Malaysia, 1984 Mar;39(1):69-72.
PMID: 6513843

A review of our experience of 916 cases ofpartial bilateral vasectomy performed under local anaesthesia at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur during the
period between January 1971 and June 1980 is presented. Minor post-operative complications occurred in 5.8% of cases with a low post-operative infection rate of 1.2%. In 35% ofpatients, persistence of non-motile sperms in the semen were seen after at least ten ejaculations in each instance. In four of these cases non-motile sperms continued to persist into the sixth month of follow-up even after at least 50 ejaculations in each instance.
Design method of a focusing dielectric lens antenna and temperature increment measurement at the focusing spot

Abd Rahman A, Kamardin K, Yamada Y, Takahashi M

Heliyon, 2024 Mar 30;10(6):e28061.
PMID: 38545209 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28061

In radio wave hyperthermia therapy, array antenna configuration was mainly studied to generate a small spot at the diseased part. Array antennas have the flexibility in controlling radiation performance, such as spot positions, by using their numerous radiating elements. However, the flexibility is achieved at the expense of antenna structure complexity. On the other hand, a lens antenna can concentrate radio waves into a small spot by forming a lens shape. The simplicity of a lens antenna structure lends itself to easy handling in a practical application. Moreover, the frequency independence of the lens antenna allows for a more flexible selection of hyperthermia therapy frequencies. Therefore, the lens antenna is selected as a focusing antenna in this paper. The lens shaping method and the temperature increment measurement are the main contents of this paper. The designed lens has a diameter of 30 cm, a focusing distance of 30 cm, and a working frequency of 2.45 GHz. A thin lens design method is applied to reduce lens weight. Firstly, the focusing ability of the designed lens is ensured by comparing the spot size results of electromagnetic (EM) simulation with its theoretical value. A spot size of 1.77 cm is obtained in both cases. Next, the temperature increment is examined by EM simulations. The temperature at the 2 cm tumor was increased to 41 °C from the human body temperature of 37 °C by an input power of 10 Watts (W). For the temperature increment measurement, a tumor within human body phantom is utilized and the available input power is reduced to 4 W. The tumor temperature increased from 21.5 °C of room temperature to 24.4 °C, which was captured by a thermal imaging camera. As a result, the functionality of the lens antenna for hyperthermia therapy is verified.
Fulltext Trends in inquiries on poisoning: a five-year report from the National Poison Centre, Malaysia

Awang R, Abd Rahman AF, Wan Abdullah WZA, Lajis R, Abdul Majid MI

Med J Malaysia, 2003 Aug;58(3):375-9.
PMID: 14750377

This report describes inquiries relating to poisoning cases which were received by the National Poison Centre of Malaysia from the years 1996 to 2000. The study utilized data from the NPC report forms. Only data relating to patient contact with a poison or chemical were included in the analysis. The poison centre received an average of 186 poisoning inquiries per year. Doctors remained the highest group of caller to the poison centre throughout the five-year period. Nearly 50% of all inquiries was regarding pesticide poisoning and this trend remained constant during the five-year period. Overall, the findings showed that poisoning inquiries relating to patient care were lower than in Japan and the United States.
Fulltext Association of MMP-9 gene polymorphisms with nephrolithiasis patients

Mehde AA, Mehdi WA, Yusof F, Raus RA, Zainal Abidin ZA, Ghazali H, et al.

J Clin Lab Anal, 2018 Jan;32(1).
PMID: 28205286 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.22173

BACKGROUND: Nephrolithiasis is one of the causes which lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases degrading extracellular matrix which correlate with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The current study was designed to analyze the association of (R279Q, C1562T) polymorphism of MMP-9 with nephrolithiasis patients.
METHODS: Genotyping of MMP-9/R279Q and of MMP-9/C1562T polymorphism were carried out by PCR-based restriction digestion method. Serum level of MMP-9, oxidative stress marker, MDA, and uric acid were measured in patients and control.
RESULTS: Allele frequencies of the MMP-9/C1562T polymorphism for C and T allele were 71.25% and 28.75% in patients, 87.08% and 12.92% in control respectively. The homozygote TT was more frequent in the nephrolithiasis patients group, while T allele frequency was significantly higher in the nephrolithiasis patients group than in the control group. The patients with CT and TT genotype showed a significant increase in serum MMP-9, Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Oxidative Stress Index (OSI), Malondialdehyde (MDA), and uric acid when compared to CC genotype in patients with nephrolithiasis. The R279Q polymorphism site with regard to the relationship with nephrolithiasis was not significant.
CONCLUSION: The result indicates that patients with TT genotype had an increased risk of stones. Also, the results demonstrate that TT allele of the C1562T polymorphism in the MMP-9gene is related with an increase of oxidative stress in nephrolithiasis patients and may possibly impose a risk for cardiovascular diseases in patients with TT genotype of MMP-9.
Fulltext Developing a Risk Governance Framework on Radiological Emergency, Preparedness, and Response for Emergency Responders: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

Abd Rahman A, Abdul Manaf R, Lim PY, Suppiah S, Juni MH

JMIR Res Protoc, 2021 Aug 13;10(8):e25877.
PMID: 34398793 DOI: 10.2196/25877

BACKGROUND: Risk governance involves processes and mechanisms to understand how risk decisions are taken and executed. This concept has gained a reputation over time as being essential for emerging comprehensive management that defines the success of an organization. While guiding documents that explain the use of risk management related to nuclear safety and security are available worldwide, few locally conducted studies have explained risk governance practices in areas where hazard usage is known, such as in radiological emergencies.
OBJECTIVE: This paper describes a protocol that was used to determine several factors that influence emergency responders' perceptions toward radiological risk practices and visualize the risk radiological framework for emergency preparedness and response.
METHODS: A mixed methods study with a convergent design was performed. A qualitative analysis was performed using a case study approach where 6 key informants were purposely sampled for in-depth interview, and a cross-sectional study involving a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among approximately 260 emergency respondents from national regulatory, research, and services organizations. NVivo (version 12, QSR International) was used to analyze the interview transcripts and emerging themes were identified through abductive coding. Simultaneously, multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine significant predictors that form the equation model.
RESULTS: The study is still underway. Qualitative findings were based on transcript-coding that informed the relevant thematic analysis, while statistical analyses including multiple logistic regression analysis measured the adjusted odds ratio of significant variables for the equation model. The study is expected to conclude in late 2021.
CONCLUSIONS: Important emerging themes and significant factors that are related to the emergency responders' perceptions regarding radiological governance practices were determined through the convergent design. This potentially facilitated the development of a plausible radiological risk governance framework. Furthermore, our results will provide key insights that can be used in future studies.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/25877.
Fulltext Biting rhythm and demographic attributes of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) females from different urbanized settings in Penang Island, Malaysia under uncontrolled laboratory conditions

Muhammad NAF, Abu Kassim NF, Ab Majid AH, Abd Rahman A, Dieng H, Avicor SW

PLoS One, 2020;15(11):e0241688.
PMID: 33175896 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241688

Urbanization could potentially modify Aedes albopictus' ecology by changing the dynamics of the species, and affecting their breeding sites due to environmental changes, and thus contribute to dengue outbreaks. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the biting rhythm, fecundity and longevity of adult female Ae. albopictus in relation to urbanization strata; urban, suburban and rural areas in Penang Island, Malaysia. The experiments were done in comparison to a laboratory strain. Twenty-four hours biting activity of all the mosquito strains showed a clear bimodal biting activity, with morning and evening twilight peaks. The interaction effect between biting time and mosquito strains was not significant. Meanwhile, differences in fecundity among mosquito strains were statistically significant (F(3,442) = 10.559, P < 0.05) with urban areas having higher mean number of eggs (mean = 107.69, standard error = 3.98) than suburban (mean = 94.48, standard error = 5.18), and rural areas (mean = 72.52, standard error = 3.87). Longevity of adult females were significantly higher (F(3,441) = 31.259, P < 0.05) for mosquito strains from urban areas compared to the other strains. These findings would provide crucial information for the planning of control programs in Malaysia, particularly Penang.
Fulltext Polycystic kidney disease concurrent with feline parvovirus and bacterial infections in domestic shorthair cat: a case report

Sim Lam PPL, Reduan MFH, Jasni S, Shaari R, Shaharulnizim N, Nordin ML, et al.

Comp Clin Path, 2020 Sep 28.
PMID: 33013278 DOI: 10.1007/s00580-020-03170-4

Feline polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited disorder caused by the mutation of PKD1 gene that eventually lead to the development of chronic kidney disease. The latter condition causes hypertension and eventually progress into congestive heart failure. Feline parvovirus (FPV) is a highly contagious and often fatal disease infecting cats and other members of Felidae. An 8-month-old female domestic shorthair cat was presented with complaint of wound dehiscence a day after ovarian hysterectomy procedure. The wound at the suture site appeared necrotic, purulent with foul smell. The cat was found to have diarrhoea during the fixation of suture breakdown and, later, was tested positive with parvovirus infection. Complete blood count revealed anaemia, neutrophilia, lymphopenia and thrombocytosis. Biochemistry profiles showed hypoproteinaemia and elevated of urea and creatinine. The cat was hospitalised, and symptomatic treatments were given. During hospitalisation, the cat showed symptoms of polydipsia and polyuria and found dead 2 days later. Post-mortem findings demonstrated the cat had oral ulceration, thoracic effusion, fibrinopleuropneumonia, pericardial effusion, left ventricular hypertrophy and right ventricular dilation, chronic passive liver congestion, mesenteric lymphadenomegaly, intestinal haemorrhage, adrenomegaly and polycystic kidney. Histopathological evaluation revealed fibrinous pleuropneumonia, pulmonary atelectasis, emphysema and oedema, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hepatic necrosis, splenic necrosis, intestinal necrosis, renal necrosis and renal polycystic. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were isolated from bronchus swab and intestinal segment, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed parvovirus infection. The cat was definitely diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease concurrent with parvoviral and secondary bacterial infections.
Fulltext Vaping topography and reasons of use among adults in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Zainol Abidin N, Abidin EZ, Zulkifli A, Syed Ismail SN, Karuppiah K, Amer Nordin AS, et al.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2018 Feb 26;19(2):457-462.
PMID: 29480664

Background: Consistency and accuracy of results in assessing health risks due to vaping or e-cigarette use are difficult to achieve without established consumption data. The present report covers baseline data on vaping topography and reasons for use among local users in Klang Valley, Malaysia.
Methods: An 80-item survey regarding socio-demographic characteristics, smoking topography and reasons for e-cigarette use was employed to assess e-cigarette users recruited from several public universities and private organisations. The survey questionnaire was self-administered. Data were analysed using statistical software.
Results: Eighty-six current e-cigarette users participated with more than half (51.2%) of them aged ≥ 25 years old. Significant proportions of the sample were single (51.2%), had a tertiary education level (63.5%) and a household income of less than USD1000 per month (65.2%). Median duration of e-cigarette use was less than a year; users drew approximately 50 puffs per day and refilled twice a day. The majority (74%) used e-liquids containing nicotine with a concentration of 6 μg/mL. Daily users spent USD18-23 per month. Reasons for using the e-cigarette included enjoyment of the products (85.9%), perception of lower toxicity than tobacco (87%), and the fact that it was a cheaper smoking alternative (61%).
Conclusion: The data on e-cigarette smoking topography obtained in this study are novel. The reasons of usage were mainly users’ enjoyment of e-cigarettes, preparation for quitting smoking, perception of low toxicity and a healthier smoking substitute and cheapness in the long run. The results establish basic knowledge for the local vaping topography and reference material for future e-cigarette-related research.