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Fulltext Nanomaterials-Upconverted Hydroxyapatite for Bone Tissue Engineering and a Platform for Drug Delivery

Abdul Halim NA, Hussein MZ, Kandar MK

Int J Nanomedicine, 2021;16:6477-6496.
PMID: 34584412 DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S298936

Hydroxyapatite is a basic mineral that is very important to the human body framework. Recently, synthetic hydroxyapatite (SHA) and its nanocomposites (HANs) are the subject of intense research for bone tissue engineering and drug loading system applications, due to their unique, tailor-made characteristics, as well as their similarities with the bone mineral component in the human body. Although hydroxyapatite has good biocompatibility and osteoconductive characteristics, the poor mechanical strength restricts its use in non-load-bearing applications. Consequently, a rapid increase in reinforcing of other nanomaterials into hydroxyapatite for the formation of HANs could improve the mechanical properties. Most of the research reported on the success of other nanomaterials such as metals, ceramics and natural/synthetic polymers as additions into hydroxyapatite is reviewed. In addition, this review also focuses on the addition of various substances into hydroxyapatite for the formation of various HANs and at the same time to try to minimize the limitations so that various bone tissue engineering and drug loading system applications can be exploited.
Synergistic effect of probe sonication and ionic liquid for extraction of phenolic acids from oak galls

Sukor NF, Jusoh R, Kamarudin NS, Abdul Halim NA, Sulaiman AZ, Abdullah SB

Ultrason Sonochem, 2020 Apr;62:104876.
PMID: 31796331 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2019.104876

Phenolic acids of oak gall were extracted using ultrasonic-probe assisted extraction (UPAE) method in the presence of ionic liquid. It was compared with classical ultrasonic-bath assisted extraction (CUBAE) and conventional aqueous extraction (CAE) method, with and without the presence of ionic liquid. Remarkably, the UPAE method yielded two-fold higher extraction yield with the presence of ionic liquid, resulting 481.04 mg/g for gallic acids (GA) and 2287.90 mg/g for tannic acids (TA), while a decreased value of 130.36 mg/g for GA and 1556.26 mg/g for TA were resulted with the absence of ionic liquid. Intensification process resulted the highest yield of 497.34 mg/g and 2430.48 mg/g for GA and TA, respectively, extracted at temperature 50 °C with sonication intensity of 8.66 W/cm2 and 10% duty cycle, diluted in ionic liquid, 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [Bmim][Tf2N] at concentration of 0.10 M with sample-to-solvent ratio 1:10 for 8 h. Peleg's model successfully predicted the UPAE process confirming that extraction capacity is the controlling factor in extracting phenolic acids. Hence, it can be concluded that UPAE method and ionic liquid have synergistic effect as it effectively enhanced the extraction efficiency to increase the bioactive constituents yield.
Fulltext Understanding the determinants of e-wallet continuance usage intention in Malaysia

Abdul-Halim NA, Vafaei-Zadeh A, Hanifah H, Teoh AP, Nawaser K

Qual Quant, 2021 Nov 09.
PMID: 34776542 DOI: 10.1007/s11135-021-01276-7

The present research aims to investigate the determinants of e-wallet continuance usage intention in Malaysia using extending Technology Continuance Theory (TCT) via examining four variables, namely price benefit, trust, habit, and operational constraints. This paper adopts a quantitative approach to collect data with non-probability sampling using the purposive sampling technique. An online survey was conducted and a total of 379 respondents submitted their answers. The obtained results have shown that continue use of e-wallet is not affected by perceived usefulness (PU) and trust. However, there is a significant influence associated with perceived ease of use (PEU), PU, and satisfaction toward user's attitude that, in turn, substantially impacts the users' intention to continue to use e-wallet. This is one of the prior studies exploring Malaysian's intention to continue using e-wallet, using the TCT model as the research framework, and through examining four variables adopted from the literature, including price benefit, habit, trust, and operational constraints. The practical implications for the service providers and policymakers from the present findings can be used to develop strategies to gain a sustainable, competitive advantage, and promote continuous intention of e-wallet usage.
Fulltext Honeycomb and necklace signs in liver abscesses secondary to melioidosis

Ong SCL, Alemam MMM, Zakaria NA, Abdul Halim NA

BMJ Case Rep, 2017 Oct 19;2017.
PMID: 29054959 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-222342

Melioidosis is endemic in Southeast Asia and tropical Australia with varying clinical features from benign skin lesions to fatal septicaemia. Imaging plays an important role in evaluation of the melioid liver abscesses. A 45-year-old man with underlying diabetes presented with fever and lethargy for 2 weeks and abdominal pain for 2 days. His liver was enlarged on examination. Blood investigations revealed mild leucocytosis and raised liver enzymes. Ultrasound showed multiple multiloculated hypoechoic lesions throughout the liver and spleen. CT of abdomen confirmed that some liver lesions were made up of asymmetric locules of varying sizes (honeycomb sign), while others had hypodense centre with small symmetric peripheral locules in radial fashion (necklace sign). Blood culture was positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei He was subsequently treated with ceftazidime for a month followed by oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 3 months. Follow-up CT of abdomen a month after diagnosis and treatment showed resolving hepatic and splenic lesions.
Fulltext Application of the Logic Model to the School-Based Fit and Smart Adolescent Smoking Cessation Programme

Abdul Halim NA, Wee LH, Mohd Saat NZ, Jit Singh SJ, Siau CS, Chan CMH

Malays J Med Sci, 2022 Oct;29(5):133-145.
PMID: 36474542 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2022.29.5.14

BACKGROUND: School-based smoking cessation intervention programmes are challenging to implement and evaluate. This study aimed to explain the process of developing the Fit and Smart Adolescent Smoking Cessation Programme (FSSCP). Logic model is a visual tool that helps programme planners to create an activity action plan that suits the target group to achieve programme objectives and goals.
METHODS: This two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial was implemented between January 2018 and November 2018. Six schools were selected using stratified random sampling, whereby students were purposively selected and invited. The criteria of inclusion to the programme were secondary school students (aged 13 years old-17 years old) who smoked conventional cigarettes (CC) and electronic cigarettes (EC).
RESULTS: A total of 422 students from six schools participated in this study. Three schools were designated as intervention (n = 250) and the other three as control schools (n = 172). Formative evaluation of participants in the FSSCP using the logic model showed that participants were satisfied with the overall programme (91.5%), were motivated to stop smoking (90.4%) and were prevented from relapse (89.2%). The quit rate at a 3-month follow-up was 41.8%.
CONCLUSION: The logic model supported the development of the programme, with details on the processes, dissemination activities, identification of barriers, evaluation criteria and outcomes provided.