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Fulltext Single-dose oral ampicillin in the treatment of gonococcal urethritis in males

Bakar R, Lim VKE

Med J Malaysia, 1981 Dec;36(4):202-4.
PMID: 7334952

One hundred and eight consecutive previously untreated males with gonococcal urethritis were treated with single-dose oral ampicillin under supervision. A high failure-rate of 41.5 percent was obtained. The main cause of failure was the high incidence of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae - an overall incidence of 37.2 percent was obtained.
Fulltext Pattern of urethritis in males in a Kuala Lumpur STD (sexually transmitted diseases) clinic

Lim VKE, Bakar RA

Med J Malaysia, 1981 Dec;36(4):199-201.
PMID: 6801446

One hundred and thirty-eight male patients presented unth. a total of 146 episodes of urethritis at a Kuala Lumpur STD clinic over a period of six months. Gonorrhoea accounted for almost 4 out of 5 cases of male urethritis. The incidence of betalactamase producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was 36 percent. Furthermore nearly 3 out of 10 cases of gonococcal urethritis developed post-gonococcal urethritis.
Fulltext Single dose oral amoxycillin and clavulanic acid in the treatment of gonococcal urethritis in males

Lim VKE, Bakar R, Hussin Z

Med J Malaysia, 1982 Sep;37(3):235-8.
PMID: 6757686

Forty-two previously untreated male patients with uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis were treated with a single dose oral regimen comprising 3 gm ofamoxycillin and 125 mg of clavulanic acid. Thirty-five patients returned for follow-up and the cure rate among them was 89 percent. The cure rate for patients infected with penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) was 73 percent. Further work is required to establish the optimum dosage for this particular regimen.

Study site: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinic at the Faculty of Medicine,
Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM)
Distribution of oil and grease and petroleum hydrocarbons in the Straits of Johor, peninsular Malaysia

Abdullah AR, Woon WC, Bakar RA

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol, 1996 Jul;57(1):155-62.
PMID: 8661474
Fulltext A profile of acute myocardial infarction in urban Malays

Bakar R, Ng WH, Kew ST, Mohan A

Med J Malaysia, 1982 Mar;37(1):62-5.
PMID: 7121349

This is a retrospectioe study of epidemiological and riskfactors ofischaemic heart disease in Malay patients admitted into the Coronary Care Unit, General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur between October 1977 and December 1979 unth. proven myocardial infarction. Ofthe 116patients (M/F sex ratio 9.5 : 1), the incidence of various risk factors were smoking 82 percent, hypertension 42 percent, hypercholesterolemia 23 percent, diabetes mellitus 20 percent and family history 9 percent. Anterior infarctions were more common than inferior. Hyperuricemia was detected in 19 percent and 96 percent had at least one major riskfactor. In terms ofoccupation, a majorproportion ofthose afflicted were pensioners, security personnel and businessmen.
Fulltext Positive psychology and employee adaptive performance: systematic literature review

Tang G, Abu Bakar R, Omar S

Front Psychol, 2024;15:1417260.
PMID: 39205983 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1417260

Adaptive performance will increasingly be confronted with new insights as society today changes constantly. This raises questions as to what factors will impact employee's adaptive performance and what is their inner psychological mechanism. The terms of positive psychology and adaptive performance are important concepts in the domain of organizational behavior and human resource development areas. The literature, however, lacks a systematic review of it. Our research seeks to explore the inherence of employee adaptive performance via the prism of positive psychology, including Psychological Capital and PERMA (Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment). We selected 27 papers out of 382, which were generated from Web of Science and Scopus databases associated the keywords of the two concepts, and used the 2020 PRISMA flow program for the paper screening. By analyzing the underpin theories, the causation, and the measurement, we discovered that there is a complex and nuanced relationship between positive psychology and adaptive performance, and most of the research to date suggests that positive psychology components improve employee adaptive performance. This study maps the current knowledge at the nexus of positive psychology and adaptive performance to identify existing gaps and potential for further investigation.
Neuroregenerative potential of lion's mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury (review)

Wong KH, Naidu M, David RP, Bakar R, Sabaratnam V

Int J Med Mushrooms, 2012;14(5):427-46.
PMID: 23510212

We present a model case study of the activity of aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus fresh fruit bodies in promoting functional recovery following crush injury to the peroneal nerve in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. The aim was to explore the possible use of this mushroom in nerve repair. The activities of aqueous extract were compared to activities exhibited by mecobalamin (vitamin B12), which has been widely used in the treatment of peripheral nerve disorders. Analysis of walking track indicated that return of hind limb function and normal toe spreading occurred earlier in treated groups than in the negative control (non-treated) group. Regeneration of axons and reinnervation of motor endplates/neuromuscular junction in extensor digitorum longus muscle of rats in treated groups developed better than in the negative control group. Further, immunofluorescence studies also showed that dorsal root ganglia neurons ipsilateral to the crush injury in rats of treated groups expressed higher immunoreactivities for Akt and MAPK signaling pathways as well as c-Jun and c-Fos genes compared to the negative control group. Akt cascade plays a major role in mediating neurotrophin-promoted cell survival, while MAPK cascade is involved in mediating neurite outgrowth. Immediate early gene expression was also involved in the cascade of events leading to regeneration. Local axonal protein synthetic machinery was also enhanced in the distal segments of crushed nerves in treated groups. Therefore, daily oral administration of H. erinaceus could promote the regeneration of injured rat peroneal nerve in the early stage of recovery.
Fulltext Lack of Association between the Serotonin Transporter (5-HTT) and Serotonin Receptor (5-HT2A) Gene Polymorphisms with Smoking Behavior among Malaysian Malays

Rozak NI, Ahmad I, Gan SH, Abu Bakar R

Sci Pharm, 2014 07 18;82(3):631-42.
PMID: 25853073 DOI: 10.3797/scipharm.1406-01

An insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and a polymorphism (rs6313) in the serotonin 2A receptor gene (5-HT2A) have previously been linked to smoking behavior. The objective of this study was to determine the possible association of the 5-HTTLPR and 5-HT2A gene polymorphisms with smoking behavior within a population of Malaysian male smokers (n=248) and non-smokers (n=248). The 5-HTTLPR genotypes were determined using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were classified as short (S) alleles or long (L) alleles. The 5HT2A genotypes were determined using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP). No significant differences in the distribution frequencies of the alleles were found between the smokers and the non-smokers for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (x(2) = 0.72, P>0.05) or the 5HT2A polymorphism (x(2) = 0.73, P>0.05). This is the first study conducted on Malaysian Malay males regarding the association of 5-HTTLPR and 5HT2A polymorphisms and smoking behavior. However, the genes were not found to be associated with smoking behavior in our population.
Continuity of illicit drug use among Malay patients attending methadone clinics in Kelantan, Malaysia

Ab Lloh S, Mohamad N, Badrin S, Abu Bakar R, Ahmad I

J Ethn Subst Abuse, 2023;22(1):45-59.
PMID: 33472556 DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2021.1871696

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of continuity of illicit drug use and its associated factors among Malay opioid users receiving methadone treatment in Kelantan, Malaysia. This cross-sectional study involved a total of 150 respondents. Sociodemographic characteristic of participants, level of religiosity, and quality of life were collected using the self-administered questionnaires. The prevalence of continuity illicit drug use was 38.7% (n = 58) by self-report and 40.7% (n = 61) by positive urine test result for drugs. Positive hepatitis C status and high quality of life in the psychological health domain were associated with low continuity of illicit drug use by self-reported data and urine drug test results. In conclusion, the continuity of illicit drug use among methadone program users is still high, especially among those on methadone therapy for less than 2 years.
Degradable, Ultraviolet-Crosslinked Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives Made from Thioester-Functional Acrylate Copolymers

Abu Bakar R, Hepburn KS, Keddie JL, Roth PJ

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 2023 Aug 21;62(34):e202307009.
PMID: 37378955 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202307009

Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are made from soft, irreversibly lightly crosslinked polymers. Even after removal from surfaces, they retain insoluble networks which pose problems during the recycling of glass and cardboard. Herein, degradable PSAs are presented that provide the required performance in use but have networks that can be degraded after use. A series of copolymers was prepared through radical copolymerization of n-butyl acrylate, 4-acryloyloxy benzophenone (ABP) photo-crosslinker, and dibenzo[c,e]oxepin-5(7H)-thione (DOT) to provide degradable backbone thioesters. The optimum tack and peel strengths were found for molar contents of 0.05 mol% ABP and 0.25 mol% DOT. Degradation of the backbone thioesters through aminolysis or thiolysis led to the full dissolution of the networks, loss of adhesive properties of films (decreases in the measured tack and peel strengths), and the quick detachment of model labels from a substrate. Inclusion of DOT into PSAs offers a viable route toward degradable and recyclable packaging labels.
Fulltext Population Pharmacokinetics of Colistin Methanesulfonate Sodium and Colistin in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review

Zabidi MS, Abu Bakar R, Musa N, Mustafa S, Wan Yusuf WN

Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 2021 Sep 06;14(9).
PMID: 34577603 DOI: 10.3390/ph14090903

Understanding the pharmacokinetics parameter of colistin methanesulfonate sodium (CMS) and colistin is needed to optimize the dosage regimen in critically ill patients. However, there is a scarcity of pharmacokinetics parameters in this population. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of CMS and colistin pharmacokinetics parameters in this population. The relevant studies published in English that reported on the pharmacokinetics of CMS and colistin from 2000 until 2020 were systematically searched using the PubMed and Scopus electronic databases. Reference lists of articles were reviewed to identify additional studies. A total of 252 citation titles were identified, of which 101 potentially relevant abstracts were screened, and 25 full-text articles were selected for detailed analysis. Of those, 15 studies were included for the review. This review has demonstrated vast inter-study discrepancies in colistin plasma concentration and the pharmacokinetics parameter estimates. The discrepancies might be due to complex pathophysiological changes in the population studied, differences in CMS brand used, methodology, and study protocol. Application of loading dose of CMS and an additional dose of CMS after dialysis session was recommended by some studies. In view of inter-patient and intra-patient variability in colistin plasma concentration and pharmacokinetics parameters, personalized colistin dosing for this population is recommended.
Fulltext Analysis of serum and gene expression profile of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β1) in chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Che Noh I, Avoi R, Abdullah Nurul A, Ahmad I, Abu Bakar R

PeerJ, 2022;10:e13330.
PMID: 35469194 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13330

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major causes of liver cirrhosis and liver carcinoma. Studies have indicated that an imbalance of cytokine activities could contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic HCV infection. This study aimed to investigate serum levels and gene expression of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β1) in chronic HCV infection among Malay male subjects.
METHODS: Thirty-nine subjects were enrolled from various health clinics in Kelantan, Malaysia, and divided into two groups: patients with chronic HCV infection (HP) and healthy control (HS). The serum cytokines IL-6, TNF-a-were measured using Luminex assay, and serum TGF-β1 was measured by ELISA. The mRNA gene expression for IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β1 was measured by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the mean serum levels of IL-6, and TGF-β1 in HP compared to HS group (p = 0.0180 and p = 0.0005, respectively). There was no significant difference in the mean serum level of TNF-α in HP compared to HS group. The gene expression for the studied cytokines showed no significant differences in HP compared to HS group.
CONCLUSION: Serum IL-6 was significantly associated with chronic HCV infection.
Fulltext The Needs of Orthopaedic Patients in Discharge Planning

Muhamad H, Yusoff M, Shokri AA, Sulaiman Z, Bakar RS, Zain NM

Malays Orthop J, 2022 Nov;16(3):36-43.
PMID: 36589375 DOI: 10.5704/MOJ.2211.007

INTRODUCTION: Patients' transition from hospital to home could be challenging for patients and caregivers. This is of utmost importance for patients requiring special or long-term care such as post-orthopaedic surgery. Effective discharge planning is required to ensure that patients are prepared to and get continuous care after returning home to prevent complications. Patients' need assessment is essential to develop effective discharge planning to meet the patient's needs.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This mixed-method study aimed to determine the patient's needs to develop a discharge planning for total knee replacement surgery. The needs for 96 total knee replacement patients were assessed using the Needs Evaluation Questionnaire (NEQ). The in-depth interview primary focus was to explore the lived experience of the post-total knee replacement patients receiving care in the hospital.
RESULTS: A total of 96 participants (100%) completed the NEQ questionnaire. Most of the needs concerned by the participants were expressed by at least 70% of them except the financial need (59.4%). The semi-structured interview found two elements which were a support group and patients' needs in terms of emotional, physical and spiritual preparation in developing effective discharge planning.
CONCLUSION: This study clarified that the patient needs assessment in the patient care plan.
Fulltext Palm tocotrienol supplementation enhanced bone formation in oestrogen-deficient rats

Soelaiman IN, Ming W, Abu Bakar R, Hashnan NA, Mohd Ali H, Mohamed N, et al.

Int J Endocrinol, 2012;2012:532862.
PMID: 23150728 DOI: 10.1155/2012/532862

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the commonest cause of osteoporosis. It is associated with increased free radical activity induced by the oestrogen-deficient state. Therefore, supplementation with palm-oil-derived tocotrienols, a potent antioxidant, should be able to prevent this bone loss. Our earlier studies have shown that tocotrienol was able to prevent and even reverse osteoporosis due to various factors, including oestrogen deficiency. In this study we compared the effects of supplementation with palm tocotrienol mixture or calcium on bone biomarkers and bone formation rate in ovariectomised (oestrogen-deficient) female rats. Our results showed that palm tocotrienols significantly increased bone formation in oestrogen-deficient rats, seen by increased double-labeled surface (dLS/Bs), reduced single-labeled surface (sLS/BS), increased mineralizing surface (MS/BS), increased mineral apposition rate (MAR), and an overall increase in bone formation rate (BFR/BS). These effects were not seen in the group supplemented with calcium. However, no significant changes were seen in the serum levels of the bone biomarkers, osteocalcin, and cross-linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen, CTX. In conclusion, palm tocotrienol is more effective than calcium in preventing oestrogen-deficient bone loss. Further studies are needed to determine the potential of tocotrienol as an antiosteoporotic agent.
Fulltext Addressing non-communicable diseases in Malaysia: an integrative process of systems and community

Mustapha F, Omar Z, Mihat O, Md Noh K, Hassan N, Abu Bakar R, et al.

BMC Public Health, 2014;14 Suppl 2:S4.
PMID: 25080846 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-S2-S4

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and NCD risk factors in Malaysia have risen substantially in the last two decades. The Malaysian Ministry of Health responded by implementing, "The National Strategic Plan for Non-Communicable Diseases (NSP-NCD) 2010-2014", and the "NCD Prevention 1Malaysia" (NCDP-1M) programme. This paper outlines the primary health system context in which the NCDP-1M is framed. We also discuss the role of community in facilitating the integration of this programme, and outline some of the key challenges in addressing the sustainability of the plan over the next few years. The paper thus provides an analysis of an integration of a programme that involved a multi-sectoral approach with the view to contributing to a broader discourse on the development of responsive health systems.
Fulltext Factors Associated With Nosocomial COVID-19 Infection Among Health Care Workers in an Urban-Setting Malaysia Hospital

Yap JF, Ng RJ, Chin SM, Mohammed Abu Bakar R, Nik Jaafar NZ, Mohamad Razali SZ, et al.

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2023 Mar 05.
PMID: 36872616 DOI: 10.1177/10105395231159262

This single-center study aimed to explore the factors associated with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission in a hospital. All laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases among health care workers (HCWs) in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia were analyzed cross-sectionally from January 25, 2020, to September 10, 2021. A total of 897 HCWs in the hospital had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection during the study period. Around 37.4% of HCWs were suspected to acquire COVID-19 infection from the hospital workplace. Factors associated with lower odds of workplace COVID-19 transmission were being females, ≥30 years old, fully vaccinated, and working as clinical support staff. Involvement in COVID-19 patient care was significantly associated with higher odds (adjusted odds ratio = 3.53, 95% confidence interval: [2.42, 5.12]) of workplace COVID-19 transmission as compared with non-workplace transmission. Most HCWs in the tertiary hospital acquired COVID-19 infection from non-workplace settings. During a pandemic, it is important to communicate with HCWs about the risk of both workplace and non-workplace COVID-19 transmission and to implement measures to reduce both workplace and non-workplace COVID-19 transmission.

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