One hundred seventy-one patients suffering from chronic renal diseases at Kuala Lumpur Hospital participated in a crosssectional study with purposive sampling to ascertain prevalence rates of Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), Giardia
intestinalis (G. intestinalis), Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) and Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis). The patients
were divided into 2 groups: post-transplant group (138 patients) and pre-transplant group (33 patients). In this study, the
parasite infection is linked to the aspects of race, gender, renal patient’s group and the postrenal transplantation period.
Immunofluorescence staining was performed on fecal slides for the detection of C. parvum oocysts and G. intestinalis cysts.
Sand charcoal culture technique was also used to detect the presence of S. strongyloides in fecal samples. The findings
showed that the prevalence of C. parvum, G. intestinalis dan B. hominis among post-transplant patients was 18.1%,
10.9% and 22.5%, respectively but none of the pretransplant patient was infected. Meanwhile, both patient groups were
free of S. stercoralis infection. Furthermore, there was no significant association between post-transplantation period
and pattern in prevalence of the studied parasites, however, it was noted that the prevalence rates of C. parvum and G.
intestinalis had declined after 6 months post transplantati
A cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2006 to determine the prevalence of Trichuris trichiura infection among Orang Asli (Aborigine) children at Pos Lenjang, Pahang. A total of 71 faecal samples were collected from the children (40 girls and 31 boys) aged between 1-12 years. The samples were examined for the presence of Trichuris trichiura ova using direct smear and formalin-ether concentration techniques. The result revealed that the overall prevalence of Trichuris trichiura infection was 43.7%. The infection was higher in males (51.6%) compared to females (37.5%), though not statistically significant (p > 0.05). According to age group, the school-aged children had higher prevalence of infection (56.8%) than preschool children (29.4%) (p < 0.05). Low socioeconomic status, large family size, poor environmental sanitation and poor personal hygiene are possible contributing factors that increase the prevalence of infection among the Orang Asli children at Pos Lenjang. In 31 samples positive for Trichuris trichiura, a detection rate of 100% was obtained using formalin-ether concentration, compared to 25.8% with direct smear technique. Thus, it is recommended that both techniques be performed in routine faecal examination for a more accurate diagnosis.
Infeksi Entamoeba histolytica adalah tersebar di seluruh dunia dengan prevalens infeksi yang lebih tinggi di kalangan masyarakat terpinggir termasuk Orang Asli yang tinggal di kawasan tropika dan subtropika. Seramai 71 orang kanak-kanak Orang Asli dari Pos Lenjang, Pahang telah terlibat di dalam kajian ini. Bagi kajian yang lebih terperinci, kumpulan kanak-kanak ini telah dibahagikan menurut jantina dan umur. Sampel feses dikumpul dan setiap sampel diperiksa bagi pengenalpastian Entamoeba histolytica dengan menggunakan 3 jenis teknik diagnostik yang berbeza iaitu teknik apusan langsung, konsentrasi formalin-eter dan perwarnaan trikrom. Prevalens infeksi protozoa usus Entamoeba histolytica di kalangan kanak-kanak Orang Asli di Pos Lenjang, Pahang adalah tinggi iaitu 22.5%. Dari segi jantina, prevalens infeksi lebih tinggi di kalangan kanak-kanak perempuan (32.5%) berbanding kanak-kanak lelaki (9.7%). Infeksi juga didapati lebih kerap berlaku di kalangan kanak-kanak yang bersekolah (32.4%) berbanding kanak-kanak prasekolah (11.8%). Prevalens infeksi Entamoeba histolytica yang tinggi di kalangan kanak-kanak Orang Asli di Pos Lenjang, Pahang adalah berhubung kait dengan pelbagai faktor termasuk status sosioekonomi yang rendah, budaya, kekurangan kemudahan asas dan tahap pengetahuan mengenai penjagaan kesihatan serta kebersihan diri yang rendah.
Giardia intestinalis merupakan parasit kosmopolitan dan infeksinya tersebar luas di seluruh dunia terutamanya di negara membangun yang tahap sanitasinya rendah dan kekurangan bekalan air yang bersih. Seramai 71 orang kanak-kanak Orang Asli dari Pos Lenjang, Pahang telah terlibat di dalam kajian ini. Sampel feses dikumpul dan diperiksa bagi mengesan infeksi G. intestinalis dengan menggunakan tiga teknik diagnosis iaitu teknik apusan langsung, konsentrasi formalin-eter dan perwarnaan trikrom. Prevalens infeksi Giardia intestinalis di kalangan kanak-kanak Orang Asli di Pos Lenjang, Pahang adalah tinggi iaitu 43.7%. Dari segi jantina, prevalens infeksi hampir sama di kalangan kanak-kanak perempuan (45.0%) berbanding kanak-kanak lelaki (41.9%). Infeksi juga didapati lebih banyak berlaku di kalangan kanak-kanak bersekolah (48.6%) berbanding kanakkanak pra-sekolah (38.2%).
Blastocystis hominis merupakan antara protozoa yang paling biasa ditemui di dalam sampel feses manusia di seluruh dunia. Prevalens infeksi protozoa ini adalah lebih tinggi di kalangan mereka yang tinggal di negara membangun berbanding negara maju. Seramai 71 orang kanak-kanak Orang Asli dari Pos Lenjang, Pahang telah menjadi subjek dalam kajian ini. Bagi kajian yang lebih terperinci, kumpulan kanak-kanak ini telah dibahagikan menurut jantina dan umur. Sampel feses dikumpul dan setiap sampel diperiksa dengan menggunakan 3 teknik diagnostik iaitu teknik apusan langsung, konsentrasi formalin-eter dan perwarnaan trikrom bagi tujuan pengesanan dan pengenalpastian Blastocystis hominis. Prevalens infeksi Blastocystis hominis di kalangan kanak-kanak Orang Asli adalah sangat tinggi iaitu 93%. Kanak-kanak perempuan didapati lebih ramai terinfeksi (97.5%) berbanding kanak-kanak lelaki (87.1%) walaupun secara statistiknya tidak signifikan (p>0.05). Protozoa ini juga telah menginfeksi kesemua kanak-kanak prasekolah (100%) manakala kanak-kanak yang bersekolah turut menunjukkan prevalens infeksi yang tinggi iaitu 86.5%. Daripada segi diagnosis, teknik perwarnaan trikrom didapati paling sensitif dan ia dapat mengenalpasti kesemua (66) sampel feses yang positif dengan Blastocystis hominis. Ini diikuti dengan teknik konsentrasi formalin-eter (43 sampel) dan teknik apusan langsung (18 sampel) (p<0.05). Prevalens infeksi Blastocystis hominis yang tinggi di kalangan kanak-kanak Orang Asli adalah berhubungkait dengan pelbagai faktor termasuk status sosioekonomi yang rendah, budaya, kekurangan kemudahan asas dan tahap pengetahuan mengenai penjagaan kesihatan serta kebersihan diri yang rendah. Selain itu, peningkatan prevalens infeksi dalam kajian ini menunjukkan pentingnya penggunaan teknik diagnostik yang lebih berkesan di dalam pemeriksaan rutin bagi memperolehi hasil diagnosis yang lebih tepat.
Toksoplasmosis adalah penyakit akibat daripada jangkitan Toxoplasma gondii kerana protozoa ini merupakan patogen oportunistik yang penting dalam kalangan penerima organ. Jangkitan biasanya adalah tanpa gejala tetapi ia boleh menjadi serius sehingga mengancam nyawa terutama bagi pesakit terimunokompromi. Oleh itu, suatu kajian irisan lintang dengan pensampelan purposif telah dijalankan untuk mengesan kadar prevalens jangkitan T. gondii dalam kalangan 171 orang pesakit renal kronik di Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). Subjek kajian dibahagi kepada 2 kumpulan iaitu kumpulan penerima transplan renal yang terdiri daripada 138 orang pesakit renal kronik dan kumpulan kawalan yang merupakan 33 orang pesakit renal kronik yang belum menjalani transplantasi renal. Kaedah serologi iaitu ‘Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody’ (IFA) digunakan untuk mengesan IgG anti-Toksoplasma di dalam serum kedua-dua kumpulan pesakit. Selain itu, kadar seropositif dan min titer IgG ditentukan berdasarkan tempoh pascatransplantasi. Sebanyak 39.4% pesakit daripada kumpulan kawalan dikesan mempunyai antibodi IgG terhadap T. gondii manakala kadar seropositif dalam kalangan pesakit pascatransplan adalah 30.4%. Hasil kajian turut menunjukkan tempoh pascatransplantasi tidak mempengaruhi corak jangkitan T. gondii walaupun terdapat peningkatan kadar seropositif jangkitan selepas 6 bulan transplantasi renal dijalankan. Di samping itu, wujudnya korelasi antara min titer IgG dan tempoh pascatransplantasi dengan titer meningkat secara signifikan daripada 2.68 kepada 7.14 sejajar dengan pertambahan tempoh pascatransplantasi renal. Kadar kes toksoplasmosis dalam kalangan pesakit pascatransplan boleh dikurangkan sekiranya ujian saringan awal terhadap jangkitan T. gondii dijalankan. Profilaksis dan pemeriksaan susulan juga perlu dilakukan ke atas pesakit renal kronik untuk mengelak daripada berlakunya sebarang kerumitan yang teruk.
In the 21st century, obesity and its related health complications have become a serious problem worldwide. The primary reasons for this situation are environmental and genetic factors. In this review, we focused on a genetic marker that was found to play a crucial role in determining an individual’s predisposition to weight gain and being obese. This dissertation will also have a look into genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that revealed the possible link of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in the first intron of the Fat Mass Obesity Associated (FTO) gene to body mass index and obesity. Moreover, it has become clear that this association with the regulation of body weight is replicable across multiple populations. Furthermore, evidence from animal models where FTO expression has indicated the role of the FTO gene in the regulation of body weight. In the regulation of body weight, FTO protein disallows weight gain by increasing the body’s sensitivity to satiety to prevent excessive food intake through fat cell lipolysis. On the other hand, the FTO variant risk allele increased the appetite and energy intake, but not the expenditure of energy that can lead to weight gain. Individual that is having homozygous of the risk allele, which is the A-allele, was associated with the risk of being obese and the rise in BMI. The purpose of this review is to discuss the association of the FTO gene common variant, rs9939609 with obesity and body mass index, and to describe the role of the FTO gene in the regulation of body weight.
In recent years, the growing number and active spread of antibiotic
resistance have become a major concern globally. This forces the need to
discover, analyse and develop new kinds of antibiotics, especially among
plants. There are still limited data on the extracts from Hylocereus
polyrhizus fruit as antimicrobials. In this study, the disc diffusion and brothmicrodilution methods are used to investigate the antimicrobial activity of
methanol and ethanol extracts of Hylocereus polyrhizus flesh towards
selected bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus,
Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and
Escherichia coli). The methanolic extract possesses better antimicrobial
properties. The methanolic extract of H. polyrhizus showed significant
antimicrobial activities against all Gram-positive bacteria, and one of the
Gram-negative bacteria, which is better compared to ethanolic extract. The
range of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal
concentration (MBC) are 125mg/mL to 250mg/mL. In conclusion, this study
shows that H. polyrhizus could be used as an alternative for the pre-existing
antimicrobial agent.
The controversial usage of antiseptic in treating wound infections had become a huge issue over the years due to its minimal effectiveness and high toxicity level that are harmful to humans. Hence, numerous studies had been carried out to determine other possible approaches including herbal remedies. The alarming situation had led us to study on Piper sarmentosum and its antimicrobial activity against selected pathogens. In present study, methanol extract of Piper sarmentosum leaves were prepared to investigate the presence of phytochemical compounds. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of crude methanolic extract was evaluated using disc diffusion and microdilution broth methods. The study demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of leaves extract against Staphylococcus aureus (7 mm) and Escherichia coli (6.5 mm). However, no zone of inhibition was observed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Meanwhile, the MIC values for Staphylococcus aureus was 6.25 mg/mL whilst Escherichia coli was 12.5 mg/mL. In addition, the phytochemical screening results revealed that the extract contained glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and phenolics. In conclusion, methanolic extract of Piper sarmentosum leaves has the potential as a new, effective alternative towards current drugs that are available for skin-associated infection. The findings from this study are crucial in providing latest information of the plant’s additional values that can be incorporated as a baseline for current and future studies as well as in investigating other possible plants that are beneficial for health purposes, particularly for combating skin-associated infection.
entamoeba histolytica dan/atau entamoeba dispar merupakan protozoa usus yang mempunyai prevalens infeksi yang tinggi dalam kalangan masyarakat pedalaman terutamanya masyarakat Orang Asli. Ia tersebar secara meluas di kawasan tropika dan subtropika serta di negara membangun berbanding negara maju. Sebanyak 111 sampel feses kanak-kanak Orang Asli daripada suku kaum Jahai telah diterima dan disaring untuk entamoeba histolytica dan/atau entamoeba dispar menggunakan kaedah apusan langsung yang memberi hasil positif terhadap 43 sampel atau 38.7%. Oleh sebab amaun sampel yang diterima adalah sedikit, hanya 66 sampel feses sahaja yang dapat diperiksa menggunakan tiga jenis teknik diagnostik berbeza iaitu apusan langsung, kepekatan formalin-eter dan pewarnaan trikrom. Hasil kajian mendapati, prevalens yang tinggi bagi infeksi entamoeba histolytica dan/atau entamoeba dispar iaitu 50% menggunakan
ketiga-tiga teknik diagnosis. Prevalens infeksi yang tinggi juga turut ditunjukkan pada kanak-kanak perempuan iaitu 62.5% berbanding kanak-kanak lelaki 30.8% (p<0.05). Selain itu, daripada segi umur, kanak-kanak yang berumur 7-9 tahun adalah lebih terdedah kepada infeksi entamoeba histolytica dan/atau entamoeba dispar dengan prevalens 60.7% (p>0.05). Teknik pewarnaan trikrom menunjukkan pengesanan 100% ke atas infeksi entamoeba histolytica dan/atau entamoeba dispar, diikuti teknik kepekatan formalin-eter 78.8% dan apusan langsung 72.7%. Prevalens infeksi entamoeba histolytica dan/atau entamoeba dispar yang tinggi dalam kalangan kanak-kanak Orang Asli di Pos Sungai Rual ini berhubungkait dengan pelbagai faktor iaitu status sosioekonomi yang rendah, kekurangan pengetahuan tentang penjagaan kesihatan serta kebersihan diri yang rendah. Peningkatan prevalens infeksi dalam kajian ini juga menunjukkan pentingnya penggunaan teknik diagnostik yang lebih berkesan dalam pemeriksaan rutin bagi mendapatkan hasil diagnosis yang lebih tepat.
Obesity is a growing epidemic due to an accelerated phase of industrialization and urbanization with the overfed people
now outnumbered the underfed. It is the major public health problem with a lot of research interest as it is associated
with many complicated chronic disorders such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancers. A global
estimation of 2.8 million deaths per year is due to obesity and there are tremendous on-going efforts to identify hosts
and environmental factors that infl uence the cause and pathogenesis of obesity. Concerted efforts from different research
groups had successfully shown that obese subjects have altered composition of gut microbiota and transplantation of this
microbiota infl uences body weight in the germ-free recipient mice. The advancement of technology had made possible
the study of gut microbiota which was unculturable for better understanding of their impact to human health. Rapid
deep sequencing of DNA at reasonable cost through various options of platforms followed by data analysis using robust
bioinformatic tools are an important way of analysing the gut microbiome. Here we review the role of gut microbiota
which modulates host’s metabolic functions and gene expression, facilitating the extraction and storage of energy from the
ingested dietary substances and leading to body-weight gain. We will discuss on the different techniques used, focusing
on the high-defi nition technologies for the determination of the composition, function and ecology of gut microbiota. This
allows the appropriate selection of platform which becomes the key for success of subsequent research.