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Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 99 in total

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Microchiritahairulii (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Perlis, Peninsular Malaysia

Rahman RA

PhytoKeys, 2019;118:65-73.
PMID: 30863195 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.118.32186

A new species, Microchiritahairulii Rafidah (Gesneriaceae) from limestone hills in Perlis, Peninsular Malaysia, is described and illustrated. Diagnostic characters, description, detailed illustrations, geographical distribution, regional provisional conservation status assessment (Endangered) and ecological observations of the new taxon, as well as an updated key to Microchirita species in Peninsular Malaysia, are provided.
Fulltext Disseminated fusariosis and endogenous fungal endophthalmitis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia following platelet transfusion possibly due to transfusion-related immunomodulation

Kah TA, Yong KC, Rahman RA

BMC Ophthalmol, 2011;11:30.
PMID: 22044440 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2415-11-30

To report a case of disseminated fusariosis with endogenous endophthalmitis in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Transfusion-associated immune modulation secondary to platelet transfusion could play an important role in the pathophysiology of this case.
Fulltext Body image dissatisfaction and its determinants among young primary-school adolescents

Latiff AA, Muhamad J, Rahman RA

J Taibah Univ Med Sci, 2018 Feb;13(1):34-41.
PMID: 31435300 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2017.07.003

Objectives: Awareness of body image perception among children and adolescents has been rising during recent years. The objectives of this study were to identify body image dissatisfaction and its associated factors among primary-school students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in seven randomly selected primary schools, involving students aged 11 to 12. A guided self-administered questionnaire, which included sociodemographic data, body mass index (BMI) parameters, and body image perception (Childress Contour Drawing Rating Scale), was used.

Results: This study involved 776 primary-school students. Approximately 60.1% of students had body image dissatisfaction, which was significantly (p
Fulltext Ludwig's angina: the importance of oral cavity examination in patients with a neck mass

Mohamad I, Zulkifli S, Soleh M, Rahman R

Malays Fam Physician, 2012;7(2-3):51-3.
PMID: 25606258 MyJurnal

Neck mass is a common condition in primary care. The most common affected area is the cervical lymph node. The neck region is also prone infection as structurally the nodes and spaces are in close contact with the upper respiratory tract and the alimentary tract. Oral cavity is one of the most common route for harbouring infection. Poor oral hygeine and periapical dental problems are the main causes. Thus, it is important to perform a complete oral cavity examination even when trismus is present. Besides dental caries, floor of the mouth should be inspected for oedema that may impose threat to the upper airway. We report a case of Ludwig's angina originating from a periapical lesion of the lower molar stressing the importance of oral examination in patient with neck mass.
When paediatric facial nerve paralysis is not a Bell's palsy: A case of cerebellopontine angle tumour

Ismail MT, Rahman RA, Idris NS

J Taibah Univ Med Sci, 2022 Feb;17(1):141-145.
PMID: 35140576 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2021.08.008

Facial nerve paralysis in children is a rare clinical condition that can lead to serious complications. Due to their rare occurrence, tumours, especially in the cerebellopontine angle, may be overlooked. We report a case of cerebellopontine angle tumour in an 8-year-old boy who presented with a right-sided lower motor neuron type of facial nerve palsy. Further examination showed a mild bilateral nystagmus. However, misled by the initial diagnosis of Bell's palsy, there was a delay in performing diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, which showed a large mass in the cerebellopontine. Subsequently, six weeks after his initial presentation, the boy succumbed to the disease. This case illustrates that careful clinical examination, even in a seemingly simple case, is imperative to avoid diagnostic errors.
Analysis of the spatial characteristics and influencing factors of agricultural eco-efficiency: evidence from Anhui Province, China, during the period 2011-2018

Wu Y, Rahman RA, Yu Q

Environ Monit Assess, 2022 Feb 08;194(3):154.
PMID: 35132444 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-09817-9

Sustainable agriculture is important for preserving environmental health and simultaneously gaining economic profits while maintaining social and economic equity. One way to evaluate sustainable agriculture is by studying agricultural eco-efficiency (AEE). Hence, this study constructed a data-driven method to evaluate and optimize AEE with the aim of providing a basis for improving the sustainable development of regional agriculture. Sixteen cities in Anhui Province, China, were considered in the study, and the variables used were agricultural resource inputs, environmental pollution, and agricultural economic development. Agricultural non-point source pollution (NPSP) emissions were considered the undesired output to build an AEE evaluation index system. Furthermore, a data envelopment analysis (DEA) model was established to analyse AEE from the static and dynamic perspectives. The spatial development and the temporal and spatial characteristics of AEE were also analysed. In addition, we applied a random effect (RE) panel Tobit model to quantitatively analyse the influencing factors of AEE from the input perspective and then proposed reasonable suggestions for improving the sustainable development of regional agriculture. Our findings show that the overall agricultural development in the 16 cities in Anhui Province has been continuously improving, even though there is an agglomeration of spatial development in some regions. In conclusion, this study provides suggestions and references for policy makers and agricultural practitioners regarding how to improve regional AEE and promote the sustainable development of the regional agricultural economy.
Assessment of sewage sludge bioremediation at different hydraulic retention times using mixed fungal inoculation by liquid-state bioconversion

Rahman RA, Molla AH, Fakhru'l-Razi A

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2014 Jan;21(2):1178-87.
PMID: 23881591 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1974-5

Sustainable, environmental friendly, and safe disposal of sewage treatment plant (STP) sludge is a global expectation. Bioremediation performance was examined at different hydraulic retention times (HRT) in 3-10 days and organic loading rates (OLR) at 0.66-7.81 g chemical oxygen demand (COD) per liter per day, with mixed filamentous fungal (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium corylophilum) inoculation by liquid-state bioconversion (LSB) technique as a continuous process in large-scale bioreactor. Encouraging results were monitored in treated sludge by LSB continuous process. The highest removal of total suspended solid (TSS), turbidity, and COD were achieved at 98, 99, and 93%, respectively, at 10 days HRT compared to control. The minimum volatile suspended solid/suspended solid implies the quality of water, which was recorded 0.59 at 10 days and 0.72 at 3 days of HRT. In treated supernatant with 88% protein removal at 10 days of HRT indicates a higher magnitude of purification of treated sludge. The specific resistance to filtration (SRF) quantifies the performance of dewaterability; it was recorded minimum 0.049 × 10(12) m kg(-1) at 10 days of HRT, which was equivalent to 97% decrease of SRF. The lower OLR and higher HRT directly influenced the bioremediation and dewaterability of STP sludge in LSB process. The obtained findings imply encouraging message in continuing treatment of STP sludge, i.e., bioremediation of wastewater for environmental friendly disposal in near future.
Construction 4.0 technology evaluation using fuzzy TOPSIS: comparison between sustainability and resiliency, well-being, productivity, safety, and integrity

Shafei H, Rahman RA, Lee YS

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2024 Feb;31(10):14858-14893.
PMID: 38285259 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-31862-9

This study aims to compare the impact of Construction 4.0 technologies on different organizational core values, focusing on sustainability and resiliency, well-being, productivity, safety, and integrity. To achieve that aim, the study objectives are the following: (i) identify the critical Construction 4.0 technologies between core values; (ii) appraise overlapping critical Construction 4.0 technologies between core values; (iii) examine the ranking performance of Construction 4.0 technologies between core values; and (iv) analyze the interrelationships between Construction 4.0 technologies and core values. First, twelve Construction 4.0 technologies were identified from a national strategic plan. Then, the fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) that incorporates subjective and objective weights was used to evaluate the impact of the Construction 4.0 technologies on the five core values. Finally, the collected data was analyzed using the following techniques: fuzzy TOPSIS, normalization, overlap analysis, agreement analysis, sensitivity analysis, ranking comparison, and Spearman correlation. The study findings reveal four critical Construction 4.0 technologies that enhance all five core values: building information modeling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT), big data and predictive analytics, and autonomous construction. Also, there is a high agreement on the Construction 4.0 technologies that enhance well-being and productivity. Lastly, artificial intelligence (AI) has the highest number of very strong relationships among the core values. The originality of this paper lies in its comprehensive comparison of the impact of Construction 4.0 technologies on multiple organizational core values. The study findings provide valuable insights in making strategic decisions in adopting Construction 4.0 technologies.
Translation and validation study of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA-18) questionnaire into Bahasa Malaysia (MALAY OSA-18)

Ab Rahman RA, Aziz A, Nik Adilah NO

Med J Malaysia, 2024 Jul;79(4):429-435.
PMID: 39086340

INTRODUCTION: According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is sleep-related breathing disorder that involves a decrease or complete halt in airflow despite an ongoing effort to breathe. The OSA-18 questionnaire is a short and self-administered questionnaire to assess paediatric patients' symptoms and quality of life with obstructive sleep apnoea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study is conducted at the Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS) clinic of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. The forward and backward translation of the OSA- 18 questionnaire into the Malay language (Malay OSA-18) was performed and tested for content and face validity. The questionnaire's internal validity and reliability were tested using Pearson's correlation, Cronbach α and inter-reliability coefficient tests. The psychometric properties (validity, reliability and reproducibility) were assessed.
RESULTS: We observed 84 patients ranging from six months up to 12 years of age. The mean age was 8 years old, and 63.1% were male patients. Among the samples, 96.4% presented with palatine tonsillar enlargement, and 84.5% presented with adenoid tonsillar enlargement. Based on the questionnaire the patient's caregiver answered, Pearson's correlation demonstrated that all the symptom scales correlate and measure the same things. The Cronbach's α coefficient value for each symptom scale was acceptable, within 0.6-0.8. The total Cronbach's α coefficient value was 0.89. The test-retest evaluation was excellent, with the value of intraclass correlation (ICC) more than 0.90.
CONCLUSION: The Malay version of the OSA-18 questionnaire is equivalent to the original English version. It is an effective tool to assess the paediatric OSA patient's symptoms and quality of life based on the obtained validity, reliability and reproducibility values. Therefore, it is recommended to be a screening tool in daily practice.
Comparison of two IgG4 assay formats (ELISA and rapid dipstick test) for detection of brugian filariasis

Noordin R, Shenoy RK, Rahman RA

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 2003 Dec;34(4):768-70.
PMID: 15115085

Brugia malayi infection is endemic in several Asian countries. Filaria-specific IgG4 antibody detection based on BmR1 recombinant antigen has been shown to be sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of brugian filariasis. Two formats of the test has been reported ie indirect ELISA (BE) and rapid dipstick test (BR). Since different test formats use different amounts of sample and reagents which may affect its sensitivity and specificity, this study was performed to compare these two test formats in the detection of B. malayi. A total of 264 blinded serum samples from India and Malaysia were employed. Group 1 comprised 164 samples from actively infected individuals and group 2 comprised 100 samples from filaria non-endemic areas. Sensitivity was 96.3% (158/164) and 90.8% (149/164) for rapid test and ELISA respectively; chi-square p=0.00. Both test formats demonstrated 100% specificity. Therefore the rapid test format was equally specific but more sensitive than the ELISA format. The ELISA format would be able to demonstrate decline in IgG4 titer post-treatment while the rapid test would be very useful for screening and diagnosis in the field.
Fulltext Changes in physicochemical characteristics of ozone-treated raw white rice

Shah NN, Rahman RA, Hashim DM

J Food Sci Technol, 2015 Mar;52(3):1525-33.
PMID: 25745221 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-013-1111-y

Ozone dose from 0.1 to 0.4 ppm has been proven to be effective in lowering Bacillus cereus count in uncooked and cooked rice. However, it induces physicochemical changes in raw white rice. Physicochemical tests were done to see the effect of ozone treatment towards moisture content, pH, color, hardness of uncooked rice, adhesiveness and hardness of cooked rice, cooking quality and total solids. Results have shown that moisture content, adhesiveness and hardness of cooked rice and uncooked rice have not undergone any significant changes (P > 0.05) in comparison with controlled rice sample. Meanwhile, color (L* and b* value), pH, total solids and cooking quality results have shown significant changes (P
Occupational radiation exposure to anesthetists from fluoroscopic projections during orthopedic operative procedures

Abas AA, Rahman RA, Yahya N, Kamaruzaman E, Zainuddin K, Manap NA

Clin Ter, 2014;165(4):e253-7.
PMID: 25203339 DOI: 10.7417/CT.2014.1739

The role of anesthetists during orthopedic fluoroscopic procedures exposes them to radiation. We conducted a prospective, descriptive study to estimate the radiation exposure to anesthetists during procedures over a six-month period in the orthopedic trauma operating theatres which had the most fluoroscopic usage.
Studying the effects of nucleating agents on texture modification of puffed corn-fish snack

Shahmohammadi HR, Bakar J, Rahman RA, Adzhan NM

J Food Sci, 2014 Feb;79(2):E178-83.
PMID: 24410375 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.12324

To improve textural attributes of puffed corn-fish snack, the effects of 1%, 1.5%, and 2% of calcium carbonate, magnesium silicate (talc), sodium bicarbonate as well as 5% and 10% of wheat bran (as the nucleating materials) on textural attributes were studied. Sensory evaluation, bulk density, expansion ratio, maximum force, and count peaks were measured using the Kramer test. The results showed that all of the additives except bran significantly enhanced the texture. Among them, talc at 0.5% was the best to enhance the density and expansion ratio. Effects of using 0.5% talc on puffed corn-fish snack microstructure were studied using scanning electron microscopy. The average cell diameter of 109 ± 48 μm and cell numbers per square centimeter of 67.4 for talc-treated products were obtained, while for nontalc-treated extrudates, average cell diameter of 798 ± 361 μm and cell numbers per square centimeter of 13.9 were found. Incorporation of 0.5% w/w of magnesium silicate reduced (7-fold) the average cell diameter while increased (4-fold) the cell number.
Complete mole with a coexistent normal fetus: a case report

Rahman RA, Ahmad S, Ismail NA, Mahdy ZA

J Reprod Med, 2012 Sep-Oct;57(9-10):456-8.
PMID: 23091998

The incidence of a coexistent normal fetus is quoted in literature as 1 in 22,000 to 100,000 pregnancies and may be associated with multiple complications including persistent trophoblastic neoplasia.
A 9-year study of shigellosis in Northeast Malaysia: Antimicrobial susceptibility and shifting species dominance

Banga Singh KK, Ojha SC, Deris ZZ, Rahman RA

Z Gesundh Wiss, 2011 Jun;19(3):231-236.
PMID: 21654922

AIMS: In Malaysia, Shigella spp. is the third most common bacterial agent responsible for childhood diarrhoea. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Shigella spp. isolated from patients admitted to the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from January 2001 to December 2009. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A hospital-based retrospective study was used. Stool samples from patients were cultured using a standard culture method. Shigella spp. isolates were identified by biochemical and serological methods, and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion method. RESULTS: A total of 138 Shigella spp. were isolated from a total of 14,830 routine stool specimens, yielding an isolation rate of 0.93% that corresponded to 9.99% of the 1,381 bacterial pathogens isolated. Of these isolates, S. sonnei was the predominant species, followed by S. flexneri and S. boydii. Seasonal variation was noticed, and no significant differences were detected in the demographic data for S. flexneri and S. sonnei. The susceptibility of all isolated Shigella strains was tested against seven antibiotics. Ceftriaxone (99.1%), ciprofloxacin (98.4%), and nalidixic acid (93.8%) were effective against the Shigella strains, whereas tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole exhibited high frequencies of resistance (58.4% and 53.8%, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study is important for public health education aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with Shigella spp. infection. Our results also will be helpful for paediatricians and microbiologists in the selection of appropriate antibiotics for the management of diarrhoea.
Managing complications of radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients: Part II. Management of radiation-induced caries

Chai WL, Ngeow WC, Ramli R, Rahman RA

Singapore Dent J, 2006 Dec;28(1):4-6.
PMID: 17378334

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Where possible, pretreatment dental assessment shall be provided for these patients before they undergo radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally for radiation therapy. Because of this, they succumb to complicated oral complications after radiation therapy. The management of xerostomia has been reviewed in Part I of this series. In this article, the management of dental caries, a sequalae of xerostomia following radiation therapy is reviewed.
Managing complications of radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients: Part I. Management of xerostomia

Ngeow WC, Chai WL, Rahman RA, Ramli R

Singapore Dent J, 2006 Dec;28(1):1-3.
PMID: 17378333

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Where possible, pretreatment dental assessment shall be provided for these patients before they receive radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally for radiation therapy. Because of this, they succumb to complicated oral adverse effects after radiation therapy. Part I of this series reviews the management of xerostomia. The management of the effect of xerostomia to the dentition/oral cavity is discussed in Part II.
Managing complications of radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients: Part IV. Management of osteoradionecrosis

Ramli R, Ngeow WC, Rahman RA, Chai WL

Singapore Dent J, 2006 Dec;28(1):11-5.
PMID: 17378336

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Pretreatment dental assessment should be provided for these patients before they undergo radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally and, as a result, they succumb to complicated oral adverse effects after radiation therapy. Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a severe debilitating condition that impairs healing due to reduction in vascularity and osteocyte population in the affected bone. This article reviews methods of treatment used to treat ORN such as antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, surgery, and other modalities.
Managing complications of radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients: Part III. Provision of dentures

Rahman RA, Ngeow WC, Chai WL, Ramli R

Singapore Dent J, 2006 Dec;28(1):7-10.
PMID: 17378335

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Pretreatment dental assessment should be provided for these patients before they undergo radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally and, as a result, they succumb to complicated oral adverse effects after radiation therapy. The management of radiation-induced caries, a sequelae of xerostomia has been reviewed in Part II of this series. In this article, the management of difficulty with dentures, another sequelae of xerostomia following radiation therapy is reviewed.
Managing complications of radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients: Part VI. Management of opportunistic infections

Ngeow WC, Chai WL, Ramli R, Rahman RA

Singapore Dent J, 2006 Dec;28(1):19-21.
PMID: 17378338

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Where possible, pretreatment dental assessment shall be provided for these patients before they undergo radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally for radiation therapy. Because of this, they succumb to complicated oral adverse effects after radiation therapy. The last part of this series reviews the opportunistic infections that can occur to the perioral structure. Their management is briefly discussed.

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