Performance of upper extremity function and movement sequence is influenced by postural control. Motor disorders
lead to deficits in postural control, which subsequently may lead to postural instability of children with cerebral palsy
(CWCP). This will limit their upper extremity activity performance. Management strategies help to support and enhance
the CWCP’s upper extremity function so that they may engage with the activities of daily living. The purpose of this paper
is to review previous literature on the influence of postural control towards upper extremity function. Literature searches
were conducted in various electronic databases, including ProQuest, Science Direct, Springer Link, Sage, Wiley Online
Library, and Google Scholar using specific key terms. Search terms included children with cerebral palsy; postural control;
postural adjustments; upper extremity function; reaching and sitting and from references of retrieved articles. Nineteen
journal articles published between 2000 and May 2015 were found. Most search results consisted of experimental studies,
while others are reviews, case studies, and cross-sectional studies. Findings show that, postural control has a major
influence on upper extremity function. In conclusion, it is necessary to highlight the importance of both factors to the
CWCP parents or caregivers, as understanding and awareness on this matter is still inadequate in the community. Hence,
a study is needed on the awareness of the postural control influence on upper extremity function among caregivers, as
well as examining the implementation of management strategies in community settings.
The protective effect of the ethanol extract of the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe on acute hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol (1000 mg/kg) was studied in plasma and hepatic tissue samples obtained from male Sprague-Dawley rats. The ethanol extract was given in oral doses of 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg to the rats at 0, 4 and 8 hrs after paracetamol was given orally. The plasma and liver of the rats were subjected to biochemical analysis 24 hrs after hepatotoxicity was induced to determine the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and aspartate transaminase (AST). The results were compared to the rats which were given the antidote N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (500 mg/kg) at 0, 4 and 8 hrs after the paracetamol dose. The results showed that at 200 mg/kg the extract reduced the plasma levels of SOD significantly (p < 0.05) while at a higher dose of 300 mg/kg it reduced plasma SOD, hepatic MDA, serum AST and increased the levels of plasma proteins significantly (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the ethanol extract of Z. officinale showed protective effect against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity at both dose levels and the protective effect was better at the higher dose.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 Malays in Kuala Pilah, Tampin, Bahau, Gemencheh and Seremban towards food allergy in Negeri Sembilan. Questionnaire were used to determine demographic data, allergy symptom, practice and knowledge of respondents towards food allergy. Majority of the respondents that have food allergy were children 44% and shrimp was the most common allergen among children (25%). Family history is found to be associated with the age group and place of residents (p < 0.05). Common symptom that manisfested by respondents includes rashes (35%). Furthermore, the study showed that the respondents were concerned about their food allergy and 96% of the respondents reduced the intake of food that caused allergy. The level of knowledge related to food allergy was found to be associated with age group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study found that shrimp is the most common food allergy for all age group. Response towards food allergy is that they reduce the intake of food that cause allergy and the knowledge
towards food allergy is associated with age group. Therefore, early screening should be conducted to identify types of alergy so that appropriate treatment can be given to the patients. Health education on allergy is also important to improve knowledge and patients’ compliance towards treatment.
Keywords: Food; allergy; Malay; attitude; knowledge
Fungsi penglihatan dipengaruhi oleh proses penuaan dan tanpa intervensi yang bersesuaian boleh mengakibatkan kemerosotan tahap penglihatan. Keadaan ini jika berterusan akan mengakibatkan kesukaran melakukan aktiviti kehidupan seharian dan memberi kesan kepada kualiti hidup kepada warga emas. Kajian ini mengkaji kesan gangguan penglihatan terhadap aktiviti harian dan kualiti hidup warga emas. Ukuran yang dilakukan ialah tahap penglihatan jauh menggunakan carta LogMAR untuk menilai gangguan penglihatan. Ujian kualiti hidup dilaksanakan menggunakan soalan kualiti hidup penglihatan terhad (LVQOL) dan ujian keupayaan melakukan aktiviti harian menggunakan indeks Barthel (BI). Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa gangguan fungsi penglihatan bertambah teruk dengan peningkatan umur, begitu juga didapati bahawa BI berkurangan apabila fungsi penglihatan merosot. Skor kualiti hidup LVQOL pula berkurangan bersama-sama kemerosotan tahap penglihatan. Tiga puluh lima peratus warga emas dalam kajian ini memerlukan intervensi optometri dan penglihatan terhad, Kesimpulannya, kemerosotan tahap fungsi penglihatan di kalangan warga emas boleh menyebabkan penurunan keupayaan dalam melakukan aktiviti harian. Di samping itu, akuiti visual yang tidak dibetulkan akan menyebabkan penurunan kualiti hidup warga emas.
The end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients requires hemodialysis to survive. Efficacy of the treatment is determined by evaluation of minimal dialysis dose (Kt/V) which is 1.2. A cross sectional study was conducted among patients that undergo hemodialysis in a dialysis centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The objectives of the study were to determine the association between dialysis dose and demographic factors and assessed the association between biochemical blood parameter and the demographic factors. The biochemical blood parameters were serum albumin, creatinine, cholesterol and hemoglobin. Result showed that all Indians and 54% of Chinese patients achieved the required dialysis dose. However only 29% of Malay patients attained the effective dialysis dose. More women patients accomplished the dialysis dose of at least 1.2 compared to men patients with odd ratio of 11.24. All the biochemical blood parameters were independent of the demographic factors. However, the cholesterol level was associated significantly with gender (p<0.05). In conclusion, the study found the biochemical blood parameter and dialysis dose were not influenced by the demographic factors.