Indexation status matters for scholarly journal prestige and trust. The performance of Malaysian medical journals at the international level is gauged through the global citation databases, and at the national level through MyCite, a national citation indexing system. The performance indicators include journals publication productivity, the citations they garner, and their scores on other bibliometric indices such as journal impact factor (IF), and h-index. There is a growing consciousness amongst journal editorials to improve quality and increase chances of getting indexed inMyCite. Althoughitisnow possible to gauge journal performance withinMalaysia,throughMyCite, the government and public are concerned about journal performance in international databases. Knowing the performance of journals in MyCite will help the editors and publishers to improve the quality and visibility of Malaysian journals and strategise to bring their journal to the international level of indexation.

Introduction: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms still persist in rural and urban areas of developing communities. Recent studies in Malaysia focused on Orang Asli communities and none in the hospital settings. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for STH among children admitted to Paediatric ward of the Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA). Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among 135 (78 males, 57 females) patients in HTAA from December 2017 to May 2018. Faecal samples were examined using wet smear, Kato-Katz, Harada-Mori and sedimentation techniques. Demographic data and hygiene practice information were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Results: The overall prevalence of STH was 5.9% (A.lumbricoides 5.2%, T.trichiura 0.7%, and hookworms 0.7%). Prevalence among males was 3.8% and females 8.8%. Majority (95.6%) were Malays. Chi square analysis showed that factors significantly associated with STH infections are household monthly income (p<0.05), education level of mother (p<0.05) and father (p<0.05), the source of drinking water (p<0.05), the method of garbage disposal (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis confirmed garbage disposal via burning as a risk factor of STH infections (p= 0.021, OR=23.8, 95% CI=1.6- 350.06). Conclusion: This study shows that the prevalence of STH infections is low in children probably due to the effective implementation of control programs and good hygiene practice. Differences in individual lifestyles and the humid weather condition are probable reasons for sporadic infection to still exist.

AVM in the mandible is rare. It may present with recurrent episodes of unexplained gingival haemorrhage, bony swelling, tooth mobility or facial asymmetry. We reported our experience in managing a case of a 15 year old Malay girl who presented with a life threatening bleeding from her mandible.
Mandible ; Hemorrhage ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; experience ; Tooth Mobility

Introduction: Traditional medicine which includes Islamic faith healing centre is still an important place to seek treatment whether for psychiatric reasons or others. This study aims to determine the prevalence of psychiatric illness among attenders of an Islamic spiritual healing centre and to understand patients’ illness attribution and their religiosity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done with a systematic random sampling to obtain the prevalence of psychiatric illness which was diagnosed using Malay version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I). Religiosity was measured using Hatta Islamic Religiosity Scale 1996 (HIRS96) and illness perception using Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). Results: The prevalence of psychiatric illness among the attenders was 53.5%. Depressive disorder were more prevalent (41.5%) followed by anxiety disorder (28.3%), bipolar disorder (16.8%) and psychotic disorders (5.9%). More than half (58.8%) of attenders attributed their illness to supernatural causes but there were no significant difference between those with psychiatric illness and those without in terms of their attribution to supernatural causes, p=0.197.Generally, the patients had a higher religiosity score. Conclusion : This high prevalence shows a need for collaboration with the spiritual healing practitioners to improve delivery of treatment to patient and this would be a more holistic approach.

Pilomatrixoma is a benign tumour that originates from the matrix of the hair root. This rare tumour is usually managed by the dermatologists. The commonest location of this tumour is in the head and neck region; hence, it can be encountered by any doctors with interest in this area. When presented in the neck, this hard tumour may pose a diagnostic challenge. A case report of pilomatrixoma misdiagnosed as a metastatic neck disease from fine-needle aspiration cytology is presented. The mistake in the diagnosis has led to a more aggressive and high morbidity surgery than necessary. It is important that head and neck doctors be aware of this condition and includes it in the differential diagnosis of hard masses presenting in the neck.

This is a retrospective study to determine the distribution site, associated fracture and causes of mandibular fractures at HUSM, over a 5 year period, from 1st January 2002 – 31st December 2006. Records of patients who had mandibular fracture were reviewed. Data of age, sex, site of fracture, causes and associated fracture were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 15.0. There were 113 (84.3%) males and 21 (15.7%) females. The mean age for male was 84.3% and female was 15.7%. The fracture occurs mostly at the age of 11-20 years (45.5%), followed by 21-30 years (30.6%). Motor vehicle accidents (MVA) were the commonest causes of mandibular fracture (92.5%), followed by fight and assault (3.7%), industrial accidents (3.0%), fall (0.7%). There were no cases recorded due to sport injury. The commonest site of mandibular fracture occurs at angle and para-symphysis (23%), followed by body (20.1%), symphysis (16.7%), condyle (15.5%) and ramus (1.7%). The most common associated fractures were head injury (23.5%), followed by clavicle fracture (17.2%) and fracture of radius (10.7%). Mandibular fracture was common in males with the mean age 24.63 years and mostly due to MVA. Angle and para-symphysis is the commonest site of mandibular fracture with most of the patient suffered from concomitant head injury.

Background: Infections caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are global public health problems. The safety of donated blood can be estimated by monitoring the prevalence of viral markers in the donor population. The present study was carried out in the Jazan region to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV among Saudi blood donors. Methods: Over a period of six years (January 2004 to December 2009), a total of 29 949 blood units were collected from healthy voluntary and replacement native Saudi blood donors. The donated units were serologically screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). These data were then analysed. Results: HBsAg was positive in 3.8% of the blood units that were collected, the blood units with anti–HCV seropositivity had the lowest prevalence (0.41%), and the prevalence of HBsAg was highest in the group that was > 46 years of age. A significant decline in the prevalence of HBV infection has been observed, from 5.6% in 2004 to 2.3% in 2009 (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The present study showed that the prevalence of HBV and HCV was in a significant decline from 2004 to 2009, and the prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV significantly increased with age.

There have been numerous non-scientific reports on the behavioural effects of Asian plants in humans who consumed these plants wholly or part thereof. Knowledge passed from generation to generation informs us of plants that increase effort and stamina, such as during paddy planting after the ingestion of Mitragyna speciosa Korth (ketum) as a tea supplement. Centella asiatica and Myristica fragrans are used as herbs to improve memory and to treat epilepsy, respectively. Zizyphus mauritiana is used to treat headache and burn pain, acts as an antitussive, and reduces rigor mortis immediately after death. These plants, which have been identified to exhibit analgaesic, musclerelaxing, and nootropic effects, may contain important bio-compounds for medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical research in Malaysia. The electrophysiology properties of these plants and their effects on epilepsy, behaviour, and pain will lead Malaysia to future new drug discoveries.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is widespread throughout the world. The disease is of major medical and veterinary importance, being a cause of congenital disease and abortion in humans and in domestic animals. In addition, it has gained importance recently due to toxoplasma encephalitis in AIDS patients. T.gondii was discovered 100 years ago. Its identification was rapidly followed by the recognition that it was a human pathogen. During the past 100 years, the spectrum of disease caused by this ubiquitous pathogen has expanded to include both congenital and acute infections as well as the recognition of diseases caused by this pathogen in the immune-compromised host. Recent data on behavioural changes in animals due to chronic toxoplasmosis is leading to research on the effect of this pathogen on the behaviour of human. Experimental studies on T.gondii have resulted in it becoming a model organism for studies on host pathogens interactions. Integration of clinical and experimental data on T.gondii should continue to lead to important insight into improvements in diagnosis for clinical management and vaccine development for control of toxoplasmosis.