1.Anatomy of Musculoskeletal System in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith.
Nurul Asyiqin YUSOF ; Che Anuar Che Mohamad ; Ahmad Nizam HASSAN
The International Medical Journal Malaysia 2018;17(2):97-103
The integration of human knowledge between the medical and health care sciences with revealedknowledge was established since the era of Al-Razi (Rhazes), Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Ibn Rushd (Averroes), Al-Zahrawi (Albucasis) and others. However, the glorious period of Islamic medicine gradually declined afterthe period of 'Abbasiyyah and 'Uthmaniyyah. At present, many scholars tend to separate the modernmedicine and the revealed knowledge, resulting in the disconnection between these two fields. There islittle to suggest the presence of reference collections that integrate the Qur’an and Hadith with medicine.This review aimed to fill that gap. Relevant Qur’anic verses and authentic Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him; henceforth PBUH) in relation to a specific field in medicine i.e. the anatomy of humanmusculoskeletal system was extracted. The musculoskeletal system is unique in which it forms the‘backbone’ of normal human posture. The system plays a vital role in maintaining human daily activities.From this review, it is noted that many Qur’anic verses and Hadith relate to the musculoskeletal system. Afew examples include the number human joints and its relationship with the daily prayers (Salah), the dailycharitable act recommended to all Muslim, the coccyx bone that is indestructible and shall be the source forhuman resurrection during the hereafter, and others. These examples necessitate for a more in-depthanalysis to enlighten the revealed knowledge from the medical perspective.
2.The Protective Effect Of Ettlingera Coccinea (Tuhau) Against Autoxidation-Induced Ox Brain Homogenate
Nur Najmi Mohamad Anuar ; Jamaludin MOHAMED ; Erni Norfardila Abu Hanipah ; Nor Janna YAHYA ; Esther Mathias AJIK ; Izatus Shima TAIB
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2018;16(Special Issue (Article)):35-39
Oxidative stress involved in various pathological conditions. Plants have been proven to act as a natural exogenousantioxidant. The aim of this research is to investigate the protective effects of Etlingera coccinea leaves aqueous extracton autoxidation-induced ox brain homogenate. The brain homogenate was divided into 7 groups: control group withPBS solution, positive control group with 100 μg/ml ascorbic acid, test group with 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 μg/ml of E.coccinea. The antioxidant potential of E. coccinea aqueous extract has been evaluated by antioxidant capacity assaysuch as Total phenolic content (TPC), radical scavenging assay (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP).Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were also measured at 0 hr and 1 hr after37°C water bath incubation to determine the antioxidant status and oxidative damage. TPC assay showed (4.85 ± 0.28)mg GAE/g of dry weight of E. coccinea leaves. Based on DPPH and FRAP assay, E. coccinea aqueous extract showed adose-dependent antioxidant activity. MDA level in the 50 μg/ml E. coccinea was significantly lower compared to the othergroups (p < 0.05). The SOD activity was significantly increase in 400 μg/ml E. coccinea (p < 0.05) compared to othergroups. E. coccinea at the dose of 25 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml showed significant increase in GSH level compared to othergroups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 25 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml of E. coccinea leave aqueous extracts exhibited a potentialprotective effect on autoxidation-induced ox brain h
3.Visual outcomes after Phacoemulsification with Intraocular Implantation surgeries among patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus
Lim Jie Jie ; Mohamad Aziz Salowi ; Tassha Hilda Adnan ; Nor&rsquo ; aini Anuar ; Nor Fariza Ngah ; May May Choo
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2021;76(2):190-198
Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the
visual outcomes of phacoemulsification with intraocular
lens implantation (IOL) surgery in patients with and without
diabetes mellitus (DM) in Malaysia over a 12-year period and
to identify factors that may contribute to poor visual
outcome.
Materials and Methods: Data was retrieved from the webbased Malaysian Cataract Surgery Registry (CSR). Perioperative data for cataract surgery performed from 2007-
2018 were analysed. Inclusion criteria were age ≥40 years,
phacoemulsification and IOL and senile cataract. Combined
surgeries, surgeries performed by trainees and ocular comorbidities were excluded. Post-operative Best-Corrected
Visual Acuity (BCVA) were compared. Factors affecting poor
visual outcomes among those with DM were analysed using
multivariate logistic regression to produce adjusted odds
ratio (OR) for variables of interest.
Results: Total number of cases between 2007-2018 was
442,858, of whom 179,210 qualified for our analysis. DM
group consisted of 72,087 cases (40.2%). There were 94.5%
cases in DM group and 95.0% from non-DM group who
achieved BCVA ≥6/12 (p<0.001). Among patients with DM,
advanced age (70-79 years old, OR: 2.54, 95% Confidence
Interva, 95%CI: 1.91, 3.40; 80-89 years old, OR: 5.50, 95%CI:
4.02, 7.51), ≥90 years, OR: 9.77, 95%CI: 4.18, 22.81), poor
preoperative presenting visual acuity [<6/18–6/60] (OR: 2.40,
95%CI: 1.84, 3.14) and <6/60-3/60 (OR: 3.00, 95%CI: 2.24,
4.02), <3/60 (OR 3.63, 95%CI: 2.77, 4.74)], presence of
intraoperative complication (OR 2.24, 95%CI: 1.86, 2.71) and
presence of postoperative complication (OR 5.21, 95%CI:
2.97, 9.16) were significant factors for poor visual outcome.
Conclusions: Visual outcomes following
phacoemulsification with IOL implantation surgery among
cases with DM were poorer compared to cases without DM.
Risk factors for poor visual outcomes among cases with DM
were identified.
4.Perception of nurses on the practice environment: Experience from Malaysia
Suhana Jawahir ; Nurul Nadiah Mohamad Anuar ; Siti Fadzilah Sheikh Abdullah ; Saraswathy Silvernayagam ; Ee Hong Tan
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2021;76(1):73-79
Introduction: Positive professional practice environments
are crucial to safeguard a healthy and safe working
conditions for health workforce, including nurses; so as to
ensure provision of quality healthcare and safety of patient.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study to assess
nurses’ perceptions towards nursing practice environment
and factors associated with their perceptions. A validated
Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PESNWI) questionnaire was administered to nurses working in
two Ministry of Health hospitals. The questionnaire
comprises of five subscales: Participation, Foundation,
Managers Support, Workforce Adequacy and
Physician/Nurse Relations. Mean scores of >2.50 were
considered as favourable, and ≤2.50 were considered as
unfavourable. Simple linear and multiple linear regression
analysis were employed to identify factors associated with
their perceptions. Analysis was carried out using STATA
version 14.0.
Results: A total of 366 respondents took part in the study,
with a response rate of 98.4%. Majority were working shift
(89.6%) and working extended hours (62.3%). In general, the
nursing practice environments were rated as favourable.
Overall mean score was 2.90±0.03 and four out of five
subscales’ mean scores were >2.50. Foundation for quality
nursing care was perceived as the most favourable
subscale, while workforce adequacy was perceived as the
least favourable. There were statistically significant
association between working extended hours, doing double
shift and working during day off with perceived
unfavourable workforce adequacy.
Conclusion: Nursing practice environment was perceived as
favourable in the studied hospitals. Policy makers, service
providers, and hospital managers could explore further on
human resource planning and management of nursing
personnel to tackle the issue of nurse staffing in the country.
5.Forecasting the effects of vaccination on the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia using SEIRV compartmental models
Mei Cheng LIM ; Sarbhan SINGH ; Chee Herng LAI ; Balvinder Singh GILL ; Mohd Kamarulariffin KAMARUDIN ; Ahmed Syahmi Syafiq MD ZAMRI ; Cia Vei TAN ; Asrul Anuar ZULKIFLI ; Mohamad Nadzmi Md NADZRI ; Nur'ain MOHD GHAZALI ; Sumarni MOHD GHAZALI ; Nuur Hafizah MD IDERUS ; Nur Ar Rabiah Binti AHMAD ; Jeyanthi SUPPIAH ; Kok Keng TEE ; Tahir ARIS ; Lonny Chen Rong Qi AHMAD
Epidemiology and Health 2023;45(1):e2023093-
OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to develop susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered-vaccinated (SEIRV) models to examine the effects of vaccination on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case trends in Malaysia during Phase 3 of the National COVID-19 Immunization Program amidst the Delta outbreak.
METHODS:
SEIRV models were developed and validated using COVID-19 case and vaccination data from the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, from June 21, 2021 to July 21, 2021 to generate forecasts of COVID-19 cases from July 22, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Three scenarios were examined to measure the effects of vaccination on COVID-19 case trends. Scenarios 1 and 2 represented the trends taking into account the earliest and latest possible times of achieving full vaccination for 80% of the adult population by October 31, 2021 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Scenario 3 described a scenario without vaccination for comparison.
RESULTS:
In scenario 1, forecasted cases peaked on August 28, 2021, which was close to the peak of observed cases on August 26, 2021. The observed peak was 20.27% higher than in scenario 1 and 10.37% lower than in scenario 2. The cumulative observed cases from July 22, 2021 to December 31, 2021 were 13.29% higher than in scenario 1 and 55.19% lower than in scenario 2. The daily COVID-19 case trends closely mirrored the forecast of COVID-19 cases in scenario 1 (best-case scenario).
CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccination reduced COVID-19 case trends during the Delta outbreak. The compartmental models developed assisted in the management and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.
6.Conducting verbal autopsy by telephone interview during the pandemic to support mortality surveillance: a feasibility study in Malaysia
Nur Hamizah binti Nasaruddin ; Shubash Shander Ganapathy ; S. Maria Awaluddin ; Mohamad Fuad Mohamad Anuar ; Nazirah binti Alias ; Chan Yee Mang ; Khaw Wan-Fei
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2022;13(2):08-14
Objective:
Verbal autopsy (VA) through face-to-face interviews with caregivers is a way to determine cause of death without medical certification. In Malaysia, the use of VA has improved mortality statistics. However, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, face-to-face interviews were delayed, reducing VA data collection and affecting data for mortality surveillance. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of conducting VA interviews via telephone calls, and the quality of the data gathered.
Methods:
The study was conducted in Malaysia from September to October 2020 using a cross-sectional design. Participants were health-care workers from established VA teams across the country. They conducted VA interviews via telephone and provided feedback through a customized online form. Data collected from the form were used to assess the feasibility, acceptability and quality of the telephone interviews using IBM SPSS version 23.
Results:
Responses were received from 113 participants. There were 74 (65.5%) successful interviews, representing 91% of the 81 cases who were able to be contacted. More than two thirds of health-care workers provided positive feedback on the telephone interview method for themselves and the interviewees. Only 10.8% of causes of death were unusable.
Discussion
This study provides preliminary evidence that VA via telephone interview is feasible, acceptable and can be used as an alternative to face-to-face interviews without affecting data quality. During times when face-to-face interviews are not advisable, VA telephone interviews can be used for data collection for mortality surveillance.
7.Antimicrobial and drug-synergistic potential of Alpinia conchigera Griff.-derived phenylpropanoids against Mycobacterium smegmatis
Siti Nur Izaty Che Humaidi ; Nur Shazieyatul Nadiah Shalan ; Mohamad Nurul Azmi Mohamad Taib ; emen Ali Kudayr Al-Shammary ; Nursyazwani Anuar ; Khalijah Awang ; Khayriyyah Mohd Hanafiah
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2020;16(6):511-518
Aims:
This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of naturally derived phenylpropanoids from Alpinia
conchigera (A. conchigera) Griff. and its synthetic analogues, as well as interactions between selected compounds with
first-line tuberculosis (TB) drug, rifampicin, against Mycobacterium smegmatis, a potential opportunistic nontuberculous
mycobacterium (NTM) and a surrogate organism for TB.
Methodology and results:
Twelve phenylpropanoids of A. conchigera were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against
M. smegmatis (ATCC 14468). The phenylpropanoid compound from A. conchigera with the lowest minimum inhibitory
concentration and bactericidal (MIC, MBC) values were selected for checkerboard tetrazolium microplate assay (TEMA)
with rifampicin to determine drug interactions. A majority of the compounds had antimicrobial activity, however, purified
natural compound 1'S-1'-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) showed the highest antimicrobial activity with an MIC value of
62.5 µg/mL against M. smegmatis. The combination of ACA and rifampicin produced indifferent interaction with fractional
inhibition concentration (FIC) index of 1.5, while the combination of rifampicin and ACA synthetic analogue 4-allyl-2,6-
methoxyphenyl isobutyrate produced a synergistic interaction effect with FIC index of 0.5. None of the compounds
tested were bactericidal but appear to be bacteriostatic.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study
This study presents the first report on the antimicrobial potential of
natural A. conchigera-derived ACA against M. smegmatis as well as the synergistic interaction of 4-allyl-2,6-
methoxyphenyl isobutyrate with rifampicin which warrants further investigation.
Anti-Infective Agents
;
Alpinia
;
Mycobacterium smegmatis
8. Morphological and molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba isolated from contact lens paraphernalia in Malaysia: Highlighting the pathogenic potential of T4 genotype
Rosnani Hanim Mohd HUSSAIN ; Nur Syahirah Mohamad ISA ; Khairul Ameera KAMARUDDIN ; Tengku Shahrul ANUAR ; Mohamed Kamel Abdul GHANI ; Naveed Ahmed KHAN ; Ruqaiyyah SIDDIQUI ; Tengku Shahrul ANUAR
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2020;13(12):542-549
Objective: To determine the morphological and molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba isolates from contact lens paraphernalia in Malaysia and to investigate their pathogenic potential based on the physiological tolerance. Methods: One hundred and eighty contact lens wearers donated their contact lens, lens storage cases and lens solutions between 2018 and 2019. The samples were inoculated onto 1.5% non-nutrient agar plates for 14 d. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed and the amplified PCR products were sequenced and compared with the published sequences in GenBank. The pathogenic potential of positive isolates was further tested using temperature-tolerance and osmo-tolerance assays. Acanthamoeba species were categorized into three distinct morphological groups established by Pussard and Pons. Results: Acanthamoeba was successfully isolated from 14 (7.8%) culture-positive samples in which 11 belong to morphological group II and 3 belong to morphological group III, respectively. The sequencing of 18S ribosomal RNA gene led to the identification of the T4 genotype in all the isolated strains. In vitro assays revealed that 9 (64.3%) Acanthamoeba isolates were able to grow at 42 °C and 1 M mannitol and were thus considered to be highly pathogenic. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report identifying the Acanthamoeba genotype and their pathogenic potential among contact lens wearers in Malaysia. The potentially pathogenic T4 genotype isolated in this study is the most predominant genotype responsible for human ocular infection worldwide. Hence, increasing attention should be aimed at the prevention of contamination by Acanthamoeba and the disinfection of contact lens paraphernalia.
9.Anti-inflammatory Effects of Trihoney in Hypercholesterolemic Atherosclerotic Rabbits: A Comparative Study With Atorvastatin
Hamad Abdulsalam Hamad Alfarisi ; Muhammad Bin Ibrahim ; Nuraniza Azahari ; Zenab B. Hamad Mohamed ; Asmah Hanim Bt. Hamdan ; Che Anuar Che Mohamad
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2020;16(No.2):230-236
Introduction: Hypercholesterolemia has been proven as a main pathogenic trigger for pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis characterised by chronic inflammatory process and increased expression of inflammatory markers. In this study; Trihoney (a combination of three types of natural honey namely: Trigona, mellifera, and Dorsata) was investigated for its anti-inflammatory effect in hypercholesterolemic atherosclerotic rabbits. Methods: Thirty male New Zealand white rabbits (NZW) were grouped into: normal diet (C), normal diet with 0.6g/kg/day of Trihoney (C+H), 1% cholesterol diet (HCD), 1% cholesterol diet with 0.6g/kg/day of Trihoney (HCD+H), and 1% cholesterol diet with 2mg/kg/day of atorvastatin (HCD+At.). After 12 weeks of starting the experiment, animals were sacrificed and serum analysed for homocysteine and pro-atherogenic inflammatory markers such as: interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Fasting serum glucose was analysed to assess glycaemic status. Results: Trihoney treated group showed significantly lower (p<0.05) serum IL-1β and IL-6 compared to the HCD group. Trihoney supplementation resulted in significant (p<0.001) reduction of serum TNF-α compared to HCD group. Experimental group HCD had serum homocysteine level comparable to that of the control groups without any significant difference despite little increase in the mean value. Trihoney treated group had serum homocysteine comparable to the controls. All experimental groups showed fasting serum glucose comparable to the control. Conclusion: This study showed that Trihoney has an anti-inflammatory function and may be used as an adjuvant to statins for management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases even in diabetic subjects.
10. Trichomonas vaginalis infection in a low-risk women attended in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre
Norhayati MOKTAR ; Nor Liyana ISMAIL ; Phoy Cheng CHUN ; Mohamad Asyrab SAPIE ; Nor Farahin ABDUL KAHAR ; Yusof SUBOH ; Noraina ABDUL RAHIM ; Nor Azlin MOHAMED ISMAIL ; Tengku Shahrul ANUAR
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2016;6(8):702-705
Objective To investigate the presence of trichomoniasis among women attending the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. Methods A total of 139 high vaginal swabs were taken from the subjects and sent to the laboratory in Amies gel transport media. The specimens were examined for the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis using wet mount, Giemsa staining and cultured in Diamond's medium. Sociodemographic characteristics and gynaecological complaints were obtained in private using structured questionnaire applied by one investigator. Results The median age was 32 years, with an interquartile interval of 9.96. Most of the subjects were Malays (76.9%) and the remaining were Chinese (15.1%), Indians (2.2%) and other ethnic groups (5.8%). One hundred and thirty eight (99.3%) of the women were married and 98.6% had less than 6 children. More than half (75.5%) of the women's last child birth was less than 6 years ago. Forty seven percent of them were involved in supporting administrative work and 64.7% of the women gave a history of previous or current vaginal discharge. Conclusions The present study reported zero incidence rate of trichomoniasis. The low incidence rate was postulated due to all women who participated in this study were categorized into a low-risk group.