1.The Effects of Aquilaria malaccensis Leaves Aqueous Extract on Sperm of Sprague Dawley Rats towards Early Embryogenesis
The International Medical Journal Malaysia 2019;18(2):59-68
Introduction: Oxidative stress induced by excessive and unopposed levels of reactive oxygen species in
male reproductive system results in impaired sperm quality, fertilization capacity and poor embryo
development. Our goal is to assess the potential effects of Aquilaria malaccensis (AM) leaves, a plant with
strong antioxidant property on early embryo development in vitro and embryo quality following fertilization
with cyclophosphamide (CP) exposed rat sperm. Materials and Methods: Twenty four male Sprague Dawley
rats were allocated into eight groups of three rats (n = 3): control, CP only (200 mg/kg), AM only (100 mg/kg,
300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) and CP + AM (100 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg). Animals were sacrificed
after 63 days of treatment and sperm from caudal epididymis were taken for in vitro fertilization (IVF) with
oocytes from untreated female. Fertilization, embryo division and embryo morphology were examined at 8
and 48 hours post insemination and compared between groups. Statistical evaluations were performed using
Chi-Square test and Fisher’s exact test and p-value<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Administration
of AM leave extract at 100 mg/kg/day to normal rats and CP-exposed rats has significantly increased (p<0.05)
the fertilization rate, early cleavage rate and embryo quality when compared to CP only treated group.
However, other groups showed no significant differences. Conclusion: Overall, the present results indicate
the potential of AM leave extract supplementation to improve the fertility and early embryo development in
male rat exposed to CP by inhibiting the oxidative processes and scavenging free radicals.
2.Drowning in a child: accidental or neglect?
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2003;58(5):774-776
We report the case of an infant who was found dead in the toilet of a nursery. Examination of the scene revealed an element of neglect in the care of the child. Postmortem showed evidence of drowning. Her blood sample showed a toxicologic evidence of alcohol exposure.
*Accidents
;
*Child Abuse
;
Drowning/*etiology
;
Nurseries/legislation & jurisprudence
;
Singapore
3.The two-minute approach to monocular diplopia
Malaysian Family Physician 2010;5(3):115-118
Objective: To describe a quick and simple diagnostic approach to monocular diplopia.
Background: Diplopia is a common visual complain in casualty departments, general practice clinics, neurologic clinics as well as ophthalmic clinics. Monocular diplopia, however, is uncommon. Many well established clinical examination methods are available to address diplopia. Some require special equipments which are not easily available or unfamiliar outside of ophthalmic clinic. We describe a simple two-minute diagnostic approach to monocular diplopia.
Conclusion: Basic knowledge and understanding of simple clinical examination techniques enhances diagnostic skill and allow proper localization of underlying disorders.
4.Influence of imported horse food on housefly (Musca domestica Linnaeus) population densities around horse barns and stables in Terengganu equestrian resort (TER)
Wahizatul, A.A., Faridah, M. and Nur Farhah, A.S.
Tropical Biomedicine 2016;33(2):359-365
Musca domestica Linnaeus or house fly is one of the well-known cosmopolitan
pests. Poultry farms, horse stables and ranches are some of the main habitats for house flies
to extend their interference and disturbance. Since 1999, large number of fly population
around horse stables and barns in Terengganu Equestrian Resort (TER) was detected and still
persists till today. Imported horse food are speculated to be the main cause for the increasing
number of these flies. The current study was conducted to determine the effect of imported
horse food (i.e. chaff, pallet and alfalfa) and the food conditions (wet and dry) on house fly
population densities. Commercial sticky papers were used for trapping house fly distribution
around the horse stables and barns in TER from October 2013 to January 2014. A total of
36,751 flies were caught during the eight week study period. The highest number of flies
(2,843 individuals) was caught when using ‘wet alfalfa + chaff’ whereas the lowest catch was
when using ‘dry alfalfa’ (1,652 individuals). Generally, the wet food treatments captured
higher flies compared to dry food treatments. The total number of captured flies was found to
be influenced by relative humidity. Higher mean number of flies was captured during lower
weekly humidity. Our findings conclude that the wet condition of imported horse food in TER
increases the house flies population densities. Thus, urgent action should be taken as soon as
possible and may need special management considerations in order to reduce the impact of
house flies on the horse industry in Malaysia.
5.Toxicity studies for indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis isolates from Malang city, East Java on Aedes aegypti larvae
Gama Penata Zulfaidah ; Nakagoshi Nobukazu ; Setyowati Faridah
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2013;(2):111-117
Objective: To investigate the toxicity of indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis) isolates from Malang City for controlling Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) larvae. Methods: Soil samples were taken from Purwantoro and Sawojajar sub-districts. Bacterial isolation was performed using B. thuringiensis selective media. Phenotypic characteristics of the isolates were obtained with the simple matching method. The growth and prevalence of spores were determined by the Total Plate Count method, and toxicity tests were also performed on the third instar larval stage of Ae. aegypti. The percentage of larval mortality was analysed using probit regression. The LC50 was analysed by ANOVA, and the Tukey HSD interval was 95%. Results:Among the 33 selected bacterial isolates, six were obtained (PWR4-31, PWR4-32, SWJ4-2b, SWJ4-4b, SWJ-4k and SWJ5-1) that had a similar phenotype to reference B. thuringiensis. Based on the dendrogram, all of the bacterial isolates were 71%similar. Three isolates that had a higher prevalence of reference B. thuringiensis were PWR4-32, SWJ4-4b and SW5-1, of which the spore prevalence was 52.44%, 23.59%, 34.46%, respectively. These three indigenous isolates from Malang City successfully killed Ae. aegypti larvae. The PWR4-32 isolates were the most effective at killing the larvae. Conclusions:Six indigenous B. thuringiensis isolates among the 33 bacterial isolates found in the Sawojajar and Purwantoro sub-districts were toxic to the third instar larvae of Ae. aegypti. The PWR4-32 isolates were identical to the reference B. thuringiensis and had 88%phenotype similarity. The PWR4-32 isolates had the highest spore prevalence (52.44%), and the early stationary phase occurred at 36 h. The PWR4-32 isolates were the most effective at killing Ae. aegypti larvae (LC50-72 h=2.3í108 cells/mL).
7.Spontaneous Retrobulbar Haemorrhage Secondary to Orbital Varices of Inferior Ophthalmic Vein-A Case Report
Haizul IM ; Umi Kalthum MN ; Mae-Lynn CB ; Faridah HA
Journal of Surgical Academia 2012;2(2):49-51
A 50-year-old Chinese man presented with sudden onset of painful right eye, diplopia, and redness associated with headache and deteriorating vision. Examination revealed obvious proptosis with elevated intraocular pressure. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed presence of retrobulbar haemmorhage. Emergency lateral canthotomy and cantholysis was performed followed by medical orbital decompression, resulting in improvements in visual acuity, and other ocular symptoms. The diagnosis of thrombosed orbital varices involving inferior ophthalmic vein was confirmed on radiological- angiographic study. To date, he is symptoms-free with good visual acuity. Immediate surgical decompression with lateral cantholysis for retrobulbar haemorrhage was effective in the treatment of retrobulbar haemorrhage.
8.Second stage fetal heart rate patterns and neonatal acid-base status
Faridah Hanim Zam Zam ; Nazimah Idris ; Tham Seng Woh
International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education 2012;6(2):18-23
Background: Fetal surveillance in labour is performed
mostly to identify fetuses at risk of hypoxia in order to
reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality by initiating
timely intervention. While normal and abnormal fetal
heart rate (FHR) patterns have been well recognised
and characterized for the first stage of labour, FHR
patterns during the second stage of labour commonly
showed some forms of abnormalities leading to problems
in interpretation, particularly in predicting fetal hypoxia
and acidosis. This study aims to identify patterns of FHR
tracing during the second stage of labour associated with
neonatal acidosis.
Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was
conducted in the Labour Ward of a state referral hospital.
The study population were patients with low-risk
singleton pregnancies between 37 to 42 weeks gestation
who had normal cardiotocograph (CTG) tracing in the
first stage of labour. CTG was recorded during the second
stage of labour and neonatal umbilical cord blood was
obtained for acid-base analysis immediately after birth
prior to the delivery of placenta. FHR patterns were
grouped according to modified Melchior and Barnard’s
classification and matched with neonatal acid-base
status. Patients with normal FHR pattern in the second
stage acted as control.
Results: A total of 111 matched pairs were analysed.
Ninety nine (89.2%) second stage FHR tracings showed
abnormal features when compared to control. There were
significantly more neonatal acidosis and hypercapnia
in type 1b, type 2a, type 2b and type 3 CTG patterns
compared to control, in increasing order of severity. In
addition, types 2b and 3 showed significant difference in
the base excess.
Conclusion: Certain second stage fetal heart rate
patterns were found to be associated with neonatal
acidosis.
9.Idiopathic Orbital Inflammatory Pseudotumour Mimicking Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma- A Case Report
Umi Kalthum MN ; Amin A ; Syazarina SO ; Faridah HA
Journal of Surgical Academia 2013;3(1):25-27
A 42-year-old Malay gentleman presented with progressive painless blurring of vision on his left eye associated with
ocular ache, redness and increasing proptosis. Examination revealed presence of relative afferent papillary defect
with visual acuity of counting finger, and 6/6 on the right eye. Extraocular muscle movement of the left eye was
restricted to ten percent in all directions. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
showed enhancing mass occupying the left orbital apex. Diagnosis of optic nerve sheath meningioma was made, and
patient subsequently went for radiotherapy. His symptoms subsided completely, until he presented with similar
visual complains, and fullness of the upper lid two years later. A repeated MRI showed enlargement of superior and
lateral recti muscles with extension to lacrimal gland region. Biopsy of the lacrimal gland revealed inflammatory
cells consistent of inflammatory pseudotumor. High dose systemic steroid was instituted, followed by slow tapering
of oral steroid. His symptoms completely resolved, and latest visual acuity was 6/9, with no recurrence, to date.
10.Assessing The Service Quality Of Physiotherapy Services: A Cross Sectional Study At Teaching Hospitals In Klang Valley, Malaysia
Nasaruddin Mahdzir M. ; Aniza I. ; Nor Faridah A.R. ; Sulha A.
Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine 2013;13(2):27-37
The physiotherapy services have played major roles as a part of rehabilitation components and emerging in most hospitals throughout Malaysia as well as internationally. As such, there is still a lack of scientific research and reporting about the finding of service quality studies in physiotherapy services at teaching hospitals settings in Malaysia. This study was to assess the level of patients' satisfaction and its contributing factors as well as to assess the quality of physiotherapy services at teaching hospitals in Klang Valley. The cross sectional study was conducted from March until July 2011 among outpatients (311 patients) who has been referred to the Physiotherapy Clinics at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) and Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) in Klang Valley. Patients were recruited using simple random sampling technique and data were collected by using the validated self-administered Service Quality (SERVQUAL) Questionnaire. About 62.4% respondents in teaching hospitals have met their expectation. ‘Assurance’ showed the highest satisfaction score and ‘Caring Services’ showed the lowest satisfaction score among the entire dimension studied. The factors which significantly influence patient satisfaction include age, education status, working status and number of visit. There are relationships between patient satisfaction with SERVQUAL, Outcome and Corporate Culture components. However, the predictors contributed for overall patient satisfaction at Physiotherapy Clinics at teaching hospitals was not influenced by factors studied (p>0.05). The levels of satisfaction that met patients’ expectation is ‘Moderate’ for teaching hospitals and the ‘Caring Services’ should be focus in order to improve the level of patient satisfaction.