Introduction: This study examined a cognitive model of depression among undergraduate students of medical and allied health sciences. Methods: Participants (N=279) completed a series of questionnaires related to depression (Beck Depression Inventory-Malay), negative cognitions (Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Malay), dysfunctional attitude (Dysfunctional Attitude Scale-Malay), stressful life events (Life Events Survey), self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy) and quality of life (WHO Quality of Life-BREF). Results: Results of descriptive analysis revealed a higher percentage of severe depression among males when compared to female students. Results of structural equation modeling indicated an adequate fit of the model (X²=21.29, df=15, p>13; GFI=0.97; CFI=0.97; RMSEA=0.4). Conclusion: The findings also indicated the potential roles of self-efficacy in mediating depression. The results are discussed in terms of self-regulating strategies of managing depression and the roles that university authorities may play in helping students to regulate depression.

Prevalence of adolescents involved in sexual and reproductive problems is on rise and it was associated with its knowledge. Several factors found to be associated with the knowledge and various sources of knowledge are chosen by adolescents for this information. Thus, this study was to determine the knowledge score, its influencing factors and the preference of the sources of knowledge. A cross-sectional study was done using adopted questionnaire involving 330 respondents aged 18 and 19 years old in Kolej MARA Seremban selected by simple random sampling. They were gathered in the halls and 338 adolescents from 454 students consented to involve in this study. Self-administered questionnaire was used whereby a correct response was given a score of 2, 0 for an incorrect response and 1 for an answer of don’t know. Total score for all correct answers was 42. Descriptive analysis, bivariate and multivariate analysis was done in the analysis. The mean knowledge score was 37.32 (±2.967) with a significant difference for gender. Internets were the most common and preferred sources of the knowledge among them. There was 5.2% of them had heard on SMS intervention and 37.0% of them disagreed on SMS intervention. The result showed that the knowledge score was lower in males than females and internets were the most preferred source of the knowledge. Thus, interventions for knowledge improvement should be more on male adolescents.​
Reproductive Health ; Sex Education ; Adolescent ; Knowledge

The purpose of this study is to compare the road conditions (straight road, winding road and hill road) with the hand grip pressure force and muscle fatigue for male and female drivers. Ten subjects were participated in this study. The force measurement and electromyography (EMG) responses were taken and evaluated by using the tactile grip and pressure measurement (Grip System) and Electromyography (EMG) device. The result indicated that the winding road produced more muscle fatigue and high hand grip pressure force compared than downhill road, hill up road, and straight road for both male and female subjects. The result compared the muscle fatigue and hand grip pressure force between the first 15 minutes and last 15 minutes of driving activity. The muscle fatigue increasingly high for the last 15 minutes compared to first 15 minutes. However, the hand grip pressure forces become high during the winding road for first 15 minutes of driving session. The muscle fatigue become high as the hand grip pressure force value is high. Furthermore, the male drivers exert higher hand grip pressure force and higher muscle fatigue compared to female drivers. This study can be used as a guideline for the future studies, primarily in solving the driving fatigue problem among the Malaysian’s drivers. The method of this study could also be used for early detection of driver fatigue issues. Indirectly, the findings could reduce the number of car accidents in Malaysia.

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to investigate exploratory factor analysis of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and reports its reliability and validity in Malaysia. Method: One thousand and ninety participants from four different samples (namely students, general population, medical and psychiatric patients) completed the Malay version of Beck Anxiety Inventory, as well as additional questionnaires such as Fear Questionnaire, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and Catastrophic Cognition Questionnaire. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three factor solution and accounted for 48.01% of the total variance. The three-factor structure appeared to be; subjective anxiety, autonomic, and neurophysiology. The Cronbach alpha coefficients (α) ranged from 0.66 to 0.89 with satisfactory overall alpha value (.91). Evidence was also found acceptable concurrent validity of the BAI-Malay (range between r=.22 to r=.67). Conclusion: This study shows that the BAIMalay is a reliable and valid instrument to measure symptoms of anxiety in the Malay population and can be used in research and clinical service in Malaysia. However, replication of study by using confirmatory factor analysis and application of the instrument among anxiety patients worth of further investigation.

Objective: To investigate the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of the flower of Acanthus ilicifolius (A. ilicifolius). Methods: Antioxidant activity was determined as antiradical efficiency with diphenyl picrylhydrazil (DPPH) method and cytotoxic assay was undertaken using brine shrimp lethal toxicity test. Results: A. ilicifolius flower contained terpenoid, phenolic compounds, and alkaloid. The methanol extract of A. ilicifolius flower showed the highest antiradical efficiency (AE=1.41í10-3) against DPPH radicals and the highest cytotoxicity (LC50=22 μg/mL) against brine shrimp nauplii. Conclusions: It is suggested that active compounds of A. ilicifolius flower solved in methanol play a role to inhibit free radical activity and kill Artemia salina nauplii. The substances can be considered as potential antioxidant and cytotoxic agents as well as imminent candidate for cancer therapy.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) continues to be a major health issue in many countries including Malaysia due to its large magnitude in all-cause mortality as well as the emotional and socioeconomic impact of the deceased leaving the love ones behind in an abrupt manner. Data in Malaysia shows that the majority of sudden natural deaths are due to sudden cardiac death and are in the productive age group of 41 to 50 years. A study in Germany pointed out that about 90% people who died of SCD actually had warning signs such as chest pain, breathlessness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fainting before they collapsed. The majority belonged to the high-risk group for SCD having had previous medical histories including coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease, underlying electrophysiological abnormalities or are taking drugs which are capable of provoking ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The key step is to define a sequence of risk stratifiers that will identify patients who are at risk but in whom implantation of expensive devices will be cost-effective. Amongst the investigative tools proven to be helpful to achieve this are ECG screening for left ventricular hypertrophy, increased QRS width, T-wave alternans, heart rate variability, baroreceptor responsiveness, QT dispersion, and T-wave heterogeneity; Holter monitoring to demonstrate ventricular arrhythmias; and stress test in identifying ischaemia. Prompt action is crucial since restoring circulation as fast as possible improves the chances of survival. Family members and caregivers of people with heart disease and at increased risk should be trained to recognize symptoms and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to reduce the likelihood of death from cardiac arrest. Training and prevention efforts should focus on how to recognize the emergency, CPR training, and automated external defibrillator (AED) use. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is the preferred therapeutic modality in most survivors of SCD. The incidence of SCD can be reduced by improving the current situation through selection of high risk groups for initiation of therapies, education to the public awareness of early warning symptoms and early emergency management that should be readily available in the community.
Anemia, Sickle Cell ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Risk ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; symptoms <1>

Objective: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for depression is popular in Western countries. In the context of Malaysia, CBT has been applied as an individual session in a clinical setting. However, there is limited research in the area of group CBT for depression among Malays. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (GCBT) in reducing the negative cognitions that are related to depression in a group of Malay patients. Methods: One hundred and thirteen patients, diagnosed with depression, were randomly allocated to either a Treatment As Usual (TAU) group (n = 55), or a TAU plus GCBT group (n = 58). All participants completed two questionnaires that measured maladaptive cognitions at pre-treatment, midway through treatment, post-treatment (week 4), and at follow-ups after three (week 16) and six months (week 28). Results: The TAU+GCBT patients improved significantly more, and at a faster rate, than the TAU group; which showed minimal improvement. The effect size (Cohen’s d) of the treatment group was 0.93 and 96.55% of the treatment group achieved a clinically significant change. Conclusions: The findings suggest that GCBT, when used in addition to the TAU, is effective in reducing negative thoughts and maladaptive attitudes of Malaysian patients suffering from depression.

Newborn screening (NBS) program is an important tool for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of life-long impairments. NBS is one of the strategies recommended by the World Health Organization to promote the primary prevention of congenital anomalies and the health of children with these conditions. However, NBS initiation and implementation in developing countries, especially South-East Asian and North African regions, are slow and challenging. Expanded NBS is not mandatory and has not yet been incorporated into the public healthcare system in our country. Limited funding, manpower shortages, inadequate support services, low public awareness, and uncertain commitment from healthcare practitioners are the main challenges in establishing this program at the national level. Involvement and support from policy makers are very important to the success of the program and the benefit of the entire population.

Gastro-peritoneal fistula is a rare but serious complication of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with significant morbidity and mortality. We present the case of a 42-year-old man who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity and presented later with a history of chronic epigastric pain and severe reflux. Upper gastrointestinal series showed the presence of a communicating fistula between the stomach and the left hemi-diaphragm and peri-splenic area.
Laparoscopy

Insects found associated with corpse can be used as one of the indicators in estimating postmortem interval (PMI). The objective of this study was to compare the stages of decomposition and faunal succession between a partially burnt pig (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) and natural pig (as control). The burning simulated a real crime whereby the victim was burnt by murderer. Two young pigs weighed approximately 10 kg were used in this study. Both pigs died from pneumonia and immediately placed in an oil palm plantation near a pig farm in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor, Malaysia. One pig was partially burnt by 1-liter petrol while the other served as control. Both carcasses were visited twice per day for the first week and once thereafter. Adult flies and larvae on the carcasses were collected and later processed in a forensic entomology laboratory. Results showed that there was no significant difference between the rate of decomposition and sequence of faunal succession on both pig carcasses. Both carcasses were completely decomposed to remain stage after nine days. The species of flies visiting the pig carcasses consisted of blow flies (Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya rufifacies, Hemipyrellia ligurriens), flesh fly (Sarcophagidae.), muscid fly (Ophyra spinigera), soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), coffin fly (Phoridae) and scavenger fly (Sepsidae). The only difference noted was in the number of adult flies, whereby more flies were seen in the control carcass. Faunal succession on both pig carcasses was in the following sequence: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, Phoridae and lastly Stratiomyidae. However, there was overlap in the appearance of members of these families. Blowflies continued to oviposit on both carcasses. Hence postmortem interval (PMI) can still be estimated from the partially burnt pig carcass.
Swine ; Diptera ; Flesh fly, NOS ; control ; Oils