1.Knee Pain and Functional Disability of Knee Osteoarthritis Patients Seen at Malaysian Government Hospitals
Chai Nien Foo ; Lekhraj Rampal ; Munn-Sann Lye
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2017;13(2):7-15
Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the main cause of knee pain. It also affects individual’s physical functioning.
Anti- inflammatory drugs and knee replacement are the mainstay methods in the management of knee OA in Malaysia.
However, patients with knee OA often suffer pain. The general objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness
of a cognitive behavioural intervention module on knee pain, functional disability and psychological outcomes
among knee OA patients attending Orthopedics Clinics in Hospital Putrajaya and Hospital Serdang, Malaysia. This
study aims to determine the baseline level of knee pain and functional disability among knee OA patients. Methods:
Baseline results on the knee pain and functional disability were obtained from a two arm parallel- group randomized
controlled study. Three hundred patients aged 35 to 75 years diagnosed with knee OA were recruited. A set of pre
tested and validated Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire was used in this study.
Results: Mean baseline of KOOS pain was 56.09 (SD=21.75) and 52.26 (SD=22.08) for the intervention and control
groups respectively. Participants in the intervention and control groups had a mean KOOS function in daily living of
61.11 (SD=21.20) and 56.72 (SD=22.13) respectively. Overall mean baseline of KOOS function in sport and recreation
was 35.30 (SD=27.38). Conclusions: Majority of participants had moderate level of knee pain and functional
disability in daily living. However, participants had more extreme symptoms of functional disability in sport and
recreation. Therefore, interventions to reduce knee pain and functional disability symptoms in knee OA are needed.
2.Knowledge and attitudes of adult HIV positive patients to HIV/AIDS in Selected ART Clinics in Yola, Nigeria
Olutayo Folashade Martins ; Lekhraj Rampal ; Lye Munn-Sann ; Sherina Mohd Sidik ; Norlijah Othman ; Zubairu Iliyasu ; Fatai Kunle Salawu
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2015;11(2):35-44
Though cases of AIDS are visible in Nigeria and awareness of HIV is high, correct knowledge on HIV
transmission and prevention has remained low with significant numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS
having low attitudes towards life and the disease itself. This study determined the baseline knowledge
on HIV transmission and prevention, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS of adult HIV positive patient
enrolled into care at all four comprehensive antiretroviral therapy (ART) sites in Yola, Nigeria.
Baseline reports on the knowledge and attitudes of adult HIV positive patients were obtained from a
three arm randomized single blind clinical trial involving 386 randomly selected adult HIV patients who
were enrolled into ART care at all four comprehensive ART sites in Yola. An administered, validated
structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Outcome measures were sound knowledge on HIV
transmission and prevention, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS. Data was analyzed using SPSS version
22. Test of significance was at α level 0.05.
Overall 237 (61.4%) had sound knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention, while 346 (89.6%) of
respondents had high attitudes towards HIV/AIDS.
Though majority of respondents had sound knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention as well as
high attitudes towards HIV/AIDS, interventions to improve knowledge and attitudes among this group
of individuals would improve positive preventive strategies.
HIV
3.Knowledge, Attitude and Preventive Practices Regarding Tuberculosis and Its Predictors among HIV Patients in General Hospital, Minna; North-Central; Nigeria
Chindo Ibrahim BISALLAH ; Lekhraj RAMPAL ; Sherina Mohd SIDIK ; Zubairu ILIYASU ; Munn-Sann LYE ; Michael Ochigbo ONYILO
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2018;14(1):45-55
Introduction: Tuberculosis is the commonest cause of death among HIV patients in Nigeria. Though tuberculosis is common among HIV patients, their knowledge about transmission and prevention is poor. Objective: To determine knowledge, attitude and preventive practices regarding tuberculosis and its predictors among HIV patients receiving treatment. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out involving 226 randomly selected HIV patients receiving care at General Hospital, Minna. Study duration was from June 2015 to July 2017. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, psychosocial factors, knowledge, attitude and preventive practices regarding tuberculosis was collected using a self-administered, WHO modified, pretested and validated questionnaires. Data collected was analysed using SPSS version 22. Results: Out of 226 respondents, 60(26.5%) had poor knowledge, 123(54.4%) had negative attitude and 48(21.2%) had poor preventive practices regarding tuberculosis. The predictors of knowledge were age (B=0.087, 95%CI=0.031, 0.143, p=0.002), depression (B=-0.444, 95%CI=-0.673,-0.214, p<0.001) monthly income (B=-0.058, 95%CI=-0.095, -0.021, p=0.002) and marital status (B=-1.276, 95%CI=-2.525,-0.025, P=0.046). The predictors of attitude were anxiety (B=-0.395, 95%CI=-0.584, -0.206, p<0.001), cigarette smoking (B=4.473, 95%CI=0.992, 7.954, p=0.012) and duration of HIV infection (B=0.371, 95%CI=0.110, 0.631, p=0.005). The predictors of practice were depression (B=-0.176, 95%CI=-0.276, -0.076, p=0.001), cigarette smoking (B=2.200, 95%CI=0.926, 3.474, p=0.001) and duration of HIV infection (B=0.098, 95%CI=0.003, 0.194, p=0.043). Conclusion: Overall, knowledge and practices regarding tuberculosis prevention were good, but attitude was poor. The predictors of knowledge, attitude and preventive practices were age, depression, anxiety, cigarette smoking, monthly income, marital status and duration of HIV infection.
4.Development and Validation of High Resolution Melting Assays for High-Throughput Screening of BDNF rs6265 and DAT1 rs40184
Asraa FARIS ; Hadri Hadi Bin Md Yusof ; Shahidee Zainal ABIDIN ; Omar HABIB ; Pike-See CHEAH ; Johnson STANSLAS ; Normala IBRAHIM ; Munn Sann LYE ; Abhi VEERAKUMARASIVAM ; Rozita ROSLI ; King Hwa LING
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2018;14(SP1):64-71
Introduction: One of the commonly used techniques for mutation screening is High Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis. HRM is a post PCR method that relies on the detection of the fluorescent signals acquired due to the release of DNA intercalated dyes upon the melting of dsDNA to ssDNA. The method is simple, inexpensive and does not require post PCR-handling, making it suitable for high throughput screening. Methods: This study aimed to develop and validate HRM technique for the screening of two disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) namely BDNF rs6265 and DAT1 rs40184 using a total of 30 gDNA samples. The obtained results were confirmed and validated by sequencing. Results: HRM analysis showed that the predicted genotypes of BDNF rs6265 and DAT1 rs40184 among all the gDNA samples were in 100% concordance with the sequencing results, making it an accurate and sensitive method for the detection of SNPs. Conclusions: The application of HRM can accurately determine the genotype of BDNF rs6265 and DAT1 rs40184 SNPs, making it a promising tool for rapid and high-throughput screening of targeted SNPs in a large population study.
5.Predictors of Asthma Control among Libyan Adolescents with Persistent Asthma
Nadya Mohamed Elfeturi Elarusy ; Shamsul Bahri Mohd Tamrin ; Lye Munn Sann ; Siti Irma Fadhillah Binti Ismail
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.1):224-231
Introduction: Among adolescents, asthma is an important public health burden that is associated with high morbidity
and mortality. Poor asthma control is likely in this age group. Our aim was to identify the predictors of well controlled asthma among adolescents with persistent asthma in Northwest of Libya. Methods: A sample of 92 adolescents with persistent asthma were recruited from the respiratory clinic in Sabratha Teaching Hospital, and completed
questionnaires measuring demographic and clinical characteristics, asthma knowledge, self-efficacy, and asthma
control. Logistic regression analysis was carried out, taking the asthma control as the dependent variable. Results:
Twenty-four percent of participants had well controlled asthma. In a bivariate analysis, well controlled asthma was
significantly associated with adolescents having mild persistent asthma, not having allergic rhinitis, using preventive
inhalers regularly, reporting higher level asthma knowledge, and higher self-efficacy. However, in multiple logistic
model, only self-efficacy was an independent predictor of asthma control, with higher self-efficacy associated with
well-controlled asthma (Adjusted OR= 1.107, 95% CI: 1.012 – 1.210, p= 0.026). Conclusion: Identifying and targeting modifiable predictors of well controlled asthma could improve asthma control. In adolescents with asthma,
enhancing self-confidence of adolescents to undertake health behaviour modification seems to be an important step
toward a better asthma control.