1.Changes to GFAP Immunoreactive Astrocytes in Medial Prefrontal Cortex Following Exposure to Chronic Stress and Antioxidant Supplementation in Rat Model
Mohd Asnizam Asari ; Faizah Md Nawi ; Mohammad Syabil Ikhwan Mohd Amin ; Nurul Aiman Mohd Yusof ; KNS Sirajudeen
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.2):35-41
Introduction: Astrocytes are responsible for many essential functions of neurons in CNS. It has been recognised that
chronic stress affects the morphology of astrocyte. Natural antioxidant such as honey has been used as one of the
therapeutic strategies to lessen the damaging effect of chronic stress on our body. Therefore, the aim of the study is
to explore the effect of natural antioxidant, Tualang honey (TH) on the morphology of astrocytes following chronic
stress exposure. Methods: Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into the 4 groups: (i) control, (ii) stress, (iii)
honey, (iv) stress plus honey groups.TH was administered via oral gavage at dose of 1.0 g/kg body weight pre and
post experiment. Chronic stress was exposed to animals in group (ii) and (iv) for consecutive 21 days. Anti GFAP
immunohistochemistry method was employed to label astrocytes in the medial prefrontal cortex. The number of
GFAP+ astrocytes and several parameters related to astrocyte processes were measured. Results: The present study
showed that chronic stress reduced the GFAP immunoreactive astrocyte number and percentage of GFAP immunoreactive material. Chronic stress also caused a reduction in astrocyte process ramification as indicated by a reduction
in astrocyte total number of processes, average length of processes and maximum number of intersections. However,
antioxidant treatment using TH could not reverse these stress-induced changes to the astrocytes. Conclusion: These
results demonstrate that chronic stress decreases the number of GFAP immunoreactive astrocyte and cause shrinking
of astrocyte processes in stress-sensitive brain region, but these changes cannot be reversed by antioxidant treatment.
2.Protective Effects of Tualang Honey on the Testes of Rats Subjected to Chronic Combined Stress
Faizah Md Nawi ; Mohd Asnizam Asari ; Haziq Hazman Norman ; Nurul Aiman Mohd Yusof ; Mohamad Syabil Ikhwan Mohd Amin
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2024;20(No.2):34-41
Introduction: Persistent exposure to stress can lead to a wide range of pathological effects, including reproductive
dysfunctions. Tualang honey, renowned for its antioxidant properties has been utilised in traditional and modern
medicine. This study aims to investigate the protective effects of Tualang honey against stress-induced testicular
damage in male rats. Method: Twenty-four male rats were divided into control group, stress-exposed group, Tualang-honey-supplemented group and stress-exposed with Tualang-honey-supplemented group. Restraint stress test
(RST) and Forced swimming test (FST) were imposed on the rats for 21 days. Serum testosterone and corticosterone
concentration were measured using ELISA. Testes were harvested, weighed, processed and stained for spermatid
counts and measuring seminiferous epithelial height and diameter. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was
used to compare the numerical data between groups. Results: The testosterone concentration, spermatid count,
seminiferous epithelial height and diameter in stress group were significantly lower compared to control group (p <
0.05). Corticosterone concentration was significantly greater in the stress group than in the control group. The spermatid count and seminiferous epithelial height and diameter of honey-treated groups were significantly higher than
the stress-only group (p < 0.05). The corticosterone concentration of honey-treated groups was significantly higher
compared to the stress-only group. Meanwhile, the testosterone concentration of honey-treated groups was higher
than the stress-only group although the results were insignificant. Conclusion: Tualang honey has the potential to
ameliorate corticosterone concentration and induce morphological alterations by increasing spermatid counts and
seminiferous epithelial thickness and diameter in rat testes exposed to prolonged stress.
3.Epidemiology of COVID-19 cases and vaccination coverage in Seremban District, Malaysia, 2021
Khairul Hafidz Alkhair Khairul Amin ; Nur Nadiatul Asyikin Bujang ; Siti Aishah Abas ; Nadiatul Ima Zulkifli ; Syuaib Aiman Amir ; Sharina Mohd Shah ; Veshny Ganesan ; Nurul Fazilah Aziz ; Muhammad Adli Jalaluddin ; Mohd Shahrol Abd Wahil ; Muhamad Hazizi Muhamad Hasani ; Noor Khalili Mohd Ali ; Mohammad Paid Yusof
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2023;14(2):01-07
Objective: Malaysia’s first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was reported in January 2020, with the first case in the state of Negeri Sembilan diagnosed on 17 February 2020. The National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme commenced in early March 2021 in Negeri Sembilan. This study describes the COVID-19 cases and vaccination coverage in Seremban District, Negeri Sembilan, during 2021.
Methods: The demographic and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 cases and the district’s vaccination coverage were described. Vaccination coverage was plotted against COVID-19 cases on the epidemic curve. The chi-square test was used to examine the differences between the vaccination status of COVID-19 cases and severity category, hospitalization status and mortality.
Results: In Seremban District, there were 65 879 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 2021. The data revealed that the
21–30-year age group had the highest proportion of cases (16 365; 24.8%), the majority of cases were male (58.3%), and most cases were from the sub-district of Ampangan (23.1%). The majority of cases were Malaysian. Over half (53.5%) were symptomatic, with fever (29.8%) and cough (22.8%) being the most frequently reported symptoms. COVID-19 vaccination status was significantly associated with severity category, hospitalization and mortality (P < 0.001 for all categories).
Discussion: This is the first study to describe two-dose vaccination coverage and the trend in COVID-19 cases in Seremban District. It was observed that COVID-19 cases had been reduced following more than 60.0% vaccination coverage.
4.Outbreak of foodborne disease in a boarding school, Negeri Sembilan state, Malaysia, 2021
Nur Nadiatul Asyikin Bujang ; Mohd Shahrol Abd Wahil ; Siti Aishah Abas ; Khairul Hafidz Alkhair Khairul Amin ; Nadiatul Ima Zulkifli ; Sharina Mohd Shah ; Nurul Fazilah Aziz ; Syuaib Aiman Amir Kamarudin ; Veshny Ganesan ; Nur Azieanie Zainuddin ; Muhammad Hazizi Muhamad Hasani ; Noor Khalili Mohd Ali ; Mohammad Paid Yusof
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2023;14(3):30-36
Objective: Foodborne disease is a significant global public health concern, with Bacillus cereus being a frequent cause of outbreaks. However, due to the relatively mild symptoms caused by infection with B. cereus, the shorter duration of illness and the challenges of testing for it in both stool and food samples, outbreaks are often underreported. This report describes the epidemiology of cases of foodborne illness, the causative agent and risk factors associated with an outbreak in a boarding school in Seremban district, Negeri Sembilan state, Malaysia, that occurred in November 2021.
Methods: Epidemiological, environmental and laboratory investigations were performed. A case was defined as any person with abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea that occurred after consuming food served by the canteen at the school. The data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
Results: A total of 152 cases were identified among the 597 students, giving an attack rate of 25.5%. All cases were females aged 13–17 years. They presented with abdominal pain (100%), nausea (97.4%, 148), vomiting (78.3%, 119) or diarrhoea (61.8%, 94), or a combination of these. The mode of transmission of the outbreak was a continual common source. The foods associated with becoming a case were beef rendang (a dry curry) (odds ratio [OR]: 20.54, 95% CI: 4.89–86.30), rice (OR: 19.62, 95% CI: 2.62–147.01), rice cubes (OR: 18.17, 95% CI: 4.31–76.55) and vermicelli (OR: 17.02, 95% CI: 4.03–71.86). Cross-contamination and inadequate thawing and storage temperatures contributed to the outbreak.
Discussion: This outbreak of foodborne illness at a boarding school was likely caused by B. cereus. The findings highlight the importance of proper food preparation, temperature monitoring, hygiene practices among food handlers and compliance with food safety guidelines.