1.Family response to presume consent system on organ donation from a review of literature
Makmor Tumin ; Khaled Tafran ; NurulHuda Mohd Satar
International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education 2015;9(3):20-26
Background: Most countries around the world
have experienced a shortage in organs needed for
transplantation. Organ donation performance is widely
attributed to two important factors: the legislation and
the role of the family. Thus, this literature review aims
to examine the willingness of people for organ donation
while highlighting the importance of having a presumed
consent system.
Methodology: In this study, we explored many papers
of which 10 articles were studied to gain conclusive
understanding of the two factors and their interactions.
Results: Our analysis of literature regarding the
legislation and family response showed that the
presumed consent system for organ donation accounted
for 21 – 30% higher organ donation rates than the
informed consent system. We also found a gap between
the willingness of people to donate their own and their
relatives’ organs. The ratio of people willing to donate
their organs after death was estimated to be 10 – 12%
higher than the ratio of those willing to donate their
relatives’ organs. Furthermore, the study revealed the
importance of a presumed consent system in raising the
willingness of the people and their relatives for donation,
but that did not eliminate the gap.
Conclusion: Countries seeking to overcome organ
shortage and increase organ donation rates by moving
towards the presumed consent system should consider
the importance of providing families with proper
information about this system. The fact that a gap
between the willingness of the people to donate their
own as well as their deceased relatives’ organs exists,
has to be conveyed to the governments, which will be
helpful in optimising organ donation rates.
Tissue and Organ Procurement
2.Muslims’ views on the permissibility of organ donation: The case of Malaysia
Makmor Tumin ; Abdillah Noh ; NurulHuda Mohd Satar ; Khaled Tafran ; Nawi Abdullah ; Wan Ahmad Hafiz Wan Md Adnan ; Mohamad Yusoff Sanusi
International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education 2016;10(1):41-48
Background: Some argue that Malaysia’s extremely low
organ donation rate is attributed to religion, specifically
Islam. Testing this argument, this study asked Malaysian
Muslims their views regarding various issues on organ
donation and examined whether their decisions to
donate organs are framed by religious beliefs.
Materials and Methods: This study investigated the
perspectives of Malaysian Muslims between October
and December 2013 in Kuala Lumpur. Self-administered
questionnaires were distributed to 900 people, with 829
responses collected (92% response rate). Respondents’
verbal consent was taken before proceeding with the
survey.
Results: The survey found that more than half of
respondents felt that organ donation is permitted in
Islam and that it is a communal responsibility. However,
the same proportions were unsure on the issues of rewards
for organs or on whether Islam permits the procuring of
organs from brain dead patients.
Conclusions: Malaysian Muslims are not against organ
donation; however, encouraging organ donation requires
the state to address public concerns on Islam’s views on
this sensitive issue through effective policy tools to help
address these gaps in Malaysian Muslims’ understanding
of organ donation. The organ donation rate could
improve by using Islamic scholars as ambassadors for an
organ donation drive to convey the message of Malaysia’s
urgent need for organ donation.
Tissue and Organ Procurement
3.Practice and barriers of family planning: A comparison among muslim women in three main cities, viz. New York City, Tehran and Kuala Lumpur
Raja Noriza Raja Ariffin ; Muzalwana Abdul Talib @ Abdul Mutalib ; Nurulhuda Mohd Satar ; Hanira Hanafi ; Azmah Othman ; Makmor Tumin ; Rustam Khairi Zahari
International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education 2016;10(2):30-37
Background: There is a lack of information on the
practice of family planning among Muslim women in
New York City in the United States of America (USA)
[hereinafter known as “Muslim women residing in the
United States” (MWRIU)], Tehran in the Islamic
Republic of Iran (IRI) and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The limited figures on this issue are either outdated
or mere estimates. The importance of sexual and
reproductive health of Muslim women is expected to
have massive effects on the social and economic progress
of developing countries like the IRI and Malaysia. It is
also expected to have imperative impacts on the attempts
to empower the MWRIU community and enhance their
health status to meet the national standards.
Objective: The study objective is to explore and
compare the practice of family planning, namely on
contraceptive use and abortion among Muslim women
in 3 major cities of different countries.
Methodology: A survey of 379, 377 and
380 respondents from New York City, Tehran and
Kuala Lumpur respectively was conducted in 2013 using
self-administered questionnaires.
Results: There were significant differences in
contraceptive and abortion practices across these
countries (P<0.01). While a significant 86.6% of Iranian
and 66.2% of the MWRIU used contraception, only
22.9% of the Malaysian women did so. For abortion,
13.6% of the MWRIU and 6.3% of the Malaysian
respondents had abortion at least once; while only 22%
of Iranians revealed their abortion history, totaling
32.1% of them who had abortion. Financial problems
and having an unsupportive husband were among the
major factors hindering their practice of healthy family
planning.
Conclusion: Educational campaigns should be promoted
to increase the awareness on the permissibility of family
planning in Islam, as well as on sexual and reproductive
rights.
Family Planning Services
4.Electronic Cigarette Vapour and the Impacts on Oral Health: A Review
Nurul Wahida Mohd Hasan ; Badiah Baharin ; Nurulhuda Mohd
Archives of Orofacial Sciences 2022;17(SUPP 1):1-9
ABSTRACT
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been in demand among young generations as a modern
way of smoking since last decade. E-cigarette devices generate the vapour through the heating
process and the inhalation of vapour through the mouth which is known as vaping directly exposed
the oral cavity to potentially toxic chemicals in the vapour. The e-cigarette vapour has been reported
with potential systemic and oral health impacts though it is to a lesser extent than the conventional
cigarette. The toxicity of the chemicals in e-cigarette vapour has been highlighted by various in-vitro
studies and currently being explored by many researchers. Nicotine content in e-cigarette vapour not
only causes addiction but has deleterious effects on the oral mucosa. E-cigarette vapour is commonly
associated with oral health-related problems such as irritation to the oral mucosa, periodontal disease,
and possibly the initiation of dental caries. As a marketing strategy, e-cigarette has been promoted as
a safer way of smoking habit and use as a smoking cessation tools. Non-scientific assertions regarding
e-cigarettes are causing public misunderstanding, leading people to assume that they are safe while the
truth is yet unclear. This narrative review aims to emphasise the hazard of e-cigarette vapour and the
outcome to oral health by summarising the evidence gathered from previous studies and the potential
role of e-cigarette for smoking cessation aids considering the widespread usage of e-cigarettes and public
concerns.
E-Cigarette Vapor--adverse effects
;
Oral Health
5.A Case of Perioperative Management in a Patient with Rare Red Blood Cell Phenotype
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2019;15(SUPPLEMENT 9):198-200
The current focus of perioperative management of anaemia has shifted from allogeneic transfusion to optimising and conserving the patient’s blood through the implementation of patient blood management (PBM) strategies. We hereby report a case to illustrate the success of applying PBM strategies in managing a surgical patient with an extremely rare red blood cells (RBC) phenotype. An 80-year-old Malay man was planned for urgent major abdominal surgery following diagnosis of intestinal obstruction secondary to an advanced rectosigmoid tumour. A request of two units packed RBC was made given anticipated blood loss intraoperatively. His pre-operative haemoglobin was 135 g/L. His previous immunohaematological record showed that he had an extremely rare P2k (P1-, P-, Pk+) phenotype with clinically significant anti-P, anti-PX2, and anti-P1. The elements of PBM strategies were explored and applied. Eventually, the patient successfully underwent a surgical operation without any allogeneic RBC transfusion.
6.Antibacterial Activity of Phenolic Compounds in Olive Oil Extracts on Periodontopathogenic Oral Bacteria
Wahidatunur Musa ; Nurulhuda Mohd ; Zamirah Zainal-Abidin ; Mazlina Mohd Said ; Badiah Baharin
Archives of Orofacial Sciences 2022;17(SUPP 1):21-33
ABSTRACT
Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites of plants metabolism and can be found in olive oil.
They exhibit antimicrobial activity towards both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. However,
little is known about the antibacterial activity of the compounds towards periodontopathogens. The
study aimed to investigate the potential of these compounds as antibacterial agents towards pathogens,
specifically Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum.
Phenolic compounds were extracted from extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) through liquid-liquid separation
using methanol:water (70:30), and hexane. It was then prepared in various concentrations to determine
its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against
the periodontopathogens. The anti-adhesion activity was quantified using crystal violet staining while
the effects on the morphology were examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The
MICs of the phenolic compounds on A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum were
31.25 mg/mL, 62.5 mg/mL and 125 mg/mL, respectively. The MBCs of the phenolic compounds on
A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum were 62.5 mg/mL and 125 mg/mL, respectively suggesting
this compound can eradicate these bacteria. There was no bactericidal effect on P. gingivalis. The
adhesion of all the bacteria was interrupted by the compounds at the lowest concentration (1.95 mg/mL).
SEM findings showed disruption of bacterial cell surfaces such as blebs and disintegration of cells after
exposure to this extract. Phenolic compounds of olive oil exhibited antibacterial activity against the tested
pathogens, with bactericidal effects on A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum and bacteriostatic
effects on P. gingivalis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents
;
Phenols
;
Periodontal Diseases
;
Olive Oil
7.Diabetes prevention through digital therapy for highrisk individuals: Study protocol for the Malaysia Diabetes Prevention Programme (MyDiPP)
Nurul Fatihah Mohd Fauzi ; Sharifah Wajihah Wafa Syed Saadun Tarek Wafa ; Naresh Bhaskar Raj ; Mohd Ibrahim Abdullah ; Norkhairani Abdul Rawi ; Nurulhuda Mat Hassan ; Rohayah Husain
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2023;29(No.1):147-162
Introduction: Intervention approaches that integrate human coaching into
technology are considered as a convenient, accessible and scalable method to reach
a larger population at risk. The objective of this paper is to present the protocol for
a randomised controlled trial that evaluates the efficacy of a lifestyle intervention
programme via a mobile phone app (MyDiPP), which aims to prevent diabetes among
adults at risk of developing diabetes. Methods: MyDiPP intervention is to be delivered
for 12 months with multiple approaches (weight loss, dietary modification, physical
activity, and quality of life). Eligible adults aged 18-65 years, overweight/obese (body
mass index, BMI ≥ 23kg/m2), and at high risk of type 2 diabetes [American Diabetes
Association (ADA) Diabetes Risk Score ≥5, or haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 5.6-6.2%],
will be randomly assigned to one of two study groups (intervention or usual care
control groups) in a 1:1 ratio using simple randomisation. Results: Changes in
weight and HbA1c level (primary outcomes), and changes in physical activity level,
dietary intake, and quality of life (secondary outcomes) will be assessed at 6 and
12 months. Conclusion: This study protocol describes the first digital therapy for
diabetes prevention in Malaysia, which will determine whether the effect of this
intervention is larger than the effect of usual care in reducing body weight and
HbA1c level, and improving dietary intake, physical activity, and quality of life of
high-risk individuals. Results from this trial may be useful for preventing type 2
diabetes mellitus in Malaysia.
8.Evaluation of beak and feather disease virus, avian polyomavirus and avian papillomavirus of captives psittacine birds in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
Muhammad Faiz Mohd Padzil ; Nur Syafiqah Ab Halim ; Nurulhuda Najihah ; Aminuddin Baki Nurul Najian ; Jalila Abu ; Nurulfiza Mat Isa ; Han Yih Lau ; Abdul Razak Mariatulqabtiah
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2021;17(3):338-344
Aims:
Psittacine birds such as parrots, macaws, cockatoos, lovebirds and parakeets, are widely reared as household
pets or at aviary due to their attractive features. However, the status of virus-causing diseases of psittacine species in
Malaysia is fairly under-documented. Therefore, this study was aimed to detect the presence of three common avian
viruses that infect psittacine birds, i.e. beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), avian polyomavirus and avian
papillomavirus.
Methodology and results:
Faecal samples from twelve asymptomatic captive psittacine birds of different species were
collected from an undisclosed animal garden in Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Briefly, the sample was homogenised and
resuspended with SM buffer with the ratio 1:1 (weight of sample/g: volume of SM buffer/mL) before centrifugation at
1,000 × g for 20 min. The supernatant was collected and filtered before subjected to genomic DNA extraction using a
commercialised kit. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used to screen the V1, VP1 and L1 genes of beak
and feather disease virus (BFDV), avian polyomavirus and avian papillomavirus, respectively. Findings revealed that the
samples were negative for BFDV and avian polyomavirus. However, positive results of 1.5 kbp PCR amplicon were
detected for avian papillomavirus in four out of the 12 samples (33.33%), which was from the white-crested cockatoo,
African grey parrot, yellow-collared macaw and Senegal parrot. Sequence analysis of the L1 gene from the Senegal
parrot Poicephalus senegalus revealed 93% identity to a reference Psittacus erithacus timneh avian papillomavirus.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study
This study added to the limited prevalence data of three important
avian viruses which infect captive psittacines in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia. Avian papillomavirus, but not
BFDV and avian polyomavirus, was detected in the collected captive psittacine birds. Therefore, a routine screening can
be performed to monitor the health status of birds despite their asymptomatic manifestation, in order to prevent possible
virus transmission.
Virus Diseases
;
Birds