1.Date Palm and Goat Milk Improve Haematological Parameters and Availability of Functional Iron in Iron Deficient Rats
Nurainna Abd Majid ; Zuriani Zainol ; Nor Aripin Shamaan ; Nazefah Abd Hamid ; Nuruliza Roslan ; Noor Fadzilah Zulkifli
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2020;16(No.3, September):52-59
Introduction: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is endemic especially in the under-developed and developing countries and is a major public health concern. Improving nutrition is one of the ways to alleviate this condition. Consumption of locally available and affordable food such as date palm and goat milk which are rich in iron is one of the ways to overcome IDA. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of date palm and goat milk supplementation on haematological parameters and iron bioavailability in IDA rats. Methods: 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control and IDA group. The normal control was fed with normal diet and water ad libitum while the IDA group were fed on iron-deficient diet for two weeks to induce iron deficiency. The IDA rats were further divided into subgroups; each being supplemented with date palm, goat milk, a combination of date palm and goat milk, and ferrous fumarate as positive control. Blood were collected after 28 days for haematological parameters and iron profile determination. Iron bioavailability was assessed using the haemoglobin regeneration efficiency (HRE) index. Data was analysed by Student T Test and ANOVA using SPSS 23.0 software with p value < 0.05 considered as statistically significant. Results: Supplementation of date palm and goat milk for 28 days significantly improved Hb, RBC, PCV, MCV, MCH, serum iron and transferrin saturation (p<0.05) in all treatment groups compared to normal control. The iron bioavailability of date palm and goat milk supplemented rats was similar to that of the positive control. Conclusion: Supplementation of date palm and goat milk in IDA rats improves haematological parameters and iron bioavailability.
2.COVID-19 Pandemic Fatigue: A Scoping Review of the Literature
Mohd Radzniwan Abdul Rashid ; Afiqah Syazwani Abdullah Suhaimi ; Sharifah Najwa Syed Mohamad ; Ahmad Izzat Ahmad Tajjudin ; Nuruliza Roslan ; Aida Jaffar ; Fathima Begum Syed Mohideen ; Faizul Helmi Addnan ; Nizam Baharom ; Muslimah Ithnin
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2024;20(No.1):330-342
Pandemic fatigue encompasses exhaustion, emotional strain, and decreased motivation due to prolonged pandemic
effects. This scoping review examines pandemic fatigue issues related to COVID-19, aiming to suggest effective management strategies. We assessed 2,558 records from 1st of December 2019 until 27th of March 2022 in PubMed,
Science Direct, ProQuest, and ClinicalKey. Following Arksey and O’Malley (2005) and PRISMA-ScR principles, we
selected 31 studies including research papers employing either quantitative or qualitative methods and editorials
and other summary articles after excluding redundant and irrelevant works. The authors provide six critical answers
to understand better and manage pandemic fatigue, including the need for more research and support, the collaboration between key stakeholders and the community, and the use of information to address pandemic fatigue. The
review found that pandemic fatigue is prevalent among certain groups, such as students and healthcare workers.
Factors contributing to pandemic fatigue include age, gender, high perceived severity of COVID-19, low trust in
government or health organizations, and low social connectedness. The review also identified an instrument, the
COVID-19 Pandemic Fatigue Scale, that can be used to measure pandemic fatigue. The review concluded that
identifying pandemic fatigue as early as possible is absolutely important and people and their government should
work together to handle the fatigue. Many countries have acknowledged the presence hence manage it differently.
Nonetheless the strategy suggested by WHO has provided an excellent framework to tackle the pandemic fatigue.