Aims:This study focus on the presence of cyanobacterial toxin in Malaysia and anatoxin-a-encoding gene was detected in this study and the status of cyanobacterial toxins in Malaysia can now be clarified.Methodology and results:As part of status determination of cyanobacterial toxins in Malaysia, cyanobacterial strains have been isolated from different environments and identified using cyanobacterial16S rRNA gene sequence. PCR assay was carried out to detect the presence of cyanobacterial toxin-encoding genes in these isolated strains by amplifying genes encoded for microcystin, anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin. Using molecular identification of 16S rRNA gene sequences, a total of forty-two cyanobacterial strains were identified, which belongs to eighteen different genera of Synechococcus, Cyanobium, Synechocystis, Chroococcidiopsis, Leptolyngbya, Nodosilinea, Limnothrix, Pseudanabaena, Cephalothrix, Aerosakkonema, Oscillatoria, Alkalinema, Pantanalinema, Planktolyngbya, Scytonema, Nostoc, Hapalosiphonand Symphyonemopsis. The toxicity of these strains was tested using PCR amplification of toxin-encoding genes using specific primers.Conclusion, significance and impact of study:Anatoxin-a (ATX) gene,which involved in the biosynthesis of anatoxin-Awas detected in two isolated strains namelyLimnothrixsp. B15 and Leptolyngbyasp. D1C10.This study focus on the the presence of cyanobacterial toxin in Malaysia can now be determined as potential threat because anatoxin-a-encoding gene was detected in this study and the status of cyanobacterial toxins in Malaysia can now be clarified.

Malaysia is one of the countries that have signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The WHO FCTC is a form of evidence-based agreement that recognises the right of all people to attain the highest standard of health. Policies established by the government were in line with the WHO requirements to gazette the nationwide smoking ban so that enforcement measures can be taken to control smoking activities in public places. The purpose of this scoping review is to give an overview of the extent of knowledge, attitude, and the perception of the public on smoking ban policies implemented in Malaysia. The keyword search strategy was as follows: smoking AND policy AND Malaysia AND (knowledge OR attitude OR perception) for publications between the year 2015-2021, conducted through several databases including Medline (search results of 5 publications), Web of Science (search results of 9 publications) and Scopus (search results of 19 publications). A total of 12 articles were considered relevant to answer the research objectives. We found that the level of knowledge, attitude, and perception of the public towards the smoking ban policy in Malaysia was still defective and inadequate. Therefore, it is hoped that the results of this multifactorial relationship study could cultivate governance in administration and governmental policies to imbue competency and efficiency.

INTRODUCTIONWe assessed the predictors of poor glycaemic control among older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Malaysia.

METHODSThis cross-sectional study used the data of 21,336 patients aged ≥ 60 years with T2DM from the Adult Diabetes Control and Management Registry 2008-2009.

RESULTSPredictors of poor glycaemic control were: age groups 60-69 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.66-2.33) and 70-79 years (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.20-1.71); Malay (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.41-1.66) and Indian (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.19-1.46) ethnicities; T2DM durations of 5-10 years (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.35-1.58) and > 10 years (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.59-1.91); the use of oral antidiabetic agents only (OR 5.86, 95% CI 3.32-10.34), insulin only (OR 17.93, 95% CI 9.91-32.43), and oral antidiabetic agents and insulin (OR 29.42, 95% CI 16.47-52.53); and elevated blood pressure (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.20), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.38-1.59) and triglycerides (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.51-1.73). Hypertension (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.64-0.80), hypertension and dyslipidaemia (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.61-0.75), pre-obesity (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82-0.98) and obesity (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.70-0.84) were less likely to be associated with poor glycaemic control.

CONCLUSIONYoung-old and middle-old age groups (i.e. < 80 years), Malay and Indian ethnicities, longer T2DM duration, the use of pharmacological agents, and elevated blood pressure and lipid levels were associated with poor glycaemic control. The presence of comorbidities, pre-obesity and obesity were less likely to be associated with poor glycaemic control.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Comorbidity ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; complications ; ethnology ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; blood ; Hypertension ; complications ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Insulin ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Registries ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; Triglycerides ; blood

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise in the healthcare industry. However, the study on the physicians’ perspectives is still lacking. The study aimed to examine physicians’ attitudes, expectations, and concerns regarding the application of AI in medicine. A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2019 among physicians in a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia. The survey used a validated questionnaire from the literature, which covered: (1) socio-demographic profile; (2) attitude towards the application of AI; (3) expected application in medicine; and (4) possible risks of using AI. Comparison of the mean score between the groups using a t-test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). A total of 112 physicians participated in the study: 64.3% from the clinical departments; 35.7% from the non-clinical specialties. The physicians from non-clinical departments had significantly higher mean attitude score (mean = 14.94 ± 3.12) compared to the clinical (person-oriented) departments (mean = 14.13 ± 3.10) and clinical (technique-oriented) departments (mean = 13.06 ± 2.88) (p = 0.033). The tech-savvy participants had a significantly higher mean attitude score (mean = 14.72 ± 3.55) than the non–tech-savvy participants (mean = 13.21 ± 2.46) (p = 0.01). There are differences in the expectations among the respondents and some concerns exist especially on the legal aspect of AI application in medicine. Proper training and orientation should precede its implementation and must be appropriate to the physicians’ needs for its utilization and sustainability.

Objective: On 6 October 2019, Petaling District Health Office received notification of a possible foodborne outbreak involving a mass gathering event. This report presents the processes of diagnosis verification, case identification, determination of associated risk factors and commencement of control measures in managing the outbreak. Methods: Cases were defined as those who attended the mass gathering event on 6 October 2019, consumed the pre-packaged food and subsequently developed vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or other symptoms (e.g. fever, nausea and dizziness). Epidemiological, environmental and laboratory investigations were performed. Data were analysed using SPSS software (version 24.0). Results: A total of 169 cases were identified. The attack rate was 7.2%, and cases ranged in age from 7 to 50 years, with a median of 20 years. A total of 156 (92.3%) cases had vomiting, 137 (81.1%) had abdominal pain and 83 (49.1%) had diarrhoea. Consuming nasi lemak at the mass gathering was found to be significantly associated with developing illness (odds ratio: 9.90, 95% confidence interval: 6.46–15.16). The samples from suspected food, food handlers and the environment were positive for Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus or coliforms. Discussion The outbreak at this mass gathering was probably caused by food contaminated with B. cereus and S. aureus. To prevent future outbreaks, we recommend mass gathering events use certified catering services that have adequate food safety training.