This descriptive cross-sectional study is aimed at studying the comparison on knowledge and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS among the Malaysian undergraduate students at SEGi University, Kota Damansara, Malaysia. Data was collected from a stratified random sample of 180 students using a validated questionnaire survey which included a socio-demographics section and four sub-sections of 36 questions which assessed the general knowledge, general public perceptions, the respondent’s views on the measures to prevent the disease and misconceptions related to the disease. The data were analysed by using the SPSS software, and Chi-square test was used to find the p-value for each of the questions. The average mean score assessing the knowledge of the Malaysian students in SEGi was 81.48%, where the Health Science students scored 44.31% with a standard deviation of 0.015 and the Non-Health Science students scored 37.17% with a standard deviation of 0.036. When comparing each question using the Chi-square test, most of the answers of the Health Science students and Non-Health Science students showed a significant difference where the p-value was <0.05. From the results of this study it is clear that the Health Science students had better knowledge and fewer misconceptions about HIV/AIDS than the Non-Health Science students. Thus, more emphasis should be directed toward raising awareness and eliminating misconceptions among the Non-Health Science students.

The development and validation of a method for the determination of concentrations of thiocyanate in human plasma are described here. A modified colorimetric method of Bowler was used with the following alteration in Monica Manual, Part III. In order to obtain the same sensitivity in low amounts of clinical samples, quartz SUPRASIL(R) micro cuvettes have been used. The quantitation range was between 25-500 microM. Accuracy and precision of the quality control samples, linearity of the calibration curve, dilution, spike recovery and stability under various conditions were evaluated in the validation of the method and all demonstrated acceptable results. All validation results met good laboratory practice acceptance and FDA requirements to be acceptable for application in clinical trials. The validated method has been used for a Phase I clinical study in cancer patients orally administered with either 60 mg or 80 mg of GDC-0425 containing a cyanide (CN-) group. The thiocyanate levels from patients before and after drug administration showed no clinically significant differences.
Calibration ; Humans* ; Plasma* ; Quality Control ; Quartz ; Spectrophotometry*