Aims: Rice blast disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae is one of the major biotic diseases of rice in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. This study aims to isolate and characterize rice blast fungus obtained from infected leaf collected from four different divisions in Sarawak, viz, Miri, Serian, Sri Aman, and Kuching. Methodology and results: Twelve succeeded isolates were pre-identified as P. oryzae by morphological characteristics of spores, followed by verification through (internal transcribed spacer) ITS sequencing. The isolates were evaluated for morphological characteristics, growth rate and sporulation rate, which were grown on two types of media, (filtered oatmeal agar) FOMA and (potato dextrose agar) PDA. Morphological characterization showed that the colony surface of the different isolates varied from smooth and fluffy to rough and flattened mycelia; some were with the present of concentric rings, and some with aerial mycelia. The growth rate and sporulation rate of each isolate varied based on types of media used. Most of the isolates grew faster on PDA than on FOMA but produced higher number of spores on FOMA as compared to PDA. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: This preliminary study showed that there were variations observed based on morphological and physiological characterization for the different isolates collected in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. This study is the first step towards understanding variation in the population of P. oryzae from Sarawak.

Nurses’ job performance is defined as the effectiveness of a person in carrying out his or her duties related to patient care. Aim of this study is to measure job performance among nurses in a tertiary hospital and its associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses selected from four departments, which were Obstetrics & Gynecology (O&G), medical, surgical and Cardiac Care Unit (CCU)/High Dependency Unit (HDU). A Malay validated Six-Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance (6-DSNP) questionnaire was used to measure job performance. Nurses who have one child more compared to other nurses had significantly lower total mean score of job performance by -0.06 (95% CI 0.11, 0.01). Nurses working in medical department [adj.β=0.16 (95% CI 0.01, 0.30)] and CCU/HDU [adj.β= 0.33(95% CI: 0.17, 0.50)] had significantly higher total mean scores of jobs performance compared to O&G department. Effective strategies and re-examining work conditions are imperative for better job performance.
job performance ; associated factors ; nurses ; tertiary hospital

The aim of this study was to determine the polyphenol content and antioxidant activities in commercialized date and pomegranate concentrates that are available in local market. A total of seven samples comprised of two brands of date concentrates (D1 and D2) and five brands of pomegranate concentrates (P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5) have been analyzed for their polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. The Folin-Ciocalteu assay was used to determine the polyphenol content (TPC) of the samples while 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays were used to determine the antioxidant activity. The results showed the commercialized date concentrate D2 contained the highest TPC (1243.00 ± 67.00 mg GAE/100 ml) and antioxidant activity using FRAP assay (2.67 ± 0.01 mmol TE/100 ml). Date concentrate D1 showed the highest antioxidant activity using DPPH assay (0.39 ± 0.02 mmol TE/100 ml). The pomegranate concentrate P5 showed the highest reading for TPC (3260.10 ± 428.70 mg GAE/100 ml), DPPH (1.61 ± 0.05 mmol TE/100 ml) and FRAP assays (20.98 ± 0.42 mmol TE/100 ml). As a conclusion, the studied commercial date and pomegranate concentrates available in the local market contained high polyphenol and antioxidant contents although the content levels were different from one brand to another. Further study is needed to identify the causes of this distinction. The results of this study could help the consumers to make a better selection of commercialized date and pomegranate concentrates that are available in local market in term of polyphenol content and antioxidant activity.

The inhibitory effect of phytate on the bioavailability of iron, zinc and calcium was determined by measuring their molar ratios. A total of 29 food samples consisting of 12 rice and rice products, 5 wheat and wheat products, 5 grains and cereal based products and 7 different popular varieties of cooked rice and rice products were selected. The phytate content was analysed using anion-exchange chromatography whereas mineral contents were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry(AAS). One-way ANOVA test was used to statistically analyse the mean difference between the phytate and mineral contents between the food group samples. In general, results show that cooked products have lower content of phytate and minerals as compared to raw products. This could be due to the influence of the cooking method on phytate and mineral content in the food. Based on one-way ANOVA test, there were no significant difference in phytate and zinc content between four food groups (p >0.05). Significant differences were found only in iron and calcium content (p <0.05). Of the 29 food samples, 25 food samples had a phytate/iron molar ratio > 1, 5 food samples had a phytate/zinc molar ratio > 15 and 23 food samples had a phytate/ calcium molar ratio of 0.24. These results show that although many of the food samples analysed had high mineral content, the high phytate content may impair the bioavailability of the mineral in the body.

Visual impairment among children can be serious without early intervention. This study was conducted to determine prevalence of visual impairment causes among preschool children. Twenty one kindergartens were randomly selected for vision screening. The screening module consist of visual acuity test, cover test, Hirschberg’s test, exsternal ocular asessment and ophthalmoscopy. Preschool children who failed the vision screening were referred for further assessment. Four hundred and seventy nine preschool children with an average age of 5.30 ± 0.69 years old participated in the vision screening program. Of those 43 children who failed the vision screening, 32 (6.7%) children were confirmed to have some form of visual impairment, while 8 children were normal. Three children were excluded from the study because the children did not cooperate for further assessment. The main cause of visual impairment among preschool children was refractive error (5.8%). Other causes were amblyopia (1.3%), strabismus (1.0%) and ocular abnormalities (0.8%). In conclusion early detection of visual impairment through vision screning and early optometric intervention is very important to be conducted among preschool children so that visual impairment can be reduced.

Aims: Bakanae disease on rice has been widely distributed in all countries where rice is grown commercially, especially in Asian countries including Malaysia. As an alternative measure in controlling Fusarium fujikuroi, two approaches have to be adapted i.e. by using resistant varieties and biocontrol agents as reported in the present study. Methodology and results: A total of 31 Malaysian rice varieties were used in screening and results showed that variety MR211 was the most susceptible and MR220 was slightly susceptible. Out of 60 isolates of Trichoderma harzianum isolated from soils in Malaysia and tested against the pathogen under in vitro condition, 13 isolates showed high percentage of inhibition (PIRG > 60%). All isolates of T. harzianum showed that the PIRGs were significantly different at p≤0.05 with those of control plates. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Biocontrol agent and resistant variety are better alternative for controlling plant diseases. We found a variety MR220 was slightly susceptible, but none of tested varieties is resistant towards pathogen of bakanae disease. T. harzianum has the ability to inhibit the growth of F. fujikuroi (T3068P) under in vitro condition. The findings of the Malaysian susceptible/resistant variety and potential T. harzianum isolate as a biocontrol agent of bakanae are important for future tests in the plant house and field trials.
Biological Control Agents ; Oryza

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a disease that is rare but potentially fatal and challenging to diagnose. A 28-year-old man with sickle cell trait and a history of intravenous drug use presented with abdominal pain and hematuria mimicking a surgical abdomen. The preliminary diagnosis was cholecystitis or perforated viscus. The chest radiograph was indicative of pulmonary septic emboli. Computed tomography was initially thought to show pyelonephritis, but further review of images revealed renal infarct. The patient was found to have endocarditis which resulted in an embolic renal infarct. The patient recovered remarkably well after 60 days of intravenous antibiotics. This case demonstrates that a surgical abdomen may also be a sign of endocarditis, and multiple imaging studies may be required to confirm the diagnosis. In patients such as intravenous drug users with an increased risk of IE, unexplained flank pain should raise a suspicion of acute renal infarction.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a disease that is rare but potentially fatal and challenging to diagnose. A 28-year-old man with sickle cell trait and a history of intravenous drug use presented with abdominal pain and hematuria mimicking a surgical abdomen. The preliminary diagnosis was cholecystitis or perforated viscus. The chest radiograph was indicative of pulmonary septic emboli. Computed tomography was initially thought to show pyelonephritis, but further review of images revealed renal infarct. The patient was found to have endocarditis which resulted in an embolic renal infarct. The patient recovered remarkably well after 60 days of intravenous antibiotics. This case demonstrates that a surgical abdomen may also be a sign of endocarditis, and multiple imaging studies may be required to confirm the diagnosis. In patients such as intravenous drug users with an increased risk of IE, unexplained flank pain should raise a suspicion of acute renal infarction.

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of penetrating keratoplasty(PK)and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty(DALK)in the treatment of stromal corneal dystrophy.

METHODS: A systematic review and Meta-analysis was conducted for studies comparing visual acuity \〖best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)(LogMAR)\〗 and corneal endothelial cell count(ECC)as well as safety outcomes of DALK and PK surgeries, including graft-related outcomes and intraoperative and postoperative complications. Embase, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched for eligible studies until June 2019. Continuous and dichotomous variables were expressed as weighted mean difference(WMD)and risk ratios(RRs), respectively, along with their respective 95% confidence intervals(CIs).

RESULTS: Five comparative studies recruiting 350 patients with macular and/or lattice corneal dystrophy(59.71% males)were eventually included. No significant differences were noted in the mean BCVA after both types of surgeries. However, following DALK procedures, corneal ECC was significantly higher two years postoperatively(WMD=401.62 cell/mm2, 95% CI: 285.39-517.85, P<0.001), and graft and endothelial rejection rates were significantly lower(RR=0.30, 95% CI: 0.14-0.64, P=0.002; RR=0.09, 95% CI: 0.02-0.46, P=0.004, respectively)when compared to patients undergoing PK procedures. However, DALK procedures were associated with increased risks of intraoperative Descemet's membrane perforations and postoperative double anterior chamber(All P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: DALK procedures are relatively more efficacious over the follow up periods with better safety outcomes than PK in patients with stromal CDs, conerning rejection and better visual outcome.

Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that occurs after tissue damage, which substantially affects the patient’s emotional state and physical activity. The chronic pain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the result of various autoimmune-induced inflammatory reactions in the joints. Both types of peripheral and central pain processing can lead to sensitisation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can result in potent anti-inflammatory effect. However, these drugs are not able to suppress the pain from RA for a prolonged period. For years, researchers have examined the role of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 2B (NR2B) subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) in chronic and neuropathic pain models. This NMDAR subtype can be found in at the peripheral and central nervous system and it represents an effective therapy for RA pain management. This review focuses on the NR2B subunit of NMDAR and the different pathways leading to its activation. Furthermore, specific attention is given to the possible involvement of NR2B subunit in the peripheral and central pathogenesis of RA.