Introduction: This study was conducted on 215 working women from four private corporate companies in a suburb in Malaysia to determine the factors related to their physical activity levels. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire which included socio-demographic characteristics, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), perceived barriers and benefits to physical activity, self-efficacy to physical activity and an 8-item questionnaire on current behavioral stage of physical activity. Results: The majority of the respondents were Malay (81.9%) with 10.2% being Chinese and 7.9% Indian. Most of the respondents were executives (64.2%), while the rest were non-executives (24.7%) and managers (11.2%). The mean weight, height, BMI and waist circumference were 59.4±13.1 kg, 1.6±0.6 m, 23.7±4.8 kg/m² and 77.0±12.1cm respectively. In this sample, 24.7% and 7.9% were overweight and obese respectively, while 34% were at risk of abdominal obesity. A total of 28.8% of the respondents had low physical activity level, while 48.8% and 22.3% were in the moderate and high physical activity categories respectively. An association was found between monthly income (χ2=110.17; p<0.05) and current behavioral stage of physical activity (χ2=27.527; p<0.05) with physical activity, but no relationship was found between job category and physical activity category (χ2=8.940; p>0.05). Physical activity category was also positively correlated with perceived barriers (r=0.227, p<0.05) and benefits to physical activity (r=0.280, p<0.05). However, physical activity was not associated with self-efficacy to physical activity. Conclusion: In this sample of working women, socio-demographic and psychosocial factors (except self-efficacy to physical activity) were found to have an association with physical activity level of the respondents. Further studies should be conducted to confirm these findings in the general working women population.

The home environment plays an influential role in affecting dietary and physical activity practices of children. This study aimed to determine the association between the home environment, dietary practice and physical activity among primary school children in Selangor. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in five primary schools selected using multistage stratified sampling. A total of 293 children (32.8% males and 67.2% females) (mean age of 11.0±0.9 years) and their parents (10.7% fathers and 89.3% mothers) completed the study. Dietary practice of the children was assessed using a two-day dietary recall. Energy expenditure and physical activity of the children were assessed using a two-day physical activity recall. Parents of the children completed the Home Environment Survey (HES). Results: The mean energy intake of the children was 1765±416 kcal/day with 75.0% not achieving the Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for energy. Almost all children (96.5%) were physically inactive, with a mean energy expenditure of 12693±42 kcal/day. High availability of fruit/vegetable at home was associated with high vegetable intake (r=0.128, p<0.05) and low fat intake (r=-0.115, p<0.05). High availability of fats/sweets at home (r=0.125, p<0.05) and parental role modelling of healthy eating (r=0.117, p<0.05) were associated with high fruit intake. High availability of physical activity equipment at home was associated with high energy expenditure (r=0.123, p<0.05). Parental role modelling of physical activity was associated with high energy expenditure (r=0.123, p<0.05) and high physical activity (r=0.123, p<0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate the important roles of parents in promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles among children.
Diet ; Child ; Motor Activity ; Environment ; Feeding Behavior

Prevalence of dysphagia is one of the important epidemiological data which will contribute to the proper planning and support the setting up of a swallowing rehabilitation clinic at this hospital. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (Hospital USM) from 2001-2010. In this institutional retrospective study, a total of 66 records were obtained comprising of 86.4% Malay patients, 9.1% Chinese, 1.5% Indians, and 3% other ethnic groups. These data were taken from the database of HNC patients seen at the dental clinic, Hospital USM between 2001 and 2010. Difficulty swallowing, frequent coughing during meal, choking, diet modification, and non-oral nutritional support were identified as signs and symptoms associated with dysphagia. Results showed that 59.1% of patients have had dysphagia before, during, or after the treatment of HNC. Data from the present study would be instrumental in increasing awareness among clinicians involved in patient care and it may help in planning the outline of management of dysphagia. Furthermore, it is anticipated to have implications for further research in swallowing and dysphagia.
Deglutition Disorders ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Prevalence ; Deglutition

A bioavailability and pharmacokinetics study of doxycycline was carried out on 30 healthy ostriches after a single intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM) and oral dose of 15 mg/kg body weight. The plasma doxycycline concentration was determined by HPLC/UV at 0 (pretreatment), 0.08, 0.25, 0.5 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after administration. The plasma concentration-time curves were examined using non-compartmental methods based on the statistical moment theory for only the higher dose. After IV administration, the elimination half-life (t(1/2beta)), mean residence time (MRT), volume of distribution at the steady-state (V(ss)), volume of distribution (Vd(area)) and total body clearance (Cl(B)) were 7.67 +/- 0.62 h, 6.68 +/- 0.86 h, 0.86 +/- 0.16 l/kg, 1.67 +/- 0.52 l/kg and 2.51 +/- 0.63 ml/min/kg, respectively. After IM and oral dosing, the mean peak plasma concentrations (C(max)) were 1.34 +/- 0.33 and 0.30 +/- 0.04 microgram/ml, respectively, which were achieved at a postadministration time (t(max)) of 0.75 +/- 0.18, 3.03 +/- 0.48 h, respectively. The t(1/2beta), Vd(area) and Cl(B) after IM administration were 25.02 +/- 3.98 h, 23.99 +/- 3.4 l/kg and 12.14 +/- 1.71 ml/min/kg, respectively and 19.25 +/- 2.53 h, 61.49 +/- 7 l/kg and 40.19 +/- 3.79 ml/min/kg after oral administration, respectively. The absolute bioavailability (F) of doxycycline was 5.03 and 17.52% after oral and IM administration, respectively. These results show that the dose data from other animals particularly mammals cannot be extrapolated to ostriches. Therefore, based on these results along with those reported in the literature, further studies on the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic, in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration values and clinical applications of doxycycline in ostriches are required.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage/blood/*pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Doxycycline/administration & dosage/blood/*pharmacokinetics ; Half-Life ; Injections, Intramuscular/veterinary ; Injections, Intravenous/veterinary ; Struthioniformes/*metabolism

A 29-year-old man, who was a medical intern presented with history of recurrent shoulder dislocation. Radiographs and computed tomography imaging revealed a bony bankart lesion with glenoid bone loss of 25% with moderate Hill- Sachs lesion. Latarjet surgery was performed. At post-operative 8 months, the patient experienced pain and clicking in the left shoulder while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. At post-operative 1 year, magnetic resonance arthrography showed a united coracoid graft and intact posterior labrum. Left shoulder diagnostic arthroscopy and removal of Latarjet screws through a limited anterior deltopectoral approach were performed. The symptoms pain, clicking and instability sense was caused by either the prominent distal screw or the remnant suture material from the anchor which resulted in impingement of the infraspinatus muscle. We recommend the use of image intensifier to check on the position and length of the screw at the end of the surgery to avoid this complication.

Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injury is a common shoulder injury. There are various techniques of ACJ reconstruction. Superficial infection after ACJ reconstruction is not an uncommon complication. However, osteomyelitis post ACJ reconstruction has never been highlighted as a possible complication. Our patient is a 31-year-old male who sustained a Rockwood 5 ACJ dislocation and had anatomical ACJ reconstruction with autogenous gracilis and semitendinosus graft. Our technique involved the anatomical reconstruction of the ACJ and the coracoclavicular ligament with the usage of two bioscrews and the temporary stabilisation of the ACJ with two k-wires. As in any orthopaedic surgery, infection is often disastrous especially when the surgery involves implants. It can be disastrous with high morbidity to the patient as well as a costly complication to treat. Therefore, we wish to highlight this case as despite its rarity, osteomyelitis can be devastating to the patient and should be prevented if possible.
Acromioclavicular Joint ; injuries ; surgery ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; Bone Screws ; adverse effects ; Bone Wires ; adverse effects ; Gracilis Muscle ; transplantation ; Hamstring Muscles ; transplantation ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Orthopedic Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Osteomyelitis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods

This article explores the most recent evidence-based information on ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological understanding of Hygrophila auriculata for the treatment of various diseases and health conditions. Various ethnomedicinal writings suggest the use of the plant or its parts for the treatment of jaundice, oedema, gastrointestinal ailments, diarrhoea, dysentery, urinogenital disorder, gall stones, urinary calculi, kidney stone, leucorrhoea, rheumatism, tuberculosis, anaemia, body pain, constipation, skin disease, and as an aphrodisiac. The plant has been reported to contain flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, ellagic acid, gallic acid and quercetin), alkaloids (asteracanthine and asteracanthicine), triterpenes (lupeol, lupenone, hentricontane and betulin), sterols (stigmasterol and asterol), minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, aliphatic esters and essential oils. Extracts and bioactive compounds from the plant have been found to possess antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antitermite, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, central nervous system protective, antitumour, antidiabetic, anticataract, antioxidant, haematopoietic, diuretic, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antimotility, aphrodisiac, neuroprotection, anti-endotoxin and anti-urolithiatic activities. For this paper, we reviewed patents, clinical studies, analytical studies and marketed formulations from the earliest found examples from 1887 to the end of 2017.
Acanthaceae ; chemistry ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Antioxidants ; Ethnopharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Traditional ; Phytochemicals ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Protective Agents

Introduction: Limited studies have been documented on the presence of pathogenic Leptospira in public markets serving the community in sub-districts of Selangor. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of pathogenic Leptospira in rats using a gene encoding an outer membrane lipoprotein LipL32. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using LipL32 primers on sixty kidney samples of rats trapped at two locations of study; Pasar Borong Selangor in Seri Kembangan and Pasar Basah Bandar Baru Bangi in Bangi. Results: Out of 60 samples analysed, 36.7% were positive for the presence of LipL32. All positive samples highly matched (>94%) nucleotide sequence for LipL32 of pathogenic Leptospira and related to the pathogens through phylogenetic analysis. Conclusion: The detection of LipL32 indicates the potential presence of pathogenic Leptospira species at public markets. Although only 60 rats were successfully trapped, the rats are mobile and might further transmit the pathogenic organisms to other areas.