1.Mortality and Kidney Failure among Adults with Primary Podocytopathies
Ruzita GHANI ; Lavinia Tsai Qi EN ; Hui Zhuan TAN ; Jason CHOO ; Cynthia LIM
Brunei International Medical Journal 2026;22():57-63
Introductions: Patients with primary podocytopathies such as minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) with nephrotic syndrome are at risk for adverse outcomes. This study reports on the long -term outcomes, specifically kidney failure and death among patients treated for primary podocytopathies in a tertiary centre in Singapore. Materials and Methods: This was a single -centre, retrospective cohort study of all adults aged ≥21 years old diagnosed between 2016 and 2020 with MCD and FSGS with nephrotic -range proteinuria. We excluded patients with membranous nephropathy and secondary glomerulonephritides (lupus nephritis, ANCA - associated vasculitis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and diabetic nephropathy). Sociodemographic, comorbidity, laboratory and pharmacotherapy data were retrieved from the electronic medical records. The outcomes assessed were incidence of death or kidney failure (estimated glomerular filtration function [eGFR]<15 ml/min/1.73 m2 or required kidney replacement therapy). Results: Sixty patients (Chinese 80%, Malay 6%, Indian 3% and other races 3%) with MCD (37 patients) and FSGS (23 patients) were included. The morphological lesions in FSGS included cellular (n=2), tip (n=2), perihilar (n=7), collapsing (n=3) and not otherwise specified (n=17). At a median follow -up of 26.3 (8.9, 50.3) months, 12 (20%) outcomes were recorded, 11 (47.8%; death 6 and kidney failure 5) in the FSGS group and 1 (2.7%; died) in the MCD group. The causes of death were attributed to kidney failure (n=1), cardiovascular disease (n=1), infection (n=3); and unknown (n=2). The Kaplan -Meier survival curve showed that patients with MCD had better patient and kidney outcomes than those with FSGS (log rank p<0.001). Cox regression analysis (adjusted for age) found that FSGS was significantly associated with death or kidney failure (adjusted hazard ratio 18.17, 95% confidence interval 2.28 -145.07, p=0.006), compared with MCD. Conclusion: Adults with severe primary podocytopathy due to FSGS had worse patient and kidney outcomes than MCD
2.Mortality and Kidney Failure among Adults with Primary Podocytopathies
Ruzita GHANI ; Lavinia Tsai Qi EN ; Hui Zhuan TAN ; Jason CHOO ; Cynthia LIM
Brunei International Medical Journal 2026;22():57-63
Introductions: Patients with primary podocytopathies such as minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) with nephrotic syndrome are at risk for adverse outcomes. This study reports on the long -term outcomes, specifically kidney failure and death among patients treated for primary podocytopathies in a tertiary centre in Singapore. Materials and Methods: This was a single -centre, retrospective cohort study of all adults aged ≥21 years old diagnosed between 2016 and 2020 with MCD and FSGS with nephrotic -range proteinuria. We excluded patients with membranous nephropathy and secondary glomerulonephritides (lupus nephritis, ANCA - associated vasculitis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and diabetic nephropathy). Sociodemographic, comorbidity, laboratory and pharmacotherapy data were retrieved from the electronic medical records. The outcomes assessed were incidence of death or kidney failure (estimated glomerular filtration function [eGFR]<15 ml/min/1.73 m2 or required kidney replacement therapy). Results: Sixty patients (Chinese 80%, Malay 6%, Indian 3% and other races 3%) with MCD (37 patients) and FSGS (23 patients) were included. The morphological lesions in FSGS included cellular (n=2), tip (n=2), perihilar (n=7), collapsing (n=3) and not otherwise specified (n=17). At a median follow -up of 26.3 (8.9, 50.3) months, 12 (20%) outcomes were recorded, 11 (47.8%; death 6 and kidney failure 5) in the FSGS group and 1 (2.7%; died) in the MCD group. The causes of death were attributed to kidney failure (n=1), cardiovascular disease (n=1), infection (n=3); and unknown (n=2). The Kaplan -Meier survival curve showed that patients with MCD had better patient and kidney outcomes than those with FSGS (log rank p<0.001). Cox regression analysis (adjusted for age) found that FSGS was significantly associated with death or kidney failure (adjusted hazard ratio 18.17, 95% confidence interval 2.28 -145.07, p=0.006), compared with MCD. Conclusion: Adults with severe primary podocytopathy due to FSGS had worse patient and kidney outcomes than MCD
3.Kajian Rintis Penilaian Literasi Digital: Kesediaan Guru Prasekolah Menggunakan Platform Pembelajaran dalam Talian untuk Pendidikan Pemakanan (A Pilot Study Assessing Digital Literacy: Preschool Teachers’ Readiness to Use Online Learning Platforms in Nutrition Education)
CHONG YI TING ; POH BEE KOON ; RUZITA ABD. TALIB ; KOH DENISE ; WOO PIK XUAN ; NELSON GEORGIA LIVAN ; CHEAH WHYE LIAN ; LEE JULIA AI CHENG ; YATIMAN NOOR HAFIZAH ; ESSAU CECILIA A ; REEVES SUE ; SUMMERBELL CAROLYN ; GIBSON EDWARD LEIGH
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2024;22(No.1):71-82
eToyBox is a learning management system for preschool teachers to improve their health literacy, which ultimately aims
to improve children’s obesity-related behaviour. As part of the development process of eToyBox, assessment on digital
literacy, acceptance of digitization of education materials, and perceived barriers in adopting online learning is needed.
Fifty-four preschool teachers under the Community Development Department (KEMAS) in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor,
and Sarawak, who participated in ToyBox Study Malaysia intervention in 2018, took part in this cross-sectional study.
An online self-administered questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic background, use of communication
tools and media, and teacher’s views on adapting the ToyBox modules to digital education materials. Respondents were
contacted, and questionnaire link was shared through WhatsApp messages. Most participants (74.0%) were Malay
females aged 31 to 40 years old. Most participants had internet access (94.4%) and owned at least a smart phone,
laptop or tablet (94.4%). Participants perceived their computer skills to be average (75.0%). Majority of respondents
(65.0%) reported advanced and higher abilities in word processing and email, but only 22.0% in spreadsheet skills. The
main barrier to accessing online material was unstable internet connection (74.1%). Most respondents (90.0%) agree
that adapting effective modules to online learning will be beneficial for professional development and teaching practices.
In conclusion, most participants supported digitizing Toybox Study Malaysia educational content and were comfortable
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with its implementation via an online learning platform. The findings from this study can advise future development of
online learning materials for preschool teachers in Malaysia.
4.Development and Validation of FFQ for Assessing SugarSweetened Beverages (SSB) and High-Energy Dense Foods Intake among Malaysian Adolescents
Nur Anis Fadzliyana Fauzi ; Mohd Ramadan Ab Hamid ; Ruzita Abd Talib ; Fadhilah Jailani ; Siti Sabariah Buhari
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.3):53-63
Introduction: Increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is strongly associated with weight gain,
dental cavities, and a higher risk of chronic diseases among adolescents. However, there is no available FFQ for the
Malaysian population individually to evaluate and assess the consumption of SSBs and high-energy dense (HED)
foods among adolescents. Method: A 24-hour diet recall with 30 adolescents were performed via Google Meet to
identify the most common and frequent types of SSBs and HEDs foods consumed nowadays. The food checklist of
SSBs and HED foods from literature review search was also provided to the participants. Experts critically reviewed
each food item and provide a score for its relevancy and essentiality. Face validity were conducted among 10 adolescents to validate the developed FFQ. Results: The final FFQ consisted of 63 food items with ten categories. This
FFQ showed high content validity for individual items with I-CVI ranging from 0.67 to 1.00 and overall questionnaires with S-CVI/Ave valued at 0.97. The calculation of Kappa statistic showed that this newly developed FFQ has
excellent inter-rater reliability at the item level with K > 0.74 for 55 items and K = 0.57 only for 4 items. Most of the
items were marked as relevant with a CVR score of 1.00. Conclusion: The findings of this study imply that the newly
developed FFQ could be utilised to estimate the intake of SSB and HED foods of Malaysian adolescents.
5.Effectiveness of Social Media Interventions to Improve Nutrition Behaviour among Adolescents in Asia: A Systematic Review
Hazirah Md Jamri ; Mohd Ramdan Ab Hamid ; Ruzita Abd Talib ; Fadhilah Jailani ; Siti Sabariah Buhari
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.5):237-246
Aims: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the social media intervention’s efficacy, as well as the intervention’s
theory, model, and framework. Design: Systematic review. Data sources: Five databases- PubMed, Web of Sciences,
Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar were searched systematically from June 18 to July 12, 2022. Methods:
Predefined keywords of “social media”, “nutrition”, “behaviour” and “adolescents” were used. The inclusion criteria:
(1) 10 to 24 years old participants; (2) social media or website as intervention platform; (3) intervention outcomes
related to improvement in nutrition behaviour, anthropometric measures, knowledge and awareness; (4) is a randomized controlled trial, non-randomized controlled trial, cluster controlled, cohort, case control or before and after
study design; (5) published in 2000 until 2022; (6) written or translated is English; and (7) conducted in Asia. Results:
Review eligibility included nine studies. Three research were web- or website-based, while the other six used social
media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and LINE. Post-intervention outcomes showed significant gains, however some
studies found no differences between the intervention and control groups. Conclusion: Social media is a widely accepted platform for educating adolescents about nutrition for behaviour change. However, the evidence shows that
the interventions are lack of significant improvement between groups and the used of digital or technological-related
theory, model and framework. This review demonstrated the progress of healthy behaviours in nutrition and health
literacy among adolescents that can be spread through social network and the value of new technological techniques
in managing the targeted population.
6.Models and theories to support health promotion programmes for overweight and obese adults: A scoping review
Tatiana Suhaimi ; Sharifah Wajihah Wafa Syed Saadun Tarek Wafa ; Hanif Farhan Mohd Rasdi ; Ruzita Abd Talib
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2022;28(No.3):335-355
Introduction: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity has been alarming.
One approach to address this issue is to implement health promotion programmes.
Despite the many health promotion and health intervention programmes held, there
is a lack of evidence showing the application of theories and models. This scoping
review aimed to explore existing literature and synthesise findings based on models
and theories used to support health promotion programmes for overweight and obese
adults. Methods: This review was guided by the Arksey and O’Malley framework.
Online databases, such as Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, were used
to search for relevant articles using suitable keywords, from January 2015 until
December 2021. Articles were written in English and Malay, and the study subjects
were adults aged 18-59 years old. Two reviewers independently screened the articles,
and the extracted information were tabulated after analysis. Results: A total of 13
different theories and models were found in the 27 articles selected. Many studies
reported using the Transtheoretical Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Health
Belief Model in health promotion programmes for overweight and obese adults.
Most constructs and components focused on changing health-related behaviours
starting with the individual, such as self-efficacy and readiness to change. Majority
of the articles showed an improvement in health-related behaviours and had great
potential for future studies. Conclusion: When conducting health promotion
programmes for overweight and obese adults, researchers should consider models
and theories with constructs and components to ensure consistent improvement
and potentially significant impacts on health-related outcomes.
7.Proximate, mineral and fatty acid compositions of healthy recipes used in Fit, Eat, Active, Training (F.E.A.T) programme
Nurulhusna Abdullah ; Hasnah Haron ; Ruzita Abd Talib ; Wan Nurul Najwa Wan Nik ; Wirdah Mohamed
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2021;27(No.2):293-316
Introduction: Many people are seeking knowledge and skills about preparing healthy meals at home. This study aimed to determine the content of nutrients in 60 healthy dishes prepared for the recipe book Mudah, Sihat, Sedap used in the F.E.A.T nutrition intervention programme. The recipe book was developed as an educational material to guide participants in preparing healthy meals at home. Methods: A needs assessment survey was done to identify food preferences for breakfast, lunch and dinner of obese and overweight respondents. Recipes for these foods were then modified to reduce the calorie, fat, and sugar contents, while adding in fibre sources. Proximate analysis was done based on standard methods of AOAC, while total carbohydrate and calorie contents were calculated using the differentiation and Atwater methods, respectively. Mineral content was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer, while fatty acids content was analysed by gas chromatography using the FAME method. Results: Proximate analysis results showed that Kobis Goreng had the most calories (305 kcal/100g) (p<0.05) in all categories. Mineral analysis showed that sodium was significantly highest (p<0.05) in Asam Pedas Daging (554 mg/100g). For fatty acid analysis, Masak Lemak Telur Itik had the highest amount of MUFA (45.1%), Masak Lemak Sotong had the highest amount for SFA (71.8%), and Masak Lemak Cili Api Udang had the highest amount of PUFA (33.7%). Conclusion: This study successfully modified original recipes of selected cuisines used in the recipe book, which contained lower calories compared to original recipes. The calorie and nutrient values for each recipe will be included as nutrition composition information in the recipe book.
8.Calcium and iron intakes of adolescents in Malaysia and their relationships with body mass index (BMI): Findings from the Adolescent Nutrition Survey 2017
Syafinaz Mohd Sallehuddin ; Ruzita Abd. Talib ; Ruhaya Salleh ; Rashidah Ambak ; Munawara Pardi ; Nur Shahida Abdul Aziz ; Norazizah Ibrahim Wong ; Mohd Azahadi Omar
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2021;27(No.2):317-326
Introduction: Adolescent health is a priority considering they represent the future generation. Data from the Adolescent Nutrition Survey 2017 were analysed to determine the prevalence of micronutrient inadequacy, particularly calcium and iron, and the relationship with body mass index (BMI) among Malaysian secondary school students. Methods: This cross-sectional study included students aged 13 to 17 years old studying at public and private schools. Twenty-four hours dietary recall via face-to-face interview was conducted by trained nutritionists to obtain data on dietary intake. For nutritional status, BMI-for-age z-score (BAZ) was analysed using WHO Anthroplus software. Results: From 999 respondents, 449 were boys and 550 were girls. Overall findings indicated that both boys and girls had inadequate intakes of calcium and iron in their daily diet. Mean intakes of calcium (695.7±463.2 mg/day) and iron (23.4±21.0 mg/day) were higher among boys aged 16 to 17 years old. Mean intake of iron were higher among the older age groups. Majority of the respondents (boys: 94%; girls: 97%) did not meet the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) for calcium and more than half (boys: 50%; girl: 80%) did not achieve the RNI for iron. Current findings also found significant positive but weak correlations between calcium (r=0.112, p=0.001) and iron (r=0.084, p=0.008) intakes with BMI-for-age. Conclusion: BMI-for-age was related to calcium and iron intakes among secondary school students in Malaysia. Thus, intervention strategies should focus on early screening and nutrition education on food choices of high calcium and high iron contents, including iron supplementation programmes, if needed.
9.The Characteristic of Obesity Intervention Studies Among School Children in Malaysia: A Scoping Review Ciri-ciri Kajian Intervensi Obesiti Dalam Kalangan Murid Sekolah di Malaysia:Suatu Tinjauan Penskopan
NORHASNIZA YAACOB ; RUZITA ABD TALIB ; AMIRAH ISMAIL ; MOHD IZWAN MAHMUD
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2021;19(No.2):87-103
Obesity among school children has now reached an alarming level in most developing countries, including Malaysia.
Thus, numerous strategies to curb the rising of obesity focusing on school children have been taking place. However,
this issue management is complex, and a holistic approach is needed to address it comprehensively. This scoping review
aimed to identify the characteristics of obesity interventions conducted among school children in Malaysia as a principal
recommendation to develop a comprehensive obesity intervention. Arksey and O'Malley’s framework used to guide the
scoping review process. Published articles on intervention studies conducted for school children in Malaysia from 2007
to 2020 retrieved based on keyword using the selected electronic and local databases. The NVivo 12 Plus software used
to place findings in the systematic framework matric form and evidence tables. The final results reported in descriptive
tables. Eighteen studies only reviewed among 3417 extracted articles. Thirteen aspects of the characteristics of the
interventions identified. The influence of environmental intervention (family and school communities) on children
lifestyle identified as a research gap. Combined environmental interventions and educational guides with technology
application recognised as one of the potential components for future obesity intervention design amongst school
children.
10.Perspectives of Malaysian parents on eating out: A qualitative analysis
Suhaila Abdul Ghaffar ; Ruzita Abd. Talib ; Norimah A. Karim
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2020;26(No.3):379-388
Introduction: The culture of eating out among Malaysians has substantially
increased in recent years due to the urbanisation of the society. Frequent eating
out has been linked with reduced quality of diet, reduced intake of micronutrients,
and increased weight gain. This study aims to explore specific factors on the
perceptions and behaviours related to eating out from the perspective of parents.
Methods: A qualitative study was carried out among 27 informants from various
ethnicities and locations in Peninsular Malaysia. All sessions were audio-recorded,
fully transcribed and analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: The main
overarching theme that surfaced from this study was the role of parents in shaping
the practice of eating out. Time constraints due to parents’ work commitments,
the availability of various food outlets, increase in family bonding time and food
preferences were recurring themes revealed by informants as facilitating factors to
eating out. Other emerging themes, such as hygiene of food premises and cost of
food, posed as barriers to eating out. Conclusion: These findings offered a better
understanding on the eating out practices of a family from the parents’ perspective.
Information as such could be incorporated in strategies to enhance the promotion of
healthy eating and nutrition interventions that aim to inculcate healthy food choices
while eating out.


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