Colorectal cancer (CRC) carries a significant burden in most world regions. However, its screening uptake remains low. This study aimed to explore awareness and perspectives on CRC screening program in a multiethnic population and their preference for CRC screening decision aid. In-depth interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, translated to English and analysed thematically using hybrid inductive and deductive approaches. 17 informants from three main ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese and Indian) with various levels of risk for developing CRC were recruited. Awareness on CRC screening program was found to be low. Majority of informants never heard of CRC screening program. Among 11 eligible informants, only five experienced CRC screening uptake. Thematic analysis of the transcripts yielded six major themes; knowledge on CRC, screening process, authority’s role, curability, willingness to screening and preference for decision aid, and theywere mapped onto the Health Belief Model. Specific multiethnic perspectives found included preference for traditional medicine coming from all ethnics, and reliance in God coming from Malay informants. Majority preferred short videos as CRC screening decision aid, in the form of animation and live-action screenplay. Exploration of perspective of CRC screening helps in producing impactful decision aids. Future efforts should focus on developing short videos that incorporate population’s perspectives and can be disseminated through electronic media.

Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma as a Great Masquerader of Unilateral Sinonasal Tumour in Child: A Case Report Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that accounts for less than 1% of all sarcoma and the most common site of tumour is found in the soft tissue of the extremity. The incidence of ASPS in paediatric age group is rare. It is extremely uncommon for the tumour arising from the sinonasal within the head and neck region. Most of the reported cases were in the orbit and tongue. Localised ASPS carries a good prognosis after complete total resection. Diagnosing ASPS can be challenging as it can be a masquerader to other sinonasal soft tissue malignancy which required the laborious process of histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructural examination to solve the complexity. We encountered an 11-year-old girl who presented with sudden onset of left nasal obstruction and on examination noted a unilateral vascular mass in the left nasal cavity turned out to be ASPS. She underwent left nasal tumour debulking via endoscopic approach under general anaesthesia. Post-operative, she recovered well with regular endoscopic surveillance and was referred to the oncology team for post-operative radiotherapy.

Introduction: Early studies have suggested the role of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) polymorphisms in influencing HIV pathogenesis and phenotypes, including the protection against HIV infection and delaying disease progression to AIDS. This study aimed to further determine the impact of CCR5 variants (CCR5-Δ32 and CCR5- R223Q) on HIV susceptibility, viral load suppression and CD4 recovery during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among Malaysian HIV patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 182 HIV-infected who were recruited from three out-patient clinics, and 150 non-HIV subjects from Malay, Chinese and Indian ethnicities. CD4 count and viral load data at 4-6 months (t1) and 8-12 months (t2) after starting HAART were gathered from hospital records. Chi-square test was used to analyse the correlation between CCR5 variants with dependent variables. Results: Heterozygous CCR5-Δ32 and CCR5-R223Q occurred in a percentage of 0.5% (1/182) and 1.7% (3/182) among HIV patients respectively, while none of homozygous mutant for CCR5-Δ32 and CCR5-R223Q were found. CCR5-R223Q was found more frequently in non-HIV as compared to the HIV group (P=0.018). However, both polymorphisms were not found to be correlated with CD4 recovery to ≥500 cells/mm3 (P>0.05) and viral load suppression ≤50 copies/mL (P>0.05). Conclusion: CCR5-R223Q and CCR5-Δ32 alleles probably have no modifying effects on HIV susceptibility virological and immunological recoveries in the first 12 months of HAART, partially due to the low prevalence of these mutations in the studied population.

COVID-19 infection or vaccination is rarely associated with arterial occlusive disease of the extremities. The surgical department of a hospital in Johor, Malaysia, recorded a significant increase in the number of COVID-19-related acute limb ischaemia when the rates of COVID-19 were high both locally and internationally. The clinical presentation and management of acute limb ischaemia associated with COVID-19 infection or vaccination are largely underreported in Johor. Herein, we report a case series of 12 patients managed with strategies ranging from purely anticoagulation to catheter-directed thrombolysis and surgical embolectomy. This case series describes the clinical presentation, risk profiles, treatment approaches and limb outcomes of the patients. The amputation rate was high in view of unfavourable factors, including delayed presentation, high-risk factors and severe COVID-19. Three cases of potential COVID-19 vaccine-related acute limb ischaemia were included. COVID-19-related acute limb ischaemia can be minimised with heightened alert, preemptive optimisation with proper hydration and consideration for early prophylactic anticoagulation in high-risk cases.
COVID-19 ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Mechanical Thrombolysis

Aims: The aquaculture industry has been identified as one of the sources for the emergence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. This study aimed to determine the level of bacterial contamination from selected catfish pond farming at Jasin, Melaka and its susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. The correlation between the sampling points’ Water Quality Index and the level of bacterial contamination was also determined. Methodology and results : Sampling was carried out at six sampling points of the river as well as selected catfish pond farming. Microbial counts were assessed using the membrane filtration and isolates were further identified by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were carried out using the disk diffusion method. Results showed that the total bacterial count obtained was not significantly different (P>0.05) between sampling points with an average of 4.47 ± 0.41 log CFU/mL. A total of 27 different bacterial species were identified where 63% were identified as Gram-negative bacteria. A medium negative correlation (r=-6.16, P<0.01) was found between the sampling points’ Water Quality Index and the level of bacterial contamination. Among bacterial species identified, 18 species are pathogenic strains. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Antibiotic susceptibility test indicated that only 4 isolates showed resistance to antimicrobials tested and the study shows the potential cross contamination between fishponds and Kesang River, Melaka. Thus, public health concerns are tangible, and prevention of the cross contamination is crucial for the farm.

Overweight and obesity are major health concerns in Malaysia, which are linked to other health consequences such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and several others. Among dietary factors, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are reported to be one of the leading factors of weight gain and a higher body mass index (BMI). Sugar-sweetened beverages are beverages with added sugar that only add calories to an individual’s normal diet and they represent the largest contributor to the added sugars intake. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of SSB consumption among university students in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, as well as to investigate the association between the students’ SSB consumption and their BMI. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Gong Badak Campus and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) students by using the convenience sampling. Each participant was given a questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic details, anthropometric assessment and beverage intake. The results revealed that half of the students consumed 2 cups (500 mL) of SSBs on average days (49.4%), whereas 21.7% of them consumed at least 3 cups daily. It was found that sweetened tea was the students’ most preferred SSB and there was also an association between the SSB consumption and the BMI. In conclusion, university students in Kuala Nerus drink 2 cups of SSBs daily and sweetened tea is their preferred SSB. Since the students’ SSB consumption influences their BMI, these students must be aware on the contents of SSB and the related health consequences in order to reduce the consumption of these beverages and hence, reduce their BMI to a healthy level.

Food insecurity affects food intake, and it could prevent an individual from consuming enough nutritious food to support and maintain health. The aim of this paper is to determine the prevalence and factors influencing food insecurity among Malaysian households. In 2014, the Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey (MANS) was carried out, and one of the components measured was food insecurity. Six out of sixteen questions from the food security core-module questionnaire were adopted and answered by 2962 adults. The results showed that about 25.0% adult experienced food quantity insufficiency, 25.5% had food variety insufficiency, 21.9% practised reduced size of the meal, and 15.2% skipped main meal due to lack of money to spend on. For the parents, 23.7% only rely on cheap food to feed children, and 20.8% could not afford to purchase various foods to feed their children. Location, strata, race, level of education, working status and household income shows significant difference while none of the nutritional status components found to be difference in all six parameters of food insecurity measured. Logistic regression with adjusted odds ratios discovered race, education level and household income were related to risk to all six parameters of food insecurity. In conclusion, food insecurity can be a serious problem in Malaysia. An effective and comprehensive effort by the government in terms of policy solution is required to increase education level and ensure an adequate income for every household. Therefore, future research should focus on some of those promising policy solutions and at the same time, study the other possible underlying factors that may lead to food insecurity.
Food Insecurity ; Malaysia ; Adult ; Nutrition Survey

Crinum asiaticum and Hymenocallis littoralis, commonly known as spider lilies are bulbous perennial and herbaceous plants that widely planted in Malaysia as ornamental. During 2015–2016, symptom of leaf blight was noticed on the hosts from several locations in Penang. The symptom appeared as irregular brown to reddish lesions surrounded by yellow halos. As the disease progressed, the infected leaves became blighted, dried, and fell off with the presence of black microsclerotia and pycnidia on the lesions parts. The present study was conducted to investigate the causal pathogen of leaf blight on C. asiaticum and H. littoralis. Based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) gene, the causal pathogen was identified as Macrophomina phaseolina. Phylogenetic analysis of combined dataset of ITS and TEF1-α grouped the isolates studied with other isolates of M. phaseolina from GenBank. The grouping of the isolates was supported by 96% bootstrap value. Pathogenicity test proved the role of the fungus in causing leaf blight on both hosts.

In the article, two co-authors were missing in the author list.

Abstract An epsilometer-test method was used to determine MIC values of several antibiotics against 29 Helicobacter pylori isolated from gastric antrum of dyspepsia patients. Isolates with resistance towards antibiotics were 6.9% -65.5% but these were tetracycline-sensitive. Eight isolates showed multi-resistance towards two antimicrobial agents. The high resistance strains towards metronidazole is alarming.