Introduction: ABO blood group can be associated with chronic diseases, for example, cancer and coronary heart disease, however it is not proven in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to identify the association between the ABO blood group and disease control among T2DM patients at Kepala Batas, Penang. Methods: Approximately two mL vials of fresh blood were collected and typed using the tube method from 129 T2DM and 132 non-diabetic (control) patients, who visited the specialist clinic. The sociodemographic characteristics of the T2DM patients was analysed using descriptive analysis. The proportions of A, B, AB, and O blood groups among the diabetic and control patients were compared using the chi-square test. Any association between the ABO blood group and disease control was identified using the bivariate correlation test. Results: No significant association was found between the ABO group and T2DM patients (p = 0.152) when compared with the control group. However, blood group B was the most frequent among T2DM patients (33.3%) compared to blood group O within the control group (36.4%). Negative associations were observed between the ABO blood group and BMI (r = 0.098, p = 0.268), as well as the HbA1C value (r = -0.065, p = 0.464). Conclusion: No association was found between the ABO blood group and the associated risk factors (BMI and HbA1C). However, individuals with blood group B and risk factors, such as older age group, obesity, and high HbA1C value (more than 7.0%), should be monitored.

Indigenous communities in Malaysia practice traditional medicine, particularly from the surrounding plants to cure different diseases and illnesses. This traditional way of life has been practised for centuries and passed down through generations. This study aims to document medicinal plants that have been used by the Orang Asli to treat illness. A qualitative ethnomedical study was done to document the species that were believed to have medicinal value. This study was carried at all three resettlement villages in Terengganu. Eleven informants who were the head of household with the age of over 30 years old were interviewed. Fieldwork surveys, observation and face-to-face communication were methods used in this study. The finding shows that most of the Orang Asli community in Terengganu are still dependent on plants and herbs to cure ailments. A total of 106 species that belong to 55 plant families were used by them. This study will encourage researchers in various fields such as ethnobotanical, ethno-zoological, ethnomedicinal and pharmaceutical and toxicological accomplishment of flora and fauna from these areas. As such, these medicinal plants need some more extensive efforts to validate scientifically and clinically were to prove the ethnomedical claims toward them.

Introduction: Leptospirosis is endemic to tropical regions of the world and is re-emerging as a new danger to public health in Malaysia. the purpose of this particular study was to determine the common leptospiral serovars present in human communities living around wildlife reserves/disturbed forest habitats. the objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of leptospirosis and finding infecting serovars in villages surrounded habitats where wildlife lives in Sarawak, Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional serological survey of 198 humans was conducted in four villages around Kuching, Sarawak between January 2011 and March 2012. results: A seroprevalence of 35.9% (95%cI 29.2-43.0) to the MAt was detected in the tested humans. Antibodies to serovar Lepto 175 Sarawak were most commonly detected (31.3%; 95%cI 24.9-38.3) and were detected in individuals at all four locations. the presence of skin wounds (Or 3.1), farm animals (Or 2.5) and rats (Or 11.2) were all significantly associated with seropositivity in a multivariable logistic regression model. conclusions: the results of the current study are important as wildlife may act as reservoirs of leptospires for humans. Health authorities should expand disease control measures to minimise the spill-over from wildlife to humans visiting, living or working in the sampled locations. the pathogenic status of serovar Lepto 175 Sarawak also requires further investigation.
Leptospirosis