Cabaran Dalam Pencegahan dan Kawalan Plasmodium Knowlesi Malaria Di Rantau Asia Tenggara – Ulasan Naratif PengenalanDi sebalik kejayaan program penghapusan malaria manusia, terdapat peningkatan yang membimbangkan berkenaan jangkitan malaria Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi) di rantau Asia Tenggara. Pemahaman menyeluruh tentang cabaran dalam mencegah dan mengawal malaria zoonosis ini mesti diutarakan, terutamanya apabila menentukan strategi paling berkesan untuk menyekat penularan penyakit.MetodologiDi sebalik kejayaan program penghapusan malaria manusia, terdapat peningkatan yang membimbangkan berkenaan jangkitan malaria Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi) di rantau Asia Tenggara. Pemahaman menyeluruh tentang cabaran dalam mencegah dan mengawal malaria zoonosis ini mesti diutarakan, terutamanya apabila menentukan strategi paling berkesan untuk menyekat penularan penyakit.Hasil KajianKepelbagaian manusia, seperti sosioekonomi dan sosiobudaya tempatan yang majmuk, persepsi yang rendah dan pematuhan optimum terhadap langkah-langkah pencegahan dan kawalan perlu ditangani. Isu dana nasional, pelaksanaan program, dan birokrasi mesti diselesaikan dalam memastikan keberkesanan peranan kerajaan dan kerjasama pelbagai sektor apabila melibatkan pengurusan penyakit malaria. Kejayaan sesuatu program akan terhalang sekiranya tiada sokongan daripada pemimpin masyarakat dan bertentangan dengan dinamik sosial. Kebolehsuaian nyamuk Anopheles bertanggungjawab terutamanya terhadap cabaran yang dihadapi dalam kawalan vektor. Kesan anjakan ekologi dan perubahan iklim, ditambah dengan aktiviti antropogenik mewujudkan limpahan zoonosis dan variasi penyesuaian yang mengubah landskap transmisi sylvian dan manusia.KesimpulanCabaran daripada pelbagai faktor mengurangkan keberkesanan dalam mencegah penularan penyakit ini. Pendekatan baharu mesti dibangunkan untuk mencapai kawasan terjejas dengan intervensi jangka panjang, komprehensif dan berkesan.

Gema Ekologi: Meneroka Interaksi Antara Persekitaran Hutan dan Vektor Malaria Pendahuluan Malaria kekal sebagai salah satu cabaran kesihatan awam yang penting di seluruh dunia, dengan kemajuan telah terbantut dalam kebelakangan ini. Memandangkan peningkatan kes malaria terutamanya di beberapa kawasan tropika, pemahaman yang lebih baik tentang hubungan ekologi yang mendasari penularan vektor malaria perlu diberikan fokus. Pendekatan pelbagai disiplin yang melibatkan ekologi, entomologi dan kesihatan awam adalah diperlukanuntuk memahami kaitan antara malaria dan habitat persekitaran. Ulasan ini bertujuan untuk mensintesis penyelidikan sedia ada tentang bagaimana ekosistem hutan mempengaruhi dinamik penularan malaria.MetodologiMenggunakan pangkalandata PubMed, Google Scholar dan Scopus, kajian literatur komprehensif telah dijalankan menggunakan kata kunci tertentu. Artikel yang berkaitan telah dinilai untuk aliran tematik. Secara keseluruhan, 42 artikel telah dipilih untuk naratif ini.Hasil Iklim mikro hutan mempengaruhi kecergasan, tingkah laku, corak aktiviti dan fisiologi organisma. Relung biologiberbeza yang disebabkanoleh suhu, kelembapan, pendedahan cahaya dan kerpasan boleh memberi kesan kepada populasi nyamuk. Ciri-ciri fiziko-biokimia badan air, termasuk suhu, pH, jumlah pepejal terlarut (TDS), kandungan nitrat, dan paras oksigen terlarut, mempunyai kesan yang ketara ke atas banyaknya larva nyamuk anopheline. Kelimpahan vektor mungkin dipengaruhi oleh kehadiran perumah dan pemangsa semulajadi. Interaksi rumit geografi, tumbuh-tumbuhan hutan, kepadatan vektor malaria, dan tingkah laku mempunyai pengaruh besar ke atas dinamik penularan malaria. Penebangan hutan mengubah landskap dan ekosistem serpihan, yang mempunyai kesan besar ke atas habitat larva vektor Plasmodium. Perubahan iklim menimbulkan ancaman besar kepada kelimpahan vektor malaria dan dinamik penghantaran.KesimpulanTerdapat banyak aspek kepada interaksi kompleks antara persekitaran hutan dan penyebaran malaria,memerlukan pengetahuan yang mendalam dan lebih banyak penyiasatan. Kerjasama antara ahli ekologi, entomologi dan pakar kesihatan awam adalah penting dalam menghasilkan model komprehensif yang meramalkan risiko malaria dengan tepat dalam persekitaran yang berubah-ubah

Introduction: Over the past two years, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) have killed over 5.7 million people globally. TB and COVID-19 continue to be significant public health problems worldwide. A growing body of research supports a link between socio-environmental factors and the transmission of COVID-19 and TB disease. Methods: This review article discussed the socio-environmental factors influencing the transmission, prevention, and control of COVID-19 and Tuberculosis disease. Result: In this review, we highlight similarities and differences between these two infectious diseases and explore the roles of socio-environmental factors (air pollution exposure and climate change) and socioeconomic factors in disease transmission. A comprehensive, integrated TB-COVID-19 management for prevention and disease control, which includes administrative, engineering, environmental control, effective personal protective equipment, and community-based public health activities were discussed. Conclusion Understanding the similarities and differences between these two infectious diseases and the role of socio-environmental factors in disease transmission helps in planning and strengthening an integrated system for disease prevention and control strategies.

Introduction: Elderly is a vulnerable population that is prone to sarcopenia which is associated with the loss of muscle mass, strength and function which are some of the diseases that affect the elderly. The association between environmental factors with sarcopenia should be explored as it has the potential to influence the health and disability of a person. At present, limited research is conducted to investigate the association that could be attributed to the complex interaction between human and environmental interactions. Hence this review is conducted to identify the environmental factors associated with sarcopenia. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science and manual search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. We used articles that had been written in English and relevant articles were then screened, duplicates were removed, eligibility criteria were applied, and studies that met the criteria were reviewed. The keywords environmental factors, pollutants food environment, neighbourhood environment, locality and sarcopenia were included. Results: Initial search generated 934 publications and 12 articles were included after the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this review. In this review, environmental factors associated with sarcopenia are divided into 3 themes that comprises of food environment (availability and physical access, economic access and food quality and safety), neighbourhood environment and pollutants. Conclusion This systematic review revealed an association between the food environment, neighbourhood environment and pollutants with sarcopenia. The findings are salient as they could aid policymakers in formulating the necessary strategy to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with sarcopenia, especially with the increase in the ageing population globally.

Introduction: Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is one of many other best strategies to reduce consumption of SSB among populations. It is known that SSB consumption is the main contributor which cause obesity and further lead to non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to gather the evidence on the effectiveness of sugar-sweetened beverages tax implementation, in terms of health outcome and healthcare cost benefit. Methods: A systematic review was done related to literature that reported about effectiveness of sugar-sweetened beverages tax implementation, in terms of health outcome and healthcare cost benefit. Four databases were used to identify the literature, namely PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus and Ovid and Medline. PRISMA flow checklist was used as a guide to search for the eligible articles. Results: In total, there were sixteen eligible articles included in this systematic review. All studies are simulation studies. Results showed that both excise and ad valorem tax are effective to reduce healthcare costs and could avert diseases related to high sugar intake. Other than that, it is proven that implementing tax will gain favorable health outcome rather than do nothing. Better results seen when the tax is increased. Conclusion As a conclusion, SSB tax is proven as an effective public health intervention in terms of giving benefit to the health outcome and healthcare cost

Pengenalan: Kanser prostat merupakan ketiga tertinggi bagi golongan lelaki di Malaysia. Data 2018 melaporkan kanser prostat mencatatkan insiden 1,807 kes berbanding 1,186 kes pada tahun 2014. Kanser prostat ini turut memberi kesan terhadap beban penyakit serta beban ekonomi kepada negara dan memberi kesan terhadap kualiti hidup pesakit terutamanya pesakit berumur melebihi 65 tahun. Kajian ini dilakukan bagi mengukur tahap kualiti hidup pesakit kanser prostat dan menentukan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kualiti hidup pesakit tersebut. Metodologi: Reka bentuk kajian adalah keratan rentas yang dilakukan dari Januari 2018 sehingga Disember 2018. Sampel kajian terdiri daripada pesakit kanser prostat yang didiagnos dan mendapatkan rawatan di Klinik Urologi, Jabatan Pembedahan dan Jabatan Onkologi dari tahun 2008 hingga 2017. Kajian menggunapakai set soal selidik EORTC QLQ-C30 dan EORTC QLQ-PR25 yang telah diterjemahkan ke Bahasa Melayu Hasil Kajian: Seramai 193 pesakit telah mengambil bahagian. Analisis mendapati tahap kanser memberi perbezaan yang signifikan kepada status kesihatan serta fungsi dan simptom kanser prostat (p < 0.001). Rumusan Kesimpulannya, analisis faktor penentu mendapati umur, skor Gleason dan juga tahap lewat kanser merupakan faktor penentu kepada kualiti hidup pesakit kanser prostat (p < 0.05). Langkah kesedaran, saringan serta rawatan awal dilihat perlu dipertingkatkan bagi meningkatkan tahap kualiti hidup pesakit kanser prostat di hopital ini.

Introduction: Adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) regimens remains a difficult issue. Thus, it was hoped that the use of phone reminders would improve adherence. Methods: The Cochrane database was searched using selected keywords for this meta-analysis. We included randomised, controlled trials (RCTs) that utilised interventions with phone reminder and reported adherence outcomes, as the proportion of prescribed pills taken, the scores on an adherence questionnaire, or the follow-up rate. Two independent authors screened titles of article for inclusion, extracted the relevant data, and assessed articles for risk of bias. Results: Seven RCTs published between 2010 and 2017 were selected for inclusion in this review. The sample size ranged from 76 to 631 participants. Most RCTs used short message service (SMS) and phone call reminders as interventions. The rate of adherence was 1.17-fold greater among those who received phone reminders than those who did not, which was statistically significant (Z = 2.86, p = 0.004). Those who received phone reminders showed a 17% higher likelihood for adherence compared with those who did not receive any phone reminder interventions. Conclusions Phone reminders remain significantly effective means for improving adherence.

Healthcare workers typically work in shift to ensure smooth operation of healthcare industries around the clock. However, working in shift put them at risk of developing occupational fatigue and sleepiness during and after work, with multiple adverse effects to themselves and patients under their care. This review aims to identify available evidence-based intervention for fatigue and sleepiness among healthcare workers working in shift. We searched PubMed, Scopus and CENTRAL database from January 2013 to December 2017. Selection criteria included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of any interventions on fatigue and/or sleepiness among shift workers. Two authors independently screened titles and abstracts for relevant studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We included 8 relevant trials with 7 review-relevant participants. Given the methodological diversity of the included studies in terms of interventions and assessment tools, it is not possible to determine the effectiveness of these interventions to reduce occupational fatigue or sleepiness among healthcare workers working in shift. More good quality RCTs with comparable assessment tools is needed.

Among the main reasons for re-emergence of vaccine preventable diseases were missed or incomplete immunization schedule. The supplementary immunization activity (SIA) is an important intervention done to provide complete immunization coverage among those children. Better outcome came along with good knowledge and perception on the program. Thus, this study aims to assess the level of knowledge and perception of the mothers towards SIA program. A cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers with children ≤ 15 years old in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Data was collected by interview using the guided questionnaire consists of four sections to assess the socio demographic, socio economic, knowledge and perception regarding SIA. The questionnaire was validated for internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha 0.461 for knowledge and 0.729 for perception. A total of 105 respondents with the median age of 33 years (IQR: 28-38) with majority of them are Malays (82.9%), Muslim (83.8%), married (97.1%) and (57.1%) with 1- 2 child in the family. Half of them were from low income family (46.7%) and had secondary education level (54.3%) and were housewives (47.6%). One third of the respondents (33%) never heard about SIA before. Overall had poor knowledge (82.9%) and perception (95.2%) towards SIA. There is a significant association between the level of knowledge on SIA with household income (χ^2=7.746, p=0.019) and occupation (χ^2=6.457, p<0.05). However, there was no significant association between the socio demographic and socio-economic factors and perception towards SIA. In conclusion, the knowledge and perception among mothers on SIA are still poor. More intensive health educations may be useful to be incorporated within the program implementation to increase the community understanding and perception towards SIA in the future.

A study was conducted to determine the level of mothers' perception on children with cleft deformity and its associated factors This was a cross sectional study involving 110 mothers with children attending the Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery Clinic. Data was gathered from a face to face interview based on a questionnaire that assesses the level of perception and its associated factors. The level of perception was evaluated from a scoring method and divided into four domains namely psychosocial, care management, treatment and education. The level of perception was high in all four domains ranged from 62% for treatment and 80% for education. Factors that were significantly associated with the level of perception were ethnicity, religion, type of cleft deformity and level of information. Information regarding cleft deformity must be tailored toward mothers’ personal characteristics and type of cleft deformity to improve mothers' perception on this problem.