This paper provides a comprehensive review of the antibacterial properties of three different types of Malaysian honey, namely kelulut, tualang and acacia, in preventing wound infecting bacteria. The antibacterial activity of these honey is mainly attributed to the physicochemical and phytochemical, which have been shown to be effective against a broad range of bacterial pathogens. This review discusses the effectiveness of honey in inhibiting the growth of various wound-infecting bacteria, factors that contributed to the antibacterial properties of the honey, mechanisms of action of honey in inhibiting bacterial growth and their potential for future use in clinical practice. The findings of this review suggest that Malaysian honey has the potential to be used as an alternative and complementary therapy to conventional antibiotics in the prevention and treatment of wound infections.

Objective: Foodborne disease is a significant global public health concern, with Bacillus cereus being a frequent cause of outbreaks. However, due to the relatively mild symptoms caused by infection with B. cereus, the shorter duration of illness and the challenges of testing for it in both stool and food samples, outbreaks are often underreported. This report describes the epidemiology of cases of foodborne illness, the causative agent and risk factors associated with an outbreak in a boarding school in Seremban district, Negeri Sembilan state, Malaysia, that occurred in November 2021. Methods: Epidemiological, environmental and laboratory investigations were performed. A case was defined as any person with abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea that occurred after consuming food served by the canteen at the school. The data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: A total of 152 cases were identified among the 597 students, giving an attack rate of 25.5%. All cases were females aged 13–17 years. They presented with abdominal pain (100%), nausea (97.4%, 148), vomiting (78.3%, 119) or diarrhoea (61.8%, 94), or a combination of these. The mode of transmission of the outbreak was a continual common source. The foods associated with becoming a case were beef rendang (a dry curry) (odds ratio [OR]: 20.54, 95% CI: 4.89–86.30), rice (OR: 19.62, 95% CI: 2.62–147.01), rice cubes (OR: 18.17, 95% CI: 4.31–76.55) and vermicelli (OR: 17.02, 95% CI: 4.03–71.86). Cross-contamination and inadequate thawing and storage temperatures contributed to the outbreak. Discussion: This outbreak of foodborne illness at a boarding school was likely caused by B. cereus. The findings highlight the importance of proper food preparation, temperature monitoring, hygiene practices among food handlers and compliance with food safety guidelines.

Objective: Malaysia’s first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was reported in January 2020, with the first case in the state of Negeri Sembilan diagnosed on 17 February 2020. The National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme commenced in early March 2021 in Negeri Sembilan. This study describes the COVID-19 cases and vaccination coverage in Seremban District, Negeri Sembilan, during 2021. Methods: The demographic and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 cases and the district’s vaccination coverage were described. Vaccination coverage was plotted against COVID-19 cases on the epidemic curve. The chi-square test was used to examine the differences between the vaccination status of COVID-19 cases and severity category, hospitalization status and mortality. Results: In Seremban District, there were 65 879 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 2021. The data revealed that the 21–30-year age group had the highest proportion of cases (16 365; 24.8%), the majority of cases were male (58.3%), and most cases were from the sub-district of Ampangan (23.1%). The majority of cases were Malaysian. Over half (53.5%) were symptomatic, with fever (29.8%) and cough (22.8%) being the most frequently reported symptoms. COVID-19 vaccination status was significantly associated with severity category, hospitalization and mortality (P < 0.001 for all categories). Discussion: This is the first study to describe two-dose vaccination coverage and the trend in COVID-19 cases in Seremban District. It was observed that COVID-19 cases had been reduced following more than 60.0% vaccination coverage.

Introduction: Anacardium occidentale or cashew are popular traditional food and have raised research interest for complementary cancer treatment. Cancer has become leading cause of death and treatment involved severe side effects. In present study, we aim to study the anti-proliferative effects of cashew shoots in breast cancer (MDAMB-231), colorectal cancer (HT-29) and liver cancer (HepG2) cell lines. Methods: Cell lines were treated with 70% ethanolic cashew extract for cytotoxicity test with MTT assay. AO/PI dual fluorescent assay and RNase/PI staining were used to determine apoptosis induction effects. Phytochemicals screening was carried out by using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS). Results: The cytotoxicity assay of cashew shoot extract demonstrated IC50 of 81.1 ± 0.11 μg/ml for MDA-MB-231, 307.5 ± 2.31 μg/ml for HT-29 and 272.6 ± 1.91 μg/ml for HepG2 cell lines. The apoptotic bodies include chromatin condensation, cell blebbing and nuclear fragmentation and apoptosis induction were shown by AO/PI staining. There was significant increase of cell count in sub-G0 phase in MDA-MB-231 cell lines treated with cashew shoot extract. It was demonstrated that cashew shoot extract contained 38 compounds from GCMS such as sitosterol, tannin, pyrogallol, phenol and 20 compounds from LCMS such as citric acid, gallic acid, myricetin and hinokiflavone that may give rise to its anti-cancer effect. Conclusion: Cashew shoot extract demonstrated potential anti-cancer properties thus further study is required to investigate its mechanism as anti-cancer agent.

Aims: In this study, three putative factors that commonly contribute to antibacterial properties in honey were determined, namely acidity (pH level), peroxide compounds and non-peroxide compounds. Methodology and results: Honey samples were prepared based on the known factors of acidity, peroxide compounds,and non-peroxide compounds to identify factors that contribute to the antibacterial properties of the honey based on agar diffusion assay. Liquid chromatography quadropole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was employed to detect and quantify the presence of acidic, peroxide, and non-peroxide compounds in the honey samples. Acidity and non-peroxide compounds were identified as the significant factors contributing to the antibacterial properties of Kelulut, Tualang and Acacia honey. No peroxide compound was detected in this study across all honey samples. In Kelulut, the presence of the additional compounds (reptoside, platycogenic acid and kauranoic acid) may explain its higher antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as compared to Tualang and Acacia honey based on the inhibition zones on the agar plates. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The presence of multiple antibacterial factors in honey is notably important as it gives an advantage of using honey compared to antibiotics in preventing the growth of a wide range of bacterial species with multiple modes of action.

Introduction: To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia started vaccination of front-liners and adults in the community. The latter group might have insufficient knowledge to accept COVID-19 vaccination, therefore this research was to assess the knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among youths, specifically students in a Malaysian college. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 481 foundation students in Kolej MARA Kulim (KMKU). The minimum sample size, using Epi Info was 214. Students answered an online questionnaire using google form which included demographic data (age, gender) and ten questions on knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. For knowledge questions, students answered “yes”, “no” or “don’t know”, correct answer scoring 1. For acceptance questions, a 5-point Likert scale was used ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”. EXCEL and SPSS version 23 were used for analysis with Chi-square test done to test association (significant for p-value <0.05). Results: The response rate was 65.1% with 313 students, (45.4% males, and 54.6% females) aged 18-19 years. The majority (83.7%) had satisfactory to excellent knowledge scores (mean = 6.66 (SD=2.299, 95% CI 6.40-6.91), median = 7 (± IQR =3), while 16.3% obtained poor scores (≤ 4). The majority (90%) accepted vaccination. Higher knowledge scores were associated with higher acceptance rates in both genders (p-value= 0.000). Significantly more females (90.6%) than males (80.3%) had positive attitude towards vaccination (p-value = 0.009). Conclusions: The majority of the foundation students in KMKU were knowledgeable on COVID-19 vaccination and willing to receive the vaccination against the novel coronavirus.

Introduction: In light of the importance of the nurses’ performance in health services, this study was established to examine the relationship of job performance with organizational commitment components and job satisfaction among nurses. It is also, to examine the mediating effect of job satisfaction in the relationship between organizational commitment components and job performance among nurses. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among nurses at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. A sample size of 192 staff was selected using stratified and systematic random sampling methods. The study data were collected using a questionnaire consists of three scales: the organizational commitment scale of Allen and Meyer, the job satisfaction scale of Van Wood, and the task performance scale of Williams and Anderson. Besides, respondents were asked about their demographic profiles. The response rate was 92% (n= 176). Regression analysis according to Baron and Kenny technique and Pearson correlation were conducted to get the study results. Results: The study results showed that all organizational commitment components positively and significantly correlated with job satisfaction and job performance. Further, there is a positive relationship was found between job satisfaction and job performance. Moreover, findings of regression analysis showed that job satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between all organizational commitment components and job performance. Conclusion: Improving organizational commitment and job satisfaction among nurses could increase their performance. Nurses’ managers should create suitable approaches and strategies to promote the organizational commitment and job satisfaction of nurses to the highest level, which in turn enhancing their job performance and the quality of care.

The modiolus of the face manifests the interesting landmark for facial muscles attachment. The strong connective tissue fibres play an important role in the clinical setting, especially in the aesthetic and dental surgeries. In the fourth week of intrauterine life, the development of the modiolus evolves in accordance with the growth of muscles of facial expression. Microscopically, a white, tendinous structure with the thick irregular collagenous connective tissue of collagen fibres predominance appeared to be the modiolus. Modiolus is morphologically a fibromuscular muscle situated on the lateral border of the mouth. The formation of the nasolabial fold is important and a well-developed modiolus provide a toned face. Several works of literature forementioned the number of facial muscles attached to the modiolus but no definitive similarity are identified. This review summarizes the updated morphological features and applied anatomy of the facial modiolus with its muscle attachment.

Introduction: Scoliosis is a deformity of the spine that presents with a ‘S’ or ‘C’ curve with the most common type called Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). The deformity begins unnoticed and can rapidly progress into severe deformation during the adolescent’s growth spurt. Factors such as onset of puberty, dietary intake, physical activity and ethnicity contributes to the development of AIS. Therefore, this study aims to determine the association of these factors with the prevalence of AIS among female school children in Kuala Langat. Methods: A total of 374 students between age 10 and 12 from six different primary schools in Kuala Langat were recruited according to the inclusion criteria. Consent form and questionnaire was distributed to the student’s parents/guardian prior conducting the research. Adam’s Forward Bend Test was performed to measure the rotation of the trunk using a smartphone Scoliometer Application. Results:Out of 374 students, 21 students from schools in Kuala Langat were found positive for AIS with a prevalence rate of 5.6%. However, no association was seen between the student’s age of menarche, dairy intake, frequency in physical activity and ethnicity with the prevalence of AIS. Conclusion: The factors measured in this study showed no association with the prevalence of AIS among school children in Kuala Langat.

Aims: The surplus use of herbicide Dalapon® contains 2,2-dichloropropionic acid (2,2-DCP) poses great danger to human and ecosystem due to its toxicity. Hence, this study focused on the isolation and characterization of a dehalogenase producing bacteria from Sungai Skudai, Johor, capable of utilizing 2,2-DCP as a carbon source and in silico analysis of its putative dehalogenase. Methodology and results: Isolation of the target bacteria was done by using 2,2-DCP-enriched culture as the sole carbon source that allows a bacterium to grow in 20 mM of 2,2-DCP at 30 °C with the corresponding doubling time of 8.89 ± 0.03 h. The isolated bacterium was then designated as Klebsiella pneumoniae strain YZ based on biochemical tests and basic morphological examination. The full genome of K. pneumoniae strain KLPN_25 (accession number: RRE04903) which obtained from NCBI database was screened for the presence of dehalogenase gene, assuming both strains YZ and KLPN_25 were the same organisms. A putative dehalogenase gene was then identified as type II dehalogenase from the genome sequence of strain KLPN_25. The protein structure of the type II dehalogenase of KLPN_25 strain was then pairwise aligned with the crystal structure of L-2-haloacid dehalogenase (L-DEX) Pseudomonas sp. strain YL as the template, revealing the existence of conserved amino acids residues, uniquely known to participate in the dehalogenation mechanism. The finding thus implies that the amino acid residues of type II dehalogenase possibly shares similar catalytic functions with the L-DEX. Conclusion, significance and impact of the study In conclusion, this study confirmed the presence of new dehalogenase from the genus Klebsiella with potential to degrade 2,2-DCP from the river water. The structural information of type II dehalogenase provides insights for future work in designing haloacid dehalogenases.
Klebsiella pneumoniae--isolation & ; purification ; Computer Simulation ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation