Antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus epidermidis among undergraduate students in Malaysia Public University Health Campus

Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) has become one of the major concerns in the hospital setting due to its ability to cause hospital-acquired infection particularly from medical device contamination. The management of S. epidermidis infections become more challenging with the increase of antimicrobial resistance cases over the past years. Limited reports on S. epidermidis antibiotic resistance among healthy people leave uncertainty about the magnitude of antimicrobial resistance spreads among the community. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of S. epidermidis isolated from healthy undergraduate students in one of Malaysia public universities-health campuses. Ninety-six hand palm swab samples were collected and undergo several tests, including microscopic, biochemical identification tests and antibiotic susceptibility test for erythromycin, oxacillin, gentamicin, penicillin and tetracycline following Kirby-Bauer test. A total of 43 samples showed the presence of S. epidermidis (44.8%), where 72.1% of the isolates showed resistance towards at least one type of antibiotic. The highest and lowest resistance was observed for penicillin and gentamycin, respectively. Although there is no significant difference of antibiotic susceptibility pattern was observed between genders, the presence of high antibiotic resistance in S. epidermidis among these healthy communities should warrant further investigation since the spreading of the resistant strain could occur in the wider community population without notice

Sempadan dan pertikaian pemilikan tanah adat di Sarawak

Pertikaian pemilikan tanah adat secara jelasnya berpunca daripada tiga faktor utama iaitu status, kesahihan pemilikan dan keluasan sebenar tanah yang dimiliki. Konflik masyarakat berhubung dengan perkara tersebut boleh dikaitkan dengan cara informasi tanah diperoleh. Kebanyakan pemilik tanah adat mendapatkan informasi tanah milik mereka secara lisan iaitu melalui informasi mulut ke mulut. Hal ini akhirnya menjadi satu cabaran yang besar kepada masyarakat apabila timbul pelbagai anggapan dan intepretasi yang berbeza berkait dengan status dan kesahihan tanah adat yang dimiliki. Justeru kajian ini menelit i maklumbalas pemilik tanah adat berhubung dengan cara penentuan sempadan tanah dalam kalangan masyarakat Bidayuh di daerah Serian Sarawak. Selain itu kajian juga memberikan perhatian terhadap pertikaian persempadanan tanah adat serta impilkasinya dalam kalangan pemilik tanah adat. Maklumat yang berkait dengan tujuan kajian telah diperoleh melalui FGD serta temuselidik mendalam dengan pemilik tanah adat di kawasan kajian. Hasil kajian mendapati wujud beberapa cara penentuan sempadan dalam kalangan pemilik tanah. Sehubungan itu, dapat dirumuskan bahawa pertikaian tanah di kawasan kajian banyak didorong oleh isu status dan kesahihan pemilikan tanah yang dimiliki oleh pemilik tanah adat. Bagi mengurangkan konflik maka dicadangkan agar tanah-tanah yang ada dibuat sukatan oleh juruukur bertauliah. Apabila tanah telah disukat, pemilik tanah akan memperoleh surat hakmilik tanah yang lebih jelas dari segi status dan kesasihan pemilikan

The place and barriers of evidence based practice: knowledge and perceptions of medical, nursing and allied health practitioners in malaysia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite a recent increase in activities to promote evidence-based practice (EBP), it was unclear how Malaysian hospital practitioners received this new approach in medicine. This study examines their confidence and perceptions on EBP.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We conducted cross-sectional surveys using a self-administered questionnaire during two EBP training courses in two Malaysian hospitals in January and June 2007. Our subjects (n = 144) were doctors and nursing and allied health staff (NAH) participating in the EBP courses. Our questionnaire covered three domains: confidence and understanding (six items), attitude (five items) and barriers to practice (four items). We presented simple descriptive statistics, including the sum ratings and the proportions with different responses for each item, and compared different groups using Mann-Whitney U test for scaled ratings and Chi-square test for dichotomous responses.</p> <p>Ninety-two doctors and 52 NAH staff completed the surveys. Overall, doctors expressed slightly higher confidence on EBP compared to NAH staff. Out of a maximum sum rating of 27 over six items, doctors reported an average of 18.3 (SD 3.2) and NAH staff reported an average of 16.0 (SD 3.4), p = 0.002. Doctors were also more positive in their views on EBP. For example, 67.4% of doctors disagreed, but 61% of NAH staff agreed that "the importance of EBP in patient care is exaggerated", and 79.3% of doctors disagreed, but 46.2% of NAH staff agreed that "EBP is too tedious and impractical". Similar responses were observed for other items in the domain.</p> <p>Doctors and NAH staff shared similar concerns on barriers to evidence-based practice. The highest proportions considered poor facilities to access evidence a barrier (76% of doctors and 90% of NAH), followed by poor awareness of evidence (62% of doctors and 70% of NAH) and time constraints (63% of doctors and 68% of NAH), p = 0.09 for the combined rating of four items in the domain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings of our survey suggest a need for greater efforts in promoting EBP among Malaysian hospital practitioners especially for NAH staff. From the responses based on the barriers to EBP, improving facilities for accessing evidence and promoting more user-friendly resources to address time constraints appear to be the priorities.</p

The Evolution of Compact Binary Star Systems

We review the formation and evolution of compact binary stars consisting of white dwarfs (WDs), neutron stars (NSs), and black holes (BHs). Binary NSs and BHs are thought to be the primary astrophysical sources of gravitational waves (GWs) within the frequency band of ground-based detectors, while compact binaries of WDs are important sources of GWs at lower frequencies to be covered by space interferometers (LISA). Major uncertainties in the current understanding of properties of NSs and BHs most relevant to the GW studies are discussed, including the treatment of the natal kicks which compact stellar remnants acquire during the core collapse of massive stars and the common envelope phase of binary evolution. We discuss the coalescence rates of binary NSs and BHs and prospects for their detections, the formation and evolution of binary WDs and their observational manifestations. Special attention is given to AM CVn-stars -- compact binaries in which the Roche lobe is filled by another WD or a low-mass partially degenerate helium-star, as these stars are thought to be the best LISA verification binary GW sources.Comment: 105 pages, 18 figure

Wound contraction effects and antibacterial properties of Tualang honey on full-thickness burn wounds in rats in comparison to hydrofibre

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Full-thickness burn wounds require excision and skin grafting. Multiple surgical procedures are inevitable in managing moderate to severe full-thickness burns. Wound bed preparations prior to surgery are necessary in order to prevent wound infection and promote wound healing. Honey can be used to treat burn wounds. However, not all the honey is the same. This study aims to evaluate the wound contraction and antibacterial properties of locally-produced <it>Tualang </it>honey on managing full-thickness burn wounds <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-six female <it>Sprague Dawley </it>rats were randomly divided into three groups. Under anaesthesia, three full-thickness burn wounds were created on the dorsum of the rats. The full-thickness burn wounds were inoculated with a specific organism (10⁴), namely <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </it>(n = 12), <it>Klebsiella pneumoniae </it>(n = 12), or <it>Acinetobacter baumannii </it>(n = 12). The three burn wounds were dressed with <it>Tualang </it>honey, hydrofibre and hydrofibre silver respectively. Swab samples were obtained every 3 days (day 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21) for quantitative and semi-quantitative microbiological analyses. Clinical assessments, including observations concerning the appearance and wound size, were measured at the same time.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was a rapid 32.26% reduction in wound size by day 6 (<it>p </it>= 0.008) in the <it>Tualang </it>honey-treated wounds, and 49.27% by day 15 (<it>p </it>= 0.005). The wounds remained smaller by day 18 (<it>p </it>< 0.032). <it>Tualang </it>honey-treated rats demonstrated a reduction in bacterial growth in <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </it>inoculated wounds (<it>p </it>= 0.005). However, hydrofibre silver and hydrofibre-treated wounds are superior to honey-treated wounds with <it>Acinetobacter baumannii </it>(<it>p </it>= 0.035). There was no statistical significant of antibacterial property in <it>Klebsiella pneumonia </it>inoculated wounds.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Tualang </it>honey has better results with regards to its control of <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </it>and its wound contraction effects on full-thickness burn wound <it>in vivo</it>.</p

Chromium removal from aqueous solution by a PEI-silica nanocomposite

It is essential and important to determine the adsorption mechanism as well as removal efficiency when using an adsorption technique to remove toxic heavy metals from wastewater. In this research, the removal efficiency and mechanism of chromium removal by a silica-based nanoparticle were investigated. A PEI-silica nanoparticle was synthesized by a one-pot technique and exhibited uniformly well-dispersed PEI polymers in silica particles. The adsorption capacity of chromium ions was determined by a batch adsorption test, with the PEI-silica nanoparticle having a value of 183.7 mg/g and monolayer sorption. Adsorption of chromium ions was affected by the solution pH and altered the nanoparticle surface chemically. First principles calculations of the adsorption energies for the relevant adsorption configurations and XPS peaks of Cr and N showed that Cr(VI), [HCrO4](-) is reduced to two species, Cr(III), CrOH2+ and Cr3+, by an amine group and that Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions are adsorbed on different functional groups, oxidized N and NH3+

Dental therapy before and after radiotherapy–an evaluation on patients with head and neck malignancies

The present investigation evaluates the dental care situation of patients with head and neck cancer before and after radiotherapy. The situations of these patients in 1993 and 2005 were compared to detect similarities, differences and developments. In the years 1993 and 2005, 37 and 36 patients, respectively, with head and neck cancer treated by the local departments of otorhinolaryngology and of radiotherapy were examined consecutively according to their aftercare appointments. Time points of radiotherapy treatment of the patients evaluated in 1993 varied from 1984 to 1993. The patients evaluated in 2005 had received radiotherapy between 1998 and 2005. Therefore the applied radiotherapeutic regimen differed not only between the two groups of patients, but also within each group. The information for these investigations was provided anonymously. It was evaluated with descriptive statistics. The evaluation of the data shows distinct differences with respect to preventive and therapeutic dental care measures. In 2005, 35 out of 36 patients (97.2%) had a dental consultation before radiotherapy (1993, 65%). All 27 dentate patients (100%) obtained a splint for fluoride application (1993, none). 29% fewer edentulous patients were seen than in 1993. The number of teeth destroyed decreased from 19.2% (1993) to 7.8% in 2005. Mycoses due to Candida spp. and chronic failures in wound healing were rare (5.5%). In the course of the 12 years, prophylactic measures, such as the application of splints for fluoride treatment, were intensified. However, concepts for the dental care of patients undergoing radiotherapy, especially following the radiation, should be widened to avoid ruined teeth and long delayed wound healings