Community participation in governance for sustainable management of medicinal plants market in urban area

Community participation (CP) in governance is important for better management of medicinal plant’s market in the urban area. The basic concept of sustainability is described as meeting the needs of present generation without compromising the needs of future generations, with concern to economics, social and natural environment. Communities have the right to voice out their needs toward medicinal plants. This paper describes community participation in governance through their attitude and how governance response. Generally, there is a two-way interaction between authority and community to ensure the medicinal plant’s market fulfil both parties’ needs. As for the communities, they voice out their needs through attitude by giving response, reaction and action. While the authority take in account to the attitude to design a suitable policy in planning, implementation, enforcement and reviews for better management that achieve both needs by the time and for the future

Utilitarian tumbuhan ubatan di Tamu Pantai Barat Sabah

Utilitarian atau kepenggunaan tumbuhan bagi memenuhi keperluan hidup merupakan nic ekologi manusia. Ia merupakan proses kebergantungan manusia terhadap sumber bagi kelangsungan hidup. Tujuan kertas kerja ini adalah untuk menghuraikan utilitarian tumbuhan ubatan oleh masyarakat di Pantai Barat sabah dalam memahami kebergantungan masyarakat di kawasan kajian terhadap sumber tumbuhan untuk kelangsungan kesihatan. Sebanyak 77 spesies daripada 43 famili telah direkodkan melalui kajian lapangan di 15 buah tamu (pasar tempatan) di Pantai Barat Sabah. Manakala 119 kegunaan tumbuhan ubatan telah didokumentasikan berdasarkan kepada maklumat daripada 107 orang responden. Kedah penyediaan tumbuhan sebagai ubat dan akses terhadap sumber tersebut juga dihuraikan bagi memahami cara pengurusan sumber tumbuhan tersebut

The clinical significance of immunoglobulin A deficiency

IgA deficiency is the most common primary immunoglobulin deficiency. The prevalence in Caucasians is around one in 500, whereas in some Asian populations it is very uncommon. Most individuals with IgA deficiency are clinically asymptomatic. Those with symptoms of immunodeficiency have predominantly sinopulmonary or gastrointestinal infections, which are more severe when associated with IgG2, IgG4 or specific antibody deficiency. IgA deficiency is believed to be one end of a spectrum of immunodeficiency with common variable immunodeficiency at the most severe end. Although primary IgA deficiency is the most commonly encountered form, secondary deficiencies due to drugs or viral infections are recognized. IgA deficiencies can be partial or transient. Primary IgA deficiency is caused by a defect of terminal lymphocyte differentiation, which leads to underproduction of serum and mucosal IgA; affected individuals have normal IgA genes. A number of non-immunoglobulin genes have been implicated in IgA deficiency. There have been many diseases reported in association with IgA deficiency, particularly autoimmune diseases. The most common association is with coeliac disease (CD), which has special significance since CD is usually diagnosed by detection of specific IgA antibodies that are obviously lacking in IgA deficiency. There is no specific treatment for patients with symptomatic IgA deficiency. Antibiotics are prescribed in those with acute infections. A significant proportion of IgA-deficient individuals are reported to have anti-IgA antibodies in their serum. Although blood or blood products given to IgA-deficient individuals can lead to severe, even fatal, transfusion reactions, such reactions are rare

Assessing Idiopathic Scoliosis Knowledge Levels Among Malaysian Physiotherapists and Associating Their Clinical Experience

Physiotherapists play a significant role in the conservative management of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) patients. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge on IS among practising physiotherapists and the association between years of clinical experience and the level of knowledge. A total of 63 physiotherapists responded to the International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SORSOT) questionnaire. The findings demonstrated that the level of knowledge among the physiotherapists was poor, particularly regarding the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of IS. There was a significant association between years of clinical experience and the level of knowledge

Adapting Medical Museums: Technology, Education, and Research

In Malaysia, medical museums are transforming, extending their reach beyond conventional medical student training to encompass public education and health awareness. This modernisation incorporates cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printing, QR codes, augmented reality, diversified exhibitions, and hands-on learning experiences. The overarching goal is to captivate a broader audience while advancing medical research and public health education. To achieve this, strategies like interactive exhibits and multi-sector collaborations are employed. This study explores the role of medical museums and the impact of technological innovations on visitor experience and engagement

Community participation in governance for sustainable management of medicinal plants market in urban area

Community participation (CP) in governance is important for better management of medicinal plant’s market in the urban area. The basic concept of sustainability is described as meeting the needs of present generation without compromising the needs of future generations, with concern to economics, social and natural environment. Communities have the right to voice out their needs toward medicinal plants. This paper describes community participation in governance through their attitude and how governance response. Generally, there is a two-way interaction between authority and community to ensure the medicinal plant’s market fulfil both parties’ needs. As for the communities, they voice out their needs through attitude by giving response, reaction and action. While the authority take in account to the attitude to design a suitable policy in planning, implementation, enforcement and reviews for better management that achieve both needs by the time and for the future

Faktor kelangsungan pasaran tumbuhan ubatan di Tamu Pantai Barat Sabah: Satu tinjauan awal

Artikel ini membincangkan faktor yang mempengaruhi kelangsungan pasaran tumbuhan ubatan di pasar tempatan atau dikenali sebagai tamu di Pantai Barat, Sabah. Data dikumpul melalui pemerhatian tidak ikut serta dan temu bual di lima buah tamu di Penampang, Ranau, Tamparuli, Tuaran dan Pekanabalu. Seramai 26 orang responden dalam lingkungan umur 35 hinga 78 tahun telah mengambil bahagian. Tujuan utama kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti faktor yang mempengaruhi penjual untuk terus memasarkan tumbuhan yang mempunyai nilai perubatan. Oleh yang demikian, responden terhad kepada kalangan penjual. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa terdapat sepuluh faktor yang menyebabkan kelangsungan aktiviti pemasaran tumbuhan ubatan di kawasan kajian, iaitu sumber pendapatan, permintaan, harga, peluang, budaya, kemajuan teknologi komunikasi, pengetahuan tradisi, akses, kelimpahan dan produktiviti. Faktor tersebut seterusnya diklasifikasikan kepada tiga, iaitu faktor ekonomi, faktor sosial dan faktor ekologi. Analisis lanjut mendapati bahawa ketiga-tiga faktor ini sama penting dalam mempengaruhi kelangsungan pasaran tumbuhan ubatan di Pantai Barat Sabah

Ethnicity influences disease characteristics and symptom severity in allergic rhinitis patients in Malaysia

Background: The number of available reports regarding the influence of ethnicity on clinical features of allergic rhinitis (AR), especially disease severity in tropical climates, is limited. We aimed to compare clinical parameters and disease severity in AR patients of different ethnicities. Methods: Malay, Chinese, and Indian AR patients (n = 138) with confirmed sensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dematophagoides farinae, and Blomia tropicalis were tested for mite-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels. A detailed questionnaire was used to collect data on nasal symptom score (NSS), ocular symptom score (OSS), sum of symptoms score (SSS), quality of life score (QLS), symptomatic control score (SCS), and total sum of scores (TSS) and correlate the derived data with patients' demography, mite-polysensitivity, and sIgE levels. Results: AR-related symptoms were most severe in Malays and least in Chinese (p < 0.01). Age (r = 0.516 to 0.673, p < 0.05) and duration of AR (r = 0.635 to 0.726, p < 0.01) correlated positively with severity domains (NSS, SSS, QLS, and TSS) in Chinese. Duration of concurrent allergies was highest in Malays (p < 0.05). Polysensitivity predicted increased sIgE levels in Malays (r = 0.464 to 0.551, p < 0.01) and Indians (r = 0.541 to 0.645, p < 0.05) but affected NSS, SSS, and TSS only in Indians (r = 0.216 to 0.376, p < 0.05). sIgE levels were lowest among Chinese but correlated strongly with NSS, OSS, SSS, and TSS (r = 0408 to 0.898, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Clinical parameters in AR may be influenced by race. Symptoms were most severe among Malays but did not correlate with other variables examined. Although Indian ethnicity did not impact disease severity, duration of concurrent allergies and mite-polysensitivity was associated with more severe disease. Age, duration of disease, and sIgE levels may be useful indicators of disease severity in Chinese

Strategies and Future Opportunities for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Cow Milk Allergy

The prevalence of food allergy has increased over the last 20-30 years, including cow milk allergy (CMA) which is one of the most common causes of infant food allergy. International allergy experts met in 2019 to discuss broad topics in allergy prevention and management of CMA including current challenges and future opportunities. The highlights of the meeting combined with recently published developments are presented here. Primary prevention of CMA should start from pre-pregnancy with a focus on a healthy lifestyle and food diversity to ensure adequate transfer of inhibitory IgG- allergen immune complexes across the placenta especially in mothers with a history of allergic diseases and planned c-section delivery. For non-breastfed infants, there is controversy about the preventive role of partially hydrolyzed formulae (pHF) despite some evidence of health economic benefits among those with a family history of allergy. Clinical management of CMA consists of secondary prevention with a focus on the development of early oral tolerance. The use of extensive Hydrolysate Formulae (eHF) is the nutrition of choice for the majority of non-breastfed infants with CMA; potentially with pre-, probiotics and LCPUFA to support early oral tolerance induction. Future opportunities are, among others, pre- and probiotics supplementation for mothers and high-risk infants for the primary prevention of CMA. A controlled prospective study implementing a step-down milk formulae ladder with various degrees of hydrolysate is proposed for food challenges and early development of oral tolerance. This provides a more precise gradation of milk protein exposure than those currently recommended

Accounting for Islamic finance

This book is an effort to document the application of the Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards (MFRS) on Islamic finance transactions in Islamic banking, takaful entities and Islamic asset management in Malaysia. There are 15 chapters in this book which are divided into four parts. Part I, which covers Chapters 1 to 3, provides a background on Islamic finance development in Malaysia and sets the scene to the rest of the chapters in this book. Chapter 1 discusses the differences between Islamic and conventional financial institutions which comprise banking, takaful and asset management companies. Chapter 2 explains Malaysia’s journey on Islamic banking where, among others, it entails discussion on development of regulatory requirements on Islamic finance since 1983 and using accrual accounting for Islamic finance transactions. While Chapter 3 focuses on the adoption of accounting standards by the Islamic financial institutions and its implications on Islamic finance. Parts II to IV that cover 12 chapters, discuss the application of MFRSs on assets, liabilities, income, expenses and equity of Islamic banks, takaful entities and Islamic asset management companies. The discussion on assets, liabilities and equity look at definition/nature, recognition, measurement as well as presentation and disclosure of the items in the financial statements of these entities. Parts II and III that cover Islamic banking and takaful entities respectively, also include an introduction chapter on understanding of Islamic banks’ and takaful entities’ financial statements as well as a brief discussion on future consideration of accounting standards for those entities, given the continuous development of the accounting standards affecting them. It is our hope that this book would instil the knowledge of applying MFRSs on Islamic finance transactions among the students of universities and institute of higher learning as well as provide useful reference materials in teaching the application of MFRS on Islamic finance transactions. In addition, this book could be a point of reference that explains and clarifies the rationale behind current applications of MFRS for Islamic finance either for Islamic financial institutions or other industries