Addressing non-communicable diseases in Malaysia: an integrative process of systems and community

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and NCD risk factors in Malaysia have risen substantially in the last two decades. The Malaysian Ministry of Health responded by implementing, "The National Strategic Plan for Non-Communicable Diseases (NSP-NCD) 2010-2014", and the "NCD Prevention 1Malaysia" (NCDP-1M) programme. This paper outlines the primary health system context in which the NCDP-1M is framed. We also discuss the role of community in facilitating the integration of this programme, and outline some of the key challenges in addressing the sustainability of the plan over the next few years. The paper thus provides an analysis of an integration of a programme that involved a multi-sectoral approach with the view to contributing to a broader discourse on the development of responsive health systems

Parents perceptions to wards community-based rehabilitation programme at Felda Bukit Goh Health Centre, Kuantan, Pahang, 1995

A cross sectional study regarding the status of parents' perceptions towards community-based rehabilitation programme was carried out at Bukit Goh H ealth Centre, Kuantan, Pahang. All the 23 parents and their disabled child who have registered for this programme from February 1994 to December 1994 were taken as study samples. It is important to have parents with positive perceptions who will give continous commitment, active participation and will ensure the survival of the programme. A guided questionnaire was used to measure parents perceptions and a group of selected toys and Denver Developmental Screening Test were used to measure the current status of childrens' skills development. The study revealed that 78.3% of parents have positive perceptions and 21.7% negative perceptions. No significant differences or relationships were found between parents' perceptions with studied variables. However, there are positive correlations between parents, knowledge, attitudes and motivations with childrens' skills performances and between parents' knowledge with attitudes. Based on these findings, parents' perceptions towards the programmes can be improved indirectly by special emphasis on these positive factors

Sikap pelajar terhadap pengajaran dan pembelajaran sains dan matematik dalam bahasa inggeris

Kertas kerja ini membincangkan tentang hasil kajian terhadap profil dan sikap sekumpulan pelajar tingkatan dua (1800 orang) di beberapa buah negeri di malaysia terhadap pengajaran sains dan matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris. Profil pelajar yang dibincangkan termasuklah kedudukan sekolah, jantina, keturunan, latar belakang keluarga, kawasan kediaman, bahasa pertuturan di rumah, tahap pendidikan ibubapa/penjaga, pendedahan kepada bahasa inggeris, kelas tuisyen yang dihadiri dan tahap penguasaan bahasa inggeris. Perbincangan kertas kerja juga melibatkan pengukuran sikap pelajar terhadap pengajaran dan pembelajaran sains dan matematik dalam bahasa inggeris. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa sebahagian besar pelajar (77.6%) begitu bersemangat untuk mempelajari sains dan matematik dalam bahasa inggeris. namun begitu, sebanyak 51.6% pelajar menyatakan mereka lebih suka belajar sains dalam bahasa ibunda dan sebanyak 57.6% menyatakan bahawa mereka suka belajar matematik dalam bahasa inggeris. selain daripada itu, terdapat juga beberapa cadangan untuk mengubah sikap pelajar terhadap penguasaan bahasa inggeris di dalam pembelajaran sains dan m atematik

Spectral Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Chenodeoxycholic Acid Complexes with Zn(II), Mg(II), and Ca(II) Ions

Chenodeoxycholic acid (CA) is a naturally occurring bile acid that is produced in the liver from cholesterol. Three CA complexes using Zn(II), Mg(II), and Ca(II) ions were synthesized to examine the chelation tendencies of CA towards these metal ions. The complexation reaction of CA with the metal ions under investigation was conducted with a 1:1 molar ratio (CA to metal) at 60–70 °C in neutralized media, which consisted of a binary solvent of MeOH and H2O (1:1). The resulting CA complexes were characterized using elemental data (metal, H, C, and Cl analysis) and spectral data (UV–visible, FT-IR, and 1H NMR). The results suggested that CA in anion form utilized oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group (-COO−) to capture Zn(II), Mg(II), and Ca(II) ions. This produced complexes with the general compositions of [Zn(CA)(H2O)Cl], [Mg2(CA)2(H2O)4Cl2], and [Ca2(CA)2(H2O)4Cl2]·2H2O, respectively. The Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion assay was then used to explore the bioactivity of the CA complexes toward three fungal species (Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Penicillium sp.), three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Bacillus subtilis), and two Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli). The Ca(II) and Mg(II) complexes exhibited marked inhibitory effects on the cell growth of the fungal species Aspergillus niger with potency equal to 127 and 116% of the activity of the positive control, respectively. The Zn(II) and Ca(II) complexes strongly inhibited the growth of Penicillium sp., while the Zn(II) and Mg(II) complexes showed strong growth inhibition towards the Gram-negative species Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Quercetin/Zinc complex and stem cells: A new drug therapy to ameliorate glycometabolic control and pulmonary dysfunction in diabetes mellitus: Structural characterization and genetic studies.

Medicinal uses and applications of metals and their complexes are of increasing clinical and commercial importance. The ligation behavior of quercetin (Q), which is a flavonoid, and its Zn (II) (Q/Zn) complex were studied and characterized based on elemental analysis, molar conductance, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, electronic spectra, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR spectral data revealed that Q acts as a bidentate ligand (chelating ligand) through carbonyl C(4) = O oxygen and phenolic C(3)-OH oxygen in conjugation with Zn. Electronic, FTIR, and 1H-NMR spectral data revealed that the Q/Zn complex has a distorted octahedral geometry, with the following chemical formula: [Zn(Q)(NO3)(H2O)2].5H2O. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection. A total of 70 male albino rats were divided into seven groups: control, diabetic untreated group and diabetic groups treated with either MSCs and/or Q and/or Q/Zn or their combination. Serum insulin, glucose, C-peptide, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipid profile, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels were determined. Pancreatic and lung histology and TEM for pancreatic tissues in addition to gene expression of both SOD and CAT in pulmonary tissues were evaluated. MSCs in combination with Q/Zn therapy exhibited potent protective effects against STZ induced hyperglycemia and suppressed oxidative stress, genotoxicity, glycometabolic disturbances, and structural alterations. Engrafted MSCs were found inside pancreatic tissue at the end of the experiment. In conclusion, Q/Zn with MSC therapy produced a synergistic effect against oxidative stress and genotoxicity and can be considered potential ameliorative therapy against diabetes with pulmonary dysfunction, which may benefit against COVID-19

Courtship activity, copulation & insemination success in a mosquito vector fed a herbal aphrodisiac: Implications for sterile insect technology

Background & objectives: In sterile insect technology (SIT), mating competitiveness is a pre-condition for the reduction of target pest populations and a crucial parameter for judging efficacy. Still, current SIT trials are being hindered by decreased effectiveness due to reduced sexual performance of released males. Here, we explored the possible role of a herbal aphrodisiac in boosting the mating activity of Aedes aegypti. Methods: Males were fed one of two diets in this study: experimental extract of Eurycoma longifolia (MSAs) and sugar only (MSOs). Differences in life span, courtship latency, copulation activity and mating success were examined between the two groups. Results: No deaths occurred among MSA and MSO males. Life span of MSOs was similar to that of MSAs. The courtship latency of MSAs was shorter than that of MSOs (P<0.01). MSAs had greater copulation success than MSOs (P<0.001). In all female treatments, MSAs mated more than MSOs, but the differences in rate were significant only in the highest female density (P<0.05). In MSAs, mating success varied significantly with female density (P<0.01), with the 20-female group (P<0.01) having the lowest rate. Single MSA had better mating success at the two lowest female densities. In MSOs, there were no significant differences in mating success rate between the different female densities. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results suggested that the herbal aphrodisiac, E. longifolia, stimulated the sexual activity of Ae. aegypti and may be useful for improving the mating competitiveness of sterile males, thus improving SIT programmes