Oral Cancer Awareness and its Determinants among a Selected Malaysian Population

Objective: To assess oral cancer awareness, its associated factors and related sources of information among a selected group of Malaysians. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on all Malaysian ethnic groups aged >= 15 years old at eight strategically chosen shopping malls within a two week time period. Data were analysed using chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression. Significance level was set at alpha<0.05. Results: Most (84.2%) respondents had heard of oral cancer. Smoking was the most (92.4%) recognized high risk habit. Similar levels of awareness were seen for unhealed ulcers (57.3%) and red/white patches (58.0%) as signs of oral cancer. Age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education, occupation and income were significantly associated with oral cancer awareness (p<0.05). Conclusions: There was a general lack of awareness regarding the risk habits, early signs and symptoms, and the benefits of detecting this disease at an early stage. Mass media and health campaigns were the main sources of information about oral cancer. In our Malaysian population, gender and age were significantly associated with the awareness of early signs and symptoms and prevention of oral cancer, respectively.Article Link: http://koreascience.or.kr/article/ArticleFullRecord.jsp?cn=POCPA9_2013_v14n3_195

Optical properties of tetrapod nanostructured zinc oxide by chemical vapour deposition

Tetrapod nanostructured zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been deposited onto indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrate by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) technique. This work studies the effects of annealing temperature ranging from 100–500 ºC towards its physical and optical properties. FESEM images showed that the structural properties of tetrapod nanostructured ZnO thin film were affected by the annealing temperature. The thickness of thin film is strongly support the FESEM analysis. The optical band gap energy (Eg) was evaluated at 2.78 – 3.06 eV, which the ZnO thin film was found to be influenced by the change of interatomic spacing of semiconductor. The result shows that the higher annealing temperature greatly affects the physical structure of tetrapod nanostructured ZnO thin film to become narrow and longer length.Keywords: tetrapod; TCVD; synthesizing; annealing; zinc oxid

Evaluation of the detection techniques of toxigenic Aspergillus isolates

Aflatoxins are difuranocoumarin derivatives produced by some Aspergillus species through a polyketide pathway. Mycotoxins are considered hazardous and there is a need for accurate detection of each toxin. Several screening methods for direct visual determination of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (OTA) production have been reported. These methods rely on using different types of coconut culture media, methylated â-cyclodextrin and ammonium hydroxide vapour tests. However, our results showed that use of these  techniques were not sufficiently sensitive for all Aspergillus species and suggested a simple thin layer  chromatography (TLC) as a sensitive and reliable technique for detection of aflatoxins and OTA produced by Aspergillus and Eurotium species.Key words: Aspergillus, Eurotium, Mycotoxins detection, thin layer chromatography

The influence of internal and external factors on farmers' perception and participation in Jeneberang watershed conservation

The land conditions in the Jeneberang Watershed, Sulawesi, Indonesia has been eroded due to the uncontrolled use of land for vegetable farming. The objective of this paper is to determine the effects of internal and external factors on the perception and participation of farmers around the Jeneberang Watershed in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Data was analyzed by using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and using Analysis of Moment Structure (AMS) version 6. Results showed that the internal factors had more significant direct effects to the farmers’ perceptions and participation, while the external factors did not significantly affect the farmers. It can be concluded that the internal factors directly and significantly influenced both the farmers’ perception and participation in the implementation of such watershed conservation. This implies that the provincial government needs to provide education and training on land use conservation for local vegetable farming. This suggests that an increase in knowledge, attitudes and skills of perception and conservation will increase farmers' participation in the implementation of conservation in vegetable farming in the Jeneberang watershed upstream

Molecular identification of Aspergillus and Eurotium species isolated from rice and their toxin-producing ability.

Thirty milled rice samples were collected from retailers in 4 provinces of Malaysia. These samples were evaluated for Aspergillus spp, infection by direct plating on malt extract salt agar (MESA). All Aspergillus holomorphs were isolated and identified using nucleotide sequences of ITS 1 and ITS 2 of rDNA. Five anamorphs (Aspergillus flavus, A. oryzae, A. tamarii, A. fumigatus and A. nigef) and 5 teleomorphs (Eurotium rubrum, E. amstelodami, E. chevalieri, E. cristatum and E. tonophilum) were identified. The PCR-sequencing based technique for sequences of ITS 1 and ITS 2 is a fast technique for identification of Aspergillus and Eurotium species, although it does not work flawlessly for differentiation of Eurotium species. All Aspergillus and Eurotium isolates were screened for their ability to produce aflatoxin and ochratoxin A (OTA) by HPLC and TLC techniques. Only A. flavus isolate UPM 89 was able to produce aflatoxins B1 and B2

Genetic‐guided pharmacotherapy for coronary artery disease: a systematic and critical review of economic evaluations

Background: Genetic‐guided pharmacotherapy (PGx) is not recommended in clinical guidelines for coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to examine the extent and quality of evidence from economic evaluations of PGx in CAD and to identify variables influential in changing conclusions on cost‐effectiveness. Methods and Results: From systematic searches across 6 databases, 2 independent reviewers screened, included, and rated the methodological quality of economic evaluations of PGx testing to guide pharmacotherapy for patients with CAD. Of 35 economic evaluations included, most were model‐based cost‐utility analyses alone, or alongside cost‐effectiveness analyses of PGx testing to stratify patients into antiplatelets (25/35), statins (2/35), pain killers (1/35), or angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (1/35) to predict CAD risk (8/35) or to determine the coumadin doses (1/35). To stratify patients into antiplatelets (96/151 comparisons with complete findings of PGx versus non‐PGx), PGx was more effective and more costly than non‐PGx clopidogrel (28/43) but less costly than non‐PGx prasugrel (10/15) and less costly and less effective than non‐PGx ticagrelor (22/25). To predict CAD risk (51/151 comparisons), PGx using genetic risk scores was more effective and less costly than clinical risk score (13/17) but more costly than no risk score (16/19) or no treatment (9/9). The remaining comparisons were too few to observe any trend. Mortality risk was the most common variable (47/294) changing conclusions. Conclusions: Economic evaluations to date found PGx to stratify patients with CAD into antiplatelets or to predict CAD risk to be cost‐effective, but findings varied based on the non‐PGx comparators, underscoring the importance of considering local practice in deciding whether to adopt PGx

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

Background: The EMPA KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population. Methods: EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110. Findings: Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5–2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62–0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16–1·59), representing a 50% (42–58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all &gt;0·1). Interpretation: In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease. Funding: Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council

Processing and Mechanical Properties of Aluminium-Silicon Carbide Metal Matrix Composites

In this study, aluminium-silicon carbide (Al-SiC) metal matrix composites (MMCs) of different compositions were prepared under different compaction loads. Three different types Al-SiC composite specimens having 10%, 20% and 30% volume fractions of silicon carbide were fabricated using conventional powder metallurgy (PM) route. The specimens of different compositions were prepared under different compaction loads 10 ton and 15 ton. The effect of volume fraction of SiC particulates and compaction load on the properties of Al/SiC composites were investigated. The obtained results show that density and hardness of the composites are greatly influenced by volume fraction of silicon carbide particulates. Results also show that density, hardness and microstructure of Al-SiC composites are significantly influenced depending on the compaction load. The increase in the volume fraction of SiC enhances the density and hardness of the Al/SiC composites. For 15 ton compaction load, the composites show increased density and hardness as well as improved microstructure than the composites prepared under 10 ton compaction load. Furthermore, optical micrographs reveal that SiC particulates are uniformly distributed in the Al matrix

Effect of Sintering Temperature on the Properties of Aluminium-Aluminium Oxide Composite Materials

In this study, aluminium-aluminium oxide (Al-Al2O3) metal matrix composites of different weight percentage reinforcements of aluminium oxide were processed at different sintering temperatures. In order to prepare these composite specimens, conventional powder metallurgy (PM) method was used. Three types specimens of different compositions such as 95%Al+5%Al2O3, 90%Al+10%Al2O3 and 85%Al+15%Al2O3 were prepared under 20 ton compaction load. Then, all the specimens were sintered in a furnace at two different temperatures 550oC and 580oC. In each sintering process, two different heating cycles were used. After the sintering process, it was observed that undistorted flat specimens were successfully prepared for all the compositions. The effects of sintering temperature and weight fraction of aluminium oxide particulates on the density, hardness and microstructure of Al-Al2O3 composites were observed. It was found that density and hardness of the composite specimens were significantly influenced by sintering temperature and percentage aluminium oxide reinforcement. Furthermore, optical microscopy revealed that almost uniform distribution of aluminium oxide reinforcement within the aluminium matrix was achieved

Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Aluminium-Aluminium Oxide Metal Matrix Composites

In this research study, aluminium-aluminium oxide (Al-Al2O3) metal matrix composites (MMCs) of different percentage reinforcements of aluminium oxide were prepared. Three different types Al-Al2O3 composite specimens having 10%, 20% and 30% volume fractions of aluminium oxide were fabricated using conventional powder metallurgy (PM) route. These composite specimens were fabricated under different compaction loads 15 ton and 20 ton. The effects of volume fraction of aluminium oxide particulates and compaction load on the properties of Al-Al2O3 composites were investigated. The obtained results revealed that density and hardness of the composites are significantly influenced by volume fraction of aluminium oxide particulates. Results also showed that density, hardness and microstructure of Al-Al2O3 composites are markedly influenced depending on the compaction load. The increase in the volume fraction of Al2O3 enhances the density and hardness of the Al-Al2O3 composites. It was found that for 20 ton compaction load, the composites show increased density and hardness as well as improved microstructure than the composites prepared under 15 ton compaction load. Moreover, optical micrographs revealed that aluminium oxide particulates are almost uniformly distributed in the aluminium matrix. It was also observed that after sintering process, flat and undistorted specimens were prepared successfully