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

Forest Road Assessment in Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, Kedah, Malaysia

For the last few decades, forest road construction for forest harvesting in the tropical forest has been shown to cause considerable damage to the soil physical properties, forest environment and watershed areas. These effects can be minimized through implementation of proper harvesting procedure in the use of harvesting machines and forest road specification guideline. Forest road specification is important as technical guideline that must be comply by any loggers in order to construct forest roads. The road constructions that meet the outlined specification were potential to minimize the damage of forest roads and increase the efficiency in forest product output, while reducing harvesting cost. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of feeder road construction in compliance to the Forest Road Specifications 1999 as outlined by the Forest Department of Peninsular Malaysia. Systematic samplings were conducted along 14.5 km of feeder road where an observation and measurements has been taken at every 500 m points visited. A total of 30 samples were taken which incorporate dimensions of road specification elements for each point such as road cross section, vertical alignment, horizontal alignment, road failure and earth work. The comparison data was collected to determine whether the failure is due or not to the specification. Result presented that the total length of the road failure in the study area was 551.4 m or 3.8% out of 14.5 km. The types of the road failure were classified into five categories that were surface failure, surface run-off, wheel track, drainage failure and landslide. The major failure occurred on the feeder roads was surface failure, which represent about 38.2%. Reasons of non-compliance are ascertained and several recommendations were given to reduce the damage of feeder road

Plant host selectivity for multiplication of Glomus mosseae spore

The study aimed to select plant host for multiplication of Glomus mosseae spores. Five plant species were used [(corn, (Zea mays) sorghum, (Sorghum bicolor) lentil, (Lens culinaris), barley, (Hordeum vulgare) and green bean, (Phaseolus vulgaris)]. Plants were inoculated with Glomus mosseae and grown for 75 days under glasshouse conditions. Mycorrhizal sporulation and colonization of all plant hosts were assessed at different sampling periods. At 75 days of growth the highest number of Glomus mosseae spores was found in mycorrhizosphere of corn plant (167 spore/10 g soil), while the lowest in the mycorrhizosphere of barley (35 spore/10 g soil). The highest percentage of root colonization was in corn (76%), while the lowest colonization was found in green bean (24%). Corn was the most suitable host for spore production of Glomus mosseae and to extensive root colonization. It was recorded that plants having more colonization percentage were able to produce more Glomus mosseae spores. The study indicated that different plant species significantly influenced the root spore production and root colonization percentage of Glomus mosseae

Diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica isolated from fresh produce and environmental samples

In Nigeria, as in most developing countries, vegetable farmers depend largely on wastewater for irrigation and on untreated manure for soil enrichment. Salmonella is among the most important foodborne pathogens worldwide with fresh vegetables as major route of transmission to man. A total of 440 samples comprising vegetables and environmental samples (irrigation water and manure treated soil) were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella, resistance and virulence genes and diversity of isolates by genotyping. Samples were obtained from five irrigation fields in Kano and Plateau States and cultured using selective isolation with prior enrichment method. Presumptive isolates were identified and characterized using conventional biochemical methods and Microbact 24E (Oxoid, UK) identification kit. Amplification of virulence (invasive A and enterotoxin) genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) further confirmed Salmonella and its virulence potential. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic concensus (ERIC) fingerprinting PCR showed genetic diversity of confirmed isolates. Confirmed isolates were evaluated for susceptibilities to eight commonly used antimicrobial agents. Sixty-one (13.9%) samples were positive for Salmonella. The distribution of serotypes included; Salmonella typhi (7.7%), Salmonella paratyphi (2.0%) and Salmonella typhimurium (4.1%). S. typhi had the highest isolation rate and was most commonly detected in vegetables. Simultaneous resistance to all antibiotics assayed was found amongst the salmonellae. Fingerprinting pattern of the Salmonella strains from the different samples showed marked similarities and close genetic relatedness. Cluster analysis at a coefficient of similarity of 0.82 grouped the fifteen strains of Salmonella assayed into five different groups. Our results indicate that irrigated vegetables are vehicles of transmission of potentially pathogenic Salmonella isolates that can contribute to the development of salmonellosis and other Salmonella related infections in Nigeria. This study provides data that support the potential transmission strains of Salmonella harboring virulence and resistance factors from vegetables and environmental sources to cause infections in humans

Macrocheles species (Acari: Macrochelidae) associated with human corpses in Europe

The biology of macrochelid mites might offer new venues for the interpretation of the environmental conditions surrounding human death and decomposition. Three human corpses, one from Sweden and two from Spain, have been analysed for the occurrence of Macrochelidae species. Macrocheles muscaedomesticae females were associated with a corpse that was found in a popular beach area of southeast Spain. Their arrival coincides with the occurrence of one of their major carrier species, the filth fly Fannia scalaris, the activity of which peaks during mid-summer. M. glaber specimens were collected from a corpse in a shallow grave in a forest in Sweden at the end of summer, concurrent with the arrival of beetles attracted by odours from the corpse. M. perglaber adults were sampled from a corpse found indoors in the rural surroundings of Granada city, Spain. The phoretic behaviour of this species is similar to that of M. glaber, but being more specific to Scarabaeidae and Geotrupidae dung beetles, most of which favour human faeces. M. muscaedomesticae is known from urban and rural areas and poultry farms; M. glaber from outdoors, particularly the countryside; while M. perglaber from outdoor, rural, and remote, potentially mountainous locations. M. muscaedomesticae and M. perglaber are reported for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula. This is the first record of M. perglaber from human remains

Macrocheles species (Acari: Macrochelidae) associated with human corpses in Europe

The biology of macrochelid mites might offer new venues for the interpretation of the environmental conditions surrounding human death and decomposition. Three human corpses, one from Sweden and two from Spain, have been analysed for the occurrence of Macrochelidae species. Macrocheles muscaedomesticae females were associated with a corpse that was found in a popular beach area of southeast Spain. Their arrival coincides with the occurrence of one of their major carrier species, the filth fly Fannia scalaris, the activity of which peaks during mid-summer. M. glaber specimens were collected from a corpse in a shallow grave in a forest in Sweden at the end of summer, concurrent with the arrival of beetles attracted by odours from the corpse. M. perglaber adults were sampled from a corpse found indoors in the rural surroundings of Granada city, Spain. The phoretic behaviour of this species is similar to that of M. glaber, but being more specific to Scarabaeidae and Geotrupidae dung beetles, most of which favour human faeces. M. muscaedomesticae is known from urban and rural areas and poultry farms; M. glaber from outdoors, particularly the countryside; while M. perglaber from outdoor, rural, and remote, potentially mountainous locations. M. muscaedomesticae and M. perglaber are reported for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula. This is the first record of M. perglaber from human remains