Tobacco teens: cigarette smoking among adolescents at a rural settlement, Jempol

Introduction: Smoking has become among the important current public health issues in Malaysia, as about one in four adult Malaysians currently smoke, and about one in ten adolescents smoke. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adolescents and its associated factors in a rural community of Jempol, Malaysia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013, involving rural settlements in Jempol, a district in the state of Negeri Sembilan, 147km south of Kuala Lumpur. Two rural settlements were randomly selected. The sampling unit was an adolescent (aged between 10- 19 years) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The instrument used in this study was a self- administered questionnaire adapted from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) 2011. Questions on religiosity were included. Results: A total of 167 respondents participated in this study. Among them, 31.1% (n=52) were identified as smokers; while 68.9% (n=115) were non-smokers. Mean age of smoking initiation was 14 years old. Being male, being employed, having large number of smokers in the family and among friends, having home smoking policy, being offered cigarettes, academic achievement, religiosity and perception of smoking being normal, cool and relaxing are factors significantly associated with smoking habits among adolescents (P=.05). Most preferred location to smoke was friend‘s house (44.2%) compared to own home (28.8%). Premises most visited to purchase cigarettes was the grocery store (59.9%), and majority of the adolescent smokers buy their own cigarettes (57.7%). Conclusion: Suitable anti-smoking programs should be tailored to and focus on factors most significantly associated with smoking in this age group. Enforcement efforts should be focused on grocery stores to prevent the sale of cigarettes to minors. Future studies need to be carried out to detect a trend of the age of initiation, where or not it is becoming younger

The Effect of Mother’s Hypertension and Weight and Parent’s Smoking Habit on Low Birth Weight Deliveries in Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Objective: Maternal factors such as age, health, diet, and environment are significantly associated with low birth weight. The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence, distribution and major risk factors of low birth weight in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Materials and methods: A hospital based case–control study was done in Obstetric Ward of Maternity Hospital in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Data was obtained using questionnaire and Performa. Out of 1021 deliveries, 330 were selected randomly as respondents that comprises of 110 cases and 220 controls. The outcome measure was low birth weight (<2500 grams). Results: The incidence of low birth weight was 10.8%. Among races, the highest occurrence of low birth weight was in Malay, while the highest age group was between 21 years old to 34 years old with majority of the respondent were married. Among the maternal socio-demographic factors, maternal height of less than 150 cm has a significant relationship with low birth weight. In addition, maternal weight of 45 kg and less and maternal weight gain during pregnancy of less than 10 kg were also found to be risk factors. However, none of the socio-demographic factors were significantly associated with low birth weight deliveries. Similarly, signs of premature delivery, maternal vaginal bleeding and fetal growth retardation (IUGR) had a significant association. Conclusion: The mothers that have experienced any of the risks that were identified should be monitored and effective prevention should be taken to decrease the chances of low birth weight but not forgetting to promote a health lifestyle to the mother and father as well

Inhabitation Effect of Linoleic Acid, the Ingredient of Nigella sativa (Black Seed) on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate inhibition and anti-cancer effects of Linoleic acid on the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Materials and methods: Cell lines Human breast cancer MCF-7 (GDC055) and MDA-MB-231 (HTB-26) cell lines were obtained from ATCC. MCF-7 estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer cell line and  the estrogen receptor negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, were grown in DMEM. MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines were observed. For each experiment, seven doses were considered diluting from the highest to the lowest doses by half, respectively. MTS apoptosis  and cytotoxic activity assay were used in order to find toxic effects, and the results were supported by flow cytometry (Cell cycle analysis). Results: The results showed the cytotoxic effect of Linoleic acid on the breast cancer cell lines that can be posed as an anti-cancer effect of lionleic acid. According to our findings, when the concentration of lionleic acid was increased, compared with the concentrations currently being reported, it shows anti-cancer effects. Conclusion: It was concluded that Linoleic acid has an inhibiting effect on human breast cancer cell lines which can be due to its two double-bandings molecular structure

Result of randomized control trial to increase breast health awareness among young females in Malaysia

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second principal cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide as well as in Malaysia. Breast self-examination (BSE) has a role in raising breast cancer awareness among women and educational programs play an important role in breast cancer preventive behavior. The aim of this study is to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of Breast Health Awareness program based on health belief model on knowledge of breast cancer and breast-selfexamination and BSE practice among female students in Malaysia. Methods A single-blind randomized controlled trial was carried out among 370 female undergraduate students from January 2011 to April 2012 in two selected public universities in Malaysia. Participants were randomized to either the intervention group or the control group. The educational program was delivered to the intervention group. The outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 months after implementing the health educational program. Chi-square, independent samples t-test and two-way repeated measures ANOVA (GLM) were conducted in the course of the data analyses. Results Mean scores of knowledge on breast cancer (p<0.003), knowledge on breast self examination (p<0.001), benefits of BSE (p<0.00), barrier of BSE (0.01) and confidence of BSE practice (p<0.00) in the intervention group had significant differences in comparison with those of the control group 6 and 12 months after the intervention. Also, among those who never practiced BSE at baseline, frequency of BSE practice increased 6 and 12 months after the intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion The Breast Health Awareness program based on health the belief model had a positive effect on knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination and practice of BSE among females in Malaysia. Trial registration The ANZCTR clinical trial registry ( ACTRN12616000831482 ), retrospectively registered on Jun 23, 2016 in ANZCTR.org.au

Determinants of Nutritional Status in Children living in Mashhad, Iran

Introduction: Children are one of the most vulnerable groups to sub-optimal nutritional intake in most societies. We have investigated some of the potential determinants of malnutrition in children of 2-5 years of age.   Methods and Materials: A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the relationship between nutritional status (weight for age, height for age and weight for height) and dietary and socioeconomic factors in 671 children (24-59 months of age) from selected health centers in Mashhad city, Iran. Children were assessed for weight and height and the care givers were interviewed and a questionnaire was completed by the interviewers. The data were analyzed using SPSS13 software and the Z-scores were calculated using the WHO anthropometric software package.   Results: The study showed that 24.4% of children were mildly underweight, 4.3% were underweight, 13% were mildly stunted, 23.6% of children were mildly wasted and 3.1% were stunted. Educational attainment, whether the children had been breast feed, average daily consumption of milk, feeding practices and type of first food were found to be the main factors determining nutritional status in our study.   Conclusion: A higher daily consumption of milk, lower age at which first solid food was started; lower age for consumption of meat and good feeding practices may resolve malnutrition in this population. These findings support the need for a family-based prevention program that focus on guiding parents to foster appropriate feeding practices as well as to promote healthy food intake in the children. Future research should determine the cost-effectiveness of both short- and long-term interventions for child malnutrition.

Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Breast Self-Examination Practice among Iranian Women in Hamedan, Iran

Background: In Iran, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women and a major public health problem.<br>Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out to determine knowledge on breast cancer and breast selfexamination (BSE) practices of 384 females living in the city of Hamadan, Iran. A purposive sampling method<br>was adopted and data were collected via face-to-face interviews based on a validated questionnaire developed for<br>this study. Results: Among respondents 268 (69.8%) were married and 144 (37.5%) of the respondents reported<br>having a family history of breast cancer. One hundred respondents (26.0%) claimed they practiced BSE. Level<br>of breast cancer knowledge was signifcantly associated with BSE practice (p=0.000). There was no association<br>with demographic details (p<0.05). Conclusion: The fndings showed that Iranian women’s knowledge regarding<br>breast cancer and the practice of BSE is inadequate. Targeted education should be implemented to improve<br>early detection of breast cancer. <br

Predictor of cardiovascular risks in end stage renal failure patients on maintenance dialysis

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of morbidity and premature mortality in end stage renal failure patients (ESRD) receiving dialysis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of various risk factors in this group of high CVD risk patients in local population. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional retrospective study in a single hospital. A total of 136 ESRF patients, consisted of 43 haemodialysis (HD) and 93 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, were recruited and followed up for 36 months duration. Midweek clinical and laboratory data were collected. The occurrence of existing and new CVD events was recorded. Results: Multiple Logistic Regression showed pre-existing cardiovascular event (odds ratio, 4.124; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.990 to 17.187), elevated total cholesterol level (odds ratio, 0.550; 95% CI, 0.315 to 0.963), elevated serum phosphate level (odds ratio, 5.862; 95% CI, 1.041 to 33.024) and elevated random blood glucose level (odds ratio, 1.193; 95% CI, 1.012 to 1.406) were significantly associated with occurrence of CVD events. Conclusions: History of cardiovascular event before the initiation of dialysis, elevated level of serum phosphate and random blood glucose levels are the risk factors of CVD whereas paradoxically a high total cholesterol level has CVD protective effect towards the ESRF patients

Serum inflammatory cytokines and depression in coronary artery disease

Background: Severe depression may be accompanied by immune dysregulation and is also associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Objectives: We investigated serum levels of 10 cytokines and their relationship with depression in patients with cardiovascular diseases as well as healthy subjects in northeast of Iran. Patients and Methods: The study was carried out on 462 subjects (120 healthy subjects and 342 candidates undergoing angiography). The healthy subjects were referred for routine annual checkups or pre-employment examinations; they did not have clinically evident CAD. A questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data and the Beck depression inventory (BDI) was applied to assess depression. The Evidence Investigator® platform was used for cytokines assays for IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1 and IFN-γ, using sandwich chemiluminescent method. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 11.5. Results: The mean age was 53.3 ± 11.5, 54.8 ± 11.3, and 59.5 ± 11.3 in healthy, angiography (-), and angiography (+) subjects, respectively (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in serum levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-1 cytokines, comparing subjects with CAD and healthy persons (P < 0.05). When all subjects were divided to with and without depression regardless of their cardiovascular status, there was a significant difference in serum levels of IL-8 and IL-6 between the groups (P < 0.05). When the subgroup with features of CAD was selected and divided to those with and without depression, there was also a significant difference in serum levels of IL-8 and TNF-α (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The positive interaction between depression and CAD was probably mediated by inflammatory mechanisms