Health seeking behavior of men’s health disorders of among government servants in Kuantan: Prevalence study towards healthy ummah

As age advances most of body system will follow a process of deterioration too and the same goes for reproductive health. There is a gap between the prevalence of reproductive health disorders and rates of treatment. This gap among middle aged and older men is still wide compared to other chronic disease. In Islam, seeking medical treatment for the cure of diseases is part of the Prophet’s tradition and the Prophet (PBUH.) said in the Hadith the following: “For every disease there is a medicine, and if that medicine is applied to the disease, he will recover by Allah’s Leave.” Therefore the aim of this study is to identify a health seeking behaviour among men in for men’s health (MH) disorders in Kuantan. A cross sectional study was conducted among 157 respondents from four governments agencies and the data was collected using self-administered questionnaire modified from a valid and reliable measure. The results showed that 68.2% of the respondents (n=107) have high attitude in seeking for health regarding men’s health while for the rest of the respondents (n=50, 31.8%) have low attitude in seeking for MH. Men from the Service factor are perceived the highest compared the other two factors which are cultural and economic factors. This study showed that MH that includes reproductive disorders has always been taken lightly by the community itself. A Lack of awareness regarding ME issue causes men to ignore the importance of health screening. This should be improved in order to produce a healthy community for better Ummah since good heredity begins with good ME

Prevalence and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium from dairy cattle in five farms in Kuantan

Cryptosporidium spp. are ubiquitous enteric protozoan parasites that cause diarrhoeal disease known as cryptosporidiosis. This research was conducted to find the prevalence of Cryptosporidium from dairy cattle in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia and to identify the genotype of Cryptosporidium by using 18S rRNA gene. Besides, this study aims to investigate the association between Cryptosporidium infection and the age of dairy cattle. A total of 375 stool specimens of dairy cattle were collected and concentrated with formal-ether concentration technique. The Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected with modified Ziehl Neelsen staining. Cryptosporidium species was identified by nested PCR amplification of 18S rRNA gene. Based on microscopic examination, 16.3% (61/375) dairy cattle were positive for Cryptosporidium infection. This research has shown that the highest prevalence of Cryptosporidium was recorded in calves with the percentage of 17.4% (12/69), followed by adult cattle and yearling with the percentage of 16.1% (29/180) and 15.9% (20/126), respectively. The findings demonstrated that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in Cryptosporidium infection rates by age. Molecular characterisation revealed that the species of Cryptosporidium found in dairy cattle was Cryptosporidium ryanae. The present study suggested that proper hygiene practices must be practiced by farmers in order to control the Cryptosporidium infection

Prevalence, age-related and molecular of cryptosporidium from dairy cattle in five farms in Kuantan

Cryptosporidium spp. are ubiquitous enteric protozoan parasites that cause diarrhoeal disease known as cryptosporidiosis. This research was conducted to find the prevalence of Cryptosporidium from dairy cattle in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia and to identify the genotype of Cryptosporidium by using 18S rRNA gene. Besides, this study aims to investigate the association between Cryptosporidium infection and the age of dairy cattle. 375 stool specimens of dairy cattle were collected and concentrated with formal-ether concentration technique. The Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected with modified Ziehl Neelsen staining. Cryptosporidium species was identified by nested PCR amplification of 18S rRNA gene. Based on microscopic examination, 16.3% (61/375) dairy cattle were positive for Cryptosporidium infection. This research has shown that the highest prevalence of Cryptosporidium was recorded in calves with the percentage of 17.4% (12/69), followed by adult cattle and yearling with the percentage of 16.1% (29/180) and 15.9% (20/126), respectively. The findings demonstrated that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in Cryptosporidium infection rates by age. Molecular characterization revealed that the species of Cryptosporidium found in dairy cattle was C. ryanae. The present study suggested that proper hygiene practices must be practiced by farmers in order to control the Cryptosporidium infection

Prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among Malaysian obese adults

Obese adults are associated with increased cardiometabolic risk (CMR). The study aims to investigate the prevalence of CMR factor abnormalities in obese adults in Kuantan. Methods: Seventy-six obese adults with a mean (standard deviation) age of 33.7 years (9.8 years) participated in this study. All participants had a waist circumference (WC) measured, blood pressure (BP) taken, and assessment of fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile (LP) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level. Results: For CMR factors, the mean values for WC was 97.2 ± 9.6 cm, mean overall BP was 119 ± 15/76 ± 11 mmHg, mean FBG level was 4.8 ± 0.5 mmol/L and the mean of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) was 5.4 ± 1.0 mmol/L and 1.4 ± 0.7 mmol/L, respectively. Lastly, the mean of hs-CRP was 6.0 ± 6.1 mg/L. The CMR factors with the highest prevalence of abnormal values included WC (male 100%; female 98%) and TC (male 73.1%; female 52%) for both genders, systolic BP (50%) and TG level (61.5%) for male, and hs-CRP level (68%) for female. Out of the nine CMR factors measured, five CMR risk factors were shown to have a high prevalence of abnormalities. Conclusions: The present study suggests that obese adults in Kuantan have multiple CMR factor abnormalities. A larger trial, sensibly informed of this trial, can now build upon and confirm these results

Patient satisfaction and cost analysis of analgesia management for post-operative procedures in HTAA : PCA vs. conventional method

Acute pain service (APS) offer several techniques to the post-operative patient in controlling and relieving the pain such as intravenous infusion, patient-controlled analgesia, epidural infusion, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection and intrathecal administration. The effectiveness of and satisfaction towards APS is not clearly defined. Therefore, the aim of this study is to conduct the cost analysis and comparison between these techniques and patient satisfaction. The study design for cost analysis was retrospective study. The means of the data were calculated based on Integration Store of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan records. In addition, the evaluation of patient’s satisfaction was conducted by using a crosssectional study design. The mean of the data was calculated and analysed by using Chi-square test. The total cost required to prepare PCA for post-operative patient was the highest with RM 8810.98. Meanwhile, the cost for subcutaneous morphine injection, epidural infusion and peripheral block injection were RM 2.11, RM 5323.95 and RM 4.95 respectively. However, when taking into the aspect of patient’s satisfaction, PCA has the highest level of excellent performance with 54.6% compare to EDA (33%) and BLOCK (12.4%) with the p-value is less than 0.05. In conclusion, every drug has its own side effects. As the healthcare provider, it is a need to ensure drugs that were given to the patients are at the very minimum risk of having the side effects. Based on the findings of this study, it could be said that both drugs have lower percentage of people experienced the side effect after treated with the drugs. Therefore, the future study should be more focusing on the side effect of the drugs used. In terms of cost spent for the methods, the PCA regimen is more likely expensive compared to the conventional methods. However, based on survey among the patients, PCA-treated patients expressed higher satisfaction compared to the conventional regimen of pain management

A high mannose concentration is well tolerated by colorectal adenocarcinoma and melanoma cells but toxic to normal human gingival fibroblast: an in vitro investigation

Background: The primary cause of cancer is gene mutation which allows the growth of abnormal and damaged cells. Nutrition is one of the key factors that either increases or decreases the risk of cancer. Mannose has been found in many fruits such as oranges, apples and berries. Mannose has been linked to increase the risk factors or potential therapeutic for cancers. However, insufficient information is available on the effects of high mannose concentration on the normal and cancer cell lines. This study aimed to evaluate the viability patterns of human cancer and normal cell lines treated with mannose. Human gingival fibroblast (HGF), skin malignant melanoma (A375) and colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT29) cell lines were cultured and treated with additional mannose in three respective concentrations: 1 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml. Then, cell viability was measured using an MTT (3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide)-assay. Results: The HGF cells’ percentage pattern of viability showed a rapid decline of nearly 95% on the third day of treatment. A375 cells were able to survive in high mannose condition as the cell viability percentage was at the highest value on Day 5. Meanwhile, HT29 cells showed declining cell viability pattern when treated with mannose. The data exhibited significance; the p value was less than 0.001. Conclusions: High mannose concentration can be toxic to HGF. In addition, A375 is adaptive to mannose at all concentrations in which it shares the same pattern with the untreated group. However, the cell viability pattern for HT29 cell is declinin

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards available anti-smoking campaign among adults in Kuantan

Introduction: This study was conducted to determine the association between knowledge, attitude and practice among Kuantan community towards anti-smoking campaign. An anti-smoking campaign can be referred to as a series of ads programs that are introduced through various objective approaches to give awareness to people on the negative impacts of smoking behavior. The objectives of this study are (i) to investigate the association between socio-demographic data (gender, income, education level) and level of knowledge towards anti-smoking campaign; (ii) to find out the association between socio-demographic data (gender, income, education level) and level of attitude against anti-smoking campaigns; (iii) to study the association between socio-demographic data (gender, income, education level) and level of practice towards anti-smoking campaigns; and (iv) to find out the correlation between level of knowledge with level of attitude, level of knowledge with level of practice, and level of attitude with level of practice towards anti-smoking campaigns. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Kuantan community and convenience sampling was used to collect the data. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using SPSS and association of variables was analysed using Chi-square test. Results: This study found that level of knowledge did not affect the attitude level of the community. However, level of knowledge did affect the level of practice towards the anti-smoking campaign. Conclusion: It revealed that respondents with high level of knowledge also had good level of practice towards anti-smoking campaign

A qualitative study: the challenges on anti parasitic infection campaign among Orang Asli from the perspective of Tok Batin & JAKAO officer in Maran, Pekan and Kuantan, Pahang

The issue of parasitic intestinal infections among indigenous people is often discussed. Nevertheless, there is no end to this issue. Therefore, information from authorised parties or personnel such as JAKOA and Tok Batin which involve in the indigenous people is important in order to overcome this issue. This study is important in improving the quality of life of the indigenous. Therefore, the objectives of this study were; (i) to explore the problems faced by the authority related to parasitic infections among Orang Asli in Kuantan, Maran and Pekan, Pahang; and (ii) to identify the perceptions of the authority about the problem related to parasitic infections among Orang Asli in Kuantan, Maran, and Pekan, Pahang. This was a qualitative cross-sectional study. Interviews were conducted on six eligible key informants based on criteria in the selected areas in Kuantan, Maran and Pekan, Pahang. This study used thematic analysis to analyse the data. The identified problems from the perspectives of authorized personnel were; (i) hygienic issue; (ii) improper solid waste management; and (iii) inadequate clean water supply. Current findings recommended strategies which were; (i) to conduct awareness program; (ii) to conduct social program; (iii) provides proper waste disposal landfills; and (iv) to provide adequate clean water supply. Research findings and strategy recommendations need to be prioritized by the government for the purpose of improvement Furthermore, the government should also review all current programs to determine its effectiveness towards the Orang Asli community

Identification of VASA gene expression in in-vitro culture from Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) testicular biopsy cells: a study to unlock knowledge of male infertility

The expression product of VASA gene is widely conserved germ line marker and participates in regulating the development of reproductive system and spermatogenesis in healthy man. Azoospermic is a condition which cannot produce sperm cells for reproduction activity. In Islam, seeking knowledge is an obligatory to each Muslim in order to solve problems and for a better live. Thus to unveiled the problem of azoospermic in infertile man we attempt to determine the gene expression of VASA level in testes cells of non-obstructive azoospermic (NOA) sample. Samples were taken from three NOA patients by testicular sperm extraction (TESE) to obtain testicular biopsyies. Testicular cells were isolated and cultured in supplemented knockout DMEM media. VASA gene expression was determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for spermatogonial marker. No VASA expression was detected in spermatogonial-like stem cells culture on day 1, 7, 14 and 21. Our finding shown VASA gene was not expressed in vitro culture spermatogenesis might be associated with the abnormal differentiation of primordial germ cells that lead to male infertility