The prevalence and risk factors of major depressive disorders in gynaecological cancer patients

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in gynaecological cancer patients is a disabling illness with significant mental and physical suffering. Determining the risk factors of MDD in cancer patients enables us to pay more attention to those who are vulnerable and to device effective strategies for prevention, early detection, and treatment. The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of MDD and its associated risk factors in gynaecological cancer patients at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star. This is a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study of 120 gynaecological cancer patients in Gynae-Oncology Unit in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star. Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview (MINI) was used for diagnosis of MDD. Socio-demographic data and clinical variables were collected. MVFSFI (Malay version Female Sexual Function Index) was used to determine sexual dysfunction, and WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization – Quality of Life-26) was performed to assess quality of life. The prevalence of MDD in gynaecological cancer patients in the study was 18%. The variables found to be significantly associated with MDD were lack of perceived social support, greater physical pain perception, presence of past psychiatric history, and poorer quality of life. Meanwhile, sexual dysfunction was not associated with MDD. Logistic regression analysis revealed that only the psychological health domain of QOL was significantly associated with MDD, and contributed to 60% of the variation in MDD. The prevalence of MDD in gynaecological cancer patients is higher than those in the general population. In view that MDD can compromise cancer prognosis and patient’s well-being, psychosocial intervention is recommended as a part of multi- disciplinary and comprehensive management of gynaecological cancer

Sugar Palm (Arenga Pinnata (Wurmb.) Merr) Cellulosic Fibre Hierarchy: A Comprehensive Approach From Macro To Nano Scale

Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) fibre is considered as a waste product of the agricultural industry. This paper is investigating the isolation of nanofibrillated cellulose from sugar palm fibres produced by a chemo-mechanical approach, thus opening a new way to utilize waste products more efficiently. Chemical pre-treatments, namely delignification and mercerization processes, were initially involved to extract the sugar palm cellulose. Then, mechanical pre-treatment was performed by passing the sugar palm cellulose through a refiner to avoid clogging in the subsequent process of high pressurized homogenization. Nanofibrillated cellulose was then characterized by its chemical properties (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), physical morphological properties (i.e. scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis), and thermogravimetric analysis.The nanofibres were attained at 500 bar for 15 cycles with 92% yield. The results showed that the average diameter and length of the nanofibrillated cellulose were found to be 5.5 ± 1.0nm and several micrometres, respectively. They also displayed higher crystallinity (81.2%) and thermal stability compared to raw fibres, which served its purpose as an effective reinforcing material for use as bio-nanocomposites. The nanocellulose developed promises to be a very versatile material by having a huge potential in many applications, encompassing bio-packaging to scaffolds for tissue regeneratio

The Role of Computed Tomography (CT) Scan in Assessment of the Parametrial Involvement in Early Stage Cervical Carcinoma

This retrospective study is aimed at evaluating the role of CT scan in predicting parametrium involvement in early stage of cervical carcinoma. It was conducted in a Gynaecologic Oncology Centre, Hospital Alor Star from January 2004 till December 2008. All patients with operable stage I and II cervical cancer had pelvic CT scan for evaluation of parametrium involvement before undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Parametrial streakiness or presence of infiltration suggested local invasion. Following radical hysterectomy, the specimens sent for histological confirmation and the correlation between the CT scan finding and the histopathology result was studied. The result revealed a total of 104 patients with operable stage cervical carcinoma had pelvic CT scan. The sensitivity and the specificity of CT scan in assessing parametrial involvement was 33.3% and 84.8%, respectively. In conclusion, CT scan had high specificity but low sensitivity in determining parametrial involvement in early stage of cervical cancer. Hence, routine preoperative pelvic CT scan has a limited role in assessing parametrial involvement in early stage cervical carcinoma

Laporan jawatankuasa majlis dekan-dekan pengajianIislam mengkaji profil pengajian Islam institusi pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA)

Permintaan tinggi kepada aliran pengajian Islam dan perkembangan positif program-program pengajian Islam di institusi pengajian tinggi awam menyebabkan pihak Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi melalui jabatan Pengajian Tinggi (JPT) merasakan satu kajian menyeluruh perlu dilakukan bagi mengenalpasti bentuk dan kesesuaian program-program pengajian Islam yang ditawarkan IPTA di samping merangka makanisme dan strategi bagi memasarkan program pengajian Islam di peringkat antarabangsa. Selain daripada itu, kajian juga perlu dilakukan bagi mengenal pasti sumbangan dan output kakitangan akademik dalam penyelidikan, penerbitan, perundingan serta sumbangan di peringkat negeri, kebangsaan dan antarabangsa. Sehubungan itu, Majlis Dekan-Dekan Pengajian Islam IPTA pada 8 Februari 2011 di Bilik Mesyuarat Ibnu Nafis 1, Aras 3 Jabatan Pengajian Tinggi, telah membentuk satu Jawatankuasa bagi merealisasikan menjalankan penyelidikan berkenaan Kajian Profil Pengajian Islam IPTA. Pengarah Bahagian Pengurusan Akademik JPT, Prof. Madya Dr. Zarida Hambali bersetuju memperuntukkan dana berjumlah RM25,000.00 untuk tempoh 3 bulan bermula 1 Mac hingga 31 Mei 2011. Kajian ini penting sebagai asas kepada segala mekanisme dan perancangan masa depan dalam membina hala tuju pengajian Islam yang lebih berdaya saing diperingkat kebangsaan dan antarabangsa

Recurrent ovarian steroid cell tumour not otherwise specified: A case report

Abstract Steroid cell tumors not otherwise specified are one of the rare virilizing ovarian tumors. Most of the tumors are benign. This case report illustrates the challenge in managing steroid cell tumor not otherwise specified, which starts from determining its malignant potential, surveillance, and adjuvant treatment option

Cationic Nanocellulose as Promising Candidate for Filtration Material of COVID-19: A Perspective

The threat of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is worrying as millions of people suffered from this outbreak. The COVID-19 can be airborne spreaded by attaching to human nasal or saliva secretion of an infected person or suspended fine particulates in the air. Therefore, in order to minimize the risks associated with this pandemic, an efficient, robust and affordable air‐borne virus removal filters are highly demanded for prevention of spreading viruses in hospitals, transportation hubs, schools, and/or other venues with high human turn‐over. Respirators such as N95, N99 and N100 as well as surgical masks have been widely used. To date, there is no filter standards or special filter technologies tailored for effectively adsorbing the airborne viruses. Studies had shown the electrostatic fibers were capable to entrap the negatively charged viruses including COVID-19. Researchers believed that the positive surface charge of filtration material is an important key to efficiently adsorb the negatively charged viruses. Nanocellulose has emerged as a new class of biobased material with promising potential application in the filtration of viruses. Nanocellulose is uniform in diameter and has excellent nanofibrillar morphology. To the best of our knowledge, further studies are necessary to determine the efficiency of cationic nanocellulose as filtration material of COVID-19

Cationic nanocellulose as promising candidate for filtration material of COVID-19: a perspective

The threat of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is worrying as millions of people suffered from this outbreak. The COVID-19 can be airborne spreaded by attaching to human nasal or saliva secretion of an infected person or suspended fine particulates in the air. Therefore, in order to minimize the risks associated with this pandemic, an efficient, robust and affordable air‐borne virus removal filters are highly demanded for prevention of spreading viruses in hospitals, transportation hubs, schools, and/or other venues with high human turn‐over. Respirators such as N95, N99 and N100 as well as surgical masks have been widely used. To date, there is no filter standards or special filter technologies tailored for effectively adsorbing the airborne viruses. Studies had shown the electrostatic fibers were capable to entrap the negatively charged viruses including COVID-19. Researchers believed that the positive surface charge of filtration material is an important key to efficiently adsorb the negatively charged viruses. Nanocellulose has emerged as a new class of biobased material with promising potential application in the filtration of viruses. Nanocellulose is uniform in diameter and has excellent nanofibrillar morphology. To the best of our knowledge, further studies are necessary to determine the efficiency of cationic nanocellulose as filtration material of COVID-19

Performance evaluation of cellulose nanofiber reinforced polymer composites

In recent years, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) has become an avidly researched material in cutting edge research fields involving prominent researchers, both in academia and industry. This has become an exciting time reaching beyond just scientific curiosity as CNF is beginning to enter various marketplaces. CNF shows unique and potentially useful features, which includes abundance, high specific surface area, renewability, high strength, eco-friendliness and high crystallinity. It is an excellent material for polymer reinforcement. Many studies have been conducted to understand the effects of CNF as a filler in polymer composites. Interestingly, most CNF polymer composites have shown a better mechanical performance compared to the neat base polymer. Thus, this enhances the application of CNF into reinforced polymer composites in several industries such as automotive, packaging, medical implant, electronics, building material and paper. Therefore, in this review, the performances of CNF polymer composites are carefully evaluated. Beyond that, several factors influencing the performance of these composites are discussed

The Frontiers of Functionalized Nanocellulose-Based Composites and Their Application as Chemical Sensors

Chemical sensors are a rapidly developing technology that has received much attention in diverse industries such as military, medicine, environmental surveillance, automotive power and mobility, food manufacturing, infrastructure construction, product packaging and many more. The mass production of low-cost devices and components for use as chemical sensors is a major driving force for improvements in each of these industries. Recently, studies have found that using renewable and eco-friendly materials would be advantageous for both manufacturers and consumers. Thus, nanotechnology has led to the investigation of nanocellulose, an emerging and desirable bio-material for use as a chemical sensor. The inherent properties of nanocellulose, its high tensile strength, large specific surface area and good porous structure have many advantages in its use as a composite material for chemical sensors, intended to decrease response time by minimizing barriers to mass transport between an analyte and the immobilized indicator in the sensor. Besides which, the piezoelectric effect from aligned fibers in nanocellulose composites is beneficial for application in chemical sensors. Therefore, this review presents a discussion on recent progress and achievements made in the area of nanocellulose composites for chemical sensing applications. Important aspects regarding the preparation of nanocellulose composites using different functionalization with other compounds are also critically discussed in this review