Increased risk of osteoporosis in depressive patients with eractile dysfunction: a cross-sectional study from Malaysia

Background: Depression imposes numerous changes on depressive men, promoting for low bone mineral density (BMD) and erectile dysfunction (ED), yet no published data on exploring the possible association between these two disorders among depressive men. We therefore investigated whether low BMD is associated with ED among depressive men and highlighted the possible mutual underlying factors that might give rise to these two disorders in this specific group of patients. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 119 depressive men were recruited and their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were obtained. Erectile function was evaluated using the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function. All patients received a calcaneal BMD scanning. Chi-square test was conducted to determine if a significant association exists between ED and low BMD. Results: Of the study participants, ninety patients reported ED, while 29 patients reported no ED. Within the ED group, there was a significantly higher proportion of patients with low BMD compared to the non-ED group (85.6% vs. 62.1%, P = 0.006). In addition, among younger participants (i.e., aged < 50 years old), the difference in T-score between ED patients (Md =-2.2, n = 41) and non-ED patients (Md =-1.3, n = 20) was significant (P = 0.001); but held no significance among older participants. Conclusions: While our findings are considered prefatory, we reported that low BMD was significantly associated with ED in depressive men and that only among young depressive patients, BMD was significantly lower in ED patients compared to non-ED patients. More research investigating these findings and the possible underlying mechanisms for such association are warranted

Prescribing patterns of antidepressants among depressive men in Malaysia: A survey

Objective: In recent studies on the prescribing pattern of antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the most prescribed antidepressants in many countries. Yet, little reports investigated depressive populations for antidepressants prescribing in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the pattern of prescribed antidepressants in a Malaysian group of depressive patients throughout their years of depression. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 119 adult male depressive outpatients who were recruited from three psychiatric centers. Patients’ age and duration of depression were recorded, as well as their current and past antidepressants prescribed. Results: Of the study participants, 107 patients (89.9%) were currently antidepressant-treated. Mean age of patients was 49.9 (SD=11.0), while mean duration of depression was 7.8 years (SD=6.1). Markedly, SSRIs were the most currently prescribed antidepressants (72.9%), followed by tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs; 10.3%). Moreover, SSRIs predominated the prescribed antidepressants over the years of depression. Additionally, there was an increase in the share of SSRIs prescribing during these years in the expenses of other antidepressants, especially TCAs, whose prescription share fell from 34.1%, in the years preceding 2005, to only 10.3% in the current time. Conclusion: In sum, this study findings concur several reports from various countries, in which SSRI were the most frequent prescribed antidepressants and their prescribing was increasing over nearly the last 10 years. Further research is advocated to explore these findings in larger depression populations

Retracted: Healthcare providers knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Malaysia – a mini systematic review

This article previously published in Volume 15 Issue 10 of this journal in September 2016 has been retracted in line with the guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE, http://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines)Retracted: Azeem E, Gillani WS, Poh V, Sulaiman SAS. RETRACTED: Healthcare providers’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Malaysia – a mini systematic review. Trop J Pharm Res 2016; 15(9):2041-2045 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v15i9.32From the EditorOur attention was drawn to the earlier publication of similar data by the authors and some others in Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (doi 10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.13.5233) under the title, “Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior of Healthcare Providers towards Breast Cancer in Malaysia: a Systematic Review” which was confirmed. The corresponding author, Syed Wasif Gillani was contacted but failed to respond to communication in this respect.25 November 2018Keywords: Healthcare provider, Breast cancer, Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, Systematic review, Malaysi

Healthcare providers’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Malaysia – a mini systematic review

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Malaysia. Therefore, it is important for the public to be educated on breast cancer and to know the steps that need to be taken to detect it early. Healthcare providers are in a unique position to provide public health education due to their good knowledge of health issues and their roles in healthcare. A systematic review of studies conducted from 2008 till 2015 was undertaken to analyze the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of Malaysian healthcare providers regarding breast cancer, in an attempt to obtain an overall picture of how wellequipped the healthcare providers are to provide optimal breast cancer education, and to ascertain their perceptions and actual involvement in such education. The systematic review was conducted via a primary search of various databases and journal websites, and a secondary search of references cited in eligible studies. Criteria for eligibility include studies conducted in Malaysia and published from the year 2008 to 2015, and written in English language. A total of fifteen articles were identified and reviewed but only two studies were eligible for this review. The findings suggest that future and current Malaysian healthcare providers have moderate knowledge of breast cancer, showed a positive disposition towards involvement in breast cancer education, but displayed poor involvement.Keywords: Healthcare provider, Breast cancer, Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, Systematic review, Malaysi

Barriers to colorectal cancer screening in Asia: A systematic review

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the top five cancers afflicting both men and women globally. Once predominantly a Western disease, it has begun to rise in Asian countries as well. This systematic review aims to compile and analyze the various barriers towards colorectal cancer screening in Asia, and to determine if the barriers are consistent throughout the continent.Methods: Article Inclusion criteria for based on year of publication from year 2008 till 2015, has been conducted in Asia, and written in English language. A total of 23 studies were included in this review, chosen via primary search of journal websites and databases, and a secondary search through the reference lists of eligible articles.Results: It was found that major barriers of colorectal cancer screening are; poor education/knowledge, negative perceptions towards screening, aversion to test results, financial constraints, time constraints, lack of physicians’ recommendation, limited/difficult access to screening locations, fatalistic beliefs, low perceived risks, language barriers, confidence in traditional medicine/distrust in Western medicine,ignorance and old age.Conclusion: Lack of knowledge/education is the most critical barrier that is linked to a majority of other barriers that can hinder a person from undergoing CRC screening for early prevention, detection and treatment. Majority of these barriers encountered regarding the poor rates of CRC screening are similar across countries in Asia.Keywords: Colorectal cancer screening, Barrier, Knowledge, Criteria for eligibilit

A novel synthesis of stabilized molecularly imprinted polymer for electropolymerization to detect bismethoxycurcumin from curcuminoid

The purpose of this study is to synthesize a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for use in an electropolymerization approach to separate bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) from curcuminoid. The template molecule used is 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (HPPA) serving as a water soluble template with a similar molecular structure to BDMC. Pyrrole is used as the functional monomer (FM). The synthesized ultrathin polymer was reproducible and homogeneous, prepared with a gold electrode. An optimization of conditions to remove the template from the ultrathin film was carried out. The analyte rebinding was investigated with Quartz Crystal Microbalance. Fourier Transform Infra-Red characterized the functional groups before and after washing out the template. An electrodeposition of polymers was achieved at -400 Hz of thickness in 1000 s. The rebinding study showed that adsorption capacity of MIP was higher than that of NIP. Regarding selectivity the BDMC had a higher binding affinity to the MIP than to Curcumin (CUR). MIP sensor demonstrated the ability to discriminate target analyte against a very close analog, curcumin, and exhibited good recovery for use in herbal medicine

Knowledge, Attitude and Health Belief (KAHB) on Cancer and Its Treatment: Qualitative exploration of cancer patients in Penang, Malaysia

KAHB toward cancer and its treatment determines the patients' clinical outcome. This study explored KAHB among cancer patients in Penang, Malaysia. Sixteen cancer patients were interviewed upon saturation. This study recorded the information, transcribed, translated and validated before coded and categorized into themes. The study showed that perceived knowledge of cancer and its treatment was moderate. Their attitude toward cancer and its treatment was positive; however, revealed various health belief which influences their cues to action. Most patients seek traditional treatment besides modern medicine as they felt better. This information can support health caregivers for better patient's management. eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning &amp; Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i16.269

The effect of avocado butter to characteristics of emullient W/O cream

Avocado butter is an unsafonifiable fraction of avocado oil that contains of 25-30  %  fitosterol  as  anti-aging  agent.  In  this  research,  the  influence  of  6 variation    avocado  butter  between  1–11 %  to  o/w  cream  characteristics  has been researched. O/W cream has been made by meltingand mixing methods at  700C,  and  than  cream  product  was  evaluated.  The  result showed  that  o/w cream  characteristics  were  progressively  influenced by  amount  of  avocado butter. In  using  avocado  butter  between  1–7  %  in  creams,  the  value  of    pH, viscosity,  and  particle  size  in  product  creams  progressively  go  down,  but  theirs spread-abilities progressively go  up. On the contrary cream characteristics that usage 9% of avocado butter, the value of viscosity and particle size began to go up while pH, but spread-abilities go down.Key words :avocado butter, O/W cream, cream characteristic, stabilit

An Epidemiological Evaluation Of A Typical Mycobacterium And TB/HIV-AIDS Status In Malaysia : Clinical And Microbiological Outcomes Of The Diseases.

In view of the heterogeneous nature of the epidemiology of tuberculosis, the increasing number of cases associated with AIDS and the spread of resistance to antibiotics, all methods of combating the disease must be mobilized. BCG does not prevent reactivation of latent forms and has no impact on transmission of tuberculosis; it is of great value in preventing the most serious forms, miliary and meningeal tuberculosis