Internal consistency study of EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-PR25 questionnaires for quality of life assessment among prostate cancer patients in a University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Introduction Prostate cancer is forth most common diagnosed tumors in Malaysian male. The use of a self-reported, quality of life assessment is important for clinical practice, care taker and researcher to evaluate the level of quality of life. The aim of this study was to measure the internal consistency of the translated Malay Language EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC PR-25 questionnaires among prostate cancer patient at National University of Malaysia hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Methods This was a cross sectional study conducted between July 2017 and Dec 2017. The respondent comprised of 110 Malaysian prostate cancer patients who were under follow up at Urology and Oncology Clinic. Sets of translated Malay language EORTC QLQ C30 and EORTC PR-25 consisted of functional, symptom and global health status domains were administered to assess their quality of life. Results The translated questionnaires were acceptable by 110 respondents. Cronbach`s α coefficient result were 0.913 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and 0.829 (EORTC PR-25) respectively suggested that this instrument had good internal consistency. Conclusions Our study confirmed that translated Malay language EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-PR25 questionnaires are acceptable, reliable and valid instrument to be used among Malaysian prostate cancer patients

Batu Tumbuk as A New Creation Dance: Art and Culture Preservation Through Time

This research aims to analyze the choreography of the New Creation dance, Batu Tumbuk by Muhaldin Jamin, which was staged in 2015. The term ‘New Creation dance’ refers to the dance that undergoes a process of improvement or refinement that is appropriate to the passage of time but does not affect the traditional values of the community. Hence, this research discusses the Batu Tumbuk dance from the aspect of choreography. The choreographic approach by Minton (1997) is used in this article to discuss the choreographic aspects of the New Creation dance selected. The methodology used for this research was qualitative. Data collection was conducted by using observational methods, unstructured interviews, and library methods. The findings of this research show that the choreography of Batu Tumbuk dance has undergone the creative process of movements and development in terms of composition in the performances presented. Based on the various elements of Malay traditional dance, it is shown that the development processes of Batu Tumbuk dance include actions such as casting, floor patterns and additional props as forms of dance creations. The implications of this research could benefit local choreographers in providing the reference for understanding the terms and concepts of the New Creation dance choreography that continues the original tradition, as a source to be processed and developed in accordance with the passage of time aimed to preserve cultural art heritage

Determining method for dengue epidemic threshold in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Introduction Dengue fever is an arthropod-borne viral disease that has become endemic in most tropical countries. In 2014, Malaysia reported 108 698 cases of dengue fever with 215 deaths which increased tremendously compared to 49 335 cases with 112 deaths in 2008 and 30 110 cases with 69 deaths in 2009. This study aimed to identify the best method in determining dengue outbreak threshold for Negeri Sembilan as it can help to send uniform messages to inform the general public and make the outbreak analysis comparable within and between countries. Methods Using retrospective Negeri Sembilan country dataset from 1st epid week of 2011 till the 52nd epid week of 2016. The data were split into two periods: 1) a 3-year historic period (2011–2013), used to calibrate and parameterise the model, and a 1-year evaluation period (2014); 2) a 2-year historic period (2014–2016), used to calibrate and parameterise the model, and a 1-year evaluation period (2016), used to test the model. E-dengue is a registration system for confirmed dengue cases dengue by Ministry of Health. Data included were details of cases, district locality, records on the outbreak and epidemiological week (Sunday to Saturday) captured using the Excel spreadsheet. Analysis method included endemic channel method, moving average or deviation bar chart and recent mean. Results Seremban as big district and facing with heavy dengue cases, all three methods (endemic curve, current mean and moving mean) showed promising results. Meanwhile comparing with small district of Port Dickson and Tampin with fewer dengue cases and outbreak recorded, the suitable method is by using endemic channel for epidemic threshold. Conclusions Simpler methods such as the endemic channel, recent mean and moving mean may be more appropriate in urban district. Whereas in rural or district with minimal dengue cases, Endemic Channel would be the most suitable method for epidemic threshold. However, both methods require a consistent updated graph threshold as time progress

Study on handing process and quality degradation of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB)

The main objective of this study is to determine the relationship between quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and handling processes. The study employs exploratory and descriptive design, with quantitative approach and purposive sampling using self-administrated questionnaires, were obtained from 30 smallholder respondents from the Southern Region, Peninsular Malaysia. The study reveals that there was a convincing relationship between quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and handling processes. The main handling process factors influencing quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) were harvesting activity and handling at the plantation area. As a result, it can be deduced that the handling process factors variable explains 82.80% of the variance that reflects the quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB). The overall findings reveal that the handling process factors do play a significant role in the quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB)

Solving cracking phenomenon in premium transparent toilet soap production using Stretched LLDPE Film Wrap

Cracking phenomenon in soap production is an imminent problem. It renders the soap aesthetically unpleasing. This study attempts to find best solution to solve cracking phenomenon in premium soap production. The adopted approach is a stamping method with stretched LLDPE wrap film. The result shows that stretched LLDPE wrap film able to solve the cracking problem. The appearance of the premium transparent was improved. This paper presents the results and the SOP for stretched LLDPE film wrap for soap making industries to adopt

Development of a Knowledge-Based Energy Damage for evaluating Industrialised Building Systems (IBS) Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Risk

Malaysia’s construction industry has been long considered hazardous, owing to its poor health and safety record. It is proposed that one of the ways to improve safety and health in the construction industry is through the implementation of ‘off-site’ systems, commonly termed ‘industrialised building systems (IBS)’ in Malaysia, which require fewer workers on�site. This is deemed safer, based on the risk concept of reduced exposure; however, no method yet exists for determining the relative safety of various construction methods, including IBS. This thesis presents a comparative evaluation of the occupational health and safety (OHS) risk presented by different construction approaches, namely IBS and traditional methods. The evaluation involved developing a model based on the concept of ‘argumentation theory’, which helps construction designers integrate the management of OHS risk into the design process. In addition, an ‘energy damage model’ was used as an underpinning framework. Development of the model was achieved through three phases. Phase I involved collection of data on the activities involved in the construction process and their associated OHS risks, derived from five different case studies, field observation and interviews. Knowledge on design aspects that have the potential to impact on OHS was obtained from document analysis. Using the knowledge obtained in Phase I, a model was developed in the form of argument trees (Phase II), which represent a reasoning template with regard to options available to designers when they make judgements about aspects of their designs. Inferences from these aspects eventually determined the magnitude of the damaging energies for every activity involved. Finally, the model was validated by panels of experts (Phase III), and revisions and amendments were made to the model accordingly. The model provides a means of evaluating OHS risk among construction workers, which could help designers understand the extent to which their design decisions may impact on OHS and thereby assist them to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. The development of the risk assessment model represents structured knowledge that designers can draw on when making judgments about OHS risks, in the form of argument trees. The model was categorized into several damaging energies, which provides a way to evaluate the risk from start to finish. The research revealed that different approaches/methods of construction projects carried a different level of energy damage, depending on how the activities were carried out. A study of the way in which the risks change from one construction process to another shows that there is a difference in the profile of OHS risk between IBS construction and traditional methods. For example, the potential gravitational damaging energy for certain activities in the in-situ concrete and masonry method can be removed or reduced by the use of IBS/off�site methods such as the wall panel system and the panellised system. This is compatible ii with other researchers’ claims that IBS/off-site is safer and carries significantly less risk in traditional construction. This thesis contributes to knowledge by suggesting options available to product and process designers that allow them to assess the extent to which their design decisions reduce OHS risk in construction, and offering a more rigorous comparison of the OHS risks in IBS and traditional approaches. It is anticipated that the model may provide a way for designers to integrate process knowledge and awareness of safety and OHS risk variables into design to eliminate or reduce hazards in construction. Keywords: IBS, OHS in construction, knowledge-based energy damage model, off-site constructio

Study on handing process and quality degradation of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB)

The main objective of this study is to determine the relationship between quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and handling processes. The study employs exploratory and descriptive design, with quantitative approach and purposive sampling using self-administrated questionnaires, were obtained from 30 smallholder respondents from the Southern Region, Peninsular Malaysia. The study reveals that there was a convincing relationship between quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and handling processes. The main handling process factors influencing quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) were harvesting activity and handling at the plantation area. As a result, it can be deduced that the handling process factors variable explains 82.80% of the variance that reflects the quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB). The overall findings reveal that the handling process factors do play a significant role in the quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB)

Analisis kualiti hidup pesakit kanser prostat di Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Kanser prostat merupakan ketiga tertinggi bagi golongan lelaki di Malaysia. Data 2018 melaporkan kanser prostat mencatatkan insiden 1,807 kes berbanding 1,186 kes pada tahun 2014. Kanser prostat ini turut memberi kesan terhadap beban penyakit serta beban ekonomi kepada negara dan memberi kesan terhadap kualiti hidup pesakit terutamanya pesakit berumur melebihi 65 tahun. Kajian ini dilakukan bagi mengukur tahap kualiti hidup pesakit kanser prostat dan menentukan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kualiti hidup pesakit tersebut. Reka bentuk kajian adalah keratan rentas yang dilakukan dari Januari 2018 sehingga Disember 2018. Sampel kajian terdiri daripada pesakit kanser prostat yang didiagnos dan mendapatkan rawatan di Klinik Urologi, Jabatan Pembedahan dan Jabatan Onkologi dari tahun 2008 hingga 2017. Kajian menggunapakai set soal selidik EORTC QLQ-C30 dan EORTC QLQ-PR25 yang telah diterjemahkan ke Bahasa Melayu. Seramai 193 pesakit telah mengambil bahagian. Analisis mendapati tahap kanser memberi perbezaan yang signifikan kepada status kesihatan serta fungsi dan simptom kanser prostat (p < 0.001). Kesimpulannya, analisis faktor penentu mendapati umur, skor Gleason dan juga tahap lewat kanser merupakan faktor penentu kepada kualiti hidup pesakit kanser prostat (p < 0.05). Langkah kesedaran, saringan serta rawatan awal dilihat perlu dipertingkatkan bagi meningkatkan tahap kualiti hidup pesakit kanser prostat di hopital ini

Southeast asian medicinal plants as a potential source of antituberculosis agent

Despite all of the control strategies, tuberculosis (TB) is still a major cause of death globally and one-third of the world’s population is infected with TB. The drugs used for TB treatment have drawbacks of causing adverse side effects and emergence of resistance strains. Plant-derived medicines have since been used in traditional medical system for the treatment of numerous ailments worldwide. There were nine major review publications on antimycobacteria from plants in the last 17 years. However, none is focused on Southeast Asian medicinal plants. Hence, this review is aimed at highlighting the medicinal plants of Southeast Asian origin evaluated for anti-TB. This review is based on literatures published in various electronic database. A total of 132 plants species representing 45 families and 107 genera were reviewed; 27 species representing 20.5% exhibited most significant in vitro anti-TB activity (crude extracts and/or bioactive compounds 0–<1

Diet as a risk factors of prostate cancer: a literature review

Introduction Prostate cancer is indeed a raising health problem in the world. As our life expectancy improves, the prevalence of prostate cancer may also increase. Diet is believed to be one of the common major risk factors contributing to the development of prostate cancer. Objective This review aims to i) understand the effect of dietary habit towards risk of developing prostate cancer, ii) to summarize the published articles on risk of developing prostate cancer and iii) to provide information in designing the optimal diet for primary and secondary prostate cancer prevention. Methods A search was conducted to review published studies on prostate cancer and diet through PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar and Science Direct. Results High intake of red meat, processed meat and dairy products were commonly linked to the prostate cancer while consumption of antioxidants and certain vitamins may give protective mechanism towards prostate cancer. Conclusions Diet of low carbohydrates, n-3 PUFAs, colorful fruits and vegetables are still the best advice to counsel the patient while lifestyle of smoking and heavy alcohol intake should be avoided in preventing prostate cancer