Encouraging Optimal Aging through a Lifestyle Based on Islamic Psychospiritual Science

Ageing is an inevitable natural process that can give rise to concerns at both individual and societal levels if strategic planning is not in place to address the associated changes and ensure the well-being and satisfaction of this population. This article aims to explore the significance of healthcare for the elderly and the application of Islamic psychospiritual science in promoting healthy ageing by emphasizing lifestyle factors. The research employed a survey instrument administered to 307 randomly selected respondents, including elderly individuals and caregivers. The study was conducted across Malaysia from February 2022 to April 2022. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 software. The study findings indicate that all the elements encompassing an Islamic psychospiritual lifestyle, including the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social aspects, hold great significance. The Cronbach's alpha (α) score for this study was calculated at 0.934, indicating a high level of internal consistency. The results of this study offer valuable insights for family members, caregivers, welfare organizations, nursing homes, and other entities involved in elderly care. These findings can guide the optimization of care aspects, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the study's outcomes can inform the development of modules or guidelines for elderly care, facilitating the caregiving process

In vitro antibacterial and radical scavenging activities of Malaysian table salad

Six types of table salad (ulam) namely Mentha arvensis (mint), Lactuca sativa var capitata (cabbage lettuce), Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (winged bean), Pluchea indica Less. (beluntas), Premna cordifolia (bebuas) and Limnocharis flava L. buchenau (yellow velvetleaf) were investigated for their antimicrobial and radical scavenging activities. In addition, total phenolic content (TPC) test was also carried out for the six plants. All the plants were extracted successively with dichloromethane (DCM) and ethanol (EtOH). The results showed that the DCM and EtOH extracts of L. flava displayed good antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The EtOH extract of this plant was the only one that showed inhibition against Candida albicans. P. tetragonolobus had the highest scavenging activity in both extracts, while the ethanolic extract of P. indica showed the highest phenolic contents (56.287 μg/mg). The total phenolic contents of the extracts ranged from 56.287 to 46.461 μg/mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE/g dry extract). The results showed that some table salads (ulam) possess antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and therefore, could be used as a natural preservative ingredient in food and/or pharmaceutical industries.Key words: Table salad, antimicrobial, antioxidant, disc diffusion, total phenolic content

The Role of Islamic Psychospiritual in Building Self-Resilience of Cancer Caregivers

The global community is increasingly recognizing the integration of health science with religion and spirituality. In Malaysia, the field of Islamic psychospiritual science, which combines psychology with spirituality and Islamic teachings, has garnered significant research attention, particularly in addressing the challenges faced by cancer caregivers. These caregivers, often referred to as "hidden patients," experience a range of difficulties including physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and financial burdens that adversely affect their quality of life. However, society tends to prioritize the health and well-being of the patients over that of the caregivers. In reality, caregivers place the needs of the patients above their own in all aspects. Spiritual, religious, and emotional distress are prevalent concerns for both patients and caregivers during the crisis of cancer, which is often associated with mortality. Hence, the objective of this article is to explore the role of Islamic psychospiritual knowledge in supporting cancer caregivers, specifically in addressing their spiritual, religious, and emotional well-being. The data collection process utilizes library methods based on key findings from previous studies, while data analysis is conducted using a thematic analysis approach. The findings of this study indicate that religious aspects emphasized in Islamic psychospiritual disciplines can enhance caregivers' resilience in effectively managing various cancer-related challenges, thereby improving their overall quality of life. Hence, the significance of the spiritual and religious dimension, which acts as a protective factor, should not be disregarded. Lastly, this article proposes the provision of spiritual and religious educational materials within medical settings as valuable resources for cancer caregivers to reinforce their own well-being

Temporal trends in hepatitis B and C infection in family blood donors from interior Sindh, Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections are a serious global and national public health problem. Earlier studies have reported increasing rates of hepatitis infection in Pakistan, particularly in rural areas. Pakistan has no active surveillance program to monitor trends of these infections. The objective of this study was to verify this trend in blood donors from the rural Sindh area of the country.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study analysed the data of blood donors of interior Sindh who donated blood at JPMC blood bank from January 1, 2004 to September 15, 2007. HBsAg status was determined by using HBsAg Serodia kit and antibodies to HCV using the Detect HCV ™ V.3 Kit. Samples repeatedly reactive for HBsAg or anti-HCV were considered positive for HBV or HCV infection respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall seroprevalence of HBV infection among donors was 6.2 % (95% CI 5.5%–6.9%) and did not change significantly over the study period. Overall seroprevalence of HBV infection in literate blood donors was 5.7 %(95% CI 4.7%–6.8%). Prevalence decreased significantly in this group over the study period (p = 0.05). No other significant trends in seroprevalence of HBV infection were seen in the stratified analyses.</p> <p>The overall seroprevalence of HCV among donors was 7.5% (95% CI 6.8%–8.3%) and increased significantly over the study period from 7.2% (95% CI 5.8%–8.7%) in 2004 to 8.9% (95% CI 7.4%–10.6%) in 2007 (p = 0.02). Significant increase in seroprevalence was particularly seen in literate (p = 0.03), non–first time (p = 0.01) and Sindhi speaking (p = 0.01) donors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study finds a steady increase in the prevalence of HCV infection in blood donors from interior Sindh between 2004 and 2007. On the contrary, decreasing prevalence of HBV was found, particularly in literate blood donors. There may be a need to have rural community-based epidemiological studies to identify the determinants of the spread of HCV infection and also those that are limiting the spread of HBV infection particularly in the literate blood donor population.</p

Perceptions of anti-smoking messages amongst high school students in Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Surveys have provided evidence that tobacco use is widely prevalent amongst the youth in Pakistan. Several reviews have evaluated the effectiveness of various tobacco control programs, however, few have taken into account the perceptions of students themselves regarding these measures. The aim of this study was to determine the most effective anti-smoking messages that can be delivered to high-school students in Pakistan, based on their self-rated perceptions. It also aimed to assess the impact of pictorial/multi-media messages compared with written health warnings and to discover differences in perceptions of smokers to those of non-smokers to health warning messages.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was carried out in five major cities of Pakistan in private English-medium schools. A presentation was delivered at each school that highlighted the well-established health consequences of smoking using both written health warnings and pictorial/multi-media health messages. Following the presentation, the participants filled out a graded questionnaire form, using which they rated the risk-factors and messages that they thought were most effective in stopping or preventing them from smoking. The Friedman test was used to rank responses to each of the questions in the form. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test used to analyze the impact of pictorial/multi-media messages over written statements. The Mann Whitney U test was used to compare responses of smokers with those of non-smokers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Picture of an oral cavity cancer, videos of a cancer patient using an electronic voice box and a patient on a ventilator, were perceived to be the most effective anti-smoking messages by students. Addiction, harming others through passive smoking and impact of smoking on disposable incomes were perceived to be less effective messages. Pictorial/multi-media messages were perceived to be more effective than written health warnings. Health warnings were perceived as less effective amongst smokers compared to non-smokers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Graphic pictorial/multi-media health warnings that depict cosmetic and functional distortions were perceived as effective anti-smoking messages by English-medium high school students in Pakistan. Smokers demonstrated greater resistance to health promotion messages compared with non-smokers. Targeted interventions for high school students may be beneficial.</p

The effect of incubation temperature on the specificity of the BANA (N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide) test

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75429/1/j.1399-302X.1993.tb00544.x.pd

High SMAD7 and p-SMAD2,3 expression is associated with environmental enteropathy in children

This work was supported by grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (SAA: OPP1066200, PK: OPP1066118, GM: OPP1131242)

Predisposition to Alzheimer’s and age-related brain pathologies by PM2.5 exposure: perspective on the roles of oxidative stress and TRPM2 channel

Accumulating epidemiological evidence supports that chronic exposure to ambient fine particular matters of <2.5 μm (PM2.5) predisposes both children and adults to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and age-related brain damage leading to dementia. There is also experimental evidence to show that PM2.5 exposure results in early onset of AD-related pathologies in transgenic AD mice and development of AD-related and age-related brain pathologies in healthy rodents. Studies have also documented that PM2.5 exposure causes AD-linked molecular and cellular alterations, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic deficits, impaired neurite growth, neuronal cell death, glial cell activation, neuroinflammation, and neurovascular dysfunction, in addition to elevated levels of amyloid β (Aβ) and tau phosphorylation. Oxidative stress and the oxidative stress-sensitive TRPM2 channel play important roles in mediating multiple molecular and cellular alterations that underpin AD-related cognitive dysfunction. Documented evidence suggests critical engagement of oxidative stress and TRPM2 channel activation in various PM2.5-induced cellular effects. Here we discuss recent studies that favor causative relationships of PM2.5 exposure to increased AD prevalence and AD- and age-related pathologies, and raise the perspective on the roles of oxidative stress and the TRPM2 channel in mediating PM2.5-induced predisposition to AD and age-related brain damage