Neurobehavioral test performances in lead exposed in lead exposed workers, 1996

Neurobehavioral test has been used extensively and successfully in many countries to determine neurotoxic effects of various compounds. To determine neurotoxic effects of lead, a cross sectional studies was conducted on 141 male workers from two local battery manufacturing factories using' Neurobehavioral Core Test Batteries' ( NCTB) from' World Health Organisation'. These NCTB consist of several tests which can highlight various neuropsychological functions and a list of questionnaire for subjective symptoms. The workers, were divided into two groups based on their blood lead levels ( PbB ), the first group for those with PbB 40 µg/dl with mean PbB 53.10 ± 11.13. Student t-test has shown significant different between the two groups in neurobehavioral test performance such as Digit Symbol ( p= 0.02 ), Digit Backward ( p=0.01 ), Santa Ana preferred hand ( p=0.04 ), Santa Ana both hands ( p=0.02 ), Aiming Pursuit Test ( p=0.0002) and Trail B ( p= 0.0004 ). Workers from the second group also reported higher subjective symptoms of weakness in lower limbs and anorexia. Factors which have influenced on PbB were jobs category ( p=0.0001 ), work duration (p=0.04 ), chemical exposure ( p= 0.04 ), previous lead exposure ( p= 0.01 ) and usage of personal protective device ( p= 0.04 ). Significant correlation was found between PbB and neurobehavioral test performance such as Digit Symbol ( r= -0.04348 ), Digit Forward ( r= -0.2107 ), Digit Backward ( r= - 0.0003 ), Aiming Pursuit Test .( r= -0.2476 ) and Trail B ( r='0.3040 ). Regression analysis has shown reduction in cognitive and concentration functions with PbB level less that 30 µg/dl and maximum lead effect at Digit Symbol's score of 40. This study has shown that lead has led to impairment of cognitive, concentration, memory and motor steadiness functions and has proven the ability of neurobehavioral test in detecting lead toxicity at low levels

Analisis tren penyakit denggi di daerah Hulu Langat, Selangor

Perubahan iklim memberi impak kepada kehidupan dan mengancam kesihatan manusia. Antara faktornya ialah peningkatan penduduk, suhu dunia seperti pemanasan global serta darjah pergantungan ke atas bahan pembakar fossil yang semakin meningkat. Pemindahan gas rumah hijau ke atmosfera mengakibatkan gangguan ke atas lapisan ozon stratosfera dan meningkatkan radiasi ultraungu ke permukaan bumi. Perubahan persekitaran suhu dan kerpasan serta peningkatan aras laut mempunyai impak negatif ke atas kesihatan manusia. Kebanyakan kajian mengenai perubahan iklim dan kesihatan awam daripada perspektif sains dan bukannya sains sosial. Keakhiran kesihatan yang spesifik akibat perubahan iklim dikategori oleh Pertubuhan Kesihatan Dunia (WHO) seperti kesan langsung haba dan gelombang panas, pencemaran udara, bencana (banjir dan angin ribut), penyakit bawaan vektor, diarea bawaan air dan bawaan makanan, penipisan ozon stratosphera dan keselamatan makanan. Semua perubahan ini mengakibatkan berlakunya peningkatan kematian, kemorbidan serta peningkatan kes penyakit-penyakit seperti denggi, malaria, chikungunya, diarea, asma dan lain-lain. Kertas kerja ini bertujuan menganalisis impak sosio-ekonomi perubahan iklim ke atas kesihatan manusia fokus kepada senario penyakit bawaan vektor di Daerah Hulu Langat, iaitu Lembangan Sungai Langat. Data sekunder berkaitan dengan bilangan kes penyakit bawaan-vektor dikumpul dari Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah, laman sesawang Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia, temubual dengan pakar serta penyelidik perubahan iklim dan kesihatan awam

Pemodelan hubungan antara penyakit bawaan air dan makanan dengan kualiti air minuman di Negeri Kedah

A study was carried out to observe relationship between waterborne and foodborne disease (cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and dysentery) and quality of drinking of drinking water with two main objectives.First, to obtain the best method in order to study the pattern of waterborne and foodborne disease (WBD), and the content of drinking water (chlorine residue, fecal coliform and combination of chlorine residue and fecal coliform, turbidity) using analysis of univariate time series.Another purpose of the study is to model the WBD and the content of drinking water using analysis of multiple linear regressions.The research findings from univariate time series shows that, the best method to predict new values in the next month are non-seasonal Box-Jenkins method to study WBD.Meanwhile, the three month moving average method and simple exponential smoothing are more appropriate to study chlorine residue, fecal coliform and turbidity and the combination of chlorine residue and fecal coliform, respectively.The finding also show that, all variables of the content of drinking water have linear relationship and significantly affected the WBD

Perubahan cuaca dan penyakit denggi: kajian kes di daerah Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

Denggi merupakan penyakit endemik di Malaysia. Perubahan cuaca mengakibatkan peningkatan kematian, kemorbidan serta peningkatan kes penyakit seperti denggi. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk melihat hubungan antara perubahan cuaca dengan kes denggi yang dilaporkan di Daerah Seremban. Objektif kajian ini ialah untuk mengenalpasti hubungan antara perubahan cuaca dengan bilangan kes denggi di Daerah Seremban. Data sekunder berkaitan dengan bilangan kes penyakit bawaan-vektor dikumpul dari Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Seremban, laman sesawang Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia serta temubual dengan key informant yang berpengetahuan tentangg perubahan cuaca dan kesihatan awam. Temubual telah dilaksanakan dari bulan Mac hingga Novembe 2009. Data kelembapan relatif dan data taburan hujan diperolehi dari Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia dan Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran. Kaedah korelasi Pearson digunakan untuk mengkaji hubungan antara pembolehubah perubahan cuaca dengan kes denggi pada aras keyakinan p < 0.05. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa min suhu maksimum dan kelembapan relatif masing-masing mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan bilangan kes denggi di Daerah Seremban (yakni masing-masing r = 0.625, p < 0.05 dan r = 0.969, p < 0.05). Bagi taburan hujan pula, hanya dua daripada empat stesen hujan di Daerah Seremban yang mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan bilangan kes denggi:Stesen Stor JPS Sikamat (r = 0.613, p < 0.05) dan Stesen Hospital Seremban ( r = 0.64, p < 0.05)

Microbiological assessment of food contact surfaces in residential college cafeterias at a local University in Malaysia

A food premise’s sanitation level can be reflected by the cleanliness of its food contact surfaces. Contaminated food contact surfaces along with poor handling methods by food handlers may increase the risk of foodborne diseases through cross-contamination events. This study aimed to assess the microbiological contamination levels on food contact surfaces of 12 residential college cafeterias in a local university and its correlation with the cafeteria’s premise grade. The presence of selected indicator and pathogenic microorganisms (total viable count (TVC), total coliform, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp.) on food contact surfaces were also determined. Cutting boards, knives and utensils (cutleries, bowls and plates) that were used for ready-to-eat food were sampled for this study. The cafeteria’s premise grade was obtained based on the food premise inspection report by the university Health Centre. Three cafeterias have significantly higher (p 0.01). This study demonstrated that the sanitation level of food contact surfaces in the residential college cafeterias was only average. Improvements need to be done to increase the sanitation level of the cafeterias, thus assuring the safety of the food for consumers

A Multisectoral Approach in Dengue Management in Seremban Malaysia: an Ecobiosocial Perspective

Background: Dengue has been established as a major public health issue in many parts of the world particularly those in the tropical regions. In Malaysia, the rising rate of dengue cases had remained uncurbed, alarming to both the public and the local authorities. Despite the existence of legislations and control activities, why does the number of dengue cases keep on increasing every year? The objective of this study was to assess the existing environmental and health policies/strategies towards sustainable prevention and control of dengue/DHF in Malaysia. In addition, it also aimed to review the eco-bio-social approach and its advantages in prevention and control of dengue. Subjects and Method: Series of in-depth interviews were conducted on 12 key- informants aged between 36-58 years old. They were selected based on their roles that were divided into three categories, i.e. (1) policy makers, (2) middle managers, and (3) implementers at the ground level. Each interview explored in detail, on the important domains which were the ecology, biology, and social factors. Each session took an average of 45 minutes to 1 hour. There were a total of 10 males and 2 females selected for the in-depth interview. Open-ended questions were asked and the interviews were voice recorded, after obtaining consent from the respondents. The interviews were terminated once data saturation was achieved. The qualitative data was analyzed using Atlas.ti software. Results: The three main themes that emerged and were identified to contribute to sustainable dengue control and prevention were (1) adequate implementation of existing health policy, (2) good integration and coordination between agencies, (3) commitment from political and community leaders. Local data showed that areas which did not have these important components became hot spots for dengue with high number of dengue cases. Conclusion: It is vital that the community and relevant authorities focus on these themes/domains that will significantly improve the chances of having sustainable denguecontrol and management program in their localities. Keywords: multisectoral approach, ecobiosocial, engue control, sustainable managemen

Aplikasi sistem maklumat geografi untuk pemetaan reruang-masa: suatu kajian kes denggi di Daerah Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Penyakit denggi merupakan penyakit bawaan vektor yang menjadi salah satu ancaman utama kesihatan awam di Malaysia. Pemetaan taburan kes denggi daripada aspek reruang-masa boleh menjadi kaedah yang berguna dalam menilai risiko denggi kepada masyarakat. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk memetakan taburan reruang dan reruang-masa kes-kes denggi di dalam daerah Seremban, dijalankan dengan Sistem Maklumat Geografi (GIS) khususnya analisis reruang dan reruang-masa. Analisis taburan reruang menggunakan Indeks Moran, purata kejiranan terdekat (ANN) dan anggaran kepadatan Kernel. Analisis reruang-masa ditentukan dengan indeks kekerapan, jangka masa dan intensiti untuk mengenal pasti kawasan berisiko denggi mengikut masa. Sejumlah 6076 kes denggi dicatatkan di Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Seremban dari tahun 2003 hingga 2009. Kadar insiden denggi adalah tinggi pada tahun 2003, 2008 dan 2009 dengan nisbah denggi : denggi berdarah adalah 21.6:1. Indeks Moran menunjukkan kes denggi berlaku dalam pengelompokan dengan skor Z adalah 16.384 (p=0.000). Analisis ANN dengan 0.264 (p= 0.000) dengan purata jarak insiden antara kes denggi di dalam kawasan kejiranan adalah 55 m. Anggaran kepadatan Kernel menunjukkan lokasi kawasan panas kes denggi tertumpu di Nilai dan Ampangan. Analisis reruang masa dengan purata nilai tertinggi indeks kekerapan, jangka masa dan intensiti masing-masing melebihi 0.023, 0.614 dan 0.657 di kawasan berisiko tinggi denggi di Nilai, Seremban dan Ampangan. Pengawalan denggi perlu diberi tumpuan kepada kawasan berisiko tinggi ini

A review: Autodissemination of Pyriproxyfen as novel strategy to control dengue outbreaks

The new emergence and re-emergence of arbovirus infections transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes have been spreading across Southeast Asia, Central Africa, United States, tropical Oceania and has become a major of public health concern. These arbovirus diseases were found to have a similar vector, symptoms and environments. The situation is complex due to no specific vaccine or treatments being available for the diseases. Therefore, vector control is currently the best defense against arbovirus diseases, but with its own challenges such as the difficulty in controlling scattered breeding sites and biological behavior. Herein, we present a literature review of studies on current techniques proposed to combat dengue transmission that can fill a crucial gap in vector control programs, which is the inability of conventional control methods to eliminate and destroy cryptic breeding sites. In particular, we focused on the concept of autodissemination, which is a self-delivery technique by manipulating the behavior of mosquitoes, carrying the insecticide and disseminating it to cryptic breeding sites. This technique has shown promising results in some countries and can be considered as an additional tool in a vector control program. Therefore, we conducted Boolean searches in several electronic databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, SciELO and ScienceDirect to identify relevant published data regarding dengue and autodissemination techniques

Dengue Outbreak Detection Model Using Artificial Immune System: A Malaysian Case Study

Dengue is a virus that is spreading quickly and poses a severe threat in Malaysia. It is essential to have an accurate early detection system that can trigger prompt response, reducing deaths and morbidity. Nevertheless, uncertainties in the dengue outbreak dataset reduce the robustness of existing detection models, which require a training phase and thus fail to detect previously unseen outbreak patterns. Consequently, the model fails to detect newly discovered outbreak patterns. This outcome leads to inaccurate decision-making and delays in implementing prevention plans. Anomaly detection and other detection-based problems have already been widely implemented with some success using danger theory (DT), a variation of the artificial immune system and a nature-inspired computer technique. Therefore, this study employed DT to develop a novel outbreak detection model. A Malaysian dengue profile dataset was used for the experiment. The results revealed that the proposed DT model performed better than existing methods and significantly improved dengue outbreak detection. The findings demonstrated that the inclusion of a DT detection mechanism enhanced the dengue outbreak detection model’s accuracy. Even without a training phase, the proposed model consistently demonstrated high sensitivity, high specificity, high accuracy, and lower false alarm rate for distinguishing between outbreak and non-outbreak instances