Preliminary survey of insect diversity and population abundance during flowering and fruiting season in Mangifera odorata (Kuini) orchard, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia

A preliminary survey of insect population in Kuini (Mangifera odorata) orchard was conducted between February 2016 and May 2016 in MARDI, Sintok, Malaysia. Collection of insects were done using two different methods namely yellow sticky trap (YST) and sweep net. A total of 857 arthropods were collected during flowering season and 1,454 arthropods during fruiting season. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics while mean comparisons were done using t-test. Thysanoptera recorded the highest percentage (31.65%) of total catch during flowering season, while Blattodea and Neuroptera recorded as the lowest with 0.23% respectively. During fruiting season, the highest recorded insect was Diptera (79.92%) while Thysanoptera and Lepidoptera recorded the lowest percentage (0.07%). The Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’), Simpson Diversity Index (D) and Margalef’s Diversity Index (d) were for insects during flowering season were of 3.01, 0.87 and 12.44 respectively. Conversely, H’, D and d value for insects during fruiting season were 2.61, 0.83 and 7.28 respectively. Results obtained from this study will be used as baseline for future insect pest and biological control related studies

Adoption of the Mobile Health Screening Programme for Farming Communities: A Study Among Pesticide-Exposed Farmers from North East of Peninsular Malaysia

Health awareness promotion among farming communities are important for a sustainable agriculture activities. A crosssectional study was conducted to assess health status among farming communities in Cameron Highlands, Pahang (n = 61) and Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan (n = 143). Mobile Health Screening Programme composed of assessment of blood glucose, blood cholesterol, haemoglobin, blood pressure, pterygium, lung function and nerve conductive velocity was utilized. Our results indicate that the percentage of Cameron Highland’s farmers with hyperglycaemia, systolic hypertension, diastolic hypertension and anaemia were 8.2%, 14.8%, 11.5% and 8.2%, respectively. However, higher percentage of farmers in Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan with hyperglycaemia (32.8%), hypercholesterolaemia (83%), anaemia (24.2%) and systolic hypertension (41.9%) were observed. Pterygium was positive for 88.6% of farmers in Cameron Highlands and 94.4% in Bachok and Pasir Puteh. Lung function test shows that 61.7% and 11.4% of farmers in Cameron Highlands had restrictive and obstructive lung, respectively. In Bachok and Pasir Puteh, a total of 19.8%, 55.5% and 23.9% of farmers were found to have obstructive, restrictive and combined obstructive and restrictive lung, respectively. Current Perception Threshold (CPT) value which indicate nerve conductive velocity were signifi cantly increased (p < 0.05) among Cameron Highland’s farmers for both median and peroneal nerve at all frequencies (5 Hz, 250 Hz and 2000 Hz). In Bachok and Pasir Puteh, the values of the CPT for median nerve was signifi cantly increased (p < 0.05) for all frequencies (5, 250 and 2000 Hz). Meanwhile, a signifi cant increased (p < 0.05) was observed for the CPT values for peroneal nerve at the frequencies of 250 and 2000 Hz as compared to control groups. In conclusion, analysis revealed different health problem among the studied farming communities which could be infl uenced by the differences in farming practices. Thus, employed Mobile Health Screening Programme offers a monitoring approach that could highlight the need for suitable health services and awareness programmes for different farming communities

Efficacy of selected pesticides and biopesticides against major pest infesting Solanum melongena L.

Terung Telunjuk also known as Terung Kuning (Solanum melongena L.), is an edible fruit belonging to the family Solanaceae, one of the largest families in vegetables. Even though identification of the major pests of S. melongena has been widely done, however information about the management of these pests remains scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of selected biopesticides and insecticides (application type) and spraying time (before and after application) against these insect pests’ population of Terung Telunjuk. Experiments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and eight treatments. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the influence of two independent variable (application type, spraying time) on the number of sucking insects found on Terung Telunjuk. The application treatments were: (T1) garlic oil; (T2) neem oil; (T3) Pest Guard™; (T4) Shelter X™; (T5) wood vinegar; (T6) Confidor™; (T7) Abenz™ and (T8) control (water only), respectively. Result showed that there is significant difference on the application type on number of sucking pest (df=7, F=2.95, p0.05) indicate that the effect of spraying time was not significant. Similarly, the interaction effect between application type and spraying time was also not significant [df=7, = 0.28, p>0.05]. There was no significant different between the spraying time (p>0.05), indicating that there were no differences in the total number of sucking insects before and after spraying. Confidor was found to be the most effective treatment to control sucking pest. Whereas the wood vinegar and neem oil did were between the application treatments toward borer insects, surprisingly, neem oil recorded the lowest number of damage/infected fruits. Information gained from this study may be used as a baseline for future insect pest and biological control related studies on other Solanaceae including the traditional vegetables

Field status, damage symptoms and potential natural enemies of the invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in Malaysia

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a new invasive alien species attacking corn in Malaysia. This aggressive pest has been recorded attacking more than 350 plant species including our most important staple namely rice. Being relatively new to this region, detailed information of this pest and their potential local natural enemies are limited. The objective of this preliminary study was to assess the status, document the damage symptoms graphically, and explore potential local natural enemies of this new pests on corn in Malaysia. In order to assess the status of the S. frugiperda attacks, a cooperative field survey on both sweet and grain corn was carried out throughout the country. During this field survey, damage symptoms on corn and evidences of arthropods attacking or feeding the S. frugiperda were documented. By the end of 2019, the S. frugiperda has invaded corn farms in all states of Malaysia. In total, 25.5% (151.3 ha) from 594.1 ha of corn planted area were affected by the pest. Damages on plants were apparent in affected farms. We observed the presence of two species of predatory assassin soldier bugs (Eocanthecona furccellata and Andralus spinidens) and two species of coleopteran larvae, (Micraspis discolor and unidentified Staphylinidae) directly attacking the S. frugiperda. In this paper, we took the initiative to propose few provisional management recommendations to limit the damage of this serious pest in Malaysia based on our observations during the field survey. This preliminary study is of paramount importance to elucidate the status of the pest as well as identifying the presence of local natural enemies which may provide additional impetus towards the sustainable management of the S. frugiperda in Malaysia

Prospective observational cohort study on grading the severity of postoperative complications in global surgery research

Background The Clavien–Dindo classification is perhaps the most widely used approach for reporting postoperative complications in clinical trials. This system classifies complication severity by the treatment provided. However, it is unclear whether the Clavien–Dindo system can be used internationally in studies across differing healthcare systems in high- (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods This was a secondary analysis of the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), a prospective observational cohort study of elective surgery in adults. Data collection occurred over a 7-day period. Severity of complications was graded using Clavien–Dindo and the simpler ISOS grading (mild, moderate or severe, based on guided investigator judgement). Severity grading was compared using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data are presented as frequencies and ICC values (with 95 per cent c.i.). The analysis was stratified by income status of the country, comparing HICs with LMICs. Results A total of 44 814 patients were recruited from 474 hospitals in 27 countries (19 HICs and 8 LMICs). Some 7508 patients (16·8 per cent) experienced at least one postoperative complication, equivalent to 11 664 complications in total. Using the ISOS classification, 5504 of 11 664 complications (47·2 per cent) were graded as mild, 4244 (36·4 per cent) as moderate and 1916 (16·4 per cent) as severe. Using Clavien–Dindo, 6781 of 11 664 complications (58·1 per cent) were graded as I or II, 1740 (14·9 per cent) as III, 2408 (20·6 per cent) as IV and 735 (6·3 per cent) as V. Agreement between classification systems was poor overall (ICC 0·41, 95 per cent c.i. 0·20 to 0·55), and in LMICs (ICC 0·23, 0·05 to 0·38) and HICs (ICC 0·46, 0·25 to 0·59). Conclusion Caution is recommended when using a treatment approach to grade complications in global surgery studies, as this may introduce bias unintentionally

The surgical safety checklist and patient outcomes after surgery: a prospective observational cohort study, systematic review and meta-analysis

© 2017 British Journal of Anaesthesia Background: The surgical safety checklist is widely used to improve the quality of perioperative care. However, clinicians continue to debate the clinical effectiveness of this tool. Methods: Prospective analysis of data from the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), an international observational study of elective in-patient surgery, accompanied by a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature. The exposure was surgical safety checklist use. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcome was postoperative complications. In the ISOS cohort, a multivariable multi-level generalized linear model was used to test associations. To further contextualise these findings, we included the results from the ISOS cohort in a meta-analysis. Results are reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: We included 44 814 patients from 497 hospitals in 27 countries in the ISOS analysis. There were 40 245 (89.8%) patients exposed to the checklist, whilst 7508 (16.8%) sustained ≥1 postoperative complications and 207 (0.5%) died before hospital discharge. Checklist exposure was associated with reduced mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.49 (0.32–0.77); P\u3c0.01], but no difference in complication rates [OR 1.02 (0.88–1.19); P=0.75]. In a systematic review, we screened 3732 records and identified 11 eligible studies of 453 292 patients including the ISOS cohort. Checklist exposure was associated with both reduced postoperative mortality [OR 0.75 (0.62–0.92); P\u3c0.01; I2=87%] and reduced complication rates [OR 0.73 (0.61–0.88); P\u3c0.01; I2=89%). Conclusions: Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine

Critical care admission following elective surgery was not associated with survival benefit: prospective analysis of data from 27 countries

This was an investigator initiated study funded by Nestle Health Sciences through an unrestricted research grant, and by a National Institute for Health Research (UK) Professorship held by RP. The study was sponsored by Queen Mary University of London