Search

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a physical fitness intervention program within a physical education class on cardiovascular endurance of Malaysian secondary school boys and girls. A quasi experimental design was adopted for the study. Two schools in a district were randomly selected. In each school, two classes were randomly assigned intact to the experimental group of boys and girls (n = 45; n = 48) respectively and the other was the control group of boys and girls (n = 42; n = 38) respectively. Data were collected on cardiovascular endurance using Cooper's Twelve Minute Run. The experimental and the control groups underwent regular physical education classes twice a week for ten weeks. Apart from the regular physical education classes, the experimental group of boys and girls underwent the treatment of four exercises in a form of a circuit immediately after the warm-up session. After ten weeks, posttest data were collected. ANCOVA indicated that there was a main effect in cardiovascular endurance F(1, 84) = 18.17, p < 0.05; Cohen d = 0.17 between the boys and also a main effect F (1,83) = 44.69, p < 0.05; Cohen d = 0.35 between the girls. The results indicate that a ten week physical fitness program implemented within a physical education class was effective in enhancing cardiovascular endurance among the Malaysian secondary school boys and girls.

Purpose: This study investigates the influence of corporate income tax on two corporate financial decisions — dividend and capital structure policies, particularly for Shariah compliant companies in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: The study considered data from a sample of 529 Malaysian listed companies from four industrial sectors from 2007–2021 (6,746 company-year observations, before eliminating outliers). Panel models such as Fixed Effect and Random effect models were used. The study specifically tested the effect of corporate income tax on dividend and capital structure policies for Shariah compliant companies (3,148 observations) and controlled for industrial sectors. Findings: (1) Firms are mostly Shariah-compliant, less liquid, less profitable and smaller in size, (2) Broadly when analysed together, tax has no impact on debt-equity ratio while it has an impact on dividend per share, (3) However, when tested separately for Shariah compliant companies, the influence of effective tax on capital structure is very evident but not for dividend and (4) influence of industrial sector on the relationship between corporate tax and capital structure and dividend policy is significant. Results indicate that Shariah firms might be raising debt to gain tax advantage. Companies in general pay dividends to avoid reputational damage. Research limitations/implications: This study assumes that leverage and dividend policy decisions are the main outcomes of the changing tax policies, while it seems that there could be other important outcomes that can be tested in future research. The study also shows the changing tax regimes of different ASEAN countries but they have not been tested to see the differences between countries. It will be indeed interesting for future researchers to focus on this aspect. Originality/value: The findings contribute to the literature on tax planning of the Shariah-compliant firms, a high growth business segment in the Asian context. The study discussed potential tax-based Islamic market product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed, stating that donor milk is the next best alternative in the absence of the mother's own milk. Milk sharing takes many forms, namely wet nursing, co-feeding, cross-feeding, and a human milk bank (HMB). However, the establishment of a human milk bank is still not widely accepted and is a debatable topic because of religious concerns in Malaysia. The aim of this study is to determine the facilitators and barriers among Malaysians towards the acceptance of an HMB. A cross-sectional study with 367 participants was conducted; the participants answered an online-validated, self-administered questionnaire. Data on sociodemographic, knowledge on breastfeeding benefits, knowledge and attitude on HMB-specific issues were analysed in terms of frequency before proceeded with multiple logistic regression. The majority of the respondents were Muslim (73.3%), had completed their tertiary education (82.8%), and were employed (70.8%). Only 55.9% of respondents had heard of HMB, stating the internet as their main source of information, but many respondents were agreeable to its establishment (67.8%). Most respondents had a good score on knowledge of breastfeeding benefits and on HMB-specific issues (70% and 54.2%, respectively), while 63.8% had a positive attitude towards HMB. In the multivariate analysis, mothers with a good score on general knowledge of breastfeeding (AOR: 1.715; 95% CI 1.047–2.808) were more likely to accept the establishment of HMB, while being a Muslim was negatively associated with its establishment (AOR = 0.113, 95% CI 0.050–0.253). The study found a high prevalence of mothers who were willing to accept the establishment of HMB. By educating mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding, as well as addressing their religious concerns, the establishment of a religiously abiding HMB in Malaysia may be accepted without compromising their beliefs or the health benefit of donor milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are significant contributors to the burden of acute respiratory infections in children, but data on hMPV from Southeast Asia are limited despite its potential for serious disease. This study aimed to compare the clinical presentation, resource utilisation and outcomes between hMPV and RSV infections in hospitalised Malaysian children. Methods: This retrospective, observational study included children aged ≤12 years old hospitalised with hMPV or RSV, confirmed via direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) methods, between 1 July to 30 October 2022 at Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar Seremban, Malaysia. Demographic, clinical presentation, resource utilisation and outcome data were analysed. Propensity score matching was used to balance cohorts based on key demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: This study included 192 patients, comprising 112 with hMPV and 80 with RSV. hMPV patients were older (median age 20.5 vs. 9.4 months, p < 0.001) and had a higher incidence of comorbidities (24.1% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.003). Fever was more common in the hMPV group (97.3% vs. 73.8%, p < 0.001), but the other clinical manifestations were similar. Postmatching analysis showed higher corticosteroid use in the hMPV group (p = 0.01). No significant differences were observed in the use of other resources, PICU admissions, duration of hospitalisation or mortality rates between both groups. Conclusion: hMPV and RSV infections in children share similar clinical manifestations and outcomes, with hMPV affecting older children and showing higher corticosteroid usage. These findings emphasise the need for equal clinical vigilance for both hMPV and RSV in paediatric respiratory infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disorder of autism is widely recognised throughout the world. However, the diagnostic criteria and theories of autism are based on research predominantly conducted in Western cultures. Here we compare the expression of autistic traits in a sample of neurotypical individuals from one Western culture (UK) and two Eastern cultures (India and Malaysia), using the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) in order to identify possible cultural differences in the expression of autistic traits. Behaviours associated with autistic traits were reported to a greater extent in the Eastern cultures than the Western culture. Males scored higher than females and science students scored higher than non-science students in each culture. Indian students scored higher than both other groups on the Imagination sub-scale, Malaysian students scored higher than both other groups on the Attention Switching sub-scale. The underlying factor structures of the AQ for each population were derived and discussed.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the gap between knowledge management (KM) practices and key strategic enablers in public universities. For this purpose, a 57-item survey on two dimensions--"use" and "importance"--was used as the instrument for this study. Design/methodology/approach: The questionnaire was administered to academics of four public universities which fall under the Malaysian Technical University Network. Findings: The results from 191 responses show that the academics of public universities find the KM practices and key strategic enablers to be important but are not used as much. Research limitations/implications: This research has overcome the gaps identified through the use of a set of KM practices and key strategic enablers. These variables could be replicated in different settings, across different economies, with the possibility of incorporating more constructs. The small sample size and the cross-sectional nature of the study suggest that a larger sample size through a longitudinal study is required in future research. Practical implications: The recommendations proposed will provide strategic directions for the management of public universities to deal more effectively with the KM practices and key strategic enablers. Originality/value: This study has extended knowledge in KM, specifically concerning the importance and use of key strategic enablers of KM. Moreover, it is amongst the first empirical works to examine the use and importance of KM practices and key strategic enablers in unison. (Contains 5 tables.)

Purpose: The main objective of this paper to study the organisational culture (OC) in private and public higher education institutions (HEIs) from the perspective of faculty members in order to provide empirical insights on the differences and consequently pave an avenue for cross-learning. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 594 faculty members (33.9 per cent from public HEIs and 52.8 per cent from private HEIs) using the competing values framework (CVF). Findings: The factor analysis results reveal an important confirmation of the theoretical findings in the literature with respect to the four OC types (i.e. clan, adhocracy, hierarchical, and market) that were originally developed for use in the corporate sector. The independent sample t-test results suggest that the faculty members perceive all the four OC types as being significantly different between public and private HEIs. Practical implications: This paper raises awareness and provides initial guidelines to both public and private HEIs in formulating strategies on how to deal properly with their OC from the perspective of their faculty members for the attainment of organisational goals and vision. Originality/value: This article extends knowledge on OC differences between the public and private higher education--an enabler for change management of sorts. Being among the first of its kind, it further opens up new lines of future research possibilities. (Contains 7 tables.)

The global population post-pandemic has stimulated the sustainability movement worldwide, where consumers have transitioned from offline to online businesses. Increased sustainable users lead to companies actively promoting their products using social media advertisements. Despite the progress in the market, the literature on social media advertisement for sustainable brands in developing countries, including Malaysia, is relatively scarce. Hence, this study seeks to enhance understanding online advertisement value by incorporating the Ducoffe advertising value model. Specifically, the factors determining customers' advertising value based on credibility, perceived entertainment, and informativeness were examined using user-generated video (UGV) as a moderator. Data were gathered from 250 Generation Z in Malaysia, while the proposed conceptual model was assessed using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method. The findings revealed a significant direct relationship between informativeness and a significant indirect relationship between UGV in advertisements toward sustainable product purchase intention. Conversely, no significant connection between credibility and perceived entertainment was discovered. The results significantly contribute to sustainability literature and advertisement strategy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst the communicative approach advocates the use of the target language and implicit/incidental learning in vocabulary teaching, recent literature suggests that there is a need for these methods to be reconsidered. This is motivated by studies which suggest that for effective vocabulary learning process to occur explicit learning should be complemented with implicit learning. Given this, a study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the translation method in teaching vocabulary to elementary level ESL learners in Form 4. The translation method is used in the study because it uses the learners' L1 as the medium of instruction and it involves explicit learning. The findings of the study reveal that the translation method has a positive impact on learners' recall and retention of the meaning of words that they learned. Recommendations are made in the paper for the incorporation of this method in the Malaysian English language syllabus and its implementation in English language classrooms, in particular, in teaching vocabulary to elementary level learners. (Contains 2 notes and 7 tables.)

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disorder, and the underlying causes remain unknown and have not been fully elucidated. Several candidate genes have been associated with T2DM in various populations with conflicting results. The variations found in glucokinase (GCK), glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR), and glucose-6-phosphatase 2 (G6PC2) genes were not well studied, particularly among Asians. Aims The main objective of this study was to determine the candidate genetic polymorphisms of GCK (rs1799884), GCKR (rs780094), and G6PC2 (rs560887) genes in T2DM among Malay ethnics. Methods In this candidate gene association study, a total of 180 T2DM subjects and 180 control subjects were recruited to determine the genotypes using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and Taqman probe assay methods. Genotype and allele frequencies in case and control samples were compared using the chi-squared test to determine a significant difference. Results The body mass index, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol were significantly different (p < 0.05) between T2DM and control subjects. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of GCK (rs1799884), GCKR (rs780094), and G6PC2 (rs560887) gene polymorphisms were significantly different between T2DM and controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion Hence, rs1799884 of GCK gene and rs780094 of GCKR gene and rs560887 of the G6PC2 gene are possible genetic biomarkers in T2DM development among Malay ethnics in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Glycogen storage disease type 1a (GSD1a) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterized by hypoglycaemia, growth retardation, lactic acidosis, hepatomegaly, hyperlipidemia, and nephromegaly. GSD1a is caused by a mutation in the G6PC gene encoding glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase); an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) to phosphate and glucose. Objective. To elaborate on the clinical findings, biochemical data, molecular genetic analysis, and short-term prognosis of 13 GSD1a patients in Malaysia. Methods. The information about 13 clinically classified GSD1a patients was retrospectively studied. The G6PC mutation analysis was performed by PCR-DNA sequencing. Results. Patients were presented with hepatomegaly (92%), hypoglycaemia (38%), poor weight gain (23%), and short stature (15%). Mutation analysis revealed nine heterozygous mutations; eight previously reported mutations (c.155 A > T, c.209 G > A, c.226 A > T, c.248 G > A, c.648 G > T, c.706 T > A, c.1022 T > A, c.262delG) and a novel mutation (c.325 T > C). The most common mutation found in Malaysian patients was c.648 G > T in ten patients (77%) of mostly Malay ethnicity, followed by c.248 G > A in 4 patients of Chinese ethnicity (30%). A novel missense mutation (c.325 T > C) was predicted to be disease-causing by various in silico software. Conclusions. The establishment of G6PC molecular genetic testing will enable the detection of presymptomatic patients, assisting in genetic counselling while avoiding the invasive methods of liver biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Non-adherence to antihypertensive medications is a leading cause of uncontrolled hypertension and its complications. However, data on the factors associated with non-adherence to antihypertensive medications in the communities of Sarawak, Malaysia, are limited. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and determinants of medication non-adherence among patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the systematic sampling method in four government primary healthcare clinics in Sarawak. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic data and evaluate non-adherence. Blood pressure was measured, and relevant clinical variables were collected from medical records. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the determinants of medication non-adherence. Results: A total of 488 patients with uncontrolled hypertension were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of medication non-adherence was 39.3%. There were four predictors of medication non-adherence among the patients with uncontrolled hypertension: tertiary educational level (odds ratio [OR]=4.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.67--10.61, P=0.010), complementary alternative medication (OR=2.03, 95% CI=1.12--3.69, P=0.020), non-usage of calcium channel blockers (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.02--2.41, P=0.039) and 1 mmHg increase in the systolic blood pressure (OR=1.03, 95% CI=1.00--1.05, P=0.006). Conclusion: Because of the high prevalence of medication non-adherence among patients with uncontrolled hypertension, primary care physicians should be more vigilant in identifying those at risk of being non-adherent. Early intervention should be conducted to address non-adherence for blood pressure control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable tourism policies in rural destinations are often complex. Governments strive to ensure that the objectives of sustainable tourism are met through various strata of agencies. As a result, institutional fragmentation has become the undesirable outcome of this approach. The policy Delphi technique was employed in this study to align decision-making divergence between local, state and federal governments for sustainable tourism aspirations in Sabah, Malaysia. The results reveal vastly divergent perspectives from actors representing the triple-tier governmental system. The findings indicate that the curtailment of the policy cycle is due to knowledge gaps coupled with on-site complexities. The paper suggests that the administration of policies could be based on a system that allows timely rectification, indicating the need for a dynamic policy cycle for multi-stage amendments when on-site complexities are identified. The perspective of this paper is that of the policy-analyst, proposing an analytical network policy process that allows timely rectification of policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with female sexual dysfunction in an outpatient clinic in Malaysia. Methods: The study was conducted among female patients aged 50 years and older who attended the outpatient clinic of a public hospital in Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was used that was based on the Malay version of the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire. The predictors of female sexual dysfunction were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 263 females were recruited in this study, with a mean age of 60.6 ± 6.7 years. The distribution of the respondents' ethnicities was mostly Malay (42.2%), followed by Chinese (41.8%) and Indian (16.0%). The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction among participants was 68.8%. The prevalence of the subscales of female sexual dysfunction was as follows: desire (85.2%), satisfaction (74.9%), arousal (71.1%), lubrication (66.9%), pain (61.2%), and orgasm (60.8%). According to multivariate logistic regression, patients of Indian ethnicity had an increased risk of female sexual dysfunction (OR=16.60, 95% CI=2.54-108.63), and a higher frequency of sexual intercourse was correlated with a lower risk of female sexual dysfunction (OR=0.13, 95% CI=0.08-0.24). Conclusion: Seven-tenths of the middle-aged female patients attending the outpatient clinic suffered from female sexual dysfunction. Indian ethnicity and having a lower frequency of sexual intercourse were predictors of female sexual dysfunction. Future intervention studies are needed to address this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to fit the best survival model distribution for the Malaysian COVID-19 new infections experience of Wave I/II and Wave III using the well-known Survival Data Analysis (SDA) procedures. The purpose of fitting such models is to reduce the complexity and frequency of the COVID-19 new infections data into a single measure of scale and shape parameters to enable monitoring of weekly trends, undertake short term forecasts and estimate duration when the virality will be contained. The analysis showed a Weibull distribution is the best statistical fit for Malaysia's new infections COVID-19 data. The estimates of scale and shape parameters for Wave I/II was 0.05901 and 2.48956 and for Wave III was 0.06463 and 2.5693, respectively. Much higher hazard force in Wave III is due to weaker control in the implementation of cordon sanitaire measures imposed in containing the virality spread. Based on the survival function the short-term forecasts showed that the number of new infections projected to decline from 23,282 cases in 28th week to 22,017 cases in 31st week. Similarly, based on the cumulative hazard function the duration estimated for containing the virality completely projected to stretch over another 19.6 weeks under the prevailing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressive inflammatory infection of the fascia, with secondary necrosis of the subcutaneous tissues. The severity of the disease depends on the virulence of the organism and host immunity. There is a paucity of reports on the prevalence of NF causing pathogens and management.Methods: Retrospective data of patients treated for NF were collected from two tertiary care hospitals in Central Malaysia between January 2014 and December 2018.Results: A total of 469 NF patients were identified. More than half of the NF patients were males (n = 278; 59.28%). The highest number of cases was found among age groups between 30 and 79, with mean age of 56.17. The majority of the NF cases (n = 402; 85.72%) were monomicrobial. Streptococcus spp. (n = 89; 18.98%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 63; 13.44%) and Staphylococcus spp. (n = 61; 13.01%) were identified as the top three microorganisms isolated. Among the 469 NF cases, 173 (36.8%) were amputated or dead while 296 (63.1%) recovered. Proteus spp. (n = 19; 12.93%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 18; 12.24%) and Escherichia coli (n = 14; 9.52%) were associated with all types of amputations. The most common antibiotic prescribed was unasyn (n = 284; 60.56%), followed by clindamycin (n = 56; 11.94%) and ceftazidime (n = 41; 8.74%). A total of 239 (61.8%) recovered while 148 (38.2%) were either amputated or dead when managed with the unasyn, clindamycin or ceftazidime.Conclusion: This study represents the largest NF cases series in Malaysia highlighting the causative agents and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial panicle blight (BPB) like symptoms in rice plants were first detected in Sungai Ache, Penang, Malaysia in December 2017. The symptoms observed were straw-coloured panicles, discoloured florets with darker basal portion of the glumes. The panicles remained upright due to partially or aborted grain filling. The causal pathogen was confirmed as B. glumae based on phenotypic characterization, molecular identification, and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and gyrB genes. Koch's postulates were fulfilled and pathogenic variations among the isolates were observed. This study is the first report of the occurrence of BPB caused by B. glumae in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors associated with poor-to-moderate quality of life (QOL) among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in two tertiary hospitals in Malaysia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 526 pregnant women with GDM in two tertiary hospitals in Malaysia. Diabetes-related QOL was assessed using the Asian Diabetes Quality of Life Scale (AsianDQoL). Socio-demographic characteristics, glucose monitoring treatments for GDM, past obstetric history, concurrent medical problems and a family history of diseases were captured from patient records. A multiple logistic regression was used for analysis.Results: A total of 526 respondents with GDM entered the analysis. The median age of the respondents was 32 (interquartile range = 7) while 82.3% were Malay women. More than half of the respondents (69.5%) received an oral hypoglycaemic agent (OHA), and/or diet modification in controlling their GDM. The study reported that 23.2% of the respondents had poor-to-moderate QOL. Those with a family history of depression and/or anxiety (adjusted Odds ratio [AOR] 6.934, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.280-21.081), and a family history of GDM (AOR 1.814, 95% CI 1.185-2.778) were at higher odds of suffering from poor-to-moderate QOL compared to those without a family history. Similarly, those who received insulin, with or without OHA, and/or are on diet modification (AOR 1.955, 95% CI 1.243-3.074) were at higher odds of suffering from poor-to-moderate QOL compared to those receiving OHA and/or diet modification.Conclusion: Nearly one-quarter of Malaysian women with GDM have poor-to-moderate QOL. GDM women with a family history of depression and/or anxiety, family history of GDM, and those who received insulin, with or without OHA, and/or are on diet modification were associated with poor-to-moderate QOL.Trial Registration: NMRR-17-2264-37814. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study looks at the impact of compliance to Shari'ah principles on the capital structure for Malaysian firms. Examination of impact of compliance is based on the classification by the Securities Commission of Malaysia. Given that the literature on adjustment tends to ignore non-linear models, the current study utilises Generalised Regression Neural Network (GRNNs). Results are compared to conventional panel data regression models via performing a hold-out sample. Initial results confirm stability of the data allowing predictive ability. The results indicate that compliant firms tend to finance a greater portion of their financing imbalance via equities relative to non-compliant firms. This provides a strong indication towards compliant firms reducing overall risk taking where the financing pattern incorporates a greater aspect of risk sharing which is in-line with Shari'ah principles. In addition, two more factors are ranked as important in deciding compliant firms issue choice to resolve financial imbalance: profitability and size. The rest of the determinants have low impact on explaining net debt issues. Diagnostics for results provide evidence of lower RMSE and MSE for GRNNs for the training, testing and overall datasets. The potential benefit of this research allows managers and investors of Islamic capital markets to understand potential risk exposure and financing costs of compliant firms. Findings also provide a roadmap for development of a sustainable capital market model which has wider implications on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Place attachment plays a key role in determining tourist satisfaction and proenvironmental behaviour to sustain an ecotourism destination. Place attachment refers to the emotional bonding or engagement between an individual and a particular environmental setting. It influences what a tourist sees, thinks and feels about the place and destination visited. Even though the place attachment concept has been explored in different perspectives, it is yet to be fully examined together with pro-environmental behavioural intentions, especially in the ecotourism context. Thus, this study aims to analyse the influence of place attachment on the pro-environmental behavioural intentions of ecotourists in Taman Negara National Park (TNNP), Pahang. A survey was carried out among 387 local and international ecotourists in TNNP, Pahang to examine the relationship between the four dimensions of place attachment (including place identity, place affects, place dependence and place social bonding) on ecotourist behaviour. The results suggest that only place dependence and place identity significantly influence pro-environmental behavioural intentions; while none of these dimensions has a significant relationship with ecotourist's actual pro-environmental behaviour. Future research should explore the mediating and moderation effects of the socio-demographic profile of ecotourists on the relationship between place attachment and behavioural intention in different ecotourism sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research looks at the wildlife memorable tourism experiences (WMTE) as the antecedents of visitor loyalty to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (SORC), Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. Based on the experience economy reasoning, this study adopts the memorable tourism experience (MTE) framework with the introduction of a new variable -- wildlife tourism. Through a self-administered questionnaire, data from 400 domestic and international visitors were analysed using SPSS 23. The study found that five factors are significant (wildlife tourism, novelty, stimulation, activities and adverse feeling) including the socio-demographic variables of education level (primary) and occupation (students) as well as five insignificant factors (relaxation, service, knowledge, unexpected happening and planning) in influencing visitor loyalty. The findings reveal that the introduction of a new dimension -- wildlife tourism, contributes as the strongest predictor towards visitor loyalty. Subsequently, this study provides recommendations to the SORC management in enhancing visitor loyalty to the centre. Overall, this study highlights that visitors' memorable experiences in the WMTE model is central in influencing the visitors' revisit intentions to the SORC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening of shari'ah compliant firms is incomplete without the inclusion of ethical and social responsibilities. The existing "activity screen" does not directly capture the ethical and social footprints of firms. The purpose of this study is to create and test an Islamic business scorecard that combines activity, ethical, and social responsibilities that Islamic businesses must comply with. This new Islamic business scorecard replaces the existing activity screens and is added to the financial screens to create an integrated business screening mechanism to identify shari'ah compliant firms. This study utilizes data from a sample of 410 shari'ah compliant companies listed with stock exchanges in Malaysia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Out of the five newly developed constructs of the Islamic business scorecard, the results indicate Islamic firms are less committed to social responsibilities and tend to push forward economic responsibilities that focus on profitability and growth. Of the three countries, this study reports Malaysian firms have the highest compliance scores, while Bangladesh displays characteristics of the "next‐big shari'ah destination". Financial screens are more important than the Islamic business scorecard for firms in the construction, industrial, technology, and trading/services sectors. Because of its connection with the economic, ethical, and social dimensions, the scorecard helps to identify the true nature of shari'ah compliance as a useful decision tool for investors and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the antecedents that influence consumer satisfaction towards online shopping in Malaysia. We developed a theoretical framework that is informed by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) where customer satisfaction is primarily driven by their attitude and perception, which in turn are driven by risk, utilitarian motivation, as well as hedonic motivation. A survey analysis from 150 respondents in Malaysia revealed that hedonic motivation is the key attribute that drives consumer satisfaction directly as well as through the mediating role of attitude and perception. This implies that online shopping is viewed as an entertaining and fun activity by Malaysian shoppers. This tendency must be fully exploited by online marketers to not only improve the overall online shopping experience but also to employ user-friendly technology. Implications of the study extend to government policies and economic transformation strategies of the country, while from a theoretical perspective, it contributes towards the better understanding of TPB and TAM. Although the research is ideal for developing countries that are exploring technological benefits, it is equally important for developed countries for a wider customer reach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Alpha thalassaemia is a highly prevalent disease globally and is a well-known public health problem in Malaysia. The deletional forms of the mutation are the most common forms found in alpha thalassaemia. The three most common deletional alpha thalassaemia found in this region include -- SEA deletion, -α3.7 rightward and -α4.2 leftward deletions. The prevalence rate of triplication alpha cases such as αααanti3.7 and αααanti4.2 is not known in Malaysia although it plays a role in exacerbating the clinical phenotypes in beta thalassaemia carriers. Recently, there have been more reported cases of rare alpha thalassaemia mutations due to the advancement of molecular techniques involved in thalassaemia detections. Therefore, it is essential to develop a new method which allows the detection of different alpha thalassaemia mutations including the rare ones simultaneously and accurately. Methods The purpose of this study was to design an assay for the detection of triplications, common and rare deletional alpha thalassaemia using droplet digital PCR (dd PCR). Results This is a quantitative detection method to measure the changes of copy number which can detect deletions, duplications and triplications of the alpha globin gene simultaneously. Conclusion In conclusion, dd PCR is an alternative method for rapid detection of alpha thalassaemia variants in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Malaysia, the number of reported cases of dengue fever demonstrates an increasing trend. Since dengue fever has no vaccine or antiviral treatment available, it has become a burden. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become one of the good alternatives to treat the patients with dengue fever. There is limited study on the use of CAM among patients with dengue fever, particularly in hospital settings. This study aims to determine the prevalence, types, reasons, expenditure, and resource of information on CAM use among patients with dengue fever. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of 306 patients with dengue fever, which was carried out at the dengue clinic of three hospitals. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21.0 and logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with CAM use. Results: The prevalence of CAM use was 85.3 % among patients with dengue fever. The most popular CAMs were isotonic drinks (85.8 %), crab soup (46.7 %) and papaya leaf extract (22.2 %). The most common reason for CAM use was a good impression of CAM from other CAM users (33.3 %). The main resource of information on CAM use among patients with dengue fever was family (54.8 %). In multiple logistic regression analysis, dengue fever patients with a tertiary level are more likely to use CAM 5.8 (95 % confidence interval (CI 1.62-20.45) and 3.8 (95 % CI 1.12-12.93) times than secondary level and primary and below respectively. Conclusion: CAM was commonly used by patients with dengue fever. The predictor of CAM use was a higher level of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several studies show that the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been associated with hypertension in various populations. The present study sought to determine the association of the I/D gene polymorphism among Malay male essential hypertensive subjects in response to ACE inhibitors (enalapril and lisinopril).Materials and Methods: A total of 72 patients with newly diagnosed hypertension and 72 healthy subjects were recruited in this study. Blood pressure was recorded from 0 to 24 weeks of treatment with enalapril or lisinopril. Genotyping of the I/D polymorphism was carried out using a standard PCR method.Results: Statistically significant association of the D allele of the ACE gene was observed between the case and control subjects (p < 0.01). There was a decrease in blood pressure in the patients carrying the DD genotype (SBP=18.5±8.1 mmHg, DBP=15.29±7.1 mmHg) rather than the ID (SBP=4.1±3.3 mmHg, DBP=9.1±3.5 mmHg) and II genotypes (SBP= 3.0±0.2 mmHg, DBP 0.11±6.1 mmHg) of the ACE gene.Conclusion: Patients carrying the DD genotype had higher blood pressure-lowering response when treated with ACE inhibitors enalapril or lisinopril than those carrying ID and II genotypes, suggesting that the D allele may be a possible genetic marker for essential hypertension among Malay male subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms found in the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene have been associated with hypertension, diabetes and renal disease. The present study sought to determine the association of I/D polymorphisms of the ACE gene with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in Malaysia.Materials and Methods: A total of 380 subjects were recruited to determine the genotypes of I/D polymorphisms of the ACE gene. Genotyping was performed using a PCR method. Statistical analyses were carried out using statistical software, and a level of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The frequencies for II, ID and DD genotypes of the ACE gene were 24.7%, 65.80% and 9.47%, respectively, in ESRD patients, and in control subjects were 45.26%, 47.37% and 7.37% respectively. The frequency for the D allele was found to be higher (42.40%) in ESRD patients compared to control subjects (31.05%). The genotypic and allelic frequencies of I/D polymorphisms of the ACE gene differed significantly (p < 0.05) between ESRD patients and control subjects in the Malaysian population.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that I/D polymorphisms of the ACE gene are a useful marker and are likely to play a major role in determining genetic susceptibility to ESRD in the Malaysian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism contributes to the growth of economy of a nation through employment, multiplier effect, and foreign exchange earnings and also contributes to positive balance of payments. Therefore, developed and developing countries have incorporated tourism into their long-term economic development planning. However, tourism is vulnerable to crisis events, such as outbreaks, political turmoil and also financial crisis. This study examines the performance of tourism sector in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore with regard to the recent global crisis. The three countries are chosen because of several reasons. Firstly, they have incorporated tourism as one of the focuses in their long-term economic development plan. Secondly, although they are closely related in terms of geographic proximity and regional cooperation, they differ in terms of size and openness of economy. All the commonalities and differences make it more intriguing to carry out the study. This study employs ordinary least squares method to investigate the significance of tourism in relation to economic growth. There are two models used in this study. First model employs GDP to represent economic growth and the number of international tourist arrival to represent tourism growth. Second model employs hotel's rate of occupancy, average length of stay, and the number of tourist arrival as proxy of tourism growth. Comparative study is also done in the discussion in order to analyze how the respective countries differ in tourism performance. The study finds out that for the three countries, tourism is of significance for the economic growth. Tourism was also affected by financial crisis, as seen from the short dip in the performance of the tourism sector in terms of the number of tourist arrival and hotel's rate of occupancy in first quarter of 2009. Nevertheless, the sector is considered as a resilient sector as it successfullyrecovered in 2010a. Based on the comparison, it is found that Singapore is affected much in comparison with the other two. It may be linked to strong real effective exchange rate, which makes the price less competitive compared to the other two. This study also finds that regional tourists actually play an important role in the development of tourism, because they comprise the largest portion of tourist arrival compared to outside-regional tourists, and the number has remained stable. Based on the result obtained, we consider tourism development as one of strategic economic pillars since it has significantly positive impact on GDP growth. We also deliberate that the countries should focus on catering to the preferences of regional tourists to accelerate the growth of this sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Erwinia species are well-known pathogens of economic importance in Malaysia causing serious damage to high-value fruit crops that include pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] and papaya (Carica papaya L.).The 16S rRNA sequence using eubacteria fD1 and rP2 primers, identified two bacteria species; Dickeya zeae from pineapple heart rot, and Erwinia mallotivora from papaya dieback. Phylogenetic analysis based on the neighbor-joining method indicated that all the bacterial isolates clustered in their own taxa and formed monophyletic clades. From the pathogenicity test, all isolates of D. zeae and E. mallotivora showed pathogenic reactions on their respective host plants. Genetic variability of these isolates was assessed using repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) fingerprinting. The results indicated interspecies, and intraspecies variation in both species' isolates. There were more polymorphic bands shown by rep-PCR fingerprints than enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) and BOX- PCRs, however both species' isolates produced distinguishable banding patterns. Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis indicated that all Dickeya and Erwinia isolates from the same species were grouped in the same main cluster. Similarity among the isolates ranged from 77 to 99%. Sequencing of 16S rRNA using eubacteria fD1 and rP2 primers, and rep-PCR fingerprinting revealed diversity among Dickeya and Erwinia isolates. But this method appears to be reliable for discriminating isolates from pineapple heart rot and papaya dieback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study was initiated to determine the psychometric properties of the Smart Phone Addiction Scale (SAS) by translating and validating this scale into the Malay language (SAS-M), which is the main language spoken in Malaysia. This study can distinguish smart phone and internet addiction among multi-ethnic Malaysian medical students. In addition, the reliability and validity of the SAS was also demonstrated. Materials and Methods: A total of 228 participants were selected between August 2014 and September 2014 to complete a set of questionnaires, including the SAS and the modified Kimberly Young Internet addiction test (IAT) in the Malay language. Results: There were 99 males and 129 females with ages ranging from 19 to 22 years old (21.7±1.1) included in this study. Descriptive and factor analyses, intra-class coefficients, t-tests and correlation analyses were conducted to verify the reliability and validity of the SAS. Bartlett’s test of sphericity was significant (p <0.01), and the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy for the SAS-M was 0.92, indicating meritoriously that the factor analysis was appropriate. The internal consistency and concurrent validity of the SAS-M were verified (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94). All of the subscales of the SAS-M, except for positive anticipation, were significantly related to the Malay version of the IAT. Conclusions: This study developed the first smart phone addiction scale among medical students. This scale was shown to be reliable and valid in the Malay language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the increasing role of non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations (NGO/NPO) in the collection, collation and dissemination of policy relevant statistical data. Typically, national statistical agencies perform official statistical tasks and third sectors focus on the welfare and interests of their members. However, in recent years, the third sectors, besides involvement in market and business developments and industry relevant policy advocacy activities, are increasingly becoming involved in the collation and dissemination of public policy relevant data towards becoming a voice of industry. Due to rapid political, social, economic and technological upheavals, the demand for new data, especially in information communications technology (ICT), is on the rise and becoming more complex when traditional statistical concepts and definitions, data collection methods, techniques and procedures as well as institutional arrangements and divisions of responsibilities are challenged. It is reckoned that national statistical offices worldwide find it increasingly difficult to cope with unbudgeted or unscheduled work, especially when they are bogged down with exigencies of routine tasks and limited resources in terms of allocations and in-house subject matter expertise. This paper relates to the complimentary role that private sector associations could play in industry relevant data identification, collection, processing, collation and dissemination that typically are the functions of national statistical offices worldwide. For illustration purposes, the experiences of National Information Communications Technology Association of Malaysia are depicted on how they incrementally got involved in official statistical collation activities, besides engaging in regular policy advocacy and intervention activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptin is known as the adipose peptide hormone. It plays an important role in the regulation of body fat and inhibits food intake by its action. Moreover, it is believed that leptin level deductions might be the cause of obesity and may play an important role in the development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), as well as in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The Leptin Receptor (LEPR) gene and its polymorphisms have not been extensively studied in relation to the T2DM and its complications in various populations. In this study, we have determined the association of Gln223Agr loci of LEPR gene in three ethnic groups of Malaysia, namely: Malays, Chinese and Indians. A total of 284 T2DM subjects and 281 healthy individuals were recruited based on International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Genomic DNA was extracted from the buccal specimens of the subjects. The commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was carried out by proper restriction enzyme MSP I to both amplify and digest the Gln223Agr polymorphism. The p-value among the three studied races was 0.057, 0.011 and 0.095, respectively. The values such as age, WHR, FPG, HbA1C, LDL, HDL, Chol and Family History were significantly different among the subjects with Gln223Agr polymorphism of LEPR (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complete deletions in the AZF (a, b, and c) sub-regions of the Y-chromosome have been shown to contribute to unexplained male infertility. However, the role of partial AZFc deletions in male infertility remains to be verified. Three types of partial AZFc deletions have been identified. They are gr/gr, b1/b3, and b2/b3 deletions. A recent meta-analysis showed that ethnic and geographical factors might contribute to the association of partial AZFc deletions with male infertility. This study analyzed the association of partial AZFc deletions in Malaysian infertile males. Fifty two oligozoospermic infertile males and 63 fertile controls were recruited to this study. Screening for partial AZFc deletions was done using the two sequence-tagged sites approach (SY1291 and SY1191) which were analyzed using both the conventional PCR gel-electrophoresis and the high resolution melt, HRM method. Gr/gr deletions were found in 11.53% of the cases and 9.52% of the controls ( p = 0.725). A B2/b3 deletion was found in one of the cases ( p = 0.269). No B1/b3 deletions were identified in this study. The results of HRM analysis were consistent with those obtained using the conventional PCR gel-electrophoresis method. The HRM analysis was highly repeatable (95% limit of agreement was -0.0879 to 0.0871 for SY1191 melting temperature readings). In conclusion, our study showed that partial AZFc deletions were not associated with male infertility in Malaysian subjects. HRM analysis was a reliable, repeatable, fast, cost-effective, and semi-automated method which can be used for screening of partial AZFc deletions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Mental disorders are emerging as serious health threats in both developed and developing nations and contribute to greater Disability Adjusted Life Years ( DALY) than infectious disease and unintentional injuries. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with the presence of common mental disorders in the Malaysian population. Methods Multistage cluster sampling method was used to obtain samples, with racial proportion as the main sampling criteria. Required sample size was calculated to be 4300 at 90% confidence level. Trained enumerators carried out the interview, with the Clinical Interview Scheduled- Revised ( CIS- R). Results A total of 3666 respondents were interviewed (85% response rate). The one-week prevalence of Common Mental Disorders was 5.3% (95% CI of 4.57-6.03%). Findings from multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that associated factors were female gender (adjusted OR = 1.91, P < 0.01), being divorced (adjusted OR = 3.95, P < 0.05), difficulties at workplaces (adjusted OR = 3.58, P < 0.01) experiencing life events, such as divorce/marital separation (adjusted OR = 2.58, P < 0.01), unsolvable financial problems (adjusted OR = 3.87, P < 0.01), and serious problems with friends and neighbours (adjusted OR = 4.35, P < 0.01) in the year prior to data collection. Chinese ethnicity was least likely to be associated with CMD (adjusted OR = 0.27). Discussion There is a 5% prevalence of Common Mental Disorders in the Malaysian population. Socio-demographic factors and experience of certain life events, particularly divorce, problems with neighbours and friends and severe financial problems in the previous year were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of common mental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the practices of knowledge management (KM) processes in public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia. It points out that the study extended KM knowledge as it has provided a comparative analysis between public and private HEIs. Its analyses indicate that the six KM processes are practiced moderately by these institutions. It is found out that there are differences in these practices in both institutions. Moreover, knowledge is considered as the highest factor since the business sector has the capacity to manage knowledge.

This quantitative study is done on a cohort of engineering lecturers with the aim of studying emergent effectiveness of participatory action research and reflective practice after having them use the constructive approach with Engineering subjects. Part one describes the participatory action research design methodology and the reflective model. Part two discusses how the data was gathered. Part three illustrates the content analysis procedure used for data analysis. The following section on research findings explains the introductory and advanced coaching during the cycle of participatory action research. The challenges faced by the practitioners are also discussed in depth. All reflective journals from 20 lecturers were analyzed and eight teaching knowledge bases were identified through content analysis. The fifth part, explains the most important teaching knowledge base as reflected by lecturers The role of peers and university supervisors in creating collaborative educational practice is also discussed. Finally, part six concludes that reflective practice that can be applied in the engineering faculties as an appropriate mean to enhance professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the plight of plantation workers in Malaysia. Background information; Wages; Basic needs and social amenities on plantations; Economic issues; Development planning.

Background: This study was initiated to examine the psychometric components of the Diabetes Empowerment Scale (DES) by translating and validating the scale into the Malay language (DES-M) which is the main language spoken in Malaysia. This study can determine the level of empowerment among diabetic patients towards diabetes management. In addition, the reliability and validity of the DES-M was also demonstrated.Methods: A total of 151 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited (between June 2016 and October 2016) to complete sets of questionnaires, which were DES-M, the Malay versions of the Diabetes Quality of Life (DQOL) for Adults and Summary of Diabetes Self Care Activities Questionnaire (SDSCA). Confirmatory and Exploratory factor analysis (CFA and EFA) were carried out to determine the factor structures of the DES-M.Results: There were 100 males and 51 females with ages ranging from 19 to 81 years old (55 ± 13) included in this study. The instrument displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α =0.920) and the respective coefficients ranged from 0.65-0.84. Discriminant validity showed adequate correlations ranged from 0.257-0.744. Concurrent validity with SDSCA (Pearson's correlation = 0.313, p = 0.012). Predictive validity with DQOL (B = 0.27, p = 0.016). CFA indicated that four factor model of the DES-M has good fit to the data.Conclusion: This study indicates that the DES-M has a good internal consistency and validity. Therefore, it is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing empowerment score among patients with diabetes in Malaysia.Trial Registration: NMRR-16-805-30503 (IIR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association of candidate genes and psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Malaysia was determined in this study, followed by the determination of their odds of getting psychological symptoms, adjusted for socio-demographical background, maternal, and clinical characteristics. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) recorded a significant association between SNP of EPHX2 (rs17466684) and depression symptoms (AOR = 7.854, 95% CI = 1.330–46.360) and stress symptoms (AOR = 7.664, 95% CI = 1.579–37.197). Associations were also observed between stress symptoms and SNP of OXTR (rs53576) and (AOR = 2.981, 95% CI = 1.058–8.402) and SNP of NRG1 (rs2919375) (AOR = 9.894, 95% CI = 1.159–84.427). The SNP of EPHX2 (rs17466684) gene polymorphism is associated with depression symptoms among Malaysian women with GDM. SNP of EPHX2 (rs17466684), OXTR (rs53576) and NRG1 (rs2919375) are also associated with stress symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pathophysiology underlying Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD), especially in older individuals, remains unclear, with a genetic predisposition being reported as the single best predictor of the disease. Genetic studies have shown that several genes in various loci such as COL8A2, SLC4A11, TCF8/ZEB1 and TCF4 are associated with FECD in different populations and ethnicities. A case–control study was conducted to determine the association between genetic variants and FECD in a tertiary care setting in Malaysia. A total number of 12 patients with clinically diagnosed FECD and 12 age, gender and race matched control subjects were recruited. Extracted genomic DNA were genotyped using Infinium Global Screening Array (GSA)-24 version 1.0 BeadChip with iScan high-throughput system. Illumina GenomeStudio 2.0 Data Analysis and PLINK version 1.9 software were used to perform association tests and determine the distribution of obtained variants among the cases and controls. Results: A significant novel genetic variant, rs11626651, a variant of the LOC105370676 gene or known as the LINC02320 gene, located at chromosome 14, has been identified as a suggestive association with FECD (p < 5 × 10−6). Further analysis in this study suggested that candidate genes such as COL8A2, ZEB1/TCF8, TCF4 and SLC4A11 had no significant associations with FECD. Conclusions: The discovery of a novel variant may influence the underlying pathogenic basis of FECD in Malaysia. The current study is the first genetic study on FECD to use Infinium GSA. It is the first comprehensive report in Malaysia to provide genetic information of potential relevance to FECD, which may pave the way for new therapeutic strategies in the future. A detailed analysis with a larger sample size is recommended for further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is frequently discussed in ICU settings, but there’s a dearth of data on its incidence among surgical patients in Malaysia. Understanding AKI onset characteristics and prognostic risk factors is crucial for enhancing clinical prevention and treatment strategies. Adequate knowledge among nurses, especially in early recognition, is key to identifying and preventing AKI in at-risk patients. This study aimed to assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) of nursing risk assessment regarding AKI among surgical department nurses. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted in a Kuala Lumpur public teaching hospital from June 30th to July 8th, 2022. Seventy-five nurses from various units in the surgical department were randomly selected. Their KAP on AKI was evaluated using self-administered questionnaires, developed and validated for this research. Results: Most respondents were female nurses with a mean age of 35.7 and an average nursing experience of 9.78 years. Thirty-three nurses had advanced clinical training, and 21.3% had critical care unit experience. Overall, the KAP level on AKI among surgical nurses was moderate (61.4%). Significant differences in KAP scores were observed among different working units (p=0.031) and among nurses with advanced training (p=0.019). Notably, while nurses showed good knowledge and practice in AKI risk assessment, 93.3% were unable to correctly define AKI, and 70.7% lacked knowledge in performing AKI risk assessment. Additionally, only 2.6% correctly identified AKI risk factors. Conclusion: Nurses’ KAP scores on AKI in the surgical department were moderate. Implementing an education program on AKI risk assessment for nurses is essential to enhance their ability to identify and manage AKI in surgical patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with bone resorption status and determine the independent and interactive effects of dietary acid load (DAL) and cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) on bone resorption in post-menopausal women. Methods: Overall, 211 community-dwelling post-menopausal women were recruited from the National Council of Senior Citizens Organization, Malaysia. DAL was estimated using the potential renal acid load from the food frequency questionnaire. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and smoking behaviour was assessed using the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2011. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels were determined using the ADVIA Centaur vitamin D assay and serum C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX1) were used as surrogate markers to assess bone resorption. CMS was determined based on the harmonised criteria. Results: Age (β = --0.145, t = --2.002, P < 0.05) was negatively associated while DAL (β = 0.142, t = 2.096, P < 0.05) and sleep quality (β = 0.147, t = 2.162, P < 0.05) were positively associated with CTX1. Height was positively correlated with CTX1 (r = 0.136, P <0.05). Conversely, other variables (CMS traits, CMS, serum 25(OH) vitamin D level, years of menopause, years of education and physical activity) were not significantly associated with CTX1 levels. There was no significant interaction between DAL and CMS on bone resorption. Conclusion: Our findings propose that high DAL, but not CMS, is a potential risk factor for bone resorption. The analysis did not demonstrate the combined effects of DAL and CMS on bone resorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aims to determine the prognostic factors and survival outcomes of patients that underwent this surgery. Method: A retrospective review of 43 patients who underwent exenteration for periocular malignancies over a 14-year period was carried out. Patient demographics, tumour histology, treatment details, surgical margins' status and post-operative survival were recorded. The survival outcome examined was the overall survival (OS) rate. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to evaluate post-exenteration survival. Results: In total, 20 females and 23 males with a median age of 62 ± 17.3 years were identified. The most common indication for exenteration was basal cell carcinoma (20.9%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (18.6%), adenocystic carcinoma (14%), malignant melanoma (14%) and sebaceous gland carcinoma (11.6%). The independent predictors for worse OS on multivariate analysis were Chinese ethnicity (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 4.95, p =0.017), sebaceous gland carcinoma (aHR 57.61 p=0.006), adenocystic carcinoma (aHR 45.87, p=0.008), clear surgical margins (aHR 5.41, p=0.025), receiving only chemotherapy (aHR 169.13, p=0.004), and receiving both adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (aHR 41.51, p=0.010). Conclusion: We recommend targeted public health initiatives for Chinese patients due to their increased mortality risk from peri-ocular malignancies. In addition, we advise comprehensive adjuvant therapy for all patients regardless of whether a clear surgical margin is achieved. Basal cell carcinoma and adenocystic carcinoma may also benefit from genetic research. We advocate more training for ophthalmologists to identify periocular malignancies earlier for better treatment options and increased chances of survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia, just like all the other developed countries, is steadily moving towards becoming an aged population. The United Nations sets those above 60 years as older persons, Doris, et. al. (1) reclassified into 4 categories. Chan et. al. (2) discloses that 50% of Malaysian elderly are inactive. This paper narrows into the elderly Malaysian Indian population. An online survey was conducted and the results show that changes in lifestyle and living arrangements have caused challenges and also caused changes in the social support system while the socioeconomic status (gender, education, income, strata) has an impact on the wellbeing of elderly Malaysian Indians. This means that in future, a more secure family system needs to be ensured despite living in urban or rural areas that are well connected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Flooding has become a major natural disaster in Malaysia in recent decades. There may be a gender difference in many aspects related to flood response and practice. This study aimed to examine the gender gap in knowledge, attitudes, and practice of flood preparedness in Malaysia. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending the primary care clinic at Universiti Sains Malaysia health campus, Kelantan. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: 328 subjects were recruited, 56.1% of them were females. The female respondents were younger than the males (36 vs. 41 years old). However, females have better knowledge, and practice on flood preparedness compared to male respondents. Among those, women were more aware of the local emergency plan than males (p=0.01). More female respondents kept their vaccination and personal medical records in a waterproof container or sealed plastic bag during past and future flood preparations (3-5 day supply of non-perishable food) than male respondents (p<0.05). In addition, with the practice of keeping a one-week supply of medication, and having their medical records in a waterproof container along with a first-aid kit (p=0.001). For future flood preparation, more women would filter the cloudy water through clean clothes for boiling (p=0.035). The determinants of good preparedness for future floods for female were older-age (p=0.001), blue-collar (p=0.043); whereas male were lower household income (p=0.014), being blue collar (0.014) and white collar (0.039) compared with student/retiree based on multivariate logistic regression. Conclusion: Our study reported that the determinants of good preparedness for future floods were older-age, blue-collar and having a lower-household income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Burnout is a growing trend among medical students worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with burnout among medical students at a public university in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1st through 5th year medical students at a public university using a simple random sampling method in recruiting participants. In this study, The Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey for Student (MBI-SS) was used and burnout is defined as severely emotionally exhausted and severely depersonalised. Results: A total of 328 medical students were recruited with a with response rate of 88.6%. The burnout prevalence was 10.1%. Based on multivariate logistic regression, presence of smartphone addiction with adjusted (odds ratio (OR) 7.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.67, 32.49), course choice not based on personal interest or due to family pressure (OR 2.72, 95% CI = 1.08, 6.85) and the presence of family relationship problems (OR = 3.58, 95% CI = 1.27, 10.04) are more likely to be associated with burnout among the medical students. Conclusion: Our study has shown that every tenth medical students suffers from burnout. Medical students who are addicted to smartphone, have chosen medical course against individual interest or because of family pressure and have family relationship problems are at risk of getting burnout. Intervention is required to address this issue for the future well-being of medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a proven method to minimise HIV risk, is a vital part of a comprehensive plan to reduce new HIV infections. Increasing appropriate PrEP use has been identified by the Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) as a strategy for reducing HIV infection and to put an end to the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Use of PrEP as preventive measure is still uncommon in Malaysia and there were many deliberations about implementing PrEP in Malaysia to curb HIV infection among policy makers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study which comprises observational-based research and utilised a convenient sampling to determine the sample size. The study was conducted by distributing online questionnaires to the target respondents in public places in Ipoh, Perak. Results: Our findings showed that 48.5% of the respondents had good knowledge of the prevention of HIV, 38.3% of the respondents were aware of PrEP prior to the survey, 91.6% agree on implementing PrEP as a preventive measure of HIV infection and 74.4% agree on the subsidisation of PrEP. Conclusion: This study reveals promising levels of community support for implementing PrEP as a preventive measure against HIV infection. While there is room for increased awareness, the strong endorsement of PrEP and its subsidisation paves way forward for the fight against HIV/AIDS. With focused education and accessibility initiatives, Malaysia has the opportunity to make PrEP a cornerstone in its strategy to reduce new HIV infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]