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Background: Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are small “packages” of genes in the body. They determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows during pregnancy and after birth. Typically, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes. Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21. A medical term for having an extra copy of a chromosome is ‘trisomy.’ Down syndrome is also referred to as Trisomy 21. This extra copy changes how the baby’s body and brain develop, which can cause both mental and physical challenges for the baby. The aim: the present study builded the interest to assess the knowledge and awareness of definition, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, complication, and treatment of Down Syndrome ( DS ) in Hail City and tried to improve the false thoughts about this disease. Material: A cross-sectional survey was distributed throughout in Hail City between October 2021 to April 2022. An online questionnaire was designed. It included informed consent and 10 questions about the sociodemographic data and questions regarding signs, symptoms, complications and management about DS. It was distributed via various social media apps. Methods: SPSS for Windows v22.0 IBM Inc..SPSS for windows Rel 15.0 2006 Chicago Inc. Results: The result of the present study revealed that the overall level of awareness about Down syndrome was moderate (65.7 %). More Health education for public, online seminars and more research are needed to raise the public awareness and spotlight to patients suffering from this syndrome. Keywords: Down Syndrome, genetic disease, awareness, Ha’il, KSA

This study aims to identify the major phytochemical constituents in

This study measures beetle diversity and distribution pattern along elevations at Fraser’s Hill, a pristine tropical forest in Malaysia. Sites were sampled at 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m and 1800 m a.s.l. using two light traps, two Malaise traps and 25 pitfall traps at each elevation. Sampling was carried out at three months’ intervals in 2015. Altogether, 1981 beetles representing 32 families and 116 species were collected, with proportion of obtained species above 70% at all elevations. Species richness was not significant among elevations, thus forming no discernible pattern of species distribution. Higher Shannon diversity increased steadily with elevation and dominance was lowest at the two highest elevations, while beetle abundance decreases significantly with elevation. There was no significant difference between the diversity values at 500 m and 1000 m, and 1500 m and 1800 m, whereas there was significant difference between 500 m and 1500 m, and 1000 m and 1800 m. The results highlight the importance of different microhabitats for different beetle species and their own responses to environmental parameters that differ with altitudinal clines. These findings also highlight the importance of Fraser’s Hill as a key location for biological conservation and as protected area.

Coleòpters de Genting Highland, Malàisia: canvis en la riquesa d’espècies i en la diversitat segons l’altitud L’objectiu d’aquest estudi és mesurar la riquesa i diversitat d’escarabats a Genting Highland en quatre altituds principals (500 m, 1.000 m, 1.500 m i 1.800 m). Es van utilitzar paranys de llum, paranys malaisis i paranys de caiguda (paranys pitfall) per recol·lectar els escarabats. En total es van recol·lectar 1.499 exemplars d’escarabat corresponents a 156 morfoespècies amb paranys de llum i paranys de caiguda, que van resultar més efectius que els paranys malaisis. La franja de 500 m d’altitud va registrar més riquesa, abundància i diversitat d’espècies, amb un patró decreixent de tots els índexs. La corba d’acumulació d’espècies va mostrar una asímptota progressiva en tots els transsectes altitudinals, indicativa que l’esforç de mostreig d’aquest estudi era suficient. Un programa de monitoratge a llarg termini de la diversitat i la distribució d’escarabats també seria útil per comprovar els factors abiòtics que poden influir en la biodiversitat. Aquest estudi també servirà com a referència per a treballs posteriors en aquesta selva nuvolosa de muntanya considerablement alterada de la península de Malacca i pot ser útil per implementar una gestió de conservació efectiva, especialment davant l’amenaça del canvi climàtic. Dades publicades a GBIF (Doi: https://doi.org/10.15470/i0uuis)., The objective of this study was to measure beetle richness and diversity in Genting Highland at four major elevations (500 m, 1,000 m, 1,500 m and 1,800 m). Beetles were collected using light traps, malaise traps and pitfall traps. Altogether, 1,499 beetle samples representing 156 morphospecies were collected. Light trap and pitfall traps were more effective than Malaise trap. The 500 m elevation band displayed high species richness, abundance and diversity with all indices showing a decreasing pattern. The species accumulation curve displayed a progressive asymptote for all the altitudinal transects, showing the sampling effort was sufficient for this study. A long-term monitoring program of beetle diversity and distribution is useful to test abiotic factors that might influence biodiversity. This study also serves as a benchmark for further studies on this highly disturbed montane cloud forest in Peninsular Malaysia and will be useful to implement effective conservation management, particularly under the threat of climate change. Data published through GBIF (Doi: https://doi.org/10.15470/i0uuis)., Coleópteros de Genting Highland, Malasia: cambios en la riqueza de especies y en la diversidad según la altitud El objetivo de este estudio es medir la riqueza y diversidad de escarabajos en Genting Highland en cuatro altitudes principales (500 m, 1.000 m, 1.500 m y 1.800 m). Se utilizaron trampas de luz, trampas malasias y trampas de caída (trampas pitfall) para recolectar los escarabajos. En total se recolectaron 1.499 ejemplares de escarabajo correspondientes a 156 morfoespecies con trampas de luz y trampas de caída, que resultaron más efectivas que las trampas malasias. La franja de 500 m de altitud registró la mayor riqueza, abundancia y diversidad de especies, con un patrón decreciente de todos los índices. La curva de acumulación de especies mostró una asíntota progresiva en todos los transectos altitudinales, indicativa de que el esfuerzo de muestreo de este estudio era suficiente. Un programa de monitorización a largo plazo de la diversidad y distribución de escarabajos también sería útil para comprobar los factores abióticos que pueden influir en la biodiversidad. Este estudio servirá asimismo como referencia para posteriores trabajos en esta selva nubosa de montaña considerablemente alterada de la península de Malaca y puede ser útil para implementar una gestión de conservación efectiva, especialmente ante la amenaza del cambio climático. Datos publicados en GBIF (Doi: https://doi.org/10.15470/i0uuis).

Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the mental health complications that may arise following childbirth. This cross-sectional study explores the association between socioeconomic factors and PPD literacy with PPD incidence in 350 participants (mean age: 30.58±4.72 years) at one to six months postpartum, who attended the Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic from May to October 2020. PPD incidence and literacy were assessed using the validated Malay versions of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Postpartum Depression Literacy Scale (PoDLiS), respectively. The participants’ socioeconomic characteristics were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square tests were performed to determine the association between these factors and PPD incidence. Binary logistic regression models were used to determine the odds ratios (OR). The incidence of postpartum depressive symptoms was 14.29%. Those with low household income were twice likely to have PPD symptoms (OR:2.58, 95% CI:1.23–5.19; p = 0.01) than those with higher incomes. Unemployment (i.e., participants who were housewives/homemakers) was associated with higher PPD incidence (Χ2(2, 350) = 6.97, p = 0.03), but it was not a significant PPD predictor. In conclusion, PPD incidence in the sample of Kuala Lumpur postpartum mothers is significantly associated with low household income. Other socioeconomic characteristics, including PPD literacy, were not significant predictors of PPD incidence.

This study was conducted to assess the spatial distribution of beetles in mountain ecosystems and their elevational diversity. Malaise, pitfall and light traps were used to collect beetles from nine different mountains in Malaysia from September 2014 to September 2016, where from Gunung Angsi, Gunung Belumut, Gunung Basor and Gunung Tebu samples were collected at 500 m and 1000 m (above sea level) elevations, while beetles were sampled at 500 m, 1000 m and 1500 masl from Gunung Benom, Gunung Inas, Cameron Highland, Gunung Besar Hantu and Gunung Basor. In this study, 9628 beetles belonging to 879 different species were collected with highest representation from family Staphylinidae and Carabidae. Chamah Highland had the highest beetle diversity followed by Gunung Benom, Gunung Inas, Cameron Highland, Gunung Belumut, and Gunung Basor. Chamah Highland was different to all mountains on abundance and species richness. The highest species richness was observed at 1000 m, followed by 500 m and 1500 m. We identified characteristic species associated with habitat conditions at Gunung Benoum and Gunung Inas mountains, according to INDVAL values. The beetle diversity of the sampled mountains showed multiple alpha and beta patterns according to type of mountain ecosystem and elevation, providing guidelines for the scientific community to underpin conservation efforts in Malaysia.

Biodiversity research relies largely on knowledge about species responses to environmental gradients, assessed using some commonly applied sampling method. However, the consistency of detected responses using different sampling methods, and thus the generality of findings, has seldom been assessed in tropical ecosystems. Hence, we studied the response consistency and indicator functioning of beetle assemblages in altitudinal gradients from two mountains in Malaysia, using Malaise, light, and pitfall traps. The data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMM), non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), multivariate regression trees (MRT), and indicator species analysis (IndVal). We collected 198 morpho-species of beetles representing 32 families, with a total number of 3,052 individual beetles. The richness measures generally declined with increasing altitude. The mountains differed little in terms of light and Malaise trap data but differed remarkably in pitfall-trap data. Only light traps (but not the other trap types) distinguished high from middle or low altitudes in terms of beetle richness and assemblage composition. The lower altitudes hosted about twice as many indicators as middle or high altitudes, and many species were trap-type specific in our data. These results suggest that the three sampling methods reflected the altitudinal gradient in different ways and the detection of community variation in the environment thus depends on the chosen sampling method. However, also the analytical approach appeared important, further underlining the need to use multiple methods in environmental assessments.

International audience; The study aimed to isolate and identify the phytochemical components of Polyalthia lateriflora leaves and evaluate the antimicrobial activity. Six well-known compounds, including three triterpene lupeol (1) betulinic acid (2), β-Sitosterol-β-D-glucoside (3) and three oxoaporphine alkaloids O-methylmoschotaline (4), liriodenine (5) and atherosperminine (6). Structural elucidation of compounds were established through spectroscopic techniques such as 1D and 2D NMR (1H and 13C, DEPT, COSY, NOESY, HMBC, HMQC), IR and LC-MS. The isolated compounds and crude extracted were tested for their antibacterial potential against several microorganisms including P. aeruginosa, E. coli, s, S. aureus, B. subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its showed significant inhibition toward the organisms species with different concentration range.

The study of beetle communities is a valuable approach for biogeographical and conservation studies because their species and ecological diversities are very high, and they take different roles in ecosystems. However, beetle macroecology and conservation studies are disproportionately scarce, especially in tropical Asia. The objective of this study is to compare beetle abundance, diversity and species richness along the elevation gradients in two mountains in Peninsular Malaysia. Three passive sampling methods were utilized for beetle sampling with four marked elevation gradients: 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m and 1800 m. Species richness in Fraser’s Hill was higher at highest elevation, but this value was not-significantly different from these in other elevations, except for the site at 1000 m with significantly lower estimates. Genting Highlands showed a significant decrease in species richness with the increase in elevation, without differences between the higher elevation sites. Pairwise comparison of species richness, Simpson Dominance and Shannon diversity between same elevation sites of Fraser’s Hill and Genting Highlands were all significantly different. The levels of vertical and horizontal colonization have had comparatively different weights in terms of their effect on the pattern of diversity and the integration of the beetle community in these two localities. At Fraser’s Hill, similar conditions at different elevations drives different responses, whereas at Genting Highlands contrasting and different environmental conditions at each elevation, drives different responses. We suggest the potential use of these results for biodiversity conservation in terms of climate variables in accordance with niche patterns.

Background: Obesity is one serious health condition that contributes to various chronic diseases. The inhibition of pancreatic lipase is a promising treatment for obesity. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate anti-porcine pancreatic lipase effect of isolated compounds from Aquilaria subintegra and its mechanism. Methods: Compounds were isolated with serial column chromatography and their structure were identified using spectroscopic methods. Isolated compounds were tested for anti-lipase potential activity using colorimetric assay. The prediction of energy binding between isolated compounds and enzyme was described using YASARA software. Results: Four compounds were successfully isolated from the bark of A. subintegra, namely, 5- hydroxy-7,4’-dimethoxyflavone, luteolin-7,3’,4’-trimethyl ether, 5,3’-dihydroxy-7,4’-dimethoxyflavone and β-sitosterol. The results indicated that all compounds displayed promising pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity ranging between of 6% to 53% inhibition. Compound 5-hydroxy-7,4’- dimethoxyflavone was a competitive inhibitor and decreases the enzyme catalysis. Meanwhile, β- sitosterol was a non- competitive inhibitor since the latter was bind allosterically toward enzyme. Conclusion: This finding is significant for further investigation of bioactive compounds from A. subintegra on animal study.

In a recent assessment regarding the concern towards the awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it was implied that at least 1 in 200 children are diagnosed with autism (Fernell, Eriksson, & Gillberg, 2013). In Malaysia, it could possibly be said that it is a rare sight to find teaching aids or books at the physical bookstores specifically made for young children with autism, in which have their own traits in approaching matters. In this case study, a test was conducted to determine the basic counting skills based on attractive visual teaching aids for autistic children that will probably be assistance to parents. For this, a visual counting book was designed and tested by 15 autistics children at National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM). In hindsight, the results obtained shown that the users who participated quite adept when it comes to areas for knowledge responsiveness. However, the review highlights that an improvement is vital in this area

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a call–recall approach in enhancing Pap smear practice by changes of motivation stage among non-compliant women. Methods A cluster randomized controlled trial with parallel and un-blinded design was conducted between January and November 2010 in 40 public secondary schools in Malaysia among 403 female teachers who never or infrequently attended for a Pap test. A cluster randomization was applied in assigning schools to both groups. An intervention group received an invitation and reminder (call–recall program) for a Pap test (20 schools with 201 participants), while the control group received usual care from the existing cervical screening program (20 schools with 202 participants). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the effect of the intervention program on the action stage (Pap smear uptake) at 24 weeks. Results In both groups, pre-contemplation stage was found as the highest proportion of changes in stages. At 24 weeks, an intervention group showed two times more in the action stage than control group (adjusted odds ratio 2.44, 95% CI 1.29–4.62). Conclusion The positive effect of a call–recall approach in motivating women to change the behavior of screening practice should be appreciated by policy makers and health care providers in developing countries as an intervention to enhance Pap smear uptake.

Background. Despite the significant burden of cervical cancer, Malaysia like many middle-income countries relies on opportunistic cervical screening as opposed to a more organized population-based program. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of a worksite screening initiative upon Papanicolaou smear test (Pap test) uptake among educated working women in Malaysia.Methods. 403 female teachers who never or infrequently attended for a Pap test from 40 public secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur were recruited into a cluster randomized trial conducted between January and November 2010. The intervention group participated in a worksite cervical screening initiative whilst the control group received usual care from the existing cervical screening program. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the impact of the intervention program on Pap smear uptake after 24 weeks of followup.Results. The proportion of women attending for a Pap test was significantly higher in the intervention than in the control group (18.1% versus 10.1%,Pvalue < 0.05) with the worksite screening initiative doubling the Pap smear uptake, adjusted odds ratio 2.44 (95% CI: 1.29–4.62).Conclusion. Worksite health promotion interventions can effectively increase cervical smear uptake rates among eligible workers in middle-income countries. Policy makers and health care providers in these countries should include such interventions in strategies for reducing cervical cancer burden. This trial is registered withIRCT201103186088N1.

This study investigated the feasibility of employing multi-steps IR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics in the authentication of three closely related varieties of Labisia pumila (L. pumila var. pumila, L. pumila var. alata and L. pumila var. lanceolata). A total of 84 samples consisted of 24 samples of L. pumila var. pumila, 42 samples of L. pumila var. alata and 18 samples of L. pumila var. lanceolata were collected from seven locations throughout Peninsular Malaysia for comparative IR analysis. The IR spectra were further grouped based on their varieties and locations by principal component analysis (PCA). Additionally, the second derivative IR and 2D-IR correlation spectra obtained through thermal perturbation were able to enhance the discriminant analysis of the three varieties more effectively. Consequently, the macroscopic IR spectroscopy associated with chemometrics has been found to be a useful and nondestructive approach in the first stage of quality control to characterize and identify the herbal materials.

An assemblage of beetle specimens from family Carabidae (ground beetles) was carried out at Kenyir water catchment as an indicator to measure disturbance. The samplings were conducted from 30th July to 1st August 2007 at limestone forest of Teluk Bewah and the dipterocarp forest of Sungai Cicir. 28 individuals from 13 species were collected from Teluk Bewah whereas 54 individuals from ten species was sampled from Sungai Cicir. The carabids were more specious (Simpson Diversity index: 0.97) and more abundant (Margalef index: 5.35) at Teluk Bewah compared to Sungai Cicir (Simpson Diversity index, 0.72: Margalefindex, 2.22). Light trapping was most efficient assembling 97.56% of ground beetles compared to Malaise trap, pitfall and net sweeping. This is the first record of beetle assemblage at Kenyir water catchment, Malaysia. New records for Kenyir, Terengganu, Malaysia are Abacetus sp. 1, Abacetus sp. 2, Acupalpus rectifrotis, Aephnidius adelioides, Dischissus notulatus, Dolichoctis sp., Dolichoctis sp. 2, Dolichoctis straitus, Ophinoea bimaculata, Perigona sp., Pheropsophus piciccollis, Pheropsophus occipitalis, Stenolophus quinquepustulatus, Stenolophus smaragdulus, Stenolophus sp., Tachys coracinus, Casnoidea sp., Orthogonius sp. Seven species coded as Cara C, Cara J, Cara M, Cara N, Cara O, Cara R and Cara S were unidentified and are probably new species to be described in another report. There is moderately high diversity (Simpson Diversity index: 0.846) of Carabidae indicating that ecotourism does not affect diversity of ground beetle at Kenyir Lake.

Preservatives are substances added into product to prevent their premature spoilage. Preservative helps to prolong the product’s shelf life by protecting the product from microbial growth and oxidation process. In this study, the potential of a Piper sp. as preservative for cosmetic products is being investigated. The exploration begins with the screening of major phytochemical groups; flavonoid, steroid, alkaloid, saponin and triterpene. Evaluation of biological activities exhibited the plant possessed antimicrobial property towards two strains of Staphylococcus aureus and free radical scavenging capacity. The minimum inhibitory concentration values (MIC) for both S. aureus ATCC 25923 and S. aureus ATCC 6538 is 2500 mg/mL and 312.5 mg/mL respectively. Free radical scavenging capacity of the plant was determined via Superoxide scavenging assay and DPPH radical scavenging assay and the capacity values are 76.4 + 0.35% and 59.7 + 0.75% respectively. Cytotoxicity study was also carried out to determine the safety of Piper sp. where median inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) value for normal kidney cell lines (Vero) is 62.96 mg/mL and normal liver cell lines (WRL-68) is 69.91mg/mL. The extract of Piper sp. was formulated as cosmetic preservative ingredient especially for topical product. The specification of ingredient’s characteristic and performance were described based on colour, odour, pH value as well the solubility in product formulation and stability at 4°C, room temperature and 40°C.

Pelayanan kesehatan dilaksanakan secara berjenjang dimulai dari pelayanan kesehatan tingkat pertama. Pelayanan kesehatan tingkat kedua hanya dapat diberikan atas rujukan dari pelayanan kesehatan tingkat pertama. Pelayanan kesehatan tingkat ketiga hanya dapat di berikan atas rujukan dari pelayanan kesehatan tingkat kedua atau tingkat pertama, kecuali pada keadaan gawat darurat, kekhususan permasalahan kesehatan pasien, pertimbangan geografis, dan pertimbangan ketersediaan fasilitas. Sistem rujukan diselenggarakan dengan tujuan memberikan pelayanan kesehatan secara bermutu, sehingga tujuan pelayanan tercapai tanpa harus menggunakan biaya yang mahal. Tujuan yang akan dicapai dari penelitian ini adalah Menganalisis bagaimana pelaksanaan Sistem Rujukan Rawat Jalan Tingkat Pertama peserta Program Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional di Kota Ternate tahun 2014. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemahaman petugas tentang kebijakan sistem rujukan masih tergolong kurang baik, ketersediaan obat- obatan dan bahan habis pakai dalam kategori cukup baik, ketersediaan fasilitas dan alat kesehatan medis fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan masih minim dan pemahaman petugas tentang fungsi Puskesmas sebagai pintu masuk/penapis rujukan cukup baik meskipun dalam prakteknya sering tidak mengikuti aturan yang ditetapkan. Kata Kunci : Pelayanan Kesehatan, Kebijakan Sistem Rujukan. Abstract Health services implemented in stages, starting from the first level of health care. The second level of health care can only be provided on a referral from the first level of health care. The third level of health care can only be provided upon referral from the second level of health care or first level, except in emergencies, the specificity of the patient's health problems, geographic considerations, and consideration of the availability of facilities. The referral system was organized with the aim of providing quality health services, so that service goal is achieved without having to use expensive. Objectives to be achieved from this study is analyze how the implementation of the Referral System First Level Outpatient participants of the National Health Insurance Program in the city of Ternate in 2014. The results showed that the officials' understanding of the policy reference system is still relatively poorly, the availability of medicines and consumables use in a pretty good category, the availability of medical facilities and medical devices still lack health care facilities and personnel understanding of the functioning of health centers as the entrance / filters referral pretty good though in practice it often does not follow the rules set. Keywords : Health services, Policy Reference System.

Dual choice bioassays were used to evaluate the antifeedant property of essential oil and methanolic extract of Alpinia galanga (L.) (locally known as lengkuas) against two species of termites, Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) and Coptotermes curvignathus (Holmgren) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). A 4-cm-diameter paper disc treated with A. galanga essential oil and another treated with either methanol or hexane as control were placed in a petri dish with 10 termites. Mean consumption of paper discs (miligram) treated with 2,000 ppm of essential oil by C. gestroi was 3.30 ± 0.24 mg and by C. curvignathus was 3.32 ± 0.24 mg. A. galanga essential oil showed significant difference in antifeedant effect, 2,000 ppm of A. galanga essential oil was considered to be the optimum concentration that gave maximum antifeedant effect. The essential oil composition was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major component of the essential oil was 1,8-cineol (61.9%). Antifeedant bioassay using 500 ppm of 1,8-cineol showed significant reduction in paper consumption by both termite species. Thus, the bioactive agent in A. galangal essential oil causing antifeeding activity was identified as 1,8-cineol. Repellent activity shows that 250 ppm of 1,8-cineol caused 50.00 ± 4.47% repellency for C. gestroi, whereas for C. curvignathus 750 ppm of 1,8-cineol was needed to cause similar repellent activity (56.67 ± 3.33%). C. curvignathus is more susceptible compare to C. gestroi in Contact Toxicity study, the lethal dose (LD50) of C. curvignathus was 945 mg/kg, whereas LD50 value for C. gestroi was 1,102 mg/kg. Hence 1,8-cineol may be developed as an alternative control against termite in sustainable agriculture practices.

The Pap smear test has been regarded as a promising cervical screening tool since 1940s. Yet its importance has been overlooked by beneficiaries in Malaysia. This underlines the need to identify the prevalence of Pap smear practice and influencing factors towards the practice among educated working women.A survey was conducted with 403 female teachers from 40 public secondary schools in Malaysia selected by cluster random sampling. Data were collected from January to March 2010 using a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the factors related to the Pap smear practice.The rate for participants who ever had Pap test was only 38% and poor practice of was significantly higher among: those with aged less than 35 years; those practicing hormonal contraceptive method; and individuals perceiving barriers to the Pap smear screening test. In contrast, the findings were significantly lower in women with longer duration of teaching service; higher income groups; ever pregnant; having chronic diseases; health insurance coverage; and who had perceived benefit of Pap smear screening.Barriers towards practicing Pap smear exist even among educated career women. Tailor-made health promotion and education on cervical cancer and the benefit of Pap smear screening are essential to change the behavior of the study population.

Cervical cancer has long been known as a preventable disease. Yet it still is a prime women's health issue globally. In Malaysia, the current cervical cancer screening program, introduced in the 1960s, has been found to be unsuccessful in terms of Pap smear coverage. The aim of this study is to determine providers perceptives on the program and the feasibility of practicing an organized cervical screening program in Malaysia.11 key informant interviews were conducted with policy makers and health care providers from the Ministry of Health in Malaysia from October 2009 to May 2010. Interviewees' perceptions were explored on current and organized cervical screening program based on their expertise and experience.The results highlighted that the existing cervical screening program in Malaysia faced flaws at all levels that failed to reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality. The identified weaknesses were poor acceptance by women, lack of commitment by health care providers, nature of the program, an improper follow-up system, limited resources and other competing needs. Complementarily, all interviewees perceived an organized cervical screening program as an alternative approach both feasible and acceptable by women and government to practice in Malaysia.Better screening coverage depends on an effective screening program that incorporates a behaviour-based strategy. A new program should be focused in the policy-making context to improve screening coverage and to effectively combat cervical cancer.

The study on mating behaviour of Rhytidodera simulans White (coleoptera: cerambycidae) and presence of sex pheromone, if any, was conducted at several mango plantations at Kampong Sungai Serai, chuping, Perlis. the adults were obtained from laboratory rearing. the mating sequence of R. Simulans includes the male locating the female using the antenna, male dashing, collision and male contact with female using his antennae, male mounting and copulation. the mounting duration was 8.24 ± 0.52 min and the copulation duration was 13.24 ± 0.940 min. Delay in mounting was due to male intruders, fighting between males, male confusion for mate choice between two females. Monogamy and pair-bond existed between one copulating pair. A positive response was shown by male R. simulans in t-shaped olfactometer which was attracted to a live female bait and female chloroform extract. In dual choice bioassay, living adult female R. simulans did not show any significant preference towards all treatments. This is the first study which shows evidence of a male attracted to female R. simulans in laboratory bioassays.

Preliminary screening study revealed that the methanolic extract of the stem of T. indica showed xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity in a concentration-dependent manner. EA fraction was selected to be further study due to its potential to inhibit xanthine oxidase enzyme with IC 50 value of 21.14 ∝g/ml which in lower than IC 50 value of MeOH extract, 42.02 ∝g/ml. Further separation and purification of EA fraction led to the isolation of two known compounds. Those compounds were identified by analysis of their spectroscopic data and comparisons with literature data to be betulinic acid and 5,7-dihydroxyl-8-methoxyflavone.