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Abstract Background Proteins that are associated with hypertension may be identified by comparing the 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) profiles of the sera of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with those generated from normotensive Spraque-Dawley rats (SDR). Results Five proteins of high abundance were found to be significantly altered when the 2-DE serum profiles of the SHR were compared to those that were similarly generated from the SDR. Analysis by mass spectrometry and database search identified the proteins as retinol binding protein 4, complement C3, albumin (19.9 kDa fragment), alpha1 macroglobulin and alpha1 antiproteinase, which are all known to be associated with hypertension. The altered expression of the two latter proteins was found to be abrogated when similar analysis was performed on sera of the SHR that were treated with captopril. Conclusion Our data suggests that serum alpha1 macroglobulin and alpha1 antiproteinase are potentially useful complementary biomolecular indicators for monitoring of hypertension.

Purpose: The Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities questionnaire provides an assessment of physical activity after spinal cord injury. This study sought to adapt, with cultural competence, the English questionnaire and translate it into Bahasa Malaysia, including evaluation of content and face validity, internal consistency and test–retest reliability, and completion of a factor analysis in order to validate the Malaysian version. Materials and methods: A total of 250 participants completed the questionnaire that was distributed via email, postal mail, the internet, physically and by word of mouth. Sixty-eight respondents were re-contacted to complete the questionnaire again. Results: The adapted PASIPD demonstrated adequate internal consistency Cronbach's α = 0.68 and acceptable test–retest reliability, intraclass correlation = 0.87. Factor analysis extracted four main dimensions for physical activity; factor 1 (heavy housework, home repair, lawn work and gardening), factor 2 (sports and recreation), factor 3 (light housework and caring for another person) and factor 4 (leisure and occupational activities) that accounted for 64% of the physical activities' total variance. Conclusion: The Malaysian-adapted English and translated Bahasa Malaysia versions of the questionnaires intended to measure physical activity levels in individuals with spinal cord injury, demonstrated good to acceptable validity and reliability. However, some individual items revealed weak reliability measures. Further work is needed to validate the questionnaire's criterion validity against other physical activity measures. The Malaysian adaptation of the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities questionnaire provided preliminary support for its use since it has demonstrated adequate construct validity and reliability. The Malaysian adaptation of the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities questionnaire can quantify the physical activity level of community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury, whilst deriving descriptive information on their physical activities. Deploying the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities questionnaire to a spinal cord injury population in Malaysia may provide the first data on activities of daily living in an Asian developing country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Exergames have the potential to enable persons with disabilities to take part in physical activities that are of appropriate "dose-potency" and enjoyable within a relatively safe home environment. It overcomes some of the challenges regarding transportation difficulties in getting to commercial gymnasium facilities, reducing physical activities perceived as "boring" or getting access into the built environment that may be "wheelchair unfriendly". Objective: This systematic review assessed available evidence whether "exergaming" could be a feasible modality for contributing to a recommended exercise prescription according to current ACSM™ or WHO guidelines for physical activity. Methods: Strategies used to search for published articles were conducted using separate search engines (Google Scholar™, PubMed™ and Web of Science™) on cardiometabolic responses and perceived exertion during exergaming among neurologically-disabled populations possessing similar physical disabilities. Each study was categorized using the SCIRE-Pedro evidence scale. Results: Ten of the 144 articles assessed were identified and met specific inclusion criteria. Key outcome measures included responses, such as energy expenditure, heart rate and perceived exertion. Twelve out of the 17 types of exergaming interventions met the ACSM™ or WHO recommendations of "moderate intensity" physical activity. Exergames such as Wii Jogging, Bicycling, Boxing, DDR and GameCycle reported moderate physical activity intensities. While Wii Snowboarding, Skiing and Bowling only produced light intensities. Conclusion: Preliminary cross-sectional evidence in this review suggested that exergames have the potential to provide moderate intensity physical activity as recommended by ACSM™ or WHO in populations with neurological disabilities. However, more research is needed to document exergaming's efficacy from longitudinal observations before definitive conclusions can be drawn. Exergaming can be deployed as physical activity or exercise using commercially available game consoles for neurologically disabled individuals in the convenience of their home environment and at a relatively inexpensive cost Moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercises can be achieved during exergaming in this population of persons with neurological disabilities. Exergaming can also be engaging and enjoyable, yet achieve the recommended physical activity guidelines proposed by ACSM™ or WHO for health and fitness benefits. Exergaming as physical activity in this population is feasible for individuals with profound disabilities, since it can be used even in sitting position for wheelchair-dependent users, thus providing variability in terms of exercise options. In the context of comprehensive rehabilitation, exergaming should be viewed by the clinician as "at least as good as" (and likely more enjoyable) than traditional arm-exercise modalities, with equivalent aerobic dose-potency as "traditional" exercise in clinic or home environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Exergames have the potential to enable persons with disabilities to take part in physical activities that are of appropriate "dose-potency" and enjoyable within a relatively safe home environment. It overcomes some of the challenges regarding transportation difficulties in getting to commercial gymnasium facilities, reducing physical activities perceived as "boring" or getting access into the built environment that may be "wheelchair unfriendly". Objective: This systematic review assessed available evidence whether "exergaming" could be a feasible modality for contributing to a recommended exercise prescription according to current ACSM™ or WHO guidelines for physical activity. Methods: Strategies used to search for published articles were conducted using separate search engines (Google Scholar™, PubMed™ and Web of Science™) on cardiometabolic responses and perceived exertion during exergaming among neurologically-disabled populations possessing similar physical disabilities. Each study was categorized using the SCIRE-Pedro evidence scale. Results: Ten of the 144 articles assessed were identified and met specific inclusion criteria. Key outcome measures included responses, such as energy expenditure, heart rate and perceived exertion. Twelve out of the 17 types of exergaming interventions met the ACSM™ or WHO recommendations of "moderate intensity" physical activity. Exergames such as Wii Jogging, Bicycling, Boxing, DDR and GameCycle reported moderate physical activity intensities. While Wii Snowboarding, Skiing and Bowling only produced light intensities. Conclusion: Preliminary cross-sectional evidence in this review suggested that exergames have the potential to provide moderate intensity physical activity as recommended by ACSM™ or WHO in populations with neurological disabilities. However, more research is needed to document exergaming's efficacy from longitudinal observations before definitive conclusions can be drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the factors that influence cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among Malay and Chinese Malaysian women. Methods: Age, ethnicity, height and waist circumference were the predictors of a non-exercise CRF regression model developed for healthy Malaysian women aged 20-64 years. Further comparisons between the two ethnic groups were done on their sociodemographic, biophysical, physical activity, dietary and mental health profile to elucidate the differences which contribute to CRF. Results: For the same age group, Chinese women had higher levels of CRF. They were lighter in terms of weight and body mass index and also had smaller waist and hip circumferences. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were lower. They were better educated, majority were single and those that were married had fewer numbers of children. They spent more time on exercise while dietary habits were similar. No significant differences were seen in the levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The higher level of exercise among the Chinese women may contribute to the higher CRF and better body composition as supported by other studies. Their higher level of education may also influence greater participation in exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nor Anita MMN, Ruby H, Aminuddin AHK, Osman A: Non-Exercise Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF) Predictive Equation for Malaysian Women. JEPonline 2010;13(4):1-16. The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive equation to estimate CRF from non-exercise parameters in Malaysian women. Available equations are based on Caucasian subjects and may not apply to local women. A total of 158 healthy women aged between 20-64 years were randomly divided into test group (80% of total; n=125) and cross-validation group (20% of total; n=33). Based on the reported inter-relationship between CRF, sociodemography, biophysical, lifestyle and health; data were obtained by interviewer-facilitated questionnaire. CRF measured as VO2peak was extrapolated from the value achieved at 85% maximal heart rate (220-age) while doing an exercise test based on the modified Bruce Protocol. The extrapolated VO2peak obtained from the submaximal test was validated against a maximal test (n=46) which achieved a moderately strong correlation of R=0.76; SEE=4.59. The test group was used to develop a model using stepwise multiple regression procedures. The predicted VO2peak = [(age (yrs) x -0.175) + (height (m) x 28.119) + (ethnicity (0= non-Malay, 1=Malay) x -4.545) + (waist (cm) x -0.154) + 6.858]. The correlation was R= 0.75; SEE = 3.74; p= 0.001. Cross- validation procedures revealed that R= 0.69; SEE= 4.50; p= 0.001. The prediction model indicates that women who are younger, taller, have smaller waist and from the Chinese ethnic group had higher CRF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to document the physical characteristics of top Malaysian netball players by their playing skill. The variables measured were age, height, body mass, body fat and somototype. Thirty-two national players (mean age 18.19 ± 3.86 years) were assessed, divided into three groups by their playing skill (senior/elite, junior and reserve). The body fat content was determined by the skinfold method and their somatotype using the Heath Carter Somatotyping method. There were no significant differences in the physical characteristics between the players by playing skill. The players were predominantly ecto-endomorphic with a mean somatotype of 6.12±1.42 - 2.38±1.05 - 2.71±1.38. Their height and body mass were 170.80±4.61 cm and 64.44±7.46 kg, respectively. Female national Australian and English netball players had a body fat of 28.90±3.50% (Wither & Roberts, 1981) and 24.50±3.90% (Bale & Hunt, 1986) respectively, while the Malaysian players in this study 24.50 ± 5.13%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to determine the fitness performance among Malaysia top netball players, and to compare this study result with others studies or norm. The fitness variables measured were aerobic and anaerobic capacity, leg strength, agility, leg power and sprint ability. Besides that, this study was also carried out to determine whether there was any significant difference in these variables among netball players at different playing positions. A total of 52 Malaysian national netball players were chosen to be the subjects in this study. The 12-minute run, 8 x 35-metre runs, isokinetic leg strength test, SEMO agility test, and the 25-metre sprint test were used to measure the above fitness parameters. Malaysian netball players were reported to have lower aerobic and anaerobic capacity, leg strength, agility, and 25-metre sprint as compared to other countries' netball players. Nevertheless, Malaysian netball players were found to have better leg power and acceleration as compared to other countries' netball players. The center netball players were reported to be superior in VO2 max, anaerobic, and agility tests, while the defenders were found to be superior in leg strength, leg power, and sprint tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An equitable and positive learning environment fosters deep self-directed learning in students and, consequently, good practice in their profession. Although demotivating weaknesses may lead to repeated day-to-day stress with a cascade of deleterious consequences at both personal and professional levels, a possible relationship between these parameters has not been reported. This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between students' perceptions of their educational environment and their stress levels., Methods: Sixty-one first year students at the Dental Faculty, University of Malaya, Malaysia participated. The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) was used to determine educational environment while self-rated perceived stress level was measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS)., Results: Most students (62.39%) showed positive perceptions for the total and five domains of DREEM. The highest percentage was observed for "Students perception of learning" (64.04%) while the lowest was for "Students' social self-perception" (60.32%). At the same time, 61% of students showed high perceived stress levels. However, this was not associated with their DREEM scores., Conclusion: Although a positive perception of their educational environment was found, minor corrective measures need to be implemented. Furthermore, longitudinal studies on an annual basis would provide useful input for strategic planning purposes.

Objective: To examine the association between genistein intake (estimated from a food frequency questionnaire [FFQ) and incidence of preeclampsia., Study Design: The study was conducted at University Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, and involved 32 women with preeclampsia and 32 healthy pregnant women (matched by parity and gestational age). A validated FFQ was used to collect information regarding dietary intake of genistein during their pregnancy. The association between preeclampsia and the level of genistein intake was evaluated by categorizing the participants into 3 groups according to tertiles of estimated genistein intake., Results: The odds ratio estimates showed a four-fold increase in the risk of developing preeclampsia for tertile 1 (lowest intake) as compared with tertile 3 (highest intake) (crude OR, 4.38; 95% CI 1.21-15.81)., Conclusion: Lower levels of genistein intake were associated with an increased risk of developing preeclampsia. These findings suggest a possible beneficial role of genistein in the prevention of preeclampsia.