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The prevalence of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) use has been increased and became a global concern. This cross-sectional study among adults in Malaysia determined the knowledge of e-cigarettes, the association between the factors of initiating e-cigarettes use and usage status, the predicting factors of initiating e-cigarettes use and the reasons for the users to stop using it. A total of 1254 respondents completed a self-constructed questionnaire on socio-demographics, knowledge, reasons for e-cigarettes initiation and cessation. Results showed that the majority of them (73.6%) were aware of e-cigarette's existence, while 13.2% were e-cigarettes users. A significant association was found between curiosity to try and usage status in which former user has a higher curiosity to try (55.7%) than the currents users (p=0.004). A variety of flavours has a significant association between usage status as current users (58.8%) used e-cigarettes due to a variety of flavours than the former users (38.6%) (p=0.044). The findings showed that curiosity to try and e-cigarettes are safer are the predictors of initiating e-cigarettes. The respondents who believe that e-cigarettes are safer than tobacco cigarettes have 6.12 times chance to initiate using e-cigarette when considering other factors (OR=6.12, p=0.018). Meanwhile, those who used e-cigarettes because of the curiosity to try had 0.32 times the chance to initiate e-cigarettes use (OR=0.32, p=0.018). This study observed a low knowledge related to e-cigarettes and the significant predicting factor of initiating were a curiosity to try and e-cigarettes is safer. This study reported the main reason smokers quit using e-cigarettes was it did not give satisfaction compared to conventional cigarettes, while for non-smoker was due to worry about the danger of e-cigarettes. Therefore, appropriate information on e-cigarettes should be adequately disseminated to the general population to promote healthy behaviours and positive attitudes toward smoking.

Introduction Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are new smoking devices that have gained popularity recently. However, there is limited evidence on e-cigarette consumption in Malaysia. This study aims to determine the prevalence, risk factors and perception associated with e-cigarette use among those attending government hospitals and health clinics in Malaysia. Methods A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in seven public hospitals and health clinics in Malaysia, which were selected through a twostage cluster sampling. A validated questionnaire was used to obtain data from the selected participants. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to determine the association between sociodemographics and perceptions of e-cigarette use. Results Almost three-quarters (73.6%; n=923/1254) of participants were aware of e-cigarettes and 13.2% (n=122/923) reported having ever used e-cigarettes. The prevalence was significantly higher among males (18.1%), smokers (21.4%), and younger age group 18–34 years (30.2%). Ever users showed favourable perceptions towards e-cigarettes compared to non-users (23.3% vs 30.14%, p

Association Between Telomere Shortening and Ageing During Occupational ExposureTelomere length is considered as a biomarker of ageing, resulting in shortening during the process. The present investigation was an attempt to determine the relative telomere length in mechanical workshop workers. Telomere length shortening in cells during occupational exposure causes accelerated ageing. Genomic DNA was isolated from buccal epithelial cells collected from 240 individuals, comprising two groups of 120 exposed workers and 120 unexposed controls. Telomere length was measured by using real time PCR. Both telomere (T) and single copy gene (S) specific primers were used to compute the relative T/S ratio and expressed as the relative telomere length. Telomere length differed significantly between the workers and controls (pp

Rubber tapping processes posed potential risk of various health problems among rubber workers. It ranges from simple musculoskeletal aches to more serious and complicated structural damage to bone, muscles, tendons and nerves of musculoskeletal system. These health problems might be linked directly to the arduous demands of farm labor. Objectives: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of neck pain (NP) and musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) and its association with personal characteristics, physical workloads and psychosocial factors among rubber workers. Methods: Stratified random sampling method was adopted and a total of 419 rubber workers in FELDA’s scheme Malaysia participated in this study. Data was collected through face to face interview using modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ) and Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Results: The results revealed the prevalence of NP was 59.9% and weak correlation with age (?= -0.184, p = 0.001) and a positive weak correlation with working hours per day (?= 0.099, p = 0.043) significantly. All physical workloads (neck flexion or rotation, awkward postures, repetitive motion and static postures) had significant weak to moderate positive correlation with NP ( p

The aim of this study was to determine the level of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and selected heavy metals among fishermen via dietary intake of fish and other seafood from the eastern coast along the Straits of Malacca. This study determined the neurobehavioural performances (based on neurobehavioural core test battery scores) of the fishermen and evaluated the correlations between scores of neurobehavioural core test battery and exposure factors. Ninety fishermen participated in the study. The total fish intakes of the fishermen were measured using a set of food frequency questionnaires. The PCBs contents in the seafood samples ranged between 0.2 and 0.6 pg/g fresh sample. The concentrations of mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in the seafood samples were 1.1-5.4, 0.3-4.4, 0.6-36.1, and 0.02-0.3 μg/g fresh sample, respectively. The PCBs, Hg, As, Cd, and Pb exposures of the fishermen was estimated to be 2.8, 0.02, 4.5, 0.09, and 0.5 pg/kg body weight/day, respectively. PCB and heavy metal exposures through dietary intake of fish and seafood were within the tolerable daily limits. The results of neurobehavioural core test battery revealed that the neurobehavioural performances of the fishermen were not affected due to PCB and heavy metal intoxication. No correlations were found between the exposure and neurobehavioural performance among the fishermen. These data are useful for policy makers to assure the safety and quality of seafood in relation to sea pollution. Although the levels of exposure were low, periodic assessment of the quality of fish and fish products is required due to the polluted seawater.本研究的目的是根据渔民从马六甲海峡东海岸获取的鱼和其他海鲜的膳食摄入 量来确定其暴露于多氯联苯（PCBs）和选定的重金属的水平。这项研究探讨 了渔民们的神经行为表现（基于神经行为核心测试分），并评估该神经行为核 心测试成绩和暴露因素之间的相关性。九十渔民参与了这项研究。用食物频率 问卷测量渔民们的总鱼摄入量。海鲜样品多氯联苯的含量介于0.2 和0.6 pg/g 新鲜样品。海鲜样品中的汞、砷、镉和铅的浓度分别为1.1-5.4、0.3-4.4、0.6- 36.1 和0.02-0.3 μg/g 新鲜样品。渔民们的多氯联苯、汞（Hg）、砷（As）、 镉（Cd）和铅（Pb）暴露估计分别为2.8、0.02、4.5、0.09 和0.5 pg/kg 体重/ 天。渔民们每日多氯联苯和重金属通过鱼和海鲜膳食摄入的暴露量均在可接受 的限度内。他们的神经行为核心测试结果显示渔民们的神经行为表现不受多氯 联苯和重金属中毒的影响。渔民们的神经行为表现与该暴露没有相关性。这些 数据有利于政策制定者确保与海洋污染有关的海产品的安全和质量。虽然该暴 露水平较低，由于海水受到污染，定期评估鱼和鱼产品质量是必要。.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of workplace interventions aimed at treating work‐related rhinitis and rhinosinusitis. We will combine findings of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis in this review due to their similarity in definition, presentation and reported effects but will separate the two entities if possible in our subgroup analysis.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of interventions aimed at preventing the onset of WRR and WRRS in occupational settings. We will combine findings of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis in this review due to their similarity in definition, presentation and reported effects, but we will separate the two entities if possible in our subgroup analysis.

Oil and gas industry is a main revenue generation for Iran, and thousands of employees are involved in various oil and gas fields. From numerous health hazards which commonly occur in the industry one of them is psychosocial hazards. Studies confirmed a crucial step to control and understanding workplace psychosocial risk factors is developing and monitoring of policies, rules, and plans to promote health at work. This research conducted in an Iranian oil and gas company in Tehran in the period of 2011 and 2012. 248 participants were randomly selected and assigned in the study. Two questionnaires HSE and SCAT used in order to assess workplace psychosocial risks and attitude of personnel to safety climate. The result of HSE scores revealed relationships and role sub-scales in psychosocial risks were in abysmal situation. Personnel’s attitude to safety climate at the organization displayed communication, priority of safety, and involvement were at the level of “dissatisfied”. Also there was a medium positive correlation between work environment and managers’ support, relationships and change p

Cervical cancer is the most common malignant cancer of the female reproductive organs worldwide. Currently, cervical cancer can be prevented by vaccination and detected at an early stage via various screening methods. Malaysia, as a developing country faces a heavy disease burden of cervical cancer as it is the second most common cancer among Malaysian women. This population based study was carried out to fulfil the primary aim of determining the survival rates of Malaysian women with cervical cancer and associated factors. Data were obtained from two different sources namely, the Malaysian National Cancer Registry (MNCR) and National Health Informatics Centre (NHIC) from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2005. Kaplan Meier analyses were conducted to identify the overall survival rates and median survival time. Differences in survival among different ethnic and age group were compared using the log-rank test. A total of 5,859 patients were included. The median survival time for cervical cancer in this study was 65.8 months and the 5-year survival rate was 71.1%. The overall observed survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 94.1%, 79.3% and 71.1% respectively. The log-rank test finding also showed that there were significant differences in the 5-year survival rate among different ethnic groups. Malays had the lowest survival rate of 59.2% followed by Indians (69.5%) and Chinese (73.8%). The overall 5-year survival rate among patients with cervical cancer in Malaysia is relatively good. Age and ethnic groups remain as significant determining factors for cervical cancer survival rate.

The ageing process is influenced by many internal and external factors. The toxic substances in the environment can cause genomic damages to cells, which increase the risk of early ageing. Furthermore, the cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) gene polymorphism is a susceptibility factor and may enhance the risk of DNA damage in cells. The current study was carried out to show whether occupational exposure could cause genotoxicity in cells carrying the CYP1A2 gene polymorphism, thus enhancing the likelihood of early ageing. This study was conducted on mechanical workshop workers and a control group by collecting buccal cells from their mouths. Restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) was used to identify the CYP1A2 gene polymorphism in the cells. In addition, three extra methods including micronuclei (MN) test, comet assay and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were applied to determine the effects of gene polymorphisms on DNA damage and ageing from occupational exposure. The results showed that DNA damage in the cells carrying the mutated genotype was higher than the wild genotype. In addition, the difference in MN frequency (p = 0.001) and relative telomere length (p = 0.002) between workers and controls was significant (p 0.05). It was concluded that the CYP1A2 gene could be a contributing factor to prevent early ageing from occupational exposure.

Aging is attributed to both genetic and environmental factors. Occupational exposure is one of the environmental factors with potential genotoxic effects. Researchers try to determine factors involved in genetic damages at hazards exposure that could accelerate aging. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) gene contributes in activation and detoxification of the environmental hazards. This polymorphism plays an important role in susceptibility of inter-individuals to DNA damage at the occupational exposure. The current study evaluated the possible influence of this gene polymorphism in aging by genomic damages through the biomarkers alterations of micronuclei (MN), comet tail length and telomere length shortening at the exposure. In this study, buccal cells were collected from the oral cavity of exposed workers and non-exposed controls. The CYP2E1 genotypes were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The wild genotype significantly affected MN frequency (p = 0.007) and relative telomere length (p = 0.047) in the older group of workers. It was concluded that the interaction of gene polymorphism and exposure enhances DNA damage and accelerates aging consequently.

We evaluated the possible influence of glutathione S-transferase mu (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase theta (GSTT1) genes on genetic damage due to occupational exposure, which contributes to accelerate ageing. This study was conducted on 120 car auto repair workshop workers exposed to occupational hazards and 120 controls without this kind of exposure. The null and non-null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes were determined by multiplex PCR. Micronucleus frequency, Comet tail length and relative telomere length differences between the null and non-null genotypes of the GSTM1 gene were significantly greater in the exposed group. Lack of GSTT1 did not affect the damage biomarkers significantly (P > 0.05), while lack of GSTM1 was associated with greater susceptibility to genomic damage due to occupational exposure. It was concluded that early ageing is under the influence of these genes and the environmental and socio-demographic factors. Duration of working time was significantly associated with micronucleus frequency, Comet tail length and relative telomere length.

Cadmium were found in the die casting factory as by product of zinc alloy that used in the manufacturing of die cast. Metallothionein (MT) a carrier protein plays an important role in the detoxification process of cadmium in human. The usefulness of MT gene expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) as a biomarker of cadmium exposure and susceptibility could be determine by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). 41 male workers from die casting factory were involved in the cross-sectional comparative study and were divided into exposed and comparative group. MT gene expressions were found to proportionates increase with blood cadmium (BCd) levels. MT basal expression levels were significantly correlated with the BCd levels with r-value 0.616 for exposed group and 0.639 for comparative group. MT induction expression level were significant correlated with BCd level (r = 0.188 for exposed group, r = 0.342 for comparative group). This suggested that MT gene expression in PBLs can be used as a biomarker of susceptibility to cadmium.