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Prevalence of limited health literacy among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review
No full textBackground Health literacy (HL) skills are essential to enable self-management and shared decision-making in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Limited HL in these patients is associated with poorer outcomes. It is not clear what the burden of limited HL in patients with T2DM across countries and what factors influence it. Methods A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017056150). We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ERIC for articles published up to January 2017. Articles that measured HL levels in adult patients with T2DM; that used validated HL tools; and that were reported in English were included. Two reviewers assessed studies for eligibility and quality, and extracted the data. Prevalence of limited HL is calculated from the number of patients with less than adequate HL over the total number of patients with T2DM in the study. Meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis were conducted using the Open Meta-analyst software. Results Twenty-nine studies involving 13,457 patients with T2DM from seven countries were included. In total, seven different HL measurement tools were used. The prevalence of limited HL ranged from 7.3% to 82%, lowest in Switzerland and the highest in Taiwan. Meta-regression analysis of all included studies showed the country of study (p<0.001), HL tool used (p = 0.002), and the country's region (p<0.001) contributed to the variation findings. Thirteen studies in the USA measured functional HL. The pooled prevalence of inadequate functional HL among patients with T2DM in the USA was 28.9% (95% CI: 20.4-37.3), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 97.9%, p <0.001). Studies were done in the community as opposed to a hospital or primary care (p = 0.005) and populations with education level lower than high school education (p = 0.009) reported a higher prevalence of limited HL. Conclusion The prevalence of limited HL in patients with T2DM varied widely between countries, HL tools used and the country's region. Pooled prevalence showed nearly one in three patients with T2DM in the USA had limited functional HL. Interactions with healthcare providers and educational attainment were associated with reported of prevalence in the USA. Copyright: © 2019 Abdullah et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Malocclusion and Temporomandibular Disorders: Verification of the Controversy
No full textAims: To investigate the dental and skeletal aspects of malocclusion in the anteroposterior and vertical dimensions in a sample of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients and to correlate these aspects with the signs and symptoms of TMD. Methods: A total of 150 TMD patients were divided into five groups according to the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD: Group 1 = myalgia (M); Group 2 = disc displacement with reduction (DDWR); Group 3 = disc displacement without reduction (DDWOR); Group 4 = degenerative disorders (D); and Group 5 = subluxation (S). Molar and canine relations, overjet, overbite, occlusal guidance, occlusal interferences, and centric slides were recorded for each patient, and the skeletal craniofacial patterns were analyzed for each patient using cone beam computed tomography. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the variable means of the different groups. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlations of quantitative continuous variables. Significance level was considered at P < .05. Results: No significant difference was found among the groups regarding any aspects of dental occlusion except for mediotrusive interferences, which were significantly higher in Group 3 (DDWOR) (P = .02). Regarding skeletal craniofacial pattern, Group 4 (D) had significantly smaller mean ± standard deviation sella-nasion-B (SNB) point angle (74.31 ± 3.04 degrees) than Group 3 (DDWOR) (78.04 ± 4.88 degrees), and Group 1 (M) showed the greatest SNB angle (79.87 ± 3.73 degrees) (P = .03). Group 3 (DDWOR) showed significantly greater mean mandibular plane/SN angle (39.56 ± 6.19 degrees) than Group 1 (M) (34.73 ± 5.65 degrees) (P = .04). Relations between occlusal variables and TMD parameters were nonsignificant. Conclusion: This study provides robust evidence to diminish the TMD-malocclusion association, especially in myogenic types of TMD. © 2019 by Quintessence Publishing Co Inc
Vital parameters for high gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production by an industrial soy sauce koji Aspergillus oryzae NSK in submerged-liquid fermentation
No full textIn submerged-liquid fermentation, seven key parameters were assessed using one-factor-at-a-time to obtain the highest GABA yield using an industrial soy sauce koji Aspergillus oryzae strain NSK (AOSNSK). AOSNSK generated maximum GABA at 30 °C (194 mg/L) and initial pH 5 (231 mg/L), thus was able to utilize sucrose (327 mg/L of GABA) for carbon source. Sucrose at 100 g/L, improved GABA production at 646 mg/L. Single nitrogen sources failed to improve GABA production, however a combination of yeast extract (YE) and glutamic acid (GA) improved GABA at 646.78 mg/L. Carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C8:N3) produced the highest cell (24.01 g/L) and GABA at a minimal time of 216 h. The key parameters of 30 °C, initial pH 5, 100 g/L of sucrose, combination YE and GA, and C8:N3 generated the highest GABA (3278.31 mg/L) in a koji fermentation. AOSNSK promisingly showed for the development of a new GABA-rich soy sauce. © 2019, The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology
Engaging Children With Pleasure Reading: The E-Reading Experience
No full textTraditional definitions of reading seem inadequate in today’s world as children encounter and interact with electronic screen-based reading using handheld devices such as tablets, smart phones, and so on. This study builds upon the context of reading engagement for pleasure and targets Malaysian bilingual children at the early stage of learning to read in English as their second most important language. The following research questions are put forward: (a) What drives children engagement with reading apps? and (b) how do children exhibit their e-reading experience? First- and second-grade children from primary school who had previously shown high achievement in English subject were selected for this study. Field observations and interviews were employed to capture children’s reading activity for pleasure in individual or shared reading settings using e-storybooks and educational reading apps. The findings indicate that children’s e-reading experience encompasses both motivational constructs and behavioral engagements. Children exhibit their e-reading experience through reading aloud or reading in silence along with screen manipulation
Quantitative analysis of local bone graft harvested from the posterior elements during posterior spinal fusion in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis patients
No full textObjective: This study analyses the quantity of local bone graft obtained from different anatomical parts of the posterior elements during corrective surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis patients. Summary of background data: Locally harvested autogenous bone graft eliminates possible donor site morbidity and has all the important basic bone graft properties such as osteoinductivity, osteogenicity and osteoconductivity. Its usage was reported to be adequate to achieve fusion but none had quantifies the amount of local bone graft harvested. Methods: Total of 40 AIS patients were recruited in the study. All posterior spinal fusion surgeries were performed by the same dual surgeons and same anesthetist with a single observer collecting and measuring bone grafts harvested. The bone grafts harvested from each respective posterior element (spinous processes, laminas, facets and transverses processes) and measured accordingly. Results: There were 36 females and 4 males. Amongst cases recruited, there were 32% Lenke 1, 28% Lenke 2, 8%Lenke 3, 22%Lenke 5 and 10% Lenke 6. Total thoracic levels involved were 333, whereas lumbar levels were 81. The mean total weight of bone graft obtained per case was 36.5 ± 13.7 g. The total weight of lumbar bone graft to the number of lumbar fusion levels (4.5 ± 1.2 g/fusion level) was significantly higher than the total weight of thoracic bone graft to the number of thoracic fusion levels (3.2 ± 1.2 g/fusion level). The amount of bone graft was obtained was highest from lumbar spinous process (42%), followed by thoracic spinous process (32%), lumbar lamina (29%), lumbar facet (28%), thoracic lamina (25%), thoracic facet (22%), and thoracic transverse process (21%). Conclusions: Lumbar vertebra provided more bone graft than thoracic vertebra. Spinous processes contributed the highest amount of local bone graft in the thoracic and lumbar spine
Marketing of library and information services in university libraries: A case study of University of Malaya Central Library, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Get PDFMarketing and promotion play a very vital role in creating awareness for library and information products and services This topic discusses the importance of marketing and
promotion in academic libraries with particular reference to Central Library, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur University libraries are established to provide information resources and services in order to support the purpose of the university. There are two research questions of the study. What are the types of information resources that are available in the Central Library? And the other one is what the marketing strategies are used by the Central Library. The objectives of the study are to identify the available Information resources and services in the Central Library and to unveil the strategies used by Central Library in marketing its resources and services. The reports Included marketing strategies employed by Central Library in promoting and attracting more library clientele as well as keeping them for long in the library. The paper concludes by advising librarians to promote their libraries through
exhibitions and displays, publicity and public relations
Under-reporting of energy and nutrient intake is a persistent issue in the Malaysian Adult Nutrition Surveys
No full textIntroduction: Under-reporting of energy intake is a common cause of bias in nutritional studies. This study was aimed at examining the extent of underreporting of energy intake and its related characteristics among respondents in the Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey (MANS) 2003 and MANS 2014. Methods: The present study analysed energy intakes of 9,624 adults aged 18-59 years from the MANS in year 2014 (2,890 respondents) and 2003 (6,734 respondents) using a single 24-hour diet recall. Basal metabolic rates (BMR) were calculated from the age- and gender-specific equations of Schofield. Under-reporting was defined as an energy intake:BMR ratio of <1.2 as proposed by Goldberg. Results: Under-reporting was found to have increased significantly from 53% in 2003 to 61% in 2014. In both surveys, under-reporting increased with higher body mass index (BMI) and older age groups. It was higher among women than men, lowest among those with primary schooling or below, and those living in Peninsular Malaysia. It was higher among rural respondents in 2014 but higher among urban respondents in 2003. The intake of energy and micronutrients increased when under-reporters were excluded. Conclusion: Under-reporting was prevalent in both the nationwide MANS, and is associated with BMI, age, gender, education level, location strata, zone. It is important to take this factor into account when assessing dietary intake in population-based studies. © 2019, Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
Urban sprawl assessment using time-series lulc and NDVI variation: A case study of Sepang, Malaysia
No full textRapid urbanization that caused urban sprawl is a major worldwide concern. In this study an assessment of urban sprawl was carried out based on Land Use Land Cover (LULC), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) variation in Sepang, Malaysia. The land cover classification consisted of Built-up Area (BUA), Vegetation Area (VA), Open Space Area (OSA), and Water Bodies (WB) from 1990 to 2018. Supervised classification based on maximum likelihood techniques were used to identify the land use classes. Based on the analysis of LULC, the majority of VA (i.e. forest field) was transformed into OSA and gradually the land was converted into BUA. Observation within 25 years, supported by NDVI and NDBI has discovered a consistent increase of BUA while contrastingly a decline of VA, while WB and OSA are suspected to have inconsistently varying highs and lows. This study has demonstrated that urban sprawl caused by rapid urbanization has not favour the population. Without proper planning and growth control, urban sprawl in Sepang would have undesirable consequences to the quality of life and the environment. Therefore, comprehensive land use and progressive environmental change can serve as prognostic measures to mitigate urban sprawl, and to achieve sustainable urbanization and to carry out effective planning and decision making. © 2019, ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary
NaNO3 sensing based on microfiber coated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes
No full textSodium nitrate (NaNO 3 ) refractive index sensor was proposed and demonstrated by using a microfiber structure, which was coated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). In the proposed sensor, we used a flame brushing technique to fabricate microfiber and drop coating method for coating of MWCNTs thin layer. It is observed that the change of the spectrum's output power and peak wavelength are more obvious with the coating. The presence of MWCNTs on the surface microfiber works as passive cladding and influence the light propagation through the fiber. The sensitivity and resolution of the sensor has reached 1.015 dB/% and 0.008%, respectively. © 2019 Elsevier Gmb
Multiple extraction conditions to produce phytochemical- and antioxidant-rich Alternanthera sessilis (red) extracts that attenuate lipid accumulation in steatotic HepG2 cells
No full textAlternanthera sessilis (red) is an edible herb used by Malaysians to alleviate hyperlipidaemia. This study aimed to produce phytochemical- and antioxidant-rich A. sessilis (red) whole plant extracts using multiple extraction conditions. The lipid-lowering effects of the extracts against steatosis in HepG2 cells were assessed. Ethanolic extracts (100%, 50 °C, 24 h) showed the highest total phenolic content (83.5 mg GAE/g extract) while water extracts (50 °C, 24 h) had the highest extraction yield (20.5%). Ethyl acetate extracts (50 °C, 24 h) showed the highest flavonoids (641 mg RE/g), triterpenoids (46.1 mg UAE/g) and betalains (amaranthin: 72.7 mg/g; betaxanthin: 74.5 mg/g; betanin: 73.1 mg/g). Despite this, the ethanolic extracts showed the highest antioxidant activities (DPPH IC50: 82.6 μg/ml; TEAC: 0.51 mmol TE/g; FRAP: 1.95 mmol Fe2+/g). UHPLC analyses showed the presence of 4 polyphenolic compounds from the extracts; trans-ferulic acid, rutin, quercetin and apigenin. Different concentrations (5–40 μg/ml) of ethanolic, ethyl acetate and water extracts produced at 50 °C, 24 h were selected for cell-based assays. Two assays were used to determine their preventive and ameliorative effects against palmitate-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Results indicated that the ethanolic extracts were the most effective at preventing steatosis (intracellular lipid content reduced by 28.3%) while water extracts showed the highest decrease of steatosis (intracellular lipid content reduced by 30%). The results were comparable with the common drug fenofibrate (0.1 mM) for hyperlipidaemia, indicating the potential of this plant's extract to reduce hepatic lipid accumulation. © 2019 Elsevier Lt