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Husband's knowledge and perception on iron consumption compliance among pregnant women in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
Get PDFAnemia is a major global problem in public health that particularly affects individuals in various stages of life, including young children, and adolescent girls experiencing menstruation, as well as pregnant and postpartum women. The study aims to assess the level of husband's knowledge and perception on iron consumption compliance among pregnant women in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM). A cross-sectional study was conducted on husband of pregnant women in Obstetrics and Gynecology (O&G) clinic and obstetrics ward at HUSM. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. 125 husband of pregnat women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of this study was selected to answer the questionnaire. They were selected through convenience sampling. The study used descriptive statistics and Pearson Chi-square. The results show that 116 (92.8%) participants had a high knowledge level on iron consumption compliance among pregnant women and 71 (56.8%) of the participants have poor level of perception on iron consumption compliance among pregnant women. There was no association between knowledge score and perception score (p = 0.786), the result shows only 65(91.5) of participants have good knowledge with a negative perception on iron consumption compliance in pregnant women. In conclusion, this study may contribute to enhancing the husband's role in encouraging pregnant women to take iron supplements regularly. However, further research should involve a larger sample of pregnant women's husbands from various hospitals across different districts to provide more accurate and representative findings
Knowledge and practice on exclusive breastfeeding and association with work-related factors among mothers in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
Get PDFThe process of feeding a baby breast milk straight from the mother's breast is known as breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding is giving babies only breast milk and no other liquids or solids, except for necessary drugs or vitamins. During the first six months of a baby's life, this approach is advised entirely to provide the essential nutrients, antibodies, and immune support needed for the best possible growth and development. In addition to decreasing the risk of infections, it strengthens the link between mother and child, improving long-term health. This study seeks to assess the knowledge and practice of EBF among mothers in Hospital USM along with the association with work-related factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on mothers given birth at HUSM in September 2023. Data for the study was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 152 working mothers fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study and was selected through purposive sampling. Data collected were statistically analysed using the SPSS software version 27. The study used descriptive statistics and Pearson Chi-square. The results demonstrated 115 (75.7%) of participants have an excellent level of EBF knowledge and 91 (59.9%) of participants have an excellent level of EBF practice. Lastly, there were no association between three work-related factors [ working hours (p = 0.559), private room to express breastmilk (p = 0.233), maternity leave period (p = 0.697)] and level of EBF practice. in this study. However, there is a significant association between availability of refrigerator to store breastmilk and level of EBF practice (p = 0.011). In conclusion, these results highlight the necessity of focused workplace assistance initiatives to improve working mothers' EBF practice. Policymakers and healthcare practitioners can improve the availability of resources such as freezers for keeping expressed milk, so creating circumstances that favour prolonged exclusive breastfeeding
Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation induces vascular endothelial dysfunction in rats: roles of oxidative stress-mediated nitric oxide signalling and vitamin c supplementation
Get PDFRapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation (REMsd) is associated with oxidative stress, the primary factor in the mechanism of endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction has been attributed to a reduction in nitric oxide (NO.) bioavailability. To date, the mechanism of endothelial dysfunction in REMsd is poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of REMsd on systolic blood pressure (SBP), vascular endothelial function, protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phosphorylated-AKT (p-AKT) and total AKT, levels of oxidative stress marker and antioxidants, and histopathological changes in the aorta. The beneficial effects of vitamin C were also evaluated. Thirty-five (35) adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into 5 groups (n=7): free-moving control rats (FMC), REM sleep-deprived rats for 72-h (72-h REMsd), tank control rats (TC), sleep recovered for 72-h after 72-h of REMsd (SR), and 72-h REMsd pretreated with vitamin C (RVC). In the RVC group, rats were administered vitamin C orally for 4 weeks (100 mg/kg/day) before the study commenced. The inverted flowerpot technique was utilised to develop REMsd and was validated by a significant decrease in body weight gain despite a significant increase in food consumption. The descending thoracic aorta was isolated for in vitro functional study (myograph), measurement of protein expression of eNOS, p-AKT, and total AKT, and measurement of oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant markers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The histopathology of the aorta was evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The 72-h REMsd group demonstrated a significant increase in SBP compared to other groups. In the in vitro functional study, there was hypercontractility of the aorta and impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in the 72-h REMsd group. The levels of protein expression of eNOS, p-AKT, and AKT were significantly decreased in the 72-h REMsd group compared to the FMC group. There were significantly increased levels of MDA, and decreased levels of SOD, CAT, GSH, and TAC in the 72-h REMsd group compared to other groups, which produce oxidative stress. In the 72-h REMsd group, H&E staining showed endothelial damage and its underlying structures, while the SEM study further confirmed the damage by the presence of dense fibrin networks. The results in the SR and RVC groups were not significantly different compared to the FMC and TC groups. Thus, it is suggested that REMsd-induced endothelial dysfunction due to decreased NO. availability resulting from the decrease in eNOS protein expression. Oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation is responsible for endothelial damage in the 72-h REMsd group, which was evidenced by increased MDA levels. Oxidative stress is suggestive to be the mediator for endothelial dysfunction and damage that also disrupts the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/ AKT/eNOS signalling pathway. Sleep recovery reverts the changes following REMsd to the baseline values. Supplementation of vitamin C is beneficial in protecting the endothelium against the adverse effects of REMsd
Effects of nnav1.5 expression modulation on mhc I antigen processing machinery and invasion potential of breast cancer cells
Get PDFThe increase in expression and activity of voltage-gated sodium channel’s (VGSC) isoform, neonatal Nav1.5 (nNav1.5) in breast cancer have been associated with enhanced metastatic ability. Loss of immune surveillance enables cancer cells to metastasize hence this study is to explore the possible role of nNav1.5 in regulating the expression of immune components, MHC I antigen processing machinery (APM), which is deregulated in breast cancer. Several reports link VGSC and APM in neurons, but the correlation between nNav1.5 and APM in breast cancer is unknown. In this study, the gene expression of APM components (PSMB8, PSMB9, PSMB10, TAP1, TAP2, B2M and MHC I) and CD274 were measured and compared in the highly aggressive MDA-MB-231, less aggressive MCF-7 and control, non-cancerous breast epithelial, MCF 10A via real-time PCR. Gene expression of nNav1.5 and two metastatic markers, MMP1 and FN1, were included. After 3D spheroids for MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 were established via liquid overlay method, their target genes’ expression was compared with the monolayer counterparts. The spheroid volumes were analysed using SpheroidSizer. To block nNav1.5 expression, tetrodotoxin (TTX) and siRNA were employed in MDA-MB-231 monolayer and spheroids, while Trichostatin A and nNav1.5-plasmid were utilised to increase nNav1.5 expression in MCF-7 monolayer and spheroids. The effects of modulating nNav1.5 were assessed by profiling all target genes using real-time PCR and on spheroid invasion ability using Cultrex kit. In monolayer model, highest nNav1.5 gene level was detected in MDA-MB-231 > MCF-7 but absent in MCF 10A. In contrast, MHC I, B2M, PSMB8, PSMB9, TAP1 and TAP2 were at the highest level in MCF 10A > MDA-MB-231 > MCF-7, except for PSMB10 with MCF-7 > MDA-MB-231. For CD274, the highest level was in MDA-MB-231 > MCF 10A > MCF-7. In spheroids of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, the level of nNav1.5, MMP1, and FN1, were upregulated but there were no changes in almost all APM genes (except TAP1 downregulation), compared to their respective monolayer model. CD274 is downregulated in MDA-MB-231 spheroid but upregulated in MCF-7 spheroid, compared to their monolayer model. In nNav1.5 blocking monolayer experiments, TTX upregulated nNav1.5, TAP2, B2M, MMP1, and FN1 but downregulated PSMB9. Alternatively, siRNA knocked down nNav1.5 gene (73.22% after 48 hours, 10 nM siRNA) in MDA-MB-231, thus resulted in the upregulation of B2M and MHC I, and the downregulation of PSMB8, PSMB9, PSMB10, TAP2, and CD274, but unchanged MMP1 and FN1. However, in MDA-MB-231 spheroid, both TTX and siRNA failed to induce expressional changes. On the invasion ability, siRNA pre-treated spheroid failed to form. In MCF-7 monolayer and spheroid model, TSA induced nNav1.5, PSMB9, B2M, MHC I, CD274, and MMP1 expression. In monolayer MCF-7, nNav1.5 upregulation via plasmid transfection increased all target genes but in spheroid, only nNav1.5 and MHC I were upregulated, while PSMB10 and B2M were downregulated. TSA showed increased spheroid invasion, but nNav1.5-plasmid pre-transfected cells formed spheroids with lower relative perimeter diameter. In summary, modulating nNav1.5 gene expression affected MHC I APM, CD274, and cell behaviour, hence can potentially improve breast cancer immunotherapies by countering tumour immune escape mechanism via rescuing MHC I. Overall, the study’s current findings support the influence of nNav1.5 on the expression regulation of immune component molecules in breast cancer
Antibiotic resistance during covid-19 pandemic and perspective of healthcare providers towards antibiotic resistance: a mixed-method study
Get PDFDuring the Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there was an overuse
of antibiotics in hospitals. The improper use of antibiotics during COVID-19 has
increased the antibiotic resistance (AR), which was reported by multiple studies. The
main objective of this study was to study the AR during COVID-19 and perspective
of healthcare providers towards AR. This study employed a mixed method design
throughout two phases. Phase Ⅰ study (ⅰ): A retrospective cross-sectional study was
employed to identify patients who had positive AR bacteria before, during and after
COVID-19 as well as the bacterial isolates; Phase Ⅰ study (ⅱ): A cross sectional design
was employed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare
worker (HCWs) in Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); Phase Ⅱ study: A
qualitative multi-centre study was carried out in the KSA to explore the experience of
health commissioners toward AR during COVID-19. Results of Phase Ⅰ study (ⅰ)
showed the prevalence of Pan Drug Resistance (PDR) during COVID-19 pandemic
(85.7%) was higher as compared to the time before (0%) and after (14.3%), p= 0.001.
S. aureus showed a negligible resistance after pandemic, while the resistance Gramnegative
bacteria decreased during and after pandemic compared to the time before.
Results of Phase Ⅰ study (ⅱ) revealed poor knowledge, negative attitude and poor
practice of HCWs. The significantly associated factors with good knowledge were
nationality, cadre, qualification, and working place. Positive attitude was significantly
associated with cadre, qualification, and working place. Good practice was significantly associated with gender, cadre, qualification, and working place. In Phase
Ⅱ, seven themes emerged from data. Therefore, despite the AR increased globally
during COVID-19 pandemic, it dropped gradually in Najran region, KSA. Knowledge,
attitude and practice of HCWs in Najran, KSA regarding AR during pandemic need
improvement, whereas healthcare commissioners showed scientific and up to date
knowledge about the AR. Antibiotics’ prescription should be strictly implemented,
relying on the antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) and guidelines from the
world health organization (WHO) or ministry of health (MOH). Implementation of
effective educational and training programs are urgently needed. Findings of this study
could be used to inform policy and practice for governmental HCWs and public to
reduce the impact of pandemics on the AR
Physical and mechanical properties evaluation of experimental nanohybrid dental composite reinforced with nanosized zirconia and macrosized alumina
Get PDFAn experimental nanohybrid dental composite (NHDC) using silica extracted from rice husk has been developed. However, the physical properties of NHDC are still inferior as compared to the commercial dental composite. This study aimed to enhance the NHDC properties using nano-sized Zirconia and macro-sized alumina reinforcing fillers, focusing on the physical and mechanical properties of the NHDC. Nanosilica white powder, derived from rice husk, was used as a filler in NHDC. This dental composite was reinforced with nano-sized zirconia (ZrO2) and macro-sized alumina reinforcing fillers (Al2O3), which were divided into three NHDC groups: reinforced with Zirconia (3%) & Alumina (2%), reinforced with Zirconia (2%) & Alumina (3%), and reinforced with Zirconia (3%) only. NHDC with no filler reinforcement and FiltekTM Z250XT were used as a negative and positive control, respectively. The distribution of filler particles inside NHDC was evaluated using FESEM. The NHDCs were then tested for their physical and mechanical properties, respectively. The distribution of filler particles is homogenously distributed, and the surfaces of the experimental NHDCs appeared smooth. The Vickers hardness, surface roughness, flexural strength, and translucency properties showed that zirconia and alumina reinforced NHDC were statistically higher than the control. However, these values are significantly lower than the commercial product FiltekTM Z250XT (p 0.05). Zirconia & Alumina reinforcement also improves the degree of conversion of experimental NHDC compared to the control and commercial product FiltekTM Z250XT (p < 0.05). This study concludes that zirconia and alumina reinforcement improve the properties of the experimental NHDC and could be used as future filler in dental composite reinforcement
BET406 – Pengurusan Perosak Bersepadu (Integrated Pest Management)
Get PDFSecond Semester Examination
2023/2024 Academic Session
July/August 2024
BET406 – Pengurusan Perosak Bersepadu
(Integrated Pest Management)
Duration : 2 hours
(Masa : 2 jam
BST403 – Environmental Management (Pengurusan Persekitaran)
Get PDFSecond Semester Examination
2023/2024 Academic Session
July/August 2024
BST403 – Environmental Management
(Pengurusan Persekitaran)
Duration : 2 hours
(Masa : 2 jam
BTT211/BTT306 – Techniques in Biotechnology (Teknik dalam Bioteknologi)
Get PDFSecond Semester Examination
2023/2024 Academic Session
July/August 2024
BTT211/BTT306 – Techniques in Biotechnology
(Teknik dalam Bioteknologi)
Duration : 2 hours
(Masa : 2 jam
Factors associated with body weight status and internet addiction among malaysian university students in Penang: mixed method study before and during covid-19 pandemic
Get PDFThe Internet began as a divine gift to humans to enlighten society by transferring knowledge and making available all the information required for human well-being, growth, and prosperity. But as the internet grew popular, it created a set of problems on its own, one of the major ones being Internet Addiction (IA). In Malaysia, internet addiction is surfacing as a key problem among the younger generation. This mixed method study was performed to examine the factors associated with body weight status and internet addiction of Malaysian university students in Penang before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 352 Malaysian undergraduate students studying in public/ private colleges or universities. The level of internet addiction was determined based on Young’s internet addiction self-reported scale, and students were classified as no IA users (0.3%), mild IA users (56.8%), moderate IA users (37.5%), and severe IA users (5.4%). The multiple logistic analysis showed that the students gender (reference, female; male: OR = 7.795, P < 0.001), year of study (reference, third year of study; second year: OR = 5.924, P < 0.001), mother’s highest level of education (reference, primary level of education; secondary level of education OR = 0.095, P < 0.001; College/ University level of education OR = 0.021, P < 0.001), family size (reference, big family size; medium family size OR = 5.515, P < 0.001) made a unique statistically significant contribution to the model. The chi-square test was used to analyse the relationship between the students’ levels of internet addiction and lifestyle patterns and dietary behaviour. Irregular bedtimes were higher among severe internet addiction students than in mild internet addiction students. In Phase I study, all the students showed sedentary behaviour but in Phase II study physical activity was found to be higher among students with severe Internet Addiction. Diet quality among severe internet addiction students was also poorer than in moderate internet addiction students and mild internet addiction students. Moreover, improper dietary behaviour due to the loss of appetite, high frequency of snacking and skipping meals might cause imbalanced nutritional intake among severe internet users. In this study, it has been demonstrated that severely internet addiction students have inappropriate dietary behaviour and poor diet quality. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that the variable family size (reference, big family size; small family size OR = 0.060, P < 0.05) were found to be significant to predict the underweight. The internet addiction level (reference, no internet addiction; mild internet addiction OR = 412973.188, P < 0.05; moderate internet addiction OR = 143209.451, P < 0.001) and sleep quality (OR = 0.206, P < 0.001) were found to be significant to predict the normal weight of the students. Thirty-six students were subjected to a focus group discussion where they were motivated to share their experience in internet-related activities, the effect of internet usage on their significant aspects of life and the experience of withdrawal symptoms while trying to limit their online activity. They were also encouraged to share their perception of face-to-face personal interaction with family and friends, sports and other offline activities as compared to similar online activities. The findings of this study prove that there is a significant contribution of demographic and socio-economic factors to internet addiction among Malaysian university/college students in Penang. In addition, there is a significant contribution of demographic factors, internet addiction, and sleep quality to the body mass index of Malaysian university/college students in Penang