Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan - Tesis

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A prospective case-control study on nutritional status and lifestyle risk factors towards quality of life among colorectal cancer and polyp patients in Malaysia
(2025-08)
Ashari, Lydiatul Shima
In Southeast Asian countries, there is a growing incidence and prevalence rate of disease-related malnutrition colorectal cancer (CRC) and its precursor, colorectal polyp, however there are only few reports of this condition. Treatments and the disease itself may affect and impair the overall quality of life (QOL) of CRC survivors. The study aimed to determine the nutritional status and lifestyle risk factors among CRC and polyp patients and their impact on QOL through a prospective case-control study in Malaysia. This study was conducted in two university hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia from June 2020 until December 2022. Patients were recruited through purposive sampling method and a total of 313 patients consisting of 99 and 74 pathologically confirmed CRC and colorectal polyp cases respectively, and 140 controls were included in the analysis. The following information was gathered pre- treatment: Socio-demographic, family and personal medical history, dietary intake, sedentary behaviour, nutritional risk, smoking, clinicopathological, biochemical parameters, and anthropometric profiles. Six months post-treatment, sedentary behaviour, nutritional risk, biochemical parameters, and anthropometric profiles were gathered again, together with treatment and QOL. Multiple logistic regression model revealed that the Kuala Lumpur state (OR=8.89, 95% CI=3.19-24.83; p<0.001), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (OR=4.91, 95% CI=1.81-13.29, p=0.002), vitamin/mineral supplements (OR=5.15, CI=2.33-11.39, p<0.001), and saturated fatty acids (SFA) (OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.08-1.31, p<0.001) intake were associated with greater risks of CRC while non-Malay (OR=0.36, 95% CI=0.15-0.87, p=0.024), overweight (OR=0.14, 95% CI=0.04-0.48, p=0.002), increased intake of vitamin D (OR=0.71, 95% CI=0.55-0.92, p=0.008) and dietary fibre (OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.74-0.89, p<0.001) were associated with reduced risk of CRC after the data were adjusted for age and gender. For colorectal polyp, the Kuala Lumpur state (OR=4.36, 95% CI=2.02-9.41, p<0.001) and high cholesterol (OR=1.003, 95% CI=1.001-1.005, p=0.006) intake were associated with increased risk while high thiamin (OR=0.02, 95% CI= 0.00-0.11, p<0.001) and fruits (OR=0.997, 95% CI=0.995-1.000, p=0.035) intake were found associated with decreased of risk. Multiple linear regression model showed that malnourish (β=-18.40, p<0.001) and abdominal obesity (β=-10.07, p=0.020) were negatively associated with QOL after six months of post-treatment. This study advances current understanding of the nutritional and metabolic pathways underlying colorectal cancer and polyp development, providing a foundation for future mechanistic and intervention studies
A study on fibre identification and characterization of various headscarf fabrics
(2025-02)
Fahmi, Shazwina Ayna Mohd
This study focuses on the identification and characterisation of fibres from six types of headscarf fabrics, mainly cotton, silk, polyester, lycra, viscose, and moss crepe as potential sources of trace evidence in forensic investigations. Fibre evidence, often transferred during physical contact, plays a crucial role in linking suspects, victims, and crime scenes. Morphological tests revealed that distinct weave patterns and yarn structures significantly influence fabric behaviour, such as porosity and density, aiding in the differentiation of fabric types. Both cotton and viscose exhibited plain weaves, but cotton had a less porous fabric structure than viscose. Polyester and lycra showed dense synthetic structures. Burning tests identified fibres based on their combustion behaviour, residue formation, and odour. Lycra however shows uniqueness in the absence of hard beads although it is synthetic fibre. Moss crepe and viscose displayed mixed traits, confirming their partially synthetic origins. Solubility tests further validated fibre compositions by observing their reactions to various chemical solvents, demonstrating distinct dissolution behaviours influenced by chemical structure and environmental factors. Most fibres did not dissolve in 75% and 60% sulphuric acid, and none dissolved in formic acid, while most fibres dissolved in high-temperature 50% sodium hydroxide solutions. In conclusion, this study successfully classified and identified the six types of fibres using comprehensive fibre identification methods, enhancing their value as trace evidence in forensic applications
Allelic variations in the edar gene and their influence on hair types in Malaysian populations
(2025-02)
Boon, Wendy Tan Lee
Ectodysplasin A Receptor (EDAR) is a tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) that is involved in the development of ectodermal tissues, including hair follicles. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3827760, which encodes EDAR:p.(Val370Ala), is a missense mutation in the EDAR gene that pleiotropically influences phenotypic traits such as hair type, particularly in East Asian populations. However, the genotype distribution and correlation of this SNP with hair type among Malaysian ethnic groups remain largely unexplored. Thus, this study aimed to determine the allelic variation of SNP rs3827760 in the Malaysian population among the Malay, Chinese, and Indian ethnic groups. DNA samples (buccal swabs) were collected from 30 participants, with 10 individuals from each ethnic group, and extracted using a silica-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using the custom EDAR primers, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA quantification, cycle sequencing, and ethanol precipitation (purification). Sanger sequencing was conducted using the SeqStudio™ Genetic Analyzer, and the chromatograms were analyzed with Chromas and Jalview software to identify nucleotide variations at the SNP loci rs3827760, rs146567337, and rs12623957. A chi-square test was performed to determine the statistical significance of the association between the SNPs and ethnicity or hair type. The analysis showed that SNP rs3827760 was significantly correlated with both ethnicity (P-value <0.001) and hair type (P-value = 0.011). The ancestral allele (allele A) was strongly associated with Indian (curly hair) individuals, while the derived allele (allele G) was strongly associated with Chinese (straight hair) individuals. Malay individuals with straight or wavy hair exhibited a mix of all three genotypes. SNP rs146567337 showed no significant association with ethnicity (P-value = 0.155) or hair type (P-value = 0.432). SNP rs12623957 was not significantly related to ethnicity (P-value = 0.058) but was correlated with hair type (P-value = 0.017). Therefore, SNP rs3827760 in the EDAR gene was the most strongly correlated genetic factor for hair types and ethnicity in this study
An evaluation using fdi criteria to compare full-ceramic crowns, composite resin fillings, ceramic inlays and onlays in posterior teeth after endodontic treatment
(2025-09)
Shiwei, Che
Restoring endodontically treated posterior teeth is a critical challenge due to structural compromises following root canal treatment. This study evaluates the clinical performance of full-ceramic crowns (FCC), composite resin (CR) fillings, and ceramic inlays/onlays in posterior teeth using the World Dental Federation (FDI) criteria. A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 150 patients (194 posterior teeth), assessing functional outcomes such as fracture resistance, marginal adaptation, wear, and patient satisfaction over a mean follow-up period of 58.14 months (SD = 2.93). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in long-term success rates among the three groups, with FCC demonstrating superior durability and marginal adaptation, while CR fillings provided a minimally invasive, cost-effective option with higher wear and marginal deterioration over time. Ceramic inlays/onlays offered a balance between structural conservation and durability, making them suitable for cases with moderate tooth structure loss. Patient satisfaction scores, as measured by the FDI criteria, were highest in the FCC group (mean score: 1.2 ± 0.4), followed by the ceramic inlays/onlays group (1.4 ± 0.5) and the CR fillings group (1.8 ± 0.6), with differences statistically significant (p < 0.05). These findings provide evidence-based recommendations for restorative material selection, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment planning based on clinical conditions and patient needs
Analytical investigation of corrosive agents in relation to cotton textile damage assessment
(2025-02)
Khairi, Siti Nur Aiefika
Acid attacks cases occur commonly with the ill intention to hurt the victim by utilising corrosive substances that are easily obtained and cheap. Clothing fabrics are one of the surfaces that are in contact with the corrosive agents used making identification of the corrosive substances vital to provide clue in connecting the perpetrator to the crime. Therefore, this study investigates the chemical characterization of corrosive agents and the relation to textile damage. Relationships of corrosive substance samples with cotton textile were studied over time interval of every 5 minutes in spend of 15 minutes. The tear area and absorption area occurred to the cotton textile were taken into account as the effect. Lab graded acids and commercial products were included in the analytical investigation, whereby pH measurements and chemical characterization of the corrosive substance samples by using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was performed. Resulting in observation of the acidity trends of the samples through the pH measurement. In addition, the chemical characteristics of the samples was achieved through principal component analysis, clustering the samples according to selected features of each sample unique chemical characteristics. These findings provide implications for acid attack cases in identifying corrosive substances evidence. Furthermore, identifying the corrosive substance by utilising analytical instrument and observation the relationship between corrosive substances with cotton textile in contact
Anti cancer effect of paddy husk extracts in human salivary gland epidermoid cancer cells in vitro model
(2024-02)
Al-Azazi, Entesar Ahmed Abdullah
Global agriculture produces millions of tons of waste yearly. Paddy husk is an inedible agriculture waste obtained during the process of rice milling. Studies reported that it has chemopreventive potential due to the presence of related phytochemicals. The aim of this study is to elucidate the presence of anti-cancer related phytochemicals from paddy husk extract and evaluate its inhibitory and anti-proliferative effects against human submaxillary salivary gland epidermoid carcinoma cells (HTB-41). Two types of solvent for paddy husk extract have been used; water and aqueous methanol. The phytochemical constituents of paddy husk extracts were identified using GC-MS. The inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity analysis was calculated using Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay (TBEA). Apoptosis and cell cycle analysis were evaluated by flow cytometer, and cell morphology post treatment was analysed ultrastructurally, while Western blot was performed for proteomic analysis. Our results showed presence of vitamin E and other phytochemicals in paddy husk extracts. Both water and aqueous methanol extracts demonstrated inhibitory activity on HTB- 41 cells where IC50 dose of water extract (400 μg/ml) managed to reduce cell viability to 53.0 % and IC50 dose of aqueous methanol extract (200 μg/ml) managed to reduce cell viability to 51.12 % without exhibiting any significant cytotoxic effects. Apoptosis analysis revealed that water and aqueous methanol extracts induce apoptosis effect on HTB-41 as supported with microscopic findings of cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing and apoptotic bodies, meanwhile, Hoechst 33342 staining showed nuclear shrinkage and fragmentation. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that paddy husk extracts promote a significant amount of apoptotic cellular population from 76.00% (untreated) to 47.86% (paddy husk water extract) and 43.13% (paddy husk aqueous methanol) and arresting the cells at S-phase from 19.90% (control) to 36.90 % (paddy husk aqueous methanol extract) and 27.86 % (paddy husk water extract). Western blot analysis reveals that apoptosis was induced through caspase 3-mediated intrinsic pathway. Pro-apoptotic and tumour suppressor proteins; Bax, p27kip1 expressed higher (P <0.05), while anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2 downregulated after treatment (P <0.01). This leads to increase of caspase 9 expression which in turn activate caspase 3 and 7 leading to cell apoptosis. In conclusion, the presence of phytochemicals in paddy husk especially in aqueous methanol extract successfully showed better inhibitory and anti-proliferative effects on the human submaxillary salivary gland epidermoid carcinoma cells (HTB-41), while it acted in a tumour-selective manner by not inducing any significant changes on human gingival fibroblast cell (HGF-1).
Application of eggshells and seashells for latent fingermark development.
(2025-09)
Said, Nur Fatin Nabihah
Fingerprint identification remains an essential aspect in the field of forensic science, being a reliable tool for identifying suspects and reconstructing criminal events. The current research explores the possibility of producing fingerprint powders from eggshells (ES) and seashells (SS), two widely available biowaste products that are mainly made up of calcium carbonate. The characterisation of ES and SS powders using FTIR, SEM, and EDX methods demonstrated that both the magnetic and non-magnetic types are efficient green alternatives for the development of latent fingermarks. The magnetic type is especially suitable for application on sensitive or valuable surfaces. A Friedman test revealed considerable differences in the development of latent fingermarks among the various powders, with a p-value noted at less than 0.001. Magnetic eggshell powder (MES) proves to be the best natural alternative for use on non-porous surfaces, exhibiting a durability profile that allows for multiple recovery attempts. Magnetic seashell powder (MSS) exhibited the most consistent detail in microscopic ridge patterns, showing great potential as an eco-friendly substitute for commercially magnetic powders in the development of latent fingermarks rich in amino acids, cholesterol, and squalene on non-porous surfaces. Non-magnetic ES and SS powders performed well in the case of DL-serine-based deposits. MES and MSS powders showed great promise as environmentally friendly alternatives to palmitic acid-based fingerprints. In addition, both magnetic and non-magnetic variants exhibited the most pronounced ridge definition for lactic acid-rich fingerprints, indicating their great potential for the development of hydrophilic residues. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the type of powder did not significantly affect fingermark scores for either heat ageing (p = 0.998) or submersion ageing (p = 0.903). This means that fingermark development was similar across all powder types in both conditions. In contrast, fingermark scores varied significantly among the ten surface types examined (p < 0.001 for both ageing studies). Natural powders derived from ES and SS, especially their magnetic forms, had shown competitive, and often better, performance than commercial powder under water exposure. On the other hand, their non-magnetic powder had proven to be remarkably resilient under different conditions, especially when subjected to high heat. In summary, this research offers valuable information on the forensic process relating to natural resource powders, moving the field towards a green and safe method for latent fingermark visualisation
Assessing knowledge and awareness of multiple sclerosis among adults attending Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM) outpatient clinics
(2025-08)
Saidi, Nur Fatini Idrus
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, idiopathic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the central nervous system, leading to demyelination and subsequent axonal degeneration, and typically affecting young adults (Calabresi, 2004). This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of MS among adults attending the outpatient clinic at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM) and to determine whether there is any association between knowledge or awareness and selected socio-demographic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 147 adult participants at HPUSM outpatient clinic using a validated self-administered questionnaire, the MS Knowledge Questionnaire (MSKQ-25) and awareness questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to identify associations between knowledge and awareness levels and socio-demographic variables. The mean knowledge score was 7.88 ± 4.626 with 84.4% of participants demonstrating poor knowledge. The mean awareness score was 2.90 ± 1.98, and only 22.4% of participants had high awareness. There was a statistically significant association between source of information and awareness level (p = 0.018). However, no significant associations were found between knowledge and age (p = 0.363), gender (p = 0.076), or educational level (p = 0.119). In conclusion, the findings indicate a generally low level of knowledge and awareness about MS among the studied population
Assessment of cytokine secretions by monocytes in the presence of synovial fluid-derived exosomes
(2025-01)
Bahri, Tengku Qashrina Adriana Tengku Shaifful
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease marked by inflammation and cartilage deterioration. Synovial fluid-derived exosomes are emerging as key modulators in OA pathogenesis, influencing immune responses and cytokine secretion. This study aimed to assess cytokine secretions, specifically soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), complement component 5a (C5a), and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), by monocytes in the presence of synovial fluid-derived exosomes. Exosomes were isolated from the synovial fluid of late-stage OA patients through ultracentrifugation and characterised by Western blot and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Exosome size has been confirmed between 30 to 150 nm by NTA. Additionally, exosomes expressed tetraspanin markers CD9, CD63, CD81, and HSP70 as demonstrated by Western blot. Monocytes isolated from healthy donor peripheral blood, were cultured with exosomes at various ratios (1:10, 1:20, and 1:40) and time points (24 and 48 hours). Cytokine levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results of this study showed that monocyte-exosome interactions influenced cytokine secretion in a time- and dose-dependent manner. sICAM-1 and C5a exhibited a declining trend with prolonged incubation, except at higher exosome concentrations, where C5a secretion was increased. MIF levels peaked after 48 hours, suggesting delayed cytokine induction. These findings highlight the immunomodulatory role of exosomes in OA, providing insight into the inflammatory processes underlying disease progression
Association between added sugar intake and body mass index (BMI) with sleep quality among undergraduate students at Universiti Sains Malaysia Kampus Kesihatan, Kelantan
(2025-06)
Haabil, Sofia Insyirah Muhammad
This study explores the association between added sugar intake, body mass index (BMI), and sleep quality among undergraduate students at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kampus Kesihatan, Kelantan. This research aims to assess the dietary habits, specifically in cariogenic food and beverages, the influence of BMI, and the sleep quality, due to the concern of high sugar consumption over health implications that are rising nowadays. The study is crucial as it addresses gaps in the literature regarding the combined impact of added sugar, BMI, and sleep quality in Malaysian undergraduates which is a group that may be particularly vulnerable to unhealthy eating and sleep habits due to academic pressures and irregular lifestyles. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from students (n=140) through a Cariogenic Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and anthropometric measurements. The results revealed that most participants had moderate levels of added sugar intake, with a significant proportion experiencing poor sleep quality. BMI classifications indicated that majority of students in USMMK had a normal weight, while a smaller group was either overweight or obese. The study found no significant statistical associations between added sugar intake and sleep quality (χ²(2) = 2, p = 0.073). There are also no significant statistical associations between Body Mass Index (BMI) and sleep quality (χ²(2) = 3, p = 0.438). Also, similar results obtained where no significant association between added sugar intake and BMI (χ²(2) =, p = 0.073). Thus, this suggest that the relationship between these variables is complex and influenced by multiple factors. Additionally, the findings in this study mention the importance for targeted health interventions in university settings to improve dietary choices and quality of sleep among students. This research gives foundational insights that could guide future health promotion programs aiming to improve the well-being of students in universities and reduce the risk of longterm health which associated with issues of poor dietary and sleep patterns
Association between diet quality and malnutrition among cancer patients in Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM)
(2025-07)
Noorli, Nurul Najwa
Poor diet quality and malnutrition are linked with poorer outcomes following cancer treatment. This study determined the association between diet quality and malnutrition status among cancer patients in Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM). This cross-sectional study involving 91 cancer patients receiving both outpatient and inpatient cancer treatment, selected using convenience sampling. A set of validated questionnaires were used which consists information of socio-demography, 3-days diet recalls and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Diet quality status was assessed using the new standardized Malaysian Healthy Eating Index (S-MHEI). Majority of the participants were women (70.3%), identified as Malay (95.6%), married (84.6%), had a secondary school level of education (60.4%), unemployed (61.5%), and reported a monthly income of less than RM2,500 per month (78%). Among the participants, 70.3% reported a family history of cancer. Most participants did not have major comorbidities, with 63.7% without hypertension, 69.2% without type 2 diabetes mellitus, 74.7% without hyperlipidaemia, 92.3% without heart disease, and 93.4% without kidney disease. The most common cancer type was reproductive cancers (27.5%), while the majority were diagnosed at Stage 3 (35.6%). More than half of the participants (53.8%) were receiving chemotherapy as their primary treatment. The mean diet quality score among cancer patients was 56.43 ± 13.12. The minimum and maximum scores were 25 and 85, respectively. This indicated that the overall diet quality of the sample needs an improvement. Based on the three-category classification, 58.2% of patients were classified as well-nourished (SGA A),27.5% of patients were classified as moderately malnourished or at risk (SGA B), while 14.3% were classified as severely malnourished (SGA C). This indicated a high prevalence of malnutrition among cancer patients in this study. There was no statistically significant mean difference of diet quality between well-nourished (SGA A) and malnourished (SGA B+C) patients (p = 0.228). This suggests that other factors beyond diet quality such as nutrition knowledge, psychological well-being, functional limitations, treatment burden, food accessibility, and the level of social or caregiver support may play a more significant factor in malnutrition status among cancer patients
Association between risk of malnutrition, albumin level and quality of life (QOL) among hemodialysis patients in Hospital Pakar USM (HPUSM)
(2025-07)
Fasre, Anna Zafira
Patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment were susceptible to have poor QOL because the treatment is consuming a lot of time and increase risk of morbidity. Lower albumin level which can be due to manlnutrition status may indicate a lower health-related quality of life (QOL) and higher hospitalization rates and greater risk of fatality. The objective for this study is to determine the association between risk of malnutrition, albumin level, and QOL among hemodialysis patients in Hospital Pakar USM (HPUSM). This cross-sectional study involving 81 participants was obtained through purposive sampling and utilized the questionnaires of Dialysis Malnutrition Score (DMS) to identify risk of malnutrition, Kidney Disease and Quality of Life (KDQOL-36) to determine the quality of life, and albumin level were also obtained from the medical folder. Majority of the participants were Malay (92.6%), mean age of 56.3 ± 12.4 years old, most of them were working (90.1%) and married (74.1%). The result shown majority of the participants were in the category of moderate risk of malnutrition (87.7%), the albumin level was 40.0 (IQR 9.0) g/L and the highest score of KDQOL was in domain of social interaction with mean of 85.76 ± 17.66. Based on the Spearmen correlations test, it has been found that there was a strong negative correlation between risk of malnutrition and albumin level (r = -0.534, p <0.001). In addition, there no significant correlation between albumin level and Quality of life (QOL) among hemodialysis patients. However, there was no significant correlation between risk of malnutrition with KDQOL. QOL among hemodialysis could not be determined by using albumin level alone since suggesting that QOL is influenced by multiple factors beyond nutritional status alone. Future studies should incorporate additional variables such as inflammation markers, comorbidities, hemoglobin levels, and dialysis adequacy to better understand the multifactorial influences on QOL in hemodialysis patients
Association between snacking patterns, vending machine uses and body mass index (BMI) among undergraduate students in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus
(2025-07)
Suhaimy, Nur Amni Mohd
University students' eating habits, particularly their snacking habits, have been a significant issue as a factor of their health. This study aimed to assess the association between snacking patterns, vending machine use and body mass index (BMI) among undergraduate students at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Health Campus. A cross-sectional design was employed using an online self-administered questionnaire completed by 236 students. Sociodemographic information, eating frequency and timing, food kinds, vending machine usage, and self-reported height and weight were all gathered through the questionnaire. Snacking was reported by 56.8% of the 236 participants (n = 134), usually once or twice a week and 50% of the respondents (n = 118) indicated that 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. was the most preferred time to snack. The results showed that non-users (n = 144, 61%) of vending machines outnumbered users (n = 92, 39%). Most of the participants in this study were categorised in the normal BMI (n = 128, 54.2%). To investigate correlations between variables, statistical analyses were performed using Pearson's Chi-square tests. A significant association was found between vending machine usage and snacking patterns (x2 = 2, p < 0.05), particularly with the frequency and timing of consumption of energy-dense snacks and beverages such as chips, sweets, instant noodles, iced tea, flavoured milk and more. Stress, hunger, convenience, and the appealing flavour of snacks were the primary factors influencing students' snacking pattern. Passive activities like watching television or using smartphones were most frequently linked to increase unhealthy consumption of snacks. However, no significant association was observed between snacking patterns and BMI (x2 = 6, p = 0.166), (x2 = 9, p = 0.437) or vending machine use and BMI (x2 = 3, p = 0.378). These findings suggested that while vending machines may influence students’ snacking behaviours, they are not a direct predictor of BMI. This study also looked at the main characteristics that affected participants' purchases from vending machines, such as accessibility, hunger, and the desire to snack between mealtimes. The study highlighted the need for targeted strategies to improve the nutritional quality of vending machine offerings in university settings. A noteworthy 41.4% of participants reported occasionally being aware of the nutritional value of snacks. Future research should include larger and more diverse populations and explore longitudinal changes in snacking behaviour
Association between sociodemographic factors, dialysis malnutrition score (DMS), and quality of life (QOL) among hemodialysis patients in HPUSM
(2025-07)
Zakaria, Nor Zur Hafizah
Hemodialysis (HD) is a treatment process that removes toxins, excess fluid, and waste products from the blood in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Despite its life-saving role, HD contributes to increased protein-energy loss, inflammation, and metabolic stress, all of which heighten the risk of malnutrition, and the demanding treatment schedule and physical limitations lead to a reduced quality of life (QoL). Sociodemographic factors, like age, education, income, and work status, influence a patient’s ability to afford renal-friendly foods, understand dietary advice, and cope with the demands of long-term treatment. Lower-income patients struggle to meet dietary needs, while older patients face more physical limitations that increase their risk of malnutrition and lower their quality of life. This study contributes valuable insights into how sociodemographic factors influence the nutritional status and quality of life of hemodialysis patients and identify specific groups that may be more vulnerable to malnutrition or reduced quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between sociodemographic factors, prevalence of malnutrition, and quality of life among hemodialysis patients in HPUSM. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 81 hemodialysis patients at HPUSM. Sociodemographic data were collected through structured questionnaires. Meanwhile malnutrition status was assessed using the Dialysis Malnutrition Score (DMS), and quality of life was evaluated using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-24 (KDQOL-24). Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U-test, and Kruskal–Wallis test to determine group differences, while associations were interpreted using median and interquartile ranges (IQR). Results: The prevalence of 40–59 years (43.2%) and older adults 60–81 years (44.4%), with only (12.3%) in the younger age group. The gender distribution was balanced, with (49.4%) males and (50.6%) females. The majority of patients were Malay (92.6%), and most were married (74.1%). More than half had a secondary education level (58.0%), and most patients were unemployed or retired (65.4%). Income levels were generally low, with (75.3%) earning below RM2500 per month. More than half of the patients were mild to moderately malnourished (53.9%), while (35.8%) were considered well-nourished and (4.9%) were severe malnutrition. Quality of life scores varied across KDQOL-24 domains, with Role Limitation Physical and emotional scoring the lowest However, quality of social Interaction and dialysis staff encouragement were higher than the standard form, indicating good support from healthcare providers. The Dialysis Malnutrition Score (DMS) was significantly higher in older patients (60–81 years), divorced/widowed individuals, those with lower education, and unemployed/retired patients (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for gender, ethnicity, or household income. These findings suggest that age, marital status, education, and employment are key factors influencing malnutrition risk among hemodialysis patients. Most QoL domains did not differ significantly between male and female patients (p > 0.05). The exception was Work Status, where a small but significant difference was observed (p = 0.028). This indicates that gender had minimal impact on QoL among the hemodialysis patients in this study. Significant differences in QoL were observed across age groups in several domains. Work Status (p = 0.007), Cognitive Function (p = 0.043), Physical Functioning (p = 0.001), Pain (p = 0.024), and Emotional Well-being (p = 0.011) showed that younger patients (19–39 and 40–59 years) generally reported higher QoL scores compared to older patients (60–81 years). QoL scores were significantly lower in patients with worse nutritional status. Across multiple domains including Symptoms/Problem, Effect of Kidney Disease, Physical Functioning, Pain, General Health, Emotional Well-being, and Overall Health patients who were mild-moderate or severely malnourished scored lower compared to well-nourished patients (p < 0.05). This indicates that malnutrition is strongly associated with reduced QoL Conclusion: Malnutrition remains highly prevalent among hemodialysis patients in HPUSM, with most patients falling into the moderate category. Both sociodemographic and malnutrition significantly associated with quality of life, underscoring the need for early nutritional interventions and patient-centered care strategies to improve long-term outcomes
Association of appetite level and calorie intake on malnutrition status among older adults in Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM)
(2025-08)
Rahmat, Sofiyyah
This study investigates the relationship between appetite level, calorie intake and malnutrition status among older adults in Hospital Pakar Univerisiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 113 patients aged 60 years old and above. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires to assess appetite level (Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire), calorie intake (7 days Diet History Questionnaires), and malnutrition status adequacy (Mini Nutritional Assessment). Out of 113 subjects, it was discovered that 77 participants (68.1%) had low appetite; 33 subjects (29.2%) had normal nutritional status (MNA score 12-14), 50 (44.2%) were at-risk of malnutrition (MNA score 8-11) and 30 (26.5%) malnourished (MNA score 0-7); mean of calorie intake is 720.475 kcal/d and 778.708 kcal/d with standard deviation of 292.56 kcal and 240.52 kcal/d for men and women respectively. There is significant association between marital status and gender (p = < 0.001), between past occupation and gender (p = < 0.001) and living arrangement and gender (p<0.005). There were significant association between chewing problem (p=0.01), supplement use and gender (p=0.001) and smoking history and gender (p= <0.001). However, there is no statistically significant association was found between appetite level and gender, malnutrition status and gender and calorie intake and gender. There is a significant association between appetite level and malnutrition status (p<0.05, p= <0.001). There is also a significant association between calorie intake and malnutrition status (p<0.05), p= <0.001). Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships and explore interventions to combat poor appetite, inadequate dietary intake and malnutrition among the older adults population
Automated detection and evaluation of ischemic stroke on ct brain imaging using machine learning techniques
(2025-06)
Sharuddin, Nur Amirah Atikah
This study investigates the application of machine learning algorithms for the detection of ischemic stroke using CT brain images. Stroke, particularly ischemic stroke, remains a leading cause of death and disability globally. The early detection and diagnosis of ischemic stroke are crucial for minimizing long-term damage and improving patient outcomes. Traditional methods of diagnosis rely on the expertise of radiologists, which can be time-consuming and prone to inter-observer variability. This research aims to develop an automated system for ischemic stroke detection by leveraging machine learning techniques such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), and Random Forest (RF), applied to CT brain images. The study uses a dataset consisting of 397 ischemic stroke CT images and 25 normal brain scans. A series of preprocessing steps, including resizing, normalization, and noise reduction, were performed on the CT images to ensure they were suitable for machine learning analysis. Relevant features were extracted from the images, such as intensity, texture, and shape, which were then used to train the machine learning models. The performance of the models was evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and AUC. The Random Forest model achieved the highest accuracy at 92.76%, with an AUC of 0.973, outperforming both the KNN and SVM models. The KNN model achieved an accuracy of 93.93% with an AUC of 0.940, while the SVM model achieved an accuracy of 87.87% with an AUC of 0.984. Additionally, the training time for each model was recorded: SVM took 0.0152 seconds, KNN took 0.0114 seconds, and Random Forest took 0.2083 seconds. The results demonstrate that machine learning models, particularly Random Forest and KNN, can provide accurate and consistent stroke detection, offering potential for rapid and reliable clinical application, with KNN being the fastest in training time.
Awareness towards heart attack and stroke among the community of Batu Maung, Penang
(2025-08)
Daud, Nur Alisha Shaik
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as heart attacks and strokes are leading causes of death globally and in Malaysia. Despite their prevalence, many people still lack adequate awareness of the symptoms and appropriate actions to take. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness and actions toward heart attack and stroke among the community in Batu Maung, Penang, and to determine the relationship between selected sociodemographic characteristics and awareness levels. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used, and data were collected using a validated questionnaire from 215 respondents. The results showed that 56.3% of respondents demonstrated a high level of awareness regarding heart attack symptoms. 44.2% of respondents showed a high level of awareness regarding stroke symptoms. There was no significant association between age or education level and awareness level for both heart attack and stroke (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that while the community is relatively more aware of heart attack symptoms, stroke awareness is still moderate. Targeted educational interventions are recommended to improve stroke awareness
Bloodstain pattern analysis: examining the effect of wind blow on passive bloodstain pattern dropped from different heights
(2025-02)
Sheng, Chia
Bloodstain pattern analysis serves vitally in crime scene investigation by reconstructing the bloodshed events and providing information on the assailant, victim and crime nature. Passive bloodstain pattern enables the estimations of blood source’s height which could potentially correlate with the height of assailant or victim. However, a bloodletting crime occurring at outdoor environment introduces uncontrollable and unpredictable external factors such as wind blow which can interfere with the usual behaviour of blood leaving the body, hindering the correct interpretation of bloodstain evidence. Additionally, limited research has been done on the effect of wind blow on passive bloodstain pattern, especially when incorporating with different heights of blood source. This study aims to examine the effects of wind velocity and height of blood drop fall on the position shift and physical characteristics of passive blood drop stain, as well as how prolonged exposure to wind blow affect the stain’s physical appearance. In this study, a single drop of blood was gently dispensed from the pipette tip using a micropipette onto a smooth white floor tile under each combination of wind velocity category and fall height. The data obtained were statistically analysed using multiple linear regression. The findings showed that wind velocity and its combined effect with fall height caused increase in the horizontal (x) position shift for up to 15.70 cm but had no significant effect on the vertical (y) position shift. The shrinkage observed on majority of the bloodstains obliterated their original physical characteristics, hence no relationship was found between wind velocity and height of fall with width, length, width-to-length ratio, number of spines, number of satellite stains, angle of impact, and glancing angle. The bloodstain’s shape was found to be not distorted from sphericity much and no directionality was revealed on the stain when blood drop fell passively from 60 cm height across different categories of wind velocity. To conclude, this study demonstrates the unpredictable and distortable passive blood drop stain at outdoor environment and suggests careful consideration of wind blow and height of blood drop fall effects by the investigators when dealing with bloodstain evidence, especially at actual outdoor crime scenes
Changes in ph of digestive vacuole of plasmodium falciparum treated with pipecolisporin and analogue ii peptide
(2025-01)
Fauzi, Nurul Adila Ahmad
Malaria is a severe and fatal disease caused by Plasmodium spp. and remains one of the leading global causes of morbidity and mortality. The emergence of drug-resistant P. falciparum in various countries has necessitated an effort to discover new antimalarial drugs targeting different pathways. Research on the potential of pipecolisporin and analogue II as an antimalarial agent has remained limited. Therefore, this study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the antimalarial activity of pipecolisporin and analogue II peptides. The antimalarial potential of pipecolisporin and analogue II against the chloroquine-sensitive strain (3D7) of P. falciparum was assessed based on the calculation of parasitaemia using Giemsa stained-blood smears. The pipecolisporin and analogue II exhibited highly active antimalarial activity with an IC50 value of 0.4770 and 0.1170 μM, respectively. A further investigation focused on the effect of pipecolisporin and analogue II towards the pH of the mid trophozoite stage parasite’s digestive vacuole, employing a flow cytometry-based technique with fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-dextran) as a pH ratiometric probe. The results revealed no increase in pH following pipecolisporin and analogue II treatment. Suggests that pipecolisporin and analogue II might not have the mechanism to alter the digestive vacuole’s pH through the inhibition of V-type H+-ATPase that regulates the acidification of the vacuole. Overall, this study provides crucial evidence of pipecolisporin and analogue II capability as a promising antimalarial candidate
Children with autism at zayed higher organization for-people of determination, Abu Dhabi
(2025-09)
Odat, Abeer Ali Ahmad Al
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder causing social communication impairments, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. A global prevalence of one in every 100 children presents lifelong challenges for affected families. Parents often experience psychological stress due to caregiving issues, inadequate support systems, and societal stigma, especially in Arab countries. This study aims to assess the levels of anxiety, depression, and coping strategies as well as determining factors associated with depression, anxiety, and coping strategies among parents of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children at the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, Abu Dhabi. This cross-sectional study involved 200 parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), recruited through convenience sampling. Data was collected by inviting available and willing parents of children with ASD at the Zayed Higher Organization in Abu Dhabi to participate in the study by completing an online self-administered questionnaire. The data was collected using a validated online self-administered questionnaire consisting of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) to measure anxiety and depression and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WOC) to measure coping methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 with a chi-square test for categorical data. The results show that the majority of the respondents had moderate anxiety levels n=72 (36%) and high depression levels (48.5%), and most of the respondents were moderate-level copers (81.3%). There was no significant association between the respondents' coping levels and their levels of depression and anxiety. The analysis identifies several factors that are significantly associated with anxiety levels: education level (p = 0.011), employment (p = 0.028), marital status (p = 0.022), number of children (p = 0.001), and children’s sex (p = 0.028). In addition to the children age/year (p = 0.010). Depression levels are associated with marital status (p = 0.035) and the children’s method of education (p = 0.002). For coping levels, the factors associated are the respondent's age (p = 0.019), marital status (p = 0.009), and the children’s method of education (p = 0.002). In addition, Income (p = <0.001) and Children age (p = <0.001). In conclusion, understanding the experiences and concerns of parents can guide the provision of services that help parents identify needs related to the challenges of raising children with autism. It suggests that nursing professionals, psychoeducation, collaboration between practitioners and families, and future research should involve a large population and awareness-raising programs. The practical implications of these findings highlight the need for targeted psychological support, counseling services, and family-centered interventions, especially for parents with limited education, low income, and those managing older children. Healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, should be trained to provide culturally sensitive psychoeducation and early emotional support. Workplace flexibility, accessible educational resources for children with ASD, and marital support programs may help improve parental well-being. Future research should involve larger, more diverse populations and support awareness-raising programs at the community and institutional levels

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