Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) in the neck or shoulders are common occupational health problems among nursing professionals. This study aimed to identify potential predictors of WRMSD in neck and shoulders, namely workplace condition, emotional distress and work engagement, among Malaysian nurses in public hospitals. A cross-sectional study was conducted among female nurses working in public hospitals around Klang Valley, Malaysia. Predictors of WRMSD in the neck and shoulders were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 550 out of 660 nurses returned the questionnaire (83.3% response rate). However, the analysis was based on 376 nurses who reverted with completely answered questionnaires. 73.1% of nurses suffered from WRMSD in at least one site in the past 12 months. Of these, 48.9%, 36.9% and 55.6% reported symptoms in the neck alone, shoulders alone and any of these regions respectively. When all significant predictors (p<0.10) were simultaneously included in the final model, the odds of WRMSD in neck or shoulders were higher among nurses perceiving high physical demand (AOR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.30) and high psychological job demand (AOR: 1.08, 95%CI 1.01-1.15). Anxious and stressful nursing personnel possess 22.6% and 11.6% greater odds of WRMSD in neck or shoulders in comparison to nurses without the symptoms. Married nurses were also at higher odds (AOR: 2.12, 95% CI 1.27-3.55), whereas being engaged to work, significantly reduced the risk of WRMSD in any of the areas. This study indicated that the neck or shoulders WRMSD are prevalent among nurses. Psychological job demand, physical demand, anxiety and stress were the significant predictors of WRMSD in the studied anatomical areas.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are amongst the most common occupational illnesses in nurses due to the physically demanding and stressful occupational activities involved in their job routines. This study aimed to examine the WRMSDs annual prevalence and relationship of workplace physical demands mong nurses. A self-administered questionnaire survey was carried out among female nurses. The Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to identify the annual prevalence of WRMSDs, while, the physical demands were assessed using Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire. In addition, the participants' profiles of the participants were also obtained.73.1% of the nurses sustained WRMSDs for the past 12 months. The most common sites were neck, feet, upper back and shoulders. Nurses perceived high physical demands were significantly presenting WRMSDs in region one (neck and shoulders) and region four (hips, knees, ankles, and feet) with odds of risk ranging from 1.68 to 1.83. In conclusion, the prevalence of WRMSDs among Malaysian nurses is high and neck was the most prevalent site. The analyses revealed that workplace physical demands increased the risk of WRMSDs. As such, interventional program aims to prevent and reduce physical risk factors are required in near future. (c) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 4th International Conference on Green Chemical Engineering and Technology: Materials Science.

Introduction: There is substantial evidence showing that work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) have become a common occupational health problem in nursing population. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence and impact of WRMSDs among nurses in public hospitals in the Klang Valley. The study also evaluated the reliability of the Malay version of the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (M-SNMQ). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 660 female nurses working in four selected public hospitals in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The validated M-SNMQ was used to estimate the prevalence and impact of WRMSDs. The socio-demographic and occupational information were also obtained from the nurses. Results: A total of 77.4% response rate was achieved with 376 nurses completing the survey. Of these, 88.6% (n=333) and 73.1% (n=275) experienced symptoms of WRMSDs in their lifetime and for the past 12 month respectively. Neck (48.9%) was the most prevalent site followed by feet (47.2%), upper back (40.7%) and shoulders (36.9%) and of those, the majority sustained at least moderate pain. Less than 25% of the nurses agreed that WRMSDs affected their quality of life. The result if Kappa agreement indicates a good level of test –retest reliability of M-SNMQ. Hence, proven that the M-SNMQ is a reliable instrument to assess the presence of WRMSDs among female nurses in Malaysia. Conclusions: These findings suggests that WRMSDs is relatively high among the studied Malaysian nurses. Further study should be undertaken to identify the potential risk factors to reduce the prevalence in the near future.

Background: The Job Content Questionnaire (M-JCQ) is an established self-reported instrument used across the world to measure the work dimensions based on the Karasek's demand-control-support model. Objective: To evaluate the psychometrics properties of the Malay version of M-JCQ among nurses in Malaysia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on nurses working in 4 public hospitals in Klang Valley area, Malaysia. M-JCQ was used to assess the perceived psychosocial stressors and physical demands of nurses at their workplaces. Construct validity of the questionnaire was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Cronbach's α values were used to estimate the reliability (internal consistency) of the M-JCQ. Results: EFA showed that 34 selected items were loaded in 4 factors. Except for psychological job demand (Cronbach's α 0.51), the remaining 3 α values for 3 subscales (job control, social support, and physical demand) were greater than 0.70, indicating acceptable internal consistency. However, an item was excluded due to poor item-total correlation (r<0.3). The final M-JCQ was consisted of 33 items. Conclusion: The M-JCQ is a reliable and valid instrument to measure psychosocial and physical stressors in the workplace of public hospital nurses in Malaysia.

The effects of Cassia alata aqueous leaves extract, a traditional medicinal herb, was assessed in the liver and renal microsomal of streptozotocin (STZ) induced hyperglycemic rats. In diabetes, hyperglycemia increases the production of free radicals and simultaneously weakens the antioxidant defense mechanism. This leads to the damages on cellular organelles and enzymes, increasing lipid peroxidation, and develops insulin resistance in the body. Cassia alata extract was administered orally (200mg/kg) for 20 days to the hyperglycemic rats. The effects of Cassia alata in the liver and renal microsomal were measured and analyzed based on the levels of lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), and the total antioxidant of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Treatments with Cassia alata showed a significant decrease of lipid peroxidation MDA levels in the liver and renal microsomal as compared to the control groups. The results also recorded an increase in the total antioxidant level of DPPH. Furthermore, the level of CAT enzyme in the group treated with Cassia alata has significantly increased in comparison to the control group. The results indicated that Cassia alata extracts have suppressed the oxidative stress in hyperglycemic induced rat and at the same time increased the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant.

This study was carried out to investigate the possible antioxidant activity of Zingiber officinale (ginger) ethanolic extract on formalin-induced testicular toxicity in rats. Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: (1): control; (2): rats exposed with 10% formalin; (3): rats exposed with 10% formalin and treated with ethanolic ginger extract; (4): rats treated with ethanolic ginger extract. Exposure of 10 % formalin was performed through inhalation while ethanolic ginger extract was administered orally. Determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were assessed upon harvested testicles. As a result, 10% formalin exposure significantly increased the concentration of MDA as compared to control. Meanwhile, all groups showed significant increase in SOD level as compared to control. There is no significant difference of CAT activities in all experimental groups as compared to control. However, rats exposed with formalin and treated with ethanolic ginger extract significantly increased the CAT activity as compared to the group of formalin exposure only. In conclusion, 10% formalin triggered oxidative stress in testicles with the evidence of the significant increase of MDA concentration. Moreover, ginger exhibit antioxidant properties which proven by the increase of SOD and CAT activities.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the psychometric properties and validity of the Malay version of Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (M-DASS) among nurses at public hospitals in Klang Valley area of Kuala Lumpur. Methodology: The study is a cross-sectional study design. The questionnaire consists of two sections; participant’s socio-demographic information and response to emotional distress experienced by the participants for the past one week. The data were initially analyzed for normality distribution followed by descriptive statistics and further assessed using Explanatory (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Results : Initial analysis has shown one item of M-DASS21 was cross loaded between factors, hence been omitted, therefore, the DASS was left with 20 items. The items were one dimensional and loaded clearly in the designated factor. The M-DASS20 indicated a good internal consistency of Cronbach’s alpha values ≥0.70 for all subscale. Later, CFA was performed on four different models; it was proven that Model 3b of three – factor model M-DASS20 is a preferred fitting model than other proposed models. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that M-DASS is reliable and valid to be applied to the nurse’s populations.

Antioxidant is defined as a molecule that inhibits the generation of reactive oxygen species, origin from unstable molecule. Various type of antioxidant has been studied such as anthocyanins, beta-carotene, catechins, coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, and selenium [28]. Interested in antioxidant study is develop as they believed that the antioxidant is able to protect the body against damage by reactive oxygen species [17]. Natural antioxidants, especially from plant origin, has notably increased in recent years but so far no attempt was done in evaluating therapeutic intervention with the natural antioxidant like Allium Sativum (A. sativum). Previous study has shown that A. sativum or garlic express higher free radical scavenging effect as compared to red onion [22]. This is due to the profusion of sulfhydryl which was reported as an excellent antioxidant [8] and capable to reduce oxidative stress induces by drugs including acetaminophen [2], ions, minerals, and other dissolved toxic gases.

AIM OF STUDY:To determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients seen with primary immunodeficiencies referred at four Malaysian Hospitals between 1987 to 2007.METHODS:Patient data were retrospectively obtained from patient records and supplemented by information from a standardized questionnaires taken at the time of diagnosis from 4 participating hospitals. The completed data were transferred to document records kept by the first author. The diagnoses made were based on criteria set by WHO Scientific Committee 1986.RESULTS:Fifty one (51) patients with completed records satisfied the criteria of primary immunodeficiencies based on WHO Scientific Committee 1986. Predominant Antibody deficiency (40.4%) is the commonest of the class of primary immunodeficiency (based on modified IUIS classification) followed by phagocytic defect (17.3%), combined immunodeficiencies (15.4%) and other cellular immunodeficiencies (11.5%). The commonest clinical presentation is pneumonia (54%) . A positive Family history with a close family relative afflicted was a strong pointer to diagnosis for PID (52.6%) Primary immnodeficiencies are seen in all the major ethnic groups of Malaysia, predominantly among Malays. As observed in other patient registries, diagnostic delay remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality.CONCLUSION:Primary immunodeficiencies is relative rare but is an emerging disease in Malaysia. Creating awareness of the disease, may reveal more cases within the community. It is sufficient to be a health issue in Malaysia as in other developing countries in the future.

X linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is rarely reported from developing countries especially from South East Asia. It appears that × linked agammaglobulinemia is less common in certain ethnic groups. It is very uncommon in black people in USA and South Africa. In multiracial Malaysia we have documented five XLA in Malays and Indians but not in the Chinese that constitute about 31% of the population. First degree relatives afflicted with XLA or other primary immunodeficiencies occurred more often in our study. All showed lung involvement although the etiologic organisms involved were atypical, being Gram negative.

Three different methods to measure the oxidative respiratory burst of neutrophils were performed. Of the three, the chemiluminescence technique was observed to be the most sensitive among them. The strong statistical correlation and an acceptable agreement between chemiluminescence with that of the killing assay provides evidence for using the chemiluminescence assay as an alternative method of detecting gross defects of neutrophil respiratory burst killing assays.

Variable parameters in chemiluminescence assay, one of the methods used to assess the functional capacity of neutrophils, were evaluated for suitable adaptation locally. The use of pooled normal human serum as compared to single normal human serum in opsonizing particles for phagocytosis was found to exhibit lower chemiluminescence activity (reduction range of 30%-50%). A similar degree of depression was observed when the particles were opsonized using normal human serum in comparison to that using autologous serum. Different intensity of chemiluminescence was also noted when the opsonized particle used was the Oxford strain of Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 6571) in contrast to a strain of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a patient. The results obtained warrant clinicians to deliver appropriate samples as best they can when the chemiluminescence assay is requested.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a very rare disease whose defect lies in an abnormal intracellular killing resulting in recurrent abscesses, lymphadenitis and granuloma formation. We describe 2 Malay male infants with CGD whom we believe to be the first report of this disorder in Malays. Both children presented with recurrent abscesses, pneumoniae and hepatosplenomegaly; lymphadenopathy was also present in one of the patients. The organisms isolated were catalase positive bacteria. Both neutrophil chemiluminescence (against fungal and bacterial antigens, phorbol myristate acetate) and intracellular killing assays were severely depressed. Recognition of CGD is important as great strides have been made in the treatment of this disease which include gamma interferon therapy besides the conventional prophylactic antibacterial therapy.