Ismarulyusda Ishak

Patterns of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers in palm plantation occupation

This study investigated the patterns of ongoing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) and exposure risk to musculoskeletal injuries for various body regions among palm plantation workers. Standard Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (SNMQ) was used to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders symptoms. The Quick Exposure check (QEC) was used to assess the exposure risk of farmers to WRMDs. The common pattern of WRMDs was back pain (40%), followed by shoulder pain (19%). The QEC revealed high exposure risk for neck (56%), followed by back (45.6%). The results from the SNMQ showed that 58% reported pain in 1 region, followed by 2 regions (10.7%) and 3 regions (3.6%). Back pain and shoulder pain were found to be common among workers in palm plantation occupation. Nevertheless, the neck region appeared to have the highest risk of exposure to injuries.

Expression of human mammaglobin and clinicopathologic correlations in breast cancer: the findings in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND Human mammaglobin (hMAG) is a secreted protein which has been detected in breast epithelial cells of mammary glands and has been used as a specific marker for breast cancer. OBJECTIVES This study aims at studying the hMAG expression and identifying the significant predictors of hMAG expression in breast cancer tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS The tissue samples were obtained from two major teaching hospitals in the country. They were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the hMAG expression was evaluated using an established scoring system. RESULTS Out of 84 breast cancer tissue samples, hMAG was expressed in 50 samples (59.6%). The expression of hMAG was found to be increased with cancer grade. The output of logistic regression model showed that hMAG was overexpressed in breast cancer samples from the first hospital (P = 0.014), but not with those from the second hospital. CONCLUSIONS It can be concluded that hMAG may serve in the diagnosis and the assessment of progression with the increased cancer grade. The dominance in hMAG expression in samples from HUSM may correlate with ethnic, environmental or genetic factors.

The association of nuclear abnormalities in exfoliated buccal epithelial cells with the health status of different agricultural activities farmers in Peninsular Malaysia

BackgroundPesticide exposure possesses risk of genotoxicity to humans, particularly farmers. Despite accumulating evidences linking genotoxicity to pesticide exposure, epidemiological studies to address pesticide toxicity in occupationally exposed farmers in Malaysia remain underreported. Thus, this study was aimed to determine the presence of nuclear abnormalities through the assessment of micronucleus (MN) and binucleus (BNu) frequencies in exfoliated buccal epithelial cells from farmers who were exposed to pesticides. A cross-sectional study of farmers among different agricultural activities farmers in Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, North East of Peninsular Malaysia was done to evaluate the presence of nuclear abnormalities and its correlation with their health status and farming activities.ResultsAnalysis of buccal cells revealed that the frequency of MN was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in farmers as compared to controls. In contrast, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed for BNu frequency in between groups. Correlation analysis showed that apart from a significant (p < 0.05) and positive correlation between the duration of fertilizers exposure and frequencies of MN (r = 0.42, P = 0.001) and BNu (r = 0.37, P = 0.02), no other correlation of various confounding factors on the formation of MN and BNu were observed.ConclusionIn conclusion, pesticide and fertilizers exposure may contribute to the promotion of nuclear anomalies among Malaysian farmers who are engaged in mixed plantation activities. Further assessment of larger populations is important to address and overcome the potential risk of pesticide-induced genotoxicity.

Study of Heavy Metal Levels among Farmers of Muda Agricultural Development Authority, Malaysia

Heavy metals, particularly cadmium, lead, and arsenic, constitute a significant potential threat to human health. This study was conducted to determine the levels of cadmium, lead, and arsenic in nail samples from farmers at Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA), Kedah, Malaysia, and evaluate factors that can contribute to their accumulations. A total of 116 farmers participated in this study. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze concentration of heavy metals in the nail samples and questionnaires were given to participants to get demographic, health status, and their agricultural activities data. In this paper, the level of heavy metals was within the normal range and varies according to demographic factors. We found that there were significant correlations between working period with level of lead and arsenic (r = 0.315 and r = 0.242, resp., P < 0.01) and age with lead level (r = 0.175, P < 0.05). Our findings suggested that agricultural activities could contribute to the accumulation of heavy metals in farmers. Hence, the control of environmental levels of and human exposure to these metals to prevent adverse health effects is still an important public health issue.

Perceived stress and coping styles among Malay caregivers of children with learning disabilities in Kelantan

BACKGROUND Caregivers of children with learning disabilities have been shown to experience increased stress and greater negative caregiving consequences than those with typically developing children. There remains a lack of studies focusing on stress and coping mechanisms among caregivers of a wider age group and diagnosis of individuals with disabilities in Asian countries. The current study examines levels of perceived stress and associated child and caregiver factors among caregivers of children with learning disabilities in the Malaysian context. An additional aim was to determine whether caregiver coping styles may be predictors of perceived stress. METHODS The Malay version of the Perceived Stress Scale with 10 items and the Brief COPE Scale were administered to a sample of 190 Malay caregivers of children with learning disabilities registered with community-based rehabilitation centres in Kelantan, a state in Peninsular Malaysia. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to determine the predictors of perceived stress. RESULTS The mean total perceived stress score of caregivers was 16.96 (SD = 4.66). The most frequently used coping styles found among caregivers included religion, acceptance and positive reframing, while substance use and behavioural disengagement were least frequently used. Higher perceived stress was significantly predicted among caregivers with fewer children, frequent use of instrumental support and behavioural disengagement coping, and lack of emotional support and religious coping. CONCLUSION Findings indicate that the perceived stress levels among caregivers were significantly predicted by different coping styles. It is vital to help the caregivers improve their good coping styles in order to reduce their stress levels.

Factors Affected Chromium Levels Among Farmers in District of Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan

Chromium is an essential mineral and cofactor for insulin that plays an important role as hormone that helps in the blood sugar regulation. Kelantanese were known as sugar-based food consumer. Farmers have high risk of health problem because of exposure to pesticide and sugar-based food intake can give an effect on the level of chromium. The objective of this research was to study the status of chromium among farmers exposed to pesticides and fertilizer in Kelantan. This was a cross-sectional study that was done at Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan. Respondent were 113 farmers who had been exposed to pesticides or fertilizer for not less than one year. Subjects were interviewed to obtain information on their demographic data by using validated knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) questionnaire. Nails and hair chromium levels were analyzed by using acid digestion method and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Results showed that 81.4% were male while 18.6% were female. Farmer’s chromium level in nails (125.82 ± 47.81 μg/L) and hair (39.63 ± 5.70 μg/L) were very much lower when compared with standard value in nails (6200 μg/L) and hair (100-2500 μg/L). No signifi cantly differences (p > 0.05) were found between chromium level according to gender, age, level of pesticide exposure, dietary chromium intake and blood glucose. Chromium levels in nails and hair of farmers who smoke was signifi cantly lower (p < 0.05) than non-smoking farmers. As a conclusion, the level of chromium among farmers in Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan are lower than normal reference and farmers should stop smoking because smoking can lower the chromium level.

Testing for hepatitis B virus core antigen and e antigen may confer additional safety of donors' blood negative for heptitis B virus surface antigen

1. Harmening DM, Firestone D. The ABO blood group system. In: Harmening DM, editor. Modern Blood Banking and Transfusion Practices. 3rd ed. New Delhi, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd.; 1998. p. 86-115. 2. Bercher ME. Methods section 2: Red cell typing. AABB Technical Manual. 15th ed. Bethesda: American Association of Blood Banks; 2005. p. 735-736. 3. Heier HE, Namork E, Calkovská Z, Sandin R, Kornstad L. Expression of A antigens on erythrocytes of weak blood group A subgroups. Vox Sang 1994;66:231-6. 4. Meng QB. Genetic analysis of an individual of Ay serologic phenotype. Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2009;29:1615-6.