Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Road Traffic Regulations Among University Students, Malaysia

Introduction: Each year, more than 20 million people are injured and 1.17 million are killed due to road traffic accidents. Developing countries account for over 85% of the deaths, and close to 90% of the disability caused by road traffic crashes worldwide. The objectives of this study were to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practice and the factors influencing university students in Malaysia concerning road traffic accident. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among the students of Management and Science University, Malaysia. The questionnaire was distributed randomly to the students of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 13, T-test and ANOVA. Results: The total number of 109 students with the mean age of 20.94±1.89 years participated in this study. Approximately 39 (35.7%) of the participant had been involved in one or more than one road traffic accident. About 93.6% of them were very strongly/strongly convinced of seat belts importance. Multivariate analysis using the multiple linear regression method showed that age and attitude were significantly associated with the exposure to the accident. Conclusion: The study participants had moderate knowledge about road traffic regulations and most of them mentioned that high speed, drivers’ lack of awareness about traffic regulation and laws, and drivers’ non-compliance with traffic rules and regulation were the most important cause of road traffic accidents. Almost all students were very strongly/strongly convinced of seatbelts importance. Age and attitude were significantly associated with the exposure to the accident

Treatment outcomes of new tuberculosis patients hospitalized in Kampala, Uganda: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In most resource limited settings, new tuberculosis (TB) patients are usually treated as outpatients. We sought to investigate the reasons for hospitalisation and the predictors of poor treatment outcomes and mortality in a cohort of hospitalized new TB patients in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Ninety-six new TB patients hospitalised between 2003 and 2006 were enrolled and followed for two years. Thirty two were HIV-uninfected and 64 were HIV-infected. Among the HIV-uninfected, the commonest reasons for hospitalization were low Karnofsky score (47%) and need for diagnostic evaluation (25%). HIV-infected patients were commonly hospitalized due to low Karnofsky score (72%), concurrent illness (16%) and diagnostic evaluation (14%). Eleven HIV uninfected patients died (mortality rate 19.7 per 100 person-years) while 41 deaths occurred among the HIV-infected patients (mortality rate 46.9 per 100 person years). In all patients an unsuccessful treatment outcome (treatment failure, death during the treatment period or an unknown outcome) was associated with duration of TB symptoms, with the odds of an unsuccessful outcome decreasing with increasing duration. Among HIV-infected patients, an unsuccessful treatment outcome was also associated with male sex (P = 0.004) and age (P = 0.034). Low Karnofsky score (aHR = 8.93, 95% CI 1.88 - 42.40, P = 0.001) was the only factor significantly associated with mortality among the HIV-uninfected. Mortality among the HIV-infected was associated with the composite variable of CD4 and ART use, with patients with baseline CD4 below 200 cells/µL who were not on ART at a greater risk of death than those who were on ART, and low Karnofsky score (aHR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.02 - 4.01, P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Poor health status is a common cause of hospitalisation for new TB patients. Mortality in this study was very high and associated with advanced HIV Disease and no use of ART

Antimicrobial Effect of Malaysian Honey on Some Human Pathogens: an in vitro Study

Introduction: Honey has potent bactericidal activity against many pathogenic organisms, including various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial effect of Malaysian honey against different species of human pathogens using optimized honey broth media. Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial activity of honey against standard strains of Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria and yeast was tested in vitro by the broth dilution method using 10%-100% w/v concentrations prepared in tryptic soy broth. Results: Streptococcus pyogenes was the most sensitive pathogen, it was completely inhibited by 30% honey broth medium. The most resistant were E. faecalis, S. aureus and MRSA, but they were all completely inhibited by 80% honey broth medium. Conclusion: Honey is shown to possess antimicrobial activity against human Gram-positive and negative medically important bacteria

Postcopulatory sexual selection

The female reproductive tract is where competition between the sperm of different males takes place, aided and abetted by the female herself. Intense postcopulatory sexual selection fosters inter-sexual conflict and drives rapid evolutionary change to generate a startling diversity of morphological, behavioural and physiological adaptations. We identify three main issues that should be resolved to advance our understanding of postcopulatory sexual selection. We need to determine the genetic basis of different male fertility traits and female traits that mediate sperm selection; identify the genes or genomic regions that control these traits; and establish the coevolutionary trajectory of sexes

Effects of river water and salinity on the toxicity of deltamethrin to freshwater shrimp, cladoceran, and fish

Deltamethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide used extensively to control invertebrate pests on cotton and other crops. It is acutely toxic to nontarget aquatic organisms, but existing toxicity data are mostly from toxicity tests using purified laboratory water that differs greatly from the turbid, high-conductivity rivers in the cotton-growing regions of Australia. The aim of this study was to determine whether the water quality variables conductivity, suspended particles, and dissolved organic matter alter the toxicity of deltamethrin to freshwater crustaceans and a fish. We tested three Australian native species: a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia), a freshwater shrimp (Paratya australiensis), and larvae of the eastern rainbow fish (Melanotaenia duboulayi). Conductivity of the test solutions ranged from 200 to 750 μS/cm, but such changes did not modify the toxicity of deltamethrin to any of the test species. However, the toxicity of deltamethrin to C. cf. dubia and P. australiensis in river water was significantly decreased (1.8-fold to 6.3-fold reduction) compared to that in laboratory water. Variability in the toxicity data limited our ability to detect differences between laboratory and river water for M. duboulayi. Despite reductions in toxicity in natural waters, deltamethrin remained highly toxic [all L(E)C50 values <0.26 μg/L] to all organisms tested; thus, further investigation of the hazard of deltamethrin is warranted. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Clinical and histopathological observations of autologous bone marrow stromal cells implantation on the regeneration of sciatic nerve neurotmesis in rabbit

The peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) is due to stretching and laceration. Therefore, the epineural repair technique is currently accepted as a standard method for peripheral nerve repair. Thirty-two (32) rabbits were divided equally into perineural nerve sutures as control group (CG) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) as the treatment group (TG). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the autologous BMSCs implantation on the regeneration of sciatic nerve neurotmesis in rabbits. There was significant improvement (p&lt;0.05) of the motor and sensory functions in the TG animals as compared to the CG. Histopathological examinations of the proximal nerve stump in the CG showed mild adherence surrounding an anastomosed area, few vacuolation and plenty of collagen at the peri and epineurium. The anastomosed site showed the degeneration, disorientation and giant cell surrounding the stitches, while intraneurial scar tissues were seen in the distal segment at the 112th post operation day (POD). The histopathology of TG showed the activated Schwann cells, good myelination, minimum scar tissue, good orientation and remarkable angiogenesis at the 112th POD. BMSCs are capable of improving the motor and sensory functions and significantly promote the regeneration of sciatic nerve neurotmesis in rabbits.Key words: Clinical, histopathological, bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), neurotmesis, sciatic nerve, rabbit

Stress and Coping Strategies among Management and Science University Students: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the associated factors related to causes of stress and coping strategies among university students. Materials and Methods: As a focus group discussion, it was universal sampling, conducted among 39 of Medical Science and Biomedicine students on their second semester from Management and Science University (MSU), Shah Alam, Malaysia. Three issues were discussed: firstly, how they define the stress; secondly, what the most important causes of stress in their life are; and thirdly, how they cope with stress. Verbal consent was obtained from all participants. Due to the small sample size, the data was analyzed manually. Results: Total of participants were 39 students, their age ranged from 21 to 26 years. Seventeen (43.6%) of the students were 21 years old and the majority were female 31 (79.5%). The most important causes of stress reported by the students were financial, lack of sleep, and family problems. In terms of coping with stress, the students were able to describe a variety of strategies to cope with their stressful situations. These included counseling services, doing meditation, sharing of problems, getting adequate sleep, and going out with friends. Conclusion: Most of the students defined stress as “a mental condition”. Lack of sleep, financial, and family problems were the most causes of stress among students. The students were able to identify some strategies to cope with stress

ANALISIS MODAL KERJA INDUSTRI KECIL USAHA PERTUKANGAN KAYU DAN USAHA LAS DI KOTA PALEMBANG

The aims of this research are to observe and analyze working capital of small industry  woodworking and welding businesses in Palembang City. This research will apply survey method by using20 small scale industries- holders as sample respondents. Data will  analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative methods, such as statistical frequency and cross tabulation, financial ratio analysis, and caculating working capital requirement.Research findings are 1)  the firm samples have simple organization and management. 2) They have no adequate working capital. 3) They have  problem in  increasing of raw materials costs, and operating expenses. The writer suggests that the firms have to obtain additional working capital to support the future sales

Isolation and characterisation of human gingival margin-derived STRO-1/MACS+ and MACS− cell populations

Recently, gingival margin-derived stem/progenitor cells isolated via STRO-1/magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) showed remarkable periodontal regenerative potential in vivo. As a second-stage investigation, the present study's aim was to perform in vitro characterisation and comparison of the stem/progenitor cell characteristics of sorted STRO-1-positive (MACS+) and STRO-1-negative (MACS−) cell populations from the human free gingival margin. Cells were isolated from the free gingiva using a minimally invasive technique and were magnetically sorted using anti-STRO-1 antibodies. Subsequently, the MACS+ and MACS− cell fractions were characterized by flow cytometry for expression of CD14, CD34, CD45, CD73, CD90, CD105, CD146/MUC18 and STRO-1. Colony-forming unit (CFU) and multilineage differentiation potential were assayed for both cell fractions. Mineralisation marker expression was examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MACS+ and MACS− cell fractions showed plastic adherence. MACS+ cells, in contrast to MACS− cells, showed all of the predefined mesenchymal stem/progenitor cell characteristics and a significantly higher number of CFUs (P<0.01). More than 95% of MACS+ cells expressed CD105, CD90 and CD73; lacked the haematopoietic markers CD45, CD34 and CD14, and expressed STRO-1 and CD146/MUC18. MACS− cells showed a different surface marker expression profile, with almost no expression of CD14 or STRO-1, and more than 95% of these cells expressed CD73, CD90 and CD146/MUC18, as well as the haematopoietic markers CD34 and CD45 and CD105. MACS+ cells could be differentiated along osteoblastic, adipocytic and chondroblastic lineages. In contrast, MACS− cells demonstrated slight osteogenic potential. Unstimulated MACS+ cells showed significantly higher expression of collagen I (P<0.05) and collagen III (P<0.01), whereas MACS− cells demonstrated higher expression of osteonectin (P<0.05; Mann–Whitney). The present study is the first to compare gingival MACS+ and MACS− cell populations demonstrating that MACS+ cells, in contrast to MACS− cells, harbour stem/progenitor cell characteristics. This study also validates the effectiveness of the STRO-1/MACS+ technique for the isolation of gingival stem/progenitor cells. Human free gingival margin-derived STRO-1/MACS+ cells are a unique renewable source of multipotent stem/progenitor cells

Effects of PREPARE, a Multi-component, School-Based HIV and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Prevention Programme on Adolescent Sexual Risk Behaviour and IPV : Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial

Young South Africans, especially women, are at high risk of HIV. We evaluated the effects of PREPARE, a multi-component, school-based HIV prevention intervention to delay sexual debut, increase condom use and decrease intimate partner violence (IPV) among young adolescents. We conducted a cluster RCT among Grade eights in 42 high schools. The intervention comprised education sessions, a school health service and a school sexual violence prevention programme. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Regression was undertaken to provide ORs or coefficients adjusted for clustering. Of 6244 sampled adolescents, 55.3 % participated. At 12 months there were no differences between intervention and control arms in sexual risk behaviours. Participants in the intervention arm were less likely to report IPV victimisation (35.1 vs. 40.9 %; OR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.61-0.99; t(40) = 2.14) suggesting the intervention shaped intimate partnerships into safer ones, potentially lowering the risk for HIV