Medical Journal of Malaysia最新文献

{"title":"The rare cases of pneumatic colorectal perforation: A cautionary tale of compressed air misuse.","authors":"M K Govindarajan, B Durai, V S Sundar, M B Uppupettai Ganeshbabu, S Chiramel","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Barotrauma is a medical condition caused by sudden pressure changes in the body causing damage to multiple parts of the body. However, it is an infrequent occurrence when it comes to Colo-rectal perforation, wherein the trauma occurs due to the insufflation of compressed air through the anus. Several factors influence the outcome of a patient with colonic perforation due to barotrauma such as the severity of the injury, hemodynamic status of the patient, the patient's general health and well-being, the time taken for active medical/ surgical intervention since the injury, aggressive intravenous antibiotics administration to prevent sepsis, post-operative complications like surgical site infection, post-op ileus, anastomotic leak, etc. Overall, the patient's prognosis largely depends on early diagnosis, effective initial resuscitation, timely surgical intervention, and intensive post-operative care for a favorable outcome. Recently, we came across 2 cases of extensive pneumoperitoneum with Colo-rectal perforation as a result of the forceful insufflation of compressed air through the anus. Prompt medical intervention was necessary to prevent any further complications and they underwent surgical repair of the colorectal perforation.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 Suppl 1","pages":"77-79"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142956496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In vitro biological evaluation of silver nanoparticles synthesized using zingiber officinale and ocimum gratissimum herbal formulation.","authors":"S S Shanmuga, I Mariraj, S Rajeshkumar, M Dhanyaa, M Pradeep","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The biomedical potential of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) synthesized with Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum herbal formulation was investigated in this study. The study aims to reveal their applications in various biomedical fields. The study evaluates the antioxidant, thrombolytic, and antimicrobial potential of Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum herbal formulation-mediated Ag NPs.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Biogenically synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) from an herbal formulation containing Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum were tested at various concentrations using the DPPH (2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. The absorbance was measured at 517 nm to quantify DPPH free radicals. With Ag NP concentrations, the H2O2 test exhibited increased activity. This work evaluated the antibacterial activity of Ag NPs mediated by Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, and Enterococcus faecalis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The utilization of herbal formulations from Z. officinale and O. gratissimum to synthesize Ag NPs revealed considerable therapeutic effectiveness. At a concentration of 50 μl, the maximal inhibition was 76%, which is comparable in effectiveness to that of standard ascorbic acid. Significant blood clot dissolution was observed during thrombolytic testing at a concentration of 100μg/ml, indicating promising prospects for the treatment of thrombotic disorders. Nanoparticles dose-dependently inhibited E. faecalis, C. albicans, S. aureus, and S. mutans in antibacterial testing. These results show the potential of the nanoparticles as supplementary or alternative treatments to conventional antibiotics, particularly in light of the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The further investigation of nanoparticles into their mechanisms and efficacy in therapeutic applications, positioning Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum formulation-mediated Ag NPs as viable candidates in developing antioxidant, thrombolytic, and antimicrobial treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 Suppl 1","pages":"20-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142956374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In vitro evaluation of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant activity of pomegranate peel extract mediated calcium sulfate nano particles.","authors":"P Dathan, D Nallaswamy, S Rajeshkumar, S Joseph, I Shahin, M Tharani","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Pomegranate peel is considered a reservoir of biologically active compounds, the presence of which provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to peel extracts. Calcium sulfate is considered an ideal boneaugmenting material, and in the present study, pomegranate peel extract-mediated calcium sulfate nano particles (PPE CaSo4 NPs) were synthesized and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties were evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the biological effects of PPE CaSo4 NPs, with a focus on their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The objectives were to green - synthesize PPE CaSo4 NPs, analyze their optical characteristics using UV-visible spectra analysis, and subsequently evaluate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>UV-visible spectra analysis was employed to investigate the optical characteristics and surface morphology, such as the size and shape of PPE CaSo4 NPs synthesized at different time intervals, which were characterized using a Scanning Electron Microscope. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using bovine serum albumin denaturation assay (BSA), and egg albumin denaturation assay (EA) was compared with diclofenac sodium as a standard. Antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2 Diphenyl -1- Picryl hydraxylhydrate assay (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assay (H2O2), and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Comparison made with ascorbic acid as the standard.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Anti-inflammatory activity was observed at all concentrations of PPE CaSo4 NPs, and there was no significant difference between the test material and the standard p>0.05. A significant difference was found for the antioxidant activity between PPE CaSo4 NPs and the standard in concentrations of 10 μl, for DPPH, 10 μl and 20 μl for H2O2 (p<0.05) between the concentrations of 30, 40, and 50, and there was no significant difference between the test material and the standard in all three tests conducted.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study concluded that the PPE CaSo4 NPs have Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant activities and are concentration-dependent.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 Suppl 1","pages":"44-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142956478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation between auditory brainstem responses, hyperacusis, and severity of autism spectrum disorder in young children with normal hearing at a tertiary referral center in Indonesia.","authors":"M Simamora, S Zizlavsky, T J A Harjoprawito, T Wiguna, B E Medise, R Wibawanti","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex condition impacting social communication, behavior, and interests. ASD affects 1 in 100 children globally, with a higher prevalence in boys. Auditory disorders, including hyperacusis, are common in ASD, yet the correlation between Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) wave latencies and ASD severity, especially with hyperacusis, is under-researched. This study investigates ABR wave latencies in ASD children, exploring their relationship with ASD severity and h as a potential screening tool for ASD. Early diagnose and therapy could enhance the quality of life in ASD patients.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting normal-hearing children aged 3-8 years old with ASD presenting to a national referral ENT clinic between October and December 2023. The severity of ASD was assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), while hyperacusis was diagnosed using Modified Check List for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 26 children with ASD, 23 of whom were male (88%), aged 3-8 years, were included in the analyses. Among these children, 18 (69.2%) had hyperacusis. Analysis of ABR click revealed a prolonged interpeak latency wave I and III (88.5%), followed by a prolonged latency in wave III (42.3%) and V (21.2%). Neither ABR wave latencies nor hyperacusis were correlated with the severity of ASD, although there was a marginally significant association between wave III latency and CARS score in the left ear (r=0.359, p=0.072). However, wave V latency and interpeak wave I-V latency were significantly longer in children without hyperacusis (right ear: p=0.042 and p=0.050; left ear: p=0.005 and p=0.004), while interpeak wave III-V only in the left ear (p=0.006) and wave III only in the right ear (p=0.029).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There was no significant correlation between ABR wave latencies or hyperacusis and the severity of ASD, while ABR wave latencies were generally longer in children without hyperacusis. Further large studies involving a broader spectrum of children with ASD are warranted to confirm our findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"79 6","pages":"677-682"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cardiac manifestations of post-acute withdrawal syndrome from a history of synthetic cathinone and opioid use.","authors":"A Shukimbayeva, M Prilutskaya, J Mansurova","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Synthetic cathinones and opioids are among the most commonly used illicit drugs in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan. Despite the advent of synthetic cathinones, opioids have not lost their relevance. Patients frequently report poly-dependence, combining cathinones and opioids. The use of synthetic cathinones and opioids is associated with cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality. However, there is limited data describing the cardiac effects of synthetic cathinones and opioids in patients with post-acute withdrawal syndrome. The aim of this work is to describe and compare the cardiac manifestations in patients using synthetic cathinones and opioids with post-acute withdrawal syndrome.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this case-control study, we examined 294 patients over the age of 18 who were using synthetic cathinones and opioids. All patients underwent electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study involved 183 patients using synthetic cathinones and 111 patients reporting opioid use. The average age of the patients was 32.4 ± 8.5 years. In patients using synthetic cathinones, electrocardiography showed a lengthening in the average duration of the ventricular QRS complex (70.5 ± 13.3 ms vs. 69.6 ± 11.7 ms), T wave (154.1 ± 27.5 ms vs. 140.4 ± 24.1 ms), and QT interval (338.2 ± 28.5 ms vs. 334.8 ± 33.5 ms), as well as a shortening of the P wave (79.1 ± 12.2 ms vs. 82.6 ± 14.4 ms) and PQ interval (146.4 ± 19.6 ms vs. 148.3 ± 20.1 ms). Echocardiography confirmed left ventricular hypertrophy in 10.9% of the synthetic cathinones group and 17.1% of the opioid group. Transmitral left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed in 23.5% of patients in both groups. Additionally, 31.1% of patients using synthetic cathinones and 44.1% of those using opioids had a reduced ejection fraction on echocardiography.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In patients using synthetic cathinones the QT interval was longer compared to those using opioids. The ejection fraction was lower in the opioid group. Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic screening should be conducted for all patients with post-acute withdrawal syndrome to prevent life-threatening arrhythmias and heart failure.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"79 6","pages":"703-707"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drug-resistant tuberculosis in Malaysia: Prevalence, characteristics, and treatment outcomes.","authors":"M Y Sidek, M F Kamarul Zaman, N H Nik Rosmawati, A B Zamzurina","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) poses a serious global health threat, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates. Malaysia has witnessed an increase in DRTB cases, necessitating research into trends and characteristics. This study aims to determine the prevalence and describe the characteristics and treatment outcomes of DR-TB cases in Malaysia from 2016 to 2020.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A retrospective record review was carried out, utilising secondary data obtained from the TB registry of Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. All registered DR-TB cases between 2016 and 2020 that met the study criteria were analysed descriptively using SPSS software version 27.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 443 cases of registered DR-TB over 5 years, 430 cases fulfilled the study criteria. The prevalence of DR-TB increased from 0.27 to 1.79 per 100,000 population between 2016 and 2020. The average age was 40.96 years, majority were males (70.7%), Malaysian (79.3%), with Malays comprising 50.2%. Most patients had up to secondary school education (51.9%), married (57.0%), employed (53.3%) and 34.9% were smokers. For clinical characteristics, 23.5% had diabetes, and 10.9% were HIVpositive. Retreatment cases accounted for half the total, and 83.9% had positive smear results. Minimal chest X-ray lesions were observed in 54.4% of cases. The majority (66.7%) received supervised treatment from healthcare providers after being diagnosed with DR-TB, and 37.4% had more than one anti-TB resistance. Favourable treatment outcomes were observed in 56.7% of cases, while 42.1% had unfavourable outcomes, mainly due to loss to follow-up (49.7%), death (42.6%) and treatment failure (7.7%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The rising cases of DR-TB call for comprehensive public health interventions and stakeholder commitment to reduce its occurrence and transmission. These findings provide valuable guidance for policymakers in strengthening DR-TB control and prevention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"79 6","pages":"661-668"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in heart rate variability in post-on-call trainees.","authors":"H J Low, O K Cheah, B H Ng, M M Siti Nidzwani, W M Wan Rahiza, C Y Liu","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Anaesthesiology is a high-demand speciality with 24-hour on-call shifts, which can lead to significant stress and impaired sleep quality among anaesthetists. Nonpharmacological interventions like acupuncture have been widely explored for stress relief. This study aims to evaluate the impact of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on physiological parameters, specifically heart rate variability (HRV) and sleep quality, in anaesthesiology trainees following 24-hour on-call duty.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 38 anaesthesiology trainees, following 24-hour ICU on-call shifts, were recruited for this single-centre cross-sectional clinical trial. The participants were required to complete two 24-hour on-call duties. Demographic data and baseline sleep quality assessments were collected following the first on-call duty. Upon completion of the second on-call shift, participants underwent 20 minutes of TEAS at bilateral PC6 (Neiguan), LI4 (Hegu), LR3 (Taichong), and ST41 (Jiexi) points. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded before and after TEAS. Post-TEAS sleep quality was assessed following an overnight rest.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results demonstrated a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to baseline (109.5±8.9 vs 111.9±10.1 mmHg, p = 0.006), as well as a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure (69.3±8.0 vs 70.9±9.0 mmHg, p = 0.037) and heart rate (65.8±9.2 vs 67.4±9.8 bpm, p = 0.034). There was significant improvement in all aspects of sleep quality (p < 0.001). However, no statistically significant changes were observed in heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, including high-frequency (HF) power, lowfrequency (LF) power, and the LF/HF ratio.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>TEAS may offer potential benefits in managing cardiovascular stress and improving sleep quality in highstress environments, such as post-call recovery. Nevertheless, its impact on autonomic nervous system regulation, as reflected by HRV, appears limited.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"79 6","pages":"764-769"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors associated with the incidence of low birth weight in Pontianak City, Indonesia.","authors":"L Hastuti, A Litasari, K Kardiatun, R Mardiyani, A Rahmawati, S Jais","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The weight of an infant at the time of birth is an indicator of its health. Infants with low birth weight (LBW) are at a higher risk of neonatal mortality and morbidity as well as stunted growth. Low birth weight (LBW) remains a public health concern in developing countries, such as Indonesia. In fact, the neonatal mortalities and morbidities that occur as a consequence of LBW can be prevented by addressing the relevant risk factors. It is believed that by identifying these risk factors, prevention and management efforts can be efficiently and effectively implemented to reduce incidences of LBW (LBWIs). As such, the present study determined the factors affecting LBWIs in a rural setting in Pontianak City, Indonesia.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This is a retrospective unmatched case-control study. The required data was obtained from the medical records maintained by the University Tanjungpura Hospital, Pontianak City, Indonesia. Simple random sampling was used to select and equally divide the 60 chosen respondents into LBW case and normal birth weight control groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mothers with low educational levels had a 1.5 times greater chance of giving birth to LBW babies. The results of the multivariate analysis also revealed a correlation between gestational age (GA), incidence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM), and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and that their combined effects that contributed to 56% of LBWIs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Low maternal education level, low gestational age, IUGR, and premature rupture of membranes contribute to LBW babies. This study recommends that it is necessary to educate women of childbearing age about routine antenatal care checks to identify risk factors that can lead to LBW.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"79 6","pages":"757-763"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IL-41: A novel serum marker correlates with disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.","authors":"B M Abd Ali, I K Sharquie, F I Gorial","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Interleukin (IL)-41, a type of cytokine also known as Metrnl, is involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory and immune-related diseases. However, its role in Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a field yet to be explored, remains a mystery. This study therefore assesses the diagnostic utility of IL-41 in patients with AS and examines the correlations among IL-41 levels, disease activity, and patients' demographic and clinical data. Such novel insights could have significant implications for the diagnosis and management of AS.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Eighty-eight patients diagnosed with AS were enrolled from the Rheumatology Unit at Baghdad Teaching Hospital. Participants were categorized into two groups based on disease status: inactive (n = 44) and active (n = 44). Additionally, 44 matched healthy individuals were included as controls. Comprehensive medical histories were obtained, including disease duration, body mass index, sex, and age. Laboratory parameters related to the disease-such as C-reactive protein, human leukocyte antigen (HLA-B27), and rheumatoid factor-were also measured. Serum IL-41 levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study revealed a significant difference in levels of IL-41 in patients with AS (17.721±0.705 ng/L) compared to controls (8.495±0.984 ng/L; P = 0.009). The mean serum IL-41 concentration was highest in the active group (23.037±5.268 ng/L), followed by the inactive group (12.411±1.672 ng/L; p = 0.001) and controls (8.495±0.984 ng/L). Serum IL-41 levels demonstrated strong validity for diagnosing AS, with a cutoff value of ≥ 9.35 ng/mL and an area under the curve of 0.991. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 97.7%, 79.5%, and 92.38%, respectively (p = 0.002).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>IL-41 is a potential new diagnostic biomarker for AS and associated with patient's disease activity. These insights could potentially transform the way we diagnose and manage AS, offering new avenues for improved patient care and outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"79 6","pages":"777-784"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of occupational noise-induced hearing loss and its associated factors among marine technicians working on the Royal Malaysian Navy vessels.","authors":"W M M Wan Mohamed, S H Adam, K A Zarkasi, S Z Zulkepli","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the second most common form of sensorineural hearing loss. It is one of the occupational health concerns worldwide with a prevalence rate of 16%. In Malaysia, there is an increasing trend of occupational NIHL prevalence encompassing agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and construction sectors. The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel, particularly the marine technicians of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), have a heightened risk of developing NIHL due to prolonged exposure to hazardous noise levels onboard the military vessels. Previous studies involving MAF participants recorded a prevalence rate of approximately 22%. However, limited information is available regarding occupational NIHL among the RMN marine technicians. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of occupational NIHL and its associated factors among marine technicians working on the RMN vessels.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 127 randomly selected participants among marine technicians working on RMN vessels stationed at the Lumut Naval Base, Perak, Malaysia. The research instruments were questionnaires that contained information about sociodemographic, socioeconomic, occupational characteristics, and lifestyle behaviours, followed by a pure tone audiometric (PTA) assessment. Diagnosis of NIHL was made when the hearing threshold was ≥25 dB at 3 kHz to 6 kHz, with a recovery at 8 kHz on PTA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The participants' median age was 32 years (interquartile range=27-37 years). The prevalence of occupational NIHL was 29.9% (95% CI=22.1-38.7). Factors associated with occupational NIHL on unadjusted regression analysis include age >30 years (OR=2.56, p=0.0185), middle household income (OR=2.76, p=0.0227), military rank especially the warrant officer (OR=7.12, p=0.0038), and length of service ≥15 years (OR=2.40, p=0.0246). After adjusting for ethnicity, smoking status, types of vessels, and participation in noise-related leisure activities, middle household income (OR=3.15, 95% CI=1.29- 7.87, p=0.0121) and warrant officer (OR=4.38, 95% CI=1.08- 20.52, p=0.0384) remained as significant predictors for occupational NIHL in this population.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this study, the marine technicians working on board the RMN vessels had a higher prevalence of occupational NIHL compared to the prevalence among other MAF personnel as well as the global data. In addition, the probabilities of having occupational NIHL were significantly higher for middle-income technicians and those who ranked as warrant officers. These findings highlight the need for routine audiometric assessment and adoption of hearing conservation initiatives for individuals at high risk within this occupational cohort.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"79 6","pages":"669-676"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}