Design of an interactive digital nutritional education package for elderly people.

Designing a system for the elderly is crucial, as aging is associated with physiological changes that may impair perception, cognition and other social aspects; therefore, many aspects need consideration, especially in interface design. This study was conducted to develop a digital nutritional education package (WE Sihat) by following appropriate guidelines for elderly people to achieve better design interface and interaction. Touch-screen technology was used as a platform for user interaction.

Efficacy of fasting calorie restriction on quality of life among aging men.

Calorie restriction (CR) has been promoted to increase longevity. Previous studies have indicated that CR can negatively affect mood and therefore the effect of CR on mood and quality of life (QOL) becomes crucial when considering the feasibility of CR in humans. We conducted a three month clinical trial on CR (reduction of 300 to 500 kcal/day) combined with two days/week of Muslim sunnah fasting (FCR) to determine the effectiveness of FCR on QOL among aging men in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

Light-mediated activation reveals a key role for protein kinase A and sarcoma protein kinase in the development of sperm hyper-activated motility.

Background: Hyper-activated motility (HAM) is part of the sperm capacitation process, which is necessary for fertilization. In this study, we investigated the effect of visible light on sperm motility and hyperactivation and evaluated pathways mediating these effects.

Methods: Human sperm (1 × 10⁷ cells/ml) in capacitation media were irradiated for 3 min with 40 mW/cm² visible light (400-800 nm with maximum energy at 600 nm).

Roles of diet, lifetime physical activity and oxidative DNA damage in the occurrence of prostate cancer among men in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

Background: There is a paucity of information on risk factors of prostate cancer, especially those related to dietary and lifestyle among Asian populations.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary intake (macronutrients, fruits, vegetables and lycopene), lifetime physical activity and oxidative DNA damage with prostate cancer.

Design: A case control study was carried out among 105 subjects (case n=35, control n=70), matched for age and ethnicity.

Apparent bioavailability of isoflavones in urinary excretions of postmenopausal Malay women consuming tempeh compared with milk.

Quantitation of isoflavones in humans is important to establish the benefits of these compounds to the populations. Urinary isoflavones are frequently used as a biomarker of isoflavone bioavailability from food or supplement since urine contains 100-fold higher concentrations of isoflavones. The objective of the present study was to determine and compare the urinary excretions of daidzein (DA), genistein (GE) and equol (EQ) in postmenopausal Malay women following the consumption of tempeh and milk in a calcium absorption study and to test the hypothesis that the excretion of isoflavones following consumption of tempeh maybe higher compared with milk.

Prevalence of gender disparities and predictors affecting the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The aims were to investigate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) within gender disparities in Malaysian older adults, and to determine the predictors of MCI according to gender disparities. A community-based sample of urban, multiethnic dwelling elderly aged 60 years of age and above from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur was recruited. Prevalence of all-type MCI, amnestic-type MCI (am-MCI) and non-amnestic-type MCI (nam-MCI) was assessed using comprehensive neuropsychological batteries.

Roles of adiposity, lifetime physical activity and serum adiponectin in occurrence of breast cancer among Malaysian women in Klang Valley.

Background: Lack of physical activities throughout life is related to obesity and is a risk factor of breast cancer, however, the associations of these factors with adiponectin in the occurrence of breast cancer have not been well investigated.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between adiposity, lifetime physical activities and serum adiponectin as breast cancer risk factors among Malaysian women in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

Design: A case-control study was carried out among 70 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 138 controls aged 29 to 65 years old in Klang Valley.

Absorption of calcium from milk and tempeh consumed by postmenopausal Malay women using the dual stable isotope technique.

Assessment of calcium bioavailability from non-dairy foods containing moderate amounts of calcium is especially important in populations that have habitually low dairy consumption. Absorption of calcium from milk and tempeh (a traditional fermented soy product) was compared in a sample of Malay subjects. A randomized, crossover design was utilized to assess calcium absorption in 20 postmenopausal women from either a glass of milk (114 g) or from a meal of tempeh (206 g); each containing 130 mg calcium.

An action research on promotion of healthy ageing and risk reduction of chronic disease: a need assessment study among rural elderly Malays, care givers and health professionals.

Objective: Prior to the development of a healthy ageing and risk reduction of chronic diseases intervention package for older people in Malaysia, a need assessment study was conducted to identify nutritional knowledge status and information needs, as part of an action research process.

Design: A cross sectional study was conducted among 267 elderly people, 54 care givers and 66 health professionals in two rural areas of Peninsular of Malaysia (i.e Sabak Bernam, Selangor and Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan).

Serum folate concentration, cognitive impairment, and DNA damage among elderly individuals in Malaysia.

The notion that dietary factors affect cognitive function and subsequently the risk of dementia has increased over the years from a global viewpoint. Because low folate intake has been described to impair cognitive function, we tested the hypothesis that low serum folate concentration is associated with cognitive impairment and an attenuated increase in DNA damage. We investigated the relationship between serum folate concentration, cognitive impairment, and DNA damage among elderly people attending health clinics in Klang Valley, an urban area in Malaysia.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its influencing factors among adolescent girls in Mashhad, Iran.

Introduction: This study sought to determine the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, one of the major public-health challenges worldwide, and its influencing factors among 15 to 17 years old adolescent girls in Mashhad, Iran.

Methods: A total of 622 high school adolescents participated in a cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic characteristics and dietary habits.

A multidimensional assessment of nutritional and health status of rural elderly Malays.

A multidimensional assessment of nutritional and health status comprised of subjective global assessment (SGA), anthropometry function, biochemistry, dietary intake, social and health aspects was carried out on 820 older people (52.8% men and 47.2% women) from four rural areas of Peninsular Malaysia.

DietPal: a Web-based dietary menu-generating and management system.

Background: Attempts in current health care practice to make health care more accessible, effective, and efficient through the use of information technology could include implementation of computer-based dietary menu generation. While several of such systems already exist, their focus is mainly to assist healthy individuals calculate their calorie intake and to help monitor the selection of menus based upon a prespecified calorie value. Although these prove to be helpful in some ways, they are not suitable for monitoring, planning, and managing patients' dietary needs and requirements.

Predictive equations for estimation of stature in Malaysian elderly people.

Height is an important clinical indicator to derive body mass index (BMI), creatinine height index and also to estimate basal energy expenditure, basal metabolic rate and vital capacity through lung function. However, height measurement in the elderly may impose some difficulties and the reliability is doubtful. Equations estimating height from other anthropometric measures have been developed for Caucasians, but only one study has developed an equation (based on arm span only) for an Asian population.

Food intakes and preferences of hospitalised geriatric patients.

Background: A cross sectional survey was carried out on 120 hospitalised geriatric patients aged 60 and above in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur to investigate their nutrient intakes and food preferences.

Methods: Food intakes were recorded using a one day weighed method and diet recall. Food preferences were determined using a five point hedonic score.

Phosphorylation of histone h3 at serine 10 cannot account directly for the detachment of human heterochromatin protein 1gamma from mitotic chromosomes in plant cells.

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) controls heterochromatin formation in animal cells, at least partly through interaction with lysine 9 (Lys-9)-methylated histone H3. We aimed to determine whether a structurally conserved human HP1 protein exhibits conserved heterochromatin localization in plant cells and studied its relation to modified histone H3. We generated transgenic tobacco plants and cycling cells expressing the human HP1gamma fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) and followed its association with chromatin.

A Prospective Study on Malnutrition and Duration of Hospitalisation among Hospitalised Geriatric Patients Admitted to Surgical and Medical Wards of Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Elderly people are known to be at a greater risk of malnutrition, particularly those having diseases or illnesses. A prospective study was undertaken on 92 hospitalised geriatric patients (45.6% males), aged 60 to 89 years old, admitted to surgical and medical wards at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM).

Social and health profiles of rural elderly Malays.

Aim: To evaluate the social and health functions of rural elderly Malays.

Method: A survey was carried out on 350 elderly Malays aged 60 and above using a set of socio and health questionnaires.

Results: The majority of elderly people in the study were married (64%), unemployed with no pension (76%), relied on children for their main economic resources (62%) and perceived that they have sufficient money to buy the food they require (61%).

Food intakes and habits of rural elderly Malays.

A cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out on 350 elderly Malays aged 60 and above from 11 randomly selected villages in a rural area on the east coast of Malaysia. The findings indicated that the mean intakes of energy and of all of the nutrients investigated were below the Malaysian Recommended Dietary Allowances, except for protein and vitamin C. With respect to dietary habits, almost all of the subjects reported that they had breakfast (99.

Development of a screening tool for detecting undernutrition and dietary inadequacy among rural elderly in Malaysia: simple indices to identify individuals at high risk.

Undernutrition and the consumption of poor diets are prevalent among elderly people in developing countries. Recognising the importance of the early identification of individuals at high nutritional risk, this study aimed to develop a simple tool for screening. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 11 randomly selected villages among the 62 in Mersing District, Malaysia.

Validation of a Dietary History Questionnaire against a 7-D Weighed Record for Estimating Nutrient Intake among Rural Elderly Malays.

Energy and nutrient intake estimated using a pre-coded dietary history questionnaire (DHQ) was compared with results obtained from a 7-d weighed intake record (WI) in a group of 37 elderly Malays residing in rural areas of Mersing District, Johor, Malaysia to determine the validity of the DHQ. The DHQ consists of a pre-coded dietary history with a qualitative food frequency questionnaire which was developed to obtain information on food intake and usual dietary habits. The 7-d WI requires subjects to weigh each food immediately before eating and to weigh any leftovers.

Nutritional status of rural elderly Malays: dietary and biochemical findings.

A cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out on 350 elderly Malays aged 60 and above from 11 randomly selected villages in a rural area on the East Coast of Malaysia. The findings indicated that the mean intakes of energy and all of the nutrients investigated were below the Malaysian Recommended Dietary Allowances, excepts for protein and vitamin C. Nutrients most likely to be inadequate were vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and calcium, with more than 50% of the subjects having estimated intakes of below 2/3 of the recommendations.

26 S proteasome-mediated production of an authentic major histocompatibility class I-restricted epitope from an intact protein substrate.

Peptides displayed on the cell surface by major histocompatibility class I molecules (MHC class I) are generated by proteolytic processing of protein-antigens in the cytoplasm. Initially, antigens are degraded by the 26 S proteasome, most probably following ubiquitination. However, it is unclear whether this proteolysis results in the generation of MHC class I ligands or if further processing is required.

Production of a specific major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted epitope by ubiquitin-dependent degradation of modified ovalbumin in lymphocyte lysate.

Peptide epitopes presented through class I major histocompatability complex (MHC class I) on the cell surface, are generated by proteolytic processing of protein-antigens in the cytoplasm. The length and amino acid sequence determine whether a given peptide can fit into the peptide binding groove of class I heavy chain molecules and subsequently be presented to the immune system. The mode of action of the processing pathway is therefore of great interest.

Who were old in the Middle Ages?

Contrary to the accepted view that people in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance were considered old from their forties, in fact they were classified as old between the ages of 60 and 70. In schemes for the division of the life-course into stages old-age begins over a wide range of ages. In some of these schemes it begins indeed, at 40; but in others its onset is at 35, 45, 50, 60, or 72.