Estimation of macroplastic yield from river basin to coastal area: A case study of the Klang River, Malaysia.

Plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems has become a critical global environmental challenge, threatening biodiversity, water quality, and human health. This study investigates macroplastics distribution and characterization in the highly polluted Klang River, Malaysia, and proposes a protocol to compute total macroplastic yield in the river basin. A total of 240 macroplastic items were collected over a 20-km stretch from the river mouth inland, with an average of 0.

Exploring Prevalence and Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Smoking Among Malaysian Adults: A Cross- Sectional Study.

Background And Aims: The Malaysian government has implemented various antismoking measures to reduce the incidence of unhealthy lifestyles within the population. This study analyzes the baseline data of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study to establish the prevalence of sociodemographic factors that are associated with smoking habits among Malaysian adults.

Methods: This study was carried out in urban and rural communities with adults aged between 35 and 70 years using purposive sampling.

A systematic review on the use of C-reactive protein in autopsy practice.

Postmortem analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP) in autopsies has been extensively researched for its potential utility. This analysis could aid forensic pathologists in screening for and investigating the potential infectious or inflammatory causes of death, thereby guiding appropriate autopsy procedures. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of postmortem CRP analysis in autopsy settings, a thorough electronic literature search was conducted across databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library.

Is there an Association between Dietary Micronutrients Intake and Bone Fractures among Malaysian Reproductive-Age Women? The PURE Malaysia Study.

Bone fractures represent a significant health issue and impose a considerable burden on healthcare systems globally. However, data pertaining to bone fractures, especially among reproductive-age women in Malaysia, are very limited. Micronutrients like calcium, magnesium and phosphorus play vital roles in bone health, influencing bone mineral density and fracture risk.

Detection of microplastics in human tissues and organs: A scoping review.

Background: Research on microplastics has largely focused on the environment and marine organisms until recently. A growing body of evidence has detected microplastics in human organs and tissues, with their exact entry routes being unclear and their potential health effects remain unknown. This scoping review aimed to characterise microplastics in human tissues and organs, examine their entry routes and addressing gaps in research analytical techniques.

Dietary nutrient intake study among older adults: baseline Malaysian pure study.

Introduction: The older adults (OA) is vulnerable to malnutrition, which may affect their health and quality of life. This study assesses the prevalence of deficiencies in dietary nutrients among the Malaysian OA stratified by residency, genders, socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI).

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted, utilizing purposive sampling, recruiting 2,299 Malaysian people aged 60 years old and above who agreed to be interviewed via a comprehensive semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.

A cross-sectional analysis of the PURE study on minerals intake among Malaysian adult population with hypertension.

Hypertension (HPT) is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and premature death worldwide. Currently, attention is given to various dietary approaches with a special focus on the role of micronutrient intake in the regulation of blood pressure. This study aims to measure the dietary intake of selected minerals among Malaysian adults and its association with HPT.

Quantification and characterization of airborne microplastics in the coastal area of Terengganu, Malaysia.

Microplastics (MPs) pose a threat to ecosystems due to their capacity to bind with toxic chemicals. While the occurrence of MPs in aquatic environmental matrices like water, sediments, and biota is well studied, their presence in the atmosphere remains less understood. This study aimed to determine the presence of airborne MPs and their characteristics through ground-based sampling in the coastal city of Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.

Depressive symptoms among adults: Baseline findings of PURE Malaysia cohort study.

Introduction: In Malaysia, the prevalence of depression has increased from 1.8 % to 2.3 % within a decade.

A raw data on the physico-chemical water parameters and sedimentation rates of two different aquatic macrophytes in Tasik Berombak, Malaysia.

The excessive growth of aquatic macrophytes in a water system has a negative effect on the lake ecosystem. This article presents data on water parameters and sedimentation rates from sites that include different aquatic macrophytes at Tasik Berombak, a freshwater lake on Peninsular Malaysia's eastern coast. Areas with   and  were selected for sampling, while an area without aquatic macrophytes served as the control.

First evidence of microplastic pollution in the surface water of Malaysian Marine Park islands, South China Sea during COVID-19.

Malaysia is bounded by the South China Sea with many islands that support species megadiversity and coral reef ecosystems. This study investigates the distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the surface water around the four marine park islands (Perhentian, Redang, Kapas, and Tenggol) during COVID-19. The global pandemic has reset human activities, impacting the environment while possibly reducing anthropogenic contributions of microplastic pollution near the South China Sea islands.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Prehypertension and Hypertension Among Adults: Baseline Findings of PURE Malaysia Cohort Study.

Background: Although prehypertension and hypertension can be detected at the primary healthcare level and low-cost treatments can effectively control its complications, hypertension is still the world's leading preventable risk factor. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine its prevalence and its risk factors among Malaysian adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 7585 adults was performed covering the rural and urban areas.

Association of psychological distress with arm morbidity symptoms in breast cancer survivors: outcomes from the use of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires.

Background: Although higher survival rates of breast cancer are achieved these days, breast cancer survivors are challenged with unwanted side effects from treatment or management that affect physical, functional, and psychological well-being of an individual. This study aimed to assess psychological distress status in Malaysian breast cancer survivors and factors that affected the condition.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted on 162 breast cancer survivors from various breast cancer support groups in Malaysia.

Prediction of Lung Function Status Using Handgrip Strength and Anthropometry among the Healthy Malay Population in Malaysia.

Lung function depends primarily on the strength of the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm, which is indirectly related to handgrip strength (HGS). This study aims to determine the predictability of lung functions using HGS among healthy adults of Malay ethnicity in Malaysia. This study also aims to compare the equation using HGS with equations without HGS, such as the Global Lung Initiative (GLI).

A multidimensional approach for microplastics monitoring in two major tropical river basins, Malaysia.

Microplastics (MPs) with the size of 1 μm-5 mm are pollutants of great concern ubiquitously found in the environment. Existing efforts have found that most of the MPs present in the seas mainly originated from land via riverine inputs. Asian rivers are known to be among the top in microplastic emissions.

Occurrence of octylphenol and nonylphenol in the sediment of South China Sea and Malacca Strait, Peninsular Malaysia.

Sediment is the ultimate reservoir of effluent from landmasses. This includes octylphenol (OP) and nonylphenol (NP), two chemical compounds which are known with the ability to disrupt the normal functions of hormones in the organism. To our knowledge, no study of these compounds in the marine sediment of Malaysia has been published to date.

Normative reference values and predicting factors of handgrip strength for dominant and non-dominant hands among healthy Malay adults in Malaysia.

Introduction: Handgrip strength (HGS) measures the maximum voluntary force of the hand, which has been used to assess individual health status indirectly. Although several factors related to HGS have been identified, studies among adults in Malaysia are lacking. This study aimed to provide the normative reference HGS values and determine its predictor factors among healthy adults of Malay ethnic in Malaysia.

New insights of minimum requirement on legumes (Fabaceae sp.) daily intake in Malaysia.

Background: Despite their low energy density and high nutrient content, legumes may be under-recognised as a beneficial food for the prevention and management of obesity and related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aims to analyse the moderation effect of legume intake on the relationship between BMI and the prevalence of CVD among the Malaysian adult population.

Methods: This study addressed communities of urban and rural Malaysia, including adults aged between 35 and 70 years old at the baseline recruitment.

Evaluation of Circulating MicroRNAs and Adipokines in Breast Cancer Survivors with Arm Lymphedema.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a form of secondary lymphedema that is characterized by abnormal swelling of one or both arms due to the accumulation of lymph fluid in the interstitial tissue spaces, resulting from obstruction of the lymphatic vessels due to surgery insults, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Due to the multifactorial nature of this condition, the pathogenesis of secondary lymphedema remains unclear and the search for molecular factors associated with the condition is ongoing. This study aimed to identify serum microRNAs and adipokines associated with BCRL.

Condensate loss estimation and transient solar-to-vapor conversion efficiency for effective performance evaluation of the inclined solar still.

Previously, freshwater yields of the solar still were quantified only based on the actual distillate recovery, not considering condensate losses by any means. Likewise, solar-to-vapor conversion efficiencies of the solar still were conventionally considered and evaluated as one-off -rigid values- based on the latent heat of the average water temperature. In most cases, these approaches do not give a comprehensive performance details of the solar still.

Utilizing Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry for Monitoring and Analytical Characterization of Microplastics in Polychaete Worms.

Microplastics (the term for plastics at sizes of <5 mm) might be introduced into the environment from domestic or agricultural activities or from the breakdown of plastic pieces, particles, and debris that are bigger in size. Their presence in the aquatic environment has caused accumulation problems, as microplastics do not easily break down and can be digested by some aquatic organisms. This study was conducted to screen and monitor the level of microplastic pollution in polychaete worms using pyrolysis−gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS).

Assessing Factors Associated with Non-Fatal Injuries from Road Traffic Accidents among Malaysian Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the PURE Malaysia Study.

Unlabelled: Non-fatal injuries (NFIs) due to road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a public health problem worldwide that significantly impacts the population morbidity and healthcare costs. As the demands for vehicles in developing countries, such as Malaysia, is increasing annually, the present study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with NFIs due to RTAs among Malaysia's adult population.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 15,321 participants from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study conducted in Malaysia.

A feasibility study for the treatment of 1,2-dichloroethane-contaminated groundwater using reedbed system and assessment of its natural attenuation.

A reedbed system planted with Phragmites australis was implemented to treat chlorinated hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater in an industrial plant area. Reedbed commissioning was conducted from July 2016 to November 2016 to treat contaminated groundwater via a pump-and-treat mechanism. Combination of horizontal and vertical reedbed systems was applied to treat 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2 DCA) under four parallel installations.