Tuaran Hospital

Rice, the staple food for more than half of the world’s population, is predominantly consumed in polished form, which lacks essential micronutrients and contributes to hidden hunger. This review examines biofortification and functional rice development as sustainable methods to improve the nutritional and health-enhancing attributes of rice. Evidence from conventional breeding, genetic engineering, agricultural practices, and microbiological interventions is consolidated, focusing on the biofortification of iron, zinc, and vitamin A. Functional rice enriched with anthocyanins, resistant starch, proteins, and prebiotic or probiotic traits is also discussed, alongside nutrient bioavailability and the influence of processing methods such as fermentation, germination, and parboiling. Findings indicate that biofortified rice can helps mitigate micronutrient deficiencies, while functional rice provides additional advantages for the management of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal health. Nonetheless, challenges persist, particularly in nutrient absorption, regulatory approval, and consumer acceptance. Current evidence is restricted by insufficient biomarkers, contradictory findings in zinc studies, and an absence of long-term intervention trials, underscoring the need for further research and socio-economic integration.

This study presents the first integrated assessment of plastic pollution at the Kura River delta, where the river enters the hydrologically enclosed Caspian Sea. We applied a modular toolbox comprising four complementary components: high-resolution hydrodynamic modeling to predict debris convergence zones, UAV-based mapping to survey shoreline conditions, automated object-based image analysis for debris detection and classification, and standardized field monitoring by trained community participants for ground-truthing and source identification. Using this framework, we identified debris accumulation hotspots and developed a replicable approach for assessing plastic pollution in semi-enclosed systems. Surveys along a 1.2km shoreline recorded over 600 items, dominated by beverage containers by count and marine-sourced plastics by weight. Transboundary inputs were confirmed through labeled debris from five countries. The initiative also expanded institutional collaboration, trained over 150 participants, and established a local monitoring network. These findings highlight the value of integrating technical diagnostics with community engagement to enable scalable, site-adapted responses to plastic pollution.

IntroductionTuberculosis remains a major health problem globally and in Malaysia, particularly in the state of Sabah. Delayed sputum conversion is associated with treatment failure, drug-resistant tuberculosis and mortality. We aimed to determine the prevalence of delayed sputum conversion among smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients and its associated factors in Sabah, Malaysia.MethodsA retrospective follow up study on all patients newly diagnosed with smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis from 2017 to 2019 was conducted at three government health clinics in Sabah, utilizing data from a national electronic tuberculosis database and medical records. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were applied for data analysis. The outcome of the study was the sputum conversion status at the end of the two-month intensive treatment phase with either successful conversion to smear negative or non-conversion.Results374 patients were included in the analysis. Our patients were generally younger than 60 years old with no medical illness and varying proportions of tuberculosis severity as judged by radiographic appearance and sputum bacillary load upon diagnosis. Foreigners constituted 27.8% of our sample. 8.8% (confidence interval: 6.2–12.2) did not convert to smear negative at the end of the intensive phase. Binary logistic regression showed that older patients ≥60 years old (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 4.303), foreigners (AOR = 3.184) and patients with higher sputum bacillary load at diagnosis [2+ (AOR = 5.061) and 3+ (AOR = 4.992)] were more likely to have delayed sputum smear conversion.ConclusionThe prevalence of delayed sputum conversion in our study was considerably low at 8.8% with age ≥60 years old, foreigners and higher pre-treatment sputum bacillary load associated with delayed conversion. Healthcare providers should take note of these factors and ensure the patients receive proper follow up treatment.

The main purpose of this study was to identify the level of pedagogical knowledge and its relationship with the application of patriotism of secondary school history teachers in Sabah. This study is a survey study using a questionnaire for the purpose of collecting data. The sample of the study consists of history teachers involving a total of 367 respondents throughout Sabah. The study variables were tested using descriptive statistics namely mean and standard deviation as well as inferential statistics involving Pearson correlation. The findings of the study show that the pedagogical knowledge of History teachers in secondary schools in Sabah is at a moderate level and there is a strong positive relationship between pedagogical knowledge and the practice of applying the values of patriotism. These findings provide useful input, especially to the Ministry of Education Malaysia, the State Education Department, and the school administration to plan professional development programs.

By independence, the leader of the Alliance Party has failed to reach a consensus on some controversial issues such as citizenship, the national language, and the special position of the Malays. Such matter was later handed over to an independent commission with the hopes that all races in Malaya will be fairly treated. Subsequently, the British government and the Malay Rulers were agreed to the formation of an independent commission namely the Reid Commission draw up a draft of Independent Malaya’s Constitution in March 1956. By applying a historical approach/method through an analysis of historical documents sought from the Public Records Office, London, and the National Archives of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, this paper discusses the significance of the Alliance Party leadership in the Reid Commission. This paper also discusses the dilemma faced by the Alliance Party leaders in seeking the consensus on the number of issues, including the key characteristics of a nation-state they intended to create after the independence. Moreover, debates between the delegation of the Alliance Party and the Reid Commission have also been given due attention. Accordingly, the study found that the credibility, as well as the tolerance shown by the leaders of the Alliance Party significantly, made the Reid Commission accepts the motion of independence. This is crucial as it was a key to the creation of the Federation of Malaya Constitution that led to the independence of Malaya in 1957.

Introduction: Irreducible dorsal dislocation of the interphalangeal (IP) joint of the great toe is an uncommon entity. Most reported cases reviewed metatarsophalangeal joint injury as the most common location for trauma of forefoot. Closed reduction of hallux IP joint is difficult when accompanied by sesamoid bone and plantar plate interposition. Case Presentation: A twenty two year-old man complaining of painful swelling of the left big toe for five days after falling from skateboarding. The big toe was suffered from axial loading and hyperdorsoflexion. Local examination showed bruised, hyperextended deformity, and swelling of the left hallux. X-ray revealed interposed hallucal sesamoid between the IP joint from anteroposterior view and the dorsal dislocation from oblique view. Attempt for closed reduction was unsuccessful. The patient underwent dorsal-approach open reduction, resection of the interposed sesamoid, and K-wire fixation. Discussion: Intra-articular entrapment of the sesamoid may result in irreducible dislocation of the hallux IP joint. The challenge is likely to be the result of the interposed plantar capsule with the sesamoid. Open reduction of the left great toe IP joint was approached with midline dorsal incision and split the extensor expansion. Dorsal-approach has been performed in some cases, it’s easy to perform and can be used to confirm and reposition the interposed tissue. The K-wire removed at the third week after surgery. Postoperative radiograph revealed satisfactory reduction of the joint. Conclusion: Dorsal-approach open reduction and fixing with K-wire shows good result for dislocation of hallux IP joint. The patient could walk without discomfort and returned to daily activities after four weeks postoperative.

目的：変形性膝関節症（膝OA）患者の歩行異常性に関する観察項目の内容妥当性を検討したうえで，それらの項目と三次元歩行解析データとの基準関連妥当性および再検査信頼性を検証することを目的とした．

Medication errors (MEs) are preventable mistakes that occur when there is a failure in the treatment process of any disease that can cause potential harm to patients. Having an effect on patients, health outcomes and costs incurred, it does burden our economically-developing country. Database systems have been created worldwide for the reporting of MEs, but varying countries practise different classifications of MEs hence it poses a challenge to categorize them. This makes it next to impossible to fully curb this continual problem. There are a number of classifications of MEs, based on mistakes and errors based on skills, based on the mistakes itself, based on symptoms and based on the stages of drug delivery system. This review summarizes the preexisting classifications of MEs.

The damage caused by the golden apple snail in rice seedlings of various ages was assessed for different pest densities and water depth regimes. The experiments involved randomized complete-block and split-split plot designs with three replications. Water depth accounted for a higher proportion of the damage than seedlings' age and pest densities. At a water depth of >5.0 cm, direct-seeded rice and transplanted 21-, 30- and 40-day-old seedlings incurred damage of 100, 89.2, 59.7 and 46%, respectively. The susceptibility to snail damage decreased as seedling age increased. At a water depth of 5.0 cm, the pest caused insignificant damage to the 30- and 40-day-old seedlings. The same result occurred in direct-seeded rice and 21-day-old seedlings when the water was drained to a saturated soil moisture condition. Limited moisture conditions immobilized and prevented the pest from causing severe damage. This treatment reduced damage significantly, even when the pest density was five snails m−2. Dry direct seeding, which used a minimal amount of water in the early stages of growth, received 0% damage. Direct seeding with field draining to a saturated soil moisture condition, dry direct seeding, and transplanted 30- and 40-day-old seedlings with a water depth of 5.0 cm were tolerant to snail attack. The agronomic performance of these planting methods was not significantly different from conventional practices. The damage potential of the golden apple snail in rice depends on water depth >seedling age >pest density, in decreasing order.