No abstract

Food-drug interphase products, referring to nutraceuticals in this study, are a category of health products containing a combination of food ingredients with active substances for oral consumption. Many of these products are marketed as an alternative to prescription medicine to treat various ailments despite the lack of scientific evidence, influencing patients with chronic diseases to consume nutraceutical products. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with knowledge, attitude, and practice of nutraceutical use among patients with chronic disease attending to the outpatient clinic. This is a cross-sectional study involving patients with chronic disease at the outpatient specialist clinic. Samples were recruited from the outpatient clinic using convenience sampling. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which was self-constructed and validated. We found that the use of nutraceuticals was prevalent among 17.9% of respondents. More than half (60.9%) of the respondents have poor knowledge of nutraceutical and 53.1% of respondents have a positive attitude towards nutraceutical. Gender and morbidities were the factors associated with the practice of nutraceutical usage. Female patients are more likely to have increased use of nutraceutical than male patients and patients with multiple morbidities have higher odds of using nutraceutical than patients with single morbidities. There is a high number of patients who consume nutraceutical products and public knowledge of nutraceutical needs to be improved further. The government should develop appropriate regulation and monitoring of nutraceutical products.

Introduction: Neuromelioidosis is a rare complication of melioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a Gram-negative bacterium commonly found in soil and surface water. Although cerebral involvement of melioidosis comprises only 4% of total complications, it significantly impacts mortality and morbidity. This study aims to perform a systematic review on various neurological complications of melioidosis in the Asia-Pacific region within the previous 5 years. Method: Systematic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science databases and Google Scholar on neuromelioidosis complications published from 2015-2019. Results: Central nervous system (CNS) complications comprise 5% of all cases of melioidosis. 16 selected articles were analysed based on its risk factors like diabetes mellitus, chronic renal and lung disease, alcohol abuse, and immunosuppression. Neuromelioidosis is detected 6-14 days after the first presentation and confirmed by detailed investigations. Radioimaging helps to differentiate neuromelioidosis from other diagnoses such as meningitis or brain abscess. The majority of literature recommended 2-week intensive Ceftazidime or Meropenem therapy, followed by 3–6 months Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole oral eradication therapy. Conclusion: Neuromelioidosis is rare, with relatively nonspecific CNS clinical features. Patients or travelers from endemic areas with risk factors should be treated cautiously. Radioimaging modalities aid early microbiological sampling and appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Introduction: Products registered with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) have two main features: MAL Registration Number and Meditag™ Hologram sticker. Both of these features need to be displayed on each pack of drug sales. Missing either one or both above features consider as unregistered medicines. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with knowledge, attitude and practice of unregistered medicines usage among patients with chronic disease attending Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 108 respondents using convenient sampling was conducted at the outpatient unit of Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, from June 2019 to July 2019. Results: The prevalence of unregistered medicines usage was 15.7%. Although the respondents had good knowledge about unregistered medicines. More than half (64.8%) of respondents have good knowledge of unregistered knowledge and 91.7% of respondents have negative attitude towards unregistered medicines. Factors associated with practice of unregistered medicines use is found to be level of education and perceived of health believe. Lower education and perceived benefit of unregistered medicines 4 times and 12 times more likely to take unregistered medicines respectively compare to higher education level and perceived no health benefit. Conclusion: In conclusion, prevalence of unregistered medicines usage was 15.7%. More than half (64.8%) of the respondents were categorized as having good knowledge. We need to strengthen our education program to modify patient's belief on the non-benefit using unregistered medicines.