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Introduction: Food insecurity exists whenever people are unable to access sufficient food at all times for an active and healthy life. University students are a potentially vulnerable group of people to face food insecurity. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and determinants of food insecurity among a population of university students in Kuantan, in the state of Pahang. Methods: Food security status was identified using the United States Adult Food Security Survey Module (USAFSSM). Factors, which include demographic background, spending expenditure pattern and time constraints, were assessed. A total of 316 students were selected through stratified random sampling throughout six faculties of the International Islamic University Malaysia, of whom 307 successfully completed the survey. Results:The result shows that 54.4% of the students were experiencing food insecurity, from which 32.9% were sub-categorised as low food security and 21.5% as very low food security. Food insecurity was found to be significantly associated with time constraints (p<0.05), spending on books (p<0.05), miscellaneous items (p<0.05), parents' income (p<0.001) and scholarship type (p<0.001). Conclusion: Apart from the high incidence of food insecurity among the students, time and financial affordability appeared to be critical concerns in this study. Since food insecurity has become a significant issue with university students, it should be addressed and prioritised by the relevant authorities.

Articular cartilage has poor repair capacity due to its avascular and aneural properties and has relatively few cells. This study investigated the ability of autologous implantation approach using three dimensional (3D) constructs engineered from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) seeded on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) with or without fibrin as cells carrier for the repair of osteochondral defect in rabbit model. The engineered 3D constructs – PLGA/Fibrin/BMSCs and PLGA/BMSCs – were cultured for 3 weeks in vitro and implanted autologously to the osteochondral defect created in the rabbit knee. The in vivo constructs were harvested and evaluated by means of gross observation, histology assessment, gene expression study, sulphated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) production assay and biomechanical evaluation at 6 and 12 weeks post implantation. The results showed that the osteochondral defects treated with the PLGA/Fibrin/BMSCs constructs exhibited better repairment, more cartilaginous extracellular matrix, higher sGAG production, superior compressive strength and more intense expression of chondrogenic marker genes than the PLGA/BMSCs group. This study suggested that the PLGA/Fibrin/BMSCs has the potential to treat osteochondral defect and may be presented as a viable therapeutic option for those who would be in need from the life-extending benefits of tissue replacement or repair.

This study aimed to find an optimal formulation to form 3D hyaline-like cartilage substitutes using the tissue engineering triads. The primary cells taken from osteoarthritic patients were overexpressed with transcriptional factor SRY (Sex Determining Region Y)-Box 9 (SOX9) using Lipofectamine 2000™ through a non-viral transfection method. The transfected and non-transfected cells were seeded on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) based scaffolds with and without fibrin. The arrangement resulted in four experimental groups. The 3D ‘cells-scaffolds’ tissue constructs were cultured for three weeks and implanted ectopically in nude mice for four weeks. The evaluations include macroscopic and microscopic study, gene expression analyses, and sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) assay, focusing on the cartilage properties. A biomechanical evaluation was performed only on post-implanted constructs. All in vitro, two- and four-week post-implanted constructs exhibited firm and smooth hyaline-like cartilage appearance. In vitro constructs showed sparse cells distribution with minimal cartilaginous tissue formation. However, a high density, lacunae-encapsulated chondrocytes embedded within the basophilic ground substances was observed in all post-implanted constructs. It is supported by positive-brownish precipitation immunolocalisation against collagen type II. Besides, molecular analysis showed that COL2A1 and other cartilaginous markers were also expressed. Increased sGAG content and compressive strain could be observed in vitro and in vivo. Although quantitatively, no significant statistical differences were found between the four groups, the qualitative results indicated that SOX9-overexpressed cells, PLGA, and fibrin combination guides hyaline-like cartilage formation better than other groups. Hence, the combination may be studied in a big animal model to develop its potential for future clinical application.