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The Health | january, 2019
Current News
Briefs
Rentokil raises pest
and hygiene awareness
on food safety
Rentokil Initial Malaysia (RIM) recently
partnered with the Ministry of Health
(MOH) Putrajaya in advocating the
importance of pest control and sanitation
to support food safety audits at the Food
Safety Inspection Training. Sanitation and
good hygiene practices especially hand
hygiene were key topics. As 80 per cent of
germs and bacterial infections are spread
by hand, it is imperative for companies
to raise hygiene awareness on the
consequences of poor hygiene habits.
One of which is closing the toilet lid
while flushing. Flushing with an open lid
creates a phenomenon called “toilet sneeze
effect” which was first coined in 1975 by
environmental microbiologist, Dr Charles
Gerba. This menacing sneeze produces
a germ cloud that will stay airborne and
contaminate the entire bathroom with
faecal particles, viruses and bacteria.
NKF’s 4th renal nutrition
seminar features world-
renowned expert
The National Kidney Foundation
(NKF) of Malaysia hosted the 4th Renal
Nutrition Seminar in collaboration with
the International Federation of Kidney
Foundation (IFKF) to develop and
promote a continuous education program
to further renal nutrition education for
dieticians, doctors, and other healthcare
professionals. The 200 participants came
from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and
Singapore.
Among the notable speakers were
world-renowned expert and ‘father of the
field of renal nutrition’, Professor Joel D.
Kopple who served as the chief of the
Division of Nephrology at Harbor-UCLA
Medical Center from 1981 to 2007.
The support of sponsors such as
Feresenius Kabi Malaysia Sdn Bhd,
Pharm-D Sdn Bhd, Pharmaniaga
Biomedical Sdn Bhd, Cymed Sdn Bhd, and
JKS Biomedical Sdn Bhd helped to make
the 4th Renal Nutrition Seminar a success.
Malaysian breakthrough
in clinical study on ovarian
cancer blood test
“Malaysia is the first country in Asia
to start clinical study of ovarian cancer
diagnostic blood test in early 2019,”
said Chief Executive Officer of Clinical
Research Malaysia, Dr Akhmal Yusof.
This is following an institutional
investment of RM39 million by InterVenn
BioSciences, a biotech company based
in the US to develop the cancer early
detection blood test in collaboration with
CRM and Technology Park Malaysia (TPM).
TPM acting TPM acting president/CEO,
Sharbani Harun said that the collaboration
marked an important milestone for Malaysia
to become a central hub for the Asia-
Pacific region, towards the advancement
of research and development in the field of
biomedical and life sciences.
Meanwhile, Dr. Akhmal added
InterVenn’s decision to conduct clinical
study here is a testament to the country’s
capabilities in terms of infrastructure, good
clinical practice, certified investigators and
a large patient pool.
Once clinical validation and regulatory
processes are completed, the ovarian
cancer blood test will be offered as a
laboratory diagnostic test.
No blood needed
for glucose test
MIMOS developed a completely
non-invasive glucose monitoring
device, set for 2019
N
ational applied research and
development agency, MIMOS, has
announced a major breakthrough in
medical device technology with the
unveiling of a non-invasive, non-
intrusive and non-destructive device
for blood glucose screening. The device
applies chemometrics methods to analyze the near-
infrared (NIRS) obtained in absorbance mode through
the user’s thumb spectra.
Called GlucoSenz, the device is the world’s first
clinically-tested non-invasive blood screening prototype.
It works by using photonics, electronics and software
technologies to detect, analyse and predict blood glucose
level from the blood capillaries of the human thumb
without piercing the skin.
To use the device, the thumb is placed on the thumb
module, where light will be projected. The reflected light
is then collected by a fibre-optic probe that guides the
light to a detector. The light spectrum is then analysed by
a built-in software module. The blood glucose level result
in mmol/l then appears on the LCD display.
The device is a result of a seven-year research and
development by MIMOS’ photonics technology labora-
tory. Ethical approval for the device was obtained from
the Malaysia Medical Device Association; Universiti
Putra Malaysia (UPM)’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Cyberjaya University College of Medical Science (CUCMS)
and the UKM Medical Centre (HUKM).
“The launch of GlucoSenz marks a huge step forward
for MIMOS’ Advanced Electrical and Electronics division,
particularly the photonics R&D team,” MIMOS R&D
senior director Mohd Shahiman Sulaiman said.
“At this stage, the solution can bring a significant
impact to healthcare providers, where safety and eco-
nomics are of paramount importance. A non-invasive,
non-intrusive glucometer will protect healthcare per-
sonnel from possible occupational exposure to infected
blood. Hospitals and clinics will also reduce cost in the
long run as alcohol swabs, lances and test strips will no
longer be used,” he said.
Mohd Shahiman revealed that works on miniaturising
the device are under way, with a target to produce the first
mini prototype for trial by mid-2019.
“GlucoSenz would potentially replace conventional
glucometers due to its ease of use and high accuracy.
Countries with high rates of diabetes and obesity should
keep a watch on this product as it has a huge market
potential,” he said.
Mohd Shahiman added that market roll-out is
expected by end-2019. – The Health
Collaborate in
the fight against
breast-cancer
Sharing... Southern Lion Sdn Bhd Personal Care Products
Department senior brand manager Siew Mun Yit sharing
educational material on detecting the early signs of breast
cancer with KPWKM staff.
S
hokubutsu and the Min-
istry of Women, Family and
Community Development
(KPWKM) have collaborated in
their continuous efforts to give
back to the community and raise
awareness of the importance of
regular breast self-checks to help
women detect the early symptoms
of breast cancer and seek early
prevention.
Held in conjunction with Breast
Cancer Awareness month and
aligned to the Shokubutsu ‘YOU are
my pink reason’ campaign in coop-
eration with KPWKM and National
Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM),
the event saw free clinical breast
examinations given to KPWKM
staff via the Shokubutsu Pink
Ribbon Mobile Truck. Conducted
by NCSM nurses, KPWKM staff
were not only screened but were
also taught the correct method on
conducting breast self-examination
and symptoms to look out for in
breast cancer.
The Shokubutsu ‘YOU are my
pink reason’ campaign is now in its
fourth year since 2015. Shokubutsu
forges ahead leading efforts to
cultivate the habit of doing breast
self-checks during shower as it is
one of the most convenient method
to detect abnormalities that signals
for immediate medical attention.
This can help lead to early detec-
tion of breast cancer and increase
survival rate.
“To date, we have examined
386 women in three Klang Valley
locations and out of that number,
17 women were detected with
suspected lumps in their breasts
and were advised to proceed with
further checks. This reiterates
the importance of early detection
and treatment as essential steps
in fighting breast cancer,” said
Southern Lion Sdn Bhd R & D and
factory director Naoyuki Egawa. –
The Health
Malaysia
remains
vulnerable
to anemia’s
threats on
pregnancy
Like the rest of the world, Malaysia
still faces risks posed by anemia
especially to pregnant women.
According to Nils Milman’s
2015 research “Iron Deficiency
and Anemia in Pregnant Women:
Still a Significant and Challenging
Health Problem,” the rate of anemia
in pregnant women in Malaysia is
between 42.5 per cent to 47.5 per
cent, with a subsequent rate of iron
deficiency reported to be the cause
of anemia by as high as 50 per cent
to 65.3 per cent.
“A large proportion of Malaysian
women become aware of their hemo-
globin status only when they get
pregnant. Looking at the data, the
high prevalence of untreated anemia
in women of reproductive age is a
poor starting position as majority of
them will eventually end up becom-
ing pregnant, and that requires
favorable iron and hemoglobin
status in order to have a good course
of pregnancy and birth outcome,”
revealed University Technology of
Mara (UITM) Faculty of Medicine,
Department of Obstetrics and Gyn-
aecology senior lecturer and clinical
specialist Dr Nadzratulaiman Wan
Nordin.
“In pregnant women in Malaysia,
the compliance to daily vitamin
and mineral supplements are only
at 49 per cent,” she added. – The
Health