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@#Mouth rinses which function as breath fresheners, medicaments, and antiseptics can also deliver oral therapeutic agents. This study evaluated and compared the antifungal effects of synthetic and herbal mouth rinses on oral C. albicans and C. glabrata via disk diffusion, minimal inhibition concentration (MIC), minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), time-kill assay, and growth profile tests. The four chemical mouth rinses, namely Brand O (A), Brand M (B), Brand H (C), and Brand B (D) used in the study showed positive antifungal activity in these two species. The average diameter of the inhibition zones obtained from the disk diffusion test was higher in mouth rinse B (C. albicans = 12.0 ± 0.9 mm, C. glabrata = 13.5 ± 0.8 mm) compared to those in C, A and D. Both Candida species exhibited similar MIC and MFC values, ranging from 1.63 ± 0.5 to 18.75 ± 0.0 µg/mL and 6.51 ± 2.01 to 50.00 ± 9.36 µg/mL, respectively. These synthetic mouth rinses had efficient killing activity eliminating 50% of the growing population of both Candida spp. following 15 seconds exposure time. Analyses of the growth profile curves showed that mouth rinses B and A resulted in rapid growth depletion of both Candida spp. Meanwhile, three herbal mouth rinses, namely Brand S (E), Brand C (F), and Brand P (G), were less effective against C. albicans and C. glabrata. Mouth rinses B and A contained cetylpyridinium chloride and chlorhexidine, respectively, and could be an effective alternative for controlling and preventing oral candidiasis.
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In the perspective of recent bauxite mining in Malaysia, this review aims to identify the potential environmental and health impacts on miners and surrounding communities. The environmental issues of bauxite mining include, air, water and soil pollution due to bauxite dust; leaching of bauxite into water sources resulting in reduced soil fertility as well as affecting agricultural food products and aquatic life. Bauxite occupational exposure affects the health of miners, and has negative consequences on the health of surrounding communities, such as increased respiratory symptoms, contamination of drinking water, other potential health risks from ingestion of bauxite and heavy metals, including noise-induced hearing loss and mental stress. This review discusses the processes of bauxite mining, its constituents and residual trace elements, and their impact on the environment and health of exposed workers and communities. It also explores the Malaysian legal requirements and standards of occupational exposure to bauxite.
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Increasing risk of HIV infections among health care workers has been a continuing concern. The study was designed to identify the compliance of glove utilization, and factors related to non-compliance. A sample of 150 staff nurses were recruited from the study population of 550 nurses in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Data were collected by using a structured self-administered questionnaires. The response rate was 98.4%. The study revealed a low compliance (13.5%) of glove utilization (for all 9 procedures), which varied among different procedures (27-97%). Younger nurses and those with shorter duration of working experience had better knowledge of Universal Precautions. Nurses in intensive care unit and operation theatre were better in both knowledge and compliance of glove utilization. The three commonest misconceptions were identified as "selective use of gloves for high risk groups and suspected cases", and "tendency to depend on HIV prevalence". Nurses reported practical problems including administrative and personal related such as "stock irregularity" (46%), "glove not available at the emergency sites" (44%), and "reduction of tactile sensation" (39%). It was concluded that poor knowledge and practical problems were possible responsible factors for the low compliance. A good training for nurses comprising principle and practice of Universal Precautions, updated knowledge of blood and body fluid borne infections and risk and its management, will probably improve the compliance.