Channa striatus has been consumed for decades as a remedy to promote wound healing by women during postpartum period. The objectives of this study were to compare postoperative pain, wound healing based on wound evaluation scale (WES), wound cosmetic appearance based on visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and patient satisfaction score (PSS), and safety profiles between C. striatus group and placebo group after six weeks of lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) delivery. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted. Subjects were randomised in a ratio of 1 : 1 into either the C. striatus group (500 mg daily) or placebo group (500 mg of maltodextrin daily). 76 subjects were successfully randomised, with 38 in the C. striatus group and 35 in the placebo group. There were no significant differences in postoperative pain (p = 0.814) and WES (p = 0.160) between the C. striatus and placebo groups. However, VAS and PSS in the C. striatus group were significantly better compared with the placebo group (p = 0.014 and p < 0.001, resp.). The safety profiles showed no significant differences between the groups. In conclusion, six-week supplementation of 500 mg of C. striatus extract showed marked differences in wound cosmetic appearance and patient's satisfaction and is safe for human consumption.

In recent years, the popularity of using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as a health care option has increased dramatically all over the world especially in developing countries. As Malaysian statistics showed an increased in chronic diseases among our population, the demand to consume CAM for healing process as well as in pursuit of health and well-being also has increased. Thus it increased patient's interest to request more information from medical practitioners and nurses who are front health care providers. The objective of this study is to compare the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of CAM among final year nursing and medical students in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). A crosssectional comparative study was conducted among final year medical and nursing students using self administered questionnaire. This study utilized the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) model to explain how level of knowledge may reflect nursing and medical students' attitudes and practice of CAMs. There were 74 students participated where 33 of them were nursing students, and 41 were medical students. Independent t-test was used to compare the KAP of CAM between both groups of students and there was a significant different. As a conclusion, this study revealed that nursing students were more knowledgeable about CAM, possessed positive attitudes, and more willing to practice CAM compared to medical students.

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing the effects of a water extract of Labisia pumila var. alata at 280 mg/day with placebo, given for 6 months in postmenopausal Malay women. There were 29 patients treated with Labisia pumila and 34 patients in the placebo group. Menopausal symptoms were assessed at baseline and at 6 months. The blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and hormonal profile (follicle stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone/estradiol) were measured during visits every two months. ANCOVA model analysis showed significantly lower triglycerides levels in LP subjects at 6 months after treatment as compared to placebo (1.4 versus 1.9 mmol/L; adj. mean difference 0.5, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.89 after adjusted for the baseline values, age, BMI, and duration of menopause placebo). Other parameters in both groups did not differ significantly. In conclusion, daily intake of Labisia pumila at 280 mg/day for six months was found to provide benefit in reducing the triglyceride (TG) values.

Results of recent trial have shown some negative effects of HRT on postmenopausal women. Therefore, there has been a need to search for an alternative treatment and honey is one of the well known traditional remedies used in minimizing postmenopausal problems. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effects of Tualang honey on the cardiovascular risk factors, changes in hormonal profiles and also effect on the bone. A randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of Tualang honey 20 g/day and HRT for a 4-month intervention period among healthy postmenopausal Malay women aged 45-60 years old was conducted. The primary outcome measures were changes from baseline on the cardiovascular risk profiles, hormonal profiles and effect on bone. Tualang honey compared with low dose HRT, consumed for 4 months by postmenopausal women had no demonstrable effects on the parameters examined such as blood pressure measurement, body mass index and waist circumference. There was no significant difference in the lipid profile, blood sugar profile and bone density between the two groups at the end of the study period.

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