Azmir Ahmad

@iium.edu.my

Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Medical Science for Nursing, Faculty of Nursing
International Islamic University Malaysia

Azmir Ahmad


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https://researchid.co/azmirahmad

EDUCATION

1. Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Science.
2. Master of Medical Science in Physiology
3. Doctor of Philosophy in Health Science

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research interests are molecular diagnostic and cancer
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Scopus Publications

Scopus Publications

  • Metabolomic insights into amphetamine-type stimulant misuse: unraveling biochemical pathways and biomarkers
    Ruzmayuddin Mamat, Baharudin Ibrahim, Rusdi Abd Rashid, Gareth Sim Maw Shin, Suzaily Wahab, et al.
    Journal of Addictive Diseases, 2026
    Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), such as methamphetamine, amphetamine, and MDMA, are highly risky substances linked to neurochemical disruptions, metabolic disturbances, and systemic toxicity. Despite substantial research on their neurotoxic effects, the metabolic pathways involved in ATS dependence remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the metabolic signatures associated with ATS dependence using NMR-based metabolomics to identify systemic metabolic disruptions related to chronic ATS use. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 583 participants, comprising ATS-dependent individuals from Malaysian drug detention centers and healthy controls. Plasma samples were analyzed using 1H-NMR, CPMG, and HSQC spectroscopy to obtain comprehensive metabolomic profiles. Multivariate analyses, including PCA-X, OPLS-DA, and logistic regression, were employed to identify metabolites that differentiated ATS patients from controls. Metabolites were cross-referenced with BMRB and HMDB databases for validation. ATS-dependent individuals showed significant alterations in metabolic pathways, with reductions in cholic acid, L-valine, L-alanine, lactic acid, creatinine, histidine, taurine, and homovanillic acid (all p < .005), indicating disruptions in energy metabolism, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, and oxidative stress defenses. Elevated L-arginine levels (p < .001) suggested nitrogen metabolism dysregulation. OPLS-DA analysis demonstrated robust group separation (R2Y = 0.762, Q2Y = 0.756, AUROC = 0.987), with sensitivity, specificity, and classification accuracy of 86.9%, 97.4%, and 91.5%, respectively. This study presents the first NMR-based metabolomic profile of ATS misuse in Malaysia, identifying critical metabolic disruptions linked to chronic ATS use. Key biomarkers, including cholic acid, L-valine, and homovanillic acid, highlight potential targets for biomarker development and precision medicine strategies to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of ATS use disorder.
  • The Effect of Islamic Music Listening on the Psychological Well-Being of University Students in Malaysia
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2025
  • Quantile Normalization for High Throughput Circulating MicroRNA Expression Study usingTaqMan® Low Density Array Panels: Supporting Evidence
    Azmir Ahmad, Syarah Syamimi Mohamed, Afidalina Tumian, Siti Marponga Tolos, Vijaya Mohan Sivanesan, et al.
    Hayati Journal of Biosciences, 2024
    In searching for new biomarkers, high throughput technique has been widely used by researchers, including for gene expression study. However, the reliability and accuracy of results from high throughput study critically depends on appropriate data management, including normalization methods. Data driven normalization has been introduced as a normalization method for high throughput gene expression study. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the performance of various data driven and reference genes normalization methods using a high throughput circulating microRNA expression dataset. A quantification cycle (Cq) dataset generated from a high throughput circulating microRNA study was used to test the normalization methods using HTqPCR package in R software. The normalized Cq generated from different methods were compared descriptively using box plot analysis and coefficient of variance. The box plot analysis showed that quantile normalization produced more homogenous Cq distribution, lesser outliers and reduced coefficient of variance as compared to other normalization methods in screening and validation phases. The overview on quantile normalized Cq showed consistency in its level of expression before and after 2-∆∆Cq calculation indicating the reliability of quantile normalized Cq. Quantile normalization is suggested to be used in high throughput miRNA expression study due to its performance in homogenizing the data, reduce outliers and coefficient of variance.
  • Prevalence of psilocybin use in vaping and associated factors: a study among amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) use disorder in Malaysia
    Ruzmayuddin Mamat, Rusdi Abd Rashid, Sim Maw Shin, Baharudin Ibrahim, Suzaily Wahab, et al.
    Journal of Addictive Diseases, 2024
    BACKGROUND The emergence of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), including synthetic psilocybin, has raised concern among health experts due to the numerous health and socioeconomic consequences. The current trend is shifting to the hazardous use of synthetic psilocybin in vaping, and little is known about the prevalence of use, specifically among amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) users. METHODS Interviewer-administered questionnaires were conducted in drug detention centers between March and October 2022. The study was conducted using ASSIST 3.0 and obtained information on the respondents' socio-demographic characteristics and clinical profiles. N = 355 ATS users were enrolled in this study. RESULTS The results show a high prevalence of psilocybin vaping among ATS users (182/355, 53.1%). Most of the respondents were males (85.1%) and unmarried (69.3%), with a mean age of 29.2 (SD = 7.3). Across all respondents, five factors were associated with psilocybin vaping: tobacco smoking, aOR =5.790 (95% CI: 1.723, 8.183); cannabis uses, aOR= 9.152 (95% CI: 2.693, 10.396); and alcohol use, aOR= 3.137 (95% CI: 1.461, 5.817). Respondents of the Malay race had higher odds of being involved in psilocybin vaping compared to other races, with aOR= 1.638 (0.043, 2.459). Meanwhile, a reduction in age by 1.9 will increase the likelihood of involvement in psilocybin vaping with aOR = 1.897 (95% CI: 0.857, 1.938). CONCLUSION Psilocybin in vaping is growing among ATS users and across all populations. Unfortunately, knowledge regarding the long-term effects on health is limited. Further studies should highlight the harmful effects of psilocybin and the potential risk of psilocybin vaping among the younger population.
  • Psychosocial Risk Factors Associated with Lifetime Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) Dependence in Drug Detention Centres: Perspectives from the Multiethnicity Study
    Ruzmayuddin Mamat, Rusdi Abd Rashid, Maw Shin Sim, Baharuddin Ibrahim, Suzaily Wahab, et al.
    Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2024
    ATS dependence in Malaysia is growing tremendously across multiracial Malaysian groups, increasing concerns among public health experts and the community. This study highlighted the chronicity of ATS dependence and factors associated with ATS use. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were administered using ASSIST 3.0. A total of N = 327 multiracial people who use ATS were enrolled in this study. The study findings show that 190/327 (58.1%) respondents were ATS dependent. Malays reported the highest number of ATS-dependent (55.8%), followed by Bajau (21.6%) and Kadazan-Dusun (16.8%) ethnic. Across all races, three factors were significantly associated with the ATS dependence: respondents who had a lifetime history of needle sharing aOR = 0.023 (95% CI: 0.003, 0.183) and a lifetime history of heroin use aOR = 0.192 (95% CI: 0.093, 0.396) were at a reduced odd of ATS dependent. Meanwhile, being married reduced the likelihood of becoming dependent on ATS with aOR = 0.378 (95% CI: 0.206, 0.693) compared to being single or divorced. This study revealed that the use of ATS among multiracial Malaysians is alarmingly high, including those in detention centers. Comprehensive harm reduction strategies are urgently needed to prevent the spreading of infectious diseases and other negative health consequences associated with ATS use.
  • LC-MS/MS-QTOF dataset of compounds detected in kelulut honey of the stingless bees, Heterotrigona itama and Tetrigona binghami from Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
    Che Muhammad Khairul Hisyam Ismail, Nicholas M.H. Khong, Azmir Ahmad, Khairani Idah Mokhtar, Widya Lestari, et al.
    Data in Brief, 2023
  • A Panel of Three MicroRNA Signatures as a Potential Biomarker for CRC Screening Based on Stages and Functional Prediction Using Bioinformatic Analysis
    Progress in Microbes and Molecular Biology, 2023
  • Perceptions on the Therapeutic Effects of Stingless Bee Honey and its Potential Value in Generating Economy among B40 Community of Kampung Bukit Kuin, Kuantan
    Mohd Azri Abd Jalil, Aifa Syazwani Ag Damit, Farahiya Zalikha Zakaria, Muhammad Kamil Che Hasan, Muhammad Lokman Md Isa, et al.
    Iop Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 2022
    Meliponiculture or keeping stingless bee in Malaysia is expanding and has the potential to generate money for the the bottom 40% of income earners (B40). The increased production of stingless bee honey as a complementary medicine as a therapeutic medium for health for a variety of reasons. Thus, this study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions on the therapeutic effects of stingless bee honey and its potential value in generating economy among the B40 community. Semi-structured interviews were carried out among the B40 community who participated in the Desa Kelulut project of Kampung Bukit Kuin, Kuantan. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. A total of six respondents interviewed in the study out of 20 participants. Four themes emerged, namely, benefit of stingless bee honey; market supply and economy; sustaining the farm; and facilitate income. The participants valued the beneficial properties of the honey toward health and acknowledged the potential of the stingless bee honey to be marketed in Malaysia as well as generating income for the B40 community of Kampung Bukit Kuin, Kuantan.
  • The incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in pahang state of malaysia from 2012 to 2017
    Azmir Ahmad, Wardah Mohd Yassin, Nor Azlina A Rahman, Wan Ishlah Leman, Luqman Rosla, et al.
    Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
    Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the fifth most common cancer among Malaysians. While several studies have reported the trend of NPC in other states in Malaysia, no studies have reported the trend of NPC in Pahang state. This study was designed to report the number and distribution of newly diagnosed NPC cases in Pahang. Methods: NPC cases that were diagnosed between 2012 and 2017 in two referral hospitals in Pahang were traced. The crude incidence rate (CR) and age-standardised rate (ASR) were calculated to investigate the NPC incidence. Results: There were 143 new cases of NPC reported from the two hospitals. The mean age at diagnosis was 52.0 ± 13.7 years old. The majority of cases involved males (74.1%) with a male to female ratio of 2.9:1. Chinese males were found to have the highest incidence with a mean ASR of 4.7 per 100,000 population. Overall, the mean ASR for Pahang was 2.4 per 100,000 population for males and 0.9 per 100,000 population for females. Conclusion: The total number of NPC cases reveals an increasing trend from 2012 to 2014 and then a slightly decreasing trend from 2015 to 2017. The incidence of NPC in Pahang was intermediate in males and low in females.
  • Viability of freshly prepared cells derived from foetal brain of rabbit at different temperature settings during transportation
    Malaysian Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2020
  • Differential expression of miR-101 and miR-744 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Pahang State of Malaysia
    Walailak Journal of Science and Technology, 2019
  • Expression of microrna-101 in formalin-fixed paraffin- embedded samples of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
    Malaysian Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2019
  • Evaluation of thresholding techniques on 3D fractal dimension MRI images
    Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2017