Browse publications by year: 1995

1. Intraspecific variation of Taenia taeniaeformis as determined by various criteria

   Azuma H, Okamoto M, Oku Y, Kamiya M

   Parasitol Res, 1995;81(2):103-8.

   PMID: 7731915

   Abstract

   The intraspecific variation of four laboratory-reared isolates of Taenia taeniaformis the SRN and KRN isolates from Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus, captured in Japan and Malaysia, respectively; the BMM isolated from a house mouse, Mus musculus, captured in Belgium; and the ACR isolate from a gray red-backed vole, Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae, captured in Japan was examined by various criteria. Eggs of each of the four isolates were orally inoculated into several species of intermediate host. They were most infective to the rodent species from which the original metacestode of each isolate had been isolated in the field, and only the ACR isolate was infective to the gray red-backed vole. Although little difference was found between the SRN, KRN, and BMM isolates by the other criteria, including the morphology of rostellar hooks, the protein composition of the metacestode, and restriction endonuclease analysis of DNA, the ACR isolate was clearly different from the others. It was considered that the ACR isolate was independent as a strain distinct from the other three isolates.

   MeSH terms: Animals; Arvicolinae/parasitology; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Gerbillinae/parasitology*; Japan; Mice, Inbred AKR/parasitology; Mice, Inbred BALB C/parasitology; Mice, Inbred C57BL/parasitology; Species Specificity; Taenia/isolation & purification; Taenia/physiology*; Genetic Variation*; Restriction Mapping; Protozoan Proteins/analysis*; DNA, Protozoan/analysis*; Rats, Wistar/parasitology; Mice/parasitology*; Rats/parasitology*
2. Strongyle infections in sheep and goats under the traditional husbandry system in peninsular Malaysia

   Dorny P, Symoens C, Jalila A, Vercruysse J, Sani R

   Vet Parasitol, 1995 Jan;56(1-3):121-36.

   PMID: 7732637

   Abstract

   Faecal egg counts were used to study patterns of trichostrongyle infections in sheep and goats according to season, age, pregnancy and lactation on traditional farms in west Malaysia. Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp. were the most important strongyles in sheep and in goats, H. contortus, Trichostrongylus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. were most prevalent. The faecal egg counts of sheep and goats were apparently not influenced by the small seasonal climatic variations. Strongyle infections were acquired at an earlier age in sheep than in goats. Mean faecal egg counts decreased from the age of 8 months onwards in sheep while in goats this occurred from 12-18 months onwards. A periparturient rise in strongyle egg counts was observed in both animal species. Haemonchus contortus was mainly responsible for this rise in faecal egg counts. The results are discussed with reference to control of gastrointestinal strongyle infections in sheep and goats.

   MeSH terms: Aging; Animals; Animal Husbandry/methods*; Female; Goats; Haemonchiasis/diagnosis; Haemonchiasis/epidemiology; Haemonchiasis/veterinary*; Hematocrit; Lactation; Malaysia/epidemiology; Oesophagostomiasis/diagnosis; Oesophagostomiasis/epidemiology; Oesophagostomiasis/veterinary*; Parasite Egg Count; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/parasitology; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/veterinary; Rain; Seasons; Sheep; Sheep Diseases/epidemiology*; Trichostrongylosis/diagnosis; Trichostrongylosis/epidemiology; Trichostrongylosis/veterinary*; Goat Diseases/epidemiology*
3. Effects of salinity and pre-exposure on acute cadmium toxicity to seabass, Lates calcarifer

   Shazili NA

   Bull Environ Contam Toxicol, 1995 Jan;54(1):22-8.

   PMID: 7756781

   MeSH terms: Animals; Bass; Cadmium/metabolism; Cadmium/toxicity*; Lethal Dose 50; Malaysia; Reference Values; Seawater; Sodium Chloride/metabolism; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology*; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Tissue Distribution; Zinc/metabolism
4. Mineralocorticoid and glycyrrhizic acid block stress induced hypotension in rats

   Ruszymah BH, Nabishah BM, Aminuddin S, Khalid BA

   Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol, 1995 Jan;22(1):35-9.

   PMID: 7768032

   Abstract

   1. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of repeated exposure to stress on tail blood pressure (TBP) of normal as well as GCA (glycyrrhizic acid) and steroid treated rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 g) were exposed to ether vapour to achieve light anaesthesia prior to TBP recording. Rats were injected with either normal saline or naloxone prior to exposure to stress. Tail blood pressure was recorded daily for 2 weeks. 2. We found that ether stress caused a transient drop in TBP in control as well as in dexamethasone (DEX) treated rats. The stress-induced fall in blood pressure was reduced by naloxone in control rats but not in DEX treated rats. However the transient drop in TBP following stress was not seen in either GCA or deoxycorticosterone (DOC) treated rats. 3. We conclude that first, the reduction in TBP was due to the release of endogenous opioids caused by stress. Second, DOC may block the release of such endogenous opioids, preventing the drop in TBP in response to stress, while DEX did not. Third, GCA caused a similar mineralocorticoid effect on reversing stress induced hypotension.

   MeSH terms: Animals; Blood Pressure/drug effects*; Desoxycorticosterone/pharmacology*; Dexamethasone/pharmacology*; Glycyrrhetinic Acid/pharmacology*; Male; Naloxone/pharmacology; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats
5. Fulltext Confronting the health hazards of industrialization in Malaysia

   Kandiah M, Ramlee R

   World Health Forum, 1995;16(2):167-9.

   PMID: 7794454

   Abstract

   The authors outline the steps being taken in Malaysia aimed at persuading people to avoid the unhealthy lifestyles commonly associated with socioeconomic development and increased affluence, and to adopt health dietary and other habits.

   MeSH terms: Diet; Female; Health Promotion/methods*; Humans; Industry*; Life Style; Malaysia; Male; Mass Media
6. Histopathology of cultured sea bass (Lates calcarifer) (Centropomidae) infected with Cruoricola lates (Trematoda: Sanguinicolidae) from Pulau Ketam, Malaysia

   Herbert BW, Shaharom FM, Anderson IG

   Int J Parasitol, 1995 Jan;25(1):3-13.

   PMID: 7797370

   Abstract

   Cruoricola lates are found throughout sea bass (Lates calcarifer), most commonly in the mesenteric blood vessels, kidney, pericardial vessels, and eye. Eggs of C. lates were predominantly found in the gills, ventricle, hepatopancreas, and kidneys, but only develop to miracidia regularly in the gills and heart. Single miracidia escaping appear to cause little damage, but groups induce an inflammatory response and haemorrhage. Endocardial macrophages encapsulate eggs trapped between trabeculae in the heart. The reaction to eggs in the kidneys, hepatopancreas and spleen consists of fibrocytic encapsulation. Infection at the levels observed in this study were insufficient to cause lethal pathological changes, but could result in reduced food conversion ratios or impaired immunological capacity.

   MeSH terms: Animals; Animal Husbandry; Bass/parasitology*; Endocardium/pathology; Female; Fish Diseases/parasitology; Fish Diseases/pathology*; Gills/parasitology; Gills/pathology; Heart/parasitology; Kidney/parasitology; Kidney/pathology; Malaysia; Male; Ovum/cytology; Pancreas/parasitology; Pancreas/pathology; Spleen/parasitology; Spleen/pathology; Trematoda/growth & development; Trematoda/isolation & purification; Trematoda/pathogenicity*; Trematode Infections/parasitology; Trematode Infections/pathology; Trematode Infections/veterinary*
7. Endometriosis and infertility: the role of exogenous lipid peroxides in the peritoneal fluid

   Arumugam K, Dip YC

   Fertil Steril, 1995 Jan;63(1):198-9.

   PMID: 7805914

   Abstract

   OBJECTIVE: To determine if lipid peroxides were raised in the pelvic peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis.

   DESIGN: Control study involving patients with and without endometriosis.

   METHODS: The lipid peroxide (malondialdehyde) levels in the pelvic PF of 12 patients with moderate-to severe endometriosis, 15 patients with minimal-mild endometriosis and 13 patients with normal pelvises were compared.

   RESULTS: The level of lipid peroxides were not affected by the presence nor the severity of endometriosis.

   CONCLUSION: Accelerated lipid peroxidation does not appear to play a role in the causal relationship between endometriosis and infertility.

   MeSH terms: Ascitic Fluid/metabolism*; Endometriosis/complications*; Endometriosis/metabolism*; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female/etiology*; Lipid Peroxides/metabolism; Malondialdehyde/metabolism*; Reference Values
8. Djenkol bean poisoning (djenkolism): an unusual cause of acute renal failure

   Segasothy M, Swaminathan M, Kong NC, Bennett WM

   Am J Kidney Dis, 1995 Jan;25(1):63-6.

   PMID: 7810535

   Abstract

   This report describes a patient with acute renal failure that resulted from the ingestion of djenkol beans. Features of acute djenkolism include nausea, vomiting, bilateral loin pain, gross hematuria, and oliguria. The blood urea level was 16.2 mmol/L and the serum creatinine was 460 mumol/L. Phase contrast microscopy of the urinary sediment indicated that the hematuria was nonglomerular. Ultrasound of the kidneys showed slightly enlarged kidneys with no features of obstruction. Renal biopsy showed acute tubular necrosis similar to the single animal study reported in the literature. With conservative therapy, which included rehydration with normal saline and alkalinization of the urine with sodium bicarbonate, the acute renal failure resolved. Based on its chemistry, djenkol bean-associated acute renal failure may be analogous to acute uric acid nephropathy.

   MeSH terms: Adult; Humans; Fabaceae/adverse effects*; Male; Plants, Medicinal*; Acute Kidney Injury/blood; Acute Kidney Injury/etiology*; Acute Kidney Injury/pathology
9. Retroperitoneal malignant fibrous histiocytoma causing profuse bleeding per rectum

   Sim PH, Pathmanathan R, Jalleh RP

   Aust N Z J Surg, 1995 Jan;65(1):68-70.

   PMID: 7818432

   Abstract

   A case is reported of retroperitoneal malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) invading into the colon, causing fresh bleeding per rectum. It illustrates the difficulty encountered in the pre-operative diagnosis of this condition, especially in a patient with an atypical presentation of profuse lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

   MeSH terms: Aged; Colonic Neoplasms/pathology; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology*; Humans; Male; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Rectum; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms/complications*; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms/pathology; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous/complications*; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous/pathology
10. Fulltext Psychiatrists and folk healers in Malaysia

    Razali MS

    World Health Forum, 1995;16(1):56-8.

    PMID: 7873026

    Abstract

    Contrasting beliefs often make cooperation between folk healers and modern doctors seem impossible. In the field of mental health, where communication is of such central importance, better mutual understanding is especially desirable. After reviewing the complexities involved, the author makes some suggestions on how the two kinds of practitioner could help each other.

    MeSH terms: Humans; Interprofessional Relations*; Malaysia; Medicine, Traditional*; Mental Health Services/organization & administration; Psychiatry*; Referral and Consultation
11. Jering-induced acute renal failure with blue urine

    Yong M, Cheong I

    Trop Doct, 1995 Jan;25(1):31.

    PMID: 7886826 DOI: 10.1177/004947559502500110

    MeSH terms: Adult; Hematuria/etiology; Humans; Fabaceae/adverse effects*; Malaysia; Male; Phytotherapy; Plants, Medicinal*; Abdominal Pain/etiology; Acute Kidney Injury/etiology*; Acute Kidney Injury/urine*
12. Effect of modified calm conditions on nuclear dispersion estimates

    Hu SJ, Katagiri H, Kobayashi H

    Health Phys, 1995 Jan;68(1):67-70.

    PMID: 7989197

    Abstract

    When the definition of calm in atmospheric diffusion analyses is changed from 0.5 m s-1 to 0.1 m s-1, actual and more accurate low wind speeds and wind directions can be used to calculate the average air concentrations due to continuous releases of radionuclides at 10-m stack height more realistically and accurately. However, this modified calm condition has little affect on the calculated adult thyroid exposure for a postulated accident.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Air Pollutants, Radioactive/analysis*; Diffusion; Humans; Power Plants*; Thyroid Gland/radiation effects*
13. Causative organisms in acute exacerbation of chronic airways disease and response to ofloxacin therapy

    Sufarlan AW, Zainudin BM, Pit S, Ishak I

    Drugs, 1995;49 Suppl 2:442-5.

    PMID: 8549394

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use*; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Tract Infections/complications; Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy*; Respiratory Tract Infections/microbiology*; Ofloxacin/therapeutic use*; Treatment Outcome
14. Isolation of cytopathic small round virus (Aichi virus) from Pakistani children and Japanese travelers from Southeast Asia

    Yamashita T, Sakae K, Kobayashi S, Ishihara Y, Miyake T, Mubina A, et al.

    Microbiol. Immunol., 1995;39(6):433-5.

    PMID: 8551977

    Abstract

    Aichi virus was isolated in Vero cells from 5 (2.3%) of 222 Pakistani children with gastroenteritis but none was found in 91 healthy children. Aichi virus was also isolated from 5 (0.7%) of 722 Japanese travelers returned from tours to Southeast Asian countries and complained of gastrointestinal symptoms at the quarantine station of Nagoya International Airport in Japan. Of 5 Japanese travelers, 3 were returning from Indonesia, and 2 from Thailand or Malaysia. These results indicate that Aichi virus or a similar agent is endemic in Southeast Asian countries and is a cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in children in these areas or in Japanese travelers who visit there.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Asia, Southeastern; Cercopithecus aethiops; Child; Child, Preschool; Diarrhea/virology*; Feces/virology; Gastroenteritis/virology*; HeLa Cells; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Japan; Middle Aged; Norwalk virus/isolation & purification*; Pakistan; Travel; Vero Cells/virology; Virus Cultivation/methods; Caliciviridae Infections/virology*
15. An unusual differential diagnosis of myringitis bullosa haemorrhagica

    Indudharan R, Dharap AS, Htun YN

    Trop Geogr Med, 1995;47(5):227-8.

    PMID: 8553451

    MeSH terms: Animals; Blister/diagnosis*; Child; Diagnosis, Differential; Ear Canal; Female; Foreign Bodies/diagnosis*; Hemorrhage/diagnosis; Humans; Middle Aged; Otitis Media/diagnosis*; Ticks*; Tympanic Membrane*
16. Intraoral spindle-cell lipoma: report of a case and literature review

    Khoo SP, Lian CB

    Ann Dent, 1995 Summer;54(1-2):53-5.

    PMID: 8572549

    Abstract

    Spindle-cell lipoma (SCL) of the oral cavity is very rare. There are only four such reported cases in the literature. A concise literature review of SCL and a case report of a SCL affecting the cheek and lip of a 23-year-old man is presented.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Cheek/pathology; Diagnosis, Differential; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lip Neoplasms/pathology; Lipoma/pathology*; Male; Mouth Mucosa/pathology; Mouth Neoplasms/pathology*
17. A computer model of health status and costs in national health planning

    Spohr MH, Wright NH, Herm J

    Medinfo, 1995;8 Pt 2:1639.

    PMID: 8591525

    Abstract

    We developed a computer model which measures the impact of disease on a population, has the ability to track changes in disease incidence over time, and incorporates costs of disease prevention and treatment. This model was developed with data for Malaysia and used by the Ministry of Health in the development of their national health plan. The model uses the DHLL (DALY) measure which incorporates morbidity and mortality impacts of disease. The ability of the model to adjust for changes in disease incidence over a period of years allows health planners to accurately reflect demographic and development related changes in disease incidence. This model is of value to health planners because in incorporates information on population health status, costs of prevention and treatment, and changes in health status over time. It produces an evaluation of the cost effectiveness of possible interventions that can be used by health planners in making decisions on resource allocation.

    MeSH terms: Computer Simulation*; Disease/economics; Epidemiology; Health Planning/methods*; Health Status*; Humans; Malaysia
18. Genetic problems and genetic services in Malaysia: a country report

    Hassan K

    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1995;26 Suppl 1:11-5.

    PMID: 8629087

    MeSH terms: Base Sequence; Ethnic Groups; Globins/genetics; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/blood; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/epidemiology*; Hemolysis; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Incidence; alpha-Thalassemia/epidemiology*; beta-Thalassemia/genetics; beta-Thalassemia/epidemiology*
19. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for confirming thin layer chromatography (TLC) findings in inborn errors of metabolism children in Malaysia

    Yahya NA, Ismail Z, Embong KH, Mohamad SA

    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1995;26 Suppl 1:130-3.

    PMID: 8629091

    Abstract

    High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) is recently used for confirming the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) especially amino acid disorders in Malaysian children. The method of HPLC used is a precolumn derivatization of amino acids with phenylisothiocyanate and is separated by reversed phase chromatography using 3.9 x 300 mm free amino acid columns and is detected by a UV/Vis detector. The samples are obtained from cases suspected of inborn errors of metabolism, especially of amino acid disorders, which are detected clinically by pediatricians. Initially, samples from patients suspected of inborn errors of metabolism, either urine or serum, are run on one-dimensional thin layer chromatography and supplementary chemical tests to detect the abnormal bands and associated abnormalities respectively. Positive samples are further run on HPLC to determine the specific amino acids abnormality. An examples of a case of maple syrup urine disease is discussed, based on the thin layer chromatography findings and HPLC findings.

    MeSH terms: Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/blood; Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/diagnosis*; Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/urine; Amino Acids/blood*; Amino Acids/urine; Child; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods; Chromatography, Thin Layer/methods; Humans; Infant; Malaysia; Metabolism, Inborn Errors/blood; Metabolism, Inborn Errors/diagnosis*; Metabolism, Inborn Errors/urine; Sensitivity and Specificity; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
20. Inborn errors of metabolic diseases in Malaysia: a preliminary report of maple syrup urine diseases for 1993

    Zakiah I, Ashikin YN, Aisiah SM, Ismail HI

    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1995;26 Suppl 1:134-6.

    PMID: 8629092

    Abstract

    The Malaysian level of health care has greatly improved so that many of the infectious diseases are now under control. However, perinatal death or death due to unknown childhood diseases remains high (10.3%) being second on the list of causes of death amongst Malaysians. Could inborn metabolic diseases be the main cause of death among these children? Recently, with our success in the development of confirmatory techniques for amino acid disorders using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we have examined 404 samples received from all over the country in 1993. Each specimen with abnormal findings from screening tests by one-dimensional thin layer chromatography was confirmed using HPLC. 41% had generalized aminoacidurias and 4.2% had maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). Patients were aged between 11 days to 6 years. Most of them were Malay males and presented with a history suggestive of MSUD. With this preliminary finding, further studies will be carried out in order to have an investigation and management protocol for the diseases and more importantly to formulate a strategy of screening for the country.

    MeSH terms: Amino Acids/blood*; Amino Acids/urine; Child; Child, Preschool; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods; Chromatography, Thin Layer/methods; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Maple Syrup Urine Disease/diagnosis*; Maple Syrup Urine Disease/metabolism; Maple Syrup Urine Disease/epidemiology