Mitral incompetence (MR) is a complication of balloon mitral valvuloplasty. There are few reports of long-term outcome. We believe this is the first report in the literature of complete resolution during follow-up of severe mitral regurgitation resulting from balloon valvuloplasty.
Several parameters on the oviposition site preference of Aedes albopictus were studied, including color, container type, salinity, and water type. Dark-colored glass jars, especially black, blue, and red ones were preferred over light-colored jars. The black-colored ovitrap with a paper strip performed better than other types of containers. Seasoned tap water had the highest egg count when compared with a saline water series. In addition, water that had previously been used for the culture of Ae. albopictus was the most preferred for oviposition. The significance of this study in conjunction with the present Aedes mosquito surveillance and monitoring program is discussed.
MeSH terms: Aedes/physiology*; Animals; Color; Female; Oviposition/physiology*; Water
Alphacypermethrin (Fendona) and lambda-cyhalothrin (Icon) were evaluated against sentinel bloodfed adults and 4th-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti in a housing estate in Malaysia. The impact of both pyrethroids on field populations of Ae. aegypti and Aedes albopictus were monitored weekly using oviposition trap samples. Both alphacypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin showed adulticidal and larvicidal effects.
Detection and isolation of Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus were attempted from female mosquitoes collected in Kampong Pasir Panjang, Sabak Bernam, Selangor, from May to November 1992. A total of 7,400 mosquitoes consisting of 12 species in 148 pools were processed and inoculated into Aedes albopictus clone C6/36 cell cultures. Of these, 26 pools showed the presence of viral antigens in the infected C6/36 cells by specific immunoperoxidase staining using an anti-JE virus polyclonal antibody. Presence of JE virus genome was confirmed in the infected culture fluid for 16 pools by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and JE virus-specific primers. Of these, 3 pools were from Culex tritaeniorhynchus, 4 from Culex vishnui, 3 from Culex bitaeniorhynchus, 2 from Culex sitiens, one from Aedes species, and 3 from Culex species. Isolation of JE virus from Cx. sitiens, Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, and Aedes sp. (Aedes butleri and Ae. albopictus) is reported for the first time in Malaysia.
A lamellar liquid crystalline region was identified in a typical skin lotion formulation system composed of a mixture of isostearic acid and triethanolamine (TEA) at 65:35 (w/w), decane, and water (the temperature was controlled at 30 degrees C). The interlayer spacings were determined by a small-angle X-ray diffraction technique. Incorporation of a natural dye, curcumin, resulted in lower interlayer spacings and higher penetration of water into the layered structure. However, the higher penetration of water was not apparent at all compositions of isostearic acid:TEA, decane, and water.
Ethanolic extract of Cassia alata leaves was investigated for its antimicrobial activities on several microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, dermatophytic fungi and non-dermatophytic fungi. In vitro, the extract exhibited high activity against various species of dermatophytic fungi but low activity against non-dermatophytic fungi. However, bacterial and yeast species showed resistance against in vitro treatment with the extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the extract revealed that Trichophyton mentagorphytes var. interdigitale, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagorophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum gypseum had the MIC of 125 mg/ml, whereas Microsporum canis had the MIC of 62.5 mg/ml. The inhibition can be observed on the macroconidia of Microsporum gypseum which resulted in structural degeneration beyond repair. The mechanism of inhibition can be related to the cell leakage as observed by irregular, wrinkle shape and loss in rigidity of the macroconidia.
Schizophrenics (n = 250) and normal controls (n = 90) were studied to investigate and compare their dermatoglyphic patterns. Their fingerprint patterns were studied. The frequency of arches in the patient and control groups was similar. The frequency of loops in the control group was higher than in the patient group, and the trend was consistent in all the digits. The whorls in the patient group showed an increase over the control group in all the digits, although this finding was not statistically significant.
CGI 18041, an adduct of benzothiazol isothiocyanate N-methyl piperazine, was evaluated for its antifilarial properties in subperiodic Brugia malayi infected Presbytis cristata. Animals experimentally infected with 200-400 subperiodic Brugia malayi infective larvae, were matched according to microfilaria density, infective dose, and duration of infection. They were then randomly assigned to various treatment and control groups. The compound was suspended in 1% Tween 20 in distilled water, sonicated, and then fed to monkeys using a stomach tube. Control animals received an equivalent volume of drug diluent. CGI 18041 at a single oral dose of 50 mg/kg had complete adulticidal and microfilaricidal activities against subperiodic B. malayi in P. cristata. It was also extremely effective at a single dose of 25 mg/kg, the final geometric mean microfilaria count being 1.6% of initial level, and only 1.0% of the infective dose was recovered as live adult worms at autopsy 6 weeks post-treatment. In control animals, these were 226.9% and 5.56% respectively.
Midline cleft of the lower lip is defined as a midline vertical cleft of the soft tissue of the lower lip. It may present with a midline cleft of the mandible. It may also be accompanied by other congenital anomalies such as a cleft tongue, ankyloglossia, a heart lesion, and absence of the hyoid bone. The etiologic cause is thought to be a failure of mesodermal penetration into the midline structures of the first branchial arch. This case report is on a female child who presented with an incomplete midline cleft of the soft tissue of the lower lip. It was surgically corrected with a vertical wedge excision and primary closure.
We report a 39-year-old male who presented with tuberculous meningitis and was found also to be HIV-infected. In the course of his illness, he developed multiple opportunistic infections such as herpes genitalis, oesophageal candidiasis, CMV retinitis and finally succumbed to Penicillium marneffei septicaemia.
The variant form of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (AML-M3) possesses its own characteristic morphology, although usually a few of the cells may have cytoplasmic features of typical AML-M3. In contrast to typical AML-M3, this M3-variant form commonly presents with hyperleucocytosis. As in typical AML-M3, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIVC) occurs in the M3-variant. A boy with this morphological variant of AML-M3 is described. Uncharacteristically, his presenting white blood count was low, and DIVC was present before treatment was started. Six days into intensive chemotherapy his coagulopathy worsened and he subsequently died of intracranial haemorrhage. An alternative approach to the treatment of AML-M3, with the use of retinoids, is discussed.
A case of gangrene of the penis, rarely seen at our University Hospital is reported. Urolithiasis, urinary tract infection, infected piles and anaemia were found to be associated with the condition. Because of rapid spread of the gangrene, partial amputation was required in this reported case.
This study was conducted to find out the psychiatric symptomatology in the patients and their families attending a primary health care facility. The most frequent symptoms found were of depression (13.2%), followed by hypochondriacal symptoms (8.2%), anxiety symptoms (6.1%) and psychotic symptoms. A large proportion (21.5%) of children had psychiatric symptoms. The common symptoms include enuresis, hostility, tantrums, problems of conduct and destructiveness. Surprisingly, concern for these symptoms was lacking in both the patient and their family members.
MeSH terms: Ambulatory Care Facilities*; Mental Disorders/epidemiology*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Malaysia; Primary Health Care*; Prevalence
Spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage is one of the cerebrovascular complications in beta-thalassaemia major patients. This is a report of 2 cases of fatal intracranial haemorrhage. Their ages were 12 and 7 years respectively, and they had been receiving regular blood transfusion for the past 3 and 2 years respectively. They developed acute onset of headache, loss of consciousness and convulsions at 5 and 2 days respectively after their last blood transfusion. C-T scan of the brain showed massive intracranial haemorrhage with extension into the ventricles. The spontaneous intracranial haemorrhages in these two cases was probably multi-factorial in origin. The predisposing factors included recent blood transfusion, prolonged prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time as well as reduced platelet count.
A rare case of complex partial seizure (psychomotor epilepsy) with varying shades of psychiatric manifestations is presented. The highlights are multiplicity of its manifestation in the same case, its interchanging pattern and the variable durations. This gray area of psychiatry and neurology is discussed with special reference to diagnosis and management.