Browse publications by year: 2000

  1. The aetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: a review
    Nor Zuraida Z
    JUMMEC, 2000;5:73-77.
    Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a chronic debilitating condition affecting both physical and mental functioning. It was first quoted as a 'new disease' spreading in the developed countries. It bei:ame a major issue by doctors, professionals and the media for the past 15 years. CFS was not only affecting the adults but childhood fatigue has also been noted. The CFS patients commonly described themselves to be perfectionists, highly driven, energetic U1d motivated before the condition started. Studies have been focused on the definition, diagnosis and management of CFS. However, the understanding of CFS and what cause it is stili unclear and controversial. Thus the aetiological factors of CFS are reviewed in this article. KEYWORDS; Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Aetiology, Psychiatric disorders, Viral infection, Immunology
    MeSH terms: Adult; Mental Disorders; Child; Diagnosis; Fatigue; Infection; Malaysia; Review; Developed Countries
  2. Spectrum of opportunistic infections related to the central nervous system among AIDS patients in Hospital Kuala Lumpur
    Nissapatorn V, Lee C, Khairul Anuar A
    JUMMEC, 2000;5:89-92.
    A relTospective study was conducted in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, May, 2001.49 (12.1%) of 406 AIDS patients were diagnosed as opportunistic infections related to the central nervous system. The sex ratio (M:F) was 7.2. The median age was 34 years. The predominant age group for male as same as female was 25-34 years.The majority of the study subjects were Chinese (79.6%), married (49%), unemployed (42.9%) and heterosexuals (95.9%) as the risk behavior related to HlV infection. The most frequent clinical manifestations was headache (71.4%). At the time of diagnosis, the greater number of patients 39 (79.6%) had CD4 count < 200 celVcumm. Outcome of acute therapy the patients had a complete (85.7%), treatment continued (10.3%), and transfer to other hospital (2.00/0). Toxoplasmic encephalitis (7.6%) and cryptococcosis (3.9%) were the frequent cause of focal intracerebral lesions and meningitis in these patients respectively. Oral candidiasis (32.7%) was the most common among other opportunistic infections in this study. KEYWORDS: AIDS, Opportunistic infections. central nervous system, clinical manifestations, outcome.
    MeSH terms: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Behavior; Candidiasis; Central Nervous System; Cryptococcosis; Diagnosis; Encephalitis; Female; Headache; Infection; Malaysia; Male; Meningitis; Nervous System; Opportunistic Infections; Risk; Sex; Sex Ratio
  3. Problem-based medical curriculum
    Khairul Anuar A
    JUMMEC, 2000;5:1-2.
    MeSH terms: Curriculum; Malaysia
  4. Stress and hypertension
    Haizal HK, Azman W, Tan KH, Choy AM, Chan CG, Amudha K, et al.
    JUMMEC, 2000;5:3-10.
    MeSH terms: Hypertension; Malaysia; Review
  5. Development and application of gastrointestinal endoscopy
    Goh KL
    JUMMEC, 2000;5:107-109.
    MeSH terms: Endoscopy; Malaysia
  6. The in vitro hippocampal slice technique as a tool for studying the central nervous system
    El-Sabban F, Zariah A, Murgan V
    JUMMEC, 2000;5:17-23.
    The use of brain slice preparatiotis has become ilicreasiligly popular among scientists of different disciplines in recent decades for the study of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) in general and of synaptic phenomena in particular. The in vitro hippocampal slice may be the single most used preparation, among other slices of different parts of the brain areas. The use of brain slices in different experimental work offers certain advantages over the in vivo approaches to the study of the CNS; however, such preparations may have some limitations. This review describes the hippocampal slice technique, explores some of the different types of studies in which it was employed and points out the advantages and limitations of its use. KEYWORDS: Hippocalnpal slices, brain slices, technique, synaptic function, electrophysiology, in vitvo.
    MeSH terms: Brain; Central Nervous System; Electrophysiology; Malaysia; Nervous System; Pharmacies; Pharmacy; Physiology; Work; Review
  7. The use of steroid therapy and its impact on children hospitalised with viral croup
    Chan PWK, De Bruyne JA
    JUMMEC, 2000;5:28-32.
    The use of steroid therapy and its treatment impact on children hospitalised with viral croup between 1994-1998 were reviewed by comparing 30 patients who received steroid therapy with 65 patients who did not. There was no difference in the socio-demographic and clinical profile between the two groups. The hospital stay (2.8 ± 1.3 vs 3.5 ± 1.2 days, p = 0.02) and duration of documented stridor (1.3 ±0.5 vs 2.8 ± 1.0 days, p = 0.001) were shorter for patients who received steroid therapy although they appeared to have more severe respiratory distress. There were no complications associated with steroid therapy use. Despite reluctance in administering steroid therapy for viral croup, patients who received the treatment had a shorter hospital stay and duration of stridor. KEYWORDS: Croup, steroid therapy, hospital stay.
    MeSH terms: Child; Croup; Malaysia
  8. Improving internet access in the university of Malaya medical centre: A Nadi it innovation
    Awang Bulgiba AM, Rohani K, Rasiah RI, Esmadi A, Norazlin AM, Nor Mila MS, et al.
    JUMMEC, 2000;5:93-97.
    In early 2001, Nadi IT (the IT department of the UMMC) migrated the UMMC leased line from its old 64 kbps line 10 the 34 Mbps University of Malaya leased line. The migration was a new leuning experience for Nadi IT and many lessons were learnt along the way. This paper describes the ideOll behind the migration process, the reason (or the migration, problems and solutions 10 aU these problems as well as the benefits derived from the migration. The experience of this process m~y be useful to others wishing 10 improve IT facilities without resorting to expensive solutions. KEYWORDS: Internet, leased line, migration
    MeSH terms: Internet
  9. Development of a website - the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine experience
    Awang Bulgiba AM
    JUMMEC, 2000;5:36-40.
    In 1999, the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine set up its website on the Internet (http://ummc.med.uni.edu.my/sps/. Setting up the website was a whole new experience for the author and many new things were learnt along the way. This paper describes how the website was constructed, the problems, and solutions to all these problems. The experience of the author in setting up the SPM website may be useful to others wishing to set up their own department websites. KEYWORDS: Internet, SPM, website, web page
    MeSH terms: Malaysia; Preventive Medicine; Solutions; Internet
  10. Role of endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease: a review
    Amudha K, Tan KH, Choy AM, Mohd Rais M, Lang CC
    JUMMEC, 2000;5:59-66.
    MeSH terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Malaysia; Review
  11. Continuous distending pressure for respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants
    Ho JJ, Subramaniam P, Henderson-Smart DJ, Davis PG
    Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2000.
    PMID: 11034747
    BACKGROUND: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the single most important cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants (Greenough 1998, Bancalari 1992). Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) with surfactant is the standard treatment for the condition. The major difficulty with IPPV is that it is invasive, resulting in airway and lung injury and contributing to the development of chronic lung disease.

    OBJECTIVES: In spontaneously breathing preterm infants with RDS, to determine if continuous distending pressure (CDP) reduces the need for IPPV and associated morbidity without adverse effects.

    SEARCH STRATEGY: The standard search strategy of the Neonatal Review group was used. This included searches of the Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE (1966-Jan. 2000), previous reviews including cross references, abstracts, conference and symposia proceedings, expert informants, journal hand searching mainly in the English language.

    SELECTION CRITERIA: All trials using random or quasi-random patient allocation of newborn infants with RDS were eligible. Interventions were continuous distending pressure including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) by mask, nasal prong, nasopharyngeal tube, or endotracheal tube, or continuous negative pressure (CNP) via a chamber enclosing the thorax and lower body, compared with standard care.

    DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and its Neonatal Review Group, including independent assessment of trial quality and extraction of data by each author, were used.

    MAIN RESULTS: CDP is associated with a lower rate of failed treatment (death or use of assisted ventilation), overall mortality, and mortality in infants with birthweights above 1500 g. The use of CDP is associated with an increased rate of pneumothorax.

    REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: In preterm infants with RDS the application of CDP either as CPAP or CNP is associated with some benefits in terms of reduced respiratory failure and reduced mortality. CDP is associated with an increased rate of pneumothorax. The applicability of these results to current practice is difficult to assess, given the outdated methods to administer CDP, low use of antenatal corticosteroids, non-availability of surfactant and the intensive care setting of the 1970s when these trials were done. Where resources are limited, such as in developing countries, CPAP for RDS may have a clinical role. Further research is required to determine the best mode of administration and its role in modern intensive care settings

    MeSH terms: Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature*; Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation/adverse effects; Positive-Pressure Respiration/methods*; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/therapy*; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
  12. Tobacco smoking in Malaysia
    Habil MH
    Tobacco: The Growing Epidemic, 2000.
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4471-0769-9_9 ISBN: 978-1-4471-0769-9
    Citation: Habil MH. Tobacco smoking in Malaysia. In: Lu R, Mackay J, Niu S, Peto R (ed). Tobacco: The Growing Epidemic: Springer; 2000. p. 39-40.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Malaysia; Smoking
  13. Fusarium nygamai Associated with Fusarium Foot Rot of Rice in Sardinia
    Balmas V, Corda P, Marcello A, Bottalico A
    Plant Dis, 2000 Jul;84(7):807.
    PMID: 30832117 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS.2000.84.7.807B
    Fusarium nygamai Burgess & Trimboli was first described in 1986 in Australia (1) and subsequently reported in Africa, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Puerto Rico, and the United States. F. nygamai has been reported on sorghum, millet, bean, cotton, and in soil where it exists as a colonizer of living plants or plant debris. F. nygamai was also reported as a pathogen of the witch-weed Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. To our knowledge, no reports are available on its pathogenicity on crops of economic importance. In a survey of species of Fusarium causing seedling blight and foot rot of rice (Oryza sativa L.) carried out in Sardinia (Oristano, S. Lucia), F. nygamai was isolated in association with other Fusarium species-F. moniliforme, F. proliferatum, F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. compactum, and F. equiseti. Infected seedlings exhibited a reddish brown cortical discoloration, which was more intense in older plants. The identification of F. nygamai was based on monoconidial cultures grown on carnation leaf-piece agar (CLA) (2). The shape of macroconidia, the formation of microconidia in short chains and false heads, and the presence of chlamydospores were used as the criteria for identification. Two pathogenicity tests comparing one isolate of F. nygamai with one isolate of F. moniliforme were conducted on rice cv. Arborio sown in artificially infested soil in a greenhouse at 22 to 25°C. The inoculum was prepared by growing both Fusarium species in cornmeal sand (1:30 wt/wt) at 25°C for 3 weeks. This inoculum was added to soil at 20 g per 500 ml of soil. Pre- and post-emergence damping-off was assessed. Both F. nygamai and F. moniliforme reduced the emergence of seedlings (33 to 59% and 25 to 50%, respectively, compared to uninoculated control). After 25 days, the seedlings in infested soil exhibited a browning of the basal leaf sheaths, which progressed to a leaf and stem necrosis. Foot rot symptoms caused by F. nygamai and F. moniliforme were similar, but seedlings infected by F. nygamai exhibited a more intense browning on the stem base and a significant reduction of plant height at the end of the experiment. Either F. nygamai or F. moniliforme were consistently isolated from symptomatic tissue from the respective treatments. References: (1) L. W. Burgess and D. Trimboli. Mycologia 78:223,1986. (2) N. L. Fisher et al. Phytopathology 72:151,1982.
    MeSH terms: Millets; Agar; Fusarium; Malaysia; Puerto Rico; Oryza; Soil; Thailand; United States; Virulence; Dianthus; Striga; Seedlings; Sorghum; Plant Pathology
  14. Letter from New Zealand: Wonca 2000
    Sudha N
    Family Physician, 2000;11:22-22.
    MeSH terms: New Zealand
  15. How I manage dengue fever
    Singham KT
    Family Physician, 2000;11:14-15.
    MeSH terms: Dengue; Fever
  16. Ultrasound in general practice
    Singham KT
    Family Physician, 2000;11:20-20.
    MeSH terms: Family Practice; Ultrasonography; Letter
  17. My personal experience with classical homeopathy
    Low BS
    Family Physician, 2000;11:20-20.
    MeSH terms: Homeopathy; Humans
  18. Test your knowledge on Hepatitis B laboratory investigations
    Kwa SK
    Family Physician, 2000;11:18.
    MeSH terms: Hepatitis B; Humans; Knowledge
  19. Editorial. Meeting the challenges of the new millenium
    Kwa SK
    Family Physician, 2000;11:1-2.
  20. Letter from the Editor
    Kwa SK
    Family Physician, 2000;11:19.
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