Browse publications by year: 2010

  1. Hoidy WH, Ahmad MB, Al-Mulla EA, Yunus WM, Ibrahim Na
    J Oleo Sci, 2010;59(1):15-9.
    PMID: 20032595
    In this study, fatty haydroxamic acids (FHAs), which have biological activities as antibiotics and antifungal, have been synthesized via refluxing of triacylglycrides, palm olein, palm stearin or corn oil with hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The products were characterized using the complex formation test of hydroxamic acid group with zinc(I), copper(II) and iron(III), various technique methods including nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Parameters that may affect the conversion of oils to FHAs including the effect of reaction time, effect of organic solvent and effect of hydro/oil molar issue were also investigated in this study. Results of characterization indicate that FHAs were successfully produced from triacylglycrides. The conversion percentages of palm stearin, palm olein and corn oil into their fatty hydroxamic acids are 82, 81 and 78, respectively. Results also showed that hexane is the best organic solvent to produce the FHAs from the three oils used in this study. The optimum reaction time to achieve the maximum conversion percentage of the oils to FHAs was found to be 10 hours for all the three oils, while the optimum molar ration of hydro/to oil was found to be 7:1 for all the different three oils.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemical synthesis; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry; Antifungal Agents/chemical synthesis; Antifungal Agents/chemistry; Fatty Acids/chemical synthesis*; Fatty Acids/metabolism; Fatty Acids/chemistry*; Hydroxamic Acids/chemical synthesis*; Hydroxamic Acids/metabolism; Hydroxamic Acids/chemistry*; Plant Oils/chemistry; Triglycerides/chemistry*; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Hydroxylamine/chemistry
  2. Al-Talib H, Yean CY, Al-khateeb A, Singh KK, Hasan H, Al-Jashamy K, et al.
    Curr Microbiol, 2010 Jul;61(1):1-6.
    PMID: 20033170 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-009-9567-8
    The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Hence, rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis of MRSA is a vital constituent of control measures. The present study evaluated five different methods for the identification of MRSA. A total of 207 S. aureus clinical isolates that consisted of 89 MRSA and 118 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains confirmed by PCR were tested. MRSA strains were evaluated by five different methods: chromogenic MRSA agar (CMRSA), oxacillin resistance screening agar base (ORSAB), mannitol salt oxacillin agar (MSO), mannitol salt cefoxitin agar with two different concentrations of cefoxitin [4 microg/ml (MSC-4) and 6 microg/ml (MSC-6)]. The results of the different methods were compared to mecA PCR as the gold standard. MSC-6 showed only six false-positive MRSA in comparison with PCR. The sensitivities and specificities of MSC-6, MSC-4, MSO-4, ORSAB, and CMRSA were as follows: 98.9/94.9%, 100/83.1%, 89.9/87.3%, 97.8/96.6%, and 95.5/94.9%, respectively. In comparison with PCR, it was found that both MSC-6 and ORSAB were relatively the least expensive screening tests ($0.70 and $1.00, respectively). In conclusion, all methods were comparable, but MSC-6 was the least expensive medium for MRSA screening.
    MeSH terms: Agar; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology; Cefoxitin/pharmacology; Culture Media*; Humans; Methicillin/pharmacology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oxacillin/pharmacology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus/genetics; Staphylococcus aureus/growth & development; Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification; Methicillin Resistance; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/growth & development; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification*
  3. Chan ES, Lee PP, Ravindra P, Krishnaiah K, Voo WP
    Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2010 Mar;86(1):385-91.
    PMID: 20033402 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-009-2384-y
    The aim of this work was to develop a standard quantitative method to measure the acid tolerance of probiotic cells when exposed to a simulated gastric fluid. Three model strains of different cell concentrations were exposed to a standard simulated gastric fluid of fixed volume. The fluid pH ranged from pH 1.5 to 2.5. In general, the death kinetics followed an exponential trend. The overall death constant, k (d), for all strains was found to be in a power relationship with the pH value and the initial cell concentration, and it can be expressed as k(d)=k(AII) (pH(-9.0)N(0)(-0.19)) where k (AII) is defined as the acid intolerance indicator and N (0) is the initial cell concentration (CFU/ml). This equation was validated with the experimental data with an average R (2) of 0.98. The acid intolerance of cells can be quantitatively expressed by the k (AII) values, where higher value indicates higher intolerance. In conclusion, a standard quantitative method has been developed to measure the acid tolerance of probiotic cells. This could facilitate the selection of probiotic strains and processing technologies.
    MeSH terms: Gastric Acid*; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Models, Biological; Colony Count, Microbial; Probiotics*; Microbial Viability
  4. Goh BL, Yudisthra MG, Hisham AN
    Br J Surg, 2010 Feb;97(2):185-8.
    PMID: 20035536 DOI: 10.1002/bjs.6818
    : It can be difficult to achieve a stable serum calcium level after parathyroidectomy for renal hyperparathyroidism. This study examined the impact of a calcium replacement protocol guided by predicted need in reducing hospital stay.
    MeSH terms: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism*; Calcium/administration & dosage*; Calcium/metabolism; Female; Renal Dialysis/adverse effects*; Humans; Hyperparathyroidism/surgery*; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications*; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Parathyroidectomy/methods; Bone Density Conservation Agents/administration & dosage*; Young Adult
  5. Zakaria ZA, Patahuddin H, Mohamad AS, Israf DA, Sulaiman MR
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2010 Mar 2;128(1):42-8.
    PMID: 20035852 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.12.021
    Ethnopharmacological relevance: Piper sarmentosum (Piperaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used by the Malays to treat headaches, toothaches, coughs, asthma and fever.

    Aim of the study: In order to establish the pharmacological properties of the leaf of this plant, studies were performed on anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.

    Materials and methods: The aqueous extract of Piper sarmentosum (AEPS) was prepared in the doses of 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg. Anti-nociceptive activity of AEPS was evaluated by abdominal constriction and hot-plate tests. AEPS was also pre-challenged with 5mg/kg naloxone to determine the involvement of opioid receptors. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema assay.

    Results: Subcutaneous administration of AEPS exhibited anti-nociceptive activity (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner in the abdominal constriction and hot-plate tests. Pre-treatment with naloxone completely (P<0.05) diminished the extract anti-nociceptive activity in both tests. The AEPS, at all doses used, exerted significant (P<0.05) anti-inflammatory activity in a dose-dependent manner.

    Conclusions: The AEPS exhibits opioid-mediated anti-nociceptive activity at the peripheral and central levels, as well as anti-inflammatory activity, which confirmed the traditional uses of the plant in the treatment of pain- and inflammatory-related ailments.
    MeSH terms: Analgesics/pharmacology*; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology*; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Water; Plant Leaves/chemistry*; Piper/chemistry*; Mice
  6. Ng SL, Seng CE, Lim PE
    Chemosphere, 2010 Jan;78(5):510-6.
    PMID: 20035966 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.11.041
    A kinetic model consisting of first-order desorption and biodegradation processes was developed to describe the bioregeneration of phenol- and p-nitrophenol-loaded powdered activated carbon (PAC) and pyrolyzed rice husk (PRH), respectively. Different dosages of PAC and PRH were loaded with phenol or p-nitrophenol by contacting with the respective phenolic compound at various concentrations. The kinetic model was used to fit the phenol or p-nitrophenol concentration data in the bulk solution during the bioregeneration process to determine the rate constants of desorption, k(d), and biodegradation, k. The results showed that the kinetic model fitted relatively well (R(2)>0.9) to the experimental data for the phenol- and p-nitrophenol-loaded PAC as well as p-nitrophenol-loaded PRH. Comparison of the values of k(d) and k shows that k is much greater than k(d). This indicates clearly that the desorption process is the rate-determining step in bioregeneration and k(d) can be used to characterize the rate of bioregeneration. The trend of the variation of the k(d) values with the dosages of PAC or PRH used suggests that higher rate of bioregeneration can be achieved under non-excess adsorbent dosage condition.
    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Biodegradation, Environmental; Charcoal/chemistry*; Kinetics; Models, Chemical*; Nitrophenols/metabolism*; Phenols/metabolism*
  7. Wong TE, Lim LH, Tan WJ, Khoo TH
    Burns, 2010 Aug;36(5):e78-81.
    PMID: 20036061 DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2009.10.016
    MeSH terms: Burns/complications*; Burns/surgery; Child; Cicatrix/pathology; Cicatrix/surgery*; Contracture/pathology; Contracture/surgery*; Female; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal/instrumentation; Intubation, Intratracheal/methods*; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Trachea/pathology; Trachea/radiography
  8. Hajeb P, Jinap S, Ahmad I
    Environ Monit Assess, 2010 Dec;171(1-4):205-17.
    PMID: 20041345 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-009-1272-3
    Seawater may be contaminated by harmful substances, including toxic elements released by human activities. The present study evaluates the total mercury and methylmercury concentrations and their correlations to fish body size in longtail tuna and short-bodied mackerel from Chendring, Kuantan, at east coast and Kuala Perlis at west costs of Peninsular Malaysia during May to November 2007. Total mercury and methylmercury in muscle tissue of 69 samples of longtail tuna and short-bodied mackerel, ranged from 0.180 to 1.460 μg/g and 0.0.169-0.973 μg/g and 0.251-1.470 μg/g and 0.202-1.352, whereas the methylmercury to total mercury ratio ranged from 70% to 83%, respectively. Samples of both species from the east coast showed higher levels of mercury compared to those from west coast. In all of the locations, significant positive correlations were found between fish body weight and mercury content (R(2) > 0.470). The estimated weekly intake of total mercury and methylmercury from the consumption 66.33 g/week of short-bodied mackerel and 18.34 g/week of longtail tuna (based on local dietry survey) was found to be lower than the maximum limit of 5 and 1.5 μg/kg bodyweight established by FAO/WHO and codex, respectively.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Food Contamination*; Humans; Malaysia; Maximum Allowable Concentration; Mercury/analysis*; Methylmercury Compounds/analysis*; Perciformes*; Seawater/chemistry*; Tuna*; Seafood/analysis*; Muscle, Skeletal/chemistry
  9. Bhore SJ, Kassim A, Shah FH
    Bioinformation, 2010 Sep 20;5(4):141-5.
    PMID: 21364775
    South American oil-palm (Elaeis oleifera) is not cultivated in tropical countries like Malaysia on large scale due to low yield of palm oil derived from its fruit mesocarp. However, its fruit mesocarp oil contains about 68.6 % oleic acid (C(18:1)) which is more than double in comparison to commercially cultivated oilpalm, E. guineensis Jacq Tenera (hybrid of Dura (♀) x Pisifera (♂)). It is also known that E. oleifera is a good source of tocotrienols and carotenoids. Therefore, it is of interest to know the genome sequence of E. oleifera. The objective of this study is to generate genome survey sequences (GSS) to get GC content insight in the E. oleifera genome. The nuclear genomic DNA isolated from young leaf-tissues was digested with EcoRI and NdeI/DraI restriction enzymes; and three genomic DNA libraries were constructed using Lambda ZAP-II, pGEM®-T Easy, and pDONR 222™ as cloning vectors. Generated 76 GSSs were analyzed by using Bioinformatics tools. The analysis result indicates that the adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine content in generated GSSs are 30%, 20%, 20%, and 30% respectively. In conclusion, based on the precise GC content analysis of the randomly isolated 76 GSSs by using Bioinformatics tools we hypothesize that GC content in E. oleifera genome is 40%. The hypothesized 40% GC content in E. oleifera genome is expected to remain close to the GC content based on the whole genome analysis.(ψ)The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to dbGSS division of the international DNA database (GenBank/DDBJ/EMBL) under accession numbers: DX575945- DX575972 and EI798032-EI798079.

    ABBREVIATIONS: gDNA - Nuclear genomic DNA, GSSs - Genome survey sequences K12, SAOP - South American oil-palm Db1.

  10. Bhore SJ, Ravichantar N, Loh CY
    Bioinformation, 2010 Nov 01;5(5):191-7.
    PMID: 21364796
    Endophytic bacteria are harmless in most plant species; and known to boost the growth and development of the host plants probably by secreting growth hormones. The isolation, identification and screening of endophytic bacteria for the plant growth regulators like cytokinin are needed to get the leads for their applications in agriculture sector. We describe the isolation and identification of the bacterial endophytes from the leaves of Sambung Nyawa [Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr.] and their screening for cytokinin-like compounds. We isolated three endophytic bacteria from the leaves of G. procumbens collected from the forest research institute of Malaysia (FRIM). They were further identified using amplified 16S rRNA gene sequence based method of bacterial identification. The ethyl acetate extracts of the isolates-broth were analyzed using cucumber cotyledon greening bioassay (CCGB) to determine the presence of cytokinin-like compounds. Consequently, the bacterial putative endophytes were identified as Psuedomonas resinovorans, Paenibacillus polymaxa, and Acenitobacter calcoaceticus. Broth-extracts from two (Psuedomonas resinovorans and Paenibacillus polymaxa) of the three putative bacterial endophytes show the positive results in their screening for cytokinin-like compounds using CCGB. Thus, we hypothesize that the bacterial putative endophytes of G. procumbens that produce cytokinin-like compounds might have a role in the growth and development of G. procumbens.

    ABBREVIATIONS: CCGB - Cucumber cotyledon greening bioassay, rDNA - Ribosomal DNA, K12, BAP - 6-Benzylaminopurine, Db1, MSA - Multiple sequence alignment. 8081.

  11. Fathil SM, Mohd Mahdi SN, Che'man Z, Hassan A, Ahmad Z, Ismail AK
    Int J Emerg Med, 2010;3(4):233-7.
    PMID: 21373289 DOI: 10.1007/s12245-010-0201-0
    BACKGROUND: Airway management is an important part of the management of the critically ill and injured patients in the Emergency Department (ED). Numerous studies from developed countries have demonstrated the competency of emergency doctors in intubation. To date there have been no published data on intubations performed in EDs in Malaysia.
    METHODS: Data on intubations from 7 August 2007 till 28 August 2008 were prospectively collected.
    RESULTS: There were 228 intubations included in the study period. Cardiopulmonary arrest was the main indication for intubation (35.5%). The other indications were head injury (18.4%), respiratory failure (15.4%), polytrauma (9.6%) and cerebrovascular accident (7.0%). All of the 228 patients were successfully intubated. Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) was the most frequent method (49.6%) of intubation. A total of 223 (97.8%) intubations were done by ED personnel. In 79.8% of the cases, intubations were successfully performed on the first attempt. Midazolam was the most common induction agent used (97 patients), while suxamethonium was the muscle relaxant of choice (109 patients). There were 34 patients (14.9%) with 38 reported immediate complications. The most common complication was oesophageal intubation.
    CONCLUSION: Emergency Department UKMMC personnel have a high competency level in intubation with an acceptable complication rate. RSI was the most common method for intubation.
    KEYWORDS: Airway; Intubation; Orotracheal intubation; Rapid sequence intubation
    MeSH terms: Clinical Competence*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emergency Service, Hospital; Health Personnel; Hospitals, University; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal*; Malaysia
  12. Sheng CK, Lim CK, Rashidi A
    Int J Emerg Med, 2010;3(4):287-91.
    PMID: 21373294 DOI: 10.1007/s12245-010-0218-4
    The practice of allowing family members to witness on-going active resuscitation has been gaining ground in many developed countries since it was first introduced in the early 1990s. In many Asian countries, the acceptability of this practice has not been well studied.
    MeSH terms: Asia; Family; Resuscitation; Developed Countries
  13. Hassali MA, Khan TM, Shafie AA
    Inform Prim Care, 2010;18(3):213-6.
    PMID: 21396245
    This study aimed to identify the types of drug information resources used by community pharmacists in daily practice in Penang, Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Information Services*; Humans; Malaysia; Pharmacists*; Reference Books; Internet
  14. Abdullah S, Haflah NH, Sapuan J, Das S
    Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove), 2010;53(4):243-6.
    PMID: 21400985
    We present a 20-year-old Malay male whom we believe has Proteus syndrome, a rare congenital disorder of asymmetrical overgrowth of body tissues. There are fewer than 100 confirmed cases reported worldwide thus the clinical presentation and histopathological findings are of significance. Our patient presented with an overgrown right small finger and subcutaneous purplish pigmentation over his left upper arm and chest since birth. His small finger gradually increased in size. He had no abnormalities in sensation or power. Radiographs revealed a delta shaped middle phalanx of the small finger. His activities of daily living were uninterrupted but he requested debulking surgery for cosmetic reasons. Histopathological examination reported hypertrophic fatty tissue composed of well formed lobules of mature adipocytes interspersed with fibrous elements.
    MeSH terms: Fingers/abnormalities*; Fingers/pathology; Humans; Male; Proteus Syndrome/diagnosis*; Young Adult
  15. Maj MK, Ar AH, Faisal SA, Ahmad J, Das S
    Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove), 2010;53(4):247-9.
    PMID: 21400986
    Discoid meniscus is the commonest anatomical aberration of the knee joint, among rare cases such as bilateral separated lateral meniscus, accessory lateral meniscus, partial deficiency of the lateral meniscus and double-layered lateral meniscus. An 11-year-old girl presented with history of chronic pain in her right knee for the last 6 months. The problem disturbed her involvement in the sport activities at school. Clinical examination revealed a clicking sensation on knee extension with lateral joint line tenderness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of her right knee showed torn posterior horn of lateral meniscus. Arthroscopy examination revealed a discoid meniscus with absence posterior horn. Posterior horn deficient discoid meniscus is a rare form of a congenital meniscus anomaly. We as clinicians believe that the abnormal shaped meniscus may pose a diagnostic challenge clinically and radiologically. Presentation of this case may be beneficial for orthopaedicians in their daily clinical practice.
    MeSH terms: Arthroscopy; Child; Chronic Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Knee Joint*; Menisci, Tibial/abnormalities*; Arthralgia/etiology*
  16. Siti Farizwana MR, Mazrura S, Zurahanim Fasha A, Ahmad Rohi G
    J Environ Public Health, 2010;2010:615176.
    PMID: 21461348 DOI: 10.1155/2010/615176
    The study was to determine the concentration of aluminium (Al) and study the physicochemical parameters (pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, and residual chlorine) in drinking water supply in selected palm oil estates in Kota Tinggi, Johor. Water samples were collected from the estates with the private and the public water supplies. The sampling points were at the water source (S), the treatment plant outlet (TPO), and at the nearest houses (H1) and the furthest houses (H2) from the TPO. All estates with private water supply failed to meet the NSDWQ for Al with mean concentration of 0.99 ± 1.52 mg/L. However, Al concentrations in all public water supply estates were well within the limit except for one estate. The pH for all samples complied with the NSDWQ except from the private estates for the drinking water supply with an acidic pH (5.50 ± 0.90). The private water supply showed violated turbidity value in the drinking water samples (14.2 ± 24.1 NTU). Insufficient amount of chlorination was observed in the private water supply estates (0.09 ± 0.30 mg/L). Private water supplies with inefficient water treatment served unsatisfactory drinking water quality to the community which may lead to major health problems.
    MeSH terms: Agriculture*; Aluminum/analysis*; Chlorine/analysis; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Malaysia; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; Plant Oils*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*; Water Quality*; Drinking Water/analysis*
  17. Ho CC, Khandasamy Y, Singam P, Hong Goh E, Zainuddin ZM
    Libyan J Med, 2010 Nov 25;5.
    PMID: 21483557 DOI: 10.3402/ljm.v5i0.5686
    Urinary bladder catheter encrustations are known complications of long-term urinary catheterisation, which is commonly seen in clinical practice. These encrustations can impede deflation of the balloon and therefore cause problems in the removal of the catheter. The options in managing an encrusted and incarcerated urinary bladder catheter include extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and lithoclast. We describe here another technique of dealing with a stuck and encrustated catheter, via direct crushing of the encrustations with a rigid cystoscope inserted through a suprapubic cystostomy tract.
  18. Singam P, Suriyani L, Ho C, Eng Hong G, Zainuddin Z
    Libyan J Med, 2010 Oct 04;5.
    PMID: 21483560 DOI: 10.3402/ljm.v5i0.5524
    Sclerosing lipogranuloma (SLG) of the male external genitalia is a rare benign condition presenting as subcutaneous masses. The underlying pathological process is a granulomatous reaction of fatty tissue in this area. The cause of this is unclear but hypothesis stems around the pathogenesis of exogenous lipid degeneration from injection of foreign bodies such as paraffin for penile augmentation. However, endogenous lipid degeneration from other various causes such as infection, trauma, and allergic mechanisms has also been reported. We present the case of a 40-year-old man with primary SLG of the external genitalia. Literature review on the treatment strategies are addressed and discussed.
  19. Kamil M, Al-Jamal HA, Yusoff NM
    Libyan J Med, 2010 Feb 08;5.
    PMID: 21483592 DOI: 10.3402/ljm.v5i0.4847
    So far no studies have been performed in Malaysia to look at association of diabetes mellitus (DM) with blood groups. We studied the association of ABO blood groups with DM type 2.
  20. Suleiman Gwaram N, Ikmal Hisham NA, Khaledi H, Mohd Ali H
    Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2010 Dec 24;67(Pt 1):m108.
    PMID: 21522521 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536810052578
    In the title compound, [Ni(NCS)(2)(C(13)H(19)N(3)O)(H(2)O)], the Ni(II) ion is six-coordinated by the N,N',N''-tridentate Schiff base, the N atoms of two thio-cyanate ligands and one water O atom in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. Intra-molecular C-H⋯N and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds occur. In the crystal, O-H⋯S, O-H⋯O and C-H⋯S hydrogen bonds link adjacent mol-ecules into layers parallel to the ac plane.
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