Kimura’s disease is a rare condition and typically presents as non-tender subcutaneous swellings in the head and neck region, usually in the pre-auricular and submandibular areas. It is associated with lymphadenopathy (both local and distal), marked peripheral eosinophilia, and an elevated IgE level. It can easily be mistaken for a malignant disorder. Fine needle aspiration can be misleading, and a diagnosis is established only by histopathological examination. Renal involvement, which may affect up to 60% of patients, is the only systemic manifestation. We report a case of Kimura’s disease in a Malay patient who was associated with steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome.
Retrocaval ureter is a rare cause of hydronephrosis. Its rarity and non-specific presentation pose a challenge to surgeons and radiologists in making the correct diagnosis. Differentiation from other causes of urinary tract obstruction, especially the more common urolithiasis, is important for successful surgical management. Current practice has seen multislice computed tomography (MSCT) rapidly replaces intravenous urography (IVU) in the assessment of patients with hydronephrosis due to suspected urolithiasis, especially ureterolithiasis. However, MSCT, without adequate opacification of the entire ureter, may allow the physician to overlook a retrocaval ureter as the cause of hydronephrosis. High-resolution IVU images can demonstrate the typical appearance that leads to the accurate diagnosis of a retrocaval ureter. We reported a case that illustrates this scenario and highlights the importance of IVU in the assessment of a complex congenital disorder involving the urinary tract.
Research, development, and production of vaccines are still highly dependent on the use of animal models in the various evaluation steps. Despite this fact, there are strong interests and ongoing efforts to reduce the use of animals in vaccine development. Tuberculosis vaccine development is one important example of the complexities involved in the use of animal models for the production of new vaccines. This review summarises some of the general aspects related with the use of animals in vaccine research and production, as well as achievements and challenges towards the rational use of animals, particularly in the case of tuberculosis vaccine development.
A 10 year-old Iban girl presented with severe odynophagia for 4 days and subcutaneous emphysema. Clinically, her neck was tender with crepitus. Lateral neck radiograph showed multiple linear radiolucent shadows at retropharyngeal space. Flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscope revealed a tunnel behind upper oesophagus with slough and there was pooling of saliva at pyriform sinus. Feeding via nasogastric tube was started and empirical treatment for fungal and bacterial infection was commenced. Subsequent computed tomography of neck and thorax showed a 15- long blind tract at subglottic region posterior to oesophagus (prevertebral region), extending to superior mediastinum just before carina at T3/T4 level, represent abscess. Hourly suctioning of the remaining abscess in the blind tract with 10ml-syringe was done.
We present a rare case of Tay-Sachs disease with retinal 'cherry-red spots' in a 19-month-old Malay child. Molecular genetic studies confirmed the diagnosis. The case highlights that 'cherry-red spot' is a useful clinical clue in Tay-Sachs disease and several other lysosomal storage disorders. It serves as an ideal illustration of the eye as a window to inborn error of metabolism.
Growth hormone has been used in the treatment of short stature since 1957 1. Prior to 1985, human cadaver-derived pituitary growth hormone was used. Recombinant human growth hormone which was approved in 1985 made available a reliable, virtually unlimited resource2 to replace human pituitary growth hormone (which was withdrawn due to reported cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease). Idiopathic growth hormone deficiency is the main indication for treatment in more than one half of children receiving growth hormone therapy. Growth hormone therapy aims to normalize growth and help these patients achieve final height within their genetic potential and the normal range for the general population. Long term studies had shown that it was possible to achieve the above objectives in patients who were optimally treated 4,5. In Malaysia, the use of growth hormone increased slowly since 1985 due to extreme high cost of treatment, lack of funding for patients and lack of public awareness until recently. Moreover, data regarding response to treatment and factors that affecting final height in our local population has not been available. This study aims to evaluate the final height outcome among the Malaysian children diagnosed with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency treated with recombinant human growth hormone.
Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is strongly associated with Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV8) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (HIV). It was the first malignancy to be linked with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). We report a case of Kaposi’s sarcoma in a newly diagnosed retroviral homosexual patient with CD4 count of 21. He had multiple firm discrete violaceous plaques and nodules scattered over the face, scalp, hard palate, trunk and genitalia. Biopsy of a skin nodule over the trunk and a biopsy of a lesion from the gastric mucosa confirmed Kaposi’s sarcoma. He was started on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) and cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen) was given for the lesions over the skin. He responded well to treatment. Liquid nitrogen is a useful adjuvant treatment for Kaposi’s sarcoma.
The concept of diastolic heart failure (DHF) is not new. However awareness and understanding on this subject may remains uncertain among medical practitioners. We wished to examine the extent of awareness of such entity among doctors in Malaysia. A questionnaire was designed and distributed randomly during hospital Continuous Professional Development (CPD/CME) sessions and also in the respective outpatient departments (OPD) between July to October 2008. This cross-sectional survey in three urban- based general hospitals showed that there are a significant proportion of doctors who are lack of understanding and awareness of diastolic heart failure.
Hospital UKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) introduced the use of insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes in Malaysia in April 2004. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of pump therapy and its impact on metabolic control among patients from our institution. Insulin pump therapy resulted in sustainable improvement in glycemic control throughout the six years of treatment with reduction in HbA1c in the first two years of pump use was statistically significant. The BMI SDS showed an increase trend but the changes before and after pump use was insignificant. There is also high level of treatment satisfaction reported among our insulin pump patients.
MeSH terms: Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Health Facilities; Insulin Infusion Systems; Malaysia; Personal Satisfaction; Body Mass Index; Insulins
Background: The LMA-ClassicTM laryngeal mask airway (ClassicTM LMA) is an autoclavable and reusable laryngeal mask airway with strong evidence supporting its efficacy and safety. Due to the concern of infection risk particularly of prion disease, various single-use laryngeal mask devices were developed. The Ambu® AuraOnceTM LMA (Ambu® LMA) is a single use disposable laryngeal mask airway with special design that conforms better to the anatomy of the airway.
Objectives: The Ambu® LMA was compared to the LMA- ClassicTM ClassicTM LMA in respect to ease of insertion, adequacy of seal intraoperatively and postoperative complications in patients undergoing elective general anaesthesia with positive pressure ventilation.
Methods: One hundred and eighteen ASA I and II patients undergoing elective general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into receiving either the Ambu® LMA or the ClassicTM LMA. The time taken and number of attempts taken to insert the laryngeal mask was recorded. Intra-operative adequacy of seal was assessed via the amount of nitrous oxide leak using a nitrous oxide analyser. Readings were charted at 0, 20, 40 and 60 minutes of operation. Complications postoperatively (blood stains on the device and occurrence of sore throat) were also recorded.
Results: The success of first attempt insertion was comparable between the two groups (ClassicTM LMA 87% versus Ambu® LMA 83%). However the time of insertion was significantly shorter in the Ambu® LMA group (p=0.008). Nitrous oxide level was comparable between the two groups up to 20 minutes of operation. At 40 and 60 minutes, the Ambu® LMA showed a significant lower nitrous oxide leak compared to the ClassicTM LMA. Postoperatively, incidence of blood stains was comparable between the two groups, however the incidence of sore throat was lower in the Ambu® LMA group (p=0.025).
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the Ambu® LMA was comparable to the ClassicTM LMA in terms of the ease of insertion, but provided better seal during positive pressure ventilation with less postoperative sore throat.
Malaysia’s growing population is unlikely to slow down and the projected increases will take place.The current estimated population of 28.7 million in 2011 is projected to increase to 32.6 million in 2020 and 42.9 million by 2050. Certain problems that may not appear to be of significance because of low percentage of occurrence may yet be economically of concern by virtue of the large absolute numbers that occur due to the rapidly growing population. Thus we need not wait for the proportions to become large enough before reacting with preventive and promotive efforts but rather address these earlier when the absolute numbers are rapidly increasing
Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare, slow growing, malignant tumour of neuroectodermal origin that begins in
neuroepithelial cells of the olfactory membrane. A metastatic rate of 20% to 60% is reported with the most common site being the cervical lymph node. Other sites include the parotid glands, skin, lungs, bone, liver, orbit, spinal cord and spinal canal. We describe a case of olfactory neuroblastoma presented to us with scalp metastasis.
Essential nutritive and immunological ingredients abundantly present in breastmilk make it the choice infant nutrition. The uniqueness of mother’s milk, in contrast to most therapeutics and immunizations, lies in its potential to adapt itself to the requirements of the infant so that timely immune defenses are tapped from its constituents by immune regulation, modulation and immune acceleration to stimulate novel substances; these render it pertinent as defense when faced with challenging organisms. While it is appreciated that immunity can be transferred from mother to infant through breastmilk following maternal influenza vaccination, the immense benefits conferred by breastfeeding per se during influenza pandemics may not be fully valued. This is substantiated by debates and ambiguities for continued breastfeeding in the face of maternal influenza infections. This article emphasises the utmost importance of breastfeeding in viral pandemics in the light of the changing immunological strategies used by viruses at different times and the urgent need for such opportune defenses. The prolific interaction of its constituents is frequently understated as enormous advantages to the suckling infant.
Extra nodal NK/T cell lymphoma, ‘nasal type’ is a rare clinicopathological entity. The prevalence of nasal lymphoma is estimated at 0.17-1.5% for all non –Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL), of which 45% originate from the NK/T cell. It is more commonly encountered in Asian countries. The main clinical features are nasal congestion and epistaxis due to local aggressive destruction. It has a distinct immunophenotypic
profile of CD2+, CD56+ and CD3- . The tumor often shows polymorphic lymphoreticular infiltrates and necrosis. We present a case of a 50-year-old male who presented with lateral nasal wall infection following endoscopic sinonasal surgery and later proven to be extranodal NK/T cell ‘nasal type’ lymphoma with immunophenotypic features.
The use of an endoscopic approach for the division of glottic webs or stenosis has been reported in the literature and has been mainly confined to the anterior commisure. We report a rare case of caustic injury to the upper aerodigestive tract that resulted in extensive web formation along the membranous vocal cord which was successfully treated with endoscopic lysis of the adhesions and the use of a silastic sheet keel as a stent.
Schwannoma in the head and neck region is very rare. The tumour occurring in the intraparotid facial nerve is even rarer. A patient presenting with a parotid swelling with facial nerve paralysis is not pathognomonic of a facial nerve schwannoma. However it may occur because enlargement of the parotid, by any kind of tumour especially a malignant one can cause facial nerve paralysis. We report a case of an intraparotid facial nerve schwannoma, in a patient who presented with parotid enlargement and facial nerve paralysis.
Tongue surgery is almost always complicated by intraoperative bleeding. Its rich blood supply especially from the lingual vessels makes the operative field bloody. Electrocautery has been widely used to replace cold scissors in order to achieve better hemostasis. The use of ultrasonic harmonic scalpel for glossectomy is still new in this country. We report a case of partial glossectomy using the harmonic
scalpel in a patient who had a squamous cell carcinoma of the lateral border of the tongue.
HLA-DQA1, -DQB1, and -DRB1 gene polymorphism were analyzed to study type 1 DM susceptibility in Malay patients from Southeast Asia (Malaysia and Singapore). Patients showed significant increases in the occurrence of DQA1*0501 (50.7% vs. 20.4%; RR = 3.97; Pc < 0.01), DQB1*0201 (48% vs. 19.1%; RR = 3.86; Pc < 0.05), and DRB1*0301 (38.7 vs. 6.8%; RR = 8.36; 95% Pc < 0.05). Conversely, significant decreases were noted in the occurrence of DQA1*0601 (14.7% vs. 35.2%; RR = 0.33; Pc =
0.008) and DQB1*0601 (4% vs. 23.5%; RR = 0.16; Pc < 0.05) in type 1 DM patients. Using a logistic regression model, we derived a risk prediction model for type 1 DM in our indigenous Malay population based on the identified HLA genotypes. The RR for type 1 DM increases by a factor of 5.68 for every unit increase in the number of DRB1*0301 allele (P < 0.001), and decreases by a factor of 0.18 per unit
increase in the number of DQB1*0601 allele (P < 0.001). After adjusting for these two HLA genotypes, DQA1*0501, DQB1*0201 and DQA1*0601 were not statistically significant as risk predictors. The lower incidence of type 1 DM in the Malay population may be contributed by the genotypic combinations of DR and DQ genes as well as the linkage disequilibria between susceptible and protective alleles.
This prospective study aimed to determine the extent of contamination of fentanyl solutions used for central neuraxial injection by wiping the neck of the ampoules with 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs (Kendall®) before breaking open the ampoules and aspiration of fentanyl solutions using a 5 µm Filter Straw® (B. Braun). In Group A, fifty fentanyl ampoules were wiped with 70% isopropyl alcohol
swab prior to opening and the contents were aspirated immediately using a 21G needle and a 5 µm filter straw for culture. The same steps were repeated on the remaining solutions after two hours. In Group B, all the above steps were repeated but without wiping the ampoules with 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs. None of the samples from the wiped ampoules or aspiration using filter straw grew microorganisms. Six percent of the samples from unwiped group grew microorganisms when fentanyl were aspirated using a 21G needle and the contamination increased to 16% when repeated after two hours. Wiping the outsides of the fentanyl ampoules with 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs before opening or aspirating the contents using a 5 µm filter straw has been shown to be equally effective in avoiding bacterial contamination and should be practiced routinely when performing regional anaesthesia.
Patient’s satisfaction has become increasingly important as patients evaluate healthcare services for both medical cost and quality. The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence and the factors influencing caregivers’ satisfaction. A cross sectional study of 262 respondents using universal sampling method was conducted at the paediatric clinics of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Overall, 90.5% were satisfied with the services provided. Satisfaction rates based on various healthcare delivery domains were: 95.0% for communication skills, 88.5% for interpersonal aspect , 83.6% for technical quality, 82.1% for financial aspect, 72.9% for time spent with doctors and 64.9% for ease of contact. This study shows that the caregivers (an unpaid person who helps a person cope with disease 1) were highly satisfied with the communicational aspect delivered by the clinic. However, there is still room for improvement on ease of contact domain and waiting time in order to produce high quality service.
MeSH terms: Ambulatory Care Facilities; Child; Communication; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Malaysia; Personal Satisfaction; Surveys and Questionnaires; Prevalence; Caregivers; Patient Satisfaction