Browse publications by year: 2012

  1. Poh LW, Rukman AW, Cheah YK, Norital Z, Nazri AM, Mariana NS
    Med J Malaysia, 2012 Dec;67(6):639-40.
    PMID: 23770967 MyJurnal
    Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) in human infections mostly belong to the high-risk, epidemic, clonal complex-17 (CC17) group. Treatment limitation and high conjugation frequency makes it dominant in hospitals worldwide. We investigated positive cultures by Pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multi locus sequence typing (MLST). DNA of two strains (A2 and C) appeared to be clonally related by PFGE. Three strains were of ST 18 type (A1, B and C) and strain A2 is of a new ST 596. This ST 18 type strain found in our study is crucial and is believed to be the first in Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins; DNA, Bacterial/genetics; Hospitals; Humans; Malaysia; Vancomycin; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Enterococcus faecium*; Vancomycin Resistance*; Multilocus Sequence Typing
  2. Anusha B, Philip R, Norain K, Harvinder S, Gurdeep SM
    Med J Malaysia, 2012 Dec;67(6):641-3.
    PMID: 23770968 MyJurnal
    Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rare among people of Indian ethnicity. A short retrospective case review of clinical records of Indian patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a period of 5 years was conducted. Their slides were further subjected to EBV encoded RNA (EBER) - In- situ Hybridization (ISH). The histologic subtype was nonkeratinizing carcinoma in all 4 patients. All were Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) positive. We believe that the crucial factor responsible for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is genetics; either a genetic susceptibility among high risk groups or genetic resistance/immunity in low risk groups. Further genetic studies are required to look for somatic or inherited chromosomal mutations among the various risk populations.
    MeSH terms: Herpesvirus 4, Human*; Humans; India/ethnology; Malaysia; Retrospective Studies; RNA, Viral*; In Situ Hybridization
  3. Prameela KK
    Med J Malaysia, 2012 Dec;67(6):644-51.
    PMID: 23770969 MyJurnal
    Breastmilk protects the infant from many diseases and many short- term and long- term benefits accrue. At the same time it is also known that breastfeeding acts as a vehicle for some infective agents. It is now accepted that breastmilk transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus- 1 (HIV-1) is an important mode of paediatric infection . Despite this fact, many researchers have observed that corresponding to the volume of milk consumed by the infant, maternal transmission via breastmilk is still comparatively low. Some have noted the long latency period of breastmilk HIV transmission with evidence of numerous anti-HIV factors in breastmilk. Although there are accepted standard guidelines on infant feeding in mothers who are HIV positive in many countries, it maybe equally important to realize gaps in our knowledge of mother- to -child HIV transmission. From an evolutionary perspective, the role of the mammary epithelial cell (MEC) and of breastmilk , in contributing to and possibly in influencing HIV-1 transmission is intriguing. The presence of HIV-1 or of other viruses in maternal milk seem to be a requisite to spur immunological defenses to optimize necessary protection to the infant. This article reviews some aspects of the science of HIV transmission through breastmilk and reflects the concept -based understanding of current policies on HIV and breastfeeding. At the same time, it highlights uncertainties in this field and the urgency for future research in this direction. Accepting current notions of breastmilk HIV transmission, greater deliberation by research may throw more light on why breastfeeding with its abundant advantages is fraught with the hazards of transmission of a deadly disease.
    MeSH terms: Breast Feeding; Humans; Infant; Milk, Human; HIV-1; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  4. Pathak R, Pathak A
    Int J Appl Basic Med Res, 2012 Jul;2(2):92-6.
    PMID: 23776819 DOI: 10.4103/2229-516X.106349
    Diabetes mellitus has become one of the great epidemics of our time.
  5. Al-Dubai SA, Alshagga MA, Rampal KG, Sulaiman NA
    Malays J Med Sci, 2012 Jul;19(3):43-9.
    PMID: 23785249 MyJurnal
    BACKGROUND: The Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10) is a validated and reliable instrument to measure global levels of perceived stress. This study aims to assess the internal consistency, reliability, and factor structure of the Malay version of the PSS-10 for use among medical students.
    METHODS: The original English version of the PSS-10 was translated and back-translated into Malay language. The Malay version was distributed to 242 Bachelor of Medical Science students in a private university in Malaysia. Test-retest reliability was assessed in 70 students. An exploratory principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed. Reliability was tested using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
    RESULTS: All 242 students participated in the initial questionnaire study (validity and factor structure), and 70 students participated in the test-retest reliability of the study. Exploratory factor analysis yielded 2 factors that accounted for 57.8% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the 2 factors were 0.85 and 0.70, respectively. The reliability test showed an ICC of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.89).
    CONCLUSION: The Malay version of the PSS-10 showed adequate psychometric properties. It is a useful instrument for measuring stress among medical students in Malaysia.
    KEYWORDS: Malaysia; medical; psychological; reliability and validity; stress; students
    MeSH terms: Malaysia; Perception; Psychometrics; Students, Medical; Reproducibility of Results
  6. Ismail H, Chang YL, Chang SD, Nusee Z
    Malays J Med Sci, 2012 Jul;19(3):69-73.
    PMID: 23785250 MyJurnal
    A 30-years-old Taiwanese female in her second pregnancy spontaneously conceived a monochorionic twin pregnancy. A routine ultrasound at 27 weeks of gestation revealed a selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) fetus and an appropriate gestational age (AGA) fetus. The AGA fetus was found to have a fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein (FIUV) varix. Serial ultrasounds showed no changes in the FIUV varix. 2 weeks later, the pregnancy progressed to twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Repeated amnioreductions were required at 29 and 30 weeks gestation. The babies were delivered by caesarean section at 31 weeks due to fetal distress in the sIUGR fetus. Both fetuses survived the neonatal period with problems of prematurity. The FIUV varix disappeared a few days after delivery.
    MeSH terms: Cesarean Section; Female; Fetal Distress; Fetal Growth Retardation; Fetofetal Transfusion; Fetus; Gestational Age; Pregnancy; Umbilical Veins; Varicose Veins; Parturition; Pregnancy, Twin
  7. Lua PL, Wan Putri Elena WD, Mohd Razif S
    Malays J Med Sci, 2012 Oct;19(4):37-49.
    PMID: 23785251 MyJurnal
    BACKGROUND: University students generally tend to engage in problematic eating behaviours, including unhealthy dieting, skipping meals, and high intake of fast food, although they are aware of the negative consequences. Eating behaviours have been shown to be interestingly related to quality of life (QoL). Our study aimed to 1) assess general nutrition quality of life (NQoL) status and 2) compare NQoL status based on gender, financial resources, study courses, year of study, and body mass index (BMI) profiles.
    METHODS: This study was conducted among undergraduates of health sciences in a local public university in Terengganu. Students completed the Malay version of NQoL (6 domains; 50 items; Likert-type responses 1-5). Data analysis was carried out by using SPSS 16.0, utilising descriptive and parametric statistics.
    RESULTS: A total of 241 students were enrolled [age = 19.7 (0.1) years; female (83.0%); Malay (96.7%)]. Social/Interpersonal Factors [3.84 (0.43)] emerged as the best component, while Food Impact [3.10 (0.40)] was the worst. Across all variables, only gender and study courses showed significantly different NQoL. Females scored better than males in Self-Efficacy (confidence in food selection ability) (P < 0.05). Nursing students also experienced significantly greater NQoL (mean = 3.58, 95% CI = 3.47, 3.68) than radiography students in Self-Efficacy (p < 0.05). Medical laboratory technology students had a significantly more favourable NQoL rating (mean = 3.62, 95% CI = 3.47, 3.76) than nursing students in Self-Image (p < 0.05). Study courses significantly influenced the NQoL status of students with Good NQoL, while those with Poor NQoL were mostly influenced by gender and financial resources (p < 0.05).
    CONCLUSION: These outcomes indicate that specific demographic characteristics seemed to make a difference in the NQoL of undergraduate students.
    KEYWORDS: health sciences; nutrition; quality of life; undergraduates
    Study site: public university, Terengganu, Malaysia
    Scales & Questionnaires: Nutrition Quality of Life instrument (NQoL)
    MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior; Female; Food Preferences; Malaysia; Male; Nutritional Status; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Radiography; Students, Nursing; Medical Laboratory Science; Universities; Body Mass Index; Self Efficacy; Fast Foods
  8. Lai NM, Teng CL, Nalliah S
    Educ Health (Abingdon), 2012 Jul;25(1):33-9.
    PMID: 23787382
    CONTEXT: The Fresno test and the Berlin Questionnaire are two validated instruments for objectively assessing competence in evidence-based medicine (EBM). Although both instruments purport to assess a comprehensive range of EBM knowledge, they differ in their formats. We undertook a preliminary study using the adapted version of the two instruments to assess their correlations when administered to medical students. The adaptations were made mainly to simplify the presentation for our undergraduate students while preserving the contents that were assessed.
    METHODS: We recruited final-year students from a Malaysian medical school from September 2006 to August 2007. The students received a structured EBM training program within their curriculum. They took the two instruments concurrently, midway through their final six months of training. We determined the correlations using either the Pearson's or Spearman's correlation depending on the data distribution.
    RESULTS: Of the 120 students invited, 72 (60.0%) participated in the study. The adapted Fresno test and the Berlin Questionnaire had a Cronbach's alfa of 0.66 and 0.70, respectively. Inter-rater correlation (r) of the adapted Fresno test was 0.9. The students scored 45.4% on average [standard deviation (SD) 10.1] on the Fresno test and 44.7% (SD 14.9) on the Berlin Questionnaire (P = 0.7). The overall correlation between the two instruments was poor (r = 0.2, 95% confidence interval: -0.07 to 0.42, P = 0.08), and correlations remained poor between items assessing the same EBM domains (r = 0.01-0.2, P = 0.07-0.9).
    DISCUSSION: The adapted versions of the Fresno test and the Berlin Questionnaire correlated poorly when administered to medical students. The two instruments may not be used interchangeably to assess undergraduate competence in EBM.
    MeSH terms: Clinical Competence/standards; Curriculum; Education, Medical, Undergraduate/methods; Education, Medical, Undergraduate/standards*; Educational Measurement/methods*; Humans; Surveys and Questionnaires; Evidence-Based Medicine/education*; Evidence-Based Medicine/standards
  9. Rajiah K, Mathew EM, Veettil SK, Kumar S
    J Res Med Sci, 2012 Jul;17(7):689-93.
    PMID: 23798933
    Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a type of feeding disorder that starts in adolescence and presents a variety of symptoms, recurrent vomiting in the oral cavity that may reach down to the larynx - similarly to gastro-esophageal reflux, causing laryngeal and voice disorder alterations.
  10. Lai NM, Ngim CF, Fullerton PD
    Educ Health (Abingdon), 2012 Nov;25(2):105-10.
    PMID: 23823593 DOI: 10.4103/1357-6283.103457
    Despite being an essential clinical skill, many junior doctors feel unprepared to perform neonatal resuscitation. We introduced a neonatal resuscitation training workshop in 2009 for our final-year medical students.
    MeSH terms: Clinical Competence/standards; Curriculum/standards; Education; Education, Medical/methods*; Educational Measurement; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Neonatology/education*; Resuscitation/education; Retrospective Studies; Students, Medical; Teaching/methods*
  11. Arzuman H, Ja'afar R, Fakri NM
    Educ Health (Abingdon), 2012 Nov;25(2):124-7.
    PMID: 23823596 DOI: 10.4103/1357-6283.103460
    An aim of medical schools is to select the most suitable candidates who are more likely to become good doctors, fulfilling societal expectations. It is imperative to better understand the influence of 'selection' variables on students' academic performance. We conducted a retrospective record review (3R) to examine the predictive power of pre-admission tracks on academic performance in the medical programme at the Universiti Sains Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Curriculum; Education, Medical/standards; Education, Medical/statistics & numerical data; Education, Premedical/standards; Education, Premedical/statistics & numerical data*; Educational Measurement; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Retrospective Studies; Students, Medical/statistics & numerical data*
  12. Rathor MY, Rani MF, Jamalludin AR, Amran M, Shahrin TC, Shah A
    J Res Med Sci, 2012 Nov;17(11):1056-62.
    PMID: 23833581
    BACKGROUND: Primary intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH) remains the deadliest and most disabling form of stroke. The aim of our study was to determine the potential predictors for survival and neurological recovery in PICH patients by clinical-computed tomographic (CT) correlation.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study conducted among PICH patients at a tertiary care hospital. The clinical and CT scan findings were correlated with the functional outcome using modified Rankin scores (mRS) of 0-5 at discharge and during six months follow-up.

    RESULTS: The clinical and CT findings in 160 (93 male and 67 female) eligible adult patients with age range from 25 to 85 years (mean age 58.30 ± 11.44 years) were analyzed. The mean Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score was significantly higher among survivors. (12.8 ± 0.4 vs. 8.5 ± 0.5, P < 0.001) Based upon the pattern of the CT findings, the best outcome in terms of survival was for the patients with ICH in basal ganglia/internal capsule region (86.7 %), followed by lobar hemorrhage (67.1%). Good functional outcome was associated with a hematoma volume of less than 30 ml. At discharge majority of the survivors were functionally dependent 76 (70.4%) and only 32 (29.6%) achieved functional independence. The significant independent predictors of in- hospital survival were GCS score > 9 (OR 10.8; 95% CI 4.061 to 28.719), basal ganglia/internal capsule bleed (OR 9.750; 95% CI 2.122 to 45.004), hematoma volume <30 ml (OR 11.476; 95% CI 4. 810 to 27.434), no mid line shift (OR 4.901; 95% CI 2.405 to 9.987) and no intraventricular extension of hemorrhage (OR 7.040; 95% CI 3.358 to 14.458).

    CONCLUSION: Outcome and functional status at discharge were well correlated with the initial CT scan findings and GCS score.

  13. Low VL, Chen CD, Lee HL, Lim PE, Leong CS, Sofian-Azirun M
    J Am Mosq Control Assoc, 2012 Sep;28(3):160-9.
    PMID: 23833895
    A standardized larval dipping method was used to determine the infestation rates of Culex and other species of mosquitoes in stagnant water at 20 residential areas. This study also examined the associations between Culex distribution and various habitat characteristics across all states in Malaysia. Identification of 7,848 specimens yielded 6 species dominated by Culex quinquefasciatus (82.74%), followed by Cx. vishui (14.39%), Cx. gelidus (2.70%), Lutzia fuscanus (0.11%), Armigeres subalbatus (0.05%), and Anopheles separatus (0.01%). The Culex larvae occurred in stagnant water with pH ranging from 6.4 to 8.2; conductivity, 139.7 to 6635.2 micros/cm; salinity, 0.07 to 3.64 ppt; total dissolved solids, 0.09 to 4.27g/liter; and dissolved oxygen, 5.11 to 8.11 mg/liter. The mean number of Culex larvae was positively correlated with pH, conductivity, salinity, and total dissolved solids. In contrast, the elevation and dissolved oxygen were found negatively correlated with mean number of Culex larvae. This study documented baseline information on the habitat characteristics of Culex species for the 1st time at different residential areas in Malaysia. The findings of this study will be a timely reminder to local authorities that effective control measures should be monitored regularly in order to reduce the nuisance of these mosquitoes and the risks of disease transmission.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Culex/classification*; Culex/physiology*; Demography; Larva/classification; Malaysia; Ecosystem*
  14. Khan SA, Dawani N, Bilal S
    J Pak Med Assoc, 2012 Nov;62(11):1198-203.
    PMID: 23866411
    OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of dental myths and perceived knowledge regarding oral healthcare practices and its associations with levels of education amongst low socioeconomic strata in Karachi, Pakistan.
    METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2011. Two-staged random sampling was conducted to achieve a sample size of 576 participants from 8 union councils of Gadap Town, Karachi, Pakistan. An interview-based questionnaire was used to determine the participants' perceptions towards oral health and hygiene practices as well as the prevalence of common dental myths. The subjects were interviewed through a formulated questionnaire that was cross-translated into Urdu language.
    RESULTS: Response rate from the participants was 550 (95.48%). Of the total, 270 (47%) respondents believed in the myth of tooth extraction affecting the eye vision. This was significantly associated with the socio-demography of the respondents. Besides, 421 (73%) thought that tooth extraction is not the ultimate remedy for pain relief and it was statistically significant with age and educational status of the participants. Those who considered bleeding while brushing to be normal were 144 (25%), and it was significantly associated with age and education level. Impact of oral health on general health was positively responded by 392 (68%), while 418 (72.5%) respondents did not think that the retention of baby teeth is important. Both these perceptions were significantly associated with age and level of education.
    CONCLUSION: Pakistani population has considerable belief in myths and false perceptions regarding oral health issues. Various stakeholders should be involved to develop policies towards healthy attitudes and beliefs within the community towards their oral healthcare.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Educational Status*; Female; Folklore; Humans; Male; Oral Health*; Pakistan; Perception*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Social Class*; Prevalence; Chi-Square Distribution
  15. Annegowda HV, Bhat R, Min-Tze L, Karim AA, Mansor SM
    J Food Sci Technol, 2012 Aug;49(4):510-4.
    PMID: 23904662 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-011-0435-8
    The present study was conducted to examine the effects of sonication treatments (time intervals of 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min.) on phenolics and other antioxidant compounds in starfruits extracted in methanol and water. Overall, methanolic extracts exhibited significantly higher extractability, percentage inhibition of DPPH radicals, ferric reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) value, antioxidant capacity, flavonoids, total phenolics and tannins (p 
    MeSH terms: Methanol; Antioxidants; Flavonoids; Fruit; Phenols; Sonication; Tannins; Water
  16. Rashid A, Ong EK, Yi Wong ES
    Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res, 2012 Nov;17(7):512-9.
    PMID: 23922598
    Sleep is an essential part of life. Lack of sleep has been linked with increased morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the sleep quality of older adults residing in a private elderly care institution in Malaysia.
  17. Liew YK, Neela V
    Indian J Microbiol, 2012 Sep;52(3):507-9.
    PMID: 23997349 DOI: 10.1007/s12088-012-0262-2
    MRSA-ST9-t4358 from pigs and pig handlers were analysed for exoproteins profiles. Similar protein patterns with variation in protein spot intensity were observed. No significant variation among the protein profiles indicates that transmission of MRSA-ST9 from pig to human or vice versa, do not strongly alter the gene expression patterns. Indirectly, virulence factors that acquired from pig environment might have chance to be expressed in human host.
  18. Sahul Hameed AS, Bonami JR
    Indian J Virol, 2012 Sep;23(2):134-40.
    PMID: 23997437 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-012-0087-y
    Macrobrachium rosenbergii is the most important cultured freshwater prawn in the world and it is now farmed on a large scale in many countries. Generally, freshwater prawn is considered to be tolerant to diseases but a disease of viral origin is responsible for severe mortalities in larval, post-larval and juvenile stages of prawn. This viral infection namely white tail disease (WTD) was reported in the island of Guadeloupe in 1995 and later in Martinique (FrenchWest Indies) in Taiwan, the People's Republic of China, India, Thailand, Australia and Malaysia. Two viruses, Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus-like particle (XSV) have been identified as causative agents of WTD. MrNV is a small icosahedral non-enveloped particle, 26-27 nm in diameter, identified in the cytoplasm of connective cells. XSV is also an icosahedral virus and 15 nm in diameter. Clinical signs observed in the infected animals include lethargy, opaqueness of the abdominal muscle, degeneration of the telson and uropods, and up to 100 % within 4 days. The available diagnostic methods to detect WTD include RT-PCR, dot-blot hybridization, in situ hybridization and ELISA. In experimental infection, these viruses caused 100 % mortality in post-larvae but failed to cause mortality in adult prawns. The reported hosts for these viruses include marine shrimp, Artemia and aquatic insects. Experiments were carried out to determine the possibility of vertical transmission of MrNV and XSV in M. rosenbergii. The results indicate that WTD may be transferred from infected brooders to their offspring during spawning. Replication of MrNV and XSV was investigated in apparently healthy C6/36 Aedes albopictus and SSN-1 cell lines. The results revealed that C6/36 and SSN-1cells were susceptible to these viruses. No work has been carried out on control and prevention of WTD and dsRNA against protein B2 produced RNAi that was able to functionally prevent and reduce mortality in WTD-infected redclaw crayfish.
  19. Hassan R, Yusof WA, Hussain NH, Abdullah WZ
    Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus, 2012 Sep;28(3):157-61.
    PMID: 23997452 DOI: 10.1007/s12288-011-0135-6
    Menorrhagia is one of the gynecological complaints, seen in women of reproductive age. In majority of cases no organic pathology is found. To date there is no consensus on application of von Willebrand disease (vWD) testing as part of the routine investigations in menorrhagia. Diagnosis of vWD is challenging. It is complicated by intra-individual variations in von Willebrand antigen, activity, and factor VIII levels due to fluctuation of these factor levels during the menstrual cycle or hormonal therapy. The aim of this study is to detect vWD presenting with menorrhagia among Malays attending gynecology clinic by using a standard panel of haemostatic profiles. Thirty Malay patients attending gynecology clinic with unexplained menorrhagia were included in this study. Haemostatic profile such as platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), factor VIII assay, von Willebrand factor antigen, and von Willebrand factor activity, and collagen binding assay were measured in all patients. Pre- and post hormonal haemostatic profiles were also performed in the patients diagnosed as vWD. All patients had normal APTT. Based on von Willebrand factor work-up, vWD was diagnosed in four patients (13.3%). Three of them were Type 1 and the other one was Type 2M. Investigation for vWD is essential in patients with menorrhagia and thus the laboratories performing vWD testing should provide a complete panel of diagnostic work-up in order to reduce the interpretation error. Screening for vWD should be performed before hormonal treatment as haemostatic profile post treatment could mask the diagnosis.
    Study site: Gynaecology clinic, Hospital of Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Hospitals, University; Humans; Malaysia; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Prospective Studies; von Willebrand Disease, Type 1
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