Browse publications by year: 2012

  1. Chan SP, Chui WC, Lo KW, Huang KC, Leyesa ND, Lin WY, et al.
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2012 Jul;24(4):641-9.
    PMID: 21490107 DOI: 10.1177/1010539511402189
    The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity worldwide demands increased efforts in the prevention and management of obesity. This article aims to present consensus statements promoting appropriate consumer education and communication programs for weight-loss agents in Asia.
    MeSH terms: Advertising as Topic/standards; Asia/epidemiology; Nonprescription Drugs*; Female; Health Education/standards*; Humans; Male; Obesity/epidemiology; Obesity/prevention & control; Program Evaluation; Guidelines as Topic; Anti-Obesity Agents*; Consensus*; Overweight/epidemiology; Overweight/prevention & control*; Health Communication/standards*; Epidemics/prevention & control
  2. Musa R, Abu Bakar AZ, Ali Khan U
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2012 Sep;24(5):826-32.
    PMID: 21490111 DOI: 10.1177/1010539511404396
    BACKGROUND: The commencement of methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) in 2005 represents a quantum leap in the management of heroin dependence in Malaysia.
    OBJECTIVE: To examine the 2-year outcomes of this modality in the treatment of heroin dependence with respect to the quality of life (QOL), heroin abstinence, and rate of employment among heroin dependants attending the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) MMT clinic.
    METHOD: This was an experimental study in which the second QOL assessment was conducted 2 years after treatment initiation.
    RESULTS: A total of 172 patients enrolled at the point of entry to the MMT program. The authors examined 107 patients who remained in the program 2 years later (62.6% retention rate). A paired t test demonstrated significant improvements in all 4 domains of QOL (physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment; P < .001). The most marked improvement was noted in the psychological domain.
    CONCLUSION: The MMT program at HTAA is effective in improving the QOL among heroin dependants.
    Study site: MMT clinic, Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA), Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
    MeSH terms: Adult; Employment/statistics & numerical data; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Facilities; Heroin Dependence/drug therapy*; Hospitals, General; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Methadone/therapeutic use*; Middle Aged; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Quality of Life; Time Factors; Program Evaluation; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
  3. Tey NP, Ng ST, Yew SY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2012 May;24(3):495-505.
    PMID: 21490114 DOI: 10.1177/1010539511401374
    The continuing decline in fertility despite a contraction in contraceptive use in Peninsular Malaysia since the mid-1980s has triggered considerable interest in the reasons behind this phenomenon, such as increase in abortion, sterility, and out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Fertility decline has been attributed to rapid socioeconomic development, which can only influence fertility through the intermediate variables. Application of vital statistics, population census, and survey data of Peninsular Malaysia on Bongaarts's model vindicates that marriage postponement and contraceptive use are the 2 most important proximate determinants of fertility, but the effects are not uniform across the ethnic groups. For instance, the predicted total fertility rate for Chinese and Malays are 2.9 and 1.6, respectively, compared with the observed level of 3.0 and 1.9. Postpartum infecundability and abortion also play a part in explaining ethnic fertility differentials. The fertility inhibiting effects of these proximate determinants have significant implications on reproductive health and future population growth.
    MeSH terms: Birth Rate/ethnology*; Birth Rate/trends; China/ethnology; Contraception Behavior/ethnology; Ethnic Groups/psychology; Ethnic Groups/statistics & numerical data*; Female; Fertility*; Humans; India/ethnology; Malaysia; Marriage/ethnology; Models, Theoretical; Pregnancy
  4. Osman R, Saim N, Juahir H, Abdullah MP
    Environ Monit Assess, 2012 Jan;184(2):1001-14.
    PMID: 21494831 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-011-2016-8
    Increasing urbanization and changes in land use in Langat river basin lead to adverse impacts on the environment compartment. One of the major challenges is in identifying sources of organic contaminants. This study presented the application of selected chemometric techniques: cluster analysis (CA), discriminant analysis (DA), and principal component analysis (PCA) to classify the pollution sources in Langat river basin based on the analysis of water and sediment samples collected from 24 stations, monitored for 14 organic contaminants from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), sterols, and pesticides groups. The CA and DA enabled to group 24 monitoring sites into three groups of pollution source (industry and urban socioeconomic, agricultural activity, and urban/domestic sewage) with five major discriminating variables: naphthalene, pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, coprostanol, and cholesterol. PCA analysis, applied to water data sets, resulted in four latent factors explaining 79.0% of the total variance while sediment samples gave five latent factors with 77.6% explained variance. The varifactors (VFs) obtained from PCA indicated that sterols (coprostanol, cholesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, and stigmastanol) are strongly correlated to domestic and urban sewage, PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene) from industrial and urban activities and chlorpyrifos correlated to samples nearby agricultural sites. The results demonstrated that chemometric techniques can be used for rapid assessment of water and sediment contaminations.
    MeSH terms: Cholestanol/analysis; Environmental Monitoring/methods*; Pesticides/analysis; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/analysis; Pyrenes/analysis; Sitosterols; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*; Water Pollution, Chemical/statistics & numerical data*; Cluster Analysis; Discriminant Analysis; Principal Component Analysis; Rivers/chemistry*
  5. Teh LK, Langmia IM, Fazleen Haslinda MH, Ngow HA, Roziah MJ, Harun R, et al.
    J Clin Pharm Ther, 2012 Apr;37(2):232-6.
    PMID: 21507031 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2011.01262.x
    Testing for cytochrome P450-2C9 (CYP2C9) and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) variant alleles is recommended by the FDA for dosing of warfarin. However, dose prediction models derived from data obtained in one population may not be applicable to another. We therefore studied the impact of genetic polymorphisms of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 on warfarin dose requirement in Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Age Factors; Aged; Algorithms; Anticoagulants/administration & dosage*; Anticoagulants/pharmacokinetics; Anticoagulants/pharmacology; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases/genetics*; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Genotype; Humans; Mixed Function Oxygenases/genetics*; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Polymorphism, Genetic; Warfarin/administration & dosage*; Warfarin/pharmacokinetics; Warfarin/pharmacology; Cohort Studies; Linear Models; International Normalized Ratio; Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9
  6. Koh PH, Mokhtar RA, Iqbal M
    Hum Exp Toxicol, 2012 Jan;31(1):81-91.
    PMID: 21508074 DOI: 10.1177/0960327111407226
    This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of Cymbopogon citratus against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-mediated hepatic oxidative damage in rats. Rats were administrated with C. citratus extract (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg b.w.) for 14 days before the challenge of CCl(4) (1.2 ml/kg b.w. p.o) on 13th and 14th days. Hepatic damage was evaluated by employing serum biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase-ALT, aspartate aminotransferase-AST and lactate dehydrogenase-LDH), malondialdehye (MDA) level, reduced GSH and antioxidant enzymes (catalase: CAT, glutathione peroxidase: GPX, quinone reductase: QR, glutathione S-transferase: GST, glutathione reductase: GR, glucose-6-phosphate dehyrogenase: G6PD). In addition, CCl(4)-mediated hepatic damage was further evaluated by histopathological examination. However, most of these changes were alleviated by prophylactic treatment of animals with C. citratus dose dependently (p < 0.05). The protection was further evident through decreased histopathological alterations in liver. The results of the present study indicated that the hepatoprotective effect of C. citratus might be ascribable to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging property.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/analysis; Antioxidants/therapeutic use*; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning/drug therapy*; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning/metabolism; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning/pathology; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/metabolism; Glutathione/metabolism; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism; Male; Oxidoreductases/metabolism; Phenols/analysis; Phenols/therapeutic use*; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use*; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Plant Stems; Cymbopogon*; Rats; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/drug therapy*; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/metabolism; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/pathology
  7. Pradhan B, Chaudhari A, Adinarayana J, Buchroithner MF
    Environ Monit Assess, 2012 Jan;184(2):715-27.
    PMID: 21509515 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-011-1996-8
    In this paper, an attempt has been made to assess, prognosis and observe dynamism of soil erosion by universal soil loss equation (USLE) method at Penang Island, Malaysia. Multi-source (map-, space- and ground-based) datasets were used to obtain both static and dynamic factors of USLE, and an integrated analysis was carried out in raster format of GIS. A landslide location map was generated on the basis of image elements interpretation from aerial photos, satellite data and field observations and was used to validate soil erosion intensity in the study area. Further, a statistical-based frequency ratio analysis was carried out in the study area for correlation purposes. The results of the statistical correlation showed a satisfactory agreement between the prepared USLE-based soil erosion map and landslide events/locations, and are directly proportional to each other. Prognosis analysis on soil erosion helps the user agencies/decision makers to design proper conservation planning program to reduce soil erosion. Temporal statistics on soil erosion in these dynamic and rapid developments in Penang Island indicate the co-existence and balance of ecosystem.
    MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources/methods; Environmental Monitoring/methods*; Malaysia; Soil/chemistry*; Geographic Information Systems*; Geological Phenomena*; Landslides/statistics & numerical data; Remote Sensing Technology
  8. Nesaretnam K, Meganathan P, Veerasenan SD, Selvaduray KR
    Genes Nutr, 2012 Jan;7(1):3-9.
    PMID: 21516480 DOI: 10.1007/s12263-011-0224-z
    Breast cancer is the second most frequent cancer affecting women worldwide after lung cancer. The toxicity factor associated with synthetic drugs has turned the attention toward natural compounds as the primary focus of interest as anticancer agents. Vitamin E derivatives consisting of the well-established tocopherols and their analogs namely tocotrienols have been extensively studied due to their remarkable biological properties. While tocopherols have failed to offer protection, tocotrienols, in particular, α-, δ-, and γ-tocotrienols alone and in combination have demonstrated anticancer properties. The discovery of the antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and apoptotic effects of tocotrienols, as well as their role as an inducer of immunological functions, not only reveals a new horizon as a potent antitumor agent but also reinforces the notion that tocotrienols are indeed more than antioxidants. On the basis of a transcriptomic platform, we have recently demonstrated a novel mechanism for tocotrienol activity that involves estrogen receptor (ER) signaling. In silico simulations and in vitro binding analyses indicate a high affinity of specific forms of tocotrienols for ERβ, but not for ERα. Moreover, we have demonstrated that specific tocotrienols increase ERβ translocation into the nucleus which, in turn, activates the expression of estrogen-responsive genes (MIC-1, EGR-1 and Cathepsin D) in breast cancer cells only expressing ERβ cells (MDA-MB-231) and in cells expressing both ER isoforms (MCF-7). The binding of specific tocotrienol forms to ERβ is associated with the alteration of cell morphology, caspase-3 activation, DNA fragmentation, and apoptosis. Furthermore, a recently concluded clinical trial seems to suggest that tocotrienols in combination with tamoxifen may have the potential to extend breast cancer-specific survival.
    MeSH terms: Antioxidants; Cathepsin D; Female; Humans; Tamoxifen; Vitamin E; Tocopherols; Tocotrienols; Estrogen Receptor alpha; Estrogen Receptor beta; Caspase 3; DNA Fragmentation; Transcriptome; MCF-7 Cells
  9. Selvaduray KR, Radhakrishnan AK, Kutty MK, Nesaretnam K
    Genes Nutr, 2012 Jan;7(1):53-61.
    PMID: 21526401 DOI: 10.1007/s12263-011-0223-0
    Anti-angiogenic therapy is widely being used to halt tumour angiogenesis. In this study, the anti-angiogenic activity of palm tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) and its individual components (γ- and δ-tocotrienol) were first investigated in vitro in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and 4T1 mouse mammary cancer cells. Results showed reduced levels of Interkeukin (IL)-8 and IL-6, two pro-angiogenic cytokines in HUVEC treated with palm tocotrienols compared with α-tocopherol (α-T) and control cells (P 
  10. Dorajoo R, Blakemore AI, Sim X, Ong RT, Ng DP, Seielstad M, et al.
    Int J Obes (Lond), 2012 Jan;36(1):159-63.
    PMID: 21544081 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2011.86
    Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 38 obesity-associated loci among European populations. However, their contribution to obesity in other ethnicities is largely unknown.
    MeSH terms: China/ethnology; DNA Mutational Analysis; DNA Replication*; Female; Humans; India/ethnology; Malaysia/ethnology; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Growth Factors/metabolism; Obesity/ethnology*; Obesity/genetics*; Obesity/epidemiology; Proteins/genetics*; Singapore/epidemiology; Cohort Studies; Signal Transduction; Body Mass Index*; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*; Receptor, trkA/metabolism; European Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*; Genome-Wide Association Study
  11. Lim CS, Rosli R, Seow HF, Chong PP
    Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 2012 Jan;31(1):21-31.
    PMID: 21544694 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-011-1273-3
    The ubiquitous Candida spp. is an opportunistic fungal pathogen which, despite treatment with antifungal drugs, can cause fatal bloodstream infections (BSIs) in immunocompromised and immunodeficient persons. Thus far, several major C. albicans virulence factors have been relatively well studied, including morphology switching and secreted degradative enzymes. However, the exact mechanism of Candida pathogenesis and the host response to invasion are still not well elucidated. The relatively recent discovery of the quorum-sensing molecule farnesol and the existence of quorum sensing as a basic regulatory phenomenon of the C. albicans population behavior has revolutionized Candida research. Through population density regulation, the quorum-sensing mechanism also controls the cellular morphology of a C. albicans population in response to environmental factors, thereby, effectively placing morphology switching downstream of quorum sensing. Thus, the quorum-sensing phenomenon has been hailed as the 'missing piece' of the pathogenicity puzzle. Here, we review what is known about Candida spp. as the etiological agents of invasive candidiasis and address our current understanding of the quorum-sensing phenomenon in relation to virulence in the host.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Candida/cytology; Candida/enzymology; Candida/pathogenicity*; Candida/physiology; Farnesol/metabolism; Humans; Biofilms; Virulence Factors/metabolism; Quorum Sensing*; Candidiasis, Invasive/microbiology*
  12. Wan Rosalina WR, Teh LK, Mohamad N, Nasir A, Yusoff R, Baba AA, et al.
    J Clin Pharm Ther, 2012 Apr;37(2):237-41.
    PMID: 21545474 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2011.01272.x
    Genetic polymorphisms of thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) and inosine triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (ITPA 94C>A) contribute to variable responses, including fatal adverse effects, among subjects treated with 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP). Our objectives were to investigate the distribution of specific TPMT and ITPA genotypes in healthy subjects and patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) from the three main ethnic groups (Malays, Chinese and Indians) in Malaysia and the association of the polymorphisms with adverse effects of 6-MP.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/adverse effects*; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/therapeutic use; Child; Child, Preschool; Ethnic Groups/genetics; Female; Genotype; Humans; Infant; Malaysia; Male; Methyltransferases/genetics*; Polymorphism, Genetic; Pyrophosphatases/genetics*; 6-Mercaptopurine/adverse effects*; 6-Mercaptopurine/therapeutic use; Case-Control Studies; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy; Young Adult
  13. Lee LK, Shahar S, Chin AV, Mohd Yusoff NA, Rajab N, Aziz SA
    Arch Gerontol Geriatr, 2012 Jan-Feb;54(1):185-91.
    PMID: 21546098 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2011.03.015
    The aims were to investigate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) within gender disparities in Malaysian older adults, and to determine the predictors of MCI according to gender disparities. A community-based sample of urban, multiethnic dwelling elderly aged 60 years of age and above from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur was recruited. Prevalence of all-type MCI, amnestic-type MCI (am-MCI) and non-amnestic-type MCI (nam-MCI) was assessed using comprehensive neuropsychological batteries. The association between demography, socioeconomic status, lifestyle practices, and nutritional status and health risk factors with MCI were examined. Predictors of MCI occurrence between gender disparities were determined. The prevalence of all-type MCI, am-MCI and nam-MCI was 21.1%, 15.4% and 5.7%, respectively. Binary logistic regression indicated that hypercholesterolemia is the significant predictor for MCI in men after adjustment for age, ethnicity and total years of education. While, in women, MCI was best predicted by married status, without exercise practice, overweight and obesity. These results suggest that approximately one-fifth of the studied elderly people had MCI. Predictors for MCI are totally different between men and women. It is critical to identify those at higher risk for MCI in order to implement preventative measures to delay or reverse this abnormal condition.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Sex Factors; Social Class; Urban Population; Prevalence; Mild Cognitive Impairment/epidemiology*
  14. Siddiquee S, Tan SG, Yusuf UK, Fatihah NH, Hasan MM
    Mol Biol Rep, 2012 Jan;39(1):715-22.
    PMID: 21553047 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-011-0790-6
    Trichoderma species are commercially applied as biocontrol agents against numerous plant pathogenic fungi due to their production of antifungal metabolites, competition for nutrients and space, and mycoparasitism. However, currently the identification of Trichoderma species from throughout the world based on micro-morphological descriptions is tedious and prone to error. The correct identification of Trichoderma species is important as several traits are species-specific. The Random Amplified Microsatellites (RAMS) analysis done using five primers in this study showed different degrees of the genetic similarity among 42 isolates of this genus. The genetic similarity values were found to be in the range of 12.50-85.11% based on a total of 76 bands scored in the Trichoderma isolates. Of these 76 bands, 96.05% were polymorphic, 3.95% were monomorphic and 16% were exclusive bands. Two bands (250 bp and 200 bp) produced by primer LR-5 and one band (250 bp) by primer P1A were present in all the Trichoderma isolates collected from healthy and infected oil palm plantation soils. Cluster analysis based on UPGMA of the RAMS marker data showed that T. harzianum, T. virens and T. longibrachiatum isolates were grouped into different clades and lineages. In this study we found that although T. aureoviride isolates were morphologically different when compared to T. harzianum isolates, the UPGMA cluster analysis showed that the majority isolates of T. aureoviride (seven from nine) were closely related to the isolates of T. harzianum.
    MeSH terms: Malaysia; Soil Microbiology*; Species Specificity; Trichoderma/genetics*; Cluster Analysis; DNA Primers/genetics; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics*; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods
  15. Seo DC, Torabi MR, Chin MK, Huang SF, Chen CK, Mok MM, et al.
    Int J Behav Med, 2012 Sep;19(3):316-23.
    PMID: 21562780 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-011-9167-4
    BACKGROUND: Little is known on the level of physical inactivity and its behavioral and cultural correlates among East Asian college students.
    PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine and compare the level and behavioral and cultural correlates of physical inactivity among college students in Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia.
    METHOD: Data were collected from a representative sample of college students (N = 12,137) in five East Asian economies during the 2008-2009 academic year. The stratified random sampling (stratum: geographic region) was used to select participating institutions. The overall response rate was 77%.
    RESULTS: The percentage of physically inactive students was 7.2% for Singapore, 8.0% for Malaysia, 13.5% for Taiwan, 16.8% for Hong Kong, and 28.5% for South Korea. When gender, age, and body mass index were controlled, fruit and vegetable consumptions were significant correlates for physical inactivity across all the five economies. In Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan, those who engaged in binge drinking at least once during the past 2 weeks were less likely to be physically inactive than those who did not. Religion and military experience did not independently predict physical inactivity in any of the five economies.
    CONCLUSION: Physical inactivity varies greatly across different economies in East Asia that are usually grouped together and considered a single homogeneous entity by some researchers. However, in terms of correlates of physical inactivity, findings of the current study indicate that the transversal value of physical activity might be transformed into a universal.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Culture*; Female; Hong Kong; Humans; Life Style; Malaysia; Male; Motor Activity*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Singapore; Students*; Taiwan; Republic of Korea; Sedentary Lifestyle*; Binge Drinking
  16. Khoo EM, Mathers NJ, McCarthy SA, Low WY
    Int J Behav Med, 2012 Jun;19(2):165-73.
    PMID: 21562781 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-011-9164-7
    Background Somatisation disorder (SD) has been reported as common in all ethnic groups, but the estimates of its prevalence have varied and the evidence for its associated factors has been inconsistent.
    Purpose This study seeks to determine the prevalence of SD and its associated factors in multiethnic primary care clinic attenders.
    Methods This cross-sectional study was on clinic attenders aged 18 years and above at three urban primary care clinics in Malaysia. The operational definition of SD was based on ICD-10 criteria for SD for research, frequent attendance, and excluded moderate to severe anxiety and depression. The instruments used were the ICD-10 symptom list, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, a semi-structured questionnaire, and SF-36.
    Results We recruited 1,763 patients (response rate 63.8%). The mean age of respondents was 44.7±15.8 years, 807 (45.8%) were male; there were 35.3% Malay, 30.1% Chinese and 34.6% Indian. SD prevalence was 3.7%; the prevalence in Malay was 5.8%, Indian 3.0% and Chinese 2.1%. Significant associations were found between SD prevalence and ethnicity, family history of alcoholism, blue-collar workers and the physical component summary (PCS) score of SF-36. Multivariate analysis showed that SD predictors were Malay ethnicity (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.6, 4.6), blue-collar worker (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2, 3.5) and impaired PCS score of SF-36 (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.90, 0.95).
    Conclusion The prevalence of SD was relatively uncommon with the stringent operational criteria used. SD preponderance in blue-collar workers may be attributable to secondary gain from getting sickness certificates and being paid for time off work.
    Keywords Somatisation disorder . Associated factors . Primary care . Ethnic groups . Prevalence Questionnaire: ICD-10 symptom list; Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale; HADS; SF-36
    MeSH terms: Adult; Age Factors; Ambulatory Care Facilities; China/ethnology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cross-Cultural Comparison*; Cultural Characteristics*; Female; Humans; India/ethnology; Malaysia/ethnology; Male; Middle Aged; Primary Health Care/statistics & numerical data; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Somatoform Disorders/diagnosis; Somatoform Disorders/ethnology*; Prevalence; Chi-Square Distribution; Sick Leave; Statistics, Nonparametric
  17. Isa NM, Bong JJ, Ghani FA, Rose IM, Husain S, Azrif M
    Diagn Cytopathol, 2012 Nov;40(11):1010-4.
    PMID: 21563319 DOI: 10.1002/dc.21706
    Cutaneous metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is very rare, accounting for less than 0.8% of all known cutaneous metastases and occurring in 2.7-3.4% of HCCs. With less than 50 such cases reported worldwide, most of which were diagnosed histologically on excised lesions, it can only be expected that diagnosis made on cytological features alone would be challenging. We report a case of cutaneous metastasis of HCC diagnosed based on cytological features and confirmed by Hep Par 1 immunopositivity of the cell block material. An 81-year-old man, who was known to have unresectable HCC, presented with a 1-month history of painless, left nasal alae mass. The mass measured 1.5 cm in diameter, and was multilobulated with a central necrosis. Fine needle aspiration of the mass was done. Smears were cellular, comprising of malignant cells in loose clusters and aggregates as well as singly dispersed. The malignant cells displayed moderate nuclear pleomorphism, occasional prominent nucleoli, and intranuclear pseudoinclusion. Cell block material demonstrated the trabeculae pattern of the malignant cells and Hep Par 1 immunopositivity. The final diagnosis of a metastatic cutaneous HCC was made. In conclusion, cutaneous HCC metastasis is rare and should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with a history of HCC presenting with suspicious skin lesion. In the right clinical setting, a confident diagnosis can be made in such cases by using the fine needle aspiration technique aided with immunopositivity for Hep Par 1 antibody of the aspirated material.
    MeSH terms: Aged, 80 and over; Antigens, Neoplasm/analysis*; Cell Nucleus/pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology*; Humans; Immunohistochemistry/methods*; Liver/pathology; Liver Neoplasms/pathology; Male; Nose Neoplasms/pathology; Physical Examination; Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis*; Skin Neoplasms/secondary; Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis*; Hepatocytes/pathology; Biopsy, Fine-Needle/methods*
  18. Khoo SM
    Soc Sci Med, 2012 Jan;74(1):14-9.
    PMID: 21570757 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.02.048
    Alternative Southern consumer activism, undertaken for example by the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) in Malaysia, presents significant sites of nodal governance through which local and global health rights are claimed. This alternative consumer approach distinctively integrates health with development, social justice and environmental issues. It has not always explicitly employed rights language, but consumer activism fits with rights-based approaches, emphasising entitlements, accountability and participation. This case-study traces the development of networked consumer campaigns to contest and shape global health governance. It highlights the important, yet under-researched role of Southern nodes within global networks mobilizing health rights and public health. Alternative consumer activism re-interprets the consumer as a countervailing force, collectively mobilizing citizens to claim their health rights.
    MeSH terms: Consumer Advocacy*; Humans; Human Rights*; Malaysia; Social Justice; Global Health*
  19. Nadarajan VS, Laing AA, Saad SM, Usin M
    Vox Sang, 2012 Jan;102(1):65-71.
    PMID: 21592136 DOI: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.2011.01507.x
    Appropriate screening for irregular red-cell antibodies is essential for ensuring transfusion compatibility and for antenatal management of mothers at risk of haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn. Screening for all relevant antibodies is, however, limited by screening cells that do not express antigens present in the patient and donor population. Technology to artificially incorporate antigens into red cells is currently available and may be an option for customizing screening cells.
    MeSH terms: ABO Blood-Group System/blood; Antibodies, Monoclonal/chemistry*; Asia; Erythrocytes/immunology*; Ethnic Groups; Female; Glycophorin/chemistry; Humans; Isoantibodies/chemistry; Male; MNSs Blood-Group System/blood; Phenotype; Pregnancy; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sex Factors; Prevalence; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*
  20. Mohamed M, Sulaiman SA, Jaafar H, Sirajudeen KN
    Andrologia, 2012 May;44 Suppl 1:182-6.
    PMID: 21592175 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2010.01159.x
    The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of Malaysian honey on male reproductive parameters in adult rats. Thirty-two healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (eight rats per group). Group 1 (control group) was given 0.5 ml of distilled water. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were given 0.2, 1.2 and 2.4 g kg(-1) body weight of honey respectively. The rats were treated orally by gavage once daily for 4 weeks. Honey did not significantly alter body and male reproductive organs weights. The rats in Group 3 which received honey at 1.2 g kg(-1) had significantly higher epididymal sperm count than those in Groups 1, 2 and 4. No significant differences were found for the percentage of abnormal sperm, elongated spermatid count, reproductive hormonal levels as well as the histology of the testis among the groups. In conclusion, Malaysian honey at a dose of 1.2 g kg(-1) daily significantly increased epididymal sperm count without affecting spermatid count and reproductive hormones. These findings might suggest that oral administration of honey at this dose for 4 weeks may enhance spermiogenesis in adult rats.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Body Weight; Genitalia, Male; Honey*; Malaysia; Male; Organ Size; Reproduction*; Sperm Count; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats
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