Browse publications by year: 2013

  1. Bacillus cereus endocarditis in native aortic valve
    Ngow HA, Wan Khairina WM
    J Infect Chemother, 2013 Feb;19(1):154-7.
    PMID: 22627887 DOI: 10.1007/s10156-012-0427-2
    Bacillus cereus endocarditis is rare. It has been implicated in immunocompromised individuals, especially in intravenous drug users as well as in those with a cardiac prosthesis. The patient was a 31-year-old ex-intravenous drug addict with a past history of staphylococcal pulmonary valve endocarditis, who presented with symptoms of decompensated cardiac failure. Echocardiography showed severe aortic regurgitation with an oscillating vegetation seen on the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve. The blood cultures grew Bacillus cereus. We report this as a rare case of Bacillus cereus endocarditis affecting a native aortic valve.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aortic Valve/microbiology*; Aortic Valve/pathology*; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/pathology; Bacillus cereus/isolation & purification*; Blood/microbiology; Culture Media; Echocardiography; Endocarditis, Bacterial/diagnosis*; Endocarditis, Bacterial/microbiology*; Endocarditis, Bacterial/pathology; Humans; Male; Immunocompromised Host; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/diagnosis; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology
  2. Factors related to seatbelt-wearing among rear-seat passengers in Malaysia
    Ng CP, Law TH, Wong SV, Kulanthayan S
    Accid Anal Prev, 2013 Jan;50:351-60.
    PMID: 22633252 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2012.05.004
    The benefit of wearing a rear seatbelt in reducing the risk of motor vehicle crash-related fatalities and injuries has been well documented in previous studies. Wearing a seatbelt not only reduces the risk of injury to rear-seat passengers, but also reduces the risk of injury to front-seat occupant who could be crushed by unbelted rear-seat passengers in a motor vehicle crash. Despite the benefits of wearing a rear seatbelt, its rate of use in Malaysia is generally low. The objective of this study was to identify factors that are associated with the wearing of a seatbelt among rear-seat passengers in Malaysia. Multinomial logistic regression analysis of the results of a questionnaire survey of 1651 rear-seat passengers revealed that rear-seat passengers who were younger, male, single and less educated and who had a perception of a low level of legislation enforcement, a lower risk-aversion and less driving experience (only for passengers who are also drivers) were less likely to wear a rear seatbelt. There was also a significant positive correlation between driver seatbelt and rear seatbelt-wearing behaviour. This implies that, in regards to seatbelt-wearing behaviour, drivers are more likely to adopt the same seatbelt-wearing behaviour when travelling as rear-seat passengers as they do when driving. These findings are crucial to the development of new interventions to increase the compliance rate of wearing a rear seatbelt.
    MeSH terms: Accidents, Traffic/statistics & numerical data*; Adult; Automobile Driving/statistics & numerical data*; Female; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Predictive Value of Tests; Surveys and Questionnaires; Seat Belts/utilization*; Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control*; Logistic Models; Risk Assessment
  3. Impact of process parameters in the generation of novel aspirin nanoemulsions--comparative studies between ultrasound cavitation and microfluidizer
    Tang SY, Shridharan P, Sivakumar M
    Ultrason Sonochem, 2013 Jan;20(1):485-97.
    PMID: 22633626 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2012.04.005
    In the present investigation, the operating efficiency of a bench-top air-driven microfluidizer has been compared to that of a bench-top high power ultrasound horn in the production of pharmaceutical grade nanoemulsions using aspirin as a model drug. The influence of important process variables as well as the pre-homogenization and drug loading on the resultant mean droplet diameter and size distribution of emulsion droplets was studied in an oil-in-water nanoemulsion incorporated with a model drug aspirin. Results obtained show that both the emulsification methods were capable of producing very fine nanoemulsions containing aspirin with the minimum droplet size ranging from 150 to 170 nm. In case of using the microfluidizer, it has been observed that the size of the emulsion droplets obtained was almost independent of the applied microfluidization pressure (200-600 bar) and the number of passes (up to 10 passes) while the pre-homogenization and drug loading had a marginal effect in increasing the droplet size. Whereas, in the case of ultrasound emulsification, the droplet size was generally decreased with an increase in sonication amplitude (50-70%) and period of sonication but the resultant emulsion was found to be dependent on the pre-homogenization and drug loading. The STEM microscopic observations illustrated that the optimized formulations obtained using ultrasound cavitation technique are comparable to microfluidized emulsions. These comparative results demonstrated that ultrasound cavitation is a relatively energy-efficient yet promising method of pharmaceutical nanoemulsions as compared to microfluidizer although the means used to generate the nanoemulsions are different.
    MeSH terms: Aspirin/chemistry*; Emulsions; Feasibility Studies; Pressure; Sonication/methods*; Nanotechnology/methods*; Microfluidics/methods*; Nanostructures/chemistry*; In Vitro Techniques
  4. Effects of balance-focused interactive games compared to therapeutic balance classes for older women
    Singh DK, Rajaratnam BS, Palaniswamy V, Raman VP, Bong PS, Pearson H
    Climacteric, 2013 Feb;16(1):141-6.
    PMID: 22640573 DOI: 10.3109/13697137.2012.664832
    The prospective pre-post control study was designed to evaluate the effect of introducing balance-focused interactive virtual-reality games to community-dwelling older women to improve their agility, balance and functional mobility.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Analysis of Variance; Postural Balance/physiology*; Exercise Test; Exercise Therapy*; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Task Performance and Analysis; Video Games*; Mobility Limitation
  5. Pulmonary atresia with intact septum: the use of Conquest Pro coronary guidewire for perforation of atretic valve and subsequent interventions
    Alwi M, Budi RR, Mood MC, Leong MC, Samion H
    Cardiol Young, 2013 Apr;23(2):197-202.
    PMID: 22640635 DOI: 10.1017/S1047951112000595
    Objective: To determine the feasibility and safety of the Conquest Pro wire as an alternative to radiofrequency wire for perforation of atretic pulmonary valve and subsequent balloon dilatation and patent ductus arteriosus stenting in patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum.
    Background: Radiofrequency valvotomy and balloon dilatation has become the standard of care for pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum in many institutions today.
    Methods: We report eight consecutive patients in whom we used the Conquest Pro coronary guidewire, a stiff wire normally reserved for revascularisation of coronary lesions with chronic total occlusion, for perforation of atretic pulmonary valve and subsequent balloon dilatation, and stenting of the patent ductus arteriosus.
    Results: Perforation of atretic pulmonary valve was successful in seven out of eight cases. Radiofrequency valvotomy was employed after failure of perforation by the Conquest Pro wire in one case where the right ventricular outflow tract was broad based and tapered towards the pulmonary valve, and was heavily trabeculated. Failure of the Conquest Pro wire to perforate the pulmonary valve plate was mainly attributed by the failure to engage the wire at the correct position.
    Conclusion: The Conquest Pro wire for perforation and subsequent interventions in the more straightforward cases of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum is effective and safe, simplifying the entire procedure. However, the radiofrequency generator and wires remain essential tools in the paediatric interventional catheter laboratory.
    MeSH terms: Feasibility Studies; Cardiac Catheterization/instrumentation*; Cardiac Catheterization/methods; Heart Defects, Congenital/surgery*; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pulmonary Valve/surgery*; Cohort Studies; Treatment Outcome; Pulmonary Atresia/surgery*; Cardiac Catheters*; Balloon Valvuloplasty/instrumentation; Balloon Valvuloplasty/methods
  6. Optimal BMI cut-off values for predicting diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia in a multi-ethnic population
    Cheong KC, Yusoff AF, Ghazali SM, Lim KH, Selvarajah S, Haniff J, et al.
    Public Health Nutr, 2013 Mar;16(3):453-9.
    PMID: 22647482 DOI: 10.1017/S1368980012002911
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal cut-offs of BMI for Malaysian adults.

    DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional study. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the cut-off values of BMI with optimum sensitivity and specificity for the detection of three cardiovascular risk factors: diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. Gender-specific logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between BMI and these cardiovascular risk factors.

    SETTING: All fourteen states in Malaysia.

    SUBJECTS: Malaysian adults aged ≥18 years (n 32 703) who participated in the Third National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2006.

    RESULTS: The optimal BMI cut-off value for predicting the presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia or at least one of these cardiovascular risk factors varied from 23.3 to 24.1 kg/m2 for men and from 24.0 to 25.4 kg/m2 for women. In men and women, the odds ratio for having diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia or at least one cardiovascular risk factor increased significantly as BMI cut-off point increased.

    CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that BMI cut-offs of 23.0 kg/m2 in men and 24.0 kg/m2 in women are appropriate for classification of overweight. We suggest that these cut-offs can be used by health professionals to identify individuals for cardiovascular risk screening and weight management programmes.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology; Diabetes Mellitus/etiology*; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia/etiology*; Hypertension/etiology*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Reference Values; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Body Mass Index*; Logistic Models; Odds Ratio; Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
  7. Velopharyngeal and choanal stenosis after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
    Hussein J, Tan TS, Chong AW, Narayanan P, Omar R
    Auris Nasus Larynx, 2013 Jun;40(3):323-6.
    PMID: 22652485 DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2012.05.004
    Choanal stenosis is a well recognized late complication of radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However velopharyngeal stenosis post radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare. We present here a case of bilateral choanal stenosis and velopharyngeal stenosis in a patient treated with radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A 58-year-old woman presented to our otolaryngology clinic with a one year history of nasal obstruction. She was diagnosed to have nasopharyngeal carcinoma 12 years ago for which she received radiotherapy. Clinical examination revealed bilateral choanal stenosis and velopharyngeal stenosis. Treatment of choanal stenosis and velopharyngeal stenosis is challenging due to high incidence of recurrence and patients frequently require multiple procedures. The patient underwent a transnasal endoscopic excision of velopharyngeal scar tissue and widening of posterior choana using Surgitron®, mitomycin-C applied topically to the surgical wound and bilateral stenting under general anesthesia. The stents were kept for two weeks, and 3 years post operation velopharyngeal aperture and posterior choana remained patent. As illustrated in this case velopharyngeal stenosis can occur after radiotheraphy and should not be overlooked. Combine modality of transnasal endoscopic excision of velopharyngeal scar tissue, widening of choanal stenosis with Surgitron® followed by the application of mitomycin-C and stenting has been shown to be an effective option.
    Study site: ENT clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    MeSH terms: Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/therapeutic use; Carcinoma/radiotherapy; Cicatrix/physiopathology; Cicatrix/surgery; Constriction, Pathologic/etiology; Constriction, Pathologic/physiopathology; Constriction, Pathologic/surgery; Endoscopy; Female; Hospitals, University; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/radiotherapy; Nasopharynx/physiopathology*; Nasopharynx/surgery; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Radiotherapy/adverse effects*; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Stents; Mitomycin/therapeutic use; Velopharyngeal Sphincter/physiopathology*; Velopharyngeal Sphincter/surgery
  8. A systematic review of benzoyl peroxide for acne vulgaris
    Mohd Nor NH, Aziz Z
    J Dermatolog Treat, 2013 Oct;24(5):377-86.
    PMID: 22658322 DOI: 10.3109/09546634.2012.699179
    OBJECTIVE: Comparative trials of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) have yielded contradictory results on its effectiveness for acne vulgaris. The aim of the study was to synthesise the evidence for the effectiveness of BPO-containing topical products for facial acne vulgaris.
    DESIGN: Systematic review.
    METHODS: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and other relevant databases were searched without publication date or language restriction.
    RESULTS: We identified 22 trials involving 2212 participants; 12 trials compared BPO as single agent while the other 10 trials compared BPO in combination products. All trials reported lesion count as the outcome measure but only five trials provided numerical data. However, pooling of data from these trials was inappropriate due to variations between trials in terms of acne severity, comparator used and trial duration. Overall the study quality was fair but most studies had some bias particularly in method of random generation and allocation concealment. Although the results provide some evidence that BPO reduces acne-lesion count, the available evidence is not robust enough for firm conclusions.
    CONCLUSIONS: There is no high quality evidence that topical BPO improves facial acne vulgaris, and further research is needed.
    MeSH terms: Acne Vulgaris/drug therapy*; Administration, Topical; Benzoyl Peroxide/administration & dosage*; Dermatologic Agents/administration & dosage*; Face; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  9. Early salvage hormonal therapy for biochemical failure improved survival in prostate cancer patients after neoadjuvant hormonal therapy plus radiation therapy--a secondary analysis of irish clinical oncology research group 97-01
    Mydin AR, Dunne MT, Finn MA, Armstrong JG
    Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2013 Jan 1;85(1):101-8.
    PMID: 22658512 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2012.03.001
    PURPOSE: To assess the survival benefit of early vs late salvage hormonal therapy (HT), we performed a secondary analysis on patients who developed recurrence from Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group 97-01, a randomized trial comparing 4 vs 8 months neoadjuvant HT plus radiation therapy (RT) in intermediate- and high-risk prostate adenocarcinoma.
    METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 102 patients from the trial who recurred were analyzed at a median follow-up of 8.5 years. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on the timing of salvage HT: 57 patients had prostate-specific antigen (PSA)≤10 ng/mL and absent distant metastases (group 1, early), 21 patients had PSA>10 ng/mL and absent distant metastases (group 2, late), and 24 patients had distant metastases (group 3, late). The endpoint analyzed was overall survival (OS) calculated from 2 different time points: date of enrolment in the trial (OS1) and date of initiation of salvage HT (OS2). Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves and a Cox regression model.
    RESULTS: The OS1 differed significantly between groups (P
    MeSH terms: Adenocarcinoma/blood; Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy*; Adenocarcinoma/mortality; Adenocarcinoma/radiotherapy; Adenocarcinoma/secondary; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Drug Administration Schedule; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/blood; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy*; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/mortality; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/radiotherapy; Prostatic Neoplasms/blood; Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy*; Prostatic Neoplasms/mortality; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology; Prostatic Neoplasms/radiotherapy; Time Factors; Survival Analysis; Salvage Therapy/methods*; Salvage Therapy/mortality; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood*; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use*; Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods
  10. Review on pharmacological activities of Cinnamomum subavenium
    Lee CH, Kuo CN, Chen HL, Chen CY
    Nat Prod Res, 2013;27(11):988-91.
    PMID: 22691063 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2012.695369
    This review describes the morphological, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Cinnamomum subavenium (Lauraceae). The plant grows wild in southern Mainland China, Burma, Cambodia, Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia. This plant is recorded as having long been used to treat carcinomatous swelling, stomach ache, chest pain, abdominal pain, hernia, diarrhoea, rheumatism, nausea and vomiting. This article enumerates an overview of phytochemical and pharmacological aspects that is useful to researchers for further exploration for the necessary development of this potential herb.
    MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology; Humans; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Plants, Medicinal*; Monophenol Monooxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors; Cinnamomum/chemistry*
  11. Mating compatibility and competitiveness of transgenic and wild type Aedes aegypti (L.) under contained semi-field conditions
    Lee HL, Vasan S, Ahmad NW, Idris I, Hanum N, Selvi S, et al.
    Transgenic Res, 2013 Feb;22(1):47-57.
    PMID: 22700207 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-012-9625-z
    We conducted the world's first experiments under semi-field conditions (ACL-2 field house) to assess the mating competitiveness of genetically sterile RIDL male mosquitoes (513A strain). The field house is a state-of-the-art, fully-contained trial facility, simulating the living space for a household of 2-4 people in Peninsular Malaysia. Ten genetically sterile RIDL male A. aegypti mosquitoes competed with ten wild type males inside this field house to mate with ten wild type females. Hatched larvae from mated females were screened under a fluorescent microscope for genetic markers to determine if they were fathered by RIDL male or wild type male, and all results were cross-checked by PCR. Two such experiments were conducted, each repeated sufficient number of times. All strains were on a Malaysian lab strain background for the first experiment, while the RIDL males alone were on a recently-colonised Mexican strain background for the second experiment. A total of 52 % of the matings were with RIDL males in the first experiment, while 45 % of the matings were with RIDL (Mexican) males in the second experiment. Statistically, this is not significantly different from 50 % of the matings expected to take place with RIDL males if the latter were as competitive as that of the wild type males. This shows that A. aegypti RIDL-513A has excellent mating competitiveness under semi-field conditions, verifying earlier trends obtained in small lab cages. We also observed high mating compatibility between recently-colonised Mexican RIDL males and lab-reared Malaysian wild type females.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Competitive Behavior; Female; Humans; Infertility, Male/genetics*; Larva; Malaysia; Male; Reproduction/genetics; Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology
  12. Evaluation of functional severity of coronary artery disease and fluid dynamics' influence on hemodynamic parameters: A review
    Govindaraju K, Badruddin IA, Viswanathan GN, Ramesh SV, Badarudin A
    Phys Med, 2013 May;29(3):225-32.
    PMID: 22704601 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2012.03.008
    Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is responsible for most of the deaths in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Diagnostic coronary angiography analysis offers an anatomical knowledge of the severity of the stenosis. The functional or physiological significance is more valuable than the anatomical significance of CAD. Clinicians assess the functional severity of the stenosis by resorting to an invasive measurement of the pressure drop and flow. Hemodynamic parameters, such as pressure wire assessment fractional flow reserve (FFR) or Doppler wire assessment coronary flow reserve (CFR) are well-proven techniques to evaluate the physiological significance of the coronary artery stenosis in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Between the two techniques mentioned above, the FFR is seen as a very useful index. The presence of guide wire reduces the coronary flow which causes the underestimation of pressure drop across the stenosis which leads to dilemma for the clinicians in the assessment of moderate stenosis. In such condition, the fundamental fluid mechanics is useful in the development of new functional severity parameters such as pressure drop coefficient and lesion flow coefficient. Since the flow takes place in a narrowed artery, the blood behaves as a non-Newtonian fluid. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) allows a complete coronary flow simulation to study the relationship between the pressure and flow. This paper aims at explaining (i) diagnostic modalities for the evaluation of the CAD and valuable insights regarding FFR in the evaluation of the functional severity of the CAD (ii) the role of fluid dynamics in measuring the severity of CAD.
    MeSH terms: Angiography/methods*; Blood Flow Velocity; Computer Simulation; Coronary Artery Disease/diagnosis*; Coronary Artery Disease/physiopathology*; Coronary Circulation*; Coronary Vessels/physiopathology*; Coronary Vessels/radiography; Coronary Vessels/ultrasonography; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Models, Cardiovascular*; Severity of Illness Index
  13. Effect of Milwaukee brace on static and dynamic balance of female hyperkyphotic adolescents
    Eshraghi A, Maroufi N, Sanjari MA, Saeedi H, Keyhani MR, Gholizadeh H, et al.
    Prosthet Orthot Int, 2013 Feb;37(1):76-84.
    PMID: 22751219 DOI: 10.1177/0309364612448805
    Biomechanical factors, such as spinal deformities can result in balance control disorders.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Biomechanical Phenomena; Braces*; Child; Postural Balance/physiology*; Female; Humans; Pressure; Scheuermann Disease/physiopathology*; Scheuermann Disease/therapy*; Time Factors; Walking/physiology; Weight-Bearing/physiology; Treatment Outcome
  14. Fuzzy logic and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for characterization of contaminant exposure through selected biomarkers in African catfish
    Karami A, Keiter S, Hollert H, Courtenay SC
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2013 Mar;20(3):1586-95.
    PMID: 22752811 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-012-1027-5
    This study represents a first attempt at applying a fuzzy inference system (FIS) and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to the field of aquatic biomonitoring for classification of the dosage and time of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) injection through selected biomarkers in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Fish were injected either intramuscularly (i.m.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) with BaP. Hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, relative visceral fat weights (LSI), and four biliary fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) concentrations were used as the inputs in the modeling study. Contradictory rules in FIS and ANFIS models appeared after conversion of bioassay results into human language (rule-based system). A "data trimming" approach was proposed to eliminate the conflicts prior to fuzzification. However, the model produced was relevant only to relatively low exposures to BaP, especially through the i.m. route of exposure. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was unable to raise the classification rate to an acceptable level. In conclusion, FIS and ANFIS models have limited applications in the field of fish biomarker studies.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Benzo(a)pyrene/adverse effects*; Benzo(a)pyrene/analysis; Biological Assay/methods; Catfishes/metabolism*; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*; Environmental Exposure/analysis; Environmental Monitoring/methods*; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism; Liver/enzymology; Water Pollutants, Chemical/adverse effects*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis; Models, Statistical; Biomarkers/analysis; Fuzzy Logic
  15. Fulltext Determination of phenotypes and pneumococcal surface protein A family types of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Malaysian healthy children
    Yatim MM, Masri SN, Desa MN, Taib NM, Nordin SA, Jamal F
    J Microbiol Immunol Infect, 2013 Jun;46(3):180-6.
    PMID: 22763088 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2012.04.004
    There is limited information about pneumococcal carriage among healthy children in Malaysia. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate, serotype distribution, susceptibility pattern, and pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) family types of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in the nasal carriage of children 5 years old or younger in three day care centers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics*; Carrier State/microbiology*; Carrier State/epidemiology*; Child Day Care Centers; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Infant; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nasal Mucosa/microbiology*; Serotyping; Streptococcal Infections/microbiology*; Streptococcal Infections/epidemiology*; Streptococcus pneumoniae/classification*; Streptococcus pneumoniae/genetics; Streptococcus pneumoniae/isolation & purification; Streptococcus pneumoniae/physiology; Prevalence; Polymerase Chain Reaction
  16. Fulltext Haplotype analysis of the 185delAG BRCA1 mutation in ethnically diverse populations
    Laitman Y, Feng BJ, Zamir IM, Weitzel JN, Duncan P, Port D, et al.
    Eur J Hum Genet, 2013 Feb;21(2):212-6.
    PMID: 22763381 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2012.124
    The 185delAG* BRCA1 mutation is encountered primarily in Jewish Ashkenazi and Iraqi individuals, and sporadically in non-Jews. Previous studies estimated that this is a founder mutation in Jewish mutation carriers that arose before the dispersion of Jews in the Diaspora ~2500 years ago. The aim of this study was to assess the haplotype in ethnically diverse 185delAG* BRCA1 mutation carriers, and to estimate the age at which the mutation arose. Ethnically diverse Jewish and non-Jewish 185delAG*BRCA1 mutation carriers and their relatives were genotyped using 15 microsatellite markers and three SNPs spanning 12.5 MB, encompassing the BRCA1 gene locus. Estimation of mutation age was based on a subset of 11 markers spanning a region of ~5 MB, using a previously developed algorithm applying the maximum likelihood method. Overall, 188 participants (154 carriers and 34 noncarriers) from 115 families were included: Ashkenazi, Iraq, Kuchin-Indians, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Tunisia, Bulgaria, non-Jewish English, non-Jewish Malaysian, and Hispanics. Haplotype analysis indicated that the 185delAG mutation arose 750-1500 years ago. In Ashkenazim, it is a founder mutation that arose 61 generations ago, and with a small group of founder mutations was introduced into the Hispanic population (conversos) ~650 years ago, and into the Iraqi-Jewish community ~450 years ago. The 185delAG mutation in the non-Jewish populations in Malaysia and the UK arose at least twice independently. We conclude that the 185delAG* BRCA1 mutation resides on a common haplotype among Ashkenazi Jews, and arose about 61 generations ago and arose independently at least twice in non-Jews.
    MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups/genetics; Genetics, Population; Haplotypes*; Humans; Jews/genetics*; Sequence Deletion*; Founder Effect; BRCA1 Protein/genetics*
  17. Psychometric properties of Osteoporosis Knowledge Tool and self-management behaviours among Malaysian type 2 diabetic patients
    Abdulameer SA, Syed Sulaiman SA, Hassali MA, Subramaniam K, Sahib MN
    J Community Health, 2013 Feb;38(1):95-105.
    PMID: 22772955 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-012-9586-4
    Osteoporosis is a major growing public health problem and it is clear that much needs to be done to bridge the gap between patients and practitioners. However, the educator must have a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching and learning that are done. Osteoporosis Knowledge Tool (OKT) provides an important strategy for healthcare professionals to start early intervention for patients who are at risk of osteoporosis. The aims of this study were to translate and examine the psychometric properties of the Malaysian version of the Osteoporosis Knowledge Tool (OKT-M) among 250 type 2 diabetes patients and to assess factors that affect diabetic patients' osteoporosis knowledge. The OKT English version was translated and validated using the internationally accepted and recommended methodology. The sensitivity and specificity of OKT-M was calculated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The face and content validity showed acceptable results. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, mean difficulty factor and discriminatory power values were 0.72, 0.83, 0.47 ± 0.16 and 0.96, respectively. The cut-off point of the OKT-M to predict osteoporosis/osteopenia was 14 with optimal sensitivity (84.1%) and specificity (85.5%). Regression analysis revealed that health belief, self-efficacy and some demographic data had an impact on the OKT-M. The findings of this validation study indicate that the OKT-M is a reliable and valid tool with good psychometric properties in the Malaysian setting. The OKT-M is an appropriate tool for application in clinical setting to identify patients need for a bone health-promoting intervention regarding lifestyle behaviour changes.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/psychology*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy; Female; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis/psychology*; Osteoporosis/therapy; Patient Education as Topic; Psychometrics; Surveys and Questionnaires; ROC Curve; Self Care/psychology*; Self Care/statistics & numerical data; Sensitivity and Specificity; Translating; Reproducibility of Results
  18. Fulltext Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fresh milk by hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography mass spectrometry
    Sanagi MM, Loh SH, Wan Ibrahim WA, Hasan MN, Aboul Enein HY
    J Chromatogr Sci, 2013 Feb;51(2):112-6.
    PMID: 22776739 DOI: 10.1093/chromsci/bms113
    In this work, a two-phase hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) method combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is developed to provide a rapid, selective and sensitive analytical method to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fresh milk. The standard addition method is used to construct calibration curves and to determine the residue levels for the target analytes, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene, thus eliminating sample pre-treatment steps such as pH adjustment. The HF-LPME method shows dynamic linearity from 5 to 500 µg/L for all target analytes with R(2) ranging from 0.9978 to 0.9999. Under optimized conditions, the established detection limits range from 0.07 to 1.4 µg/L based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1. Average relative recoveries for the determination of PAHs studied at 100 µg/L spiking levels are in the range of 85 to 110%. The relative recoveries are slightly higher than those obtained by conventional solvent extraction, which requires saponification steps for fluorene and phenanthrene, which are more volatile and heat sensitive. The HF-LPME method proves to be simple and rapid, and requires minimal amounts of organic solvent that supports green analysis.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Environmental Pollutants; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods*; Milk/chemistry*; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/analysis*; Sensitivity and Specificity; Reproducibility of Results; Linear Models; Liquid Phase Microextraction/methods*
  19. A contrast stretching bilateral closing top-hat Otsu threshold technique for crack detection in images
    Sim KS, Kho YY, Tso CP, Nia ME, Ting HY
    Scanning, 2013 Mar-Apr;35(2):75-87.
    PMID: 22777599 DOI: 10.1002/sca.21037
    Detection of cracks from stainless steel pipe images is done using contrast stretching technique. The technique is based on an image filter technique through mathematical morphology that can expose the cracks. The cracks are highlighted and noise removal is done efficiently while still retaining the edges. An automated crack detection system with a camera platform has been successfully implemented. We compare crack extraction in terms of quality measures with those of Otsu's threshold technique and the another technique (Iyer and Sinha, 2005). The algorithm shown is able to achieve good results and perform better than these other techniques.
    MeSH terms: Algorithms; Image Enhancement; Research Design; Stainless Steel
  20. Psychometric properties and osteoprotective behaviors among type 2 diabetic patients: osteoporosis self-efficacy scale Malay version (OSES-M)
    Abdulameer SA, Syed Sulaiman SA, Hassali MA, Subramaniam K, Sahib MN
    Osteoporos Int, 2013 Mar;24(3):929-40.
    PMID: 22790611 DOI: 10.1007/s00198-012-2071-1
    In type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM), only 22 % have normal bone mineral density and almost three quarters of the sample population had low self-efficacy towards osteoporosis. These results reflect the need for screening and educational programs to increase the awareness of T2DM towards osteoporosis.
    INTRODUCTION: Our aim was to translate and examine the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the osteoporosis self-efficacy scale (OSES-M) among T2DM and to determine the best cut-off value with optimum sensitivity and specificity. In addition, to assess factors that affects diabetic patients' osteoporosis self-efficacy.
    METHODS: A standard "forward-backward" procedure was used to translate the OSES into Malay language, which was then validated with a convenience sample of 250 T2DM. The sensitivity and specificity of the OSES-M was calculated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Bivariate and multivariate approaches were used to examine multiple independent variables on each dependent variable.
    RESULTS: The mean score of OSES-M was 731.74 ± 197.15. Fleiss' kappa, content validity ratio range, and content validity index were 0.99, 0.75-1, and 0.96, respectively. Two factors were extracted from exploratory factor analysis and were confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were 0.92 and 0.86, respectively. The optimum cut-off point of OSES-M to predict osteoporosis/osteopenia was 858. Regression analysis revealed that knowledge, health belief, and some demographic data had an impact on OSES-M.
    CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the OSES-M is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring osteoporosis self-efficacy in the Malaysian clinical setting.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/psychology; Female; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis/etiology; Osteoporosis/prevention & control*; Osteoporosis/psychology; Psychometrics; Sensitivity and Specificity; Socioeconomic Factors; Reproducibility of Results; Health Behavior; Self Efficacy*
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