Browse publications by year: 2015

  1. Characterization of risk factors for DNA damage among paddy farm worker exposed to mixtures of organophosphates
    How V, Hashim Z, Ismail P, Omar D, Said SM, Tamrin SB
    Arch Environ Occup Health, 2015;70(2):102-9.
    PMID: 24965330 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2013.823905
    This is a cross-sectional study conducted among paddy farmers to characterize potential risk factors that influence levels of DNA damage from exposure to mixtures of organophosphates. Comet assay was used to determine the level of DNA damage by measuring the comet tail length from the exfoliated buccal mucosa. The result suggests that farmers who chronically exposure to a mixture of organophosphates has at least 2-fold significant increase of DNA damage as compared with control group. Factor analysis and linear regression both suggest that DNA damage reported by farmers may influence individual, occupational, and residential factors and are reported as significant predictor factors, whereas this effect is mainly caused by individual factors among the control group. The findings of the present study suggest that either farmer or control group bear certain extent of genotoxic burden contributed by different risk factors.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Age Factors; Agriculture*; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA Damage*; Humans; Insecticides/toxicity*; Interviews as Topic; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa; Organophosphates/toxicity*; Oryza*; Risk Factors; Smoking/epidemiology; Body Mass Index; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects*; Comet Assay
  2. Driving behaviours, traffic risk and road safety: comparative study between Malaysia and Singapore
    Khan Su, Khalifah ZB, Munir Y, Islam T, Nazir T, Khan H
    Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot, 2015;22(4):359-67.
    PMID: 24974915 DOI: 10.1080/17457300.2014.925938
    The present study aims to investigate differences in road safety attitude, driver behaviour and traffic risk perception between Malaysia and Singapore. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among a sample of Singaporean (n = 187) and Malaysian (n = 313) road users. The data was analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling applied to measure comparative fit indices of Malaysian and Singaporean respondents. The results show that the perceived traffic risk of Malaysian respondents is higher than Singaporean counterparts. Moreover, the structural equation modelling has confirmed perceived traffic risk performing the role of full mediation between perceived driving skills and perceived road safety for both the countries, while perceived traffic skills was found to perform the role of partial mediation between aggression and anxiety, on one hand, and road safety, on the other hand, in Malaysia and Singapore. In addition, in both countries, a weak correlation between perceived driving skills, aggression and anxiety with perceived road safety was found, while a strong correlation exists with traffic risk perception. The findings of this study have been discussed in terms of theoretical, practical and conceptual implications for both scholars and policy-makers to better understand the young drivers' attitude and behaviour relationship towards road safety measures with a view to future research.
  3. In vitro expression of Candida albicans alcohol dehydrogenase genes involved in acetaldehyde metabolism
    Bakri MM, Rich AM, Cannon RD, Holmes AR
    Mol Oral Microbiol, 2015 Feb;30(1):27-38.
    PMID: 24975985 DOI: 10.1111/omi.12064
    Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for oral cancer, possibly via its conversion to acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen. The oral commensal yeast Candida albicans may be one of the agents responsible for this conversion intra-orally. The alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) family of enzymes are involved in acetaldehyde metabolism in yeast but, for C. albicans it is not known which family member is responsible for the conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde. In this study we determined the expression of mRNAs from three C. albicans Adh genes (CaADH1, CaADH2 and CaCDH3) for cells grown in different culture media at different growth phases by Northern blot analysis and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. CaADH1 was constitutively expressed under all growth conditions but there was differential expression of CaADH2. CaADH3 expression was not detected. To investigate whether CaAdh1p or CaAdh2p can contribute to alcohol catabolism in C. albicans, each gene from the reference strain C. albicans SC5314 was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cell extracts from an CaAdh1p-expressing S. cerevisiae recombinant, but not an CaAdh2p-expressing recombinant, or an empty vector control strain, possessed ethanol-utilizing Adh activity above endogenous S. cerevisiae activity. Furthermore, expression of C. albicans Adh1p in a recombinant S. cerevisiae strain in which the endogenous ScADH2 gene (known to convert ethanol to acetaldehyde in this yeast) had been deleted, conferred an NAD-dependent ethanol-utilizing, and so acetaldehyde-producing, Adh activity. We conclude that CaAdh1p is the enzyme responsible for ethanol use under in vitro growth conditions, and may contribute to the intra-oral production of acetaldehyde.
    MeSH terms: Acetaldehyde/metabolism*; Alcohol Dehydrogenase/genetics*; Alcohol Dehydrogenase/metabolism*; Ethanol/metabolism*; Alcohols/metabolism*; Candida albicans/enzymology; Candida albicans/genetics*; Candida albicans/growth & development; Culture Media; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism; RNA, Messenger/genetics; RNA, Messenger/metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics; Blotting, Northern; Computational Biology; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  4. Flexural properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) resin reinforced with oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers: a preliminary finding
    John J, Ann Mani S, Palaniswamy K, Ramanathan A, Razak AA
    J Prosthodont, 2015 Apr;24(3):233-8.
    PMID: 24976147 DOI: 10.1111/jopr.12191
    PURPOSE: The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate the flexural properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) reinforced with oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The flexural strength and flexural modulus of three OPEFB fiber-reinforced PMMA were compared with a conventional and a commercially available reinforced PMMA. The three test groups included OPEFB fibers of 0.5 mm thickness, 2.0 mm thickness, and OPEFB cellulose.

    RESULTS: All test group specimens demonstrated improved flexural strength and flexural modulus over conventional PMMA. Reinforcement with OPEFB cellulose showed the highest mean flexural strength and flexural modulus, which were statistically significant when compared to the conventional and commercially reinforced PMMA used in this study. OPEFB fiber in the form of cellulose and 0.5 mm thickness fiber significantly improved flexural strength and flexural modulus of conventional PMMA resin. Further investigation on the properties of PMMA reinforced with OPEFB cellulose is warranted.

    CONCLUSIONS: Natural OPEFB fibers, especially OPEFB in cellulose form, can be considered a viable alternative to existing commercially available synthetic fiber reinforced PMMA resin.

    MeSH terms: Cellulose/chemistry*; Dental Materials/chemistry; Materials Testing; Pliability*; Polymethyl Methacrylate/chemistry*; Arecaceae
  5. Effect of biofilm formation on the performance of microbial fuel cell for the treatment of palm oil mill effluent
    Baranitharan E, Khan MR, Prasad DM, Teo WF, Tan GY, Jose R
    Bioprocess Biosyst Eng, 2015 Jan;38(1):15-24.
    PMID: 24981021 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-014-1239-9
    Anode biofilm is a crucial component in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for electrogenesis. Better knowledge about the biofilm development process on electrode surface is believed to improve MFC performance. In this study, double-chamber microbial fuel cell was operated with diluted POME (initial COD = 1,000 mg L(-1)) and polyacrylonitrile carbon felt was used as electrode. The maximum power density, COD removal efficiency and Coulombic efficiency were found as 22 mW m(-2), 70 and 24 %, respectively. FTIR and TGA analysis confirmed the formation of biofilm on the electrode surface during MFC operation. The impact of anode biofilm on anodic polarization resistance was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and microbial community changes during MFC operation using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The EIS-simulated results showed the reduction of charge transfer resistance (R ct) by 16.9 % after 14 days of operation of the cell, which confirms that the development of the microbial biofilm on the anode decreases the R ct and therefore improves power generation. DGGE analysis showed the variation in the biofilm composition during the biofilm growth until it forms an initial stable microbial community, thereafter the change in the diversity would be less. The power density showed was directly dependent on the biofilm development and increased significantly during the initial biofilm development period. Furthermore, DGGE patterns obtained from 7th and 14th day suggest the presence of less diversity and probable functional redundancy within the anodic communities possibly responsible for the stable MFC performance in changing environmental conditions.
    MeSH terms: Bioelectric Energy Sources*; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Plant Oils/chemistry*; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Biofilms*; Dielectric Spectroscopy; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis
  6. Mechanistic analysis of cavitation assisted transesterification on biodiesel characteristics
    Sajjadi B, Abdul Aziz AR, Ibrahim S
    Ultrason Sonochem, 2015 Jan;22:463-73.
    PMID: 24981808 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2014.06.004
    The influence of sonoluminescence transesterification on biodiesel physicochemical properties was investigated and the results were compared to those of traditional mechanical stirring. This study was conducted to identify the mechanistic features of ultrasonication by coupling statistical analysis of the experiments into the simulation of cavitation bubble. Different combinations of operational variables were employed for alkali-catalysis transesterification of palm oil. The experimental results showed that transesterification with ultrasound irradiation could change the biodiesel density by about 0.3kg/m(3); the viscosity by 0.12mm(2)/s; the pour point by about 1-2°C and the flash point by 5°C compared to the traditional method. Furthermore, 93.84% of yield with alcohol to oil molar ratio of 6:1 could be achieved through ultrasound assisted transesterification within only 20min. However, only 89.09% of reaction yield was obtained by traditional macro mixing/heating under the same condition. Based on the simulated oscillation velocity value, the cavitation phenomenon significantly contributed to generation of fine micro emulsion and was able to overcome mass transfer restriction. It was found that the sonoluminescence bubbles reached the temperature of 758-713K, pressure of 235.5-159.55bar, oscillation velocity of 3.5-6.5cm/s, and equilibrium radius of 17.9-13.7 times greater than its initial size under the ambient temperature of 50-64°C at the moment of collapse. This showed that the sonoluminescence bubbles were in the condition in which the decomposition phenomena were activated and the reaction rate was accelerated together with a change in the biodiesel properties.
    MeSH terms: Esterification; Plant Oils/chemistry; Ultrasonics*; Biofuels*
  7. A bicycle safety index for evaluating urban street facilities
    Asadi-Shekari Z, Moeinaddini M, Zaly Shah M
    Traffic Inj Prev, 2015;16:283-8.
    PMID: 24983474 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2014.936010
    The objectives of this research are to conceptualize the Bicycle Safety Index (BSI) that considers all parts of the street and to propose a universal guideline with microscale details.
    MeSH terms: Bicycling*; Environment Design/standards*; Humans; Malaysia; Models, Theoretical; Safety/standards*; Urban Population; Guidelines as Topic*
  8. Robotic thyroidectomy learning curve for beginning surgeons with little or no experience of endoscopic surgery
    Park JH, Lee J, Hakim NA, Kim HY, Kang SW, Jeong JJ, et al.
    Head Neck, 2015 Dec;37(12):1705-11.
    PMID: 24986508 DOI: 10.1002/hed.23824
    This study assessed the results of robotic thyroidectomy by fellowship-trained surgeons in their initial independent practice, and whether standard fellowship training for robotic surgery shortens the learning curve.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Fellowships and Scholarships*; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; General Surgery/education*; Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology; Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery*; Thyroidectomy/methods*; Body Mass Index; Treatment Outcome; Learning Curve*; Operative Time; Conversion to Open Surgery
  9. Pregnancy outcomes with a primary complaint of perception of reduced fetal movements
    Nor Azlin MI, Maisarah AS, Rahana AR, Shafiee MN, Aqmar Suraya S, Abdul Karim AK, et al.
    J Obstet Gynaecol, 2015 Jan;35(1):13-5.
    PMID: 24987985 DOI: 10.3109/01443615.2014.930108
    Reduced fetal movement is a worrisome common complaint, not only for mothers but also for the attending medical personnel. The aim of this study was to analyse the pregnancy outcomes of women who presented primarily with reduced fetal movements (RFM). A retrospective study was performed based on patients' perception alone. Obstetric, past medical history, current presentation and outcomes of pregnancy were analysed. A total of 230 case notes were reviewed, with the majority being primigravidae. Less than half (48.7%) of the women had spontaneous labour, 45.7% had induction and 5.6% had elective caesarean section. There were no maternal complications in 97.4% (n = 224) of them. About 0.9% (n = 2) and 1.7% (n = 4) had primary postpartum haemorrhage and extended perineal tear, respectively. Although there was no major neonatal mortality and morbidity, until a randomised trial with a significant sample is conducted in the management of RFM, careful selections for elective delivery or conservative management would prevent untoward complications.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Fetal Movement*; Humans; Perception; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome*; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult
  10. Enteral glutamine supplementation in surgical patients with head and neck malignancy: A randomized controlled trial
    Azman M, Mohd Yunus MR, Sulaiman S, Syed Omar SN
    Head Neck, 2015 Dec;37(12):1799-807.
    PMID: 24992652 DOI: 10.1002/hed.23839
    Glutamine supplementation is a novel approach to perioperative nutritional management.
    MeSH terms: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Female; Glutamine/administration & dosage*; Head and Neck Neoplasms/blood; Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery*; Hospitals, University; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Serum Albumin/metabolism; Biomarkers/blood; Body Mass Index; Treatment Outcome; Dietary Supplements*; Perioperative Care/methods; Young Adult
  11. Role of adenosine receptors in resveratrol-induced intraocular pressure lowering in rats with steroid-induced ocular hypertension
    Razali N, Agarwal R, Agarwal P, Kumar S, Tripathy M, Vasudevan S, et al.
    Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 2015 Jan-Feb;43(1):54-66.
    PMID: 24995479 DOI: 10.1111/ceo.12375
    BACKGROUND: Steroid-induced ocular hypertension is currently treated in the same way as primary open-angle glaucoma. However, the treatment is often suboptimal and is associated with adverse effects. We evaluated the oculohypotensive effects of topical trans-resveratrol in rats with steroid-induced ocular hypertension and involvement of adenosine receptors (AR) in intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effect of trans-resveratrol.
    METHODS: The oculohypotensive effect of unilateral single-drop application of various concentrations of trans-resveratrol was first studied in oculonormotensive rats. Concentration with maximum effect was similarly studied in rats with steroid-induced ocular hypertension. Involvement of AR was studied by observing the alterations of IOP in response to trans-resveratrol after pretreating animals with AR subtype-specific antagonists. Additionally, we used computational methods, including 3D modelling, 3D structure generation and protein-ligand interaction, to determine the AR-trans-resveratrol interaction.
    RESULTS: All concentrations of trans-resveratrol produced significant IOP reduction in normotensive rat eyes. Maximum mean IOP reduction of 15.1% was achieved with trans-resveratrol 0.2%. In oculohypertensive rats, trans-resveratrol 0.2% produced peak IOP reduction of 25.2%. Pretreatment with A₁ antagonist abolished the oculohypotensive effect of trans-resveratrol. Pretreatment with A₃ and A₂A AR antagonists produced significant IOP reduction in both treated and control eyes, which was further augmented by trans-resveratrol application in treated eyes. Computational studies showed that trans-resveratrol has highest affinity for A₂B and A₁, followed by A2A and A₃ AR.
    CONCLUSION: Topically applied trans-resveratrol reduces IOP in rats with steroid-induced ocular hypertension. Trans-resveratrol-induced oculohypotension involves its agonistic activity at the A₁ AR.
    KEYWORDS: adenosine receptors; docking simulation; intraocular pressure; resveratrol; topical
    MeSH terms: Administration, Topical; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents/administration & dosage*; Antioxidants/administration & dosage*; Dexamethasone/toxicity; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Glucocorticoids/toxicity; Intraocular Pressure/drug effects*; Male; Ocular Hypertension/chemically induced; Ocular Hypertension/drug therapy*; Ocular Hypertension/metabolism; Ophthalmic Solutions; Stilbenes/administration & dosage*; Tonometry, Ocular; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Purinergic P1/physiology*; Rats; Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists/pharmacology
  12. Synthesis and evaluation of antimycobacterial activity of new benzimidazole aminoesters
    Yoon YK, Ali MA, Wei AC, Choon TS, Ismail R
    Eur J Med Chem, 2015 Mar 26;93:614-24.
    PMID: 24996257 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.06.025
    A total of 51 novel benzimidazoles were synthesized by a 4-step reaction starting from basic compound 4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzoic acid under relatively mild reaction conditions. The structure of the novel benzimidazoles was confirmed by mass spectra as well as (1)H NMR spectroscopic data. Out of the 51 novel synthesized compounds, 42 of them were screened for their antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain using BacTiter-Glo™ Microbial Cell Viability (BTG) method. Results of activity screened using Alamar Blue method was also provided for comparison purposes. Two of the novel benzimidazoles synthesized showed moderately good activity with IC50 of less than 15 μM. Compound 5g, ethyl 2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1-(2-morpholinoethyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate, was found to be the most active with IC50 of 11.52 μM.
    MeSH terms: Antitubercular Agents/chemical synthesis*; Antitubercular Agents/pharmacology*; Antitubercular Agents/chemistry; Benzimidazoles/chemical synthesis*; Benzimidazoles/pharmacology*; Benzimidazoles/chemistry; Esters; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/drug effects*; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  13. Comment on "Assessment of heavy metal contamination in Hindon River sediments: a chemometric and geochemical approach" published in Chemosphere 87 (2012) 945-953
    Yap CK
    Chemosphere, 2015 Jan;119:1465-1466.
    PMID: 24996571 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.06.026
    MeSH terms: Geologic Sediments/chemistry*; Metals, Heavy/analysis*; Rivers/chemistry*; Informatics/methods*
  14. Association of insertion/deletion polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene among Malay male hypertensive subjects in response to ACE inhibitors
    Heidari F, Vasudevan R, Mohd Ali SZ, Ismail P, Etemad A, Pishva SR, et al.
    J Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone Syst, 2015 Dec;16(4):872-9.
    PMID: 25002132 DOI: 10.1177/1470320314538878
    Several studies show that the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been associated with hypertension in various populations. The present study sought to determine the association of the I/D gene polymorphism among Malay male essential hypertensive subjects in response to ACE inhibitors (enalapril and lisinopril).
    MeSH terms: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use*; Blood Pressure; Demography; Diastole; Enalapril/pharmacology; Enalapril/therapeutic use; Gene Frequency/genetics; Heterozygote; Humans; Hypertension/drug therapy*; Hypertension/genetics*; Hypertension/physiopathology; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/genetics*; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Genetic; Systole; Lisinopril/pharmacology; Lisinopril/therapeutic use; Genetic Predisposition to Disease*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics; INDEL Mutation/genetics*; Genetic Association Studies*
  15. Development of surface plasmon resonance sensor for determining zinc ion using novel active nanolayers as probe
    Fen YW, Yunus WM, Talib ZA, Yusof NA
    Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc, 2015 Jan 5;134:48-52.
    PMID: 25004894 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2014.06.081
    In this study, novel active nanolayers in combination with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system for zinc ion (Zn(2+)) detection has been developed. The gold surface used for the SPR system was modified with the novel developed active nanolayers, i.e. chitosan and chitosan-tetrabutyl thiuram disulfide (chitosan-TBTDS). Both chitosan and chitosan-TBTDS active layers were fabricated on the gold surface by spin coating technique. The system was used to monitor SPR signal for Zn(2+) in aqueous media with and without sensitivity enhancement by TBTDS. For both active nanolayers, the shift of resonance angle is directly proportional to the concentration of Zn(2+) in aqueous media. The higher shift of resonance angle was obtained for chitosan-TBTDS active nanolayer due to a specific binding of TBTDS with Zn(2+). The chitosan-TBTDS active nanolayer enhanced the sensitivity of detection down to 0.1 mg/l and also induced a selective detection towards Zn(2+).
    MeSH terms: Gold; Metals/analysis; Metals/metabolism; Sensitivity and Specificity; Thiram/chemistry; Zinc/analysis*; Zinc/metabolism; Surface Plasmon Resonance/instrumentation*; Surface Plasmon Resonance/methods*; Chitosan/metabolism; Chitosan/chemistry; Nanostructures/chemistry*; Limit of Detection
  16. Impact of maternal marital status on birth outcomes among young Malaysian women: a prospective cohort study
    Mohd Zain N, Low WY, Othman S
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2015 Apr;27(3):335-47.
    PMID: 25005933 DOI: 10.1177/1010539514537678
    This study evaluated the impact of maternal marital status on birth outcomes among young Malaysian women and investigated other risk factors influencing the birth outcomes. Pregnant women with and without marital ties at the point of pregnancy diagnosis were invited to participate in this study. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire at pregnancy diagnosis and shortly after childbirth. From a total of 229 unmarried and 213 married women who participated, marital status was significantly associated with preterm birth (odds ratio [OR], 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-2.61) and low birth weight (OR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.98-6.57). Other factors significantly associated with birth outcomes was prenatal care (OR, 4.92; 95% CI, 1.43-16.95), "use of drugs" (OR, 10.39; 95% CI, 1.14-94.76), age (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.07-1.16), and number of prenatal visits (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07). Promoting access to prenatal care and social support programs for unmarried mothers may be important to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Malaysia/epidemiology; Maternal Age; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology*; Prenatal Care/utilization; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Odds Ratio; Marital Status/statistics & numerical data*; Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology; Qualitative Research; Premature Birth/epidemiology; Young Adult
  17. Anterior-apical single-incision mesh surgery (SIMS): surgical and functional outcomes at 1 year
    Lo TS, Tan YL, Cortes EF, Pue LB, Wu PY, Al-Kharabsheh A
    J Minim Invasive Gynecol, 2015 Jan;22(1):50-6.
    PMID: 25017520 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmig.2014.07.002
    To study the surgical and functional outcomes of single-incision mesh surgery for treatment of advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP).
    MeSH terms: Aged; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Quality of Life*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sexual Behavior; Surgical Mesh*; Urinary Incontinence/etiology; Urinary Incontinence/physiopathology; Urinary Incontinence/surgery*; Urodynamics; Vagina/surgery*; Cohort Studies; Treatment Outcome; Suburethral Slings; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/complications; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/surgery*
  18. Refractive outcomes comparison between the Lenstar LS 900® optical biometry and immersion A-scan ultrasound
    Naicker P, Sundralingam S, Peyman M, Juana A, Mohamad NF, Win MM, et al.
    Int Ophthalmol, 2015 Aug;35(4):459-66.
    PMID: 25024102 DOI: 10.1007/s10792-014-9970-4
    To determine the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) calculations in eyes undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery with IOL implantation using immersion A-scan ultrasound (US) and Lenstar LS 900(®) biometry. In this prospective study, 200 eyes of 200 patients were randomized to undergo either Lenstar LS 900(®) or immersion A-scan US biometry to determine the IOL dioptric power prior to phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Post-operative refractive outcomes of these two groups of patients were compared. The result showed no significant difference between the target spherical equivalent (SE) and the post-operative SE value by the Lenstar LS 900(®) (p value = 0.632) or immersion A-scan US biometry (p value = 0.438) devices. The magnitude of difference between the two biometric devices were not significantly different (p value = 0.868). There was no significant difference in the predicted post-operative refractive outcome between immersion A-scan US biometry and Lenstar LS 900(®). Based on the results, the immersion A-scan US technique is as accurate as Lenstar LS 900(®) in the hands of an experienced operator.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biometry/instrumentation; Biometry/methods*; Female; Humans; Lenses, Intraocular*; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Refraction, Ocular/physiology*; Ultrasonography; Phacoemulsification/methods*; Lens Implantation, Intraocular
  19. Long-range atmospheric transport and the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Changbai Mountain
    Zhao X, Kim SK, Zhu W, Kannan N, Li D
    Chemosphere, 2015 Jan;119:289-294.
    PMID: 25036943 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.06.005
    The Changbai (also known as "Baekdu") Mountain, on the border between China and North Korea, is the highest mountain (2750 m) in northeastern China. Recently, this mountain region has experienced a dramatic increase in air pollution, not only because of increasing volumes of tourism-derived traffic but also because of the long-range transport of polluted westerly winds passing through major industrial and urban cities in the eastern region of China. To assess the relative importance of the two sources of pollution, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as model substances were determined in the mountain soil. A total of 32 soil samples were collected from different sides of the mountain at different latitudes between July and August of 2009. The ∑PAH concentrations were within the range 38.5-190.1 ng g(-1) on the northern side, 117.7-443.6 ng g(-1) on the southern side, and 75.3-437.3 ng g(-1) on the western side. A progressive increase in the level of ∑PAHs with latitude was observed on the southern and western sides that face the westerly wind with abundant precipitation. However, a similar concentration gradient was not observed on the northern side that receives less rain and is on the leeward direction of the wind. The high-molecular-weight PAH compounds were predominant in the soils on the southern and western sides, while low-molecular-weight PAHs dominated the northern side soils. These findings show that the distribution of PAHs in the mountain soil is strongly influenced by the atmospheric long-range transport and cold trapping.
    MeSH terms: China; Environmental Monitoring; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/analysis*; Soil Pollutants/analysis*; Wind
  20. Job satisfaction and perceived future roles of Malaysian dental therapists: findings from a national survey
    Abu Bakar A, Mohd Nor NA, Ab-Murat N, Jaafar N
    Int J Dent Hyg, 2015 Aug;13(3):199-205.
    PMID: 25040653 DOI: 10.1111/idh.12095
    OBJECTIVE: To assess Malaysian dental therapists' perceptions of their job satisfaction and future roles.
    METHODS: A nationwide postal survey involving all Malaysian dental therapists who met the inclusion criteria (n = 1726).
    RESULTS: The response rate was 76.8%. All respondents were females; mean age 35.4 years (SD = 8.4). Majority were married (85.5%) and more than one-half had a working experience of <10 years (56.1%). Majority worked in community dental service (94.3%) and in urban areas (61.7%). Overall, they were highly satisfied with most aspects of their career. However, they were least satisfied with administrative workload (58.1%), career advancement opportunities (51.9%) and remuneration package; specifically income (45.2%), allowances (45.2%) and non-commensurate between pay and performance (44.0%). Majority perceived their role as very important in routine clinical tasks such as examination and diagnosis, preventive treatment, extraction of deciduous teeth and oral health promotion. However, fewer than one-half consider complex treatment such as placement of preformed crowns on deciduous teeth (37.1%) and extraction of permanent teeth (37.2%) as very important tasks.
    CONCLUSION: Majority expressed high career satisfaction with most aspects of their employment but expressed low satisfaction in remuneration, lack of career advancement opportunities and administrative tasks. We conclude that most Malaysian dental therapists have positive perceptions of their current roles but do not favour wider expansion of their roles. These findings imply that there was a need to develop a more attractive career pathway for therapists to ensure sustainability of effective primary oral healthcare delivery system for Malaysia's children.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Child; Crowns; Employment; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Income; Job Satisfaction; Malaysia; Marriage; Personal Satisfaction; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tooth, Deciduous; Workload; Remuneration
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