Browse publications by year: 2017

  1. Elnaem MH, Mohamed MHN, Huri HZ, Azarisman SM, Elkalmi RM
    J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2017 Apr-Jun;9(2):80-87.
    PMID: 28717329 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_30_17
    Use of statin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been recommended by most clinical guidelines. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among T2DM patients. It has been proved that statins are effective for primary or secondary CVD prophylaxis. Reports have highlighted the underutilization of statins in clinical practice and the suboptimal adherence to guideline recommendations. This review article points to summarize the current evidence confirming the role of statins in T2DM patients and to provide an overview of factors that may affect statins' prescribing patterns and compliance in clinical practice. Initiatives to enhance statin therapy prescribing should recognize the comprehensive nature of the prescribing process. Attempts to assure proper statin prescribing and utilization can help in achieving better clinical outcomes of statin therapy.
    MeSH terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Humans; Morbidity; Patient Compliance; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Secondary Prevention
  2. Das SK, Sengupta P, Mustapha MS, Sarker MMR
    J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2017 Apr-Jun;9(2):88-93.
    PMID: 28717330 DOI: 10.4103/0975-7406.183227
    BACKGROUND: Stress is a normal part of everyday life but chronic stress can lead to a variety of stress-related illnesses including hypertension, anxiety, and depression. In the present investigation, standardized leaf extract of Epipremnumaureum was evaluated for its anti-stress potential.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the evaluation of anti-stress activity, groups of mice (n = 6) were subjected to forced swim stress and anoxic stress tolerance test in mice 1h after daily treatment of E.aureumextract. Diazepam (5 mg/kg) was taken as a reference standard. Urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and ascorbic acid were selected as noninvasive biomarkers to assess the anti-stress activity and plasma cortisol, blood ascorbic acid, and weight of adrenal were measured. The 24 h urinary excretion of VMA and ascorbic acid were determined by spectrophotometric methods in all groups under normal and stressed conditions. The hematological parameters (neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils) were also determined.

    RESULTS: Administration of E.aureumat doses of 400 and 600 mg/kg wasfound to be effective in inhibiting the stress induced urinary biochemical changes in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with E. aureum extract prevents the rise in blood ascorbic acid and plasma cortisol. Moreover, the extract prevented the increase in weight of adrenal gland also significantly increased the anoxia stress tolerance time. Dose-dependent significant reduction in white blood cell count was observed in anoxic stress tolerance test as compared to stressed group.

    CONCLUSION: Hence, the present study provides scientific support for the positiveadaptogenic effect of E. aureum extract.
    MeSH terms: Adrenal Glands; Animals; Anxiety; Ascorbic Acid; Body Weight; Depression; Diazepam; Eosinophils; Hydrocortisone; Hypertension; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocytes; Neutrophils; Vanilmandelic Acid; Biomarkers; Mice
  3. Elnaem MH, Jamshed SQ, Elkalmi RM, Baharuddin MF, Johari MA, Aziz NABA, et al.
    J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2017;9(2):115-120.
    PMID: 28717334 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_336_16
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Students in relevant health-care academic programs are the future professionals who should play an active role in increasing community awareness regarding chronic diseases such as osteoporosis. This research aimed to evaluate the knowledge of osteoporosis, one of the growing health-care burdens in Malaysia, among students belong to three different health occupations programs in a Malaysian University.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was conducted to assess the level of knowledge on osteoporosis and to explore the potential association between the study program and osteoporosis-related knowledge among medicine, pharmacy, and allied health sciences students in a Malaysian University. A total of 348 students were approached. The data were collected using validated revised Osteoporosis Knowledge Test questionnaire.

    RESULTS: The results showed variability in knowledge score between students belonging to different study programs. allied health sciences students have the highest overall total score (median = 20) and nutrition score (median = 16), but for exercise score, both students in allied health sciences and medicine programs shared a similar median score (median = 11.5). More than half of the respondents showed adequate knowledge on osteoporosis. The students from allied health sciences exhibited more knowledge on osteoporosis compared to students in other study programs. Among the Kulliyyah of Pharmacy respondents, the majority did not manage to answer correctly on the whole scale. This was evident by total percentage of 69.91% of the respondents scored below than median score.

    CONCLUSION: There is a considerable gap of knowledge regarding osteoporosis among students in various health occupations academic programs. Pharmacy students particularly need focused learning related to exercise and nutrition in preventing osteoporosis during their academic program.

  4. Rana B, Bukhsh A, Khan TM, Sarwar A, Omer MO, Jamshed SQ
    J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2017 Apr-Jun;9(2):121-125.
    PMID: 28717335 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_29_17
    AIM: The present study was aimed to highlight the current prescribing pattern of oral hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus and to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of these therapeutic categories in achieving target glycemic control.

    METHODS: This is a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study of 6 months' duration conducted in a tertiary care hospital of Lahore, Pakistan.

    RESULTS: The current research recruited 145 patients presented in diabetes management center of a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Mean age of the participants was 50.2 (± 8.5) years. Out of the 145 patients, 63% were females and 37% were males. Most patients were diagnosed to have diabetes within the past 5 years. Diabetes-induced neuropathy was the most common complication (71.7%) among the patients. A large proportion of these patients (70.3%) were also suffering from other comorbidities among which the most common one is hypertension. The average number of prescribed medications was 1.31. Metformin was prescribed to a majority of patients (64%) as monotherapy while 28.96% received combination therapy. Mean glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) before and after 3 months of treatment was 8.5 (± 2.3) and 8.04 (± 2.1), respectively. Inferential statistics show a strong association between HBA1c and life style modifications and adherence to medication therapy (P = 0.05). However, the correlation between HBA1c and Morisky score and duration of disease was inverse and weak (P = 0.6, 0.4). The t-test values show a small difference between HBA1c values before and after 3 months (t = 0.440 and 0.466, respectively).

    CONCLUSION: Optimization of medication regimen and continuous patient education regarding life style modification and adherence to medication therapy are necessitated to bring HBA1c values near to target.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Blood Glucose; Clinical Protocols; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Neuropathies; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Hypoglycemia; Life Style; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Metformin; Middle Aged; Pakistan; Prospective Studies; Medication Adherence; Tertiary Care Centers
  5. Rahim N, Iffat W, Shakeel S, Naeem MI, Qazi F, Rizvi M, et al.
    J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2017 Apr-Jun;9(2):144-151.
    PMID: 28717338 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_328_16
    AIMS: In flu pandemics, pharmacy students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices are critical to save patients life. The objective of study was to determine the knowledge of and attitude toward the pandemic influenza among the pharmacy students of Karachi, Pakistan.
    SETTINGS AND DESIGNS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2014 by adopting a prevalidated questionnaire distributed to senior pharmacy students (final year) in seven private and public sector universities of Karachi.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 443 pharmacy students responded the survey. Data regarding sociodemographic characteristics of the students, perceptions, level of knowledge and attitudes toward influenza, and prophylactic measures were collected.
    STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: To compute the correlation between different variables, data were analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square statistic method. P < 0.05 was considered statistical significance for all analysis.
    RESULTS: Influenza was identified as a viral disease (n = 423; 95.48%) and 282 (71.2%) students correctly identified it as disease affecting humans and pigs. Textbooks reported as most common source of knowledge (n = 282; 64%). Most common symptoms identified were fever (81.94%), sore throat (64.1%), and nonproductive cough (43.34%). The most common preventive measures were covering nose and mouth (268; 60.5%) and wearing protective coverings (254; 57.3%). Only half of the students correctly reported about the route of administration (180; 40.6%) and strains in vaccine (186; 41.98%). The best time for administration of such vaccine was known by only 156 pharmacy students (35.34%). The majority of the students (82.6%) had no idea about the manifestation of influenza pandemic. Knowledge regarding influenza differed according to gender and institutions differing in their affiliation with tertiary care hospitals.
    CONCLUSION: It was observed that knowledge about disease progression, transmission, vaccination, and treatment in pharmacy students, especially those who are not getting clinical training in tertiary care hospitals was limited. There is an urgent need to develop awareness programs to increase knowledge of influenza among clinical pharmacists as they are more susceptible to infections and community as a whole.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Attitude; Cough; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Influenza, Human; Influenza Vaccines; Mouth; Nose; Pakistan; Pharmacists; Pharyngitis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Students, Pharmacy; Swine; Universities; Vaccination; Public Sector; Disease Progression; Sus scrofa; Pandemics; Tertiary Care Centers
  6. M Selveindran N, Syed Zakaria SZ, Jalaludin MY, Rasat R
    Int J Endocrinol, 2017;2017:5987490.
    PMID: 28717365 DOI: 10.1155/2017/5987490
    The aim of this study is to determine the behavioural problems of children with 46XY disorders of sex development (DSD) with genital ambiguity and to identify the risk factors that may influence behaviour. The 27 participants (aged 6-18 years) consisted of 21 patients raised as boys and 6 patients raised as girls. Control data were obtained from a representative sibling of each patient who was matched for age and gender. The study tool used was the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), which is a parent-administered questionnaire. The analysis of the behavioural scores revealed that the patient group had poorer scores in the total, externalizing, and internalizing realms. This group also had poorer scores in the anxious-depressed, social, and rule-breaking realms as compared to the control group. In addition, the XY-F group had higher scores (more pathological) than the XY-M group, although the difference in the scores was not statistically significant. A comparison of the prevalence of patients with scores in the clinical range with that of the control group was not statistically significant. These findings support the current recommendations that psychological counselling should be an integral part of the professional support offered to patients with DSD.
  7. Boo L, Ho WY, Mohd Ali N, Yeap SK, Ky H, Chan KG, et al.
    PeerJ, 2017;5:e3551.
    PMID: 28717596 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3551
    Breast cancer spheroids have been widely used as in vitro models of cancer stem cells (CSCs), yet little is known about their phenotypic characteristics and microRNAs (miRNAs) expression profiles. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the phenotypic characteristics of MDA-MB-231 spheroid-enriched cells for their CSCs properties and also to determine their miRNAs expression profile. Similar to our previously published MCF-7 spheroid, MDA-MB-231 spheroid also showed typical CSCs characteristics namely self-renewability, expression of putative CSCs-related surface markers and enhancement of drug resistance. From the miRNA profile, miR-15b, miR-34a, miR-148a, miR-628 and miR-196b were shown to be involved in CSCs-associated signalling pathways in both models of spheroids, which highlights the involvement of these miRNAs in maintaining the CSCs features. In addition, unique clusters of miRNAs namely miR-205, miR-181a and miR-204 were found in basal-like spheroid whereas miR-125, miR-760, miR-30c and miR-136 were identified in luminal-like spheroid. Our results highlight the roles of miRNAs as well as novel perspectives of the relevant pathways underlying spheroid-enriched CSCs in breast cancer.
    MeSH terms: Drug Resistance; Humans; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Signal Transduction; Spheroids, Cellular; MicroRNAs; MCF-7 Cells
  8. Rajagopal R, Abd-Ghafar S, Ganesan D, Bustam Mainudin AZ, Wong KT, Ramli N, et al.
    J Glob Oncol, 2017 Apr;3(2):143-156.
    PMID: 28717752 DOI: 10.1200/JGO.2015.002659
    PURPOSE: Pediatric medulloblastoma (MB) treatment has evolved over the past few decades; however, treating children in countries with limited resources remains challenging. Until now, the literature regarding childhood MB in Malaysia has been nonexistent. Our objectives were to review the demographics and outcome of pediatric MB treated at the University Malaya Medical Center between January 1994 and December 2013 and describe the challenges encountered.

    METHODS: Fifty-one patients with childhood MB were seen at University Malaya Medical Center. Data from 43 patients were analyzed; eight patients were excluded because their families refused treatment after surgery.

    RESULTS: Headache and vomiting were the most common presenting symptoms, and the mean interval between symptom onset and diagnosis was 4 weeks. Fourteen patients presented with metastatic disease. Five-year progression-free survival (± SE) for patients ≥ 3 years old was 41.7% ± 14.2% (95% CI, 21.3% to 81.4%) in the high-risk group and 68.6% ± 18.6% (95% CI, 40.3% to 100%) in the average-risk group, and 5-year overall survival (± SE) in these two groups was 41.7% ± 14.2% (95% CI, 21.3% to 81.4%) and 58.3% ± 18.6% (95% CI, 31.3% to 100%), respectively. Children younger than 3 years old had 5-year progression-free and overall survival rates (± SE) of 47.6% ± 12.1% (95% CI, 28.9% to 78.4%) and 45.6% ± 11.7% (95% CI, 27.6% to 75.5%), respectively. Time to relapse ranged from 4 to 132 months. Most patients who experienced relapse died within 1 year. Febrile neutropenia, hearing loss, and endocrinopathy were the most common treatment-related complications.

    CONCLUSION: The survival rate of childhood MB in Malaysia is inferior to that usually reported in the literature. We postulate that the following factors contribute to this difference: lack of a multidisciplinary neuro-oncology team, limited health care facilities, inconsistent risk assessment, insufficient data in the National Cancer Registry and pathology reports, inadequate long-term follow-up, and cultural beliefs leading to treatment abandonment.

  9. Yusof MFM, Hamid PNKA, Tajuddin AA, Hashim R, Bauk S, Isa NM, et al.
    Radiol Phys Technol, 2017 Sep;10(3):331-339.
    PMID: 28718054 DOI: 10.1007/s12194-017-0408-3
    The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboards as phantom materials in the application of low- and high-energy photons. The tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboards and density plug phantoms were created with a target density of 1.0 g/cm3. The elemental composition and effective atomic number of the particleboards were measured using energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The mass attenuation coefficient of the particleboards for low-energy photons were measured using the attenuation of X-ray fluorescence. The mass attenuation coefficients of high-energy photons were measured using the attenuation of 137Cs and 60Co gamma energies. The results were compared to the calculated value of water using XCOM calculations. The results showed that the effective atomic number and mass attenuation coefficients of tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboards were similar to those of water, indicating the suitability of tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboards as phantom materials for low- and high-energy photons.
    MeSH terms: Cesium Radioisotopes*; Cobalt Radioisotopes*; Gamma Rays*; Tannins*; Photons*; Phantoms, Imaging*; Rhizophoraceae; Mechanical Phenomena
  10. Alkali AU, Abu Mansor NN
    Behav Sci (Basel), 2017 Jul 18;7(3).
    PMID: 28718837 DOI: 10.3390/bs7030047
    BACKGROUND: The last few decades saw an intense development in information technology (IT) and it has affected the ways organisations achieve their goals. Training, in every organisation is an ongoing process that aims to update employees' knowledge and skills towards goals attainment. Through adequate deployment of IT, organisations can effectively meet their training needs. However, for successful IT integration in training, the employees who will use the system should be positively disposed towards it. This study predicts employees' intention to use the e-training system by extending the technology acceptance model (TAM) using interactivity and trust.

    METHODS: Two hundred and fourteen employees participated in the study and structural equation modelling was used in the analysis.

    RESULTS: The findings of the structural equation modelling reveal that interactivity, trust, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use have direct and positive effects on employees' intention to use e-training. It was also shown that perceived ease of use had no effects on perceived usefulness, while trust has the strongest indirect effects on employees' intention. In addition, the results of Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA), which compares the contributions of each construct to the importance and performance of the model, indicate that to predict intention to use e-training, priorities should be accorded to trust and perceived usefulness.

  11. Al Zarzour RH, Ahmad M, Asmawi MZ, Kaur G, Saeed MAA, Al-Mansoub MA, et al.
    Nutrients, 2017 Jul 18;9(7).
    PMID: 28718838 DOI: 10.3390/nu9070766
    Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the major global health issues, strongly correlated with insulin resistance, obesity and oxidative stress. The current study aimed to evaluate anti-NAFLD effects of three different extracts of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri). NAFLD was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats using a special high-fat diet (HFD). A 50% methanolic extract (50% ME) exhibited the highest inhibitory effect against NAFLD progression. It significantly reduced hepatomegaly (16%) and visceral fat weight (22%), decreased NAFLD score, prevented fibrosis, and reduced serum total cholesterol (TC) (48%), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (65%), free fatty acids (FFAs) (25%), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (45%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (38%), insulin concentration (67%), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (73%), serum atherogenic ratios TC/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (29%), LDL/HDL (66%) and (TC-HDL)/HDL (64%), hepatic content of cholesterol (43%), triglyceride (29%) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (40%) compared to a non-treated HFD group. In vitro, 50% ME of P. niruri inhibited α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase enzymes and cholesterol micellization. It also had higher total phenolic and total flavonoid contents compared to other extracts. Ellagic acid and phyllanthin were identified as major compounds. These results suggest that P. niruri could be further developed as a novel natural hepatoprotective agent against NAFLD and atherosclerosis.
    MeSH terms: Alanine Transaminase/blood; Alkaline Phosphatase/blood; alpha-Glucosidases/metabolism; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood; Cholesterol/blood; Disease Models, Animal; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/blood; Insulin Resistance; Liver/drug effects; Liver/metabolism; Male; Malondialdehyde/blood; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Triglycerides/blood; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Phyllanthus/chemistry*; Rats; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects; Phytochemicals/pharmacology; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/blood; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/drug therapy*
  12. Wroe AJ, McAuley G, Teran AV, Wong J, Petasecca M, Lerch M, et al.
    J Appl Clin Med Phys, 2017 Sep;18(5):315-324.
    PMID: 28719019 DOI: 10.1002/acm2.12120
    As technology continues to develop, external beam radiation therapy is being employed, with increased conformity, to treat smaller targets. As this occurs, the dosimetry methods and tools employed to quantify these fields for treatment also have to evolve to provide increased spatial resolution. The team at the University of Wollongong has developed a pixelated silicon detector prototype known as the dose magnifying glass (DMG) for real-time small-field metrology. This device has been tested in photon fields and IMRT. The purpose of this work was to conduct the initial performance tests with proton radiation, using beam energies and modulations typically associated with proton radiosurgery. Depth dose and lateral beam profiles were measured and compared with those collected using a PTW parallel-plate ionization chamber, a PTW proton-specific dosimetry diode, EBT3 Gafchromic film, and Monte Carlo simulations. Measurements of the depth dose profile yielded good agreement when compared with Monte Carlo, diode and ionization chamber. Bragg peak location was measured accurately by the DMG by scanning along the depth dose profile, and the relative response of the DMG at the center of modulation was within 2.5% of that for the PTW dosimetry diode for all energy and modulation combinations tested. Real-time beam profile measurements of a 5 mm 127 MeV proton beam also yielded FWHM and FW90 within ±1 channel (0.1 mm) of the Monte Carlo and EBT3 film data across all depths tested. The DMG tested here proved to be a useful device at measuring depth dose profiles in proton therapy with a stable response across the entire proton spread-out Bragg peak. In addition, the linear array of small sensitive volumes allowed for accurate point and high spatial resolution one-dimensional profile measurements of small radiation fields in real time to be completed with minimal impact from partial volume averaging.
    MeSH terms: Equipment Design; Monte Carlo Method; Radiometry/instrumentation; Silicon; Radiosurgery/instrumentation*; Radiosurgery/methods; Proton Therapy/instrumentation*
  13. Ching XT, Fong MY, Lau YL
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2017 Jun;96(6):1441-1447.
    PMID: 28719288 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0548
    AbstractToxoplasma gondii infects a broad range of warm-blooded hosts, including humans. Important clinical manifestations include encephalitis in immunocompromised patients as well as miscarriage and fetal damage during early pregnancy. Toxoplasma gondii dense granule antigen 2 and 5 (GRA2 and GRA5) are essential for parasitophorous vacuole development of the parasite. To evaluate the potential of GRA2 and GRA5 as recombinant DNA vaccine candidates, these antigens were cloned into eukaryotic expression vector (pcDNA 3.1C) and evaluated in vaccination experiments. Recombinant DNA vaccines constructed with genes encoding GRAs were validated in Chinese hamster ovary cells before evaluation using lethal challenge of the virulent T. gondii RH strain in BALB/c mice. The DNA vaccines of pcGRA2 and pcGRA5 elicited cellular-mediated immune response with significantly higher levels of interferon-gamma, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-10 (P < 0.05) compared with controls. A mixed T-helper cell 1 (Th1)/Th2 response was associated with slightly prolonged survival. These findings provide evidence that DNA vaccination with GRA2 and GRA5 is associated with Th1-like cell-mediated immune responses. It will be worthwhile to construct recombinant multiantigen combining full-length GRA2 or/and GRA5 with various antigenic proteins such as the surface antigens and rhoptry antigens to improve vaccination efficacy.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan/blood; Antigens, Protozoan/immunology*; Cricetulus; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Immunoglobulin G/blood; Immunity, Cellular; Interferon-gamma/blood; Interleukins/blood; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Spleen/cytology; Spleen/drug effects; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis/immunology*; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/blood; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/immunology; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/prevention & control*; Vaccination; Protozoan Proteins/immunology*; Protozoan Vaccines/genetics; Protozoan Vaccines/immunology*; CHO Cells; Vaccines, DNA/immunology*; Mice
  14. van Enter BJD, Lau YL, Ling CL, Watthanaworawit W, Sukthana Y, Lee WC, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2017 Jul;97(1):232-235.
    PMID: 28719309 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0999
    Toxoplasma gondii primary infection in pregnancy is associated with poor obstetric outcomes. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant migrant and refugee women from Myanmar attending antenatal care in Thailand. A random selection of 199 residual blood samples from first antenatal screen in 2014-2015 was tested for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection was 31.7% (95% confidence interval = 25.6-38.4). Avidity testing in the three positive IgM cases indicated all were past infections. Multiparity (≥ 3 children) was significantly associated with higher Toxoplasma seropositivity rates. Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in this pregnant population is similar to the only other report from Myanmar, where multiparity was also identified as a significant association. Toxoplasma infection is important in pregnant women. Nevertheless, in this marginalized population, this infection may be given less priority, due to resource constraints in providing the most basic components of safe motherhood programs.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Protozoan/blood*; Myanmar/epidemiology; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G/blood; Immunoglobulin M/blood; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Refugees*; Thailand/epidemiology; Toxoplasma/immunology*; Toxoplasmosis/blood*; Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology; Transients and Migrants*; Seroepidemiologic Studies*; Young Adult
  15. Ahmad AF, Ngui R, Ong J, Sarip F, Ismail WHW, Omar H, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2017 Jul;97(1):163-165.
    PMID: 28719332 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0877
    A case of Hymenolepis diminuta infection in a 43-year-old Malaysian male with persistent abdominal colicky pain is reported. Endoscopy revealed whitish worms in the lumen of the small intestine, which were identified as H. diminuta after microscopy. Patient was successfully treated with a single dose of praziquantel (25 mg/kg).
    MeSH terms: Adult; Animals; Cities; Humans; Hymenolepiasis/diagnosis*; Hymenolepiasis/epidemiology; Hymenolepiasis/parasitology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Urban Population; Hymenolepis diminuta/isolation & purification*
  16. Mostert D, Molina AB, Daniells J, Fourie G, Hermanto C, Chao CP, et al.
    PLoS One, 2017;12(7):e0181630.
    PMID: 28719631 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181630
    Fusarium oxysporum formae specialis cubense (Foc) is a soil-borne fungus that causes Fusarium wilt, which is considered to be the most destructive disease of bananas. The fungus is believed to have evolved with its host in the Indo-Malayan region, and from there it was spread to other banana-growing areas with infected planting material. The diversity and distribution of Foc in Asia was investigated. A total of 594 F. oxysporum isolates collected in ten Asian countries were identified by vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) analysis. To simplify the identification process, the isolates were first divided into DNA lineages using PCR-RFLP analysis. Six lineages and 14 VCGs, representing three Foc races, were identified in this study. The VCG complex 0124/5 was most common in the Indian subcontinent, Vietnam and Cambodia; whereas the VCG complex 01213/16 dominated in the rest of Asia. Sixty-nine F. oxysporum isolates in this study did not match any of the known VCG tester strains. In this study, Foc VCG diversity in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Sri Lanka was determined for the first time and VCGs 01221 and 01222 were first reported from Cambodia and Vietnam. New associations of Foc VCGs and banana cultivars were recorded in all the countries where the fungus was collected. Information obtained in this study could help Asian countries to develop and implement regulatory measures to prevent the incursion of Foc into areas where it does not yet occur. It could also facilitate the deployment of disease resistant banana varieties in infested areas.
    MeSH terms: Asia; Fungal Proteins/genetics; Fusarium/genetics; Fusarium/physiology*; Mutation; Genetic Variation; Musa/microbiology*; Host Specificity*
  17. Ahad A, Khoo EM
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2017 Jul;29(5):422-429.
    PMID: 28719788 DOI: 10.1177/1010539517717766
    Children with uncontrolled asthma have high risk of poor health outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess asthma control and care in primary school children with reported asthma. A total of 6441 primary school children were first screened for parent-reported physician-diagnosed asthma and 448 (8.9%) children were reported to have asthma. Of these, 311 (69.4%) parents
    agreed to participate in assessment of asthma control study using Global Initiative for Asthma
    2009 guidelines. Only 161 (51.8%) children were found to have good asthma control, 99 (31.8%) had partly controlled asthma, and 51 (16.4%) had uncontrolled asthma in the past one week. In the past 1 year, 157 (50.5%) children had asthma exacerbations, 21 (6.8%) had hospitalizations, and 104 (33.4%) had received emergency asthma care. Only 108 (34.7%) asthmatic children received regular follow-up care. Controller medications were underutilized (12.2%) compared to reliever medications (35.0%). Asthma control among primary school children was poor indicating suboptimal care.
    Keywords: asthma, control, exacerbation, management, school childrenStudy site: primary schools, Port Dickson District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
    MeSH terms: Asthma/prevention & control*; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emergency Medical Services/utilization; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data; Humans; Malaysia; Schools; Guidelines as Topic; Anti-Asthmatic Agents/therapeutic use
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