Browse publications by year: 2017

  1. Mazlan LF, Bachek NF, Mahamud SNA, Idris LH, Wei TS, Omar AR, et al.
    Vet World, 2017 May;10(5):542-548.
    PMID: 28620260 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.542-548
    AIM: Genotype VII Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is the most predominant NDV strains that circulating in Malaysia; thus, this study was aimed to determine the susceptibility of Japanese quails toward genotype VII NDV. Clinical signs, gross pathological lesions of organs, positive detection of virus in organs and cloacal swabs, as well as the expression of the antibody titer, were used as parameters to assess the susceptibility of Japanese quails following infection of genotype VII NDV.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 20 quails were divided into three groups (n=8 for Groups A and B; n=4 for the control group). The quails in the Groups A and B were infected via intraocular route with 0.03 ml of 103.5 ELD50 and 107.0 ELD50 of NDV strain IBS 002, respectively, while the control group received 1× phosphate-buffered saline. Cloacal swabs and necropsy were taken on day 7 post-infection for all quails were subjected to one-step reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for detection of virus and examination for gross pathological lesion, respectively. Blood serums of infected quails were taken on day 10, 14, and 21 post-day infections and were subjected for hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay.

    RESULTS: Depression and ruffled feathers, trachea rales, leg paralysis, and torticollis were shown in some of the quails in both infected groups. Based on statistical analysis, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in clinical signs between the infected groups. The results for RT-qPCR were found to be negative for all groups, and no gross pathological lesions of organs observed for quails in both infected groups. Trachea, proventriculus, and cecal tonsil were taken for the detection of NDV by RT-qPCR, and some of the organ samples showed positive detection of virus in both infected groups. HI assay showed an increase in mean titers of antibody across time and between infected groups.

    CONCLUSION: In summary, Japanese quails are susceptible to genotype VII NDV based on parameters assessed.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Coturnix; Depression; Feathers; Hemagglutination; Malaysia; Newcastle disease virus; Proventriculus; Quail; Respiratory Sounds; Torticollis; Trachea; Control Groups; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Serum; Reverse Transcription
  2. Heng SP, Letchumanan V, Deng CY, Ab Mutalib NS, Khan TM, Chuah LH, et al.
    Front Microbiol, 2017;8:997.
    PMID: 28620366 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00997
    Vibrio vulnificus is a Gram negative, rod shaped bacterium that belongs to the family Vibrionaceae. It is a deadly, opportunistic human pathogen which is responsible for the majority of seafood-associated deaths worldwide. V. vulnificus infection can be fatal as it may cause severe wound infections potentially requiring amputation or lead to sepsis in susceptible individuals. Treatment is increasingly challenging as V. vulnificus has begun to develop resistance against certain antibiotics due to their indiscriminate use. This article aims to provide insight into the antibiotic resistance of V. vulnificus in different parts of the world as well as an overall review of its clinical manifestations, treatment, and prevention. Understanding the organism's antibiotic resistance profile is vital in order to select appropriate treatment and initiate appropriate prevention measures to treat and control V. vulnificus infections, which should eventually help lower the mortality rate associated with this pathogen worldwide.
    MeSH terms: Amputation; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Humans; Wound Infection; Infection Control; Sepsis; Vibrio vulnificus
  3. Ramli D, Aziz I, Mohamad M, Abdulahi D, Sanusi J
    PMID: 28620418 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3476407
    Nerve crush injuries are commonly used models for axonotmesis to examine peripheral nerve regeneration. As evening primrose oil (EPO) is rich in omega-6 essential fatty acid component and gamma-linolenic acid, studies have shown the potential role of EPO in myelination. Seventy-two healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats were classified into three groups: normal group, control group, and experimental group. The result indicates that there was significant difference in toe-spreading reflex between the normal and the control groups (1.9 ± 0.031, p < 0.05) and the normal and the EPO groups (0.4 ± 0.031, p < 0.05) and significant difference between EPO and the control groups (1.5 ± 0.031, p < 0.05). Regeneration of axons and myelin in nerve fibre in the EPO-treated group developed better and faster than in the control group. In the control group, the shape of the axon was irregular with a thinner myelin sheath. In the experimental group, the shape of the axons, the thickness of the myelin sheath, and the diameter of the axons were almost the same as in the normal group. In conclusion, EPO supplementation may be beneficial as a therapeutic option for disturbances of nerve interaction.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Axons; Linoleic Acids; Myelin Sheath; Nerve Crush; Nerve Regeneration; Plant Oils; Reflex; Toes; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Dietary Supplements; Trauma, Nervous System; Control Groups; Rats; Crush Injuries
  4. Omar FN, Hafid HS, Samsu Baharuddin A, Mohammed MAP, Abdullah J
    Planta, 2017 Sep;246(3):567-577.
    PMID: 28620814 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-017-2717-5
    MAIN CONCLUSION: X-ray microtomography results revealed that delignification process damaged the oil palm fibers, which correlated well with reduction of lignin components and increase of the phenolic content. Biodegradation investigation of natural fibers normally focuses on physico-chemical analysis, with less emphasis on physical aspect like fiber structures affect from microbial activity. In this work, the performance of Pycnoporus sanguineus to delignify oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers through solid-state fermentation utilizing various ratio of POME sludge was reported. In addition to tensile testing, physico-chemical and X-ray microtomography (µ-CT) analyses on the oil palm fibers were conducted to determine the effectiveness of the degradation process. The best ratio of fiber to fungi (60:40) was chosen based on the highest lignin loss and total phenolic content values and further investigation was performed to obtain fermentation kinetics data of both laccase and manganese peroxidase. µ-CT results revealed that delignification process damaged the pre-treated and untreated fibers structure, as evident from volume reduction after degradation process. This is correlated with reduction of lignin component and increase of the phenolic content, as well as lower stress-strain curves of the pre-treated fibers compared to the untreated ones (from tensile testing). It is suggested that P. sanguineus preferred to consume the outer layer of the fiber, before it penetrates through the cellular structure of the inner fiber.
    MeSH terms: Biodegradation, Environmental; Fermentation; Lignin/metabolism*; Tensile Strength; Arecaceae/metabolism*; X-Ray Microtomography; Pycnoporus/metabolism
  5. Mohtor NH, Othman MHD, Ismail AF, Rahman MA, Jaafar J, Hashim NA
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2017 Jul;24(19):15905-15917.
    PMID: 28620856 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9341-6
    Despite its extraordinary price, ceramic membrane can still be able to surpass polymeric membrane in the applications that require high temperature and pressure conditions, as well as harsh chemical environment. In order to alleviate the high cost of ceramic material that still becomes one of the major factors that contributes to the high production cost of ceramic membrane, various attempts have been made to use low cost ceramic materials as alternatives to well-known expensive ceramic materials such as alumina, silica, and zirconia in the fabrication of ceramic membrane. Thus, local Malaysian kaolin has been chosen as the ceramic material in this study for the preparation of kaolin hollow fibre membrane since it is inexpensive and naturally abundant in Malaysia. Due to the fact that the sintering process plays a prominent role in obtaining the desired morphology, properties, and performances of prepared ceramic membrane, the aim of this work was to study the effect of different sintering temperatures applied (ranging from 1200 to 1500 °C) in the preparation of kaolin hollow fibre membrane via dry/wet phase inversion-based spinning technique and sintering process. The morphology and properties of membrane were then characterised by SEM, AFM, FTIR, XRD, and three-point bending test, while the performances of membrane were investigated by conducting water permeation and Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye rejection tests. From the experimental results obtained, the sintering temperature of 1400 °C could be selected as the optimum sintering temperature in preparing the kaolin hollow fibre membrane with the dense sponge-like structure of separation layer that resulted in the good mechanical strength of 70 MPa with the appreciable water permeation of 75 L/h m(2) bar and RB5 rejection of 68%.
    MeSH terms: Ceramics; Coloring Agents*; Filtration; Kaolin*; Malaysia; Temperature; Water Purification
  6. Koh DXR, Raja Sabudin RZA, Mohd Yusoff M, Hussin NH, Ahmad R, Othman A, et al.
    Ann. Hum. Genet., 2017 Sep;81(5):205-212.
    PMID: 28620953 DOI: 10.1111/ahg.12201
    Thalassaemia is a public health problem in Malaysia, with each ethnic group having their own common mutations. However, there is a lack on data on the prevalence and common mutations among the indigenous people. This cross-sectional study was performed to determine the common mutations of α- and β-thalassaemia among the subethnic groups of Senoi, the largest Orang Asli group in Peninsular Malaysia. Blood samples collected from six Senoi subethnic groups were analysed for full blood count and haemoglobin analysis (HbAn). Samples with abnormal findings were then screened for α- and β-globin gene mutations. Out of the 752 samples collected, 255 showed abnormal HbAn results, and 122 cases showing abnormal red cell indices with normal HbAn findings were subjected to molecular screening. DNA analysis revealed a mixture of α- and β-globin gene mutations with 25 concomitant cases. The types of gene abnormalities detected for α-thalassaemia were termination codon (T>C) Hb CS (αCS α), Cd59 (G>A) haemoglobin Adana (Hb Adana) (αCd59 α), initiation codon (ATG>A-G) (αIniCd α), two-gene deletion (-SEA ), and single-gene 3.7-kb deletion (-α3.7 ). For β-thalassaemia, there were Cd26 (G>A) Hb E (βE ), Cd19 (A>G) Haemoglobin Malay (Hb Malay) (βCd19 ), and IVS 1-5 (G>C) (βIVS 1-5 ).
    MeSH terms: Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA Mutational Analysis; Humans; Malaysia; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics*; alpha-Thalassemia/epidemiology; beta-Thalassemia/genetics*; beta-Thalassemia/epidemiology; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics; alpha-Globins/genetics*; beta-Globins/genetics*; Genetic Association Studies
  7. Mohd Norsuddin N, Mello-Thoms C, Reed W, Rickard M, Lewis S
    Br J Radiol, 2017 Aug;90(1076):20170048.
    PMID: 28621548 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20170048
    OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether certain mammographic appearances of breast cancer are missed when radiologists read at lower recall rates.

    METHODS: 5 radiologists read 1 identical test set of 200 mammographic (180 normal cases and 20 abnormal cases) 3 times and were requested to adhere to 3 different recall rate conditions: free recall, 15% and 10%. The radiologists were asked to mark the locations of suspicious lesions and provide a confidence rating for each decision. An independent expert radiologist identified the various types of cancers in the test set, including the presence of calcifications and the lesion location, including specific mammographic density.

    RESULTS: Radiologists demonstrated lower sensitivity and receiver operating characteristic area under the curve for non-specific density/asymmetric density (H = 6.27, p = 0.04 and H = 7.35, p = 0.03, respectively) and mixed features (H = 9.97, p = 0.01 and H = 6.50, p = 0.04, respectively) when reading at 15% and 10% recall rates. No significant change was observed on cancer characterized with stellate masses (H = 3.43, p = 0.18 and H = 1.23, p = 0.54, respectively) and architectural distortion (H = 0.00, p = 1.00 and H = 2.00, p = 0.37, respectively). Across all recall conditions, stellate masses were likely to be recalled (90.0%), whereas non-specific densities were likely to be missed (45.6%).

    CONCLUSION: Cancers with a stellate mass were more easily detected and were more likely to continue to be recalled, even at lower recall rates. Cancers with non-specific density and mixed features were most likely to be missed at reduced recall rates. Advances in knowledge: Internationally, recall rates vary within screening mammography programs considerably, with a range between 1% and 15%, and very little is known about the type of breast cancer appearances found when radiologists interpret screening mammograms at these various recall rates. Therefore, understanding the lesion types and the mammographic appearances of breast cancers that are affected by readers' recall decisions should be investigated.

    MeSH terms: Diagnostic Errors/statistics & numerical data*; Female; Humans; Mammography*; Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data*; Sensitivity and Specificity; Reproducibility of Results
  8. Khairuddin MA, Rao A
    PLoS One, 2017;12(6):e0179435.
    PMID: 28622350 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179435
    With more and more political candidates using social media for campaigning, researchers are looking at measuring the effectiveness of this medium. Most research, however, concentrates on the bare count of likes (or twitter mentions) in an attempt to correlate social media presence and winning. In this paper, we propose a novel method, Interaction Strength Plot (IntS) to measure the passive interactions between a candidate's posts on Facebook and the users (liking the posts). Using this method on original Malaysian General Election (MGE13) and Australian Federal Elections (AFE13) Facebook Pages (FP) campaign data, we label an FP as performing well if both the posting frequency and the likes gathered are above average. Our method shows that over 60% of the MGE13 candidates and 85% of the AFE13 candidates studied in this paper had under-performing FP. Some of these FP owners would have been identified as popular based on bare count. Thus our performance chart is a vital step forward in measuring the effectiveness of online campaigning.
    MeSH terms: Democracy*; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Politics*; Social Media*
  9. Walker P, Scallon G, Francis B
    Perception, 2017 Jul;46(7):772-792.
    PMID: 28622755 DOI: 10.1177/0301006616684369
    Everyday language reveals how stimuli encoded in one sensory feature domain can possess qualities normally associated with a different domain (e.g., higher pitch sounds are bright, light in weight, sharp, and thin). Such cross-sensory associations appear to reflect crosstalk among aligned (corresponding) feature dimensions, including brightness, heaviness, and sharpness. Evidence for heaviness being one such dimension is very limited, with heaviness appearing primarily as a verbal associate of other feature contrasts (e.g., darker objects and lower pitch sounds are heavier than their opposites). Given the presumed bidirectionality of the crosstalk between corresponding dimensions, heaviness should itself induce the cross-sensory associations observed elsewhere, including with brightness and pitch. Taking care to dissociate effects arising from the size and mass of an object, this is confirmed. When hidden objects varying independently in size and mass are lifted, objects that feel heavier are judged to be darker and to make lower pitch sounds than objects feeling less heavy. These judgements track the changes in perceived heaviness induced by the size-weight illusion. The potential involvement of language, natural scene statistics, and Bayesian processes in correspondences, and the effects they induce, is considered.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Color Perception/physiology*; Female; Humans; Male; Pitch Perception/physiology*; Weight Perception/physiology*; Young Adult
  10. Rupani PF, Embrandiri A, Ibrahim MH, Shahadat M, Hansen SB, Mansor NNA
    3 Biotech, 2017 Jul;7(3):155.
    PMID: 28623493 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-017-0770-1
    Several technologies are being applied for treatment of palm oil mill wastes. Among them, the biological treatments (vermicomposting) have widely been recognized as one of the most efficient and eco-friendly methods for converting organic waste materials into valuable products. The present study focuses on vermicomposting of acidic palm oil mill effluent (POME) mixed with the palm pressed fibre (PPF) which are found difficult to decompose in the environment. The industrial waste (POME) was vermicomposted using Lumbricus rubellus under laboratory conditions for a period of 45 days. A significant improvement in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content was monitored during vermicomposting process. In addition, the decline in C:N ratio of vermicompost (up to 17.20 ± 0.60) reflects the degree of stabilization of POME-PPF mixture. Different percentages of the vermicompost extract obtained from POME-PPF mixture were also examined for the germination of mung bean (Vigna radiata) seed. The results showed that 75% vermicompost extract demonstrated better performance for the seed germination. On the basis of significant findings, POME-PPF mixture can be successfully used as a feeding material for the earthworms, while on the other hand, it can also be used as a cost-effective fertilizer for the germination and the proper growth of mung bean.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Biological Phenomena; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Dietary Fiber; Fertilizers; Industrial Waste; Fabaceae; Nitrogen; Oligochaeta; Phosphorus; Potassium; Seeds; Waste Products; Germination; Vigna
  11. Chong KY, Chin NL, Yusof YA
    Food Sci Technol Int, 2017 Oct;23(7):608-622.
    PMID: 28614964 DOI: 10.1177/1082013217713331
    The effects of thermosonication on the quality of a stingless bee honey, the Kelulut, were studied using processing temperature from 45 to 90 ℃ and processing time from 30 to 120 minutes. Physicochemical properties including water activity, moisture content, color intensity, viscosity, hydroxymethylfurfural content, total phenolic content, and radical scavenging activity were determined. Thermosonication reduced the water activity and moisture content by 7.9% and 16.6%, respectively, compared to 3.5% and 6.9% for conventional heating. For thermosonicated honey, color intensity increased by 68.2%, viscosity increased by 275.0%, total phenolic content increased by 58.1%, and radical scavenging activity increased by 63.0% when compared to its raw form. The increase of hydroxymethylfurfural to 62.46 mg/kg was still within the limits of international standards. Optimized thermosonication conditions using response surface methodology were predicted at 90 ℃ for 111 minutes. Thermosonication was revealed as an effective alternative technique for honey processing.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Bees; Color; Food Handling/instrumentation*; Food Handling/methods*; Hot Temperature*; Honey/analysis*; Phenols; Sonication/methods*; Viscosity; Chemical Phenomena
  12. Vinuthinee-Naidu MN, Zunaina E, Azreen-Redzal A, Nyi-Nyi N
    BMC Ophthalmol, 2017 Jun 14;17(1):91.
    PMID: 28615022 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-017-0486-3
    BACKGROUND: Uric acid is a final breakdown product of purine catabolism in humans. It's a potent antioxidant and can also act as a pro-oxidant that induces oxidative stress on the vascular endothelial cells, thus mediating progression of diabetic related diseases. Various epidemiological and experimental evidence suggest that uric acid has a role in the etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the correlation of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and macular thickness with serum uric acid in type 2 diabetic patients.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eye Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan between the period of August 2013 till July 2015 involving type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with no diabetic retinopathy and with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). An evaluation for RNFL and macular thickness was measured using Spectralis Heidelberg optical coherence tomography. Six ml of venous blood was taken for the measurement of serum uric acid and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C).

    RESULTS: A total of 180 diabetic patients were recruited (90 patients with no diabetic retinopathy and 90 patients with NPDR) into the study. The mean level of serum uric acid for both the groups was within normal range and there was no significance difference between the two groups. Based on gender, both male and female gender showed significantly higher level of mean serum uric acid in no diabetic retinopathy group (p = 0.004 respectively). The mean serum uric acid was significantly higher in patient with HbA1C 
    MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis; Diabetic Retinopathy/blood; Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnosis*; Diabetic Retinopathy/etiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/metabolism; Hospitals, University; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Fibers/pathology*; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Prognosis; Retinal Ganglion Cells/pathology*; Retrospective Studies; Uric Acid/blood*; Visual Acuity*; Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods*
  13. Say YH
    J Physiol Anthropol, 2017 Jun 14;36(1):25.
    PMID: 28615046 DOI: 10.1186/s40101-017-0142-x
    BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that insertions/deletions (INDELs) are the second most common type of genetic variations and variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) represent a large portion of the human genome, they have received far less attention than single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and larger forms of structural variation like copy number variations (CNVs), especially in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of complex diseases like polygenic obesity. This is exemplified by the vast amount of review papers on the role of SNPs and CNVs in obesity, its related traits (like anthropometric measurements, biochemical variables, and eating behavior), and its related complications (like hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and insulin resistance-collectively known as metabolic syndrome). Hence, this paper reviews the types of INDELs and VNTRs that have been studied for association with obesity and its related traits and complications. These INDELs and VNTRs could be found in the obesity loci or genes from the earliest GWAS and candidate gene association studies, like FTO, genes in the leptin-proopiomelanocortin pathway, and UCP2/3. Given the important role of the brain serotonergic and dopaminergic reward system in obesity susceptibility, the association of INDELs and VNTRs in these neurotransmitters' metabolism and transport genes with obesity is also reviewed. Next, the role of INS VNTR in obesity and its related traits is questionable, since recent large-scale studies failed to replicate the earlier positive associations. As obesity results in chronic low-grade inflammation of the adipose tissue, the proinflammatory cytokine gene IL1RA and anti-inflammatory cytokine gene IL4 have VNTRs that are implicated in obesity. A systemic proinflammatory state in combination with activation of the renin-angiotensin system and decreased nitric oxide bioavailability as found in obesity leads to endothelial dysfunction. This explains why VNTR and INDEL in eNOS and ACE, respectively, could be predisposing factors of obesity. Finally, two novel genes, DOCK5 and PER3, which are involved in the regulation of the Akt/MAPK pathway and circadian rhythm, respectively, have VNTRs and INDEL that might be associated with obesity.

    SHORT CONCLUSION: In conclusion, INDELs and VNTRs could have important functional consequences in the pathophysiology of obesity, and research on them should be continued to facilitate obesity prediction, prevention, and treatment.

    MeSH terms: Anthropometry; Humans; Obesity/genetics*; Minisatellite Repeats/genetics*; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics; INDEL Mutation/genetics*; Genome-Wide Association Study
  14. Law JX, Chowdhury SR, Saim AB, Idrus RBH
    J Tissue Viability, 2017 Aug;26(3):208-215.
    PMID: 28615133 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtv.2017.05.003
    Advances in tissue engineering led to the development of various tissue-engineered skin substitutes (TESS) for the treatment of skin injuries. The majority of the autologous TESS required lengthy and costly cell expansion process to fabricate. In this study, we determine the possibility of using a low density of human skin cells suspended in platelet-rich plasma (PRP)-enriched medium to promote the healing of full-thickness skin wounds. To achieve this, full-thickness wounds of size 1.767 cm2 were created at the dorsum part of nude mice and treated with keratinocytes (2 × 104 cells/cm2) and fibroblasts (3 × 104 cells/cm2) suspended in 10% PRP-enriched medium. Wound examination was conducted weekly and the animals were euthanized after 2 weeks. Gross examination showed that re-epithelialization was fastest in the PRP+cells group at both day 7 and 14, followed by the PRP group and NT group receiving no treatment. Only the PRP+cells group achieved complete wound closure by 2 weeks. Epidermal layer was presence in the central region of the wound of the PRP+cells and PRP groups but absence in the NT group. Comparison between the PRP+cells and PRP groups showed that the PRP+cells-treated wound was more mature as indicated by the presence of thinner epidermis with single cell layer thick basal keratinocytes and less cellular dermis. In summary, the combination of low cell density and diluted PRP creates a synergistic effect which expedites the healing of full-thickness wounds. This combination has the potential to be developed as a rapid wound therapy via the direct application of freshly harvested skin cells in diluted PRP.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Fibroblasts/pathology; Fibroblasts/physiology; Mice, Nude/injuries; Mice, Nude/metabolism; Skin/drug effects; Skin/injuries; Wound Healing*; Keratinocytes/pathology; Keratinocytes/physiology; Soft Tissue Injuries/therapy; Skin, Artificial/standards*; Platelet-Rich Plasma/cytology*; Platelet-Rich Plasma/metabolism
  15. Chooi LK, Saad AZM, Durairajanayagam S
    Indian J Plast Surg, 2017 6 16;50(1):104-106.
    PMID: 28615821 DOI: 10.4103/ijps.IJPS_25_17
    Malignant melanoma is a potentially lethal cutaneous malignancy. Melanoma in paediatrics is rare as compared to adult melanoma. The clinicopathological characteristics of paediatric melanoma are different from adult melanoma, and the presence of melanoma mimics which occurs frequently in children (Spitz naevi) resulted in diagnosis uncertainty. We reported a 9-year-old girl who presented with a slow-growing, pyogenic granuloma-like lesion which was diagnosed with melanoma. It is important to have a high index of suspicion in paediatric skin lesion that would usually be deemed benign. Early tissue biopsy in a suspicious lesion prevents delayed diagnosis and treatment.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Biopsy; Child; Female; Humans; Melanoma; Skin Neoplasms; Granuloma, Pyogenic; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell; Uncertainty; Delayed Diagnosis
  16. Kumar MRR, Arunagirinathan N, Vignesh R, Balakrishnan P, Solomon S, Sunil SS
    J Res Med Sci, 2017;22:69.
    PMID: 28616056 DOI: 10.4103/jrms.JRMS_884_16
    MeSH terms: Humans; India; Urinary Tract Infections; HIV Infections*
  17. Yoshida N, Naito Y, Murakami T, Hirose R, Ogiso K, Inada Y, et al.
    Ann Transl Med, 2017 Apr;5(8):185.
    PMID: 28616400 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2017.03.33
    In Japan, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) becomes one of standard therapies for large colorectal tumors. Recently, the efficacy of ESD has been reported all over the world. However, it is still difficult even for Japanese experts in some situations. Right-sided location, large tumor size, high degree of fibrosis, difficult manipulation is related with the difficulty. However, improvements on ESD devices, suitable strategies, and increase of operators' experiences enable us to solve these problems. In this chapter, we introduce recent topics about various difficult factors of colorectal ESD and the tips such as strategy, devices, injection, and traction method [Pocket-creation method (PCM) etc.].
  18. Mongkhon P, Dilokthornsakul P, Tepwang K, Tapanya K, Sopitprasan C, Chaliawsin P, et al.
    Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc, 2017 Jun;15:9-14.
    PMID: 28616566 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2017.03.003
    BACKGROUND: Accessibility of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in primary care settings is limited. Referring patients to PCI-capable hospitals might increase cardiac events. Hence, fibrinolytic injection before referring patients to PCI-capable settings decreases cardiac events, however, the effect of fibrinolytic injection before the referral has not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to systematically review the effect of fibrinolytic injection before referring patients with STEMI to PCI-capable settings.

    METHODS: A systematic search with Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Google scholar, and PubMed was conducted. Studies conducted in patients with STEMI presented to non PCI-capable settings and compared fibrinolytic injection with no injection before referring patients to PCI-capable settings were included. The primary outcome was the composite outcomes of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 30 days. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effect model.

    RESULTS: Of 912 articles, three RCTs and three non-RCTs were included. Based on RCTs, fibrinolytic injection before the referral has failed to decrease MACEs compared to non-fibrinolytic injection [relative risk (RR) 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.89-1.57, p = 0.237]. Fibrinolytic injection has also failed to decrease mortality, re-infarction, and ischemic stroke. On the other hand, fibrinolytic injection was associated with a higher risk of major bleeding.

    CONCLUSIONS: In non PCI-capable settings, fibrinolytic injection before referring patients with STEMI to PCI-capable settings has no clinical benefit but could increase risk of major bleeding. Clinicians might more carefully consider whether fibrinolytic injection should be used in patients with STEMI before the referral.

    MeSH terms: Brain Ischemia; Hemorrhage; Hospitals; Humans; Primary Health Care; Referral and Consultation; Risk; Thrombolytic Therapy; Confidence Intervals; Stroke; PubMed; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
  19. M F A, Narwani H, Shuhaila A
    J Obstet Gynaecol, 2017 Oct;37(7):906-911.
    PMID: 28617056 DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2017.1312302
    Endometriosis is a complex disease primarily affecting women of reproductive age worldwide. The management goals are to improve the quality of life (QoL), alleviate the symptoms and prevent severe disease. This prospective cohort study was to assess the QoL in women with endometriosis that underwent primary surgery. A pre- and post-operative questionnaire via ED-5Q and general VAS score used for the evaluation for endometrial-like pain such as dysmenorrhoea and dyspareunia. A total of 280 patients underwent intervention; 224 laparoscopically and 56 via laparotomy mostly with stage II disease with ovarian endometriomas. Improvements in dysmenorrhoea pain scores from 5.7 to 4.15 and dyspareunia from 4.05 to 2.17 (p 
    MeSH terms: Adult; Dysmenorrhea/etiology; Dysmenorrhea/psychology; Dysmenorrhea/surgery; Dyspareunia/etiology; Dyspareunia/psychology; Dyspareunia/surgery; Endometriosis/complications; Endometriosis/psychology*; Endometriosis/surgery*; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Laparotomy/methods; Laparotomy/psychology; Malaysia; Pain Measurement; Laparoscopy/methods; Laparoscopy/psychology; Postoperative Period; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life*; Treatment Outcome; Pelvic Pain/etiology; Pelvic Pain/psychology; Pelvic Pain/surgery; Health Care Surveys
  20. Awang H, Tan LY, Mansor N, Tongkumchum P, Eso M
    J Rehabil Med, 2017 Jun 28;49(6):520.
    PMID: 28617522 DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2233
    OBJECTIVE: To examine factors associated with successful return to work among participants in a Social Security Organisation Return To Work programme.

    METHODS: Secondary data for 9,850 participants were obtained from the Social Security Organisation Return To Work database. The dependent variable was the Return To Work programme outcome, successful return to employment (same employer or different employer) or unsuccessful return. Logistic regression analysis with weighted sum contrasts was performed to assess the odds ratios with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for successful return to employment across the various subgroups of participants.

    RESULTS: Overall, 65.5% of participants successfully returned to employment, either with their former employers or with new employers. Successful return to employment was found to be significantly higher than the overall proportion among those participants who had had commuting accidents, followed by those who had had workplace accidents. Successful return to employment was also associated with injuries of the upper and lower limbs, employers who were interested in hiring disabled workers, motivation to participate in the programme, an intervention period of 3 months or less, age 29 years or younger, and male participants.

    CONCLUSION: A structured multidisciplinary intervention programme provides a positive outcome in terms of returning to work. Related factors have various impacts on successful return to work.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Employment/psychology*; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Rehabilitation/methods*; Return to Work/trends*
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