Browse publications by year: 2021

  1. Saleh MA, Hanapiah FA, Hashim H
    Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol, 2021 08;16(6):580-602.
    PMID: 32706602 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2019.1685016
    PURPOSE: Technological advances in robotics have brought about exciting developments in different areas such as education, training, and therapy. Recent research has suggested that the robot can be even more effective in rehabilitation, therapy, and education for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this paper, a comprehensive review of robotic technology for children with ASD is presented wherein a large number of journals and conference proceedings in science and engineering search engines' databases were implicated.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search for related literature was conducted in three search engines' databases, Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore. Thematic keywords were used to identify articles in the recent ten years in titles, keywords, and abstracts. The retrieved articles were filtered, analysed, and evaluated based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.

    RESULTS: A total of 208 studies were retrieved, while 166 met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies were reviewed according to the type of robot, the participants, objectives, and methods. 68 robots were used in all studies, NAO robot was used in 30.5% of those studies. The total number of participants in all studies was 1671. The highest percentage of the studies reviewed were dedicated to augmenting the learning skills.

    CONCLUSIONS: Robots and the associated schemes were used to determine their feasibility and validity for augmenting the learning skills of autistic children. Most of the studies reviewed were focused on improving the social communication skills of autistic children and measuring the extent of robot mitigation of stereotyped autistic behaviours.Implications for rehabilitationSocial robots are not considered as promising tools to be utilized for rehabilitation of autistic children only, but also has been used for children and young people with severe intellectual disability.Rehabilitation for individuals with ASD using robots can augment their cognitive and social skills, but further studies should be conducted to clarify its effectiveness based on other factors such as sex, age and IQ of the participates.Robotic-based rehabilitation is not limited to the physical robots only, but virtual robots have been used also, whereas each of which can be used individually or simultaneously. However, further study is required to assess the extent of its efficiency and effectiveness for both cases.

    MeSH terms: Autism Spectrum Disorder*; Adolescent; Autistic Disorder*; Child; Communication; Humans; Robotics*; Technology
  2. Tee HK, Zainol MI, Sam IC, Chan YF
    Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, 2021 06;19(6):733-747.
    PMID: 33183118 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2021.1851194
    Introduction: Hand, foot, and mouth disease caused by enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is more frequently associated with neurological complications and deaths compared to other enteroviruses.Areas covered: The authors discuss current understanding of the neuropathogenesis of EV-A71 based on various clinical, human, and animal model studies. The authors discuss the important advancements in virus entry, virus dissemination, and neuroinvasion. The authors highlight the role of host immune system, host genetic factors, viral quasispecies, and heparan sulfate in EV-A71 neuropathogenesis.Expert opinion: Comparison of EV-A71 with EV-D68 and PV shows similarity in primary target sites and dissemination to the central nervous system. More research is needed to understand cellular tropisms, persistence of EV-A71, and other possible invasion routes. EV-A71 infection has varied clinical manifestations which may be attributed to multiple receptors usage. Future development of antivirals and vaccines should target neurotropic enteroviruses. Repurposing drug and immunomodulators used in combination could reduce the severity of EV-A71 infection. Only a few drugs have been tested in clinical trials, and in the absence of antiviral and vaccines (except China), active virus surveillance, good hand hygiene, and physical distancing should be advocated. A better understanding of EV-A71 neuropathogenesis is critical for antiviral and multivalent vaccines development.
  3. Haranal M, Srimurugan B, Sivalingam S
    PMID: 33957784 DOI: 10.1177/02184923211015092
    BACKGROUND: Vascular rings are aortic arch anomalies with a spectrum of manifestations ranging from asymptomatic lesions detected incidentally to an acute presentation secondary to tracheo-esophageal compression. Circumflex retro-esophageal aortic arch is an extreme form of true vascular ring. It remains an uncharted territory to many surgeons.

    METHODS: A comprehensive search of peer reviewed journals was completed based on the key words, "Circumflex aorta," "Circumflex retro-esophageal aorta" and "circumflex arch" using Google scholar, Scholars Portal Journals and PubMed. The reference section for each article found was searched to obtain additional articles. Literature on the circumflex aorta was reviewed starting from the embryogenesis to the latest management strategies.

    RESULTS: Right circumflex aorta is more prevalent compared to left circumflex aorta. It can occur in isolation or in association with other intracardiac lesions. Mainly presents in children, however reported in adults too. The presentation may vary from asymptomatic lesion to acute respiratory distress secondary to airway compression. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are important tools in delineating the vascular anatomy. Aortic uncrossing is the definitive procedure. However, the role of concomitant tracheobronchopexy is emerging. Native tissue-to-tissue anastomosis is commonly preferred, but cases of extra-anatomic grafts are reported.

    CONCLUSION: Circumflex aorta is amenable to complete repair. Preoperative delineation of anatomy is important for successful surgical outcome. Division of the retro-esophageal segment is crucial in relieving the compressive symptoms. In addition, tracheobronchopexy is helpful in addressing residual tracheomalacia but this accounts for a high-risk surgery.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Anastomosis, Surgical; Aorta; Aorta, Thoracic; Aortic Arch Syndromes; Child; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Periodicals as Topic; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Trachea; Treatment Outcome; PubMed; Embryonic Development; Tracheomalacia; Surgeons
  4. Manaf RA, Mahmud A, Ntr A, Saad SR
    BMC Public Health, 2021 05 06;21(1):876.
    PMID: 33957870 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10917-3
    BACKGROUND: The challenges faced by healthcare personnel in relation to dengue prevention and control are perennial but noticeably unexplored. It is often difficult to translate policies and decision making by the elite into astute management in consonance with the needs of rank-and-file personnel. In this study, we assess the impact of governance on dengue prevention and control activities in Malaysia as narrated by the elite.

    METHODS: A qualitative study using a case-study approach was conducted between January 2019 and November 2019 in the districts of Gombak and Klang, where the relevant key informants were located. Nineteen interviews were conducted among elite healthcare personnel from different divisions: management, vector, laboratory, inspectorate, health promotion and entomology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The sample size was determined through saturation point criteria. Purposive sampling techniques were used to recruit the participants. The interviews were audio recorded, and the transcribed text was analysed with deductive thematic analysis.

    RESULTS: Data analysis led to the development of 5 themes and 13 categories. The major principles of governance were embodied in a milieu of predicament, linked to constraints but also opportunities. The constraints resulted from inherent determinants of dengue outbreaks, the serviceability of governing policies and the macro-economics of budget allocation. The opportunities to sustain governance at the local operating level stem from a prevalent supportive internal management system, collaborative efforts among corresponding external government agencies and willingness to innovate and embrace novel technology.

    CONCLUSION: Elites are influential, often well-informed personnel tasked with making decisions that can reverberate across an organisation, impacting future plans and strategic policies. Political arrangements at higher levels will reflect in advance the tone of how governance in dengue prevention and control is operationalised by entities and individuals at lower levels of the health system. The prevailing centralised structure in the Malaysian health system will continue to entrench the position of the elite and intertwine it with governance and its predicaments.

    MeSH terms: Government Programs*; Health Personnel; Humans; Malaysia; Qualitative Research
  5. Sharif Nia H, Mohammadinezhad M, Allen KA, Boyle C, Pahlevan Sharif S, Rahmatpour P
    Palliat Support Care, 2021 May 07.
    PMID: 33958021 DOI: 10.1017/S1478951521000407
    OBJECTIVE: The spiritual well-being scale (SWBS) is a widely used clinical scale which should be evaluated for Iranian patients with cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the SWBS in Iranian patients with cancer.

    METHOD: This cross-sectional, methodological study was conducted among Iranian patients with cancer (n = 400). The participants were recruited using convenience sampling. The content, construct, convergent and discriminant validity, and reliability of the Persian version of the SWBS were evaluated.

    RESULTS: A two-factor structure for the scale was indicated with the factors being: connecting with God and meaningless life that explained 54.18% of the total variance of the concept of spiritual well-being. The results demonstrated the model had a good fit. Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and the inter-item correlation values of the factors indicated good internal consistency of the scale.

    SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: These results suggest that the Persian version of the SWBS is a reliable and valid measure to assess the spiritual well-being of patients with cancer through 16 items related to connecting with God and meaningless life.

    MeSH terms: Cross-Sectional Studies; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Humans; Iran; Neoplasms; Psychometrics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Reproducibility of Results
  6. Kow CS, Abdul Sattar Burud I, Hasan SS
    Mayo Clin Proc, 2021 05;96(5):1365-1367.
    PMID: 33958065 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.03.001
    MeSH terms: Histamine H2 Antagonists/adverse effects; Humans; RNA, Viral; Famotidine*
  7. Lim WTH, Ooi EH, Foo JJ, Ng KH, Wong JHD, Leong SS
    Ultrasound Med Biol, 2021 08;47(8):2033-2047.
    PMID: 33958257 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.03.030
    Early detection of chronic kidney disease is important to prevent progression of irreversible kidney damage, reducing the need for renal transplantation. Shear wave elastography is ideal as a quantitative imaging modality to detect chronic kidney disease because of its non-invasive nature, low cost and portability, making it highly accessible. However, the complexity of the kidney architecture and its tissue properties give rise to various confounding factors that affect the reliability of shear wave elastography in detecting chronic kidney disease, thus limiting its application to clinical trials. The objective of this review is to highlight the confounding factors presented by the complex properties of the kidney, in addition to outlining potential mitigation strategies, along with the prospect of increasing the versatility and reliability of shear wave elastography in detecting chronic kidney disease.
    MeSH terms: Forecasting; Hemodynamics; Humans; Kidney/blood supply; Anisotropy
  8. Karleen C, Saniasiaya J
    BMJ Case Rep, 2021 May 06;14(5).
    PMID: 33958365 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-241807
    MeSH terms: Humans; Nose; Pharynx
  9. Ahmad Sabri NS, Mohd Zulkeflle SN, Yusof N, Md Akhir FN, Othman N, Zakaria Z, et al.
    Microbiol Resour Announc, 2021 May 06;10(18).
    PMID: 33958405 DOI: 10.1128/MRA.00332-21
    Staphylococcus spp. are Gram-positive bacteria that reside within the normal microbiota of humans and animals but pose a health threat as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes. Here, we present the draft genome sequences of three Staphylococcus sp. strains isolated from hospital wastewater in Malaysia that demonstrated resistance to multiple antibiotics.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Hospitals; Humans; Malaysia; Staphylococcus; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Waste Water; Microbiota
  10. Yunan NAM, Shin TY, Sabaratnam V
    J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2021 Jun 28;31(6):823-832.
    PMID: 33958505 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2103.03020
    Mushroom cultivation along with the palm oil industry in Malaysia have contributed to large volumes of accumulated lignocellulosic residues that cause serious environmental pollution when these agroresidues are burned. In this study, we illustrated the utilization of lignocellulolytic enzymes from the spent mushroom substrate of Pleurotus pulmonarius for the hydrolysis of palm oil mill effluent (POME). The hydrolysate was used for the production of biohydrogen gas and enzyme assays were carried out to determine the productivities/activities of lignin peroxidase, laccase, xylanase, endoglucanase and β-glucosidase in spent mushroom substrate. Further, the enzyme cocktails were concentrated for the hydrolysis of POME. Central composite design of response surface methodology was performed to examine the effects of enzyme loading, incubation time and pH on the reducing sugar yield. Productivities of the enzymes for xylanase, laccase, endoglucanase, lignin peroxidase and β-glucosidase were 2.3, 4.1, 14.6, 214.1, and 915.4 U g-1, respectively. A maximum of 3.75 g/l of reducing sugar was obtained under optimized conditions of 15 h incubation time with 10% enzyme loading (v/v) at a pH of 4.8, which was consistent with the predicted reducing sugar concentration (3.76 g/l). The biohydrogen cumulative volume (302.78 ml H2.L-1 POME) and 83.52% biohydrogen gas were recorded using batch fermentation which indicated that the enzymes of spent mushroom substrate can be utilized for hydrolysis of POME.
  11. Nisa CF, Bélanger JJ, Faller DG, Buttrick NR, Mierau JO, Austin MMK, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2021 May 06;11(1):9669.
    PMID: 33958617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88314-4
    This paper examines whether compliance with COVID-19 mitigation measures is motivated by wanting to save lives or save the economy (or both), and which implications this carries to fight the pandemic. National representative samples were collected from 24 countries (N = 25,435). The main predictors were (1) perceived risk to contract coronavirus, (2) perceived risk to suffer economic losses due to coronavirus, and (3) their interaction effect. Individual and country-level variables were added as covariates in multilevel regression models. We examined compliance with various preventive health behaviors and support for strict containment policies. Results show that perceived economic risk consistently predicted mitigation behavior and policy support-and its effects were positive. Perceived health risk had mixed effects. Only two significant interactions between health and economic risk were identified-both positive.
    MeSH terms: Communicable Disease Control; Employment*; Health Status; Humans; Perception; Risk; Work; Health Behavior; Pandemics/prevention & control
  12. Kamarundzaman A, Abu Bakar AS, Azman A, Omar AZ, Talik NA, Supangat A, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2021 May 06;11(1):9724.
    PMID: 33958689 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89201-8
    We demonstrated high-quality single crystalline a-plane undoped-gallium nitride grown on a nonpatterned r-plane sapphire substrate via metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. The effect of four different numbers of sandwiched strain-periodic AlN/GaN multilayers on the strain state, crystal quality, optical and electrical properties was investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy showed that the surface morphology was improved upon insertion of 120 pairs of AlN/GaN thin layers with a root-mean-square roughness of 2.15 nm. On-axis X-ray ω-scan rocking curves showed enhanced crystalline quality: the full width at half maximum decreased from 1224 to 756 arcsec along the [0001] direction and from 2628 to 1360 arcsec along the [1-100] direction for a-GaN grown with 120 pairs of AlN/GaN compared to a-GaN without AlN/GaN pairs. Reciprocal space mapping showed that a-plane GaN with a high number of AlN/GaN pairs exhibits near-relaxation strain states. Room-temperature photoluminescence spectra showed that the sample with the highest number of AlN/GaN pairs exhibited the lowest-intensity yellow and blue luminescence bands, indicating a reduction in defects and dislocations. The a-plane InGaN/GaN LEDs with 120 pairs of SSPM-L AlN/GaN exhibited a significant increase (~ 250%) in light output power compared to that of LEDs without SSPM-L AlN/GaN pairs.
  13. Ng PKL
    Zookeys, 2021;1031:133-141.
    PMID: 33958910 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1031.63134
    A new species of semi-terrestrial crab of the genus Geosesarma (Sesarmidae) is described from a limestone cave in central Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Geosesarma sodalissp. nov. is characterised by its quadrate carapace, absence of a flagellum on the exopod of the third maxilliped, presence of 10 or 11 sharp tubercles on the dactylus of the chela and a diagnostic male first gonopod structure. This is the sixth species of Geosesarma reported from Sarawak, and the first member of the genus collected from inside caves.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Borneo; Calcium Carbonate; Brachyura; Cyprinidae; Flagella; Malaysia; Male; Seafood; Animal Shells
  14. Marzuki MEB, Liew TS, Mohd-Azlan J
    Zookeys, 2021;1035:1-113.
    PMID: 33958931 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1035.60843
    This study presents a list of land snails and slugs found on limestone hills in the District of Bau, the state of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. Systematic and random sampling for land snails was conducted at eight limestone outcrops, namely, Gunung Stulang, Padang Pan, Gunung Kapor, Gunung Lobang Angin, Gunung Doya, Gunung Batu, Bukit Sekunyit and Gunung Sebayat. A total of 122 land snail species was documented with photographs of each species. Of the 122 species collected, 13 are new to science, namely, Acmella bauensissp. nov., Japonia bauensissp. nov., Plectostoma margaretchanaesp. nov., Microcystina arabiisp. nov., Microcystina atonisp. nov., Microcystina pariparisp. nov., Microcystina liratasp. nov., Microcystina oswaldbrakenisp. nov., Microcystina kilatsp. nov., Philalanka jambusanensissp. nov., Everettia microrhytidasp. nov., Everettia minutasp. nov., and Paralaoma sarawakensissp. nov.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Borneo; Calcium Carbonate; Malaysia; Snails; Animal Distribution
  15. Souma J
    Biodivers Data J, 2021;9:e63188.
    PMID: 33958947 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e63188
    Background: The lace bug genus Eritingis Drake and Ruhoff, 1962 is widely distributed in the Australian and Oriental Regions, whereas only a single species, E. recentis (Drake and Poor, 1937), has been recorded from the Oriental Region. To date, E. recentis is known to occur in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Vietnam, but has not been recorded from Japan and Thailand.

    New information: Eritingis and E. recentis are recorded from Japan and Thailand for the first time.

    MeSH terms: Australia; Humans; Indonesia; Japan; Malaysia; Papua New Guinea; Singapore; Thailand; Vietnam; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Continental Population Groups
  16. Abdullah JM
    Malays J Med Sci, 2021 Apr;28(2):1-14.
    PMID: 33958956 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.2.1
    Last year, there was an increase in the amount of manpower in Malaysia, especially in terms of the numbers of neurosurgeons, cognitive neuroscientists and clinical psychologists. One way to increase the number of cognitive neurotechnologists in the country in 2021 is to allow neuroscientists to register as neurotechnologists with the Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT). The Malaysian Brain Mapping project has risen from its humble beginnings as an initiative of the Universiti Sains Malaysia Brain Mapping Group in 2017. There is currently a proposal for its entry into the national arena via the Precision Medicine Initiative with the Academy Science Malaysia, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Health. The current Malaysian Government's Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy (STIE) plan was launched in 2020, leading to the establishment of neurotechnology as one of 10 STIE drivers.
    MeSH terms: Academies and Institutes; Neurosurgeons; Brain Mapping; Cognition; Drive; Government; Humans; Malaysia; Technology; Precision Medicine
  17. Bujang MA
    Malays J Med Sci, 2021 Apr;28(2):15-27.
    PMID: 33958957 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.2.2
    Determination of a minimum sample size required for a study is a major consideration which all researchers are confronted with at the early stage of developing a research protocol. This is because the researcher will need to have a sound prerequisite knowledge of inferential statistics in order to enable him/her to acquire a thorough understanding of the overall concept of a minimum sample size requirement and its estimation. Besides type I error and power of the study, some estimates for effect sizes will also need to be determined in the process to calculate or estimate the sample size. The appropriateness in calculating or estimating the sample size will enable the researchers to better plan their study especially pertaining to recruitment of subjects. To facilitate a researcher in estimating the appropriate sample size for their study, this article provides some recommendations for researchers on how to determine the appropriate sample size for their studies. In addition, several issues related to sample size determination were also discussed.
    MeSH terms: Biometry; Humans; Male; Research Design; Research Personnel; Sample Size
  18. Malek MM, Saifuddeen SM, Abdul Rahman NN, Yusof ANM, Abdul Majid WR
    Malays J Med Sci, 2021 Apr;28(2):28-38.
    PMID: 33958958 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.2.3
    An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is a document in which competent patients express their wishes regarding their preferred choice of future medical plans in the event they become incompetent. AMD is important in relation to the patient's right to refuse treatment. However, they must also consider cultural and religious values of different communities. In Islam, there are several concerns that need to be addressed, namely the validity of the AMD according to Islamic jurisprudence and patients' right to end-of-life decision-making. To address these concerns, this article refers to multiple sources of Islamic jurisprudence, such as the Quran, the tradition of Prophet Muhammad and the works of Islamic scholars related to this topic. Based on the findings, Islam does not forbid the use of AMD as a method to honour patients' wishes in their end-of-life care. Islamic jurisprudence emphasises on the importance of seeking patients' consent before carrying out any medical procedures. However, several conditions need to be given due attention, such as: i) a patient's cognitive capacity during the process of drawing up an AMD; ii) the professional views of medical experts; iii) the involvement of family members in end-of-life care and iv) the limitations of a patient's decision-making in creating an AMD.
    MeSH terms: Attention; Cognition; Death; Family; Humans; Informed Consent; Islam; Terminal Care; Advance Directives; Value of Life; Patient Rights
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