Browse publications by year: 2023

  1. Othman MK, Krishinan S, Yusof Z, W Isa WYH
    Cureus, 2023 Nov;15(11):e48405.
    PMID: 37942125 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48405
    Premature ventricular complex (PVC) is one of the most common arrhythmias detected in young patients. We report a case of a young patient with symptomatic high-burden PVC suspected to originate from the posterior right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) who underwent an electrophysiology study (EPS) and was subsequently successfully ablated with markedly reduced PVC burden. The following day, it was noted that there was a change in PVC morphology. A repeat 3D electroanatomical mapping localized the second PVC morphology to posterolateral RVOT and abolished it with radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
  2. Abdalkarem AAM, Ansaf R, Muzammil WK, Ibrahim A, Harun Z, Fazlizan A
    Heliyon, 2023 Nov;9(11):e21193.
    PMID: 37942161 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21193
    The airfoil blade is the primary component of a wind turbine, and its aerodynamic properties play a crucial role in determining the energy conversion efficiency of these blades. Many researchers have proposed different airfoil modifications intending to enhance the aerodynamic characteristics and limit the unsteady interaction with the atmospheric boundary layer. This study evaluates the benefits of mounting wedge tails (WTs) on the trailing edge of an airfoil. The aerodynamic characteristics of a 2-D, steady-state NACA 0021 airfoil featuring the wedge tails (WT) and fish wedge tails (FWT) were studied computationally by employing the shear stress transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model. Different WT and FWT configurations were studied at various wedge length (L) to wedge height (H) ratios, L/H, at the airfoil's trailing edge. The effects of different L/H ratios, including L/H > 1, L/H = 1, and L/H 
  3. Alselaim N, Gheshayan SB, Saleem MB, Alwahbi A
    J Surg Case Rep, 2023 Oct;2023(10):rjad606.
    PMID: 37942339 DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjad606
    Bullet embolization from a gunshot wound is a rare entity in trauma patients. We report a case of a 37-year-old female patient who was brought to the trauma unit after sustaining multiple gunshots to the chest and abdomen. Followed by embolization of the bullet from the right subclavian artery to the right common femoral artery. Had successful retrieval of the bullet via a transverse arteriotomy.
  4. Ismail A, Ab Razak A, Sayuti KA, Phoa PKA
    Cureus, 2023 Oct;15(10):e46670.
    PMID: 37942372 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46670
    This article discusses the case of an adult woman with comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Due to her poor response to initial treatment regimens, a brain computed tomography (CT) was performed, revealing mega cisterna magna (MCM). Subsequently, she responded well to the addition of lorazepam, a benzodiazepine, along with fluvoxamine and quetiapine XR. The clinical significance of MCM and MDD-OCD remains partially understood. Thus, this case report aims to contribute to the literature and review the treatment of benzodiazepines in relation to MCM, MDD, and OCD comorbidities.
  5. Chu C, Liu D, Wang D, Hu S, Zhang Y
    Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol, 2023;37:3946320231211795.
    PMID: 37942552 DOI: 10.1177/03946320231211795
    BACKGROUND: The TP53 gene is estimated to be mutated in over 50% of tumors, with the majority of tumors exhibiting abnormal TP53 signaling pathways. However, the exploration of TP53 mutation-related LncRNAs in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains incomplete. This study aims to identify such LncRNAs and enhance the prognostic accuracy for Hepatoma patients.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: Differential gene expression was identified using the "limma" package in R. Prognosis-related LncRNAs were identified via univariate Cox regression analysis, while a prognostic model was crafted using multivariate Cox regression analysis. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier curves. The precision of the prognostic model was assessed through ROC analysis. Subsequently, the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) algorithm were executed on the TCGA dataset via the TIDE database. Fractions of 24 types of immune cell infiltration were obtained from NCI Cancer Research Data Commons using deconvolution techniques. The protein expression levels encoded by specific genes were obtained through the TPCA database.

    RESULTS: In this research, we have identified 85 LncRNAs associated with TP53 mutations and developed a corresponding signature referred to as TP53MLncSig. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a lower 3-year survival rate in high-risk patients (46.9%) compared to low-risk patients (74.2%). The accuracy of the prognostic TP53MLncSig was further evaluated by calculating the area under the ROC curve. The analysis yielded a 5-year ROC score of 0.793, confirming its effectiveness. Furthermore, a higher score for TP53MLncSig was found to be associated with an increased response rate to immune checkpoint blocker (ICB) therapy (p = .005). Patients possessing high-risk classification exhibited lower levels of P53 protein expression and higher levels of genomic instability.

    CONCLUSION: The present study aimed to identify and validate LncRNAs associated with TP53 mutations. We constructed a prognostic model that can predict chemosensitivity and response to ICB therapy in HCC patients. This novel approach sheds light on the role of LncRNAs in TP53 mutation and provides valuable resources for analyzing patient prognosis and treatment selection.

    MeSH terms: Humans; Mutation/genetics; Prognosis; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics
  6. Isaac P, Mutusamy P, Su Yin L, Jing Wei Y, Mohd Salleh F, Abu Bakar MALb, et al.
    PMID: 37933991 DOI: 10.1128/MRA.00680-23
    Lactococcus lactis is a beneficial lactic acid bacterium commonly studied for its probiotic properties and role in dairy production. Here, we present a complete genome of Lactococcus lactis D1_2, isolated from peat swamp forests. To discover the potential antimicrobial properties, the complete genome of the strain was sequenced and analyzed.
  7. Khandaker MU, Zayadi NSB, Sani SFA, Bradley DA, Osman H, Alzamil Y, et al.
    Radiat Prot Dosimetry, 2023 Nov 02;199(18):2174-2178.
    PMID: 37934995 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncad179
    Present study concerns the radiological character of Malaysian honey. A total of 18 samples (representative of the various most common types) were obtained from various honey bee farms throughout the country. Using a high-purity germanium γ-ray spectroscopic system, the samples were analysed for the naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K. The respective range of activities (in Bq/kg) was: 3.49 ± 0.35 to 4.51 ± 0.39, 0.99 ± 0.37 to 1.74 ± 0.39 and 41.37 ± 3.26 to 105.02 ± 6.91. The estimated associated committed effective doses were derived from prevailing data on national consumption of honey, the annual dose being found low compared with the UNSCEAR reference dose limit of 290 μSv y-1. The estimated threshold consumption rate for honey indicates a maximum intake of 339 g/d, which poses an insignificant radiological risk to public health; however, the total dietary exposure may not, the guidance level of 290 μSv y-1 being applicable to dietary intake of all foodstuffs. The study is in support of the cultivation of a healthy lifestyle, acknowledging prevailing radioactivity within the environment.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Malaysia; Potassium Radioisotopes/analysis; Radiation Dosage; Thorium/analysis
  8. Nadhiya A, Khandaker MU, Mahmud S, Abdullah WH
    Radiat Prot Dosimetry, 2023 Nov 02;199(18):2224-2228.
    PMID: 37934996 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncad213
    Concentrations of heavy metals in Yellowfin and Skipjack tuna fishes from the Laccadive sea were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) to evaluate the human health hazards via their consumption. The samples were collected from different atolls of Maldives to ensure a good representation of sample distribution. The metal concentration in tuna fish is found to be below the maximum tolerable limit set by different international organisations. The target hazard quotient values for individual metals were well below the limiting value of 1, indicating an insignificant health risk via the dietary intake of fish. The maximum targeted cancer risk value was 10 -4, indicating low carcinogenic risk from the consumption of tuna fish from the Maldives. Hence, the consumption of tuna from the Laccadive Sea is safe for human health.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Eating; Environmental Monitoring; Fishes; Food Contamination/analysis; Humans; Tuna; Risk Assessment
  9. Chong CS, Tan JK, Ng BH, Lin ABY, Khoo CS, Rajah R, et al.
    J Clin Neurosci, 2023 Dec;118:132-142.
    PMID: 37935067 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2023.10.012
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: People with epilepsy frequently encounter sleep disruptions that can stem from a variety of complex factors. Epilepsy-related sleep disturbance can lead to reduced quality of life and excessive daytime hypersomnolence. Identification of sleep disturbances may help in the overall management of epilepsy patients. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and predictors of poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in epilepsy.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study on 284 epilepsy patients was performed in a local tertiary centre. The demographic and clinical epilepsy data were collected. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaires were utilised to determine the quality of life and daytime hypersomnolence of epilepsy patients, respectively.

    RESULTS: Poor sleep quality was reported in 78 (27.5%) patients while daytime hypersomnolence was present in 17 (6%) patients. The predictors of poor sleep quality include structural causes (OR = 2.749; 95% CI: 1.436, 5.264, p = 0.002), generalised seizures (OR = 1.959, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.689, p = 0.037), and antiseizure medications such as Carbamazepine (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.095, 5.001, p = 0.028) and Topiramate (OR 2.487; 95% CI: 1.028, 6.014, p = 0.043). Females are 3.797 times more likely score higher in ESS assessment (OR 3.797; 95% CI: 1.064, 13.555 p = 0.04).

    DISCUSSION: Sleep disturbances frequently coexist with epilepsy. Patients should be actively evaluated using the PSQI and ESS questionnaires. It is imperative to identify the key factors that lead to reduced sleep quality and heightened daytime sleepiness in patients with epilepsy, as this is essential to properly manage their condition.

    MeSH terms: Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Narcolepsy*; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sleep; Prevalence
  10. Dahlan NAN, Putri LK, Er CC, Ng BJ, Ooi CW, Tan LL, et al.
    ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2023 Nov 22;15(46):53371-53381.
    PMID: 37935594 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c10243
    Establishing an effective metal-free photocatalyst for sustainable applications remains a huge challenge. Herein, we developed ultrathin oxygen-doped g-C3N4 nanosheets with carbon defects (OCvN) photocatalyst via a facile gas bubble template-assisted thermal copolymerization method. A series of OCvN with different dopant amounts ranging from 0 to 10% were synthesized and used as photocatalysts under illumination of low-power (2 × 18 W, 0.18 mW/cm2) and commercially available energy-saving light bulbs. Upon testing for photocatalytic Escherichia coli inactivation, the best-performing sample, OCvN-3, demonstrated an astonishing disinfection activity of over 7-log reduction after 3 h of illumination, boasting an 18-fold improvement in its antibacterial activity compared to that of pristine g-C3N4. The enhanced performance was attributed to the synergistic effects of increased surface area, extended visible light harvesting, improved electronic conductivity, and ultralow resistance to charge transfer. This study successfully introduced a green photocatalyst that demonstrates the most effective disinfection performance ever recorded among metal-free g-C3N4 materials. Its disinfection capabilities are comparable to those of metal-based photocatalysts when they are exposed to low-power light.
  11. Nasoha NZ, Luthfi AAI, Roslan MF, Hariz HB, Bukhari NA, Manaf SFA
    Sci Rep, 2023 Nov 07;13(1):19284.
    PMID: 37935748 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46061-8
    This study explores utilizing pineapple peel (PP) hydrolysate as a promising carbon source for xylitol production, covering scopes from the pre-treatment to the fermentation process. The highest xylose concentration achieved was around 20 g/L via mild acid hydrolysis (5% nitric acid, 105 °C, 20-min residence time) with a solid loading of 10%. Two sets fermentability experiments were carried out of varying pH levels in synthetic media that includes acetic acid as the main inhibitors and hydrolysate supplemented with diverse nitrogen source. The results revealed that pH 7 exhibited the highest xylitol production, yielding 0.35 g/g. Furthermore, urea was found to be a highly promising and cost-effective substitute for yeast extract, as it yielded a comparable xylitol production of 0.31 g/g with marginal difference of only 0.01 g/g compared to yeast extract further highlights the viability of urea as the preferred option for reducing xylitol production cost. The absence of a significant difference between the synthetic media and hydrolysate, with only a marginal variance of 0.35 to 0.32 g/g, implies that acetic acid is indeed the primary constraint in xylitol production using PP hydrolysate. The study sheds light on PP biomass's potential for xylitol production, aligning economic benefits with environmental sustainability and waste management.
    MeSH terms: Culture Media; Fermentation; Hydrolysis; Urea; Xylitol*; Xylose; Acetic Acid; Ananas*
  12. Chen SH, Lee MC, Wang PY, Ma MH, Do Shin S, Sun JT, et al.
    Pediatr Res, 2023 Nov 07.
    PMID: 37935885 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02884-9
    BACKGROUND: To prevent school injuries, thorough epidemiological data is an essential foundation. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of school injuries in Asia and explore risk factors for major trauma.

    METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in the participating centers of the Pan-Asian Trauma Outcome Study from October 2015 to December 2020. Subjects who reported "school" as the site of injury were included. Major trauma was defined as an Injury Severity Score (ISS) value of ≥16.

    RESULTS: In total, 1305 injury cases (1.0% of 127,715 events) occurred at schools. Among these, 68.2% were children. Unintentional injuries were the leading cause and intentional injuries comprised 7.5% of the cohort. Major trauma accounted for 7.1% of those with documented ISS values. Multivariable regression revealed associations between major trauma and factors, including age, intention of injury (self-harm), type of injury (traffic injuries, falls), and body part injured (head, thorax, and abdomen). Twenty-two (1.7%) died, with six deaths related to self-harm. Females represented 28.4% of injuries but accounted for 40.9% of all deaths.

    CONCLUSIONS: In Asia, injuries at schools affect a significant number of children. Although the incidence of injuries was higher in males, self-inflicted injuries and mortality cases were relatively higher in females.

    IMPACT: Epidemiological data and risk factors for major trauma resulting from school injuries in Asia are lacking. This study identified significant risk factors for major trauma occurring at schools, including age, intention of injury (self-harm), injury type (traffic injuries, falls), and body part injured (head, thoracic, and abdominal injuries). Although the incidence of injuries was higher in males, the incidence of self-harm injuries and mortality rates were higher in females. The results of this would make a significant contribution to the development of prevention strategies and relative policies concerning school injuries.

  13. Ahire JJ, Rohilla A, Kumar V, Tiwari A
    Curr Microbiol, 2023 Nov 08;81(1):1.
    PMID: 37935938 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03526-3
    Consumption of probiotics, which are beneficial live microorganisms, has received a lot of attention because of their potential to improve health and wellness. Robust quality control measures are necessary to ensure the safety of probiotics and maximize their health effects. This review delves into the topic of quality management in probiotics, highlighting the significance of sticking to strict guidelines from manufacture to storage to distribution. Probiotic quality standards, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) implementation, quality control and testing techniques, and documentation and traceability systems are all discussed in detail. The importance of taking precautions to avoid microbial contamination, meeting all applicable regulations, and clearly marking and packaging probiotic products is also emphasized. In addition, it reviews the clinical evidence supporting the possible health advantages of probiotics and investigates the processes through which probiotics enhance health. The review continues by stressing the significance of educating and informing consumers about probiotics and their proper use in order to maximize health benefits. Probiotics' potential health benefits can be maximized and consumer faith in these helpful microbes can be bolstered by adopting thorough quality management measures to ensure their safety, efficacy, and consistency.
  14. Goh WX, Kok YY, Wong CY
    Curr Pharm Des, 2023;29(35):2827-2840.
    PMID: 37936453 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128272185231024115046
    Today, cardiovascular diseases are among the biggest public health threats worldwide. Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease with complex aetiology and pathogenesis, predispose many of these conditions, including the high mortality rate-causing ischaemic heart disease and stroke. Nevertheless, despite the alarming prevalence and absolute death rate, established treatments for atherosclerosis are unsatisfactory in terms of efficacy, safety, and patient acceptance. The rapid advancement of technologies in healthcare research has paved new treatment approaches, namely cell-based and nanoparticle-based therapies, to overcome the limitations of conventional therapeutics. This paper examines the different facets of each approach, discusses their principles, strengths, and weaknesses, analyses the main targeted pathways and their contradictions, provides insights on current trends as well as highlights any unique mechanisms taken in recent years to combat the progression of atherosclerosis.
    MeSH terms: Cardiovascular Diseases*; Chronic Disease; Coronary Artery Disease*; Humans; Myocardial Ischemia*
  15. Aziz A, Andini Putri BG, Prasetyoko D, Nugraha RE, Holilah H, Bahruji H, et al.
    RSC Adv, 2023 Oct 31;13(46):32648-32659.
    PMID: 37936636 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra05390c
    Saponin is a plant-derived chemical with an amphiphilic glycoconjugate structure extracted from sapindaceae plants like Sapindus rarak. This study investigated saponin extract of Sapindus rarak as a natural template for formation of mesoporous zeolite Y. Surface area and mesoporosity of zeolite Y were improved with optimization of Sapindus rarak extract (SRE) concentration (Y-Ln; n = 2, 5, 10 or 15 mL), reaching 216.26 m2 mesoporous area and 0.214 cm3 g-1 mesoporous volume for Y-L10 samples. A different loading of Ni was impregnated onto Y-L10 zeolite to improve Lewis/Brønsted acidity as catalysts in the deoxygenation of Reutealis trisperma oil (RTO) into hydrocarbon fuels. Impregnating 15% Ni on NaY zeolite enhanced Lewis acidity to 0.4556 mmol g-1, producing 48.8% liquid oil with 85.43% degree of deoxygenation. A high selectivity towards C15 and C17 hydrocarbon was analyzed from liquid yield, indicating the contributing factor from Lewis acidity and mesoporosity to enhance deoxygenation and prevent the hydrocracking reaction.
  16. Altaf B, Mohamed M, Jawed S, Ghazali WSW
    Pak J Med Sci, 2023;39(6):1875-1882.
    PMID: 37936729 DOI: 10.12669/pjms.39.6.7990
    OBJECTIVE: This review is aimed to study MAFLD responses of lifestyle modifications using Diet and Exercise.

    METHODS: The sources for this MAFLD review following PRISMA protocol were PubMed, Google scholar, Scopus and Science Direct. Quality of evidence was assessed by consistent results with previous studies. Assessment of quality was done by Joanna Briggs Institute criteria. Quality of evidence was assessed by GRADE approach tool.

    RESULTS: This review included 12 studies, from which five were qualitative and seven quantitative. The later showed poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyle exhibiting MAFLD which eventually affect their quality of life. Further studies suggested that by introducing healthy lifestyle in MAFLD group using diet and exercise caused reduction in BMI, obesity levels, improved glycemic control and reversal of liver fat content with improved liver enzymes.

    CONCLUSION: Subjects with MAFLD experienced poor quality of life. Altering lifestyle by diet and exercise can improve their physical wellbeing.

  17. Naeem NI, Hadie SNH, Ismail IM, Yusoff MSB
    Pak J Med Sci, 2023;39(6):1573-1583.
    PMID: 37936768 DOI: 10.12669/pjms.39.6.8430
    OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate Digital Medical Education Environment (Digi-MEE) Instrument for measuring online learning environment in medical education.

    METHODS: This series of studies involved 696 participants from May 2022 to December 2022. Following scoping review, invited modified e-Delphi experts developed consensus on the components and related items for measuring online learning environments. A panel of content experts and a group of medical students carried out content and response-process validation to determine Content Validity Index (CVI) and Face Validity Index (FVI) respectively. This was followed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis to determine Digi-MEE's factorial structure and internal consistency using SPSS version 26.0 and AMOS 26.0.

    RESULTS: Delphi experts agreed upon nine components with 73 items of initial Digi-MEE version. CVI of Digi-MEE 2.0 was more than 0.90. with FVI of Digi-MEE 3.0 of 0.87. Exploratory factor analysis yielded 46 items with 57.18% variance. Confirmatory factor analysis led to the final Digi-MEE version containing 28 items within nine components with acceptable levels of goodness of fit indices. Overall Cronbach alpha of the final Digi-MEE was more than 0.90, and for the nine components ranged between 0.62 and 0.76.

    CONCLUSION: Digi-MEE is a promising valid and reliable instrument to evaluate online education environment in medical education. Content, response-process, factorial structure, and internal consistency evidence support the validity of Digi-MEE. Medical schools can use Digi-MEE as an evaluation tool for the continuous quality improvement of online learning environments.

  18. Petrus CF, Mohd Salleh Sahimi H, Midin M, Lim JTY
    Front Psychiatry, 2023;14:1243015.
    PMID: 37937231 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1243015
    INTRODUCTION: Mental health stigma (MHS) has been a pervasive social issue and a significant barrier to treatment seeking behavior. The treatment pathways and outcomes for people with mental illness, specifically those with recurrent suicidal ideations and attempts have been influenced by how MHS was experienced in clinical practice.

    METHODS: We reported a case of a young lady diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder who had recurrent visits to various emergency departments (ED) of tertiary hospitals in Malaysia for suicidality; each time presenting with increased mortality risk and escalating near-lethal outcomes. Among the multiple ED visits after her alleged overdoses of psychotropic medications, thrice she was near-unconscious and had to be intubated for airway protection, subsequently requiring ventilatory support and ICU care. These near-lethal presentations in ED were due to her delays in seeking treatment for fear of re-experiencing the stigmatizing environment among healthcare staff and professionals in the ED.

    DISCUSSION: The impact of MHS is detrimental. Effective interventions at various levels in the clinical setting is of utmost importance to prevent the negative consequences of suicidality against MHS.

  19. Kumarasamy G, Mohd Salim NH, Mohd Afandi NS, Hazlami Habib MA, Mat Amin ND, Ismail MN, et al.
    Future Oncol, 2023 Nov;19(34):2313-2332.
    PMID: 37937446 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2023-0704
    Colorectal cancer (CRC) signifies a significant healthcare challenge in Southeast Asia. Despite advancements in screening approaches and treatment modalities, significant medical gaps remain, ranging from prevention and early diagnosis to determining targeted therapy and establishing personalized approaches to managing CRC. There is a need to expand more validated biomarkers in clinical practice. An advanced technique incorporating high-throughput mass spectrometry as a liquid biopsy to unravel a repertoire of glycoproteins and glycans would potentially drive the development of clinical tools for CRC screening, diagnosis and monitoring, and it can be further adapted to the existing standard-of-care procedure. Therefore this review offers a perspective on glycoproteomics-driven liquid biopsy and its potential integration into the clinical care of CRC in the southeast Asia region.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Protein Processing, Post-Translational
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