Foreign bodies in the laryngotracheobronchial tree are not uncommon. Their clinical presentations, the radiological and endoscopic findings in sixteen cases that presented to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia were reviewed. The technique of removal is also discussed.
Study site: Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (UKM unit)
We surveyed parents of school-aged hearing impaired children to investigate their awareness and knowledge of the special needs of their child, especially in the area of the usage of hearing aids and methods of communication. Questionnaires were distributed to parents of hearing impaired children at 13 special schools for the deaf in Malaysia. Out of 1,267 questionnaires given out, 787 (62.1%) were completed and returned. Results of the survey indicated the majority of parents (68.6%) suspected hearing loss late, that is after their child's first birthday, and there was a significant time lag before the suspicion was confirmed. Over 82.8% of the children were diagnosed only after 1 year of age, with 41.3% being diagnosed after 3 years of age. Hearing aids were fitted late (mean = 5.32 years; SD = 2.66). Hearing aid ownership was influenced by the factors of socio-economic level and ethnic group (p < 0.01) whereas knowledge of use and proper care of the aids was influenced by socio-economic level (p < 0.01). Communication methods were generally inappropriate with 41.3% of the mothers and 48.5% of the fathers reporting ignorance of Bahasa Malaysia Kod Tangan, the sign language that is commonly used by their children. The parents' choice of communication method was not significantly influenced by socio-economic level or ethnic group. The study revealed the present inadequate state of services available for the rehabilitation of children with congenital hearing impairment.
The effect of metal cations, both nonhydrolyzable and hydrolyzable, on the zeta potential of palm olein emulsions stabilized by the nonionic emulsifier, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether, was investigated as a function of pH and cation concentrations, respectively. The oil drops were found to be negatively charged in the presence of simple mono- and divalent cations. Charge reversal of the oil drops was observed when hydrolyzable cations (Zn2+, Cu2+, Fe3+, and Al3+) were used and the behavior is strongly dependent on the type of cation, its concentration, and the pH of the dispersion. The results are discussed in terms of current theories of electrophoresis and adsorption-precipitation at interfaces. The chemical free energies of adsorption of the cations were calculated. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.
An epidemiological study of 101 consecutive musculoskeletal sarcomas seen at the Institute of Radiotherapy and Oncology between 1995 and 1999 inclusive was carried out. The commonest sarcomas seen were osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's Sarcoma, liposarcoma, leimyosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and chondrosarcoma; which collectively accounted for 84.2% of the group. Thirty patients (29.7%) presented with metastases. The commonest site of occurrence was lower extremity with 47.5%, followed by 34.7% in the trunk and peritoneum/axial skeleton, 9.9% in the head and neck region; and 7.90 in the upper extremity. We found no apparent relationship between race and incidence osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma, as was reported by previous workers.
A reversed-phased HPLC method that allows the separation and simultaneous determination of the preservatives benzoic (BA) and sorbic acids (SA), methyl- (MP) and propylparabens (PP) is described. The separations were effected by using an initial mobile phase of methanol-acetate buffer (pH 4.4) (35:65) to elute BA, SA and MP and changing the mobile phase composition to methanol-acetate buffer (pH 4.4) (50:50) thereafter. The detector wavelength was set at 254 nm. Under these conditions, separation of the four components was achieved in less than 23 min. Analytical characteristics of the separation such as limit of detection, limit of quantification, linear range and reproducibility were evaluated. The developed method was applied to the determination of 67 foodstuffs (mainly imported), comprising soft drinks, jams, sauces, canned fruits/vegetables, dried vegetables/fruits and others. The range of preservatives found were from not detected (nd)--1260, nd--1390, nd--44.8 and nd--221 mg kg(-1) for BA, SA, MP and PP, respectively.
Comet 17P/Holmes was discovered by Edwin Holmes on 6 November 1892 while he was conducting regular observations of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). Calculations using observation of its orbits established the perihelion date as 13 June and the orbital period as 6.9 years. The 1899 and 1906 appearances were observed, but the comet was only seen again in 1964. The comet has since been
observed on every subsequent return.
Recurrent supratentorial extraventricular ependymoma in a four-year-old Malay boy treated twice surgically in combination with cranial radiotherapy is reported. He presented with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and a history of focal seizure. Computed tomography of the brain showed a left supratentorial extraventricular cystic lesion causing a mass effect. The tumour histology was ependymoma (WHO grade II). The clinical course, radiological characteristics and management of this tumour are discussed. Molecular genetic analysis of p53 and p27 genes revealed substitution of nucleotide G to C at location nucleotide 12139, exon 4 of gene p53. No alteration was detected at exon 5-6 and 8 of p53 gene and exon 1 and 2 of p27 gene.
Comet Lulin was discovered by Lin Chi-Sheng and Ye Quanzhi using the 16-inch telescope at Lulin Observatory in Nantou, Taiwan in 2007. According to Brian Marsden of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, it reached its perihelion on 10 January 2009 at a distance of 113 million
km from the Sun. It moves in a very nearly parabolic retrograde (‘backwards’ compared to the movement of the planets) orbit at an inclination of 1.6 degrees from the ecliptic (“Newfound Comet Lulin to Grace Night Skies”). http://www.space.com/spacewatch/090206-ns-cometlulin.html). It passed nearest to the Earth at a distance of 61 million km on 23 February 2009.
In the mol-ecule of pinnatane A, C(30)H(48)O(3), isolated from the bark of Walsura pinnata Hassk, the four cyclo-hexane rings adopt chair conformations; the carboxyl and hydr-oxy substituents occupy axial positions. The cyclo-hexene ring is envelope-shaped. Adjacent mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a chain running along the c axis.
In the title compound, C(17)H(17)NO(2), the phenyl-ene rings are bent with respect to the carbon-carbon double bond [dihedral angle between rings = 39.6 (1)°]. The acetamido group is twisted out of the plane of the aromatic ring [dihedral angle = 44.2 (1)°] in order to form an N-H⋯O hydrogen bond to the acetamido group of an adjacent mol-ecule, generating a zigzag chain running along the c axis.
In the title compound, C(17)H(17)NO(2), the phenyl-ene rings are nearly coplanar [dihedral angle 7.3 (1)°]. The acetamido group is twisted out of the plane of the aromatic ring in order to form an N-H⋯O hydrogen bond to the acetamido group of an adjacent mol-ecule, generating a helical chain running along the b axis.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) practising in Malaysia face similar dilemmas as their counterparts in more developed countries when it comes to deciding on discharge/termination of services for their patients. Furthermore, discharge dilemmas appear to be a frequent and inevitable part of their everyday practice. In an interview conducted for the purpose of this paper, it was clear that many SLPs found it difficult to articulate or justify the process they took to reach a decision on whether or not to terminate their services or discharge their patients. Much of the difficulty is anchored on the need to be realistic and function within the confines of limited resources. Malaysian SLPs were aware of the ideals that had to be abandoned along the way but had not allowed guilt to dissuade or discourage them from providing what they perceived as the next best available service. The not-so ideal decisions made by these SLPs may be frowned upon by international standards but must be examined within the local historical perspective of the development of the SLP profession in Malaysia. The dilemma will continue until the country produces SLPs in sufficient numbers but the profession is reminded that less-than-ideal practices may perpetuate over time into unhealthy traditions that will require major efforts to be undone.
A phytochemical study on the bark of Neisosperma oppositifolia (Apocynaceae) yielded two new beta-carboline indole alkaloids, oppositinines A (1) and B (2), together with five known alkaloids, isoreserpiline, isocarapanaubine, vobasine, 10-methoxydihydrocorynantheol-N-oxide, and ochropposinine oxindole. Structural elucidation of 1 and 2 was performed using 2D NMR methods. Oppositinines A (1) and B (2) showed potent vasorelaxant effects on the rat aorta.
A phytochemical study of the bark of Alseodaphne perakensis has yielded three aporphine alkaloids: the new compound N-cyanomethylnorboldine (1), and the two known alkaloids N-methyllaurotetanine (2) and norboldine (3). The isolation was achieved by chromatographic techniques and the structural elucidation was performed via spectral methods, notably 1D- and 2D-NMR, UV, IR, and HRFABMS. The vasorelaxation activity of compound 1 has been studied.
The purpose of the study was to investigate relationships between vocal fold vibrations and voice quality. Laryngeal images obtained from high-speed digital imaging (HSDI) were examined for their open-closed timing characteristics and perturbation values. A customized software delineated the glottal edges and used the Hilbert transform-based method of analysis to provide objective quantification of glottal perturbation. Overlay tracings of the transformed glottal cycles provided visual patterns on the overall vibratory dynamics. In this paper, we described the use of this method in looking at vibratory characteristics of a group of young female speakers (N=23). We found that, females with no voice complaints and who had been perceived to have normal voices were not a homogeneous group in terms of their glottal vibratory patterns during phonation. Their vibratory patterns showed characteristics similar to exemplar voices targeted to be clear (50%), pressed (27%), breathy (15%), or a mixed quality (8%). Perturbation range in terms of cycle-to-cycle frequency and amplitude was small and did not discriminate patterns. All these patterns yielded perceptually normal voices suggesting that in normal young speakers, the level of perturbation may be more important to the judgment than the actual pattern of closure.
Girinimbine, a carbazole alkaloid isolated from the stem bark of Murraya koenigii was tested for the in vitro anti-tumour promoting and antioxidant activities. Anti-tumour promoting activity was determined by assaying the capability of this compound to inhibit the expression of early antigen of Epstein-Barr virus (EA-EBV) in Raji cells that was induced by the tumour promoter, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The concentration of this compound that gave an inhibition rate at fifty percent was 6.0 µg/mL and was not cytotoxic to the cells. Immunoblotting analysis of the expression of EA-EBV showed that girinimbine was able to suppress restricted early antigen (EA-R). However, diffused early antigen (EA-D) was partially suppressed when used at 32.0 µg/mL. Girinimbine exhibited a very strong antioxidant activity as compared to a-tocopherol and was able to inhibit superoxide generation in the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced differentiated premyelocytic HL-60 cells more than 95%, when treated with the compound at 5.3 and 26.3 µg/mL, respectively. However girinimbine failed to scavenge the stable diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH)-free radical.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
The consumption of Mitragyna speciosa (MS) for its psychoactive effects is widely reported amongst people in the villages in Thailand and Malaysia even though its use is illegal.
AIM OF THE STUDY: This study examined the pattern of MS use, its reported effects and explored its potential to cause dependence.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used both convenience and snowball-sampling methods to recruit participants in a border town between two northern states in Malaysia. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the use of a structured questionnaire on 562 respondents who gave oral consent to participate in the study.
RESULTS: The response rate was 91%. The majority of the respondents (88%) reported daily use of MS. The main mode of using MS was by drinking the MS extract as tea (90%). The mean age of starting MS use was 28.3 (SD=8.1) years. A variety of reasons were given for using MS including for social and recreational needs, stamina and physical endurance, pain relief and improved sexual performance. Despite its reported usefulness in weaning off opiate addiction, 460 (87%) admitted they were not able to stop using MS. Only education level had a statistically significant association with the ability to stop or not stop the use of MS (χ(2)=31.0, df=1, p<0.001). Significantly higher proportions of those with a lower education level (38%) were able to stop using MS compared to respondents with a higher education level.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides important information on the pattern of MS use, its effects and its potential to cause addiction, as there has been growing interest in MS as evidenced by the number of advertisements for its sale on the Internet. Future study is required to explore its psychological and social impact on users.
A high proportion of the geriatric population suffers from presbylaryngis and presbyphonia; however, our knowledge of vibratory patterns in this population is almost nonexistent. In this study, we investigate the vocal fold vibratory patterns of healthy elderly females to determine which features or combination of them could best describe the geriatric voices.