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Fulltext How E-Learning Environmental Stimuli Influence Determinates of Learning Engagement in the Context of COVID-19? SOR Model Perspective

Yang J, Peng MY, Wong S, Chong W

Front Psychol, 2021;12:584976.
PMID: 33868072 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.584976

The COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020 has changed the conventional learning mode for most students at schools all over the world, and the e-learning at home has become a new trend. Taking Chinese college students as the research subject and drawing on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model, this paper examines the relationship between the peer referent, perceived closeness, and perceived control and the learning engagement. Using data from 377 college students who have used e-learning, this study shows that perceived closeness, perceived control, and peer referents in e-learning have a positive effect on the self-efficacy and well-being of students, thus improving students' enthusiasm for learning. Our intent is to assist researchers, instructors, designers, and others in identifying effective methods to conceptualize and measure student engagement in e-learning.
Fulltext An unusual presentation of renal parenchymal malacoplakia

Teh GC, Chong WL, Manorammah L, Mah PKK, Abdullah K

Med J Malaysia, 2000 Jun;55(2):263-4.
PMID: 19839157
Fulltext Prevalence of symptomatic BPE among Malaysian men aged 50 and above attending screening during prostate health awareness campaign

Teh GC, Sahabudin RM, Lim TC, Chong WL, Woo S, Mohan M, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2001 Jun;56(2):186-95.
PMID: 11771079

Objective: To study the prevalence of symptomatic BPE among Malaysian men age 50 and above attending prostate health awareness campaign and to identify differences in prevalence between different ethnic groups residing within metropolitan Kuala Lumpur.
Materials and Methods: Demographic data and the completed International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximal uroflow rate (Qmax) and prostate size of volunteers, aged 50 and above, who attended the prostate health awareness campaign were analyzed. Subjects with known prostate diseases or prostate surgery, bladder disorders and neurological disorders were excluded.
Results: 2086 volunteers attended the campaign. 575 men fulfilled the inclusion criteria and their demographic data, IPSS; peak flow rate and prostate volume were analysed. Overall, 18.9% and 39.6% of the men were severely and moderately symptomatic, respectively. The prevalence of moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Malays, Chinese and Indians were 70%, 59% and 50% respectively (p=0.004). The commonest bothersome symptoms were nocturia (56%), frequency (50.4%) and sense of incomplete voiding (43.5%). The mean peak flow rate of the subjects was 15.4ml/s. 20.9% and 55.2% of the subjects had peak flow less than 10ml/sec and 15ml/sec respectively. The mean prostate size was 25.1cc. There is no significant difference in term of maximal flow rate and prostate size among Malays, Chinese and Indians in Malaysia. A good correlation was found between the total symptom score and the single disease-specific quality of life question (r=0.69, p<0.001). The correlation between IPSS and peak flow rate (r=-0.22, p<0.001) and prostate volume (r=0.11, p=0.009) was weak. There was no correlation between IPSS and age (r=0.06, p=0.17). The prevalence of symptomatic benign prostate enlargement (BPE) was 39.3%. The prevalence increased 8% per decade from 41.7% for men aged 50 to 59 to 65.4% for men aged 70 or more. There is no significant difference in prevalence of symptomatic BPE among the three ethnic groups. The prevalence of BPO was 15.8%.
Conclusion: The correlation between symptom score, maximal flow rate and prostate size was poor and one cannot predict the value of one parameter by knowing one or more of the other parameters. There is a high prevalence of LUTS suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction in the apparently healthy Malaysian aged 50 and above attending the prostate health awareness campaign.
Fulltext Outcomes of Renal Transplantation in Brunei Darussalam over a Twenty-Year Period (1993-2012)

Tan J, Khalil MA, Tan SY, Khalil M, Ahmed D, Zinna S, et al.

J Transplant, 2014;2014:784805.
PMID: 25478205 DOI: 10.1155/2014/784805

Objectives. Brunei Darussalam has a high prevalence and incidence of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Up until 2012, all renal transplantations were performed in overseas centres, either as government-sponsored (living-related transplantation) or as self-sponsored (commercialized transplantation) ones. We hypothesize that graft and patient survival of Brunei renal transplant patients are on a par with international standards. Materials and Methods. Data of all renal transplant patients in Brunei were analysed over a twenty-year period from registry records and case notes. Comparative survival data from other countries were obtained from PubMed-listed literature. Results. A total of 49 transplantation procedures were performed in foreign centres between 1993 and 2012. 29 were government-sponsored and 20 were self-sponsored transplantations. The 5- and 10-year overall patient survival rates were 93.3% and 90.1%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year overall graft survival rates were 91.1% and 81.2%. There is no difference in the survival outcomes of government-sponsored and self-sponsored patients. Living-related (government-sponsored) and commercialised (self-sponsored) grafts had equivalent survival to those reported in the literature. Conclusion. Our survival data was on par with those achieved in many countries. We hope to use this information to convince local stakeholders and patients to favour transplantation as the preferred modality of RRT.
Evaluation of the carotid artery stenosis based on minimization of mechanical energy loss of the blood flow

Sia SF, Zhao X, Li R, Zhang Y, Chong W, He L, et al.

Proc Inst Mech Eng H, 2016 Nov;230(11):1051-1058.
PMID: 28095764 DOI: 10.1177/0954411916671752

BACKGROUND: Internal carotid artery stenosis requires an accurate risk assessment for the prevention of stroke. Although the internal carotid artery area stenosis ratio at the common carotid artery bifurcation can be used as one of the diagnostic methods of internal carotid artery stenosis, the accuracy of results would still depend on the measurement techniques. The purpose of this study is to propose a novel method to estimate the effect of internal carotid artery stenosis on the blood flow based on the concept of minimization of energy loss.
METHODS: Eight internal carotid arteries from different medical centers were diagnosed as stenosed internal carotid arteries, as plaques were found at different locations on the vessel. A computational fluid dynamics solver was developed based on an open-source code (OpenFOAM) to test the flow ratio and energy loss of those stenosed internal carotid arteries. For comparison, a healthy internal carotid artery and an idealized internal carotid artery model have also been tested and compared with stenosed internal carotid artery in terms of flow ratio and energy loss.
RESULTS: We found that at a given common carotid artery bifurcation, there must be a certain flow distribution in the internal carotid artery and external carotid artery, for which the total energy loss at the bifurcation is at a minimum; for a given common carotid artery flow rate, an irregular shaped plaque at the bifurcation constantly resulted in a large value of minimization of energy loss. Thus, minimization of energy loss can be used as an indicator for the estimation of internal carotid artery stenosis.
Standards of Practice in Acute Ischemic Stroke Intervention: International Recommendations

Pierot L, Jayaraman MV, Szikora I, Hirsch JA, Baxter B, Miyachi S, et al.

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol, 2018 11;39(11):E112-E117.
PMID: 30442688 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A5853
Standards of Practice in Acute Ischemic Stroke Intervention International Recommendations

Pierot L, Jarayaman M, Szikora I, Hirsch J, Baxter B, Miyachi S, et al.

Can J Neurol Sci, 2019 05;46(3):269-274.
PMID: 30890199 DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2019.1

After five positive randomized controlled trials showed benefit of mechanical thrombectomy in the management of acute ischemic stroke with emergent large-vessel occlusion, a multi-society meeting was organized during the 17th Congress of the World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology in October 2017 in Budapest, Hungary. This multi-society meeting was dedicated to establish standards of practice in acute ischemic stroke intervention aiming for a consensus on the minimum requirements for centers providing such treatment. In an ideal situation, all patients would be treated at a center offering a full spectrum of neuroendovascular care (a level 1 center). However, for geographical reasons, some patients are unable to reach such a center in a reasonable period of time. With this in mind, the group paid special attention to define recommendations on the prerequisites of organizing stroke centers providing medical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke, but not for other neurovascular diseases (level 2 centers). Finally, some centers will have a stroke unit and offer intravenous thrombolysis, but not any endovascular stroke therapy (level 3 centers). Together, these level 1, 2, and 3 centers form a complete stroke system of care. The multi-society group provides recommendations and a framework for the development of medical thrombectomy services worldwide.
Use of Knowledge Transfer Theory to Improve Learning Outcomes of Cognitive and Non-cognitive Skills of University Students: Evidence From Taiwan

Peng MY, Feng Y, Zhao X, Chong W

Front Psychol, 2021;12:583722.
PMID: 33854458 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.583722

Previous studies have explored a multitude of factors influencing student learning outcomes based on various theories. Knowledge transfer theory was adopted to develop the antecedents of student learning outcomes in the complete learning process. This study aims to explore the conspicuousness between various factors within the structural model, such as knowledge transfer, student orientation, and absorptive capacity, by combining marketing and management concepts with higher education studies. This study takes Taiwanese University students as its research samples, and purposive sampling is adopted. A total of 873 questionnaires are collected in this study. PLS-SEM was used to verify the structural relationship in data analysis via running of SmartPLS. The results indicate that knowledge transfer and student orientation have significant impacts on students' absorptive capacity and learning outcomes and that students' prior knowledge has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between knowledge transfer and absorptive capacities. Based on these findings, the researchers propose feasible suggestions for related issues and future research.
Fulltext Online health information seeking among people with diabetes mellitus and its association with self-management

Leelavathi M, Teh Rohaila J, Thenmolle A, Mohamad Salehuddin MS, Barathan M, Natasha PJ, et al.

Medicine & Health, 2018;13(2):72-82.
MyJurnal

Diabetes requires dedicated self-management to be able to achieve good control and outcome as this is a lifelong condition. The internet offers an amazing wealth of health information which may influence diabetes self-management. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of online health information seeking among people with diabetes and its associated factors. About 380 participants answered the online health information seeking questionnaire developed from literature search and expert panel review. Diabetes Self-Management was assessed using the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ). The prevalence of online health information seeking among people with diabetes was 38.4%. Common information sought included diabetes treatment (82.9%) lifestyle modification (77.4%) and diabetes prevention (67.3%). A large majority (93.1%) felt that the online information on diabetes was useful. Doctors and printed reading materials were the most common sources of information for diabetes (94.2% & 65.3%). Lower median age (59 years, IQR = 11), having a family member with diabetes, (COR = 1.188) tertiary education (COR = 6.037) and those who are employed (COR = 3.880) have higher odds of seeking online diabetes related health information. However, there was no significant association between online health information seeking and diabetes self-management. Prevalence of online health information seeking among people with diabetes was at an acceptable level. However, it was not associated with optimal diabetic self-management. Doctors and printed information remain as popular sources of information and hence should be maintained.
Study site: Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fulltext Glutathion S-transferase activity and DDT-susceptibility of Malaysian mosquitos

Lee HL, Chong WL

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1995 Mar;26(1):164-7.
PMID: 8525405

Comparative DDT-susceptibility status and glutathion s-transferase (GST) activity of Malaysian Anopheles maculatus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti was investigated to ascertain the role of this enzyme in DDT resistance. The standardised WHO dose-mortality bioassay tests were used to determine DDT susceptibility in these mosquitos, whilst GST microassay (Brogdon and Barber, 1990) was conducted to measure the activity of this enzyme in mosquito homogenate. It appeared that DDT susceptibility status of Malaysian mosquitos was not correlated with GST activity.
Fulltext Ultra-Sensitive Humidity Sensor Based on Optical Properties of Graphene Oxide and Nano-Anatase TiO2

Ghadiry M, Gholami M, Lai CK, Ahmad H, Chong WY

PLoS One, 2016;11(4):e0153949.
PMID: 27101247 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153949

Generally, in a waveguide-based humidity sensors, increasing the relative humidity (RH) causes the cladding refractive index (RI) to increase due to cladding water absorption. However, if graphene oxide (GO) is used, a reverse phenomenon is seen due to a gap increase in graphene layers. In this paper, this interesting property is applied in order to fabricate differential humidity sensor using the difference between RI of reduced GO (rGO) and nano-anatase TiO2 in a chip. First, a new approach is proposed to prepare high quality nano-anatase TiO2 in solution form making the fabrication process simple and straightforward. Then, the resulted solutions (TiO2 and GO) are effortlessly drop casted and reduced on SU8 two channels waveguide and extensively examined against several humid conditions. Investigating the sensitivity and performance (response time) of the device, reveals a great linearity in a wide range of RH (35% to 98%) and a variation of more than 30 dB in transmitted optical power with a response time of only ~0.7 sec. The effect of coating concentration and UV treatment are studied on the performance and repeatability of the sensor and the attributed mechanisms explained. In addition, we report that using the current approach, devices with high sensitivity and very low response time of only 0.3 sec can be fabricated. Also, the proposed device was comprehensively compared with other state of the art proposed sensors in the literature and the results were promising. Since high sensitivity ~0.47dB/%RH and high dynamic performances were demonstrated, this sensor is a proper choice for biomedical applications.
Fulltext Cost-benefit analysis and emission reduction of energy efficient lighting at the Universiti Tenaga Nasional

Ganandran GS, Mahlia TM, Ong HC, Rismanchi B, Chong WT

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:745894.
PMID: 25133258 DOI: 10.1155/2014/745894

This paper reports the result of an investigation on the potential energy saving of the lighting systems at selected buildings of the Universiti Tenaga Nasional. The scope of this project includes evaluation of the lighting system in the Library, Admin Building, College of Engineering, College of Information Technology, Apartments, and COE Food court of the university. The main objectives of this project are to design the proper retrofit scenario and to calculate the potential electricity saving, the payback period, and the potential environmental benefits. In this survey the policy for retrofitting the old lighting system with the new energy saving LEDs starts with 10% for the first year and continues constantly for 10 years until all the lighting systems have been replaced. The result of the life cycle analysis reveals that after four years, the selected buildings will bring profit for the investment.
Fulltext Interleukin-27 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity during Plasmodium berghei infection in mice

Fazalul Rahiman SS, Basir R, Talib H, Tie TH, Chuah YK, Jabbarzare M, et al.

Trop Biomed, 2013 Dec;30(4):663-80.
PMID: 24522137 MyJurnal

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) has a pleiotropic role either as a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokine in inflammatory related diseases. The role and involvement of IL-27 during malaria was investigated and the effects of modulating its release on the production of major inflammatory cytokines and the histopathological consequences in major affected organs during the infection were evaluated. Results showed that IL-27 concentration was significantly elevated throughout the infection but no positive correlation with the parasitaemia development observed. Augmentation of IL-27 significantly elevated the release of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 whereas antagonising and neutralising IL-27 produced the opposite. A significant elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-6) was also observed, both during augmentation and inhibition of IL-27. Thus, it is suggested that IL-27 exerts an anti-inflammatory activity in the Th1 type response by signalling the production of IL-10 during malaria. Histopathological examination showed sequestration of PRBC in the microvasculature of major organs in malarial mice. Other significant histopathological changes include hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the Kupffer cells in the liver, hyaline membrane formation in lung tissue, enlargement of the white and red pulp followed by the disappearance of germinal centre of the spleen, and tubular vacuolation of the kidney tissues. In conclusion, it is suggested that IL-27 may possibly acts as an anti-inflammatory cytokine during the infection. Modulation of its release produced a positive impact on inflammatory cytokine production during the infection, suggesting its potential in malaria immunotherapy, in which the host may benefit from its inhibition.
Spreading profile of evaporative liquid drops in thin porous layer

Chong WY, Lim KS, Lim WH, Harun SW, Adikan FR, Ahmad H

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys, 2012 Jan;85(1 Pt 2):016314.
PMID: 22400665

Spreading of evaporative liquid drops in a thin porous layer has been studied. The entire spreading process can be divided into three distinct phases according to the change of the wetted porous region size. The first phase is characterized by the expansion of the wetted porous region and shrinking of the liquid drop. Contact line pinning is observed in the wetted porous region in the second phase even with the liquid drop totally absorbed into the porous layer. The third phase sees the shrinkage of the wetted porous region until it is not observable. Based on these observations, a model is devised to simulate the spreading of a liquid drop under the studied conditions. Partial differential equations are used to describe the relation between liquid drop volume and other important parameters of a fluid flow, including maximum wetted region diameter achieved, time taken to reach each spreading process phase, and evaporation rate. Calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental data.
Fulltext Photo-induced reduction of graphene oxide coating on optical waveguide and consequent optical intermodulation

Chong WY, Lim WH, Yap YK, Lai CK, De La Rue RM, Ahmad H

Sci Rep, 2016 Apr 01;6:23813.
PMID: 27034015 DOI: 10.1038/srep23813

Increased absorption of transverse-magnetic (TM)-polarised light by a graphene-oxide (GO) coated polymer waveguide has been observed in the presence of transverse-electric (TE)-polarised light. The GO-coated waveguide exhibits very strong photo-absorption of TE-polarised light--and acts as a TM-pass waveguide polariser. The absorbed TE-polarised light causes a significant temperature increase in the GO film and induces thermal reduction of the GO, resulting in an increase in optical-frequency conductivity and consequently increased optical propagation loss. This behaviour in a GO-coated waveguide gives the action of an inverted optical switch/modulator. By varying the incident TE-polarised light power, a maximum modulation efficiency of 72% was measured, with application of an incident optical power level of 57 mW. The GO-coated waveguide was able to respond clearly to modulated TE-polarised light with a pulse duration of as little as 100 μs. In addition, no wavelength dependence was observed in the response of either the modulation (TE-polarised light) or the signal (TM-polarised light).
Fulltext Day care percutaneous renal surgery--is this viable?

Chong WL, Murali S, Sahabudin RM, Khairullah A

Med J Malaysia, 2002 Mar;57(1):108-10.
PMID: 14569727

Pros and cons of Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) versus Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) have often been highlighted when one discusses on the management of renal stones. An oft quoted point is that PCNL entails a prolonged hospital stay whereas ESWL sessions are day surgical in nature. However, PCNL has superior stone clearance rate as compared to ESWL especially for lower pole stones. In addition, PCNL is more suitable for large bulk stones and when ancillary procedures are required e.g. endopyelotomy. The first 50 cases of successful tubeless PCNL were reported by Bellman et al in 1997. The remarkable recovery of patients in their series encouraged them to employ this technique as their technique of choice for the majority of their cases. A similar technique was employed on endopyelotomy by Liang et al and they concluded that this was a safe, less morbid and effective technique. We report our first case of tubeless PCNL.
Fulltext The role of DRE in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma

Chong WL, Sahabudin RM, Teh GC, Woo SYY, Lim TC, Khairullah A

Med J Malaysia, 2001 Jun;56(2):167-73.
PMID: 11771076

DRE has been used as a diagnostic and screening tool for prostate cancer for decades. However these are based on Western data and its local applicability has yet to be verified. We held a Prostate Health Awareness Week in August 1998 and a total of 2086 men were screened. All men aged 50 years old and above were included for the study. The subjects were evaluated on DRE findings, PSA levels and if indicated a TRUS-guided biopsy results. We concluded that DRE per se might have limited role in the screening of prostate cancer in Malaysia. Screening using DRE and PSA combined are still recognized as the most cost-effective means. Neither DRE nor PSA alone has high enough specificity for diagnosis of prostate cancer cases. Combining DRE and PSA will definitely increase the specificity significantly.

Study site: e Urology
Clinic of Kuala Lumpur Hospital
The effect of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy towards multi-organ complications and its early outcome at a Malaysian district hospital

Chong WH, Ong HY, Ooi JS, Eleen Khaw YY, Lim LM, Tew MM, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2024 Mar;79(2):184-190.
PMID: 38553924

INTRODUCTION: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a clinically defined syndrome of disturbed neurologic function in the newborn with evidence of perinatal asphyxia. Stages of HIE are categorised into mild, moderate or severe based on the Sarnat classification. Neurological dysfunction constitutes a part of the wide spectrum of hypoxic ischemic insult as affected infants can have co-existing multi-organ dysfunction which further contributes to morbidities and mortality. This study aims to determine the relationship between the severity of HIE with multi-organ complications and early clinical outcomes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: All neonates who were admitted to the NICU at Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim between January 2018 to December 2022, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included. Demographic data, clinical course and investigation results were retrospectively obtained from the medical records.
RESULTS: From a total of 90 infants (n = 90) who fulfilled our inclusion criteria, 31 (34%) were mild, 31 (34%) were moderate and 28 (31%) were severe HIE. The mean maternal age was 27 years. Common antenatal issues include diabetes mellitus (37.8%) and anaemia (22.2%). The Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, initial resuscitation requiring intubation, chest compression and adrenaline were associated with higher severity of HIE (p < 0.05). Coagulation dysfunction was the most common complication (79.7%), followed by respiratory dysfunction (33.3%), cardiac dysfunction (28.9%), renal dysfunction (16.1%), haematological dysfunction (15.6%) and hepatic dysfunction (12%). Respiratory and haematological dysfunctions were significantly associated with higher mortality (p < 0.05). There was a significant longer hospital stay (p = 0.023), longer duration of ventilation (p < 0.001) and increase in frequency of seizures (p < 0.001) when comparing moderate and severe HIE patients to mild HIE patients. With increasing severity of HIE, there was also statistically significant higher mortality (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant relationship between multiorgan dysfunction, the severity of HIE and mortality. Early anticipation of multi-organ injury is crucial for optimal early management which would reduce the mortality and improve the neurological outcome of the patients.
Mouth pain and cheek numbness

Chong W, Musa MSH, Sugumaran V

Emerg Med J, 2020 Jul;37(7):436-443.
PMID: 32616656 DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2019-209395
Respect the Floor of the Mouth

Chong W, Hijazi M, Abdalrazig M, Patil N

J Emerg Med, 2020 Jul;59(1):e27-e29.
PMID: 32439254 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.04.015

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