MyMedR

Diffusion-in-gel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA and IFA test in the detection of malarial antibodies

Kumar GS, Mak JW, Lam PL, Tan MA, Lim PK

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1987 Dec;18(4):502-6.

Malarial antibodies in 80 patients were measured using the diffusion-in-gel enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DIG-ELISA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. Good correlations were obtained between all three tests in terms of sensitivity and reliability. DIG-ELISA has the advantage of being a rapid diagnostic tool for the detection of malarial antibodies.

Rare case of huge retroperitoneal liposarcoma presenting as a gynaecological problem

Kuppuvelumani P, Rachagan SP, Syed N, Kumar G, Cheah PL

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 1993 Mar;48(3):220-2.

PMID: 8335141

A large retroperitoneal liposarcoma presented clinically as an ovarian tumour in an infertile woman. The importance of computed tomography in the differential diagnosis and the appropriate management of retroperitoneal liposarcoma is presented with a review of the relevant literature.

Frontoethmoid mucocele: one-year follow-up after endoscopic frontoethmoidectomy

Krishnan G, Kumar G

J Otolaryngol, 1996 Feb;25(1):37-40.

PMID: 8816108

Endoscopic sinus surgery for frontal sinus mucocele is gaining popularity. A case study, and the CT scan of a large frontal mucocele with 1-year follow up is presented showing the lining of the sinus cavity well healed and the frontal sinus ostium as patent. Endoscopic sinus surgery, therefore, is a potentially useful method for treating large frontal mucoceles.

Fulltext Hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma: a case report and radiological findings

Lai FM, Jayakumar CR, Saw L, Kumar G

Singapore Med J, 1996 Apr;37(2):226-8.

PMID: 8942272

Primary tumours of the liver are uncommon in childhood. Of these, more than two-thirds are malignant. As such, benign hepatic tumours are often not considered in the differential diagnosis of a hepatic mass in childhood. We report a case of hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma, a rare benign tumour, in a 10-month-old infant. This tumour is characterised by an admixture of ductal structures within a copious loose connective tissue stroma. Only approximately 160 cases had been reported in the literature. Awareness of the ultrasound (U/S) and computed tomography (CT) features, although not diagnostic, is helpful in distinguishing it from the more common malignant tumours. A correct preoperative diagnosis is important as surgical excision is often curative.

Fulltext Carbon monoxide poisoning from gas water heater installed and operated in the bathroom

Chong CK, Senan P, Kumar GV

Med J Malaysia, 1997 Jun;52(2):169-71.

PMID: 10968076

Two cases of carbon monoxide poisoning involving 3 victims occurred in Cameron Highlands in the months of August and September 1995. Two of the victims were found dead in the bathrooms where they were taking a bath while the other one survived. Blood toxicology from the post mortems revealed high levels of carbon monoxide. The only significant source of carbon monoxide in both cases were the gas water heaters which were installed in the bathrooms. A multigas detector was used to monitor the level of carbon monoxide in one of the bathrooms and carbon monoxide was found to be produced to 1200 ppm in 16 minutes during operation of the heater. Carbon monoxide poisoning from gas water heaters installed in bathroom is a significant hazard.

Failed magnetic resonance imaging examinations due to claustrophobia

Sarji SA, Abdullah BJ, Kumar G, Tan AH, Narayanan P

Australas Radiol, 1998 Nov;42(4):293-5.

PMID: 9833363

A recognized cause of incomplete or cancelled MRI examinations is anxiety and claustrophobic symptoms in patients undergoing MR scanning. This appears to be a problem in many MRI centres in Western Europe and North America, where it is said to be costly in terms of loss of valuable scan time, and has led to researchers suggesting several anxiety-reducing approaches for MRI. To determine the incidence of failed MRI examination among our patients and if there are any associations with a patient's sex, age and education level, we studied claustrophobia that led to premature termination of the MRI examination in the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) in 3324 patients over 28 months. The incidence of failed MRI examinations due to claustrophobia in the UMMC was found to be only 0.54%. There are associations between claustrophobia in MRI with the patients' sex, age and level of education. The majority of those affected were male patients and young patients in the 25-45-years age group. The patients' education level appears to be the strongest association with failed MRI examinations due to claustrophobia, where the majority of the affected were highly educated individuals. Claustrophobia in MRI is more of a problem among the educated individuals or patients from a higher socio-economic group, which may explain the higher incidence in Western European and North American patients.

Irregular shedding of Blastocystis hominis

Vennila GD, Suresh Kumar G, Khairul Anuar A, Rajah S, Saminathan R, Sivanandan S, et al.

Parasitol Res, 1999 Feb;85(2):162-4.

PMID: 9934969

The shedding pattern of the protozoan parasite, Blastocystis hominis, is investigated in man and in experimental animal infections. The shedding pattern of the vacuolar and cystic forms of Blastocystis hominis in infected individuals have been shown in the present study to be irregular. The study shows that there is marked fluctuation in the shedding of the parasite from day to day, varying from as high as 17 to 0 per x40 microscopic field. The cystic stages when estimated in 8 Blastocystis-infected individuals ranged from as high as 7.4x10(5) cysts per gram of stool to 0. The shedding of cystic and vacuolar forms observed over a period of 20 days in experimentally-infected Wistar rats were not only shown to be irregular but the amount varied from host to host. The study has important diagnostic implications in that the stool samples must be collected more than once from patients showing clinical signs and symptoms to eliminate the cause of it to Blastocystis. The study also shows that there are asymptomatic individuals who pass a large amount of cysts as such individuals should be treated to prevent transmission to others.

Field's stain--a rapid staining method for Acanthamoeba spp

Pirehma M, Suresh K, Sivanandam S, Anuar AK, Ramakrishnan K, Kumar GS

Parasitol Res, 1999 Oct;85(10):791-3.

PMID: 10494803

Acanthamoeba sp. is a free-living amoeba known to cause chronic central nervous system infection or eye infection in humans. Many cases remain undetected for want of a good detection system. We report for the first time a rapid staining method to facilitate the identification of Acanthamoeba sp. using the modified Field's staining technique. A. castellanii, which was used in the present experiment, is maintained in our laboratory in mycological peptone medium (Gibco). The cultures were pooled together and smears were made on glass slides for staining purposes. Different types of stains such as Field's stain, modified Field's stain, Wright's stain, Giemsa stain, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, and trichrome stain were used to determine the best stain for the identification of this amoeba. The concentration of various stains and the duration of staining were varied to provide the best color and contrast for each stain. Acanthamoeba was also obtained from the brain of experimentally infected mice and was stained with various stains as mentioned above to determine the best stain for use in identifying the presence of this parasite in experimentally infected animals. The modified Field's stain gives a very good color contrast as compared with other stains. Furthermore, it takes only 20 s to be carried out using the least number of reagents, making it suitable for both laboratory and field use.

Malignant transformation of mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver: case report and review of the literature

Ramanujam TM, Ramesh JC, Goh DW, Wong KT, Ariffin WA, Kumar G, et al.

J Pediatr Surg, 1999 Nov;34(11):1684-6.

PMID: 10591570

Here the first case in the literature of both mesenchymal hamartoma and malignant mesenchymoma occurring in a 6-year-old male child, at different times and at different sites in the liver, and also the possible malignant transformation of a mesenchymal hamartoma is reported. The tumor developed from a lesion in the right lobe that was overlooked initially during a left lateral segmentectomy at 18 months of age for a mesenchymal hamartoma. Malignant mesenchymoma is a rare and aggressive tumor. The origin of this tumor is not well understood. There has been no direct support to the hypothesis that malignant mesenchymoma may be the malignant counterpart of mesenchymal hamartoma. The authors provide clinical and histopathologic evidence in our case that suggests the possibility of malignant mesenchymoma arising from a mesenchymal hamartoma. This case emphasizes the need for complete removal of mesenchymal hamartoma and the need for long-term follow-up to detect multifocal lesion or malignant transformation.

Blastocystis in animal handlers

Rajah Salim H, Suresh Kumar G, Vellayan S, Mak JW, Khairul Anuar A, Init I, et al.

Parasitol Res, 1999 Dec;85(12):1032-3.

PMID: 10599928

The present study investigated whether people working closely with animals were at higher risk of getting infected with Blastocystis hominis. The prevalence of the parasite was determined in two population groups, i.e., animal handlers and normal healthy individuals who did not work with animals. In all, 105 stool samples were collected from animal handlers from 2 local research institutions, a local zoo, and a local abattoir and 163 stool samples were collected from normal healthy individuals residing in high-rise flats in the city. The in vitro culture method used in the study detected that 41% of 105 animal handlers and 17% of 163 flat-dwellers in the city were positive for Blastocystis. This statistically significant finding (P = 0.0000313) shows that people who work closely with animals do stand at risk of acquiring Blastocystis infection.

A case report of primary hyperparathyroidism with severe bony involvement and nephrolithiasis

Chan SP, Hew FL, Jayaram G, Kumar G, Chang KW, Tay A

Ann Acad Med Singap, 2001 Jan;30(1):66-70.

PMID: 11242630

INTRODUCTION: Although the majority of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have a relatively asymptomatic benign disorder, there are patients who have a more aggressive disorder.

CLINICAL PICTURE: We report a case of primary hyperparathyroidism presenting during pregnancy complicated by antepartum haemorrhage and severe prematurity. The diagnosis was made postpartum, when her problems rapidly progressed to result in severe neuromuscular weakness, bilateral pathological hip fractures as well as nephrolithiasis.

TREATMENT: Surgical parathyroidectomy was performed. The underlying lesion was a large solitary parathyroid adenoma with cystic elements.

CONCLUSION: Primary hyperparathyroidism is not an innocuous disease and can result in severe morbidity if left untreated.

Post-traumatic arachnoiditis: an unusual cause of Brown-Sequard syndrome

Ramli N, Merican AM, Lim A, Kumar G

Eur Radiol, 2001;11(10):2011-4.

PMID: 11702136

Brown-Sequard syndrome (BSS) is a unilateral cord injury characterised by an ipsilateral motor deficit with contralateral pain and temperature hypoaesthesia. Although there are a variety of causes, the majority of cases are generally of neoplastic origin or are traumatic in origin. We describe a rare cause of Brown-Sequard syndrome as a result of post-traumatic arachnoiditis. Magnetic resonance imaging with the use of thin-slice high-resolution constructive interference in steady state (CISS) and T2-weighted spin-echo sequence were used to demonstrate the cause and appearance of the lesion in the spinal canal and was useful in the assessment and management of the patient. This case illustrates the usefulness of the CISS sequence in MRI for elucidating arachnoiditis.

Evaluation of live renal donors with three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in comparison to catheter angiography

Tan SP, Bux SI, Kumar G, Razack AH, Chua CB, Lee SH, et al.

Transplant Proc, 2004 Sep;36(7):1914-6.

PMID: 15518697

Catheter angiography is traditionally used to determine renal arterial anatomy in live renal donors. Three-dimensional (3D) contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRA) has been suggested as a noninvasive replacement. We assessed the possibility of using MRA in live renal donors in Malaysia.

The efficacy of a subhypnotic dose of propofol in preventing laryngospasm following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children

Batra YK, Ivanova M, Ali SS, Shamsah M, Al Qattan AR, Belani KG

Paediatr Anaesth, 2005 Dec;15(12):1094-7.

PMID: 16324030 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2005.01633.x

BACKGROUND: Laryngospasm is a well-known problem typically occurring immediately following tracheal extubation. Propofol is known to inhibit airway reflexes. In this study, we sought to assess whether the empiric use of a subhypnotic dose of propofol prior to emergence will decrease the occurrence of laryngospasm following extubation in children.
METHODS: After approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee and informed parental consent, we enrolled 120 children ASA physical status I and II, aged 3-14 years who were scheduled to undergo elective tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy under standard general anesthesia. Before extubation, the patients were randomized and received in a blinded fashion either propofol 0.5 mg.kg(-1) or saline (control) intravenously. Tracheal extubation was performed 60 s after administration of study drug, when the child was breathing regularly and reacting to the tracheal tube.
RESULTS: Laryngospasm was seen in 20% (n = 12) of the 60 children in the control group and in only 6.6% (n = 4) of 60 children in the propofol group (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: During emergence from inhalational anesthesia, propofol in a subhypnotic dose (0.5 mg.kg(-1)) decreases the likelihood of laryngospasm upon tracheal extubation in children undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy.

Fulltext Evaluation of radiation dose and image quality following changes to tube potential (kVp) in conventional paediatric chest radiography

Ramanaidu S, Sta Maria R, Ng Kh, George J, Kumar G

Biomed Imaging Interv J, 2006 Jul;2(3):e35.

PMID: 21614244 MyJurnal DOI: 10.2349/biij.2.3.e35

A study of radiation dose and image quality following changes to the tube potential (kVp) in paediatric chest radiography.

Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties of Melastoma malabathricum leaves aqueous extract in experimental animals

Zakaria ZA, Raden Mohd Nor RN, Hanan Kumar G, Abdul Ghani ZD, Sulaiman MR, Rathna Devi G, et al.

Can J Physiol Pharmacol, 2006 Dec;84(12):1291-9.

PMID: 17487238

The present study was carried out to establish the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties of the aqueous extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves in experimental animals. The antinociceptive activity was measured using abdominal constriction, hot-plate, and formalin tests, whereas the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities were measured using carrageenan-induced paw edema and brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia tests, respectively. The extract, which was obtained after soaking the air-dried leaves in distilled water for 72 h and then preparing in concentrations of 10%, 50%, and 100% (v/v), was administered subcutaneously 30 min prior to subjection to the above mentioned assays. At all concentrations tested, the extract was found to exhibit significant (P < 0.05) antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities in a concentration-independent manner. Our findings that the aqueous extract of M. malabathricum possesses antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities supports previous claims on its traditional uses to treat various ailments.

Fulltext Bilateral Carotid Body Tumours

Amran, A.R., Jayaram, G., Kumar, G.

International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2006;5(1):1-6.

MyJurnal

Paragangliomas are slow growing hypervascular tumour arising from neural crest cell derivatives throughout the body. In the head and neck region, the major paraganglial cells are located at the carotid bifurcation (carotid body), along the ganglia of the vagus nerve and along the nerves supplying the middle ear and jugular bulb. Less common locations include the larynx, orbit, nose and the aortic arch. Carotid body tumours are very rare neoplasms constituting less than 0.5% of all tumours. The true nature of the tumour is established at the time of attempted biopsy or surgical resection, sometimes with disastrous consequences. Only a few of the more than 500 cases reported in the literature have been studied and diagnosed preoperatively. These tumours must be considered in the evaluation of any lateral neck mass, even one located far from the carotid bifurcation. We report a case of bilateral carotid body tumours detected using 16-slice MDHCT in a patient who presented with pulsatile neck swelling for two years. This tumour is rarely malignant; however it produces serious problems by its progressive enlargement and impairment of adjacent structures in the neck. The treatment of choice is surgical resection; preferably to excise this lesion when it is small, because large, very vascular tumours are intimately attached to the carotid vessels and make surgical resection more hazardous. Pre-operative embolization can be performed in large tumours, as to facilitates surgery and reduce complication. In most of the cases, there is strong attachment of the tumour to the carotid arteries. When this is the situation, removal of the tumour means complete excision of both great arteries as well, and the mortality rate is 40 to 45 %. When surgical removal is not feasible, radiotherapy may help to control the tumour growth, although the results have not been encouraging. As it is very slow growing tumour with the growth rate of less than 5 mm per year tumours in old patients with significant risk factors for surgical intervention can be managed by observation alone.

Dengue maculopathy: a case report

Tan SY, Kumar G, Surrun SK, Ong YY

Travel Med Infect Dis, 2007 Jan;5(1):62-3.

PMID: 17161325

Dengue fever is endemic in many countries of South East Asia. In spite of the occasional epidemics, dengue maculopathy remains a rare entity.

The association between HLA genes and radiological erosions in Malaysian patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Yeap SS, Mohd A, Kumar G, Kong KF, Chow SK, Goh EM, et al.

Autoimmunity, 2007 May;40(3):187-90.

PMID: 17453717 DOI: 10.1080/08916930701233755

OBJECTIVE:
To assess the relationship between the HLA-DRB1 genes with disease severity as assessed by radiological erosions in Malaysian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS:
In this cross-sectional study, we studied 61 RA patients who fulfilled the ACR criteria for the diagnosis of RA. HLA-DRB1 genotyping was performed by sequence specific primer (SSP) - PCR. Radiological grading and erosive score of the hands and wrists was calculated according to the Larsen-Dale method. Demographic data and treatment given to the patients were obtained from their case records.

RESULTS:
Fifty-six females and five males were studied from three ethnic groups. In 57 patients with erosions, rheumatoid factor was detected in 80%, HLA-DR4 in 40%, HLA-DRB1*0405 in 24% and shared epitope (SE) in 31%. The median delay in starting DMARDs was 24 months. The presence of rheumatoid factor, HLA-DR4 and HLA-DRB1*0405 were not significantly associated with a worse erosive score. Patients who possessed the SE had a higher erosive scores, compared to those who did not (p = 0.05). Concurrently, a delay in starting DMARD was associated with a high erosive score (p = 0.023, r = 0.348). However, after adjustment for the delay in starting DMARD, SE was no longer significantly associated with the erosive score.

CONCLUSIONS:
In these patients, the delay in starting DMARDs had a greater influence on the erosive score than SE alone. Whilst we cannot discount the contribution of the SE presence, we would advocate early usage of DMARDs in every RA patient to reduce joint erosions and future disability.

A viable secondary intra-abdominal pregnancy resulting from rupture of uterine scar: role of MRI

Teng HC, Kumar G, Ramli NM

Br J Radiol, 2007 Jul;80(955):e134-6.

PMID: 17704308

Pre-natal diagnosis of intra-abdominal pregnancy is difficult. Ultrasound has been the frontline modality to date; however, it gives a diagnostic error of 50-90% and its use is disappointing. In recent years, MRI has emerged as an appealing imaging modality. With its good soft tissue contrast and non-ionizing property, it acts as a means of definitive non-invasive assessment before surgical intervention when ultrasound is inconclusive.

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