Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 238 in total

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  1. Velaiutham S, Taib NA, Ng KL, Yoong BK, Yip CH
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2008 Jul-Sep;9(3):445-8.
    PMID: 18990019
    INTRODUCTION: CA15-3 is a well-known tumour marker for breast cancer. Currently it is not recommended for screening or diagnosis of breast cancer and its main application is in monitoring response to treatment in women with metastatic breast cancer. The aim of this study was to correlate serum CA15-3 at presentation with the stage of disease and overall survival in women with breast cancer in the University Malaya Medical Centre.

    METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 437 women who had CA15-3 levels determined at initial presentation of breast cancer to UMMC between Jan 1999 and Oct 2003.

    RESULTS: Of those patients who were adequately staged, CA15-3 was found to be elevated (defined as >51 U/ml) in 0% of Stage 1, 7.9% of Stage 2, 36.7% of Stage 3 and 68.6% of Stage 4 cases. In a subset of 331 patients with survival data, patients with normal CA15-3 had a 85% five year overall survival rate compared to 38% in their counterparts with elevation of the tumor marker. The level of elevation was also significantly related to survival; patients with values more than 200 U/ml exhibited only a 28% five year survival. The association of elevated CA15-3 at initial presentation with poor outcome was maintained over univariate and multivariate analyses.

    CONCLUSION: Estimation of CA15-3 at presentation of breast cancer is important as it is an independent prognostic indicator and may prompt the physician to investigate for metastases if elevated.
  2. Foong Ng K, Kee Tan K, Hong Ng B, Nair P, Ying Gan W
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2015 Jul;109(7):433-9.
    PMID: 26038572 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trv042
    There is scarcity of data regarding epidemiology and clinical aspects of human adenovirus acute respiratory infection (ARI) among children in developing countries.
  3. Teng H, Nawawi O, Ng K, Yik Y
    Biomed Imaging Interv J, 2005 Jul;1(1):e4.
    PMID: 21625276 MyJurnal DOI: 10.2349/biij.1.1.e4
    Small bowel phytobezoars are rare and almost always obstructive. There have been previously reported cases of phytobezoars in the literature, however there are few reports on radiological findings for small bowel bezoars. Barium studies characteristically show an intraluminal filling defect of variable size that is not fixed to the bowel wall with barium filling the interstices giving a mottled appearance. On CT scan, the presence of a round or ovoid intraluminal mass with a 'mottled gas' pattern is believed to be pathognomonic. Since features on CT scans are characteristics and physical findings are of little assistance in the diagnosis of bezoar, the diagnostic value of CT needs to be emphasised.
  4. Ng KJ, Yii MK
    Med J Malaysia, 2003 Oct;58(4):516-21.
    PMID: 15190626
    Comparative surgical audit to monitor quality of care should be performed with a risk-adjusted scoring system rather than using crude morbidity and mortality rates. A validated and widely applied risk adjusted scoring system, P-POSSUM (Portsmouth-Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality) methodology, was applied to a prospective series of predominantly general surgical patients at the Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching over a six months period. The patients were grouped into four risk groups. The observed mortality rates were not significantly different from predicted rates, showing that the quality of surgical care was at par with typical western series. The simplicity and advantages of this scoring system over other auditing tools are discussed. The P-POSSUM methodology could form the basis of local comparative surgical audit for assessment and maintenance of quality care.
  5. Ng KH, Cheung KY, Hu YM, Inamura K, Kim HJ, Krisanachinda A, et al.
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2009 Dec;32(4):175-9.
    PMID: 20169835
    This document is the first of a series of policy statements being issued by the Asia-Oceania Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (AFOMP). The document was developed by the AFOMP Professional Development Committee (PDC) and was endorsed for official release by AFOMP Council in 2006. The main purpose of the document was to give guidance to AFOMP member organizations on the role and responsibilities of clinical medical physicists. A definition of clinical medical physicist has also been provided. This document discusses the following topics: professional aspects of education and training; responsibilities of the clinical medical physicist; status and organization of the clinical medical physics service and the need for clinical medical physics service.
  6. Ng KT, Yap JLL
    Anaesthesia, 2018 Feb;73(2):238-247.
    PMID: 28940440 DOI: 10.1111/anae.14038
    Loop diuretics remain a fundamental pharmacological therapy to remove excess fluid and improve symptom control in acute decompensated heart failure. Several recent randomised controlled trials have examined the clinical benefit of continuous vs. bolus furosemide in acute decompensated heart failure, but have reported conflicting findings. The aim of this review was to compare the effects of continuous and bolus furosemide with regard to mortality, length of hospital stay and its efficacy profile in acute decompensated heart failure. All parallel-arm randomised controlled trials from MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception until May 2017 were included. Cross-over randomised controlled trials, observational studies, case reports, case series and non-systematic reviews that involved children were excluded. Eight trials (n = 669) were eligible for inclusion. There was no difference between furosemide continuous infusion and bolus administration for all-cause mortality (four studies; n = 491; I2 = 0%; OR 1.65; 95%CI 0.93-2.91; p = 0.08) or duration of hospitalisation (six studies; n = 576; I2 = 71%; mean difference 0.27; 95%CI -1.35 to 1.89 days; p = 0.74). Continuous infusion of intravenous furosemide was associated with increased weight reduction (five studies; n = 516; I2 = 0%; mean difference 0.70; 95%CI 0.12-1.28 kg; p = 0.02); increased total urine output in 24 h (four studies; n = 390; I2 = 33%; mean difference 461.5; 95%CI 133.7-789.4 ml; p < 0.01); and reduced brain natriuretic peptide (two studies; n = 390; I2 = 0%; mean difference 399.5; 95%CI 152.7-646.3 ng.l-1 ; p < 0.01), compared with the bolus group. There was no difference in the incidence of raised creatinine and hypokalaemia between the two groups. In summary, there was no difference between continuous infusion and bolus of furosemide for all-cause mortality, length of hospital stay and electrolyte disturbance, but continuous infusion was superior to bolus administration with regard to diuretic effect and reduction in brain natriuretic peptide.
  7. Fong CY, Ng K, Kong AN, Ong LC, Rithauddin MA, Thong MK, et al.
    Arch Dis Child, 2019 10;104(10):972-978.
    PMID: 31122923 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2018-316394
    AIM: Evaluation of impaired quality of life (QOL) of Malaysian children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and its possible risk factors.

    METHOD: Cross-sectional study on 68 parents of Malaysian children aged 2-18 years with TSC. QOL was assessed using proxy-report Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) V.4.0, and scores compared with those from a previous cohort of healthy children. Parents also completed questionnaires on child behaviour (child behaviour checklist (CBCL)) and parenting stress (parenting stress index-short form). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine sociodemographic, medical, parenting stress and behavioural factors that impacted on QOL.

    RESULTS: The mean proxy-report PedsQL V.4.0 total scale score, physical health summary score and psychosocial health summary score of the patients were 60.6 (SD 20.11), 65.9 (SD 28.05) and 57.8 (SD 19.48), respectively. Compared with healthy children, TSC patients had significantly lower mean PedsQL V.4.0 total scale, physical health and psychosocial health summary scores (mean difference (95% CI): 24 (18-29), 20 (12-27) and 26 (21-31) respectively). Lower total scale scores were associated with clinically significant CBCL internalising behaviour scores, age 8-18 years and Chinese ethnicity. Lower psychosocial health summary scale scores were associated with clinically significant CBCL internalising behaviour scores, Chinese ethnicity or >1 antiepileptic drug (AED).

    CONCLUSION: Parents of children with TSC reported lower PedsQL V.4.0 QOL scores in all domains, with psychosocial health most affected. Older children, those with internalising behaviour problems, of Chinese ethnicity or on >1 AED was at higher risk of lower QOL. Clinicians need to be vigilant of QOL needs among children with TSC particularly with these additional risk factors.

  8. Zhang W, Huang G, Ng K, Ji Y, Gao B, Huang L, et al.
    Biomater Sci, 2018 Mar 07.
    PMID: 29511758 DOI: 10.1039/c7bm01186e
    Hydrogel particles that can be engineered to compartmentally culture cells in a three-dimensional (3D) and high-throughput manner have attracted increasing interest in the biomedical area. However, the ability to generate hydrogel particles with specially designed structures and their potential biomedical applications need to be further explored. This work introduces a method for fabricating hydrogel particles in an ellipsoidal cap-like shape (i.e., ellipsoidal cap-like hydrogel particles) by employing an open-pore anodic aluminum oxide membrane. Hydrogel particles of different sizes are fabricated. The ability to produce ellipsoidal cap-like magnetic hydrogel particles with controlled distribution of magnetic nanoparticles is demonstrated. Encapsulated cells show high viability, indicating the potential for using these hydrogel particles as structure- and remote-controllable building blocks for tissue engineering application. Moreover, the hydrogel particles are also used as sacrificial templates for fabricating ellipsoidal cap-like concave wells, which are further applied for producing size controllable cell aggregates. The results are beneficial for the development of hydrogel particles and their applications in 3D cell culture.
  9. Ng KH, Bradley DA, Looi LM, Mahmood CS, Wood AK
    Appl Radiat Isot, 1993 Mar;44(3):511-6.
    PMID: 8472024
    Multi-elemental quantitative analyses of 15 paired samples of normal and malignant human breast tissue by instrumental neutron activation analysis are reported. The elements, Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cs, Fe, K, Na, Rb, Zn were detected. Significantly elevated concentration levels were found for Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Cs, K, Na, Zn in malignant compared to normal tissue. Although the role of elemental composition in breast cancer is unclear, this finding may be of importance as another parameter for differentiating normal from malignant tissue.
  10. Wong JS, Ng KH, Wong SH
    J Clin Neurosci, 2004 Apr;11(3):254-8.
    PMID: 14975412
    This is a prospective study conducted from February 2000 to July 2002 in a single neurosurgeon neurosurgical service in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. There were 66 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracranial aneurysm presenting to this hospital over the study period. Fifty cases had their aneurysms clipped. Eighty percent of our patients were operated within 48 h of presentation. Forty-four percent presented with poor WFNS grades of 4 and 5. We had a 20% operative mortality and 29% total management mortality. Twenty-nine (58%) of the operated cases had a favorable outcome with a mean follow-up of 32 weeks. Multiple aneurysms were less common. The diagnosis of aneuysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and clipping of aneurysms have increased dramatically over the previous two and half years indicating an increased awareness of the diagnosis and treatment. This series supports the previously reported beliefs that the lower rate of aneurymal subarachnoid hemorrhage in developing countries is likely due to both underdiagnosis and undertreatment. Good results can be achieved in developing countries with early diagnosis and intensive management.
  11. Tang H, Jiang L, Stolzenberg-Solomon RZ, Arslan AA, Beane Freeman LE, Bracci PM, et al.
    Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2020 Sep;29(9):1784-1791.
    PMID: 32546605 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-0275
    BACKGROUND: Obesity and diabetes are major modifiable risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Interactions between genetic variants and diabetes/obesity have not previously been comprehensively investigated in pancreatic cancer at the genome-wide level.

    METHODS: We conducted a gene-environment interaction (GxE) analysis including 8,255 cases and 11,900 controls from four pancreatic cancer genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets (Pancreatic Cancer Cohort Consortium I-III and Pancreatic Cancer Case Control Consortium). Obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) and diabetes (duration ≥3 years) were the environmental variables of interest. Approximately 870,000 SNPs (minor allele frequency ≥0.005, genotyped in at least one dataset) were analyzed. Case-control (CC), case-only (CO), and joint-effect test methods were used for SNP-level GxE analysis. As a complementary approach, gene-based GxE analysis was also performed. Age, sex, study site, and principal components accounting for population substructure were included as covariates. Meta-analysis was applied to combine individual GWAS summary statistics.

    RESULTS: No genome-wide significant interactions (departures from a log-additive odds model) with diabetes or obesity were detected at the SNP level by the CC or CO approaches. The joint-effect test detected numerous genome-wide significant GxE signals in the GWAS main effects top hit regions, but the significance diminished after adjusting for the GWAS top hits. In the gene-based analysis, a significant interaction of diabetes with variants in the FAM63A (family with sequence similarity 63 member A) gene (significance threshold P < 1.25 × 10-6) was observed in the meta-analysis (P GxE = 1.2 ×10-6, P Joint = 4.2 ×10-7).

    CONCLUSIONS: This analysis did not find significant GxE interactions at the SNP level but found one significant interaction with diabetes at the gene level. A larger sample size might unveil additional genetic factors via GxE scans.

    IMPACT: This study may contribute to discovering the mechanism of diabetes-associated pancreatic cancer.

  12. NG KP, Wang CY
    Paediatr Anaesth, 1999;9(6):491-4.
    PMID: 10597551
    Intubating conditions under halothane anaesthesia aided with alfentanil 20 micrograms.kg-1 were compared with suxamethonium 2 mg.kg-1 in 40 children presenting for day dental procedures. The condition of vocal cords, jaw relaxation and presence of movement and coughing were scored to give the overall intubating conditions. Successful intubation was achieved in 100% of the suxamethonium group and 94.7% of the alfentanil group. The cardiovascular response to intubation was attenuated in the alfentanil group. Some 43.7% of those receiving suxamethonium developed myalgia the day after surgery compared with 0% in the alfentanil group (P < 0.01).
  13. Tsan SEH, Viknaswaran NL, Cheong CC, Cheah S, Ng KT, Mong SXY, et al.
    Anaesthesia, 2023 Sep;78(9):1153-1161.
    PMID: 37314744 DOI: 10.1111/anae.16058
    Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic drug that is widely used during surgery, but there are concerns about its thromboembolic effects. We aimed to investigate the effect of prophylactic intravenous tranexamic acid on thromboembolic outcomes in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. Randomised controlled trials comparing intravenous tranexamic acid with placebo or no treatment in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery were included. The primary outcome was a composite of peri-operative cardiovascular thromboembolic events, defined as any deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial ischaemia/infarction or cerebral ischaemia/infarction. A total of 191 randomised controlled trials (40,621 patients) were included in the review. The primary outcome occurred in 4.5% of patients receiving intravenous tranexamic acid compared with 4.9% of patients in the control group. Our analysis showed that there was no difference between groups for composite cardiovascular thromboembolic events (risk ratio 1.02, 95%CI 0.94-1.11, p = 0.65, I2 0%, n = 37,512). This finding remained robust when sensitivity analysis was performed with continuity correction and in studies with a low risk of bias. However, in trial sequential analysis, our meta-analysis only achieved 64.6% of the required information size. There was no association between intravenous tranexamic acid and seizure rate or mortality rate within 30 days. Intravenous tranexamic acid was associated with a reduced blood transfusion rate compared with control (9.9% vs. 19.4%, risk ratio 0.46, 95%CI 0.41-0.51, p 
  14. Tony Ng KW
    Malays J Nutr, 2010 Apr;16(1):125-30.
    PMID: 22691859 MyJurnal
    The teaching and research tool called 'DietPLUS', developed by the present author at an institution of higher learning in 2007, contains nutrient information of 840 food items in Excel format. DietPLUS functions as a '2-in-1' food composition database plus a rapid calculator of nutrient intakes, with the option of 'collapsing' the food composition face leaving only the nutrient calculator face. The macronutrients featured in the programme are energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, sugars (intrinsic + added), polyunsatuared omega-6 fatty acids (mainly linoleic acid, LA) and polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids [alphalinolenic acid (ALA) or eicosapentaenic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenolic acid (DHA)]. The micronutrients in the programme are vitamin A (as retinol equivalents, RE), vitamin C, thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and niacin. Cholesterol content was included to complete the list of food components tabled. Food items consumed are converted into gram quantities (edible portion) and are entered in one column in the Excel programme which emphasises the simplicity and user-friendliness of the present nutrient calculator. DietPLUS instantaneously sums up the macronutrients and micronutrients consumed with each subsequent entry. Macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate, sugars and dietary fibre) consumed are presented as gram quantities and a percentage of the Recommended Nutrient Intakes for Malaysia 2005. An approximate number of servings are also provided for vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish and meat, which may be useful in meal planning and nutrition/dietetic counselling.
  15. Ng KT, Teoh WY
    Prehosp Disaster Med, 2019 Oct;34(5):532-539.
    PMID: 31455452 DOI: 10.1017/S1049023X19004758
    INTRODUCTION: Epinephrine has been recommended for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitation for nearly one century, but its efficacy and safety remain unclear in the literature. The primary aim of this review was to determine whether epinephrine increases the return of spontaneous circulation in OHCA patients.

    METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL, from their inception until October 2018. All the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Observational studies, case reports, case series, and non-systematic reviews were excluded.

    RESULTS: Two trials including 8,548 patients were eligible for inclusion in the data synthesis. In patients who received epinephrine during OHCA, the incidence of return of spontaneous circulation was increased, with an odds ratio (95%CI) of 4.25 (3.79-4.75), P

  16. Ng KP, Soo-Hoo TS, Na SL, Gan GG, Sangkar JV, Teh AKH
    Med J Malaysia, 2003 Oct;58(4):608-12.
    PMID: 15190640
    Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is a soil fungus normally associated with onychomycosis. It causes subcutaneous infection in immunocompromised patients and is rarely isolated from blood. A case of systemic Scopulariopsis brevicaulis infection was reported in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia. The patient developed persistent fever that did not respond to wide spectrum antibiotics and amphotericin B. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis was the only pathogen isolated from blood cultures. The fever subsided with itraconazole and there was no recurrence of fungal infection with prolonged maintenance of oral itraconazole.
  17. Lotfalikhani A, Khosravi Y, Sabet NS, Na SL, Ng KP, Tay ST
    Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):1123-1130.
    PMID: 33601859
    Candida glabrata has been reported as the second or third most common yeast species isolated from patients with vaginitis and invasive candidiasis. This study was aimed to determine the genetic diversity, antifungal susceptibility and enzymatic profiles of C. glabrata isolated from vaginal and blood samples in the Medical Microbiology Diagnostic Laboratory, University Malaya Medical Centre. A random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis method, using M13 and (GTG)5 primers, was used for strain differentiation of C. glabrata isolates. Antifungal susceptibility testing of C. glabrata isolates was determined using E-test against amphotericin B, caspofungin, fluconazole and voriconazole and microbroth dilution method against clotrimazole. The enzymic profiles of C. glabrata were determined using APIZYM semi-quantitation kit and egg-yolk agar method. A total of 14 RAPD patterns were identified amongst C. glabrata isolates investigated this study. Susceptibility to amphotericin B, caspofungin, fluconazole and voriconazole was noted. Approximately one third of the isolates demonstrated resistance to clotrimazole (MIC>=1 µg/ml). A single isolate of C. glabrata was resistant to caspofungin (MIC:1.5 µg/ml). Enzymatic activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidases, esterase and lipase and phospholipase were detected in the C. glabrata isolates. The genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibility profiles of C. glabrata isolates were presented in this study. Continued surveillance and monitoring of the incidence and antifungal resistance in C. glabrata isolates is necessary.
  18. Wong KT, Ng KY, Ong KC, Ng WF, Shankar SK, Mahadevan A, et al.
    Neuropathol. Appl. Neurobiol., 2012 Aug;38(5):443-53.
    PMID: 22236252 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2990.2011.01247.x
    To investigate if two important epidemic viral encephalitis in children, Enterovirus 71 (EV71) encephalomyelitis and Japanese encephalitis (JE) whose clinical and pathological features may be nonspecific and overlapping, could be distinguished.
  19. Koh CH, Bhoo-Pathy N, Ng KL, Jabir RS, Tan GH, See MH, et al.
    Br. J. Cancer, 2015 Jun 30;113(1):150-8.
    PMID: 26022929 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2015.183
    Peripheral blood-derived inflammation-based scores such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have recently been proposed as prognostic markers in solid tumours. Although evidence to support these markers as unfavourable prognostic factors is more compelling in gastrointestinal cancers, very little is known of their impact on breast cancer. We investigated the association between the NLR and PLR, and overall survival after breast cancer.
  20. Mocci E, Kundu P, Wheeler W, Arslan AA, Beane-Freeman LE, Bracci PM, et al.
    Cancer Res, 2021 Jun 01;81(11):3134-3143.
    PMID: 33574088 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-20-3267
    Germline variation and smoking are independently associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We conducted genome-wide smoking interaction analysis of PDAC using genotype data from four previous genome-wide association studies in individuals of European ancestry (7,937 cases and 11,774 controls). Examination of expression quantitative trait loci data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project followed by colocalization analysis was conducted to determine whether there was support for common SNP(s) underlying the observed associations. Statistical tests were two sided and P < 5 × 10-8 was considered statistically significant. Genome-wide significant evidence of qualitative interaction was identified on chr2q21.3 in intron 5 of the transmembrane protein 163 (TMEM163) and upstream of the cyclin T2 (CCNT2). The most significant SNP using the Empirical Bayes method, in this region that included 45 significantly associated SNPs, was rs1818613 [per allele OR in never smokers 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.82-0.93; former smokers 1.00, 95% CI, 0.91-1.07; current smokers 1.25, 95% CI 1.12-1.40, P interaction = 3.08 × 10-9). Examination of the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project data demonstrated an expression quantitative trait locus in this region for TMEM163 and CCNT2 in several tissue types. Colocalization analysis supported a shared SNP, rs842357, in high linkage disequilibrium with rs1818613 (r 2 = 0. 94) driving both the observed interaction and the expression quantitative trait loci signals. Future studies are needed to confirm and understand the differential biologic mechanisms by smoking status that contribute to our PDAC findings. SIGNIFICANCE: This large genome-wide interaction study identifies a susceptibility locus on 2q21.3 that significantly modified PDAC risk by smoking status, providing insight into smoking-associated PDAC, with implications for prevention.
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