MyMedR

Fulltext A Case of PHACES Syndrome with Successful Treatment of Facial Haemangioma With Propranolol

Ng SY, Kader Ibrahim SB

Med J Malaysia, 2013 Aug;68(4):364-5.

Fulltext Temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma - Penang experience

Ng SY, Pua KC, Zahirrudin Z

Med J Malaysia, 2015 Dec;70(6):367-8.

Temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma (TBSCC) is rare and poses difficulties in diagnosing, staging and management. We describe a case series with six patients who were diagnosed TBSCC, from January 2009 to June 2014, with median age of 62 years old. All patients presented with blood-stain discharge and external auditory canal mass, showing that these findings should highly alert the diagnosis of TBSCC. Three patients staged T3 and another three with T4 disease. High-resolution CT (HRCT) temporal findings were noted to be different from intraoperative findings and therefore we conclude that MRI should be done to look for middle ear involvement or other soft tissue invasion for more accurate staging. Lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) and parotidectomy was done for four patients with or without neck dissection. Patients with positive margin, perineural invasion or parotid and glenoid involvement carry poorer prognosis and postoperative radiotherapy may improve the survival rate. One patient had successful tumor resection via piecemeal removal approach in contrast with the recommended en bloc resection shows that with negative margin achieved, piecemeal removal approach can be a good option for patients with T2-3 disease. In general, T4 tumor has dismal outcome regardless of surgery or radiotherapy given.

Fulltext What Do Mothers know about Neonatal Jaundice? Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Mothers in Malaysia

Ng SY, Chong SY

Med J Malaysia, 2014 Dec;69(6):252-6.

PMID: 25934954 MyJurnal

Study site: Hospital Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysia

Fulltext Paraneoplastic neurological disorder in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Ng SY, Kongg MH, Yunus MR

Malays J Med Sci, 2017 Mar;24(1):113-116.

PMID: 28381934 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2017.24.1.12

Paraneoplastic neurological disorder (PND) is a condition due to immune cross-reactivity between the tumour cells and the normal tissue, whereby the "onconeural" antibodies attack the normal host nervous system. It can present within weeks to months before or after the diagnosis of malignancies. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is associated with paraneoplastic syndrome, for example, dermatomyositis, and rarely with a neurological disorder. We report on a case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with probable PND. Otolaryngologists, oncologists and neurologists need to be aware of this condition in order to make an accurate diagnosis and to provide prompt treatment.

Anonychia

Ng SY

J Pediatr, 2023 Dec;263:113664.

PMID: 37562741 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113664

Acquired idiopathic lipoatrophic panniculitis in a 12-month-old infant

Ng SY, D'Arcy C, Orchard D

Australas J Dermatol, 2015 Nov;56(4):e102-4.

PMID: 24635514 DOI: 10.1111/ajd.12159

Lipoatrophic panniculitis is a rare condition affecting mainly children, often associated with connective tissue disease. We report a healthy 12-month-old girl with no clinical or laboratory features of connective tissue disease who presented with the progressive appearance of annular atrophic plaques beginning at the left arm. A histopathological analysis revealed lobular panniculitis, with fat necrosis and an associated inflammatory infiltrate supporting the diagnosis of lipoatrophic panniculitis. Lipoatrophic panniculitis should be considered in infants and young children with clinical features of panniculitis and fat atrophy even without clinical or serologic evidence of connective tissue disease.

Multiple clustered dermatofibroma presenting in a segmental distribution

Bhabha FK, Magee J, Ng SY, Grills CE, Su J, Orchard D

Australas J Dermatol, 2016 Feb;57(1):e20-2.

PMID: 25557526 DOI: 10.1111/ajd.12257

Multiple dermatofibromas is a rare entity consisting of more than fifteen lesions. Multiple clustered dermatofibroma is a distinct variant of multiple dermatofibromas and is defined as a well-demarcated plaque composed of individual dermatofibromas. We report a 16-year-old boy with multiple clustered dermatofibroma in a segmental distribution, which has previously not been reported in the literature.

Fulltext Public's Willingness to Perform COVID-19 Self-Testing During the Transition to the Endemic Phase in Malaysia - A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Ng DL, Bin Jamalludin MA, Gan XY, Ng SY, Bin Mohamad Rasidin MZ, Felix BA, et al.

Risk Manag Healthc Policy, 2023;16:2505-2519.

PMID: 38024502 DOI: 10.2147/RMHP.S439530

INTRODUCTION: Malaysia entered the transition to the endemic phase of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on 1st April 2022. This study aims to determine the public's willingness to perform COVID-19 self-testing. Factors that influenced their willingness were also assessed.

METHODS: A nationwide, cross-sectional, and population-based study was conducted online in Malaysia from 28th April 2023 to 4th June 2023. Individuals aged 18 years and above were enrolled through the snowball sampling method. Data were analyzed by using the Chi-Square test, independent t-test, and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS: One thousand four hundred fifty-three responses were included in the analysis. Of these respondents, 89.3% were willing, 4.1% were reluctant, and 6.6% remained hesitant to perform COVID-19 self-testing, The common reasons given by those willing to perform COVID-19 self-testing included being able to self-isolate (99.0%) and seek treatment (96.3%) earlier if tested positive. The common reasons against COVID-19 self-testing included the belief that COVID-19 is equivalent to the common flu (91.7%) and having received the COVID-19 vaccine (78.3%). The isolation policy for COVID-19 was the most significant consideration for those who were still hesitant (85.4%). Women [adjusted odds ratios (OR): 2.1, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.44-3.00, p < 0.001], individuals with tertiary education (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.32-3.26, p = 0.002), those vaccinated against COVID-19 (OR: 8.1, 95% CI: 2.63-24.82, p < 0.001), and individuals with prior experience of COVID-19 self-testing (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.84-6.12, p < 0.001) showed a significantly higher willingness to engage in COVID-19 self-testing.

CONCLUSION: The public exhibited a high willingness to perform COVID-19 self-testing during the transition to the endemic phase in Malaysia. Future strategies to promote COVID-19 self-testing uptake in Malaysia should focus on vulnerable groups, address the common concerns among those hesitant and reluctant, and highlight the advantages of COVID-19 self-testing.

Papaya beta-galactosidase/galactanase isoforms in differential cell wall hydrolysis and fruit softening during ripening

Lazan H, Ng SY, Goh LY, Ali ZM

Plant Physiol Biochem, 2004 Dec;42(11):847-53.

PMID: 15694277

The potential significance of the previously reported papaya (Carica papaya L.) beta-galactosidase/galactanase (beta-d-galactoside galactohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.23) isoforms, beta-gal I, II and III, as softening enzymes during ripening was evaluated for hydrolysis of pectins while still structurally attached to unripe fruit cell wall, and hemicelluloses that were already solubilized in 4 M alkali. The enzymes were capable of differentially hydrolyzing the cell wall as evidenced by increased pectin solubility, pectin depolymerization, and degradation of the alkali-soluble hemicelluloses (ASH). This enzyme catalyzed in vitro changes to the cell walls reflecting in part the changes that occur in situ during ripening. beta-Galactosidase II was most effective in hydrolyzing pectin, followed by beta-gal III and I. The reverse appeared to be true with respect to the hemicelluloses. Hemicellulose, which was already released from any architectural constraints, seemed to be hydrolyzed more extensively than the pectins. The ability of the beta-galactanases to markedly hydrolyze pectin and hemicellulose suggests that galactans provide a structural cross-linkage between the cell wall components. Collectively, the results support the case for a functional relevance of the papaya enzymes in softening related changes during ripening.

Iodination improves the phototoxicity of an amphiphilic porphyrin

Topkaya D, Ng SY, Bretonnière Y, Lafont D, Chung LY, Lee HB, et al.

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther, 2016 Dec;16:12-14.

PMID: 27475243 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2016.07.008

Recent strategies to improve boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) for photodynamic cancer therapy: an updated review

Kue CS, Ng SY, Voon SH, Kamkaew A, Chung LY, Kiew LV, et al.

Photochem Photobiol Sci, 2018 Nov 01;17(11):1691-1708.

PMID: 29845993 DOI: 10.1039/c8pp00113h

BODIPYs are photosensitizers activatable by light to generate highly reactive singlet oxygen (1O2) from molecular oxygen, leading to tissue damage in the photoirradiated region. Despite their extraordinary photophysical characteristics, they are not featured in clinical photodynamic therapy. This review discusses the recent advances in the design and/or modifications of BODIPYs since 2013, to improve their potential in photodynamic cancer therapy and related areas.

Fulltext Satisfaction of patients receiving value added-services compared to traditional counter service for prescription refills in Malaysia

Lau BT, Nurul-Nadiah-Auni AR, Ng SY, Shuen-Wong N

Pharm Pract (Granada), 2018 03 23;16(1):1075.

PMID: 29619135 DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2018.01.1075

Background: Patients' satisfaction is the key parameter to measure the quality of healthcare services. Value added-services (VAS) were introduced to improve the quality of medication deliveries and to reduce the waiting time at outpatient pharmacy.
Objective: This study aimed to compare the satisfaction levels of patients receiving VAS and traditional counter service (TCS) for prescription refills in Port Dickson Hospital.
Methods: A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient pharmacy department of Port Dickson Hospital from 1 March to 30 June 2017. Systematic sampling method was utilized to recruit subjects into the study, except mail pharmacy in which universal sampling method was used. Data collection was done via telephone interviews for both groups.
Results: There was 104 and 105 in TCS and VAS group respectively. The response rate was 99.5%. Overall, a significant higher total mean satisfaction score in VAS group was observed as compared to TCS group (43.39 versus 40.49, p=0.002). The same finding was observed after confounding factors were controlled (VAS=44.66, 95% CI 43.07:46.24 versus TCS=39.88, 95% CI 38.29:41.46; p<0.001). VAS respondents reported more satisfaction than TCS respondents for both general and technical aspects. Among the VAS offered, mail pharmacy service respondents showed highest total mean satisfaction score, but no significant different was seen between groups (p=0.064).
Conclusion: VAS respondents were generally more satisfied than TCS respondents for prescription refills. A longitudinal study is necessary to examine the impact of other dimensions and other types of VAS on patients' satisfaction levels.
Study site: outpatient clinic, Hospital Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Fulltext Patient satisfaction with medication therapy adherence clinic services in a district hospital: a cross-sectional study

Sim YC, Mohd-Rosli IS, Lau BT, Ng SY

Pharm Pract (Granada), 2021 06 02;19(2):2353.

PMID: 34221203 DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2021.2.2353

Background: Patient satisfaction is one of the essential indicators for assessing the quality of healthcare services being delivered, including pharmacy ambulatory care service, as it determines the practicability and sustainability of the service provided. As such, pharmaceutical care services provided during medication therapy adherence clinic (MTAC) sessions need to be assessed to maximise its effectiveness and benefits to the patients.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the association between patient satisfaction and socio-demographic characteristics, as well as the predictors for patient satisfaction.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the medical outpatient department in Hospital Port Dickson from January until October 2019. Convenience sampling method was used to recruit potential study participants. Patient satisfaction was measured using Validated Patient Satisfaction with Pharmacist Services Questionnaire (PSPSQ2.0), consisted of quality of care and interpersonal relationship between pharmacist and patient domains. Descriptive data were presented as mean and standard deviation or numbers and percentages, while Independent Sample t-test, ANOVA and post-hoc analysis, and multiple linear regression were used for inferential data analysis.

Results: There were 37 (25%) diabetes MTAC, 36 (24.3%) respiratory MTAC, and 75 (50.7%) warfarin MTAC patients recruited. On average, the mean overall satisfaction score was 3.30(SD=0.43). The mean satisfaction score in the interpersonal relationship domain [3.35(SD=0.44)] was higher than the quality of care domain [3.26(SD=0.45)]. There was a significant association between gender, education level, and patient satisfaction towards pharmaceutical care service (p<0.05). Gender and education level statistically predicted respondents' satisfaction with MTAC services (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The overall patient satisfaction towards MTAC services in this setting was high. Gender and education level were significant predictors for patient satisfaction. These findings could potentially contribute to the planning of MTAC services in the future.

Segmental juvenile xanthogranuloma

Ng SY

Pediatr Dermatol, 2014 Sep-Oct;31(5):615-7.

PMID: 23889163 DOI: 10.1111/pde.12199

A 5-month-old boy had erythematous nodules over the left side of his trunk with a segmental arrangement since birth. Histopathologic examination revealed sheets of foamy histiocytes infiltrating the dermis and subcutaneous fat, admixed with multinucleated giant cells and lymphocytes, making this an unusual case of juvenile xanthogranuloma appearing in a segmental distribution.

Does Order of Application of Emollient and Topical Corticosteroids Make a Difference in the Severity of Atopic Eczema in Children?

Ng SY, Begum S, Chong SY

Pediatr Dermatol, 2016 Mar;33(2):160-4.

PMID: 26856694 DOI: 10.1111/pde.12758

Atopic eczema (AE) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder in children, with emollients and topical corticosteroids (TCSs) commonly prescribed as treatment. There is no published guidance on the correct order of application of emollient and TCS in children with AE.

Fulltext A New Epi-neoverrucosane-type Diterpenoid from the Liverwort Pleurozia subinflata in Borneo

Kamada T, Johanis ML, Ng SY, Phan CS, Suleiman M, Vairappan CS

Nat Prod Bioprospect, 2020 Feb;10(1):51-56.

PMID: 32062804 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-020-00232-6

New bioactive 13-epi-neoverrucosane diterpenoid, 5β-acetoxy-13-epi-neoverrucosanic acid (1) along with three known secondary metabolites, 13-epi-neoverrucosan-5β-ol (2), chelodane (3) and (E)-β-farnesene (4) were isolated from the MeOH extract of east Malaysia's liverwort Pleurozia subinflata. The chemical structure of new compound was elucidated by the analyses of its spectroscopic data (FTIR, NMR and HR-ESI-MS). These epi-neoverrucosane-type compounds seem to be notable chemosystematic markers for P. subinflata in Borneo. Compound 3 was widespread in marine sponges however this is the first record for 3 to be found in liverwort. These metabolites were tested for their antifungal potentials against selected fungi from the marine environment. Compound 1 exhibited effective antifungal activity against Lagenidium thermophilum.

Two new clerodane-type diterpenoids from Bornean liverwort Gottschelia schizopleura and their cytotoxic activity

Ng SY, Kamada T, Suleiman M, Vairappan CS

Nat Prod Res, 2018 Aug;32(15):1832-1837.

PMID: 29156972 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2017.1405409

The Bornean liverwort Gottschelia schizopleura was investigated phytochemically for the first time. Two new and four previously known clerodane-type diterpenoids were isolated from the MeOH extract of G. schizopleura through a series of chromatographic techniques. The structures of the new metabolites were established by analyses of their spectroscopic data (1D NMR, 2D NMR, HRESIMS and IR). All the isolated compounds 1-6 were tested against human promyelocytic leukaemia (HL-60), human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and Mus musculus skin melanoma (B16-F10). Compound 1 and 2 showed active inhibition against HL-60 and B16-F10 cells.

A New Seco-Clerodane-Type Diterpenoid from Bornean Liverwort Schistochila acuminata

Ng SY, Kamada T, Suleiman M, Vairappan CS

Nat Prod Commun, 2016 Aug;11(8):1071-1072.

PMID: 30725558

A new compound, schistochilic acid D (1) and two known compounds (2 and 3) were isolated from MeOH extract of Bornean liverwort. Schistochila acuininata collected from Mount Trus Madi, Sabah. The structure of the new metabolite was established based on spectroscopic (ID NMR, 2D NMR, and IR). and HRESIMS data. In addition, another population of S. acuminata collected from Mount Alab (Sabah) yielded four known compounds, 2, 3, 4 and 5. These compounds were tested for their biological potential against the B 16-Fl0 cell line. Compounds 4 and 5 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity.

Fulltext Terpenoids from Marine Soft Coral of the Genus Xenia in 1977 to 2019

Ng SY, Phan CS, Ishii T, Kamada T, Hamada T, Vairappan CS

Molecules, 2020 Nov 18;25(22).

PMID: 33217924 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25225386

Members of the marine soft coral genus Xenia are rich in a diversity of diterpenes. A total of 199 terpenes consisting of 14 sesquiterpenes, 180 diterpenes, and 5 steroids have been reported to date. Xenicane diterpenes were reported to be the most common chemical skeleton biosynthesized by members of this genus. Most of the literature reported the chemical diversity of Xenia collected from the coral reefs in the South China Sea and the coastal waters of Taiwan. Although there was a brief review on the terpenoids of Xenia in 2015, the present review is a comprehensive overview of the structural diversity of secondary metabolites isolated from soft coral genus Xenia and their potent biological activity as reported between 1977 to 2019.

Fulltext The Effects of Drying Techniques on Phytochemical Contents and Biological Activities on Selected Bamboo Leaves

Benjamin MAZ, Ng SY, Saikim FH, Rusdi NA

Molecules, 2022 Sep 30;27(19).

PMID: 36234995 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196458

The therapeutic potential of bamboos has acquired global attention. Nonetheless, the biological activities of the plants are rarely considered due to limited available references in Sabah, Malaysia. Furthermore, the drying technique could significantly affect the retention and degradation of nutrients in bamboos. Consequently, the current study investigated five drying methods, namely, sun, shade, microwave, oven, and freeze-drying, of the leaves of six bamboo species, Bambusa multiplex, Bambusa tuldoides, Bambusa vulgaris, Dinochloa sublaevigata, Gigantochloa levis, and Schizostachyum brachycladum. The infused bamboo leaves extracts were analysed for their total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The antioxidant activities of the samples were determined via the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, whereas their toxicities were evaluated through the brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA). The chemical constituents of the samples were determined using liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The freeze-drying method exhibited the highest phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity yield, excluding the B. vulgaris sample, in which the microwave-dried sample recorded the most antioxidant and phytochemical levels. The TPC and TFC results were within the 2.69 ± 0.01−12.59 ± 0.09 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 0.77 ± 0.01−2.12 ± 0.01 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g ranges, respectively. The DPPH and ABTS IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) were 2.92 ± 0.01−4.73 ± 0.02 and 1.89−0.01 to 3.47 ± 0.00 µg/mL, respectively, indicating high radical scavenging activities. The FRAP values differed significantly between the drying methods, within the 6.40 ± 0.12−36.65 ± 0.09 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g range. The phytochemical contents and antioxidant capacities exhibited a moderate correlation, revealing that the TPC and TFC were slightly responsible for the antioxidant activities. The toxicity assessment of the bamboo extracts in the current study demonstrated no toxicity against the BSLA based on the LC50 (lethal concentration 50) analysis at >1000 µg/mL. LC-MS analysis showed that alkaloid and pharmaceutical compounds influence antioxidant activities, as found in previous studies. The acquired information might aid in the development of bamboo leaves as functional food items, such as bamboo tea. They could also be investigated for their medicinal ingredients that can be used in the discovery of potential drugs.

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