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Prevalence of BCR-ABL T315I Mutation in Malaysian Patients with Imatinib-Resistant Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Mat Yusoff Y, Abu Seman Z, Othman N, Kamaluddin NR, Esa E, Zulkiply NA, et al.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2018 Dec 25;19(12):3317-3320.
PMID: 30583336

Objective: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is caused by a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9
and 22, t(9;22) (q34;q11) which encodes for the BCR-ABL fusion protein. Discovery of Imatinib Mesylate (IM) as
first line therapy has brought tremendous improvement in the management of CML. However, emergence of point
mutations within the BCR-ABL gene particularly T315I mutation, affects a common BCR-ABL kinase contact residue
which impairs drug binding thus contribute to treatment resistance. This study aims to investigate the BCR-ABL T315I
mutation in Malaysian patients with CML. Methods: A total of 285 patients diagnosed with CML were included in this
study. Mutation detection was performed using qualitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Results: Fifteen out of 285 samples
(5.26%) were positive for T315I mutations after amplification with real-time PCR assay. From the total number of
positive samples, six patients were in accelerated phase (AP), four in chronic phase (CP) and five in blast crisis (BC).
Conclusion: Mutation testing is recommended for choosing various tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to optimize
outcomes for both cases of treatment failure or suboptimal response to imatinib. Therefore, detection of T315I mutation
in CML patients are clinically useful in the selection of appropriate treatment strategies to prevent disease progression.
Fulltext Whole gene transcriptomic analysis of PCB/biphenyl degrading Rhodococcus jostii RHA1

Sha'arani S, Hara H, Araie H, Suzuki I, Mohd Noor MJM, Akhir FNM, et al.

J Gen Appl Microbiol, 2019 Sep 14;65(4):173-179.
PMID: 30686798 DOI: 10.2323/jgam.2018.08.003

This study gives the first picture of whole RNA-Sequencing analysis of a PCB-degrading microbe, Rhodococcus jostii RHA1. Genes that were highly expressed in biphenyl-grown cells, compared with pyruvate-grown cells, were chosen based on the Reads Per Kilobase Million (RPKM) value and were summarized based on the criteria of RPKM ≥100 and fold change ≥2.0. Consequently, 266 total genes were identified as genes expressed particularly for the degradation of biphenyl. After comparison with previous microarray data that identified highly-expressed genes, based on a fold change ≥2.0 and p-value ≤0.05, 62 highly-expressed genes from biphenyl-grown cells were determined from both analytical platforms. As these 62 genes involve known PCB degradation genes, such as bph, etb, and ebd, the genes identified in this study can be considered as essential genes for PCB/biphenyl degradation. In the 62 genes, eleven genes encoding hypothetical proteins were highly expressed in the biphenyl-grown cells. Meanwhile, we identified several highly-expressed unannotated DNA regions on the opposite strand. In order to verify the encoded proteins, two regions were cloned into an expression vector. A protein was successfully obtained from one region at approximately 25 kDa from the unannotated strand. Thus, the genome sequence with transcriptomic analysis gives new insight, considering re-annotation of the genome of R. jostii RHA1, and provides a clearer picture of PCB/biphenyl degradation in this strain.
Fulltext Identification of FLT3 and NPM1 Mutations in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

Mat Yusoff Y, Abu Seman Z, Othman N, Kamaluddin NR, Esa E, Zulkiply NA, et al.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2019 06 01;20(6):1749-1755.
PMID: 31244296 DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.6.1749

Objective: The most frequent acquired molecular abnormalities and important prognostic indicators in patients
with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) are fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 gene (FLT3) and nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1)
mutations. Our study aims to develop a cost effective and comprehensive in-house conventional PCR method for
detection of FLT3-ITD, FLT3-D835 and NPM1 mutations and to evaluate the frequency of these mutations in patients
with cytogenetically normal (CN) AML in our population. Methods: A total of 199 samples from AML patients (95
women, 104 men) were included in the study. Mutation analyses were performed using polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) and gene sequencing. Result: Sixty-eight patients were positive for the mutations. FLT3-ITD mutations were
detected in 32 patients (16.1%), followed by FLT3-D835 in 5 (2.5%) and NPM1 in 54 (27.1%). Double mutations of
NPM1 and FLT3-ITD were detected in 23 cases (11.6%). Assays validation were performed using Sanger sequencing
and showed 100% concordance with in house method. Conclusion: The optimized in-house PCR assays for the
detection of FLT3-ITD, FLT3-D835 and NPM1 mutations in AML patients were robust, less labour intensive and cost
effective. These assays can be used as diagnostic tools for mutation detection in AML patients since identification of
these mutations are important for prognostication and optimization of patient care.
Fulltext Dual-Band, Wide-Angle, and High-Capture Efficiency Metasurface for Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting

Amer AAG, Othman N, Sapuan SZ, Alphones A, Hassan MF, Al-Gburi AJA, et al.

Nanomaterials (Basel), 2023 Jul 06;13(13).
PMID: 37446531 DOI: 10.3390/nano13132015

A dual-band metasurface (MS) with a wide reception angle operating at Wi-Fi bands (2.4 GHz and 5.4 GHz) is presented for electromagnetic (EM) energy harvesting applications. The MS unit cell comprises a subwavelength circular split ring resonator printed on the low-loss substrate. An air layer is sandwiched between two low-loss substrates to enhance the harvesting efficiency at operating frequencies. One of the main advantages of the proposed MS is that it uses only one harvesting port (via) to channel the captured power to the optimized load (50 Ω), which simplifies the design of a combined power network. According to the results of full-wave EM simulations, the proposed MS has a near-unity efficiency of 97% and 94% at 2.4 GHz and 5.4 GHz, respectively, for capturing the power of incident EM waves with normal incidence. Furthermore, the proposed MS harvester achieves good performance at up to 60° oblique incidence. To validate simulations, the MS harvester with 5 × 5-unit cells is fabricated and tested, and its EM properties are measured, showing good agreement with the simulation results. Because of its high efficiency, the proposed MS harvester is suitable for use in various microwave applications, such as energy harvesting and wireless power transfer.
Cyclopenta[b]benzofuran and Secodammarane Derivatives from the Stems of Aglaia stellatopilosa

Othman N, Pan L, Mejin M, Voong JC, Chai HB, Pannell CM, et al.

J Nat Prod, 2016 Apr 22;79(4):784-91.
PMID: 26974604 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00810

Four new 2,3-secodammarane triterpenoids, stellatonins A-D (3-6), together with a new 3,4-secodammarane triterpenoid, stellatonin E (7), and the known silvestrol (1), 5‴-episilvestrol (2), and β-sitosterol, were isolated from a methanol extract of the stems of Aglaia stellatopilosa through bioassay-guided fractionation. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic and chemical methods. The compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines and for their antimicrobial activity using a microtiter plate assay against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.
Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibilities of Acinetobacter baumannii and non-baumannii Acinetobacters from Terengganu, Malaysia and their carriage of carbapenemase genes

Mohd Rani F, A Rahman NI, Ismail S, Abdullah FH, Othman N, Alattraqchi AG, et al.

J Med Microbiol, 2018 Nov;67(11):1538-1543.
PMID: 30251951 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000844

A total of 153 non-repeat Acinetobacter spp. clinical isolates obtained in 2015 from Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) in Terengganu, Malaysia, were characterized. Identification of the isolates at species level was performed by ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) followed by sequencing of the rpoB gene. The majority of the isolates (n=128; 83.7 %) were A. baumannii while the rest were identified as A. nosocomialis (n=16), A. calcoaceticus (n=5), A. soli (n=2), A. berezeniae (n=1) and A. variabilis (n=1). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was most prevalent in A. baumannnii (66.4 %) whereas only one non-baumannii isolate (A. nosocomialis) was MDR. The blaOXA-23 gene was the predominant acquired carbapenemase gene (56.2 %) and was significantly associated (P<0.001) with carbapenem resistance. However, no significant association was found for carbapenem resistance and isolates that contained the ISAba1-blaOXA-51 configuration.
Fulltext Biocide susceptibilities and biofilm-forming capacities of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates from Malaysia

Nor A'shimi MH, Alattraqchi AG, Mohd Rani F, A Rahman NI, Ismail S, Abdullah FH, et al.

J Infect Dev Ctries, 2019 07 31;13(7):626-633.
PMID: 32065820 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.11455

INTRODUCTION: Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative nosocomial pathogen that has the capacity to develop resistance to all classes of antimicrobial compounds. However, very little is known regarding its susceptibility to biocides (antiseptics and disinfectants) and capacity to form biofilms, particularly for Malaysian isolates.
AIM: To determine the susceptibility of A. baumannii isolates to commonly-used biocides, investigate their biofilm-forming capacities and the prevalence of biocide resistance and biofilm-associated genes.
METHODOLOGY: . The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 100 A. baumannii hospital isolates from Terengganu, Malaysia, towards the biocides benzalkonium chloride (BZK), benzethonium chloride (BZT) and chlorhexidine digluconate (CLX), were determined by broth microdilution. The isolates were also examined for their ability to form biofilms in 96-well microplates. The prevalence of biocide resistance genes qacA, qacE and qacDE1 and the biofilm-associated genes bap and abaI were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
RESULTS: Majority of the A. baumannii isolates (43%) showed higher MIC values (> 50 µg/mL) for CLX than for BZK (5% for MIC > 50 µg/mL) and BZT (9% for MIC > 50 µg/mL). The qacDE1 gene was predominant (63%) followed by qacE (28%) whereas no isolate was found harbouring qacA. All isolates were positive for the bap and abaI genes although the biofilm-forming capacity varied among the isolates.
CONCLUSION: The Terengganu A. baumannii isolates showed higher prevalence of qacDE1 compared to qacE although no correlation was found with the biocides' MIC values. No correlation was also observed between the isolates' biofilm-forming capacity and the MIC values for the biocides.
Fulltext Research on cancer diagnosis in Malaysia: current status

Looi LM, Zubaidah Z, Cheah PL, Cheong SK, Gudum HR, Iekhsan O, et al.

Malays J Pathol, 2004 Jun;26(1):13-27.
PMID: 16190103

Cancer is a major morbidity and mortality concern in Malaysia. Based on National Cancer Registry data, the Malaysian population is estimated to bear a cancer burden of about 40,000 new cases per year, and a cumulative lifetime risk of about 1:4. Cancer research in Malaysia has to consider needs relevant to our population, and resources constraints. Hence, funding bodies prioritise cancers of high prevalence, unique to our community and posing specific clinical problems. Cancer diagnosis is crucial to cancer management. While cancer diagnosis research largely aims at improvements in diagnostic information towards more appropriate therapy, it also impacts upon policy development and other areas of cancer management. The scope of cancer diagnosis upon which this paper is based, and their possible impact on other R&D areas, has been broadly categorized into: (1) identification of aetiological agents and their linkages to the development of precancer and cancer (impact on policy development, cancer prevention and treatment), (2) cancer biology and pathogenesis (impact on cancer prevention, treatment strategies and product development), (3) improvements in accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in cancer detection, monitoring and classification (impact on technology development) and (4) prognostic and predictive parameters (impact on treatment strategies). This paper is based on data collected by the Working Group on Cancer Diagnosis Research for the First National Conference on Cancer Research Coordination in April 2004. Data was collated from the databases of Institutions/Universities where the authors are employed, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and targeted survey feedback from key cancer researchers. Under the 7th Malaysia Plan, 76 cancer projects were funded through the Intensified Research in Priority Areas (IRPA) scheme of MOSTI, amounting to almost RM15 million of grant money. 47(61.8%) of these projects were substantially in cancer diagnosis, accounting for 65.6% (RM 9.7 million) of cancer project funds. The 8th Malaysia Plan saw a change in research strategy. The IRPA agency fielded several top-down projects which encouraged a multicentre and multidisciplinary approach. This resulted in larger funding per project i.e. RM32 million for 49 projects. There was also a surge of interest in drug development and natural products. Because of this shift in direction, cancer diagnosis projects constituted only 51% of IRPA-funded cancer projects. Nonetheless funding for cancer diagnosis research has exceeded that of the 7th Malaysia Plan, being RM12.5 million by March 2004. The majority of such research is carried out at the Universities, engaging a large number of young scientists and postgraduate students (51 MSc and 21 PhD). A lot of research findings presented at scientific meetings have not yet been published and there is a glaring shortage of patents and commercialization of research findings (such as creation of test kits). Because diagnosis is very much a part of clinical practice, many researchers felt satisfied and confident that their work will be translated into practice and will significantly improve diagnostic services in Malaysia. National guidelines and consensus development on at least three malignancies i.e. breast cancer, oral cancer and lymphoma, have substantial basis in local R&D work. Problems encountered in research included (1) insufficient funding to realize research objectives, (2) lack of local expertise (most research assistants are inexperienced BSc graduates with no or minimal research experience), (3) inadequate technical support from vendors during equipment failure, (4) inexperienced Institutional development units to assist in product development, (5) lack of venture capital for commercialization of findings, and (6) inadequate incentives to undertake research. Researchers pointed out that plans to promote research should include the establishment of (1) regional and national cancer tissue banks, (2) a National Cancer Research Institute, (3) a dedicated cancer research fund, (4) a registry of cancer researchers, (5) national research coordinators, (6) improved coverage by the National Cancer Registry, (7) more international collaboration, (8) a better career structure for researchers, (9) improved Institutional support for product realization, and (10) better recognition for cancer researchers.
Medication errors reported to the National Medication Error Reporting System in Malaysia: a 4-year retrospective review (2009 to 2012)

Samsiah A, Othman N, Jamshed S, Hassali MA, Wan-Mohaina WM

Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 2016 Dec;72(12):1515-1524.
PMID: 27637912

PURPOSE: Reporting and analysing the data on medication errors (MEs) is important and contributes to a better understanding of the error-prone environment. This study aims to examine the characteristics of errors submitted to the National Medication Error Reporting System (MERS) in Malaysia.
METHODS: A retrospective review of reports received from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2012 was undertaken. Descriptive statistics method was applied.
RESULTS: A total of 17,357 MEs reported were reviewed. The majority of errors were from public-funded hospitals. Near misses were classified in 86.3 % of the errors. The majority of errors (98.1 %) had no harmful effects on the patients. Prescribing contributed to more than three-quarters of the overall errors (76.1 %). Pharmacists detected and reported the majority of errors (92.1 %). Cases of erroneous dosage or strength of medicine (30.75 %) were the leading type of error, whilst cardiovascular (25.4 %) was the most common category of drug found.
CONCLUSIONS: MERS provides rich information on the characteristics of reported MEs. Low contribution to reporting from healthcare facilities other than government hospitals and non-pharmacists requires further investigation. Thus, a feasible approach to promote MERS among healthcare providers in both public and private sectors needs to be formulated and strengthened. Preventive measures to minimise MEs should be directed to improve prescribing competency among the fallible prescribers identified.
Fulltext Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent child: a case report and literature review

Othman N, Abdullah NA, Wahab ZA

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2004 Dec;35(4):930-4.
PMID: 15916093

An immunocompetent 5 year-old girl presented with pyrexia of unknown origin associated with headache. Initial investigations showed leukocytosis and an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. A Widal-Weil Felix test, blood film for malarial parasites, mycoplasma IgM antibody, cultures from blood and urine, full blood picture, Mantoux test, and chest x-ray were all negative. A lumbar puncture was done as part of a work-up for pyrexia of unknown origin. Cryptococcus neoformans was seen on India ink examination and confirmed on culture. She was treated with 10 weeks of intravenous amphotericin B and 8 weeks of fluconazole. Further immunological tests did not reveal any defect in the cell-mediated immune system. C. neoformans meningitis may present with non-specific symptoms and should be considered in a work-up for pyrexia of unknown origin.
Defining and supporting a professional role for pharmacists associated with traditional and complementary medicines: a cross-country survey of pharmacists

Harnett JE, Desselle SP, Fernandes MB, Yao D, Modun D, Hallit S, et al.

Front Pharmacol, 2023;14:1215475.
PMID: 37654614 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1215475

Introduction: An estimated 80% of the world's population use traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) products as part of their healthcare, with many accessed through pharmacy. This cross-cultural study posed a set of professional practice responsibilities and actions to pharmacists related to T&CM products, with a view toward developing consensus, safeguarding, and promoting the health of the public. Methods: Data were collected from 2,810 pharmacists across nine countries during 2022 via a cross-sectional online survey reported in accordance with the guidelines of STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) and the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES). Results: Of the 2,810 participants from nine countries, 2,341 completed all sections of the survey. Of these, most agreed (69%) that T&CM product use was common in the community they served, but most did not have adequate training to support consumer needs. Over 75% acknowledged that there were known and unknown safety risks associated with T&CM use. Of 18 professional responsibilities posed, 92% agreed that pharmacists should be able to inform consumers about potential risks, including T&CM side effects and drug-herb interactions. The provision of accurate scientific information on the effectiveness of T&CM products, skills to guide consumers in making informed decisions, and communication with other healthcare professionals to support appropriate and safe T&CM product use were all ranked with high levels of agreement. In order to effectively fulfill these responsibilities, pharmacists agreed that regulatory reforms, development of T&CM education and training, and access to quality products supported by high-quality evidence were needed. Conclusion: General agreement from across nine countries on eighteen professional responsibilities and several stakeholder actions serve as a foundation for the discussion and development of international T&CM guidelines for pharmacists.
Fulltext Prevalence of Clostridium difficile toxin in diarhoeal stool samples of patients from a tertiary hospital in North Eastern Penisular Malaysia

Hassan SA, Othman N, Idris FM, Abdul Rahman Z, Maning N, Abdul Rahman R, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2012 Aug;67(4):402-5.
PMID: 23082450 MyJurnal

This study describes the prevalence of Clostridium difficile toxin (CDT) in loose stool samples from inpatients aged more than two years of a tertiary hospital. A total of 175 samples that had been examined were from stool samples that were sent to the Medical Microbiology & Parasitology Laboratory for various clinical indications. The toxin was detected by a commercial immunochromatograhic test, and the patients' demography, clinical features, treatment and outcomes were analyzed from their medical records. Clostridium difficile toxin was positive in 24 (13.7%) of the stool samples. Male and female were 11 (45.8%) and 13 (54.2%) respectively, with the majority of them aged more than 50 years. Most were from medical wards (n = 21, 87.5%), with the rest from surgical wards (n = 2, 8.3%) and intensive care units (n = 1, 3.4%). All the CDT positive patients had history of prior antibiotic usage within 6 weeks before the detection of the toxin. The mean duration of antibiotics usage was 17.75 (+/- 13.75) days, while the mean duration of diarrhea was 5.21((+/- 5.85) days. Eighteen patients had underlying medical illnesses that were diabetes mellitus, chronic renal disease, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and malignancy; with seven of them being CDT positive while on chemotherapy. Stool occult blood test was positive in 15 patients whereas presence of pus cells in the CD positive stool samples were detected in 21 patients. The duration of hospitalization among the patients was 27.96 (+/- 23.22) days.
Fulltext Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Carbapenem- and Polymyxin-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from a Tertiary Hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia

Lean SS, Suhaili Z, Ismail S, Rahman NI, Othman N, Abdullah FH, et al.

ISRN Microbiol, 2014;2014:953417.
PMID: 25006521 DOI: 10.1155/2014/953417

Nosocomial infection caused by Acinetobacter baumannii is of great concern due to its increasing resistance to most antimicrobials. In this study, 54 nonrepeat isolates of A. baumannii from the main tertiary hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia, were analyzed for their antibiograms and genotypes. Out of the 54 isolates, 39 (72.2%) were multidrug resistant (MDR) and resistant to carbapenems whereas 14 (25.9%) were categorized as extensive drug resistant (XDR) with additional resistance to polymyxin B, the drug of "last resort." Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analyses showed that the polymyxin-resistant isolates were genetically diverse while the carbapenem-resistant isolates were clonally related. The 14 XDR isolates were further investigated for mutations in genes known to mediate polymyxin resistance, namely, pmrCAB, and the lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis genes, lpxA, lpxC, lpxD, and lpsB. All 14 isolates had a P102H mutation in pmrA with no mutation detected in pmrC and pmrB. No mutation was detected in lpxA but each polymyxin-resistant isolate had 2-4 amino acid substitutions in lpxD and 1-2 substitutions in lpxC. Eight resistant isolates also displayed a unique H181Y mutation in lpsB. The extent of polymyxin resistance is of concern and the novel mutations discovered here warrant further investigations.
Fulltext Molecular testing for advanced non-small cell lung cancer in Malaysia: Consensus statement from the College of Pathologists, Academy of Medicine Malaysia, the Malaysian Thoracic Society, and the Malaysian Oncological Society

Rajadurai P, Cheah PL, How SH, Liam CK, Annuar MAA, Omar N, et al.

Lung Cancer, 2019 10;136:65-73.
PMID: 31446227 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2019.08.005

In the recent years, increased understanding of the molecular profiles of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has allowed for targeted treatment of actionable genetic mutations. The management of NSCLC now requires multiple molecular tests to guide the treatment strategy. In the light of this, there is a need to establish a molecular testing consensus statement for advanced NSCLC patients in Malaysia. This Malaysian consensus statement was developed by a panel of experts, chaired by a pathologist and composed of three other pathologists, four respiratory physicians and three oncologists. It reflects currently available scientific data and adaptations of recommendations from international guidelines to the local landscape. Expert recommendations on different aspects of molecular testing agreed upon by the panel are provided as structured discussions. These recommendations address the appropriate patients and samples to be tested, as well as when and how these tests should be performed. The algorithms for molecular testing in metastatic NSCLC, in the first line setting and upon disease progression beyond first line therapy, were developed.
Fulltext Human pentastomiasis caused by Armillifer moniliformis in Malaysian Borneo

Latif B, Omar E, Heo CC, Othman N, Tappe D

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2011 Nov;85(5):878-81.
PMID: 22049042 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0404

We report a case of visceral pentastomiasis caused by Armillifer moniliformis in a 70-year-old aboriginal farmer from rural Malaysian Borneo. The patient complained of upper abdominal pain, jaundice, and loss of weight. Radiological investigations and subsequent histopathological examination revealed an adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with an adjacent liver nodule containing a nymph of A. moniliformis. This report constitutes the first documented human pentastomid infection in the whole of Malaysia after nearly 40 years, and it is the third description from Malaysian Borneo. Cases of human and animal pentastomiasis in Malaysia are discussed.
Fulltext Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and hybrid capture II (HCII) assay for the detection of human papillomavirus in cervical scrapings

Saini R, Shen TH, Othman NH, Santhanam J, Othman N, Tang TH

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Aug;62(3):206-9.
PMID: 18246908 MyJurnal

In order to investigate the reliability of detecting HPV DNA in cervical smears, we compared the performance of nested MY/GP PCR and FDA approved-Hybrid Capture II (HCII) using clinical cervical scrapings from 40 patients. It was found that PCR was more sensitive (81.8%) in comparison to HCII (36.4%) in detecting HPV although specificity of HCII was much higher (96.6%) than PCR (58.6%). The Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of both the techniques were quite similar but Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of HCII was much higher (80.0%) compared to PCR (42.9%). While the HCII method showed good specificity for HPV detection, its lack of sensitivity as compared to PCR may be a drawback for diagnostic use.
Pharyngeal Lipoma-A Potentially Life Threatening Presentation

Mohd Nor SNA, Ng BHK, Othman N, Tang IP

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2022 Dec;74(Suppl 3):5478-5481.
PMID: 36742515 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-021-02803-6

Pharyngeal lipoma of the upper aero-digestive system is extremely rare. It is typically benign, slow growing and symptoms would depend on its size and location. Surgical intervention is often needed especially for large tumour with impending airway obstruction. Here we present a case of potentially life threatening presentation of pharyngeal lipoma.
Emulsion liquid membrane modeling for chromium removal from electroplating wastewater using TOMAC as a carrier

Othman N, Noah NFM, Sulaiman RNR, Jusoh N, Tan WT

Water Environ Res, 2021 Sep;93(9):1669-1679.
PMID: 33704848 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1551

Hexavalent chromium, emanating primarily from the electroplating industries, can be reduced to the less toxic trivalent variety by several methods, including emulsion liquid membrane (ELM). In this work, studies on the continuous removal of chromium from authentic electroplating wastewater by ELM are reported. The effects of treat ratio, external feed phase, and stripping agent concentration were examined. A mathematical boundary breakage model was used to study the extraction efficiency of chromium through the ELM process. The model representing the prediction of ELM extraction performance for chromium was validated through the comparison between the simulation and experimental results. The result showed the simulation model is found to be in good agreement with the experimental result. Almost 100% of 40 ppm chromium in the external feed phase was extracted within 3 to 5 min using 0.022 M TOMAC as extractant, 1.0 M acidic thiourea in the internal phase, and 1 to 5 of treat ratio. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Hexavalent chromium, emanating primarily from electroplating industries, can be reduced to the less toxic trivalent using ELM process. The developed method was tested for its applicability with predominant species of Cr2 O7 2- in real rinse electroplating wastewater. The extraction efficiency (%) of Cr (VI) was almost 100% for 40 ppm Cr in the external feed phase within 3 to 5 min. The result showed the simulation model is found to be in good agreement with the experimental result.
Fulltext Screening of optimization parameters for mixing process via CFD

Othman, N., Kamarudin, S.K., Mamat, M.R., Azman, A., Rosli, M.I., Takrif, M.S.

Journal of Nuclear and Related Technologies, 2013;2013(2):21-29.
MyJurnal

In this study, the numerical simulation in a mixing vessel agitated by a six bladed Rushton turbine has
been carried out to investigate the effects of effective parameters to the mixing process. The study is intended to screen the potential parameters which affect the optimization process and to provide the detail insights into the process. Three-dimensional and steady-state flow has been performed using the fully predictive Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) technique for the impeller and tank geometry. Process optimization is always used to ensure the optimum conditions are fulfilled to attain industries’ satisfaction or needs (ie; increase profit, low cost, yields, etc). In this study, the range of recommended speed to accelerate optimization is 100, 150 and 200rpm respectively and the range of recommended clearance is 50, 75 and 100mm respectively for dual Rushton impeller. Thus, the computer fluid dynamics (CFD) was introduced in order to screen the suitable parameters efficiently and to accelerate optimization. In this study,
Fulltext Enhancement of astaxanthin accumulation using black light in Coelastrum and Monoraphidium isolated from Malaysia

Kaha M, Iwamoto K, Yahya NA, Suhaimi N, Sugiura N, Hara H, et al.

Sci Rep, 2021 06 03;11(1):11708.
PMID: 34083633 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91128-z

Microalgae are important microorganisms which produce potentially valuable compounds. Astaxanthin, a group of xanthophyll carotenoids, is one of the most powerful antioxidants mainly found in microalgae, yeasts, and crustaceans. Environmental stresses such as intense light, drought, high salinity, nutrient depletion, and high temperature can induce the accumulation of astaxanthin. Thus, this research aims to investigate the effect of black light, also known as long-wave ultraviolet radiation or UV-A, as a stressor on the accumulation of astaxanthin as well as to screen the antioxidant property in two tropical green algal strains isolated from Malaysia, Coelastrum sp. and Monoraphidium sp. SP03. Monoraphidium sp. SP03 showed a higher growth rate (0.66 day-1) compared to that of Coelastrum sp. (0.22 day-1). Coelastrum sp. showed significantly higher accumulation of astaxanthin in black light (0.999 g mL culture-1) compared to that in control condition (0.185 g mL-1). Similarly, Monoraphidium sp. SP03 showed higher astaxanthin content in black light (0.476 g mL culture-1) compared to that in control condition (0.363 g mL culture-1). Coelastrum sp. showed higher scavenging activity (30.19%) when cultured in black light condition, indicating a correlation between the antioxidant activity and accumulation of astaxanthin. In this study, black light was shown to possess great potential to enhance the production of astaxanthin in microalgae.

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