Early identification and management of hearing impairment is very valuable. The goal standard measurement of hearing loss is by brainstem evoked response (BSER). This prospective study was conducted in Hospital University Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) to determine the sensitivity and specificity of transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) as a screening tool for hearing impairment from February 1999 to February 2000. One hundred and thirty-three newborns from postnatal ward and seventy-eight newborns from neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were screened for possible hearing loss using portable TEOAE. This study showed that TEOAE is a very sensitive but moderately specific screening tool.
We studied the effect of fentanyl pretreatment on alleviating pain during the injection of Propofol-Lipuro. One hundred and seventy patients were randomly allocated to receive either 100 mcg of intravenous fentanyl or normal saline (placebo) followed by intravenous Propofol-Lipuro premixed with 20 mg lignocaine. The incidence of injection pain was 32% and 13% in the placebo and fentanyl groups, respectively. We found a statistically significant reduction in incidence of injection pain in the fentanyl group when compared with the placebo group (p<0.003). The number needed to treat was 6 (3.2< 95% CI <15.1). In conclusion, fentanyl pretreatment is effective in alleviating pain during injection of Propofol-Lipuro.
This study was conducted to compare the treatment efficacy between a prandial glucose regulator, repaglinide and a new sulphonylurea, glimepiride in Muslim Type 2 diabetic patients who practice Ramadan fasting. Forty-one patients, previously treated with a sulphonylurea or metformin, were divided to receive either repaglinide (n=20, preprandially three-times daily) or glimepiride (n=21, preprandially once daily) 3 months before the month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, patients modified their eating pattern to two meals daily, and the triple doses of repaglinide were redistributed to two preprandial doses. Four point blood glucose monitoring were performed weekly during the month of Ramadan and the subsequent month. Measurements of the 4-point blood glucose were significantly lower in the glimepiride group compared to the repaglinide group both during and after Ramadan. The glycaemic excursion was better in the morning for the repaglinide group and better in the afternoon and evening for the glimepiride group during the Ramadan period. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of hypoglycaemia between the two groups during and after Ramadan. There was no difference in the glycaemic excursion post-Ramadan. The longer duration of action of glimepiride may offer an advantage over repaglinide during the 13.5 hours of fast in Ramadan for diabetic patients.
We compared a newer serum specific IgE (SSIgE) test with skin prick testing (SPT) in the diagnosis of allergy in Malaysia. Ninety newly diagnosed allergic patients were enrolled for both tests. Using SPT as a clinical gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were calculated for SSIgE for each of the common allergens tested. The highest positive results for both SPT and SSIgE were for house dust mite and cat. Compared to SPT, SSIgE showed better sensitivity but poorer specificity, low PPV and good NPV in all the allergens tested. Significant positive correlation was seen between the diameter of wheal and flare of SPT and the SSIgE results.
The effect of an antiprostaglandin, piroxicam, in preventing surgically induced miosis is studied. Patients undergoing extracapsular cataract surgery were randomly divided into the piroxicam and placebo groups. Intra-operative measurements of the pupillary diameters were performed. The stages of procedure at which they were measured were at the beginning of operation (Stage 1), after anterior capsulotomy (Stage 2), after lens nucleus delivery (Stage 3) and at the end of irrigation and aspiration (Stage 4). It is noted in this Study that the pupillary diameters were larger at stages 2,3 and 4 in the piroxicam group. The increase in the mean pupillary areas of the piroxicam group were statistically significant for Stages 3 and 4.
A number of psychological approaches to alleviating psychotic symptoms have been reported in the literature. The latest technique among them is cognitive therapy (CT). This paper describes an open trial that makes use of cognitive psychotherapy to treat chronic drug resistant delusions (more than 2 years duration) in 20 patients with schizophrenia. The positive response of all patients with the absence of symptom replacement and maintenance of response at 3 months follow-up, seem to imply that this technique is useful and more effort needs to be invested into this new area of psychotherapy for psychosis. This paper also shows that those patients on risperidone maintenance respond better to CT than those on other neuroleptics.
This paper reports the result of a brief therapy attempt at treating panic in a busy outpatient psychiatric clinic. The patients were cases of panic referred from the various outpatient clinics within the hospital complex. The patients were divided into three groups at random using one of three modalities of treatment, i.e. cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), CBT and Fluvoxamine (FVX), and FVX alone. The therapy was aimed for a maximum of nine sessions after which the patients were to be discharged. There were 14 patients in each group. The results show that all the groups were similar in the severity and scores pre treatment but after the different types of treatment there was a significant difference among them. The FVX alone group, showed significant improvement from the pretreatment levels but did not show as much improvement as the other groups and the mean score was only 9.07 after nine sessions. The best group was the CBT in combination with FVX. This indicates that the best way to treat panic is to combine drug treatment and psychological treatment. It is also shown from the study that the combination group requires less FVX than the FVX alone group. This finding has implications for the treatment of panic at the family physician clinic.
Study site: Psychiatric clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
We conducted a prospective study in order to audit our experience of repairing cranial defects using Methyl methacrylate. This included a total of 49 patients undergoing cranioplasty using methyl methacrylate, of which 45 were males and 4 females. The age of patients at the time of surgery ranged from 16 to 40 years old, with an average of 24 years. Malays were the majority (67%), followed by Chinese (23%) and Indian (10%). Cranial defects were mainly caused by motor vehicle accident (94%), while gunshot wounds, industrial accidents and tumours, each contribute 2%. Bone flaps were commonly removed during previous surgery related to traumatic subdural haemorrhage (33%), contusion (21%) and intracerebral haemorrhage (14%). The size of cranial defects ranged from 28 cm2 to 440 cm2, with an average of 201 cm2. Most had right sided (55%) and lateral defects [temporoparietal (52%) followed by temporal (16%), frontal (16%), frontotemporal (14%) and occipital (2%)]. Duration of surgery ranged from 70 to 275 minutes, with an average of 135 minutes. Nine of 12 patients (75%) with neurological disability had some improvement while 85% of symptomatic patients had symptoms improvement after cranioplasty. The infection rate in this series was 4%.
Thalassaemics in Malaysia are poorly chelated because desferrioxamine is too expensive and cumbersome for long term compliance. The efficacy and tolerability of the oral chelator deferiprone, and the effects of using a combination therapy in our patients were studied. Ten patients completed the study and the mean serum ferritin reduced from 7066.11 ug/L (2577-12,896 ug/L) to 3242.24 ug/L (955-6120 ug/L). The liver iron concentration did not show a significant drop (19.6 vs 18.2 mg/g dry weight) although 3 patients showed reductions ranging from 30-40%. Concomitant use of desferrioxamine increased the urinary excretion from a mean of 13.66 mg/day to 27.38 mg/day. Main side effects seen were nausea and rashes.
This study was conducted to determine the tolerability and efficacy of valsartan (DIOVAN) compared to perindopril (COVERSYL) in Malaysian patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Two hundred and fifty adult Malaysian patients with a mean sitting diastolic blood pressure of more than 95 mmHg and less than 115 mmHg after a 14 day washout period were randomized to receive either valsartan 80 mg once daily (n=125) or perindopril 4 mg daily (n=125) for eight weeks. The primary end point for efficacy was the change in mean sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SiSBP and SiDBP). The primary criteria for evaluation of tolerability was the incidence of adverse events. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to sex, age, weight, baseline sitting and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure. At 0, 4 and 8 weeks the mean SiDBP in the valsartan group were 101.4, 92.8 and 91.0 mmHg respectively. The corresponding BP for the perindopril treated group was 102.6, 93.8 and 93.2 mmHg. (95% CI -1.39 to +3.27). There were no significant differences in the mean BP measurements between the valsartan and perindopril group at 0, 4 and 8 weeks. In each group there were significant differences between the BP at 4 and 8 weeks compared to baseline. A similar pattern was seen with SiSBP. At 4 weeks 28.7% of the valsartan and 25% of the perindopril group had their BP normalized (SiDBP <90 mmHg) The percentages of patients who responded (SiDBP reduction >10 mmHg but SiDBP >90 mmHg) were 21.3 in the valsartan group and 20.8 in the perindopril group. At 8 weeks, 31.1% of the valsartan group and 30.8% of the perindopril group had their BP normalized. The response rate was 27% and 22.5% for valsartan and perindopril respectively. The major adverse event was cough which occurred in 18 patients (14.4%) in the perindopril and 1 (0.8%) in the valsartan group at 4 weeks. At 8 weeks the figures were 24 (19.2%) and 2 (1.6%) respectively. The results indicate that Valsartan is safe and efficacious in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. It is equally efficacious to Perindopril and not associated with any major adverse event. It has a better tolerability profile with respect to dry cough.
Retrospective analysis was done on 85 patients (76 female, 9 male) with lupus nephritis who started intravenous cyclophosphamide between 1/1/1989 and 31/12/1998. The initial renal biopsy (World Health Organisation) classification was III (4.7%), IV (89.4%) and V (5.9%). Average serum creatinine at time of biopsy was 0.12 +/- 0.12 mmol/l. Median duration of nephritis before biopsy was 2 months (range 0-133). Median duration of follow-up from time of biopsy to outcome (death or end-stage renal failure) was 3.3 years (range 0.3-11.8). Nineteen patients died. The calculated proportion alive at 5 years was 75% and at 10 years 64%. The calculated proportion alive with renal function was 74% and 54% at 5 and 10 years respectively. Fifty-two patients completed cyclophosphamide therapy at the end of the study. There were ten episodes of herpes zoster, the most common infection seen. No malignancy was reported.
The efficacy of inhaled nedocromil sodium (NS) for children with a persistent cough was studied. Children aged 4-12 years with a persistent cough for >1 month were recruited and entered a 2-week baseline period during which an asthma diary was kept. Children with a cough score of >20 received inhaled NS via a spacer, 4mg qid for 2 weeks followed by 4mg bd for another 4 weeks. Twenty-two (42%) of 52 children recruited fulfilled treatment criteria. Four children were withdrawn from the study (2 developed wheezing and 2 were not compliant). The baseline cough score (29.1 +/- 13.6) improved after 2 weeks of treatment (15.2 +/- 9.3, p < 0.01) and improvement was sustained after 6 weeks (14.2 +/- 13.0, p = 0.01). Parents and patients had a more favourable perception of its efficacy compared to physicians (72% vs 50%, p = 0.01) Inhaled NS may be considered for treatment of persistent cough in children.
Study site: Paediatric clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The effectiveness of sodium citrate and sodium citrate/ranitidine were compared in two randomised groups of elective caesarean patients during the various phases of anaesthesia. The mean pH values (3.5, 3.3, 3.6) were lower in the citrate group compared to the citrate/ranitidine group (6.1, 6.3, 5.9). The percentage of patients with pH values less than 2.5 was 40% in the citrate group compared to 7% in the citrate/ranitidine group. Sodium citrate alone is less effective than sodium citrate/ranitidine for acid aspiration prophylaxis.
An open comparative randomised study comparing the performance of hydrocolloid dressings (DuoDERM CGF) to saline gauze dressings in the treatment of pressure ulcers was done to evaluate the overall dressing performance, wound healing and cost effectiveness. Thirty-four subjects were enrolled at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur over a 643 days period. Inclusion criteria were Stage II or III pressure ulcers, at least 18 years of age and written informed consent. Only one pressure ulcer per subject was enrolled in the study. Patients with infected pressure ulcers, diabetes mellitus, an immuno-compromised status and known sensitivity to the study dressings were excluded. Subjects who met the enrollment criteria were randomised to one of the two dressing regimes. They were expected to participate in the study for a maximum of eight weeks or until the pressure ulcer healed, which ever occurred first. Overall subject age averaged 58 years and the mean duration of pressure ulcer existence was about 1 month. Twenty-one of the thirty-four ulcers enrolled were stage II and thirteen were stage III. The majority of the ulcers (88%) were located in the sacral area and seventeen subjects (50%) were incontinent. In the evaluation of dressing performance in terms of adherence to wound bed, exudate handling ability, overall comfort and pain during dressing removal; all favoured the hydrocolloid dressing by a statistically significant margin (p < 0.001). Subjects assigned the hydrocolloid dressing experienced a mean 34% reduction from their baseline surface area measurement compared to a mean 9% increase by subjects assigned gauze dressings. This was not statistically significant (p = 0.2318). In cost evaluation of the study products, there was no statistical significance in the total cost of wound management per subject. When only labour time and cost was evaluated, there was a statistically significant advantage towards hydrocolloid dressings.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of zuclopenthixol acetate compared with haloperidol in the management of the acutely disturbed schizophrenic patient. Suitable subjects diagnosed as having schizophreniform disorder or acute exacerbation of schizophrenia admitted to the psychiatric wards Hospital Kuala Lumpur were randomised to receive either zuclopenthixol acetate or haloperidol. They were rated blind for three consecutive days using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and UKU Side Effects Scale. Apart from repeat injections of the same medication, no other anti-psychotic was given for the duration of the study. 50 subjects entered the study of which 44 completed. 23 were given zuclopenthixol acetate and 21 haloperidol. Both groups significantly reduced BPRS and CGI scores on all 3 days compared to the initial rating (p < 0.001). There was however no difference between the zuclopenthixol acetate and haloperidol group scores on all days (p > 0.05). More subjects on haloperidol than zuclopenthixol required more than 1 injection during the study. Both groups had minimal side effects. Zuclopenthixol acetate was effective in the management of the acutely disturbed schizophrenic.
Phenylephrine in concentrations of either 2.5% or 10% is widely used as a mydriatic agent in ophthalmic surgery. Its potential cardiovascular effects are seldom recorded as ophthalmic surgery is not usually monitored by an anaesthetist. A prospective randomised double blind study was carried out in 89 consecutive cases of uncomplicated cataract surgery in the presence of an anaesthesiologist ensuring the continuous monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiography and pulse oximetry. All these patients were given a drop of either normal saline, 2.5% or 10% phenylephrine in addition to mydriacyl prior to surgery. Blood pressure readings were found to be significantly higher in non-hypertensive patients receiving phenylephrine at the start of the operation and at five, 10, 15 and 20 minutes intra-operatively and the first three hours post-operatively. Blood pressure readings in hypertensive patients, on the other hand, were also found to increase after phenylephrine administration, though not statistically significant. 10.3% of the 10% phenylephrine group and 3% of the 2.5% phenylephrine group required intraoperative intravenous hypotensive agent to control the blood pressure. There were no arrhythmias or ischaemic changes observed intraoperatively. None of the patients complained of palpitation, headache or chest discomfort. There was no oxygen desaturation observed. We concluded that significant hypertensive effects can arise after phenylephrine eye drop administration. Hence, it should be used cautiously with intraoperative monitoring of the cardiovascular status during cataract surgery.
This open labelled, randomised, controlled study was designed to compare the induction and recovery characteristics of sevoflurane and halothane anaesthesia in children. Forty American Society of Anaesthesiologist (ASA) physical status class 1 or 2 children (aged 1-10 year, weighed less than 25 kg) scheduled for elective urological procedure lasting less than one hour were allocated randomly to receive either sevoflurane (group S, n = 20) or halothane (group H, n = 20). The induction time in children receiving sevoflurane was significantly shorter than in those receiving halothane (mean (SD) 46 (13.6) second vs 69 (19.4) seconds, p < 0.005). The emergence from anaesthesia was also faster in children receiving sevoflurane than in those receiving halothane (mean (SD) 9 min (4.3 min) vs 21 min (8.9 min), p < 0.001). No major adverse effects were encountered in each group. We concluded that sevoflurane is comparable to halothane in Malaysian children.
DRE has been used as a diagnostic and screening tool for prostate cancer for decades. However these are based on Western data and its local applicability has yet to be verified. We held a Prostate Health Awareness Week in August 1998 and a total of 2086 men were screened. All men aged 50 years old and above were included for the study. The subjects were evaluated on DRE findings, PSA levels and if indicated a TRUS-guided biopsy results. We concluded that DRE per se might have limited role in the screening of prostate cancer in Malaysia. Screening using DRE and PSA combined are still recognized as the most cost-effective means. Neither DRE nor PSA alone has high enough specificity for diagnosis of prostate cancer cases. Combining DRE and PSA will definitely increase the specificity significantly.
Study site: e Urology
Clinic of Kuala Lumpur Hospital