MyMedR

Porous graphitic carbon shows promise for the rapid screening partial DPD deficiency in lymphocyte dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase in Chinese, Indian and Malay in Singapore by using semi-automated HPLC-radioassay

Liem LK, Choong LH, Woo KT

Clin Biochem, 2002 May;35(3):181-7.

PMID: 12074825

OBJECTIVE: Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) catalyzes the degradation of thymine, uracil, and the chemotherapeutic drug 5-Fluorouracil. In general reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography is the standard method for separating 5-[2-(14)C]Fluorouracil and 5-[2-(14)C]Fluoro-5,6-dihydrouracil. However, the use of 100% aqueous solution (as HPLC mobile phase) may collapse the C-18 bonded phase and result in a retention time shift. The aim of this study is to develop a rapid, reproducible, sensitive method for screening partial DPD deficiency in healthy volunteers.

DESIGN AND METHODS: The activity of DPD was measured using 5-[2- (14)C]Fluorouracil (5-[2-(14)C]FUra) followed by separation of substrate and product 5-[2-(14)C]FUraH(2) with a 15 x 4.6 mm I.D., 5 microm particle size (d(p)) porous graphitic carbon (PGC) column (Hypercarb(R)) and HPLC with online detection of the radioactivity. This was standardized using the protein concentration of the cytosol (NanoOrange(R) Protein Quantitation).

RESULTS: Complete baseline separation of 5-[2-(14)C]Fluorouracil (5-[2-(14)C]FUra) and 5-[2-(14)C]Fluoro-5,6-dihydrouracil (5-[2-(14)C]FUraH(2)) was achieved using a porous graphitic carbon (PGC) column. The detection limit for 5-[2-(14)C]FUraH(2) was 0.4 pmol.

CONCLUSIONS: By using linear gradient separation (0.1% Trifluoroacetic acid [TFA] in water to 100% Methanol) protocols in concert with PGC columns (Hypercarb(R)), we have demonstrated that a PGC column has a distinct advantage over C-18 reverse phase columns in terms of column stability (pH 1-14). This method provides an improvement on the specific assay for DPD enzyme activity. It is rapid, reproducible and sensitive and can be used for routine screening for healthy and cancer patients for partial and profound DPD deficiency before treatment with 5- FUra.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*

Fulltext Clinical diagnosis of malaria by medical assistants in Sri Aman, Sarawak - necessary but of limited reliability

Chin ZH

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2004;4(2):34-38.

MyJurnal

Rural health clinics in Sri Aman Division in Sarawak, Malaysia lack diagnostic tests for malaria. Many of the medical assistants in the clinic diagnose malaria solely on clinical ground. The study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of clinical diagnosis of rnahtria made by medical assistants using results of microscopy examination as gold standard. The study period was from September to December 2003. Three rural clinics without laboratory or diagnostic tests services and one urban clinic with laboratory facility serving malarious areas were selected. All patients clinically diagnosed as malaria by the attending medical assistants were included as clinical malaria cases. Blood slides were taken for examination of malaria parasites. Non clinical malaria cases were all other patients without clinical malaria for whom blood slides were taken for malaria parasites. Out of 362 patients included in the study, 75 were clinically diagnosed as having mahria. The sensitivity of headache, history of fever and chills/rigors to detect malaria cases was above 90% but the specificity and positive predictive value was low, below 40% and 20% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of malaria clinical diagnosis made by medical assistants was 82.1 %, 84 .4% and 30.7% respectively. Clinical diagnosis of malaria increases the slide positive rate by four folds. However the sensitivity, specincity and positive predictive value of clinical diagnosis by medical assistant and clinical characteristics was insufficient to enable each of them to be used alone to differentiate true malaria cases from non mahiria cases.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine

Are examination findings important in screening for angina in the Malaysian patient?

Bulgiba AM

Prev Med, 2005 Jun;40(6):696-701.

PMID: 15850867

The objective of this study is to look at how well patient history and examination findings can be used in screening for angina.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/standards*

Fulltext Changing approaches in HIV testing

Lee CK

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Mar;62(1):1-2.

PMID: 17682559 MyJurnal

In 1985, when HIV testing first became available, the main goal of such testing was to ensure blood safety. Hemophiliacs and other patients who were transfusion-dependent were the initial patients that needed to be protected as they were exposed to iatrogenic risk. It dawned very quickly to health authorities even then that alternative testing sites had to be quickly established to deter persons from using blood bank facilities for HIV testing purposes. At that time, professional opinion was divided regarding the value of HIV testing and whether HIV testing should be encouraged because no consensus existed regarding whether a positive test predicted transmission to sex partners or from mother to infant. No effective treatment existed then and stigma and discrimination faced by those who were found positive was rampant in many parts of the world. Counseling was designed, in part, to ensure that persons tested were aware of the implications of a positive result and in part, to address the person’s risk behavior to reduce transmission to others.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine*

Fulltext Theophylline toxicity: A case report of the survival of an undiagnosed patient who presented to the emergency department

Mohamad N, Abd Halim NN, Ahmad R, Baharuddin KA

Malays J Med Sci, 2009 Apr;16(2):33-7.

PMID: 22589656 MyJurnal

Theophylline toxicity is a life-threatening toxidrome that can present to an emergency department. To ascertain an immediate provisional diagnosis in toxicology at the emergency department is very challenging, especially when the patient presents with altered mental status, because the clinical features of several toxidromes overlap. We report a case of survival of undiagnosed theophylline toxicity that required intubation for two days in the intensive care unit. This was the first case to have been reported from our department. Accurate diagnosis of a toxidrome by gaining adequate history and conducting a thorough physical examination and early serum toxicology screening, coupled with good knowledge of toxicology, will lead to better patient outcomes.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine

Fulltext Analysis of hair samples using microscopical and molecular techniques to ascertain claims of rare animal species

Zafarina Z, Panneerchelvam S

Malays J Med Sci, 2009 Jul;16(3):35-40.

PMID: 22589663 MyJurnal

An unidentified animal species named the Jenglot and claimed to be a rare living animal species was recently found in the deep jungle of Irian Jaya, Indonesia; brought to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by a businessman; and exhibited in a local museum. The owner of the Jenglot carcasses had made a request to perform DNA analysis on the Jenglot to ascertain its species.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine

ZnO gas sensor for testing vinegar acid concentrations

Al-Hardan N, Abdullah M, Abdul Aziz A, Ahmad H

Sains Malaysiana, 2011;40:1123-1127.

A ZnO gas sensor was successfully prepared by RF sputtering. The maximum sensitivity of the sensor for vinegar test application was at 400oC. The ZnO based sensor showed good sensitivity for vinegar test in the concentration range of 4% to 9%. The work reveals the ability of using ZnO gas sensor to determine the acid concentrations of the vinegars for food requirements.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine

Fulltext Bioconversion of glycerol for bioethanol production using isolated Escherichia coli ss1

Suhaimi SN, Phang LY, Maeda T, Abd-Aziz S, Wakisaka M, Shirai Y, et al.

Braz J Microbiol, 2012 Apr;43(2):506-16.

PMID: 24031858 DOI: 10.1590/S1517-83822012000200011

Bioconverting glycerol into various valuable products is one of glycerol's promising applications due to its high availability at low cost and the existence of many glycerol-utilizing microorganisms. Bioethanol and biohydrogen, which are types of renewable fuels, are two examples of bioconverted products. The objectives of this study were to evaluate ethanol production from different media by local microorganism isolates and compare the ethanol fermentation profile of the selected strains to use of glucose or glycerol as sole carbon sources. The ethanol fermentations by six isolates were evaluated after a preliminary screening process. Strain named SS1 produced the highest ethanol yield of 1.0 mol: 1.0 mol glycerol and was identified as Escherichia coli SS1 Also, this isolated strain showed a higher affinity to glycerol than glucose for bioethanol production.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine

Spot urine potassium as a potential screening test for aldosterone breakthrough

Sakthiswary R, Wong M, Isa ZM, Nor Azmi K

Clin Ter, 2012;163(3):195-8.

PMID: 22964690

Treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may suppress aldosterone production only in the initial phase of treatment and subsequently lead to a rising level of aldosterone to baseline or higher. This phenomenon is described as aldosterone breakthrough. Apart from serial plasma aldosterone levels, there are no other test to identify this condition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of spot urine potassium as a potential screening test for aldosterone breakthrough.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine

Fulltext Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequencing of Mycobacterium abscessus M156, an Emerging Clinical Pathogen in Malaysia

Choo SW, Wong YL, Beh CY, Lokanathan N, Leong ML, Ong CS, et al.

Genome Announc, 2013 Jan;1(1).

PMID: 23405341 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00063-12

Mycobacterium abscessus is an emerging clinical pathogen commonly associated with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections. We report herein the draft genome of M. abscessus strain M156.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine

Fulltext Evaluation of the sensitivity of a pLDH-based and an aldolase-based rapid diagnostic test for diagnosis of uncomplicated and severe malaria caused by PCR-confirmed Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium falciparum, and Plasmodium vivax

Barber BE, William T, Grigg MJ, Piera K, Yeo TW, Anstey NM

J Clin Microbiol, 2013 Apr;51(4):1118-23.

PMID: 23345297 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.03285-12

Plasmodium knowlesi can cause severe and fatal human malaria in Southeast Asia. Rapid diagnosis of all Plasmodium species is essential for initiation of effective treatment. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are sensitive for detection of uncomplicated and severe falciparum malaria but have not been systematically evaluated in knowlesi malaria. At a tertiary referral hospital in Sabah, Malaysia, we prospectively evaluated the sensitivity of two combination RDTs for the diagnosis of uncomplicated and severe malaria from all three potentially fatal Plasmodium species, using a pan-Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH)-P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2) RDT (First Response) and a pan-Plasmodium aldolase-PfHRP2 RDT (ParaHIT). Among 293 hospitalized adults with PCR-confirmed Plasmodium monoinfection, the sensitivity of the pLDH component of the pLDH-PfHRP2 RDT was 74% (95/129; 95% confidence interval [CI], 65 to 80%), 91% (110/121; 95% CI, 84 to 95%), and 95% (41/43; 95% CI, 85 to 99%) for PCR-confirmed P. knowlesi, P. falciparum, and P. vivax infections, respectively, and 88% (30/34; 95% CI, 73 to 95%), 90% (38/42; 95% CI, 78 to 96%), and 100% (12/12; 95% CI, 76 to 100%) among patients tested before antimalarial treatment was begun. Sensitivity in severe malaria was 95% (36/38; 95% CI, 83 to 99), 100% (13/13; 95% CI, 77 to 100), and 100% (7/7; 95% CI, 65 to 100%), respectively. The aldolase component of the aldolase-PfHRP2 RDT performed poorly in all Plasmodium species. The pLDH-based RDT was highly sensitive for the diagnosis of severe malaria from all species; however, neither the pLDH- nor aldolase-based RDT demonstrated sufficiently high overall sensitivity for P. knowlesi. More sensitive RDTs are needed in regions of P. knowlesi endemicity.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*

Fulltext IgG4 detection of Echinococcus granulosus paramyosin is a useful diagnostic test for human hydatidosis

Moghadam ZK, Ghaffarifar F, Khalilpour A, Abdul Aziz F, Saadatnia G, Noordin R

Clin Vaccine Immunol, 2013 Apr;20(4):501-5.

PMID: 23365208 DOI: 10.1128/CVI.00019-13

Hydatidosis is a public health problem in many parts of the world, and improvement in diagnosis of the disease is still being pursued. Protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus were isolated from hydatid cysts collected from naturally infected sheep slaughtered in abattoirs in Iran. Sonicated extract of protoscolex was subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. Primary antibodies were from serum samples from 130 hydatidosis patients, 38 individuals infected with other parasitic infections, and 30 healthy people, whereas peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated anti-human IgG and IgG4 were used as secondary antibodies. The recombinant form of the identified protein was produced and tested for its sensitivity and specificity for the detection of human hydatidosis. An antigenic band of ∼60 kDa was found to be sensitive (82%) and specific (100%) for the detection of hydatidosis when probed with anti-human IgG4-HRP, while the sensitivity and specificity were 33 and 100%, respectively, with anti-human IgG-HRP. By mass spectrometry, the band was identified as protoscolex tegument paramyosin. The sensitivity and specificity of full-length paramyosin-recombinant protein in IgG4 blots were found to be 86 and 98%, respectively. In conclusion, IgG4 detection of Echinococcus granulosus paramyosin was found to be useful for the diagnosis of human hydatidosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*

Fulltext Efficacies of two in-house indirect ELISAs for diagnosis of amoebic liver abscess

Tan ZN, Wong WK, Noordin R, Zeehaida M, Olivos GA, Lim BH

Trop Biomed, 2013 Jun;30(2):250-6.

PMID: 23959490 MyJurnal

Entamoeba histolytica causes amoebic diarrhoea, colitis and liver abscess (ALA). Diagnosis of ALA is difficult, as most patients do not have simultaneous intestinal amoebic infection. At Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), diagnosis of ALA relies on a combination of clinical findings, ultrasound examination of the liver and serodiagnosis using a commercial kit. In this study, two in-house indirect ELISAs were developed and evaluated. One of the in-house assays utilises E. histolytica crude soluble antigen (CSA) to detect serum IgG specific to the parasite whereas the other uses E. histolytica ether extract antigen (EEA). Preparation of CSA requires a sonicator to lyse the amoeba whereas EEA was prepared by chemically solubilizing the trophozoites. Based on the cut-off value of mean optical density + 3SD, CSA-ELISA showed 100% (24/24) sensitivity and 93.33% (210/225) specificity; while EEA-ELISA showed 91.67% (22/24) sensitivity and 95.11% (214/225) specificity. In conclusion, both the in-house indirect ELISAs were found to be efficacious for diagnosis of ALA; and the EEA is easier to prepare than the commonly used CSA.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*

Fulltext The diagnostic performance of a single GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay in an intensified tuberculosis case finding survey among HIV-infected prisoners in Malaysia

Al-Darraji HA, Abd Razak H, Ng KP, Altice FL, Kamarulzaman A

PLoS One, 2013;8(9):e73717.

PMID: 24040038 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073717

Delays in tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, particularly in prisons, is associated with detrimental outcomes. The new GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) offers accurate and rapid diagnosis of active TB, but its performance in improving case detection in high-transmission congregate settings has yet to be evaluated. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of a single Xpert assay in an intensified case finding survey among HIV-infected prisoners in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*

Fulltext Draft Genome Sequence of a Clinical Isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strain PR05

Ismail A, Teh LK, Ngeow YF, Norazmi MN, Zainul ZF, Tang TH, et al.

Genome Announc, 2013;1(3).

PMID: 23788553 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00397-13

We report the annotated genome sequence of a clinical isolate, Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain PR05, which was isolated from the human cerebrospinal fluid of a patient diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine

Determinants of Caesarean Risk Factor in Northern Region of Bangladesh: A Multivariate Analysis

Rahman M, Ahmad Shariff A, Shafie A, Saaid R, Md Tahir R

Iran J Public Health, 2014 Jan;43(1):16-27.

PMID: 26060675

Caesarean section (c-section) rates have been increasing dramatically in the past decades around the world. This increase has been attributed to multiple factors such as maternal, socio-demographic and institutional fac-tors. Therefore, this study examines the impact of maternal, socio-demographic and relevant characteristics on caesar-ean delivery in the northern region of Bangladesh.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine

Fulltext Rapid immunoglobulin M-based dengue diagnostic test using surface plasmon resonance biosensor

Jahanshahi P, Zalnezhad E, Sekaran SD, Adikan FR

Sci Rep, 2014 Jan 24;4:3851.

PMID: 24458089 DOI: 10.1038/srep03851

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a medical diagnosis technique with high sensitivity and specificity. In this research, a new method based on SPR is proposed for rapid, 10-minute detection of the anti-dengue virus in human serum samples. This novel technique, known as rapid immunoglobulin M (IgM)-based dengue diagnostic test, can be utilized quickly and easily at the point of care. Four dengue virus serotypes were used as ligands on a biochip. According to the results, a serum volume of only 1 μl from a dengue patient (as a minimized volume) is required to indicate SPR angle variation to determine the ratio of each dengue serotype in samples with 83-93% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*

Fulltext Colorectal cancer screening practices of primary care providers: results of a national survey in Malaysia

Norwati D, Harmy MY, Norhayati MN, Amry AR

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(6):2901-4.

PMID: 24761922

The incidence of colorectal cancer has been increasing in many Asian countries including Malaysia during the past few decades. A physician recommendation has been shown to be a major factor that motivates patients to undergo screening. The present study objectives were to describe the practice of colorectal cancer screening by primary care providers in Malaysia and to determine the barriers for not following recommendations. In this cross sectional study involving 132 primary care providers from 44 Primary Care clinics in West Malaysia, self-administered questionnaires which consisted of demographic data, qualification, background on the primary care clinic, practices on colorectal cancer screening and barriers to colorectal cancer screening were distributed. A total of 116 primary care providers responded making a response rate of 87.9%. About 21% recommended faecal occult blood test (FOBT) in more than 50% of their patients who were eligible. The most common barrier was "unavailability of the test". The two most common patient factors are "patient in a hurry" and "poor patient awareness". This study indicates that colorectal cancer preventive activities among primary care providers are still poor in Malaysia. This may be related to the low availability of the test in the primary care setting and poor awareness and understanding of the importance of colorectal cancer screening among patients. More awareness programmes are required for the public. In addition, primary care providers should be kept abreast with the latest recommendations and policy makers need to improve colorectal cancer screening services in health clinics.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/statistics & numerical data*

Fulltext Evaluation of three rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of human infections with Plasmodium knowlesi

Foster D, Cox-Singh J, Mohamad DS, Krishna S, Chin PP, Singh B

Malar J, 2014;13:60.

PMID: 24548805 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-60

Plasmodium knowlesi, a malaria parasite of Southeast Asian macaques, infects humans and can cause fatal malaria. It is difficult to diagnose by microscopy because of morphological similarity to Plasmodium malariae. Nested PCR assay is the most accurate method to distinguish P. knowlesi from other Plasmodium species but is not cost effective in resource-poor settings. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are recommended for settings where malaria is prevalent. In this study, the effectiveness of three RDTs in detecting P. knowlesi from fresh and frozen patient blood samples was evaluated.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*

Fulltext Inhibitory activity of postbiotic produced by strains of Lactobacillus plantarum using reconstituted media supplemented with inulin

Kareem KY, Hooi Ling F, Teck Chwen L, May Foong O, Anjas Asmara S

Gut Pathog, 2014;6:23.

PMID: 24991236 DOI: 10.1186/1757-4749-6-23

The present study aimed to determine the inhibitory activity of postbiotic produced by L. plantarum using reconstituted media supplemented with different levels of inulin and to select the best combination based on the modified inhibitory activity (MAU/mL) against pathogens.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine

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