Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 59 in total

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  1. Choo KE, Davis TM, Ismail A, Tuan Ibrahim TA, Ghazali WN
    Acta Trop, 1999 Mar 15;72(2):175-83.
    PMID: 10206117
    The Typhidot test, which detects IgM and IgG antibodies to a Salmonella typhi-specific outer membrane protein, is as sensitive as, and more specific than, the Widal test in the diagnosis of enteric fever in Malaysian children. It is easier and quicker to perform. In order to increase diagnostic accuracy in an area of high endemicity, the Typhidot-M test has been developed in which IgG is first removed. This theoretically allows improved detection of IgM, and thus would differentiate new from recent infections. We evaluated both tests in 134 unselected febrile children admitted to the General Hospital Kota Bharu, Malaysia. The children were divided into two groups: (i) those who were blood and/or stool culture positive for S. typhi and/or who had clinical features strongly suggestive of enteric fever (n = 62); and (ii) those who were both culture-negative and had clinical evidence of another diagnosis (n = 72). The sensitivity and specificity of the Typhidot and Typhidot-M tests were identical at 90.3 and 93.1%, respectively. Both tests had comparable sensitivity but greater specificity than those of the Widal test (91.9 and 80.6%, respectively). When used together, a positive result for Typhidot and/or Typhidot-M was more specific than either test alone (95.2%) but specificity was lower (87.5%). We conclude that the Typhidot and Typhidot-M tests have comparatively high diagnostic accuracy, suggesting that IgM can be detected in children who may have a predominant IgG response to S. typhi. Using these tests in combination increases the negative predictive value but at the cost of a lower positive predictive value.
    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis*
  2. Choo KE, Razif A, Ariffin WA, Sepiah M, Gururaj A
    Ann Trop Paediatr, 1988 Dec;8(4):207-12.
    PMID: 2467604
    A retrospective study of 137 patients with blood culture-positive typhoid fever admitted to the paediatric unit of the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia was carried out to study epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and treatment aspects of typhoid fever in Kelantanese children in hospital. The male:female ratio was 1:1.1. School-children were the most affected. Cases were seen throughout the year. The five most frequently presenting features were fever, hepatomegaly, diarrhoea, vomiting and cough. Rose spots were seen in only two patients. Complications included gastritis, bronchitis, ileus, psychosis, encephalopathy, gastro-intestinal bleeding and myocarditis. Relative bradycardia was not seen. Blood and stool cultures were positive in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd weeks of illness. There was no significant difference between percentages of elevated O and H titres, whether done during or after the 1st week of illness. A four-fold rise in (O) titres occurred in 50% of cases tested. We would miss 50% of typhoid fever cases if a titre (O) equal to more than 1/160 were relied upon for diagnosis. Altogether, 46% of patients had leucopenia. Chloramphenicol was the most commonly used antibiotic. There were two deaths.
    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis
  3. Verdugo-Rodriguez A, Gam LH, Devi S, Koh CL, Puthucheary SD, Calva E, et al.
    Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 1993 Jun;11(1):45-52.
    PMID: 8216558
    An indirect ELISA was used to detect antibodies against outer membrane protein preparations (OMPs) from Salmonella typhi. Sera from patients with a definitive diagnosis of typhoid fever (TF) gave a mean absorbance reading, at 414 nm, of 1.52 +/- 0.23 as compared to 0.30 +/- 0.11 for sera from healthy individuals. This gave a positive to negative ratio of absorbance readings of approximately 5.1. Suspected TF patients (no isolation of S. typhi), with positive and negative Widal titers had mean absorbance readings of 1.282 +/00.46 and 0.25 +/- 0.19, respectively. Sera from patients with leptospirosis, rickettsial typhus, dengue fever, and other infections gave mean absorbances of 0.20 +/- 0.08, 0.24 +/- 0.08, 0.27 +/- 0.08, and 0.31 +/- 0.16, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 100%, 94%, 80% and 100%, respectively. The antibody response detected in the definitive TF cases was predominantly IgG in nature and no cross-reactivity was seen with OMP preparations extracted from E. coli. Variable reactivity was noted with OMP preparations obtained from other Salmonella spp. Three major OMPs are presented in the antigen preparation and strong binding of positive sera was detected to all three bands.
    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis
  4. Yap NY, Ng KL, Ong TA, Pailoor J, Gobe GC, Ooi CC, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(12):7497-500.
    PMID: 24460324
    BACKGROUND: This study concerns clinical characteristics and survival of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), as well as the prognostic significance of presenting symptoms.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical characteristics, presenting symptoms and survival of RCC patients (n=151) treated at UMMC from 2003-2012 were analysed. Symptoms evaluated were macrohaematuria, flank pain, palpable abdominal mass, fever, lethargy, loss of weight, anaemia, elevated ALP, hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytosis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the prognostic significance of these presenting symptoms. Kaplan Meier and log rank tests were employed for survival analysis.

    RESULTS: The 2002 TNM staging was a prognostic factor (p<0.001) but Fuhrman grading was not significantly correlated with survival (p=0.088). At presentation, 76.8% of the patients were symptomatic. Generally, symptomatic tumours had a worse survival prognosis compared to asymptomatic cases (p=0.009; HR 4.74). All symptoms significantly affect disease specific survival except frank haematuria and loin pain on univariate Cox regression analysis. On multivariate analysis adjusted for stage, only clinically palpable abdominal mass remained statistically significant (p=0.027). The mean tumour size of palpable abdominal masses, 9.5±4.3cm, was larger than non palpable masses, 5.3±2.7cm (p<0.001).

    CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report which includes survival information of RCC patients from Malaysia. Here the TNM stage and a palpable abdominal mass were independent predictors for survival. Further investigations using a multicentre cohort to analyse mortality and survival rates may aid in improving management of these patients.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fever/diagnosis*
  5. Gherardin T
    Aust Fam Physician, 2000 Mar;29(3):259.
    PMID: 10785992
    Shirley is a 42 year old woman who has rung you 5 days after returning from a 3 week resort holiday in Malaysia and Thailand. You saw her before her trip and administered a hepatitis A vaccine and advised her that she did not require anti malarial drugs as she was only going to large cities and beach resorts. She says she has had a high fever, headache and body aches for several days and that she feels exhausted, but is well enough to come to the surgery. When you see her later that morning, she looks fairly well, although she is moving rather gingerly. She says she has been resting, is drinking lots of fluids, has some anorexia, but no other significant symptoms. Examination reveals a temperature of 38 degrees C and she has a fine morbilliform rash on her body, limbs and neck. There are no other abnormal findings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fever/diagnosis*
  6. Mohan A, Munusamy C, Tan YC, Muthuvelu S, Hashim R, Chien SL, et al.
    BMC Infect Dis, 2019 Apr 18;19(1):330.
    PMID: 30999894 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-3963-x
    BACKGROUND: Invasive Salmonella infections result in significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In Asia, typhoid and paratyphoid fever are reported to be the major invasive Salmonella infections, while invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) infections are believed to be uncommon. Data from Sarawak, in Malaysian Borneo, are limited.

    METHODS: A retrospective study identifying all children aged fever. The average annual iNTS incidence was 32.4 per 100,000 children aged fever without a source, septic arthritis and meningitis. Salmonella Enteritidis was identified in 76% of those with pneumonia, significantly more frequently than in children with other manifestations. Over 25% of children with iNTS developed severe disease and nearly 10% suffered long term morbidity or mortality. While 78% of Salmonella Java isolates were multi-drug resistant, nearly all other isolates were susceptible to most antimicrobials, including ampicillin.

    CONCLUSIONS: Bintulu Division in Sarawak observed a very high incidence of childhood iNTS infections. Enteric fever was uncommon. The epidemiology of invasive Salmonella infections in Malaysian Borneo differs considerably from that of neighbouring countries in Asia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis
  7. Abdullah NH, Mohammad N, Ramli M, Wan Ghazali WS
    BMJ Case Rep, 2019 Aug 28;12(8).
    PMID: 31466966 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2018-226760
    We reported a case of a woman with no past medical illness who presented with a few days' history of fever, myalgia, arthralgia, hypochromic microcytic anaemia and thrombocytopaenia and who was nonstructural protein 1 antigen (NS1Ag)-positive. Haemolytic anaemia including full blood picture work-up revealed high reticulocyte count and haemolysis with positive direct Coombs test. She was started on prednisolone and was discharged well.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fever/diagnosis
  8. Tan CL, Yahaya MH, Ahmad NS, Lim CH
    BMJ Case Rep, 2020 Mar 12;13(3).
    PMID: 32169986 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2019-233330
    An 18-year-old male adolescent presented with prolonged high spiking temperature, photosensitive rash, oral ulcers and reduced hearing bilaterally of recent onset. Examination revealed malar rash, vasculitis rash over bilateral palms and soles, oral and buccal ulcers, palpable posterior auricular and inguinal lymph nodes, and reduced hearing bilaterally. His further investigations noted pancytopaenia, elevated transaminases, hyperferritinaemia, low C3 and C4 levels, positive antinuclear antibody, double-stranded DNA and direct Coombs test, while bone marrow aspiration revealed active phagocytic activity suggestive of hemophagocytic syndrome. We made a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus with macrophage activation syndrome. We treated him with pulse intravenous methylprednisolone and his condition improved drastically. Temperature resolved on the next day after intravenous methylprednisolone; bilateral sensorineural hearing loss improved to near-normal hearing after treatment. He remained well during follow-up with a tapering dose of prednisolone.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fever/diagnosis
  9. Goay YX, Chin KL, Tan CL, Yeoh CY, Ja'afar JN, Zaidah AR, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2016;2016:8905675.
    PMID: 27975062
    Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) causes typhoid fever which is a disease characterised by high mortality and morbidity worldwide. In order to curtail the transmission of this highly infectious disease, identification of new markers that can detect the pathogen is needed for development of sensitive and specific diagnostic tests. In this study, genomic comparison of S. Typhi with other enteric pathogens was performed, and 6 S. Typhi genes, that is, STY0201, STY0307, STY0322, STY0326, STY2020, and STY2021, were found to be specific in silico. Six PCR assays each targeting a unique gene were developed to test the specificity of these genes in vitro. The diagnostic sensitivities and specificities of each assay were determined using 39 S. Typhi, 62 non-Typhi Salmonella, and 10 non-Salmonella clinical isolates. The results showed that 5 of these genes, that is, STY0307, STY0322, STY0326, STY2020, and STY2021, demonstrated 100% sensitivity (39/39) and 100% specificity (0/72). The detection limit of the 5 PCR assays was 32 pg for STY0322, 6.4 pg for STY0326, STY2020, and STY2021, and 1.28 pg for STY0307. In conclusion, 5 PCR assays using STY0307, STY0322, STY0326, STY2020, and STY2021 were developed and found to be highly specific at single-gene target resolution for diagnosis of typhoid fever.
    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis*
  10. Ganjali Dashti M, Abdeshahian P, Sudesh K, Phua KK
    Biofouling, 2016;32(4):477-87.
    PMID: 26963754 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2015.1135328
    The objective of this study was to develop an optimized assay for Salmonella Typhi biofilm that mimics the environment of the gallbladder as an experimental model for chronic typhoid fever. Multi-factorial assays are difficult to optimize using traditional one-factor-at-a-time optimization methods. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize six key variables involved in S. Typhi biofilm formation on cholesterol-coated polypropylene 96-well microtiter plates. The results showed that bile (1.22%), glucose (2%), cholesterol (0.05%) and potassium chloride (0.25%) were critical factors affecting the amount of biofilm produced, but agitation (275 rpm) and sodium chloride (0.5%) had antagonistic effects on each other. Under these optimum conditions the maximum OD reading for biofilm formation was 3.4 (λ600 nm), and the coefficients of variation for intra-plate and inter-plate assays were 3% (n = 20) and 5% (n = 8), respectively. These results showed that RSM is an effective approach for biofilm assay optimization.
    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis*
  11. Abdullah J, Saffie N, Sjasri FA, Husin A, Abdul-Rahman Z, Ismail A, et al.
    Braz J Microbiol, 2014;45(4):1385-91.
    PMID: 25763045
    An in-house loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction was established and evaluated for sensitivity and specificity in detecting the presence of Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) isolates from Kelantan, Malaysia. Three sets of primers consisting of two outer and 4 inner were designed based on locus STBHUCCB_38510 of chaperone PapD of S. Typhi genes. The reaction was optimised using genomic DNA of S. Typhi ATCC7251 as the template. The products were visualised directly by colour changes of the reaction. Positive results were indicated by green fluorescence and negative by orange colour. The test was further evaluated for specificity, sensitivity and application on field samples. The results were compared with those obtained by gold standard culture method and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This method was highly specific and -10 times more sensitive in detecting S. Typhi compared to the optimised conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis*
  12. Tang SS, Tan WS, Devi S, Wang LF, Pang T, Thong KL
    Clin Diagn Lab Immunol, 2003 Nov;10(6):1078-84.
    PMID: 14607870
    The capsular polysaccharide Vi antigen (ViCPS) is an essential virulence factor and also a protective antigen of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. A random 12-mer phage-displayed peptide library was used to identify mimotopes (epitope analogues) of this antigen by panning against a ViCPS-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) ATVi. Approximately 75% of the phage clones selected in the fourth round carried the peptide sequence TSHHDSHGLHRV, and the rest of the clones harbored ENHSPVNIAHKL and other related sequences. These two sequences were also obtained in a similar panning process by using pooled sera from patients with a confirmed diagnosis of typhoid fever, suggesting they mimic immunodominant epitopes of ViCPS antigens. Binding of MAb ATVi to the mimotopes was specifically blocked by ViCPS, indicating that they interact with the same binding site (paratope) of the MAb. Data and reagents generated in this study have important implications for the development of peptide-base diagnostic tests and peptide vaccines and may also provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of typhoid fever.
    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis*
  13. Choo KE, Oppenheimer SJ, Ismail AB, Ong KH
    Clin Infect Dis, 1994 Jul;19(1):172-6.
    PMID: 7948526
    A dot enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using 50-kD outer-membrane proteins (OMPs) of Salmonella typhi was compared with the Widal test for the serodiagnosis of typhoid fever in 109 febrile children admitted to a hospital in an endemic area. In the culture-positive typhoid group, the initial dot EIA was positive in 40 of 42 cases and the initial Widal test was positive in 41. In the culture-negative clinical typhoid group, both the dot EIA and the Widal test were positive in 17 of 18 cases. In the nontyphoidal fever group, the dot EIA was negative in all of 49 cases and the Widal test was negative in 44. With culture used as the gold standard, the dot EIA is as sensitive as the Widal test (95% vs. 98%), has a similar high negative predictive value (96% vs. 98%), and is more specific (75% vs. 67%). In addition, the dot EIA offers the advantages of simplicity, speed, early diagnosis, economy, and flexibility (i.e., other diagnostic tests can be conducted simultaneously).
    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis*
  14. Maharajan MK, Ranjan A, Chu JF, Foo WL, Chai ZX, Lau EY, et al.
    Clin Rev Allergy Immunol, 2016 Dec;51(3):383-394.
    PMID: 27236440
    The Zika virus outbreaks highlight the growing importance need for a reliable, specific and rapid diagnostic device to detect Zika virus, as it is often recognized as a mild disease without being identified. Many Zika virus infection cases have been misdiagnosed or underreported because of the non-specific clinical presentation. The aim of this review was to provide a critical and comprehensive overview of the published peer-reviewed evidence related to clinical presentations, various diagnostic methods and modes of transmission of Zika virus infection, as well as potential therapeutic targets to combat microcephaly. Zika virus is mainly transmitted through bites from Aedes aegypti mosquito. It can also be transmitted through blood, perinatally and sexually. Pregnant women are advised to postpone or avoid travelling to areas where active Zika virus transmission is reported, as this infection is directly linked to foetal microcephaly. Due to the high prevalence of Guillain-Barre syndrome and microcephaly in the endemic area, it is vital to confirm the diagnosis of Zika virus. Zika virus infection had been declared as a public health emergency and of international concern by the World Health Organisation. Governments and agencies should play an important role in terms of investing time and resources to fundamentally understand this infection so that a vaccine can be developed besides raising awareness.
    Matched MeSH terms: Chikungunya Fever/diagnosis
  15. Hinson VK, Tyor WR
    Curr. Opin. Neurol., 2001 Jun;14(3):369-74.
    PMID: 11371762
    Over 100 viruses have been associated with acute central nervous system infections. The present review focuses on some of the most common agents of viral encephalitis, as well as important emerging viral encephalitides. In this context, the initial detection of West Nile virus in the Western Hemisphere during the 1999 New York City outbreak, the first description of Nipah virus in Malaysia, and the appearance in Asia of a new neurovirulent enterovirus 71 strain that causes severe neurologic disease are highlighted. In addition, advances regarding diagnosis, neuroimaging and treatment of Japanese and herpes simplex encephalitis are presented.
    Matched MeSH terms: West Nile Fever/diagnosis
  16. Ong EB, Anthony AA, Ismail A, Ismail A, Lim TS
    Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 2013 Sep;77(1):87-9.
    PMID: 23790417 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.05.010
    The hemolysin (HlyE) protein of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi was reported to be antigenic. This work describes the cloning, expression, and purification of a hexahistidine-tagged HlyE protein under native conditions. Immunoblot analysis and a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using sera from typhoid patients showed the presence of HlyE-specific antibodies in circulation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis*
  17. Aziah I, Ravichandran M, Ismail A
    Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 2007 Dec;59(4):373-7.
    PMID: 17964105
    Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing requires many pipetting steps and has to be transported and stored in cold chain. To overcome these limitations, we designed a ready-to-use PCR test for Salmonella typhi using PCR reagents, primers against the ST50 gene of S. typhi, a built-in internal amplification control (IAC), and gel loading dye mixed and freeze-dried in a single tube. The 2-step dry-reagent-based assay was used to amplify a 1238-bp target gene and an 810-bp IAC gene from 73 BACTEC blood culture broths (33 true positives for S. typhi and 40 true negatives for non-S. typhi). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the PCR assay were 87.9%, 100%, 100%, and 90.9%, respectively. We suggest that this rapid 2-step PCR test could be used for the rapid diagnosis of typhoid fever.
    Matched MeSH terms: Typhoid Fever/diagnosis*
  18. Esposito DH, Freedman DO, Neumayr A, Parola P
    Euro Surveill, 2012 Nov 08;17(45).
    PMID: 23153473
    As of 4 November, 2012, 100 patients with an acute muscular Sarcocystis-like illness associated with travel to Tioman Island, Malaysia, have been identified. Thirty-five travelled there mostly during July and August 2011 and 65 mostly during July and August 2012, suggesting an ongoing outbreak. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing. Public health agencies and practicing clinicians should be aware of this rarely-reported disease in humans and consider it as differential diagnosis in travellers returning from Tioman Island.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fever/diagnosis
  19. Dzarr AA, Kamal M, Baba AA
    Eur J Oncol Nurs, 2009 Sep;13(4):250-4.
    PMID: 19386547 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2009.03.006
    This study assessed the agreement between infrared tympanic membrane (TM), axillary, corrected axillary (+0.5 degrees C), oral, and corrected oral (+0.3 degrees C) to rectal thermometry as reference standard in neutropenic adults. The sensitivity and specificity of the mentioned thermometries in detecting rectal fever (> or =38 degrees C) were also analysed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fever/diagnosis*
  20. Yamamoto K, Matumoto K, Lim CK, Moi ML, Kotaki A, Takasaki T
    Intern. Med., 2010;49(5):501-5.
    PMID: 20190493
    An adult Malaysian woman returned to Japan from Kuala Lumpur and had onset of dengue fever-like symptoms including high fever, malaise and arthritis in early January 2009. Serum obtained on the following day was tested at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo, where it was determined to be positive for chikungunya virus (CHIKV) RNA. IgM antibody against CHIKV was negative on January 6 and sero-converted to be positive on January 14, confirming a recent CHIKV infection. Except for arthralgia, all her symptoms resolved uneventfully within 10 days.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fever/diagnosis*
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