Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 276 in total

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  1. Wang CY, Chiu CL, Har KO, Chan C, Rahman ZA
    Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 2002 Oct;31(5):506-10.
    PMID: 12418566
    This study compares the use of inhalation sedation using sevoflurane (group S) with inhalation sedation using nitrous oxide (group N) in patients undergoing bilateral extraction of third molar teeth under local anaesthesia. The study was designed as a cross-over study. Seventeen ASA I, day surgery patients were studied. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 8 l/min 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen (group N) or same flow of 1% sevoflurane (group S) for the first procedure. Each patient then had the alternate method of sedation for the second procedure. There were no significant differences between the methods in patient co-operation and surgeon's satisfaction with sedation. Psychomotor tests were comparable in both groups. The patients were significantly more sedated in the group S compared to group N (P=0.004). Significantly more patients complained of an unpleasant odour group S (P<0.01) but none withdrew from the study for this reason. No adverse cardiorespiratory effects resulted from sevoflurane or nitrous oxide sedation. Both methods gave good amnesia during the procedure. There was high acceptance of both methods and the patients rated the technique as equally satisfactory. We conclude that inhalation sedation with sevoflurane is a suitable alternative method to nitrous oxide sedation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory/drug effects
  2. Sobri M, Lamont AC, Alias NA, Win MN
    Br J Radiol, 2003 Aug;76(908):532-5.
    PMID: 12893694
    Headache is a very common patient complaint but secondary causes for headache are unusual. Neuroimaging is both expensive and has a low yield in this group. Most patients with intracranial pathology have clinical features that would raise a "red flag". Appropriate selection of patients with headache for neuroimaging to look for secondary causes is very important. Red flags act as screening tools to help in identifying those patients presenting with headache who would benefit from prompt neuroimaging, and may increase the yield. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical features in patients with headache using neuroimaging as a screening tool for intracranial pathology. 20 red flags were defined. A retrospective study of 111 patients was performed and the outcomes were divided into positive and negative. Abnormal neuroimaging was present in 39 patients. Results were analysed using the Logistic Regression model. Sensitivity and specificity of red flags were analysed to establish the cut-off point to predict abnormal neuroimaging and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve plotted to show the sensitivity of the diagnostic test. Three red flag features proved to be statistically significant with the p-value of less than 0.05 on both univariate and multivariate analysis. These were: paralysis; papilloedema; and "drowsiness, confusion, memory impairment and loss of consciousness". In addition, if three or more red flags from the list were present, this showed strong indication of abnormal neuroimaging, from cut-off point of ROC curve (area under the curve =0.76).
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory Disorders/etiology
  3. Lee K, Ng SF, Ng EL, Lim ZY
    J Exp Child Psychol, 2004 Oct;89(2):140-58.
    PMID: 15388303 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2004.07.001
    Previous studies on individual differences in mathematical abilities have shown that working memory contributes to early arithmetic performance. In this study, we extended the investigation to algebraic word problem solving. A total of 151 10-year-olds were administered algebraic word problems and measures of working memory, intelligence quotient (IQ), and reading ability. Regression results were consistent with findings from the arithmetic literature showing that a literacy composite measure provided greater contribution than did executive function capacity. However, a series of path analyses showed that the overall contribution of executive function was comparable to that of literacy; the effect of executive function was mediated by that of literacy. Both the phonological loop and the visual spatial sketchpad failed to contribute directly; they contributed only indirectly by way of literacy and performance IQ, respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory, Short-Term*
  4. Mazrura Sahani, Noor Hassim Ismail
    MyJurnal
    The objectives of this study is to evaluate subjective symptoms and neurobehavioral performances among workers exposed to lead and its relation with blood lead levels. The methodology of this study was restricted to 141 Malaysian battery manufacturing factories male workers with mean (SD) age of 35.2 (9.6) years, years of employment 9.1 (7.1), current blood lead concentration 40.5 (16.8) μg/dl were given WHO neurobehavioral core test battery. Results showed that highly exposed group blood lead level (high ≥ 40 μg/dl) performed less well in 4 of 13 responses reported higher subjective symptoms of weakness of lower limbs and anorexia. Significant correlation was found between blood lead and Digit Symbol, Digit Forward, Digit Backward, Aiming Pursuit Test and Trail B. Regression analysis showed reduction in cognitive, memory and concentration functions at ≤ 30 μg/dl blood lead levels with maximum lead effect at Digit symbol’s score at 40 μg/dl. In conclusion, this study is consistent with the larger body of neurobehavioral tests in lead exposure and has proven the ability of these tests in detecting low level of lead toxicity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory
  5. Azmi N, Norman C, Spicer CH, Bennett GW
    Behav Pharmacol, 2006 Jun;17(4):357-62.
    PMID: 16914954
    Various lines of evidence suggest a role in cognition for the endogenous neuropeptide, neurotensin, involving an interaction with the central nervous system cholinergic pathways. A preliminary study has shown that central administration of neurotensin enhances spatial and nonspatial working memory in the presence of scopolamine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist which induces memory deficits. Utilizing similar methods, the present study employed a two-trial novel object discrimination task to determine the acute effect of a neurotensin peptide analogue with improved metabolic stability, PD149163, on recognition memory in Lister hooded rats. Consistent with previous findings with neurotensin, animals receiving an intracerebroventricular injection of PD149163 (3 microg) significantly discriminated the novel from familiar object during the choice trial. In addition, a similar dose of PD149163 restored the scopolamine-induced deficit in novelty recognition. The restoration effect on scopolamine-induced amnesia produced by PD149163 was blocked by SR142948A, a nonselective neurotensin receptor antagonist, at a dose of 1 mg/kg (intraperitonial) but not at 0.1 mg/kg. In conclusion, the present results confirm a role for neurotensin in mediating memory processes, possibly via central cholinergic mechanisms.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory, Short-Term/drug effects
  6. Mohandas Rao KG, Muddanna Rao S, Gurumadhva Rao S
    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2006 Sep;3(3):349-57.
    PMID: 16951719
    Centella asiatica (CeA) is a creeping plant growing in damp places in India and other Asian countries. The leaves of CeA are used for memory enhancement in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, an alternative system of medicine in India. In this study, we have investigated the effect during the rat growth spurt period of CeA fresh leaf extract treatment on the dendritic morphology of hippocampal CA3 neurons, one of the regions of the brain concerned with learning and memory. Neonatal rat pups (7 days old) were fed with 2, 4 or 6 ml kg(-1) body weight of fresh leaf extract of CeA for 2, 4 or 6 weeks. After the treatment period the rats were killed, their brains were removed and the hippocampal neurons were impregnated with silver nitrate (Golgi staining). Hippocampal CA3 neurons were traced using a camera lucida, and dendritic branching points (a measure of dendritic arborization) and intersections (a measure of dendritic length) were quantified. These data were compared with data for age-matched control rats. The results showed a significant increase in the dendritic length (intersections) and dendritic branching points along the length of both apical and basal dendrites in rats treated with 4 and 6 ml kg(-1) body weight per day of CeA for longer periods of time (i.e. 4 and 6 weeks). We conclude that the constituents/active principles present in CeA fresh leaf extract have a neuronal dendritic growth stimulating property; hence, the extract can be used for enhancing neuronal dendrites in stress and neurodegenerative and memory disorders.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory; Memory Disorders
  7. Abu Hassan Shaari Mohd Nor, Chin WC
    Sains Malaysiana, 2006;35:67-73.
    This paper analyzes the asymmetric long memory volatility dependency of the interday prices of Composite Index (CI) at Bursa Malaysia by using GARCH family models. The GARCH type models are used with the assumption that the innovations series follow either one of the following distributions: Gaussian, Student -t and skewed Student -t. The stock returns' long memory dependency is determined using the Hurst parameter. The long memory and asymmetric volatility are modelled by fractionally integrated GARCH models. It is found that the asymmetric and long memory GARCH models with skewed student-t distribution give better predictive ability on the volatility of the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI).
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory
  8. Perumal R, Tan I
    IUBMB Life, 2007 Jul;59(7):465-8.
    PMID: 17654123
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory/physiology*
  9. Rao V, Chaudhuri JD
    Alcohol, 2007 Sep;41(6):433-9.
    PMID: 17624712
    Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a condition occurring in some children of mothers who have consumed alcohol during pregnancy, is characterized by craniofacial malformations, and physical and mental retardation. It is significant that even children with history of gestational ethanol exposure but relatively unaffected overall IQ performance, often exhibit learning difficulties and behavioral problems, suggestive of impaired memory formation. Hence, the specific aim of this study was to examine memory formation in chicks exposed to ethanol during early gestation toward the understanding of neurobehavioral disturbances in FAS. Chicks were exposed to alcohol on gestational days 1-3 by injection of ethanol into the airspace of freshly fertilized eggs. The effects of prenatal ethanol on physical growth and development, and memory formation were studied. The one-trial passive avoidance learning paradigm in 1-day-old chicks was used to study memory formation in these chicks. It was observed that chick embryos exposed to 10% ethanol on gestational days 1-3 had significant reduction in all body parameters when compared with appropriate controls. Further, ethanol-exposed chick embryos had significantly impaired (P
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory/drug effects*
  10. Abdulamir AS, Hafidh RR, Abubakar F, Abbas KA
    BMC Immunol, 2008;9:73.
    PMID: 19087256 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2172-9-73
    BACKGROUND: Asthma is a complicated network of inflammatory reactions. It is classified into mild, moderate, and severe persistent asthma. The success of asthma therapy relies much on understanding the underlying mechanisms of inflammation at each stage of asthma severity. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in apoptotic potential, CD4/CD8 ratio, memory compartment, and T- helper (Th) 1 and 2 profile of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in patients with mild intermittent asthma and severe persistent asthma during exacerbation periods.
    RESULTS: Four research lines were investigated and compared among mild asthmatics, severe asthmatics, and healthy groups by applying immunocytochemical staining of PBL. Antiapoptotic and proapoptotic proteins with Bcl-2/Bax ratio, CD4, CD8 markers with CD4+/CD8+ ratio, CD45RO+, CD45RA+ markers with memory/naive ratio (CD45RO+/CD45RA+). Th2/Th1 cytokines balance represented by IL-4/IFN-gamma ratio was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for in vitro PBL cytokine synthesis. It was found that Bcl-2/Bax ratio was higher in severe than in mild asthmatics which in turn was higher than in healthy group. And memory/naive ratio of PBL was higher in severe than in mild asthmatics. Moreover, memory cells, CD45RO+ and CD45RO+/CD45RA+ ratio were correlated directly with Bcl-2/Bax, in severe and mild asthma patients. In contrast, CD4+/CD8+ ratio was not changed significantly among healthy group, mild and severe asthmatics. However, CD8+ cells were correlated directly with memory cells, CD45RO+, in severe asthmatics only. Interestingly, the dominant profile of cytokines appeared to change from T helper 2 (Th2) in mild asthmatics to T helper 1 (Th1) in severe asthmatics where the lowest in vitro IL-4/IFN-gamma ratio and highest IFN-gamma were found.
    CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the underlying mechanisms of inflammation might vary greatly with asthma stage of severity. Mild intermittent asthma is mainly Th2 allergen-oriented reaction during exacerbations with good level of apoptosis making the inflammation as self-limiting, while in severe persistent asthma, the inflammatory reaction mediated mainly by Th1 cytokines with progressive loss of apoptosis leading to longer exacerbations, largely expanded memory cells, CD45RO+, leading to persistent baseline inflammation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Immunologic Memory
  11. Chin WC, Zaidi Isa, Abu Hassan Shaari Mohd. Nor
    Sains Malaysiana, 2008;37:233-237.
    This article study the influences of structural break to the fractionally integrated time-varying volatility model in Malaysian stock markets from year 1996 to 2006. A fractionally integrated autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic (FIGARCH) model combines with sudden changes of volatility is develops to study the possibility of structural change in Asian financial crisis and currency crisis. Our empirical results evidence substantially reduction in long memory clustering volatility after the inclusion of sudden changes in the volatility. Finally, the estimation, diagnostic and model selection evaluations indicate that the fractionally integrated model with structural change is out-performed compared to the standard model.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory
  12. Sayuthi S, Tharakan J, Pieter MS, Salmah WM, Madhavan M, Tahir A, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2009 Jan;16(1):39-43.
    PMID: 22589647 MyJurnal
    We present our preliminary experience in neuropsychological testing in epilepsy surgery patients to demonstrate how these tests contributed to decide the laterality of epileptic focus, and to assess the effect of surgery on patient's cognitive function and quality of life. Preoperative neuropsychological tests consisting of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS) for IQ, Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS) for memory and patients' quality of life (QOLIE 31) were administered to refractory epilepsy patients under evaluation for surgical treatment. These tests were repeated one year after surgery and we studied any changes in trends. A total of seven patients were recruited in this study between July 2004 and July 2006. The aetiologies of refractory epilepsy were pure mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) in five patients, dysembryogenic neuroepithelial tumour (DNET) in one and dual lesion of cavernous angioma with ipsilateral MTS in one. The preoperative neuropsychological tests were all in concordance to MRI finding, and showed good contralateral function; five lateralises to the right and two to the left. The post-operative Engel seizure count (median 8.00, IQR 7.00-8.75), general IQ (88 vs. 79), performance IQ (94 vs. 79), verbal memory (89 vs. 71), non-verbal memory (88 vs. 75) and QOLIE (53.14 vs. 44.71) were better compared to preoperative values. The verbal IQ (84 vs. 84) was unchanged. Neuropsychological tests are useful as ancillary investigations to determine the laterality of seizure focus and integrity of function in the contralateral temporal lobe. Following successful surgical treatment, there is a trend towards improvement in memory, IQ and quality of life scores in this small group of patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory
  13. Cherian SB, Bairy KL, Rao MS
    Indian J Exp Biol, 2009 Nov;47(11):893-9.
    PMID: 20099462
    With a view to examine the effect of chronic maternal stress on cognitive function in the offspring during young age, pregnant Wistar rats were subjected to restraint stress from embryonic day 11 till delivery. Male and female pups born to these stressed rats were subjected to passive avoidance test on postnatal day 30 and 31. Results were compared with rats of the same age and sex born to control mothers, which were not stressed. The results showed that prenatal maternal restraint stress impairs the memory retention during young age in both sexes. The memory retention deficit induced by maternal restraint stress was evident in the decreased latency to enter the dark compartment of passive avoidance apparatus by the rats born to stressed mothers. The observed behavioral deficit may be due to the insult of stress on the developing hippocampus, a structure of the brain concerned with learning and memory. The results suggest that prolonged prenatal stress leads to long lasting malfunction in the behavioral development during young age in both male and female young rats. However when compared to their respective stress naïve controls, it seems evident that prenatal restraint stress has a less effect on females which could be due to their oesterogenic effects. These data reinforce the view that prenatal stress affects cognitive development in a sex-specific manner.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory Disorders/etiology*
  14. Blackburn K
    Oral Hist Rev, 2009;36(2):231-52.
    PMID: 19999634
    The Pacific War and the Japanese Occupation were traumatic periods in the lives of people now over seventy years old in Malaysia and Singapore. This study traces why individuals interviewed for oral history of the Pacific War and the Japanese Occupation have often been able to tell stories of trauma without being overwhelmed by their reminiscences. It emphasizes that memories of traumatic experiences of the Pacific War and the Japanese Occupation in Malaysia and Singapore are mediated and eased by supportive social networks that are part of the interview subject's community. The individual's personal memories of traumatic war experiences are positioned in the context of the collective memory of the group and, thus, are made easier to recall. However, for individuals whose personal memories are at variance with the collective memory of the group they belong to, recalling traumatic experiences is more difficult and alienating as they do not have the support in their community. The act of recalling traumatic memories in the context of the collective memory of a group is particularly relevant in Malaysia and Singapore. These countries have a long history of being plural societies, where although the major ethnic groups -- the Malays, Chinese, and Indians -- have lived side by side peacefully, they have lived in culturally and socially separate worlds, not interacting much with the other groups. The self -- identity of many older people who lived through the Pacific War and the Japanese Occupation is inextricably bound up with their ethnicity. Oral history on war trauma strongly reflects these identities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory*
  15. Abdul Hamid Abdul Rahman, Shamsul Azhar Shah, Normala Ibrahim
    ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 2009;10(2):157-168.
    MyJurnal
    Objective: The study aims to determine pattern of verbal memory and learning impairment and its associated factors among patients with bipolar I disorder in a psychiatric clinic of a university hospital. Methods: A case control study comparing verbal memory test
    performance in 40 patients with bipolar I disorder to that of 40 healthy normal subjects using Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). The association between demographic, clinical
    characteristics and poor verbal memory performance were examined. Results: Up to 92% of patients with bipolar I disorder have impaired short term working memory in this hospital-based study. They also recalled fewer words in all the RAVLT trials and had difficulties
    learning the word list in comparison to that of normal healthy individuals. Verbal memory and learning impairment are observed in bipolar illness in the absence of active mood symptoms while duration and severity of illness are not found to have any effect on verbal memory and learning. Conclusion: There is consistent verbal memory and learning problems in individuals with bipolar I disorder and their presence in the absence of mania, depression and mixed symptoms during the course of the illness suggests a trait related deficit.

    Study site: Psychiatric Clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM)
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory Disorders; Memory, Short-Term
  16. Zahiruddin Othman, Muhammad Najib Muhammad Alwi, Kamarul Imran Musa, Muhammad Najib Muhammad Alwi, Ruzita Jamaluddin
    ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 2009;10(1):54-74.
    MyJurnal
    Objective: Many studies have emphasized the significance of verbal memory for the functional outcome in schizophrenia. A preserved capability to encode and recall verbal information is essential for the long-term efficacy of psychoeducational programs and other
    psychological intervention to ensure the successful transfer of newly acquired skills or knowledge into everyday life. Aims of this study aimed to validate the MVALT among schizophrenia patients in HUSM. Methods: The subjects were 15 schizophrenia patients
    conveniently selected from the patients that attended follow up at the psychiatry clinic in HUSM or inpatients who have been admitted during the study period and 15 healthy control subjects as a comparison. Reliability and validity of the MVAVLT were analyzed. Results: The validation study showed that the Malay version Auditory Verbal Learning Test (MVAVLT) had a good validity (factor analysis 0.66 to 0.98) and test-retest reliability (pearson correlation ranged from 0.24 to 0.84) and has been shown to be sensitive in
    discriminating between normal and schizophrenia patients. In line with the previous research, the schizophrenia patients performed significantly worse than healthy control in all indexes measured in MVAVLT. Conclusion: The screening of deficits in verbal learning
    and memory among the schizophrenia patients is important, for early detection and treatment since it can be helpful for clinicians and psychologists in their counseling sessions. Subsequently, it helps patients to reduce such cognitive difficulties and their impact by using specific rehabilitation with the usage of newer antipsychotic agents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory
  17. Chin WC, Zaidi Isa, Abu Hassan Shaari Mohd Nor
    This study investigates the value-at-risk (VaR) using nonlinear time-varying volatility (ARCH model) and extreme-value-theory (EVT) methodologies. Similar VaR estimation and prediction are observes under the EVT and heavy-tailed long-memory ARCH approaches. The empirical results evidence the EVT-based VaR are more accurate but only at higher quantiles. It is also found that EVT approach is able to provide a convenient framework for asymmetric properties in both the lower and upper tails which implies that the risk and reward are not equally likely for the short- and long-trading positions in Malaysian stock market.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory
  18. Kumar RS, Narayanan SN, Nayak S
    Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2009;64(12):1211-7.
    PMID: 20037710 DOI: 10.1590/S1807-59322009001200012
    Chronic stress has been shown to cause oxidative damage in the central nervous system. Although stress-induced impairments in learning and memory have been studied extensively, very few studies have investigated possible ways to prevent their ill effects. The present work was designed to study the protective effects of ascorbic acid in memory loss induced by chronic restraint stress.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory Disorders/prevention & control*
  19. Narayanan SN, Kumar RS, Potu BK, Nayak S, Mailankot M
    Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2009;64(3):231-4.
    PMID: 19330250
    INTRODUCTION: With the tremendous increase in number of mobile phone users world wide, the possible risks of this technology have become a serious concern.

    OBJECTIVE: We tested the effects of mobile phone exposure on spatial memory performance.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats (10-12 weeks old) were exposed to 50 missed calls/day for 4 weeks from a GSM (900/1800 MHz) mobile phone in vibratory mode (no ring tone). After the experimental period, the animals were tested for spatial memory performance using the Morris water maze test.

    RESULTS: Both phone exposed and control animals showed a significant decrease in escape time with training. Phone exposed animals had significantly (approximately 3 times) higher mean latency to reach the target quadrant and spent significantly (approximately 2 times) less time in the target quadrant than age- and sex-matched controls.

    CONCLUSION: Mobile phone exposure affected the acquisition of learned responses in Wistar rats. This in turn points to the poor spatial navigation and the object place configurations of the phone-exposed animals.

    Matched MeSH terms: Memory/physiology; Memory/radiation effects*
  20. Apryani E, Hidayat MT, Moklas MA, Fakurazi S, Idayu NF
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2010 Jun 16;129(3):357-60.
    PMID: 20371280 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.03.036
    AIM OF THE STUDY: Mitragyna speciosa Korth from Rubiaceae family is a tropical plant indigenous to Southeast Asia particularly in Thailand, Peninsular of Malaysia and Indonesia. The leaves have been used by natives for their opium-like effect and cocaine-like stimulant ability to combat fatigue and enhance tolerance to hard work. However there is no scientific information about the effect of mitragynine on the cognitive performances. This study is designed to examine the working memory effects of mitragynine which is extracted from Mitragyna speciosa mature leaves.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cognitive effect was studied using object location task and the motor activity in open-field test. Mitragynine 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg and were administered by intraperitoneal (IP) for 28 consecutive days and evaluated on day 28 after the last dose treatment. Scopolamine was used as the control positive drug.

    RESULTS: In this study there is prominent effects on horizontal locomotor activity was observed. Mitragynine significantly reduced locomotor activity in open-field test compared with vehicle. In object location task mitragynine (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg) did not showed any significances discrimination between the object that had changed position than the object that had remain in a constant position.

    CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that chronic administration of mitragynine can altered the cognitive behavioral function in mice.

    Matched MeSH terms: Memory, Short-Term/drug effects*
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