Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 356 in total

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  1. Loo CH, Khoo ACH, Tan WC, Khor YH, Tang JJ, Tang MM, et al.
    World J Nucl Med, 2020 08 22;20(1):32-37.
    PMID: 33850487 DOI: 10.4103/wjnm.WJNM_33_20
    Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is known to have association with systemic diseases with chronic inflammation such as psoriasis. We aim to describe the concomitant systemic inflammation in patients with HS using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scan. This was a case-control study conducted in three tertiary hospitals in Northern Malaysia from January to December 2017, involving HS patients aged 18 years and above. Thirty-two HS patients with age- and sex-matched controls were recruited with a mean age of 31.4 years (range: 18-56). Numerous cutaneous inflammatory foci were detected on FDG-PET/CT scan in clinically unapparent sites (27/32, 84.4%). Approximately 90.6%, 93.8%, and 50.0% of the patients had significantly higher cutaneous uptake over nasal, mandibular, and scalp regions, respectively (P < 0.0001). PET/CT scan did not detect any systemic inflammation unlike those found in psoriasis. Three (9.4%) patients had thyroid nodules with high uptake (maximum standard uptake values ranging from 2.9 to 11.3). Two of them were confirmed to have papillary thyroid carcinoma, while the third patient has inconclusive finding. 18F-FDG PET/CT scan may be useful to map disease burden of HS. Nonlesional inflammatory foci on the skin of the nose, mandibular, and scalp are probably significant. The association of thyroid carcinoma in HS warrants further evaluation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  2. Kew GS, Soh AYS, Lee YY, Gotoda T, Li YQ, Zhang Y, et al.
    World J Gastrointest Oncol, 2021 Apr 15;13(4):279-294.
    PMID: 33889279 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i4.279
    BACKGROUND: Major societies provide differing guidance on management of Barrett's esophagus (BE), making standardization challenging.

    AIM: To evaluate the preferred diagnosis and management practices of BE among Asian endoscopists.

    METHODS: Endoscopists from across Asia were invited to participate in an online questionnaire comprising eleven questions regarding diagnosis, surveillance and management of BE.

    RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-nine of 1016 (56.0%) respondents completed the survey, with most respondents from Japan (n = 310, 54.5%) and China (n = 129, 22.7%). Overall, the preferred endoscopic landmark of the esophagogastric junction was squamo-columnar junction (42.0%). Distal palisade vessels was preferred in Japan (59.0% vs 10.0%, P < 0.001) while outside Japan, squamo-columnar junction was preferred (59.5% vs 27.4%, P < 0.001). Only 16.3% of respondents used Prague C and M criteria all the time. It was never used by 46.1% of Japanese, whereas 84.2% outside Japan, endoscopists used it to varying extents (P < 0.001). Most Asian endoscopists (70.8%) would survey long-segment BE without dysplasia every two years. Adherence to Seattle protocol was poor with only 6.3% always performing it. 73.2% of Japanese never did it, compared to 19.3% outside Japan (P < 0.001). The most preferred (74.0%) treatment of non-dysplastic BE was proton pump inhibitor only when the patient was symptomatic or had esophagitis. For BE with low-grade dysplasia, 6-monthly surveillance was preferred in 61.9% within Japan vs 47.9% outside Japan (P < 0.001).

    CONCLUSION: Diagnosis and management of BE varied within Asia, with stark contrast between Japan and outside Japan. Most Asian endoscopists chose squamo-columnar junction to be the landmark for esophagogastric junction, which is incorrect. Most also did not consistently use Prague criteria, and Seattle protocol. Lack of standardization, education and research are possible reasons.

    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  3. Thanh TT, Anh NT, Tham NT, Van HM, Sabanathan S, Qui PT, et al.
    Virol J, 2015 Jun 09;12:85.
    PMID: 26050791 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-015-0316-2
    BACKGROUND: Hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a disease of public health importance across the Asia-Pacific region. The disease is caused by enteroviruses (EVs), in particular enterovirus A71 (EV-A71). In EV-A71-associated HFMD, the infection is sometimes associated with severe manifestations including neurological involvement and fatal outcome. The availability of a robust diagnostic assay to distinguish EV-A71 from other EVs is important for patient management and outbreak response.

    METHODS: We developed and validated an internally controlled one-step single-tube real-time RT-PCR in terms of sensitivity, linearity, precision, and specificity for simultaneous detection of EVs and EV-A71. Subsequently, the assay was then applied on throat and rectal swabs sampled from 434 HFMD patients.

    RESULTS: The assay was evaluated using both plasmid DNA and viral RNA and has shown to be reproducible with a maximum assay variation of 4.41 % and sensitive with a limit of detection less than 10 copies of target template per reaction, while cross-reactivity with other EV serotypes was not observed. When compared against a published VP1 nested RT-PCR using 112 diagnostic throat and rectal swabs from 112 children with a clinical diagnosis of HFMD during 2014, the multiplex assay had a higher sensitivity and 100 % concordance with sequencing results which showed EVs in 77/112 (68.8 %) and EV-A71 in 7/112 (6.3 %). When applied to clinical diagnostics for 322 children, the assay detected EVs in throat swabs of 257/322 (79.8 %) of which EV-A71 was detected in 36/322 (11.2 %) children. The detection rate increased to 93.5 % (301/322) and 13.4 % (43/322) for EVs and EV-A71, respectively, when rectal swabs from 65 throat-negative children were further analyzed.

    CONCLUSION: We have successfully developed and validated a sensitive internally controlled multiplex assay for rapid detection of EVs and EV-A71, which is useful for clinical management and outbreak control of HFMD.

    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  4. MUHAMMAD SYUKRI HANAFI BASRI, MOHAMMAD AIZAT BASIR, AHMAD FAIZAL AHMAD FUAD
    MyJurnal
    Life jacket is one of the safety appliances that can be found on the ship that provide buoyancy and prevention against drowning. Before the ship can sail, every element of safety of the vessel should be confirmed. Despite the establishment of standards for life jacket, both local and international, there have been cases of drowning associated with the usage of life jackets by the passengers of passenger boat/vessels for open-deck situation. Moreover, deficiency of information on safety instruction is reason the passengers are lack of personal safety information during on board. Thus, the evaluation on safety standard of life jackets and passenger vessel are vital for assessing the provision of the life jacket on board passenger vessel with respect to compatibility between life jacket and passenger vessel. In this paper, A Vessel Life Jacket Compatibility Mobile Apps (VELIT) was developed using software development methodology called Rational Unified Process (RUP) to automate the safety assessment process based on model called LCI (Life Jacket Compatibility Index). VELIT apps synchronized the safety assessment aspect and which allow user to compute the element in the model and produce the result of the safety assessment in real time. The VELIT apps are expected to be used in maritime area especially for ship safety assessment process.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  5. LIM XUE YEN, AHMAD FITRIADHY
    MyJurnal
    Concerning on navigational safety of a ship, comprehensive investigation of manoeuvrability of the ship is prominently required. The turning instability due to improper speed and magnitude of the rudder angle is vulnerable to serious accidents such as collision especially in the confined waters. This paper presents a computational fluid dynamic analyses on manoeuvrability performance of a tug in calm water. Here, the characteristics of the turning ability and zig-zag characteristics of the tug has been assessed due to effect of the various angles of twin-rudder and turning speeds. The results revealed that the increase of rudder’s angle resulted in subsequent reduction of her advance diameter from 144 m, 108 m, 96 m to 92 m. While for zig zag manoeuvre, the first overshoot angle is 0.6° and 1.08° for 10°/10° and 20°/20° rudder’s angle respectively. The first overshoot and second overshoot angle are within the IMO criteria which is below 20° and 25°. However, the increase of turning speed from 7 knots to 9 knots has been proportional with the increase of the turning diameter (advance diameter) from 70 m to 105.2 m. Basically, the turning performances of the tug manoeuvring with the turning speed of 7 to 9 knots incorporated with rudder’s angle 20°, 25°, 30° and 35° have been complied with IMO manoeuvring standards. This preliminary analysis contributes very valuable findings at early ship design stage to provide a safety of the navigational guidance for turning ability of the tug.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  6. CHUA KAH WAI, LOY KAK CHOON, RUWAIDIAH IDRIS
    MyJurnal
    Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) are usually used in numerous fields especially in solving the modelling problem. Numerical methods are one of the vital mathematical tools to solve the ODEs that appear in various modelling problems by determining the approximation solution close to the in exact solution if it exists. Runge-Kutta methods (RK) are the numerical methods used to integrate the ODEs by applying multistage methods at the midpoint of an interval which can efficiently produce a more accurate result or small magnitude of error. We proposed Runge-Kutta methods (RK) to solve the 1st_ order nonlinear stiff ODEs. The RK methods used in this research are known as the RK-2, RK-4, and RK-5 methods. We proved the existence and uniqueness of the ODEs before we solved it numerically. We also proved the absolute-stability of the RK methods to determine the overall stability of these methods. We found two suitable test cases which are the standard test problem and manufactured solution. We proved that by combining the adaptive step size with RK methods can result in more efficient computation. We implemented the 2nd_, 4th_ and 5th_ order of RK methods with step size adaptively algorithm to solve the test problem and manufactured solution via Octave programming language. The resulting numerical error and the stability of each method can be studied. We compared our results using several error plots versus the Central Processing Unit (CPU) time required to compute a given nonlinear 1st_ order stiff ODE problem. In a conclusion, RK methods which combine with the adaptive step size can result in more efficient computation and accuracy compare with the fixed step size RK methods.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  7. SITINURIZZATI JAMIL,, AKMALIA MOHAMAD ARIF, SHAHNAZ ISMAIL
    MyJurnal
    This study examined biological asset information that has been reported by companies in Malaysia and the methods of valuation used in reporting the biological assets. It aimed to provide useful information to the regulators about the application of MFRS 141, the accounting standards for agriculture, in corporate reporting. This study employed the data derived from the 2016 annual reportsof plantation companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the biological asset information that has been reported and the characteristics of the companies such as age, size, and leverage. The results of this study showed that most of the plantation companies believed that fair value and historical cost could be the best way to measure their biological assets. The findings of this study provide input towards identifying the gap in corporate reporting practices and the challenges faced by companies in the application of MFRS 141. The findings are expected to contribute to the regulatory improvement towards increasing the full adoption of MFRS 141 by companies in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  8. Chellathurai MS, Ling VWT, Palanirajan VK
    Turk J Pharm Sci, 2021 Feb 25;18(1):96-103.
    PMID: 33634684 DOI: 10.4274/tjps.galenos.2020.21033
    Objectives: Microneedle transdermal patches are a combination of hypodermic needles and transdermal patches used to overcome the individual limitations of both injections and patches. The objective of this study was to design a minimally invasive, biodegradable polymeric recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (rHuKGF) microneedle array and evaluate the prepared biodegradable microneedles using in vitro techniques.

    Materials and Methods: Biodegradable polymeric microneedle arrays were fabricated out of poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) using the micromolding technique under aseptic conditions, and the morphology of the microneedles was characterized using light microscopy. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to rule out drug-polymer interactions. Standard procedures were used to analyze the prepared microneedle arrays for in vitro drug release and to perform a microneedle insertion test. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify rHuKGF.

    Results: The PLGA polymer was safe for use in the fabrication of rHuKGF microneedles as there was no interaction between the drug and the polymer. The fabricated rHuKGF microneedle arrays had fully formed microneedles with a height of 600 µm and a base of 300 µm. The drug from the microneedle patch was released in vitro within 30 minutes. The strength of the microneedles in the patch was good, as they were able to reach a depth of 381±3.56 µm into parafilm without any structural change or fracture.

    Conclusion: Microneedle transdermal patches were successfully prepared for rHuKGF, and their evaluation suggested excellent quality and uniformity of patch characteristics. This can have potential applications in the therapeutic arena, offering advantages in terms of reduced dosing frequency, improved patient compliance, and bioavailability.

    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  9. Wong CK, Jaafar MJ
    Turk J Emerg Med, 2021 02 12;21(2):86-89.
    PMID: 33969246 DOI: 10.4103/2452-2473.309138
    BRASH syndrome is a syndrome characterized by bradycardia, renal failure, usage of atrioventricular (AV) nodal blocker, shock, and hyperkalemia (BRASH). It is more common among patients with multiple comorbidities such as cardiac disease, kidney dysfunction, and hypertension requiring AV nodal blockers. Cardiac conduction abnormalities are frequently caused by severe hyperkalemia. However, it may also occur in mild-to-moderate hyperkalemia with concomitant use of AV nodal blockers due to the synergistic effects between these two factors in the presence of renal insufficiency. It is essential for the physician to identify BRASH syndrome as the treatment may differ from standard advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) protocol. We report the two cases of patient who presented with BRASH syndrome who failed to respond to standard ACLS protocol.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  10. Lewthwaite P, Shankar MV, Tio PH, Daly J, Last A, Ravikumar R, et al.
    Trop Med Int Health, 2010 Jul;15(7):811-8.
    PMID: 20487425 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02537.x
    OBJECTIVE: To compare two commercially available kits, Japanese Encephalitis-Dengue IgM Combo ELISA (Panbio Diagnostics) and JEV-CheX IgM capture ELISA (XCyton Diagnostics Limited), to a reference standard (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak - Venture Technologies VT ELISA).

    METHODS: Samples were obtained from 172/192 children presenting to a site in rural India with acute encephalitis syndrome.

    RESULTS: Using the reference VT ELISA, infection with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was confirmed in 44 (26%) patients, with central nervous system infection confirmed in 27 of these; seven patients were dengue seropositive. Of the 121 remaining patients, 37 (31%) were JEV negative and 84 (69%) were JEV unknown because timing of the last sample tested was <10 day of illness or unknown. For patient classification with XCyton, using cerebrospinal fluid alone (the recommended sample), sensitivity was 77.8% (59.2-89.4) with specificity of 97.3% (90.6-99.2). For Panbio ELISA, using serum alone (the recommended sample), sensitivity was 72.5% (57.2-83.9) with specificity of 97.5% (92.8-99.1). Using all available samples for patient classification, sensitivity and specificity were 63.6% (95% CI: 48.9-76.2) and 98.4% (94.5-99.6), respectively, for XCyton ELISA and 75.0% (59.3-85.4) and 97.7% (93.3-99.2) for Panbio ELISA.

    CONCLUSION: The two commercially available ELISAs had reasonable sensitivities and excellent specificities for diagnosing JEV.

    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  11. Oyedele DT, Sah SA, Kairuddinand L, Wan Ibrahim WM
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2015 Dec;26(2):27-44.
    PMID: 26868708 MyJurnal
    Studies of habitat suitability (HS) are essential when animals' habitats have been altered or when animals migrate to a habitat different from their natural habitat. This study assessed HS and used an integrated geographic information system in the assessment of Rattus norvegicus in a highly developed urban environment. Using data from the Campbell market and the police quarters of George Town, Malaysia, home range (through the use of 100% Minimum Convex Polygon [MCP], 95% MCP and 95% Harmonic Mean [HM]) was estimated. Home range for male rats at Campbell market reached an asymptote, with a slight increase, at 96 radio fixes (home range = 133.52 m(2); core area = 29.39 m(2)). Female rats reached an asymptote at 62 radio fixes (home range = 13.38 m(2); core area = 9.17 m(2)). At Campbell market, male rats emerged at 1900 hours every day, whereas females emerged at 2000 hours; at police quarters, the most common time of emergence for males was 2000 hours and for females was 2200. Raster charts of R. norvegicus showed that rat hot spots can be grouped into 4 zones (market, shop houses, settlement and general places). The standardised raster chart isolated the market as the major rallying points of the rats (hot spots) by producing the highest rats frequencies of 255. All of the habitat suitability thresholds, including the built-up points, skip bins, water source and nature of the site explored in this study, produced a structural pattern (monotonic increase or decrease) of habitat suitability.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  12. Thong KL, Teh CS, Chua KH
    Trop Biomed, 2014 Dec;31(4):689-97.
    PMID: 25776594 MyJurnal
    The present study aims to develop a system which consists of four pairs of primers that specifically detects Salmonella spp., Salmonella serovar Typhi and Salmonella serovar Paratyphi A with an internal amplification control. The system, when applied in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) under specific conditions, reaction mixture and cycling temperatures produced four bands; 784 bp, 496 bp, 332 bp and 187 bp. The DNA band 784 bp is present in all Salmonella spp., while the bands of 496 bp and 332 bp are only present in S. Paratyphi A and S. Typhi, respectively. An internal amplification control as indicated by the 187 bp shows the system is working in optimum condition in all the tests. This multiplex PCR was evaluated on 241 bacterial cultures and 691 naturally contaminated samples. Overall, this multiplex PCR detection system provides a single step for simultaneous detection of DNAs of Salmonella spp., S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  13. Toulah FH, El-Aswad BEW, Harba NM, Naguib YM
    Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):893-907.
    PMID: 33601839
    High-fat diet (HFD) can cause hyperlipidemia, fatty liver and cardiovascular disorders. Herein, we evaluated therapeutic effects and possible underlying mechanisms of actions of Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA) against experimental HFD induced dyslipidemia, hepatic and cardiovascular pathology. Forty Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups (10 each); mice fed standard diet (SD), mice fed HFD, mice fed HFD for 8 weeks then infected by S. mansoni cercaria (HFD+I) and mice fed HFD for 8 weeks then treated with SEA (HFD+SEA), all mice were euthanized 16 weeks after starting the experiment. HFD+SEA mice showed significantly (p<0.001) reduced total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG), and significantly (p<0.05) increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) comparing to HFD mice with non-significant difference with HFD+I mice group. Doppler flowmetry showed significantly (p<0.01) lower arterial resistance and significantly (p<0.05) higher blood flow velocity in HFD+SEA and HFD+I mice groups than HFD mice. HFD+SEA mice revealed improving in liver and aortic pathology and these were better than HFD+I mice group. HFD+SEA and HFD+I mice groups had less myocardium lipid deposits, but still showing some congested blood vessels. HFD myocardium revealed strong CD34+ expression on immunohistochemistry study, while that of HFD+SEA showed weak and HFD+I mice had moderate expressions. HFD+SEA mice had significantly (p<0.01) lower serum IL-1β and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and significantly (p<0.001) higher serum transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and IL-10 than HFD mice with non-significant difference with HFD+I mice. In conclusion, SEA lowered serum lipids, improved aortic function, decreased liver and cardiovascular pathology in HFD mice, so, it is recommended to purify active molecules from SEA to develop anti-dyslipidemic treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  14. Ahmad A, Waseem T, Butt NF, Randhawa FA, Malik U, Shakoori TA
    Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):1115-1122.
    PMID: 33601858
    A significant percentage of dengue patients develop Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) which is characterized by increased vascular permeability, circulatory failure and often death. Montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist regulates vascular permeability and we hypothesized that it may be effective in protecting against DSS. An open label, parallel, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was thus carried out at Mayo Hospital, Department of Medicine, Lahore. A total of 200 patients of dengue fever were recruited and randomized into two groups. The group A was treated with Montelukast 10 mg once daily for 5 days along with general supportive treatment. Group B received the standard supportive treatment and served as the control group. The frequency of DSS was compared in the two groups by Chi square test. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the effects of montelukast treatment on onset of DSS after adjusting for gender, age, white cell count, platelet count, haematocrit, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Relative risk (RR), absolute risk reduction (ARR), relative risk reduction (RRR) and numbers needed to treat (NNT) were calculated. Significance level was set at p0.001, Odds ratio=5.01, 95% CI=2.17-11.60) even after adjusting for confounders. Montelukast reduced the absolute risk (ARR=22%) and the relative risk (RRR=71%) of DSS in dengue fever. Numbers needed to treat were 4.55. We thus conclude that treatment with oral montelukast may protect patients of dengue fever from DSS and greatly reduce mortality.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  15. Mohd-Hassan NH, Noordin R, Arifin N
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Sep 01;37(3):578-586.
    PMID: 33612773 DOI: 10.47665/tb.37.3.578
    Strongyloidiasis is a mysterious yet important parasitic disease that is hard to diagnose. While microscopic examination remains a "controversial" gold standard method, improved diagnosis is achieved through confirmatory assays with serological and/or molecular diagnostic approaches. In the current serodiagnosis of strongyloidiasis, recombinant proteins have been adopted in place of the use of native parasite antigens, although the availability of diagnostically potential proteins are still limited. Here, we introduce a novel Strongyloides recombinant protein that is uniquely attached to two different short peptide tags as a potential diagnostic biomarker for serodiagnosis of strongyloidiasis, namely lysine (7K) and aspartic acid (7D). The work presented focus on improving the yield and purity of the previously unexpressed recombinant protein. Preliminary diagnostic evaluation of the recombinant favors Ss3a7K protein owing to its higher antigenicity performance with 80% sensitivity and 100% specificity, respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  16. Kira R, Bilung LM, Ngui R, Apun K, Su'ut L
    Trop Biomed, 2021 Jun 01;38(2):31-39.
    PMID: 33973570 DOI: 10.47665/tb.38.2.034
    The spatial distribution of environmental conditions may influence the dynamics of vectorborne diseases like leptospirosis. This study aims to investigate the global and localised relationships between leptospirosis with selected environmental variables. The association between environmental variables and the spatial density of geocoded leptospirosis cases was determined using global Poisson regression (GPR) and geographically weighted Poisson regression (GWPR). A higher prevalence of leptospirosis was detected in areas with higher water vapour pressure (exp(â): 1.12; 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.25) and annual precipitation (exp(â): 1.15; 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.31), with lower precipitation in the driest month (exp(â): 0.85; 95% CI: 0.75 - 0.96) and the wettest quarter (exp(â): 0.88; 95% CI: 0.77 - 1.00). Water vapor pressure (WVP) varied the most in the hotspot regions with a standard deviation of 0.62 (LQ: 0.15; UQ; 0.99) while the least variation was observed in annual precipitation (ANNP) with a standard deviation of 0.14 (LQ: 0.11; UQ; 0.30). The reduction in AICc value from 519.73 to 443.49 indicates that the GWPR model is able to identify the spatially varying correlation between leptospirosis and selected environmental variables. The results of the localised relationships in this study could be used to formulate spatially targeted interventions. This would be particularly useful in localities with a strong environmental or socio-demographical determinants for the transmission of leptospirosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  17. Saadatian-Elahi M, Alexander N, Möhlmann T, Langlois-Jacques C, Suer R, Ahmad NW, et al.
    Trials, 2021 May 30;22(1):374.
    PMID: 34053466 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05298-2
    BACKGROUND: In common with many South East Asian countries, Malaysia is endemic for dengue. Dengue control in Malaysia is currently based on reactive vector management within 24 h of a dengue case being reported. Preventive rather than reactive vector control approaches, with combined interventions, are expected to improve the cost-effectiveness of dengue control programs. The principal objective of this cluster randomized controlled trial is to quantify the effectiveness of a preventive integrated vector management (IVM) strategy on the incidence of dengue as compared to routine vector control efforts.

    METHODS: The trial is conducted in randomly allocated clusters of low- and medium-cost housing located in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. The IVM approach combines: targeted outdoor residual spraying with K-Othrine Polyzone, deployment of mosquito traps as auto-dissemination devices, and community engagement activities. The trial includes 300 clusters randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio. The clusters receive either the preventive IVM in addition to the routine vector control activities or the routine vector control activities only. Epidemiological data from monthly confirmed dengue cases during the study period will be obtained from the Vector Borne Disease Sector, Malaysian Ministry of Health e-Dengue surveillance system. Entomological surveillance data will be collected in 12 clusters randomly selected from each arm. To measure the effectiveness of the IVM approach on dengue incidence, a negative binomial regression model will be used to compare the incidence between control and intervention clusters. To quantify the effect of the interventions on the main entomological outcome, ovitrap index, a modified ordinary least squares regression model using a robust standard error estimator will be used.

    DISCUSSION: Considering the ongoing expansion of dengue burden in Malaysia, setting up proactive control strategies is critical. Despite some limitations of the trial such as the use of passive surveillance to identify cases, the results will be informative for a better understanding of effectiveness of proactive IVM approach in the control of dengue. Evidence from this trial may help justify investment in preventive IVM approaches as preferred to reactive case management strategies.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN ISRCTN81915073 . Retrospectively registered on 17 April 2020.

    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  18. Hughes AC, Lechner AM, Chitov A, Horstmann A, Hinsley A, Tritto A, et al.
    Trends Ecol Evol, 2020 Jul;35(7):583-593.
    PMID: 32521242 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.02.005
    The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents the largest infrastructure and development project in human history, and presents risks and opportunities for ecosystems, economies, and communities. Some risks (habitat fragmentation, roadkill) are obvious, however, many of the BRI's largest challenges for development and conservation are not obvious and require extensive consideration to identify. In this first BRI Horizon Scan, we identify 11 frontier issues that may have large environmental and social impacts but are not yet recognised. More generally, the BRI will increase China's participation in international environmental governance. Thus, new cooperative modes of governance are needed to balance geopolitical, societal, and environmental interests. Upgrading and standardising global environmental standards is essential to safeguard ecological systems and human societies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  19. LAURA DINES NGAU, BOON SIONG WEE, NAZARATUL ASHIFA ABD SALIM
    MyJurnal
    Trace elements play a significant role in giving nutritional benefits to the body because they act as essential cofactors for all physiological processes. However, there are some trace elements which may bring more harm than good when entering the human body. Due to its ability to incorporate trace elements in an amount that is proportional to an individual’s dietary intake and environmental exposure, human fingernails are suitable biomarkers in assessing the health status of an individual as they reflect on the trace element concentration present in the body. This study has analysed fingernail samples of 23 adult females residing in Kuching and Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia for four elements, namely Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. By using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), the mean elemental concentrations found in fingernail samples of research participants were 171.8 ± 33.8 μg/g for Zn, 27.8 ± 14.8 μg/g for Cu and 2.64 ± 0.94 μg/g for Pb. Cd concentrations were not able to be detected as they were below the detection limits. A standard reference material, NIST 1568b Rice Flour was used to verify the methods used in elemental analysis using FAAS. Independent t-test which was used to compare the means of Zn and Cu between vegetarians and non-vegetarians showed no significant differences for both elements. Moreover, correlation analysis showed negative correlations between Cu/Zn pair and Pb/Zn pair, whereas significant positive correlation was obtained for Cu/Pb pair. The overall data from this study showed good agreements with data obtained from studies in other countries. Therefore, the current data in this study represents the latest background elemental concentrations in fingernails of the residents in Kuching and Kota Samarahan, Sarawak.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
  20. Ruhana Hassan, Nur Fatimah Mohd Azizi, Muhammad Amirul Arib Md Adzhar, Mohd Izwan Zulaini Abdul Gani, Rambli Ahmad, Charles Leh Moi Ung
    MyJurnal
    This study documented details of the dentitions, skulls and other skeletal remains of Crocodylus porosus and Tomistoma schlegelii, from western part of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The remains of both reptiles were exhumed, followed by standard cleaning procedures and then detail morphological assessments were carried out accordingly. Both species show similar structure of vertebral columns, but T. schlegelii has the following unique structures: a long and narrower snout, D-shaped eye sockets, long and sharp pointed protruding quadratojugal bones, straight maxillae and dentary, a smooth surfaced skull, elongated triangular suborbital fenestrae, round shaped internal nares and visible supraoccipital from a dorsal view. C. porosus has heterodont dentition with blunt-pointed and irregular size of teeth whereas T. schlegelii has almost homodont dentition with sharp and similar size teeth. This is the first collection of teeth, skulls and other skeletal remains of both species obtained from Sarawak, and the materials have been used regularly to educate the public through science exhibitions, hoping they will spark the interests of young budding scientists to be involved in wildlife taphonomic studies in the future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reference Standards
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