MyMedR

Growing wealth and growing pains: child and adolescent psychiatry in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore

Tan S, Fung D, Hung SF, Rey J

Australas Psychiatry, 2008 Jun;16(3):204-9.

PMID: 18568628 DOI: 10.1080/10398560701874283

Several Asian regions have undergone a dramatic transformation, some becoming very affluent. This paper aims to ascertain how countries that are becoming wealthy have dealt with child and adolescent mental health issues.

Eleven novel polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers from the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis

Ong CC, Teh CH, Tan SG, Yusoff K, Yap CK

Genetika, 2008 Apr;44(4):574-6.

PMID: 18666563

We report on the characterization of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci in P. viridis, the first set of such markers developed and characterized for this species. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 7, whereas the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.0447 to 0.4837. These markers should prove useful as powerful genetic markers for this species.

Isolation of trinucleotide microsatellite markers for Mystus nemurus

Hoh BP, Siraj SS, Tan SG, Yusoff K

Genetika, 2008 Mar;44(3):427-9.

PMID: 18664151

Twelve single locus trinucleotide microsatellite markers were developed to characterize the Asian river catfish, Mystus nemurus, an important food fish in South East Asia. They were obtained by using a rapid method namely the 5' anchored PCR enrichment protocol. The specific primers were designed to flank the repeat sequences and these were subsequently used to characterize 90 unrelated fish from Malaysia. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 (MnVj2-281) to 12 (MnBp8-4-43b) while the levels of heterozygosity ranged from 0.0444 (MnVj2-1-19) to 0.7458 (MnVj2-291).

Transvaginal sonography of cervical length and Bishop score as predictors of successful induction of term labor: the effect of parity

Tan PC, Vallikkannu N, Suguna S, Quek KF, Hassan J

Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol, 2009;36(1):35-9.

PMID: 19400416

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value for successful labor induction of transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) of cervical length according to parity.

METHOD: TVS of the cervix was performed before term labor induction. Induction was considered successful if vaginal delivery was achieved within 24 hours; 231 women were available for final analysis.

RESULTS: Analysis of the receiver operator characteristics curve showed an optimal cut-off for cervical length of < or = 20 mm for successful induction. Following multivariate logistic regression analysis, a sonographic short cervix (AOR 5.6; p < 0.001) was an independent predictor of successful induction but not a favorable Bishop score (p = 0.47). Among multiparas with a short cervix, positive and negative predictive values for successful induction were 98% (95% CI 90-100%) and 21% (95% CI 13%-32%) and among nulliparas, predictive values were 69% (95% CI 53%-82%) and 77% (95% CI 64%-87%) respectively.

CONCLUSION: In nulliparas, cervical length can usefully predict labor induction outcome.

Fulltext Interleukin-6 promoter polymorphisms (-174 G/C) in Malaysian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Chua KH, Kee BP, Tan SY, Lian LH

Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res., 2009 Jun;42(6):551-5.

PMID: 19448905 DOI: 10.1590/s0100-879x2009000600012

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that involves the inflammation of various organs upon deposition of immune complexes and is characterized by uncontrolled B cell hyperactivity. Despite intensive research on the etiology of the disease, the exact cause of the onset of SLE is unknown. The pathogenesis of the disease has been proposed to be associated with the imbalance of T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokine activities. Elevated serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a Th2 cytokine with various functions in the regulation of human biological systems, are observed in SLE patients. In the present study, 100 Malaysian SLE patients and 100 controls were evaluated in order to determine the association of polymorphisms existing in the promoter region of the IL-6 gene with the onset of SLE. The homozygous G genotype was found to be significant in SLE patients (chi(2) = 33.754; P = 0.00000000625), whereas the heterozygous G/C genotype was significant in the controls (chi(2)= 25.087; P = 0.000000548). We suggest that the C allele might have a masking effect on the G allele when both alleles are present in heterozygous individuals. However, we did not observe any significant association of the homozygous C allele with the onset of SLE or with protection from the disease (chi(2) = 1.684; P = 0.194366).

Preparation of oil palm empty fruit bunch-based activated carbon for removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol: optimization using response surface methodology

Hameed BH, Tan IA, Ahmad AL

J Hazard Mater, 2009 May 30;164(2-3):1316-24.

PMID: 18977086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.09.042

The effects of three preparation variables: CO(2) activation temperature, CO(2) activation time and KOH:char impregnation ratio (IR) on the 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) uptake and carbon yield of the activated carbon prepared from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) were investigated. Based on the central composite design, two quadratic models were developed to correlate the three preparation variables to the two responses. The activated carbon preparation conditions were optimized using response surface methodology by maximizing both the 2,4,6-TCP uptake and activated carbon yield within the ranges studied. The optimum conditions for preparing activated carbon from EFB for adsorption of 2,4,6-TCP were found as follows: CO(2) activation temperature of 814 degrees C, CO(2) activation time of 1.9h and IR of 2.8, which resulted in 168.89 mg/g of 2,4,6-TCP uptake and 17.96% of activated carbon yield. The experimental results obtained agreed satisfactorily with the model predictions. The activated carbon prepared under optimum conditions was mesoporous with BET surface area of 1141 m(2)/g, total pore volume of 0.6 cm(3)/g and average pore diameter of 2.5 nm. The surface morphology and functional groups of the activated carbon were respectively determined from the scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analysis.

Effect of powder calcination on the sintering of hydroxyapatite

Tan CY, Ramesh S, Aw KL, Yeo WH, Hamdi M, Sopyan I

Med J Malaysia, 2008 Jul;63 Suppl A:87-8.

PMID: 19024997

The sintering behaviour of synthesized HA powder that was calcined at various temperatures ranging from 700 degrees C to 1000 degrees C was investigated in terms of phase stability, bulk density, Young's modulus and Vickers hardness. The calcination treatment resulted in higher crystallinity of the starting HA powder. Decomposition of HA phase to form secondary phases was not observed in all the calcined powders. The results also indicated that powder calcination (up to 900 degrees C) prior to sintering has negligible effect on the sinterability of the HA compacts. However, powder calcined at 1000 degrees C was found to be detrimental to the properties of sintered hydroxyapatite bioceramics.

Dengue infection in pregnancy: prevalence, vertical transmission, and pregnancy outcome

Tan PC, Rajasingam G, Devi S, Omar SZ

Obstet Gynecol, 2008 May;111(5):1111-7.

PMID: 18448743 DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31816a49fc

To estimate prevalence rate of recent dengue infection in parturients, as well as the vertical transmission rate, and to compare pregnancy outcomes among infected women.

Aleukemic bcr-abl positive granulocytic sarcoma

Kuan JW, Pathmanathan R, Chang KM, Tan SM

Leuk. Res., 2009 Nov;33(11):1574-7.

PMID: 19215983 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2009.01.016

Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) can occur de novo or in association with intramedullary myeloid disorders. With the advent of sophisticated molecular detection techniques to detect diagnostic genes such as bcr-abl, PML-RARA and CBFB/MYH11 in bone marrow or peripheral blood, many cases of the so called 'primary' GS are questionable. We report a case of primary GS where the tumor mass bcr-abl translocation was demonstrated by fluorescent in situ hybridization in which there was no evidence of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This is an important finding as it highlights the possibility that CML may present as a sole extramedullary form, and illustrates potential treatment by tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Fulltext Scanning electron micrographs of two species of Sturnophagoides (Acari: Astigmata: Pyroglyphidae) mites in Malaysia

Mariana A, Santana Raj AS, Ho TM, Tan SN, Zuhaizam H

Trop Biomed, 2008 Dec;25(3):217-24.

PMID: 19287360

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of two dust mites, Sturnophagoides brasiliensis and Sturnophagoides halterophilus, are presented to provide an improved visualization of the taxonomic characters of these mites. Sturnophagoides halterophilus can be differentiated from S. brasiliensis by their expanded genu and femur of leg I. The differences in morphology of male and female S. brasiliensis are also discussed.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the Malaysian giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Bhassu S, See LM, Hassan R, Siraj SS, Tan SG

Mol Ecol Resour, 2008 Sep;8(5):983-5.

PMID: 21585948 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02127.x

Eight single locus microsatellite markers were developed to characterize the Malaysian giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. These microsatellites were isolated from an enriched genomic library contained by using a 5'-anchored polymerase chain reaction technique. Primers were designed to flank the repeat sequences and subsequently used to characterize 30 unrelated individuals of the giant freshwater prawn. The polymerase chain reaction amplification products of these eight microsatellite loci were polymorphic with the number of alleles ranging from two to 10 alleles per locus while the levels of heterozygosity ranged from 0.6333 to 0.8667.

Fulltext Two years review of cutaneous adverse drug reaction from first line anti-tuberculous drugs

Tan WC, Ong CK, Kang SC, Razak MA

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Jun;62(2):143-6.

PMID: 18705448 MyJurnal

First line Anti-TB therapy with rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol/streptomycin is very effective. However, major adverse reactions to antituberculous drugs can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Cutaneous adverse drug reaction (CADR) is one of the commonly observed major adverse events. This retrospective study looked at the cases of TB treated in Respiratory Unit, Penang Hospital from January 2004 to December 2005. Of 820 patients treated for active TB, 47 patients (25 females; 22 males) developed CADR (5.7%). CADRs observed include morbiliform rash (72.3%), erythema multiforme syndrome (8.5%), urticaria (8.5%) and others (which include exfoliative dermatitis and lichenoid eruption). Ninety-seven percent of events occurred within two months after the initial dose. Incidence rate of CADR among the first line anti-TB drugs, pyrazinamide was the commonest offending drug (2.38%), followed by streptomycin (1.45%), ethambutol (1.44%), rifampicin (1.23%) and isoniazid (0.98%). Various clinical characteristics of patients with CADR identified include Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection (27.7%), polypharmacy (21.3%), elderly (19.1%), autoimmune disorders (6.4%), pre-existing renal impairment (4.3%), pre-existing liver disorders (4.3%). In conclusion, CADR is common and majority of cases occurred within two months after initiation of anti-TB treatment, particularly in HIV infected patients. Pyrazinamide is the commonest offending drug.

Fulltext Short QTc in epilepsy patients without cardiac symptoms

Teh HS, Tan HJ, Loo CY, Raymond AA

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Jun;62(2):104-8.

PMID: 18705439

Epilepsy patients have a higher mortality rate than the general population. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major cause of mortality for these patients. The possibility of cardiac involvement in the pathogenesis of SUDEP has been suggested by many previous studies. This study compared the QT interval in epilepsy patients and normal controls, and identified the factors that affected the QT interval. Standard 12-lead ECGs were recorded from 70 consecutive epilepsy patients from the neurology clinic of HUKM and 70 age, race and gender matched controls. The mean QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) was calculated and compared. The mean QTc among the epilepsy patients was 0.401 +/- 0.027s. It was significantly shorter than the QTc (0.420 +/- 0.027s) in the control group (p<0.0005). Thirty five epilepsy patients (50%) and 17 matched controls (24.3%) had a mean QTc shorter than 0.40s (p=0.001). Among the epilepsy patients, the mean QTc did not significantly differ between patients in the duration (F=0.836, p=0.438) of the epilepsy, frequency (F=0.273, p=0.845) and types of seizures (p=0.633). There was no significant difference in the mean QTc between the epilepsy patients on different number of antiepileptic agents (F=0.444, p=0.643). Patients with cryptogenic epilepsy had a mean QTc of 0.392 +/- 0.029s, which was significantly shorter than patients with symptomatic epilepsy (QTc = 0.410 +/- 0.027s, p = 0.015). The mean QTc of the same subjects showed no significant interobserver difference (p=0.661). This study, for the first time, demonstrates that epilepsy patients have a significantly shorter QTc than controls, particularly in the subgroup of patients with cryptogenic epilepsy.
Study site: Neurology clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Fulltext Single-step purification of the recombinant green fluorescent protein from intact Escherichia coli cells using preparative PAGE

Chew FN, Tan WS, Ling TC, Tey BT

Electrophoresis, 2009 Sep;30(17):3017-3023.

PMID: 19685471 DOI: 10.1002/elps.200900246

Mechanical and non-mechanical breakages of bacterial cells are usually the preliminary steps in intracellular protein purification. In this study, the recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP) was purified from intact Escherichia coli cells using preparative PAGE. In this purification process, cells disruption step is not needed. The cellular content of E. coli was drifted out electrically from cells and the negatively charged GFP was further electroeluted from polyacrylamide gel column. SEM investigation of the electrophoresed cells revealed substantial structural damage at the cellular level. This integrated purification technique has successfully recovered the intracellular GFP with a yield of 82% and purity of 95%.

Production of the matrix protein of Nipah virus in Escherichia coli: virus-like particles and possible application for diagnosis

Subramanian SK, Tey BT, Hamid M, Tan WS

J Virol Methods, 2009 Dec;162(1-2):179-83.

PMID: 19666056 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2009.07.034

The broad species tropism of Nipah virus (NiV) coupled with its high pathogenicity demand a rapid search for a new biomarker candidate for diagnosis. The matrix (M) protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using a Ni-NTA affinity column chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The recombinant M protein with the molecular mass (Mr) of about 43 kDa was detected by anti-NiV serum and anti-myc antibody. About 50% of the M protein was found to be soluble and localized in cytoplasm when the cells were grown at 30 degrees C. Electron microscopic analysis showed that the purified M protein assembled into spherical particles of different sizes with diameters ranging from 20 to 50 nm. The purified M protein showed significant reactivity with the swine sera collected during the NiV outbreak, demonstrating its potential as a diagnostic reagent.

Genetic characterization of Perna viridis L. in peninsular Malaysia using microsatellite markers

Ong CC, Yusoff K, Yap CK, Tan SG

J Genet, 2009 Aug;88(2):153-63.

PMID: 19700853

A total of 19 polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to analyse levels of genetic variation for 10 populations of Perna viridis L. collected from all over peninsular Malaysia. The populations involved in this study included Pulau Aman in Penang, Tanjung Rhu in Kedah, Bagan Tiang in Perak, Pulau Ketam in Selangor, Muar, Parit Jawa, Pantai Lido and Kampung Pasir Puteh in Johore, and Kuala Pontian and Nenasi in Pahang state. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to seven, with an average of 3.1. Heterozygote deficiencies were observed across all the 10 populations. Characterization of the populations revealed that local populations of P. viridis in peninsular Malaysia were genetically similar enough to be used as a biomonitoring agent for heavy metal contamination in the Straits of Malacca. Cluster analysis grouped the P. viridis populations according to their geographical distributions with the exception of Parit Jawa. The analysis also revealed that P. viridis from the northern parts of peninsular Malaysia were found to be the most distant populations among the populations of mussels investigated and P. viridis from the eastern part of peninsular Malaysia were closer to the central and southern populations than to the northern populations.

Four tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids and a taberpsychine derivative from a Malayan Tabernaemontana

Lim KH, Sim KM, Tan GH, Kam TS

Phytochemistry, 2009 Jun;70(9):1182-1186.

PMID: 19643450 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.06.010

Four tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids, 7(R)- and 7(S)-geissoschizol oxindole (1 and 2), 7(R),16(R)- and 7(S),16(R)-19(E)-isositsirikine oxindole (3 and 4), in addition to a taberpsychine derivative, N(4)-demethyltaberpsychine (5), were isolated from the Malayan Tabernaemontana corymbosa and the structures were established using NMR and MS analysis.

Adsorption isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamics and desorption studies of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol on oil palm empty fruit bunch-based activated carbon

Tan IA, Ahmad AL, Hameed BH

J Hazard Mater, 2009 May 30;164(2-3):473-82.

PMID: 18818013 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.08.025

The adsorption characteristics of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) on activated carbon prepared from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) were evaluated. The effects of TCP initial concentration, agitation time, solution pH and temperature on TCP adsorption were investigated. TCP adsorption uptake was found to increase with increase in initial concentration, agitation time and solution temperature whereas adsorption of TCP was more favourable at acidic pH. The adsorption equilibrium data were best represented by the Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson isotherms. The adsorption kinetics was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The mechanism of the adsorption process was determined from the intraparticle diffusion model. Boyd plot revealed that the adsorption of TCP on the activated carbon was mainly governed by particle diffusion. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard enthalpy (DeltaH degrees ), standard entropy (DeltaS degrees ), standard free energy (DeltaG degrees ) and activation energy were determined. The regeneration efficiency of the spent activated carbon was high, with TCP desorption of 99.6%.

Fixed-bed adsorption performance of oil palm shell-based activated carbon for removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol

Tan IA, Ahmad AL, Hameed BH

Bioresour Technol, 2009 Feb;100(3):1494-6.

PMID: 18809316 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2008.08.017

This study investigated the adsorption potential of oil palm shell-based activated carbon to remove 2,4,6-trichlorophenol from aqueous solution using fixed-bed adsorption column. The effects of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol inlet concentration, feed flow rate and activated carbon bed height on the breakthrough characteristics of the adsorption system were determined. The regeneration efficiency of the oil palm shell-based activated carbon was evaluated using ethanol desorption technique. Through ethanol desorption, 96.25% of the adsorption sites could be recovered from the regenerated activated carbon.

Fulltext Small cell variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma with positive immunoreactivity for CD99

Shiran MS, Tan GC, Sabariah AR, Chye PC, Pathmanathan R

Med J Malaysia, 2008 Jun;63(2):150-1.

PMID: 18942305 MyJurnal

A 13 year old boy presented with a huge mass on his right arm of 6 months duration. Histopathological examination revealed sheets of malignant small round blue cells with immunopositivity for LCA, CD43, CD45Ro, CD30, EMA, ALK-1 and CD99, and negativity for CD20, TdT, myogenin, myoD1, NSE, bcl-6, bcl-2 and CD10. Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization (FISH) testing excluded the diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma/PNET. Pathologists need to be aware of the diagnosis of a small cell variant of ALCL, as well as of the fact that CD99 expression commonly occurs in cases of ALK-positive ALCL, in order to distinguish this entity from Ewing's sarcoma/PNET.

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