Displaying publications 3081 - 3100 of 9872 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Radiation dose associated with cerebral CT angiography and CT perfusion: an experimental phantom study
    Sabarudin A, Yusof MZ, Mohamad M, Sun Z
    Radiat Prot Dosimetry, 2014 Dec;162(3):316-21.
    PMID: 24255172 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/nct280
    A study on the radiation dose associated with cerebral CT angiography (CTA) and CT perfusion (CTP) was conducted on an anthropomorphic phantom with the aim of estimating the effective dose (E) and entrance skin dose (ESD) in the eyes and thyroid gland during different CTA and CTP protocols. The E was calculated to be 0.61 and 0.28 mSv in CTA with 100 and 80 kV(p), respectively. In contrast, CTP resulted in an estimated E of 2.74 and 2.07 mSv corresponding to 40 and 30 s protocols, respectively. The eyes received a higher ESD than the thyroid gland in all of these protocols. The results of this study indicate that combining both CTA and CTP procedures are not recommended in the stroke evaluation due to high radiation dose. Application of modified techniques in CTA (80 kV(p)) and CTP (30 s) is highly recommended in clinical practice for further radiation dose reduction.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cerebral Angiography/methods*; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*
  2. A 45-degree radiographic method for measuring the neck shaft angle and anteversion of the femur: a pilot study
    Teo PC, Kassim AY, Thevarajan K
    J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong), 2013 Dec;21(3):340-6.
    PMID: 24366797
    To propose a novel method to measure the neck shaft angle and anteversion of the femur using anteroposterior and 45-degree oblique radiographs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Osteotomy/methods; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*
  3. Advances in paper-based point-of-care diagnostics
    Hu J, Wang S, Wang L, Li F, Pingguan-Murphy B, Lu TJ, et al.
    Biosens Bioelectron, 2014 Apr 15;54:585-97.
    PMID: 24333570 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2013.10.075
    Advanced diagnostic technologies, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), have been widely used in well-equipped laboratories. However, they are not affordable or accessible in resource-limited settings due to the lack of basic infrastructure and/or trained operators. Paper-based diagnostic technologies are affordable, user-friendly, rapid, robust, and scalable for manufacturing, thus holding great potential to deliver point-of-care (POC) diagnostics to resource-limited settings. In this review, we present the working principles and reaction mechanism of paper-based diagnostics, including dipstick assays, lateral flow assays (LFAs), and microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs), as well as the selection of substrates and fabrication methods. Further, we report the advances in improving detection sensitivity, quantification readout, procedure simplification and multi-functionalization of paper-based diagnostics, and discuss the disadvantages of paper-based diagnostics. We envision that miniaturized and integrated paper-based diagnostic devices with the sample-in-answer-out capability will meet the diverse requirements for diagnosis and treatment monitoring at the POC.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biosensing Techniques/methods; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques/methods
  4. Fulltext Characterization of cellulolytic bacterial cultures grown in different substrates
    Alshelmani MI, Loh TC, Foo HL, Lau WH, Sazili AQ
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:689235.
    PMID: 24319380 DOI: 10.1155/2013/689235
    Nine aerobic cellulolytic bacterial cultures were obtained from the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Culture (DSMZ) and the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). The objectives of this study were to characterize the cellulolytic bacteria and to determine the optimum moisture ratio required for solid state fermentation (SSF) of palm kernel cake (PKC). The bacteria cultures were grown on reconstituted nutrient broth, incubated at 30°C and agitated at 200 rpm. Carboxymethyl cellulase, xylanase, and mannanase activities were determined using different substrates and after SSF of PKC. The SSF was conducted for 4 and 7 days with inoculum size of 10% (v/w) on different PKC concentration-to-moisture ratios: 1 : 0.2, 1 : 0.3, 1 : 0.4, and 1 : 0.5. Results showed that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 1067 DSMZ, Bacillus megaterium 9885 ATCC, Paenibacillus curdlanolyticus 10248 DSMZ, and Paenibacillus polymyxa 842 ATCC produced higher enzyme activities as compared to other bacterial cultures grown on different substrates. The cultures mentioned above also produced higher enzyme activities when they were incubated under SSF using PKC as a substrate in different PKC-to-moisture ratios after 4 days of incubation, indicating that these cellulolytic bacteria can be used to degrade and improve the nutrient quality of PKC.
    Matched MeSH terms: Refuse Disposal/methods*; Cell Culture Techniques/methods
  5. Emergency skills learning on video (ESLOV): A single-blinded randomized control trial of teaching common emergency skills using self-instruction video (SIV) versus traditional face-to-face (FTF) methods
    Mohd Saiboon I, Jaafar MJ, Ahmad NS, Nasarudin NM, Mohamad N, Ahmad MR, et al.
    Med Teach, 2014 Mar;36(3):245-50.
    PMID: 24295218 DOI: 10.3109/0142159X.2013.857013
    Self-instruction video (SIV) has been widely explored as a teaching mode for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillation (AED), but not with other basic emergency skills.
    Matched MeSH terms: Education, Medical, Undergraduate/methods*; Emergency Medical Services/methods*
  6. Fulltext Walking on thin ice! Identifying methamphetamine "drug mules" on digital plain radiography
    Abdul Rashid SN, Mohamad Saini SB, Abdul Hamid S, Muhammad SJ, Mahmud R, Thali MJ, et al.
    Br J Radiol, 2014 Apr;87(1036):20130472.
    PMID: 24472728 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20130472
    The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of identifying methamphetamine (MA) internal payloads in "drug mules" by plain abdominal digital radiography (DR).
    Matched MeSH terms: Radiography, Abdominal/methods*; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods
  7. Fulltext Tracking traction force changes of single cells on the liquid crystal surface
    Soon CF, Tee KS, Youseffi M, Denyer MC
    Biosensors (Basel), 2015 Mar;5(1):13-24.
    PMID: 25808839 DOI: 10.3390/bios5010013
    Cell migration is a key contributor to wound repair. This study presents findings indicating that the liquid crystal based cell traction force transducer (LCTFT) system can be used in conjunction with a bespoke cell traction force mapping (CTFM) software to monitor cell/surface traction forces from quiescent state in real time. In this study, time-lapse photo microscopy allowed cell induced deformations in liquid crystal coated substrates to be monitored and analyzed. The results indicated that the system could be used to monitor the generation of cell/surface forces in an initially quiescent cell, as it migrated over the culture substrate, via multiple points of contact between the cell and the surface. Future application of this system is the real-time assaying of the pharmacological effects of cytokines on the mechanics of cell migration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Traction/methods*; Single-Cell Analysis/methods*
  8. Fulltext Conventional rapid latex agglutination in estimation of von Willebrand factor: method revisited and potential clinical applications
    Mahat M, Abdullah WZ, Hussin CM
    J Immunol Res, 2014;2014:850810.
    PMID: 25759835 DOI: 10.1155/2014/850810
    Measurement of von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF : Ag) levels is usually performed in a specialised laboratory which limits its application in routine clinical practice. So far, no commercial rapid test kit is available for VWF : Ag estimation. This paper discusses the technical aspect of latex agglutination method which was established to suit the purpose of estimating von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels in the plasma sample. The latex agglutination test can be performed qualitatively and semiquantitatively. Reproducibility, stability, linearity, limit of detection, interference, and method comparison studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of this test. Semiquantitative latex agglutination test was strongly correlated with the reference immunoturbidimetric assay (Spearman's rho = 0.946, P < 0.001, n = 132). A substantial agreement (κ = 0.77) was found between qualitative latex agglutination test and the reference assay. Using the scoring system for the rapid latex test, no agglutination is with 0% VWF : Ag (control negative), 1+ reaction is equivalent to <20% VWF : Ag, and 4+ reaction indicates >150% VWF : Ag (when comparing with immunoturbidimetric assay). The findings from evaluation studies suggest that latex agglutination method is suitable to be used as a rapid test kit for the estimation of VWF : Ag levels in various clinical conditions associated with high levels and low levels of VWF : Ag.
    Matched MeSH terms: Latex Fixation Tests/methods*; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry/methods
  9. Compost feedstock characteristics and ratio modelling for organic waste materials co-composting in Malaysia
    Chai EW, H'ng PS, Peng SH, Wan-Azha WM, Chin KL, Chow MJ, et al.
    Environ Technol, 2013 Sep-Oct;34(17-20):2859-66.
    PMID: 24527651
    In Malaysia, large amounts of organic materials, which lead to disposal problems, are generated from agricultural residues especially from palm oil industries. Increasing landfill costs and regulations, which limit many types of waste accepted at landfills, have increased the interest in composting as a component of waste management. The objectives of this study were to characterize compost feedstock properties of common organic waste materials available in Malaysia. Thus, a ratio modelling of matching ingredients for empty fruit bunches (EFBs) co-composting using different organic materials in Malaysia was done. Organic waste materials with a C/N ratio of < 30 can be applied as a nitrogen source in EFB co-composting. The outcome of this study suggested that the percentage of EFB ranged between 50% and 60%, which is considered as the ideal mixing ratio in EFB co-composting. Conclusively, EFB can be utilized in composting if appropriate feedstock in term of physical and chemical characteristics is coordinated in the co-composting process.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture/methods; Waste Management/methods*
  10. Adopting programmatic feedback to enhance the learning of complex skills
    Yusoff MS, Hadie SN, Abdul Rahim AF
    Med Educ, 2014 Feb;48(2):108-10.
    PMID: 24528391 DOI: 10.1111/medu.12403
    Matched MeSH terms: Education, Medical, Undergraduate/methods*; Educational Measurement/methods*
  11. Fulltext Potentiometric urea biosensor based on an immobilised fullerene-urease bio-conjugate
    Saeedfar K, Heng LY, Ling TL, Rezayi M
    Sensors (Basel), 2013;13(12):16851-66.
    PMID: 24322561 DOI: 10.3390/s131216851
    A novel method for the rapid modification of fullerene for subsequent enzyme attachment to create a potentiometric biosensor is presented. Urease was immobilized onto the modified fullerene nanomaterial. The modified fullerene-immobilized urease (C60-urease) bioconjugate has been confirmed to catalyze the hydrolysis of urea in solution. The biomaterial was then deposited on a screen-printed electrode containing a non-plasticized poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PnBA) membrane entrapped with a hydrogen ionophore. This pH-selective membrane is intended to function as a potentiometric urea biosensor with the deposition of C60-urease on the PnBA membrane. Various parameters for fullerene modification and urease immobilization were investigated. The optimal pH and concentration of the phosphate buffer for the urea biosensor were 7.0 and 0.5 mM, respectively. The linear response range of the biosensor was from 2.31 × 10-3 M to 8.28 × 10-5 M. The biosensor's sensitivity was 59.67 ± 0.91 mV/decade, which is close to the theoretical value. Common cations such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and NH4+ showed no obvious interference with the urea biosensor's response. The use of a fullerene-urease bio-conjugate and an acrylic membrane with good adhesion prevented the leaching of urease enzyme and thus increased the stability of the urea biosensor for up to 140 days.
    Matched MeSH terms: Potentiometry/methods*; Biosensing Techniques/methods*
  12. Rapid tea catechins and caffeine determination by HPLC using microwave-assisted extraction and silica monolithic column
    Rahim AA, Nofrizal S, Saad B
    Food Chem, 2014 Mar 15;147:262-8.
    PMID: 24206716 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.09.131
    A rapid reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method using a monolithic column for the determination of eight catechin monomers and caffeine was developed. Using a mobile phase of water:acetonitrile:methanol (83:6:11) at a flow rate of 1.4 mL min(-1), the catechins and caffeine were isocratically separated in about 7 min. The limits of detection and quantification were in the range of 0.11-0.29 and 0.33-0.87 mg L(-1), respectively. Satisfactory recoveries were obtained (94.2-105.2 ± 1.8%) for all samples when spiked at three concentrations (5, 40 and 70 mg L(-1)). In combination with microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), the method was applied to the determination of the catechins and caffeine in eleven tea samples (6 green, 3 black and 2 oolong teas). Relatively high levels of caffeine were found in black tea, but higher levels of the catechins, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were found in green teas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Chemical Fractionation/methods*; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase/methods
  13. Signal-to-noise ratio estimation on SEM images using cubic spline interpolation with Savitzky-Golay smoothing
    Sim KS, Kiani MA, Nia ME, Tso CP
    J Microsc, 2014 Jan;253(1):1-11.
    PMID: 24164248 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12089
    A new technique based on cubic spline interpolation with Savitzky-Golay noise reduction filtering is designed to estimate signal-to-noise ratio of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. This approach is found to present better result when compared with two existing techniques: nearest neighbourhood and first-order interpolation. When applied to evaluate the quality of SEM images, noise can be eliminated efficiently with optimal choice of scan rate from real-time SEM images, without generating corruption or increasing scanning time.
    Matched MeSH terms: Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods*
  14. Fulltext Automatic medical X-ray image classification using annotation
    Zare MR, Mueen A, Seng WC
    J Digit Imaging, 2014 Feb;27(1):77-89.
    PMID: 24092327 DOI: 10.1007/s10278-013-9637-0
    The demand for automatically classification of medical X-ray images is rising faster than ever. In this paper, an approach is presented to gain high accuracy rate for those classes of medical database with high ratio of intraclass variability and interclass similarities. The classification framework was constructed via annotation using the following three techniques: annotation by binary classification, annotation by probabilistic latent semantic analysis, and annotation using top similar images. Next, final annotation was constructed by applying ranking similarity on annotated keywords made by each technique. The final annotation keywords were then divided into three levels according to the body region, specific bone structure in body region as well as imaging direction. Different weights were given to each level of the keywords; they are then used to calculate the weightage for each category of medical images based on their ground truth annotation. The weightage computed from the generated annotation of query image was compared with the weightage of each category of medical images, and then the query image would be assigned to the category with closest weightage to the query image. The average accuracy rate reported is 87.5 %.
    Matched MeSH terms: Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Information Storage and Retrieval/methods*
  15. Fulltext An oil fraction neural sensor developed using electrical capacitance tomography sensor data
    Zainal-Mokhtar K, Mohamad-Saleh J
    Sensors (Basel), 2013;13(9):11385-406.
    PMID: 24064598 DOI: 10.3390/s130911385
    This paper presents novel research on the development of a generic intelligent oil fraction sensor based on Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) data. An artificial Neural Network (ANN) has been employed as the intelligent system to sense and estimate oil fractions from the cross-sections of two-component flows comprising oil and gas in a pipeline. Previous works only focused on estimating the oil fraction in the pipeline based on fixed ECT sensor parameters. With fixed ECT design sensors, an oil fraction neural sensor can be trained to deal with ECT data based on the particular sensor parameters, hence the neural sensor is not generic. This work focuses on development of a generic neural oil fraction sensor based on training a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) ANN with various ECT sensor parameters. On average, the proposed oil fraction neural sensor has shown to be able to give a mean absolute error of 3.05% for various ECT sensor sizes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pattern Recognition, Automated/methods*; Dielectric Spectroscopy/methods
  16. Ergonomics observation: Harvesting tasks at oil palm plantation
    Ng YG, Shamsul Bahri MT, Irwan Syah MY, Mori I, Hashim Z
    J Occup Health, 2014;55(5):405-14.
    PMID: 23892641
    OBJECTIVES: Production agriculture is commonly associated with high prevalence of ergonomic injuries, particularly during intensive manual labor and during harvesting. This paper intends to briefly describe an overview of oil palm plantation management highlighting the ergonomics problem each of the breakdown task analysis.

    METHODS: Although cross-sectional field visits were conducted in the current study, insight into past and present occupational safety and health concerns particularly regarding the ergonomics of oil palm plantations was further exploited. Besides discussion, video recordings were extensively used for ergonomics analysis.

    RESULTS: The unique commodity of oil palm plantations presents significantly different ergonomics risk factors for fresh fruit bunch (FFB) cutters during different stages of harvesting. Although the ergonomics risk factors remain the same for FFB collectors, the intensity of manual lifting increases significantly with the age of the oil palm trees-weight of FFB.

    CONCLUSIONS: There is urgent need to establish surveillance in order to determine the current prevalence of ergonomic injuries. Thereafter, ergonomics interventions that are holistic and comprehensive should be conducted and evaluated for their efficacy using approaches that are integrated, participatory and cost-effective.

    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture/methods; Human Engineering/methods*
  17. Intrasellar pituitary mucocele: diagnostic dilemma
    Tang IP, Chai CK, Kumar G, Prepageran N, Waran V
    Br J Neurosurg, 2014 Jun;28(3):390-2.
    PMID: 23875880 DOI: 10.3109/02688697.2013.817535
    Isolated intrasellar pituitary mucocele following transsphenoidal sinus surgery is extremely rare. The clinical features resemble a pituitary tumor, therefore careful radiological interpretation is crucial to reach the correct diagnosis. We report a case of intrasellar mucocele who had transsphenoidal sinus surgery performed 15 years prior.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurosurgical Procedures/methods; Endovascular Procedures/methods
  18. Fulltext An inhibitive enzyme assay to detect mercury and zinc using protease from Coriandrum sativum
    Baskaran G, Masdor NA, Syed MA, Shukor MY
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:678356.
    PMID: 24194687 DOI: 10.1155/2013/678356
    Heavy metals pollution has become a great threat to the world. Since instrumental methods are expensive and need skilled technician, a simple and fast method is needed to determine the presence of heavy metals in the environment. In this study, an inhibitive enzyme assay for heavy metals has been developed using crude proteases from Coriandrum sativum. In this assay, casein was used as a substrate and Coomassie dye was used to denote the completion of casein hydrolysis. In the absence of inhibitors, casein was hydrolysed and the solution became brown, while in the presence of metal ions such as Hg²⁺ and Zn²⁺, the hydrolysis of casein was inhibited and the solution remained blue. Both Hg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ exhibited one-phase binding curve with IC₅₀ values of 3.217 mg/L and 0.727 mg/L, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantitation (LOQ) for Hg were 0.241 and 0.802 mg/L, respectively, while the LOD and LOQ for Zn were 0.228 and 0.761 mg/L, respectively. The enzyme exhibited broad pH ranges for activity. The crude proteases extracted from Coriandrum sativum showed good potential for the development of a rapid, sensitive, and economic inhibitive assay for the biomonitoring of Hg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ in the aquatic environments.
    Matched MeSH terms: Colorimetry/methods*; Environmental Monitoring/methods*
  19. Fulltext Evaluation of a worksite cervical screening initiative to increase Pap smear uptake in Malaysia: a cluster randomized controlled trial
    Abdullah F, O'Rorke M, Murray L, Su TT
    Biomed Res Int, 2013;2013:572126.
    PMID: 24073411 DOI: 10.1155/2013/572126
    BACKGROUND: Despite the significant burden of cervical cancer, Malaysia like many middle-income countries relies on opportunistic cervical screening as opposed to a more organized population-based program. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of a worksite screening initiative upon Papanicolaou smear test (Pap test) uptake among educated working women in Malaysia.

    METHODS: 403 female teachers who never or infrequently attended for a Pap test from 40 public secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur were recruited into a cluster randomized trial conducted between January and November 2010. The intervention group participated in a worksite cervical screening initiative whilst the control group received usual care from the existing cervical screening program. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the impact of the intervention program on Pap smear uptake after 24 weeks of followup.

    RESULTS: The proportion of women attending for a Pap test was significantly higher in the intervention than in the control group (18.1% versus 10.1%, P value < 0.05) with the worksite screening initiative doubling the Pap smear uptake, adjusted odds ratio 2.44 (95% CI: 1.29-4.62).

    CONCLUSION: Worksite health promotion interventions can effectively increase cervical smear uptake rates among eligible workers in middle-income countries. Policy makers and health care providers in these countries should include such interventions in strategies for reducing cervical cancer burden. This trial is registered with IRCT201103186088N1.

    Matched MeSH terms: Vaginal Smears/methods*; Papanicolaou Test/methods*
  20. Application of FTIR-ATR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis for rapid estimation of butter adulteration
    Fadzlillah NA, Rohman A, Ismail A, Mustafa S, Khatib A
    J Oleo Sci, 2013;62(8):555-62.
    PMID: 23985484
    In dairy product sector, butter is one of the potential sources of fat soluble vitamins, namely vitamin A, D, E, K; consequently, butter is taken into account as high valuable price from other dairy products. This fact has attracted unscrupulous market players to blind butter with other animal fats to gain economic profit. Animal fats like mutton fat (MF) are potential to be mixed with butter due to the similarity in terms of fatty acid composition. This study focused on the application of FTIR-ATR spectroscopy in conjunction with chemometrics for classification and quantification of MF as adulterant in butter. The FTIR spectral region of 3910-710 cm⁻¹ was used for classification between butter and butter blended with MF at various concentrations with the aid of discriminant analysis (DA). DA is able to classify butter and adulterated butter without any mistakenly grouped. For quantitative analysis, partial least square (PLS) regression was used to develop a calibration model at the frequency regions of 3910-710 cm⁻¹. The equation obtained for the relationship between actual value of MF and FTIR predicted values of MF in PLS calibration model was y = 0.998x + 1.033, with the values of coefficient of determination (R²) and root mean square error of calibration are 0.998 and 0.046% (v/v), respectively. The PLS calibration model was subsequently used for the prediction of independent samples containing butter in the binary mixtures with MF. Using 9 principal components, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) is 1.68% (v/v). The results showed that FTIR spectroscopy can be used for the classification and quantification of MF in butter formulation for verification purposes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Analysis/methods*; Spectrum Analysis/methods*
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links