MyMedR

Fulltext Outbreak detection model based on danger theory

Mohamad Mohsin MF, Abu Bakar A, Hamdan AR

Appl Soft Comput, 2014 Nov;24:612-622.

PMID: 32362801 DOI: 10.1016/j.asoc.2014.08.030

In outbreak detection, one of the key issues is the need to deal with the weakness of early outbreak signals because this causes the detection model to have has less capability in terms of robustness when unseen outbreak patterns vary from those in the trained model. As a result, an imbalance between high detection rate and low false alarm rate occurs. To solve this problem, this study proposes a novel outbreak detection model based on danger theory; a bio-inspired method that replicates how the human body fights pathogens. We propose a signal formalization approach based on cumulative sum and a cumulative mature antigen contact value to suit the outbreak characteristic and danger theory. Two outbreak diseases, dengue and SARS, are subjected to a danger theory algorithm; namely the dendritic cell algorithm. To evaluate the model, four measurement metrics are applied: detection rate, specificity, false alarm rate, and accuracy. From the experiment, the proposed model outperforms the other detection approaches and shows a significant improvement for both diseases outbreak detection. The findings reveal that the robustness of the proposed immune model increases when dealing with inconsistent outbreak signals. The model is able to detect new unknown outbreak patterns and can discriminate between outbreak and non-outbreak cases with a consistent high detection rate, high sensitivity, and lower false alarm rate even without a training phase.

Fulltext Pituitary apoplexy: a rare cause of middle cerebral artery infarction

Hassan R, Sharis Othman S, Ahmad Mukari SA, Abu Bakar A

Med J Malaysia, 2013 Jun;68(3):264-6.

PMID: 23749020 MyJurnal

Pituitary apoplexy is a well-known complication of a pituitary adenoma. However, an ischaemic event caused by pituitary apoplexy is rare. We reported a case of pituitary apoplexy with middle cerebral artery infarction in a 44-year old man who presented with a sudden onset of altered sensorium. Vasospasm is the most likely underlying cause of the infarction in this case secondary to transdiaphragmatic rupture of the sella tumour into the subarachnoid space.

Fulltext Psychiatric aspects of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A case report

Maniam T, Abu Bakar AK

Med J Malaysia, 1988 Jun;43(2):166-9.

PMID: 3237133

Fulltext Quantitating proteinuria using the urinary protein creatinine index

Norella Kong CT, Chin JH, Izham Cheong IK, Abu Bakar A

Med J Malaysia, 1988 Jun;43(2):134-7.

PMID: 3237129

Raised leptin concentrations in feto-placental tissues from women with preeclampsia

Singh HJ, Abu Bakar A, Che Romli A, Nila A

Hypertens Pregnancy, 2005;24(2):191-9.

PMID: 16036403

The aim of this study was to estimate the levels of leptin in the amnion, chorion laeve, and placenta and to examine for any differences in leptin levels in these tissues from preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women.

Fulltext Rare and Unique Case of Midline Anterior Arch of Atlas Non-formation Mimicking Jefferson Type 1 Fracture

Das S, Palaniandy K, Abu Bakar A, Idris Z, Abdullah JM

Cureus, 2020 Feb 03;12(2):e6850.

PMID: 32181085 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6850

Cervical spine injuries are rare occurrences in children, especially the congenital anomalies of the atlas vertebra. Any injury involving the craniovertebral junction such as Jefferson fracture, is a valid cause for alarm due to the complex nature of the craniovertebral junction and the morbidity associated with it. We report the case of a 10-year-old male, who had failure of fusion of anterior arch of atlas due to the failure of formation of the anterior midline synchondrosis, and this mimicked a Jefferson fracture. If it was not for the peculiar absence of any corresponding evidence to suggest spinal injury, we might have mistaken this extremely rare but benign anomaly for a Jefferson fracture and subjected the patient to needless surgical treatment. Hence, it is concluded that keen clinical acumen and clear understanding of the developmental anatomy of these patients may be necessary to adequately manage them.

Fulltext Religious beliefs in relation to smoking: a cross-sectional study among muslim males in the month of Ramadan

Abu Bakar A Majid, Lokman H Johari, Amal M Nasir, Anselm, S.T., Chan, W.H., Noraziah A Rahman, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2002;2(2):32-35.

MyJurnal

A cross—sectional study conducted in the fasting month of Ramadan targeting muslim males assessed their religious beliefs in relation to smoking and their intentions t0 quit smoking in Ramadan. It was found that there law; is a strong association between their perceptions on the religious ruling of smoking as haram (prohibited) in relation to their smoking status. Among the non smokers and ex smokers, 87.8% and 73.6% respectively accept the ruling on smoking as prohibitea'(haram), while only 31.6% of smokers accept smoking as prohibited. Among the smokers, 97.7% smoke a lesser number of cigarettes during Ramadan, while 96.7% of them felt that it is easier to quit during the fasting month. The findings suggest that the religious department needs to provide more information and education to the Muslim population as to the reasons of the ruling on smoking as haram(prohibited) on religious grounds . It was also found that the majority felt it is easier to quit during quit smoking programmes can be emphasized and carried out on a bigger scale during fasting months in the future.

Abu Bakar A, Ngiu CS, Mohamad Said MS, Periyasamy P

Ann Acad Med Singap, 2011 Oct;40(10):467-8.

PMID: 22206056

Somatic mitochondrial DNA mutations in different grades of glioma

Soon BH, Abu N, Abdul Murad NA, Then SM, Abu Bakar A, Fadzil F, et al.

Per Med, 2022 01;19(1):25-39.

PMID: 34873928 DOI: 10.2217/pme-2021-0033

Aim: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations play an important role in the multistep processes of cancer development. Gliomas are among the most diagnosed brain cancer. The relationship between mtDNA alterations and different grades of gliomas are still elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the profile of somatic mtDNA mutations in different grades of gliomas and correlate it with clinical phenotype. Materials & methods: Forty histopathologically confirmed glioma tissue samples and their matched blood were collected and subjected for mtDNA sequencing. Results & conclusion: About 75% of the gliomas harbored at least one somatic mutation in the mtDNA gene, and 45% of these mutations were pathogenic. Mutations were scattered across the mtDNA genome, and the commonest nonsynonymous mutations were located at complex I and IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. These findings may have implication for future research to determine the mitochondrial energetics and its downstream metabolomics on gliomas.

Synthesis and characterization of poly(p-phenylene vinylene)

Abd Rashid MY, Abu Bakar A, Mohd Asri MT, Iskandar SM

Med J Malaysia, 2004 May;59 Suppl B:135-6.

PMID: 15468855

Poly (p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) was synthesized from p-xylylene bis(tetrahydrothiophenium chloride) using the Wessling route and characterized by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) and UV-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopic techniques. The significance of thermal treatment along with evolution of precursor polymer to polymer PPV was also studied through these spectroscopic techniques. Thermally Stimulated Current (TSC) measurements indicated the presence of crystallization, sulphonium group which occurred through the evolution from precursor polymer to polymer PPV during thermal treatment.

Fulltext The NeuroAiD Safe Treatment (NeST) Registry: a protocol

Venketasubramanian N, Kumar R, Soertidewi L, Abu Bakar A, Laik C, Gan R

BMJ Open, 2015 Nov 13;5(11):e009866.

PMID: 26567259 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009866

INTRODUCTION: NeuroAiD (MLC601, MLC901), a combination of natural products, has been shown to be safe and to aid neurological recovery after brain injuries. The NeuroAiD Safe Treatment (NeST) Registry aims to assess its use and safety in the real-world setting.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The NeST Registry is designed as a product registry that would provide information on the use and safety of NeuroAiD in clinical practice. An online NeST Registry was set up to allow easy entry and retrieval of essential information including demographics, medical conditions, clinical assessments of neurological, functional and cognitive state, compliance, concomitant medications, and side effects, if any, among patients on NeuroAiD. Patients who are taking or have been prescribed NeuroAiD may be included. Participation is voluntary. Data collected are similar to information obtained during standard care and are prospectively entered by the participating physicians at baseline (before initialisation of NeuroAiD) and during subsequent visits. The primary outcome assessed is safety (ie, non-serious and serious adverse event), while compliance and neurological status over time are secondary outcomes. The in-person follow-up assessments are timed with clinical appointments. Anonymised data will be extracted and collectively analysed. Initial target sample size for the registry is 2000. Analysis will be performed after every 500 participants entered with completed follow-up information.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Doctors who prescribe NeuroAiD will be introduced to the registry by local partners. The central coordinator of the registry will discuss the protocol and requirements for implementation with doctors who show interest. Currently, the registry has been approved by the Ethics Committees of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Malaysia) and National Brain Center (Indonesia). In addition, for other countries, Ethics Committee approval will be obtained in accordance with local requirements.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02536079.

Trace element speciation in sludge: a preliminary study to assess contamination levels in the sewage network

Islam MS, Phoungthong K, Ismail Z, Othman IK, Shahid S, Ishak DSM, et al.

J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng, 2022;57(13-14):1073-1083.

PMID: 36644961 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2022.2148811

The spreading of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants and various industries arouses the growing interest due to the contamination by trace elements. Sludges were collected from one sewage treatment plant and two industries in Dhaka City, Bangladesh to assess physicochemical parameters and total and fraction content of trace elements like Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, Pb, Fe, Mn and Zn in sludges. We evaluated the bioavailability of theses metals by determining their speciation by sequential extraction, each metal being distributed among five fractions: exchangeable fraction, bound to carbonate fraction, Fe-Mn oxide bound fraction, organic matter bound fraction and residual fractions. We found that all the analyzed sludges had satisfactory properties from an agronomic quality point of view. The average concentration (mg/kg) of trace metals in sludge samples were in the following decreasing order Fe (12807) > Cr (200) > Mn (158) > Zn (132) > Cu (68.2) > Ni (42.5) > Pb (36.4) > As (35.1) > Cd (3.7). The results of the sequential extraction showed that Cr, Ni, Cu, Fe and Mn were largely associated with the residual fraction where As, Cd and Pb was dominantly associated with the exchangeable and carbonate bound fractions and Zn showed a considerable proportion in carbonate bound fraction. These results showed that regulations must take into account the bioavailability with regard to the characteristics of the agricultural soils on which sludge will be spread.

Fulltext Transcutaneous bilirubinometry in Malay, Chinese and Indian term neonates

Boo NY, Abu Bakar A

Med J Malaysia, 1984 Mar;39(1):35-7.

PMID: 6513837

The transcutaneous (Tc) bilirubinometer was evaluated in 105 jaundiced neonates, comprising 38 Malays, 37 Chinese and 30 Indians, who had not been treated with phototherapy or exchange transfusion. Tc bilirubin index and serum bilirubin concentration correlated at statistically significant levels in all the three racial groups. Unlike the Chinese and Malay babies, the action levels, using Tc bilirubin index, in the Indian babies are not reliable due to the wide variation of skin pigmentation. Neonatal jaundice is conventionally monitored by estimation of serum bilirubin level. This involves blood sampling. The transcutaneous (Tc) bilirubinometer, however, is non-invasive, small and portable. In this study, the use of the Tc bilirubinometer in the management of neonatal jaundice' in the three racial groups was evaluated.

Zinc: indications in brain disorders

Prakash A, Bharti K, Majeed AB

Fundam Clin Pharmacol, 2015 Apr;29(2):131-49.

PMID: 25659970 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12110

Zinc is the authoritative metal which is present in our body, and reactive zinc metal is crucial for neuronal signaling and is largely distributed within presynaptic vesicles. Zinc also plays an important role in synaptic function. At cellular level, zinc is a modulator of synaptic activity and neuronal plasticity in both development and adulthood. Different importers and transporters are involved in zinc homeostasis. ZnT-3 is a main transporter involved in zinc homeostasis in the brain. It has been found that alterations in brain zinc status have been implicated in a wide range of neurological disorders including impaired brain development and many neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, and mood disorders including depression, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and prion disease. Furthermore, zinc has also been implicated in neuronal damage associated with traumatic brain injury, stroke, and seizure. Understanding the mechanisms that control brain zinc homeostasis is thus critical to the development of preventive and treatment strategies for these and other neurological disorders.

Displaying publications 21 - 34 of 34 in total