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Prevalence of leptospiral DNA among wild rodents from a selected area in Beguk Dam Labis, Segamat, Johor, Malaysia

Latifah I, Rahmat MS, Hayarti KB, Paramasvaran S, Azizah MR, Imran F, et al.

Malays J Pathol, 2012 Dec;34(2):157-9.
PMID: 23424779

Leptospirosis is an emerging infectious disease. The differential diagnosis of leptospirosis is difficult due to the varied and often "flu like" symptoms which may result in a missed or delayed diagnosis. Leptospira is the aetiological agent of leptospirosis, a bacterial zoonosis with worldwide distribution. There are over 230 known serovars in the genus Leptospira. The true prevalence of leptospirosis in Malaysia is unknown or underestimated. Our goal was to determine the prevalence for Leptospira infection in rodents in a selected area in Beguk Dam Labis, Segamat, Johor. A study was carried out on 69 serum samples of trapped wild rodents. DNA was extracted from the sera using Leptospira PCR kit (Shanghai ZJ Bio-Tech Co., Ltd). Of 69 rodent serum samples tested by PCR, 9 (13%) showed positive results. In this study we found that (13%) of wild rodents caught in Beguk Dam Labis were infected by Leptospira.
Fulltext The association of the HLA class II antigens with clinical and autoantibody expression in Malaysian Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Azizah MR, Ainoi SS, Kuak SH, Kong NCT, Normaznah Y, Rahim MN

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2001 Jun;19(2):93-100.
PMID: 11699726

The frequency of the HLA class II antigens/alleles (HLA-DR, DQ and DP) were studied in 70 Malaysian Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to examine the contribution of these genes to disease susceptibility, their clinical expression and Immunological responses. This was done using modified PCR-RFLP technique. These samples were then compared with 66 ethnically matched controls. We found a strong association of the DQA1*0102 (p corr = 0.032, rr = 3.39), DQB1*0501 (p corr = 0.003, rr = 4.55), *0601 (p corr = 0.006, rr = 4.22) and DPB1* 0901(p corr = 0.02, rr = 4.58) with SLE. Clinically, we found a strong association of DR2 and DQA1*0301 with renal involvement and DQA1*0102 with alopecia. Immunologically, statistical analysis (Chi-square test ) showed a strong association of DQA1*0102 with anti-Ro/La antibodies while DQA1*0301 was observed to be strongly associated with antibodies to ds DNA. DQA1*0102 was found more frequently in those with a later disease onset (30 years of age or above). From these data we suggest that the HLA class II genes play a role in conferring disease susceptibility and clinical and immunological expression.
Study site: SLE clinics, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fulltext Gender differences in the clinical and serological features of systemic lupus erythematosus in Malaysian patients

Azizah MR, Ainol SS, Kong NCT, Normaznah Y, Rahim MN

Med J Malaysia, 2001 Sep;56(3):302-7.
PMID: 11732074

An analysis of the clinical and serological features of 12 male and 122 female patients with SLE was done to determine whether sex related differences exist. We found a lower incidence of mucocutaneous symptoms and arthritis but an increased incidence of discoid lesions, pleuritis and pericarditis in males at disease onset. During the disease course, there was a lower incidence of arthritis, a similar prevalence of mucocutaneous symptoms but an increased incidence of pleuritis in males with a trend towards renal involvement. These findings were however not statistically significant except for the higher incidence of thrombosis among males. Serologically, both groups showed similar frequencies of autoantibodies and hypocomplementaemia. Although the study was small, it was shown that several sex-related differences in the clinical and serological features exist in Malaysian SLE patients.
Study site: SLE Clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fulltext Anticardiolipin antibody isotype profile in lupus nephritis--a cross sectional survey

Azizah MR, Loo CS, Zulkifli MN, Shahnaz M, Zaki M, Nasuruddin BA

Med J Malaysia, 1998 Sep;53(3):257-62.
PMID: 10968163

Thirty-six patients with lupus nephritis (LN) attending the Nephrology Clinic, Hospital Kuala Lumpur were studied for the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) isotypes (IgG and IgM) and other associated antibodies, antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-ds DNA antibody and to determine the possible association between serological and clinical parameters. The study population consisted of 20 (55.6%) Malays, 15 (41.7%) Chinese and 1 (2.8%) Indian with a mean age of 31.4 +/- 11.3 years, range 14 to 60 years. The female to male ratio was 11:1. The average time between diagnosis and blood sampling was 4.4 years (range 0.25 to 15 years). Increased ACA levels were found in 20 (55.6%) patients where raised IgG ACA and IgM ACA were observed in 20 (55.6%) and 2 (5.6%) cases respectively. ANA and anti-ds DNA antibodies were detected in 22 (61.1%) and 4 (11.1%) individuals respectively, with the majority (82%) showing a speckled pattern of nuclear staining. However, neither the IgM ACA nor IgG ACA showed any significant association with thrombosis or any other clinical parametres. Our preliminary study indicates that ACA is a frequent finding in lupus nephritis and that the IgG isotype is more prevalent.

Study site: nephrology Clinic, Hospital Kuala Lumpu
Fulltext Prevalence of latex hypersensitivity among health care workers in Malaysia

Shahnaz M, Azizah MR, Hasma H, Mok KL, Yip E, Ganesapillai T, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 1999 Mar;54(1):26-31.
PMID: 10972001

Health care workers have been reported to constitute one of the few high-risk groups related to IgE-mediated hypersensitivity associated with the use of latex products. This paper describes the first ever study of prevalence carried out in Malaysia among these workers. One hundred and thirty health care personnel from Hospital Kuala Lumpur were skin tested. Extracts used were prepared from seven different brands of natural rubber latex gloves with varying levels of extractable protein (EPRRIM). Out of the 130 volunteers, 4 (3.1%) had positive skin test to latex with extracts with high levels of EPRRIM (> 0.7 mg/g). The prevalence among the Malaysian health care workers can be considered to be low in comparison to that of some consumer countries as the USA which reported a prevalence of as high as 16.9%.
Improvement of sperm quality of the depik fish, rasbora tawarensis, after cryopreservation using antioxidant

Muchlisin ZA, Afriani D, Eriani K, Hasri I, Nur FM, Maulida S, et al.

Cryo Letters, 2022;44(1):13-19.
PMID: 36625871

BACKGROUND: The cryopreservation of the sperm of the depik fish, Rasbora tawarensis, has previously been developed. However, the quality of the sperm post cryopreservation was not satisfactory and might be improved through the application of antioxidants.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the most suitable antioxidant for the cryopreservation of the depik fish spermatozoa.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A completely randomized design with a non-factorial experiment was used and the tested antioxidants were glutathione, beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) at 6 % concentrations. All treatments had three replications. The sperms were collected from 10 male fishes and diluted with Ringer solution in a ratio of 1: 20 (v/v, sperm: Ringer solution). Then 5% DMSO and 5 % egg yolk were added to the diluted sperms. Furthermore, 6 % of the tested antioxidants were added to the diluents, and then, cryopreservation was carried out in liquid nitrogen for 14 days.
RESULTS: The ANOVA test showed that the application of antioxidants significantly affected the sperm motility, fertility, and hatching rates of the eggs (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the antioxidants also protected the sperm cells during cryopreservation, with glutathione being the best antioxidant.
CONCLUSION: The application of antioxidants during the cryopreservation of depik fish sperm had a significant effect on motility, fertility and hatchability of eggs post-cryo. Furthermore, glutathione was the most suitable antioxidant. doi.org/10.54680/fr23110110312.
Improvement of sperm quality of the depik fish, rasbora tawarensis, after cryopreservation using antioxidant

Muchlisin ZA, Afriani D, Eriani K, Hasri I, Nur FM, Maulida S, et al.

Cryo Letters, 2023;44(1):13-19.
PMID: 36629837

BACKGROUND: The cryopreservation of the sperm of the depik fish, Rasbora tawarensis, has previously been developed. However, the quality of the sperm post cryopreservation was not satisfactory and might be improved through the application of antioxidants.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the most suitable antioxidant for the cryopreservation of the depik fish spermatozoa.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A completely randomized design with a non-factorial experiment was used and the tested antioxidants were glutathione, beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) at 6 % concentrations. All treatments had three replications. The sperms were collected from 10 male fishes and diluted with Ringer solution in a ratio of 1: 20 (v/v, sperm: Ringer solution). Then 5% DMSO and 5 % egg yolk were added to the diluted sperms. Furthermore, 6 % of the tested antioxidants were added to the diluents, and then, cryopreservation was carried out in liquid nitrogen for 14 days.
RESULTS: The ANOVA test showed that the application of antioxidants significantly affected the sperm motility, fertility, and hatching rates of the eggs (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the antioxidants also protected the sperm cells during cryopreservation, with glutathione being the best antioxidant.
CONCLUSION: The application of antioxidants during the cryopreservation of depik fish sperm had a significant effect on motility, fertility and hatchability of eggs post-cryo. Furthermore, glutathione was the most suitable antioxidant. doi.org/10.54680/fr23110110312.
SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN RODENTS FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Normaznah Y, Azizah MA, Azuan MI, Latifah I, Rahmat S, Nasir MA

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 2015 May;46(3):388-95.
PMID: 26521512

Numerous studies have reported the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among Malaysians and various domestic animals; but there is paucity of information on its prevalence among rodents which could potentially contribute to the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in both domestic and sylvatic fauna. Five hundred twenty-six rodents were captured from six locations in Malaysia and identified to species. Serum samples were collected from these rodents and tested for T.gondii antibodies using an immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). T.gondii antibodies were found in 5.9% (31/526) of the tested samples. Most of the positive antibodies were from commensal rats: Rattus exulans (9/64, 14.0%), Rattus argentiventer (2/8, 25%), Rattus rattus diardii (10/166, 6.0%) and Rattus tiomanicus (6/215, 2.7%). Only two of the forest rats were positive: Maxomys rajah (1/9, 11.1%) and Rattus bowersi (1/12, 8.3%). Eighteen point one percent of ground squirrels (Tupaia glis) tested (2/11) were positive for antibodies. The highest antibodies titer (1:1024) was found in Rattus exulans followed by T.glis (1:256). Sabak Bernam, Selangor had the highest prevalence (10.8%) followed by Baling, Kedah (5.0%) and Bagan Terap, Selangor (4.0%). None of the serum samples of rodents collected from Gua Musang, Kelantan; Jasin, Malacca; or Labis, Johor were positive. Our study reports for the first time the serologic prevalence of T.gondii antibodies among rodents in Peninsular Malaysia. Further studies are needed to confirm T.gondii infection among wild rodents, such as a bioassay, to assess their potential role in transmission of the parasite.
Fulltext Serogroups and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Neisseria meningitidis isolated from army recruits in a training camp

Rohani MY, Ahmad Afkhar F, Amir MA, Muhd Amir K, Sahura H, Fairuz A, et al.

Malays J Pathol, 2007 Dec;29(2):91-4.
PMID: 19108400 MyJurnal

Invasive Neisseria meningitidis infection is rare but carries a high mortality rate. The carriage rate in the normal population is around 10% and can be higher in confined populations. A study on the prevalence of carriage of N. meningitidis was conducted among 3195 army recruits after 2 months of intensive training in an army camp. N. meningitidis was isolated from 37.0% of these recruits. Two hundred and ten of N. meningitidis isolates were subjected to serogrouping and 100 to antibiotic sensitivity testing by the disc diffusion method and E-test for penicillin. Ten (4.8%) of 210 Neisseria meningitidis serogrouped belonged to serogroup W135, 3.33% serogroup A and 81.4% belonged to either serogroup X, Y or Z. With the agar disc diffusion method, all the N. meningitidis showed susceptiblity to chloramphenicol, rifampicin, cefotaxime and levofloxacin; 85% of the strains were resistant to cotrimoxazole and 12.5% resistant to penicillin. However, based on minimum inhibitory concentration, none of the Neisseria meningitidis tested was resistant to penicillin.
Motility, viability and fertility of goldfish Carassius auratus (Pisces: Cyprinidae) post short-term cryopreservation

Nurlaili N, Eriani K, Salma I, Maulida S, Rahayu SR, Handayani LS, et al.

Cryo Letters, 2023;44(3):169-177.
PMID: 37883170

BACKGRUND: Goldfish Carassius auratus is a popular ornamental fish extensively cultured worldwide. Sperm cryopreservation is a common fish breeding method that ensures sperm availability around the year. Studies on cryopreservation of goldfish sperm, especially on the suitability of cryoprotectant types and pre-freezing time, are scarcely available.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the most suitable type of cryoprotectant and pre-freezing for the successful cryopreservation of goldfish sperm.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A completely randomized design with two factors was utilized in this study. The first factor is the type of cryoprotectants, which included methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and DMSO. The second is pre-freezing times of 10, 20, 30, and 40 min at each of the pre-freezing temperatures of 4 degree C, -10 degree C, and -79 degree C, meaning that the total times for the ramping down of temperature were 30, 60, 90 and 120 min, respectively. The Ringer solution and 10% egg yolk were used as extender and extracellular cryoprotectant. The sperm was stored at -179 degree C for 7 days.
RESULTS: The ANOVA test showed that cryoprotectants and pre-freezing significantly affected the motility, viability, and fertility of goldfish sperm after freezing in liquid nitrogen for 7 days (P<0.05). Furthermore, 10% DMSO combined with 15% egg yolk with an pre-freezing time of 20 min can maintain sperm motility, viability, and fertility higher than other treatments, by 79%, 80%, and 33%, respectively. The agarose gel electrophoresis showed no DNA fragmentation in all samples, including fresh sperm.
CONCLUSION: We conclude that 10% DMSO combined with 15% egg yolk and 20 min pre-freezing is the best treatment for goldfish sperm cryopreservation. DOI: 10.54680/fr23310110412.