MyMedR

Pharmaceutical care issues encountered by post-menopausal osteoporotic women prescribed bisphosphonates

Lai PS, Chua SS, Chan SP

J Clin Pharm Ther, 2012 Oct;37(5):536-43.

PMID: 22380577 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2012.01335.x

Pharmacists have been involved in providing comprehensive interventions to osteoporosis patients, but pharmaceutical care issues (PCIs) encountered during such interventions have not been well documented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to document PCIs encountered by post-menopausal osteoporotic women prescribed bisphosphonates.

Fulltext Malaysia Shape of the Nation (MySoN): a primary care based study of abdominal obesity in Malaysia

Zaki M, Robaayah Z, Chan SP, Vadivale M, Lim TO

Med J Malaysia, 2010 Jun;65 Suppl A:143-9.

PMID: 21488476

Abdominal obesity (AO), measured by waist circumference (WC), is a stronger predictor of subsequent development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than generalised obesity, which is measured by body mass index (BMI). This study aimed to measure WC and prevalence of AO in Malaysians visiting primary care physicians. 1893 patients between the ages of 18 and 80 attending primary care clinics in Malaysia were recruited over two days for this multi-centre cross-sectional study. Pregnant women were excluded, their medical history, weight, height and WC were examined. The prevalence of co-morbidities were as follows: (1) CVD-4%, lipid disorder-17%, hypertension-26%, diabetes-14% and any of the clinical characteristics of CVD/lipid disorder/hypertension/diabetes-38%. The mean BMI for men and women was 25.62 +/- 4.73 kg/m2 and 26.63 +/- 5.72 kg/m2, respectively. Based on WHO criteria for BMI (overweight, 25-29.9 kg/m2; obese, > 30 kg/m2), 34.2% were overweight and 20.4% were obese. The mean WC for men and women was 89.03 +/- 13.45 cm and 84.26 +/- 12.78 cm, respectively. Overall, 55.6% had AO and there was higher prevalence among women (based on International Diabetes Federation criteria: WC > or = 90 cm for men and > or = 80 cm for women). AO was present in approximately 71% patients with lipid disorder, in 76% with hypertension and in 75% with diabetes. Patients with AO were also at a higher risk of developing co-morbidities. Malaysia has a high prevalence of AO and associated cardiovascular risk factors. This needs to be addressed by public health programs, which should also include routine measurement of WC.

Effects of pharmaceutical care on adherence and persistence to bisphosphonates in postmenopausal osteoporotic women

Lai PS, Chua SS, Chew YY, Chan SP

J Clin Pharm Ther, 2011 Oct;36(5):557-67.

PMID: 21916908 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2010.01210.x

Studies have shown that comprehensive interventions by pharmacists can improve adherence and persistence to osteoporosis therapy, but the association between adherence and bone turnover markers (BTMs) has never been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pharmaceutical care on medication adherence (and its effects on BTMs), as well as persistence of postmenopausal osteoporotic women to prescribed bisphosphonates.

The validity and reliability of the Malaysian Osteoporosis Knowledge Tool in postmenopausal women

Lai PS, Chua SS, Chan SP, Low WY

Maturitas, 2008 Jun 20;60(2):122-30.

PMID: 18508210 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2008.04.006

OBJECTIVES: To design a valid and reliable questionnaire, the Malaysian Osteoporosis Knowledge Tool (MOKT), to assess the knowledge of postmenopausal osteoporotic women in Malaysia, on osteoporosis and its treatment.
METHODS: A 40-item instrument was designed and tested in this study. The scores ranged from 1 to 40, which were then converted into percentage. This was administered to 88 postmenopausal osteoporotic women who were taking alendronate (patient group) and 43 pharmacists (professional group). The MOKT was administered again to the patient group after 1 month.
RESULTS: Flesch reading ease was 57, which is satisfactory, while the mean difficulty factor+/-S.D. was 0.73+/-0.25, indicating that the MOKT is moderately easy. Internal consistency of the instrument was good with Cronbach's alpha=0.82. The test and retest scores showed no significant difference for 38 out of the 40 items, indicating that the questionnaire has achieved a stable reliability. Level of knowledge on osteoporosis and its treatment was good with a mean score+/-S.D. of 69.0+/-13.9 and 81.6+/-9.5 in the patient and professional group, respectively. The difference in knowledge scores between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the 40-item questionnaire (MOKT) is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring knowledge on osteoporosis in the Malaysian setting. Therefore, it can be used to identify individuals in need of educational interventions and to assess the effectiveness of education efforts as part of osteoporosis management.

Natural transmission of Plasmodium knowlesi to humans by Anopheles latens in Sarawak, Malaysia

Vythilingam I, Tan CH, Asmad M, Chan ST, Lee KS, Singh B

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2006 Nov;100(11):1087-8.

PMID: 16725166

Four species of malaria parasites are known to infect humans. A fifth species, Plasmodium knowlesi, has been reported to infect humans in Malaysian Borneo. Here we report for the first time the incrimination of Anopheles latens as the vector of P. knowlesi among humans and monkeys in Sarawak, Malaysia.

The impact of development and malaria control activities on its vectors in the Kinabatangan area of Sabah, East Malaysia

Vythilingam I, Chan ST, Shanmugratnam C, Tanrang H, Chooi KH

Acta Trop, 2005 Oct;96(1):24-30.

PMID: 16076459

A study was carried out from July 2001 until January 2003 in the Kinabatangan area of Sabah, part of Borneo island, where malaria used to be mesoendemic. Vector surveys determined that Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant species and Anopheles balabacensis the primary vector. Malaria cases have dropped drastically over the years but P. falciparum is still predominant. In the present study, Anopheles donaldi was the predominant species and was positive for sporozoites. Although An. balabacensis was present, none were infective. An. donaldi bite more outdoors than indoors and have a peak biting time from 18:00 to 19:00 h when most people are still out of their homes. An integrated malaria control programme along with area development has helped in the control of malaria and its vector.

Fulltext Ethnic differences in anthropometry among adult Singaporean Chinese, Malays and Indians, and their effects on lung volumes

Yap WS, Chan CC, Chan SP, Wang YT

Respir Med, 2001 Apr;95(4):297-304.

PMID: 11316113

When standing height (StndHt) cannot be assessed, arm span (AS) or sitting height (SitHt) has been used as surrogate variables for prediction of StndHt in adult caucasians and blacks. We examined (1) the relationship between StndHt, AS and SitHt among adult Chinese, Malays and Indians; and (2) whether anthropometry could explain the ethnic differences in lung volumes (as StndHt-adjusted lung volumes are known to differ significantly: Chinese > Malays > Indians). We recruited 1250 consecutive outpatients aged 20-90 years. Prediction equations of StndHt (with AS, SitHt, weight, age as predictors) for each subgroup of race and sex were formulated with multiple linear regressions. Equations with both AS and SitHt as predictors had the best goodness of fit (SEE = 2.37-2.85 cm, adjusted R2 = 0.67-0.87), as compared to equations with either AS (SEE = 3.00-3.91 cm, adjusted R2 = 0.58-0.80) or SitHt alone (SEE = 3.48-4.00 cm, adjusted R2 = 0.45-0.76). GLM general factorial analyses found that age- and weight-adjusted SitHt-to-StndHt ratios differed significantly among Chinese (0.539), Malays (0.529) and Indians (0.518). This paralleled the ethnic differences in lung volumes. The equations with both AS and SitHt as predictors provide the most accurate estimate of StndHt. Ethnic differences in upper body segment length may explain in part the lung volume differences.
Study site: Respiratory clinic, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

Fulltext Preliminary report on somatostatin receptor imaging in rare endocrine tumours

Abdullah BJJ, Paramsothy M, Khir ASM, Chan SP

Med J Malaysia, 2000 Jun;55(2):169-73.

PMID: 19839144

Our preliminary experience of Somatostatin Receptor Positive Tumour Scintigraphy (SRPTS) in the management of some rare neuroendocrine tumours is highlighted. Six patients were evaluated using SRPTS. A single patient each with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, recurrent medullary carcinoma of thyroid and Stage IV neuroblastoma. Two patients with phaeochromocytoma, and one patient with suspected insulinoma were evaluated. SRPTS was useful in three of the six patients studied i.e. patient with gastrinoma, recurrent medullary carcinoma of thyroid and metastatic neuroblastoma. SRPTS although expensive is a useful and cost-effective approach of rare endocrine tumours and it role as a first line tool in the diagnosis is discussed.

Fulltext Results of long-term follow-up after compensated fixed-dose therapy for thyrotoxicosis

Zaini A, Khir A, Doi SA, Chan SP, Paramsothy M, Khoo BH

J Int Med Res, 1992 Jun;20(3):279-88.

PMID: 1397673

To evaluate the effects of simple compensated fixed-dose iodine-131 therapy for thyrotoxicosis, the long-term results for 74 patients treated with a fixed dose of iodine-131 ranging from 5 to 12 mCi (185 to 444 MBq) were evaluated in the first 2 years of a trial. The dose selected was loosely based on the gross size of the thyroid gland. Routine antithyroid drug therapy was given for a minimum of 3 months after iodine-131 therapy. The mean (+/- SD) duration of follow-up was 74.5 +/- 42 months. The results indicated that roughly 25% of patients treated in this way will become hypothyroid after 5 years and that 85% are cured (need no further therapy during the follow-up period) using a single dose of iodine-131. Of those cured using a single iodine-131 dose, 81% were no longer receiving drugs after 6 months and 85% after 1 year. Such a regimen seems currently to be among the best available where prolonged periods of medication-free euthyroidism after therapy are sought.

Fulltext Mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) test and living related donor kidney transplantation

Suleiman AB, Mohd Zaher ZM, Chan SH, Awang H

Med J Malaysia, 1984 Mar;39(1):56-8.

PMID: 6239969

The MtC tests performed prospectively was correlated with graft survival in 73 living, related grafts. The MLC was expressed as the relative response (RR), and graft survival assessed at six months, one year and two years. The l-haplotype matched grafts with high RR had poorer graft survival at one and two years than those with low RR, but this difference was not statistically significant.

HLA and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Malays

Chan SH, Chew CT, Prasad U, Wee GB, Srinivasan N, Kunaratnam N

Br. J. Cancer, 1985 Mar;51(3):389-92.

PMID: 3855643

HLA associations were observed in unrelated Malay patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). HLA-B18 was observed in 18/45 (40%) Malay NPC patients compared to 22/167 (13%) Malay normals (P = 0.0001; Pc = 0.0027, RR = 4.4). The frequency of HLA-B17, one of the antigens associated with Chinese NPC, was also increased among Malay NPC (13/45 29%) compared to controls (18/167 11%; P = 0.003, Pc = 0.07 RR = 3.4). Similar to the findings among Chinese NPC, the frequency of B17 was higher in early onset (less than or equal to 30 years) Malay NPC resulting in a higher relative risk (RR = 5.0).

Management of pregnancy complicated by diabetes mellitus: experience at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur

Dutta R, Kulenthran A, Sivanesaratnam V, Chan SP, Zaini A, Sinnathuray TA

Asia Oceania J Obstet Gynaecol, 1988 Sep;14(3):307-11.

PMID: 3052393

Hepatitis B virus markers in prostitutes in Singapore

Goh CL, Kamarudin A, Chan SH, Rajan VS

Genitourin Med, 1985 Apr;61(2):127-9.

PMID: 3980022

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers in 121 men and 239 women prostitutes was studied. Of 33 (9.7%) with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), nine (27.3%) also had hepatitis Be antigen, which was more prevalent in men than women. Antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were found in about 71% of men and women prostitutes. Hepatitis B virus markers were more prevalent in men than in women prostitutes. Compared with other people, prostitutes had a significantly greater prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers. This study strongly suggested the importance of sexual transmission of infection with hepatitis B virus in a country where infection is endemic.

Fulltext Petrosal sinus sampling in the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome: preliminary experience in University of Malaya Medical Centre

Norlisah R, Abdullah BJJ, Hew FL, Chan SP

Med J Malaysia, 2003 Jun;58(2):180-6.

PMID: 14569737 MyJurnal

Differentiating between Cushing's disease of pituitary origin and ectopic ACTH syndrome of extra-pituitary origin remains a major challenge to the clinician because of limitations in the diagnostic accuracy of the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test. Routine use of inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) is therefore advocated by some authors for these patients. We present our preliminary experience of IPSS in 7 consecutive patients with Cushing's disease and discuss how the results impacted on the patients' management.

Diagnostic yield of medical thoracoscopy in exudative pleural effusions in a region with high tuberculosis burden

Kho SS, Chan SK, Yong MC, Tie ST

Med J Malaysia, 2020 05;75(3):254-259.

PMID: 32467541

INTRODUCTION: Pleural effusion is frequently encountered in respiratory medicine. However, despite thorough assessment including closed pleural biopsy, the cause of around 20% of pleural effusions remains undetermined. Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is the investigation of choice in these circumstances especially if malignancy is suspected. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic yield of MT in exudative pleural effusions in a single center from East Malaysia.

METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all adult patients who underwent MT for undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion in a 24-month duration.

RESULTS: Our cohort comprised of 209 patients with a median age of 61 years old (IQR 48.5-69.5). There were 92 (44%) patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and 117 (56%) benign effusions; which included 85 tuberculous pleural effusion (TBE) and 32 cases of non-tuberculous exudative pleural effusion. Conclusive pathological diagnosis was made in 79.4% of the cases. For diagnosis of MPE, MT had a sensitivity of 89.1% (95% CI 80.4-94.3), specificity of 100% (95% CI 96.0-100.0), and positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% (95% CI 94.4-100) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 92.1% (95% CI 85.6-95.9). For TBE, MT had a sensitivity of 90.5% (95% CI 81.8-95.6), specificity of 100% (95% CI 96.3- 100.0) PPV of 100% (95% CI 94.1-100) and NPV of 93.9% (95% CI 88.0-97.2). Overall complication rate was 3.3%.

CONCLUSIONS: MT showed excellent sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of exudative pleural effusion in this region. It reduces empirical therapy by providing histological evidence of disease when initial non-invasive investigations were inconclusive.

Fulltext Species composition of mosquito fauna in Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia

Rohani A, Chan ST, Abdullah AG, Tanrang H, Lee HL

Trop Biomed, 2008 Dec;25(3):232-6.

PMID: 19287362

The adult population and species composition of mosquitoes collected in Ranau, Sabah are described. A total of 5956 mosquitoes representing 8 genera and 41 species were collected using human landing catch, indoor and outdoor. Anopheles maculatus was the most common species (15.6%) followed by Culex quinquefasciatus (12.8%), Culex pseudovishnui (12.1%), Anopheles balabacensis (11.1%), Culex vishnui (9.7%), Aedes vexans (9.6%), Culex tritaeniorhyncus (6.6%), Anopheles donaldi (5.6%) and others in very small percentage.

HLA and nasopharyngeal cancer

Simons MJ, Chan SH, Day NE, Wee GB, Shanmugaratnam K

Prog. Clin. Biol. Res., 1977;16:145-8.

PMID: 905319

Drainage of multiloculated tuberculous pleural effusion by medical thoracoscopy: When and why should it be considered?

Kho SS, Chan SK, Yong MC, Tie ST

Med J Malaysia, 2018 02;73(1):49-50.

PMID: 29531204 MyJurnal

Tuberculous pleural effusion (TBE) is a common encounter in our region. Up to 50% of patients with TBE will develop residual pleural thickening (RPT) which can lead to functional impairment. However, the need of drainage remains controversial. We report a case of end-stage renal failure patient who presented with right multiloculated tuberculous pleural effusion which was drained via a medical thoracoscope. Patient reports immediate relief of breathlessness post procedure and one month follow up shown significant improvement of RPT. We also discussed the current perspective on the rationale of TBE drainage and the role of medical thoracoscope in TBE management.

Fulltext Anopheles donaldi incriminated as a vector of periodic Brugia malayi in Grik, Perak, Malaysia

Vythilingam I, Hakim SL, Chan ST, Mak JW

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1996 Sep;27(3):637-41.

PMID: 9185284

Studies were carried out to observe the species composition of mosquitos and to determine the vectors responsible for the transmission of filariasis in Grik, Perak, Malaysia. A total of 2,155 mosquitos belonging to 7 genera and 30 species were collected. Anopheles donaldi comprised 24.1% of the collection. Twelve out of 519 An. donaldi were infected with L3 larvae of Brugia malayi. The peak biting time was around 23.00-24.00 hours. The infective bites per month ranged from 0 to 6.3.

Effectiveness of repellent/insecticidal bars against malaria and filariasis vectors in peninsular Malaysia

Chiang GL, Tay SL, Eng KL, Chan ST

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1990 Sep;21(3):412-7.

PMID: 1981629

Field tests were conducted to compare the degree of protection from bites of Mansonia species and Anopheles maculatus by applying two repellent/insecticidal bars, MOSBAR and MOSKIL, to exposed arms and legs. Human test subjects were exposed to natural populations of mosquitos for an 8-hour night time period while using the repellent/insecticidal bars. MOSBAR gave good protection against the bites of Mansonia and An. maculatus. MOSKIL was effective against An. maculatus but not against Mansonia. High mortality was observed among the mosquitos collected from human test subjects treated with the repellent/insecticidal bars. Use of MOSBAR in terms of cost-effectiveness and safety by field and health workers entering into malaria and filariasis endemic areas is discussed.

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