Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 54 in total

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  1. Production of clavulanic acid and cephamycin C by Streptomyces clavuligerus in palm-oil medium
    Lee PC, Ho CC
    World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 1996 Jan;12(1):73-5.
    PMID: 24415093 DOI: 10.1007/BF00327805
    Palm and palm-kernel oils and their olein and stearin fractions were suitable as the main carbon sources for growth and production of clavulanic acid by Streptomyces clavuligerus. However, oleic and lauric acids were not utilized for growth. A spontaneous mutant, which was selected for higher cephamycin C production, also produced more clavulanic acid with these oils in the medium.
  2. Primary chemotherapy in management of tumors of undescended testis: Where it stands?
    Ho CC
    Urol Ann, 2013 Jul;5(3):182-3.
    PMID: 24049382
  3. Polylactic-co-glycolic acid mesh coated with fibrin or collagen and biological adhesive substance as a prefabricated, degradable, biocompatible, and functional scaffold for regeneration of the urinary bladder wall
    Salem SA, Hwei NM, Bin Saim A, Ho CC, Sagap I, Singh R, et al.
    J Biomed Mater Res A, 2013 Aug;101(8):2237-47.
    PMID: 23349110 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.34518
    The chief obstacle for reconstructing the bladder is the absence of a biomaterial, either permanent or biodegradable, that will function as a suitable scaffold for the natural process of regeneration. In this study, polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) plus collagen or fibrin was evaluated for its suitability as a scaffold for urinary bladder construct. Human adipose-derived stem cells (HADSCs) were cultured, followed by incubation in smooth muscle cells differentiation media. Differentiated HADSCs were then seeded onto PLGA mesh supported with collagen or fibrin. Evaluation of cell-seeded PLGA composite immersed in culture medium was performed under a light and scanning microscope. To determine if the composite is compatible with the urodynamic properties of urinary bladder, porosity and leaking test was performed. The PLGA samples were subjected to tensile testing was pulled until PLGA fibers break. The results showed that the PLGA composite is biocompatible to differentiated HADSCs. PLGA-collagen mesh appeared to be optimal as a cell carrier while the three-layered PLGA-fibrin composite is better in relation to its leaking/ porosity property. A biomechanical test was also performed for three-layered PLGA with biological adhesive and three-layered PLGA alone. The tensile stress at failure was 30.82 ± 3.80 (MPa) and 34.36 ± 2.57 (MPa), respectively. Maximum tensile strain at failure was 19.42 ± 2.24 (mm) and 23.06 ± 2.47 (mm), respectively. Young's modulus was 0.035 ± 0.0083 and 0.043 ± 0.012, respectively. The maximum load at break was 58.55 ± 7.90 (N) and 65.29 ± 4.89 (N), respectively. In conclusion, PLGA-Fibrin fulfils the criteria as a scaffold for urinary bladder reconstruction.
  4. Perception of quality of life amongst end stage renal failure patients undergoing haemodialysis
    Ho SE, Ho CC, Norshazwani N, Teoh KH, Ismail MS, Jaafar MZ, et al.
    Clin Ter, 2013;164(6):499-505.
    PMID: 24424213 DOI: 10.7417/CT.2013.1627
    AIMS: The objective of the study was to examine the quality of life amongst the end stage renal disease (ESRD) haemodialysis patients in Malaysia.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on 72 ESRD patients at a Dialysis Centre in Malaysia. The modified KDQOL-SF™ subscales, kidney disease-targeted scale and 36 item health survey scale questionnaires were used.

    RESULTS: The overall health rating was 66.73 ± 11.670 indicating good quality of life. There was no significant difference between quality of life for the different domains according to gender (p >0.05). However, there were significant differences between quality of life in the domain of burden of kidney disease. Physical functioning deteriorated significantly with age (p=0.012) while social functioning was lowest in the 50-65 years age group (p=0.037). Those who had no morbidities had significantly better scores on the effects of kidney (p=0.036), burden of kidney disease (p=0.011) and physical functioning (p=0.025).

    CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing haemodialysis have been found to have good quality of life despite having ESRD. It is therefore of paramount importance to constantly monitor the standard of care for these patients to enable them to live their life to the fullest.

  5. Fulltext Outcomes and Safety of Retrograde Intra-Renal Surgery for Renal Stones Less Than 2 cm in Size
    Ho CC, Hee TG, Hong GE, Singam P, Bahadzor B, Md Zainuddin Z
    Nephrourol Mon, 2012;4(2):454-7.
    PMID: 23573465 DOI: 10.5812/numonthly.2211
    Retrograde intra-renal surgery (RIRS) has been used to remove stones of less than 2 cm in the kidney. However, its role is not well defined.
  6. Nurses compliance to hand hygiene practice and knowledge at Klang Valley hospital
    Ho SE, Ho CC, Hng SH, Liu CY, Jaafar MZ, Lim B
    Clin Ter, 2013;164(5):407-11.
    PMID: 24217826 DOI: 10.7417/CT.2013.1604
    Hand hygiene is the most important measure in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HCAI). Adherence to hand hygiene protocols in hospital by nurses enables in prevention and control the HCAI. The main aim of the present study was to assess nurses' compliance to hand hygiene practice and knowledge in a hospital.
  7. Microtetraspora malaysiensis sp. nov., isolated from Malaysian primary dipterocarp forest soil
    Nakajima Y, Ho CC, Kudo T
    J Gen Appl Microbiol, 2003 Jun;49(3):181-9.
    PMID: 12949699
    The taxonomic position of three actinomycete strains isolated from Malaysian soil was established by using a polyphasic approach. The isolates formed chains composed of four spores on the tip of sporophores branching from the aerial mycelium, and their chemotaxonomic properties were common to those of members of the family Streptosporangiaceae. These phenotypic properties as well as a phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that they should be classified in the genus Microtetraspora. The three isolates showed a unique pattern of cultural, physiological and biochemical properties that distinguished them from previously described species of the genus Microtetraspora. The isolates showed more than 72% DNA relatedness to each other, but only 58% or less relatedness to any previously described species. On the basis of the data presented, a new species of the genus Microtetraspora, Microtetraspora malaysiensis, is proposed. The type strain of the new species is strain H47-7(T) (=JCM 11278(T)=DSM 44579(T)).
  8. Fulltext Metastatic penile cancer presenting as hypercalcemia and pathological fracture of the humerus: a rare event
    Ho CC, Nazri J, Zulkifli MZ, Sritharan S, Hayati AR
    Med J Malaysia, 2006 Oct;61(4):503-5.
    PMID: 17243535 MyJurnal
    Distant haematogenous metastasis in penile cancer is rare. A patient who had total penectomy and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy for penile cancer but later presented with hypercalcemia of malignancy and pathological fracture of the humerus is reported.
  9. Men's health: sexual dysfunction, physical, and psychological health--is there a link?
    Tan HM, Tong SF, Ho CC
    J Sex Med, 2012 Mar;9(3):663-71.
    PMID: 22188573 DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02582.x
    INTRODUCTION: Sexual dysfunction in men, such as erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and premature ejaculation, generates considerable attention. Its association with physical and psychological health is an issue which should be addressed seriously.
    AIM: A review of the literature pertaining to the correlation between sexual dysfunction and physical and psychological health.
    METHODS: PubMed search for relevant publications on the association between sexual dysfunction in men and physical and psychological health.
    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Clinical and epidemiological evidence that demonstrates the association between sexual dysfunction in men and physical and psychological health.
    RESULTS: Sexual dysfunction, i.e., erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and premature ejaculation, has been shown to be associated with physical and psychological health. There is a strong correlation between sexual dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, quality of life, and depression.
    CONCLUSION: The association between men's sexual dysfunction and physical and psychological health is real and proven. Therefore, it should not be taken lightly but instead treated as a life-threatening medical problem.
  10. Men's health issues in Asia
    Ho CC, Tan HM
    Aging Male, 2013 Sep;16(3):81-4.
    PMID: 23822757 DOI: 10.3109/13685538.2013.809414
    Men's health has gained prominence over the past few years but it is still not on par with the attention or funding that women and child health is getting. In Asia, this issue is even more conspicuous. With westernization of lifestyle, Asian men's problems emulate their Western counterparts but there are certain issues unique to Asian men due to cultural differences. This review will discuss the health issues affecting Asian men and suggest measures that can be taken to overcome them.
  11. Fulltext Men's Health Index: a pragmatic approach to stratifying and optimizing men's health
    Tan HM, Tan WP, Wong JH, Ho CC, Teo CH, Ng CJ
    Korean J Urol, 2014 Nov;55(11):710-7.
    PMID: 25405012 DOI: 10.4111/kju.2014.55.11.710
    PURPOSE: The proposed Men's Health Index (MHI) aims to provide a practical and systematic framework for comprehensively assessing and stratifying older men with the intention of optimising their health and functional status.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted using PubMed from 1980 to 2012. We specifically looked for instruments which: assess men's health, frailty and fitness; predict life expectancy, mortality and morbidities. The instruments were assessed by the researchers who then agreed on the tools to be included in the MHI. When there was disagreements, the researchers discussed and reached a consensus guided by the principle that the MHI could be used in the primary care setting targetting men aged 55-65 years.
    RESULTS: The instruments chosen include the Charlson's Combined Comorbidity-Age Index; the International Index of Erectile Function-5; the International Prostate Symptom Score; the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male; the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe Frailty Instrument; the Sitting-Rising Test; the Senior Fitness Test; the Fitness Assessment Score; and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. A pilot test on eight men was carried out and showed that the men's health index is viable.
    CONCLUSIONS: The concept of assessing, stratifying, and optimizing men's health should be incorporated into routine health care, and this can be implemented by using the MHI. This index is particularly useful to primary care physicians who are in a strategic position to engage men at the peri-retirement age in a conversation about their life goals based on their current and predicted health status.
    KEYWORDS: Health status indicators; Men; Physical fitness; Retirement
  12. Fulltext Male sexual dysfunction in Asia
    Ho CC, Singam P, Hong GE, Zainuddin ZM
    Asian J Androl, 2011 Jul;13(4):537-42.
    PMID: 21643001 DOI: 10.1038/aja.2010.135
    Sex has always been a taboo subject in Asian society. However, over the past few years, awareness in the field of men's sexual health has improved, and interest in sexual health research has recently increased. The epidemiology and prevalence of erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism and premature ejaculation in Asia are similar in the West. However, several issues are specific to Asian males, including culture and beliefs, awareness, compliance and the availability of traditional/complementary medicine. In Asia, sexual medicine is still in its infancy, and a concerted effort from the government, relevant societies, physicians and the media is required to propel sexual medicine to the forefront of health care.
  13. Fulltext Ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis: a case report and literature review
    Ho CC, Pezhman H, Praveen S, Goh EH, Lee BC, Zulkifli MZ, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2010 Apr;17(2):61-5.
    PMID: 22135540 MyJurnal
    Ketamine can be abused as a recreational drug, and there has been a recent surge in its usage. The effects of ketamine on the urinary system were unknown until the recent publication of a few case reports. Many doctors are still unaware of this new clinical entity, termed ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis. We report a case that we encountered and discuss the diagnosis and disease management in addition to a review of the literature.
  14. Investigating the Mechanistic and Structural Role of Lipid Hydrolysis in the Stabilization of Ammonia-Preserved Hevea Rubber Latex
    Kumarn S, Churinthorn N, Nimpaiboon A, Sriring M, Ho CC, Takahara A, et al.
    Langmuir, 2018 10 30;34(43):12730-12738.
    PMID: 30335388 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b02321
    The stabilization mechanism of natural rubber (NR) latex from Hevea brasiliensis was studied to investigate the components involved in base-catalyzed ester hydrolysis, namely, hydrolyzable lipids, ammonia, and the products responsible for the desired phenomenon observed in ammonia-preserved NR latex. Latex stability is generally thought to come from a rubber particle (RP) dispersion in the serum, which is encouraged by negatively charged species distributed on the RP surface. The mechanical stability time (MST) and zeta potential were measured to monitor field latices preserved in high (FNR-HA) and low ammonia (FNR-LA) contents as well as that with the ester-containing components removed (saponified NR) at different storage times. Amounts of carboxylates of free fatty acids (FFAs), which were released by the transformation and also hypothesized to be responsible for the like-charge repulsion of RPs, were measured as the higher fatty acid (HFA) number and corroborated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) both qualitatively and quantitatively. The lipids and their FFA products interact differently with Nile red, which is a lipid-selective and polarity-sensitive fluorophore, and consequently re-emit characteristically. The results were confirmed by conventional ester content determination utilizing different solvent extraction systems to reveal that the lipids hydrolyzed to provide negatively charged fatty acid species were mainly the polar lipids (glycolipids and phospholipids) at the RP membrane but not those directly linked to the rubber molecule and, to a certain extent, those suspended in the serum. From new findings disclosed herein together with those already reported, a new model for the Hevea rubber particle in the latex form is proposed.
  15. Inhibition of transforming growth factor-β via the activin receptor-like kinase-5 inhibitor attenuates pulmonary fibrosis
    Koh RY, Lim CL, Uhal BD, Abdullah M, Vidyadaran S, Ho CC, et al.
    Mol Med Rep, 2015 May;11(5):3808-13.
    PMID: 25585520 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2015.3193
    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic pulmonary disease that is characterized by formation of scar tissue in lungs. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is considered an important cytokine in the pathogenesis of this disease. Hence, the antifibrotic effect of an inhibitor of the TGF-β type I receptor, namely, SB 431542, was investigated in our study. SB 431542 was used to treat TGF-β-treated IMR-90 cells; the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was detected at the protein level by using an anti-α-SMA antibody, and at the gene level by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The effect of the inhibitor on cell proliferation was determined by a cell growth assay. The inhibitor was also administered into bleomycin-treated mice. Histopathological assessment and determination of total collagen levels were carried out to evaluate the severity of lung fibrosis in these mice. Our results demonstrated that treatment with SB 431542 inhibits TGF-β‑induced α-SMA expression in lung fibroblasts, at both the protein and the mRNA levels (P<0.05). However, the inhibitor did not significantly reduce lung fibroblast proliferation. In the bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model, bleomycin treatment caused important morphological changes, accompanied by an increase in the collagen level of the lungs. Early treatment with SB 431542 prevented the manifestation of histopathological alterations, whereas delayed treatment significantly decreased the collagen level (P<0.05). These results suggest that inhibition of TGF-β signaling, via inhibition of the activin receptor-like kinase-5 (ALK-5) by SB 431542, may attenuate pulmonary fibrosis.
  16. Fulltext Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy: our experience in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
    Ho CC, Zulkifli MZ, Nazri J, Sundram M
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Mar;63(1):41-3.
    PMID: 18935731
    Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy (HAL-N) and nephroureterectomy (HAL-NU) were introduced to bridge the gap between open and laparoscopic surgery. This newer technique has the benefits of both laparoscopic and open surgical approaches but has a shorter learning curve and decreased operative time compared to laparoscopic surgery. A review of our 2-year experience showed that for the seventeen cases of HAL-N that was performed, the mean operative time was 187.8 minutes while the mean length of hospital stay was 4.1 days. For the two HAL-NU cases, the mean operative time was 415 minutes while the mean length of hospital stay was 5.5 days. Only one complication occurred and it was an incisional hernia at the hand-port site. There was no recurrence for the carcinoma cases. Our experience shows that this technique is feasible and safe.
  17. Growth and the production of penicillins in Penicillium chrysogenum with palm oil and its various fractions as carbon sources
    Tan IK, Ho CC
    Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1991 Nov;36(2):163-6.
    PMID: 1368105
    The utilisation of palm oil and its fractions by Penicillium chrysogenum for growth and penicillin production is strain-dependent. Strain H1107 could utilise crude palm oil, its liquid (palm olein) and solid (palm stearin) fractions and its component fatty acids (oleic, palmitic, stearic and myristic) as the main carbon source; strain M223 could not. Cell-bound lipase activity was higher in H1107 than in M223.
  18. Geospatial Insights for Retail Recommendation Using Similarity Measures
    Ting CY, Ho CC, Yee HJ
    Big Data, 2020 12;8(6):519-527.
    PMID: 33347366 DOI: 10.1089/big.2020.0028
    Recommending a retail business given a particular location of interest is nontrivial. Such a recommendation process requires careful study of demographics, trade area characteristics, sales performance, traffic, and environmental features. It is not only human effort taxing but often introduces inconsistency due to subjectivity in expert opinions. The process becomes more challenging when no sales data can be used to make a recommendation. As an attempt to overcome the challenges, this study used the machine learning approach that utilizes similarity measures to perform the recommendation. However, two challenges required careful attention when using the machine learning approach: (1) how to prepare a feature set that can commonly represent different types of retail business and (2) which similarity measure approach produces optimal recommendation accuracy? The data sets used in this study consist of points of interest, population, property, job type, and education level. Empirical studies were conducted to investigate (1) the overall accuracy of proposed similarity measure approaches to the retail business recommendation, and (2) whether the proposed approaches have a bias toward certain retail categories. In summary, the findings suggested that the proposed similarity-based techniques elicited an accuracy of above 70% and demonstrated higher accuracy when the recommendation was made within a set of similar retail businesses.
  19. Geospatial Analytics in Retail Site Selection and Sales Prediction
    Ting CY, Ho CC, Yee HJ, Matsah WR
    Big Data, 2018 03;6(1):42-52.
    PMID: 29570414 DOI: 10.1089/big.2017.0085
    Studies have shown that certain features from geography, demography, trade area, and environment can play a vital role in retail site selection, largely due to the impact they asserted on retail performance. Although the relevant features could be elicited by domain experts, determining the optimal feature set can be intractable and labor-intensive exercise. The challenges center around (1) how to determine features that are important to a particular retail business and (2) how to estimate retail sales performance given a new location? The challenges become apparent when the features vary across time. In this light, this study proposed a nonintervening approach by employing feature selection algorithms and subsequently sales prediction through similarity-based methods. The results of prediction were validated by domain experts. In this study, data sets from different sources were transformed and aggregated before an analytics data set that is ready for analysis purpose could be obtained. The data sets included data about feature location, population count, property type, education status, and monthly sales from 96 branches of a telecommunication company in Malaysia. The finding suggested that (1) optimal retail performance can only be achieved through fulfillment of specific location features together with the surrounding trade area characteristics and (2) similarity-based method can provide solution to retail sales prediction.
  20. Fluorescence-in-situ-hybridization in the surveillance of urothelial cancers: can use of cystoscopy or ureteroscopy be deferred?
    Ho CC, Tan WP, Pathmanathan R, Tan WK, Tan HM
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(7):4057-9.
    PMID: 23991952
    BACKGROUND: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing may be useful to screen for bladder carcinoma or dysplasia by detecting aneuploidy chromosomes 3, 7, 17 and deletion of the chromosome 9p21 locus in urine specimens. This study aimed to assess the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of FISH in a multi-ethnic population in Asia.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with haematuria and/or past history of urothelial cancer on follow-up had their voided urine tested with FISH. Patients then underwent cystoscopy/ ureteroscopy and any lesions seen were biopsied. The histopathological reports of the bladder or ureteroscopic mucosal biopsies were then compared with the FISH test results.

    RESULTS: Two hundred sixty patients were recruited. The sensitivity and specificity of the FISH test was 89.2% and 83.4% respectively. The positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were 47.1% and 97.9%. By excluding patients who had positive deletion of chromosome 9, the overall results of the screening test improved: sensitivity 84.6%; specificity 96.4%; PPV 75.9% and NPV 97.9%.

    CONCLUSIONS: UroVysion FISH has a high specificity of detecting urothelial cancer or dysplasia when deletion of chromosome 9 is excluded. Negative UroVysion FISH-tests may allow us to conserve health resources and minimize trauma by deferring cystoscopic or ureteroscopic examination.

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