MyMedR

Displaying publications 21 - 32 of 32 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Study on the Shielding Effectiveness of an Arc Thermal Metal Spraying Method against an Electromagnetic Pulse

Lee HS, Choe HB, Baek IY, Singh JK, Ismail MA

Materials (Basel), 2017 Oct 04;10(10).
PMID: 28976931 DOI: 10.3390/ma10101155

An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) explodes in real-time and causes critical damage within a short period to not only electric devices, but also to national infrastructures. In terms of EMP shielding rooms, metal plate has been used due to its excellent shielding effectiveness (SE). However, it has difficulties in manufacturing, as the fabrication of welded parts of metal plates and the cost of construction are non-economical. The objective of this study is to examine the applicability of the arc thermal metal spraying (ATMS) method as a new EMP shielding method to replace metal plate. The experimental parameters, metal types (Cu, Zn-Al), and coating thickness (100-700 μm) used for the ATMS method were considered. As an experiment, a SE test against an EMP in the range of 103 to 1010 Hz was conducted. Results showed that the ATMS coating with Zn-Al had similar shielding performance in comparison with metal plate. In conclusion, the ATMS method is judged to have a high possibility of actual application as a new EMP shielding material.
Fulltext Management of patients on antithrombotic agents undergoing emergency and elective endoscopy: joint Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology (APAGE) and Asian Pacific Society for Digestive Endoscopy (APSDE) practice guidelines

Chan FKL, Goh KL, Reddy N, Fujimoto K, Ho KY, Hokimoto S, et al.

Gut, 2018 03;67(3):405-417.
PMID: 29331946 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315131

This Guideline is a joint official statement of the Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology (APAGE) and the Asian Pacific Society for Digestive Endoscopy (APSDE). It was developed in response to the increasing use of antithrombotic agents (antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants) in patients undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy in Asia. After reviewing current practice guidelines in Europe and the USA, the joint committee identified unmet needs, noticed inconsistencies, raised doubts about certain recommendations and recognised significant discrepancies in clinical practice between different regions. We developed this joint official statement based on a systematic review of the literature, critical appraisal of existing guidelines and expert consensus using a two-stage modified Delphi process. This joint APAGE-APSDE Practice Guideline is intended to be an educational tool that assists clinicians in improving care for patients on antithrombotics who require emergency or elective GI endoscopy in the Asian Pacific region.
Fulltext Optimization of Micro and Nano Palm Oil Fuel Ash to Determine the Carbonation Resistance of the Concrete in Accelerated Condition

Tang WL, Lee HS, Vimonsatit V, Htut T, Singh JK, Wan Hassan WNF, et al.

Materials (Basel), 2019 Jan 03;12(1).
PMID: 30609786 DOI: 10.3390/ma12010130

The carbonation rate of reinforced concrete is influenced by three parameters, namely temperature, relative humidity, and concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the surroundings. As knowledge of the service lifespan of reinforced concrete is crucial in terms of corrosion, the carbonation process is important to study, and high-performance durable reinforced concretes can be produced to prolong the effects of corrosion. To examine carbonation resistance, accelerated carbonation testing was conducted in accordance with the standards of BS 1881-210:2013. In this study, 10⁻30% of micro palm oil fuel ash (mPOFA) and 0.5⁻1.5% of nano-POFA (nPOFA) were incorporated into concrete mixtures to determine the optimum amount for achieving the highest carbonation resistance after 28 days water curing and accelerated CO₂ conditions up to 70 days of exposure. The effect of carbonation on concrete specimens with the inclusion of mPOFA and nPOFA was investigated. The carbonation depth was identified by phenolphthalein solution. The highest carbonation resistance of concrete was found after the inclusion of 10% mPOFA and 0.5% nPOFA, while the lowest carbonation resistance was found after the inclusion of 30% mPOFA and 1.5% nPOFA.
Cross-protective efficacy of the O1 Manisa + O 3039 bivalent vaccine and the O 3039 monovalent vaccine against heterologous challenge with FMDV O/Jincheon/SKR/2014 in pig

Kim T, Hong JK, Oem JK, Lee KN, Lee HS, Kim YJ, et al.

Vaccine, 2019 03 14;37(12):1702-1709.
PMID: 30712811 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.11.080

After massive foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks originated from Jincheon County from Dec. 2014 to Apr. 2015, the effectiveness of the previous FMD vaccine containing only the O1 Manisa as the O antigen, O1 Manisa + A Malaysia 97 + Asia 1 Sharmir trivalent vaccine, was questioned in South Korea, and a change in the O antigen in FMD vaccines was demanded to control the FMD caused by FMDV O/Jincheon/SKR/2014, the O Jincheon strain. Therefore, the efficacies of O1 Manisa + O 3039 bivalent vaccine and O 3039 monovalent vaccine were studied for cross-protection against heterologous challenge with the O Jincheon strain. In this study, the efficacy of the O1 Manisa + O 3039 bivalent vaccine was better than that of the O 3039 monovalent vaccine, even though the serological relationship (r1 value) between O Jincheon and O 3039 was matched according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual. According to serological test results from vaccinated specific pathogen free pigs, virus neutralization test titers against Jincheon were good estimates for predicting protection against challenge. A field trial of the O1 Manisa + O 3039 bivalent vaccine was performed to estimate the possibility of field application in conventional pig farms, especially due to concerns about the effect of maternally derived antibodies (MDA) in field application of the FMD vaccine. According to the result of the field trial, the O1 Manisa + O 3039 bivalent vaccine was considered to overcome MDA. The results of the efficacy and field trials indicated that the O1 Manisa + O3039 vaccine could be suitable to replace previous FMD vaccines to control the FMD field situation caused by O Jincheon FMDV.
Fulltext Amino acid signatures of HLA Class-I and II molecules are strongly associated with SLE susceptibility and autoantibody production in Eastern Asians

Molineros JE, Looger LL, Kim K, Okada Y, Terao C, Sun C, et al.

PLoS Genet, 2019 04;15(4):e1008092.
PMID: 31022184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008092

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a key genetic factor conferring risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but precise independent localization of HLA effects is extremely challenging. As a result, the contribution of specific HLA alleles and amino-acid residues to the overall risk of SLE and to risk of specific autoantibodies are far from completely understood. Here, we dissected (a) overall SLE association signals across HLA, (b) HLA-peptide interaction, and (c) residue-autoantibody association. Classical alleles, SNPs, and amino-acid residues of eight HLA genes were imputed across 4,915 SLE cases and 13,513 controls from Eastern Asia. We performed association followed by conditional analysis across HLA, assessing both overall SLE risk and risk of autoantibody production. DR15 alleles HLA-DRB1*15:01 (P = 1.4x10-27, odds ratio (OR) = 1.57) and HLA-DQB1*06:02 (P = 7.4x10-23, OR = 1.55) formed the most significant haplotype (OR = 2.33). Conditioned protein-residue signals were stronger than allele signals and mapped predominantly to HLA-DRB1 residue 13 (P = 2.2x10-75) and its proxy position 11 (P = 1.1x10-67), followed by HLA-DRB1-37 (P = 4.5x10-24). After conditioning on HLA-DRB1, novel associations at HLA-A-70 (P = 1.4x10-8), HLA-DPB1-35 (P = 9.0x10-16), HLA-DQB1-37 (P = 2.7x10-14), and HLA-B-9 (P = 6.5x10-15) emerged. Together, these seven residues increased the proportion of explained heritability due to HLA to 2.6%. Risk residues for both overall disease and hallmark autoantibodies (i.e., nRNP: DRB1-11, P = 2.0x10-14; DRB1-13, P = 2.9x10-13; DRB1-30, P = 3.9x10-14) localized to the peptide-binding groove of HLA-DRB1. Enrichment for specific amino-acid characteristics in the peptide-binding groove correlated with overall SLE risk and with autoantibody presence. Risk residues were in primarily negatively charged side-chains, in contrast with rheumatoid arthritis. We identified novel SLE signals in HLA Class I loci (HLA-A, HLA-B), and localized primary Class II signals to five residues in HLA-DRB1, HLA-DPB1, and HLA-DQB1. These findings provide insights about the mechanisms by which the risk residues interact with each other to produce autoantibodies and are involved in SLE pathophysiology.
Prevalence of elevated body mass index condition and its associated demographic variables among adults in urban areas in Johor, Malaysia

Rozita Z, Lim MT, Lee HS

Med J Malaysia, 2019 04;74(2):145-150.
PMID: 31079126

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. It is a major factor for many other metabolic disorders. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of increase body mass index (BMI) and obesity and their associated demographic characteristics among adults in an urban area.
METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted where data was extracted from the Health Status Screening Form (BSSK) at health clinics in Johor Bahru. Using the World Health Organization (WHO), criteria for obesity, BMI≥30.0 kg/m2 was specified as obese and combination of both BMI ranges for overweight (25.0-30.0kg/m2) and obesity (≥30.0kg/m2) as elevated BMI.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of elevated BMI and obesity was 54.6% and 20.1% respectively. Men had a higher prevalence of elevated BMI (57.4%) with odds of 1.28 higher (95%CI: 1.04-1.58). High prevalence of elevated BMI and obesity were seen among the Indians (elevated BMI - 60.2%, obesity - 19.4%) followed by Malays (elevated BMI -57.8%, obesity - 23.1%) and Chinese showed the lowest (elevated BMI - 39.0%, obesity - 8.8%). The odds of elevated BMI and obesity were lower among younger adults as compared to older adults (≥30 years old).
CONCLUSION: Using WHO criteria, about one in two adults had elevated BMI while one in five were obese. Elevated BMI and obesity disparities were evident in age and ethnicity, but sex differences were encountered in elevated BMI group.
Fulltext Performance of Fly Ash Geopolymer Concrete Incorporating Bamboo Ash at Elevated Temperature

Ishak S, Lee HS, Singh JK, Ariffin MAM, Lim NHAS, Yang HM

Materials (Basel), 2019 Oct 17;12(20).
PMID: 31627479 DOI: 10.3390/ma12203404

This paper presents the experimental results on the behavior of fly ash geopolymer concrete incorporating bamboo ash on the desired temperature (200 °C to 800 °C). Different amounts of bamboo ash were investigated and fly ash geopolymer concrete was considered as the control sample. The geopolymer was synthesized with sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions. Ultrasonic pulse velocity, weight loss, and residual compressive strength were determined, and all samples were tested with two different cooling approaches i.e., an air-cooling (AC) and water-cooling (WC) regime. Results from these tests show that with the addition of 5% bamboo ash in fly ash, geopolymer exhibited a 5 MPa (53%) and 5.65 MPa (66%) improvement in residual strength, as well as 940 m/s (76%) and 727 m/s (53%) greater ultrasonic pulse velocity in AC and WC, respectively, at 800 °C when compared with control samples. Thus, bamboo ash can be one of the alternatives to geopolymer concrete when it faces exposure to high temperatures.
Intracellular vincristine levels in lymphoblasts affect treatment outcome in childhood B-lymphoblastic leukaemia: Ma-Spore ALL 2010 study

Jiang N, Wang L, Xiang X, Li Z, Chiew EKH, Koo YM, et al.

Br J Clin Pharmacol, 2021 Apr;87(4):1990-1999.
PMID: 33037681 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14596

AIMS: Vincristine (VCR) is a key drug in the successful multidrug chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). However, it remains unclear how VCR pharmacokinetics affects its antileukaemic efficacy. The objective of this study is to explore the VCR pharmacokinetic parameters and intracellular VCR levels in an up-front window of Ma-Spore ALL 2010 (MS2010) study.
METHODS: We randomised 429 children with newly diagnosed ALL to 15-minute vs 3-hour infusion for the first dose of VCR to study if prolonging the first dose of VCR infusion improved response. In a subgroup of 115 B-ALL and 20 T-ALL patients, we performed VCR plasma (n = 135 patients) and intracellular (n = 66 patients) pharmacokinetic studies. The correlations between pharmacokinetic parameters and intracellular VCR levels with early treatment response, final outcome and ABCB1 genotypes were analysed.
RESULTS: There was no significant difference between 15-minute and 3-hour infusion schedules in median Day 8 peripheral or bone marrow blast response. Plasma VCR pharmacokinetic parameters did not predict outcome. However, in B-ALL, Day 33 minimal residual disease (MRD) negative patients and patients in continuous complete remission had significantly higher median intracellular VCR24h levels (P = .03 and P = .04, respectively). The median VCR24h intracellular levels were similar among the common genetic subtypes of ALL (P = .4). Patients homozygous for wild-type ABCB1 2677GG had significantly higher median intracellular VCR24h (P = .04) than 2677TT.
CONCLUSION: We showed that in childhood B-ALL, the intracellular VCR24h levels in lymphoblasts affected treatment outcomes. The intracellular VCR24h level was independent of leukaemia subtype but dependent on host ABCB1 G2677T genotype.
Comprehensive analysis of peripheral T-cell and natural killer/T-cell lymphoma in Asian patients: A multinational, multicenter, prospective registry study in Asia

Yoon SE, Song Y, Kim SJ, Yoon DH, Chen TY, Koh Y, et al.

Lancet Reg Health West Pac, 2021 May;10:100126.
PMID: 34327343 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100126

Background: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are uncommon and their frequency is regionally heterogeneous. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the clinical features and treatment outcomes of this disease entity, but the majority of these were conducted in limited areas, making it difficult to comprehensively analyze their relative frequency and clinical features. Furthermore, no consensus treatment for PTCLs has been established. Therefore, we conducted an Asia-specific study to understand the relative frequency of PTCLs and assess treatments and their outcomes in Asian patients.
Methods: We performed a multinational, multicenter, prospective registry of adult patients with PTCLs that was named as the International Cooperative non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma prospective registry study where thirty-two institutes from six Asian countries and territories (Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia) participated.
Findings: A total of 486 patients were registered between April 2016 and February 2019, and more than a half of patients (57%) had stage III or IV. Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T- cell lymphoma was the most common subtype (n = 139,28.6%), followed by angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL, n = 120,24.7%), PTCL-not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS, n = 101,20.8%), ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL, n = 34,6.9%), and ALK-negative ALCL (n = 30,6.2%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 21.1 months (95% CI,10.6-31.6) and 83.6 months (95% CI, 56.7-110.5), respectively. Upfront use of combined treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy showed better PFS than chemotherapy alone in localized ENKTL whereas consolidation with upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) provided longer PFS in advance stage ENKTL. In patients with PTCLs other than ENKTL, anthracycline-containing chemotherapies were widely used, but the outcome of those regimens was not satisfactory, and upfront autologous SCT was not significantly associated with survival benefit, either. The treatment outcome of salvage chemotherapy was disappointing, and none of the salvage strategies showed superiority to one another.
Interpretation: This multinational, multicenter study identified the relative frequency of each subtype of PTCLs across Asian countries, and the survival outcomes according to the therapeutic strategies currently used.
Funding: Samsung Biomedical Research Institute.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in Asian patients: a multinational, multicenter, prospective registry study in Asia

Lee YP, Yoon SE, Song Y, Kim SJ, Yoon DH, Chen TY, et al.

Int J Hematol, 2021 Sep;114(3):355-362.
PMID: 34302593 DOI: 10.1007/s12185-021-03179-7

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are a group of T-cell lymphomas with low incidence. Due to their indolent characteristics, treatment strategies have not yet been established for advanced CTCLs. In this study, relative incidence of CTCLs in Asia was estimated and the therapeutic outcomes presented based on various treatments currently used in clinics for advanced CTCLs. As part of a prospective registry study of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) conducted across Asia, including Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, subgroup analysis was performed for patients with CTCLs. Among 486 patients with PTCL, 37 with CTCL (7.6%) were identified between April 2016 and February 2019. Primary cutaneous ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL, 35.1%) was the most common subtype. With a median follow-up period of 32.1 months, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 53.5 months (95% CI 0.0-122.5), and overall survival was not reached. 14 patients (48.2%) underwent subsequent treatment after the first relapse, but the response rate was 20% with a PFS of 2.2 months (95% CI 0.3-4.0). Six patients received autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). However, auto-SCT did not result in better outcomes. Additional studies are needed on standard care treatment of advanced or refractory and relapsed CTCLs.
The heterogeneous effects of urbanisation and institutional quality on greenhouse gas emissions in Belt and Road Initiative countries

Lee HS, Arestis P, Chong SC, Yap S, Sia BK

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2022 Jan;29(1):1087-1105.
PMID: 34341929 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15699-0

The rise of urbanisation in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries that contribute to the disruption of the ecosystem, which would affect global sustainability, is a pressing concern. This study provides new evidence of the impact of urbanisation and institutional quality on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the selected 48 BRI countries from the years 1984 to 2017. The models of this study are inferred by using panel regression model and panel quantile regression model to meet the objectives of our study as it contemplates unobserved country heterogeneity. From the panel regression model, the findings indicate that although urbanisation in BRI supports the 'life effect' hypothesis that could dampen the environment quality, this effect could be reduced through better institutional quality. Using the quantile regression method, this study concludes that one-size-fits-all strategies to reduce GHG emissions in countries with different GHG emissions levels are improbable to achieve success for all. Hence, GHG emissions control procedures should be adjusted differently across high-emission, middle-emission and low-emission countries. Based on these results, this study provides novel intuitions for policymakers to wisely plan the urbanisation blueprints to eradicate unplanned urbanisation and improve institutional quality in meeting pollution mitigation goals.
Fulltext Multi-ancestry genome-wide association analyses identify novel genetic mechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis

Ishigaki K, Sakaue S, Terao C, Luo Y, Sonehara K, Yamaguchi K, et al.

Nat Genet, 2022 Nov;54(11):1640-1651.
PMID: 36333501 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01213-w

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a highly heritable complex disease with unknown etiology. Multi-ancestry genetic research of RA promises to improve power to detect genetic signals, fine-mapping resolution and performances of polygenic risk scores (PRS). Here, we present a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) of RA, which includes 276,020 samples from five ancestral groups. We conducted a multi-ancestry meta-analysis and identified 124 loci (P

Filters

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

External Links