Displaying publications 21 - 23 of 23 in total

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  1. Fulltext Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by antigen ELISA test is highly swayed by viral load and sample storage condition
    Adnan N, Khandker SS, Haq A, Chaity MA, Khalek A, Nazim AQ, et al.
    Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, 2021 Sep 11.
    PMID: 34477019 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2021.1976144
    BACKGROUND: Rapid increase in COVID-19 suspected cases has rendered disease diagnosis challenging, mainly depending upon RT-qPCR. Reliable, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostic assays that complement RT-qPCR should be introduced after thoroughly evaluating their performance upon various disease phases, viral load, and sample storage conditions.

    OBJECTIVE: We investigated the correlation of cycle threshold (Ct) value, which implies the viral load and infection phase, and the storage condition of the clinical specimen with the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 through our newly developed in-house rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system.

    METHOD: Naso-oropharyngeal samples of 339 COVID-19 suspected cases were collected and evaluated through RT-qPCR that were stored up to 30 days in different conditions (i.e. -80°C, -20°C and initially at 4°C followed by -80°C). The clinical specimens were evaluated with our in-house ELISA system after finalizing the assay method through checkerboard assay and minimizing the signal/noise ratio.

    RESULT: The ELISA system showed the highest sensitivity (92.9%) for samples with Ct ≤30 and preserving at -80°C temperature. The sensitivity reduced proportionally with increasing Ct value and preserving temperature. However, the specificity ranged between 98.3% and 100%.

    CONCLUSION: The results indicate the necessity of early infection phase diagnosis and lower temperature preservation of samples to perform rapid antigen ELISA tests.

  2. Fulltext Self-medication of antibiotics: investigating practice among university students at the Malaysian National Defence University
    Haque M, Rahman NAA, McKimm J, Kibria GM, Azim Majumder MA, Haque SZ, et al.
    Infect Drug Resist, 2019;12:1333-1351.
    PMID: 31190922 DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S203364
    Background: Self-medication of drugs to alleviate symptoms is a common global behavior, helping relieve burdens on health services, but many drugs eg, antibiotics are prescription-only. Self-medication of antibiotics (SMA) is an irrational use of drugs, contributing to microbial resistance increasing health care costs and higher mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to assess SMA among university students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among medical and non-medical students of the National Defence University of Malaysia. A validated instrument was used to gather data. Ethics approval was obtained. Random and universal sampling was adopted, and SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 649 students participated in the study: 48.5% male and 51.5% female, 39.3% reported self-medicating with antibiotics. Penicillin, doxycycline, clarithromycin were the antibiotics most used with the majority reporting no adverse drug reactions. Cost savings and convenience were the principal reasons for SMA which were mainly obtained from local retail pharmacies. Despite medical students (particularly the more senior) having better knowledge of antibiotic use than non-medical students, 89% of all research participants responded that practicing SMA was a good/acceptable practice. Conclusion: SMA is common amongst Malaysian students and, despite understanding why SMA is unwise, even medical students self-medicate.
  3. 100 Questions in Livestock Helminthology Research
    Morgan ER, Aziz NA, Blanchard A, Charlier J, Charvet C, Claerebout E, et al.
    Trends Parasitol, 2019 01;35(1):52-71.
    PMID: 30477758 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.10.006
    An elicitation exercise was conducted to collect and identify pressing questions concerning the study of helminths in livestock, to help guide research priorities. Questions were invited from the research community in an inclusive way. Of 385 questions submitted, 100 were chosen by online vote, with priority given to open questions in important areas that are specific enough to permit investigation within a focused project or programme of research. The final list of questions was divided into ten themes. We present the questions and set them briefly in the context of the current state of knowledge. Although subjective, the results provide a snapshot of current concerns and perceived priorities in the field of livestock helminthology, and we hope that they will stimulate ongoing or new research efforts.
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