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  1. Fulltext Invasive and antiplatelet treatment of patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Understanding and addressing the global risk-treatment paradox
    Ahrens I, Averkov O, Zúñiga EC, Fong AYY, Alhabib KF, Halvorsen S, et al.
    Clin Cardiol, 2019 Oct;42(10):1028-1040.
    PMID: 31317575 DOI: 10.1002/clc.23232
    Clinical guidelines for the treatment of patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) recommend an invasive strategy with cardiac catheterization, revascularization when clinically appropriate, and initiation of dual antiplatelet therapy regardless of whether the patient receives revascularization. However, although patients with NSTEMI have a higher long-term mortality risk than patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), they are often treated less aggressively; with those who have the highest ischemic risk often receiving the least aggressive treatment (the "treatment-risk paradox"). Here, using evidence gathered from across the world, we examine some reasons behind the suboptimal treatment of patients with NSTEMI, and recommend approaches to address this issue in order to improve the standard of healthcare for this group of patients. The challenges for the treatment of patients with NSTEMI can be categorized into four "P" factors that contribute to poor clinical outcomes: patient characteristics being heterogeneous; physicians underestimating the high ischemic risk compared with bleeding risk; procedure availability; and policy within the healthcare system. To address these challenges, potential approaches include: developing guidelines and protocols that incorporate rigorous definitions of NSTEMI; risk assessment and integrated quality assessment measures; providing education to physicians on the management of long-term cardiovascular risk in patients with NSTEMI; and making stents and antiplatelet therapies more accessible to patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cardiac Catheterization/methods*; Myocardial Revascularization/methods*
  2. An In Vitro Study of Retention and Marginal Adaptation of Endocrowns With Different Intracoronal Depths
    Tiew EC, Azis N, Teh LA, Shukor S, Goo CL
    Oper Dent, 2024 Jul 01;49(4):403-411.
    PMID: 38978316 DOI: 10.2341/23-063-L
    BACKGROUND: Marginal adaptation and retention of endocrowns are crucial for the success and survival of endocrowns. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different materials and intracoronal depth on the retention and marginal adaptation of CAD/CAM fabricated all-ceramic endocrowns.

    METHODS: Thirty-six mandibular premolar teeth with an average surface area of 64.49 mm2 were prepared to receive CAM/CAM fabricated endocrowns. Samples were divided randomly and equally into groups of lithium disilicate with 2 mm intracoronal depth (LD2), lithium disilicate with 4 mm intracoronal depth (LD4), polymer infiltrated ceramic network with 2 mm intracoronal depth (PICN2) and polymer infiltrated ceramic network with 4 mm intracoronal depth (PICN4). All endocrowns were cemented using ParaCore resin cement with 14N pressure and cured for 20 seconds. Fifty measurements of absolute marginal discrepancy (AMD) were done using a stereomicroscope after cementation. After 24 hours, all samples were subjected to thermocycling before the retention test. This involved using a universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min and applying a load of 500N. The maximum force to detach the crown was recorded in newtons and the mode of failure was identified.

    RESULTS: Two-way ANOVA revealed that the AMD for PICN was statistically significantly better than lithium disilicate (p=0.01). No statistically significant difference was detected in the AMD between the two intracoronal depths (p=0.72). PICN and endocrowns with 4 mm intracoronal depth had statistically significant better retention (p<0.05). 72.22% of the sample suffered from cohesive failures and 10 LD endocrowns suffered adhesive failures.

    CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, we found that different materials and intracoronal depths can indeed influence the retention of CAD/CAM fabricated endocrowns. Based on the controlled setting findings, PICN was found to have better retention and better marginal adaptation than similar lithium disilicate premolar endocrowns.

    Matched MeSH terms: Dental Prosthesis Design/methods; Dental Prosthesis Retention/methods
  3. Establishment of an immunofluorescence assay to detect IgM antibodies to Nipah virus using HeLa cells expressing recombinant nucleoprotein
    Kaku Y, Park ES, Noguchi A, Inoue S, Lunt R, Malbas FF, et al.
    J Virol Methods, 2019 07;269:83-87.
    PMID: 30954461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2019.03.009
    A novel indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for detection of IgM against Nipah virus (NiV) was developed using HeLa 229 cells expressing recombinant NiV nucleocapsid protein (NiV-N). The NiV IFAT was evaluated using three panels of sera: a) experimentally produced sera from NiV-N-immunized/pre-immunized macaques, b) post-infection human sera associated with a Nipah disease outbreak in the Philippines in 2014, and c) human sera from a non-exposed Malaysian population. Immunized macaque sera showed a characteristic granular staining pattern of the NiV-N expressed antigen in HeLa 229 cells, which was readily distinguished from negative-binding results of the pre-immunized macaque sera. The IgM antibody titers in sequential serum samples (n = 7) obtained from three Nipah patients correlated well with previously published results using conventional IgM capture ELISA and SNT serology. The 90 human serum samples from unexposed persons were unreactive by IFAT. The IFAT utilizing NiV-N-expressing HeLa 229 cells to detect IgM antibody in an early stage of NiV infection is an effective approach, which could be utilized readily in local laboratories to complement other capabilities in NiV-affected countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Serologic Tests/methods; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect/methods*
  4. Rapid detection, serotyping and quantitation of dengue viruses by TaqMan real-time one-step RT-PCR
    Kong YY, Thay CH, Tin TC, Devi S
    J Virol Methods, 2006 Dec;138(1-2):123-30.
    PMID: 17000012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2006.08.003
    The use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in molecular diagnosis is now accepted worldwide and has become an essential tool in the research laboratory. In the laboratory, a rapid detection, serotyping and quantitation, one-step real-time RT-PCR assay was developed for dengue virus using TaqMan probes. In this assay, a set of forward and reverse primers were designed targeting the serotype conserved region at the NS5 gene, at the same time flanking a variable region for all four serotypes which were used to design the serotype-specific TaqMan probes. This multiplex one-step RT-PCR assay was evaluated using 376 samples collected during the year 2003. These groups included RNA from prototype dengue virus (1-4), RNA from acute serum from which dengue virus was isolated, RNA from tissue culture supernatants of dengue virus isolated, RNA from seronegative acute samples (which were culture and IgM negative) and RNA from samples of dengue IgM positive sera. The specificity of this assay was also evaluated using a panel of sera which were positive for other common tropical disease agents including herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, measles virus, varicella-zoster virus, rubella virus, mumps virus, WWF, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, S. typhi, Legionella, Leptospira, Chlamydia, and Mycoplasma. The sensitivity, specificity and real-time PCR efficiency of this assay were 89.54%, 100% and 91.5%, respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Serotyping/methods; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*
  5. Rapid concentration and detection of hepatitis A virus from lettuce and strawberries
    Bidawid S, Farber JM, Sattar SA
    J Virol Methods, 2000 Aug;88(2):175-85.
    PMID: 10960705
    Immunomagnetic beads-PCR (IM-PCR), positively-charged virosorb filters (F), or a combination of both methods (F-IM-PCR) were used to capture, concentrate and rapidly detect hepatitis A virus (HAV) in samples of lettuce and strawberries experimentally contaminated. Direct reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of the collected HAV-beads complex showed a detection limit of 0.5 plaque forming units (PFU) of the virus present in 1-ml of wash solution from the produce, which was several hundred-fold more sensitive than that demonstrated by RT-PCR. In separate trials, virus-containing wash solutions from the produce were passed through the filters and the captured virus was eluted with 10 ml volumes of 1% beef extract. Of the 62% filter-captured HAV, an average of 34.8% was eluted by the 1% beef extract. PCR amplification of 2 microl from this eluate failed to produce a clear positive band signal. As little as 10 PFU, present on each piece of the lettuce or strawberry, was detectable by the F-IM-PCR, which was almost 20 times less sensitive than the detection limit of 0.5 PFU by the IM-PCR. However, considering the large volumes (< or =50 ml) used in the F-IM-PCR, the sensitivity of detection could be much greater than that of the IM-PCR, which was restricted to < or =20 ml volumes. These data indicate that the F-IM-PCR method provides the potential for a greater sensitivity of detection than the IM-PCR, since low levels of virus could be detected from large volumes of sample than possible by the IM-PCR method. Although positively-charged filters captured a greater amount of virus than both the IM-PCR and F-IM-PCR methods, direct PCR amplification from beef extract eluates was not successful in detecting HAV from produce.
    Matched MeSH terms: Immunomagnetic Separation/methods; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
  6. Fulltext A generic assay for whole-genome amplification and deep sequencing of enterovirus A71
    Tan le V, Tuyen NT, Thanh TT, Ngan TT, Van HM, Sabanathan S, et al.
    J Virol Methods, 2015 Apr;215-216:30-6.
    PMID: 25704598 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2015.02.011
    Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) has emerged as the most important cause of large outbreaks of severe and sometimes fatal hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) across the Asia-Pacific region. EV-A71 outbreaks have been associated with (sub)genogroup switches, sometimes accompanied by recombination events. Understanding EV-A71 population dynamics is therefore essential for understanding this emerging infection, and may provide pivotal information for vaccine development. Despite the public health burden of EV-A71, relatively few EV-A71 complete-genome sequences are available for analysis and from limited geographical localities. The availability of an efficient procedure for whole-genome sequencing would stimulate effort to generate more viral sequence data. Herein, we report for the first time the development of a next-generation sequencing based protocol for whole-genome sequencing of EV-A71 directly from clinical specimens. We were able to sequence viruses of subgenogroup C4 and B5, while RNA from culture materials of diverse EV-A71 subgenogroups belonging to both genogroup B and C was successfully amplified. The nature of intra-host genetic diversity was explored in 22 clinical samples, revealing 107 positions carrying minor variants (ranging from 0 to 15 variants per sample). Our analysis of EV-A71 strains sampled in 2013 showed that they all belonged to subgenogroup B5, representing the first report of this subgenogroup in Vietnam. In conclusion, we have successfully developed a high-throughput next-generation sequencing-based assay for whole-genome sequencing of EV-A71 from clinical samples.
    Matched MeSH terms: Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods*; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods*
  7. Endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic management of branchial cleft fistula type III & IV: a single tertiary centre experience
    Bee-See G, Anuar NA
    Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2024 Dec;281(12):6711-6715.
    PMID: 39073435 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08853-0
    INTRODUCTION: To date, recurrent neck abscesses associated with branchial anomalies are treated using a variety of techniques. Management strategies may include various imaging modalities and surgical methods. Endoscopic assessment and electrocauterization are the preferred diagnostic modalities and treatment strategies that have recently gained widespread acceptance and popularity.

    METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS: This was a retrospective review on patients' medical record from 2016 to 2023. Seven patients underwent endoscopic cauterization at our centre, a tertiary academic institution. Five of the patients (71.5%) achieved complete remission. Two patients experienced recurrence within 6 months that necessitated re-cauterization once but subsequently recovered completely. Currently, endoscopic management is the preferred approach compared to the typical open neck excision surgery as it is significantly less invasive, resulting in lesser morbidity and similar success rates. At presentation, all of them had ultrasound neck that suggestive of neck abscess. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging unable to provide adequate information about the side of internal opening of fistula where only 3 out of 7 patients demonstrated tract up to the ipsilateral region of pyriform fossa.

    DISCUSSION: Management outcomes of this limited case series showed the potential benefits of endoscopic cauterization as the minimally invasive therapeutic method for recurrent neck abscesses caused by third and fourth branchial cleft fistulas but also to suggest the possibility as the first diagnostic tool prior to imaging studies.

    Matched MeSH terms: Cautery/methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods
  8. Fulltext Refractory Chronic Diffuse Granular Myringitis with Medial Meatal Stenosis
    Wei Ling S, Lim CC, Mohd Damanhuri Shah MFSB, Devesahayam PR
    J Int Adv Otol, 2024 Sep 26;20(5):458-461.
    PMID: 39391172 DOI: 10.5152/iao.2024.231292
    Granular myringitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the tympanic membrane that does not involve the middle ear. Various treatment modalities have been proposed for the treatment of granular myringitis, but there is no standard treatment regime. A 60-year-old woman had left persistent ear discharge for 4 months. Examination revealed diffuse granulation tissue, forming a pseudomembrane at the medial aspect of the ear canal and obstructing the tympanic membrane. An audiogram revealed mild-to-moderate left-sided conductive hearing loss. She was treated with multiple courses of ear drop antibiotics but had no improvement. The decision for surgical intervention was driven by the presence of a grade IV medial meatal stenosis, the potential risks associated with prolonged medical management, the distressing impact on the patient's life, and a shared decision-making process. A combined transcanal and postauricular endoscopic approach whereby excision of the granulation tissue, canalplasty, and myringoplasty were performed. She exhibited complete symptom resolution and reported an improved quality of life. This approach yielded successful symptom resolution, highlighting its potential in managing refractory chronic granular myringitis. We aimed to carefully weigh the risks of surgery against its potential benefits in a refractory chronic case, acknowledging the inherent risks and disadvantages of surgical interventions. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the long-term outcomes and benefits of this approach.
    Matched MeSH terms: Endoscopy/methods; Myringoplasty/methods
  9. Allogeneic and autologous mode of stem cell transplantation in regenerative medicine: which way to go?
    Mamidi MK, Dutta S, Bhonde R, Das AK, Pal R
    Med Hypotheses, 2014 Dec;83(6):787-91.
    PMID: 25456787 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2014.10.010
    Stem cell transplantation is a generic term covering different techniques. However there is argument over the pros and cons of autologous and allogeneic transplants of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for regenerative therapy. Given that the MSCs have already been proven to be safe in patients, we hypothesize that allogeneic transplantation could be more effective and cost-effective as compared to autologous transplantation specifically in older subjects who are the likely victims of degenerative diseases. This analysis is based on the scientific logic that allogeneic stem cells extracted in large numbers from young and healthy donors could be physiologically, metabolically and genetically more stable. Therefore stem cells from young donors may be expected to exhibit higher vigor in secreting trophic factors leading to activation of host tissue-specific stem cells and also be more efficient in remodeling the micro-environmental niche of damaged tissue.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods; Stem Cell Transplantation/methods*; Regenerative Medicine/methods*
  10. Fulltext Ornamental exterior versus therapeutic interior of Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus): the two faces of a versatile herb
    Nejat N, Valdiani A, Cahill D, Tan YH, Maziah M, Abiri R
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2015;2015:982412.
    PMID: 25667940 DOI: 10.1155/2015/982412
    Catharanthus roseus (L.) known as Madagascar periwinkle (MP) is a legendary medicinal plant mostly because of possessing two invaluable antitumor terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs), vincristine and vinblastine. The plant has also high aesthetic value as an evergreen ornamental that yields prolific blooms of splendid colors. The plant possesses yet another unique characteristic as an amiable experimental host for the maintenance of the smallest bacteria found on earth, the phytoplasmas and spiroplasmas, and serves as a model for their study. Botanical information with respect to synonyms, vernacular names, cultivars, floral morphology, and reproduction adds to understanding of the plant while the geography and ecology of periwinkle illustrate the organism's ubiquity. Good agronomic practices ensure generous propagation of healthy plants that serve as a source of bioactive compounds and multitudinous horticultural applications. The correlation between genetic diversity, variants, and TIA production exists. MP is afflicted with a whole range of diseases that have to be properly managed. The ethnobotanical significance of MP is exemplified by its international usage as a traditional remedy for abundant ailments and not only for cancer. TIAs are present only in micro quantities in the plant and are highly poisonous per se rendering a challenge for researchers to increase yield and reduce toxicity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture/methods*; Breeding/methods; Ethnobotany/methods
  11. Fulltext Relationship between body image and breast self-examination intentions and behavior among female university students in Malaysia
    Samah AA, Ahmadian M
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(21):9499-503.
    PMID: 25422246
    This study aimed to examine the relationship between body image satisfaction and breast self-screening behavior and intentions. The sample for this cross-sectional study consisted of 842 female university students who were recruited from a number of public and private universities. Data were obtained between the months of November and December, 2013, using multistage random cluster sampling. Main research variables were breast cancer screening behavior and intentions, demographic factors, and the total scores on each of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ-Appearance Scales) subscales. Results of multivariate analysis showed that having higher satisfaction and more positive evaluation of appearance were related to having performed breast self-examination more frequently in the last year and intending to perform breast self-examination more frequently in the next year. Longitudinal research can potentially provide detailed information about overall body image satisfaction and breast cancer screening behavior among various communities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Sectional Studies/methods; Breast Self-Examination/methods; Early Detection of Cancer/methods
  12. Fulltext Curvelet based automatic segmentation of supraspinatus tendon from ultrasound image: a focused assistive diagnostic method
    Gupta R, Elamvazuthi I, Dass SC, Faye I, Vasant P, George J, et al.
    Biomed Eng Online, 2014;13:157.
    PMID: 25471386 DOI: 10.1186/1475-925X-13-157
    Disorders of rotator cuff tendons results in acute pain limiting the normal range of motion for shoulder. Of all the tendons in rotator cuff, supraspinatus (SSP) tendon is affected first of any pathological changes. Diagnosis of SSP tendon using ultrasound is considered to be operator dependent with its accuracy being related to operator's level of experience.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Radiology/methods
  13. Fulltext Multi-isotype antibody responses against the multimeric Salmonella Typhi recombinant hemolysin E antigen
    Ong EB, Ignatius J, Anthony AA, Aziah I, Ismail A, Lim TS
    Microbiol. Immunol., 2015 Jan;59(1):43-7.
    PMID: 25399538 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12211
    The detection and measurement of different antibody isotypes in the serum provide valuable indicators of the different stages of typhoid infection. Here, the ability of S. Typhi recombinant hemolysin E (HlyE) to detect multi-isotype antibody responses in sera of patients with typhoid and paratyphoid A was investigated using an indirect antibody immunoassay. Nanogram amounts of HlyE were found to be sufficient for detection of IgG and IgA isotypes and, in a study of individuals' sera (n = 100), the immunoassay was able to distinguish between typhoid and non-typhoid sera. The overall sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of the ELISA were 70% (39/56), 100% (44/44) and 83% respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods; Serologic Tests/methods
  14. A minimally invasive endoscopic transnasal approach to the craniovertebral junction in the paediatric population
    Tan SH, Ganesan D, Prepageran N, Waran V
    Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2014 Nov;271(11):3101-5.
    PMID: 24986428 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-014-3149-5
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurosurgical Procedures/methods*; Neuronavigation/methods*; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery/methods*
  15. Full-thickness skin wound healing using autologous keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts with fibrin: bilayered versus single-layered substitute
    Idrus RB, Rameli MA, Low KC, Law JX, Chua KH, Latiff MB, et al.
    Adv Skin Wound Care, 2014 Apr;27(4):171-80.
    PMID: 24637651 DOI: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000445199.26874.9d
    Split-skin grafting (SSG) is the gold standard treatment for full-thickness skin defects. For certain patients, however, an extensive skin lesion resulted in inadequacies of the donor site. Tissue engineering offers an alternative approach by using a very small portion of an individual's skin to harvest cells for propagation and biomaterials to support the cells for implantation. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of autologous bilayered tissue-engineered skin (BTES) and single-layer tissue-engineered skin composed of only keratinocytes (SLTES-K) or fibroblasts (SLTES-F) as alternatives for full-thickness wound healing in a sheep model. Full-thickness skin biopsies were harvested from adult sheep. Isolated fibroblasts were cultured using medium Ham's F12: Dulbecco modified Eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, whereas the keratinocytes were cultured using Define Keratinocytes Serum Free Medium. The BTES, SLTES-K, and SLTES-F were constructed using autologous fibrin as a biomaterial. Eight full-thickness wounds were created on the dorsum of the body of the sheep. On 4 wounds, polyvinyl chloride rings were used as chambers to prevent cell migration at the edge. The wounds were observed at days 7, 14, and 21. After 3 weeks of implantation, the sheep were euthanized and the skins were harvested. The excised tissues were fixed in formalin for histological examination via hematoxylin-eosin, Masson trichrome, and elastin van Gieson staining. The results showed that BTES, SLTES-K, and SLTES-F promote wound healing in nonchambered and chambered wounds, and BTES demonstrated the best healing potential. In conclusion, BTES proved to be an effective tissue-engineered construct that can promote the healing of full-thickness skin lesions. With the support of further clinical trials, this procedure could be an alternative to SSG for patients with partial- and full-thickness burns.
    Matched MeSH terms: Skin Transplantation/methods*; Cell Transplantation/methods; Tissue Engineering/methods*
  16. Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in routine cervical scraping samples: use for a national cervical cancer screening program in a developing nation
    Othman N, Othman NH
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(5):2245-9.
    PMID: 24716964
    BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus is a well-established cause of the development of a variety of epithelial lesions in the cervix. However, as yet, incorporation of HPV testing into cervical cancer screening either as an adjunct or stand alone test is limited due to its cost. We therefore here ascertained the presence and type specificity of human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA in routine cervical scrapings.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cervical scrapings were collected from women attending clinics for routine Pap smear screening. HPV-DNA was detected by PCR using MY09/11 and GP5+/GP6+ primer sets and genotyping was accomplished by cycle-sequencing.

    RESULTS: A total of 635 women were recruited into the study with mean ± SD age of 43 ± 10.5 years. Of these 92.6% (588/635) were reported as within normal limits (WNL) on cytology. The presence of HPV infection detected by nested MY/GP+-PCR was 4.4% (28/635). The overall prevalence of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) in abnormal Pap smears was 53.8% (7/13). HPVs were also seen in 3.1% (18/588) of smears reported as WNL by cytology and 5.9% (2/34) in smears unsatisfactory for evaluation.

    CONCLUSIONS: The overall percentage of HPV positivity in routine cervical screening samples is comparable with abnormal findings in cytology. Conventional Pap smear 'missed' a few samples. Since HPV testing is expensive, our results may provide valuable information for strategising implementation of effective cervical cancer screening in a country with limited resources like Malaysia. If Pap smear coverage could be improved, HPV testing could be used as an adjunct method on cases with ambiguous diagnoses.

    Matched MeSH terms: Vaginal Smears/methods; Early Detection of Cancer/methods; Papanicolaou Test/methods
  17. Three-dimensional quantitative evaluation of facial morphology in adults with unilateral cleft lip and palate, and patients without clefts
    Othman SA, Ahmad R, Asi SM, Ismail NH, Rahman ZA
    Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 2014 Mar;52(3):208-13.
    PMID: 24342372 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2013.11.008
    The aims of this study were to assess the quantitative values of measurements using proportion indices in the craniofacial region in patients with repaired, non-syndromic, complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), and compare them with a control group who did not have clefts using the non-invasive systems of 3-dimensional technology. Three-dimensional measurements of the facial surfaces of 15 Malay patients who had UCLP repaired and 100 Malay control patients aged 18-25 years were analysed. The 3-dimensional images of the respondents' faces were captured using the VECTRA-3D Stereophotogrammetry System. Eleven craniofacial proportions were assessed using a combination of 18 linear measurements obtained from 21 anthropometric soft tissue landmarks. These measurements were used to produce proportion indices to find the differences in the morphological features between the groups, and assessed using the independent sample t test and z scores. There were significant differences between the groups in 7 out of 11 craniofacial proportion indices (p=0.001-0.044). Z scores of 2 indices were disproportionate. They were nasal index (which was severely supernormal) and upper lip index (which was moderately supernormal). Patients with UCLP had higher mean z scores, indicating that patients with UCLP tended to have larger faces than the control group. There were clinically important differences mainly in the nasolabial area, where the nose and the upper lip were wider, larger, or flatter in patients with UCLP.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cephalometry/methods; Photogrammetry/methods; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods*
  18. Waist circumference and not body mass index as the outcome of a group weight intervention for patients with severe mental illness
    Nik Jaafar NR, Midin M, Mahadevan R, Sinniah A, Rahman AH, Ming W, et al.
    Compr Psychiatry, 2014 Jan;55 Suppl 1:S60-4.
    PMID: 24139853 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.09.002
    OBJECTIVE: Most weight interventions among patients with severe mental illness (SMI) used body mass index (BMI) as outcome measure but excluded waist circumference (WC) although the latter is a stronger predictor of obesity complications. This study aimed to assess a weight-management program consisting of education, exercise and behavioural techniques for patients with SMI using weight parameters including WC as the outcome measures.
    METHODS: A group intervention was carried out as part of psychiatric outpatient community service. It used structured modules on diet, exercise and related topics comprising of education and exercises sessions with a total of 12-week duration. The participants were outpatients with SMI recruited through referrals to the program by the treating doctor. The participants' body weight, BMI and WC were measured at the baseline, fortnightly and at the end of the program.
    RESULTS: A total of 27 patients participated in the program which was carried out in 6 cycles. The pre- and post-intervention comparisons analysis of the weight parameters found a significant reduction in the WC (mean=3.878 cm+5.165, p=0.001) while no significant changes were recorded in body weight and BMI.
    CONCLUSION: Small but significant loss in WC and possibly weight maintenance were achieved using this non-pharmacological intervention. Modest loss in WC may have an impact on reducing the risk of obesity-related health risks.
    Study site: Psychiatric clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Patient Education as Topic/methods; Psychotherapy, Group/methods; Weight Reduction Programs/methods*
  19. Auricular acupuncture for drug dependence: an open-label randomized investigation on clinical outcomes, health-related quality of life, and patient acceptability
    Lua PL, Talib NS
    Altern Ther Health Med, 2013;19(4):28-42.
    PMID: 23981370
    Substance abuse has been prevalent in Malaysia for many years and currently represents one of the main concerns to its society. The limitations of conventional therapies have resulted in efforts to explore the potentia of complementary therapies in the management of drug addiction. The evidence for auricular acupuncture (AA) as a potential complementary therapy for drug addiction is still limited and inconclusive.
    Matched MeSH terms: Substance Abuse Detection/methods; Acupuncture, Ear/methods*; Opiate Substitution Treatment/methods
  20. Fulltext Rapid detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by a newly developed dry reagent-based polymerase chain reaction assay
    Al-Talib H, Yean CY, Al-Khateeb A, Hasan H, Ravichandran M
    J Microbiol Immunol Infect, 2014 Dec;47(6):484-90.
    PMID: 23927820 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2013.06.004
    Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen responsible for significant numbers of nosocomial and community-acquired infections worldwide. Molecular diagnosis for MRSA nasal carriers is increasingly important for rapid detection and screening of MRSA colonization because the conventional methods are time consuming and labor intensive. However, conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests still require cold-chain storage as well as trained personnel, which makes them unsuitable for rapid high-throughput analysis. The aim of this study was to develop a thermostabilized PCR assay for MRSA in a ready-to-use form that requires no cold chain.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteriological Techniques/methods*; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods*
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