Displaying publications 421 - 440 of 989 in total

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  1. Tan KT, Benedict SLH, Gani YM, Chidambaran SK
    Med J Malaysia, 2022 Sep;77(5):590-596.
    PMID: 36169071
    INTRODUCTION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, bloodstream infection (BSI) rates were substantially rising in Sungai Buloh Hospital (HSB). It is believed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on BSI incidence caused by contaminated periphery vascular catheters (PVCs). The study's objective is to reduce the BSI rates in HSB by improving adherence to the PVC care bundle via the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) approach.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quality improvement (QI) project was employed over four months, from June to September 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in HSB. All adults hospitalised for COVID-19 with intravenous lines were subjected to data collection. A baseline audit was conducted to study BSI incidence from April to May 2021. Implementation was carried out by PDSA cycles and data on BSI rates per 100 admissions was described using a monthly run chart.

    RESULTS: At baseline, the BSI rate per 100 admissions was 5.44 before implementing our QI project. Initial changes via PDSA cycles did not bring significant improvements to BSI rates and a rising trend in BSI rates was observed after two PDSA cycles. Further audits identified the problem of noncompliance with the practice of aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT) and a lack of effective leadership in implementing the PVC care bundle. The third PDSA cycle focused on adopting practical leadership skills among senior clinicians to ensure compliance with the prevention bundle and to encourage the use of ultrasound guidance for difficult line insertion. After the third PDSA cycle, the BSI rate per 100 admissions was reduced from 6.41 to 4.34 (p < 0.05). The BSI rates continued to decline down the line for another five months.

    CONCLUSION: Through QI initiatives, the risk of BSI can be significantly reduced.

  2. La N, Leng M, Rattanapitoon K, Pechdee P, Boonsuya A, Arunsan P, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2022 Dec 01;39(4):539-546.
    PMID: 36602213 DOI: 10.47665/tb.39.4.009
    Many species of helminths and protozoa caused intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs). It belongs to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and remains a major public health problem in several Southeast Asian countries. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among the population in Kratie Province in northeastern Cambodia and Phnom Penh is the capital that locates in southern Cambodia. Fecal specimens (n=366) were collected in 10 villages in Kratie Province and Phnom Penh from 2019 to 2021. They were processed using the formalin ethyl-acetate concentration technique (FECT) to investigate parasites at egg and cyst stages and then examined under a light microscope. The results revealed that the prevalence of IPIs among the population in Kratie Province (n=317) and Phnom Penh (n=49) was 16.12% (n=59); of Kratie Province (n=50, 13.66%) and Phnom Penh (n=9, 2.46%), 12.02% (n=44) were helminths and 4.10% (n=15) were protozoa. The parasitic infection rate was higher in males (9.02%) than in females (7.10%) and more likely to be due to helminths (7.38%) than protozoa (1.64%). Prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini was the highest (5.74%), followed by those of Entamoeba coli (4.10%), hookworm (3.83%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.10%), Hymenolepis nana (1.09%), Taenia spp. (0.54%), Trichuris trichiura (0.55%), and Enterobius vermicularis (0.27%), respectively. Moreover, O. viverrini infection was the most common infection in the <20-year age group in Kratie Province. In addition, the bivariate and multivariate analyses showed that the association between gender. Gender was a significant risk factor positively associated with O. viverrini and hookworm infections (ORadj=0.318, 95% CI=0.122-0.8270, P=0.019 and ORadj=0.085, 95% CI=0.017-0.436, P=0.003, respectively). In conclusion, the IPIs were highly prevalent, especially O. viverrini and hookworm infections, among the population in Cambodia. These IPIs impact the public health burden but can be prevented by education regarding good sanitary practices in this community.
  3. Yip WP, Kho ASK, Ooi EH, Ooi ET
    Med Eng Phys, 2023 Feb;112:103950.
    PMID: 36842773 DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2023.103950
    No-touch bipolar radiofrequency ablation (bRFA) is known to produce incomplete tumour ablation with a 'butterfly-shaped' coagulation zone when the interelectrode distance exceeds a certain threshold. Although non-confluent coagulation zone can be avoided by not implementing the no-touch mode, doing so exposes the patient to the risk of tumour track seeding. The present study investigates if prior infusion of saline into the tissue can overcome the issues of non-confluent or butterfly-shaped coagulation. A computational modelling approach based on the finite element method was carried out. A two-compartment model comprising the tumour that is surrounded by healthy liver tissue was developed. Three cases were considered; i) saline infusion into the tumour centre; ii) one-sided saline infusion outside the tumour; and iii) two-sided saline infusion outside the tumour. For each case, three different saline volumes were considered, i.e. 6, 14 and 22 ml. Saline concentration was set to 15% w/v. Numerical results showed that saline infusion into the tumour centre can overcome the butterfly-shaped coagulation only if the infusion volume is sufficient. On the other hand, one-sided infusion outside the tumour did not overcome this. Two-sided infusion outside the tumour produced confluent coagulation zone with the largest volume. Results obtained from the present study suggest that saline infusion, when carried out correctly, can be used to effectively eradicate liver cancer. This presents a practical solution to address non-confluent coagulation zone typical of that during two-probe bRFA treatment.
  4. Arul P, Nandhini C, Huang ST, Gowthaman NSK, Huang CH
    Food Chem, 2023 Jul 15;414:135747.
    PMID: 36841102 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135747
    A simple and rapid screening of biomarkers in clinical and food matrices is urgently needed to diagnose cardiovascular diseases. The cholesterol (Chol) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are critical bio-indicators, which require more inventive detection techniques to be applied to real food, and bio-samples. In this study, a robust dual sensor was developed for Chol and H2O2 using hybrid catalyst. Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-capped nanocatalyst was potentially catalyzed 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), and H2O2. The enzymatic nanoelectrocatalyst delivered a wide range of signaling concentrations from 250 nM to 3.0 mM and 100 nM to 10 mM, limit of detection (LOD) of 53.2 nM and 18.4 nM for Chol and H2O2. The cholesterol oxidase-BSA-AuNPs-metal-free organic framework (ChOx-BSA-AuNPs-MFOF) based electrode surface effectively operated in live-cells and real-food samples. The enzymatic sensor exhibits adequate recovery of real-food samples (96.96-99.44%). Finally, the proposed system is a suitable choice for the potential applications of Chol and H2O2 in clinical and food chemistry.
  5. Norhaya MR, Cheong SK, Ainoon O, Hamidah NH
    Singapore Med J, 1997 Jul;38(7):283-4.
    PMID: 9339092
    Five patients treated with hydroxyurea for various haematological malignancies developed multiple painful oral ulcers. Their neutrophil counts were either normal or elevated. The ulcers disappeared with cessation of hydroxyurea. Oral ulcers recurred when hydroxyurea was resumed in one of the patients. As the patients were unable to tolerate this painful side effect, hydroxyurea had to be discontinued. Appearance of painful oral ulceration seems to be independent of dosing rate or total cumulative dose of hydroxyurea.
  6. Norhaya MR, Cheong SK, Hamidah NH, Ainoon O
    Singapore Med J, 1996 Jun;37(3):320-2.
    PMID: 8942241
    A 45-year-old Malay lady developed brisk vesicular, plaque-like reaction to a Mantoux test concomitant with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The lesion resolved one month after chemotherapy. Similar lesions developed later after she was bitten by mosquitoes on the forearms. She also had the lesions over her cheek. A skin biopsy showed infiltration of the dermis with neutrophils and some monocytoid cells. The lesion resolved one week after prednisolone therapy.
  7. Halim AG, Hamidon BB, Cheong SK, Raymond AA
    Singapore Med J, 2006 May;47(5):400-3.
    PMID: 16645690
    There is no biological marker that can accurately predict the prognosis after an acute ischaemic stroke. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of tissue factor (thromboplastin) levels in first ischaemic stroke.
  8. Norhaya MR, Cheong SK, Hamidah NH, Ainoon O
    Singapore Med J, 1994 Feb;35(1):102-3.
    PMID: 8009265
    A 33-year-old Malay lady with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) became amenorrhoeic during therapy with busulphan. Pregnancy was diagnosed via a urine pregnancy test and an ultrasound confirmed a viable foetus at 16 weeks. The busulphan was stopped. Her pregnancy was unremarkable and continued till term. She delivered a healthy child.
  9. Ten SK, Chin YM, Noor PJ, Hassan K
    Singapore Med J, 1990 Aug;31(4):355-9.
    PMID: 2255934
    Cytogenetic investigations were carried out on 117 women with primary amenorrhea who had been referred to our Genetics Laboratory by clinicians throughout Malaysia, after exclusion of other causes of the disorder. Thirty-six cases (31%) showed numerical or structural abnormalities of the sex chromosomes. These can be broadly classified into 4 main types, namely, presence of a Y chromosome (14%), X-chromosome aneuploidies (8%), structural anomalies of the X-chromosome (7%) and lastly, presence of a marker chromosome (2%). Mosaics constituted 17% of the abnormalities observed, always in association with a 45,X cell line. There was no observable correlation between the phenotype of the patients and their respective abnormal karyotypes. The aetiological role of sex chromosomal abnormalities in these amenorrheic women is discussed.
  10. H'ng PK, Nayar SK, Lau WM, Segasothy M
    Singapore Med J, 1991 Apr;32(2):148-9.
    PMID: 2042077
    We report two cases of acute renal failure that followed the ingestion of jering. Features of jering poisoning included clinical presentation of bilateral loin pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, oligo-anuria, haematuria and passage of sandy particles in the urine. Blood urea (40.8 mmol/l; 21.9 mmol/l) and serum creatinine (1249 mumols/l; 693 mumols/l) were markedly elevated. With conservative therapy which included rehydration with normal saline and alkalinisation of the urine with sodium bicarbonate, the acute renal failure resolved.
  11. Tan DSK, Dimitrakakis M, Mangalam S, Lopez CG, Ooi BG
    Singapore Med J, 1989 Feb;30(1):34-7.
    PMID: 2595386
    The prevalence of coinfection, superinfection and chronic infection with the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) was studied in 324 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive Malaysians. Of these, 10.0% (5/50) had coinfection, 5.7% (11/194) had superinfection, but none of the 80 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) or primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) had chronic infection with HDV. The overall HDV infection was 4.9% (16/324). One of the coinfection cases acquired the HDV infection as early as 1982. HDV superinfection was detected mainly among IV drug abusers (20% or 7/35) and promiscuous males and females (13.6% or 3/22). They were all asymptomatic. Only 0.8% (1/125) apparently healthy blood donors was infected with HDV. None of the 12 multi-transfused patients examined were positive. Malaysia is the only Southeast Asian country examined so far in which HDV infection was detected. The reason could be that the IV drug abusers and the sexually promiscuous groups missed being examined in the other countries. Comparing the HDV infection rates in 4 categories of infected Malaysians (viz. acute hepatitis B patients, IV drug abusers, blood donors and CLD patients) with those of other countries, it was noted that the Malaysian rates were similar to the lowest in the range of prevalence rates of each category in the latter group. The rate of coinfection in a preliminary study in 1982-84 (9.0% or 1/11) was not very different from that obtained to date (10.0% or 5/50).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
  12. Noor PJ, Chin YM, Ten SK, Hassan K
    Singapore Med J, 1987 Jun;28(3):235-40.
    PMID: 2958941
    A cytogenetic survey 01 124 children in lour special schools for the mentally handicapped was carried out to determine the contribution of chromosomal abnormalities to the aetiology of mental retardation in these children. All the children were karyotyped employing the G·banding technique 01 43 (34.7%) with an abnormal chromosome complement, 40 had Down's Syndrome, and 3 had other chromosomal abnormalities, namely a translocation 1;17, a mosaic male/trisomy 18 and a Klinefelter's syndrome. Polymorphic variants involving chromosomes 1, 9, and 14 were also observed. Two other children showed variants of the Y chromosome (one a small Y and the other a metacentric Y). The possible contribution by these abnormal variants to mental retardation is discussed. Details of the abnormal cytogenetic findings are reported.
  13. Ten SK, Chin YM, Jamilatul Noor MBP, Hassan K
    Singapore Med J, 1985;26(4-5):372-8.
    PMID: 4071092
    An Indian family with all 3 sons having the fragile X syndrome is reported. The frequency of fragile X cells observed ranged from 4·16%. The phenotypically normal mother, although an obligate carrier, did not express any fragile X chromosomes in her Iymphocyte cultures. The range of mental retardation in affected
    hemizygous males and heterozygous females as well as the significance of the fragile X chromosome in prenatal diagnosis are discussed.
  14. Boo NY, Nasri NM, Cheong SK, Sivamohan N
    Singapore Med J, 1991 Apr;32(2):142-7.
    PMID: 2042076
    A 2-year study was carried out in the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur to determine the neonatal mortality rates. This Hospital functions both as the local service centre as well as the national referral centre in Malaysia. Its neonatal services, however, were equipped and manned at those below Level III perinatal centre. During the study period 52, 877 livebirths took place in the Hospital. In 1987 and 1988 respectively, the low birthweight (less than 2500 gm) rates were: 112.8 and 101.9 per 1000 livebirths, very low birthweight (less than 1500 gm) rates: 11.1 and 8.8 per 1000 livebirths, neonatal mortality rates: 12.5 and 10.7 per 1000 livebirths and neonatal mortality risk ratio: 1.15 and 1.27. There was significant difference in mortality rates among the Malay, Chinese and Indian babies born in this hospital: the Indians had the highest and the Chinese the lowest rates. Babies delivered by breech or lower segment Caesarean section (LSCS) also had significantly higher mortality than those delivered by other modes of delivery. Low birthweight neonates constituted less than 45% of the total special care nursery admission but contributed to more than 70% of the total neonatal deaths. The common causes of neonatal deaths were problems of prematurity, infection, asphyxia and congenital malformations. Preterm and low birthweight neonates died primarily from problems of prematurity or infection. Term and larger neonates died mainly from asphyxia. More than 75% of the neonatal deaths occurred before 7 days of life. Improvement of antenatal care in the community and upgrading of perinatal services in this Hospital could help to lower the morbidity and mortality due to preventable causes.
  15. Hidki A, Peng JX, Singh SK, Khalid M, Asjad M
    Sci Rep, 2024 May 16;14(1):11204.
    PMID: 38755238 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61670-7
    We theoretically investigate continuous variable entanglement and macroscopic quantum coherence in the hybrid L-G rotational cavity optomechanical system containing two YIG spheres. In this system, a single L-G cavity mode and both magnon modes (which are due to the collective excitation of spins in two YIG spheres) are coupled through the magnetic dipole interaction whereas the L-G cavity mode can also exchange orbital angular momentum (OAM) with the rotating mirror (RM). We study in detail the effects of various physical parameters like cavity and both magnon detunings, environment temperature, optorotational and magnon coupling strengths on the bipartite entanglement and the macroscopic quantum coherence as well. We also explore parameter regimes to achieve maximum values for both of these quantum correlations. We also observed that the parameters regime for achieving maximum bipartite entanglement is completely different from macroscopic quantum coherence. So, our present study shall provide a method to control various nonclassical quantum correlations of macroscopic objects in the hybrid L-G rotational cavity optomechanical system and have potential applications in quantum sensing, quantum meteorology, and quantum information science.
  16. Lai SK, Bakrin IH, Abd Rauf N, Abdul Raub SH
    Malays J Pathol, 2024 Apr;46(1):103-108.
    PMID: 38682850
    Spitz tumour with ALK rearrangement is a recently described entity and a rare tumour. The incidence of Spitz tumour was estimated at 3.63 per 100,000 persons in American paediatric population; while there is no data in Asian population. Here we reported a case of an eleven-year-old Asian boy who presented with a left shin nodule of two months' duration. The skin biopsy revealed a Spitz tumour with predominantly spindle cell morphology arranged in fascicles, vertically orientated nests and radial growth pattern. Junctional component, melanin pigment or Kamino bodies were not identified. Immunohistochemical study displayed homogenous cytoplasmic staining for ALK. Fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis confirmed ALK rearrangement. Review of the literatures demonstrated that positive ALK immunohistochemistry may not correlate with ALK rearrangement. ALK-rearranged Spitz tumour confirmed with FISH analysis favour clinically benign behaviour despite atypical histomorphology or positive sentinel lymph node. Therefore, correlation of histomorphology, immunohistochemical stain and molecular study are important for the definitive diagnosis of this entity.
  17. Bhattachary-Chatterjee M, Nath Baral R, Chatterjee SK, Das R, Zeytin H, Chakraborty M, et al.
    Cancer Immunol Immunother, 2000 Jun;49(3):133-41.
    PMID: 10881692
    Anti-idiotype (Id) vaccine therapy has been tested and shown to be effective, in several animal models, for triggering the immune system to induce specific and protective immunity against bacterial, viral and parasitic infections. The administration of anti-Id antibodies as surrogate tumor-associated antigens (TAA) also represents another potential application of the concept of the Id network. Limited experience in human trials using anti-Id to stimulate immunity against tumors has shown promising results. In this "counter-point" article, we discuss our own findings showing the potential of anti-Id antibody vaccines to be novel therapeutic approaches to various human cancers and also discuss where anti-Id vaccines may perform better than traditional multiple-epitope antigen vaccines.
  18. Wong TY, Foster PJ, Seah SK, Chew PT
    Br J Ophthalmol, 2000 Sep;84(9):990-2.
    PMID: 10966951
    AIM: To estimate the rates of hospital admissions for primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore

    METHODS: A population-wide hospital discharge database in Singapore was used to identify all hospital admissions with a primary discharge diagnosis of PACG (International Classification of Disease-CM code: 365.2). The Singapore census was used for denominator data.

    RESULTS: Between 1993 and 1997 there were 894 hospital admissions for PACG. The mean annual rate of PACG admissions was 11.1 per 100 000 (95% confidence interval (CI), 10.4, 11.8) among people aged 30 years and over. The annual rate was highest for Chinese (age and sex adjusted rate: 12.2 per 100 000), which was twice that of Malays (6.0 per 100 000) and Indians (6.3 per 100 000). Females had two times higher rates than males in all three races (age adjusted relative risk: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.7, 2.3).

    CONCLUSION: Malay and Indian people had identical rates of hospital admissions for PACG, which were only half the rates compared with Chinese.

  19. Sabrina DL, Latiffah H, Reuben SKS, Ooi PT
    Trop Biomed, 2023 Sep 01;40(3):281-289.
    PMID: 37897159 DOI: 10.47665/tb.40.3.002
    The intake of food and water containing the Sarcocystis parasite has been linked to a number of outbreaks worldwide, including Malaysia. Nevertheless, the lack of surveys and epidemiological data on Sarcocystis infections in Malaysia makes it difficult to estimate its occurrence in humans and animals. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Sarcocystis and the risk factors associated with infection among village chickens and pigs reared under different farm managements in Peninsular Malaysia. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using partial fragments of the 18S rRNA gene and ITS1 sequences. In the present study, 680 sera samples were collected from village chickens (n=250) and commercial pigs (n=433) and anti-Sarcocystis antibodies were screened using the enzymelinked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) kit. At the animal level, the prevalence of Sarcocystis was 9.2% (95% CI: 5.92-13.48) and at the farm level, it was 64.0% (95% CI: 42.52-82.03) in village chickens. The animal-level seroprevalence of Sarcocystis for pigs was 3.7% (95% CI: 2.13-5.93) and 36.8% (95% CI: 16.29-61.64) at the farm-level. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was conducted on meat samples from various parts of village chickens (n=250) consisting of brain, heart, lung, and pectoralis muscle tissues, and pork (n=121) consisting of intercostal muscle, diaphragm, and tongue. Sarcocystis DNA was detected in 6.4% (95% CI: 4.60-11.60) of village chicken samples but zero in pork samples. A total of 11 unique Sarcocystis haplotypes were isolated from these tissue samples. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of the putative risk factors showed a statistically significant association between Sarcocystis infection in pigs and uncovered storage of feed. Although no zoonotic Sarcocystis was isolated in this study, we reported the first discovery of S. wenzeli in Malaysia.
  20. Chitpitaklert P, Boonsuya A, Pechdee P, Thanchonnang C, LA N, Rattanapitoon NK, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2023 Sep 01;40(3):307-312.
    PMID: 37897163 DOI: 10.47665/tb.40.3.006
    Trichomonas tenax, an oral flagellated protozoon found in humans, potentially associated with the inflammation of periodontal tissues and decreased immunity that causes the tissue damage and tooth loss from chronic infection. Currently, there is a lack of data regarding the prevalence of T. tenax infection in Thailand. Therefore, this study aimed to measure prevalence of T. tenax in periodontal disease patients by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene and to determine the factors associated with the presence of this protozoan. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 230 patients with periodontal disease, who visited the oral health center of Suranaree University of Technology Hospital, Thailand from 2021 to 2022. Dental plaque specimens were collected and examined to identify the presence of T. tenax using the PCR-based 18S rRNA gene. The occurrence of factors associated with T. tenax infection was analyzed by the chi-square test and binary logistic regression. The prevalence of T. tenax infection was 13.48% (31/230), in patients, including 96.77% (30/31) and 3.23% (1/31) in periodontitis and gingivitis patients, respectively. The presence of T. tenax was associated with periodontal disease (p<0.001) and the Periodontal Screening and Record (PSR) index (p=0.001). The significant risk factors for T. tenax infection were periodontitis (ORadj=239.89, 95% CI=23.801-2417.746), no-underlying disease (ORadj=0.31, 95% CI=0.099-0.942), and male sex (ORadj=0.25, 95% CI=0.062-0.981). Dentists should be concerned about this oral protozoan in periodontitis patients. Furthermore, epidemiologic studies of T. tenax are still needed to investigate the mechanism of pathogenesis from T. tenax infection.
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