MyMedR

Fulltext The efficacy of molecular markers analysis with integration of sensory methods in detection of aroma in rice

Yeap HY, Faruq G, Zakaria HP, Harikrishna JA

ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:569268.

PMID: 24222741 DOI: 10.1155/2013/569268

Allele Specific Amplification with four primers (External Antisense Primer, External Sense Primer, Internal Nonfragrant Sense Primer, and Internal Fragrant Antisense Primer) and sensory evaluation with leaves and grains were executed to identify aromatic rice genotypes and their F1 individuals derived from different crosses of 2 Malaysian varieties with 4 popular land races and 3 advance lines. Homozygous aromatic (fgr/fgr) F1 individuals demonstrated better aroma scores compared to both heterozygous nonaromatic (FGR/fgr) and homozygous nonaromatic (FGR/FGR) individuals, while, some F1 individuals expressed aroma in both leaf and grain aromatic tests without possessing the fgr allele. Genotypic analysis of F1 individuals for the fgr gene represented homozygous aromatic, heterozygous nonaromatic and homozygous nonaromatic genotypes in the ratio 20:19:3. Genotypic and phenotypic analysis revealed that aroma in F1 individuals was successfully inherited from the parents, but either molecular analysis or sensory evaluation alone could not determine aromatic condition completely. The integration of molecular analysis with sensory methods was observed as rapid and reliable for the screening of aromatic genotypes because molecular analysis could distinguish aromatic homozygous, nonaromatic homozygous and nonaromatic heterozygous individuals, whilst the sensory method facilitated the evaluation of aroma emitted from leaf and grain during flowering to maturity stages.

Experimental infection of brown-marbled grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forskal), with Vibrio parahaemolyticus identifies parvalbumin beta-2 subunit I, alpha-2-macroglobulin, nattectin and immunoglobulin light chain, differentially expressed in resistant grouper

Low CF, Shamsudin MN, Abdullah M, Chee HY, Aliyu-Paiko M

J Fish Dis, 2015 Jan;38(1):17-25.

PMID: 24397626 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.12195

The mechanisms through which brown-marbled grouper accomplishes resistance to infection, particularly against Vibrios, are not yet fully understood. In this study, brown-marbled grouper fingerlings were experimentally infected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, to identify disease resistance grouper, and the serum proteome profiles were compared between resistant and susceptible candidates, via two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). The results showed that putative parvalbumin beta-2 subunit I, alpha-2-macroglobulin, nattectin and immunoglobulin light chain proteins were among proteins that significantly overexpressed in the resistant fish as compared to the susceptible group of fish, whereas apolipoprotein E and immunoglobulin light chain proteins were observed to be differentially overexpressed in the susceptible fish. Further analysis by peptide sequencing revealed that the immunoglobulin light chain proteins identified in the resistant and susceptible groups differed in amino acid composition. Taken together, the results demonstrated for the first time that putative parvalbumin beta-2 subunit I, alpha-2-macroglobulin, nattectin and immunoglobulin light chain are among important proteins participating to effect disease resistance mechanism in fish and were overexpressed to function collectively to resist V. parahaemolyticus infection. Most of these molecules are mediators of immune response.

Fulltext A young patient with history of Kawasaki disease presenting with triple vessel disease

Lim AL, Lam HY, Kareem BA, Kamarulzaman MH

Med J Malaysia, 2012 Apr;67(2):219-21.

PMID: 22822650 MyJurnal

Kawasaki disease is primarily a condition that affects young children and it is associated with cardiac morbidity and mortality. This disease has been known to cause coronary artery aneurysms which occurs as a sequelae of vasculitis. The progression of triple vessel disease in adult which results from cardiac complications from Kawasaki disease is rare. We report a case of a young man with history of Kawasaki disease at infancy presenting with triple vessel disease requiring cardiac bypass surgery at the age of 20 years old.

Fulltext Improvement to the scanning electron microscope image colorization by adaptive tuning

Sim KS, Ting HY, Lai MA, Tso CP

J Microsc, 2009 Jun;234(3):243-50.

PMID: 19493101 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03167.x

An improvement to the previously proposed Canny optimization technique for scanning electron microscope image colorization is reported. The additional process is adaptive tuning, where colour tuning is performed adaptively, based on comparing the original luminance values with calculated luminance values. The complete adaptive Canny optimization technique gives significantly better mechanical contrast on scanning electron microscope grey-scale images than do existing methods.

Fulltext Lagrange time delay estimation for scanning electron microscope image magnification

Sim KS, Thong LW, Ting HY, Tso CP

J Microsc, 2010 Feb;237(2):111-8.

PMID: 20096041 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03325.x

Interpolation techniques that are used for image magnification to obtain more useful details of the surface such as morphology and mechanical contrast usually rely on the signal information distributed around edges and areas of sharp changes and these signal information can also be used to predict missing details from the sample image. However, many of these interpolation methods tend to smooth or blur out image details around the edges. In the present study, a Lagrange time delay estimation interpolator method is proposed and this method only requires a small filter order and has no noticeable estimation bias. Comparing results with the original scanning electron microscope magnification and results of various other interpolation methods, the Lagrange time delay estimation interpolator is found to be more efficient, more robust and easier to execute.

In vitro cytotoxicology model of oligo-chitosan and n, o-carboxymethyl chitosan using primary normal human epidermal keratinocyte cultures

Lim CK, Halim AS, Lau HY, Ujang Z, Hazri A

J Appl Biomater Biomech, 2007 May-Aug;5(2):82-7.

PMID: 20799177

Chitosan (beta-1, 4-D-glucosamine) is a deacetylated form of chitin with excellent biological properties in wound management. The natural properties of chitosan have the physical and chemical limitations to be widely used in biomedical fields. The improvement of the physical and chemical properties of chitosan with some additional chemicals will alter its biocompatibility. Therefore, the biological attribute of the modified chitosan must be evaluated. In this study, the cytotoxicity of oligo-chitosan (OC) and N, O- carboxymethyl-chitosan (NO-CMC) derivatives (O-C 1%, O-C 5%, NO-CMC 1% and NO-CMC 5%) was evaluated using primary normal human epidermal keratinocyte (pNHEK) cultures as an in vitro toxicology model at standardized cell passages (fourth passages). 3-[4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) was used as a cell viability assay. The O-C 1% is one of the most compatible chitosan derivatives because it steadily sustained >70% of viable cells until 72 hr post-treatment. This was followed by O-C 5%, NO-CMC 5% and NO-CMC 1%. Therefore, oligo-chitosan had the ideal properties of a biocompatible material compared to N, O- carboxymethyl-chitosan in this study.

Cervical Ripening Balloon for Induction of Labour in High Risk Pregnancies

Voon HY, Wong AT, Ting ML, Suharjono H

Med J Malaysia, 2015 Aug;70(4):224-7.

PMID: 26358018 MyJurnal

BACKGROUND: The Cervical Ripening Balloon (CRB) is a novel mechanical method for induction of labour (IOL), reducing the risks of hyperstimulation associated with pharmacological methods. However, there remains a paucity of literature on its application in high risk mothers, who have an elevated risk of uterine rupture, namely those with previous scars and grandmultiparity.

METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study on IOL using the CRB in women with previous caesarean section or grandmultiparity between January 2014 and March 2015. All cases were identified from the Sarawak General Hospital CRB request registry. Individual admission notes were traced and data extracted using a standardised proforma.

RESULTS: The overall success rate of vaginal delivery after IOL was 50%, although this increases to about two-thirds when sub analysis was performed in women with previous tested scars and the unscarred, grandmultiparous woman. There was a significant change in Bishop score prior to insertion and after removal of the CRB. The Bishop score increased by a score of 3.2 (95% CI 2.8-3.6), which was statistically significant (p<0.01) and occurred across both subgroups, not limited to the grandmultipara. There were no cases of hyperstimulation but one case of intrapartum fever and scar dehiscence each (1.4%). Notably, there were two cases of change in lie/presentation after CRB insertion.

CONCLUSION: CRB adds to the obstetricians' armamentarium and appears to provide a reasonable alternative for the IOL in women at high risk of uterine rupture. Rates of hyperstimulation, maternal infection and scar dehiscence are low and hence appeals to the user.

Mediastinal mature teratoma in a child- A case report

Liew WX, Lam HY, Narasimman S, Navarasi S, Mohd Hamzah K

Med J Malaysia, 2016 02;71(1):32-4.

PMID: 27130743

Mediastinal teratoma is an infrequent germ cell tumour and comprises of 1 to 5% of all mediastinal tumours. We report a case of mediastinal mature teratoma in a 12 year old boy who presented to us with persistent non-productive cough, fever and dyspnoea for the past 7 months. Computed tomographic scan of thorax revealed a large anterior mediastinal mass measuring 11.2x9.9x14cm with calcification within. He subsequently underwent a median sternotomy with left subcostal extension (L-incision) and excision of tumour. Histopathology of the tumour revealed a mature cystic teratoma. We would like to report a case of successful surgical management of a large mediastinal mature teratoma in a child.

Anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome: anti-ganglioside complex reactivity determines clinical spectrum

Fukami Y, Wong AH, Funakoshi K, Safri AY, Shahrizaila N, Yuki N

Eur J Neurol, 2016 Feb;23(2):320-6.

PMID: 26176883 DOI: 10.1111/ene.12769

Anti-GQ1b antibodies have been found in patients with Miller Fisher syndrome as well as its related conditions. Our aim was to identify the mechanism by which autoantibodies produce various clinical presentations in 'anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome'.

Identification of immune response-related genes and signalling pathways in spleen of Vibrio parahaemolyticus-infected Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forskal) by next-generation sequencing

Low CF, Mariana NS, Maha A, Chee HY, Fatimah MY

J Fish Dis, 2016 Mar;39(3):389-94.

PMID: 25786532 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.12359

Molecular detection of enteroviruses from an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease in Malaysia in 1997

Abubakar S, Chee HY, Shafee N, Chua KB, Lam SK

Scand. J. Infect. Dis., 1999;31(4):331-5.

PMID: 10528868

Enterovirus 5'UTR sequences were detected by RT-PCR in 22 out of 47 suspected hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) patients during an outbreak of the disease with incidences of fatal brainstem encephalomyelitis in Malaysia in 1997. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses of the isolates 5'UTR sequences suggest the presence of predominantly enteroviruses with high sequence similarities to Echovirus 1 and Coxsackievirus A9 in the Malaysian peninsula. No fatal cases, however, were associated with these isolates. The remaining isolates, including all (4/4) isolates of the fatal cases from the Malaysian peninsula and Sarawak shared very high sequence identity with enterovirus 71MS (EV71). These findings suggest that several enteroviruses were circulating in Malaysia during the outbreak period, with only EV71 causing fatal infections.

Allergenic proteins of natural rubber latex

Yeang HY, Arif SA, Yusof F, Sunderasan E

Methods, 2002 May;27(1):32-45.

PMID: 12079415 DOI: 10.1016/S1046-2023(02)00049-X

As the living cytoplasm of laticiferous cells, Hevea brasiliensis latex is a rich blend of organic substances that include a mélange of proteins. A small number of these proteins have given rise to the problem of latex allergy. The salient characteristics of H. brasiliensis latex allergens that are recognized by the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) are reviewed. These are the proteins associated with the rubber particles, the cytosolic C-serum proteins and the B-serum proteins that originate mainly from the lutoids. Procedures for the isolation and purification of latex allergens are discussed, from latex collection in the field to various preparative approaches adopted in the laboratory. As interest in recombinant latex allergens increases, there is a need to validate recombinant proteins to ascertain equivalence with their native counterparts when used in immunological studies, diagnostics, and immunotherapy.

Fulltext The yield for colorectal cancer and adenoma by indication at colonoscopy

Cheong KL, Roohi S, Jarmin R, Sagap I, Tong SHY, Qureshi A

Med J Malaysia, 2000 Dec;55(4):464-6.

PMID: 11221158

Colonoscopy is an integral part of the clinician armamentarium in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and its precursor, the adenoma. Polypoid lesions when identified can be excised at colonoscopy and in turn reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. We prospectively evaluated the yield of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps by indication for colonoscopy over a one-year period. A total of 375 colonoscopies were carried out. The more common indications of colonoscopy were rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, surveillance of colorectal cancer and altered bowel habit. The highest yield for cancer was for rectal bleeding with 12.5% while surveillance of patients with a history of polyps yielded the highest percentage of new polyps. We conclude that rectal bleeding as an indication for colonoscopy yielded the highest number of cancers.

Gamma radioactivity level in Sn slag dumps

Chong CS, Chong HY, Fun HK, Leong LS

Health Phys, 1985 Nov;49(5):1008-10.

PMID: 4066326

Ultrastructural aspects of sylvatic dengue virus infection in Vero cell

Fish-Low CY, Abubakar S, Othman F, Chee HY

Malays J Pathol, 2019 Apr;41(1):41-46.

PMID: 31025636

INTRODUCTION: Dengue virus (DENV), the causative agent of dengue disease exists in sylvatic and endemic ecotypes. The cell morphological changes and viral morphogenesis of two dengue ecotypes were examined at the ultrastructural level to identify potential similarities and differences in the surrogate model of enzootic host.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vero cells were inoculated with virus at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.1. Cell cultures were harvested over a time course and processed for transmission electron microscopic imaging.

RESULTS: The filopodia protrusions on cell periphery preceded virus entry. Additionally, sylvatic DENV infection was found spreading slower than the endemic DENV. Morphogenesis of both dengue ecotypes was alike but at different level of efficiency in the permissive cells.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first ultrastructural study on sylvatic DENV and this comparative study revealed the similarities and differences of cellular responses and morphogenesis of two dengue ecotypes in vitro. The study revealed the weaker infectivity of sylvatic DENV in the surrogate model of enzootic host, which supposed to support better replication of enzootic DENV than endemic DENV.

Intravenous immunoglobulin may reduce relapse frequency in neuromyelitis optica

Viswanathan S, Wong AH, Quek AM, Yuki N

J Neuroimmunol, 2015 May 15;282:92-6.

PMID: 25903734 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.03.021

To evaluate the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in preventing relapses in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and its spectrum disorders (NMOSDs).

A case of xanthogranulomatous appendicitis in the female pelvis

Yung WH, Siew CHC, Lee HY, Low HM

Med J Malaysia, 2021 Jan;76(1):114-117.

PMID: 33510122

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is an uncommon form of chronic inflammatory process. Only a few isolated case reports of xanthogranulomatous appendicitis (XA) have been published. XA has nonspecific imaging findings and cannot be reliably differentiated on imaging from locally advanced malignancy. XA however follows a benign course and can potentially be treated with surgical resection.

Accelerometer Profile of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in a Multi-Ethnic Urban Asian Population

Chu AHY, Bernard JY, Koh D, Müller-Riemenschneider F

Res Q Exerc Sport, 2021 Sep;92(3):361-368.

PMID: 32154777 DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2020.1734520

Purpose: Variability in accelerometry-data processing decisions limited data comparability across studies. We aimed to examine different accelerometry-data processing rules: varying bout lengths and allowance of 0- and 2-min interruptions on the total and bout-accumulated time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior estimates, and describe the distribution of activity time based on counts per min (CPM) in granular categories. Method: Using the Singapore Health 2 survey, this study included 746 adults (41.8% women, median age 45.0 years) who provided valid ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer-data (≥4 valid days with ≥10-h/day). Quantile regression analysis adjusting for accelerometry daily wear time, age, and gender was performed to calculate the median and interquartile range of accelerometry estimates. Results: Median MVPA time accumulated in bouts of 1-min versus bouts of 10-min was 39.2 min/day and 6.0 min/day, respectively. MVPA time was higher when considering a 2-min interruption (range: 1.8-39.2 min/day) compared to 0-min interruption (range: 0-35.5 min/day) across bout lengths of 1- to 15-min. Participants were sedentary (≤100 CPM) for a daily median of 7.6 h/day. Median activities min/day on the lower-intensity activity spectrum (100-2499 CPM) decreased from 63.4 to 4.6 min/day, while on the higher-intensity activity spectrum (≥2500 CPM) was ≤2.9 min/day. Men generally spent more time in MVPA than women. Conclusions: This study highlights the differences in accelerometry estimates based on data processing decisions, and the importance of quantifying accelerometry-based activity time across the granular intensity spectrum. More studies are warranted to understand the determinants and health impact of these behaviors.

Fulltext Severe Plasmodium knowlesi infection with multiorgan involvement in north east peninsular Malaysia

Azidah AK, Mohd Faizal MA, Lili HY, Zeehaida M

Trop Biomed, 2014 Mar;31(1):31-5.

PMID: 24862042 MyJurnal

Plasmodium knowlesi has been recently identified as the "fifth human malaria species" following the discovery in Malaysian Borneo of a large focus of this simian malaria parasite in humans. Even though it shares microscopic similarities with Plasmodium malariae, it may cause severe illness with risk of fatality. We describe a case of P. knowlesi infection causing multi-organ failure in a patient who was successfully managed due to early recognition of the infection. Clinicians in this region should be more aware of the infection as it is not as rare as previously thought. This case write up highlight the case of severe malaria infection which presented with multi organ involvement which is caused by P. knowlesi.

Ultrastructural changes of cell morphology and viral morphogenesis of two ecotypes of dengue virus infection in human monocytic U-937 cell

Fish-Low CY, Abu Bakar S, Othman F, Chee HY

Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):1154-1159.

PMID: 33601863

Dengue virus (DENV) is maintained and circulated in both sylvatic/enzootic and endemic/human cycles and spill over infection of sylvatic DENV into human populations has been reported. Extensive deforestation and increase human activities in forest may increase the risk of human exposure to sylvatic dengue infection and this may become a threat to human. Present study investigated the changes in cell morphology and viral morphogenesis upon infection with sylvatic and endemic ecotypes in human monocytic U-937 cells using transmission electron microscopy. Autophagy, a process that is either pro-viral or anti-viral, was observed in U-937 cells of both infections, however only the replication of endemic DENV was evidenced. An insight into the infection responses of sylvatic progenitors of DENV in susceptible host cells may provide better understanding on dengue emergence in human populations.

Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 191 in total