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Displaying publications 41 - 47 of 47 in total

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Impact of interventional nephrology on outcome and penetration rate of a CAPD program

Wong CM, Ng KP, Keng TC, Lim SK, Tan SY

Perit Dial Int, 2011 3 24;31(2):194-6.
PMID: 21427247 DOI: 10.3747/pdi.2009.00237
Clinical predictors of non-diabetic renal disease and role of renal biopsy in diabetic patients with renal involvement: a single centre review

Chong YB, Keng TC, Tan LP, Ng KP, Kong WY, Wong CM, et al.

Ren Fail, 2012;34(3):323-8.
PMID: 22250665 DOI: 10.3109/0886022X.2011.647302

BACKGROUND:
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is reportedly the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide. However, non-diabetic renal diseases (NDRD) are not uncommon among T2DM patients with renal involvement. Our study aimed to examine the prevalence of NDRD in T2DM and clinical markers for diabetic nephropathy (DN) and NDRD and to determine the role of renal biopsy in T2DM patients and its impact on clinical practice.

METHODS:
We conducted a retrospective analysis of T2DM patients in whom renal biopsies were performed from January 2004 to March 2008 (n = 110).

RESULTS:
Biopsy results were divided into three groups: group I/pure DN (62.7%), group II/isolated NDRD (18.2%), and group III/mixed lesions (19.1%). The causes of NDRD in decreasing order of frequency were acute interstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritides, hypertensive renal disease, and acute tubular necrosis. Significant clinical markers for DN are presence of diabetic retinopathy and longer duration of diabetes. For NDRD, useful clinical markers include the presence of acute renal failure and microscopic hematuria. In the DN subgroup, Indians had significantly shorter duration of diabetes on biopsy compared with Malays and Chinese.

CONCLUSIONS:
NDRD is prevalent in T2DM patients, and given its potentially treatable nature, renal biopsy should be considered in T2DM patients with nephropathy, especially in those with atypical features.
Modulatory effects of condensed tannin fractions of different molecular weights from a Leucaena leucocephala hybrid on the bovine rumen bacterial community in vitro

Saminathan M, Sieo CC, Gan HM, Ravi S, Venkatachalam K, Abdullah N, et al.

J Sci Food Agric, 2016 Oct;96(13):4565-74.
PMID: 26910767 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.7674

BACKGROUND: Condensed tannin (CT) fractions of different molecular weights (MWs) may affect rumen microbial metabolism by altering bacterial diversity. In this study the effects of unfractionated CTs (F0) and five CT fractions (F1-F5) of different MWs (F1, 1265.8 Da; F2, 1028.6 Da; F3, 652.2 Da; F4, 562.2 Da; F5, 469.6 Da) from Leucaena leucocephala hybrid-Rendang (LLR) on the structure and diversity of the rumen bacterial community were investigated in vitro.
RESULTS: Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay showed that the total bacterial population was not significantly (P > 0.05) different among the dietary treatments. Inclusion of higher-MW CT fractions F1 and F2 significantly (P
Fulltext Chemsex among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Singapore and the challenges ahead: A qualitative study

Tan RKJ, Wong CM, Chen MI, Chan YY, Bin Ibrahim MA, Lim OZ, et al.

Int J Drug Policy, 2018 11;61:31-37.
PMID: 30388567 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.10.002

BACKGROUND: Sexualised substance use, or 'chemsex' has been shown to be a major factor driving the syndemic of HIV/AIDS in communities of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) around the world. However, there is a paucity of research on chemsex among GBMSM in Singapore due to punitive drug laws and the criminalisation of sexual behaviour between men. This qualitative descriptive study is the first to explore perceptions towards, motivators to engaging in, and the barriers to addressing the harms associated with chemsex among GBMSM in Singapore.
METHODS: We conducted 30 semi-structured in-depth interviews with self-identifying GBMSM between the ages of 18-39 in Singapore following a purposive sampling strategy. Interview topics included participants' perceptions of drug use among GBMSM in Singapore, perceptions towards chemsex, reasons for drug use and chemsex, and recommendations to address the harms associated with chemsex in Singapore. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and analysed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Participants reported that it was common to encounter chemsex among GBMSM in Singapore as it could be easily accessed or initiated using social networking phone apps. Enhancement and prolongation of sexual experiences, fear of rejection from sexual partners and peers, and its use as a means of coping with societal rejection were three main reasons cited for engaging in chemsex. The impact of punitive drug laws on disclosure and stigmatisation of GBMSM who use drugs were reported to be key barriers towards addressing chemsex. Participants suggested using gay-specific commercial venues as avenues for awareness and educational campaigns, and social media to reach out to younger GBMSM.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the complexities behind chemsex use among GBMSM in Singapore, and the range of individual to institutional factors to be addressed. We recommend that community-based organisations and policy-makers find ways to destigmatise discussion of chemsex and provide safe spaces to seek help for drug use.
The systematic position of Hypsugo macrotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) and a new record from Peninsular Malaysia

Lim LS, Csorba G, Wong CM, Zubaid A, Rahman SP, Kumaran JV, et al.

Zootaxa, 2016 Sep 22;4170(1):169-177.
PMID: 27701281 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4170.1.10

The Southeast Asian species of Hypsugo are rare bats, except for H. cadornae and H. pulveratus, which are distributed throughout the Indomalayan region. Hypsugo macrotis is restricted to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and adjacent islands, and is known only from a handful of specimens. Here we report a new locality record of the species from Seremban, Peninsular Malaysia, which also represents the first known building-dweller colony of any Hypsugo from the region. We discuss the taxonomic status of two morphologically similar species, H. macrotis and H. vordermanni, and provide the first COI and cyt b gene sequences for H. macrotis and reconstruct the species' phylogenetic relationships.
The Effects of Different Induction Regimes on Serial Lymphocyte Subsets in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single Tertiary Center Experience

Jalalonmuhali M, Ng KP, Lee YW, Gan CC, Hing Wong A, Wan Md Adnan WAH, et al.

Transplant Proc, 2022 Feb 15.
PMID: 35181166 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2022.01.004

BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressive therapy is the backbone of kidney transplantation in preventing acute rejection. T-cell depletion after doses of thymoglobulin is dose-dependent, as are their side effects. At the same time, basiliximab and other maintenance immunosuppressive drugs act at different signals on T lymphocytes. Therefore, studying the pattern of lymphocyte subset depletion depending on the induction regime given at transplantation could be an added tool in managing post-transplant recipients.
METHODOLOGY: This prospective observational study recruited kidney transplant recipients from August 2019 through April 2021 at the University of Malaya Medical Centre. Blood tests for lymphocyte subsets were taken at pre-transplant, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-transplantation. At transplantation, recipients received either basiliximab, low-dose thymoglobulin (cumulative dose: 1.5 mg/kg), or standard-dose thymoglobulin (cumulative dose: 5 mg/kg).
RESULTS: A total of 39 patients were recruited: 38.5% received basiliximab (15 of 39), 15.4% received low-dose thymoglobulin (6 of 39), and 46.2% received standard-dose thymoglobulin (18 of 39). Absolute lymphocyte counts 1 week post-transplantation were 1.5 ± 0.84 × 109/L for basiliximab, 0.7 ± 0.57 × 109/L for low-dose thymoglobulin, and 0.1 ± 0.08 × 109/L for standard-dose thymoglobulin (P < .001). The CD4+ and CD8+ counts were severely depleted in the standard-dose thymoglobulin group, with a statistically significant differenceup to 6 months post-transplantation. In the low-dose thymoglobulin group, the CD4+ and CD8+ counts were depleted at 1 week post-transplantation and recovered at 1 month post-transplantation. There was no difference in allograft function and incidence of allograft rejection across groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The effects on lymphocyte counts, CD4+ and CD8+, vary depending on the type and dose of induction immunosuppression. This could be a guiding tool in managing immunosuppression post-transplantation depending on the patient's immunologic risk.
Fulltext Seroprevalence of Zika Virus among Forest Fringe Communities in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah: General Population-Based Study

Khoo HY, Lee HY, Khor CS, Tan KK, Bin Hassan MR, Wong CM, et al.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2022 Jul 25;107(3):560-8.
PMID: 35895331 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0988

Zika virus (ZIKV) has had a history in Malaysia since its first isolation in 1966. However, it is believed that the immunity status among forest fringe communities has been underreported. We conducted cross-sectional surveillance of forest fringe communities from 10 Orang Asli villages and their peripheral communities in Perak, Pahang, and Sabah in Malaysia. A total of 706 samples were collected from 2019 to 2020 and screened for ZIKV exposure using an anti-ZIKV IgG ELISA kit. A neutralization assay against ZIKV was used to confirm the reactive samples. The seroprevalence results reported from the study of this population in Malaysia were 21.0% (n = 148, 95% CI, 0.183-0.273) after confirmation with a foci reduction neutralization test. The presence of neutralizing antibodies provides evidence that the studied forest fringe communities in Malaysia have been exposed to ZIKV. Multivariate analysis showed that those older than 44 years and those with an education below the university level had been exposed significantly to ZIKV. In addition, higher seropositivity rates to ZIKV were also reported among secondary school students from Bentong (Pahang) and residents from Segaliud (Sabah). No associations were identified between Zika seropositivity and gender, household size, house radius to the jungle, and income level. The presence of neutralizing antibodies against ZIKV among the study population might indicate that the causative pathogen had already circulated widely in forest fringe regions. Intervention for vector control, protection from mosquito bites, and awareness improvement should be encouraged in this population.