Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 65 in total

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  1. Applying a statistical PTB detection procedure to complement the gold standard
    Noor NM, Yunus A, Bakar SA, Hussin A, Rijal OM
    Comput Med Imaging Graph, 2011 Apr;35(3):186-94.
    PMID: 21036539 DOI: 10.1016/j.compmedimag.2010.10.002
    This paper investigates a novel statistical discrimination procedure to detect PTB when the gold standard requirement is taken into consideration. Archived data were used to establish two groups of patients which are the control and test group. The control group was used to develop the statistical discrimination procedure using four vectors of wavelet coefficients as feature vectors for the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), lung cancer (LC), and normal lung (NL). This discrimination procedure was investigated using the test group where the number of sputum positive and sputum negative cases that were correctly classified as PTB cases were noted. The proposed statistical discrimination method is able to detect PTB patients and LC with high true positive fraction. The method is also able to detect PTB patients that are sputum negative and therefore may be used as a complement to the gold standard.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical*
  2. Fulltext ABCB1 C3435T polymorphism and the risk of resistance to antiepileptic drugs in epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
    Haerian BS, Roslan H, Raymond AA, Tan CT, Lim KS, Zulkifli SZ, et al.
    Seizure, 2010 Jul;19(6):339-46.
    PMID: 20605481 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2010.05.004
    The C3435T, a major allelic variant of the ABCB1 gene, is proposed to play a crucial role in drug-resistance in epilepsy. The C/C genotype carriers reportedly are at higher risk of pharmacoresistance to AEDs, but only in some studies. The hypothesis of the C-variant associated risk and resistance to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has been hampered by conflicting results from inadequate power in case-control studies. To assess the role of C3435T polymorphism in drug-resistance in epilepsy, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  3. Comparison of signal-to-noise, blank determination, and linear regression methods for the estimation of detection and quantification limits for volatile organic compounds by gas chromatography
    Sanagi MM, Ling SL, Nasir Z, Hermawan D, Ibrahim WA, Abu Naim A
    J AOAC Int, 2010 2 20;92(6):1833-8.
    PMID: 20166602
    LOD and LOQ are two important performance characteristics in method validation. This work compares three methods based on the International Conference on Harmonization and EURACHEM guidelines, namely, signal-to-noise, blank determination, and linear regression, to estimate the LOD and LOQ for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by experimental methodology using GC. Five VOCs, toluene, ethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, n-propylbenzene, and styrene, were chosen for the experimental study. The results indicated that the estimated LODs and LOQs were not equivalent and could vary by a factor of 5 to 6 for the different methods. It is, therefore, essential to have a clearly described procedure for estimating the LOD and LOQ during method validation to allow interlaboratory comparisons.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  4. A method for cross-cultural adaptation of a verbal memory assessment
    Lim YY, Prang KH, Cysique L, Pietrzak RH, Snyder PJ, Maruff P
    Behav Res Methods, 2009 Nov;41(4):1190-200.
    PMID: 19897828 DOI: 10.3758/BRM.41.4.1190
    Verbal memory tests-although important to the neuropsychological assessment of memory-are biased to many cultures. In the present article, we highlighted the limitations associated with the direct translation of tests and word matching, as well as the lack of ecological validity and cultural appropriateness when tests developed in one culture are used in another. To overcome these limitations, a verbal memory paradigm was developed that framed the memory assessment with a shopping-list format, but that developed culturally specific stimuli for the different language groups. The aim of the present study was to determine the equivalence of this shopping list memory test in different cultural and language groups. Eighty-three adults from English-, French-, Malay-, and Chinese-speaking cultures participated in four experiments. The results of all the experiments indicated that performance of verbal list learning is equivalent, irrespective of the language used. These results support the use of this methodology for minimizing cross-cultural test bias, and have important implications for testing culturally and linguistically diverse individuals.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  5. Improvement of production of citric acid from oil palm empty fruit bunches: optimization of media by statistical experimental designs
    Bari MN, Alam MZ, Muyibi SA, Jamal P, Abdullah-Al-Mamun
    Bioresour Technol, 2009 Jun;100(12):3113-20.
    PMID: 19231166 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.01.005
    A sequential optimization based on statistical design and one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) method was employed to optimize the media constituents for the improvement of citric acid production from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) through solid state bioconversion using Aspergillus niger IBO-103MNB. The results obtained from the Plackett-Burman design indicated that the co-substrate (sucrose), stimulator (methanol) and minerals (Zn, Cu, Mn and Mg) were found to be the major factors for further optimization. Based on the OFAT method, the selected medium constituents and inoculum concentration were optimized by the central composite design (CCD) under the response surface methodology (RSM). The statistical analysis showed that the optimum media containing 6.4% (w/w) of sucrose, 9% (v/w) of minerals and 15.5% (v/w) of inoculum gave the maximum production of citric acid (337.94 g/kg of dry EFB). The analysis showed that sucrose (p<0.0011) and mineral solution (p<0.0061) were more significant compared to inoculum concentration (p<0.0127) for the citric acid production.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  6. Correcting endogenous concentrations of testosterone influences bioequivalence and shows the superiority of TDS(R)-testosterone versus Androgel(R)
    Chik Z, Johnston A, Tucker AT, Kirby K, Alam CA
    Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther, 2009 Apr;47(4):262-8.
    PMID: 19356392
    Circulating concentrations of endogenous compounds such as testosterone, complicate the analysis of pharmacokinetic parameters when these compounds are administered exogenously. This study examines the influence of three correction methods of accounting for endogenous concentrations on the determination of bioequivalence between two testosterone formulations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  7. An observational study of drug administration errors in a Malaysian hospital (study of drug administration errors)
    Chua SS, Tea MH, Rahman MH
    J Clin Pharm Ther, 2009 Apr;34(2):215-23.
    PMID: 19250142 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2008.00997.x
    Drug administration errors were the second most frequent type of medication errors, after prescribing errors but the latter were often intercepted hence, administration errors were more probably to reach the patients. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the frequency and types of drug administration errors in a Malaysian hospital ward.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  8. Garlic supplementation and serum cholesterol: a meta-analysis
    Khoo YS, Aziz Z
    J Clin Pharm Ther, 2009 Apr;34(2):133-45.
    PMID: 19250134 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2008.00998.x
    Prevention of cardiovascular disease by modifying its major risk factors, including serum cholesterol levels, is an important strategy. Regular intake of garlic has been suggested, but its impact on cholesterol levels has been inconsistent.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  9. A comparison of human elements and nonhuman elements in private health care settings: customers' perceptions and expectations
    Mohd Suki N, Chwee Lian JC, Suki NM
    J Hosp Mark Public Relations, 2009;19(2):113-28.
    PMID: 19827322 DOI: 10.1080/15390940903041567
    In today's highly competitive health care environment, many private health care settings are now looking into customer service indicators to learn customers' perceptions and determine whether they are meeting customers' expectations in order to ensure that their customers are satisfied with the services. This research paper aims to investigate whether the human elements were more important than the nonhuman elements in private health care settings. We used the internationally renowned SERVQUAL five-dimension model plus three additional dimensions-courtesy, communication, and understanding of customers of the human element-when evaluating health care services. A total of 191 respondents from three private health care settings in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia were investigated. Descriptive statistics were calculated by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program, version 15. Interestingly, the results suggested that customers nowadays have very high expectations especially when it comes to the treatment they are receiving. Overall, the research indicated that the human elements were more important than the nonhuman element in private health care settings. Hospital management should look further to improve on areas that have been highlighted. Implications for management practice and directions for future research are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  10. Determination of betulinic acid from Orthosiphon stamineus leaf extract in rat plasma
    Akowuah GA, Zhari I
    Pharmazie, 2008 Nov;63(11):788-90.
    PMID: 19069237
    A simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to determine the content of betulinic acid (BA) in rat plasma collected at different times (0-8 h) after oral administration of Orthosiphon stamineus leaf extract was developed. The features of the assay include protein precipitation using acetonitrile and isocratic elution using reverse phase C-18 column with ultraviolet (UV) detection. The recovery of BA from plasma varied from 98.4 to 102.5%. The R.S.D of intra- and inter-day precision from rat plasma ranged from 4.2 to 9.8%. The maximum concentration of BA in the plasma was 1.2 +/- 0.3 microg/ml at 1 h after oral administration of the extract.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  11. Cost of illness of tuberculosis in Penang, Malaysia
    Elamin EI, Ibrahim MI, Sulaiman SA, Muttalif AR
    Pharm World Sci, 2008 Jun;30(3):281-6.
    PMID: 18204974 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-007-9185-0
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the costs incurred by the public health services and patients as a result of tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Setting The study was conducted in a government hospital located in the northern region of Malaysia.

    METHOD: Retrospective data were collected from medical records and the patients were observed until the completion of their medication. A pharmacoeconomic evaluation was applied to calculate direct and indirect costs.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Direct and indirect costs of tuberculosis treatment in a government health institution.

    RESULTS: Two hundred and one tuberculosis patients were included in the study. Different regimens with various durations of treatments were used. The direct medical and non-medical costs as well as indirect costs were calculated and were found to be as follows: US$61.44 for anti-tuberculosis drugs and supplies, US$28.63 for X-ray examinations, US$28.53 for laboratory tests, US$20.03 for healthcare staff time, US$4.28 for hospitalisation, US$43.20 for overhead costs, US$608.11 for transportation and meals and US$118.78 for time away from work. The cost to the patients constitutes approximately 80% of the total cost of the treatment.

    CONCLUSION: The cost of treating the illness of tuberculosis per patient was US$916.4. The cost of anti-tuberculosis drugs constituted the highest proportion of the cost to the public health services (31.7%) while the cost to the patient constituted the major proportion of the total cost of the illness (79.4%).

    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  12. Fulltext Backcalculation of HIV infection rates in Malaysia
    Ong HC, Soo KL
    Med J Malaysia, 2006 Dec;61(5):616-20.
    PMID: 17623964 MyJurnal
    It has been almost two decades ago since the first AIDS case was reported in Malaysia. It has also been approximately eight years ago when the method of backcalculation was used to estimate the past HIV infection rate from the AIDS incidence data and an estimate of the incubation period distribution. This method is used because it makes use of the Malaysian AIDS incidence which is fairly reliable and reflects the trend of the epidemic as compared to the HIV infection rate recorded. The latest results generated show a slowdown in the increase of the number of estimated infected HIV+ cases in the late 1990s and this trend is supported by a slowdown in the increase of the number of AIDS cases recorded.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  13. Random multispace quantization as an analytic mechanism for BioHashing of biometric and random identity inputs
    Teoh AB, Goh A, Ngo DC
    IEEE Trans Pattern Anal Mach Intell, 2006 Dec;28(12):1892-901.
    PMID: 17108365
    Biometric analysis for identity verification is becoming a widespread reality. Such implementations necessitate large-scale capture and storage of biometric data, which raises serious issues in terms of data privacy and (if such data is compromised) identity theft. These problems stem from the essential permanence of biometric data, which (unlike secret passwords or physical tokens) cannot be refreshed or reissued if compromised. Our previously presented biometric-hash framework prescribes the integration of external (password or token-derived) randomness with user-specific biometrics, resulting in bitstring outputs with security characteristics (i.e., noninvertibility) comparable to cryptographic ciphers or hashes. The resultant BioHashes are hence cancellable, i.e., straightforwardly revoked and reissued (via refreshed password or reissued token) if compromised. BioHashing furthermore enhances recognition effectiveness, which is explained in this paper as arising from the Random Multispace Quantization (RMQ) of biometric and external random inputs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  14. Association of loss of heterozygosity and PTEN gene abnormalities with paraclinical, clinical modalities and survival time of glioma patients in Malaysia
    Abdullah JM, Farizan A, Asmarina K, Zainuddin N, Ghazali MM, Jaafar H, et al.
    Asian J Surg, 2006 Oct;29(4):274-82.
    PMID: 17098662
    The pattern of allelic loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and PTEN mutations appear to be associated with the progression of gliomas leading to a decrement in the survival rate of patients. This present study was carried out to determine the LOH and PTEN mutational status in glioma patients and its association with patients' survival.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  15. Multiresolution wavelet analysis for efficient analysis, compression and remote display of long-term physiological signals
    Khuan LY, Bister M, Blanchfield P, Salleh YM, Ali RA, Chan TH
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2006 Jun;29(2):216-28.
    PMID: 16845928
    Increased inter-equipment connectivity coupled with advances in Web technology allows ever escalating amounts of physiological data to be produced, far too much to be displayed adequately on a single computer screen. The consequence is that large quantities of insignificant data will be transmitted and reviewed. This carries an increased risk of overlooking vitally important transients. This paper describes a technique to provide an integrated solution based on a single algorithm for the efficient analysis, compression and remote display of long-term physiological signals with infrequent short duration, yet vital events, to effect a reduction in data transmission and display cluttering and to facilitate reliable data interpretation. The algorithm analyses data at the server end and flags significant events. It produces a compressed version of the signal at a lower resolution that can be satisfactorily viewed in a single screen width. This reduced set of data is initially transmitted together with a set of 'flags' indicating where significant events occur. Subsequent transmissions need only involve transmission of flagged data segments of interest at the required resolution. Efficient processing and code protection with decomposition alone is novel. The fixed transmission length method ensures clutter-less display, irrespective of the data length. The flagging of annotated events in arterial oxygen saturation, electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram illustrates the generic property of the algorithm. Data reduction of 87% to 99% and improved displays are demonstrated.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  16. Fulltext Influence of co-morbidity in the interpretation of tuberculin skin reactivity in multi-ethnic adult patients with tuberculosis
    Loh LC, Chan SK, Ch'ng KI, Tan LZ, Vijayasingham P, Thayaparan T
    Med J Malaysia, 2005 Oct;60(4):426-31.
    PMID: 16570703
    In the Malaysian setting of multi-ethnicity and high BCG coverage, interpretation of Tuberculin Skin Testing (TST) may be difficult. Between January 2001 and December 2003, a retrospective study on all adult patients with documented TST results treated for tuberculosis (TB) in chest clinics of two government hospitals was conducted to determine the reliability of TST and factors affecting its interpretation. One hundred and three patients [mean age (SD): 43 (17); male: 67%] were eligible for data collection: 72% and 57% of patients had positive TST results based on cut-off points of 10mm and 15mm respectively. The only significant univariate association with TST results was the severity of co-morbidity. A patient with co-morbidity score of 3 defined as those with any cancer, end-stage renal or liver disease, or HIV disease, was more likely to have a negative TST results [10mm cut-off point: Odd Ratio (95% CI) 6.6 (1.82 to 24.35), p = 0.003; 15mm cut-off point: 4.8 (1.21 to 18.95), p = 0.012]. A TST reading of 10mm had a higher sensitivity than 15mm as the cut-off point in diagnosing TB infection. Considering all possible confounding factors like ethnicity, prior BCG vaccination and TB burden in the population, severity of co-morbidity remains strongly predictive of a negative TST. Caution should be exercised in interpreting TST in these patients.
    Study site: Chest clinic, Hospital Seremban, Hospital Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  17. A clinical and economic study of community-acquired pneumonia between single versus combination therapy
    Hasali MA, Ibrahim MI, Sulaiman SA, Ahmad Z, Hasali JB
    Pharm World Sci, 2005 Jun;27(3):249-53.
    PMID: 16096896
    BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children in many developing countries. It is reported that 12.9 million children under 5 years of age died world-wide in 1990 and one-third of these deaths or 4.3 million annually were attributed to acute respiratory infection with pneumonia.

    OBJECTIVES: On this basis, a study was conducted in a district hospital to study the therapy outcomes of antibiotic regimens used in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) management and to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis (CE) between IV ampicillin versus combination therapy of IV ampicillin and IV gentamicin.

    METHOD: A prospective, randomized, controlled, single blind study was conducted in a pediatric ward in a 80-bed district hospital. Pediatric patients diagnosed with CAP aged 2 months to 5 years old were randomly and equally divided into two treatment arms: ampicillin versus ampicillin plus gentamicin. The dose of IV ampicillin used in this study was 100 mg/kg/day divided every 6 h and 5 mg/kg of IV gentamicin as a single daily dose. Both clinical and economic evaluations were carried out to compare both treatment arms.

    RESULTS: With the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 40 patients diagnosed with CAP were included in the study. The results showed that the two treatment arms were significantly different (P < 0.05) in terms of duration of patients on ampicillin, number of days of hospitalization and time to switch to oral therapy. A significant difference was noted between the two treatment modalities in terms of effectiveness and cost (P < 0.05).

    CONCLUSION: Overall, the endpoint of this study showed that the total cost per patient of ampicillin-treated group is cheaper than the total cost with the combination therapy (ampicillin plus gentamicin) and reduced unnecessary exposure to adverse effects or toxicities. Besides that, addition of gentamicin in the treatment modalities will only increase the cost of treatment without introducing any changes in the treatment outcome.

    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  18. The relationship of hostility, negative affect and ethnicity to cardiovascular responses: an ambulatory study in Singapore
    Enkelmann HC, Bishop GD, Tong EM, Diong SM, Why YP, Khader M, et al.
    Int J Psychophysiol, 2005 May;56(2):185-97.
    PMID: 15804452
    This study tested the hypotheses that ambulatory heart rate and blood pressure would be higher for individuals high but not low in hostility when they experienced negative affect or social stress and that this interaction would be stronger for Indians compared with other Singapore ethnic groups. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was done on 108 male Singapore patrol officers as they went about their daily duties. After each BP measurement participants completed a computerized questionnaire including items on emotional experience. Individuals high in hostility showed higher systolic blood pressure when reporting negative affect whereas this was not true for those low in hostility. Ethnic differences were obtained such that Indians showed an increase in mean arterial pressure when angered whereas MAP was negatively related to anger for Malays and unrelated for Chinese. Also a three-way interaction between ethnicity, hostility, and social stress indicated that hostility and social stress interacted in their effects on DBP for Indian participants but not for Chinese or Malays. Finally, a three-way interaction was obtained between ethnicity, hostility and negative affect for heart rate in which heart rate increased with increasing levels of negative affect for Chinese high in hostility and Malays low in hostility but decreased with increasing negative affect for all other participants. These data are consistent with higher CHD rates among individuals high in hostility and also provide additional evidence on ethnic differences in cardiovascular reactivity in Singapore.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  19. Reproducibility of different laser Doppler fluximetry parameters of postocclusive reactive hyperemia in human forearm skin
    Yvonne-Tee GB, Rasool AH, Halim AS, Rahman AR
    J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods, 2005 Sep-Oct;52(2):286-92.
    PMID: 16125628
    Postocclusive reactive hyperemia in forearm skin is a commonly used model for studying microvascular reactivity function, particularly in the assessment of vascular effect of topically applied pharmacological substances. In this study, we investigated the reproducibility of several different laser-Doppler-derived parameters in the measurement of postocclusive reactive hyperemia at forearm skin in healthy subjects.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical
  20. Fulltext Wrong conclusion when the statistical test is incorrect
    Norsa'adah B
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 Dec;59(5):692; author reply 693-5.
    PMID: 15889579
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical*
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