The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the peptidyl-propyl-cis/trans isomerase 1 (PIN1) -842(G > C) and -667(T > C) polymorphic variants and breast cancer risk among Malaysian ethnic groups namely the Malays, Chinese and Indians, as well as clinico-pathological characteristics of the patients.
Six hundred and one intravenous Urograms (IVU) done at the General Hospital, Kuala Trengganu from 1981 to 1985 were reviewed retrospectively for Renal Papillary Necrosis (RPN). It was found that 1.3% of IVUs had RPN. There was a higher incidence of RPN amongst males as compared to females. RPN occurred more commonly in the younger age groups.
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreaticography) was introduced in this hospital in late 1995. Since then, a lot of improvement have been achieved in the management of biliary tract diseases. Various general surgeons posted to this hospital have been trained in this procedure. A study was done to include all patients admitted for ERCP from August 1998 to July 1999. A total of 322 new patients with a mean of 26.9 cases a month had underwent this procedure. The duration of cannulation varied from 2 minutes to 45 minutes with a mean of 12 minutes. Cannulation rate by various surgeons differed. Overall success rate was 80%. Mortality was 0.6 % and morbidity was 0.9%. ERCP is safe and it takes at least 6 months of regular duodenoscopy before one can master the technique. Achieving 80% cannulation rate, has definitely reduced unnecessary common bile duct (CBD) explorations. During this study we have trained various surgeons in this procedure and at least 2 surgeons could be credentialled according to the guidelines provided by the Malaysian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. During this study we have identified various reasons for the failure of cannulation which are useful for future training of endoscopists.
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. The incidence of breast cancer in Malaysia is lower compared to international statistics, with peak occurrence in the age group between 50 to 59 years of age and mortality rates of 18.6%. Despite current diagnostic and prognostic methods, the outcome for individual subjects remain poor. This is in part due to breast cancers' wide genetic heterogeneity. Various platforms for genetics studies are now employed to determine the identity of these genetic abnormalities, including microarray methods like high density single-nucleotide-polymorphism (SNP) oligonucleotide arrays which combine the power of chromosomal comparative genomic hybridization (cCGH) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the offering of higher-resolution mappings. These platforms and their applications in highlighting the genomic alteration frameworks manifested in breast carcinoma will be discussed.
Catheter knotting is a rare complication of bladder catheterisation. Retention of catheter parts resulting in calculus formation is even rarer. We report a case of a vesical calculus formed over a broken and retained supra-pubic catheter which to the best of our knowledge has yet to be reported, along with three other cases of bladder catheter knotting.
This is a retrospective study of the annual mortality that occurred in the Department of Surgery, Alor Setar Hospital, for the years 1995 to 1997. This study looks at the number of admissions to the surgical wards and categorizes the causes of death. The annual mortality rates were 2.60, 2.89 and 3.25 per hundred admissions for the year 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively. Head injury was the leading cause of death whilst sepsis and advanced malignancies second and third commonest causes. We hope that with the publication of these figures, we can initiate more studies to analyse similar local data.
Ten patients (5 males and 5 females) with gastroschisis were treated in Alor Setar Hospital from January 1989 to December 1993. Two patients had associated congenital anomalies. Primary closure was possible in 9 patient while the other patient had stage closure. All patients received prophylactic antibiotics, 9 patients were ventilated electively in the post-operative period and 7 patients received parenteral nutrition. There were 9 survivors. Complications especially wound infection and breakdown were seen in 7 patients. The average hospital stay was 36 days.
Tropidolaemus wagleri and Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus are venomous pit viper species commonly found in Malaysia. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the crude venoms has detected different proteins in T. wagleri and C. purpureomaculatus. They were classified into 13 venom protein families consisting of enzymatic and nonenzymatic proteins. Enzymatic families detected in T. wagleri and C. purpureomaculatus venom were snake venom metalloproteinase, phospholipase A₂, ʟ-amino acid oxidase, serine proteases, 5'-nucleotidase, phosphodiesterase, and phospholipase B. In addition, glutaminyl cyclotransferase was detected in C. purpureomaculatus. C-type lectin-like proteins were common nonenzymatic components in both species. Waglerin was present and unique to T. wagleri-it was not in C. purpureomaculatus venom. In contrast, cysteine-rich secretory protein, bradykinin-potentiating peptide, and C-type natriuretic peptide were present in C. purpureomaculatus venom. Composition of the venom proteome of T. wagleri and C. purpureomaculatus provides useful information to guide production of effective antivenom and identification of proteins with potential therapeutic applications.