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Administration of Bacillus subtilis strains in the rearing water enhances the water quality, growth performance, immune response, and resistance against Vibrio harveyi infection in juvenile white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

Zokaeifar H, Babaei N, Saad CR, Kamarudin MS, Sijam K, Balcazar JL

Fish Shellfish Immunol, 2014 Jan;36(1):68-74.
PMID: 24161773 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2013.10.007

In this study, vegetative cell suspensions of two Bacillus subtilis strains, L10 and G1 in equal proportions, was administered at two different doses 10(5) (BM5) and 10(8) (BM8) CFU ml(-1) in the rearing water of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) for eight weeks. Both probiotic groups showed a significant reduction of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate ions under in vitro and in vivo conditions. In comparison to untreated control group, final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR) and digestive enzymatic activity were significantly greater in the BM5 and BM8 groups. Significant differences for survival were recorded in the BM8 group as compared to the control. Eight weeks after the start of experiment, shrimp were challenged with Vibrio harveyi. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in shrimp survival between probiotic and control groups. Cumulative mortality of the control group was 80%, whereas cumulative mortality of the shrimp that had been given probiotics was 36.7% with MB8 and 50% with MB5. Subsequently, real-time RT-PCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of prophenoloxidase (proPO), peroxinectin (PE), lipopolysaccharide- and β-1,3-glucan- binding protein (LGBP) and serine protein (SP). The expression of all immune-related genes studied was only significantly up-regulated in the BM5 group compared to the BM8 and control groups. These results suggest that administration of B. subtilis strains in the rearing water confers beneficial effects for shrimp aquaculture, considering water quality, growth performance, digestive enzymatic activity, immune response and disease resistance.

Matched MeSH terms: Vibrio Infections/virology; Penaeidae/virology
Fulltext Recombinant measles virus vaccine expressing the Nipah virus glycoprotein protects against lethal Nipah virus challenge

Yoneda M, Georges-Courbot MC, Ikeda F, Ishii M, Nagata N, Jacquot F, et al.

PLoS One, 2013;8(3):e58414.
PMID: 23516477 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058414

Nipah virus (NiV) is a member of the genus Henipavirus, which emerged in Malaysia in 1998. In pigs, infection resulted in a predominantly non-lethal respiratory disease; however, infection in humans resulted in over 100 deaths. Nipah virus has continued to re-emerge in Bangladesh and India, and person-to-person transmission appeared in the outbreak. Although a number of NiV vaccine studies have been reported, there are currently no vaccines or treatments licensed for human use. In this study, we have developed a recombinant measles virus (rMV) vaccine expressing NiV envelope glycoproteins (rMV-HL-G and rMV-Ed-G). Vaccinated hamsters were completely protected against NiV challenge, while the mortality of unvaccinated control hamsters was 90%. We trialed our vaccine in a non-human primate model, African green monkeys. Upon intraperitoneal infection with NiV, monkeys showed several clinical signs of disease including severe depression, reduced ability to move and decreased food ingestion and died at 7 days post infection (dpi). Intranasal and oral inoculation induced similar clinical illness in monkeys, evident around 9 dpi, and resulted in a moribund stage around 14 dpi. Two monkeys immunized subcutaneously with rMV-Ed-G showed no clinical illness prior to euthanasia after challenge with NiV. Viral RNA was not detected in any organ samples collected from vaccinated monkeys, and no pathological changes were found upon histopathological examination. From our findings, we propose that rMV-NiV-G is an appropriate NiV vaccine candidate for use in humans.

Matched MeSH terms: Brain/virology; Lung/virology
Knowledge and views of secondary school students in Kuala Lumpur on cervical cancer and its prevention

Rashwan H, Ishak I, Sawalludin N

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(4):2545-9.
PMID: 23725172

Cervical cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in women worldwide. Persistent infection with a human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause for cervical cancer. Vaccination and Pap smear screening are the best methods for prevention of the disease. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the knowledge and views of upper secondary school female students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, toward prevention of cervical cancer. This study was conducted from April 2009 to September 2009 in 8 schools in Kuala Lumpur area using pre-tested and validated questionnaires. Results indicated that the respondents had low knowledge of cervical cancer and its prevention although the majority of students (80.4%) had heard about the disease. The level of knowledge of cervical cancr and its prevention was significantly higher among students from the science stream (p<0.001) compared to students from the art stream. Most students (69.3%) agreed to take the vaccination if the service was available in schools. A high percentage of students (82.2%) agreed that the vaccination should be compulsory to the students. In conclusion, most students had low knowledge of cervical cancer and its prevention but they had positive attitude toward vaccination and agreed that vaccination should be compulsory. Therefore, suitable educational programmes should be developed to improve the knowledge of secondary school students on the prevention of cervical cancer.

Matched MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology; Papillomavirus Infections/virology
Knowledge, attitude and practice of malaysian medical and pharmacy students towards human papillomavirus vaccination

Rashwan HH, Saat NZ, Abd Manan DN

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2012;13(5):2279-83.
PMID: 22901207

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and oncogenic HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. However, HPV vaccination is already available as the primary preventive method against cervical cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of HPV vaccination among Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Malaya (UM) students. This study was conducted from March until August 2009. Pre-tested and validated questionnaires were filled by the third year UKM (n=156) and UM (n=149) students from medical, dentistry and pharmacy faculties. The results showed that the overall level of knowledge on HPV infection, cervical cancer and its prevention among respondents was high and the majority of them had positive attitude towards HPV vaccination. Medical students had the highest level of knowledge (p<0.05). Very few students (3.6%) had already taken the vaccine with no significant difference between the two Universities (p=0.399). In conclusion, the knowledge and attitude of the respondents were high and positive, respectively. Only few students took HPV vaccination. Thus, more awareness campaigns and HPV vaccination services should be provided at universities' campuses with the price of the HPV vaccine reduced for the students.

Matched MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology; Papillomavirus Infections/virology
Clinical significance of plasma Epstein-Barr Virus DNA loads in a large cohort of Malaysian patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Chai SJ, Pua KC, Saleh A, Yap YY, Lim PV, Subramaniam SK, et al.

J Clin Virol, 2012 Sep;55(1):34-9.
PMID: 22739102 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2012.05.017

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-associated cancer that is the fifth most common cancer in Malaysia. Early and accurate diagnoses are critical for patient prognosis. Unfortunately, early detection of NPC is still a challenge and the cost of more accurate imaging protocols is prohibitive in developing countries like Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/virology*; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/virology*
Fulltext First report of sylvatic DENV-2-associated dengue hemorrhagic fever in West Africa

Franco L, Palacios G, Martinez JA, Vázquez A, Savji N, De Ory F, et al.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2011 Aug;5(8):e1251.
PMID: 21829739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001251

Dengue virus (DENV) circulates in human and sylvatic cycles. Sylvatic strains are both ecologically and evolutionarily distinct from endemic viruses. Although sylvatic dengue cycles occur in West African countries and Malaysia, only a few cases of mild human disease caused by sylvatic strains and one single case of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Malaysia have been reported. Here we report a case of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) with thrombocytopenia (13000/µl), a raised hematocrit (32% above baseline) and mucosal bleeding in a 27-year-old male returning to Spain in November 2009 after visiting his home country Guinea Bissau. Sylvatic DENV-2 West African lineage was isolated from blood and sera. This is the first case of DHF associated with sylvatic DENV-2 in Africa and the second case worldwide of DHF caused by a sylvatic strain.

Matched MeSH terms: Thrombocytopenia/virology; Severe Dengue/virology*
Fulltext Investigation of a potential zoonotic transmission of orthoreovirus associated with acute influenza-like illness in an adult patient

Chua KB, Voon K, Yu M, Keniscope C, Abdul Rasid K, Wang LF

PLoS One, 2011;6(10):e25434.
PMID: 22022394 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025434

Bats are increasingly being recognized as important reservoir hosts for a large number of viruses, some of them can be highly virulent when they infect human and livestock animals. Among the new bat zoonotic viruses discovered in recent years, several reoviruses (respiratory enteric orphan viruses) were found to be able to cause acute respiratory infections in humans, which included Melaka and Kampar viruses discovered in Malaysia, all of them belong to the genus Orthoreovirus, family Reoviridae. In this report, we describe the isolation of a highly related virus from an adult patient who suffered acute respiratory illness in Malaysia. Although there was no direct evidence of bat origin, epidemiological study indicated the potential exposure of the patient to bats before the onset of disease. The current study further demonstrates that spillover events of different strains of related orthoreoviruses from bats to humans are occurring on a regular basis, which calls for more intensive and systematic surveillances to fully assess the true public health impact of these newly discovered bat-borne zoonotic reoviruses.

Matched MeSH terms: Influenza, Human/virology*; Zoonoses/virology*
Phylogeography of foot-and-mouth disease virus types O and A in Malaysia and surrounding countries

Abdul-Hamid NF, Hussein NM, Wadsworth J, Radford AD, Knowles NJ, King DP

Infect Genet Evol, 2011 Mar;11(2):320-8.
PMID: 21093614 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2010.11.003

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in the countries of mainland Southeast Asia where it represents a major obstacle to the development of productive animal industries. The aim of this study was to use genetic data to determine the distribution of FMD virus (FMDV) lineages in the Southeast Asia region, and in particular identify possible sources of FMDV causing outbreaks in Malaysia. Complete VP1 sequences, obtained from 214 samples collected between 2000 and 2009, from FMD outbreaks in six Southeast Asian countries, were compared with sequences previously reported. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences showed that there were two patterns of FMDV distribution in Malaysia. Firstly, for some lineages (O/SEA/Mya98 and serotype A), outbreaks occurred every year in the country and did not appear to persist, suggesting that these incursions were quickly eradicated. Furthermore, for these lineages FMD viruses in Malaysia were closely related to those from neighbouring countries, demonstrating the close epidemiological links between countries in the region. In contrast, for O/ME-SA/PanAsia lineage, viruses were introduced and remained to cause outbreaks in subsequent years. In particular, the recent incursion and maintenance of the PanAsia-2 sublineage into Malaysia appears to be unique and independent from other outbreaks in the region. This study is the first characterisation of FMDV in Malaysia and provides evidence for different epidemiological sources of virus introduction into the country.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot-and-Mouth Disease/virology; Livestock/virology
Fulltext Molecular characterization of partial fusion gene and C-terminus extension length of haemagglutinin-neuraminidase gene of recently isolated Newcastle disease virus isolates in Malaysia

Berhanu A, Ideris A, Omar AR, Bejo MH

Virol J, 2010;7:183.
PMID: 20691110 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-7-183

Newcastle disease (ND), caused by Newcastle disease virus (NDV), is a highly contagious disease of birds and has been one of the major causes of economic losses in the poultry industry. Despite routine vaccination programs, sporadic cases have occasionally occurred in the country and remain a constant threat to commercial poultry. Hence, the present study was aimed to characterize NDV isolates obtained from clinical cases in various locations of Malaysia between 2004 and 2007 based on sequence and phylogenetic analysis of partial F gene and C-terminus extension length of HN gene.

Matched MeSH terms: Newcastle Disease/virology*; Poultry Diseases/virology*
Fusion of HSP70 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to hemagglutinin (H5) gene of avian influenza virus in DNA vaccine enhances its potency

Rasoli M, Omar AR, Aini I, Jalilian B, Syed Hassan SH, Mohamed M

Acta Virol., 2010;54(1):33-9.
PMID: 20201612

A series of plasmids containing the HSP70 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis fused to the hemagglutinin (H5) gene of H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV) (H5-HSP70 (heat shock protein 70) vaccine) or individual H5 gene (H5 vaccine) or HSP70 gene (HSP70 vaccine) were constructed based on the plasmid pcDNA3.1. Expression of H5 gene in Vero cells in vitro and in chickens in vivo was confirmed following their transfection and immunization with H5 or H5-HSP70 vaccines. Controls consisted of HSP70 vaccine, empty plasmid pcDNA3.1 and co-administered H5 and HSP70 vaccines. H5-HSP70 vaccine produced in chicken higher hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titer than H5 vaccine. However, the increase was not statistically significant. We have demonstrated for the first time that the H5 DNA vaccine with fused HSP70 gene may produce an enhanced induction of humoral immune response to AIV in chickens.

Matched MeSH terms: Influenza in Birds/virology; Poultry Diseases/virology
Acute retinal necrosis by cytomegalovirus in an immunocompetent adult: case report and review of the literature

Tajunisah I, Reddy SC, Tan LH

Int Ophthalmol, 2009 Apr;29(2):85-90.
PMID: 18026692

A rare case of acute retinal necrosis caused by cytomegalovirus in an immunocompetent adult, diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction of vitreous aspirate, with good visual outcome after intravitreal and intravenous ganciclovir and oral prednisolone therapy, is reported. A 50-year-old healthy lady presented with redness and diminution of vision in her right eye of 10 days duration. She had anterior chamber inflammation, marked vitritis, and anterior retinal necrosis in the right eye. Blood and other investigations did not reveal any infectious diseases and HIV testing was negative. The retinal lesions and panuveitis resolved with treatment. Two months later she developed retinal detachment which was treated successfully. The best-corrected vision was 6/12 in the right eye. Seven cases of cytomegalovirus ocular infection in immunocompetent healthy adults, reported in the literature, were reviewed. The different presentations of this disease and the importance of suspecting this causative agent are highlighted.

Matched MeSH terms: Vitreous Body/virology; Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute/virology*
Molecular epidemiology of rabies in Vietnam

Yamagata J, Ahmed K, Khawplod P, Mannen K, Xuyen DK, Loi HH, et al.

Microbiol. Immunol., 2007;51(9):833-40.
PMID: 17895600

The present study was done to determine the molecular epidemiology of rabies virus (RV) in Vietnam. The nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes of RVs were amplified from the brains of ten rabid dogs of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The nucleotide sequences of these genes were compared with those of other Asian strains to find the possible relationship among them. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Asian N gene segregated into three main branches, namely South-East Asia 1 (SEA 1), South-East Asia 2 (SEA 2) and Indian subcontinent (ISC) genotypes. The SEA 1 genotype comprised RVs from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. The SEA 2 genotype contained strains from the Philippines, and the ISC genotype comprised strains from Sri Lanka and India. Phylogenetically G genes of RVs from Vietnam and Thailand were clustered together. Our study suggests that Vietnamese and Thai RVs are closely related and might have originated from a common ancestor.

Matched MeSH terms: Dog Diseases/virology; Rabies/virology
Human enterovirus 71 disease in Sarawak, Malaysia: a prospective clinical, virological, and molecular epidemiological study

Ooi MH, Wong SC, Podin Y, Akin W, del Sel S, Mohan A, et al.

Clin Infect Dis, 2007 Mar 01;44(5):646-56.
PMID: 17278054

BACKGROUND: Human enterovirus (HEV)-71 causes large outbreaks of hand-foot-and-mouth disease with central nervous system (CNS) complications, but the role of HEV-71 genogroups or dual infection with other viruses in causing severe disease is unclear.
METHODS: We prospectively studied children with suspected HEV-71 (i.e., hand-foot-and-mouth disease, CNS disease, or both) over 3.5 years, using detailed virological investigation and genogroup analysis of all isolates.
RESULTS: Seven hundred seventy-three children were recruited, 277 of whom were infected with HEV-71, including 28 who were coinfected with other viruses. Risk factors for CNS disease in HEV-71 included young age, fever, vomiting, mouth ulcers, breathlessness, cold limbs, and poor urine output. Genogroup analysis for the HEV-71-infected patients revealed that 168 were infected with genogroup B4, 68 with C1, and 41 with a newly emerged genogroup, B5. Children with HEV-71 genogroup B4 were less likely to have CNS complications than those with other genogroups (26 [15%] of 168 vs. 30 [28%] of 109; odds ratio [OR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26-0.91; P=.0223) and less likely to be part of a family cluster (12 [7%] of 168 vs. 29 [27%] of 109; OR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.10-0.46; P

Matched MeSH terms: Central Nervous System Diseases/virology; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/virology
Susceptibility of highly pathogenic A(H5N1) avian influenza viruses to the neuraminidase inhibitors and adamantanes

Hurt AC, Selleck P, Komadina N, Shaw R, Brown L, Barr IG

Antiviral Res, 2007 Mar;73(3):228-31.
PMID: 17112602

Since 2003, highly pathogenic A(H5N1) influenza viruses have been the cause of large-scale death in poultry and the subsequent infection and death of over 140 humans. A group of 55 influenza A(H5N1) viruses isolated from various regions of South East Asia between 2004 and 2006 were tested for their susceptibility to the anti-influenza drugs the neuraminidase inhibitors and adamantanes. The majority of strains were found to be fully sensitive to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir carboxylate, zanamivir and peramivir; however two strains demonstrated increased IC50 values. Sequence analysis of these strains revealed mutations in the normally highly conserved residues 116 and 117 of the N1 neuraminidase. Sequence analysis of the M2 gene showed that all of the A(H5N1) viruses from Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia contained mutations (L26I and S31N) associated with resistance to the adamantane drugs (rimantadine and amantadine), while strains from Indonesia were found to be a mix of both adamantane resistant (S31N) and sensitive viruses. None of the A(H5N1) viruses from Myanmar contained mutations known to confer adamantane resistance. These results support the use of neuraminidase inhibitors as the most appropriate class of antiviral drug to prevent or treat human A(H5N1) virus infections.

Matched MeSH terms: Influenza in Birds/virology*; Influenza, Human/virology*
Male-specific RNA coliphages detected by plaque assay and RT-PCR in tropical river waters and animal fecal matter

Yee SY, Fong NY, Fong GT, Tak OJ, Hui GT, Su Ming Y

Int J Environ Health Res, 2006 Feb;16(1):59-68.
PMID: 16507481

Male-specific RNA coliphages (FRNA) have been recommended as indicators of fecal contamination and of the virological quality of water. In this study, 16 river water and 183 animal fecal samples were examined for the presence of FRNA coliphages by a plaque assay using Salmonella typhimurium WG49 and WG25 to differentiate between male-specific and somatic phages, a RNase spot test to differentiate between DNA and RNA phages and a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the specific identification of FRNA phages. The overall recovery rate for F-specific coliphages was 8.0%. (4.4% from animal fecal matter and 50% from river water samples). Plaque counts were generally low (< 6 x 10(2) pfu per g feces or ml water), with FRNA (6.5%) and Male-specific DNA coliphages (FDNA) (7.0%) phages occurring at almost equal frequencies. The RT-PCR was positive in all FRNA plaques and was able to identify FRNA phages in mixed populations of FRNA, FDNA and somatic phages.

Matched MeSH terms: Feces/virology*; Rivers/virology*
Hepatitis B: review of development from the discovery of the "Australia Antigen" to end of the twentieth Century

Yap SF

Malays J Pathol, 2004 Jun;26(1):1-12.
PMID: 16190102

"Parenteral" or "serum" hepatitis is known to have afflicted man for centuries. However, it was not until the mid-1960s that the causative agent of this infection, the hepatitis B virus, was discovered. Since then, the biology and the replication strategy of the virus, and the clinical features and the epidemiology of the hepatitis B infection have been determined. Knowledge about the virus and the infection it causes led to the development of firstly, a plasma-derived vaccine and later a recombinant vaccine for the prevention of the infection. Integration of the hepatitis B vaccine into newborn vaccination programmes on a worldwide basis represents a major step in the effort to eliminate this infectious disease and its complications. Laboratory tests are available for the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. Therapies have been developed to halt the progress of the chronic infection in affected individuals. While these developments have resulted in a decrease of the frequency of infection in many countries, particularly those that have implemented universal immunization of newborns, the chronic infection remains a significant global problem. Worldwide, over 300 million individuals are infected and each year, an estimated 1 million persons die from chronic complications of the disease including hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic failure. The therapies currently available result in elimination of the virus in only a relatively small proportion of subjects and carry with it serious side effects. Geopolitical, economic and other factors hinder the vision of elimination of the infection through immunization programmes. Nevertheless, work continues to clarify further the underlying pathological mechanism of the infection, the host and viral factors that promote elimination or persistence of the virus in the human host. It is hoped that such investigations will reveal viral targets for the design of newer and potentially more effective drugs to treat the infection.

Matched MeSH terms: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/virology; Liver Neoplasms/virology
Epstein-Barr virus serology in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Wong MM, Lye MS, Cheng HM, Sam CK

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2005 Mar;23(1):65-7.
PMID: 15997877

The antibody levels to viral capsid antigen (VCA) and early antigen (EA) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in 164 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients from Sarawak, East Malaysia were significantly higher than those in 147 sex, age and ethnically matched healthy controls. As diagnostic markers of NPC, IgG/VCA at reciprocal titers > or =160 was the most sensitive (89%, with 98% specificity), while IgA/EA at > or =5 was the most specific (100%) but the least sensitive (75%). The sensitivity and specificity of IgA/VCA at reciprocal titers > or =10 were 84% and 97%. IgA/VCA has an advantage over IgG/VCA despite the slightly lower sensitivity due to its consistently more distinct fluorescence reaction. The sensitivity and specificity can be marginally improved by a combination of two tests.

Matched MeSH terms: Carcinoma/virology; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/virology
Fulltext Clinico-laboratory spectrum of dengue viral infection and risk factors associated with dengue hemorrhagic fever: a retrospective study

Mallhi TH, Khan AH, Adnan AS, Sarriff A, Khan YH, Jummaat F

BMC Infect Dis, 2015 Sep 30;15:399.
PMID: 26423145 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-1141-3

BACKGROUND: The incidence of dengue is rising steadily in Malaysia since the first major outbreak in 1973. Despite aggressive measures taken by the relevant authorities, Malaysia is still facing worsening dengue crisis over the past few years. There is an urgent need to evaluate dengue cases for better understanding of clinic-laboratory spectrum in order to combat this disease.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of dengue patients admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital during the period of six years (2008 - 2013) was performed. Patient's demographics, clinical and laboratory findings were recorded via structured data collection form. Patients were categorized into dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). Appropriate statistical methods were used to compare these two groups in order to determine difference in clinico-laboratory characteristics and to identify independent risk factors of DHF.
RESULTS: A total 667 dengue patients (30.69 ± 16.13 years; Male: 56.7 %) were reviewed. Typical manifestations of dengue like fever, myalgia, arthralgia, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain and skin rash were observed in more than 40 % patients. DHF was observed in 79 (11.8 %) cases. Skin rash, dehydration, shortness of breath, pleural effusion and thick gall bladder were more significantly (P 40 years (OR: 4.1, P

Matched MeSH terms: Dengue/virology; Severe Dengue/virology
Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus Infection, Cervical Cancer and Willingness to pay for Cervical Cancer Vaccination among Ethnically Diverse Medical Students in Malaysia

Maharajan MK, Rajiah K, Num KS, Yong NJ

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2015;16(14):5733-9.
PMID: 26320444

The primary objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of medical students and determine variation between different cultural groups. A secondary aim was to find out the willingness to pay for cervical cancer vaccination and the relationships between knowledge and attitudes towards Human Papillomavirus vaccination. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a private medical university between June 2014 and November 2014 using a convenient sampling method. A total of 305 respondents were recruited and interviewed with standard questionnaires for assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practice towards human papilloma virus and their willingness to pay for HPV vaccination. Knowledge regarding human papilloma virus, human papilloma virus vaccination, cervical cancer screening and cervical cancer risk factors was good. Across the sample, a majority (90%) of the pupils demonstrated a high degree of knowledge about cervical cancer and its vaccination. There were no significant differences between ethnicity and the participants' overall knowledge of HPV infection, Pap smear and cervical cancer vaccination. Some 88% of participants answered that HPV vaccine can prevent cervical cancer, while 81.5% of medical students said they would recommend HPV vaccination to the public although fewer expressed an intention to receive vaccination for themselves.

Matched MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology; Papillomavirus Infections/virology
Fulltext Impact of HIV-1 Subtype on the Time to CD4+ T-Cell Recovery in Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART)-Experienced Patients

Chow WZ, Lim SH, Ong LY, Yong YK, Takebe Y, Kamarulzaman A, et al.

PLoS One, 2015;10(9):e0137281.
PMID: 26335136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137281

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtypes have been shown to differ in the rate of clinical progression. We studied the association between HIV-1 subtypes and the rate of CD4+ T-cell recovery in a longitudinal cohort of patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). We studied 103 patients infected with CRF01_AE (69%) and subtype B (31%) who initiated cART between 2006 and 2013. Demographic data, CD4+ T-cell counts and HIV-1 viral load were abstracted from patient medical charts. Kaplan-Meier was used to estimate the time to CD4+ T-cell count increase to ≥350 between subtypes and effects of covariates were analysed using Cox proportional hazards. An 87% of the study population were male adults (mean age of 38.7 years old). Baseline CD4+ T-cell counts and viral loads, age at cART initiation, sex, ethnicity and co-infection did not differ significantly between subtypes. A shorter median time for CD4+ T-cell count increase to ≥350 cells/μL was observed for CRF01_AE (546 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 186-906 days; P = .502) compared to subtype B (987 days; 95% CI, 894-1079 days). In multivariate analysis, female sex was significantly associated with a 2.7 times higher chance of achieving CD4+ T-cell recovery (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.75; 95% CI, 1.21-6.22; P = .025) and both baseline CD4+ T-cell count (P = .001) and viral load (P = .001) were important predictors for CD4+ T-cell recovery. Immunological recovery correlated significantly with female sex, baseline CD4+ T-cell counts and viral load but not subtype.

Matched MeSH terms: Viremia/virology*; HIV Infections/virology*

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