Displaying publications 101 - 120 of 667 in total

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  1. Fulltext Characterization of activated carbons from oil-palm shell by CO2 activation with no holding carbonization temperature
    Herawan SG, Hadi MS, Ayob MR, Putra A
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:624865.
    PMID: 23737721 DOI: 10.1155/2013/624865
    Activated carbons can be produced from different precursors, including coals of different ranks, and lignocellulosic materials, by physical or chemical activation processes. The objective of this paper is to characterize oil-palm shells, as a biomass byproduct from palm-oil mills which were converted into activated carbons by nitrogen pyrolysis followed by CO2 activation. The effects of no holding peak pyrolysis temperature on the physical characteristics of the activated carbons are studied. The BET surface area of the activated carbon is investigated using N2 adsorption at 77 K with selected temperatures of 500, 600, and 700°C. These pyrolysis conditions for preparing the activated carbons are found to yield higher BET surface area at a pyrolysis temperature of 700°C compared to selected commercial activated carbon. The activated carbons thus result in well-developed porosities and predominantly microporosities. By using this activation method, significant improvement can be obtained in the surface characteristics of the activated carbons. Thus this study shows that the preparation time can be shortened while better results of activated carbon can be produced.
  2. Electrical and optical enhancement of ITO/Mo bilayer thin films via laser annealing
    Hacini A, Hadi Ali A, Adnan NN, Nayan N
    Beilstein J Nanotechnol, 2022;13:1589-1595.
    PMID: 36636737 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.13.133
    ITO/Mo bilayer thin films were sputtered on n-type silicon and glass substrates and annealed with a Nd:YAG pulsed laser. The structural results show that both the as-deposited and the annealed ITO/Mo thin films have a polycrystalline structure, and that the annealing treatment enhanced the crystallinity of samples. Moreover, the XRD patterns exhibited a cubic structure preferentially oriented along the (222) and (400) planes. The AFM analysis shows that grain size and RMS roughness increased from 16.02 to 36.19 nm and 0.4 to 2.6 nm, respectively, when the laser energy was increased to 120 mJ. The as-deposited sample has an optical transmittance of nearly 80% in the 300-800 nm range. The laser annealing yielded a higher transmittance of 94% and increased the bandgap energy from 2.76 to 2.88 eV at 120 mJ. The annealing treatment decreased the resistivity from 15.63 × 10-4 to 1.73 × 10-4 Ω/cm-1. Additionally, the figure of merit of the ITO/Mo structure improved significantly from 6.63 × 10-4 Ω-1 of the as-deposited sample to 17.6 × 10-3 Ω-1 of the the annealed structure. The results indicate that the laser annealing could improve the efficiency of the transparent conductive layer, which can be potentially applied in optoelectronic devices.
  3. Fulltext Utility of PIVKA-II and AFP in Differentiating Hepatocellular Carcinoma from Non-Malignant High-Risk Patients
    Hadi H, Wan Shuaib WMA, Raja Ali RA, Othman H
    Medicina (Kaunas), 2022 Jul 28;58(8).
    PMID: 36013482 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58081015
    Background and Objectives: We aim to compare the diagnostic performance of Protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II), a biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in differentiating HCC and non-malignant high-risk (NMHR) groups and to determine their cut-off values. Materials and Methods: A total of 163 patients, including 40 with HCC and 123 with NMHR (100 with liver cirrhosis and 23 with non-cirrhotic high-risk patients) were prospectively enrolled. The levels of AFP and PIVKA-II were measured, and their cut-off values were determined. We calculated and compared the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves of PIVKA-II, AFP, and their combination. Results: The levels of PIVKA-II and AFP were found to be significantly higher in the HCC compared to NMHR patients (p < 0.0001). For the differentiation of HCC from NMHR, the optimal cutoff values for PIVKA-II and AFP were 36.7 mAU/mL (90% sensitivity; 82.1% specificity) and 14.2 ng/mL (75% sensitivity; 93.5% specificity), respectively. The AUROC of PIVKA-II (0.905, p < 0.0001) was higher compared to AFP (0.869, p < 0.0001), but the combination of PIVKA−II and AFP gave the highest AUROC value (0.911, p < 0.0001). However, their differences were not statistically significant (AFP vs. PIVKA; p = 0.4775, AFP vs. Combination; p = 0.3808, PIVKA vs. Combination; p = 0.2268). Conclusions: PIVKA-II and AFP showed equal performance in detecting HCC in high-risk patients. AFP as a screening marker for HCC may be adequate, and replacing or adding the PIVKA-II test in current clinical practice may be of little value.
  4. Fulltext Knowledge, attitude and prevalence of ivermectin use as coronavirus disease treatment: A crosssectional study among a Malaysian population
    Filza Nur Athirah T, Aina Amanina AJ, Nor Safwan Hadi NA
    Malays Fam Physician, 2024;19:2.
    PMID: 38371720 DOI: 10.51866/oa.415
    INTRODUCTION: During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, there was a widespread public misconception regarding ivermectin use in managing the disease. There is no approval of ivermectin as COVID-19 treatment by the Food and Drug Administration, and the adverse effects of the drug are alarming. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitude towards and prevalence of ivermectin use as COVID-19 treatment among the Malaysian population.

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 391 Malaysians aged ≥18 years. A validated online self-administered questionnaire disseminated via Google Forms was used to evaluate the knowledge and attitude towards and prevalence of ivermectin use as COVID-19 treatment. The socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge and attitude towards and prevalence of ivermectin use among the respondents were evaluated through descriptive analysis. The chi-square test was used to identify the association between the variables.

    RESULTS: The respondents had moderate levels of knowledge and attitude towards ivermectin use, while the prevalence of ivermectin use was 3.58%. The respondents' sex (P=0.014), age (P=0.012) and monthly income (P=0.049) were significantly associated with their level of knowledge. The respondents' sex (P=0.04) was significantly associated with their level of attitude. Conversely, no socio-demographic characteristics were significantly associated with the prevalence of ivermectin use as COVID-19 treatment.

    CONCLUSION: The majority of Malaysians have moderate levels of knowledge and attitude towards ivermectin use as COVID-19 treatment, with a low prevalence of actual use.

  5. Fulltext Nanofiber Scaffold Based on Polylactic Acid-Polycaprolactone for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
    Aminatun, Huriah R, Hikmawati D, Hadi S, Amrillah T, Abdullah CAC
    Polymers (Basel), 2022 Jul 23;14(15).
    PMID: 35893947 DOI: 10.3390/polym14152983
    Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are becoming more prevalent in athletes. Anterior Cruciatum Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) surgery was used to treat ACL injuries and resulted in a recurrence rate of 94% due to the biomechanically repaired tissue being weaker than the original tissue. As a result, biodegradable artificial ligaments must be developed that can withstand mechanical stress during neoligament formation and stabilize the ACL. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of composition variations in polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) used as ACL nanofiber scaffolds on ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and modulus of elasticity, fiber diameter, cytotoxicity level, and degradation level, as well as the PLA-PCL concentration that provides the best value as an ACL scaffold. Electrospinning was used to fabricate the nanofiber scaffold with the following PLA-PCL compositions: A (100:0), B (85:15), C (80:20), D (70:30), and E (0:100) (wt%). The functional group test revealed no new peaks in any of the samples, and the ester group could be identified in the C-O bond at wave numbers 1300-1100 cm-1 and in the C=O bond at wave numbers 1750-1730 cm-1. The average fiber diameter, as determined by SEM morphology, is between 1000 and 2000 nm. The unbraided sample had a UTS range of 1.578-4.387 MPa and an elastic modulus range of 8.351-141.901 MPa, respectively, whereas the braided sample had a range of 0.879-1.863 MPa and 2.739-4.746 MPa. The higher the PCL composition, the lower the percentage of viable cells and the faster the sample degrades. All samples had a cell viability percentage greater than 60%, and samples C, D, and E had a complete degradation period greater than six months. The ideal scaffold, Sample C, was composed of PLA-PCL 80:20 (wt%), had an average fiber diameter of 827 ± 271 nm, a living cell percentage of 97.416 ± 5.079, and a degradation time of approximately 219 days.
  6. Fulltext A one-dimensional coordination polymer, catena-poly[[[[N-ethyl-N-(pyridin-4-ylmeth-yl)di-thio-carbamato-κ(2)S,S']zinc(II)]-μ2-N-ethyl-N-(pyridin-4-ylmeth-yl)di-thio-carbamato-κ(3)S,S':N] 4-methyl-pyridine hemisolvate]
    Poplaukhin P, Arman HD, Tiekink ERT
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2017 Jul 01;73(Pt 8):1162-1166.
    PMID: 28932428 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989017010179
    The title compound, {[Zn(C9H11N2S2)2]·0.5C6H7N} n , comprises two independent, but chemically similar, Zn[S2CN(Et)CH2py]2 residues and a 4-methyl-pyridine solvent mol-ecule in the asymmetric unit. The Zn-containing units are connected into a one-dimensional coordination polymer (zigzag topology) propagating in the [010] direction, with one di-thio-carbamate ligand bridging in a μ2-κ(3) mode, employing one pyridyl N and both di-thio-carbamate S atoms, while the other is κ(2)-chelating. In each case, the resultant ZnNS4 coordination geometry approximates a square pyramid, with the pyridyl N atom in the apical position. In the crystal, the chains are linked into a three-dimensional architecture by methyl- and pyridyl-C-H⋯S, methyl-ene-C-H⋯N(pyrid-yl) and pyridyl-C-H⋯π(ZnS2C) inter-actions. The connection between the chain and the 4-methyl-pyridine solvent mol-ecule is of the type pyridyl-C-H⋯N(4-methyl-pyridine).
  7. Fulltext Crystal structures of {μ2-N,N'-bis-[(pyridin-3-yl)meth-yl]ethanedi-amide}tetra-kis-(di-methyl-carbamodi-thio-ato)dizinc(II) di-methyl-formamide disolvate and {μ2-N,N'-bis-[(pyridin-3-yl)meth-yl]ethanedi-amide}tetra-kis-(di-n-propyl-carbamodi-thio-ato)dizinc(II)
    Arman HD, Poplaukhin P, Tiekink ERT
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2017 Oct 01;73(Pt 10):1501-1507.
    PMID: 29250367 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989017012956
    The title structures, [Zn2(C3H6NS2)4(C14H14N4O2)]·2C3H7NO (I) and [Zn2(C7H14NS2)4(C14H14N4O2)] (II), each feature a bidentate, bridging bipyridyl-type ligand encompassing a di-amide group. In (I), the binuclear compound is disposed about a centre of inversion, leading to an open conformation, while in (II), the complete mol-ecule is completed by the application of a twofold axis of symmetry so that the bridging ligand has a U-shape. In each of (I) and (II), the di-thio-carbamate ligands are chelating with varying degrees of symmetry, so the zinc atom is within an NS4 set approximating a square-pyramid for (I) and a trigonal-bipyramid for (II). The solvent di-methyl-formaide (DMF) mol-ecules in (I) connect to the bridging ligand via amide-N-H⋯O(DMF) and various amide-, DMF-C-H⋯O(amide, DMF) inter-actions. The resultant three-mol-ecule aggregates assemble into a three-dimensional architecture via C-H⋯π(pyridyl, chelate ring) inter-actions. In (II), undulating tapes sustained by amide-N-H⋯O(amide) hydrogen bonding lead to linear supra-molecular chains with alternating mol-ecules lying to either side of the tape; no further directional inter-actions are noted in the crystal.
  8. Fulltext Structural optical and electrical properties of a transparent conductive ITO/Al-Ag/ITO multilayer contact
    Isiyaku AK, Ali AH, Nayan N
    Beilstein J Nanotechnol, 2020;11:695-702.
    PMID: 32461871 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.11.57
    Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a widely used material for transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films due to its good optical and electrical properties. Improving the optoelectronic properties of ITO films with reduced thickness is crucial and quite challenging. ITO-based multilayer films with an aluminium-silver (Al-Ag) interlayer (ITO/Al-Ag/ITO) and a pure ITO layer (as reference) were prepared by RF and DC sputtering. The microstructural, optical and electrical properties of the ITO/Al-Ag/ITO (IAAI) films were investigated before and after annealing at 400 °C. X-ray diffraction measurements show that the insertion of the Al-Ag intermediate bilayer led to the crystallization of an Ag interlayer even at the as-deposited stage. Peaks attributed to ITO(222), Ag(111) and Al(200) were observed after annealing, indicating an enhancement in crystallinity of the multilayer films. The annealed IAAI film exhibited a remarkable improvement in optical transmittance (86.1%) with a very low sheet resistance of 2.93 Ω/sq. The carrier concentration increased more than twice when the Al-Ag layer was inserted between the ITO layers. The figure of merit of the IAAI multilayer contact has been found to be high at 76.4 × 10-3 Ω-1 compared to a pure ITO contact (69.4 × 10-3 Ω-1). These highly conductive and transparent ITO films with Al-Ag interlayer can be a promising contact for low-resistance optoelectronics devices.
  9. Fulltext SEM, XRD and FTIR analyses of both ultrasonic and heat generated activated carbon black microstructures
    Wibawa PJ, Nur M, Asy'ari M, Nur H
    Heliyon, 2020 Mar;6(3):e03546.
    PMID: 32190760 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03546
    The microstructures of the activated carbon black microparticles (ACBMPs) generated through both treatments of 20 min ultrasonic and 400 °C thermal energy equivalent have been analyzed properly using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy methods. The research was aiming to generate binding or active sites points on the outer surface of the ACBMPs body of which commonly plays an important role in both adsorption and catalytic processes. It was observed that around 150 nm up to 400 nm in average diameter super macro voids with many various turns of nano-scale wells, and around 1.84 angstrom (Å) up to 15.98 Å intraparticle pores were generated. In addition, the parallel planes spacing of the carbonaceous framework sheets, namely d hkl in Miller indexes terminology, of about 4.44 Å up to 2.98 Å constructed the inner particles of the ACBMPs body. A new nomenclature method for the binding or active site shapes identification and classifying them into four categories based on the quadrants terminology, i.e. quadrant one (Q1), two (Q2), three (Q3) and four (Q4) is proposed. Each the quadrants contains four categories of turns types, i.e. sharp, semi sharp, obtuse and non-significant turns depending on the angle of the associated turn in radian angle, θ. Finally, it can be concluded that the combination of ultrasonic and thermal energy treatments in fabricating ACBMPs could generate binding or active site points with unique shapes as a transit terminal for any guest molecules, in this context is methyl red (MR) molecules to enter into the suitable intra-particles pores of the ACBMPs body.
  10. Fulltext Characterization and stability of short-chain fatty acids modified starch Pickering emulsions
    Abdul Hadi N, Marefati A, Matos M, Wiege B, Rayner M
    Carbohydr Polym, 2020 Jul 15;240:116264.
    PMID: 32475554 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116264
    Acetylated, propionylated and butyrylated rice and quinoa starches at different levels of modification and starch concentrations, were used to stabilize oil-in-water starch Pickering emulsions at 10% oil fraction. Short-chain fatty acid modified starch Pickering emulsions (SPEs) were characterized after emulsification and after 50 days of storage. The particle size distribution, microstructure, emulsion index, and stability were evaluated. An increase in starch concentration led to a decrease of emulsion droplet sizes. Quinoa starch has shown the capability of stabilizing Pickering emulsions in both the native and modified forms. The emulsifying capacity of SPEs was improved by increasing the chain length of SCFA. Modified quinoa starch with higher chain lengths (i.e. propionylated and butyrylated), at higher levels of modification, showed higher emulsion index (>71%) and stability over the entire 50 days storage. At optimized formulation, SCFA-starch particles have the potential in stabilizing emulsions for functional foods, pharmaceutical formulations, or industrial food applications.
  11. Large breast lump with bloody nipple discharge: benign intraductal papilloma
    Cheah SD, Imi Sairi AH
    BMJ Case Rep, 2020 Nov 04;13(11).
    PMID: 33148555 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-236818
    A 32-year-old woman presented with a 3 cm×3 cm left breast lump associated with bloody nipple discharge during her early pregnancy. Examination and ultrasonography showed benign features, whereas core needle biopsies revealed a benign papilloma. Six months after her delivery, a 6 cm×6 cm benign papilloma was completely excised via circumareolar incision. The majority of intraductal papillomas are small; however, they can also present as a large mass rarely. We should be wary of a malignant papillary lesion when there is the presence of atypia on core needle biopsy or imaging-histology discordance. A concordant benign papilloma with benign imaging findings is otherwise reassuring. Clinicians need to be aware of this uncommon presentation of large intraductal papilloma as a complete curative excision can be achieved through a cosmetically placed incision.
  12. Fulltext Jammer Localization Using Wireless Devices with Mitigation by Self-Configuration
    Ashraf QM, Habaebi MH, Islam MR
    PLoS One, 2016;11(9):e0160311.
    PMID: 27583378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160311
    Communication abilities of a wireless network decrease significantly in the presence of a jammer. This paper presents a reactive technique, to detect and locate the position of a jammer using a distributed collection of wireless sensor devices. We employ the theory of autonomic computing as a framework to design the same. Upon detection of a jammer, the affected nodes self-configure their power consumption which stops unnecessary waste of battery resources. The scheme then proceeds to determine the approximate location of the jammer by analysing the location of active nodes as well as the affected nodes. This is done by employing a circular curve fitting algorithm. Results indicate a high degree of accuracy in localizing a jammer has been achieved.
  13. Tumefactive fibroinflammatory lesion of the head and neck
    Said H, Razi Hadi A, Akmal SN, Lokman S
    J Laryngol Otol, 1988 Nov;102(11):1064-7.
    PMID: 3209947 DOI: 10.1017/s0022215100107297
    The term tumefactive fibroinflammatory lesion is used to describe an unusual fibrosclerosing disorder that behaves in a malignant way clinically but is histologically benign. Lesions in the head and neck are believed to be part of the broader fibrosclerosing syndrome which include pseudotumour of the orbit, Reidel's thyroiditis, sclerosing cholangitis and mediastinal fibrosis. Clinical diagnosis is often difficult and relies heavily on histopathology. Steroid therapy is suggested as the first line of management, while surgery or radiation therapy is reserved for failures.
  14. Fulltext Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Coronary Artery Stenting in Pregnancy in a Woman with Resistant Familial Hyperlipidaemia
    Roslani AL, Jaafar AH, Ruhani AI
    J Obstet Gynaecol India, 2016 Oct;66(Suppl 2):698-702.
    PMID: 27803548
  15. Fulltext A two-dimensional coordination polymer: poly[[bis-[μ2-N-ethyl-N-(pyridin-4-ylmeth-yl)di-thio-carbamato-κ3N:S,S']cadmium(II)] 3-methyl-pyridine monosolvate]
    Arman HD, Poplaukhin P, Tiekink ERT
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2017 Apr 01;73(Pt 4):488-492.
    PMID: 28435704 DOI: 10.1107/S2056989017003516
    The title compound, {[Cd(C9H11N2S2)2]·C6H7N} n , features two μ2-κ3-di-thio-carbamate ligands each of which chelates one CdII atom, via the S atoms, while simultaneously bridging to another via the pyridyl-N atom. The result is a two-dimensional coordination polymer extending parallel to the ab plane with square channels along the b axis. The CdII atom geometry is based on a distorted cis-N2S4 octa-hedron. The 3-methyl-pyridine mol-ecules reside in the channels aligned along the b axis, being held in place by methyl-ene-C-H⋯N(3-methyl-pyridine) and (3-methyl-pyridine)-C-H⋯π(pyrid-yl) inter-actions. Pyridyl-C-H⋯S and di-thio-carbamate-methyl-C-H⋯π(pyrid-yl) inter-actions provide connections between layers along the c axis.
  16. Tissue microarray immunohistochemical profiles of p53 and pRB in hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatoblastoma
    Azlin AH, Looi LM, Cheah PL
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(9):3959-63.
    PMID: 24935581
    The tumour suppressor genes, p53 and pRb, are known to play important roles in neoplastic transformation. While molecular routes to the uncontrolled growth of hepatocytes, leading to primary liver cancer have generated considerable interest, the roles of p53 and pRb mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatoblastoma (HB) remain to be clarified. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and pRb gene products in 26 HCC and 9 HB, sampled into tissue microarray blocks. 10 (38%) of 26 HCC showed > 10% tumour nuclear staining for p53 protein, 3 of these also being HbsAg positive. Conversely, none of 9 HB expressed nuclear p53 immunopositivity. Some 24 (92%) HCC and 8 (89%) HB showed loss of pRb nuclear expression. Two of the 26 HCC and one of the 9 HB showed >10% tumour nuclear staining for pRb protein. Our results suggest that p53 does not have an important role in the development of HB but may contribute in HCC. There is also loss of pRb expression in the majority of HCC and HB, supporting loss of pRb gene function in the hepatocarcinogenesis pathway. However, a comparison of the staining profiles of p53 and pRb proteins in HCC and HB did not reveal a consistent pattern to differentiate between the two types of tumours immunohistochemically. Hence the use of p53 and pRB protein expression has no contribution in the situation where there is a diagnostic difficulty in deciding between HCC and HB.
  17. Fulltext 4-Amino-N-(2,3-di-hydro-1,3-thia-zol-2-yl-idene)benzene-sulfonamide-2,4,6-tris-(pyr-idin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine (1/1)
    Arman HD, Kaulgud T, Tiekink ER
    Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2014 Apr 1;70(Pt 4):o402-3.
    PMID: 24826120 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536814004838
    The sulfa-thia-zole mol-ecule in the title 1:1 co-crystal, C9H9N3O2S2·C18H12N6, adopts an approximate L-shape [dihedral angle between the five- and six-membered rings = 86.20 (9)°] and features an intra-molecular hypervalent S⋯O inter-action [2.8666 (15) Å]. Overall, the triazine mol-ecule has the shape of a disk as the pendant pyridine rings are relatively close to coplanar with the central ring [dihedral angles = 18.35 (9), 6.12 (9) and 4.67 (9)°]. In the crystal packing, a linear supra-molecular chain aligned along [01-1] is formed as a result of amino-pyridyl N-H⋯N hydrogen bonding with syn-disposed pyridyl mol-ecules of one triazine, and amine-pyridyl N-H⋯N hydrogen bonding with the third pydridyl ring of a second triazine mol-ecule. A three-dimensional architecture arises as the chains are connected by C-H⋯O inter-actions.
  18. A Rare Occurrence of Isolated Endogenous Escherichia coli Panophthalmitis: A Case Report
    Ahmad Fauzi N, Rosli AH, Jabbari AJ
    Cureus, 2023 Oct;15(10):e47059.
    PMID: 38021653 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47059
    Panophthalmitis is a severe ocular condition that can lead to devastating outcomes, such as evisceration, if not promptly treated. It typically originates endogenously, with urinary tract infection being a common primary source of infection. This report describes a rare case of a 61-year-old Malay patient with left eye panophthalmitis. Ocular culture revealed Escherichia coli, while systemic septic workup yielded negative results. Due to the severity of the ocular condition at presentation and the disproportionate level of pain the patient had, an immunocompromised state was suspected and later the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was confirmed via laboratory investigation. Despite the delay in presentation, which hindered early intervention, the patient's eyeball was successfully salvaged through a treatment regimen involving three injections of intravitreal antibiotic administered at 48 to 72-hour intervals and a complete course of intravenous antibiotics. This case report highlights the importance of prompt treatment to salvage an eye from evisceration in the case of panophthalmitis.
  19. Fulltext Semantic visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) using deep learning for dynamic scenes
    Zhang XY, Abd Rahman AH, Qamar F
    PeerJ Comput Sci, 2023;9:e1628.
    PMID: 37869467 DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.1628
    Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is a fundamental problem in robotics and computer vision. It involves the task of a robot or an autonomous system navigating an unknown environment, simultaneously creating a map of the surroundings, and accurately estimating its position within that map. While significant progress has been made in SLAM over the years, challenges still need to be addressed. One prominent issue is robustness and accuracy in dynamic environments, which can cause uncertainties and errors in the estimation process. Traditional methods using temporal information to differentiate static and dynamic objects have limitations in accuracy and applicability. Nowadays, many research trends have leaned towards utilizing deep learning-based methods which leverage the capabilities to handle dynamic objects, semantic segmentation, and motion estimation, aiming to improve accuracy and adaptability in complex scenes. This article proposed an approach to enhance monocular visual odometry's robustness and precision in dynamic environments. An enhanced algorithm using the semantic segmentation algorithm DeeplabV3+ is used to identify dynamic objects in the image and then apply the motion consistency check to remove feature points belonging to dynamic objects. The remaining static feature points are then used for feature matching and pose estimation based on ORB-SLAM2 using the Technical University of Munich (TUM) dataset. Experimental results show that our method outperforms traditional visual odometry methods in accuracy and robustness, especially in dynamic environments. By eliminating the influence of moving objects, our method improves the accuracy and robustness of visual odometry in dynamic environments. Compared to the traditional ORB-SLAM2, the results show that the system significantly reduces the absolute trajectory error and the relative pose error in dynamic scenes. Our approach has significantly improved the accuracy and robustness of the SLAM system's pose estimation.
  20. Fulltext Orbital cellulitis complicated with subperiosteal abscess following post-nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19: A case report
    Abdul-Kadir MA, Rosli AH
    Clin Case Rep, 2023 May;11(5):e7324.
    PMID: 37180319 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.7324
    KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE: The nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19 is associated with low risks of severe complications, but it is important to consider the patient's medical history and anatomy of the nasal cavity to ensure safety and accuracy of the test. Orbital complications can occur up to 85% secondary to acute sinusitis, and prompt treatments are crucial, particularly in the pediatric group. A conservative approach is effective for subperiosteal abscess if certain criteria are met, and it is not an absolute indication for immediate surgical intervention. However, timely management of orbital cellulitis is essential for better outcomes.

    ABSTRACT: Pre-septal and orbital cellulitis are more commonly seen in children than in adults. The incidence of pediatric orbital cellulitis is 1.6 in 100,000. The impact of COVID-19 has led to the increasing practice of nasopharyngeal swab surveillance. We presented a case of rare pediatric orbital cellulitis complicated with subperiosteal abscess secondary to severe acute sinusitis following a nasopharyngeal swab. A 4-year-old boy was brought in by his mother with increasing painful left eye swelling and redness. Three days prior, the patient developed a fever and mild rhinitis with loss of appetite which raised concerns about COVID-19. He had a nasopharyngeal swab on that same day and tested negative. Clinically, there was marked erythematous and tender periorbital and facial oedema involving the left nasal bridge, maxilla extended to the left upper lip with a deviation of the left nasal tip contralaterally. Computed tomography confirmed left orbital cellulitis with left eye proptosis, fullness of left maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses and left subperiosteal abscess. The patient received empirical antibiotics and surgical intervention promptly and recovered well with improvements in ocular symptoms. The nasal swabbing techniques may vary among practitioners, and it is associated with extremely low risks of severe complications from 0.001% to 0.16%. Whether the swab had aggravated the underlying rhinitis or traumatized the turbinates leading to sinus drainage obstruction; a nasal swab may impose the risk of severe orbital infection in a susceptible pediatric patient. Any health practitioner conducting the nasal swab should be vigilant about this potential complication.

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