MyMedR

An unusual cause of obstructive jaundice

Shahrudin MD

JUMMEC, 1996;1:41-43.

Compression of the common bile duct by a stone impacted in the cystic duct is an uncommon cause of obstructive jaundice. We present a case study and review of the literature pertaining to the presentation, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of Mirizzi syndrome.

Matched MeSH terms: Review

The aetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: a review

Nor Zuraida Z

JUMMEC, 2000;5:73-77.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a chronic debilitating condition affecting both physical and mental functioning. It was first quoted as a 'new disease' spreading in the developed countries. It bei:ame a major issue by doctors, professionals and the media for the past 15 years. CFS was not only affecting the adults but childhood fatigue has also been noted. The CFS patients commonly described themselves to be perfectionists, highly driven, energetic U1d motivated before the condition started. Studies have been focused on the definition, diagnosis and management of CFS. However, the understanding of CFS and what cause it is stili unclear and controversial. Thus the aetiological factors of CFS are reviewed in this article. KEYWORDS; Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Aetiology, Psychiatric disorders, Viral infection, Immunology

Matched MeSH terms: Review

Fulltext Determinants of delayed tuberculosis treatment among patients in Selangor: A study protocol

Makeswaran P, Shah SA, Safian N, Muhamad NA, Harith AA

PLoS One, 2022;17(4):e0266746.

PMID: 35468167 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266746

The high prevalence rate and ever-increasing incidence of tuberculosis (TB) worldwide remain a significant issue in healthcare. In Malaysia, the incidence and mortality rate of TB is increasing due to the delayed presentation of TB patients to healthcare facilities. However, there is a lack of local studies on the contributing factors of delayed presentation of TB patients in Malaysia. This study aims to establish a social epidemiology framework by analysing social factors including socio-epidemiological, socio-cultural, and health-seeking behaviours associated with the delay in seeking TB treatment among patients in Selangor, Malaysia. A sequential exploratory mixed-method study design that combines qualitative and quantitative research methods will be employed. This study will recruit adult patients who have been diagnosed with TB using chest X-ray and sputum smear microscopy. Four districts with the highest recorded cases in the state of Selangor will be selected as study locations. The qualitative study will involve a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) to explore six components, namely demographic, socio-cultural, health-seeking behaviours, social support and resources, previous knowledge and experience with illness, and treatment pathway. Meanwhile, the quantitative study will incorporate a structured survey that will be developed based on the themes identified in the qualitative phase and a review of several studies in the literature. Several quality control measures will be taken while ensuring that the survey questionnaires are anonymised and participants' confidentiality is maintained. The data obtained from both qualitative and quantitative approaches will be combined to provide a more robust assessment of the study. Given that this study will focus on districts with high recorded cases of TB in Selangor, the findings might assist to address TB-related issues such as the increasing incidence and mortality rates, which are mainly attributed to the delayed presentation of TB patients to healthcare facilities.

Matched MeSH terms: Review Literature as Topic

Fulltext Facilitators and barriers of digital health technologies implementation in hospital settings in lower-income and middle-income countries since the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review protocol

Yew SQ, Trivedi D, Adanan NIH, Chew BH

BMJ Open, 2024 Jan 31;14(1):e078508.

PMID: 38296272 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078508

INTRODUCTION: The implementation of digital health technologies (DHTs) in hospitals worldwide has been uneven since the COVID-19 pandemic. Ambiguity in defining the landscape of DHTs adds to the complexity of this process. To address these challenges, this scoping review aims to identify the facilitators and barriers of implementing DHTs in hospitals in lower-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) since COVID-19, describe the DHTs that have been adopted in hospital settings in LMIC during this period, and develop a comprehensive classification framework to define the landscape of DHTs implemented in LMIC.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and grey literature. Descriptive statistics will be used to report the characteristics of included studies. The facilitators and barriers to DHTs implementation, gathered from both quantitative and qualitative data, will be synthesised using a parallel-results convergent synthesis design. A thematic analysis, employing an inductive approach, will be conducted to categorise these facilitators and barriers into coherent themes. Additionally, we will identify and categorise all available DHTs based on their equipment types and methods of operation to develop an innovative classification framework.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Formal ethical approval is not required, as primary data collection is not involved in this study. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and meetings with key stakeholders and partners in the field of digital health.

Matched MeSH terms: Review Literature as Topic

Fulltext Exploring community participation in vectorborne disease control in Southeast Asia: a scoping review protocol

Naserrudin NA, Adhikari B, Culleton R, Hod R, Saffree Jeffree M, Ahmed K, et al.

BMJ Open, 2024 May 13;14(5):e079963.

PMID: 38740505 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079963

INTRODUCTION: Vector borne diseases (VBDs) present significant public health challenges in Southeast Asia (SEA), and the increasing number of cases threatens vulnerable communities. Inadequate vector control and management have been linked to the spread of VBDs. To address these issues, community participation has been proposed as a promising approach to enhance health programmes and control of VBDs. This article outlines a protocol for a scoping review of the published literature on community-participation approaches to control VBDs in the SEA region. The primary research question is 'How does community participation complement the control of VBDs in SEA?' This review aims to provide an overview of various approaches and identify barriers and facilitators to effective implementation.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The research questions will guide the scoping review. In stage 1, peer-reviewed publications from PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus will be searched using predefined search terms related to community-based approaches and VBDs in the SEA region, English, Indonesian and Malay published between 2012 and 2022. In stage 2, the references from relevant articles will be screened for eligibility. In stage 3, eligible articles will be charted in Microsoft Excel to facilitate the review process, and studies will be characterised based on the investigated diseases; this review will also highlight the methodological context of these studies. In stage 4, a thematic analysis will be conducted to derive meaningful findings from the dataset relevant to the research inquiry, followed by writing the results in stage 5. This scoping review aims to be the first to explore community participation in VBD control in the SEA population, providing valuable insights for future research and stakeholders involved in disease control.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This scoping review does not require ethical approval because the methodology synthesises information from available articles. This review is planned for dissemination in academic journals, conference presentations and shared with stakeholders as part of knowledge sharing among those involved in VBD control.

Matched MeSH terms: Review Literature as Topic

Fulltext Neuroscience and Brain Science Special Issue begins in the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences

Abdullah JM

Malays J Med Sci, 2014 Dec;21(Spec Issue):1-5.

PMID: 25941457

The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences and the Orient Neuron Nexus have amalgated to publish a yearly special issue based on neuro- and brain sciences. This will hopefully improve the quality of peer-reviewed manuscripts in the field of fundamental, applied, and clinical neuroscience and brain science from Asian countries. One focus of the Universiti Sains Malaysia is to strengthen neuroscience and brain science, especially in the field of neuroinformatics.

Matched MeSH terms: Peer Review

Fulltext Radioiodine I-131 for the therapy of graves' disease

Mumtaz M, Lim SL, Khaw CH, Mohd Khir AS

Malays J Med Sci, 2009 Jan;16(1):25-33.

PMID: 22589645

Graves' disease is a common cause of hyperthyroidism. Treatment options for Graves' disease include antithyroid medication, surgery or radioactive iodine (I-31) or RAI. This review will focus on the approach to RAI therapy; discussing dose selection, patient preparation, and consideration before and after administering RAI, examining aspects of pre-treatment with antithyroid medication as well as discussing possible adverse events including hypothyroidism and possible worsening of thyroid-associated opthalmopathy. Follow-up is lifelong with the aim of ensuring the patient remains euthyroid or on replacement therapy if there is evidence of hypothyroidism. While there are controversies in treatment of thyrotoxicosis with RAI, with appropriate patient selection and regular follow-up, radioiodine is a safe and effective modality in achieving high cure rates.

Matched MeSH terms: Review

Fulltext Diagnosis and management of mild cognitive impairment in the community: What is the role of primary care physician?

Ambigga Devi SK, Suthahar A, Ramli AS, Ng KK, Radziah AR, Marymol K

Malays Fam Physician, 2011;6(2-3):74-8.

PMID: 25606229 MyJurnal

Dementia is a large and growing problem in the ageing population but often not diagnosed in its earlier stages which is Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI represents the phase between normal ageing and early dementia. About 12% of patients with MCI develop dementia per year, usually Alzheimer's disease. It is a diagnosis given to individuals who have cognitive impairments beyond that is expected for their age and education. However, this condition does not interfere significantly with daily activities as these individuals retain their critical thinking and reasoning skills. Nevertheless, due to its complexity and vague initial presentation, many cases of MCI can be missed. Therefore, it is imperative for primary care physicians to recognise these symptoms as opposed to normal ageing memory changes, and refer these patients to the memory clinic early to confirm the diagnosis. This paper illustrates a common primary care presentation of a patient with MCI. As there is no proven pharmacological treatment for MCI, the mainstay of management is to provide lifestyle intervention and long term support to these patients in the community. Primary care physicians should work as a team with the geriatrician, allied health personnel, support groups and caregivers in providing this care.

Matched MeSH terms: Review

An overview of the national telehealth initiative in Malaysia

Maon SN, Edirippulige S

Stud Health Technol Inform, 2010;161:95-103.

PMID: 21191162

Malaysia's national health statistics for the last half century show a remarkable improvement in the nation's health status. One important factor for this improvement is the Malaysian government's proactive intervention in the health sector. Among others, e-health has played a vital role in delivering and managing healthcare services in Malaysia. While the Government has integrated telehealth in its national digital infrastructure re-design, it has heavily invested in telehealth. The enactment of new laws to facilitate telehealth practices can also be noted as an important measure.

Matched MeSH terms: Review Literature as Topic

Fulltext Managing pelvic inflammatory disease

Sivalingam N, Vanitha NS, Loh KY

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Dec;62(5):425-7; quiz 428.

PMID: 18705484 MyJurnal

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) describes the clinical features of sexually transmitted pelvic infection ranging from acute salpingitis to salpingo-oophoritis and ultimately pelvic abscess. Intra-tubal adhesions and pelvic adhesive disease are the long-term sequelae of PID which may lead to both sub-fertility and tubal ectopic pregnancy. Laparoscopy is the definitive diagnostic modality, but is invasive and not suitable for routine clinical practice especially in the primary care setting. Ascending infection by Neiserria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trachomatis and less commonly bacterial vaginosis and mycoplasma have been traditionally associated as causative pathogens in PID. As polymicrobial infections are being implicated in PID before culture and sensitivity results are available empirical treatment based on clinical guidelines is justified initially. Pre-emptive testing and treatment for woman at increased risk of chlamydia has been shown to reduce the risk of PID by up to two-thirds. It is imperative that medical practitioners have low thresholds for testing and treatment of both sexually active young women and men.

Matched MeSH terms: Review

Surrogate markers for liver fibrosis

Poynard T

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Jul;60 Suppl B:39-40.

PMID: 16108172

Matched MeSH terms: Review Literature as Topic

Fulltext Definitions of somatisation and cultural influences

Mathers N, Khoo EM, McCarthy S, Thompson J, Low WY

Br J Gen Pract, 2003 May;53(490):409.

PMID: 12830578

Matched MeSH terms: Review Literature as Topic

Fulltext Anaesthetic related maternal deaths in Malaysia--a review

Dalina AM, Inbasegaran K

Med J Malaysia, 1996 Mar;51(1):52-63.

PMID: 10967980

The anaesthetic hazards for the obstetric patient are well known. Based on results of the first two reports on the confidential enquiry into maternal deaths in Malaysia for 1991 and 1992, ten cases of anaesthetic related deaths were analysed. There were 3 in 1991 and 7 in 1992 accounting for 1.34% and 2.8% of maternal deaths respectively. It was estimated that the crude mortality rate for the obstetric patient was 11.4 per 100,000 operative deliveries or a four-fold risk compared to the general surgical patient. One case resulted from administration of intravenous sedation while the rest involved general anaesthesia, seven of which were done under emergency conditions. Inadequate airway management and ventilation in the perioperative period, including during interhospital transfer was the single most important factor causing the majority of these deaths. The use of regional anaesthesia for Caesarean sections is strongly advocated. Substandard care was also present in all cases. Other issues pertinent to improvement of obstetric anaesthetic services are also discussed which include the quality of anaesthetic manpower, upgrading of infrastructure, facilities and staffing of operating and recovery areas, the use of regional anaesthesia, expanding the role of the anaesthetist and the quality of the anaesthetic services in general.

Matched MeSH terms: Review

Fulltext Reproduction research and health: part III: fertility health

Sinnathuray TA

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Mar;34(3):307-13.

PMID: 7412671

The tremendous research advances in recent decades in the three widely used methods of fertility regulation (family planning), namely hormonal steroidal contraception, sterilisation and legal abortion, have been presented and discussed. The considerable health benefits accruing to the woman, in particular, and to the society, in general, from the practice of these fertility regulation methods. especially in the context of developing countries, have been reviewed. Recent research advances in the area of fertility augmentation (infertility management) have been presented and discussed. The manner in which some of the future trends in fertility regulation are likely to develop has been briefly stated.

Matched MeSH terms: Review

Fulltext The general practitioner--how much psychiatric education?

Dass D

Med J Malaysia, 1981 Dec;36(4):263-7.

PMID: 7334967

Matched MeSH terms: Review

Fulltext Chromosome abnormalities in leukemia: a review

Chin YM, Hassan K

Med J Malaysia, 1984 Jun;39(2):103-11.

PMID: 6595495

The common chromosome abnormalities that are encountered in the various types of leukemia are discussed here. Chromosome abnormalities in leukemia are non-random and certain chromosomal changes are now becoming recognised as being rather specific for certain leukemia types.

Matched MeSH terms: Review

Fulltext A curriculum in medical ethics and medical humanities

Puthucheary SD

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Sep;35(1):86-95.

PMID: 7254006

The code of ethics derived from the Hippocratic Oath needs to be supplemented by a formal curriculum in Medical Ethics and Medical Humanities in our Medical schools. The need and justification for it, a review of the medical ethics curricula in American. European. British and Australian Universities, together with an outline of the proposed curriculum is described.

Matched MeSH terms: Review

Fulltext WHO 2009 guidelines for anti-retroviral therapy: its implication for primary care physician

Koh KC

Malays Fam Physician, 2010;5(2):77-82.

PMID: 25606192 MyJurnal

Careful drug history should be elicited from HIV infected patient on ART by the attending primary care physician in order to avoid potential adverse effects from drug-drug interactions. In conclusion, primary care physicians have a significant role in early diagnosis of HIV infected people, ensuring wider access to early ART, ensuring the welfare of health care workers attending to possible HIV positive patients and safe long term follow up of HIV positive patients needing medications for non-HIV related ailments.

Matched MeSH terms: Review

Fulltext Greying Malaysians: strategies for promoting and supporting healthy and productive ageing

Phua KL

Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2007;13(1):16-21.

MyJurnal

Population ageing is inevitable in Malaysia as a result of declining fertility rates. Steps can be taken to face this challenge. These include ways to promote “healthy ageing” and “compression of morbidity” and ways to promote “productive ageing”, i.e., keeping the elderly economically and socially engaged. This article, based on a review of the literature, argues that it is illogical to force people into compulsory retirement at an arbitrary age when they can continue to contribute actively to society. Instead, ways can be devised to promote healthy ageing, prolonging independence and encouraging productive ageing through gradual economic and social disengagement of the individual depending on the individual’s physical health, mental health, contribution to society and personal inclination and preferences. Public policy in general and public health policy in particular can be designed or redesigned to help achieve this.

Matched MeSH terms: Review

Fulltext The h-index in Elsevier’s Scopus as an indicator of research achievement for young Malaysian scientists

Yap, C.K.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2012;20(2):197-203.

MyJurnal

If we were given a questionnaire of “How do we measure a researcher as a true scientist? with optional answers like (a) Having a good number of publications, (b) having attending numerous conferences, (c) with a high popularity as always appeared in mass media, and (d) good international networking and good public relations. Options (c) and (d) always come later after option (a) has been achieved, while option (b) can be simply achieved or abstract be accepted for presentation in any conference. Hitherto, publishing in any peer-reviewed journals carry a certain quality since they are highly subjected to peer review evaluation before the paper can be accepted for publication in a journal. Needless to say, those constructive comments given by the reviewers are very crucial in shaping our scientific understanding in our subject area rather than rejection experience (Yap, 2009). Having said so, option (a) will definitely be the best answer. The fact is that option (a) should not be argued whatsoever as the best answer [since publications speaks louder than anything else] and options (a), (b) and (c) are supplementary criteria to option (a) but they are not as vital as option (a). When we are asked ‘What is your scientific research performance or research output?’, the answer could always be ‘Having a good number of publications.’ Then, the next question forwarded is that ‘What is the quality and impact of your published papers to the scientific community?’ Of course, good and high impact factor journals always accept papers with high novelty in the subject area. Therefore, papers published in good journals are always highly cited and subsequently resulting in high impact (or citations) of the research done to the scientific community. However, the last question is sometimes very subjective and difficult to answer until h-index is introduced and discussed among the researchers. This paper aimed to discuss the h-index based on Elsevier’s Scopus database as an indicator of research achievement for young Malaysian scientists.

Matched MeSH terms: Peer Review

Displaying publications 101 - 120 of 194 in total