Displaying publications 161 - 180 of 281 in total

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  1. Vythilingam I, Mahadevan S, Zaridah MZ, Ong KK, Abdullah G, Ong YF
    PMID: 7855662
    Mosquito collections were carried out for a period of one year from January to December 1992 in a pig farm in Sungai Pelek, Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 41,022 mosquitos belonging to 52 species and 20 genera were collected. Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. gelidus, the important vectors, comprised 63% of all mosquitos collected. Both these species were collected in large numbers during the wet months of May and December. The other predominant species in that area were Cx. fuscocephala, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. sitiens, Aedes butleri, and Armigeres subalbatus.
  2. Yap FC, Høeg JT, Chan BKK
    Ecol Evol, 2022 Jul;12(7):e9057.
    PMID: 35813926 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9057
    Symbiosis is increasingly recognized as being an important component in marine systems, and many such relationships are initiated when free-swimming larvae of one partner settle and become sedentary on a host partner. Therefore, several crucial questions emerge such as the larva's mechanism of locating a host, selection of substratum and finally settlement on the surface of its future partner. Here, we investigated these mechanisms by studying how larvae of the fire coral-associated barnacle Wanella milleporae move, settle and establish symbiosis with their host, Millepora tenera. Cyprids of W. milleporae possess a pair of specialized antennules with bell-shaped attachment discs that enable them to explore and settle superficially on the hostile surface of the fire coral. Intriguingly, the stinging polyps of the fire coral remain in their respective pores when the cyprids explore the fire coral surface. Even when cyprids come into contact with the nematocysts on the extended stinging polyps during the exploratory phase, no immobilization effects against the cyprids were observed. The exploratory phase of Wanella cyprids can be divided into a sequence of wide searching (large step length and high walking speed), close searching (small step length and low speed) and inspection behavior, eventually resulting in permanent settlement and metamorphosis. After settlement, xenogeneic interactions occur between the fire coral and the newly metamorphosed juvenile barnacle. This involved tissue necrosis and regeneration in the fire coral host, leading to a callus ring structure around the juvenile barnacle, enhancing survival rate after settlement. The complex exploratory and settlement patterns and interactions documented here represent a breakthrough in coral reef symbiosis studies to show how invertebrates start symbiosis with fire corals.
  3. Khoo SP, Shanmuhasuntharam P, Mahadzir WM, Tay KK, Latif A, Nair S
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 1998;10(1):49-51.
    PMID: 10050209 DOI: 10.1177/101053959801000111
    The delay in the diagnosis of oral cancer has been variously reported as being contributed by the clinicians, patients or both. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the referral pattern of 65 patients eventually diagnosed as having oral squamous cell carcinoma. The results showed that 50% of the patients delayed seeking professional help for more than 3 months after being aware of the lesion. The majority of the patients consulted medical practitioners as the first source of help. The mean clinicians' and patients' delay were 10.3 weeks and 28.9 weeks respectively. Dental practitioners showed a tendency to refer more advanced lesions compared to the medical practitioners. The findings raise the concern that lack of patients' awareness, misdiagnosis by clinicians and late detection by dental practitioners prevail thus calling for urgent measures towards early detection of the disease.
  4. Kiew KK, Wan Mohamad WB, Ridzuan A, Mafauzy M
    Malays J Med Sci, 2002 Jan;9(1):21-7.
    PMID: 22969314 MyJurnal
    Thirty patients with diabetic polyneuropathy were recruited from the diabetic clinic in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from 1996 to 1998. They were randomly assigned either sulbutiamine (Arcalion(®)) (15 patients) or no treatment (control group; 15 patients). Glycaemic control was assessed by blood glucose and HbA1. Severity of neuropathy was assessed by symptom and sign score, and electrophysiological parameters (nerve conduction velocity and compound muscle action potential) at entry to the study and after 6 weeks. There were improvements in the electrophysiological parameters in the treatment group when compared to the controls with significant improvement in the median nerve conduction velocity (p<0.001), median compound muscle action potential (p<0.001), peroneal nerve conduction velocity (p<0.001), and peroneal compound muscle action potential (p<0.001). No significant improvement in symptom and sign scores were noted between the groups but a significant improvement compared to base line was noted for the sulbutiamine treated group. (p< 0.05). The glycaemic control in both groups was not significantly different at base line and was stable throughout the study. Sulbutiamine objectively improved peripheral nerve function in diabetic polyneuropathy although the symptom score did not improve, possibly due to the short duration of the study.
  5. Chan BKK, Tsai PC, Tsao YF
    Zootaxa, 2024 Jul 04;5476(1):26-43.
    PMID: 39646462 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5476.1.6
    The present study identified a new barnacle species from Malaysian waters, Chthamalus ngankeeae sp. nov., on morphological and molecular grounds. Chthamalus ngankeeae sp. nov. is an intertidal species that is abundant on high shores, above the oyster zone. Chthamalus ngankeeae sp. nov. has two morphotypes, based on shell colour. Brown morphs have brown shells with pale brown ridges and look similar to Microeuraphia withersi (Pilsbry, 1916). Chthamalus ngankeeae sp. nov. has four teeth on the mandible, while M. withersi has but three. White morphs of C. ngankeeae sp. nov. possess white shells with gray ridges. The white morph of C. ngankeeae sp. nov. is similar to C. moro Pilsbry, 1916, but a major morphological difference includes a more prominent articular ridge on the scutum of C. ngankeeae sp. nov. compared to C. moro. Molecular analyses of sequence divergence in the COI and NaK genes of C. ngankeeae sp. nov. with other chthamalids showed that it forms an individual monophyletic group and does not belong to any of the cryptic lineages of C. moro, supporting its designation as a new species.
  6. Annsley DS, Chin KL, Tan KK, AbuBakar S, Zainal N
    Trop Biomed, 2024 Dec 01;41(4):481-490.
    PMID: 39876506 DOI: 10.47665/tb.41.4.009
    Dengue, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), poses a significant global health challenge. Effective vaccines and treatments for dengue are lacking due to gaps in understanding its pathogenesis and mechanisms in severe cases. This study investigates the role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in dengue, focusing on its potential association with virus neutralization and antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) in DENV replication. Serum samples were obtained from dengue-positive (dengue-IgG positive), SLE (dengue-IgG negative), and control (dengue-IgG and SLE-negative) individuals. SLE sera were included as a control for their high total IgE levels. Total IgE and dengue-specific IgE levels were measured using ELISA. Neutralization assays in Vero and KU812 cells were conducted to assess virus neutralization and ADE, respectively. Dengue-positive and SLE sera showed higher total IgE levels than control sera, although there was no significance seen. Dengue-positive sera showed the presence of dengue-specific IgE, whereas SLE and control sera exhibited negligible levels. Neutralization assay in dengue-positive sera revealed no correlation between IgE levels and virus inhibition. SLE sera, however, demonstrated an inverse correlation between total IgE levels and DENV neutralization, suggesting a potential involvement of total IgE in DENV replication in the context of SLE. Seventy-eight percent of SLE sera, 65% of denguepositive and 54% of control sera exhibited enhanced virus replication in KU812 cells with serum compared to virus alone, indicating the highest occurrence of ADE in SLE, followed by dengue-positive and control sera. DENV expression in KU812 cells was notably higher in SLE sera, indicating increased ADE risk. However, no association was found between IgE levels and virus expression in KU812 cells across all groups. The inverse correlation between total IgE levels and DENV neutralization in SLE sera suggests that IgE may facilitate virus replication. Further comprehensive exploration is needed to fully understand the role of IgE in dengue pathogenesis.
  7. Ganesananthan S, Rajvinder S, Anil R, Kiew KK, Ng KL, Rosaida MS, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2004;59 Suppl C:48.
    Background: Achalasia cardia is an uncommon disease that is often detected late and is associated with significant morbidity. It is a primary esophageal motility disorder diagnosed based on a good history, barium swallow, upper endoscopy and a standard esophageal manometry.
    Materials and Methods: We reviewed complete available records of treatment naïve patients with achalasia cardia from 1st January 2000 till April 2004.
    Results: A total of 40 patients, with average presenting age at 44±16 (range 19-73) years with 14 males: 26 females with 20 Malays: 15 Chinese: 5 Indians, were suitable for further analysis. The classical symptom of dysphagia to liquids and solids were noted in all cases (100%). These patients learnt that water and sometimes-aerated drinks aid in flushing food down. Symptoms of regurgitation (36 patients-90%), heartburn (15 patients-37.5%), weight loss (10 patients–25%), nocturnal cough (16 patient-40%), retrosternal chest discomfort (2 patient-5%) and hemetemesis (2 patient-5%) was noted. One patient had aspiration pneumonia and another had concomitant active pulmonary tuberculosis and 8 had concomitant constipation (20%). In this series the duration of illness before diagnosis was 5±6 (range
    0.3- 30) years and their presenting weight was 53±13 (range 33-82) kg. Barium swallow diagnosed achalasia in 27 patients (67.5%) and a dysmotility disorder in 7 cases (17.5%). There were 10 patients with mega-esophagus and two had epiphrenic diverticulum. There was no pseudoachalasia. Standard esophageal manometry, performed in 36 cases, demonstrated aperistalsis with one vigorous achalasia. The manometric assembly failed to pass through the sphincter in 14 cases and hence LOS assessment was not possible. Four cases demonstrated normal LOS pressure but demonstrated incomplete relaxation (normotensive achalasia). Pneumatic dilatation was performed in 38 newly cases without any complications with excellent symptomatic relief and a 3-12 month post procedural weight gain of 7±5 (range: 0-19) kg. Six patients required a second dilatation and another required two further dilatation. The durability of the total 45 pneumatic dilatations during this short study period was excellent at 24±12 (range 2-48) months.
    Conclusion: A primary esophageal motility disorder must be excluded in any patients who present with dysphagia, with or without regurgitation and a "normal" upper endoscopy. Achalasia is not uncommon, often delayed in diagnosis and has a varied presentation. Although there is no cure for achalasia, but early detection and treatment certainly relieves symptoms and prevents complications. Pneumatic dilatation in our center has excellent durability without any complications.
  8. Lim KH, Teh CH, Pan S, Ling MY, Yusoff MFM, Ghazali SM, et al.
    Tob Induc Dis, 2018;16.
    DOI: 10.18332/tid/82190
    INTRODUCTION The continuous monitoring of smoking prevalence and its associated factors is an integral part of anti-smoking programmes and valuable for the evaluation of the effectiveness of anti-smoking measures and policies. This study aimed at determining prevalence of smoking and identifying socio-demographic factors associated with smoking among adults in Malaysia aged 15 years and over.
    METHODS This is a cross-sectional study with a representative sample of 21 445 adults in Malaysia, aged 15 years and over, selected via a stratified, two-stage proportionate-to-size sampling method. Data were obtained from face-to-face interviews by trained research assistants, using a standard validated questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine socio-demographic factors associated with smoking among Malaysians.
    RESULTS The overall prevalence of smoking was 22.8% (95% CI: 21.9–23.8%), with males having a significantly higher prevalence compared to females (43.0%, 95% CI: 41.1–44.6 vs 1.4%, 95% CI: 1.1–1.7). The highest smoking prevalence was observed among other ethnicities (35.7%), those aged 25–44 years (59.3%), and low educational attainment (25.2%). Males, those with lower educational attainment and Malays were significantly associated with smoking.
    CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of smoking among Malaysians, aged 15 years and over, remains high despite the implementation of several anti-smoking measures over the past decades. Specially tailored anti-smoking policies or measures, particularly targeting males, the Malays, younger adults and those with lower educational attainment, are greatly warranted to reduce the prevalence of smoking in Malaysia.
    Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-2015)
  9. Michalopoulos LM, Jiwatram-Negrón T, Choo MK, Kamarulzaman A, El-Bassel N
    BMC Public Health, 2016 06 02;16:464.
    PMID: 27250497 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3125-7
    BACKGROUND: Malaysian fishermen have been identified as a key-affected HIV population with HIV rates 10 times higher than national rates. A number of studies have identified that psychosocial and structural-level stressors increase HIV injection drug risk behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to examine psychosocial and structural-level stressors of injection drug use and HIV injection drug risk behaviors among Malaysian fishermen.

    METHODS: The study employs a cross-sectional design using respondent driven sampling methods. The sample includes 406 fishermen from Pahang state, Malaysia. Using multivariate logistic regressions, we examined the relationship between individual (depression), social (adverse interactions with the police), and structural (poverty-related) stressors and injection drug use and risky injection drug use (e.g.., receptive and non-receptive needle sharing, frontloading and back-loading, or sharing drugs from a common container).

    RESULTS: Participants below the poverty line had significantly lower odds of injection drug use (OR 0.52, 95 % CI: 0.27-0.99, p = 0.047) and risky injection drug use behavior (OR 0.48, 95 % CI: 0.25-0.93, p = 0.030). In addition, participants with an arrest history had higher odds of injection use (OR 19.58, 95 % CI: 9.81-39.10, p 

  10. Shamsul BS, Tan KK, Chen HC, Aminuddin BS, Ruszymah BH
    Tissue Cell, 2014 Apr;46(2):152-8.
    PMID: 24630213 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2014.02.001
    Autogenous bone graft is the gold standard for fusion procedure. However, pain at donor site and inconsistent outcome have left a surgeon to venture into some other technique for spinal fusion. The objective of this study was to determine whether osteogenesis induced bone marrow stem cells with the combination of ceramics granules (HA or TCP/HA), and fibrin could serve as an alternative to generate spinal fusion. The sheep's bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were aspirated form iliac crest and cultured for several passages until confluence. BMSCs were trypsinized and seeded on hydroxyapatite scaffold (HA) and tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite (TCP/HA) for further osteogenic differentiation in the osteogenic medium one week before implantation. Six adult sheep underwent three-level, bilateral, posterolateral intertransverse process fusions at L1-L6. Three fusion sites in each animal were assigned to three treatments: (a) HA constructs group/L1-L2, (b) TCP/HA constructs group/L2-L3, and (c) autogenous bone graft group/L5-L6. The spinal fusion segments were evaluated using radiography, manual palpation, histological analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) 12 weeks post implantation. The TCP/HA constructs achieved superior lumbar intertransverse fusion compared to HA construct but autogenous bone graft still produced the best fusion among all.
  11. Mohamed NA, Zainol Rashid Z, Wong KK, S A A, Rahman MM
    Pak J Med Sci, 2013 Sep;29(5):1142-6.
    PMID: 24353708
    Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping is important for treatment and epidemiological purposes. The objective was to determine HCV genotype and their associations with certain risk factors at University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC).
  12. Lim KH, Idzwan MF, Sumarni MG, Kee CC, Amal NM, Lim KK, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2012;13(1):343-6.
    PMID: 22502698
    Two methods of identifying smokers with high nicotine dependence, the heaviness of smoking index (HSI) and number of cigarettes per day (CPD) were compared with the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND). The HSI, CPD and the FTND were administered to 316 adult Malaysian male, daily smokers aged between 25-64 years old in the Malaysian NCD Surveillance-1 Survey using a two-stage stratified random sampling of enumeration blocks and living quarters, via an interview based on a validated questionnaire. The cut-off point for classification of high nicotine dependence on the HSI was a score of four or higher, and for the heavy smoking category, smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day. Classification using each method was compared with classification by the FTND (score of six or more) as the reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity and kappa statistics for concordance between both measures and the FTND were evaluated. The HSI gave a similar prevalence rate of high nicotine dependence as the FTND. There was substantial agreement between the HSI and the FTND (kappa=0.63.), with moderate sensitivity (69.8%) and high specificity (92.5%). However, prevalence of high nicotine dependence using the CPD was 7% lower than the FTND. The heavy smoking category also showed fair agreement with the FTND (kappa=0.45) and moderate sensitivity (67.0%), but specificity was high (86.9%). The findings indicate that the HSI can be used as an alternative to the FTND in screening for high nicotine dependence among daily smokers in large population-based studies, while CPD may not be a suitable alternative to the FTND.
  13. Siew BTT, Wong JL, Beniyamin A, Ho A, Kannan SKK, Jamalul Azizi AR
    Med J Malaysia, 2012 Apr;67(2):204-6.
    PMID: 22822644 MyJurnal
    INTRODUCTION: Patients with asthma-like symptoms pose a diagnostic dilemma when physical examination is normal. The usual practice in Malaysia would be to give empirical asthma treatment. Bronchial challenge test (BCT) is widely used in many countries to diagnose asthma objectively but it is not widely available in Malaysia.
    OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with BCT using methacholine at Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a supporting tool in the investigation of patients with asthma-like symptoms.
    METHODOLOGY: Review of case notes of patients who underwent BCT from July 2008 till April 2009. BCT was performed via dosimeter technique. Results were classified as high hyper responsiveness if the provocative dose of methacholine required to achieve 20% fall in FEV1 (PD20) was less than or equal to 0.125 micromol, moderate hyper responsiveness if PD20 was between 0.125 to 1.99 micromol or mild hyper responsiveness if PD20 was between 2.00 to 6.6 micromol. PD20 of more than 6.6 micromol constitutes a negative MCT.
    RESULTS: 29 patients had BCT during the study period. 19 cases were included in this review. The age ranged from 13 to 70 years old. There were 12 males and 7 females. Duration of symptoms ranged from 2 weeks to 23 years. BCT was positive (mild or moderate hyper responsiveness) in 10 out of 19 patients. No patient had high bronchial hyper responsiveness.
    CONCLUSIONS: BCT is a useful adjunctive tool in the investigation of patients presenting with asthma-like symptoms. This test obviates empirical asthma treatment. BCT should be made available in all major hospitals in Malaysia.
  14. Rahim HA, Bhuiyan MA, Lim LS, Sabu KK, Saad A, Azhar M, et al.
    Genet. Mol. Res., 2012;11(3):3277-89.
    PMID: 23079822 DOI: 10.4238/2012.September.12.11
    Advanced backcross families derived from Oryza sativa cv MR219/O. rufipogon IRGC105491 were utilized for identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for blast resistance using simple sequence repeat markers. Two hundred and sixty-one BC(2)F(3) families were used to construct a linkage map, using 87 markers, which covered 2375.2 cM of 12 rice chromosomes, with a mean density of 27.3 cM. The families were evaluated in a greenhouse for resistance to blast disease caused by pathotypes P7.2 and P5.0 of Magnaporthe oryzae. Five QTLs (qBL5.1, qBL5.2, qBL6.1, qBL8.1, and qBL10.1) for pathotype P5.0 and four QTLs (qBL5.3, qBL5.4, qBL7.1, and qBL8.2) for pathotype P7.2 were identified using the BC(2)F(3) families. Another linkage map was also constructed based on 31 BC(2)F(5) families, using 63 SSR markers, which covered 474.9 cM of 9 rice chromosomes, with a mean density of 8.01 cM. Five suggestive QTLs (qBL11.2, qBL11.3, qBL12.1, qBL12.2, qBL12.3) and one putative QTL (qBL2.1) were identified for pathotype P7.2. Also, seven suggestive QTLs (qBL1.1, qBL2.2, qBL4.1, qBL4.2, qBL5.3, qBL8.3, and qBL11.1) were detected for pathotype P5.0. We conclude that there is a non-race-specific resistance spectrum of O. rufipogon against M. oryzae pathotypes.
  15. Lee SC, Tang IP, Avatar SP, Ahmad N, Selva KS, Tay KK, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2011 Jun;66(2):101-4.
    PMID: 22106686 MyJurnal
    To explore the possible causes for delay in diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).
  16. Ho CC, Krishna KK, Praveen S, Goh EH, Lee BC, Zulkifli MZ
    Med J Malaysia, 2010 Sep;65(3):229-30.
    PMID: 21939176
    We present a case of a middle-aged man who was incidentally found to have right renal solid mass while investigating for his left eye proptosis. Computerised tomography (CT) scan confirmed the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma and the tumour was successfully excised via open surgery. The histopathology examination revealed the 10x7x8 cm mass to be a clear cell type renal cell carcinoma. The rare presentation of this metastatic renal cell carcinoma, its diagnosis and management will be discussed.
  17. Chan KK, Dassanayake B, Deen R, Wickramarachchi RE, Kumarage SK, Samita S, et al.
    World J Surg Oncol, 2010;8:82.
    PMID: 20840793 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7819-8-82
    This study compares clinico-pathological features in young (<40 years) and older patients (>50 years) with colorectal cancer, survival in the young and the influence of pre-operative clinical and histological factors on survival.
  18. Tan GH, Tan KK, Afian MS, Liew WF, Mohamad AR
    Med J Malaysia, 2005 Jul;60 Suppl C:111-3.
    PMID: 16381295
    We report a case of upper cervical instability associated with Down syndrome to highlight its potential progression to inflict cord compression and the rationale for surgical decompression and extended short segment occipito-axial fusion.
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