Displaying all 16 publications

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  1. Srinivasan V, Ahmad AH, Mohamed M, Zakaria R
    PMID: 22537380
    Malaria remains a global health problem affecting more than 515 million people all over the world including Malaysia. It is on the rise, even within unknown regions that previous to this were free of malaria. Although malaria eradication programs carried out by vector control programs are still effective, anti-malarial drugs are also used extensively for curtailing this disease. But resistance to the use of anti-malarial drugs is also increasing on a daily basis. With an increased understanding of mechanisms that cause growth, differentiation and development of malarial parasites in rodents and humans, new avenues of therapeutic approaches for controlling the growth, synchronization and development of malarial parasites are essential. Within this context, the recent discoveries related to IP3 interconnected signalling pathways, the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores of Plasmodium, ubiquitin protease systems as a signalling pathway, and melatonin influencing the growth and differentiation of malarial parasites by its effects on these signalling pathways have opened new therapeutic avenues for arresting the growth and differentiation of malarial parasites. Indeed, the use of melatonin antagonist, luzindole, has inhibited the melatonin's effect on these signalling pathways and thereby has effectively reduced the growth and differentiation of malarial parasites. As Plasmodium has effective sensors which detect the nocturnal plasma melatonin concentrations, suppression of plasma melatonin levels with the use of bright light during the night or by anti-melatonergic drugs and by using anti-kinase drugs will help in eradicating malaria on a global level. A number of patients have been admitted with regards to the control and management of malarial growth. Patents related to the discovery of serpentine receptors on Plasmodium, essential for modulating intra parasitic melatonin levels, procedures for effective delivery of bright light to suppress plasma melatonin levels and thereby arresting the growth and elimination of malarial parasites from the blood of the host are all cited in the paper. The purpose of the paper is to highlight the importance of melatonin acting as a cue for Plasmodium faciparum growth and to discuss the ways of curbing the effects of melatonin on Plasmodium growth and for arresting its life cycle, as a method of eliminating the parasite from the host.
  2. Thaneemalai J, Asma H, Savithri DP
    Med J Malaysia, 2007 Dec;62(5):422-3.
    PMID: 18705483 MyJurnal
    A 38 year old lady with a previous history of an ovarian cyst, presented with a one week history of fever, diarrhoea and intense localized pain in the left iliac fossa. Laparotomy revealed a left tuboovarian abscess with adherent bowels. Pus from the ruptured cyst grew Salmonella enteritidis. Histologically the cyst wall showed haemorrhagic and degenerate endometriotic features. Recovery was uneventful with cefotaxime and metronidazole.
  3. Mohd Hilmi, A.B., Fazliah, S.N., Siti Fadilah, A., Asma, H., Siti Razila, A.R., Shaharum, S., et al.
    MyJurnal
    The aim of this study was to isolate stem cells from dental pulp of primary molars and incisors to be used as possible source for tissue engineering. Human primary molars and incisors were collected from subjects aged 4-7 year-old under standardized procedures. Within 24 hours, the tooth was cut at the cemento-enamel junction using hard tissue material cutter. The dental pulp tissue was extracted, digested and then cultured in Alpha Modified Eagles's Medium (α-MEM) supplemented with 20% FCS, 100 mM L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, 200 mM L-glutamine and 5000 units/ml Penicillin/Streptomycin. The cells were observed daily under the microscope until confluence. Children's tooth pulp- derived progenitor cells were found positive for stem cell markers CD105 and CD166, which are consistent with the finding for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow.
  4. Nurulain MZ, Ahmad S, Asma H, Abdul M
    Med J Malaysia, 2018 04;73(2):67-72.
    PMID: 29703868
    OBJECTIVE: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in Malaysia. There is an alarming backlog of cataract extraction surgery as the majority believes they did not require surgery. This study aimed to explore the barriers at the primary care level to cataract surgery from the perspective of patients with severe cataract blindness.

    METHODS: Eleven participants were involved in this qualitative research which utilised the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach more renowned in health psychology research. All interviews conducted at their home. The interviews were recorded, typed verbatim, and the transcripts were analysed using NVivo software version 8.0.

    RESULTS: The main barriers identified at the primary care level were 1) nondisclosure of their visual problems originated from their belated needs for better sight, delayed awareness of their visual status and social stigma and 2) patient-provider-related issues namely miscommunication and delayed referral. The first main theme explains their belief for not requiring surgery. This has led to their delayed awareness and impeded disclosure of their visual problems to family members or primary care providers. The second main theme reflects the provider-patient-related issues which retarded cataract detection and referral process required for earlier cataract extraction surgery.

    CONCLUSION: Thus, the appropriate approach targeting these specific barriers at primary care level will be able to detect, motivate and assist patients for early uptake of cataract extraction surgery to improve their vision and prevent severe blindness.

  5. Faridah S, Siti Asma' H, Zeti NS, Tuan Noorkorina TK, Intan Baiduri B, Azura H
    Med J Malaysia, 2021 03;76(2):248-250.
    PMID: 33742638
    Mycobacteria mucogenicum (M. mucogenicum) is a rarely isolated pathogen. It has emerged as a significant pathogen in immunocompromised patients including those with cancer, organ transplant, or patients on immunosuppressive medication. Chemotherapy may reduce the ability of the bone marrow of these to respond to infection, and patients will be at risk for neutropenic sepsis, which leads to fatal complications. Here, we report a case of an 18-year-old boy was seen at Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kelantan with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who presented with catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) caused by M. mucogenicum. He succumbed due to neutropenic sepsis with multiorgan failure.
  6. Ab Aziz S, Mohd Nasir MH, Jusoh AR, Azman KF, Ismail CAN, Ahmad AH, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Feb 29;10(4):e26106.
    PMID: 38390049 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26106
    Olfactory marker protein (OMP) is extensively studied in mature olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) for understanding olfaction physiology. However, no bibliometric analysis on this topic exists. We conducted a bibliometric analysis of OMP research articles, wherein the publication count was assessed by year, country, journal, and author, collaboration by country, and productivity of the authors. Additionally, key terms and research themes were identified. Using the search phrase "olfactory marker protein" in Scopus, we retrieved 691 original research articles by 2487 authors since 1974. Publications showed an increasing trend, with the United States leading in quantity and collaboration. Our thematic map highlights "Olfactory bulb, regeneration, olfactory" as the primary research domain, while "olfaction, olfactory sensory neuron, glomerulus" and "olfactory receptor neurons, apoptosis, olfactory dysfunction" emerge as essential future research topics. These bibliometric findings offer insights into the global OMP research landscape, guiding researchers in potential collaborations and intriguing future research fields.
  7. Chew KS, Mohd Hashairi F, Jusoh AF, Aziz AA, Nik Hisamuddin NAR, Siti Asma H
    Med J Malaysia, 2013 Aug;68(4):323-5.
    PMID: 24145260 MyJurnal
    Although a vital test, blood culture is often plagued with the problem of contamination and false results, especially in a chaotic emergency department setting. The objectives of this pilot study is to find out the level of understanding among healthcare staffs in emergency department, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) regarding good blood culture sampling practice.
  8. Zaidah AR, Chan YY, Asma HS, Abdullah S, Nurhaslindawati AR, Salleh M, et al.
    PMID: 18564692
    This cross-sectional study determined the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in HIV-infected patients using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Stool specimens were collected from HIV infected patients who were admitted to Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Bharu, Malaysia, for various indications from December 2004 to December 2005. A modified acid-fast stain was performed on the direct stool smears, then the stool specimens were further tested using nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Cryptosporidium parvum, with a built-in internal control (IC). Out of 59 samples, 11 were positives. Nested PCR identified a total of nine samples (16%) compared to microscopy, which identified only three samples. All PCR negative results showed IC amplicons, suggesting that these samples were true negatives and were not due to inhibition of PCR. This study highlights the importance of molecular diagnosis in determining the true prevalence and epidemiology of C. parvum.
  9. Siti Nor Aishah AR, Mutalib A, Asma H, Baig AA, Naing NN, Hashim SE, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2020 11;75(6):685-690.
    PMID: 33219178
    OBJECTIVES: To design and develop a simple vision test algorithm for mobile application and perform a pilot study to determine its validity and reliability as a tool for vision test in the community.

    METHODS: A simple visual acuity test algorithm in the form of a single letter E display was designed as the optotype for development of a mobile application. The standardised optotype is presented at random to test visual acuity for corresponding level of 3/60, 6/60, 6/18, and 6/12. The final result is auto-generated based on the classification of the WHO for visual impairment and blindness. The Snellen chart was used as the gold standard to determine its validity while five different users were involved to determine its inter-rater reliability. A pilot study was performed between April till November 2019, in the Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin Medical Centre (UMC) at Kuala Nerus and Mooris Optometrist Centre at Marang, Terengganu. A total of 279 participants aged four years old and above were involved in this study.

    RESULTS: The highest sensitivity was found at the vision level cut-off point of 6/12 with the percentage of 92.7% and 86.8% for the right and left eye, respectively. The specificity was more than 89% for all vision levels in both eyes. The Krippendorff's alpha value for the inter-rater reliability was 0.87 and 0.83.

    CONCLUSION: The relatively high level of validity and reliability obtained indicate the feasibility of using the designed optotype to develop a valid and reliable mobile app for vision test. The app can be used to screen vision by nonmedical persons, at anytime and anywhere to help improve public awareness and capability to correctly determine their visual status.

  10. Wong JL, Siti Azrin AH, Narizan MI, Norliah Y, Noraida M, Amanina A, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2014 Sep;31(3):534-9.
    PMID: 25382481 MyJurnal
    Hands of Health Care Personnel (HCP) are one of the most common vehicles for the transmission of infection. Microorganisms can survive well on the hands of HCP for a certain duration. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to bring awareness to HCP that their hands can actually be contaminated with many microorganisms. These microbes on the hands of HCP can potentially infect their patients if they do not comply with the proper hand hygiene practice. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a randomly selected Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and general ward in a hospital. Twenty five HCP from each ward were randomly selected and their hands were imprinted on blood culture plates. Microorganism growth were quantified and identified. Data were analyzed and presented as descriptive analysis. One hundred blood agar plates were processed and analyzed. Majority (71%) of the samples had more than 50 colony-forming units (CFU) and only 17% of the samples had less than 25 CFU. Microorganisms identified include Staphylococcus spp., Acinetobacter spp., Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp., Moraxella, Delftiaacidovorans and fungi. All isolated microorganisms were antibiotic sensitive strain. This study showed that the hands of HCP were contaminated with many microorganisms. Therefore, it is imperative that HCP must practice proper hand hygiene when taking care of their patients in the wards.
  11. Nurhafiza NNBA, Siti Asma H, Azian H, Foo PC, Yasmin KMI, Chan YY
    Singapore Med J, 2020 12 02.
    PMID: 33264563 DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2020166
    INTRODUCTION: This study determined the distribution of sasX, qacA/B and mupA genes from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from clinical samples and nasal swab samples of the same patients and analysed their genetic relatedness.

    METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of sasX, qacA/B and mupA genes from 47 paired MRSA isolates. A paired isolate was defined as one nasal swab (colonising) isolate and clinical isolate that caused infection in the same patient. 22 selected paired isolates were subjected to multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The genetic relatedness among the isolates and association between the putative genes with epidemic sequence types (STs) were investigated.

    RESULTS: 7 (14.9%, n = 14) paired isolates were positive for the sasX gene. qacA/B genes were positive in 7.4% (n = 7) of the isolates, from three paired isolates and one clinical isolate whose paired colonising isolate was negative. The paired sample of three patients were positive for both genes. The mupA gene was not detected in all the isolates. MLST revealed two epidemic STs, ST22 and ST239, and a novel ST4649. sasX and qacA/B genes were found in ST239 in 29.5% (n = 13) and 13.6% (n = 6) of cases, respectively. Gene co-existence occurred in 13.6% (n = 6) of MRSA ST239 and 2.3% (n = 1) of MRSA ST4649.

    CONCLUSION: sasX and qacA/B genes were present in the MRSA isolates, while the mupA gene was undetected. ST22 and ST239 were the major MRSA clones. The circulating MRSA genotypes conferred different virulence and resistance determinants in our healthcare settings.

  12. Deris ZZ, Leow VM, Wan Hassan WM, Nik Lah NA, Lee SY, Siti Hawa H, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2009 Dec;26(3):320-5.
    PMID: 20237446
    Vibrio cholerae infection is mainly caused acute diarrhoea disease. Bacteraemia due to non-O1 V. cholerae is rare and mainly reported in liver cirrhotic patients. We report one case of non-O1 V. cholerae bacteraemia in splenectomised thalassaemic patient who presented with septic shock secondary to abdominal sepsis. She had undergone emergency laporatomy and was managed in the intensive care unit for nine days. She was treated with meropenem and doxycyline and discharged well after fourteen days of admission. The V. cholerae was identified by API 20NE, serotype and polymerase chain reaction showed as non-O1, non-O139 strain. Besides known cholera-like toxin and El Tor hemolysin, with increasing reported cases of V. cholerae bacteraemia, there is possibility of other virulence factors that allow this organism to invade the bloodstream.
  13. Zainul NH, Ma ZF, Besari A, Siti Asma H, Rahman RA, Collins DA, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 2017 Oct;145(14):3012-3019.
    PMID: 28891459 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268817002011
    Little is known about Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in Asia. The aims of our study were to explore (i) the prevalence, risk factors and molecular epidemiology of CDI and colonization in a tertiary academic hospital in North-Eastern Peninsular Malaysia; (ii) the rate of carriage of C. difficile among the elderly in the region; (iii) the awareness level of this infection among the hospital staffs and students. For stool samples collected from hospital inpatients with diarrhea (n = 76) and healthy community members (n = 138), C. difficile antigen and toxins were tested by enzyme immunoassay. Stool samples were subsequently analyzed by culture and molecular detection of toxin genes, and PCR ribotyping of isolates. To examine awareness among hospital staff and students, participants were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. For the hospital and community studies, the prevalence of non-toxigenic C. difficile colonization was 16% and 2%, respectively. The prevalence of CDI among hospital inpatients with diarrhea was 13%. Out of 22 C. difficile strains from hospital inpatients, the toxigenic ribotypes 043 and 017 were most common (both 14%). In univariate analysis, C. difficile colonization in hospital inpatients was significantly associated with greater duration of hospitalization and use of penicillin (both P < 0·05). Absence of these factors was a possible reason for low colonization in the community. Only 3% of 154 respondents answered all questions correctly in the awareness survey. C. difficile colonization is prevalent in a Malaysian hospital setting but not in the elderly community with little or no contact with hospitals. Awareness of CDI is alarmingly poor.
  14. Azfar ZM, Nazri SM, Rusli AM, Maizurah O, Zahiruddin WM, Azwany YN, et al.
    J Prev Med Hyg, 2018 Mar;59(1):E92-E98.
    PMID: 29938244 DOI: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2018.59.1.776
    INTRODUCTION: Many efforts have been done to reduce leptospirosis infections in Malaysia especially among high risk groups including town service workers. Town service workers are more likely to be exposed to the leptospiral infection resulting from their occupational activities.

    METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted in northeastern Malaysia involving 321 town service workers who were subjected to answer an interviewer-guided validated questionnaire which consists of sociodemographic, knowledge, attitude and practice information. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS Version 20.

    RESULTS: All of the respondents were Malay with mean (SD) age of 40.6 (10.28) years old. The mean (SD) duration of employment was 12.1 (9.62) years. Fifty four respondents (16.8%) had never heard of leptospirosis. Among the respondents, 215 (67.0%) of them had poor knowledge on leptospirosis. Meanwhile, 167 (52.0%) and only 128 (39.9%) of them had satisfactory attitude and practice respectively. It was found that knowledge on risk factors for leptospirosis was lacking. There were high risk attitudes such as drinking habit and protective equipment used during working with the favourable answers ranged from 67.3% to 89.1%. The weakest area identified in their practice was also on the use of protective equipment.

    CONCLUSIONS: The workers' level of knowledge and practice were relatively poor despite an overall good practice on leptospirosis. This finding might expose them to an increased risk of contracting leptospirosis. Identified weak areas in their knowledge, attitude and practice will assist the policy makers to develop a focused and well-directed intervention program on leptospirosis infection.

  15. Rafizah AA, Aziah BD, Azwany YN, Imran MK, Rusli AM, Nazri SM, et al.
    Int J Infect Dis, 2013 Jun;17(6):e394-7.
    PMID: 23357246 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2012.12.012
    To determine the seroprevalence of leptospirosis among febrile inpatient cases in northeastern Malaysia.
  16. Rafizah AA, Aziah BD, Azwany YN, Imran MK, Rusli AM, Nazri SM, et al.
    Prev Med, 2013;57 Suppl:S11-3.
    PMID: 23295174 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.12.017
    Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease. Risk factors for the disease may vary among countries.
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