MyMedR

Displaying all 7 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Length-weight and Length-length Relationship of Longsnouted Catfish, Plicofollis argyropleuron (Valenciennes, 1840) in the Northern Part of Peninsular Malaysia

Rosli NA, Isa MM

Trop Life Sci Res, 2012 Dec;23(2):59-65.
PMID: 24575234 MyJurnal

Scanty information exists pertaining to the length-weight relationship (LWR) and length-length relationship (LLR) parameters of longsnouted catfish, Plicofollis argyropleuron in lotic systems throughout the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. It is vital to reveal these biological properties of P. argyropleuron in Kuala Muda and Merbok estuary for future management and to increase knowledge about this fish stocks. The fish samples were randomly collected in the estuary area of Kuala Muda and Merbok, Kedah for 10 months from March 2009 to December 2009. The values of the exponent b in the LWR equations (W = aL(b) ) were approximately 3, indicating an isometric growth with high correlation coefficient (r(2)). The value of LLR (r(2)>0.9) indicated that they are highly significant and highly correlated. These parameters are essential for evaluating the relative condition of fish and species managements as well as their fisheries and stock assessment.
Comparison of Barium Enema and frozen section results in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's Disease in a tertiary care hospital at Aceh, Indonesia

Rizky M, Isa MM, Kamarlis RK

Med J Malaysia, 2020 05;75(Suppl 1):37-40.
PMID: 32471967

INTRODUCTION: Hirschsprung's Disease (HD) also called congenital aganglionic megacolon is a disorder caused by undeveloped distal to proximal intestinal nerve ganglion cells. Diagnosis includes determining the aganglionic segment through barium enema radiology examination and histopathology of frozen section with permanent section as gold standard. Determining the diagnostic value of this modality is important for operative management decision.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a retrospective, cross-sectional study with diagnostic test design. Patient data were obtained in the form of clinical symptoms, barium enema, and frozen section expertise were assessed for the suitability of the diagnostic value by referring to the permanent section as the gold standard.
RESULT: Thirty-four patient data were obtained. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of barium enemas were 95%, 69.2%, and 82%, respectively. The values of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of frozen section were 95%, 92.8%, and 88%, respectively. The Cohen-Kappa statistic value was 0.62 (good agreement).
CONCLUSION: Accuracy of FS is better than barium enema in diagnosing HD. In health care center with limitation of histopathological facility, BE could be used as the alternative procedure as interrater comparisons showed good agreement. Therefore, either frozen section or barium enema can be carried out in common or in separate term.
Fulltext Spatial and Temporal Variation of Physico-chemical Parameters in the Merbok Estuary, Kedah, Malaysia

Fatema K, Wan Maznah WO, Isa MM

Trop Life Sci Res, 2014 Dec;25(2):1-19.
PMID: 27073596 MyJurnal

In this study, factor analysis (FA) was applied to extract the hidden factors responsible for water quality variations during both wet and dry seasons. Water samples were collected from six sampling stations (St. 1 Lalang River, St. 2 Semeling River, St. 3 Jagung River, St. 4 Teluk Wang River, St. 5 Gelam River and St. 6 Derhaka River) in the Merbok estuary, Malaysia from January to December 2011; the samples were further analysed in the laboratory. Correlation analysis of the data sets showed strong correlations between the parameters. Nutrients such as nitrate (NO3 (-)), nitrite (NO2 (-)), ammonia (NH3) and phosphate (PO4 (3-)) were determined to be critical indicators of water quality throughout the year. Influential water quality parameters during the wet season were conductivity, salinity, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO) and chlorophyll a (Chla), whereas total suspended solid (TSS) and pH were critical water quality indicators during the dry season. The Kruskal-Wallis H test showed that water quality parameters were significantly different among the sampling months and stations (p<0.05), and Mann-Whitney U tests further revealed that the significantly different parameters were temperature, pH, DO, TSS, NO2 (-) and BOD (p<0.01), whereas salinity, conductivity, NO3 (-), PO4 (3-), NH3 and Chla were not significantly different (p>0.05). Water quality parameters in the estuary varied on both temporal and spatial scales and these results may serve as baseline information for estuary management, specifically for the Merbok estuary.
Relative quantification of human β‑defensins gene expression in pterygium and normal conjunctiva samples

Abubakar SA, Isa MM, Omar N, Tan SW

Mol Med Rep, 2020 Dec;22(6):4931-4937.
PMID: 33174018 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11560

The human ocular surface produces highly conserved cationic peptides. Human β‑defensins (HBDs) serve an important role in innate and adaptive immunity. They are primarily expressed in epithelial cells in response to infection and provide the first line of defence against invading microbes. Defensin β1 (DEFB1) is constitutively expressed and regulated by inflammatory mediators including interferon‑γ, lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycans. DEFB4A is locally induced in response to microbial infection while DEFB109 is induced via Toll‑like receptor 2. The present study examined the expression of the HBD DEFB1, DEFB4A and DEFB109 genes in pterygium. The pterygium tissues and normal conjunctiva samples were obtained from 18 patients undergoing pterygium surgery. The reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was employed to determine the expression of DEFB1, DEFB4A and DEFB109 genes. The results revealed that the expression of DEFB1 and DEFB4A was significantly higher and upregulated in pterygium samples when compared with normal conjunctiva samples from each patient (P<0.05), while the expression of DEFB109 was observed to be lower in pterygium samples when compared with normal samples from the same patient. Previous studies have revealed that DEFB1 and DEFB4A genes are present in low concentrations inside the human eye, and they are upregulated during the maturation of keratinocytes, suggesting a possible role in cell differentiation. The DEFB109 gene is present in higher concentrations inside the human eye, though it is newly discovered. It has also been reported that DEFB1 may be involved in carcinogenesis epithelial tumours. Collectively, the current data suggests that HBDs may serve a crucial role in the pathogenesis and development of pterygia, and thus may be considered as novel molecular targets in understanding pterygia development.
Inhibitory and resistance-modifying potential of plant-based alkaloids against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Mohtar M, Johari SA, Li AR, Isa MM, Mustafa S, Ali AM, et al.

Curr Microbiol, 2009 Aug;59(2):181-6.
PMID: 19475447 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-009-9416-9

Increased prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major threat to the health sector worldwide due to their virulence, limited therapeutic options and their distribution in both hospital and community settings. Discovery and development of new anti-MRSA agents as alternatives to the very few antibiotics left in the armamentarium are, thus, urgently required. Recently, an efflux mechanism in MRSA has been identified as one of the main contributors of resistance towards various structurally unrelated antibiotics. The potential of reserpine (a phytoalkaloid) as efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) against various microbes remains limited as the concentration needed for inhibition is toxic to humans. This study therefore aimed to evaluate 13 alkaloid compounds as potential inhibitory agents and/or potential EPIs against a panel of three MRSA isolates which not only differ in their susceptibility to vancomycin (amongst the last drugs available to treat serious MRSA infection), but also exhibited active efflux activity. Results indicated berberine's moderate inhibitiory activity against two MRSA isolates scoring a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 125 microg/ml. Notable efflux inhibitory activity (ranging from two- to eightfold Ethidium Bromide MIC reduction) meanwhile was detected from quinine, piperine and harmaline using reserpine as the positive control. Findings from this study support the opinion that a vast number of potential phytocompounds with pharmacological potential await discovery. Therapeutic application of these compounds, however, warrants further investigation to ascertain their pharmacodynamics and safety aspects.
Nipah virus infection among abattoir workers in Malaysia, 1998-1999

Sahani M, Parashar UD, Ali R, Das P, Lye MS, Isa MM, et al.

Int J Epidemiol, 2001 Oct;30(5):1017-20.
PMID: 11689513

BACKGROUND: An outbreak of encephalitis primarily affecting pig farmers occurred during 1998-1999 in Malaysia and was linked to a new paramyxovirus, Nipah virus, which infected pigs, humans, dogs, and cats. Because five abattoir workers were also affected, a survey was conducted to assess the risk of Nipah infection among abattoir workers.
METHODS: Workers from all 143 registered abattoirs in 11 of 13 states in Malaysia were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Participants were interviewed to ascertain information on illness and activities performed at the abattoir. A serum sample was obtained to test for Nipah virus antibody.
RESULTS: Seven (1.6 %) of 435 abattoir workers who slaughtered pigs versus zero (0%) of 233 workers who slaughtered ruminants showed antibody to Nipah virus (P = 0.05). All antibody-positive workers were from abattoirs in the three states that reported outbreak cases among pig farmers. Workers in these three states were more likely than those in other states to have Nipah antibody (7/144 [4.86%] versus 0/291 [0%], P < 0.001) and report symptoms suggestive of Nipah disease in pigs admitted to the abattoirs (P = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Nipah infection was not widespread among abattoir workers in Malaysia and was linked to exposure to pigs. Since it may be difficult to identify Nipah-infected pigs capable of transmitting virus by clinical symptoms, using personal protective equipment, conducting surveillance for Nipah infection on pig farms which supply abattoirs, and avoiding handling and processing of potentially infected pigs are presently the best strategies to prevent transmission of Nipah virus in abattoirs.
Fulltext Nipah virus among military personnel involved in pig culling during an outbreak of encephalitis in Malaysia, 1998-1999

Ali R, Mounts AW, Parashar UD, Sahani M, Lye MS, Isa MM, et al.

Emerg Infect Dis, 2001 Jul-Aug;7(4):759-61.
PMID: 11592256