Displaying all 11 publications

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  1. Khormi HM, Kumar L
    Geospat Health, 2016 11 21;11(3):416.
    PMID: 27903054 DOI: 10.4081/gh.2016.416
    We used the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate-H climate model with the A2 Special Report on Emissions Scenarios for the years 2050 and 2100 and CLIMEX software for projections to illustrate the potential impact of climate change on the spatial distributions of malaria in China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, and The Philippines based on climate variables such as temperature, moisture, heat, cold and dryness. The model was calibrated using data from several knowledge domains, including geographical distribution records. The areas in which malaria has currently been detected are consistent with those showing high values of the ecoclimatic index in the CLIMEX model. The match between prediction and reality was found to be high. More than 90% of the observed malaria distribution points were associated with the currently known suitable climate conditions. Climate suitability for malaria is projected to decrease in India, southern Myanmar, southern Thailand, eastern Borneo, and the region bordering Cambodia, Malaysia and the Indonesian islands, while it is expected to increase in southern and south-eastern China and Taiwan. The climatic models for Anopheles mosquitoes presented here should be useful for malaria control, monitoring, and management, particularly considering these future climate scenarios.
  2. Munshi A, Pandey MB, Kumar L, Karak AK, Mohanti BK
    Med J Malaysia, 2006 Mar;61(1):97-9.
    PMID: 16708743
    Malignancy is the most common cause of tracheoesophageal fistulas. The malignancies commonly implicated in the development of tracheoesophageal fistulas are primary bronchial or esophageal carcinomas. Hodgkins disease rarely leads to such a fistula. We report a case of Hodgkin's disease with a tracheoesophageal fistula as well as a left recurrent nerve palsy at presentation. This presentation has no precedent in literature. The patient was treated with systemic chemotherapy and involved field radiotherapy. On follow up 1 year after the completion of treatment, he was clinically and radiologically disease free.
  3. Paterson RR, Kumar L, Taylor S, Lima N
    Sci Rep, 2015;5:14457.
    PMID: 26399638 DOI: 10.1038/srep14457
    The production of palm oil (PO) is highly profitable. The economies of the principal producers, Malaysia and Indonesia, and others, benefit considerably. Climate change (CC) will most likely have an impact on the distribution of oil palms (OP) (Elaeis guineensis). Here we present modelled CC projections with respect to the suitability of growing OP, in Malaysia and Indonesia. A process-oriented niche model of OP was developed using CLIMEX to estimate its potential distribution under current and future climate scenarios. Two Global Climate Models (GCMs), CSIRO-Mk3.0 and MIROC-H, were used to explore the impacts of CC under the A1B and A2 scenarios for 2030, 2070 and 2100. Decreases in climatic suitability for OP in the region were gradual by 2030 but became more pronounced by 2100. These projections imply that OP growth will be affected severely by CC, with obvious implications to the economies of (a) Indonesia and Malaysia and (b) the PO industry, but with potential benefits towards reducing CC. A possible remedial action is to concentrate research on development of new varieties of OP that are less vulnerable to CC.
  4. Kumar B, Kumar L, Kumar A, Kumari R, Tagar U, Sassanelli C
    Environ Dev Sustain, 2023 May 17.
    PMID: 37362997 DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03361-3
    Developing markets are using sustainable development potential to reach zero-carbon goals. Due to the limitation of natural resources, companies need to use environmentally friendly manufacturing to develop a circular economy (CE). Green finance (GF) and the CE are linked in a systematic and complex approach; therefore, it was essential to employ the coupling coordination-level framework to explain their relationship and feedback. Any study linking green financing and CE together has been found. The objective of this research is to explore this twofold domain and determine its main characteristics. To address this objective, a comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, supplemented by a bibliometric analysis. The results confirm that GF has the potential to help society, sustainability, and the prevention to climate shifts, investing in the CE. There are many hurdles to overcome, including inadequate knowledge about CE and GF, ambiguous definitions, a lack of coherence between legal frameworks on CE and green financing, unclear laws, and a lack of financially viable motivation for investors and financial institutions that are ready to promote in sustainability. This study explores CE and GF domains. Managers may readily increase their understanding of methods, strategies, and technical solutions beneficial to assist their operations toward a green economy depending on various CE and GF elements. Finally, based on a categorization of GF types, the assessment identifies future investment potential consequences of green financing in the CE.
  5. Lund IH, Shaikh F, Harijan K, Kumar L, Dagar V
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2024 Jan;31(2):2090-2103.
    PMID: 38051491 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31274-1
    The natural gas (NG) forms the sizeable portion of the primary energy consumption in Pakistan. However, its depleting domestic reserves and increasing demand is challenging to balance the supply-demand in the country. This paper investigates the relationship between NG consumption and driving factors using LMDI-STIRPAT PLSR framework. It is learned that fossil energy structure and per capita gross domestic product (GDP) are most influencing factors on NG consumption, followed by non-clean energy structure, energy intensity, and population. The factors were further modelled to forecast the future values of NG consumption for various scenarios. It is found that NG consumption would be 42.107 MTOE under the high development scenario which would be twice the baseline scenario. It is projected that indigenous NG production will fall from 4 to 2 billion cubic feet/day and demand will increase by 1.5 billion cubic feet/day. Therefore, an optimized strategy is required for a long-term solution to cater this increasing supply-demand.
  6. Suppan VKL, Wei CY, Siong TC, Mei TM, Chern WB, Nanta Kumar VK, et al.
    J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong), 2017 9 28;25(3):2309499017731627.
    PMID: 28946838 DOI: 10.1177/2309499017731627
    BACKGROUND: Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injection is used in management of knee, hand and hip osteoarthritis. While HA injection is included in the list of evaluated therapies, its efficacy and optimum dosing still have no consensus. This study was conducted to explore the possibility of using single injection HA to increase patient convenience while maintaining the therapeutic efficacy.

    METHODS: We present a prospective, open label, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial performed in accordance with guidelines in principles of good clinical practice. Block randomization was done for patients to receive either single 5 ml GO-ON injection or the conventional three injections of 2.5 ml GO-ON at weekly interval. Baseline Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) scores were evaluated and recorded. All subjects were re-evaluated at 3 months and the WOMAC score recorded again as primary end points. Data analyses were performed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows software (version 21.0, IBM Corp, Armonk, New York, USA).

    RESULTS: In the cohort of 127 patients, 33 were males and 94 females. The mean age was 59.1 years (standard deviation (SD) = 7.25) in single injection arm and 60.1 years (SD = 7.72) in triple injection arm. The two groups were recorded to have no significant difference in age ( p = 0.46) and Kellgren-Lawrence radiological grade ( p = 0.694). There was significant increase in the WOMAC scores from the baseline (pre-injection) to that recorded 3 months after injection ( p < 0.001) in patients of both groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference noticed in this clinical improvement between the two arms ( p = 0.889).

    CONCLUSION: The study shows single 5 ml dose regime comparing well with conventional three doses of 2.5 ml of intra-articular GO-ON HA injected at weekly intervals and confirms good efficacy, tolerability and safety of single larger dose of GO-ON knee intra-articular injection.
  7. Suppan VKL, Tew MM, Wong BC, Chan HK, Chew YW, Tan CS, et al.
    J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong), 2020 3 5;28(1):2309499019895029.
    PMID: 32129141 DOI: 10.1177/2309499019895029
    PURPOSE: A recent 3-month randomized, open-label controlled trial found that the intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection (GO-ON®) given as a single dose of 5 mL is as effective and safe as three repeated doses of 2.5 mL in patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, the information on the long-term efficacy and economic implications of the single-dose regimen is still limited. Hence, this follow-up study was designed to compare the effectiveness and costs of the two regimens 12 months following the treatment.

    METHODS: All the 127 patients, who received either three repeated doses (n = 64) or a single dose (n = 63) of GO-ON in the previous trial, were followed up in month 12 following the treatment. The effectiveness of both the regimens was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the mean WOMAC scores were compared with those recorded at the baseline and in month 3. Additionally, the total treatment costs of the two regimens, taking account of both direct and indirect costs, were computed and compared.

    RESULTS: A total of 125 patients (98.4%) completed the assessment. Despite the reduction of the overall mean WOMAC score from 39.24 to 19.93 (p < 0.001) in the first 3 months following the treatment with GO-ON, no further changes were observed up to month 12 (p > 0.95). In the meantime, the two regimens did not differ in the mean WOMAC scores (p = 0.749) and in the subscale scores for pain (p = 0.970), stiffness (p = 0.526), and physical functioning (p = 0.667) in month 12. The cost for single-dose injection was found to be approximately 30% lower compared to the repeated doses.

    CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the single larger dose of GO-ON is as effective as the repeated doses over 12 months, and yet the total treatment cost is lowered.

  8. Nazeri M, Jusoff K, Madani N, Mahmud AR, Bahman AR, Kumar L
    PLoS One, 2012;7(10):e48104.
    PMID: 23110182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048104
    One of the available tools for mapping the geographical distribution and potential suitable habitats is species distribution models. These techniques are very helpful for finding poorly known distributions of species in poorly sampled areas, such as the tropics. Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) is a recently developed modeling method that can be successfully calibrated using a relatively small number of records. In this research, the MaxEnt model was applied to describe the distribution and identify the key factors shaping the potential distribution of the vulnerable Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) in one of the main remaining habitats in Peninsular Malaysia. MaxEnt results showed that even though Malaysian sun bear habitat is tied with tropical evergreen forests, it lives in a marginal threshold of bio-climatic variables. On the other hand, current protected area networks within Peninsular Malaysia do not cover most of the sun bears potential suitable habitats. Assuming that the predicted suitability map covers sun bears actual distribution, future climate change, forest degradation and illegal hunting could potentially severely affect the sun bear's population.
  9. Ong ZM, Arip M, Ching YM, Kumar L, Terumalay S, Sim SH, et al.
    Mult Scler Relat Disord, 2022 Nov;67:104168.
    PMID: 36274473 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104168
    INTRODUCTION: CNS IIDDs1 tested positive for anti-MOG2 are known to have a distinct clinical profile with a better overall prognosis.

    OBJECTIVES: We aim to determine the prevalence, demographic and clinical characteristics of MOG antibody disease (MOGAD) specifically identifying any ethnic variations unique to our local population, with global perspectives.

    METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Neurology Department, Kuala Lumpur Hospital from January 2018 to January 2021. Out of 750 CNS IIDDs, seventy-eight consecutive anti-AQP4 antibody negative NMOSD/high risk undifferentiated relapsing or monophasic CNSIIDD subjects were tested for anti-MOG.

    RESULTS: Anti-MOG was positive in thirty six out of seventy-eight (%)(46.1%) seronegative patients. The prevalence of MOGAD in our Malaysian population is 0.12 per 100,000 persons with less marked female preponderance of 2:1 and younger age at onset of 23.8 ± 14.4 years. Despite a predominantly ethnic Malay population, a high proportion of our MOGAD patients were Indian (Proportion of Malay:Chinese:Indian:others; 16:9:10:1, prevalence 0.5 per 100,000 population for Indians) with favourable disease course in the most with minor exceptions. Monophasic and relapsing disease course was seen in 11.2% and 88.8% of patients respectively. However, fulminant aggressive disease can occur especially amongst the Chinese and paediatric cohorts. Optic neuritis, NMOSD and ADEM were the commonest presentations at onset and first relapse. EDSS at diagnosis, first relapse, and last follow-up were 4.5±2.5, 3±2.0, and 1.75(range 1-3). Neuroimaging showed large, fluffy, PRES- like supratentorial cortical, periventricular deep white matter ,diencephalon lesions,enhancing anterior optic nerve with or without chiasmal sparring lesions and cervical/cervicothoracic involvement. Area post rema lesions were rare. Threshold steroid levels exist relapsing on withdrawal some fulminantly requiring Immunosuppressants(rituximab) and intravenous immunoglobulins to maintain remission.

    CONCLUSION: Malaysian MOGAD profile was similar to its international descriptions of the disease with ethnic selectivity for Indians. Prolonged steroid maintenance is essential to prevent relapses. Fulminant aggressive cases of MOGAD especially amongst Paediatric patients and the Chinese cohort have been reported.

  10. Abdulla AM, Sivadas G, Surej Kumar LK, Sheejith Hari Peeceeyen CS, Vedam V
    Case Rep Med, 2017;2017:9483738.
    PMID: 28883834 DOI: 10.1155/2017/9483738
    Ameloblastic fibroodontoma is a benign mixed odontogenic neoplasm considered in patients with asymptomatic swelling and unerupted teeth that exhibit histologic features between ameloblastic fibroma and complex odontoma. Radiographically, this lesion appears as radiolucency admixed with focal radio opaque masses of irregular shapes and sizes. This lesion is confirmed by the presence of proliferating odontogenic epithelium, ectomesenchyme, and dental hard tissue formation on pathological analysis supplementing clinical and radiographic findings. As this tumour is less commonly seen in routine clinical practice, ameloblastic fibroodontoma with detailed orofacial features and periodic approach to its diagnosis is discussed. This paper reports a case of ameloblastic fibroodontoma of the mandible in a 6-year-old male patient with an uncommon case presentation and review of the literature.
  11. Vilizzi L, Copp GH, Hill JE, Adamovich B, Aislabie L, Akin D, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2021 Sep 20;788:147868.
    PMID: 34134389 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147868
    The threat posed by invasive non-native species worldwide requires a global approach to identify which introduced species are likely to pose an elevated risk of impact to native species and ecosystems. To inform policy, stakeholders and management decisions on global threats to aquatic ecosystems, 195 assessors representing 120 risk assessment areas across all six inhabited continents screened 819 non-native species from 15 groups of aquatic organisms (freshwater, brackish, marine plants and animals) using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit. This multi-lingual decision-support tool for the risk screening of aquatic organisms provides assessors with risk scores for a species under current and future climate change conditions that, following a statistically based calibration, permits the accurate classification of species into high-, medium- and low-risk categories under current and predicted climate conditions. The 1730 screenings undertaken encompassed wide geographical areas (regions, political entities, parts thereof, water bodies, river basins, lake drainage basins, and marine regions), which permitted thresholds to be identified for almost all aquatic organismal groups screened as well as for tropical, temperate and continental climate classes, and for tropical and temperate marine ecoregions. In total, 33 species were identified as posing a 'very high risk' of being or becoming invasive, and the scores of several of these species under current climate increased under future climate conditions, primarily due to their wide thermal tolerances. The risk thresholds determined for taxonomic groups and climate zones provide a basis against which area-specific or climate-based calibrated thresholds may be interpreted. In turn, the risk rankings help decision-makers identify which species require an immediate 'rapid' management action (e.g. eradication, control) to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts, which require a full risk assessment, and which are to be restricted or banned with regard to importation and/or sale as ornamental or aquarium/fishery enhancement.
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