An immunohistochemical assay was developed combining an avidin-biotin-glucose oxidase complex procedure (ABC-GO) with light microscopy to detect specific antibody against Plasmodium falciparum. Thin blood films were prepared from culture material of P. falciparum and fixed with acetone. Antibody was detected by successive incubations with test serum, biotinylated goat antihuman antibody, avidin-biotin-glucose oxidase complex, and glucose oxidase substrate. In the presence of reactive serum, a blue precipitate formed on the parasites and could be visually observed with a 40x objective. Sera from patients with single infections for P. vivax or P. ovale were unreactive. No cross-reactivity was observed with sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, filariasis, amebiasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, scrub typhus, leptospirosis, or toxoplasmosis. The sensitivity of ABC-GO is comparable to that of the indirect fluorescent antibody test.
A visual, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using urease (ELISA-U) as the enzyme marker was adapted for rapid detection of antibody against Plasmodium falciparum. Flat-bottom, 96-well microtiter plates were coated with P. falciparum soluble antigen obtained by saponin and NP-40 treatment of parasite cultures. Antibody was detected by successive incubations with test sera, urease-conjugated rabbit-human antibody, and urease substrate. Reactive sera developed a definite and easily visualized purple color. Sera from patients with single infections of P. vivax or P. ovale were unreactive. No cross-reactivity was noted with sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, filariasis, amebiasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, scrub typhus, leptospirosis, or toxoplasmosis. The procedure can be performed at room temperature and completed within 1 hr. The sensitivity of the assay is comparable to that of the indirect fluorescent antibody test at all but the lowest dilutions tested.
This paper deals with the aetiological factors of psychogenic impotence, more emphasis however, being placed on the psychological theories. The characteristics of forty cases of impotence were analysed and discussed. Two cases, one of erectile impotence (failure of erection) and another of premature ejaculation were treated by the authors with systematic desensitization successfully. The "squeeze" technique was utilized for the case of premature ejaculation
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the commonest X-linked disorder, is a progressive, eventually fatal disease. With the advent of molecular genetics, the Duchenne gene and its protein product, dystrophin, have been characterised. Molecular diagnosis of DMD, identification of carriers and antenatal diagnosis are now possible. We describe here the use, in a Malaysian boy with DMD, of a recent innovation, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to obtain molecular diagnosis by detection of dystrophin gene deletions.
A high-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) classification model typically contains a large number of irrelevant and redundant descriptors. In this paper, a new design of descriptor selection for the QSAR classification model estimation method is proposed by adding a new weight inside L1-norm. The experimental results of classifying the anti-hepatitis C virus activity of thiourea derivatives demonstrate that the proposed descriptor selection method in the QSAR classification model performs effectively and competitively compared with other existing penalized methods in terms of classification performance on both the training and the testing datasets. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the results obtained in terms of stability test and applicability domain provide a robust QSAR classification model. It is evident from the results that the developed QSAR classification model could conceivably be employed for further high-dimensional QSAR classification studies.
Dentigerous cyst in maxillary sinus, especially in children, is uncommon in Malaysia. Few cases of dentigerous cyst in maxillary sinus in children have been reported in the medical literature. According to Tay AB et al, dentigerous cyst was accounted for 2.3% of the 20 most common diagnosed oral tumors in Singapore form year 1993--1997. This report illustrates a case of the dentigerous cyst in the maxillary sinus, resulting in significant facial swelling, which was managed by endoscopic marsupialization of the cyst.
Measurements of environmental terrestrial gamma radiation dose-rate (TGRD) have been made in Johore, Malaysia. The focus is on determining a relationship between geological type and TGRD levels. Data were compared using the one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), in some instances revealing significant differences between TGRD measurements and the underlying geological structure.
Huntington disease has not previously been recorded in Malaysia. We report the first case in a local patient with a positive family history. The implications of diagnosing this disease will be discussed.
Fifty cases of septicaemic melioidosis were reviewed. There was a preponderance of disease among males (male:female ratio 3.2:1) and those aged over 30 years. The presenting clinical features were very varied and not pathognomonic, ranging from fever, cough and septicaemia to fulminant septicaemia and shock. Pulmonary involvement was recorded in 58% of the patients. Skin and soft tissue sepsis was seen in 24%, but many had signs and symptoms of multiorgan involvement. Associated underlying illness was identified in 76% of patients, diabetes mellitus being the commonest (38%), while 34% had more than one predisposing factor. The mortality of 65% in our series is a reflection of the less than satisfactory status of the diagnosis and therapy of septicaemic melioidosis. Only 24% of our patients received appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy. A high index of suspicion of melioidosis in endemic areas and the use of appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy would be a step towards reducing the high mortality rate.
A case of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia with classical findings of IgM paraproteinaemia and a typical lymphoplasmacytic marrow infiltrate is reported and the treatment of this patient outlined.
A 72 year old man developed acute organic brain syndrome associated with marked eosinophilia following self medication with a variety of drugs. Investigations revealed no other known causes of eosinophilia. Withdrawal of drugs resulted in dramatic drop in eosinophil count paralleled by clinical resolution of neurological problems. To our knowledge drug-induced eosinophilia has not previously been associated with acute organic brain syndrome.
A statistical prediction of terrestrial gamma radiation dose rate has been performed, covering the Kota Tinggi district of Peninsular Malaysia. The prediction has been based on geological features and soil types. The purpose of this study is to provide a methodology to statistically predict the gamma radiation dose rate with minimum surveying in an area. Results of statistical predictions using the hypothesis test were compared with the actual dose rate obtained by measurements.
Dermal exposure to organophosphate pesticide is important because of its popular use. This study planned to compare the changes in serum acetylcholinesterase, paraoxonase and neuronal density of hippocampus and iso-cortex between two age groups of Swiss albino mice (18-day-old and 150-day-old) after dermal application of (1/2) LD50 of chlorpyrifos for 14 days. Statistically significant reduction was observed in serum acetylcholinesterase (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.05) and neuronal density (Independent samples t-test, p<0.05) in exposed groups compared to the control. The reduction in serum AChE and neuronal density was more pronounced in exposed adult mice than in exposed neonatal mice. The paraoxonase level was insignificant in control neonatal mice, whereas it was 890-fold more in exposed neonatal mice. Upregulated paraoxonase levels may be extrapolated to produce relatively lower reduction of cholinesterase and neuronal density in neonatal mice.
The paper is based on original empirical research into the lifestyle migration of European migrants, primarily British, to Thailand and Malaysia, and of Hong Kong Chinese migrants to Mainland China. We combine strong structuration theory (SST) with Heideggerian phenomenology to develop a distinctive approach to the interplay between social structures and the lived experience of migrants. The approach enables a rich engagement with the subjectivities of migrants, an engagement that is powerfully enhanced by close attention to how these inner lives are deeply interwoven with relevant structural contexts. The approach is presented as one that could be fruitfully adopted to explore parallel issues within all types of migration. As is intrinsic to lifestyle migration, commitment to a better quality of life is central to the East Asian migrants, but they seek an uncomplicated, physically enhanced texture of life, framed more by a phenomenology of prosaic well-being than of self-realization or transcendence. In spite of possessing economic and status privileges due to their relatively elite position within global structures the reality for a good number of the lifestyle migrants falls short of their prior expectations. They are subject to particular kinds of socio-structural marginaliszation as a consequence of the character of their migration, and they find themselves relatively isolated and facing a distinct range of challenges. A comparison with research into various groups of migrants to the USA brings into relief the specificities of the socio-structural positioning of the lifestyle migrants of the study. Those East Asian migrants who express the greatest sense of ease and contentment seem to be those who have responded creatively to the specific challenges of their socio-structural situation. Often, this appears to have been achieved through understated but active involvements with their new settings and through sustaining focused transnational connections and relationships.
A modified version of the standard 2-site sporozoite enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as the substrate chromogen solution was adapted for rapid detection and identification of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax circumsporozoite (CS) proteins. The TMB-ELISA was evaluated using sporozoites from experimentally infected mosquitoes and laboratory colonized uninfected mosquitoes. Our data indicate comparable sensitivity levels between the TMB-ELISA and the standard ELISA, i.e., 50 P. falciparum or P. vivax sporozoites/50 microliters of test solution. Reactions inherent to the method were specific and background reactivity was minimal. The TMB-ELISA is rapid (1 hr), simple, uses a minimal amount of monoclonal antibodies, and is suitable for use in a wide range of laboratories.
Breastfeeding has many health benefits, both in the short term and the longer term, to infants and their mothers. There is an increasing number of studies that report on associations between breastfeeding and long-term protection against chronic disease. Recent research evidence is reviewed in this study, building on previous authoritative reviews. The recent World Health Organization reviews of the short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding concluded that there was strong evidence for many public health benefits of breastfeeding. Cognitive development is improved by breastfeeding, and infants who are breastfed and mothers who breastfeed have lower rates of obesity. Other chronic diseases that are reduced by breastfeeding include diabetes (both type 1 and type 2), obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and some types of cancer.