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Hypernasality in singing among children with cleft palate: a preliminary study

Peter S, Abdul Rahman ZA, Pillai S

Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 2019 Oct;48(10):1317-1322.
PMID: 31014926 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2019.03.896

The aim of this study was to document differences in hypernasality during speaking and singing among children with cleft palate and to compare nasality score ratings of trained and untrained listeners. Twenty subjects with cleft palate aged between 7 and 12 years participated in this study. Audio recordings were made of the children reading a passage and singing a common local song, both in the Malay language. The degree of hypernasality was judged through perceptual assessment. Three trained listeners (a speech therapist, a classical singer, and a linguistic expert - all academicians) and two untrained listeners (a cleft volunteer worker and a national high school teacher) assessed the recordings using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability for hypernasality in both speaking and singing were verified using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). A significant reduction in hypernasality was observed during singing as compared to speaking, indicating that hypernasality reduces when a child with cleft palate sings. The act of singing significantly reduces hypernasality. The outcome of this study suggests that children with cleft palate would benefit from singing exercises to ultimately reduce hypernasality. However, future research is needed to objectively measure nasality in singing compared to speaking.
Fulltext The spectrum of histologically diagnosed malignant neoplasms in Sabah, 1983-1988

Ganesan J, Pillai SS, Gudum HR

Med J Malaysia, 1991 Jun;46(2):116-22.
PMID: 1839414

Malignant neoplasms diagnosed histologically in the state of Sabah during the period November 1983 to October 1988 were analysed to determine the distribution of malignant neoplasms according to site, age, sex and major ethnic groups. The five commonest malignant neoplasms in males were carcinomas of the nasopharynx, stomach, skin, lung and liver. In females the five commonest malignant neoplasms were carcinomas of the cervix uteri, breast, ovary, thyroid and skin. There was variation in these frequencies among the major ethnic groups. The most striking of these was the high frequency of nasopharyngeal carcinoma among Kadazan and Chinese males but not in males of the other indigenous groups. A significant number of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was found in the younger age groups and most of the patients in the younger age groups were Kadazans. A relatively high frequency of carcinoma of the stomach, skin and liver was seen among Kadazans and other indigenous groups while carcinoma of the lung was seen relatively frequently among Chinese males. Among females carcinomas of the breast and cervix uteri were the most frequent malignant neoplasms in all the main ethnic groups. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed.
Fulltext Writing a Scientific Review Article: Comprehensive Insights for Beginners

Amobonye A, Lalung J, Mheta G, Pillai S

ScientificWorldJournal, 2024;2024:7822269.
PMID: 38268745 DOI: 10.1155/2024/7822269

Review articles present comprehensive overview of relevant literature on specific themes and synthesise the studies related to these themes, with the aim of strengthening the foundation of knowledge and facilitating theory development. The significance of review articles in science is immeasurable as both students and researchers rely on these articles as the starting point for their research. Interestingly, many postgraduate students are expected to write review articles for journal publications as a way of demonstrating their ability to contribute to new knowledge in their respective fields. However, there is no comprehensive instructional framework to guide them on how to analyse and synthesise the literature in their niches into publishable review articles. The dearth of ample guidance or explicit training results in students having to learn all by themselves, usually by trial and error, which often leads to high rejection rates from publishing houses. Therefore, this article seeks to identify these challenges from a beginner's perspective and strives to plug the identified gaps and discrepancies. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to serve as a systematic guide for emerging scientists and to summarise the most important information on how to write and structure a publishable review article.
Fulltext A rare synchronous presentation of primary malignant melanoma in cervix and vagina

Pai UKN, Pillai S, Arunkumar NR

J Cancer Res Ther, 2023 Oct 01;19(7):2108-2110.
PMID: 38376333 DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_1309_21

Malignant melanoma, primarily a cutaneous malignancy, can also involve mucosal surfaces and constitutes 2% to 7% of all gynecological malignancies. Primary melanoma of the uterine cervix is an uncommon tumor and has poor prognosis. In the female genital tract, the synchronous occurrence of primary malignant melanoma in the cervix and vagina is rare. We report a case of a 48-year-old female patient who presented with a blackish vaginal mass and associated growth in the cervix. Biopsy from the vaginal mass was reported as malignant melanoma. Following this, she underwent radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. After 12 months, the patient is doing well.
Malay-Muslim women's perceptions of sunat perempuan in the Malaysian context

Nik Mat NS, Pillai S, Kaur S

Cult Health Sex, 2024 May 13.
PMID: 38739475 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2024.2342549

Female circumcision (genital cutting) in Malaysia is largely understudied at present. This study unpacks the perceptions of Malay-Muslim women with regards to sunat perempuan (female circumcision) in Malaysia. Through stakeholder engagement discussions organised by a civil society organisation, 17 Malay-Muslim women shared their views in relation to the practice with a particular focus on: (1) their awareness and personal experience of it; (2) their opinions and knowledge about the practice; (3) beliefs related to the practice; and (4) the roles of relevant stakeholders in advocacy work related to the practice. The data were analysed thematically and interpreted based on the grammar of legitimation and social norms theory. The findings reveal several themes, involving the perceived benefits of the practice; tradition and conformity to social norms; conflicting emotions related to religion; and implicit pressure and fear of negative sanctions in relation to the practice. The findings shed light on the concerns faced by Malay-Muslim women in their decision-making process in relation to the practice of female circumcision in Malaysia.
Fulltext The multifaceted impact of structured training program on persons with Parkinson disease and their adult caregiver: A protocol for a systematic review

Gopala Krishna Pillai S, Mohd Nordin NA, Mohamed Ibrahim N

Medicine (Baltimore), 2023 Jul 14;102(28):e33966.
PMID: 37443466 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033966

BACKGROUND: Training caregivers and persons with Parkinson Disease (PwPD) is crucial to provide them with adequate knowledge and care skills in preparation for the Parkinson disease (PD) progression. This review will systematically evaluate the effect of structured training programs on the mobility and quality of life (QoL) of PwPD. In addition, the effect of such training programs on the QoL, burden of caregiving, and knowledge of PD among adult caregivers of PwPD will also be evaluated.
METHODS: Systematic and comprehensive search of relevant studies will be conducted using electronic databases such as Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. The title, abstract, keywords, and full texts will be screened for eligibility. Studies to be selected are randomized controlled trials (RCT) from inception until April 2023. Studies based on structured PD training either in the form of training, education, program, multidisciplinary approach, or self-management targeted at both PwPD and their adult caregivers will be selected. Only full-text articles available in the English language will be included. Full-text articles will be inspected by 2 independent reviewers to produce the final set of articles that meet the eligibility criteria. A third reviewer will be engaged if no consensus is achieved between the first and second reviewers. Version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) will be used to evaluate the quality of papers and inform the risk of bias.
RESULTS: This review will provide an outlook on the effects of structured PD training programs on mobility and QoL of PwPD. In addition, it will provide insight into the effects of such training on the caregivers' burden, knowledge of PD, and QoL.
CONCLUSION: This review findings may help clinicians and researchers to understand the effect of structured and comprehensive PD training programs for PwPD and their adult caregiver.