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Fulltext Isolation and molecular detection of dengue and chikungunya virus from field-collected adult mosquitoes in Kelantan, Malaysia

Jusoh TNAM, Jaafar IS, Shueb RH

J Vector Borne Dis, 2024 Jan 01;61(1):61-71.
PMID: 38648407 DOI: 10.4103/0972-9062.392269

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES: Dengue and chikungunya infections are one of the major health problems that have plagued the human population globally. All dengue virus (DENV) serotypes circulate within Malaysia with particular serotypes dominating in different years/outbreaks. In the state of Kelantan, an increasing number of DENV and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) new cases have been reported, including several deaths. This study aimed to isolate and detect these arboviruses from adult mosquitoes in Kelantan.
METHODS: Adult mo squito samples were collected from January to August 2019 and were identified according to gender, species and locality. The isolation of the virus was done in C6/36 cells. Dengue NS1 antigen was carried out using direct mosquito lysate and mosquito culture supernatant. Detection and serotyping of the DENV was performed using multiplex RT-PCR and CHIKV detection using a one-step RT-PCR assay.
RESULTS: Of 91 mosquito pools, four were positive for NS1 antigen comprising two pools (2.2%) of male Ae. albopictus (Pulau Melaka and Kubang Siput) and two pools (2.2%) of Ae. aegypti (Kampung Demit Sungai). DENV 1 was detected in one pool (0.9%) of female Ae. albopictus among 114 tested Aedes pools. Two pools of 114 pools (1.7%) from both male Aedes species were positive with double serotypes, DENV 1 and DENV 2 (Pulau Melaka). However, no pool was positive for CHIKV.
INTERPRETATION CONCLUSION: The presence of DENV and the main vectors of arboviruses in Kelantan are pertinent indicators of the need to improve vector controls to reduce arbovirus infections among people in the localities.
Fulltext Anti-atherosclerotic effects of Eurycoma Longifolia (Tongkat Ali) in rats fed on High-fat diet

Fakhria Al-Joufi, Anil K. Saxena, Imad M. Al-Ani, Norlelawati A. Talib, Rafidah H. Mokhtar, Norsidah Ku -Zaifah

International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2017;16(1):83-90.
MyJurnal

Atherosclerosis in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a growing health problem, especially in developing countries. Hyperlipidemia is known as a dominant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Eurycoma Longifolia (EL) also known as Malaysian Ginseng/ Tongkat Ali on the testosterone level, biochemical changes of lipid profile and intima media thickness (IMT) in rats fed on high-fat diet. Twenty young, adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were housed for 12 weeks. After one week of acclimatization, they were randomly divided into four groups of 5 animals each and treated for 12 weeks as follow: Group ND was given only normal diet, group NDEL was given normal diet and EL extracts (15mg/kg) dissolved in distilled water, group HFD was given only high fat diet and group HFDEL was given high fat diet and EL extracts (15mg/kg). Rats which were treated with EL (NDEL and HFDEL) showed a significant increase (p
Fulltext The blood pressure variability, arterial elasticity and humoral factors in subjects with family history of hypertension

Rafidah HM, Azizi A, Suhaimi H, Noriah MN

Med J Malaysia, 2008 Mar;63(1):9-16.
PMID: 18935724 MyJurnal

Normotensive subjects with family history of hypertension (FHT) have been reported to have increased left ventricular mass index and reduced ventricular compliance. Of interest is whether blood pressure variability (BPV), which has been associated with target organ damage, is then part of this complex inherited syndrome? The objectives of this study are to determine whether there are any significant differences in BPV, arterial compliance and humoral factors in subjects with FHT as compared to controls. Thirty-five subjects with self reported FHT and 35 matched controls underwent 24 hour BP monitoring (BR-102, Schiller Inc. Germany). Arterial compliance was measured using systolic pulse wave tonometry (HDI/Pulsewave Cardiovascular Profiling Instrument, Hypertension Diagnostic Inc. USA). None of the subjects were hypertensive or diabetic. Out of these numbers, 25 subjects with FHT and 26 controls had measurements of plasma catecholamines, plasma renin and serum aldosterone. Catecholamines were assayed with high performance liquid chromatography, while both renin and aldosterone measurements were by radioimmunoassay. Subjects with FHT have higher night time BPV. There was no significant difference in arterial compliances between both groups. There were increased level of norepinephrine (NE) in subjects with FHT but epinephrine (E), renin and aldosterone levels were similar in both groups. There were no correlations between NE and BPV but E was negatively associated with daytime and mean arterial systolic BPV. In conclusion subjects with FHT demonstrated a higher night time BPV and NE level as compared to controls.
Fulltext Blood pressure variability and arterial elasticity in hyperlipidaemic subjects

Rafidah HM, Azizi A, Noriah MN

Singapore Med J, 2008 Apr;49(4):297-303.
PMID: 18418521

It is debatable whether the assessment of low density lipoprotein or total cholesterol (TC) alone is sufficient to identify an individual's risk of having myocardial infarction. In the Framingham study, the risk of coronary artery disease was better indicated by an increase in the TC to high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC: HDL) ratio. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between blood pressure variability (BPV) and arterial compliances in hyperlipidaemics, which was defined as TC:HDL of more than 5.0 as compared to normolipidaemics.
Serum and urine galactose deficient-IgA1 as alternative biomarkers in the management of IgA nephropathy

Suleman AA, Abd Ghani F, Fadhlina NZ, Rafidah H

Med J Malaysia, 2024 Jan;79(1):95-101.
PMID: 38287764

INTRODUCTION: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN) results from abnormal accumulation of immune complexes containing galactose deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) in the kidneys. About 40% of patients develop end-stage kidney disease within 20 years of renal biopsy. At present, the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients (using the international IgAN risk prediction tool) rely on renal biopsy, which is an invasive procedure. Also, treatment decisions are still dependent on proteinuria, which is not specific for IgA nephropathy. We discussed the role of serum and urine Gd- IgA1 in the diagnosis of IgAN, its association with disease progression and changes with treatment in patients with IgA nephropathy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus databases was done to identify the articles that are relevant to the topic including systematic reviews and original articles.
RESULTS: Several studies showed that both serum and urine Gd-IgA1 differentiate IgA nephropathy patients from healthy people and other glomerulonephropathies. Thus, it is useful as a less invasive diagnostic biomarker, although detection methods varied between studies with different sensitivities. There are various reports of its use as a prognostic parameter. Evidence is emerging for its use as a monitoring parameter for treatment.
CONCLUSION: Galactose deficient IgA1 is a promising biomarker in the management of IgA nephropathy, although a more robust and standardised means of estimation is required.
Fulltext An evaluation of the World Health Organization's 1997 and 2009 dengue classifications in hospitalized dengue patients in Malaysia

Zakaria Z, Zainordin NA, Sim BL, Zaid M, Haridan US, Aziz AT, et al.

J Infect Dev Ctries, 2014 Jul;8(7):869-75.
PMID: 25022297 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.4283

INTRODUCTION: The latest revised version of the World Health Organization's dengue classification was released in 2009. A handful of studies have taken initiatives to evaluate the old and revised guidelines to determine early signs and symptoms of severe dengue. This retrospective study aimed to compare the classification of dengue using both the 1997 and 2009 guidelines in a selected cohort of dengue patients from Peninsular Malaysia between 2008 and 2012.
METHODOLOGY: Adult dengue patients were recruited from tertiary hospitals in two different states, Selangor and Kelantan, in Peninsular Malaysia. Their clinical manifestations were assessed.
RESULTS: A total of 281 confirmed dengue patients were enrolled; the mean duration of illness at admission was five days. Of these, 88.6%, 10.7%, and 0.7% were classified according to the 1997 guidelines as having dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and dengue shock syndrome (DSS), respectively. When the WHO 2009 guidelines were applied, 17.1%, 78.3%, and 4.6% were classified as dengue without warning signs, dengue with warning signs, and severe dengue, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that the revised WHO 2009 guidelines stratify a much larger proportion of patients into a category that requires a higher level of medical and nursing care.