Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre最新文献

{"title":"ASSOCIATION OF TUMOR ANGIOGENIC CELLS (CD133+/ VEGFA+) AND CIRCULATING CANCER STEM CELLS (CD133+/VEGFR2-) IN ASTROCYTIC GLIOMA PATIENTS","authors":"P. Das","doi":"10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO2.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO2.5","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Astrocytic gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors that developed from glial origin. The angiogenic cell population from brain tumor enhances the recruitment of circulating cancer stem cells homing towards tumor site.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the tumor angiogenic cell population that stained with CD133+ and VEGFA+ markers and its association with circulating cancer stem cell (CD133+/VEGFR2-) population in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of astrocytic glioma patients.Methods: A total of 22 astrocytic glioma patients from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia who consented to the study were included. Tumors (n=22) were sliced and stained with CD133+ and VEGFA+ angiogenic markers and counter stained with DAPI. The circulating cancer stem cells (CD133+/VEGFR2-) in PBMCs (n=22) were quantified using FACS based on the expression of CD133 and VEGFR2 markers. The paired t-test and Pearson correlation were used for the data analysis.Results: The percentage of angiogenic cell population was significantly higher in brain tumor compared to adjacent normal brain tissue (1.25 ± 0.96% vs. 0.74 ± 0.68%; paired t-test=2.855; df=21, p = 0.009). Positive correlation was found between the angiogenic cells of brain tumor tissue and adjacent normal brain tissue (Pearson correlation, r = 0.53, p = 0.011). Significant positive correlation was found between angiogenic cells in glioma tumor and cancer stem cells in peripheral circulating systems of astrocytic glioma patients (Pearson correlation, r = 0.42, p = 0.049).Conclusion: Angiogenic cells in the brain tumor resident promote the recruitment of circulating cancer stem cells homing to the tumor site and induce the proliferation and growth of the tumor in astrocytic glioma patients.","PeriodicalId":39135,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47501278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COMPARISON OF PATHOGENESIS OF P. BERGHEI INFECTION IN MOUSE AND RAT MODELS","authors":"V. Chin, W. Chong, N. Nordin, TzeYan Lee, Zakaria Zainul Amiruddin, H. Hassan, R. Basir","doi":"10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO2.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO2.2","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The cytokine cascade in the immunopathogenesis of malaria infection had been widely studied. However, their specific association with survival and severe infection remained obscure. Methods: The study investigated the cytokine profiles and histopathological features of malaria in the severe infection and survival models by using male ICR mice and male Sprague Dawley rats respectively. Results: The severe model, the infected ICR mice, exhibited a high parasitemia with 100% mortality after peak parasitemia at day 5 post-infection. The survival model, the infected Sprague Dawley rats, showed mild parasitemia with full recovery by day 14 of infection. Both severe and survival models showed similar histopathological severity during peak parasitemia. The severe model produced highly elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1α, and low levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-4; while the survival model showed low levels of TNF-α and IL-1α with high levels of IL-4. Conclusion: There were differences in the pathogenesis of the severe and survival models of malaria infection. These could be a basis for immunotherapy of malaria in the future.","PeriodicalId":39135,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45029758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"INTRAOSSEOUS LESION OF PHALANX: TWO SIMILAR CASES BUT NOT THE SAME","authors":"J. Gunasagaran, W. H. Chung, Sachin Shivdas, S. Amir, Saw Sian Khoo, P. Chandran, T. Ahmad","doi":"10.22452/jummec.vol22no2.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22452/jummec.vol22no2.1","url":null,"abstract":"Intraosseous lesions at phalanges are rare. They frequently present with pain and swelling. Fortunately, majority of the lesions are benign. However, some lesions are destructive and early interventions are required. We report two cases of similar presentations of swelling and discomfort at little finger for six months. The lytic lesions involved the whole middle phalanx with cortical breach sparing joints. Diagnosis was impossible with imaging alone. Bone biopsy was performed early to plan definitive treatment and surgery. Patient 1 was diagnosed for intraosseous gout whereas Patient 2 for epithelioid hemangioma. Both were benign destructive bone lesions. Thus, we counselled for curettage of lesion, bone grafting and spanning external fixation in view of extensive lesion. Patient 1 had defaulted treatment. Patient 2 had uneventful surgery. She regained her grip strength. In two years follow up, there was no evidence of infection, recurrence or malignant transformation.","PeriodicalId":39135,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47614127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ESTABLISHING FREEZE DRYING PROCESS FOR CORTICAL AND CANCELLOUS BONE ALLOGRAFT CUBES","authors":"Ariffin Aa, Chandler Hh, Norzayana Yusof, S. Mohd, S. Ramalingam, W. Ng, A. Mansor","doi":"10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.10","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Freeze drying is a dehydration method to dry bone under freezing environment, enabling removal of water with no or minimial effects on bone strength and durability.  Larger size bones obviously require longer freeze drying time to reduce water content to the required level for long term storage at room temperature.  For small size bone cubes or chips, it is a normal practise to pool cortical and cancellous bones for freeze drying.  The study was aimed to determine if different type of bones but of the same size influence the drying time. \u0000Methods: Human bone cubes of 10 x 10 x 10 mm were prepared from cortical bone of tibiae and cancellous bone from femoral heads.  The bone cubes were freeze dried to reduce water content to less than 6%.  Moisture content was monitored using gravimetric method. \u0000Results: Weight and density of cortical bone were significantly higher than cancellous bone despite of having similar small size (p<0.05). Cortical bones (density 2.05 ± 0.35 g/cm3) with initial water content of 10.93% required 5 hours to freeze dry, while cancellous bone cubes (density 0.72 ±  0.44 g/cm3) with initial water content of 78.95% required only 1.87 hours. \u0000Conclusion: This study confirmed that structure hence density of human bone cubes determine the freeze drying time.  Therefore in the standard operating procedure for freeze drying of bone allograft cubes, high density cortical bone cubes and low density cancellous bone cubes must be freeze dried separately despite of similar small size.","PeriodicalId":39135,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45278275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF CHILD ABUSE PERPETRATORS WORLDWIDE: CHARACTERISTICS AND RISK FACTORS","authors":"Hanani Nabilah Ms, Noor Dalila Iza, Faiz D","doi":"10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.7","url":null,"abstract":"Child abuse is a part of violence and maltreatment towards a child. It has led to many immediate and long-term consequences. The factors pertaining to the perpetrators of physical and emotional abuse were least explored in the literature. The aim of this systematic review is to comprehend the factors of vulnerability among the perpetrators of child abuse, and to identify the most common reported characteristics of child abuse perpetrators in the literature globally. A systematic search of articles published between 2013 and 2018 was conducted in several databases (Scopus, Ovid Medline, EBSCOhost and Google Scholar). Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The risk factors and characteristics of child abuse perpetrators are classified into three different levels; individual, relationship and community. The most common reported characteristics are at the individual level. Family background plays an important role in determining the risk of being a child abuse perpetrator. Low socioeconomic status of the family is the prominent contributing risk factor for abusing own children. \u0000Keywords: child abuse, characteristics, perpetrator","PeriodicalId":39135,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48219466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"EFFECTIVENESS OF VISION SCREENING TRAINING MODULE IN IMPROVING THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ON VISION SCREENING AMONG PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS IN KLANG VALLEY MALAYSIA","authors":"R. Omar, Knight Vf, Tang Xl, A. Aa, Mohd Saat Nz","doi":"10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.9","url":null,"abstract":"Empowering lay screeners, such as pre-school teachers, on vision screening is a cost-effective way to ensure larger populations of children can be screened. Although the validity of lay screeners in conducting vision screening were reported in several studies, none showed data concerning improvement of the level of knowledge among lay screeners after completing vision screening training, which could indicate the effectiveness of the training program. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge of pre-school teachers before and after attending a training program. Sixty pre-school teachers from Tabika and Taska KEMAS were randomly selected. The Study Group (n = 30) was given theory and practical training on vision screening, whereas the Control Group (n = 30) was only given brief verbal instructions on how to conduct the screening. A theory test containing 15 questions related to the training modules were administered to both groups, before and after their training/briefing respectively. The findings showed that the level of knowledge among preschool teachers in the Study Group (73.24 ± 11.73%) was significantly higher than the Control Group (56.22 ± 13.11%) (p < 0.01). There was also a significant improvement in the level of knowledge among pre-school teachers in the Study Group after the training (p<0.001), whereas no improvement was noted among preschool teachers in the Control Group (p = 0.636). This study shows the importance of conducting training for pre-school teachers prior to their involvement in conducting vision screening in order to deliver an effective vision screening program to the preschoolers. \u0000Keywords: preschoolers, vision screening training, teachers, level of knowledge, theory test","PeriodicalId":39135,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46111286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"GENDER DIFFERENCE IN UNDERSTANDING AGEING AND RETIREMENT","authors":"Nik Osman Nna, H. Awang","doi":"10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.5","url":null,"abstract":"The age-old wisdom is that “women live longer than men”. Gender difference in life expectancy is becoming a worldwide phenomenon both in developed and developing countries. The process of ageing may be viewed from the perspectives of physical, psychological, and social-economic wellbeing. We investigated gender difference in understanding ageing in relation to life expectancy, fears relating to diseases and deteriorating economic status, and perceived old age comfort and their preparedness. Data were obtained from an online survey and in-person interview of 518 respondents aged 40 years and older residing in Malaysia, which was based on a convenience sample collected from May 2015 to January 2016. Data were analysed using chi- squared tests and multinomial logistic regression. There were varying views between men and women when it came to understanding ageing in relation to life expectancy, fears of ageing, deteriorating economic status and their perception of old age comfort. Women were more optimistic about living longer compared to men but feared more the consequences of old age diseases. In spite of displaying less concern about financial preparedness, women were, however, willing to cut down expenses, while men would prefer longer working hours to ensure a comfortable retirement. \u0000Keywords: Gender Difference, Life Expectancy, Ageing, Fear, Financial Comfort","PeriodicalId":39135,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47629171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC, LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION AMONG ADULTS IN MALAYSIA: AN ETHNIC COMPARISON","authors":"Y. Cheah, Mohd Azahadi, Phang Sn, Abdulmalik Nh","doi":"10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.6","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Depression is a serious mental health illness worldwide. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between depression and its risk factors of sociodemography, lifestyle, and health among the adults of the different ethnic groups in Malaysia. Method: A nationwide database with 10141 observations was used. Multivariable logistic regression analyses stratified by ethnicity were estimated. Results: Ethnicity and gender, age, education, marital status and self-rated health were correlated to the likelihood of having depression. Malay females and smokers (AOR: 2.083) were more likely to suffer from depression than Malay males (AOR: 0.305) and non-smokers. Higher-income Chinese displayed higher odds of having depression than lower-income Chinese (AOR: 1.009). Indians and others with secondary-level education displayed a lower likelihood of developing depression compared to those with primary-level education (AOR: 0.587). Conclusion: This study could contribute significantly to the formulation and development of an effective policy directed towards reducing the prevalence of depression in the vulnerable. These were the adults, in the younger age group, with lower education, with self-rated poor health, being female, unmarried, Malay and Chinese, and Indians and others. A nationwide policy targeted towards the Malay females to reduce their depression, with attention to the Chinese with a high income, and to the Indians and others with poor educational background to improve their knowledge of mental health, would be worthy of consideration. \u0000Keywords: depression, ethnicity, gender, lifestyle, mental health","PeriodicalId":39135,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41989356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"THE SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PATIENTS WITH BRAIN PATHOLOGY IN A TERTIARY REFERRAL HOSPITAL IN MALAYSIA","authors":"P. Das, N. Naing, N. Wan-Arfah, K. Jan, Y. Kueh, K. Rasalingam","doi":"10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.8","url":null,"abstract":"Background: This paper investigates the quality of life of brain pathology patients in relation to their socio-demographic profiles and clinical factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study done at a tertiary referral hospital in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 100 patients were recruited in the study after excluding 22 patients who did not met the exclusion criteria. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) self-administered questionnaire was utilized in the study. The Global health status/QoL, Physical functioning, Role functioning, Emotional functioning, Cognitive functioning, Social functioning, Fatigue, Nausea and vomiting, Pain, Dyspnoea, Insomnia, Appetite loss, Constipation, Diarrhoea, and Financial difficulties were assessed in this study. Results: The most severe impairment in functioning was with lowest score of cognitive functioning (mean score=61) and the most severe symptom was fatigue (mean score=45). There were significant differences in quality of life scores in different socio-demographic groupsand types of brain pathology patients. Patients aged below 40 years old or less had better physical functioning, less symptoms of fatigue and insomnia compared to patients who were more than 40 years old. Male patients faced more financial difficulties compared with female patients. Patients who were married had increased insomnia compared to the single patients. Employed patients had better physical functioning and less financial difficulties compared with patients who were unemployed. Patients who earned >RM 2500.00 monthly had better physical functioning, less symptoms of pain and less financial difficulties than patients who earned ≤RM 2500.00. Patients with qualifications lower than SPM tended to face more financial difficulties compared to patients with qualifications of SPM or higher. Meningioma patients had better social functioning compared with others, whereas Carvenoma patients had better physical functioning. Meningioma patients had more symptoms of insomnia compared with other patients. All the findings were with p value less than 0.05. Conclusion: The quality of life of patients with brain pathology is affected by socio-demographic factors and clinical diagnoses. Efforts should be made to improve the overall quality of life of these patients. \u0000Keywords: Brain pathology, quality of life, socioeconomic factors","PeriodicalId":39135,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47790367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF TWO TACROLIMUS FORMULATIONS (PROGRAF® AND ADVAGRAF®) IN MALAYSIAN RENAL TRANSPLANT PATIENTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY","authors":"R. MacGuad, N. Zaharan, Wan Md Adnan Wah, Z. Chik, Ganji Sh","doi":"10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22452/JUMMEC.VOL22NO1.4","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: A once-daily formulation of tacrolimus, Advagraf®, is increasingly being used in place of twice-daily tacrolimus, Prograf®, as a standard immunosuppressive agent for transplant patients. In this study, the clinical safety and efficacy of Advagraf® were compared with Prograf®, among multi-ethnic Malaysian renal transplanted population. Method: This retrospective study identified renal transplant patients who were converted from Prograf® to Advagraf® at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) (n=69). Clinical notes and laboratory records, including tacrolimus daily dose and trough levels, were obtained for one-year, pre-and post-conversion. Causality assessment of suspected adverse events were based on the WHO-Uppsala Monitoring Center criteria. Renal biopsy records were re-evaluated based on the updated Banff 2007 classification for biopsy-confirmed acute rejection (BPAR). Results: Following conversion to Advagraf®, the mean tacrolimus trough level and daily dose decreased significantly (p<0.01) from 6.11±2.15 to 4.91±1.25 ng/mL and 4.08±2.19 to 3.48±1.79 mg/day, respectively. There was no significant difference in serum creatinine and estimated glomerular function. HDL was significantly increased (p=0.005) while triglycerides was significantly decreased following conversion to Advagraf® (p=0.003). The incidence of BPAR was 16% (4 cases in Prograf® and 7 cases in Advagraf®). No patients died or lost their grafts during the study period. There were 34 cases of adverse events which were classified as certain (5%), probable (36%), possible (23%) and unlikely (36%) with no significant difference between groups. Conclusion: Prograf® and Advagraf® tacrolimus formulations have comparable safety and efficacy profiles among Malaysian renal transplant patients. Advagraf® may have an advantage in terms of lipid profile. \u0000Keywords: Prograf®, Renal Transplant, Advagraf®, Acute Rejection, Safety","PeriodicalId":39135,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the University of Malaya Medical Centre","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49309356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}