1.Isolation and identification of anti-methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus compounds from Phyllanthus columnaris stem bark
Adnan S-N-A ; Ibrahim N ; Yaacob W A
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2014;10(4):225-233
Aim: Phyllanthus columnaris Müll.Arg. was found to possess anti-methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (antiMRSA)
activities. This study aimed at isolating, identifying and evaluating the active compounds from the stem bark of
Phyllanthus columnaris Müll.Arg. against MRSA.
Methodology and results: Stem bark extracts (methanol, acetone and aqueous) of Phyllanthus columnaris were
subjected to anti-MRSA screening by disc diffusion method. MIC and MBC tests were carried out to compare the lowest
concentration to inhibit and kill the sixteen MRSA tested among the three extracts. TLC bioautography were performed
to detect the bioactive compounds. Isolation of the two active compounds was performed by means of preparative TLC.
Morphological and ultra-structure alterations of the MRSA treated with bioactive compounds after 24 h were revealed by
scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Both methanol and acetone extracts exhibited good anti-MRSA activity
with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value for both extracts were 0.78 mg/mL and the lowest
minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were 1.56 mg/mL. Bioassay-guided chromatography by bioautography
revealed two active anti-MRSA compounds from both tannin-free methanol and acetone extracts and characterized as
stigmasterol and lupeol by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral data. Scanning and transmission electron
microscopy of MRSA treated with stigmasterol and lupeol showed cell wall disruption, release of cytoplasmic compounds
and decreased in cellular volume.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Results obtained herein, may suggest that the stem bark of
Phyllanthus columnaris possess anti-MRSA and the two of the active compounds isolated were stigmasterol and lupeol.
Their anti-MRSA effects up to the morphological and ultra-structure studies were not reported earlier
2.Is it as dangerous as it looks?
Malaysian Family Physician 2017;12(1):35-36
A common bony protrusion that occurs over the hard palate is sometimes mistaken for a
malignancy especially when it is large. This bony growth is a torus palatinus (TP), which is a benign
bony prominence over the hard palate. It occurs most commonly in bilateral multiple form, and is
often located at the canine to premolar area. A basic knowledge of the assessment and management
of TP is important,, particularly for the first-line family physician to ensure that the correct
information is given to the patient.
3.Florid Cemento-Osseous Dysplasia As A Possible Aggravating Factor In A Case Of Trigeminal Neuralgia
C.H. Siar ; N. Ibrahim ; A.N. Omar ; Z.A. Abdul Rahman
Annals of Dentistry 2010;17(1):21-24
Differential diagnosis of orofacial pain is crucial, as
the course of each process and its clinical management
varies markedly. A case is illustrated here of trigeminal
neuralgia in a 49-year-old Indian female whose
complaint was initially diagnosed as dental pain
leading to sequential extractions of her right
mandibular and maxillary molars but with no pain
abatement. Subsequent neurological assessment
diagnosed her complaint as trigeminal neuralgia but
pain remained poorly controlled even with high doses
of carbamazepine and gabapentin. A dental referral and
orthopantomographic examination revealed multifocal
sclerotic masses in her jaws, suggestive of florid
cemento-osseous dysplasia (FCOD). Right mandibular
incisional biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. A decision
was made to curette the right mandibular masses and
lateralised the right inferior dental nerve. Follow-up
disclosed considerable pain reduction. This case raises
the issue as to whether the sclerotic bone masses in
FCOD may have caused nerve compression which
aggravated her neuralgic pain.
4.Allergic Contact Dermatitis in a private practice Dermatology Clinic in Ipoh: A Seven-Year Retrospective Study
Henry BB Foong ; Elizabeth M Taylor ; N Ibrahim
Malaysian Journal of Dermatology 2007;19(-):47-49
Patch testing has been accepted as the most important investigative technique of assessing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and identifying the contact allergens. The epidemiology of ACD differs in
different geographic region as the environmental allergens vary in different populations. In this study 59.8% of the patients had a positive patch test reaction to one or more allergens. The prevalence of ACD was 64.7% in women and 51.4% in men. The commonest causes of ACD were nickel (30.4%), fragrance mix (18.16%) and balsam of Peru
(6.73%).
5.The integron prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase Malaysian teaching hospital
Ibrahim, N. ; Wajidi, M.F. ; Yusof, M.Y. ; Tay, S.T.*
Tropical Biomedicine 2011;28(3):668-671
The increased frequency of antibiotic resistance is known to be associated with
the dissemination of integrons in the Enterobacteriaceae. This study determined the prevalence
and type of integrons amongst 160 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing
enterobacterial isolates kept in our culture collection. Integrons were detected in 98(61.3%)
isolates, including 28(62.2%) Escherichia coli, 34(64.2%) Klebsiella spp., 27(61.4%), Enterobacter
spp. and 9(50.0%) Citrobacter spp. investigated in this study. Restriction analysis of the
integron gene fragments revealed that class I integron was the principal integron detected in
92(57.5%) of our isolates. Class II integron was detected in 6(3.8%) of our isolates, while no
class III integron was detected in this study. The high rates of integron prevalence particularly
of the class I integron in the E. coli and Klebsiella spp. concur with previous studies in other
geographical regions. The higher (>50%) integron prevalence of Citrobacter and Enterobacter
isolates comparing to previous studies suggests the potential of these isolates as sources for
dissemination of resistance determinants. The finding in this study serves as a basis for
further study on the antibiotic resistance mechanisms of enterobacterial species in this
teaching hospital.
6.In vitro antiplasmodial activity, macronutrients and trace metals in the medicinal plants: Phyllanthus spp. and Alpinia conchigera Griff
Haslinda, M.S ; Aiyub, Z ; Bakar, N.K.A ; Tohar, N ; Musa, Y ; Abdullah, N.R ; Ibrahim, H ; Awang, K.
Tropical Biomedicine 2015;32(1):129-139
An antiplasmodial screening of Phyllanthus debilis and Phyllanthus urinaria was
carried out. The medicinal plants were extracted and evaluated for in vitro antiplasmodial
activity against D10 (chloroquine-sensitive, CQS) and Gombak A (chloroquine-resistant, CQR)
strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The methanolic crudes from the soxhlet extraction were
active against both strains however, P. urinaria (IC50 8.9 μg/ml with CQR strain) exhibited
better anti-malarial activity compared to P. debilis (IC50 12.2 μg/ml with CQR strain).
Furthermore, the methanolic crude of P. urinaria obtained by the cold extraction has good
anti-malarial activity towards CQS (IC50 4.1 μg/ml). The concentration of macronutrients
(calcium and magnesium) and trace metals (copper, manganese, iron and zinc) from three
Phyllanthus species i.e. P. debilis Klein ex Wild., Phyllanthus niruri L., P. urinaria L. and
Alpinia conchigera Griff. were determined using microwave digestion method and analyzed
by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Standard Reference Material 1547 (peach leaves)
was used to validate the method throughout this study. The recovery values were in the range
of 80% to 120% which were in very good agreement with the certified values. The three
Phyllanthus species and leaves of A. conchigera showed the highest concentration of calcium
compared to other metals and macronutrients studied. The significant presence of all the
important macronutrients and trace metals which are essential for human health and wellbeing
substantiate their use medicinally in traditional practices.
7.Drug resistance mutations among virological failure HIV-1 infected patients in Malaysia
Mohd Zain, R. ; Ibrahim, N. ; Ismail, S. ; Mat-Rahim, N.A. ; Suppiah, J. ; Thayan, R. ; , Z.
Tropical Biomedicine 2016;33(3):486-493
The determination of HIV drug resistance mutations (DRMs) towards antiretroviral
(ARV) drugs among HIV-1 treated patients with virological failure is crucial for further
management of the patient. This study aimed to assess the most common genomic mutation
and to analyse subtypes among the HIV-1 patients with viral load level > 1,000 copies/mL. A
total of 101 virological failure HIV-1 patients from four different regions of Peninsular Malaysia
with a viral load measurement facility were included in the study. Majority of patients (89.1%)
have at least 1 mutation associated with clinical resistance to either protease inhibitors
(PIs), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) or nonnucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Major resistance mutations among the patients towards
NRTIs and NNRTIs were 70.3% and 18.8%, respectively. The most common mutation for
NRTIs was M184V while K103N mutation was detected in the majority of patients who were
treated with NNRTIs. The most commonly observed mutations for major PI and minor PI seen
among the study population were V82A/T and L10V, respectively. In HIV-1 subtype analysis,
CRF33_01B was the most predominant HIV-1 subtype in this study group. The vast detection
of DRMs in this study emphasized the importance of genotypic resistance test in the
management of HIV patients as DRMs can alter patient’s susceptibility towards ARV drugs.
Further study on larger number of samples is essential for the development of a database on
HIV-1 DRMs among patients that experience virological failure in Malaysia.
8.Semen parameters in men with spinal cord injury: changes and aetiology.
Mohamed N MOMEN ; Ibrahim FAHMY ; Medhat AMER ; Mohamad ARAFA ; Wael ZOHDY ; Taha A NASER
Asian Journal of Andrology 2007;9(5):684-689
AIMTo assess the changes in semen parameters in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) and the possible causes of these changes.
METHODSThe study included 45 subjects with SCI. Semen retrieval was done by masturbation (2), vigorous prostatic massage (n = 13), penile vibratory stimulation (n = 13) or electroejaculation (n = 17).
RESULTSThe semen of men with SCI showed normal volume (2.3 +/- 1.9 mL) and sperm count (85.0 X 10(6) +/- 83.8 X 10(6)/mL) with decreased motility (11.6% +/- 0.1%), vitality (18.5% +/- 5.2%) and normal forms (17.5% +/- 3.4%), and pus cells has been increased (6.0 X 10(6) +/- 8.2 X 10(6)/mL). Total (13.4 +/- 9.9 vs. 7.1 +/- 6.8) and progressive (4.4 +/- 3.9 vs.2.2 +/- 2.1) motility were significantly higher in subjects with lower scrotal temperatures. There was no statistical significant difference between electroejaculation and penile vibratory stimulation groups as regards any of the semen parameters. Subjects'age, infrequent ejaculation, injury duration and hormonal profile showed no significant effect on semen parameters.
CONCLUSIONThe defining characteristics of the seminogram in men with SCI are normal volume and count with decreased sperm motility, vitality and normal forms, and the increased number of pus cells. The most acceptable cause of the deterioration of semen is elevated scrotal temperature.
Disease Progression ; Ejaculation ; Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Massage ; Masturbation ; Movement ; Prostate ; physiopathology ; Semen ; physiology ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; Vibration
9.A Review of UNGASS-Based Outcomes and Impact of HIV/AIDS Programs in Eight sub-Saharan Countries
Koji Kanda ; Bilkisu Ibrahim-Jibrin ; Lillian M. Mnisi ; Mohammed M. Iyullu ; Monaphathi Maraka ; Mtemwa K. Nyangulu ; Muhle N. Dlamini ; Samuel K. K. Dery ; Tebogo P. Madidimalo ; Yoshi Obayashi ; Asuna Arai ; Romeo B. Lee ; Hiko Tamashiro
Journal of International Health 2011;26(4):253-262
Introduction
Whereas the numbers of new HIV infections and deaths due to AIDS have been reduced or stabilized, they remain high in sub-Saharan Africa. To further control the generalized epidemics and their consequences, countries have continued strengthening their programs to prevent new infections and deaths: however, program outcomes and impact at the national level are not well understood. The purpose of the review was to describe the country-level outcomes and impact of HIV/AIDS programs in eight sub-Saharan African countries in order to highlight future action agenda to meet universal access and policies related to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Methods
The review used 16 of the 25 program outcome and impact indicators prescribed by the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS). The review reported on the percentages accomplished by each country in their programs, categorized these figures into high (80% and higher), moderate (50-79%) and low (below 50%), and highlighted the domains in which outcomes and impact were high.
Results
Across countries, with the exception of Tanzania, programs had achieved nearly universal or universal outcomes and impact, but their coverage was limited to 2-5 program domains. Moreover, in domains with multiple target groups, such as in the provision of antiretroviral therapy and in the promotion and distribution of condom use, the programs were unable to produce high-end results for the affected populations. To further reduce their infections and deaths and to advance towards universal access and MDGs, countries must make their program outcomes and impact comprehensive and equitable.
Conclusion
Almost all national programs have high level accomplishments, but they must broaden their domain and audience coverage to further control the generalized epidemics and deaths in the eight countries. National responses must collect and analyze all the UNGASS data systematically and regularly in order to determine current HIV/AIDS knowledge and behaviors, ascertain program effects, and inform future actions.