1.Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Malaysia landscape: an aborigines study
Brandon-Mong, G.J. ; Abdullah, N.A. ; Shukor, N. ; Jaturas, N. ; Richard, R.L. ; Choo, J.C. ; Majid, M.A.A. ; Mahboob, T. ; Tan, T.C. ; Nissapatorn, V.
Tropical Biomedicine 2017;34(2):363-374
Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) is a group of parasitic nematodes, including
Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus,
which can cause gastrointestinal disorders in humans. STH is prevalent among neglected
communities in both developing and developed countries. This present study aims to determine
the current prevalence of STH infections in Aboriginal population after mass delivering of
antihelminthic drugs was proposed by WHO in 2005 and a health education learning package
(HELP) was initiated in Malaysia in 2012. A total of 235 human fecal samples were collected
and a pre-tested questionnaire was given to gather information about the socio-demographic
of the Aborigine communities living in Kedah and Selangor, Malaysia. The samples were
screened by a direct-fecal smear and confirmed by formalin-ether sedimentation methods.
From human faeces, 81.7% was found to be infected with one or more STH species. T.
trichiura was the most commonly detected (76.6%), followed by hookworms (26.4%) and A.
lumbricoides (19.1%). Triple infections were found in 6.4% of the studied population. Univariate
analysis showed that individuals with age group, male, presence of indoor toilet, family size
with <7 members and bad living habits (i.e., without antihelminthic drugs) were significantly
associated with STH infections. The analysis further showed that walking barefoot was the
significant contributing factor to hookworm infections. The high prevalence of human STH
infections is alarming. Thus, the urgency in implementing health education related behavioral
practice and hygiene to reduce disease burden in these rural communities are a crucial need.
2.Growth of probiotic bacteria in trypticase phytone yeast medium supplemented with crude polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum
Mohd Hamim, H. M. ; Shuhaimi, M. ; Yazid, A. M. ; Ali, A. M. ; Anas, O. M. ; Asilah, A. T. ; Wahab, M. N. ; Shukor, M. Y. A.
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2010;6(1):47-56
Ganoderma lucidum is a fungus usually used in traditional Chinese medicine. The high value of G. lucidum is related to its polysaccharides content. Crude polysaccharides from G. lucidum (GLCP) were obtained using hot water extraction
method. There is about 0.57 g of GLCP in 1 g crude of G. lucidum. The prebiotic potential of GLCP was tested against
probiotic bacteria namely: Bifidobacterium longum BB536, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4, Lactobacillus
acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei Shirota. The prebiotic potentials were studied in 10 mL basal Trypticase Phytone
Yeast (abbreviated as bTPY) medium (without glucose) supplemented with various concentrations of GLCP (abbreviated as bTPYglcp) (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%). bTPY medium supplemented with glucose (abbreviated as bTPYglu) and inulin (abbreviated bTPYinu) were used as comparison. Viable cell counts of the bacteria and the pH of the medium were determined during anaerobic incubation period of 0 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h at 37 °C. In the presence of carbohydrate source, cultures showed various degree of growth increment. With regards to the growth supporting property: bTPYglu, bTPYglu+glcp, bTPYglcp and bTPYinu were ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively.
Interestingly, in bTPYglcp medium, bacterial growth increased with increasing GLCP concentrations when incubated until 24 h. B. longum BB536 was ranked first (10.53 log cfu/mL) in term of their growth in this medium. Growth of B.pseudocatenulatum G4 was ranked second with 10.40 log cfu/mL. This study shows that, GLCP could support the growth of the bacteria tested.
3.Validity Of The Parallax Method With A Combination Of Imaging Receptors ' A Revisit
P. NAMBIAR ; J. JOHN ; N. SHUKOR ; N.R.A. TARMIDZI
Annals of Dentistry 2012;19(1):11-18
To determine the amount of displacement of a structurenoticed on an image when the tube of a dental X-raymachine was shifted vertically and horizontally. Inaddition, various intraoral images were combined withdental panoramic images to determine the location ofstructures. Our research is based on the parallaxtechnique which requires manipulation of horizontaland vertical angulations of the X-ray tube. A metalobject is positioned on the buccal and palatal side ofthe maxilla on the canine area of a skull. The X-raytube is shifted incrementally to obtain images onphosphor plates. Subsequently, panaromic and occlusalimages were taken to assist in localization of the metalobject. To obtain a clear image shift of 2-3mm usingthe parallax method, there must be an adequatehorizontal tube shift of approximately 30-35 degrees.When images were used in combination of dentalpanoramic images, it was found that the buccallyplaced structures can be accurately located with theperiapical or occlusal images. However, thedisplacement of images in the palatally placedstructures in panoramic imaging is not fullyappreciated with the principle of parallax method. Tubemovement of 30-35 degrees horizontally is needed fora 2-3 mm image shift. To successfully localize a buccalstructure, a combination of either periapical or occlusalimages with a dental panoramic imaging can beemployed. However, this combination with panoramicimaging is limited when looking at palatally placedstructures.
4.The Osseous Pathology of Purpura Fulminans in a TwoYear-Old Child: A Case Report
Mohd-Razali S ; Ahmad-Affandi K ; Ibrahim S ; Abdul-Rashid AH ; Abdul-Shukor N
Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal 2023;17(No.1):180-183
Purpura fulminans (PF) is a severe clinical manifestation of
Neisseria meningitides infection that is associated with high
mortality rates in children. Survivors are frequently left with
debilitating musculoskeletal sequelae. There is a paucity of
reports on the musculoskeletal pathology of purpura
fulminans. We report on a 2-year-old boy with purpura
fulminans due to meningococcemia. The child developed
distal gangrene in both the upper and lower limbs.
Amputations were done for both lower limbs. Histological
examination of the amputated specimens showed an
inflammatory process and features of osteonecrosis. The
latest follow-up at the age of 6 years showed a right knee
valgus due to asymmetrical growth arrest of the proximal
tibia. PF and its complications are challenging to treat and
may require a multidisciplinary approach to improve
patient’s functional ability.