1.Gorham’s Disappearing Bone Disease: A Rare Cause of Extensive Bone Destruction
Subapriya Suppiah ; Roziah Muridan
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2016;12(1):60-62
Osteolytic disease of the bones have a myriad range of aetiology. One rare cause is Gorham’s disease
or disappearing bone disease. This disease is a diagnosis by exclusion using correlation made with
clinical presentation, radiological findings and histopathological confirmation. Although many different
therapies have been advocated, none have been successful in fully controlling this disease. We present a
case that was detected in a Chinese lady using diagnostic imaging, confirmed with computed tomography
guided biopsy and successfully treated with joint reconstruction using endoprosthesis.
Osteolysis, Essential
2.One Stop Centre Staging by Contrast-Enhanced 18F-FDG PET/CT in Preoperative Assessment of Ovarian Cancer and Proposed Diagnostic Imaging Algorithm: A single centre experience in Malaysia
Subapriya Suppiah ; Hasyma Abu Hassan ; Wing Liong Chang
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2017;13(2):29-37
Introduction: Suspicious adnexal masses need to be investigated thoroughly as it may represent ovarian cancer, which
is the fourth most common gynaecological cancer in Malaysia. Conventional cross sectional imaging may reveal
non-specific findings, thus lead to unnecessary biopsies. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/
computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) has emerged as a useful tool, for characterization of indeterminate
adnexal masses. Most studies have been conducted in Western population, and little information is available in Asian
population in general and Malaysian population in particular. Methods: Prospective study of women with suspicious
adnexal masses, referred to the Centre for Nuclear Diagnostic Imaging, Universiti Putra Malaysia to undergo preoperative
whole-body contrast-enhanced 18F-FDG PET/CT scans from January 2014 to January 2016. Subjects
underwent Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) scans followed by positron emission tomography
(PET) scans using a hybrid scanner. Two radiologists analyzed the CECT and PET/CT images by consensus; blinded to
the HPE results. Then the PET/CT findings were correlated with HPE results as the gold standard. Results: 11 wholebody
PET/CT scans and 18 adnexal masses (12 HPE-proven malignant lesions and 6 benign lesions) were analyzed.
The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of CECT alone compared to PET/CT was 91.7%, 50.0%, 78.6%, and 75.0%
vs. 91.7%, 100%, 100% and 85.7% respectively. Conclusions: Improved diagnostic accuracy for characterizing
benign and malignant adnexal masses can be achieved using contrast-enhanced 18F-FDG PET/CT, making it a
potential investigation of choice which can help in treatment planning.
4.Mapping 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Metabolism Using PET/CT for the Assessment of Treatment Response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Treatment: A Single-Centre Experience
Subapriya Suppiah ; Fathinul Fikri Ahmad Saad ; Nur Hafizah Mohad Azmi ; Abdul Jalil Nordin
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2017;13(1):9-15
Introduction: Specific mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) characterize a subgroup of nonsmall
cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients that may be highly responsive to receptor inhibitor therapy. 18F-FDG PET/CT
scans can map the glucose metabolism and treatment response of NSCLC. Therefore, we aimed to assess the pattern
of metabolic response and outcome of inoperable NSCLC treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
inhibitors, using 18F-FDG PET/CT scan. Methods: A retrospective study of inoperable NSCLC patients on EGFR
inhibitor treatment that were referred for wholebody18F-FDG PET/CT scans was conducted based on cases scanned
from January 2011 to June 2014. Comparison was made among serial attenuation-corrected fused PET/CT images for
all study patients throughout the course of their treatment. Comparison based on PERCIST criteria was categorized
into 4 levels ie. complete response (CMR), partial response (PMR), stable disease (SMD), progressive metabolic
disease (PMD). Results: Overall, there were 5 patients identified, mean age: 57.4 years old +/- 2.9 years; The median
survival time from initiation of EGFR inhibitor treatment to death was 17 months. Two patients showed initial partial
metabolic response (PMR), two had progressive metabolic disease (PMD) and one had complete metabolic response
(CMR) after the initiation of treatment. The patient with initial CMR had relapse and PMD 5 months later. Majority of
patients eventually succumbed to their illness. Conclusions: Wholebody18F-FDG PET/CT is able to assess metabolic
treatment response of NSCLC towards EGFR inhibitor treatment.
Lung Neoplasms
;
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
5.Systematic Review of the Utility of Functional MRI to Investigate Internet Addiction Disorder: Recent Updates on Resting State and Task-Based fMRI
Hamed SHARIFAT ; Aida Abdul RASHID ; Subapriya SUPPIAH
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2018;14(1):21-33
Introduction: Internet addiction disorder (IAD) particularly the internet gaming disorder (IGD) is recognized as a type of addiction similar to substance abuse. This addiction carries similar social impact as the latter, as it can cause serious impairment of interpersonal relationship, and even deterioration of academic or occupational performances. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is able to act as a non-invasive objective biomarker to detect functional neuronal connectivity in areas of the brain affected by IAD by utilizing blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) imaging. Methods: A systematic review was conducted from original articles published from January 2014 to January 2017 that had the keywords “internet addiction” and fMRI. Results: Initial data collection had 170 articles, however after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, there were 34 articles in the final analysis (17 resting-state fMRI studies and 18 task-based fMRI studies). The striatal nucleus and dopaminergic system demonstrated impaired functioning in subjects with IAD. Conclusion: Task-based and resting-state fMRI are able to detect areas of the brain that are activated in subjects with internet addiction, similar to those observed in subjects with substance abuse and other addictions. This review also introduces a newly arising subtype which is smartphone addiction disorder.
6.Different reference ranges affect the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in an urban adult Malaysian population
Swan Sim YEAP ; Subashini C. THAMBIAH ; Intan Nureslyna SAMSUDIN ; Geeta APPANNAH ; Nurunnaim ZAINUDDIN ; Safarina MOHAMAD-ISMUDDIN ; Nasrin SHAHIFAR ; Salmiah MD-SAID ; Siti Yazmin ZAHARI-SHAM ; Subapriya SUPPIAH ; Fen Lee HEW
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2020;6(4):168-172
Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of osteopenia (OPe) and osteoporosis (OP) in an urban adult population in Malaysia, and to compare the change in the prevalence when using a Caucasian compared to an Asian reference range.
Methods:
A cross-sectional random sample of the population aged between 45 and 90 years from the state of Selangor, Malaysia, was invited to attend a bone health check-up. Participants with diseases known to affect bone metabolism or who were on treatment for OP were excluded. Bone mineral density was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Based on the World Health Organization definitions, the prevalence of OPe and OP was calculated using the Asian and Caucasian T-scores.
Results:
A total of 342 subjects (222 females, 120 males), with a mean age of 59.68 (standard deviation: 8.89) years, who fulfilled the study criteria were assessed. Based on the Asian reference range, there were 140 (40.9%) subjects with OPe and 48 (14.0%) with OP. On applying the Caucasian reference range, there were 152 (44.4%) subjects with OPe and 79 (23.1%) with OP, with significant increases in males, females, and Chinese ethnic groups. Overall, 75 (21.9%) of subjects had a change in their diagnostic status. T-scores were consistently lower when the Caucasian reference range was used.
Conclusions
In a healthy urban Malaysian population, the prevalence of OP is 14.0% and OPe is 40.9%. Application of a Caucasian reference range significantly increased the number of subjects with OP and may potentially lead to over-treatment.
7.Different reference ranges affect the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in an urban adult Malaysian population
Swan Sim YEAP ; Subashini C. THAMBIAH ; Intan Nureslyna SAMSUDIN ; Geeta APPANNAH ; Nurunnaim ZAINUDDIN ; Safarina MOHAMAD-ISMUDDIN ; Nasrin SHAHIFAR ; Salmiah MD-SAID ; Siti Yazmin ZAHARI-SHAM ; Subapriya SUPPIAH ; Fen Lee HEW
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2020;6(4):168-172
Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of osteopenia (OPe) and osteoporosis (OP) in an urban adult population in Malaysia, and to compare the change in the prevalence when using a Caucasian compared to an Asian reference range.
Methods:
A cross-sectional random sample of the population aged between 45 and 90 years from the state of Selangor, Malaysia, was invited to attend a bone health check-up. Participants with diseases known to affect bone metabolism or who were on treatment for OP were excluded. Bone mineral density was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Based on the World Health Organization definitions, the prevalence of OPe and OP was calculated using the Asian and Caucasian T-scores.
Results:
A total of 342 subjects (222 females, 120 males), with a mean age of 59.68 (standard deviation: 8.89) years, who fulfilled the study criteria were assessed. Based on the Asian reference range, there were 140 (40.9%) subjects with OPe and 48 (14.0%) with OP. On applying the Caucasian reference range, there were 152 (44.4%) subjects with OPe and 79 (23.1%) with OP, with significant increases in males, females, and Chinese ethnic groups. Overall, 75 (21.9%) of subjects had a change in their diagnostic status. T-scores were consistently lower when the Caucasian reference range was used.
Conclusions
In a healthy urban Malaysian population, the prevalence of OP is 14.0% and OPe is 40.9%. Application of a Caucasian reference range significantly increased the number of subjects with OP and may potentially lead to over-treatment.
8.Decoding death by unknown causes using postmortem image-guided virtopsy: A review of recent literature and the Malaysian experience
Tawfiq Yousef Tawfiq Zyoud ; Saiful Nizam Abdul Rashid ; Subapriya Suppiah ; Ezamin Abdul Rahim ; Rozi Mahmud
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(4):411-418
Introduction: Autopsy is one of the most important approaches
to identify clearly the exact cause of death, whether it was due
to natural causes, sudden death, or traumatic. Various studies
have been done in different countries regarding ways to
improve the diagnosis during autopsy. The imaging approach
is one of the methods that has been used to complement
autopsy findings and to enhance the diagnosis for achieving the
most accurate post-mortem diagnosis. The aim of this study is
to identify the role of imaging modalities that complement
routine autopsy and correlate the findings of diagnostic
imaging that can help improve the accuracy of diagnosing the
cause of death.
Methods: We sourced articles from Scopus, Ovid and PubMed
databases for journal publications related to post-mortem
diagnostic imaging. We highlight the most relevant full articles
in English that explain the type of modality that was utilised
and the added value it provided for diagnosing the cause of
death.
Results: Minimally invasive autopsies assisted by imaging
modalities added a great benefit to forensic medicine, and
supported conventional autopsy. In particular the role of post
mortem computed tomography (PMCT), post mortem
computed tomography angiography (PMMR) and positron
emission tomography computed tomography (PMCTA) that
have incremental benefits in diagnosing traumatic death,
fractures, tissue injuries, as well as the assessment of body
height or weight for corpse identification.
Conclusion: PMCT and PMMR, with particular emphasis on
PMCTA, can provide higher accuracy than the other
modalities. They can be regarded as indispensable methods
that should be applied to the routine autopsy protocol, thus
improving the findings and accuracy of diagnosing the cause of
death.
9.The objective assessment of the effects on cognition functioning among military personnel exposed to hypobaric-hypoxia: A pilot fMRI study
Nisha Syed Nasser ; Fathinul Fikri Ahmad Saad ; Aida Abdul Rashid ; Salasiah Mustafa ; Hamed Sharifat ; Rohit Tyagi ; Amei Farina Abd Rashid ; Loh Jia Ling ; Mazlyfarina Mohamad ; Subapriya Suppiah
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(1):62-67
Objective: To identify regions of the brain affected during
cognitive working memory during tasks to assess attention,
planning and decision making among military aviation
personnel who have chronic intermittent exposure to high
altitude environment.
Method: A case-control study was conducted in the
Universiti Putra Malaysia among eight military personnel,
four of whom had chronic intermittent exposure to high
altitude training. They were divided into two groups, chronic
intermittent exposure group (CE) (n=4) and a control group
(n=4). They underwent a task-based functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) that utilised spatial working
memory task to objectively evaluate the neural activation in
response to the Tower of London paradigm. Each correct
answer was given a score of one and the maximum
achievable score was 100%.
Results: A consecutive dichotomised group of CE (4/8) and
control (4/8) of age-matched military aviation personnel with
a mean age of 37.23±5.52 years; showed significant
activation in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG). This in
turn was positively correlated with response accuracy. A
significant difference in the response accuracy was noted
among both the groups at p<0.05.
Conclusion: At the minimum results of power analysis of
this preliminary fMRI study, our group of aviation personnel
who had chronic intermittent exposure to hypobaric hypoxic
environment, did not have any significant decrease in
cognitive function namely attention, decision-making and
problem solving compared to controls during a working
memory task
10.A survey on smartphone dependence and psychological effects among undergraduate students in a Malaysian University
Nisha Syed Nasser ; Loh Jia Ling ; Aida Abdul Rashid ; Hamed Sharifat ; Umar Ahmad ; Buhari Ibrahim ; Salasiah Mustafa ; Hoo Fan Kee ; Ching Siew Mooi ; Subapriya Suppiah
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(4):356-362
Objective: Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is the
development of pathological dependence at the expense of
performing activities of daily living, thus having negative
health and psychological impact on the users. Previous PSU
studies focused on medical students and little is known
regarding its effect on students undergoing other courses. The
objective of this study is to identify the pattern of smartphone
usage and determine the psychological factors affecting PSU
among undergraduate students in Malaysia and compare the
pattern among students from different fields of study.
Method: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted
using the validated Smartphone Addiction Scale–Malay
version (SAS-M) questionnaire. One-way ANOVA was used to
determine the correlation between the PSU among the students
categorised by their ethnicity, hand dominance and by their
field of study. MLR analysis was applied to predict PSU based
on socio-demographic data, usage patterns, psychological
factors and fields of study.
Results: A total of 1060 students completed the questionnaire.
Most students had some degree of problematic usage of the
smartphone. Students used smartphones predominantly to
access SNAs, namely Instagram. Longer duration on the
smartphone per day, younger age at first using a smartphone
and underlying depression carried higher risk of developing
PSU, whereas the field of study (science vs. humanities based)
did not contribute to an increased risk of developing PSU.
Conclusion: Findings from this study can help better inform
university administrators about at- risk groups of
undergraduate students who may benefit from targeted
intervention designed to reduce their addictive behaviour
patterns