1.Geometric morphometric analysis of malocclusion on lateral cephalograms in Malaysian population
Choy Ker WOON ; Nurul Aiman Abu JAMAL ; Muhamad Nasim Ilmi Mohd NOOR ; Syiral Mastura ABDULLAH ; Nurjehan MOHAMED IBRAHIM ; Noraina Hafizan NORMAN ; Aspalilah ALIAS
Anatomy & Cell Biology 2019;52(4):397-405
2.Distribution of frontal sinus pattern amongst Malaysian population: a skull radiograph study
Nur Damia IWANI ZULKIFLEE ; Mansharan Kaur CHAINCHEL SINGH ; Aspalilah ALIAS ; Helmi Mohd HADI PRITAM ; Eric CHUNG ; Rani SAKARAN ; Nurul Hannim ZAIDUN ; Choy Ker WOON
Anatomy & Cell Biology 2022;55(3):294-303
Frontal sinus has unique anatomical features that are distinct to every population. However, the distribution of frontal sinus patterns has yet to be explored in the Malaysian population. This study aimed to describe the distribution of frontal sinus patterns among adult Malaysians. 409 adult Malaysian posteroanterior skull radiographs, consisting of 200 males and 209 females of Malay, Chinese, and Indian races aged between 20–69 years old, were included in the study. The frontal sinus patterns were classified according to total and percentage of presence or absence of frontal sinus, symmetry or asymmetrical (right or left dominant), unilateral absence (right or left), bilateral absence, and lobulation. The findings showed that bilateral presence of frontal sinus is common, in 95.4% of individuals and bilateral absence was noted in 2.7% individuals. Unilateral absence was found in 2.0% of individuals. Asymmetrical frontal sinus was observed in 54.5% of population meanwhile 40.8% showed symmetrical frontal sinus. The majority of individuals, regardless of sex, race, and age, possessed 1 to 3 lobes on both sides of the frontal sinus. The findings suggest that the frontal sinus is highly asymmetric, and the absence of the frontal sinus is rare. This morphological variation provides an insight into the landmarking placement for measurement during forensic application and assists neurosurgeons in surgical procedure to avoid breaching of the frontal sinus.
3.Geometric morphometric analysis of malocclusion on lateral cephalograms in Malaysian population
Choy Ker WOON ; Nurul Aiman ABU JAMAL ; Muhamad Nasim Ilmi MOHD NOOR ; Syiral Mastura ABDULLAH ; Nurjehan Mohamed IBRAHIM ; Noraina Hafizan NORMAN ; Aspalilah ALIAS
Anatomy & Cell Biology 2020;53(3):378-378
4.Prostatic Metastasis Mimicking a Ligamentum Flavum Cyst in Thoracic Spine: A Case Report
Chee Leong Choong ; Chee Kean Lee ; Kularaja Thamasegaran ; Ker Woon Choy
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.4):368-370
A rare finding of a prostatic carcinoma metastasized in a ligamentum flavum at thoracic spine causing posterior
column spinal cord compression. We reported a man with prostatic carcinoma presented with ataxic gait. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an extradural cystic mass adjacent to the T4 intralaminar region indenting on the
spinal cord. T4 posterior decompression via en bloc excision of the ligamentum flavum cyst and laminectomy was
performed. Histopathology confirmed glandular tissue within the cyst wall which corresponds to prostatic adenocarcinoma cells. Two months post-operative, patient showed improvement in his muscle strength on left L2 myotome.
The preoperative diagnosis is a challenge because of the ligamentum flavum cysts rarity in the thoracic spine and
non-specific clinical signs and symptoms. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate found as ligamentum flavum cysts.
5.Diabetic Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy: A Review of NLRP3 Inflammasome Complicity
Shamala Devi Subramaniam ; Nor Aini Lubis Mhd Zain ; Choy Ker Woon ; Noorkardiffa Syawalina Omar ; Razif Abas
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2024;20(No.1):365-368
Debilitating and often misdiagnosed cardiac autonomic neuropathy affects people with diabetes. Damage to the
biggest sympathetic trunk ganglion of autonomic nerve fibers that innervate the heart and blood vessels, the superior
cervical ganglion (SCG), is the cause of aberrant heart rate and vascular dynamics in people with diabetic cardiac
autonomic neuropathy (DCAN). Mediating host immunological responses to microbial infection and cellular
damage, inflammasomes are a class of cytosolic protein complexes that include NLRP3. This review compiled the
findings of experimental investigations on DCAN and discussed their connection to the NLRP3 inflammasome’s
involvement. SCG P2X7 receptor expression can be boosted by inflammation brought on by hyperglycemia,
leading to nerve injury. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research on DCAN-related inflammation in animal models,
especially in inflammasome. Currently, only IncRNAUC.360+ shRNA and Schisandrin B, prove to alleviate the
pathogenesis. Therefore, more research into the causes and potential remedies for DCAN is necessary.
6.Facial Muscles and Its Modiolus: A Review of Embryology, Comparative Anatomy, Morphology and Applied Anatomy
Razif Abas ; Choy Ker Woon ; Aspalilah Alias ; Mohd Amir Kamaruzzaman ; Nor Farid Mohd Noor ; Ahmad Mukifza Harun ; Nurul Huda Mohd Nor
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.4):313-319
The modiolus of the face manifests the interesting landmark for facial muscles attachment. The strong connective
tissue fibres play an important role in the clinical setting, especially in the aesthetic and dental surgeries. In the fourth
week of intrauterine life, the development of the modiolus evolves in accordance with the growth of muscles of facial
expression. Microscopically, a white, tendinous structure with the thick irregular collagenous connective tissue of
collagen fibres predominance appeared to be the modiolus. Modiolus is morphologically a fibromuscular muscle
situated on the lateral border of the mouth. The formation of the nasolabial fold is important and a well-developed
modiolus provide a toned face. Several works of literature forementioned the number of facial muscles attached to
the modiolus but no definitive similarity are identified. This review summarizes the updated morphological features
and applied anatomy of the facial modiolus with its muscle attachment.
7.Two-Dimensional Geometric Morphometric Method on Frontal Sinus for Race Estimation: A Lateral Skull Radiograph Study
Nur Damia Iwani Zulkiflee ; Mansharan Kaur Chainchel Singh ; Aspalilah Alias ; Helmi Hadi ; Eric Chung ; Choy Ker Woon
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2024;20(No.1):134-142
Introduction: Race estimation of unknown individual is essential in forensic investigation. The resiliency of frontal
sinus makes it a potential tool for biological profiling, particularly in cases where fragmented skeleton persists. Geometric morphometrics is an efficient way to characterise shape. However, the use of frontal sinus to identify race of
Malaysians is yet to be investigated. This research employed a two-dimensional (2D) geometric morphometric to
examine the morphological differences of the frontal sinus among the major races in Malaysia. Methods: Lateral skull
radiographs which comprising of 453 adult Malaysian (151 Malays, Chinese and Indian respectively) were used. The
2D landmarks of eight were placed on the digitalized radiographs and 2D geometric morphometric analysis was
performed using MorphoJ software. Results: Procrustes ANOVA revealed a significantly different frontal sinus shape
(p-value < 0.05) between races. Canonical variate analysis showed significantly different frontal sinus morphology
(p-value < 0.05) between Malay and Indian as well as Chinese and Indian. Discriminant function analysis with
cross-validation demonstrated a 57.4% accuracy rate. Conclusion: This population-specific study based on frontal
sinus of Malaysians using the 2D geometric morphometric, though less reliable, sheds new light on the potential
applicability of this method for race estimation purpose.