Difficulty of understanding speech in noise among the elderly necessitates the need for Auditory Training which has made a renewal of interest in the last decade with the auditory training applications. This interest is perhaps spurred by advances in computer-based technology. In computer-based auditory training, speech signals are considered as auditory training stimuli where input speech signals need to be verified prior to training as the speech signals are mixed with noise signals. Computer-based Auditory Training System can be embedded with input speech verifying module. Input speech verifying module is employed with speech and noise separator simulator. This simulator needs to guarantee accurate separation of speech from noise signals. Therefore, in this research, Exploratory Projection Pursuit (EPP) technique under semi-Blind Source Separation (BSS) method is intended to separate the speech source signals which are mixed with competing speech (multitalker speech babble). This training uses Malay language based sentences which differ in word length and hence number of sample values. The experimental simulation considers two-channel random, linear mixing of speech sources and competing speech. The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of source separation using the anticipated EPP technique for various sample values of speech signals which varies in time duration due to word length dissimilarity. Simulation results show that EPP technique is feasible for source separation. As a consequence, high correlation value of r ≥ 0.99 is obtained between extracted speech signal and original speech signal for all categories of speech signals. It is further verified by the maximum nongaussianity of extracted speech signal which has high kurtosis value of 32 approximately.

● AIM: To demonstrate the operative technique and surgical outcome of using perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCL) in internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling of eyes with macular hole associated with retinal detachment.● METHODS: The study consists of 8 consecutive eyes of 8 patients diagnosed to have total retinal detachment (RD) with macular hole between December 2001 and October 2002.The age ranged from 13 to 65 years (mean 39 years). The male female ratio was 5:3. Four eyes were in Non-myopic Group and 4 eyes in Myopic Group. The patients underwent vitrectomy, ICG dye to stain the ILM,PFCL to flatten the retina intraoperatively, ILM peeling,fluid air exchange and endolaser was performed around the peripheral breaks. Tamponade with either silicone oil or C3F8was used.● RESULTS: The follow-up ranged from 6 to 9mo (mean 6.5mo). In Non-myopic Group. Macular hole was completely closed at the end of follow-up in 3 eyes (75%)and decreased size with flat edge in 1 eye (25%). In Myopic Group. All 4 eyes had successful closure of macular hole at the end of the follow-up. Comparing the groups,complete closure of macular hole was achieved in 7 eyes (88%) and open hole with flat edge was seen in 1 eye (12%) at the end of follow-up.● CONCLUSION: Using PFCL is helpful in the peeling of ILM for macular hole associated with retinal detachment.

Failure analysis was performed to investigate the failure of the femur fixation plate which was previously fixed on the femur of a girl. Radiography, metallography, fractography and mechanical testing were conducted in this study. The results show that the failure was due to the formation of notches on the femur plate. These notches act as stress raisers from where the cracks start to propagate. Finally fracture occurred on the femur plate and subsequently, the plate failed.
*Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; *Equipment Failure Analysis ; Femur/radiography ; Femur/*surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/*instrumentation ; *Stainless Steel ; Surface Properties

· AIM: To report a case of verteporfin therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation associated with choroidal osteoma.· METHODS: A 32-year-old patient was diagnosed as subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) associated with choroidal osteoma in the right eye, with present visual acuity (VA) of 20/80; N24. He underwent 2 sessions of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the right eye for 12mo.· RESULTS: At the end of 12mo, the patient's VA was 20/200 with complete regression of the CNV.· CONCLUSION: PDT could be a treatment option in subfoveal CNV associated with choroidal osteoma.

This cross sectional study was conducted to determine the validity of three screening tools, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), Malnutrition Risk Screening Tool for Community (MRST-C) and Malnutrition Risk Screening Tool for Hospital (MRST-H) among elderly people at health clinics. The screening tools were validated against anthropometric and functional assessments. The anthropometric assessments that were carried out included body weight, height, arm span, body mass index (BMI), calf circumference (CC) and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC). A set of questionnaire on manual dexterity, muscular strength, instrumental activities daily living (IADL) and cognitive status was used to assess functional abilities. A total of 156 subjects were recruited from rural (38 subjects) and urban (118 subjects) health clinics at Sabak Bernam and Cheras respectively. Subjects’ age ranged from 60 to 83 years old, with 44.2% were men and 55.8% women. The prevalence of muscle wasting among the subjects assessed from MUAC and CC were both 7.0%. MNA-SF had the highest correlation with BMI (r = 0.497, p<0.001), followed by MUAC (r = 0.398, p<0.001), CC (r = 0.473, p<0.001), cognitive assessment (r = 0.229, p<0.001) and handgrip strength (r = 0.209, p<0.001). Whilst MRST-C had the highest correlation with IADL score (r = -0.320, p<0.001) and MRST-H had the highest correlation with the lock and key test (r = -0.325, p<0.01). Sensitivity was the highest for MNA-SF (93.2%), followed by MRST-H (52.5%) and MRST-C (25.8%). Specificity was the highest for MRST-H (97.3%), followed by MRST-C (90.8%) and MNA-SF (79.4%). Positive predictive value (PPV) for MRST-H, MNA-SF and MRST-C was 55.5%, 18.2% and 14.1%, respectively. In conclusion, among the screening tools being validated, MNA-SF is considered the most appropriate tool to be used in health clinics for identification of elderly individuals who are at high risk of malnutrition.
Lower case are ; lower case pea ; SF Brand of Topical Fluoride ; Carbon ion ; upper case aitch

The objectives of this study were to measure the Furcation Entrance Dimensions of first and second permanent molars in Malaysian samples and to compare the Furcation Entrance Dimensions with the blade widths of periodontal Gracey’s curette used for root surface instrumentation. A total of 199 extracted permanent teeth were measured, which comprised of 51 mandibular first molars, 51 mandibular second molars, 45 maxillary first molars and 52 maxillary second molars. Furcation Entrance Dimension was measured using calibrated test gauges. Results showed 51.91% of Furcation Entrance Dimension was <0.70mm. Forty eight percent (48.09%) of Furcation Entrance had Furcation Dimension of more than 0.70mm. It was concluded that 51.91% of all the Furcation Entrance Dimensions of these teeth were less than the blade width of new Gracey curettes. Therefore, new periodontal Gracey’s curette of small dimension may be the best choice of instrumentation and that ultrasonic debridement using a narrow tip may be a more appropriate choice.

Three patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) with acute onset initially diagnosed as Guillain-Barre syndrome were presented. Case 1 had profound weakness over 8 weeks but followed a monophasic recovery course and was almost full recovery at 6 months and remained well one year later, whereas Case 2 recovered with two relapses at 4 and 5 months followed by full remission at 6 months. Case 3 had almost monthly relapses over 2 years, requiring monthly intravenous immunoglobulin and 4 courses of intravenous methylprednisolone. Despite frequent relapses, clinical evidence of areflexia and neurophysiologic evidence of chronic neuropathy, Case 3 remained strong during remission. No causes were found except Case 2 may be due to reactivated latent Epstein-Barr virus. Unlike those with subacute or indolent onset, CIDP with acute onset may represent a very distinct variant with good outcome. We believe that acute onset CIDP variant and Guillain-Barre syndrome most likely represent parts of a continuum, arbitrarily separated by their time course. The supporting arguments are presented; diagnosis and management difficulties are briefly discussed.

Pattern

A modified micromethod for measuring urine iodine was successfully established and validated. The micromethod showed good correlation with the method used by several World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative laboratories (y = 0.9342x + 4.6213; r = 0.962; p = 0.01; n = 50). The micromethod also showed good agreement when compared to the reference WHO method. The sensitivity of the assay was 13.809 ug/L (n = 8) and mean recoveries were 114, 103 and 106% at concentrations of 30, 40 and 50 ug/L (n = 3) respectively. At iodine concentrations of 51 +/- 15.5, 108 +/- 32.4 and 149 +/- 38.6 ug/L, intra-assay coefficient of variations (CVs) were 13%, 7% and 5% respectively (n = 20), and inter-assay CVs were 10%, 15% and 7% respectively (n = 10). The assay showed good linearity plot (y = 1.0407x + 60.451; r = 0.993; n = 3).
Lower case en ; assay ; Iodine ; ug/L ; In Urine

Objective: To analyse the two marker compounds lupeol (LP) and stigmasterol (ST) from methanolic extract of Hygrophila auriculata (H. auriculata). Methods: Separation was achieved on aluminium plates precoated with silica gel 60F254 with toluene-methanol-formic acid (7.0:2.7: 0.3 v/v/v) as mobile phase. Results: Densitometric analysis was performed at 530 nm in the reflectance mode. Compact bands for LP and ST were obtained at RF 0.52 ± 0.02 and 0.28 ± 0.05. Linearity (r2=0.998 5 and 0.993 7), limit of detection (45 and 18 ng/band) limit of quantification (135 and 54 ng/band), recovery (98.2%-99.7% and 97.2%-99.6%), and precision (<2.18 and 1.91) were satisfactory for LP and ST respectively. Linearity range for LP and ST were 100-1 000 and 50-500 ng/band and the contents estimated as (0.19±0.1)% and (0.47±0.1)% w/w respectively. Conclusion:The method demonstrated efficient analysis testing of LP and ST in samples; therefore it can be used for routine analysis.