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MyMedR (Malaysian Medical Repository) is an open-access collection of Malaysian health and biomedical research. The materials are imported from PubMed and MyJurnal. We gratefully acknowledge the permission to reuse the materials from the National Library of Medicine of the United States and the Malaysian Citation Centre. This project is funded by the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia. The project team members are CL Teng, CJ Ng, EM Khoo, Mastura Ismail, Abrizah Abdullah, TK Chiew, and Thanaletchumi Dharmalingam.

Please note that some citations are non-Malaysian publications. Common reasons are: (1) One or more authors had a Malaysian affiliation; (2) The article abstract mentioned Malaysia; (3) The study subjects included the Malay ethnic group.

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  1. Henry Basil J, Lim WH, Syed Ahmad SM, Menon Premakumar C, Mohd Tahir NA, Mhd Ali A, et al.
    Digit Health, 2024;10:20552076241286434.
    PMID: 39430694 DOI: 10.1177/20552076241286434
    OBJECTIVE: Neonates' physiological immaturity and complex dosing requirements heighten their susceptibility to medication administration errors (MAEs), with the potential for severe harm and substantial economic impact on healthcare systems. Developing an effective risk prediction model for MAEs is crucial to reduce and prevent harm.

    METHODS: This national-level, multicentre, prospective direct observational study was conducted in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of five public hospitals in Malaysia. Randomly selected nurses were directly observed during medication preparation and administration. Each observation was independently assessed for errors. Ten machine learning (ML) algorithms were applied with features derived from systematic reviews, incident reports, and expert consensus. Model performance, prioritising F1-score for MAEs, was evaluated using various measures. Feature importance was determined using the permutation-feature importance for robust comparison across ML algorithms.

    RESULTS: A total of 1093 doses were administered to 170 neonates, with mean age and birth weight of 33.43 (SD ± 5.13) weeks and 1.94 (SD ± 0.95) kg, respectively. F1-scores for the ten models ranged from 76.15% to 83.28%. Adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) emerged as the best-performing model (F1-score: 83.28%, accuracy: 77.63%, area under the receiver operating characteristic: 82.95%, precision: 84.72%, sensitivity: 81.88% and negative predictive value: 64.00%). The most influential features in AdaBoost were the intravenous route of administration, working hours, and nursing experience.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study developed and validated an ML-based model to predict the presence of MAEs among neonates in NICUs. AdaBoost was identified as the best-performing algorithm. Utilising the model's predictions, healthcare providers can potentially reduce MAE occurrence through timely interventions.

  2. Li Y, Hu J, Hou J, Lu S, Xiong J, Wang Y, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2024 Oct 19;14(1):24595.
    PMID: 39427096 DOI: gate io
    The spread of SARS-CoV-2 to animals has the potential to evolve independently. In this study, we distinguished several sentinel animal species and genera for monitoring the re-emergence of COVID-19 or the new outbreak of COVID-19-like disease. We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 genomic data from human and nonhuman mammals in the taxonomic hierarchies of species, genus, family and order of their host. We find that SARS-CoV-2 carried by domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), domestic cat (Felis catus), mink (Neovison vison), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) cluster closely to human-origin viruses and show no differences in the majority of amino acids, but have the most positively selected sites and should be monitored to prevent the re-emergence of COVID-19 caused by novel variants of SARS-CoV-2. Viruses from the genera Panthera (especially lion (Panthera leo)), Manis and Rhinolophus differ significantly from human-origin viruses, and long-term surveillance should be undertaken to prevent the future COVID-19-like outbreaks. Investigation of the variation dynamics of sites 142, 501, 655, 681 and 950 within the S protein may be necessary to predict the novel animal SARS-CoV-2 variants.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Cats; Dogs; Humans; Mink/virology; Phylogeny; Genome, Viral; Sentinel Species/genetics
  3. Ma Y, Yuan X, Wei A, Li X, Patar A, Su S, et al.
    Redox Biol, 2024 Oct 05;77:103376.
    PMID: 39423458 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103376
    The significance of protein S-palmitoylation in angiogenesis has been largely overlooked, leaving various aspects unexplored. Recent identification of Gpx1 as a palmitoylated protein has generated interest in exploring its potential involvement in novel pathological mechanisms related to angiogenesis. In this study, we demonstrate that Gpx1 undergoes palmitoylation at cysteine-76 and -113, with PPT1 playing a crucial role in modulating the depalmitoylation of Gpx1. Furthermore, we find that PPT1-regulated depalmitoylation negatively impacts Gpx1 protein stability. Interestingly, inhibiting Gpx1 palmitoylation, either through expression of a non-palmitoylated Gpx1 mutant or by expressing PPT1, significantly enhances neovascular angiogenesis. Conversely, in PPT1-deficient mice, angiogenesis is notably attenuated compared to wild-type mice in an Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy (OIR) model, which mimics pathological angiogenesis. Physiologically, under hypoxic conditions, Gpx1 palmitoylation levels are drastically reduced, suggesting that increasing Gpx1 palmitoylation may have beneficial effects. Indeed, enhancing Gpx1 palmitoylation by inhibiting PPT1 with DC661 effectively suppresses retinal angiogenesis in the OIR disease model. Overall, our findings highlight the pivotal role of protein palmitoylation in angiogenesis and propose a novel mechanism whereby the PPT1-Gpx1 axis modulates angiogenesis, thereby providing a potential therapeutic strategy for targeting PPT1 to combat angiogenesis.
  4. Beschastnov VV, Shirokova IY, Belyanina NA, Pogodin IE, Tulupov AA, Tochilina AG, et al.
    Sovrem Tekhnologii Med, 2024;16(1):45-52.
    PMID: 39421627 DOI: 10.17691/stm2024.16.1.05
    The aim of the investigation is to study the possibility of applying commercial wound coatings for treating infected wounds as a carrier matrix for bacteriophages.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve varieties of commercial wound coverings based on biopolymers of natural and synthetic origin, a biological preparation Staphylophag produced by scientific-industrial association Microgen (Russia), registration certificate P N001973/01, and the S. aureus 3196 test strain (GenBank JARQZO000000000) isolated from a patient with a burn wound have been used in our work. The ability of commercial biological wound coatings to absorb solutions was examined by immersing them in a physiological solution (pH 7.0-7.2) followed by weighing. The lytic activity of three bacteriophage series against the test strain was studied using the Appelman method and a spot test. The lytic activity of the bacteriophage in the wound samples was studied within 7 days after its absorption by the wound coatings.

    RESULTS: The greatest volume of fluid was absorbed by the LycoSorb, NEOFIX FibroSorb Ag, Biatravm, and Chitocol-S wound coatings. All bacteriophage series have been found to have a high lytic activity against the test strain. It has also been shown that Chitocol-S, Collachit-FA, Algipran, and Aquacel Ag Extra possessed their own inherent antibacterial activity under in vitro conditions stable for 7 days; moreover, the lysis zones of the test strain increased after their saturation with bacteriophage. On day 0, a high level of bacteriophage lytic activity with the maximum size of the test strain lysis zones from 49 to 59 mm have been found to remain in all samples of the wound coverings. The bacteriophage activity persisted for 1 day in the samples of Hydrofilm, Polypran, and NEOFIX FibroCold Ag coatings, up to 4 days in Algipran, Nano-Aseptica, and Biatravm coatings; and for 7 days in the Chitocol-S, Collachit-FA, Opsite Post-Op Visible, NEOFIX FibroSorb Ag, Aquacel Ag Extra, and LycoSorb samples.

    CONCLUSION: Modern commercial wound dressings based on chitosan-collagen complex (Chitocol-S, Collachit-FA), polyurethane (Opsite Post-Op Visible, LycoSorb, NEOFIX FibroSorb Ag), and Hydrofiber (Aquacel Ag Extra) have a sufficient level of bacteriophage solution absorption, provide a stable preservation of the bacteriophage lytic activity under in vitro conditions up to 7 days. Thus, the in vitro studies prove the possibility of their use as a carrier matrix for bacteriophages.

    MeSH terms: Bacteriophages*; Bandages; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus/virology; Wound Healing; Phage Therapy
  5. Ashkir Z, Samat AHA, Ariga R, Finnigan L, Jermy S, Akhtar MA, et al.
    PMID: 39417278 DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jeae260
    BACKGROUND: Myocardial disarray, an early feature of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and a substrate for ventricular arrhythmia, is poorly characterised in prehypertrophic sarcomeric variant carriers (SARC+LVH-).

    OBJECTIVES: Using diffusion tensor cardiac magnetic resonance (DT-CMR) we assessed myocardial disarray and fibrosis in both SARC+LVH- and HCM patients and evaluated the relationship between microstructural alterations and electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters associated with arrhythmic risk.

    METHODS: Sixty-two individuals (24 SARC+LVH-, 24 HCM and 14 matched controls) were evaluated with multiparametric CMR including stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) DT-CMR, and blinded quantitative 12-lead ECG analysis.

    RESULTS: Mean diastolic fractional anisotropy (FA) was reduced in HCM compared to SARC+LVH- and controls (0.49±0.05 vs 0.52±0.04 vs 0.53±0.04, p=0.009), even after adjustment for differences in extracellular volume (ECV) (p=0.038). Both HCM and SARC+LVH- had segments with significantly reduced FA relative to controls (54% vs 25% vs 0%, p=0.002). Multiple repolarization parameters were prolonged in HCM and SARC+LVH-, with corrected JT interval (JTc) being most significant (354±42ms vs 356±26ms vs 314±26ms, p=0.002). Among SARC+LVH-, JTc duration correlated negatively with mean FA (r=-0.6, p=0.002). In HCM, the JTc interval showed a stronger association with ECV (r=0.6 p=0.019) than FA (r=-0.1 p=0.72). JTc discriminated SARC+LVH- from controls (Area-under-the-receiver-operator-curve 0.88, CI 0.76-1.00, p<0.001), and in HCM correlated with the ESC HCM sudden cardiac death risk score (r=0.5, p=0.014).

    CONCLUSION: Low diastolic FA, suggestive of myocardial disarray, is present in both SARC+LVH- and HCM. Low FA and raised ECV were associated with repolarization prolongation. Myocardial disarray assessment using DT-CMR and repolarization parameters such as the JTc interval demonstrate significant potential as markers of disease activity in HCM.

  6. Bala Ganesh KA, Panda P, Gurawa T, Gopalakrishna PK, Jagadeesan S, Vishnumukkala T
    Bioinformation, 2024;20(8):872-876.
    PMID: 39411772 DOI: 10.6026/973206300200872
    Anatomy is a vital discipline in the realm of Medicine, and its primary means of study is through the use of cadavers. Experts in the medical, legal, and ethical domains have discussed the use of cadavers or their anatomical parts for educational purposes, which are considered a severe drawback. The advantages of using cadavers include their contribution to medical education, research, the investigation of innovative surgical procedures or techniques, the detection of anatomical differences at an individual or population level, the enhancement of surgical skills, and the support of other anatomical investigations. This review highlights the issues like consent, respect for the deceased and cultural beliefs on cadaver procurement practices and also it emphasizes the need for better body donation initiatives and public awareness campaigns to ensure sustainable cadaver procurement practices, ensuring consent, respect for the deceased and cultural beliefs.
  7. Sunaiwi R, Gaur R, Azhar Abdul Razab MK, Hadzuan FH, Nawi NM, Abdul Aziz MZ, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Oct 15;10(19):e38682.
    PMID: 39403514 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38682
    Patients undergoing high-dose radioiodine ablation (RAI) therapy in Nuclear Medicine Department need to be isolated in a special designed ward for a few days. Large amount of clinical radioactive wastewater from patient body is produced during high-activity RAI therapy. The radioactive wastewater needs to store in a delay tank until the radioactivity decayed below acceptable limit before being discharged and indirectly limit the patient admission and treatment. This study is to propose an alternative antibacterial adsorbent for I-131 extraction from clinical radioactive wastewater at the nuclear medicine department using graphene oxide silver (GOAg) and bamboo activated carbon (BAC). The synthesised adsorbents and their sediments (filtered sample) were analysed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) for morphological analysis and analysed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). XPS spectra for C 1s adsorbents show intensity peaks at 284.45 eV (C=C) and 285.3 eV (C-C) for GOAg and its sediments, and 284.35 eV (C-C), 287.00 eV (C=O), and 290.07 eV (π-π∗ transitions) for BAC and its sediments. FTIR spectra reveal various functional groups of adsorbents: C=C (1637.50772 cm-1), C=O (1340.48041 cm-1), and C-O-C (1031.88060 cm-1) for GOAg and its sediments, and C=C (1635.57897 cm-1), C-C (1257.54421 cm-1), and C-O (1188.10925 cm-1) for BAC and its sediments. XRD patterns exhibit peaks at 2θ = 27.82°, 29.39°, 32.24°, and 46.22°, which can be attributed to the (002) diffraction plane, (220) crystallographic plane, (111) plane of Ag2O, and (200) crystallographic plane, respectively, for GOAg and its sediments. Meanwhile, the peaks at 2θ = 26.56° and 42.41°, which correspond to (002) and (100) planes, respectively, for BAC and its sediments. The d-spacing and the crystallinity index of each adsorbent were also determined. The estimation of the remaining β- particles during the adsorption of I-131 was carried out using PHITS. The finding of this study is beneficial for alternative radionuclide extractions technique from clinical radioactive wastewater in nuclear medicine.
  8. Khazali AS, Hadrawi WH, Ibrahim F, Othman S, Nor Rashid N
    Expert Rev Mol Med, 2024 Oct 14;26:e26.
    PMID: 39397710 DOI: 10.1017/erm.2024.18
    Thrombocytopenia is a common symptom and one of the warning signs of dengue virus (DENV) infection. Platelet depletion is critical as it may lead to other severe dengue symptoms. Understanding the molecular events of this condition during dengue infection is challenging because of the multifaceted factors involved in DENV infection and the dynamics of the disease progression. Platelet levels depend on the balance between platelet production and platelet consumption or clearance. Megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis, two interdependent processes in platelet production, are hampered during dengue infection. Conversely, platelet elimination via platelet activation, apoptosis and clearance processes are elevated. Together, these anomalies contribute to thrombocytopenia in dengue patients. Targeting the molecular events of dengue-mediated thrombocytopenia shows great potential but still requires further investigation. Nonetheless, the application of new knowledge in this field, such as immature platelet fraction analysis, may facilitate physicians in monitoring the progression of the disease.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Dengue Virus*; Humans; Platelet Activation; Apoptosis; Thrombopoiesis
  9. Si S, Huang X, Wang Q, Manickam S, Zhao D, Liu Y
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Oct 10.
    PMID: 39395516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.136505
    Microbial contamination annually leads to substantial food resource loss. Effective food packaging can mitigate food contamination and waste, yet conventional materials such as plastics often lack bacteriostatic activity. This study aimed to synthesise FengycinA-M3@bacterial cellulose@polyvinyl alcohol composite hydrogels via dual cross-linking with hydrogen and borate bonding, with the goal of enhancing antibacterial properties and prolonging the preservation period of refrigerated chicken breast. The composite hydrogel was subjected to comprehensive characterisation for structural, mechanical, water absorption, slow peptide release, antimicrobial capacity, biocompatibility, and chicken breast freshness preservation. The results showed that the composite hydrogel had a porous network structure and excellent gel elasticity and biocompatibility. It was effective in inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and prolonged the storage time of frozen chicken breast for up to 12 days. These findings emphasise the potential of hydrogel food packaging to prolong storage periods and its suitability for food industry applications due to ease of manufacture.
  10. Almansi KY, Ujang U, Azri S, Wickramathilaka N
    PMID: 39394474 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-35243-0
    This study represents a pioneering effort to integrate geographic information systems (GIS) and ensemble machine learning methods to predict noise levels on a university campus. Three ensemble models including random forest (RF), gradient boosting (GB), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) were developed to predict traffic noise based on data collected over a 4-week period at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) campus. Noise measurements were obtained during peak morning hours (7:30 to 9:30 a.m.) on weekdays within the UTM campus in Johor. Additional predictor variables, including data from the digital elevation model (DEM) and land use, were incorporated to capture the complex nonlinear relationships influencing noise levels. The models were optimized through hyperparameter tuning, resulting in high precision, as evidenced by performance metrics such as the coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean squared error (MSE). The XGB model emerged as the most accurate, with R2 = 0.96, MAE = 0.9, and MSE = 0.3. Noise maps generated using the inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation technique highlighted the spatial distribution of noise levels, classified into five classes considering WHO standards. The findings identified distance from roads, the number of light vehicles, and proximity to green areas as the most significant predictors. However, challenges remain in accurately predicting noise levels associated with other predictors. The outcomes of the study indicate the superior performance of the XGB model compared to the GB and RF models. The study recommends several measures to manage and control noise pollution on the UTM campus, including raising awareness, regulating and enforcing vehicle speed limits, reevaluating land use, installing sound insulation systems, and planting trees and vegetation buffer zones around and within educational buildings.
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