Browse publications by year: 2007

  1. Mitochondrial DNA variation within and among regional populations of longtail macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in relation to other species of the fascicularis group of macaques
    Smith DG, McDonough JW, George DA
    Am J Primatol, 2007 Feb;69(2):182-98.
    PMID: 17177314
    An 835 base pair (bp) fragment of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was sequenced to characterize genetic variation within and among 1,053 samples comprising five regional populations each of longtail macaques (Macaca fascicularis) and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), and one sample each of Japanese (M. fuscata) and Taiwanese (M. cyclopis) macaques. The mtDNA haplotypes of longtail macaques clustered in two large highly structured clades (Fas1 and Fas2) of a neighbor-joining tree that were reciprocally monophyletic with respect to those representing rhesus macaques, Japanese macaques, and Taiwanese macaques. Both clades exhibited haplotypes of Indonesian and Malaysian longtail macaques widely dispersed throughout them; however, longtail macaques from Indochina, Philippines, and Mauritius each clustered in a separate well-defined clade together with one or a few Malaysian and/or Indonesian longtail macaques, suggesting origins on the Sunda shelf. Longtail macaques from Malaysia and Indonesia were far more genetically diverse, and those from Mauritius were far less diverse than any other population studied. Nucleotide diversity between mtDNA sequences of longtail macaques from different geographic regions is, in some cases, greater than that between Indian and Chinese rhesus macaques. Approximately equal amounts of genetic diversity are due to differences among animals in the same regional population, different regional populations, and different species. A greater proportion of genetic variance was explained by interspecies differences when Japanese and Taiwanese macaques were regarded as regional populations of rhesus macaques than when they were treated as separate species. Rhesus macaques from China were more closely related to both Taiwanese and Japanese macaques than to their own conspecifics from India.
    MeSH terms: Animals; DNA, Mitochondrial/classification; DNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry*; Geography; Haplotypes; Macaca fascicularis/genetics*; Phylogeny; Species Specificity; Genetic Variation*; Sequence Analysis, DNA
  2. General health mediates the relationship between loneliness, life satisfaction and depression. A study with Malaysian medical students
    Swami V, Chamorro-Premuzic T, Sinniah D, Maniam T, Kannan K, Stanistreet D, et al.
    Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 2007 Feb;42(2):161-6.
    PMID: 17180631
    OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between life satisfaction, loneliness, general health and depression among 172 medical students in Malaysia.

    METHOD: Participants completed a questionnaire battery, which included the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, Beck's Depression Inventory, the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Satisfaction With Life Scale.

    RESULTS: Life satisfaction was negatively and significantly correlated with suicidal attitudes, loneliness and depression; and positively with health, which was negatively and significantly correlated with depression and loneliness. Self-concept was negatively correlated with loneliness and depression, depression was positively and significantly correlated with loneliness. Mediational analyses showed that the effects of loneliness and life dissatisfaction on depression were fully mediated by health.

    CONCLUSION: Even though less satisfied, and particularly lonelier, individuals are more likely to report higher levels of depression, this is only the case because both higher loneliness and life dissatisfaction are associated with poorer health. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders in developing nations.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Depression/diagnosis; Depression/epidemiology*; Depression/psychology; Female; Health Status*; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Loneliness/psychology*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Personal Satisfaction*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Students, Medical/psychology*; Students, Medical/statistics & numerical data*
  3. The use of classroom training and simulation in the training of medical responders for airport disaster
    Idrose AM, Adnan WA, Villa GF, Abdullah AH
    Emerg Med J, 2007 Jan;24(1):7-11.
    PMID: 17183034
    There is a dire need to have complementary form of disaster training which is cost effective, relatively easy to conduct, comprehensive, effective and acceptable. This will complement field drills training. A classroom-based training and simulation module was built by combining multiple tools: Powerpoint lectures, simulations utilising the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) schematic module into 'floortop' model and video show of previous disaster drill. 76 participants made up of medical responders, categorised as Level 1 (specialists and doctors), Level 2 (paramedics), Level 3 (assistant paramedics) and Level 4 (health attendants and drivers) were trained using this module. A pre-test with validated questions on current airport disaster plans was carried out before the training. At the end of training, participants answered similar questions as post-test. Participants also answered questionnaire for assessment of training's acceptance. There was a mean rise from 47.3 (18.8%) to 84.0 (18.7%) in post-test (p<0.05). For Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 the scores were 94.8 (6.3)%, 90.1 (11)%, 80.3 (20.1)% and 65 (23.4)% respectively. Nevertheless Level 4 group gained most increase in knowledge rise from baseline pre-test score (51.4%). Feedback from the questionnaire showed that the training module was highly acceptable. A classroom-based training can be enhanced with favourable results. The use of classroom training and simulation effectively improves the knowledge of disaster plan significantly on the back of its low cost, relatively-easy to conduct, fun and holistic nature. All Levels of participants (from specialists to drivers) can be grouped together for training. Classroom training and simulation can overcome the problem of "dead-document" phenomenon or "paper-plan syndrome".
    MeSH terms: Aviation*; Computer Simulation*; Disaster Planning/methods*; Education, Medical, Continuing/methods*; Emergencies; Emergency Medical Technicians/education*; Emergency Medicine/education*; Humans; Rescue Work
  4. Determination of pesticides in water by cone-shaped membrane protected liquid phase microextraction prior to micro-liquid chromatography
    Sanagi MM, See HH, Ibrahim WA, Naim AA
    J Chromatogr A, 2007 Jun 8;1152(1-2):215-9.
    PMID: 17188283
    A new sample pre-treatment technique termed cone-shaped membrane liquid phase microextraction (CSM-LPME) was developed and combined with micro-liquid chromatography (micro-LC) for the determination of selected pesticides in water samples. Four pesticides (hexaconazole, procymidone, quinalphos and vinclozolin) were considered as target analytes. Several important extraction parameters such as types of extraction solvent, agitation rate, pH value, total exposure time and effect of salt and humic acids were optimized. Enrichment factors of > 50 folds were easily achieved within 20 min of extraction. The analytical data demonstrated relative standard deviations for the reproducibility of the optimized CSM-LPME method ranging from 6.3 to 7.5%. The correlation coefficients of the calibration curves were at least 0.9995 across a concentration range of 2-100 microg/L. The detection limits for all the analytes were found to be in the range of 1.1-1.9 microg/L.
    MeSH terms: Bicyclo Compounds/isolation & purification; Chromatography, Liquid/methods*; Humic Substances; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Microchemistry/instrumentation; Microchemistry/methods*; Organothiophosphorus Compounds/isolation & purification; Oxazoles/isolation & purification; Pesticides/analysis*; Triazoles/isolation & purification; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*; Reproducibility of Results; Uncertainty; Analytic Sample Preparation Methods/methods*
  5. Hexavalent chromium reduction by Acinetobacter haemolyticus isolated from heavy-metal contaminated wastewater
    Zakaria ZA, Zakaria Z, Surif S, Ahmad WA
    J Hazard Mater, 2007 Jul 19;146(1-2):30-8.
    PMID: 17188812
    Possible application of a locally isolated environmental isolate, Acinetobacter haemolyticus to remediate Cr(VI) contamination in water system was demonstrated. Cr(VI) reduction by A. haemolyticus seems to favour the lower concentrations (10-30 mg/L). However, incomplete Cr(VI) reduction occurred at 70-100 mg/L Cr(VI). Initial specific reduction rate increased with Cr(VI) concentrations. Cr(VI) reduction was not affected by 1 or 10 mM sodium azide (metabolic inhibitor), 10 mM of PO(4)3-, SO4(2-), SO(3)2-, NO3- or 30 mg/L of Pb(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) ions. However, heat treatment caused significant dropped in Cr(VI) reduction to less than 20% only. A. haemolyticus cells loses its shape and size after exposure to 10 and 50 mg Cr(VI)/L as revealed from TEM examination. The presence of electron-dense particles in the cytoplasmic region of the bacteria suggested deposition of chromium in the cells.
    MeSH terms: Acinetobacter/drug effects; Acinetobacter/growth & development; Acinetobacter/metabolism*; Anions/pharmacology; Carbon/pharmacology; Chromium/metabolism*; Hot Temperature; Industrial Waste; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oxidation-Reduction; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism*; Water Purification/methods; Metals, Heavy/pharmacology; Sodium Azide/pharmacology
  6. The security concern on internet banking adoption among Malaysian banking customers
    Sudha R, Thiagarajan AS, Seetharaman A
    Pak J Biol Sci, 2007 Jan 01;10(1):102-6.
    PMID: 19069993
    The existing literatures highlights that the security is the primary factor which determines the adoption of Internet banking technology. The secondary information on Internet banking development in Malaysia shows a very slow growth rate. Hence, this study aims to study the banking customers perception towards security concern and Internet banking adoption through the information collected from 150 sample respondents. The data analysis reveals that the customers have much concern about security and privacy issue in adoption of Internet banking, whether the customers are adopted Internet banking or not. Hence, it infers that to popularize Internet banking system there is a need for improvement in security and privacy issue among the banking customers.
    MeSH terms: Attitude to Computers*; Consumer Behavior; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Computer Security*; Privacy
  7. Fulltext N-(Biphenyl-4-carbon-yl)-N'-(4-chloro-phen-yl)thio-urea
    Yamin BM, Arif MA
    Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2007;64(Pt 1):o104.
    PMID: 21200669 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536807062265
    In the title compound, C(20)H(15)ClN(2)OS, the benzene rings of the biphenyl group are at an angle of 44.23 (12)°. The C(4)N(2)OS central thio-urea fragment makes dihedral angles with the benzene carbonyl and chloro-benzene rings of 55.96 (9) and 64.09 (9)°, respectively. The trans-cis geometry of the thio-urea group is stabilized by the intra-molecular hydrogen bond between the carbonyl O atom and the H atom of the cis-thio-amide. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯S and N-H⋯O inter-molecular hydrogen bonds to form one-dimensional chains along the c axis. C-H⋯π inter-actions also contribute to the stability of the mol-ecule.
  8. Fulltext N-Propionylthio-urea
    Yamin BM, Othman EA
    Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2007;64(Pt 1):o313.
    PMID: 21200875 DOI: 10.1107/S160053680706031X
    The mol-ecule of the title compound, C(4)H(8)N(2)OS, is essentially planar; it adopts a trans configuration with respect to the position of the propionyl group relative to the thiono S atom about the C-N bond. The mol-ecular structure is stabilized by an intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond between the propionyl O atom and the amide H atom. Mol-ecules are linked into a two-dimensional network parallel to the (10) plane by N-H⋯O and N-H⋯S inter-molecular hydrogen bonds.
  9. Fulltext Mirror, mirror, on the wall, will my submission say it all?
    Abdullah B, Ng Kh
    Biomed Imaging Interv J, 2007 Jan;3(1):e1.
    PMID: 21614254 DOI: 10.2349/biij.3.1.e1
  10. Fulltext Increasing the speed of medical image processing in MatLab
    Bister M, Yap C, Ng Kh, Tok Ch
    Biomed Imaging Interv J, 2007 Jan;3(1):e9.
    PMID: 21614269 DOI: 10.2349/biij.3.1.e9
    MatLab(®) has often been considered an excellent environment for fast algorithm development but is generally perceived as slow and hence not fit for routine medical image processing, where large data sets are now available e.g., high-resolution CT image sets with typically hundreds of 512x512 slices. Yet, with proper programming practices - vectorization, pre-allocation and specialization - applications in MatLab(®) can run as fast as in C language. In this article, this point is illustrated with fast implementations of bilinear interpolation, watershed segmentation and volume rendering.
  11. Fulltext Lymphatic filariasis and the global elimination program
    Noordin R
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):1-3.
    PMID: 22593644 MyJurnal
  12. Fulltext Appraisal of clinical profile and management of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma in malaysia
    Hassan S, Abdullah J, Abdullah B, Jihan Wd S, Jaafar H, Abdullah S
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):18-22.
    PMID: 22593647 MyJurnal
    Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a benign but locally invasive tumour. Patients are usually in their adolescent age and present with epistaxis and nasal blockage. Diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation and the C.T. scan findings. Pre-operative superselective embolisation (SSE) and surgical excision is the treatment of choice. The out patient clinic of ORL-HNS hospital of University Science Malaysia received 25 referrals, all male, majority between 9-13 years of age and few adolescents. Clinically the patients were consistent with symptoms of recurrent epistaxis and nasal blockage. They reported from October 1998 to October 2001 from with in the state of Kelantan and the nearby states of Pahang, Kedah and Terenganu. Diagnosis was mostly made on typical radiological findings and the tumours were classified accordingly into four stages. SSE and surgical excision was carried out in all cases. Regular follow-up helped us to identify early recurrences which were treated with salvage surgery or radiotherapy in one case with extensive intracranial extension. A retrospective review of presenting features, diagnostic difficulties, surgical approaches and its outcome is presented. Maxillary swing procedure performed in three cases as a new surgical option in the management of JNA is also discussed.
    Study site: ENT clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Embolization, Therapeutic; Epistaxis; Follow-Up Studies; Hospitals, University; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Outpatients; Radionuclide Imaging; Recurrence; Referral and Consultation; Retrospective Studies; Universities; Nasal Obstruction; Salvage Therapy; Angiofibroma
  13. Fulltext Effects of an indigenous contraceptive herbal formulation on gonadotrophs of the pituitary gland of the rat
    Islam MN, Sulaiman SA, Kapitonova MY, Jamallullail SM
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):23-7.
    PMID: 22593648
    An indigenous contraceptive herbal formulation consisting of a mixture of Lepidagathis longifolia, Palaquium sp and Phyllagathis rotundifolia is being used by the Temuan Aborigins of Malaysia. Although the previous studies demonstrated that this contraceptive herbal formulation causes anovulatory estrous cycle, altered circulating hormone levels and fetal resorption in rats, but the effects of this formulation on the gonadotrphs of the pituitary gland are yet to be evaluated. The present study was designed to observe the morphometric changes of the gonadotrophs and the plasma concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone and leutinizing hormone. Thirty five Sprague-Dawley adult female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Experimental animals were given a combined herbal extract or individual herbal extract at a dose of 540 mg/kg/day subcutaneously for 7 days. Immunostained gonadotrophs were studied by using image analyzer. FSH and LH serum concentrations were determined using RIA. The FSH and LH concentrations were low in animals that received combined herbal extract (p<0.01). FSH concentration was noted to be significantly low in animals that received P. rotundifolia (p<0.05). The mean cell area and cell density of gonadotrophs of animals that received combined herbal extract were significantly low compared to control group (p<0.05). It was concluded that the herbal extracts do suppress the production of gonaotrophins along with the demonstrable suppresive effect on the FSH cells.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Animals, Laboratory; Cell Count; Contraceptive Agents; Contraceptive Devices; Estrus; Female; Fetal Resorption; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Malaysia; Pituitary Gland; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Palaquium; Control Groups; Rats; Gonadotrophs
  14. An audit of singleton breech deliveries in a hospital with a high rate of vaginal delivery
    Nordin NM
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):28-37.
    PMID: 22593649 MyJurnal
    The term breech trial (TBT) has brought about radical changes but it is debatable whether it provides unequivocal evidence regarding the practice of breech deliveries. There is a need to publish the data of a study that was performed before the era of the TBT in a hospital where there was a high rate of breech vaginal delivery. The objectives were to ascertain the incidence, mode of delivery and fetal outcome in singleton breech deliveries. The study design was a retrospective cohort study where 165 consecutive breech and 165 controls (cephalic) were included. Statistical analysis, used were Chi squared and Fischer's exact test. P<0.05 is taken as the level of significance. The incidence of breech deliveries was found to be 3% and has remained fairly constant but the rate of breech vaginal delivery has fallen and the CS rates have increased. Even though more breech compared to controls were significantly sectioned, majority of the breeches {n=137 (83%)} were planned for vaginal delivery and in these patients two-thirds attained vaginal delivery. There was 1 fetal death in the CS group compared to 12 deaths in the vaginally delivered breech. However, most death in the breech delivered vaginally are unavoidable. In conclusion, there is a high rate of breech vaginal delivery in this series of patients and most perinatal deaths were not related to the mode of delivery.
  15. Fulltext The routine histopathological examination of tonsillectomy specimens at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia - a retrospective study and its implication
    Mohamad I, Hassan S, Salim R
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):53-5.
    PMID: 22593652
    Tonsillectomy is performed for several indications, the two commonest in practice are infective (chronic tonsillitis) and obstructive symptoms such as sleep apnea. The objective of this study is to determine the necessity of routinely performed histopathological examination of fonsillectomy specimens. In this paper, a retrospective evaluation of 480 specimens from 241 patient who had undergone tonsillectomies in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia between January 2004 and October 2005 was done. It was found that 462 (96.25 %) were reactive lymphoid hyperplasia and 18 (3.75 %) were follicular hyperplasia. None of them were found to be malignant. The result of this study indicates that routine histopathological examination of tonsillectomy specimens are unnecessary and results only in added cost and a loss of man hours.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Child; Hospitals; Hospitals, University; Humans; Tonsillectomy
  16. Prevalence of goblet cell metaplasia in endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinoma : a histochemical study
    Nieuwenhuizen L, Khalil MK, Naik VR, Othman NH
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):56-61.
    PMID: 22593653 MyJurnal
    To determine the prevalence of goblet cell metaplasia in endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinomas by histochemial staining and to investigate the most sensitive histochemical staining method to detect this metaplasia, a total of 90 tissue blocks representing 30 non-neoplastic cervix, 30 non-neoplastic endometrium, 30 endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinoma cases were obtained for histochemical staining with Toluidine Blue (TB), Methylene Blue (MB), Mucicarmine (MUC), Periodic Acid Schiff before and after Diastase digestion (PAS, PAS-D), Alcian Blue pH 2.5 (AB), and Periodic Acid Schiff after Alcian Blue pH 2.5 (PAB). The cases were blinded and evaluated by a pathologist [NHO] for the presence of goblet cell metaplasia, the amount of goblet cells present and the histochemical differentiation of the goblet cells compared with its surrounding glandular epithelium. Goblet cell metaplasia was present in 2 out of 30 cases in non-neoplastic cervix, 0 out of 30 cases in non-neoplastic endometrium, 7 out of 15 cases in endocervical adenocarcinoma and in 2 out of 15 cases in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Relatively few goblet cells were seen in endometrial adenocarcinoma, few to moderate amounts were seen in endocervical adenocarcinoma and relatively more goblet cells were seen in non-neoplastic cervix. The differentiation of the goblet cells with its surrounding glandular epithelium was moderate to strong in non-neoplastic cervix and endocervical adenocarcinoma, while the differentiation in endometrial adenocarcinoma was weak to moderate. The various staining methods showed differences in presence, amount and differentiation of the goblet cells. Goblet cell metaplasia of the reproductive organs is not as rare as previously reported. There was no statistical difference in presence, amount and differentiation of goblet cells according to the various cases. The must optimum staining methods for staining goblet cells in non-neoplastic cervix, endocervical adenocarcinoma and endometrial adenocarcinoma were PAS, PASD and AB.
  17. Fulltext Acute renal failure and hepatitis: a rare manifestation of typhoid Fever - a case report
    Sulaiman W, Gunavathy M, Othman M
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):65-6.
    PMID: 22593655 MyJurnal
    Hepatitis complicating typhoid fever has been previously reported widely. Occurrence of acute renal failure and hepatitis together is exremenly rare. A case report of complicated acute renal failure and hepatitis in a tyhoid patient is reported and discussed.
    MeSH terms: Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Humans; Typhoid Fever; Acute Kidney Injury
  18. Fulltext Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) Presenting with Bilateral Optic Neuritis
    Sapuan S, Basri H
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):71-4.
    PMID: 22593657 MyJurnal
    A 43-year old lady presented with progressive loss of vision in both eyes followed by rapid deterioration of consciousness within the next few days. This was preceded by a viral infection one week before her presentation. At presentation she had evidence of meningism and signs of bilateral upper motor neuron lesions and was managed initially as acute meningoencephalitis with antibiotics. The brain CT was within normal limits but subsequent MRI of the brain revealed multiple foci of hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted and FLAIR images. The cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed lymphocytosis, and normal protein and glucose levels. Cultures of the CSF were negative. She was managed as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) with high-dose of intravenous methlyprednisolone one gram/day for three consecutive days followed by oral prednisolone 60 mg/day. Despite the management she lapsed into coma and succumbed to her illness nine days after admission.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Brain; Coma; Consciousness; Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated; Female; Glucose; Lymphocytosis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Meningism; Meningoencephalitis; Motor Neurons; Prednisolone; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  19. Fulltext Ancient schwannoma of the cervical sympathetic chain : a case report
    Athar PP, Norhan NA, Abdul Rahman MS
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):75-8.
    PMID: 22593658 MyJurnal
    Schwannoma of the cervical sympathetic chain is an extremely rare nerve tumour. We report an unusual swelling in a 41-year-old female who presented with an asymptomatic solitary mass in the right parapharyngeal space. Clinical examination and computed tomography showed displaced carotid artery in an antero-medial direction. Surgical excision of the lesion was carried out and histological examination revealed an Ancient Schwannoma.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Carotid Arteries; Female; Malaysia/ethnology; Neurilemmoma; Neuroma; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  20. Post-impact disaster surveillance - a medical reconnaissance team at tsunami-struck sri lanka
    Mohamad N, Abu Bakar NH, Mohamed NA, Baharudin KA, Noh AY, Ahmad R, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jan;14(1):79-83.
    PMID: 22593659 MyJurnal
    Emergency Medicine and Disaster Medicine are two specialties which are similar in the multidisciplinary involvement during the acute phase of the disaster. Recently, there was an increase in the number of disasters in the world but not many physicians are familiar with the principles for dealing with such situations, the unique organizational demands, coordination and the urgent need for medical assistance and relief. This case report delineates our experiences at a tsunami disaster area and the approach to setting up a medical relief team in the affected area. A medical reconnaissance team comprising of an emergency doctor from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (H.U.S.M) and two MERCY Malaysia members was assembled. The team flew to Colombo on day 5 after the tsunami with medical supplies and related materials. The mission started from December 31(st) 2004 until January 8(th) 2005. Our surveillance area covered the Southern and Eastern Province with a total distance of 1700 km along the coast. The strategies employed during this medical reconnaissance included risk analysis, devising a resources matrix, developing lines of communication and rapport with other relief teams, Sri Lankan government agencies, and local and international non-government organizations. As a result, our team was able to set up a medical relief camp and distribute the relief items to the tsunami victims. In conclusion, the Disaster Emergency Medical Assistant Team (DEMAT) from H.U.S.M and MERCY Malaysia were able to set up and provide medical relief with our limited resources to a large scale disaster situation.
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