Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 83 in total

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  1. Gene symbol: APC. Disease: colorectal cancer
    Tan LP, Ng BK, Balraj P, Poh BH, Lim PK, Peh SC
    Hum Genet, 2005 Dec;118(3-4):539-40.
    PMID: 16521263
  2. Fulltext Quantitative analysis of the expression of p53 gene in colorectal carcinoma by using real-time PCR
    Bong I, Lim P, Balraj P, Sim Ui Hang E, Zakaria Z
    Trop Biomed, 2006 Jun;23(1):53-9.
    PMID: 17041552 MyJurnal
    Colorectal carcinoma ranks third among ten leading causes of cancer in Malaysia. The colorectal carcinoma tumourigenesis involves the inactivation of tumour suppressor genes, and activation of proto-oncogenes. The p53 is one of the tumour suppressor genes that is involved in the colorectal carcinogenesis. The p53 gene is located on human chromosome 17p13.1 and comprises of 11 exons. Deficiencies in the p53 gene can cause the cancerous cells to spread to distant organs such as liver, lungs, lymph nodes, spine and bone. The most common p53 abnormalities that can lead to the metastasis of colorectal tumours are mutation and deregulation of the gene. In this study, nine colorectal carcinoma samples were used to establish a simple and sensitive strategy in the study on in vivo p53 expression by using realtime LightCycler SYBR Green I technology.
  3. Initiators and Barriers to Discussion and Treatment of Premature Ejaculation Among Men and Their Partners in Asia Pacific - Results From a Web-based Survey
    Lee G, McMahon CG, McCabe M, Jiang H, Lee SW, Lim P, et al.
    Sex Med, 2016 Aug 12.
    PMID: 27528556 DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2016.07.002
    Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most prevalent yet under-reported sexual disorders. Differing sociocultural norms across the Asia-Pacific region provide unique challenges in PE management.
  4. Red cell metabolism and severe neonatal jaundice in West Malaysia
    Lie-Injo LE, Virik HK, Lim PW, Lie AK, Ganesan J
    Acta Haematol., 1977;58(3):152-60.
    PMID: 409030 DOI: 10.1159/000207822
    A study was carried out of 332 babies suffering from severe neonatal jaundice who were admitted to the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia. Of the 332 neonates, 51 were premature and 281 were full-term babies, 178 (110 Chinese, 58 Malay, 9 Indian and 1 European-Pakistani) had bilirubin levels of 20 mg% or higher, requiring exchange blood transfusion. Of the Chinese neonates, 23 (20.9%) had G6PD deficiency, 9 (8.2%) had Hb Bart's and 2 (1.8%) had an abnormal haemoglobin, one Hb Q and one fetal variant. Among the Malay infants, 10 (17.2%) had G6PD deficiency, 7 (12.1%) had Hb Bart's and 10 (17.2%) had abnormal haemoglobins (four had Hb E trait, one had Hb K and Bart's in addition to Hb E, three had Hb CoSp with Hb Bart's, one had Hb Q and one Hb Tak). One of the nine Indian neonates had G6PD deficiency and one had Hb S trait. The one European-Pakistani baby was a carrier of Hb D Punjab. In addition to G6PD deficiency, abnormal haemoglobins seem to have contributed to the high incidence of severe neonatal jaundice in Malaysia. The mean activities of GP, GR and GR after stimulation with FAD were higher, while the mean activity of PK and mean level of reduced glutathione were lower than in normal cord bloods. The percent increase of GR after FAD stimulation was significantly lower; fewer in this group had increases above 20% than in normal cord blood. The possible significance of the findings is discussed.
  5. Low-dissolved-oxygen nitrification in tropical sewage: an investigation on potential, performance and functional microbial community
    How SW, Lim SY, Lim PB, Aris AM, Ngoh GC, Curtis TP, et al.
    Water Sci Technol, 2018 May;77(9-10):2274-2283.
    PMID: 29757179 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2018.143
    Intensive aeration for nitrification is a major energy consumer in sewage treatment plants (STPs). Low-dissolved-oxygen (low-DO) nitrification has the potential to lower the aeration demand. However, the applicability of low-DO nitrification in the tropical climate is not well-understood. In this study, the potential of low-DO nitrification in tropical setting was first examined using batch kinetic experiments. Subsequently, the performance of low-DO nitrification was investigated in a laboratory-scale sequential batch reactor (SBR) for 42 days using real tropical sewage. The batch kinetic experiments showed that the seed sludge has a relatively high oxygen affinity. Thus, the rate of nitrification was not significantly reduced at low DO concentrations (0.5 mg/L). During the operation of the low-DO nitrification SBR, 90% of NH4-N was removed. The active low-DO nitrification was mainly attributed to the limited biodegradable organics in the sewage. Fluorescence in-situ hybridisation and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed the nitrifiers were related to Nitrospira genus and Nitrosomonadaceae family. Phylogenetic analysis suggests 47% of the operational taxonomic units in Nitrospira genus are closely related to a comammox bacteria. This study has demonstrated active low-DO nitrification in tropical setting, which is a more sustainable process that could significantly reduce the energy footprint of STPs.
  6. Fulltext Acupuncture and herbal formulation compared with artificial tears alone: evaluation of dry eye symptoms and associated tests in randomised clinical trial
    Tong L, Htoon HM, Hou A, Acharya RU, Tan JH, Wei QP, et al.
    BMJ Open Ophthalmol, 2018;3(1):e000150.
    PMID: 30123846 DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2018-000150
    Objective: Dry eye is a common disease with great health burden and no satisfactory treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine, an increasingly popular form of complementary medicine, has been used to treat dry eye but studies have been inconclusive. To address this issue, we conducted a randomised investigator-masked study which included the robust assessment of disease mechanisms.

    Methods and analysis: Eligible participants (total 150) were treated with artificial tear (AT) alone, with added eight sessions of acupuncture (AC) or additional daily oral herb (HB) over a month.

    Results: Participants treated with AC were more likely to respond symptomatically than those on AT (88% vs 72%, p=0.039) with a difference of 16% (95% CI: 0.18 to 31.1). The number-to-treat with AC to achieve response in one person was 7 (3 to 157). Participants in the AC group also had reduced conjunctival redness (automatic grading with Oculus keratograph) compared with AT (p=0.043) and reduced tear T helper cell (Th1)-cytokine tumour necrosis factor α (p=0.027) and Th2-cytokine interleukin 4 concentrations (p=0.038). AC was not significantly superior to AT in other outcomes such as tear osmolarity, tear evaporation rates, corneal staining and tear break-up times. No significant adverse effects were encountered. HB was not significantly different in the primary outcome from AT (80% vs 72%, p=0.26).

    Conclusions: AC is safe and provides additional benefit in mild to moderate dry eye up to 1 month, compared with ATs alone. Treatment is associated with demonstrable molecular evidence of reduced inflammation. Provided that suitably qualified practitioners are available to implement standardised treatment, AC may be recommended as adjunctive therapy to AT.

    Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02219204)registered on 14 August 2014.
  7. Area of hock hair loss in dairy cows: risk factors and correlation with a categorical scale
    Lim PY, Huxley JN, Green MJ, Othman AR, Potterton SL, Brignell CJ, et al.
    Vet J, 2015 Feb;203(2):205-10.
    PMID: 25577022 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.11.005
    Data from 3691 dairy cows from 76 farms were used to investigate the risk factors associated with the area of hair loss over the lateral aspect of the hock and the correlation between the area of hair loss (as calculated using a hock map) and hock lesion scores determined using a pre-existing categorical scale. Six factors were associated with a greater area of hair loss, including cows with locomotion score 3, a cleanliness score (10/28 to 18/28), high daily milk yield (25.1-58.1 kg), poor body condition score (1-1.5), duration of winter housing (≥41 days) and some combinations of cubicle base and bedding materials. Compared with cows housed in cubicles with a concrete base and whole straw or rape straw bedding, cows housed in cubicles with concrete bases with sand or chopped straw bedding had smaller areas of hair loss and cows housed on a mattress base with whole straw or rape straw bedding had larger areas of hair loss. Area of hair loss, as measured on hock maps, was not significantly different between cows with score 1 (median 23.6 cm(2)) and score 2 (median 20.3 cm(2)) on the categorical scale for hock lesions. This suggests that the categorical scale was not reflecting the extent of hair loss and that hock maps are a good alternative for studying the dynamics of hock lesions over time.
  8. Factors associated with the spatial accessibility of healthcare services measured by the floating catchment area (FCA)-based method: A scoping review
    Ab Hamid J, Juni MH, Rosliza AM, Syed Ismail SN, Lim PY
    Med J Malaysia, 2023 Jan;78(1):109-117.
    PMID: 36715200
    INTRODUCTION: The floating catchment area (FCA) method has emerged as the most comprehensive and accurate method for quantifying the spatial accessibility of health care services. There were variants of the FCA-based method that was continuously improvised by the researchers to suit specific local contexts and the different nature of healthcare service delivery. This scoping review identifies factors associated with the spatial accessibility of healthcare services that were specifically measured using the FCAbased method.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This scoping review was performed through electronic databases (PubMed and ScienceDirect) using keywords: 'spatial accessibility', 'floating catchment area' and 'factors'. Google Scholar and Mendeley Network were also used as additional sources to obtain relevant studies.

    RESULTS: A total of 32 articles were included in this review. Factors identified can be distinguished into two broad categories, which are spatial and non-spatial factors. Spatial factors were remoteness or distance from the urban centre, areas in close proximity to main roads, and some specific geographical characteristics such as mountainous and deltaic regions, whereas non-spatial factors were the degree of urbanisation, population density and various demographic profiles of the population such as socioeconomic status, health need, and minority ethnic composition.

    CONCLUSION: This study adds to the body of literature pertinent to the factors associated with spatial accessibility to healthcare services. These findings could give insight for researchers to consider and incorporate those additional variables to further improve the FCA-based method calculations.

  9. Fulltext The occurrence of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) point mutation (SER-108-->ASN-108) in Malaysian isolates of Plasmodium falciparum
    Lim PK, Tan SK, Khoo AS, Noor Rain A, Nagappan S, Mak JW
    Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1998 Mar;29(1):27-30.
    PMID: 9740263
  10. Diffusion-in-gel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA and IFA test in the detection of malarial antibodies
    Kumar GS, Mak JW, Lam PL, Tan MA, Lim PK
    Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1987 Dec;18(4):502-6.
    PMID: 3129797
    Malarial antibodies in 80 patients were measured using the diffusion-in-gel enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DIG-ELISA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. Good correlations were obtained between all three tests in terms of sensitivity and reliability. DIG-ELISA has the advantage of being a rapid diagnostic tool for the detection of malarial antibodies.
  11. Fulltext Epidemiology and control of malaria in Malaysia
    Mak JW, Jegathesan M, Lim PK, Hakim SL, Rain AN, Ambu S, et al.
    Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1992 Dec;23(4):572-7.
    PMID: 1298064
    In spite of more than 30 years of control activities, malaria continues to be the most important parasitic infection in Malaysia, accounting for 39,189 confirmed cases in 1991, giving an annual parasite incidence rate of 2.2 per 1,000 population. Some factors contributing to the continued transmission of malaria are the development of drug resistant Plasmodium falciparum, changes in vector behavior, and ecological changes due to socio-economic reasons. Malaria parasite rates are higher among the Aborigines, land scheme settlers and those in intimate contact with the jungle, like loggers. There has been no substantial change in the proportion of the three common malaria species responsible for infections, P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and mixed infections accounting for about 70%, 28%, 1% and 1%, respectively of all infections. Drug resistant P. falciparum is unevenly distributed in Malaysia, but based on clinical experience and in vitro drug sensitivity studies, chloroquine resistance is frequently encountered. There has been clinical and laboratory evidence of resistance to sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine combination as well as quinine, but all these have so far been successfully treated with a combination of quinine and tetracycline. The eradication of the disease is impossible in the near future but there is confidence that with better surveillance techniques and the use of alternative control measures like permethrin impregnated bed-nets to complement existing ones, the target of bringing down the annual parasite incidence to 2 per 1,000 population during the Sixth Malaysian Plan period (1991-1995) can be achieved.
  12. Outcome of molar pregnancies in Malaysia: a tertiary centre experience
    Nirmala CK, Nor Azlin MI, Harry SR, Lim PS, Shafiee MN, Nur Azurah AG, et al.
    J Obstet Gynaecol, 2013 Feb;33(2):191-3.
    PMID: 23445147 DOI: 10.3109/01443615.2012.741150
    Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a common problem among Asian ethnics. A total of 102 women with molar pregnancies between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2010, were analysed. The aim of the study was to determine the outcome of all molar pregnancies in our institution. The local incidence of molar pregnancy was 2.6 per 1,000 deliveries. A total of 48 women (47.1%) had complete hydatidiform mole and another 54 (52.9%) had partial mole. The mean age of the women with molar pregnancies was 32.0 ± 7.9 years. The mean gestational age at initial diagnosis was 11 weeks ± 3 days. The majority (97 women, 95.1%) had symptoms of vaginal bleeding and 18 (17.6%) women had a uterus larger than dates. A total of 48 (47.1%) women had ultrasound scan findings of 'snow-storm' appearance. None of the women with uncomplicated molar pregnancy had evidence of relapse following one undetectable serum β-hCG level. Four out of the 102 women (3.9%) developed persistent trophoblastic disease before attaining one undetectable serum β-hCG level. All four women required single agent methotrexate and they remained in remission. The prognosis for uncomplicated molar pregnancy is good. Establishment of a National Trophoblastic Centre is recommended to maintain optimal outcome.
  13. Bone health in urban midlife Malaysian women: risk factors and prevention
    Lim PS, Ong FB, Adeeb N, Seri SS, Noor-Aini MY, Shamsuddin K, et al.
    Osteoporos Int, 2005 Dec;16(12):2069-79.
    PMID: 16234999 DOI: 10.1007/s00198-005-2003-4
    The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with osteoporosis in urban midlife Malaysian women and to assess the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention in bone loss prevention with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a positive control. A total of 514 disease-free, uterus-intact, non-HRT-using women aged 45 years and older were recruited into the study. After initial bone mineral density (BMD) assessments, they were randomized into three groups: GI (control), G2 (lifestyle intervention), and G3 (lifestyle intervention with HRT). The study group was composed of 67.5% Chinese, 27.8% Malay, and 4.2% Indians with a mean age of 51.07+/-5.28 years. Two-fifths were postmenopausal, and the prevalence of osteoporosis was 24.1%, seen predominantly at the hip. Postmenopausal women had significantly lower mean BMD and a higher incidence of osteoporosis compared with the premenopausal women, 42.1% vs. 11.1% (p<0.0005). A lower incidence of osteoporosis was found in women who took calcium supplementation regularly as opposed to those who do not, 18.7% vs. 29.3% (p=0.036). Age and a greater postmenopausal duration showed a significant negative association with BMD, whereas higher family income, weight, body mass index, and waist and hip circumference were positively correlated. After 18-20 months, the effect of intervention was assessed based on BMD values of 279 women at baseline and after intervention. Lifestyle intervention alone was effective in premenopausal women, preventing over 90% of spinal bone loss compared with the controls, who lost 11.6% (0.046 g/cm2) bone mass with similar losses of hip bone, 2.0% (0.026 g/cm2) vs. 1.5% (0.020 g/cm2). Premenopausal women on HRT also showed a substantial decrease in spine and hip BMD, 18.6% (0.081 g/cm2) and 9.0% (0.122 g/cm2), respectively. The lifestyle intervention program retarded postmenopausal bone loss by 21% and 37% compared with controls, who lost 9.6% (0.141 g/cm2) and 6.0% (0.138 g/cm2) bone mass at the spine and hip. In comparison, lifestyle intervention with HRT increased postmenopausal BMD by 12.7% (0.216 g/cm2) at the spine and 1.9% (0.042 g/cm2) at the hip. The changes in hip BMD were influenced by current age, ethnicity, and income, while intervention had the strongest effect on spine BMD changes. In conclusion, lifestyle intervention prevented spinal bone loss in premenopausal women and retarded postmenopausal spine and hip bone loss compared with controls. The benefits of physical activity on spine and hip BMD highlight its potential as a safe and cost-effective alternative to HRT, which is not advocated because of its potential adverse effects.
  14. Clinical safety profile of sildenafil in Singaporean men with erectile dysfunction: pre-marketing experience (ASSESS-I evaluation)
    Lim PH, Ng FC, Cheng CW, Wong MY, Chee CT, Moorthy P, et al.
    J Int Med Res, 2002 Mar-Apr;30(2):137-43.
    PMID: 12025521 DOI: 10.1177/147323000203000206
    Safety and tolerability of sildenafil citrate was assessed in a population subset of 60 Singaporean men with erectile dysfunction taken from the Asian Sildenafil Efficacy and Safety Study (ASSESS-I), a double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose study. The men, from two centres, with > or = 6 months' history of erectile dysfunction, were randomized to two treatment arms for 12 weeks. One group (30 patients) received sildenafil (initial dose 50 mg taken 1 h before sexual activity for the first 2 weeks, increased to 100 mg or decreased to 25 mg, according to efficacy and/or tolerability). The remaining 30 patients received a matching placebo. Incidence and type of adverse effects were evaluated at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Nine patients (30.0%) on sildenafil (33.1% in the full ASSESS-I study) and one patient (3.3%) on placebo (22.8% in the full ASSESS-I study) experienced treatment-related adverse events, the most frequent being headache in the sildenafil group (reported by five patients [16.7%]; 11.0% in the full ASSESS-I study). Flushing, visual disturbance, dizziness, insomnia, myalgia and back pain each occurred in one patient in the sildenafil group (3.3%); in the placebo group, one patient (3.3%) had headache. Importantly, the incidence of cardiovascular and respiratory system adverse events were relatively less than in the full ASSESS-I population (cardiovascular 3.3% in the present study versus 10.2% in the full ASSESS-I population; respiratory 3.3% versus 5.5%). All adverse events were transient and mild, and did not lead to treatment withdrawal. There was no effect on sitting blood pressure, heart rate or standard laboratory parameters; more importantly, there was no incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke or priapism. These results should reassure Singaporean patients and their physicians of the safety of sildenafil for erectile dysfunction.
  15. Combined team management of diabetes mellitus in pregnancy
    Ng CS, Lim LS, Chng KP, Lim P, Cheah JS, Yeo PP, et al.
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1985 Apr;14(2):297-302.
    PMID: 4037689
    225 women with diabetes in pregnancy were managed by a team of obstetricians, physicians (endocrinologists) and paediatricians from the National University of Singapore. A protocol of management was formulated and followed. The incidence of 1.1% or 1 in 90 pregnancies was found, with significantly higher incidence in Indians and lower in Malays. There were 37 established diabetics and 188 diagnosed during pregnancy. Of these (188), 74 were gestational diabetics. All the women were treated with Insulin and Diet or Diet alone. 177 (79%) were treated with Insulin and Diet. Blood sugar profiles were done for monitoring diabetic control. 72.8% of the women were between para 0 and 1 and 85.2% between the ages of 20 and 34. 72.5% of the women delivered at 38 weeks gestation or later. 48.9% went into spontaneous labour, 32.4% were induced and 18.7% had elective caesarean section. 62.2% of the women had labour of less than 12 hours. The overall caesarean section rate was 41.7%. There were 3 stillbirths and 2 neonatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate was 2.2%. Thirteen babies had congenital malformations (5.8%). 77.8% of the babies had Apgar score of 7 or more at 5 minutes after delivery. 79.1% of the babies weighed between 2.5 kgm and 3.9 kgm. Pre-eclamptic toxaemia was the commonest complication in pregnancy followed by Urinary Tract Infection and Polyhydramnios. Postpartum complications in the mother were confined to 14 women (6.2%), and wound infection or breakdown was the commonest cause.
  16. The effect of diethylcarbamazine citrate on incidence and recovery rates of Brugia malayi microfilaremia in Sabah, Malaysia
    Hiil JL, Kan SK, Parmar SS, Chan MK, Mak JW, Lim PK, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1988 May;38(3):582-8.
    PMID: 3275137
    Mass drug administration via 3 modes of delivery reduced the incidence and prevalence rates and intensity of Brugia malayi infection in 3 rural villages in the Bengkoka Peninsula, Sabah, in 1982-1983. A dosage of 6 mg diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC-C)/kg body weight was administered either daily or weekly (total of 6 doses, 36 mg/kg body weight), and impact on B. malayi cases were comparable in the 3 villages. A total of 384 people participated in the DEC-C regimens, and all pregnant women and children under 2 years were excluded from the study. Bekessy's method of estimation of incidence and recovery rates was applied to data on B. malayi microfilaremia before drug administration. Treatment with DEC-C by any of the 3 modes of delivery drastically reduced the number of episodes of patent microfilaremia, incidence and prevalence, and median microfilarial density. Reduction was sustained for at least 18 to 24 months after treatment.
  17. Fulltext Cardiovascular diseases in Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore. II. Differences in risk factor levels
    Hughes K, Yeo PP, Lun KC, Thai AC, Sothy SP, Wang KW, et al.
    J Epidemiol Community Health, 1990 Mar;44(1):29-35.
    PMID: 2348145 DOI: 10.1136/jech.44.1.29
    STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine cardiovascular risk factors to see how these might explain differences in cardiovascular disease mortality among Chinese, Malays, and Indians in the Republic of Singapore.
    DESIGN: The study was a population based cross sectional survey. Stratified systematic sampling of census districts, reticulated units, and houses was used. The proportions of Malay and Indian households were increased to improve statistical efficiency, since about 75% of the population is Chinese.
    SETTING: Subjects were recruited from all parts of the Republic of Singapore.
    SUBJECTS: 2143 subjects aged 18 to 69 years were recruited (representing 60.3% of persons approached). There were no differences in response rate between the sexes and ethnic groups.
    MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data on cardiovascular risk factors were collected by questionnaire. Measurements were made of blood pressure, serum cholesterol, low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting triglycerides and plasma glucose. In males the age adjusted cigarette smoking rate was higher in Malays (53.3%) than in Chinese (37.4%) or Indians (44.5%). In both sexes, Malays had higher age adjusted mean systolic blood pressure: males 124.6 mm Hg v 121.2 mm Hg (Chinese) and 121.2 mm Hg (Indians); females 122.8 mm Hg v 117.3 mm Hg (Chinese) and 118.4 mm Hg (Indians). Serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride showed no ethnic differences. Mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol in males (age adjusted) was lower in Indians (0.69 mmol/litre) than in Chinese (0.87 mmol/litre) and Malays (0.82 mmol/litre); in females the mean value of 0.95 mmol/litre in Indians was lower than in Chinese (1.05 mmol/litre) and Malays (1.03 mmol/litre). Rank prevalence of diabetes for males was Indians (highest), Malays and then Chinese; for females it was Malays, Indians, Chinese.
    CONCLUSIONS: The higher mortality from ischaemic heart disease found in Indians in Singapore cannot be explained by the major risk factors of cigarette smoking, blood pressure and serum cholesterol; lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher rates of diabetes may be part of the explanation. The higher systolic blood pressures in Malays may explain their higher hypertensive disease mortality.
  18. Parasites in soil samples from Signy island, Antarctica
    Lim PKC, Lee XC, Mohd Nazmi NMA, Tang YY, Wong SF, Mak JW, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):1007-1016.
    PMID: 33601848
    Studies on parasite populations in Antarctic soils are scarce and thus little is known about the threat of these parasites towards either the natural fauna or human visitors. However, human presence in Antarctica, mainly through research and tourism, keeps increasing over time, potentially exposing visitors to zoonotic infections from Antarctic wildlife and environment. Most available literature to date has focused on faecal samples from Antarctic vertebrates. Therefore, this study addressed the possible presence of parasites in Antarctic soil that may be infectious to humans. Soil samples were obtained from five locations on Signy Island (South Orkney Islands, maritime Antarctic), namely North Point and Gourlay Peninsula (penguin rookeries), Pumphouse (relic coal-powered pump house), Jane Col (barren high altitude fellfield) and Berntsen Point (low altitude vegetated fellfield close to current research station). Approximately 10% of the soil samples (14/135) from 3 out of the 5 study sites had parasites which included Diphyllobotridae spp. eggs, Cryptosporidium sp., an apicomplexan protozoa (gregarine), Toxoplasma gondii, helminths (a cestode, Tetrabothrius sp., and a nematode larva) and mites. The presence of parasites in the 3 sites are most likely due to the presence of animal and human activities as two of these sites are penguin rookeries (North Point and Gourlay Peninsula) while the third site (Pumphouse Lake) has human activity. While some of the parasite species found in the soil samples appear to be distinctive, there were also parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma gondii that have a global distribution and are potentially pathogenic.
  19. Mitochondrial DNA analyses reveal low genetic diversity in Culex quinquefasciatus from residential areas in Malaysia
    Low VL, Lim PE, Chen CD, Lim YA, Tan TK, Norma-Rashid Y, et al.
    Med Vet Entomol, 2014 Jun;28(2):157-68.
    PMID: 23848279 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12022
    The present study explored the intraspecific genetic diversity, dispersal patterns and phylogeographic relationships of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) in Malaysia using reference data available in GenBank in order to reveal this species' phylogenetic relationships. A statistical parsimony network of 70 taxa aligned as 624 characters of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and 685 characters of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) gene revealed three haplotypes (A1-A3) and four haplotypes (B1-B4), respectively. The concatenated sequences of both COI and COII genes with a total of 1309 characters revealed seven haplotypes (AB1-AB7). Analysis using tcs indicated that haplotype AB1 was the common ancestor and the most widespread haplotype in Malaysia. The genetic distance based on concatenated sequences of both COI and COII genes ranged from 0.00076 to 0.00229. Sequence alignment of Cx. quinquefasciatus from Malaysia and other countries revealed four haplotypes (AA1-AA4) by the COI gene and nine haplotypes (BB1-BB9) by the COII gene. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that Malaysian Cx. quinquefasciatus share the same genetic lineage as East African and Asian Cx. quinquefasciatus. This study has inferred the genetic lineages, dispersal patterns and hypothetical ancestral genotypes of Cx. quinquefasciatus.
  20. The mycological and molecular study of Hortaea werneckii isolated from blood and splenic abscess
    Ng KP, Soo-Hoo TS, Na SL, Tay ST, Hamimah H, Lim PC, et al.
    Mycopathologia, 2005 Jun;159(4):495-500.
    PMID: 15983734
    Hortaea werneckii is an environmental dematiaceous fungus found in the halophilic environment. It causes tinea nigra. We report the isolation of H. werneckii from blood and splenic abscess of two patients with acute myelomonocytic leukaemia. H. werneckii grew at room temperature but not at 37 degrees C, it was identified by biochemical tests, growth characteristics and the presence of conspicuous collarette intercalary on dividing yeast cells. The use of specific oligonucleotide primer Hor-F (5'-TGGACACCTTCA TAACTCTTG-3') and Hor-R (5'-TCACAACGCTTAGAGACGG-3') confirmed the two isolates were H. werneckii. The sequence for 281 nucleotide of HW299 and HW403 were 99% identical but differed only in one nucleotide. In vitro anti-fungal susceptibility testing showed that the isolates were resistant to amphotericin B and flucytosine.
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