The RSNA International Visiting Professor program gave us an opportunity to live in a different and exciting country for 6 months. We had adequate travel opportunities to visit in Southeast Asia. Most of all, the feeling of appreciation and accomplishment we received from the master students as exemplified by their concern for us made our adventure extremely rewarding. For example, on the day of departure about half the class came to the airport to bid us farewell. This gesture, as well as several farewell parties in our honor, was certainly very gratifying. I enthusiastically recommend the opportunity afforded by the RSNA Visiting Professor program, and, specifically, I am enthusiastic about the program at Universiti Malaya.
The public especially in West Malaysia are becoming more aware of their rights and litigations are on the increase. Fortunately in East Malaysia there are fewer cases. The legal aspects of anaesthesia practice are very much on the lines of British system. Here the cause for compensation or legal action depends on the proof of negligence. Currently in West Malaysia all anaesthetics are being given by medical practitioners. In East Malaysia the anaesthetics are being given mainly by Medical Assistant's who have been trained for about six months to give anaesthesia in all government hospitals. There are guidelines on minimum standard of safety for patients undergoing general anaesthesia, though this is not as elaborate as those in Western countries.
Liopeltis is a genus of poorly known, infrequently sampled species of colubrid snakes in tropical Asia. We collected a specimen of Liopeltis from Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia, that superficially resembled L. philippina, a rare species that is endemic to the Palawan Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex, western Philippines. We analyzed morphological and mitochondrial DNA sequence data from the Pulau Tioman specimen and found distinct differences to L. philippina and all other congeners. On the basis of these corroborated lines of evidence, the Pulau Tioman specimen is described as a new species, L. tiomanica sp. nov. The new species occurs in sympatry with L. tricolor on Pulau Tioman, and our description of L. tiomanica sp. nov. brings the number of endemic amphibians and reptiles on Pulau Tioman to 12.
The genus Telostholus Haupt, 1929 is newly reported from Malaysia, with four species that are newly described and illustrated: T. bifasciatus Loktionov, sp. nov. (Pahang), T. clypeatus Loktionov, sp. nov. (Pahang), T. malayensis Loktionov, sp. nov. (Pahang), and T. tomentosus Loktionov, sp. nov. (Pahang). A key to the Malaysian species is given.
Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) is the most significant waste generated from the agricultural industry in Malaysia. Composting is one of the potential approaches to utilize EFB. However, composting of EFB is a time-consuming process, thus impractical for industrial application. The composting process can be shortened by introducing competent fungi into an optimal EFB composting system. This study was conducted to isolate and identify competent fungi that can naturally compost EFB. Samplings were carried out at eight different time points over a 20-weeks experimental period. The physical properties of EFB samples such as pH, residual oil content, and moisture content were measured and the EFB composting process that was indicated by the contents of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin were assessed. The fungal growth, distribution, and lignocellulolytic enzyme activities were evaluated. The results indicated that the changes in physical properties of EFB were correlated to the fungal growth. The gradual reduction in moisture content and residual oil, and the increment in pH values in EFB samples throughout the experimental period resulted in reduced fungal growth and diversity. Such phenomenon delayed EFB composting process as revealed by the changes in EFB lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose contents. The most dominant and resilient fungi (Lichtheimia ramosa and Neurospora crassa) survived up to 16 weeks and were capable of producing various lignocellulolytic enzymes. Further understanding of these factors that would contribute to effective EFB composting could be useful for future industrial applications.
The genus Eleazara Distant is reported from Malaysia for the first time based on one new species, E. viraktamathi sp. nov. This new species is described and illustrated. A checklist and key to the known species of Eleazara are provided.
The first case of COVID-19 in Malaysia was detected on 24 January 2020.1 As of 10 September 2020, when this editorial article is written, the total cases have increased to 9,628 cases, with active cases of 333 are being isolated and undergoing treatment, while 9,167 cases achieved recovery.2 The number of deaths in Malaysia due to COVID-19 is 128 people. Within the past few months, there has been increased in the number of clusters of infection in some states including Sabah. The number of cases in Sabah is currently at 592 cases.
Cheleionwatanabeisp. n. is described from Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia and represents the third species of the genus Cheleion Vårdal & Forshage, 2010 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Aphodiinae, Stereomerini). A description of the previously unknown male of C.jendeki Král & Hájek, 2015, and a key to the species of the genus Cheleion are also provided.
Epistaxis is a common clinical condition and perhaps the most common ENT cause for emergency hospital admission. Commonly epistaxis originates from the anterior septum and is easily controlled with caurterization and packing. Posterior epistaxis is less common, but more difficult to treat. It usually occurs in the elderly and is frequently associated with hypertension, artherosclerosis and conditions that decrease platelets and clotting function. In the elderly and hypertensive patient the source of bleeding is likely from the sphenopalatine area in lateral posterior nasal wall. Intractable posterior epistaxis that persists despite repeated use of nasal packing has been treated in many different ways. Conventional methods of arterial ligation in intractable epistaxis often involve surgical morbidity as well as failure due to arterial anastomosis. Embolization is most effective in hands of an experience radiologist, in patients with epistaxis refractory to arterial ligation, bleeding site difficult to reach surgically or epistaxis due to general bleeding disorder. Endoscopic ligation or clipping of sphenopalatine artery is a relatively simple and effective procedure for control of intractable posterior epistaxis.