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Preliminary findings on lifetime trauma prevalence and PTSD symptoms among adolescents in Sarawak Malaysia

Ghazali SR, Elklit A, Balang RV, Sultan MA, Kana K

Asian J Psychiatr, 2014 Oct;11:45-9.
PMID: 25453696 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2014.05.008

The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of lifetime exposure to traumatic events and its relation to PTSD symptoms.
Fulltext Relationship between intracellular magnesium level, lung function, and level of asthma control in children with chronic bronchial asthma

Sein HH, Whye Lian C, Juan Loong K, Sl Ng J, Rahardjai A, Sultan MA

Malays J Med Sci, 2014 Sep-Oct;21(5):30-6.
PMID: 25977631 MyJurnal

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the intracellular (red blood cell (RBC)) magnesium levels in children with chronic bronchial asthma and to determine the relationship between the magnesium level and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), type of asthma treatment, and level of asthma control.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Paediatric Clinic, Sarawak General Hospital. A total of 100 children, aged 6-12 years with chronic bronchial asthma, were recruited according to the study criteria. Venous blood samples were obtained to measure the intracellular (RBC) magnesium level using the GBC Avanta Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.
RESULTS: Mean age was 8.57 (SD 1.18) years, and 63% of the participants were male. Mean duration of asthma was 62.2 (SD 32.3) months. A normal intracellular magnesium level was found in 95% of the participants, with a mean of 2.27 (SD 0.33) mmol/L. Two-thirds of the participants had a normal peak flow expiratory rate (> 80% of predicted value). About 85% were using both reliever and controller. Almost half of the participants (49%) had chronic asthma that was well-controlled. No significant relationship was found between magnesium level and age (r = -0.089, P = 0.379), gender (t = 0.64, P = 0.52), duration of asthma (r = -0.03, P = 0.74), PEFR (t = 0.41, P = 0.68), current level of asthma control (t = 0.02, P = 0.97), and current treatment (t = 0.414, P = 0.680).
CONCLUSION: There was no significant intracellular magnesium deficiency in children with chronic bronchial asthma. There was no significant relationship between therapeutic medications used for treatment of children with chronic asthma and intracellular magnesium levels.
KEYWORDS: asthma; intracellular; magnesium
Study site: Paediatric Clinic, Sarawak General Hospital, Sarawak, Malaysia
Fulltext An Expedient Regio- and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Hybrid Frameworks with Embedded Spiro[9,10]dihydroanthracene [9,3']-pyrrolidine and Spiro[oxindole-3,2'-pyrrolidine] Motifs via an Ionic Liquid-Mediated Multicomponent Reaction

Arumugam N, Almansour AI, Kumar RS, Menéndez JC, Sultan MA, Karama U, et al.

Molecules, 2015;20(9):16142-53.
PMID: 26404224 DOI: 10.3390/molecules200916142

A series of hitherto unreported anthracene-embedded dispirooxindoles has been synthesized via a one-pot three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of an azomethine ylide, generated in situ from the reaction of isatin and sarcosine to 10-benzylideneanthracen-9(10H)-one as a dipolarophile in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide([bmim]Br), an ionic liquid. This reaction proceeded regio- and diastereoselectively, in good to excellent yields.
Fulltext A peculiar case of intususception in a pregnant woman: A diagnostic challenge

Hayati F, Mohd Zuki A, Lim MC, Chandran PC, Azizan N, Hameed Sultan MA, et al.

Radiol Case Rep, 2023 Aug;18(8):2836-2839.
PMID: 37388266 DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2023.05.048

Adult intussusception presents a diagnostic challenge given its non-specific symptoms. It is not as common as in infants and young children. Traditionally, diagnostic steps are invariably fit for normal adults, but not in pregnancy which faces certain limitations. A 40-year-old pregnant mother, gravida 9 para 8 at 34-week gestation, complained of intermittent epigastric pain for 2 days, requiring hospitalization. She soon developed minimal per rectal bleeding that was ruled out as hemorrhoid. Imaging was limited due to her pregnancy status. She later developed spontaneous delivery to a premature baby. Computed tomography (CT) revealed an ileocolic intussusception, which was confirmed via exploratory laparotomy. Histology was consistent with inflammatory fibroid polyp. Acute abdomen in pregnancy can be due to various causes, thus a high index of suspicion and early CT abdomen might help in early diagnosis and treatment. The benefit of doing CT on the mother and the risk of CT on the fetus is to be weighed as the timely diagnosis can prevent bowel ischemia and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Surgery remains the definite management in adult intussusception and an exact diagnosis can be made during the operation.
The Current State of Neurosurgery in Afghanistan

Ammar A, Nawabi NLA, Hamzah R, Berger C, Jaweed M, Park KB, et al.

World Neurosurg, 2023 Jan;169:110-117.e1.
PMID: 36270595 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.10.048

BACKGROUND: Afghanistan has suffered through conflicts that have detrimentally impacted its health care systems. The countries' neurosurgeons have worked through wars and political upheavals to build solid practices and handle large caseloads with minimal supplies and almost no modern tools. Understanding the current state of neurosurgery in Afghanistan and the challenges faced by Afghan physicians and patients is critical to improving the country's healthcare capacity.
METHODS: To assess neurosurgery research in Afghanistan, searches were conducted in databases for articles originating from Afghanistan neurosurgeons and/or neurosurgery departments. We developed a 30-question English-language survey to assess the current state of neurosurgical capacity. Surveys were distributed to neurosurgeons throughout Afghanistan via email with the assistance of our English-speaking Afghan neurosurgical colleagues.
RESULTS: The neurosurgical disease burden of Afghanistan is poorly understood due to the lack of centralized and accessible databases. There are an estimated 124 neurosurgeons in the country based on modeled data. Surveys showed that government hospitals are poorly equipped, with private and military hospitals having access to slightly more modernized equipment but less accessible to the general population. The country lacks neurosurgery research with only 15 papers discovered through database searches deemed relevant to neurosurgery with Afghan affiliations.
CONCLUSIONS: Afghanistan is facing existential humanitarian threats. Developing the country's neurosurgical capacity and general health care capabilities is crucial. Emphasis on training physicians and establishing communication routes, and aid deliverance with the country and its leaders is key to overcoming the many crises it faces.