Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 28 in total

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  1. Diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous malformation - a case report
    Zain Z
    Images Paediatr Cardiol, 2004 Jan;6(1):13-6.
    PMID: 22368636
  2. Roles of the private sector in tobacco cessation programmes
    Zain Z
    Addiction, 2002 Aug;97(8):960-1, discussion 961-2.
    PMID: 12144596
  3. Serotyping of Haemophilus paragallinarum isolated in Malaysia
    Zain ZB, Iritani Y
    J Vet Med Sci, 1992 Apr;54(2):363-5.
    PMID: 1606267
  4. WITHDRAWN: Preliminary investigation on Mycoplasma maculosum isolated from chickens
    Mohd-Zain Z, Tan LJ
    Res Vet Sci, 2010 Nov 09.
    PMID: 21067786
    This article has been withdrawn at the request of the authors. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.
  5. Fulltext Molecular insights of co-trimoxazole resistance genes in Haemophilus influenzae isolated in Malaysia
    Mohd-Zain Z, Kamsani NH, Ahmad N
    Trop Biomed, 2013 Dec;30(4):584-90.
    PMID: 24522126 MyJurnal
    In the last few decades, co-trimoxazole (SXT), an antibacterial combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, has been used for treatment of upper respiratory tract infection due to Haemophilus influenzae. The usage of this antibiotic has become less important due to emergence of SXT-resistant strains worldwide. Most reports associate SXT resistance to the presence of variants of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) dfrA genes which are responsible for trimethoprim resistance; while the sulfamethoxazole (SMX) resistance are due to sulfonamide (SUL) genes sul1 and sul2 and/or mutation in the chromosomal (folP) gene encoding dihydropteroate synthetase (DHPS). This study aims to detect and analyse the genes that are involved in SXT resistance in H. influenzae strains that were isolated in Malaysia. Primers targeting for variants of dfrA, fol and sul genes were used to amplify the genes in nine SXT-resistant strains. The products of amplification were sequenced and multiple alignments of the assembled sequences of the local strains were compared to the sequences of other H. influenzae strains in the Genbank. Of the five variants of the dhfA genes, dfrA1 was detected in three out of the nine strains. In contrast to intermediate strains, at least one variant of folP genes was detected in the resistant strains. Multiple nucleotide alignment of this gene revealed that strain H152 was genetically different from the others due to a 15-bp nucleotide insert in folP gene. The sequence of the insert was similar to the insert in folP of H. influenzae strain A12, a strain isolated in United Kingdom. None of the strains had sul1 gene but sul2 gene was detected in four strains. Preliminary study on the limited number of samples shows that the TMP resistance was attributed to mainly to dfrA1 and the SMX was due to folP genes. Presence of sul2 in addition to folP in seven strains apparently had increased their level of resistance. A strain that lacked sul1 or sul2 gene, its resistance to sulfonamide was attributed to a 15-bp DNA insert in the folP gene.
  6. Fulltext Antibiotic susceptibility profile of Haemophilus influenzae and transfer of co-trimoxazole resistance determinants
    Mohd-Zain Z, Kamsani NH, Ismail IS, Ahmad N
    Trop Biomed, 2012 Sep;29(3):372-80.
    PMID: 23018500 MyJurnal
    Prior to the implementation of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination worldwide, H. influenzae has been one of the main causative agents of community acquired pneumonia and meningitis in children. Due to the lack of information on the characteristics of the H. influenzae isolates that have previously been collected in Malaysia, the H. influenzae were assessed of their microbial susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics. Emphasis was made on strains that were resistance to co-trimoxazole (SXT) and their mode of transfer of the antibiotic resistance determinants were examined. A collection of 34 H. influenzae isolates was serotyped and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed to 11 antibiotics. To the isolates that were found to be resistant to co-trimoxazole, minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) to SXT was performed using Etest while agar dilution method was used to measure the individual MICs of trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfamethoxazole (SUL). These isolates were also examined for presence of plasmid by PCR and isolation method. Conjugal transfers of SXT-resistant genes to SXT-susceptible hosts were performed to determine their rate of transfer. Result showed that 20.6% of the total number of isolates was serotype B while the remaining was non-typeable. Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of all the isolates revealed that 58.8% was resistant to at least one antibiotic. Majority of these isolates were equally resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline (29.4% each), followed by resistance to SXT (26.5%). From nine isolates that were found to be SXT-resistant, five contained plasmid/s. Conjugal transfer experiment showed that these five isolates with plasmid transferred SXT-resistance determinants at a higher frequency than those without. From these observations, it is postulated that plasmid is not involved in the transfer of SXT-resistance genes but presence of plasmid facilitates their transfer. The information obtained from this study provides some basic knowledge on the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the H. influenzae isolates and their mode of transfer of SXT-resistance genes.
  7. Fulltext Frequency and molecular epidemiology of Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene in Staphylococcus aureus colonising HIV-infected patients
    Mohd-Zain Z, Mohd-Nawi SFA, Adnan A, Kumar S
    Malays J Pathol, 2017 Aug;39(2):115-122.
    PMID: 28866692 MyJurnal
    BACKGROUND: HIV-infected patients pose a high risk of contracting skin and soft tissue infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Those who are colonized with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) that carry Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) are predisposed to severe infections that could lead to necrotic skin infections. However the association of S. aureus specifically methicillin sensitive S. aureus carrying PVL gene in HIV patients has not been widely reported. Here, we study the prevalence and the molecular epidemiology of PVL-producing S. aureus in HIV-infected patients.

    METHODS: Swabs from four body sites of 129 HIV-infected patients were cultured for S. aureus and identified by standard microbiological procedures. The isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disk diffusion against penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and cotrimoxazole. PCR was used to detect the PVL gene and genetic relationship between the isolates was determined by using pulse field gel electrophoresis.

    RESULTS: A total of 51 isolates of S. aureus were obtained from 40 (31%) of the patients. The majority (43.1%) of the isolates were obtained from the anterior nares. Thirteen (25.5%) of all the isolates were resistant to more than one category of antibiotics, with one isolate identified as MRSA. Thirty-eight (74.5%) isolates (including the MRSA isolate) carried PVL gene where the majority (44.7%) of these isolates were from the anterior nares. A dendogram revealed that the isolates were genetically diverse with 37 distinct pulsotypes clustered in 11 groups.

    CONCLUSION: S. aureus obtained from multiple sites of the HIV patients were genetically diverse without any clonality observed.

  8. Fulltext Ulcerative colitis and motor neurone disease: causal or coincidental?
    Rajendra S, Kadir ZA, Karim N, Zain Z
    Singapore Med J, 2003 Aug;44(8):423-5.
    PMID: 14700423
    Neurological involvement associated with inflammatory bowel disease is well established though rarely reported in the literature. The coexistence of motor neurone disease with ulcerative colitis has never been previously documented. The case of a 53-year-old Indian male with distal ulcerative colitis who, two and a half years later, developed dysarthria, dysphagia, a wasted fasciculating tongue and palatal palsy characteristic of bulbar type motor neurone disease is described. Topical and oral steroids together with azathioprine and mesalazine suppositories controlled the bowel symptoms but did not improve the neurological deficit. Subsequently, the antiglutamate agent riluzole improved the mobility of his tongue. The close temporal relationship and relative infrequency of both these conditions in a Malaysian population along with the recognised association between ulcerative colitis and other neurological conditions deserve careful consideration as to whether a common denominator is involved. Documentation of coexistence of both disorders in a single patient is important in case similar associations are reported in future.
  9. Fulltext Characteristics and outcomes of paracetamol poisoning cases at a general hospital in Northern Malaysia
    Mohd Zain Z, Fathelrahman AI, Ab Rahman AF
    Singapore Med J, 2006 Feb;47(2):134-7.
    PMID: 16435055
    Paracetamol is available as an over-the-counter medication in many countries including Malaysia. This drug has been implicated in many poisoning cases admitted to hospitals throughout the country.
  10. Fulltext Pentaplex PCR assay for detection of hemorrhagic bacteria from stool samples
    Al-Talib H, Latif B, Mohd-Zain Z
    J Clin Microbiol, 2014 Sep;52(9):3244-9.
    PMID: 24958797 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00891-14
    Diarrheal diseases cause illness and death among children younger than 10 years in developing countries. Conventional testing for the detection of hemorrhagic bacteria takes 2 to 5 days to yield complete information on the organism and its antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Hence, in the present study, we developed a molecular-based diagnostic assay that identifies common hemorrhagic bacteria in stool samples. A set of specific primers were designed for the detection of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), and Campylobacter spp., suitable for use in a one-tube PCR assay. The assay in the present study simultaneously detected five genes, namely, ompC for the Salmonella genus, virA for the Shigella genus, eaeA for EHEC, 16S rRNA for the Campylobacter genus, and hemA for an internal control. Specific primer pairs were successfully designed and simultaneously amplified the targeted genes. Validation with 20 Gram-negative and 17 Gram-positive strains yielded 100% specificity. The limit of detection of the multiplex PCR assay was 1 × 10(3) CFU at the bacterial cell level and 100 pg at the genomic DNA level. Further evaluation of the multiplex PCR with 223 bacterium-spiked stool specimens revealed 100% sensitivity and specificity. We conclude that the developed multiplex PCR assay was rapid, giving results within 4 h, which is essential for the identification of hemorrhagic bacteria, and it might be useful as an additional diagnostic tool whenever time is important in the diagnosis of hemorrhagic bacteria that cause diarrhea. In addition, the presence of an internal control in the multiplex PCR assay is important for excluding false-negative cases.
  11. Amperometric microbiosensor as an alternative tool for investigation of D-serine in brain
    Mohd Zain Z, Ab Ghani S, O'Neill RD
    Amino Acids, 2012 Nov;43(5):1887-94.
    PMID: 22865247 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-012-1365-0
    This paper discusses the application of a reagentless, selective microbiosensor as a useful alternative tool for monitoring D-serine in neural samples. The main components of the 125-μm-diameter disk biosensor were D-amino acid oxidase for D-serine sensitivity (linear region slope, 61 ± 7 μA cm(-2) mM(-1); limit of detection, 20 nM), and poly-phenylenediamine for rejection of electroactive interference. The response time of the biosensor was of the order of 1 s, ideal for 'real-time' monitoring, and detection of systemically administered D-serine in brain extracellular fluid is demonstrated. Exploitation of this probe might resolve queries involving regulation of D-serine in excitotoxicity, and modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function by D-serine and glycine in the central nervous system.
  12. Self-poisoning by drugs and chemicals: variations in demographics, associated factors and final outcomes
    Fathelrahman AI, Ab Rahman AF, Mohd Zain Z
    Gen Hosp Psychiatry, 2008 Sep-Oct;30(5):467-70.
    PMID: 18774431 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2008.04.004
    OBJECTIVE: Drug overdose exposures were compared with chemical poisoning in terms of demographics, associated factors and final outcomes.
    METHOD: Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) cases admitted to Penang General Hospital during the years 2000-2004 were studied. Chi-square, independent t-test and binary logistic were used whenever applicable.
    RESULTS: Indian patients were more likely to use household products, whereas Malay and Chinese patients were more likely to take drug overdoses (P=.001). Drug overdose victims experienced more socioeconomic problems (P=.05) and were more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (P=.052). Chemical poisoning patients presented earlier (P=.011), were hospitalized for shorter time (P=.001) and had a higher rate of mortality (P=.01).
    CONCLUSION: The present study has identified a unique ethnic variation in the choice of suicide attempts from toxic substances. DSP associated with drug overdose showed significant morbidity, but increased mortality was seen in chemical poisoning.
  13. Factors associated with adult poisoning in northern Malaysia: a case-control study
    Fathelrahman AI, Ab Rahman AF, Zain ZM, Tengku MA
    Hum Exp Toxicol, 2006 Apr;25(4):167-73.
    PMID: 16696291
    Data on adult risk factors associated with drug or chemical poisonings in Malaysia are scarce. The objective of the study was to identify possible risk factors associated with adult admissions to the Penang General Hospital (PGH) due to chemical poisoning and/or drug overdose. The present study was a case-control study, conducted over 18 weeks. One hundred acutely poisoned adult patients admitted to PGH during the period from September 2003 to February 2004 were considered as cases. Two hundred patients admitted to the same medical wards for other illnesses, during the same period, were matched for age and gender with the poisoned cases and thus selected as controls. McNemar test and binary logistic were used for univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis for multivariate analyses. The odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated for each predictor variable. Positive histories of psychiatric illness and previous poisoning, problems in boy/girl friend relationships, family problems, marital problems, Indian ethnicity, Chinese ethnicity, living in rented houses and living in a household with less than five people were significant risk factors associated with adult admissions due to poisoning.
  14. MS 04-044: demographic features of drug and chemical poisoning in northern Malaysia
    Fathelrahman AI, Ab Rahman AF, Mohd Zain Z
    Clin Toxicol (Phila), 2005;43(2):89-94.
    PMID: 15822759
    Acute poisoning is a significant health problem all over the world. In Malaysia, nationwide data on poisoning pattern is scarce and incomplete. The objectives of our study were to determine the pattern of acute drug and chemical poisoning at Penang General Hospital (PGH), in the northern region of Malaysia, and to compare poisoning characteristics between different ethnic groups. The study was a retrospective case review of all poisoned patients admitted to PGH during the years 2000-2002. We collected data concerning demographic parameters of patients, information about the agent(s) implicated, and circumstances surrounding the event. There were 493 poisoning incidents. Nearly two-thirds of the poisoned cases involved female patients. The predominant mode of poisoning was intentional (51.5%). The age group 15.1-30 years ranked at the top, constituting 55.2% of all cases. Drugs were the predominant agents implicated. Among cases associated with drugs, paracetamol was the main causative agent (44.7%). Chinese patients constituted 37.7% of all poisoning cases, followed by the Indians (31.6%) and Malays (26.6%). Between ethnic groups, Indian patients were found to have the highest rate of poisoning admission of 75.2 per 100,000 persons.
  15. Phylogenetic relationship of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae isolated in Malaysia
    Mohd-Zain Z, Kamsani NH, Ahmad N, Clarke SC
    Infect Genet Evol, 2015 Dec;36:240-3.
    PMID: 26394107 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2015.09.017
    The epidemiology of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) remains poorly understood. We therefore sought to determine the genetic relationship of 25 NTHi isolated from various states in Malaysia using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The majority of isolates were obtained from sputum. There were 24 novel sequence types (STs). Eight isolates were single-locus variants, the remainder being singletons. Clustering was not based on clinical site of isolation or geographical origin. Despite the limited number of isolates examined in this study, we demonstrate that NTHi isolates in Malaysia are diverse and warrant further investigation.
  16. Breastfeeding at 6 weeks and predictive factors
    Chye JK, Zain Z, Lim WL, Lim CT
    J Trop Pediatr, 1997 10;43(5):287-92.
    PMID: 9364127 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/43.5.287
    Despite the numerous changes made in accordance with the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, the low rates of breastfeeding have persisted. This study aims to examine the current trend in infant feeding, and the influences of some perinatal and sociodemographic factors on breastfeeding. Five-hundred mothers with singleton pregnancies and healthy infants were interviewed at 6 weeks post-partum. Only 124 (25 per cent) mothers were practising exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), and 132 (26 per cent) mothers were using exclusive infant formula feeding (EIF). On logistic regression analyses, mothers who followed EBF were more likely to have had antenatal plans to breastfeed (Odds ratio 2.44, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.75-3.45), not in paid employment post-natally (OR 1.76, 95 per cent CI 1.31-2.36), of older age group (> 27 years) (OR 1.48, 95 per cent CI 1.13-1.93), had female infants (OR 1.38, 95 per cent CI 1.05-1.80) and of Indian ethnicity (compared to Chinese) (OR 3.87, 95 per cent CI 2.16-6.89). Breastfeeding difficulties were associated with decreased odds of EBF (OR 0.21, 95 per cent CI 0.13-0.34). Parental education, fathers' ages and incomes, primigravida status, Caesarean section, present of episiotomy, late first breastfeed, phototherapy, and length of hospital stay were not significant predictors of failure of EBF. In comparison, predictive factors for increased use of EIF were mothers who have had breastfeeding difficulties, < or = 9 years of schooling, and of Chinese descent. In conclusions, the overall rate of EBF by 6 weeks of age in infants born in this urban hospital had remained poor. The adverse factors for EBF identified in this study warrant further in-depth studies to determine effective ways of improving EBF rates.
  17. Maternal and neonatal effects of Acinetobacter colonisation in preterm premature rupture of membrane and term labour
    Sood M, Mohd Zain Z, Abu NA, Chee SC, Mohd Nor NS
    Med J Malaysia, 2019 02;74(1):40-44.
    PMID: 30846661
    INTRODUCTION: Some anecdotal reports suggest that maternal colonisation with Acinetobacter baumannii during pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal effects, including preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM). The objective of this study was to compare the maternal and neonatal effects of A. baumannii colonisation in cases with PPROM and those with spontaneous onset of labour at term.

    METHODS: The recruitment of participants' was carried out at Selayang Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia. Vaginal swabs were prospectively taken from 104 patients of PPROM and 111 with spontaneous onset of labour at term. Swabs were also taken from the axillae and ears of their babies. These swabs were cultured to isolate A. baumannii. Maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes were documented.

    RESULTS: Sixteen mothers were A. baumannii positive, eight from each group respectively. None of the cases developed chorioamnionitis or sepsis. Those positive were four cases of PPROM and two babies of term labour. None of the babies developed sepsis.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support the suggestion that A. baumannii colonisation during pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

  18. Fulltext Parathyroid carcinoma with steroid-suppressible plasma immunoreactive parathyroid hormone and human chorionic gonadotrophin
    Chng SL, Krishnan MM, Ramachandran, Chan CH, Zain Z
    Singapore Med J, 1990 Feb;31(1):83-4.
    PMID: 2333552
    A 31-year old male presented with bone pain, polyuria and a palpable nodule in the neck. Radiological examination showed generalised osteopenia, subperiosteal erosion and presence of bilateral renal stones. The essential chemical pathological changes were increased plasma calcium, mid-molecule immuno-reactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels. Surgical excision of the nodule revealed a parathyroid carcinoma. The uniqueness of this case is the steroid-suppressible plasma calcium, iPTH, and hCG levels. The diagnostic implications of the findings are discussed.
  19. Fulltext Nutritional status, hemoglobin level and their associations with soil-transmitted helminth infections between Negritos (indigenous) from the inland jungle village and resettlement at town peripheries
    Muslim A, Lim YA, Mohd Sofian S, Shaari SA, Mohd Zain Z
    PLoS One, 2021;16(1):e0245377.
    PMID: 33439889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245377
    This study compared the current nutritional status, hemoglobin levels and their associations with soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections between two categories of Negritos (indigenous): (i) Inland Jungle Villages (IJV) (ii) and Resettlement Plan Scheme (RPS) near town peripheries, decades after redevelopment and demarginalization. A total of 416 Negritos (IJV: 149; RPS: 267) was included for nutritional profiling based on anthropometric analysis. However, only 196 (IJV: 64; RPS: 132) individuals consented to blood taking for the hemoglobin (Hb) measurements. Subsequently, the association of undernutrition and anemia with STH infections were determined based on univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The overall prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight amongst children and adolescents (n = 343) were 45.8%, 42.3% and 59.1%, respectively. In adults (n = 73), the prevalence of underweight was low (6.8%) but overweight and obese was prominent (26.0%). For anemia (n = 196), an overall prevalence rate of 68.4% were observed with 80% and 70.4% of children aged 2-6 y/o and aged 7-12 y/o, respectively being anemic. Comparatively, the prevalence of underweight (WAZ) was significantly higher in the RPS versus the IJV (P = 0.03) In the IJV, children aged ≤ 6 y/o and having STH poly-parasitism were associated with underweight (P = 0.01) and moderate-severe T. trichiura infection was associated with anemia. Whilst in the RPS, underweight was highly associated with only T. trichiura infection (P = 0.04). Wasting was significantly associated with young children aged ≤10 in both IJV (P = 0.004) and RPS (P = 0.02). Despite efforts in improving provision of facilities and amenities among the indigenous, this study highlighted a high magnitude of nutritional issues among the Negritos especially those in the RPS and their likely association with STH infections and decades of demarginalization. Joint nutritional intervention strategies with mass anti-helminthic treatment are imperative and urgently needed to reduce the undernutrition problems especially among indigenous children.
  20. Fulltext Edible Bird's Nest Protects Against Hyperglycemia-Induced Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Dysfunction
    Murugan DD, Md Zain Z, Choy KW, Zamakshshari NH, Choong MJ, Lim YM, et al.
    Front Pharmacol, 2019;10:1624.
    PMID: 32116666 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01624
    Increased oxidative stress by hyperglycemia is a major cause of vascular complications in diabetes. Bird's nest, which is made from the saliva of swiftlets has both medicinal and nutritional values dated back to ancient China. However, its role in improving endothelial dysfunction due to diabetes is yet to be elucidated. The present study examined the protective effect and mechanism of action of the aqueous extract of hydrolyzed edible bird nest (HBN) on endothelium in models of diabetes, in vitro and in vivo. Male db/m+ and db/db mice were orally administered with or without HBN and glibenclamide for 28 days, followed by vascular reactivity studies in mouse aortas. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and isolated mouse aorta from C57BL/6J were treated with high glucose (HG), HBN, sialic acid (SA), glibenclamide, and apocynin, respectively. The effects of HBN on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability were assessed by Western blot, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin-diacetate (DCF-DA), and 4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7' difluorofluorescein (DAF-FM DA) in HUVECs, isolated mouse aorta, and db/db diabetic mice. HBN significantly reversed the endothelial dysfunction in diabetic mice and isolated mouse aorta. HBN normalized ROS over-production of NOX2 and nitrotyrosine, reversed the reduction of anti-oxidant marker, SOD-1 as well as restored NO bioavailability in both HUVECs challenged with HG and in db/db diabetic mice. Similarly, HG-induced elevation of oxidative stress in HUVECs were reversed by SA, glibenclamide, and apocynin. This attests that HBN restores endothelial function and protects endothelial cells against oxidative damage induced by HG in HUVECs, isolated mouse aorta, and db/db diabetic mice via modulating ROS mechanism, which subsequently increases NO bioavailability. This result demonstrates the potential role of HBN in preserving endothelial function and management of micro- or macrovascular complications in diabetes.
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