Fracture Liaison Service and Its Role in Secondary Fracture Prevention in Malaysia: A Scoping Review

@#Introduction: Fragility fractures, which occur after a lowtrauma injury, increases with advancing age. Such fracture doubles the life-time risk of sustaining another fracture. This risk is highest in the immediate 18 months after the index fracture. However, most patients do not receive the appropriate risk assessment and intervention to reduce this risk. A coordinated model of care termed Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) has been reported to address this treatment gap. Materials and methods: This scoping review aims to explore the potential role and delivery of FLS services in Malaysia. Scientific and non-scientific sources relevant to FLS were identified from electronic bibliographic databases, specialist journals and relevant websites. Findings were categorised into themes and presented narratively. Results: FLS services remain concentrated in the Klang Valley. Even within FLS services, many do not have extensive coverage to risk assess all fracture patients. These services are multidisciplinary in nature where there are links between different departments, such as orthopaedics, osteoporosis expertise, bone densitometry, rehabilitation, falls services and primary care. FLS was able to increase the number of people undergoing fracture risk assessment and treatment. The importance of FLS was highlighted by local experts and stakeholders. Its implementation and delivery are supported by a number of national guidelines. Conclusion: FLS is central to our national efforts to reduce the impending fragility fracture crisis in the coming years. Continued effort is needed to increase coverage within FLS services and across the country. Training, awareness of the problem, research, and policy change will support this endeavour.

The Current and Future Challenges of Hip Fracture Management in Malaysia

@#By 2050, it is predicted that six million hip fractures will occur each year of which the majority will happen in Asia. Malaysia is not spared from this predicted rise and its rate of increase will be one of the highest in this region. Much of this is driven by our unprecedented growth in the number of older people. Characteristics of individuals with hip fractures in Malaysia mirror what has been reported in other countries. They will be older multimorbid people who were already at risk of falls and fractures. Outcomes were poor with at least a quarter do not survive beyond 12 months and in those that do survive have limitation in their mobility and activities of daily living. Reviewing how these fractures are managed and incorporating new models of care, such as orthogeriatric care, could address these poor outcomes. Experts have warned of the devastating impact of hip fracture in Malaysia and that prompt action is urgently required. Despite that, there remains no national agenda to highlight the need to improve musculoskeletal health in the country

Asscociation of Risk Factors and Its Bleeding Complication for Tenecteplase Administered in Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)

No abstract available.

Efficacy of the dietary histone deacetylase inhibitor butyrate alone or in combination with vitamin A against proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

The combined treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and retinoids has been suggested as a potential epigenetic strategy for the control of cancer. In the present study, we investigated the effects of treatment with butyrate, a dietary HDACi, combined with vitamin A on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Cell proliferation was evaluated by the crystal violet staining method. MCF-7 cells were plated at 5 x 10(4) cells/mL and treated with butyrate (1 mM) alone or combined with vitamin A (10 µM) for 24 to 120 h. Cell proliferation inhibition was 34, 10 and 46% following treatment with butyrate, vitamin A and their combination, respectively, suggesting that vitamin A potentiated the inhibitory activities of butyrate. Furthermore, exposure to this short-chain fatty acid increased the level of histone H3K9 acetylation by 9.5-fold (Western blot), but not of H4K16, and increased the expression levels of p21WAF1 by 2.7-fold (Western blot) and of RARβ by 2.0-fold (quantitative real-time PCR). Our data show that RARβ may represent a molecular target for butyrate in breast cancer cells. Due to its effectiveness as a dietary HDACi, butyrate should be considered for use in combinatorial strategies with more active retinoids, especially in breast cancers in which RARβ is epigenetically altered.

Efficacy of geraniol but not of β-ionone or their combination for the chemoprevention of rat colon carcinogenesis

β-ionone (βI), a cyclic isoprenoid, and geraniol (GO), an acyclic monoterpene, represent a promising class of dietary chemopreventive agents against cancer, whose combination could result in synergistic anticarcinogenic effects. The chemopreventive activities of βI and GO were evaluated individually or in combination during colon carcinogenesis induced by dimethylhydrazine in 48 3-week-old male Wistar rats (12 per group) weighing 40-50 g. Animals were treated for 9 consecutive weeks with βI (16 mg/100 g body weight), GO (25 mg/100 g body weight), βI combined with GO or corn oil (control). Number of total aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and of ACF ≥4 crypts in the distal colon was significantly lower in the GO group (66 ± 13 and 9 ± 2, respectively) compared to control (102 ± 9 and 17 ± 3) and without differences in the βI (91 ± 11 and 14 ± 3) and βI+GO groups (96 ± 5 and 19 ± 2). Apoptosis level, identified by classical apoptosis morphological criteria, in the distal colon was significantly higher in the GO group (1.64 ± 0.06 apoptotic cells/mm²) compared to control (0.91 ± 0.07 apoptotic cells/mm²). The GO group presented a 0.7-fold reduction in Bcl-2 protein expression (Western blot) compared to control. Colonic mucosa concentrations of βI and GO (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) were higher in the βI and GO groups, respectively, compared to the control and βI+GO groups. Therefore, GO, but not βI, represents a potential chemopreventive agent in colon carcrvpdate=20110329inogenesis. Surprisingly, the combination of isoprenoids does not represent an efficient chemopreventive strategy.

Water extracts of cabbage and kale inhibit ex vivo H2O2-induced DNA damage but not rat hepatocarcinogenesis

The chemopreventive potential of water extracts of the Brassica vegetables cabbage and kale was evaluated by administering their aqueous extracts in drinking water ad libitum to Wistar rats submitted to Ito’s hepatocarcinogenesis model (CB group and K group, respectively - 14 rats per group). Animals submitted to this same model and treated with water were used as controls (W group - 15 rats). Treatment with the vegetable extracts did not inhibit (P > 0.05) placental glutathione S-transferase-positive preneoplastic lesions (PNL). The number of apoptotic bodies did not differ (P > 0.05) among the experimental groups. Ex vivo hydrogen peroxide treatment of rat livers resulted in lower (P < 0.05) DNA strand breakage in cabbage- (107.6 ± 7.8 µm) and kale- (110.8 ± 10.0 µm) treated animals compared with control (120.9 ± 12.7 µm), as evaluated by the single cell gel (comet) assay. Treatment with cabbage (2 ± 0.3 µg/g) or kale (4 ± 0.2 µg/g) resulted in increased (P < 0.05) hepatic lutein concentration compared with control (0.5 ± 0.07 µg/g). Despite the absence of inhibitory effects of cabbage and kale aqueous extracts on PNL, these Brassica vegetables presented protection against DNA damage, an effect possibly related to increased hepatic lutein concentrations. However, it must be pointed out that the cause-effect relationship between lutein levels and protection is hypothetical and remains to be demonstrated.

Gastrostomy button: clinical appraisal.

We retrospectively studied all gastrostomy buttons inserted in the Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane between 1988 and 1995. One hundred and thirty-two patients (M = 60, F = 72) and 388 buttons were analysed. Intellectual handicap and cystic fibrosis comprised the majority of patients. Thirty-three patients had gastrostomy buttons inserted primarily, whereas, 99 patients received gastrostomy buttons inserted into matured gastrostomy stoma. The average longevity of all determined buttons (n = 280) was 360.43 days (SD = 310.24). The first buttons inserted primarily (n = 25) had longer longevity than the first buttons inserted into matured gastrostomy stoma (n = 82) with statistical significance. The average longevity of subsequent buttons was significantly less than the first buttons. Valve incompetence and leakage of gastric content around the shaft were the most common causes of button removal. We concluded that the gastrostomy button is the method of choice for long term enteral feeding in children.

Comparison between mushroom-type and balloon-type gastrostomy buttons.

The gastrostomy button has been improved rapidly over the last ten years. The gastrostomy button was divided into two groups. The first group had a mushroom tip and, in this study, the Bard button represented this group. The other had a balloon as an internal stabilizer and the Mic-key button represented this group. The authors retrospectively studied all buttons inserted at the Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane between 1988 and 1995. The average longevity of Bard and Mic-key buttons were 378.82 and 259.62 days respectively. Valve incompetence was the most common cause of removal of the Bard button (38%), whereas, balloon rupture was the major cause of removal of Mic-key button (44%). Each type of gastrostomy button had its own advantages and disadvantages and these special characteristics will be discussed.

Primary gastrostomy button: a means of long-term enteral feeding in children.

Between June 1992 and December 1997, forty-two patients (M 19, F 23) received 94 primary gastrostomy buttons due to 22 intellectual handicap, 7 cystic fibrosis, 4 severe gastrooesophageal reflux, 2 bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 2 tumours in the neck region and 5 miscellaneous causes. Open fundoplication concomitant with primary button, primary open button and laparoscopic fundoplication concomitant with primary button were performed in 20, 15 and 7 patients respectively. The average longevity +/- standard deviation of all buttons was 388.36 +/- 360.35 days. The average longevity of the buttons of the laparoscopic fundoplication group was significantly lower than the others. The major causes of removal of Bard buttons were valve incompetence and flap damage, whereas, balloon leakage was the major cause of removal of the Mic-key button. There were merely minor stomal complications and no gastric separation and peritonitis. Because of the acceptable longevity of the buttons and minimal complications, we concluded that the primary gastrostomy button was the preferable method of long term enteral feeding in children.

Biomechanical properties of the ong capsular lens and results of four years of clinical experience

We developed a capsular supported lens based on a biomechanical concept. Specific managemente of the anterior and posterior capsules ensured double capsular paocket fixation. for sage as well as atraumatic insertion, we applied the basic movement of the "downward swinging of a falling leaf", that worked effectively within ashallow anterior chamber. Because of the irido-lenticular clearance, the classic iridectomy was not indicated. Reconstituting the posterior chamber and artificially deepening it contributed to the integrity of the pupilary functions. The absence of capsular and zonular ruptures, the low rate of dislocations, decentrations and secondary capsule opacification in 200 lens implantations confirmed the biomechanical concept

Acquired toxoplasmosis in Malaysia.

Two cases of acquired toxoplasmosis in asymptomatic Malaysian patients are described. In both instances the diagnosis was first made on the finding of the Piringer-Kuchinka reaction in excised lymph nodes from these patients and serological studies further confirmed the presence of hihg toxoplasmic antibody titres. The characteristic histological features of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis are discussed. Diagnosis and management of the disease are briefly reviewed with emphasis that the importance of diagnosing this disease goes beyond the establishment of a mostly self-limiting, clinically unimportant protozoan infection.