Analysis on Monopole Antenna for Moisture Determination in Oil Palm Fruit Using Finite Difference Method

Ee Meng Cheng,Zulkifly Abbas,Hasliza A Rahim @ Samsuddin,Kim Yee Lee,Kok Yeow You,Jumiah Hassan,Hishamuddin Zainuddin,Shing Fhan Khor 대한전기학회 2016 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.11 No.6

Finite difference analysis were applied to study the principle operation of monopole antenna for moisture determination in oil palm fruit at 2 GHz. The electromagnetic field interact with oil palm fruit on the interface between the antenna and oil palm fruit and cause a reflection. The reflection measurement is based on mismatch impedance or dielectric properties between two media. Reflection coefficient is used to quantify the level of reflection. The monopole antenna was made of RG405/U semi-rigid coaxial cable with an inner and outer diameter of 0.45 mm and 1.50 mm, respectively with 2.23 mm length of protruding conductor over 5.66 cm length of monopole antenna. This monopole antenna for moisture detection was compared with induced EMF method in terms of reflection coefficient at 2 GHz. The results show that the complex reflection coefficient measured using monopole antenna provides significant results to predict moisture content in oil palm fruit.

Retrospective Study of Predictors of Bone Metastasis in Prostate Cancer Cases

Ho, Christopher Chee Kong,Seong, Poh Keat,Zainuddin, Zulkifli Md,Abdul Manaf, Mohd Rizal,Parameswaran, Muhilan,Razack, Azad H.A. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.5

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to identify clinical profiles of patients with low risk of having bone metastases, for which bone scanning could be safely eliminated. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross sectional study looked at prostate cancer patients seen in the Urology Departments in 2 tertiary centres over the 11 year period starting from January 2000 to May 2011. Patient demographic data, levels of PSA at diagnosis, Gleason score for the biopsy core, T-staging as well as the lymph node status were recorded and analysed. Results: 258 men were included. The mean age of those 90 men (34.9%) with bone metastasis was $69.2{\pm}7.3$ years. Logistic regression found that PSA level (P=0.000) at diagnosis and patient's nodal-stage (P=0.02) were the only two independent variables able to predict the probability of bone metastasis among the newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. Among thowse with a low PSA level less than 20ng/ml, and less than 10ng/ml, bone metastasis were detected in 10.3% (12 out of 117) and 9.7% (7 out of 72), respectively. However, by combining PSA level of 10ng/ml or lower, and nodal negative as the two criteria to predict negative bone scan, a relatively high negative predictive value of 93.8% was obtained. The probability of bone metastasis in prostate cancer can be calculated with this formula: -1.069+0.007(PSA value, ng/ml)+1.021(Nodal status, 0 or 1)=x Probability of bone metastasis=$2.718^x/1+2.718^x$. Conclusion: Newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients with a PSA level of 10ng/ml or lower and negative nodes have a very low risk of bone metastasis (negative predictive value 93.8%) and therefore bone scans may not be necessary.

Impact of Applied Progressive Deep Muscle Relaxation Training on the Level of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Prostate Cancer Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Isa, Mohamad Rodi,Moy, Foong Ming,Razack, Azad Hassan Abdul,Zainuddin, Zulkifli Md.,Zainal, Nor Zuraida Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.4

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of applied progressive muscle relaxation training on the levels of depression, anxiety and stress among prostate cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) over six months. Prostate cancer patients from UMMC received the intervention and patients from UKMMC were taken as controls. The level of depression, anxiety and stress were measured using Depression, Anxiety Stress Scales - 21 (DASS-21). Results: A total of 77 patients from the UMMC and 78 patients from the UKMMC participated. At the end of the study, 90.9% and 87.2% of patients from the UMMC and UKMMC groups completed the study respectively. There were significant improvements in anxiety (p<0.001, partial ${\eta}^2$=0.198) and stress (p<0.001, partial ${\eta}^2$=0.103) at the end of the study in those receiving muscle training. However, there was no improvement in depression (p=0.956). Conclusions: The improvement in anxiety and stress showed the potential of APMRT in the management of prostate cancer patients. Future studies should be carried out over a longer duration to provide stronger evidence for the introduction of relaxation therapy among prostate cancer patients as a coping strategy to improve their anxiety and stress.

General Health Related Quality of Life and Associated Factors among Prostate Cancer Patients in Two Tertiary Medical Centers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A Cross-sectional Study

Isa, Mohamad Rodi,Ming, Moy Foong,Razack, Azad Hassan Abdul,Zainuddin, Zulkifli Mohd,Zainal, Nur Zuraida Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

Measurement of quality of life among prostate cancer patients helps the health care providers to understand the impact of the disease in the patients' own perspective. The main aim of this study is to measure the quality of life among prostate cancer patients at University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) and to ascertain the association factors for physical coefficient summary (PCS) and mental coefficient summary (MCS). A hospital based, cross sectional study using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire was conducted over a period of 6 months. A total of 193 respondents were recruited. Their total quality of life score was $70.1{\pm}14.7$ and the PCS score was lower compared to MCS. The factors associated for PCS were: age, living partner, renal problem, urinary problem of intermittency, dysuria and hematuria. Factors associated for MCS were: age, living partner, renal problem, presenting prostatic specific antigen and urinary problem of intermittency and dysuria. Our prostate cancer patients had moderate quality of life in the physical health components but their mental health was less affected.

Roles of MicroRNA-21 and MicroRNA-29a in Regulating Cell Adhesion Related Genes in Bone Metastasis Secondary to Prostate Cancer

Mohamad, Maisarah,Wahab, Norhazlina Abdul,Yunus, Rosna,Murad, Nor AzianAbdul,Zainuddin, Zulkifli Md,Sundaram, Murali,Mokhtar, Norfilza Mohd Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.7

Background: There is an increasing concern in the role of microRNA (miRNA) in the pathogenesis of bone metastasis (BM) secondary to prostate cancer (CaP). In this exploratory study, we hypothesized that the expression of vinculin (VCL) and chemokine X3C ligand 1 (CX3CL1) might be down-regulated in clinical samples, most likely due to the post-transcriptional modification by microRNAs. Targeted genes would be up-regulated upon transfection of the bone metastatic prostate cancer cell line, PC3, with specific microRNA inhibitors. Materials and Methods: MicroRNA software predicted that miR-21 targets VCL while miR-29a targets CX3CL1. Twenty benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 16 high grade CaP formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) specimens were analysed. From the bone scan results, high grade CaP samples were further classified into CaP with no BM and CaP with BM. Transient transfection with respective microRNA inhibitors was done in both RWPE-1 (normal) and PC3 cell lines. QPCR was performed in all FFPE samples and transfected cell lines to measure VCL and CX3CL1 levels. Results: QPCR confirmed that VCL messenger RNA (mRNA) was significantly down-regulated while CX3CL1 was up-regulated in all FFPE specimens. Transient transfection with microRNA inhibitors in PC3 cells followed by qPCR of the targeted genes showed that VCL mRNA was significantly upregulated while CX3CL1 mRNA was significantly down-regulated compared to the RWPE-1 case. Conclusions: The down-regulation of VCL in FFPE specimens is most likely regulated by miR-21 based on the in vitro evidence but the exact mechanism of how miR-21 can regulate VCL is unclear. Up-regulated in CaP, CX3CL1 was found not regulated by miR-29a. More microRNA screening is required to understand the regulation of this chemokine in CaP with bone metastasis. Understanding miRNA-mRNA interactions may provide additional knowledge for individualized study of cancers.

Urethral strictures after bipolar transurethral resection of prostate may be linked to slow resection rate

Guan Hee Tan,Shamsul Azhar Shah,Nurayub Md Ali,Eng Hong Goh,Praveen Singam,Christopher Chee Kong Ho,Zulkifli Md Zainuddin 대한비뇨의학회 2017 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.58 No.3

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the urethral stricture (US) rate and identify clinical and surgical risk factors associated with US occurrence after transurethral resection of the prostate using the bipolar Gyrus PlasmaKinetic Tissue Management System (PK-TURP). Materials and Methods: This was an age-matched case-control study of US occurrence after PK-TURP. Retrospective data were collected from the hospital records of patients who had a minimum of 36 months of follow-up information. Among the data collected for analysis were prostate-specific antigen level, estimated prostate weight, the amount of prostate resected, operative time, history of urinary tract infection, previous transurethral resection of the prostate, and whether the PK-TURP was combined with other endourological procedures. The resection rate was calculated from the collected data. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify clinical and surgical risk factors related to US formation. Results: A total of 373 patients underwent PK-TURP between 2003 and 2009. There were 13 cases of US (3.5%), and most of them (10 of 13, 76.9%) presented within 24 months of surgery. Most of the US cases (11 of 13, 84.6%) occurred at the bulbar urethra. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified slow resection rate as the only risk factor significantly associated with US occurrence. Conclusions: The US rate of 3.5% after PK-TURP in this study is comparable to contemporary series. A slow resection rate seems to be related to US occurrence. This should be confirmed by further studies; meanwhile, we must be mindful of this possibility when operating with the PK-TURP system.

Ureteral stricture formation after ureteroscope treatment of impacted calculi: A prospective study

Xeng Inn Fam,Praveen Singam,Christopher Chee Kong Ho,Radhika Sridharan,Rozita Hod,Badrulhisham Bahadzor,Eng Hong Goh,Guan Hee Tan,Zulkifli Zainuddin 대한비뇨의학회 2015 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.56 No.1

Purpose: Urinary calculi is a familiar disease. A well-known complication of endourological treatment for impacted ureteral stonesis the formation of ureteral strictures, which has been reported to occur in 14.2% to 24% of cases. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study. Ureterotripsy treatment was used on patients with impacted ureteralstones. Then, after 3 months and 6 months, the condition of these patients was assessed by means of a kidney-ureter-bladder (KUB)ultrasound. If the KUB ultrasound indicated moderate to serious hydronephrosis, the patient was further assessed by means of acomputed tomography intravenous urogram or retrograde pyelogram to confirm the occurrence of ureteral strictures. Results: Of the 77 patients who participated in the study, 5 developed ureteral strictures. Thus, the stricture rate was 7.8%. Ananalysis of the intraoperative risk factors including perforation of the ureter, damage to the mucous membrane, and residual stoneimpacted within the ureter mucosa revealed that none of these factors contributed significantly to the formation of the uretericstrictures. The stone-related risk factors that were taken into consideration were stone size, stone impaction site, and duration ofimpaction. These stone factors also did not contribute significantly to the formation of the ureteral strictures. Conclusions: This prospective study failed to identify any predictable factors for ureteral stricture formation. It is proposed that allpatients undergo a simple postoperative KUB ultrasound screening 3 months after undergoing endoscopic treatment for impactedureteral stones.

Skeletal-Related Events among Breast and Prostate Cancer Patients: Towards New Treatment Initiation in Malaysia's Hospital Setting

Ezat, Sharifa Wan Puteh,Junid, Syed Mohamed Aljunid Syed,Khamis, Noraziani,Ahmed, Zafar,Sulong, Saperi,Nur, Amrizal Muhammad,Aizuddin, Azimatun Noor,Ismail, Fuad,Abdullah, Norlia,Zainuddin, Zulkifli M Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.5

The human skeleton is the most common organ to be affected by metastatic cancer and bone metastases are a major cause of cancer morbidity. The five most frequent cancers in Malaysia among males includes prostate whereas breast cancer is among those in females, both being associated with skeletal lesions. Bone metastases weaken bone structure, causing a range of symptoms and complications thus developing skeletal-related events (SRE). Patients with SRE may require palliative radiotherapy or surgery to bone for pain, having hypercalcaemia, pathologic fractures, and spinal cord compression. These complications contribute to a decline in patient healthrelated quality of life. The multidimensional assessment of health-related quality of life for those patients is important other than considering a beneficial treatment impact on patient survival, since the side effects of treatment and disease symptoms can significantly impact health-related quality of life. Cancer treatment could contribute to significant financial implications for the healthcare system. Therefore, it is essential to assess the health-related quality of life and treatment cost, among prostate and breast cancer patients in countries like Malaysia to rationalized cost-effective way for budget allocation or utilization of health care resources, hence helping in providing more personalized treatment for cancer patients.

Incorporation of Smooth Muscle Cells Derived from Human Adipose Stem Cells on Poly(Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid) Scaffold for the Reconstruction of Subtotally Resected Urinary Bladder in Athymic Rats

Salem Salah Abood,Rashidbenam Zahra,Jasman Mohd Hafidzul,Ho Christopher Chee Kong,Sagap Ismail,Singh Rajesh,Yusof Mohd Reusmaazran,Md. Zainuddin Zulkifli,Haji Idrus Ruszymah Bt,Ng Min Hwei 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2020 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.17 No.4

Background: The urinary tract can be affected by both congenital abnormalities as well as acquired disorders, such as cancer, trauma, infection, inflammation, and iatrogenic injuries, all of which may lead to organ damage requiring eventual reconstruction. As a gold standard, gastrointestinal segment is used for urinary bladder reconstruction. However, one major problem is that while bladder tissue prevents reabsorption of specific solutes, gastrointestinal tissue actually absorbs them. Therefore, tissue engineering approach had been attempted to provide an alternative tissue graft for urinary bladder reconstruction. Methods: Human adipose-derived stem cells isolated from fat tissues were differentiated into smooth muscle cells and then seeded onto a triple-layered PLGA sheet to form a bladder construct. Adult athymic rats underwent subtotal urinary bladder resection and were divided into three treatment groups (n = 3): Group 1 (“sham”) underwent anastomosis of the remaining basal region, Group 2 underwent reconstruction with the cell-free scaffold, and Group 3 underwent reconstruction with the tissue-engineered bladder construct. Animals were monitored on a daily basis and euthanisation was performed whenever a decline in animal health was detected. Results: All animals in Groups 1, 2 and 3 survived for at least 7 days and were followed up to a maximum of 12 weeks post-operation. It was found that by Day 14, substantial ingrowth of smooth muscle and urothelial cells had occurred in Group 2 and 3. In the long-term follow up of group 3 (tissue-engineered bladder construct group), it was found that the urinary bladder wall was completely regenerated and bladder function was fully restored. Urodynamic and radiological evaluations of the reconstructed bladder showed a return to normal bladder volume and function.Histological analysis revealed the presence of three muscular layers and a urothelium similar to that of a normal bladder. Immunohistochemical staining using human-specific myocyte markers (myosin heavy chain and smoothelin) confirmed the incorporation of the seeded cells in the newly regenerated muscular layers. Conclusion: Implantation of PLGA construct seeded with smooth muscle cells derived from human adipose stem cells can lead to regeneration of the muscular layers and urothelial ingrowth, leading to formation of a completely functional urinary bladder.

Overview of Urethral Reconstruction by Tissue Engineering: Current Strategies, Clinical Status and Future Direction

Zahra Rashidbenam,Mohd Hafidzul Jasman,Pezhman Hafez,Guan Hee Tan,Eng Hong Goh,Xeng Inn Fam,Christopher Chee Kong Ho,Zulkifli Md Zainuddin,Reynu Rajan,Fatimah Mohd Nor,Mohamad Aznan Shuhaili,Nik Ritza 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2019 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.16 No.4

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract is subjected to a variety of disorders such as urethral stricture, which often develops as a result of scarring process. Urethral stricture can be treated by urethral dilation and urethrotomy; but in cases of long urethral strictures, substitution urethroplasty with genital skin and buccal mucosa grafts is the only option. However a number of complications such as infection as a result of hair growth in neo-urethra, and stone formation restrict the application of those grafts. Therefore, tissue engineering techniques recently emerged as an alternative approach, aiming to overcome those restrictions. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive coverage on the strategies employed and the translational status of urethral tissue engineering over the past years and to propose a combinatory strategy for the future of urethral tissue engineering. METHODS: Data collection was based on the key articles published in English language in years between 2006 and 2018 using the searching terms of urethral stricture and tissue engineering on PubMed database. RESULTS: Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into urothelial and smooth muscle cells to be used for urologic application does not offer any advantage over autologous urothelial and smooth muscle cells. Among studied scaffolds, synthetic scaffolds with proper porosity and mechanical strength is the best option to be used for urethral tissue engineering. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia-preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells in combination with autologous cells seeded on a prevascularized synthetic and biodegradable scaffold can be said to be the best combinatory strategy in engineering of human urethra.