Preparation and characterization of porous alumina ceramics using different pore agents

Graphite waste from primary batteries, active yeast and commercial rice husk ash have been used as pore-forming agents to fabricate porous alumina ceramics using a fugitive materials technique. The pore-forming agent ratios were between 10 to 50 wt %. The effects of the pore-forming agent ratios on the mechanical properties, the porosity and the microstructure have been investigated in this study. The results showed that through increasing the pore-forming agent ratio for graphite waste, yeast and rice husk ash, the porosity increased from 37.3 to 61.1%, 30.2 to 63.8% and 42.9 to 49.0%, respectively. The hardness also decreased from 172.6 to 38.1 HV1 and from 160.6 to 15.0 HV1 for porous alumina ceramics using graphite waste and yeast as pore-forming agents, respectively. However, the hardness of the porous alumina ceramics with rice husk ash as a pore-forming agent increased at 30 wt % (150.9 HV1) and 50 wt % (158.9 HV1). The tensile strength for porous alumina ceramics using graphite waste and yeast as pore-forming agents decreased from 24.9 to 14.3 MPa and from 26.2 to 5.4 MPa. The compressive strength decreased from 112.3 to 34.3 MPa and from 19.5 to 1.8 MPa, respectively. However, for porous alumina ceramics using rice husk ash, the tensile strength increased at 30 wt % (24.1 MPa) and 50 wt % (21.9 MPa). The compressive strength also increased at 30 wt % (69.7 MPa) and at 50% (60.1 MPa)

Comprehensive right heart systolic function assessment using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging after inferior ST elevation myocardial infarction

Acute Inferior ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (Ac-Inf-STEMI) and associated posterior and right ventricular (RV) infarction has been extensively studied with electrophysiology and echocardiography. A recent CMR study showed that poor RV function was associated with poor long term survival post myocardial infarction. However, limited CMR data exists especially on short term clinical outcomes in Ac-Inf-STEMI

Early cardiovascular MRI post successful reperfusion of acute myocardial infarction : An exploratory study

Post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients has varied outcome despite successful reperfusion. Our study aimed to use cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) to explore parameters that may influence outcome in successfully reperfused post-MI patients. We used left ventricular (LV) remodelling and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) at 6 months as a pooroutcome indicator. Consecutive patients admitted to Sarawak Heart Centre from Dec 2012 to Nov 2014 with acute anterior or inferior ST elevation MI were screened. A total of 101 patients with TIMI-3 flow were recruited. Patients underwent CMR imaging during the index admission, and another between 3 to 6 months later. LV remodelling occurred in 21.8% while microvascular obstruction (MVO) in 38.6% of patients. LV infarct size and MVO were significant in those who developed LV remodelling, while door-to-perfusion time and total-ischaemic time were not significantly different. MACE was significant in patients with larger infarcts but not significant in patients with MVO. LV infarct size was also significant in those who had reverse LV remodelling. These results suggest that early CMR measurement of infarct size and detection of MVO has the potential to predict LV improvement or deterioration at 6 months

Prognostic Value of Leucocyte Telomere Length in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Leucocyte telomere length (LTL) has been described as a marker of biological age, endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. The association between LTL and clinical characteristics of Asian patients, and their outcomes following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been inconclusive. Objective: To investigate the relationship between LTL and developing AMI, the association of LTL with inpatient and 30-day mortality, and the comparison to LTL with established AMI risk scores in predicting these outcomes. Methodology: 100 patients aged 30-70 years admitted with an AMI to a tertiary referral center between May-Oct 2017 were enrolled; these were matched with 100 non-AMI ('healthy') controls for gender and age (+/- 1 year). Clinical data was obtained prospectively; inpatient and 30-day outcomes documented. LTL was reflected by a well described variable called a tis ratio (TSR). The TSR was measured at enrolment using a quantitative PCR-based methods (qPCR) and results blinded to the clinician

Enhanced Thrombin Generation Is Associated with Worse Left Ventricular Scarring after ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Cohort Study.

10.3390/ph15060718Pharmaceuticals (Basel)156718

Knowledge, attitude and practice on hygiene of Kampung Sungai Karang Darat residents and its related factors November 2003

Introduction: A cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2003 to evaluate the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) level on hygiene of Kampung Sungai Karang Darat residents and its related factors. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study conducted by a group of year four medical students 2003/2004 from Community Health and Family Medicine posting, Kulliyyah of Medicine, IIUM. Data collection methods included observations and interview-guided questionnaires. Out of the total number of 2620 residents, 304 people aged 18 and above from 200 houses which were randomly selected from 600 houses in that village were surveyed on the KAP of hygiene. We then determined the factors that affect the KAP level, and how it in turn influenced the health status of the respondents, particularly their susceptibility towards hygiene-related diseases. Result: From the statistical analysis, it was found that the mean KAP score of the respondents was 26.42+4.15, on a scale that ranged from 0 to 39 with the lowest KAP score of 14 and the highest KAP score of 36. It was then found that the higher the age of the respondents, the lower the KAP score (p<0.001). Higher socioeconomic status was associated with higher KAP score (occupation (p=0.007), academic level (p<0.001), and income per capita (p<0.001)). Malaysians of non-Pahang origin also had higher KAP score compared to residents of Pahang origin (p<0.001). People living in modern houses had a higher KAP value than those living in traditional houses (p<0.001). Housing quality also had effect on the KAP score (r=+0.665). However, the KAP level was not significantly related to gender difference (p=0.162). Personal hygiene had the lowest mean KAP score, followed by domestic hygiene and then community hygiene. Meanwhile, the highest mean low KAP score were found to have no significant preponderance towards hygiene-related diseases (p=0.409) Conclusion: Overall, the KAP level on hygiene of residents of Kampung Sungai Karang Darat was at a satisfactory level

The Association Between N-Terminal B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and One Year Clinical Outcome in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction : A Multicenter Study

Background: NT-proBNP is a useful biomarker in the management of heart failure. However, there is conflicting evidence for the prognostic value of NT-ProBNP in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Objectives: (1) To explore the association between NT-proBNP and 1-year cardiac related mortality in AMI patients. (2) To explore the association between NT-proBNP and 1-year risk of sudden cardiac death or ventricular arrhythmia, readmission for heart failure, readmission for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stroke. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective observational study recruiting patients presenting with AMI between 1-August2016 to 31-January-2017, involving 1 cardiology referral center and 4 non-cardiology hospitals. NT-proBNP levels (Alere Triage®, US) were measured within 24 hours of AMI diagnosis. Patients were followed-up for 1 year

Investigating Genetic and Other Determinants of First-Onset Myocardial Infarction in Malaysia: Protocol for the Malaysian Acute Vascular Events Risk Study

INTRODUCTION: Although the burden of premature myocardial infarction (MI) is high in Malaysia, direct evidence on the determinants of MI in this multi-ethnic population remains sparse. The Malaysian Acute Vascular Events Risk (MAVERIK) study is a retrospective case-control study established to enable investigation of genomic, lipid-related and other determinants of acute MI in Malaysia. To our knowledge, it represents the largest case-control study of MI and related traits in Malaysia. In this paper, we report the study’s design and initial results. METHODS: By June 2019, MAVERIK had enrolled about 2500 patients with first-ever MI and 2500 controls without cardiovascular disease (CVD), frequency-matched by age, sex and ethnicity, from 17 hospitals in Malaysia. For each participant, serum and whole blood have been collected and stored. Clinical, demographic and behavioural information has been obtained using a 200-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Tobacco consumption, history of diabetes, hypertension, markers of visceral adiposity, indicators of lower socioeconomic status, and family history of coronary disease were more prevalent in cases than controls. Crude and adjusted (age, sex) logistic regression models for traditional risk factors indicated that current smoking, previous smoking, history of high blood pressure, history of diabetes mellitus, family history of CHD and obesity (BMI>30) were associated with MI in age- and sex-adjusted models. CONCLUSION: The MAVERIK study can serve as a useful platform to investigate genetic and other risk factors for MI in an under-studied South-East Asian population. It should help to hasten discovery of disease-causing pathways and to inform regionally appropriate strategies that optimise public health action