Classification of Brainwave Asymmetry Influenced by Mobile Phone Radiofrequency Emission

AbstractA discriminant classification of human brainwave signals influenced by mobile phone radiofrequency (RF) emission is proposed in this paper. Brainwave signals were recorded using electroencephalograph (EEG) focusing on the alpha sub-band with frequency range from 8 to 12Hz. The EEG test was divided into 3 sessions; Before, During and After with 5minutes duration for each session. Analysis involved 95 participants from engineering students. The students were grouped into 3 groups according to the side of exposure; Left Exposure (LE), Right Exposure (RE) and Sham Exposure (SE). This work suggested that RF emit by the mobile phone give several effects to brainwave signals and there are significant different between the session of exposure. As result, the highest classification rate as high as 94.7% is achieved in session During

Sarcocystis nesbitti causes acute, relapsing febrile myositis with a high attack rate: Description of a large outbreak of muscular sarcocystosis in Pangkor Island, Malaysia, 2012

Background: From the 17th to 19th January 2012, a group of 92 college students and teachers attended a retreat in a hotel located on Pangkor Island, off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Following the onset of symptoms in many participants who presented to our institute, an investigation was undertaken which ultimately identified Sarcocystis nesbitti as the cause of this outbreak. Methodology/Principal Findings: All retreat participants were identified, and clinical and epidemiological information was obtained via clinical review and self-reported answers to a structured questionnaire. Laboratory, imaging and muscle biopsy results were evaluated and possible sources of exposure, in particular water supply, were investigated. At an average of 9-11 days upon return from the retreat, 89 (97) of the participants became ill. A vast majority of 94 had fever with 57 of these persons experiencing relapsing fever. Myalgia was present in 91 of patients. Facial swelling from myositis of jaw muscles occurred in 9 (10) patients. The median duration of symptoms was 17 days (IQR 7 to 30 days; range 3 to 112). Out of 4 muscle biopsies, sarcocysts were identified in 3. S. nesbitti was identified by PCR in 3 of the 4 biopsies including one biopsy without observed sarcocyst. Non-Malaysians had a median duration of symptoms longer than that of Malaysians (27.5 days vs. 14 days, p = 0.001) and were more likely to experience moderate or severe myalgia compared to mild myalgia (83.3 vs. 40.0, p = 0.002). Conclusions/Significance: The similarity of the symptoms and clustered time of onset suggests that all affected persons had muscular sarcocystosis. This is the largest human outbreak of sarcocystosis ever reported, with the specific Sarcocystis species identified. The largely non-specific clinical features of this illness suggest that S. nesbitti may be an under diagnosed infection in the tropics

Chikungunya infection in Malaysia: Comparison with dengue infection in adults and predictors of persistent arthralgia

Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) co-circulate in areas endemic with the Aedes mosquito vectors. Both viruses cause similar illnesses which may be difficult to distinguish clinically. CHIKV is also associated with persistent arthralgia. Objectives: To compare and describe factors which differentiate between DENV and CHIKV infections on presentation; and to describe predictors of persistent arthralgia in CHIKV patients. Study design: Patients aged > 14 years diagnosed with acute CHIKV and DENV infections in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were retrospectively identified. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from medical records, and compared. CHIKV patients were telephoned 15-24 months later and interviewed about persistent symptoms. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: A total of 53 CHIKV and 113 DENV patients were included. CHIKV patients were older and more likely to be female. CHIKV was independently associated with arthralgia and rash, while DENV was associated with myalgia, raised aspartate transaminase, and leucopaenia. Forty CHIKV patients were followed up, with a median duration of self-reported arthralgia of 3 months (range, 0-24 months). Eighteen (45) had persistent arthralgia beyond 4 months, for which age > 40 years was an independent predictor. At 1 year, 9 (22.5) patients had arthralgia. Conclusion: In Kuala Lumpur, selected clinical and laboratory predictors help to distinguish between DENV and CHIKV infections. Persistent arthralgia was a frequent sequel of CHIKV infection in this cohort. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved

A large exposure to brucella melitensis in a diagnostic laboratory

Background: Brucella species are easily transmitted by aerosols and can be acquired in the laboratory. Aim: To report the management of a large exposure to Brucella melitensis that occurred over six days in a hospital diagnostic laboratory. Methods: Fifty-one exposed staff were managed according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. A further 96 non-exposed laboratory staff were tested for seroprevalence. Testing was carried out using the Brucella sp. serum agglutination test. Findings: Twenty-seven people had high-risk exposure and 24 had low-risk exposure. High-risk staff were offered post-exposure prophylaxis. Twelve (44.4) agreed to this, of whom eight (66.7) completed the course. Overall compliance with serological follow-up at baseline, 2, 4, 6 weeks and 8 months was 45.9. Despite this poor compliance there were no clinical brucellosis cases and no seroconversion in the 47.1 of staff tested at 8 months. Brucella sp. seroprevalence among all staff tested was 3/147 (2.0). Conclusion: Lack of experience with Brucella spp. and lack of policies for handling potentially hazardous organisms contributed to this prolonged exposure. As compliance with current recommendations may be poor, the optimum frequency of serological follow-up and target groups for prophylaxis should be reassessed. Laboratories in low- or non-endemic areas must prepare for potential isolation of Brucella spp. The impact of human brucellosis in Malaysia requires further study. (C) 2011 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Renal dysfunction during tenofovir use in a regional cohort of HIV-infected individuals in the Asia-Pacific

10.1371/journal.pone.0161562PLoS ONE118e016156