Cancerpharmacogenomics: the relevance of genetic profile in optimization drug therapy for azathiopurine and 5-Fluorouracil / Teh Lay Kek And Mohd Zaki Salleh

Introduction: Pharmacogenomic studies contribute to genetic information in preventing severe side effects of drugs. Genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes such as dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) had been associated with variable clinical outcomes in many commonly prescribed chemotherapy drugs including 5-Fluorouracil and irinotecan. Objectives: The review of literature had shed lights to the importance and possible impact of genetic polymorphism of DPYD and TPMT in individualization of drug therapy for 5-FU and thiopurines. However, there were no data reported for Malaysian. Current study thus aimed to explore the role of pharmacogenetics in personalized medicine in our own population. Materials and methods: Genotyping methods for DPYD and TPMT were developed using dHPLC and allele specific PCR respectively. 5-FU levels were measured in colorectal cancer patients using developed method. DNA from healthy volunteers and patients were screened. Results: Genotyping of DPYD had detected one reported mutation DPYD*5, two new mutations in exon 14 1823 T>C and 1827 G>A and one intronic reagion of exon 13, 13 IVS-11G>A with allele frequencies of 14.5%, .9.1%, 9.1% and 0.9% respectively. Genotyping for TPMT revealed 7 (7%) to be heterozygous for TPMT variant alleles. The predominant allele detected is TPMT*3C and is in concordance with previous studies done on Southeast Asian populations

Review the influence of lean tools and its performance against the index of manufacturing sustainability

Lean Production is known as a social-technical management philosophy that encompasses multiple disciplines that focus on increasing the manufacturing productivity by emphasising on the elimination of waste, and increasing the value-added activities. Recognising the internal influences brought by Lean in manufacturing practices, this article focuses on how the convergences in Lean philosophies are able to contribute in establishing a sustainable manufacturing practice. Based on three performance of sustainability, namely the Competency Accomplishment Index, Economic Achievement Index and the Environmental Responsiveness Index, the discussion is focused on exploring how performance of Lean implementation contributes in increasing the development performance of sustainable manufacturing. The findings in this study are able to be used for future researches in formulating new strategies in managing the manufacturing operations. This eventually brings an enormous benefit for further research in improving the operational efficiency, in order to remain competitive in dealing with the intense competition in a global manufacturing environment

The Relation between Manufacturing Sustainability and Lean Production in Malaysian Industries - An Initial Study

A diversity of techniques and practices in Lean as a tool for cultivating a culture of continuous improvement has successfully produce a holistic approach in achieving a high level of sustainability in manufacturing. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the current performance of manufacturing sustainability in Malaysia’s manufacturing industry, and the contribution of Lean on manufacturing sustainability. The findings show that Malaysia’s manufacturing industry has a high sustainability in social competency, followed by economy and environmental. Even though the sustainability in environmental is ranked lowest, the result revealed that aiming to have better control in environments and labour safety is crucial in producing high quality products. In addition, the correlation analysis revealed that this situation has a high relation to the adoption of Lean in production operations. A high competency in adapting the Lean do not just increase the manufacturing efficiency, but also has a substantial influence in producing a sustainable product. This indicates that the Lean is not just suitable in fulfilling the manufacturing function, but has potential to be adapted comprehensive, primarily in achieving high manufacturing sustainability

Role of topical mupirocin ointment as a prophylaxis in catheter related infection in haemodialysis patients

Central venous catheterization (CVC) is a common technique to establish rapid and temporary access for the delivery of haemodialysis in patients with renal failure. However its usage also carry tremendous problems such as infection, sepsis and even death. CVC is a known risk factor for Staphylococcus infection and bacteraemia. Mupirocin is a naturally occurring antibiotic which is active against Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin resistant and beta lactamase producing strains.A randomized prospective trial was conducted to assess the role of mupirocin ointment as a prophylaxis in catheter related infection in 28 haemodialysis patients. Of these 13 received skin disinfection at CVC insertion site with povidone iodine (control group) and 15 received the same treatment followed by topical application of 2% mupirocin ointment at the cannula site immediately following catheter placement and at the end of each dialysis session. Patients were followed up until catheter removal and were monitored for the development of catheter related infectiol) ( CRI). The proportion of CRI in mupirocin group was significantly lower than control (6.7%vs.38.4%,P<0.05).Staphylococcus aureus and l\1RSA bacteraemia was observed in 4 patients (30.7%) in control group and 3 of them died related to sepsis. None of these was observed in the mupirocin group. The hazard ratio of developing catheter related infection was 7.7 times greater in patients not receiving mupirocin. As a conclusion, topical mupirocin application at the catheter exit site significantly reduced the risk of catheter related infection especially Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia in haemodialysis patients

Smart community: The Malaysian perspective

Countries globally are becoming information literate.Future communities should be able to create, distribute, and access information or manage knowledge using current information and communication technologies.Communities such as these are known as smart communities.The question is: Can such a smart community to bridge the digital divide be built in Malaysia? This paper discusses about knowledge management, the smart community projects both globally and locally, Malaysia’s readiness for a smart community, and suggests a model for smart communities in Malaysia.The paper will very briefly talk about the Smart Communities International Network (SCIN) and compares initiatives made by the SCIN partners

The Influence Factor for the Successful Implementation of Cleaner Production: A Review

Cleaner Production (CP) is an environmental management strategy that is being implemented based on social-technical approach. It has been proved to be adapted at every stage of the manufacturing process particularly in establishing the green factory. Even so, the implementation performance of this practice is still depends on several critical factors to be successful. The review has disclosed that social responsiveness; legislation compliance’s and economic performance are the element that has a high influence level for the successful implementation of this practice. The ability to underline these elements has been seen able to assist manufacturers to identify the strength and weaknesses of the implementation process. This eventually motivates the manufacturer to develop a significant guideline in establishing the sustainable environmental practices and consequently increases the manufacturing performance and strengthens the ability to continuously compete in global markets

The sustainability challenges in the adoption of cleaner production system: a review

The adoption of cleaner production systems potentially reduces the risk of hazard in work environments, improves the environmental management performance as well as streamlining the sustainability in manufacturing operations. However, failure to identify and understand the challenges in implementing this practice may cause the implementation process becomes less efficient. The literatures showed that the requirement to balance four key challenges, namely economic performance, legislation compliance, psychological concern and social responsiveness can enhance the adaptation process of cleaner production system. The ability to detect and understanding every challenge identified is very crucial, primarily to set better focus and strategic planning on getting the optimum benefits, as well as improve the environmental performance in revolutionising sustainable manufacturing practice

A Review on Optimistic Impact of Cleaner Production on Manufacturing Sustainability

As a continuous application of an integrated environmental strategy, Cleaner Production (CP) is seen to have a substantial impact in establishing a sustainable manufacturing system. Thus, this paper explores and discusses intensively the impacts and benefits gains from the CP implementation that influences the sustainability development. The findings show that CP have optimistic impact on manufacturing competency, environment and economics performance which considered most significant influence on sustainability. Besides, economic performance was identified as an ultimate goal in manufacturing sustainability that can be enhanced significantly by competency and environmental performance. This paper provides the correct translational process of CP in order to achieve high level of sustainable manufacturing practice included the specific characteristics of performances. It can be referred as a guideline for manufacturing firms to define and measure performance based on CP implementation

Exploring The Impacts Of Cleaner Production On Manufacturing Sustainability In Malaysia - An Initial Study

The ability to adapt with the cleaner production in various dimensions of manufacturing successfully increases the sustainability in production operations. Driven by the opportunity for improvement, this study was undertaken to explore the extent to which cleaner production practice influences the level of manufacturing sustainability in the context of Malaysian industry. The findings from this initial study showed that the execution performance of this practice on a regular basis and systematic brings positive effects on all the necessary components in establishing the sustainable manufacturing namely environment, economy and competency. Emphasis on systematic environmental management practice found to encourage comprehensive actions in addressing the environmental concerns. This subsequently increases the competency in management and operation, which eventually provide benefits for financial and environmental performance. Moreover, the findings also can be used as a referral for the next research, primarily in formulating a comprehensive strategy in achieving sustainability in manufacturing, as well as enhancing the continuity of business in the future

The Adoption Of Lean And Cleaner Production – A Preliminary Study For Malaysia Manufacturing Industry

Adoption of lean production in managing the production operations with a cleaner production due to of environmental concerns positively drive new manufacturing paradigm in the manufacturing environment. This leads to this study being carried out, in order to investigate the extent of which these practices has been adopted in Malaysia’s manufacturing industry. The finding revealed that good performance in environmental practice in tandem with the appraisal of labour safety in material handling has helped the respondents to successfully sustain the quality and durability of products, improves the operation efficiency, as well as production’s productivity. Aside from that, the correlation test results between all items in LP and CP have a significant positive relationship with each other where the appraisal in the selection of equipment from CP practices have a very strong relationship with the improvement of working conditions that resulted from the adoption of LP practices. These potentially make both practices as the best approach that has potential to be integrated together to support the development of a sustainable manufacturing practice principally in Malaysia’s manufacturing industry