The Roles of Adjuvant Supplements in Colorectal Cancer Patients on Chemotherapy - Reaping Benefits from Metabolic Crosstalk.

The prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is on a steady rise over the years, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting CRC as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. While treatment modalities may differ in accordance to the staging and severity of the disease itself, chemotherapy is almost unavoidable in most cases. Though effective in its mode of action, chemotherapy is commonly associated with undesirable side effects that negatively affects the patient in terms of quality of life, and in some cases may actually interfere with their treatment regimens, thus escalating to poor prognosis.

Psychometric Properties of the Malay Version of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) in a Sample of Malaysian Adults Attending a Health Care Facility.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) among Malaysian adults.

Method: The Malay version of the DEBQ instrument was administered to 398 outpatients (269 women and 129 men) at the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to study the construct validity of the instrument.

Strain-specific probiotic (microbial cell preparation) and omega-3 fatty acid in modulating quality of life and inflammatory markers in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: Colorectal cancer patients on chemotherapy usually have elevated levels of inflammatory markers and experience numerous side effects from chemotherapy thereby leading to poor quality of life. Omega-3 fatty acid and microbial cell preparation (MCP) have been known to provide significant benefits in patients on chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid and MCP in quality of life, chemotherapy side effects and inflammatory markers in colorectal cancer patients on chemotherapy.

High-resolution oesophageal manometry and 24-hour impedance-pH study in systemic sclerosis patients: association with clinical features, symptoms and severity.

Objectives: To evaluate the associations between objectively measured gastroesophageal involvement using high-resolution manometry and 24- hour impedance-pH study, and clinical presentations in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) with 31 consecutive SSc patients recruited into this study. Clinical symptoms of gastroesophageal involvement, high-resolution impedance-manometry and 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring were assessed.

Pre-surgical Administration of Microbial Cell Preparation in Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Disruption of normal gut function is a common side effect post abdominal surgery. It may result in reduced tolerance to oral nutrition and progress to postoperative ileus. Microbial cell preparation is beneficial as a pre-surgical nutritional supplement to aid in bowel recovery and promote the return of normal gut function following abdominal surgery.

Inflammatory reaction to fish oil coated polypropylene mesh used for laparoscopic incisional hernia repair: a case report.

Background: Polypropylene meshes are widely used in hernia repairs. Hernia meshes have been developed incorporating coatings of active agents. One commercially available mesh has a fish oil coating which is promoted as having anti-inflammatory properties.

Incidental Splenic Granuloma Due to Burkholderia pseudomallei: A Case of Asymptomatic Latent Melioidosis?

We report a rare case of an asymptomatic latent melioidosis lesion in a posttraumatic splenectomy specimen from a diabetic patient. The 2-cm yellowish, lobulated lesion was found in the splenic parenchyma well away from the traumatized areas. Microscopically, it consisted of a central area of necrosis and exudate surrounded by macrophages, epithelioid cells, lymphocytes, and occasional multinucleated giant cells.

The mRNA expression of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor in human adipose tissue is positively correlated with body mass index.

suPLAUR is the transcript variant that encodes the soluble form of the urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor (suPLAUR). This soluble protein has been shown to enhance leukocyte migration and adhesion, and its circulatory level is increased in inflammatory states. In this pilot study, we used RNA-Seq to examine the splicing pattern of PLAUR in omental adipose tissues from obese and lean individuals.

Posterior parasagittal in-plane ultrasound-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus block-a case series.

Background: The brachial plexus at the infraclavicular level runs deeper compared to its course proximally, giving rise to impaired needle visualisation due to the steep angle of needle insertion with the current ultrasound-guided approach. A new posterior parasagittal in-plane ultrasound-guided infraclavicular approach was introduced to improve needle visibility. However no further follow up study was done.

Comparable frequency of BRCA1, BRCA2 and TP53 germline mutations in a multi-ethnic Asian cohort suggests TP53 screening should be offered together with BRCA1/2 screening to early-onset breast cancer patients.

Introduction: Germline TP53 mutations cause an increased risk to early-onset breast cancer in Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) families and the majority of carriers identified through breast cancer cohorts have LFS or Li-Fraumeni-like (LFL) features. However, in Asia and in many low resource settings, it is challenging to obtain accurate family history and we, therefore, sought to determine whether the presence of early-onset breast cancer is an appropriate selection criteria for germline TP53 testing.

Methods: A total of 100 patients with early-onset breast cancer (≤ 35 years) treated at University Malaya Medical Centre between 2003 and 2009, were analyzed for germline mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2 and TP53 by full DNA sequencing.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication: clinical outcomes at 10 years.

Background: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is now the most common operative procedure for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, although longterm clinical outcomes after this procedure remain uncertain.

Study Design: Outcomes for 250 patients who underwent Nissen (total) fundoplication at least 10 years ago (September 1991 to August 1995) were determined prospectively using a structured questionnaire that evaluated clinical symptom scores for heartburn, dysphagia, and satisfaction with clinical outcomes.

Results: Clinical followup data for at least 10 years (120 to 167 months) after operation were available for 226 patients, an additional 21 patients had died, making outcomes for 247 patients (99%).

Bacterial translocation may influence the long-term survival in colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of bacterial translocation with long-term disease-specific and disease-free survival in colorectal cancer patients.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in which 128 and 30 colorectal cancer patients undergoing curative and palliative resections, respectively, were recruited between 1992 and 1997. Samples of mesenteric lymph nodes were harvested for culture before administration of prophylactic antibiotics.