Dr. Verasingam Kumarasamy | Imu (original) (raw)
Uploads
Papers by Dr. Verasingam Kumarasamy
International e-Journal of Science, Medicine & Education
Tropical biomedicine, 2020
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) could possibly cause mild to severe health effects such as diarrh... more Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) could possibly cause mild to severe health effects such as diarrhea, weakness, intestinal blood loss, and impaired cognitive development and growth. In Malaysia, previous studies depicted a high prevalence rate of STH was due to poor hygiene practice and low efficacies of anthelminthic drugs. This study was conducted to investigate hand hygiene practice and WASH criteria's (Water, sanitation and hygiene) related to STH infection among two indigenous tribes in Peninsular Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was carried out to study the relationship among STH infection compared to water quality, sanitation, and hygiene conditions. A total of 190 individuals from two indigenous villages participated in the study, with ages ranging from 5 to 60 years old. In addition, Pearson's Chisquare (X2) test was utilized to test the relationship among STH with demographic socioeconomic and behavioral factors. The confidence interval (CI) of 95% is used to estim...
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2016
Background: Trichomoniasis infection is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease wo... more Background: Trichomoniasis infection is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. In this study, the frequency of Trichomonas vaginalis infection and the possible risk factors were examined in women attending gynecological clinics in Qom, central Iran. Methods & Materials: A total of 300 women aged 18-50 years were enrolled. Three swab specimens were collected from vaginal discharge of each woman. One swab was used for wet mount preparation and examined for flagellated organism with motility by microscopy; the second swab was used for smear preparation and stained with Giemsa and Gram and examined under the light microscope for cellular/bacterial morphology. The last swab was inoculated into PBS, DNA was extracted by phenol-chloroform method and PCR was set for ITS DNA region. The result of ITS-PCR was confirmed by sequencing of the PCR product. Results: Of total 300 vaginal specimens, 34 samples (11.3%) in wet mount and 96 samples (32%) in ITS-PCR were positive for T. vaginalis (T.V.) infection. The result of sequencing showed the target gene was amplified. Chi-Square and Fisher-Exact tests showed statistically significant difference between T.V. positive and T.V. negative subjects in regard of dysuria (P = 0.001), itching (P = 0.05), history of abortion (P = 0.001), low-birth weight (P = 0.05) and ectopic pregnancy (P = 0.002). There was also a significant increase in epithelial cells and white blood cells (P = 0.000) and Gram+ bacteria (P = 0.001) shedding in vaginal discharge of T.V. positive group. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of T.V. infection was significantly increased in women with history of abortion (OR = 91.84; 95%CI = 15.50-544.22; P = 0.000), premature birth (OR = 43.29; 95%CI = 2.78-671.98; P = 0.007), and PROM (OR = 21.75; 95%CI = 2.12-222.95; P = 0.009). Conclusion: Awareness should be raised in women with T. vaginalis infection regarding the high risk of reproductive complications such as abortion. Early diagnosis by PCR and accurate treatment of infected people could prevent dissemination of the infection.
Pakistan Journal of Nutrition
![Research paper thumbnail of Erratum to ‘Molecular approach to detect Albendazole resistance in Trichuris trichiura among Orang Asli in Malaysia’ [International Journal of Infectious Diseases Volume 45, Supplement 1, April 2016, page 369]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/66851249/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2016
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2016
Background: Addressing breast cancer patients' unmet supportive care needs in the early stage of ... more Background: Addressing breast cancer patients' unmet supportive care needs in the early stage of their survivorship have become a prime concern because of its significant association with poor quality of life (QOL), which in turn increases healthcare utilization and costs. There is no study about unmet supportive care needs of breast cancer patients in Malaysia. This study aims to assess the most prevalent unmet supportive care needs of Malaysian breast cancer patients and the association between QOL and patients' characteristics, and their unmet supportive care needs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Surgery and Oncology Clinic between May 2014 and June 2014 in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. A total of 117 patients out of 133 breast cancer patients recruited by universal sampling were interviewed using a structured questionnaire consisted of three parts: participants' sociodemographic and disease characteristics, Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form Questionnaire (SCNS-SF34) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results: The highest unmet supportive care needs were observed in the psychological domain (Mean 53.31; SD ± 21.79), followed by physical domain (Mean 38.16; SD ± 27.15). Most prevalent unmet supportive care needs were uncertainty about the future (78.6 %), fears about the cancer spreading (76.1 %), feelings of sadness (69.2 %), feelings about death and dying (68.4 %), concerns about those close to the patient (65.0 %) and feeling down or depressed (65.0 %). Multivariate linear analysis showed that early breast cancer survivors diagnosed at an advanced stage and with greater physical and psychological needs were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with poorer QOL. Conclusion: Most prevalent unmet needs among Malaysian breast cancer patients were found in the psychological domain. Early breast cancer survivors with late stage diagnosis who had more unmet needs in psychological and physical domains were more likely to have a poor QOL.
International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2016
British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research, 2015
Education in Medicine Journal, 2014
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2007
Respiratory infections constitute the most widespread human infectious disease, and a substantial... more Respiratory infections constitute the most widespread human infectious disease, and a substantial proportion of them are caused by unknown etiological agents. Reoviruses (respiratory enteric orphan viruses) were first isolated from humans in the early 1950s and so named because they were not associated with any known disease. Here, we report a previously unknown reovirus (named ''Melaka virus'') isolated from a 39-year-old male patient in Melaka, Malaysia, who was suffering from high fever and acute respiratory disease at the time of virus isolation. Two of his family members developed similar symptoms Ϸ1 week later and had serological evidence of infection with the same virus. Epidemiological tracing revealed that the family was exposed to a bat in the house Ϸ1 week before the onset of the father's clinical symptoms. Genome sequence analysis indicated a close genetic relationship between Melaka virus and Pulau virus, a reovirus isolated in 1999 from fruit bats in Tioman Island, Malaysia. Screening of sera collected from human volunteers on the island revealed that 14 of 109 (13%) were positive for both Pulau and Melaka viruses. This is the first report of an orthoreovirus in association with acute human respiratory diseases. Melaka virus is serologically not related to the different types of mammalian reoviruses that were known to infect humans asymptomatically. These data indicate that batborne reoviruses can be transmitted to and cause clinical diseases in humans. respiratory infection ͉ zoonosis ͉ human-to-human transmission ͉ orthoreovirus ͉ Pulau virus
Asian Journal of Research in Infectious Diseases
Introduction: Dengue is the most prevalent viral mosquito-borne disease, with over 2.5 billion hu... more Introduction: Dengue is the most prevalent viral mosquito-borne disease, with over 2.5 billion humans at risk given its endemicity in more than 100 countries. Globally, 50-100 million cases of dengue occur annually, with approximately 0.7% resulting in dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), and 22,000 deaths. In 2017, there were 83,849 reported cases of dengue fever in endemic under-reported Malaysia, with 177 deaths. One of our authors (Verasingam K 2006) here, earlier published an article in the Med J Malaysia titled “Dengue Fever in Malaysia: Time for Review?” This Article is meant as a sequel. Method: The Authors here narrate from their own personal-experiences, as well as from reviewing existing-literature. Results and Conclusion: Clinical Management has brought about vast improvements in mortality and morbidity. Similarly, great advancements in Laboratory Diagnostics. Prevention and Control methods have been desiring of greater achievements, but also show greater promise with Newer ...
International e-Journal of Science, Medicine & Education
Tropical biomedicine, 2020
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) could possibly cause mild to severe health effects such as diarrh... more Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) could possibly cause mild to severe health effects such as diarrhea, weakness, intestinal blood loss, and impaired cognitive development and growth. In Malaysia, previous studies depicted a high prevalence rate of STH was due to poor hygiene practice and low efficacies of anthelminthic drugs. This study was conducted to investigate hand hygiene practice and WASH criteria's (Water, sanitation and hygiene) related to STH infection among two indigenous tribes in Peninsular Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was carried out to study the relationship among STH infection compared to water quality, sanitation, and hygiene conditions. A total of 190 individuals from two indigenous villages participated in the study, with ages ranging from 5 to 60 years old. In addition, Pearson's Chisquare (X2) test was utilized to test the relationship among STH with demographic socioeconomic and behavioral factors. The confidence interval (CI) of 95% is used to estim...
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2016
Background: Trichomoniasis infection is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease wo... more Background: Trichomoniasis infection is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. In this study, the frequency of Trichomonas vaginalis infection and the possible risk factors were examined in women attending gynecological clinics in Qom, central Iran. Methods & Materials: A total of 300 women aged 18-50 years were enrolled. Three swab specimens were collected from vaginal discharge of each woman. One swab was used for wet mount preparation and examined for flagellated organism with motility by microscopy; the second swab was used for smear preparation and stained with Giemsa and Gram and examined under the light microscope for cellular/bacterial morphology. The last swab was inoculated into PBS, DNA was extracted by phenol-chloroform method and PCR was set for ITS DNA region. The result of ITS-PCR was confirmed by sequencing of the PCR product. Results: Of total 300 vaginal specimens, 34 samples (11.3%) in wet mount and 96 samples (32%) in ITS-PCR were positive for T. vaginalis (T.V.) infection. The result of sequencing showed the target gene was amplified. Chi-Square and Fisher-Exact tests showed statistically significant difference between T.V. positive and T.V. negative subjects in regard of dysuria (P = 0.001), itching (P = 0.05), history of abortion (P = 0.001), low-birth weight (P = 0.05) and ectopic pregnancy (P = 0.002). There was also a significant increase in epithelial cells and white blood cells (P = 0.000) and Gram+ bacteria (P = 0.001) shedding in vaginal discharge of T.V. positive group. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of T.V. infection was significantly increased in women with history of abortion (OR = 91.84; 95%CI = 15.50-544.22; P = 0.000), premature birth (OR = 43.29; 95%CI = 2.78-671.98; P = 0.007), and PROM (OR = 21.75; 95%CI = 2.12-222.95; P = 0.009). Conclusion: Awareness should be raised in women with T. vaginalis infection regarding the high risk of reproductive complications such as abortion. Early diagnosis by PCR and accurate treatment of infected people could prevent dissemination of the infection.
Pakistan Journal of Nutrition
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2016
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2016
Background: Addressing breast cancer patients' unmet supportive care needs in the early stage of ... more Background: Addressing breast cancer patients' unmet supportive care needs in the early stage of their survivorship have become a prime concern because of its significant association with poor quality of life (QOL), which in turn increases healthcare utilization and costs. There is no study about unmet supportive care needs of breast cancer patients in Malaysia. This study aims to assess the most prevalent unmet supportive care needs of Malaysian breast cancer patients and the association between QOL and patients' characteristics, and their unmet supportive care needs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Surgery and Oncology Clinic between May 2014 and June 2014 in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. A total of 117 patients out of 133 breast cancer patients recruited by universal sampling were interviewed using a structured questionnaire consisted of three parts: participants' sociodemographic and disease characteristics, Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form Questionnaire (SCNS-SF34) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results: The highest unmet supportive care needs were observed in the psychological domain (Mean 53.31; SD ± 21.79), followed by physical domain (Mean 38.16; SD ± 27.15). Most prevalent unmet supportive care needs were uncertainty about the future (78.6 %), fears about the cancer spreading (76.1 %), feelings of sadness (69.2 %), feelings about death and dying (68.4 %), concerns about those close to the patient (65.0 %) and feeling down or depressed (65.0 %). Multivariate linear analysis showed that early breast cancer survivors diagnosed at an advanced stage and with greater physical and psychological needs were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with poorer QOL. Conclusion: Most prevalent unmet needs among Malaysian breast cancer patients were found in the psychological domain. Early breast cancer survivors with late stage diagnosis who had more unmet needs in psychological and physical domains were more likely to have a poor QOL.
International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2016
British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research, 2015
Education in Medicine Journal, 2014
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2007
Respiratory infections constitute the most widespread human infectious disease, and a substantial... more Respiratory infections constitute the most widespread human infectious disease, and a substantial proportion of them are caused by unknown etiological agents. Reoviruses (respiratory enteric orphan viruses) were first isolated from humans in the early 1950s and so named because they were not associated with any known disease. Here, we report a previously unknown reovirus (named ''Melaka virus'') isolated from a 39-year-old male patient in Melaka, Malaysia, who was suffering from high fever and acute respiratory disease at the time of virus isolation. Two of his family members developed similar symptoms Ϸ1 week later and had serological evidence of infection with the same virus. Epidemiological tracing revealed that the family was exposed to a bat in the house Ϸ1 week before the onset of the father's clinical symptoms. Genome sequence analysis indicated a close genetic relationship between Melaka virus and Pulau virus, a reovirus isolated in 1999 from fruit bats in Tioman Island, Malaysia. Screening of sera collected from human volunteers on the island revealed that 14 of 109 (13%) were positive for both Pulau and Melaka viruses. This is the first report of an orthoreovirus in association with acute human respiratory diseases. Melaka virus is serologically not related to the different types of mammalian reoviruses that were known to infect humans asymptomatically. These data indicate that batborne reoviruses can be transmitted to and cause clinical diseases in humans. respiratory infection ͉ zoonosis ͉ human-to-human transmission ͉ orthoreovirus ͉ Pulau virus
Asian Journal of Research in Infectious Diseases
Introduction: Dengue is the most prevalent viral mosquito-borne disease, with over 2.5 billion hu... more Introduction: Dengue is the most prevalent viral mosquito-borne disease, with over 2.5 billion humans at risk given its endemicity in more than 100 countries. Globally, 50-100 million cases of dengue occur annually, with approximately 0.7% resulting in dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), and 22,000 deaths. In 2017, there were 83,849 reported cases of dengue fever in endemic under-reported Malaysia, with 177 deaths. One of our authors (Verasingam K 2006) here, earlier published an article in the Med J Malaysia titled “Dengue Fever in Malaysia: Time for Review?” This Article is meant as a sequel. Method: The Authors here narrate from their own personal-experiences, as well as from reviewing existing-literature. Results and Conclusion: Clinical Management has brought about vast improvements in mortality and morbidity. Similarly, great advancements in Laboratory Diagnostics. Prevention and Control methods have been desiring of greater achievements, but also show greater promise with Newer ...