Author: Pei Kuan Lai

The pH of very dilute solutions of weak acids – a calculation involving the application of numerical skills to the solution of a cubic equation

Posted Pei Kuan LaiPosted in Research Note

Author: Peter Michael Barling

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the solution to a calculation of the pH of a very dilute solution of a weak acid, taking into account the effect of the hydroxonium ions generated from the ionization of the acid on the ionization of water, also a very weak acid. To be solved successfully, this calculation involves the concepts of conservation of charge, pH, equilibria and the application of the general solution to a cubic equation. Such an exercise requires the application of skills in algebra, and can provide a core of understanding that can prepare advanced students for many different sorts of calculations that represent real-life problems in the chemical sciences. A programme is presented in C++ which enables the work of students to be individualized so that each student in a class can work through a slightly different pH calculation, in such a way that a class supervisor can quickly check each student’s result for accuracy. This exercise is presented as a potential means of enabling students to undertake and master similar types of calculations involving the application of complex algebra to problems related to equilibria and solution dynamics.

Keywords: pH, weak acid, conservation of charge, equilibria, cubic equation.

Citation: IeJSME 2014 8(2): 24-29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.8.2.24

Tuberous sclerosis with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis and renal angiomyolipomas

Posted Pei Kuan LaiPosted in Case Study & Report

Authors: Hui Min Chong, Shien Yee Ng.

ABSTRACT

The case report describes the presentation of a 19-year old female with tuberous sclerosis who presented with progressive dyspnoea over 2 days. Chest radiograph revealed bilateral pneumothorax. Computed tomography showed features of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis and bilateral renal angiomyolipomas. The coexistence of both conditions may cause devastating morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Tuberous sclerosis, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, pneumothorax.

Citation: IeJSME 2014 8(2): 30-34

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.8.2.30

Interprofessional learning in nursing – a review

Posted Pei Kuan LaiPosted in Review Articles

Authors: Mini Rani Mary Beth, Pek Hong Lim, Chitra Rathina Pandi.

ABSTRACT

Interprofessional learning (IPL) promotes collaboration among healthcare professionals in providing quality healthcare. For the IPL to have a positive influence on inter-professional collaboration, opportunities must be made available for the healthcare students to learn together. Attitudinal factors have been identified as the major factor hindering the implementation of IPL. In Malaysia, little is known about attitudes of healthcare students towards IPL. Students from different health disciplines often have poor conception of each other’s roles as a member of the healthcare team. IPL increases this knowledge and gives students an understanding of the interpersonal skills needed for liaison and communication. Students from different disciplines who learn together develop interpersonal and teamwork skills, and gain knowledge of how other professionals work. IPL has been shown to create teams that work together better and improve patient experience. In general, IPL aims to improve patient safety, enhance patient satisfaction, and increase levels of innovation in patient care, and increase staff motivation, well-being and retention. There has been increasing emphasis on the important role that interprofessional education (IPE) must play in educating and developing present and future healthcare professionals. This review aims to examine how learning outcomes are articulated in the field of IPE and includes the benefits, importance, ethical concepts and application of IPL in nursing.

Keywords: Interprofessional learning, Nursing education, experiential learning, ethical competency.

Citation: IeJSME 2015 9(1): 9-20

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.9.1.9

Oily fish, liquid wax esters and keriorrhoea – a review

Posted Pei Kuan LaiPosted in Review Articles

Authors: Peter Michael Barling, Yi Huan Foong.

ABSTRACT

Keriorrhoea is the involuntarily passing of orange oil per rectum. One of us (PMB) had the misfortune to experience this symptom, together with considerable gastrointestinal disturbances for a prolonged period of time after consumption of a deep sea fish, orange roughy, which is rich in liquid wax esters (LWEs). This paper presents a summary of available evidence concerned with the physiology and pathology of ingestion of LWEs, which can enter the human diet in substantial amounts from consumption of several species of deep-sea fish. LWEs are poorly digested and absorbed by the human body. They generally cause keriorrhoea when ingested deliberately or accidentally. Jojoba oil, which is a plant LWE, together with certain nutritional products (e.g. olestra) and medical (e.g. Orlistat) which are not LWEs may mimic the effects of LWEs, and cause similar gastrointestinal disturbances. This paper discusses the potential effects of LWEs as components of gastrointestinal micelles, and predicts that the orange oil which is leaked from a bout of keriorrhoea may contain considerable volumes of triacylglycerols (TAGs).

Keywords: keriorrhoea; liquid wax esters; orange roughy; escolar; oilfish; lipase; 2-monoglyceride.

Citation: IeJSME 2015 9(1): 21-25

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.9.1.21

Influence of rice and added sugar intakes on fasting plasma glucose and triacylglycerol levels amongst a population sample of Malaysian adults

Posted Pei Kuan LaiPosted in Original Article

Authors: Zhi Yee Lee, Joshua Chuan Yung Foo, Mei Qian Lim, Zheng Xian Koh, Wendy Hui Yi Wong, Tony Kock Wai Ng.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: A recently published meta-analysis showed that each additional serving of rice increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) by an alarming 11%. We investigated whether this phenomenon is seen in the Malaysian population by studying the effect of rice intake and added sugar consumption on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting triacylglycerol (TAG).

Methods: Ninety subjects (60 females, 30 males, aged 30-70 years), adequate to detect a weak-to-moderate Pearson correlation of r=0.26 at a=0.05 and power=0.80, were recruited by convenience sampling from six communities in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Fasting blood samples were collected by finger-prick and analysed for FPG (AccuCek, Roche) and TAG (Accutrend, Roche). Macronutrient intakes, including rice, were obtained by a single interview using a previously-evaluated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and quantitated as grams by the DietPLUS V2 programme. Added sugar intakes by subjects were estimated using an Added Sugar Intake excel programme.

Results: Rice contributed to 85% of dietary carbohydrates, accounting for 41.8 % kcal of the average 1750-kcal diet. Rice intakes or added sugar consumption did not have a significant correlation (p>0.05) with FPG nor fasting TAG. Added sugar consumption, which averaged 44g/person/day (5% kcal) was markedly lower than the 137g/person/day reported elsewhere for the Malaysian population.

Conclusion: High consumption of rice as a risk factor of type 2 DM was not indicated in the present study. Since white rice consumption varied 10-fold in the present subjects, the reduction in daily intake of this staple food represents a feasible option for cutting back on calorie intake for overweight or obese individuals.

Keywords: Rice intake, added sugar, fasting plasma glucose, triacylglycerol.

Citation: IeJSME 2015 9(1): 26-31

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.9.1.26

Patient’s level of satisfaction with nurse-led telephone follow-up after cataract surgery at a private eye specialist centre in Penang

Posted Pei Kuan LaiPosted in Original Article

Authors: Swee Geok Lim, Aun Cyi Lim, Xiao Jing Wong.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The prevalence of cataract surgeries ranges from 7 to 12 million cases in 2000, 20 million in 2010 and an estimation of 32 million cataract surgeries annually by the year 2020 worldwide (WHO, 2015). Traditionally, the healthcare providers were only able to give health education before the patient is discharged from the healthcare setting while follow-up can only be done when the patient comes for their follow-up. But most of the patients will remain confused or had forgotten about the post-operative care even after receiving a comprehensive discharge preparation. However, with the advancement of technologies in this modern era, nurse-led telephone follow-up can be considered as a tool to assist healthcare providers in the follow-up care in Malaysia. On the same note, a private
eye specialist organisation with centres throughout Malaysia, had taken the initiative to provide telephone follow-up service for their patients with three main objectives namely, to provide pre- and post-education on cataract surgery, to detect early post cataract surgery complications as well as to minimise anxiety among their patients. However, till date no patient feedback regarding the service was conducted.

Objective: The research objective for this study was to determine patient’s level of satisfaction with the nurse-led telephone follow-up after cataract surgery at a private eye specialist centre in Penang.

Method: A cross sectional quantitative descriptive study design was used to study ninety post cataract patients in a private hospital, Penang through universal sampling method. A validated self-developed questionnaire based on the three main objectives of the telephone follow-up service was used for this study.

Results: Overall, the level of patient’s satisfaction with nurse-led telephone follow-up after cataract surgery at a private eye specialist centre in Penang was high (49.9±4.85) especially for the health education provided (4.18 ±0.21) followed by the effort to detect early complications (4.16 ±0.12) and to minimise patients’ anxiety level (4.16 ±0.12).

Keywords: cataract surgery, level of satisfaction, nurse-led telephone follow-up, patient.

Citation: IeJSME 2018 12(2): 4-13

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.12.2.4