Issue: IeJSME 2014 8(2)

Authors: Masayuki Niwa, Satoshi Yoshida, Kazuhiro Takamizawa, Satoshi Nagaoka, Nobumitsu Kawakubo, Yuzo Takahashi, Yasuyuki Suzuki.

ABSTRACT

Background: Development in internet technology enables e-learning at the higher education level. We have developed the Internet PBL-Tutorial System/Rakuichi that allows multi-directional communication among participants with web-based bulletin boards. Although this system has been successful in medical education at the undergraduate level, we sought to encourage “readonly members” to participate more fully in the program.

Methods: To this end, we compared the posting frequency among three strategies: (1) students and tutors had an off-site meeting to promote face-to-face communication during the course, (2) several classes were allowed to watch the discussion in other classes in the second half of the course, (3) three classes (5 – 6 students each) in one topic were combined into one class (16 students) in the second half.

Results: No meaningful effects were observed for strategies (1) or (2). However, the posting frequency increased 50 % for strategy (3).

Conclusion: Facilitation of communication among participants was achieved by increasing the number of student participants. We predicted that an optimal number of students in each class in internet-based PBL would be ~20 people.

Keywords: Web-based, PBL-tutorial, master course, facilitation, education method, group size.

Citation: IeJSME 2014 8(2): 4-11

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.8.2.4

Authors: Jenn Haw Fong, Kenny Voon, Stephen Ambu, Joon Wah Mak.

ABSTRACT

Background: The tissue specimens used for extraction of DNA in this study were from rodents trapped in four states in Peninsular Malaysia, namely Kedah, Kelantan, Selangor and Johor.

Methods: Histological sections of these rodent muscle tissues stained with hematoxylin and eosin showed infection with Sarcocystis spp. Based on these results, the current study was carried out to determine the phylogenetic relationship among the identified Sarcocystis spp. in these rodents. The formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) rodent muscle blocks were subjected to DNA extraction and followed with semi nested PCR targeting 5’ and 3’ regions of 18S rRNA of Sarcocystis spp.

Results: Phylogenetic analysis showed two distinct groups of Sarcocystis spp. among the rodents in Peninsular Malaysia. Most of the identified Sarcocystis spp. were genetically closely related to Sarcocystis rodentifelis and Sarcocystis muris and were also observed to be genetically closely related to Sarcocystis sp. ex Columba livia and Sarcocystis sp. cyst type I ex Anser albifrons.

Conclusion: Further classification to confirm these Sarcocystis spp. was not possible as only partial sequences of 18S rRNA was available and this was insufficient for optimal differentiation.

Keywords: Sarcocystis, rodents.

Citation: IeJSME 2014 8(2): 12-17

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.8.2.12

Authors: Yaya Liliana Hanapian, Joon Wah Mak, Paul Chieh Yee Chen.

ABSTRACT

Background: In Malaysia, the most common soil-transmitted helminth infections are A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworms. However, as there have been no extensive surveys on these infections, it is difficult to estimate with certainty the current overall incidence of infection with soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) among the Malaysian population including the Orang Aslis.

Materials and Methods: A study was conducted to determine the infection rate of soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal protozoa among the Jehai Orang Aslis (Aborigines). The study was conducted between December 2005 and August 2006, in four Jehai villages of Perak State, Malaysia. A total of 175 stool samples was collected and personal identification such as name, age, household identification, and date of collection were recorded on the spot during collection. Faecal smears were stained with Trichrome for protozoa cysts and trophozoites and the modified Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast method for the oocyst of Cryptosporidium and Isospora. Wet mounts with tincture of iodine of both stool samples (10% formalin and PVA) were also examined to detect cysts, ova and larva of intestinal helminths.

Results: The prevalence rates of Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm among the Jehai were 70.8%, 24.0%, and 10.9% respectively. The prevalence of Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia intestinalis, Blastocystis hominis, and microsporidium was 40.6%, 33.7%, 25.7%, 91.4%, and 27.4% respectively. The difference in prevalence rates among the different age-groups and sex were found not significant. Children aged 0-9 years old had the highest prevalence rate of intestinal parasites and only 2 (1.1%) were free of any intestinal parasites.

Conclusion: Intestinal parasitic infections were therefore still common among these people. Children aged 0-9 years old were found to have the highest infection rate of all the intestinal parasites examined. Further investigations are needed to determine more specific transmission of these infections, so that an attempt to control these infections can be made.

Keywords: Soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal protozoa, intestinal parasitic infections, Orang Asli.

Citation: IeJSME 2014 8(2): 18-23

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.8.2.18