Vitamin D status and clinical implications in the adult population of Malaysia: a position paper by the Malaysian Vitamin D Special Interest Group.

PURPOSE: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common among populations globally, and in Asia and Malaysia. The purpose of this Position Paper is to propose recommendations for both clinicians and non-clinicians to promote vitamin D sufficiency in Malaysian adults. Formation of a national multisector, multidisciplinary alliance is also proposed to progress initiatives relating to safe sun exposure, adequate vitamin D intake through food fortification, and vitamin D supplementation for high-risk groups. METHODS: Literature reviews were undertaken to inform summaries of the following: vitamin D status globally and in Asian and Malaysian populations, vitamin D status among individuals with common medical conditions, and current recommendations to achieve vitamin D sufficiency through sun exposure, food intake and supplementation. Recommendations were based on the findings of the literature reviews, recent European guidance on vitamin D supplementation, the 2018 road map for action on vitamin D in low- and middle-income countries, and research recommendations proposed by the Malaysian Ministry of Health in 2017. RESULTS: Recommendations on assessment of vitamin D in the adult Malaysian population include using serum or plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration as a biomarker, widespread participation by Malaysian laboratories in the Vitamin D Standardization Program, adoption of the US Endocrine Society definitions of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, and development of a comprehensive nationwide vitamin D status study. Specific high-risk groups are identified for vitamin D assessment and recommendations relating to loading doses and ongoing management are also made. CONCLUSION: This Position Paper provides individual clinicians and national stakeholder organisations with clear recommendations to achieve vitamin D sufficiency in the adult population of Malaysia.

Isolated Infraspinatous Atrophy from a Spinoglenoid Cyst: A Case Report.

We present a case of a 26-year-old gentleman with isolated right infraspinatus atrophy arising from a spinoglenoid cyst of the right shoulder. He presented two years following his shoulder injury and failed conservative rehabilitation alone. At initial arthroscopic surgery, a superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) tear was diagnosed and the spinoglenoid cyst was debrided without formal labral repair. The patient's condition did not improve, and second arthroscopy was performed three months following the first with suture anchor repair of the labral tear and cyst decompression. Post-operative magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) scans showed complete resolution of the cyst and recovery of infraspinatus muscle bulk at six months. At final follow-up 18 months post SLAP repair, he has regained full shoulder function and has returned to recreational sports. Our case highlights the importance of proper management of SLAP tears in resolving spinoglenoid cysts by demonstrating the outcomes from two different surgical methods in the same patient.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction and Extra-Articular Tenodesis in a Contralateral Above-Knee Amputee Following Complex Trauma: A Case Report.

We report the outcome following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction combined with a Modified LeMaire procedure in a patient who underwent multiple surgeries following an open ipsilateral femoral fracture and an above knee amputation of the contralateral limb at the time of initial trauma. This case highlights the importance of achieving ligamental stability in the contra-lateral limb in aiding proper rehabilitation following amputation and the potential pitfalls of retrograde femoral nailing.

Explaining Osteomyelitis and Prosthetic Joint Infections (PJI) in terms of Biofilm - A Review.

Osteomyelitis is a chronic infection of bones. Eradication of bone infection is usually with antibiotics and debridement, but it is slow and the infection can recur even after many years. It is now established that osteomyelitis is due to biofilm and a better understanding of the process is required. We review the development of biofilm and apply it to osteomyelitis management. The planktonic microbes' response to adverse conditions is the formation of biofilm. Bacterial infections in planktonic forms cause infections that can be controlled with antibiotics and immunisation, however the same microbe when its phenotype becomes biofilm is more resilient. The understanding of how planktonic bacteria convert to biofilm is one of the aims set out for this article.

Early Experience of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty in a Public Hospital in Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty provides a surgical alternative to standard total shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of cuff tear arthropathy, arthritis and fracture sequelae. This study aimed to assess the short-term outcomes following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for patients in a large public hospital in Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified and performed five primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasties between 1 May 2019 and 1 June 2020. All patients were contactable and available for analysis. Assessment of functional outcomes was performed using the Constant-Murley score, the patient satisfaction score (PSS), and imaging studies. The mean follow-up from operation to the time of reporting was 9.6 months (range, 3 to 14 months). RESULTS: The median age for our patients was 58 years (±11.91). The most common indication for surgery was post-traumatic arthritis, followed by rotator cuff arthropathy and osteoarthritis. The mean Constant score improved from 9.0 pre-operatively to 52.3 post-operatively at a mean of 9.6 months. The majority of the patients were satisfied with the surgery as the post-operative range of motion, especially anterior elevation and abduction, improved in four of our patients and there were no short-term complications, for example, of infection or revisions, reported at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that reverse total shoulder arthroplasty can yield good short-term outcomes for the treatment of complex shoulder problems in addition to cuff tear arthropathy. It should be considered a treatment for rotator cuff tears, severe arthritis and ≥ 3 parts proximal humeral fractures.

Functional Outcomes Following Posterior Cruciate Ligament and Posterolateral Corner Reconstructions. A Three-year Experience in Seremban, Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to evaluate the demographics, causes and outcomes of patients who underwent Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) reconstruction and/or Posterolateral Corner (PLC) reconstruction performed at our institution over the last three years. Sub-analysis was performed to assess the impact of delay from injury to surgery and how this affected outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From an initial number of 10 patients, seven were contactable and available for analysis. All patients underwent PCL and/or PLC reconstruction (modified Larson's procedure) between 2017 and 2019. The mean age of our cohort was 31.4±9.6 years (range, 21 to 46). Assessment of functional outcomes pre- and post-operatively were done using the Lysholm knee scoring scale, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and visual analogue scale (VAS). The mean follow-up from operation at time of reporting was seven months (range, 2 to 12 months). RESULTS: There were four combined PCL and PLCs, two isolated PLCs and one patient who underwent an isolated PCL reconstruction. There were significant improvements between pre-operative and post-operative in all functional outcome scores utilised following PCL reconstruction and/or modified Larson's reconstruction. Lysholm knee scoring scale improved from pre-operative to post-operative at 41.14±12.32 to 74.86±13.52 (p=0.0001), KOOS from 49.71±11.19 to 71.43±13.84 (p=0.001), and VAS from 5.71±2.06 to 2.86±2.48 (p=0.001). Our sub-analysis showed that higher functional outcomes were present when surgery was done less than six months from the time of index injury. There were no complications (eg. Infections, revisions) in this cohort at the time of reporting. CONCLUSION: Reconstructive surgery for PCL and/or PLC injury is successful in increasing the functional outcomes of patients post-operatively. Delays from injury to surgery remains a problem in the public setting as patients may need to await appropriate imaging and approval of funding. Increased awareness for early surgical intervention may improve overall outcomes of PCL and/or PLC reconstruction in Malaysia.

Preparation, characterization and biological evaluation of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes with cephalexin.

Copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of cephalexin have been prepared and characterized by microanalysis and by thermogravimetric, magnetic and spectroscopic analysis. The complexes were found to be five-coordinate, monohydrate, and ML2 type. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectral lines revealed rhombic distortion from axial symmetry, with g(parallel) > g(perpendicular) > g(e), in the elongated-tetragonal copper(II) complex. The geometry of the zinc(II) complex seems to be square-pyramidal. On complexation with copper and zinc the antimicrobial activity of cephalexin improved significantly. The copper complex was found to be active against kaolin paw oedema whereas the parent drug was inactive. These results suggest that the metallic elements should be seriously considered during drug design, and that complexes already reported should be subjected to clinical evaluation. Their use could provide an easy way of improving the activity and reducing the toxicity of drug substances.