Day: May 8, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Faculty of Medicine has invented a durable brace known as the Modified UKM Internal Brace (MUIB), used for the replacement of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) due to injuries from strenuous activities including sports.

Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz orthopaedic specialist Profesor Madya Datuk Dr Badrul Akmal Hisham Md Yusoff said the innovation was sparked when he saw some patients, who had undergone ACL reconstruction surgery due to injuries, still not feeling stable following the insertion of the graft that was still not as strong as the original ACL or was loose.

“The process of proving this MUIB innovation (works) has actually been ongoing since 2018 via discussions, biomechanics studies, and observation of the results of surgery and rehabilitation of patients. So far more than 300 patients have undergone ACL/PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction surgery using this innovation and they (patients) have recovered and returned to active sp
orts.” he said.

“The difference in the preparation of durable braces this time is that we insert an Internal Brace into the brace which is usually used for surgery on ACL patients. This Internal Brace is able to provide elasticity to the brace and then it can strengthen and make the brace stronger and not loose. ‘

He said this to reporters when met after the launching ceremony of the Modified UKM Internal Brace (MUIB) ACL/PCL Graft by UKM deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation Affairs) Professor Datuk Dr Wan Kamal Mujani here today.

Dr Badrul, who is a clinical lecturer at UKM’s Faculty of Medicine, said patients who use the new innovation are able to walk without using crutches as early as within four weeks compared to previously taking about two to three months.

“Among MUIB’s advantages when using an allograft tendon, that is a tendon obtained from an organ donor, is a faster rehabilitation process, no pain in the patient’s own hamstring muscle (after the tendon is taken to be prepared as an AC
L graft), and the strength and function of the hamstring is preserved,” he said

Additionally, he said with the use of the MUIB allograft that has been prepared in advance, the duration of the surgery is shorter, about 40 minutes only compared to if the autograft tendon is used.

“With this new innovation, it is able to give hope to any ACL patient especially to athletes and professionals, for them to return to action in their respective fields because we believe the MUIB helps to strengthen their movements again,” he said.

He said the innovation had also been filed to be patented in Malaysia last December through the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) as a start and would then be patented internationally.

Celebrity Hun Haqeem, 26, underwent ACL reconstruction surgery using the allograft MUIB method in September last year after suffering a knee injury while performing a stunt on location during the filming of the drama ‘W:Two Worlds’.

“After the surgery… I was performing in the ‘Mask S
inger’ show but actually during that period I was still rehabilitating… but Alhamdulillah, I was also surprised because I was able to finish the performance session without any problems.

“After the surgery, it took me about four weeks to walk… This kind of innovation gives us more confidence as patients to go back to work and it (innovation) has been proven to be effective,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has commended advances in relations and cooperation between Cambodia and the United States and highly appreciated the remarkable contributions by U.S. Ambassador H.E. W. Patrick Murphy and his team.

The Cambodian DPM made the remarks during the Ambassador’s farewell call at the ministry in Phnom Penh on May 8, according to a news release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued this evening.

H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea also congratulated H.E. Ambassador on receiving as a token of his endeavours the highest distinction of the Royal Order of Sahametrey, Class of Maha Sereywath, from Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister.

The two sides noted with satisfaction positive developments in bilateral relations including exchanges of visits between top leaders as well as partnerships and cooperation in health, education, culture and antiquities conservation, people-to-people ties, demining, Am
ericans missing in action in Cambodia, and combating COVID-19.

H.E. Deputy Prime Minister expressed sincere appreciation for U.S. assistance contributing significantly to the development of Cambodia. H.E. Ambassador thanked the Royal Government for its cooperation and support for his activities and the Embassy’s programmes, and highly valued the strengthening and expanding of good relations during his mission in Cambodia.

The two sides also discussed future cooperation as Cambodia assumes the role of country coordinator for ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue Relations under a new three-year cycle.

H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea looks forward to welcoming the new U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia and enjoying the same level of cooperation and support.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

PUTRAJAYA, The Ministry of National Unity (KPN) has no plan to establish a new 24-hour hotline, to handle complaints related to insults against any religion other than Islam, said its Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.

He said this was due to the existing unity issue management mechanism implemented by the Department of National Unity and National Integration (JPNIN).

He added that although KPN does not have special powers or provisions, such as laws, to take legal action, the ministry, through JPNIN, plays an important role in helping to manage unity issues.

‘One of the unity issue management mechanisms which have been prepared and implemented by JPNIN, is the detection and monitoring, at the grassroots level, through the e-Sepakat; Dashboard Analitik Perpaduan and Mediator Kommuniti,’ he said.

He said that his ministry took note of Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau’s proposal for the creation of two additional 24-hour hotlines to handle complaints related to insults against any
religion other than Islam, and also ethnic groups, language, culture, lifestyle or identity, as well as a hotline for people to report incitement and violence.

‘The e-Sepakat system will detect, monitor and report unity issues digitally, in addition to being a central data collection centre under his ministry.

He added that the system has three main components which record information, namely I-kes (to record unity issues which have occurred); I-ramal (to record issues or news which are expected to occur) and I-Mediator (a database of community mediator information, including appointment matters and mediation case reporting).

Aaron said that the Dashboard Analitik Perpaduan (unity analytics dashboard) supports the e-Sepakat system, through the mapping of high-risk and ‘hotspot’ areas which are capable of disrupting harmony between races and religions.

He said that the Mediator Komuniti, comprised of neighbourhood watch (RT) leaders, unity officers and religious non-governmental organisations (NGOs), can a
ct as community mediators, in curbing and managing issues of unity or social conflict at the community level.

He added that the ministry has 562 certified and trained community mediators, who are ready to provide services to the community free of charge.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

President of the Senate of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, called on here this morning the Qatari side to open an embassy in Cambodia and reconnect flight between the two nations to further enhance trade, investment, and tourism.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen made the request when he received a courtesy call from H.E. Khalid Ali Abdullah Abel, Ambassador to the State of Qatar to Cambodia.

Qatar is a rich nation; therefore, she should open an embassy here rather than a residence in another country, he said, recalling the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries since 2008 when Prime Minister of Qatar paid a visit to Cambodia.

On the occasion, Samdech Techo Hun Sen also laid stress on Qatar’s relations with ASEAN as Qatar signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation when Cambodia held the ASEAN chairmanship in 2022.

The Cambodian senate president reminded that Qatar should resume Qatar Airlines’ flights after being suspended since the COVID-19 outbreak to allow people-to-peo
ple contacts as well as bring visitors from the Middle East and Europe to Cambodia, and brings visitors from Cambodia and the ASEAN region back to Qatar.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen encouraged Qatar to consider the possibility to sign a bilateral free trade agreement, as Cambodia has done with China, Republic of Korea, and Saudi Arabia.

For his part, H.E. Khalid Ali Abdullah Abel pledged to do his best to bring the diplomatic relations between the two nations to a higher level and expand the bilateral relations mainly in the field of food security as Cambodia is a food producing country.

The ambassador also promised to encourage investors from Qatar to Cambodia and vice versa to study the possibility of investment cooperation. He also mentioned the areas of interest for Qatar investors such as oil, gas, infrastructure, hospital and airport construction, and so on.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse