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Innovative Partnership Between ITE, NUS And NUH Is About To Change How Kidney Stones Are Being Removed

A team of staff from ITE has successfully created a solution to simplify percutaneous-nephrolithotomy (PCNL), which is the complicated process of removing large or complex kidney stones. The Percutaneous-Access-to-Kidney-Assist Device (PAKAD) is made possible through ITE’s collaboration with the National University Hospital (NUH), the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Invivo Medical Pte Ltd.

Innovation to Make Complex Procedure Simpler, Shorter and Safer

PCNL is a complicated surgery technique that is usually carried out by senior surgeons. Traditionally, PCNL surgeons refer to x-ray imaging of the patient’s kidney to locate the stone(s), before inserting a long and hollow needle through the skin to reach the stone(s). An endoscope surgical instrument is then inserted through the aid of the needle passage to fragment and remove the stone(s). This is complex, as the surgeon has to use free-hand techniques to locate the stone(s) in a three-dimensional environment, while referring to a two-dimensional image. At times, several attempts may be required, which lengthens the patient’s exposure to x-ray radiation and recovery period.

The PAKAD incorporates precision engineering mechanisms to systematically adjust, guide and stabilize the needle into alignment with the targeted stone(s). Through successful trials on animals at NUH, the PAKAD has proven that it can simplify and shorten the PCNL process, hence reducing x-ray exposure, risks of complications, and recovery periods. With the PAKAD, the junior surgeons can also perform the needle insertion PCNL procedure

Multiple Parties Make Innovation Possible

ITE’s team’s research efforts were strengthened through the domain expertise of NUH and NUS. Through Invivo Medical, the device will be commercialized and a licensing agreement was signed among ITE, NUH, NUS and Invivo Medical. The team received financial support for the Applied Research through the MOE Innovation Fund, the NRF Proof-of-Concept grant, and the MOE Translational R&D and Innovation Fund.

Work on the PAKAD started in 2011. After the PAKAD was developed and a patent application was filed, the PAKAD was first showcased at a major event at TechInnovation 2013, as part of the Singapore start-up ecosystem. At the event, PAKAD was matched with an investor, who is now bringing the device to market through Invivo Medical. Over the next five years, the sales of the device is projected to hit S$25 million.

The contributions by various parties have made it possible for the innovation to benefit patients. The research team will complete clinical trials before obtaining regulatory approvals. PAKAD is expected to reach the market by the end of 2018.

“This is an excellent example of an industry-institution partnership to develop innovative and integrated solutions to improve productivity and processes. We are grateful to NUH, NUS and Invivo Medical, to enable ITE to create and patent the Percutaneous Access to Kidney Assist Device (PAKAD) for safe kidney surgery,” said Ms Low Khah Gek, CEO, ITE.

“The new technology allows for better precision during surgery and enhances patient safety and outcome. It expands on NUH’s track record of partnerships for clinical innovation and development that help raise the standard of clinical care. We look forward to more of these collaborations to bring about greater tangible benefits for our patients,” Prof Kesavan Esuvaranathan, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Urology, National University Hospital.

“NUS is delighted to have been part of this multi-party collaboration. Researchers from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine provided medical expertise, which ITE used to enhance the PAKAD. Realising the strong potential for this technology to improve clinical procedures and healthcare for kidney stone patients, the NUS Industry Liaison Office took the lead in the commercialization process, including managing negotiations for this multi-party licensing agreement. Our endeavor to bring innovative technologies closer to market is made possible with great partners who have similar goals,” said Mr Sean Flanigan, Director of NUS Industry Liaison Office.

“The new medical-device is the world’s first operational Percutaneous Access to Kidney Assist Device (PAKAD). It is the result of a successful collaboration by three institutions and the industry and made possible by a match-up at TechInnovation 2013. Beyond this, we plan to do continual product development to apply the invention to more minimally-invasive surgical and biopsy procedures,” said Dr Joseph Chai, Managing Director / Director, Invivo Medical Pte Ltd.

Source: https://biotechin.asia

September 19, 2017
Koleksi Tudung Dari Anuar Zain

Dah lama tak dengar cerita tentang penyanyi pujaan wanita, Anuar Zain. Khabarnya Anuar Zain sudah mula berniaga. Lebih mengejutkan perniagaan yang diceburinya itu memang lain dari yang lain. Selalunya selebriti lelaki akan keluarkan jenama pakaian sendiri tapi Anuar Zain tampil berani dengan mengeluarkan jenama tudungnya sendiri yang diberi nama AwanByAz.

Jangan terkejut, koleksi tudung ini sudah pun mula dijual menerusi laman rasmi www.shopbyaz.com. Menariknya tentang koleksi AwanByAz ini, setiap rekaan diinspirasikan daripada unsur-unsur keindahan alam semula jadi, kembara dan seni. Ketiga-tiga elemen ini diterapkan dalam koleksi AwanByAz. Apa yang pasti, tudung ini tampil dengan 7 rekaan corak moden yang pasti memikat hati para hijabista serta dihasilkan daripada fabrik yang berkualiti tinggi. Harga yang ditawarkan bermula RM220 hingga RM300.

Namun apa yang menjadi tanda tanya ialah mampukah tudung berharga RM200 ini bersaing dengan jenama-jenama hijab terkenal yang lain? Jom lihat koleksi tudung AwanByAz yang memang cantik-cantik belaka semuanya!

September 19, 2017
Manipulation Of The Constitution: #notmypresident #notmygovernment #notmydemocracy

I am one of those who have highlighted the hypocrisy on both sides upon observing both sides and my views are from my personal perspective. Categorically, I am against the manipulation of the constitution particularly the reserved election on basis of race by the government of the day to maintain grip of power bases. This however does not automatically mean I am supportive of any claim of an alternative voice challenging the primary power base. There are inconsistencies in what have been said, what have been allowed to be said, what have been silence and what have been forced to be silenced.

The example of double standard begins with the hashtag campaign of #notmypresident pointing to the legitimacy of the presidency rather than #notmygovernment or #notmydemocracy that would point to the mechanism and ideology used to manipulate the constitution. The campaign of #notmypresident must be nuanced with an alternative person for presidency. This is perhaps presented in the person of Dr Tan Cheng Bock, the best loser for PE2011. This is with the assumption that an open election by the revised criteria, he would qualify for candidacy. However, the little has been said about the Dr Tan’s capacity to meet the $500m company criteria that saw Mr Salleh and Mr Farid disqualified.

The #notmypresident campaign was preceded with a spoil your vote campaign which in sum was intended as a protest against the reserved election (almost without mention of the manipulation of the eligibility criteria) simultaneously denouncing the nomination of Mr Salleh and Mr Farid as potential candidates who have stepped forward in full awareness of the changes of the eligibility criteria. What makes the movement inconsistent and precursor to double standard is the treatment and opinion accorded to Dr Tan, a former PAP MP who was blocked from contesting primarily on the grounds of a racially reserved election and the treatment and opinion accorded to Mr Salleh, a voluntary director at Temasek Foundation Cares on the grounds of not meeting the $500m criteria.

Dr Tan was hailed as being robbed of the presidency while Mr Salleh was portrayed as a crony despite both are directly associated with the establishment and both were blocked from potentially contesting the presidency. The above inconsistency prompted me to ask if the anger was due to violated principles or violated opportunity of an individual. Unreservedly, I am supportive of Dr Tan’s challenge to the presidency. This does not mean that should a more qualified candidate be available, I should ignore. For example it has been widely publicised that Mdm Halimah has no financial background to be a custodian of the reserves. However, would Mr Salleh Marican be less qualified than Dr Tan C B in this aspect. What would the principle of meritocracy suggest?

It is also known that Mdm Halimah is an immediate alumni of the establishment, however between Mr Salleh and Dr Tan, the association to the establishment of Dr Tan is as a former card carrying allowanced PAP MP who has refrained from joining a different political party since stepping down, while Mr Salleh was a volunteer director at a nonprofit community service arm of Temasek. What would the principle of independence suggest? Categorically I qualify that I am here not to pit Dr Tan against Mr Salleh but to highlight the tenor and treatment put forth by the alternative movement on two violated candidates, both with sound financial acumen, both with ties with the establishment and both non partisan to any political party at the time of planned candidacy.

Thus I have to undertake a personal reflection and question aspects of privilege, rights and principles. With that, I need to caution myself against getting caught in a cult of personality because Democracy is not simply the propelling the voice of the majority (in the widest sense) or the rule of majority, democracy stands in symbiotic coupling to ensuring minority (in the widest sense) rights (in a sense just as wide). Without the latter, a discourse on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights that ensues will sit on an oppressive high ground as demand for justice on aspects where the majority feels shortchanged are heard loud while privileges that propels benefits to the same majority are retained in silence.

Source: R.H.

September 19, 2017
Akibat Buruk Berzina

Zina merupakan kejahatan yang sangat besar yang memberi kesan amat buruk kepada penzina itu sendiri, khususnya dan kepada seluruh umat. Di zaman sekarang di mana banyaknya saluran dan media yang berusaha menyeret pada arah perbuatan keji ini, maka amat perlu untuk setiap orang mengetahui bahaya dan akibat buruk yang timbul dari dosa zina. Kita semua hendaklah lebih berhati-hati dan berwaspada agar tidak terjerumus, hatta, walaupun hanya mendekatinya. Di antara akibat buruk dan bahaya tersebut adalah:

1. Dalam zina terkumpul bermacam-macam dosa dan keburukan yakni berkurangnya agama si penzina, hilangnya sikap wara’ (menjaga diri dari dosa), buruk kepribadian dan hilangnya rasa cemburu.

2. Zina membunuh rasa malu, padahal dalam Islam malu merupakan suatu hal yang amat diambil berat dan perhiasan yang sangat indah khasnya bagi wanita.

3. Menjadikan wajah pelakunya muram dan gelap.

4. Membuat hati menjadi gelap dan mematikan sinarnya.

5. Menjadikan pelakunya selalu dalam kemiskinan atau merasa demikian sehingga tidak pernah merasa cukup dengan apa yang diterimanya.

6. Akan menghilangkan kehormatan pelakunya dan jatuh martabatnya baik di hadapan Allah mahupun sesama manusia.

7. Allah akan mencampakkan sifat liar di hati penzina, sehingga pandangan matanya liar dan tidak terkawal.

8. Pezina akan dipandang oleh manusia dengan pandangan mual dan tidak percaya.

9. Zina mengeluarkan bau busuk yang mampu dihidu oleh orang-orang yang memiliki ‘qalbun salim’ (hati yang bersih) melalui mulut atau badannya.

10. Kesempitan hati dan dada selalu meliputi para pezina. Apa yang ia dapati dalam kehidupan ini adalah sebalik dari apa yang diingininya. Ini adalah kerana, orang yang mencari kenikmatan hidup dengan cara bermaksiat kepada Allah maka Allah akan memberikan yang sebaliknya dari apa yang dia inginkan, dan Allah tidak menjadikan maksiat sebagai jalan untuk mendapatkan kebaikan dan kebahagiaan.

11. Penzina telah mengharamkan dirinya untuk mendapat bidadari yang jelita di syurga kelak.

12. Perzinaan menyeret kepada terputusnya hubungan silaturrahim, derhaka kepada orang tua, pekerjaan haram, berbuat zalim, serta menyia-nyiakan keluarga dan keturunan. Bahkan boleh membawa kepada pertumpahan darah dan sihir serta dosa-dosa besar yang lain. Zina biasanya berkait dengan dosa dan maksiat yang lain sebelum atau bila berlakunya dan selepas itu biasanya akan melahirkan kemaksiatan yang lain pula.

13. Zina menghilangkan harga diri pelakunya dan merosakkan masa depannya di samping meninggalkan aib yang berpanjangan bukan sahaja kepada pelakunya malah kepada seluruh keluarganya.

14. Aib yang dicontengkan kepada pelaku zina lebih membekas dan mendalam daripada asakan akidah kafir, misalnya, kerana orang kafir yang memeluk Islam selesailah persoalannya. Namun dosa zina akan benar-benar membekas dalam jiwa kerana walaupun akhirnya pelaku zina itu bertaubat dan membersihkan diri dia akan masih merasa berbeza dengan orang yang tidak pernah melakukannya.

15. Jika wanita yang berzina hamil dan untuk menutupi aibnya ia mengugurkan kandungannya itu maka dia telah berzina dan juga telah membunuh jiwa yang tidak berdosa. Jika dia ialah seorang wanita yang telah bersuami dan melakukan kecurangan sehingga hamil dan membiarkan anak itu lahir maka dia telah memasukkan orang asing dalam keluarganya dan keluarga suaminya sehingga anak itu mendapat hak warisan mereka tanpa disedari siapa dia sebenarnya. Amat mengerikan, naudzubillah min dzalik.

16. Perzinaan akan melahirkan generasi individu-individu yang tidak ada asal keturunan (nasab). Di mata masyarakat mereka tidak memiliki status sosial yang jelas.

17. Pezina laki-laki berarti telah menodai kesucian dan kehormatan wanita.

18. Zina dapat menyemai permusuhan dan menyalakan api dendam antara keluarga wanita dengan lelaki yang telah berzina dengannya.

19. Perzinaan sangat mempengaruhi jiwa kaum keluarganya di mana mereka akan merasa jatuh martabat di mata masyarakat, sehingga kadang-kadang menyebabkan mereka tidak berani untuk mengangkat muka di hadapan orang lain.

20. Perzinaan menyebabkan menularnya penyakit-penyakit berbahaya seperti aids, siphilis, dan gonorhea atau kencing bernanah.

21. Perzinaan menjadikan sebab hancurnya suatu masyarakat yakni mereka semua akan dimusnahkan oleh Allah akibat dosa zina yang tersebar dan yang dilakukan secara terang-terangan.

Wallahualam. Semoga kita menjauhi perbuatan zina.

Source: Islampos

September 19, 2017
KL Abam Lashes Out At Malaysians Who Don’t Know How To Care For Their Children

And so the story has turned out that the fire that broke out at the tahfiz school, killing students and wardens, is now highly likely due to arson, by boys aged between 12 and 18 who are now in police custody. Allegedly because the boys from the tahfiz school chided them for taking drugs – syabu to be specific. And at the time of arrest, they have all been tested positive of the said substance. (added: or ganja) These boys went and stole gas tanks, filled containers with petrol, blocked the exit door with a mattress, set the gas tanks alight and ran off.

A 12 year old. 12. A boy who’s supposed to have sat for UPSR but instead got himself involved in killing 20+ men and children. A 12 year old. Friends, this is the sad, sad reality. The disparity in lifestyle and education is still very wide, even in the heart of our capital. While kids on Jalan Ampang go to private schools, monitored closely by their parents, some kids a few hundred meters away in Keramat are high on drugs, with their parents either totally oblivious or not giving a fuck about their children’s whereabouts or activities. Yes, I say fuck. Because I’m angry. With the kids. But more so with their parents.

If you think you’ll suck at raising children, if you think you don’t know what’s best for your children, then don’t have children. Because of your negligence, your lack of guidance, your nonchalant “ah biar lah diorang” attitude, other parents have lost theirs. But when your own children roam the streets at 3am in the morning, riding their bicycles recklessly in groups, in the middle of the road, and get mowed down by a motorist, you cry murder. No. They didn’t die because they got mowed down, they died because you let them loose at 3am to get mowed down.

And fuck the rest of you who are against the death penalty for drug dealers. If they have zero, absolutely ZERO conscience when it comes to selling drugs to a 12 year old, then they deserve to die. You don’t even want to guide your children, and yet you expect them to become successful and support you when you’re old? Fucking wake up. You don’t deserve it. You created these monsters. Bila lah orang kita ni nak sedar. Sedih dok pikir. Sampai bila nak macam ni. Kalau tak nak jaga anak, jangan gatai nak beranak.

Source: JN

September 19, 2017