A Cross-sectional Study to Assess Beta-Cell Function in Individuals with Recently Diagnosed Young-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its' Complications.

Objective: The primary objective was to assess beta-cell function of recently-diagnosed young-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) individuals using basal and stimulated C-peptide levels. The secondary objective was to examine the association between C-peptide with metabolic factors and diabetes complications.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted for young-onset T2DM individuals aged 18-35 years with a disease duration of not more than 5 years.

Identification of major and cross-reactive allergens of local freshwater snail (Pila polita) and the impact of thermal and non-thermal food processing on allergen stability.

Background: Snail allergy is rare but can be fatal. Pila polita, a freshwater snail, was considered as a popular exotic food, particularly in tropical countries, and consumed in processed forms. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the major and cross-reactive allergens of P.

Prevalence and risk factors of antibodies towards HLA Class I and Class II in Malaysian renal transplant candidates.

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) still persists as the major hurdle towards successful renal allograft survival. This paper aims to report on the HLA antibody landscape of renal transplant candidates in Malaysia. A total of 2,219 adult samples from 2016 to 2019 were analysed for anti-HLA antibodies using solid-phase assay.

Visual inspection reveals a novel pathogenic mutation in missed by the variant caller in whole‑exome sequencing.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common type of inherited cystic kidney disease. The feasibility of whole‑exome sequencing (WES) to obtain molecular diagnosis of ADPKD is still in question as previous studies showed conflicting results. Utilizing WES on a patient with ADPKD, standard bioinformatics pipeline demonstrated no pathogenic variant in the genes of interest.

The Prevalence, Demographics, Clinical Features, Neuroimaging, and Inter-ethnic Differences of MOGAD in Malaysia with Global Perspectives.

Introduction: CNS IIDDs tested positive for anti-MOG are known to have a distinct clinical profile with a better overall prognosis.

Objectives: We aim to determine the prevalence, demographic and clinical characteristics of MOG antibody disease (MOGAD) specifically identifying any ethnic variations unique to our local population, with global perspectives.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Neurology Department, Kuala Lumpur Hospital from January 2018 to January 2021.

Exploration of biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of cervical cancer: a review.

As the fourth most diagnosed cancer, cervical cancer (CC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality affecting females globally, particularly when diagnosed at advanced stage. Discoveries of CC biomarkers pave the road to precision medicine for better patient outcomes. High throughput omics technologies, characterized by big data production further accelerate the process.

Evidence-Based Management of Uterine Fibroids With Botanical Drugs-A Review.

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are a common benign gynecological tumor that affect the majority of women over their lifetime. Several pharmacological agents are available to reduce the size of fibroids and ameliorate the symptoms of UF. However, these drugs are expensive and are usually associated with profound side effects.

Clinical usefulness of anti-cell membrane DNA autoantibodies in serology negative systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis is dependent on the detection of serum autoantibodies. To date, there is no autoantibody highly sensitive and specific enough to be considered as a gold standard. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic usefulness of anti-cmDNA antibodies which found to be associated with SLE.

Immunogenicity and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in clinical trials.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections were first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and resulted in a worldwide pandemic in 2020. SARS-CoV-2 infections totalled more than 180 million with 3.9 million deaths as of June 24, 2021.

Molecular and allergenic characterization of recombinant tropomyosin from mud crab Scylla olivacea.

Background: Tropomyosin is a major allergen in crustaceans, including mud crab species, but its molecular and allergenic properties in Scylla olivacea are not well known. Thus, this study aimed to produce the recombinant tropomyosin protein from S. olivacea and subsequently investigate its IgE reactivity.

Factors Associated with Intention to Donate Hematopoietic Stem Cells among Blood Donors.

Introduction: Past studies pay little attention to the intention to donate hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) among blood donors. This study investigated the level of and the influence of socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, subjective norm and self-efficacy on the intention to donate HSC among blood donors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited blood donors at selected public hospitals in the Malaysian State of Sarawak in 2019.

Seroprevalence of diphtheria toxoid IgG antibodies in the Malaysian population.

Background: Despite high childhood immunization coverage, sporadic cases of diphtheria have been reported in Malaysia in recent years. This study aims to evaluate the seroprevalence of diphtheria among the Malaysian population.

Methods: A total of 3317 respondents age 2 years old to 60 years old were recruited in this study from August to November 2017.

HLA-DRB104 as a Risk Allele to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Lupus Nephritis in the Malay Population of Malaysia.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease afflicting multiple organs. Lupus nephritis (LN) is a serious complication of SLE and remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Curative therapy remains unavailable as etiology from genetic and environmental factors is still unclear.

Identification of Common and Novel Major Crab Allergens in Scylla tranquebarica and the Allergen Stability in Untreated and Vinegar-treated Crab.

Crab allergy is reported as a serious form of food allergy in many countries. This study was aimed to identify the major allergens of the local mud crab, Scylla tranquebarica (S. tranquebarica), and subsequently, determine the effect of vinegar treatments on the crab allergens.

Association of polymorphism and multiple sclerosis in Malaysia: a pilot study.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is an immune mediated disease targeting the central nervous system. Association of non-human leukocyte antigen gene, , with multiple sclerosis has been reported in several populations but is unclear among Southeast Asians. This pilot study was conducted to explore the association between polymorphism and multiple sclerosis among the Malay population in Malaysia.

Elevated interleukin-25 and its association to Th2 cytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus with lupus nephritis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that is associated with lupus nephritis, initiated by the deposition of immune complexes in the kidney; subsequently, this induces the overexpression of cytokines. Lupus nephritis is known as one of the major clinical manifestations that affect the disease severity in SLE patients. An increased number of resident periglomerular and immune cells in the kidney has the potential to affect the equilibrium of different immune cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, Th17, and Tregs, which may be central to the induction of tissue damage in kidney by exerting either proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects, or both.

Multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in Malaysia: A comparison in different ethnic groups.

We performed a retrospective observational analytical study looking at the frequencies and characteristics of multiple sclerosis(MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(NMOSD) in consecutive patients with idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease (IIDDs) attending three centers (2009-2017). Of 523 patients with IIDDs, there were 173 patients with NMOSD and 230 patients with MS. The percentage of NMOSD: IIDDs was 33%.

Prevalence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in the multi-ethnic Penang Island, Malaysia, and a review of worldwide prevalence.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) occurs worldwide in all ethnicities. Recently, population-based studies have shown that NMOSD is more common among non-White populations. There is scarce data about NMOSD prevalence in South East Asian populations.

Knowledge and Risk Perceptions of Occupational Infections Among Health-care Workers in Malaysia.

Health-care workers are at risk of exposure to occupational infections with subsequent risk of contracting diseases, disability, and even death. A systematic collection of occupational disease data is useful for monitoring current trends in work situations and disease exposures; however, these data are usually limited due to under-reporting. The objective of this study was to review literature related to knowledge, risk perceptions, and practices regarding occupational exposures to infectious diseases in Malaysian health-care settings, in particular regarding blood-borne infections, universal precautions, use of personal protective equipment, and clinical waste management.

Eleven episodes of recurrent optic neuritis of the same eye for 22 years eventually diagnosed as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

It is difficult to predict whether a particular attack of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) will affect the optic nerve [optic neuritis (ON): unilateral or bilateral], spinal cord (myelitis), brain or brainstem, or a combination of the above. We report an interesting case of recurrent ON of the same eye for a total of 11 episodes in a Chinese woman. Over a period of 22 years, the attacks only involved the left eye, and never the right eye and also no myelitis.

The frequency of anti-aquaporin-4 Ig g antibody in neuromyelitis optica and its spectrum disorders at a single tertiary referral center in malaysia.

Background. In the past the occurrence of neuromyelitis optica in Malaysia was thought to be uncommon and the frequency of anti-aquaporin-4 Ig G antibody was unknown. Objective.

Antiphospholipid antibodies among women experiencing fetal loss.

The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) is closely associated with thrombotic events and pregnancy complications such as recurrent pregnancy loss, preeclampsia and placental insufficiency. We investigated the presence of aPLs and its frequency among female patients with a history of fetal loss in a Malaysia population. Serum samples were collected from 108 patients who had (1) one or more unexplained deaths of morphologically normal fetuses at or beyond the 22nd week of gestation, or (2) one or more premature births of morphologically normal neonates at or before the 24th week of gestation due to eclampsia or preeclampsia, or recognized features of placental insufficiency, or (3) three or more unexplained, consecutive, spontaneous miscarriages before the 20th week of gestation.