Evaluation of the correlation of serological and intradermal allergen testing with clinical history in 29 dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Background: Limited information exists about the correlation between clinical history and positive serum (SAT) and intradermal allergen test (IDAT) results in atopic dogs.

Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between clinical history and SAT/IDAT results in atopic dogs.

Animals: Twenty-nine client-owned dogs with nonseasonal atopic dermatitis with or without seasonal exacerbation were enrolled.

Timeline of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Sabah, Malaysia: Tracking the Molecular Evolution.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented public health challenge in Malaysia. The impact of COVID-19 varies between countries, including geographically divided states within a country. The deadly transmission of COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll in Sabah, Malaysia's third most populous state, contributing nearly 10% to the recorded national death toll as of 31 December 2022.

Dataset of the complete genome of strain 2BA6PG isolated from sediment from the bottom of the salt lake Verkhnee Beloe (Buryatia, Russia).

The strain 2BA6PG was isolated from sediment from the bottom of the salt lake Verkhnee Beloe (Buryatia, Russia). This strain's 7,651,223 bp complete genome has a high G + C content of 72.1% and consists of 7,069 coding sequences and 315 subsystems.

Systematic review of caregiver burden, unmet needs and quality-of-life among informal caregivers of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Informal caregivers play an important supportive care role for patients with cancer. This may be especially true for pancreatic cancer which is often diagnosed late, has a poor prognosis and is associated with a significant symptom burden. We systematically reviewed the evidence on caregiver burden, unmet needs and quality-of-life of informal caregivers to patients with pancreatic cancer.

Hong Kong's new wave of migration: socio-political factors of individuals' intention to emigrate.

With a recent surge in the outward movement of the population, a new wave of emigration has been suggested to have started in Hong Kong. It is speculated that recent socio-political changes in Hong Kong may have contributed to this phenomenon. Therefore, five socio-political variables-mobility, sense of place, trust and confidence in the law and the legal system, global citizenship, and perception of inequality-are employed in this study as proposed determinants to investigate the intention of Hong Kong residents to migrate to mainland China and to other international destinations.

Risk Association, Linkage Disequilibrium, and Haplotype Analyses of β-Like Globin Gene Polymorphisms with Malaria Risk in the Sabah Population of Malaysian Borneo.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the β-like globin gene of the human hosts to the risk of malaria are unclear. Therefore, this study investigates these associations in the Sabah population, with a high incidence of malaria cases. In brief, DNA was extracted from 188 post-diagnostic blood samples infected with parasites and 170 healthy controls without a history of malaria.

A Retrospective Evaluation of the Steroid-Sparing Effect of Oral Modified Ciclosporin for Treatment of Canine Pemphigus Foliaceus.

The efficacy of ciclosporin as an adjuvant immunosuppressant administered with glucocorticoids (GCs) for induction of canine PF remission is unknown. This study is a retrospective review of medical records from 2015 to 2020 to evaluate the therapeutic outcomes of 11 PF dogs treated with oral modified ciclosporin and GCs. Concurrent GCs were given with ciclosporin to all PF dogs.

Prevalence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Different Clinical Stages before the National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme in Malaysia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

More than 1.75 million COVID-19 infections and 16 thousand associated deaths have been reported in Malaysia. A meta-analysis on the prevalence of COVID-19 in different clinical stages before the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program in Malaysia is still lacking.

The Effects of NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibition in Experimental Acute Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation is involved in the pathogenesis of AP. Previous research showed that inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome may exert protective effects on animal models of AP and reduces disease severity. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effects of drug treatment of NLRP3 inflammasome on the outcomes of experimental AP.

Evaluation of cutaneous and circulating (serum and exosomes) levels of chemokines (CCL17, CCL22, CCL27 and CCL28) in atopic dogs and their correlation with severity of the disease.

Background: Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex multifactorial disease characterised by an exaggerated immunological response. Little is known about the role that cutaneous and circulating chemokines play in disease severity.

Objective: To evaluate the messenger (m)RNA and protein levels of selected chemokines in skin and serum of healthy and atopic dogs, and in the atopic group to determine whether there is a correlation with disease severity.

An Updated Review on the Role of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in COVID-19 Disease Severity: A Global Aspect.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and recently has become a serious global pandemic. Age, gender, and comorbidities are known to be common risk factors for severe COVID-19 but are not enough to fully explain the magnitude of their effect on the risk of severity of the disease. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in several genes have been reported as a genetic factor contributing to COVID-19 severity.

The Challenges and Effects of Ascorbic Acid Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical and Clinical Studies.

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP), and ascorbic acid (AA), as an important endogenous antioxidant substance, has been shown to reduce AP severity in preclinical studies. However, the effects of AA supplementation in clinical settings remain controversial. PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS databases were searched, and both preclinical and clinical studies were included.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The present systematic review aimed to compare survival outcomes of invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IIPMNs) treated with adjuvant chemotherapy versus surgery alone and to identify pathologic features that may predict survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Method: A systematic search of MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE was performed using the PRISMA framework. Studies comparing adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery alone for patients with IIPMNs were included.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors of postoperative pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy in the era of 2016 International Study Group pancreatic fistula definition.

Background: Risk factors for the development of clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) following distal pancreatectomy (DP) need clarification particularly following the 2016 International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) definition.

Methods: A systemic search of MEDLINE, Pubmed, Scopus, and EMBASE were conducted using the PRISMA framework. Studies were evaluated for risk factors for the development CR-POPF after DP using the 2016 ISGPF definition.

Endoscopic transmural drainage is associated with improved outcomes in disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome (DPDS) is a complication of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in the neck and body of the pancreas often manifesting as persistent pancreatic fluid collection (PFC) or external pancreatic fistula (EPF). This systematic review and pairwise meta-analysis aimed to review the definitions, clinical presentation, intervention, and outcomes for DPDS.

Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS databases were systematically searched until February 2020 using the PRISMA framework.

Case-Control Study and Meta-Analysis of the Association Between LIPG rs9958947 SNP and Stroke Risk.

The rs9958947 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) resides in the promoter region of the lipase G (LIPG) gene. This newly discovered SNP increases the risk of stroke in some Asian populations, including Chinese and Korean populations. Stroke is one of the top 5 leading causes of death in Malaysia, so it is of interest to investigate whether this SNP is associated with stroke risk in the Malaysian population.

Genetic diversity of circumsporozoite protein in Plasmodium knowlesi isolates from Malaysian Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia.

Background: Understanding the genetic diversity of candidate genes for malaria vaccines such as circumsporozoite protein (csp) may enhance the development of vaccines for treating Plasmodium knowlesi. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate the genetic diversity of non-repeat regions of csp in P. knowlesi from Malaysian Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia.

Prevalence of Alpha(α)-Thalassemia in Southeast Asia (2010-2020): A Meta-Analysis Involving 83,674 Subjects.

Alpha(α)-thalassemia is a blood disorder caused by many types of inheritable α-globin gene mutations which causes no-to-severe clinical symptoms, such as Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis that leads to early foetal death. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis was to provide an update from year 2010 to 2020 on the prevalence of α-thalassemia in Southeast Asia. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and SCOPUS databases for related studies published from 2010 to 2020, based on specified inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Prescription patterns of diabetes medications influencing clinical outcomes of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: We collected the different prescription patterns of diabetes medications in a cohort of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and analysed the impact of different prescription patterns on clinical outcomes.

Methods And Results: Consecutive diabetic patients with HFrEF from a heart failure referral centre were retrospectively analysed between 2015 and 2016. Exclusion criteria include being lost to follow-up, not receiving diabetes medications, and having severe renal impairment with a glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.

Recovery of left ventricular dysfunction after sacubitril/valsartan: predictors and management.

Background: Literature describing recovery of left ventricular (LV) function post sacubitril/valsartan treatment and the optimal management of heart failure (HF) patients receiving sacubitril/valsartan remain sparse.

Methods: We recruited 437 consecutive chronic HF patients with baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40%, who were treated with sacubitril/valsartan. All patients underwent routine echocardiographic measurement.

Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients: Real world experience on advanced chronic kidney disease, hypotension, and dose escalation.

Background: Angiotensin receptor and neprilysin inhibition (ARNI) has been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality by 20% as compared with enalapril in a randomized controlled trial. However, there is a paucity of real-world data on the effects of ARNI in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), especially those with concurrent renal impairment or hypotension.

Methods: Between 2016 and 2017, we recruited 466 HFrEF patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan (Group A) and 466 patients managed with standard HF treatment without ARNI (Group B) in a HF referral center.

Managements and outcomes of hospitalized heart failure patients with paroxysmal vs nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation in Taiwan.

Background: The prognostic significance and the optimal treatment strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) remain controversial.

Methods: We extracted data from a large prospective national database involving Taiwanese patients with AF who were hospitalized for acute HF with reduced ejection fraction. Baseline characteristics, AF types, medications, and 1-year outcomes of the patients were analyzed.

Risk association, linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analyses of rs4246445, rs2229425, rs2228305 and rs2229422 polymorphisms in overweight and obesity.

Obesity is commonly linked up with several life-threatening diseases. This study aims to investigate the association of fatty acid synthase () rs4246445, rs2229425, rs2228305, and rs2229422 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the risk of overweight and obesity in the Malaysian population. Blood samples were collected from 1030 individuals who were grouped into normal, overweight, and obese categories.

Genetic and haplotype analyses targeting cytochrome b gene of Plasmodium knowlesi isolates of Malaysian Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia.

Malaria is a notorious disease which causes major global morbidity and mortality. This study aims to investigate the genetic and haplotype differences of Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi) isolates in Malaysian Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia based on the molecular analysis of the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene.