in gastrointestinal manifestation of systemic sclerosis.

Aim: To study the prevalence of in systemic sclerosis patients and its gastrointestinal manifestations in comparison with -negative systemic sclerosis patients. Systemic sclerosis gastrointestinal outcome post eradication was evaluated.

Method: In total, 70 systemic sclerosis patients and 70 age-, gender- and race-matched healthy controls had their urea breath test done.

Early damage as measured by SLICC/ACR damage index is a predictor of hospitalization in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Background: Hospital admissions and re-admissions in lupus patients are common occurrences that can lead to poor prognosis.

Objectives: We evaluated the leading causes of all-cause hospitalizations and their predictive factors in the Malaysian multi-ethnic SLE patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective study involving 300 SLE patients.

Fatigue and associated factors in a multi-ethnic cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Introduction: Fatigue is an important yet infrequently evaluated component in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and may have a major impact on quality of life.

Objectives: To evaluate fatigue, identify factors associated with fatigue and assess the effect of fatigue on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a multi-ethnic cohort of RA patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in patients who fulfilled European League Against Rheumatism/ American College of Rheumatology 2010 criteria for RA.

Effects of vitamin D on disease activity and serum interleukin-6 in rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: Vitamin D or 25(OH)D may have a potential role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6). The aim of this study is to determine the clinical factors of vitamin D deficiency in multi-ethnic Malaysian RA patients and its association with disease activity, functional disability and serum IL-6 levels.

Method: One hundred RA patients and 50 healthy controls, sex- and age-matched, were recruited.

Epidemiology of human leptospirosis in Malaysia, 2004-2012.

Leptospirosis is an emerging disease, especially in countries with a tropical climate such as Malaysia. A dramatic increase in the number of cases has been reported over the last decade; however, information on the epidemiological trends of this disease is lacking. The objective of this study is to provide an epidemiological description of human leptospirosis cases over a 9-year period (2004-2012) and disease relationship with meteorological, geographical, and demographical information.

Accutome PachPen handheld ultrasonic pachymeter: intraobserver repeatability and interobserver reproducibility by personnel of different training grades.

To assess the intra-observer repeatability and inter-observer reproducibility of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements of PachPen (Accutome, Inc., Pennsylvania, USA), a hand-held, portable ultrasonic pachymeter when used by an ophthalmic nurse compared to an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Malaya Medical Center In this prospective study, CCT was measured in 184 eyes of 92 healthy subjects, first by a corneal surgeon experienced in ultrasound pachymetry (Observer 1) followed by an ophthalmic nurse new to the procedure (Observer 2).

Central corneal thickness measurements with different imaging devices and ultrasound pachymetry.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare 4 methods of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements in terms of their agreement, repeatability, and measurement time.

Methods: CCT was measured in 184 eyes of 92 healthy subjects by the same examiner. The methods used were as follows: noncontact specular microscopy (SM; Topcon SP-3000P; Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), Pentacam rotating Scheimpflug photography system (Oculus Inc, Wetzlar, Germany), optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR; LenStar LS900; Haag-Streit AG, Koeniz, Switzerland), and ultrasound pachymetry (UP; PachPen; Accutome Inc, Malvern, PA).