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.

Large fiber peripheral neuropathy in systemic sclerosis: A prospective study using clinical and electrophysiological definition.

Aim: The reported prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is variable between 0.01% to 28%, probably due to differences in sample size, study design and population. Our aim is to determine the prevalence of large fiber peripheral neuropathy in SSc and to identify any contributing factors.

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.

Systemic lupus erythematosus may have an early effect on peripheral nerve function in patients without clinical or electrophysiological neuropathy: comparison with age- and gender-matched controls.

Asymptomatic electrophysiological peripheral neuropathy is described in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. To determine if SLE could have an even earlier effect on peripheral nerve function even before the development of electrophysiological abnormalities, we compared nerve conduction studies (NCS) of SLE patients without electrophysiological or clinical peripheral neuropathy with healthy controls. Consecutive SLE patients without clinical neuropathy (or other known causes of neuropathy) underwent sensory and motor NCS of all four limbs.

Ethnic differences in the prevalence, socioeconomic and health related risk factors of knee pain and osteoarthritis symptoms in older Malaysians.

Knee pain is often underreported, underestimated and undertreated. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence, burden and further identify socioeconomic factors influencing ethnic differences in knee pain and symptoms of OA among older adults aged 55 years and over in Greater Kuala Lumpur (the capital city of Malaysia). The sample for the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) was selected using stratified random sampling, by age and ethnicity from the electoral rolls of three parliamentary constituencies.

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.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with ethnicity and knee pain in a multi-ethnic South-East Asian nation: Results from Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR).

Aim: To determine the association between vitamin D and knee pain among participants of the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study from the MELoR study consisting of a representative group of 1011 community-dwelling older persons (57% female), mean age 86.5 (54-94) years; 313 were Malays, 367 Chinese and 330 Indians.

High-resolution oesophageal manometry and 24-hour impedance-pH study in systemic sclerosis patients: association with clinical features, symptoms and severity.

Objectives: To evaluate the associations between objectively measured gastroesophageal involvement using high-resolution manometry and 24- hour impedance-pH study, and clinical presentations in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) with 31 consecutive SSc patients recruited into this study. Clinical symptoms of gastroesophageal involvement, high-resolution impedance-manometry and 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring were assessed.

Sustained benefit from intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for gastrointestinal involvement in systemic sclerosis.

Objective: IVIG is known to confer significant benefit in rheumatologic conditions, including inflammatory myopathy. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of IVIG across different aspects of internal organ involvement in refractory active SSc, particularly the gastrointestinal (GI) system.

Methods: SSc patients with overlap polymyositis who remained active and unresponsive to conventional disease-modifying agents and who subsequently received IVIG were identified.

Cytokines in the immunopathology of systemic sclerosis.

Cytokines and growth factors are key regulators of immune activation, vascular alteration and excessive production of extracellular matrix which are hallmark events in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). They modulate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. In particular, cytokines play a central role in the immunopathogenesis of SSc on the basis of molecular pathways which are complex and not completely understood.

Clinical and autoantibody profile in systemic sclerosis: baseline characteristics from a West Malaysian cohort.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical and antibody profile of systemic sclerosis (SSc) in a Malaysian cohort.

Methods: Consecutive patients with SSc in University Malaya Medical Centre from March to November 2012 were included in this study. In addition to clinical characterization, all subjects underwent autoantibody testing using Euroline immunoblot assay.

Open label randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of mycophenolate sodium against other conventional immunosuppressive agents in active systemic lupus erythematosus patients without renal involvement.

Aim: Mycophenolate is an immunosuppressive agent which has been used in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients who have failed conventional therapy. However, the use of mycophenolate sodium in extra-renal SLE involvement has yet to be established. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of mycophenolate sodium in extra-renal SLE.