Are the 2009 Institute of Medicine gestational weight gain recommendations applicable in a contemporary South-East Asian pregnancy cohort? Results of a prospective analysis.

Gestational Weight Gain (GWG) modulates pregnancy outcomes and long-term offspring metabolic health. The 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) GWG recommendations have largely been validated in Caucasian and mono-ethnic East Asian cohorts. Asians are at higher metabolic risk at a lower body mass index (BMI), and this has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify lower BMI cut-offs for risk evaluation amongst Asians.

A study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with AKI in a setting of multiracial developing country.

Background: The commonest indication for hospitalization in COVID-19 patients is hypoxemia or severe respiratory symptoms. However, COVID-19 disease may result in extrapulmonary complications including kidney-related pathology. The reported incidence of renal involvement related to COVID infection varies based on geographical location.

Validation of the Hepamet fibrosis score in a multi-ethnic Asian population.

Introduction And Objectives: The Hepamet fibrosis score was introduced for the diagnosis of advanced liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To date, external validation is limited, and its utility in combination with liver stiffness measurement (LSM) has not been explored.

Material And Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on NAFLD patients who had a liver biopsy and LSM on the same day.

Calculated parameters for the diagnosis of Wilson disease.

Introduction: The diagnosis of Wilson disease (WD) is plagued by biochemical and clinical uncertainties. Thus, calculated parameters have been proposed. This study aimed to: (a) compare the diagnostic values of non-caeruloplasmin copper (NCC), NCC percentage (NCC%), copper-caeruloplasmin ratio (CCR) and adjusted copper in WD; and (b) derive and evaluate a discriminant function in diagnosing WD.

Limited applicability of cathepsin D for the diagnosis and monitoring of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background And Aim: To date, there are limited data on the applicability of cathepsin D for the diagnosis and monitoring of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods: This study included patients with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) diagnosed between November 2012 and October 2015. Serum cathepsin D levels were measured using the CatD enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (USCN Life Science, Wuhan, China) using stored samples collected on the same day of the liver biopsy procedure.

Heavy/light chain assay in the monitoring of multiple myeloma.

Serum protein (SPE) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) have been extensively validated for the routine use of identifying, characterising and quantifying monoclonal proteins. However, accurate quantitation of IgA monoclonal proteins can be difficult when they migrate in to the β fraction, due to co-migration with transferrin and complement components. The heavy/light chain (HLC) immunoassay is an additional tool for measuring intact immunoglobulin monoclonal proteins.

MACK-3 (combination of hoMa, Ast and CK18): A promising novel biomarker for fibrotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Introduction: MACK-3 (combination of hoMa, Ast and CK18) was reported to be a good biomarker for the diagnosis of fibrotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, there is no external validation to date.

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of MACK-3 for the diagnosis of fibrotic NASH.

Leptin and soluble leptin receptor in association with gestational diabetes: a prospective case-control study.

Purpose: To assess the association of serum leptin and its receptor (SLeptinR) with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to evaluate the longitudinal circulation of these peptides in pregnancy.

Methods: This study consisted of 53 subjects diagnosed with GDM and 43 normal glucose tolerance (NGT) pregnant women. Serum leptin and SLeptinR were measured at 24-28 weeks, prior and after delivery, and post-puerperium.

Serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein (WFA+-M2BP) has been suggested to be useful for the assessment of disease severity in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Consecutive adult NAFLD patients who had a liver biopsy were included. Serum WFA+-M2BP level was measured using a lectin-antibody sandwich immunoassay using a chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay machine (HISCL-5000, Sysmex, Kobe, Japan).

N-Carbamylglutamate Is an Effective Treatment for Acute Neonatal Hyperammonaemia in a Patient with Methylmalonic Aciduria.

N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) has been used in combination with ammonia scavengers (sodium benzoate, sodium phenylbutyrate) and dialysis to treat hyperammonaemia in methylmalonic aciduria (MMA). The sole use of NCG for acute neonatal hyperammonaemia secondary to MMA is demonstrated in a neonate presenting at day 9 with encephalopathy, severe metabolic acidosis, hyperammonaemia (1,089 μmol/l), ketonuria and urinary methylmalonic acids. Emergency treatment included discontinuing protein feeds, providing high calories, carnitine and hydroxocobalamin.

Limited utility of plasma M30 in discriminating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis from steatosis--a comparison with routine biochemical markers.

Introduction: The utility of Cytokeratin-18 fragment, namely CK18Asp396 (M30), for the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is currently uncertain. We aimed to provide further data in this area among multi-ethnic Asian subjects with NAFLD.

Materials And Methods: The accuracy of M30 for detecting NASH was compared with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels in consecutive adult subjects with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency in a Chinese Boy: A Novel ALDH5A1 Mutation With Severe Phenotype.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder affecting catabolism of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), with a wide range of clinical phenotype. We report a Malaysian Chinese boy with a severe early onset phenotype due to a previously unreported mutation. Urine organic acid chromatogram revealed elevated 4-hydroxybutyric acid.

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.

Pattern of tissue expression of CA-125 and HE4 in primary epithelial ovarian tumours and correlation with serum CA-125 levels.

The objective of this study is to assess tissue expression of CA-125 and HE4 protein in primary benign and malignant epithelial tumours of the ovary and correlate with serum CA-125 levels. A total of 100 formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded sections of ovarian tumours which included serous adenoma (11), mucinous adenoma (42), serous carcinoma (20), mucinous carcinoma (12) and endometrioid carcinoma (15), histologically diagnosed between 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2012 at the University Malaya Medical Centre, were stained for HE4 (rabbit polyclonal antibody, Abcam, UK) and CA-125 (mouse monoclonal antibody clone: OC125, Cell Marque Corporation, Rocklin, California, USA). Pre-operative serum CA-125 levels were obtained from the laboratory information system.

Effect of HbE heterozygosity on the measurement of HbA1c.

Aim: Measurement of HbA1c provides an excellent measure of glycaemic control for diabetic patients. However, haemoglobin (Hb) variants are known to interfere with HbA1c analysis. In our laboratory HbA1c measurement is performed by Variant II turbo 2.

Plasma, aqueous and vitreous homocysteine levels in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Background/aims: To compare homocysteine (Hcy) concentration in the blood plasma, vitreous and aqueous of eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) against control, and to investigate associations between Hcy concentration in blood plasma with that of aqueous and vitreous in these two groups.

Methods: Blood plasma, aqueous and vitreous samples were collected during combined cataract and pars plana vitrectomy from 20 eyes with PDR and 21 eyes of patients without diabetes mellitus. Hcy concentration in the samples was determined by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay.

Analytical and diagnostic performance of an automated anti-CCP assay.

Aim: Autoantibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) are considered to be a sensitive and specific marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study evaluated the diagnostic and analytical performances of the automated anti-CCP assay.

Materials And Method: Sera from 80 patients with established RA, 65 from other rheumatic diseases (non-RA) and 55 from healthy controls were studied using second generation anti-CCP.

Reference value for cardiac troponin I in a multi-ethnic group.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) values, measured by the ADVIA TnI-Ultra method in a multi-ethnic group and to determine the imprecision of the assay.

Method: The study population comprised 234 men and 208 women and the age range was 18-73 years. Recruitment was aimed at enrolling different races and comprised 186 Malays, 136 Chinese and 120 Indians.

Urinary type IV collagen levels in diabetes mellitus.

Unlabelled: Type IV collagen is the principal component of glomerular basement membrane and messangial matrix. Studies have shown increased levels of urinary type IV collagen (uIV) in diabetic patients compared to healthy controls. The concentration of uIV increases gradually as diabetic nephropathy progresses.

Comparing measured total carbon dioxide and calculated bicarbonate.

Introduction: The objective of the study is to determine the level of agreement between measured total carbon dioxide (TCO2) and calculated bicarbonate (HCO3-) in our laboratory.

Materials And Methods: TCO2 and HCO3- values of 1820 samples drawn at the same time from the patient were compared. TCO2 from venous samples was measured on Dimension RxL while HCO3- was obtained from arterial blood gas samples analyzed on Radiometer ABL 700.

Prevalence of anti cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in Malaysian rheumatoid arthritis patients and its correlation with disease activity.

Aim: The objectives of this study are to provide data regarding the prevalence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies in Malaysian rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to correlate the levels of anti-CCP antibody with the Disease Activity Score (DAS).

Method: We studied the prevalence of anti-CCP antibodies in 51 RA patients attending our clinic and 29 controls. We also looked for correlation between anti-CCP antibody levels with the DAS and parameters such as duration of disease, rheumatoid factor (RF) and disease-modifying anti rheumatic drug (DMARD) usage.

Serum free light chains: diagnostic and prognostic value in multiple myeloma.

Background: Measurement of serum free light chains (FLCs) has recently become available for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with plasma cell dyscrasias. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of the serum FLC assay as a tumour marker by comparing FLC concentrations with serum protein electrophoresis (PE) results in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM). In addition, we also evaluated the prognostic value of the baseline serum FLC ratio in patients with MM.