MACB CKD Task Force updated recommendations for reporting estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria in adults.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common clinical condition with significant health risks for patients and is widely recognised as a major public health concern. Laboratory medicine plays a crucial role in both diagnosing and managing CKD, as diagnosis and staging rely on estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and evaluating albuminuria (or proteinuria). It was evident that the laboratory assessment of CKD in Malaysia is not standardised.

Prospective associations between an empirically derived dietary pattern and life satisfaction in Malaysian adolescents.

Background: Little is known on the prospective associations between an empirically derived dietary pattern (DP) and life satisfaction among adolescents. This PUTRA-Adol follow-up study aimed to assess the prospective associations between the empirically derived DP and life satisfaction during adolescence.

Methods: A total of 585 and 262 adolescents participated in the baseline PUTRA-Adol study in 2016 and PUTRA-Adol follow-up study in 2019-2020, respectively.

Age-dependent FRAX-based assessment and intervention thresholds for therapeutic decision making in osteoporosis in the Malaysian population.

Unlabelled: Fracture risk stratification is crucial in countries with limited access to bone density measurement. 24.8% women were in the high-risk category while 30.

Globalization and the health and well-being of migrant domestic workers in Malaysia.

Background: Neoliberal globalization contributes to the out-migration of labour from sending countries in the global South. Supported by multilateral organizations including the IMF and World Bank, the migration and development nexus holds that nations and households in migrant sending countries can migrate their way out of poverty. Two countries that embrace this paradigm, the Philippines and Indonesia, are major suppliers of migrant labour including domestic workers, and Malaysia is a primary destination country.

Association between bone characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors among adults in selected urban areas in Selangor, Malaysia.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis (OP) have been shown to have similar risk factors but studies have demonstrated contradictory results with regards to their associations. This study evaluated relationships between bone characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors among adults in selected urban areas in Malaysia.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed involving 331 subjects between 45-90 years recruited at a health screening programme.

Women's Agency as Reason for Life Threats Among the Pashtuns in Pakistan: Narratives of Women Fleeing Honor Killing and Masculine Domination.

This article uses the narratives of survivors of honor killing to show that women's agency is the reason for life threats because it undermines masculine domination. The findings show that life threats are made against women engaging in behaviors not aligned to cultural norms as perceived by male members of their family, to escape shame and gossip, and it is a manifestation of men losing control over women. These survivors of honor-based violence have undermined masculine domination by acting in unanticipated ways and by fleeing to a shelter home in the face of overwhelming cultural sanctions and structural inequalities.

Survey on serum protein electrophoresis and recommendations for standardised reporting.

Introduction: Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) is a well-established laboratory technique. However, reporting of results varies considerably between laboratories. The variation in reporting can cause confusion to the clinician with a potential of adversely impacting patient care.

Asymptomatic morphometric vertebral fractures and its associated factors: A cross-sectional study among adults in a selected urban area in Selangor, Malaysia.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vertebral fractures (VF) in a selected urban population in Malaysia and to explore possible variables associated with VF in the study population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving community-living, healthy subjects aged between 45-90 years from the state of Selangor, Malaysia, were invited to attend a bone health check-up. Subjects with diseases known to affect bone metabolism or were on treatment for osteoporosis (OP) were excluded.

PUTRA-Adol study: protocol for an observational follow-up study to assess the tracking of dietary patterns linked to cardiometabolic risk factors and its prospective relationship with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, carotid intima-medial thickness and mental well-being during adolescence in Malaysia.

Introduction: Growing evidence suggesting that dietary intakes of adolescents are generally of poor quality but not adequately assessed in relation to the early manifestation of non-communicable diseases. This study aimed; (1) to examine tracking of an empirical dietary pattern (DP) linked to cardiometabolic risk factors and, (2) to assess prospective relationships between a DP characterised by high intakes of dietary energy density (DED) and added sugar, and cardiometabolic risk factors, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), carotid intima-medial thickness (CIMT) and mental well-being during adolescence.

Methods And Analysis: The PUTRA-Adol is a prospective follow-up study that builds up from 933 Malaysian adolescents who were initially recruited from three southern states in Peninsular Malaysia in 2016 (aged 13 years then).

Markedly raised haemolysis index with upper limit of normal serum potassium levels.

Introduction: Haemolytic specimens are a frequent occurrence in clinical laboratories, and they interfere with the analysis of many tests.

Case Report: We describe here an unusual case of leptospirosis complicated by haemolytic anaemia in a 70-year-old man with established kidney failure. He presented with an abrupt onset of shortness of breath, flushing and erythematous rash after completing haemodialysis.

High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP): Its relationship with metabolic syndrome and Framingham Risk Score.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in Malaysia. Identification of asymptomatic at-risk individuals is often achieved by means of a risk prediction algorithm. Traditional CVD risk factors and their associated algorithms are, however, limited by residual CVD risk.

Different reference ranges affect the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in an urban adult Malaysian population.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of osteopenia (OPe) and osteoporosis (OP) in an urban adult population in Malaysia, and to compare the change in the prevalence when using a Caucasian compared to an Asian reference range.

Methods: A cross-sectional random sample of the population aged between 45 and 90 years from the state of Selangor, Malaysia, was invited to attend a bone health check-up. Participants with diseases known to affect bone metabolism or who were on treatment for OP were excluded.

Determination of salivary cortisol reference interval in a selected Malaysian population.

Introduction: Salivary cortisol is used as an indicator of stress level and a recommended screening test for Cushing syndrome. The normal reference interval for salivary cortisol is dependent on the analytical methodology and the population studied and hence, establishment of a local population-based reference interval is recommended.

Materials And Methods: A total of 129 healthy blood donors and staffs of Penang General Hospital were recruited from June 2018-May 2019.

Appropriateness of metformin prescription for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with chronic kidney disease (Stages 3-5).

Introduction: Metformin is the first-line pharmacological therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Guidelines recommend metformin to be given at reduced dosages for those with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73m and omitted in those with eGFR<30 mL/min/1.

Thyroid storm: Is there a role for thyroid function test?

Introduction: Thyroid storm (TS) is an endocrine emergency. Early diagnosis for prompt treatment is essential as it has a high mortality rate.

Case Report: A 31-year-old lady with underlying hyperthyroidism, dilated cardiomyopathy with severe mitral regurgitation presented with shortness of breath.

Calculation of free and bioavailable vitamin D and its association with bone mineral density in Malaysian women.

Introduction: Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels have not been consistently associated with bone mineral density (BMD). It has been suggested that calculation of the free/bioavailable 25(OH)D may correlate better with BMD. We examined this hypothesis in a cohort of Malaysian women.

Platelet-related cytokines among normal body mass index, overweight, and obese Malaysians.

Background And Objectives: Recent studies have reported that obesity is associated with platelet activation and systemic inflammation. Malaysia has the highest prevalence of obesity, hence, this research is performed to evaluate the development of low-grade inflammation and platelet activation, measured using soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and soluble P-selectin (sP-sel), and to determine their association with obesity. In addition, we assessed the mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet count (PLT), which are novel parameters consistently associated with obesity.