Neurologic manifestations and complications of pandemic influenza A H1N1 in Malaysian children: what have we learnt from the ordeal?

Introduction: In 2009, pandemic influenza A H1N1 emerged in Mexico and subsequently spread worldwide. In Malaysia, there were more than a thousand of confirmed cases among children. The general clinical characteristics of these children have been well-published.

Characteristics of children hospitalized for pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Malaysia.

To determine effects of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 on children in the tropics, we examined characteristics of children hospitalized for this disease in Malaysia. Of 1,362 children, 51 (3.7%) died, 46 of whom were in an intensive care unit.

Comparing genetic ancestry and self-reported race/ethnicity in a multiethnic population in New York City.

Self-reported race/ethnicity is frequently used in epidemiological studies to assess an individual's background origin. However, in admixed populations such as Hispanic, self-reported race/ethnicity may not accurately represent them genetically because they are admixed with European, African and Native American ancestry. We estimated the proportions of genetic admixture in an ethnically diverse population of 396 mothers and 188 of their children with 35 ancestry informative markers (AIMs) using the STRUCTURE version 2.

Differential expression of imprinted genes in normal and IUGR human placentas.

Genomic imprinting refers to silencing of one parental allele in the zygotes of gametes depending upon the parent of origin. Loss of imprinting (LOI) is the gain of function from the silent allele that can have a maximum effect of doubling the gene dosage. LOI may play a significant role in the etiology of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Gene expression profiles of the one-carbon metabolism pathway.

One-carbon metabolism plays a critical role in both DNA methylation and DNA synthesis. Accumulating evidence has shown that interruptions of this pathway are associated with many disease outcomes including cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Mechanistic studies have been performed on genetic polymorphisms involved in one-carbon metabolism.

Choline metabolism and risk of breast cancer in a population-based study.

Choline is an essential nutrient required for methyl group metabolism, but its role in carcinogenesis and tumor progression is not well understood. By utilizing a population-based study of 1508 cases and 1556 controls, we investigated the associations of dietary intake of choline and two related micronutrients, methionine and betaine, and risk of breast cancer. The highest quintile of choline consumption was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer [odds ratio (OR): 0.