Browse publications by year: 2015

  1. Fulltext The CD14 C-260T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) modulates monocyte/macrophage activation in treated HIV-infected individuals
    Rajasuriar R, Kong YY, Nadarajah R, Abdullah NK, Spelman T, Yuhana MY, et al.
    J Transl Med, 2015;13:30.
    PMID: 25622527 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-015-0391-6
    HIV-infected individuals have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). T-allele carriers of the CD14 C-260T single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) have reported increased expression of the LPS-binding receptor, CD14 and inflammation in the general population. Our aim was to explore the relationship of this SNP with monocyte/macrophage activation and inflammation and its association with sub-clinical atherosclerosis in HIV-infected individuals.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Inflammation/genetics; Macrophage Activation/genetics*; Male; Monocytes/metabolism*; Risk Factors; Cohort Studies; Biomarkers/metabolism; HIV Infections/drug therapy*; HIV Infections/genetics*; Multivariate Analysis; Antigens, CD14/genetics*; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics*; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
  2. Fulltext Experimentally testing and assessing the predictive power of species assembly rules for tropical canopy ants
    Fayle TM, Eggleton P, Manica A, Yusah KM, Foster WA
    Ecol Lett, 2015 Mar;18(3):254-62.
    PMID: 25622647 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12403
    Understanding how species assemble into communities is a key goal in ecology. However, assembly rules are rarely tested experimentally, and their ability to shape real communities is poorly known. We surveyed a diverse community of epiphyte-dwelling ants and found that similar-sized species co-occurred less often than expected. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that invasion was discouraged by the presence of similarly sized resident species. The size difference for which invasion was less likely was the same as that for which wild species exhibited reduced co-occurrence. Finally we explored whether our experimentally derived assembly rules could simulate realistic communities. Communities simulated using size-based species assembly exhibited diversities closer to wild communities than those simulated using size-independent assembly, with results being sensitive to the combination of rules employed. Hence, species segregation in the wild can be driven by competitive species assembly, and this process is sufficient to generate observed species abundance distributions for tropical epiphyte-dwelling ants.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Ants*; Borneo; Competitive Behavior; Models, Biological*; Symbiosis; Biota*; Introduced Species*
  3. Blood pressure lowering therapy in older people: Does it really cause postural hypotension or falls?
    Zia A, Kamaruzzaman SB, Tan MP
    Postgrad Med, 2015 Mar;127(2):186-93.
    PMID: 25622817 DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2015.996505
    Hypertension is a highly prevalent condition among older people, but many physicians avoid aggressive treatment in this age group due to concerns about adverse effects such as orthostatic hypotension and falls. Orthostatic hypotension, which also increases in prevalence with increasing age, has been considered to be associated with antihypertensive therapy. Both orthostatic hypotension and antihypertensive medications are considered independent yet closely related predictors for falls among older people. The prescription of antihypertensive therapy among the elderly remains a long-standing controversy in geriatric medicine due to ongoing concerns about potential complications such as falls, despite conclusive evidence supporting the treatment of hypertension even among the very elderly. However, recent evidence suggests a dose-dependent relationship between blood pressure lowering therapy and falls among older individuals with preexisting risk factors for falls. In response to the spate of revisions in hypertension treatment targets for older patients in international guidelines and the recent evidence on antihypertensive therapy and falls, this review article examines the complex relationship between hypertension, antihypertensives, orthostatic hypotension, and falls among older patients.
    MeSH terms: Accidental Falls/statistics & numerical data*; Antihypertensive Agents/adverse effects*; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Hypotension, Orthostatic/chemically induced*; Risk Factors
  4. Fulltext New zoonotic cases of Onchocerca dewittei japonica (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in Honshu, Japan
    Uni S, Fukuda M, Otsuka Y, Hiramatsu N, Yokobayashi K, Takahashi H, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2015;8:59.
    PMID: 25623081 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0655-2
    Zoonotic infections with Onchocerca species are uncommon, and to date only 25 clinical cases have been reported worldwide. In Japan, five previous zoonotic infections were concentrated in Oita, Kyushu (the southern island), with one previous case in Hiroshima in the western part of Honshu (the main island). The causative agent in Japan was identified as Onchocerca dewittei japonica Uni, Bain & Takaoka, 2001 from Japanese wild boars (Sus scrofa leucomystax Temminck, 1842). Here we report two infections caused by a female and male O. dewittei japonica, respectively, among residents of Hiroshima and Shimane Prefectures in the western part of Honshu.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Animals; Female; Humans; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Onchocerca/classification; Onchocerca/genetics; Onchocerca/isolation & purification*; Onchocerciasis/parasitology*; Onchocerciasis/transmission; Swine; Swine Diseases/parasitology*; Zoonoses/diagnosis; Zoonoses/parasitology*; Zoonoses/transmission; Sus scrofa/parasitology
  5. Fulltext Human Papillomavirus 16 E6 Antibodies in Individuals without Diagnosed Cancer: A Pooled Analysis
    Lang Kuhs KA, Anantharaman D, Waterboer T, Johansson M, Brennan P, Michel A, et al.
    Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2015 Apr;24(4):683-9.
    PMID: 25623733 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-1217
    BACKGROUND: The increasing incidence of oropharyngeal cancer in many developed countries has been attributed to human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) infections. Recently, HPV16 E6 serology has been identified as a promising early marker for oropharyngeal cancer. Therefore, characterization of HPV16 E6 seropositivity among individuals without cancer is warranted.

    METHODS: A total of 4,666 controls were pooled from several studies of cancer and HPV seropositivity, all tested within the same laboratory. HPV16 E6 seropositive controls were classified as having (i) moderate [mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) ≥ 484 and <1,000] or (ii) high seroreactivity (MFI ≥ 1,000). Associations of moderate and high HPV16 E6 seroreactivity with (i) demographic risk factors; and seropositivity for (ii) other HPV16 proteins (E1, E2, E4, E7, and L1), and (iii) E6 proteins from non-HPV16 types (HPV6, 11, 18, 31, 33, 45, and 52) were evaluated.

    RESULTS: Thirty-two (0.7%) HPV16 E6 seropositive controls were identified; 17 (0.4%) with moderate and 15 (0.3%) with high seroreactivity. High HPV16 E6 seroreactivity was associated with former smoking [odds ratio (OR), 5.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-51.8], and seropositivity against HPV16 L1 (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.3-15.4); E2 (OR, 7.7; 95% CI, 1.4-29.1); multiple HPV16 proteins (OR, 25.3; 95% CI, 2.6-119.6 for three HPV16 proteins beside E6) and HPV33 E6 (OR, 17.7; 95% CI, 1.9-81.8). No associations were observed with moderate HPV16 E6 seroreactivity.

    CONCLUSIONS: High HPV16 E6 seroreactivity is rare among individuals without diagnosed cancer and was not explained by demographic factors.

    IMPACT: Some HPV16 E6 seropositive individuals without diagnosed HPV-driven cancer, especially those with seropositivity against other HPV16 proteins, may harbor a biologically relevant HPV16 infection.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Viral/blood*; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/immunology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/virology*; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oncogene Proteins, Viral/immunology*; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/immunology; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/virology*; Repressor Proteins/immunology*; Risk Factors; Cohort Studies; Case-Control Studies; Papillomavirus Infections/immunology; Human papillomavirus 16/immunology; Young Adult
  6. Comparison of the neurotoxic and myotoxic effects of two Moroccan scorpion venoms and their neutralization by experimental polyclonal antivenom
    Oukkache N, Ahmad Rusmili MR, Othman I, Ghalim N, Chgoury F, Boussadda L, et al.
    Life Sci, 2015 Mar 1;124:1-7.
    PMID: 25623852 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2014.12.031
    Scorpion venoms contain complex mixtures of molecules, including peptides. These peptides specifically bind to various targets, in particular ion channels. Toxins modulating Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+) and Cl(-) currents were described from venoms. The Androctonus and Buthus geni of scorpions are widely distributed in Morocco. Their stings can cause pain, inflammation, necrosis, muscle paralysis and death. The myotoxicity is predominantly associated with neurotoxic effects and is a cause of mortality and morbidity. In this study, pharmacological effects of venoms were investigated in vitro on neuromuscular transmission.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antivenins/pharmacology*; Chickens; Horses; Lethal Dose 50; Morocco; Neuromuscular Junction/drug effects*; Neuromuscular Junction/pathology; Neurotoxins/isolation & purification; Neurotoxins/toxicity*; Scorpion Venoms/toxicity*; Scorpion Venoms/chemistry; Scorpions; Mice; Scorpion Stings/physiopathology*
  7. Fulltext Common carotid intima-media thickness relates to cardiovascular events in adults aged <45 years
    Eikendal AL, Groenewegen KA, Anderson TJ, Britton AR, Engström G, Evans GW, et al.
    Hypertension, 2015 Apr;65(4):707-13.
    PMID: 25624341 DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.04658
    Although atherosclerosis starts in early life, evidence on risk factors and atherosclerosis in individuals aged <45 years is scarce. Therefore, we studied the relationship between risk factors, common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and first-time cardiovascular events in adults aged <45 years. Our study population consisted of 3067 adults aged <45 years free from symptomatic cardiovascular disease at baseline, derived from 6 cohorts that are part of the USE-IMT initiative, an individual participant data meta-analysis of general-population-based cohort studies evaluating CIMT measurements. Information on risk factors, CIMT measurements, and follow-up of the combined end point (first-time myocardial infarction or stroke) was obtained. We assessed the relationship between risk factors and CIMT and the relationship between CIMT and first-time myocardial infarction or stroke using a multivariable linear mixed-effects model and a Cox proportional-hazards model, respectively. During a follow-up of 16.3 years, 55 first-time myocardial infarctions or strokes occurred. Median CIMT was 0.63 mm. Of the risk factors under study, age, sex, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol related to CIMT. Furthermore, CIMT related to first-time myocardial infarction or stroke with a hazard ratio of 1.40 per SD increase in CIMT, independent of risk factors (95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.76). CIMT may be a valuable marker for cardiovascular risk in adults aged <45 years who are not yet eligible for standard cardiovascular risk screening. This is especially relevant in those with an increased, unfavorable risk factor burden.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology*; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Netherlands/epidemiology; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Incidence; Risk Assessment*; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness*
  8. Fulltext Conjunctival necrosis following a subconjunctival injection of triamcinolone acetonide in a child
    Chong YJ, Wong CK, Shatriah I
    Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol, 2015 Jan-Mar;22(1):125-8.
    PMID: 25624689 DOI: 10.4103/0974-9233.148364
    Conjunctival necrosis is a rare complication following periocular/intraocular triamcinolone acetonide injection and has been reported extensively in adults. We describe a child who developed conjunctival necrosis following subconjunctival injection of triamcinolone acetonide for severe chronic anterior uveitis. Prompt diagnosis and management of this uncommon condition is vital.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Child; Chronic Disease; Conjunctiva/drug effects*; Conjunctiva/pathology*; Female; Glucocorticoids/adverse effects*; Humans; Necrosis/chemically induced; Necrosis/drug therapy; Triamcinolone Acetonide/adverse effects*; Uveitis, Anterior/drug therapy*; Fluoroquinolones/therapeutic use; Injections, Intraocular; Topoisomerase II Inhibitors/therapeutic use; Re-Epithelialization/drug effects
  9. Fulltext Expression distribution of cancer stem cells, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and telomerase activity in breast cancer and their association with clinicopathologic characteristics
    Makki J, Myint O, Wynn AA, Samsudin AT, John DV
    Clin Med Insights Pathol, 2015;8:1-16.
    PMID: 25624778 DOI: 10.4137/CPath.S19615
    A total of 167 surgically resected primary invasive breast carcinomas and 63 metastatic lymph node lesions were analyzed for immunohistochemical (IHC) localization of the CD44(+)CD24(-low) breast cancer stem cell (CSC) markers, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and telomerase activity by double-staining IHC technique, in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, the results were validated by double-staining immunofluorescent and flow cytometry techniques. The results showed that CSCs with CD44(+)CD24(-low) phenotype were significantly increased in node-positive tumors, high-grade tumors, and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). There was a high incidence of telomerase expression in metastatic lymph node lesion. There were considerably high number of tumor cells with EMT expression in metastatic lymph node lesion, and triple-negative tumor. The occurrence of EMT phenomena was usually accompanied by the co-existence of CSCs of CD44(+)CD24(-low) phenotype. There was no association between the existence of CSCs and detection of telomerase activity in tumor cells. Increased numbers of both CSCs of CD44(+)CD24(-low) phenotype and cells underwent EMT in DCIS lesion might be an initial step in the stromal invasion and propagation of breast cancer, and occurrence of EMT in the breast tumor associated with high prevalence of CSCs, promoting tumor invasiveness and metastasis.
  10. Fulltext Hepatitis C and kidney disease: An overview and approach to management
    Azmi AN, Tan SS, Mohamed R
    World J Hepatol, 2015 Jan 27;7(1):78-92.
    PMID: 25624999 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i1.78
    Hepatitis C infection and chronic kidney disease are major health burden worldwide. Hepatitis C infection is associated with a wide range of extra-hepatic manifestations in various organs including the kidneys. A strong association between hepatitis C and chronic kidney disease has come to light. Hemodialysis in supporting the end stage renal disease patients unfortunately carries a risk for hepatitis C infection. Despite much improvement in the care of this group of patients, the prevalence of hepatitis C infection in hemodialysis patients is still higher than the general population. Hepatitis C infection has a negative effect on the survival of hemodialysis and renal transplant patients. Treatment of hepatitis C in end stage renal disease patients using conventional or pegylated interferon with or without ribavirin remains a clinical challenge with low response rate, high dropout rate due to poor tolerability and many unmet needs. The approval of new direct acting antiviral agents for hepatitis C may dramatically change the treatment approach in hepatitis C infected patients with mild to moderate renal impairment. However it remains to be confirmed if the newer Hepatitis C therapies are safe in individuals with severe renal impairment. This review article discusses the relationship between hepatitis C and chronic kidney disease, describe the various types of renal diseases associated with hepatitis C and the newer as well as the existing treatments for hepatitis C in the context of this subpopulation of hepatitis C patients.
  11. Fulltext Resonance metallic ureteric stent in a case of ketamine bladder induced bilateral ureteric obstruction with one year follow up
    Yong GL, Kong CY, Ooi MW, Lee EG
    Int J Surg Case Rep, 2015;8C:49-51.
    PMID: 25625490 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2015.01.008
    Upper urinary tract occlusion is well recognized in patients with chronic ketamine abuse. The mechanism is generally unknown, but the ulcerative cystitis contracture may be responsible for obstruction. We present the first reported use of the Resonance metallic ureteric stent in the management ureteric obstruction caused by ketamine-induced uropathy.
  12. Universal health coverage in 'One ASEAN': are migrants included?
    Guinto RL, Curran UZ, Suphanchaimat R, Pocock NS
    Glob Health Action, 2015 Jan;8(1):25749.
    PMID: 28156768 DOI: 10.3402/gha.v8.25749
    Background As the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) gears toward full regional integration by 2015, the cross-border mobility of workers and citizens at large is expected to further intensify in the coming years. While ASEAN member countries have already signed the Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, the health rights of migrants still need to be addressed, especially with ongoing universal health coverage (UHC) reforms in most ASEAN countries. This paper seeks to examine the inclusion of migrants in the UHC systems of five ASEAN countries which exhibit diverse migration profiles and are currently undergoing varying stages of UHC development. Design A scoping review of current migration trends and policies as well as ongoing UHC developments and migrant inclusion in UHC in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand was conducted. Results In general, all five countries, whether receiving or sending, have schemes that cover migrants to varying extents. Thailand even allows undocumented migrants to opt into its Compulsory Migrant Health Insurance scheme, while Malaysia and Singapore are still yet to consider including migrants in their government-run UHC systems. In terms of predominantly sending countries, the Philippines's social health insurance provides outbound migrants with portable insurance yet with limited benefits, while Indonesia still needs to strengthen the implementation of its compulsory migrant insurance which has a health insurance component. Overall, the five ASEAN countries continue to face implementation challenges, and will need to improve on their UHC design in order to ensure genuine inclusion of migrants, including undocumented migrants. However, such reforms will require strong political decisions from agencies outside the health sector that govern migration and labor policies. Furthermore, countries must engage in multilateral and bilateral dialogue as they redefine UHC beyond the basis of citizenship and reimagine UHC systems that transcend national borders. Conclusions By enhancing migrant coverage, ASEAN countries can make UHC systems truly 'universal'. Migrant inclusion in UHC is a human rights imperative, and it is in ASEAN's best interest to protect the health of migrants as it pursues the path toward collective social progress and regional economic prosperity.
    MeSH terms: Universal Coverage*
  13. Auto-shape lossless compression of pharynx and esophagus fluoroscopic images
    Arif AS, Mansor S, Logeswaran R, Karim HA
    J Med Syst, 2015 Feb;39(2):5.
    PMID: 25628161 DOI: 10.1007/s10916-015-0200-z
    The massive number of medical images produced by fluoroscopic and other conventional diagnostic imaging devices demand a considerable amount of space for data storage. This paper proposes an effective method for lossless compression of fluoroscopic images. The main contribution in this paper is the extraction of the regions of interest (ROI) in fluoroscopic images using appropriate shapes. The extracted ROI is then effectively compressed using customized correlation and the combination of Run Length and Huffman coding, to increase compression ratio. The experimental results achieved show that the proposed method is able to improve the compression ratio by 400 % as compared to that of traditional methods.
    MeSH terms: Algorithms; Fluoroscopy; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods; Data Compression/methods*
  14. Fulltext Population divergence in compensatory growth responses and their costs in sticklebacks
    Ab Ghani NI, Merilä J
    Ecol Evol, 2015 Jan;5(1):7-23.
    PMID: 25628860 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1342
    Compensatory growth (CG) may be an adaptive mechanism that helps to restore an organisms' growth trajectory and adult size from deviations caused by early life resource limitation. Yet, few studies have investigated the genetic basis of CG potential and existence of genetically based population differentiation in CG potential. We studied population differentiation, genetic basis, and costs of CG potential in nine-spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) differing in their normal growth patterns. As selection favors large body size in pond and small body size in marine populations, we expected CG to occur in the pond but not in the marine population. By manipulating feeding conditions (viz. high, low and recovery feeding treatments), we found clear evidence for CG in the pond but not in the marine population, as well as evidence for catch-up growth (i.e., size compensation without growth acceleration) in both populations. In the marine population, overcompensation occurred individuals from the recovery treatment grew eventually larger than those from the high feeding treatment. In both populations, the recovery feeding treatment reduced maturation probability. The recovery feeding treatment also reduced survival probability in the marine but not in the pond population. Analysis of interpopulation hybrids further suggested that both genetic and maternal effects contributed to the population differences in CG. Hence, apart from demonstrating intrinsic costs for recovery growth, both genetic and maternal effects were identified to be important modulators of CG responses. The results provide an evidence for adaptive differentiation in recovery growth potential.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Biological Phenomena; Genetics, Population; Probability; Smegmamorpha; Genetic Drift; Body Size; Ponds; Maternal Inheritance
  15. Fulltext Severe acute pancreatitis in pregnancy
    Abdullah B, Kathiresan Pillai T, Cheen LH, Ryan RJ
    Case Rep Obstet Gynecol, 2015;2015:239068.
    PMID: 25628906 DOI: 10.1155/2015/239068
    This is a case of a pregnant lady at 8 weeks of gestation, who presented with acute abdomen. She was initially diagnosed with ruptured ectopic pregnancy and ruptured corpus luteal cyst as the differential diagnosis. However she then, was finally diagnosed as acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis with spontaneous complete miscarriage. This is followed by review of literature on this topic. Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy is not uncommon. The emphasis on high index of suspicion of acute pancreatitis in women who presented with acute abdomen in pregnancy is highlighted. Early diagnosis and good supportive care by multidisciplinary team are crucial to ensure good maternal and fetal outcomes.
  16. Fulltext Binding mode analysis of zerumbone to key signal proteins in the tumor necrosis factor pathway
    Fatima A, Abdul AB, Abdullah R, Karjiban RA, Lee VS
    Int J Mol Sci, 2015 Jan 26;16(2):2747-66.
    PMID: 25629232 DOI: 10.3390/ijms16022747
    Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. Several signaling pathways have been implicated as causative and progression agents. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α protein plays a dual role in promoting and inhibiting cancer depending largely on the pathway initiated by the binding of the protein to its receptor. Zerumbone, an active constituent of Zingiber zerumbet, Smith, is known to act on the tumor necrosis factor pathway upregulating tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) death receptors and inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Zerumbone is a sesquiterpene that is able to penetrate into the hydrophobic pockets of proteins to exert its inhibiting activity with several proteins. We found a good binding with the tumor necrosis factor, kinase κB (IKKβ) and the Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) component proteins along the TNF pathway. Our results suggest that zerumbone can exert its apoptotic activities by inhibiting the cytoplasmic proteins. It inhibits the IKKβ kinase that activates the NF-κB and also binds to the NF-κB complex in the TNF pathway. Blocking both proteins can lead to inhibition of cell proliferating proteins to be downregulated and possibly ultimate induction of apoptosis.
    MeSH terms: Amino Acid Sequence; Binding Sites; Molecular Sequence Data; Protein Binding; Sesquiterpenes/metabolism*; Sesquiterpenes/chemistry; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/chemistry; NF-kappa B/metabolism; NF-kappa B/chemistry; Catalytic Domain; Databases, Protein; I-kappa B Kinase/metabolism; I-kappa B Kinase/chemistry; Molecular Docking Simulation
  17. Fulltext The impact of dyspepsia on symptom severity and quality of life in adults with headache
    Tai ML, Norhatta N, Goh KJ, Moy FM, Sujarita R, Asraff AA, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(1):e0115838.
    PMID: 25629323 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115838
    BACKGROUND: Dyspepsia and headache frequently co-exist, but the clinical implication of this association is uncertain. We planned to examine the prevalence and impact of dyspepsia in adults with headache.
    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a secondary care setting. Clinical, psychological and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) data were compared between subjects with headache and controls (non-headache subjects). The impact of dyspepsia was analysed further in subjects with headache alone.
    RESULTS: 280 subjects (93 cases with headache and 187 matched controls) were recruited. The following baseline characteristics of subjects were as follows: mean age 45.0 ± 17.3 years, 57.0% females and ethnic distribution-Malaysian = 45 (48.4%), Chinese n = 24 (25.8%) and Indians n = 24 (25.8%). Headache sub-types among cases with headache were as follows: tension-type headache (TTH) n = 53 (57.0%) and migraine n = 40 (43.0%). Dyspepsia was more prevalent in cases with headache compared to controls (25.8% vs 12.8%, p = 0.011), and headache was independently associated with dyspepsia (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.39-5.43). Among cases with headache, there was a trend towards a higher prevalence of dyspepsia in those with migraine (27.5%) compared to TTH (24.5%). Subjects with headache and dyspepsia, compared to those with headache alone, had a greater severity of headache symptoms (63.67 ± 22.85 mm vs 51.20 ± 24.0 mm VAS, p = 0.029). Overall HRQOL scores were lower in headache subjects with dyspepsia (EQ-5D summary score 0.82 ± 0.18 vs 0.90 ± 0.16, p = 0.037 and EQ-5D VAS 62.08 ± 17.50 mm vs 72.62 ± 18.85 mm, p = 0.018), compared to those without dyspepsia.
    CONCLUSION: Dyspepsia is associated with more severe headache symptoms and results in a lower HRQOL in patients with headache.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dyspepsia/complications*; Dyspepsia/epidemiology*; Female; Headache/diagnosis; Headache/etiology*; Headache/epidemiology*; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Pain Measurement; Quality of Life*; Risk Factors; Prevalence; Case-Control Studies
  18. Fulltext Determination of key environmental factors responsible for distribution patterns of fiddler crabs in a tropical mangrove ecosystem
    Mokhtari M, Ghaffar MA, Usup G, Cob ZC
    PLoS One, 2015;10(1):e0117467.
    PMID: 25629519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117467
    In tropical regions, different species of fiddler crabs coexist on the mangrove floor, which sometimes makes it difficult to define species-specific habitat by visual inspection. The aim of this study is to find key environmental parameters which affect the distribution of fiddler crabs and to determine the habitats in which each species was most abundant. Crabs were collected from 19 sites within the mudflats of Sepang-Lukut mangrove forest. Temperature, porewater salinity, organic matter, water content, carbon and nitrogen content, porosity, chlorophyll content, pH, redox potential, sediment texture and heavy metals were determined in each 1 m2 quadrate. Pearson correlation indicated that all sediment properties except pH and redox potential were correlated with sediment grain size. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that Uca paradussumieri was negatively correlated with salinity and redox potential. Sand dwelling species, Uca perplexa and Uca annulipes, were highly dependent on the abundance of 250 μm and 150 μm grain size particles in the sediment. Canonical Discriminative Analysis (CDA) indicated that variation in sediment grain size best explained where each crab species was most abundant. Moreover, U. paradussumieri commonly occupies muddy substrates of low shore, while U. forcipata lives under the shade of mangrove trees. U. annulipes and U. perplexa with the high number of spoon tipped setae on their second maxiliped are specialized to feed on the sandy sediments. U. rosea and U. triangularis are more common on muddy sediment with high sediment density. In conclusion, sediment grain size that influences most sediment properties acts as a main factor responsible for sediment heterogeneity. In this paper, the correlation between fiddler crab species and environmental parameters, as well as the interaction between sediment characteristics, was explained in order to define the important environmental factors in fiddler crab distributions.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Brachyura*; Species Specificity; Ecosystem*; Wetlands*; Animal Distribution*
  19. Fulltext Low prevalence of CHEK2 gene mutations in multiethnic cohorts of breast cancer patients in Malaysia
    Mohamad S, Isa NM, Muhammad R, Emran NA, Kitan NM, Kang P, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(1):e0117104.
    PMID: 25629968 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117104
    CHEK2 is a protein kinase that is involved in cell-cycle checkpoint control after DNA damage. Germline mutations in CHEK2 gene have been associated with increase in breast cancer risk. The aim of this study is to identify the CHEK2 gene germline mutations among high-risk breast cancer patients and its contribution to the multiethnic population in Malaysia. We screened the entire coding region of CHEK2 gene on 59 high-risk breast cancer patients who tested negative for BRCA1/2 germline mutations from UKM Medical Centre (UKMMC), Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) and Hospital Putrajaya (HPJ). Sequence variants identified were screened further in case-control cohorts consisting of 878 unselected invasive breast cancer patients (180 Malays, 526 Chinese and 172 Indian) and 270 healthy individuals (90 Malays, 90 Chinese and 90 Indian). By screening the entire coding region of the CHEK2 gene, two missense mutations, c.480A>G (p.I160M) and c.538C>T (p.R180C) were identified in two unrelated patients (3.4%). Further screening of these missense mutations on the case-control cohorts unveiled the variant p.I160M in 2/172 (1.1%) Indian cases and 1/90 (1.1%) Indian control, variant p.R180C in 2/526 (0.38%) Chinese cases and 0/90 Chinese control, and in 2/180 (1.1%) of Malay cases and 1/90 (1.1%) of Malay control. The results of this study suggest that CHEK2 mutations are rare among high-risk breast cancer patients and may play a minor contributing role in breast carcinogenesis among Malaysian population.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Breast Neoplasms/ethnology; Breast Neoplasms/genetics*; Breast Neoplasms/pathology; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Case-Control Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease*; Mutation, Missense*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics; Checkpoint Kinase 2/genetics*
  20. Fulltext The effect of the Malaysian Food Guideline guidance on a group of overweight and obese women during Ramadan
    Suriani I, Shamsuddin K, Abdul Latif K, Saad HA
    Saudi Med J, 2015 Jan;36(1):40-5.
    PMID: 25630003 DOI: 10.15537/smj.2015.1.9661
    To determine the effect of imparting knowledge of the Malaysian Food Guideline (MFG) on a group of overweight and obese women during Ramadan.
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