Displaying publications 41 - 52 of 52 in total

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  1. Lau ZC, Mohd Yusof BN, Abas F, Abd Wahab N, Wan Zukiman WZH, Ismail A
    Malays J Med Sci, 2022 Oct;29(5):5-16.
    PMID: 36474545 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2022.29.5.2
    The Identifying the dynamic metabolome of the individual in response to a particular stimulus using a metabolomic approach is an emerging research area. Measuring the postprandial metabolite response utilising a meal-challenge test (MCT) provides information beyond the fasting state, which is especially important since human beings spend most of their time in the postprandial state. This is pertinent as an excessive rise in postprandial glycaemia is common in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which puts them at a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). While a low glycaemic index (GI) meal improves postprandial glycaemia and insulin levels in MCT studies among individuals with T2DM, its effect on metabolite changes in the postprandial state is unclear. This review summarises the perturbation in postprandial metabolites following a low GI meal in comparison to that following a usual or high GI meal and maps the metabolites in their metabolic pathways. We undertook a literature review using electronic databases, with the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms, to retrieve relevant studies based on specific criteria. A total of seven related studies were documented. For the majority of metabolites studied, it was identified that metabolic regulation following an MCT extends beyond the glucose pathway. Altered metabolic pathways after the consumption of a low GI meal include: i) essential amino acid metabolism by altering the levels of plasma phenylalanine, tyrosine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine and valine; ii) glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) metabolism by altering citrate and alanine, and iii) gut microbiota metabolism by altering betaine and acetate. The altered metabolites regulated the pancreatic insulin secretion and related to other dietary factors beyond GI modifications. These metabolomics data need to be interpreted cautiously because the metabolic changes analysed might not be due to the beneficial effects of a low GI meal. Validation of the putative metabolomic biomarkers following a dietary intervention MCT is suggested because researchers need to fully understand the kinetics and metabolism of individuals metabolite before reaching a solid conclusion. Further research characterising the metabotype based on habitual dietary patterns is warranted.
  2. Ahmed Hamdi OA, Syed Abdul Rahman SN, Awang K, Abdul Wahab N, Looi CY, Thomas NF, et al.
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:321943.
    PMID: 25126594 DOI: 10.1155/2014/321943
    Curcuma zedoaria also known as Temu putih is traditionally used in food preparations and treatment of various ailments including cancer. The cytotoxic activity of hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and the methanol-soxhlet extracts of Curcuma zedoaria rhizomes was tested on two human cancer cell lines (Ca Ski and MCF-7) and a noncancer cell line (HUVEC) using MTT assay. Investigation on the chemical components in the hexane and dichloromethane fractions gave 19 compounds, namely, labda-8(17),12 diene-15,16 dial (1), dehydrocurdione (2), curcumenone (3), comosone II (4), curcumenol (5), procurcumenol (6), germacrone (7), zerumbone epoxide (8), zederone (9), 9-isopropylidene-2,6-dimethyl-11-oxatricyclo[6.2.1.0(1,5)]undec-6-en-8-ol (10), furanodiene (11), germacrone-4,5-epoxide (12), calcaratarin A (13), isoprocurcumenol (14), germacrone-1,10-epoxide (15), zerumin A (16), curcumanolide A (17), curcuzedoalide (18), and gweicurculactone (19). Compounds (1-19) were evaluated for their antiproliferative effect using MTT assay against four cancer cell lines (Ca Ski, MCF-7, PC-3, and HT-29). Curcumenone (3) and curcumenol (5) displayed strong antiproliferative activity (IC50 = 8.3 ± 1.0 and 9.3 ± 0.3 μg/mL, resp.) and were found to induce apoptotic cell death on MCF-7 cells using phase contrast and Hoechst 33342/PI double-staining assay. Thus, the present study provides basis for the ethnomedical application of Curcuma zedoaria in the treatment of breast cancer.
  3. Lim RZM, Lee T, Ng JYZ, Quek KF, Abdul Wahab N, Amansah SL, et al.
    J Pediatr Surg, 2018 Nov;53(11):2312-2317.
    PMID: 29459045 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2018.01.004
    BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Although ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction (USGHR) is increasingly used in managing pediatric intussusception, there is limited literature concerning its use in Malaysia. We aim to examine the experience and factors associated with the effectiveness of USGHR using water.

    METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective observational study in a Malaysian tertiary referral center. Children with intussusception admitted between year 2012 and 2016 were included and medical records reviewed. Factors associated with success or failure of USGHR were identified using multivariable logistic regression.

    RESULTS: Of the 172 cases included, 151 cases (87.8%) underwent USGHR, of whom 129 cases were successfully reduced (success rate of 85.4%). One perforation (0.7%) was reported. Age more than 3years old (aOR=7.16; 95% CI=1.07-47.94; p=0.042), anemia (aOR=10.12; 95% CI=1.12-91.35; p=0.039), thrombocytosis (aOR=11.21; 95% CI=2.06-64.33; p=0.005) and ultrasound findings of free fluid (aOR=9.39; 95% CI=1.62-54.38; p=0.012) and left-sided intussusception (aOR=8.18;95% CI=1.22-54.90, p=0.031) were independently associated with USGHR irreducibility. Symptom duration, blood in stool, vomiting and other clinical presentations, however, showed no association.

    CONCLUSIONS: USGHR with water is effective in the non-operative management of pediatric intussusception. Prolonged symptom duration need not necessarily preclude USGHR. The findings of anemia and thrombocytosis as independent predictors of USGHR irreducibility deserve further study.

    TYPE OF STUDY: Treatment study LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

  4. Kamarudin MKA, Toriman ME, Abd Wahab N, Abu Samah MA, Abdul Maulud KN, Mohamad Hamzah F, et al.
    Heliyon, 2023 Nov;9(11):e21573.
    PMID: 38058642 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21573
    The climate, geomorphological changes, and hydrological elements that have occurred have all influenced future flood episodes by increasing the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather occurrences like extreme precipitation events. River bank erosion is a natural geomorphic process that occurs in all channels. As modifications of sizes and channel shapes are made to transport the discharge, sediment abounds from the stream catchment, and floods are triggered dramatically. The aim of this study is to analyze the flood-sensitive regions along the Pahang River Basin and determine how climate and river changes would have an impact on flooding based on hydrometeorological data and information on river characteristics. The study is divided into three stages, namely the upstream, middle stream, and downstream of the Pahang River. The main primary hydrometeorological data and river characteristics, such as Sinuosity Index, Dominant Slope Range and Entrenchment Ratio collected as important inputs in the statistical analysis process. The statistical analyses, namely HACA, PCA, and Linear Regression applied in river classification. The result showed that the middle stream and downstream areas demonstrated the worst flooding affected by anthropogenic and hydrological factors. Rainfall distribution is one of the factors that contributed to the flood disaster. There are strong correlations between the Sinuosity Index (SI) and water level, which indicates that changes occurred at both planform and stream classification. The best management practices towards sustainability are based on the application of the outcomes that have been obtained after the analysis of Pahang River planform changes, Pahang River geometry, and the local rainfall pattern in the Pahang River Basin.
  5. Abdul Aziz FA, Abd Razak MA, Ahmad NA, Awaluddin SM, Lodz NA, Sooryanarayana R, et al.
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2019 11;31(8_suppl):73S-79S.
    PMID: 31353928 DOI: 10.1177/1010539519862161
    Various factors contribute to suicidal attempt. This study aims to determine the relationship between suicidal attempt and its associated factors among school-going adolescents in Malaysia. Data from the National Health and Morbidity 2017 survey were analyzed. This survey was implemented as a nationwide school-based survey targeting adolescents 13 to 17 years old. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analysis was done using SPSS version 20. A total of 27 399 adolescents participated in this survey. The prevalence of suicidal attempt was 6.9% (95% confidence interval = 6.2-7.7). Multivariate analysis found that the odds of suicidal attempt among adolescent with depression is 4.3 (adjusted odds ratio = 4.3; 95% confidence interval = 3.9-4.8). Other significant factors are young adolescent, non-Malay ethnicities especially Indian, adolescent with parents living apart, and those without peer support and parental connectedness. A holistic approach for the planning of preventative strategies and public health policies should be made according to these risk factors.
    Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-2017)
  6. Khalil MKN, Abd Razak MA, Tahir FA, Sahril N, Shahein NA, Rezali MS, et al.
    Nutrients, 2023 Mar 20;15(6).
    PMID: 36986223 DOI: 10.3390/nu15061493
    BACKGROUND: Anaemia continues to be a global public health burden affecting all age groups, particularly children. Indigenous people, including the Orang Asli (OA) population in Malaysia, are at risk of anaemia due to the vast disparities in social determinants of health in their population compared to the non-indigenous population.

    OBJECTIVES: This review aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors of anaemia among OA children in Malaysia and analyse the knowledge gaps.

    METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Google Scholar databases. This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines.

    RESULTS: This review identified six studies involving the participation of OA children from eight subtribes residing in Peninsular Malaysia. The overall prevalence of anaemia among OA children ranged from 21.6 to 80.0%, with iron deficiency anaemia prevalence at 34.0%. The risk factors of anaemia among OA children reported from one study in this review were being younger than ten years old children (AOR 2.11 (95% CI 1.23, 3.63)) and moderate to heavy Ascaris infections (AOR 2.05 (95% CI 1.12, 3.76)). There was no data from OA children from certain age groups and subtribes. Additionally, there is a paucity of data on risk factors for anaemia among OA children from the currently available evidence.

    CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anaemia among OA children poses a moderate to severe public health concern. Therefore, more comprehensive studies in the future are needed to address the gaps identified in this review, primarily regarding anaemia risk factors. This data would encourage policymakers in devising effective national prevention strategies to improve morbidity and mortality among OA children in the future.

  7. Khoo CS, Shukor MF, Tan JK, Tan MM, Yong LL, Sahibulddin SZ, et al.
    Epilepsy Behav, 2023 Oct;147:109432.
    PMID: 37716324 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109432
    BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency among adult people with epilepsy (PWE) is scarcely studied, despite its essential role in bone health and maintaining homeostasis. Several studies have studied the relationship between factors related to epilepsy and vitamin D metabolism. We aim to investigate this in our multi-ethnic society.

    METHODS: This was a single-center cross-sectional study. We recruited 159 participants diagnosed with epilepsy on antiseizure medications (ASMs). We included those aged 18 years and above, excluding patients with long-term medical conditions that would affect vitamin D metabolism. Sociodemographic data and details of epilepsy were collated. Venous sampling was performed to analyze the levels of albumin-corrected calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D]. Serum 25(OH)D level is defined as deficient (<20 ng/ml), insufficient (20-29 ng/ml), and sufficient (≥30 ng/ml).

    RESULTS: The study reported that 73 (45.9%) participants had vitamin D deficiency, 38 (23.9%) had vitamin D insufficiency, and 48 (30.2%) patients had sufficient vitamin D levels. The predictors identified were PWE aged 18 to 44 years old (p = 0.001), female gender (OR 3.396, p = 0.002), and ethnicity (p 

  8. Sahril N, Chan YM, Chan YY, Ahmad NA, Kassim MSA, Shahein NA, et al.
    PMID: 36901351 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054342
    OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the prevalence of poor self-rated health (SRH) in Malaysia and its association with sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behavior, chronic diseases, depression, and functional limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) among older persons.

    DESIGN: Cross-sectional. Setting, participants, and outcome measures: We used data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2018, a nationwide community-based study. This study was conducted using a two-stage stratified cluster sampling design. Older persons were defined as persons aged 60 years and above. SRH was assessed using the question "How do you rate your general health?" and the answers were "very good", "good", "moderate", "not good", and "very bad". SRH was then grouped into two categories; "Good" (very good and good) and "Poor" (moderate, not good, and very bad). Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25.0.

    RESULTS: The prevalence of poor SRH among older persons was 32.6%. Poor SRH was significantly related to physical inactivity, depression, and limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs). Multiple logistic regression revealed that poor SRH was positively associated with those who had depression (aOR 2.92, 95% CI:2.01,4.24), limitations in ADLs (aOR 1.82, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.54), low individual income (aOR 1.66, 95% CI:1.22, 2.26), physical inactivity (aOR 1.40, 95% CI:1.08, 1.82), and hypertension (aOR 1.23, 95% CI:1.02, 1.49).

    CONCLUSIONS: Older persons with depression, limitations in ADLs, low income, physical inactivity, and hypertension were significantly associated with poor SRH. These findings provide information to aid health personnel and policymakers in the development and implementation of health promotion and disease prevention programs, as well as adequate evidence in planning different levels of care for the older population.

  9. Al-Baiaty FDR, Ishak S, Mohd Zaki F, Masra F, Abdul Aziz DA, Wan Md Zin WN, et al.
    BMC Pediatr, 2024 Aug 20;24(1):529.
    PMID: 39160468 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04993-8
    BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a growing concern, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant consequence. Currently, there are no approved drugs to treat NAFLD in children. However, a recent study explored the potential of vitamin E enriched with tocotrienol (TRF) as a powerful antioxidant for NAFLD. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effectiveness and safety of TRF in managing children with obesity and NAFLD.

    METHODS: A total of 29 patients aged 10 to 18 received a daily oral dose of 50 mg TRF for six months (January 2020 to February 2022), and all had fatty liver disease were detected by ultrasonography and abnormally high alanine transaminase levels (at least two-fold higher than the upper limits for their respective genders). Various parameters, including biochemical markers, FibroScan, LiverFASt, DNA damage, and cytokine expression, were monitored.

    RESULTS: APO-A1 and AST levels decreased significantly from 1.39 ± 0.3 to 1.22 ± 0.2 g/L (P = 0.002) and from 30 ± 12 to 22 ± 10 g/L (P = 0.038), respectively, in the TRF group post-intervention. Hepatic steatosis was significantly reduced in the placebo group from 309.38 ± 53.60 db/m to 277.62 ± 39.55 db/m (p = 0.048), but not in the TRF group. Comet assay analysis showed a significant reduction in the DNA damage parameters in the TRF group in the post-intervention period compared to the baseline, with tail length decreasing from 28.34 ± 10.9 to 21.69 ± 9.84; (p = 0.049) and with tail DNA (%) decreasing from 54.13 ± 22.1to 46.23 ± 17.9; (p = 0.043). Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression levels were significantly lower in the TRF group compared to baseline levels for IL-6 (2.10 6.3 to 0.7 1.0 pg/mL; p = 0.047 pg/mL) and TNF-1 (1.73 5.5 pg/mL to 0.7 0.5 pg/mL; p = 0.045).

    CONCLUSION: The study provides evidence that TRF supplementation may offer a risk-free treatment option for children with obesity and NAFLD. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of TRF offer a promising adjuvant therapy for NAFLD treatment. In combination with lifestyle modifications such as exercise and calorie restriction, TRF could play an essential role in the prevention of NAFLD in the future. However, further studies are needed to explore the long-term effects of TRF supplementation on NAFLD in children.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study has been registered with the International Clinical Trial Registry under reference number (NCT05905185) retrospective registration on (15/06/2023).

  10. Page DB, Broeckx G, Jahangir CA, Verbandt S, Gupta RR, Thagaard J, et al.
    J Pathol, 2023 Aug;260(5):514-532.
    PMID: 37608771 DOI: 10.1002/path.6165
    Modern histologic imaging platforms coupled with machine learning methods have provided new opportunities to map the spatial distribution of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, there exists no standardized method for describing or analyzing spatial immune cell data, and most reported spatial analyses are rudimentary. In this review, we provide an overview of two approaches for reporting and analyzing spatial data (raster versus vector-based). We then provide a compendium of spatial immune cell metrics that have been reported in the literature, summarizing prognostic associations in the context of a variety of cancers. We conclude by discussing two well-described clinical biomarkers, the breast cancer stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocytes score and the colon cancer Immunoscore, and describe investigative opportunities to improve clinical utility of these spatial biomarkers. © 2023 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
  11. Thagaard J, Broeckx G, Page DB, Jahangir CA, Verbandt S, Kos Z, et al.
    J Pathol, 2023 Aug;260(5):498-513.
    PMID: 37608772 DOI: 10.1002/path.6155
    The clinical significance of the tumor-immune interaction in breast cancer is now established, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have emerged as predictive and prognostic biomarkers for patients with triple-negative (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2-negative) breast cancer and HER2-positive breast cancer. How computational assessments of TILs might complement manual TIL assessment in trial and daily practices is currently debated. Recent efforts to use machine learning (ML) to automatically evaluate TILs have shown promising results. We review state-of-the-art approaches and identify pitfalls and challenges of automated TIL evaluation by studying the root cause of ML discordances in comparison to manual TIL quantification. We categorize our findings into four main topics: (1) technical slide issues, (2) ML and image analysis aspects, (3) data challenges, and (4) validation issues. The main reason for discordant assessments is the inclusion of false-positive areas or cells identified by performance on certain tissue patterns or design choices in the computational implementation. To aid the adoption of ML for TIL assessment, we provide an in-depth discussion of ML and image analysis, including validation issues that need to be considered before reliable computational reporting of TILs can be incorporated into the trial and routine clinical management of patients with triple-negative breast cancer. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
  12. Jahangir CA, Page DB, Broeckx G, Gonzalez CA, Burke C, Murphy C, et al.
    J Pathol, 2024 Mar;262(3):271-288.
    PMID: 38230434 DOI: 10.1002/path.6238
    Recent advances in the field of immuno-oncology have brought transformative changes in the management of cancer patients. The immune profile of tumours has been found to have key value in predicting disease prognosis and treatment response in various cancers. Multiplex immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence have emerged as potent tools for the simultaneous detection of multiple protein biomarkers in a single tissue section, thereby expanding opportunities for molecular and immune profiling while preserving tissue samples. By establishing the phenotype of individual tumour cells when distributed within a mixed cell population, the identification of clinically relevant biomarkers with high-throughput multiplex immunophenotyping of tumour samples has great potential to guide appropriate treatment choices. Moreover, the emergence of novel multi-marker imaging approaches can now provide unprecedented insights into the tumour microenvironment, including the potential interplay between various cell types. However, there are significant challenges to widespread integration of these technologies in daily research and clinical practice. This review addresses the challenges and potential solutions within a structured framework of action from a regulatory and clinical trial perspective. New developments within the field of immunophenotyping using multiplexed tissue imaging platforms and associated digital pathology are also described, with a specific focus on translational implications across different subtypes of cancer. © 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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