METHODS: This study analyzed dengue cases from January 2014 to December 2021 and COVID-19 confirmed cases from January 2020 to December 2021 which was divided into the pre (2014 to 2019) and during COVID-19 pandemic (2020 to 2021) phases. The average annual dengue case incidence for geographical and demographic subgroups were calculated and compared between the pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic phases. In addition, Spearman rank correlation was performed to determine the correlation between weekly dengue and COVID-19 cases during the COVID-19 pandemic phase.
RESULTS: Dengue trends in Malaysia showed a 4-year cyclical trend with dengue case incidence peaking in 2015 and 2019 and subsequently decreasing in the following years. Reductions of 44.0% in average dengue cases during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic phase was observed at the national level. Higher dengue cases were reported among males, individuals aged 20-34 years, and Malaysians across both phases. Weekly dengue cases were significantly correlated (ρ = -0.901) with COVID-19 cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CONCLUSION: There was a reduction in dengue incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic phase. Significant reductions were observed across all demographic groups except for the older population (>75 years) across the two phases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 119 healthy infants and children fulfilling our inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited. They were divided into three groups according to age - 0-2 years old in group 1; 2-6 years old in group 2; 6- 12 years old in group 3. Sonography B-mode was used to assess bilateral diaphragmatic thickness and M-mode to assess diaphragmatic excursion during quiet spontaneous respiration.
RESULTS: In our paediatric population, the normal right and left diaphragmatic thickness were 2.0 mm ± 0.5 and 2.0 mm ± 0.5 for group 1; 2.5 mm ± 0.8 and 2.4 mm ± 0.6 for group 2; 2.7 mm ± 0.7 and 2.5 mm ± 0.5 for group 3, respectively. The normal right and left diaphragmatic excursion were 7.7 mm ± 2.5 and 7.3 mm ± 2.6 for group 1; 11.5 mm ± 3.8 and 10.6 mm ± 3.8 for group 2; 13.8 mm ± 3.9 and 12.9 mm ± 3.3 for group 3, respectively (data presented in mean ± standard deviation). There were no significant differences between two genders for each group. Significant positive correlation between age, weight, height, and body surface area with bilateral diaphragmatic thickness and excursion were detected in all studied population. The percentage difference between excursions of both hemidiaphragm was below 40%.
CONCLUSIONS: M-mode sonography is the modality of choice for diaphragmatic kinetics especially in paediatric population. This study provides normal sonographic reference value of diaphragmatic excursion and thickness in the Malaysian paediatric population as well as percentile curves for right diaphragmatic excursion plotted against body weight. The availability of this data will aid in the diagnosis of diaphragmatic dysfunction and hence immediate intervention for better recovery.
METHODS: A total of 12,901 breast cancer cases and 12,583 controls from 12 case-control studies were included in our pooled analysis. HLA imputation was performed using SNP2HLA on 10,886 quality-controlled variants within the 15-55 Mb region on chromosome 6. HLA alleles (n = 175) with info scores greater than 0.8 and frequencies greater than 0.01 were included (resolution at two-digit level: 71; four-digit level: 104). We studied the associations between HLA alleles and breast cancer risk using logistic regression, adjusting for population structure and age. Associations between HLA alleles and the risk of subtypes of breast cancer (ER-positive, ER-negative, HER2-positive, HER2-negative, early-stage, and late-stage) were examined.
RESULTS: We did not observe associations between any HLA allele and breast cancer risk at P Asian study. Direct measurement of HLA gene expressions may be required to further explore the associations between HLA genes and breast cancer risk.
AIM: To describe the presenting features of PIBD from 7 Asia-Pacific pediatric gastroenterology centers via a central standardised electronic data platform.
METHODS: Clinical, endoscopic and radiologic data at diagnosis from the registry were extracted between 1st January 1995 to 31st December 2019. Disease phenotypic characteristics were classified as per the Paris classification system.
RESULTS: There was a distinct rise in new PIBD cases: Nearly half (48.6%) of the cohort was diagnosed in the most recent 5 years (2015-2019). The ratio of Crohn's disease (CD):Ulcerative colitis (UC):IBD-Unclassified was 55.9%:38.3%:5.8%. The mean age was 9.07 years with a high proportion of very early onset IBD (VEO-IBD) (29.3%) and EO-IBD (52.7%). An over-representation of the Indian/South Asian ethnic group was observed which accounted for 37.0% of the overall Singapore/Malaysia subcohort (6.8%-9.0% Indians in census). Indian/South Asian CD patients were also most likely to present with symptomatic perianal disease (P = 0.003). CD patients presented with significantly more constitutional symptoms (fever, anorexia, malaise/fatigue and muscle-wasting) than UC and higher inflammatory indices (higher C-reactive protein and lower albumin levels).
CONCLUSION: We observed a high incidence of VEO-IBD and an over-representation of the Indian ethnicity. South Asian CD patients were more likely to have symptomatic perianal disease.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of genetic ancestry with childhood ALL molecular subtypes and outcomes of modern ALL therapy.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multinational, multicenter genetic association study was conducted from March 1, 2000, to November 20, 2020, among 2428 children and adolescents with ALL enrolled in frontline trials from the United States, South East Asia (Singapore and Malaysia), and Latin America (Guatemala), representing diverse populations of European, African, Native American, East Asian, and South Asian descent. Statistical analysis was conducted from February 3, 2020, to April 19, 2021.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Molecular subtypes of ALL and genetic ancestry were comprehensively characterized by performing RNA sequencing. Associations of genetic ancestries with ALL molecular subtypes and treatment outcomes were then evaluated.
RESULTS: Among the participants in the study, 1340 of 2318 (57.8%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 7.8 (5.3) years. Of 21 ALL subtypes identified, 8 were associated with ancestry. East Asian ancestry was positively associated with the frequency of somatic DUX4 (odds ratio [OR], 1.30 [95% CI, 1.16-1.45]; P
METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed on 4 databases from inception until March 2021 to identify studies examining individuals aged 60 years and above reporting functional disabilities in the ASEAN region. Information on the prevalence and impact of functional disability was extracted, assessed for bias, summarised, and analysed using a random-effects meta-analysis.
RESULTS: Thirty-four studies with 59,944 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of ADL disability was 21.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.2 to 27.3) and that of IADL disability was 46.8% (95% CI, 35.5 to 58.3). Subgroup analyses showed higher prevalence among those of advanced age and women. Adverse impacts included increased years of life with disability and poor health-related quality of life.
CONCLUSIONS: Nearly a quarter of the older adult population in the ASEAN region experience functional disability. These findings highlight the need for further research on the burden and impact of functional disability within this region to allow decision-makers to gauge the severity of the issue, develop policies to reduce the risk of developing functional disabilities, and foster healthy ageing.
METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study involving community-dwelling individuals aged >55 years was conducted. Information on sociodemographic factors, medical history, and lifestyle were obtained by computer-assisted interviews in participants' homes. Cognitive performance was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool during subsequent hospital-based health checks. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted with continuous MoCA scores as the dependent variable.
RESULTS: Data were available for 1,140 participants, mean (standard deviation [SD]) = 68.48 (7.23) years, comprising 377 (33.1%) ethnic Malays, 414 (36.3%) Chinese, and 349 (30.6%) Indians. Mean (SD) MoCA scores were 20.44 (4.92), 23.97 (4.03), and 22.04 (4.83) for Malays, Chinese, and Indians, respectively (p = 0.01). Age >75 years, <12 years of education, and low functional ability were common risk factors for low cognitive performance across all three ethnic groups. Cognitive performance was positively associated with social engagement among the ethnic Chinese (β [95% CI] = 0.06 [0.01, 0.11]) and Indians (β [95% CI] = 0.16 [0.09, 0.23]) and with lower depression scores (β [(95% CI] = -0.08 [-0.15, -0.01]) among the ethnic Indians.
CONCLUSION: Common factors associated with cognitive performance include age, education, and functional ability, and ethnic-specific factors were social engagement and depression. Interethnic comparisons of risk factors may form the basis for identification of ethnic-specific modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and provision of culturally acceptable prevention measures.
METHODS: A total of 1114 subjects comprising of 536 PD patients and 578 healthy controls of Malay ancestry were recruited and genotyped using Taqman® allelic discrimination assays.
RESULTS: The G allele of rs10513789 (OR = 0.83, p = 0.001) and A allele of rs12637471 (OR = 0.79, p = 0.007) in the MCCC1/LAMP3 locus were associated with a protective effect against developing PD in the Malay population. A recessive model of penetrance showed a protective effect of the GG genotype for rs10513789 and the AA genotype for rs12637471. No association with PD was found with the other MCCC1/LAMP3 rs12493050 variant or with the DGKQ (rs11248060) variant. No significant associations were found between the four variants with the age at PD diagnosis.
CONCLUSION: MCCC1/LAMP3 variants rs10513789 and rs12637471 protect against PD in the Malay population.