METHOD: In this study, a proteomic study focused on Malaysian Chinese and Malay prospects was conducted. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in AD patients and normal controls for Chinese and Malays were identified. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to further interpret the biological functions and pathways of the DEPs. In addition, a survey investigating behavioural practices among Chinese and Malay participants was conducted to support the results from the proteomic analysis.
RESULT: The variation of dysregulated proteins identified in Chinese and Malay samples suggested the disparities of pathways involved in this pathological condition for each respective ethnicity. Functional enrichment analysis supported this assumption in understanding the protein-protein interactions of the identified protein signatures and indicate that differentially expressed proteins identified from the Chinese group were significantly enriched with the functional terms related to Aβ/tau protein-related processes, oxidative stress and inflammation whereas neuroinflammation was associated with the Malay group. Besides that, a significant difference in sweet drinks/food intake habits between these two groups implies a relationship between sugar levels and the dysregulation of protein APOA4 in the Malay group. Additional meta-analysis further supported the dysregulation of proteins TF, AHSG, A1BG, APOA4 and C4A among AD groups.
CONCLUSION: These findings serve as a preliminary understanding in the molecular and demographic studies of AD in a multi-ethnic population.
STUDY DESIGN: We assessed data from 6414 children aged 6-18 years, collected by the South East Asia Community Observatory. Child underweight, overweight, and obesity were expressed according to 3 internationally used BMI references: World Health Organization 2007, International Obesity Task Force 2012, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000. We assessed agreement in classification of anthropometric status among the references using Cohen's kappa statistic and estimated underweight, overweight, and obesity prevalence according to each reference using mixed effects Poisson regression.
RESULTS: There was poor to moderate agreement between references when classifying underweight, but generally good agreement when classifying overweight and obesity. Underweight, overweight, and obesity prevalence estimates generated using the 3 references were notably inconsistent. Overweight and obesity prevalence estimates were higher using the World Health Organization reference vs the other 2, and underweight prevalence was up to 8.5% higher and obesity prevalence was about 4% lower when using the International Obesity Task Force reference.
CONCLUSIONS: The choice of reference to express BMI may influence conclusions about child anthropometric status and malnutrition prevalence. This has implications regarding strategies for clinical management and public health interventions.
METHODS: Of 84 screened participants, 60 asymptomatic healthy Asian population (38 females; 24.0 ± 1.5 years; 23.8 ± 2.6 kg/m2) were recruited in this 2 × 2 (AB/BA) crossover trial. Participants were randomized to a 4-h GES with 99mTc-radiolabeled EWM (~255.8 kcal), followed by a 200 mL Vital® (300 kcal), or vice versa, separated by a 2-week washout period. Global meal retention (GMR), power-exponential model emptying parameters (half-emptying [T1/2], lag phases [Tlag2%, Tlag5%, Tlag10%]), and IMD0h were determined and compared.
RESULTS: GMRs for both test meals were within the international standard references for solid GES. Compared to EWM, Vital® exhibited significantly lower GMRs (faster emptying) from 0.5 to 3 h (all P