METHODS: Retrospective study on 17 cases of (β°) South East Asia (SEA) deletion from 2016 to 2019 referred to Institute for Medical Research were conducted. The clinical information and haematological profiles were evaluated. The mutation was analyzed, and the results were compared with other β°-thalassaemia groups. For HBB gene genotyping, all the cases were subjected for multiplex gap-PCR, 5 cases were subjected for HBB gene sequencing for exclusion of compound heterozygous with other beta variants. Co-inheritance of α-thalassaemia were determined using multiplex gap-PCR and multiplex ARMS-PCR.
RESULTS: Seventeen cases were positive for β°-thal SEA deletion. Fifteen cases were heterozygous and two were compound heterozygous for β°-thal SEA deletion. The results were compared with 182 cases of various heterozygous β° deletions and mutations. The mean Hb for heterozygous β°-thal SEA deletion (13.44 ± 1.45 g/dl) was normal and significantly higher than heterozygous IVS 1-1 and Codon 41/42 (post hoc test, p
OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern of polysubstance use and its associated factors among general adults in Malaysia.
METHODOLOGY: This was a secondary data analysis from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019), a cross-sectional population survey with a two-stage stratified random sampling design. A total of 10,472 Malaysians aged 18 years and above participated in this survey. Polysubstance use was defined as concurrent use of more than one substance, either alcohol, tobacco, or drugs (opioids, marijuana, amphetamine/ methamphetamine or kratom). A latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify the membership of polysubstance groups. The association of class membership with demographic profiles was examined using Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis.
RESULTS: Fit indices (AIC = 16458.9, BIC = 16443.6) from LCA supported 3 classes solution: Class 1; "moderate-drug" group primarily combination used of tobacco and alcohol (2.4%), Class 2; "high-drug" group using multiple substance including kratom (0.3%) and Class 3; "low-drug" group reporting minimal alcohol and tobacco use or non-user (97.3%). The multinomial model showed young adults (18-40 years) had a higher likelihood of being polysubstance users both for moderate-drug class (OR = 4.1) and high-drug class (OR = 3.9) compared to older age (≥60 years). Chinese (OR = 18.9), Indian (OR = 23.3), Indigenous Sabah & Sarawak (OR = 34.6) and others ethnicity (OR = 8.9) showed higher odds of being moderate-drug users than Malays. The greater odds of moderate-drug use for males (OR = 35.5), working groups (OR = 1.5) and low education level group (OR = 3.2).
CONCLUSION: Our study highlights patterns and demographics related to the use of polysubstances among adults in Malaysia. These results would help formulate specific prevention programmes for these high-risk groups.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study adapted and translated the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) developed by the WHO SAGE Working Group. The scale underwent a sequential validation process, including back-back translation, content, face, and construct validity for Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The reliability was tested using internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha composite reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE)).
RESULTS: The data for EFA and CFA were completed by a separate sample of 125 and 300 HCWs, respectively. The EFA analysis of the C19-VHS-M scale was unidimensional with 10 items. A further CFA analysis revealed a uniform set of nine items with acceptable goodness fit indices (comparative fit index = 0.997, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.995, incremental fit index = 0.997, chi-squared/degree of freedom = 1.352, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.034). The Cronbach's alpha, CR and AVE results were 0.953, 0.95 and 0.70, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire was valid and reliable for use in the Malay language.
METHODS: The study enrolled 54 patients with primary brain tumors. DNA extracted from paired tissue and blood samples was subjected to Sanger sequencing to identify alterations in the entire mtDNA. The associations between clinicopathological characteristics and mutations were evaluated. Cox-regression multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors significantly associated with survival, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the survival of patients with and without mutations.
RESULTS: Overall, 29.6% of the patients harbored 19 somatic mutations distributed across 15 loci within the mtDNA. Notably, 36.8% of these mutations were not previously documented in MITOMAP. One newly identified mutation caused a frameshift in the ATPase6 gene, resulting in a premature stop codon. Three mutations were classified as deleterious in the MitImpact2 database. Overall, 1097 mtDNA polymorphisms were identified across 331 different locations. Patients with mutations exhibited significantly shorter survival than patients without mutations.
CONCLUSIONS: mtDNA mutations negatively affected the survival outcomes of Malaysian patients with primary brain tumors. However, studies with larger samples are needed to confirm the association between mutation burden and survival rates.