Displaying publications 161 - 180 of 6660 in total

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  1. Higher frequency of p53 gene mutations in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with MALT component
    Tai YC, Tan JA, Peh SC
    Pathol. Int., 2004 Nov;54(11):811-8.
    PMID: 15533223
    p53 gene mutation is not a frequent event in the tumorigenesis of lymphomas and the expression of p53 protein is independent of p53 gene mutations. The present study aimed to investigate mutations in the p53 gene in a series of extranodal B-cell lymphomas, and its association with p53 protein expression. A total of 52 cases were graded histologically into Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 tumors and p53 protein expression was detected using immunohistochemistry. Mutations in the p53 gene were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and mobility shifts were confirmed by direct sequencing. The tumors comprised 26 (50%) Grade 1, 9 (17%) Grade 2 and 15 (29%) Grade 3. A high proportion of Grade 2 (25%) tumors expressed p53 protein (P = 0.051) and carried p53 gene mutation (33%) (P = 0.218). However, p53 protein expression was not associated with p53 gene mutations (P = 0.057). Transversion mutations (88%) were more frequently detected than transition mutations (12%). The present study revealed that p53 gene mutations and p53 protein expression occurred in higher frequencies in Grade 2 tumors, which may be of pathogenetic importance. The high frequency of transversion mutations may reflect the influence of an etiological agent in the tumorigenesis of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma).
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  2. The effects of age on monolayer culture of human keratinocytes for future use in skin engineering
    Muhd Fakhruddin BH, Aminuddin BS, Mazlyzam AL, Ruszymah BH
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 May;59 Suppl B:182-3.
    PMID: 15468878
    Skin is the largest organ in human system and plays a vital role as a barrier against environment and pathogens. Skin regeneration is important in tissue engineering especially in cases of chronic wounds. With the tissue engineering technology, these skins equivalent have been use clinically to repair burns and wounds. Consented redundant skin samples were obtained from patients aged 9 to 65 years old. Skin samples were digested with dispase, thus separating the epidermis and the dermis layer. The epidermis layer was trypsinized and cultured in DKSFM in 6-well plate at 37 degrees C and 5% CO2. Once confluent, the culture were trypsinized and the cells were pooled. Cells were counted using haemacytometer. Doubling time and viability were calculated and analysed. From the result, we conclude that doubling time and viability of in vitro keratinocytes cultured in DKSFM media is not age dependant.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  3. Fulltext Gelam honey protects against gamma-irradiation damage to antioxidant enzymes in human diploid fibroblasts
    Ahmad TA, Jubri Z, Rajab NF, Rahim KA, Yusof YA, Makpol S
    Molecules, 2013 Feb 11;18(2):2200-11.
    PMID: 23434870 DOI: 10.3390/molecules18022200
    The present study was designed to determine the radioprotective effects of Malaysian Gelam honey on gene expression and enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) of human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) subjected to gamma-irradiation. Six groups of HDFs were studied: untreated control, irradiated HDFs, Gelam honey-treated HDFs and HDF treated with Gelam honey pre-, during- and post-irradiation. HDFs were treated with 6 mg/mL of sterilized Gelam honey (w/v) for 24 h and exposed to 1 Gray (Gy) of gamma rays at the dose rate of 0.25 Gy/min. Gamma-irradiation was shown to down-regulate SOD1, SOD2, CAT and GPx1 gene expressions (p < 0.05). Conversely, HDFs treated with Gelam honey alone showed up-regulation of all genes studied. Similarly, SOD, CAT and GPx enzyme activities in HDFs decreased with gamma-irradiation and increased when cells were treated with Gelam honey (p < 0.05). Furthermore, of the three different stages of study treatment, pre-treatment with Gelam honey caused up-regulation of SOD1, SOD2 and CAT genes expression and increased the activity of SOD and CAT. As a conclusion, Gelam honey modulates the expression of antioxidant enzymes at gene and protein levels in irradiated HDFs indicating its potential as a radioprotectant agent.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  4. Fulltext Iodized salt supplementation and its effects on thyroid status amongst Orang Asli in Hulu Selangor, Malaysia
    Lim KK, Wong M, Mohamud WN, Kamaruddin NA
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2013;22(1):41-7.
    PMID: 23353609 DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2013.22.1.02
    BACKGROUND: This research was performed to determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and the effects of iodized salt supplementation on thyroid status amongst Orang Asli in Hulu Selangor, Malaysia.
    METHODS: Study respondents were from three target groups, i.e. pre-school children (PSC), primary school-going children (SGC) and adult women. Each household was supplied with iodized salt fortified with iodate fortificant for a period of 12 months and the iodine levels in the salt ranged from 20 to 30 μg/L. Samples collected before and after 6 and 12 months of introduction to iodized salt were urine from all groups, as well as serum samples from adult women.
    RESULTS: A total of 200 respondents were recruited; 58 (29.0%) PSC, 65 (32.5%) SGC and 77 (38.5%) adult women. The median urine-iodine concentration (mUIC) in all groups were of moderately low before the iodized salt intervention, but increased significantly in all study groups after 6 and 12 months of intervention. However, at the end of the study, there was an increase in severe iodine deficiency (mUIC <20 μg/L) from 7.5% to 12% and about 9% of PSC and SGC respondents had mUIC level of more than 300 μg/L while the adult women showed a significant increase in free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels.
    CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that iodized salt supplementation was able to show an improvement in iodine level amongst Orang Asli. However, an increase in severe iodine deficiency and iodine excess indicated that the iodized salt programme needs to be carefully monitored.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  5. Fulltext Permanent neonatal diabetes due to a novel insulin signal peptide mutation
    Hussain S, Mohd Ali J, Jalaludin MY, Harun F
    Pediatr Diabetes, 2013 Jun;14(4):299-303.
    PMID: 23350652 DOI: 10.1111/pedi.12011
    We report a rare case of permanent neonatal diabetes (PND) due to insulin (INS) gene mutation in a 51-month-old girl who presented with hyperglycemia in the neonatal period. Mutational analysis of KCNJ11 and INS was performed and this detected a novel heterozygous c.38T>G (p.Leu13Arg) INS de novo mutation. The non-conservative change substitutes the highly conserved L(13) residue within the hydrophobic core region of the preproinsulin signal peptide. Given the frequent tendency of heterozygous INS mutations to exhibit dominant negative disease pathogenesis, it is likely that the mutant preproinsulin perturbed the non-mutant counterpart progression and processing within the β-cells, and this resulted to a permanent form of congenital diabetes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  6. Fulltext ER, p53 and MIB-1 are significantly associated with malignant phyllodes tumor
    Munawer NH, Md Zin R, Md Ali SA, Muhammad R, Ali J, Das S
    Biomed J, 2012 Nov-Dec;35(6):486-92.
    PMID: 23442362 DOI: 10.4103/2319-4170.104414
    Fibroadenomas (FA) are common while phyllodes tumors (PT) are rare and both tumors are composed of epithelial and stromal components. We evaluated the expression status of ER, Bc12, p53, and MIB-1 protein in these tumors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  7. Fulltext How useful is a history of rubella vaccination for determination of disease susceptibility? A cross-sectional study at a public funded health clinic in Malaysia
    Cheong AT, Tong SF, Khoo EM
    BMC Fam Pract, 2013;14:19.
    PMID: 23368977 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-14-19
    Identification of pregnant women susceptible to rubella is important as vaccination can be given postpartum to prevent future risks of congenital rubella syndrome. However, in Malaysia, rubella antibody screening is not offered routinely to pregnant women in public funded health clinics due to cost constraint. Instead, a history of rubella vaccination is asked to be provided to establish the women's risk for rubella infection. The usefulness of this history, however, is not established. Thus, this paper aimed to determine the usefulness of a history of rubella vaccination in determining rubella susceptibility in pregnant women.
    Matched MeSH terms: Maternal-Child Health Centers
  8. Fulltext Limitations of microscopy to differentiate Plasmodium species in a region co-endemic for Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi
    Barber BE, William T, Grigg MJ, Yeo TW, Anstey NM
    Malar J, 2013;12:8.
    PMID: 23294844 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-8
    In areas co-endemic for multiple Plasmodium species, correct diagnosis is crucial for appropriate treatment and surveillance. Species misidentification by microscopy has been reported in areas co-endemic for vivax and falciparum malaria, and may be more frequent in regions where Plasmodium knowlesi also commonly occurs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  9. Which mild head injured patients should have follow-up after discharge from an accident and emergency ward? A study in a university hospital setting in Kelantan, Malaysia
    Chan HC, Adnan WA, Jaalam K, Abdullah MR, Abdullah J
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2005 Jul;36(4):982-93.
    PMID: 16295557
    Mild head injury (MHI) is a common presentation to many hospitals in both rural and urban settings in Southeast Asia, but it is not well studied. We studied 330 patients that presented to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia Emergency Department with possible MHI, with the intentions to identify prognostic factors that may improve the diagnosis of MHI in the emergency setting as well as to determine which patients would need follow-up. Patients' one-year outcomes were classified as discharged well (DW) for patients without post-traumatic signs and symptoms and discharged with long term follow-up (DFU) for patients with such signs and symptoms. Four patients died and 82 were DFU. An abnormal skull X ray was associated with mode of accident and type of transportation, older age, presence of vomiting, confusion, bleeding from ear, nose or throat, abnormal pupil size on the right side associated with orbital trauma, unequal pupillary reflexes, absence of loss of consciousness (LOC), a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, multiple clinical presentations, and DFU. An abnormal CT scan was associated with older age, multiple clinical presentation, skull X-ray findings, and DFU. A similar analysis on outcomes revealed that mode of accident, older age, vomiting, confusion, headache, bleeding from ear, nose and throat, neurological deficits, absence of LOC, pupil size, multiple presentation, abnormal skull X ray, CT scan of the brain, and a GCS of 13 was associated with DFU. In conclusion, all patients involved in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), especially motorcycles, aged over 30 years of age, with multiple clinical presentations, including a lower GCS, and with abnormal radiological findings should have a longer follow-up due to persistent post-traumatic symptomatology.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  10. Combination of vascularized outer-table calvarial bone graft based on the superficial temporal vessels and allomatrix for the repair of an orbito-frontal blow-out fracture in a child
    Ali F, Halim AS, Najihah SZ, Ibrahim M, Abdullah J
    J Craniomaxillofac Surg, 2005 Oct;33(5):326-30.
    PMID: 16125400
    A vascularized outer-table calvarial bone graft was used for repairing a Posnick type 2 traumatic orbito-frontal bone defect supported by the use of a calcium-based putty (Allomatrix) in a 7-year-old girl. Gaps between the donor and recipient sites were filled with Allomatrix containing demineralized bone matrix particles. Four years later there was a good cosmetic result using an artificial left eye.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  11. Correlates of Children's Eating Attitude Test scores among primary school children
    Shariff ZM, Yasin ZM
    Percept Mot Skills, 2005 Apr;100(2):463-72.
    PMID: 15974357
    A total of 107 Malay primary school girls (8-9 yr. old) completed a set of measurements on eating behavior (ChEAT, food neophobia scales, and dieting experience), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, body shape satisfaction, dietary intake, weight, and height. About 38% of the girls scored 20 and more on the ChEAT, and 46% of them reported dieting by reducing sugar and sweets (73%), skipping meals (67%), reducing fat foods (60%) and snacks (53%) as the most frequent methods practiced. In general, those girls with higher ChEAT scores tended to have lower self-esteem (r=.39), indicating they were more unwilling to try new foods (food neophobic) (r=.29), chose a smaller figure for desired body size (r=-.25), and were more dissatisfied with their body size (r=.31).
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  12. Case report post-splenectomy sepsis in thalassemic patients
    Zarina AL, Hamidah A, Zulkifli SZ, Jamal R
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2005 Mar;36(2):471-3.
    PMID: 15916058
    Thalassemia is the commonest hemoglobinopathy in Malaysia. Patients with thalassemia major are transfusion dependent, and a large proportion of them will require splenectomy. As this particular group of patients is immunocompromized, overwhelming sepsis is a recognized complication. We report a series of three patients who all developed intra-abdominal abscesses following splenectomy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  13. Persistence of cognitive deficits following paediatric head injury without professional rehabilitation in rural East Coast Malaysia
    Abdullah JM, Kumaraswamy N, Awang N, Ghazali MM, Abdullah MR
    Asian J Surg, 2005 Jul;28(3):163-7.
    PMID: 16024307
    To use data from a prospective, longitudinal study to determine whether psychomotor functions improve spontaneously during the first year following paediatric traumatic brain injury without modern rehabilitation facilities in a rural area of Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  14. Fulltext Antidepressant Prescription Pattern in the Presence of Medical Co-morbidity: REAP-AD 2013 Study
    Grover S, Avasthi A, Tripathi A, Tanra AJ, Chee KY, He YL, et al.
    East Asian Arch Psychiatry, 2015 Sep;25(3):99-107.
    PMID: 26429836
    Objective: To evaluate the prescription pattern of antidepressants in patients with medical co-morbidity from major psychiatric centres in Asia.
    Methods: The Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Pattern for Antidepressants (REAP-AD 2013) collected data from 42 psychiatric centres in 10 Asian countries and regions. Antidepressant prescriptions of 2320 patients with various psychiatric disorders were evaluated. Of these, 370 patients who had specified medical co-morbidities formed the study cohort.
    Results: Escitalopram (20%) and mirtazapine (20%) were the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in patients with medical co-morbidity followed by sertraline (16%), trazodone (15%), and paroxetine (12%). Overall, more than half (52%; 247/476) of prescriptions comprised selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Slightly less than two-thirds (63%; n = 233) of patients received at least 1 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. In addition, 79% of patients were prescribed only 1 antidepressant. The mean number of antidepressants used per patient was 1.25 (standard deviation, 0.56). There were subtle differences in the most preferred antidepressant across medical illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, liver dysfunction, acid peptic disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Differences were also seen in prescription patterns across different countries.
    Conclusion: Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors formed the bulk of antidepressant
    prescriptions in the presence of medical co-morbidity, mirtazapine was also commonly used in the presence of medical co-morbidities. Specified medical morbidities do influence the selection of antidepressants.
    Key words: Antidepressive agents; Asia; Comorbidity
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  15. A negative waveform in the scotopic response in a patient with phosphoglycerate kinase deficiency: a visual electrophysiology report
    Mohd Khialdin S, Grigg J, Rowe N, Crofts S, Wilson M, Troedson C
    Documenta ophthalmologica. Advances in ophthalmology, 2015 Dec;131(3):215-20.
    PMID: 26396085 DOI: 10.1007/s10633-015-9511-0
    Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) deficiency is an X-linked neurometabolic genetic disorder with variable systemic manifestations. So far, only one patient with retinal anomalies has been reported, but no visual electrophysiology findings were described. We report the first description of visual electrophysiology in a child with PGK deficiency. This provides further information for the site of involvement in the eye.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  16. Fulltext Effects of Air Pollution and the Introduction of the London Low Emission Zone on the Prevalence of Respiratory and Allergic Symptoms in Schoolchildren in East London: A Sequential Cross-Sectional Study
    Wood HE, Marlin N, Mudway IS, Bremner SA, Cross L, Dundas I, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(8):e0109121.
    PMID: 26295579 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109121
    The adverse effects of traffic-related air pollution on children's respiratory health have been widely reported, but few studies have evaluated the impact of traffic-control policies designed to reduce urban air pollution. We assessed associations between traffic-related air pollutants and respiratory/allergic symptoms amongst 8-9 year-old schoolchildren living within the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ). Information on respiratory/allergic symptoms was obtained using a parent-completed questionnaire and linked to modelled annual air pollutant concentrations based on the residential address of each child, using a multivariable mixed effects logistic regression analysis. Exposure to traffic-related air pollutants was associated with current rhinitis: NOx (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02), NO2 (1.03, 1.00-1.06), PM10 (1.16, 1.04-1.28) and PM2.5 (1.38, 1.08-1.78), all per μg/m3 of pollutant, but not with other respiratory/allergic symptoms. The LEZ did not reduce ambient air pollution levels, or affect the prevalence of respiratory/allergic symptoms over the period studied. These data confirm the previous association between traffic-related air pollutant exposures and symptoms of current rhinitis. Importantly, the London LEZ has not significantly improved air quality within the city, or the respiratory health of the resident population in its first three years of operation. This highlights the need for more robust measures to reduce traffic emissions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  17. Asthma in Asia: Physician perspectives on control, inhaler use and patient communications
    Price D, David-Wang A, Cho SH, Ho JC, Jeong JW, Liam CK, et al.
    J Asthma, 2016 09;53(7):761-9.
    PMID: 27096388 DOI: 10.3109/02770903.2016.1141951
    OBJECTIVE: We examined the physician perspectives on asthma management in Asia.

    METHODS: An online/face-to-face, questionnaire-based survey of respiratory specialists and primary care physicians from eight Asian countries/region was carried out. The survey explored asthma control, inhaler selection, technique and use; physician-patient communications and asthma education. Inclusion criteria were >50% of practice time spent on direct patient care; and treated >30 patients with asthma per month, of which >60% were aged >12 years.

    RESULTS: REALISE Asia (Phase 2) involved 375 physicians with average 15.9(±6.8) years of clinical experience. 89.1% of physicians reporting use of guidelines estimated that 53.2% of their patients have well-controlled (GINA-defined) asthma. Top consideration for inhaler choice was asthma severity (82.4%) and lowest, socio-economic status (32.5%). Then 54.7% of physicians checked their patients' inhaler techniques during consultations but 28.2(±19.1)% of patients were using their inhalers incorrectly; 21.1-57.9% of physicians could spot improper inhaler techniques in video demonstrations. And 79.6% of physicians believed combination inhalers could increase adherence because of convenience (53.7%), efficacy (52.7%) and usability (18.9%). Initial and follow-up consultations took 16.8(±8.4) and 9.2(±5.3) minutes, respectively. Most (85.1%) physicians used verbal conversations and least (24.5%), video demonstrations of inhaler use; 56.8% agreed that patient attitudes influenced their treatment approach.

    CONCLUSION: Physicians and patients have different views of 'well-controlled' asthma. Although physicians informed patients about asthma and inhaler usage, they overestimated actual usage and patients' knowledge was sub-optimal. Physician-patient interactions can be augmented with understanding of patient attitudes, visual aids and ancillary support to perform physical demonstrations to improve treatment outcomes.

    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  18. Adolescents as perpetrators of aggression within the family
    Kuay HS, Lee S, Centifanti LC, Parnis AC, Mrozik JH, Tiffin PA
    Int J Law Psychiatry, 2016 Jul-Aug;47:60-7.
    PMID: 27016774 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2016.02.035
    Although family violence perpetrated by juveniles has been acknowledged as a potentially serious form of violence for over 30years, scientific studies have been limited to examining the incidence and form of home violence. The present study examined the prevalence of family aggression as perpetrated by youths; we examined groups drawn from clinic-referred and forensic samples. Two audits of case files were conducted to systematically document aggression perpetrated by referred youths toward their family members. The purpose of the first audit was fourfold: i) to identify the incidence of the perpetration of family aggression among clinical and forensic samples; ii) to identify whether there were any reports of weapon use during aggressive episodes; iii) to identify the target of family aggression (parents or siblings); and iv) to identify the form of aggression perpetrated (verbal or physical). The second audit aimed to replicate the findings and to show that the results were not due to differences in multiple deprivation indices, clinical diagnosis of disruptive behavior disorders, and placement into alternative care. A sampling strategy was designed to audit the case notes of 25 recent forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) cases and 25 demographically similar clinic-referred CAMHS cases in the first audit; and 35 forensic cases and 35 demographically similar clinic-referred CAMHS cases in the second audit. Using ordinal chi-square, the forensic sample (audit 1=64%; audit 2=82.9%) had greater instances of family violence than the clinical sample (audit 1=32%; audit 2=28.6%). They were more likely to use a weapon (audit 1=69%; audit 2=65.5%) compared to the clinical sample (audit 1 and 2=0%). Examining only the aggressive groups, there was more perpetration of aggression toward parents (audit 1, forensic=92%, clinical=75%; audit 2, forensic=55.17%, clinical=40%) than toward siblings (audit 1, forensic=43%, clinical=50%; audit 2, forensic=27.58%, clinical=30%). Based on these findings, we would urge professionals who work within the child mental health, particularly the forensic area, to systematically collect reports of aggression perpetrated toward family members.

    Study conducted in England
    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  19. Recombinant long-acting glycoPEGylated factor IX (nonacog beta pegol) in haemophilia B: assessment of target joints in multinational phase 3 clinical trials
    Negrier C, Young G, Abdul Karim F, Collins PW, Hanabusa H, Colberg T, et al.
    Haemophilia, 2016 Jul;22(4):507-13.
    PMID: 26936227 DOI: 10.1111/hae.12902
    BACKGROUND: The paradigm(™) 2 and 4 phase 3 clinical trials investigated the safety and efficacy of nonacog beta pegol, a recombinant glycoPEGylated factor IX (FIX) with extended half-life, in previously treated haemophilia B patients.

    AIM: These post hoc analyses investigated the bleeding patterns in target joints.

    METHODS: Patients randomized to 40 or 10 IU kg(-1) once weekly prophylaxis who had at least one target joint were included. Baseline demographics and disease-specific data were collected. Bleeding patterns were assessed, and an International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) definition of target joints was used.

    RESULTS: A total of 67% and 8% of patients in the 40 and 10 IU kg(-1) arm, respectively, did not experience target joint bleeds during the paradigm(™) 2 trial. Twenty-four target joints were recorded in each prophylaxis arm at baseline. During the paradigm(™) 2 trial, no bleeds were reported in 17 (71%) and 7 (29%) target joints in the 40 and 10 IU kg(-1) arms respectively. All target joint bleeds in the 40 IU kg(-1) once weekly prophylaxis arm were controlled with a single injection of 40 IU kg(-1) nonacog beta pegol. By the latest ISTH definition, 90% and 58% of target joints in the 40 and 10 IU kg(-1) arms, respectively, were no longer considered target joints at the end of the paradigm(™) 2 trial. At the end of the paradigm(™) 4 extension trial, all target joints in the 40 IU kg(-1) arm were no longer considered target joints.

    CONCLUSION: Routine prophylaxis with 40 IU kg(-1) once weekly nonacog beta pegol has the potential for effective management of target joint bleeds in haemophilia B patients.

    Matched MeSH terms: Child
  20. Ethnicity influences disease characteristics and symptom severity in allergic rhinitis patients in Malaysia
    Amini P, Abdullah M, Seng LS, Karunakaran T, Hani N, Bakar SA, et al.
    Int Forum Allergy Rhinol, 2016 Jun;6(6):624-30.
    PMID: 26919193 DOI: 10.1002/alr.21442
    BACKGROUND: The number of available reports regarding the influence of ethnicity on clinical features of allergic rhinitis (AR), especially disease severity in tropical climates, is limited. We aimed to compare clinical parameters and disease severity in AR patients of different ethnicities.

    METHODS: Malay, Chinese, and Indian AR patients (n = 138) with confirmed sensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dematophagoides farinae, and Blomia tropicalis were tested for mite-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels. A detailed questionnaire was used to collect data on nasal symptom score (NSS), ocular symptom score (OSS), sum of symptoms score (SSS), quality of life score (QLS), symptomatic control score (SCS), and total sum of scores (TSS) and correlate the derived data with patients' demography, mite-polysensitivity, and sIgE levels.

    RESULTS: AR-related symptoms were most severe in Malays and least in Chinese (p < 0.01). Age (r = 0.516 to 0.673, p < 0.05) and duration of AR (r = 0.635 to 0.726, p < 0.01) correlated positively with severity domains (NSS, SSS, QLS, and TSS) in Chinese. Duration of concurrent allergies was highest in Malays (p < 0.05). Polysensitivity predicted increased sIgE levels in Malays (r = 0.464 to 0.551, p < 0.01) and Indians (r = 0.541 to 0.645, p < 0.05) but affected NSS, SSS, and TSS only in Indians (r = 0.216 to 0.376, p < 0.05). sIgE levels were lowest among Chinese but correlated strongly with NSS, OSS, SSS, and TSS (r = 0408 to 0.898, p < 0.05).

    CONCLUSION: Clinical parameters in AR may be influenced by race. Symptoms were most severe among Malays but did not correlate with other variables examined. Although Indian ethnicity did not impact disease severity, duration of concurrent allergies and mite-polysensitivity was associated with more severe disease. Age, duration of disease, and sIgE levels may be useful indicators of disease severity in Chinese.

    Matched MeSH terms: Child
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