MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study subjects including 216 ischemic stroke patients and 203 healthy controls were recruited upon obtaining ethical clearance. SNP genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. Gene expression levels were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. Statistical and genetic analyses were conducted with SPSS version 22.2, PLINK version 1.07 and multifactor dimensionality reduction software.
RESULTS: Study subjects with G allele, CG or GG genotypes of SLC17A3 rs9379800 demonstrated increased risk of ischemic stroke with the odds ratios ranging from 1.76-fold to 3.14-fold (p<0.05). When stratified study subjects according to the ethnicity, SLC17A3 rs9379800 G allele and CG genotype contributed to 2.14- and 2.96-fold of ischemic stroke risk among Malay population significantly, in the multivariate analysis (p<0.05). However, no significant associations were observed for PITX2, NINJ2, TWIST1, Rasip1, and MUT polymorphisms with ischemic stroke risk in the multivariate analysis for the pooled cases and controls as well as when stratified them according to the ethnicity. Lower mRNA expression levels of Rasip1, SLC17A3, MUT and FERD3L were observed among cases (p<0.05). After FDR adjustment, the mRNA level of SLC17A3 remained significantly associated with ischemic stroke among Malay population (q=0.034).
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study suggests that SLC17A3 rs9379800 polymorphism and its gene expression contribute to significant ischemic stroke risk among Malaysian population, particularly the Malay who resided at the Northern Region of the country. Our findings can provide useful information for the future diagnosis, management and treatment of ischemic stroke patients.
METHODS: The model was tested on participants newly admitted between June 2022 and December 2023 to one of the two selected prisons, one for pretrial detention and the other for serving sentences. It features a streamlined test-and-treat procedure within prisons, encompassing anti-HCV (exposure) testing, HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) (current infection) testing, pretreatment assessments, and treatment initiation. The outcome assessment focused on (I) screening coverage, (II) implementation success across the HCV care cascade, ranging from anti-HCV detection, HCV RNA confirmation, treatment initiation, and completion to a sustained virological response rate and (III) practicality within resource-limited prison environments.
RESULTS: All 18,811 (100%) newly admitted participants were screened for HCV during the study period, with 4,054 (21.6%) of them testing positive for anti-HCV (HCV exposure). A total of 793 (19.6%) participants underwent HCV RNA testing, with 655 (82.6%) confirmed to have HCV infection. Those with HCV RNA test results were mainly male (98.1%), with nearly half (48.2%) aged 40-49 years. A vast majority (95.7%) reported at least one HCV risk factor, primarily injection drug use (95.2%). Of the 655 participants with a positive HCV RNA test, 648 (98.9%) completed pretreatment assessments. Antiviral treatment was initiated in 319 (49.2%) of them, with 165 (51.7%) completing the full course. Among those who completed treatment, 80 (48.5%) underwent HCV RNA testing 12 weeks after treatment, with 77 (96.3%) achieving a sustained virologic response.
CONCLUSION: This new prison-based test-and-treat model for HCV infection demonstrates promising feasibility, as indicated by high screening coverage and successful implementation across the HCV care cascade using existing resources. These findings suggest the potential for broader adoption of this model in correctional facilities. Further research is needed to improve treatment completion and address factors contributing to dropout.