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  1. Heidari F, Vasudevan R, Mohd Ali SZ, Ismail P, Arkani M
    Arch Med Res, 2017 Jan;48(1):88-95.
    PMID: 28577874 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2017.03.003
    BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS: Essential Hypertension (EH) is a common disorder associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in Malaysia. To investigate how genetic polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) influence EH control with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor drugs (ACEI).

    METHODS: A case-control, cross-sectional population-based nested study (n = 142) included hypertensive subjects treated with ACEI drugs, either lisinopril or enalapril (20 mg, once daily) as monotherapy for 24 weeks. In total seven possible polymorphisms of RAS genes were genotyped. The association between those polymorphisms and the changes in blood pressure were observed in the 24 week treatment.

    RESULTS: Statistically significant associations of I, G, T, M and G alleles of ACE (I/D, G2350A), AGT (M235T, T175M and G-6A) respectively were observed in essential hypertensive subjects. The decrease in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure after 24 weeks of treatment of the patients carrying II, GG, and TT genotypes were greater than the groups carrying DD, AA, MM, MM and GG of I/D, G2350A, M235T, T174M and G-6A genotypes respectively. In contrast, No significant difference was observed between renin gene polymorphisms (Bg/I and MboI) and hypertensives.

    CONCLUSIONS: Although this study shows a possible association of polymorphisms of RAS genes with the risk of non-control of HT in ACEI-treated patients and indicates the importance of all this system's components in regulating HT, it needs to be replicated in other data sources.

  2. Wong YP, Sharifah NA, Tan GC, Gill AJ, Ali SZ
    Diagn Cytopathol, 2016 May 26.
    PMID: 27229757 DOI: 10.1002/dc.23493
    Oxyphilic (oncocytic) parathyroid lesions are very uncommon and their cytological features are rarely described. Due to the similarities in anatomical location and indistinguishable cytomorphological features, these lesions are easily confused with neoplastic and non-neoplastic thyroid lesions on fine needle aspiration (FNA). The diagnosis becomes more challenging in cases of unusual intrathyroidal location of the parathyroid lesions in the absence of clinical evidence of hyperparathyroidism, which simulate thyroid nodules clinically. We describe a case of intrathyroidal oxyphilic parathyroid carcinoma in a 66-year-old female, who presented with a dominant left "thyroid" nodule. FNA smears were cellular, comprising predominantly of oxyphilic cells arranged in papillary-like architecture with occasional nuclear grooves, which was mistaken for oncocytic variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. The histological diagnosis of oxyphilic parathyroid "adenoma" was made following total thyroidectomy. The tumor, unfortunately, recurred 7 years later with associated multiple lung metastases. When dealing with thyroid lesions comprising predominantly of oncocytic cells, one should consider oxyphilic parathyroid neoplasms as one of the differential diagnosis. In difficult equivocal cases, a panel of immunocytochemical stains (PTH, GATA3, TTF-1, PAX8, and thyroglobulin) can be helpful. In addition, a combination of valuable clinical, radiological, and laboratory data, including serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels are key to arriving at an accurate cytological diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
  3. Gilcharan Singh HK, Lee VKM, Barua A, Mohd Ali SZ, Chee WSS
    Malays J Nutr, 2018;24(3):427-440.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Self-efficacy for eating predicts successful weight loss and maintenance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) individuals. The Weight Efficacy
    Lifestyle (WEL) questionnaire determines self-efficacy for controlling eating. This study aims to validate the Malay-translated version of the WEL questionnaire and
    to establish the cut-off scores to define the level of eating self-efficacy in Malaysian T2DM individuals.
    Methods: A total of 334 T2DM individuals, aged 55.0±9.0 years, were recruited from a primary healthcare clinic based on sampling ratio. Medical records were reviewed for eligibility. Inclusion criteria included BMI ≥23kg/m2, and no severe diabetes complications. The WEL questionnaire assessed eating resistance during negative emotions, food availability, social pressure, physical discomfort and positive activities, and was back translated into Malay language. Self-efficacy was rated on a 0-9 scale with higher WEL scores indicating greater self-efficacy to resist eating. Factor analysis established the factor structure of the WEL questionnaire. Inter-item and item-total correlations determined construct validity while internal consistency described the reliability of the structure.
    Results: A two-factor structure accounting for 49% of variance was obtained, and it had adequate reliability, as indicated by Cronbach’s α of 0.893 and 0.781 respectively. Item-total correlations of r>0.700, p<0.01 and inter-item correlations of r<0.500, p<0.01 demonstrated construct validity. Cut-off scores of ≥44 and ≥32, respectively for factor one and two defined high eating self-efficacies in T2DM individuals.
    Conclusion: The Malaytranslated version of the WEL questionnaire appears to be a valid and reliable tool to assess self-efficacy for controlling eating behaviour in Malaysian T2DM population.
    Keywords: Diabetes, eating self-efficacy, Malay, reliability, validity
  4. Swarna Nantha Y, Puri A, Mohamad Ali SZ, Suppiah P, Che Ali SA, Ramasamy B, et al.
    Fam Pract, 2017 09 01;34(5):532-538.
    PMID: 28369346 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmx017
    Background: Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are at a greater risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation. There is a paucity of information about the risk factors associated with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in patients with diabetes.

    Objective: We conducted an observational study to compare the prevalence and risk factors associated with LTBI factors in Malaysian adults with and without DM.

    Methods: Four hundred and four patients with DM and 359 patients with non-DM at a regional primary care clinic were recruited as participants in this case-control study. The tuberculin sensitivity test (TST) was performed. The presence of LTBI was defined by a TST value of 10 mm in DM patients and 10 mm in the non-DM group. A logistic regression model was used to identify variables associated with LTBI.

    Results: There was no statistical significant difference in the prevalence rates seen between the DM and non-DM group of the study. LTBI prevalence among patients with DM was 28.5%. The proportion of patients in the non-DM group with LTBI was 29.2%. When a critical cut-off of 8 mm was used, the adjusted odds ratio of LTBI in DM patients was 1.88 (95% confidence interval: 1.22-2.82). Smoking was an independent risk factor for LTBI regardless of DM status. HbA1c levels or anthropometric measurements were not associated with LTBI in diabetic patients.

    Conclusions: There is no significant risk of contracting LTBI in DM patients using the standard 10-mm TST cut-off. Nonetheless, using lower cut-offs in a DM population appear valid. Smoking is an important predictor of LTBI.
  5. Lee CL, Chee WSS, Arasu K, Kwa SK, Mohd Ali SZ
    Malays J Nutr, 2019;25(4):435-444.
    MyJurnal DOI: 10.31246/mjn-2019-0031
    Introduction: Good health literacy and knowledge are associated with improved outcomes in diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine diabetes-specific literacy and knowledge levels, and its associated socio-demographic factors, among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
    Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 196 adults from the Indian, Chinese, and Malay ethnic groups with T2DM who attended a primary care clinic in Seremban, Malaysia. The Literacy Assessment for Diabetes and Diabetes Knowledge Test 2 were used to assess diabetes-specific literacy and knowledge, respectively.
    Results: The majority of participants (75.0%) had literacy scores that corresponded to Ninth Grade Level but only 3.6% of participants had a good knowledge of diabetes. Literacy scores explained up to 19.8% of the variance in knowledge scores (r=0.445, p<0.01). Indian participants had the lowest literacy and knowledge scores when compared to Chinese and Malays (p<0.05). Participants with higher education had better literacy
    and knowledge scores (p<0.05). Educational level was more likely than ethnicity to predict both literacy and knowledge scores (p<0.001), while gender and age did not significantly predict either score. The majority of participants could answer general questions about physical activity, diabetes-related complications and healthy eating. Knowledge of diabetes and its relation to specific foods and the effect of diet on glucose control were limited among the participants.
    Conclusion: Education and ethnicity were associated with literacy and knowledge on diabetes. There existed a deficit of diabetes-related nutrition knowledge among the participants. These findings may help healthcare providers tailor individualised patient educational interventions.
    Keywords: Diabetes literacy, diabetes knowledge, type 2 diabetes
  6. Heidari F, Vasudevan R, Mohd Ali SZ, Ismail P, Etemad A, Pishva SR, et al.
    PMID: 25002132 DOI: 10.1177/1470320314538878
    Several studies show that the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been associated with hypertension in various populations. The present study sought to determine the association of the I/D gene polymorphism among Malay male essential hypertensive subjects in response to ACE inhibitors (enalapril and lisinopril).
  7. Abdullah MF, Nor NM, Mohd Ali SZ, Ismail Bukhary NB, Amat A, Latif LA, et al.
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 2011 Apr;40(4):168-78.
    PMID: 21678002
    INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that is prevalent in many countries. The prevalence of DM is on the rise, and its complications pose a heavy burden on the healthcare systems and on the patients' quality of life worldwide.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a multicentre, cross-sectional study involving 5 Health Clinics conducted by Family Medicine Specialists in Malaysia. Convenience sampling of 100 respondents with DM were selected. The International Classifi cation of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) based measures were collected using the Comprehensive Core Set for DM. SF-36 and self-administered forms and comorbidity questionnaire (SCQ) were also used.

    RESULTS: Ninety-seven percent had Type 2 DM and 3% had Type 1 DM. The mean period of having DM was 6 years. Body functions related to physical health including exercise tolerance (b455), general physical endurance (b4550), aerobic capacity (b4551) and fatiguability (b4552) were the most affected. For body structures, the structure of pancreas (s550) was the most affected. In the ICF component of activities and participation, limitation in sports (d9201) was the highest most affected followed by driving (d475), intimate relationships (d770), handling stress and other psychological demands (d240) and moving around (d455). Only 7% (e355 and e450) in the environmental category were documented as being a relevant factor by more than 90% of the patients.

    CONCLUSION: The content validity of the comprehensive ICF Core set DM for Malaysian population were identified and the results show that physical and mental functioning were impaired in contrast to what the respondents perceived as leading healthy lifestyles.

  8. Chee WSS, Gilcharan Singh HK, Hamdy O, Mechanick JI, Lee VKM, Barua A, et al.
    BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care, 2017;5(1):e000384.
    PMID: 29435347 DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2016-000384
    OBJECTIVE: Trans-cultural diabetes nutrition algorithm (tDNA) was created by international task force and culturally customized for Malaysian population. This study was designed to evaluate its effectiveness versus usual diabetes care in primary care settings.

    RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We randomized 230 patients with overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes, and glycated hemoglobin (A1c) 7%-11% to receive usual care (UC) or UC with tDNA for 6 months. The tDNA intervention consisted of structured low-calorie meal plan, diabetes-specific meal replacements, and increased physical activity. Participants were counseled either through motivational interviewing (tDNA-MI) or conventional counseling (tDNA-CC). The UC group received standard dietary and exercise advice through conventional counseling. All patients were followed for another 6 months after intervention.

    RESULTS: At 6 months, A1c decreased significantly in tDNA-MI (-1.1±0.1%, p<0.001) and tDNA-CC (-0.5±0.1%, p=0.001) but not in UC (-0.2±0.1%, p=NS). Body weight decreased significantly in tDNA-MI (-6.9±1.3 kg, p<0.001) and tDNA-CC (-5.3±1.2 kg, p<0.001) but not in UC (-0.8±0.5 kg, p=NS). tDNA-MI patients had significantly lower fasting plasma glucose (tDNA-MI: -1.1±0.3 mmol/L, p<0.001; tDNA-CC: -0.6±0.3 mmol/L, p=NS; UC: 0.1±0.3 mmol/L, p=NS) and systolic blood pressure (tDNA-MI: -9±2 mm Hg, p<0.001; tDNA-CC: -9±2 mm Hg, p=0.001; UC: -1±2 mm Hg, p=NS). At 1 year, tDNA-MI patients maintained significant reduction in A1c (tDNA-MI: -0.5±0.2%, p=0.006 vs tDNA-CC: 0.1±0.2%, p=NS and UC: 0.02±0.01%, p=NS) and significant weight loss (tDNA-MI: -5.8±1.3 kg, p<0.001 vs tDNA-CC: -3.3±1.2 kg, p=NS and UC: 0.5±0.6 kg, p=NS).

    CONCLUSIONS: Structured lifestyle intervention through culturally adapted nutrition algorithm and motivational interviewing significantly improved diabetes control and body weight in primary care setting.

  9. Gilcharan Singh HK, Chee WSS, Hamdy O, Mechanick JI, Lee VKM, Barua A, et al.
    PLoS One, 2020;15(11):e0242487.
    PMID: 33253259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242487
    OBJECTIVE: Eating self-efficacy behavior is an important predictor of successful lifestyle intervention. This secondary analysis evaluated the changes in eating self-efficacy behavior in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight/obesity following structured lifestyle intervention based on the Malaysian customized transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm (tDNA).

    METHODS: Patients with T2D and overweight/obesity (n = 230) were randomized either into the tDNA group which included a structured low-calorie meal plan using normal foods, incorporation of diabetes-specific meal replacements, and an exercise prescription or usual T2D care (UC) for 6 months. Patients in the tDNA group also received either counseling with motivational interviewing (tDNA-MI) or conventional counseling (tDNA-CC). The UC group received standard dietary and exercise advice using conventional counseling. Eating self-efficacy was assessed using a locally validated Weight Efficacy Lifestyle (WEL) questionnaire. All patients were followed up for additional 6 months' post-intervention.

    RESULTS: There was a significant change in WEL scores with intervention over one-year [Group X Time effect: F = 51.4, df = (3.4, 318.7), p<0.001]. Compared to baseline, WEL scores improved in both the tDNA groups with significantly higher improvement in the tDNA-MI group compared to the tDNA-CC and UC groups at 6 months (tDNA-MI: 25.4±2.1 vs. tDNA-CC: 12.9±2.8 vs. UC: -6.9±1.9, p<0.001). At 12 months' follow-up, both the tDNA groups maintained improvement in the WEL scores, with significantly higher scores in the tDNA-MI group than tDNA-CC group, and the UC group had decreased WEL scores (tDNA-MI: 28.9±3.1 vs. tDNA-CC: 11.6±3.6 vs. UC: -13.2±2.1, p<0.001). Patients in the tDNA-MI group with greater weight loss and hemoglobin A1C reduction also had a higher eating self-efficacy, with a similar trend observed in comparative groups.

    CONCLUSION: Eating self-efficacy improved in patients with T2D and overweight/obesity who maintained their weight loss and glycemic control following a structured lifestyle intervention based on the Malaysian customized tDNA and the improvement was further enhanced with motivational interviewing.

    CLINICAL TRIAL: This randomized clinical trial was registered under National Medical Research Registry, Ministry of Health Malaysia with registration number: NMRR-14-1042-19455 and also under ClinicalTrials.gov with registration number: NCT03881540.

  10. Chew BH, Vos RC, Shariff Ghazali S, Shamsuddin NH, Fernandez A, Mukhtar F, et al.
    BMC Endocr Disord, 2017 Apr 04;17(1):22.
    PMID: 28376921 DOI: 10.1186/s12902-017-0172-8
    BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients experience many psychosocial problems related to their diabetes. These often lead to emotional disorders such as distress, stress, anxiety and depression, resulting in decreased self-care, quality of life and disease control. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief value-based emotion-focused educational programme in adults with T2DM on diabetes-related distress (DRD), depressive symptoms, illness perceptions, quality of life, diabetes self-efficacy, self-care and clinical outcomes.
    METHODS: A cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted in 10 public health clinics in Malaysia, all providing diabetes care according to national clinical practice guidelines. Patients' inclusion criteria: Malay, ≥ 18 years with T2DM for at least 2 years, on regular follow-up with one of three biomarkers HbA1c, systolic blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol sub-optimally controlled, and with a mean 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS-17) score ≥ 3. The intervention consists of four sessions and one booster over a period of 4 months that provide information and skills to assist patients in having proper perceptions of their T2DM including an understanding of the treatment targets, understanding and managing their emotions and goal-setting. The comparator is an attention-control group with three meetings over a similar period. With an estimated intra-cluster correlation coefficient ρ of 0.015, a cluster size of 20 and 20% non-completion, the trial will need to enroll 198 patients.
    PRIMARY OUTCOME: the between groups difference in proportion of patients achieving a mean DDS-17 score 
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