Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 112 in total

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  1. Nikolopoulos GK, Kostaki EG, Paraskevis D
    Infect Genet Evol, 2016 Dec;46:256-268.
    PMID: 27287560 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.06.017
    HIV strains continuously evolve, tend to recombine, and new circulating variants are being discovered. Novel strains complicate efforts to develop a vaccine against HIV and may exhibit higher transmission efficiency and virulence, and elevated resistance to antiretroviral agents. The United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) set an ambitious goal to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030 through comprehensive strategies that include epidemiological input as the first step of the process. In this context, molecular epidemiology becomes invaluable as it captures trends in HIV evolution rates that shape epidemiological pictures across several geographical areas. This review briefly summarizes the molecular epidemiology of HIV among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Europe and Asia. Following high transmission rates of subtype G and CRF14_BG among PWID in Portugal and Spain, two European countries, Greece and Romania, experienced recent HIV outbreaks in PWID that consisted of multiple transmission clusters including subtypes B, A, F1, and recombinants CRF14_BG and CRF35_AD. The latter was first identified in Afghanistan. Russia, Ukraine, and other Former Soviet Union (FSU) states are still facing the devastating effects of epidemics in PWID produced by AFSU (also known as IDU-A), BFSU (known as IDU-B), and CRF03_AB. In Asia, CRF01_AE and subtype B (Western B and Thai B) travelled from PWID in Thailand to neighboring countries. Recombination hotspots in South China, Northern Myanmar, and Malaysia have been generating several intersubtype and inter-CRF recombinants (e.g. CRF07_BC, CRF08_BC, CRF33_01B etc.), increasing the complexity of HIV molecular patterns.
  2. Yahya M'F, Wang GM, Nimbalkar S
    Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop, 2023 Jul;164(1):97-105.
    PMID: 36890012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2022.11.013
    INTRODUCTION: The evaluation of the quality of information (QOI) and clarity of information (COI) among oral health-related videos on the video-streaming Web site YouTube is scarce. This study evaluated QOI and COI regarding temporary anchorage devices contained within videos uploaded by dental professionals (DPs) on YouTube.

    METHODS: YouTube videos were systematically acquired with 4 search terms. The top 50 videos per search term by the number of views were stored in a YouTube account. A set of inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, videos were assessed for viewing characteristics, a 4-point scoring system (0-3) was applied to evaluate QOI in 10 predetermined domains, and a 3-point scoring system (0-2) was applied to evaluate COI. Descriptive statistical analyses and intrarater and interrater reliability tests were performed.

    RESULTS: Strong intrarater and interrater reliability scores were observed. Sixty-three videos from the top 58 most-viewed DPs were viewed 1,395,471 times (range, 414-124,939). Most DPs originated from the United States (20%), and orthodontists (62%) uploaded most of the videos. The mean number of reported domains was 2.03 ± 2.40 (out of 10). The mean overall QOI score per domain was 0.36 ± 0.79 (out of 3). The "Placement of miniscrews" domain scored highest (1.23 ± 0.75). The "Cost of miniscrews placement" domain scored the lowest (0.03 ± 0.25). The mean overall QOI score per DP was 3.59 ± 5.64 (out of 30). The COI in 32 videos was immeasurable, and only 2 avoided using technical words.

    CONCLUSIONS: The QOI related to temporary anchorage devices contained within videos provided by DPs through the YouTube Web site is deficient, particularly in the cost of placement. Orthodontists should be aware of the importance of YouTube as an information resource and ensure that videos related to temporary anchorage devices contain comprehensive and evidence-based information.

  3. Mittal P, Klingler-Hoffmann M, Arentz G, Zhang C, Kaur G, Oehler MK, et al.
    Proteomics Clin Appl, 2016 Mar;10(3):217-29.
    PMID: 26541900 DOI: 10.1002/prca.201500055
    This review discusses the current status of proteomics technology in endometrial cancer diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. The first part of this review focuses on recently identified biomarkers for endometrial cancer, their importance in clinical use as well as the proteomic methods used in their discovery. The second part highlights some of the emerging mass spectrometry based proteomic technologies that promise to contribute to a better understanding of endometrial cancer by comparing the abundance of hundreds or thousands of proteins simultaneously.
  4. Weiland F, Arentz G, Klingler-Hoffmann M, McCarthy P, Lokman NA, Kaur G, et al.
    J Proteome Res, 2016 11 04;15(11):4073-4081.
    PMID: 27569743
    Although acetylation is regarded as a common protein modification, a detailed proteome-wide profile of this post-translational modification may reveal important biological insight regarding differential acetylation of individual proteins. Here we optimized a novel peptide IEF fractionation method for use prior to LC-MS/MS analysis to obtain a more in depth coverage of N-terminally acetylated proteins from complex samples. Application of the method to the analysis of the serous ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR-5 identified 344 N-terminally acetylated proteins, 12 of which are previously unreported. The protein peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A (PPIA) was detected in both the N-terminally acetylated and unmodified forms and was further analyzed by data-independent acquisition in carboplatin-responsive parental OVCAR-5 cells and carboplatin-resistant OVCAR-5 cells. This revealed a higher ratio of unacetylated to acetylated N-terminal PPIA in the parental compared with the carboplatin-resistant OVCAR-5 cells and a 4.1-fold increase in PPIA abundance overall in the parental cells relative to carboplatin-resistant OVCAR-5 cells (P = 0.015). In summary, the novel IEF peptide fractionation method presented here is robust, reproducible, and can be applied to the profiling of N-terminally acetylated proteins. All mass spectrometry data is available as a ProteomeXchange repository (PXD003547).
  5. Marinone Lares SG, Mackay G, Clark ST, Saniasiaya J, McCaffer C
    Clin Otolaryngol, 2025 Jan;50(1):82-87.
    PMID: 39344669 DOI: 10.1111/coa.14237
    OBJECTIVE: Vocal fold immobility (VFI) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in the paediatric population. Laryngoscopy is the current first-line investigation for patients with suspected VFI. Laryngeal ultrasound (LUS) has recently emerged as an alternative method of identifying VFI. Compared to laryngoscopy, LUS is less invasive, does not require anaesthesia, and can be performed by non-otolaryngologists. The objectives of this study are to evaluate LUS as a diagnostic method for the identification of VFI in a cohort of paediatric patients in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) and to estimate the frequency of use of LUS in the paediatric population by clinicians around the world.

    METHODS: A retrospective, single-centre cohort study was performed on all paediatric patients who had undergone laryngoscopy and LUS at Starship Children's Health in Auckland, NZ, between 2020 and 2023. An eight-question survey was also developed and distributed to better understand clinicians' use of LUS in their clinical practice to diagnose paediatric VFI globally.

    RESULTS: Twenty-nine paediatric patients met the inclusion criteria. LUS demonstrated good sensitivity (80.95%) for detecting VFI and increased to 93.33% for the detection of unilateral VFI. Of the 87 respondents to the survey, 41.38% utilise LUS in their clinical practice in the paediatric population. The main barriers to implementation of LUS as identified by non-users were lack of equipment, expertise, and training.

    CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the use of LUS as an accurate diagnostic tool for the detection of unilateral VFI. Further studies in non-surgical populations and in patients with bilateral VFI, as well as standardised guidelines for LUS technique and reporting, are required.

  6. Briggs MT, Condina MR, Klingler-Hoffmann M, Arentz G, Everest-Dass AV, Kaur G, et al.
    Proteomics Clin Appl, 2019 05;13(3):e1800099.
    PMID: 30367710 DOI: 10.1002/prca.201800099
    Protein glycosylation, particularly N-linked glycosylation, is a complex posttranslational modification (PTM), which plays an important role in protein folding and conformation, regulating protein stability and activity, cell-cell interaction, and cell signaling pathways. This review focuses on analytical techniques, primarily MS-based techniques, to qualitatively and quantitatively assess N-glycosylation while successfully characterizing compositional, structural, and linkage features with high specificity and sensitivity. The analytical techniques explored in this review include LC-ESI-MS/MS and MALDI time-of-flight MS (MALDI-TOF-MS), which have been used to analyze clinical samples, such as serum, plasma, ascites, and tissue. Targeting the aberrant N-glycosylation patterns observed in MALDI-MS imaging (MSI) offers a platform to visualize N-glycans in tissue-specific regions. The studies on the intra-patient (i.e., a comparison of tissue-specific regions from the same patient) and inter-patient (i.e., a comparison of tissue-specific regions between different patients) variation of early- and late-stage ovarian cancer (OC) patients identify specific N-glycan differences that improve understanding of the tumor microenvironment and potentially improve therapeutic strategies for the clinic.
  7. Hill R, Stentiford GD, Walker DI, Baker-Austin C, Ward G, Maskrey BH, et al.
    Nat Commun, 2024 Jun 22;15(1):5324.
    PMID: 38909028 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49417-4
    One Health is a recognition of the shared environment inhabited by humans, animals and plants, and the impact of their interactions on the health of all organisms. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a framework of pathogen surveillance in a tractable One Health paradigm to allow timely detection and response to threats to human and animal health. We present case studies centered around the recent global approach to tackle antimicrobial resistance and the current interest in wastewater testing, with the concept of "one sample many analyses" to be further explored as the most appropriate means of initiating this endeavor.
  8. Mukherjee D, Bhavnani S, Lockwood Estrin G, Rao V, Dasgupta J, Irfan H, et al.
    Autism, 2024 Jan;28(1):6-31.
    PMID: 36336996 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221133176
    The challenge of finding autistic children, and finding them early enough to make a difference for them and their families, becomes all the greater in parts of the world where human and material resources are in short supply. Poverty of resources delays interventions, translating into a poverty of outcomes. Digital tools carry potential to lessen this delay because they can be administered by non-specialists in children's homes, schools or other everyday environments, they can measure a wide range of autistic behaviours objectively and they can automate analysis without requiring an expert in computers or statistics. This literature review aimed to identify and describe digital tools for screening children who may be at risk for autism. These tools are predominantly at the 'proof-of-concept' stage. Both portable (laptops, mobile phones, smart toys) and fixed (desktop computers, virtual-reality platforms) technologies are used to present computerised games, or to record children's behaviours or speech. Computerised analysis of children's interactions with these technologies differentiates children with and without autism, with promising results. Tasks assessing social responses and hand and body movements are the most reliable in distinguishing autistic from typically developing children. Such digital tools hold immense potential for early identification of autism spectrum disorder risk at a large scale. Next steps should be to further validate these tools and to evaluate their applicability in a variety of settings. Crucially, stakeholders from underserved communities globally must be involved in this research, lest it fail to capture the issues that these stakeholders are facing.
  9. Mittal P, Klingler-Hoffmann M, Arentz G, Winderbaum L, Lokman NA, Zhang C, et al.
    Proteomics, 2016 06;16(11-12):1793-801.
    PMID: 27061135 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201500455
    Metastasis is a crucial step of malignant progression and is the primary cause of death from endometrial cancer. However, clinicians presently face the challenge that conventional surgical-pathological variables, such as tumour size, depth of myometrial invasion, histological grade, lymphovascular space invasion or radiological imaging are unable to predict with accuracy if the primary tumour has metastasized. In the current retrospective study, we have used primary tumour samples of endometrial cancer patients diagnosed with (n = 16) and without (n = 27) lymph node metastasis to identify potential discriminators. Using peptide matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), we have identified m/z values which can classify 88% of all tumours correctly. The top discriminative m/z values were identified using a combination of in situ sequencing and LC-MS/MS from digested tumour samples. Two of the proteins identified, plectin and α-Actin-2, were used for validation studies using LC-MS/MS data independent analysis (DIA) and immunohistochemistry. In summary, MALDI-MSI has the potential to identify discriminators of metastasis using primary tumour samples.
  10. Strauss A, Furlan I, Steinmann S, Buchholz B, Kremens B, Rossig C, et al.
    J Pediatr, 2015 Aug;167(2):486-8.
    PMID: 25982139 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.04.064
    The initial clinical and hematologic presentation of infantile malignant osteopetrosis may be indistinguishable from that of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia in infants. Timely radiographic imaging, however, allows straightforward delineation of these 2 severe diseases and facilitates immediate initiation of appropriate therapy.
  11. Mittal P, Klingler-Hoffmann M, Arentz G, Winderbaum L, Kaur G, Anderson L, et al.
    Biochim Biophys Acta Proteins Proteom, 2017 Jul;1865(7):846-857.
    PMID: 27784647 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2016.10.010
    The prediction of lymph node metastasis using clinic-pathological data and molecular information from endometrial cancers lacks accuracy and is therefore currently not routinely used in patient management. Consequently, although only a small percentage of patients with endometrial cancers suffer from metastasis, the majority undergo radical surgery including removal of pelvic lymph nodes. Upon analysis of publically available data and published research, we compiled a list of 60 proteins having the potential to display differential abundance between primary endometrial cancers with versus those without lymph node metastasis. Using data dependent acquisition LC-ESI-MS/MS we were able to detect 23 of these proteins in endometrial cancers, and using data independent LC-ESI-MS/MS the differential abundance of five of those proteins was observed. The localization of the differentially expressed proteins, was visualized using peptide MALDI MSI in whole tissue sections as well as tissue microarrays of 43 patients. The proteins identified were further validated by immunohistochemistry. Our data indicate that annexin A2 protein level is upregulated, whereas annexin A1 and α actinin 4 expression are downregulated in tumours with lymph node metastasis compared to those without lymphatic spread. Moreover, our analysis confirmed the potential of these markers, to be included in a statistical model for prediction of lymph node metastasis. The predictive model using highly ranked m/z values identified by MALDI MSI showed significantly higher predictive accuracy than the model using immunohistochemistry data. In summary, using publicly available data and complementary proteomics approaches, we were able to improve the prediction model for lymph node metastasis in EC.
  12. Reeves S, Poh BK, Chong YT, Lee JAC, Cheah WL, Hafizah YN, et al.
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023 Aug 20;20(16).
    PMID: 37623197 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20166614
    Prevention and treatment of childhood obesity is a global concern, and in Malaysia, it is considered a national public health priority. Determinants of childhood obesity are multifactorial and include factors that directly and indirectly influence energy balance-related behaviours, including energy intake and energy expenditure. Interventions to address childhood obesity that have multiple components at different levels have been shown to be the most influential. The ToyBox-study is a childhood obesity intervention aimed at preschool-aged children and their families that had been shown to be effective in several European countries and so was chosen for adaption for the Malaysian setting. Materials were translated and adjusted for the Malaysian context and audience and implemented in kindergartens in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, teaching transitioned to being online. This brought an opportunity to reach a wider audience and consider the long-term sustainability of the intervention, and thus eToybox was born. eToybox aims to bring support for healthy energy balance behaviours directly to the teachers, into kindergartens and homes, to encourage families to be active and eat healthily, and prevent or reduce obesity. Through online innovation, the Toybox Study Malaysia programme has been expanded to enhance its potential to impact the promotion of healthy lifestyles among preschoolers and their families, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to preventing and treating childhood obesity in Malaysia.
  13. Binns CW, Lee MK, Kagawa M, Low WY, Liqian Q, Guldan GS, et al.
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2017 Mar;29(2):98-101.
    PMID: 28325079 DOI: 10.1177/1010539517694295
    Nutrition is a major determinant of health throughout all stages of life and together with smoking is the most important risk factor for morbidity and mortality in the Asia Pacific Region. The workshop participants examined Dietary Guidelines and Food Guides that are in use in our region, together with additional materials from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World Cancer Research Foundation. The resulting set of guidelines is meant as a reminder of the main issues to be covered in a general public health education program. It may also be of value in reminding public health practitioners, educators, administrators, and policy makers of current nutrition issues. It may additionally be useful as a checklist of the issues to be considered in public health programs and regulations. The main areas of nutrition that are included in the Guidelines are eating a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals, and nuts. Choose fish, poultry, and meats grown in a sustainable way. Appropriate growth, including avoiding obesity, and physical activity are important. Breastfeeding is the basis of infant nutrition and nutrition of mothers is an important public health measure. Negative factors in the Asian diet include salt, refined sugar, alcohol and fats. The APACPH Dietary Guidelines will need to be kept under review and modified to meet regional differences in food supply. The Guidelines will be useful as a checklist of the issues to be considered in public health programs, addressing both acute and chronic diseases.
  14. De Wint FC, Nicholson S, Koid QQ, Zahra S, Chestney-Claassen G, Seelan JSS, et al.
    Sci Data, 2024 Dec 21;11(1):1418.
    PMID: 39709508 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-04103-4
    Pathogens significantly influence natural and agricultural ecosystems, playing a crucial role in the regulation of species populations and maintaining biodiversity. Entomopathogenic fungi (EF), particularly within the Hypocreales order, exemplify understudied pathogens that infect insects and other arthropods globally. Despite their ecological importance, comprehensive data on EF host specificity and geographical distribution are lacking. To address this, we present EntomoFun 1.0, an open-access database centralizing global records of EF-insect associations in Hypocreales. This database includes 1,791 records detailing EF species, insect host taxa, countries of occurrence, life stages of hosts, and information sources. EntomoFun 1.0 is constructed based on 600 literature sources, as well as herbarium specimens of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. This database is intended to test hypotheses, identify knowledge gaps, and stimulate future research. Contents of the EntomoFun 1.0 database are visualized with a global map, taxonomic chart, bipartite community network, and graphs.
  15. Morgan G, Melson E, Davitadze M, Ooi E, Zhou D, Hanania T, et al.
    J R Coll Physicians Edinb, 2021 06;51(2):168-172.
    PMID: 34131679 DOI: 10.4997/JRCPE.2021.218
    BACKGROUND: Simulation via Instant Messaging - Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) aimed to improve clinicians' confidence in managing various clinical scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    METHODS: Five SIMBA sessions were conducted between May and August 2020. Each session included simulation of scenarios and interactive discussion. Participants' self-reported confidence, acceptance, and relevance of the simulated cases were measured.

    RESULTS: Significant improvement was observed in participants' self-reported confidence (overall n = 204, p<0.001; adrenal n = 33, p<0.001; thyroid n = 37, p<0.001; pituitary n = 79, p<0.001; inflammatory bowel disease n = 17, p<0.001; acute medicine n = 38, p<0.001). Participants reported improvements in clinical competencies: patient care 52.0% (n = 106/204), professionalism 30.9% (n = 63/204), knowledge on patient management 84.8% (n = 173/204), systems-based practice 48.0% (n = 98/204), practice-based learning 69.6% (n = 142/204) and communication skills 25.5% (n = 52/204).

    CONCLUSION: SIMBA is a novel pedagogical virtual simulation-based learning model that improves clinicians' confidence in managing conditions across various specialties.

  16. Luu LDW, Popple G, Tsang SPW, Vinasco K, Hilmi I, Ng RT, et al.
    J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2022 Feb;37(2):342-351.
    PMID: 34888949 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.15752
    BACKGROUND AND AIM: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions comprising two major subtypes: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The incidence of IBD is increasing in Asian countries including Malaysia. The aim of this study was to determine whether 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly associated with IBD from genome-wide association studies, performed mainly in Caucasian populations, are associated with IBD in a Malaysian population, correlating these findings with local and systemic inflammation.

    METHODS: Selected SNPs were investigated in a Malaysian cohort comprising 36 IBD patients and 75 controls using customized matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight genotyping. Local mRNA and/or systemic protein levels of IL-10, IL-12, IL-22, IL-23, and TNF-α were measured in these same subjects.

    RESULTS: ATG16L2 rs11235667 and LINC00824 rs6651252 was significantly associated with increased CD risk while IL12B rs56167332 was a significant protective factor. Three SNPs (SBNO2 rs2024092, CARD9 rs10781499, and rs17085007 between GPR12-USP12) were significantly associated with increased UC risk while NKX2-3 rs4409764 was a significant protective factor. After adjusting for age, gender, and ethnicity, SBNO2 rs2024092, ATG16L2 rs11235667, CARD9 rs10781499, and LINC00824 rs6651252 remained associated with IBD. Interestingly, the risk alleles of IL10 rs3024505, CARD9 rs1078149, and IL12 rs6556412 were associated with higher levels of IL-10, IL-22, and IL-23 in these same subjects, respectively.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study identified eight SNPs associated with IBD and/or its subtypes in the Malaysia population, significantly advancing our understanding of the genetic contribution to IBD in this understudied population. Three of these SNPs modulated relevant cytokine levels and thus, may directly contribute to IBD pathogenesis.

  17. Binns C, Lee MK, Yun Low W, Baker P, Bulgiba A, Dahlui M, et al.
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2020 05;32(4):179-187.
    PMID: 32475150 DOI: 10.1177/1010539520931328
    Good nutrition in the first "1000 days," including breastfeeding and appropriate complementary foods, prepares for a healthy childhood and adult life, also contributes to the prevention of the double burden of malnutrition. Exclusive breastfeeding provides all required nutrients until an infant is around 6 months of age when complementary foods are needed. A literature review was undertaken of complementary foods in the Asia Pacific region. The foods being used at present are often of low nutrient density may provide insufficient amounts of some critical nutrients, and generally the variety is limited. Guidelines for complementary feeding are provided to assist in education and in public health planning.
  18. Cain LE, Phillips A, Lodi S, Sabin C, Bansi L, Justice A, et al.
    AIDS, 2012 Aug 24;26(13):1691-705.
    PMID: 22546987
    OBJECTIVE: To compare regimens consisting of either efavirenz or nevirapine and two or more nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) among HIV-infected, antiretroviral-naive, and AIDS-free individuals with respect to clinical, immunologic, and virologic outcomes.

    DESIGN: Prospective studies of HIV-infected individuals in Europe and the US included in the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration.

    METHODS: Antiretroviral therapy-naive and AIDS-free individuals were followed from the time they started an NRTI, efavirenz or nevirapine, classified as following one or both types of regimens at baseline, and censored when they started an ineligible drug or at 6 months if their regimen was not yet complete. We estimated the 'intention-to-treat' effect for nevirapine versus efavirenz regimens on clinical, immunologic, and virologic outcomes. Our models included baseline covariates and adjusted for potential bias introduced by censoring via inverse probability weighting.

    RESULTS: A total of 15 336 individuals initiated an efavirenz regimen (274 deaths, 774 AIDS-defining illnesses) and 8129 individuals initiated a nevirapine regimen (203 deaths, 441 AIDS-defining illnesses). The intention-to-treat hazard ratios [95% confidence interval (CI)] for nevirapine versus efavirenz regimens were 1.59 (1.27, 1.98) for death and 1.28 (1.09, 1.50) for AIDS-defining illness. Individuals on nevirapine regimens experienced a smaller 12-month increase in CD4 cell count by 11.49 cells/μl and were 52% more likely to have virologic failure at 12 months as those on efavirenz regimens.

    CONCLUSIONS: Our intention-to-treat estimates are consistent with a lower mortality, a lower incidence of AIDS-defining illness, a larger 12-month increase in CD4 cell count, and a smaller risk of virologic failure at 12 months for efavirenz compared with nevirapine.

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