The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and also to screen Norrie Disease Pseudoglioma (NDP) gene mutation in order to determine if mutation in the NDP gene may play a role in the development of ROP among Malay premature infants. This was a case control studyamong Malay premature infants from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) conducted from August 2011 to May 2013. Written consent were taken from their parents before conducting the study. The stage of ROP, systemic risk factors (gestational age and birth weight) and enviromental risk factors (oxygen exposure and duration of ventilation)were reviewed from patients’medical records. DNA was extracted from venous blood and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) before direct sequencing of NDP gene. A total of 56 Malay premature infants (Case group = 28 ROP premature infants, Controlgroup = 28 non-ROP premature infants)from Hospital USMwere enrolled in this study. Out of 28 premature infants with ROP, 11 (39.3%) premature infants were in stage 3. Only 1 (3.6%) premature infant in stage 4 and 2 (7.2%) premature infants in stage 5. The gestational age (p = 0.010) and birth weight (p = 0.010) were the significant risk factors for ROP. There was no significant difference ofenvironmental risk factors between the two groups. The NDPgene mutation was not detected in Malay premature infants with ROP and also in control group. The gestational age and birth weight were important risk factors of ROP.Although NDPgene mutations were being linked to ROP but NDPgene mutation was not detected in premature infants with ROPas well as premature infants with non-ROP among Malay ethnic background.
The total lipid contents and the concentration of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic
(DHA) fatty acid of fourteen selected marine, three freshwater fish species, four shellfish species and two selected canned fish species of East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia were determined. The fat content of all samples ranged from 1.01 % to 15.83 % with silver catfish reported to have the highest value. Most of the fish had fat amounts lower than 10% of their total weight. In general, DHA concentrations (50.50-165.21 µg/g) were significantly higher than EPA (11.12-55.38 µg/g) in all of the fish species analyzed. Among all marine fish species, the sixbar grouper recorded the highest concentration of DHA (165.21 µg/g) while barramundi had the highest concentration of EPA (55.38 µg/g). In conclusion, all fish and shellfish species are considered a good source of EPA and DHA, representing a very valuable essential nutrient for maintenance of human health.