Modified French Osteotomy for Humeroradial Synostosis in a Child with Multiple Synostoses Syndrome: A Case Report

Congenital humeroradial synostosis can occur as an isolated clinical entity or as part of a syndrome. Bilateral elbow fixed flexion deformity is very incapacitating and challenging to treat. Here we present the case of a boy with fixed flexion deformity of both elbows due bilateral humeroradial synostosis. Other characteristic features of multiple synostoses syndrome were also present in this child, his elder brother and mother. We elected to improve the position of the right elbow by adapting the modified French osteotomy described by Bellemore et al

A Preliminary Study on the Distribution of Beta Defensins Copy Number Variable Gene in Different Ethics of Sarawak Malaysian Borneo

The indigenous groups of Sarawak that are well-known for diverse ethnicity featuring different cultures, languages and lifestyles, are among the earliest resident of Malaysian Borneo. The high survivorship of these early inhabitants had triggered an interest on their ability to develop immune or defense mechanisms towards the environment. Beta defensin is one of the well-studied adaptive immune functional gene of human. Beta defensins gene family plays a major role in innate and adaptive immune systems that are located in a cluster of at least seven genes on chromosome 8p23.1 with highly variable copy number. The ability of the indigenous people populating new settlements has been linked to their resistance or susceptibility towards certain disease which is influenced by the effectiveness of beta defensins adaptability. Hence, investigation on the distribution of beta defensins copy number variable gene in ethnics of Sarawak was conducted by investigating two microsatellite regions within the gene cluster. The result from 78 respondents comprising of the Iban, Bidayuh, Selako, Bugis and Jawa on the immediate copy number typing range from 2 to 8 copies. Interestingly, the copy numbers are not unique to the ethnics. They show a broad overview of shared copy number typing between them. All the sampled ethnics showed an agreement of copy number typing with modal copy of four based on EPEV1 and EPEV3 except for the Selako population. Pearson’s correlation shows excellent agreement between the samples with R2 =1. The differences in copy number typing between populations were mostly due to genetic drift within the population. Natural selection had caused small populations to develop defence mechanisms and adaptability towards the environment. Furthermore, intercultural marriage within small populations has discouraged gene flow and limits genetic drift which later becomes a mechanism of evolution for beta defensins copy number gene. This study highlights the diversity and distribution of beta defensins copy number variable gene between ethnics and localities. These may serve as the basis for our understanding of the evolution of the beta defensins gene within ethnicities and their ability in expansion of population due to resistant towards the environmental stress and natural selection

The Horned Frog

Ramlah Zainudin, Elvy Quatrin Deka, Nur Amirah Md Sungif, Marly Agoh, Sharizzaty Mohd Rais, Muhammad Fadzil Amram, Marius Joscha Maiwald, Aida Safreena Ahmad Puad, Ahmad Hata Rasit and Mohd-Azlan Jayasila

Post-discharge spirometry evaluation in patients recovering from moderate-to-critical COVID-19: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Understanding the prevalence of abnormal lung function and its associated factors among patients recovering from COVID-19 is crucial for enhancing post-COVID care strategies. This study primarily aimed to determine the prevalence and types of spirometry abnormalities among post-COVID-19 patients in Malaysia, with a secondary objective of identifying its associated factors. Conducted at the COVID-19 Research Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University Technology MARA, from March 2021 to December 2022, this study included patients at least three months post-discharge from hospitals following moderate-to-critical COVID-19. Of 408 patients studied, abnormal spirometry was found in 46.8%, with 28.4% exhibiting a restrictive pattern, 17.4% showing preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm), and 1.0% displaying an obstructive pattern. Factors independently associated with abnormal spirometry included consolidation on chest X-ray (OR 8.1, 95% CI 1.75–37.42, p = 0.008), underlying cardiovascular disease (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.19–10.47, p = 0.023), ground-glass opacity on chest X-ray (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.52–4.30, p < 0.001), and oxygen desaturation during the 6-min walk test (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.20–3.06, p = 0.007). This study highlights that patients recovering from moderate-to-critical COVID-19 often exhibit abnormal spirometry, notably a restrictive pattern and PRISm. Routine spirometry screening for high-risk patients is recommended