The study of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene by restriction enzyme by restriction enzyme digestion in the Kelantan population

The most common diseases producing enzymopathy affecting the human population is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. It is estimated that about 400 million people worldwide are affected and this disease is commonest seen in the tropical and subtropical zones of the Eastern hemisphere. Molecular analysis has confirmed that the basis for G6PD deficiency is widely heterogeneous. Different mutants are responsible for the G6PD deficiency in the various parts of the world where this abnormality is prevalent. This study involved a sequential analysis whereby the blood from Malay neonates with neonatal jaundice admitted to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia and Kota Bharu Hospital were analyzed and polymerase chain reaction based analysis using serial multiplex primer method was done on those DNA samples. Samples that are found to be abnormal were then sequenced. Out of the 45 samples studied, 8 were found to have the Mediterranean mutation, two have the Mahidol mutation, two have Canton mutation and three have Kaiping mutation. Thus the molecular basis for the Malay neonatal jaundice in Kelantan is described with further prospect of population screening

Psychological distress and associated factors in parents of children with cancer

Introduction: Diagnosis of cancer in children poses a challenging situation for parents to cope with. Method: Seventy-nine (N = 79) parents whose children are receiving treatment for cancer in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia participated in this cross-sectional descriptive study. They completed a set questionnaire measuring their level of anxiety and stress, knowledge about cancer, and amount of activities they perform with or for the child to enhance the child’s coping abilities, in addition to children’s psychological problems. Socio-demographic information was obtained. Results: Parents with higher cancer knowledge reported reduced stress (p<0.01) and anxiety (p<0.05). The higher the income (p<0.05) and education (p<0.01), the higher cancer knowledge. Parental stress was negatively correlated with income (p<0.05) and education (p<0.01), indicating that the better educated and higher the salary, less stress symptoms. Highly educated parents engaged in more activities with their children (p<0.05). Parental anxiety was correlated significantly with children’s current treatment including chemotherapy procedure (p<0.01), ‘In-patient’ Vs ‘Outpatient’ (p<0.01), and children’s condition (p<0.01). Parents of hospitalized children who underwent chemotherapy were significantly more anxious than their counterparts. Parents who perceived their children’s current condition as ‘very good’, reported reduced anxiety, compared to those who reported their child’s condition as ‘ok’. The more psychological problems the children had, the higher parental anxiety (p<0.05) and stress symptoms (p<0.01). Discussion: Some groups of parents reported more psychological difficulties compared to others. Ongoing psychological assessment and intervention may reduce parental stress by increasing coping and reducing children psychological problems

Together we stand, divided we fall: Interprofessional collaborative practice competencies from Malaysian medical professionals' perspectives

أهداف البحث: إن المطالب على نظام الرعاية الصحية في تزايد٬ وهناك المزيد من الأصوات تتضمن المناهج الصحية التعليم المتداخل بين التخصصات. ولكن٬ لم يتم الوصول إلى نتائج بعد، وهناك معلومات محددة لتوجيه المعلمين. تهدف هذه الدراسة لاستكشاف المهنية الطبية من وجهة نظر أصحاب التخصصات الطبية الماليزية وعلى وجه التحديد٬ ممارسة الكفاءات التعاونية التخصصية المتداخلة المتوقعة من الطبيب في الحالة الماليزية. طرق البحث: أجرينا مناقشة جماعية مركزة على الأطباء في ماليزيا للحصول على خبرات المشاركين ووجهات نظرهم على الأهداف المنشودة. ثم أجرينا تحليلا موضوعيا للنصوص. تم التعامل مع البيانات بواسطة برنامج الأطلس. تاي. النتائج: تم مشاركة عدد ٢٢ طبيبا أكاديميا و غير أكاديمي في هذه الدراسة. وظهرت ثمانية مواضيع من المناقشة لوصف المهنية الطبية في ماليزيا. صُنفت هذه المواضيع إلى شائعة٬ مكملة وكفاءات تعاونية. ووجدنا أن الكفاءات التعاونية في ماليزيا تتضمن” مهارات القيادة والتداخل بين التخصصات “ و”الأولوية للمرضى“. الاستنتاجات: قدمت هذه الدراسة وصفا أوليا عن المهنية الطبية والكفاءات التعاونية المتوقعة في ماليزيا. وتقدم نتائج هذه الدراسة هيكلة لدراسات مستقبلية لاستراتيجيات التعليم الفعال وأدوات التقييم لمعرفة التعليم المتداخل بين التخصصات

Nerve Conduction Study Among Healthy Malays. The Influence of Age, Height and Body Mass Index on Median, Ulnar, Common Peroneal and Sural Nerves

Nerve conduction study is essential in the diagnosis of focal neuropathies and diffuse polyneuropathies. Age, height and body mass index (BMI) can affect nerve velocities as reported by previous studies. We studied the effect of these factors on median, ulnar, common peroneal and sural nerves among healthy Malay subjects. We observed slowing of nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) with increasing age and BMI (except ulnar sensory velocities). No demonstrable trend can be seen across different height groups except in common peroneal nerve