Quality of Life by Stage of Cervical Cancer among Malaysian Patients

Azmawati, Mohammed Nawi,Najibah, Endut,Ahmad Zailani Hatta, Mohd Dali,Norfazilah, Ahmad Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

Stage of cervical cancer may adversely affect the quality of life (QOL) among patients. The objective of this study was to predict the QOL among cervical cancer patients by the stage of their cancer. A cross-sectional study from September 2012 until January 2013 was conducted among cervical cancer patients who completed treatment. All patients completed a interviewer-guided questionnaire comprising four sections: (A) socio-demographic data, (B) medical history, (C) QOL measured by general health status questionnaire (QLQ-30) and (D) cervical cancer specific module CX-24 (EORTC) was used to measured patient's functional, symptom scale and their global health status. Results showed that global health status, emotional functioning and pain score were higher in stage III cervical cancer patients while role functioning was higher in stage I cervical cancer patients. Patients with stage IV cancer have a lower mean score in global health status (adjusted b-22.0, 95 CI% -35.6, -8.49) and emotional functioning (adjusted b -22.5, 95CI% -38.1, -6.69) while stage III had lower mean score in role functioning (adjusted b -14.3, 95CI% -25.4, -3.21) but higher mean score in pain (adjusted b 22.1, 95 CI% 8.56, 35.7). In conclusion, stage III and IV cervical cancers mainly affect the QOL of cervical cancer patients. Focus should be given to these subgroups to help in improving the QOL.

Roles of Ethnicity in Survival of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients in Malaysia

Azmawati, M.N.,Krisnan, R. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Malaysia for the year 2001 was 2.8 per 100,000 people. The mortality rate is increasing. A retrospective cohort study measuring the survival of HCC patients who received treatment in Selayang Hospital was conducted from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2006. The main objectives of the study were to measure the survival of the patients and to understand the influencing factors, especially ethnicity. The subjects were newly diagnosed cases of HCC by CT scan and histopathological assessment who underwent futher investigations and treatments in Hospital Selayang (inception cohort). The survival time was measured from the date of diagnosis until the subjects died, or failed to follow-up at the end of the study period (31 December 2007). A total of 299 patients were selected with 95 patients dying, the majority among Chinese (39.1%). Subgroup analysis according to ethnicity proved significantly that Chinese patients who had smaller tumor, less number of nodules, low AFP level, Child Pugh Class A and received surgical treatment had a better median survival rate compared to other ethnic groups. Malay (cHR: 1.3, 95%CI; 0.89-1.85) and Indian (cHR: 1.3, 95%CI; 0.74-2.26) patients had a poor survival compared to Chinese patients, but not in the final model. Therefore ethnicity may play a role in survival of HCC patients, but not as a main hazard prognostic factor.

Effectiveness of comprehensive hand hygiene module on preschool children in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Rani, Mohd Dzulkhairi Mohd,Mohamed, Nurul Azmawati,Jamaluddin, Tengku Zetty Maztura Tengku,Ismail, Zarini,Ramli, Shalinawati,Faroque, Habibah,Abd Samad, Farishah Nur,Ariffien, Abdul Rasyid,Farid, Aisy The Korean Pediatric Society 2020 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.63 No.3

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from the Maternal Segment of Human Umbilical Cord is Ideal for Bone Regeneration in Allogenic Setting

Jezamine Lim,Zainul Rashid Mohamad Razi,Jia Xian Law,Azmawati Mohammed Nawi,Ruszymah Binti Haji Idrus,Tan Geok Chin,Muaatamarulain Mustangin,Min Hwei Ng 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2018 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.15 No.1

Umbilical cord (UC) is a discarded product from the operating theatre and a ready source of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). MSCs from UC express both embryonic and adult mesenchymal stem cell markers and are known to be hypoimmunogenic and non-tumorigenic and thus suitable for allogeneic cell transplantation. Our study aimed to determine the degree of immunotolerance and bone-forming capacity of osteodifferentiated human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hWJ-MSCs) from different segments of UC in an allogenic setting. UCs were obtained from healthy donors delivering a full-term infant by elective Caesarean section. hWJ-MSCs were isolated from 3 cm length segment from the maternal and foetal ends of UCs. Three-dimensional fibrin constructs were formed and implanted intramuscularly into immunocompetent mice. The mice were implanted with 1) fibrin construct with maternal hWJ-MSCs, 2) fibrin construct with foetal hWJ-MSCs, or 3) fibrin without cells; the control group received sham surgery. After 1 month, the lymphoid organs were analysed to determine the degree of immune rejection and bone constructs were analysed to determine the amount of bone formed. A pronounced immune reaction was noted in the fibrin group. The maternal segment constructs demonstrated greater osteogenesis than the foetal segment constructs. Both maternal and foetal segment constructs caused minimal immune reaction and thus appear to be safe for allogeneic bone transplant. The suppression of inflammation may be a result of increased anti-inflammatory cytokine production mediated by the hWJMSC. In summary, this study demonstrates the feasibility of using bone constructs derived from hWJ-MSCs in an allogenic setting.

The Protective Effect of Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation on Childhood Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Case-control Studies

Wan Rosmawati Wan Ismail,Raudah Abdul Rahman,Nur Ashiqin Abd Rahman,Azman Atil,Azmawati Mohammed Nawi 대한예방의학회 2019 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.52 No.4

Objectives: Maternal folic acid supplementation is considered mandatory in almost every country in the world to prevent congenital malformations. However, little is known about the association of maternal folic acid intake with the occurrence of childhood cancer. Hence, this study aimed to determine the effects of maternal folic acid consumption on the risk of childhood cancer. Methods: A total of 158 related articles were obtained from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ProQuest using standardized keywords, of which 17 were included in the final review. Results: Eleven of the 17 articles showed a significant protective association between maternal folic acid supplementation and childhood cancer. Using a random-effects model, pooled odds ratios (ORs) showed a protective association between maternal folic acid supplementation and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (OR, 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.86). However, there was no significant association between maternal folic acid supplementation and acute myeloid leukaemia (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.06) or childhood brain tumours (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.19). Conclusions: Maternal folic acid supplementation was found to have a protective effect against childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Thus, healthcare professionals are recommended to provide regular health education and health promotion to the community on the benefits of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.

The Protective Effect of Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation on Childhood Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Case-control Studies

Ismail, Wan Rosmawati Wan,Rahman, Raudah Abdul,Rahman, Nur Ashiqin Abd,Atil, Azman,Nawi, Azmawati Mohammed The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2019 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.52 No.4

Objectives: Maternal folic acid supplementation is considered mandatory in almost every country in the world to prevent congenital malformations. However, little is known about the association of maternal folic acid intake with the occurrence of childhood cancer. Hence, this study aimed to determine the effects of maternal folic acid consumption on the risk of childhood cancer. Methods: A total of 158 related articles were obtained from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ProQuest using standardized keywords, of which 17 were included in the final review. Results: Eleven of the 17 articles showed a significant protective association between maternal folic acid supplementation and childhood cancer. Using a random-effects model, pooled odds ratios (ORs) showed a protective association between maternal folic acid supplementation and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (OR, 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.86). However, there was no significant association between maternal folic acid supplementation and acute myeloid leukaemia (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.06) or childhood brain tumours (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.19). Conclusions: Maternal folic acid supplementation was found to have a protective effect against childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Thus, healthcare professionals are recommended to provide regular health education and health promotion to the community on the benefits of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.