COVID-19 vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia: a review

Suhaimi Siti Nur Atikah Aishah,Zaki Izzati Abdul Halim,Noordin Zakiah Mohd,Hussin Nur Sabiha Md,Ming Long Chiau,Zulkifly Hanis Hanum 대한백신학회 2023 Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research Vol.12 No.4

Rare but serious thrombotic incidents in relation to thrombocytopenia, termed vaccineinduced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), have been observed since the vaccine rollout, particularly among replication-defective adenoviral vector-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine recipients. Herein, we comprehensively reviewed and summarized reported studies of VITT following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination to determine its prevalence, clinical characteristics, as well as its management. A literature search up to October 1, 2021 using PubMed and SCOPUS identified a combined total of 720 articles. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guideline, after screening the titles and abstracts based on the eligibility criteria, the remaining 47 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 29 studies were included. Findings revealed that VITT cases are strongly related to viral vector-based vaccines, which are the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (95%) and the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (4%), with much rarer reports involving messenger RNA-based vaccines such as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (0.2%) and the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (0.2%). The most severe manifestation of VITT is cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with 317 cases (70.4%) and the earliest primary symptom in the majority of cases is headache. Intravenous immunoglobulin and non-heparin anticoagulant are the main therapeutic options for managing immune responses and thrombosis, respectively. As there is emerging knowledge on and refinement of the published guidelines regarding VITT, this review may assist the medical communities in early VITT recognition, understanding the clinical presentations, diagnostic criteria as well as its management, offering a window of opportunity to VITT patients. Further larger sample size trials could further elucidate the link and safety profile.

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Ternary Lattice Inclusion System of C-4-acetamidophenylcalix[4]-2-methylresorcinarene dimethylsulfoxide tetrasolvate dihydrate

Hamza M. Abosadiya,Siti Aishah Hasbullah,Jumina,Bohari M. Yamin 대한화학회 2015 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.36 No.12

C-4-acetamidophenylcalix[4]-2-methylresorcinarene was synthesized by condensation reaction of 2-methylresorcinol with 4-acetamidobenzaldehyde in the presence of concentrated HCl. The compound was characterized by infrared (IR), 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the molecule crystallized in a triclinic crystal system with space group of Pī and the unit cell dimensions are a = 8.929(1) Å, b = 13.804(2) Å, c = 14.471(2) Å, α = 76.766(4)°, β = 78.563(4)°, γ = 87.168(4)°, Z = 1, and V = 1702.0(4) Å3. The calix molecule is associated with four dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and two water molecules of crystallization that contribute to the stability of the solid via hydrogen bonding. The supramolecule adopts a chair (C2h ) conformation with four phenyl linkage groups that are in rctt (cis–trans–trans) configuration isomer. The thermal gravimetric investigation showed three mass loss steps that occurred at about 100, 400, and 900 °C, respectively. The compound formed after the first loss is thermally stable in the range of 100–400 °C after which the calix moiety began to decompose.

Female Leadership in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges

Norasmah Othman,Radin Siti Aishah Radin A. Rahman,Nuha Abdullah,Rusyda Ramly 숙명여자대학교 아시아여성연구원 2023 Asian Women Vol.39 No.1

The lack of females in top management positions at the decision-making level in the Malaysian public sector. This study discusses the issues and challenges women face at the top leadership level in the Malaysian public sector and aims to explore the issues and challenges faced by female civil servants in decision-making roles through a qualitative and quantitative lens. The sequential exploratory mix design involved 456 female public sector executives at Grade 48 and above in 23 ministries in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, Malaysia. The qualitative data highlighted three main themes, namely gender stereotypes, social roles, and the male management model. The quantitative data revealed that the challenges posed by gender stereotypes and male management models exceeded those posed by social roles in terms of intensity. This means that female civil servants in Malaysia continue to face issues and challenges pertaining to gender stereotypes and male management models. Society continues to perceive decision-making leadership positions as less suitable for women. This study has implications for the strength of the trait leadership theory in which female leadership characteristics can be polished once issues are identified and addressed. A series of programs must be implemented so that challenges resulting from gender stereotypes and male management models can be reduced, therefore, ensuring the achievement of goals of the National Women’s Policy by 2030.

Decision-Making on Contraceptive Use among Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Malaysia: A Qualitative Inquiry

Sukeri Surianti,Sulaiman Zaharah,Hamid Noor Aman,Ibrahim Siti Aishah 대한가정의학회 2024 Korean Journal of Family Medicine Vol.45 No.1

Background: Malaysia is the first country in the Western Pacific Region to receive the validation certificate for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The validation report rec-ommends making sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV a priority. This article ex-plores and assesses the sexual and reproductive health, rights, and access to healthcare services of Malaysia’s wom-en living with HIV (WLHIV).Methods: A qualitative secondary analysis conducted on 73 WLHIV from all over Malaysia comprised 11 in-depth interviews and 16 focus group discussions. Data were extracted from the original interview transcripts that emerged from the following questions: (1) “What are your experiences as a woman living with HIV in relation to your sexual and reproductive health and rights?” (2) “What are your experiences in accessing contraception?” (3) “What are your day-to-day experiences as a woman living with HIV?” Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results: Four themes emerged from the study findings: “lack of negotiation,” “idealism in pregnancy,” “coping with restrictions,” and “past and future fears.” The four themes are grounded in religion, a patriarchal culture, meaning and expectations of motherhood, taking risks and going against medical advice to pursue fertility desires, fear of HIV transmission, and the side effects of contraceptive use.Conclusion: The complexities involved in decision-making regarding contraceptive use revealed how WLHIV may have unresolved reproductive health needs inconsistent with healthcare providers’ focus on HIV management and prevention. Suggestions are made for improving the sexual and reproductive health and rights of WLHIV in Malay-sia, which include establishing a reproductive health counseling program.

Quantification of Her-2/Neu Gene in Breast Cancer Patients using Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (Q-PCR) and Correlation with Immunohistochemistry Findings

Abdul Murad, Nor Azian,Razak, Zuraini Abdul,Hussain, Rosniza Muhammmad,Syed Hussain, Sharifah Noor Akmal,Ching Huat, Clarence Ko,Siti Aishah, Che Md. Ali,Abdullah, Norlia,Muhammad, Rohaizak,Ibrahim, N Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.3

Background: HER-2/neu is a proto-oncogene that encodes a transmembrane tyrosine kinase growth factor which is crucial for stimulating growth and cellular motility. Overexpression of HER-2/neu is observed in 10-35% of human breast cancers and is associated with pathogenesis, prognosis as well as response to therapy. Given the imperative role of HER-2/neu overexpression in breast cancer, it is important to determine the magnitude of amplification which may facilitate a better prognosis as well as personalized therapy in affected patients. In this study, we determined HER-2/neu protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) concurrently with HER-2/neu DNA amplification by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). Materials and Methods: A total of 53 paired tissue samples from breast cancer patients were frozen-sectioned to characterize the tumour and normal tissues. Only tissues with 80% tumour cells were used in this study. For confirmation, Q-PCR was used to determine the HER-2/neu DNA amplification. Results: We found 20/53 (37.7%) of the tumour tissues to be positive for HER-2/neu protein overexpression using IHC. Out of these twenty, only 9/53 (17%) cases were in agreement with the Q-PCR results. The concordance rate between IHC and Q-PCR was 79.3%. Approximately 20.7% of positive IHC cases showed no HER-2/neu gene amplification using Q-PCR. Conclusion: In conclusion, IHC can be used as an initial screening method for detection of the HER-2/neu protein overexpression. Techniques such as Q-PCR should be employed to verify the IHC results for uncertain cases as well as determination of HER-2/neu gene amplification.