Inadequate vitamin D intake among pregnant women in Malaysia based on revised recommended nutrient intakes value and potential dietary strategies to tackle the inadequacy

Siew Siew Lee,Raman Subramaniam,Maiza Tusimin,King Hwa Ling,Kartini Farah Rahim,Su Peng Loh 한국영양학회 2021 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.15 No.4

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recently, the recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) for vitamin D for Malaysian aged 1–70 yrs has been revised from 5 μg/day to 15 μg/day. This study is aimed to assess the adequacy of vitamin D intake based on revised RNI and to recommend several dietary strategies to increase total vitamin D intake. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Vitamin D intake from both food and supplement of 217 pregnant women was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Hypothetical effect of expanded supplementation and food fortifications strategies were modelled using the consumption data. RESULTS: The results revealed that more than half (67.7%) of pregnant women had inadequate vitamin D intake (RNI < 15 μg/day). The modelling results demonstrated the potential of universal provision of 10 μg/day of multivitamins supplements in increasing vitamin D intake. Moreover, mandatory fortification of both milk and malted drink at single level of 5 μg/serving would lead to increase in vitamin D intake of Malaysians, particularly pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of this study can be used as a reference for public health professionals to re-evaluate the existing Malaysian food fortification policies and supplementation recommendation for vitamin D for pregnant women.

Supporting Preschool Children’s Early Writing with Self-Regulated Learning Strategies

Siew Kim Siew,Mariani Binti Md Nor 환태평양유아교육연구학회 2019 Asia-Pacific journal of research in early childhoo Vol.13 No.2

Research suggests that early writing is crucial in the development of young children’s literacy skills and links to their conventional literacy outcomes in elementary school and beyond. In order to enhance the will and the skills to express thoughts explicitly and effectively in early writing among preschool children, self-regulated learning (SRL) was suggested. This experimental study involved seventy-five preschool children, aged from five to six years old in Malaysia, aimed to investigate the effectiveness of SRL strategies on early writing performance. In this study, quantitative data collection was engaged and supported with qualitative data through interviews to obtain a deep insight of the findings results. Two-way repeated measure ANCOVA was employed and confirmed the effectiveness SRL intervention performance in early writing. In regression analyses, strategy such as planning and goal setting was confirmed as strong predictor for early writing performance. Data from the interview revealed that various SRL strategies were engaged by out-performing children from the experimental group and contributed to their early writing performance. The findings of this research provide a useful insight into early writing instructions in Malaysian context.

A summary of the Malaysian Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis, 2022

Terence Ing Wei Ong,Lee Ling Lim,Siew Pheng Chan,Winnie Siew Swee Chee,Alan Swee Hock Ch’ng,Elizabeth Gar Mit Chong,Premitha Damodaran,Fen Lee Hew,Luqman bin Ibrahim,Hui Min Khor,Pauline Siew Mei Lai 대한골다공증학회 2023 Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia Vol.9 No.2

Objectives: The aim of these Clinical Practice Guidelines is to provide evidence-based recommendations to assist healthcare providers in the screening, diagnosis and management of patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP). Methods: A list of key clinical questions on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of OP was formulated. A literature search using the PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Databases of Systematic Reviews, and OVID electronic databases identified all relevant articles on OP based on the key clinical questions, from 2014 onwards, to update from the 2015 edition. The articles were graded using the SIGN50 format. For each statement, studies with the highest level of evidence were used to frame the recommendation. Results: This article summarizes the diagnostic and treatment pathways for postmenopausal OP. Risk stratification of patients with OP encompasses clinical risk factors, bone mineral density measurements and FRAX risk estimates. Non-pharmacological measures including adequate calcium and vitamin D, regular exercise and falls prevention are recommended. Pharmacological measures depend on patients’ fracture risk status. Very high-risk individuals are recommended for treatment with an anabolic agent, if available, followed by an anti-resorptive agent. Alternatively, parenteral anti-resorptive agents can be used. High-risk individuals should be treated with anti-resorptive agents. In low-risk individuals, menopausal hormone replacement or selective estrogen receptor modulators can be used, if indicated. Patients should be assessed regularly to monitor treatment response and treatment adjusted, as appropriate.

REVIEW : Changing Epidemiology and Future Challenges of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Asia

( Siew C Ng ) 대한장연구학회 2010 Intestinal Research Vol.8 No.1

In the past decade, many countries in Asia, in particularly in East Asia, are experiencing a progressive rise in the incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Improved physician awareness and diagnostic methods are unlikely to fully account for this rapid increase. This epidemiological shift is likely to relate to industralization, westernization of lifestyles and changes in eating habits, as part of the socioeconomic development in Asia, although many of these putative environmental factors have not been formally investigated in Asian cohorts. Genetic factors for IBD differ between Asia and the West. NOD2/CARD15 mutation, repeatedly observed in the Caucasian populations, is not associated with Crohn’s disease in Asian populations. Familial clustering is generally uncommon in Asia but it is expected to increase as the IBD prevalence in this region rises. Ethnic-racial differences of IBD have been described and Indians appear to be most affected in South-East Asia. Clinical manifestation of IBD in Asia resemble the Western population in general, but with some differences, including higher prevalence of males and ileocolonic disease, lower disease severity, surgical rates and extraintestinal manifestations. These differences may relate to time factor, genetic background and environmental factors. This review summarises recent epidemiological data of IBD including environmental factors associated with the development of IBD in Asia. Future research focusing on studying the epidemiology of IBD in an area of rapidly increasing prevalence such as Asia will allow the opportunity to identify potential risk factors and provide a better understanding of the aetiology of disease in the Asian population. (Intest Res 2010;8:1-8)

The Evaluation of Geotube Behaviors on Muddy Beach: Field Monitoring and Numerical Analysis

Siew Cheng Lee,Roslan Hashim,Kim Hung Mo 대한토목학회 2018 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.22 No.11

The use of geotubes is now common in coastline protection due to notable advantages such as erosion prevention, competitive cost and speedy installation procedures. Previous researchers have presented analytical, empirical and numerical approaches for geotube design. However, design approach for geotube which functions as breakwater on deformable muddy foundation and subjected to hydrodynamic loads has not been well reported. Hence, this study evaluates the behavior of geotube breakwaters installed on a deformable muddy foundation based on field measurements and numerical analysis. The field measurements were carried out on quarter-yearly basis to assess the behavior of geotube under hydrodynamic forces. Two-dimensional finite element analysis was performed to simulate the deformation and the displacement of geotube breakwater subjected to hydrodynamic loads, taking into account of deformable foundation condition. The structural stability and structure’s height reduction due to foundation settlement are essential considerations in breakwater design. The agreements between field monitoring and numerical results were promising; therefore, the finite element models can be used to predict the behavior of geotube on those muddy coast areas with similar hydrodynamic and geological conditions.

Impact of timely BCR-ABL1 monitoring before allogeneic stem cell transplantation among patients with BCR-ABL1-positive B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Siew Lian Chong,Asral Wirda Ahmad Asnawi,Tze Shin Leong,Jenq Tzong Tan,Kian Boon Law,Siong Leng Hon,Rui Jeat Fann,Sen Mui Tan 대한혈액학회 2021 Blood Research Vol.56 No.3

Background With the emergence of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and the incorporation of stringent measurable residual disease (MRD) monitoring, risk stratification for BCR-ABL1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients has changed significantly. However, whether this monitoring can replace conventional risk factors in determining whether patients need allogeneic stem cell transplantation is still unclear. This study aimed to determine the impact of BCR-ABL1 monitoring on the outcome of patients with BCR-ABL1-positive ALL after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the survival outcome of patients with BCR-ABL1-positive ALL based on the quantification of BCR-ABL1 at 3 timepoints: the end of induction (timepoint 1), post-consolidation week 16 (timepoint 2), and the end of treatment for patients who were either transplant-eligible or non-transplant eligible (timepoint 3). Results From 2006 to 2018, a total of 96 patients newly diagnosed with BCR-ABL1-positive ALL were treated with chemotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Thirty-eight (41.3%) patients achieved complete remission, and 33 patients underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Our data showed that pre-transplant MRD monitoring by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction had the highest correlation with survival in patients with BCR-ABL1-positive ALL, especially for those who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Conclusion Patients without MRD pre-transplantation had superior survival compared with those who had MRD, and they had excellent long-term outcomes after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Intrinsic contracture of the hands in sarcoid myopathy

Siew Khei Liew,박진균,공현식 대한류마티스학회 2023 대한류마티스학회지 Vol.30 No.3

Hand involvement in sarcoidosis is rare and it presents as tenosynovitis, dactylitis, nodules and osteoarticular bony destruction. We describe an unusual presentation of progressive intrinsic muscle contracture of both hands in a 42-year-old woman with sarcoid myopathy who presented with painful swelling and weakness of all four extremities. Her systemic symptoms improved with oral corticosteroids, but the hand muscle contracture remained after resolution of myositis. Serial soft tissue releases of intrinsic muscle contracture improved hand function markedly. This case highlights that surgery is a viable option to treat intrinsic muscle contracture in patients with chronic sarcoid myopathy complicated with severe muscle contracture

FRP as Strengthening Material for Reinforced Concrete Beams with Openings - A Review

Siew Choo Chin,Nasir Shafiq,Muhd Fadhil Nuruddin 대한토목학회 2015 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.19 No.1

This paper presents the review of studies performed to investigate the behavior of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams containingdifferent types of openings. For the last 4 decades, research works involved the investigation of the member strength anddevelopment of the design approach for simply supported, continuous and T-beams containing large rectangular openings subjectedto torsion, bending and shear forces. The proposed design method suggested the installation of diagonal steel reinforcement barsaround the opening for providing the required strength. In recent years, Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) have been widely used asan external bonded reinforcement system for upgrading and retrofitting of concrete structures. FRP as externally bondedreinforcement mainly used to repair and retrofit the damaged reinforced concrete member. However, very limited studies showed theapplication of the FRP laminates as external reinforcement around openings. Therefore, further investigations regarding theapplication of FRP laminates to strengthen the large openings in reinforced concrete members are very vital.

In vitro requirement for periostin in B lymphopoiesis

Siewe, Basile T.,Kalis, Susan L.,Le, Phong T.,Witte, Pamela L.,Choi, Sangdun,Conway, Simon J.,Druschitz, Laurel,Knight, Katherine L. American Society of Hematology 2011 Blood Vol.117 No.14

<B>Abstract</B><P>B lymphopoiesis arrests in rabbits by 4 months of age. To identify molecules that contribute to this arrest, cDNA-representational difference analysis on BM stromal cells from young and adult rabbits showed that expression of Postn that encodes for the extracellular matrix protein periostin dramatically reduced with age. Postn-small interfering RNA OP9 cells lost their capacity to support B-cell development from rabbit or murine BM cells, and reexpression of periostin restored this potential, indicating an in vitro requirement for periostin in B lymphopoiesis. In our system, we determined that periostin deficiency leads to increased cell death and decreased proliferation of B-lineage progenitors. Further, RGD peptide inhibition of periostin/αvβ3 interaction resulted in a marked decrease in B lymphopoiesis in vitro. Microarray analysis of the Postn-small interfering RNA OP9 cells showed decreased expression of key B-lymphopoietic factors, including IL-7 and CXCL12. In vivo, unidentified molecule(s) probably compensate periostin loss because Postn−/− mice had normal numbers of B-cell progenitors in BM. We conclude that the decline in periostin expression in adult rabbit BM does not solely explain the arrest of B lymphopoiesis. However, the interaction of periostin with αvβ3 on lymphoid progenitors probably provides both proliferative and survival signals for cells in the B-cell development pathway.</P>

Impact of Molecular Subtype Conversion of Breast Cancers after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Clinical Outcome

Siew Kuan Lim,이무현,박인혜,유지영,남병호,김병남,노정실,이근석,정소연,권영미,이은숙 대한암학회 2016 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.48 No.1

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine molecular subtype conversions in patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and analyze their clinical implications. Materials and Methods We included consecutive breast cancer patients who received NAC at the National Cancer Center, Korea, between August 2002 and June 2011, and had available data on estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) receptor status prior to NAC. Molecular subtypes, hormone receptor (HR) status, and ER and PR Allred scores before and after NAC were compared, and the long-term outcomes were analyzed. Results Of 322 patients, 32 (9.9%) achieved a pathologic complete response after NAC. HR+/HER2– tumors tended to convert into triple negative (TN) tumors (10.3%), whereas 34.6% of TN tumors gained HR positivity to become HR+/HER2– tumors. Clinical outcomes of molecular subtype conversion groups were compared against patients who remained as HR+/HER2– throughout. The HR+/HER2– to TN group had significantly poorer recurrence- free survival (RFS) (hazard ratio, 3.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60 to 7.85) and overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.34 to 10.38). Patients who remained TN through- out had the worst outcomes (for RFS: hazard ratio, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.86 to 7.36; for OS: haz- ard ratio, 5.85; 95% CI, 2.53 to 13.51), while those who converted from TN to HR+/HER2– showed improved comparable survival outcomes. Conclusion Molecular subtypes of breast cancers changed frequently after NAC, resulting in different tumor prognostication. Tumor subtyping should be repeated after NAC in patients with breast cancer.