Genetic Markers for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis on Chromosome 19p13.3 among Saudi Arabian Girls

Abdallah Ahmad Al-Othman,Mir Sadat-Ali,Ahmed Sh. Amer,Dakheel A. Al-Dakheel 대한척추외과학회 2017 Asian Spine Journal Vol.11 No.2

Study Design: Prospective case-controlled study. Purpose: This study aimed to assess genetic influence in Saudi Arabian children with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Overview of Literature: The genetic locus linked to chromosome 19p for idiopathic scoliosis has been described. A pilot study conducted at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar showed that three microsatellite markers (D19S216, D19S894, and DS1034) of chromosome 19p13.3 were significant in Saudi Arabian females compared with healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 100 unrelated Saudi Arabian girls treated for AIS, their parents, healthy siblings, and healthy subjects were recruited for genetic analysis of markers on chromosome 19p13.3. After informed consent was obtained from their parents, blood samples were collected and parametric and nonparametric linkage analyses were performed using GENEHUNTER ver. 2.1. Multipoint linkage analysis was used to specify an autosomal dominant trait with a gene frequency of 0.01 and an estimated penetrance of 80% at the genotypic and allelic levels. Results: Five hundred blood samples were collected and analyzed for microsatellite markers (D19S216, D19S894, and DS1034) of chromosome 19p13.3. Comparison among patients, family members, and healthy subjects revealed no significant association between markers and scoliosis at the genotypic level: D19S216 (p =0.21), D19S894 (p =0.37), and DS1034 (p =0.25). However, at the allelic level, a statistically significant association was observed for marker DS1034 (p =0.008), and marker D19S216 showed significance between fathers and patients (p <0.001) compared with patients and mothers. The other two markers, D19S216 (p =0.25) and D19S894 (p =0.17), showed no significant association between patients and mothers. Conclusions: At the allelic level, marker DS1034 was significantly associated with AIS patients and their fathers. This allelic marker on chromosome 19p13.3 appears to be important in AIS etiology.

Maintenance Dose of Vitamin D: How Much Is Enough?

Mir Sadat-Ali,Fawaz M. Al-Anii,Haifa A. Al-Turki,Adeebah Abdulaziz AlBadran,Sa’ad Mohammed AlShammari 대한골대사학회 2018 대한골대사학회지 Vol.25 No.3

Background: It is still unclear the ideal vitamin D dosage once the deficiency and insufficiency is treated. Once deficiency was corrected we prospectively treated patients with 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 to check whether this dosage is enough to keep them above the 30 ng/mL of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25[OH]D). Methods: One hundred and thirty-five Saudi Arabian men and women treatment naïve for the vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were part of this study. History and clinical examination were done to rule out any metabolic bone disease. Weight and height was taken to calculate the body mass index (BMI). Patients who were vitamin D deficient (≥30 ng/mL), a standard treatment of 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly for 3 months, a blood test for the vitamin D levels at the end of 3 months, maintenance dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 for 3 months and a third blood sample after 3 months. Results: The data for 128 patients was available for analysis. The average age was 44.95±12.97 years with the mean BMI of 29.60±2.59 kg/m2. The baseline 25(OH)D level was 13.16±3.30 ng/mL. The increase in the level of 25(OH)D on 50,000 IU weekly was significant from 13.16±3.3 ng/mL to 36.97±4.67 ng/mL (P<0.001) and then 2,000 IU daily for next 3 months, the level of 25(OH)D dropped top 20.38±5.42 ng/mL (P<0.001). Conclusions: Our study indicates that the maintenance dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin D is not enough for patients to keep the 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/mL.

Orientalist Representations and the 2009 Iranian Presidential lection: The New York Times, the Washington Post , and CNN.com

Seyed Mohammad Marandi,Marzieh al-Sadat Motahhari 서울대학교 미국학연구소 2011 미국학 Vol.34 No.1

The 2009 presidential election in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in a landslide victory for the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was extensively covered by the Western media. Three leading American news providers presented the two main presidential candidates very differently. One was portrayed as enlightened and moderate, while the other was depicted as crude and irrational. While in the United States it is widely believed that the media is relatively credible in the way it presents the news,critics often believe that the U.S. media is Orientalist in the way it approaches non-Western countries and especially Muslim countries. According to critics, countries that are politically at odds with the United States, such as Iran, are presented in an almost completely negative light. In this article,election coverage from the New York Times, The Washington Post, as well as the CNN website is analyzed to determine the approach these news agencies took to the presidential election as well as the degree to which they stuck to the facts on the ground. The paper concludes that all three media outlets were highly biased in their coverage and that they regularly dismissed or ignored facts while repeatedly making claims that were unsubstantiated.

Featured Articles : Representing Islam, Terrorism, and Violence ; Orientalist Representations and the 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN.com

( Seyed Mohammad Marandi ),( Marzieh Al Sadat Motahhari ) 서울대학교 미국학연구소 2011 미국학 Vol.34 No.1

The 2009 presidential election in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in a landslide victory for the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was extensively covered by the Western media. Three leading American news providers presented the two main presidential candidates very differently. One was portrayed as enlightened and moderate, while the other was depicted as crude and irrational. While in the United States it is widely believed that the media is relatively credible in the way it presents the news, critics often believe that the U.S. media is Orientalist in the way it approaches non-Western countries and especially Muslim countries. According to critics, countries that are politically at odds with the United States, such as Iran, are presented in an almost completely negative light. In this article, election coverage from the New York Times, The Washington Post, as well as the CNN website is analyzed to determine the approach these news agencies took to the presidential election as well as the degree to which they stuck to the facts on the ground. The paper concludes that all three media outlets were highly biased in their coverage and that they regularly dismissed or ignored facts while repeatedly making claims that were unsubstantiated.

Incidence of Adverse Transition in Smoking Stages among Adolescents of Kinta, Perak

Jeganathan, Premila Devi,Hairi, Noran N.,Al Sadat, Nabilla,Chinna, Karuthan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

Background: Few local studies have explored the process of adverse transition of smoking stages among adolescents. The present investigation aimed to identify adverse transitions prospectively from the early stages till the escalation of the stages after one year. Materials and Methods: Data were collected in two waves from a cohort of 2,552 adolescents aged 12-13 years old studying in 15 secondary schools based in Kinta, Perak. A multistage sampling method was used to select the schools and a self-administered structured questionnaire was applied to help categorize the participants into five different smoking stages. Nonsmokers were divided into never smokers and susceptible never smokers. Ever-smokers were categorized as experimenters, current smokers or ex-smokers. Results: Among the participants 46.8% were Malay, 33.5% Chinese and 17.1% Indians. At baseline, we had 85.3% non-smokers and 14.6% ever smokers. Incidence of adverse transition among all our participants was 24.1%, with a higher value among male participants (16.8%). A higher proportion of susceptible never smokers and experimenters progressed to current smoking stage compared to never smokers. Conclusions: This study highlights the changes and patterns of adverse transition among adolescents. Male adolescents, those who are susceptible to smoking and those who had already tried experimenting with cigarettes have a higher chance of escalating to a higher smoking stage.

Smoking Stage Relations to Peer, School and Parental Factors among Secondary School Students in Kinta, Perak

Jeganathan, Premila Devi,Hairi, Noran N.,Al Sadat, Nabilla,Chinna, Karuthan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.6

Background: To identify the prevalence of different stages of smoking and differences in associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: Thos longitudinal study started in February 2011 and the subjects were 2552 form one students aged between twelve to thirteen years of from 15 government secondary schools of Kinta, Perak. Data on demographic, parental, school and peer factors were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. We examined the effects of peer, school and parental factors on the five stages of smoking; never smokers, susceptible never smokers, experimenters, current smokers and ex-smokers, at baseline. Results: In the sample, 19.3% were susceptible never smokers, 5.5% were current smokers 6% were experimenters and 3.1% were ex-smokers. Gender, ethnicity, best friends' smoking status, high peer pressure, higher number of relatives who smoked and parental monitoring were found to be associated with smoking stages. Presence of parent-teen conflict was only associated with susceptible never smokers and experimenters whereas absence of home discussion on smoking hazards was associated with susceptible never smokers and current smokers. Conclusions: We identified variations in the factors associated with the different stages of smoking. Our results highlight that anti-smoking strategies should be tailored according to the different smoking stages.

Who are the Breast Cancer Survivors in Malaysia?

Ibrahim, Nor Idawaty,Dahlui, M.,Aina, E.N.,Al-Sadat, N. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Introduction: Worldwide, breast cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death in women. However, the survival rate varies across regions at averages of 73%and 57% in the developed and developing countries, respectively. Objective: This study aimed to determine the survival rate of breast cancer among the women of Malaysia and characteristics of the survivors. Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on secondary data obtained from the Breast Cancer Registry and medical records of breast cancer patients admitted to Hospital Kuala Lumpur from 2005 to 2009. Survival data were validated with National Birth and Death Registry. Statistical analysis applied logistic regression, the Cox proportional hazard model, the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test. Results: A total of 868 women were diagnosed with breast cancer between January 2005 and December 2009, comprising 58%, 25% and 17% Malays, Chinese and Indians, respectively. The overall survival rate was 43.5% (CI 0.573-0.597), with Chinese, Indians and Malays having 5 year survival rates of 48.2% (CI 0.444-0.520), 47.2% (CI 0.432-0.512) and 39.7% (CI 0.373-0.421), respectively (p<0.05). The survival rate was lower as the stages increased, with the late stages were mostly seen among the Malays (46%), followed by Chinese (36%) and Indians (34%). Size of tumor>3.0cm; lymph node involvement, ERPR, and HER 2 status, delayed presentation and involvement of both breasts were among other factors that were associated with poor survival. Conclusions: The overall survival rate of Malaysian women with breast cancer was lower than the western figures with Malays having the lowest because they presented at late stage, after a long duration of symptoms, had larger tumor size, and had more lymph nodes affected. There is an urgent need to conduct studies on why there is delay in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer women in Malaysia.

Factors Associated With Success or Failure of Quit Attempts: A Clinical Approach for Lung Cancer Prevention

Su, Tin Tin,Sallehuddin, Bin Abu Bakar,Murniati, Hj Hussain,Swinder, Jit,Sadat, Nabilla Al,Saimy, Ismail Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.1

The objective of the study is to investigate the success rate of quit attempts and identify factors associated with success or failure of quit attempts in a quit smoking clinic. A cohort study was conducted with 495 smokers who enrolled in a quit smoking clinic from 2005 to 2008. The factors leading to quit smoking successfully were "being Malay", "having high blood pressure" "type of Nicotine Replacement Therapy" and "duration of follow up". In contrast, clerical staff had negative association to quit smoking. People who started smoking in their teenage years had a high risk of relapse. Integration of active follow up and tailor-made support programmes for quitters appear necessary in order to maintain their non-smoking status and encourage them to be permanent quitters. Integration of quit smoking clinics and primary care clinics could be another potential step for the success of quit smoking programmes.

Efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in individuals with liver cirrhosis: a rapid review and meta-analysis

Salajegheh Faranak,Rukerd Mohammad Rezaei Zadeh,Nakhaie Mohsen,Ghoreshi Zohreh-Al-Sadat,Charostad Javad,Arefinia Nasir 대한백신학회 2024 Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research Vol.13 No.2

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines has been a remarkable advancement. However, the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of these vaccines in individuals with liver cirrhosis require careful evaluation due to their compromised immune status and potential interactions with underlying liver disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in liver cirrhosis patients. In the present study, we searched international databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. The search strategy was carried out by using keywords and MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms. STATA ver. 15.0 (Stata Corp., USA) was used to analyze the data statistically. The analysis was performed using the randomeffects model. We also used the chi-square test and I2 index to calculate heterogeneity among studies. For evaluating publication bias, Begg’s funnel plots and Egger’s tests were used. A total of 4,831 liver cirrhosis patients with COVID-19 were examined from 11 studies. The rate of hospitalization in the patients with liver cirrhosis was 17.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9%–44%). The rate of fever in the patients with liver cirrhosis was 4.5% (95% CI, 0.9%–8.1%). The rate of positive neutralizing antibodies in the patients with liver cirrhosis was 82.5% (95% CI, 69.8%–95.1%). Also, the rates of seroconversion after the second vaccination in patients with liver cirrhosis and the control group were 96.6% (95% CI, 92.0%–99.0%), and 99.7% (95% CI, 99.0%–100.0%), respectively. COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated promising efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety profiles in individuals with liver cirrhosis, providing crucial protection against COVID-19-related complications.

Issues in Managing Vertical Residential Building in Malaysia

Zairul N. Musa,Abdul G. Sarip,AM Aini,WNAWA Aziz,NR Hanif,Z Al-Sadat,PA Tedong 한국주거학회 2015 한국주거학회 국제학술대회논문집 Vol.2015 No.4

Today, living in a residential vertical building is becoming a lifestyle or trend among the urban professional community in Malaysia. One of the reasons people prefer to stay in a vertical residential is the facilities and amenities that are provided within the housing area. However, without a proper managed to this property, it will be more complaints from un-satisfied homeowners. This study aims to examine the key problems in managing vertical residential building (VRB) in Malaysia. This looks at the satisfaction level of homeowners living in low and medium cost VRB. in Klang Valley. The study was conducted based on face to face survey with homeowners. The findings showed that is a high level of satisfaction living in VRB however we observed that the living environments are gradually deteriorating. Therefore, this paper is attempted to investigate the issues in managing Vertical Residential Building (VRB) based on households living experience.