1.Prevalence of Tobacco Use and its Socio-demographic Determinants among Saudi Female School Adolescents in Jeddah
Amani Awwadh Al-Otaibi ; Faisal Bin Ibrahim ; Lekhraj Rampal ; Siti Aishah Hassan ; Normala Ibrahim
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2015;11(1):39-48
Tobacco use among females is a rising public health issue. Further insight into the smoking epidemic can
be gained from studying a specific subgroup of interest within the population. Determining predictors of
each tobacco smoking type is necessary for planning tobacco specific intervention programmes. The aim
of this study was to determine the prevalence of ever tobacco use and its associated socio-demographic
factors among Saudi female adolescents aged 12 to 19 in Jeddah. A cross-sectional analytical study was
conducted among female students from intermediate and high secondary schools in Jeddah during the
academic year 2012-2013. Sampling with probability proportionate to size was used to select a sample of
5,150 students from 40 schools. The data were collected using validated self-administrated questionnaire
that required information on tobacco use behaviours and selected socio-demographic characteristics. A
total of 5,073 students participated in this study of whom 51.6% were from intermediate grades, and
83.1% from public schools. The prevalence of ever tobacco use was 44.2% (36.2% water pipe and 30.9%
cigarettes). The significant predictors of ever tobacco use were student’s age, mother’s education, family
structure, residence location and monthly student’s allowance. In conclusion, ever tobacco used is highly
prevalent among female adolescents in Jeddah. Designing intervention programmes aimed at preventing
Saudi female adolescents from smoking should include all forms of tobacco use.
Tobacco Use
;
Smoking
2.The importance of GDN motif in domain III and GXGXG motif in domain VI of L protein in replication of Nipah virus
Siti Aishah Jalani ; Nazlina Ibrahim
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2018;14(6):585-589
Abstracts
This study aims to determine the importance of conserved GDN motif in domain III and GXGXG motif in domain VI in Nipah virus (NiV) L protein. Four mutated L genes produced in an earlier study were inserted individually into plasmid pCITE. Optimised transfection protocol was successful in transfecting these plasmids, two helper plasmids (coding for N and P protein), NiV minigenome containing chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene and T7 promoter. Successful in vitro transcription/translation in the NiV minireplicon system was monitored by CAT expression. In conclusion, GXGXG motif was important in the NiV minireplicon system but change of GDN motif does not affect L protein.
3.Decision-Making on Contraceptive Use among Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Malaysia: A Qualitative Inquiry
Surianti SUKERI ; Zaharah SULAIMAN ; Noor Aman HAMID ; Siti Aishah IBRAHIM
Korean Journal of Family Medicine 2024;45(1):27-36
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 recommends making sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV a priority. This article explores and assesses the sexual and reproductive health, rights, and access to healthcare services of Malaysia’s women 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 Malaysia, which include establishing a reproductive health counseling program.
4.A case of biopsy proven acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (ADEM) with haemorrhagic leucoencephalitis.
Hasnur Zaman HASHIM ; Norlinah Mohamed IBRAHIM ; Nafisah WANYAHYA ; Hui Jan TAN ; Khairul Anuar ZAINUN ; Siti Aishah Mohd ALI ; Ahmad Sobri MUDA ; Shahizon Azura Mohamed MUKARI ; Izwan Zannie ZAINIESSOR
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2011;40(4):197-200
5.Differential expression of circulating miRNAs in Parkinson’s disease patients: Potential early biomarker?
Siti Aishah Sulaiman ; Nor Ilham Ainaa Muhsin ; Ahmad Rasyadan Arshad ; Wan Fahmi Wan Mohamad Nazarie ; Rahman Jamal ; Norlinah Mohamed Ibrahim ; Nor Azian Abdul Murad
Neurology Asia 2020;25(3):319-329
Background & Objective: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) expressions have been suggested as
potential biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Identification of early biomarkers for PD is
important and crucial as PD symptoms occur at a late stage. Hence, these biomarkers could be used
in molecular diagnosis for early detection. We therefore examined and compared the expression of
circulating miRNAs between PD patients and controls. We also compared the miRNAs expression
between early-onset PD (EOPD) and late-onset PD (LOPD). Methods: RNA was extracted from
the plasma of EOPD (onset age <50 years; n=14), LOPD (onset age < 60 years; n=14) and healthy
controls (n=11). The miRNAs expression was determined using the Affymetrix GeneChip microarray.
Differential analysis was performed using the R software. Significantly differentiated miRNAs were
subsequently analyzed for functional enrichment and biological pathway using the FunRich v1.3
software based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. The Omics.net
was used to determine the predicted target mRNAs of these miRNAs, and their interactions, based
on the five most differentially expressed miRNAs. Results: In total, 273 miRNAs were upregulated
in PD patients compared to controls. The most significant miRNAs were hsa-miR-301a-3p, 100-5p,
140-5p, 486-3p, 143-3p (fold change ranging from 11.2 – 32.0). A total of 140 circulating miRNAs
were differentially expressed in EOPD compared to LOPD. Five of these miRNAs (one upregulated
miRNA (hsa-miR-29b-3p) and four downregulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-297, 4462, 1909-5p and 346)
belonged exclusively to the EOPD patients. The predicted gene targets of these miRNAs involved in
dopaminergic synapse regulation, crucial to the pathogenesis of PD.
Conclusion: Circulating miRNAs differ between PD patients and controls, and between EOPD and
LOPD patients. A validation study with a larger and more diverse multi-ethnic population should be
conducted to confirm our results.