The Importance of Molecular Biological Analysis for the Laboratory Diagnostic of Homozygous Haemoglobin Malay.

Haemoglobin (Hb) Malay is variant haemoglobin with a ß++ thalassemia phenotype. The prevalence of Hb Malay in the Malaysian population was 5.5%. We describe a 58-year-old male who presented with symptomatic anaemia to the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Further history revealed that the patient had anaemia since the age of 28, and on regular follow-up at other hospital. Physical examination revealed pallor, jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly. The full blood count and peripheral blood smear showed hypochromic microcytic anaemia with anisopoikilocytosis, and many target cells. High-performance liquid chromatography results showed a ß thalassemia trait. However, the diagnosis does not alight with the patient's condition. Bone marrow aspirate was completed and showed reactive changes and erythroid hyperplasia. A molecular test was then performed for ß globin gene mutation detection using Multiplex Amplification Refractory Mutation System (M-ARMS) PCR method. This revealed the result as homozygous codon 19 mutation or Hb Malay. Therefore, in this case report we would like to highlight the laboratory approaches, the challenges faced by the usual haematological investigations and the importance role of molecular testing in the diagnosis of severe anaemia.

A rare case of compound heterozygous Southeast Asian double α-globin gene deletion and Haemoglobin Quong Sze in a Malay proband.

INTRODUCTION: Haemoglobin (Hb) Quong Sze is a non-deletional α-thalassaemia subtype that occurs due to missense mutation at codon 125 of the HBA2 gene. Interaction between Hb QS with Southeast Asian double α-globin gene deletion results in non-deletional HbH disease, which is more severe than deletional HbH. CASE REPORT: A 3-month-old baby boy was presented with neonatal anaemia and mild hepatomegaly. Full blood count revealed severe hypochromic microcytic anaemia. There was an abundance of HbH inclusion bodies in his red blood cells. High-performance liquid chromatography showed a reduced HbA2 level with the presence of pre-run peak. Capillary electrophoresis showed the presence of HbH and Hb Barts. Molecular analysis found a common α0-thalassaemia (--SEA) in one allele and mutation in codon 125 in the other allele. DISCUSSION: Non-deletional HbH disease due to a combination of deletional and non-deletional mutations may present with severe clinical manifestations than those with deletion mutations, which warrants accurate diagnosis using molecular techniques.

Sandwich-Gen on young people and their mental health issues: how to connect financial responsibility and avoid loneliness.

The sandwich generation in youth and their mental health issues sometimes go unnoticed. Financial responsibilities that cause social isolation increase the potential to feel lonely. On the other hand, knowledge regarding final responsibility is also needed by young people. Responding to these two things, it is necessary to design policies that are relevant to the need for mental health services for the younger generation as a sandwich generation.

ChatGPT educates college students about sexual violence and its impact on their mental health: a proposal.

ChatGPT can be, as an interactive information platform, used to facilitate learning about the psychological effects of sexual violence. Since its approach is interactive and also that it is easily accessible, it can aid in the dissemination of information, the prevention of sexual violence and its treatment. Further, it can be incorporated into the curriculum to help raise awareness about this delicate subject and aid the affected students.

The exposure of mom-influencers on social media: a potential threat to public health awareness.

The potential threat to public health awareness posed by mom-influencers on social media must be taken into account. In the meantime, the concept of fostering partnerships between health experts, the government and mom-influencers must be made accessible in order to promote the immediate availability of appropriate, accurate and trustworthy information to the public and adequate health education practices.

Invisible scars: exploring the impact of childhood left-behind experience on children's emotional development and well-being.

Childhood trauma experience and mental health issues can significantly impact children's emotional development and overall well-being. It is crucial to recognize and address the invisible scars left by childhood left-behind experience. By acknowledging the impact of childhood left-behind experience and providing appropriate support and interventions, we can help these children to heal, thrive and develop into emotionally resilient individuals.

Music Therapy and Public Health: How to Bridge the Use of Ethnic Music for Social Anxiety.

Music Therapy (MT) is a growing field that has shown promise in promoting social and emotional well-being. Use of music therapy is a means of dealing with social anxiety, which is a common mental health problem. Potential benefits of using and bridging ethnic music in therapy and public health exist. Strategies to promote the use of music therapy in public health programs are necessary, specifically to address social anxiety.

Predicting student engagement and mental health issues in the metaverse environment.

The world is buzzing about the metaverse environment. Metaverse provides virtual platforms that provide interactive learning experiences. However, future threats are unavoidable. This threat is related to the lack of interaction that occurs between students, teachers and the wider environment. Even though physical interaction is needed by individuals to maintain mental health.

Considering ChatGPT to be the first aid for young adults on mental health issues.

Providing mental health support and interventions through artificial intelligence can open up more significant space for young people to get good services. ChatGPT's potential to provide first aid to young adults struggling with mental health issues is noteworthy. Despite its benefits and limitations, today's technology can be a valuable addition to the mental health support available to young adults.

The effects of climate change on the Pleistocene rock art of Sulawesi.

The equatorial tropics house some of the earliest rock art yet known, and it is weathering at an alarming rate. Here we present evidence for haloclasty (salt crystallisation) from Pleistocene-aged rock art panels at 11 sites in the Maros-Pangkep limestone karsts of southern Sulawesi. We show how quickly rock art panels have degraded in recent decades, contending that climate-catalysed salt efflorescence is responsible for increasing exfoliation of the limestone cave surfaces that house the ~ 45 to 20-thousand-year-old paintings. These artworks are located in the world's most atmospherically dynamic region, the Australasian monsoon domain. The rising frequency and severity of El Niño-induced droughts from anthropogenic climate change (that is, higher ambient temperatures and more consecutive dry days), combined with seasonal moisture injected via monsoonal rains retained as standing water in the rice fields and aquaculture ponds of the region, increasingly provide ideal conditions for evaporation and haloclasty, accelerating rock art deterioration.

The association between the reflux symptoms index and nasal symptoms among patients with non-allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms assessed with the reflux symptom index can overlap with non-allergic rhinitis symptoms. This study aims to explore the association between the reflux symptom index and nasal symptoms in non-allergic rhinitis patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on consecutive adults with non-allergic rhinitis. The reflux symptom index (score of more than 13 = laryngopharyngeal reflux) and nasal symptoms (categorised as mild (total score of 0-3), moderate (4-7) or severe (8-12)) were assessed. RESULTS: The study included 227 participants (aged 58.64 ± 12.39 years, 59.5 per cent female). The reflux symptom index scores increased with total nasal symptom scores (mild vs moderate vs severe, 8.61 ± 6.27 vs 12.94 ± 7.4 vs 16.40 ± 8.10; p < 0.01). Logistic regression indicated that laryngopharyngeal reflux is more likely in patients with severe nose block (odds ratio 5.47 (95 per cent confidence interval = 2.16-13.87); p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms are associated with nasal symptom severity, and nasal symptoms should be primarily treated. Those with predominant nose block and laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms are more likely to have laryngopharyngeal reflux.

The Impact of Sociological and Environmental Factors for Dengue Infection in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: Dengue incidence has grown dramatically around the world in recent years. Vector control is the only method to reduce dengue incidence due to the lack of a vaccine available. By understanding the factors contributed to the vector densities such as environmental and sociological factors, dengue prevention and control may succeed. OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at determining the impact of sociological and environmental factors contributing to dengue cases. METHODS: The study surveyed 379 respondents with dengue history. The socio-environmental factors were evaluated by chi-square and binary regression. RESULT: The chi-square results revealed sociological factors associated between family with dengue experience such as older age (p =0.012), fewer than four people in the household (p= 0.008), working people (p= 0.004) and apartment/terrace houses (p=0.023). Similarly, there is a significant association between respondent's dengue history and houses that are shaded with vegetation (p= 0.012) and the present of public playground areas near the residential (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: The study identified socio-environmental factors that play an important role in the abundance of Aedes mosquitoes and also for the local dengue control measures.