Children's understanding of financial literacy and parents' choice of financial knowledge learning methods in Malaysia.

Financial literacy is an essential lifelong skill that should be taught to children at any age. It holds the key to develop a generation of adults who are knowledgeable about money and the economy. Additionally, OECD (2018) suggests that using digital tools could significantly enhance financial literacy and well-being. Therefore, this paper aims to:(i)assess the financial literacy level of primary school children in the northern region of Malaysia and(ii)explore interactive and engaging methods for teaching financial literacy.The sample size was determined using Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) approach, resulting in 419 primary school students aged 7 to 12 and their parents. An online questionnaire was employed, and multi-regression analysis was conducted. The findings highlighted those primary students displayed a high level of financial literacy, scoring above 80 % on the questionnaire. Furthermore, parents expressed a preference for their children to enroll in personal finance subjects offered by schools, have financial assignments or activities at school, and engage in online financial games. The study emphasized the crucial roles of schools, teachers, and active parental involvements to enhance financial literacy. This study recommends incorporating interactive and attractive teaching methods through in-class and online activities at the school level.

Cryoprecipitation of an anti-Pr2 monoclonal IgM cold agglutinin in the presence of GM3 ganglioside.

The mechanism of cryoprecipitation of a monoclonal IgM kappa cryoglobulin (Mou) with a cold agglutinin activity of Pr2 specificity has been studied. By immunodiffusion this cryoglobulin reacted (by its Fab' fragment) with micellar GM3, a ganglioside bearing the Pr2 antigenic determinant. In contrast to previous reports that indicated a possible temperature dependent self-association of IgM molecules via an immunological interaction leading to cold precipitation, we could not detect any affinity of this cryoglobulin for IgM when we used passive hemagglutination or an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, a GM3-like ganglioside could be extracted, by drastic methods, from the cryoglobulin studied at 22 degrees C, whereas no GM3 was extracted from two control cryoglobulins. Some minor gangliosides (representing less than 25% of total amount of bound gangliosides) were also extracted from Mou cryoglobulin and these gangliosides were shown to crossreact with GM3, as they specifically bind to Mou cryoglobulin by ELISA. After cryoprecipitation the serum still contained a monoclonal anti-Pr2 IgM kappa. A GM3-like ganglioside could be extracted from this purified IgM, and cryoprecipitability could be induced by the addition of a minute amount of micellar GM3. These results suggest that Mou cryoglobulin circulates as an immune complex and that cryoprecipitation may depend on unique IgM-GM3 (or IgM-GM3 cross-reacting gangliosides) complexes.

Increases in interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma levels is progressive in immature rats with varicocele.

BACKGROUND: Pre-pubertal varicocele can result in hypotrophy of testes, progressive deterioration of Sertoli cells and spermatogonia cell number, decrease in seminiferous diameter and cause to sperm damage. AIMS: Because of detrimental time-dependent effects of varicocele, this study describes the effects of varicocele on the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma in serum and testis tissue, seminiferous tubules diameter, number of Sertoli and spermatogonia cells, testis and epididymis weight and volume and sperm indices in immature rats. METHODS: Thirty-six immature rats (5-6 weeks) were assigned into six groups: three sham groups and three varicocele groups. Serum, testis, and sperm samples were collected at 9, 11, and 13 weeks after induction of varicocele or sham operation to evaluate histological parameters and levels of cytokines. RESULTS: Varicocele significantly caused an increase in serum and testis IL-6 and interferon-gamma, compared to related sham groups and previous varicocele groups (P < 0.05). Varicocele significantly decreased Sertoli cells and spermatogonia cell number with increasing varicocele time (P < 0.05). In the evaluation of seminiferous tubules diameter, the external, internal, and epithelium diameter were decreased compared to sham-related groups and previous varicocele groups. In the all varicocele groups, all types of sperm motility decreased compared to the related sham-operated group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests varicocele has a detrimental, time-dependent effect on cytokines levels and decreases Sertoli cells, spermatogonia cell number, seminiferous tubules diameter, and sperm indices.

[Transmission of AIDS virus by transfusion and blood products. Risks and preventive strategies]. / Propagation du virus du SIDA par la transfusion et les produits sanguins. Risques et stratégies préventives.

This article reviews some of the epidemiologic aspects of transmission of LAV through transfusion of blood and blood products in the light of data available until late December 1985 in France, Europe and the United States. As of December 1985, blood transfusion has been considered the etiologic factor in 2.58% of the 15,172 cases of AIDS reported in the USA and in 5.6% of 1,573 cases of AIDS registered in Europe. Whole blood, cellular blood components and plasma derivatives except Albumin and immunoglobulins have been incriminated in 1.75 to 2.22 of the above percentages. Hemophiliacs under long term therapy by factor VIII and factor IX concentrates (0.83 to 3.36 of the above percentages) represent a highly exposed group when one considers the small proportion of these individuals in the general population (1/10,000 inhabitants). Three preventive measures have been officially implemented in the French transfusion network: self refrainment and deferral of prospective donors belonging to risk factor groups, systematic screening of donated blood for the presence of anti-LAV antibodies and elimination of seropositive units, heat treatment of coagulation factor concentrates to achieve viral inactivation. Information and medical follow up of LAV-contaminated donors thus identified and of their partners represent an important issue among the current public health problems.

[Immunoallergic hemolytic anemia, thrombopenia and acute renal failure induced by aspirin]. / Anémie hémolytique immunoallergique, thrombopénie et insuffisance rénale aiguë induites par l'aspirine.

The first case of haemolytic anaemia with thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure induced by ingestion of aspirin in a 22-year old woman is reported. An IgM anti-aspirin antibody which agglutinated erythrocytes of the patient and of ABO compatible donors in the presence of aspirin was isolated in the serum. In addition, the allergic nature of the patient's hypersensitivity to aspirin was confirmed by positive lymphocyte transformation and basophil degranulation tests in the presence of the drug.

[Human fibronectin in the treatment of septic states. Tolerance and course of plasma levels]. / Fibronectine humaine dans le traitement des états septiques. Tolérance et évolution des taux plasmatiques.

A purified freeze-dried fibronectin concentrate prepared by the Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine from blood donors' plasma pools was tested for safety and effects on recipients' plasma fibronectin levels. The product was administered on 17 occasions to 10 patients with severe sepsis, either as bolus intravenous injection (group B) or as bolus injection of one-half of the dose followed by continuous infusion of the remaining half-dose over a 6-hour period (group B + P). The drug was well tolerated both clinically and biochemically. Following a 1 mg/kg dose of fibronectin, the maximum increase in mean plasma fibronectin levels was 17 +/- 5 mg/l in group B patients and 20 +/- 5 mg/l in group B + P patients. Mean times to peak were 188 +/- 53 min and 282 +/- 106 min respectively in the two groups. A cooperative randomized double-blind trial is currently in progress to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the product.

[Acute anuric hemolysis caused by antiajmaline antibodies]. / Hémolyse aiguë anurique par anticorps anti-ajmaline.

In a 32-year old woman under ajmaline therapy for cardiac arrhythmia, a sudden episode of acute haemolytic anaemia and renal failure led to the identification of a potent agglutinating, haemolysing and lymphocytotoxic antibody specific to ajmaline and cross-reacting with quinine and quinidine. The immunological features of the antibody and the pathophysiological mechanism of blood cell destruction are presented, together with a brief synopsis of drugs incriminated so far in the induction of specific antibody formation and immune haemolytic anaemia.

[Prevalence of anti-HIV antibodies in immunoglobulins recipients]. / Prévalence des anticorps anti-HIV chez les receveurs d'immunoglobulines.

Seven hundred and forty subjects who, between 1980 and 1985, had received intravenous or intramuscular injections of immunoglobulins (Ig) prepared by Cohn fractionation of plasma pools from more than 2000 donors were investigated for anti-HIV antibodies. Anti-HIV antibodies were detected in only one subject, a female drug addict and therefore belonging to a group at high risk of AIDS. In contrast with the huge amounts of Ig received by the remaining 739 subjects (976 litres intravenously, 128 litres intramuscularly), this young woman had only received 10 ml of anti-HBs Ig intramuscularly. The wide scattering in both space and time of these recipients of Ig and the prevalence of anti-HIV antibodies among blood donors in France (0.7 per 1000 in 1985) suggest that all the batches studied (over 100) were contaminated by HIV. The absence in these subjects of seropositive reaction ascribable to the injections of Ig confirms that Cohn fractionation inactivates the virus, as demonstrated in vitro. It is concluded that recipients of Ig prepared from plasma pools not tested for the absence of anti-HIV antibodies should not be regarded as a group at risk of AIDS.

[Transfusion and AIDS]. / Transfusion et SIDA.

The possibility of transfusion-induced HIV infection by some blood components and plasma derivatives has been recognized since 1982. The implementation of preventive measures has virtually eradicated the risk of HIV transmission by some blood products and dramatically reduced this risk with other blood products. However, the problem remains unresolved in those parts of the world which have a high prevalence of HIV infection and lack effective blood transfusion systems based on voluntary non-remunerated donors. The extremely low residual risk which in Western countries may still be associated with transmission of labile blood components should neither be denied nor unduly exaggerated. The measures currently in use to try and eradicate this risk consist of improvements in the quality of screening tests and of self-exclusion or questionnaire-based deferral of blood donors who have potentially been exposed to viral contamination. The latter challenge can only be faced through efficient information of prospective donors by physicians, public educators and mass media.

[Immune hemolytic anemia induced by drugs]. / Anémies hémolytiques immunologiques induites par les médicaments.

Drugs may induce immune destruction of red blood cells through either autoantibody formation or antibody formation against the drug or its metabolites. In the former scheme the drug is believed to induce autoimmunization by causing some central dysregulation of the immune system the mechanism of which is still unclear. In the latter, data have been accumulating during the last decade pertaining to clinical manifestations, incriminated drugs, and immunohematologic diagnosis. The sharp specificity and individual variations of drug specific antibodies as well as the recognition of the receptor role of red cell blood group antigens explaining the involvement of red cells in drug-antidrug complexes are among the recent achievements in the knowledge of these anemias.

[Autoimmune hemolytic anemia]. / Anémies hémolytiques autoimmunes.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemias are a heterogenous group of disorders as evidenced by the multiple forms and classifications they have been commonly subjected to: acute or chronic, idiopathic or symptomatic, clinically latent or expressed, due to warm or cold autoantibodies. This work attempts to give an overview and synthesis of recent achievements in the knowledge of these syndromes within clinical, immunohematologic and pathophysiologic fields. In contrast, little progress has been made in the therapeutic measures the efficacy of which depends on the same variables as more than a decade ago.