Browsing by Author "Sebastian, A."

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    Glycan Biomarkers for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Remission Status in Han Chinese Patients.
    (2016-06) Sebastian, A.; Alzain, M. A.; Asweto, Collins O.; Song, H.; Cui, L.; Yu, X.; Ge, S.; Dong, H.; Rao, P.; Wang, H.; Fang, H.; Gao, Q.; Zhang, J.; He, D.; Guo, X.; Song, M.; Wang, Y.; Wang, W.
    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a systemic, chronic, and progressive inflammatory autoimmune disease, affects up to 1.0% of the world population doubling mortality rate of patients and is a major global health burden. Worrisomely, we lack robust diagnostics of RA and its remission status. Research with the next-generation biomarker technology platforms such as glycomics offers new promises in this context. We report here a clinical case–control study comprising 128 patients suffering from chronic RA (80.22% in remission, 19.78% active clinically) and 195 gender- and age-matched controls, with a view to the putative glycan biomarkers of RA as well as its activity or remission status in Han Chinese RA patients. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–ultra-performance liquid chromatography (HILIC-UPLC) was used for the analysis of IgG glycans. The regression model identified the glycans that predict RA status, while a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis validated the sensitivity and prediction power. Among the total 24 glycan peaks (GP1–GP24), ROC analysis showed only GP1 prediction to be highly sensitive with an area under the curve (AUC) = 0.881. Even though GP21 and GP22 could predict active status among the RA cases (p < 0.05), they had lower sensitivity of prediction with an AUC = 0.658. Taken together, these observations suggest that GP1 might have potential as a putative biomarker for RA in the Han Chinese population, while the change in IgG glycosylation shows association with the RA active and remission states. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first glycomics study with respect to disease activity and remission states in RA.
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    The Malaysian health care system: Ecology, plans, and reforms.
    (2016-01) Sebastian, A.; Alzain, M. A.; Asweto, Collins O.; Mahara, G.; Guo, X.; Song, M.; Wang, Y.; Wang, W.
    Malaysia is on its way to achieving developed nation status in the next 4 years. Currently, Malaysia is on track for three Millennium Development Goals (MDG1, MDG4, and MDG7). The maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate, and mortality rate of children younger than 5 years improved from 25.6% (2012) to 6.6% (2013), and 7.7% (2012) per 100,000 live births, respectively whereas immunization coverage for infants increased to an average of 90%. As of 2013 the ratio of physicians to patients improved to 1:633 while the ratio of health facilities to the population was 1:10,272. The current government administration has proposed a reform in the form of the 10th Malaysian Plan coining the term "One Care for One Malaysia" as the newly improved and reorganized health care plan, where efficiency, effectiveness, and equity are the main focus. This review illustrates Malaysia's transition from pre-independence to the current state, and its health and socioeconomic achievement as a country. It aims to contribute knowledge through identifying the plans and reforms by the Malaysian government while highlighting the challenges faced as a nation.
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    Utilization of ANC and PNC Services in Nepal: A Multivariate Analysis Based on Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2001 and 2006.
    (Science Publishing Group, 2015-10-12) Mahara, G.; Asweto, Collins O.; Cao, K.; Alzain, M. A.; Sebastian, A.; Barr, J.; Guo, X.; Wei, W.
    Background: Maternal Mortality is a public health problem in Nepal, which was highest in 1990 among the South Asian countries. Associated factors of maternal mortality are various; among them maternal health services such as antenatal (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) services are the main. Methods: A multivariate secondary data analysis out based on Nepal Demographic Health Surveys 2001 and 2006. Logistic regression models was performed to compare the utilization of the ANC and PNC services, with background characteristics of women aged between 15 to 49 years old. Results: A total of 8913 reproductive aged groups (15-49) women were taken for analysis and the mean age was 28.59±7.040 years. Logistic regression analysis revealed that health facility delivery (AOR=1.297, 95% CI=1.135-1.481), PNC check-up at health facility (AOD=4.442, 95% CI=2.815-7.011) and PNC service with a skilled health worker (AOD=4.533, 95% CI=2.753-7.465) utilized more in 2006 compared to 2001. This study also found that highly educated women had (AOD, 95% CI=10.823- 22.968) more utilized the heath facility during pregnancy and (AOD, 95% CI=2.194-16.950) more likely during a PNC checkup, whereas, educated women were less (AOR=0.043, 95% CI=0.007-0.254) likely consult with a skilled professional. Similarly, antenatal care (ANC) visits (4 or more than four) and ANC visit in the first trimester were increased (95% CI=1.137- 1.518) and (AOD=1.041, 95% CI=0.924-1.173) respectively. This study found that educated women, those who were living in urban areas, were more likely to use maternal health services compared to other regions. Conclusion: Increased in utilization of the ANC and PNC services through skilled health workers in a health facility among cohorts of educated women. However, the improvements were not equally distributed across the all regions in the country. This utilization of maternal health services is not sufficient to achieve the MDG goal. Because, health facility delivery is poor and counterpart home delivery is still high in Nepal.