The aim of this study was to identify the major allergens of wildflower honey in local patients with atopic disease. SDS-PAGE revealed ten protein bands of 25 to 110 kDa, with a heavy cluster in region of 40-75 kDa. Immunoblotting demonstrated seven IgE-binding bands of 39 to 110 kDa. The 60 kDa protein had the highest frequency of IgE-binding (100%) followed by 54 kDa protein (95%), thus identified as the major allergens of wildflowerhoney. Our findings indicate that the allergen extract used for diagnosis of honey allergy contains both the 54 kDa and 60 kDa proteins.

Objective: To characterize the major allergens of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (giant freshwater prawn). Methods: Raw and cooked extracts of the giant freshwater prawn were prepared. The IgE reactivity pattern was identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting technique with the sera of 20 skin prick test (SPT) positive patients. The major allergen identified was then characterized using the proteomics approach involving a combination of two-dimensional (2-DE) electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and bioinformatics tools. Results: SDS-PAGE of the raw extract showed 23 protein bands (15-250 kDa) but those ranging from 40 to 100 kDa were not found in the cooked extract. From immunoblotting experiments, raw and cooked extracts demonstrated 11 and 5 IgE-binding proteins, respectively, with a molecular mass ranging from 15 to 155 kDa. A heat-resistant 36 kDa protein was identified as the major allergen of both extracts. In addition, a 42 kDa heat-sensitive protein was shown to be a major allergen of the raw extract. The 2-DE gel fractionated the prawn proteins to more than 50 different protein spots. Of these, 10 spots showed specific IgE reactivity with patients' sera. Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis led to identification of 2 important allergens, tropomyosin and arginine kinase. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the availability of such allergens would help in component-based diagnosis and therapy of prawn allergies.

Mental health problems are major public health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic due to uncertainties of the disease, public fears and movement control orders which interrupt economic activities. Uncertainties about the diseases could trigger anxiety, particularly among healthcare workers (HCWs) who are directly involved in handling COVID-19 patients and specimens. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with a probable generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among public laboratory HCWs in Central Peninsular Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2021 with a total of 406 respondents participating in this study. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Malay-validated 7-items GAD questionnaire. The cut-off points to define probable GAD were scores of eight and above. A descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression were conducted to calculate the prevalence of probable GAD and its associated factors. The prevalence of probable GAD among laboratory HCWs was 20.7%. Factors associated with probable GAD among laboratory HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic were younger age group (aOR=3.23; 95% CI:1.22, 8.57), excessive working time of more than 50 hours per week (aOR=3.09; 95% CI: 1.76, 5.42) and working with COVID-19 specimens (aOR=1.83; 95% CI:1.07, 3.14). HCWs in the national laboratory were at risk of having probable GAD during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among the younger age group, those exposed to excessive working time and those who handled COVID-19 specimens. Thus, stakeholders should improve the existing psychological support and provide supportive working environments including a regular mental health screening and early intervention among those who were screened positive for probable GAD.

Background: In the past the occurrence of neuromyelitis optica in Malaysia was thought to be uncommon and the frequency of anti-aquaporin-4 Ig G antibody was unknown. Objective: To evaluate the frequency of anti-aquaporin-4 Ig G antibody (Anti-AQP4 antibody) amongst patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and its spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and the differences between the seropositive and seronegative groups. Methods: Retrospectively, 96 patients with NMO/high risk syndromes for NMOSD (HRSNMOSD) were identified out of 266 patients with idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease from a single center hospital based registry. Anti-AQP4 seropositivity was found in 38/48 (79.2%) with NMO, 12/21 (57.1%) with brain involvement at high risk for NMOSD, 12/15 (80%) with transverse myelitis (i.e., 11/15 with relapsing transverse myelitis and one with monophasic transverse myelitis), and 3/7 (42.8%) with relapsing optic neuritis. Sixty-five out of 96 patients, that is, 67.7%, with NMO/HRS for NMOSD were seropositive. Seropositivity was significantly associated with female gender, a higher number of mean relapses, that is, 5.15 ± 4.42 versus 2.10 ± 1.68, longer length of spinal cord lesions, that is, 6.6 ± 4.9 versus 2.9 ± 2.5, vertebral bodies, higher EDSS, 4.5 ± 2.4 versus 2.4 ± 2.6, presence of paroxysmal tonic spasms, and blindness (unilateral/bilateral); 𝑃 < 0.001. Longitudinally extensive cord lesions (contiguous or linear), presence of lesions in the cervical and thoracic regions, and involvement of the central gray matter or holocord regions on axial scans, were also significantly associated with seropositivity; 𝑃 < 0.001. Conclusion: NMO and HRS for NMOSD are present in larger numbers than previously thought in Malaysia. More than 2/3rds are seropositive. Seropositive and seronegative NMO/NMOSD have differences that are useful in clinical practice.