Dr Say Yee How

Dr Say Yee How

  • Senior Lecturer
Department of Biological Sciences

Biography

Dr Say Yee How graduated with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Biomedical Science from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2003 and was awarded the Royal Education Award by the Conference of Rulers Malaysia (Majlis Raja-raja). He went on to do a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at University of Leeds, UK, on the cellular functions of prion protein, under the supervision of Prof. Nigel M. Hooper. Upon graduating in 2007, he was affiliated with University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Malaysia and National University of Singapore throughout his academic career. His research interests cover the fields of 3Ns in non-communicable diseases - Nutrigenetics, Neurodegeneration and Neoplasm. He has been actively conducting research and publishing journal articles in the field of genetic epidemiology of obesity and its related traits, taste sensory genetics (bitter, sweet, salty, umami, fatty), allergic diseases and various psychological conditions. He also researched on the pathophysiological roles of neuronal proteins (the Synucleins and cellular prion protein) in neuroprotection, neurodegeneration and cancer biology, as an attempt to shed light on the aetiologies of these diseases that afflict the ageing population. He also had the pleasure of serving the editorial board of the Journal of Physiological Anthropology.

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, UK (2007)
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biomedical Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (2003)

Research Interests

  • Nutrigenetics
  • Neurodegeneration
  • Neoplasm
  • Genetic Epidemiology

Notable Publications

  1. Yang Yie Sio, Ping Shi, Yee-How Say & Fook Tim Chew (2021). Functional Variants in the Chromosome 4q21 Locus Contribute to Allergic Rhinitis Risk by Modulating the Expression of N-Acylethanolamine Acid Amidase (NAAA). Clinical & Experimental Allergy, doi: 10.1111/cea.13883. Online ahead of print.
  2. Anna Hwee Sing Heng, Yee-How Say, Yang Yie Sio, Yu Ting Ng & Fook Tim Chew (2021). Gene variants associated with acne vulgaris presentation and severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medical Genomics, 14(1):103. doi: 10.1186/s12920-021-00953-8.
  3. Yee-How Say, Anna Hwee Sing Heng, Kavita Reginald, Yi Ru Wong, Keng Foo Teh, Smyrna Moti Rawanan Shah, Yang Yie Sio, Yu Ting Ng, Sri Anusha Matta, Sze Lei Pang & Fook Tim Chew (2021). Modifiable and non-modifiable epidemiological risk factors for acne, acne severity and acne scarring among Malaysian Chinese: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 21(1):601.
  4. Fang-Ying Lek, Hing-Huat Ong & Yee-How Say (2018). Association of dopamine receptor D2 gene (DRD2) Taq1 polymorphisms with eating behaviors and body composition among Chinese and Indian Malaysian university students. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 27(3): 707-717.
  5. Yee-Wen Ng & Yee-How Say (2018). Palmitic acid induces neurotoxicity and gliatoxicity in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma and T98G human glioblastoma cells. PeerJ, 6: e4696.
  6. Sing-Hui Ong, Kai-Wey Goh, Cornelius Kwang-Lee Chieng & Yee-How Say (2018). Cellular prion protein and g-synuclein overexpression in LS 174T colorectal cancer cell drives endothelial proliferation-to-differentiation switch. PeerJ, 6: e4506.
  7. Wey-Zheng Yeo, Sheng-Pei Lim & Yee-How Say (2018). Salivary cariogenic bacteria counts are associated with obesity in student women at a Malaysian university. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 27(1): 99-106.
  8. Hing-Huat Ong, Foong-Vai Khor, Kausalyah Balasupramaniam & Yee-How Say (2018). Genetic polymorphisms of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes and their association with alcoholism risk, personality and anthropometric traits among Malaysian university students. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 23(2): 160-170.
  9. Yee-How Say (2017). The association of insertions/deletions (INDELs) and variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) with obesity and its related traits and complications. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 36: 25. doi:10.1186/s40101-017-0142-x
  10. Yung-Yean Kok, Hing-Huat Ong & Yee-How Say (2017). Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RA) and Interleukin-4 (IL4) genes Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTRs) are associated with adiposity in Malaysian subjects. Journal of Obesity, 2017(2017):4104137.
  11. Hing-Huat Ong, Yen-Nee Tan & Yee-How Say (2017). Fatty acid translocase gene CD36 rs1527483 variant influences oral fat perception in Malaysian subjects. Physiology & Behavior, 168:128–137.
  12. Phee-Phee Chia, Sook-Ha Fan & Yee-How Say (2015). Screening of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) α, γ and δ gene polymorphisms for obesity and metabolic syndrome association in the multi-ethnic Malaysian population. Ethnicity & Disease, 25(4): 383–390.
  13. Cornelius Kwang-Lee Chieng & Yee-How Say (2015). Cellular prion protein contributes to LS 174T colon cancer cell carcinogenesis by increasing invasiveness and resistance against doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. Tumor Biology, 36(10): 8107–8120.
  14. Kai-Wey Goh & Yee-How Say (2015). γ-Synuclein confers both pro-invasive and doxorubicin-mediated pro-apoptotic properties to the colon adenocarcinoma LS 174T cell line. Tumor Biology, 36(10):7947–7960.
  15. Kah-Hui Lee, Voon-Yun Chai, Sathia S. Kanachamy & Yee-How Say (2015). Association of UCP1 -3826A/G and UCP3 -55C/T gene polymorphisms with obesity and its related traits among multi-ethnic Malaysian subjects. Ethnicity & Disease, 25(1): 65–71.
  16. Yee-How Say, Zi Lian Ban, Yogambigai Arumugam, Trishal Kaur, Mee-Lay Tan, Phee-Phee Chia & Sook-Ha Fan (2014). Uncoupling protein 2 gene (UCP2) 45-bp I/D polymorphism is associated with adiposity among Malaysian women. Journal of Biosciences, 39(5): 867–875.
  17. Sook-Ha Fan & Yee-How Say (2014). Leptin and leptin receptor gene polymorphisms and their association with plasma leptin levels and obesity in a multi-ethnic Malaysian suburban population. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 33: 15.
  18. Ban-Tiong Sia, Siew-Yin Low, Wei-Chee Foong, Mohanapriya Pramasivah, Cheng-Zheng Khor & Yee-How Say (2013). Demographic differences of preference, intake frequency and craving hedonic ratings of sweet foods among Malaysian subjects in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 9(1): 55-64.
  19. Pey-Peng Lai & Yee-How Say (2013). Associated Factors of Sleep Quality and Behavior among Students of Two Tertiary Institutions in Northern Malaysia. Medical Journal of Malaysia, 68 (3): 195-202.
  20. Wei-Wei Chey, Sook-Ha Fan & Yee-How Say (2013). Association of Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated (FTO) Gene rs9939609 Variant with Obesity among Multi-Ethnic Malaysians. Sains Malaysiana, 42(3): 365–371.
  21. Siok-Hoon Lim, Sook-Ha Fan & Yee-How Say (2012). Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in obese Malaysian subjects. Malaysia Journal of Nutrition, 18 (3), 345-354.
  22. Sumitha Nair Balan, Leong-Siong Chua, Stella Sinn-Yee Choong, Yun-Fah Chang & Yee-How Say (2013). Demographic differences in the saltiness intensity perception and pleasantness ratings of salty solutions and foods among Malaysian subjects. Food Quality and Preference, 28, 154-160.
  23. Stella Sinn-Yee Choong, Sumitha Nair Balan, Leong-Siong Chua & Yee-How Say (2012). Preference and intake frequency of high sodium foods and dishes and their correlations with anthropometric measurements among Malaysian subjects. Nutrition Research and Practice, 6, 238-245.
  24. Hwee-Nah Chua, Sook-Ha Fan & Yee-How Say (2012). Prevalence of melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) V103I gene variant and its association with obesity among the Kampar Health Clinic cohort, Perak. Medical Journal of Malaysia, 67, 234-235.
  25. Yeannie Hui-Yeng Yap & Yee-How Say (2012). Resistance against tumour necrosis factor-alpha apoptosis by the cellular prion protein is cell-specific for oral, colon and kidney cancer cell lines. Cell Biology International, 36, 273-277.
  26. Pui-Mun Chan, Sook-Ha Fan & Yee-How Say (2011). No Association of Peptide Tyrosine-Tyrosine (PYY) Gene R72T Variant with Obesity in the Kampar Health Cohort, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition, 17, 201-212.
  27. Chi-Jing Choong & Yee-How Say (2011). Neuroprotection of α-synuclein under acute and chronic rotenone and maneb treatment is abolished by its familial Parkinson’s disease mutations A30P, A53T and E46K. NeuroToxicology, 32, 857-863.
  28. Yeannie Hui-Yeng Yap & Yee-How Say (2011). Resistance against apoptosis by the cellular prion protein is dependent on its glycosylation status in oral HSC-2 and colon LS 174T cancer cells. Cancer Letters, 306, 111-119.
  29. Pua-Koon Thai, Eng-Ching Tan, Wai-Lun Tan, Tat-Hong Tey, Harpreet Kaur, & Yee-How Say (2011). Sweetness intensity perception and pleasantness ratings of sucrose, aspartame solutions and cola among multi-ethnic Malaysian subjects. Food Quality and Preference, 22, 281-289.
  30. Shee-Xuen Ooi, Pui-Leng Lee, Huey-Yi Law, & Yee-How Say (2010). Bitter Receptor Gene (TAS2R38) P49A Genotypes and Their Associations with Aversion to Vegetables and Sweet/Fat Foods in Malaysian Subjects. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 19, 491-498.
  31. Sin-Keat Yiew, Li-Yin Khor, Mee-Lay Tan, Chia-Li Pang, Voon-Yun Chai, Sathia S. Kanachamy, & Yee-How Say (2010). No Association between Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor and Uncoupling Protein Gene Polymorphisms and Obesity in Malaysian University Students. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 4, e325-331.
  32. Yee-How Say & Nigel M. Hooper (2007). Contamination of nuclear fractions with plasma membrane lipid rafts. Proteomics, 7, 1059-1064.
  33. Yee-How Say, King-Hwa Ling, Gnanasothie Duraisamy, Suzanne Isaac, & Rozita Rosli (2005). Angiotensinogen M235T gene variants and its association with essential hypertension and plasma renin activity in Malaysian subjects: a case control study. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 5, 7.