MeSH terms: Asia; Food Supply; Forecasting; Humans; Infant Mortality; Mortality*; Population Growth; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; World Health Organization*
Malays, Chinese and Indians from peninsular Malaysia; Ibans and Bidayuh from Sarawak state, Northern Borneo; and Bataks, Minangkabau and Javanese from North Sumatra, Indonesia, were subtyped for Gc (group-specific component) by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing. All eight populations investigated were found to be polymorphic for three common alleles, Gc1F, Gc1S and Gc2.
MeSH terms: Africa; Africa, Eastern; Africa, Southern; Consumer Participation*; Demography; Developing Countries; Economics; Geography; Health Planning*; Housing*; Malaysia; Morocco; Organization and Administration; Peru; Population; Population Density; Poverty Areas*; Public Policy*; Residence Characteristics*; Social Change*; Social Welfare*; Urban Population; Urbanization*; Zambia; Africa South of the Sahara
MeSH terms: Asia; Developing Countries; Economics; Emigration and Immigration; Family Planning Services; Health Planning*; International Agencies; Organization and Administration; Organizations; Personnel Management; Population Control*; Population Dynamics; Public Policy*; Rural Population; Sex Education; Social Planning*; Teaching; United Nations*; Women's Rights
A review of all cases of nephroblastoma admitted to the University Hospital over a 10 year period reveals that its incidence relative to the other childhood tumours and epidemiological features are similar to other centres. The majority of patients presented with either stage III or IV disease. During the period 1968·1972 the number of defaulters was high and survival was poor. Following the introduction of treatment protocol, default rate has fallen and 5 of 7 patients have survived more than 2 years. Earlier referral and education of the parents should help improve the outcome for children with Wilms' tumour in Malaysia.
Eighteen cases of anterior encephalocele treated at the University of Malaya Hospital between 1970 and 1980 are discussed, and the literature concerning this defect is reviewed. A detailed analysis of the microscopic abnormalities present in the surgical specimens is included, along with the relevant radiographic and demographic data. Anterior encephalocele is more common in Southeast Asia than elsewhere. The possible ethnographic and geographic implications are presented, as well as a discussion of the relevant embryology, in attempting to define possible etiologies for this malformation. The author's surgical approach to the repair of this defect and reasons for preferring a transcranial, intradural approach are described. Potential complications are enumerated.
Vomiting, drowsiness, metabolic acidosis, polymorphonuclear leucocytosis, and encephalopathy developed in thirteen infants within hours of ingestion of margosa oil. Liver biopsy of one infant and necropsy examination of ICR strain mice after experimentally induced margosa-oil poisoning demonstrated pronounced fatty infiltration of the liver and proximal renal tubules as well as cerebral oedema. Electron microscopy demonstrated mitochondrial damage. These findings indicate that margosa oil may be involved in the aetiology of Reye's syndrome among Indians in Malaysia.
Analysis of the bleeding manifestations of 130 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever admitted into the Children's ward of the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur from May 1973 to September 1978 has been done. Petechial skin rash, epistaxis and gum bleeding were seen most commonly in mild and moderately severe cases. However, blood stained gastric aspirates, and severe haematemesis were seen in severe or very severe cases. Though with better vector control and preventive measures, a marked reduction in the incidence of the cases has been noted, severe cases were seen with symptoms of shock and gastrointestinal bleeding. These symptoms carried a bad prognosis. Among 15 children that died 10 had gastrointestinal bleeding and 2 had a disseminated intravascular coagulation defect. Lymphocytosis with atypical lymphocytes, low platelet count, low reticulocyte count and raised packed cell volume were the main haematological features seen in all these cases. All these features reverted to normal within a week. Mild evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation was seen in a number of cases, but severe features were seen only in four. Two cases improved as a result of heparin therapy.
MeSH terms: Age Factors; Child; Child, Preschool; Dengue/complications*; Dengue/mortality; Dengue/epidemiology; Female; Hemorrhage/etiology*; Humans; Infant; Malaysia; Male; Seasons; Continental Population Groups
A total of 82 persons have been found to be positive for microfilaria a sub-periodic Brugia malayi out of 1,613 examined in seven villages in Serian District. This represents an average microfilaria infection rate of 5.1% with a range of zero to 10.7%. It is found that males are more predominantly affected than females with a ratio of 3:1. It is also confirmed that Mansonia dives and M. bonneae are possible vectors for the transmission of the disease although Anopheles species cannot be ruled out owing to the small number of specimens examined. The study is confined to areas where indoor DDT spraying has been done since 1960 and only in two of the areas it has been terminated in 1966. Yet to be published data shows higher filaria infection rate than any of these villages.
Two hundred eight-eight hepatic resections performed over the past 15 years are discussed. The safety and success achieved are attributed to the original work in Malaysia on the anatomy of the liver and its anomalies, the use of surgical instruments specially designed for hepatic resection, various types of resections devised and studies on aids to liver regeneration after resection. The diversity of the principles and practice of surgery in the Western countries compared with those in Malaysia is illustrated.
In the newborn the diagnosis of alpha thalassaemia trait is easier because of the presence of haemoglobin Bart's (Hb Bart's). Alpha thalassaemia is common in Southeast Asia. Malaysians are composed of the ethnic groups Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians. Hb Bart's itself is not a simple inherited character but arises from genetically determined imbalance in the biosynthesis of alpha and non alpha chains. 58% of the cord blood samples tested showed raised levels of Hb Bart's. In the Chinese the most common cause of hereditary haemolytic anaemia is haemoglobin H and hydrops foetalis is seen. The rare occurrence of these syndromes in the Malays and Indians in spite of the presence of Hb Bart's indicates an altered expression of the alpha thalassaemia gene in these populations.
MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Child; China/ethnology; Female; Hemoglobins, Abnormal/analysis*; Humans; India/ethnology; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Thalassemia/epidemiology*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group