Paired augmented histamine tests using 40 microgram 60 microgram histamine acid phosphate (HAP) per kg body weight were conducted on each of 57 Asian subjects. The mean peak acid output (PAO) for the total series to the two different doses of HAP was 22.3 mEq/hr and 23.3 mEq/hr respectively and the difference was not statistically significant according to the paired t test. There were similarly no significant difference in PAO to the two doses of HAP in the following groups of subjects: 26 Chinese, 17 Indians, 14 Malays; 24 subjects with duodenal ulcer, 16 controls; 28 subjects with body weight below 50 kg, 19 between 50-60 kg and 10 exceeding 60 kg. These findings differ from earlier reports that for maximal gastric secretion Asians required a higher dosage of histamine compared with Caucasian subjects.
MeSH terms: Body Weight; Duodenal Ulcer/metabolism; Gastric Acid/metabolism*; Histamine/administration & dosage; Histamine/analogs & derivatives*; Humans; Malaysia; Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
MeSH terms: Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Developing Countries; Economics; Education; Family Planning Services; Goals*; Health Planning*; Malaysia; Organization and Administration; Patient Acceptance of Health Care*; Public Policy*; Sex Education*; Social Planning*
PIP:
The International Fertility Research Program is carrying out several studies focused on breastfeeding's contraceptive protection. A longitudinal study is investigating the relationship between breastfeeding and the return of ovulation and fertility after childbirth. The impact of factors such as the early introduction of supplementary foods, resumption of menses, and sexual practices on the return of ovulation will be analyzed. The study, which will be conducted at 4 geographic sites, will include a total of 100 women who are breastfeeding and a control group of 40 nonlactating mothers. Its ultimate goal will be to determine the optimum time for breastfeeding women with different cultural needs to start using contraceptives. A second study will seek to determine whether progestogen-only oral contraceptives (OCs) have advantages for lactating women. Trials in India, Malaysia, Argentina, and Egypt will compare 1000 lactating women who use progestogen-only OCs with an equal number of women who use nonhormonal contraception in terms of contraceptive acceptance and side effects and infant weight gain. The third study will survey breastfeeding patterns in relation to changing child spacing trends in a sample of 4000 women from Lagos, Nigeria. Analyzed will be the proportions of women who are using a modern method of fertility control, the proportions protected from unwanted pregnancy by the traditional practices of prolonged breastfeeding and sexual abstinence, and determinants of recent changes in the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding.
Forty Droughtmaster bulls were evaluated for breeding soundness, using the method of examination and criteria for classifying bulls of the Society for Theriogenelogy. Eighty three percent of the bulls were classified as satisfactory, 14 percent as questionable and 3 percent as unsatisfactory breeders. Scrotal circumference for 2 to 8-year-old bulls were smaller in questionable and unsatisfactory bulls, as compared to satisfactory bulls. For bulls rated as satisfactory breeders, the scrotal circumference of 37 to 43 cms was higher than for other beef breeds. Three related bulls (2 questionable, 1 satisfactory) carried sperm defects classified as 'knobbed' (38 +/- 3%), 'Dag' (40 +/- 4%) and 'pseudo-droplets' (41 +/- 5%), which may adversely affect fertility.
Tests of pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, FEV 1%, and single breath CO diffusion), renal function (serum creatinine and BUN), liver function (serum ALT, AST, and ALKP) and a full haematological screen were performed on 27 paraquat spraymen (mean spraying time 5.3 years; mean individual annual quantity of paraquat handled, 67.2 kg as paraquat ion) and on two control groups. One of the control groups consisted of 24 general plantation workers with minimal exposure to paraquat arising from occasional work in recently sprayed areas, and the second consisted of 23 latex factory workers with no known occupational exposure to paraquat. The results showed no significant differences as a consequence of occupational exposure to paraquat. Long-term paraquat spraying at the concentrations used produced to quantifiable harmful effects on health as measured by the indices selected for this study.
MeSH terms: Adult; Agricultural Workers' Diseases/chemically induced*; China/ethnology; Hematologic Tests; Humans; India/ethnology; Kidney Function Tests; Liver Function Tests; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Paraquat/adverse effects*; Respiratory Function Tests
A survey of 308,101 primary school children in Peninsular Malaysia conducted in 1979 by the School Health Services, Ministry of Health, Malaysia, revealed that 10.7% of children were infested with Pediculus humanus capitis. The prevalence rate was higher in the economically less advanced states of Terenganu (34%), Kelantan (23%), and Perlis (21%) than in the other states (4-13%). Of 14,233 school children examined in the State of Melaka, 26% of Indians, 18.7% of Malays, 6.1% of Europeans, and 0.7% of Chinese had pediculosis. The prevalence rate, which has remained unchanged over the past 5 years, does not appear to vary with age but is higher in children with long hair and those from the lower socioeconomic groups. Boys have a lower infestation rate than do girls. The higher incidence in Indians and Malays correlates well with their lower socioeconomic status in the community, and their cultural habit of maintaining longer hair than do the Chinese. The difference become less apparent in the higher socioeconomic groups.
MeSH terms: Age Factors; Child; Ethnic Groups; Female; Hair/parasitology; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Lice Infestations/epidemiology*; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors
In a survey of 5233 patients seen in the clinics of three general practitioners, 339 patients were found to be doctor hoppers (6.48 per cent). Respiratory symptoms and fever were the commonest presentation affecting mainly the paediatric age group. No improvement in the symptoms was quoted as the most common reason for switching to another doctor. Many factors contributed to doctor hopping and these were best considered in relation to the illness, the patient and the doctor: From the point of prevention, the doctor himself has a significant role to play, particularly in improving the doctor-patient relationship and patient compliance.
Study site: Johor (Johor Bahru, Batu Pahat, Muar)
MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Child; Consumer Behavior*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Family Practice*; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance*; Personal Health Services/utilization*; Physician-Patient Relations*; Private Practice; Respiratory Tract Diseases/therapy
The effect of specific alpha[ or alpha2 adrenoceptor agents on the response of rat superior mesenteric-portal vein to field stimulation was investigated. In. a dose related manner, phenylephrine (alpha[ agonist) and yohimbine (alpha2 antagonists) increased while prazosin (alpha[ antagonist) and clonidine (alpha2 agonist) decreased the response of the vein to field stimulation. These effects are the same as those seen with these agents on rat and mouse vas deferens. It is suggested that, as in vas deferens, alpha1 postsynaptic and alpha2 presynaptic receptors exist in rat superior mesenteric-portal vein and that these receptors may be sufficiently sensitive in vein for their existence to be of significance in the action of these agents at clinical doses.
The early Malaysian experience of laparoscopic sterilisation with the Fallope tubal rings, as undertaken at the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Unit of the University Hospital, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is reported in a study of 291 consecutive females that had had the procedure undertaken during the one year period, May 1975 to April 1976. Of the 291 cases, 247 women were sterilised in the "interval" period, 43 after "menstrual regulation" procedure and one after a spontaneous abortion. General anaesthesia was used in all except one case. The salient socio-demographic, contraceptive and reproductive characteristics of study cases are presented and discussed. The technical problems, the early complications and morbidity encountered in this study are presented and discussed in the light of other similar studies, and in relation to sterilisation by laparoscopic tubal electrocoagulation. The overall impression is that laparoscopic sterilisation with the Fallope tubal rings is preferred to that by tubal electrocoagulation, in view of the possible inadvertent serious electrical burns of other structures during the use of the latter procedure.
Using an indirect immunofluorescence technique, sera from 113 cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), trapped in Peninsular Malaysia, were screened for the presence of antibody to six prototype strains of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi combined into three polyvalent groupings: I--Karp, TA716, and TA763; II--Gilliam; and III--TA678 and TH1817. Fifteen percent (17/113) of the monkeys had antibody titers greater than or equal to 1:50 to one or more of the antigenic groups. Although a titer greater than or equal to 1:150 is generally considered indicative or prior Rickettsia tsutsugamushi infection, we selected a less than 1:25 titer as a conservative standard to insure non-infected animals. Using this criterion, 62 (55%) of the 113 monkeys were accepted for use in scrub typhus studies. The high prevalence of antibody to scrub typhus in the semi-arboreal cynomolgus monkey is in marked contrast to the low prevalence reported in the strictly arboreal silvered leaf monkeys (Presbytis cristatus). The results of this study indicate that cynomolgus monkeys should be rigorously screened for evidence of prior infection before they are included in experimental scrub typhus studies.
The effect of an aqueous extract of Vernonia cinerea (VX) on mice was determined. It is suggested that VX contains a depressant agent whose primary effect is that of analgesia.
Language studies were done on four multilingual dextral Chinese patients who developed dysphasia from various causes. The left hemisphere appeared to be dominant for all the languages in the four patients. All the languages and dialects were universally involved during the development of dysphasia. In one patient,
there was evidence of delayed restitution in the patient's mother tongue (Hokkien) comparing with Mandarin and English which were the languages used in the hospital and for reading.
A review of rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood reveals that the pattern and results of treatment have changed with the introduction of multimodal therapy. Outcome in our series have been poor due to advanced disease, poor compliance to follow up resulting from poor socio-economics and educational levels of our patients and their faith in traditional medicine. Improvement in the prognosis can only be anticipated with earlier diagnosis and reduction in defaulter rate.
Over a two year period, 323 livers were examined using ultrasound. Majority of these cases were icteric and ultrasound could distinguish obstructive from non-obstructive jaundice. Primary and secondary liver tumours were also detected. Liver abscesses, and radiolucent gallstones were picked up by ultrasound, the areas under study being scanned using standard methods as outlined by various ultrasonographists.
Thirty-four case notes of patients in acute renal failure on whom intravenous urograms (IVU) were performed, were reviewed. All patients received high doses of Conray 420 or Urotrast. Delayed films up to 48 hours were routinely done in patients suspected of having obstruction. There were no side effects of the intravenous urogram examination. IVU with high dose contrast material and nephrogram are helpful in differentiating the cause of the acute renal failure, and in excluding outflow obstruction.
The efficacy of Cary Blair medium was compared with that of Selenite 'F'in the isolation of enteropathogens from 805 cases of diarrhoea. It was shown that use of the Cary Blair medium resulted in a significantly higher rate of isolation. Not only were organisms found which were not isolated from the Selenite 'F' but there was a much higher isolation rate of Salmonella from Cary Blair medium althougn Selenite 'F' is generally considered as an enrichment medium for
Salmonella. The findings indicate that it would be advantageous to introduce Cary Blair medium as the sole transport medium for the isolation of enteropathogensfrom cases ofdiarrhoea.
Male albino rats were chronically loaded with sodium by giving 1% NaCl solution as the sole source of drinking water. Daily fluid intake, daily urinary output and daily Na+ and K+ excretion rates were compared with control rats receiving tap water for six weeks. At the end ofsix weeks, sodium loaded animals were found to have raised plasma Na+ concentration, lowered plasma K+ concentration and lowered haematocrit value. Sodium loaded rats were also significantly more responsive to the pressor effect of submaximal doses of adrenaline, noradrenaline and angiotensin II given intravenously. It is concluded that the increase in sensitivity to adrenaline and noradrenaline may be due to changes in EGF and alterations of plasma electrolytes concentration. For angiotensin II, additionally, it may be due to low circulating endogenous angiotensin II, consequent of reduction in renin release attributed to chronic sodium loading.