A variety of problems faces the prosthodontist attempting reconstruction of maxillary defects. There are various treatment options for patients requiring a partial maxillectomy and an obturator prosthesis. Reduced adaptability makes it difficult for the patient to learn to use a new appliance, unless existing skills can be employed. It is therefore helpful to reproduce familiar features of a patient's existing obturator, especially if this has been used successfully over a transition period.
Established criteria for morphological typing of sarcocysts was applied to a large series of cases of human skeletal muscle sarcocystosis in Malaysia to determine the type of sarcocyst present. We also wanted to test the general usefulness of this classification and to determine if there are any new cyst types. Three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction was done to see if the sarcocyst has a distinct 3-D morphology. A total of 66 sarcocysts from 21 cases of human muscle sarcocystosis obtained from a previous prevalence study were examined. Tissue sections (5 microns thick) were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and studied under the light microscope. For 3-D reconstruction, an image analyser was used to align and reconstruct the sarcocyst after microscopic images had been captured with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. All the cysts best fit into the type 4 category. This classification is generally useful, although cyst wall characteristics and zoite size appear to be the most reliable criteria for classification. The cyst width averaged 77 microns (range, 30-137.5 microns). Cyst walls were smooth, had no cytophaneres and were less than 1 micron thick. No secondary cyst wall or surrounding inflammation was evident. Numerous cyst merozoites with diameters averaging 1 micron filled the cyst lumen. Although septa were not apparent, in many cysts, zoites were arranged in a unique, curvilinear fashion that suggested their presence. 3-D reconstruction showed the sarcocyst to be a long, tortuous "cylinder" with no branching or other distinguishing feature.
The Medical Department of Sabah, in collaboration with various governmental and non-governmental agencies and 'Surgeons International' conducted a state-wide campaign for the 'Early Detection of Cancer' over a period of 3 months from July 1992. The purpose of the campaign was to educate the population about the early signs and symptoms of common cancers, to remove the myth that cancer was incurable and to impress on the public the need to detect cancer early for a possible cure and a better prognosis.
MeSH terms: Australia; Developing Countries*; Humans; International Cooperation; Malaysia; Neoplasms/prevention & control*; Social Responsibility; Time Factors
The BamHI Z EBV replication activator (ZEBRA) protein is involved in the switch from latency to productive cycle of Epstein-Barr virus. A recombinant ZEBRA protein was synthesized and assessed in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum IgG response in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. In 100 NPC serum samples that were positive for IgA to the EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA), 75% had IgG anti-ZEBRA antibodies. In contrast, only 3/83 (3.6%) serum samples from healthy donors and 2/50 (4%) from other cancers were positive for IgG to ZEBRA. Interestingly, in a selected group of 100 NPC sera negative for IgA to VCA, 25% contained IgG anti-ZEBRA antibodies. This suggests that the ELISA for IgG anti-ZEBRA may also identify earlier cases of NPC not detected by the conventional immunofluorescence test for IgA to VCA.
The development of porcelain laminate veneers has added a new dimension to dentistry in the treatment of unsightly anterior teeth. It is a less invasive procedure than the conventional crown restoration in the treatment of aesthetic problems. This paper highlights some of the considerations in the successful use of porcelain veneers.
Cephalometric data from 105 female subjects (35 Chinese, 35 Malay and 35 Indian) with good occlusion and aesthetic pleasing facial profiles (determined by a trained clinician and endorsed by the lay public) were analysed using the Steiner analysis. Statistical analysis of the data showed that while the cephalometric ideals of the Chinese and the Malay ethnic groups were rather similar, cephalometric differences existed between the Chinese and Indians as well as the Malays and Indians. Compared to the Chinese and Malays, the Indians appeared to have less prognathic mandibles and maxillae, less protrusive and proclined upper and lower incisors and also less protrusive upper and lower lips. These differences demonstrate intrinsic ethnic differences and emphasize the need to treat patients of different ethnic groups using cephalometric norms which are peculiar to their own group.
To obtain the profile of periodontal conditions in West Malaysian adults, five small scale surveys were carried out on selected occupational adult groups, 20-54 years old, between 1987 to 1990. Periodontal assessment was made using the CPITN index. In all, 779 subjects were examined. Results indicated that only 16% of the adults examined had healthy gingivae. Bleeding of the gingivae was limited to the younger (20-24 years) age group. Calculus is highly prevalent in at least 65.5% of all the subjects examined. Periodontal pockets were limited to mostly shallow pockets and the risk of developing pockets increased with increasing age. Both navy personnel and factory workers showed a higher number of healthy sextants across all ages as compared to the other three occupational groups; viz., rubber tappers, villagers and government workers. The rubber tappers were the only group with deep pockets, with the prevalence ranging between 8 to 25%. Implications of the findings to the Malaysian dental delivery system are discussed.
MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Health Surveys; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Middle Aged; Mouth, Edentulous/epidemiology; Occupations/statistics & numerical data; Periodontal Diseases/epidemiology*; Periodontal Index; Prevalence; Age Distribution
A case of bullous pemphigoid with extra-oral and intraoral lesions in a 60-year-old female is reported. Diagnosis is based on histopathology and direct immunofluorescence, and the treatment regime described included oral prescription of prednisolone and topical application of a mixture of fluocinonide ointment and triamcinolone acetonide in Orabase on the oral lesions.
A case report of sequestra formation in the oral cavity most probably as a sequelae of periodontal abscess in a diabetic patient is presented. The sequestra probably formed as a complication of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus rather than erythroleukemia. The lesion was located at the bifurcation area of the lower left second molar. Removal of the sequestra, scaling and a course of antibiotics managed to control the lesion.
Patients may not comply with antibiotic instructions because they do not understand them. The aim of this study was to assess outpatients' ability to comprehend their antibiotic prescription labels. Two hundred and five subjects on oral antibiotic regimens from an outpatient clinic and pharmacy of a district hospital were selected in this survey. All patients were interviewed by trained clinical pharmacy students. They were asked to read the labels and then how they would take their antibiotics. The results show that 119 (58.1%) patients could interpret the label. Forty-nine (23.9%) patients knew the name of antibiotics and interpreted the directions of use correctly. One hundred sixteen (56.6%) subjects were able to recall the auxiliary information. However, only 44 (21.4%) patients were able to comprehend complete antibiotic instruction. This study demonstrates that a significant proportion of patients could not interpret the labeling instruction. The comprehension level of patients was low and significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the ability of patient to read the label contents. These observations illustrate the need for physicians and pharmacists to provide antibiotic instructions and review these instructions with the patient.
Study site: outpatient clinic and pharmacy of a district hospita
MeSH terms: Africa; Africa, Eastern; Africa, Southern; Biology; Bottle Feeding*; Breast Feeding*; Community Health Workers*; Curriculum*; Delivery of Health Care; Developing Countries; Education*; Health; Health Personnel*; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; International Agencies; Lactation*; Legislation as Topic*; Malawi; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Organizations*; Physiology; Pregnancy; Swaziland; Teaching*; United Nations*; World Health Organization*; Africa South of the Sahara
PIP: Five positive and negative experiences of families dealing with AIDS are recounted. Imrat in Malaysia is an HIV-infected son who was not rejected by his family. Prudence of Botswana is an infected widow with five children who had a less positive experience with her in-laws, while Eric of Sweden considers his friends to constitute his family. His relationships with friends have only strengthened since his HIV-positive status became known. Mary of Zimbabwe, however, was infected with HIV by her husband. She was formerly angry at him for having brought home the virus, but they have since stop quarreling and are focusing upon building a stronger relationship. Finally, the brief story of Juan in Colombia is told. Thirty-two years old, married, and with a 17-month old daughter, Juan did not tell his wife that he was actively bisexual. Once infected with HIV, Juan's wife threw him out, more because he had sex with men than because of his HIV serostatus.
MeSH terms: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome*; Africa; Africa, Eastern; Africa, Southern; Americas; Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Botswana; Colombia; Developing Countries; Disease; Europe; Family Characteristics*; Family Relations*; Latin America; Malaysia; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; South America; Sweden; Virus Diseases; Zimbabwe; HIV Infections*; Africa South of the Sahara; Developed Countries
"The purpose of this article is to show the relationship among Japanese direct investment...,domestic labor markets, and international labor migration in ASEAN-4 countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand). The effects of foreign direct investment on skilled labor migration are also considered."
MeSH terms: Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Demography; Developing Countries; Economics; Emigration and Immigration*; Employment*; Far East; Financial Management; Health Manpower; Indonesia; International Cooperation*; Investments*; Japan; Malaysia; Philippines; Population; Population Dynamics; Thailand; Transients and Migrants*; Developed Countries
MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources; Demography; Ecology*; Emigration and Immigration*; Environment; Evaluation Studies as Topic*; Geography; Population; Population Density*; Population Dynamics*; Population Growth*; Urban Population; Urbanization*
MeSH terms: Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Communication; Contraception; Contraception Behavior*; Delivery of Health Care; Demography; Developing Countries; Economics; Emigration and Immigration; Family Planning Services; Health; Health Planning*; Health Services*; Industry*; Information Services*; Interviews as Topic*; Malaysia; Mass Media; Population; Population Dynamics*; Tape Recording; Videotape Recording*; Reproductive Medicine*
MeSH terms: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome*; Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Behavior; Developing Countries; Disease; International Agencies; Organizations; Research Design; Sexual Behavior; Thailand; United Nations; Virus Diseases; World Health Organization*; HIV Infections*; Substance Abuse, Intravenous*; Incidence*; Substance-Related Disorders