Browse publications by year: 2008

  1. Ikryannikova LN, Shitikov EA, Zhivankova DG, Il'ina EN, Edelstein MV, Govorun VM
    J Microbiol Methods, 2008 Dec;75(3):385-91.
    PMID: 18694787 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2008.07.005
    A minisequencing method based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS) was developed for rapid identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms at bla(TEM) gene codons 104, 164 and 238 associated with extended-spectrum activity on TEM-type beta-lactamases. The method was validated by testing the Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains possessing the known bla(TEM) gene sequences.
    MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics*; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism; Base Sequence; beta-Lactamases/genetics*; beta-Lactamases/metabolism; Enterobacteriaceae/enzymology; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics; Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification*; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology*; Escherichia coli/genetics; Humans; Klebsiella pneumoniae/genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods*; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/methods*; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  2. Amerasinghe N, Wong TY, Wong WL, Mitchell P, Shen SY, Loon SC, et al.
    Arch. Ophthalmol., 2008 Aug;126(8):1101-8.
    PMID: 18695105 DOI: 10.1001/archopht.126.8.1101
    To describe the distribution and determinants of the optic cup to disc ratio (CDR) in Malay adults in Singapore.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood Pressure; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/ethnology; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/genetics*; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Malaysia/ethnology; Male; Middle Aged; Optic Disk/pathology*; Optic Nerve Diseases/ethnology; Optic Nerve Diseases/genetics*; Sex Factors; Singapore/epidemiology; Body Mass Index; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*
  3. Lau WH, Leong WS, Ismail Z, Gam LH
    Int J Biol Sci, 2008 Aug 04;4(4):215-22.
    PMID: 18695745
    Kidney stone disease affects 1 - 20% of the general population. At present, the diagnosis of a stone is done using radiography method when noticeable symptoms appeared. We developed a non-invasive quantitative assay for urinary THP, namely ELISA; whereby our previous study and other reports had shown the usefulness of THP as biomarker for kidney stone disease. Since urine is biological fluid that is easily obtainable, this method could be used as a screening assay for kidney stone prior to confirmation with radiography. The ELISA gave assay linearity r(2) > 0.999 within the range of 109 ng/mL to 945 ng/mL THP. Assay precisions were < 4% (C.V.) for repeatability and < 5% (C.V.) for reproducibility. Assay accuracy range from 97.7% to 101.2% at the various THP concentrations tested. Assay specificity and sensitivity were 80% and 86%, respectively. The cut-off points at P < 0.05 were 37.0 and 41.2 mug/mL for male and female, respectively. The assay is cost effective and rapid whereby the cost for assaying each urine sample in duplicate is approximately USD0.35 and within 5 hours, 37 samples can be assayed alongside full range of standards and 3 QC samples in each plate. Furthermore, sample preparation is relatively easy where urine sample was diluted 10 times in TEA buffer. The usability of the ELISA method for diagnosis of kidney stone disease is evaluated with 117 healthy subjects and 58 stone formers.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods; Female; Humans; Kidney Calculi/diagnosis*; Kidney Calculi/urine*; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Mucoproteins/urine*; Sensitivity and Specificity; Reproducibility of Results; Young Adult; Uromodulin
  4. Ramli N, Rahmat K, Tan GP
    Singapore Med J, 2008 Jul;49(7):e175-7.
    PMID: 18695851
    Malignant osteopetrosis is associated with petrous carotid canal and internal carotid artery stenosis in the skull base. We present a four-year-old boy with malignant osteopetrosis who developed right frontal lobe infarction as a result of bilateral internal carotid artery hypotrophy.
    MeSH terms: Blood Transfusion; Brain/pathology; Carotid Arteries/pathology*; Cerebral Angiography/methods; Child, Preschool; Humans; Male; Osteopetrosis/complications; Osteopetrosis/pathology*; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods; Carotid Stenosis/complications; Carotid Stenosis/pathology*; Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  5. Abdul Jalil N, Abdul Rahim N, Md Shalleh N, Rossetti C
    Singapore Med J, 2008 Jul;49(7):e178-82.
    PMID: 18695852
    A majority of the clinical use of positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) is related to cancer management. Its application in evaluating inflammatory diseases and pyrexia of unknown origin is becoming popular. We reviewed the fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT findings of an 80-year-old woman with nonspecific clinical presentation consisting of generalised malaise, moderately high fever and weight loss. Prior CT and magnetic resonance imaging were not helpful in providing a clinical diagnosis. The diagnosis was Horton's arteritis, and the patient responded well to high-dose steroids.
    MeSH terms: Aged, 80 and over; Arteritis/diagnosis*; Diagnostic Imaging/methods; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Inflammation; Steroids/therapeutic use; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods; Treatment Outcome; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*; Positron-Emission Tomography/instrumentation; Positron-Emission Tomography/methods*
  6. Intan HI, Zubaidah CD, Norazah A, Norlijah O
    Singapore Med J, 2008 Jul;49(7):e186-9.
    PMID: 18695854
    Subdural collections caused by Salmonella infection are rarely encountered in children. We present two cases caused by non-typhi Salmonella, one a four-and-a-half-month-old boy presenting with subdural effusion, and the other, a 16-month-old boy with empyema. The diagnosis was confirmed on blood and subdural pus cultures. One patient had status epilepticus following focal fit, and the other had prolonged fever without any localising signs of infection on admission. They responded well to prompt surgical drainage and prolonged systemic antibiotic therapy. Contrary to previous reports, both patients showed favourable outcome in terms of neurological sequelae.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use; Brain/pathology; Brain Abscess/diagnosis; Brain Abscess/microbiology*; Humans; Infant; Male; Salmonella/metabolism; Salmonella Infections/diagnosis; Salmonella Infections/etiology*; Salmonella Infections/therapy*; Status Epilepticus/diagnosis; Status Epilepticus/microbiology; Empyema, Subdural/diagnosis; Empyema, Subdural/microbiology
  7. Ghani AR, Abdullah JM, Ghazali M, Ahmad F, Ahmad KA, Madhavan M
    Singapore Med J, 2008 Jul;49(7):e192-4.
    PMID: 18695856
    Recurrent supratentorial extraventricular ependymoma in a four-year-old Malay boy treated twice surgically in combination with cranial radiotherapy is reported. He presented with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and a history of focal seizure. Computed tomography of the brain showed a left supratentorial extraventricular cystic lesion causing a mass effect. The tumour histology was ependymoma (WHO grade II). The clinical course, radiological characteristics and management of this tumour are discussed. Molecular genetic analysis of p53 and p27 genes revealed substitution of nucleotide G to C at location nucleotide 12139, exon 4 of gene p53. No alteration was detected at exon 5-6 and 8 of p53 gene and exon 1 and 2 of p27 gene.
    MeSH terms: Base Sequence; Child, Preschool; Chromatography/methods; Ependymoma/genetics*; Ependymoma/radiotherapy*; Exons; Humans; Male; Models, Genetic; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation*; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods; Genes, p53*; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27/genetics
  8. Muniran F, Bhore SJ, Shah FH
    Indian J Exp Biol, 2008 Jan;46(1):79-82.
    PMID: 18697576
    Three basal plant tissue culture media, namely, N6, MS, and modified Y3, were compared to optimize micropropagation protocol for E. guineensis. Full strength media were used separately to regenerate plantlets directly using immature zygotic embryos (IZEs), and through somatic embryogenesis of calli obtained from IZEs. The plantlets regenerated by direct regeneration on three media were examined for shoot length and rooting percentage. For the induction of callus, somatic embryogenesis, and rooting modified Y3 medium was the most effective. In conclusion, the results indicate that modified Y3 medium is the most suitable for direct regeneration, callus induction and somatic embryogenesis in E. guineensis.
    MeSH terms: Chlorides/chemistry; Culture Media/metabolism; Ions; Oils; Plant Extracts/metabolism*; Regeneration; Time Factors; Plant Roots/metabolism; Plant Shoots/metabolism*; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Germination
  9. Ng KH
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2008 Jun;31(2):85-9.
    PMID: 18697700
    From the time when Roentgen and other physicists made the discoveries which led to the development of radiology, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine, medical physicists have played a pivotal role in the development of new technologies that have revolutionized the way medicine is practiced today. Medical physicists have been transforming scientific advances in the research laboratories to improving the quality of life for patients; indeed innovations such as computed tomography, positron emission tomography and linear accelerators which collectively have improved the medical outcomes for millions of people. In order for radiation-delivery techniques to improve in targeting accuracy, optimal dose distribution and clinical outcome, convergence of imaging and therapy is the key. It is timely for these two specialties to work closer again. This can be achieved by means of cross-disciplinary research, common conferences and workshops, and collaboration in education and training for all. The current emphasis is on enhancing the specific skill development and competency of a medical physicist at the expense of their future roles and opportunities. This emphasis is largely driven by financial and political pressures for optimizing limited resources in health care. This has raised serious concern on the ability of the next generation of medical physicists to respond to new technologies. In addition in the background loom changes of tsunami proportion. The clearly defined boundaries between the different disciplines in medicine are increasingly blurred and those between diagnosis, therapy and management are also following suit. The use of radioactive particles to treat tumours using catheters, high-intensity focused ultrasound, electromagnetic wave ablation and photodynamic therapy are just some areas challenging the old paradigm. The uncertainty and turf battles will only explode further and medical physicists will not be spared. How would medical physicists fit into this changing scenario? We are in the midst of molecular revolution. Are we prepared to explore the newer technologies such as nanotechnology, drug discovery, pre-clinical imaging, optical imaging and biomedical informatics? How are our curricula adapting to the changing needs? We should remember the late Professor John Cameron who advocated imagination and creativity - these important attributes will make us still relevant in 2020 and beyond. To me the future is clear: "To achieve more, we should imagine together."
    MeSH terms: Forecasting*; Health Physics/education*; Health Physics/trends*; Radiotherapy/trends*; Nanomedicine/education*; Nanomedicine/trends*
  10. Soh HS, Ung NM, Ng KH
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2008 Jun;31(2):146-50.
    PMID: 18697706
    The advancement of digital imaging has prompted more medical institutions to go filmless. The computed radiography (CR) system is becoming an important tool not only in diagnostic imaging, but also in radiation oncology. A new CR system that was specially designed for the use in radiation oncology, Fuji IP cassette type PII has been introduced to the market in the middle of year 2006. This project aimed to study some basic physical characteristics of this new type of cassette and explore its application for performing quality assurance (QA) tests and portal imaging in radiotherapy. All the images were read by FCR 5000 Plus reader. The image was found to reach its saturation value of 1023 (due to the image was stored in 10 bits data) by depending on the sensitivity value being adjusted. The uniformity test gave the result of 0.12%. The cassette was used to perform the QA tests which were previously performed using film. All the results met the specification as stated in AAPM Task Group 40. The comparison for the portal images of PortalVision contrast-detail phantom showed that the spatial resolution of the images obtained by CR system (Fujifilm Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) were better than the EPID (Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, USA) and film system (Eastman Kodak Co., New York, USA). The IP cassette type PII was found to be suitable as an alternative QA test tool and portal imaging in radiotherapy.
    MeSH terms: Australia; Equipment Design; Quality Assurance, Health Care*; Radiographic Image Enhancement/instrumentation*; Radiometry/instrumentation*; Radiometry/methods; Radiotherapy Dosage; Sensitivity and Specificity; X-Ray Intensifying Screens*; Reproducibility of Results; Radiation Oncology/instrumentation*; Equipment Failure Analysis; Radiotherapy, Conformal/instrumentation*
  11. Jalil AM, Ismail A, Pei CP, Hamid M, Kamaruddin SH
    J Agric Food Chem, 2008 Sep 10;56(17):7877-84.
    PMID: 18702467 DOI: 10.1021/jf8015915
    In this present study, we investigated the effects of cocoa extract containing polyphenols and methylxanthines prepared from cocoa powder on the biochemical parameters of obese-diabetic (Ob-db) rats. Obese-diabetic (Ob-db) rats were developed using a high-fat diet (49% fat, 32% carbohydrate, and 19% protein from total energy, kcal) for 3 months, followed by a low dose (35 mg/kg body weight) streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Cocoa extract (600 mg/kg body weight/day) was given to the rats for 4 weeks. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in fasting plasma glucose and insulin level after 4 weeks of cocoa extract administration. Oral glucose tolerance test revealed that cocoa supplementation in Ob-db rats significantly (p < 0.05) reduced plasma glucose at 60 and 90 min compared to unsupplemented Ob-db rats. Plasma free fatty acid and oxidative stress biomarker (8-isoprostane) were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after cocoa supplementation. Superoxide dismutase activity was enhanced in Ob-db compared to that in nonsupplemented rats. However, no change was observed in catalase activity. The results showed that cocoa supplementation had an effect on postprandial glucose control but not for long term (4 weeks). Moreover, cocoa supplementation could reduce circulating plasma free fatty acid and 8-isoprostane and may enhance the antioxidant defense system.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants/analysis*; Blood Glucose/drug effects*; Blood Glucose/metabolism; Cacao/chemistry*; Catalase/blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/blood*; Dietary Fats/administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/blood; Glucose Tolerance Test; Insulin/blood; Male; Obesity/blood; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Superoxide Dismutase/blood; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Oxidative Stress/drug effects*; Rats
  12. Fathelrahman AI, Awang R, Bashir AA, Taha IA, Ibrahim HM
    Pharm World Sci, 2008 Dec;30(6):759-63.
    PMID: 18704750 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-008-9245-0
    OBJECTIVE: The services of the Ministry of Health Drug Information Center--Khartoum State were evaluated by assessing users' satisfaction.

    METHOD: Four hundred and twenty-three subjects were recruited from center records using a systematic random sampling technique. Subjects who consented were interviewed by telephone using a specially designed semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive as well as comparative analyses were carried out. Differences between groups were tested using the Chi-square test when applicable.

    RESULTS: The majority of users surveyed (89.6%) had called the center from within Khartoum State and 10.4% of users had called from other states. Of the enquiries, 36.1% were from pharmacists, 29.5% from physicians, and 22.3% from laypersons. The vast majority (93.1%) of respondents were educated to degree level or higher. Approximately one fifth, one half, and one third of the users surveyed had consulted the center >5 times, 2-5 times, and once, respectively. More than 90% of users rated the services provided as good to excellent and 94.7% declared their probable intention to continue utilizing the center in the future.

    CONCLUSION: The center succeeded in satisfying and retaining its users by providing an acceptable quality of service.

    MeSH terms: Attitude of Health Personnel*; Drug Information Services/standards*; Pharmacists/psychology; Physicians/psychology; Quality Assurance, Health Care*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sudan; Chi-Square Distribution; Patient Satisfaction
  13. Lee CM, Sieo CC, Abdullah N, Ho YW
    FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2008 Oct;287(1):136-41.
    PMID: 18707622 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2008.01305.x
    The copy numbers of 16S rRNA genes in 12 probiotic Lactobacillus strains of poultry origin were analyzed. Genomic DNA of the strains was digested with restriction endonucleases that do not cut within the 16S rRNA gene of the strains. This was followed by Southern hybridization with a biotinylated probe complementary to the 16S rRNA gene. The copy number of the 16S rRNA gene within a Lactobacillus species was found to be conserved. From the hybridization results, Lactobacillus salivarius I 24 was estimated to have seven copies of the 16S rRNA gene, Lactobacillus panis C 17 to have five copies and Lactobacillus gallinarum strains I 16 and I 26 four copies. The 16S rRNA gene copy numbers of L. gallinarum and L. panis reported in the present study are the first record. Lactobacillus brevis strains I 12, I 23, I 25, I 211, I 218 and Lactobacillus reuteri strains C 1, C 10, C 16 were estimated to have at least four copies of the 16S rRNA gene. In addition, distinct rRNA restriction patterns which could discriminate the strains of L. reuteri and L. gallinarum were also detected. Information on 16S rRNA gene copy number is important for physiological, evolutionary and population studies of the bacteria.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Chickens/microbiology*; DNA Restriction Enzymes/metabolism; Lactobacillus/classification; Lactobacillus/genetics*; Lactobacillus/isolation & purification; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics*; Blotting, Southern; Gene Dosage*; Probiotics*; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology*
  14. Muniandy SV, Stanslas J
    Comput Med Imaging Graph, 2008 Oct;32(7):631-7.
    PMID: 18707844 DOI: 10.1016/j.compmedimag.2008.07.003
    Chromatin morphologies in human breast cancer cells treated with an anti-cancer agent are analyzed at their early stage of programmed cell death or apoptosis. The gray-level images of nuclear chromatin are modelled as random fields. We used two-dimensional isotropic generalized Cauchy field to characterize local self-similarity and global long-range dependence behaviors in the image spatial data. Generalized Cauchy field allows the description of fractal behavior inferred from fractal dimension and the long-range dependence inferred from correlation exponent to be carried out independently. We demonstrated the usefulness of locally self-similar random fields with long-range dependence for modelling chromatin condensation.
    MeSH terms: Algorithms; Breast Neoplasms/pathology*; Breast Neoplasms/ultrastructure*; Chromatin/pathology*; Chromatin/ultrastructure*; Computer Simulation; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Models, Biological*; Sensitivity and Specificity; Reproducibility of Results; Apoptosis*; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission/methods
  15. Hasoon FN, Aljunid SA, Samad MD, Abdullah MK, Shaari S
    Appl Opt, 2008 Mar 20;47(9):1263-8.
    PMID: 18709073
    An optical decoding technique is proposed for a spectral-amplitude-coding-optical code division multiple access, namely, the AND subtraction technique. The theory is being elaborated and experimental results have been done by comparing a double-weight code against the existing code, Hadamard. We have proved that the and subtraction technique gives better bit error rate performance than the conventional complementary subtraction technique against the received power level.
    MeSH terms: Body Weight; Subtraction Technique
  16. Vythilingam I, Noorazian YM, Huat TC, Jiram AI, Yusri YM, Azahari AH, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2008;1(1):26.
    PMID: 18710577 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-1-26
  17. Khanna RK, Mokhtar E
    Indian J Ophthalmol, 2008 8 20;56(5):429-30.
    PMID: 18711278
    To describe use of a locally processed bovine pericardium (BP) to cover a large central corneal perforation following alkali injury and discuss postoperative outcome. A 27-year-old Malay male patient presented two weeks after alkali splashed in his left eye while working. A clinical diagnosis of left central corneal ulcer with limbal ischemia following alkali injury with secondary infection was made. After failed medical therapy, we performed a Gunderson conjunctival flap under local anesthesia that retracted after one week and resulted in a large central corneal perforation with surrounding stromal thinning. The perforation was covered with a locally processed BP xenograft (Lyolemb) supplied by the National Tissue Bank, University Sains Malaysia. Nine months follow-up showed a well-taken graft without any exposure/dehiscence and minimal inflammation. Amniotic membrane transplantation when used as a patch graft needs an urgent tectonic graft to promote corneal stability in patients with severe corneal thinning. The use of processed BP can be a viable option in treating such cases.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Alkalies/adverse effects*; Animals; Burns, Chemical/etiology; Burns, Chemical/pathology; Burns, Chemical/surgery*; Cattle; Cornea/drug effects; Cornea/surgery; Eye Burns/chemically induced*; Eye Burns/pathology; Eye Burns/surgery; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Pericardium/transplantation*; Rupture; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures/methods*; Transplantation, Heterologous; Trauma Severity Indices; Corneal Injuries*
  18. Soo KL, Shariff ZM, Taib MN, Samah BA
    Percept Mot Skills, 2008 Jun;106(3):833-44.
    PMID: 18712205 DOI: 10.2466/pms.106.3.833-844
    This cross-sectional study was undertaken with 489 secondary school girls, ages 15-17 years, to examine disordered eating behaviours of adolescent girls in Malaysia and to estimate associations with body weight, body-size discrepancy, and self-esteem. Dietary restraint, binge eating, body image, and self-esteem were assessed using the Restrained Eating scale of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, the Binge Scale Questionnaire, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, respectively. Pearson correlations estimated associations between variables. There were 3.1% underweight, 9.8% at risk of being overweight, and 8.6% overweight girls. A total of 87.3% were dissatisfied with their own body size. Dietary restraint and binge eating were reported by 36.0% and 35.4%, respectively. Body Mass Index (r = .34, p < .01) and body-size dissatisfaction (r = .24, p < .01) were significantly associated with dietary restraint and binge eating, but self-esteem (r = -.20, p < .001) was significantly associated only with binge eating.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior/psychology; Psychology, Adolescent*; Feeding and Eating Disorders/diagnosis*; Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology; Body Height; Body Image*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feeding Behavior/psychology*; Female; Food Habits/psychology; Humans; Malaysia; Obesity/diagnosis; Obesity/psychology; Personal Satisfaction; Personality Inventory; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Surveys and Questionnaires; Self Concept*; Body Mass Index; Body Size; Overweight/diagnosis; Overweight/psychology
  19. Mohd Taib NA, Yip CH, Mohamed I
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2008 Apr-Jun;9(2):197-202.
    PMID: 18712958
    BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the commonest cancer amongst Malaysian women but local survival data are scarce. The present study was therefore conducted to assess overall survival and prognostic factors in Malaysian breast cancer patients.

    METHODS: The research sample was a prospective cohort of 413 patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the University of Malaya Medical Centre between 1993 to 1997. Survival data were obtained from the National Registry of Birth and Deaths in December 2000. The clinico-pathological variables studied were age, ethnic group, stage, tumour size, lymph node status, oestrogen receptor status and grade. The data were analysed utilizing Splus statistical software. The important prognostic factors were identified by fitting the Cox's proportional hazard model to the data set. Survival probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and differences were compared by the log-rank test.

    RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival was 59.1%. The Cox's proportional hazard model identified stage, lymph node status, size and grade as factors that correlated with prognosis. Age was not a significant prognostic factor. The Cox regression model by stepwise selection showed stage, nodal status and grade of tumour to be independent prognostic factors, whereas ethnicity, age and ER status were not.

    INTERPRETATION: The overall survival in our centre was low. Recognizing factors that affect prognosis of breast cancer patients in Malaysia may improve delivery of health care to at-risk groups by strategizing interventions as survival depends on early detection and effective treatment.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism; Breast Neoplasms/mortality*; Breast Neoplasms/therapy; Female; Humans; Lymph Nodes/pathology; Malaysia/epidemiology; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism; Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism; Registries; Universities; Cohort Studies; Survival Rate
  20. Parsa P, Kandiah M, Mohd Zulkefli NA, Rahman HA
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2008 Apr-Jun;9(2):221-7.
    PMID: 18712963
    A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the knowledge and practices of 425 female secondary school teachers from 20 selected secondary schools in Selangor, Malaysia on breast cancer screening (BCS). A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used for data collection. This study showed moderate to low knowledge on breast cancer (BC) and BCS among teachers. Only 19%, 25% and 13.6% eligible women performed breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography respectively, on a regular basis. Level of breast cancer knowledge was significantly associated with BSE (p<0.001). Having heard/ read about BCS, and regular visit with a physician were associated with BCS behaviors (P<0.05). There was no association between BCS behaviors (P>0.05) and age, family history of breast cancer, marital status or having health insurance. Efforts are needed to increase knowledge and remove misconceptions about breast cancer and screening practices among Malaysian women.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis*; Breast Neoplasms/psychology*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Mammography/psychology; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Teaching*; Health Behavior*; Breast Self-Examination/psychology; Young Adult; School Teachers
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