Browse publications by year: 2014

  1. Factors associated with mouthguard use and discontinuation among rugby players in Malaysia
    Liew AK, Abdullah D, Wan Noorina WA, Khoo S
    Dent Traumatol, 2014 Dec;30(6):461-7.
    PMID: 24890132 DOI: 10.1111/edt.12114
    To assess rugby players' preferences for using a mouthguard and to determine the factors contributing to the use and discontinuation of a mouthguard.
  2. Fulltext Subclinical infection without encephalitis in mice following intranasal exposure to Nipah virus-Malaysia and Nipah virus-Bangladesh
    Dups J, Middleton D, Long F, Arkinstall R, Marsh GA, Wang LF
    Virol J, 2014;11:102.
    PMID: 24890603 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-11-102
    Nipah virus and Hendra virus are closely related and following natural or experimental exposure induce similar clinical disease. In humans, encephalitis is the most serious outcome of infection and, hitherto, research into the pathogenesis of henipavirus encephalitis has been limited by the lack of a suitable model. Recently we reported a wild-type mouse model of Hendra virus (HeV) encephalitis that should facilitate detailed investigations of its neuropathogenesis, including mechanisms of disease recrudescence. In this study we investigated the possibility of developing a similar model of Nipah virus encephalitis.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antibodies, Viral/blood; Disease Models, Animal*; Lung/virology; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Nipah Virus/isolation & purification*; Henipavirus Infections/pathology*; Henipavirus Infections/virology*; Asymptomatic Infections*
  3. Spatiotemporal variation of groundwater quality using integrated multivariate statistical and geostatistical approaches in Amol-Babol Plain, Iran
    Sheikhy Narany T, Ramli MF, Aris AZ, Sulaiman WN, Fakharian K
    Environ Monit Assess, 2014 Sep;186(9):5797-815.
    PMID: 24891071 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-014-3820-8
    In recent years, groundwater quality has become a global concern due to its effect on human life and natural ecosystems. To assess the groundwater quality in the Amol-Babol Plain, a total of 308 water samples were collected during wet and dry seasons in 2009. The samples were analysed for their physico-chemical and biological constituents. Multivariate statistical analysis and geostatistical techniques were applied to assess the spatial and temporal variabilities of groundwater quality and to identify the main factors and sources of contamination. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that seven factors explained around 75% of the total variance, which highlighted salinity, hardness and biological pollution as the dominant factors affecting the groundwater quality in the Plain. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted on the dataset to evaluate the spatio-temporal variation. The results showed that there were no significant temporal variations between the two seasons, which explained the similarity between six component factors in dry and wet seasons based on the PCA results. There are also significant spatial differences (p > 0.05) of the parameters under study, including salinity, potassium, sulphate and dissolved oxygen in the plain. The least significant difference (LSD) test revealed that groundwater salinity in the eastern region is significantly different to the central and western side of the study area. Finally, multivariate analysis and geostatistical techniques were combined as an effective method for demonstrating the spatial structure of multivariate spatial data. It was concluded that multiple natural processes and anthropogenic activities were the main sources of groundwater salinization, hardness and microbiological contamination of the study area.
    MeSH terms: Environmental Monitoring/methods*; Iran; Seasons; Multivariate Analysis; Principal Component Analysis; Salinity; Groundwater/analysis*; Groundwater/chemistry; Spatio-Temporal Analysis
  4. Four new bioluminescent taxa of Mycena sect. Calodontes from Peninsular Malaysia
    Chew AL, Tan YS, Desjardin DE, Musa MY, Sabaratnam V
    Mycologia, 2014 Sep-Oct;106(5):976-88.
    PMID: 24891424 DOI: 10.3852/13-274
    Three new species and one new variety of bioluminescent Mycena collected from Peninsular Malaysia are described herein. All new species belong to Mycena sect. Calodontes in what is known as the Mycena pura complex. Comprehensive descriptions, photographs, illustrations and comparisons with phenetically similar species are provided. Molecular sequences data from the nuclear internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2, including the 5.8S rRNA) were used to infer relationships within sect. Calodontes. Axenic cultures were obtained to provide data on culture morphology. This is the first published photographic documentation of bioluminescent basidiomes of members of Mycena sect. Calodontes. Also, this addition brings the total known bioluminescent fungi to 77 species.
    MeSH terms: Agaricales/classification*; Agaricales/cytology; Agaricales/genetics; Agaricales/isolation & purification; Base Sequence; DNA, Fungal/genetics; DNA, Fungal/chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry; Malaysia; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Spores, Fungal; Sequence Analysis, DNA; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal
  5. Fulltext Zoonotic Ancylostoma ceylanicum infection detected by endoscopy
    Ngui R, Lim YA, Ismail WH, Lim KN, Mahmud R
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2014 Jul;91(1):86-8.
    PMID: 24891471 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0756
    We report a case of Ancylostoma ceylanicum infection detected by endoscopy. It was diagnosed and confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. The patient is a 58-year-old Malaysian woman who lives in a rural area, where uncontrolled populations of stray and semidomesticated dogs live in close proximity with humans.
    MeSH terms: Ancylostoma/isolation & purification*; Ancylostomiasis/diagnosis*; Ancylostomiasis/pathology; Animals; Dogs; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Zoonoses; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
  6. Fulltext Dispatch from the field: ecology of ground-web-building spiders with description of a new species (Araneae, Symphytognathidae)
    Miller JA, Schilthuizen M, Burmester JL, van der Graaf L, Merckx V, Jocqué M, et al.
    Biodivers Data J, 2014.
    PMID: 24891829 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e1076
    Crassignathadanaugirangensis sp. n. (Araneae: Symphytognathidae) was discovered during a tropical ecology field course held at the Danau Girang Field Centre in Sabah, Malaysia. A taxonomic description and accompanying ecological study were completed as course activities. To assess the ecology of this species, which belongs to the ground-web-building spider community, three habitat types were surveyed: riparian forest, recently inundated riverine forest, and oil palm plantation. Crassignathadanaugirangensis sp. n. is the most abundant ground-web-building spider species in riparian forest; it is rare or absent from the recently inundated forest and was not found in a nearby oil palm plantation. The availability of this taxonomic description may help facilitate the accumulation of data about this species and the role of inundated riverine forest in shaping invertebrate communities.
  7. Fulltext Oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders
    Farah CS, Woo SB, Zain RB, Sklavounou A, McCullough MJ, Lingen M
    Int J Dent, 2014;2014:853479.
    PMID: 24891850 DOI: 10.1155/2014/853479
  8. Fulltext Microgravity environment and compensatory: Decompensatory phases for intracranial hypertension form new perspectives to explain mechanism underlying communicating hydrocephalus and its related disorders
    Idris Z, Mustapha M, Abdullah JM
    Asian J Neurosurg, 2014 Jan;9(1):7-13.
    PMID: 24891884 DOI: 10.4103/1793-5482.131058
    The pathogenesis underlying communicating hydrocephalus has been centered on impaired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow secondary to abnormal CSF pulsation and venous hypertension. Hydrodynamic theory of hydrocephalus fares better than traditional theory in explaining the possible mechanisms underlying communicating hydrocephalus. Nonetheless, hydrodynamic theory alone could not fully explain some conditions that have ventriculomegaly but without hydrocephalus. By revisiting brain buoyancy from a fresher perspective, called microgravity environment of the brain, introducing wider concepts of anatomical and physiological compensatory-decompensatory phases for a persistent raise in intracranial pressure, and along with combining these two concepts with the previously well-accepted concepts of Monro-Kellie doctrine, intracranial hypertension, cerebral blood flow, cerebral perfusion pressure, brain compliance and elasticity, cerebral autoregulation, blood-brain and blood-CSF barriers, venous and cardiopulmonary hypertension, Windkessel phenomenon, and cerebral pulsation, we provide plausible explanations to the pathogenesis for communicating hydrocephalus and its related disorders.
  9. Fulltext Modeling, control, and simulation of battery storage photovoltaic-wave energy hybrid renewable power generation systems for island electrification in Malaysia
    Samrat NH, Bin Ahmad N, Choudhury IA, Bin Taha Z
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:436376.
    PMID: 24892049 DOI: 10.1155/2014/436376
    Today, the whole world faces a great challenge to overcome the environmental problems related to global energy production. Most of the islands throughout the world depend on fossil fuel importation with respect to energy production. Recent development and research on green energy sources can assure sustainable power supply for the islands. But unpredictable nature and high dependency on weather conditions are the main limitations of renewable energy sources. To overcome this drawback, different renewable sources and converters need to be integrated with each other. This paper proposes a standalone hybrid photovoltaic- (PV-) wave energy conversion system with energy storage. In the proposed hybrid system, control of the bidirectional buck-boost DC-DC converter (BBDC) is used to maintain the constant dc-link voltage. It also accumulates the excess hybrid power in the battery bank and supplies this power to the system load during the shortage of hybrid power. A three-phase complex vector control scheme voltage source inverter (VSI) is used to control the load side voltage in terms of the frequency and voltage amplitude. Based on the simulation results obtained from Matlab/Simulink, it has been found that the overall hybrid framework is capable of working under the variable weather and load conditions.
    MeSH terms: Electricity*; Malaysia; Models, Theoretical*; Electric Power Supplies*
  10. Fulltext Monte Carlo method with heuristic adjustment for irregularly shaped food product volume measurement
    Siswantoro J, Prabuwono AS, Abdullah A, Idrus B
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:683048.
    PMID: 24892069 DOI: 10.1155/2014/683048
    Volume measurement plays an important role in the production and processing of food products. Various methods have been proposed to measure the volume of food products with irregular shapes based on 3D reconstruction. However, 3D reconstruction comes with a high-priced computational cost. Furthermore, some of the volume measurement methods based on 3D reconstruction have a low accuracy. Another method for measuring volume of objects uses Monte Carlo method. Monte Carlo method performs volume measurements using random points. Monte Carlo method only requires information regarding whether random points fall inside or outside an object and does not require a 3D reconstruction. This paper proposes volume measurement using a computer vision system for irregularly shaped food products without 3D reconstruction based on Monte Carlo method with heuristic adjustment. Five images of food product were captured using five cameras and processed to produce binary images. Monte Carlo integration with heuristic adjustment was performed to measure the volume based on the information extracted from binary images. The experimental results show that the proposed method provided high accuracy and precision compared to the water displacement method. In addition, the proposed method is more accurate and faster than the space carving method.
    MeSH terms: Calibration; Computer Systems; Food*; Monte Carlo Method*
  11. Fulltext Gaining surgical access for repositioning the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle
    Al-Siweedi SY, Nambiar P, Shanmuhasuntharam P, Ngeow WC
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:719243.
    PMID: 24892077 DOI: 10.1155/2014/719243
    This study is aimed at determining anatomical landmarks that can be used to gain access to the inferior alveolar neurovascular (IAN) bundle. Scanned CBCT (i-CAT machine) data of sixty patients and reconstructions performed using the SimPlant dental implant software were reviewed. Outcome variables were the linear distances of the mandibular canal to the inferior border and the buccal cortex of the mandible, measured immediately at the mental foramen (D1) and at 10, 20, 30, and 40 mm (D2-D5) distal to it. Predictor variables were age, ethnicity, and gender of subjects. Apicobasal assessment of the canal reveals that it is curving downward towards the inferior mandibular border until 20 mm (D3) distal to the mental foramen where it then curves upwards, making an elliptic-arc curve. The mandibular canal also forms a buccolingually oriented elliptic arc in relation to the buccal cortex. Variations due to age, ethnicity, and gender were evident and this study provides an accurate anatomic zone for gaining surgical access to the IAN bundle. The findings indicate that the buccal cortex-IAN distance was greatest at D3. Therefore, sites between D2 and D5 can be used as favorable landmarks to access the IAN bundle with the least complications to the patient.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Mandibular Nerve/surgery*; Neurosurgical Procedures/methods*
  12. Fulltext Characterization of affinity-purified isoforms of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Y1 glutathione transferases
    Chee CS, Tan IK, Alias Z
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:750317.
    PMID: 24892084 DOI: 10.1155/2014/750317
    Glutathione transferases (GST) were purified from locally isolated bacteria, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Y1, by glutathione-affinity chromatography and anion exchange, and their substrate specificities were investigated. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the purified GST resolved into a single band with a molecular weight (MW) of 23 kDa. 2-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis showed the presence of two isoforms, GST1 (pI 4.5) and GST2 (pI 6.2) with identical MW. GST1 was reactive towards ethacrynic acid, hydrogen peroxide, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, and trans,trans-hepta-2,4-dienal while GST2 was active towards all substrates except hydrogen peroxide. This demonstrated that GST1 possessed peroxidase activity which was absent in GST2. This study also showed that only GST2 was able to conjugate GSH to isoproturon, a herbicide. GST1 and GST2 were suggested to be similar to F0KLY9 (putative glutathione S-transferase) and F0KKB0 (glutathione S-transferase III) of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain PHEA-2, respectively.
    MeSH terms: Amino Acid Sequence; Chromatography, Affinity/methods*; Glutathione Transferase/isolation & purification*; Glutathione Transferase/chemistry; Isoenzymes/isolation & purification*; Isoenzymes/chemistry; Molecular Sequence Data; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus/enzymology*; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  13. Fulltext A ROM-less direct digital frequency synthesizer based on hybrid polynomial approximation
    Omran QK, Islam MT, Misran N, Faruque MR
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:812576.
    PMID: 24892092 DOI: 10.1155/2014/812576
    In this paper, a novel design approach for a phase to sinusoid amplitude converter (PSAC) has been investigated. Two segments have been used to approximate the first sine quadrant. A first linear segment is used to fit the region near the zero point, while a second fourth-order parabolic segment is used to approximate the rest of the sine curve. The phase sample, where the polynomial changed, was chosen in such a way as to achieve the maximum spurious free dynamic range (SFDR). The invented direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS) has been encoded in VHDL and post simulation was carried out. The synthesized architecture exhibits a promising result of 90 dBc SFDR. The targeted structure is expected to show advantages for perceptible reduction of hardware resources and power consumption as well as high clock speeds.
    MeSH terms: Algorithms; Models, Theoretical*
  14. Fulltext Mechanism and design analysis of articulated ankle foot orthoses for drop-foot
    Alam M, Choudhury IA, Bin Mamat A
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:867869.
    PMID: 24892102 DOI: 10.1155/2014/867869
    Robotic technologies are being employed increasingly in the treatment of lower limb disabilities. Individuals suffering from stroke and other neurological disorders often experience inadequate dorsiflexion during swing phase of the gait cycle due to dorsiflexor muscle weakness. This type of pathological gait, mostly known as drop-foot gait, has two major complications, foot-slap during loading response and toe-drag during swing. Ankle foot orthotic (AFO) devices are mostly prescribed to resolve these complications. Existing AFOs are designed with or without articulated joint with various motion control elements like springs, dampers, four-bar mechanism, series elastic actuator, and so forth. This paper examines various AFO designs for drop-foot, discusses the mechanism, and identifies limitations and remaining design challenges. Along with two commercially available AFOs some designs possess promising prospective to be used as daily-wear device. However, the design and mechanism of AFO must ensure compactness, light weight, low noise, and high efficiency. These entailments present significant engineering challenges to develop a new design with wide consumer adoption.
    MeSH terms: Ankle Joint/physiopathology*; Foot/physiopathology*; Humans; Orthotic Devices*; Prosthesis Design*; Gait Disorders, Neurologic/therapy*
  15. Fulltext Moving object detection using dynamic motion modelling from UAV aerial images
    Saif AF, Prabuwono AS, Mahayuddin ZR
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:890619.
    PMID: 24892103 DOI: 10.1155/2014/890619
    Motion analysis based moving object detection from UAV aerial image is still an unsolved issue due to inconsideration of proper motion estimation. Existing moving object detection approaches from UAV aerial images did not deal with motion based pixel intensity measurement to detect moving object robustly. Besides current research on moving object detection from UAV aerial images mostly depends on either frame difference or segmentation approach separately. There are two main purposes for this research: firstly to develop a new motion model called DMM (dynamic motion model) and secondly to apply the proposed segmentation approach SUED (segmentation using edge based dilation) using frame difference embedded together with DMM model. The proposed DMM model provides effective search windows based on the highest pixel intensity to segment only specific area for moving object rather than searching the whole area of the frame using SUED. At each stage of the proposed scheme, experimental fusion of the DMM and SUED produces extracted moving objects faithfully. Experimental result reveals that the proposed DMM and SUED have successfully demonstrated the validity of the proposed methodology.
    MeSH terms: Models, Theoretical*; Remote Sensing Technology*
  16. Mapping and modelling the geographical distribution of soil-transmitted helminthiases in Peninsular Malaysia: implications for control approaches
    Ngui R, Shafie A, Chua KH, Mistam MS, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Sulaiman WW, et al.
    Geospat Health, 2014 May;8(2):365-76.
    PMID: 24893014
    Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in Malaysia are still highly prevalent, especially in rural and remote communities. Complete estimations of the total disease burden in the country has not been performed, since available data are not easily accessible in the public domain. The current study utilised geographical information system (GIS) to collate and map the distribution of STH infections from available empirical survey data in Peninsular Malaysia, highlighting areas where information is lacking. The assembled database, comprising surveys conducted between 1970 and 2012 in 99 different locations, represents one of the most comprehensive compilations of STH infections in the country. It was found that the geographical distribution of STH varies considerably with no clear pattern across the surveyed locations. Our attempt to generate predictive risk maps of STH infections on the basis of ecological limits such as climate and other environmental factors shows that the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides is low along the western coast and the southern part of the country, whilst the prevalence is high in the central plains and in the North. In the present study, we demonstrate that GIS can play an important role in providing data for the implementation of sustainable and effective STH control programmes to policy-makers and authorities in charge.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Helminthiasis/epidemiology*; Helminthiasis/prevention & control; Helminthiasis/transmission; Helminths; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Soil/parasitology*; Models, Statistical; Prevalence; Geographic Information Systems; Spatial Analysis
  17. Temporal and spatial mapping of hand, foot and mouth disease in Sarawak, Malaysia
    Sham NM, Krishnarajah I, Ibrahim NA, Lye MS
    Geospat Health, 2014 May;8(2):503-7.
    PMID: 24893027
    Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is endemic in Sarawak, Malaysia. In this study, a geographical information system (GIS) was used to investigate the relationship between the reported HFMD cases and the spatial patterns in 11 districts of Sarawak from 2006 to 2012. Within this 7-years period, the highest number of reported HFMD cases occurred in 2006, followed by 2012, 2008, 2009, 2007, 2010 and 2011, in descending order. However, while there was no significant distribution pattern or clustering in the first part of the study period (2006 to 2011) based on Moran's I statistic, spatial autocorrelation (P = 0.068) was observed in 2012.
    MeSH terms: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/epidemiology*; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Incidence; Cluster Analysis; Geographic Information Systems; Spatio-Temporal Analysis
  18. Fulltext Knowledge and beliefs about breastfeeding are not determinants for successful breastfeeding
    Ishak S, Adzan NA, Quan LK, Shafie MH, Rani NA, Ramli KG
    Breastfeed Med, 2014;9(6):308-12.
    PMID: 24893127 DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2013.0124
    A cross-sectional prospective study was performed to assess knowledge and attitude toward breastfeeding among mothers in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia and its influence on their breastfeeding practices. Two hundred thirteen women who had delivered healthy babies at term were enrolled. A structured questionnaire containing demographic data and the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Score were used, followed by a telephone interview after 8 weeks to determine the feeding outcome. Women of Malay ethnicity with higher education level who had received breastfeeding counseling had a significantly more favorable attitude toward breastfeeding. Ethnicity was found to be a significant determinant in the success of breastfeeding, whereas returning to work was a major reason for discontinuing breastfeeding. In ensuring a successful breastfeeding practice, apart from knowledge and attitude, issues surrounding culture and traditions as well as improving deliverance of readily available support should be addressed.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cultural Characteristics; Female; Health Policy; Humans; Infant; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Infant, Newborn; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Malaysia/epidemiology; Mothers/psychology*; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Social Support
  19. Fulltext Epstein-Barr virus, the germinal centre and the development of Hodgkin's lymphoma
    Mohamed G, Vrzalikova K, Cader FZ, Vockerodt M, Nagy E, Flodr P, et al.
    J Gen Virol, 2014 Sep;95(Pt 9):1861-1869.
    PMID: 24893782 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.066712-0
    The relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the germinal centre (GC) of the asymptomatic host remains an enigma. The occasional appearance of EBV-positive germinal centres in some patients, particularly those with a history of immunosuppression, suggests that EBV numbers in the GC are subject to immune control. The relationship, if any, between lymphoid hyperplasia with EBV-positive germinal centres and subsequent or concurrent lymphomagenesis remains to be clarified. As far as the development of EBV-associated Hodgkin's lymphoma is concerned, the suppression of virus replication, mediated by LMP1 on the one hand, and the loss of B-cell receptor signalling on the other, appears to be an important pathogenic mechanism. A further important emerging concept is that alterations in the microenvironment of the EBV-infected B-cell may be important for lymphomagenesis.
    MeSH terms: Adult; B-Lymphocytes/immunology; B-Lymphocytes/virology*; Cell Differentiation/immunology; Herpesvirus 4, Human/immunology*; Female; Hodgkin Disease/immunology; Hodgkin Disease/virology*; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/immunology; Viral Matrix Proteins; Virus Replication/immunology; Germinal Center/immunology*; Germinal Center/virology*; Pseudolymphoma/virology; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/virology; Young Adult
  20. Fulltext Consanguinity and isolated atrial septal defect in North East of Iran
    Moghaddam HM, Esfehani RJ, Panah NY, Esfehani AJ
    Ann Saudi Med, 2014 6 5;34(2):147-52.
    PMID: 24894784 DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2014.147
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The rate of consanguineous marriage is high in Middle Eastern countries such as Iran. The relationship between consanguineous marriage and congenital heart disease is discussed in some studies, but there is not much data for relationship between atrial septal defect (ASD) and consanguineous marriage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between consanguineous marriage and ASD echocardiographic characteristics.

    DESIGN AND SETTINGS: This was a cross-sectional study approved by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences ethics committee and took place in Mashhad, Iran, for a period of 3 years from August 2008 till September 2011.

    METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 113 ASD patients participated and they were categorized into 3 groups on the basis of family relationship between their parents: first group-"no relationship," second group- "third degree relationship," and third group- "far relationship."

    RESULTS: Among the 54 male and 59 female ASD patients, the most prevalent type of ASD was ASD secundum (85.0%) followed by sinus venosus (8.8%). A total of 56% patients were present in the first group and 15% and 29% in the second group and the third group, respectively." The relationship between consanguinity and type of ASD (P < .001) and gender (P < .001 each) was observed. The relationship between the age of onset of disease and consanguinity (P=.003) was also observed.

    CONCLUSION: Considering the fact that there is a high prevalence of ASD and consanguineous marriage in Iran and bearing in mind the results of the present study, we recommend educating couples about the outcomes of consanguineous marriage in pre-marriage counseling.

    MeSH terms: Child; Child, Preschool; Consanguinity*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Echocardiography; Family; Female; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/classification; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/epidemiology*; Humans; Iran/epidemiology; Male; Marriage; Pedigree; Prevalence; Age of Onset
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