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Fulltext Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Iranian Children's Growth and Development: A Descriptive-analytical Study

Lye MS, Zarghami M, Charati JY, Abdollahi F

Oman Med J, 2023 Jan;38(1):e464.
PMID: 36937772 DOI: 10.5001/omj.2023.51

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of different types of intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by married Iranian women and their impact on the growth and development of their children.
METHODS: For this descriptive-analytical study, we recruited the mothers of one-year-old children attending primary health centers in Gonbad-e-Kavoos city, Iran. The data was collected using a questionnaire comprising the World Health Organization Domestic Violence, Ages and Stages Questionnaire-12; and queries related to the participants' socio-economic, obstetrics, demographic, and anthropometric characteristics. The body mass index z (BMI z) scores of the children were divided into five categories based on the World Health Organization's classification: severely underweight (z < -3), underweight (-3 ≤ z < -2), normal (-2 ≤ z < 1), overweight (1 ≤ z ≤ 2), and obese (z > 2). The data were subjected to descriptive analysis, chi-square test, and regression.
RESULTS: A total of 596 of mother-child dyads were included in this study. The prevalence of psychological, physical, and sexual IPV was 29.5%, 7.4%, and 2.4%, respectively. Most children (91.7%) had normal weight while the rest were overweight or obese. Developmental problems were reported in 1.7% of children. The education level of the father was significantly related to IPV (p =0.001) while the type of his occupation was related to delay in child growth (p =0.020). There was no significant difference between BMI z-score and developmental disabilities in the children of women exposed and not exposed to any type of IPV.
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of psychological IPV was high while those of physical and sexual IPV were low. The rates of poor child growth and development were also low. The father's educational and socio-economic status influenced IPV and the children's growth deficits.
Fulltext The World Health Organization Body Mass Index Curves for Iranian Children

Lye MS, Zarghami M, Abdollahi F

Oman Med J, 2023 Sep;38(5):e563.
PMID: 38192362 DOI: 10.5001/omj.2023.130
Fulltext Association of hOGG1 Ser326Cys, ITGA2 C807T, TNF-A -308G>A and XPD Lys751Gln polymorphisms with the survival of Malaysian NPC patients

Ban EZ, Lye MS, Chong PP, Yap YY, Lim SYC, Abdul Rahman H

PLoS One, 2018;13(6):e0198332.
PMID: 29912899 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198332

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare form of cancer across the world except in certain areas such as Southern China, Hong Kong and Malaysia. NPC is considered a relatively radiosensitive tumor and patients diagnosed at early stages tend to survive longer compared to those with advanced disease. Given that early symptoms of NPC are non-specific and that the nasopharynx is relatively inaccessible, less invasive screening methods such as biomarker screening might be the key to improve NPC survival and management. A number of genes with their respective polymorphisms have been shown in past studies to be associated with survival of various cancers. hOGG1 and XPD genes encode for a DNA glycosylase and a DNA helicase respectively; both are proteins that are involved in DNA repair. ITGA2 is the alpha subunit of the transmembrane receptor integrin and is mainly responsible for cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interaction. TNF-α is a cytokine that is released by immune cells during inflammation.
METHODS: Restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) was used to genotype all the aforementioned gene polymorphisms. Kaplan-Meier survival function, log-rank test and Cox regression were used to investigate the effect of gene polymorphisms on the all-cause survival of NPC.
RESULTS: NPC cases carrying T/T genotype of ITGA2 C807T have poorer all-cause survival compared to those with C/C genotypes, with an adjusted HR of 2.06 (95% CI = 1.14-3.72) in individual model. The 5-year survival rate of C/C carriers was 55% compared to those with C/T and T/T where the survival rates were 50% and 43%, respectively.
CONCLUSION: The finding from the present study showed that ITGA2 C807T polymorphism could be potentially useful as a prognostic biomarker for NPC. However, the prognostic value of ITGA2 C807T polymorphism has to be validated by well-designed further studies with larger patient numbers.
Fulltext Haplotype CGC from XPD, hOGG1 and ITGA2 polymorphisms increases the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Malaysia

Ban EZ, Lye MS, Chong PP, Yap YY, Lim SYC, Abdul Rahman H

PLoS One, 2017;12(11):e0187200.
PMID: 29121049 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187200

BACKGROUND: 8-oxoG, a common DNA lesion resulting from reactive oxygen species (ROS), has been shown to be associated with cancer initiation. hOGG1 DNA glycosylase is the primary enzyme responsible for excision of 8-oxoG through base excision repair (BER). Integrins are members of a family of cell surface receptors that mediate the cell-cell and extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. Integrins are involved in almost every aspect of carcinogenesis, from cell differentiation, cell proliferation, metastasis to angiogenesis. Loss of ITGA2 expression was associated with enhanced tumor intravasation and metastasis of breast and colon cancer. XPD gene encodes DNA helicase enzyme that is involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER). It is shown in previous research that XPD homozygous wildtype Lys/Lys genotype was associated with higher odds of NPC.
METHODS: We conducted a 1 to N case-control study involving 300 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cases and 533 controls matched by age, gender and ethnicity to investigate the effect of hOGG1 Ser326Cys, ITGA2 C807T and XPD Lys751Gln polymorphisms on NPC risk. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis were conducted to explore the association of allele combinations with NPC risk. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP-PCR) was used for DNA genotyping.
RESULTS: No significant association was observed between hOGG1 Ser326Cys and ITGA2 C807T polymorphisms with NPC risk after adjustment for age, gender, ethnicity, cigarette smoking, alcohol and salted fish consumption. Lys/Lys genotype of XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism was associated with increased NPC risk (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.06-2.43). Subjects with history of smoking (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.26-2.60), and salted fish consumption before age of 10 (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.30-2.42) were observed to have increased odds of NPC. The odds of developing NPC of CGC haplotype was significantly higher compared to reference AGC haplotype (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.06-4.58).
CONCLUSION: The allele combination of CGC from hOGG1, ITGA2 and XPD polymorphisms was significantly associated with increased odds of NPC.
Fulltext Predictors of recurrence of major depressive disorder

Lye MS, Tey YY, Tor YS, Shahabudin AF, Ibrahim N, Ling KH, et al.

PLoS One, 2020;15(3):e0230363.
PMID: 32191745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230363

A total of 201 patients with major depressive disorder from four hospitals in Malaysia were followed up for 5 years to determine the prognostic factors of recurrent major depressive disorder that could potentially contribute to improving the management of MDD patients. For each individual patient, at the time of recruitment as part of a case-control study, information was collected on recent threatening life events, personality and social and occupational functioning, while blood samples were collected to genotype single nucleotide polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor (VDR), zinc transporter-3 (ZnT3), dopamine transporter-1 (DAT1), brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), serotonin receptor 1A (HT1A) and 2A (HT2A) genes. Kaplan-Meier and Cox-regression were used to estimate hazard functions for recurrence of major depressive disorder. Individuals with severe MDD in previous major depressive episodes had five and a half times higher hazard of developing recurrence compared to mild and moderate MDD (HR = 5.565, 95% CI = 1.631-18.994, p = 0.006). Individuals who scored higher on social avoidance had three and a half times higher hazard of recurrence of MDD (HR = 3.525, 95% CI = 1.349-9.209; p = 0.010). There was significant interaction between ApaI +64978C>A single nucleotide polymorphism and severity. The hazard ratio increased by 6.4 times from mild and moderate to severe MDD for A/A genotype while that for C/A genotype increased by 11.3 times. Social avoidance and severity of depression at first episode were prognostic of recurrence. Screening for personality factors at first encounter with MDD patients needs to be considered as part of the clinical practice. For those at risk of recurrence in relation to social avoidance, the psychological intervention prescribed should be customized to focus on this modifiable factor. Prompt and appropriate management of severe MDD is recommended to reduce risk of recurrence.
Fulltext Deaths in children during an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease in Peninsular Malaysia--clinical and pathological characteristics

Shekhar K, Lye MS, Norlijah O, Ong F, Looi LM, Khuzaiah R, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Aug;60(3):297-304.
PMID: 16379183

From July through December 1997, 11 previously healthy children in Peninsular Malaysia succumbed to an illness clinically characterised by an acute severe refractory left-ventricular failure, following a brief prodromal illness, in the midst of an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), similar to the reported experience in Sarawak and Taiwan. Retrospective reviews of the clinical features and results of laboratory, pathological and virological investigations of cases were conducted. The median age of the 11 case-patients was 31 months (range, 13 to 49 months); 6 were males. A brief prodromal illness of 3 days (range, 2 to 5 days) was characterised by fever (axillary temperature > 38 degrees C) (100%), oral ulcers (72%), extremity rashes (45%) and significant vomiting (55%). Upon hospitalisation, 7 of 11 case-patients had features suggestive of cardiogenic shock, while 4 of 11 case-patients developed shock during hospitalisation as evidenced by marked sustained tachycardia (heart rate > or = 180 beats per minute), poor peripheral pulses and peripheral perfusion, mottled extremities, pulmonary oedema (haemorrhagic pulmonary secretions in 8 of 11 cases during tracheal intubation, often precipitated by conservative crystalloid boluses, and radiographic evidence of acute pulmonary oedema in 5 of 7 cases) and markedly impaired left ventricular function on echocardiographic examination (7 of 7 cases). Three of 4 case-patients had aseptic meningitis while one case-patient also had an acute flaccid paraparesis. Despite supportive therapy, death occurred within a median of 13.4 hours following hospitalization. Post-mortem findings (all 8 specimens examined) consistently demonstrated brain-stem encephalitis with foci of neuronal necrosis and micro-abscesses. None of the 11 specimens examined revealed histological evidence of myocarditis. Enterovirus 71 (EV71) was detected in 10 of 11 case-patients, many (7) from various sterile tissue sites (5 from central nervous tissues). No other viruses were isolated or identified. Clinical features and pathological studies closely paralleled the reported experience in Sarawak and Taiwan. The uniform necropsy findings of necrotizing brain-stem encephalitis coupled with essentially normal myocardial histology, in concert with the concurrent and consistent detection of EV71 points to a primary EV71 encephalitis; as yet unclear neurogenic mechanisms may account for the cardiovascular manifestations.
Fulltext Side effects of short course tuberculosis chemotherapy

Simon GK, Lye MS, Ahmad N

Med J Malaysia, 1991 Mar;46(1):88-94.
PMID: 1836044

A retrospective study of 300 tuberculosis patients on short course chemotherapy registered in 1985 at the Chest Clinic, General Hospital Alor Setar, Kedah was carried out with the purpose of identifying patient characteristics, determining incidence of side-effects and modifying treatment regimens in order to minimise these side-effects. One hundred and sixteen (38.7%) patients developed side effects. Twenty seven (9%) had side effects severe enough to warrant a change in treatment regimen. Treatment modifications and ways to minimise or control side effects are discussed.
Study site: Chest clinic, Hospital Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
Impact of the east Asian economic crisis on health and health care: Malaysia's response

Suleiman AB, Lye MS, Yon R, Teoh SC, Alias M

Asia Pac J Public Health, 1998;10(1):5-9.
PMID: 10050200

In the wake of the east Asian economic crisis, the health budget for the public sector in Malaysia was cut by 12%. The Ministry of Health responded swiftly with a series of broad-based and specific strategies. There was a careful examination of the operating expenditure and where possible measures were taken to minimise the effects of the budget constraints at the service interface. The MOH reprioritised the development of health projects. Important projects such as rural health projects and training facilities, and committed projects, were continued. In public health, population-based preventive and promotive activities were expected to experience some form of curtailment. There is a need to refocus priorities, maximise the utilisation of resources, and increase productivity at all levels and in all sectors, both public and private, in order to minimise the impact of the economic downturn on health.
Comparison of morbidities in very low birthweight and normal birthweight infants during the first year of life in a developing country

Boo NY, Ong LC, Lye MS, Chandran V, Teoh SL, Zamratol S, et al.

J Paediatr Child Health, 1996 Oct;32(5):439-44.
PMID: 8933407

OBJECTIVE: To compare the morbidities in the very low birthweight (VLBW; < 1500 g) and normal birthweight (NBW; > or = 2500 g) Malaysian infants during the first year of life.
METHODOLOGY: Prospective observational cohort study of consecutive surviving VLBW infants and randomly sampled NBW infants born in the Kuala Lumpur Maternity Hospital between 1 December 1989 and 31 December 1992. Infants were followed up regularly during the first year of life, after correction for prematurity.
RESULTS: Compared with NBW infants (n = 106), VLBW infants (n = 127) had significantly higher risk of failure to thrive (odds ratio [OR] = 8.0, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.1 to 354.3), wheezing (OR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.6 to 9.3), rehospitalization (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.1 to 5.0), cerebral palsy (OR = 8.6, 95% CI: 2.0 to 77.6), neurosensory hearing loss (OR = 12.0, 95% CI: 1.7 to 513.6) and visual loss (7.9 vs 0%, P = 0.002). The mean mental developmental index (MDI) and mean psychomotor developmental index (PDI) at 1 year of age were significantly lower among VLBW infants (MDI 99 [SD = 28], PDI 89 [SD = 25]) than NBW infants (MDI 106 [SD = 18], PDI 101 [SD = 18]) (95% CI for difference between means being MDI: -14.1 to -1.7; and PDI: -17.6 to -6.0). Logistic regression analysis showed that among VLBW infants: (i) male sex, Malay ethnicity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were significant risk factors associated with wheezing; (ii) longer duration of oxygen therapy during the neonatal period, seizures after the post-neonatal period and wheezing were significant risk factors associated with rehospitalization; and (iii) longer duration of oxygen therapy during the neonatal period was a significant risk factor associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome during the first year of life.
CONCLUSIONS: Compared with NBW infants, VLBW Malaysian infants had significantly higher risks of physical and neuro-developmental morbidities.
Fulltext Deaths of children during an outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease in Sarawak, Malaysia: clinical and pathological characteristics of the disease. For the Outbreak Study Group

Chan LG, Parashar UD, Lye MS, Ong FG, Zaki SR, Alexander JP, et al.

Clin Infect Dis, 2000 Sep;31(3):678-83.
PMID: 11017815

From April through June 1997, 29 previously healthy children aged <6 years (median, 1.5 years) in Sarawak, Malaysia, died of rapidly progressive cardiorespiratory failure during an outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease caused primarily by enterovirus 71 (EV71). The case children were hospitalized after a short illness (median duration, 2 days) that usually included fever (in 100% of case children), oral ulcers (66%), and extremity rashes (62%). The illness rapidly progressed to include seizures (28%), flaccid limb weakness (17%), or cardiopulmonary symptoms (of 24 children, 17 had chest radiographs showing pulmonary edema, and 24 had echocardiograms showing left ventricular dysfunction), resulting in cardiopulmonary arrest soon after hospitalization (median time, 9 h). Cardiac tissue from 10 patients showed normal myocardium, but central nervous system tissue from 5 patients showed inflammatory changes. Brain-stem specimens from 2 patients were available, and both specimens showed extensive neuronal degeneration, inflammation, and necrosis, suggesting that a central nervous system infection was responsible for the disease, with the cardiopulmonary dysfunction being neurogenic in origin. EV71 and possibly an adenovirus, other enteroviruses, or unknown cofactors are likely responsible for this rapidly fatal disease.
Duration of oxygen therapy and exchange transfusion as risk factors associated with retinopathy of prematurity in very low birthweight infants

Teoh SL, Boo NY, Ong LC, Nyein MK, Lye MS, Au MK

Eye (Lond), 1995;9 ( Pt 6):733-7.
PMID: 8849541

One hundred and thirteen consecutive infants with a very low birthweight of less than 1500 g were followed prospectively for 6 months to determine the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and associated risk factors. Of this group, 36 (31.9%) infants developed ROP (13 infants had stage 1 ROP, nine had stage 2, six had stage 3, six had stage 4, and two had cicatricial stage ROP). Stepwise logistic regression analysis of various potential risk factors (birthweight, gestation, duration of oxygen therapy, duration of ventilation, highest documented PaO2 and exchange transfusion) showed that only two risk factors were significantly associated with the development of ROP. These risk factors were: the duration of oxygen therapy (p = 0.0005) and exchange transfusion during the neonatal period (odds ratio 5.754, 95% confidence interval 1.002 to 32.997, p = 0.049). The equation of the regression model is: log (odds of developing ROP) = -0.8395 + 0.1447 (OXY)- 0.8750 (ET), where OXY is the duration of oxygen therapy in days, ET = -1 when there was a history of exchange transfusion, and ET = 1 when there was no history of exchange transfusion.
Histomorphometric profile of the corneal response to short-term reverse-geometry orthokeratology lens wear in primate corneas: a pilot study

Cheah PS, Norhani M, Bariah MA, Myint M, Lye MS, Azian AL

Cornea, 2008 May;27(4):461-70.
PMID: 18434851 DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e318165642c

To investigate the histological changes in primate cornea induced by short-term overnight orthokeratology (OK).
Fulltext Homozygous Wildtype of XPD K751Q Polymorphism Is Associated with Increased Risk of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Malaysian Population

Lye MS, Visuvanathan S, Chong PP, Yap YY, Lim CC, Ban EZ

PLoS One, 2015;10(6):e0130530.
PMID: 26086338 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130530

The xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene encodes a DNA helicase, an important component in transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) complex. XPD helicase plays a pivotal role in unwinding DNA at the damaged region during nucleotide excision repair (NER) mechanism. Dysfunctional XPD helicase protein from polymorphic diversity may contribute to increased risk of developing cancers. This study aims to determine the association between XPD K751Q polymorphism (rs13181) and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in the Malaysian population. In this hospital-based matched case-control study, 356 controls were matched by age, gender and ethnicity to 356 cases. RFLP-PCR was used to genotype the XPD K751Q polymorphism. A significant association was observed between XPD K751Q polymorphism and the risk of NPC using conditional logistic regression. Subjects with homozygous Lys/Lys (wildtype) genotype have 1.58 times higher odds of developing NPC compared to subjects with recessive combination of heterozygous Lys/Gln and homozygous Gln/Gln genotypes (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.05-2.38 p = 0.028) adjusted for cigarette smoking, alcohol and salted fish consumption. Our data suggests that Lys/Lys (wildtype) of XPD K751Q contributes to increased risk of NPC in the Malaysian population.
Anopheles flavirostris incriminated as a vector of malaria and Bancroftian filariasis in Banggi Island, Sabah, Malaysia

Hii JL, Kan S, Vun YS, Chin KF, Lye MS, Mak JW, et al.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1985;79(5):677-80.
PMID: 3913069

Seven villages in Banggi Island, Sabah, Malaysia, were surveyed four times to evaluate the roles of local mosquitoes as vectors of malaria and Bancroftian filariasis. 11 species of Anopheles were found biting man. 53.9% of the anophelines caught were An. flavirostris, 27.1% An. balabacensis, 6% An. donaldi and 4.2% An. subpictus. Infective malaria sporozoites, probably of human origin, were found in two of 336 An. flavirostris and 12 of 308 An. balabacensis. Sporozoites, probably of a non-human Plasmodium, were found in An. umbrosus. Nine of 1001 An. flavirostris and four of 365 An. balabacensis harboured L2 or L3 filarial larvae identified as those of Wuchereria bancrofti. This is the first record of An. flavirostris as a natural vector of malaria and W. bancrofti in Sabah.
Brachial plexus injuries in Malaysian neonates: incidence and associated risk factors

Boo NY, Lye MS, Kanchanamala M, Ching CL

J Trop Pediatr, 1991 12;37(6):327-30.
PMID: 1791654 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/37.6.327

A prospective study was carried out on 26,176 Malaysian neonates born in the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur over a 12-month period to determine the incidence and associated risk factors of brachial plexus injuries. This condition was found in 42/26,176 neonates (1.6 per 1000 livebirths). Multiple logistic regression analysis of affected and control neonates from a nested case-control study showed that increasing birth weights and breech deliveries were the significant risk factors. Our study suggests that to reduce the occurrence of this condition, there is a need for: (i) better assessment of fetal size and maternal pelvimetry to enable earlier diagnosis of cephalo-pelvic disproportion, and (ii) review of the indications and techniques of breech delivery.
CYP1A1 MspI Polymorphism and Cervical Carcinoma Risk in the Multi-Ethnic Population of Malaysia: a Case-Control Study

Tan YH, Sidik SM, Syed Husain SN, Lye MS, Chong PP

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2016;17(1):57-64.
PMID: 26838255

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking is considered a risk factor for cervical cancer development due to the presence of tobacco based carcinogenic metabolites in cervical cells of female smokers. In this study, we investigated the role of the T3801C (MspI) polymorphism of CYP1A1, a gene encoding an enzyme necessary for the initiation of tobacco based carcinogen metabolism, on cervical cancer risk. The T to C substitution may alter CYP1A1 activities, potentially elevating cervical cancer risk. Since results of gene-disease association studies vary according to the study population, the multi-ethnic population of Malaysia provides an excellent representative cohort for identifying and comparing the cervical cancer risk among the 3 major ethnics in Southeast Asia in relation to CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 195 Thin Prep Pap smear samples from HPV negative and cancer free females were randomly selected as controls while 106 formalin fixed paraffin embedded samples from females with invasive cervical cancer were randomly selected for the cases group. The polymorphisms were identified using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) PCR.
RESULTS: We found no significant associations between CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism and cervical cancer in the general Malaysian female population. However, upon ethnic stratification, the variant C/C genotype was significantly associated with a 4.66-fold increase in cervical cancer risk in Malay females (95% CI= 1.21-17.9; p=0.03). No significant association was observed in the Chinese and Indian females. Additionally, there were no significant associations in the dominant model and allele frequency model analysis in both the general and ethnically stratified female population of Malaysia.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the C/C genotype of CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism is associated with the development of cervical carcinoma in the Malay females of Malaysia.
Acute respiratory infection in Malaysian children

Lye MS, Deavi U, Lai KP, Kaur H, Nair RC, Choo KE

J Trop Pediatr, 1994 Dec;40(6):334-40.
PMID: 7853437

A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children below 7 years of age and to obtain baseline information for an intervention programme. A total of 6190 households comprising 38,632 persons with 12,273 children (32 per cent) below 7 years of age were surveyed. Information on socio-demographic variables, environmental sanitation, occurrence of ARI and diarrhoea, treatment seeking behaviour during episodes of those illnesses and immunizations among children were obtained. Thirty per cent of children had experienced ARI in the 2-week period prior to the interview, and 94 per cent had mild ARI, 1 per cent had moderate and 5 per cent had severe ARI. There was lack of concurrence between mother's perception of severity and that of the investigators' (Kappa coefficient = 0.083 (95 per cent CI = 0.017-0.149). Twenty-four and 39 per cent of severe and moderate ARI, respectively, were reported by mothers to be mild. There is cause for concern as these children may not receive timely and appropriate treatment. The findings from this study contribute to identification of target populations and priority areas for health education of the population. The survey has provided useful baseline data for the implementation of an intervention programme for the control of ARI in children.
Transmission dynamics and estimates of malaria vectorial capacity for Anopheles balabacensis and An. flavirostris (Diptera: Culicidae) on Banggi island, Sabah, Malaysia

Hii JL, Kan S, Vun YS, Chin KF, Tambakau S, Chan MK, et al.

Ann Trop Med Parasitol, 1988 Feb;82(1):91-101.
PMID: 3041932

Holoendemic malaria transmission in two small isolated forest communities and a coastal village was studied by (1) all night human bait collections of Anopheles species from inside and outside houses and (2) buffalo-biting and CDC light-trapping catches during March and November 1984. During the same period thick and thin blood films were collected from the human population, and spleen rates were determined in children from two to nine years of age. Using both the immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and the dissection technique, more sporozoite-positive infections were detected in An. balabacensis and An. flavirostris in November than in March. IRMA confirmed the presence of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites. An average of 76.2% of the An. balabacensis population lived long enough to have reached a point where infectivity with P. falciparum was possible in November. Although fewer than five adult females bit humans per night at any time, a resident could theoretically have received more than 160 infective bites in one year. A high frequency of feeding on humans, coupled with increased anopheline life expectancy, contributed to high estimates of falciparum malaria vectorial capacity (number of infections distributed per case per day); for An. balabacensis (1.44-7.44 in March and 9.97-19.7 in November) and for An. flavirostris (0.19-5.14 in March and 6.27-15.8 in November). These high values may explain the increased malaria parasite rates obtained from at least two forest communities. Correlation between actual and calculated rates of gametocytaemia was poorest in Kapitangan due to inadequate sampling of the human population. In Banggi island, malaria is stable and holoendemic, and the population enjoys a high degree of immunity.
Fulltext Morning boost on individuals' psychophysiological wellbeing indicators with supportive, dynamic lighting in windowless open-plan workplace in Malaysia

Sithravel R, Ibrahim R, Lye MS, Perimal EK, Ibrahim N, Dahlan ND

PLoS One, 2018;13(11):e0207488.
PMID: 30496193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207488

Workplace architectural lighting conditions that are biologically dim during the day are causing healthy individuals to experience light-induced health and performance-related problems. Dynamic lighting was reported beneficial in supporting individuals' psychological behavior and physiological responses during work period in Europe. It has yet to be investigated in workplaces with minimal/no natural daylight contribution in tropical Malaysia. Hence, an exploratory experimental study was initiated in an experimental windowless open-plan workplace in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang. The aim was to identify dynamic lighting configurations that were more supportive of a morning boosting effect than the control constant lighting, to support dayshift individuals' psychophysiological wellbeing indicators during the peak morning work period. The immediate impact of a 2-hour morning exposure to overhead white LED (6500 K) with different horizontal illuminance levels and oscillations (lighting patterns) were investigated on physiological indicator limited to urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, and psychological indicators for alertness, mood, visual comfort, cognitive and visual task performance. Not all of the investigated dynamic lighting configurations were supportive of a morning boost. Only configurations 500increased to750 and 500increased to1000 lx therapeutically supported most of the indicators. Both these configurations suppressed urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, and improved alertness, cognitive performance, positive affect, and visual comfort better than 'visit 1: 500constant500' lx (control). The increasing oscillation was observed more beneficial for the morning boost in tropical Malaysia, which is in reverse to that specified in the human rhythmic dynamic lighting protocol developed by researchers from the Netherlands for application during winter. The findings from this study present the feasibility of dynamic architectural lighting acting as an environmental therapeutic solution in supporting the individuals' psychophysiological wellbeing indicators in windowless open-plan workplace in tropical Malaysia. Further investigations on the two prospective configurations are recommended to determine the better supportive one for the morning boosting effect in Malaysia.
Fulltext Association of major dietary patterns with obesity risk among Mongolian men and women

Dugee O, Khor GL, Lye MS, Luvsannyam L, Janchiv O, Jamyan B, et al.

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2009;18(3):433-40.
PMID: 19786392

Mongolia is experiencing changes in its unique nomadic lifestyle and dietary habits in the last two decades with accompanying increase in obesity rate. The dietary pattern approach, which investigates the overall diet in relation to obesity risks, has become appealing in nutrition epidemiology. The aim of this study was to identify major dietary patterns of the Mongolian adults in relation to the risk of having obesity. Dietary intake of a total 418 adults aged ? 25 years was assessed by using a food frequency questionnaire with 68 items. An exploratory factor analysis resulted in three dietary patterns: transitional high in processed meat and potato, traditional rich in whole milk, fats and oils and healthy with greater intake of whole grains, mixed vegetables and fruits. Individuals in the upper quintile of the transitional pattern had significantly greater risk of obesity (BMI > or =25 kg/m2: OR=2.47; 95% CI=1.04-5.86) while subjects in the highest quintile of the healthy dietary pattern were found to have significantly decreased risk of obesity (OR: 0.49; 95% CI=0.25-0.95). Men in the highest quintile of the transitional pattern had greater risk of abdominal obesity WC > or =90 cm: OR= 4.08; 95% CI=1.11-14.97) than those in the lowest quintile. Women in the top quintile of the traditional pattern had a greater odds of having abdominal obesity (WC > or =80 cm: OR=4.59; 95% CI=1.58-13.30) than those in the lowest quintile. The study suggests that public health efforts be targeted at adults in Mongolia to address the undesirable aspects of the transitional and the traditional dietary patterns.

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