MyMedR

Global programme on AIDS. AIDS surveillance in the WHO Western Pacific Region

Wkly. Epidemiol. Rec., 1993 Dec 10;68(50):371-5.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Fulltext Smoking among university students: a comparative study between Malaysian students in Malaysia and Australia

Hashami B, Abdul Halim O, Yusoff K

Med J Malaysia, 1994 Jun;49(2):149-57.

A total of 209 randomly selected Malaysian university students (128 from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 81 from the University of New South Wales) completed a self-filled questionnaire enquiring about their smoking behaviour and psychosocial characteristics. The prevalence of smoking was 26.6 per cent among students in Malaysia and 18.8 per cent among students in Australia (average 23.4%). Both samples have similar patterns in terms of age of starting smoking, time of the day when they smoked, family and peer history of smoking, and whether or not they inhaled deeply during smoking. The smokers tend to be male, studying beyond the first year, staying with peers outside the hostel, having financial sources other than a scholarship, and abnormal mental health score. However, the smokers from the Australian samples were noted to smoke less and made fewer attempts at quitting the habit.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Aspects of psychiatric admissions of migrants to hospitals in Perth, Western Australia

Bruxner G, Burvill P, Fazio S, Febbo S

Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 1997 Aug;31(4):532-42.

PMID: 9272263

Recent Australian Government initiatives have emphasised problems with service provision to the ethnic mentally ill. This study aims to address the paucity of contemporary data describing the disposition of the ethnic mentally ill in hospital settings.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Epidemiological data on pneumococcal infections in Asian countries

Jamal F

Vaccine, 1999 Jul 30;17 Suppl 1:S75-8.

PMID: 10471186

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Hendra virus disease in horses

Westbury HA

Rev. - Off. Int. Epizoot., 2000 Apr;19(1):151-9.

PMID: 11189712

The author provides an account of the discovery of a previously undescribed disease of horses and a description of the studies involved in determining the aetiology of the disease. The causative virus, now named Hendra virus (HeV), is the reference virus for a proposed new genus within the virus family Paramyxoviridae. The virus is a lethal zoonotic agent able to cause natural disease in humans and horses and experimentally induced disease in cats, guinea-pigs and mice. The virus also naturally infects species of the family Megachiroptera, mainly subclinically, and such animals are the natural host of HeV. The virus appears to transmit readily between species of Megachiroptera, but not readily between horses under natural and experimental conditions, or from horses to humans. The method of transmission from bats to horses is not known. Three incidents of HeV disease in horses have been recorded in Australia--two in 1994 which caused the death of two humans and fifteen horses and one in 1999 which involved the death of a single horse. Hendra virus is related to Nipah virus, the virus that caused disease and mortality in humans, pigs, dogs and cats in Malaysia during 1998 and 1999.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

[Emergence of transmissible disorders, a continuous process--a new type of viral meningoencephalitis]

Ivan A, Indrei LL

Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi, 2000 Apr-Jun;104(2):51-5.

PMID: 12089991

In the interval 1994-1999, in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore, epizootic and epidemiological episodes of meningoencephalitis and severe acute respiratory syndromes were reported. Highly lethal in horses, swine and humans, the episodes were proved to be caused by the "new" viruses Hendra (HeV) and Nipah (NiV). At the same time three "new" viral agents have been isolated: Lyssavirus, Menanglevirus and Tupaia paramyxovirus. The intense contemporary circulation of people, animals and food products together with changes in human ecosystem favor new relations between humans and the "natural reservoirs" of biologic agents with a pathogenic potential for domestic and peridomestic animals and humans.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Do the Chinese somatize depression? A cross-cultural study

Parker G, Cheah YC, Roy K

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 2001 Jun;36(6):287-93.

PMID: 11583458

A large literature argues for the Chinese--whether in mainland China or elsewhere--being highly likely to express depression somatically, leading to predictable detection and diagnostic difficulties. If true, detection might be assisted if a set of somatic proxies of depression were identified, and this was the principal initial objective in mounting this study.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Phylogenetic analysis of enterovirus 71 strains isolated during linked epidemics in Malaysia, Singapore, and Western Australia

McMinn P, Lindsay K, Perera D, Chan HM, Chan KP, Cardosa MJ

J Virol, 2001 Aug;75(16):7732-8.

PMID: 11462047

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a frequent cause of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) epidemics associated with severe neurological sequelae in a small proportion of cases. There has been a significant increase in EV71 epidemic activity throughout the Asia-Pacific region since 1997. Recent HFMD epidemics in this region have been associated with a severe form of brainstem encephalitis associated with pulmonary edema and high case fatality rates. In this study, we show that four genetic lineages of EV71 have been prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region since 1997, including two previously undescribed genogroups (B3 and B4). Furthermore, we show that viruses belonging to genogroups B3 and B4 have circulated endemically in Southeast Asia during this period and have been the primary cause of several large HFMD or encephalitis epidemics in Malaysia, Singapore, and Western Australia.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Kunjin virus: an Australian variant of West Nile?

Hall RA, Scherret JH, Mackenzie JS

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2001 Dec;951:153-60.

PMID: 11797773

Kunjin (KUN) is a flavivirus in the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex that was first isolated from Culex annulirostris mosquitoes captured in northern Australia in 1960. It is the etiological agent of a human disease characterized by febrile illness with rash or mild encephalitis and, occasionally, of a neurological disease in horses. KUN virus shares a similar epidemiology and ecology with the closely related Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus, the major causative agent of arboviral encephalitis in Australia. Based on traditional antigenic methods, KUN was initially found to be similar to, but distinct from, reference strains of West Nile (WN) virus and designated as a new species. However, more recent phylogenic analyses have revealed that some strains of WN virus, including the isolates from New York, are more similar to KUN virus and form a separate lineage to other WN viruses. An unusual KUN isolate from Malaysia and the African virus Koutango appear to form additional lineages within the WN group of viruses. While these findings are in agreement with the Seventh Report of the International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses that designates KUN as a subtype of West Nile, they also suggest that the species should be further subdivided into additional subtypes.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Taxonomy of Trichinella and the epidemiology of infection in the Southeast Asia and Australian regions

Pozio E

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2001;32 Suppl 2:129-32.

PMID: 12041576

Seven species belonging to the Trichinella genus (five with encapsulated larvae and two with non-encapsulated larvae in host muscles) and three additional genotypes have been described to date: T. spiralis (genotype T1), a cosmopolitan species with a high infectivity to swine and rats; T. nativa (T2), etiological agent of sylvatic trichinellosis in arctic and subarctic areas of the Holarctic region, and its related genotype (Trichinella T6), detected in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, and Ontario; T. britovi (T3), etiological agent of sylvatic trichinellosis in temperate areas of Europe and Asia, and its related genotypes Trichinella T9 in Japan and Trichinella T8 in South Africa and Namibia; T. murrelli (T5), etiological agent of sylvatic trichinellosis in temperate areas of the USA; T. nelsoni (T7), etiological agent of sylvatic trichinellosis in Africa south of the Sahara; T. pseudospiralis (T4), a non-encapsulated cosmopolitan species infecting both mammals and birds; and T. papuae (T10), a recently discovered non-encapsulated species in sylvatic swine of Papua New Guinea. In the Southeast Asia and Australian regions, T. spiralis, T. pseudospiralis and T. papuae have been detected in sylvatic and domestic animals and in humans. A focus of human trichinellosis due to T. papuae was recently discovered in Papua New Guinea, with a prevalence of 28.9%. Trichinellosis has also been documented in domestic animals and/or humans in Cambodia, Indonesia (Bali and Sumatra), Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and New Zealand, and in wildlife of Tasmania.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Menangle and Nipah virus infections of pigs

Kirkland PD, Daniels PW, Nor MN, Love RJ, Philbey AW, Ross AD

Vet. Clin. North Am. Food Anim. Pract., 2002 Nov;18(3):557-71, ix.

PMID: 12442583

Viruses belonging to the family Paramyxoviridae generally have not been recognized as a significant cause of disease in pigs until recently. Between 1997 and 1999, there were large outbreaks of disease in pigs in Australia and Malaysia due to infection with viruses that have been shown to be new members of the Paramyxoviridae family. This article reviews current knowledge of Menangle and Nipah virus infections in pigs, the only major species of domestic animals to experience serious disease after infection with these viruses.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Truck driver fatigue risk assessment and management: a multinational survey

Adams-Guppy J, Guppy A

Ergonomics, 2003 Jun 20;46(8):763-79.

PMID: 12745978 DOI: 10.1080/0014013021000056980

As part of an organizational review of safety, interviews and questionnaire surveys were performed on over 700 commercial goods drivers and their managers within a series of related companies operating across 17 countries. The results examine the reported incidence of fatigue-related problems in drivers and their associations with near miss and accident experience as well as work and organizational factors. Experience of fatigue problems while driving was linked to time of day and rotation of shifts, though most associations were small. There were significant associations found between fatigue experiences and driver and management systems of break taking and route scheduling. The quantitative combined with qualitative information suggested that, where feasible, more flexible approaches to managing the scheduling and sequencing of deliveries assisted drivers in managing their own fatigue problems through appropriate break-taking. The results are interpreted within the overarching principles of risk assessment and risk control.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Birth defects in the offspring of non-Caucasian, non-Indigenous women in Western Australia

Kwon S, Bower C, English D

Birth Defects Res. Part A Clin. Mol. Teratol., 2003 Jul;67(7):515-21.

PMID: 14565623

Birth defects in infants born to non-Caucasian, non-Indigenous mothers in Australia have not been described in detail previously.

Matched MeSH terms: Western Australia/epidemiology

Incidental magnetic resonance image sinus abnormalities in asymptomatic Australian children

Lim WK, Ram B, Fasulakis S, Kane KJ

J Laryngol Otol, 2003 Dec;117(12):969-72.

PMID: 14738607

Plain X-rays, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans performed for non-ENT reasons often reveal incidental sinus mucosal changes. These changes need to be correlated clinically before diagnosing rhinosinusitis. This study examined the prevalence of such changes in MRI scans in children up to age 16. Scans were scored using an adapted Lund-Mackay classification and were positive when one or more sinuses showed abnormalities. Randomly selected scans in the retrospective arm revealed a prevalence of 20 of 62 (32.3 per cent). In the prospective arm 45 of 60 children were defined as truly asymptomatic, of which 14 scans (31 per cent) were positive. Other studies in adults and children using CT and MRI report a prevalence range of roughly 30 to 45 per cent. This variability may be attributed to differences of study design, definitions of population age, definitions of asymptomatic and definition of abnormal sinus. Other plausible factors to explain regional differences are climate and frequency of upper respiratory tract infections.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Implementation in Australia of molecular diagnostic techniques for the rapid detection of foot and mouth disease virus

Boyle DB, Taylor T, Cardoso M

Aust. Vet. J., 2004 Jul;82(7):421-5.

PMID: 15354851

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and implement rapid molecular diagnostic techniques for the detection of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) suitable for use in Australia.

DESIGN: Two PCR TaqMan assays targeted to the FMDV internal ribosome entry site or the 3D polymerase coding region for the rapid detection of FMDV were evaluated using non-infectious materials to determine the test most appropriate for implementation as part of Australia's national preparedness for the rapid detection and diagnosis of FMD outbreaks.

RESULTS: Two published tests (PCR TaqMan assays targeted to the FMDV IRES region or the FMDV 3D polymerase coding region) were evaluated for their ability to detect FMDV genetic material in non-infectious FMDV ELISA antigen stocks held at Australian Animal Health Laboratory. Both tests were able to detect FMDV genetic material from strains O1 Manisa, O-3039, A22, A24, A Malaysia, C, Asia 1 and SAT 1, 2 and 3. With the exception of Asia 1, the TaqMan assay targeted to the FMD 3D polymerase coding region had Ct values equal to or lower than for the TaqMan assay targeted to the IRES region suggesting that this test may provide broader serotype detection and sensitivity. However, the TaqMan assay directed to the FMDV IRES is the only one to date to have undergone substantial evaluation using clinical samples collected during an outbreak. The greatest differences observed were for O-3039, SAT 1, and 3.

CONCLUSION: Given the ease of setting up both tests, AAHL currently runs both tests on highly suspect FMD investigations to provide independent confirmation of the absence of FMDV because the tests are focused on two independent regions of the FMDV genome. These tests add substantially to Australia's preparedness for FMD diagnosis complementing the already well-established virus isolation and antigen capture ELISA tests for index case diagnosis of FMD in Australia.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Nipah virus: an emergent paramyxovirus causing severe encephalitis in humans

Bellini WJ, Harcourt BH, Bowden N, Rota PA

J Neurovirol, 2005 Oct;11(5):481-7.

PMID: 16287690

Nipah virus is a recently emergent paramyxovirus that is capable of causing severe disease in both humans and animals. The first outbreak of Nipah virus occurred in Malaysia and Singapore in 1999 and, more recently, outbreaks were detected in Bangladesh. In humans, Nipah virus causes febrile encephalitis with respiratory syndrome that has a high mortality rate. The reservoir for Nipah virus is believed to be fruit bats, and humans are infected by contact with infected bats or by contact with an intermediate animal host such as pigs. Person to person spread of the virus has also been described. Nipah virus retains many of the genetic and biologic properties found in other paramyxoviruses, though it also has several unique characteristics. However, the virologic characteristics that allow the virus to cause severe disease over a broad host range, and the epidemiologic, environmental and virologic features that favor transmission to humans are unknown. This review summarizes what is known about the virology, epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis and control of this novel pathogen.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Type 2 diabetes in youth from the Western Pacific region: glycaemic control, diabetes care and complications

Eppens MC, Craig ME, Jones TW, Silink M, Ong S, Ping YJ, et al.

Curr Med Res Opin, 2006 May;22(5):1013-20.

PMID: 16709323 DOI: 10.1185/030079906X104795

OBJECTIVE: To describe the glycaemic control, diabetes care and prevalence of complications in youth with type 2 diabetes from the Western Pacific Region.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, clinic-based audit of 331 patients aged < 18 years from 56 centres in Australia, China-Beijing, China-Shanghai, China-Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Clinical and management data were recorded along with glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), lipids and complication rates.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Glycaemic control, complications, diabetes management.
RESULTS: Median age was 14.9 years (interquartile range 13.2-16.4 years) and median diabetes duration 2.3 years (1.4-3.6 years). Median HbA(1c) was 7% (5.9-9.9%) and HbA(1c) was > 7.5% in 40% of patients. In multiple regression analysis, glycaemic control varied significantly between countries (p = 0.02); higher HbA(1c) was associated with fewer home blood glucose measurements (p = 0.005) and higher insulin dose/kg (p < 0.0001). Blood glucose monitoring was performed by 65% of patients (range 33-96% by country). In 25% of patients, management consisted of diet alone or no treatment (range 0-53% by country); oral anti-diabetic drugs alone were used in 49%, insulin alone in 11% and both in 15%. Microalbuminuria was found in 8% and hypertension in 24%. The risk of hypertension increased with higher BMI (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.09-1.24, p < 0.0001); antihypertensive agents were used in 4% of patients.
CONCLUSIONS: The management of type 2 diabetes in youth from the Western Pacific Region varies widely. Hypertension and microalbuminuria were frequent, but not commonly treated. Further investigation into the natural history and risk factors for complications in youth with type 2 diabetes is required to assist in developing evidence based management guidelines.

Matched MeSH terms: Western Australia/epidemiology

Geographic, ethnic, age-related and temporal variation in the incidence of end-stage renal disease in Europe, Canada and the Asia-Pacific region, 1998-2002

ESRD Incidence Study Group, Stewart JH, McCredie MR, Williams SM

Nephrol Dial Transplant, 2006 Aug;21(8):2178-83.

PMID: 16595584

Only unbiased estimates of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) incidence and trends are useful for disease control-identification of risk factors and measuring the effect of intervention.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Surveillance of antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the WHO Western Pacific Region, 2005

WHO Western Pacific Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme

Commun Dis Intell Q Rep, 2006;30(4):430-3.

PMID: 17330383

The World Health Organization Western Pacific Region Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme examined about 8,700 isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from 15 countries for resistance to antibiotics in 2005. High to very high rates of resistance to penicillins and quinolones persisted in most centres. Increasing numbers of gonococci with decreased susceptibility to third generation cephalosporins were found in several countries. There were infrequent instances of spectinomycin resistance.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

Fulltext Frequencies of hepatitis B and C infections among haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients in Asia-Pacific countries: analysis of registry data

Johnson DW, Dent H, Yao Q, Tranaeus A, Huang CC, Han DS, et al.

Nephrol Dial Transplant, 2009 May;24(5):1598-603.

PMID: 19096083 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfn684

The impact of dialysis modality on the rates and types of infectious complications has not been well studied. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD) patients in the Asia-Pacific region.

Matched MeSH terms: Australia/epidemiology

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