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Fulltext Correlation of the anterior ocular segment biometry with HbA1c level in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Suraida AR, Ibrahim M, Zunaina E

PLoS One, 2018;13(1):e0191134.
PMID: 29324896 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191134

OBJECTIVES: To compare the anterior ocular segment biometry among Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with no diabetic retinopathy (DR) and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and to evaluate the correlation of anterior ocular segment biometry with HbA1c level.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan from November 2013 till May 2016 among Type 2 DM patients (DM with no DR and DM with NPDR). The patients were evaluated for anterior ocular segment biometry [central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber width (ACW), angle opening distance (AOD) and anterior chamber angle (ACA)] by using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT). Three ml venous blood was taken for the measurement of HbA1c.
RESULTS: A total of 150 patients were included in this study (DM with no DR: 50 patients, DM with NPDR: 50 patients, non DM: 50 patients as a control group). The mean CCT and ACW showed significant difference among the three groups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.015 respectively). Based on post hoc result, there were significant mean difference of CCT between non DM and DM with NPDR (mean difference 36.14 μm, p < 0.001) and also between non DM and DM with no DR (mean difference 31.48 μm, p = 0.003). The ACW was significantly narrower in DM with NPDR (11.39 mm SD 0.62) compared to DM with no DR (11.76 mm SD 0.53) (p = 0.012). There were no significant correlation between HbA1c and all the anterior ocular segment biometry.
CONCLUSION: Diabetic patients have significantly thicker CCT regardless of retinopathy status whereas ACW was significantly narrower in DM with NPDR group compared to DM with no DR. There was no significant correlations between HbA1c and all anterior ocular segment biometry in diabetic patients regardless of DR status.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry/methods*
Fulltext Comparison of refractive outcomes in post cataract surgery using measurements from immersion and Contact A-scan biometry techniques

Bariah Mohd-Ali, Nazirin Arsad, Zainora Mohammed

Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia, 2012;10(1):13-18.
MyJurnal

It is possible that different techniques used to measure axial length (AL) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) is the cause of discrepancy in refractive outcomes of cataract surgery. This study evaluated the agreement and repeatability of AL and ACD measurements using immersion and contact A-scan biometry techniques and compared the refractive outcomes from both techniques. Twenty four patients were evaluated for agreement and repeatability of AL and ACD measurements using the two different methods. The results were analyzed using Bland and Altman plots. Another 60 patients with age-related cataract were selected to compare the refractive outcomes between both methods. The IOL power was calculated using Sanders- Retzlaff- Kraff- Theoretical (SRK-T) equation. Refraction was determined between four to six weeks postoperatively and the results were analyzed using paired t-test. The results of this study showed good agreement between both techniques was noted with no significant difference detected between measurements (p > 0.05). Significant correlation was found in all parameters (AL: r = 0.99; p < 0.01, r = 0.99; p < 0.01) ACD: r = 0.91; p < 0.01, r = 0.97; p < 0.01). No significant difference in refractive outcomes of post cataract surgery was detected between the two techniques (p = 0.07). This study concludes that contact A-scan biometry and immersion techniques provide reliable results and should not be the cause of discrepancy in the refractive planned and outcome of cataract surgery.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Dataset on the influence of software development agility on software firms' performance in Bangladesh

Sadia F, Mahmud I, Dhar E, Jahan N, Hossain SS, Zaidi Satter AKM

Data Brief, 2019 Apr;23:103741.
PMID: 31372407 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2019.103741

The article identifies the relationship among different agile software development approaches such as response extensiveness, response efficiency, team autonomy, team diversity, and software functionality that software teams face difficult challenges in associating and achieving the right balance between the two agility dimensions. This research strategy, in terms of quantity, is descriptive and correlational. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out, using SmartPLS 3.0. Statistical population, consist of employees of software industries in Bangladesh, who were engaged in 2017 and their total number is about 100 people. The data show that the response extensiveness, response efficiency, team autonomy, team diversity, and software functionality have impact on software development agility and software development performance.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Comparing the accuracy of density forecasts from competing GARCH models

Abu Hassan Shaari Mohd Nor, Ahmad Shamiri, Zaidi Isa

Sains Malaysiana, 2009;38.

In this research we introduce an analyzing procedure using the Kullback-Leibler information criteria (KLIC) as a statistical tool to evaluate and compare the predictive abilities of possibly misspecified density forecast models. The main advantage of this statistical tool is that we use the censored likelihood functions to compute the tail minimum of the KLIC, to compare the performance of a density forecast models in the tails. Use of KLIC is practically attractive as well as convenient, given its equivalent of the widely used LR test. We include an illustrative simulation to compare a set of distributions, including symmetric and asymmetric distribution, and a family of GARCH volatility models. Our results on simulated data show that the choice of the conditional distribution appears to be a more dominant factor in determining the adequacy and accuracy (quality) of density forecasts than the choice of volatility model.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Internal, external, networking factors and challenges of small medium enterprise (SMEs) internationalization

Nur Zania Azurin Abdullah Sani, Ahmad Shazeer Mohamed Thaheer, Zahariah Mohd Zain

Journal of Academia Universiti Teknologi MARA Negeri Sembilan, 2019;7(101):133-141.
MyJurnal

Internationalization procedure of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is part of the increasing economy. The study aims to identify relationships between the factors influencing the SMEs to internationalize and identifying the most impactful factor that affects the internationalization of SMEs. The factors affecting internationalization of SMEs identified were external, internal, networking as well as barriers and challenges. The study focusses on SMEs in the service sector in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The methods used to conduct the survey is by distributing the questionnaire through email. There are 100 selected SMEs in the service sector which are listed in SME Corp Malaysia website and MATRADE website. Regardless of whether the SME’s are practising international business or not, they will still be one of the potential respondents. The data were examined and obtained using the statistical software SPSS. The analysis used is reliability analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis to meet the research objectives. The expected outcome from this research is to analyze the factors that will impact the internationalization of SMEs. The results of the analysis show that all the variables have a low positive correlation. The most influential factors that effects SMEs decision to go international are barriers and challenges.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Histological and histometrical study of the protective role of α-tocopherol against sodium arsenite toxicity in rat ovaries

Dezfouli MG, Eissazadeh S, Zade SM

Microsc Microanal, 2014 Aug;20(4):1167-79.
PMID: 24735566 DOI: 10.1017/S1431927614000701

This study examines histometrical changes induced by sodium arsenite (SA), as an environmental pollutant, and investigates the protective effect of α-tocopherol on ovaries of SA-treated rats during the prenatal stage until sexual maturity. Rats were classified into groups: control, SA (8 ppm/day), α-tocopherol (100 ppm/day), and SA+α-tocopherol. Treatment was performed from pregnancy until maturation when the rats and ovaries were weighed. The Cavalieri method was used to estimate volume of the ovaries, cortex, medulla, and corpus luteum. The mean diameter of oocytes, granulosa cells, and nuclei were measured and volume was estimated using the Nucleator method. The number of oocytes and thickness of the zona pellucida (ZP) were determined using an optical dissector and orthogonal intercept method, respectively. SA reduced the body and ovary weight, the number of secondary, antral and Graafian oocytes, volume of the ovaries, cortex, medulla and corpus luteum, mean diameter and volume of oocytes in primordial and primary follicles, mean diameter and volume of oocyte nuclei in all types of follicles, and mean thickness of the ZP in secondary and antral follicles. Also, the mean diameter and volume of granulosa cells and their nuclei in antral and Graafian follicles decreased significantly. Vacuolization and vascular congestion in the corpus luteum and an increase in the number of atretic oocytes were seen in the SA group. Most of these parameters were unchanged from the control level in the SA+α-tocopherol group. It was concluded that α-tocopherol supplementation reduced the toxic effects of SA exposure on ovarian tissue in rats.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Effects of Stochastic Facilitation in Healthy Subjects with Different Auditory Working Memory Capacity

Othman, E. A., Mohamad, M., Abdul Manan, H., Yusoff, A. N.

Physics and Technology in Medicine, 2020;1(2):27-31.
MyJurnal

This study investigated the effects of stochastic facilitation in healthy subjects with normal and low auditory working memory capacity (AWMC). Forty healthy volunteers were recruited in this study. They performed a backward recall task (BRT) in quiet and under four white noise intensity levels: 45, 50, 55, and 60 dB. Brain activations during the task were measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The behavioral performance in both groups increased significantly in 50 and 55 dB white noise. The normal AWMC group (mean score = 48.70) demonstrated higher activation in the superior temporal gyrus and prefrontal cortex than the low AWMC group (mean score = 30.85). However, comparisons in the brain activation between groups for all noise levels were not statistically different. The results support previous findings that stochastic facilitation enhances cognitive performance in healthy individuals. The results also proposed that brain activity among healthy subjects is more or less similar, at least in the context of auditory working memory. These findings indicated that there were no differential effects of stochastic facilitation in healthy subjects with different AWMC.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Feasibility of Unilateral Approach for Bilateral Decompressive Endoscopic Spinal Surgery for Lumbar Stenosis to Improve Back and Leg Pain: A Consecutive Single-Center Series of 60 Patients

Salim AA, Yusof AH, Johari J, Yusof MI

Front Surg, 2020;7:507954.
PMID: 33364252 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2020.507954

Introduction: Endoscopic surgery is one of the methods that achieve the goal of decompression while minimizing collateral tissue damage. Its efficacy and safety have been supported by numerous studies. There is a plethora of studies on lumbar stenosis regarding the outcomes and related issues in endoscopic spine surgery. However, few studies evaluated the outcome of the decompressive lumbar spine surgery. The present study aims to analyze the outcome of a unilateral approach to endoscopic surgery for lumbar stenosis using the visual analog scale (VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and MacNab's criteria. Methods: This is a retrospective study (level IV) conducted between January 2009 and December 2013 on 60 patients who underwent endoscopic interlaminar decompressive spine surgery (Destandau method) for lumbar degenerative spinal stenosis in the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. The clinical outcome was measured pre-operatively and post-operatively for VAS: for back and leg pain, motor and sensory grading, the ODI, and MacNab's criteria. A paired t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean age of patients was 60.82 years comprising 23 males (38.3%) and 37 females (61.7%). The mean follow-up period was 30.1 months (range = 17.2-43 months). The mean operation time was 183.6 min (ranging from 124.8 to 242.4 min), and the mean blood loss was 150.18 mL (ranging from 30.82 to 269.54 mL). Post-operatively, mean hospital stay was 2.45 days (ranging from 1.34 to 3.56 days). The most frequently involved level was L4/L5 in 51 patients (52.6%), followed by L3/L4 in 19 patients (19.6%), L5/S1 in 24 patients (24.7%), and L2/L3 in three patients (3.1%). Improvement in the post-operative VAS for back and leg pain and the ODI for pre-operation and post-operation was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conversely, the reduction in neurological status was statistically insignificant. Based on MacNab's criteria, 88.4% showed excellent to good outcomes. Conclusion: To summarize, unilateral percutaneous endoscopic spine surgery to achieve the bilateral decompression in lumbar stenosis provides excellent yet safe and effective outcomes. It improves back and leg pain and patients' function significantly.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Knowledge, attitude and practice of Pap smear screening among women in Gombak District, Selangor

Ng Pei Ting, Nurul Azira Ismail, Noor Izzah Abd Rahman, Yasohdha Anne Sundraraj

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(101):82-87.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in Malaysia with an estimation of 1,682 new cases and 944 deaths as reported in the year 2018, and these statistics are expected to increase by the year 2025. Early detection of cervical cancer through Pap smear screening may prevent an increase in incidence. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards Pap smear screening in the urban community. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Pap smear screening and association with KAP among 246 randomly selected women. Primary data was collected by using a self-administered online questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 23. Results: Prevalence of Pap smear screen- ing was recorded at 46.6%. Mean score for knowledge was 0.858±0.247, the attitude was 0.847±0.156 and practice was 0.423±0.426. There is a significant difference in KAP towards Pap smear screening (p

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext An image encryption scheme based on public key cryptosystem and quantum logistic map

Ye G, Jiao K, Huang X, Goi BM, Yap WS

Sci Rep, 2020 Dec 03;10(1):21044.
PMID: 33273539 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78127-2

Most of existing image encryption schemes are proposed in the spatial domain which easily destroys the correlation between pixels. This paper proposes an image encryption scheme by employing discrete cosine transform (DCT), quantum logistic map and substitution-permutation network (SPN). The DCT is used to transform the images in the frequency domain. Meanwhile, the SPN is used to provide the security properties of confusion and diffusion. The SPN provides fast encryption as compared to the asymmetric based image encryption since operations with low computational complexity are used (e.g., exclusive-or and permutation). Different statistical experiments and security analysis are performed against six grayscale and color images to justify the effectiveness and security of the proposed image encryption scheme.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Machine learning improves early prediction of small-for-gestational-age births and reveals nuchal fold thickness as unexpected predictor

Saw SN, Biswas A, Mattar CNZ, Lee HK, Yap CH

Prenat Diagn, 2021 Mar;41(4):505-516.
PMID: 33462877 DOI: 10.1002/pd.5903

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the performance of the machine learning (ML) model in predicting small-for-gestational-age (SGA) at birth, using second-trimester data.
METHODS: Retrospective data of 347 patients, consisting of maternal demographics and ultrasound parameters collected between the 20th and 25th gestational weeks, were studied. ML models were applied to different combinations of the parameters to predict SGA and severe SGA at birth (defined as 10th and third centile birth weight).
RESULTS: Using second-trimester measurements, ML models achieved an accuracy of 70% and 73% in predicting SGA and severe SGA whereas clinical guidelines had accuracies of 64% and 48%. Uterine PI (Ut PI) was found to be an important predictor, corroborating with existing literature, but surprisingly, so was nuchal fold thickness (NF). Logistic regression showed that Ut PI and NF were significant predictors and statistical comparisons showed that these parameters were significantly different in disease. Further, including NF was found to improve ML model performance, and vice versa.
CONCLUSION: ML could potentially improve the prediction of SGA at birth from second-trimester measurements, and demonstrated reduced NF to be an important predictor. Early prediction of SGA allows closer clinical monitoring, which provides an opportunity to discover any underlying diseases associated with SGA.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Labour pain and satisfaction toward labour support among partrurient mothers

Aishairma Aris, Ling Ming Jing, Aida Kalok, Yang Wai Wai

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(105):2-0.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Severe labour pain and dissatisfaction towards supports received from midwives during labour are common experiencesamong parturient mothers. Thesenegative emotional experiences need to be given attention as they are associated with higher acute stress reactions and postpartum depressive symptoms. Therefore, this study examinedthe labour pain and satisfaction toward labour support and their influential factors. Methods: A total of 136 parturient mothersregistered for a labour in the UniversitiKebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre were included in this studyusing simple random sampling. The mothers had met the eligibility criteria; live and singleton pregnancy, able to communicate in English, Malay or Mandarin. Visual anologue scale and Bryanton Adaptation of the Nursing Support in Labor Questionnaire (BASILIQ) which contained both quantitative and qualitative questions were used to measure the pain and satisfaction level respectively. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests and also content analysis wereutilised to analyse the data. Results: Labour pain was low (Mean=2.24, SD=2.20) and satisfaction toward the labour support was high (Mean=76.9, SD=8.75). Both the pain and satisfaction were not significantly related to each other and also to any of the mothers’ demographic (p > 0.05) and obstetrical data (p > 0.05). However, 32.9% (n=25) out of 76 subjectswho responded to the qualitative questions had highlighted the need of havingfriendly and helpful nurses during their labour.In addition, 56% (n=14) out of 25 subjects who provided additional comments had suggested to include theemotional support to reduce their labour pain, fear and anxiety. Conclusion: Friendly and helpful nurses are part of the emotional support for labour. There- fore, it is recommended that a structured emotional laboursupport should be made availableto parturient mothers. Further research examining the effectiveness of the emotional support on the pain and satisfaction, nevertheless, is warranted.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Infrapatellar fat pad resection or preservation during total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Sun C, Zhang X, Lee WG, Tu Y, Li H, Cai X, et al.

J Orthop Surg Res, 2020 Aug 05;15(1):297.
PMID: 32758250 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-020-01823-2

BACKGROUND: The infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) or Hoffa's fat pad is often resected during total knee arthroplasty in order to improve visibility. However, the management of the IPFP during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the subject of an ongoing debate that has no clear consensus. The purpose of this review was to appraise if resection of the IPFP affects clinical outcomes.
METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis to identify relevant randomized controlled trials involving infrapatellar fat pad resection and infrapatellar fat pad preservation during total knee arthroplasty in electronic databases, including Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Cochrane Library, Highwire, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang database, up to March 2020.
RESULTS: Nine randomized controlled trials, involving 783 TKAs (722 patients), were included in the systematic review. Outcome measures included patellar tendon length (PTL), Insall-Salvati ratio (ISR), rate of anterior knee pain, Knee Society Scores (KSS), and knee range of motion. The meta-analysis identified a trend toward the shortening of the patellar tendon with IPFP resection at 6 months (P = 0.0001) and 1 year (P = 0.001). We found no statistical difference in ISR (P = 0.87), rate of anterior knee pain within 6 months (p = 0.45) and 1 year (p = 0.38), KSS at 1 year (p = 0.77), and knee range of motion within 6 months (p = 0.61) and 1 year (0.46).
CONCLUSION: Based on the available level I evidence, we were unable to conclude that one surgical technique of IPFP can definitively be considered superior over the other. More adequately powered and better-designed randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies with long-term follow-up are required to produce evidence-based guidelines regarding IPFP resection.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Statistical validation for the profiling of heroin by associating simulated postcut samples with the corresponding precut sample

Chan KW, Tan GH, Wong RC

J Forensic Sci, 2013 Jan;58 Suppl 1:S199-207.
PMID: 23013257 DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02285.x

Statistical validation is crucial for the clustering of unknown samples. This study aims to demonstrate how statistical techniques can be optimized using simulated heroin samples containing a range of analyte concentrations that are similar to those of the case samples. Eight simulated heroin distribution links consisting of 64 postcut samples were prepared by mixing one of two mixtures of paracetamol-caffeine-dextromethorphan at different proportions with eight precut samples. Analyte contents and compositional variation of the prepared samples were investigated. A number of data pretreatments were evaluated by associating the postcut samples with the corresponding precut samples using principal component analysis and discriminant analysis. Subsequently, combinations of seven linkage methods and five distance measures were explored using hierarchical cluster analysis. In this study, Ward-Manhattan showed better distinctions between unrelated links and was able to cluster all related samples in very close distance under the known links on a dendogram. A similar discriminative outcome was also achieved by 90 unknown case samples when clustered via Ward-Manhattan.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
A simplified clustering method for novice narcotic chemists

Chan KW, Tan GH, Wong RC

Sci Justice, 2012 Sep;52(3):136-41.
PMID: 22841136 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2012.04.006

Statistical classification remains the most useful statistical tool for forensic chemists to assess the relationships between samples. Many clustering techniques such as principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis have been employed to analyze chemical data for pattern recognition. Due to the feeble foundation of this statistics knowledge among novice drug chemists, a tetrahedron method was designed to simulate how advanced chemometrics operates. In this paper, the development of the graphical tetrahedron and computational matrices derived from the possible tetrahedrons are discussed. The tetrahedron method was applied to four selected parameters obtained from nine illicit heroin samples. Pattern analysis and mathematical computation of the differences in areas for assessing the dissimilarity between the nine tetrahedrons were found to be user-convenient and straightforward for novice cluster analysts.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Are Malaysian Type 2 Diabetes patients willing to be trained to speak to their offspring about risk of diabetes and preventive measures?

Badlishah-Sham SF, Ramli AS, Isa MR, Mohd-Zaki N, Whitford DL

BMC Fam Pract, 2020 03 11;21(1):50.
PMID: 32160862 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-020-01121-0

BACKGROUND: Offspring of type 2 diabetes patients have an absolute risk of 20-40% of developing the condition. Type 2 diabetes patients should be encouraged to speak to their offspring regarding diabetes risk and prevention strategies. The Health Belief Model conceptualises that the higher the perceived risk, the more likely an individual will modify their behaviour. The objectives of this study were to i) determine the distribution of type 2 diabetes patients regarding their willingness to accept training to speak to their offspring, ii) determine the distribution of type 2 diabetes patients regarding their willingness to accept training based on the HBM and iii) to determine the factors associated with their willingness to accept training.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study amongst type 2 diabetes patients attending two primary care clinics in Malaysia. Sociodemographic data and knowledge of diabetes risk factors were collected. The adapted, translated and validated Diabetes Mellitus in the Offspring Questionnaire-Malay version (DMOQ-Malay) was self-administered. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, univariate and multiple logistic regression (MLogR).

RESULTS: A total of 425 participants were recruited. Of these, 61.6% were willing to accept training. In MLogR, six variables were found to be significantly associated with willingness to accept training. These were i) positive family history [Adj. OR 2.06 (95% CI: 1.27, 3.35)], ii) having the correct knowledge that being overweight is a risk factor [Adj. OR 1.49 (95%CI: 1.01, 2.29)], iii) correctly identifying age ≥ 40 years old as a risk factor [Adj. OR 1.88 (95%CI: 1.22, 2.90)], iv) agreeing that speaking to their offspring would help them to prevent type 2 diabetes [Adj. OR 4.34 (95%: 1.07, 17.73)], v) being neutral with the statement 'I do not have much contact with my offspring' [Adj. OR: 0.31 (95% CI: 0.12, 0.810] and vi) being neutral with the statement 'my offspring are not open to advice from me' [Adj. OR: 0.63 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.84].

CONCLUSION: The majority of type 2 diabetes patients were willing to accept training to speak to their offspring to prevent diabetes. A training module should be designed to enhance their knowledge, attitude and skills to become family health educators.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Mapping timely access to emergency and essential surgical services: The Malaysian experience

Hoh SM, Wahab MYA, Hisham AN, Guest GD, Watters DAK

ANZ J Surg, 2021 Jun 01.
PMID: 34075677 DOI: 10.1111/ans.16986

BACKGROUND: Surgical conditions form a significant proportion of the global burden of disease. Since the 2015 World Health Assembly resolution A68.15, there is recognition that the provision of essential surgical care is an integral part of universal access to health care. The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery proposed its first surgical indicator to measure a population's access to the Bellwether procedures (laparotomy, caesarean section and treatment of open fracture) within two hours. Bellwether access is a proxy for emergency and essential surgical care. This project aims to map essential surgical access to the Bellwether procedures in Malaysia.
METHODS: The location and capability of hospitals to perform the Bellwether procedures was obtained from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and MoH hospital specific websites. The Malaysian population data were retrieved from the national department of statistics. Times for patients to travel to hospital were calculated by combining manual contouring and geospatial mapping.
RESULTS: There were 49 Bellwether-capable MoH hospitals serving a national population of 32.5 million. Overall 94% of Malaysia's population have access to the Bellwethers within two hours. This coverage is universal in West (Peninsular) Malaysia, but there is only 73% coverage in East Malaysia, with 1.8 million residents of Sabah and Sarawak not having timely access. Malaysia's Bellwether capacity compares well with other countries in World Health Organisation's Western Pacific region.
CONCLUSION: There is good access to essential and emergency surgical services in Malaysia. The incomplete access for 1.8 million people in East Malaysia will inform national surgical planning.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext The graphical assessment of multivariate normality using SPSS

Wan Nor Arifin

Education in Medicine Journal, 2015;7(2):71-75.
MyJurnal

Multivariate analyses depend on multivariate normality assumption. Although the analyses are available in SPSS, it is not possible to assess the assumption from the basic package. Statistical assessment of the normality is available in a specialized package, SPSS Amos, in form of Mardia's multivariate kurtosis. However, graphical assessment of the normality by chi-square versus Mahalanobis distance plot is not available in both of the packages. The aim of this article is to present the steps to construct the plot in SPSS in a point-and-click manner as expected by most SPSS users.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Creating artificial data for teaching of statistics

Wan Nor Arifin

Education in Medicine Journal, 2011;3(1):69-77.
MyJurnal

For the purpose of teaching statistics, lecturers often rely on data from real studies, text book examples or painstakingly created datasets. The process of creating a dataset can be made easier with the utilization of PASW Statistics to generate random values. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the creation of data which are measured on continuous scale, using PASW Statistics menus and syntax.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Introduction to sample size calculation

Wan Nor Arifin

Education in Medicine Journal, 2013;5(2):89-96.
MyJurnal

One of the most common reasons why researchers seek help from statistician is sample size calculation. However despite the common believe that it only involves formula and calculation, researchers often ignore other aspects of research design that leads to proper sample size calculation. In this article, the author outlines basic steps toward sample size calculation. The author also introduces the logic behind sample size calculation for single mean and single proportion in simplified and less intimidating forms to those not statistically inclined.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry

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