A general malaria survey of Sarawak and Brunei, two of the territories of British Borneo, is described. Contrary to what was expected in view of the climate and the general conditions, the prevalence of malaria in Sarawak and Brunei proved, on the average, to be low. The coastal areas were found to be practically free from the disease, although epidemics have occurred there in recent years. Malaria was found to be endemic in the hilly and mountainous interior. In fact, topography proved to be an important factor in malaria prevalence, the spleen- and parasite-rates, generally speaking, being higher the more abrupt the country. Differences were also observed in the prevalence among the various racial groups, but these were considered to be due to different habits and customs rather than to race itself.Entomological studies showed that Anopheles leucosphyrus Dönitz was the main malaria vector in the interior of Sarawak, A. barbirostris playing a secondary role. A. leucosphyrus balabacensis had already been recognized as the malaria vector in Brunei.The favourable results of a first field trial of residual insecticides are mentioned and plans for a nation-wide malaria-control programme are briefly outlined.
A total of 1008 healthy unrelated young adult male police and military recruits, 317 from Brunei, 398 from Sabah and 293 from Sarawak, were examined for G-6-PD deficiency. The frequency in the 317 Brunei recruits, who were all of Malay origin, was 6.3 %. In Sabah the frequencies for the four main ethnic groups were 12.1 % in 165 Kadazans, 4.1% in 73 Malays, 3.4 % in 68 Bajaus and 24.2 % in 33 Muruts. In Sarawak the frequency was 11.6 % in 95 recruits of Malay origin. Three among 56 Ibans and one among 80 Sea Dayaks were found to be enzyme-deficient, but the numbers examined of these groups were too small for estimation of the frequency. The overall frequency for the Malay group in Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak was 7.0% in 485 persons examined.
To determine if the unusually high incidence of salmonellosis reported on Guam for several years might be the result of more frequent bacteriologic examination of gastroenteritis/diarrhoea patient stool specimens, a survey of medical clinic and laboratory activities was undertaken among countries in the Pacific Basin Area. Survey results suggest that while Guam laboratories may be particularly proficient in isolating Salmonella organisms, the quantity of stool specimens examined could not account for the higher incidence of salmonellosis observed on the island.
Brunei Darussalam has a mixed population with entirely different cultures and religions. The overall incidence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is 6%. A racial analysis of the incidence of HBV infection in Brunei shows a significantly higher incidence in Chinese compared to the other races. This is consistent with the incidence in the neighbouring countries.
One thousand consecutive Brunei Darussalam patients referred with low Hb, and/or low MCV and MCH (Hb < 12.5g/dl, MCV < 76fl, MCH < 27pg) were studied in the laboratory for underlying haemoglobinopathies. 30.0% of such patients were proved to have either beta-thalassaemia trait, beta-thalassaemia major, Hb AE, Hb EE, Hb E beta-thalassaemia or Hb H disease. In some, the haemoglobin abnormality was not identified precisely. Alpha-thalassaemia was suspected in an additional 4.3% of cases but confirmation study by globin-chain synthesis was not available. Beta-thalassaemia trait which was the predominant disorder was equally distributed among the three major race groups of Brunei Darussalam. Hb E was found exclusive among the Malay population. Hb H disease appeared as more common among the Chinese or the Malays (p > 0.05). This study reveals that thalassaemia and haemoglobinopathies are prevalent in Brunei Darussalam.
During the five-year period from January 1985 to December 1989 a total of 27,208 women, representing 44.0% of the total female population over age 15 years in Brunei Darussalam, underwent a cytologic examination. The majority of them were Malays (62.32%), followed by Chinese (22.23%), while the remainder were the expatriate population living in the country. High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (moderate dysplasia) was detected in 88 women (3.3/1,000), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (carcinoma in situ) was seen in 32 women (1.22/1,000), and invasive carcinoma was found in 43 women (1.37/1,000). The overall detection rate for cervical cancer was 2.79/1,000 women in the population screened. In Brunei Darussalam Malay women marry at an early age, 44% by the age of 19 years, leading to sexual contact before the age of 20. However, the incidence of cervical cancer is low among them. This could be because they belong to the Orthodox Muslim Society, in which promiscuity is not permitted. Hence, multiple sex partners could be an important factor in the etiology of cervical cancer, confirming the current trend of thought that cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted disease. A comparison of the epidemiologic risk factors among the various races living in Brunei Darussalam is made.
Tarsal adhesive pads enable insects to hold on to smooth plant surfaces. Using a centrifuge technique, we tested whether a "wet adhesion" model of a thin film of liquid secreted between the pad and the surface can explain adhesive and frictional forces in Asian Weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina). When forces are acting parallel to the surface, pads in contact with the surface can slide smoothly. Force per unit pad contact area was strongly dependent on sliding velocity and temperature. Seemingly consistent with the effect of a thin liquid film in the contact zone, (1) frictional force linearly increased with sliding velocity, (2) the increment was greater at lower temperatures and (3) no temperature dependence was detected for low-rate perpendicular detachment forces. However, we observed a strong, temperature-independent static friction that was inconsistent with a fully lubricated contact. Static friction was too large to be explained by the contribution of other (sclerotized) body parts. Moreover, the rate-specific increase of shear stress strongly exceeded predictions derived from estimates of the adhesive liquid film's thickness and viscosity. Both lines of evidence indicate that the adhesive secretion alone is insufficient to explain the observed forces and that direct interaction of the soft pad cuticle with the surface ("rubber friction") is involved.
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.