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The direct and indirect effects of corruption on motor vehicle crash deaths

Hua LT, Noland RB, Evans AW

Accid Anal Prev, 2010 Nov;42(6):1934-42.
PMID: 20728645 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2010.05.015

Recent empirical research has found that there is an inverted U-shaped or Kuznets relationship between income and motor vehicle crash (MVC) deaths, such that MVC deaths increase as national income increases and decrease after reaching a critical level. Corruption has been identified as one of the underlying factors that could affect this relationship, primarily by undermining institutional development and effective enforcement schemes. The total effect of corruption can be decomposed into two components, a direct and an indirect effect. The direct effect measures the immediate impact of corruption on MVC deaths by undermining effective enforcement and regulations, while the indirect effect captures the impact of corruption on hindering increases in per capita income and the consequent impact of reduced income on MVC deaths. By influencing economic growth, corruption can lead to an increase or decrease in MVC deaths depending on the income level. Using data from 60 countries between 1982 and 2003, these effects are estimated using linear panel and fixed effects negative binomial models. The estimation results suggest that corruption has different direct effects for less developed and highly developed countries. It has a negative (decreasing) effect on MVC deaths for less developed countries and a positive (increasing) effect on MVC deaths for highly developed countries. For highly developed countries, the total effect is positive at lower per capita income levels, but decreases with per capita income and becomes negative at per capita income levels of about US$ 38,248. For less developed countries, the total effect is negative within the sample range and decreases with increased per capita income. In summary, the results of this study suggest that reduction of corruption is likely a necessary condition to effectively tackle road safety problems.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Development of health biotechnology in developing countries: can private-sector players be the prime movers?

Abuduxike G, Aljunid SM

Biotechnol Adv, 2012 Nov-Dec;30(6):1589-601.
PMID: 22617902 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2012.05.002

Health biotechnology has rapidly become vital in helping healthcare systems meet the needs of the poor in developing countries. This key industry also generates revenue and creates employment opportunities in these countries. To successfully develop biotechnology industries in developing nations, it is critical to understand and improve the system of health innovation, as well as the role of each innovative sector and the linkages between the sectors. Countries' science and technology capacities can be strengthened only if there are non-linear linkages and strong interrelations among players throughout the innovation process; these relationships generate and transfer knowledge related to commercialization of the innovative health products. The private sector is one of the main actors in healthcare innovation, contributing significantly to the development of health biotechnology via knowledge, expertise, resources and relationships to translate basic research and development into new commercial products and innovative processes. The role of the private sector has been increasingly recognized and emphasized by governments, agencies and international organizations. Many partnerships between the public and private sector have been established to leverage the potential of the private sector to produce more affordable healthcare products. Several developing countries that have been actively involved in health biotechnology are becoming the main players in this industry. The aim of this paper is to discuss the role of the private sector in health biotechnology development and to study its impact on health and economic growth through case studies in South Korea, India and Brazil. The paper also discussed the approaches by which the private sector can improve the health and economic status of the poor.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Management of Viral Pneumonia

Xi S, Li Y, Yue L, Gong Y, Qian L, Liang T, et al.

Front Pharmacol, 2020;11:582322.
PMID: 33192523 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.582322

Viral pneumonia is one kind of acute respiratory tract infection caused by the virus. There have been many outbreaks of viral pneumonia with high contagiousness and mortality both in China and abroad, such as the great influenza in 1918, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus in 2003, the Influenza A (H1N1) virus in 2009, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012 and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019. These outbreaks and/or pandemic have significant impact on human life, social behaviors, and economic development. Moreover, no specific drug has been developed for these viruses. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in the treatment of viral pneumonia during these outbreaks especially in SARS and SARS-CoV-2 because studies suggest that TCM formulations may target several aspects of the disease and may have lesser side effects than manufactured pharmaceuticals. In recent years, a lot of clinicians and researchers have made a series of in-depth explorations and investigations on the treatment of viral pneumonia with TCM, which have understood TCM therapeutic mechanisms more specifically and clearly. But critical analysis of this research in addition to further studies are needed to assess the potential of TCM in the treatment of viral pneumonia.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext Local Government Competition, Environmental Regulation Intensity and Regional Innovation Performance: An Empirical Investigation of Chinese Provinces

Deng J, Zhang N, Ahmad F, Draz MU

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019 06 16;16(12).
PMID: 31208141 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16122130

：The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of local government competition and environmental regulation intensity on regional innovation performance and its regional heterogeneity. Based on the theoretical mechanism of the aforementioned variables, this study uses the Chinese provincial panel data from 2001 to 2016. We use the super-efficiency data envelopment analysis (SE-DEA) to evaluate regional innovation performance. To systematically examine the impact of local government competition and environmental regulation intensity on regional innovation performance, we build a panel date model using the feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) method. The results indicate that: the regional innovation performance can be significantly improved through technological spillover; local governments compete for foreign direct investment (FDI) to participate in regional innovative production. Moreover, improvements in environmental regulation intensity enhance regional innovation performance through the innovation compensation effect. Our results show that the local governments tend to choose lower environmental regulation intensity to compete for more FDI, which has an inhibitory effect on regional innovation performance. Furthermore, due to regional differences in factor endowments, economic reforms and economic development levels in Chinese provinces, there exists a significant regional consistency in the impact of local government competition and environmental regulation intensity on regional innovation performance. Therefore, institutional arrangements and incentive constraints must be adopted to enhance regional innovation performance as well as to guide and foster the mechanism of green innovation competition among local governments. At the same time, considering the regional heterogeneity of local government competition and environmental regulation intensity affecting regional innovation performance, policy makers should avoid the "one-size-fits-all" strategy of institutional arrangements.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext Urban health and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Malaysia

Normaz Wana Ismail, Sudha Sivadas

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(2):3-9.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Urbanisation is a key determinant of population health. Malaysia’s exemplary economic growth in the early 1990s and the consequent development and urbanisation led to significant changes in health, lifestyle and quality of life. Rising expectations, changing demographics and nutrition and disease transitions were challenges synonymous to an increasingly urban Malaysia. As the Government targets optimal population health, this paper aims to explore one of the many challenges of urbanisation, namely the prevalence of non-communicable diseases or NCDs. For the purpose of this paper, NCD is proxied by Diabetes Mellitus. Methods: This study is based the 2015 National Health and Morbidity Survey, which is a cross-sectional population-based survey, involving 30,000 re- spondents. Given the binomial nature of the survey variables, the multinomial Probit model was employed using the STATA statistical software. Results: Generally, age, gender and race are significant in determining health outcomes. Socioeconomically, all three variables of income, education and employment are significant. For lifestyle factors, findings show that only the weight and physically active status have a role in determining health outcomes. Finally, the urban variable is also positive and significant. Conclusion: Findings show that the prevalence of Diabetes Melli- tus, is rising along with urbanisation and that there is a health penalty for the urban population and also for those who do not embrace healthy lifestyles. Additionally, other factors are equally important as urban health determinants, encompassing both the demographic and socioeconomic factors.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext Politics of disease control in Africa and the critical role of global health diplomacy: A systematic review

Chattu VK, Knight WA, Adisesh A, Yaya S, Reddy KS, Di Ruggiero E, et al.

Health Promot Perspect, 2021;11(1):20-31.
PMID: 33758752 DOI: 10.34172/hpp.2021.04

Background: Africa is facing the triple burden of communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and nutritional disorders. Multilateral institutions, bilateral arrangements, and philanthropies have historically privileged economic development over health concerns. That focus has resulted in weak health systems and inadequate preparedness when there are outbreaks of diseases. This review aims to understand the politics of disease control in Africa and global health diplomacy's (GHD's) critical role. Methods: A literature review was done in Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google scholar search engines. Keywords included MeSH and common terms related to the topics: "Politics," "disease control," "epidemics/ endemics," and "global health diplomacy" in the "African" context. The resources also included reports of World Health Organization, United Nations and resolutions of the World Health Assembly (WHA). Results: African countries continue to struggle in their attempts to build health systems for disease control that are robust enough to tackle the frequent epidemics that plague the continent. The politics of disease control requires the crafting of cooperative partnerships to accommodate the divergent interests of multiple actors. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and Ebola had a significant impact on African economies. It is extremely important to prioritize health in the African development agendas. The African Union (AU) should leverage the momentum of the rise of GHD to (i) navigate the politics of global health governance in an interconnected world(ii) develop robust preparedness and disease response strategies to tackle emerging and reemerging disease epidemics in the region (iii) address the linkages between health and broader human security issues driven by climate change-induced food, water, and other insecurities (iv) mobilize resources and capacities to train health officials in the craft of diplomacy. Conclusion: The AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and African Centres for Disease Control should harmonize their plans and strategies and align them towards a common goal that integrates health in African development agendas. The AU must innovatively harness the practice and tools of GHD towards developing the necessary partnerships with relevant actors in the global health arena to achieve the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext Review article food production strategies for improving household food security amidst rising food prices: sharing the Malaysian experience

Khor, G.L.

International Food Research Journal, 2008;15(3):249-257.
MyJurnal

Food and fuel prices have soared in recent years affecting most adversely the poor and those with fixed incomes. Since 2000, wheat price in the international market has more than tripled and maize prices have more than doubled. The price of rice, the staple of billions in Asia, has tripled in the past year. The surge of food prices has been blamed on multiple factors including higher energy and fertilizer costs, greater global demand, drought, the loss of arable land to biofuel crops and price speculation. In light of the spiraling rise in food prices, there is the prospect of increasing rates of under-nutrition worldwide. As it is, 800 million are estimated to be suffering from chronic malnourishment, with another 2.1 billion people living close to subsistence levels on less than US$2 a day. Some perspectives of the food production experience of Malaysia are shared here as a case of a country that has built up capabilities and resources through high level of foreign and domestic investment leading to a diversified economy. In response to the recent surge in the price of rice, the Malaysian government announced the setting up of a dedicated fund amounting to US$1.25 billion to increase production of food including fruits and vegetables, and targeting 100% self-sufficiency in rice, by growing rice on a massive scale in Sarawak. During the current five-year development plan for the period of 2006-2010, (Ninth Malaysia Plan), the role of the agriculture sector is considerably enhanced to be the third pillar of economic growth, after manufacturing and services. Among the measures taken, are those aimed at increasing incomes of smallholders and fishermen mainly through improving productivity. These measures include encouraging more rice farmers to participate in mini-estates and group farming, providing financial assistance to rehabilitate cocoa, pepper and sago smallholdings, enhancing the capabilities of coastal fishermen, and setting up of a special program to assist poor households in the agriculture sector to diversify their sources of income. The various socio-economic programs in Malaysia that have been put in place over the years may have cushioned to some extent so far the severity of the dramatic hikes in food prices.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext A community health screening conducted at Sungai Pinang township, state of Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Chai Fung Kiew, Chee Ping Chong

Malaysian Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 2013;11(1):59-68.
MyJurnal

Non-communicable diseases are raising much concern in Malaysia due to changing lifestyles which is parallel to the economic development. Intervention program like community health screening (CHS) allows early detection, prevention and reduction of chronic diseases and its risk factors. This study aimed to assess the obesity level, risk factors for chronic diseases and blood cholesterol level among the Malaysian public. A health screening program was conducted on April 2012 at Sungai Pinang township, in the state of Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. A convenient sample of the general public was recruited. Screening tests consisted of measurements of blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, visceral fat accumulation (VFA) and blood cholesterol. Chi-square analysis was used to determine the difference between prevalence of obesity among subjects with different age groups and gender. Out of 76 recruited subjects, 23.7% had systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or greater and 7.9% had diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or greater. Approximately 51% of the subjects were obese (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2). Body fat percentage was high in 63.6% and 63.0% of male and female subjects, respectively. High VFA (≥15) was found in 19.8% of subjects. There were three newly discovered hypercholesterolemia cases (total cholesterol ≥ 5.2 mmol/L). Counselling was given during the health screening program to help the public to take necessary measures to reduce risk factors while preventing complication resulting from these chronic diseases. In conclusion, prevalence of obesity found to be high in the present screened population.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext Focusing health equity, efficiency and health maximization policy review

Thant, Z., Than, Mt, Shamsul, B.S., Wai, P.W., Htun, H.N.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2013;13(1):64-71.
MyJurnal

With economic growth and significant technological advances in the health sector, many countries have developed aggregate outcomes in terms of both health services and individual well-being. Life expectancy has seen a remarkable increase of more than fifty per cent between 1950 and 2009. Achievement is uneven, however, and some groups are better able to access health services than others. In our review, we explore the need and how to maximize health equity, efficiency and effectiveness. Methodology is the review and web surfing on public health, social science, humanity and development literature. The increasing gap in health inequality, however, calls for further reform of the health system to achieve both equity and efficiency. Health is essential for survival and human capability. Good health enables people to participate in society. A new approach to efficient and cost-effective health service provision is community participation in health development. Participation can increase the skills and knowledge of local people, thus providing opportunities to improve their lives (empowerment). Analysis suggests four functional changes to achieve equity and efficiency in maximizing health outputs: reforms targeting universal coverage to achieve universal access to health; people-centred service delivery through concentrating on health services based on need; public policy change targeting integrated and multi-system health planning; and collective health system and community response to achieve health for all.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext Emerging challenges for sustainable development and forest conservation in Sarawak, Borneo

Alamgir M, Campbell MJ, Sloan S, Engert J, Word J, Laurance WF

PLoS One, 2020;15(3):e0229614.
PMID: 32126070 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229614

The forests of Borneo-the third largest island on the planet-sustain some of the highest biodiversity and carbon storage in the world. The forests also provide vital ecosystem services and livelihood support for millions of people in the region, including many indigenous communities. The Pan-Borneo Highway and several hydroelectric dams are planned or already under construction in Sarawak, a Malaysian state comprising part of the Borneo. This development seeks to enhance economic growth and regional connectivity, support community access to services, and promote industrial development. However, the implications of the development of highway and dams for forest integrity, biodiversity and ecosystem services remained largely unreported. We assessed these development projects using fine-scale biophysical and environmental data and found several environmental and socioeconomic risks associated with the projects. The highway and hydroelectric dam projects will impact 32 protected areas including numerous key habitats of threatened species such as the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), Sarawak surili (Presbytis chrysomelas), Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) and tufted ground squirrel (Rheithrosciurus macrotis). Under its slated development trajectory, the local and trans-national forest connectivity between Malaysian Borneo and Indonesian Borneo would also be substantially diminished. Nearly ~161 km of the Pan-Borneo Highway in Sarawak will traverse forested landscapes and ~55 km will traverse carbon-rich peatlands. The 13 hydroelectric dam projects will collectively impact ~1.7 million ha of forest in Sarawak. The consequences of planned highway and hydroelectric dams construction will increase the carbon footprint of development in the region. Moreover, many new road segments and hydroelectric dams would be built on steep slopes in high-rainfall zones and forested areas, increasing both construction and ongoing maintenance costs. The projects would also alter livelihood activities of downstream communities, risking their long-term sustainability. Overall, our findings identify major economic, social and environmental risks for several planned road segments in Sarawak-such as those between Telok Melano and Kuching; Sibu and Bintulu; and in the Lambir, Limbang and Lawas regions-and dam projects-such as Tutoh, Limbang, Lawas, Baram, Linau, Ulu Air and Baleh dams. Such projects need to be reviewed to ensure they reflect Borneo's unique environmental and forest ecosystem values, the aspirations of local communities and long-term sustainability of the projects rather than being assessed solely on their short-term economic returns.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext Associations Between Social Capital and Depressive Symptoms Among College Students in 12 Countries: Results of a Cross-National Study

Backhaus I, Varela AR, Khoo S, Siefken K, Crozier A, Begotaraj E, et al.

Front Psychol, 2020;11:644.
PMID: 32411038 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00644

Introduction: A mental health crisis has hit university campuses across the world. This study sought to determine the prevalence and social determinants of depressive symptoms among university students in twelve countries. Particular focus was placed on the association between social capital and depressive symptoms.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students at their first year at university in Europe, Asia, the Western Pacific, and Latin and North America. Data were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire, including questions on sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and social capital. The simplified Beck's Depression Inventory was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. Social capital was assessed using items drawn from the World Bank Integrated Questionnaire to Measure Social Capital. Multilevel analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between social capital and depressive symptoms, adjusting for individual covariates (e.g., perceived stress) and country-level characteristics (e.g., economic development).
Results: Among 4228 students, 48% presented clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Lower levels of cognitive (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.44-2.29) and behavioral social capital (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.29-1.76) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. The likelihood of having depressive symptoms was also significantly higher among those living in regions with lower levels of social capital.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that lower levels of individual and macro-level social capital contribute to clinically relevant depressive symptoms among university students. Increasing social capital may mitigate depressive symptoms in college students.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Japan's conditional early approval program for innovative cancer drugs: Comparison of the regulatory processes with the US FDA and the EMA

Murayama A, Ueda M, Shrestha S, Tanimoto T, Ozaki A

Cancer Cell, 2021 09 13;39(9):1165-1166.
PMID: 34358449 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.07.008
Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext Examining depressive symptoms and their predictors in Malaysia: stress, locus of control, and occupation

Yeoh SH, Tam CL, Wong CP, Bonn G

Front Psychol, 2017;8:1411.
PMID: 28878710 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01411

The 2015 National Health and Morbidity Survey estimated that over 29% of the adult population of Malaysia suffers from mental distress, a nearly 3-fold increase from the 10.7% estimated by the NHMS in 1996 pointing to the potential beginnings of a public health crisis. This study aimed to better understand this trend by assessing depressive symptoms and their correlates in a cross-section of Malaysians. Specifically, it assesses stress, perceived locus of control, and various socio-demographic variables as possible predictors of depressive symptoms in the Malaysian context. A total of 728 adults from three Malaysian states (Selangor, Penang, Terengganu) completed Beck's depression inventory as well as several other measures: 10% of respondents reported experiencing severe levels of depressive symptoms, 11% reported moderate and 15% reported mild depressive symptoms indicating that Malaysians are experiencing high levels of emotional distress. When controlling for the influence of other variables, depressive symptoms were predictably related to higher levels of stress and lower levels of internal locus of control. Ethnic Chinese Malaysians, housewives and those engaged in professional-type occupations reported less depressive symptoms. Business owners reported more depressive symptoms. Further research should look more into Malaysians' subjective experience of stress and depression as well as explore environmental factors that may be contributing to mental health issues. It is argued that future policies can be designed to better balance individual mental health needs with economic growth.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
The impact of CO2 emissions on economic growth: evidence from selected higher CO2 emissions economies

Azam M, Khan AQ, Bin Abdullah H, Qureshi ME

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2016 Apr;23(7):6376-89.
PMID: 26620862 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5817-4

The main purpose of this work is to analyze the impact of environmental degradation proxied by CO2 emissions per capita along with some other explanatory variables namely energy use, trade, and human capital on economic growth in selected higher CO2 emissions economies namely China, the USA, India, and Japan. For empirical analysis, annual data over the period spanning between 1971 and 2013 are used. After using relevant and suitable tests for checking data properties, the panel fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) method is employed as an analytical technique for parameter estimation. The panel group FMOLS results reveal that almost all variables are statistically significant, whereby test rejects the null hypotheses of non cointegration, demonstrating that all variables play an important role in affecting the economic growth role across countries. Where two regressors namely CO2 emissions and energy use show significantly negative impacts on economic growth, for trade and human capital, they tend to show the significantly positive impact on economic growth. However, for the individual analysis across countries, the panel estimate suggests that CO2 emissions have a significant positive relationship with economic growth for China, Japan, and the USA, while it is found significantly negative in case of India. The empirical findings of the study suggest that appropriate and prudent policies are required in order to control pollution emerging from areas other than liquefied fuel consumption. The ultimate impact of shrinking pollution will help in supporting sustainable economic growth and maturation as well as largely improve society welfare.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Causal nexus between energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission for Malaysia using maximum entropy bootstrap approach

Gul S, Zou X, Hassan CH, Azam M, Zaman K

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2015 Dec;22(24):19773-85.
PMID: 26282441 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5185-0

This study investigates the relationship between energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission in the causal framework, as the direction of causality remains has a significant policy implication for developed and developing countries. The study employed maximum entropy bootstrap (Meboot) approach to examine the causal nexus between energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission using bivariate as well as multivariate framework for Malaysia, over a period of 1975-2013. This is a unified approach without requiring the use of conventional techniques based on asymptotical theory such as testing for possible unit root and cointegration. In addition, it can be applied in the presence of non-stationary of any type including structural breaks without any type of data transformation to achieve stationary. Thus, it provides more reliable and robust inferences which are insensitive to time span as well as lag length used. The empirical results show that there is a unidirectional causality running from energy consumption to carbon emission both in the bivariate model and multivariate framework, while controlling for broad money supply and population density. The results indicate that Malaysia is an energy-dependent country and hence energy is stimulus to carbon emissions.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Fulltext Effect of the Prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the Life Expectancy Rate on Economic Growth in SSA Countries: Difference GMM Approach

Waziri SI, Mohamed Nor N, Raja Abdullah NM, Adamu P

Glob J Health Sci, 2016;8(4):212-20.
PMID: 26573032 DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v8n4p212

The productivity of countries around the globe is adversely affected by the health-related problems of their labour force. This study examined the effect of the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and life expectancy on the economic growth of 33 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over a period of 11 years (2002-2012). The study employed a dynamic panel approach as opposed to the static traditional approach utilised in the literature. The dynamic approach became eminent because of the fact that HIV/AIDS is a dynamic variable as its prevalence today depends on the previous years. The result revealed that HIV/AIDS is negatively correlated with economic growth in the region, with a coefficient of 0.014, and significant at the 1% level. That is, a 10% increase in HIV/AIDS prevalence leads to a 0.14% decrease in the GDP of the region. Tackling HIV/AIDS is therefore imperative to the developing Sub-Saharan African region and all hands must be on deck to end the menace globally.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development*
Fulltext The relationship between socio-demographic and illness-related variables with the quality of life among Malaysian adolescent with thalassaemia: a multi-centre study

Azizah Othman, Qarem Mohamed Mustafa, Ariffin Nasir, Norsarwany Mohamad, Nurul Shafira Adi, Nurul Ilyana Hashim, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2018;24(1):15-26.
MyJurnal

Thalassaemia is a life-long illness that exists globally. The quality of life of adolescents with thalassaemia could differ based on the health policies of a specific region, existing levelof socio-economic development and the illness related variables. This study examines the relationship between socio-demographic and disease-related variables with the quality of life among adolescents with thalassaemia involving multiple treatment centers spread throughout various locations in Malaysia. Participants included 218 adolescents (male=108; female 112) with mean age of 13.86 (SD=2.40). They completed the questionnaire consisting of demographic information, illness-related variables, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL). The participants in this study was found to have higher total summary score (Mean = 69.64, SD = 14.03), psychosocial health (Mean = 70.23, SD = 14.91), emotional (Mean = 72.12, SD = 20.66), social (Mean = 79.82, SD = 17.37), and school (Mean = 58.69, SD = 16.77) functioning but with lower physical health (Mean = 68.50, SD = 17.22) as compared to previous study that was done in Kuala Lumpur. Findings also shows a significant positive correlation between level of education and frequency of hospitalization (r = .156, p < 0.05), frequency of transfusion (r = .152, p < 0.05), and physical health (r = .186, p < 0.01). An increase in the frequency of transfusion was found to significantly increase social functioning (r = .137, p < 0.05). Other significant correlations are discussed in addition to the quality of life experienced by patients with thalassaemia in different region of theworld.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Air pollution monitoring and tree and forest decline in East Asia: A review

Takahashi M, Feng Z, Mikhailova TA, Kalugina OV, Shergina OV, Afanasieva LV, et al.

Sci Total Environ, 2020 Nov 10;742:140288.
PMID: 32721711 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140288

Air pollution and atmospheric deposition have adverse effects on tree and forest health. We reviewed studies on tree and forest decline in Northeast and Southeast Asia, Siberia, and the Russian Far East (hereafter referred to as East Asia). This included studies published in domestic journals and languages. We identified information about the locations, causes, periods, and tree species exhibiting decline. Past air pollution was also reviewed. Most East Asian countries show declining trends in SO2 concentration in recent years, although Mongolia and Russia show increasing trends. Ozone (O3) concentrations are stable or gradually increasing in the East Asia region, with high maxima. Wet nitrogen (N) deposition was high in China and tropical countries, but low in Russia. The decline of trees and forests primarily occurred in the mid-latitudes of Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. Long-term large N deposition resulted in the N saturation phenomenon in Japan and China, but no clear forest health response was observed. Thereafter, forest decline symptoms, suspected to be caused by O3, were observed in Japan and China. In East Russia, tree decline occurred around industrial centers in Siberia. Haze events have been increasing in tropical and boreal forests, and particulate matter inhibits photosynthesis. In recent years, chronically high O3 concentrations, in conjunction with climate change, are likely have adverse effects on tree physiology. The effects of air pollution and related factors on tree decline are summarized. Recently, the effects of air pollution on tree decline have not been apparent under the changing climate, however, monitoring air pollution is indispensable for identifying the cause of tree decline. Further economic growth is projected in Southeast Asia and therefore, the monitoring network should be expanded to tropical and boreal forest zones. Countermeasures such as restoring urban trees and rural forests are important for ensuring future ecosystem services.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Alcohol consumption and attributable harm in middle-income South-East Asian countries: Epidemiology and policy options

Sornpaisarn B, Shield K, Manthey J, Limmade Y, Low WY, Van Thang V, et al.

Int J Drug Policy, 2020 Jul 22;83:102856.
PMID: 32711336 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102856

Background Factors and policies which potentially explain the changes in alcohol consumption and related harms from 2010 to 2017 in 11 middle-income countries in the South-East Asian region (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam) were examined. Methods Using secondary data from UN agencies, we analyzed trends in alcohol consumption, alcohol-attributable deaths and the burden of disease. Results Starting from a level of consumption significantly below the global average-especially among the Muslim-majority countries (Maldives, Indonesia, and Malaysia)-the majority of the countries in this region had markedly increased their alcohol consumption along with the economic development they experienced between 2010 and 2017. In fact, five middle-income countries in this region (Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste) were in the top 12 countries globally based on absolute increases in adult alcohol per capita consumption (APC). The Philippines and Malaysia were the exceptions, as they had reduced their APC over this period. The majority of South-East Asian countries had parallel increasing trends in the age-standardized alcohol-attributable deaths and DALYs since 2010, in contrast to global trends. While all countries put some alcohol control policies in place, there were differences in the number and strength of the policies applied, commensurate with trends in consumption. In particular, three of the countries which were most successful in reducing consumption and harm (Malaysia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka) applied more effective tax methods based on specific taxation alone or in combination with another taxation method, applying higher taxation rates and regularly increasing them over time. Conclusion To achieve the global target and the Sustainable Development Goal in reducing alcohol consumption worldwide, middle-income countries, especially lower-middle-income countries, should employ stricter alcohol control policies, and apply an appropriate excise tax on alcohol products with regular increases to reflect inflation.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
The state of psychiatric research in the Asia Pacific region

Roche GC, Fung P, Ransing R, Noor IM, Shalbafan M, El Hayek S, et al.

Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2021 Mar;13(1):e12432.
PMID: 33145988 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12432

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to review recent scientific publications and research output in the field of psychiatry, from a series of countries in the Asia-Pacific region (Australia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Nepal), with a view to identify themes and similarities across regions, as well as to examine the barriers and challenges in mental health research faced by countries in the region.
METHODS: Seven psychiatrists from seven countries reviewed recent published and ongoing research in psychiatry in their respective nations, with respect to themes, as well as any barriers or challenges faced by mental health researchers.
RESULTS: While the seven nations included in this review vary in terms of research capabilities and economic development level, they share many similarities both in terms of research direction, and with regards to challenges faced. Limitations in the form of sociocultural differences from the West, and a lack of funding were some of the barriers identified.
DISCUSSION: Mental health research in the region has been progressing well. However, more varied research in the form of qualitative or economic studies are lacking, as are multi-center studies. The similar issues that nations face with regards to research could perhaps benefit from collaborative efforts and initiatives for the furtherance of research in the region.

Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development

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