MyMedR

Oral recurrent aphthous ulcers/stomatitis: prevalence in Malaysia and an epidemiological update

Zain RB

J Oral Sci, 2000 Mar;42(1):15-9.

One of the objectives of this short communication was to add to the literature on the prevalence of oral recurrent aphthous stomatitis (ORAS). This research is based on a total of 11,697 randomly selected Malaysian subjects with an age range of 25-115 years and a mean age of 44.5 +/- 13.9 years who were examined for oral mucosal lesions (ORAS). The prevalence of ORAS detected during the oral examination (average point prevalence) was found to be 0.5% (64 subjects). ORAS formed 5.7% of all lesions detected during the survey. The average point prevalence of ORAS was highest in the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak (1.2%), followed by the Chinese (0.7%), the Malays (0.5%) and the Indians (0.1%). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). A review of the English literature on the prevalence of ORAS revealed different prevalence types used by different researchers, namely average point prevalence (APP), self reported life-time prevalence (SLP) and self reported two-year prevalence (STP). The other objective of this paper was to present the different types of prevalence that have been reported in the literature and to discuss the usefulness of such prevalence types in relation to using epidemiology in deriving certain possible etiological associations.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Is opportunistic oral cancer screening by dentists feasible? An analysis of the patterns of dental attendance of a nationally representative sample over 10 years

Yusof ZY, Netuveli G, Ramli AS, Sheiham A

Oral Health Prev Dent, 2006;4(3):165-71.

PMID: 16961024

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether or not opportunistic oral cancer screening by dentists to detect pre-malignant or early cancer lesions is feasible. The objective was to analyse the patterns of dental attendance of a national representative sample over a period of 10 years to ascertain whether individuals at high-risk of oral cancer would be accessible for opportunistic oral cancer screening.

METHODS: Secondary analysis of data extracted from the British Household Panel Survey, a national longitudinal survey (n=5547). Analysis to ascertain whether patterns of attendance for dental check-ups for a period of 10 years (1991-2001) were associated with risk factors for oral cancer such as age, sex, education, social class, smoking status and smoking intensity.

RESULTS: Males, aged over 40 years, less educated manual workers and smokers were significantly less likely to attend for dental check-ups compared with females and younger, higher educated, higher socio-economic class non-smokers (p < 0.05). Throughout the 10-year period, young people, more than older people, had progressively lower odds ratios of attending. Those with more education used dental services more. Heavy smokers were infrequent attendees.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that opportunistic oral cancer screening by dentists is not feasible to include high-risk groups as they are not regular attendees over 10 years. Those who would be screened would be the low-risk groups. However, dentists should continue screening all patients as oral precancers are also found in regular attendees. More should be done to encourage the high-risk groups to visit their dentists.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Fulltext Low birth weight babies (letter 2)

Yadav H

Med J Malaysia, 1995 Sep;50(3):285-6.

PMID: 8926914

Author reply to: Chia CP. Low birth weight babies. Med J Malaysia. 1995 Mar;50(1):120.
Comment on: Yadav H. Low birth weight incidence in Lundu, Sarawak. Med J Malaysia. 1994 Jun;49(2):164-8.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

On the epidemicity of Amok violence

Westermeyer J

Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, 1973 Jun;28(6):873-6.

PMID: 4707993

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Epidemiologic analysis of sporadic Salmonella typhi isolates and those from outbreaks by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Thong KL, Cheong YM, Puthucheary S, Koh CL, Pang T

J Clin Microbiol, 1994 May;32(5):1135-41.

PMID: 7914202

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to compare and analyze 158 isolates of Salmonella typhi from five well-defined outbreaks of typhoid fever in Malaysia and also isolates involved in sporadic cases of typhoid fever occurring during the same period. Digestion of chromosomal DNAs from these S. typhi isolates with the restriction endonucleases XbaI (5'-TCTAGA-3'), SpeI (5'-ACTAGT-3'), and AvrII (5'-CCTAGG-3') and then PFGE produced restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) patterns consisting of 11 to 24 DNA fragments ranging in size from 20 to 630 kbp. Analysis of the REA patterns generated by PFGE after digestion with XbaI and SpeI indicated that the S. typhi isolates obtained from sporadic cases of infection were much more heterogeneous (at least 13 different REA patterns were detected; Dice coefficient, between 0.73 and 1.0) than those obtained during outbreaks of typhoid fever. The clonal nature and the close genetic identities of isolates from outbreaks in Alor Setar, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Johor Bahru, and Kota Bahru were suggested by the fact that only a limited number of REA patterns, which mostly differed by only a single band, were detected (one to four patterns; Dice coefficient, between 0.82 and 1.0), although a different pattern was associated with each of these outbreaks. Comparison of REA patterns with ribotyping for 18 S. typhi isolates involved in sporadic cases of infection showed a good correlation, in that 72% of the isolates were in the same group. There was no clear correlation of phage types with a specific REA pattern. We conclude that PFGE of s. typhi chromosomal DNA digested with infrequently cutting restriction endonucleases is a useful method for comparing and differentiating S. typhi isolates for epidemiological purposes.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Fulltext Nutritional anemia in pregnancy: a study at the maternity hospital, Kuala Lumpur

Tee ES, Kandiah M, Ali J, Kandiah V, Zahari MR, Kuladevan R, et al.

Malays J Reprod Health, 1984 Jun;2(1):32-50.

PMID: 12267519

The study presents recent data on the prevalence and pattern of nutritional anemia in the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. A total of 309 pregnant women in their third trimester, of Malay, Chinese and Indian origin from the lower socio-economic strata were randomly selected for the study. Hematological indices (including Hb, PCV, MCHC, and TRBC), serum iron, transferrin saturation and ferritin, serum folate as well as protein and albumin were determined. Based on Hb and PCV values, 30-40 percent of the women could be considered anemic; approximately 50 percent of them presented with unsatisfactory serum iron, transferrin saturation and ferritin values; 60.9 percent had low serum folate levels; and about 30 percent may be considered to be of poor protein nutriture. Anemia in the study population was seen to be related mostly to iron and to a lesser extent, folate deficiency. Hematological, iron, folate and protein status was observed to be the poorest amongst the Indian women, better in the Malay group and generally the best amongst the Chinese women. Birth records of 169 of these women revealed that all of them had live births. Nearly all the infants were delivered by normal vaginal delivery (NVD) The mean gestational age was 38.6 weeks. One of the infants had a birth weight of <2.0 kg; incidence of low birth weight, <2.5 kg, was 8.3 percent. Although there was a trend of deteriorating hematological, iron and protein status of women from the 0, 1 -3 and >=4 parity groups, these differences were not statlstlcally significant.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods*

Fulltext Sensitized-erythrocyte-lysis (SEL) test as an epidemiological tool for human leptospirosis serological surveys

Tan DS

Bull World Health Organ, 1969;40(6):899-902.

PMID: 5307602

Epidemiological studies of human leptospirosis have generally been limited to countries with specialized laboratories employing the microscopic-agglutination (MA) test. The sensitized-erythrocyte-lysis (SEL) test is much simpler for routine hospital laboratories to carry out and it has been found valuable in the diagnosis of human leptospirosis. This paper reports the results of studies of the SEL test as an epidemiological tool in serological surveys.The results showed that the significant SEL titre was 1:80 and that the sensitivity of the test depended possibly on the antigen preparation and the amount of complement used. Most of the SEL antibodies were found to persist at significant titres for about 1 year after active infection, but less than half persisted longer than that. The SEL test is therefore useful for detecting recent infections and for indicating that stability of leptospirosis in an area.The endemicity of leptospirosis in West Malaysia was confirmed by the SEL test, based on the employment of 1:80 as the significant titre.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Hand-arm vibration syndrome among a group of construction workers in Malaysia

Su TA, Hoe VC, Masilamani R, Awang Mahmud AB

Occup Environ Med, 2011 Jan;68(1):58-63.

PMID: 20935287 DOI: 10.1136/oem.2009.052373

To determine the extent of hand transmitted vibration exposure problems, particularly hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), among construction workers in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

"Serious" mental retardation in developing countries: an epidemiologic approach

Stein Z, Durkin M, Belmont L

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1986;477:8-21.

PMID: 3468840

In this paper we first present methods and preliminary results of pilot surveys of "serious" mental retardation (IQ less than or equal to 55); the surveys included screening and diagnostic components and were carried out in the less-developed world. Next we discuss two problems raised by these surveys: one is the diagnosis of a case and its clinical dimensions, and the other is the interpretation of prevalence. In the next section we illustrate epidemiological approaches to the analysis of such data, in particular their relevance to prevention. Lastly, we propose that the two-stage survey approach developed in the course of the pilot work can provide a valuable basis for planning and prevention, if certain key conditions can be met.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Clinical features of depression in Asia: results of a large prospective, cross-sectional study

Srisurapanont M, Hong JP, Tian-Mei S, Hatim A, Liu CY, Udomratn P, et al.

Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2013 Dec;5(4):259-67.

PMID: 24038919 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12104

The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical features of depression in Asian patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Factors affecting transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti by anopheline mosquitoes. 4. Facilitation, limitation, proportionality and their epidemiological significance

Southgate BA, Bryan JH

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1992 9 1;86(5):523-30.

PMID: 1475823

Quantitative understanding of the transmission dynamics of lymphatic filarial parasites is essential for the rational planning of control strategies. One of the most important determinants of transmission dynamics is the relationship between parasite yield, the success rate of ingested microfilariae (mf) becoming infective larvae in a mosquito vector, and mf density in the source of the human blood meal. Three types of relationship have been recognized in human filaria/mosquito couples--limitation, facilitation and proportionality; facilitation has hitherto been observed only in the couple Wuchereria bancrofti/Anopheles gambiae in Burkina Faso, in experimental studies on a high density mf carrier. The present paper demonstrates facilitation in W. bancrofti/An. gambiae and W. bancrofti/An. arabiensis in lower mf density carriers in The Gambia and Tanzania, and in W. bancrofti/An. funestus in Tanzania. Facilitation was not found in An. melas in The Gambia nor in An. merus in Tanzania. Analysis of published data shows limitation at low level mf densities in W. bancrofti/Culex quinquefasciatus in Sri Lanka, and in the same couple in India. Limitation also occurs in Brugia malayi/Aedes togoi in experimental cats; proportionality occurs in B. malayi/Mansonia bonneae in Malaysia. The epidemiological significance of these host/parasite relationships is discussed, and supporting evidence for its validity is presented from the published results of large-scale control programmes.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Teratoma in infancy and childhood: a ten-year review at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur

Sinniah D, Prathap K, Somasundram K

Cancer, 1980 Aug 01;46(3):630-2.

PMID: 7397629

A ten-year review revealed a similarity in the incidence of teratoma in relation to other childhood tumors in Malaysian as compared with Caucasian children. The most common sites of origin were the sacropcoccygeal, gonadal, and retroperitoneal areas. The reason for the high incidence of retroperitoneal tumor in our series as compared with other countries is not clear. Late presentation and poor followup are associated with poor prognosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Outcome of patients with head and neck cancers: 10-year experience of a otorhinolaryngology--head and neck unit in a tertiary hospital of a developing country

Shashinder S, Choo PK, Gopala KG

Eur J Cancer Care (Engl), 2008 Jan;17(1):93-7.

PMID: 18181897 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2007.00814.x

Being a rapidly developing country, a study was needed to see how we faired in treating head and neck cancer patients compared with international standards. Although being a retrospective study, this research shows that there is still a lot to be done in our developing nation in educating the general public about head and neck cancers as most of them presented in the later stages to us. There also needs to be a proper review about the treatment modality offered to patient as our survival results are far behind in certain categories of cancers compared with the developed nations.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Fulltext Intestinal parasitic infections among children in central Albania

Sejdini A, Mahmud R, Lim YA, Mahdy M, Sejdini F, Gjoni V, et al.

Ann Trop Med Parasitol, 2011 Apr;105(3):241-50.

PMID: 21801503 DOI: 10.1179/136485911X12987676649584

Although intestinal parasitic infections (IPI) among children remain a global issue, the current information on such infections in Albanian children is very limited. A cross-sectional study of the IPI in 321 children living in the Albanian counties of Tirana (152) and Elbasan (169) was therefore conducted in 2008, with a pre-tested standard questionnaire employed to gather the relevant personal and clinical data. Using formalin-ether concentration and permanent stains, stool samples were examined microscopically for the ova, cysts and oocysts of any parasites. The overall prevalence of IPI was 19% (61 of 321), with protozoan infections (11·5%) apparently more common than infections with soil-transmitted helminths (STH; 8·1%). Giardia duodenalis was the parasite most frequently detected (10·9%), followed by hookworm (5·6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1·9%), Trichuris trichiura (0·6%), Cryptosporidium (0·3%) and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (0·3%). The results of a univariate analysis indicated that the children from Tirana county were significantly more likely to be found infected with STH compared with the children from Elbasan county (12·5% v. 4·1%; P=0·006). Children sampled in the community were also more likely to be found STH-positive than the children sampled as they attended hospitals and health clinics (10·5% v. 6·0%) but this difference did not reach statistical significance. The children found STH-positive were five times more likely to be suffering from diarrhoea than the other children checked in clinical settings (P=0·004) and were also more likely to be suffering from abdominal pain (P=0·054) and/or diminished appetite (P=0·016).

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Derivation and validation of the short version of the Malaysian Oral Health Impact Profile

Saub R, Locker D, Allison P

Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 2005 Oct;33(5):378-83.

PMID: 16128798

This paper describes the development of a short version of the Malaysian Oral Health Impact Profile.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

The awareness of oral cancer in adult patients attending School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia: a preliminary study

Saini R, Ghani ZI, Rahman NA

Singapore Dent J, 2006 Dec;28(1):34-9.

PMID: 17378340

Lack of awareness of signs and symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer can lead to late presentation of the disease that contributes to poor survival of patients who contract it. This study aims to determine the level of awareness regarding oral cancer in adult patients attending School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Occurrence of histoplasmosis in Asia

Randhawa HS

Mycopathol Mycol Appl, 1970;41(1):75-89.

PMID: 4938836

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

The hyoid bone in malay infants with cleft lip and palate

Rajion ZA, Townsend GC, Netherway DJ, Anderson PJ, Hughes T, Shuaib IL, et al.

Cleft Palate Craniofac J, 2006 Sep;43(5):532-8.

PMID: 16986987

To compare morphological and positional variations of the hyoid bone in unoperated infants with cleft lip and palate (CL/P) with those in noncleft infants.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

A three-dimensional computed tomographic analysis of the cervical spine in unoperated infants with cleft lip and palate

Rajion ZA, Townsend GC, Netherway DJ, Anderson PJ, Yusof A, Hughes T, et al.

Cleft Palate Craniofac J, 2006 Sep;43(5):513-8.

PMID: 16986980

To investigate anatomical variations and abnormalities of cervical spine morphology in unoperated infants with cleft lip and palate.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Colonic diverticular disease in a multiracial Asian patient population has an ethnic predilection

Rajendra S, Ho JJ

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2005 Aug;17(8):871-5.

PMID: 16003138

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, diverticular disease of the colon has been attributed to ageing, low dietary fibre and a high intraluminal pressure. Recently, genetic and racial factors have also been implicated.

METHODS: Four-hundred and ten consecutive multiracial Asian patients undergoing colonoscopy for a variety of bowel symptoms in a private endoscopy unit were studied for differing frequencies (if any) in colonic diverticular disease and concomitant abnormalities.

RESULTS: Forty-one patients (10%) had diverticular disease. Diverticula were present in 22/147 Chinese (15%), 14/153 Indians (9%) and 5/110 Malays (4.5%). The mean age of patients with diverticular disease was 55 years as compared with 51.3 years in those without (P = 0.12) and there was no gender difference. Thirty-six patients (88%) had diverticula in the right colon only, four patients (10%) exclusively in the left hemicolon, and one patient (2%) had bilateral involvement. Using regression analysis, Chinese ethnicity [odds ratio (OR)=2.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-4.09; P = 0.027), constipation (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.23-5.42; P = 0.007) and colorectal adenomas (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.08-6.46; P = 0.033) were independently associated with diverticular disease.

CONCLUSIONS: Colonic diverticular disease in a multiracial Asian patient population has an ethnic predilection and is predominantly right-sided.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

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