Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 53 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Fulltext Acute glomerulonephritis in Kelantan--a prospective study
    D'Cruz F, Samsudin AT, Hamid MS, Abraham T
    Med J Malaysia, 1990 Jun;45(2):123-30.
    PMID: 2152016
    A prospective study of acute nephritis in children was conducted at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital, Kubang Kerian between July 1987 and June 1988. One hundred and twenty four children were admitted with acute glomerulonephritis. The aim of the study was to determine the clinical pattern of the nephritis as well as its aetiology. The majority of our patients came from the lower socio-economic group and 54% of the families had incomes below the poverty line. Preceding skin infection was much more common than throat infection. The children showed a high incidence of complications: severe hypertension (43.6%), hypertensive encephalopathy (11.3%), clinical pulmonary oedema (36.3%), severe azotaemia (10.5%), and prolonged gross haematuria (13.7%). By using immunologic indices such as ASOT, anti-DNase B and complement 3, it was concluded that 121 of the 124 patients had post-streptococcal nephritis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  2. Fulltext Psychiatric morbidity in schizophrenic relatives--use of Self-Reporting Questionnaires (SRQ)
    Salleh MR
    Singapore Med J, 1990 Oct;31(5):457-62.
    PMID: 2259943
    A validated study of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) of the World Health Organization against ICD-9 was found to have good validation indices at the cut-off point of 5/6. The sensitivity was 84.8% and specificity 83.7%. However, SRQ-24 had poor validation indices and are too sensitive to detect psychotic illness. Twenty-three per cent of 264 schizophrenic relatives who had been staying together with them and or actively involved in their care for at least one year had neurotic disorders compared with 1% who had latent schizophrenia. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was higher in the first-degree relatives compared with non-first degree relatives.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health*
  3. Fulltext Psychiatric morbidity in the families of paranoid and non-paranoid schizophrenia patients
    Varma SL, Sharma I, Chugh S
    Singapore Med J, 1992 Feb;33(1):67-9.
    PMID: 1598611
    A total of 1018 and 812 first degree relatives (FDR) of schizoprencies and controls respectively, were studied to find out the psychiatric morbidity in the families of paranoid and non-paranoid schizophrenia patients. The risk of schizophrenia and affective disorders was found to be independent of the probands subtype diagnosis. The risk for schizoid-schizotypal and paranoid personality disorders was found to be increased in the first degree relatives of paranoid schizophrenic, as compared to non-paranoid schizophrenic, thus suggesting that the psychopathology in the FDR may differ with the subtype diagnosis of the proband.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  4. Fulltext Cassava (ubi kayu) poisoning in children
    Ariffin WA, Choo KE, Karnaneedi S
    Med J Malaysia, 1992 Sep;47(3):231-4.
    PMID: 1491651
    Three sisters with cassava poisoning are described. A review of the toxic properties of cassava is presented together with discussion on the methods of its preparation, its adverse effects on man, its detoxification in the body, and the treatment of its poisoning.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  5. Fulltext Screening for Corynebacterium diphtheriae
    Wilson AP, Matthews S, Bahl M, Efstratiou A, Cookson BD
    J Clin Pathol, 1992 Nov;45(11):1036-7.
    PMID: 1452782 DOI: 10.1136/jcp.45.11.1036
    A throat swab from a 9 year old girl with pharyngitis yielded a non-toxigenic strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae var mitis and Streptococcus group G. C pseudodiphtheriticum was isolated from the throats of two of her four brothers. In each case the isolate was sent to the reference laboratory before full identification. The growth was found to be mixed for one brother; the other isolate being a toxin producing C diphtheriae var gravis. The child was asymptomatic and the case proves that all colonial types on the Hoyles plate should be identified.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  6. Using tracers to link health services to training through evaluation
    Bandaranayake RC, Singh PJ
    Med Educ, 1993 Nov;27(6):509-17.
    PMID: 8208159
    The tracer concept was applied to evaluate the delivery of family health care and the training of family health workers. A retrospective evaluation permitted linking the products of care to process, input and context, by isolating and analysing potential factors contributing to a limited number of representative concerns. Contributory learning deficiencies identified in health workers, one input to health care as well as a product of training, enabled the evaluation of training programmes to be focused on related segments of the courses. The latter were evaluated through a pathway analysis which followed the same deficiency model as the evaluation of health care. Links were thus established between the traditionally compartmentalized training and service sectors in health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health*
  7. Aggregation and predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura at the familial level
    Chan L, Bundy DA, Kan SP
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1994 1 1;88(1):46-8.
    PMID: 8153999 DOI: 10.1016/0035-9203(94)90492-8
    This study examines the persistence of familial aggregation and familial predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infection over 2 periods of treatment and reinfection, in an urban community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both parasite species were shown to be aggregated (assessed by the variance to mean ratio) within families at all 3 interventions, although no consistent trend in aggregation was observed over the period of the study. Associations between mean A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infection levels of families, at all 3 interventions, were highly significant (P < 0.0001), suggesting persistent predisposition at the family level.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health*
  8. The developmental niche: a theoretical framework for analyzing the household production of health
    Harkness S, Super CM
    Soc Sci Med, 1994 Jan;38(2):217-26.
    PMID: 8140448
    Recent efforts to promote child survival and development internationally have focused new attention on the importance of the household as a mediator of both environmental risks and programmatic interventions to promote better health. In this paper, we introduce a theoretical framework, the 'developmental niche,' derived from studies of children's behavior and development in different cultural contexts, as a tool for analyzing the household production of health. The developmental niche is conceptualized in terms of three basic components: (1) the physical and social settings of the child's everyday life; (2) culturally regulated customs of child care and child rearing; and (3) the psychology of the caretakers. The relevance of each of these components to the household production of health is illustrated through examples from research in several cultures, including Malaysia, Kenya, Bangladesh, India, and the U.S. Further discussion centers on three corollaries of the developmental niche framework that point to the interactive relationships among the three components, between the niche and the larger environment, and between the niche and the child (or any individual seen from a developmental perspective). It is suggested that this approach is useful for identifying and collecting relevant information on household-level factors that affect health outcomes, and thus for organizing more effective interventions. At a theoretical level, the developmental niche framework also facilitates understanding processes of mutual adaptation between the individual and the environment as they are filtered through the constraints of household settings, customs and caretaker psychologies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health*
  9. Fulltext Family characteristics of suicides in Cameron Highlands: a controlled study
    Maniam T
    Med J Malaysia, 1994 Sep;49(3):247-51.
    PMID: 7845274
    Cameron Highlands has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, especially among Indians. Forty Indian families (19 suicides; 21 controls) were studied to compare family characteristics such as income, overcrowding, birth order of index cases of suicide, family history of suicidal behaviour or mental illness, marital disharmony, presence of alcohol abuse, availability of, and knowledge about, weedicides/insecticides, talk/threat of suicide among family members and experience of significant losses in the past year. Controls were matched for age, sex and educational level with the index cases of suicide. A significant difference was only found for one of the above factors, namely increased experience of significant losses in the past year in the family of index cases of suicide. More than 75% in both groups had alcohol related problems. About equal proportions in each group had a family history of suicidal behaviour and mental illness. There was more marital disharmony in families of suicides but this failed to reach significance. These results and methodological limitations of this study are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health/ethnology*
  10. Fulltext Protective and risk factors for acute respiratory infections in hospitalized urban Malaysian children: a case control study
    Azizi BH, Zulkifli HI, Kasim MS
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1995 Jun;26(2):280-5.
    PMID: 8629061
    We performed a case control study to examine protective and risk factors for acute respiratory infections (ARI) in hospitalized children in Kuala Lumpur. Consecutive children between the ages of one month and five years hospitalized for pneumonia (n = 143), acute bronchiolitis (n = 92), acute laryngotracheobronchitis (n = 32) and empyema (n = 4) were included as cases and were compared with 322 children hospitalized during the same 24 hour period for non-respiratory causes. Potential risk and protective factors were initially analysed by univariate analysis. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that several home environmental factors were significantly associated with ARI. The presence of a coughing sibling (OR = 3.76, 95%CI 2.09, 6.77), a household with more than five members (OR = 1.52, 95%CI 1.03, 2.19) and sleeping with three other persons (OR = 1.45, 95%CI 1.00, 2.08) were independent risk factors. Significant host factors were history of allergy (OR = 2.50, 95%CI 1.74, 3.61) and ethnicity (Malay race) (OR = 2.07 95%CI, 1.27, 3.37). Breast feeding for at least one month was confirmed as an independent protective factor (OR = 0.58, 95%CI 0.38, 0.86). However, the study was not able to demonstrate that domestic air pollution had an adverse effect. This study provides further evidence that home environmental factors, particularly those associated with crowding, may predispose to ARI and that breast feeding is an important protective factor.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  11. Lead exposure among Malaysian school children using delta-aminolevulinic acid as an indicator
    Ming LO, Surif S, Abdullah A
    Sci Total Environ, 1997 Jan 30;193(3):207-13.
    PMID: 9092077
    A study on lead exposure among school children aged between 7 and 12 years from Kajang and Sepang in the state of Selangor, Malaysia was carried out using delta-aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA) levels in the urine as an index. The delta-ALA levels in urine were linked to variables which could contribute to lead exposure. Out of 1628 school children studied [Kajang (43.5%) and Sepang (56.5%)], only 194 subjects (16 and 8.8% from Kajang and Sepang, respectively) had urinary delta-ALA levels between 0.6 and 2.0 mg/100 ml. However, chi 2 analysis demonstrated significant association between delta-ALA of this group to some of the variables. The strongest association was found in the habit of biting fingernails (P < 0.025). Other statistically significant correlations were found between delta-ALA and father's occupation (P < 0.05) and the amount of time spent playing in the field (P < 0.01). Generally, this study indicates that school children in Kajang and Sepang are still relatively safe from excessively high lead exposure. However, a more sensitive indicator, which is based on a lower tolerable lead limits, such as lead in blood, are necessary to affirm this finding.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  12. Psychiatric morbidity in the first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients
    Varma SL, Zain AM, Singh S
    Am. J. Med. Genet., 1997 Feb 21;74(1):7-11.
    PMID: 9033998
    There is increasing evidence that genetic factors play a role in the etiology of schizophrenic disorders. One thousand eighty-nine first-degree relatives of schizophrenics and 1,137 controls were studied to discover their psychiatric morbidity. Psychiatric morbidity was found in 16.34% of the first-degree relatives (FDR) of schizophrenics (parents, 5.69%; siblings, 7.71%; offspring, 2.94%) as compared to 6.9% in the controls (P < 0.001). Schizophrenia was found in 8.3% of the patient group, which was significantly higher (0.2%) as compared to the controls. Schizoid-schizotypal personality disorder was found in 3.03% of FDRs of the schizophrenic group. Depressive disorder was found in 4.4% and 2.1% in the control and patient group, respectively, which was statistically significant. Morbidity risk of schizophrenia was found in 16.97%, 6.22% and 5.79% of schizophrenia, schizoid-schizotypal personality disorder and depressive disorder, respectively, in the FDR of schizophrenic group.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  13. Sensitization to inhaled allergens as a risk factor for asthma and allergic diseases in Chinese population
    Leung R, Ho P, Lam CW, Lai CK
    J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1997 May;99(5):594-9.
    PMID: 9155823
    BACKGROUND: Allergen sensitization is associated with asthma and allergic disease in children, but such a relationship has not been confirmed in Chinese populations.

    OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of allergen sensitization and family history of atopy on asthma and allergic disease in Chinese schoolchildren from three southeast Asian populations.

    METHODS: Written questionnaires on respiratory and allergic symptoms were completed by parents of children of secondary-school age (age range 12 to 18 years) in Hong Kong (n = 1062), Kota Kinabalu in eastern Malaysia (n = 409), and San Bu in southern China (n = 737). A subsample of school-children underwent skin prick testing to common inhalant allergens (Hong Kong 471 children, Kota Kinabalu 321, San Bu 647).

    RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma and allergic disease in schoolchildren was highest in Hong Kong, intermediate in Kota Kinabalu, and lowest in San Bu. However, the overall rate of atopic sensitization was similar in the three populations (49% to 63%). House dust mite and cockroach were the two most common allergens causing sensitization and these gave rise to more than 95% of the positive skin test results in all three populations. By regression analysis, mite allergy was associated with rhinitis and asthma in all three populations, and a family history of asthma, rhinitis, or eczema was strongly associated with respective symptoms in the subjects. After adjusting for age, sex, atopic status, and family history of allergic disease, the place of residence remained a significant independent factor for asthma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.0 for Hong Kong, 0.57 for Kota Kinabalu, 0.15 for San Bu, p < 0.001), rhinitis (OR = 1.0 for Hong Kong, 0.59 for Kota Kinabalu, 0.15 for San Bu, p < 0.001), or eczema (OR = 1.0 for Hong Kong, 0.35 for Kota Kinabalu, 1.01 for San Bu, p < 0.001).

    CONCLUSION: Sensitization to indoor allergens was a significant risk factor for asthma and allergic disease, and familial clustering of disease was common in the region. However, the marked difference in disease prevalence in the three southeast Asian populations of Chinese schoolchildren cannot be explained by atopic sensitization and family history alone, and the place of residence was an independent risk factor for asthma and allergies, which suggests an important environmental role in disease pathogenesis.

    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  14. Familial cases of missing mandibular incisor: three case presentations
    Chai WL, Ngeow WC
    Dent Update, 1999 Sep;26(7):298-302.
    PMID: 10765775
    Hypodontia is the congenital absence of one or more teeth because of agenesis. The most commonly missing teeth are the third molars, the maxillary lateral incisors and the second premolars. Cases are presented of three patients with a missing mandibular incisor.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  15. Fulltext Psychiatric and surgical management of male genital self-mutilation
    Suraya Y, Saw KC
    Singapore Med J, 1999 Oct;40(10):656-8.
    PMID: 10741196
    Cases of genital self-mutilation are usually seen in the general hospital setting and can be difficult to manage especially in those patients who have psychiatric illness. A joint effort between the psychiatric and the surgical services will be required right from the beginning of hospital admission to diagnosis and later, to follow-up. Psychiatric consultation strategies at the different phases of intervention will be needed to cater for the special needs of the surgical team, patient and family. We describe three cases of genital self- mutilators and the general management of these patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  16. Validation of the medical outcomes study family and marital functioning measures in SLE patients in Singapore
    Thumboo J, Fong KY, Chan SP, Leong KH, Feng PH, Thio ST, et al.
    Lupus, 1999;8(7):514-20.
    PMID: 10483028 DOI: 10.1191/096120399678840747
    OBJECTIVE: To validate the Medical Outcomes Study Family and Marital Functioning Measures (FMM and MFM) in a multi-ethnic, urban Asian population in Singapore.
    METHODS: English speaking Chinese, Malay or Indian SLE patients (n=120) completed a self-administered questionnaire containing the FFM and MFM at baseline, after 2 weeks and after 6 months. Lupus activity, disease-related damage and quality of life were assessed using the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG), Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) Damage Index and SF-36 Health Survey respectively. Scale psychometric properties were assessed through factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, quantifying test-retest differences and known-groups construct validity.
    RESULTS: Factor analysis of scores obtained at baseline and after 6 months identified 3 factors corresponding to the FFM (1 factor) and the MFM (2 factors). Both scales showed acceptable internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha of 0.95 for the FFM and 0.70 for the MFM. Mean (s.d.) test-retest differences were -0.31 (3.82) points for the FFM and -0.70 (4.26) points for the MFM. Eleven out of 13 a priori hypotheses relating both the FFM and MFM to demographic, disease and quality of life variables were confirmed, supporting the construct validity of these scales.
    CONCLUSION: The FFM and MFM are valid and reliable measures of family and marital functioning in a multi-ethnic cohort of Asian SLE patients in Singapore.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health*
  17. Fulltext Risk factors for wheeze in the last 12 months in preschool children
    Quah BS, Mazidah AR, Simpson H
    Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2000 Jun;18(2):73-9.
    PMID: 10928618
    Most children with asthma develop their symptoms before the age of 5 years and many preschool wheezers continue to wheeze in the early school years. It is thus important to investigate the factors that predispose young children to wheeze. The objective of this study was to investigate the relevant environmental and family influences on recent wheeze (wheeze within the last 12 months) in preschool children. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five primary health clinics in the district of Kota Bharu from April to October 1998. Nurses from these clinics distributed Bahasa Malaysia questionnaires containing questions on asthma symptoms, environmental risk factors, family's social status and family history of atopy and wheeze to preschool children aged 1-5 years during their home visits. The respondents were parent(s) or carer(s) of the children. A total of 2,524 (87.7%) complete questionnaires were available for analysis of risk factors. One hundred and fifty six (6.2%) children had current wheeze. Significant risk factors associated with current wheeze were a family history of asthma (O.R. = 6.36, 95% C.I. = 4.45-9.09), neonatal hospital admission (O.R. = 2.38, 95% C.I. = 1.51 - 3.75), and a maternal (O.R. = 2.12, 95% C.I. = 1.31-3.41) or paternal (O.R. = 1.52, 95% C.I. = 0.95-2.43) history of allergic rhinitis. Among environmental factors examined, namely, household pets, carpeting in bedroom, use of fumigation mats, mosquito coils and aerosol insect repellents, maternal and paternal smoking, and air conditioning, none were associated with an increased risk of wheeze. In conclusion, the strongest association with current wheeze was a family history of asthma. Also significant were neonatal hospital admission and a history of allergic rhinitis in either the mother or father. None of the environmental factors studied were related to current wheeze in preschool children.
    Study site: Klinik Kesihatan, Kelantan, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  18. Fulltext A Review of Primary Health Care in Malaysia. A Report for the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region
    Awin N
    Citation: Awin N. A Review of Primary Health Care in Malaysia. A Report for the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region. Manila: World Health Organization Western Pacific Region; 2001
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  19. Prevalence and ethnic differences of autosomal-dominant cerebellar ataxia in Singapore
    Zhao Y, Tan EK, Law HY, Yoon CS, Wong MC, Ng I
    Clin Genet, 2002 Dec;62(6):478-81.
    PMID: 12485197
    We report the prevalence and ethnic differences of autosomal-dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) in Singapore. Amongst 204 patients with ataxia who underwent genetic testing for dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) and for spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12, 58 (28.4%) patients from 36 families tested positive. SCA 3 was identified in 31 (53.4%) patients from 15 families, SCA 2 in 17 (29.3%) patients from 12 families and SCA 1 in four (6.9%) patients from four families. Other SCA subtypes were rare. SCA 2 was the only subtype identified amongst ethnic Malay and ethnic Indian families. The estimated prevalence of ADCA in Singaporean families was at least 1 : 27,000. Based on the history and ancestry of Singaporeans, our study supported a founder effect for specific SCA subtypes and the association of ethnicity-specific SCA subtypes. Our findings suggest that SCA 2 is relatively common amongst the Malay race and that priority testing for SCA 3 and SCA 2 for ethnic Chinese, and SCA 2 for ethnic Malay, may be cost effective and relevant for the region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
  20. A case of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia after treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia
    Bee PC, Gan GG, Sangkar JV, Teh A, Goh KY
    Int J Hematol, 2004 May;79(4):358-60.
    PMID: 15218965
    We diagnosed T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) with multiple cytogenetic abnormalities in a 17-year-old girl a year after she had received a diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML). After the diagnosis of APML in June 2001, the patient was treated with idarubicin and all-trans-retinoic acid. In September 1999, her younger sister also received a diagnosis of APML and to date has remained well. T-ALL after remission of APML is very rare, and only 1 such case has been reported. Possible causes include therapy-related reasons, genetic susceptibility to leukemia, and environmental exposure.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Health
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links