The genera Parandrocephalus Heller, 1916 and Hexamitodera Heller, 1896 are reviewed and redescribed. Based on the combination of chromatic sexual dimorphism, velvety pubescence on the whole dorsal body and distinctly developed carina on the elytra, Parandrocephalus blairi Bentanachs & Vives, 2009 is transferred to Hexamitodera. A new subgenus, Sulcognatha Perger, is instituted to accommodate mandible, head and metasternal modifications in Hexamitodera blairi comb. n. that are lacking in the type species of Hexamitodera, Hexamitodera semivelutina. As indicated by fundamental structural differences in the mandibles of Parandrocephalus and Hexamitodera (Sulcognatha) blairi comb. n., the exaggerated secondary sexual traits and open procoxal cavities in both taxa are presumably the result of convergent evolution. Contrary to Bentanachs & Vives (2009), the presence of the two Parandrocephalus species in Sundaland and the endemism of Hexamitodera on Sulawesi agree well with the zoogeographical separation of both areas by the Wallace line.
Descriptions of four new species of the genus Philanthaxia Deyrolle, 1864: Philanthaxia pseudoaeneasp. n. (Thailand), Philanthaxia jaklisp. n. (Indonesia, Sumatra), Philanthaxia chalcogenioidessp. n. (Indonesia, Sabah) and Philanthaxia lombokanasp. n. (Indonesia, Lombok) are given. The new species and male genitalia are illustrated and compared with the most similar congeners. Sexual dimorphism of Philanthaxia iris Obenberger, 1938 is described and discussed.
This study examined the predictive effect of self – esteem and perfectionism on eating disorders among university students. A total of 327 respondents (15.4% male and 84.6% female) participated in this research, recruited using simple random sampling method. Self – esteem was measured using Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, perfectionism was measured using Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and eating disorder was measured using Eating Attitudes Test. There was a significant gender difference in eating disorders, t(376) = -2.909, p
This study examined the relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating disorder of undergraduate students in University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). Using stratified random sampling technique, data from 299 respondents was gathered. Body dissatisfaction was measured using Body Shape Questionnaire while eating disorders were assessed using Eating Attitudes Test. Descriptive statistics showed thatthe majority of the respondents reported no symptom of body dissatisfaction. With regard to eating disorders, respondents reported low levels of dieting, bulimia and oral control, indicating that an eating disorder in this sample was somewhat low. T-test analyses showed that there were no significant gender differences in body dissatisfaction as well as in eating disorders. However, there was evidence to suggest that female respondents had slightly higher level of eating disorder than males. Results of Pearsoncorrelations showed there was significant relationship between body dissatisfaction and total score of eating disorders, dieting, bulimia and oral control subtypes (r = .58, p
Seahorse diversity (genus Hippocampus, Family Syngnathidae), species identification, size composition and sexual dimorphism were studied from November 2012 to March 2013 in selected coastal waters around Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and the local market trade. Six species of seahorses were identified in the study: (1) Hippocampus barbouri, (2) Hippocampus comes, (3) Hippocampus kelloggi, (4) Hippocampus kuda, (5) Hippocampus spinosissimus and (6) Hippocampus trimaculatus. All six species were sold at the local market, and the dried seahorses were obtained mainly by local fishermen using trawl by-catch method and traded as traditional medicine, souvenirs and other uses. Four species were identified by direct samplings in various different habitats of Kota Kinabalu coastal waters: (1) H. barbouri, (2) H. comes, (3) H. kuda, and (4) H. spinosissimus. Based on the results, H. comes was the largest in size among the four fresh/live species found (mean standard length [SL]: 148.25±1.26 mm), whereas H. barbouri was the smallest species (mean SL: 129±7.81 mm). For the dried samples, H. kelloggi was the largest (mean SL: 245.25±14.55 mm) and H. barbouri was the smallest (mean SL: 127.21±10.01 mm). No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed between the lengths of males and females in every seahorse species, and there was no sexual size dimorphism in any of the species. The findings from the study are significant to provide baseline data for the conservation efforts of these unique marine teleost.
Many finer taxonomic characters of Blomia tropicalis are not distinctly visible under conventional light microscopy. Scanning electron micrographs of this mite are therefore presented in this paper for better appreciation of the inconspicuous features of the morphology of the species. The differences in morphology of male and female B. tropicalis are also briefly discussed.
Fannia pusio (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Fanniidae) is newly recorded from Malaysia. This record is based on 1male symbol 1female symbol from Sarawak, east Malaysia and 1male symbol 2female symbol from Selangor, peninsular Malaysia. It is included in the pusio group of Fannia wherein are included Fannia femoralis (Stein), Fannia howardi Malloch, Fannia trimaculata (Stein), Fannia leucosticta (Meigen) and Fannia punctiventris Malloch. The male of Fannia pusio is differentiated from other members of the group by the following features: hind femur with a swelling bearing a number of setae that are usually curled at tip; squamae creamy; tergite 1+2 broadly grey dusted at sides.
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of two dust mites, Sturnophagoides brasiliensis and Sturnophagoides halterophilus, are presented to provide an improved visualization of the taxonomic characters of these mites. Sturnophagoides halterophilus can be differentiated from S. brasiliensis by their expanded genu and femur of leg I. The differences in morphology of male and female S. brasiliensis are also discussed.
Goat Warble Fly Infestation (GWFI) is also known as subcutaneous myiasis caused by Przhevalskiana silenus (Diptera: Oestridae). It is widely distributed in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. In goats, WFI is usually detected through conventional procedure which underestimated the infestation. The current study was designed to determine the serodiagonsis of GWFI (through IDEXX Hypodermosis serum antibody test) and also aimed to investigate its seroepizootiological profile in Pothwar region, Pakistan from 2013-14. The results showed that average seropositivity (ELISA kit) of GWFI was 18.5% whereas, it was 11% by using conventional procedure (Palpation method) depicting a significant difference (p<0.05). Higher seropositivity (30.8%) was observed in Jhelum district as compared to e Attock district (6%). The L1 larvae were found in September, while nodules start appearing in October to December and last until the end of February. The month wise peaks of optical density (OD) was higher in December which gradually decrease along with the end of winter season. The prevalence of GWFI revealed no significant difference among three host breeds (Jattal, Beetal and Tedy). According to the results, high infestation rate (28%) was observed in young animals of age group < 1 year as compared to old animals (> 2 years). Topographically, hilly areas (33%) provide favourable climatic conditions for the propagating of larval stages. Sex difference showed no significant difference. The seroprevalence varied significantly with respect to age, month, districts and topographical location. The current study proved that serologic diagnosis (commercial ELISA kit) as more sensitive and accurate for timely diagnosis of GWFI than traditional method. The information on the epizootiology of P. silenus in goats of Pothwar region would help in devising effective control strategies.
To fully analyze and compare BMI among Han, Tibetan, and Uygur university students, to discuss the differences in their physical properties and physical health, and thus to provide some theoretical suggestions for the improvement of students' physical health.
Spirometry was performed on 1,485 male subjects ranging in age from 13 years to 78 years and comprising of all the main ethnic groups in Malaysia. They were divided into six age categories. Mean forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were 3.45 +/- 0.02 and 3.10 +/- 0.02, respectively. Both FVC and FEV1 correlated negatively with age. Regression analysis revealed an age-related decline in FVC of 295 ml per decade of life. Multiple stepwise regression of the data for the prediction of an individual's FVC above the age of 20 years gave the equation FVC (1) = 0.0404 (height in cm)-0.0295 (age in years)-2.2892. Predicted FVC values derived from equations based on other populations were considerably higher than the observed mean in this study. This study therefore, reemphasises the need to be cautions when applying formulae derived from one population to another. Grossly erroneous conclusions may be reached unless predicted equations for lung-function tests for a given population group are derived from studies based upon the same population group.
In Malaysia, it is a common belief among health care workers that females and Indians have lower pain threshold. This experience, although based on anecdotal experience in the healthcare setting, does not allow differentiation between pain tolerance, and pain expression. To determine whether there is a difference in the tolerance to pain between the three main ethnic groups, namely the Malays, Chinese and Indians as well as between males and females. This was a prospective study, using a laboratory pain model (ischaemic pain tolerance) to determine the pain tolerance of 152 IMU medical students. The mean age of the students was 21.8 years (range 18-29 years). All of them were unmarried. The median of ischaemic pain tolerance for Malays, Chinese and Indians were 639s, 695s and 613s respectively (p = 0.779). However, statistically significant difference in ischaemic pain tolerance for males and females Indian students were observed. Possible ethnic difference in pain tolerance in casual observation is not verified by this laboratory pain model. Difference in pain tolerance between genders is shown only for Indians.
An analysis of the clinical and serological features of 12 male and 122 female patients with SLE was done to determine whether sex related differences exist. We found a lower incidence of mucocutaneous symptoms and arthritis but an increased incidence of discoid lesions, pleuritis and pericarditis in males at disease onset. During the disease course, there was a lower incidence of arthritis, a similar prevalence of mucocutaneous symptoms but an increased incidence of pleuritis in males with a trend towards renal involvement. These findings were however not statistically significant except for the higher incidence of thrombosis among males. Serologically, both groups showed similar frequencies of autoantibodies and hypocomplementaemia. Although the study was small, it was shown that several sex-related differences in the clinical and serological features exist in Malaysian SLE patients.
Study site: SLE Clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A total of 114 patients (48 Chinese, 34 Malay and 32 Indian) undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with intraocular lens implantation, were enrolled. All were given 3 ml of local anaesthetic (combination of equal amounts of lignocaine 2% and bupivacaine 0.5%) using retrobulbar technique. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured at different time intervals; before, immediately after and 5 minutes after injection with Honan balloon compression. Mean IOP increased by 5.0 mmHg immediately after injection (p < 0.001) and reduced to baseline level after 5 minutes of external compression. Although there were no statistical difference in terms of IOP variation between sex and age groups, Chinese patients demonstrated the highest IOP rise following retrobulbar anaesthesia. This is the first study to demonstrate the influence of race in the IOP response with Chinese subjects having the highest IOP rise.
An epidemiological survey was conducted among 1,414 healthy ambulatory elderly persons aged 55 years and above in the Kuala Langat district, Selangor. The relationship between peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), demographic variables, socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol use and respiratory symptoms were examined. The peak expiratory flow declined with age and were lower in women of all ages. Smoking had a modest effect on PEFR in men but not on PEFR in women. The combination of respiratory symptoms of cough, phlegm and wheeze were related to lower PEFR values. Prediction equations are presented derived from the population sample which may be of assistance in assessing observed to expected ratios among elderly people in Malaysia.
We describe the distribution of body weight, height and body mass index (BMI) by age, sex and ethnicity in Malaysian adults. A national sample of 28,737 individuals aged 20 or older had usable data. They were selected by stratified 2-stage cluster sampling. Percentile tables and curves by age, sex and ethnicity are presented. The body weight and BMI distributions were right skewed, while that of height was symmetrical. BMI distribution showed the expected increase with age, while that of height decrease with age. Differences in BMI between the 2 sexes and among the 4 ethnic groups were observed. Indian had the highest BMI, followed by Malay, Chinese and other indigenous ethnic group.
Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-1996)
We describe the distribution of capillary blood glucose (BG) by age, sex and ethnicity in Malaysian adults. A national sample of 20,041 individuals aged 30 or older had usable data. They were selected by stratified 2-stage cluster sampling. BG was measured using reflectance photometer. Percentile tables and curves by age, sex and ethnicity are presented. The BG distribution was right skewed and showed the expected increase with age. Except in Indian, women had higher BG than men. There were also marked ethnic differences. Indian had the highest BG concentration, followed by Chinese, Malay and other indigenous ethnic group.
Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-1996)
We describe the distribution of blood pressure (BP) by age, sex and ethnicity in Malaysian adults. A national sample of 21,391 individuals aged 30 or older had usable data. They were selected by stratified 2-stage cluster sampling. BP was measured using an automated oscillometric device, Visomat. Percentile tables and curves by age, sex and ethnicity are presented. The systolic and diastolic BP distribution was right skewed and showed the expected increase with age. This was markedly so in Malay and other indigenous women; as a result they had most severe hypertension.
Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-1996)
We describe the distribution of capillary blood total cholesterol (BC) by age, sex and ethnicity in Malaysian adults. A national sample of 20,041 individuals aged 30 or older had usable data. They were selected by stratified 2-stage cluster sampling. BC was measured using reflectance photometer. Percentile tables and curves by age, sex and ethnicity are presented. The BC distribution was right skewed and showed the expected increase with age. There were ethnic differences. Malay had the highest BC concentration, followed by Indian, Chinese and other indigenous ethnic group. However, for all ethnic groups, BC concentrations were low in comparison those prevailing in Western populations.
Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-1996)