MyMedR

Fulltext Ethnic variation, epidemiological factors and quality of life impairment associated with dyspepsia in urban Malaysia

Mahadeva S, Yadav H, Rampal S, Everett SM, Goh KL

Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2010 May;31(10):1141-51.

PMID: 20175766 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04270.x

The role of ethnicity in the development of dyspepsia remains uncertain.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Environmental factors in the relationship between breastfeeding and infant mortality: the role of sanitation and water in Malaysia

Butz WP, Habicht JP, DaVanzo J

Am J Epidemiol, 1984 Apr;119(4):516-25.

PMID: 6711541

Mothers' recall data collected in Malaysia in 1976-1977 are analyzed to study correlates of mortality of 5471 infants. Respondent population is 1262 women living in 52 primary sampling units of Peninsular Malaysia. Lengths of unsupplemented and supplemented breastfeeding and presence of piped household water and toilet sanitation are related to infant mortality in regressions that also control other correlates. The analysis is disaggregated into three periods of infancy. Through six months of feeding, unsupplemented breastfeeding is more strongly associated with fewer infant deaths than is supplemented breastfeeding. Type of sanitation is generally more strongly associated with mortality than is type of water supply. The effects of breastfeeding and the environmental variables are shown to be strongly interactive and to change systematically during the course of infancy. Breastfeeding is more strongly associated with infant survival in homes without piped water or toilet sanitation. In homes with both modern facilities, supplemented breastfeeding has no significant effect, and unsupplemented breastfeeding is statistically significant only for mortality in days 8-28. Presence of modern water and sanitation systems appears unimportant for mortality of infants who are breastfed without supplementation for six months.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Maternal literacy modifies the effect of toilets and piped water on infant survival in Malaysia

Esrey SA, Habicht JP

Am J Epidemiol, 1988 May;127(5):1079-87.

PMID: 3358408 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114884

The effect of toilets, piped water, and maternal literacy on infant mortality was analyzed using data from the Malaysian Family Life Survey collected in 1976-1977. The effect of toilets and piped water on infant mortality was dependent on whether or not mothers were literate. The impact of having toilets was greater among the illiterate than among the literate, but the impact of piped water was greater among the literate than among the illiterate. The effect on the infant mortality rate for toilets decreased from 130.7 +/- 17.2 deaths in the absence of literate mothers to 76.2 +/- 25.9 deaths in the presence of literate mothers. The reduction in the mortality rate for maternal literacy dropped from 44.4 +/- 14.1 deaths without toilets to -10.1 +/- 23.9 deaths with toilets. Reductions in mortality rates for piped water increased from 16.7 +/- 12.7 deaths without literate mothers to 36.8 +/- 21.0 deaths with literate mothers. Similarly, reductions in the mortality rate for maternal literacy rose from 44.4 +/- 14.1 deaths in the absence of piped water to 64.5 +/- 19.5 deaths in the presence of piped water. The results from a logistic model provided inferences similar to those from ordinary least squares. The authors infer that literate mothers protect their infants especially in unsanitary environments lacking toilets, and that when piped water is introduced, they use it more effectively to practice better hygiene for their infants.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Does breastfeeding really save lives, or are apparent benefits due to biases?

Habicht JP, DaVanzo J, Butz WP

Am J Epidemiol, 1986 Feb;123(2):279-90.

PMID: 3946377

Analysis of mothers' recall data collected in 1976-1977 by a probability survey in Peninsular Malaysia shows an association between breastfeeding up to six months of age and improved survival of infants throughout the first year of life. Inappropriate sample selection and inadequate control of confounding can introduce large biases in these analyses. The magnitude and direction of these biases are presented. Even when these biases are dealt with, unsupplemented breastfeeding appears more beneficial than supplemented breastfeeding. The younger the infant and the longer the breastfeeding, the greater the estimated benefits in terms of deaths averted. The use of powdered infant formula did not appear to offset the detrimental effects of early weaning and supplementation. The positive relationships found in these analyses between breastfeeding and survival are not due to death precluding or terminating breastfeeding. Nor are they likely to be due to a shift away from breastfeeding because of recent illness, which was also controlled in the analyses. Nor are they likely to be due to other factors that both increase mortality risk and shorten breastfeeding; when such factors are taken into account, the beneficial effects of breastfeeding become stronger and imply that, if there had been no breastfeeding in this sample, twice as many babies would have died after the first week of life.

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

Design considerations in the estimation of intraclass correlation

Donner A, Koval JJ

Ann. Hum. Genet., 1982 07;46(3):271-7.

PMID: 7125598 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.1982.tb00718.x

The design of family studies to estimate the value of an intraclass correlation coefficient p is considered when ni individuals are to be selected from each of k families, i = 1, 2, ..., k. In particular, the accuracy of a balance design (ni = n, i = 1, 2, ..., k) for estimating p is compared with the accuracy of an unbalanced "natural" design, in which the ni are sampled at random from family size distributions that tend to occur in practice. It is found for two different estimators of p that the balanced design is usually preferable, but only to a small degree if the number of families sampled is greater than 50.

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

On the epidemicity of Amok violence

Westermeyer J

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

PMID: 4707993

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Fulltext Effect of diaphragmatic breathing on heart rate variability in ischemic heart disease with diabetes

Kulur AB, Haleagrahara N, Adhikary P, Jeganathan PS

Arq. Bras. Cardiol., 2009 Jun;92(6):423-9, 440-7, 457-63.

PMID: 19629309

BACKGROUND: Reduced heart rate variability is associated with an unfavorable prognosis in patients with ischemic heart disease and diabetes. Whether change in breathing pattern can modify the risk factor in these patients has not been definitely proved.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of diaphragmatic breathing on heart rate variability (HRV) in ischemic heart disease patients with diabetes.
METHODS: Study population consisted of 145 randomly selected male patients of which 45 had ischemic heart disease (IHD), 52 had IHD and diabetes (IHD-DM) and the remaining 48 had IHD and diabetic neuropathy (IHD-DN). HRV was assessed by 5 minute-electrocardiogram using the time domain method. The intervention group was divided into compliant and non-compliant groups and follow-up recording was carried out after three months and one year.
RESULTS: Baseline recordings showed a significant decrease in HRV in ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients with or without diabetes (p<0.01). IHD patients had higher HRV than IHD patients with diabetes (p<0.01) or diabetic neuropathy (p<0.01). Increase in HRV was observed in patients who practiced diaphragmatic breathing for three months (IHD-DM: p<0.01; IHD-DN: p<0.05) and for one year (IHD-DM: p<0.01; IHD-DN: p<0.01). The HRV significantly decreased after one year in non-compliant patients. The regular practice of diaphragmatic breathing also improved the glycemic index in these patients.
CONCLUSION: The regular practice of diaphragmatic breathing significantly improves heart rate variability with a favorable prognostic picture in ischemic heart disease patients who have diabetes. These effects seem to be potentially beneficial in the management of IHD patients with diabetes.

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

AIDS in Asia and the Pacific

Karel SG, Robey B

Asian Pac Cens Forum, 1988 Sep;2(1-2):1-4, 18-30.

PMID: 12342138

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods*

Fulltext Differentials in the prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant, ever-married women in Bangladesh: multilevel logistic regression analysis of data from the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey

Kamruzzaman M, Rabbani MG, Saw A, Sayem MA, Hossain MG

BMC Womens Health, 2015;15:54.

PMID: 26219633 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-015-0211-4

Anemia is one of the most common public health problems globally, and high prevalence has been reported among women of reproductive age, especially in developing countries. This study was conducted to evaluate differentials in the prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant, ever-married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh, and to examine associations with demographic, socioeconomic, and nutritional factors.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

Fulltext Insecticide-impregnated bed nets for malaria control: a review of the field trials

Bermejo A, Veeken H

Bull World Health Organ, 1992;70(3):293-6.

PMID: 1638658

Insecticide-impregnated bed nets act as a physical barrier to repel and kill mosquitos. Community intervention trials suggest that these nets are effective in preventing malaria-related mortality and morbidity--but not malaria infection--in areas of low and moderate transmission; the results from areas of high transmission are not so encouraging. Comparison of the results from these trials and their interpretation are difficult because of variations in the epidemiology of malaria and several methodological flaws. Problems such as defining appropriate health indicators, monitoring bed-net usage, introducing bed nets randomly, selecting adequate controls, performing statistical analysis, and comparing bed nets with other available interventions are considered. Further community intervention trials are needed, paying attention to the methods and to assessment of their impact on malaria.

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

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

Sex hormones in Malay and Chinese men in Malaysia: are there age and race differences?

Chin KY, Soelaiman IN, Mohamed IN, Ahmad F, Ramli ES, Aminuddin A, et al.

Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2013;68(2):159-66.

PMID: 23525310

OBJECTIVES: Variations in the prevalence of sex-hormone-related diseases have been observed between Asian ethnic groups living in the same country; however, available data concerning their sex hormone levels are limited. The present study aimed to determine the influence of ethnicity and age on the sex hormone levels of Malay and Chinese men in Malaysia.

METHODS: A total of 547 males of Malay and Chinese ethnicity residing in the Klang Valley Malaysia underwent a detailed screening, and their blood was collected for sex hormones analyses.

RESULTS: Testosterone levels were normally distributed in the men (total, free and non-sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) bound fractions), and significant ethnic differences were observed (p<0.05); however, the effect size was small. In general, testosterone levels in males began to decline significantly after age 50. Significant ethnic differences in total, free and non-SHBG bound fraction estradiol levels were observed in the 20-29 and 50-59 age groups (p<0.05). The estradiol levels of Malay men decreased as they aged, but they increased for Chinese men starting at age 40.

CONCLUSIONS: Small but significant differences in testosterone levels existed between Malay and Chinese males. Significant age and race differences existed in estradiol levels. These differences might contribute to the ethnic group differences in diseases related to sex hormones, which other studies have found in Malaysia.

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

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

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

Coffee consumption and coronary artery calcium in young and middle-aged asymptomatic adults

Choi Y, Chang Y, Ryu S, Cho J, Rampal S, Zhang Y, et al.

Heart, 2015 May;101(9):686-91.

PMID: 25732752 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2014-306663

To investigate the association between regular coffee consumption and the prevalence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in a large sample of young and middle-aged asymptomatic men and women.

Matched MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods

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