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Fulltext Does food insufficiency in childhood contribute to dementia in later life?

Momtaz YA, Haron SA, Hamid TA, Ibrahim R, Masud J

Clin Interv Aging, 2015;10:49-53.
PMID: 25565786 DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S69220

Despite several studies attempting to identify the risk factors for dementia, little is known about the impact of childhood living conditions on cognitive function in later life. The present study aims to examine the unique contribution of food insufficiency in childhood to dementia in old age.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Fulltext Identifying the ischaemic penumbra using pH-weighted magnetic resonance imaging

Harston GW, Tee YK, Blockley N, Okell TW, Thandeswaran S, Shaya G, et al.

Brain, 2015 Jan;138(Pt 1):36-42.
PMID: 25564491 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu374

The original concept of the ischaemic penumbra suggested imaging of regional cerebral blood flow and metabolism would be required to identify tissue that may benefit from intervention. Amide proton transfer magnetic resonance imaging, a chemical exchange saturation transfer technique, has been used to derive cerebral intracellular pH in preclinical stroke models and has been proposed as a metabolic marker of ischaemic penumbra. In this proof of principle clinical study, we explored the potential of this pH-weighted magnetic resonance imaging technique at tissue-level. Detailed voxel-wise analysis was performed on data from a prospective cohort of 12 patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Voxels within ischaemic core had a more severe intracellular acidosis than hypoperfused tissue recruited to the final infarct (P < 0.0001), which in turn was more acidotic than hypoperfused tissue that survived (P < 0.0001). In addition, when confined to the grey matter perfusion deficit, intracellular pH (P < 0.0001), but not cerebral blood flow (P = 0.31), differed between tissue that infarcted and tissue that survived. Within the presenting apparent diffusion coefficient lesion, intracellular pH differed between tissue with early apparent diffusion lesion pseudonormalization and tissue with true radiographic recovery. These findings support the need for further investigation of pH-weighted imaging in patients with acute ischaemic stroke.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Seroepidemiology of dengue virus infection in the adult population in tropical Singapore

Ang LW, Cutter J, James L, Goh KT

Epidemiol Infect, 2015 Jun;143(8):1585-93.
PMID: 25245094 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268814002507

To assess the impact of past dengue epidemics in Singapore, we undertook a national seroepidemiological study to determine the prevalence of past dengue virus (DENV) infection in the adult population in 2010 and make comparisons with the seroprevalence in 2004. The study involved residual sera from 3293 adults aged 18-79 years who participated in a national health survey in 2010. The overall prevalence of anti-DENV IgG antibodies was 56·8% (95% confidence interval 55·1-58·5) in 2010. The seroprevalence increased significantly with age. Males had significantly higher seroprevalence than females (61·5% vs. 53·2%). Among the three major ethnic groups, Malays had the lowest seroprevalence (50·2%) compared to Chinese (57·0%) and Indians (62·0%). The age-standardized seroprevalence in adults was significantly lower in 2010 (54·4%) compared to 2004 (63·1%). Older age, male gender, Indian ethnicity, permanent residency and being home-bound were independent risk factors significantly associated with seropositivity. About 43% of the Singapore adult resident population remain susceptible to DENV infection as a result of the successful implementation of a comprehensive nationwide Aedes surveillance and control programme since the 1970s. Vector suppression and concerted efforts of all stakeholders in the community remain the key strategy in the prevention and control of dengue.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Fulltext Monitoring treatment response in sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients: comparison of weight gain, sputum conversion and chest radiograph

How SH, Kuan YC, Ng TH, Razali MR, Fauzi AR

Malays J Pathol, 2014 Aug;36(2):91-6.
PMID: 25194531 MyJurnal

Monitoring treatment response to anti-tuberculous therapy remains unsatisfactory in resource-limited countries where sophisticated and expensive tests are not readily available. Sputum culture for mycobacterium is desirable, but not obtainable in many developing countries. Sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear alone can be misinterpreted in the presence of unviable bacilli or non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Hence the search for a cheaper but reliable monitoring tool, or a combination of several tools, continues. Interesting reports from studies in third world nations have considered weight gain/loss as one such monitoring tool. Since pulmonary tuberculosis is endemic in this country, we take the opportunity to evaluate weight gain and chest radiograph, compared to sputum AFB smear in monitoring patient's response.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
An improved stool concentration procedure for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in Orang Asli stool samples

Salleh FM, Moktar N, Yasin AM, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Anuar TS

J Microbiol Methods, 2014 Nov;106:143-145.
PMID: 25193442 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2014.08.019

To improve the stool concentration procedure, we modified different steps of the standard formalin-ether concentration technique and evaluated these modifications by examining stool samples collected in the field. Seven samples were found positive by the modified formalin-ether concentration technique (M-FECT). Therefore, the M-FECT procedure provides enhanced detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Fulltext Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

Alicezah MK, Razali R, Rahman T, Hoh BP, Suhana NH, Muid S, et al.

Malays J Pathol, 2014 Aug;36(2):131-7.
PMID: 25194536 MyJurnal

We report a rare case of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), a 22-year-old Malay woman who presented initially with minor soft tissue injury due to a cycling accident. She was then incidentally found to have severe xanthelasma and hypercholesterolemia (serum TC 15.3 mmol/L and LDL-C 13.9 mmol/L). She was referred to the Specialized Lipid Clinic and was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) based on the Simon Broome (SB) diagnostic criteria. There was a family history of premature coronary heart disease (CHD) in that three siblings had sudden cardiac death, and of consanguineous marriage in that her parents are cousins. DNA screening of LDLR and APOB genes was done by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), followed by Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (DHPLC). Homozygous mutation C255S in Exon 5 of her LDLR gene was found. There was no mutation was found in Exon 26 and Exon 29 of the APOB gene. This report is to emphasize the importance of identifying patients with FH and cascade screening through established diagnostic criteria and genetic studies in order to ensure early detection and early treatment intervention to minimize the risk of developing CHD and related complications.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Fulltext The effects of virgin coconut oil (VCO) as supplementation on quality of life (QOL) among breast cancer patients

Law KS, Azman N, Omar EA, Musa MY, Yusoff NM, Sulaiman SA, et al.

Lipids Health Dis, 2014;13:139.
PMID: 25163649 DOI: 10.1186/1476-511X-13-139

Breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst Malaysian women. Both the disease and its treatment can disrupt the lives of the woman and adversely affect all aspects of life and thus can alter a woman's quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of virgin coconut oil (VCO) on the quality of life (QOL) of patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Mandarin version of the Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire: A valid instrument for assessing symptoms in Asians

Leow HR, Ching SM, Sujarita R, Yap CF, Chia YC, Ho SH, et al.

J Dig Dis, 2014 Nov;15(11):591-6.
PMID: 25139629 DOI: 10.1111/1751-2980.12183

OBJECTIVE:
To develop and validate a Mandarin version of the Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (M-LDQ) in Asian patients with dyspepsia.

METHODS:
The M-LDQ was developed according to standardized methods. The validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and responsiveness of the instrument were evaluated in both primary and secondary care patients.

RESULTS:
A total of 184 patients (mean age 54.0 ± 15.8 years, of whom 59% were women and 72.3% of whom had at least secondary level education) were recruited between August 2012 and March 2013, from both primary (n = 100) and secondary care clinics (n = 84). Both the internal consistency of all components of the M-LDQ (Cronbach's α 0.79) and test-retest reliability (Spearman's correlation coefficient 0.78) were good. The M-LDQ was valid in diagnosing dyspepsia in primary care (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.84) and was able to discriminate between secondary and primary care patients (median cumulative LDQ score 13.0 vs 3.0, P < 0.0001). Among eight patients with organic dyspepsia, the median M-LDQ score reduced significantly from 21.0 (pretreatment) to 9.5 (4 weeks post-treatment) (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION:
The M-LDQ is a valid and responsive instrument for assessing ethnic Chinese adults with dyspepsia.

KEYWORDS:
Mandarin; ethnic Chinese; functional dyspepsia; outcome measure; questionnaire; validation

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Fulltext Knowledge and awareness about STDs among women in Bangladesh

Hossain M, Mani KK, Mohd Sidik S, Shahar HK, Islam R

BMC Public Health, 2014;14:775.
PMID: 25081860 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-775

BACKGROUND:
Knowledge and awareness concerning sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has become the burning issue of the day. Although STDs pose serious risks to health security, there is very little literature quantifying the knowledge and awareness of these diseases and their principal socioeconomic determinants. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of different socio-economic and demographic factors on knowledge and awareness about STDs among women in Bangladesh.

METHODS:
This is a cross-sectional study using data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2011. It involves 10,996 women in six divisions of Bangladesh - Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna and Sylhet. In this study, the percentage distribution and logistic regression model are used to identify which factors are associated with knowledge and awareness among women in Bangladesh about STDs.

RESULTS:
There is a significant association between geographic division (Dhaka: OR = 1.669, 95% CI = 0.89-2.10, Khulna: OR = 2.234, 95% CI = 1.2-3.2); places of residence (Rural: OR = 0.363, 95% CI = 0.20-1.08), respondent's age (20-29 years: OR = 1.331; 95% CI = 0.98-2.31); education (Primary: OR = 2.366, 95% CI = 1.98-3.1, secondary: OR = 10.089, 95% CI = 8.98-12.77, higher: OR = 20.241, 95% CI = 18.33-22.65); listening to radio (OR = 1.189, 95% CI = 1.29-3.12) and watching TV (OR = 2.498, 95% CI = 2.22-4.09) with knowledge and awareness among women in Bangladesh about STDs.

CONCLUSION:
There is a need to improve the education in Bangladesh about STDs particularly among those in the rural areas and older ages of women (30-49 years). Formal, informal and special educational knowledge and awareness programmes may be implemented to educate people concerning STDs in Rajshahi, Sylhet and Chittangong division. Campaigns and mass media can be used to increase the knowledge and awareness among the community, especially among women. Policies concerning the issue of STDs need to be improved and can be emphasized in collaboration with government agencies to ensure the success of these campaigns.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Validation of electrical impedance tomography qualitative and quantitative values and comparison of the numeric pain distress score against mammography

Juliana N, Shahar S, Chelliah KK, Ghazali AR, Osman F, Sahar MA

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(14):5759-65.
PMID: 25081698

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a potential supplement for mammogram screening. This study aimed to evaluate and feasibility of EIT as opposed to mammography and to determine pain perception with both imaging methods. Women undergoing screening mammography at the Radiology Department of National University of Malaysia Medical Centre were randomly selected for EIT imaging. All women were requested to give a pain score after each imaging session. Two independent raters were chosen to define the image findings of EIT. A total of 164 women in the age range from 40 to 65-year-old participated and were divided into two groups; normal and abnormal. EIT sensitivity and specificity for rater 1 were 69.4% and 63.3, whereas for rater 2 they were 55.3% and 57.0% respectively. The reliability for each rater ranged between good to very good (p<0.05). Quantitative values of EIT showed there were significant differences in all values between groups (ANCOVA, p<0.05). Interestingly, EIT scored a median pain score of 1.51±0.75 whereas mammography scored 4.15±0.87 (Mann Whitney U test, p<0.05). From these quantitative values, EIT has the potential as a health discriminating index. Its ability to replace image findings from mammography needs further investigation.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Chronic pain and pattern of health care utilization among Malaysian elderly population: National Health and Morbidity Survey III (NHMS III, 2006)

Mohamed Zaki LR, Hairi NN

Maturitas, 2014 Dec;79(4):435-41.
PMID: 25255974 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.08.014

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to report prevalence of chronic pain and to examine whether chronic pain influence healthcare usage among elderly Malaysian population.
METHODS: This was a sub-population analysis of the elderly sample in the Malaysia's Third National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS III) 2006, a nation-wide population based survey. A subset of 4954 elderly aged 60 years and above was used in the analysis. Chronic pain, pain's interference and outcome variables of healthcare utilization (hospital admission and ambulatory care service) were all measured and determined by self-report.
RESULTS: Prevalence of chronic pain among elderly Malaysian was 15.2% (95% CI: 14.5, 16.8). Prevalence of chronic pain increased with advancing age, and the highest prevalence was seen among the old-old group category (21.5%). Across young-old and old-old groups, chronic pain was more prevalent among females, Indian ethnicity, widows/widowers, rural residency and those with no educational background. Our study showed that chronic pain alone increased hospitalization but not visits to ambulatory facilities. Presence of chronic pain was significantly associated with the frequency of hospitalization (aIRR 1.11; 95% CI 1.02, 1.38) but not ambulatory care service.
CONCLUSIONS: Chronic pain is a prevalent health problem among the elderly in Malaysia and is associated with higher hospitalization rate among the elderly population. This study provides insight into the distribution of chronic pain among the elderly and its relationship with the patterns of healthcare utilization.
KEYWORDS: Chronic pain; Elderly; Health care utilization; Malaysia
Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-2006)

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Effect of semantic coherence on episodic memory processes in schizophrenia

Battal Merlet L, Morel S, Blanchet A, Lockman H, Kostova M

Psychiatry Res, 2014 Dec 30;220(3):752-9.
PMID: 25240943 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.08.034

Schizophrenia is associated with severe episodic retrieval impairment. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility that schizophrenia patients could improve their familiarity and/or recollection processes by manipulating the semantic coherence of to-be-learned stimuli and using deep encoding. Twelve schizophrenia patients and 12 healthy controls of comparable age, gender, and educational level undertook an associative recognition memory task. The stimuli consisted of pairs of words that were either related or unrelated to a given semantic category. The process dissociation procedure was used to calculate the estimates of familiarity and recollection processes. Both groups showed enhanced memory performances for semantically related words. However, in healthy controls, semantic relatedness led to enhanced recollection, while in schizophrenia patients, it induced enhanced familiarity. The familiarity estimates for related words were comparable in both groups, indicating that familiarity could be used as a compensatory mechanism in schizophrenia patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Is the hijab protective? An investigation of body image and related constructs among British Muslim women

Swami V, Miah J, Noorani N, Taylor D

Br J Psychol, 2014 Aug;105(3):352-63.
PMID: 25040005 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12045

Previous studies have reported equivocal findings concerning the impact of wearing a hijab, or Islamic head- and body-cover, on Muslim women's body image. Here, we sought to examine that impact using a larger sample of Muslim women than has been relied upon and a wider range of body image measures. A total of 587 British Muslim women completed a battery of scales assessing their frequency and conservativeness of hijab use, body image variables, attitudes towards the media and beauty ideals, importance of appearance, and religiosity. Preliminary results indicated that 218 women never used the hijab and 369 women used some form of the hijab at least rarely. Controlling for religiosity, women who wore the hijab had more positive body image, lower internalization of media messages about beauty standards, and placed less importance on appearance than women who did not wear the hijab. Among women who wore the hijab, hijab use significantly predicted weight discrepancy and body appreciation over and above religiosity. These results are discussed in terms of the possible protective impact among British Muslim women of wearing the hijab.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
The prognostic factors of adult patients with hepatic portal venous gas in the ED

Seak CJ, Hsu KH, Wong YC, Ng CJ, Yen DH, Seak JC, et al.

Am J Emerg Med, 2014 Sep;32(9):972-5.
PMID: 25043627 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2014.05.016

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of adult patients with hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) in the emergency department (ED) to facilitate clinical decision making by emergency physicians.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Microsimulation modelling of driver behaviour towards alternative warning devices at railway level crossings

Tey LS, Zhu S, Ferreira L, Wallis G

Accid Anal Prev, 2014 Oct;71:177-82.
PMID: 24929822 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2014.05.014

Level crossings are amongst the most complex of road safety issues, due to the addition of rail infrastructure, trains and train operations. The differences in the operational characteristics of different warning devices together with varying crossing, traffic or/and train characteristics, cause different driver behaviour at crossings. This paper compares driver behaviour towards two novel warning devices (rumble strips and in-vehicle audio warning) with two conventional warning devices (flashing light and stop sign) at railway level crossings using microsimulation modelling. Two safety performance indicators directly related to collision risks, violation and time-to-collision, were adopted. Results indicated the active systems were more effective at reducing likely collisions compared to passive devices. With the combined application of driving simulation and traffic microsimulation modelling, traffic safety performance indicators for a level crossing can be estimated. From these, relative safety comparisons for the different traffic devices are derived, or even for absolute safety evaluation with proper calibration from field investigations.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Fulltext Applying theory of planned behavior to predict exercise maintenance in sarcopenic elderly

Ahmad MH, Shahar S, Teng NI, Manaf ZA, Sakian NI, Omar B

Clin Interv Aging, 2014;9:1551-61.
PMID: 25258524 DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S60462

This study aimed to determine the factors associated with exercise behavior based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) among the sarcopenic elderly people in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. A total of 65 subjects with mean ages of 67.5±5.2 (men) and 66.1±5.1 (women) years participated in this study. Subjects were divided into two groups: 1) exercise group (n=34; 25 men, nine women); and 2) the control group (n=31; 22 men, nine women). Structural equation modeling, based on TPB components, was applied to determine specific factors that most contribute to and predict actual behavior toward exercise. Based on the TPB's model, attitude (β=0.60) and perceived behavioral control (β=0.24) were the major predictors of intention to exercise among men at the baseline. Among women, the subjective norm (β=0.82) was the major predictor of intention to perform the exercise at the baseline. After 12 weeks, attitude (men's, β=0.68; women's, β=0.24) and subjective norm (men's, β=0.12; women's, β=0.87) were the predictors of the intention to perform the exercise. "Feels healthier with exercise" was the specific factor to improve the intention to perform and to maintain exercise behavior in men (β=0.36) and women (β=0.49). "Not motivated to perform exercise" was the main barrier among men's intention to exercise. The intention to perform the exercise was able to predict actual behavior regarding exercise at the baseline and at 12 weeks of an intervention program. As a conclusion, TPB is a useful model to determine and to predict maintenance of exercise in the sarcopenic elderly.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Fulltext Central nervous system Erdheim Chester disease presenting with raised intracranial pressure and cerebellar signs mimicking neurosarcoidosis with secondary cerebral venous thrombosis

Viswanathan S, Kadir NA, Lip AC, Rafia MH

Neurol India, 2014 Jul-Aug;62(4):446-8.
PMID: 25237960 DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.141250
Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
The effect of feet position on standing balance in patients with diabetes

Mehdikhani M, Khalaj N, Chung TY, Mazlan M

Proc Inst Mech Eng H, 2014 Aug;228(8):819-23.
PMID: 25205748 DOI: 10.1177/0954411914547714

Feet displacement is recognized to be an important element in standing and is also linked to postural instability in elderly people with diabetes. This study investigates standing balance in diabetic patients in four asymmetric feet displacements. Quiet standing balance was investigated using the Biodex Balance System in 18 diabetic patients and compared with 18 control elderly subjects. The four standing conditions, namely, comfortable feet position, preferred feet position with a stance width of 17 cm and 15° angle between the medial borders, feet side by side, and heel side by side with a 30° angle between medial edges of feet were evaluated (i.e. eyes opened, eyes closed). The overall stability was calculated by measuring anterior-posterior and medial-lateral indices in standing conditions. Differences among feet positions were compared using an analysis of variance and the independent t-test. The diabetic patients were unstable in the medial-lateral direction when standing with feet side by side versus heel side by side with a 30° angle between medial edges of feet (p = 0.012 and 0.011, respectively), while in controls the anterior-posterior stability scores between standing in preferred foot position with stance width of 17 cm and 15° angle between the medial borders versus feet side by side, and heel side by side with a 30° angle between medial edges of feet versus preferred foot position with stance width of 17 cm and 15° angle between the medial borders had significant difference (p

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Overlapping technique for hybrid percutaneous coronary intervention strategy utilising drug eluting stent and ABSORB bioresorbable vascular scaffold

Yew KL

Int J Cardiol, 2015 Jan 15;178:e8-e10.
PMID: 25205484 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.08.085
Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged
Fulltext Distribution of lipid parameters according to different socio-economic indicators- the EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study

Shohaimi S, Boekholdt MS, Luben R, Wareham NJ, Khaw KT

BMC Public Health, 2014 Aug 28;14:782.
PMID: 25179437 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-782

BACKGROUND: Data on the relationship between plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and social class have been inconsistent. Most previous studies have used one classification of social class.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional population based study with data on occupational social class, educational level obtained using a detailed health and lifestyle questionnaire. A total of 10,147 men and 12,304 women aged 45-80 years living in Norfolk, United Kingdom, were recruited using general practice age-sex registers as part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC-Norfolk). Plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in baseline samples. Social class was classified according to three classifications: occupation, educational level, and area deprivation score according to Townsend deprivation index. Differences in lipid levels by socio-economic status indices were quantified by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple linear regression after adjusting for body mass index and alcohol consumption.
RESULTS: Total cholesterol levels were associated with occupational level among men, and with educational level among women. Triglyceride levels were associated with educational level and occupational level among women, but the latter association was lost after adjustment for age and body mass index. HDL-cholesterol levels were associated with both educational level and educational level among men and women. The relationships with educational level were substantially attenuated by adjustment for age, body mass index and alcohol use, whereas the association with educational class was retained upon adjustment. LDL-cholesterol levels were not associated with social class indices among men, but a positive association was observed with educational class among women. This association was not affected by adjustment for age, body mass index and alcohol use.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that there are sex differences in the association between socio-economic status and serum lipid levels. The variations in lipid profile with socio-economic status may be largely attributed to potentially modifiable factors such as obesity, physical activity and dietary intake.

Matched MeSH terms: Middle Aged

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