Displaying publications 2261 - 2280 of 3226 in total

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  1. Abdullah F, Su TT
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2010;11(5):1359-66.
    PMID: 21198293
    INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer has long been known as a preventable disease. Yet it still is a prime women's health issue globally. In Malaysia, the current cervical cancer screening program, introduced in the 1960s, has been found to be unsuccessful in terms of Pap smear coverage. The aim of this study is to determine providers perceptives on the program and the feasibility of practicing an organized cervical screening program in Malaysia.

    METHODS: 11 key informant interviews were conducted with policy makers and health care providers from the Ministry of Health in Malaysia from October 2009 to May 2010. Interviewees' perceptions were explored on current and organized cervical screening program based on their expertise and experience.

    RESULTS: The results highlighted that the existing cervical screening program in Malaysia faced flaws at all levels that failed to reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality. The identified weaknesses were poor acceptance by women, lack of commitment by health care providers, nature of the program, an improper follow-up system, limited resources and other competing needs. Complementarily, all interviewees perceived an organized cervical screening program as an alternative approach both feasible and acceptable by women and government to practice in Malaysia.

    CONCLUSION: Better screening coverage depends on an effective screening program that incorporates a behaviour-based strategy. A new program should be focused in the policy-making context to improve screening coverage and to effectively combat cervical cancer.

    Matched MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control*
  2. Kumar RS, Narayanan SN, Nayak S
    Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2009;64(12):1211-7.
    PMID: 20037710 DOI: 10.1590/S1807-59322009001200012
    Chronic stress has been shown to cause oxidative damage in the central nervous system. Although stress-induced impairments in learning and memory have been studied extensively, very few studies have investigated possible ways to prevent their ill effects. The present work was designed to study the protective effects of ascorbic acid in memory loss induced by chronic restraint stress.
    Matched MeSH terms: Memory Disorders/prevention & control*
  3. Pandian RU
    Maturitas, 2009 Dec;65 Suppl 1:S47-50.
    PMID: 20005647 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2009.11.016
    Threatened miscarriage is a common problem during pregnancy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Abortion, Spontaneous/prevention & control*
  4. Adam SK, Das S, Othman F, Jaarin K
    Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2009;64(11):1113-9.
    PMID: 19936186 DOI: 10.1590/S1807-59322009001100012
    To observe the effects of consuming repeatedly heated soy oil on the aortic tissues of estrogen-deficient rats.
    Matched MeSH terms: Atherosclerosis/prevention & control*
  5. Sothilingam S, Sundram M, Malek R, Sahabuddin RM
    Urol Oncol, 2010;28(6):670-2.
    PMID: 21062649 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2009.12.014
    The incidence of prostate cancer in Malaysia is still low compared to the west. This may be due to a true low incidence or lower detection rates. Prostate Awareness Campaigns are held on a yearly basis to educate and encourage males over the age of 50 years to have their prostate examined. Such a campaign was organized in 2005 at the national level involving 12 district hospitals. A total of 2770 participants attended the campaign. 38.7% had no urinary symptoms and attended out of curiosity. Among the symptomatic patients, nocturia was the most bothersome in the majority. 84.6% of the participants also had some degree of erectile dysfunction based on the IIEF questionnaire. 10.4% of participants had a PSA > 4 ng/mL. Malay participants had the highest mean PSA level (2.32 ng/mL) and Indian participants the lowest (1.30 ng/mL). 408 participants were called back for biopsy but only 183 agreed to the biopsy. 30 cancers were detected. At present Malaysia will benefit most by continuing to conduct these awareness programmes to educate the public on prostate disease and hopefully in future patients will be less reluctant to have prostate biopsies taken when indicated.
    Matched MeSH terms: Prostatic Neoplasms/prevention & control
  6. Tran NT, Choe SI, Taylor R, Ko WS, Pyo HS, So HC
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2011;12(11):3029-33.
    PMID: 22393985
    BACKGROUND: This study assessed women from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for: (i) their level of knowledge of cervical cancer and attitudes and practices concerning cervical screening (KAP); and (ii) differences in KAP between rural and urban groups.

    METHODS: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, a purposive sample of 200 women in 6 provinces of DPRK (rural: n=99, urban: n=101) were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Differences between proportions were assessed using the χ2 test. Significance was defined as p<0.05.

    RESULTS: 63% of rural and 60% of urban participants had heard of cervical cancer (p>0.05). 42% knew that it is the most common cancer of the female reproductive tract, 55% knew that all women are at risk, but only 36% were aware of cervical cancer's preventability. Some 13% of rural and 29% of urban respondents had heard of cervical cytology testing (p<0.001). Only 6% of participants had ever received a cervical cytology smear. Among the reasons for not screening, 48% mentioned a lack of awareness of cervical cytology; 47% their dislike of pelvic examinations; 17% of rural and 31% of urban interviewees reported the absence of symptoms (p<0.05); and 62% of rural and 0% of urban women mentioned travelling long distances to service delivery points (p<0.001).

    CONCLUSIONS: There is a reasonable level of knowledge of cervical cancer among North Korean women; however, there are major gaps regarding awareness of its preventability and actual uptake of cytology screening services. There are no significant differences between rural and urban women with regard to their KAP. Large scale health promotion campaigns are needed to educate women and the community about cervical cancer and its preventability through screening. The national health care system needs to ensure that screening services are effective, accessible, feasible and acceptable to women.
    Matched MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control*
  7. Tran NT, Taylor R, Choe SI, Pyo HS, Kim OS, So HC
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2011;12(11):3023-8.
    PMID: 22393984
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Little is known about cervical cancer (CC) in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). This study examines the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) concerning CC and screening among female health care practitioners (HCPs), and whether differences exist between rural and urban HCPs.

    METHOD: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, a purposive sample of 200 women HCPs from 128 health care centers in 6 provinces of DPRK was interviewed using a standardized questionnaire.

    RESULTS: 98% of HCPs were aware of CC. Awareness of the national CC policy was significantly lower in rural (44%) than urban (62%) respondents (p<0.05). Fewer rural (71%) than urban (89%) HCPs knew of cervical cytology (p<0.05). Around 30% of HCPs were aware of the association between CC and human papillomavirus infection. Only 13% of HCPs had ever had a cervical cytology smear. Only 4% of rural and 21% of urban practitioners (p<0.05) provided cytology; all used unaided visual inspection of the cervix without staining to determine whether cytology testing was indicated. For all, screening intervals depended on presence of symptoms.

    CONCLUSION: Misconceptions and ineffective clinical practices regarding screening need to be urgently addressed among both rural and urban HCPs. There are no major differences between rural and urban HCPs regarding their KAP.
    Matched MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control*
  8. Kuppusamy S, Faizal N, Quek KF, Razack AH, Dublin N
    World J Urol, 2010 Dec;28(6):673-6.
    PMID: 20623289 DOI: 10.1007/s00345-010-0578-7
    It is still uncertain as to which form of anaesthesia is the optimum. We conducted a study to identify the best location and optimum volume of anaesthetic agent in order to achieve best pain relief and cooperation from our patients. We also assessed the need for local anaesthetic gel for probe lubrication and if the number of cores during biopsy makes a difference in the pain score.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pain/prevention & control*
  9. Shunmugaperumal T
    Recent Pat Drug Deliv Formul, 2010 Jun;4(2):153-73.
    PMID: 20236065
    Upon implantation or insertion into patient's body for exerting the intended purpose like salvage of normal functions of vital organs, the medical devices are unfortunately becoming the sites of competition between host cell integration and microbial adhesion. Moreover, since there is an increased use of implanted medical devices, the incidence of biofilm-and medical devices-related nosocomial infections is also increasing progressively. To control microbial colonization and subsequent biofilm formation of the medical devices, different approaches either to enhance the efficiency of certain antimicrobial agents or to disrupt the basic physiology of the pathogenic microorganisms including novel small molecules and antipathogenic drugs are being explored. In addition, the various lipid-and polymer-based drug delivery carriers are also investigated for applying antibiofilm coating of the medical devices especially over catheters. The main intention of this review is therefore to summarize the major and/breakthrough inventions disclosed in patent literature as well as in research papers related to microbial colonization of medical devices and novel preventive strategies. This review starts with an overview of the preventive strategies followed by a short description about the potential of different lipidic-and polymeric-drug delivery carriers in eradicating the biofilm-associated infections from the medical devices.
    Matched MeSH terms: Prosthesis-Related Infections/prevention & control
  10. Wkly. Epidemiol. Rec., 2010 Feb 19;85(8):64-7.
    PMID: 20210044
    Matched MeSH terms: Henipavirus Infections/prevention & control
  11. Ahmad AA, Hameed BH
    J Hazard Mater, 2009 Dec 30;172(2-3):1538-43.
    PMID: 19740605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.08.025
    In this work, activated carbon was prepared from bamboo waste by chemical activation method using phosphoric acid as activating agent. The activated carbon was evaluated for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color reduction of a real textile mill effluent. A maximum reduction in color and COD of 91.84% and 75.21%, respectively was achieved. As a result, the standard B discharge limit of color and COD under the Malaysian Environmental Quality act 1974 was met. The Freundlich isotherm model was found best to describe the obtained equilibrium adsorption data at 30 degrees C. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, total pore volume and the average pore diameter were 988.23 m(2)/g, 0.69 cm(3)/g and 2.82 nm, respectively. Various functional groups on the prepared bamboo activated carbon (BAC) were determined from the FTIR results.
    Matched MeSH terms: Industrial Waste/prevention & control
  12. Ng CJ, Kamal SF
    Singapore Med J, 2006 Jun;47(6):482-90.
    PMID: 16752016
    INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to qualitatively explore adolescents' sexuality and their relation to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk in Malaysia.
    METHODS: This study was conducted in 2002 among 16 male and female private college students aged between 18 and 22 years old, all of whom were sexually active. Semi-structured individual interviews were carried out.
    RESULTS: There were definite differences in gender roles in terms of how adolescents perceived sex, selection of sex partners and communication with their partners. Definitions of stable and casual relationships differed between males and females. Most participants were concerned about pregnancy rather than sexually transmitted diseases or HIV infection when they interpreted safe sex. Reasons for not practising safe sex include trust between sex partners, complacency, low perception of risk, and negative attitudes towards condom use.
    CONCLUSION: These findings were closer to those observed in the developed countries. The findings from this study will serve as a guide to plan for local adolescent health education. It can also serve as a basis for more in-depth quantitative and qualitative research on adolescent sexuality.
    Study site: Students, private colleges, Klang Valley, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: HIV Infections/prevention & control*
  13. Ooi CP, Rohani A, Zamree I, Lee HL
    Trop Biomed, 2005 Jun;22(1):73-6.
    PMID: 16880757
    The rapid detection of dengue infection in mosquito vectors is important for early warning to forestall an outbreak. Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) provides a rapid method for dengue detection in man and mosquitoes. An RT-PCR kit developed by the Medical Entomology Unit, Institute for Medical Research to detect dengue infection in mosquitoes, was tested for its shelf life at 3 storage temperatures: room temperature, refrigerator and freezer. Test kits were tested once every 3 days for kits stored at room temperature, and once every week for those stored at refrigerator and freezer temperatures. The results showed that the test kit could only be stored above its recommended storage temperature of -20 degrees C for not more than 3 days. DNA 100 bp markers in the kits appeared to be stable at the tested temperatures and were usable up to the 20th day when stored at 2 degrees C and below.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue/prevention & control
  14. Ong HT, Cheah JS
    MedGenMed, 2005;7(2):74.
    PMID: 16369452
    The hypertensive patient with type 2 diabetes is especially at risk of adverse cardiovascular events. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) and Hypertension Optimal Treatment (HOT) studies suggested that treatment to a lower target blood pressure resulted in better prevention of clinical disease in these patients. Most trials comparing antihypertensive drugs have shown only minimal differences between the various agents. The evidence from the trials suggests that diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and the angiotensin-receptor antagonists (ARBs) will all successfully reduce adverse clinical events. The largest of the comparative hypertensive drug trials, the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT), demonstrated that a diuretic has a better hypotensive effect, and was more successful in preventing many aspects of cardiovascular disease compared with CCBs and ACE inhibitors. The importance of good blood pressure control and the general equivalence of antihypertensive drugs were again shown in the Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation (VALUE) trial, which compared an ARB with a CCB. Choice of antihypertensive agent should be individualized and guided by the presence of concomitant clinical disease and the need to protect any specific target organ system in the diabetic hypertensive. Diuretics, being potent hypotensive drugs with clearly demonstrated clinical benefit, should form part of the antihypertensive regimen of most diabetic hypertensives. ACE inhibitors and ARBs are especially useful in preventing nephropathy. Most patients will require a combination of antihypertensive drugs to achieve tight blood pressure control of under 130/80 mm Hg in the diabetic hypertensive. The clinician should concentrate on seeking this lower target blood pressure rather than be excessively concerned about which is the best antihypertensive agent.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control*
  15. Kong NC, Beran J, Kee SA, Miguel JL, Sánchez C, Bayas JM, et al.
    Kidney Int, 2008 Apr;73(7):856-62.
    PMID: 18160963
    Prehemodialysis and hemodialysis patients are at an increased risk of hepatitis B infection and have an impaired immune response to hepatitis B vaccines. We evaluated the immune response to the new adjuvant of hepatitis B vaccine AS04 (HBV-AS04) in this population. We measured antibody persistence for up to 42 months, and the anamnestic response and safety of booster doses in patients who were no longer seroprotected. The primary vaccination study showed that HBV-AS04 elicited an earlier antibody response and higher antibody titers than four double doses of standard hepatitis B vaccine. Seroprotection rates were significantly higher in HBV-AS04 recipients throughout the study. The decline in seroprotection over time was significantly less in the HBV-AS04 group with significantly fewer primed patients requiring a booster dose over the follow-up period. Solicited/unsolicited adverse events were rare following booster administration. Fifty-seven patients experienced a serious adverse event during the follow-up; none of which was vaccine related. When HBV-AS04 was used as the priming immunogen, the need for a booster dose occurred at a longer time compared to double doses of standard hepatitis B vaccine. Hence, in this population, the HBV-AS04 was immunogenic, safe, and well-tolerated both as a booster dose after HBV-AS04 or standard hepatitis B vaccine priming.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B/prevention & control*
  16. Chia SE, Lau WK, Cheng C, Chin CM, Tan J, Ho SH
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2007 Jul-Sep;8(3):375-8.
    PMID: 18159971
    The purpose of this study was to examine the distribution of prostate-specific antigen levels among Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore, taking the effect of age into consideration. The study was carried out as part of the Singapore Prostate Awareness Week from 23-26th February 2004. Men above 50 years old went to four government-restructured hospitals to participate in the study. Participants filled up a questionnaire and provided 5 ml of blood for measurement of PSA levels using the Abbott IMx Total PSA assay (Abbott Laboratories). 3,486 men responded to the study, comprising 92.8% Chinese, 3.0% Malays, 2.5% Indians and 1.8% Others. 92.7% of them had PSA levels of 4 microg/L or less. There were no significant differences (p<0.05) between the mean PSA levels of Chinese (1.60 microg/L), Malays (1.39 microg/L), Indians (1.23 microg/L) and Others (1.70 microg/L). PSA levels were significantly associated with age (Spearman's r= 0.27, p<0.01). PSA levels increased with each 10-year age group and these trends were significant (p<0.0001) across both PSA group levels and age groupings. In the 50-60 years age groups, the prevalence of PSA levels >4 mug/L were 1.1% and 3.7% respectively. This rose rapidly to 11.3% and 23.5% for age groups >60-70 and >80 years respectively. Our study shows that the median PSA levels in the Caucasian population in the USA are higher than those of Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore. PSA levels were positively associated with age. It may be more appropriate to offer PSA testing to men who are >60 years old rather than the current >50 years.
    Matched MeSH terms: Prostatic Neoplasms/prevention & control*
  17. Chang CT
    Rural Remote Health, 2007 Oct-Dec;7(4):864.
    PMID: 18076311
    INTRODUCTION: There is an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Malaysia. Besides prevalence studies, not much is known about either overweight or obese individuals. The objective of this study was to determine the stages of change in losing weight and the self-efficacy in eating control of three indigenous groups of overweight and obese adults in Sarawak, Malaysia.
    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in one rural region in Sarawak using a purposive sample. A structured questionnaire, which included two scales: (1) Weight: Stages of change (SOC) to assess readiness to change; and (2) Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire (WEL) (both adopted from the transtheoretical model of change); and a set of pre-tested questionnaires on socio-demographic data, the presence of health problems and self-assessment of weight appropriateness, was used to interview respondents.
    RESULTS: The stage distribution for weight loss of these adults respondents (n = 271) showed that 60.5% (n = 164) were in the pre-contemplation stage, 20.7% (n = 56) were in the contemplation stage, 8.5% (n = 23) were in the preparation stage, and 8.9% (n = 24) were in the action stage, while only 1.5% (n = 4) were in the maintenance stage. Except for education, the stage differences were generally stable across age, sex, race, household income, presence or absence of health problem, self-perceived weight and presence of overweight or obesity. Respondents were least able to control their eating under social pressure and food availability, according to their WEL score.
    CONCLUSION: A large proportion of the overweight or obese adults was not intending to lose weight. The factor structure of the two WEL original subscales enabled partial differentiation between respondents who were able or unable to resist eating in situations where there were availability of food and experienced physical discomfort. The study results indicate the importance of assessing individuals' SOC score in order to implement stage-matched intervention strategies. More studies should be performed in order to validate the WEL questionnaire for use with a Malaysian sample.
    Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/prevention & control
  18. Barraclough S, Morrow M
    Soc Sci Med, 2008 Apr;66(8):1784-96.
    PMID: 18304713 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.01.001
    In the wake of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is among the few remaining mechanisms for tobacco corporations publicly to promote their interests. Health advocates may be unaware of the scale, nature and implications of tobacco industry CSR. This investigation aimed to construct a typology of tobacco industry CSR through a case study of the evolution and impact of CSR activities of a particular tobacco corporation in one country - British American Tobacco, Malaysia (BATM), the Malaysian market leader. Methods included searching, compiling and critically appraising publicly available materials from British American Tobacco, BATM, published literature and other sources. The study examined BATM's CSR strategy, the issues which it raises, consequences for tobacco control and potential responses by health advocates. The investigation found that BATM's CSR activities included assistance to tobacco growers, charitable donations, scholarships, involvement in anti-smuggling measures, 'youth smoking prevention' programs and annual Social Reports. BATM has stated that its model is predominantly motivated by social and stakeholder obligations. Its CSR activities have, however, had the additional benefits of contributing to a favourable image, deflecting criticism and establishing a modus vivendi with regulators that assists BATM's continued operations and profitability. It is imperative that health advocates highlight the potential conflicts inherent in such arrangements and develop strategies to address the concerns raised.
    Matched MeSH terms: Smoking/prevention & control*
  19. Wong SC, Ooi MH, Abdullah AR, Wong SY, Krishnan S, Tio PH, et al.
    Trop Med Int Health, 2008 Jan;13(1):52-5.
    PMID: 18291002 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01967.x
    Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is an important encephalitis virus in Asia, but there are few data on Malaysia. A hospital-based surveillance system for Japanese encephalitis (JE) has been in operation in Sarawak, Malaysia, for the last 10 years. JEV is endemic in Sarawak, with cases occurring throughout the year and a seasonal peak in the last quarter (one-way anova, P < 0.0001). Ninety-two per cent of 133 cases were children aged 12 years or younger; the introduction of JE vaccination in July 2001 reduced the number of JE cases (84 in the four seasons prior to vs. 49 in the six seasons after, McNemar's test, P = 0.0001). After implementation of the programme, the mean age of infected children increased from 6.3 to 8.0 years (Student's t-test, P = 0.0037), suggesting the need for a catch-up programme.
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalitis, Japanese/prevention & control
  20. Azlan CA, Mohd Nasir NF, Saifizul AA, Faizul MS, Ng KH, Abdullah BJ
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2007 Dec;30(4):288-91.
    PMID: 18274069
    Percutaneous image-guided needle biopsy is typically performed in highly vascular organs or in tumours with rich macroscopic and microscopic blood supply. The main risks related to this procedure are haemorrhage and implantation of tumour cells in the needle tract after the biopsy needle is withdrawn. From numerous conducted studies, it was found that heating the needle tract using alternating current in radiofrequency (RF) range has a potential to minimize these effects. However, this solution requires the use of specially designed needles, which would make the procedure relatively expensive and complicated. Thus, we propose a simple solution by using readily available coaxial core biopsy needles connected to a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) generator. In order to do so, we have designed and developed an adapter to interface between these two devices. For evaluation purpose, we used a bovine liver as a sample tissue. The experimental procedure was done to study the effect of different parameter settings on the size of coagulation necrosis caused by the RF current heating on the subject. The delivery of the RF energy was varied by changing the values for delivered power, power delivery duration, and insertion depth. The results showed that the size of the coagulation necrosis is affected by all of the parameters tested. In general, the size of the region is enlarged with higher delivery of RF power, longer duration of power delivery, and shallower needle insertion and become relatively constant after a certain value. We also found that the solution proposed provides a low cost and practical way to minimizes unwanted post-biopsy effects.
    Matched MeSH terms: Postoperative Hemorrhage/prevention & control
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