PIP: Previous studies have shown the users of intrauterine devices have a 4.4 times greater risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. This present study intends to categorize the distribution of microbes in cultures from different types of extracted copper intrauterine devices (IUCDs). Bacteriological studies of aerobic and anaerobic organisms were performed on the extracted IUCDs of 522 IUCD users; 480 wearing a Multiload Cu 250, 15 wearing a Copper T, 22 Lippes Loop and 5 a Copper 7. Cultures were negative in 46 (8.8%) IUCD cultures where 43 were Multiloads, Copper T (1) and Lippes Loop (2). 91.2% yielded bacterial growth and the commonest organisms isolated were Staphylococcus species, (23%), E.coli (9.6%) and Staphylococcus aureus (4.0%. Candida albicans, E.coli and Staphylococcus sp. were commonly isolated from Multiload, Copper T, Lippes Loop and Copper 7. Beta-hemolytic streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida sp. were frequently recovered from Multiload, Copper T and Lippes Loop. Only Multiload cultures yielded Bacillus, Streptococcus viridans, Klebsiella, Proteus, Enterobacter, Citrobacter diversus, Citrobacter freundii, Moraxella, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. One woman with complaint of PID yielded E.coli in her IUCD culture.
Several new concepts are used to describe contraceptive use histories for nearly 1200 women in Peninsular Malaysia. These histories are summarized by 81 episode histories. Transition matrices provide useful summaries of the changes women make in their contraceptive practice from one pregnancy interval to the next. Data from the mid-1940s to mid-1970s, during which period there was a dramatic increase in contraceptive use, reveal considerable inertia in individual couples' contraceptive practice. Persistence with a method was greater the less effective the method: while 86% of couples using no method in one interval used no method in the next, only 56% of couples using the pill in one interval also used it in the next. Virtually all transitions are of three types: continuation with the same method, a change from no method to some method, or a change from some method to no method. For only 1% of all pregnancies did couples use one contraceptive method before a pregnancy and a different method after the pregnancy. Differences are examined by calendar year and education.
The mortality pattern of a subpopulation of Semai Senoi of Malaysia is studied by using a two-census method. The method yields abridged life tables for both sexes as well as an estimate of the birth rate. The life tables show that Semai mortality is reduced compared to estimates based on stable population methods for the population prior to 1969. Increased health care availability seems to account for this lower mortality.
A study was conducted on a total of 100 women attending the Family Planning Clinic in Kuala Lumpur. 50 took combined low-dose estrogen and progesterone pills for a year or more and the other 50 used different methods of birth control. Platelet aggregation, ATP release, Thromboxane B2, and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha estimations were made to evaluate the effect of oral contraceptives (OCs) on platelet function and prostanoid production. The results showed no significant differences in the parameters measured in the 2 groups investigated. These findings are comparable to those reported by other studies, suggesting relatively low risk, if any, of thrombosis in OC users.
"The past 20 years have seen extensive elaboration, refinement, and application of the original Brass method for estimating infant and child mortality from child survivorship data. This experience has confirmed the overall usefulness of the methods beyond question, but it has also shown that...estimates must be analyzed in relation to other relevant information before useful conclusions about the level and trend of mortality can be drawn.... This article aims to illustrate the importance of data analysis through a series of examples, including data for the Eastern Malaysian state of Sarawak, Mexico, Thailand, and Indonesia. Specific maneuvers include plotting completed parity distributions and 'time-plotting' mean numbers of children ever born from successive censuses. A substantive conclusion of general interest is that data for older women are not so widely defective as generally supposed."
"This paper aims to show that the establishment of a better data collection and reporting system in Malaysia since 1991 has led to an apparent increase in the maternal mortality ratio.... Because of improved surveillance, the maternal mortality ratio may continue to appear to rise for a few years but should decline after that reflecting the improvement in the health status and service delivery in Malaysia."
The efficiency of GUS (β-Glucuronidase) gene expression in embryogenic callus and young leaflets of mature and seedling palm after microprojectile bombardment with five constructs (pEmuGN, pAHC25, pAct1-F4, pGH24 and pBARGUS) was evaluated to identify the most suitable promoter(s) to use in transformation attempts in oil palm. Expression of the GUS gene driven by theEmu, Ubi1, Act1 35S orAdh1 was assayed, both histochemically and fluorometrically, from a total of 200 plates of tissues in eight independent experiments two days after bombardment. A completely randomized experimental design was used for each experiment, and the data analysed by ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test. The expression level of GUS driven by theEmu orUbi1 promoters was significantly higher than that of the Act], 35S and Adhl promoters in many experiments, and that of theAdhl was significantly lower than those of the other four promoters. Both histochemical and fluorometric data indicate that in embryogenic callus, the expression of theEmu promoter was higher than that of theUbi1 whereas in young leaflets from mature palm the Ubi1 expression was stronger. The performances of the five promoters were also tested in tobacco callus using a fluorometric GUS assay. The activity of the 35S promoter was highest, and significantly different from that of all the other promoters except theEmu, and that of theAct1 promoter was lowest. These results indicate that either theUbil orEmu promoter should facilitate the expression of desired genes in oil palm and aid in development of an efficient stable transformation system.