Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 82 in total

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  1. Sex differences in acute coronary syndrome in a multiethnic asian population: results of the malaysian national cardiovascular disease database-acute coronary syndrome (NCVD-ACS) registry
    Lu HT, Nordin R, Wan Ahmad WA, Lee CY, Zambahari R, Ismail O, et al.
    Glob Heart, 2014 Dec;9(4):381-90.
    PMID: 25592791 DOI: 10.1016/j.gheart.2014.06.001
    Sex differences in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been well studied in major registries and clinical trials in Western populations. Limited studies have examined the sex differences in ACS using a large number of Asian women as the subjects.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology*
  2. Fulltext Comparison of the Framingham Risk Score, SCORE and WHO/ISH cardiovascular risk prediction models in an Asian population
    Selvarajah S, Kaur G, Haniff J, Cheong KC, Hiong TG, van der Graaf Y, et al.
    Int J Cardiol, 2014 Sep;176(1):211-8.
    PMID: 25070380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.07.066
    BACKGROUND:Cardiovascular risk-prediction models are used in clinical practice to identify and treat high-risk populations, and to communicate risk effectively. We assessed the validity and utility of four cardiovascular risk-prediction models in an Asian population of a middle-income country.
    METHODS:Data from a national population-based survey of 14,863 participants aged 40 to 65 years, with a follow-up duration of 73,277 person-years was used. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS), SCORE (Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation)-high and -low cardiovascular-risk regions and the World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) models were assessed. The outcome of interest was 5-year cardiovascular mortality. Discrimination was assessed for all models and calibration for the SCORE models.
    RESULTS:Cardiovascular risk factors were highly prevalent; smoking 20%, obesity 32%, hypertension 55%, diabetes mellitus 18% and hypercholesterolemia 34%. The FRS and SCORE models showed good agreement in risk stratification. The FRS, SCORE-high and -low models showed good discrimination for cardiovascular mortality, areas under the ROC curve (AUC) were 0.768, 0.774 and 0.775 respectively. The WHO/ISH model showed poor discrimination, AUC=0.613. Calibration of the SCORE-high model was graphically and statistically acceptable for men (χ(2) goodness-of-fit, p=0.097). The SCORE-low model was statistically acceptable for men (χ(2) goodness-of-fit, p=0.067). Both SCORE-models underestimated risk in women (p<0.001).
    CONCLUSIONS:The FRS and SCORE-high models, but not the WHO/ISH model can be used to identify high cardiovascular risk in the Malaysian population. The SCORE-high model predicts risk accurately in men but underestimated it in women.
    KEYWORDS:Cardiovascular disease prevention; Mortality; Risk prediction; Risk score; Validation
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology*
  3. Prevalence, racial variations, and risk factors of age-related macular degeneration in Singaporean Chinese, Indians, and Malays
    Cheung CM, Li X, Cheng CY, Zheng Y, Mitchell P, Wang JJ, et al.
    Ophthalmology, 2014 Aug;121(8):1598-603.
    PMID: 24661862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.02.004
    To describe the prevalence and risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a multiethnic Asian cohort of Chinese, Malay, and Indian persons.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
  4. Preoperative patient characteristics and outcomes of total knee arthroplasty in a multiethnic Asian population stratified by ethnicity
    Jiang L, Bin Abd Razak HR, Chong HC, Tan A
    J Arthroplasty, 2014 Feb;29(2):304-7.
    PMID: 23891052 DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2013.06.002
    We aim to compare the patient profile and outcomes after TKA between the different racial groups in Singapore. Prospective data were collected from 364 patients who underwent TKA in Singapore General Hospital from January 2006 to May 2010. Patients were stratified according to ethnicity and we compared their preoperative demographic data, Short-Form 36 (SF-36), Oxford Knee (OKS) as well as Knee Society Scores (KSS). Malays were younger (62.0 ± 5.3) at time of surgery (p=0.05) and the body mass index of Chinese (27.9 ± 4.7) was lower than Malay (30.4 ± 5.0) and Indian (31.5 ± 4.5) patients (P<0.005). Malay (40.3 ± 11.0) and Indian (39.2 ± 9.3) patients had less favourable preoperative OKS than Chinese (35.9 ± 7.8) patients (P<0.05). All 3 ethnic groups achieved statistically significant improvements in outcome measures but did not differ significantly between the ethnicities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
  5. Fulltext Ethnic differences in the association between blood pressure components and chronic kidney disease in middle aged and older Asian adults
    Sabanayagam C, Teo BW, Tai ES, Jafar TH, Wong TY
    BMC Nephrol, 2013;14:86.
    PMID: 23590421 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2369-14-86
    Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an emerging public health problem worldwide. Previous studies have shown an association between blood pressure (BP) and CKD. However, it is not clear if there are ethnic differences in this association. We examined the association between BP and CKD in a multi-ethnic Asian population in Singapore.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology*
  6. Fulltext Skin color variation in Orang Asli tribes of Peninsular Malaysia
    Ang KC, Ngu MS, Reid KP, Teh MS, Aida ZS, Koh DX, et al.
    PLoS One, 2012;7(8):e42752.
    PMID: 22912732 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042752
    Pigmentation is a readily scorable and quantitative human phenotype, making it an excellent model for studying multifactorial traits and diseases. Convergent human evolution from the ancestral state, darker skin, towards lighter skin colors involved divergent genetic mechanisms in people of European vs. East Asian ancestry. It is striking that the European mechanisms result in a 10-20-fold increase in skin cancer susceptibility while the East Asian mechanisms do not. Towards the mapping of genes that contribute to East Asian pigmentation there is need for one or more populations that are admixed for ancestral and East Asian ancestry, but with minimal European contribution. This requirement is fulfilled by the Senoi, one of three indigenous tribes of Peninsular Malaysia collectively known as the Orang Asli. The Senoi are thought to be an admixture of the Negrito, an ancestral dark-skinned population representing the second of three Orang Asli tribes, and regional Mongoloid populations of Indo-China such as the Proto-Malay, the third Orang Asli tribe. We have calculated skin reflectance-based melanin indices in 492 Orang Asli, which ranged from 28 (lightest) to 75 (darkest); both extremes were represented in the Senoi. Population averages were 56 for Negrito, 42 for Proto-Malay, and 46 for Senoi. The derived allele frequencies for SLC24A5 and SLC45A2 in the Senoi were 0.04 and 0.02, respectively, consistent with greater South Asian than European admixture. Females and individuals with the A111T mutation had significantly lighter skin (p = 0.001 and 0.0039, respectively). Individuals with these derived alleles were found across the spectrum of skin color, indicating an overriding effect of strong skin lightening alleles of East Asian origin. These results suggest that the Senoi are suitable for mapping East Asian skin color genes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology*
  7. Knowledge and perception of breast cancer among women of various ethnic groups in the state of Penang: a cross-sectional survey
    Abdul Hadi M, Hassali MA, Shafie AA, Awaisu A
    Med Princ Pract, 2010;19(1):61-7.
    PMID: 19996622 DOI: 10.1159/000252837
    The objective of this study was to assess and compare the knowledge and perception of breast cancer among women of various ethnic groups in the state of Penang.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology*
  8. Demography and clinical course of ulcerative colitis in a multiracial Asian population: a nationwide study from Malaysia
    Hilmi I, Singh R, Ganesananthan S, Yatim I, Radzi M, Chua AB, et al.
    J Dig Dis, 2009 Feb;10(1):15-20.
    PMID: 19236542 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-2980.2008.00357.x
    To establish the clinical course of ulcerative colitis (UC) in the Malaysian population, comparing the three major ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese and Indian.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
  9. Somatic and non-affective symptoms of old age depression: ethnic differences among Chinese, Indians and Malays
    Soh KC, Kua EH, Ng TP
    Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 2009 Jul;24(7):723-30.
    PMID: 19089846 DOI: 10.1002/gps.2188
    Somatic and other non-affective symptomatology characterizes late life depression and contributes to its under-diagnosis, especially in some ethnic groups.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
  10. Islet autoimmunity status in Asians with young-onset diabetes (12-40 years): association with clinical characteristics, beta cell function and cardio-metabolic risk factors
    Thai AC, Mohan V, Khalid BA, Cockram CS, Pan CY, Zimmet P, et al.
    Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2008 May;80(2):224-30.
    PMID: 18207602 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2007.12.003
    In this paper, the islet autoimmunity status and relation to clinical characteristics, beta cell function and cardio-metabolic risk factors in young-onset Asian diabetic patients are evaluated at baseline. The study population consisted of 912 patients (from China, India, Malaysia and Singapore) with age 12-40 years and diabetes duration <12 months. Autoantibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA) and tyrosine phosphatase (IA-2A), beta cell function and cardio-metabolic risk parameters were assessed. Among our young patient cohort, 105 (11.5%) patients were GADA and/or IA-2A positives (Ab +ve). Ab +ve patients were younger, leaner, had more severe hyperglycaemia and lower beta cell function. The frequency of metabolic syndrome was significantly lower in Ab +ve patients (27%) compared to Ab -ve patients (54%). However, a substantial proportion of patients in both groups of patients had atherogenic dyslipidaemia, hypertension and albuminuria (micro or macro). In our study cohort, only one in 10 Asian youth with new-onset diabetes had evidence of islet autoimmunity. At least 60% of Ab +ve and 50% of Ab -ve patients demonstrated classical features of type 1 and type 2 diabetes respectively. Regardless of autoimmunity status, the cardio-metabolic risk factors, in particular atherogenic dyslipidaemia, hypertension and albuminuria were common in our patients with young-onset diabetes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
  11. Fulltext Ethnomedicine and dominant medicine in multicultural Australia: a critical realist reflection on the case of Korean-Australian immigrants in Sydney
    Han GS, Ballis H
    J Ethnobiol Ethnomed, 2007;3:1.
    PMID: 17201916 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-3-1
    Viewed through the micro focus of an interpretive lens, medical anthropology remains mystified because interpretivist explanations seriously downplay the given context in which individual health seeking-behaviours occur. This paper draws upon both the interpretivist and political economy perspectives to reflect on the ethno medical practices within the Korean-Australian community in Sydney.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology*
  12. Ethnicity, health and medical care: towards a critical realist analysis of general practice in the Korean community in Sydney
    Han GS, Davies C
    Ethn Health, 2006 Nov;11(4):409-30.
    PMID: 17060035 DOI: 10.1080/13557850600824054
    This paper investigates the use and provision of biomedicine among Korean-Australian men on the basis of interview data from all of the eight Korean-speaking doctors practising in the Korean community in Sydney in 1995. From the viewpoint of these general practitioners, an analysis is made of the processes Korean men go through in adjusting to a new country, being involved in constant hard manual work and long working hours, and explores how they make use of all available resources to stay healthy. The Korean men have fully utilized the 'freely' available medical services under government-subsidized Medicare, bearing in mind that health is a capacity to work under the current environment, although illegal migrants restrained themselves from using it until they obtained legal status. Korean-speaking medical practitioners have been able to provide their fellow Koreans with 'culturally appropriate' health care, with the key factor being the absence of a language barrier. The level of patient satisfaction is high, possibly due to the excellent understanding the doctors have of the social aspects of illnesses, although the doctors do not go beyond curative medicine in their practice. However, the increasing number of Korean-speaking doctors in the small Korean community means that there is competition for patients. Consequently, the medical care is highly entrepreneurial. Referral by Korean doctors to practitioners of Korean herbal medicine is also a notable feature of the health care sector of the Korean community, especially as this offers Korean patients 'satisfactory' health relief for problems that are not easily relieved by doctors in the biomedical system.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology*
  13. Handling spiritual questions of terminally ill patients
    Loh KY
    Int J Palliat Nurs, 2004 Nov;10(11):550-1; discussion 552-3.
    PMID: 15580111
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology*
  14. Fulltext Specific and straightforward molecular investigation of β-thalassemia mutations in the Malaysian Malays and Chinese using direct TaqMan genotyping assays
    Kho SL, Chua KH, George E, Tan JA
    Genet. Mol. Res., 2013;12(3):2409-15.
    PMID: 23479149 DOI: 10.4238/2013.February.28.4
    Beta-thalassemia is a life-threatening inherited blood disorder. Rapid characterization of β-globin gene mutations is necessary because of the high frequency of Malaysian β-thalassemia carriers. A combination real-time polymerase chain reaction genotyping assay using TaqMan probes was developed to confirm β-globin gene mutations. In this study, primers and probes were designed to specifically identify 8 common β-thalassemia mutations in the Malaysian Malay and Chinese ethnic groups using the Primer Express software. "Blind tests" using DNA samples from healthy individuals and β-thalassemia patients with different genotypes were performed to determine the specificity and sensitivity of this newly designed assay. Our results showed 100% sensitivity and specificity for this novel assay. In conclusion, the TaqMan genotyping assay is a straightforward assay that allows detection of β-globin gene mutations in less than 40 min. The simplicity and reproducibility of the TaqMan genotyping assay permit its use in laboratories as a rapid and cost-effective diagnostic tool for confirmation of common β-thalassemia mutations in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
  15. Gastro-oesophageal reflux is more prevalent in Western dyspeptics: a prospective comparison of British and South-East Asian patients with dyspepsia
    Mahadeva S, Raman MC, Ford AC, Follows M, Axon AT, Goh KL, et al.
    Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2005 Jun 15;21(12):1483-90.
    PMID: 15948816
    There is a paucity of data directly comparing dyspepsia in Western and Eastern populations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology*
  16. The association of mitochondrial DNA 5178 C > a polymorphism with plasma lipid levels among three ethnic groups
    Lal S, Madhavan M, Heng CK
    Ann. Hum. Genet., 2005 Nov;69(Pt 6):639-44.
    PMID: 16266403
    Mitochondria are eukaryotic cytoplasmic organelles responsible for oxidative phosphorylation. The C to A nucleotide transversion in the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (MT-ND2) coding region of mitochondrial DNA has been reported to be associated with plasma lipid levels, adult onset diseases and longevity. We have examined the role of this polymorphism in relation to plasma lipid levels and age in a total of 713 healthy individuals belonging to 3 ethnic groups in Singapore. The frequency of the A allele was significantly higher (p < 0.05) among the Chinese (0.15) in comparison to the Malays (0.05) and Indians (0.02). No significant difference in the frequency of the allele was observed between healthy and coronary artery disease subjects, and between age-stratified subjects. We found that the polymorphism is significantly associated in an ethnic- and gender-specific manner with plasma apoB levels in the Chinese males (p < 0.05). This is the first epidemiological report of the mt5178 C > A polymorphism and its association with plasma lipid levels in Asian populations outside Japan.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
  17. Fulltext Status of visual impairment among indigenous (Orang Asli) school children in Malaysia
    Omar R, Wan Abdul WMH, Knight VF
    BMC Public Health, 2019 Jun 13;19(Suppl 4):543.
    PMID: 31196018 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6865-3
    BACKGROUND: School children are considered a high-risk group for visual impairment because uncorrected refractive errors and problems such as amblyopia can seriously affect their learning abilities and their physical and mental development. There are many studies reporting the prevalence of refractive errors among school children of different ethnic groups in Malaysia, however, studies concerning the prevalence of refractive errors among indigenous or Orang Asli children are very limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment among Orang Asli children.

    METHODS: One hundred ten Orang Asli children aged 7 to 12 years old in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia were selected. 51% of these children were boys while the remainders were girls. They underwent visual acuity test, cover test, Hirschberg's test, ocular external assessment and ophthalmoscopy. Children who failed the vision screening were then referred for further eye examination.

    RESULTS: Of these 110 Orang Asli children, 46 failed the vision screening and subsequently 45 of them were confirmed to have visual problems (40.9% of the total subjects). The main cause of visual impairment in this study was refractive error (34.5% of the total subjects) where the main refractive error found was hyperopia (28.2%) followed by amblyopia (2.7%), strabismus (1.8%) and ocular abnormalities (1.8%).

    CONCLUSION: Hence, vision screening and a comprehensive eye examination is very important and needs to be done on all Orang Asli children so that any visual problems can be detect at an early stage to avoid the development of learning difficulties among these already disadvantaged children.

    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
  18. The population genomic landscape of human genetic structure, admixture history and local adaptation in Peninsular Malaysia
    Deng L, Hoh BP, Lu D, Fu R, Phipps ME, Li S, et al.
    Hum Genet, 2014 Sep;133(9):1169-85.
    PMID: 24916469 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-014-1459-8
    Peninsular Malaysia is a strategic region which might have played an important role in the initial peopling and subsequent human migrations in Asia. However, the genetic diversity and history of human populations--especially indigenous populations--inhabiting this area remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a genome-wide study using over 900,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in four major Malaysian ethnic groups (MEGs; Malay, Proto-Malay, Senoi and Negrito), and made comparisons of 17 world-wide populations. Our data revealed that Peninsular Malaysia has greater genetic diversity corresponding to its role as a contact zone of both early and recent human migrations in Asia. However, each single Orang Asli (indigenous) group was less diverse with a smaller effective population size (N(e)) than a European or an East Asian population, indicating a substantial isolation of some duration for these groups. All four MEGs were genetically more similar to Asian populations than to other continental groups, and the divergence time between MEGs and East Asian populations (12,000--6,000 years ago) was also much shorter than that between East Asians and Europeans. Thus, Malaysian Orang Asli groups, despite their significantly different features, may share a common origin with the other Asian groups. Nevertheless, we identified traces of recent gene flow from non-Asians to MEGs. Finally, natural selection signatures were detected in a batch of genes associated with immune response, human height, skin pigmentation, hair and facial morphology and blood pressure in MEGs. Notable examples include SYN3 which is associated with human height in all Orang Asli groups, a height-related gene (PNPT1) and two blood pressure-related genes (CDH13 and PAX5) in Negritos. We conclude that a long isolation period, subsequent gene flow and local adaptations have jointly shaped the genetic architectures of MEGs, and this study provides insight into the peopling and human migration history in Southeast Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
  19. Cigarette Smoking on Severity of Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma in Malay Patients
    Niven TCS, Azhany Y, Rohana AJ, Karunakar TVN, Thayanithi S, Jelinar Noor MN, et al.
    J Glaucoma, 2019 01;28(1):7-13.
    PMID: 30461551 DOI: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000001120
    PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between cigarette smoking and the severity of primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in Malay patients residing in Malaysia.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 150 Malay PACG patients between April 2014 and August 2016. Ocular examination was performed including Humphrey visual field (HVF) 24-2 analysis assessment. On the basis of the 2 consecutive reliable HVFs, the severity of glaucoma was scored according to modified Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) by 2 masked investigators and classified as mild, moderate, and severe. Those with retinal diseases, neurological diseases, memory problem, and myopia ≥4 diopters were excluded. Their smoking status and details were obtained by validated questionnaire from Singapore Malay Eye Study (SiMES). The duration of smoking, number of cigarettes per day, and pack/year was also documented. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted.

    RESULTS: There was a significant association between education level and severity of PACG (P=0.001). However, there was no significant association between cigarette smoking and severity of glaucoma (P=0.080). On the basis of multivariate analysis, a linear association was identified between cigarette smoked per day (adjusted b=0.73; 95% CI: 0.54, 1.45; P<0.001) and body mass index (adjusted b=0.32; 95% CI: 0.07, 1.35; P=0.032) with AGIS score.

    CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant association between cigarette smoking and severity of PACG. Cigarette smoked per day among the smokers was associated with severity of PACG. However, because of the detrimental effect of smoking, cessation of smoking should be advocated to PACG patients.

    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
  20. Fulltext Food, culture, and identity in multicultural societies: Insights from Singapore
    Reddy G, van Dam RM
    Appetite, 2020 06 01;149:104633.
    PMID: 32084519 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.104633
    The choice of food practices can be influenced by one's identity in many societies, but has mostly been evaluated in light of the maintenance of cultural identity in migrant populations. This study focused on understanding the influence of identity on food practices among individuals in multicultural societies. We conducted 18 focus group discussions (n = 130) among Indian, Chinese and Malay women in Singapore. Focus group transcripts were analysed using Thematic Analysis both inductively and deductively. Deductive analysis was framed within a Social Representations Approach, a social psychological theory that allows a deeper understanding of the contextual aspects of identity. Participants highlighted the central position of food in social events, cultural celebrations, and persistent traditional beliefs about health (such as 'hot-cold balance'). These beliefs extended to the perception of certain traditional foods possessing medicinal properties. Importantly, the consumption of these traditional foods was accepted as necessary for the maintenance of health by the women. We propose that while cultural food practices are integral to identity preservation and identity continuity for Singaporean women from all three racial groups, this is different to other multicultural societies such as Canada where communities preserve their cultural food practices, in part, due to fear of cultural identity loss. In addition, cross-cultural food practices are readily adopted in participants' daily lives for a number of reasons such as the promotion of health, convenience, and variety. At times, this adoption blurred boundaries between different cultural cuisines. Food practices in multicultural societies like Singapore are thus a reflection of everyday multiculturalism, multicultural social policies, and attitudes towards traditional healthful food practices, and these aspects need to be considered in the development of public health policies and interventions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology
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