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  1. A molecular epidemiologic study of thalassemia using newborns' cord blood in a multiracial Asian population in Singapore: results and recommendations for a population screening program
    Kham SK, Yin SK, Quah TC, Loong AM, Tan PL, Fraser A, et al.
    J Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 2004 Dec;26(12):817-9.
    PMID: 15591902
    DNA technology provides a new avenue to perform neonatal screening tests for single-gene diseases in populations of high frequency. Thalassemia is one of the high-frequency single-gene disorders affecting Singapore and many countries in the malaria belt. The authors explored the feasibility of using PCR-based diagnostic screening on 1,116 unselected sequential cord blood samples for neonatal screening. The cord blood samples were screened for the most common reported alpha- and beta-thalassemia mutations in each ethnic group (Chinese, Malays, and Indians) in a multiracial population. The carrier frequency for alpha-thalassemia mutations was about 6.4% in the Chinese (alpha deletions = 3.9%, alpha deletions = 2.5%), 4.8% in Malays, and 5.2% in Indians. Only alpha deletions were observed in the Chinese. The carrier frequency for beta-thalassemia mutations was 2.7% in the Chinese, 6.3% in Malays, and 0.7% in Indians. Extrapolating to the population distribution of Singapore, the authors found a higher overall expected carrier frequency for alpha- and beta-thalassemia mutations of 9% compared with a previous population study of 6% by phenotype. The highly accurate results make this molecular epidemiologic screening an ideal method to screen for and prevent severe thalassemia in high-risk populations.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  2. Fulltext The pattern of completed suicides seen in Kuala Lumpur General Hospital 1999
    Hayati AN, Salina AA, Abdullah AA, Eusni RT, Mansar AH
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 Jun;59(2):190-8.
    PMID: 15559169 MyJurnal
    A study was done on 76 suicide cases managed by the Forensic Pathology Department of Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) from January till December 1999 to explore the pattern of suicide and psychiatric history. The Chinese contributed 52% (n=40) of cases followed by the Indians (29%, n=22) and the Malays (12%, n=9). After the age of sixty, 84.6% of the subjects were Chinese. The common methods of suicide were poisoning (39%), hanging (34%) and jumping from height (22%). Four out of 12 case-notes traced had documented psychiatric history i.e. schizophrenia.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  3. Fulltext Knowledge and practice of complementary medicine amongst public primary care clinic doctors in Kinta district, Perak
    Ismail IA, Chan SC
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 Mar;59(1):4-10.
    PMID: 15535328 MyJurnal
    The knowledge and practice of doctors (n=40) towards complementary medicine (CM) in 16 health clinics in the Kinta District were assessed by questionnaire. Thirty-four (85%) responded. More than half felt that acupuncture (73.50), homeopathy (59%) and herbal medicine (59%) were occasionally harmful. Forty-four percent felt manipulative therapy was frequently harmful. Relaxation technique (79%) and nutritional therapy (44%) were considered most frequently useful. 59% used some form of CM. There were no significant differences found in usage rates by gender, age group and exposure to CM during undergraduate training. Sixty-seven percent had encouraged patients to seek CM. Seventy-three percent perceived an increasing demand for CM. Eighty-eight percent were in favour of a hospital based CM referral center. Only 6% were trained in CM.
    Study site: Klinik kesihatan, Perak, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  4. Fulltext Maternal level of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A as a predictor of pregnancy failure in threatened abortion
    Hanita O, Roslina O, Azlin MI
    Malays J Pathol, 2012 Dec;34(2):145-51.
    PMID: 23424777 MyJurnal
    Threatened miscarriage is a common complication of pregnancy. Despite initial viability confirmation by ultrasound scan, some of these patients had further spontaneous abortion. A highly sensitive and specific biomarker would be useful to determine the outcome of pregnancy and to prevent emotional impact to these women. A prospective 14-month cohort study was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre to determine whether low serum levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) measured in early pregnancy can predict the outcome of threatened abortion. 42 pregnant women between 6 to 22 weeks of gestation with threatened abortion and 40 controls were enrolled. Serum samples were collected at presentation and PAPP-A was assayed by electrochemiluminescent immunoassay technique. Pregnancies were followed-up until 22 weeks of gestations and the outcome documented. Nine patients (11%) developed spontaneous abortion and 73 patients (89%) had successful pregnancy. The median PAPP-A level was significantly lower in patients with spontaneous abortion compared to those who had successful pregnancies in the threatened abortion group: 0.78 MoM (0.41-1.00 MoM) vs 1.00 MoM (1.00-2.0 MoM) respectively (p < 0.05). The best sensitivity of 44% and specificity of 93% were obtained at the cut of value of 0.66 MoM (95% CI, 0.561-0.773). In conclusion, low PAPP-A value in threatened abortion women is associated with pregnancy failure, although the use of PAPP-A as a one-time single marker has limited value.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  5. Fulltext Adequacy of cellular material in split-sampling of cervical scrapings for routine cancer screening: an analysis of 702 smears
    Othman N, Othman NH
    Malays J Pathol, 2012 Dec;34(2):115-21.
    PMID: 23424773 MyJurnal
    The aim of this study was to examine cells (split-sample) that were retained on sampling devices used to collect conventional Pap smears (primary smears) in order to evaluate specimen adequacy and cytological diagnosis of scrapings that are routinely discarded.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  6. Prevalence of diabetes in Malaysia and usefulness of HbA1c as a diagnostic criterion
    Wan Nazaimoon WM, Md Isa SH, Wan Mohamad WB, Khir AS, Kamaruddin NA, Kamarul IM, et al.
    Diabet Med, 2013 Jul;30(7):825-8.
    PMID: 23413941 DOI: 10.1111/dme.12161
    AIM: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Malaysians aged ≥ 30 years of age has increased by more than twofold over a 20-year period. This study aimed to determine the current status and to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of the HbA(1c) cut-off point of 48 mmol/mol (6.5%).
    METHODS: Using a two-stage stratified sampling design, participants aged ≥ 18 years were recruited from five zones selected to represent Malaysia. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed on all those not known to have diabetes.
    RESULTS: A total of 4341 subjects were recruited. By World Health Organization criteria, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 22.9%; of that percentage, 10.8% was known diabetes and 12.1% was newly diagnosed diabetes. Diabetes was most prevalent amongst Indians (37.9%) and Malays (23.8%). Prevalence of new diabetes mellitus was only 5.5% (95% CI 4.9-6.3) when based on the HbA(1c) diagnostic criteria of 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) and, although the cut-off point was highly specific (98.1%), it was less sensitive (36.7%) compared with 45 mmol/mol (6.3%), which showed the optimal sum of sensitivity (42.5%) and specificity (97.4%) in identifying new diabetes mellitus.
    CONCLUSION: This study recorded an overall diabetes prevalence of 22.6%, almost a twofold increase from 11.6% reported in 2006. This was likely attributable to the higher prevalence of new diabetes (12.1%) diagnosed following an oral glucose tolerance test. An HbA(1c) of 45 mmol/mol (6.3%) was found to be a better predictive cut-off point for detecting new diabetes in our multi-ethnic population.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  7. Intragenic linkage disequilibrium structure of the human perilipin gene (PLIN) and haplotype association with increased obesity risk in a multiethnic Asian population
    Qi L, Tai ES, Tan CE, Shen H, Chew SK, Greenberg AS, et al.
    J Mol Med (Berl), 2005 Jun;83(6):448-56.
    PMID: 15770500
    Perilipin is a lipid droplet surface protein present in adipocytes and steroidogenic cells. We examined five common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the perilipin (PLIN) locus (PLIN 6209C>T, 10171A>T, 11482G>A, 13041A>G, and 14995A>T) to investigate their association with obesity risk. The study population included 4,131 subjects of three ethnic groups (Chinese, Malay, and Indian) from Singapore. The prevalence of obesity in Malays and Indians was much higher than in Chinese. Moreover, in these groups the prevalence of obesity was three times higher in women than in men. Crude analysis indicated that haplotype 11212 (CAAAT) is shared by Malays and Indians and is significantly associated with increased obesity risk as compared to the most common haplotype 21111 (TAGAA): OR 1.65 (95% CI 1.11-2.46) in Malays and 1.94 (95% CI 1.06-3.53) in Indians. No associations between PLIN haplotypes and obesity risk were found in Chinese. To simplify the haplotype analyses we used a subgroup of three SNPs (11482G>A, 13041A>G, and 14995A>T) in positive linkage disequilibrium. These analyses revealed similar associations, showing that haplotypes XX212 (XXAAT) and XX222 (XXAGT) are associated with increased obesity risk in Malays OR 2.04 (95% CI 1.28-3.25) and 2.05 (95% CI 1.35-3.12) respectively, and that haplotype XXX212 (XXAAT) is significantly associated with increased obesity risk in Indians OR 2.16 (95% CI 1.10-4.26) after adjusting for covariates including age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, and diabetes status. Moreover, individual SNP analyses demonstrated that the PLIN 14995A>T SNP is the most informative single genetic marker for the observed haplotype association, being significantly associated with increased obesity risk in both Malays OR 2.28 (95% CI 1.45-3.57) and Indians OR 2.04 (95% CI 1.08-3.64). These results support the role of the PLIN locus as an ethnically dependent modulator of obesity risk in humans.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  8. Fulltext Kikuchi's lymphadenitis (necrotizing lymphadenitis) and systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report
    Fernandez SH
    Malays J Pathol, 2000 Jun;22(1):25-9.
    PMID: 16329534
    A 26-year-old Indian lady was admitted for lower abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and cough. The initial diagnosis was that of peritonitis secondary to ruptured or perforated viscus with lobar pneumonia. On laparotomy, she was found to have necrotizing or Kikuchi's lymphadenitis of the abdominal lymph nodes. The initial two antinuclear antibody (ANA) results came back negative. She was diagnosed to have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) when the third sample for ANA came back positive and the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody test was homogenously positive. This case illustrates a need to be aware that necrotizing lymphadenitis can precede the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  9. 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: India/ethnology
  10. Cardiac sarcoidosis: two cases with autopsy findings
    Wan Muhaizan WM, Swaminathan M, Daud MS
    Malays J Pathol, 2004 Jun;26(1):59-63.
    PMID: 16196153
    Cardiac sarcoidosis is a disease of young adults. In most cases it presents with sudden death, arrhythmias, conduction disorders, heart failure or cardiomyopathy. The authors describe two cases of myocardial involvement by sarcoidosis that lead to death of the patients. Case one was a 26-year-old Indian man who was previously well and presented with sudden death. Autopsy showed nodules of sarcoid granuloma involving the heart, lungs and lymph nodes. Case two was a 47-year-old Indian lady who complained of reduced effort tolerance. Echocardiography showed that she had restrictive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with heart failure. Seven months after initial presentation, she developed worsening of heart failure and died. Autopsy revealed involvement of the heart, lungs and liver by sarcoidosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  11. Ethnic differences in quality of life in adolescents among Chinese, Malay and Indians in Singapore
    Ng TP, Lim LC, Jin A, Shinfuku N
    Qual Life Res, 2005 Sep;14(7):1755-68.
    PMID: 16119186
    BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life in adolescents and ethnic and cultural differences are not well characterized. We used the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adolescents (QOLQA) to examine ethnic differences in reported QOL scores among Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnicities in Singapore.

    METHODS: The 70-item QOLQA measuring five QOL domains (physical, psychological, independence, social and environmental) was administered to a random sample of 1363 school-children aged 10-15 years, representative of the ethnic composition of Singapore adolescents (Chinese 72%, Malays 20% and Indians 8%).

    RESULTS: Indians reported the highest overall QOL (mean 3.71 +/- SD 0.54) compared to Chinese (3.59 +/- 0.43), p < 0.05, and Malays (3.58 +/- 0.44), p < 0.05. In particular, Indians had significantly higher psychological QOL scores (3.73 +/- 0.61) compared to Chinese (3.55 +/- 0.54), p < 0.01. On the other hand, Chinese scored highest on physical and independence domains (3.97 +/- 0.54), p < 0.01 compared to Malays (3.82 +/- 0.55). There were no statistically significant gender differences in QOL scores. QOL declined significantly from age 10 to 15 for overall score, psychological, physical (p < 0.01) and environmental (p < 0.05). Lower socio-economic status and the self-report of a significant health problem were significantly associated with lower overall QOL and most domains. These ethnic differences persisted after adjusting for differences in socio-economic and health status. Psychometric properties and known group construct validity appeared to be similar across different ethnic groups, but compared to Chinese (r = 0.39) or Malays (r = 0.39), Indians showed a higher correlation of psychological scores with physical score (r = 0.59) and with other domain scores.

    CONCLUSION: Significant ethnic differences in reported adolescent quality of life among Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore that are independent of socioeconomic and health status suggest important cultural differences.

    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  12. Fulltext Angiotensinogen M235T gene variants and its association with essential hypertension and plasma renin activity in Malaysian subjects: a case control study
    Say YH, Ling KH, Duraisamy G, Isaac S, Rosli R
    BMC Cardiovasc Disord, 2005;5(1):7.
    PMID: 15811183
    Essential hypertension is a major public health concern worldwide where its prevalence accounts for various cerebrovascular diseases. A common molecular variant of angiotensinogen (AGT), the precursor of potent vasoactive hormone angiotensin II, has been incriminated as a marker for genetic predisposition to essential hypertension in some ethnics. This case-control study was designed not only to determine the association of the AGT M235T gene variants with essential hypertension, but also its relationship to Plasma Renin Activity (PRA) in subjects attending the Health Clinic, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  13. Aging in Multi-ethnic Malaysia
    Tey NP, Siraj SB, Kamaruzzaman SB, Chin AV, Tan MP, Sinnappan GS, et al.
    Gerontologist, 2016 08;56(4):603-9.
    PMID: 26553738 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnv153
    Multiethnic Malaysia provides a unique case study of divergence in population aging of different sociocultural subgroups within a country. Malaysia represents 3 major ethnicities in Asia-the Malay, Chinese, and Indian. The 3 ethnic groups are at different stages of population aging, as they have undergone demographic transition at different pace amidst rapid social and economic changes. Between 1991 and 2010, the Malaysian population aged 60 and over has more than doubled from about 1 million to 2.2 million, and this is projected to rise to about 7 million or 17.6% of the projected population of 40 million by 2040. In 2010, the aging index ranged from 22.8% among the Bumiputera (Malays and other indigenous groups), to 31.4% among the Indians and 55.0% among the Chinese. Population aging provides great challenges for Malaysia's social and economic development. The increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in older adults, coupled with the erosion of the traditional family support system has increased demands on health care services with an overwhelming need for multidisciplinary and specialized geriatric care. Following the adoption of the National Policy for the Elderly in 1995, issues of population aging have gained increasing attention, especially among researchers. There is an urgent need to increase public awareness, develop infrastructure, as well as support action oriented research that will directly translate to comprehensive and cohesive social strategies, policies, and legislation to protect not just the current older Malaysians but the future of all Malaysians.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  14. Subthreshold and threshold DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder in Singapore: Results from a nationally representative sample
    Lee SP, Sagayadevan V, Vaingankar JA, Chong SA, Subramaniam M
    J Anxiety Disord, 2015 May;32:73-80.
    PMID: 25863827 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.03.008
    Previous nationally representative studies have reported prevalence of DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). However, subthreshold and threshold GAD expressions remain poorly understood. The current study examined the prevalence, correlates and co-morbidity of a broader diagnosis of GAD in Singapore. The Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS) was an epidemiological survey conducted in the population (N=6616) aged 18 years and older. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0 (CIDI 3.0) was used to establish mental disorder diagnoses. The lifetime prevalence for subthreshold GAD (2.1%) and threshold GAD (1.5%) in the current sample was found to be lower than in Western populations. Younger age group, Indian ethnicity, previously married, chronic physical conditions, and being unemployed were associated with higher odds of having more severe expression of generalized anxiety. The relatively lower prevalence rate of subthreshold GAD expression suggests possible cultural interferences in the reporting and manifestation of anxiety symptomatology. Despite the low prevalence, significant impacts on functioning and comorbidity among subthreshold generalized anxiety cases indicate the importance of early treatment to ensure a better prognosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  15. Validity of deuterium oxide dilution for the measurement of body fat among Singaporeans
    Deurenberg-Yap M, Deurenberg P
    Food Nutr Bull, 2002 Sep;23(3 Suppl):34-7.
    PMID: 12362808
    Body fat percent (BF%) was measured in 108 adult Chinese, 76 Malays, and 107 Indians in Singapore by densitometry, deuterium oxide dilution (hydrometry), dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and a chemical four-compartment model (BF%4c). The hydration of the fat-free mass (FFM) was calculated. Subjects ranged in age from 18 to 69 years and their body mass index ranged from 16 to 40 kg/m2. BF%4c for the various subgroups were: Chinese females (33.5 +/- 7.5%), Chinese males (24.4 +/- 6.1%), Malay females (37.8 +/- 6.3%), Malay males (26.0 +/- 7.6%), Indian females (38.2 +/- 7.0%) and Indian males (28.1 +/- 5.5%). Biases were found between BF%4c and BF% measured by 2-compartment models (hydrometry, densitometry, DXA), with systematic underestimation by DXA and densitometry. On a group level hydrometry had the lowest bias while DXA gave the highest bias. When validated against BF%4c, 2-compartment models were found to be unsuitable for accurate measures of body fat due to high biases at the individual level and the violation of assumptions of constant hydration of FFM and density FFM among the ethnic groups. On a group level the best 2-compartment model for measuring body fat was found to be hydrometry.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  16. Fulltext Homocysteine, folate, vitamin B12, and cardiovascular risk in Indians, Malays, and Chinese in Singapore
    Hughes K, Ong CN
    J Epidemiol Community Health, 2000 Jan;54(1):31-4.
    PMID: 10692959
    OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothesis that the higher rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Indians (South Asians) compared with Malays and Chinese is partly attributable to differences in blood concentrations of homocysteine, and related blood concentrations of folate and vitamin B12.
    DESIGN: Cross sectional study of the general population.
    SETTING: Singapore.
    PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 726 fasting subjects aged 30 to 69 years.
    MAIN RESULTS: Mean plasma total homocysteine concentrations did not show significant ethnic differences; values were Indians (men 16.2 and women 11.5 mumol/l), Malays (men 15.0 and women 12.5 mumol/l), and Chinese (men 15.3 and women 12.2 mumol/l). Similarly, the proportions with high plasma homocysteine (> 14.0 mumol/l) showed no important ethnic differences being, Indians (men 60.0 and women 21.9%), Malays (men 53.9 and women 37.8%), and Chinese (men 56.6 and women 30.6%). Mean plasma folate concentrations were lower in Indians (men 8.7 and women 10.9 nmol/l) and Malays (men 8.5 and women 10.8 nmol/l), than Chinese (men 9.7 and women 13.8 nmol/l). Similarly, the proportions with low plasma folate (< 6.8 nmol/l) were higher in Indians (men 44.9 and women 36.6%) and Malays (men 45.3 and women 24.5%) than Chinese (men 31.4 and women 12.6%). Mean plasma vitamin B12 concentrations were lowest in Indians (men 352.5 and women 350.7 pmol/l), then Chinese (men 371.1 and women 373.7 pmol/l), and then Malays (men 430.5 and women 486.0 pmol/l).
    CONCLUSION: While there were ethnic differences for plasma folate and vitamin B12 (in particular lower levels in Indians), there was no evidence that homocysteine plays any part in the differential ethnic risk from CHD in Singapore and in particular the increased susceptibility of Indians to the disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  17. The prevalence of GP Mur and anti-"Mia" in a tertiary hospital in Peninsula Malaysia
    Prathiba R, Lopez CG, Usin FM
    Malays J Pathol, 2002 Dec;24(2):95-8.
    PMID: 12887167
    The Mi III phenotype of the Miltenberger subsystem (or GP Mur) is relatively common in Southeast Asia especially along the south-east coast lines of China and Taiwan. The term anti-"Mia" describes antibodies that react with the Mi III phenotype. Since the Peninsula Malaysian population is a multiethnic one with a significant proportion of Chinese, a study was conducted into the prevalence of anti-"Mia" in patients from its 3 major ethnic groups--Chinese, Malays and Indians, as well as the GP Mur phenotype in blood donors (healthy individuals). Blood samples from 33,716 patients (general and antenatal) were screened for anti-"Mia" from January 1999 to December 2000. The investigation for the GP Mur phenotype representing the corresponding sensitizing antigen complex was carried out in 655 blood donors. Serum anti-"Mia" antibody was found to be the third most commonly occurring antibody detected in our patients and was found in all the ethnic groups. The antibody was detected in 0.2% of 33,716 antenatal and general patients with a prevalence in Chinese of 0.3%, Malay 0.2% and Indian 0.2%. The detection of these antibodies in the ethnic groups other than the Chinese is a noteworthy finding as such information is not well documented. The GP Mur red cell phenotype was detected in 15/306 (4.9%) of Chinese blood donors, a lower prevalence than in Chinese populations in other countries in the region. More significant was its detection in the Malays (2.8%) and the Indians (3.0%). Because of the many reports of clinical problems associated with the "Mia" antibody including the causation of fetal hydrops and haemolytic transfusion reactions, it is warranted that the GP Mur red cells be included in screening panels for group and screen procedures in countries with a significant Asian population.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  18. What Malaysian women believe about Viagra: a qualitative inquiry
    Low WY, Zulkifli SN, Wong YL, Tan HM
    Aging Male, 2002 Mar;5(1):57-63.
    PMID: 12040977 DOI: 10.1080/tam.5.1.57.63
    This paper highlights women's perceptions of sildenafil citrate (Viagra, Pfizer). It is based on a qualitative study on perceptions of erectile dysfunction in the Malaysian multicultural society. Six focus groups were conducted, consisting of 69 women, aged between 40 and 70 years, recruited from the general public and who had given informed consent. The findings revealed that the women were aware of erectile dysfunction and Viagra. Due to their concern about the negative aspects of Viagra, the Chinese and Malay traditional methods of treatment were commonly mentioned. The women from three ethnic groups viewed the possibility of their husband starting to take Viagra with lots of suspicion, mistrust and fear. They would prefer their husband discussing with them the issue of resorting to taking Viagra. The Chinese and Indian women perceived that if a man takes Viagra, it will boost his ego and he will feel more manly. Indian women felt that a man taking Viagra is proof of his love for his wife. The Malay women felt that a man would be ashamed and have a low self-esteem if he were to resort to taking Viagra. Although Viagra is meant for the male, understanding of women's perception of it is beneficial for a couple's sexual relationship.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  19. Evaluation of nasal cavity by acoustic rhinometry in Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnic groups
    Huang ZL, Wang DY, Zhang PC, Dong F, Yeoh KH
    Acta Otolaryngol, 2001 Oct;121(7):844-8.
    PMID: 11718250
    Acoustic rhinometry (AR) evaluates the geometry of the nasal cavity by measuring the minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) and nasal volume (V) by means of acoustic reflection. Understanding the normal and pathologic conditions of the internal nasal cavity using AR is important in the diagnosis of structural abnormalities in patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the normal range of AR parameters in healthy volunteers from three ethnic groups in Singapore: Chinese, Malay and Indian. We also attempted to evaluate the role of these measurements in the documentation of structural abnormalities in the nose. A total of 189 Singaporeans, aged > or = 18 years, were recruited from a nationwide survey study. They comprised 83 Chinese, 35 Malays and 71 Indians. Eighty-nine subjects had a rhinoscopically normal nose (Group 1), 77 had significant septal deviation (Group 2) and 23 had inferior turbinate hypertrophy (Group 3). AR was performed to measure the MCA at the anterior 1-5 cm from the nostril and the volume (V) between points at the nostril and 5 cm into the nose. A mean MCA (mMCA; equal to (L + R)/2) and a total volume (Vt; equal to L + R) were then calculated for each subject, where L and R refer to the measurements made for the left and right nostrils, respectively. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in mMCA (p = 0.80) and Vt (p = 0.60) among the three ethnic subgroups of Group 1. Statistically significant differences were found only between Groups 1 and 3 (p < 0.001 for both mMCA and Vt) and between Groups 2 and 3 (p = 0.001 for mMCA and p = 0.013 for Vt). Although there was no significant difference between Groups 1 and 2, significant differences in MCA (p = 0.001) and V (p = 0.040) were found between the narrower sides (smaller volume) and the wider sides in Group 2, indicating volume compensation between the nasal cavities. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that there is no significant difference in the normal range of AR measurements among Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnic groups. AR is able to determine the structural abnormality of the internal nasal cavity caused by septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  20. Health beliefs in oral cancer: Malaysian estate Indian scenario
    Tan BS, Ng KH, Esa R
    Patient Educ Couns, 2001 Mar;42(3):205-11.
    PMID: 11164319
    This is a study to describe the health beliefs related to oral cancer (OC) in a high-risk group in Malaysia, a predominantly Indian community living in an agricultural setting called an estate. The study population was a convenient sample of 112 adults, above 20 years of age, attending oral cancer screening in two estates. The subjects consisted of 106 (94.6%) Indians and six (5.4%) Malays. Using the Health Belief Model, the perceptions of susceptibility to OC, its severity, and the benefits of and barriers to preventive actions, as well as beliefs underlying OC aetiology were investigated. About half of the subjects (n=57, 50.9%) felt susceptible to oral cancer. A majority of subjects (n=93, 83.0%) felt that oral cancer is a severe disease. Thirty four people (30.4%) perceived OC as a preventable disease, while 56 (50%) did not, and the remaining 22 (19.6%) did not know if OC was preventable or not. The majority of subjects (84.8%) believed that modifications to the betel quid habit could be beneficial. The information solicited can be used as a starting point to design health-education activities aimed at this group in particular and the population in general.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
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