Displaying publications 601 - 620 of 956 in total

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  1. Chin NK, Ng TP, Hui KP, Tan WC
    Respirology, 1997 Jun;2(2):143-9.
    PMID: 9441128 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.1997.tb00070.x
    Ethnic differences in lung function are well recognized, hence the use of normative data should therefore be based on reference equations that are derived specifically for different ethnic groups. We have collected data (n = 406) for population-based reference values of lung function from randomly selected samples of healthy non-smoking adults of both gender (aged 20-79 years) for each of the three major ethnic groups (Chinese, Malay and Indians) in Singapore. Lung function forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, diffusion capacity (transfer factor) for carbon monoxide (DLCO), total lung capacity (TLC), residual volume (RV), RV/TLC and functional residual capacity (FRC) was measured using standardization procedures and acceptability criteria recommended by the American Thoracic Society. Lung function values were predicted from age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and transformed variables of these anthropometric measures, using multiple regression techniques. Ethnic differences were demonstrated, with Chinese having the largest lung volumes and flow rates, and Indians the smallest. These prediction equations provide improved and additional (TLC, RV, RV/TLC, FRC) population-based reference values for assessment of pulmonary health and disease in Singapore.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  2. Hin LY, Khairuddin Y, Ng KB
    Asia Oceania J Obstet Gynaecol, 1994 Dec;20(4):389-94.
    PMID: 7832671
    We reviewed the deliveries in a teaching hospital in a multiracial community over the period of one year (1988), and investigated the relationship between maternal height, ethnic origin, and the extremes of birth weight with the likelihood of emergency lower segment caesarean section (LSCS). After excluding patients with obvious indications for LSCS, 5,050 patients were entered in the study. Chi-square analysis showed that the risk of emergency LSCS is significantly higher in the Indians compared to Chinese and Malays, but does not differ significantly between the latter two groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that birth weight of less than 2,500 g or greater than 3,500 g is the most significant association with emergency LSCS rate. Conditional logistic regression showed that, provided the individuals conformed to the characteristics of the cohort in this study, risk of emergency LSCS for a 150 cm (25th centile) tall Indian pregnant lady is almost twice that of a 158 cm (75th centile) tall non-Indian).
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  3. Cons NC, Jenny J
    Int Dent J, 1994 Dec;44(6):489-94.
    PMID: 7851991
    The Standard DAI is an orthodontic index based on perceptions of dental aesthetics in the USA. The Standard DAI is a regression equation linking perceptions of the social acceptability of dental aesthetics with the objective intraoral measurements of ten occlusal traits. Since the Standard DAI is based on perceptions of dental aesthetics in the USA it can be used without modification only where perceptions of dental aesthetics are similar to those in the USA. This study was designed to determine whether perceptions of dental aesthetics of students in eleven diverse ethnic groups are similar to those of students in the USA. The same 25 stimuli (photographs of dental configurations, a subset of the 200 stimuli used in deriving the Standard DAI equation) were rated for dental aesthetics by Australian, Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Native American, Singaporean Chinese, Singaporean Indian, Singaporean Malay, and Thai students. Their ratings were compared with the ratings of the same 25 stimuli by students in the USA. Spearman rank-order correlations ranged from 0.84 to 0.94. These correlations are sufficiently high to show that perceptions of dental aesthetics in all eleven ethnic groups are very similar to the perceptions of USA students. Therefore the Standard DAI can be used without modification in all eleven ethnic groups.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  4. Raman S, Kishen D, Hamidah K, Ang ES
    Adv Contracept, 1992 Jun;8(2):129-40.
    PMID: 1519495 DOI: 10.1007/BF01849750
    There have been changes in the national policy regarding population growth in Malaysia from 1982. This report studies the changes in contraceptive practice among the three racial groups in this country, i.e. Malays, Chinese and Indians, over a 5-year period with an interval of 10 years. This is a retrospective study based on the attendance at the same family planning clinic in an urban setting. The striking change noted is the change in the racial composition of contraceptive usage in the two study periods with a shift from the Chinese being predominant in 1975-1979 to Malays in 1985-1989. There was no change among the numbers of Indians using contraception. The results also reveal a significant trend of change for users of the pill and those undergoing sterilization. There were no significant changes in IUD, condom and injectable usage. The study demonstrates how national policies, level of education and rural urban migration can significantly alter contraceptive practice.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  5. Hughes K, Ong CN
    J Epidemiol Community Health, 1998 Mar;52(3):181-5.
    PMID: 9616423
    STUDY 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 because of differences in antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E, and selenium) and pro-oxidants (iron).
    DESIGN: Cross sectional study of the general population.
    SETTING: Singapore.
    PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 941 persons aged 30 to 69 years.
    MAIN RESULTS: There were moderate correlations between vitamin A and vitamin E, and between these vitamins and selenium. Mean plasma vitamins A and E were similar by ethnic group. Vitamin A concentration for Indians were (men 0.66 and women 0.51 mg/l), Malays (men 0.67 and women 0.54 mg/l), and Chinese (men 0.68 and women 0.52 mg/l). Vitamin E concentrations for Indians were (men 12.9 and women 12.8 mg/l), Malays (men 13.6 and women 13.3 mg/l), and Chinese (men 12.6 and women 12.6 mg/l). In contrast, mean plasma vitamin C concentrations were lower in Indians (men 5.7 and women 6.9 mg/l) and Malays (men 5.1 and women 6.4 mg/l) than Chinese (men 6.3 and women 8.4 mg/l). Mean serum selenium was lower in Indians (men 117 and women 115 micrograms/l) than Malays (men 122 and women 122 micrograms/l) and Chinese (men 126 and women 119 micrograms/l). Mean serum ferritin was much lower in Indians (men 132 and women 50 micrograms/l) than Malays (men 175 and women 85 micrograms/l) and Chinese (men 236 and women 92 micrograms/l).
    MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Lower vitamin C and selenium in Indians, particularly in combination, could play a part in their increased risk of CHD. Vitamins A and E, and ferritin (iron) have no such role. Lower vitamin C in Indians and Malays is probably because of its destruction by more prolonged cooking. In Indians, lower selenium is probably because of a lower dietary intake and the much lower ferritin to a lower dietary intake of iron and its binding by phytates.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  6. Wang F, Wang CL, Tan CT, Manivasagar M
    Lupus, 1997;6(3):248-53.
    PMID: 9104731 DOI: 10.1177/096120339700600306
    The aims of this study were to examine the clinical and laboratory features of Malaysian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to identify any difference in disease expression between the different genders and among the three major ethnic groups of Malaysia. Retrospective analysis of all patients with SLE admitted to and followed-up at University Hospital Kuala Lumpur from 1974-90 was undertaken. Ethnic Chinese had the highest prevalence of SLE compared to other ethnic groups. There was a high incidence of renal disease, 74% of patient had significant proteinuria and half of these had associated nephrotic syndrome. Indian patients had significantly less incidence of skin manifestation compared to other racial groups. No difference in disease expression was detected between the ethnic Chinese and Indians and between the male and female patients. The overall 5 y and 10 y survival rates were 82% and 70% respectively. Indian patients had the poorest survival rates. Survival rates are similar among the Chinese and Malay patients. Our findings are in broad agreement with those previously reported.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  7. Raman S, Teoh T, Nagaraj S
    Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 1996 Aug;54(2):143-7.
    PMID: 9236312
    OBJECTIVES: To study whether there are any differences in growth of the femoral and humeral length between the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia viz Malays, Chinese and Indians. The effect on fetal growth by gender of the baby and parity of the mother was also studied.

    METHODS: The setting was the University of Kuala Lumpur. Thirty-four Malay, 35 Chinese and 34 Indian normal pregnant middle-class women were studied longitudinally by monthly ultrasound scans for 18 to 38 weeks of gestation. The data were subjected to regression analysis; the quadratic curve was found to be the most adequate. Dummy variables were used to determine any effects by gender, parity as well as ethnicity on the length of limb growth. There was no difference in birth weights of the three ethnic groups studied, nor in gender or parity.

    RESULTS: There were found to be significant differences in limb lengths of the Indians (longer) when compared with the Malays and Chinese. Parity seems to affect only Indians in whom the multiparous fetuses have shorter limb lengths than the primaparous. There appears to be no effect by gender.

    CONCLUSION: There appear to be definite differences in growth of limb length between the different Malaysian ethnic groups and this should be taken into account when growth charts are used and when fetal weight formulas are calculated using limb lengths. The limitation of this study was that the numbers of subjects studied were small. Larger studies will be able to confirm or refute the findings.

    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  8. Lee BW, Yap HK, Chew FT, Quah TC, Prabhakaran K, Chan GS, et al.
    Cytometry, 1996 Mar 15;26(1):8-15.
    PMID: 8809475
    Flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte subsets were evaluated in 391 healthy Asian subjects ranging in age from birth to 40 years. Lymphocyte subsets were analysed using specific monoclonal antibodies: CD20 (B cells), CD3 and CD2 (T cells), CD16 and CD56+ (NK cells), CD4/CD3+ (helper-inducer T cells), CD8/ CD3+ (suppressor/cytotoxic T cells), HLA-DR expression on CD3 and CD25 (Tac) on CD3. The total white cell count, absolute lymphocyte counts, and B cell percentages peaked in infancy and declined steadily with age. Absolute counts of each subset, which were derived from absolute lymphocyte counts, also followed this trend. Increases with age were seen in the NK, T cell (CD2, CD3), and CD8 percentages. Males tended to have higher NK and CD8 percentages than females, and, conversely, females had higher CD3 and CD4 percentages than males. Comparison of our results with studies involving Caucasian subjects indicated higher NK percentages in our Asian population and lower CD4 absolute counts in the males of our population. These results indicate the presence of age, sex, and probable racial differences in lymphocyte subset expression. Our results may serve as reference standards for the Asian population.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  9. Looi LM
    Malays J Pathol, 1994 Jun;16(1):19-21.
    PMID: 16329571
    An analysis of 1000 consecutive, adequate renal biopsies from patients of the University Hospital Kuala Lumpur between 1982 and 1991 revealed: minimal change nephritis (20.7%), focal glomerulosclerosis (2.9%), proliferative glomerulonephritides (16.0%), membranous glomerulonephritis (5.5%), IgA nephropathy (18.5%), lupus nephritis (24.9%), end stage nephropathy (3.1%) and others (8.4%). Compared with the previous decade, IgA nephropathy has emerged as a common entity. Lupus nephritis forms the largest diagnostic entity and is probably related to the selected referral of SLE patients to this hospital.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  10. Yap SF
    Malays J Pathol, 1994 Jun;16(1):3-6.
    PMID: 16329567
    Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection constitutes a major public health problem particularly in developing countries in East Asia, South-East Asia, the Pacific Basin and Africa. In Malaysia, a developing nation in the South East Asian region, the chronic HBV carrier rate varies between < 1% to about 10% depending on the ethnic group studied. The highest frequency is seen among the Chinese, followed by the Malays and lastly the Indians, with a male preponderance of between 2 : 1 and 3 : 1. Exposure to the virus among the adult population is estimated to be about 15%, 26% and 36% among the Indians, Malays and Chinese respectively. Serological study of adult chronic HBV carriers showed a frequency of HBe antigenemia of about 35%, with a significant decreasing trend with age. HBV DNA status generally correlated with the HBe status. An atypical profile of anti-HBe associated with serum HBV DNA is found in some carriers; in most instances, this is related to seroconversion from HBe antigenemia to anti-HBe. Chronic complications of HBV infection include the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the occurrence of which closely parallel that of HBsAg carrier rate. In Malaysia, HCC is the third most common malignant neoplasm and among the 10 leading causes of death. About 80% of our HCC cases are HBV associated. All 3 ethnic groups are afflicted, the highest frequency being among the Chinese. Males show a disproportionate risk with an odds ratio of 3.93 (p < 0.0001).
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  11. Ong LC, Afifah I, Sofiah A, Lye MS
    Ann Trop Paediatr, 1998 Dec;18(4):301-7.
    PMID: 9924586 DOI: 10.1080/02724936.1998.11747964
    A hospital study was carried out to compare parenting stress among 87 Malaysian mothers of children with cerebral palsy and a control group (comprising 87 mothers of children without disability who attended the walk-in paediatric clinic), using the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine socio-demographic and medical factors associated with child-domain stress (CDS) and parent-domain stress (PDS). Mothers of children with cerebral palsy scored significantly higher than control subjects on all sub-scales of CDS and PDS (p < 0.01), except for the sub-scale of 'role restriction'. The presence of cerebral palsy (p < 0.001) and activities of daily living (ADL) scores (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with CDS. Factors predictive of PDS were ADL scores (p < 0.001), number of hospitalizations over the past year (p = 0.024), level of maternal education (p = 0.018) and Chinese mothers (p < 0.001). Although this study demonstrated that Malaysian mothers of children with cerebral palsy experienced higher levels of stress than controls, the impact of cerebral palsy per se on parenting stress was modified by other factors such as increased care-giving demands, low maternal education and ethnic background. Habilitation should be directed at easing the burden of daily care, minimizing hospital re-admissions and targeting appropriate psychosocial support at specific subgroups to change parental perception and expectations.
    Study site: neurology clinics or physiotherapy department or inpatients, Paediatric Institute, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  12. Kang JY, Yeoh KG, Ho KY, Guan R, Lim TP, Quak SH, et al.
    J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 1997 Oct;12(9-10):655-9.
    PMID: 9407329
    The aim of this study was to determine, first, whether racial differences exist in the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Singapore, and second, whether these differences correlate with racial differences in peptic ulcer frequency. A commercial serological test for immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibody to H. pylori which was 90% sensitive and 83% specific in our population was used to screen 403 adult blood donors of Chinese, Malay and Indian origin, aged between 15-60 years. Serum specimens from 84 paediatric patients admitted to the Paediatrics Department, National University of Singapore, with non-gastroenterological illnesses were also tested. In all three races, seroprevalence of H. pylori increased with age. Indians have the highest prevalence of infection followed by Chinese and Malays. Peptic ulcer prevalences are known to be highest in Chinese, followed by Indians and Malays. The Malays have the lowest prevalence of H. pylori and peptic ulcer among the three races in Singapore. Indians have a higher prevalence of H. pylori antibodies but a lower frequency of peptic ulcer than the Chinese. Racial differences in peptic ulcer frequency between Chinese and Indians are not explained by the prevalence of H. pylori infection; other environmental or genetic factors may be involved.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  13. Aishah AB, Foo YN
    Malays J Pathol, 1995 Jun;17(1):43-5.
    PMID: 8907005
    Results of serum lithium performed in the Chemical Pathology Laboratory, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, over a years' period (June 1991 till May 1992) formed the subject of study. A total of 277 tests were carried out on 148 patients, giving a frequency of about 23.1 tests per month. Complete data regarding age, sex and ethnic group was available for 140 subjects. There were 74 males and 66 females. Racial distribution was 72 Malays, 42 Chinese and 26 Indians. Their ages ranged from 15 to 80 years. One hundred and twenty-three subjects (87.6%) were within the 3rd to 5th decade of life. 136/277 (49.1%) of serum lithium levels were less than 0.6 mmol/l and 24/277 (8.7%) gave results greater than 1.0 mmol/l. Only 6 tests gave values which exceeded 2 mmol/l. This study reveals the need to conduct a prospective study to determine the underlying cause of the high incidence of low serum lithium levels and whether this situation is associated with a satisfactory treatment response in the said population.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  14. Hakim SL, Mak JW, Lam PL
    Med J Malaysia, 1993 Sep;48(3):303-7.
    PMID: 8183143
    The laboratory test results for visceral larva migrans (VLM) using ELISA for Toxocara canis antibodies employed by the Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, is described. A total of 331 serum samples received from hospitals and general practitioners all over Malaysia were tested. The test utilises excretory-secretory antigens obtained from in vitro culture of second stage T. canis larvae. The overall seropositivity rate was 19.6%, the highest positive rate being in Indians (35.5%), followed by the Malays (14.8%), Chinese (10.9%) and others (29.4%). Seropositivity rate was highest in children below the age of 10; 89% of patients presented with eosinophilia and 93% with VLM syndrome were children.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  15. Seow A, Lee J, Sng I, Fong CM, Lee HP
    Cancer, 1996 May 1;77(9):1899-904.
    PMID: 8646691
    BACKGROUND: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has increased in incidence in many countries, particularly in the West. Advances in diagnostic methods and the understanding of the disease over time pose a challenge to the interpretation of these trends. The aim of this study was to determine if the disease has increased in Singapore, a newly industrialized Asian country, and to examine the possible factors that may account for any observed changes.
    METHODS: Data from the population-based Singapore Cancer Registry for the period 1968 to 1992 were reviewed to determine time trends based on sex and ethnic group. The Poisson regression model was fitted to the cross-tabulated data to obtain the adjusted incidence density ratios.
    RESULTS: A total of 1988 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were included in the analysis. There was an overall increase in incidence among both Chinese and Malaysians. However, the rate of increase was greater in females (age-standardized rate from 1.8 per 100,000 in 1968-1972 to 4.5 per 100,000 in 1988-1992) than in males (3.2 per 100,000 to 5.9 per 100,000 in the same time periods). Between ethnic groups, Malay females were at higher overall risk compared with their Chinese counterparts (incidence density ratio 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.61). Although a substantial proportion of patients diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease between 1968 and 1972 were reclassified on review, using present criteria, as having non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, it is unlikely that this, and other recent changes in histologic interpretation, could have accounted for an increase of this magnitude.
    CONCLUSIONS: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has increased in incidence among the Chinese and Malay populations in Singapore. The pattern of increase differs from that of the common cancer sites, and suggests the need to look for environmental and genetic factors that have not yet been elucidated.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  16. Ng TP, Seow A, Tan WC
    Eur Respir J, 1998 Jul;12(1):198-203.
    PMID: 9701437
    This study investigated the prevalence of snoring and symptoms of sleep breathing-related disorders in the multi-ethnic population of Singapore (3 million people, comprising 75% Chinese, 15% Malay and 7% Indian). A multistaged, area cluster, disproportionate stratified, random sampling of adults aged 20-74 yrs was used to obtain a sample of 2,298 subjects (65% response), with approximately equal numbers of Chinese, Malay and Indian and in each 10 yr age group. An interviewer-administered field questionnaire was used to record symptoms of snoring and breathing disturbances during sleep witnessed by a room-mate and other personal and health-related data. The weighted point estimate (and 95% confidence interval) of the whole population prevalence of snoring was 6.8% (53-83). There were pronounced ethnic differences among Chinese, 6.2% (4.4-8.1); Malay, 8.1% (6.1-10.2) and Indian, 10.9% (85-13.4). The minimum whole population prevalence by the most restricted symptom criteria for defining sleep breathing-related disorder was 0.43% (0.05-0.8%). Similar marked ethnic differences in rates were observed using various symptom criteria. The ethnic differences in sleep breathing symptoms paralleled the differences in body mass index, neck circumference and hypertension, but statistically significant differences remained after adjustment for sex, age and these known associated factors. Marked ethnic differences in snoring and sleep breathing-related disorders were observed in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore, which were only partly explained by known factors of sex, age and body habitus.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  17. Chan SC
    Med J Malaysia, 1997 Mar;52(1):53-9.
    PMID: 10968053
    The Well Man & Well Woman's Clinic in Ipoh Hospital provides screening for coronary risk factors and early detection of cancer. This retrospective review of 1095 patients screened between April and December 1995 showed 48% had one or more coronary risk factors--1 risk (29%), 2 risks (14%), 3 or more risks (5%). Modifiable risks included hypertension (10%), obesity (9%), diabetes mellitus (8%) and smoking (7%). Sixteen abnormal Papanicolaou smears and six cancers (three cervical, two breast and one ovarian) were detected. Public response was good. There is a need for clinics offering comprehensive screening in Malaysian primary health care.

    Study site: The Well Man & Well Woman's Clinic in Ipoh Hospital
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  18. Lo GL, Bagramian RA
    Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1996 Feb;24(1):25-7.
    PMID: 8833510
    Prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis was assessed in 1739 Singaporean children aged 9, 12 and 16 yr in three different ethnic groups. All subjects had resided since birth in Singapore, which has a tropical climate. The water supply was fluoridated in 1957 at a level of 0.7 ppm. In this sample, mouth prevalence was 82.6%, tooth prevalence was 66.9%, the community fluorosis index was at 1.96; 9.2% of children had severe fluorosis and 26.2% had moderate fluorosis. There were no significant gender or racial differences. Prevalences were higher than those reported in most other studies. Due to differences in indices used and methodology, comparisons could not be made directly with other studies.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  19. Lun KC
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1995 May;24(3):382-92.
    PMID: 7574420
    General life tables for the 1990 Singapore resident population are given in this paper. Analyses were carried out separately for males and females for all ethnic groups as well as for Chinese, Malays and Indians. Average fractions of the last age interval lived were used to give a more precise derivation of the life table death rates from their corresponding age-specific death rates. The results show that in 1990, Singapore males had achieved a life expectancy at birth of 73.7 years while the females had attained a level of 78.6 years. These levels were comparable to those of many developed countries. Other interesting features include higher differentials in the life expectancies between sexes among the Chinese and the Indians taking over the Malays for second placing in terms of life expectancy at birth for both sexes. As a result, the Indians registered a 12% gain in life expectancy at birth for males for the decade 1980 to 1990, compared to only 7.1% for Chinese and 4.4% for Malays as well as nearly 10% for females compared to only 6.2% for Chinese and 6.3% for Malays. A subsequent paper will highlight the results of multiple-decrement life table analyses which will summarise the mortality of the 1990 Singapore resident population for various component causes of death rather than for all causes combined.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
  20. Yeo GS, Chan WB, Lun KC, Lai FM
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1994 May;23(3):371-6.
    PMID: 7944253
    A systematic collection of fetal morphometric measurements was started seven years ago in 1987 with the prospective entry of data into personal computer-based stations in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Singapore General Hospital. A cross-sectional study was done, comparing 2392 Chinese fetuses with 2117 Malay fetuses and 459 Indian fetuses from 18 to 40 weeks. The mean values of the head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL) of the 3 ethnic groups were analysed. There were no statistical significant differences in the head circumference and abdominal circumference of Chinese, Malay and Indian fetuses in Singapore. The Chinese and Malay fetal femur length appeared similar but were apparently shorter than the Indian femur length. Nomograms of head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length were constructed for application to fetuses of all 3 ethnic groups.
    Matched MeSH terms: India/ethnology
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