The case history, treatment and follow-up of a thirteen-year-old girl with obsessive-compulsive neurosis of six months duration are reported. Results show that behaviour modification techniques were effective though a second course of treatment was required. Her illness and its treatment by behaviour therapy in relation to the Malaysian Chinese culture is discussed.
Body weight and nine body measurements were recorded on 79 mature Kedah-Kelantan cows at two locations. The Kedah-Kelantan is an indigenous cattle of Malaysia. A principal component analysis was used to study size and shape as indicated by the dependence structure among measurements. The total variation among measurements associated with the first principal component which was interpreted as a measure of general size was 40.8%. The second principal component contrasted cows tall at the withers, and deep at the chest with top line sloping downward and under line sloping upward from front to rear with those having less wither height and chest depth and straighter lines. This contrast accounted for 14.3% of the variation in body dimensions. The third principal component contrasted long, narrow, and deeper cows with a more compact type. This contrast accounted for 10.7% of the variation in body dimensions.
The unmet need for family planning services is remarkably constant across all five countries because of the interaction of fertility intentions and fertility control: as more women use contraception, more of them want fewer children.
Serum levels were determined in urban Chinese, Malays and Indians and in the forest-residing Orang Asli of age group 11 to 50. There was no difference in the IgM levels in the Chinese, Indians and Malays, but the serum IgG was elevated (p less than 0.05) in the Malays and the serum IgA level (p less than 0.01) in the Indians, when compared to the other two races. In contrast to the three other races there was a significant elevation of all three immunoglobulins in the Orang Asli. The mean immunoglobulin levels of the urban Malaysians are comparable to those reported for Caucasians residing in temperate countries. However, in the Orang Asli, the immunoglobulin levels were higher than observed for populations of the temperate regions but are comparable to the levels reported for several other populations of the tropical regions. Females had higher IgM levels than males in the Chinese, Indian and Malays but in the Orang Asli there was no sex difference in the immunoglobulin levels.
Description of a new species of Oxyurid: Syphacia (Syphatineria) callosciuri n. sp. parasite of a Sciurid rodent Callosciuris caniceps in Malaysia. In rodents belonging to the genus Callosciurus in Malaysia two species: S callosciuri n. sp. and S. owyangi Quentin, 1975, show morphological characteristics which are intermediate between the primitive Syphacia and two different lines of species parasite of recent rodents. These observations appear to indicate that the adaptation of Syphacia of Sciurids to the modern rodents has occured in South-East Asia.
A case of haemoglobin H (HbH) disease associated with pregnancy is presented and discussed in the light of reports in the literature. The variable symptomatology is commented upon, although mild to moderate chronic haemolytic anaemia seems to be a constant feature. The roles of folic acid supplements and of splenectomy; the avoidance of oxidant drugs, and the mode of inheritance in HbH disease are briefly commented upon. Available reports indicate that HbH disease probably has no adverse effect on pregnancy. However, the association of the two conditions is uncommon, and reports are too few, therefore, to allow definite conclusions on the outcome in all instances.
Necropsies were performed on 285 consecutively unclaimed Orang Asli bodies from Gombak Orang Asli Hospital during an eight-year period from May 1967 to April 1975. Of the 25 malignant neoplasms, hepatocellular carcinoma was by far the commonest (36%). The nine patients with this neoplasm had coexistant macronodular cirrhosis. There were 20 cases of cirrhosis; 45% of these had coexistant hepatocellular carcinoma. The 53,000 Orang Aslis living in West Malaysia comprise three tribes, the Negrito, Senoi, and Melayu Asli (Proto Malays). The Sinoi appear to have a high predilection for liver cancer, all our nine cases occurring in this group. These aboriginal people live in the jungles where they practice shifting cultivation and maintain their own dietary and social customs. Detailed studies of their dietary habits may provide a clue to the etiology of liver cancer in these people.
PIP: 292 village midwives (bidans) in Malaysia were interviewed between January 1969 and December 1970 as they came to report for training. The mean age was 47.3, 80% had had no schooling, 43% had practiced less than 10 years (32% between 10 and 20 years, 21% between 20 and 30 years, and 4% more than 30 years). On the average each bidan reported attending 3 deliveries during the past month and 26 during the past year. The average charge per delivery was about U.S.$2.00. Of 267 who responded to a question concerning other services they provided, 50% said they performed massages, 30% performed massages combined with other services, 12% said they did not do anything other than midwifery and 7% prescribed herbs and performed abortions. 67% said they first had contact with the mother during the seventh to ninth month of pregnancy, 42% between the fourth and sixth month, and 7% at or before the third month. 40% said the postpartum care lasted less than 1 week, 40% from 1-2 weeks and 19% between 2-7 weeks. Only 2 out of 198 bidans disapproved of family planning services. 99% were not worried that this would affect their job in conducting deliveries. 62% had been approached by women about family planning information services during the last 3 months. 95% thought they could help to promote the government's program by recruiting patients and distributing contraceptives. Since oral contraceptives are the most frequently used contraceptive in Malaysia, bidans could resupply the women with the pill. They could play an important role in promoting contraceptive continuation in rural areas by providing women with a continuous motivation through their constant contact. The success of using bidans in rural family planning services will greatly depend on their supervision. They can be paid with a flat salary-type payment, with an incentive scheme alone, or a combination of the two.