Displaying publications 681 - 700 of 2797 in total

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  1. Fulltext Dot enzyme immunoassay: an alternative diagnostic aid for dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever
    Cardosa MJ, Tio PH
    Bull World Health Organ, 1991;69(6):741-5.
    PMID: 1786623
    A dot enzyme immunoassay (DEIA) for the detection of antibodies to dengue virus was tested for use as a tool in the presumptive diagnosis of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever. Paired sera from the following groups of patients were tested using the DEIA and the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test: those with primary dengue fever; those experiencing a second dengue infection; and febrile patients who did not have dengue. The data obtained show that the DEIA can be effectively used at a serum dilution of 1:1000 to confirm presumptive recent dengue in patients with a second dengue infection. However, demonstration of seroconversion proved necessary for patients with primary dengue. At a serum dilution of 1:1000 the DEIA has a specificity of 97.3%. The role of this simple and rapid test in improving the effectivity of programmes for the control of dengue virus infection is discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  2. Fulltext Respiratory virus disease in Malaysian children: a serological study
    Ong SB, Lam KL, Lam SK
    Bull World Health Organ, 1975;52(3):376-8.
    PMID: 1084808
    Paired sera from 101 Malaysian children aged up to 10 years and suffering from respiratory illnesses were examined serologically for evidence of respiratory viral infections. Of these children, 32.6% showed rising antibody titres for one or more of the test agents. Respiratory syncytial virus appeared to be the main respiratory pathogen involved, followed by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, and influenza A virus. These findings are generally similar to those reported by others in temperate and tropical countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  3. Fulltext The seroepidemiology of rubella in Kuala Lumpur, West Malaysia
    Lam SK
    Bull World Health Organ, 1972;47(1):127-9.
    PMID: 4538899
    Rubella antibody rates in the female population of Kuala Lumpur were lower than those reported from temperate countries, though similar to rates found in other tropical countries excepting Singapore. Among the major ethnic groups, the immunity status of the Chinese was higher than that of the Malay and Indian groups.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  4. Fulltext Nutritional assessment by comparative growth achievement in Malay children below school age
    McKay DA, Lim RK, Notaney KH, Dugdale AE
    Bull World Health Organ, 1971;45(2):233-42.
    PMID: 5316620
    Measurements of child growth have become the most accepted means of assessing the protein-calorie nutritional status of economically developing populations. International reference standards have been suggested for a number of body measurements, but there has been little evaluation of their applicability in South-East Asia.In order to delineate the present range of nutritional standards in West Malaysia, and to aid in the development of guidelines for further nutritional work in this region, anthropometric tests were made on 3 groups of children below school age belonging to the Malay ethnic group and living under diverse conditions. Children of Malaysian Army personnel differed significantly in most measurements from rural village children in Trengganu and children from a small urban elite in Kuala Lumpur. Measurements for the latter group approximated to internationally used standards of height and weight. Parental height data suggest that these differences are not primarily genetic. Anaemia, malaria, and ascariasis were common among the Trengganu children.Weight and height emerge as the measurements that are most sensitive in differentiating between the groups; arm circumferences and skinfold measurements are also useful because they are relatively independent of age. Measurement of chest and head circumferences and of crown-rump lengths appeared to be of little value.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  5. Fulltext An example of Filariasis control from West Malaysia
    Wilson T
    Bull World Health Organ, 1969;41(2):324-9.
    PMID: 5308708
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  6. Fulltext The Malay version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (Malay-ECOHIS)--assessing validity and reliability
    Hashim AN, Yusof ZY, Esa R
    Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2015;13:190.
    PMID: 26607665 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-015-0386-2
    The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) is used to assess oral impacts on the quality of life of preschool aged children and their families. The objective of this study was to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the ECOHIS into Malay and assess its psychometric properties.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  7. Hb lepore/β0-thalassaemia with α+-thalassaemia interactions, a potential diagnostic pitfall
    Alauddin H, Mohamad Nasir S, Ahadon M, Raja Sabudin RZ, Ithnin A, Hussin NH, et al.
    Malays J Pathol, 2015 Dec;37(3):287-92.
    PMID: 26712677
    Haemoglobin (Hb) Lepore is a variant Hb consisting of two α-globin and two δβ-globin chains. In a heterozygote, it is associated with clinical findings of thalassaemia minor, but interactions with other haemoglobinopathies can lead to various clinical phenotypes and pose diagnostic challenges. We reported a pair of siblings from a Malay family, who presented with pallor and hepatosplenomegaly at the ages of 21 months and 14 months old. The red cell indices and peripheral blood smears of both patients showed features of thalassaemia intermedia. Other laboratory investigations of the patients showed conflicting results. However, laboratory investigation results of the parents had led to a presumptive diagnosis of compound heterozygote Hb Lepore/β-thalassaemia and co-inheritance α+-thalassaemia (-α3.7). Hb Lepore has rarely been detected in Southeast Asian countries, particularly in Malaysia. These two cases highlight the importance of family studies for accurate diagnosis, hence appropriate clinical management and genetic counseling.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  8. Age estimation based on bone length using 12 regression models of left hand X-ray images for Asian children below 19 years old
    Darmawan MF, Yusuf SM, Abdul Kadir MR, Haron H
    Leg Med (Tokyo), 2015 Mar;17(2):71-8.
    PMID: 25456051 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2014.09.006
    Age estimation was used in forensic anthropology to help in the identification of individual remains and living person. However, the estimation methods tend to be unique and applicable only to a certain population. This paper analyzed age estimation using twelve regression models carried out on X-ray images of the left hand taken from an Asian data set for subjects under the age of 19. All the nineteen bones of the left hand were measured using free image software and the statistical analysis were performed using SPSS. There are two methods to determine age in this study which are single bone method and all bones method. For single bone method, S-curve regression model was found to have the highest R-square value using second metacarpal for males, and third proximal phalanx for females. For age estimation using single bone, fifth metacarpal from males and fifth proximal phalanx from females can be used due to the lowest mean square error (MSE) value. To conclude, multiple linear regressions is the best techniques for age estimation in cases where all bones are available, but if not, S-curve regression can be used using single bone method.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  9. Development and psychometric properties of a scale assessing the needs of caregivers of children with disabilities
    Tan SH
    Disabil Health J, 2015 Jul;8(3):414-23.
    PMID: 25595295 DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2014.11.003
    BACKGROUND: Planning and evaluation of health care services for children with disabilities requires information on their caregivers' needs.
    OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to present the development and psychometric properties of the Caregiver Needs Scale (CNS), a scale assessing the needs of caregivers of children with disabilities aged 0-12 years in Malaysia.
    METHODS: Development of the scale went through a multistage process of literature review, modification of an existing instrument, input from experts and feedback from service users. Literature review identified content domains and response options. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was undertaken to identify subscales of caregiver needs. The internal consistency reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity of the new scale were examined.
    RESULTS: 273 caregivers of children with disabilities completed the fielded questionnaire. EFA revealed 4 subscales of caregiver needs: need for 'Help getting information and services for the child,' 'Help coping with the child,' 'Help getting child care' and 'Help with finances.' Three items with factor loading <0.4 were dropped. Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the subscales ranged from 0.813 to 0.903. Total CNS score correlated with number of child's needs and unmet needs. The score was also higher in families with financial and employment problems.
    CONCLUSION: A new instrument was developed to assess the needs of caregivers of children with disabilities for use in the Malaysian population. The CNS showed satisfactory psychometric properties but further examination is warranted to confirm its validity.
    KEYWORDS: Caregivers; Children with disabilities; Instrument development; Needs assessment; Psychometric properties
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  10. Improving detection of obstructive sleep apnoea by overnight oximetry in children using pulse rate parameters
    Sahadan DZ, Davey MJ, Horne RS, Nixon GM
    Sleep Breath, 2015 Dec;19(4):1409-14.
    PMID: 25739713 DOI: 10.1007/s11325-014-1108-4
    PURPOSE: Overnight oximetry is a simple tool for investigation of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in children, but only severe cases will be detected, and children with obstructive events resulting in arousal, but not desaturation, will have a normal (inconclusive) result. We hypothesised that pulse rate rises using pulse rate indices per hour (PRI) and pulse rate standard deviation (PR-SD) automatically calculated from commercially available software would improve oximetry as a diagnostic tool.

    METHODS: Children having home overnight oximetry for suspected OSA were identified over 12 months, and those with a normal result who went on to have polysomnography (PSG) were included. Oximetry, including PR-SD and PRI (rises of 8, 10 and 15 beats/min per hour), was analyzed using commercially available software. PR parameters were compared between those with OSA (obstructive apnoea-hypopnoea index (OAHI) >1 event/h) and those without OSA.

    RESULTS: One hundred sixteen children had normal oximetry, of whom 93 (median age 4.5 years; 55 % M) had PSG. Fifty-seven of 93 (61 %) children had OSA (median OAHI 4.5 events/h, range 1.1-24). PR-SD was not different between the OSA and non-OSA groups (p = 0.87). PRI tended to be higher in those with OSA, but there was considerable overlap between the groups: PRI-8 (mean ± SD 58.5 ± 29.0/h in OSA group vs 48.6 ± 20.2/h in non-OSA group, p = 0.07), PRI-10 (45.1 ± 25.0 vs 36.2 ± 16.7, p = 0.06) and PRI-15 (24.4 ± 14.5 vs 18.9 ± 9.0, p = 0.04). A PRI-15 threshold of >35/h had specificity of 97 % for OSA.

    CONCLUSION: The PRI-15 shows promise as an indicator of OSA in children with normal oximetry.

    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  11. Fulltext Prevalence and associated risk factors of Giardia infection among indigenous communities in rural Malaysia
    Choy SH, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Mahdy MA, Nasr NN, Sulaiman M, Lim YA, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2014;4:6909.
    PMID: 25366301 DOI: 10.1038/srep06909
    This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia infection among indigenous people in rural Malaysia. Faecal samples were collected from 1,330 participants from seven states of Malaysia and examined by wet mount and formalin-ether sedimentation methods while demographic, socioeconomic and environmental information was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. The overall prevalence of Giardia infection was 11.6% and was significantly higher among those aged ≤ 12 years compared to their older counterparts. Multivariate logistic regression identified age of ≤ 12 years, lacking of toilet at household, not washing hands before eating, not washing hands after playing with animals, not boiling water before consumption, bathing in the river, and not wearing shoes when outside as the significant risk factors of Giardia infection among these communities. Based on a multilocus genotyping approach (including tpi, gdh and bg gene sequences), 69 isolates were identified as assemblage A, and 69 as assemblage B. No association between the assemblages and presence of symptoms was found. Providing proper sanitation, as well as provision of clean drinking water and proper health education regarding good personal hygiene practices will help significantly in reducing the prevalence and burden of Giardia infection in these communities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  12. Choosing between 7-, 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in childhood: a review of economic evaluations (2006-2014)
    Wu DB, Chaiyakunapruk N, Chong HY, Beutels P
    Vaccine, 2015 Mar 30;33(14):1633-58.
    PMID: 25681663 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.01.081
    BACKGROUND: Seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV7) have been used in children for more than a decade. Given the observed increase in disease caused by pneumococcal serotypes not covered by PCV7, an increasing number of countries are switching from 7-valent to 10- and 13-valent PCVs ("PCV10" and "PCV13"). Economic evaluations are important tools to inform decisions and price negotiations to make such a switch.
    OBJECTIVE: This review aims to provide a critical assessment of economic evaluations involving PCV10 or PCV13, published since 2006.
    METHODS: We searched Scopus, ISI Web of Science (SCI and SSCI) and Pubmed to retrieve, select and review relevant studies, which were archived between 1st January 2006 and 31st January 2014. The review protocol involved standard extraction of assumptions, methods, results and sponsorships from the original studies.
    RESULTS: Sixty-three economic evaluations on PCVs published since January 2006 were identified. About half of these evaluated PCV10 and/or PCV13, the subject of this review. At current prices, both PCV13 and PCV10 were likely judged preferable to PCV7. However, the combined uncertainty related to price differences, burden of disease, vaccine effectiveness, herd and serotype replacement effects determine the preference base for either PCV10 or PCV13. The pivotal assumptions and results of these analyses also depended on which manufacturer sponsored the study.
    CONCLUSION: A more thorough exploration of uncertainty should be made in future analyses on this subject, as we lack understanding to adequately model herd and serotype replacement effects to reliably predict the population impact of PCVs. The introduction of further improved PCVs in an environment of evolving antibiotic resistance and under the continuing influence of previous PCVs implies that the complexity and data requirements for relevant analyses will further increase. Decision makers using these analyses should not just rely on an analysis from a single manufacturer.
    KEYWORDS: Cost-effectiveness; Cost–benefit; Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; Streptococcus pneumoniae
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  13. Eyes on MEGDEL: distinctive basal ganglia involvement in dystonia deafness syndrome
    Wortmann SB, van Hasselt PM, Barić I, Burlina A, Darin N, Hörster F, et al.
    Neuropediatrics, 2015 Apr;46(2):98-103.
    PMID: 25642805 DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1399755
    Pediatric movement disorders are still a diagnostic challenge, as many patients remain without a (genetic) diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pattern recognition can lead to the diagnosis. MEGDEL syndrome (3-MethylGlutaconic aciduria, Deafness, Encephalopathy, Leigh-like syndrome MIM #614739) is a clinically and biochemically highly distinctive dystonia deafness syndrome accompanied by 3-methylglutaconic aciduria, severe developmental delay, and progressive spasticity. Mutations are found in SERAC1, encoding a phosphatidylglycerol remodeling enzyme essential for both mitochondrial function and intracellular cholesterol trafficking. Based on the homogenous phenotype, we hypothesized an accordingly characteristic MRI pattern. A total of 43 complete MRI studies of 30 patients were systematically reevaluated. All patients presented a distinctive brain MRI pattern with five characteristic disease stages affecting the basal ganglia, especially the putamen. In stage 1, T2 signal changes of the pallidum are present. In stage 2, swelling of the putamen and caudate nucleus is seen. The dorsal putamen contains an "eye" that shows no signal alteration and (thus) seems to be spared during this stage of the disease. It later increases, reflecting progressive putaminal involvement. This "eye" was found in all patients with MEGDEL syndrome during a specific age range, and has not been reported in other disorders, making it pathognomonic for MEDGEL and allowing diagnosis based on MRI findings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  14. Fulltext Immunization knowledge and practice among Malaysian parents: a questionnaire development and pilot-testing
    Awadh AI, Hassali MA, Al-lela OQ, Bux SH, Elkalmi RM, Hadi H
    BMC Public Health, 2014;14:1107.
    PMID: 25346471 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-1107
    Parents are the main decision makers for their children vaccinations. This fact makes parents' immunization knowledge and practices as predictor factors for immunization uptake and timeliness. The aim of this pilot study was to develop a reliable and valid instrument in Malaysian language to measure immunization knowledge and practice (KP) of Malaysian parents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  15. A novel BTK gene mutation creates a de-novo splice site in an X-linked agammaglobulinemia patient
    Chear CT, Ripen AM, Mohamed SA, Dhaliwal JS
    Gene, 2015 Apr 15;560(2):245-8.
    PMID: 25680287 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.02.019
    Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), encoded by the BTK gene, is a cytoplasmic protein critical in B cell development. Mutations in the BTK gene cause X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), a primary immunodeficiency with characteristically low or absent B cells and antibodies. This report describes a five year-old boy who presented with otitis externa, arthritis, reduced immunoglobulins and no B cells. Flow cytometry showed undetectable monocyte BTK expression. Sequencing revealed a novel mutation at exon 13 of the BTK gene which created a de novo splice site with a proximal 5 nucleotide loss resulting in a truncated BTK protein. The patient still suffered from ear infection despite intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy. In this study, mosaicism was seen only in the mother's genomic DNA. These results suggest that a combination of flow cytometry and BTK gene analysis is important for XLA diagnosis and carrier screening.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  16. An improved stool concentration procedure for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in Orang Asli stool samples
    Salleh FM, Moktar N, Yasin AM, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Anuar TS
    J Microbiol Methods, 2014 Nov;106:143-145.
    PMID: 25193442 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2014.08.019
    To improve the stool concentration procedure, we modified different steps of the standard formalin-ether concentration technique and evaluated these modifications by examining stool samples collected in the field. Seven samples were found positive by the modified formalin-ether concentration technique (M-FECT). Therefore, the M-FECT procedure provides enhanced detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  17. Tibia vara and slipped upper femoral epiphysis: is there an association?
    Jamil K, Abdul Rashid AH, Ibrahim S
    J Pediatr Orthop B, 2015 Jan;24(1):46-9.
    PMID: 25192368 DOI: 10.1097/BPB.0000000000000101
    Tibia vara and slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE) share a common risk factor, but their relationship is unclear. In both conditions, the patients are usually obese. To the best of our knowledge, there have been only two previous reports in the literature that have described the occurrence of tibia vara and SUFE in three patients. We report a child who was treated for bilateral tibia vara at the age of 3 years and subsequently developed a SUFE at the age of 13 years.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  18. Fulltext Malaria in Hadhramout, a southeast province of Yemen: prevalence, risk factors, knowledge, attitude and practices (KAPs)
    Bamaga OA, Mahdy MA, Mahmud R, Lim YA
    Parasit Vectors, 2014;7:351.
    PMID: 25074325 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-351
    Yemen is a Mediterranean country where 65% of its population is at risk of malaria, with 43% at high risk. Yemen is still in the control phase without sustainable reduction in the proportion of malaria cases. A cross-sectional household survey was carried out in different districts in the southeast of the country to determine malaria prevalence and identify factors that impede progress of the elimination phase.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  19. Fulltext Exposure to foods' non-taste sensory properties. A nursery intervention to increase children's willingness to try fruit and vegetables
    Dazeley P, Houston-Price C
    Appetite, 2015 Jan;84:1-6.
    PMID: 25218879 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2014.08.040
    Activities that engage young children with the sensory properties of foods are popular with nursery schools, despite the lack of evidence for their efficacy in increasing children's consumption of healthy foods. This study provides the first empirical exploration of the effectiveness of a non-taste sensory activity program in a nursery school setting. Ninety-two children aged between 12 and 36 months were allocated either to an intervention group, who took part in looking, listening, feeling and smelling activities with unusual fruits and vegetables every day for 4 weeks, or to a non-intervention control group. In a subsequent mealtime taste test, children touched and tasted more of the vegetables to which they had been familiarized in their playtime activities than of a matched set of non-exposed foods. The results demonstrate that hands-on activities with unfamiliar fruits and vegetables can enhance children's willingness to taste these foods, and confirm the potential for such activities to support healthy eating initiatives.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
  20. Fulltext The rural bite in population pyramids: what are the implications for responsiveness of health systems in middle income countries?
    Jahan N, Allotey P, Arunachalam D, Yasin S, Soyiri IN, Davey TM, et al.
    BMC Public Health, 2014;14 Suppl 2:S8.
    PMID: 25081203 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-S2-S8
    Health services can only be responsive if they are designed to service the needs of the population at hand. In many low and middle income countries, the rate of urbanisation can leave the profile of the rural population quite different from the urban population. As a consequence, the kinds of services required for an urban population may be quite different from that required for a rural population. This is examined using data from the South East Asia Community Observatory in rural Malaysia and contrasting it with the national Malaysia population profile.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Preschool
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