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Fulltext Epidemiological Differences Between Localized and Nonlocalized Low Back Pain

Coggon D, Ntani G, Walker-Bone K, Palmer KT, Felli VE, Harari R, et al.

Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2017 May 15;42(10):740-747.
PMID: 27820794 DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001956

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey with a longitudinal follow-up.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that pain, which is localized to the low back, differs epidemiologically from that which occurs simultaneously or close in time to pain at other anatomical sites SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Low back pain (LBP) often occurs in combination with other regional pain, with which it shares similar psychological and psychosocial risk factors. However, few previous epidemiological studies of LBP have distinguished pain that is confined to the low back from that which occurs as part of a wider distribution of pain.
METHODS: We analyzed data from CUPID, a cohort study that used baseline and follow-up questionnaires to collect information about musculoskeletal pain, associated disability, and potential risk factors, in 47 occupational groups (office workers, nurses, and others) from 18 countries.
RESULTS: Among 12,197 subjects at baseline, 609 (4.9%) reported localized LBP in the past month, and 3820 (31.3%) nonlocalized LBP. Nonlocalized LBP was more frequently associated with sciatica in the past month (48.1% vs. 30.0% of cases), occurred on more days in the past month and past year, was more often disabling for everyday activities (64.1% vs. 47.3% of cases), and had more frequently led to medical consultation and sickness absence from work. It was also more often persistent when participants were followed up after a mean of 14 months (65.6% vs. 54.1% of cases). In adjusted Poisson regression analyses, nonlocalized LBP was differentially associated with risk factors, particularly female sex, older age, and somatizing tendency. There were also marked differences in the relative prevalence of localized and nonlocalized LBP by occupational group.
CONCLUSION: Future epidemiological studies should distinguish where possible between pain that is limited to the low back and LBP that occurs in association with pain at other anatomical locations.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Characteristics
Prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among new female drug abusers in a rehabilitation centre

Nordin RB, Rahman Bin Isa A, Rusli Bin Abdullah M

Malays J Med Sci, 2001 Jul;8(2):9-13.
PMID: 22893754 MyJurnal

The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among female drug abusers was studied by screening 130 new inmates of a rehabilitation centre. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, physical examination and specimen collection for laboratory investigation at the Community Medicine Clinic of HUSM. The majority (64.6%) were Malays and self-confessed sex workers (77.7%). A high prevalence of syphilis (50.8%), hepatitis B (52.2%), moniliasis (23.8%), trichomoniasis (19.2%) and gonococcal vaginitis (8.5%) was noted. More than half of them harbour 2 or more STDs. Six subjects, of whom 5 were Malays, were HIV positive. The evidence indicates that female drug abusers need a thorough screening for STD followed by an aggressive treatment regimen. Since the majority of them were born Muslims, they should have access to spiritual counselling and rehabilitation, stressing on repentance, and adopting a compassionate and forgiving approach.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Workers
Hip fracture incidence rates in Singapore 1991-1998

Koh LK, Saw SM, Lee JJ, Leong KH, Lee J, National Working Committee on Osteoporosis

Osteoporos Int, 2001;12(4):311-8.
PMID: 11420781

In this population-based study, we determined the incidence rates of hip fracture among Singapore residents aged 50 years and above. Information was obtained from a centralized database system which captured admissions with the primary diagnosis of a closed hip fracture (ICD-9 codes 820, 820.0, 820.2 and 820.8, n = 12,927) from all health care establishments in the country from 1991 to 1998 inclusive. After removing duplicates, hospital transfers, readmissions and non-acute care admissions, the total number of hip fractures was 9406. Based on the national population census 1990 (n = 464,100) and yearly population estimates, the age-adjusted hip fracture rates for 1991-1998 (per 100,000) were 152 in men and 402 in women. This was 1.5 and over 5 times higher than corresponding rates in the 1960s. From 1991 to 1998, these hip fracture rates tended to increase by 0.7% annually in men and by 1.2% annually in women. Among the three major racial groups, in men, the Chinese had significantly higher age-adjusted hip fracture rates (per 100,000): 168 (95% confidence interval (CI) 158-178) compared with 128 (95% CI 105-152) for Indians and 71 (95% CI 54-88) for Malays. A similar pattern occurred in women: 410 (95% CI 395-425), for Chinese compared with 361 (95% CI 290-432) for Indians and 264 (95% CI 225-303) for Malays. Since the 1960s, the main increases in hip fracture rates have been seen in the Chinese and Malays, with the rates in Indians appearing to decrease. Hip fracture incidence rates in Singapore have risen rapidly over the past 30-40 years, particularly in women, and are now among the highest in Asia. Significant racial differences in hip fracture rates occur within the same community. Time trends in hip fracture rates differed between races.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Local versus WHO/International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders-recommended thyroid volume reference in the assessment of iodine deficiency disorders

Foo LC, Zulfiqar A, Nafikudin M, Fadzil MT, Asmah AS

Eur. J. Endocrinol., 1999 Jun;140(6):491-7.
PMID: 10366404

Iodine deficiency endemia is defined by the goitre prevalence and the median urinary iodine concentration in a population. Lack of local thyroid volume reference data may bring many health workers to use the European-based WHO/International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD)-recommended reference for the assessment of goitre prevalence in children in different developing countries. The present study was conducted in non-iodine-deficient areas in Malaysia to obtain local children's normative thyroid volume reference data, and to compare their usefulness with those of the WHO/ICCIDD-recommended reference for the assessment of iodine-deficiency disorders (IDD) in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Serum lipoprotein(A) profiles in a Singaporean population

Wong MS, Chew WL, Aw TC

Pathology, 1999 Aug;31(3):225-9.
PMID: 10503268

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is formed when apolipoprotein(a) is linked to low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol via a single disulfide bond. It is an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction and raised concentrations are associated with an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease. Singapore has a multi-racial population of 77% Chinese, 14% Malays and 7% Indians. Studies have shown that the Indians have significantly higher standardised mortality ratios (SMR) compared to the Chinese and the Malays. We measured serum Lp(a) concentrations in 803 healthy individuals recruited from the Multiphasic Health Screening Programme, using the Macra Lp(a) sandwich enzyme immunoassay kit (Strategics Diagnostics, Delaware, USA). Lp(a) concentrations were skewed in all three groups. Our population mean was 9.0 mg/dl, with 50th, 75th and 95th percentile values of 10.2, 19.8 and 43.1 mg/dl, respectively, which are lower than values reported from Caucasian populations (15.0, 29.0 and 60.0 mg/dl, respectively). Males had lower Lp(a) concentrations than females (P < 0.05). The Indian group had significantly higher concentrations (median 12.3 mg/dl) compared to their Chinese (median 9.6 mg/dl) and Malay (median 8.4 mg/dl) counterparts (P < 0.05). This could partly account for the higher SMR seen in the Indian population in Singapore. As serum Lp(a) concentrations are method- and population-dependent, we recommend that laboratories determine their own reference ranges by their method to avoid misclassification of the coronary heart disease (CHD) risk of patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Determination of thyroid volume by Sonography in healthy Brazilian schoolchildren

Rossi A, Tomimori E, Camargo R, Medeiros-Neto G

J Clin Ultrasound, 2002 May;30(4):226-31.
PMID: 11981932

Our objective was to establish thyroid volume by sonography in Brazilian schoolchildren and to correlate thyroid volume with anthropometric characteristics.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Current status of imported parasitic infection among foreign workers in northern Taiwan (1999-2000)

Fan PC, Chung WC, Chen ER

Kaohsiung J. Med. Sci., 2001 Oct;17(10):503-8.
PMID: 11831113 DOI: 10.6452/KJMS.200110.0503

In the present study, a simple, economic and practical technique was employed for stool examination. Of a total of 6,146 fecal samples from foreign workers in Northern Taiwan between 1999 and 2000 were examined, 615 were found to be positive for parasitic infection and the overall infection rate was 10%. Newly arriving foreign workers had a significantly higher infection rate (15%) than those who had worked in Taiwan for 6-12 months (8%). The foreign workers came from Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Except for the small number of workers from Malaysia which was not included, the infection rate order by nationality was Vietnamese (21%) > Indonesian (13%) > Philippino (10%) > Thai (4%). The female examined workers were about 3-fold of males and their infection rate (11%) was also significantly higher than the males (5%). The order of rates by age was 20-30 years (11%) > 31-40 years (8%) > 41-50 years (5%). According to the species of parasites, 569 foreign workers were infected with 1 species (9%) > with 2 species (0.7%) > with 3 species (0.1%). Totally, 14 species (10 helminths including 1 plant nematode, Heterodera and 4 protozoa; hookworm might include 2 or 3 species, but counted as one species here) were found, of which 10 species were pathogenic (9 helminths and 1 protozoa) and 4 non-pathogenic. Foreign workers from Indonesia harbored 12 species of parasites > from the Philippines, 9 species > from Thailand, 8 species > from Vietnam, 7 species.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Bimodality in blood glucose distribution: is it universal?

Lim TO, Bakri R, Morad Z, Hamid MA

Diabetes Care, 2002 Dec;25(12):2212-7.
PMID: 12453963 DOI: 10.2337/diacare.25.12.2212

OBJECTIVE: Bimodality in blood glucose (BG) distribution has been demonstrated in several populations with a high prevalence of diabetes and obesity. However, other population studies had not found bimodality, thus casting doubt on its universality. We address this question in four ethnic populations-namely Malay, Chinese, Indian, and the indigenous people of Borneo.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A national health survey was conducted in Malaysia in 1996. A total of 18,397 subjects aged > or =30 years had post-challenge BG measurements taken. To test whether BG was consistent with a bimodal distribution, we fitted unimodal normal and skewed distribution as well a mixture of two normal distributions to the data by age and ethnic groups.

RESULTS: Age-specific prevalence of diabetes varied from 1.3 to 26.3%. In all ethnic/age groups, the bimodal model fitted the log BG data better (likelihood ratio tests, all P values <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Bimodality in BG distribution is demonstrable even in populations with a very low prevalence of diabetes and obesity. Previous studies that found unimodality had failed to detect the second mode because of inadequate sample size, bias due to treatment of subjects with known diabetes, and inclusion of subjects with type 1 diabetes in the sample. Bimodality implies that diabetes is a distinct entity rather than an arbitrarily defined extreme end of a continuously distributed measurement.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Characteristics
Ocular manifestation of vitamin A deficiency among Orang asli (Aborigine) children in Malaysia

Ngah NF, Moktar N, Isa NH, Selvara S, Yusof MS, Sani HA, et al.

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2002;11(2):88-91.
PMID: 12074186

This study determined the prevalence of ocular manifestation of vitamin A deficiency in Orang Asli (Aborigine) children. Night blindness was found in 16.0% of the children, conjunctiva xerosis in 57.3%, Bitot's spot in 2.8%, corneal xerosis in 0.5% and corneal scars in 5.6%. These findings show that history of night blindness had sensitivity, specificity and predictive value (positive) of 47.2, 98.1 and 96.2%, respectively, compared with the standard diagnosis procedure using luxometer readings.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Clinical characteristics of ulcerative colitis in Singapore, a multiracial city-state

Ling KL, Ooi CJ, Luman W, Cheong WK, Choen FS, Ng HS

J Clin Gastroenterol, 2002 Aug;35(2):144-8.
PMID: 12172359

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is rare in Asia. Singapore is an ethnically heterogeneous city-state with a population made up of Chinese (77%), Indians (7.5%), and Malays (14%). This study describes and compares the characteristics of Chinese, Malay, and Indian patients with UC.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Influence of race, age and sex on the lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of healthy Malaysian adults

Choong ML, Ton SH, Cheong SK

Ann. Clin. Biochem., 1995 Nov;32 ( Pt 6):532-9.
PMID: 8579284

The lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of healthy Malaysian adults (212 subjects, age 18-71 years) were analysed using a flow cytometer FACScan in an effort to establish a reference range for the lymphocyte subsets. The lymphocyte subsets studied were T cells (CD3), B cells (CD19), natural killer (NK) cells (CD3- CD16+/CD56+), helper/inducer cells (CD4), cytotoxic/suppressor cells (CD8) and the helper/suppressor ratio (CD4/CD8). The distributions of T cells, CD4 cells and CD8 cells were symmetric about their means while B cells, NK cells and CD4/CD8 ratio followed a skewed distribution. Differences in race were observed for T cells, NK cells, CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratio where the Indians were significantly different from the Malays and the Chinese (higher T cells, CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratio and lower NK cells). The B cells were significantly lower in the Chinese than the Malays and the Indians. Age differences were seen only in the Chinese where increased CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratio, and decreased CD8 cells were observed. A sex difference was observed only in the Chinese where the CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in females than males.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Oral pyogenic granuloma (excluding pregnancy tumour)--a clinical analysis of 304 cases

Zain RB, Khoo SP, Yeo JF

Singapore Dent J, 1995 Jul;20(1):8-10.
PMID: 9582682

A clinical analysis of 304 cases of pyogenic granuloma (excluding pregnancy tumour) were obtained from the clinical evaluations submitted by clinicians while sending specimens for biopsy. The average age of the patients with pyogenic granuloma was 28.9 years with a peak age incidence in the second decade. More female patients were affected and the lesions present mainly in the Chinese. The majority of the lesions were ulcerated and pedunculated. The lesions had a mean diameter of 10.8 mm with a mean lesion duration of 6.0 months. The gingiva was the prevalent site for these lesions with a greater number being located in the maxilla. The recurrence rate was found to be 14.1%.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
How sexually permissive are Singaporeans?

Kok LP, Heng BH, Ong YW, Ho ML, Lee HP

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1995 Sep;24(5):679-84.
PMID: 8579309

This paper presents data on two surveys done in 1989 and 1992 that indicated the attitudes of Singaporeans to sexuality. Both surveys revealed that Singaporeans have sexually conservative attitudes and those who have a lower education, are single, above the age of 40, are Malays/Muslims hold more conservative views.

Matched MeSH terms: Religion and Sex
Itching for a diagnosis - A travel medicine perspective on delusional infestation

Maher S, Hallahan B, Flaherty G

Travel Med Infect Dis, 2017 05 31;18:70-72.
PMID: 28576666 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2017.05.011
Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Individual-Level Heterogeneity in Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

Zhang SX, Looi KH, Li N, Wan X, Li J

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2021 Aug 09;105(6):1516-1518.
PMID: 34370702 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0566

Wearing a face mask has been a key approach to contain or slow down the spread of COVID-19 in the ongoing pandemic. However, there is huge heterogeneity among individuals in their willingness to wear face masks during an epidemic. This research aims to investigate the individual heterogeneity to wear face masks and its associated predictors during the COVID-19 pandemic when mask-wearing was not mandatory. Based on a survey of 708 Malaysian adults and a multivariate least-squares fitting analysis, the results reveal a significant variance among individuals in wearing masks, as 34% of the individual adults did not always wear masks in public places. Female individuals, individuals who wash their hands more frequently, and those who reported more availability of personal protective equipment were more likely to practice mask-wearing. The identification of less-compliant groups of mask wearing has critical implications by enabling more specific health communication campaigns.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Psychological impact of COVID-19 and lock down measures: An online cross-sectional multicounty study on Asian university students

Chinna K, Sundarasen S, Khoshaim HB, Kamaludin K, Nurunnabi M, Baloch GM, et al.

PLoS One, 2021;16(8):e0253059.
PMID: 34343187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253059

The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures have taken a toll on every level of the society, worldwide. This study examines their psychological impact on university students in Asia. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between April and May 2020 in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, India and Indonesia. The Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and questions on adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were used in this study. A total of 3,679 students from the seven countries participated in this study. Overall, 21.9% and 13.7% of the students in this study experienced mild to moderate and severe to extreme levels of anxiety. More than 20% of the students from China and Bangladesh reported severe to extreme level of anxiety compared to below 10% of the students from Indonesia, Malaysia and India. Among the female students, 15.9% experienced severe to extreme level of anxiety compared to 10.6% among the males. Females from Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia experienced significantly higher levels of anxiety compared to their male counterparts. Acceptance was the most used and Seeking Social Support was the least used coping strategies among the students. There were significant differences in the usage of the four strategies by countries. Stressors are predominantly financial constraints, remote online learning, and uncertainty related to their academic performance, and future career prospects.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Protecting women and girls from tobacco and alcohol promotion

Feeny E, Dain K, Varghese C, Atiim GA, Rekve D, Gouda HN

BMJ, 2021 Jul 19;374:n1516.
PMID: 34281828 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n1516

Gender transformative measures could curb the industries’ expansion into low and middle income countries, contain the burden of chronic disease, and promote gender equity, argue Emma Feeny and colleagues

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its associated risk factors among staffs in a Malaysian public university

Manaf MRA, Nawi AM, Tauhid NM, Othman H, Rahman MRA, Yusoff HM, et al.

Sci Rep, 2021 Apr 14;11(1):8132.
PMID: 33854087 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87248-1

Public health systems are concerned with the commensurate rise of metabolic syndrome (MetS) incidence across populations worldwide, due to its tendency to amplify greater risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases within communities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS and its associated risk factors among staffs in a Malaysian public university. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 538 staffs from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) between April and June 2019. MetS was defined according to JIS "Harmonized" criteria. A questionnaire that consisted of items on socio-demographics, lifestyle risk behaviors and personal medical history information was administered to participants. Subsequently, a series of physical examination and biochemical assessment was conducted at the hall or foyer of selected faculties in the university. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted using SPSS version 22.0. Multivariate models were yielded to determine the risk factors associated with MetS. Statistical significance was set at P

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Characteristics
Prevalence and molecular detection of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in large ruminants in Punjab, Pakistan

Anjum A, Usman S, Aslam A, Faiz M, Usman S, Imran MS, et al.

Trop Biomed, 2020 Jun 01;37(2):273-281.
PMID: 33612797

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a highly contagious disease of cattle caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides. It is characterized by anorexia, fever, dyspnea, polypnea, cough, and nasal discharges. Gross lesions in the lung such as marbling, sequestra, thickening of interlobular septa, and consolidation are evident. Serological tests including complement fixation test and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and molecular tests such as polymerase chain reactions are used for diagnostic purposes. In this study, lung samples of suspected large ruminants (cattle n=560, buffalo n=293) were collected from abattoirs of three districts of Punjab namely Lahore, Kasur and Jhang. PCR was performed with specific primers, targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA gene to detect the positive cases. The results indicated that 49 samples (8.75%) of cattle were positive, with maximum prevalence was observed in Jhang with 16 positive samples (10.06%), but CBPP was not detected in any buffalo sample. High prevalence of disease was seen in cattle of more than seven years of age, in female cattle, and in cross-bred cattle. Age and gender were found significantly associated (P<0.05) with the prevalence of the disease. Gene sequencing of identified 5 isolates of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides had more than 99% similarities with the strains isolated from China, Italy, Australia and Tanzania and were categorized into a monophyletic group but strain isolated from Portugal had more than 55% variable regions, hence clustered separately. This study confirms the presence of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in the country which can be a threat to the livestock export market and warrants the implementation of control measures to mitigate the economic losses associated with the disease.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Hyperinflammatory Immune Response and COVID-19: A Double Edged Sword

Tan LY, Komarasamy TV, Rmt Balasubramaniam V

Front Immunol, 2021;12:742941.
PMID: 34659238 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.742941

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) elicited by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused devastating health, economic and social impact worldwide. Its clinical spectrum ranges from asymptomatic to respiratory failure and multi-organ failure or death. The pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is attributed to a complex interplay between virus and host immune response. It involves activation of multiple inflammatory pathways leading to hyperinflammation and cytokine storm, resulting in tissue damage, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ failure. Accumulating evidence has raised concern over the long-term health effects of COVID-19. Importantly, the neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV-2 may have devastating consequences in the brain. This review provides a conceptual framework on how the virus tricks the host immune system to induce infection and cause severe disease. We also explore the key differences between mild and severe COVID-19 and its short- and long-term effects, particularly on the human brain.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors

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