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  1. Impact of glaucoma severity and laterality on vision-specific functioning: the Singapore Malay eye study
    Chan EW, Chiang PP, Wong TY, Saw SM, Loon SC, Aung T, et al.
    Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2013 Feb;54(2):1169-75.
    PMID: 23341009 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.12-10258
    We determined the impact of glaucoma severity and laterality on vision-specific functioning (VF) in an Asian population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/statistics & numerical data*
  2. Racial differences in Helicobacter pylori, serum pepsinogen and gastric cancer incidence in an urban Asian population
    Ang TL, Fock KM, Dhamodaran S, Teo EK, Tan J
    J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2005 Oct;20(10):1603-9.
    PMID: 16174081
    In Singapore, the highest incidence of gastric cancer occurs in the Chinese (C), with lower rates among Malay (M) and Indian (I) subjects. The purpose of the present paper was to examine whether racial differences in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and serum pepsinogen (PG) could account for this difference.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/statistics & numerical data*
  3. Correlates of Children's Eating Attitude Test scores among primary school children
    Shariff ZM, Yasin ZM
    Percept Mot Skills, 2005 Apr;100(2):463-72.
    PMID: 15974357
    A total of 107 Malay primary school girls (8-9 yr. old) completed a set of measurements on eating behavior (ChEAT, food neophobia scales, and dieting experience), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, body shape satisfaction, dietary intake, weight, and height. About 38% of the girls scored 20 and more on the ChEAT, and 46% of them reported dieting by reducing sugar and sweets (73%), skipping meals (67%), reducing fat foods (60%) and snacks (53%) as the most frequent methods practiced. In general, those girls with higher ChEAT scores tended to have lower self-esteem (r=.39), indicating they were more unwilling to try new foods (food neophobic) (r=.29), chose a smaller figure for desired body size (r=-.25), and were more dissatisfied with their body size (r=.31).
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  4. The age of menopause and the menopause transition in a multiracial population: a nation-wide Singapore study
    Loh FH, Khin LW, Saw SM, Lee JJ, Gu K
    Maturitas, 2005 Nov-Dec;52(3-4):169-80.
    PMID: 16257608
    To describe the prevalence of menopausal symptoms, define the mean age of menopause, and determine contributory factors, which influence the experience of symptoms among Singaporean women of different racial groups.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
  5. The Implication of the Polymorphisms of COX-1, UGT1A6, and CYP2C9 among Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Patients Treated with Aspirin
    Jalil NJ, Bannur Z, Derahman A, Maskon O, Darinah N, Hamidi H, et al.
    J Pharm Pharm Sci, 2015;18(3):474-83.
    PMID: 26517138
    PURPOSE:   Enzymes potentially responsible for the pharmacokinetic variations of aspirin include cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A6) and P450 (CYP) (CYP2C9). We therefore aimed to determine the types and frequencies of variants of COX-1 (A-842G), UGT1A6 (UGT1A6*2; A541G and UGT1A6*3; A522C) and CYP2C9 (CYP2C9*3; A1075C) in the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia. In addition, the role of these polymorphisms on aspirin-induced gastritis among the patients was investigated.

    METHODS: A total of 165 patients with cardiovascular disease who were treated with 75-150 mg daily dose of aspirin and 300 healthy volunteers were recruited. DNA was extracted from the blood samples and genotyped for COX-1 (A-842G), UGT1A6 (UGT1A6*2 and UGT1A6*3) and CYP2C9 (CYP2C9*3; A1075C) using allele specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR).

    RESULTS: Variants UGT1A6*2,*3 and CYP2C9*3 were detected in relatively high percentage of 22.83%, 30.0% and 6.50%, respectively; while COX-1 (A-842G) was absent. The genotype frequencies for UGT1A6*2 and *3 were significantly different between Indians and Malays or Chinese. The level of bilirubin among patients with different genotypes of UGT1A6 was significantly different (p-value < 0.05). In addition, CYP2C9*3 was found to be associated with gastritis with an odd ratio of 6.8 (95 % Cl OR: 1.39 - 33.19; P = 0.033).

    CONCLUSION: Screening of patients with defective genetic variants of UGT1A6 and CYP2C9*3 helps in identifying patients at risk of aspirin induced gastritis. However, a randomised clinical study of bigger sample size would be needed before it is translated to clinical use.

    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics
  6. CYP2D6 Genetic Polymorphisms and Phenotypes in Different Ethnicities of Malaysian Breast Cancer Patients
    Chin FW, Chan SC, Abdul Rahman S, Noor Akmal S, Rosli R
    Breast J, 2016 Jan-Feb;22(1):54-62.
    PMID: 26510986 DOI: 10.1111/tbj.12518
    The cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily D, polypeptide 6 (CYP2D6) is an enzyme that is predominantly involved in the metabolism of tamoxifen. Genetic polymorphisms of the CYP2D6 gene may contribute to inter-individual variability in tamoxifen metabolism, which leads to the differences in clinical response to tamoxifen among breast cancer patients. In Malaysia, the knowledge on CYP2D6 genetic polymorphisms as well as metabolizer status in Malaysian breast cancer patients remains unknown. Hence, this study aimed to comprehensively identify CYP2D6 genetic polymorphisms among 80 Malaysian breast cancer patients. The genetic polymorphisms of all the 9 exons of CYP2D6 gene were identified using high-resolution melting analysis and confirmed by DNA sequencing. Seven CYP2D6 alleles consisting of CYP2D6*1, CYP2D6*2, CYP2D6*4, CYP2D6*10, CYP2D6*39, CYP2D6*49, and CYP2D6*75 were identified in this study. Among these alleles, CYP2D6*10 is the most common allele in both Malaysian Malay (54.8%) and Chinese (71.4%) breast cancer patients, whereas CYP2D6*4 in Malaysian Indian (28.6%) breast cancer patients. In relation to CYP2D6 genotype, CYP2D6*10/*10 is more frequently observed in both Malaysian Malay (28.9%) and Chinese (57.1%) breast cancer patients, whereas CYP2D6*4/*10 is more frequently observed in Malaysian Indian (42.8%) breast cancer patients. In terms of CYP2D6 phenotype, 61.5% of Malaysian Malay breast cancer patients are predicted as extensive metabolizers in which they are most likely to respond well to tamoxifen therapy. However, 57.1% of Chinese as well as Indian breast cancer patients are predicted as intermediate metabolizers and they are less likely to gain optimal benefit from the tamoxifen therapy. This is the first report of CYP2D6 genetic polymorphisms and phenotypes in Malaysian breast cancer patients for different ethnicities. These data may aid clinicians in selecting an optimal drug therapy for Malaysian breast cancer patients, hence improve the clinical outcome of the patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics
  7. Ethnicity influences disease characteristics and symptom severity in allergic rhinitis patients in Malaysia
    Amini P, Abdullah M, Seng LS, Karunakaran T, Hani N, Bakar SA, et al.
    Int Forum Allergy Rhinol, 2016 Jun;6(6):624-30.
    PMID: 26919193 DOI: 10.1002/alr.21442
    BACKGROUND: The number of available reports regarding the influence of ethnicity on clinical features of allergic rhinitis (AR), especially disease severity in tropical climates, is limited. We aimed to compare clinical parameters and disease severity in AR patients of different ethnicities.

    METHODS: Malay, Chinese, and Indian AR patients (n = 138) with confirmed sensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dematophagoides farinae, and Blomia tropicalis were tested for mite-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels. A detailed questionnaire was used to collect data on nasal symptom score (NSS), ocular symptom score (OSS), sum of symptoms score (SSS), quality of life score (QLS), symptomatic control score (SCS), and total sum of scores (TSS) and correlate the derived data with patients' demography, mite-polysensitivity, and sIgE levels.

    RESULTS: AR-related symptoms were most severe in Malays and least in Chinese (p < 0.01). Age (r = 0.516 to 0.673, p < 0.05) and duration of AR (r = 0.635 to 0.726, p < 0.01) correlated positively with severity domains (NSS, SSS, QLS, and TSS) in Chinese. Duration of concurrent allergies was highest in Malays (p < 0.05). Polysensitivity predicted increased sIgE levels in Malays (r = 0.464 to 0.551, p < 0.01) and Indians (r = 0.541 to 0.645, p < 0.05) but affected NSS, SSS, and TSS only in Indians (r = 0.216 to 0.376, p < 0.05). sIgE levels were lowest among Chinese but correlated strongly with NSS, OSS, SSS, and TSS (r = 0408 to 0.898, p < 0.05).

    CONCLUSION: Clinical parameters in AR may be influenced by race. Symptoms were most severe among Malays but did not correlate with other variables examined. Although Indian ethnicity did not impact disease severity, duration of concurrent allergies and mite-polysensitivity was associated with more severe disease. Age, duration of disease, and sIgE levels may be useful indicators of disease severity in Chinese.

    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
  8. Correlates of disability in Asian patients with major depressive disorder
    Eurviriyanukul K, Srisurapanont M, Udomratn P, Sulaiman AH, Liu CY
    Perspect Psychiatr Care, 2016 Oct;52(4):265-272.
    PMID: 26031315 DOI: 10.1111/ppc.12127
    PURPOSE: To examine correlates of disability in Asian patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
    DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants were outpatients with DSM-IV MDD. Global disability and three disability domains (i.e., work/school, social life/leisure, and family/home life) were key outcomes. Several socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were determined for their associations with disability.
    FINDINGS: The sample was 493 MDD patients. Apart from the number of hospitalizations, the global disability was significantly associated with depression severity, fatigue, physical health, and mental health. Several clinical but only few socio-demographic characteristics associated with the other three disability domains were similar.
    PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Disability among Asian patients with MDD correlates with the severity of psychiatric symptoms and the hospitalizations due to depression. Socio-demographic characteristics have little impact on the overall disability.
    Study site: Psychiatric clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
  9. Fulltext Macular retinal sensitivity using MP-1 in healthy Malaysian subjects of different ages
    Ismail SA, Sharanjeet-Kaur, Mutalib HA, Ngah NF
    J Optom, 2015 Oct-Dec;8(4):266-72.
    PMID: 26025808 DOI: 10.1016/j.optom.2015.04.001
    PURPOSE: To determine the influence of age and gender on macular sensitivity to light in healthy subjects of 4 age groups using the MP-1 microperimeter.
    METHODS: A prospective study was carried out on 50 healthy subjects (age range: 18-60 years) divided into 4 age groups; 18-30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years and 51-60 years. Full-threshold microperimetry of the central 10° of retina was performed utilizing 32 points with the MP-1. Macula area was divided into four quadrants, which were superior nasal (SN), inferior nasal (IN), inferior temporal (IT) and superior temporal (ST).
    RESULTS: Total mean sensitivity at 10° for age groups 18-30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years and 51-60 years were 19.46 ± 0.30, 19.40 ± 0.39, 19.47 ± 0.35 and 18.73 ± 0.75 (dB), respectively. There was a significant difference in total mean retinal sensitivity at 10° and at the four quadrants with age but not for gender. The retinal sensitivity was highest in the IT quadrant and lowest in the SN quadrant for all age groups. The linear regression analysis revealed that there was a 0.019 dB, 0.016 dB, 0.022 dB, 0.029 dB and 0.029 dB per year age-related decline in mean macular sensitivity within the central 10° diameter in the SN, IN, IT and ST quadrants respectively.
    CONCLUSION: Among normal healthy subjects, there was a linear decline in retinal light sensitivity with increasing age with the highest reduction in the superior nasal quadrant and lowest in the inferior temporal quadrant.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
  10. Fulltext Validation of the Framingham general cardiovascular risk score in a multiethnic Asian population: a retrospective cohort study
    Chia YC, Gray SY, Ching SM, Lim HM, Chinna K
    BMJ Open, 2015;5(5):e007324.
    PMID: 25991451 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007324
    OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the validity of the Framingham general cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk chart in a primary care setting.
    DESIGN: This is a 10-year retrospective cohort study.
    SETTING: A primary care clinic in a teaching hospital in Malaysia.
    PARTICIPANTS: 967 patients' records were randomly selected from patients who were attending follow-up in the clinic.
    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline demographic data, history of diabetes and smoking, blood pressure (BP), and serum lipids were captured from patient records in 1998. Each patient's Framingham CVD score was computed from these parameters. All atherosclerotic CVD events occurring between 1998 and 2007 were counted.
    RESULTS: In 1998, mean age was 57 years with 33.8% men, 6.1% smokers, 43.3% diabetics and 59.7% hypertensive. Median BP was 140/80 mm Hg and total cholesterol 6.0 mmol/L (1.3). The predicted median Framingham general CVD risk score for the study population was 21.5% (IQR 1.2-30.0) while the actual CVD events that occurred in the 10 years was 13.1% (127/967). The median CVD points for men was 30.0, giving them a CVD risk of more than 30%; for women it is 18.5, a CVD risk of 21.5%. Our study found that the Framingham general CVD risk score to have moderate discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.63 [c-statistic or c-index]. It also discriminates well for Malay (AUC 0.65, p=0.01), Chinese (AUC 0.60, p=0.03), and Indians (AUC 0.65, p=0.001). There was good calibration with Hosmer-Lemeshow test χ(2)=3.25, p=0.78.
    CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account that this cohort of patients were already on treatment, the Framingham General CVD Risk Prediction Score predicts fairly accurately for men and overestimates somewhat for women. In the absence of local risk prediction charts, the Framingham general CVD risk prediction chart is a reasonable alternative for use in a multiethnic group in a primary care setting.
    Study site: Primary care clinic,University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
  11. Quality of life (QoL) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) control of patients attending anticoagulation clinics
    Hasan SS, Teh KM, Ahmed SI, Chong DW, Ong HC, Naina B
    Public Health, 2015 Jul;129(7):954-62.
    PMID: 26138018 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2015.05.014
    OBJECTIVES: To investigate association between quality of life (QoL) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) control, with the secondary aim of assessing QoL using generic and anticoagulation-specific, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale (DASS).
    STUDY DESIGN: This study assessed anticoagulation related QoL at three time intervals in two groups of patients on long-term warfarin therapy.
    METHODS: Data of 326 randomly sampled patients (163 patients each in DASS and SF-12 groups) who had been on warfarin therapy for at least one year at anticoagulation clinics were analysed. QoL was assessed at three time intervals: at the start, six months and one year of warfarin therapy. Indications and target INR ranges and subjects INR values were recorded. Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR) was estimated for four subject subgroups, based on target ranges of INR for clustered indications.
    RESULTS: Of the total, 43% of the subjects were aged between 50 and 64 years, and 51% were female. DASS assessed subjects older than 35 years perceived significant decrease in overall mean scores of anticoagulation related QoL, whilst all SF-12 assessed subjects perceived an increase in QoL. The mean percentage days in range for all INR target range subgroups did not exceed more than 60% but there was only a weak correlation (Rs = 0.104, P > 0.05) between INR control and overall QoL.
    CONCLUSION: Malaysian urban outpatients on warfarin treatment longer than one year report a significant overall decrease in QoL, as measured using a validated condition-specific instrument. These patients appeared to adapt well to lifestyle limitations imposed by long-term anticoagulation.
    KEYWORDS: Anticoagulation therapy; International Normalized Ratio; Quality of life

    Study site: anticoagulation clinics at a
    suburban tertiary Ministry of Health hospital in Peninsular
    Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
  12. Fulltext Double-burden of malnutrition among the indigenous peoples (Orang Asli) of Peninsular Malaysia
    Wong CY, Zalilah MS, Chua EY, Norhasmah S, Chin YS, Siti Nur'Asyura A
    BMC Public Health, 2015;15:680.
    PMID: 26194643 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2058-x
    Double-burden of malnutrition (DBM) is an emerging public health concern among the Orang Asli (indigenous peoples) of Peninsular Malaysia. This study aimed to identify the presence of DBM at the community and household levels in Orang Asli population and its associated demographic and socio-economic factors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
  13. Fulltext Homozygous Wildtype of XPD K751Q Polymorphism Is Associated with Increased Risk of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Malaysian Population
    Lye MS, Visuvanathan S, Chong PP, Yap YY, Lim CC, Ban EZ
    PLoS One, 2015;10(6):e0130530.
    PMID: 26086338 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130530
    The xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene encodes a DNA helicase, an important component in transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) complex. XPD helicase plays a pivotal role in unwinding DNA at the damaged region during nucleotide excision repair (NER) mechanism. Dysfunctional XPD helicase protein from polymorphic diversity may contribute to increased risk of developing cancers. This study aims to determine the association between XPD K751Q polymorphism (rs13181) and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in the Malaysian population. In this hospital-based matched case-control study, 356 controls were matched by age, gender and ethnicity to 356 cases. RFLP-PCR was used to genotype the XPD K751Q polymorphism. A significant association was observed between XPD K751Q polymorphism and the risk of NPC using conditional logistic regression. Subjects with homozygous Lys/Lys (wildtype) genotype have 1.58 times higher odds of developing NPC compared to subjects with recessive combination of heterozygous Lys/Gln and homozygous Gln/Gln genotypes (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.05-2.38 p = 0.028) adjusted for cigarette smoking, alcohol and salted fish consumption. Our data suggests that Lys/Lys (wildtype) of XPD K751Q contributes to increased risk of NPC in the Malaysian population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*
  14. Fulltext HLA antigens in Malay patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: association with clinical and autoantibody expression
    Azizah MR, Ainol SS, Kong NCT, Normaznah Y, Rahim MN
    Korean J. Intern. Med., 2001 Jun;16(2):123-31.
    PMID: 11590899 DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2001.16.2.123
    BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that certain genes within the major histocompatibility complex predispose to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may influence clinical and autoantibody expression. Thus, we studied the frequency of HLA-DR, -DQA, -DQB and -DPB alleles in ethnic Malays with SLE to determine the role of these genes in determining disease susceptibility and their association with clinical and immunological manifestations.
    METHODS: Fifty-six Malay SLE patients were enrolled into the study. Demographic, clinical and immunological findings were obtained from medical records. HLA-DR, DQ and DP typing were done using modified PCR-RELP. Controls were from ethnically-matched healthy individuals.
    RESULTS: We found a strongly significant association of the DR2 and DQB1 *0501 and DQB1*0601 (pcorr = 0.03, rr = 3.83, pcorr = 0.0036, rr = 4.56 and pcorr = 0.0048 and rr = 6.0, respectively). There was also a weak increase of DQB1*0.201 and DPB1*0.0901 with a weak decrease of DQA1*0601 and DQB1*0503 and *0301 which were not significant after corrections for multiple comparisons were made. There was a significant positive association of DR2 and DQB1*0501 with renal involvement and DR8 with alopecia. A nonsignificant increase of DQB1*0503 in patients with photosensitivity was noted. Significant autoantibody associations were also found: DQB1*0601 with anti-Sm/RNP, DR2 with antiSSA (Ro)/SSB (La), and DR2, DQB1*0501 and *0601 with antibodies to ds DNA. There was no specific DR, DQ or DP associations with age of disease onset (below 30 years or those at or above 30 years).
    CONCLUSION: Our data suggests the role of the HLA class II genes in conferring SLE susceptibility and in clinical and autoantibody expression.
    Study site: SLE Clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*
  15. STR data for the AmpFlSTR Profiler loci from the three main ethnic population groups (Malay, Chinese and Indian) in Malaysia
    Lim KB, Jeevan NH, Jaya P, Othman MI, Lee YH
    Forensic Sci Int, 2001 Jun 01;119(1):109-12.
    PMID: 11348801
    Allele frequencies for the nine STRs genetic loci included in the AmpFlSTR Profiler kit were obtained from samples of unrelated individuals comprising 139-156 Malays, 149-153 Chinese and 132-135 Indians, residing in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*
  16. Relationship between fetal femur diaphysis length and neonatal crown-heel length: the effect of race
    Lim JM, Hong AG, Raman S, Shyamala N
    Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol, 2000 Feb;15(2):131-7.
    PMID: 10775996
    To determine whether racial differences affect the relationship between the fetal femur diaphysis length and the neonatal crown-heel length.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*
  17. Human Fc gamma receptor IIA (FcgammaRIIA) genotyping and association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Chinese and Malays in Malaysia
    Yap SN, Phipps ME, Manivasagar M, Tan SY, Bosco JJ
    Lupus, 1999;8(4):305-10.
    PMID: 10413210 DOI: 10.1191/096120399678847876
    SLE is an autoimmune and polygenic disorder characterized by an accumulation and deposition of immune complexes. Several studies have indicated differential impact of FcgammaR polymorphism genotypes in different ethnic groups studied. The Fc receptor for IgG class IIA gene (FcgammaRIIA) occurs in two allelic forms. The allele FcgammaRIIA-H131 encodes a receptor with a histidine at the 131 amino acid position; the other allele FcgammaRIIA-R131 encodes an arginine. This polymorphism is believed to determine the affinity of the receptor for hIgG2 in immune complexes. FcgammaRIIA-H131 has a higher capacity for hIgG2 compared to FcgammaRIIA-R131 as measured by in vitro studies of insoluble immune complex clearance. We have investigated the polymorphism for FcgammaRIIA using a novel polymerase chain reaction-allele specific primer (PCR-ASP) method designed specifically to distinguish the two allelic forms. Our studies were based on 175 Chinese and 50 Malays SLE patients as well as 108 and 50 ethnically matched healthy controls for the respective groups. Analysis of the data (chi2 test with Yates correction factors and odds ratios) revealed that there were no significant differences between SLE patients and controls. We have not found evidence of a protective effect conferred by FcgammaRIIA-H131 in the ethnic groups studied.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics
  18. The paradox of low body mass index and high body fat percentage among Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore
    Deurenberg-Yap M, Schmidt G, van Staveren WA, Deurenberg P
    Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord., 2000 Aug;24(8):1011-7.
    PMID: 10951540
    OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between body fat percentage and body mass index (BMI) in three different ethnic groups in Singapore (Chinese, Malays and Indians) in order to evaluate the validity of the BMI cut-off points for obesity.
    DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
    SUBJECTS: Two-hundred and ninety-one subjects, purposively selected to ensure adequate representation of range of age and BMI of the general adult population, with almost equal numbers from each ethnic and gender group.
    MEASUREMENTS: Body weight, body height, sitting height, wrist and femoral widths, skinfold thicknesses, total body water by deuterium oxide dilution, densitometry with Bodpod(R) and bone mineral content with Hologic(R) QDR-4500. Body fat percentage was calculated using a four-compartment model.
    RESULTS: Compared with body fat percentage (BF%) obtained using the reference method, BF% for the Singaporean Chinese, Malays and Indians were under-predicted by BMI, sex and age when an equation developed in a Caucasian population was used. The mean prediction error ranged from 2.7% to 5.6% body fat. The BMI/BF% relationship was also different among the three Singaporean groups, with Indians having the highest BF% and Chinese the lowest for the same BMI. These differences could be ascribed to differences in body build. It was also found that for the same amount of body fat as Caucasians who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 (cut-off for obesity as defined by WHO), the BMI cut-off points for obesity would have to be about 27 kg/m2 for Chinese and Malays and 26 kg/m2 for Indians.
    CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the relationship between BF% and BMI is different between Singaporeans and Caucasians and also among the three ethnic groups in Singapore. If obesity is regarded as an excess of body fat and not as an excess of weight (increased BMI), the cut-off points for obesity in Singapore based on the BMI would need to be lowered. This would have immense public health implications in terms of policy related to obesity prevention and management.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics
  19. Glutathione S transferase-theta (GSTT1) genetic polymorphism among Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore
    Lee EJ, Wong JY, Yeoh PN, Gong NH
    Pharmacogenetics, 1995 Oct;5(5):332-4.
    PMID: 8563775
    Glutathione S-transferase-theta (GSTT1) is subject to a genetic polymorphism where approximately 50% of a Caucasian population are homozygous for the null allele. Because of the possible association of the polymorphism with increased cancer risk in individuals, we genotyped by polymerase chain reaction 187 normal Chinese, 167 normal Malays and 152 normal Indians from Singapore and Malaysia. The proportion of Chinese, Malays and Indians with the null genotype were 58%, 38% and 16% respectively and mirrored previously reported frequencies of the GSTM1 null genotype in these populations. The frequency of the combined GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes among Chinese, Malays and Indians were 37%, 22% and 5% respectively. The similarity with predicted frequencies indicated no interaction between the two genetic polymorphisms.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics
  20. Frequency of mutant CYP1A1, NAT2 and GSTM1 alleles in normal Indians and Malays
    Zhao B, Lee EJ, Wong JY, Yeoh PN, Gong NH
    Pharmacogenetics, 1995 Oct;5(5):275-80.
    PMID: 8563767
    Several xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, including CYP1A1, NAT2 and GSTM1, are subject to genetic polymorphisms. Because these enzymes are important for the detoxification and/or bioactivation of drugs and carcinogens, these polymorphisms have important implications in therapeutics and cancer susceptibility. The distributions of CYP1A1, NAT2 and GSTM1 genotype frequencies in unrelated individuals of the Indian (n = 139) and Malay (n = 146) populations were characterized by the polymerase chain reaction. The respective allelic frequencies of wild-type and mutant alleles of CYP1A1 were 0.82 and 0.18 for the Indians, and 0.69 and 0.31 for the Malays. The frequencies of wild-type, M1, M2 and M3 of NAT2 among Indians were 0.44, 0.20, 0.32 and 0.04 respectively. The corresponding NAT2 allelic frequencies in Malays were 0.41, 0.12, 0.38 and 0.09. The GSTM1*A allele could not be amplified in 33.1% of Indians and 61.6% of Malays. At least one GSTM1*B allele was detected in 7.2% and 7.5% of the respective populations. The allelic frequencies of CYP1A1, NAT2 and GSTM1 among Malays are similar to previously reported frequencies among Chinese in the region. These findings will be of importance in the determination of cancer risks in these populations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*
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