MyMedR

Fulltext Marital status and its relationship with the risk and pattern of visual impairment in a multi-ethnic Asian population

Zheng Y, Lamoureux EL, Chiang PP, Rahman Anuar A, Wong TY

J Public Health (Oxf), 2014 Mar;36(1):104-10.

PMID: 23658389 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdt044

To examine whether marital status is a significant determinant of visual impairment (VI) in urban multi-ethnic Asian population.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Cataract extraction rates among Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore: a population-based analysis

Wong TY

Arch. Ophthalmol., 2001 May;119(5):727-32.

PMID: 11346400

OBJECTIVE: To describe the rates of cataract extraction among Chinese, Malays, and Indians in an urban population in Asia.

DESIGN: Population-based incidence study using data from a medical savings fund.

STUDY POPULATION: Chinese, Malay, and Indian residents in Singapore.

METHODS: Data on all cataract operations performed for "senile cataract" (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 366.1) between 1991 and 1996 were retrieved from Medisave, a population-wide, government-administered medical savings fund. The Singapore census was used as a denominator to allow an estimation of age, sex, and race-specific annual rates of cataract surgery.

RESULTS: Between 1991 and 1996, 61 210 cataract operations for "senile cataract" were performed on Singapore residents, which is equivalent to an average rate of 356.4 cataract operations per 100 000 persons per year (95% confidence interval [CI], 353.6-359.2). The average rate was highest for Indians (age-sex adjusted rate of 396.5 per 100 000/year), followed by Chinese (371.2 per 100 000/year), and lowest for Malays (237.2 per 100 000/year). Women had higher rates of cataract extraction than men (age-adjusted relative risk, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.11-1.17), with this pattern consistent across the 3 racial groups. The rate of cataract extraction increased by an average of 40 operations per 100 000/year (95% CI, 28.6-52.8) between 1991 and 1996. Overall, the proportion of cataract extraction without concurrent intraocular lens implantation was low (n = 762, 1.2%), but rates still decreased by an average of 0.8 per 100 000 per year (95% CI, 0.03-1.5) during the 6 years.

CONCLUSIONS: The rate of cataract extraction in Singapore is consistent with rates seen in developed countries in the West. Racial variation in rates suggests varying predisposition to cataract development and/or threshold for cataract surgery between Chinese, Malay, and Indian populations in Singapore.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Retinal vascular fractal and blood pressure in a multiethnic population

Sng CC, Wong WL, Cheung CY, Lee J, Tai ES, Wong TY

J Hypertens, 2013 Oct;31(10):2036-42.

PMID: 23787404 DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0b013e328362c201

OBJECTIVE(S): To examine the effect of blood pressure (BP) on retinal vascular fractal dimension (Df), a measure of microvascular network complexity and density in a multiethnic cohort.
METHODS: A population-based study of 3876 Chinese, Malay and Indian participants in Singapore. Retinal Df was measured using a computer-based program from digital retinal photographs. Associations between retinal Df and mean arterial BP (MABP) in the whole cohort and in each racial group were analysed using linear regression analysis. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between retinal Df and hypertension status.
RESULTS: The mean retinal Df of the study population was 1.45 (standard deviation 0.03). After adjustment for age, sex, race, diabetes, BMI, cholesterol and creatinine levels, persons with smaller Df had higher MABP (mean difference MABP was 6.18 mmHg comparing lowest to highest Df quartiles, P<0.001). This was similar in Chinese, Malay and Indian persons [mean difference 6.40 (P<0.001), 4.72 (P=0.011) and 6.62 (P<0.001)mmHg, respectively]. Persons with smaller retinal Df were more likely to have uncontrolled treated or untreated hypertension [odds ratio 1.79 (P=0.003) and 2.60 (P=0.003), respectively, comparing lowest to highest Df quartiles] than those with no hypertension; this relationship was not seen comparing persons with controlled treated hypertension with no hypertension (odds ratio 1.01, P=0.972).
CONCLUSION: Hypertension was associated with a sparser retinal vascular network, which was similar across different racial/ethnic groups and most apparent in those with uncontrolled or untreated hypertension. These data suggest that microvascular remodelling can be quantified by measuring retinal vasculature.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Effect of blood pressure on the retinal vasculature in a multi-ethnic Asian population

Jeganathan VS, Sabanayagam C, Tai ES, Lee J, Sun C, Kawasaki R, et al.

Hypertens Res, 2009 Nov;32(11):975-82.

PMID: 19713968 DOI: 10.1038/hr.2009.130

Blood pressure has a significant effect on retinal arterioles. There are few data on whether this effect varies by race/ethnicity. We examined the relationship of blood pressure and retinal vascular caliber in a multi-ethnic Asian population. The study is population-based and cross sectional in design. A total of 3749 Chinese, Malay and Indian participants aged > or =24 years residing in Singapore were included in the study. Retinal vascular caliber was measured using a computer program from digital retinal photographs. The associations of retinal vascular caliber with blood pressure and hypertension in each racial/ethnic group were analyzed. The main outcome measures are retinal arteriolar caliber and venular caliber. The results show that retinal arterioles were narrower in persons with uncontrolled/untreated hypertension (140.0 microm) as compared with persons with controlled hypertension (142.1 microm, P=0.0001) and those with no hypertension (146.0 microm, P<0.0001). On controlling for age, gender, body mass index, lipids and smoking, each 10 mm Hg increase in mean arterial blood pressure was associated with a 3.1 microm decrease in arteriolar caliber (P<0.0001), with a similar magnitude seen in all three racial/ethnic groups: 3.1 microm in Chinese, 2.8 microm in Malays and 3.2 microm in Indians (P<0.0001 for all). Each 10 mm Hg increase in mean arterial blood pressure was associated with a 1.8 microm increase in venular caliber (P<0.0001); furthermore, the magnitude of this effect was similar across the three racial/ethnic groups. The effect of blood pressure on the retinal vasculature was similar across three major racial/ethnic groups in Asia.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Disseminated Penicillium marneffei infection: a report of five cases in Singapore

Kurup A, Leo YS, Tan AL, Wong SY

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1999 Jul;28(4):605-9.

PMID: 10561784

Penicillium marneffei has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen in HIV-infected patients in Southeast Asia. We report the first 5 cases of P. marneffei diagnosed in Singapore. All the patients were HIV-infected and were either Thai nationals or had frequently travelled to Thailand. Fever, weight loss, anaemia and papular skin lesions were common clinical manifestations in our patients, all of whom had the organism isolated from blood. Skin biopsy specimens showed histological evidence of P. marneffei in 2 patients. In 1 patient each, the organism grew in cultures of specimens from bone marrow and respiratory secretions. Amphotericin B therapy followed by itraconazole were used in 3 of our 5 patients and was associated with good clinical response and outcome.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Fulltext A case report of acupuncture anaesthesia in amputation of the knee

Wong PTL

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Jun;34(4):347-8.

PMID: 7219261

A case report of right below-knee amputation successfully performed under acupuncture anaesthesia, supplemented with parenteral valium and. pethidine, is described.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Ultrasound screening of the abdominal aorta in Malaysians

Teoh MK, Ramasamy D, Wong KP

Aust N Z J Surg, 1992 Nov;62(11):862-5.

PMID: 20169704

Ultrasound examination of the abdominal aorta was performed on 100 patients with cardiovascular disease and a control group of 100 subjects. The objectives were to define the normal aortic size of Malaysians, to screen for aneurysms and to compare the aorta size of the different population groups. In the study group the mean anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the non-aneurysmal aortas at the level of the renal arteries was 1.82 cm (range 0.9-2.6 cm) in men and 1.83 cm (range 1.5-2.3 cm) in women. This compares with 1.61 cm (range 1.1-2.2 cm) in men and 1.50 cm (range 0.8-2.4 cm) in women in the control group. The dimensions of the infrarenal aorta show a similar relationship between the two groups. These AP diameters were significantly smaller than the published figures from studies done on Western populations and are consistent with the smaller stature of Malaysians. Five aneurysms and one ectasia were found (mean size 5 cm, range 3.5-6.0 cm), all in men aged 50-75 years in the study group, and none in the control group. All the aneurysms were easily palpable in these patients who were thinner than the average Caucasian. Given the lower incidence of aortic aneurysms in Malaysians there is no role for routine ultrasound screening of the population. High risk groups can be adequately screened by clinical examination alone.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

An Asian community's perspective on facial profile attractiveness

Soh J, Chew MT, Wong HB

Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 2007 Feb;35(1):18-24.

PMID: 17244134

To assess the facial profile preferences of laypersons in an Asian community and the influence of age, ethnic and gender on profile selection.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

BamH1 polymorphism in the Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore and its application in the prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia

Tan JA, Tay SH, Kham KY, Wong HB

Jpn. J. Hum. Genet., 1993 Sep;38(3):315-8.

PMID: 7903173 DOI: 10.1007/BF01874141

The distribution of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) at the BamH1 site of the beta-globin gene was investigated in the Chinese, Indian, and Malay race in Singapore. The sample comprised of 183 normal individuals and 35 beta-thalassemia carriers in which 13 were couples with at least one beta-major child. The results from this study indicate that BamH1 polymorphism will be informative in 22% of pregnancies at risk for beta-thalassemia major in Chinese, 19% in Malays and 7% in Indians. In prenatal diagnosis using BamH1 polymorphism for one beta-major affected family, the fetus was diagnosed to be normal or beta-carrier. The validity of BamH1 polymorphism in the exclusion of beta-thalassemia major was subsequently confirmed at birth by globin chain biosynthesis.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Serum HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI, AII and B levels in Singapore newborns

Saha N, Wong HB

Biol. Neonate, 1987;52(2):93-6.

PMID: 3115319

The mortality from coronary artery disease (CAD) in Indians is more than three times that in the Chinese and Malays of Singapore. Serum total and HDL cholesterol as well as apolipoprotein (Apo) AI, AII and B levels were determined in a group of 349 newborns (cord blood) from both sexes in these three ethnic groups in order to examine if a trend is reflected at birth. Both serum LDL cholesterol and Apo B levels were low in the newborn, while HDL cholesterol and Apo AII levels were almost the same as in adults. Serum Apo AI levels were also low in newborns. No consistent difference as to ethnic group or sex was observed in any of the parameters investigated, except that the females had significantly higher levels of serum Apo AI in all the ethnic groups. Serum total and HDL cholesterol levels in Singapore newborns were comparable to those reported in Caucasians and Asians. The trends of incidence of CAD were not reflected in the lipid profiles studied at birth.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: strategy for prevention and management

Wong HB

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1985 Apr;14(2):334-42.

PMID: 4037695

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is inherited in a multifactorial manner with polygenes and environmental factors contributing to its emergence in a particular individual. The evidence for such a mode of inheritance is reviewed. One of the most important genetic roles is that played by the HLA genes on chromosome 6 and the different alleles which increase or decrease susceptibility in Caucasians, Japanese, Singapore Chinese and Shanghai Chinese are described. It is inferred that these alleles are different in different ethnic groups. The other genes which are important are unknown. The environmental influences are less well known although viral infections may act as triggers. Because the morbidity and mortality are still extremely serious in IDDM patients in spite of insulin therapy, it is proposed that preventive measures should be instituted in families prone to IDDM. The role of prenatal diagnosis is discussed especially in those families with multiple HLA susceptibility genes present. Great care paid to management of hyperglycemia from onset of the disease may reduce future morbidity and mortality.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Overview of the problems of the small birth weight baby in Singapore

Wong HB

J Singapore Paediatr Soc, 1986;28(1-2):104-11.

PMID: 3762069

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

A cross-sectional study of hepatitis B immune status in Asian children in Singapore

Quak SH, Singh R, Oon CJ, Wong HB

Ann Trop Paediatr, 1982 Jun;2(2):53-6.

PMID: 6185078

A study of race-related distribution of hepatitis B markers was conducted in 458 children admitted consecutively to Singapore General Hospital. The positive rates for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Chinese, Malays and Indians were 11.2, 8.0 and 12.2% respectively and the corresponding figures for anti-HBs were 30.2, 12.0 and 14.6%. In Chinese children HBsAg prevalence was shown to be sex-related, being higher in males than females. The percentages of Chinese children positive for anti-HBs and anti-HBc were also higher than those of the Indians. This study confirmed that Singapore children were exposed to hepatitis B infection from early life. All three races were equally susceptible to this infection.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Some notes on a hookworm and roundworm survey

Wolfe EDB

Malayan Medical Journal, 1936;11:224-5.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

A preliminary note on the influence of hen egg yolk on haemopoiesis

Wodak H

Journal of the Malaya Branch of the British Medical Association, 1939;3:258-78.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Glycaemic control and quality of life among ethnically diverse Malaysian diabetic patients

Daher AM, AlMashoor SA, Winn T

Qual Life Res, 2015 Apr;24(4):951-8.

PMID: 25352036 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-014-0830-5

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between glycaemic control and quality of life (QoL) among a sample of Malaysians with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional hospital-based study involving 256 patients from three major ethnic groups in Malaysia. Data about QoL were collected with the 18-item Audit of Diabetes Dependent QoL questionnaire. Other data about putative predictors of QoL including personal characteristics and disease-related factors were also collected. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was used to determine factors associated with QoL and to control for confounding variables.

RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 56.79 years. Participants were mostly women, employed and married and had attained secondary education. More than a third of the patients had a disease duration of more than 10 years, and about two-thirds had HbA1c ≥ 6.5 %. Those with desired glycaemic control had poorer QoL than those with less than desired glycaemic control moderated by the use of insulin. Hierarchical multiple linear regression showed that desired glycaemic control (HbA1c), diabetes worry, use of insulin, more than 10 years' duration of diabetes, neuropathy and retinopathy were associated with poor QoL, whereas being satisfied with waiting time for consultation was associated with better QoL.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that diabetes was associated with negative impact on quality of life. The use of insulin to achieve desired glycaemic control was particularly associated with negative impact on QoL.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

A case of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Winchester JW

Journal of the Malaya Branch of the British Medical Association, 1940;4:210-1.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Observations on the incidence of lobar pneumonia among tamils and chinese in Malaya.

Winchester JW

Malayan Medical Journal, 1929;4:75-7.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

Two fatal cases of unsuspected rupture of the spleen

Wilson F

Lancet, 1927;209:1236-7.