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Polymorphism studies of four miniSTR loci for three ethnic populations in Singapore

Yong RY, Gan LS, Coble MD, Yap EP

Leg Med (Tokyo), 2007 Sep;9(5):278-81.
PMID: 17467323

MiniSTR loci has demonstrated to be an effective approach to recover genetic information from degraded sample, due to the improved PCR efficiency of their reduced PCR amplicon sizes. This study constructed a partial miniSGM panel and investigated the performance of four miniSTR loci, D2S1338, D16S539, D18S51 and FGA, in three ethnic populations residing in Singapore. The suitability of the miniSTR primers for Singapore populations was assessed for loci D16S539, D18S51 and FGA.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Fulltext Pain morbidity in primary care - preliminary observations from two different primary care settings

Zailinawati AH, Teng CL, Kamil MA, Achike FI, Koh CN

Med J Malaysia, 2006 Jun;61(2):162-7.
PMID: 16898306 MyJurnal

The prevalence of pain complaints as a reason for patient-doctor encounters in the local primary care setting is unknown. We performed a cross-sectional survey of such encounters in one public primary care clinic (KK) and 17 general practice clinics (GP), from the city of Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Reasons for visits were recorded by doctors in KK and medical students in GP using a structured questionnaire. Morbidity data was coded using the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2). A total of 2234 encounters were recorded (80.9% from KK, 19.1% from GP). The overall prevalence of pain complaints was 31.9% with a significant difference between the two cohorts (KK 28.7% and GP 45.2%, p<0.001). Musculoskeletal pain complaints were more common in KK than GP (40.9% versus 29.7%, p<0.05). Of the 3 main ethnic groups in Malaysia (Malay, Chinese and Indian) the Indian patients at KK had the highest prevalence of pain complaints and the Chinese at the GP had the lowest. Thus pain was a common complaint in the two different primary care settings studied. Some of the differences observed are probably due to the differences in the healthcare seeking behaviour of patients consulting at these two settings as well as differences in the payment systems.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Fulltext Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in a primary care setting using digital retinal imaging technology

Keah SH, Ch'ng KS

Malays Fam Physician, 2006;1(1):19-22.
PMID: 26998203 MyJurnal

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in a primary care setting using digital retinal imaging technology and to quantify the degree of diabetic retinopathy using internationally accepted severity scales. Two hundred patients with type 2 diabetes were evaluated clinically followed by fundus photography. The prevalence of retinopathy and maculopathy was 47.4% and 59.2% respectively (both retinopathy and maculopathy 34.7%). The high prevalence of retinal abnormality in this study is a cause for concern as most patients had diabetes for only 5 years or less.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Ethnic differences in the time trend of female breast cancer incidence: Singapore, 1968-2002

Sim X, Ali RA, Wedren S, Goh DL, Tan CS, Reilly M, et al.

BMC Cancer, 2006;6:261.
PMID: 17078893

From 1968 to 2002, Singapore experienced an almost three-fold increase in breast cancer incidence. This increase appeared to be different across the three main ethnic groups: Chinese, Malays and Indians. This paper used age-period-cohort (APC) modelling, to determine the effects of age at diagnosis, calendar period, and birth cohort on breast cancer incidence for each ethnic group.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Lived experiences of family caregivers of mentally ill relatives

Chang KH, Horrocks S

J Adv Nurs, 2006 Feb;53(4):435-43.
PMID: 16448486 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03732.x

AIM: The aim of this paper is to report a study conducted to explore the meanings of the lived experiences that Chinese family caregivers in Malaysia ascribed to the care they provided to relatives with severe and persistent mental illness.
BACKGROUND: In the past, many researchers have used quantitative approaches to explore the experiences of family caregivers of relatives with severe and persistent mental illness. However, the results of these studies have been far from conclusive because of serious methodological flaws. In addition, a large majority of these studies were conducted in western cultures, and it has been difficult to transfer the results to family caregivers in oriental cultures.
METHOD: The philosophy of Martin Heidegger underpinned the study. Qualitative data were collected mainly through in-depth interviews with 19 criterion-selected Chinese family caregivers of relatives with severe and persistent mental illness in 2002.
FINDINGS: We present the emergent themes reflecting the meaning structures of managing, enduring, and surviving the day-to-day experiences of the Chinese family caregivers. The impact of the stigma of the relatives' mental illness on family caregivers and families is pervasive and strong. As a result, family caregivers tried to avoid talking about their relative's mental illness with extended family or friends in order to protect their families from 'losing face'. In addition, most family caregivers believed that adopting positive behaviours and attitudes helped them cope with caregiving.
CONCLUSION: Mental health nurses need to help Chinese family caregivers to cope with the stresses and stigmas of their relatives' mental illnesses through psychosocial education or family intervention, and to provide them with culturally-congruent care. They should also educate the public about mental health and ill health through health promotion and education.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Fulltext Concha bullosa in chronic sinusitis

Subramanian S, Lekhraj Rampal GR, Wong EFM, Mastura S, Razi A

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Dec;60(5):535-9.
PMID: 16515102

Sinusitis is an important cause of morbidity and one of the major sources of income loss. Anatomical variations of the nose have been reported to predispose to sinusitis. These variations include concha bullosa, nasal septal deviation and oversized bulla. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion and the distribution of concha bullosa in patients with chronic sinusitis and to determine the relationship between concha bullosa and age, sex, ethnicity. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat in Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL). Data was collected retrospectively using a pretested proforma. All patients who underwent Sino nasal surgery between January 1999 and December 2000 and whose preoperative CT scans were available were included in the study. The CT scans were reviewed. Analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Out of 146 patients who underwent sinonasal surgery between January 1999 and December 2000, 101 (69.2% preoperative CT scans of these patients were available and these were reviewed. The proportion of patients with concha bullosa was 49.5%. The results showed that there was significant relationship between presence of concha bullosa and age and sex. The overall mean age of patient with concha bullosa was 35.7 years (95% CI 12.1-39.3) and ranged from 11-years to 56-years. The mean age of respondents with concha bullosa was significantly lower than patients without concha bullosa 41.98 (95% CI 37.6-46.3; t-test = 2.221; df=99; p < 0.05). Concha bullosa was significantly more in females (66.0%) compared to males (chi2 = 4.465, df=1, p < 0.05). There was no significant relationship between presence of concha bullosa and ethnicity.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Polymorphism of 9 STRs in ethnic Chinese population of Malaysia

Panneerchelvam S, Kumara KT, KokFai L, Saravanakumar M, Sumathy V, Yuvaneswari KC, et al.

J Forensic Sci, 2004 Sep;49(5):1132-3.
PMID: 15461127
Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Investigation of class characteristics in English handwriting of the three main racial groups: Chinese, Malay and Indian in Singapore

Cheng N, Lee GK, Yap BS, Lee LT, Tan SK, Tan KP

J Forensic Sci, 2005 Jan;50(1):177-84.
PMID: 15831016

This paper investigated the class characteristics in English handwriting of the Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore, many of whom learned their native language as a second language. One hundred and fifty-four handwriting exemplars were collected and features such as letter designs, pen-lifts, letter spacing and embellishments were studied. A number of characteristic features peculiar to the individual racial group were identified, which confirmed the impact of their native language writing systems on English handwriting.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Ethnic variability in dementia: results from Singapore

Ampil ER, Fook-Chong S, Sodagar SN, Chen CP, Auchus AP

Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord, 2005 Oct-Dec;19(4):184-5.
PMID: 16327344

The diversity of Singapore's population affords a unique opportunity to study ethnic variability in the dementias. We sought to explore the effects of ethnicity on the frequency of Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia in a large Singaporean sample. A total of 357 patients were studied: 190 with vascular dementia and 167 with Alzheimer disease. Vascular dementia was more common among Chinese and Malays, whereas Alzheimer disease was more common in Indians and Eurasians. Factors that may contribute to the observed ethnic variability in dementia etiologies include differential frequency of the ApoE-e4 allele, frequency of vascular risk factors, lifestyle choices, and cultural attitudes toward health care utilization.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Occlusal status in Asian male adults: prevalence and ethnic variation

Soh J, Sandham A, Chan YH

Angle Orthod, 2005 Sep;75(5):814-20.
PMID: 16279828

The purpose of this study was to determine the occlusal status in young Asian male adults of three ethnic groups. Study models of a sample of male army recruits (N = 339, age 17-22 years) with no history of orthodontic treatment were assessed. The ethnic proportions of the sample were Chinese 76.1% (n = 258), Malay 17.7% (n = 60), and Indian 6.2% (n = 21). British Standard Institute (BSI) and Angle's classification were used to determine incisor and molar relationships, respectively. Chi-square test or Fisher's Exact test was performed to compare the occlusal traits between ethnic groups. The distribution of incisor relationships of the total sample consisted of Class I = 48.1%, Class II/1 = 26.3%, Class II/2 = 3.2%, and Class III = 22.4%. Right Angle's molar relationships were 49.9%, 24.5%, and 24.2% whereas left Angle's molar relationships were 53.1%, 25.1%, and 21.2% for Class I, II, and III, respectively. Comparison between ethnic groups found that Indian subjects were more likely to have Class II/1 malocclusions and clinically missing permanent teeth (P < .05). The study found that the overall prevalence of malocclusion (BSI) was Class I, Class II/1, Class III, and Class II/2 in descending order of proportions. Angle's Class I molar was most prevalent followed by Class II and Class III relations. A significant difference in occlusal status between the ethnic groups was found regarding incisor relationship and missing permanent teeth (P < .05).

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
STR data for the PowerPlex 16 System loci for the Malays, Chinese and Indians groups of the Malaysian population

Izuan M, Seah LH, Panneerchelvam S, Nor NM

J Forensic Sci, 2005 Sep;50(5):1225-8.
PMID: 16225237
Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Genetic polymorphism of CYP2C8 in three Malaysian ethnics: CYP2C8*2 and CYP2C8*3 are found in Malaysian Indians

Muthiah YD, Lee WL, Teh LK, Ong CE, Ismail R

J Clin Pharm Ther, 2005 Oct;30(5):487-90.
PMID: 16164496

CYP2C8 is genetically polymorphic. Four variants, CYP2C8*2, CYP2C8*3, CYP2C8*4 and CYP2C8*5, which contain mutations in the coding regions have been reported to exhibit different enzyme activity as compared with CYP2C8*1.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Fulltext Views and experiences of Malaysian older persons about falls and their prevention-A qualitative study

Loganathan A, Ng CJ, Low WY

BMC Geriatr, 2016;16:97.
PMID: 27153989 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-016-0274-6

BACKGROUND: Few studies on falls interventions have been conducted in South East Asia. Despite its population ageing rapidly, the acceptability of interventions among the older population in this region remains variable. This study aims to explore views and experiences regarding falls and their prevention among older persons at high risk of falls.
METHOD: Sixteen individuals aged 60 years and over with at least one fall in the preceding 12 months were recruited from our Primary Care clinics. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews among individuals and focus-groups was conducted. Thematic analyses were conducted on transcriptions of audio-taped interviews using the WeftQDA software. The interviews ceased when data saturation was achieved.
RESULTS: The three themes included older persons' views on falls, help-seeking behaviour and views on falls interventions. Many older persons interviewed did not perceive falls as a serious problem, some reported a stigma surrounding falls, while others felt they had not sustained more serious injuries due to God's grace. Older persons sought traditional medicine and other alternative treatments for pain relief and other fall-related symptoms. Accessibility of healthcare facilities often prevented older persons from receiving physiotherapy or eye tests.
CONCLUSION: The delivery of complex interventions for a multifactorial condition such as falls in the older persons in our setting is inhibited by various cultural barriers, falls perceptions as well as logistic difficulties. Efforts to establish a multi-disciplinary intervention among our older population will need to include strategies to overcome these issues.
KEYWORDS: Accidental falls; Aged; Falls interventions; Falls preventions; Older adults; Qualitative study

Study site: Primary Care Clinics at University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Fulltext IL-10 and IL-12B gene polymorphisms in a multiethnic Malaysian population

Sam SS, Teoh BT, AbuBakar S

Genet. Mol. Res., 2015;14(2):3257-63.
PMID: 25966091 DOI: 10.4238/2015.April.13.4

Inheritance of polymorphisms in the interleukin (IL)-10 promoter and IL-12B genes, which influence cytokine production and activities, may define the balance in T helper response in infection and autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of the IL-10 promoter and IL-12B gene polymorphisms in a multiethnic Malaysian population. Overall, our findings suggest that the IL-12B and IL-10 -592 genotypes were distributed homogenously across all major ethnic groups, including Malays, Chinese, and Indians, except for polymorphisms at IL-10 -1082. At this gene locus, the ethnic Chinese showed a significantly lower allele frequency of -1082G (2.1%) compared to the Malay (12.2%) and Indian (15.3%) populations. Results for the IL-12B and IL-10 gene polymorphisms were consistent with those reported for the Asian population, but markedly different from those of the African and Caucasian populations. Our findings suggest that there are specific genetic variations between different ethnic groups, which should be examined in all gene population-based association studies.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Fulltext The development and validation of the Osteoporosis Prevention and Awareness Tool (OPAAT) in Malaysia

Toh LS, Lai PS, Wu DB, Wong KT, Low BY, Anderson C

PLoS One, 2015;10(5):e0124553.
PMID: 25938494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124553

Objectives: To develop and validate Osteoporosis Prevention and Awareness Tool (OPAAT) in Malaysia.
Methods: The OPAAT was modified from the Malaysian Osteoporosis Knowledge Tool and developed from an exploratory study on patients. Face and content validity was established by an expert panel. The OPAAT consists of 30 items, categorized into three domains. A higher score indicates higher knowledge level. English speaking non-osteoporotic postmenopausal women 50 years of age and pharmacists were included in the study.
Results: A total of 203 patients and 31 pharmacists were recruited. Factor analysis extracted three domains. Flesch reading ease was 59.2. The mean±SD accuracy rate was 0.60±0.22 (range: 0.26-0.94). The Cronbach’s α for each domain ranged from 0.286-0.748. All items were highly correlated (Spearman’s rho: 0.761-0.990, p<0.05), with no significant change in the overall test-retest scores, indicating that OPAAT has achieved stable reliability. Pharmacists had higher knowledge score than patients (80.9±8.7vs63.6±17.4, p<0.001), indicating
that the OPAAT was able to discriminate between the knowledge levels of pharmacists and patients.
Conclusion: The OPAAT was found to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing patient’s knowledge about osteoporosis and its prevention in Malaysia. The OPAAT can be used to identify individuals in need of osteoporosis educational intervention.
Study site:: Primary care clinic, tertiary hospital, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Materialism and life satisfaction: the role of religion

Rakrachakarn V, Moschis GP, Ong FS, Shannon R

J Relig Health, 2015 Apr;54(2):413-26.
PMID: 25811060

This study examines the role of religion and religiosity in the relationship between materialism and life satisfaction. The findings suggests that religion may be a key factor in understanding differences in findings of previous studies regarding the inverserelationship found in the vast majority of previous studies. Based on a large-scale study in Malaysia—a country comprised of several religious subcultures (mainly Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus), the findings suggest that the influence of religiosity on materialism and life satisfaction is stronger among Malays than among Chinese and Indians, and life satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between religiosity and materialism. The paper discusses implications for theory development and further research.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Fulltext Assessment of condyle and glenoid fossa morphology using CBCT in South-East Asians

Al-koshab M, Nambiar P, John J

PLoS One, 2015;10(3):e0121682.
PMID: 25803868 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121682

INTRODUCTION: Proper imaging allows practitioners to evaluate an asymptomatic tempormandibular joint (TMJ) for potential degenerative changes prior to surgical and orthodontic treatment. The recently developed cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) allows measurement of TMJ bony structures with high accuracy. A study was undertaken to determine the morphology, and its variations, of the mandibular condyle and glenoid fossa among Malay and Chinese Malaysians.
METHODS: CBCT was used to assess 200 joints in 100 subjects (mean age, 30.5 years). i-CAT CBCT software and The Mimics 16.0 software were employed to measure the volume, metrical size, position of each condyle sample and the thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF).
RESULTS: No significant gender differences were noted in thickness of the RGF and condylar length; however condylar volume, width, height and the joint spaces were significantly greater among males. With regards to comparison of both TMJs, the means of condylar volume, width and length of the right TMJ were significantly higher, while the means of the left condylar height and thickness of RGF were higher. When comparing the condylar measurements and the thickness of RGF between the two ethnic groups, we found no significant difference for all measurements with exception of condylar height, which is higher among Chinese.
CONCLUSION: The similarity in measurements for Malays and Chinese may be due to their common origin. This information can be clinically useful in establishing the diagnostic criteria for condylar volume, metrical size, and position in the Malaysian East Asians population.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology
Hepatitis A shifting epidemiology in South-East Asia and China

Barzaga BN

Vaccine, 2000 Feb 18;18 Suppl 1:S61-4.
PMID: 10683551

A review of the epidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection over the last 20 years shows shifting patterns in the prevalence of antibodies to HAV (anti-HAV) throughout South-East Asia and China. A number of countries have shifted from high to moderate and from moderate to low endemicity, with a corresponding increase in the age of exposure from childhood to early adulthood. The changes have resulted from improvements in hygiene, sanitation and the quality of drinking water, reflecting improvements in living standards and socioeconomic progress. In general in the late 1970s and early 1980s, 85-95% of the population of developing countries like the Philippines, Korea, China and Thailand were anti-HAV-positive by age 10-15 years, compared with only about 50% in the more affluent countries like Malaysia and Singapore. In the early 1990s, 85-95% of the population were immune by age 30-40 years in the Philippines, Korea, China and Thailand, and by 50 years of age and above in Malaysia and Singapore. Similar trends were noted in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. Exposure to HAV at a later age may be associated with an increase in hepatitis A morbidity and a greater propensity for outbreaks.

Matched MeSH terms: China/epidemiology
Epidemiological data on pneumococcal infections in Asian countries

Jamal F

Vaccine, 1999 Jul 30;17 Suppl 1:S75-8.
PMID: 10471186
Matched MeSH terms: China/epidemiology
Anaemia and iron status among blood donors in a blood transfusion unit in Malaysia

Nadarajan VS, Eow GI

Malays J Pathol, 2002 Dec;24(2):99-102.
PMID: 12887168

Iron deficiency is a major complication of regular blood donation as a result of regular iron loss from each donated blood unit. Ninety-two regular blood donors and 95 first time blood donors attending a hospital-based blood transfusion centre were assessed as to their haematological and iron status by blood counts and serum ferritin levels as an indicator of iron stores. All donors had passed the haemoglobin-screening test using a copper sulphate method prior to blood donation. Ferritin levels were found to be significantly lower among regular blood donors (47.8 mmol/L) as compared to first time blood donors (94.2 mmol/L). Iron deficiency as observed by low ferritin levels was seen in 7.4% of all first time donors as compared to 17.4% in regular donors. Male first time donors showed a low prevalence of iron deficiency but the prevalence significantly increased with regular blood donation. Female first time and regular blood donors however did not show any significant differences in prevalence of iron deficiency, with both groups exhibiting prevalence rates similar to male regular donors. The association between haemoglobin levels and iron deficiency was poor and the copper sulphate-screening test was found insensitive to anaemia with many donors passing the test and donating blood despite being anaemic. It is concluded that a high prevalence of iron deficiency is present among regular male blood donors and all female donors. Besides, the use of the copper sulphate screening test as a sole criterion for anaemia screening should be reviewed. Ferritin measurements should be included in the routine assessment of blood donors especially among regular blood donors.

Matched MeSH terms: China/ethnology

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