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  1. Diarrhoeal problems in Southeast Asia
    Sunoto
    Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1982 Sep;13(3):306-18.
    PMID: 7163834
    Diarrhoea up till now is still a major problem in Southeast Asia with high morbidity and mortality, particularly among children under 5 years of age, with the peak in children between 6 - 24 months. In Indonesia, in 1981, it was estimated that there are 60 million episodes with 300,000 - 500,000 deaths. In the Philippines, diarrhoea ranks as a second cause of morbidity (600 per 100,000 in 1974) and second cause of infant mortality (5 per 1,000 in 1974). In Thailand, in 1980, the morbidity rate was 524 per 100,000 and the mortality rate 14 per 100,000. In Malaysia, in 1976, diarrhoea was still ranking number 5 (3.1%) as a cause of total admission and number 9 (2.2%) as a cause of total deaths. In Singapore, diarrhoea still ranks number 3 as a cause of deaths (4% of total deaths). In Bangladesh, the overall attack rates imply a prevalence of 2.0% for the entire population, with the highest for under 5 groups i.e. 4.1%. The diarrhoea episode in rural population is 85.4%, 39% of them are children under 5. The most common enteropathogens found in all countries are rotavirus followed by Enterotoxigenic E. coli, Vibrio spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Campylobacter. Malnutrition and decline of giving breast-feeding play an important role in causing high morbidity, besides socio-economic, socio-cultural and poor environmental sanitation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  2. Blood lead levels of a population group not occupationally exposed to lead in Singapore
    Neo KS, Goh KT, Sam CT
    Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 2000 Jun;31(2):295-300.
    PMID: 11127329
    A survey was conducted between 1995 and 1997 to assess the impact of introduction of unleaded petrol and other public health measures on the blood lead level of the population. The geometric mean blood lead level of 269 government employees as determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, was 66.0 microg/l, much lower than that recorded before introduction of lead-free petrol. Using multiple regression analysis, factors significantly associated with blood lead levels were: exposure to traffic, age (>50 years) and active smoking. Passive smoking, exposure to recent paint work, consumption of alcohol and traditional medicine were found not to be significantly associated with the blood lead level.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  3. PERSONALITY TRAITS AND STRESS LEVELS AMONG SENIOR DENTAL STUDENTS: EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE
    Yusof ZYM, Hassan WNW, Razak IA, Hashim SMN, Tahir MKAM, Keng SB
    Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 2016 Nov;47(6):1353-65.
    PMID: 29641164
    This study aimed to evaluate the association between dental students’
    personality traits and stress levels in relation to dental education programs among
    senior dental students in University Malaya (UM) in Malaysia and National University
    of Singapore (NUS). A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered
    questionnaire was conducted on UM and NUS senior dental students. The questionnaire
    comprised items on demographic background, the Big Five Inventory
    Personality Traits (BFIPT) test and a modified Dental Environment Stress (DES)
    scale. Rasch analysis was used to convert raw data to interval scores. Analyses
    were done by t-test, Pearson correlation, and Hierarchical regression statistics.
    The response rate was 100% (UM=132, NUS=76). Personality trait Agreeableness
    (mean=0.30) was significantly more prevalent among UM than NUS students
    (mean=0.15, p=0.016). In NUS, Neuroticism (mean=0.36) was significantly more
    prevalent than in UM (mean=0.14, p=0.002). The DES mean score was higher
    among NUS (mean=0.23) than UM students (mean=0.07). In UM, Neuroticism
    was significantly correlated with stress levels (r=0.338, p<0.001). In NUS, these
    were Neuroticism (r=0.278, p=0.015), Agreeableness (r=0.250, p=0.029) and Conscientiousness
    (r=-0.242, p=0.035) personality traits. The correlation was strongest
    for personality trait Neuroticism in both schools. Hierarchical regression analysis
    showed that gender and Neuroticism were significant predictors for students’
    stress levels (p<0.05) with the latter exerting a bigger effect size (R2=0.18) than
    gender (R2=004). This study showed that gender and Neuroticism personality
    trait were significant predictors for stress levels among selected groups of dental
    students in Southeast Asia. Information on students’ personality may be useful in
    new students’ intake, stress management counseling and future program reviews.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  4. Fulltext Validation of skinfold thickness and hand-held impedance measurements for estimation of body fat percentage among Singaporean Chinese, Malay and Indian subjects
    Deurenberg P, Deurenberg-Yap M
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2002;11(1):1-7.
    PMID: 11890632
    Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured in 298 Singaporean Chinese, Malay and Indian men and women using a chemical four-compartment model consisting of fat, water, protein and mineral (BF%4C). In addition, weight, height, skinfold thickness and segmental impedance (from hand to hand) was measured. Body fat percentage was predicted using prediction equations from the literature (for skinfolds BF%SKFD) and using the manufacturer's software for the hand-held impedance analyser (BF%IMP). The subjects ranged in age from 18-70 years and in body mass index from 16.0 to 40.2 kg/m2. Body fat ranged from 6.5 to 53.3%. The biases for skinfold prediction (BF%4C-BF%SKFD, mean +/- SD) were -0.4+/-3.9, 2.3+/-4.1 and 3.1+/-4.2 in Chinese, Malay and Indian women, respectively, the Chinese being different from the Malays and Indians. The differences were significant from zero (P < 0.05) in the Malays and Indians. For the men, the biases were 0.5+/-3.8, 0.0+/-4.8 and 0.9+/-4.0 in Chinese, Malays and Indians, respectively. These biases were not significantly different from zero and not different among the ethnic groups. The biases for hand-held impedance BF% were -0.7+/-4.5, 1.5+/-4.4 and 0.4+/-3.8 in Chinese, Malay and Indian women. These biases were not significantly different from zero but the bias in the Chinese was significantly different from the biases in the Malays and Indians. In the Chinese, Malay and Indian men, the biases of BF%IMP were 0.7+/-4.6, 1.9+/-4.8 and 2.0+/-4.4, respectively. These biases in Malay and Indian men were significantly different from zero and significantly different from the bias in Chinese men. The biases were correlated with level of body fat and age, and also with relative arm span (arm span/height) for impedance. After correction, the differences in bias among the ethnic groups disappeared. The study shows that the biases in predicted BF% differ between ethnic groups, differences that can be explained by differences in body composition and differences in body build. This information is important and should be taken into account when comparing body composition across ethnic groups using predictive methods.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  5. Fulltext Nutrition and cardiovascular disease: an Asia Pacific perspective
    Khor GL
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 1997 Jun;6(2):122-42.
    PMID: 24394715
    Changes in the dietary intake patterns of countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered in relation to trends of cardiovascular disease mortality. Cardiovascular disease now constitutes the major cause of mortality in many of the countries of the region. The mortality rate for coronary heart disease (CHD) has been on the decline since the mid-1960s in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Japan, while a decline in other countries, including Singapore and Hong Kong, appears to be occurring about two decades later after a delayed increase. In contrast, countries like Malaysia and China have had and continue an upward trend for CHD mortality. Nonetheless, the mortality rates due to CHD in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore followed by Hong Kong rank among the highest in the region. In China, Taiwan and Japan, death due to cerebrovascular disease remains a major cause of death, although the latter two countries have undergone a significant decline in stroke death rates since 1970. The intakes of fat from land animal products, fish and vegetable oils, depending on fatty acid patterns and, possibly other constituents, are candidate contributors to the different atherogenic and thrombotic effects. Countries which have a higher mortality from CHD tend to have a higher intake of energy from fat and proportion of fat from animal products. These fat intakes may operate to increase hypercholesterolemia and overweight in various countries. Again, intakes of other food items and constituents used in the region such as soybeans, dietary antioxidants in fruits, vegetables, seeds, cereals, nuts and tea and alcohol consumption are candidate cardio-protectants. The wide dietary scope of Asia Pacific populations, from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, and at different levels of economic and technological development poses several analytic challenges and opportunities. Future research should improve the datasets and think laterally about pathogenesis and intervention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  6. Hepatic iron status in Malaysians and Singaporeans
    Loh TT, Chang LL
    Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1980 Mar;11(1):131-6.
    PMID: 7403941
    Non-haemoglobin liver iron was estimated in 275 presumably normal individuals from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore at necropsy. Liver Iron concentrations were highest during the first two years after birth but declined sharply during childhood. They then rose gradually and reached a value of 20 mg/100gm in adult males. Liver iron concentrations of childbearing women remained low and it was only after menopause that values in women rose to those of males. Liver iron stores increased with age to a plateau of about 300 mg in adults, suggesting that this value may represent the adult size for liver iron store. Among the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia and Singapore, Chinese, being in a better socio-eonomic class, had larger liver iron stores. The median liver iron concentrations of Malaysians and Singaporeans, on the whole, were lower than those reported from western populations and as many as 35 per cent of the women were in a subclinical state of iron deficiency.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  7. The prevalence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae collected from the giant African snail, Achatina fulica in west Malaysia and Singapore
    Bisseru B
    Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1971 Dec;2(4):523-6.
    PMID: 5144153
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  8. Apolipoprotein H (beta-2-glycoprotein I) polymorphism in Asians
    Saha N, Kamboh MI, Kelly LJ, Ferrell RE, Tay JS
    Hum Biol, 1992 Aug;64(4):617-21.
    PMID: 1644427
    Apolipoprotein H (APOH) (beta-2-glycoprotein I) polymorphism has been studied in 1159 Asians. The sample included 872 Chinese, 179 Asiatic Indians (Dravidian), 91 Filipinos, and 17 Malays. APOH polymorphism was determined by isoelectric focusing of sera in thin-layer polyacrylamide gels containing 3 M urea followed by immunoblotting. The frequencies of the three alleles--APOH*1, APOH*2, and APOH*3--were found to be 0.031, 0.900, and 0.069 in the Chinese; 0.061, 0.866, and 0.073 in the Dravidian Indians; 0.055, 0.923, and 0.022 in the Filipinos; and 0.088, 0.882, and 0.029 in the Malays. The phenotypic distribution was at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in all the populations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  9. Perceived barriers to and ideas for weight control interventions in Malay homemakers: results from focus groups
    Ng LW, Malhotra R, Lai D, Tai ES, Østbye T
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2015 Mar;27(2):NP552-61.
    PMID: 23482708 DOI: 10.1177/1010539513479966
    To develop a better understanding of perceived barriers to and ideas for weight loss and maintenance among Malay homemakers in Singapore.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  10. Fulltext Hypoglycaemia among Insulin-Treated Patients with Diabetes: Southeast Asia Cohort of IO HAT Study
    Pathan F, Goh SY, Rudijanto A, Gadekar A, Jain A, Nicodemus N
    J ASEAN Fed Endocr Soc, 2018;33(1):28-36.
    PMID: 33442108 DOI: 10.15605/jafes.033.01.05
    Objective: To provide real-world data on hypoglycaemia incidence in patients with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) from the Southeast Asian cohort of the International Operations Hypoglycaemia Assessment Tool (IO HAT) study.

    Methodology: IO HAT was a non-interventional, multicentre, 6-month retrospective and 4-week prospective study of hypoglycaemic events among insulin-treated adults with T1D or T2D, including four countries in Southeast Asia (Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, and Bangladesh). Data were collected using a two-part self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ1 for retrospective and SAQ2 for prospective). The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients experiencing at least one hypoglycaemic event during the 4-week prospective observational period (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02306681).

    Results: A total of 2594 patients completed SAQ1. Nearly all patients reported experiencing any hypoglycaemic event in the 4-week prospective period (T1D, 100%; T2D, 97.3%), with all patients reporting higher rates in the prospective versus retrospective period. Severe hypoglycaemia was also reported higher prospectively (57.2% and 76.9%) than retrospectively (33.9% and 12.2%) in both T1D and T2D, respectively. Nocturnal hypoglycaemia was reported higher retrospectively than prospectively.

    Conclusion: Incidence of any and severe hypoglycaemia in the Southeast Asian cohort of IO HAT was higher prospectively versus retrospectively, suggesting hypoglycaemia has previously been under-reported in this region.

    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  11. 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: Singapore
  12. Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome: clinical, virological and epidemiological perspectives
    Chan YC, Wong TW, Yap EH
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1987 Oct;16(4):696-701.
    PMID: 2895603
    Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is caused by a group of RNA viruses within the family of Bunyaviridae known as hantaviruses. The classical, severe form of HFRS is characterized by fever, headache, abdominal and lumbar pain, proteinuria, haemorrhagic phenomena, shock and renal failure. The disease is associated with the prototype Hantaan virus and occurs in rural areas of Korea and China with Apodemus mice as reservoir hosts. A clinically less severe form of HFRS, which is caused by Seoul virus, occurs in urban areas with the house rat Rattus novegicus as the main reservoir host. The disease in nonendemic areas may be atypical and patients with symptoms the hepatitis and minimal renal involvement have been observed in Malaysia. Outbreaks of HFRS in humans involving infected laboratory rat colonies have occurred in several medical centres in various countries. Hantaviruses cause a chronic, asymptomatic infection in rodents which excrete the virus in their lungs, saliva and urine. Man becomes infected mainly by inhalation of infected droplets from healthy rodent carriers. Seroepidemiological studies using mainly the indirect immunoflourescent antibody test of sera from humans and rats showed that hantaviruses have a worldwide distribution.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  13. Thyroid hormones and autoantibodies in pregnant patients with thyroid diseases
    Goh KH, Ng ML, Roslan BA, Tan TT, Nasri BN, Khalid BA
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1993 Jul;22(4):539-43.
    PMID: 8257054
    Serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid autoantibodies in pregnant patients with thyroid disease at various stages of pregnancy were determined by in-house ELISAs. In normal pregnancy, serum TSH levels were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) from 13 weeks of gestation. The normal reference ranges for TSH for the second (0.6-5.0 mIU/l) and third trimester (0.6-5.6 mIU/l) were significantly higher (p < 0.05; p < 0.01 respectively) compared to 0.4-4.5 mIU/l for the first trimester. In pregnant thyroid patients, serum TSH levels correlated highly (p < 0.001) to T4 (r = 0.740), FT4I (r = 0.683) and MicAb (microsomal antibodies) (r = 0.825) but weaker (p < 0.01) to T3 (r = -0.512), FT3I (r = 0.520) and TgAb (thyroglobulin antibodies) (r = 0.618). Thus, measurement of TSH with the highly sensitive ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) would form a useful first line test for thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy while measurement of thyroid autoantibodies would aid in the diagnosis of autoimmune hypothyroidism.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  14. Anatomy of a burns disaster: the Miri Bank explosion
    Wu WT, Ngim RC
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1992 Sep;21(5):640-8.
    PMID: 1292393
    A bank explosion in a neighbouring country over 1000 km away resulted in ten badly burned victims being airlifted to the Burns Centre, Singapore General Hospital (BCSGH) for treatment. The severely injured included patients with 90%, 80%, 74%, 66%, 45%, 33% and 31% burns. Nine had respiratory burns (four severe, one moderate, four mild). One patient died, thus, the mortality rate for the six most severely injured was 16.7%. This differs from predicted mortality rates of 78% according to McCoy or 54% according to Thompson, Herndon et al. The factors contributing to this result were the small size of the disaster, the use of an established Burns Mass Disaster plan and an individual management policy that incorporates carefully monitored fluid resuscitation, recognition of respiratory burns with early treatment by intubation thus pre emptying complications, early surgery and a multidisciplinary approach to complications such as infection and renal failure. The average length of stay was 43 days (range 5-122 days). The cost of the hospitalisation of the ten casualties was $312,317.00.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  15. Incidence of primary liver cancer in Singapore, 1968-1982
    Chia KS, Lee HP, Lee J
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1989 May;18(3):313-6.
    PMID: 2549842
    Based on data collected by the population-based Singapore Cancer Registry over the period 1968 to 1982, baseline epidemiological characteristics and incidence trends of primary liver cancer were described. This will facilitate the interpretation of future trends, especially in the light of new interventions such as hepatitis B immunisation. The primary liver cancer incidence is four times higher in males than in females, with the incidence peaked in the seventh decade. The incidence rate was higher in the Chinese than in Malays and Indians and marginally higher among foreign born than Singapore born Chinese. A general declining trend in liver cancer incidence was especially notable in the local born Chinese. Misclassification of metastatic carcinomas in the earlier years of cancer registration may have contributed to the initial higher incidence. Definitive decrease in incidence as a result of hepatitis immunisation will only be seen in another two to three decades.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  16. Clinical observations on nail changes in psoriasis
    Tham SN, Lim JJ, Tay SH, Chiew YF, Chua TN, Tan E, et al.
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1988 Oct;17(4):482-5.
    PMID: 3265604
    410 cases of psoriasis [282 males (68%) and 127 females (31%)] were interviewed and examined to study the nail changes. The prevalence of nail changes was 78.0% (males = females). Common changes were pitting (67.5%) and onycholysis (67.2%). Dystrophy of varying degrees occurred in 35.0%, subungual hyperkeratosis in 24.7%, discoloration in 18.4%, loss of nails in 2.8% and pustulation in 1.3%. Pitting and onycholysis was the most common combination (45.6%). Nail changes were significantly more common in patients who have moderate to severe psoriasis as compared with patients with mild psoriasis; in patients who have psoriasis for greater than 5 years as compared with patients who have psoriasis for less than 5 years; and in patients older than age 50 as compared with those aged less than 50. A definite correlation was found between the prevalence of nail changes and the presence of scalp and periungual psoriasis, and the presence of joint involvement.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  17. An immunofluorescence study of lichen planus among Asians in Singapore
    Lim KB
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1988 Oct;17(4):545-7.
    PMID: 3223741
    Forty-five Asian patients (Indians 35, Chinese 8, Malay 2) with histologically proven lichen planus were studied by immunofluorescence. The most characteristic feature, seen in 93% of the cases, was shaggy deposition of fibrinogen along the basement membrane. Immunoglobulin deposition along the basement membrane was notably, absent. Colloid bodies were observed in 87% of the cases. Fibrinogen was the most common immunoreactant, and its presence in colloid bodies was always associated with fibrinogen deposition along the basement membrane zone. Colloid bodies also contained a variety of other immunoreactants. However, staining for IgM was noted to be the most intense. The combination of shaggy deposition of fibrinogen along the basement membrane, in the absence of immunoglobulins, and the presence of colloid bodies around the basement membrane zone, is highly characteristic of lichen planus. The pattern of immunofluorescence among Asians with lichen planus, conforms to that observed in other races. There did not appear to be any difference in the immunofluorescence staining with pattern in the three racial groups studied.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  18. Classification of Chinese cancer patients by dialect group: is it still valid?
    Lee HP, Gourley L
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1988 Jul;17(3):431-3.
    PMID: 3265301
    In Singapore, cancer incidence is documented separately for the different Chinese dialect groups, as a means of providing a possible insight into environmental or genetic factors which may be involved in the aetiological process. Thus, it would be useful to determine whether or not the Chinese population in Singapore still comprises distinct dialect groups. In view of this, an investigation into the dialect group of the parents of 792 hospital in-patients (cases and controls) was carried out. It was found that the vast majority of patients (94.2%), most of whom were born before 1940, had parents of the same dialect group. The percentages of within-dialect marriages were only slightly less for offspring born in Singapore or Malaysia as opposed to China, and decreases with time were small. Thus in 1985-87 Chinese cancer patients and controls in Singapore, of the ages represented in this study may indeed be classified according to their father's dialect and this is likely to be the case for at least the next decade or so. This finding will be of use to cancer epidemiologists as well as others studying Chinese dialect group variations in disease patterns.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  19. Pulmonary function in healthy Chinese, Malay and Indian adults in Singapore
    Chia SE, Wang YT, Chan OY, Poh SC
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1993 Nov;22(6):878-84.
    PMID: 8129348
    Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), single-breath diffusion capacity measurements (effective alveolar volume (VA), carbon monoxide transfer factor (DLCO) and transfer coefficient (KCO)) were determined in 452 healthy Singaporean adults (277 males and 175 females) aged 20-70 years. The ratio of Chinese, Malay and Indian subjects was 5:2:3 in both sexes. Age, height and weight in the males were all significantly correlated with FEV1, FVC, DLCO, VA and PEFR. However, for females, only age and height were significantly correlated with the studied lung function parameters. Significant ethnic differences were observed for most of the pulmonary functions (except KCO and PEFR) among the Chinese, Malays and Indians for both males and females. The predicted FEV1 and FVC values (specific age and height) for both sexes were highest among the Chinese followed by the Malays than Indians, in that order. Regression equations, with age and height as independent variables, were derived for males and females in each ethnic group to predict normal pulmonary function for the Singapore Chinese, Malay and Indian populations. The predicted values of various pulmonary function measurements obtained from these regression equations for subjects of specified age (30 years) and height (165 cm for men, 155 cm for women) were compared with those reported in other studies. Differences were observed among the different races.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
  20. Ethnic differences in blood lead concentration among workers in a battery manufacturing factory
    Chia SE, Chia KS, Ong CN
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1991 Nov;20(6):758-61.
    PMID: 1803964
    Blood lead levels of two ethnic groups (11 Chinese and 25 Malays) of workers in a factory manufacturing lead accumulator battery were studied. The mean adjusted (for environmental lead levels, age, exposure duration and stick-years of smoking by analysis of covariance) blood lead level of the Malays was 34.8 micrograms/dl as compared to 22.4 micrograms/dl for the Chinese. This difference was significant (p less than 0.02). Oral ingestion of lead, through eating of food with hands contaminated by lead compound, among the Malay workers was suggested as a possible cause for the difference in the mean blood lead levels. Preventive measures and recommendations to overcome the problem among this particular group of workers were discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
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