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Satisfaction of orthognathic surgical patients in a Malaysian population

Siow KK, Ong ST, Lian CB, Ngeow WC

J Oral Sci, 2002 Dec;44(3-4):165-71.
PMID: 12613507

Thirty-one patients treated at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, were assessed for their satisfaction following orthognathic surgery. The female to male ratio was 22:9 with an age range of 17 to 36. Almost all patients (97%) listed appearance as one of their rationales for surgery. More males (78%) than females (59%) wanted functional improvement, while more females (91%) than males (33%) hoped for improvement in self-confidence. All patients reported esthetic improvement while 68% each reported improvement in mastication and self-confidence. Slightly more than half (52%) chose esthetic improvement as the single most important factor resulting in satisfaction. Almost ninety percent of male patients claimed satisfaction with functional improvement, while 68% of those who found satisfaction in improved self-confidence were females. Eighty-seven percent rated their post-surgical changes as being well accepted by their family. The impact of these findings on the success of the surgery and the need to reinforce verbal communication with printed pamphlets are emphasized.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Recurrent abdominal pain and consulting behaviour among children in a rural community in Malaysia

Boey CC, Goh KL

Dig Liver Dis, 2001 Mar;33(2):140-4.
PMID: 11346142

AIM: To look at predictors of consulting behaviour among children with recurrent abdominal pain in a rural community in Malaysia.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A sample of 1462 school-children aged between 9 and 15 years were randomly selected from all schools in Kuala Langat, a rural district in Malaysia. Those with recurrent abdominal pain, defined according to Apley's criteria, were recruited and divided into consulters and non-consulters. A consulter was defined as a child who had sought the help of a medical practitioner at least once in the past year for recurrent abdominal pain. A detailed clinical, social and family history was obtained in all recruited children.
RESULTS: A total of 161 children were recruited: 78 (48.4%) consulters, 83 (51.6%) non-consulters. Of the consulters, 40 were boys, 38 were girls (male:female ratio = 1.1:1). The two sexes did not show a significant difference in prevalence of consulters [p=0.189). Of the ethnic groups, only Indians had a significantly higher likelihood to consult a doctor (Indians, p=0.006; Malays, p=0.742; Chinese, p=0.050]. Younger children (under 12 years) had a significantly higher chance of having been brought to see a medical practitioner (p=0.014). Children in whom age of onset of abdominal pain was below ten years were also more likely to have been seen by a doctor (p=0.012). Children who had consulted a doctor were more likely to be missing school because of abdominal pain (p<0.001). Pain severity was not a significant factor (p=0.429). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the only variable that remained significantly associated with health-care consultation was school absence (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Children who saw their doctors for recurrent abdominal pain were also more likely to be those who missed school on account of abdominal pain. Following multiple regression analysis, other factors were no longer significant.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Fulltext Intraocular pressure variation following retrobulbar anaesthesia among the different sex, age and ethnic groups in Malaysia

Lee FN, Kong VY, Lee GP, Ho KH, Choon SC, Hoh HB

Med J Malaysia, 1999 Dec;54(4):438-41.
PMID: 11072460

A total of 114 patients (48 Chinese, 34 Malay and 32 Indian) undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with intraocular lens implantation, were enrolled. All were given 3 ml of local anaesthetic (combination of equal amounts of lignocaine 2% and bupivacaine 0.5%) using retrobulbar technique. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured at different time intervals; before, immediately after and 5 minutes after injection with Honan balloon compression. Mean IOP increased by 5.0 mmHg immediately after injection (p < 0.001) and reduced to baseline level after 5 minutes of external compression. Although there were no statistical difference in terms of IOP variation between sex and age groups, Chinese patients demonstrated the highest IOP rise following retrobulbar anaesthesia. This is the first study to demonstrate the influence of race in the IOP response with Chinese subjects having the highest IOP rise.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Characteristics
Prevalence of diabetes and ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk factors. The 1992 Singapore National Health Survey

Tan CE, Emmanuel SC, Tan BY, Jacob E

Diabetes Care, 1999 Feb;22(2):241-7.
PMID: 10333940 DOI: 10.2337/diacare.22.2.241

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the 1992 Singapore National Health Survey was to determine the current distribution of major noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors, including the prevalence of diabetes and dyslipidemia, in Singapore.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A combination of disproportionate stratified sampling and systematic sampling were used to select the sample for the survey. The final number of respondents was 3,568, giving a response rate of 72.6%. All subjects fasted for 10 h and were given a 75-g glucose load, except those known to have diabetes. Blood was taken before and 2 h after the glucose load. Diagnosis of diabetes was based on 2-h glucose alone.

RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of diabetes in Singapore residents aged 18-69 years was 8.4%, with more than half (58.5%) previously undiagnosed. Prevalence of diabetes was high across all three ethnic groups. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was 16.1%, that of hypertension was 6.5%, and 19.0% were regular smokers. The total cholesterol (mean +/- SD) of nondiabetic Singaporeans was 5.18 +/- 1.02 mmol/l; 47.9% had cholesterol > 5.2 mmol/l, while 15.4% had levels > 6.3 mmol/l. Mean LDL cholesterol was 3.31 +/- 0.89 mmol/l; HDL cholesterol was 1.30 +/- 0.32 mmol/l, and triglyceride was 1.23 +/- 0.82 mmol/l.

CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of diabetes was high across all three ethnic groups. Ethnic differences in prevalence of diabetes, insulin resistance, central obesity, hypertension, smoking, and lipid profile could explain the differential coronary heart disease rates in the three major ethnic groups in Singapore.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Avoidable hospitalisation rates in Singapore, 1991-1998: assessing trends and inequities of quality in primary care

Niti M, Ng TP

J Epidemiol Community Health, 2003 Jan;57(1):17-22.
PMID: 12490643

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess avoidable hospitalisation as an indicator of quality of primary care by examining trends and gender and ethnic variations.
DESIGN AND SETTING: Aggregated nationwide data in Singapore from 1991 to1998 were analysed for hospitalisations for chronic diseases that are avoidable by timely, appropriate, and effective primary care: asthma, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension (avoidable hospitalisations).
MAIN RESULTS: Of a total of 1 479 494 hospitalisations, 6.7% were for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC). The annual rate of avoidable hospitalisation was 29.4 per 10 000 population. Women had lower rates of avoidable hospitalisations than men (22.4 versus 29.5 per 10 000), as well as for total hospitalisations (496.2 versus 515.5 per 10 000). Adjusted for total hospitalisation, men were 1.3 times more likely than women to be hospitalised for ACSC. With similar adjustments for baseline utilisation, Indian and Malays had 1.7 and 1.8 times higher rates of avoidable hospitalisations than Chinese. Avoidable hospitalisation decline was -9.1% overall; greater in men (-11.8%) than in women (-5.3%); greater for Chinese (-15.8%), than Malays (-1.1%) and Indians (increase of +4.3%).
CONCLUSION: Gender and ethnic differences and declining trends in avoidable hospitalisation demonstrated in this study suggest that avoidable hospitalisation rates are a sensitive indicator for assessing quality of primary ambulatory care.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Obesity in Malaysia

Ismail MN, Chee SS, Nawawi H, Yusoff K, Lim TO, James WP

Obes Rev, 2002 Aug;3(3):203-8.
PMID: 12164473 DOI: 10.1046/j.1467-789x.2002.00074.x

This study was undertaken to assess the recent data on Malaysian adult body weights and associations of ethnic differences in overweight and obesity with comorbid risk factors, and to examine measures of energy intake, energy expenditure, basal metabolic rate (BMR) and physical activity changes in urban and rural populations of normal weight. Three studies were included (1) a summary of a national health morbidity survey conducted in 1996 on nearly 29 000 adults > or =20 years of age; (2) a study comparing energy intake, BMR and physical activity levels (PALs) in 409 ethnically diverse, healthy adults drawn from a population of 1165 rural and urban subjects 18-60 years of age; and (3) an examination of the prevalence of obesity and comorbid risk factors that predict coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes in 609 rural Malaysians aged 30-65 years. Overweight and obesity were calculated using body mass index (BMI) measures and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Energy intake was assessed using 3-d food records, BMR and PALs were assessed with Douglas bags and activity diaries, while hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and glucose intolerance were specified using standard criteria. The National Health Morbidity Survey data revealed that in adults, 20.7% were overweight and 5.8% obese (0.3% of whom had BMI values of >40.0 kg m(-2)); the prevalence of obesity was clearly greater in women than in men. In women, obesity rates were higher in Indian and Malay women than in Chinese women, while in men the Chinese recorded the highest obesity prevalences followed by the Malay and Indians. Studies on normal healthy subjects indicated that the energy intake of Indians was significantly lower than that of other ethnic groups. In women, Malays recorded a significantly higher energy intake than the other groups. Urban male subjects consumed significantly more energy than their rural counterparts, but this was not the case in women. In both men and women, fat intakes (%) were significantly higher in Chinese and urban subjects. Men were moderately active with the exception of the Dayaks. Chinese women were considerably less active than Chinese men. Chinese and Dayak women were less active than Malay and Indian women. In both men and women, Indians recorded the highest PALs. Hence, current nutrition and health surveys reveal that Malaysians are already affected by western health problems. The escalation of obesity, once thought to be an urban phenomenon, has now spread to the rural population at an alarming rate. As Malaysia proceeds rapidly towards a developed economy status, the health of its population will probably continue to deteriorate. Therefore, a national strategy needs to be developed to tackle both dietary and activity contributors to the excess weight gain of the Malaysian population.
Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-2006)

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Incidence of ischaemic heart disease and stroke in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore: Singapore Cardiovascular Cohort Study

Heng DM, Lee J, Chew SK, Tan BY, Hughes K, Chia KS

Ann Acad Med Singap, 2000 Mar;29(2):231-6.
PMID: 10895345

INTRODUCTION: This is the first prospective cohort study in Singapore to describe the incidence of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke among Chinese, Malays and Asian Indians.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Singapore Cardiovascular Cohort Study is a longitudinal follow-up study on a general population cohort of 5920 persons drawn from 3 previous cross-sectional surveys. Morbidity and mortality from IHD and stroke were ascertained by record linkage using a unique identification number with the death registry, Singapore Myocardial Infarct Registry and in-patient discharge databases.
RESULTS: There were 193 first IHD events and 97 first strokes during 52,806 person-years of observation. The overall incidence of IHD was 3.8/1000 person-years and that of stroke was 1.8/1000 person-years. In both males and females, Indians had the highest IHD incidence, followed by Malays and then Chinese. For males after adjusting for age, Indians were 2.78 times (95% CI 1.86, 4.17; P < 0.0001) and 2.28 times (95% CI 1.34, 3.88; P = 0.002) more likely to get IHD than Chinese and Malays respectively. For females after adjusting for age, Indians were 1.97 times (95% CI 1.07, 3.63; P = 0.03) and 1.37 times (95% CI 0.67, 2.80; P = 0.39) more likely to get IHD than Chinese and Malays respectively. For stroke, male Chinese and Indians had higher incidence than Malays (though not statistically significant). However, in females, Malays had the highest incidence of stroke, being 2.57 times (95% CI 1.31, 5.05; P = 0.008) more likely to get stroke than Chinese after adjustment for age.
CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study of both mortality and morbidity has confirmed the higher risk of IHD in Indians. It has also found that Malay females have a higher incidence of stroke, which deserves further study because of its potential public health importance.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Fulltext A profile of hypertension among rural elderly Malaysians

Srinivas P, Wong KS, Chia YC, Poi PJ, Ebrahim S

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1998 Dec;29(4):821-6.
PMID: 10772571

The main objective of this study was to survey the prevalence of hypertension in Malaysians aged 55 years and above who responded to a public health screening campaign in Kuala Langat district, Selangor, Malaysia. The relationship between the detection, treatment and control in the study population was also examined. An epidemiological survey of the elderly was conducted in Kuala Langat, a rural district in Malaysia for a consecutive period of six weeks. The survey was conducted using a standardized questionnaire and interview by trained research assistants. The medical students and nurses were trained on the correct protocol of measuring blood pressure based on the recommendations of the British Hypertension Society. Newly detected persons with blood pressure readings 160/95 mmHg and above, were given a green card to return to the nearest health center for a further 2 visits to check his/her blood pressure. A total of 1,392 people with a mean age of 65 years and comprising of 53.1% males and 46.9% females responded to the health survey. Based on the history 335 (24.1%) of the respondents were known hypertensives and 82.1% of this hypertensive group were on regular treatment. However good control of hypertension was achieved only in 161 (48.1%) of them. Newly detected hypertension was found in 204 (14.6%) of the respondents. The overall prevalence of hypertension in our sample of respondents was 25.6%. There was no significant difference between the sexes and the races in terms of their detection, treatment and control. However there was a significant difference between the persons aged less than 65 years of age and those older than 65 years. There was a large proportion of previously known hypertensives among the survey population. Of those detected, not all were on regular medications and the majority on medications were not well controlled. Education of the public through intensive public health campaigns is vital to improve their knowledge on hypertension and the need for effective control. More community studies are needed to formulate better methods in the detection, treatment and control of hypertension.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Relationships between indices of obesity and its co-morbidities in multi-ethnic Singapore

Deurenberg-Yap M, Chew SK, Lin VF, Tan BY, van Staveren WA, Deurenberg P

Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord., 2001 Oct;25(10):1554-62.
PMID: 11673781 DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801739

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of body mass index (BMI) and body fat distribution as measured by waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) on the cardiovascular risk factor profile of the three major ethnic groups in Singapore (Chinese, Malay and Indian people) and to determine if WHO recommended cut-off values for BMI and WHR are appropriate for the different sub-populations in Singapore.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional population study.
SUBJECTS: A total of 4723 adult subjects (64% Chinese individuals, 21% Malay individuals and 15% Indian individuals) were selected through a multi-staged sampling technique to take part in the National Health Survey in 1998.
MEASUREMENTS: Data on socio-economic status (education level, occupation, housing type) and lifestyle habits (smoking and physical activity), body weight, body height, waist and hip circumferences and blood pressure measured using standardised protocols. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained for determination of serum total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides (TG). Venous blood samples were taken for 2 h oral glucose tolerance test (2 h glu).
RESULTS: Absolute and relative risks for at least one cardiovascular risk factor (elevated TC, elevated TC/HDL ratio, elevated TG, hypertension and diabetes mellitus) were determined for various categories of BMI and WHR. At low categories of BMI (BMI between 22 and 24 kg/m(2)) and WHR (WHR between 0.80 and 0.85 for women, and between 0.90 and 0.95 for men), the absolute risks are high, ranging from 41 to 81%. At these same categories the relative risks are significantly higher compared to the reference category, ranging from odds ratio of 1.97 to 4.38. These categories of BMI and WHR are all below the cut-off values of BMI and WHR recommended by WHO.
CONCLUSIONS: The results show that, at relatively low BMI and WHR, Singaporean adults experience elevated levels of risks (absolute and relative) for cardiovascular risk factors. These findings, in addition to earlier reported high percentage body fat among Singaporeans at low levels of BMI, confirm the need to revise the WHO cut-off values for the various indices of obesity and fat distribution, viz BMI and WHR, in Singapore.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Characteristics
Tuberculosis: clinical manifestations and outcomes

Nissapatorn V, Kuppusamy I, Anuar AK, Quek KF, Latt HM

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2003;34 Suppl 2:147-52.
PMID: 19238668

A total of 290 HIV/AIDS patients were recruited into this retrospective study, which was carried out at the National Tuberculosis Center (NTBC), Kuala Lumpur. The age range was 18 to 75 years with a mean age of 36.10 (SD +/- 7.44) years. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 31:1. In this study, the majority of patients were male (96.9%), Malay (47.2%), single (66.9%), unemployed (81%), and smoked (61.4%). The main risk marker identified was injecting drug use (74.5%). The most common clinical manifestations were cough, fever, sputum, lymphadenopathy, and chest infiltrations. More than half of the patients (85.9%) were diagnosed with localized tuberculosis (pulmonary) and the others (14.1%) had extra-pulmonary or disseminated tuberculosis. At the time of this study, the majority of the patients (16.9%) had CD4 cell counts of less than 200 cell/mm3, with a median of 221 cell/mm3. Clinical outcomes demonstrated that among those who survived, 11.0% and 20.7% of the patients had completed treatment either > or = 6 or > or = 9 months, respectively, whereas 54.8% of patients were lost to follow-up, including 0.7% for MDR-TB. Diagnostic criteria for tuberculosis in this study were mainly clinical symptoms/signs and chest x-ray findings (31.0%).

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae in Chinese, Malays and Asian Indians in Singapore

Koh WP, Taylor MB, Hughes K, Chew SK, Fong CW, Phoon MC, et al.

Int J Epidemiol, 2002 Oct;31(5):1001-7.
PMID: 12435775 DOI: 10.1093/ije/31.5.1001

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia pneumoniae, a bacterium that causes respiratory infections, is probably under-diagnosed. There is also interest in its possible role in the aetiology of coronary heart disease. This is the first population-based seroprevalence survey of C. pneumoniae infection in Singapore.

METHODS: A random sample of 1,068 people aged 18-69 years was selected from the participants of the Singapore National Health Survey conducted in 1998. Sera and data on certain clinical measurements and conditions had been collected. IgG antibodies for C. pneumoniae were detected using an indirect microimmunofluorescence test and positivity graded. Seropositivity was defined as IgG titre >/=1:16.

RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence rates of seropositivity to C. pneumoniae for age group 18-69 years among the three ethnic groups, i.e. Chinese (males 76.7%, females 68.3%), Malays (males 75.4%, females 59.1%), and Asian Indians (males 74.6%, females 59.4%). The seropositivity rate for people aged 18-69 years in Singapore was 75.0% for males and 65.5% for females (difference of 9.5%, P < 0.001). In both genders combined, seropositivity increased from 46.5% in the age group 18-29 to reach a plateau of 78.9% in the age group 40-49, which remained stable to 60-69 years. There was no association of seropositivity with smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension or body mass index after adjustment for age and gender.

CONCLUSION: The high prevalence rates in our study population and the higher rate in males compared to females are consistent with studies from other parts of the world. No significant difference in prevalence rates was observed among Chinese, Malays and Indians. The pattern of rising and levelling off of seropositivity with age suggests that C. pneumoniae infection occurs early in life, and in older ages the high level of seropositivity is probably maintained by re-infections or chronic infections. Chlamydia pneumoniae infection was not found to be associated with the cardiovascular risk factors examined.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Group B streptococcus: maternal carriage rate and early neonatal septicaemia

Lim CT, Thong MK, Parasakthi N, Ngeow YF

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1997 Jul;26(4):421-5.
PMID: 9395802

Between January 1984 and December 1994, 30 cases of early neonatal group B streptococcus (GBS) septicaemia were managed in the Neonatal Unit, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Two neonates were outborn and 28 were inborn, giving an average annual incidence of neonatal GBS septicaemia of 0.4/1000 livebirths among inborn babies. In a separate survey over a three-month period, GBS genital carriage rate among 196 parturients was found to be 9.7%. Of the infants with GBS septicaemia, the mean gestational age was 37.5 +/- 3.8 weeks and the mean birthweight was 2540 +/- 716 g. Twelve (40%) were preterm infants and 14 (47%) were low birthweight infants. Male and female infants were almost equally affected. Prolonged rupture of membranes and maternal pyrexia accounted for only 5 (17%) and 3 (10%) of the cases respectively. Twenty-four (80%) neonates had onset of symptoms within 6 hours of life and respiratory symptoms were observed in 24 (80%) of the cases, while meningitis was uncommon. Six (20%) neonates died. Preterm and low birthweight infants had higher mortality than their term counterparts: 42% versus 6% and 36% versus 6% respectively. Of those who died, 4 (67%) required respiratory support right from birth and the mean time of onset of symptoms was 4 hours (range 0 to 21 hours) and the duration of survival was only 28.8 hours (range 12 to 38 hours). As the incidence of neonatal GBS septicaemia was low, mass screening and chemoprophylaxis for GBS were not recommended. All the GBS isolates were sensitive to penicillin and ampicillin, thus one of these antibiotics should be included in the antimicrobial therapy of septic neonates.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Prevalence of and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in a multi-racial dyspeptic Malaysian population undergoing endoscopy

Goh KL

J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 1997 Jun;12(6):S29-35.
PMID: 9195409

The aim of the present study was to determine the risk factors for Helicobacter pylori in a dyspeptic Malaysian population. A cross-sectional survey of 1060 consecutive patients presenting with dyspepsia at the Endoscopic Unit, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from January 1994 to July 1995 was undertaken. All patients answered a detailed questionnaire and underwent endoscopy, with two antral biopsies taken for diagnosis of H. pylori using a rapid urease test. An overall H. pylori prevalence of 49.0% was recorded. Helicobacter pylori prevalence in relation to the major endoscopic diagnoses were as follows: non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) 31.2%; duodenal ulcer (DU) 91.4%; and gastric ulcer (GU) 74.1%. The prevalence among the races were as follows: Malay 16.4%; Chinese 48.5%; and Indians 61.8%. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified the following as independent risk factors: > 45 years old 1.5 (1.1,2.0); male gender 1.6 (1.2,2.1); ethnic group: Chinese 2.5 (1.7,3.7); Indians 4.9 (3.2,7.5); level of education: low 2.3 (1.5,3.5); middle 1.7 (1.1,2.6); and smoking 1.6 (1.2,2.3). Analysis was also performed on DU, GU and non-UD patients separately; in both DU and GU patients, H. pylori prevalence was high regardless of age, sex, race or level of education. However, in DU patients, Indian race had an independent risk factor (Odds ratio = 7.8 (1.2,48.4)). The findings in the NUD group reflected the findings in the ¿all patients' group; > 45 years old, male gender, Indian and Chinese race, and low level of education were also significant, independent risk factors. The overall differences in H. pylori prevalence between the different subgroups were mainly due to differences in the NUD group. The increased risk of H. pylori infection in Chinese and Indians points to either an inherent ethnic genetic predisposition or to socio-cultural practices peculiar to the particular race which may be responsible for transmission of the infection.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Ethnic variation of cord plasma apolipoprotein levels in relation to coronary risk level: a study in three ethnic groups of Singapore

Low PS, Saha N, Tay JS, Hong S

Acta Paediatr, 1996 Dec;85(12):1476-82.
PMID: 9001661

In multiracial Singapore, the prevalence of coronary artery disease is highest in ethnic Indian and lowest in ethnic Chinese populations. Since susceptibility to coronary artery disease is closely associated with plasma lipid traits, we studied the cord blood lipid and apolipoprotein profiles of the three ethnic groups in Singapore to determine if ethnic differences in lipid profile are present at birth. The high-risk lipid traits of high LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and apo B, low HDL-cholesterol and apo A-I were found to be highest in ethnic Indian and lowest in ethnic Chinese populations. This difference was concordant with the relative coronary mortality rates for their respective adult populations in Singapore.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Morphometric analysis of epithelial components and dentinoid formation in non-neoplastic calcifying odontogenic cyst

Ng KH, Siar CH

J Nihon Univ Sch Dent, 1995 Sep;37(3):156-62.
PMID: 7490609

Calcifying odontogenic cysts (COCs) represent a group of lesions that may be broadly classified into two main entities: cysts and neoplasms. In the present study 30 non-neoplastic cystic COCs were examined by a quantitative histological method in an attempt to calibrate the relative distribution of the type of epithelial lining, intensity of ghost cell formation and the amount of dentinoid present. The results showed that there are two main types of cystic COC: an odontoma-producing type and a non-odontoma-producing variant. Morphologically, tooth-like structures were a valid distinguishing feature, while morphometrically the odontoma-producing variant showed a greater amount of luminal and mural dentinoid as well as luminal ghost cells. Demographic analysis also revealed that the odontoma-producing COC occurred in younger patients and showed an even sex distribution, whereas the non-odontoma-producing type was seen in older patients and showed a predilection for females. Both subtypes were more prevalent in the Chinese population and occurred preferentially in the maxilla.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Anterior tooth trauma in eleven-year-old South African children

Hargreaves JA, Matejka JM, Cleaton-Jones PE, Williams S

ASDC J Dent Child, 1995 Sep-Oct;62(5):353-5.
PMID: 8550926

Little new evidence on the prevalence of injury to the anterior teeth of children has been reported in the past five years and, in South Africa, trauma to the teeth of children in different ethnic groups has not been compared respectively. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the prevalence of dental trauma using well-defined criteria and to sample a specific age-group. Five regions were chosen and 1035 children in the eleven-year age-group were examined. No statistical significance was found between the ethnic groups related to the amount of injury sustained. For all groups, boys received more injuries than girls. The most common injury was fracture of the enamel of the maxillary central incisor. With 15 percent of the children receiving some level of trauma by age eleven years, this is one of the main dental treatment needs for South African children.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Odontogenic keratocyst: a clinical experience in Singapore

Chow HT

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 1998 Nov;86(5):573-7.
PMID: 9830650

The odontogenic keratocyst has been well documented and extensively studied. It is of particular interest because of its high recurrence rate and aggressive nature. The material for this study consisted of 70 cases of odontogenic keratocysts in predominantly ethnic Chinese patients who were treated from 1981 to 1996. The cases were retrospectively studied to compare characteristics of the lesion in this population with those in previous reports. Most of the patients in this series were 21 to 30 years of age. Association with an impacted mandibular third molar was found in more than 50% of the cases. The recurrence rate was 20% for 35 patients with a follow-up period of at least 5 years. The follow-up period for the whole series ranged from 1 to 16 years. Treatment was surgical enucleation with peripheral ostectomy. There were no significant differences in characteristics with respect to presentation and prognosis between this series and those described in previous publications.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Ratio
Maximal respiratory pressures in adult Chinese, Malays and Indians

Johan A, Chan CC, Chia HP, Chan OY, Wang YT

Eur Respir J, 1997 Dec;10(12):2825-8.
PMID: 9493668

Maximal static inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures (PI,max and PE,max, respectively) enable the noninvasive measurement of global respiratory muscle strength. The aim of this study was primarily to obtain normal values of PI,max and PE,max for adult Chinese, Malays and Indians and, secondarily, to study their effect on lung volumes in these subjects. Four hundred and fifty two healthy subjects (221 Chinese, 111 Malays, 120 Indians) were recruited. Measurements of PI,max from residual volume (RV), PE,max from total lung capacity (TLC) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were obtained in the seated position. There were significant ethnic differences in PI,max and PE,max measurements obtained in males, and FVC measurements in both males and females. Chinese males had higher PI,max values (mean (+/-SD) 88.7+/-32.5 cmH2O) and higher PE,max values (113.4+/-41.5) than Malay males (PI,max 74.0+/-22.7 cmH2O, PE,max 94.7+/-23.4 cmH2O). Chinese males had higher PE,max than Indian males (PI,max = 83.7+/-30.0 cmH2O, PE,max 98.4+/-29.2 cmH2O). There were no significant differences among Chinese females (PI,max 53.6+/-2.3 cmH2O, PE,max 68.3+/-24.0 cmH2O), Malay females (PI,max 50.7+/-18.3 cmH2O, PE,max 63.6+/-21.6 cmH2O) and Indian females (PI,max 50.0+/-15.2 cmH2O, PE,max 60.7+/-20.4 cmH2O). In both sexes, the Chinese had a higher FVC compared with Malays and Indians. After adjusting for age, height and weight, race was still a determinant for PE,max in males, and FVC in both sexes. The FVC only correlated weakly with PI,max and PE,max in both sexes. Ethnic differences in respiratory muscle strength, and lung volumes, occur among Asians. However, respiratory muscle strength does not explain the differences in lung volumes in healthy Asian subjects.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Transfer factor with anti-EBV activity as an adjuvant therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a pilot study

Prasad U, bin Jalaludin MA, Rajadurai P, Pizza G, De Vinci C, Viza D, et al.

Biotherapy, 1996;9(1-3):109-15.
PMID: 8993768

Overall survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at UICC stage IV still remains unsatisfactory even with combination chemotherapy (CT) and radio-therapy (RT). In view of the association of reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with the development and recurrence of NPC, immunotherapy in the form of transfer factor (TF) with specific activity against EBV (TF-B1) was suggested as an adjuvant to a combination of CT and RT in order to improve survival. In the present study, 6 UICC stage IV patients received TF-B1 and another 6 patients matched for disease stage were given TF prepared from peripheral blood leucocytes (TF-PBL). Results were compared with another 18 patients matched by age, sex, and stage of disease who received standard therapy without TF during the same period (C group). After a median follow up of 47.5 months, the survival for the TF-B1 group was found to be significantly better (P = < 0.05) than the PBL and C group. While the 8 patients with distant metastasis (DM), not treated with TF-B1 (6 in the control and 2 in the PBL group), died due to progressive disease (average survival being 14.3 months), both patients with DM in the TF-B1 group had complete remission: one died of tuberculosis after surviving for 3.5 years and another is still alive, disease free, after 4.2 years. Although the series involved a small number of cases, the apparent effect of adjuvant immunotherapy in the form of TF with anti-EBV activity is of considerable interest.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Infectiousness of HBsAg carriers in Malaysia

Ton SH, Yeoh KS, Lim WC, Noriah R, Cheong SK, Thanaletchimy N

J Trop Med Hyg, 1995 Aug;98(4):277-80.
PMID: 7636926

HBV-DNA were analysed in 330 HBsAg-positive carriers in Malaysia by dot-blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction. Seventy-three (22.12%) were positive for the virus. Of these, 65 (89%) were males and 8 (11%) were females. Statistically, there was no significant difference (P = 0.13). No significant decline in HBV-DNA with age in the Malay and Chinese males was observed (P = 0.2). Prevalence of HBV-DNA was higher in the Chinese carriers than in the Malay carriers for most age groups in both sexes. Sixty-one HBV-DNA-positive carriers were also positive for HBeAg. However, three individuals were positive only for anti-HBe, one was positive for both HBeAg and anti-HBe, and eight were negative for both HBeAg and anti-HBe. Fifty-seven were positive for HBeAg but negative for HBV-DNA. No relation was observed between raised alanine aminotransaminase and aspartate aminotransaminase levels and the presence of HBV-DNA (P = 0.4).

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors

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