MyMedR

The development and impact of a chronic pain support group: a qualitative and quantitative study

Subramaniam V, Stewart MW, Smith JF

J Pain Symptom Manage, 1999 May;17(5):376-83.

To study the process of establishment, and evaluate the outcome of participation, in a self-help support group for people with chronic nonmalignant pain, members of a newly-established, consumer-led group participated in two interviews 5 months apart and a researcher observed group meetings. Participants reported significant benefits from participating in the group. They had a significant increase in functional ability and activity, and reported decreased recourse to health professionals, particularly family physicians. This study indicates that pain support groups can play a valuable role for people in pain, assisting with support and rehabilitation, and meeting needs that health professionals are often not appropriate or able to provide.

Matched MeSH terms: Chronic Disease

Fulltext Typhoid thyroiditis

Jasmi AY, Rohaizak, Meah FA, Sulaiman BT

Med J Malaysia, 1998 Mar;53(1):109-11.

PMID: 10968149

Acute suppurative thyroiditis in a 62 year old lady with enteric fever is reported. Plain radiography of the neck showed a distinct localised abscess cavity with air fluid level. A rare causative agent Salmonella typhi was isolated. Needle aspiration and antibiotics resulted in complete recovery.

Matched MeSH terms: Acute Disease

Fulltext Fatal early-onset neonatal sepsis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae

Nallusamy R

Med J Malaysia, 1998 Dec;53(4):442-5.

PMID: 10971993

Two cases of invasive early-onset neonatal pneumococcal sepsis are reported. One neonate was born at term with no risk factors and the other preterm at 35 weeks. Sepsis was not detected at birth for either of these babies and diagnosis was made at the stage of severe sepsis. A fatal outcome resulted despite treatment. Pneumococcal sepsis was confirmed after death in both these cases. Although maternal carriage was not documented in either case, the ages at presentation and progression suggested perinatal acquisition of infection. Early onset neonatal pneumococcal sepsis presents similarly as early onset neonatal Group B streptococcal (GBS) sepsis. Vaginal carriage of pneumococcus is rare but the micro-organism may have a higher invasion to colonisation ratio (attack rate) than GBS. Risk factors for invasive disease are similar to GBS.

Matched MeSH terms: Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical

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: Coronary Disease/etiology; Coronary Disease/genetics; Coronary Disease/epidemiology*

Novel peptides that inhibit the propagation of Newcastle disease virus

Ramanujam P, Tan WS, Nathan S, Yusoff K

Arch Virol, 2002 May;147(5):981-93.

PMID: 12021868

A disulfide constrained random heptapeptide library displayed on filamentous bacteriophage M13 was applied to select specific ligands that interact with Newcastle disease virus (NDV). A fusion phage carrying the amino acid sequence TLTTKLY was selected from the panning procedure. An antibody competition assay showed that the selected phage was capable of competing with the polyclonal antibodies raised against NDV for binding sites on the virus. Determination of the binding affinity of this phage with NDV by an equilibrium binding assay in solution revealed two different dissociation constants, suggesting that there could be two distinct binding sites for the phage on NDV. Synthetic peptides with the sequence CTLTTKLYC, either in linear or cyclic conformations inhibited the binding of phage bearing the same sequence to NDV. These peptides also inhibited the hemolytic activity of the virus as well as its propagation in embryonated chicken eggs.

Matched MeSH terms: Newcastle disease virus/drug effects*; Newcastle disease virus/growth & development; Newcastle disease virus/immunology

Management of Hirschsprung's disease with reference to one-stage pull-through without colostomy

Ramesh JC, Ramanujam TM, Yik YI, Goh DW

J Pediatr Surg, 1999 Nov;34(11):1691-4.

PMID: 10591572

The authors evaluated the safety and benefits of 1-stage pull-through in comparison with staged repair of Hirschsprung's disease under circumstances prevailing in a developing country.

Matched MeSH terms: Hirschsprung Disease/diagnosis; Hirschsprung Disease/mortality; Hirschsprung Disease/surgery*

Fulltext The ethnic characteristics and prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Chiam P, Abdullah F, Chow HK, Adeeb SMSJ, Yousafzai MS

Med J Malaysia, 2002 Dec;57(4):460-6.

PMID: 12733171

A retrospective study was done on 302 patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia--46.0% were Chinese, 40.1% were Malays and 11.6% were Indians. Overall and irrespective of race and sex, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia was 45.7%, 78.8% and 89.1% respectively indicating that hyperlipidaemia was the most prevalent risk factor amongst this cohort. The Indians had the highest prevalence of the three risk factors. The Chinese and the Malays most frequently presented with the combination of hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.

Matched MeSH terms: Coronary Artery Disease/ethnology*; Coronary Artery Disease/epidemiology*; Coronary Artery Disease/surgery

Echovirus 7 associated encephalomyelitis

Lum LC, Chua KB, McMinn PC, Goh AY, Muridan R, Sarji SA, et al.

J Clin Virol, 2002 Jan;23(3):153-60.

PMID: 11595594

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is endemic in Malaysia. In 1997, a large outbreak of enterovirus 71 (EV-71) associated HFMD resulted in 41 deaths due to severe left ventricular dysfunction and central nervous system infection with extensive damage to the medulla and pons. The clinical presentation in all these patients were rapid cardio-respiratory decompensation leading to cardiac arrest. Another large outbreak of HFMD with 55 fatal cases and a similar clinical picture was reported in Taiwan in 1998. In 2000, an outbreak of HFMD resulted in the deaths of three children who had rapid cardio-respiratory decompensation and one child who survived a central nervous system infection.

Matched MeSH terms: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/diagnosis; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/epidemiology; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/virology

Fulltext Familial hyperlipidaemia in Malaysian children

Khoo KL, Tan H, Liew YM

Med J Malaysia, 2000 Jun;55(2):249-58.

PMID: 19839155

This paper highlights two cases of paediatric familial hyperlipidaemia (hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia). The first case was an 11 year old Chinese boy, a "homozygous" (Type II) hypercholesterolaemic patient. He had extremely high blood cholesterol level (19.4 mmol/l), severe multiple xanthoma and abnormal resting electrocardiogram. He had repeated heart attacks and died at the age of 15 in spite of early intervention, treatment and follow up. The second case was a 2 1/2 years old girl who had severe hypertriglyceridaemia. She had raised cholesterol (6.2 mmol/l) and extremely high triglycerides (14.8 mmol/l). The patient did not resemble Type I lipoproteinaemia which is classically seen in childhood. On the contrary, the patient exhibited clinical and biochemical manifestations of a Type V lipoproteinaemia which often occurs in adults. Apart from a Type V lipoprotein pattern, the patient had low post hepatic lipase activity (PHLA), Apo C II and Apo E2/E3 phenotype. In addition, the lipid profile of her family members (both the parents and brothers) had raised triglycerides and thus ruled out the Type I lipoprotein inheritance pattern, which is an autosomal recessive condition. The issue of paediatric hyperlipidaemia, their management and treatments are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Coronary Artery Disease

Fulltext Central obesity, insulin resistance, syndrome X, lipoprotein(a), and cardiovascular risk in Indians, Malays, and Chinese in Singapore

Hughes K, Aw TC, Kuperan P, Choo M

J Epidemiol Community Health, 1997 Aug;51(4):394-9.

PMID: 9328546

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothesis that the higher rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Indians (South Asians) compared with Malays and Chinese is at least partly explained by central obesity, insulin resistance, and syndrome X (including possible components).
DESIGN: Cross sectional study of the general population.
SETTING: Singapore.
PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 961 men and women (Indians, Malays, and Chinese) aged 30 to 69 years.
MAIN RESULTS: Fasting serum insulin concentration was correlated directly and strongly with body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and abdominal diameter. The fasting insulin concentration was correlated inversely with HDL cholesterol and directly with the fasting triglyceride concentration, blood pressures, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), but it was not correlated with LDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins B and A1, lipoprotein(a), (Lp(a)), fibrinogen, factor VIIc, or prothrombin fragment (F)1 + 2. This indicates that the former but not the latter are part of syndrome X. While Malays had the highest BMI, Indians had a higher WHR (men 0.93 and women 0.84) than Malays (men 0.91 and women 0.82) and Chinese (men 0.91 and women 0.82). In addition, Indians had higher fasting insulin values and more glucose intolerance than Malays and Chinese. Indians had lower HDL cholesterol, and higher PAI-1, tPA, and Lp(a), but not higher LDL cholesterol, fasting triglyceride, blood pressures, fibrinogen, factor VIIc, or prothrombin F1 + 2.
CONCLUSIONS: Indians are more prone than Malays or Chinese to central obesity with insulin resistance and glucose intolerance and there are no apparent environmental reasons for this in Singapore. As a consequence, Indians develop some but not all of the features of syndrome X. They also have higher Lp(a) values. All this puts Indians at increased risk of atherosclerosis and thrombosis and must be at least part of the explanation for their higher rates of CHD.

Matched MeSH terms: Coronary Disease/ethnology; Coronary Disease/etiology; Coronary Disease/epidemiology*

Perspectives in pancreatic pain

Salim AS

HPB Surg, 1997;10(5):269-77.

PMID: 9298380

This review describes some of the mechanisms which are thought to be important in the causation of pain in chronic pancreatitis. Both medical and surgical techniques for treating this pain are described.

Matched MeSH terms: Chronic Disease

Fulltext Acute mesentero-axial volvulus of the stomach in a child

Lopez D

Med J Malaysia, 1993 Sep;48(3):351-4.

PMID: 8183152

A case of acute gastric volvulus associated with eventration of the diaphragm in a previously well 6 year old child is reported. The child presented with acute abdominal pain, abdominal distension and vomiting. At operation, mesentero-axial type gastric volvulus was found, associated with laxity of the gastro-splenic, gastrohepatic and gastrocolic ligaments and eventration of the left hemidiaphragm. Rapid recovery followed surgery that included release of distension and fixation of the stomach to the anterior abdominal wall. There has been no evidence of recurrence on a 2 year follow-up.

Matched MeSH terms: Acute Disease

Fulltext Asthma and climatic conditions--experience from Kuantan, Malaysia

Lim TO, Looi HW, Harun K, Marzida

Med J Malaysia, 1991 Sep;46(3):230-4.

PMID: 1839917

Data on number of cases of acute asthma seen at casualty department in 1987 as well as daily metereological data for 1987 were obtained and analysed for relation between climatic factors and acute asthma. Ambient temperature was significantly associated with acute asthma; the lower the temperature, the more the number of cases of asthma were seen. No association however was observed between asthma and the other climatic factors viz, rainfall, humidity, daily change in humidity and daily drop in temperature. We further discuss our finding.

Matched MeSH terms: Acute Disease

Fulltext Studies on the biology of Anopheles letifer Sandosham (Diptera, Culicidae) and its response to residual spraying, carried out in Sarawak, Malaysia

Thevasagayam ES, Liaw CF

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Mar;34(3):254-64.

PMID: 7191047

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Vectors

Fulltext Acute appendicitis and the leucocyte count

Singh KJ

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Mar;34(3):314-6.

PMID: 7412672

The total and differential leucocyte counts were estimated in 100 consecutive cases operated for acute appendicitis. Leucocytosis was seen in 52% of cases. 480/0 of patients had a leucocyte count below 10000 per c. mm. A study of the differential count was also made to see if this parameter could be used as a specific diagnostic aid. Though the neutrophil count was high in 74% of the cases, the comparative count among the below 10000 per c.mm. group was not significant. It is concluded that the total and differential counts are of limited value in the assessment of these patients. It is suggested that such estimation be used as a supportive aid only. In those doubtful cases with normal or low counts, frequent clinical reviews should be done and reliance placed on clinical assessment rather than laboratory information.

Matched MeSH terms: Acute Disease

Exteriorization of the subdural pocket for chronic recurrent subdural hematoma

Chee CP

Neurosurgery, 1988 Apr;22(4):780-2.

PMID: 3374793

The author describes a new operative method for treating chronic recurrent subdural hematoma. The subdural pocket is exteriorized so that it is in continuity with the subgaleal space through a limited extradural pocket and an L-shaped linear craniectomy. This procedure has been carried out in two patients with recurrent chronic subdural hematoma, both of whom made complete recoveries despite initial recurrence of the subdural hematoma.

Matched MeSH terms: Chronic Disease

The bacteriological prevalence of leptospiral infection in cattle and buffaloes in West Malaysia

Bahaman AR, Ibrahim AL, Stallman ND, Tinniswood RD

Epidemiol Infect, 1988 Apr;100(2):239-46.

PMID: 3356222

A cross-sectional bacteriological survey of cattle in West Malaysia revealed 14.4% (32/222) had leptospiral infection. Isolates were obtained from all except one herd with prevalence of infection in herds ranging from 0-44.8%. A small number of buffalo urine samples were examined and all of them were found to be negative. A leptospiral isolate obtained from a bovine kidney proved to be a new serovar of Leptospira interrogans and the name unipertama was assigned to it. Six other leptospiral serovars were isolated, namely canicola, australis, javanica, ballum, pomona and hardjo. All six serovars were isolated for the first time in cattle in Malaysia. Cattle in Malaysia appear to be the maintenance host for serovar hardjo. The presence of the other serovars in cattle was probably due to contact with the maintenance hosts, pigs for serovar pomona and rodents for the other three serovars. It appears that the epidemiology of leptospiral infection in cattle in Malaysia is similar to that reported overseas.

Matched MeSH terms: Weil Disease/microbiology; Weil Disease/epidemiology; Weil Disease/veterinary

AIDS in Asia and the Pacific

Karel SG, Robey B

Asian Pac Cens Forum, 1988 Sep;2(1-2):1-4, 18-30.

PMID: 12342138

Matched MeSH terms: Disease*; Disease Outbreaks*; Virus Diseases*

Discovery of a site of transmission and hosts of a Schistosoma japonicum-like schistosome in Peninsular Malaysia

Greer GJ, Ow-Yang CK, Singh KI, Lim HK

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1980;74(3):425.

PMID: 7434446

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Vectors

Five-year surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis in Malaysia

Hussain IH, Ali S, Sinniah M, Kurup D, Khoo TB, Thomas TG, et al.

J Paediatr Child Health, 2004 Mar;40(3):127-30.

PMID: 15009577

OBJECTIVE: The nation-wide surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) was implemented in Malaysia in 1995 and further intensified in 1996 as part of the World Health Organization's (WHO) certification process for polio eradication in the Western Pacific Region. Clinical data on AFP cases during a 5-year surveillance period from 1997 to 2001 were compiled and analysed.

RESULTS: Based on 517 cases of AFP reported during this 5-year period, the overall rate of AFP was 1.2 per 100 000 children below 15 years old. The major clinical diagnosis associated with AFP were Guillain-Barre syndrome (30.2%), central nervous system infection (16.2%), transverse myelitis (10.6%) non-polio enterovirus infection (6.2%), and hypokalaemic paralysis (5.2%). This unusual pattern with an excess of CNS infection and non-polio enterovirus infection was attributed to the outbreak of enterovirus 71 infection nation-wide in 1997. According to the WHO virological classification, there was no case of poliomyelitis due to wild poliovirus. Three cases were 'polio compatible', there were no cases of vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAPP), while 62 cases (12.0%) were merely classified as 'non-polio AFP'.

CONCLUSION: Overall, these data suggest the absence of circulation of wild poliovirus in Malaysia from 1997 to 2001. The pattern of AFP in this study is different from other published reports.

Matched MeSH terms: Acute Disease

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