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Displaying publications 121 - 140 of 1313 in total

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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: Singapore/epidemiology
Pseudaspidimerus palatus, a new species of the genus Pseudaspidimerus Kapur, 1948 from the Malay Peninsula (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)

Huo L, Li W, Wang X

Zookeys, 2017.
PMID: 29118623 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.706.18081

A new species of the genus Pseudaspidimerus Kapur, 1948 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Pseudaspidimerus palatus Huo & Wang, sp. n. from the Malay Peninsula is described with illustrations and a distribution map. The genus Pseudaspidimerus is recorded for the first time from Malaysia and Singapore.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext Nipah Virus Infection

Ang BSP, Lim TCC, Wang L

J Clin Microbiol, 2018 06;56(6).
PMID: 29643201 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01875-17

Nipah virus, a paramyxovirus related to Hendra virus, first emerged in Malaysia in 1998. Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic infection to fatal encephalitis. Malaysia has had no more cases since 1999, but outbreaks continue to occur in Bangladesh and India. In the Malaysia-Singapore outbreak, transmission occurred primarily through contact with pigs, whereas in Bangladesh and India, it is associated with ingestion of contaminated date palm sap and human-to-human transmission. Bats are the main reservoir for this virus, which can cause disease in humans and animals. There are currently no effective therapeutics, and supportive care and prevention are the mainstays of management.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore/epidemiology
Management strategies in Graves' hyperthyroidism

Tan CE, Tan KT, Khoo D, Wang KW

Family Physician, 1991;3:42-45.

Antithyroid drugs, radioiodine and surgery are lhe three modalities of treatment for Graves' hyperthyroidism. The treatment strategy depends on a clear understanding of the relative advantages and disadvantages of each mode of treatment as well as the individual patient's preference. Recent studies favour the use of high dose antithyroid drugs with thyroxine supplementation to induce a higher rate of remission. Radioiodine is likely to be favoured as the definitive form of treatment. Surgery still has a place particularly for young female patients with large goitres. Keywords: Antithyroid drugs, radioiodine, thyroidectomy.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
A comparison of factors associated with physical inactivity among East Asian college students

Seo DC, Torabi MR, Chin MK, Huang SF, Chen CK, Mok MM, et al.

Int J Behav Med, 2012 Sep;19(3):316-23.
PMID: 21562780 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-011-9167-4

BACKGROUND: Little is known on the level of physical inactivity and its behavioral and cultural correlates among East Asian college students.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine and compare the level and behavioral and cultural correlates of physical inactivity among college students in Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia.
METHOD: Data were collected from a representative sample of college students (N = 12,137) in five East Asian economies during the 2008-2009 academic year. The stratified random sampling (stratum: geographic region) was used to select participating institutions. The overall response rate was 77%.
RESULTS: The percentage of physically inactive students was 7.2% for Singapore, 8.0% for Malaysia, 13.5% for Taiwan, 16.8% for Hong Kong, and 28.5% for South Korea. When gender, age, and body mass index were controlled, fruit and vegetable consumptions were significant correlates for physical inactivity across all the five economies. In Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan, those who engaged in binge drinking at least once during the past 2 weeks were less likely to be physically inactive than those who did not. Religion and military experience did not independently predict physical inactivity in any of the five economies.
CONCLUSION: Physical inactivity varies greatly across different economies in East Asia that are usually grouped together and considered a single homogeneous entity by some researchers. However, in terms of correlates of physical inactivity, findings of the current study indicate that the transversal value of physical activity might be transformed into a universal.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Health Technology Assessment and Its Use in Drug Policy in Malaysia

Shafie AA, Chandriah H, Yong YV, Wan Puteh SE

Value Health Reg Issues, 2019 May;18:145-150.
PMID: 31082794 DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2019.03.003

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process and role of health technology assessment (HTA) in the context of drug policy in Malaysia.
METHODS: We summarized the HTA process through review of documents and reports available in the public domain combined with the authors' experience.
RESULTS: Health technology assessment plays an integral part in prioritizing treatment in public health facilities in Malaysia, particularly for the Ministry of Health Medicines Formulary (MOHMF). The MOHMF is the reference list of drugs allowed to be prescribed in the Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities. There are 2 organizations within the MOH that conduct HTA as their core activities, namely the Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section and the Formulary Management Branch of Pharmacy Practice & Development Division. The assessment of pharmaceuticals for the purpose of listing medicines into the MOHMF is under the purview of the Formulary Management Branch. The evidence-based assessment focuses on safety, efficacy, effectiveness, and budget impact of the drug. Cost-effectiveness evidence is currently not mandatory but is of interest to the decision makers. The assessment outcomes are considered by the MOH Medicines List Review Panel for formulary decisions.
CONCLUSIONS: Health technology assessment has supported formulary decisions in MOH. Evidence generation needs to progress beyond efficacy or effectiveness, safety, and budget impact to incorporate cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, there are challenges to be met to achieve this. The impact of the HTA process is currently unknown and is yet to be evaluated formally.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Distribution of ABO blood groups and of Rh factor in Singapore

Siong LY, Sing YC, Wan OY

Mod Med Asia, 1976 Nov;12(11):6-8.
PMID: 827682
Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Rating the quality of the family environment in different cultures

Rey JM, Peng R, Morales-Blanquez C, Widyawati I, Peralta V, Walter G

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2000 Sep;39(9):1168-74.
PMID: 10986814 DOI: 10.1097/00004583-200009000-00017

OBJECTIVE:
To examine the extent to which clinicians from different cultures agree when rating the quality of a child's family environment and the effect of country, language, and training factors on these ratings.

METHOD:
Eighty-seven health professionals from Malaysia, Spain, Australia, Indonesia, the United States, Denmark, and Singapore rated 7 case vignettes using the Global Family Environment Scale. Half (54%) were psychiatrists. One quarter (26%) performed the ratings after attending a training session, the rest (n = 64, 74%) after reading a training manual.

RESULTS:
Overall, interrater agreement (intraclass r) was 0.84 (95% confidence interval: 0.68-0.96). There were no significant differences in agreement according to country, language, training, or professional group, although there were country differences in the ratings given to 2 vignettes. The majority of raters found the description of the anchor points (86%), training manual (95%), and case vignettes (97%) clear.

CONCLUSIONS:
Clinicians from different cultures seem to be able to make global ratings of the quality of the family environment that are reliable and consistent when using case vignettes. This can be achieved with little training. Global ratings of the quality of the family environment may be a useful tool in mental health research and clinical work.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Ascaris lumbricoides in the Singapore garrison

Walker JHC

Malayan Medical Journal, 1927;2:148-50.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext Mangrove-Associated Fungal Communities Are Differentiated by Geographic Location and Host Structure

Lee NLY, Huang D, Quek ZBR, Lee JN, Wainwright BJ

Front Microbiol, 2019;10:2456.
PMID: 31736902 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02456

Marine fungi on the whole remain understudied, especially in the highly diverse Southeast Asian region. We investigated the fungal communities associated with the mangrove tree Avicennia alba throughout Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. At each sampling location, we examined ten individual trees, collecting leaves, fruits, pneumatophores, and an adjacent sediment sample from each plant. Amplicon sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer 1 and subsequent analyses reveal significant differences in fungal communities collected from different locations and host structures. Mantel tests and multiple regression on distance matrices show a significant pattern of distance decay with samples collected close to one another having more similar fungal communities than those farther away. Submergence appears to drive part of the variation as host structures that are never submerged (leaves and fruits) have more similar fungal communities relative to those that are covered by water during high tide (pneumatophores and sediment). We suggest that fungi of terrestrial origins dominate structures that are not inundated by tidal regimes, while marine fungi dominate mangrove parts and sediments that are submerged by the incoming tide. Given the critical functions fungi play in all plants, and the important role they can have in determining the success of restoration schemes, we advocate that fungal community composition should be a key consideration in any mangrove restoration or rehabilitation project.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Plasma cholesterol levels in first, second and third generation Chinese and Tamil Indians in Singapore

DAVIES TA, WILLSHER JD

Med J Malaya, 1961 Mar;15:97-101.
PMID: 13883856
Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Surveillance of antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the WHO Western Pacific Region, 2005

WHO Western Pacific Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme

Commun Dis Intell Q Rep, 2006;30(4):430-3.
PMID: 17330383

The World Health Organization Western Pacific Region Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme examined about 8,700 isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from 15 countries for resistance to antibiotics in 2005. High to very high rates of resistance to penicillins and quinolones persisted in most centres. Increasing numbers of gonococci with decreased susceptibility to third generation cephalosporins were found in several countries. There were infrequent instances of spectinomycin resistance.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore/epidemiology
Renal excretion of water and salt by healthy people in Singapore

WHITTOW GC

Med J Malaya, 1956 Dec;11(2):126-33.
PMID: 13417936
Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Helicobacter pylori eradication with lansoprazole, amoxycillin and clarithromycin: testing an ideal regimen in a multicultural south east Asian population and examining factors potentially influencing eradication

Kaushik SP, Vu C

Aust N Z J Med, 2000 Apr;30(2):231-5.
PMID: 10833116

BACKGROUND: From European and North American data, it is recommended in the Asia Pacific consensus statement, that one week therapy with a proton pump inhibitor, amoxycillin and clarithromycin be used for Helicobacter pylori eradication, in areas of high metronidazole resistance. The efficacy of this regimen is unknown in Singapore.
AIM: To assess the efficacy, safety and compliance of an H. pylori eradication regimen and examine clinical factors that potentially determine eradication.
METHODS: Consecutive outpatients from a multicultural, south east Asian, population with H. pylori infection, with or without peptic ulcer, were treated with lansoprazole 30 mg, amoxycillin 1 gm, clarithromycin 500 mg, twice a day for seven days. Eradication was assessed by either rapid urease, histology or urea breath test. Compliance and side effects were recorded. The eradication rate and effect of ethnicity, age, sex, usage of alcohol, smoking and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, history of ulcer and endoscopic diagnosis on eradication were examined by univariate and multivariate analysis.
RESULTS: Of 113 patients, the eradication rate by intention to treat was 98/113 (87%) (95% confidence interval [CI] 80-93%) and per protocol was 98/106 (92%) (95% CI 87-97%). Using Fisher's exact test, eradication was more successful in Chinese (intention to treat and per protocol respectively p=0.02 and p<0.001) compared to non-Chinese. By logistic regression analysis ethnicity was an independent factor associated with eradication success (p=0.0025). Side effects occurred in five (4.4%), resulting in cessation of treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: This one week eradication regimen is safe and effective in south east Asians. Chinese ethnicity may be associated with a higher likelihood of eradication success.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore/epidemiology
A systematic review on Piper longum L.: Bridging traditional knowledge and pharmacological evidence for future translational research

Yadav V, Krishnan A, Vohora D

J Ethnopharmacol, 2020 Jan 30;247:112255.
PMID: 31568819 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112255

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Piper longum, commonly referred as 'Pippali', has found its traditional use in India, Malaysia, Singapore and other South Asian countries as an analgesic, carminative, anti-diarrhoeic, immunostimulant, post childbirth to check postpartum hemorrhage and to treat asthma, insomnia, dementia, epilepsy, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, spleen disorder, puerperal fever, leprosy etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review offers essential data focusing on the traditional use, phytochemistry and pharmacological profile of Piper longum thereby identifying research gaps and future opportunities for investigation on this plant.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic survey was accomplished as per the PRISMA guidelines. The information was collected from books, and electronic search (PubMed, Science Direct, Lilca and Scielo) during 1967-2019.
RESULTS: Many phytochemicals have been identified till date, including alkaloids as its major secondary metabolites (piperine and piperlongumine), essential oil, flavonoids and steroids. These exhibit a wide range of activities including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-parkinsonian, anti-stress, nootropic, anti-epileptic, anti-hyperglycemic, hepatoprotective, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-platelet, anti-angiogenic, immunomodulatory, anti-arthritic, anti-ulcer, anti-asthmatic, anthelmintic action, anti-amebic, anti-fungal, mosquito larvicidal and anti-snake venom.
CONCLUSION: Amongst various activities, bioscientific clarification in relation to its ethnopharmacological perspective has been evidenced mainly for anti-amebic, anthelminthic, anti-tumor and anti-diabetic activity. However, despite traditional claims, insufficient scientific validation for the treatment of insomnia, dementia, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, spleen disorder, puerperal fever and leprosy, necessitate future investigations in this direction. It is also essential and critical to generate toxicological data and pharmacokinetics on human subjects so as to confirm its conceivable bio-active components in the body.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext Gene-Diet Interactions on Metabolic Disease-Related Outcomes in Southeast Asian Populations: A Systematic Review

Sekar P, Ventura EF, Dhanapal ACTA, Cheah ESG, Loganathan A, Quen PL, et al.

Nutrients, 2023 Jun 29;15(13).
PMID: 37447274 DOI: 10.3390/nu15132948

Diabetes and obesity are chronic diseases that are a burden to low- and middle-income countries. We conducted this systematic review to understand gene-diet interactions affecting the Southeast Asian population's risk of obesity and diabetes. The literature search was performed on Google Scholar and MEDLINE (PubMed) search engines independently by four reviewers who evaluated the eligibility of articles based on inclusion criteria. Out of 19,031 articles, 20 articles examining gene-diet interactions on obesity and/or diabetes-related traits met the inclusion criteria. Three (Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore) out of eleven Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have conducted studies on gene-diet interactions on obesity and diabetes. From the 20 selected articles, the most common interactions were observed between macronutrients and genetic risk score (GRS) on metabolic disease-related traits in the Malay, Chinese, and Indian ethnicities. Overall, we identified 29 significant gene-diet interactions in the Southeast Asian population. The results of this systematic review demonstrate ethnic-specific gene-nutrient interactions on metabolic-disease-related traits in the Southeast Asian population. This is the first systematic review to explore gene-diet interactions on obesity and diabetes in the Southeast Asian population and further research using larger sample sizes is required for better understanding and framing nutrigenetic approaches for personalized nutrition.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore/epidemiology
Profile of Singaporean dental students--1982-I

Chellappah NK, Vignehsa H

Singapore Dent J, 1983 Nov;8(2):45-9.
PMID: 6596722
Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
First-episode psychosis and vocational outcomes: A predictive model

Chua YC, Abdin E, Tang C, Subramaniam M, Verma S

Schizophr Res, 2019 09;211:63-68.
PMID: 31327504 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.07.009

Most studies on predictors of vocational outcomes are cross-sectional and results are varied. This study aimed to examine the vocational rates of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP), identify factors predicting a lack of engagement in age-appropriate roles, and evaluate the predictive ability of a model with baseline sociodemographic information and 2-year symptom and functioning trajectories on vocational outcomes. The Singapore Early Psychosis Intervention Program (EPIP) has maintained a standing database on patient clinico-demographic information. The primary outcome, vocational status, was operationalized as "meaningfully employed", that is, being gainfully employed or engaged in an age-appropriate role, and "unemployed". Using logistic regression, the predictive ability of the proposed model was evaluated. Vocational data was available for 1177 patients accepted into EPIP between 2001 and 2012. At the end of two years in the service, 829 (70.4%) patients were meaningfully employed and 348 (29.6%) patients were unemployed. The binary logistic regression model on the prediction of 2-year vocational outcomes yielded an AUC of 0.759 (SE = 0.016, p-value 

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore/epidemiology
Fulltext Predicting survival of de novo metastatic breast cancer in Asian women: systematic review and validation study

Miao H, Hartman M, Bhoo-Pathy N, Lee SC, Taib NA, Tan EY, et al.

PLoS One, 2014;9(4):e93755.
PMID: 24695692 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093755

BACKGROUND: In Asia, up to 25% of breast cancer patients present with distant metastases at diagnosis. Given the heterogeneous survival probabilities of de novo metastatic breast cancer, individual outcome prediction is challenging. The aim of the study is to identify existing prognostic models for patients with de novo metastatic breast cancer and validate them in Asia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic review to identify prediction models for metastatic breast cancer. Models were validated in 642 women with de novo metastatic breast cancer registered between 2000 and 2010 in the Singapore Malaysia Hospital Based Breast Cancer Registry. Survival curves for low, intermediate and high-risk groups according to each prognostic score were compared by log-rank test and discrimination of the models was assessed by concordance statistic (C-statistic).
RESULTS: We identified 16 prediction models, seven of which were for patients with brain metastases only. Performance status, estrogen receptor status, metastatic site(s) and disease-free interval were the most common predictors. We were able to validate nine prediction models. The capacity of the models to discriminate between poor and good survivors varied from poor to fair with C-statistics ranging from 0.50 (95% CI, 0.48-0.53) to 0.63 (95% CI, 0.60-0.66).
CONCLUSION: The discriminatory performance of existing prediction models for de novo metastatic breast cancer in Asia is modest. Development of an Asian-specific prediction model is needed to improve prognostication and guide decision making.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext Does the axillary lymph node ratio have any added prognostic value over pN staging for South East Asian breast cancer patients?

Saxena N, Hartman M, Yip CH, Bhoo-Pathy N, Khin LW, Taib NA, et al.

PLoS One, 2012;7(9):e45809.
PMID: 23029254 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045809

Lymph node ratio (LNR, i.e. the ratio of the number of positive nodes to the total number of nodes excised) is reported to be superior to the absolute number of nodes involved (pN stage) in classifying patients at high versus low risk of death following breast cancer. The added prognostic value of LNR over pN in addition to other prognostic factors has never been assessed.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

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