Onchocerca dewittei n. sp. was collected from a wild Boar at the metatarse level (tendons and subcutaneous connective tissue); it can be differentiated from other species by the female cuticle showing straight ridges which overlap in the lateral fields, and by its relatively thick microfilaria (length 228-247 mu and width 6-7 mu). This suidean Onchocerca displays some primitive characters such as straight ridges and persistency of ten pairs of caudal papillae in the male; but as a whole this species is undoubtedly more highly evolved than O. raillieti Bain, Müller and coll., 1976, a parasite of Equidae.
Hepatocystis bainae n. sp., parasite on the Microchiropteran bat, Hipposideros galeritus is described and differentiated from Hepatocystis rodhaini; it is characterized by the type of the microgametocytes ("diffuse"), the small size of the hepatic schizonts and the repartition of the colloide.
A Danish woman aged 28 years who had travelled in the Far East developed cerebral symptoms with headache and visual disturbances. Migraine was suspected. Subsequent CT scanning revealed multiple processes and metastases were suspected. As the patient had travelled in the Far East 1 1/2 years previously, she was examined for neurocysticercosis. This diagnosis was established and the patient was successfully treated with praziquantel. On account of increased travelling activity, the possibility of neurocysticercosis should be borne in mind when dealing with patients with cerebral symptoms and relevant travelling histories.
Hb and gene analyses of a Malaysian mother and her two daughters with microcytic anemia living in Japan were performed. Hb analyses of their hemolysates by IEF and DEAE-HPLC revealed high values of Hb A2 and HbF, but abnormal Hbs such as Hb E and Hb Constant Spring, which cause beta- and alpha-thalassemia traits, were not detected. From these data, they were suspected to be beta-thalassemia carriers. The thalassemic mutations commonly found in the Asian area by ARMS and nucleotide sequencing methods were not detected, and the frameworks of the beta-globin gene and the haplotypes of the beta-like globin gene cluster between the mother and daughters were not identical. These results led us to conclude that there was a beta(0)-thalassemia mutation with a large deletion from the beta-globin gene beyond the 3'beta/BamHI polymorphic site 3' downstream to the beta-globin gene. However, the range of the deletion from the beta-like globin gene cluster has not yet been completed in detail. Recently, there have been many foreigners mainly from Asian countries in Japan. We may encounter people with the rare type thalassemic mutation described in the text besides the mutations frequently found in Asian countries.
Tarsubulura perarmata (Ratzel, 1868) is described from a primate Tarsius bancanus and from Tupaidae: Tupaia glis and T. minor in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur). Its biological cycle is done by the experimental infestation of crickets belonging to the genera Valanga and Oxya. The infective larvae are obtained after three weeks of development of 28 degrees C in the intermediate host. They differ from third stage larvae obtained from Subulurinae by the development of cuticular pharyngeal lobes. The early apparition of this ontogenetic character confirms the isolation of the genus Tarsubulura as compared to the general evolution of the Subuluridae.
This study was done to determine the anthropometric measurement patterns of Malay children from wealthy families in Malaysia and to make a comparison with NCHS reference population. A population of 900 children aged between 3-12 years old from Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur (TDI), were examined but only 871 of them were eligible for the study. Weight, height, mid-arm circumference and skin fold thickness were measured. The increment pattern of anthropometric measurements of TDI children was quite similar to NCHS except for having a lower median weight for age and height for age. There was prepubescent increase in skin folds thickness in both sexes, followed by a midpubescent decrease and a late pubescent increase. The study indicated that Malay children from a wealthy background have growth rates comparable to children in the West, hence NCHS percentile charts are suitable as a reference for comparing the nutritional status of Malay children in Malaysia.
The acupuncture and moxibustion of TCM was introduced into Malaysia since fourteenth century. After several centuries of precipitation and accumulation, acupuncture and moxibustion showed vigorous vitality in Malaysia. This article provides an overview of the development of acupuncture in Malaysia from a full-time education in acupuncture, association, policy support for acupuncture, clinical application and scientific research, etc. With the frequent exchanges between the traditional medical community in Malaysia and the Chinese medicine community in mainland China, the spread of acupuncture in Malaysia has been greatly promoted.