MyMedR

Fulltext Do Health Expenditures Converge Among ASEAN Countries?

Li ZZ, Liu G, Tao R, Lobont OR

Front Public Health, 2021;9:699821.

PMID: 34568255 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.699821

This paper aims to determine the existence of convergence in health expenditures among Association for South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. Based on the SPSM procedure and panel KSS unit root test results, the public health expenditures (PUHE) in Indonesia, Lao PDR, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar are converging, while that of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand are diverging. In addition, the sequences of private health expenditures (PRHE) in ASEAN member states are stationary, which implies convergence. This finding is in accordance with Wagner's law, that is, as nations develop, they are forced to expand public expenditure. Specifically, countries with low levels of PUHE tend to catch up with the high health spending countries. This research has policy implications with regard to the convergence of health expenditure across countries. The government in low- and lower-middle income countries should raise PUHE to provide access to health services for those who are unaffordable individuals.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern/epidemiology

Practice of dialysis access interventional nephrology procedures in the Asia-Pacific region: Getting lay of the land

Jasuja S, Gallieni M, Jha V, Vachharajani T, Bhalla AK, Tan J, et al.

Nephrology (Carlton), 2023 Dec;28(12):672-681.

PMID: 37697492 DOI: 10.1111/nep.14236

AIM: This cross-sectional survey aimed to determine the prevalence of Interventional Nephrology (IN) practice amongst nephrologists in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR), specifically related to dialysis access (DA).

METHODS: The Association of VA and intervenTionAl Renal physicians (AVATAR) Foundation from India conducted a multinational online survey amongst nephrologists from the Asia-Pacific to determine the practice of IN in the planning, creation, and management of dialysis access. The treatment modalities, manpower and equipment availability, monthly cost of treatment, specifics of dialysis access interventions, and challenges in the training and practice of IN by nephrologists were included in the survey.

RESULTS: Twenty-one countries from the APR participated in the survey. Nephrologists from 18 (85.7%) countries reported performing at least one of the basic dialysis access-related IN procedures, primarily the placement of non-tunnelled central catheters (n-TCC; 71.5%). Only 10 countries (47.6%) reported having an average of <4% of nephrologists performing any of the advanced IN access procedures, the most common being the placement of a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter (20%). Lack of formal training (57.14%), time (42.8%), incentive (38%), institutional support (38%), medico-legal protection (28.6%), and prohibitive cost (23.8%) were the main challenges to practice IN. The primary obstacles to implementing the IN training were a lack of funding and skilled personnel.

CONCLUSION: The practice of dialysis access-related IN in APR is inadequate, mostly due to a lack of training, backup support, and economic constraints, whereas training in access-related IN is constrained by a lack of a skilled workforce and finances.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology

Sex estimation in the South-East Asian population: A systematic review

Saad S, Hisham S, Amir Hamzah SPA

Malays J Pathol, 2024 Apr;46(1):21-40.

PMID: 38682842

INTRODUCTION: Sex estimation is crucial in forensic anthropology. In situations such as mass disasters, and forensic anthropology cases, sex estimation is a very important initial step in the disaster victim identification process. Literature has acknowledged that sex estimation is population-specific. However, sex estimation standards in South-East Asian populations are limited, leading to the usage of most Thais discriminant function equations on sex estimation by other South-East Asian countries including Malaysia. This systematic review was conducted to summarise the findings of sex estimation studies in South-East Asian countries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed through the SCOPUS database and Web of Science (WOS) database for relevant studies between 2014 and 2022. All published articles that are related to sex estimation from different types of bone, methods, landmarks, and sample sources (i.e., photographs, dry bones, and CT images) were included in this review. The main inclusion criteria were studies on (i) sex estimation; (ii) in South-East Asian populations; (iii) between the years 2014 and 2022; and (iv) in English.

RESULTS: The literature search identified 30 potentially relevant studies, of which 15 publications met all the inclusion criteria. From those research, 13 studies were related to the Thai population and two to the Malaysian population. Only one study was based on morphological traits, while the rest were based on a morphometric approach.

CONCLUSION: All studies found that sex estimation is populationspecific. Therefore, further research is recommended to explore more on population-specific sex estimation using different parts of bone.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern/ethnology

Heart Failure in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America: The INTER-CHF study

Dokainish H, Teo K, Zhu J, Roy A, AlHabib KF, ElSayed A, et al.

Int J Cardiol, 2016 Feb 1;204:133-41.

PMID: 26657608 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2015.11.183

There are few data on heart failure (HF) patients from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia

Jerzego, a new hisponine jumping spider from Borneo (Araneae: Salticidae)

Maddison WP, Piascik EK

Zootaxa, 2014;3852(5):569-78.

PMID: 25284419 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3852.5.5

A new genus and species of hisponine jumping spider from Sarawak, Jerzego corticicola Maddison sp. nov. are described, representing one of the few hisponine jumping spiders known from Asia, and the only whose male is known. Although similar to the primarily-Madagascan genus Hispo in having an elongate and flat body, sequences of 28s and 16sND1 genes indicate that Jerzego is most closely related to Massagris and Tomomingi, a result consistent with morphology. Females of Jerzego and other genera of Hisponinae were found to have an unusual double copulatory duct, which appears to be a synapomorphy of the subfamily. Two species are transferred from Hispo, Jerzego bipartitus (Simon) comb. nov. and Jerzego alboguttatus (Simon) comb. nov. Diagnostic illustrations and photographs of living spiders are provided.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia

Fulltext The status quo and unmet needs in the management of allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis: a Malaysian perspective

Prepageran N, Wang de Y, Nair G, Maurer M

Asia Pac Allergy, 2014 Jul;4(3):142-8.

PMID: 25097849 DOI: 10.5415/apallergy.2014.4.3.142

Allergic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis, common and debilitating conditions, should be managed in accordance with guideline recommendations. Guideline adherence shows regional differences. As of now, there is little data from Asia and none from Malaysia on the current treatment practices and unmet needs in the management of these conditions.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia

Fulltext APBioNet-transforming bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific region

Khan AM, Tan TW, Schönbach C, Ranganathan S

PLoS Comput Biol, 2013 Oct;9(10):e1003317.

PMID: 24204244 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003317

Matched MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern

Genetic counseling/consultation in South-East Asia: a report from the workshop at the 10th Asia pacific conference on human genetics

Zayts O, Sarangi S, Thong MK, Chung BH, Lo IF, Kan AS, et al.

J Genet Couns, 2013 Dec;22(6):917-24.

PMID: 24048708 DOI: 10.1007/s10897-013-9646-7

This paper reports on the workshop 'Genetic Counseling/Consultations in South-East Asia' at the 10(th) Asia Pacific Conference on Human Genetics in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in December 2012. The workshop brought together professionals and language/communication scholars from South-East Asia, and the UK. The workshop aimed at addressing culture- and context-specific genetic counseling/consultation practices in South-East Asia. As a way of contextualizing genetic counseling/consultation in South-East Asia, we first offer an overview of communication-oriented research generally, drawing attention to consultation and counseling as part of a communicative continuum with distinctive interactional features. We then provide examples of genetic counseling/consultation research in Hong Kong. As other countries in South-East Asia have not yet embarked on communication-oriented empirical research, we report on the current practices of genetic counseling/consultation in these countries in order to identify similarities and differences as well as key obstacles that could be addressed through future research. Three issues emerged as 'problematic': language, religion and culture. We suggest that communication-oriented research can provide a starting point for evidence-based reflections on how to incorporate a counseling mentality in genetic consultation. To conclude, we discuss the need for creating a platform for targeted training of genetic counselors based on communication-oriented research findings.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern

Fulltext A brief review on anti diabetic plants: Global distribution, active ingredients, extraction techniques and acting mechanisms

Chan CH, Ngoh GC, Yusoff R

Pharmacogn Rev, 2012 Jan;6(11):22-8.

PMID: 22654401 DOI: 10.4103/0973-7847.95854

A study has been conducted with the aim to provide researchers with general information on anti diabetic extracts based on relevant research articles collected from 34 reliable medical journals. The study showed that Asian and African continents have 56% and 17% share of the worldwide distribution of therapeutic herbal plants, respectively. In Asia, India and China are the leading countries in herbal plants research, and there has been an increase in medicinal research on plants extract for diabetes treatment since 1995 in these regions. The information collected shows that plant leaves are about 20% more favorable for storing active ingredients, as compared to other parts of herbal plants. A brief review on the extraction techniques for the mentioned parts is also included. Furthermore, the acting mechanisms for the anti diabetic activity were described, and the related active ingredients were identified. The findings reveal that most of the anti diabetic research is focused on the alteration of glucose metabolism to prevent diabetes.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia

Fulltext Coining: an ancient treatment widely practiced among asians

Tan AK, Mallika PS

Malays Fam Physician, 2011;6(2-3):97-8.

PMID: 25606235 MyJurnal

Coining is a technique used in treating many illnesses since ancient times. It is a form of dermabrasion therapy still widely practiced in China and South East Asia. This ancient treatment method is employed to rid the body of "heatiness" or "negative energies". Coining is associated with serious complications, and has been confused with child abuse by physicians unfamiliar to Asian cultures. Despite the availability of more simple and effective treatment for fever, coining is still widely practiced among Asians.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern

Health technology assessment in the Asia Pacific region

Sivalal S

Int J Technol Assess Health Care, 2009 Jul;25 Suppl 1:196-201.

PMID: 19534841 DOI: 10.1017/S0266462309090631

Although health technology assessment (HTA) has been well established in all developed countries, it has not found a firm footing in many developing countries. This is especially true of the Asia Pacific region, which has much of the world population.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia

Fulltext Genome sequence of the hepatitis C virus subtype 6n isolated from malaysia

Ng KT, Lee YM, Al-Darraji HA, Xia X, Takebe Y, Chan KG, et al.

Genome Announc, 2013 Jan;1(1).

PMID: 23409272 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00168-12

We report the full genome sequence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) subtype 6n from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Phylogenetic analysis of the isolate 10MYKJ032 suggests that Southeast Asia might be the origin for the HCV subtype 6n and highlights the possible spread of this lineage from Southeast Asia to other regions.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern

Epidemiology of a fast emerging disease in the Asia-Pacific region: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Chan WK, Goh KL

Hepatol Int, 2013 Mar;7(1):65-71.

PMID: 26201622 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-012-9384-1

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly increasing in the Asia-Pacific and affects up to 30 % of the general population. In younger children, prevalence has been reported to be between 2.1 and 4.5 %. The prevalence of NAFLD increases with increasing age. NAFLD is more prevalent in men than women, but this trend fades in older age group. NAFLD is one of the most common causes of raised serum ALT levels and the latter is closely related to the presence of features of metabolic syndrome. NAFLD may contribute to metabolic syndrome in a similar way as visceral adiposity and can be an early predictor of metabolic disorders. NAFLD increases the risk of developing diabetes mellitus and is closely related to degree of glucose intolerance. A significant proportion of patients with NAFLD have impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus but with normal fasting blood glucose, highlighting the importance of oral glucose tolerance test in NAFLD patients with normal fasting blood glucose. Besides liver-related complications, NAFLD has been associated with cardiovascular complications, hyperuricemia, gout, chronic kidney disease, gallstone disease, colorectal adenomatous polyp, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. NAFLD seems to be related to host metabolic factors rather than viral factors and does not seem to affect severity of the liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B. On the other hand, hepatic steatosis may be related to both host metabolic and viral factors in patients with chronic hepatitis C and seems to adversely impact on the severity of liver disease and possibly response to antiviral therapy.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia

Fulltext The status of family medicine training programs in the Asia Pacific

Ng CJ, Teng CL, Abdullah A, Wong CH, Hanafi NS, Phoa SSY, et al.

Fam Med, 2016 Mar;48(3):194-202.

PMID: 26950908

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The family medicine training programs in the Asia Pacific (AP) are evolving. To date, there is a lack of comprehensive and systematic documentation on the status of family medicine training in the AP. This study aims to determine the status of family medicine training at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in medical schools (universities or colleges) in the AP.
METHODS: In 2014, the authors conducted a cross-sectional online survey to assess the undergraduate and postgraduate family medicine programs in academic family medicine departments from AP countries. A 37-item online survey questionnaire was sent to key informants from academic institutions with established family medicine departments/units. Only one response from each family medicine department/unit was included in the analysis.
RESULTS: The medical school and country response rates were 31.31% and 64.1%, respectively. The majority of the medical schools (94.7%, n=71/75) reported having a department/unit for family medicine. Family medicine is recognized as a specialist degree by the governments of 20/25 countries studied. Family medicine is included in the undergraduate program of 92% (n=69/75) of all the participating medical schools. Only slightly more than half (53.3%) (n=40/75) reported conducting a postgraduate clinical program. Less than one third (26.7%) (n=20/75) of the medical schools conducted postgraduate research programs.
CONCLUSIONS: Undergraduate training remains the focus of most family medicine departments/units in the AP. Nevertheless, the number of postgraduate programs is increasing. A more rigorous and long-term documentation of family medicine training in the AP is warranted.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia

Fulltext An Application of Bayesian Approach in Modeling Risk of Death in an Intensive Care Unit

Wong RS, Ismail NA

PLoS One, 2016;11(3):e0151949.

PMID: 27007413 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151949

There are not many studies that attempt to model intensive care unit (ICU) risk of death in developing countries, especially in South East Asia. The aim of this study was to propose and describe application of a Bayesian approach in modeling in-ICU deaths in a Malaysian ICU.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia

Fulltext Evaluation of the 2013 Southeast Asian Haze on Solar Generation Performance

Maghami M, Hizam H, Gomes C, Hajighorbani S, Rezaei N

PLoS One, 2015;10(8):e0135118.

PMID: 26275303 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135118

Pollution in Southeast Asia is a major public energy problem and the cause of energy losses. A significant problem with respect to this type of pollution is that it decreases energy yield. In this study, two types of photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays were used to evaluate the effect of air pollution. The performance of two types of solar arrays were analysed in this research, namely, two units of a 1 kWp tracking flat photovoltaic (TFP) and two units of a 1 kWp fixed flat photovoltaic arrays (FFP). Data analysis was conducted on 2,190 samples at 30 min intervals from 01st June 2013, when both arrays were washed, until 30th June 2013. The performance was evaluated by using environmental data (irradiation, temperature, dust thickness, and air pollution index), power output, and energy yield. Multiple regression models were predicted in view of the environmental data and PV array output. Results showed that the fixed flat system was more affected by air pollution than the tracking flat plate. The contribution of this work is that it considers two types of photovoltaic arrays under the Southeast Asian pollution 2013.

Matched MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern

Fulltext Environmental Toxicology in Addressing Public Health Challenges in East Asia

Guo HR, Hashim Z, Su SB, Bundschuh J

Biomed Res Int, 2015;2015:920518.

PMID: 26064966 DOI: 10.1155/2015/920518

Matched MeSH terms: Asia

Vaccine requirements and priorities for developing countries

Thongcharoen P

J Med Assoc Thai, 1986 Sep;69(9):505-10.

PMID: 3794567

Matched MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern

Affiliations and memberships of the Malaysian Medical Association