Displaying publications 161 - 180 of 393 in total

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  1. Goh YL, Puthucheary SD, Chaudhry R, Bhutta ZA, Lesmana M, Oyofo BA, et al.
    J Appl Microbiol, 2002;92(6):1167-71.
    PMID: 12010557
    Subtyping of Salmonella Paratyphi A isolates from India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia was carried out by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to assess the extent of genetic diversity of these isolates from different endemic countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  2. Lolekha S, Cooksley G, Chan V, Isahak I, Ismael S, John J, et al.
    PMID: 11414406
    Meningitis due to an invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection, has been previously perceived to be relatively uncommon in Asia. However, the incidence of disease and its impact may have been underestimated. In addition to a lack of microbiological facilities in some hospitals, difficulties in culturing the organism and the widespread use of antibiotics may have hidden the true incidence of the disease in some countries. Furthermore, the reported disease burden probably underestimates the incidence of Hib pneumonia. The epidemiology of invasive Hib disease for various Asian nations is reviewed in this paper. Hospital-based studies show that Hib is a major cause of bacterial meningitis and/or pneumonia in the Philippines, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Singapore and Hong Kong have a low incidence of infection compared with Western and other Asian nations. This low incidence is not due to a higher level of natural protective antibodies, but may be related to an interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Therefore the widespread belief that Hib infection is unimportant in Asia does not refer to Asia as a whole and possibly to Chinese patients only, and failure to recognize this has serious implications. The inclusion of Hib vaccine in the routine infant immunization schedule in many industrialized nations has significantly reduced the incidence of invasive disease. Recent studies have shown Hib vaccination is also effective in preventing invasive disease in children in developing countries. While population-based data may be required to confirm the need for public-funded infant Hib immunization in Asia, its introduction in countries with a high incidence of Hib meningitis and/or pneumonia has the potential to significantly improve pediatric health and survival.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  3. AIDS, 1999 Jul 30;13(11):UNAIDS 1-UNAIDS 13.
    PMID: 10449273
    A meeting was organized by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Japanese National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) with the following objectives: (i) to discuss public health and economic rationale to accelerate the development and evaluation of HIV vaccines suitable for use in Asia; (ii) to review ongoing preclinical HIV vaccine research in Asia; (iii) to review the Asian experience in conducting clinical trials of HIV candidate vaccines; (iv) to explore possibilities for international collaboration between countries in the region and with other countries and institutions; and (v) to discuss issues related to availability of future effective HIV vaccines. The meeting was attended by participants from Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The HIV epidemic in Asia is rapidly spreading and has already resulted in a total of 7 million HIV infections in the region. The epidemic already has a significant public health and economic impact, which may be worse in the future, unless effective intervention programmes are successfully implemented. A safe, effective, and affordable vaccine should be considered as the best hope for a long-term solution to the HIV epidemic in Asia. Asian scientists and institutions have established a number of international collaborations to isolate and characterize prevalent HIV-1 strains (mostly belonging to subtypes C and E) and are developing candidate vaccines based on these subtypes. In the region, phase I/II clinical trials of preventative HIV candidate vaccines have been conducted in Australia, China and Thailand. Since 1993, a comprehensive National AIDS Vaccine Plan has allowed Thailand to conduct phase I/II trials of six different preventative or therapeutic candidate vaccines, and the first phase III preventative efficacy trial has been approved. The meeting identified both the needs and the opportunities to intensify international collaboration to accelerate the development of HIV vaccines in Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  4. Sato S
    Rev. - Off. Int. Epizoot., 1996 Dec;15(4):1555-67.
    PMID: 9190025
    Since 1954, avian mycoplasmosis has been considered a significant problem in chicken flocks in Japan and in other Asian countries. In Japan, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS) infections were confirmed aetiologically in chicken flocks affected with respiratory disease or synovitis in 1962 and 1973, respectively. In other Asian countries, including Indonesia, the People's Republic of China, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taipei China and Thailand, the occurrence of mycoplasmosis in chicken flocks has been recognised serologically or aetiologically. Adverse atmospheric and environmental conditions, in addition to mixed infections of bacterial or viral origin, play an important role in the spread of MG and MS within chicken flocks or in the induction of clinical respiratory mycoplasmosis. Serological tests are important in determining and monitoring the mycoplasmal infection status of chicken flocks. The establishment of mycoplasma-free breeding stocks is recognised as essential for the control of avian mycoplasmosis. To eliminate the transmission of MG to the egg, treatment of infected breeder flocks or their progeny with anti-mycoplasmal antibiotics was effective in considerably reducing the infection rate but not in entirely eliminating MG infection. The preincubation heat treatment of chicken hatching eggs has proved an effective procedure for establishing MG- and MS-free breeding stocks in Japan. Vaccination against MG infection has been practised successfully in Japan and other countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  5. Grulich AE, McCredie M, Coates M
    Br. J. Cancer, 1995 Feb;71(2):400-8.
    PMID: 7841061
    Cancer incidence during 1972-90 in Asian migrants to New South Wales, Australia, is described. Overall cancer incidence was lower than in the Australia born in most migrant groups, and this reached significance in migrants born in China/Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and India/Sri Lanka, and in male migrants born in Indonesia. For the majority of cancers, rates were more similar to those in the Australia born than to those in the countries of birth. For cancers of the breast, colorectum and prostate, rates were relatively low in the countries of birth, but migrants generally exhibited rates nearer those of the Australia born. For cancers of the liver and cervix and, in India/Sri Lanka-born migrants, of the oral cavity, incidence was relatively high in the countries of birth but tended to be lower, nearer Australia-born rates, in the migrants. For these cancers, environmental factors related to the migrant's adopted country, and migrant selection, appeared to have a major effect on the risk of cancer. For certain other cancers, incidence was more similar to that in the countries of birth. Nasopharyngeal cancer, and lung cancer in females, had high rates in both the countries of birth and in migrants to Australia. Nasopharyngeal cancer rates were highest in China/Taiwan and Hong Kong-born migrants, and were also significantly high in migrants from Malaysia/Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines. Rates of lung cancer were significantly high in women born in China/Taiwan, and the excess was greater for adenocarcinoma than for squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma had low rates in both the migrants and in the countries of birth. For these cancers, it was probable that genetic factors, or environmental factors acting prior to migration, were important in causation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  6. Weniger BG, Takebe Y, Ou CY, Yamazaki S
    AIDS, 1994;8 Suppl 2:S13-28.
    PMID: 7857556
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  7. Kin F, Navaratnam V
    NIDA Res. Monogr., 1995;148:29-49.
    PMID: 8929883
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  8. Brown T
    AIDS Care, 1997 Feb;9(1):43-9.
    PMID: 9155914
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  9. Mohamed R, Desmond P, Suh DJ, Amarapurkar D, Gane E, Guangbi Y, et al.
    J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2004 Sep;19(9):958-69.
    PMID: 15304110
    The Asia-Pacific Expert Committee on Hepatitis B Management recently reviewed the impact of hepatitis B in the region and assessed the differences and similarities observed in the practical management of the disease in individual Asia-Pacific countries. Hepatitis B is a major health concern in the Asia-Pacific region, and of all chronically infected carriers worldwide, approximately 75% are found in Asia. The disease poses a considerable burden on healthcare systems, and is likely to remain a cause of substantial morbidity and mortality for several decades. Disease prevention activities, including screening and vaccination programs, have been implemented successfully in some Asia-Pacific countries and similar measures are being established in other parts of the region. The management of hepatitis B in the Asia-Pacific varies throughout the region, with each country confronting different issues related to treatment options, disease monitoring and duration of therapy. The influence of cost, availability of diagnostic equipment, and patient awareness and compliance are of additional concern. Although guidelines such as those developed by the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver have been created to address problems encountered in the management of hepatitis B, many physicians in the region still find it difficult to make satisfactory management decisions because of the treatment choices available. This article examines the different approaches to hepatitis B management in a number of Asia-Pacific countries, and highlights the difficulties that can arise when adhering to treatment guidelines and disease prevention solutions that have proved to be successful in the region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  10. Butler D
    Nature, 2004 May 6;429(6987):7.
    PMID: 15129247
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  11. Kwong A, Shin VY, Ho JC, Kang E, Nakamura S, Teo SH, et al.
    J Med Genet, 2016 Jan;53(1):15-23.
    PMID: 26187060 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103132
    Approximately 5%-10% of breast cancers are due to genetic predisposition caused by germline mutations; the most commonly tested genes are BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Some mutations are unique to one family and others are recurrent; the spectrum of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations varies depending on the geographical origins, populations or ethnic groups. In this review, we compiled data from 11 participating Asian countries (Bangladesh, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), and from ethnic Asians residing in Canada and the USA. We have additionally conducted a literature review to include other Asian countries mainly in Central and Western Asia. We present the current pathogenic mutation spectrum of BRCA1/BRCA2 genes in patients with breast cancer in various Asian populations. Understanding BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations in Asians will help provide better risk assessment and clinical management of breast cancer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  12. Ong J, Ong AML, Ong S, Xin X, Lee YY, Pausawasdi N, et al.
    BMJ Open Gastroenterol, 2020 11;7(1).
    PMID: 33148790 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgast-2020-000534
    BACKGROUND: Clinician burnout is an important occupational hazard that may be exacerbated by the novel COVID-19 pandemic. Within Southeast Asia, burnout in gastroenterology is understudied. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of burnout symptoms within gastroenterology, in member states of the Associations of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary objective is to identify work-related stressors that contribute to burnout in ASEAN gastroenterologists.

    METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is an observational study that will use anonymised online surveys to estimate the prevalence of burnout symptoms at two time points: during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and in 2022 (assumed to be after the pandemic). Gastroenterologists from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei will be invited to participate in the online survey through their national gastroenterology and endoscopy societies. Burnout will be assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey tool. Supplementary questions will collect demographic and qualitative data. Associations between demographic characteristics and burnout will be tested by multiple regression.

    RESULTS: The prevalence of burnout symptoms in gastroenterology during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the baseline prevalence after COVID-19, will be established in the above-mentioned countries. Work-related stressors commonly associated with burnout will be identified, allowing the introduction of preventative measures to reduce burnout in the future.

    ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was granted by the Singhealth Centralised Institutional Review Board (2020/2709). Results will be submitted for publication.

    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  13. Ho AFW, Hao Y, Pek PP, Shahidah N, Yap S, Ng YY, et al.
    Medicine (Baltimore), 2019 Mar;98(10):e14611.
    PMID: 30855446 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000014611
    Studies are divided on the effect of day-night temporal differences on clinical outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This study aimed to elucidate any differences in OHCA survival between day and night occurrence, and the factors associated with differences in survival.This was a prospective, observational study of OHCA cases across multinational Pan-Asian sites. Cases were divided according to time call received by dispatch centers into day (0700H-1900H) and night (1900H-0659H). Primary outcome was 30-day survival. Secondary outcomes were prehospital and hospital modifiable resuscitative characteristics.About 22,501 out of 55,881 cases occurred at night. Night cases were less likely to be witnessed (40.2% vs. 43.1%, P 
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  14. Zeng W, Halasa-Rappel YA, Baurin N, Coudeville L, Shepard DS
    Vaccine, 2018 01 08;36(3):413-420.
    PMID: 29229427 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.11.064
    Following publication of results from two phase-3 clinical trials in 10 countries or territories, endemic countries began licensing the first dengue vaccine in 2015. Using a published mathematical model, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of dengue vaccination in populations similar to those at the trial sites in those same Latin American and Asian countries. Our main scenarios (30-year horizon, 80% coverage) entailed 3-dose routine vaccinations costing US$20/dose beginning at age 9, potentially supplemented by catch-up programs of 4- or 8-year cohorts. We obtained illness costs per case, dengue mortality, vaccine wastage, and vaccine administration costs from the literature. We estimated that routine vaccination would reduce yearly direct and indirect illness cost per capita by 22% (from US$10.51 to US$8.17) in the Latin American countries and by 23% (from US$5.78 to US$4.44) in the Asian countries. Using a health system perspective, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) averaged US$4,216/disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted in the five Latin American countries (range: US$666/DALY in Puerto Rico to US$5,865/DALY in Mexico). In the five Asian countries, the ICER averaged US$3,751/DALY (range: US$1,935/DALY in Malaysia to US$5,101/DALY in the Philippines). From a health system perspective, the vaccine proved to be highly cost effective (ICER under one times the per capita GDP) in seven countries and cost effective (ICER 1-3 times the per capita GDP) in the remaining three countries. From a societal perspective, routine vaccination proved cost-saving in three countries. Including catch-up campaigns gave similar ICERs. Thus, this vaccine could have a favorable economic value in sites similar to those in the trials.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  15. Jiamsakul A, Polizzotto M, Wen-Wei Ku S, Tanuma J, Hui E, Chaiwarith R, et al.
    J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2019 03 01;80(3):301-307.
    PMID: 30531303 DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001918
    BACKGROUND: Hematological malignancies have continued to be highly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLHIV). This study assessed the occurrence of, risk factors for, and outcomes of hematological and nonhematological malignancies in PLHIV in Asia.

    METHODS: Incidence of malignancy after cohort enrollment was evaluated. Factors associated with development of hematological and nonhematological malignancy were analyzed using competing risk regression and survival time using Kaplan-Meier.

    RESULTS: Of 7455 patients, 107 patients (1%) developed a malignancy: 34 (0.5%) hematological [0.08 per 100 person-years (/100PY)] and 73 (1%) nonhematological (0.17/100PY). Of the hematological malignancies, non-Hodgkin lymphoma was predominant (n = 26, 76%): immunoblastic (n = 6, 18%), Burkitt (n = 5, 15%), diffuse large B-cell (n = 5, 15%), and unspecified (n = 10, 30%). Others include central nervous system lymphoma (n = 7, 21%) and myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 1, 3%). Nonhematological malignancies were mostly Kaposi sarcoma (n = 12, 16%) and cervical cancer (n = 10, 14%). Risk factors for hematological malignancy included age >50 vs. ≤30 years [subhazard ratio (SHR) = 6.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.79 to 23.43] and being from a high-income vs. a lower-middle-income country (SHR = 3.97, 95% CI: 1.45 to 10.84). Risk was reduced with CD4 351-500 cells/µL (SHR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.74) and CD4 >500 cells/µL (SHR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.78), compared to CD4 ≤200 cells/µL. Similar risk factors were seen for nonhematological malignancy, with prior AIDS diagnosis showing a weak association. Patients diagnosed with a hematological malignancy had shorter survival time compared to patients diagnosed with a nonhematological malignancy.

    CONCLUSIONS: Nonhematological malignancies were common but non-Hodgkin lymphoma was more predominant in our cohort. PLHIV from high-income countries were more likely to be diagnosed, indicating a potential underdiagnosis of cancer in low-income settings.

    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  16. Sano Y, Chiu HM, Li XB, Khomvilai S, Pisespongsa P, Co JT, et al.
    Dig Endosc, 2019 May;31(3):227-244.
    PMID: 30589103 DOI: 10.1111/den.13330
    BACKGROUND AND AIM: In recent years, the incidence of colorectal cancer has been increasing, and it is now becoming the major cause of cancer death in Asian countries. The aim of the present study was to develop Asian expert-based consensus to standardize the preparation, detection and characterization for the diagnosis of early-stage colorectal neoplasia.

    METHODS: A professional group was formed by 36 experts of the Asian Novel Bio-Imaging and Intervention Group (ANBI2 G) members. Representatives from 12 Asia-Pacific countries participated in the meeting. The group organized three consensus meetings focusing on diagnostic endoscopy for gastrointestinal neoplasia. The Delphi method was used to develop the consensus statements.

    RESULTS: Through the three consensus meetings with debating, reviewing the literature and regional data, a consensus was reached at third meeting in 2016. The consensus was reached on a total of 10 statements. Summary of statements is as follows: (i) Adequate bowel preparation for high-quality colonoscopy; (ii) Antispasmodic agents for lesion detection; (iii) Image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE) for polyp detection; (iv) Adenoma detection rate for quality indicators; (v) Good documentation of colonoscopy findings; (vi) Complication rates; (vii) Cecal intubation rate; (viii) Cap-assisted colonoscopy (CAC) for polyp detection; (ix) Macroscopic classification using indigocarmine spray for characterization of colorectal lesions; and (x) IEE and/or magnifying endoscopy for prediction of histology.

    CONCLUSION: This consensus provides guidance for carrying out endoscopic diagnosis and characterization for early-stage colorectal neoplasia based on the evidence. This will enhance the quality of endoscopic diagnosis and improve detection of early-stage colorectal neoplasia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  17. Gopalan C
    Biomed Environ Sci, 1996 Sep;9(2-3):102-16.
    PMID: 8886320
    Food production in the countries of South and South-East Asia has shown a general upward trend during the last decade. Despite the considerable increase in population in many of these countries, food production per capita in 1988-90 was significantly higher as compared to 1979-81 figures, the increase being specially marked in such countries as Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Available daily calorie supply was adequate to meet the requirement. The overall pattern of food production however has shown little change, with cereal production continuing to account for a predominant part of food production. There is no evidence of a significant uptrend with respect to production of pulses, milk, horticultural products, poultry or meat production in most countries. A unique and unfortunate feature of the nutrition situation in South-Asian countries is that the incidence of low birth weight deliveries is as high as 34% (1990), ranging from 25% in Sri Lanka to 50% in Bangladesh (as against less than 7% in the countries of Europe and North America). Even in countries of Africa where the overall food and nutrition situation is worse than in South Asia, the incidence is well below 20%. This is a reflection of the poor state of maternal nutrition in pregnancy. Florid nutritional deficiency diseases have shown a steep decline over the last two decades, but goitre and iron deficiency anaemia continue to be major public health problems, though some headway has been made with regard to the control of the former. Severe forms of growth retardation in children have declined but the majority suffer from mild and moderate forms of growth retardation. Countries of the Region are in varying stages of developmental transition. Among the burgeoning middle classes in some of these countries there are evidences of escalation of degenerative diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease. With increasing life expectancy, geriatric nutritional problems will demand increasing attention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  18. Dore GJ, Kaldor JM, Ungchusak K, Mertens TE
    Med J Aust, 1996 Nov 4;165(9):494-8.
    PMID: 8937371
    The incidence of new HIV infections in Asia and the Pacific will soon pass that in Africa and is projected to increase into the next century. The AIDS epidemic arising from these infections will have enormous consequences for the health and socioeconomic development of a region encompassing more than half the world's population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
  19. Wong SW, Chan WK
    Indian J Gastroenterol, 2020 02;39(1):1-8.
    PMID: 32152903 DOI: 10.1007/s12664-020-01018-x
    The growing burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) parallels the increasing prevalence of obesity in Asia. The overall prevalence of NAFLD in Asia is now estimated to be 29.6% and may have surpassed that in Western populations. NAFLD increases with increasing age and is closely associated with metabolic syndrome. Ethnic differences exist in the prevalence of NAFLD, but the underlying factors are unclear. There were initial concerns about lean NAFLD being associated with more severe liver disease and increased mortality, but subsequent studies suggested otherwise. Only some NAFLD patients progress to develop advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, while the liver status remains unchanged in the majority; fibrosis stage is the most important predictor of disease-specific mortality in NAFLD. Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a challenge due to undiagnosed cirrhosis and the development of HCC in non-cirrhotic NAFLD patients. Diabetes mellitus shares a bidirectional relationship with NAFLD; NAFLD is highly prevalent among patients with diabetes mellitus, and diabetes mellitus is associated with more severe NAFLD. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a major cause of chronic liver disease in Asia; NAFLD and CHB are increasingly observed together because of the increasing prevalence of NAFLD. Despite studies reporting favorable virologic outcome in CHB patients with NAFLD, NAFLD has been found to be independently associated with fibrosis progression and poorer prognosis in CHB patients. Therefore, NAFLD in CHB patients should be given more attention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asia/epidemiology
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