Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 49 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Lee RL
    Soc Sci Med, 1985;21(11):1289-96.
    PMID: 4095582
    This paper examines four drug rehabilitation systems in Malaysia from an organizational perspective. It focuses on authority structures in rehabilitation centres and their impact on rehabilitees' identities. The findings show that there are important differences between government-run and private centres in terms of administration and approach to therapy. Some policy implications are derived from a comparison of these systems.
  2. Lee RL
    Cult Med Psychiatry, 1981 Sep;5(3):233-48.
    PMID: 7318487
    Turner's concepts of structure and anti-structure are applied to the culture-bound syndromes to demonstrate that they are dialectical aspects of cultural reality, The Malay cases of amok, latah and possession hysteria are discussed as instances of anti-structural behaviors that dramatize role-reversals and role-enhancement. The performers of these behaviors are not subjected to the Malay code of moral conduct. The supernatural ethos in Malay culture plays an important role in shaping tolerance towards them. Although this tolerance has been gradually eroded as a result of the introduction of Western psychiatry, the anti-structural status of these syndromes has not faded away but has assumed new meanings in terms of psychopathology.
  3. Lee RL, Ackerman SE
    Psychiatry, 1980 Feb;43(1):78-88.
    PMID: 7355184
    This discussion of an episode of mass hysteria in a Malay college in West Malaysia examines stress and conflict in relation to the interpretive process within a specific social setting. Unlike previous studies, which conceptualize mass hysteria as a cathartic response to accumulated stress, the present study treats stress as a matter of definition in a specific sociocultural context rather than as an objective given from which predictions can be made. Objections are raised to the logic of explanations that attribute mass hysteria to environmental stress. What is of concern is how meanings are assigned to events that are experienced as stressful, how participants and observers explain these events, and the consequences that follow from their interpretations.
  4. Ajit Singh DK, Bailey M, Lee R
    Muscle Nerve, 2011 Jul;44(1):74-9.
    PMID: 21488056 DOI: 10.1002/mus.21998
    Loss of lumbar extensor muscle strength and fatigue resistance may contribute to functional disability.
  5. Singh DK, Bailey M, Lee R
    BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 2013 Jul 22;14:215.
    PMID: 23875830 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-215
    BACKGROUND: Muscle morphology, age and gender may be determinants of muscle strength in older adults. However, very few research studies have directly examined such correlation in the ageing spine. The aim of the study was to examine the correlation between lumbar extensor muscle strength, its muscle fibre angles, thoracolumbar curvature, age and gender in the older and younger adults.

    METHODS: Muscle fibre angles of lumbar extensor muscles, thoracolumbar curvature and lumbar extensor muscle strength were examined in 26 young (mean age 27.9, SD 5.2) and 26 older (mean age 72.1, SD 5.9) participants. Pearson's correlation was employed to determine the association among lumbar extensor muscle fibre angle, thoracolumbar curvature, age, gender and lumbar extensor muscle strength. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was used to identify significant determinants of lumbar extensor muscle strength.

    RESULTS: The results demonstrated a significant correlation between lumbar extensor muscle strength, muscle fibre angle, age and gender. In the step wise regression analysis, both gender and age were identified as the most robust determinant for lumbar extensor muscle strength in older adults. However, gender was the only determinant of muscle strength in the young.

    CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the decline in the lumbar extensor muscle strength in older adults was more dependent on age when compared to younger adults.

  6. Nissapatorn V, Sawangjaroen N, Lee R, Chandra Parija S
    Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:780715.
    PMID: 25587540 DOI: 10.1155/2014/780715
  7. Low QJ, Siaw C, Lee RA, Cheo SW
    QJM, 2020 Sep 01;113(9):693-694.
    PMID: 31917404 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcaa005
  8. Rahman NN, Singh DK, Lee R
    Clin Interv Aging, 2017;12:523-529.
    PMID: 28352165 DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S110329
    Aging is associated with alterations in thoracolumbar curvatures and respiratory function. Research information regarding the correlation between thoracolumbar curvatures and a comprehensive examination of respiratory function parameters in older adults is limited. The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation between thoracolumbar curvatures and respiratory function in community-dwelling older adults. Thoracolumbar curvatures (thoracic and lumbar) were measured using a motion tracker. Respiratory function parameters such as lung function, respiratory rate, respiratory muscle strength and respiratory muscle thickness (diaphragm and intercostal) were measured using a spirometer, triaxial accelerometer, respiratory pressure meter and ultrasound imaging, respectively. Sixty-eight community-dwelling older males and females from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with mean (standard deviation) age of 66.63 (5.16) years participated in this cross-sectional study. The results showed that mean (standard deviation) thoracic curvature angle and lumbar curvature angles were -46.30° (14.66°) and 14.10° (10.58°), respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between thoracic curvature angle and lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second: r=-0.23, P<0.05; forced vital capacity: r=-0.32, P<0.05), quiet expiration intercostal thickness (r=-0.22, P<0.05) and deep expiration diaphragm muscle thickness (r=-0.21, P<0.05). The lumbar curvature angle had a significant negative correlation with respiratory muscle strength (r=-0.29, P<0.05) and diaphragm muscle thickness at deep inspiration (r=-0.22, P<0.05). However, respiratory rate was correlated neither with thoracic nor with lumbar curvatures. The findings of this study suggest that increase in both thoracic and lumbar curvatures is correlated with decrease in respiratory muscle strength, respiratory muscle thickness and some parameters of lung function. Clinically, both thoracic and lumbar curvatures, respiratory muscles and lung function should be taken into consideration in the holistic management of respiratory function among older adults.
  9. Nissapatorn V, Leong TH, Lee R, Init-Ithoi, Ibrahim J, Yen TS
    PMID: 21710842
    Toxoplasmosis is an important parasitic disease in immunosuppressed patients. This prospective study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence, associated risk factors and the incidence of clinically confirmed toxoplasmosis among renal patients at the University of Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We interviewed 247 renal patients, each of whom answered an epidemiological questionnaire, and collected blood samples for measurement of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies by ELISA. Overall seroprevalence of latent toxoplasmosis was observed in 126 (51%) renal patients. Race (Malays), marital status (married) and primary level of education, were all factors associated with a greater chance of Toxoplasma infection. A case of clinically confirned toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in a renal transplant recipient as a result of immunosuppression. Based on the findings obtained, this preliminary study shows a high prevalence of latent toxoplasmosis in renal patients. Risk factors may have significantly contributed to Toxoplasma acquisition in these patients. We recommend further studies be carried out to monitor for trends in toxoplasmosis among immunosuppressed patients.
  10. Noisang C, Prosser C, Meyer W, Chemoh W, Ellis J, Sawangjaroen N, et al.
    Malar J, 2019 Aug 15;18(1):275.
    PMID: 31416468 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2903-y
    BACKGROUND: Drug resistance within the major malaria parasites Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum threatens malaria control and elimination in Southeast Asia. Plasmodium vivax first-line treatment drug is chloroquine together with primaquine, and the first-line treatment for P. falciparum malaria is artemisinin in combination with a partner drug. Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum parasites resistant to their respective first-line therapies are now found within Southeast Asia. The resistance perimeters may include high transmission regions of Southern Thailand which are underrepresented in surveillance efforts.

    METHODS: This study investigated blood samples from malaria centres in Southern Thailand. Genetic loci associated with drug resistance were amplified and sequenced. Drug resistance associated genes Pvmdr1, Pvcrt-o, Pvdhfr, and Pvdhps were characterized for 145 cases of P. vivax malaria, as well as the artemisinin resistance-associated Pfkelch13 gene from 91 cases of P. falciparum malaria.

    RESULTS: Plasmodium vivax samples from Southern Thai provinces showed numerous chloroquine and antifolate resistance-associated mutations, including SNP and Pvcrt-o K10-insertion combinations suggestive of chloroquine resistant P. vivax phenotypes. A high proportion of the C580Y coding mutation (conferring artemisinin resistance) was detected in P. falciparum samples originating from Ranong and Yala (where the mutation was previously unreported).

    CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate a risk of chloroquine and antifolate resistant P. vivax phenotypes in Southern Thailand, and artemisinin resistant P. falciparum observed as far south as the Thai-Malaysian border region. Ongoing surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance markers is called for in Southern Thailand to inform case management.

  11. Low QJ, Lau WK, Lim TH, Lee RA, Cheo SW
    Malays Fam Physician, 2020;15(3):86-89.
    PMID: 33329868
    Primary care providers should be alert to travel-related infections. Around 10-40% of returning travelers from all destinations and 15-70% of travelers from tropical settings experience ill health, either overseas or upon returning home.1 A systematic approach concentrating on possible infections should be undertaken based on the patient's travel location, immunization history, presence of malaria chemoprophylaxis at the destination, other potential exposures, incubation period, and clinical presentation.2-3 The World Health Organization (WHO) website is constantly being updated on specific travel-related infections and recent geographical outbreaks. In this paper, we report a case of severe falciparum malaria in a returned traveler.
  12. Jeffery J, Lee RM, Tan SY, Liew C, Ng LC, Lam-Phua SG
    Trop Biomed, 2010 Apr;27(1):138-42.
    PMID: 20562825
    Nine species of mosquitoes in eight genera are recorded for the first time in Singapore. An additional two species were overlooked in a 1986 checklist for mosquitoes in Singapore, and one was described after 1986. Location and habitat data are provided for the nine new records. With the inclusion of these new records the number of species reported from Singapore is 137.
  13. Tan CK, Beh SP, Lee RY, Pei Jye V, Damoderam S, Mohd Naseri NI, et al.
    Ann Oncol, 2018 Nov;29 Suppl 9:ix98.
    PMID: 32178214 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdy438.016
  14. Hon SA, Lee LT, Tan KK, Lee RA, Low QJ
    Med J Malaysia, 2021 Nov;76(6):914-917.
    PMID: 34806684
    Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic, non-caseating granulomatous disorder with an idiopathic aetiology. We report a 58-year-old Malay woman, with underlying type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension and history of stage II pulmonary sarcoidosis presenting with incidental finding of multiple hypodense liver lesions. Her recent contrasted enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated multiple intra-abdominal lymphadenopathies with evidence of liver and splenic infiltrations. Her ageappropriate malignancy screening was negative while liver biopsy showed non-caseating granulomatous hepatitis consistent with hepatic sarcoidosis. In view of her normal liver enzymes and normalised serum calcium levels, no immunosuppressive therapy was commenced. She remains asymptomatic and is currently under our close monitoring.
  15. Haridan US, Mokhtar U, Machado LR, Abdul Aziz AT, Shueb RH, Zaid M, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(1):e0116791.
    PMID: 25594501 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116791
    The FCGR3 locus encoding the low affinity activating receptor FcγRIII, plays a vital role in immunity triggered by cellular effector and regulatory functions. Copy number of the genes FCGR3A and FCGR3B has previously been reported to affect susceptibility to several autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions. However, such genetic association studies often yield inconsistent results; hence require assays that are robust with low error rate. We investigated the accuracy and efficiency in estimating FCGR3 CNV by comparing Sequenom MassARRAY and paralogue ratio test-restriction enzyme digest variant ratio (PRT-REDVR). In addition, since many genetic association studies of FCGR3B CNV were carried out using real-time quantitative PCR, we have also included the evaluation of that method's performance in estimating the multi-allelic CNV of FCGR3B. The qPCR assay exhibited a considerably broader distribution of signal intensity, potentially introducing error in estimation of copy number and higher false positive rates. Both Sequenom and PRT-REDVR showed lesser systematic bias, but Sequenom skewed towards copy number normal (CN = 2). The discrepancy between Sequenom and PRT-REDVR might be attributed either to batch effects noise in individual measurements. Our study suggests that PRT-REDVR is more robust and accurate in genotyping the CNV of FCGR3, but highlights the needs of multiple independent assays for extensive validation when performing a genetic association study with multi-allelic CNVs.
  16. Chia PL, Earnest A, Lee R, Lim J, Wong CP, Chia YW, et al.
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 2013 Sep;42(9):432-6.
    PMID: 24162317
    INTRODUCTION: In Singapore, the age-standardised event rates of myocardial infarction (MI) are 2- and 3-fold higher for Malays and Indians respectively compared to the Chinese. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and quantity of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and non-calcified plaques across these 3 ethnic groups.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study. We identified 1041 patients (810 Chinese, 139 Malays, 92 Indians) without previous history of cardiovascular disease who underwent cardiac computed tomography for atypical chest pain evaluation. A cardiologist, who was blinded to the patients' clinical demographics, reviewed all scans. We retrospectively analysed all their case records.

    RESULTS: Overall, Malays were most likely to be active smokers (P = 0.02), Indians had the highest prevalence of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.01) and Chinese had the highest mean age (P <0.0001). The overall prevalence of patients with non-calcified plaques as the only manifestation of sub-clinical coronary artery disease was 2.1%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of CAC, mean CAC score or prevalence of non-calcified plaques among the 3 ethnic groups. Active smoking, age and hypertension were independent predictors of CAC. Non-calcified plaques were positively associated with male gender, age, dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus.

    CONCLUSION: The higher MI rates in Malays and Indians in Singapore cannot be explained by any difference in CAC or non-calcified plaque. More research with prospective follow-up of larger patient populations is necessary to establish if ethnic-specific calibration of CAC measures is needed to adjust for differences among ethnic groups.

  17. Low QJ, Hon SA, Garry Siow PW, Lim TH, Lee RA, Tan YA, et al.
    QJM, 2020 Oct 01;113(10):753-754.
    PMID: 31995198 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcaa014
  18. Noordin R, Yunus MH, Saidin S, Mohamed Z, Fuentes Corripio I, Rubio JM, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2020 12;103(6):2233-2238.
    PMID: 32996457 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0348
    Independent evaluations of XEh Rapid®, an IgG4-based rapid dipstick test, were performed to assess its diagnostic performance to detect amebic liver abscess (ALA) using 405 samples at seven laboratories in four countries. The test showed high diagnostic specificity (97-100%) when tested with samples from healthy individuals (n = 100) and patients with other diseases (n = 151). The diagnostic sensitivity was tested with a total of 154 samples, and the results were variable. It was high in three laboratories (89-94%), and moderate (72%) and low (38%) in two other laboratories. Challenges and issues faced in the evaluation process are discussed. Nevertheless, XEh Rapid is promising to be developed into a point-of-care test in particular for resource-limited settings, and thus merits further confirmation of its diagnostic sensitivity.
  19. Yap G, Mailepessov D, Lim XF, Chan S, How CB, Humaidi M, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2020 09;103(3):1234-1240.
    PMID: 32700679 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0377
    Mosquito-borne flaviviruses are emerging pathogens of an increasing global public health concern because of their rapid increase in geographical range and the impact of climate change. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are of concern because of the risk of reemergence and introduction by migratory birds. In Singapore, human WNV infection has never been reported and human JEV infection is rare. Four sentinel vector surveillance sites were established in Singapore to understand the potential risk posed by these viruses. Surveillance was carried out from August 2011 to December 2012 at Pulau Ubin, from March 2011 to March 2013 at an Avian Sanctuary (AS), from December 2010 from October 2012 at Murai Farmway, and from December 2010 to December 2013 at a nature reserve. The present study revealed active JEV transmission in Singapore through the detection of JEV genotype II in Culex tritaeniorhynchus collected from an Avian Sanctuary. Culex flavivirus (CxFV), similar to the Quang Binh virus isolated from Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in Vietnam and CxFV-LSFlaviV-A20-09 virus isolated in China, was also detected in Culex spp. (vishnui subgroup). No WNV was detected. This study demonstrates the important role that surveillance plays in public health and strongly suggests the circulation of JEV among wildlife in Singapore, despite the absence of reported human cases. A One Health approach involving surveillance, the collaboration between public health and wildlife managers, and control of mosquito populations remains the key measures in risk mitigation of JEV transmission in the enzootic cycle between birds and mosquitoes.
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links