Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 36 in total

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  1. Chen B, Zhao Y, Jin Z, He D, Li H
    BMC Infect Dis, 2023 Jan 13;23(1):25.
    PMID: 36639649 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-07984-9
    BACKGROUND: The ongoing coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged and caused multiple pandemic waves in the following six countries: India, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Some of the countries have been much less studied in this devastating pandemic. This study aims to assess the impact of the Omicron variant in these six countries and estimate the infection fatality rate (IFR) and the reproduction number [Formula: see text] in these six South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania countries.

    METHODS: We propose a Susceptible-Vaccinated-Exposed-Infectious-Hospitalized-Death-Recovered model with a time-varying transmission rate [Formula: see text] to fit the multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and to estimate the IFR and [Formula: see text] in the aforementioned six countries. The level of immune evasion and the intrinsic transmissibility advantage of the Omicron variant are also considered in this model.

    RESULTS: We fit our model to the reported deaths well. We estimate the IFR (in the range of 0.016 to 0.136%) and the reproduction number [Formula: see text] (in the range of 0 to 9) in the six countries. Multiple pandemic waves in each country were observed in our simulation results.

    CONCLUSIONS: The invasion of the Omicron variant caused the new pandemic waves in the six countries. The higher [Formula: see text] suggests the intrinsic transmissibility advantage of the Omicron variant. Our model simulation forecast implies that the Omicron pandemic wave may be mitigated due to the increasing immunized population and vaccine coverage.

    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  2. Forouhari A, Taheri G, Salari M, Moosazadeh M, Etemadifar M
    Mult Scler Relat Disord, 2021 Sep;54:103119.
    PMID: 34247103 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103119
    BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating CNS disease and the most common neurological immune-mediated disorder. Due to its progressive format, it affects patients' quality of life (QoL) significantly. This study aimed to evaluate epidemiologic parameters of MS in the Asia and Oceania continents.

    METHODS: A comprehensive literature search on October 1st, 2020, was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to retrieve original population-based studies on MS epidemiology in the Asian and Oceanian countries, published between January 1st, 1985 and October 1st, 2020. The designed search strategy was repeated for each country, and the relevant referenced articles were added to our database. A random-effect model was used to combine the epidemiological estimates, and subgroup analysis was also performed by continent, region, and country, when possible. Meta-regression analysis was done to evaluate the effects of Human Developmental Index (HDI), latitude, and study period on the epidemiologic parameters.

    RESULTS: A total of 3,109 publications were found, of which 89 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included for data extraction. These articles provided data on prevalence, incidence, and mean age at disease onset in 18 countries in Asia and Oceania, including Iran, Turkey, Cyprus, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Israel, India, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. The pooled total prevalence, incidence, and mean age of onset in Asia and Oceania were 37.89/100000 (95% CI: 35.65 - 40.142), 2.40/100000 (95% CI: 2.22 - 2.58), and 28.21 (95% CI: 27.55 - 28.88), respectively. MS prevalence and incidence in the female gender (68.7/100000 and 4.42/100000, respectively) were infinitely higher than in the male gender (24.52/100000 and 2.06/100000, respectively). Our subgroup analysis showed that MS was much more prevalent in Australia and West Asia among the studied area. The meta-regression showed that the total incidence decreased with an increase in the HDI, and the total prevalence in Asia increased with increasing latitude gradients. Also, the study period had a positive effect on the total prevalence and incidence in Asia and Oceania.

    CONCLUSION: MS prevalence and incidence have increased in recent decades. This study highlights the need for further studies to elucidate MS's geographical and temporal variations' exact etiologies.

    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania/epidemiology
  3. Lim SY, Tan AH, Ahmad-Annuar A, Klein C, Tan LCS, Rosales RL, et al.
    Lancet Neurol, 2019 09;18(9):865-879.
    PMID: 31175000 DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30195-4
    1·8 billion people of diverse ethnicities and cultures live in the Western Pacific Region. The increasing longevity of populations in this region is a major contributor to the exponential increase in Parkinson's disease prevalence worldwide. Differences exist between Parkinson's disease in the Western Pacific Region and in Europe and North America that might provide important insights into our understanding of the disease and approaches to management. For example, some genetic factors (such as LRRK2 mutations or variants) differ, environmental exposures might play differential roles in modulating the risk of Parkinson's disease, and fewer dyskinesias are reported, with some differences in the profile of non-motor symptoms and comorbidities. Gaps in awareness of the disease and inequitable access to treatments pose challenges. Further improvements in infrastructure, clinical governance, and services, and concerted collaborative efforts in training and research, including greater representation of the Western Pacific Region in clinical trials, will improve care of patients with Parkinson's disease in this region and beyond.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania/epidemiology
  4. Patrick R, Dietrich U
    Ecohealth, 2016 12;13(4):808-812.
    PMID: 27650715
    In Oceania, a region challenged by rapid urbanisation and climate change, integrative frameworks are required to enable effective actions on health and sustainability. The Ecohealth approach provides a framework for practice that acknowledges human health is intrinsically linked to ecosystem health. This research communication reports on a study involving interviews with twenty-seven leading health and sustainability thinkers from Oceania and across the globe. In examining their ideas for action, the report presents the study findings in relation to the guiding principles of Ecohealth: systems thinking, transdisciplinarity, participation, sustainability, equity and knowledge-to-action. Implications for Ecohealth practitioners working in Oceania are considered.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  5. Tsutsui K
    Gen Comp Endocrinol, 2013 Jan 15;181:192-6.
    PMID: 22554924 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.04.015
    The Asia and Oceania Society for Comparative Endocrinology (AOSCE) was founded in 1987, when the first congress was held in Nagoya, Japan. The purpose of the AOSCE is to progress scientific activities in the field of comparative endocrinology in Asia and Oceania and to establish a deep relationship among the members. For this purpose, the AOSCE holds a congress or an intercongress symposium every 2 years, which organizes an attractive scientific program covering the latest progress in the broad aspect of comparative endocrinology. 2012 was the 25th anniversary of AOSCE. Our scientific activities have increased dramatically during the past 25 years. The 7th AOSCE congress was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2012. The theme of this congress was "Overcoming challenges in the 21st century". To overcome challenges in the 21st century, we further need to create new research directions in comparative endocrinology from Asia and Oceania. This paper describes a brief history of the AOSCE and also highlights the discovery of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) and the progress of GnIH research as one of new research directions in comparative endocrinology. In 2000, GnIH was discovered in Japan and now more than 50 laboratories are working on GnIH in the world. The discovery of GnIH has changed our understanding about regulation of the reproductive axis drastically in the past decade.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  6. Grey AC, Lin Q, Low TY, Wu W, Haynes PA, Chung MCM, et al.
    Mol Cell Proteomics, 2023 Sep;22(9):100627.
    PMID: 37532177 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100627
    As the first in-person Asia Oceania Human Proteomics Organization (AOHUPO) congress since 2018, the 11th AOHUPO congress was an opportune time for the research community to reconnect and to renew friendships after the long period of restricted travel due to the global pandemic. Moreover, this congress was a great opportunity for the many AO regional proteomics and mass spectrometry scientists to meet in Singapore to exchange ideas and to present their latest findings. Cohosted by the Singapore Society for Mass Spectrometry and the Malaysian Proteomics Society and held in conjunction with the seventh Asia Oceania Agricultural Proteomics Organization Congress and Singapore Society for Mass Spectrometry 2023, the meeting featured both human and agricultural proteomics. Over five hundred scientists from the AO region converged on the MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO, Changi, Singapore from May 8 to 10 for the main congress. The diverse program was made up of 64 invited speakers and panellists for seven plenary lectures, 27 concurrent symposia, precongress and postcongress workshops, and 174 poster presentations. The AOHUPO society were able to celebrate not only their 20th anniversary but also the outstanding academic research from biological and agricultural proteomics and related 'omics fields being conducted across the Asia-Oceania region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  7. Kwan P, Cabral-Lim L, D'Souza W, Jain S, Lee BI, Liao W, et al.
    Epilepsia, 2015 May;56(5):667-73.
    PMID: 25823580 DOI: 10.1111/epi.12957
    The Asia-Oceanian region is the most populous region in the world. Although there has been substantial economic development and improvement in health services in recent years, epilepsy remains generally an underrecognized and understudied condition. To help promote research in the region, the Commission on Asian and Oceanian Affairs (CAOA) of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) appointed the Research Task Force (RTF) to facilitate the development of research priorities for the region. Research that focuses on issues that are unique or of particular importance in the Asia-Oceanian region is encouraged, and that captures the impact of the dynamic socioeconomic changes taking place in the region is emphasized. Based on these considerations, we propose research "dimensions" as priorities within the Asia-Oceanian region. These are studies (1) that would lead to fuller appreciation of the health burden of epilepsy, particularly the treatment gap; (2) that would lead to better understanding of the causes of epilepsy; (3) that would alleviate the psychosocial consequences of epilepsy; (4) that would develop better therapies and improved therapeutic outcomes; and (5) that would improve the research infrastructure.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania/epidemiology
  8. Chung CCY, Ng YNC, Jain R, Chung BHY
    Orphanet J Rare Dis, 2021 03 05;16(1):119.
    PMID: 33673852 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-01766-9
    BACKGROUND: This study assesses the areas and extent of impact of the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on rare disease (RD) organisations in the Asia Pacific region. There is no existing literature that focuses on such impact on RD organisations in any jurisdictions, nor RD populations across multiple jurisdictions in the Asia Pacific region. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to RD organisations between April and May 2020. Quantitative and qualitative data on the impact of COVID-19 on RD organisations and patients were collected from the organisation representative's perspective. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. A follow-up focus group meeting was conducted in August 2020 to validate the survey findings and to discuss specific needs, support and recommendations for sustainable healthcare systems during the pandemic.

    RESULTS: A total of 80 RD organisations from Australia, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, India, Japan, mainland China, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan participated in the study. Of all, 89% were concerned about the impact of pandemic on their organisations. Results indicate that 63% of the organisations functioned at a reduced capacity and 42% stated a decrease in funding as their biggest challenge. Overall, 95% believed their patients were impacted, particularly in healthcare access, social lives, physical health, psychological health and financial impact. Specifically, 43% identified the reduced healthcare access as their top impact, followed by 26% about the impact on daily living and social life. Focus group meeting discussed differential impact across jurisdictions and point towards telemedicine and digitalisation as potential solutions.

    CONCLUSIONS: This serves as the first study to assess the impact of COVID-19 on RD patients and organisations across multiple jurisdictions in the Asia Pacific region, identifying major themes on the impact on both RD patients and organisations. By including 80 organisations from ten jurisdictions, our study presents the most comprehensive assessment of the pandemic's impact to date. It highlights the need for mental health support and sheds light on moving towards telemedicine and digitalisation of organisation operation, which constitutes a sustainable model in times of pandemics and beyond.

    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania/epidemiology
  9. Tse KY, Domingo EJ, Konar H, Kumarasamy S, Pariyar J, Tjokroprawiro BA, et al.
    J Obstet Gynaecol Res, 2021 May;47(5):1643-1650.
    PMID: 33650217 DOI: 10.1111/jog.14579
    Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have already been over 26 million people being infected and it is expected that the pandemic will not end in near future. Not only the daily activities and lifestyles of individuals have been affected, the medical practice has also been modified to cope with this emergency catastrophe. In particular, the cancer services have faced an unprecedented challenge. While the services may have been cut by the national authorities or hospitals due to shortage of manpower and resources, the medical need of cancer patients has increased. Cancer patients who are receiving active treatment may develop various kinds of complications especially immunosuppression from chemotherapy, and they and their carers will need additional protection against COVID-19. Besides, there is also evidence that cancer patients are more prone to deteriorate from COVID-19 if they contract the viral infection. Therefore, it is crucial to establish guidelines so that healthcare providers can triage their resources to take care of the most needed patients, reduce less important hospitalization and visit, and to avoid potential complications from treatment. The Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOFOG) hereby issued this opinion statement on the management of gynecological cancer patients during the COVID-19.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  10. Wetzel FT, Kissling WD, Beissmann H, Penn DJ
    Glob Chang Biol, 2012 Sep;18(9):2707-19.
    PMID: 24501050 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02736.x
    Sea-level rise (SLR) due to global warming will result in the loss of many coastal areas. The direct or primary effects due to inundation and erosion from SLR are currently being assessed; however, the indirect or secondary ecological effects, such as changes caused by the displacement of human populations, have not been previously evaluated. We examined the potential ecological consequences of future SLR on >1,200 islands in the Southeast Asian and the Pacific region. Using three SLR scenarios (1, 3, and 6 m elevation, where 1 m approximates most predictions by the end of this century), we assessed the consequences of primary and secondary SLR effects from human displacement on habitat availability and distributions of selected mammal species. We estimate that between 3-32% of the coastal zone of these islands could be lost from primary effects, and consequently 8-52 million people would become SLR refugees. Assuming that inundated urban and intensive agricultural areas will be relocated with an equal area of habitat loss in the hinterland, we project that secondary SLR effects can lead to an equal or even higher percent range loss than primary effects for at least 10-18% of the sample mammals in a moderate range loss scenario and for 22-46% in a maximum range loss scenario. In addition, we found some species to be more vulnerable to secondary than primary effects. Finally, we found high spatial variation in vulnerability: species on islands in Oceania are more vulnerable to primary SLR effects, whereas species on islands in Indo-Malaysia, with potentially 7-48 million SLR refugees, are more vulnerable to secondary effects. Our findings show that primary and secondary SLR effects can have enormous consequences for human inhabitants and island biodiversity, and that both need to be incorporated into ecological risk assessment, conservation, and regional planning.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  11. Chakraborty S, Salekdeh GH, Yang P, Woo SH, Chin CF, Gehring C, et al.
    J Proteome Res, 2015 Jul 2;14(7):2723-44.
    PMID: 26035454 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00211
    In the rapidly growing economies of Asia and Oceania, food security has become a primary concern. With the rising population, growing more food at affordable prices is becoming even more important. In addition, the predicted climate change will lead to drastic changes in global surface temperature and changes in rainfall patterns that in turn will pose a serious threat to plant vegetation worldwide. As a result, understanding how plants will survive in a changing climate will be increasingly important. Such challenges require integrated approaches to increase agricultural production and cope with environmental threats. Proteomics can play a role in unraveling the underlying mechanisms for food production to address the growing demand for food. In this review, the current status of food crop proteomics is discussed, especially in regard to the Asia and Oceania regions. Furthermore, the future perspective in relation to proteomic techniques for the important food crops is highlighted.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  12. Round WH, Jafari S, Kron T, Azhari HA, Chhom S, Hu Y, et al.
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2015 Sep;38(3):381-98.
    PMID: 25894289 DOI: 10.1007/s13246-015-0342-9
    The history of medical physics in Asia-Oceania goes back to the late nineteenth century when X-ray imaging was introduced, although medical physicists were not appointed until much later. Medical physics developed very quickly in some countries, but in others the socio-economic situation as such prevented it being established for many years. In others, the political situation and war has impeded its development. In many countries their medical physics history has not been well recorded and there is a danger that it will be lost to future generations. In this paper, brief histories of the development of medical physics in most countries in Asia-Oceania are presented by a large number of authors to serve as a record. The histories are necessarily brief; otherwise the paper would quickly turn into a book of hundreds of pages. The emphasis in each history as recorded here varies as the focus and culture of the countries as well as the length of their histories varies considerably.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  13. Zhang X, Li C, Zhou Y, Huang J, Yu T, Liu X, et al.
    iScience, 2020 Apr 24;23(4):101032.
    PMID: 32304863 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101032
    Hanging Coffin is a unique and ancient burial custom that has been practiced in southern China, Southeast Asia, and near Oceania regions for more than 3,000 years. Here, we conducted mitochondrial whole-genome analyses of 41 human remains sampled from 13 Hanging Coffin sites in southern China and northern Thailand, which were dated between ∼2,500 and 660 years before present. We found that there were genetic connections between the Hanging Coffin people living in different geographic regions. Notably, the matrilineal genetic diversity of the Hanging Coffin people from southern China is much higher than those from northern Thailand, consistent with the hypothesized single origin of the Hanging Coffin custom in southern China about 3,600 years ago, followed by its dispersal in southern China through demic diffusion, whereas the major dispersal pattern in Southeast Asia is cultural assimilation in the past 2,000 years.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  14. Lo TL, Warden M, He Y, Si T, Kalyanasundaram S, Thirunavukarasu M, et al.
    Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2016 Jun;8(2):154-71.
    PMID: 27062665 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12234
    Providing optimal care to patients with recent-onset psychosis can improve outcomes and reduce relapse. However, there is a lack of consistency of the implementation of guidelines for such patients across the Asia-Pacific region. We determined a pragmatic set of recommendations for use on a day-to-day basis to help provide optimal care at this crucial stage of illness. The recommendations were developed over a series of meetings by an international faculty of 15 experts from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and South Africa. A structured search of the PubMed database was conducted. This was further developed based on the faculty's clinical experience and knowledge of the literature into 10 key aspects of optimal care for patients during the first five years of a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, with particular relevance to the Asia-Pacific region. Several common principles emerged: adherence to antipsychotic medications is crucial; substance abuse, psychiatric and medical comorbidities should be addressed; psychosocial interventions play a pivotal role; and family members can play a vital role in overall patient care. By following these recommendations, clinicians may improve outcomes for patients with recent-onset psychosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  15. Asia-Pacific ACS Medical Management Working Group, Huo Y, Thompson P, Buddhari W, Ge J, Harding S, et al.
    Int J Cardiol, 2015 Mar 15;183:63-75.
    PMID: 25662044 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.11.195
    Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) remain a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. International guidelines advocate invasive procedures in all but low-risk ACS patients; however, a high proportion of ACS patients in the APAC region receive solely medical management due to a combination of unique geographical, socioeconomic, and population-specific barriers. The APAC ACS Medical Management Working Group recently convened to discuss the ACS medical management landscape in the APAC region. Local and international ACS guidelines and the global and APAC clinical evidence-base for medical management of ACS were reviewed. Challenges in the provision of optimal care for these patients were identified and broadly categorized into issues related to (1) accessibility/systems of care, (2) risk stratification, (3) education, (4) optimization of pharmacotherapy, and (5) cost/affordability. While ACS guidelines clearly represent a valuable standard of care, the group concluded that these challenges can be best met by establishing cardiac networks and individual hospital models/clinical pathways taking into account local risk factors (including socioeconomic status), affordability and availability of pharmacotherapies/invasive facilities, and the nature of local healthcare systems. Potential solutions central to the optimization of ACS medical management in the APAC region are outlined with specific recommendations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania/epidemiology
  16. Hauser N, Gushiken AC, Narayanan S, Kottilil S, Chua JV
    Trop Med Infect Dis, 2021 Feb 14;6(1).
    PMID: 33672796 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6010024
    Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic paramyxovirus of the Henipavirus genus first identified in Malaysia in 1998. Henipaviruses have bat reservoir hosts and have been isolated from fruit bats found across Oceania, Asia, and Africa. Bat-to-human transmission is thought to be the primary mode of human NiV infection, although multiple intermediate hosts are described. Human infections with NiV were originally described as a syndrome of fever and rapid neurological decline following contact with swine. More recent outbreaks describe a syndrome with prominent respiratory symptoms and human-to-human transmission. Nearly annual outbreaks have been described since 1998 with case fatality rates reaching greater than 90%. The ubiquitous nature of the reservoir host, increasing deforestation, multiple mode of transmission, high case fatality rate, and lack of effective therapy or vaccines make NiV's pandemic potential increasingly significant. Here we review the epidemiology and microbiology of NiV as well as the therapeutic agents and vaccines in development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  17. Pei, Lin Lua, Norhayati Mustapha
    ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 2012;13(2):197-217.
    MyJurnal
    encountered particularly in mental health issues and to additionally analyze the methodologies used in studies involving HIV/AIDS informal caregivers.

    Methods: Four electronic databases; Science Direct, EBSCOhost, Ovid and Springer Link were searched for articles published in the past 10 years (2002 - 2012). Only full-text English articles related to research on care giving of HIV-infected adult patients were selected.

    Results: Twenty two out of 293 articles (7.5%) were reviewed, involving 2,765 caregivers in the USA (n=1,610), Africa (n=253), Asia (n=838) and Oceania (n=64) regions. A variety of age categories was involved in care giving with the youngest carer being 12 years old and the oldest, 60 years on average. Females and whites appeared to be dominant and 603 caregivers themselves were HIV positive. The main outcomes measured were care giving burden, challenges and coping. Stress and depression, stigma and discrimination, insufficient support, role overload and extreme poverty were the main challenges experienced in care giving. Both qualitative (n=11) and quantitative (n=9) were the equally preferred types of study. Purposive sampling emerged as the most preferred sampling technique. Various instruments were utilized, but the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was the most popular particularly in quantitative studies.

    Conclusion: A variety of life aspects were negatively affected in the process of care giving for HIV/AIDS patients and studies of such nature commonly focused on caregivers' psychosocial burden.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  18. Tsuji K, Mohd Nor Faizal Ghazalli, Zulhairil Ariffin, Mohd Shukor Nordin, Khaidizar MI, Mohammad Ehsan Dulloo, et al.
    Sains Malaysiana, 2011;40:1407-1412.
    Nipa (Nypa fruticans) is one of the most widely distributed and useful palm in the mangrove forests in the South, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Its distribution area is known to be larger in ancient time than at present, as evidenced by its fossils found in North America, South America, Egypt and Europe. Nipa has a wide diversity of use. Traditionally it is used as roof materials, cigarette wrapper, medicine and its sap is fermented to alcohol. Recently, research on nipa has focused on its potential use as a biofuel crop because it has several advantages compared with other biofuel-alcohol crops. For example it has high alcohol content, no competition with other crop for agricultural land and no bagasse disposal problem. In spite of such usefulness, scientific reports on biology of nipa are limited. Information on genetic diversity, cytogenetics and chemical composition are lacking for nipa plant. On the other hand, morphological characters of nipa have been described in many reports. This paper attempted to provide a general review of the nipa plant based on available literatures.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  19. Roxas A, Mehndiratta MM, Bornstein N, Macdonell R, Lim KS, Ng PW, et al.
    J Neurol Sci, 2017 Nov 15;382:108-115.
    PMID: 29111001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.09.022
    OBJECTIVE: To survey AOAN member countries regarding their organizational structure, postgraduate neurology training program, and resources for neurological care provision.

    METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey using a 36-item questionnaire was conducted among country representatives to AOAN from August 2015 to August 2016.

    RESULTS: A total of 18/20 AOAN member countries participated in the survey. All the countries have organized association with regular meetings, election of officers and neurology training program. In 9/18 countries, professionals other than neurologists were eligible for affiliation. In 11/18 countries, prior Internal medicine training (or equivalent postgraduate housemanship) is prerequisite to neurology program. Recertification examination is not a practice, but submission of CME is required in 7/18 countries to maintain membership. 12/18 countries publish peer-reviewed journals with at least 1 issue per year. Subspecialty training is offered in 14/18 countries. The ratio of neurologist to population ranges from 1:14,000 to as low as 1:32 million with 9/18 having <1 neurologist per 100,000 population. 6/18 countries have at least 1 specialized center solely for neurological diseases. In government-funded hospitals, the lag time to be seen by a neurologist and/or obtain neuroimaging scan ranges from 1day to 3months. All except one country have several medical- and lay- advocacy or support groups for different neurological conditions.

    IMPLICATIONS: The data generated can be used for benchmarking to improve neurological care, training, collaborative work and research in the field of neurosciences among the AOAN member countries. The paper presented several strategies used by the different organizations to increase their number of neurologists and improve the quality of training. Sharing of best practices, academic networking, exchange programs and use of telemedicine have been suggested.

    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
  20. Oncology Committee, Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tse KY, Ushijima K, Tan AL, Intasorn P, Pariyar J, et al.
    J Obstet Gynaecol Res, 2023 Apr;49(4):1230-1243.
    PMID: 36726190 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15566
    BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, the utilization pattern was not standardized. The aim of this study was to elicit the current prevention care in Asia-Oceania.

    METHODS: An online questionnaire was circulated to different countries/cities in Asia-Oceania. The primary objective was to evaluate the coverage of HPV vaccination and cervical screening programs. The secondary objectives were to study the structures of these programs. Five case scenarios were set to understand how the respondents manage the abnormal screening results.

    RESULTS: Fourteen respondents from 10 countries/cities had participated. Cervical cancer ranked the first in Myanmar and Nepal. About 10%-15% did not have national vaccination or screening program. The estimated coverage rate for vaccination and screening varied from less than 1% to 70%, which the coverage ran in parallel with the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer. All regions approved HPV vaccines, although only four provided free or subsidized programs for nonavalent vaccine. Cervical cytology remained the most common screening tool, and 20%-30% relied heavily on visual inspection using acetic acid. The screening age groups varied in different regions. From the case scenarios, it was noted that some respondents tended to offer more frequent screening tests or colposcopy than recommended by international guidelines.

    CONCLUSION: This study revealed discrepancy in the practice of cervical cancer prevention in Asia-Oceania especially access to HPV vaccines. There is an urgent need for a global collaboration to eliminate cervical cancer by public education, reforming services, and medical training.

    Matched MeSH terms: Oceania
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