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Time and place in the prehistory of the Aslian languages

Dunn M, Kruspe N, Burenhult N

Hum Biol, 2013 Feb-Jun;85(1-3):383-400.
PMID: 24297234

The Aslian language family, located in the Malay Peninsula and southern Thai Isthmus, consists of four distinct branches comprising some 18 languages. These languages predate the now dominant Malay and Thai. The speakers of Aslian languages exhibit some of the highest degree of phylogenetic and societal diversity present in Mainland Southeast Asia today, among them a foraging tradition particularly associated with locally ancient, Pleistocene genetic lineages. Little advance has been made in our understanding of the linguistic prehistory of this region or how such complexity arose. In this article we present a Bayesian phylogeographic analysis of a large sample of Aslian languages. An explicit geographic model of diffusion is combined with a cognate birth-word death model of lexical evolution to infer the location of the major events of Aslian cladogenesis. The resultant phylogenetic trees are calibrated against dates in the historical and archaeological record to infer a detailed picture of Aslian language history, addressing a number of outstanding questions, including (1) whether the root ancestor of Aslian was spoken in the Malay Peninsula, or whether the family had already divided before entry, and (2) the dynamics of the movement of Aslian languages across the peninsula, with a particular focus on its spread to the indigenous foragers.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand/ethnology
Fulltext Hypertensive retinopathy and visual outcome in hypertensive disorders in pregnancy

Rasdi AR, Nik-Ahmad-Zuky NL, Bakiah S, Shatriah I

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Mar;66(1):42-7.
PMID: 23765142 MyJurnal

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy, features of hypertensive retinopathy and visual outcome in hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia. A prospective observational hospital based study involving 154 patients (308 eyes) with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was conducted. All subjects were examined once during antenatal period, at a minimum of 35 weeks of gestation for blood pressure, visual acuity and funduscopy. The similar protocol was repeated at six weeks postnatal period. Thirty-two point five percent had hypertensive retinopathy. Ninety eight percent had visual acuity 6/6 during antenatal assessment, while 100.00% gained 6/6 at postnatal period. Generalized arteriolar narrowing was the most common retinopathy observed. There was no statistically significant association between presence of hypertensive retinopathy and maternal age, presenting visual acuity, systolic/diastolic blood pressure (p>0.05). We conclude that prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy is 32.5%, and majority had good visual acuity during antenatal and postnatal period. Hypertensive retinopathy is insignificantly associated with maternal age, presenting visual acuity and blood pressure.
Study site: Ophthalmology Clinic, Antenatal Clinic and Obstetric Ward of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand/ethnology
Why have the peninsular "negritos" remained distinct?

Benjamin G

Hum Biol, 2013 Feb-Jun;85(1-3):445-84.
PMID: 24297237

The primary focus of this article is on the so-called negritos of Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand, but attention is also paid to other parts of Southeast Asia. I present a survey of current views on the "negrito" phenotype--is it single or many? If the phenotype is many (as now seems likely), it must have resulted from parallel evolution in the several different regions where it has been claimed to exist. This would suggest (contrary to certain views that have been expressed on the basis of very partial genetic data) that the phenotype originated recently and by biologically well-authenticated processes from within the neighboring populations. Whole-genome and physical-anthropological research currently support this view. Regardless of whether the negrito phenotype is ancient or recent-and to the extent that it retains any valid biological reality (which is worth questioning)-explanations are still needed for its continued distinctiveness. In the Malay Peninsula, a distinctive "Semang" societal pattern followed by most, but not all, so-called negritos may have been responsible for this by shaping familial, breeding, and demographic patterns to suit the two main modes of environmental appropriation that they have followed, probably for some millennia: nomadic foraging in the forest, and facultative dependence on exchange or labor relations with neighboring populations. The known distribution of "negritos" in the Malay Peninsula is limited to areas within relatively easy reach of archaeologically authenticated premodern transpeninsular trading and portage routes, as well as of other non-negrito, Aslian-speaking populations engaged in swidden farming. This suggests that their continued distinctiveness has resulted from a wish to maintain a complementary advantage vis-à-vis other, less specialized populations. Nevertheless, a significant degree of discordance exists between the associated linguistic, societal-tradition, and biological patterns which suggests that other factors have also been at play.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand/ethnology
Acute renal failure after a holiday in the tropics

Guron G, Holmdahl J, Dotevall L

Clin. Nephrol., 2006 Dec;66(6):468-71.
PMID: 17176921 DOI: 10.5414/cnp66468

A 20-year-old, previously healthy woman, presented with high fever, headache and myalgia 3 days after her return from a holiday in Southeast Asia. Laboratory data on admission demonstrated a pronounced increase in plasma creatinine, marked thrombocytopenia and moderately elevated liver aminotransferases. After having ruled out malaria, dengue fever was primarily suspected and supportive intravenous fluid therapy was initiated. Still, 1 day after admission, platelet counts dropped even further and she became anuric although she did not appear hypovolemic. On day 2 after admission, urine production commenced spontaneously and the patient slowly recovered. All laboratory test results had returned to normal approximately 2 months later. Serological analysis for dengue fever was negative. It turned out that the patient had been trekking in the jungle while in Thailand and we, therefore, analyzed serology for Leptospira spirochetes which was clearly positive. The patient was diagnosed with leptospirosis which is a serious condition associated with a high mortality when complicated by acute renal failure. Differential diagnoses in patients with acute renal failure and tropical infections are reviewed. The importance of early recognition of leptospirosis, and prompt treatment with antibiotics in suspected cases, is emphasized.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand/ethnology
Disseminated Penicillium marneffei infection: a report of five cases in Singapore

Kurup A, Leo YS, Tan AL, Wong SY

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1999 Jul;28(4):605-9.
PMID: 10561784

Penicillium marneffei has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen in HIV-infected patients in Southeast Asia. We report the first 5 cases of P. marneffei diagnosed in Singapore. All the patients were HIV-infected and were either Thai nationals or had frequently travelled to Thailand. Fever, weight loss, anaemia and papular skin lesions were common clinical manifestations in our patients, all of whom had the organism isolated from blood. Skin biopsy specimens showed histological evidence of P. marneffei in 2 patients. In 1 patient each, the organism grew in cultures of specimens from bone marrow and respiratory secretions. Amphotericin B therapy followed by itraconazole were used in 3 of our 5 patients and was associated with good clinical response and outcome.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand/ethnology
Fulltext Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis: a report of 3 Malaysian cases and a review of its pathology

Sthaneshwar P, Prathibha R, Yap SF

Malays J Pathol, 2005 Jun;27(1):29-32.
PMID: 16676690

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a medical emergency characterised by sudden onset of muscle weakness with hypokalemia that resolves with the treatment of hyperthyroidism. We report three cases of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis seen at the Accident and Emergency Care Department, University of Malaya Medical Centre in a period of four months. We also review the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, biochemical features and management of TPP. All three patients were young Asian males, presenting with muscle weakness of sudden onset. The first patient presented with lower limb weakness and had symptoms of thyrotoxicosis and goitre. He had a previous similar episode which resolved spontaneously. The second patient presented with quadriplegia, respiratory acidosis and had no signs and symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. The electrocardiogram of this patient showed normal sinus rhythm with U wave in V3 and a flat T wave, which are characteristic of hypokalaemia. The third patient, who was a known case of thyrotoxicosis, was admitted thrice for hypokalemic paralysis during the study period. All cases had low serum potassium, suppressed TSH and elevated T4 confirming thyrotoxic periodic paralysis. Potassium therapy was useful during the crisis; however prophylactic potassium has not been shown to prevent attacks as seen in one of our cases.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand/ethnology
Fulltext Using qualitative and community-based engagement approaches to gain access and to develop a culturally appropriate STI prevention intervention for foreign female entertainment workers in Singapore

Lim RBT, Cheung ONY, Tham DKT, La HH, Win TT, Chan R, et al.

Global Health, 2018 04 16;14(1):36.
PMID: 29661249 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-018-0358-5

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing global movement of foreign female entertainment workers (FEWs), a hard-to-reach population vulnerable to HIV/STIs. This paper described the needs assessment phase before intervention implementation where the socio-organisation, sexual risk behaviours and access to health services of foreign FEWs in Singapore were explored. We also highlighted how qualitative inquiry, census enumeration technique and community-based engagement approaches were used to gain access and to develop a culturally appropriate STI prevention intervention.
METHODS: In-depth interviews, observations, informal conversational interviews, mystery client and critical incident technique were used. We estimated the size of FEW population using the census enumeration technique. The findings were used to inform intervention development and implementation.
RESULTS: We estimated 376 Vietnamese and 330 Thai FEWs in 2 geographical sites where they operated in Singapore. Their reasons for non-condom use included misconceptions on the transmission and consequences of STI/HIV, low risk perception of contracting HIV/STI from paid/casual partner, lack of skills to negotiate or to persuade partner to use condom, unavailability of condoms in entertainment establishments and fear of the police using condom as circumstantial evidence. They faced difficulties in accessing health services due to fear of identity exposure, stigmatisation, cost and language differences. To develop the intervention, we involved FEWs and peer educators, and ensured that the intervention was non-stigmatising and met their needs. To foster their participation, we used culturally-responsive recruitment strategies, and ensured that the trial was anonymous and acceptable to the FEWs. These strategies were effective as we achieved a participation rate of 90.3%, a follow-up rate of 70.5% for the comparison and 66.8% for the intervention group. The interventions group reported a significant increase in consistent condom use with a reduction in STI incidence compared to no significant change in the comparison group.
CONCLUSIONS: The qualitative inquiry approaches to gain access, to foster participation and to develop a culturally appropriate intervention, along with the census enumeration technique application to estimate the FEW population sizes has led to successful intervention implementation as well as safer sexual behaviour and STI incidence reduction.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02780986 . Registered 23 May 2016 (retrospectively registered).

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand/ethnology