The objective of this report was to determine the radiographic patterns of alveolar bone loss in early-onset periodontitis (EOP) cases in a selected Malaysian population. The radiographs of 55 cases of EOP patients were examined and the radiographic patterns were classified as follows: Type I: bone destruction on first molars and/or incisors only; Type II: bone destruction on first molars and/or incisors and several additional teeth (less than 14 teeth); Type III: generalized bone destruction (greater than 14 teeth), but with involvement noticeably more extensive on the first molars and/or incisors; Type IV: generalized bone destruction (greater than 14 teeth), but with no more bone loss on the first molars and/or incisors than on other involved teeth. Sex, age, and missing teeth were also recorded. Out of 55 cases, 47 cases, 22 males and 25 females, were classified into the types mentioned above; the remaining 8 cases were excluded due to too many missing teeth. It was found that 7 (14.9%) were Type I; 12 (25.5%) were Type II; 7 (14.9%) were Type III; and 21 (44.7%) were Type IV. There was a predominance of first molar/incisor involvement in Types I, II, and III with the maxillary first molars most frequently involved followed by the mandibular central incisors. Type I occurred in the younger age group and Types II, III, and IV mainly in the older age group. It was concluded that EOP in this patient sample resembled that of western society.
MeSH terms: Adult; Age Factors; Female; Humans; Incisor/radiography; Malaysia; Male; Mandible; Maxilla; Molar/radiography; Aggressive Periodontitis/classification; Aggressive Periodontitis/radiography*; Sex Factors; Alveolar Bone Loss/radiography*
Forty-six strains of Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus from a variety of geographic areas in Asia were examined by primer-extension sequencing of the RNA template. A 240 nucleotide sequence from the pre-M gene region was selected for study because it provided sufficient information for determining genetic relationships among the virus isolates. Using 12% divergence as a cutoff point for virus relationships, the 46 isolates fell into three distinct genotypic groups. One genotypic group consisted of JE virus isolates from northern Thailand and Cambodia. A second group was composed of isolates from southern Thailand, Malaysia, Sarawak and Indonesia. The remainder of the isolates, from Japan, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal, made up a third group. The implications of these findings in relation to the epidemiology of JE are discussed. Results of this study demonstrate that the comparison of short nucleotide sequences can provide insight into JE virus evolution, transmission and, possibly, pathogenesis.
A study was carried out on 8,369 neonates delivered in the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur over a period of four months. Forty-nine neonates (5.6 per 1000 livebirths) had congenital talipes. The incidence of congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) was 4.5 per 1000 livebirths while that of congenital talipes calcaneovalgus (CTCV) was 1.3 per 1000 livebirths. 6/11 (54.5%) of the CTCV was unilateral, the ratio of right to left feet involvement being 1:1. Only 12/38 (31.5%) of the CTEV were unilateral, the ratio of right to left feet involvement being 1:2. Congenital talipes was significantly more common in the low birthweight neonates (p less than 0.001). However, the condition was not significantly more common in neonates with breech presentation nor in those born to primigravida mothers. Our data suggested that multifactorial genetic background as the most likely underlying cause of congenital talipes in Malaysian neonates.
Pulmonary function parameters were examined in a Malay Muslim population during normal activity and Ramadan fasting conditions. The validity of employing various lung function prediction formulae for the subjects was also assessed. Present findings indicate that the water deprivation regime and resultant dehydration during Ramadan did not cause significant changes in ventilatory functions. Although pulmonary prediction formulae based on Caucasian and African populations were inapplicable to the subjects examined, the equations derived from the neighbouring populations in Singapore could be employed.
Impaction of food usually occurs in patients having obstructive lesions of the oesophagus. The food bolus impaction normally occurs in patients older than 60 years of age. Though food bolus impaction in the oesophagus is not uncommon, food bolus in the oesophagus causing complete obstruction resulting in total dysphagia is rare. This is a case report of a woman who had complete obstruction of the oesophagus following impaction by a piece of meat. The various treatment modalities available for such a condition are discussed.
A 44-year-old Indian housewife presented with prolonged cough, intermittent fever, loss of weight and shortness of breath on exertion. Physical examination revealed a thin lady with fine crackles on both lungs. Marked eosinophilia and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate were noted on peripheral blood. Chest radiograph showed characteristic bilateral infiltrates affecting the periphery of both lungs. Treatment with corticosteroid resulted in dramatic improvement in symptoms, signs and radiographic changes within a few days.
PIP: Contraceptive prevalence was determined in the Kelantan region of Malaysia, an area with relatively poor health indices. 350 women attending health clinics on rubber and palm-oil estates and living in surrounding suburbs were surveyed by clinic workers or during home visits. The sample included 273 Malays, 64 Indians and 13 Chinese. This area of Peninsular Malaysia is noted for the highest infant mortality rate (17.7), second highest crude birth rate (35.2) and highest dependency ratio (88%) in the country. 44.9% practiced contraception, highest in Chinese and lowest in Indians. Methods used were pills by (55%), traditional methods (19%), tubal ligation (18%), safe period (14%), injections (5.5%), IUD (4.7%), and condom (2.3%). The Malaysian traditional methods are herbal preparations from tree bark or roots, herb pills, and exercises after coitus. 34% of the non contraceptors had used contraception before but stopped because of side effects, religious or spousal objections, or desire to conceive. 74% had married in their teens. 46% of the non-contraceptors were spacing their children by prolonged breastfeeding.
MeSH terms: Ambulatory Care Facilities*; Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Birth Intervals*; China/ethnology; Contraception*; Contraception Behavior; Contraceptives, Oral*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Culture; Delivery of Health Care; Demography; Developing Countries; Ethnic Groups*; Family Planning Services*; Health; Health Facilities; Health Planning; Humans; India/ethnology; Infant Mortality*; Injections*; Intrauterine Devices*; Lactation*; Malaysia; Malaysia/ethnology; Marriage*; Mortality*; Occupational Health Services*; Organization and Administration; Patient Dropouts*; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Rural Population*; Sterilization, Reproductive*; Program Development*; Condoms*
A study of knowledge, attitude and practice was carried out among sixty nine married Orang Asli women in the district of Kuaia Langat. The study showed that oniy a smail proportion of the women were using family planning methods. About half of the study women were stiil uncertain with regards to their attitude towards family planning. The findings aiso showed that there was no diversity of the methods with oral contraceptive being the major choice. Majority of the husbands had indeed positive feeling towards family planning. The women also considered breastfeeding as a major method of contraception.
PIP: A knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) study of 69 married Orang Asli women from Kuala Langat district, Malaysia is reported. The Orang Asli comprise 2744 people in 412 households served by rural health services and a few private practitioners. The median age of the sample was 16.3 years, of whom 18.8% were married before age 15. 47.8% knew of family planning methods. 53.6% of the women said that they and their husbands approved of family planning, 2.9% disapproved, and the rest were undecided. Only 30.4% had discussed family planning with their husbands. 21.7% stated that they would use contraception, either the pill or sterilization, after their family was completed.
MeSH terms: Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Attitude*; Behavior; Breast Feeding*; Contraception; Contraception Behavior*; Contraceptives, Oral*; Data Collection; Developing Countries; Family Planning Services*; Health; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Interpersonal Relations*; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia; Marriage*; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Psychology; Research; Sampling Studies; Sterilization, Reproductive*; Program Development*; Knowledge*
A cross-sectional study looking at the coagulation system was carried out involving 175 women attending the National Population and Family Development Board's Clinic at the Maternity Clinic, General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Study subjects comprise of 50 combined low-dose estrogen/progestrogen oral contraceptive (DC) pill users and 75 non-DC users, acting as controls. The subjects were on the pill for a period of one year or more. There were significant shortening of the prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PIT) in the DC group as compared to the control group. However, the activities of factors II, Vand VIII assayed were not significantly different between the two groups, suggesting that the changes in the PT and PIT were not significant clinically. The effect of long term usage of combined 10w..cJose DC pills does not seem to indicate changes in the coagulation profile of the women in our study.
PIP: The effect of low dose combined oral contraceptives containing 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and either 150 mcg levonorgestrel or 150 mcg desogestrel on coagulation indices in Malaysian women was examined. 50 women who had been using the pills for 1 year or more, were compared to 75 non-users. All were attending the Maternity Clinic of the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Pill users registered shorter prothrombin time, 11.5 vs. 11.1 seconds (p=0.016), and partial thromboplastin time, 40.1 vs 35.1 seconds (p=0.000). Since there were no significant differences in Factors II, V, VII, or VIII, the overall effects of low-dose pills on coagulation is probably not clinically significant.
An opportunity arose in 1985 to become involved in a transition of working practice from hard copy to VDT. Over a two-year period, 161 VDT users and 65 control subjects in the same office environment were regularly and routinely examined for symptoms of asthenopia. The analysis of data shows that there are no significant differences in type, number and frequency of the work-related symptoms between VDT users and non-VDT users. It appears that reporting of symptoms within the group may be random, although certain symptoms do appear more frequently than others. Additionally, it appears that there is a significant difference between male and female users in the frequency of symptom reporting.
Two strains ofRhizopus rhizopodiformis that produced lipases in broth culture were isolated. Maximum lipase production (23 U/ml) was obtained after 72 h culture. Both the crude lipases were stable at 50°C for 30 min and at 45°C for 24 h. Maltose was the best carbon source and peptone the best nitrogen source for the production of lipases. Only glycerol and lecithin stimulated lipase production further.