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Fulltext Medical students' perceptions, awareness, societal attitudes and knowledge of autism spectrum disorder: an exploratory study in Malaysia

Low HM, Zailan F

Int J Dev Disabil, 2016 Dec 05;64(2):86-95.
PMID: 34141295 DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2016.1264663

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the perception, awareness, societal attitude, and knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Malaysian medical students. Methods: An exploratory survey was conducted with 83 medical students in Malaysia. In the survey, the medical students were required to rate their perception, awareness, societal attitude, and their recognition of ASD symptoms. Results: The results showed the senior medical students had increased knowledge about ASD symptoms compared to the juniors, but there was no clear indicator that they had obtained the knowledge through formal training. Specifically, the medical students could better identify symptoms related to restrictive and fixation behavioral patterns than social communicative deficits. While considering the effects of societal attitude, year of study, perception about ASD course and other demographic variables, the year of study emerged as the sole predictor of the medical students' knowledge about ASD. Conclusion: The findings from this study provided evidence for the need of compulsory training on ASD in medical schools in improve the knowledge and skills of prospective medical practitioners to identify individuals with ASD. Such effort is fundamental for the early identification and intervention of ASD in developing countries such as Malaysia.
Scrotal emergencies: An imaging perspective

Ong CYG, Low HM, Chinchure D

Med J Malaysia, 2018 12;73(6):445-451.
PMID: 30647231

Acute scrotal pain is a common complaint in emergency or primary care practice. A myriad of pathologies need to be considered, and while the clinical history often leads the clinician to the correct diagnosis, radiologists are often called upon to provide further diagnostic information through ultrasonography. Here, we present the sonographic features of various scrotal emergencies, as well as a few pitfalls. Through this, we explore the breadth of urgent pathologies that may be encountered, both traumatic and non-traumatic. For the clinician who performs point-of-care ultrasound, whether in clinic or in the emergency department, we hope that this pictorial article will lay a good foundation for confident and accurate image interpretation.
A case of xanthogranulomatous appendicitis in the female pelvis

Yung WH, Siew CHC, Lee HY, Low HM

Med J Malaysia, 2021 Jan;76(1):114-117.
PMID: 33510122

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is an uncommon form of chronic inflammatory process. Only a few isolated case reports of xanthogranulomatous appendicitis (XA) have been published. XA has nonspecific imaging findings and cannot be reliably differentiated on imaging from locally advanced malignancy. XA however follows a benign course and can potentially be treated with surgical resection.
CT and MRI findings of acute calculous cholecystitis and its complications in Singapore: A pictorial review

Wee NK, Cheong WSC, Low HM

Med J Malaysia, 2021 09;76(5):706-713.
PMID: 34508378

INTRODUCTION: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a common problem encountered in surgical practice. This occurs due to obstruction of the cystic duct by calculi resulting in inflammation of the gallbladder. Increasingly, contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans are being used for assessment. While the imaging features of AC are well recognized and extensively described in the literature, radiological features of the rarer complications related to AC such as pseudoaneurysm formation and gallbladder volvulus are less well known. We aim to describe these rarer findings in our pictorial review, to better educate the clinician and radiologist, such that timely diagnoses can be reached, and relevant management can be affected.
METHODS: A collection of cases showing the common acute gallbladder pathologies and complications such as acute cholecystitis, gangrenous cholecystitis, emphysematous cholecystitis, haemorrhagic cholecystitis, Mirizzi's syndrome, gallbladder perforation and abscess formation, were collected between July 2016 and March 2018 at two different medical institutions in Singapore. In addition, rarer cases of gallbladder volvulus and vascular complications such as cystic artery pseudoaneurysms and vessel erosions, were also followed up.
RESULTS: The CT and MRI imaging features of these conditions were discussed, with key diagnostic imaging features emphasized.
CONCLUSION: Acute gallbladder pathologies are commonly encountered in day-to-day radiology practice. Knowledge of the rarer gallbladder pathologies and their key imaging features will help the radiologist, in particular, the on call radiologist in training, improve diagnostic accuracy and allow for timely management.
Self-reported autistic traits and psychosocial outcomes among university students in Malaysia

Low HM, Zainal MS, Pang JC, Ang Y, de Vries M

Autism, 2024 Jan;28(1):174-186.
PMID: 37128140 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231167501

Most research on autism spectrum conditions is done on young children and not as much on young adults with autism spectrum conditions. Because of this, not much is known about how common autism spectrum conditions are in young adults and how they affect their mental and social health, especially in Southeast Asia. Based on self-reports, 2.8% of the 2732 university students we looked at in Malaysia might have been diagnosed or thought to have an autism spectrum condition. Students who said they had or thought they had autism spectrum conditions had lower self-efficacy, more stress and a lower quality of life than students who said they did not have autism spectrum conditions. The results showed that university students with autism spectrum condition are more likely to have bad psychological and social outcomes than their peers without autism spectrum condition. Also, the link between autistic traits and psychosocial outcomes could depend on the culture.
Correlations of HBV genotypes, mutations affecting HBeAg expression and HBeAg/ anti-HBe status in HBV carriers

Lim CK, Tan JT, Khoo JB, Ravichandran A, Low HM, Chan YC, et al.

Int J Med Sci, 2006;3(1):14-20.
PMID: 16421626

This study was carried out to determine the effects of hepatitis B virus genotypes, core promoter mutations (A1762G1764-->T1762A1764) as well as precore stop codon mutations (TGG-->TAG) on HBeAg expression and HBeAg/ anti-HBe status. Study was also performed on the effects of codon 15 variants (C1858/ T1858) on the predisposition of precore stop codon mutations (TGG-->TAG). A total of 77 sera samples were analyzed. Fifty one samples were successfully genotyped of which the predominant genotype was genotype B (29/ 51, 56.9 %), followed by genotype C (16/ 51, 31.4 %). Co-infections by genotypes B and C were observed in four samples (7.8 %). To a lesser degree, genotypes D and E (2.0 % each) were also observed. For core promoter mutations, the prevalence was 68.8 % (53/ 77) for A1762G1764 wild-type and 14.3 % (11/ 77) for T1762A1764 mutant while 9.1 % (7/ 77) was co-infected by both strains. The prevalence of codon 15 variants was found to be 42.9 % (33/ 77) for T1858 variant and 16.9 % (13/ 77) for C1858 variant. No TAG mutation was found. In our study, no associations were found between genotypes (B and C) and core promoter mutations as well as codon 15 variants. Also no correlation was observed between HBeAg/ anti-HBe status with genotypes (B and C) and core promoter mutations.
Can pictorial narration offer a solution to teacher training on the effective inclusion of students with autism spectrum disorder in low-resource settings? Investigation on knowledge and stigma change

Low HM, Wong TP, Lee LW, Makesavanh S, Vongsouangtham B, Phannalath V, et al.

Autism, 2021 07;25(5):1216-1233.
PMID: 33467885 DOI: 10.1177/1362361320984899

LAY ABSTRACT: In this study, we explored whether pictorial narration could offer a solution to teacher training on effective inclusion of students with autism spectrum disorder in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. For this purpose, pre- and post-training knowledge data were collected from 87 Laotian teachers who participated in teacher training using a pictorial narrative e-module called The Story of KhamdyTM. The teachers' knowledge test results and feedback were analyzed. The findings indicated that teachers' acceptance toward the training method had positive effects on their knowledge changes and supported the use of a pictorial narration approach in imparting knowledge about inclusive education and autism spectrum disorder to teachers in a least developed country.
Assessing Autism Knowledge Across the Global Landscape Using the ASK-Q

Harrison AJ, Naqvi NC, Smit AK, Kumar PN, Muhammad NA, Saade S, et al.

J Autism Dev Disord, 2023 Mar 09.
PMID: 36892718 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05936-5

Substantial variability exists with regard to autism service provision around the world. Service disparities observed in many low- and middle-income countries may be driven, in part, by limited autism knowledge; however, measurement limitations have made it difficult to quantify autism knowledge across countries. The current study uses the autism stigma and knowledge questionnaire (ASK-Q) to quantify autism knowledge and stigma between different countries and demographics. The current study compiled data from 6830 participants collected using adapted versions of the ASK-Q administered in 13 different countries, representing four different continents. Structural equation modeling was used to examine how autism knowledge varied across country and individual factors. Results reveal cross country variability with a large, 17-point difference between the countries with the highest knowledge (Canada) and the lowest knowledge (Lebanon). As expected, countries with higher economies had higher levels of knowledge. We also documented differences based on country worldview, participant occupation, gender, age, and education level. These results help to identify specific regions and populations that might most need greater information about autism.