MyMedR

Population structure and coil dimorphism in a tropical land snail

Schilthuizen M, Scott BJ, Cabanban AS, Craze PG

Heredity (Edinb), 2005 Sep;95(3):216-20.

Tree snails of the subgenus Amphidromus s. str. are unusual because of the chiral dimorphism that exists in many species, with clockwise (dextrally) and counter-clockwise (sinistrally) coiled individuals co-occurring in the same population. Given that mating in snails is normally impeded when the two partners have opposite coil, positive frequency-dependent selection should prevent such dimorphism from persisting. We test the hypothesis that a strong population structure with little movement between tree-based demes may result in the fixation of coiling morphs at a very small spatial scale, but apparent dimorphism at all larger scales. To do so, we describe the spatial structure in a Malaysian population of A. inversus (Müller, 1774) with 36% dextrals. We marked almost 700 juvenile and adult snails in a piece of forest consisting of 92 separate trees, and recorded dispersal and the proportions of dextrals and sinistrals in all trees over a 7-day period. We observed frequent movement between trees (155 events), and found that no trees had snail populations with proportions of dextrals and sinistrals that were significantly different from random. Upon recapture 1 year later, almost two-thirds of the snails had moved away from their original tree. We conclude that population structure alone cannot stabilise the coil dimorphism in Amphidromus.

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Fulltext Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Public Attitudes Toward a Presumed Consent System for Organ Donation Without and With a Priority Allocation Scheme

Tumin M, Tafran K, Mutalib MA, Satar NM, Said SM, Adnan WA, et al.

Medicine (Baltimore), 2015 Oct;94(42):e1713.

PMID: 26496282 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000001713

The influence of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the public's attitude towards a presumed consent system (PCS) of organ donation was estimated in 2 scenarios: without and with a priority allocation scheme (PAS). Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 775 respondents. Using multiple logistic regressions, respondents' objections to donating organs in both scenarios were estimated. In total, 63.9% of respondents would object to donating under a PCS, whereas 54.6% would object under a PCS with a PAS. Respondents with pretertiary education were more likely to object than were respondents with tertiary education, in both the first (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.615) and second (AOR = 1.728) scenarios. Young respondents were less likely to object than were middle-aged respondents, in both the first (AOR = 0.648) and second (AOR = 0.572) scenarios. Respondents with mid-ranged personal monthly income were more likely to object than were respondents with low income, in both the first (AOR = 1.994) and second (AOR = 1.519) scenarios. It does not seem that Malaysia is ready to implement a PCS. The educational level, age, and income of the broader public should be considered if a PCS, without or with a PAS, is planned for implementation in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Fulltext Factors Associated with Complications and Postoperative Visual Outcomes of Cataract Surgery; a Study of 1,632 Cases

Thanigasalam T, Reddy SC, Zaki RA

J Ophthalmic Vis Res, 2016 4 7;10(4):375-84.

PMID: 27051481 DOI: 10.4103/2008-322X.158892

PURPOSE: Cataract surgery is the most common intraocular surgery performed all over the world and has advanced technically in recent years. As in all surgeries, complications are unavoidable. Herein we report factors associated with complications and visual outcomes of cataract surgery.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included data of 1,632 cataract surgeries performed from 2007 to 2010 which was obtained from the cataract registry of the Malaysian National Eye Database. Demographic features, ocular and systemic comorbidites, grade of surgeon expertise and duration of surgery, type of anesthesia, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and the type of intraocular lens were recorded. Best corrected visual acuities were compared before and after the operation.

RESULTS: Mean patient age was 66.9 years with equal gender distribution. The majority of subjects had age related cataracts. Phacoemulsification was done faster than other surgeries, especially by specialist surgeons. History of prior ocular surgery and operations performed under general anesthesia were associated with greater complications. Phacoemulsification was associated with less complications and better visual outcomes. The age and etiology of cataract did not affect complications. Malays, absence of ocular comorbidities, left eyes and eyes operated under local anesthesia were more likely to experience more visual improvement. Gender, age, cause of cataract, systemic comorbidities and surgeon expertise as well as intra-and postoperative complications did not affect the visual outcomes.

CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification had good visual outcomes in cataract surgery. Duration of surgery, expertise of the surgeon and complications did not affect the visual outcomes.

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Oxidative stress correlates (OSC) in diabetes mellitus patients

Azeem E, Gillani SW, Siddiqui A, Mian RI, Poh V, Sulaiman SA, et al.

Curr Diabetes Rev, 2016;12(3):279-84.

PMID: 25989845 DOI: 10.2174/1573399811666150520094631

Background/aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a considerable systemic metabolic disorder to exhibit various metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, mainly hyperglycemia. Our study aims to evaluate oxidative stress markers in DM patients and to determine the clinical correlates affecting the investigational parameters.

Methodology: To evaluate oxidative stress, the following parameters were included: tri-glycerides(TG), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL), oxidized LDL cholesterol(Ox LDL), superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) and plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI) which were measured at single observation point. Patient clinical and demographic data were taken from registered medication profiles from the Outpatient Department.

Results: The diabetic subjects have significantly high measured values of endocrine(p<0.01), metabolic(p<0.01) and antioxidant parameters(p<0.05), and have significant higher values of TG(3.69±1.27 vs 1.79±0.84 mmol/L, p< 0.01), Ox LDL(85.37±19.1 vs 77.11±26.64 mmol/L, p<0.05) and SOD enzyme activity(918.78 ± 145.39 vs 880.08±149.52 U/g Hb, p<0.05) compared to the controls. A significant negative correlation was found between Ox LDL and HbA1c(r = -0.6782, p < 0.001) among diabetic subjects.

Conclusion: Elevated Ox-LDL, SOD and GSH-Px are associated with the diabetic patients. However, oxidative stress threshold values also showed high oxidative activity markers among controls. Clinical variables showed predictive information on oxidative activity among diabetes patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Genetic identification and structure of Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Southeast Asia using a mitochondrial DNA marker

Lee P, Sulaiman Z

Zootaxa, 2015;3962(1):182-90.

PMID: 26249385 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3962.1.11

A phylogenetic tree and median-joining network based on cytochrome b sequence data revealed clades consistent with morphological differences and geographical distribution of Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Southeast Asia. AMOVA analysis for variation was significant among populations (P<0.05) and was in agreement with morphological differences. Pairwise differences were significant between Java and Brunei/Borneo, Brunei/Borneo and west Malaysia, and Java and west Malaysia samples (P < 0.05). Closest relationships were found between samples from Brunei/Borneo and Java, and between west Malaysia and Laos-Sumatra. Nine haplotypes were unique to geographical regions. The Java species had high haplotype (1.000 ± 0.126) but low nucleotide (0.017) diversities, suggesting a population bottleneck followed by expansion. However, SSD and Hri (P=0.5) did not support demographic expansion. Instead, purifying selection where mutations occur and accumulate at silent sites is a more acceptable explanation.

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Comparison of knowledge and attitudes about antibiotics and resistance, and antibiotics self-practicing between Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy students in Southern India

Ahmad A, Khan MU, Moorthy J, Jamshed SQ, Patel I

Pharm Pract (Granada), 2015 03 15;13(1):523.

PMID: 25883690

BACKGROUND: There is limited research on pharmacy specialization based differences with regards to usage of antibiotics.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the knowledge, attitude and practice of Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students about usage and resistance of antibiotics in Southern India.

METHODS: This was a cross sectional study involving final year BPharm and PharmD students studying in two private institutions located in Andra Pradesh, India. The study was conducted for the period of 3 months. The questionnaire was divided into 5 components: demographics, knowledge about antibiotic use, attitude towards antibiotic use and resistance, self-antibiotic usage, and possible causes of antibiotic resistance. The study questionnaire was assessed for reliability. Data were analysed by employing Mann Whitney and chi square tests using SPSS version 19.

RESULTS: The sample size comprised of 137 students. The response rate was 76.11% for the study. There was a significant difference in the knowledge of antibiotic use in BPharm and PharmD students (Mean score: 5.09 vs 6.18, p<0.001). The overall attitude of PharmD students about antibiotic use and resistance was positive compared to BPharm students (Mean score: 3.05 vs 2.23, p<0.05). The self-antibiotic practices was higher in BPharm students than PharmD students (36.4% vs 20%, p<0.05). A significantly high number of PharmD students believed that empirical antibiotic therapy led to antibiotic resistance (19.5% versus 48%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: PharmD students were more knowledgeable about antibiotic usage and resistance compared to BPharm students who did not have accurate and the much needed information about the same. Future interventions should be targeted towards educating the BPharm students so that they can implement the acquired knowledge in their practice.

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

A look at Asia's changing youth population

Xenos P, Kabamalan M, Westley SB

Asia Pac Pop Policy, 1999 Jan.

PMID: 12349008

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

The determinants of infant mortality in Malaysia: a graphical chain modelling approach

Mohamed WN, Diamond I, Smith PW

J R Stat Soc Ser A Stat Soc, 1998;161(3):349-66.

PMID: 12348725

"A graphical chain modelling approach is used to study the determinants of neonatal and post-neonatal mortality in Malaysia. This approach provides an easily interpretable empirical description and illustrates explicitly the conditional independence structure between each pair of variables. The interpretation can be read directly from a mathematical graph. Besides examining the direct association of each determinant on mortality, we also examine the effects of socio-economic determinants on intermediate determinants to understand the pathways through which the socioeconomic determinants affect the chance of mortality. The data anlaysed come from the second Malaysian Family Life Survey, fielded between August 1988 and January 1989. "

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Indonesian immigrant settlements in peninsular Malaysia

Azizah Kassim

Sojourn, 2000 Apr;15(1):100-22.

PMID: 12349650

For over 2 decades, until the economic crisis in mid-1997, Malaysia's rapid economic growth attracted an influx of foreign labor, mostly from Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. In 1997 the number of registered workers was estimated at 1.2 million and undocumented ones at approximately 800,000. The influx created various problems, of which housing is one of the most serious, especially in the Kelang Valley. This paper examines the ways and means by which Indonesian workers, the largest group among foreigners, overcame their accommodation problem. Two types of settlements are identified, that is, illegal ones in the squatter areas and legal ones, which are largely in Malay Reservation Areas. The settlements, which signify Indonesians' success in finding a foothold in Malaysia, today have become a base for more in-migration.

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Stratified partial likelihood estimation

Ridder G, Tunali I

J Econom, 1999 Oct;92(2):193-232.

PMID: 12322577

When multiple durations are generated by a single unit, they may be related in a way that is not fully captured by the regressors. The omitted unit-specific variables might vary over the durations. They might also be correlated with the variables in the regression component. The authors propose an estimator that responds to these concerns and develop a specification test for detecting unobserved unit-specific effects. Data from Malaysia reveal that concentration of child mortality in some families is imperfectly explained by observed explanatory variables, and that failure to control for unobserved heterogeneity seriously biases the parameter estimates.

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

The Singapore state's response to migration

Yap MT

Sojourn, 1999 Apr;14(1):198-211.

PMID: 12295146

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

The Malaysian state's response to migration

Pillai P

Sojourn, 1999 Apr;14(1):178-97.

PMID: 12295145

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

A preliminary study of international migration of the Chinese people

Zhu G

Chin J Popul Sci, 1994;6(4):403-15.

PMID: 12319210

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Internal migration in a rapidly developing country: the case of Peninsular Malaysia

Chan KE

Malays J Trop Geogr, 1994 Dec;25(2):69-77.

PMID: 12291229

"This paper discusses the patterns and trends in internal territorial mobility in Peninsular Malaysia from 1957 [to] the 1980s, focussing specially on the period of the 1980s." Data are from Peninsular Malaysian Labour Force Migration Sample Surveys.

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Changing patterns of marriage and household formation in Peninsular Malaysia

Tan PC, Jones GW

Sojourn, 1990;5(2):163-93.

PMID: 12283691

"Based on surveys conducted among different ethnic groups in rural and urban settings in Peninsular Malaysia in 1981-82, this paper analyses changes in patterns of marriage and household formation among Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Aspects covered include social mixing before marriage, choice of spouse, comparison of spouses' characteristics, and place of residence after marriage. There are important cultural differences between the main Malaysian ethnic groups in matters related to marriage, but in many important respects, attitudes and practice are tending to converge...."

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Mortality trends of young children in developing countries

Rutstein SO

IPPF Med Bull, 1983 Dec;17(6):2-4.

PMID: 12279694

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Environmental pollution and population policies

Bul Keluarga, 1980 Apr.

PMID: 12262045

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Migrant workers in ASEAN: a review of issues and implications for government policies

Lim Lin Lean, Chan PT

Int Migr, 1983;21(2):277-87.

PMID: 12266834

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Comparison of the fine-scale genetic structure of three dipterocarp species

Takeuchi Y, Ichikawa S, Konuma A, Tomaru N, Niiyama K, Lee SL, et al.

Heredity (Edinb), 2004 Apr;92(4):323-8.

PMID: 14735142

We investigated the fine-scale genetic structure of three tropical-rainforest trees, Hopea dryobalanoides, Shorea parvifolia and S. acuminata (Dipterocarpaceae), in Peninsular Malaysia, all of which cooccurred within a 6-ha plot in Pasoh Forest Reserve. A significant genetic structure was found in H. dryobalanoides, weaker (but still significant) genetic structure in S. parvifolia and nonsignificant structure in S. acuminata. Seeds of all three species are wind dispersed, and their flowers are thought to be insect pollinated. The most obvious difference among these species is their height: S. parvifolia and S. acuminata are canopy species, whereas H. dryobalanoides is a subcanopy species. Clear differences were also found among these species in their range of seed dispersal, which depends on the height of the release point; so taller trees disperse their seed more extensively. The estimates of seed dispersal area were consistent with the degree of genetic structure found in the three species. Therefore, tree height probably had a strong influence on the fine-scale genetic structure of the three species.

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Research and policy guidelines from the World Fertility Survey in Asia and the Pacific

Rele JR

Asian Pac Popul Programme News, 1979;8(4):10-2.

PMID: 12261702

Matched MeSH terms: Demography

Displaying publications 201 - 220 of 763 in total