This paper seeks to determine the client's compliance level towards Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) and identify its associated factors. A cross sectional study was conducted from June to September 2007 where 288 samples were interviewed. The outcomes were divided into good compliance and partial compliance categories. Overall client's compliance level is good at 86.1%. There are significant difference between mean age of groups (t = -2.041, p = 0.04); and significant associations of job's status (chi2 = 9.54, p = 0.008); client's confident score (t = -3.12, p = 0.023), client'ssocial function score (t = -2.308, p = 0.002) and client's social function level (chi2 = 5.43, p = 0.02) with compliance toward program. With multivariate analysis, only client's age, client's confidence score and client's job status were related to compliance status. It was concluded that there is high compliance rate among client's who received the program. Younger clients, low scores on client's confident and social function, and clients with unsteady jobs are at risk not to comply with treatment.
seconds ; Clients ; lower case pea ; Drug addiction therapy - methadone ; Lower case tea

In Malaysia, it is a common belief among health care workers that females and Indians have lower pain threshold. This experience, although based on anecdotal experience in the healthcare setting, does not allow differentiation between pain tolerance, and pain expression. To determine whether there is a difference in the tolerance to pain between the three main ethnic groups, namely the Malays, Chinese and Indians as well as between males and females. This was a prospective study, using a laboratory pain model (ischaemic pain tolerance) to determine the pain tolerance of 152 IMU medical students. The mean age of the students was 21.8 years (range 18-29 years). All of them were unmarried. The median of ischaemic pain tolerance for Malays, Chinese and Indians were 639s, 695s and 613s respectively (p = 0.779). However, statistically significant difference in ischaemic pain tolerance for males and females Indian students were observed. Possible ethnic difference in pain tolerance in casual observation is not verified by this laboratory pain model. Difference in pain tolerance between genders is shown only for Indians.
Pain Threshold ; Pain ; Indian race ; seconds ; Models

Ovitrap surveillance was initiated for eight continuous weeks to determine the distribution and abundance of Aedes sp. mosquitoes in the University of Malaya campus, Kuala Lumpur, and the impact of meteorological conditions on the Aedes populations. Two study areas within the campus were selected: Varsity Lake and Seventh Residential College. The abundance of Aedes populations in Varsity Lake was indicated by ovitrap index (OI) which ranged from 60.00% - 90.00%. The mean number of larvae per ovitrap of Aedes albopictus in Varsity Lake ranged from 11.23 +/- 2.42 - 43.80 +/- 6.22. On the other hand, the outdoor OI for Seventh Residential College ranged from 73.33% - 93.33%, respectively, while the mean number larvae per ovitrap for this area ranged from 19.33 +/- 4.55 - 35.27 +/- 5.46, respectively. In addition, the indoor OI of Seventh Residential College ranged from 0.00% - 30.00%, while the mean number of larvae per ovitrap for Ae. albopictus ranged from 0 - 5.90 +/- 3.55. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) of Ae. albopictus population between Varsity Lake and Seventh Residential College. The studies showed a correlation between OI and mean number of larvae per ovitrap for outdoor Ae. albopictus populations in Varsity Lake and Seventh Residential College (r = 0.794). There was also a correlation between the mean larvae number per ovitrap of Ae. albopictus obtained from eight weeks indoor ovitrap surveillance in Seventh Residential College with rainfall (r = 0.584). However, there was no correlation between the mean larvae number per ovitrap of Ae. albopictus in both study areas with temperature and relative humidity. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were found neither indoor nor outdoor in both study areas. This study indicated that the principal dengue vector in the university campus was most likely Ae. albopictus.
College ; Seventh ; Lake ; Aedes ; seconds

A total of 164 cases with Hymenoptera stings have been treated in our hospital during the 3 year period from 2002 to 2004. We examined year-on-year incidence of the insect stings, monthly distribution, occurrence time, elapsed time from occurrence to visit to our hospital, age, male-female ratio, stung parts, number of stings, types of Hymenoptera, symptoms, and the rate of emergency room visits. The largest number of 83 cases were treated during 2004. A great number of cases were observed from June to September. The stings most frequently occurred during the daytime, and 95 males (58%) and 69 females (42%) were treated. Many of them were in their 50s years or above. The parts which the insect attack were mostly exposed parts such as hands, the upper limbs, face, and legs. Seven cases had systemic reactions (4%), one had urticaria, one had palpitations, two had nausea, two felt ill, and one suffered a anaphylactic shock. The most of the victims were elderly people engaged in agriculture in this area. The stings were most frequently observed in 2004, because there was less precipitation from May to June in that year. The propagation of Hymenoptera became active when the rainfall decreased.
Hymenoptera ; Hospitals ; seconds ; occurrence ; Sting Injury

We report a case of female urethral cancer. A 67-year-old female complained of a pain in the left buttocks. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a urethral tumor, which invaded the bladder wall and left buttocks tissue. Transurethral resection was performed. Histopathological examinations revealed squamous cell carcinoma of the urethra. The case was diagnosed as stage D4 urethral cancer according to the Grabstald's classification. Radiotherapies with a total dose of 57.5 Gy were performed on the primary and invaded sites. However, she died 6 months after the radiotherapy.
Female ; seconds ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Procedures on Urethra ; Primary

Kampo formulae are selected according to a patient's symptoms. In certain cases the decoctions are modified with additional herbs to provide a suitable treatment. Knowledge of herbs and formulae used clinically in Kampo medicine is essential; however there is a lack of knowledge on how extensively certain herbs are applied. We have analyzed our Kampo outpatient clinic prescriptions for September 2004. The 20 most frequently applied formulae accounted for 60% of all prescriptions. Also, we analyzed our patients' medical backgrounds in relation to the most frequently used 20 prescriptions in September 2004, and the distribution of our patients for each prescription. The distribution of patients for each prescription differed significantly from the distribution of all patients. As a last point, we looked at which herbs were most frequently added to prescriptions. The most frequently added herb was Astragali Radix, followed by Coicis Semen and Aconiti Tuber. We consider this to be significant information for Kampo physicians and pharmacists.
Medicine, Kampo ; seconds ; Distributing ; Clinic ; Analysis

Kakkonkokato is a special formula used for the treatment of rosacea-like dermatitis lesions in the nasal region, but very few cases treated with this formulation have been reported so far. Here, we report three patients with refractory facial eruptions of rosacea-like dermatitis treated successfully with kakkonkokato. Case1was a 39-year-old man who presented with a 15-year history of rosacea-like dermatitis lesions in the nasal region. After 3 weeks' treatment with kakkonkokato, a marked improvement of his lesions was seen, with disappearance of the redness of his face. Case 2 was a 56-year-old woman who presented with a prolonged history of itchy eruptions around her mouth and nasal region. After 8 weeks' treatment with kakkonkokato, an almost complete disappearance of her eruptions was observed. Case 3 was a 26-year-old woman who presented with atopic dermatitis and intractable erythema under her nose, which was refractory to treatment with steroid ointments and antiallergic agents. After 2 months' treatment with kakkonkokato, her erythema completely resolved, along with improvement of the systemic lesions of atopic dermatitis. The observations in these three cases suggest that kakkonkokato may be a useful formula for the treatment of not only rosacea-like dermatitis in the nasal region, but also of refractory facial eruptions of other causes.
therapeutic aspects ; seconds ; Lesion, NOS ; Nasal ; Acne Rosacea

The world has now rediscovered the value of traditional medicine. Much traditional medicine in South-East Asian countries originated from the medicines of ancient China, and developed independently within those individual countries. As a measure toward information exchange and communication among these countries, the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO-WPRO) has published its International Standard Terminologies (IST) for use globally. While domestically in Japan, Kampo is now taught as a regular subject in all medical schools. In this light, there is significant meaning to holding conference with the purpose of understanding the current status of Japanese Kampo around the world, and considering the best ways to disseminate Kampo information globally. The International Conference of Kampo Medicine (provisional title) has been held thus far a total of three times, to address the current status of Japanese Kampo, Japanese Kampo issues from global point of view, as well as the current status of traditional medicine in China and Korea also originating from the ancient Chinese medicine. The conference was entitled &lsquoWhy Kampo? Why Now? Why Me?—The reason why foreign medical doctors worldwide choose Japanese Kampo, and the situation or development of Kampo medicine in their own countries”, in which foreign doctors in Japan, medical students, and leading Kampo medical practitioners were invited to give lectures, which were followed by free discussions by all participants.
Medicine, Kampo ; Medicine ; seconds ; Japanese language ; Conferences

We report on 3 patients who presented with symptoms of Ki obstruction, Ki deficiency, and disorder of the body's fluid metabolism, successfully treated with bukuryoingohangekobokuto. In our experience, bukuryoingohangekobokuto has been effective in 25 of the 30 patients (6 men and 24 women) to whom is has been administered, who also presented with Ki obstructions, Ki deficiencies and disorders of the body's fluid metabolism as mentioned above. The most common subjective symptom in all these effectively-treated patients was hot flashes. Other signs were epigastric pain or discomfort accompanied by chest signs and symptoms, such as palpitations, heartburn, chest oppression or dyspnea. The most common objective findings in these effectively-treated patients were pulsation at the pit of the stomach and navel, and a fluid sound in the stomach upon palpation. Based on our experiences, we believe that prescription of bukuryoingohangekobokuto is best indicated when the presence of the above-mentioned symptoms and findings has been confirmed.
symptoms <1> ; Liquid substance ; Cases ; seconds ; findings

We successfully treated 5 patients with seborrheic dermatitis using Kampo medicine. Three of these patients presented with facial the lesions which had persisted for 1 to 2 years despite their having received treatment with steroid ointments or ketokonazol lotions. We treated these patients with jumihaidokuto and they recovered significantly within a few months. The two remaining patients presented with scalp lesions, which had persisted for10and 25 years respectively. We treated them with a combined formulation of keigairengyoto, makyoyokukanto and yokukansankachimpihange, and they improved remarkably after 2 and 8 months respectively.
Medicine, Kampo ; Seborrheic dermatitis ; Cases ; seconds ; month