ABSTRACT Erectile dysfunction (ED) and periodontitis have common risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus and tobacco smoking. Multiple reports are available in regard to the association between ED and chronic periodontitis (CP). The study aimed to determine the association of ED and CP in selected Malaysian population. In this study, 74 patients (mean age = 52.4 ± 10.9 years old) diagnosed with ED, from scores via the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire, were included. ED severity was classified as mild, mild to moderate, moderate, and severe. Periodontal condition was recorded using basic periodontal examination (BPE) method, of which scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3 were associated with having no periodontitis while a score of 4 was considered to have periodontitis. There are 40 (54.1%) subjects found to have periodontitis and the association of ED and periodontitis showed a moderate positive degree of correlation, ρ = 0.487 (p < 0.001). The percentage of subjects having periodontitis indicated an increasing trend with the severity of ED; from 19.0% (mild ED), 54.2% (mild to moderate ED), 75.0% (moderate ED), to 84.6% (severe ED). A greater degree of correlation was noted between dental scaling experience and ED, ρ = 0.635 (p < 0.001). Binomial logistic regression had shown no other co-morbidities and factors were affecting this relation. There seemed to be an association between ED and periodontitis existing in these selected Malaysian populations.
Erectile Dysfunction ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Malaysia--ethnology

*Anemia, Hemolytic ; *Anemia, Hypochromic ; *Anemia, Macrocytic ; *Ethnology ; *Iron ; *Leukemia ; *Malaysia ; *Postpartum Period ; *Infant, Newborn

Computerised data of 110,236 Singaporean males aged 15 to 25 (mean 17.75) years who underwent compulsory medical examination from April 1987 to January 1992 were used to estimate the prevalence and severity of myopia among young Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian Singaporean males with different educational levels. The prevalence and severity of myopia amongst the groups with different educational levels were compared. These groups were fairly well-matched for important known confounding factors such as age, sex, race and degree of urbanisation of place of residence. Our data showed a positive association between educational attainment and both the prevalence and severity of myopia. Both the prevalence of myopia and the proportion of myopes with severe myopia were in general higher among those with more years of formal education.
Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; ethnology ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Educational Status ; Humans ; India ; ethnology ; Malaysia ; ethnology ; Male ; Myopia ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Refraction, Ocular ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Visual Acuity

INTRODUCTIONMental illnesses are not only a growing public health concern but also a major social and economic issue affecting individuals and families throughout the world. The prevalence of mental disorders, the extent of disability caused by these disorders, and services utilisation of these patients has been well studied in developed countries. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of select mental disorders and their associated sociodemographic correlates in the adult Singapore resident population.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a cross-sectional, populationbased, epidemiological study of adult Singapore residents aged 18 years and above. The subjects were randomly selected using a disproportionate stratified sampling method. The diagnoses of selected mental disorders including major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymia, bipolar (bipolar I & II) disorders, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence were established using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, which is a fully structured diagnostic instrument that assesses lifetime and 12-month prevalence of mental disorders.

RESULTSAmong the 6616 respondents (response rate of 75.9%), 12.0% had at least one lifetime affective, anxiety, or alcohol use disorders. The lifetime prevalence of MDD was 5.8% and that of bipolar disorder was 1.2%. The combined lifetime prevalence of the 2 anxiety disorders, GAD and OCD was 3.6%, with the latter being more common than GAD (0.9% and 3.0% respectively). The lifetime prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence were found to be 3.1% and 0.5% respectively. Age, gender, ethnicity, marital status and chronic physical illnesses were all significant correlates of mental disorders.

CONCLUSIONThe identified associated factors would help guide resource allocation, policy formulation and programme development in Singapore.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; ethnology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; India ; ethnology ; Malaysia ; ethnology ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; classification ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Middle Aged ; Risk Assessment ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONClinical practice guidelines recommend using creatinine-based equations to estimate glomerular filtration rates (GFRs). While these equations were formulated for Caucasian-American populations and have adjustment coefficients for African-American populations, they are not validated for other ethnicities. The Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaborative Group (CKD-EPI) recently developed a new equation that uses both creatinine and cystatin C. We aimed to assess the accuracy of this equation in estimating the GFRs of participants (healthy and with chronic kidney disease [CKD]) from a multiethnic Asian population.

METHODSSerum samples from the Asian Kidney Disease Study and the Singapore Kidney Function Study were used. GFR was measured using plasma clearance of 99mTc-DTPA. GFR was estimated using the CKD-EPI equations. The performance of GFR estimation equations were examined using median and interquartile range values, and the percentage difference from the measured GFR.

RESULTSThe study comprised 335 participants (69.3% with CKD; 38.5% Chinese, 29.6% Malays, 23.6% Indians, 8.3% others), with a mean age of 53.5 ± 15.1 years. Mean standardised serum creatinine was 127 ± 86 μmol/L, while mean standardised serum cystatin C and mean measured GFR were 1.43 ± 0.74 mg/L and 67 ± 33 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The creatinine-cystatin C CKD-EPI equation performed the best, with an estimated GFR of 67 ± 35 mL/min/1.73 m2.

CONCLUSIONThe new creatinine-cystatin C equation estimated GFR with little bias, and had increased precision and accuracy in our multiethnic Asian population. This two-biomarker equation may increase the accuracy of population studies on CKD, without the need to consider ethnicity.

Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; India ; ethnology ; Linear Models ; Malaysia ; ethnology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; ethnology ; urine ; Sodium, Dietary ; urine

INTRODUCTIONIn Singapore, the age-standardised event rates of myocardial infarction (MI) are 2- and 3-fold higher for Malays and Indians respectively compared to the Chinese. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and quantity of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and non-calcified plaques across these 3 ethnic groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a retrospective descriptive study. We identified 1041 patients (810 Chinese, 139 Malays, 92 Indians) without previous history of cardiovascular disease who underwent cardiac computed tomography for atypical chest pain evaluation. A cardiologist, who was blinded to the patients' clinical demographics, reviewed all scans. We retrospectively analysed all their case records.

RESULTSOverall, Malays were most likely to be active smokers (P = 0.02), Indians had the highest prevalence of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.01) and Chinese had the highest mean age (P <0.0001). The overall prevalence of patients with non-calcified plaques as the only manifestation of sub-clinical coronary artery disease was 2.1%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of CAC, mean CAC score or prevalence of non-calcified plaques among the 3 ethnic groups. Active smoking, age and hypertension were independent predictors of CAC. Non-calcified plaques were positively associated with male gender, age, dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSIONThe higher MI rates in Malays and Indians in Singapore cannot be explained by any difference in CAC or non-calcified plaque. More research with prospective follow-up of larger patient populations is necessary to establish if ethnic-specific calibration of CAC measures is needed to adjust for differences among ethnic groups.

Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; statistics & numerical data ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; ethnology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; ethnology ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Diabetes Mellitus ; ethnology ; Dyslipidemias ; ethnology ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; ethnology ; India ; ethnology ; Malaysia ; ethnology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; diagnostic imaging ; ethnology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Smoking ; ethnology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vascular Calcification ; diagnostic imaging ; ethnology

We retrospectively analyzed all patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding to Seremban Hospital over a one-year period. A quarter of the oesophagogastro-duodenoscopies (OGD) performed were performed as emergency for upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers were the two most common findings. Our results suggest that there is a male preponderance of 2:1, the Chinese were more likely to be affected and the elderly (> 60 years) were at highest risk.
Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/ethnology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*etiology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/therapy ; Malaysia ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

Twenty-three patients with ulcerative colitis are reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sixteen were newly diagnosed over a six-year period between 1982 and 1987. The disease was commoner in men (16 men : 7 women). The peak age of onset was in the third decade. The ethnic distribution of the patients was 10 Malays, eight Indians and five Chinese making the disease relatively commoner amongst Indians. The extent of colonic involvement varied and six (26%) had a total colitis. Extra-intestinal manifestations were seen in seven patients. Diagnosis was delayed for over 10 years in four. Colorectal cancer was not seen. There was no mortality. Ulcerative colitis remains an uncommon disease amongst Malaysians. During the same period, only four male patients with Crohn's colitis were seen.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; ethnology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Malaysia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors

INTRODUCTIONCervical cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common cancer in women. There is no published data on the recent incidence of cervical dysplasia, cervical cancer and genital warts caused by the different types of HPVs in Brunei Darussalam.

METHODSA cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted utilising data from patients diagnosed with cervical cancer during the period 2005-2009 in Brunei Darussalam. The varying incidences of different types of cervical lesions among various ethnic and age groups, and in the overall population, were determined.

RESULTSThe mean age-standardised incidence of invasive cervical cancer during the five-year period was 24.9 per 100,000 women per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 21.7, 28.1). Age-specific invasive cervical cancer incidence peaked in the age group 45-59 years. Chinese females tended to have a higher incidence of invasive cervical cancer (28.2 per 100,000 women per year; 95% CI 17.8, 38.7) than Malay females (20.6 per 100,000 women per year; 95% CI 17.1, 24.2), while other ethnic groups in Brunei Darussalam had a significantly lower incidence (6.5 per 100,000 women per year; 95% CI 3.0, 10.0).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that Brunei Darussalam has a relatively higher incidence of cervical cancer compared to its neighbouring countries. The findings support the need for more comprehensive screening, public education programmes and vaccination against HPV in the country.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brunei ; epidemiology ; Child ; China ; ethnology ; Condylomata Acuminata ; prevention & control ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Immunization ; Incidence ; Malaysia ; ethnology ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; ethnology ; pathology ; prevention & control

INTRODUCTIONClinical practice guidelines recommend using creatinine-based equations to estimate glomerular filtration rates (GFRs). While these equations were formulated for Caucasian-American populations and have adjustment coefficients for African-American populations, they are not validated for other ethnicities. The Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaborative Group (CKD-EPI) recently developed a new equation that uses both creatinine and cystatin C. We aimed to assess the accuracy of this equation in estimating the GFRs of participants (healthy and with chronic kidney disease [CKD]) from a multiethnic Asian population.

METHODSSerum samples from the Asian Kidney Disease Study and the Singapore Kidney Function Study were used. GFR was measured using plasma clearance of 99mTc-DTPA. GFR was estimated using the CKD-EPI equations. The performance of GFR estimation equations were examined using median and interquartile range values, and the percentage difference from the measured GFR.

RESULTSThe study comprised 335 participants (69.3% with CKD; 38.5% Chinese, 29.6% Malays, 23.6% Indians, 8.3% others), with a mean age of 53.5 ± 15.1 years. Mean standardised serum creatinine was 127 ± 86 μmol/L, while mean standardised serum cystatin C and mean measured GFR were 1.43 ± 0.74 mg/L and 67 ± 33 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The creatinine-cystatin C CKD-EPI equation performed the best, with an estimated GFR of 67 ± 35 mL/min/1.73 m2.

CONCLUSIONThe new creatinine-cystatin C equation estimated GFR with little bias, and had increased precision and accuracy in our multiethnic Asian population. This two-biomarker equation may increase the accuracy of population studies on CKD, without the need to consider ethnicity.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; China ; ethnology ; Creatinine ; blood ; Cystatin C ; blood ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; India ; ethnology ; Malaysia ; ethnology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; blood ; urine ; Reproducibility of Results