1.A Review of Breast Cancer Research in Malaysia
CH Yip ; N Bhoo Pathy ; SH Teo
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2014;69(Supplement A):8-22
Four hundred and nineteen articles related to breast cancer
were found in a search through a database dedicated to
indexing all original data relevant to medicine published in
Malaysia between the years 2000-2013. One hundred and fifty
four articles were selected and reviewed on the basis of
clinical relevance and future research implications. Overall,
Malaysian women have poor survival from breast cancer and
it is estimated that half of the deaths due to breast cancer
could be prevented. Five-year survival in Malaysia was low
and varies among different institutions even within the same
disease stage, suggesting an inequity of access to optimal
treatment or a lack of compliance to optimal treatment.
Malaysian women have poor knowledge of the risk factors,
symptoms and methods for early detection of breast cancer,
leading to late presentation. Moreover, Malaysian women
experience cancer fatalism, belief in alternative medicine, and
lack of autonomy in decision making resulting in delays in
seeking or avoidance of evidence-based medicine. There are
ethnic differences in estrogen receptor status, HER2
overexpression and incidence of triple negative breast cancer
which warrant further investigation. Malay women present
with larger tumours and at later stages, and even after
adjustment for these and other prognostic factors (stage,
pathology and treatment), Malay women have a poorer
survival. Although the factors responsible for these ethnic
differences have not been elucidated, it is thought that
pharmacogenomics, lifestyle factors (such as weight-gain,
diet and exercise), and psychosocial factors (such as
acceptance of 2nd or 3rd line chemotherapy) may be
responsible for the difference in survival. Notably,
survivorship studies show self-management programmes and
exercise improve quality of life, highlighting the need to
evaluate the psychosocial impact of breast cancer on
Malaysian women, and to design culturally-, religiously- and
linguistically-appropriate psycho-education programmes to
help women cope with the disease and improve their quality
of life. Research done in the Caucasian populations may not
necessarily apply to local settings and it is important to
embark on local studies particularly prevention, screening,
diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutic and psychosocial
research.
KEY WORDS: breast cancer; Malaysia; review; genetics; screening;
diagnosis; prognosis; treatment; outcome
2.Asian Men’s Health: Gender Disparity and Life Expectancy
Christopher Ho CK ; Teo CH ; Ng CJ ; Zulkifli MZ ; Tan MH
Journal of Surgical Academia 2014;4(2):5-8
The aim of this review was to analyze the gender disparities found as well as the life expectancies in Asia. An
analysis of the data on gender disparities as well as life expectancies of the different Asian countries was done based
on the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Observatory Data Repository as well as the regional
government databases. Middle Eastern countries have the highest male to female population ratio. The results show
that in terms of population pyramid, Asia is moving towards a more geriatric population. Qatar has the highest life
expectancy for men and is the only country in Asia where men live longer than women (difference of 2 years). In
general, women in Asia live longer than men. High income countries like Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore have
higher life expectancies as compared to those on the lower income nations. The life expectancy of Asian men still
lags women. Men’s health care needs to be addressed urgently. The disparity in income-status reflecting the lifespan
of men is an impetus for us to narrow the gap of health in Asian countries.
3.TB Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (TB-IRIS) In The Treatment Of TB Spine
Peris MM ; Foo CH ; Chan SK ; Lim HS ; Tan BB ; Teo YY ; Wong CC
Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal 2018;12(Supplement A):25-
4.Strategies in Managing Bamboo Spine Fractures
Danapala H ; Foo CH ; Chan SK ; Lim HS ; Tan BB ; Teo YY ; Wong CC
Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal 2018;12(Supplement A):192-
5.Bubble Trouble, A Case Report
Liew TWS ; Foo CH ; Chan SK ; Lim HS ; Nor MN ; Tan BB ; Teo YY ; Wong CC
Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal 2018;12(Supplement A):194-