Background: Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor that directly contributes to coronary artery disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, renal failure and peripheral arterial disease. A number of important causal factors for hypertension have been identified, including excess body weight, excess of dietary sodium intake, alcohol intake and reduced physical activity. Objective: A study on the frequency and risk factors of hypertension in the adults of Phu Dien commune, Nam Sach district, Hai Duong province. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,129 adults (18 years and over) of Phu Dien commune, Nam Sach district, Hai Duong province in May, 2005. Results and Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was 15.5%; the disease was seen in men more than women (17.2% versus 14.5%); hypertension was often seen in the elderly (over 60 years old was 60.6%); blood pressure increasing along with advanced age. Only 39.4% of adults were aware of their hypertension and 43.5% of individuals with hypertension were on treatment. Salt intake, stress, obesity, rate of abdomen/rump dimensions were related with hypertension (odd ratio: 1.7: 1.6: 1.7; p<0.05). Some habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking had a risk of hypertension, however, there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Dyslipidemia and diabetes were risk factors of hypertension.
hypertension ; adults

Background: Up to now, there are quite number of studies on the origin and role of the nervous apparatus in controlling the kidney. However, in some articles, the authors do not fully highlight the anatomic morphology of renal nervous plexus and providing the rule of structure and distribution of the cell\u2019s components, nerve fibers in the nervous plexus. Objective: A study on the anatomical characteristics of renal nervous plexus of Vietnamese adults. Subject and methods: Based on the anatomical study by macroscopic and microscopic dissection with the micro MBC-2 on nervous plexus of 60 renal pedicles of adults at the age of 18-70 years. Results and Conclusion: The structure of renal nervous plexus is very complex. This plexus is formed by many nerve fibers and pedicles and is widely connected with perirenal nervous tissue. Beside, it has also the close connection between left and right plexus for the guarantee of nervous distribution with bilateral replacement. Thick concentrations of renal nervous plexus is not only at the renal sinus region, but also at the renal hilum, where the distribution of renal arterial branches. There are many nervous ganglion tissues in the renal nervous plexus. These ganglia are smaller than from aortorenal ganglion to intrasinual ganglion.
renal nervous plexus ; adults

An alarming increase in the prevalence of depression has been found among Malaysian young adults which necessitates responsiveness. This study sought to better understand the subjective personal growth experience in terms of the processes among young adults recovering from major depressive disorder (MDD). A qualitative, transcendental phenomenological design was adopted by collecting data through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, audio recordings, interview transcripts and documents. Nine Malaysian young adults with MDD (Mean age=28) who reported being in recovery from MDD for at least one year were recruited from local mental health settings through purposive sampling. Data analysis involved Colaizzi’s eight-step method. The findings revealed eight personal growth processes themes: revealing the struggles, self-discovery and personal strength, personal responsibility, readiness for change, hope, redefining the meaning, forgiveness, and acceptance. Noticeably, each theme was interconnected to facilitate personal growth among major depressive young adults. The implications for mental health psychotherapy practice and future research were discussed.
Depression ; Young Adults ; Malaysians

Background: The multiplex polymerase chain reaction can rapidly differentiate taenia spp adults and cysticercose cysts.\r\n', u'Objective: The study aimed to identify taenia spp adults and cysticercose cysts in human by using multiplex PCR\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The multiplex PCR was applied by using the 4 forward and one reverse primer to amplify the target gene cytochrome c oxydase subunit I (COXI) of the Taenia spp in human. T\r\n', u'Results:4 molecular sizes of PCR products were appeared: 269 bp,720 bp, 827 bp, 984 bp. Seventy six samples including 65 flat worms and 11 cysticercose cysts which collected from the patients who are living in 19 different provinces and cities of Northern part of Viet Nam and treated in the clinic of NIMPE were examined. Of 65 flat worms analyzed 35 samples were T.asiatica (58.46%), 27 were T.saginata (41.54%). All 11 cysticercose cysts were T.solium (100%). \r\n', u'Conclusion: The result also indicated that some time 3 Taenia species were found at the same area. A remarkable difference of infection rate was found between men and women, also adults and children. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Taenia spp adults ; cysticercose cysts ; multiplex PCR

Research examining whether psychological eating style is related to healthy or unhealthy eating patterns is required to explain the mechanisms underlying non-communicable diseases and obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether eating style predicts thenature of food consumption. This was a cross-sectional study of 588 adults (males = 231 and females = 357). Eating style (i.e. restrained, emotional, external eating) was measured using the short version of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ). The nature of food consumption was assessed using self-reports of consumption of fruits and vegetables, sweet foods, junk food, and snacks.The results revealed that restrained eating was higher in females and overweight participants. External eating,a higher frequency of snacking,and a higher frequency of junk food consumptionwere more prevalent among the younger participants. Consistent with previous Western studies, emotional eating was found to be the main predictor of consumption of less healthful foods (sweet foods, junk food, and snacks), whereas external eatingpredicted the intake of sweet foods. The intake of fruits and vegetableswas associated with restrained eating. In light of the significant associations between eating style and the nature of food consumption, acknowledging individuals’ eating styleshas implications for tailoring effective nutritional programs that address obesity and the chronic disease epidemic.
eating style ; food consumption ; adults ; Malaysia

Negative attitudes towards ageing are reported to be associated with greater functional impairment in older adults.There is limited information regarding attitudes towards ageing and physical performance in regard to adults aged 55 to 64 years. The objective of our study was to examine the association of attitude towards ageing on physical performance which includes mobility, agility and falls risk. This cross sectional study was conducted at five senior citizen clubs around Klang Valley in Malaysia. A total of 154 community dwelling adults aged 55 and above (mean:65.8+6.82) participated in this study. Attitude towards ageing was measured using Kogan’s Attitude towards Older People Questionnaire (KAOP). Mobility and agility were measured using gait speed test and ten step test respectively. Risk of falls was assessed using physiological profile aproach (PPA). Approximately 75% of the participants had positive attitude towards ageing with high to very high risk of falls. A significant (p<0.05) correlation was demonstrated between attitude towards ageing, falls risk and gait speed.Regression analysis showed that attitudes toward ageing had a relationship with falls risk, explaining 6% of the variance, F (1, 152) =10.26, p<0.01.The results of this study suggest that there is some relationship between attitude towards ageing and falls risk measured using a combination of physical performance test. Positive attitude towards ageing should be promoted among adults in an earlier age for overall physical health among older adults.
attitudes towards ageing ; gait speed ; agility ; falls risk ; older adults

Convergence insufficiency is a common binocular vision disorder. It has been reported that the frequency of this anomaly has reached as high as 6% among school children and young adults and may affect their quality of life and near work performance. One of the treatment modalities is the Dot Card therapy. However, there is scarce research report on the effectiveness of the Dot Card therapy. Hence, this study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of the therapy given to convergence insufficiency patients among young adults. A total of 33 university students (age range=22.55±1.66 years) with convergence insufficiency problems participated in this study. Convergence insufficiency symptoms based on the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) and binocular vision components such as near point of convergence, fusional vergence and phoria were measured before and after the Dot Card therapy was given to each participant. All participants were reviewed after 2 weeks and 4 weeks. The results indicated that participants demonstrated statistically and clinically significant changes and improvement in symptom from CISS score (22.30 to 15.30, p<0.001), NPC (11.08 cm to 6.50 cm, p<0.001) and PFV at near (13.82Δ to 18.36Δ, p=0.035) at the end of 4-week visit. Participants’ near phoria were improved (2.12 exo to 1.79 exo, p=0.369) even though it is not statistically and clinically significant. The convergence insufficiency patients have achieved significant improvements in symptoms and near point of convergence both statistically and clinically, within one month of the Dot Card therapy treatment.
convergence insufficiency ; Dot Card ; vision therapy ; effectiveness ; young adults

Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) is a simple, valid and reliable questionnaire that can be administered to quantify older adults’ physical activity levels during daily living. However, PASE in Malay language for use among older population is not available. The objective of our current study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Malay translated Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (PASE-M) for the use among older adults. Objective results of physical activity were obtained by wearing continuously an accelerometer for one week among a population of older adults in Malaysia who speak Malay language. Participants completed PASE-M twice, on day-8 (PASE-M1) and day-15 (PASE-M2). Concurrent validity between PASE-M1 and accelerometer results was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Test-retest reliability for one week interval of PASE-M was tested using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Forty-four community-dwelling older adults (12 men and 32 women; mean age ± SD= 66.95 ± 5.34) participated in this study. However, only 33 participants (8 men and 25 women; mean age ± SD= 66.64 ± 5.51) were able to achieve the minimum accelerometer wearing time and filled up the PASE-M questionnaire for two times with one weeks interval. The results showed the PASE-M score was significantly correlated with vector magnitude (VM) counts (r=0.54, p<0.01), time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (r =0.55, p<0.01), energy expenditure (r =0.53, p<0.01) and walking steps (r=0.39, p<0.05). A high reliability (ICC = 0.96) was demonstrated between first and the subsequent administration of PASE-M (p<0.01, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98). The PASE-M is a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess physical activity level for Malaysian community-dwelling older adults.
older adults, physical activity, questionnaire, accelerometer, validity, reliability

Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/therapy* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis* ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Islets of Langerhans ; Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults/therapy*