Demodex sp. is a skin ectoparasite known as follicle mite. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of Demodex sp. infestation among Malaysian adults with age ranges from 20 to 29 years old in Lembah Klang and to determine the relationship between the infestation status and gender and acne problem on face. This is the first study that has been conducted in Malaysia to determine the prevalence of Demodex sp. infestation. A total of 350 people participated in this study. Samples were selected by stratified random sampling. Skin scraping was carried out on forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. All specimens were mounted in Hoyer’s medium and studied under light microscope. Questionnaires were distributed to the subjects to identify acne problem on their skin conditions. The overall prevalence of Demodex sp. infestation was 18.9% with higher prevalence in males (25.7%) compared to females (12.0%). There was no significant difference between acne problem and Demodex sp. infestation. In conclusion, infestation of Demodex sp. was detected in a fifth of the subjects, with men had more problems.

INTRODUCTIONThis study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Southeast Asian dermatologists in the management of atopic dermatitis (AD).

MATERIALS AND METHODSA questionnaire survey of 255 dermatologists in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

RESULTSFamiliarity with diagnostic criteria varied considerably. The usage of moisturisers by the respondents from Vietnam and Indonesia was significantly less frequent than the other countries. Most respondents (91% to 100%) used topical corticosteroids in children with mild-to-moderately severe dermatitis. Some respondents in the Philippines (17% to 19%) and Vietnam (11% to 25%) only used topical corticosteroids for severe disease. For infected eczema, most respondents would prescribe systemic antibiotics for mild-to-moderate infection. A minority in the Philippines (14%) and Vietnam (11%) did so only for severe infection. The top 4 systemic antibiotics prescribed most frequently were: erythromycin, cloxacillin, cephalosporin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. In Indonesia, a large proportion of the respondents (47%) prescribed amoxicillin most frequently. The majority of respondents (60% to 100%) prescribed both sedating and non-sedating oral antihistamines. Most respondents used oral corticosteroids to treat severe AD. Some in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam used cyclosporin (7% to 58%), azathioprine (5% to 31%) and methotrexate (5% to 14%). With the exception of those in Singapore, the majority of respondents (71% to 97%) did not use phototherapy.

CONCLUSIONFamiliarity with diagnostic criteria, the early and judicious use of moisturisers and topical corticosteroids, as well as the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus superinfection with penicillinase-stable antibiotics should be emphasised in this region.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Asia, Southeastern ; epidemiology ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; Drug Administration Routes ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Histamine H1 Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; therapeutic use ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Population Surveillance ; Severity of Illness Index

Exercise selection is one of crucial factors in designing a comprehensive training programme. The exposure of different exercise selection may stimulate the specific adaptation imposed demand. In the construction of any resistance training (RT) programme, it is important to choose whether to apply bilateral (BI) or unilateral (UNI) exercise. The present study aimed to look into the physiological responses of blood glucose (BG) between UNI and BI RT. Quantitative research method was used, RT (UNI versus BI training) as the independent variables whereas BG set as the dependent variable. In order to measure training effects following a single bout of different training intervention (UNI versus BI), a crossover experimental pre and post test design was implemented. A total of sixteen (n = 16) trained women with mean age of 23 (SD = 1.35) years old went through a single bout of RT involved a total body exercise using major muscles group with 80% of 1RM for each protocols (UNI and BI) for 10 repetitions to maximal effort (for 3 sets). Crossover design would be more accurate in exposing different training protocol to a similar characteristic of individuals as compared using different individuals. The results revealed that blood glucose (BG) were statistically changed (p < .001) across times (between PRE to IP, between PRE and 15P as well as between PRE and 30P), and finding shows there is no difference between training protocols (p = .39). Thus, similar responses of UNI and BI RT on BG concentration provides wide selection of exercise method to practitioners specifically to trained women. Future research on UNI versus BI RT could venture onto other types of hormones analysis including insulin, growth hormone and cortisol can be included. Besides, future research should consider a long run study that involve chronic adaptation of RT on human body in order to prevent and alleviate disease.

Introduction: As the younger female generation, female adolescents should understand anaemia prevention. This study examined the effects of animated educational videos on the knowledge of anaemia prevention among female adolescents using the Health Belief Model (HBM). Methods: A quasi-experimental method with a randomised pre-test and post-test control group design was applied. Animated educational videos about anaemia prevention were used as the intervention. One hundred sixty-one female adolescents were recruited through multistage random sampling and divided into intervention (n=78) and control (n=83) groups. The intervention group received education via animated educational videos. The HBM questionnaire was used to measure the nine HBM indicators (r=0.8); the item categories were valid and reliable. Descriptive analyses, independent t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA were used to analyse the data. Results: The animated educational videos played thrice significantly increased the knowledge of the intervention group (mean score: pre-test, 94; post-test one, 99; post-test two, 102). The scores for anaemia examination barriers (P=0.001), anaemia susceptibility (P=0.001), anaemia severity (P=0.001), anaemia prevention benefits (P=0.001), anaemia examination benefits (P=0.001), self-efficacy for obtaining iron tablets (P=0.001), self-recognition of anaemia signs and symptoms (P=0.001), signs of anaemia prevention (P=0.001) and health motivation (P=0.001) significantly changed. Meanwhile, the knowledge of the control group did not significantly increase (pre-test, 93; post-test one, 94; post-test two, 97). The intervention group had significantly higher mean scores in both the first and second measurements than the control group (P=0.05). Conclusion Animated educational videos significantly increased the knowledge of anaemia prevention, including the nine HBM indicators.
Video-Audio Media [Publication Type] ; Anemia ; Prevention and control ; Health Belief Model