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Asian Countries/regions (asian + regions)
Selected AbstractsOverview on SARS in Asia and the WorldRESPIROLOGY, Issue 2003WK LAM Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is the first major novel infectious disease to hit the international community in the 21st century. It originated in southern China in November 2002, reached Hong Kong in February 2003 and spread rapidly thereafter to 29 countries/regions on five continents. At the end of the epidemic, the global cumulative total was 8098 with 774 deaths. Seven Asian countries/regions were among the top ten on the list. Mainland China and Hong Kong, SAR, accounted for 87% of all cases and 84% of all deaths. Severe acute respiratory syndrome is caused by a novel coronavirus. It has alarmed the world with its infectivity and significant morbidity and mortality, its lack of a rapid, reliable diagnostic test and lack of effective specific treatment and vaccination. The adverse impact on travel and business around the world, particularly in Asia, has been enormous. Some lessons learnt from this epidemic included: (1) any outbreak of infectious disease can rapidly spread around the world by air travel; (2) early reporting of the outbreak to neighbouring countries/regions and the World Health Organization is essential to prevent international spread; and (3) infection control, tracing and quarantine of contacts are essential to control the epidemic. Many questions remain unanswered, including the origin and pathogenesis of the novel coronavirus, the natural history and the best specific treatment of the disease. The SARS-CoV has probably jumped from an animal host to humans. There is an urgent need to evaluate the human,animal habitat in southern China and to remove animal reservoirs if found. [source] Association between painful physical symptoms and clinical outcomes in Taiwanese patients with major depressive disorder: A three-month observational studyASIA-PACIFIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2010Kuang-Peng Chen MD Abstract Introduction: Reports from non-Asian populations indicate that painful physical symptoms are associated with poorer clinical and functional outcomes in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This paper shows the changes in disease characteristics and quality of life in Taiwanese MDD patients, with or without painful physical symptoms, over 3 months' observation. Methods: Taiwanese patients from an observational study of six East Asian countries/regions were classified as painful physical symptom positive (PPS+) or negative (PPS,) based on a mean score of ,2 or <2, respectively, on the modified Somatic Symptom Inventory. Changes from baseline in outcomes were compared between the groups. Results: Of 194 patients with MDD, 69% were PPS+ at baseline. These PPS+ patients were more depressed (17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale total; mean [SD] 27.1 [6.26] versus 21.8 [5.94] PPS,, P<0.001), in more pain (Visual Analog Scale overall; median [range] 73.5 [9,100] versus 40 [0 to 80] PPS,, P<0.001) and had poorer quality of life at baseline (EuroQoL; mean [SD] 42.9 [18.26] versus 59.8 [18.21] PPS,,P<0.001). At endpoint (n=118), PPS, patients showed greater improvement on depression outcomes (Clinical Global Impression of Severity; P=0.011) and had a higher remission rate (52.8 % versus 14.6% PPS+, P=0.007). Discussion: Painful physical symptoms were frequently observed in Taiwanese patients with MDD. As PPS are associated with more severe depression, poorer quality of life, and poorer remission outcomes, clinical management should address both the mental and physical symptoms associated with this disorder. [source] Intra-oral Dirofilaria repens infection: report of seven casesJOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 8 2003W. M. Tilakaratne Abstract Cutaneous dirofilariasis usually affects animals such as cats and dogs which are known to be the natural host of Dirofilaria. Dirofilariasis displays a worldwide distribution. Certain geographic regions account for the majority of reported cases. South-eastern United States, Australia and Europe have been identified as endemic regions (1, 2). However, new endemic areas are arising with increased awareness in African and Asian regions. Out of about 40 different species of Dirofilaria only a few species are commonly known to infect man, namely Dirofilaria immitus, D. tenices and D. repens. Human infection occurs when a human becomes a blood meal of an infected arthropod vector and on accidental entering of the worm. Rarely this zoonotic infection affects the oral mucosa (3). Man is the dead end of this parasite. Since the human body is an abnormal environment for the parasite, the development of the larvae is inhibited by means of retardation of sexual maturity. Lesions are presented as single non-tender subcutaneous nodules, and most patients are asymptomatic. Diagnosis is established by H&E sections prepared from excised nodules. In a majority of the cases, only a single worm either a male or a female could be identified. The worm is usually dead and degenerated with a massive inflammatory cell infiltration. Seven new cases presented as intra-oral nodules with their clinicopathological correlation are discussed. [source] EARLY ORDOVICIAN (ARENIG) TRILOBITE PALAEOECOLOGY AND PALAEOBIOGEOGRAPHY OF THE SOUTH CHINA PLATEPALAEONTOLOGY, Issue 3 2005SAMUEL T. TURVEY Abstract:, Faunal composition of South Chinese Arenig benthic trilobite associations is investigated using the multivariate techniques of TWINSPAN, DCA and seriation. Eight fairly distinct benthic associations can be differentiated, organized primarily along a palaeobathymetrical gradient across the Yangtze Platform in southern Shaanxi and western Hubei and the Jiangnan Transitional Belt in northern Hunan: the Taihungshania, Neseuretus, Trinucleid and Asaphid- Pseudocalymene associations (shallow shelf), the Asaphid-Raphiophorid and Nileid-Asaphid associations (< 100 m outer shelf), the Nileid-Illaenid Association (deep outer shelf carbonates) and the Pseudopetigurus Association (deep outer shelf clastics). The highest levels of diversity are displayed by the Asaphid-Raphiophorid Association of western Hubei. Investigation of the biogeographical affinities of this fauna indicates that South China is biogeographically closest to the other Chinese geotectonic units, and displays strong faunal connections to other central and eastern Asian regions as well as to Tethyan and South American regions. Subdivision of the South Chinese trilobite fauna into different depth zones shows a statistically significant correlation between increasing water depth and increasing faunal cosmopolitanism, although taxa endemic to China or Gondwana also occur even in slope faunas. The results of this biogeographical analysis are consistent with a tropical or subtropical peri-Gondwanan association of South China with other Asian terranes. [source] | ||||||||||