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Multi-ethnic Population (multi-ethnic + population)
Selected AbstractsPrimary biliary cirrhosis in Singapore: Evaluation of demography, prognostic factors and natural course in a multi-ethnic populationJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Reuben-Km Wong Abstract Background and Aim:, Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is infrequent in Asians. Among Asian patients with PBC, information on natural course is scarce. The aim of this study was to study the clinical course and prognosticators among Asians with PBC. Methods:, During 1990,2005, patients diagnosed with PBC at the National University Hospital, Singapore, constituted the retrospective cohort. Their demographic characteristics were evaluated. To evaluate the prognostic factors and natural course, two outcome measures were assessed: hepatic decompensation and death or liver transplant. Multivariate analysis was undertaken to identify factors associated with hepatic decompensation and terminal event (death or liver transplantation). Results:, Thirty-four PBC patients aged 56.8 ± 1.8 years (mean ± SEM) of whom 32 (94%) were women were included. Thirty-two (94%) of them were of Chinese origin. At presentation, 18 (53%) were symptomatic in the form of jaundice (n = 9, 26.5%), pruritus (n = 6, 17.6%) and fatigue (n = 5, 14.7%). During 4.80 ± 0.7 (range 0.02,15.03) years follow up, 6/16 (37.5%) asymptomatic patients developed symptoms. After 5 years, 17.6% (n = 6) and 8.8% (n = 3) had hepatic decompensation and terminal event, respectively. Sicca syndrome was present in 26% (n = 9) of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum bilirubin level at presentation was the sole determinant of decompensation. Rate of change of laboratory indices did not predict either event. Conclusion:, In Singapore, Chinese women constitute most of the PBC patients. Elevated serum bilirubin level at presentation was the sole predictive marker associated with dismal outcome. [source] Impact of urodynamic based incontinence diagnosis on quality of life in women,,NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 3 2009Alexandra L. Haessler Abstract Aims To characterize the effect of urodynamic diagnosis on degree of incontinence related bother and health related quality of life in a large, multi-ethnic population of women. Methods Effects of multichannel urodynamic diagnosis, urethral competency, and other patient characteristics on abbreviated Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ7) composite scores were analyzed retrospectively. Results Six hundred eleven patients were included. Mean UDI6 and IIQ7 scores were significantly higher among patients with mixed incontinence, detrusor overactivity, urinary stress incontinence with overactive bladder, and negative studies compared to those with stress incontinence without OAB. The relative composite UDI6 and IIQ7 mean scores did not significantly differ between the mixed incontinence, detrusor overactivity, stress incontinence with OAB and negative study groups. UDI6 and IIQ7 scores were significantly higher among stress incontinent patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency, but similar among mixed incontinent patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Conclusion Urodynamic diagnoses of detrusor overactivity, mixed incontinence, and stress incontinence with overactive bladder are associated with significantly worse incontinence related bother and health related quality of life when compared to those with stress incontinence without OAB. These conditions appear to have similar degree of impact on incontinence related bother and quality of life. Patients presenting with symptoms of incontinence can suffer a similar compromise in quality of life despite a negative MCUD study. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:183,187, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Body image and sexual problems in young women with breast cancerPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 7 2006Pat Fobair Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of body image and sexual problems in the first months after treatment among women diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 or younger. Background: Breast cancer treatment may have severe effects on the bodies of younger women. Surgical treatment may be disfiguring, chemotherapy may cause abrupt menopause, and hormone replacement is not recommended. Methods: A multi-ethnic population-based sample of 549 women aged 22,50 who were married or in a stable unmarried relationship were interviewed within seven months of diagnosis with in situ, local, or regional breast cancer. Results: Body image and sexual problems were experienced by a substantial proportion of women in the early months after diagnosis. Half of the 546 women experienced two or more body image problems some of the time (33%), or at least one problem much of the time (17%). Among sexually active women, greater body image problems were associated with mastectomy and possible reconstruction, hair loss from chemotherapy, concern with weight gain or loss, poorer mental health, lower self-esteem, and partner's difficulty understanding one's feelings. Among the 360 sexually active women, half (52%) reported having a little problem in two or more areas of sexual functioning (24%), or a definite or serious problem in at least one area (28%). Greater sexual problems were associated with vaginal dryness, poorer mental health, being married, partner's difficulty understanding one's feelings, and more body image problems, and there were significant ethnic differences in reported severity. Conclusions: Difficulties related to sexuality and sexual functioning were common and occurred soon after surgical and adjuvant treatment. Addressing these problems is essential to improve the quality of life of young women with breast cancer. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cultural health beliefs in a rural family practice: A Malaysian perspectiveAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2006Kamil M. Ariff Abstract Background:, Understanding the sociocultural dimension of a patient's health beliefs is critical to a successful clinical encounter. Malaysia with its multi-ethnic population of Malay, Chinese and Indian still uses many forms of traditional health care in spite of a remarkably modern rural health service. Objective:, The objective of this paper is discuss traditional health care in the context of some of the cultural aspects of health beliefs, perceptions and practices in the different ethnic groups of the author's rural family practices. This helps to promote communication and cooperation between doctors and patients, improves clinical diagnosis and management, avoids cultural blind spots and unnecessary medical testing and leads to better adherence to treatment by patients. Discussion:, Includes traditional practices of ,hot and cold', notions of Yin-Yang and Ayurveda, cultural healing, alternative medicine, cultural perception of body structures and cultural practices in the context of women's health. Modern and traditional medical systems are potentially complementary rather than antagonistic. Ethnic and cultural considerations can be integrated further into the modern health delivery system to improve care and health outcomes. [source] Evaluating five dedicated automatic devices for haemoglobinopathy diagnostics in multi-ethnic populationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2009P. VAN DELFT Summary We have tested five haemoglobin (Hb) separation apparatuses, dedicated to haemoglobinopathy diagnostics. These are the four high performance liquid chromatography devices: VARIANT IIÔ, HA 8160, G7, Ultra2 and the Capillary Electrophoresis apparatus from Sebia. In the first place, we focussed on the capacity of all apparatuses to detect the most common structural variants relevant for public health, these being HbS, HbC, HbE, HbD-Punjab and HbO-Arab. We then compared how the high HbA2,-thalassaemia carriers were identified. All apparatuses were able to identify carriers of these traits with the expected sensitivity and specificity. With the primary goal of a high degree of conformity in basic diagnostics of haemoglobinopathies, we present the interpretation and the significance of the results on all apparatuses, and we comment on the unavoidable problems and solutions. [source] | ||||||||||