Electrocardiographic (ECG) Characteristics among Malaysian Athletes

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a graphic representation of the heart's electrical activity. Although it has some limitations as a diagnostic or prognostic tool, it contains a wealth of information necessary for the proper care of a patient with a potential cardiovascular disease. Understanding the ECG changes among athletes would allow medical practitioners to distinguish between normal physiological adaptations and abnormal changes. However, there is limited data on the ECG characteristics among multi-ethnic athletes such as in Malaysia. This study aimed to determine the ECG characteristics and its associated factors among Malaysian national athletes. Malaysian national athletes annual pre-participation medical records were retrieved. Information on sociodemographic, sports and medical history including the 12-lead resting ECG tracings were extracted. ECG were assessed and categorised into normal, physiological adaptation changes, and abnormal ECG using the standardised ‘Seattle criteria’. Differences in ECG characteristics between genders, ethnic background, and type of sports was investigated. Additionally, factors associated with the ECG characteristics were assessed using multiple logistic regression. Majority of Malaysian national athletes had physiological adaptation ECG changes (61%). The most frequent changes were early repolarization, sinus bradycardia and isolated left ventricular hypertrophy. We found significantly higher prevalence of physiological adaptation changes among men (÷2(2,371) = 18.9; p = 0.001) and athletes of Chinese ethnicity (both genders) (÷2(2,356) = 13.8; p = 0.002). Factors associated with physiological ECG changes were men (OR=2.67; 95% CI= 1.68, 4.27; p<0.001) and Chinese ethnicity (OR=2.92; 95% CI=1.68, 4.27; p=0.039). Most athletes had physiological adaptation ECG changes which were significantly associated with male gender and Chinese ethnicity. This information would facilitate the development of a specific guideline in interpreting ECG among Malaysian athletes.

Management Boards and Indonesia's Company Innovation Performance

This study aims to investigate the influence of the management board's characteristics on company innovation performance. Management board characteristics are female in the management board, education background, and Chinese ethnicity in the management board. Resources dependency theory is applied to understand the research phenomena. Using 109 companies listed in the Indonesian stock market, multivariate regression analysis was employed. This study also employed five control variables: family ownership, foreign ownership, company profitability, company leverage, and company size. The result shows that female in management board is negatively related to innovation performance. Besides, family ownership, company profitability, company leverage, and company size positively affect innovative performance.

Prevalence and Predictors of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Malaysian Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Without Prior Known Cardiovascular Disease

Objective: Existing data showed that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is common in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, most of the studies included diabetic patients who have prior cardiovascular disease, which might be the compounding factor for ventricular dysfunction. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in an Asian population with T2DM without prior cardiovascular disease using the latest recommended echocardiographic assessment for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.Design and Participants: This is a cross-sectional study in which eligible patients with T2DM without history of coronary artery disease, heart failure, or valvular heart disease were recruited. Demographic data, diabetic control, comorbidities, microvascular/macrovascular complications, and medications prescribed were recorded. Venous blood was sent to test for B-type natriuretic peptide, and transthoracic echocardiography was performed to assess left ventricular dysfunction.Setting: This study was performed in a tertiary healthcare center located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Results: Of the 301 patients, 83.1% have had T2DM for &gt;10 years, with 45.8% being poorly controlled. Comorbidities include hypertension (77.1%), hyperlipidemia (91.0%), and pre-obesity/obesity (72.9%). Majority had absence of microvascular (albuminuria, retinopathy, and neuropathy) and macrovascular (peripheral vascular disease and stroke) complications. None had raised B-type natriuretic peptide levels, and 93.7% had no symptoms of heart failure. On echocardiographic assessment, 70.1% had left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, and 90.5% had Grade 1/mild severity. Age, ethnicity, insulin therapy, presence of hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were significantly associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Older T2DM patients of Chinese ethnicity and on insulin are about two times more likely to develop left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of asymptomatic left ventricular diastolic dysfunction among patients with T2DM without prior known cardiovascular disease. Older age, insulin therapy, and Chinese ethnicity were risk factors for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in T2DM.

Internet Addiction and Its Associated Factors among School-going Adolescents in Malaysia

Introduction: Internet usage has changed the way adolescents socialize. This study aims to determine the determinants of internet addiction among school-going adolescents in Malaysia. Methodology: This study was a cross-sectional study involving 27,455 school-going adolescents from 212 selected schools in Malaysia, as part of the 2017 National Health and Morbidity Survey that implemented a two-stage stratified cluster sampling design. Data collection via a self-administered questionnaire was conducted from March till May 2017. Results: Overall, 8,049 (29.0%) school-going adolescents had internet addiction. Internet addiction was positively associated with male (odds ratio, OR [95% confidence interval, CI] = 1.20 [1.08,1.34]) compared to female, Chinese ethnicity (1.67 [1.12,2.48]) compared to other ethnicity, feeling loneliness (1.37 [1.20,1.57]) compared to never feel lonely, unable to sleep due to worrying of something (1.40 [1.17,1.67]) compared to able to sleep, insufficient parental supervision (1.30 [1.14,1.48]) compared to sufficient parental supervision, depression (1.67 [1.48,1.89]) compared to no depression, anxiety (2.12 [1.95,2.30]) compared to no anxiety and stress (2.26 [1.96,2.61]) compared to no stress. The odds of having internet addiction increase from Form 2 (1.51 [1.28,1.78]), Form 3 (2.37 [2.01,2.80]), Form 4 (2.60 [1.76,3.85]) to Form 5 adolescents (2.96 [1.98,4.41]) compared to Form 1 adolescents. Conclusion: Our results suggest that being a male, of Chinese ethnicity, higher form level, feeling loneliness, unable to sleep due to worrying of something, insufficient parental supervision, depression, anxiety and stress were positively associated with internet addiction among school-going adolescents. Keywords: Internet addiction – public health – adolescents – NHMS - Malaysia

Anthropometric accuracy of three-dimensional average faces compared to conventional facial measurements

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the accuracy of average faces constructed by different methods. Original three-dimensional facial images of 26 adults in Chinese ethnicity were imported into Di3DView and MorphAnalyser for image processing. Six average faces (Ave_D15, Ave_D24, Ave_MG15, Ave_MG24, Ave_MO15, Ave_MO24) were constructed using “surface-based registration” method with different number of landmarks and template meshes. Topographic analysis was performed, and the accuracy of six average faces was assessed by linear and angular parameters in correspondence with arithmetic means calculated from individual original images. Among the six average faces constructed by the two systems, Ave_MG15 had the highest accuracy in comparison with the conventional method, while Ave_D15 had the least accuracy. Other average faces were comparable regarding the number of discrepant parameters with clinical significance. However, marginal and non-registered areas were the most inaccurate regions using Di3DView. For MorphAnalyser, the type of template mesh had an effect on the accuracy of the final 3D average face, but additional landmarks did not improve the accuracy. This study highlights the importance of validating software packages and determining the degree of accuracy, as well as the variables which may affect the result.

Profil Dehabilitasi Pasien Kusta di Rumah Sakit Kusta Alverno Singkawang: Studi Pendahuluan

Abstrak Kusta dapat menyebabkan disabilitas permanen yang memengaruhi fisik dan psikis pasien. Stigmadiri dan stigma sosial menyebabkan pasien mengalami dehabilitasi yang dapat menurunkan kualitashidup penyandangnya. Penelitian ini merupakan studi pendahuluan yang bertujuan untuk mendapatkanprofil dehabilitasi pasien kusta termasuk orang yang pernah mengalami kusta (OYPMK). Penelitian inimenggunakan metode potong lintang untuk menilai profil dehabilitasi pasien kusta dan OYPMK menggunakanskala dehabilitasi Anandaraj di RS Kusta Alverno Singkawang, bulan Juli 2019. Delapan puluh delapan subjekdiikutkan dalam penelitian ini. Analisis data dilakukan menggunakan uji Mann Whitney untuk menilai hubungantipe kusta dan derajat dehabilitasi, serta uji Kruskal Wallis untuk melihat hubungan antara reaksi kusta danderajat disabilitas terhadap skala dehabilitasi. Analisis dilakukan menggunakan perangkat lunak SPSS formac. Subjek terbanyak adalah laki-laki, usia produktif, bekerja sebagai petani, berpenghasilan kurang dari 1,5juta per bulan, tidak bersekolah, sudah menikah, etnis Tionghoa, tinggal di dalam rumah yang padat, memilikikeluarga serumah yang menderita kusta, terdiagnosis kusta tipe multibasiler, pernah mengalami reaksi dantelah menyelesaikan pengobatan. Dari penelitian ini didapatkan bahwa tipe kusta dan disabilitas derajat noldan dua berhubungan dengan skala dehabilitasi Anandaraj (p<0.05). Stigma terhadap kusta hingga kinimerupakan masalah yang belum dapat diatasi. Stigma dan disabilitas akibat kusta berperan penting terhadapkejadian dehabilitasi yang menyebabkan penurunan kualitas hidup pasien kusta dan OYPMK. Kata kunci: Anandaraj, dehabilitasi, kusta, Singkawang. Dehabilitation Profile of Leprosy Patients in Alverno Singkawang Hospital: a Preliminary Study Abstract Leprosy causes permanent disability that affects both physical and psychological aspect of the patient.Self-stigma and social stigma cause dehabilitation; therefore, reducing the quality of life of the patients. Thisresearch is a preliminary study to assess the dehabilitation profile of leprosy patients, including people whohave had leprosy (OYPMK). A cross-sectional method was used to assess the dehabilitation scale of leprosypatients in Alverno Leprosy Hospital, Singkawang, using the Anandaraj dehabilitation scale. Eighty-eightsubjects were included in the analysis. Mann-Whitney test was done to analyze the association betweentype of leprosy and dehabilitation scale, and Kruskal Wallis test was done to analyze the association betweenleprosy reaction and grade of disability with dehabilitation scale. Most subjects are male, productive age,farmers, less than 1.5 million wages per month, uneducated, married, Chinese ethnicity, living in a crowdedhouse, had a family with leprosy, diagnosed with multibacillary leprosy, had an episode of leprosy reaction danreleased from treatment. Type of leprosy and WHO disability grade 0 and 2 are related to the dehabilitationscale. Leprosy stigmatization is still a worrisome problem. Together with the disability, stigmatization affectsthe dehabilitation scale of leprosy patients leading to reduced quality of life. Keywords: Anandaraj, dehabilitation, leprosy, Singkawang.

Association of WNT-1 Inducible Signaling Pathway Protein-1 (WISP1) Genetic Polymorphisms with the Risk of Gastric Cancer in Guangxi Chinese

BackgroundTo date, no study has investigated the association of the WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP1) polymorphisms with susceptibility to gastric cancer. Therefore, we conducted this study to explore their relation.Methods204 gastric cancer patients and 227 normal controls were enrolled. The WISP1 SNPs rs2929973, rs7843546 and rs10956697 were selected, and their genotypic distributions were determined through PCR-RFLPResultsIn overall, we could not identify a significant association between WISP1 SNP rs2929973, rs7843546 and rs10956697) and gastric cancer risk. However, subgroup analysis demonstrated that the presence of the rs7843546 T allele was associated with a significantly decreased risk of gastric cancer in Han Chinese ethnicity (CT vs. CC: OR= 0.33, 95%CI = 0.14-0.78; TT vs. CC: OR = 0.29, 95%CI = 0.11-0.76; dominant model CT+TT vs. CC: OR = 0.32, 95%CI = 0.14-0.74). In addition, patients with the rs7843546 TT genotype were around one-third as 0.34 likely (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.14-0.84) than those with the CC genotype to develop stage I/II gastric cancer. Furthermore, individuals ≥50 years old who carried the rs10956697 AC genotype represented significantly decreased risk for gastric cancer (AC vs. CC: OR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.35-0.98). Smokers with the rs10956697 AC and AC+AA genotype were around one-third likely to develop gastric cancer (OR = 0.28, 95% CI= 0.09-0.82 and OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.12-0.89, respectively)ConclusionsWISP1 SNPs rs7843546 and rs10956697 polymorphisms were the first time discovered to reduce the susceptibility to gastric cancer in different subgroup in Guangxi Chinese.

Rekonstruksi Identitas Naratif Ricoeurian Etnis Tionghoa melalui Ingatan Kudus Volfian demi Indonesia yang lebih Baik

In Indonesia’s history as a nation, Chinese ethnicity has been victimised, especially during the transitions of power occured in this nation. Among others, the incidents are the 1965 tragedy which signifies transition from “Orde Lama” to “Orde Baru”, and the May 1998 riot which signifies transition of power from “Orde Baru” to Reformation Order. Referring to the incidents, this article analyses the roots of the problem and sees the possibilities to prevent them to happen again. The author of this article presents an argument and a suggestion as follows. First, Chinese ethnicity has become the victim because of a ‘dark’ narration that constructs a narrative identity of the ethnicity as a victim or a wounded self—this dark narration seems to justify the discriminative actions directed to the Chinese individuals. Second, one can respond to this problem by reconstructing a Ricoeurian narrative identity as the form and a Volfian sacred memory as the content, in order to transform the Chinesse narrative identity from a victim or a wounded self into a survivor or a healing self.

Dietary Riboflavin Intake and Riboflavin Status in Young Adult Women Living in Metro Vancouver, Canada

ABSTRACT Background Nutrition surveys suggest that &lt;10% of Canadian adults have inadequate riboflavin intakes. However, biochemical riboflavin deficiency [erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRac) ≥1.40] has been reported in 41% of young adult women living in Metro Vancouver. Canadian Chinese ethnicity comprise &gt;25% of Vancouver's population and are postulated to have poorer riboflavin status than those of European ethnicity because they could be less likely to consume dairy products and fortified wheat. Objectives The objectives of this study were to determine dietary riboflavin intake and food sources, and to assess the association between riboflavin intake and status in young women of European (n = 107) and Chinese (n = 91) ethnicities living in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted in women (aged 19–45 y). Women were healthy, not pregnant or breastfeeding, of European or Chinese ethnicities, and not taking riboflavin-containing supplements for the past 4 mo. Dietary riboflavin intake was assessed using the past-year Diet History Questionnaire II, and riboflavin status (EGRac) was measured in fasting venous blood samples. Results Only 7% of participants had dietary riboflavin intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement (0.9 mg/d), but 40% of women had biochemical riboflavin deficiency (EGRac ≥1.40). Although more Canadian women of European ethnicity than Chinese ethnicity had biochemical riboflavin deficiency (46% and 34%; P &lt; 0.001), median dietary riboflavin intake did not differ (1.73 and 1.82 mg/d; P = 0.587). Dairy products and vegetables contributed the most to riboflavin intake. Energy-adjusted dietary riboflavin intake was inversely associated with EGRac (B = −0.04, 95% CI: −0.07, −0.01). However, after further adjustment the relation was not significant. Conclusions Overall, women of reproductive age living in Metro Vancouver, Canada, had a low prevalence of inadequate dietary riboflavin intake despite the high prevalence of apparent biochemical riboflavin deficiency.

Gender difference in quality of life (QoL) among outpatients with schizophrenia in a tertiary care setting

Background Patients with mental illness report lower quality of life (QoL) compared to the general population. Prior research has found several differences in clinical features and experiences of male and female patients with schizophrenia. Given these differences, it is also important to explore if there are any gender differences in terms of their QoL. This study aimed to investigate differences in QoL between and within each gender among outpatients with schizophrenia in Singapore. Methods A total of 140 outpatients were recruited through convenience sampling at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. QoL was measured using the brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) which consists of four domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. QoL scores of males and females were compared using independent t-tests, and multiple linear regressions were used to examine sociodemographic correlates of QoL in the overall sample and within each gender. Results There was no significant difference in QoL domain scores between genders. Among males, Indian ethnicity (versus Chinese ethnicity) was positively associated with physical health (β=3.03, p=0.018) while males having Technical Education/ Diploma/ A level education (versus Degree and above) were positively associated with social relationships domain (β=2.46, p=0.047). Among females, Malay ethnicity (versus Chinese ethnicity) was positively associated with physical health (β=1.95, p=0.026) psychological health (β=3.21, p=0.001) social relationships (β=2.17, p=0.048) and environment (β=2.69, p=0.006) domains, while females who were separated/divorced (versus single) were inversely associated with psychological health (β=− 2.80, p=0.044) and social relationships domains (β=− 4.33, p=0.011). Females who had Secondary and below education (versus Degree and above) were inversely associated with social relationships (β=− 2.29, p=0.028) and environment domains (β=− 1.79, p=0.048). Conclusions The findings show the importance of treatments targeting QoL to attend to both the clinical features of the illness as well patient’s sociodemographic characteristics.