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PubMed1997

Social class, gender and intrahousehold food allocations to children in South Asia.

In the 1980s research on gender-biased food distribution to children within the household in South Asia yielded important findings. Many studies report evidence of substantial discrimination against daughters, but others do not. This paper reviews research of the 1980s with attention to social differentiation in gender bias. My hypothesis is that different results concerning gender bias in intrahousehold allocations are expectable, given variations in gender hierarchy throughout South Asia. Results of the review indicate that seemingly "contradictory" results are often accurate reflections of social status differences within South Asia that create varying female health and nutritional outcomes.

Child↗
PubMed2000

Rapid assessment of drug use and HIV vulnerability in south-east and east Asia.

In an 8-week period in late 1997, an assessment of the situation of drug use and HIV vulnerability in east and south-east Asia was carried out for the United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS). It served to assist UNAIDS' Asia-Pacific team in setting priorities for action at a regional level, it having been realised that epidemics of HIV among injecting drug users (IDUs) were playing an important role in the development of the AIDS epidemic in Asia at both country and regional levels. Though essentially a desk exercise, contact with the extensive membership of the Asian Harm Reduction Network allowed a deeper and more efficient investigation than would otherwise have been possible, with access to key informants and 'grey' literature. The assessment found a situation of massive epidemics of HIV among IDUs either occurring, or about to occur, in most Asian countries; and parlous or non-existent public health responses to these problems in a context void of policy. As well as providing evidence to guide UNAIDS, and useful for advocacy by a wide range of people, the process of the situation assessment also generated interest and in some cases activity on the part of many individuals and institutions throughout the region. It is hoped that this will be the beginning of an ongoing monitoring of the situation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Postoperative venous thromboembolism in Asia: a critical appraisal of its incidence.

OBJECTIVES: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has historically been perceived to be a rare disorder in Asia. However, new evidence has emerged recently that contradicts this perception. The question of routine VTE prophylaxis has been hotly debated in Asia due to disagreement on its incidence. We reviewed and analysed studies on postoperative VTE in Asian patients to determine if the condition was indeed rare and if the routine prophylactic measures as recommended by internationally accepted guidelines should be adopted in Asia. METHODS: A review of published reports, from 1966 to December 2002, on deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in the Asian population was made. A literature search of studies published in English was conducted via a detailed MEDLINE search. Studies had to attain a minimum inclusion and quality criteria to be accepted for the review, including the diagnostic modality used for the diagnosis of VTE. The appraisal was carried out independently and accepted by at least two of the three authors. The study population was classified into orthopaedic and general surgical/colorectal groups. RESULTS: Twelve orthopaedic publications reviewed revealed an incidence of postoperative DVT of 10% to 63%. Six general and colorectal surgical publications reported an incidence of DVT ranging from 3% to 28%. The incidence was slightly lower than the reported incidence of 40% to 80% following orthopaedic surgery and 28% to 44% following general surgical operations in studies reporting on Caucasian populations. CONCLUSION: While there is a wide variation in the incidence of DVT and VTE as reported in the Asian population, these diseases are by no means rare. The wide variation could be due to the study designs, heterogeneity of the procedures performed and the application of different diagnostic criteria. Results based on prospective studies with objective diagnostic criteria confirm the incidence of VTE as common. Routine chemoprophylaxis must be seriously considered in high-risk patients.

Female↗
PubMed2005

Patterns of spread and persistence of foot-and-mouth disease types A, O and Asia-1 in Turkey: a meta-population approach.

Despite significant control efforts, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) persists in Turkey, and new strains of serotypes A, O and Asia-1 are periodically reported to enter the country from the east. The status of FMD in Turkey is important regionally because the country forms a natural bridge between Asia where the disease is endemic, and Europe which has disease-free status. This study analysed spatial and temporal patterns of FMD occurrence in Turkey to explore factors associated with the disease's persistence and spread. Annual records of FMD distribution in Turkish provinces throughout 1990-2002, grouped by serotype (O, A and Asia 1), were analysed using geostatistical techniques to explore their spatial and temporal patterns. A meta-population model was used to test how disease status, expressed in terms of presence/absence, extinction, and colonization, and measured at the province level throughout the periods 1990-1996 and 1997 2002, could be predicted using province-level data on: ruminant livestock numbers; meat production-demand discrepancy (as a surrogate measure of animal and animal products marketing, i.e. long-distance contagion through the traffic of mainly live animals to urban centres); and the disease prevalence distribution as recorded for the previous year. A drastic overall reduction in FMD occurrence was observed from the period 1990-1996 to 1997-2002 when the disease was shown to retract into persistence islands. FMD occurrence was associated with host abundance, short distance contagion from adjacent provinces, and meat production-demand discrepancies. With FMD retracting into identified provinces, a shift in predictors of FMD occurrence was observed with a lower contribution of short-distance contagion, and a relatively higher association with meat production-demand discrepancies leading to live animal transport over long distances, and hence presenting opportunities for identifying critical-control points. The pattern of persistence differed according to serotype groups and is discussed in relation to their differential affinity to cattle and small ruminant hosts.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Communication beliefs about youth and old age in Asia and Canada.

Two cross-cultural studies compared beliefs in Asia and Canada about communication in later life. With an expanded version of the Language in Adulthood Questionnaire, respondents rated a young or old adult target on communication skills selected to elicit both negative and positive stereotypes. Chinese, Chinese-Canadian, and Canadian participants were compared in Study 1 while younger and older respondents from South Korea and Canada were contrasted in Study 2. All groups showed negative beliefs about hearing and memory in old age. Positive communication beliefs were also evident for empathy, storytelling and social skills. Participants in Asia showed less stereotyping overall, for both negative and positive beliefs. Significant age interactions in Study 2 reflected positive communication beliefs only for the older participants. In line with recent investigations of the multidimensional impact of Eastern traditions, greater positivity toward older adults was not observed in Asia. This work highlights the importance of assessing both positive and negative age beliefs in cross-cultural comparisons.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The coming epidemic: hypertension in rural Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia.

Eastern Europe is experiencing an epidemic of cardiovascular disease far outpacing rates in Western Europe. This epidemic was heralded by a precipitous rise in hypertension prevalence. The former Soviet states of Central Asia may be facing a similar epidemic. In order to access this threat, we performed a retrospective analysis of data generated during humanitarian medical visits to two villages in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 39%. Hypertension was much more common among men than women (46 vs 33%, respectively). In addition, the rise in blood pressure with age was striking, surpassing the experience in Western countries. This epidemic of hypertension may herald a coming epidemic of cardiovascular disease in Central Asia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Recovery of bladder function in patients with acute spinal cord injury: significance of ASIA scores and somatosensory evoked potentials.

The significance of the ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) scores and SSEP (somatosensory evoked potentials) recordings in predicting the recovery of bladder function was evaluated in 70 patients with acute, traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The patients were examined following admission to the rehabilitation centre (mean 10 days post-trauma) both clinically by the ASIA scores and electrophysiologically by tibial and pudendal SSEP recordings. The results of the initial examinations were related to the degree of recovery of bladder function of the patients assessed by urodynamic examination at the end of the rehabilitation programme (at least 6 months post-trauma). The recovery of somatic nerve function (external urethral sphincter function) involved in bladder function was correlated to both the initial ASIA scores and SSEP recordings (Spearman correlation, P < 0.001). The latter parameters, however, were not related to the outcome of autonomic nerve function (eg detrusor vesicae function) (Spearman correlation, P = 0.1). Therefore, the initial clinical and electrophysiological examinations are of value in assessment of the degree to which the patient will recover somatic nervous control of bladder function. However, these examinations are not indicative of urodynamic impairment. Therefore, urodynamic examination should be mandatory for the diagnostic assessment and therapeutical approach of bladder dysfunction in patients with acute SCI.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Asia-Pacific collaboration on coronary heart disease risk factor intervention: study design and methods.

BACKGROUND: Age-adjusted death rates for coronary heart disease (CHD) have been decreasing in populations of developed countries. At the same time, CHD in the Asia-Pacific region appears to be increasing in parallel with the 'Westernisation' of diet and lifestyle. More epidemiological information is needed from the Asia-Pacific region in order to be able to predict trends in CHD and to plan resources for treatment. In this paper we outline the study design of a survey of coronary heart disease risk factors in Asia-Pacific countries. AIMS: To ascertain and compare in 10 countries: (i) rates of measurement of risk factors; (ii) levels of risk factors, and (iii) management of risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective survey was conducted in 180 randomly selected hospitals using a population-weighted sampling frame. Participating countries were Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Data covered a 6-month period from the patient's admission to hospital with myocardial infarction or unstable angina. Data included measures of hypertension, smoking, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and family history of coronary disease. The study design incorporated rigorous quality-assurance methods to ensure reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The study will provide data comparable to those from studies in Europe and the USA. Together, these studies will provide an international perspective on coronary risk factors.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Stimulation of bacteriophage T4 middle transcription by the T4 proteins MotA and AsiA occurs at two distinct steps in the transcription cycle.

The bacteriophage T4 encodes proteins that are responsible for tightly regulating mRNA synthesis throughout phage development in Escherichia coli. The three classes of T4 promoters (early, middle, and late) are utilized sequentially by the host RNA polymerase as a result of phage-induced modifications. One such modification is the tight binding of the T4 AsiA protein to the sigma70 subunit of the RNA polymerase. This interaction is pivotal for the transition between T4 early and middle transcription, since it both inhibits recognition of host and T4 early promoters and stimulates T4 middle mode synthesis. The activation of T4 middle transcription also requires the T4 MotA protein, bound specifically to its recognition sequence, the "Mot box," which is centered at position -30 of these promoters. Accordingly, the two T4 proteins working in concert are sufficient to effectively switch the transcription specificity of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme. Herein, we investigate the mechanism of transcription activation and report that, while the presence of MotA and AsiA increases the initial recruitment of RNA polymerase to a T4 middle promoter, it does not alter the intrinsic stability of the discrete complexes formed. In addition, we have characterized the RNA polymerase-promoter species by UV laser footprinting and followed their evolution from open into initiating complexes. These data, combined with in vitro transcription assays, indicate that AsiA and MotA facilitate promoter escape, thereby stimulating the production of full-length transcripts.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Asia regional meeting of the International Working Group for the Harmonization of Dementia Drug Guidelines: meeting report.

This meeting successfully catalyzed the establishment of a new working alliance between clinical dementia researches in Asia and identified common goals for the group to attain. The progress toward achieving these goals will be examined at the next Asia regional meeting, which is being planned for October 2002 in Beijing, China. This new regional working group will work with the IWG to overcome the existing methodological and regulatory obstacles impeding dementia treatment trials in Asia.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Transcriptional takeover by sigma appropriation: remodelling of the sigma70 subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase by the bacteriophage T4 activator MotA and co-activator AsiA.

Activation of bacteriophage T4 middle promoters, which occurs about 1 min after infection, uses two phage-encoded factors that change the promoter specificity of the host RNA polymerase. These phage factors, the MotA activator and the AsiA co-activator, interact with the sigma(70) specificity subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase, which normally contacts the -10 and -35 regions of host promoter DNA. Like host promoters, T4 middle promoters have a good match to the canonical sigma(70) DNA element located in the -10 region. However, instead of the sigma(70) DNA recognition element in the promoter's -35 region, they have a 9 bp sequence (a MotA box) centred at -30, which is bound by MotA. Recent work has begun to provide information about the MotA/AsiA system at a detailed molecular level. Accumulated evidence suggests that the presence of MotA and AsiA reconfigures protein-DNA contacts in the upstream promoter sequences, without significantly affecting the contacts of sigma(70) with the -10 region. This type of activation, which is called 'sigma appropriation', is fundamentally different from other well-characterized models of prokaryotic activation in which an activator frequently serves to force sigma(70) to contact a less than ideal -35 DNA element. This review summarizes the interactions of AsiA and MotA with sigma(70), and discusses how these interactions accomplish the switch to T4 middle promoters by inhibiting the typical contacts of the C-terminal region of sigma(70), region 4, with the host -35 DNA element and with other subunits of polymerase.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed1995

Genetic Diversity of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in Asia.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism and virulence analyses were used to evaluate the population structure of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the rice bacterial blight pathogen, from several rice-growing countries in Asia. Two DNA sequences from X. oryzae pv. oryzae, IS1112, an insertion sequence, and avrXa10, a member of a family of avirulence genes, were used as probes to analyze the genomes of 308 strains of X. oryzae pv. oryzae collected from China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, and the Philippines. On the basis of the consensus of three clustering statistics, the collection formed five clusters. Genetic distances within the five clusters ranged from 0.16 to 0.51, and distances between clusters ranged from 0.48 to 0.64. Three of the five clusters consisted of strains from a single country. Strains within two clusters, however, were found in more than one country, suggesting patterns of movement of the pathogen. The pathotype of X. oryzae pv. oryzae was determined for 226 strains by inoculating five rice differential cultivars. More than one pathotype was associated with each cluster; however, some pathotypes were associated with only one cluster. Most strains from South Asia (Nepal and India) were virulent to cultivars containing the bacterial blight resistance gene xa-5, while most strains from other countries were avirulent to xa-5. The regional differentiation of clusters of X. oryzae pv. oryzae in Asia and the association of some pathotypes of X. oryzae pv. oryzae with single clusters suggested that strategies that target regional resistance breeding and gene deployment are feasible.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Substitutions in bacteriophage T4 AsiA and Escherichia coli sigma(70) that suppress T4 motA activation mutations.

Bacteriophage T4 middle-mode transcription requires two phage-encoded proteins, the MotA transcription factor and AsiA coactivator, along with Escherichia coli RNA polymerase holoenzyme containing the sigma(70) subunit. A motA positive control (pc) mutant, motA-pc1, was used to select for suppressor mutations that alter other proteins in the transcription complex. Separate genetic selections isolated two AsiA mutants (S22F and Q51E) and five sigma(70) mutants (Y571C, Y571H, D570N, L595P, and S604P). All seven suppressor mutants gave partial suppressor phenotypes in vivo as judged by plaque morphology and burst size measurements. The S22F mutant AsiA protein and glutathione S-transferase fusions of the five mutant sigma(70) proteins were purified. All of these mutant proteins allowed normal levels of in vitro transcription when tested with wild-type MotA protein, but they failed to suppress the mutant MotA-pc1 protein in the same assay. The sigma(70) substitutions affected the 4.2 region, which binds the -35 sequence of E. coli promoters. In the presence of E. coli RNA polymerase without T4 proteins, the L595P and S604P substitutions greatly decreased transcription from standard E. coli promoters. This defect could not be explained solely by a disruption in -35 recognition since similar results were obtained with extended -10 promoters. The generalized transcriptional defect of these two mutants correlated with a defect in binding to core RNA polymerase, as judged by immunoprecipitation analysis. The L595P mutant, which was the most defective for in vitro transcription, failed to support E. coli growth.

Bacteriophage T4↗
PubMed1985

Prevalence of antibody to human calicivirus in Japan and Southeast Asia determined by radioimmunoassay.

Three hundred ninety single sera from adults in Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea were tested for antibodies to human calicivirus (HCV) by a radioimmunoassay blocking test. A high prevalence of antibodies was observed in samples collected in Japan and Southeast Asia. Of 240 serum specimens collected from five districts in Japan, 209 (87.1%) were positive for HCV antibodies. No striking difference in the prevalence of the antibody was seen among those districts. In sera collected in Southeast Asia, 84.0% (126 of 150) had antibodies to HCV (70% [35 of 50] in Singapore, 88% [44 of 50] in Indonesia, and 94% [47 of 50] in Papua New Guinea). These results indicate that HCV is a common infectious agent in Japan and Southeast Asia.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Prenatal diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa: first successful trial in Asia.

Prenatal diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) using fetal skin biopsy specimens has been successfully performed in Europe and America, but this technique has not previously been attempted in Asia. For the first time in Asia, we attempted to make a prenatal diagnosis of EB in a high-risk fetus by fetal skin biopsy. A skin biopsy was obtained from the fetus at risk of gravis type junctional epidermolysis bullosa of Herlitz. The biopsy specimen was studied by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry using various monoclonal antibodies against the epidermal basement membrane zone (BMZ). There were no ultrastructural abnormalities in the BMZ, including the hemidesmosomes. Indirect immunofluorescence showed normal expression of GB3 antigen. The pregnancy was continued, and a normal, healthy infant was born. The prenatal diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa is now available in Tokyo. This clinical diagnostic service is available to families from various parts of Asia.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed2006

Improving GHG inventories by regional information exchange: a report from Asia.

BACKGROUND: The Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are required to develop and report a national inventory of greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol. In the Asia region, "Workshops on Greenhouse Gas Inventories in Asia (WGIA)" have been organised annually since 2003 under the support of the government of Japan. WGIAs promote information exchange in the region to support countries' efforts to improve the quality of greenhouse gas inventories. This paper reports the major outcomes of the WGIAs and discusses the key aspects of information exchange in the region for the improvement of inventories. RESULTS: The major outcomes of WGIAs intended to help countries improve GHG inventories, can be summarised as follows: (1) identification of common issues and possible solutions by sector, (2) reporting country inventory practices, and (3) verification of the UNFCCC reporting requirements. CONCLUSION: The workshops provided the opportunity for countries to share common issues and constraints pertinent to GHG inventories and to exchange information regarding possible solutions for those issues based on their own experience. The relevance of information exchange is determined due to emission sources, emitting mechanisms from sources, and technologies used. Information exchange about emission sources that are unique to Asia, like those of the agriculture sector, contributes significantly to the accumulation of knowledge at the regional and global levels. Enabling countries to verify their national circumstances with the reporting requirements under UNFCCC is also an essential part of the WGIA information exchange activities.

Editorial↗
PubMed2005

Analysis of shipboard aerosol optical thickness measurements from multiple sunphotometers aboard the R/V Ronald H. Brown during the Aerosol Characterization Experiment--Asia.

Marine sunphotometer measurements collected aboard the R/V Ronald H. Brown during the Aerosol Characterization Experiment-Asia (ACE-Asia) are used to evaluate the ability of complementary instrumentation to obtain the best possible estimates of aerosol optical thickness and Angstrom exponent from ships at sea. A wide range of aerosol conditions, including clean maritime conditions and highly polluted coastal environments, were encountered during the ACE-Asia cruise. The results of this study suggest that shipboard hand-held sunphotometers and fast-rotating shadow-band radiometers (FRSRs) yield similar measurements and uncertainties if proper measurement protocols are used and if the instruments are properly calibrated. The automated FRSR has significantly better temporal resolution (2 min) than the hand-held sunphotometers when standard measurement protocols are used, so it more faithfully represents the variability of the local aerosol structure in polluted regions. Conversely, results suggest that the hand-held sunphotometers may perform better in clean, maritime air masses for unknown reasons. Results also show that the statistical distribution of the Angstrom exponent measurements is different when the distributions from hand-held sunphotometers are compared with those from the FRSR and that the differences may arise from a combination of factors.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Networking grassroots efforts to improve safety and health in informal economy workplaces in Asia.

Many workers in Asia are in the informal economy. They often work in substandard conditions, exposed to hazards in the workplace. Learning from the recent successes of participatory training programmes to improve safety and health in Asia, the ILO has strengthened its partnership efforts with local people to improve safety and health of informal economy workplaces. The target groups were: (1) home workplaces in Cambodia and Thailand, (2) salt fields and fishing villages in Cambodia where many young workers are working, and (3) small construction sites in Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Thailand and Vietnam. The walk-through survey results showed that the workers and owners in the target informal economy workplaces had the strong will to improve safety and health at their own initiatives and needed practical support. In the participatory, action-oriented training workshops carried out, the participated workers and owners were able to identify their priority safety and health actions. Commonly identified were clear and safe transport ways, safer handling of hazardous substances, basic welfare needs such as drinking water and sanitary toilets, and work posture. The follow-up visits confirmed that many of the proposed actions were actually taken by using low-cost available materials. These positive changes were possible by applying the participatory training tools such as illustrated checklists and extensive use of photographs showing local good examples and placing emphasis on facilitator roles of trainers. In conclusion, the target informal economy workplaces in Asia made positive changes in safety and health through the participatory, action-oriented training focusing on local initiative and low-cost improvement measures. Local network support mechanisms to share lessons from good practices played essential roles in encouraging the voluntary implementation of practical improvement actions. It is important to increase our joint efforts to reach more informal economy workplaces in industrially developing countries and provide practical support measures focusing on local self-help initiatives.

Cambodia↗