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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Sequence comparison of the capsid region of hepatitis E viruses isolated from Myanmar and China.

Hepatitis E viruses (HEVs) were isolated during epidemics, one from Myanmar (formerly called Burma) and one from China and were partially sequenced. Another HEV Myanmar strain from sporadic hepatitis was previously sequenced by us. A cDNA sequence comparison was performed among them in the 3'-terminal region, approximately 750-base long. This region contained at least two immunological epitopes and was considered to correspond to the structural protein. The nucleotide sequence identity was 97.2% between the two Myanmar strains and 93.3 and 92.5% between the two Myanmar and the China strain. The deduced amino acid sequence identity ranged from 98.4 to 100.0% among the three strains. Thus this segment was well conserved on the amino acid level among the different strains isolated from these two Asian countries, although the China strain diverged more from the Myanmar strains on the nucleotide sequence level. This data may provide important information for the development of a vaccine and for identification of the virological link between different geographical locations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Male cross-gender behavior in Myanmar (Burma): a description of the acault.

Cross-gender behavior in Myanmar (formerly Burma) is reported. Western concepts of transsexualism, gynemimesis, transvestism, and homosexuality are not distinct categories by the Burmese. Males with cross-gender behavior are referred to as acaults. Although Myanmar is a profoundly Buddhist society, the people still have strong animistic beliefs with an elaborate system of 37 nats (spirit gods). One of these nats is a female named Manguedon who may take possession of males and impart femininity on them. The cross-gender status of the acaults is sanctioned by their spiritual marriage to Manguedon. The acaults, while not envied, are respected for their roles as shamans and seers.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Sequence and gene structure of the hepatitis E virus isolated from Myanmar.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a causative agent of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis. Hepatitis E occurs not only in sporadic forms but also in epidemic outbreaks in the developing world. We have revealed the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of full cDNA of HEV isolated from sporadic hepatitis E of Myanmar. The genome is 7194 nucleotides long, followed by a poly(A) tail, and has three open reading frames. The nonstructural gene is located in the 5' terminus, while the structural gene is situated in the 3' terminus. Our HEV strain has 98.5% nucleic acid identity with the HEV strain cloned by workers at Genelabs Incorporated from Myanmar. The difference is point nucleotide substitutions. There is a high degree of nucleotide relatedness among HEVs isolated from the same geographical location.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of a simple indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of immunoglobulin M antibody in serum from patients following an outbreak of chikungunya virus infection in Yangon, Myanmar.

During 1984, 1548 children were admitted to the Yangon [Rangoon] Children's Hospital in Myanmar [Burma] with haemorrhagic fever. No evidence of recent dengue infection was found in 577 of the 803 children from whom paired sera were obtained, raising the possibility of reappearance of Chikungunya virus infection in Myanmar. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of anti-Chikungunya virus immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody was prepared and standardized using only reagents which are commercially available or which could be prepared without the use of sophisticated equipment. While there was 90% agreement between haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests and the IgM ELISA in the diagnosis of acute Chikungunya virus infections, 12 additional patients with stationary anti-Chikungunya virus HI antibody titres could be identified as having acute Chikungunya infections using the ELISA. Furthermore, the ELISA could identify twice as many patients (31/103) at the time of admission to hospital as the HI test (15/103). There was no false positive IgM reaction with the ELISA which could be attributed to the presence of rheumatoid factor. Using the test, 103 of a sample of 163 children who presented to the Yangon Children's Hospital with fever/haemorrhagic fever were diagnosed as Chikungunya patients, 4 had possible dual Chikungunya and dengue infections, 16 had dengue, 30 had neither Chikungunya nor dengue infections, and a definitive diagnosis could not be made for 10 patients. Routine use of the ELISA would alert authorities to future outbreaks of Chikungunya virus infection and avoid admission to hospital of patients with a non-life-threatening viral disease.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1993

[Serotypes of enteroadherent Escherichia coli exhibiting diffuse pattern of adherence isolated from diarrheal patients and healthy controls in Brazil, Myanmar and Japan].

We tried to detect enteroadherent Escherichia coli exhibiting a diffuse pattern of adherence to HeLa cells from stock strains derived from patients with or without diarrhea in Brazil, Myanmar and Japan (Osaka). Enteroadherent E. coli was found from 16 (23 strains) out of 126 (384 strains) in diarrheal infant cases (12.7%), 26 (29 strains) out of 126 (348 strains) in healthy control cases (20.6%) in Brazil, from 15 (18 strains) out of 221 (542 strains) in diarrheal infant cases (6.8%), 4 (4 strains) out of 87 (212 strains) in healthy control cases (4.6%) in Myanmar. In Japan (Osaka), enteroadherent E. coli was detected from 7 (7 strains) out of 123 (198 strains) in diarrheal cases (5.7%). These results show that enteroadherent E. coli (diffuse) may not be associated with diarrhea. Forty-four (62.9%) out of 70 strains belonged to 19 O serogroups or 21 O:H serotypes. All strains were H antigen serotypable, and 26 strains were found to be nonmotile. The predominant O:H serotypes were O11:H15, O11:H-, O20:H34, O21:H5, O89:H-, O99:H33 and O154:H45. Only one strain belonged to enteropathogenic E. coli serogroup O127.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMed1992

Thalassemia in the outpatient department of the Yangon Children's Hospital in Myanmar: basic hematological values of thalassemia traits.

The present study was conducted in the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Yangon Children's Hospital (YCH) during June to November 1990 to determine the hematological data of 133 Myanmar patients with thalassemia trait who were the parents of patients with known beta-thalassemia major or hemoglobin E (Hb E)/beta-thalassemia. The mean values of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell volume (MCV) were significantly lower than normal controls but the mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was the same as controls. Increased osmotic resistance tested in 0.36% buffered saline was detected in 81-97% of cases depending on the cut-off point. High levels of Hb A2 (> 3.5%) were found in 93% of cases whereas Hb F was increased (> 0.8%) only in 23% of cases. Although the mean red cell count (RBC) was significantly higher than normal, only 79% of thalassemia traits were detected if the RBC count of > 5.0 x 10(12)/1 was taken as the discrimination limit. Other discrimination functions such as MCH/RBC, MCV/RBC, (MCV)2 x MCH x 0.01 and MCV-(RBC/10(12)/1)-(5 x Hb) - 3.4 or - 8.4 were tested for their utility in diagnosing thalassemia traits. All of them were found not to be superior to each of the simple tests (MCV, MCH, Hb A2 or osmotic fragility) in diagnosing thalassemia traits. The one tube osmotic fragility test is a the suitable test to be used in future thalassemia screening programs in Myanmar.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Thalassemia in the outpatient department of the Yangon Children's Hospital in Myanmar: knowledge, attitudes and practice in relation to thalassemia.

A maternal knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) study concerning the nature and prevention of thalassemia was carried out at the Yangon Children's Hospital in Myanmar. The KAP information was collected using a pretested schedule. Only 18 to 28% of the mothers knew at least one of the statements: thalassemia is a genetic disorder; both parents of thalassemic children carry abnormal genes; there is a 25% chance of recurrence in each subsequent pregnancy. Eighty-two per cent of the respondents decided not to have a further pregnancy for fear of recurrence and of these 62% were currently practising contraception. Oral contraception was the most commonly used method (56%). The median scores as well as the percent responses in favor of the three attitude scales relating to limiting thalassemic children, prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy were high. Although there is a need to increase the community awareness of thalassemia in Myanmar, there is a possibility that prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy termination will be accepted for the prevention of thalassemia.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1994

Cryptosporidiosis in Myanmar infants with acute diarrhea.

Cryptosporidiosis has been found in Myanmar for the first time in infants presenting with a mild transient form of acute diarrhea. A total of 203 fecal samples collected from those infants were examined by Kinyoun's acid fast modified method. 3.4% of infants between 2 and 11 months of age were found passing cryptosporidium oocysts. All cases presented with features consistent with findings reported by other authors from developing countries. Cryptosporidium was the sole microorganism isolated. Hence, cryptosporidiosis may be responsible for acute diarrhea in these Myanmar infants.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1994

The use of primaquine in malaria infected patients with red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Myanmar.

32 subjects with Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes, and 31 cases with Plasmodium vivax infection from two military hospitals (Lashio, Mandalay) were treated with quinine 600 mg three times a day for 7 days followed by primaquine 45 mg single dose for gametocytes and 45 mg weekly x 8 weeks for vivax malaria. Although screening of red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) was done prior to primaquine treatment, G6PD deficient subjects were not excluded from the trial. 20 patients hemizygous for mild G6PD deficiency (GdB- variant), 2 patients hemizygous for severe deficiency (Gd-Myanmar variant) completed the trial. No case of acute hemolysis was observed in all 22 patients with two genotypes of red cell G6PD deficiency status. Therefore, a single dose of primaquine 45 mg and/or weekly for 8 weeks is adequate for the treatment of patients with P. falciparum gametocytes and/or P. vivax malaria ignoring these red cell G6PD enzyme deficient variants in Myanmar.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed1993

Family planning: knowledge, attitudes and practice survey in Zigone, Myanmar.

Perhaps the most important finding of this Zigone KAP survey was that about 50.3% (95% CI 46.2-54.2) of the married women of reproductive age were currently practicing modern methods of contraception. For a country like Myanmar, where the government has until recently favored a pronatalist population policy, this is indeed surprising. This 30 cluster survey, designed to determine the prevalence of various family planning methods adopted, as well as knowledge and attitudes, among villagers in rural Myanmar, covered a sample of 600 married women of reproductive age in Zigone township which has a population of 70,000. The survey results showed a high awareness of specific contraceptive methods among the target group and the ever-use rate of birth spacing methods was about 54% (95% CI 50.7-58.7). The most used method was oral contraceptives (64.6% of all users), followed by injectable contraceptives (32.3%). There was a small number of IUD users (1.1%), use of a permanent method (sterilization) was extremely low (0.3%). Seven out of ten married women of reproductive age did not want more children and one out of two women in this group were current users of contraception. Therefore a certain proportion of user was probably using these (mainly temporary) methods to terminate fertility rather than for birth spacing purposes. Moreover, only 63% of those wanting children, but not in the next 12 months, were using a contraceptive method. These findings demonstrated that there was a large group of potential contraceptive users who were currently not using a method. In an attempt to investigate the factor hindering the non-use of contraceptives when needed, the women were divided, according to their contraceptive practice, into two groups. Logistic regression was employed to compare the characteristics of women in the user and nonuser groups. After adjusting for covariates, it was found that economic group and number of living children had a positive effective effect on contraceptive use, while age and number of children under three years of age had a negative effect. The survey also found that about 48% of the contraceptive users were obtaining their supplies from the private sector and another 40% received supplies from government health officers. The reference by respondents to "health staff", as the source of supply, was assumed to be health staff working in their private practice, since the government's current health program does not cover the provision of contraceptives.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Carriage of enteric bacterial pathogens by house flies in Yangon, Myanmar.

The carriage of enteric bacterial pathogens by house flies, caught from different places of human habitation and at different seasons, was quantitatively determined in the town of Tamwe, Yangon, Myanmar. A total of 186 fly-pools, each containing 10 live flies, were caught in entomological cages by random sampling regarding season, month, frequency and place of collection. A 10% suspension of each homogenised fly-pool in sterile normal saline was prepared on the day of collection and was cultured to isolate pathogens using standard microbiological methods. Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae non-O1, and species of Salmonella and Shigella were isolated from 76.3%, 45.7%, 11.8% and 4.8% respectively from all the fly-pools. Enteric bacterial pathogens were isolated more frequently in flies from refuse dumps and animal pens and least commonly in flies from kitchens. Of the E. coli isolates, one pool each from flies trapped in animal pens (n = 30 fly-pools), latrines (n = 32) and refuse dumps (n = 34) produced enterotoxins (ETEC). These ETEC isolates were obtained in the months of June and July. The rates of isolation of pathogens were highest in the hot-wet season. The faecal coliform counts in the fly-pools also increased in this season compared with those in cool-dry and hot-dry seasons. These data suggest that flies may be an important carrier of enteric infections in Myanmar.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bites by Russell's vipers (Daboia russelii siamensis) in Myanmar: effect of the snake's length and recent feeding on venom antigenaemia and severity of envenoming.

An improved enzyme immunoassay technique (EIA) was used in the diagnosis of 311 suspected Russell's viper bite cases in Myanmar [Burma], 181 of whom (58%) had systemic envenoming. Russell's viper venom was detected in the sera of 175 (56.3%), cobra or green pit viper venoms in 4 (1.3%), and no venom in the remaining 132 (42.4). Among 175 of these patients who failed to bring the dead snake, EIA achieved a specific diagnosis of Russell's viper envenoming in 101 (58%). The serum venom antigen concentration was higher in patients with systemic envenoming than in those with local or no envenoming and it increased with the development of coagulopathy. Stomach contents were examined in 101 Russell's vipers responsible for bites. The presence of prey, usually a rodent, in the snake's stomach, indicating that it had eaten recently, did not influence the severity of envenoming, the initial venom level, or the percentage circumference increase and the extent of local swelling in the bitten limb. One hundred and fifty-five Russell's vipers responsible for bites showed a bimodal distribution of total lengths. The smaller snakes had probably been born that year. Longer snakes were responsible for more severe envenoming, a shorter interval between the bite and the detection of incoagulable blood, and more extensive local swelling with a greater percentage circumference increase of the bitten limb; but their bites were not associated with higher initial venom antigenaemia or a greater risk of developing acute renal failure.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Local compression pads as a first-aid measure for victims of bites by Russell's viper (Daboia russelii siamensis) in Myanmar.

A prospective study of the efficacy of applying local pressure by compression pads in retarding spread of venom was carried out on 15 cases of bite by Russell's viper (Daboia russelii siamensis) in Myanmar. A firm rubber pad was applied with cotton bandaging over the site of bite and the limb was immobilized with a splint. Serial monitoring of venom levels by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was carried out at 15 min intervals for 1h (2h in one case) while the pad was in place and at 15 and 30 min after its removal. A rise of 10-40ng/mL in serum venom antigen level was observed in most cases after removal of the pad. The central movement of venom antigen was retarded in 13 of the 15 cases. Mild haemostatic changes (factor V and X assays and screening tests) were observed in 10 pad-treated cases measured at the time of onset of incoagulability of blood. The side effects observed while the pads were in place were minimal, consisting of swelling, pain and tenderness, and were well tolerated by most patients (for up to 2h by one patient), except for 2 who had incisions or bruising at the site of the bite.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of resistance to chloroquine by Plasmodium vivax in Myanmar.

Fifty patients with Plasmodium vivax infection were treated with the standard regimen of chloroquine phosphate (1500 mg over 3 d) followed by primaquine (45 mg immediately and then weekly for 8 weeks); 43 patients had sensitive infections but recrudescences of parasitaemia occurred between days 3 and 14 with RI, RII and RIII patterns in one, 3 and 3 patients, respectively. All the chloroquine-resistant cases were again treated with chloroquine (1500 mg) and no further recrudescence or relapse was detected on days 21 and 28. This study indicates that chloroquine is losing its efficacy against P. vivax in Myanmar.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Control of Culex quinquefasciatus in Myanmar (Burma) and India: 1960-1990.

During the past 30 years three major programmes of research have been carried out in Myanmar (Burma) and India on the ecology and control of Culex quinquefasciatus. To differing degrees the programmes have employed environmental, chemical, biological and genetic control strategies, but none has been an unqualified success. Results have been good when well-trained staff with substantial resources were employed, but much poorer when less-well-equipped general health workers took over the programmes. Overall, it would seem most cost-effective for health workers to concentrate their efforts on the elimination of the limited number of larval habitat categories which commonly contribute a large fraction of the adult population. Insecticides and biological control agents should serve as supplements, not as alternatives, to environmental management. Genetic control strategies have currently no place in C. quinquefasciatus programmes.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

An epidemic outbreak of hepatitis E in Yangon of Myanmar: antibody assay and animal transmission of the virus.

An epidemic outbreak of hepatitis E occurred in an army recruit camp of Yangon, Myanmar, in October 1989. One hundred and eleven patients among 600 residents were hospitalized. As high as 83.7% of these patients were positive for the acute phase antibody against hepatitis E virus by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay developed in our laboratory. Also, 30.6% of 49 symptom-free residents examined were positive for the antibody. We prepared a stool extract from six patients and inoculated it into 10 rhesus monkeys for a series of three sub-passages. All of them developed acute biochemical hepatitis along with an elevation of antibody levels. A rechallenge with viruses of the present outbreak failed to provoke hepatitis in two monkeys that had previously recovered from acute hepatitis caused by an isolate of sporadic hepatitis E of the same area. Similarly, the rechallenge of the sporadic strain did not induce hepatitis in two monkeys that had been previously infected with the epidemic virus. These data suggested that the subjects would obtain neutralizing antibodies against the hepatitis E virus once infected, and many adult inhabitants of the endemic area had no protective antibodies and were still susceptible to hepatitis E infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Incidence and prevalence of serotypes of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli from diarrheal patients in Brazil, Myanmar and Japan].

By using HeLa cells, we tried to detect enteroaggregative Escherichia coli from stock strains derived from infants with or without diarrhea in Brazil and Myanmer, and from diarrheal patients in Osaka, Japan. Enteroaggregative E. coli was detected from 7.9% in diarrheal cases, 5.6% in control cases in Brazil and from 5.4% in diarrheal cases, 3.4% in control cases in Myanmar. A total of 38 strains that showed aggregative adherence to HeLa cells was examined for colony hybridization with the 32P-labeled EAggEC probe. Thirty-four strains hybridized with the EAggEC probe, while 4 strains did not hybridize with the probe, suggesting an existence of another aggregative factor. Seventeen of the 38 strains were O-antigen serotypeable. Eight strains belonged to serogroups O44, O86, O111, O125 and O126, which have been considered to be enteropathogenic E. coli serogroups. Most of the 38 strains were H-antigen serotypeable.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMed1992

An epidemiologic study of 70 oral cancer cases at the Institute of Dental Medicine, Yangon, Myanmar, 1985-1988.

This study shows that in Myanmar, South-East Asia, the prevalence of oral cancers is a serious fact as they rank fifth among all cancers being known there. On the 70 oral cancer cases reported at the Institute of Dental Medicine, Yangon, the findings stressed that most patients, male or female, came from the metropolitan division (Yangon), had smoking and chewing habits. Also most of these patients came to hospital only at the severe and late stage. It confirms us in our opinion that early diagnosis and prompt treatment are a necessity.

Adolescent↗