H. P. Chia

Chili : protective factor against peptic ulcer ?

The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency and amount of chili taken by peptic ulcer patients and control subjects. One hundred three Chinese patients with peptic ulcer and 87 control patients were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. Those subjects who deliberately avoided chili use because of symptoms or advice from friends or medical practitioners were excluded. The median number of times of chili use per month was eight in the ulcer group (25–75% quartiles 1–30) compared to 24 (8–56) in the control group (P<0.001). The median amount of chili used per month was 312 units (25–75% quartiles 38–899) in the ulcer group compared to 834 units (274–1892) in the control group (P<0.001). The odds ratio of having peptic ulcer disease, adjusted for age, sex, analgesic use, and smoking by multiple logistic regression, was 0.47 (95% confidence intervals: 0.25–0.89) for subjects who had a higher intake of chili both in terms of frequency as well as amount used compared to those who took less chili. Our data support the hypothesis that chili use has a protective effect against peptic ulcer disease.

Cumulative concentrations of blood lead and postural stability.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association in a group of battery manufacturing workers between computerised postural sway parameters and present concentrations of blood lead (PPb), index of cumulative blood lead years (CBI), and cumulative blood lead at different years of exposure (CPbYs). METHODS: Postural stability was investigated with a computerised postural sway measurement system in 60 workers exposed to lead with exposure duration of 84 (range 3-366) months and in 60 control subjects. An index of CBIs in 55 workers (previous blood lead results of five workers were not available) and CPbYs were computed for each worker by calculating the area under the curve of concentrations of blood lead against time. RESULTS: The mean (SD) PPb was 36.0 (11.7) (range 6.4 to 64.5) micrograms/dl for the exposed workers and 6.3 (2.4) (range 3.1-10.9) micrograms/dl for the 14 randomly selected control subjects. Significant differences between groups for the postural sway parameters obtained when the eyes were closed were found for length of sway path (L); mean velocity of the centre of pressure along its path (Vel); area included within the path of the centre of pressure (Ao); 95% confidence elliptical area (Ae). The Romberg ratio (the relation between eyes closed and open) for the Vel, L, Ao, and Ae of the exposed group were also significantly different from those of the controls. The postural sway parameters (eyes closed) were not significantly correlated with PPb or CBI. However, the cumulative blood lead for the past two years before the postural sway assessment, CPbY2, was significantly correlated with all the postural sway parameters. CONCLUSION: The study showed that workers exposed to lead had significantly poorer postural stability than a control group. Lead may affect certain parts of the somatosensory system resulting in postural instability when the visual input is cut off. The CPbY2 was significantly positively correlated with most of the postural sway parameters. Effects of lead on postural stability may be related to recent increases in blood lead concentration among the exposed workers rather than to cumulative body burden.

Transcutaneous bilirubinometry in Chinese, Malay and Indian infants

The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation of transcutaneous bilirubinometry (TcB) and plasma bilirubin concentrations in full‐term Chinese, Malay and Indian infants. TcB was performed with the Minolta Airshields bilirubinometer on Chinese, Malay and Indian full‐term infants. The readings were taken on the chest (sternum) and forehead (glabella) when capillary blood was sampled for bilirubin determination. Five hundred and forty TcB indices in 253 Chinese infants, 282 in 169 Malay infants, and 182 in 120 Indian infants were obtained over the sternum and forehead. A good correlation between the TcB indices and the bilirubin concentrations was observed in Chinese, Malay and Indian infants: r= 0.78 (chest), r= 0.73 (forehead); r= 0.86 (chest), r= 0.84 (forehead); and r= 0.84 (chest), r= 0.82 (forehead). The correlation was just as good when the combined values were evaluated together: r= 0.80 (chest) r= 0.75 (forehead). In Chinese infants, correlation at values below 250 μmol −1 was significantly better than that at values over 250μmoll−1r= 0.80 versus r=−0.20, < 0.00001 (chest), and r= 0.74 versus r= 0.07, < 0.00001 (forehead). However, a safer cut‐off point clinically would be 200 μmoll−1, since only relatively few higher bilirubin values were encountered when TcB indices were below 200 μmoll−1 The same pattern was noticed with the other two groups, and the combined group. Thus, TcB provides a non‐invasive, cost‐effective screening method for significant neonatal jaundice, sparing infants and parents physical and emotional stress, and medical and nursing personnel extra work and inconvenience.

Congenital Anomalies in Singapore

Abstract A 3‐year study (Jan. 1986‐Dec. 1988) in the Kandang Kerbau Hospital revealed 678 infants with birth defects in 44,842 livebirths, (15.13 per 1,000 live births, 95% confidence intervals, CI 14.0–16.2). There were 161 cases with musculoskeletal abnormalities (3.5 per 1,000, 95% CI 3.06‐4.19), 111 gastrointestinal system malformations (2.47 per 1,000, 95% CI 2.04‐2.58), 88 chromosomal abnormalities (1.96 per 1,000, 95% CI 1.57‐2.42), 78 cardiovascular system abnormalities (1.74 per 1,000, 95% CI 1.38‐2.17), 73 urogenital system defects (1.63 per 1,000, 95% CI 1.28‐2.05), and 52 central nervous system defects (1.16 per 1,000, 95% CI 0.87‐1.52). The prevalence of cleft lip, cleft palate, and cleft lip/palate was 1.72 per 1,000, and Downs Syndrome 1 in 700. At review, six weeks later, the false positive rate was 4% in the infants with defects, and in the group of 709 normal controls (matched by race, maternal age, ward class and time/date of birth), the false negative rate was 0.84%.