Hepatitis B virus infection: Epidemiology and seroprevalence rate amongst Negrito tribe in Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among the non-indigenous people in Malaysia has been well established and range between 3% and 5%. However, data from the indigenous (Orang Asli) people is still lacking. The Negrito population is the most remotely located Orang Asli tribe with limited access to health care facilities. This study was undertaken to determine the epidemiology and seroprevalence of HBV infection among the Negrito. METHODS: Surveys were conducted in five Negrito settlements in Kelantan and Perak states in Malaysia. A total of 150 participants were recruited. Clinical history was taken and physical examination was performed. Five millilitres of whole blood were collected and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. RESULTS: Participants were mainly from the Bateq (49.3%) and Mendriq (29.4%) sub-tribes. Overall, 13 subjects (8.7 %); nine males and four females were HBsAg positive. Nine of the HBsAg positive subjects were ≥35 years old. All of them had history of home deliver without evidence of antenatal record. Six (46%) of the HBsAg positive subjects had tattoo and body piercing in the past. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HBV infection rate amongst the Negrito tribe is almost three-fold compared to the national rates. The reason for this finding remains unclear. Tattooing, body piercing and vertical transmission could be the main possible routes of transmission of HBV among the Negrito population in Malaysia.

Structural, Morphological, and Electron Transport Studies of Annealing Dependent In2O3 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell.

Indium oxide (In2O3) thin films annealed at various annealing temperatures were prepared by using spin-coating method for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The objective of this research is to enhance the photovoltaic conversion efficiency in In2O3 thin films by finding the optimum annealing temperature and also to study the reason for high and low performance in the annealed In2O3 thin films. The structural and morphological characteristics of In2O3 thin films were studied via XRD patterns, atomic force microscopy (AFM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), EDX sampling, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The annealing treatment modified the nanostructures of the In2O3 thin films viewed through FESEM images. The In2O3-450 °C-based DSSC exhibited better photovoltaic performance than the other annealed thin films of 1.54%. The electron properties were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) unit. The In2O3-450 °C thin films provide larger diffusion rate, low recombination effect, and longer electron lifetime, thus enhancing the performance of DSSC.

Valuation of scleroderma and psoriatic arthritis health states by the general public.

OBJECTIVE: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and scleroderma (SSc) are chronic rheumatic disorders with detrimental effects on health-related quality of life. Our objective was to assess health values (utilities) from the general public for health states common to people with PsA and SSc for economic evaluations. METHODS: Adult subjects from the general population in a Midwestern city (N = 218) completed the SF-12 Health Survey and computer-assisted 0-100 rating scale (RS), time trade-off (TTO, range: 0.0-1.0) and standard gamble (SG, range: 0.0-1.0) utility assessments for several hypothetical PsA and SSc health states. RESULTS: Subjects included 135 (62%) females, 143 (66%) Caucasians, and 62 (28%) African-Americans. The mean (SD) scores for the SF-12 Physical Component Summary scale were 52.9 (8.3) and for the SF-12 Mental Component Summary scale were 49.0 (9.1), close to population norms. The mean RS, TTO, and SG scores for PsA health states varied with severity, ranging from 20.2 to 63.7 (14.4-20.3) for the RS 0.29 to 0.78 (0.24-0.31) for the TTO, and 0.48 to 0.82 (0.24-0.34) for the SG. The mean RS, TTO, and SG scores for SSc health states were 25.3-69.7 (15.2-16.3) for the RS, 0.36-0.80 (0.25-0.31) for the TTO, and 0.50-0.81 (0.26-0.32) for the SG, depending on disease severity. CONCLUSION: Health utilities for PsA and SSc health states as assessed from the general public reflect the severity of the diseases. These descriptive findings could have implications regarding comparative effectiveness research for tests and treatments for PsA and SSc.

A randomized study of scleroderma health state values: a picture is worth a thousand words, and quite a few utiles. [corrected].

OBJECTIVE: Assigning utilities to hypothetical health states requires that the health states be described in adequate detail, but there is no agreement on exactly how health states should be described. We assess utilities from the general public for health states common in scleroderma (SSc) by describing the health states in writing alone v. with photographs of patients with SSc. METHODS: Subjects rated several SSc health states on a 0 to 100 rating scale (RS) and completed computer-assisted time tradeoff (TTO; range, 0.0-1.0) and standard gamble (SG; range, 0.0-1.0) assessments. Half of the subjects were assigned to be shown photographs of patients with SSc health states in addition to written health state descriptions, whereas the other half were given only the written descriptions. RESULTS: Of the 213 participants, 133 (62%) were female, 138 (65%) were Caucasian, and 62 (29%) were African American. Median RS, TTO, and SG scores for 5 SSc health states ranged from 20 to 70, 0.28 to 0.94, and 0.50 to 0.90, respectively. In bivariate analyses, showing pictures was associated with lower RS scores for 2 of 5 health states and lower SG values for all 5 health states (P < 0:05 for comparison of pictures v. no pictures), but with no difference in TTO values. Multivariable analyses revealed negative associations between pictures and SG valuations for the 3 most severe SSc health states (R(2) range, 0.04-0.08). CONCLUSION: Adding pictures of people with SSc to written health state descriptions can affect valuations of SSc health states, although the effect differs by valuation measurement method and by health state severity.

Opto-optical gain-clamped L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier with C-band control signal.

We demonstrate an opto-optical gain-clamped L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier by manipulating the C-band lasing wavelength as the control signal. The L-band gain-clamped value is achieved by tuning the control laser in the C-band wavelength range that propagates in the opposite direction to the L-band signal. Within the wavelength range of 1538 nm and 1560 nm, the L-band gain decreases linearly with the increment of the C-band lasing wavelength. The L-band gain dynamic range decreases with the increment of the cavity loss. By combining two different levels of cavity loss, the gain dynamic range of 10 dB from 11 dB to 21 dB is achieved with an average noise figure of less than 5.9 dB. The whole gain spectrum of the L-band can be used for multiple-channel amplification because the laser is created outside its signal band.

Willingness to pay for a cure in patients with chronic gout.

INTRODUCTION: Gout is a chronic painful inflammatory arthritis. The authors interviewed patients with chronic stable gout to assess their hypothetical willingness to pay (WTP) to be cured of their gout. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with gout were asked how much money they would be willing to pay every month out of pocket or as a co-pay to cure their gout. To assess determinants of WTP amounts, the authors performed stepwise multivariable linear regression analysis, controlling for demographics, health status, and relative concern about gout. RESULTS: Of the 78 patients, 70 (90%) were male, 54 (69%) were Caucasian, 21 (27%) were African American, and 32 (41%) had annual incomes < $25,000. The median WTP amount was $25 ($0, $75) per month, and the mean (s) was $52 ($74) per month (range, $0-$350); 23 (30%) patients were unwilling to pay any amount. Patients who rated their gout as their top health concern were willing to pay a median of $63 ($25, $100) per month. In multivariable analysis, gout as the top health concern, greater frequency of gouty attacks over the past 1 y, and younger age were significantly associated with WTP amounts (R(2) =0:19 ). CONCLUSION: Many patients with chronic gout would be willing to pay money every month in perpetuity to be cured of their gout. Younger patients, patients whose main health concern is gout, and patients with frequent attacks are willing to pay the most.

Surface modification via wet chemical etching of single-crystalline silicon for photovoltaic application.

The potential of solar cells have not been fully tapped due to the lack of energy conversion efficiency. There are three important mechanisms in producing high efficiency cells to harvest solar energy; reduction of light reflectance, enhancement of light trapping in the cell and increment of light absorption. The current work represent studies conducted in surface modification of single-crystalline silicon solar cells using wet chemical etching techniques. Two etching types are applied; alkaline etching (KOH:IPA:DI) and acidic etching (HF:HNO3:DI). The alkaline solution resulted in anisotropic profile that leads to the formation of inverted pyramids. While acidic solution formed circular craters along the front surface of silicon wafer. This surface modification will leads to the reduction of light reflectance via texturizing the surface and thereby increases the short circuit current and conversion rate of the solar cells.

Juxtarenal/pararenal Wilms' tumour in a six-year-old Malay girl.

We report a six-year-old Malay girl who presented with a right retroperitoneal tumour that measured 7.5 cm in diameter. A wide excision of the lesion was performed. The tumour was separated from a normal-appearing right kidney by a capsule. Microscopically, this well-encapsulated tumour was composed of classical triphasic components: epithelial, mesenchymal and blastemal areas. The immunohistochemical study showed WT1 expression in the blastemal area. Thus, a diagnosis of Wilms' tumour with favourable histology was made. The patient was well for 12 months. Extrarenal Wilms' tumour is uncommon, with the majority of cases occurring in the retroperitoneal and inguinal areas. Wilms' tumour that is not arising from the intrarenal area but shares a common capsule with the ipsilateral kidney, is even rarer. Indeed, our case would be more appropriately classified as juxtarenal/pararenal Wilms' tumour. Despite its rarity, an extrarenal or even juxtarenal/pararenal Wilms' tumour should be included in the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumour.

The disutility of chronic gout.

INTRODUCTION: Gout is a chronic painful inflammatory arthritis. Data regarding the impact of gout on health-related quality of life, however, are limited. METHODS: We interviewed patients with chronic stable gout. Health status was measured by using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) physical component summary (PCS) and physical component summary (MCS) and the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). Direct preference-based measures included a health rating scale (RS), the time tradeoff (TTO), and standard gamble (SG) for one's current health state with gout and current health state without gout; indirect preference-based measures included the SF-6D and the EQ-5D. Disutilities for gout were assessed by subtracting preference scores for current health states with gout from those for current health without gout and were compared between patients ranking gout as their top health concern versus the rest of the patients. RESULTS: Of the 80 interviewees, 72 (90%) were male, 55 (69%) were Caucasian, and the mean (SD) age was 60 (11) years. The mean SF-36 PCS and MCS scores were 38.9 and 48.6, respectively. The mean (SD) SF-6D score was 0.68 (0.13) and the mean (SD) EQ-5D score was 0.73 (0.23). The mean (SD) RS disutility for gout was 0.05 (0.12), the mean TTO disutility was 0.03 (0.12), and the mean SG disutility was 0.02 (0.11). The RS disutilities of subject patients who ranked gout as their top concern (n = 17) trended towards being statistically significantly larger than those of the remaining patients, P = 0.06 but their TTO and SG disutilities were similar to those of the remaining patients. CONCLUSION: Although physical functioning of patients with gout is often compromised, patients with chronic stable gout do not assign a large disutility to gout per se. Still, patients who rank their gout as their top health concern tend to assign greater RS disutility to gout than do other patients.

Health values of patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess health values in subjects with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and determine variability explained by demographics, clinical factors, health status, and disease severity. METHODS: We interviewed 107 individuals with SSc who attended national and local Scleroderma Foundation meetings in 2005. Health status was measured using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Physical Component Summary (PCS; range 0-100) and Mental Component Summary (MCS; range 0-100), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; range 0-60), and the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index (DI; range 0-3). Disease severity was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS; range 0-150). Health value measures included the 0-100 health rating scale (RS), standard gamble (SG; range 0.0-1.0), and time trade-off (TTO; range 0.0-1.0). We performed univariate analyses to compare scores between participants with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), and multivariable analyses for 3 outcome measures: RS, SG, and TTO, controlling for demographics, type of SSc, health status, and disease severity. RESULTS: Of the 107 participants, 48 had dcSSc and 59 had lcSSc. Ninety-seven were women and 83 were white. The median scores for the PCS, MCS, and HAQ DI were 36.9, 45.5, and 0.9, respectively. Fifty-five subjects had significant depressive symptoms (CES-D score >or=16). The median RS, SG, and TTO scores were 62, 0.83 (indicating a willingness to accept up to a 17% risk of immediate death in exchange for perfect health), and 0.88 (indicating a willingness to give up a median of 12% of life expectancy in exchange for perfect health), respectively. Subjects with dcSSc had lower RS scores but higher SG scores (corresponding to a willingness to accept only a smaller risk of death) than subjects with lcSSc. TTO scores were similar in the 2 groups. Health values were variably related to factors such as demographics, VAS score, disease classification, and SF-36 PCS and MCS scores (R(2) = 0.22, 0.23, and 0.66 for the SG, TTO, and RS models, respectively). CONCLUSION: Individuals with dcSSc have lower health ratings but higher SG health values than individuals with lcSSc. These findings have implications for decision analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis.