Determination of Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Genotypes in Anogenital Cancers in Myanmar

Molecular and epidemiologic investigations suggest a causal role for human papillomavirus (HPV) in anogenital cancers. This study identified oncogenic HPV genotypes in anogenital cancers among men and women in a 2013 cross-sectional descriptive study in Myanmar. In total, 100 biopsy tissues of histologically confirmed anogenital cancers collected in 2008-2012 were studied, including 30 penile and 9 anal cancers from Yangon General Hospital and 61 vulvar cancers from Central Women's Hospital, Yangon. HPV-DNA testing and genotyping were performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Overall, 34% of anogenital cancers were HPV-positive. HPV was found in 44.4% of anal (4/9), 36.1% of vulvar (22/61), and 26.7% of penile (8/30) cancers. The most frequent genotypes in anal cancers were HPV 16 (75%) and 18 (25%). In vulvar cancers, HPV 33 was most common (40.9%), followed by 16 (31.8%), 31 (22.7%), and 18 (4.6%). In penile cancers, HPV 16 (62.5%) was most common, followed by 33 (25%) and 18 (12.5%). This is the first report of evidencebased oncogenic HPV genotypes in anogenital cancers among men and women in Myanmar. This research provides valuable information for understanding the burden of HPV-associated cancers of the anus, penis, and vulva and considering the effectiveness of prophylactic HPV vaccination

Role of inclusive self-help groups in prevention and management of diabetes and hypertension in Myanmar:a qualitative study

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a growing public health concern in Myanmar. Community-based self-help groups are essential for participating in health-related activities. However, little is known about the role of inclusive self-help groups (ISHG) in hypertension and diabetes management. This study aimed to assess knowledge and perception of health-related activities of ISHG and explore challenges ISHG group members encountered in performing hypertension and diabetes prevention and management activities.Methods: The study included six townships from three different regions of Myanmar, where ISHG existed. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) were held in each township. A total of twelve FGDs were conducted. All discussions were conducted, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim in Myanmar language. A thematic analysis was performed using inductive and deductive approaches.Results: The findings revealed that ISHG members provided advice and counselling on behavioural risk factors for hypertension and diabetes prevention and screenings for those diseases. They also offered home care for the elderly and stroke patients who required their assistance. Community members regarded ISHG as a valuable community structure. Members of the ISHG identified a number of challenges, including lack of resources (funding, manpower, and time), lack of confidence, and lack of recognition and acceptance. Support and strengthening activities by local authorities and the government were critical to sustain ISHG's activities and efforts.Conclusions: Hypertension and diabetes management activities of ISHG are appreciative. The public and government should recognize and support ISHG to strengthen their community activities

Fingerprint Type Classification Using Learning Vector Quantization

This paper proposes a fingerprint typesclassification algorithm using Learning VectorQuantization (LVQ) with FingerCode features. Thisalgorithm assigns each fingerprint image to one ofthe five subclasses, according to the Henry system:Arch(A), Tented Arch(T), Left Loop(L), RightLoop(R), and Whorl Loop(W). The search for aspecific fingerprint can therefore be performed onlyon specific subclasses containing a small portion of alarge database, which will save enormouscomputational time. We use the feature vectors fromFingerCode generation process to train with theLVQ classifiers. In our feature extraction process,the oriented components are extracted from afingerprint image using a bank of Gabor filters, anda feature vector is computed for each orientedcomponent. The feature vectors from the input imageare classified using LVQ classifier. This algorithmhas been tested the fingerprint database. For the 100fingerprint images, the classification accuracy is 93%, with 7 % error rate for 5-classes

Generating the Classification Rule Using Decision Tree Algorithm

Data mining has been used very frequently to extract hidden information from large databases. The classification rule generation process is based on the decision tree as a classification method where the generated rules are studied. This technique is forms of data analysis that can be used extract models to describe important data class. The main purpose of the classification system is to induce rules and accuracy that describe decision tree. In this paper, there are two mains phases. In the training phase, attributes are analyzed by C4.5 algorithm. By using the training data, this system will construct the model or classifier to generate the form of classification rules. In the testing phase, compare the input test data and the classification rules to obtain the result. This system can apply to implement the classification system for IT Technicians job roles

Preparation of Fungal and Bacterial Spores’ formation Slides

Spores’ formation slides of microorganisms are useful as teaching aids for upper secondary students, undergraduate student and researchers especially for the Microbiology specialization. In the agriculture and clinical laboratories, studies on spores’ formation slides play an important role for identifying their cells or spores structure. In this study, seven bacteria were isolated from litter soil, Botany garden, University of Yangon. Bacterial spores’ formation such as Cocci, Diplococci, Staphylococci, Coccobacilli, Bacilli, Diplobacilli and Streptobacilliwere studied. And also seven fungi including Rhizoctonia, Trichoderma, Paecilomyces, Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Culvularia species were purified and cultured on Czapekdox agar medium. The characteristics of spores’ formation of fungi were then studied under microscope using Lactophenol Cotton Blue. In addition, spores’ formation slides of 2 different yeasts from toddy juice and bean sprout pickle were prepared and studied by Gram staining method. The qualified prepared slides will be beneficial for teaching and learning microbiology in the academic as well as research area

Investigation of Various Plants Naturally Grown in Yaw Region for the Purpose of Preparation of Myanmar Indigenous Medicine

Some plants naturally grown in the Yaw region located in the northwest of Myanmar were analyzed by the EDXRF spectrometer with a view to understanding of their usefulness in the development of Myanmar indigenous medicines. The results obtained show that the plants of interest are usable in the development of indigenous medicines for the treatment of some diseases

The Irrawaddy River sediment flux to the Indian Ocean: The original nineteenth-century data revisited

The Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) River of Myanmar is ranked as having the fifth-largest suspended load and the fourth-highest total dissolved load of the world's rivers, and the combined Irrawaddy and Salween ( Thanlwin) system is regarded as contributing 20% of the total flux of material from the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen. The estimates for the Irrawaddy are taken from published quotations of a nineteenth-century data set, and there are no available published data for the Myanmar reaches of the Salween. Apart from our own field studies in 2005 and 2006, no recent research documenting the sediment load of these important large rivers has been conducted, although their contribution to biogeochemical cycles and ocean geochemistry is clearly significant. We present a reanalysis of the Irrawaddy data from the original 550-page report of Gordon covering 10 yr of discharge ( 1869-1879) and 1 yr of sediment concentration measurements ( 1877-1878). We describe Gordon's methodologies, evaluate his measurements and calculations and the adjustments he made to his data set, and present our revised interpretation of nineteenth-century discharge and sediment load with an estimate of uncertainty. The 10-yr average of annual suspended sediment load currently cited in the literature is assessed as being underestimated by 27% on the basis of our sediment rating curve of the nineteenth-century data. On the basis of our sampling of suspended load, the nineteenth-century concentrations are interpreted to be missing about 18% of their total mass, which is the proportion of sediment recovered by a 0.45-mm filter. The new annual Irrawaddy suspended sediment load is MT. Our revised estimate of the annual sediment load 364 +/- 60 from the Irrawaddy-Salween system for the nineteenth century ( 600 MT) represents more than half the present-day Ganges-Brahmaputra flux to the Indian Ocean. Since major Chinese rivers have reduced their load due to damming, the Irrawaddy is likely the third-largest contributor of sediment load in the world.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Consumption of fruits and vegetables and associations with risk factors for non-communicable diseases in the Yangon region of Myanmar: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To explore the intake of fruits and vegetables in the Yangon region, Myanmar, and to describe associations between intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) and established risk factors for non-communicable diseases. DESIGN: 2 cross-sectional studies, using the STEPs methodology. SETTING: Urban and rural areas of the Yangon region of Myanmar. PARTICIPANTS: 1486, men and women, 25-74 years, were recruited through a multistage cluster sampling method. Institutionalised people, military personnel, Buddhist monks and nuns were not invited. Physically and mentally ill people were excluded. RESULTS: Mean intake of fruit was 0.8 (SE 0.1) and 0.6 (0.0) servings/day and of vegetables 2.2 (0.1) and 1.2 (0.1) servings/day, in urban and rural areas, respectively. Adjusted for included confounders (age, sex, location, income, education, smoking and low physical activity), men and women eating ≥2 servings of fruits and vegetables/day had lower odds than others of hypertriglyceridaemia (OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.94)). On average, women eating at least 2 servings of fruits and vegetables per day had cholesterol levels 0.28 mmol/L lower than the levels of other women. When only adjusted for sex and age, men eating at least 2 servings of fruits and vegetables per day had cholesterol levels 0.27 mmol/L higher than other men. CONCLUSIONS: A high intake of FV was associated with lower odds of hypertriglyceridaemia among men and women. It was also associated with cholesterol levels, negatively among women and positively among men