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Defining leisure and recreation in Malaysia
The fundamental aim of this study was to determine how Malaysians define both leisure
and recreation. Two ethnic groups, Chinese and Malays, and rural and urban variants of these
groups were included in the sample. The other objective was to determine if there were differences
in the definitions due to differences in ethnic backgrounds and place of residence.
Qualitative, in-depth interviews, participant observation and the pile sort technique were
the methods used to study the subjective leisure experiences of informants. Coding and
categorization of the data resulted in the formulation of a conceptual framework and several
general themes.
Informants did not explicitly differentiate between the concepts, leisure and recreation, and
nearly all of them were more familiar with the broader term, leisure.' Their understanding of these
concepts was similar to professional adopted definitions of the terms. However, the conceptual
framework demonstrated perceptions of leisure as more than dimensions of time and activity
consisting of other salient variables such as motives, constraints, life stage, past experiences,
affective and beneficial outcomes which combined to define the subjective leisure experience.
Several emergent themes showed that there were only slight or no differences in the
informants' perceptions of leisure due to differences in ethnic backgrounds. Themes on structural
constraints, the social nature of leisure, preferences for natural recreation areas, and hedonic and
beneficial outcomes of leisure pursuits demonstrated that informants shared similar perceptions of
leisure in terms of motives, constraints and perceived affective outcomes. The theme on celebration
of cultural festivals revealed several differences due to cultural differences in functions and content
of the festivals.
While both rural and urban informants frequently participated in mass leisure activities, both
groups also differed in their participation in at least two types of activities. Rural informants were
found to be more active in extractive recreation and community-based social activities. These
differences were attributed to accessibility of natural resources, the lack of other recreation
opportunities, structural constraints, and the perceived community benefits derived from community
gatherings respectively.
Implications for research and leisure and recreation planning are discussed in light of the
themes generated
Use of dietary supplements by breast cancer patients undergoing conventional cancer treatment
<b>Background</b> Many breast cancer patients use some form of dietary supplement (DS) to complement their conventional cancer treatment, in the hope that they might lessen the side effects of treatment, improve quality of life, give a greater sense of control, and reduce stress. This pilot study assessed the level of DS usage by breast cancer patients undergoing conventional cancer treatment, and their concerns about the use of DS. <p></p>
<b>Method</b> A cross-sectional descriptive survey in three breast cancer centers in Hong Kong using face-to-face interviewing was performed. <p></p>
<b>Results</b> Of 82 female Chinese breast cancer patients who completed the survey, 99% reported that they had been using DS since their cancer was diagnosed. The most frequently used DS were Chinese herbal medicines, and patients spent about US$258 on DS every month. The reason given for using DS was to enhance their recovery from cancer, but at the same time the patients had safety concerns. However, most patients did not feel able to discuss these concerns with health professionals. <p></p>
<b>Conclusion</b> The majority of the patients had some safety concerns, and said that they would welcome detailed and reliable information on DS. The lack of reliable information on the potential risks and benefits of using such supplements as an adjuvant to conventional treatment and the reluctance of patients to discuss their use of DS with health professionals is a major area of concern that warrants further attention
The osteoprotective effect of Herba epimedii (HEP) extract in vivo and in vitro
Herba epimedii (HEP) is one of the most frequently used herbs prescribed for treatment of osteoporosis in China. In the present study, the in vivo effects of HEP extract on bone metabolism were evaluated using 4-month-old ovariectomized (OVX) or sham-operated (Sham) female Sprague-Dawley rats orally administered with HEP extract (110 mg kg(−1)d(−1)), 17ß-estrogen (2 mg kg(−1)d(−1)) or its vehicle for 3 months. HEP extract significantly decreased urinary calcium excretion, suppressed serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and urinary deoxypyridinoline levels in OVX rats (P < 0.05 versus vehicle-treated OVX rats). Histomorphometric analysis indicated that HEP extract could prevent OVX-induced bone loss by increasing tibial trabecular bone area and decreasing trabecular separation in OVX rats (P < 0.05 versus vehicle-treated OVX group). The in vitro effects of HEP extract were also studied using rat osteoblast-like UMR 106 cells. HEP extract significantly stimulated cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01 versus vehicle-treated) and increased ALP activity at 200 μgml(−1) (P < 0.01 versus vehicle-treated) in UMR 106 cells. It modulated osteoclastogenesis by increasing osteoprotegrin (OPG) mRNA and decreasing receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) mRNA expression, resulting in a dose-dependent increase in OPG/RANKL mRNA ratio (P < 0.01 versus vehicle-treated). Taken together, HEP treatment can effectively suppress the OVX-induced increase in bone turnover possibly by both an increase in osteoblastic activities and a decrease in osteoclastogenesis. The present study provides the evidence that HEP can be considered as a complementary and alternative medicine for treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis
Evaluating the coverage and potential of imputing the exome microarray with next-generation imputation using the 1000 genomes project
10.1371/journal.pone.0106681PLoS ONE991-
Are doctors assessing patients with hypertension appropriately at their initial presentation?
Background:
The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which primary care doctors assessed patients newly diagnosed with hypertension for the risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) during the patients’ first clinic visit for hypertension. The study also aimed to examine the trend of assessment for CVD risk factors over a 15-year period.
Methods:
This retrospective study was conducted between January and May 2012. Data was extracted from the paper-based medical records of patients with hypertension using a 1:4 systematic random sampling method. Data collected included CVD risk factors and a history of target organ damage (TOD), which were identified during the patient’s first visit to the primary care doctor for hypertension, as well as the results of the physical examinations and investigations performed during the same visit.
Result:
A total of 1,060 medical records were reviewed. We found that assessment of CVD risk factors during the first clinic visit for hypertension was poor (5.4%–40.8%). Assessments for a history of TOD were found in only 5.8%–11.8% of the records, and documented physical examinations and investigations for the assessment of TOD and secondary hypertension ranged from 0.1%–63.3%. Over time, there was a decreasing trend in the percentage of documented physical examinations performed, but an increasing trend in the percentage of investigations ordered
Conclusion:
There was poor assessment of the patients’ CVD risk factors, secondary causes of hypertension and TOD at their first clinic visit for hypertension. The trends observed in the assessment suggest an over-reliance on investigations over clinical examinations
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