Prevalence and risk factors for menstrual disorders among systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Introduction: This study aims to determine the prevalence and the types of menstrual disorders among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to identify factors that influence their development.

Methods: 61 patients with SLE were enrolled into a cross-sectional, observational study at the medical outpatient clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. A total of 120 healthy women were selected randomly to act as the control group.

Serological evidence of hantavirus infections in Malaysia.

Hantaviruses are primarily rodent-borne and transmission is by inhalation of virus-contaminated aerosols of rodent excreta, especially urine and saliva. The genus Hantavirus, family Bunyaviridae, comprises at least 14 serotypes and the symptoms of clinical illness range from mild fever to severe hemorrhagic manifestations with renal complications. Many countries in Southeast Asia are unaware of the importance of hantavirus infections and give them low priority.

Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in northeastern Malaysia.

Background: Previous studies have reported that drugs and infections are common causes of erythema multiforme (EM) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is mainly related to drugs. No study has been conducted in Kelantan, the northeastern state of Malaysia, to assess these cutaneous reactions.

Renal stones in Kelantan, Malaysia--has the pattern changed?

Records of 183 patients with renal stones managed at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia between 1985 and 1995 were retrospectively evaluated. The commonest symptom was lumbar pain which may be associated with either frequency, blood stained urine or dysuria. One hundred and sixty-one patients (88%) had upper tract stones while the remainder had lower tract stones.

The value of positive nitrites in screening asymptomatic bacteriuria amongst Malaysian school children.

It is important to diagnose and treat urinary tract infection in children before renal damage has taken place. Hence a new screening procedure will be of interest. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of urinary nitrite in screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria among school children compared to a more traditional method.