Malay Children Research Articles

Uang dan “Ayunan” dalam “Etnik Melayu”

This study describes the value of money in the Malay children's swing tradition.This swing remains a Malay tradition to this day. In this study, researchers discovered the problem of the relationship between the value of money and the swinging tradition of the Malay people. The purpose of this study is to describe that parents prioritize their children's education and continue the tradition of rocking their children when they have grown up and the parents have enough finances, which is characteristic of the Ma ethnic group. Lai with the value of money in the lives of Malays, they can ensure the education of children and carry out the swinging process at any time, while maintaining the cultural value of carrying out the traditions tradition among the Malay community, especially in Sukarame village, Kualuh Hulu district, Labuhan Batu North Regent. The method used in this study is a qualitative method using descriptive analysis. The data collection techniques in this study were observation, interviewing, and note-taking. During the procession, the Malay tradition of swinging children is carried out in a series of events. The sequence begins with Barzanji, where a child swings on a rope, along with Marhaban, distributes flour, distributes potpourri flowers to those who have come to attend the event and ends with a prayer.

Health practices, behaviours and quality of life of low-income preschoolers: A community-based cross-sectional comparison study in Singapore

Introduction: Children from low-income (LI) families often suffer from poor health, with sub-optimal health practices. This cross-sectional study examined the differences in health habits and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of LI preschool children compared to non-low-income preschool peers (PPG). Method: Using data from the social-health Circle of Care-Health Development Screening Programme (CoC-HDSP) in Singapore, 118 LI children and 304 PPG children aged 18 months to 6 years old and their families were recruited from 13 government-funded preschools. Health practices examined included screen time habits, sleep, nutrition, dental health and the children’s HRQoL using PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales. Results: Majority of the children were aged 4–6 years in kindergarten 1 and 2. There were more Malay children in the LI than the PPG (61.9% versus [vs] 29.3%, P<0.001). Low-income children were more likely to have lower-educated parents (P<0.001). The completed vaccination rate in the LI group was lower than those in PPG (84.7% vs 98.0%, P<0.001). More in the LI group utilised emergency services for acute illnesses (P<0.05). Fewer LI children had ever visited a dentist (47.4% vs 75.4%, P<0.001), and more LI children consumed sweetened drinks daily (33.3% vs 8.6%, P<0.001). The LI group reported poorer-quality sleep (48.3% vs 27.2%, P<0.001), though both groups exceeded the daily recommended screen viewing duration. The LI group scored higher in the social (mean 92.4+12.2 vs 84.3+15.3, P<0.001) and emotional (mean 85.2+15.1 vs 76.6+17.3, P<0.001) domains of the PedsQL 4.0 when compared to PPG. Conclusion: Low-income children have poorer health practices, receive less preventive paediatric care, and utilise more emergency services for acute illnesses. These findings are important for developing interventions that work towards improving the health of LI children.

Health practices, behaviours and quality of life of low-income preschoolers: A community-based cross-sectional comparison study in Singapore.

Children from low-income (LI) families often suffer from poor health, with sub-optimal health practices. This cross-sectional study examined the differences in health habits and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of LI preschool children compared to non-low-income preschool peers (PPG). Using data from the social-health Circle of Care-Health Development Screening Programme (CoC-HDSP) in Singapore, 118 LI children and 304 PPG children aged 18 months to 6 years old and their families were recruited from 13 government-funded preschools. Health practices examined included screen time habits, sleep, nutrition, dental health and the children's HRQoL using PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales. Majority of the children were aged 4-6 years in kindergarten 1 and 2. There were more Malay children in the LI than the PPG (61.9% versus [vs] 29.3%, P<0.001). Low-income children were more likely to have lower-educated parents (P<0.001). The completed vaccination rate in the LI group was lower than those in PPG (84.7% vs 98.0%, P<0.001). More in the LI group utilised emergency services for acute illnesses (P<0.05). Fewer LI children had ever visited a dentist (47.4% vs 75.4%, P<0.001), and more LI children consumed sweetened drinks daily (33.3% vs 8.6%, P<0.001). The LI group reported poorer-quality sleep (48.3% vs 27.2%, P<0.001), though both groups exceeded the daily recommended screen viewing duration. The LI group scored higher in the social (mean 92.4±12.2 vs 84.3±15.3, P<0.001) and emotional (mean 85.2±15.1 vs 76.6±17.3, P<0.001) domains of the PedsQL 4.0 when compared to PPG. Low-income children have poorer health practices, receive less preventive paediatric care, and utilise more emergency services for acute illnesses. These findings are important for developing interventions that work towards improving the health of LI children.

Ethnic Group Differences in the Timing of Autism Diagnosis, Intellectual Disability, and Educational Placement of Autistic Children in Singapore.

Given Singapore's distinct multicultural identity, this study examined the hypotheses that there may be ethnic group differences in diagnosis and outcomes in autistic children in Singapore. Retrospective data were obtained from medical records of all children born between 2008 and 2011 who were diagnosed with clinical or confirmed autism. One-way ANOVAs and regression analyses were used to analyze data. Data from 2577 medical records were extracted. There were more boys (82.5%) and ethnic group distribution was Chinese (67%), Malay (14%), Indian (10%), and Others (10%). Chinese children were more likely to present at a developmental clinic with concerns 3-4months younger compared to Malay children and those from Other Races (F(3, 2038) = 9.58, p < .001, Cohen's F = 0.12). Chinese children were also more likely to receive an autism diagnosis approximately 3months younger compared to Malay children. Fewer autistic Chinese children were diagnosed with co-occurring intellectual disability (13.1%) while there were almost twice more Malay children than expected with co-occurring intellectual disability (29.9%) (χ2 (3) = 55.17, p < .001). There are correspondingly more Malay children on the autism spectrum who attend special education schools. Possible confounding variables such as household income level and mother's level of education were identified in some of these findings. Several significant ethnic group differences in autistic children in Singapore exist that warrant more investigation into possible causes and support systems needed, with implications for other ethnically diverse nations.

Accelerometer-measured 24-hour movement behaviours over 7 days in Malaysian children and adolescents: A cross-sectional study.

Quantifying movement behaviours over 24-hours enables the combined effects of and inter-relations between sleep, sedentary time and physical activity (PA) to be understood. This is the first study describing 24-hour movement behaviours in school-aged children and adolescents in South-East Asia. Further aims were to investigate between-participant differences in movement behaviours by demographic characteristics and timing of data collection during Ramadan and COVID-19 restrictions. Data came from the South-East Asia Community Observatory health surveillance cohort, 2021-2022. Children aged 7-18 years within selected households in Segamat, Malaysia wore an Axivity AX6 accelerometer on their wrist for 24 hours/day over 7 days, completed the PAQ-C questionnaire, and demographic information was obtained. Accelerometer data was processed using GGIR to determine time spent asleep, inactive, in light-intensity PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Differences in accelerometer-measured PA by demographic characteristics (sex, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic group) were explored using univariate linear regression. Differences between data collected during vs outside Ramadan or during vs after COVID-19 restrictions, were investigated through univariate and multiple linear regressions, adjusted for age, sex and ethnicity. The 491 participants providing accelerometer data spent 8.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.9-8.4) hours/day asleep, 12.4 (95% CI = 12.2-12.7) hours/day inactive, 2.8 (95% CI = 2.7-2.9) hours/day in LPA, and 33.0 (95% CI = 31.0-35.1) minutes/day in MVPA. Greater PA and less time inactive were observed in boys vs girls, children vs adolescents, Indian and Chinese vs Malay children and higher income vs lower income households. Data collection during Ramadan or during COVID-19 restrictions were not associated with MVPA engagement after adjustment for demographic characteristics. Demographic characteristics remained the strongest correlates of accelerometer-measured 24-hour movement behaviours in Malaysian children and adolescents. Future studies should seek to understand why predominantly girls, adolescents and children from Malay ethnicities have particularly low movement behaviours within Malaysia.

Optic Nerve Head and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Analysis in Emmetropic Malay Children.

The study aims to investigate the normal reference values for optic nerve head (ONH) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) parameters in emmetropic Malay children, utilizing measurements obtained through Cirrus SD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). A cross-sectional study was conducted on 95 Malay children, aged between seven and 17 years, with no ocular abnormalities. It was held at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia, from January 2014 to December 2015. All children underwent a full ocular examination, including refraction and calculation of axial length. ONH and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) parameters were measured using the Cirrus SD-OCT machine. One eye of each subject was selected randomly for study. The associations between the parameters and the effect of age, gender,axial length, and spherical equivalent (SE) on the measurements were statistically validated. Ninety-five children were involved in the study, with 65 females (68.4%) and 30 males (31.6%). The mean age was 10.6 (2.82) years, the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was 14.8 (2.81) mmHg, the mean SE-refraction was 0.12 (0.28) diopters, and the mean axial length was 23.03 (0.76) mm. The mean disc area, rim area, and cup volume were 2.32 (0.40) mm2, 1.53 (0.33) mm2, and 0.204 (0.16) mm3, respectively. The average cup-to-disc ratio (SD) (CDR) and the vertical CDR were 0.55 (0.13) and 0.50(0.14). Mean (SD) RNFLT was 102.08 (11.08) μm for all patients. There was a strong positive correlation between the average, superior, and inferior RNFLT with the optical disc area. The rim area and the average, superior, inferior, and nasal RNFLT alsoshowed a significant correlation. The inferiorRNFLT was negatively correlated with the average CDR. There was also a major influence of gender on the disc area. There were no major age, axial length, and SE influences on the measurements. This study provided normative information for ONH and RNFLT parameters in emmetropic Malay children. It was observed that emmetropic Malay males exhibited a significantly larger optical disc area. The increase in RNFLT is correlated with a significant increase in disc and rim areas.

Sources of Perceived Social Support and Associated Factors for Depression amongst Malay Primary School Adolescents in Kelantan, Malaysia

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent depression is a substantial health concern nowadays, and perceived social support determines the outcome. Lack of research on depression amongst Malaysian younger group of adolescents, puts them at risk of being under diagnosed and under treated. Furthermore, the function of various social supports for depression in early adolescents is less explored. The primary objective of this study was to determine the level of support for adolescent depression from five different sources: i) parents, ii) teachers, iii) close friends, iv) classmates, and v) others in school. The secondary objective is to study the prevalence of depression amongst primary school adolescents and establish their association and the other factors that influence depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 576 adolescents between the ages of 10-11 year olds were conducted from August 2020 till September 2020 using the Malay Children Depression Inventory (M-CDI) and Malay Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (M-CASSS). RESULTS: The respondents reported that teachers were the most supportive. Approximately 131 (22.7%) of them had depressive symptoms. Only parental support significantly reduced their risk of developing depression. Having a single parent household, being bullied, emotional abuse, and performing poorly in school increased the likelihood of developing depression. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study, demonstrated the necessity for early depression screening amongst primary school adolescents and the need for stakeholders to continue supporting parents in their efforts to deal with adolescent concerns.

Acquisition Of Malay Syntax Among Five Years Old Children: Analysis From The Perspective Of Mentalist Theory

The field of language acquisition is divided into three parts namely syntax, semantic, and phonological acquisition. Previous studies have found that children's most common types of sentences are declarative sentences compared to interrogative sentences, exclamatory sentences, and command sentences. Thus, this study discusses aspects of the acquisition of Malay syntax among Malay children using the Mentalist Theory approach by focusing on the types and patterns of Malay sentences. This study was conducted at Tunas Permata Kindergarten, Faculty of Education, UKM with five-year-old girl. The research data was obtained through a storytelling activity where the researcher showed a picture and asked the respondent to tell a story based on the picture while in the coloring activity, the respondent was asked to tell a story while doing the coloring activity. The researcher recorded the sessions using a smartphone. Children's syntax mastery level is measured using Mean Length of Utterance (MPU). The results of the study shown that the type of declarative sentences was the most used compared to interrogative sentences, exclamatory sentences, and command sentences. This means that the tendency of children to produce declarative sentences followed by other sentences shows the level of language acquisition parallel to the level of self-development of five-year-old children based on the Mentalist Theory. This respondent can also produce basic sentences according to their patterns and compound sentences. The production of basic sentence patterns is seen to be higher than compound sentence patterns.

Social determinants of stunting in Malay children aged

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess social determinants of stunting among children aged <5 y within the Malay ethnicity in Malaysia. MethodsThis study used data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2016: Maternal and Child Health. It includes a sample of 10 686 children, ages 0 to 59 mo, of Malay ethnicity. Height-for-age z score was determined based on the World Health Organization Anthro software. A binary logistic regression model was used to examine the association between the selected social determinants and the occurrence of stunting. ResultsAbout 22.5% of children aged <5 y of Malay ethnicity were stunted. For those ages 0 to 23 mo, stunting is more prevalent in boys, in rural areas, and in those who have screen exposure, whereas a reduction of stunting was observed for those children whose mothers work in the private sector and in those who consume formula milk and meat. As for those ages 24 to 59 mo, there was a higher prevalence of stunting for those with self-employed mothers and reduced prevalence in children with hygienic waste disposal practices as well as those who play with toys. ConclusionsThe prevalence of stunting among children of Malay ethnicity aged <5 in Malaysia necessitates immediate intervention. It is pertinent to facilitate early identification of those children at risk of stunting for additional care to promote healthy growth.

Effectiveness of “Oral Health Care for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Module” in Improving Tooth-Brushing Practice among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with behavioural problems which may affect children’s oral health statuses. Caregivers have crucial roles in caring for these children’s oral health. Thus, this study is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Oral Health Care for Children with ASD (OHASD) Module in improving caregivers’ tooth-brushing difficulties in children ASD. Methods: Quasi-experimental study on caregivers of children with ASD aged 7 to 12 years who were registered at the Psychiatry Clinic Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Kelantan. The sociodemographic data obtained, and behavioural problems were assessed. Tooth-brushing difficulties were evaluated at pre- and six months post-intervention using OHASD Module. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS 26.0. Results: A total of 32 Malay children with ASD including their caregivers participated in this study. Caregivers were mostly mothers (78.1%) and children were mostly boys (84.4%), with mean age (SD) of 39.1 (4.19) and 8.8 (1.52) years respectively. Parent-reported questionnaire using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) showed 65.6% of children were highly sensitive to noises, 53.1% sometimes stared at nothing or wandered without purpose and 59.4% were unable to imitate caregivers’ faces. Significant differences between pre- and post-intervention for items; children who liked to close their mouths, turn their heads in different directions, did not understand the purpose of tooth-brushing (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: OHASD Module is useful in assisting caregivers in practising daily tooth-brushing of children with ASD.

Editorial

Welcome to the second issue of Volume 32, Journal of Modern Languages (JML). Here, we present six scholarly works that reflect the diversity and depth of current linguistic research. In the opening paper, The Development of Paediatric Malay Matrix Sentence Test (PaedMalayMST) Materials through the Construction of a Paediatric Malay Corpus, a collaborative team from Malaysia and New Zealand introduces an innovative approach to the development of a paediatric speech perception test. The authors detail the process of constructing a paediatric Malay corpus, which unveils the rich and intricate nature of Malay children's language use. This work illustrates a remarkable path to the development of tests that can more accurately assess the speech perception skills of children in Malaysia. The second paper, Female Sympathisers of ISIS as Muhajirahs in ISIS-Affiliated Media investigates the representation of women in ISIS-affiliated media. Through a well-structured critical discourse analysis, the authors explore the complexity of gender roles and dynamics within a politically charged setting. This research provides valuable insights into the portrayal and influence of women within extremist organizations. Shifting to the realm of audio-visual translation, the article Subtitling Strategies and Translation Accuracy in the Malay to English Translation of ‘Ejen Ali: The Movie’, assesses the quality and strategies of subtitle translations. This work represents a significant step towards understanding how translation strategies affect the accuracy of subtitle translations, a crucial aspect of global media consumption. The subsequent study, Characteristics of Exocentric Nominal Compounds in Berom: A Semantic View of the Noun-Verb Agentive ‘mwat tabak’ and ‘mwat ha’, provides an in-depth analysis of the agentive nominal compounds in Berom. It illustrates how meaning is shaped by the constituents and the context of usage, serving as a fine example of the intricate interplay between structure and semantics in language. The fifth study, A Study of Number Marking in Izere Nouns, offers a detailed examination of noun inflections for number in Izere. It underscores the importance of understanding the morphological processes involved in less-studied languages. Finally, our issue concludes with Representation of Social Class and Hierarchy in Bangla Address Terms: A Sociolinguistic Study, which explores the sociocultural significance of address terms in Bangla. It sheds light on the various socio-cultural factors influencing address term choices, and consequently, the reflection of social class and hierarchy in language. Together, these six papers demonstrate the profound diversity in language and linguistics research. As always, we hope this issue inspires stimulating discourse and further scholarly inquiry in the field of languages and linguistics. We extend our gratitude to all our authors, reviewers, and readers who continue to support and enrich our journal.

The comprehension and production of Wh- questions among Malay children with developmental language disorders: Climbing the syntactic tree.

This study is an investigation of both comprehension and production of Wh- questions in Malay-speaking children with a developmental language disorder (DLD). A total of 15 Malay children with DLD (ages 7;0-9;11 years) were tested on a set of Wh- questions (who subject and object, which subject and object), comparing their performance with two control groups [15 age-matched typically developing (TD) children and 15 younger TD language-matched children]. Malay children with DLD showed a clear asymmetry in comprehension of Wh- questions, with a selective impairment for which NP questions compared with who questions. Age-matched controls performed at ceiling in all Wh- questions, while the language-matched group reported a subject/object asymmetry selective for the which NP, as reported in other languages. In production, both children with DLD and younger children showed a preference for questions with in situ Wh- elements, a structure that is allowed in colloquial Malay, but which is not produced by the age-matched TD group. Several non-adult-like strategies were adopted particularly by the children with DLD to avoid complex sentences, including substitution with yes/no echo questions, production of the wrong Wh- question, and use of a generic Wh- element. The study provides an insight on the mastery of Wh- questions in both typical Malay children and children with DLD. Implications for the definition of a clinical marker for DLD in a free word order language with Wh- in situ option will be discussed.

Arabic phoneme-grapheme correspondence by non-native, deaf children with cochlear implants and normal hearing children

Objective: This study aimed to compare the error patterns of Arabic phoneme-grapheme correspondence by a group of Malay children with cochlear implants (CIs) and normal hearing (NH) and the effects of the visual graphical features of Arabic graphemes (no-dot, single-dot, and multiple-dots) on the phoneme-grapheme correspondence. Methods: Participants were matched for hearing age (Mean, M = 7 ± 1.03 years) and duration of exposure to Arabic sounds (M = 2.7 ± 1.2 years). All 28 Arabic phonemes were presented through a loudspeaker and participants pointed to the graphemes associated with the presented phonemes. Results: A total of 336 and 616 tokens were collected for six children with CI and 11 NH children for each task, i.e., phonemes repetition and phoneme-grapheme correspondence. Both groups found it easier to repeat phonemes than the phoneme-grapheme correspondence. The children with CIs showed more confusion ([ظ, ز, ذ, ض, خ, ب, ه, س, ع, & ث] >10% correct scores) in phoneme-grapheme correspondence than the NH children ([ظ:14%] and [ث: 27%]). There was a significant interaction (p = 0.001) among the three visual graphical features and hearing status (CI and NH). Conclusion: Our results infer that non-native Malay children with CIs and NH use different strategies to process the Arabic graphemes' visual features for phoneme-grapheme correspondence.

Pangkak Gasing: Tools of Social Interaction of The Community of Children and Adolescents in Maintaining Malay Culture Sambas

This article is based on the results of in-depth research on the pangkak gasing and social interactions of Sambas Malay children and adolescents. Pangkak gasing is a traditional game that is currently running lively in the rural district of Sambas. In addition to preserving the culture of the pangkak gasing, it is also a means of friendship for fellow Malay Sambas. The presence of children and adolescents in apangkak gasing game of forming a habitus in the community arena where social interaction takes place. Social interaction in the arena ( field ) pangkak gasing not only by direct contact during the game but also penetrated in the virtual world or social media. New media in social interaction, especially in the arena ( field) pangkak gasing make social media as a tool to interact where agents have never met and started meeting in the real world. This article discusses how the pangkak gasing affect the social interaction of Sambas Malay children and adolescents. This research uses a qualitative method with a sociology approach. Data was obtained through observations and interviews with Sambas Malay children and adolescents who participated routinely in the pangkak gasing game

ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON A MALAY BILINGUAL CHILD’S SYNTACTIC AWARENESS

By the age of 6 months old, the early production of language begins. Starting from this age, children will be able to use more than one word and they will be able to relate one word to another in creating sentences or phrases to convey meaning. For bilingual children, it is common for them to mix up words between two languages in their utterances. However, they are still able to make a distinction. Thus, this study presents an observation of the author on the syntactic awareness of a Malay child who was acquiring Malay at the same time as she was acquiring English and how different environments influenced the subject’s syntactic development. In addition, the cognitivist theory by Noam Chomsky will be discussed in view of explaining the significance of environmental influences as the main variable of this study.

Crown dimensions of Malay deciduous teeth: Sex dimorphism and tooth size in Asia

ObjectiveThis study documents deciduous tooth crown dimensions and sex dimorphism in modern Malay children of Indonesia. Comparisons are made with living and prehistoric East and South Asians to better understand tooth size variation in space and through time. DesignMeasurements of the dental crown were made with a Mitutoyo digimatic caliper, interfaced with a Dell laptop, running Microsoft Excel (2003). Buccolingual (BL) measurements of maximum crown breadth of modern Malay were made by the first author. All prehistoric South Asian comparative samples were measured by the first author, data for living East and South Asians were taken from published data. All statistical analyses were conducted using SAS, Inc. (9.1 for Windows). ResultsCrown dimensions, sex dimorphism and crown areas are presented and reveal consistencies in tooth size and level of sexual dimorphism with East and South Asian living samples. Sex dimorphism in Malay crown dimensions is low (1.1%) among Asians. Total crown area is 484.7 mm2, similar to living Japanese (486.3 mm2), but greater than Hindus (476.4 mm2) of India. Compared with prehistoric groups the Malay have reduced tooth size, especially when compared with Neolithic (MR 3, 535.3 mm2) and Chalcolithic (MR 2, 515.3 mm2) Mehrgarh, Pakistan. ConclusionSex dimorphism in Malay deciduous crown dimensions is lower than average among Asians and total tooth crown area is similar to living East and South Asians but is reduced when compared with prehistoric Asian samples.

Acute Haemolysis Precipitating Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Injury in a Newly Diagnosed G6PD Deficiency: A Case Report

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) is a common X-linked genetic condition among Malaysians that have largely caused acute intravascular haemolysis. In G6PD deficient children, the phenomenon of rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria is a rare complication as muscle has more resistant to undergo acute myolysis. A 22-month-old Malay child was presented with severe anaemia following with ingestion of large amount of fava beans. He then developed into acute kidney injury together with the laboratory findings of intravascular haemolysis, rhabdomyolysis, and the presence of multi-systems bloods derangement. He showed positive response to hyperhydration, haemodialysis and blood transfusions. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21 No. 03 July’22 Page: 741-744

Prevalence of lactose intolerance and malabsorption among children of two ethnic groups from the urban areas of Malaysia and its relation to calcium intake and bone health status.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of LI and lactose malabsorption (LM) in Malay and Chinese children and examine its relationship with calcium intake (CI) and BHS. A total of 400 children participated in this study. The prevalence of lactose tolerance (LT) was assessed using hydrogen breath test, LT test, and visual analogue scales. Assessment of CI was performed using a 24-h dietary recall interview (24-h DR) and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) was measured using a quantitative ultrasonometer. The prevalence of LI among Chinese children (37%) was significantly higher (p = 0.002) than among Malay children (22.5%). However, 61.5% of Malay and 54.5% of Chinese children were found to have LM. CI of the children fulfilled 30.5% and 33.9% of the Malaysian recommended CI (1300mg/day) for 24-h DR and FFQ, respectively. The BUA score of Malay children was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that of Chinese children. However, LT and CI were not correlated with BHS (p > 0.05, respectively). LI was diagnosed among Malay and Chinese children. However, the higher prevalence of LM is rather worrying as it could develop to LI. The prevalence possibly has been worsened by insufficient CI. Thus, effective approaches to increase CI are highly needed as bone development occurs rapidly at this age and is important for the attainment of the optimum peak bone mass during late adolescence.

Dental age estimation of Malay children and adolescents: Chaillet and Demirjian's data improved using artificial multilayer perceptron neural network

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of the 8-tooth method on the Malaysian Malays aged 5.00–17.99 years originally introduced by Chaillet and Demirjian and to develop a more reliable teeth maturity scores for age estimation based on artificial neural networks (ANN). A total of 1569 dental panoramic tomographs of Malaysian Malays aged 5.00–17.99 years were assessed. Tooth development was initially recorded using a score chart adapted from Demirjian's eight developmental stages. Maturity scores were converted to dental age (DA). The mean and standard deviation of chronological age (CA), DA and the difference between CA and DA were calculated. Artificial neural networks was then employed to develop new dental maturity scores (NDA) and its reliability was assessed. Results Initial comparison of known CA with estimated DA derived from Chaillet and Demirjian's dental maturity scores showed that DA was consistently underestimated by 2.09 ± 0.90 years for Malay boys and 2.79 ± 0.99 years for Malay girls for all age groups (paired t-test, p 0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, the new dental maturity scores were highly accurate in estimating the age of Malaysian Malay children and adolescents.

The longitudinal association between early-life screen viewing and abdominal adiposity-findings from a multiethnic birth cohort study.

Screen viewing in adults has been associated with greater abdominal adiposity, with the magnitude of associations varying by sex and ethnicity, but the evidence is lacking at younger ages. We aimed to investigate sex- and ethnic-specific associations of screen-viewing time at ages 2 and 3 years with abdominal adiposity measured by magnetic resonance imaging at age 4.5 years. The Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes is an ongoing prospective mother-offspring cohort study. Parents/caregivers reported the time their child spent viewing television, handheld devices, and computer screens at ages 2 and 3 years. Superficial and deep subcutaneous and visceral abdominal adipose tissue volumes were quantified from magnetic resonance images acquired at age 4.5 years. Associations between screen-viewing time and abdominal adipose tissue volumes were examined by multivariable linear regression adjusting for confounding factors. In the overall sample (n = 307), greater total screen-viewing time and handheld device times were associated with higher superficial and deep subcutaneous adipose tissue volumes, but not with visceral adipose tissue volumes. Interactions with child sex were found, with significant associations with superficial and deep subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue volumes in boys, but not in girls. Among boys, the increases in mean (95% CI) superficial and deep subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue volumes were 24.3 (9.9, 38.7), 17.6 (7.4, 27.8), and 7.8 (2.1, 13.6) mL per hour increase in daily total screen-viewing time, respectively. Ethnicity-specific analyses showed associations of total screen-viewing time with abdominal adiposity only in Malay children. Television viewing time was not associated with abdominal adiposity. Greater total screen-viewing time (and in particular, handheld device viewing time) was associated with higher abdominal adiposity in boys and Malay children. Additional studies are necessary to confirm these associations and to examine screen-viewing interventions for preventing excessive abdominal adiposity and its adverse cardiometabolic consequences.