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Objectives. To estimate the frequency of Metabolic Syndrome (MS in Myanmar obese children and to determine the risk factors associated with MS in obese children comparing with normal weight children. Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the risk factors for metabolic syndrome between normal and obese children by using the pediatric definition for metabolic syndrome [International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 2007]. Twenty-three obese children (BMI, ≥ 97 th percentile) and 23 normal weight children (BMI, < 85 th percentile) aged 5-12 years were included in the study. Blood pressure, body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), fasting triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and glucose concentrations were determined. Results. Based on the IDF pediatric criteria, 9 obese children (39.1%) had metabolic syndrome while no normal weight child had metabolic syndrome. Ten (43.5%) normal weight children and 3 (13.0%) obese children had at least one risk factor for the metabolic syndrome. Central obesity (WC ³ 90 th percentile for age and sex), the most common risk factor, was observed in 25 children (54.4% of the total population). Conclusion. This study highlights the need for early recognition of risk factors for metabolic syndrome in all children to halt the progression of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in later life.

Primaquine and other 8-amnoquinoline based anti-malarials can cause haemolysis in subjects with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Correct diagnosis of G6PD status in patients is crucial for safe treatment of both relapsing stages of Plasmodium vivax and transmitting forms of Plasmodium falciparum. Lack of suitable point-of-care tests has hampered a much needed wide use of primaquine for malaria elimination. In this study we have assessed the performances of two qualitative tests, the fluorescent spot test (FST) and the G6PD CareStart test (CST), against the gold standard quantitative spectrophotometric assay in a population of 1000 random adult healthy volunteers living in Yangon, Myanmar. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency in the Bamar, Karen and in the whole sample set was 6.6% (10.1% in males), 9.2% (21.0% in males) and 6.8% (11.1% in males) respectively. The FST and CST showed comparable performances with sensitivity over 95% and specificity over 90%, however for cases with severe G6PD activity the FTS had improved performance. If used with a conservative interpretation of the signal, the CareStart test has the potential to be used in the field and, by allowing a wider use of primaquine, to help malaria elimination.