Search

This thesis was scanned from the print manuscript for digital preservation and is copyright the author. Researchers can access this thesis by asking their local university, institution or public library to make a request on their behalf. Monash staff and postgraduate students can use the link in the References field.

ObjectiveThe first is to estimate the prevalence of dyslipidaemia (hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level), as well as the mean levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL, in the urban and rural Yangon Region, Myanmar. The second is to investigate the association between urban-rural location and total cholesterol.DesignTwo cross-sectional studies using the WHO STEPS methodology.SettingBoth the urban and rural areas of the Yangon Region, Myanmar.ParticipantsA total of 1370 men and women aged 25–74 years participated based on a multistage cluster sampling. Physically and mentally ill people, monks, nuns, soldiers and institutionalised people were excluded.ResultsCompared with rural counterparts, urban dwellers had a significantly higher age-standardised prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia (50.7% vs 41.6%; p=0.042) and a low HDL level (60.6% vs 44.4%; p=0.001). No urban-rural differences were found in the prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia and high LDL. Men had a higher age-standardised prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia than women (25.1% vs 14.8%; pCompared with rural inhabitants, urban dwellers had higher age-standardised mean levels of total cholesterol (5.31 mmol/L, SE: 0.044 vs 5.05 mmol/L, 0.068; p=0.009), triglyceride (1.65 mmol/L, 0.049 vs 1.38 mmol/L, 0.078; p=0.017), LDL (3.44 mmol/L, 0.019 vs 3.16 mmol/L, 0.058; p=0.001) and lower age-standardised mean levels of HDL (1.11 mmol/L, 0.010 vs 1.25 mmol/L, 0.012; pConclusionThe mean level of total cholesterol and the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia were alarmingly high in men and women in both the urban and rural areas of Yangon Region, Myanmar. Preventive measures to reduce cholesterol levels in the population are therefore needed.

SUMMARY 1. Strips of rabbit anococcygeus muscle were submaximally contracted by the addition of phenylephrine to the bath fluid. 2. Acetylcholine, dimethylphenylpiperazinium and electrical field stimulation caused relaxation. Relaxation induced by acetylcholine and field stimulation was blocked by tetrodotoxin but only the acetylcholine-induced response was inhibited by lignocaine, tetraethylammonium and hexamethonium. The responses to both acetylcholine and field stimulation were resistant to atropine, practolol, and sotalol. 3. Relatively high concentrations of ATP caused relaxation. 4. Histological investigation did not show any cells resembling autonomic ganglion cells. 5. It is suggested that both acetylcholine and field stimulation release an inhibitory transmitter from nerve endings and that the release by acetylcholine is mediated through nicotinic receptor stimulation.