Patient characterization and predictors of aspirin desensitization response.

Background: Hypersensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may limit the use of aspirin in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Aspirin desensitization, which is a resource-intensive process, can offer such patients access to aspirin through the induction of temporary tolerance to aspirin. However, there is limited information on aspirin desensitization response in patients undergoing aspirin desensitization for cardiac indications in Asia.

Managing asthma in the COVID-19 pandemic and current recommendations from professional bodies: a review.

Objective: To provide a summary of the management of asthma in the current COVID-19 pandemic by examining and comparing the recommendations from various professional bodies.

Data Sources And Study Selection: Websites of known respiratory professional bodies were searched for COVID-19 guidance related to asthma. Subject matter experts were also consulted for useful resources.

Impact of psychological impairment on quality of life and work impairment in severe asthma.

Background: Psychological impairment, such as anxiety and depression, is common in severe asthma. However, the impact of psychological impairment on asthma-specific quality of life (ASQOL) and work impairment has not been assessed within Southeast-Asia. Furthermore, previous ASQOL questionnaires contained items overlapping with asthma control, making it challenging to isolate the relationship between psychological impairment with ASQOL and asthma control, respectively.

Increased Chitotriosidase Is Associated With Aspergillus and Frequent Exacerbations in South-East Asian Patients With Bronchiectasis.

Background: Chitinase activity is an important innate immune defence mechanism against infection that includes fungi. The 2 human chitinases: chitotriosidase (CHIT1) and acidic mammalian chitinase are associated to allergy, asthma, and COPD; however, their role in bronchiectasis and bronchiectasis-COPD overlap (BCO) is unknown.

Research Question: What is the association between chitinase activity, airway fungi and clinical outcomes in bronchiectasis and bronchiectasis-COPD overlap?

Study Design And Methods: A prospective cohort of 463 individuals were recruited across five hospital sites in three countries (Singapore, Malaysia, and Scotland) including individuals who were not diseased (n = 35) and who had severe asthma (n = 54), COPD (n = 90), bronchiectasis (n = 241) and BCO (n = 43).

Using the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure to Identify Areas for Improvement in a Singaporean Residency Program.

Background: Attributes of the clinical learning environment (CLE) are a measure of quality in postgraduate medical education, and assessing the CLE is a component of the New Accreditation System being introduced in Singapore by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International. There is a dearth of published studies of CLE quality in Singapore.

Objective: Our study had 3 aims: (1) to measure the CLE in 1 Singaporean residency program; (2) to compare trainee perceptions by sex, training level, and experience; and (3) to identify areas for improvement.

Evaluating the educational environment in a residency programme in Singapore: can we help reduce burnout rates?

Introduction: The educational environment (EE) reflects the quality of a residency programme and has an association with burnout. Studying the EE allows for interventions to target specific weaknesses. We aimed to measure the EE of an internal medicine residency programme in Singapore, compare the perceptions between genders, residency grades and levels of work experience, and identify specific areas of weaknesses for intervention in hopes of reducing residency burnout rates in Singapore.

Understanding COPD-overlap syndromes.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease accounts for a large burden of lung disease. It can 'overlap' with other respiratory diseases including bronchiectasis, fibrosis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While COPD alone confers morbidity and mortality, common features with contrasting clinical outcomes can occur in COPD 'overlap syndromes'.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

We report a 68-year-old female who presented with chronic cough and progressive dyspnoea. Computed tomography of the thorax and subsequent bronchoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), which was treated with whole lung lavage. This case is reported in view of the low incidence of PAP.