Dysregulated microRNA expression in IL-4 transgenic mice, an animal model of atopic dermatitis.

IL-4 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Previously we showed that the expression of genes in chemotaxis, angiogenesis, inflammation and barrier functions is dysregulated in IL-4 transgenic (Tg) mice, a well-characterized AD mouse model. In this study, we aim to study differential expression of microRNAs in IL-4 Tg mice.

iWorkHealth: An instrument to identify workplace psychosocial risk factors for a multi-ethnic Asian working population.

Objective: The current study aimed to develop iWorkHealth, a valid and reliable self-administered instrument which identifies workplace psychosocial risk factors in Singapore.

Methods: The survey was conducted among 2718 employees who were primarily salaried workers and working in five companies from the healthcare, banking and finance, and legal sectors in Singapore. Factor extraction and item reduction were conducted using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Mokken scale analysis (MSA).

Improving resistance and resiliency through crisis intervention training.

To our knowledge no research has been done on the impact of crisis intervention training programs on resistance and resiliency. This paper describes the use of a localized crisis intervention course and its impact on resistance and resiliency in the participants after 2 days of training. Participants attending the localized version of ICISF Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support courses participated in a pre-course quiz and a post-course quiz.

Awareness and utilization of peer support programs in Singapore public general hospitals.

To address the effects of acute, chronic and cumulative stress in the healthcare environment in Singapore, the Ministry of Health provided funding to develop a comprehensive crisis response management system (peer support programs/PSPs) that increases mental health awareness, provides emotional support to affected staff during work-related critical incidents and assists hospital management to better understand the emotional needs of the employees. This paper reports the awareness and utilization of PSPs in Singapore public general hospitals about one year after they were set up.

A pilot study of the impact of the Asian Tsunami on a group of Asian media workers.

The Asian Tsunami that struck on December 26, 2004, claimed tens of thousands of lives. To bring up-to-date news to the public, many media workers raced to the frontline. Singapore journalists were among the first to arrive at the devastated scenes of the affected countries.

Genetic analysis of the thermolabile methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase variant in schizophrenia and mood disorders.

Objective: An elevated homocysteine level has been reported for patients with schizophrenia and depression. We investigated the frequency of the common C667 T variant of the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in controls and patients of Chinese descent.

Methods: Controls with no history of mental disorder and patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar and unipolar disorders were recruited.

Influence of work environment on emotional health in a health care setting.

Background: Radical changes are taking place in health care services and might be expected to cause job dissatisfaction, absenteeism, somatic complaints and mental health problems. Research in this area is limited and focused primarily on nurses.

Aim: To understand the impact of the work environment on the emotional health of doctors and nurses in a general hospital setting.

Psychological impact of the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak on health care workers in a medium size regional general hospital in Singapore.

Aims: To describe the psychological impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on health care workers in a regional general hospital 2 months post-outbreak.

Method: Doctors and nurses were encouraged to participate. The survey consisted of self-report measures: demographics, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) 28 and Impact of Events Scale (IES).

Case-control and linkage disequilibrium studies of the tryptophan hydroxylase gene polymorphisms and major depressive disorder.

Objectives: Alterations in the level of the serotonin, serotonin uptake and the number of binding sites have been linked to affective illness. We investigated the association of tryptophan hydroxylase gene polymorphisms and unipolar depression in a case-control study design.

Methods: Patients and ethnically matched controls were genotyped for three polymorphisms of the tryptophan hydroxylase gene.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and its impact on the economic and health costs of motor vehicle accidents in South australia.

Background: Motor vehicle accident studies thus far have focused primarily on psychiatric consequences and outcomes and medicolegal and treatment aspects, particularly of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to determine the impact of motor vehicle accident-related psychiatric disorders on health and economic costs in quantitative terms.

Method: Of the 3088 victims of motor vehicle accidents who made a claim through the State Insurance Commission, South Australia, between November 27, 1996, and March 23, 1999, 391 responded to the study and were assessed using the 28-item General Health Questionnaire, the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, and the Dissociative Experiences Scale.

Sexual assaults in Singapore: a comparative study of rapists and molesters.

Sexual assaults vary in terms of severity from molestation, which involves touching, stroking, fondling or grabbing of any part of the victim's body, to rape, where victims have been known to suffer severe emotional trauma. The aim of the study is to compare molesters with rapists using hypotheses that molesters and rapists commit their offences at different times of the day, at differing locations and with differing relationships with their victims. The influence of alcohol on both groups was also studied.