Reasonable Risk Ratio of Palate Surgery: A New Critical Analysis.

Objective.: A new critical complication risk analysis, the reasonable risk ratio (RRR or R) for palate surgeries in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Methods.

Baveno-VII criteria to predict decompensation and initiate non-selective beta-blocker in compensated advanced chronic liver disease patients.

Background/aims: The utility of Baveno-VII criteria of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) to predict decompensation in compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) patient needs validation. We aim to validate the performance of CSPH criteria to predict the risk of decompensation in an international real-world cohort of cACLD patients.

Methods: cACLD patients were stratified into three categories (CSPH excluded, grey zone, and CSPH).

Factors Associated With Hope and Quality of Life in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Psychological resources such as hope have been suggested to affect quality of life (QoL) positively in patients with heart disease. However, little information regarding the relationship between these two constructs is available.

Purpose: This work was aimed at examining the factors associated with hope and QoL in patients with coronary artery disease.

The road to achieving herd immunity: factors associated with Singapore residents' uptake and hesitancy of the COVID-19 vaccination.

Objective: Achieving high vaccination rates is key to containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study evaluated the factors associated with uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods: Six hundred and seventy-six respondents were surveyed online between May and June 2021.

Machine-learning model derived gene signature predictive of paclitaxel survival benefit in gastric cancer: results from the randomised phase III SAMIT trial.

Objective: To date, there are no predictive biomarkers to guide selection of patients with gastric cancer (GC) who benefit from paclitaxel. Stomach cancer Adjuvant Multi-Institutional group Trial (SAMIT) was a 2×2 factorial randomised phase III study in which patients with GC were randomised to Pac-S-1 (paclitaxel +S-1), Pac-UFT (paclitaxel +UFT), S-1 alone or UFT alone after curative surgery.

Design: The primary objective of this study was to identify a gene signature that predicts survival benefit from paclitaxel chemotherapy in GC patients.

Head-to-head evaluation on diagnostic accuracies of six SARS-CoV-2 serological assays.

In this study, we evaluated and compared six SARS-CoV-2 serology kits including the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay, Beckman Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay, OCD Vitros OCD Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Total antibody assay, Roche Elecsys Anti SARS-CoV-2 assay, Siemens SARS-CoV-2 Total assay, and cPass surrogate viral neutralising antibody assay. A total of 336 non-duplicated residual serum samples that were obtained from COVID-19 confirmed patients (n=173) on PCR and negative controls (n=163) obtained pre-December 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic were used for the study. These were concurrently analysed on the different immunoassay platforms and correlated with clinical characteristics.

The estimate of average age at the onset of acute myocardial infarction in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis study.

Background: Research indicates that the age of onset of first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an essential element in the life expectancy that has been decreasing in developing countries. There are various studies performed in Iran reporting a range of ages at time of AMI. Thus, this meta-analysis study is designed to determine the mean age at first AMI in the Iranian population.

Intra-operative cerebrospinal fluid sampling versus post-operative lumbar puncture for detection of leptomeningeal disease in malignant paediatric brain tumours.

Introduction: Leptomeningeal disease is a feared sequelae of malignant paediatric brain tumours. Current methods for its detection is the combined use of cranio-spinal MRI, and CSF cytology from a post-operative lumbar puncture. In this study, the authors hypothesize that CSF taken at the start of surgery, either from an external ventricular drain or neuroendoscope will have equal sensitivity for positive tumour cells, in comparison to lumbar puncture.

Combined panel of serum human tissue kallikreins and CA-125 for the detection of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: To determine the predictive accuracy of the combined panels of serum human tissue kallikreins (hKs) and CA-125 for the detection of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Methods: Serum specimens collected from 5 Indonesian centers and 1 Vietnamese center were analyzed for CA-125, hK6, and hK10 levels. A total of 375 specimens from patients presenting with ovarian tumors, which include 156 benign cysts, 172 epithelial ovarian cancers (stage I/II, n=72; stage III/IV, n=100), 36 germ cell tumors and 11 borderline tumors, were included in the study analysis.

Efficacy of metered-dose inhalers for children with acute asthma exacerbations.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of the administration of inhaled beta-agonists delivered via a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with spacers--as part of an evidence-based asthma pathway developed to manage acute asthma exacerbations in children at the emergency room level and in inpatient management--against administration via nebulization.

Design: Case with historical control.

Setting: KK Women's and Children's Hospital (Singapore).

Predictive factors for lower extremity amputations in diabetic foot infections.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of diabetic foot infections (DFIs) and its predictive factors for lower extremity amputations. A prospective study of 100 patients with DFIs treated at the National University Hospital of Singapore were recruited in the study during the period of January 2005-June 2005. A protocol was designed to document patient's demographics, type of DFI, presence of neuropathy and/or vasculopathy and its final outcome.

A multi-institutional survey on faculty development needs, priorities and preferences in medical education in an Asian medical school.

Background: Faculty development in medical education is crucial for maintaining academic vitality. The authors conducted a needs assessment survey in Singapore to determine the educational needs and priorities of clinical faculty.

Methods: This study implemented a questionnaire-based, anonymous, multi-institutional survey with stratified random sampling.

Morphologic quantification of the maxilla and the mandible with cone-beam computed tomography.

Introduction: The purpose of this pilot study was to use cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to determine the volumes of the maxilla and the mandible in subjects with skeletal Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusions. Hypothesis 1 was that the volume (size) of a skeletal Class II maxilla is larger than those of Class I and Class III. Hypothesis 2 was that the volume of a skeletal Class III mandible is larger than those of Class I and Class II.

Psychosocial and coping responses within the community health care setting towards a national outbreak of an infectious disease.

Objective: The psychological and coping responses of the noninfected community towards infectious disease outbreaks are relatively understudied. This cross-sectional study sought to determine the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-related psychiatric and posttraumatic morbidities and associated coping styles within the general population visiting community health care services.

Methods: It was conducted on individuals attending community polyclinics in Singapore within the first week of July 2003, 16 weeks after the first national outbreak of SARS.

Motivation, study habits, and expectations of medical students in Singapore.

Objectives: To determine the motivation and incentives in education, learning experience and teaching techniques, and expectations about future careers among medical students from a multi-ethnic Asian country.

Methods: Pre-validated questionnaire-based survey with stratified random sampling among medical students. The questionnaire combined qualitative responses with semi-quantitative measures of available alternatives.

Generalised convulsive status epilepticus in Singapore: clinical outcomes and potential prognostic markers.

Purpose: To study the characteristics, outcomes and prognostic markers of convulsive status epilepticus (SE) in Singapore.

Methods: 62 adult admissions to the National University Hospital Singapore from 2002 to 2005 were studied. Ethnicity, history of epilepsy, educational subnormality, neuroimaging, seizure duration, length of stay, Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) pre and post discharge, blood glucose, creatine kinase, potassium, white cell and platelet count were recorded.

Low doses of antipsychotic drugs for hospitalized schizophrenia patients in East Asia: 2004 vs. 2001.

We test the hypothesis of increasing prevalence of low-dose antipsychotic use (300 mg/d chlorpromazine-equivalent) in East Asia and examine clinical correlates of conservative dosing. Rates of low-dose antipsychotic prescription were determined for 4535 patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia in six East Asian countries and territories, with comparisons analysed for 2004 vs. 2001.

Epidemiology of diabetic foot problems and predictive factors for limb loss.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of diabetic foot problems (DFP) and predictive factors for major amputations (below- and above-knee).

Methods: This is a prospective study of 202 patients treated in National University Hospital (NUH) during the period of January 2005 to May 2006. A protocol was designed for documentation including patient profile, type of DFP, presence of risk factors, comorbidities and complications, clinical presentation, investigations, treatment given, and final outcome.

Assessment criteria for compliance with oral hygiene: application of ROC analysis.

Purpose: Diabetes is an established risk factor for periodontal disease. Management of periodontal disease is highly dependent upon effective oral hygiene. Assessment of plaque and gingivitis has been commonly used and arbitrarily set in clinical practice to evaluate patients' adherence with oral hygiene recommendations.

Metabolic differences between Asian and Caucasian patients on clozapine treatment.

Objective: To establish if there are ethnic differences in the various metabolic disturbances that are common with clozapine treatment.

Method: Forty subjects (20 Asians and 20 Caucasians) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were recruited for the study. Clozapine blood levels as well as fasting blood glucose, lipid levels, and liver function tests were established.

Migration psychosis and homicide in Singapore: a five year study.

Psychiatric research into violent offences, particularly murder, have been scant in the South East Asian region, with the last major review of homicides in Singapore and their association with psychiatric disorders being as far back as 1985. This study seeks to update the psychiatric community on individuals charged with murder in Singapore from 1997 to 2001 and particularly to further investigate the phenomenon of 'migration psychosis' in relation to foreigners in this sample who have committed homicide. One hundred and ten individuals in Singapore were charged with murder between 1997 and 2001.

Socio-demographic profile and help-seeking behaviour of buprenorphine abusers in Singapore.

Introduction: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved buprenorphine or Subutex for the treatment of opiate dependence in October 2002. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist of the mu-opioid receptor; although initial animal research suggested a low abuse potential for buprenorphine, it was subsequently shown to have an abuse potential similar to that of morphine or hydromorphone. The objectives of this study were to establish the sociodemographic profile and help-seeking behaviour of buprenorphine abusers attending the deaddiction treatment clinics of the Community Addictions Management Programme.

Assessment of colour differences in silicone hand and digit prostheses: perceptible and acceptable thresholds for fair and dark skin shades.

This study addresses the dilemma of initial clinical and social acceptance of a newly fabricated silicone prosthesis in relation to its colour match to the natural skin. This was achieved by derivation of specific colour difference thresholds defining perceptible and acceptable levels of colour sensitivity. Two separate sets of 10 fair and dark shade digit prosthesis samples were each fabricated with a stepped increase in colour difference (deltaE) against the baseline hand prosthesis.

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.