Five-year outcomes of a holistic programme for managing early chronic kidney disease in primary care.

Introduction: Holistic Approach in Lowering and Tracking Chronic Kidney Disease (HALT-CKD) is a nationwide programme that was introduced in 2017 to combat CKD in Singapore. This study aims to evaluate outcomes of the HALT-CKD programme and identify factors influencing disease progression among early CKD patients.

Method: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving adult patients aged 21 to 80 with CKD stages G1-G3A, recruited from 5 Singapore polyclinics between 2017 and 2018.

Prevalence of dermatoses in geriatric singaporeans in the community - a cross-sectional study.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of dermatoses in "skin-well" geriatric Singaporeans. We aim to identify the prevalence of dermatoses and their associations within the geriatric population in Singapore, and to understand the distribution of dermatological encounters presenting to primary care physicians, and the resultant referral behaviour.

Methods: A joint quantitative-qualitative study was performed across 8 months.

Impact of CD151 overexpression on prognosis and therapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients lacking EGFR mutations.

This study investigates CD151, a protein linked to cancer progression, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients without epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. These patients often have limited treatment options. The study used retrospective analysis to examine 157 adenocarcinoma biopsy specimens and 199 patient cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas, correlating CD151 expression with patient survival.

Validation of motor component of Glasgow coma scale in lieu of total Glasgow coma scale as a pediatric trauma field triage tool.

Introduction: Prehospital trauma triage and disability assessment of pediatric patients can be challenging on the field, especially in the pre-verbal age group. It would be useful if the same triage tool and criteria can be used for both adults and children to risk-stratify the need of higher acuity of trauma care.

Study Objective: We aimed to investigate if using only the motor component of Glasgow Coma Scale (mGCS), as a quick field trauma triage tool, was non-inferior to total GCS (tGCS), and if mGCS <6 was non-inferior to tGCS <14, in predicting the need for intensive care or mortality in the pediatric population.

Antibiotic treatment failure of uncomplicated urinary tract infections in primary care.

Background: Higher resistance rates of > 20% have been noted in Enterobacteriaceae urinary isolates towards ciprofloxacin and co-trimoxazole (C + C) in Singapore, compared with amoxicillin-clavulanate and nitrofurantoin (AC + N). This study examined if treatment failure varied between different antibiotics, given different resistant rates, for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) managed in primary care. We also aimed to identify gaps for improvement in diagnosis, investigations, and management.

Variability in Grading Diabetic Retinopathy Using Retinal Photography and Its Comparison with an Automated Deep Learning Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Software.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening using colour retinal photographs is cost-effective and time-efficient. In real-world clinical settings, DR severity is frequently graded by individuals of different expertise levels. We aim to determine the agreement in DR severity grading between human graders of varying expertise and an automated deep learning DR screening software (ADLS).

Decision-making patterns among expert and novice orthodontists and oral maxillofacial surgeons in the management of adults with Class III malocclusions and moderate degree of skeletal discrepancies.

Objective: To explore the decision-making patterns among expert and novice orthodontists and oral maxillofacial surgeons in the management of adults with Class III malocclusions and moderate skeletal discrepancies.

Design: Self-administered questionnaire survey.

Setting: Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore and the University Dental Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore.

Does an educational video for aneuploidy screening improve informed choice among pregnant women? A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Poor knowledge and the lack of deliberation have been cited as reasons for women making uninformed choices about aneuploidy screening. Adequate pre-test counselling is of particular importance where non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) is being increasingly offered as a primary screening test.

Design: Women attending the antenatal clinic with a singleton pregnancy below 14 weeks were randomised to receive routine counselling or the intervention-a 16-min educational video on aneuploidy screening before their consult.

One-Year Outcomes of Micropulse Cyclophototherapy for Primary Open-angle Glaucoma.

Precis: In primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), micropulse trans-scleral cyclophototherapy (MPTCP) is effective in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP), but its effects are not permanent. Hence, it can serve as a temporizing measure before definitive glaucoma surgery.

Purpose: There is limited data on MPTCP in POAG.

Comparing conventional and high sensitivity troponin T measurements in identifying adverse cardiac events in patients admitted to an Asian emergency department chest pain observation unit.

Background: High sensitive cardiac troponin assays can be used for prediction of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with chest pain.

Methods: We included patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department observation unit. We compared the accuracy of conventional troponin T (cTnT) with high sensitive troponin T (hsTnT) at various ranges, as well as the utility of hsTnT and cTnT in prediction of 30-day and 1-year MACE.

Temporomandibular disorders in prospective orthodontic patients.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and severity of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in prospective orthodontic patients. The association between TMDs and malocclusion severity as well as the impact of TMDs on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were also examined.

Materials And Methods: A total of 350 consecutive patients seeking orthodontic treatment were invited to participate in the study.

Oximetry-detected pulsus paradoxus predicts for severity in paediatric asthma.

Objective: To evaluate if qualitative visual detection of pulsus paradoxus (PP) on the pulse oximeter plethysmograph can predict outcomes for children with moderate to severe respiratory distress in a paediatric emergency department (ED).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Paediatric ED of a tertiary paediatrics hospital in Singapore.

A Cross-sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitude and Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening among Cancer Survivors.

Introduction: Understanding behaviour of cancer survivors is imperative as they are at risk of recurrence or second cancers. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers globally. We aim to determine the uptake rate, barriers and predictors of CRC screening among cancer survivors.

Secondary dentition characteristics in an ethnic Chinese orthodontic population: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of dental anomalies and its association with gender.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using radiographs, photographs and clinical records of patients who attended the Department of Orthodontics at the National Dental Centre Singapore. Records of 2508 ethnic Chinese orthodontic patients aged 14-25 years were examined for the prevalence of dental anomalies in the permanent dentition, excluding third molars.

Risk stratifying the screening of Barrett's esophagus: An Asian perspective.

Background And Aim: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Although risk factors exist for screening patients in the West, we aimed to determine the factors in terms of demographics and symptoms for patients in an Asian setting.

Methods: We recruited 1378 patients over a 7-year period as part of an ongoing gastric cancer screening program.

Characteristics of fall-related traumatic brain injury in older adults.

Background: Older adults admitted for falls and its complications, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), is increasing. Recent studies have shown that those with falls who presented to the emergency department (ED) had an increased frequency of ED revisits, especially those with head trauma.

Aim: To determine the characteristics and predictors of fall-related traumatic brain injury (FRTBI) in older adults.

Secondary Dentition Characteristics in Children With Nonsyndromic Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: Children with cleft lip and palate are reported to be commonly associated with higher prevalence of dental anomalies such as hypodontia, supernumeraries, and abnormalities in tooth size, shape, and position. This study investigated the prevalence of dental anomalies in a longitudinal cohort of children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

Design: The study was a retrospective analysis of radiographs, study models, and treatment notes.

Pegylated Filgrastim Versus Filgrastim for Stem Cell Mobilization in Multiple Myeloma After Novel Agent Induction.

Background: The current standard of care for transplant-eligible myeloma patients is novel agent-based induction, followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell rescue. Chemo-mobilization of peripheral blood CD34 stem cells (PBSCs) with pegylated filgrastim (pegfilgrastim), a sustained-duration formulation of filgrastim, has been used as an alternative to filgrastim in several studies involving heterogeneous cohorts of lymphoma and multiple myeloma (MM) patients and shown to be equivalent in PBSC yield and cost-effectiveness. The present study focused on the efficacy of pegfilgrastim in PBSC mobilization compared with filgrastim exclusively after novel agent-based induction in a homogeneous group of MM patients.

Corrigendum to "A Study of Success Rate of Miniscrew Implants as Temporary Anchorage Devices in Singapore".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2015/294670.].

Development and Validation of a Simplified Falls Assessment Tool in an Acute Care Setting.

An easy-to-use assessment tool, which contains reversible risk factors, might influence the success of a falls prevention program. A 2-phase study was undertaken to develop and validate a simplified falls assessment tool. Risk factors of confusion, dizziness, altered elimination, and difficulty with mobility were found to be significantly associated with fall status.

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder in incident peritoneal dialysis patients and its association with short-term outcomes.

Introduction: A complex relationship exists between chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) and adverse outcomes among dialysis patients. This study aimed to report the prevalence of CKD-MBD and examine the impact of achieving target CKD-MBD parameters on morbidity and mortality one year after peritoneal dialysis (PD) initiation.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients electively initiated on PD were followed up for one year.

Evaluation of the applicability of the Immuno-solid-phase allergen chip (ISAC) assay in atopic patients in Singapore.

Background/objective: Molecular-based allergy diagnostics are gaining popularity in clinical practice. Our aim was to evaluate their role in the tropics, given the inherent genetic and environmental differences.

Methods: We recruited subjects with history of atopy and collected data on demographics and atopic symptoms using validated questionnaires.