A randomized cross-over study of cryopreserved platelets in prophylactic transfusions of thrombocytopenic patients.

Background: The short shelf-life of liquid-stored platelets (LP) at 20-24°C poses shortage and wastage challenges. Cryopreserved platelets have significantly extended shelf-life, and were safe and efficacious for therapeutic transfusions of bleeding patients in the Afghanistan conflict and phase 2 randomized studies. Although hematology patients account for half of platelets demand, there is no randomized study on prophylactic cryopreserved platelet transfusions in them.

Glucose Awareness to Motivate and Enable Solutions (GAMES) in diabetes mellitus using flash glucose monitoring: A clinical programme.

Aims: This real-world observational clinical programme evaluated short and medium-term effects of intermittent flash glucose monitoring on HbA1c, glycaemic variability and lifestyle behavioural changes.

Methods: Two first-generation Libre flash glucose monitoring sensors were provided 3-4 months apart with a food, activity diary, user evaluation survey and treatment modification after each sensor wear. T-tests were used to compare glucose variables within each sensor (week 1 vs.

Impact of COVID-19 and partial lockdown on access to care, self-management and psychological well-being among people with diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of lockdown measures can be widespread, affecting both clinical and psychosocial aspects of health. This study aims to assess changes in health services access, self-care, behavioural, and psychological impact of COVID-19 and partial lockdown amongst diabetes patients in Singapore.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey amongst people with diabetes with the Diabetes Health Profile-18 (DHP-18).

Evaluation of eight commercial Zika virus IgM and IgG serology assays for diagnostics and research.

Several commercial Zika virus (ZIKV) serology assays have been developed since the recognition of ZIKV outbreaks as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in 2016. However, test interpretation for ZIKV serology can be challenging due to antibody cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses like dengue virus (DENV). Therefore, we sought to evaluate the performance of eight commercially available ZIKV IgM and IgG assays across three testing platforms, namely, immunochromatographic tests (ICT), ELISAs and immunofluorescence tests (IIFT).

Force of Infection and True Infection Rate of Dengue in Singapore: Implications for Dengue Control and Management.

National data on dengue notifications do not capture all dengue infections and do not reflect the true intensity of disease transmission. To assess the true dengue infection rate and disease control efforts in Singapore, we conducted age-stratified serosurveys among residents after a 2013 outbreak that was the largest dengue outbreak on record. The age-weighted prevalence of dengue immunoglobulin G among residents was 49.

Ex vivo haemostatic capacity of plasma upon thawing and beyond: a comparison between fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and frozen plasma prepared from whole blood stored at room temperature up to 24 hours postcollection (RTFP24).

Background/objectives: We compared the ex vivo haemostatic capacity of RTFP24 with FFP upon thawing and >24 h post-thaw. We included thrombin generation (TG) as few studies had compared global haemostatic function, and most did not directly compare RTFP24 with FFP >24 h post-thaw.

Materials/methods: Twenty units each of RTFP24 and FFP were measured for coagulation factors and thrombin generation upon thawing (D0) and 4 days post-thaw (D4).

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and the IL28B genotype polymorphism among blood donors and high-risk populations.

Introduction: To study the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in blood donor (BD), haemodialysis (HD) and intravenous drug user (IVDU) populations in Singapore and assess the IL28B polymorphism if HCV positive.

Methods: The BD population were healthy volunteers, the HD population were patients who were on haemodialysis for at least six months of follow-up between January 2009 and December 2014. IVDU population was from inmates at halfway houses who consented.

Identification of circulating microRNA signatures for breast cancer detection.

Purpose: There is a quest for novel noninvasive diagnostic markers for the detection of breast cancer. The goal of this study is to identify circulating microRNA (miRNA) signatures using a cohort of Asian Chinese patients with breast cancer, and to compare miRNA profiles between tumor and serum samples.

Experimental Design: miRNA from paired breast cancer tumors, normal tissue, and serum samples derived from 32 patients were comprehensively profiled using microarrays or locked nucleic acid real-time PCR panels.

DNA methyltransferase I is a mediator of doxorubicin-induced genotoxicity in human cancer cells.

Doxorubicin can induce the formation of extra-nuclear bodies during mitosis termed micronuclei but the underlying causes remain unknown. Here, we show that sub-lethal exposure to doxorubicin-induced micronuclei formation in human cancer cells but not in non-tumorigenic cells. Occurrence of micronuclei coincided with stability of DNMT1 upon doxorubicin assault, and DNMT1 was localized to the micronuclei structures.

p21(WAF1) negatively regulates DNMT1 expression in mammalian cells.

The expression of DNMT1, the major maintenance DNA methyltransferases, is critical in coordinating DNMT1 activity with biological processes and therefore must be tightly regulated in the cell cycle. Here, we report p21(WAF1) as a novel upstream regulator of DNMT1 expression. Ectopic expression of p21(WAF1) or TSA-mediated p21(WAF1) induction inhibits DNMT1 at the transcriptional level, and this observation consistently coincides with a reduction in p300.

Trust in coworkers and trust in organizations.

The authors proposed a modified model of organizational trust that incorporates trust in 2 foci: coworkers and organizations. They found a relation between the 2 foci. The authors also found that trust in organizations mediates the relation between trust in coworkers and organizational outcomes of affective commitment and performance.

Organizational citizenship behavior and social loafing: the role of personality, motives, and contextual factors.

The present study integrates the literature on social loafing and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The authors examined the roles of personality, motives, and contextual factors in influencing the work behaviors of OCB and social loafing. In a sample of 341 individuals working in project groups, with data collected over 3 time periods, the authors found that conscientiousness was negatively related to social loafing.

Rhythms of life: antecedents and outcomes of work-family balance in employed parents.

This study examined antecedents and outcomes of a fourfold taxonomy of work-family balance in terms of the direction of influence (work-family vs. family-work) and type of effect (conflict vs. facilitation).

Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at an older age: effect on mortality in men and women.

Objective: To compare the mortality of people who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes over 65 years of age with that of nondiabetic individuals.

Research Design And Methods: Using a population-based diabetes information system for an observational cohort study in Tayside, Scotland, people who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes over the age of 65 years between 1993 and 2002 were identified. Nondiabetic comparators, matched for age and sex, were identified from the nondiabetic population.

Individual- and perceived contextual-level antecedents of individual technical information inquiry in organizations.

The authors conducted an empirical study in research and development centers and research-oriented commercial companies in Singapore to test a model for understanding individuals' technical information inquiry behavior in organization settings. Individual-level antecedents (learning orientation, risk-taking propensity, and self-efficacy) and perceived contextual-level antecedents (management support, relationship quality, organizational norms favoring technical information inquiry, and accessibility of the information source) were theorized to affect one's evaluation of the potential benefits and costs in making technical information inquiries. The results showed that the perceived norms favoring technical information inquiry affected the willingness of individuals to make technical information inquiries through the mediating variable, expectancy value.

Antecedents and outcomes of union loyalty: a constructive replication and an extension.

Primary data obtained from unionized employees in Singapore were used to examine P. A. Bamberger, A.