Outcome of childhood epistaxis with treatment of allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled study.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study is to (1) to determine if treatment of underlying allergic rhinitis (AR) in children will affect epistaxis outcome, (2) to compare efficacy of three outpatient AR treatment regimens in epistaxis outcomes, and (3) to investigate potential factors in the pathogenesis of epistaxis with underlying AR. A single-blind randomized-controlled study was conducted in the Otolaryngology clinic in KK Women's and Children's Hospital. Sixty children aged below 18 years with underlying untreated AR, with first presentation of epistaxis, were randomized to three different AR treatments: treatment 1, antihistamine (20 patients); treatment 2, nasal steroid spray (20 patients); and treatment 3, both antihistamine and nasal steroid spray (20 patients).

Building a Longitudinal National Integrated Cardiovascular Database - Lessons Learnt From SingCLOUD.

Real world data on clinical outcomes and quality of care for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are fragmented. We describe the rationale and design of the Singapore Cardiovascular Longitudinal Outcomes Database (SingCLOUD). We designed a health data grid to integrate clinical, administrative, laboratory, procedural, prescription and financial data from all public-funded hospitals and primary care clinics, which provide 80% of health care in Singapore.

A population-based survey of mental disorders in Singapore.

Introduction: Mental illnesses are not only a growing public health concern but also a major social and economic issue affecting individuals and families throughout the world. The prevalence of mental disorders, the extent of disability caused by these disorders, and services utilisation of these patients has been well studied in developed countries. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of select mental disorders and their associated sociodemographic correlates in the adult Singapore resident population.

Severe obstructive sleep apnea and outcomes following myocardial infarction.

Study Objective: We sought to determine the effect of severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on long-term outcomes after myocardial infarction. We hypothesized that severe OSA was associated with lower event-free survival rate after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: A total of 120 patients underwent an overnight sleep study during index admission for STEMI.

Evaluating the use of a targeted multiple intervention strategy in reducing patient falls in an acute care hospital: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: This article is a report of a randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of a targeted multiple intervention strategy in reducing the number of patient falls in an acute care hospital.

Background: Prevention of patient falls remains a challenge that has eluded healthcare institutions. The effectiveness of targeted multiple fall prevention interventions in reducing the incidences of falling has not been established.

Quality-of-life-adjusted survival analysis of concurrent chemo radiotherapy for locally advanced (nonmetastatic) nasopharyngeal cancer.

Purpose: To assess whether the benefits of adding cisplatin (CDDP) concurrent with radiotherapy, followed by adjuvant CDDP and fluorouracil, justifies the toxicity cost for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) using the quality-adjusted time without symptoms or toxicity (Q-TWiST) approach.

Methods And Materials: One hundred seven patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) and 111 with concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CRT) were analyzed. The overall survival was divided into three health states: time on active treatment only, during which any subjective nonhematologic toxic event of grade > = 3 was reported; time without symptoms of disease relapse; or treatment and time following first disease RELapse.

The effect of body mass on health-related quality of life among Singaporean adolescents: results from the SCORM study.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between body mass and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Singaporean adolescents. Variation in this relationship by age, gender and ethnicity, and association of HRQOL with change in body mass over time and with demographic, socioeconomic and health variables were also assessed.

Methods: HRQOL was assessed for Singaporean adolescents aged 11-18 from their own (N=1,249) and their parent’s (N=948) perspective using PedsQLTM 4.

Ocular component growth curves among Singaporean children with different refractive error status.

Purpose: To describe and compare ocular component growth curves among different refractive error groups in Singaporean children.

Methods: Data collected yearly in 1775 Asian children aged 6 to 10 years with at least three visits were analyzed. Cycloplegic refractive error and biometry variables were measured by autorefractor and A-scan ultrasound machine.

Normative measurements of the Chinese extraocular musculature by high-field magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To establish the normal measurements of diameter and cross-sectional area of the Chinese extraocular muscles (EOMs) and optic nerve-sheath complex (ON) as seen on high-field (3-Tesla; 3T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Coronal 3T MRI of the orbit (TR, 700 ms; TE, 15 ms; FOV, 160 mm; matrix, 256 x 256; slice thickness, 1 mm; and slice gap, 0) was performed on 80 normal Chinese volunteers. T1-weighted images were analyzed with computer-assisted segmentation.

Is laparoscopic colectomy as cost beneficial as open colectomy?

Background: Laparoscopic colectomy has yet to gain widespread acceptance in cost-conscious health-care institutions. The aim of the present study was to define the cost-benefit relationship of laparoscopic versus open colectomy.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colectomy (LC) by a single colorectal surgeon between August 2004 and September 2005 were reviewed.

Visual impairment and its impact on health-related quality of life in adolescents.

Purpose: To determine the impact of visual impairment on health-related quality of life (QoL) measures in adolescents.

Design: School-based, cross-sectional study.

Methods: Adolescents aged 11 to 18 years from the Singapore Cohort Study of the Risk Factors for Myopia were analyzed.

Evaluation of the linearity of soft- to hard-tissue movement after orthognathic surgery.

Introduction: Our aim in this study was to investigate whether a linear relationship exists between soft- to hard-tissue changes for both maxillary and mandibular landmarks over a wide range of skeletal changes.

Methods: The sample consisted of 30 Chinese patients with Class III malocclusion treated with bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and LeFort I advancement. Lateral cephalograms were taken within 2 months before surgery and at least 6 months after surgery.

Prognostic value of left atrial size in chronic kidney disease.

Aims: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have high cardiovascular risk. Although stress imaging provides accurate risk estimation in this population, it is unknown if combinatorial cardiac imaging adds incremental value.

Methods And Results: We performed transthoracic echocardiography and stress single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to assess their value in predicting late cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in 200 patients with creatinine clearance <60 mL/min without a history of coronary heart disease.

Subjective evaluation of the accuracy of video imaging prediction following orthognathic surgery in Chinese patients.

Purpose: The aims of this retrospective study were to assess the subjective accuracy of predictions generated by a computer imaging software in Chinese patients who had undergone orthognathic surgery and to determine the influence of initial dysgnathia and complexity of the surgical procedure on prediction accuracy.

Patients And Methods: The sample consisted of 40 Chinese patients who had completed treatment involving orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. All the patients had lateral cephalometric radiographs and profile photographs taken within 3 months before surgery and at least 6 months after surgery.

Effect of a milk formula containing probiotics on the fecal microbiota of asian infants at risk of atopic diseases.

The fecal microbiota of 37 infants with (n = 20) or without (n = 17) probiotic administration was evaluated on D 3, and at 1, 3, and 12 mo by fluorescence in situ hybridization-flow cytometry (FISH-FC), PCR, and bacteriological culture methods. They represent consecutive subjects of an ongoing double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on a probiotic formula (LGG and Bifidobacterium longum) administered during the first 6 mo of life. Despite varying composition in each baby, there was a general bacterial colonization pattern in the first year.

Can external and subjective information ever be used to reduce the size of randomised controlled trials?

In the design of randomised trials in rare cancers, a Bayesian approach has been advocated, which allows for external and subjective information to be formally incorporated. We explore whether this can be extended more generally to allow for smaller trials to be conducted using a case study involving a trial of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The external information available at various points during the trial is first summarised in the form of 'prior distributions'.

Impact of different Asian ethnic groups on correlation between heparin dose, activated clotting time and complications in percutaneous coronary intervention.

The current recommended weight-adjusted dosing regimen of unfractionated heparin and target activated clotting time (ACT) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is based on limited data from the western population, and the applicability in the various Asian ethnic groups remains unknown. This is a retrospective study in an Asian university teaching hospital. Among the 1287 patients who have undergone PCI, Chinese constituted 70.

Outcome of orthognathic surgery in Chinese patients. A subjective and objective evaluation.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of orthognathic surgery by objective cephalometric measurement of posttreatment soft-tissue profile and by subjective evaluation of profile esthetics by laypersons and clinicians.

Materials And Methods: The sample consisted of 30 Chinese patients who had completed combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment. The posttreatment cephalograms of these patients were analyzed with respect to profile convexity, facial height, and lip contours and these were compared to the previously established esthetic norms.

Sirolimus-eluting, bioabsorbable polymer-coated constant stent (Cura) in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a clinical and angiographic study (CURAMI Registry).

Background: There are safety concerns over the current polymer-based drug-eluting stents (DES) on the possible delayed healing process and adverse reactions to the polymer when drug elution is completed. Cura (Orbus Neich) is a sirolimus-eluting, bioabsorbable, polymer-coated constant stent.

Methods: From March 1 to June 30, 2005, Cura stent implantation was instituted as the default strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention in 49 consecutive ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) patients (male 86%; average age 55 +/- 10 years; diabetes 31%).

An Asian community's perspective on facial profile attractiveness.

Aim: To assess the facial profile preferences of laypersons in an Asian community and the influence of age, ethnic and gender on profile selection.

Methods: A sample of 149 laypersons (65.1% Chinese, 21.

Incidence, predictors, and outcomes of device failure of X-sizer thrombectomy: real-world experience of 200 cases in 5 years.

Background: Clinical studies have evaluated the safety and efficacy of adjunctive X-sizer (EndiCOR Inc, San Clemente, CA) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, patient and lesion subsets were highly selected, and extrapolation of the results to daily practice is problematic.

Methods: X-sizer thrombectomy was performed in 200 procedures from August 2000 to July 2005.

Inverse relation between diastolic blood pressure and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing pharmacoinvasive therapy for myocardial infarction: the J-shaped relation in the contemporary era of revascularisation.

Objective: In the thrombolytic era, it was reported that in the presence of significant coronary stenosis, lowering diastolic blood pressure (DBP) below a critical threshold would result in a paradoxical increase in the occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI). We sought to re-evaluate this J-shaped relation in the era of pharmacoinvasive therapy.

Methods: A total of 182 patients who underwent early (<1 week, mean 2.