Systematic review and meta-analysis of short-term and long-term smoking abstinence rates of intensive perioperative smoking cessation programs vs brief interventions for smoking cessation.

Background: The perioperative period is an important "teachable moment" where smoking interventions may be particularly effective. We aim to explore the effectiveness of intensive perioperative smoking cessation programs not just on short term, but long term smoking abstinence as well.

Methods: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published between 1 Jan 2007 and 15 May 2022.

Drakolide Structure-activity Relationships for Sexual Attraction of Zeleboria Wasp Pollinator.

Orchids pollinated by sexual deception lure their specific male pollinators by sex pheromone mimicry. Despite the growing list of chemically diverse semiochemicals known to be involved, the chemical basis and flexibility of this extreme pollinator specificity are not fully understood. One promising but rarely applied tool is the synthesis and field testing of chemically related variants for investigating the structural specificity of the pheromone mimics.

Smoking Characteristics and Readiness-to-Quit Status Among Smokers Attending Preoperative Assessment Clinic - A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Perioperative smoking is associated with an increased incidence of general postoperative morbidity and mortality. The perioperative period is recognized as an important "teachable moment" that can motivate patients to adopt health changing behaviors.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of smokers among elective surgical patients in an Asian tertiary hospital.

A Specific Blend of Drakolide and Hydroxymethylpyrazines: An Unusual Pollinator Sexual Attractant Used by the Endangered Orchid Drakaea micrantha.

Bioactive natural products underpin the intriguing pollination strategy used by sexually deceptive orchids. These compounds, which mimic the sex pheromones of the female insect, are emitted in particular blends to lure male insect pollinators of specific species. By combining methods from field biology, analytical chemistry, electrophysiology, crystallography, and organic synthesis, we report that an undescribed β-hydroxylactone, in combination with two specific hydroxymethylpyrazines, act as pollinator attractants in the rare hammer orchid Drakaea micrantha.

Tuberculosis care: enhancing directly observed therapy in a peri-urban, low socioeconomic status neighbourhood.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health issue in the Philippines. TB-Care was introduced in 2011 to tackle pulmonary TB among the urban poor in Payatas, Quezon City, Philippines. We evaluated the efficacy of TB-Care in increasing treatment success and compliance rates.

Pen Torch Transillumination: Difficult Venepuncture Made Easy.

Introduction: Our novel technique of pen torch transillumination (PTI) uses a cheap and easily available instrument (Penlite-LP212, Energizer, Missouri, USA) to visualize superficial veins invisible to the naked eye. We evaluate the efficacy of PTI in improving venepuncture success rate (SR) for patients with poor venous access.

Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial looked at adult patients (n = 69) aged 21-90 with difficult venous access (history of ≥3 consecutive attempts required for successful cannulation during the current admission) requiring non-emergent venepuncture.

Types and distribution of congenital heart defects associated with trisomy 21 in Singapore.

Aim: Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is widely accepted as the most common type of congenital heart defect in trisomy 21. Most of these studies, however, were conducted in Caucasian communities. The few Asian studies that had been conducted on this subject yielded different results.