Smoking Is Associated With Lower Satisfaction in Nondiabetic Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Single-level Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Study Design: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected registry data.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of smoking on 2 years postoperative functional outcomes, satisfaction, and radiologic fusion in nondiabetic patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for degenerative spine conditions.

Summary Of Background Data: There is conflicting data on the effect of smoking on long-term functional outcomes following lumbar fusion.

Impact of Radiotherapy on Neck Dissection Nodal Count in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis: Our study aimed to review the impact of preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and other factors on the lymph node count of neck dissection (ND) specimens from patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). A retrospective study was conducted on all patients with head and neck cancers who had undergone NDs in Singapore General Hospital between 1992 and 2013.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Impact of financial background and student debt on postgraduate residency choices of medical students in Singapore.

Introduction: Medical school fees are rising globally. Student debt and financial background may affect residency choices, but few studies have been conducted in Asia. This study aimed to explore the relationship between financial background, student debt and postgraduate residency choices among medical students in Singapore.

Cabergoline-induced fibrosis of prolactinomas: a neurosurgical perspective.

Presently, the standard of care for prolactinomas, a type of pituitary adenoma, is dopaminergic agents such as bromocriptine and cabergoline. However, dopaminergic agents may induce fibrosis of cardiac valves leading to valvular insufficiency, necessitating surgical treatment of prolactinoma. Fibrosis of prolactinoma can be induced by prolonged medical treatment with bromocriptine, and this usually occurs after years of treatment.

An update on finances and financial support for medical students in Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

Introduction: Increasing financial challenges have resulted in great debt among medical graduates worldwide. In Singapore, more scholarships and bursaries have been disbursed in recent years to support students who are financially challenged. We aimed to study the financial status of medical students in National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (i.