Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the fastest-growing neurological disorder globally. Defining features include tremor, muscular rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability, which in combination with nonmotor symptoms such as cognitive impairment and orthostatic hypotension increase the risk of falls. Along with low bone mineral density, fracture risk is high in PD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: This diagnostic study describes the merger of domain knowledge (Kramer principle of dermal advancement of icterus) with current machine learning (ML) techniques to create a novel tool for screening of neonatal jaundice (NNJ), which affects 60% of term and 80% of preterm infants.
Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a smartphone-based ML app to predict bilirubin (SpB) levels in multiethnic neonates using skin color analysis.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This diagnostic study was conducted between June 2022 and June 2024 at a tertiary hospital and 4 primary-care clinics in Singapore with a consecutive sample of neonates born at 35 or more weeks' gestation and within 21 days of birth.
Physiother Theory Pract
November 2024
Introduction: Dementia is a leading cause of disability. Physiotherapists play a crucial role in caring for people with dementia. However, previous research has found that physiotherapists have low knowledge and confidence working with people with dementia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Local parks offer outdoor spaces for active play; they provide a common attractive space in which grandparents and grandchildren can interact and engage in physical activity. This study investigated how multigenerational active spaces within local parks were being used by older people, their grandchildren, and other age groups.
Method: This study was an observational design using direct observations of park visitors over three consecutive months and an intercept survey of a subsample of older visitors in six community parks in Victoria, Australia.
An elderly patient who presented with 1 week of fever and respiratory symptoms was tested for dengue infection with an Abbott Bioline™ Dengue Duo immunochromatographic assay. Unexpectedly, the control line of the dengue non-structural protein 1 (NS1) component was absent, necessitating result invalidation. It remained absent when the test was repeated on the SD Biosensor Standard™ Q Dengue Duo, but present on the Wells Bio careUS Dengue Combo and Asan Easy Test® Dengue DUO assays, suggesting potential interference.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Anaphylaxis was the first serious adverse event (AE) of special interest surfaced in Singapore following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. Individuals who developed physician-diagnosed severe allergic reactions to the mRNA vaccines would be medically ineligible for mRNA vaccines and offered non-mRNA alternatives. This paper describes anaphylaxis reports received by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and presents a review of individuals who received heterologous COVID-19 vaccination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, it remains pervasive in Singapore, a city-state situated in Southeast Asia, with periodic waves of infection. In addition to disease management, strong communication strategies are critical in the government's response to the pandemic to keep the public updated and equip them in protecting themselves.
Objective: Grounded in the crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC) framework and emotional appeals, this study aimed to analyze public health communication strategies in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Becc., a tropical forest understorey palm, is observed to have fruits that appear red in colour when unripe, turning pink, then white, purple and finally black in colour as they ripen. We monitored 13 fruiting palms in rainforest fragments and recorded the consumption of fruits by animals via camera traps.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo develop a core outcome set for Achilles tendinopathy (COS-AT) for use in clinical trials we performed a five-step process including (1) a systematic review of available outcome measurement instruments, (2) an online survey on truth and feasibility of the available measurement instruments, (3) an assessment of the methodological quality of the selected outcome measurement instruments, (4) an online survey on the outcome measurement instruments as COS and (5) a consensus in-person meeting. Both surveys were completed by healthcare professionals and patients. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology guidelines with a 70% threshold for consensus were followed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: We aimed to systematically review studies of crosswalks for converting patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores used in joint replacement, and develop a database of published crosswalks.
Methods: 4 electronic databases were searched from January 2000 to May 2023 to identify studies reporting the development and/or validation of crosswalks to convert PROM scores in patients undergoing elective hip, knee, or shoulder replacement surgery. Data on study and sample characteristics, source and target PROMs, and crosswalk development and validation methods were extracted from eligible studies.
Background: Public health strategies have focused on preventing and slowing the transmission of COVID-19 by promoting the uptake of mitigation strategies. However, little is known about the uptake of these strategies in the presence of underlying health conditions.
Objectives: To describe the attitudes and behaviours of a sample of Australians towards COVID-19 mitigation strategies, and determine if uptake of these strategies differed across different health conditions.
Background: Population-level data from national arthroplasty registries enable the use and outcomes of arthroplasty procedures to be monitored over time. This study aimed to describe the demographics, indications, and outcomes (up to 15 years) for radial head arthroplasty (RHA) procedures in Australia, as well as the factors associated with an increased likelihood of revision.
Methods: Individual-level deidentified data on demographics and surgery characteristics, including revision surgery, were obtained from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry for all primary isolated RHA procedures that had been performed from 2007 to 2021.
Prevention programs, and specifically exercise, can reduce falls among community-dwelling older adults, but low adherence limits the benefits of effective interventions. Technology may overcome some barriers to improve uptake and engagement in prevention programs, although less is known on adherence for providing them via this delivery mode. We aimed to synthesize evidence for adherence to technology-based falls prevention programs in community-dwelling older adults 60 years and older.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly identification of patients at high risk of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is crucial for its prevention. We aimed to leverage perioperative clinical and intraoperative biosignal data to develop machine learning models that predict CSA-AKI. We introduced a novel approach for extracting relevant features from high-resolution intraoperative biosignals to reflect the patient's baseline status, the extent of unfavorable conditions encountered intraoperatively, and data variability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To determine the effect of a 12-week subsidised exercise programme on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older Australians, and the cost-utility of the programme.
Design: Quasi-experimental, pre-post study.
Methods: Participants included community-dwelling older adults, aged ≥65 years, from every state and territory of Australia.
Background: This study investigated how different spaces within multigenerational local parks are being used by older people and other age groups.
Methods: Observation of park visitors occurred in six Victorian parks one month after park refurbishment. Parks were classified into six spaces based on equipment/amenities and associated expected activity.
Background: Recreational parks can play a significant role in older people's health, with emerging evidence suggesting that changes in the physical environment, such as refurbishments of local parks, can increase park visitations and physical activity engagement. The ENJOY MAP for HEALTH aimed to evaluate the impact of Seniors Exercise Park installations and associated capacity building activities on older people's park visitation, and park-based physical activity.
Method: The ENJOY MAP for HEALTH was a quasi-experiment study design that involved the installation of specialised Seniors Exercise Park equipment as part of park refurbishment, supported by promotion and community capacity building activities in six municipalities in Victoria, Australia.
Background: With advances in health state valuation methods, new value sets may be developed for some countries. Quantifying the impact of moving between existing and new value sets is critical for guiding decisions around utility score interpretation, reporting and comparison with published scores.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine, using large-scale national registry data, how the new Australian EQ-5D-5L value set impacts utility scores for patients undergoing joint replacement.
Osteosarcoma is the commonest malignant bone tumor of children and adolescents and is characterized by a high risk of recurrence despite multimodal therapy, especially in metastatic disease. This suggests the presence of clinically undetected cancer cells that persist, leading to cancer recurrence. We sought to evaluate the utility of peripheral blood exosomes as a more sensitive yet minimally invasive blood test that could aid in evaluating treatment response and surveillance for potential disease recurrence.
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