Higher handgrip strength is linked to higher salience ventral attention functional network segregation in older adults.

Converging evidence suggests that handgrip strength is linked to cognition in older adults, and this may be subserved by shared age-related changes in brain function and structure. However, the interplay among handgrip strength, brain functional connectivity, and cognitive function remains poorly elucidated. Hence, our study sought to examine these relationships in 148 community-dwelling older adults.

Patterns of motivators and barriers to heart health behaviors among adults with behavior-modifiable cardiovascular risk factors: A population-based survey in Singapore.

Objectives: Motivators and barriers are pivotal factors in the adoption of health behaviors. This study aims to identify patterns of the motivators and barriers influencing heart health behaviors among multi-ethnic Asian adults with behavior-modifiable risk factors for heart disease, namely obesity, physical inactivity and smoking.

Methods: A population-based survey of 1,000 participants was conducted in Singapore.

Joint Associations of Multiple Lifestyle Factors With Risk of Active Tuberculosis in the Population: The Singapore Chinese Health Study.

Background: Little is known about the joint associations of multiple lifestyle risk factors including smoking, low body mass index, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and low diet quality with risk of active tuberculosis.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a prospective cohort study of 63 257 Chinese adults aged 45-74 years enrolled between 1993 and 1998. Incident cases of active tuberculosis were identified via linkage with the National TB Registry through 31 December 2016.

Public perceptions and knowledge of cholesterol management in a multi-ethnic Asian population: A population-based survey.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Hyperlipidemia is one of the important modifiable risk factors for CVDs. Raising public awareness of CVD risks is an important step in reducing CVD burdens.

Effect of plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid levels on leukocyte telomere lengths in the Singaporean Chinese population.

Background: Shorter telomere length (TL) has been associated with poor health behaviors, increased risks of chronic diseases and early mortality. Excessive shortening of telomere is a marker of accelerated aging and can be influenced by oxidative stress and nutritional deficiency. Plasma n6:n3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio may impact cell aging.

Knowledge of Heart Disease, Preventive Behavior and Source of Information in a Multi-ethnic Asian Population: A Population-Based Survey.

Several population-based studies have been conducted to better understand the public knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and behavior. However, most studies have predominantly focused on Western populations. This study aimed to investigate heart disease knowledge, preventive behavior and source of information on heart disease in a multi-ethnic Asian population.

Reproductive and hormonal factors and risk of cognitive impairment among Singapore Chinese women.

Background: Epidemiologic studies suggest that declining estrogen levels in menopause may play an important role in the pathogenesis of dementia and contribute to increased risk of cognitive impairment in women. Most previous studies have been conducted in Western populations to investigate the relationship of the length of reproductive periods and use of hormone-replacement therapy with risk of cognitive function and dementia, but the findings are inconclusive. Relevant evidence among Asian populations is limited.

Multiple Biomarkers Improved Prediction for the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Singapore Chinese Men and Women.

Background: Multiple biomarkers have performed well in predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk in Western populations. However, evidence is scarce among Asian populations.

Methods: Plasma triglyceride-to-high density lipoprotein (TG-to-HDL) ratio, alanine transaminase (ALT), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), ferritin, adiponectin, fetuin-A, and retinol-binding protein 4 were measured in 485 T2DM cases and 485 age-and-sex matched controls nested within the prospective Singapore Chinese Health Study cohort.

Fish and marine fatty acids intakes, the genotypes and long-term weight gain: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: We tested whether genetic variants near fatty acid desaturases gene () cluster, which were recently identified to be signatures of adaptation to fish-rich and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)-rich diet, interacted with these dietary factors on change in body mass index (BMI).

Design: Three variants were examined for gene-diet interactions on long-term (~10 years) changes in BMI and body weight in four prospective cohort studies.

Setting: Population based study.

Plasma Fetuin-A Levels and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in A Chinese Population: A Nested Case-Control Study.

Background: Fetuin-A is a hepatokine that involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Previous epidemiological studies have found a positive association between blood fetuin-A and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk among Caucasians and African Americans. We aimed to investigate the prospective relationship between fetuin-A and T2DM in an Asian population for the first time.

Occupational exposure to endocrine disrupting substances and the risk of breast Cancer: the Singapore Chinese health study.

Background: Evidence from basic research links exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with a higher risk for breast cancer. However, there is less evidence from observational epidemiological research and the results are equivocal. Therefore, we examined the association between occupational exposure to substances where exposure to EDCs is likely and the risk of breast cancer.

Urine phyto-oestrogen metabolites are not significantly associated with risk of type 2 diabetes: the Singapore Chinese health study.

We evaluated the relationship between urine concentrations of phyto-oestrogens (isoflavones and lignans) and risk of incident type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and elderly Chinese residing in Singapore. Urine metabolites of isoflavones and lignans were assayed by HPLC among 564 diabetes cases and 564 matched controls in a case-control study nested within the Singapore Chinese Health Study cohort. Participants were free of diagnosed diabetes, CVD and cancer at morning urine collections during 1999-2004.

C-reactive protein and serum creatinine, but not haemoglobin A1c, are independent predictors of coronary heart disease risk in non-diabetic Chinese.

Background: In western populations, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and to a lesser degree serum creatinine and haemoglobin A1c, predict risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, data on Asian populations that are increasingly affected by CHD are sparse and it is not clear whether these biomarkers can be used to improve CHD risk classification.

Design And Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study within the Singapore Chinese Health Study cohort, with incident 'hard' CHD (myocardial infarction or CHD death) as an outcome.

Breast cancer risk assessment using genetic variants and risk factors in a Singapore Chinese population.

Introduction: Genetic variants for breast cancer risk identified in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in Western populations require further testing in Asian populations. A risk assessment model incorporating both validated genetic variants and established risk factors may improve its performance in risk prediction of Asian women.

Methods: A nested case-control study of female breast cancer (411 cases and 1,212 controls) within the Singapore Chinese Health Study was conducted to investigate the effects of 51 genetic variants identified in previous GWAS on breast cancer risk.

Age at menarche and cardiovascular disease mortality in Singaporean Chinese women: the Singapore Chinese Health Study.

Purpose: To examine whether age at menarche was inversely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in Singaporean Chinese women.

Methods: We followed prospectively 34,022 Chinese women aged 45 to 74 at enrollment (1993-1998), with complete data on study variables, through 2009 for primary cause of death from CVD, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebrovascular disease (CERE). Hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD mortality were computed across menarcheal age categories and adjusted for potential confounders and body mass index.

Western-style fast food intake and cardiometabolic risk in an Eastern country.

Background: Western-style fast food contributes to a dietary pattern portending poor cardiometabolic health in the United States. With globalization, this way of eating is becoming more common in developing and recently developed populations.

Methods And Results: We examined the association of Western-style fast food intake with risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease mortality in Chinese Singaporeans.

Body mass index and risk of colorectal cancer in Chinese Singaporeans: the Singapore Chinese Health Study.

Background: The authors chose to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and incident colorectal cancer across the spectrum of BMI, including underweight persons, because detailed prospective cohort data on this topic in Asians is scarce, as is data on underweight persons (BMI, <18.5 kg/m(2)) in any population.

Methods: Analysis of the Singapore Chinese Health Study included 51,251 men and women aged 45-74 years enrolled in 1993-1998 and followed through 2007.

Peripheral arterial disease in community-based patients with diabetes in Singapore: Results from a Primary Healthcare Study.

Introduction: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an important complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), significantly associated with increased morbidity and mortality secondary to amputations, strokes and coronary artery disease. Information on DM patients with PAD is limited in our ethnically diverse population in Singapore. We aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors and co-morbidities of PAD in patients managed for DM in the primary care setting.

Does team learning motivate students' engagement in an evidence-based medicine course?

Introduction: Small group-based instructional methods such as team learning have been shown to produce positive educational outcomes. To motivate students' learning in an evidence-based medicine course, we explore team learning as a teaching strategy, and describe students' engagement and preference for this mode of learning.

Materials And Methods: An adaptation of team learning was implemented in September 2007 for all Year 2 Medical undergraduates attending the Principles in Evidence-Based Medicine course at the National University of Singapore.

Green tea and black tea consumption in relation to colorectal cancer risk: the Singapore Chinese Health Study.

The relationships between green tea and black tea consumption and colorectal cancer risk were examined within the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a prospective cohort study of diet and cancer involving >60,000 men and women. Intake of green tea and black tea was assessed through in-person interviews. Incident cancer cases and deaths among cohort members were identified through record linkage of the cohort database with respective databases from the nationwide Singapore Cancer Registry and the Singapore Registry of Births and Deaths.

Concerns over participation in genetic research among Malay-Muslims, Chinese and Indians in Singapore: a focus group study.

Objective: This study was aimed at exploring and comparing peoples' concerns over donation of blood specimens for genetic research across three ethnic groups in Singapore: Malay-Muslims, Chinese and Indians.

Methods: We conducted 12 focus group sessions among 98 participants with 7-10 in each group.

Results: Concerns over donation of blood specimens for genetic research were diverse, with all ethnic groups expressing anxiety about breach of confidentiality, finding out that they have a disease and misuse of research for cloning.

Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG seropositivity and clinical history of ischemic heart disease in Singapore.

There is still substantial uncertainty concerning the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and ischemic heart disease. This may partly be explained by the adjustment for potential confounders in different population studies. This is the first study in Singapore to look at the association of C.

Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae in Chinese, Malays and Asian Indians in Singapore.

Background: Chlamydia pneumoniae, a bacterium that causes respiratory infections, is probably under-diagnosed. There is also interest in its possible role in the aetiology of coronary heart disease. This is the first population-based seroprevalence survey of C.