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Patterns of linkage disequilibrium at PARK16 may explain variances in genetic association studies

Li H, Teo YY, Tan EK

Mov Disord, 2015 Sep;30(10):1335-42.
PMID: 25758099 DOI: 10.1002/mds.26176

Reproducing genomewide association studies findings in different populations is challenging, because the reproducibility fundamentally relies on the similar patterns of linkage disequilibrium between the unknown causal variants and the genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Temporal variability and climatology of hydrodynamic, water property and water quality parameters in the West Johor Strait of Singapore

Behera MR, Chun C, Palani S, Tkalich P

Mar Pollut Bull, 2013 Dec 15;77(1-2):380-95.
PMID: 24139643 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.09.043

The study presents a baseline variability and climatology study of measured hydrodynamic, water properties and some water quality parameters of West Johor Strait, Singapore at hourly-to-seasonal scales to uncover their dependency and correlation to one or more drivers. The considered parameters include, but not limited by sea surface elevation, current magnitude and direction, solar radiation and air temperature, water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a and turbidity. FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) analysis is carried out for the parameters to delineate relative effect of tidal and weather drivers. The group and individual correlations between the parameters are obtained by principal component analysis (PCA) and cross-correlation (CC) technique, respectively. The CC technique also identifies the dependency and time lag between driving natural forces and dependent water property and water quality parameters. The temporal variability and climatology of the driving forces and the dependent parameters are established at the hourly, daily, fortnightly and seasonal scales.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext Specialized Hydrocarbonoclastic Bacteria Prevailing in Seawater around a Port in the Strait of Malacca

Teramoto M, Queck SY, Ohnishi K

PLoS One, 2013;8(6):e66594.
PMID: 23824553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066594

Major degraders of petroleum hydrocarbons in tropical seas have been indicated only by laboratory culturing and never through observing the bacterial community structure in actual environments. To demonstrate the major degraders of petroleum hydrocarbons spilt in actual tropical seas, indigenous bacterial community in seawater at Sentosa (close to a port) and East Coast Park (far from a port) in Singapore was analyzed. Bacterial species was more diverse at Sentosa than at the Park, and the composition was different: γ-Proteobacteria (57.3%) dominated at Sentosa, while they did not at the Park. Specialized hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (SHCB), which use limited carbon sources with a preference for petroleum hydrocarbons, were found as abundant species at Sentosa, indicating petroleum contamination. On the other hand, SHCB were not the abundant species at the Park. The abundant species of SHCB at Sentosa were Oleibacter marinus and Alcanivorax species (strain 2A75 type), which have previously been indicated by laboratory culturing as important petroleum-aliphatic-hydrocarbon degraders in tropical seas. Together with the fact that SHCB have been identified as major degraders of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine environments, these results demonstrate that the O. marinus and Alcanivorax species (strain 2A75 type) would be major degraders of petroleum aliphatic hydrocarbons spilt in actual tropical seas.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Dietary changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period in Singaporean Chinese, Malay and Indian women: the GUSTO birth cohort study

Chen LW, Low YL, Fok D, Han WM, Chong YS, Gluckman P, et al.

Public Health Nutr, 2014 Sep;17(9):1930-8.
PMID: 23806144 DOI: 10.1017/S1368980013001730

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in food consumption during pregnancy and the postpartum period in women of major Asian ethnic groups.
DESIGN: Using interviewer-administered questionnaires, we assessed changes in food consumption during pregnancy (26-28 weeks' gestation) and the postpartum period (3 weeks after delivery) as compared with the usual pre-pregnancy diet.
SETTING: Singapore.
SUBJECTS: Pregnant women (n 1027) of Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnicity (mean age 30·4 (SD 5·2) years) who participated in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study.
RESULTS: During pregnancy, participants tended to increase their consumption of milk, fruit and vegetables and decrease their consumption of tea, coffee, soft drinks and seafood (all P < 0·001). Most participants reported adherence to traditional restrictions ('confinement') during the early postpartum period (Chinese: 94·8 %, Malay: 91·6 %, Indian: 79·6 %). During the postpartum period, participants tended to increase their consumption of fish and milk-based drinks and decrease their consumption of noodles, seafood, and chocolates and sweets (all P < 0·001). Ethnic differences in food consumption were pronounced during the postpartum period. For example, most Chinese participants (87·2 %) increased their ginger consumption during the postpartum period as compared with smaller percentages of Malays (31·8 %) and Indians (40·8 %; P for ethnic difference <0·001). Similar ethnic differences were observed for cooking wine/alcohol, herbs and spices, and herbal tea consumption.
CONCLUSIONS: Marked changes in food consumption that reflect both modern dietary recommendations and the persistence of traditional beliefs were observed in Singaporean women during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Traditional beliefs should be considered in interventions to improve dietary intakes during these periods.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext Plasmodium knowlesi infection: a diagnostic challenge

Fan L, Lee SY, Koay E, Harkensee C

BMJ Case Rep, 2013;2013:bcr2013009558.
PMID: 23608876 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2013-009558

Plasmodium knowlesi malaria is an uncommon, but highly prevalent parasitic infection in parts of Malaysia. This is the case of a 14-year-old Singaporean boy presenting to our emergency department with an 11-day history of fever following a school trip to Malaysia. Hepatosplenomegaly was the only clinical finding; laboratory tests showed thrombocytopaenia, lymphopaenia, mild anaemia and liver transaminitis. Specific malaria antigen tests were negative, but the peripheral blood film showed plasmodia with atypical features, with a parasite load of 0.5%. PCR confirmed the diagnosis of P knowlesi. The patient was successfully treated with chloroquine. The clinical course of P knowlesi malaria is indistinguishable from that of Plasmodium falciparum. This case highlights the importance of taking detailed travel history, careful examination of malaria blood films and judicious use of molecular techniques. Antigen tests alone may have missed a malaria diagnosis altogether, while blood film examination may wrongly identify the species as Plasmodium malariae or P falciparum. Third-generation PCR assays can be used to reliably identify P knowlesi.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fever and rash in a returning traveller

Kumar N, Lewis DJ

BMJ, 2012;344:e2400.
PMID: 22496299 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.e2400
Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Population genetic structure of the tropical moss Acanthorrhynchium papillatum as measured with microsatellite markers

Leonardía AA, Tan BC, Kumar PP

Plant Biol (Stuttg), 2013 Mar;15(2):384-94.
PMID: 22882300 DOI: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00640.x

Mosses and other bryophytes are vital components of forests, because they sustain a tremendous diversity of invertebrates and influence significant ecological functions. There have been few studies on moss population diversity in Southeast Asia, despite the escalating deforestation in this region of rich biodiversity. The genetic diversity of the tropical moss Acanthorrhynchium papillatum (Harv.) Fleisch., collected from forested areas in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia, was elucidated using eight microsatellite markers developed for this species. Significant levels of allelic and haplotypic diversity were observed among clumps of the moss. Differences in allelic richness and genotypic diversity among the populations were higher in less disturbed forests compared to the more disturbed areas, suggesting that genetic diversity is affected by habitat quality. Genetic diversity levels within the clumps studied were low, indicating that vegetative reproduction was more important within clumps than sexual reproduction. However, multilocus genotypes of samples within the clumps studied were not all alike, providing evidence of microsatellite mutation or of occasional sexuality. Despite the isolation of populations, A. papillatum can introduce genetic variability by mutation among vegetatively propagated individuals. This study provides baseline information on the genetic diversity of A. papillatum tropical rain forests.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
A comparison of factors associated with physical inactivity among East Asian college students

Seo DC, Torabi MR, Chin MK, Huang SF, Chen CK, Mok MM, et al.

Int J Behav Med, 2012 Sep;19(3):316-23.
PMID: 21562780 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-011-9167-4

BACKGROUND: Little is known on the level of physical inactivity and its behavioral and cultural correlates among East Asian college students.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine and compare the level and behavioral and cultural correlates of physical inactivity among college students in Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia.
METHOD: Data were collected from a representative sample of college students (N = 12,137) in five East Asian economies during the 2008-2009 academic year. The stratified random sampling (stratum: geographic region) was used to select participating institutions. The overall response rate was 77%.
RESULTS: The percentage of physically inactive students was 7.2% for Singapore, 8.0% for Malaysia, 13.5% for Taiwan, 16.8% for Hong Kong, and 28.5% for South Korea. When gender, age, and body mass index were controlled, fruit and vegetable consumptions were significant correlates for physical inactivity across all the five economies. In Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan, those who engaged in binge drinking at least once during the past 2 weeks were less likely to be physically inactive than those who did not. Religion and military experience did not independently predict physical inactivity in any of the five economies.
CONCLUSION: Physical inactivity varies greatly across different economies in East Asia that are usually grouped together and considered a single homogeneous entity by some researchers. However, in terms of correlates of physical inactivity, findings of the current study indicate that the transversal value of physical activity might be transformed into a universal.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Neurosurgery certification in member societies of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies: Asia

Gasco J, Braun JD, McCutcheon IE, Black PM

World Neurosurg, 2011 Mar-Apr;75(3-4):325-34.
PMID: 21600456 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2011.01.001

To objectively compare the complexity and diversity of the certification process in neurological surgery in member societies of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext A cohort study of risk factors and clinical outcome predictors for patients presenting with unstable angina and non ST segment elevation myorardial infraction undergoing coronary intervention

Chong E, Shen L, Tan HC, Poh KK

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Aug;66(3):249-52.
PMID: 22111450

Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score has been used to predict outcomes in patients presenting with unstable angina (UA) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Our study assessed other clinical predictors for patients with UA/NSTEMI undergoing early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext Retrospective review of grommet insertions for otitis media with effusion in children in Singapore

Nurliza I, Lim LH

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Aug;66(3):227-30.
PMID: 22111445 MyJurnal

Otitis media with effusion is one of the most common childhood infections, and grommet insertions are done for chronic otitis media which have failed medical therapy. The aims of this study were 1) to determine the patient profile of children needing grommet insertion and 2) to determine if grommet insertion is safe and effective. A retrospective review of 105 children with myringotomy and grommet insertions for chronic otitis media with effusion between 2006 and 2008 was performed. Seventy two percent of patients were younger than 6 years old. Male to female ratio was 4:3. Twelve percent of patients were syndromic. In children with otitis media with effusion, hearing and academic performance improved after grommet insertion. Allergic rhinitis and cleft palate are risk factors for chronic middle ear effusion.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Normative beliefs about aggression as a mediator of narcissistic exploitativeness and cyberbullying

Ang RP, Tan KA, Talib Mansor A

J Interpers Violence, 2011 Sep;26(13):2619-34.
PMID: 21156699 DOI: 10.1177/0886260510388286

The current study examined normative beliefs about aggression as a mediator between narcissistic exploitativeness and cyberbullying using two Asian adolescent samples from Singapore and Malaysia. Narcissistic exploitativeness was significantly and positively associated with cyberbullying and normative beliefs about aggression and normative beliefs about aggression were significantly and positively associated with cyberbullying. Normative beliefs about aggression were a significant partial mediator in both samples; these beliefs about aggression served as one possible mechanism of action by which narcissistic exploitativeness could exert its influence on cyberbullying. Findings extended previous empirical research by showing that such beliefs can be the mechanism of action not only in offline but also in online contexts and across cultures. Cyberbullying prevention and intervention efforts should include modification of norms and beliefs supportive of the legitimacy and acceptability of cyberbullying.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Breast cancer in a multi-ethnic Asian setting: results from the Singapore-Malaysia hospital-based breast cancer registry

Bhoo-Pathy N, Yip CH, Taib NA, Hartman M, Saxena N, Iau P, et al.

Breast, 2011 Apr;20 Suppl 2:S75-80.
PMID: 21316967 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2011.01.015

Two hospital-based breast cancer databases (University Malaya Medical Center, Malaysia [n = 1513] and National University Hospital, Singapore [n = 2545]) were merged into a regional registry of breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2007. A review of the data found 51% of patients diagnosed before the age of 50 years. and 72% percent of the women were Chinese followed by Malays (16%), Indians (8%), and other races (4%). Median tumor size at presentation was 26 mm and about 25% of patients presented with TNM stage III or IV disease. Most tumors were of ductal histology (87%). Fifty-seven percent of tumors were estrogen receptor positive and 40% were poorly differentiated. Of those patients who had surgery, 70% had mastectomy while 30% had breast conserving surgery. Overall, chemotherapy was administered to 56% of patients and hormonal treatment to 60%. Five-year overall survival was 82.5% in patients with TNM stage 0 to stage II cancer, and 30.2% in those with later stages.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Measurement and dimension of road fatality in Brunei

Haque MO

Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot, 2011 Mar;18(1):45-55.
PMID: 21409677 DOI: 10.1080/17457300.2010.517319

In this article, we have investigated the pattern of road fatality in Brunei. It is seen from this analysis that road fatality in Brunei was one of the highest in the world in the early 1990s, but has been significantly reduced over the years, and is now one of the lowest in the world. Preliminary investigation shows that young male drivers are responsible for most road fatalities in Brunei. We have also fitted a linear regression model and found that road fatality is significantly positively related to people aged 18-24 years and new registered vehicles, both of which are expected to grow with the growth of population and economic development. Hence, road fatality in Brunei is also expected to grow unless additional effective road safety countermeasures are introduced and implemented to reduce road toll. Negative coefficient is observed for trend variable, indicating the reduction of road fatality due to the combined effects of improvements of vehicle safety, road design, medical facilities and road safety awareness among road user groups. However, short-term road fatality analysis based on monthly data indicates that the coefficient of the trend variable is positive, implying that in recent months road fatalities are increasing in Brunei, which is supported by media reports. We have compared Brunei's road fatality data with Australia, Singapore and Malaysia and found that Brunei's road fatality rate is lower than Singapore and Malaysia, but higher than Australia. This indicates that there are still opportunities to reduce road fatalities in Brunei if additional effective road safety strategies are implemented like in Australia without interfering in the economic and social development of Brunei.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext Chikungunya in Singapore: imported cases among travelers visiting friends and relatives

Lim PL, Oh HM, Ooi EE

J Travel Med, 2009 Jul-Aug;16(4):289-91.
PMID: 19674272 DOI: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2009.00313.x

Chikungunya infections were detected in Singapore among returning travelers who had visited friends and relatives (VFR) in India and Malaysia. These sporadic imported cases occurred over a year before the 2008 chikungunya outbreaks in Singapore, demonstrating the potential for introducing this emerging viral infection into new areas via VFR travel.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Micro-dose transdermal estradiol for relief of hot flushes in postmenopausal Asian women: a randomized controlled trial

Haines C, Yu SL, Hiemeyer F, Schaefers M

Climacteric, 2009 Oct;12(5):419-26.
PMID: 19479489 DOI: 10.1080/13697130902748967

To compare the effect of micro-dose transdermal estradiol and placebo on the incidence and severity of menopausal symptoms and well-being in postmenopausal Asian women with vasomotor symptoms.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Determination of the longitudinal validity and minimally important difference of the 8-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8)

Luo N, Tan LC, Zhao Y, Lau PN, Au WL, Li SC

Mov Disord, 2009 Jan 30;24(2):183-7.
PMID: 18972545 DOI: 10.1002/mds.22240

The aim of our study was to assess the longitudinal validity of the 8-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8) in terms of responsiveness and test-retest reliability and to determine the minimally important difference (MID) for PDQ-8 using the anchor-based approach in Asians with Parkinson's disease (PD). A consecutive sample of PD patients attending a tertiary neuroscience clinic in Singapore completed the English or Chinese version of PDQ-8 twice during two different clinic visits. During the second visit, patients were also asked to rate their changes in health in general, PD severity, and overall impact of PD since at the time of their first visit 1 year ago using a 5-point response scale. A total of 96 patients participated in the study. For patients who reported changed conditions in the second visit, responsiveness measured by Cohen's effect size, standardized response mean, and Guyatt's responsiveness index ranged from 0.21 to 0.68. The intraclass correlation coefficient values calculated using patients reporting no change in health or PD status ranged from 0.64 to 0.76. The mean changed PDQ-8 summary index score in patients who reported that their health or PD status worsened only "a little bit" ranged from 5.8 to 7.4 points. Our current results show that PDQ-8 is a longitudinally reliable and responsive measure for assessing the health-related quality of life in patients with PD. The MID of the PDQ-8 estimated in the study will further support the use of this instrument in both clinical research and practice.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Electronic health records approaches and challenges: a comparison between Malaysia and four East Asian countries

Abd Ghani MK, Bali RK, Naguib RN, Marshall IM, Nilmini S. Wickramasinghe

Int J Electron Healthc, 2008;4(1):78-104.
PMID: 18583297

An integrated Lifetime Health Record (LHR) is fundamental for achieving seamless and continuous access to patient medical information and for the continuum of care. However, the aim has not yet been fully realised. The efforts are actively progressing around the globe. Every stage of the development of the LHR initiatives had presented peculiar challenges. The best lessons in life are those of someone else's experiences. This paper presents an overview of the development approaches undertaken by four East Asian countries in implementing a national Electronic Health Record (EHR) in the public health system. The major challenges elicited from the review including integration efforts, process reengineering, funding, people, and law and regulation will be presented, compared, discussed and used as lessons learned for the further development of the Malaysian integrated LHR.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext A study into the characteristics and outcome of variceal bleeding in a tertiary hospital in Southeast Asia

Yew BS, Ong WC, Chow WC, Lui HF

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Aug;62(3):201-5.
PMID: 18246907

This retrospective study evaluated patients admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, Singapore General Hospital for variceal bleeding in the year 2004. Improvement in outcome of variceal bleeding has been reported in the West. There is no regional data on this condition. This study aims to determine the characteristics and outcome of variceal bleeding in a tertiary hospital in Southeast Asia. Twenty-two patients were eligible. The main aetiologies of liver cirrhosis were chronic hepatitis B (38%) and alcohol (33%). Child's A, B and C were 29%, 48% and 24% respectively. Nineteen patients (86%) had bleeding oesophageal varices (band ligation performed). The remaining three patients (14%) had bleeding gastric varices (N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection performed). Detailed description of certain endoscopic findings was absent in up to 18 patients (82%). All patients received antibiotics and vasoactive drug. In-hospital mortality and rebleeding were 9% and 18% respectively. We conclude that the relatively low in-hospital mortality and rebleeding rates in our series are most probably due to the smaller proportion of patients with severe liver dysfunction and management which adhered to recommendations. Documentation of endoscopic findings needs to be improved to facilitate the continuation of care.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore
Fulltext The association of body mass index with health-related quality of life: an exploratory study in a multiethnic Asian population

Wee HL, Cheung YB, Loke WC, Tan CB, Chow MH, Li SC, et al.

Value Health, 2008 Mar;11 Suppl 1:S105-14.
PMID: 18387053 DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4733.2008.00374.x

To evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a multiethnic Asian population in Singapore, and to explore if the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of alternative BMI cutoffs for Asians could be further strengthened by evidence of higher risk of impaired HRQoL using these criteria.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

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