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Fulltext Quality of life in transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients on desferrioxamine treatment

Dahlui M, Hishamshah MI, Rahman AJ, Aljunid SM

Singapore Med J, 2009 Aug;50(8):794-9.
PMID: 19710979

The quality of life of transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients is affected by the disease itself and iron overload complications from repeated blood transfusion. Desferrioxamine has been used to remove the excess iron, resulting in decreased mortality and morbidity. In Malaysia, a significant proportion of the transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients are not prescribed desferrioxamine, due to its high cost, especially as it is not subsidized by the government. The aim of this study was to measure the quality of life of thalassaemia patients on desferrioxamine treatment.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Delayed diagnosis of cervical pregnancy: management options

Sivalingam N, Mak FK

Singapore Med J, 2000 Dec;41(12):599-601.
PMID: 11296786

Cervical pregnancy is an uncommon variety of ectopic gestation. The aetiology is obscure. Diagnosis can be missed unless early evaluation is done by experienced personnel utilising pelvic ultrasonography. Three cases of cervical pregnancy managed at this hospital are described illustrating difficulties in early diagnosis and possible association with previous uterine scar and prior curettage of the uterus for retained products of conception. Treatment options vary according to the clinical state of the patient at the time of diagnosis. Non-surgical methods including systemic methotrexate administration in one and surgical evacuation of products of conception with subsequent cervical cerclage in another are discussed. Surgical interventions like total abdominal hysterectomy with internal iliac artery ligation to arrest life-threatening pelvic haemorrhage is also described. Other treatment options include potassium chloride (KCl) alone or in combination with methotrexate.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Neurodevelopmental outcome of Malaysian very low birth weight infants: predictive value of cranial ultrasound appearances

Ong LC, Boo NY, Chandran V, Zulfiqar A, Zamratol SM, Allison L, et al.

Singapore Med J, 1997 Mar;38(3):108-11.
PMID: 9269376

The aim of the study was to determine the predictive value of cranial ultrasound scans done in the neonatal period for neurodevelopmental outcome of the Malaysian very low birthweight (VLBW, < 1500 grams) infants assessed at 12 months of corrected age. Of the 101 infants studied, 68 (67.3%) were neurodevelopmentally normal at one year of age, 18 (17.8%) had major and 15 (14.9%) had minor neurodevelopmental impairment. Neurodevelopmental outcome was normal in 66/88 (75.0%) infants who did not have severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) or periventricular intraparenchymal echo densities (PVE) in the first week of life, and in 57/73 (78.1%) with uncomplicated scans at discharge. In contrast, 11/13 (84.6%) with parenchymal echo densities or severe intraventricular bleed in the early neonatal period and 17/28 (60.7%) with complicated scans at discharge had adverse sequelae. There was a significant association between lesions seen on cranial ultrasound in the neonatal period and subsequent neurodevelopmental impairment. Late neonatal ultrasound scans appear to be a better predictor of short-term neurodevelopmental outcome than early scans.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Prolonged treatment with omeprazole does not improve the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori infection--a short report [corrected]

Goh KL, Parasakthi N, Peh SC, Anderson PE, Tan KK

Singapore Med J, 1995 Dec;36(6):619-20.
PMID: 8781634

Omeprazole has been shown to have a suppressive effect on Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to determine if prolonged treatment with omeprazole would result in a higher eradication rate than short course treatment. Twenty patients with endoscopy proven duodenal ulcers and unequivocal evidence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection based on culture, histology, urease test and Gram's stain of a fresh tissue smear were treated with omeprazole 40 mg om for 2-4 weeks. Following ulcer healing, patients received either maintenance omeprazole 20 mg om or placebo for up to one year. All 20 patients had healed ulcers following a 2-4 week course of omeprazole 40 mg om.. All were negative for HP at the end of treatment. Thirteen patients received short course therapy with omeprazole only, followed by placebo. On follow-up endoscopy at 3 months, only one of 13 (7.7%) had eradicated the bacteria. Seven patients received maintenance treatment with omeprazole 20mg om for one year. Following completion of treatment, patients were followed up at 1, 3 and 6 months. Only one of 7 (14.3%) patients had eradicated the infection on long term follow-up. The eradication rates of HP with both short and long course omeprazole monotherapy were low.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Paediatric palliative care at home: a single centre's experience

Chong LA, Khalid F

Singapore Med J, 2016 Feb;57(2):77-80.
PMID: 26893078 DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2016032

There is increased awareness of paediatric palliative care in Malaysia, but no local published data on home care services. We aimed to describe the paediatric experience at Hospis Malaysia, a community-based palliative care provider in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext A review of oral food challenges in children presenting to a single tertiary centre with perceived or true food allergies

Thalayasingam M, Loo EX, Tan MM, Bever HV, Shek LP

Singapore Med J, 2015 Nov;56(11):622-5.
PMID: 26668407 DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2015171

The prevalence of perceived food allergies exceeds that of true food allergies. Unnecessary food avoidance may increase parental and patient anxiety, reduce quality of life and increase the risk of nutritional deficiency. An oral food challenge (OFC) can provide an objective measure regarding the presence or absence of food allergies in a child. This study reviews the indications for and outcomes of OFCs performed on children.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext VIPoma syndrome: challenges in management

Adam N, Lim SS, Ananda V, Chan SP

Singapore Med J, 2010 Jul;51(7):e129-32.
PMID: 20730389

Vasoactive intestinal peptide-producing tumour (VIPoma) or Verner-Morrison syndrome is a very rare neuroendocrine tumour. It occurs in less than ten percent of all pancreatic islet cell tumours, and about 70 percent to 80 percent of these tumours originate from the pancreas. Diagnosis is characteristically delayed. The first-line treatment is surgical. It may be curative in forty percent of patients with benign and non-metastatic disease. Palliative surgery is indicated in extensive disease, followed by conventional somatostatin analogue (octreotide) therapy. Somatostatin analogues improve hormone-mediated symptoms, reduce tumour bulk and prevent local and systemic effects. We present a female patient with VIPoma syndrome, which had metastasised to the liver at diagnosis. The patient underwent palliative Whipple procedure and subsequent cytoreductive radiofrequency ablations to her liver metastases. Unfortunately, after symptomatic improvement for three years, her disease progressed. Currently, she is on daily octreotide, achieving partial control of her symptoms.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Complete congenital third branchial fistula: does the theoretical course apply?

Aneeza WH, Mazita A, Marina MB, Razif MY

Singapore Med J, 2010 Jul;51(7):e122-5.
PMID: 20730387

The course of a third branchial fistula is derived from its embryological origin, in accordance with the branchial apparatus theory. Treatment of this condition requires complete removal of the tract in order to avoid recurrence; however, this can pose a risk to the surrounding structures. We report the case of a complete third branchial fistula as well as a literature review on its theoretical course and management.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Survey on mammographic screening among women aged 40 to 65 years old at polyclinics

Leong HS, Heng R, Emmanuel SC

Singapore Med J, 2007 Jan;48(1):34-40.
PMID: 17245514

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the commonest female cancer in Singapore. It is steadily rising with an incidence of 53.1 cases per 100,000 persons per year among women. Screening for detection of early lesions which are highly curable helps to reduce mortality.
METHODS: Over three afternoon sessions in December 2003, 224 female patients aged 40-65 years, participated in interviews conducted by the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, Singapore. The survey sought information on mammographic screening history, the time interval since the previous mammographic screening, and the reasons for not going for the screening.
RESULTS: The survey found that only 26.4 percent (28 out of 106) among those aged 40 to 49 years had mammographic screening done within the past one year, and 43.2 percent (51 out of 118) among those aged 50 to 65 years had screening done within the last two years. Chinese women were twice more likely than Malay women to have a mammogram done. The commonest reasons for not wanting to have mammographic screening among women who did not have a mammogram done or had mammogram done more than two years ago, were lack of time (42.5 percent), fear of pain during the procedure (26.9 percent), and the belief that cancer would not happen to them (24.6 percent).
CONCLUSION: Despite publicity on breast cancer being the commonest cancer among women in Singapore and cure being possible if the malignancy was detected early, close to half of the women aged 40-65 years old who attended the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics did not have mammographic screening done. One-quarter of the women who did not have mammogram screening did not do so as they did not think cancer would happen to them.
Study site: NHG Polyclinics, Singapore

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Twin reverse arterial perfusion sequence

Nik Lah NA, Che Yaakob CA, Othman MS, Nik Mahmood NM

Singapore Med J, 2007 Dec;48(12):e335-7.
PMID: 18043831

Twin reverse arterial perfusion sequence occurs in approximately one percent of monochorionic twins. This condition is always fatal for the recipient twin and carries a high mortality rate for the pump twin. Various treatment options are described, but management is continually evolving with the publication of new data. We report an acardiac acephalic monochorionic twin who was diagnosed at 31 weeks gestation. Serial ultrasonographical examinations of the normal pump twin showed intrauterine growth restriction but with no evidence of heart failure. A healthy pump twin was delivered by caesarean section at 34 weeks.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Melioidotic osteomyelitis treated with antibiotic-calcium hydroxyapatite composite: case report with four-year follow-up

Ng WM, Kwan MK, Merican AM

Singapore Med J, 2006 Jan;47(1):71-4.
PMID: 16397726

Melioidosis is caused by an infection by Burkholderia pseudomallei. Osteomyelitis is a recognised manifestation of melioidosis but Burkholderia pseudomallei is a relatively rare aetiological agent in musculoskeletal infections. We report a 32-year-old diabetic man with septicaemia due to melioidotic infection of the spleen, liver and distal femur. The osteomyelitis relapsed despite being treated with the standard radical debridement and insertion of gentamycinimpregnated polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) beads, followed by an optimal antibiotic therapy. The PMMA-gentamycin beads were then removed. The bone defect was debrided and packed with calcium hydroxyapatite blocks filled with ceftazidime powder. The osteomyelitis was successfully treated and the patient remained free of infection four years postoperatively. Computed tomography demonstrated successful incorporation of the calcium hydroxyapatite into host bone.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Newborn hearing screening: experience in a Malaysian hospital

Abdullah A, Hazim MY, Almyzan A, Jamilah AG, Roslin S, Ann MT, et al.

Singapore Med J, 2006 Jan;47(1):60-4.
PMID: 16397723

This study aims to determine the prevalence of hearing loss among newborns delivered at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and to evaluate the usefulness of our hearing screening protocol.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Neonatal meningitis due to non-encapsulated Haemophilus influenzae in a set of twins--a case report

Lim CT, Parasakthi N, Puthucheary SD

Singapore Med J, 1994 Feb;35(1):104-5.
PMID: 8009266

A set of twins born to a 24-year-old primigravida had evidence of sepsis 24 to 60 hours after birth and were treated empirically with penicillin and gentamicin. A non-encapsulated H. influenzae biotype IV strain was isolated from the blood cultures of both and from the CSF of twin II. The isolates were beta-lactamase positive and hence showed resistance to ampicillin and therapy was changed to chloramphenicol only. Twin II recovered but Twin I developed a brain abscess in the left occipital region which resolved with extended antibiotic treatment. Although ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae have been reported in Malaysia, invasive disease by such strains are rare.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Decentralization of psychiatric services in Malaysia--what is the prospect?

Salleh MR

Singapore Med J, 1993 Apr;34(2):139-41.
PMID: 8266154

Since the Government was implementing the policy of decentralization of psychiatric services, a large number of chronic schizophrenic patients failed community management because of the breakdown of family support. The rejected patients were admitted to the Old Persons' Home for protection because no other suitable places were available for them. In a follow-up study in one of the Homes, the one-year prevalence rate of treated psychiatric illness and schizophrenia was found to be 27.5% and 15.3% respectively. Lack of rehabilitation and community care facilities and inadequate staff in all categories were the root of the problem. The author foresees that the Government will face a serious problem in future to cater for the increasing number of chronic schizophrenic patients in the community if it does not take immediate action to improve mental health services in the country.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Effect of H2 antagonists on outcome of simple closure for perforated duodenal ulcer

Koh KB, Chang KW

Singapore Med J, 1992 Oct;33(5):472-3.
PMID: 1360708

The treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer is controversial. Since the advent of H2 antagonists, the number of ulcer operations has declined tremendously. We wanted to find out if the addition of a H2 antagonist after simple closure of a perforated duodenal ulcer would change the outcome and therefore reviewed 46 patients treated in this fashion. Our results show that this is a safe and effective way of treating patients with perforated duodenal ulcer.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Reliability and Validity of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire in Bahasa Malaysia for Patients with Cancer

Rajah HDA, Chie QT, Ahmad M, Leong WC, Bhoo-Pathy N, Chan CMH

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2021 Aug 01;22(8):2487-2492.
PMID: 34452562 DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.8.2487

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to identify the psychometric properties and validate the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire among patients with cancer.
METHODS: A total of 129 newly diagnosed patients with cancer were consecutively sampled. Reliability and validity of the questionnaire were tested using translation validity, test-retest reliability, Principal Component Analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient for domains and item-total correlation.
RESULTS: The questionnaire indicates excellent test-retest reliability. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) is 0.60 for the two-factor structure of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire of the Bahasa Malaysia version which consists of cognitive illness representation and emotional illness representation.
CONCLUSION: The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire in the Bahasa Malaysia version is a useful tool to use among patients with cancer in Malaysia context despite moderate psychometric properties. This is based on the premise that the questionnaire can be used as a quick tool to assess illness perceptions among Malaysian with cancer in routine oncology practice.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Factors associated with crisis pregnancies in Ireland: findings from three nationally representative sexual health surveys

Bourke A, Kelleher C, Boduszek D, Morgan K

Reprod Health, 2015;12:14.
PMID: 25884222 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-015-0005-z

Findings on the demographic and sexual health characteristics associated with the experience of a crisis pregnancy are important to inform the public health policy of a country, including Ireland. Studies from other jurisdictions have suggested that certain demographic groups are at risk for unintended pregnancies and the disparity between the groups has been growing in recent years. Ireland is a country which experienced much economic and societal change in the first decade of the 21(st) century; changes which are likely to have affected demographic variables pertaining to sexual health. The current study had two aims: to investigate changes in the socioeconomic characteristics associated with crisis pregnancies over a seven year period [2003 to 2010], and to investigate the recent [2010] socioeconomic risk factors associated with crisis pregnancies in Ireland.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext A pilot study: the development of a culturally tailored Malaysian Diabetes Education Module (MY-DEMO) based on the Health Belief Model

Ahmad B, Ramadas A, Kia Fatt Q, Md Zain AZ

BMC Endocr Disord, 2014 Apr 08;14:31.
PMID: 24708715 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6823-14-31

BACKGROUND: Diabetes education and self-care remains the cornerstone of diabetes management. There are many structured diabetes modules available in the United Kingdom, Europe and United States of America. Contrastingly, few structured and validated diabetes modules are available in Malaysia. This pilot study aims to develop and validate diabetes education material suitable and tailored for a multicultural society like Malaysia.
METHODS: The theoretical framework of this module was founded from the Health Belief Model (HBM). The participants were assessed using 6-item pre- and post-test questionnaires that measured some of the known HBM constructs namely cues to action, perceived severity and perceived benefit. Data was analysed using PASW Statistics 18.0.
RESULTS: The pre- and post-test questionnaires were administered to 88 participants (31 males). In general, there was a significant increase in the total score in post-test (97.34 ± 6.13%) compared to pre-test (92.80 ± 12.83%) (p 85%) at post-test (84.1%) compared to pre-test (70.5%) (p

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext Manipal lifestyle modification score to predict major adverse cardiac events in postcoronary angioplasty patients

Devasia T, Shetty PN, Kareem H, Karkala YR, Singh A

Indian Heart J, 2018 Dec;70 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S353-S358.
PMID: 30595288 DOI: 10.1016/j.ihj.2018.10.411

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle modification (LSM) such as prudent diet, physical activity, avoidance of smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight may considerably decrease the risk for coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to develop a new LSM scoring system and investigate the correlation between adherence to LSM and incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 12-month follow-up.
METHOD: A total of 1000 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) were included in this prospective single-center study. Manipal lifestyle modification score (MLSMS) was developed by using five lifestyle-related factors. Adherence to LSM at the baseline and subsequent follow-ups was determined by using MLSMS. The MACE at 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up were analyzed.
RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in overall adherence to LSM (p follow-up. Nonadherence to LSM [hazard ratio (HR) 0.575; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.334-0.990; p follow-ups and a significant association between the incidence of MACEs and the lack of adherence to LSM. MLSMS is a simple and effective evaluation tool in predicting MACEs in this group of patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies
Fulltext HOspitalised Pneumonia Extended (HOPE) Study to reduce the long-term effects of childhood pneumonia: protocol for a multicentre, double-blind, parallel, superiority randomised controlled trial

Chang AB, Fong SM, Yeo TW, Ware RS, McCallum GB, Nathan AM, et al.

BMJ Open, 2019 Apr 24;9(4):e026411.
PMID: 31023759 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026411

INTRODUCTION: Early childhood pneumonia is a common problem globally with long-term complications that include bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is biologically plausible that these long-term effects may be minimised in young children at increased risk of such sequelae if any residual lower airway infection and inflammation in their developing lungs can be treated successfully by longer antibiotic courses. In contrast, shortened antibiotic treatments are being promoted because of concerns over inducing antimicrobial resistance. Nevertheless, the optimal treatment duration remains unknown. Outcomes from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on paediatric pneumonia have focused on short-term (usually <2 weeks) results. Indeed, no long-term RCT-generated outcome data are available currently. We hypothesise that a longer antibiotic course, compared with the standard treatment course, reduces the risk of chronic respiratory symptoms/signs or bronchiectasis 24 months after the original pneumonia episode.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This multicentre, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial involving seven hospitals in six cities from three different countries commenced in May 2016. Three-hundred-and-fourteen eligible Australian Indigenous, New Zealand Māori/Pacific and Malaysian children (aged 0.25 to 5 years) hospitalised for community-acquired, chest X-ray (CXR)-proven pneumonia are being recruited. Following intravenous antibiotics and 3 days of amoxicillin-clavulanate, they are randomised (stratified by site and age group, allocation-concealed) to receive either: (i) amoxicillin-clavulanate (80 mg/kg/day (maximum 980 mg of amoxicillin) in two-divided doses or (ii) placebo (equal volume and dosing frequency) for 8 days. Clinical data, nasopharyngeal swab, bloods and CXR are collected. The primary outcome is the proportion of children without chronic respiratory symptom/signs of bronchiectasis at 24 months. The main secondary outcomes are 'clinical cure' at 4 weeks, time-to-next respiratory-related hospitalisation and antibiotic resistance of nasopharyngeal respiratory bacteria.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Human Research Ethics Committees of all the recruiting institutions (Darwin: Northern Territory Department of Health and Menzies School of Health Research; Auckland: Starship Children's and KidsFirst Hospitals; East Malaysia: Likas Hospital and Sarawak General Hospital; Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya Research Ethics Committee; and Klang: Malaysian Department of Health) have approved the research protocol version 7 (13 August 2018). The RCT and other results will be submitted for publication.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12616000046404.

Matched MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies

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