MyMedR

Fulltext Birth defects in Singapore: 1994-2000

Tan KH, Tan TY, Tan J, Tan I, Chew SK, Yeo GS

Singapore Med J, 2005 Oct;46(10):545-52.

To study characteristics of birth defect cases among live births, stillbirths and abortions in Singapore between 1994 and 2000.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a neonatal intensive care unit in Singapore: a 20-month study of clinical characteristics and control

Tan KW, Tay L, Lim SH

Singapore Med J, 1994 Jun;35(3):277-82.

PMID: 7997904

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major infection control problem in many countries. There have been many reports of outbreaks in neonatal nurseries including, in our part of the world, Australia, Hong Kong and Malaysia. A recent outbreak of MRSA in the neonatal intensive care unit in the Kandang Kerbau Hospital, Singapore, presented us with the opportunity to study the clinical characteristics of the outbreak and the effects of infection control measures. Neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were studied over a 20-month period. They were all screened for nasal colonisation on admission and weekly thereafter. Infections were documented. Over this period there were altogether 2,576 admissions of which 85 infants had nasal colonisation with MRSA (3.3%) and 28 developed infections (1%). Although the majority of infants colonised by MRSA suffered no ill effects, 3 had septicaemia and 2 had septicaemia with osteomyelitis. There were no deaths. Standard infection control measures with barrier nursing and the use of mupirocin nasal ointment were ineffective, and control was achieved only after strict cohorting together with the use of mupirocin was instituted. This was done without additional costs to the department and without additional nurses or doctors.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Factors influencing pulse oximetry as compared to functional arterial saturation in multi-ethnic Singapore

Lee KH, Hui KP, Tan WC, Lim TK

Singapore Med J, 1993 Oct;34(5):385-7.

PMID: 8153680

Noninvasive oximetry provides continuous monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation and hence, early detection of hypoxia. This has proved to be a useful adjunct to patients' safety, and is considered indispensable in certain settings. However, errors may be present in the pulse oximeter estimation (SpO2) of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), which may be due to various parameters. We have studied a multi-ethnic population where the skin pigmentation is different, and also under different conditions comparing SpO2 with SaO2. Our results showed that SpO2 estimation of SaO2 amongst the three racial groups (Chinese, Malays, and Indians) varied significantly (ANOVA, p < 0.05). The over-estimation was more pronounced by hypoxic conditions and jaundice. Haemoglobin and systolic blood pressure did not affect the difference between SpO2 and SaO2.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext The Mentakab hypertension study project. Part V--Drug compliance in hypertensive patients

Lim TO, Ngah BA, Rahman RA, Suppiah A, Ismail F, Chako P, et al.

Singapore Med J, 1992 Feb;33(1):63-6.

PMID: 1598610

Poor compliance with drug treatment is a barrier to effective management of hypertension. Drug compliance behaviour of 168 patients were studied, their drug compliance was measured by the pill-counting method. The prevalence of non-compliance with medication was 26%. Thirteen variables were examined for their association with compliance; these were age, sex, duration of hypertension since diagnosis, adequacy of blood pressure control, complexity of drug regimen and side-effect of drug, history of previous admission for hypertension related reason, patient's knowledge of hypertensive complications, patient's belief that drug was 'panas' or 'san', previous use of traditional treatment for hypertension, patient's fatalistic attitude, their social support and satisfaction with the health services. None of these variables were significantly related to compliance (p greater than 0.05) except adequacy of blood pressure control. The performance of patient self-report was compared with pill-count as a measure of drug compliance; it was poorly predictive of non-compliance (sensitivity = 71%, specificity = 50%). An inverse relationship was found between non-compliance with medication and patient subsequent drop-out rate. Patients who were compliant were more likely to remain on treatment and vice versa. As a measure of drug compliance, detection of drop-out compared well with pill-count (sensitivity 97%, specificity 66%, positive predictive value 89%, negative predictive value 88%).
Study site: outpatient clinic, Hospital Mentakab, Pahang, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Cigarette smoking among school children in Singapore. Part I--Smoking prevalence

Emmanuel SC, Ho CK, Chen AJ

Singapore Med J, 1990 Jun;31(3):211-6.

PMID: 2392697

A cross sectional nationally representative survey of 33,110 school-going children in Singapore aged between 9 and 20 years was carried out to obtain, for the first time, baseline information on smoking among the school-going population in Singapore. The survey was carried out among students attending vocational institutes and public sector schools in Singapore in 1987. The overall smoking prevalence was found to be 2% (3% among boys and 0.2% among girls). Ex-smokers comprised 2% of respondents whilst those who had only experimented with smoking made up 9% of the respondents. Analyses of the data showed that cigarette smoking was more prevalent among Malays, among boys, among older children, and among the less academically inclined. On average, boys smoked a median of 20 cigarettes a week and girls, 12 cigarettes a week. On an international basis, the smoking prevalence among the school-going population in Singapore is significantly lower than that of developed countries like Australia, England and Wales and neighbouring countries such as Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Margosa oil poisoning as a cause of toxic encephalopathy

Lai SM, Lim KW, Cheng HK

Singapore Med J, 1990 Oct;31(5):463-5.

PMID: 2259944

Margosa Oil is an extract of the seed of the Neem tree and is widely used as a traditional medicine by Indians in India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Used mainly for external applications, it is often administered orally to neonates and infants regularly in small amounts. Margosa Oil causes toxic encephalopathy particularly in infants and young children. The usual features are vomiting, drowsiness, tachypnea and recurrent generalised seizures. Leucocytosis and metabolic acidosis are significant laboratory findings. Management is aimed primarily towards the control of convulsions although supportive management is equally important. Prognosis is usually good but fatalities and neurological deficits have been reported. We report here two infants with Margosa Oil poisoning presenting with encephalopathy.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Gestational diabetes: what size the problem?

Wang KW, Balakrishnan V, Liauw PC, Chua EK, Vengadasalam D, Tan YT

Singapore Med J, 1988 Feb;29(1):53-5.

PMID: 3406769

Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease in Singapore. Its occurrence in pregnant women was 1.3% in a previous report. In a survey of 145 consecutive pregnant women registered at Alexandra Hospital the incidence of gestational diabetes was 13.1% when a total screen with 75 gm oral glucose challenge was used. The mean age of this sample was 27 years and the mean gestation at screening 33 weeks. There was an excess of Malay and Indian patients. Fifty percent had traditional risk factors tor gestational diabetes. Whether this higher incidence is a result of more stringent screening and/or increased occurrence remains to be confirmed.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Disturbing trends in abortions in Singapore--analysis in a private clinic

Chew SC

Singapore Med J, 1988 Feb;29(1):28-9.

PMID: 3406761

The figures for abortions performed under The Abortion Act, 1974 of Singapore in a private clinic over a period of 20 months were studied. Overall, an alarming proportion of repeat abortions were found, and this was true for all age groups suggesting that abortions are being used as a regular method of family planning in Singapore.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Prevalence and intensity of helminthic infections in adults among the ethnic groups in Singapore

Kan SP, Cheah JS

Singapore Med J, 1970 Dec;11(4):283-6.

PMID: 5511861

300 patients (185 males, 115 females) were examined for intestinal parasites. About 40% of these patients was infected, 14% of which was heavily infected. The highest prevalence and intensity of infection with soil-transmitted helminths was found among Malays and Indians of different ages. Heavy infections with these helminths were also frequently encountered in young Chinese. Helminthic infections in patients over 60 years of age was signiﬁcantly lower. There was no signiﬁcant differences in the prevalence and degree of infection among males and females. The commonest helminth encountered was Trichuris trichiura, which usually occurred as trace single infections. Mixed infections with Ascaris and Trichuris, usually with the former as the predominating parasite, were also frequently observed.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Small intestinal absorption studies and biopsy findings in Asians, in Singapore

Jayaratnam FJ, Tan KK, Jacob E, Seah CS, Kho KM

Singapore Med J, 1970 Dec;11(4):275-82.

PMID: 5511860

Investigations in 30 healthy control subjects of Indian, Chinese and Malay ethnic origin, revealed that all the Chinese and about two thirds of the Indians and Malays had a normal capacity to absorb D—xylose, Vitamin A, Co58 labelled Vitamin B12 and dietary fat. About a third of the Indians and Malays were unable to absorb one or two of the four test substances used in the absorption studies. Jejunal biopsies did not differ in the 3 ethnic groups and were normal or mildly abnormal. 27 patients presenting with anorexia, a sore tongue and pallor were also investigated. Indians formed the majority of the patients. Diarrhoea occurred in only 51 % of the patients. All had a megaloblastic anaemia. Absorption studies revealed malabsorption of xylose, Vitamin A and Vitamin B12 in the majority but steatorrhoea occurred in only 26% of the patients. Jejunal biopsies were mildly abnormal in 8% and moderately or severely abnormal in 92 % of the patients. All responded to folic acid or Vitamin B12 therapy. 16 patients were restudied after 5 to 24 months therapy and the majority were found to have improved. Results of investigations and response to therapy indicate that these patients were suffering from tropical sprue. These studies indicate that tropical sprue in Singapore affects Indians mainly and can often present without diarrhoea and steatorrhoea.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext BCG programme in the Republic of Singapore

Chew CH, Hu PY

Singapore Med J, 1974 Dec;15(4):241-5.

PMID: 4549136

Mass BCG Vaccination is an effective and an inexpensive method of tuberculosis control. In Singapore, a nation wide BCG Vaccination programme was implemented in 1957, and from 1957 to 1972, i.e. a 16 year period, over 1 million vaccinations had been performed: 680,098 for infants, 512,797 for school students, 49,417 for contacts of tuberculosis patients and 7,775 for other special groups. The coverage of newborn infants has been over 90% from 1967 to 1972. In 1972, it was estimated that 90% of primary school children and 75% of secondary school students have been covered with BCG vaccinations. Although no controlled studies have been done in Singapore, it is observed from our analysis that the BCG programme has contributed in no small measure to the decline in tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates. Thus for 1972, the tuberculosis incidence rates per 100,000 were 5 for the BCG vaccinated group and 37 for the non-vaccinated group of primary school students, and 34 and 127 for the corresponding groups of secondary school students. In 1956, the death rate per 100,000 of respiratory tuberculosis was 4 and that of non-respiratory tuberculosis was 23 for children aged 4 and below, and the corresponding rates were 0.5 and 6.7 for those aged 5 to 9, and 0.8 and 3.7 for the group aged 10 to 14. In 1971 there were no tuberculosis deaths in children under 10 years of age, and the death rates for the age group 10-14 were 0.3 per 100,000 for either form of 241 tuberculosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Hospital monitoring of adverse drug reactions in Singapore

Teoh PC

Singapore Med J, 1974 Dec;15(4):268-72.

PMID: 4458069

The serious health hazards posed by adverse drug reactions have long been recognised, but the application of epidemiological principles to their studies is only a recent development. A total of 3160 patients admitted into Medical Unit I, General Hospital, Singapore were kept under surveillance for adverse reactions to drugs for six months in 1972. Fifty three of them (1.7%) were admitted with adverse drug reactions as the sole reason for admission. There were 25 males and 28 females. There were two deaths and ten life-threatening reactions, and hypersensitivity was the most common type of reaction encountered. Among the chief offending drugs were Chinese herbal medicines, digoxin, corticosteroids, antibiotics, phenothiazines, and hypoglycaemic agents. All doctors especially the general practitioners must be fully aware of these hazards so that they can help prevent un- necessary morbidity and mortality and also to avoid taxing heavily on the already over-burdened hospital service in a developing country.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext A statistical study of attempted suicides in Singapore

Chia BH, Tsoi WF

Singapore Med J, 1974 Dec;15(4):253-6.

PMID: 4458068

This is a study of 169 cases of attempted suicides who had been referred to or who had consulted a private psychiatrist. These patients were interviewed, examined and treated either as out- or in-patient in private hospitals during the years 1968-1976. Their demographic and clinical data were analysed, presented and discussed. The reasons and motivations tor the act were also obtained and summarized. In the follow-up study conducted, it was discovered that schizophrenic patients who had attempted suicide carries the highest completed suicide risk.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext The Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study (PAROS) clinical research network: what, where, why and how

Doctor NE, Ahmad NS, Pek PP, Yap S, Ong ME

Singapore Med J, 2017 07;58(7):456-458.

PMID: 28741005 DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2017057

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a global health concern with an incidence rate of 50-60 per 100,000 person-years. To improve OHCA survival rates, several cardiac arrest registries have been set up in North America and Europe, such as the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium, Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival, Ontario Prehospital Advanced Life Support and European Registry of Cardiac Arrest. In Asia, however, there was previously no concerted effort in prehospital emergency care research owing to differences in prehospital emergency medical services systems, data collection methods and outcome reporting between countries. Recognising the need for a collaborative prehospital emergency care research group in Asia, researchers from seven countries in the Asia-Pacific region (including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates-Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia) established the Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study (PAROS) clinical research network in 2010. This paper gives the overview, methodology and research accomplishments of the PAROS network.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext The rationale of treatment of maladaptation syndrome

Gwee AL

Singapore Med J, 1974 Jun;15(2):115-7.

PMID: 4416449

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Trends in coronary heart disease mortality in Singapore

Emmanuel SC

Singapore Med J, 1989 Feb;30(1):17-23.

PMID: 2595383

Coronary heart disease which was responsible for 2.9% of all deaths 30 years ago, today accounts for 19% of deaths. The rising trend which declined in 1985, appears to be stabilising now. Indians have mortality rates which are 3 times that of Chinese. This is the background against which the Singapore Myocardial Infarction Register was set up in 1967 to provide incidence and prevalence data for coronary heart disease in the country. in 1987 to provide incidence and prevalence data for coronary heart disease in the country.
Key words: Coronary heart disease mortality, Age standardised death rates, Ethnic differences, Singapore Myocardial Infarction Register

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Standardised neonatal parenteral nutrition formulations - Australasian neonatal parenteral nutrition consensus update 2017

Bolisetty S, Osborn D, Schindler T, Sinn J, Deshpande G, Wong CS, et al.

BMC Pediatr, 2020 02 08;20(1):59.

PMID: 32035481 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-020-1958-9

BACKGROUND: The first consensus standardised neonatal parenteral nutrition formulations were implemented in many neonatal units in Australia in 2012. The current update involving 49 units from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and India was conducted between September 2015 and December 2017 with the aim to review and update the 2012 formulations and guidelines.

METHODS: A systematic review of available evidence for each parenteral nutrient was undertaken and new standardised formulations and guidelines were developed.

RESULTS: Five existing preterm Amino acid-Dextrose formulations have been modified and two new concentrated Amino acid-Dextrose formulations added to optimise amino acid and nutrient intake according to gestation. Organic phosphate has replaced inorganic phosphate allowing for an increase in calcium and phosphate content, and acetate reduced. Lipid emulsions are unchanged, with both SMOFlipid (Fresenius Kabi, Australia) and ClinOleic (Baxter Healthcare, Australia) preparations included. The physicochemical compatibility and stability of all formulations have been tested and confirmed. Guidelines to standardise the parenteral nutrition clinical practice across facilities have also been developed.

CONCLUSIONS: The 2017 PN formulations and guidelines developed by the 2017 Neonatal Parenteral Nutrition Consensus Group offer concise and practical instructions to clinicians on how to implement current and up-to-date evidence based PN to the NICU population.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Temporal and spatial dynamics of Bacteria, Archaea and protists in equatorial coastal waters

Chénard C, Wijaya W, Vaulot D, Lopes Dos Santos A, Martin P, Kaur A, et al.

Sci Rep, 2019 Nov 08;9(1):16390.

PMID: 31704973 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52648-x

Singapore, an equatorial island in South East Asia, is influenced by a bi-annual reversal of wind directions which defines two monsoon seasons. We characterized the dynamics of the microbial communities of Singapore coastal waters by collecting monthly samples between February 2017 and July 2018 at four sites located across two straits with different trophic status, and sequencing the V6-V8 region of the small sub-unit ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA gene) of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota. Johor Strait, which is subjected to wider environmental fluctuations from anthropogenic activities, presented a higher abundance of copiotrophic microbes, including Cellvibrionales and Rhodobacterales. The mesotrophic Singapore Strait, where the seasonal variability is caused by changes in the oceanographic conditions, harboured a higher proportion of typically marine microbe groups such as Synechococcales, Nitrosupumilales, SAR11, SAR86, Marine Group II Archaea and Radiolaria. In addition, we observed seasonal variability of the microbial communities in the Singapore Strait, which was possibly influenced by the alternating monsoon regime, while no seasonal pattern was detected in the Johor Strait.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Social media, traditional media, and other body image influences and disordered eating and cosmetic procedures in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong

Chua SN, Craddock N, Rodtanaporn W, Or F, Austin SB

Body Image, 2023 Jun;45:265-272.

PMID: 37011471 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.03.010

In this study, we investigated the association between perceived sociocultural influences and the 3-month prevalence of disordered weight-control behaviors and lifetime prevalence of cosmetic procedures in four Asian countries, and if these associations were modified by gender. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey in September 2020 among adults ages 18-91 years (N = 5294) in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong. The 3-month prevalence of disordered weight control behaviors ranged from 25.2 % (Singapore) to 42.3 % (Malaysia), while the lifetime prevalence of cosmetic procedures ranged from 8.7 % (Singapore) to 21.3 % (Thailand). Participants who perceived their body image to be influenced by sociocultural factors were more likely to engage in disordered weight control behaviors (RRs ranged from 2.05 to 2.12) and have cosmetic procedures (RRs ranged from 2.91 to 3.89) compared to participants who perceived no sociocultural influence. Men who were influenced by traditional or social media were more likely to engage in disordered weight control behaviors and have cosmetic procedures than similarly influenced women. The high 3-month prevalence of disordered weight control behaviors and lifetime prevalence of cosmetic procedures in Asia is concerning. More research is needed to develop effective preventive interventions in Asia for men and women to promote a healthy body image.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

TPPA should not be adopted without a full, independent health assessment

Keating G, Freeman J, Macmillan A, Neuwelt P, Monasterio E

N Z Med J, 2016 Feb 19;129(1430):7-13.

PMID: 26914417

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

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