MyMedR

Fulltext The Malai Ika Daigaku (Syonan Medical College) in Malacca (1944 to 1945) during the Japanese occupation of Singapore and Malaya

Cheah JS, Tay G

Singapore Med J, 1998 Jan;39(1):42-4.

PMID: 9557106

During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore and Malaya (1941-1945), Singapore was renamed Syonan (or Syonanto) and Malaya was called Malai (or Marai; Marei). On 27 April 2603 (1943) the Japanese Military Administration established. The Marai Ika Daigaku (Syonan Medical College) at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Hakuai Byoin), Syonan. The Medical College shifted to the General Hospital, Malacca in February 2604 (1944) where it functioned till the end of the Japanese Occupation in September 2605 (1945).

Fulltext The Marei Ika Daigaku (Syonan Medical College) during the Japanese occupation of Singapore (1942-1945)

Cheah JS, Tay G

Singapore Med J, 1997 Dec;38(12):540-4.

PMID: 9550922

During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore (1942-1945), Singapore was renamed Syonan (or Syonanto). The Japanese Military Administration established The Medical College on 27 April 2603 (1943) and it was known as The Marei Ika Daigaku or Syonan Medical College. It was sited at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Hakua Byoin). The Ika Daigaku relocated to the General Hospital, Malacca in February 2604 (1944) where it functioned till the end of the Japanese Occupation in September 1945. About 200 students from Singapore, Malaya, Sumatra and Java attended the Syonan Medical College; the students were taught mainly Japanese language and culture.

Fulltext Choice of antihypertensive drug in the diabetic patient

Ong HT, Cheah JS

MedGenMed, 2005;7(2):74.

PMID: 16369452

The hypertensive patient with type 2 diabetes is especially at risk of adverse cardiovascular events. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) and Hypertension Optimal Treatment (HOT) studies suggested that treatment to a lower target blood pressure resulted in better prevention of clinical disease in these patients. Most trials comparing antihypertensive drugs have shown only minimal differences between the various agents. The evidence from the trials suggests that diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and the angiotensin-receptor antagonists (ARBs) will all successfully reduce adverse clinical events. The largest of the comparative hypertensive drug trials, the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT), demonstrated that a diuretic has a better hypotensive effect, and was more successful in preventing many aspects of cardiovascular disease compared with CCBs and ACE inhibitors. The importance of good blood pressure control and the general equivalence of antihypertensive drugs were again shown in the Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation (VALUE) trial, which compared an ARB with a CCB. Choice of antihypertensive agent should be individualized and guided by the presence of concomitant clinical disease and the need to protect any specific target organ system in the diabetic hypertensive. Diuretics, being potent hypotensive drugs with clearly demonstrated clinical benefit, should form part of the antihypertensive regimen of most diabetic hypertensives. ACE inhibitors and ARBs are especially useful in preventing nephropathy. Most patients will require a combination of antihypertensive drugs to achieve tight blood pressure control of under 130/80 mm Hg in the diabetic hypertensive. The clinician should concentrate on seeking this lower target blood pressure rather than be excessively concerned about which is the best antihypertensive agent.

Fulltext Serum alpha-i acid glycoprotein in thyroid dysfunctions

Ho CL, Cheah JS

Med J Malaysia, 1982 Mar;37(1):70-1.

PMID: 7121352

The serum alpha-1 acid glycoprotein of 9 euthyroid subjects, 14 hypothyroid patients and 21 hyperthyroid patients was determined by radial immunodiffussion in agar plates. The serum alpha1 acid glycoprotein level in both the hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients were significantly lowered when compared to the euthyroid subjects. There was no significant correlation between the alpha-1 acid glycoprotein level mid the Liothyronine resin uptake (T3 resin. uptake) and the serum total Thyroxine Iodide (T4I) level.

Hypersecretion of growth hormone in an acromegalic of 25 years' duration

Teo SK, Cheah JS

Med J Malaysia, 1973 Mar;27(3):220-2.

PMID: 4268929

An unusual cause of hypothyroidism (following excision of lingual thyroid) in a Chinese boy

Cheah JS, Loh FK

Med J Malaysia, 1973 Mar;27(3):217-9.

PMID: 4268928

Turner's syndrome (gonadal dysgenesis): clinical, dermatoglyphic and chromosomal features

Cheah JS, Tan BY

Med J Malaya, 1969 Mar;23(3):181-8.

PMID: 4240071

Infectious mononucleosis in Singapore: A report of two cases

Bernard Ee, Cheah JS, Ransome GA

Med J Malaysia, 1972 Jun;26(4):288-290.

PMID: 35158509

No abstract available.

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.

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus among the ethnic groups in Singapore

Cheah JS, Tambyah JA, Mitra NR

Trop Geogr Med, 1975 Mar;27(1):14-6.

PMID: 1169832

During a routine medical examination of 5280 government employees (2736 males, 2544 females; age range 17 to 66 years; 3386 Chinese, 1252 Malays, 508 Indians and 134 other ethnic groups) diabetes was found in 31 (0.59%). The prevalence was higher in males (0.95%) than in females (0.20%). The highest prevalence was in the age-group 50 to 59 years (5.4%); at ages 30 to 66 years, the overall prevalence was 2.18%. The prevalence of diabetes is higher in Indians (2.76%) than in Chinese (0.30%) and Malays (0.48%); the difference is statistically significant, as it also is in the age-group 30 to 66 years (Indians 6.36%, Malays 1.39%, Chinese 0.9%). Of the 31 cases, only four were previously known and only nine were overwieght. The possible reasons for the higher prevalence of diabetes in Indians are discussed.

Infectious mononucleosis in Singapore: a report of two cases

Ee B, Cheah JS, Ransome GA

Med J Malaya, 1972 Jun;26(4):288-90.

PMID: 5069420

Fulltext The first graduates in 1910

Cheah JS, Ho TM, Ng BY

Ann Acad Med Singap, 2005 Jul;34(6):19C-24C.

PMID: 16010376

The Medical School in Singapore was founded on 3 July 1905 and named the Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School. There were 23 students in the first enrollment; 16 students attended the full course, while 7 attended a 2-year course for hospital assistants. The pioneer group of 7 that graduated in May 1910 (the Magnificent Seven) consisted of Drs Chen Su Lan, Edwin Williborod deCruz, and John Gnanapragasam from Singapore; Drs Willie Carnegie and Mark W Chill from Penang; Dr SR Krishnan from Seramban and Dr John Scott Lee from Ipoh. In December 1910, a further 6 students graduated. Of this first batch of 13 graduates in 1910, we describe the careers of 6; no records exist of the remaining 7.

Hyperosmolar nonketotic diabetic coma

Tan BY, Cheah JS, Tan SK, Chew BK

Med J Malaya, 1970 Jun;24(4):308-10.

PMID: 4248355

Hyperthyroidism in systemic lupus erythematosus

Cheah JS, Chia BL, Tay HH, Tan BY

Med J Aust, 1970 Nov 28;2(22):1029-30.

PMID: 5494951

Fulltext The life and health challenges of young Malaysian couples: results from a stakeholder consensus and engagement study to support non-communicable disease prevention

Norris SA, Anuar H, Matzen P, Cheah JC, Jensen BB, Hanson M

BMC Public Health, 2014;14 Suppl 2:S6.

PMID: 25080995 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-S2-S6

BACKGROUND: Malaysia faces burgeoning obesity and diabetes epidemics with a 250% and 88% increase respectively between 1996 and 2006. Identifying the health challenges of young adults in Malaysia, who constitute 27.5 % of the population, is critical for NCD prevention. The aim of the study was two-fold: (1) to achieve consensus amongst stakeholders on the most important challenge impacting the health of young adults, and (2) to engage with stakeholders to formulate a NCD prevention framework.

METHODS: The Delphi Technique was utilised to achieve group consensus around the most important life and health challenges that young adults face in Malaysia. Subsequently, the results of the consensus component were shared with the stakeholders in an engagement workshop to obtain input on a NCD prevention framework.

RESULTS: We found that life stress was a significant concern. It would seem that the apathy towards pursuing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle among young adults may be significantly influenced by the broader distal determinant of life stress. The high cost of living is suggested to be the main push factor for young working adults towards attaining better financial security to improve their livelihood. In turn, this leads to a more stressful lifestyle with less time to focus on healthier lifestyle choices.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight a pivotal barrier to healthier lifestyles. By assisting young adults to cope with daily living coupled with realistic opportunities to make healthier dietary choices, be more active, and less sedentary could assist in the development of NCD health promotion strategies.

Fulltext Epidemiology of diabetes in Singapore

Cheah JS, Yeo PP, Lui KF, Tan BY, Tan YT, Ng YK

Med J Malaysia, 1982 Jun;37(2):141-9.

PMID: 7132833

A country-wide diabetic survey of the population (age 15 years and above) of Singapore shows that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Singapore is 1.99 percent. It is commoner in males (2.36 percent) than in females (1.64 percent). The prevalence of diabetes in the age group 15-39 years is only 0.40 percent and in the age group 40 years and older it is 5.08 percent. The prevalence of diabetes in Indians (6.07 percent) is significantly higher than that in Malays (2.43 percent) and Chinese (1.55 percent). Indian diabetics have an insignifi"cantly higher incidence of positive family of diabetes (12.7 percent) than Malays (10.9 percent) and Chinese (6.5 percent). Obesity was commoner in Malay diabetics (67.4 percent) than in Chinese diabetics (41.6 percent) and Indian diabetics (35.7 percent). The survey shows that 40.4 percent of the diabetics are known while 59.6 percent of the diabetics are newly diagnosed. The majority of the diabetics are treated with oral hypoglycaemic drugs (71.5 percent) and only 4.8 percent are receiving insulin injections. A mong the female diabetics, 63.0 percent have 4 or more pregnancies and large babies at birth are recorded in 12.3 percent. In the newly diagnosed diabetics, 64.3 percent have no symptoms. The complications of the diabetics are hypertension (26.8 percent), nephropathy (9.8 percent), retinopathy (8.5 percent), coronary heart disease (6.1 percent), skin infection (4.6 percent) and neuropathy (3.3 percent). The high prevalence of diabetes among the Indians is likely to be due to a genetic predisposition coupled with an environmental factor (obesity), although this hypothesis is not conclusively demonstrated by the present study.

Fulltext Economic burden of hypoglycemia for type II diabetes mellitus patients in Malaysia

Aljunid SM, Aung YN, Ismail A, Abdul Rashid SAZ, Nur AM, Cheah J, et al.

PLoS One, 2019;14(10):e0211248.

PMID: 31652253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211248

This study mainly aims to identify the direct cost and economic burden of hypoglycemia for patients with type II diabetes mellitus in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study explored the cost incurred for hypoglycemia among patients admitted to University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). The study covered patients aged 20-79 years hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of ICD-10 hypoglycemia and discharged between January 2010 and September 2015 according to the casemix database. A costing analysis was done through a step-down approach from the perspective of health providers. Cost data were collected for three levels of cost centers with the help of a hospital-costing template. The costing data from UKMMC were used to estimate the national burden of hypoglycemia among type II diabetics for the whole country. Of 244 diabetes patients admitted primarily for hypoglycemia to UKMMC, 52% were female and 88% were over 50 years old. The cost increased with severity. Managing a hypoglycemic case requires five days (median) of inpatient stay on average, with a range of 2-26 days, and costs RM 8,949 (USD 2,289). Of the total cost, 30% related to ward (final cost center), 16% to ICU, and 15% to pharmacy (secondary-level cost center) services. Considering that 3.2% of all admissions were hypoglycemia related, the total annual cost of hypoglycemia care for adult diabetics in Malaysia is estimated at RM 117.4 (USD 30.0) million, which translates to 0.5% of the Ministry of Health budget. Hypoglycemia imposes a substantial economic impact even without the direct and indirect cost incurred by patients and other cost of complications. Diabetic management needs to include proper diabetic care and health education to reduce episodes of hypoglycemia.

Ischaemic heart disease and its risk factors in Singapore in comparison with other countries

Hughes K, Yeo PP, Lun KC, Sothy SP, Thai AC, Wang KW, et al.

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1989 May;18(3):245-9.

PMID: 2774470

Mortality from ischaemic heart disease in Singapore is now reaching comparability with the West. For the early 1980s, rates for Indians and Malays were higher than in U.S.A. and England and Wales and while those for Chinese were lower they were considerably higher than in Japan. In keeping with this the levels of the major risk factors in Singapore are now comparable to the West. Cigarette smoking in males is virtually the same as in Britain, while the proportion of hypertensives on medication is higher than in the West. The main cause for concern is the current high levels of serum cholesterol in Singapore and strenuous health education efforts are needed to bring about dietary changes.

Obesity and body mass indices in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore

Hughes K, Yeo PP, Lun KC, Thai AC, Wang KW, Cheah JS

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1990 May;19(3):333-8.

PMID: 2393232

A population based cross-sectional survey has measured body mass indices (BMIs) in Singapore and compared their means and the proportions who are overweight and obese amongst Chinese, Malays and Indians. For males there was little ethnic differences; for the 18-69 age group, the age-adjusted mean BMIs being Chinese 22.3, Malays 23.1 and Indians 22.5. However for females, Malays and Indians were considerably more obese than Chinese; for the 18-69 age group the age-adjusted mean BMIs in Malays (25.1) and Indians (24.6) were significantly greater (p less than 0.001) than in Chinese (22.2). The proportions categorised as overweight or obese (BMI equal to or more than 26 in males and 25 in females) were males (Chinese 16.7%, Malays 22.4%, and Indians 14.0%) and females (Chinese 21.2%, Malays 51.5%, and Indians 42.0%). Health education on the harmful effects of obesity should be targeted especially on Malay and Indian females.

Alcohol consumption in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore

Hughes K, Yeo PP, Lun KC, Thai AC, Wang KW, Cheah JS

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1990 May;19(3):330-2.

PMID: 2393231

A population based survey has measured alcohol consumption by questionnaire in persons aged 18 to 69 years in Singapore. The majority were "occasional/none" drinkers, being males (Chinese 87%, Malays 99% and Indians 80%) and females (Chinese 98%, Malays 100% and Indians 100%). "Heavy" consumption was uncommon in males (Chinese 0.6%, Malays 0% and Indians 1.3%) and absent in females, while "heavy/moderate" drinking was males (Chinese 5.7%, Malays 0.5% and Indians 3.8%) and females (Chinese 0.3%, Malays 0% and Indians 0%). For males, "light" drinking was highest in Indians (15.9%), then Chinese (7.8%) and then Malays (0.5%). This survey indicates that alcohol consumption is not yet a major public health problem in Singapore.

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