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Biomedical subjects

K T Goh

Publications and source records attributed to K T Goh.

103 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Hepatitis B surveillance in Singapore.

257 cases of acute hepatitis B were reported between January 1977 and June 1979. This constituted about one-third of all reported acute viral hepatitis cases in Singapore. The mean annual morbidity and mortality rates per 100,000 was 4.4 and 0.12 respectively. The case-fatality rate was 2.7%. The age-specific morbidity rates were high in the 15-24 and 25-34 years age groups, while the ethnic specific morbidity rate was highest in Indians. The male to female ratio was 4.6: 1. Cases were concentrated in urban and suburban areas with high population density. Three outbreaks, one traced to contaminated needles and syringes, one to contaminated tattoo neeedles, and amongst close contacts, were described. Although parenteral procedures were associated with hepatitis B infection (p < 0.005), non-parenteral or inapparent parenteral mode of transmission probably contributes to a significant extent in the transmission of hepatitis B in Singapore. Studies to determine the role of perinatal transmission, and of vectors, in maintaining the endemicity of the disease, were suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Epidemiology of diarrhoeal diseases in Singapore.

Diarrhoeal diseases in the form of bacterial food poisoning are prevalent in Singapore. Common food poisoning organisms implicated were Staphylococcus aureus, non-thypoid Salmonellae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. El tor cholera, believed to be introduced through intra-regional trade and travel, occurred sporadically with a common source outbreak, probably food-borne, in September 1978. Shigellosis and amoebiasis were mainly confined to areas where poor personal hygiene was prevalent. The incidence of enteric favers (typhoid and paratyphoid) continued to decline with 39.1% of the cases imported in 1978. Non-bacterial diarrhoeal diseases, including rotavirus, constituted 8--90% of the cases. The emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance enterobacteria which gave rise to occasional outbreaks in institutions, is a matter of concern. Control of diarrhoel diseases is directed mainly at food control and legislation and health education, backed by a high standard of environmental sanitation and a well-established system of epidemiological survelliance. The use of oral rehydration solution for the treatment of diarrhoea is being promoted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Enteric infections in Singapore with special reference to typhoid.

A review of the epidemiological features of the more important enteric infections in Singapore was given. Enteric fevers (typhoid and paratyphoid), Salmonella gastroenteritis and Shigellosis remained endemic at a rather constant level in spite of vast improvement in environmental sanitation, but amoebic dysentery showed marked decline. Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an important cause of food poisoning since it was first reported in 1973. El tor cholera is believed to be introduced through regional trade and travel. Control measures directed mainly at typhoid include detection of typhoid carriers in the community responsible for transmission of infection, control and licensing of public food handlers and health education.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Epidemiology of acute viral hepatitis in Singapore.

A total of 194 cases of acute viral hepatitis were notified between June and December 1976. Thirty-five (22.6%) out of 155 patients were positive for HBs Ag by counter-immuno-electrophoresis. The ethnic-specific morbidity rates per 100,000 were Chinese, 9.51; Malays, 3.20; Indians, 8.30 and others, 1.13; and the age specific attack rates were high in the 15 -- 24 and 25 -- 34 age groups, being 15.05 and 15.77 per 100,000 respectively. The male to female ratio was 3.04:1. Cases were not confined to areas with poor environmental sanitation. There were very few secondary cases. Unrecognized anicteric or subclinical cases probably play an important role in the transmission of viral hepatitis in the community. The possibility of transmission of hepatitis A by contaminated food was discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute organophosphorus food poisoning caused by contaminated green leafy vegetables.

An outbreak of food poisoning in which 105 persons from various parts of Singapore were affected was traced to one type of green leafy vegetable (Brassica alboglabra) that had been imported. The clinical symptoms were generally mild and the incubation period short (median 2.5 h). The etiology was confirmed when excessive levels of two organophosphorus pesticides--methamidophos (Tamaron/Monitor; 2.4 ppm-31.7 ppm) and profenofos (Selecron/Curacron; 1.1 ppm-5.4 ppm) were detected in the implicated food, and blood cholinesterase levels of the hospitalized patients were depressed by 26.1%-81.4% based on the lower limit of the reference range. All consignments of the implicated vegetables were immediately sealed and destroyed. Monitoring of imported vegetables for excessive pesticide residues has been enhanced.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunogenicity and safety of low doses of recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine.

The immunogenicity and safety of recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine given in doses of 0.6 microgram, 1.25 microgram, 2.5 micrograms and 5.0 micrograms were studied in 4 comparable groups of children aged 1-12 years. All children received three doses of vaccine at time 0, 1 month and 5 months. Immunogenicity appeared to be satisfactory in all 4 groups of children. In the early phase of the study, a dose-response relationship was observed but there was no significant difference in the geometric mean titre among all 4 groups for any period studied. Antibody levels peaked at 9 months, declining thereafter. The geometric mean titre one year after the first vaccine dose was not significantly lower than that at the peak (9 months) in any individual group studied. The second year geometric mean titre was similar in all 4 groups and lower than that of the first year. Sero-conversion with antibody titres greater than or equal to 10 mIU/ml was 100% in the 5.0 micrograms group and greater than 90% in the other 3 groups. There were no adverse reactions of any significance. The immunogenicity of recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine was found to be adequate even at as low a dosage as 0.6 microgram when administered in a 3-dose regimen.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biological monitoring of human exposure to environmental lead in Singapore.

An epidemiological survey was conducted in 1990-91 to determine the personal and environmental factors in Singapore which may affect blood lead levels. A total of 1,408 children and adults aged from 6 months to over 50 years were interviewed and their blood samples obtained for analysis using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Overall, the geometric mean blood lead level of the population surveyed was 76.6 micrograms/l. Multivariate analyses revealed that significant variations in blood lead concentrations were related, in decreasing order of importance, to: sex, age, active and passive smoking, exposure to traffic, and exposure to recent paintwork. The consumption of alcohol and traditional medicines were found not to be significant determinants. To reduce the environmental lead problem in Singapore, unleaded petrol has been introduced and control of lead additive in paints is being considered. The national anti-smoking programme should further contribute to an overall reduction in the blood lead level of the population.

Adolescent↗