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Biomedical subjects

K W Wang

Publications and source records attributed to K W Wang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

A study of non-toxic goitre.

A population study showed a prevalence of 2.8% for nontoxic goitres. The clinical significance of non-toxic goitres were not previously defined. This study examined 64 patients with non-toxic goitres which were classified clinically as diffuse (gp1), lobular (gp2) and nodular (gp3). They were studied in terms of thyroid antibodies, radioisotope scanning, ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration cytology. The goitres were mainly nodular (69%), the rest were diffuse and lobular in equal numbers. Seventy percent of the nodular goitres had 1 nodule. One case of diffuse goitre and half the lobular goitres had multinodularity demonstrated on imaging. Antithyroid antibodies were detected in 20% of gp2, 7% of gp3 and none in gp1. Malignancy was found in 2% of gp2, 11% of gp3 and nil in gp1. A management strategy for non-toxic goitre was discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Oral glucose tolerance test--can the reflectance meter replace laboratory-based methods?

Sixteen national servicemen detected to have glycosuria on routine medical examination were subjected to 3 successive oral glucose tolerance tests. Capillary blood glucose was measured by reflectance meter in the first test (oGTT1), venous whole blood glucose by Beckman Synchron CX3 Analyser in the second (oGTT2) and by both methods in the third (oGTT3). In oGTT1, 1 subject was classified as diabetic and 15 as Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT). In oGTT3, using capillary blood glucose, 1 was diabetic, 8 IGT and 7 normal. Using venous whole blood, in oGTT2, 1 was diabetic, 3 IGT and 12 normal as compared to 1 diabetic, 4 IGT and 11 normal in oGTT3. There is considerable variation in classification as a result of using capillary blood glucose measured by reflectance meter as compared to the laboratory-based method. Capillary blood glucose measurement for oral glucose tolerance test cannot be recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Management and outcome of gestational diabetes in Alexandra Hospital, Singapore.

We analysed 216 patients with gestational diabetes over a 3 year period. These patients were managed by a diabetic team under a standardised protocol. Forty percent of these patients required insulin therapy. The incidence of pregnancy hypertension was 14.4%, macrosomia 8.8% and major congenital malformation 3.7%. The Caesarean Section rate was 34% and the overall Perinatal Mortality Rate was 1.9%. However, neonatal morbidity rate remained high--44% of infants have had one neonatal complication and 17.6% had 2 or more complications. Pregnancy outcome was further analysed among patients with different degrees of glucose intolerance at diagnosis. We noted that both macrosomic rate, neonatal morbidity rate, as well as proportion of patients requiring insulin were higher in the group with a higher degree of glucose intolerance. There was, however, no difference in incidence of hypertension or hydramnios in the different subgroups.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiology of diabetes mellitus in the Asia-Pacific region.

The complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors in the causation of diabetes mellitus is well illustrated by the epidemiology of diabetes in the Asia-Pacific region. Among the Chinese, the prevalence of diabetes is uniformly higher among Chinese living outside China than in the Chinese in The People's Republic of China. Similarly among the Indians, the prevalence of diabetes is universally higher in those who have settled outside India than in Indians in India. In the Pacific populations, diabetes is much commoner among the Nauruans and Fiji Indians. Throughout the Asia-Pacific countries, economic progress and urbanisation have a uniformly deleterious effect on diabetes. A better understanding of the hereditary and environmental factors in the causation of diabetes is required to halt and reverse the rising prevalence of diabetes in the Asia-Pacific region.

Australia↗
PubMed1990

Physical activity in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore.

A population based survey has measured levels of physical activity by questionnaire in persons aged 18 to 69 years in Singapore. Levels of physical activity were classified into high, medium and low based on activity in leisure and at work. The only ethnic difference was that for males a higher proportion were classified as "high" activity in Malays (24.8%) than Chinese (16.0%) and Indians (18.1%). For the overall 18 to 69 age group, it was found that for males, the proportions in the "low" category were Chinese 80%, Malays 70% and Indians 75% while for females it was 95% in all three ethnic groups. As physical activity of sufficient intensity is important in disease prevention and health promotion, more needs to be done on educating the public in Singapore about the benefits of regular exercise.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Alcohol consumption in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore.

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.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

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

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.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Thyrotoxic hyperemesis: a case report.

A male patient with hyperemesis as a result of hyperthyroidism was presented. Investigations for causes were negative except for hyperthyroxinaemia. Treatment with antithyroid drug relieved the symptom. Hyperemesis associated with hyperthyroidism occurs predominantly in females. A likely emetic factor oestrogen. Hyperthyroidism could have potentiated this effect. Levels of oestrogens are raised in thyrotoxicosis. The hyperthyroidism, the raised oestrogens and a low emetic threshold conspired to hyperemesis in this patient, a situation not unlike hyperemesis gravidarum. Thyrotoxic vomiting once recognised is readily by antithyroid treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Management of thyroid disease in pregnancy.

Thyroid disease occurs in pregnant at the rate of 0.2-0.6%. Graves' disease is the most common thyroid disorder in our pregnant patients. Thyroid disease is suspected if a significant goitre is detected during pregnancy. Confirmation by thyroid function tests is necessary but their interpretation requires an understanding of changes in the maternal thyroid physiology. Pharmacotherapy with the thionamides is the treatment of choice. Changes in dosage are influenced by the effect of pregnancy on the disease and the optimal level of control for the mother and the foetus. The dose is best titrated against the free thyroxine index or free thyroxine level. The outcome of pregnancy depends on early diagnosis and skillful manipulation of antithyroid drugs.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗
PubMed1989

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

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.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Accelerated angiotensinogen gene expression in the rat brain made tolerant to morphine or electroacupuncture stimulation].

The aim of the present study was to explore whether the expression of angiotensinogen (Ang) gene was accelerated during the development of morphine tolerance or electroacupuncture tolerance. The total rat brain RNA was extracted by phenol, and dot blot hybridization with synthetic Ang oligo-DNA was adopted for measuring Ang mRNA. Autoradiographic examination revealed a marked increase in Ang mRNA in rats receiving multiple injections of morphine or continuous electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation for several hours. The integrated O.D. (I.O.D.) of the hybridized dots revealed a 1-fold and 8-fold increase in Ang mNRA in rats receiving morphine injection for 1 and 4 days, respectively, and a 5-fold and 13-fold increase in rats receiving 3 and 6h EA stimulation, respectively. The results suggest that transcription of Ang gene in rat brain can be accelerated within 3-4h by continuous morphine or EA stimulation and that a longer lasting stimulation resulted in a stronger gene expression.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1985

Insulin secretory capacity in Singapore diabetic subjects.

The determination of serum C-peptide has been found to be a sensitive indicator of endogenous insulin secretion, and serves to define diabetic patients who require insulin therapy i.e., insulin-dependent (Type I, IDDM) and those non-insulin dependent (Type II, NIDDM). The aim of our study is to establish the types of diabetes mellitus with C-peptide measurement in a group of diabetic subjects on different modes of therapy. Eighty-eight diabetic patients (60 males, 28 females) were studied. Thirty-four were on insulin (age 40 +/- 2 years; means +/- SEM), 35 on oral agents (54 +/- 1 years), and 19 on diet alone (46 +/- 3 years). Twenty healthy subjects (10 males, 10 females) serve as normal controls (37 +/- 3 years). Blood samples for serum C-peptide and blood glucose estimations were obtained after an overnight fast and one hour after a 75 grams oral glucose load. Fasting C-peptide levels obtained for the various groups were: 0.62 +/- 0.07 (nmol/L, means +/- SEM) (normal), 0.16 +/- 0.02 (insulin), 0.79 +/- 0.06 (oral), 2.15 +/- 0.15 (diet). The C-peptide values after oral glucose were 1.80 +/- 0.20 (normal), 0.23 +/- 0.05 (insulin), 1.72 +/- 0.02 (oral), 2.15 +/- 0.15 (diet). Both the fasting and post-glucose C-peptide concentrations were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) in the insulin group compared to the normals, whereas values for the diet and oral groups were not significantly different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Infections in diabetes with special reference to diabetics in Singapore.

Most physicians believe that the diabetic patient is predisposed to infections and that infections complicate the control of the diabetes. Despite the lack of scientific proof, certain infections (such as tuberculosis, bacteriuria in females, malignant external otitis, rhinocerebral mucormycosis, emphysematous cholecystitis, emphysematous pyelonephritis, acute papillary necrosis etc) are widely regarded to be associated with the diabetic. Foot infections, infections of the respiratory tract and the urinary tract are very important in the diabetic. The reasons why diabetics are susceptible to infections are unclear: although the production of humoral antibody appear intact, defective function of the polymorphonuclear leucocytes has been demonstrated. Successful treatment of infections in the diabetic requires early and exact diagnosis, the exhibition of the correct antimicrobials, the treatment of the diabetic state and associated disorders and prompt surgical intervention where required. Good control of blood glucose in diabetic patients is a desirable goal in the prevention of certain infections and to ensure maintenance of normal host defense mechanisms that determine resistance and response to infection.

Abscess↗