SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “SINGAPORE”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Topical traditional Chinese medicine. A report from Singapore.

Topical traditional Chinese medicine is still widely used, especially by those of Chinese descent in Singapore. This practice is likely to be similar wherever there is a sizable Chinese community. In this article I discuss the types of topical traditional Chinese medicine available in Singapore--emphasizing particularly the ingredients used in the making of them--in an attempt to dispel some myths and misconceptions about traditional oils and balms.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2003

Surgery in Singapore.

Since Singapore became an independent nation about 50 years ago, remarkable progress has been made in the development and organization of the health care system, specialty services, graduate training, and medical research. The primitive health care service under the British colonial service before the Second World War which was further ravaged in the 1940s by the Japanese occupation has been radically transformed in a short period. Singapore has a modern health care service, excellent hospital facilities, an affordable health financing system, adequate medical manpower including specialists, and a postgraduate organization for the training of medical specialists. The advancement in surgical services has reached a high level where all forms of modern surgery, including laparoscopic and endoscopic operations, are routine and major bone and joint replacements, heart and liver transplantations, and complex neurosurgical and craniofacial operations are frequently carried out.

Education, Medical↗

PubMed1999

Diversity of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus isolates in Singapore: predominance of group 2a and the Asian group 3 variant.

The occurrence of GBV-C/HGV infection was studied in 160 individuals from two high-risk groups in Singapore. RT-PCR of the 5'-UTR detected GBV-C/HGV RNA in 3/73 (4.1%) of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis for chronic renal failure, and in 17/87 (19.5%) of patients coinfected with HCV who tested positive for HCV RNA. Phylogenetic analysis of 5'-UTR sequences from these 20 samples showed that the Asian or group 3 variant was found in 45% of the samples sequenced, thus confirming the high frequency of this variant in the region. Group 2a variants accounted for 50% of the samples with a complete absence of group 2b. Our analysis also provided strong bootstrap support for the subdivision of group 2 into subgroups 2a and 2b. This study shows that isolates belonging to all three main groups of GBV-C/ HGV can be detected in Singapore, with the large majority belonging to groups 2a (50%) and 3 (45%). Only a single group 1-like sequence was detected within the 20 isolates. Of interest also is that all group 3 isolates were identified in Chinese patients while group 2a was found in both Chinese and Malay.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

PubMed2000

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in obese Singapore children.

We set out to determine the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) among obese Singapore school children and identify risk factors for OSAS. This study was designed as a prospective study in three phases. Parents completed a questionnaire with regards to sleep and daytime symptoms in Phase 1. Children suspected to have OSAS based on the questionnaire and all with a percent ideal body weight (IBW) >/=180 were called for clinic visits in Phase 2. All whose percent IBW >/=180 and those in whom the physicians strongly suspected OSAS were subjected to a polysomnogram in phase 3. The children were recruited from the School Health Nutritional Clinic for obese children. The investigations were carried out at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. In all, 3,671 children were screened with the questionnaire. Of these, 146 were selected to undergo polysomnography. Twenty-six had abnormal sleep studies with apnea/hypoxia indices (AHIs) >5/hr. The significant clinical feature which correlated with OSAS was sleep sitting up (P = 0.005). The risk is higher in morbidly obese (IBW >/=180), with a prevalence of 13.3% (8/60), than in less obese children (IBW <180). One in eight (12.5%) of these children was asymptomatic and would have been missed based on the questionnaire. Presence of adenotonsillar hypertrophy led to increased risk of OSAS. The prevalence of OSAS was 0.7% (26/3,671) among the obese schoolchildren in Singapore, which is similar to the prevalence reported by others. Using discriminant analysis, the estimated prevalence increased to 5.7%. In the morbidly obese (IBW >/=180), the prevalence rate is higher at 13.3%.

Adenoids↗

PubMed1996

Shaping the nation state: ethnicity, class and the new population policy in Singapore.

"This paper explores the relationships between ethnicity, class and the New Population Policy (NPP) in Singapore in the context of its nation state project.... The paper uses data from a sample of the Singaporean population to investigate the impact of the NPP on both ethnic and income (class) groups in order to assess the importance of the ethnic dimension in this aspect of Singapore's development strategy. It concludes that, although differences in fertility behaviour may be rooted in ethnic identity, the control that the government wishes to exert over that behaviour as part of its nation-building project has largely been effected through class interests, and may be better interpreted as part of a broader strategy of human resource management which is attracting the attention of other Asian newly industrialising countries."

Asia↗

PubMed1988

Incidental carcinoma of the colorectum at autopsy and its effects on the incidence and future trends of colorectal cancers in Singapore.

Ten incidental invasive carcinomas (two early carcinomas involving the submucosa, and eight advanced carcinomas involving the muscularis propria or beyond) of the large intestine were discovered in a series of 1014 consecutive autopsies. All occurred in Chinese aged 60 years and older, constituting a prevalence rate of about 3% in this age group. If unsuspected colorectal carcinomas in Chinese Singapore residents aged 60 years and older exist in those who died in 1984 to the same extent as that noted in this autopsy study, it was estimated that 146 additional cases would have been added to the Cancer Registry in that year. This would constitute 47.9% of the total number of colorectal cancers diagnosed in this age group in 1984. This potential contribution has to be taken into consideration in epidemiologic studies on the incidence and future trends of colorectal cancers in Singapore. It was observed further that incidental carcinomas were found predominantly in the ascending colon. With more frequent use of colonoscopy, the incidence of right-sided cancers of the large bowel may be expected to increase. The current underdiagnosis of ascending colon carcinomas has to be taken into consideration when any future increase in right-sided cancers of the large bowel is observed.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Novel germline BRCA1 mutations detected in women in singapore who developed breast carcinoma before the age of 36 years.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, although BRCA1 has been extensively investigated, the contribution of inherited BRCA1 mutations to breast carcinoma in Asian populations is largely unknown. The authors undertook this study to determine the prevalence and spectrum of germline BRCA1 mutations among women in Singapore with early onset breast carcinoma. METHODS: Forty-three of 72 eligible patients whose breast carcinoma was diagnosed before the age of 36 years were studied, independent of family history. DNA samples from 50 unrelated individuals randomly selected from the National Thalassemia Registry served as controls. Mutational screening was performed by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and protein truncation test, and alterations were confirmed by sequencing. First-degree relatives of patients with definite BRCA1 mutations were offered screening. RESULTS: A total of 6 novel alterations in BRCA1 were identified, including 2 frameshift mutations in exon 11 (2846insA and 2885delA), 3 rare sequence variants, and 1 polymorphism. Three women (7%) carried deleterious mutations, and the mutation was present in at least 1 unaffected first-degree relative of the proband. The same mutation (2846insA) was identified in 2 of the 7 unrelated subjects of Malay ethnicity. One mutation and three rare variants were identified in four women with no family history of breast or ovarian carcinoma whereas all women with affected first-degree relatives did not harbor BRCA1 mutations. No mutation was identified in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum of germline BRCA1 mutations among the patients in this study was distinct from that in Caucasian populations although a similar prevalence was observed. Larger studies are necessary to clarify the significance of the mutation 2846insA in the Malay community and the penetrance of specific mutations in the Singapore population.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Chemical composition of biliary calculi in relation to the pattern of biliary disease in Singapore.

The chemical composition of biliary calculi from 25 Singapore patients operated upon over a three month period was determined by a microanalytical technique and equilibrium swelling tests. Twelve patients had biliary calculi confined to the gallbladder and the main component of six calculi was cholesterol. In the other 6 patients, the dark brown to black pigment calculi contained bilirubin and calcium and a small quantity of cholesterol, but the chief component was an insoluble pigment with the swelling characteristics of a bilirubin polymer. These cholesterol and pigment calculi have similarities in composition to gallstones of Western patients. In 13 patients with cholangitis, the brown, soft pigment calculi found in the dilated bile ducts (and also concurrently in the gallbladder in 5 patients) had bilirubin as the main component. Fatty acid was frequently present. The insoluble pigment component was considerably less but the lower swelling ratio suggested more cross linkage compared with black gallbladder stones. Differences in chemical composition between pigment gallbladder and bile duct calculi support the concept that Western type cholelithiasis and Oriental cholangitis occur as separate disease entities in Singapore patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Pattern and surgical treatment of gastric cancer in Singapore.

A personal series of 150 patients with gastric cancer operated on over an 11-year period in Singapore is reviewed. Cancer occurred in the antrum and/or body of the stomach in 117 patients and in the cardia in 33. Gastric tumours were well or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma in 50 patients and poorly differentiated or signet ring cell carcinoma in 100. Surgical resection was performed on 115 patients, in whom it was palliative in 47. Attempted cure by R2 radical resection was performed in 68 patients: 14 with stage I, 12 with stage II and 42 with stage III disease. There was no operative death in these 68 patients. In 82 patients operated on more than 5 years ago, five patients with carcinoma of the cardia and 28 with cancer of the gastric antrum and/or body underwent curative resection. There were 12 known 5-year survivors among the latter 28 patients; 16 of the 28 had stage III disease, six of whom survived 5 years. These results compare favourably with those of an earlier report from Singapore in which there were no 5-year survivors. The improved results probably accrue from earlier diagnosis and the current policy of radical resection.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Depression in Singapore: failure to demonstrate an age effect on clinical features.

OBJECTIVES: Studies comparing older and younger depressed patients have variably identified differing and similar clinical feature patterns, an inconsistency requiring clarification and explanation. If influential, age may have a true phenotypic effect or be a secondary influence reflecting depressive sub-type differences. If age is primarily influential, then, after controlling for depressive sub-type differences its effect should impact on clinical features - even in non-western regions. METHODS: We therefore undertook a study in Singapore, comparing 42 elderly and 28 younger patients of a Singapore psychiatric hospital, and with the diagnostic sub-type profile similar across the age-based groups. RESULTS: Despite the elderly group being some 35 years older, both at first episode and when surveyed, and having a distinctly higher rate of physical disorders, few clinical differences were identified. While the elderly group reported a less severe depressed mood and more 'somatic' symptoms, analyses indicated that such differences were accounted for by education and language factors, and were compatible with the view that Chinese subjects historically report depression more 'somatically'. CONCLUSION: We conclude that, in a non-western, largely Chinese sample of depressed patients, few differences in the phenotypic expression of depression were identified, perhaps reflecting similar distributions of depressive sub-types across the groups, an issue which may have muddied interpretation of western studies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Drug utilization review of risperidone for outpatients in a tertiary referral hospital in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: Risperidone has been used in Singapore for schizophrenia since 1996. However, little information is available on its utilization pattern. OBJECTIVE: To examine the risperidone utilization pattern in the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic of the National University Hospital. METHOD: Medical records of all outpatients with schizophrenia prescribed with risperidone from 1 September1999 to 31 August 2000 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 417 risperidone prescriptions were dispensed for 130 outpatients (50 male, 80 female) during the study period. The mean +/- SD daily doses for prescriptions and for patients were 2.3 +/- 1.3 mg and 2.1 +/- 1.1 mg, respectively. Among these patients, 28 (21.5%) received at least one concomitant conventional antipsychotic and 71 (54.6%) received a concomitant anti-Parkinsonian agent. Logistic regression analysis suggested that a higher risperidone dose was associated with the greater probability of anti-Parkinsonian agent usage. CONCLUSIONS: The mean risperidone dose during the study period was towards the lower end of recommendation for schizophrenia. Further study is warranted to confirm and explain the pattern of low-dose risperidone, and the high use of concomitant conventional antipsychotics and anti-Parkinsonian agents in Singapore. Elucidation of these would provide a valuable insight for the management of Asian patients with schizophrenia using risperidone. However, the current data indicate that the practice of using a lower dose of risperidone could represent better affordability and an improved cost-effectiveness ratio of risperidone compared with conventional antipsychotics in Asian patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Are they being used safely? A retrospective cross-sectional tertiary health care survey of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors prescribing practice in Singapore.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prescribing pattern of the SSRIs and to evaluate the safety of current utilization of SSRIs associated with concomitant psychotropic medications in Singapore. METHODS: The average prescribed daily dose (PDD) for each SSRI was calculated and compared with the defined daily dose (DDD). Pearson's chi2 test, one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multinomial logistic regression were performed to examine the impacts of variables such as age, gender, patient type and concomitant psychotropic medications on the utilization of SSRIs. Safety issues were discussed by examining the potential metabolic drug interactions between the SSRIs and concomitant psychotropic medications. RESULTS: The most frequently prescribed SSRI was fluoxetine and the PDDs were slightly more than the DDDs for all these SSRIs except fluvoxamine. The SSRIs were mainly prescribed to the patients who were younger, female and outpatients. Psychotropics were more likely concomitantly used with fluvoxamine, sertraline and paroxetine, relative to fluoxetine. CONCLUSION: The prescribing pattern of SSRIs in a tertiary health center in Singapore is generally consistent with the accepted practices, although some safety concerns in terms of metabolic drug interactions were raised. This study provides useful baseline information for further in-depth studies for SSRIs usage both locally and for international comparison.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1977

Psychological sequelae of sterilization in women in Singapore.

The Chinese in Singapore erroneously believe that there is an association between sterilization and castration. This belief has led to deep-seated fears that sterilization may result in obesity, physical weakness, and impairment of sexual function. Beginning in 1969, Singapore authorities introduced increasingly stronger social policies to help reduce family size. Subsequently, there was a large increase in the number of tubal ligations. It was initially thought that this might result in a high incidence of psychological sequelae. A study of 150 women who had had culdoscopic ligations showed that 6.3 percent were dissatisfied at the end of 2 years. Women with fewer than 4 children and those with fewer than 2 sons tended to be more dissatisfied with sterilization.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Comparative analysis of the restriction endonuclease profiles of the Dumas and Singapore strains of varicella-zoster virus.

The incidence of varicella in Singapore has been increasing since 1984. In 1991, 17,930 cases were reported in a population of about 3 million. A serological survey completed in 1990 demonstrated that only 43% of the cohort had antibodies to varicella-zoster virus (VZV), indicating inadequate herd immunity. To exclude novel VZV strains, representative VZV isolates from 9 chicken pox and 4 zoster patients were characterised by restriction endonuclease analysis. DNAs were extracted from viral isolates propagated in MRC5 human embryo lung cells and were digested separately with BglII, EcoRI, PstI, SalI, and XbaI enzymes. The cleavage profiles of these VZV strains derived from both chicken pox and zoster lesions revealed no distinct differences. This observation implies that the current upsurge of chicken pox most likely stems from closely related VZV genotypes infecting a susceptible population with insufficient herd immunity. Comparison of the restriction fragments of the Singapore and the Dumas strains revealed polymorphisms of the SalI-D, SalI-E, and XbaI-I fragment lengths, which correlated with variable regions I, II, and III of the VZV genome, thereby representing geographically distinct genotypic variants of VZV.

Chickenpox↗

PubMed1994

Partial sequence analysis of the hepatitis C viral genome in Singapore patients.

The distribution of hepatitis C viral (HCV) genotypes in Singapore has not been previously determined. We studied the sera of 40 Singapore patients which were PCR-positive for HCV. The HCV genotypes were determined by direct sequencing of amplified sequences of the 5' non-coding region, after reverse transcription. Of the 40 samples, 35/40 (87.5%) were of HCV type 1, 2/40 (5.0%) were of type 2 and 3/40 (7.5%) were of type 3. The most common HCV genotype in this study was the type 1 genotype. Our results confirm the wide geographical distribution of HCV genotypes.

Hepacivirus↗

PubMed1995

Beliefs and attitudes as determinants of cervical cancer screening: a community-based study in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: The investigation of cervical cancer screening acceptance in relation to health beliefs and attitudes presents a challenge in a multiethnic population such as Singapore's, where the uptake is currently suboptimal in high-risk groups. This study attempts to identify cognitive barriers to screening activity in order to suggest possible directions for cervical cancer prevention efforts. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey consisting of a household interview of 640 randomly selected women ages 21-65 years was performed. The screening history and future intention to have a Pap smear were elicited, and attitudes toward cancer and the Pap smear as expressed in 14 statements were measured on a five-point scale. RESULTS: Of the respondents, 73.1% were aware of the Pap smear, and about half (49.7%) had obtained the information from a doctor or nurse. Overall, the belief in personal susceptibility to cancer was low (58.9%) and a substantial proportion (48.7%) of women were of the attitude that cancer could not be prevented. The effect on a future intention to have a smear varied between women who had had and women who had not had a smear. Among the former, perceived barriers such as discomfort and embarrassment had a significant influence, while a belief in personal susceptibility was an important determinant for the latter group. CONCLUSIONS: The means of increasing the acceptance of the Pap smear, both for the first time and subsequently, are culture-specific and must address the appropriate health beliefs and attitudes. In Singapore, such efforts should include not only influencing awareness and perceptions through public education but also reducing barriers by creating an appropriate environment for the delivery of this important health service.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

The sequential introduction of HIV-1 subtype B and CRF01AE in Singapore by sexual transmission: accelerated V3 region evolution in a subpopulation of Asian CRF01 viruses.

The rapid spread of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) circulating recombinant form (CRF) 01AE throughout Asia demonstrates the dynamic nature of emerging epidemics. To further characterize the dissemination of these strains regionally, we sequenced 58 strains from Singapore and found that subtype B and CRF01 were introduced separately, by homosexual and heterosexual transmission, respectively. Protein similarity scores of the Singapore CRF01, as well as all Asian strains, demonstrated a complex distribution of scores in the V3 loop--some strains had very similar V3 loop sequences, while others were highly divergent. Furthermore, we found a strong correlation between the loss of a V3 glycosylation site and the divergent strains. This suggests that loss of this glycosylation site may make the V3 loop more susceptible to immune surveillance. The identification of a rapidly evolving population of CRF01AE variants should be considered when designing new candidate vaccines and when evaluating breakthrough strains from current vaccine trials.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1982

The late whiplash syndrome: a study of an illness in Australia and Singapore.

A condition commonly seen after motor vehicle accidents, the Late Whiplash Syndrome, which is defined as a collection of symptoms and disabilities seen more than six months after a neck injury occurring in a motor vehicle accident, is examined in a series of 300 cases. The author suggests that the development of the Late Whiplash Syndrome, some of whose characteristics are viewed as illness and some as illness behavior, depends on social variables. The differential distribution in Western countries and in Singapore is related to sanctions against entry into the sick role associated with this type of injury which are present in countries such as Singapore. Conversely, motor vehicle injury is legitimized in Western Countries such as Australia as an historical overview shows. The author's model of the Late Whiplash Syndrome lends itself to generalizations about the development of social illness in different cultures.

Accidents, Traffic↗