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PubMed1999

Nuclear microscopy in the life sciences at the National University of Singapore. A review.

The nuclear microscope is now gaining popularity in the field of life sciences. In particular, the combination of proton-induced X-ray emission to measure the elemental concentrations of inorganic elements, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry to characterize the organic matrix, and scanning transmission ion microscopy to provide information on the density and structure of the sample represents a powerful set of techniques that can be applied simultaneously to the specimen under investigation. These techniques are extremely useful for measuring any imbalances in trace elements in localized regions of biological tissue and, as such, can provide unique information on many diseases. In this article, we describe the nuclear microscope and its related ion-beam techniques, and we review the biomedical work carried out using the nuclear microscope in the National University of Singapore.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Validation of various osteoporosis risk indices in elderly Chinese females in Singapore.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of various published indices for identifying elderly Chinese females at risk of osteoporosis in Singapore. METHODS: The indices considered were the Simple Calculated Osteoporosis Risk Estimation (SCORE), the Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Instrument (ORAI), the Age Bulk One or Never Estrogens (ABONE), body weight (WEIGHT), and the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA). Altogether, 135 postmenopausal Chinese female subjects aged 55 years and older participated in the study, and their bone mineral density (BMD) was measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Subjects were classified as osteoporotic if their femoral neck BMD T-score was -2.5 or lower. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to determine the indices' cut-off points, sensitivity, and specificity. RESULTS: OSTA had the highest discriminatory power, with an estimated area under the ROC curve of 0.82. This was followed by SCORE (0.80), WEIGHT (0.78), ORAI (0.76), and ABONE (0.70). At the cut-off point of -2, OSTA achieved sensitivity and specificity of 91% and 59%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study showed that OSTA is an effective index for identifying postmenopausal women at risk for osteoporosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Suppression of hepatitis C virus by hepatitis B virus in coinfected patients at the National University Hospital of Singapore.

This study was carried out to compare hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicative states and to determine possible interference between HBV and HCV. One thousand and sixty-one consecutive patients seen at The Gastroenterology Division of the National University Hospital of Singapore between 1988 and 1995 were screened for HBV and HCV serological markers. Anti-HCV was tested using a second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. HCV-RNA was detected by a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction method (RT-PCR). Data were analyzed by either paired t-test or chi2 test. Two hundred and twenty-four patients were infected with HBV alone, while 117 patients were infected with HCV only. Thirty-one patients were coinfected with HBV and HCV. HCV-RNA was detected in 104 of the 117 HCV patients (88.9%), and in 12 of 29 coinfected patients (41.4%). Serum anti-HCV levels in the coinfected patients were lower than those in the HCV-infected patients. A significant difference for anti-HCV reactivity and HCV-RNA positivity was observed between HCV-infected patients and coinfected patients (P < 0.01). In contrast, HBV-DNA and hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) positive rates were similar in HBV carriers and patients coinfected with HBV and HCV. These results show a possible interaction between HBV and HCV life cycles, and suggest that HCV replication may be negatively affected by HBV.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Determination of complete nucleotide sequence of Hibiscus latent Singapore virus: evidence for the presence of an internal poly(A) tract.

We have sequenced the complete genome of a hibiscus-infecting tobamovirus, Hibiscus latent Singapore virus (HLSV). The experimental host range of HLSV is similar to that of another distinct species of hibiscus infecting tobamovirus, Hibiscus latent Fort Pierce virus (HLFPV). The genomic structure of HLSV is similar to other tobamoviruses in general. It consists of a 5' untranslated region (UTR), followed by ORFs encoding for a 128 kDa protein and a 186 kDa readthrough protein, a 30 kDa movement protein (MP), 18 kDa coat protein (CP) and a 3' UTR. The unique feature of HLSV is the presence of a poly(A) tract within its 3' UTR. In our previous work, we have reported MP and CP sequences of HLSV and its phylogenetic analysis. Here we report the complete nucleotide sequence of HLSV, phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of 128/186 kDa ORFs and the presence of a uniquely located poly(A) tract within the 3' UTR.

3' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2005

Prognostic significance of peritoneal lavage cytology in gastric cancer in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal lavage cytology has been included as part of the staging process in the 13th edition of the Japanese Classification of Gastric Cancer. However, this procedure has neither been studied nor established in our population. We aimed to evaluate its prognostic relevance among our patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 142 consecutive patients with gastric carcinoma were recruited prospectively. All had histologically proven gastric carcinomas and had undergone laparotomy and intraoperative peritoneal lavage for cytological examination at Singapore General Hospital. The fluid recovered was centrifuged and stained by the Papanicolau method. All patients were followed up with endpoints of cancer recurrence and mortality. RESULTS: There were 91 men and 51 women; 36 patients (25.4%) had positive peritoneal lavage. Patients with advanced macroscopic features, presence of vascular invasion, nodal involvement, advanced depth of tumor invasion and metastatic disease tended to have positive lavage, by univariate logistic regression analysis. Despite curative resections, patients with positive cytology had a more dismal disease-free survival (mean, 27 months vs 53 months; P < 0.0001 by log rank test) and higher recurrence rate (54.5% vs 19.3%; P = 0.007 by log rank test). There was also a trend towards earlier recurrences (median, 8 months vs 11 months; P = 0.37). By multivariate Cox regression stepwise analysis, advanced depth of tumor invasion and positive lavage cytology were found to be independent poor prognostic factors for disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: Positive peritoneal lavage cytology correlated well with advanced features of gastric cancer. It is an independent poor prognostic factor and the procedure should be routinely performed. Integration of lavage status into our current staging systems may serve as a guide for adjuvant therapeutic options to improve the survival of gastric cancer in our population.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Genetic diversity within and among feral populations and domesticated strains of the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) in Singapore.

Genetic variability within and among feral populations and cultured strains of the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) was investigated by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting. Feral guppies were collected from 6 isolated populations (BT, Bukit Timah; NS, Nee Soon; TS, Tuas; MF, Mount Faber; KR, Kranji; LI, laboratory-inbred feral line), while the Tuxedo and Green Variegated strains were sampled from 2 guppy farms in Singapore. Pairwise genetic distances analyzed by unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means revealed distinct clustering of guppy individuals into their respective populations and strains. Percentage polymorphic loci ranged from 54.96% (TS) to 68.70% (KR), while average heterozygosity ranged from 0.220 (GV) to 0.271 (KR). In contrast, TS guppies had the highest (0.850) intrapopulation genetic similarity (S), whereas KR had the lowest (0.781). Among populations and strains, S ranged from 0.703 (between GV and LI) to 0.809 (between NS and MB). The GV strain S was closer to TX (0.784) than to the feral guppies. Bootstrapped genetic distance trees depicted 3 major nodes comprising BT-TS, NS-MF, and TX-GV. Principal coordinate analysis also differentiated the 6 feral populations from the 2 cultured strains.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

The use of bromocriptine in hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea in Singapore.

Ninety-four women and seven men were treated with low dose bromocriptine for (a) hyperprolactinemia or (b) normoprolactinemia but with galactorrhea and a pituitary adenoma. All the pituitary adenomas became smaller or remained the same. Prolactin levels decreased with treatment and inappropriate galactorrhea improved in the 53 patients except for 7 where there was no change. Of the 41 women with premenstrual mastalgia 78% improved with treatment. Of the 74 women with ovulatory problems, a biphasic pattern was restored in 65 patients. Thirty-two patients out of the 92 trying to conceive achieved a pregnancy with an abortion rate of 12.5% and non-lethal congenital abnormality of 9.8% (2.1% in Singapore population). Fertility was restored in 3 hyperprolactinemic oligospermic males and improved libido was professed by most of the treated men. Side effects were present but were on the whole tolerable. Pregnancy rate was better in those with high levels of prolactin (greater than 1000 miU/l) than in those with hyperprolactinemia of between 500 and 1000 miU/l although this was not statistically significant chi 2 = 0.69. In the lower hyperprolactinemic range there was noticeable number of patients with endometriosis and increased luteinizing hormone (LH) levels.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1981

Serum uric acid concentrations and arthralgia among patients treated with pyrazinamide-containing regimens in Hong Kong and Singapore.

The serum uric acid concentrations of patients being treated in Hong Kong and Singapore with a daily regimen consisting of streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide or a control regimen of daily streptomycin, p-amino-salicylic acid (PAS) and isoniazid were determined by the phosphotungstate method. Arthralgia and elevated serum uric acid levels were encountered only during the period that patients were being treated with pyrazinamide. Although daily treatment with pyrazinamide increased serum uric acid concentrations approximately 2.5-fold, the concentrations of the 6 patients who developed arthralgia were closely similar to those of matched controls without arthralgia. This fails to confirm a previous suggestion that patients with arthralgia might have higher values. Rifampicin appeared not to influence the hyperuricaemic effect of pyrazinamide.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Full-length cDNA sequence of dengue type 1 virus (Singapore strain S275/90).

The complete nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence of the genome of dengue virus type 1 (Singapore strain S275/90) were determined from cDNA clones. The single-stranded, positive-sense RNA is 10,718 nucleotides in length and contains a single long open reading frame of 10,188 nucleotides encoding a polyprotein of 3396 amino acids. The genomic size and organization were found to be similar to that of other dengue virus serotypes. Both the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were compared with the partial sequence of DEN1 (Nauru Island) and complete sequences of DNE2 (Jamaica), DEN3 (H87), and DEN4 (Dominica) virus genomes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Hb J-Singa (alpha-78 Asn leads to Asp), a newly discovered hemoglobin variant with the same amino acid substitution as one of the two present in Hb J-Singapore (alpha-78 Asn leads to, alpha-79 Ala leads to Gly).

A new fast-moving alpha-chain Hb variant with an Asn leads to Asp substitution at position alpha-78 was found in a French-Acadian family living in Eastern Canada. The identical substitution was reported in Hb J-Singapore, which also had an additional Ala leads to Gly substitution at position alpha-79. The new variant, which did not result in any clinical symptoms, was named accordingly, Hb J-Singa.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Radiotherapy of carcinoma of the uterine cervix in Singapore, 1973-1975.

The results of 322 patients with uterine cervix carcinoma treated by radiotherapy at the Singapore General Hospital in the 3-year period from 1973 to 75 are presented. Two hundred seventy-nine patients were treated with a combination of intracavitary radium, using Fletcher-Suit applicators and cobalt teletherapy; the remaining 43 patients received only cobalt teletherapy. One hundred thirty-four patients (41.6%) presented with FIGO Stage III disease. Only 46 patients (14.3%) presented with Stage I disease, showing that patients tended to present late in the disease course. Five-year actuarial (uncorrected) survival rates of 86.7% for Stage I, 65.0% for Stage II, 41.4% for Stage III and 4.9% for Stage IV were obtained with corresponding 10 year rates of 79.6%, 60.2%, 35.2% and 0%. The overall 5 and 10 year survival rates were 54.0% and 48.2%, respectively. The survival rates "flattened off" at about 7-8 years, reflecting late deaths after the fifth anniversary of treatment. Non-severe complications consisted mainly of chronic proctitis (41.3%) and vaginal stenosis (20.8%). Major complications were intestinal stricture (1.2%) and fistula formation (1.6%).

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Purification, structure determination and synthesis of covalitoxin-II, a short insect-specific neurotoxic peptide from the venom of the Coremiocnemis validus (Singapore tarantula).

Spider venoms contain toxins that specifically immobilize and kill insects. We report the purification and characterization of a new insect-specific toxin named covalitoxin-II (Cvtx-II; mass, 3406. 24+/-0.64), from Coremiocnemis validus (Singapore tarantula) venom. The complete 31 amino acid sequence of Cvtx-II has been determined and it shows less than 40% identity with spider toxins. However, Cvtx-II has conserved cystine motif analogous to other spider and omega-conotoxins. Cvtx-II was chemically synthesized and identified with the native Cvtx-II. Synthetic Cvtx-II induced insect-specific non-lethal excitatory activity when injected into crickets, but not in cockroaches and mice.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed2000

Chemical and physical defenses of Singapore gorgonians (Octocorallia: Gorgonacea).

Gorgonians are abundant in tropical waters and their polyps are seldom predated on. This study investigates how gorgonians defend themselves chemically and physically against fish predation. Gorgonian extracts and sclerites were incorporated into fish feed and tested on reef fishes. Laboratory bioassays using Greyhead wrasses, Halichoeres purpurescens, as well as field bioassays showed five gorgonian species from the family Ellisellidae and three from the family Plexauridae collected from Singapore reefs to be deterrent towards fishes. Bioassays of fractions obtained from subsequent fractionation suggested synergistic or additive effects between compounds present in gorgonians. Sclerites incorporated into fish feed in their natural concentrations were also tested for fish deterrence and were positive for only two gorgonian species from the family Ellisellidae.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebral melioidosis in Singapore: a review of five cases.

A variety of neurological manifestations of infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei have been described including cerebral abscesses, which are a well-recognized form of neurological melioidosis. The optimal antibiotic therapy for this condition has not been defined; however, combinations of intravenous antibiotics are frequently used in the early stages. Five cases of melioidosis involving brain abscesses are described which presented in Singapore over the past 3 years (1997-2000), 4 of which cases had evidence of disseminated infection. Despite profound neurological deficits and low Glasgow Coma Scale scores at presentation in 3 of these cases, all survived after surgical drainage and prolonged courses of intravenous ceftazidime or imipenem, and only 2 of whom had residual neurological impairment. One incidental finding on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans not described before as an association with cerebral melioidosis was sinusitis in 4 out of the 5 cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Cerianthin lectins: a new group of agglutinins from Cerianthus membranaceus (Singapore).

Cerianthus membranaceus (Singapore) is a marine metazoon that belongs as a hexacorallion to the group of cnidaria. The saline extracts from the tentacles reveal high titers of agglutination potency on neuraminidase-treated O-erythrocytes. With the help of affinity chromatography, more than 7 proteins with lectin activity which could all be inhibited by D-galactose were isolated. The lectins were separated on DEAE-sepharose, and the main component was purified after an additional step of gel filtration on Bio-Gel P 60. This main component is a non-glycosylated protein with a molecular weight of 38,400 ds consisting of a single protein chain and characterized by the lack of polymers and intermonomeric disulfide bonds. By electrofocusing, the pure main lectin shows two bands at pH 4.17 and pH 4.24. Optimal inhibition of the pure lectin is achieved by D-galactose containing oligo- and polysaccharides.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1998

Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis in Singapore and its relationship to epilepsy.

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical characteristics of paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis (PKC) in our local population and its relationship to epilepsy. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 15 patients who were managed by neurologists in our department from 1982 to 1996. The literature was also reviewed to study the association between PKC and epilepsy. RESULTS: In our study, all the cases were idiopathic. The male to female ratio was 14:1 with all major races represented. Sixty percent of our patients suffered dystonic posturing rather than chorea, during the attacks. Twenty-one percent had a family history of a similar disorder which appeared to be of autosomal dominant inheritance. The sporadic form (79%) predominated in Singapore. One had a history of febrile fits while two had a history of epilepsy. We reviewed the available literature and found five other patients with idiopathic PKC also suffering from epilepsy. Of the 83 patients reviewed, 8% had epilepsy. This further strengthens the relationship between the two conditions. All our patients responded well to phenytoin at doses between 100 and 400 mg/day. CONCLUSION: PKC affected all three major races in our population with a high male to female ratio of 14:1. Seventy-nine percent of our cases were sporadic and 60% suffered dystonic posturing during attacks. Of the cases reviewed, 8% of patients with idiopathic PKC also had epilepsy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Acute epiglottitis in adults (the Singapore experience).

Acute epiglottitis in adults is a potentially fatal but self-limiting disease of increasing incidence world-wide. Forty-two patients, seen consecutively over a four year period at the ENT Department, Singapore General Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. A strong male predominance with a peak age incidence in the sixth decade was noted. A severe sore throat and dysphagia with disproportionate signs of oropharyngeal inflammation was the main presenting picture. Only three patients had stridor on presentation. Vigilant monitoring of the airway with empirical high-dose intravenous ampicillin, cloxacillin and steroids resulted in a dramatic clinical improvement in most patients and none developed stridor after admission. The yield from throat swabs and blood cultures were low. Two patients developed complications, a Ludwigs angina and an epiglottic abscess. Recurrent epiglottitis was a problem in one patient. There was low morbidity and no mortality on the management regime outlined.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

The Singapore swing.

The use of a rotation pedicled flap, entitled the 'Singapore Swing', comprising temporalis fascia and mastoid periosteum, is presented as a new method of promoting healing in 'open' mastoid surgery for chronic ear discharge. Cadaver studies show that the main blood supply of the flap is derived from a branch of the postauricular artery which enters the pedicle near the mastoid tip. A review of the first 14 operations showed complete healing with dry ears and intact tympanic membranes in all instances, three cases requiring secondary grafting of residual perforations. We consider the results sufficiently encouraging to merit an extended trial of the technique.

Cholesteatoma↗