Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; complications ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Risk Factors ; Singapore

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has long been a critical public health challenge in China. National surveys revealed a prevalence of approximate 10% for chronic HBV infection in general population. HBV has been the leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancers in Chinese population and a common pathogen of acute viral hepatitis. Meanwhile, the epidemic provided important opportunities to research the natural history, public health impact, and therapeutic and preventive interventions for HBV in China. In this review, we summarized the selected key epidemiological studies since 1970s regarding HBV infection and its associated liver diseases in China, and provided considerations for future research, prevention and treatment of HBV.
China ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Neoplasms

BACKGROUNDIn 2003, China's National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program (NFATP) was initiated as a pilot, which covered only 100 HIV/AIDS patients. By 2011, the pilot had evolved into a nationwide program and had provided free treatment for over 150 000 patients. The objective of this study was to report and evaluate the progress of China's free antiretroviral treatment program.

METHODSThe NFATP Database was systematically reviewed and a total of 150 692 HIV/AIDS patients were included in this study. Program progress indicators including the number of treated HIV/AIDS patients, follow-up visit rate, CD4 test rate, and viral load test rate were summarized and examined over a calendar year to evaluate the progress of NFATP quantitatively and qualitatively.

RESULTSBy the end of 2011, a total of 150 692 HIV/AIDS patients had been treated through the NFATP and 122 613 of them were still on treatment. Of all patients, about 72% were enrolled during the past four years. The dominant transmission route was blood related in the early phase of the NFATP, but gradually changed to sexual contact. Besides quantitative improvements, progress indicators also demonstrated significant qualitative improvements that the program had made during the past 9 years.

CONCLUSIONSGreat achievement has been made by China's NFATP. China's experience indicates the importance of a comprehensive response to the success of its treatment program. However, to ensure the quality and sustainability of treatment in the long term, more attention and resources should be paid towards program management.

Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; economics ; therapeutic use ; China ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Viral Load

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has developed the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) on Falls Prevention among Older Adults Living in the Community to provide health professionals in Singapore with recommendations for evidence-based assessments and interventions for falls prevention. This article reproduces the introduction and executive summary of the key recommendations from the HPB-MOH CPG on Falls Prevention among Older Adults Living in the Community for the information of SMJ readers. The chapters and page numbers mentioned in the reproduced extract refer to the full text of the guidelines, which are available from the Health Promotion Board website: http://www.hpb.gov. sg/cpg-falls-prevention. The recommendations should be used with reference to the full text of the guidelines. Following this article are multiple choice questions based on the full text of the guidelines.
Accidental Falls ; prevention & control ; Aged ; Environment ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Geriatrics ; standards ; Health Promotion ; methods ; Housing ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Risk Assessment ; methods ; Singapore ; Social Class