This review aims to provide an overview and update of current literature on the use of intranasal (IN) drug delivery in pediatric emergency medicine (PEM), in terms of the anatomy, physiology, pharmacokinetics, limitations, drug delivery methods, necessary training, safety, contraindications, effectiveness, current indications and trends, and implications for clinical practice and future developments in IN drug administration. We evaluate how IN medication use in PEM has recently evolved, what recent research has revealed about the utility of IN drug delivery in PEM, and what the future of IN drug delivery might look like.

Thrombocytopenia is a common laboratory finding in dengue infection. However, it usually resolves as the patient recovers from the infection. Persistent thrombocytopenia following dengue infection requires further investigation. Here, we present a case of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) following dengue infection complicated by intracranial bleeding.

PURPOSE: The proposed Men's Health Index (MHI) aims to provide a practical and systematic framework for comprehensively assessing and stratifying older men with the intention of optimising their health and functional status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted using PubMed from 1980 to 2012. We specifically looked for instruments which: assess men's health, frailty and fitness; predict life expectancy, mortality and morbidities. The instruments were assessed by the researchers who then agreed on the tools to be included in the MHI. When there was disagreements, the researchers discussed and reached a consensus guided by the principle that the MHI could be used in the primary care setting targetting men aged 55-65 years. RESULTS: The instruments chosen include the Charlson's Combined Comorbidity-Age Index; the International Index of Erectile Function-5; the International Prostate Symptom Score; the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male; the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe Frailty Instrument; the Sitting-Rising Test; the Senior Fitness Test; the Fitness Assessment Score; and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. A pilot test on eight men was carried out and showed that the men's health index is viable. CONCLUSIONS: The concept of assessing, stratifying, and optimizing men's health should be incorporated into routine health care, and this can be implemented by using the MHI. This index is particularly useful to primary care physicians who are in a strategic position to engage men at the peri-retirement age in a conversation about their life goals based on their current and predicted health status.
Aging/*physiology ; *Health Status ; Humans ; Life Expectancy/*trends ; Male ; Men's Health/*standards/*trends

BACKGROUND: Complex elbow injuries with associated nerve, muscle, or joint injury commonly develop post-inury stiffness. In order to preserve function, joint congruency, elbow stability and durable wound coverage must be achieved in a timely manner. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent orthopaedic fixation followed by free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap soft tissue coverage was performed. Five patients were identified and included in this study. RESULTS: We present a series of 5 cases managed with this principle. Soft tissue defects ranged in size from 4x9 cm (36 cm2) to 15x30 cm (450 cm2) and were located either posteriorly (n=4) or anteriorly (n=1). Associated injuries included open fractures (n=3) and motor nerve transection (n=2). Wound coverage was achieved in a mean duration of 18.8 days (range, 11 to 42 day). There were no flap failures and no major complications. The mean postoperative active elbow motion was 102degrees (range, 45degrees to 140degrees). CONCLUSIONS: In our small series we have highlighted the safety and utility of using the free ALT flap in complex elbow injuries. The ALT flap has many advantages which include abundant skin and subcutaneous tissue; vascularised vastus lateralis muscle that was used in our series to obliterate dead space, provide a vascular bed for nerve grafts and combat infection; and, access to fascia lata grafts for reconstruction of the triceps tendon.
Elbow ; Elbow Joint ; Fascia Lata ; Fractures, Open ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Joints ; Muscles ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Tendons ; Thigh ; Transplants

INTRODUCTIONNon-melanoma skin cancer is one of the commonest cancers in Singapore and worldwide. The aim of our study was to evaluate the demographic and clinicopathological patterns of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and Bowen's disease (BD) of the skin, in order to better understand the characteristics of these tumours in our population.

MATERIALS AND METHODSHistologically proven cases of SCC and BD seen at our centre between 2002 and 2003 were retrospectively analysed according to age, sex, race, predisposing factors such as immunosuppression and ultraviolet therapy, site and size of tumour, histological differentiation and subtype, and treatment method.

RESULTSA total of 161 patients were studied--81 with SCC, 68 with BD, and 12 with both tumours. There were 199 tumours in total--105 SCC and 94 BD. For both SCC and BD, males outnumbered females (ratio of 2.4:1 and 1.5:1 respectively); patient age averaged 72.9 years and 66.8 years respectively; and Chinese were the majority race. The mean duration to presentation was 21.2 months for SCC compared with 39.9 months for BD, and common symptoms were itch, pain and bleeding for both. The mean tumour size was 19.0 mm and 18.5 mm, and the commonest site was the head and neck for both.

CONCLUSIONSSCC and BD show rather similar patient characteristics, with a predominance among males, having a predilection for the head and neck region, and with a tendency towards slow growth. As incidences increase worldwide, it is important for healthcare providers to be adept at recognising and managing nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bowen's Disease ; epidemiology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; epidemiology ; Extremities ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Skin Neoplasms ; epidemiology

INTRODUCTIONThis study investigated the responses of plasma endotoxin and pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines during a 21-km road race in warm and humid conditions. The influence of carbohydrate-electrolyte (CE)-water (WA) drink mix ingested on leukocyte subset responses and the association between plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration and fluid balance, exercise intensity, and body core temperature (Tc) were also studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThirty runners provided blood samples before and after the half-marathon for leukocyte, LPS and cytokine analyses. Tc was measured by the ingestible telemetric temperature sensor and fluid intake and split-times were recorded at 3 km intervals. Exercise intensity was determined by matching running speed and heart rate during the race with the corresponding speed-oxygen uptake relationship and heart rate measured in the laboratory 2 to 6 weeks before the race.

RESULTSPlasma LPS concentration increased from 1.9 +/- 1.9 pg/mL before, to 2.5 +/- 1.9 pg/mL after running (P <0.05). Peak plasma LPS concentration was 7.5 pg/mL. Plasma IL-1beta and TNF-concentration did not change significantly, whereas significant increases in IL-10 (50%), IL-1ra (23.2%) and IL-6 (65.2%) were observed after the race. No significant correlation between plasma LPS concentration and exercise intensity, hydration and Tc was observed.

CONCLUSIONLeukocyte subset responses were not related to the ratio of CE and water drink mix ingested. Running a half-marathon can induce mild endotoxaemia, which is not related to exercise intensity, fluid balance, and Tc responses. Mixing CE drink with water did not mitigate postexercise leukocytosis and lymphopenia.

Adult ; Beverages ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Endotoxins ; blood ; immunology ; Fluid Therapy ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Humidity ; Leukocytes ; immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; immunology ; Male ; Physical Exertion ; physiology ; Running ; physiology

Background: The PLASMIC score is a convenient tool for predicting ADAMTS13 activity of ＜10%.Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is widely used as a marker of haemolysis in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) monitoring, and could be used as a replacement marker for lysis. We aimed to validate the PLASMIC score in a multi-centre Asia Pacific region, and to explore whether LDH could be used as a replacement marker for lysis. Methods: Records of patients with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) were reviewed. Patients’ ADAMTS13 activity levels were obtained, along with clinical/laboratory findings relevant to the PLASMIC score. Both PLASMIC scores and PLASMIC-LDH scores, in which LDH replaced traditional lysis markers, were calculated. We generated a receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve and compared the area under the curve values (AUC) to determine the predictive ability of each score. Results: 46 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which 34 had ADAMTS13 activity levels of ＜10%. When the patients were divided into intermediate-to-high risk (scores 5‒7) and low risk (scores 0‒4), the PLASMIC score showed a sensitivity of 97.1% and specificity of 58.3%, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 86.8% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 87.5%. The PLASMIC-LDH score had a sensitivity of 97.1% and specificity of 33.3%, with a PPV of 80.5% and NPV of 80.0%. Conclusion Our study validated the utility of the PLASMIC score, and demonstrated PLASMIC-LDH as a reasonable alternative in the absence of traditional lysis markers, to help identify high-risk patients for treatment via plasma exchange.

The Academy of Medicine (AMS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) have developed the clinical practice guidelines on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to provide doctors and patients in Singapore with evidence-based treatment for ADHD. This article reproduces the introduction and executive summary (with recommendations from the guidelines) from the MOH clinical practice guidelines on ADHD, for the information of SMJ readers. Chapters and page numbers mentioned in the reproduced extract refer to the full text of the guidelines, which are available from the Ministry of Health website: http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/healthprofessionalsportal/doctors/guidelines/cpg_medical.html.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.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Caregivers ; Child ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Methylphenidate ; therapeutic use ; Parents ; Psychiatry ; methods ; standards ; Singapore ; Societies, Medical