A dichotomous (2-category) outcome variable is often encountered in biomedical research, and Multiple Logistic Regression is often deployed for the analysis of such data. As Logistic Regression estimates the Odds Ratio (OR) as an effect measure, it is only suitable for case-control studies. For cross-sectional and time-to-event studies, the Prevalence Ratio and Cumulative Incidence Ratio can be estimated and easily interpreted. The logistic regression will produce the OR which is difficult to interpret in these studies. In this report, we reviewed 3 alternative multivariate statistical models to replace Logistic Regression for the analysis of data from cross-sectional and time-to-event studies, viz, Modified Cox Proportional Hazard Regression Model, Log-Binomial Regression Model and Poisson Regression Model incorporating the Robust Sandwich Variance. Although none of the models is without flaws, we conclude the last model is the most viable. A numeric example is given to compare the statistical results obtained from all 4 models.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Models, Statistical ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; methods ; Poisson Distribution ; Prevalence ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk ; Risk Assessment

Brain ; physiology ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Sleep ; physiology ; Sleep Medicine Specialty ; history ; Sleep, REM ; physiology

INTRODUCTIONUltrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (US-FNAC) of thyroid nodules is an important diagnostic procedure. In most hospitals, patients are referred to radiologists for US-FNAC, but this often results in a long waiting time before results are available. Surgeon-performed US-FNAC (SP-US-FNAC) during the initial patient consultation attempts to reduce the waiting time but it is not known whether this is as accurate as radiologist-performed US-FNAC (RP-US-FNAC). The aim of this study is to compare the clinical efficiency between SP-US-FNAC and RP-US-FNAC.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA retrospective study was performed on patients from the Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) who underwent an US-FNAC from August 2011 to May 2012. All cases of SP-US-FNAC were performed by a single surgeon. This study compared the rates of positive diagnoses achieved by SP-US-FNAC and RPUS- FNAC as well as the time interval to reach a cytological diagnosis by each group.

RESULTSA total of 40 cases of SP-US-FNAC and 72 cases of RP-US-FNAC were included in the study. SP-US-FNAC resulted in 28 (70%) positive diagnoses and 12 (30%) nondiagnoses while RP-US-FNAC resulted in 47 (65.3%) positive diagnoses and 25 (34.7%) non-diagnoses. These results were comparable (P=0.678). The median time taken to reach a cytological diagnosis was 1 working day for SP-US-FNAC and 29.5 working days for RP-US-FNAC resulting in a shorter interval to reaching a cytological diagnosis for SP-US-FNAC (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONIn the workup of thyroid nodules, SP-US-FNAC is as accurate as RP-US-FNAC but significantly reduces the time taken to reach a cytological diagnosis. This leads to greater clinical efficiency in the management of patients with thyroid nodules, which in turn leads to other benefits such as decreased patient anxiety and increased patient satisfaction.

Adult ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Specialties, Surgical ; Thyroid Nodule ; pathology ; Time Factors

INTRODUCTIONThis paper examines the incidence, mortality and survival patterns among all Chinese residents with prostate cancer reported to the Singapore Cancer Registry in Singapore from 1968 to 2002 by metastatic staging.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis is a retrospective population-based study including all prostate cancer cases aged over 20 reported to the Singapore Cancer Registry (SCR) from 1968 to 2002 who are Singapore Chinese residents. Follow-up was ascertained by matching with the National Death Register until 2002. Metastatic status was obtained from the SCR. Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates, as well as the 5-year relative survival ratios (RSRs), were obtained for each 5-year period and grouped by metastatic stage. A weighted linear regression was performed on the log-transformed age-standardised incidence and mortality rates over the study period.

RESULTSIn the most recent period of 1998 to 2002, the age-standardised incidence and mortality rates (per 100,000) for prostate cancer among the Chinese were 30.9 (95% CI, 29.1 to 32.8) and 9.6 (95% CI, 8.6 to 10.7), respectively. The percentage increase in the age-standardised incidence and age-standardised mortality rates per year were 5.6% and 6.0%, respectively, for all Chinese Singapore residents. There was an improvement in the 5-year RSRs for Chinese diagnosed with non-metastatic cases from 51.3% in 1973 to 1977, to 76.1% in 1998 to 2002. However, the RSR remains poor (range, 11.1% to 49.7%) for Chinese diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONSBoth age-standardised incidence and mortality rates for prostate cancer among Chinese Singapore residents are still on the rise especially since the 1990s. Since the 1990s, the improvement in RSRs was substantial for the Chinese non-metastatic cases.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; mortality ; Registries ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Survival Rate ; trends ; Young Adult

A 19-year-old male patient with a history of congenital left oval window defect has had recurrent admissions to a children’s hospital for bacterial meningitis since the age of 7. Investigations revealed a left-sided type 1 incomplete partition deformity of the left ear with a congenital oval window defect, leading to communication between the cranium and the middle ear. The patient underwent a left canal wall down mastoidectomy and oval window defect repair, remaining well for 3 years. He experienced two more episodes of bacterial meningitis as he got older, prompting repeated exploratory tympanotomy and repair of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after each episode. Recently, he was referred again for recurrent meningitis. Investigations showed a recurrent oval window defect. After undergoing left external ear canal transection, mastoid and middle ear obliteration, and left Eustachian tube obliteration, he remained well without further leaks or meningitis. Congenital oval window defect is rare and may present with recurrent bacterial meningitis secondary to spontaneous CSF leak via the oval window. Radiology plays a crucial role in identifying the source of the CSF leak, facilitating more precise preoperative counseling and surgical intervention.

A 19-year-old male patient with a history of congenital left oval window defect has had recurrent admissions to a children’s hospital for bacterial meningitis since the age of 7. Investigations revealed a left-sided type 1 incomplete partition deformity of the left ear with a congenital oval window defect, leading to communication between the cranium and the middle ear. The patient underwent a left canal wall down mastoidectomy and oval window defect repair, remaining well for 3 years. He experienced two more episodes of bacterial meningitis as he got older, prompting repeated exploratory tympanotomy and repair of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after each episode. Recently, he was referred again for recurrent meningitis. Investigations showed a recurrent oval window defect. After undergoing left external ear canal transection, mastoid and middle ear obliteration, and left Eustachian tube obliteration, he remained well without further leaks or meningitis. Congenital oval window defect is rare and may present with recurrent bacterial meningitis secondary to spontaneous CSF leak via the oval window. Radiology plays a crucial role in identifying the source of the CSF leak, facilitating more precise preoperative counseling and surgical intervention.

A 19-year-old male patient with a history of congenital left oval window defect has had recurrent admissions to a children’s hospital for bacterial meningitis since the age of 7. Investigations revealed a left-sided type 1 incomplete partition deformity of the left ear with a congenital oval window defect, leading to communication between the cranium and the middle ear. The patient underwent a left canal wall down mastoidectomy and oval window defect repair, remaining well for 3 years. He experienced two more episodes of bacterial meningitis as he got older, prompting repeated exploratory tympanotomy and repair of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after each episode. Recently, he was referred again for recurrent meningitis. Investigations showed a recurrent oval window defect. After undergoing left external ear canal transection, mastoid and middle ear obliteration, and left Eustachian tube obliteration, he remained well without further leaks or meningitis. Congenital oval window defect is rare and may present with recurrent bacterial meningitis secondary to spontaneous CSF leak via the oval window. Radiology plays a crucial role in identifying the source of the CSF leak, facilitating more precise preoperative counseling and surgical intervention.

Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; complications ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced coagulopathy (CIC) has been widely reported in the literature. However, the spectrum of abnormalities associated with CIC has been highly variable. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature (until 1 June 2020) to assess CIC and disease severity during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Primary outcomes were pooled mean differences in platelet count, D-dimer level, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and fibrinogen level between non-severe and severe patients, stratified by degree of hypoxaemia or those who died. The risk factors for CIC were analysed. Random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regression were performed using R version 3.6.1, and certainty of evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: Of the included 5,243 adult COVID-19 patients, patients with severe COVID-19 had a significantly lower platelet count, and higher D-dimer level, prothrombin time and fibrinogen level than non-severe patients. Pooled mean differences in platelet count (-19.7×109/L, 95% confidence interval [CI] -31.7 to -7.6), D-dimer level (0.8μg/mL, 95% CI 0.5-1.1), prothrombin time (0.4 second, 95% CI 0.2-0.6) and fibrinogen level (0.6g/L, 95% CI 0.3-0.8) were significant between the groups. Platelet count and D-dimer level were significant predictors of disease severity on meta-regression analysis. Older men had higher risks of severe coagulopathic disease. CONCLUSION Significant variability in CIC exists between non-severe and severe patients, with platelet count and D-dimer level correlating with disease severity. Routine monitoring of all coagulation parameters may help to assess CIC and decide on the appropriate management.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are common diseases. The global prevalence of OSA is between 2% and 7% in general population cohorts. The worldwide prevalence of T2DM among adults (aged 20-79 years) was estimated to be 6.4%. The concurrent presence of OSA and T2DM can be expected in the same patient, given their high prevalence and similar predisposition. We reviewed the overlapping pathophysiology of OSA and T2DM in this article.
Adult ; Aged ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult