Objective To investigate the association between polymorphism of S1, S2 locus allele in ADAM 33 gene and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung function in Xinjiang Uygur population. Methods Blood sam?ples from 217 COPD patients and 218 healthy controls were collected. Samples of DNA was extracted, and S1, S2 single nu?cleotide polymorphism (ADAM 33) was detected by ABI SNaPshot SNP genotyping. Results There were no significant dif?ferences in the frequencies of S1 locus CC, CT, TT genotypes and C, T alleles between patient group and control group (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the frequencies of S1 locus CC, CG, GG genotypes and C, G alleles between patient group and control group (P>0.05). In patient group, there were no significant differences in S1, S2 locus genotype and clinical indicators of lung function display, and in the FEV1%predicted and FEV1/FVC (P>0.05). Haplotype analysis showed that there were no significant differences in three kinds of haplotypes between patient group and control group ( P>0.05). Conclusion There is no significant difference in the polymorphism of S1, S2 locus allele in ADAM 33 gene and the susceptibility to COPD in Xinjiang Uygur population.

The Academy of Medicine (AMS) and Ministry of Health (MOH) have developed the clinical practice guidelines on Assessment and Management of Infertility at Primary Healthcare Level to provide doctors and patients in Singapore with evidence-based treatment for infertility. This article reproduces the introduction and executive summary (with recommendations from the guidelines) from the AMS-MOH clinical practice guidelines on Assessment and Management of Infertility at Primary Healthcare Level, 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/2013/cpgmed_infertility.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.
Evidence-Based Medicine ; Female ; Guidelines as Topic ; Humans ; Infertility ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Primary Health Care ; methods ; standards ; Public Health ; standards ; Singapore

Durio zibethnus is mainly distributed in Southeast Asia. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that durian shells have the effects of clearing heat and purging fire, nourishing yin and moisturizing dryness. Therefore, it is often used as a pharmaceutic food in the Chinese folk to assist treating diseases. At present, the chemical constituents isolated from durian shell include phenolic acids, phenolic glycosides, flavonoids, coumarins, triterpenes, simple glycosides and other compounds. Modern pharmacological studies show that durian shell has many pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. The chemical composition and pharmacological effects of durian shells are summarized in order to provide references for the further research and application of durian shell.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact in Asia and has placed significant burden on already stretched healthcare systems. We examined the impact of COVID-19 on the safety attitudes among healthcare workers (HCWs), as well as their associated demographic and occupational factors, and measures of burnout, depression and anxiety. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study utilising snowball sampling was performed involving doctors, nurses and allied health professions from 23 hospitals in Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia between 29 May 2020 and 13 July 2020. This survey collated demographic data and workplace conditions and included three validated questionnaires: the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ), Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We performed multivariate mixed-model regression to assess independent associations with the SAQ total percentage agree rate (PAR). RESULTS: We obtained 3,163 responses. The SAQ total PARs were found to be 35.7%, 15.0%, 51.0% and 3.3% among the respondents from Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia, respectively. Burnout scores were highest among respondents from Indonesia and lowest among respondents from India (70.9%-85.4% vs. 56.3%-63.6%, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that meeting burnout and depression thresholds and shifts lasting ≥12 h were significantly associated with lower SAQ total PAR. CONCLUSION Addressing the factors contributing to high burnout and depression and placing strict limits on work hours per shift may contribute significantly towards improving safety culture among HCWs and should remain priorities during the pandemic.
Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Pandemics ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Burnout, Psychological ; Health Personnel