Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease in Singapore and it is the primary cause of chronic respiratory disease burden in childhood and early adulthood. Despite having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, our asthma mortality rates are several folds higher than other first world countries. Most asthma deaths are preventable. We illustrate a case of fatal asthma and highlight some learning points from this case.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Materials and Methods: This prospective study enrolled 39 participants (14 male, 25 female; mean age, 59.5 ± 15.3 [range, 18–87] years) between September 1, 2018, and January 31, 2021. All participants had parathyroid lesions causing PHPT, proven biochemically and through imaging. The imaging features of the PHPT nodules, including the shape, margin, size, composition, and location, were evaluated before treatment. Serum intact parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus levels; parathyroid nodule volume; and PHPT-related symptoms were recorded before and after treatment. We calculated the technical success, biochemical cure, and clinical cure rates for these patients. Complications were evaluated during and after the ablation. Results: Complete ablation was achieved in 38 of the 39 nodules in the 39 enrolled participants. All the patients were treated in one session. The technical success rate was 97.4% (38/39). The mean follow-up duration was 13.2 ± 4.6 (range, 6.0–24.9) months. At 6 and 12 months post-RFA, the biochemical cure rates were 82.1% (32/39) and 84.4% (27/32), respectively, and the clinical cure rates were 100% (39/39) and 96.9% (31/32), respectively. Only 2.6% (1/39) of the patients had recurrent PHPT. At 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after technically successful RFA, 44.7% (17/38), 34.3% (12/35), 15.8% (6/38), and 12.5% (4/32) of participants, respectively, had elevated eucalcemic parathyroid hormone levels. Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis occurred in 5.1% (2/39) of the patients, who recovered spontaneously within 1–3 months. Conclusion US-guided RFA was effective and safe for PHPT patients. RFA may be an alternative treatment tool for patients who cannot tolerate or refuse to undergo surgery.

COVID-19 ; Critical Care ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; SARS-CoV-2

INTRODUCTION: A second-tier rapid response team (RRT) is activated for patients who do not respond to first-tier measures. The premise of a tiered response is that first-tier responses by a ward team may identify and correct early states of deterioration or establish goals of care, thereby reducing unnecessary escalation of care to the RRT. Currently, utilisation and outcomes of tiered RRTs remain poorly described. METHODS: A prospective observational study of adult patients (age ≥18 years) who required RRT activations was conducted from February 2018 to December 2019. RESULTS: There were 951 consecutive RRT activations from 869 patients and 76.0% patients had a National Early Warning Score (NEWS) ≥5 at the time of RRT activation. The majority (79.8%) of patients required RRT interventions that included endotracheal intubation (12.7%), point-of-care ultrasound (17.0%), discussing goals of care (14.7%) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (24.2%). Approximately 1 in 3 (36.6%) patients died during hospitalisation or within 30 days of RRT activation. In multivariate analysis, age ≥65 years, NEWS ≥7, ICU admission, longer hospitalisation days at RRT activation, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance scores ≥3 (OR [odds ratio] 2.24, 95% CI [confidence interval] 1.45-3.46), metastatic cancer (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.71-4.08) and haematological cancer (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.84-4.19) were independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSION Critical care interventions and escalation of care are common with second-tier RRTs. This supports the need for dedicated teams with specialised critical care services. Poor functional status, metastatic and haematological cancer are significantly associated with mortality, independent of age, NEWS and ICU admission. These factors should be considered during triage and goals of care discussion.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Critical Care ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospital Rapid Response Team ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers

OBJECTIVETo explore the differences of PDGF and EGF expression in the wound healing between fatal and adult.

METHODSWith the established animal model of fetal scarless healing and the adult samples, an immunohistochemical technique was used to evaluate the expression of PDGF and EGF in the normal adult skin, normal fetal skin, and the process of their wound healing.

RESULTS1. The expression of the PDGF was not found in the fetal skin, but a mild amount of the PDGF was shown in the epidermis and the upper dermal layer 12 hours and 1 day after the wounding process. In the normal adult skin, expression of PDGF was shown in the dermal fibroblasts, macrophagocytes and blood capillaries, and a strong expression was presented during its wound healing process. 2. In the fetal skin, the expression of the EGF was seen in the epidermis, hair follicles, sebaceous glands and sweat glands, but there were no markedly changes during the wound healing. In the adult skin, a positive stain of the EGF was shown in the basal layer of the epidermis while the mild stain in hair follicles and sweat glands. The level of the expression became gradually decreasing with the time going in the wounded adult skin.

CONCLUSIONThe different expression of growth factors between fetal and adult skin in wound healing may be one of the important reasons that the fetal wound could produce scarless healing.

Adult ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Epidermis ; metabolism ; Fetus ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Hair Follicle ; metabolism ; Humans ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Skin ; injuries ; metabolism ; Sweat Glands ; metabolism ; Wound Healing

AIM:To explore the therapeutic effect of a novel Rho kinase inhibitor FSD-C10 onβ-amyloid pro-tein precursor (APP)/presenilin-1 (PS1) double transgenic mice.METHODS: The transgenic mice overexpressing hu-man APP with the Swedish mutation (695) and human PS1 with ΔE9 mutation at the age of 8 months were used in this study.The mice were randomly divided into model group and FSD-C10 intervention group, and wild-type mice at the same age served as normal controls .The mice in FSD-C10 intervention group were treated with FSD-C10 (25 mg· kg-1 · d-1 ) for 2 months by intraperitoneal injection .The mice in model group and the wild-type mice were injected with saline in the similar manner.Morris water maze (MWM) test was applied to examine the capacity of learning and memory .The Aβ1-42 deposition, Tau protein phosphorylation , and the expression of β-site APP-cleaving enzyme ( BACE) as well as inflammato-ry molecules, such as TLR-4 and NF-Κb, and M1/M2 microglial markers, such as Inos and Arg-1, were determined by the methods of immunohistochemistry and Western blot .RESULTS: Compared with model group , FSD-C10 significantly improved the learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 double transgenic mice , accompanied by reduced Aβ1-42 deposi-tion, Tau protein phosphorylation and BACE expression in the hippocampus .The intervention of FSD-C10 decreased the protein levels of TLR-4 and p-NF-Κb, reduced the expression of Inos and increased the expression of Arg-1 in the brain tissues.CONCLUSION:The novel Rho kinase inhibitor FSD-C10 improves the capacity of spatial learning and memory in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice , which may be related to the inhibition of TLRs/NF-Κb signaling pathway , the reduction of the secretion of inflammatory molecules and the polarization of anti-inflammatory M2 microglia, thus improving the in-flammatory microenvironment of the brain in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice .

AIM To explore the effects of Rosa roxburghii Radix on ulcerative colitis(UC)in rats based on pyroptosis and neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs).METHODS Rats were randomly divided into the normal group and the model group.The successfully established UC rat models by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)/ethanol enema were then randomly divided into the model group,the sulfasalazine group(0.3 g/kg)and the low,medium and high dose R.roxburghii Radix groups(2,4,8 g/kg),followed by dosing of corresponding drugs by gavage.21 days later,the rats had their disease activity index(DAI)score calculated;their pathological changes of colon tissue observed by HE staining;their levels of serum interleukin(IL)-18,IL-1β and myeloperoxidase(MPO)detected by ELISA;and their protein expressions of NE,MPO,NLRP3,caspase-1 and GSDMD in colon tissue detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS Compared with the normal group,the model group displayed increased DAI score(P＜0.01),increased serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and MPO(P＜0.01),and increased protein expressions of NE,MPO,caspase-1,NLRP3 and GSDMD in colon tissue(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with sulfasalazine,or medium,or high dose R.roxburghii Radix demonstrated with decreased DAI scores(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),decreased serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and MPO(P＜0.01),and decreased protein expressions of NE,MPO,caspase-1,NLRP3 and GSDMD in colon tissue(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION R.roxburghii Radix may alleviate the inflammatory reaction in a rat model of UC and improve its pathological injury of colon via regulating pyroptosis and NETs.

Anesthesia ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Critical Care ; Humans ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2

Haemoptysis is commonly seen in the healthcare setting. It can lead to life-threatening complications and therefore requires careful evaluation of the severity and status of the patient. Common causes of haemoptysis can be broadly grouped into five main categories: infective, neoplastic, vascular, autoimmune and drug-related. Detailed history-taking and careful physical examination are necessary to provide a diagnosis and assess the patient's haemodynamic status. Physicians must have a clear understanding of the criteria for further investigations and the need for a specialist or inpatient referral for management.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Hemoptysis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Medical History Taking ; Middle Aged ; Primary Health Care ; Referral and Consultation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo identify the factors that affect the safety and efficacy of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for treatment of achalasia.

METHODSData of consecutive patients undergoing POEM for confirmed achalasia between December, 2010 and December, 2015 were collected, including the procedure time, approach of tunnel entry incision, approach of myotomy, complications and follow-up data.

RESULTSAmong the total of 439 patients enrolled, the overall complication rate was 28.7% (126/439). Treatment success (Eckardt score≤3) was achieved in 94.5% of 364 patients followed up for a median of 6 months (1-48 months), and the mean score was reduced significantly from 6.7∓1.5 before treatment to 1.2∓1.1 after the treatment (P<0.05). Logistic regression revealed that the year when POEM was performed and the approach of entry incision were two significant factors contributing to complications: with the year 2015 as the reference, the odds ratio (OR) was 9.454 (95% CI: 2.499-35.76) for the years before 2011, 2.177 (95% CI: 0.794-5.974) for 2012, 3.975 (95% CI: 1.904-8.298) for 2013, and 1.079 (95% CI: 0.601-1.940) for 2014; with the longitudinal entry incision as the reference, the OR was 0.369 (95% CI: 0.165-0.824) for inverted T entry incision and 0.456 (95% CI: 0.242-0.859) for transverse entry incision. The approach of myotomy was the significantly associated with symptomatic relapse: with full-thickness myotomy combined with indwelling an anti-reflux belt as the reference, the OR was 0.363 (95% CI: 0.059-2.250) for gradual full-thickness myotomy, 2.137 (95% CI: 0.440-10.378) for circular muscle myotomy, and 4.385 (95% CI: 0.820-23.438) for circular muscle myotomy in combination with balloon shaping; the recurrence rate was 0 with a full-thickness myotomy.

CONCLUSIONThe complication rates of POEM appears to decrease over time, and an inverted T entry incision is the best choice for controlling the complications. Gradual full-thickness myotomy is an excellent approach for treatment of achalasia in terms of the relapse rate, procedure time and the incidence of reflux esophagitis.

Endoscopy ; Esophageal Achalasia ; surgery ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; surgery ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Muscles ; surgery ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome