The Mandatory Treatment Order (MTO) became a sentencing option for select offenders with psychiatric illness in Singapore in 2011. This article aimed to study the psychiatric characteristics of the offenders in the first year of the MTO; Methods: A clinical audit was conducted on all the cases referred to the Institute of Mental Health for assessment as to their suitability to receive an MTO from January to December 2011. A psychiatrist went through all the case records. Data on the demographics, forensic history and psychiatric diagnoses were obtained from records; Results: There were differences seen between the genders in the likelihood of being granted an MTO. Gender also played a role in the length of MTOs granted and in the diagnoses of the individuals. The reasons for an MTO not being granted are presented. Conclusion: Some discussion is made regarding the availability of court diversion legislature in other countries for mentally ill offenders and the directions such diversion might take are highlighted. Potential areas for future research are pointed out.

To summarize current knowledge regarding mechanisms of radiation-induced normal tissue injury and medical countermeasures available to reduce its severity. Advances in radiation delivery using megavoltage and intensity-modulated radiation therapy have permitted delivery of higher doses of radiation to well-defined tumor target tissues. Injury to critical normal tissues and organs, however, poses substantial risks in the curative treatment of cancers, especially when radiation is administered in combination with chemotherapy. The principal pathogenesis is initiated by depletion of tissue stem cells and progenitor cells and damage to vascular endothelial microvessels. Emerging concepts of radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity suggest that the recovery and repopulation of stromal stem cells remain chronically impaired by long-lived free radicals, reactive oxygen species, and pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines resulting in progressive damage after radiation exposure. Better understanding the mechanisms mediating interactions among excessive generation of reactive oxygen species, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activated macrophages, and role of bone marrow-derived progenitor and stem cells may provide novel insight on the pathogenesis of radiation-induced injury of tissues. Further understanding the molecular signaling pathways of cytokines and chemokines would reveal novel targets for protecting or mitigating radiation injury of tissues and organs.
Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Drug Therapy ; Free Radicals ; Macrophages ; Microvessels ; Negotiating ; Radiation Injuries ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Stem Cells

Successful anticancer strategies require a differential response between tumor and normal tissue (i.e., a therapeutic ratio). In fact, improving the effectiveness of a cancer therapeutic is of no clinical value in the absence of a significant increase in the differential response between tumor and normal tissue. Although radiation dose escalation with the use of intensity modulated radiation therapy has permitted the maximum tolerable dose for most locally advanced cancers, improvements in tumor control without damaging normal adjacent tissues are needed. As a means of increasing the therapeutic ratio, several new approaches are under development. Drugs targeting signal transduction pathways in cancer progression and more recently, immunotherapeutics targeting specific immune cell subsets have entered the clinic with promising early results. Radiobiological research is underway to address pressing questions as to the dose per fraction, irradiated tumor volume and time sequence of the drug administration. To exploit these exciting novel strategies, a better understanding is needed of the cellular and molecular pathways responsible for both cancer and normal tissue and organ response, including the role of radiation-induced accelerated senescence. This review will highlight the current understanding of promising biologically targeted therapies to enhance the radiation therapeutic ratio.
Aging ; Radiobiology ; Radioimmunotherapy ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Burden

INTRODUCTIONThe revised Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) was implemented in Singapore in July 2004. We aim to evaluate expanding the potential donor pool for liver transplant in Singapore with the inclusion of marginal donors.

MATERIALS AND METHODSAll donor referrals between July 2004 and June 2007 were studied. All potential deceased liver donors were heart-beating. After being reviewed by the transplant coordinator, potential donors were assessed by a transplant hepatologist and a transplant surgeon for suitability of organ donation strictly based on the programme's donor assessment protocol. Reasons for rejection as potential donors were documented. The clinical characteristics of all donor referrals were retrospectively reviewed, and an independent decision was made as to whether liver retrieval in each rejected case might have been possible.

RESULTSAmong the 128 potential donor referrals, 20 donors (15.6%) underwent liver retrieval. Of the 20 livers retrieved, 16 were implanted and 4 were not implanted (3 unfit recipients, and 1 donor liver with 40% steatosis). Another 10 donor livers were assessed intraoperatively and were rejected because of varying levels of steatosis. Of these livers assessed, 5 donor livers had steatosis <40% and 5 had steatosis >40%. Of the remaining potential donors, 45 were deemed not possible because of prolonged hypotension (9), on-going or unresolved sepsis (13), high-risk behaviour (4), non-actualisation (8), or pre-existing medical conditions (11). Another 53 donors may potentially have been suitable donors but were rejected because of possible sepsis (13), no suitable recipients (12), transient hypotension (10), transient abnormal liver function test (6), history of alcohol ingestion (5), non-actualisation because of consent (4) and other reasons (3). Overall, it was deemed that 61 donors (47.7%) might potentially have been suitable liver donors.

CONCLUSIONSDespite new legislation (HOTA) in Singapore, the utilisation of cadaveric donor livers showed no increase in the last 3 years. By expanding our donor criteria to include marginal donors, we could potentially increase the availability of deceased donor livers to meet our waiting list demands.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; legislation & jurisprudence ; supply & distribution ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Referral and Consultation ; organization & administration ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; Tissue and Organ Procurement ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Waiting Lists

PURPOSE: Masticatory loading triggers active bone remodeling, altering alveolar bone mineral density (BMD). While dental implants are placed to bear masticatory loading, their influence on changing bone properties has not been fully investigated. Objective of this pilot study was to examine whether the dental implantation has an effect on BMD distribution of bone by comparing dentate, edentulous, and edentulous patients with implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 19 partially edentulous patients (Dent), 19 edentulous patients (Edent), and 16 edentulous patients who received implants in the mandible (Edent+Im), were obtained. CBCT images were also obtained from 5 patients within Edent+Im group, before implant placement and after implant loading. Basal cortical bone region of the mandible was digitally isolated. A histogram of gray levels proportional to BMD was obtained to assess mean, histogram standard deviation (HSD), fifth percentile of low and high values (Low5 and High5) of the BMD distribution. Multivariate analysis of variance and paired t-test were used to compare the BMD parameters among the 3 dental status groups and between pre- and post-implantation, respectively. RESULTS: Edentulous patients with implants had significantly greater HSD and High5 values compared to edentulous patients (P < .013). All other comparisons were not significant (P > .097). Mean, HSD, and High5 values significantly increased after receiving implants (P < .022). CONCLUSION The current findings suggested that receiving dental implants promoted oral bone mineralization for edentulous patients. The longitudinal investigation could provide valuable information on understanding the effects of implantation on the behavior of oral bone quality.

Intracranial hypotension (IH) can occur following lumbar drainage for clipping of an intracranial aneurysm. We observed 3 cases of IH, which were all successfully treated by epidural blood patch (EBP). Herein, the authors report our cases.
Blood Patch, Epidural* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Drainage* ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Intracranial Hypotension* ; Retrospective Studies*

There is evidence that a substantial part of genetic predisposition to prostate cancer (PCa) may be due to lower penetrance genes which are found by genome-wide association studies. We have recently conducted such a study and seven new regions of the genome linked to PCa risk have been identified. Three of these loci contain candidate susceptibility genes: MSMB, LMTK2 and KLK2/3. The MSMB and KLK2/3 genes may be useful for PCa screening, and the LMTK2 gene might provide a potential therapeutic target. Together with results from other groups, there are now 23 germline genetic variants which have been reported. These results have the potential to be developed into a genetic test. However, we consider that marketing of tests to the public is premature, as PCa risk can not be evaluated fully at this stage and the appropriate screening protocols need to be developed. Follow-up validation studies, as well as studies to explore the psychological implications of genetic profile testing, will be vital prior to roll out into healthcare.
Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Kallikreins ; genetics ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Prostatic Secretory Proteins ; genetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Risk Factors