1.The glutamate-serine-glycine index as a biomarker to monitor the effects of bariatric surgery on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Nichole Yue Ting Tan ; Elizabeth Shumbayawonda ; Lionel Tim-Ee Cheng ; Albert Su Chong Low ; Chin Hong Lim ; Alvin Kim Hock Eng ; Weng Hoong Chan ; Phong Ching Lee ; Mei Fang Tay ; Jason Pik Eu Chang ; Yong Mong Bee ; George Boon Bee Goh ; Jianhong Ching ; Kee Voon Chua ; Sharon Hong Yu Han ; Jean-Paul Kovalik ; Hong Chang Tan
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2024;39(2):54-60
Objective:
Bariatric surgery effectively treats non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The glutamate-serine-glycine (GSG) index has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic marker for NAFLD, but its ability to monitor treatment response remains unclear. This study investigates the GSG index's ability to monitor NAFLD's response to bariatric surgery.
Methodology:
Ten NAFLD participants were studied at baseline and 6 months post-bariatric surgery. Blood samples were collected for serum biomarkers and metabolomic profiling. Hepatic steatosis [proton density fat fraction (PDFF)] and fibroinflammation (cT1) were quantified with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), and hepatic stiffness with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Amino acids and acylcarnitines were measured with mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses included paired Student’s t-test, Wilcoxon-signed rank test, and Pearson’s correlation.
Results:
Eight participants provided complete data. At baseline, all had hepatic steatosis (BMI 39.3 ± 5.6 kg/m2, PDFF ≥ 5%). Post-surgery reductions in PDFF (from 12.4 ± 6.7% to 6.2 ± 2.8%, p = 0.013) and cT1 (from 823.3 ± 85.4ms to 757.5 ± 41.6ms, p = 0.039) were significant, along with the GSG index (from 0.272 ± 0.03 to 0.157 ± 0.05, p = 0.001).
Conclusion
The GSG index can potentially be developed as a marker for monitoring the response of patients with NAFLD to bariatric surgery.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
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Amino Acids
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Metabolomics
2.Long-term survival and clinical implications of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in relapse/refractory lymphoma: A 20-year Singapore experience.
Wei Sheng Joshua LOKE ; Jean Rachel CATAPIA ; Chay Lee LOW ; Francesca LIM ; Jeffrey QUEK ; Hein THAN ; Yeow Tee GOH ; Yeh Ching LINN ; Colin Phipps DIONG ; Aloysius HO ; William HWANG ; Chung Cheng Jordan HWANG ; Aditi GHOSH ; Liang Pui KOH ; Lip Koon TAN ; Joanne LEE ; Li Mei Michelle POON ; Cheng Kiat Lawrence NG
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2024;54(1):5-16
INTRODUCTION:
Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative option for relapse/refractory (R/R) lymphomas that have failed autologous transplantation or for high-risk lymphomas in the upfront setting. We conducted a retrospective analysis on consecutive lymphoma patients who underwent allo-HSCT over a 20-year period (2003- 2022) at Singapore General Hospital and National University Hospital Singapore.
METHOD:
A total of 121 patients were included in the study. Median age was 41 years. Diagnoses include Hodgkin lymphoma (HL, 15%), B-cell non- Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL, 34%), T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (T-NHL, 31%) and natural killer T-cell lymphoma (NKTL, 20%). Moreover, 27% of patients had prior auto-haematopoietic stem cell transplanta-tion (auto-HSCT), and 84% received reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). Donor types were matched sibling donor (45%), matched unrelated donor (29%), haploidentical donor (19%) and cord blood (CB, 7%).
RESULTS:
After median follow-up of 56 months, estimated 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for all patients were 38% and 45%, respectively. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 15% at day 100 and 24% at 1 year. On univariate analysis, complete remission status at transplant and RIC confers superior OS. On multivariate analysis, HL was associated with superior OS compared to NHL, whereas matched unrelated donor transplant was associated with significantly inferior OS compared to matched sibling donor.
CONCLUSION
Long-term curative durability was observed with allo-HSCT for patients with relapsed/ refractory lymphomas. This real-world data serves as a valuable historical benchmark for future studies on lymphomas in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region.
Humans
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Singapore/epidemiology*
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Adult
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Male
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Retrospective Studies
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Female
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods*
;
Middle Aged
;
Transplantation, Homologous
;
Young Adult
;
Transplantation Conditioning/methods*
;
Lymphoma/mortality*
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Adolescent
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Hodgkin Disease/mortality*
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Aged
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Lymphoma, B-Cell/mortality*
3.Five-Year Review of Patients Presenting with Non-Accidental Injury to a Children's Emergency Unit in Singapore.
Yi Rong CHEW ; Michaela Hl CHENG ; Mei Ching GOH ; Liang SHEN ; Peter Cy WONG ; Sashikumar GANAPATHY
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2018;47(10):413-419
INTRODUCTION:
There is an increasing trend of physical child abuse cases reported in Singapore. Children presenting to the Emergency Department with injuries require a high index of suspicion for clinicians to distinguish those that are abusive in nature.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
A retrospective study of children with diagnosis of NAI presenting to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) from June 2011 to May 2016 was conducted.
RESULTS:
There were 1917 cases reported from 1730 subjects, of which: 8.8% of subjects had repeat visits; 55.2% of cases were male; and mean age was 7.69 years. Racial demographics were: Chinese 45.5%, Malay 33.4%, Indian 15.4% and Others 5.9%. The most frequent injuries sustained were head and neck (50.8%), limbs (32.2%), and chest (5.7%). Of the type of injuries, 55% had contusions, 21% had cane marks, 16% had lacerations, 4.4% had burn marks and 1% sustained fractures. Males were more likely to be caned ( <0.001); 54.9% of cases were admitted and 38.9% were discharged. Cases that presented without a parent ( <0.001), were known to Child Protective Service ( <0.001), or had a history of parental substance abuse ( = 0.038), mental illness in caregiver ( = 0.021), or domestic violence ( <0.001) were more likely to require admission.
CONCLUSION
Analysing these factors provide a better understanding of the presentation of NAI cases, including 'red flags' and vulnerable groups who should have better protection.
Age Factors
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Child
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Child Abuse
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prevention & control
;
statistics & numerical data
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Child, Preschool
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Cohort Studies
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Emergency Service, Hospital
;
statistics & numerical data
;
Ethnic Groups
;
statistics & numerical data
;
Female
;
Hospitalization
;
statistics & numerical data
;
Humans
;
Injury Severity Score
;
Male
;
Mandatory Reporting
;
Needs Assessment
;
Physical Abuse
;
prevention & control
;
statistics & numerical data
;
Prevalence
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Retrospective Studies
;
Risk Assessment
;
Sex Factors
;
Singapore
;
Vulnerable Populations
;
statistics & numerical data
;
Wounds and Injuries
;
diagnosis
;
epidemiology


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