Spirulina is a freshwater blue-green microalgae which has been used as a food supplement for centuries. It is a rich source of several macro- and micro-nutrients. Several studies have demonstrated the potential nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and health benefits of Spirulina. The focus of this article is to highlight the multiple potential roles of Spirulina in human health. Studies have demonstrated Spirulina's roles in boosting immunity through increasing resistance to various infections. Potential health benefits of Spirulina in association with its antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties have also been reported. Owing to its nutrient profiles and nutraceutical properties, Spirulina has been shown to have potential therapeutic roles in metabolic diseases, hypertension, anaemia, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Objective: To investigate chick pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities of the Abroma augusta (A. augusta). Methods: A. augusta was first extracted with methanol and subjected to phytochemical screenings. Quantitative estimation of flavonoids, phenolics and alkaloids was done. Pancreatic lipase from chick pancreas was isolated and used as substrate for anti-lipase studies. Results:A. augusta extract effectively inhibited concentration dependent lipase activity, whereby extract at concentration 100 μg/mL inhibited 88.6% enzyme activity. Conclusions: From these results, it could be concluded that A. augusta can be used as a potential source anti-lipase agents.

Objectives: The incidence of multidrug resistant enteric fever is increasing alarmingly. This study was planned to determine the rate of isolation of Salmonella spp. and to compare the isolates for their epidemiological parameters and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns at our center. Methods: The study was conducted over a span of three years with a total of 8142, 8134, and 8114 blood culture samples processed for the years 2008, 2009, and 2010 respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol was determined using an agar dilution method. The MIC for ciprofloxacin was also confirmed by Epsilon-test (E -test) strips. Results: Of the total 302 Salmonella spp. isolated, 257 were Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (85.1%) and 45 (14.9%) were S. enterica serotype Paratyphi A. The majority of the isolates recovered were from the pediatric age group (54.6%) and males (60.6%). Complete susceptibility was observed to chloramphenicol, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and azithromycin over the last two years (2009 and 2010), with an increase in resistance to nalidixic acid (100%) and ciprofloxacin (13.6%). Conclusions: In our study, we found augmentation of resistance to nalidixic acid and fluoroquinolones and complete sensitivity to ceftriaxone along with reemergence of chloramphenicol sensitivity for Salmonella isolates. This report emphasises the necessity of continuous surveillance of antibiograms of enteric fever isolates in an area.
Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Ceftriaxone ; Ciprofloxacin ; Typhoid Fever ; Salmonella

Controlling postoperative pain after total hip replacement is important and controversy remains regarding different regimens. By reviewing 18 studies, we attempt to find whether local infiltration analgesia after total hip replacement has any effect on postoperative pain, length of hospital stay and opioid consumption. We conclude that local infiltration analgesia is an effective method for decreasing postoperative pain.
Analgesia ; methods ; Analgesics, Opioid ; therapeutic use ; Anesthetics, Local ; therapeutic use ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; statistics & numerical data ; Pain Management ; methods ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; prevention & control

INTRODUCTIONWe sought to determine the opinions of patients, their visitors and healthcare workers regarding Influenza A (H1N1) response measures instituted within a tertiary hospital in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis questionnaire study was undertaken from 21 May 2009 to 31 August 2009.

RESULTSThere were 92 respondents, ranging in age from 15 to 77 years. Of the 90 who identified their role, 35.6% were patients, 12.2% visitors and 52.2% health care professionals. About 23% of respondents disagreed that one could have H1N1 without fever or fl u-like symptoms, while 14.3% thought influenza could not be caught from an asymptomatic infected person. About 30% perceived the H1N1 death rate as high. From this study, 82.2% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Singapore's H1N1 responses were essential, while 14.6% found it overdone. In particular, healthcare workers and doctors found their professional work to be inconvenienced. Although more than two-thirds of doctors held this view, an equal proportion agreed the outbreak response was essential.

CONCLUSIONSThere was a high level of acceptance of response measures as essential, despite the perceived inconvenience. We propose that the success of containment measures requires unity of purpose and understanding among stakeholders at all levels.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Attitude to Health ; Communicable Disease Control ; organization & administration ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Satisfaction ; Personnel, Hospital ; psychology ; Public Health ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Visitors to Patients ; psychology ; Young Adult

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), primarily Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, had been widely recognized to affect the Western population. However, the notable rise in prevalence of IBD in Asia, including Singapore, had garnered much attention to the causal role of the shift in trend, and more importantly, effective and safe management of the conditions of these groups of patients in terms of therapy, healthcare economics as well as patient well-being. This review presents a summary of the current landscape of IBD in Singapore, and discuss on areas that can be explored to improve and better understand the local condition, as prevalence continues to grow.

Multicultural scholarship in sport and exercise psychology should help us understand and apply cultural competencies for all to be physically active. In the present study, two Asian countries, Japan and Singapore, were chosen. The participation rate for physical activities among adolescent girls tends to be lower than that of boys in both countries. Thus, the purpose of the project was to gain knowledge and understanding about sociocultural factors that may explain adolescent girls' perceptions and behaviors toward sport, physical activity, and physical education (PE). A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with focus groups was used to understand meanings of physical activity among Buddhist Japanese, and Hindu Indians and Christian Chinese from Singapore. Each focus group consisted of four or five girls and female researchers. Based on the analysis, we created four themes which were "cultural identities," "Asian girls and sport/physical activities," "PE experiences," "motivation for future involvement." The Buddhist Japanese, Hindu Indian, and Christian Chinese participants each reported unique physical activity experiences, and all the participants were aware of how Asian culture may affect being physically active. Experiences of PE classes were similar but perceptions of their PE attire were different for Christian Chinese and Hindu Indian adolescent girls. Based on the results, the importance of nurturing cultural competencies and ways to encourage girls to be physically active throughout life were discussed.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Buddhism ; Christianity ; Cultural Competency ; Cultural Diversity ; *Exercise ; Female ; Hinduism ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Motivation ; *Motor Activity ; *Physical Education and Training ; Questionnaires ; *Sports

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity/*etiology

PURPOSE: Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with excessive blood loss and morbidity arising from postoperative reduction in hemoglobin (Hb). The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to determine if drains have any effect on blood loss, postoperative reduction in Hb levels and transfusion rates compared to no drainage in simultaneous bilateral TKAs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and thirty patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA by a single surgeon were randomly allotted to drain or no-drain group (n=115 in each group). Postoperative Hb level, blood loss volume and transfusion rate were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean postoperative Hb level (p=0.38), blood loss volume (p=0.33) and transfusion rate (p=0.52) in the drain group were not significantly different compared to the no-drain group. No statistical difference was found in terms of complications, readmissions and mortality rates between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was observed in the two groups with respect to blood loss and blood transfusion. Non-drainage does not offer an advantage over drainage with respect to conserving blood in simultaneous bilateral TKA.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Blood Transfusion ; Drainage ; Humans ; Knee ; Mortality ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Prospective Studies ; Suction