ObjectiveTo study the effect of 8 Hz infrasound on the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in rats' hippocampus and temporal cortex.Methods140 male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, and experimental groups that exposed to infrasound of 8Hz,90dB,100dB and 130dB for 1,7,14,21,28,35,42 days. Experimental groups were exposed to infrasound for 2 hours each day. The control group was only placed in the infrasonic storehouse but without infrasound. Rats' brains were taken as soon as the exposure finished and strained by immunohistochemistry. The content of 5-HT in hippocampus and temporal cortex was detected under an optical microscope.ResultsInfrasound groups had less expression of 5-HT in hippocampus and temporal cortex than the control group (P<0.01), and the least were at the 28th day for 90 dB and 100 dB groups and the 21st day for 130 dB group. Then the expression of 5-HT had an increase in each group.ConclusionThe deceased expression of 5-HT in rats' hippocampus and temporal cortex could result from infrasound of 8 Hz. Rules of change are related to the parameter of infrasound and the 130 dB 8 Hz infrasound can induce greater changes compared with that of 100 dB and 90 dB.

Aftercare ; Coronavirus Infections ; complications ; therapy ; Critical Care ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications ; therapy ; Rehabilitation ; instrumentation ; Robotics

Introduction:This paper describes the epidemiological, microbiological and environmental investigations conducted during an outbreak of Salmonella gastroenteritis in Singapore. Methods:A case-control study was undertaken to identify the vehicle of transmission. Microbiological testing was performed on faecal, food and environmental samples. Isolates of Salmonella were further characterized by phage typing and ribotyping. Results:There were 216 gastroenteritis cases reported from 20 November to 4 December 2007. The causative agent was identified as Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Enteritidis for 14 out of 20 cases tested. The vehicle of transmission was traced to cream cakes produced by a bakery and sold at its retail outlets ( P < 0.001, OR = 143.00, 95% Cl = 27.23–759.10). More than two-thirds of the 40 Salmonella strains isolated from hospitalized cases, food samples and asymptomatic food handlers were of phage type 1; the others reacted but did not conform to any phage type. The phage types correlated well with their unique antibiograms. The ribotype patterns of 22 selected isolates tested were highly similar, indicating genetic relatedness. The dendrogram of the strains from the outbreak showed distinct clustering and correlation compared to the non-outbreak strains, confirming a common source of infection. Discussion:The cream cakes were likely contaminated by one of the ingredients used in the icing. Cross-contamination down the production line and subsequent storage of cakes at ambient temperatures for a prolonged period before consumption could have resulted in the outbreak.

Objective To compare the amplitude of the SK2 current (small conductance calciumactivated potassium channel ) in human atrial myicytes with or without persistent atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods Right atrial appendage was obtained from 15 patients with sinus rate (SR) and 7 patients with AF underwent surgical valve replacement. Single myocyte was isolated by enzymatic dissociation method and the SK2 channel current density was recorded using whole-cell patch clamp techniques to detect the changes.Immunofluorescence was used to observe SK2 channel protein distribution on right atrial appendage. Results Using the whole cell patch-clamp recording techniques, an inward rectifier K+ mix currents could be obtained from both SR (n = 15 ) and AF (n =7 ) samples, IK1 mix currents density in single myocyte of AF group was significantly increased than in SR group [( - 16. 42 ±5.32) pA/pF vs ( -6. 59 ±2. 24) pA/pF,P ＜0. 01], which could be partially inhibited by apamin (100 nmol/L). The apamin-sensitive current was obtained by subtraction of the currents before and after treatment with apamin. SK2 current density was significantly increased in AF group than that of SR group [( - 9. 81 ± 2. 54) pA/pF vs ( - 3.67 ± 0. 37)pA/pF,P ＜ 0. 01]. SK2 channel protein was evidenced with immunofluorescence method in right atrial appendage from AF group and SR group. Conclusion SK2 channel protein and current were present in atrial myocytes. The SK2 current density was significantly increased in AF group than in SR group suggesting that the increase of SK2 current might contribute to the electrical remodeling in AF patients.

INTRODUCTION: Advanced breast cancer (ABC) remains common in Singapore. In 2019, 22.1% of breast cancer patients presented with ABC in our institution. Despite increasing affluence and the advent of national mammographic screening, the incidence of ABC has not changed significantly. This suggests inherent differences in women who present late. We aim to explore the socio-economic background, knowledge and attitudes of women who present with ABC. METHODS: Between December 2013 and July 2015, 100 patients who presented consecutively with ABC in a tertiary institution in Singapore were recruited to participate in an interviewer-led questionnaire exploring psychosocial and economic issues. RESULTS: Among the 100 patients, 63 and 37 presented with stages 3 and 4 breast cancer respectively. Median age was 57 (27-86), 52% had at least secondary education, 53% had no formal employment and 71% were married; 88% were aware of breast cancer symptoms, 82% were aware that mammography can help detect cancer, 82% believed that current treatment modality for breast cancer is effective, 96% had never undergone a mammography and 52.9% felt mammograms were unnecessary. A total of 64% presented symptomatic from the breast tumour, with a median duration of 3 months. Many of the patients were aware of breast cancer symptoms and the utility of mammography. However, a group of patients did not comply with screening. This may be due to poor understanding about breast screening and detection in its asymptomatic phase. CONCLUSION Further public education to improve understanding of breast cancer and screening mammography may help to improve rates for earlier detection of breast cancer.

Humans ; COVID-19/complications* ; Pericarditis/complications*

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Atherosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Ceramides ; analysis ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Rabbits ; Signal Transduction ; Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase ; metabolism ; Sphingomyelins ; metabolism

Objective:To compare the effects of different anesthetic methods on the prognosis in the patients with stage Ⅲ breast cancer.Methods:Based on a multicenter randomized controlled trial (NCT00418457), 274 patients with untreated stage Ⅲ breast cancer, aged 18-85 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical statusⅠ-Ⅲ, were enrolled in the study and assigned to thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) combined with total intravenous anesthesia group (TPVB+ TIVA group, n=141) and general anesthesia group (GA group, n=133) by computer-generated randomization stratified by study site.The primary outcome parameter of this study was postoperative recurrence rate.The secondary outcome parameters were the degree of postoperative acute pain (assessed using visual analogue scale score), the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postoperative hospital stay time, and the incidence of persistent pain after breast cancer surgery (PPBCS) at 6 and 12 months after surgery (assessed using the modified Brief Pain Inventory). Results:Compared with group GA, no significant change was found in the postoperative recurrence rate ( HR=0.711, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.418-1.210, P=0.209), the degree of postoperative acute pain and the incidence of PONV were decreased (mean difference ( MD) of visual analogue scale score -0.890, 95% CI -1.344--0.436, P<0.001; OR=0.236, 95% CI 0.083-0.674, P=0.007), and no significant change was found in postoperative hospital stay time and the incidence of PPBCS ( HR=1.000, 95% CI 0.778-1.286, P=1.000; OR=2.100, 95% CI 0.599-7.362, P=0.246) in group TPVB+ TIVA. Conclusion:Compared with general anesthesia alone, TPVB combined with total intravenous anesthesia can provide lower degree of postoperative acute pain and lower incidence of PONV, and exert no effects on postoperative recurrence, postoperative hospital stay time and PPBCS in patients with stage Ⅲ breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) is a highly heterogenous disease. We describe the clinical characteristics of NCFB patients and evaluate the performance of Bronchiectasis Severity Index (BSI) in predicting mortality. METHODS: Patients attending the bronchiectasis clinic between August 2015 and April 2020 with radiologically proven bronchiectasis on computed tomography were recruited. Clinical characteristics, spirometry, radiology, microbiology and clinical course over a median period of 2.4 years is presented. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. They were predominantly women (67.8%), Chinese (87.5%) and never-smokers (76.9%). Median age of diagnosis was 64 years (interquartile range 56-71) and the most common aetiology was "idiopathic" bronchiectasis (44.6%). Thirty-nine percent had normal spirometries. Compared to female patients, there were more smokers among the male patients (53.8% versus 8.5%, CONCLUSION The NCFB cohort in Singapore has unique characteristics with sex differences. Over half the patients had a history of haemoptysis. The BSI score is a useful predictor of mortality in our population.
Aged ; Bronchiectasis/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Medicine ; Severity of Illness Index ; Singapore/epidemiology*

Ambulatory Care ; COVID-19 ; Health Facility Planning ; Hospital Bed Capacity ; Hospitals, Rehabilitation ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Rehabilitation ; Remote Consultation ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Singapore ; Telerehabilitation ; Triage