INTRODUCTIONParenteral nutrition (PN) is an important supportive therapy. However, it is expensive and associated with significant complications. Our aim is to describe the patients given PN in 2006, to compare with the 2001 cohort and determine if PN had been prescribed for the appropriate indications.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA retrospective cohort study of adult patients receiving PN between January and December 2006 was undertaken in a single institution. Appropriateness of indications for PN was based on the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) guidelines 2002.

RESULTSOne hundred and eighty-two patients received 194 courses (102 males, 92 females) of PN. Median age was 62 years (range, 16 to 100). Eighty-two percent were surgical patients and 18% were medical patients. Median PN duration was 9 days (range, 2 to 115). Common indications were surgeons' anticipation of non-functioning gut postoperatively [47 (24.2%) courses], postoperative complications [33 (17.0%) courses] and postoperative ileus [31 (16.1%) courses]. Indications for PN met A.S.P.E.N. guidelines in 93.3% of cases compared to 78.3% in 2001. In 1.5% of cases, we were unable to determine if the indications met the guidelines. Ten courses did not meet the guidelines; 3 had PN for <7 days preoperatively, 6 had PN because the managing team thought the patients were critically ill and 1 was given PN for refusal to eat because of depression.

CONCLUSIONSince 2001, there has been an increase in the proportion of PN given for appropriate indications. However, physician education with respect to the benefit of PN for preoperative and critically ill patients with functioning guts needs reinforcing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Critical Care ; methods ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Inappropriate Prescribing ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parenteral Nutrition ; utilization ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objectives: To 1) report prevalence of ‘osteosarcopenia’ (OS) and osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) entities using evidence-based diagnostic techniques and definitions, 2) examine if OSO offers additional predictive value of functional decline over its components, and 3) identify associated factors in a multi-racial Southeast Asian population. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 542 community-dwelling adults (21–90 years old), and assessed anthropometry, cognition, functional performance, and self-report sociodemographic, health and lifestyle questionnaires. Low muscle mass, and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria, were used to assess sarcopenia. Obesity was defined using percentage body fat and fat mass index. Osteopenia/osteoporosis was determined using lumbar spinal bone mineral density. Associated factors were examined using logistic regression, and OSO’s value investigated using linear regressions with functional performance. Results: OS and OSO prevalence were 1.8% and 0% (21–59 years), 12.9% and 2.8% (≥ 60 years), 17.3% and 4.1% (≥ 65 years), and 25.5% and 7.0% (≥75 years), respectively. OSO entity as defined was not a significant predictor (P > 0.05) and did not improve explanations for functional decline over sarcopenia or sarcopenic obesity. Age, sex, race and body mass index (BMI) were associated with OS, while age, sex, race and alcoholism were associated with OSO. Conclusions Our results do not support OSO as a distinct entity in relation to functional decline. Aside from biological age, sex, and race, amenable lifestyle factors such as BMI and alcohol intake are important variables that can influence the co-existence of osteopenia/osteoporosis, sarcopenia and obesity.

Objectives: To 1) report prevalence of ‘osteosarcopenia’ (OS) and osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) entities using evidence-based diagnostic techniques and definitions, 2) examine if OSO offers additional predictive value of functional decline over its components, and 3) identify associated factors in a multi-racial Southeast Asian population. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 542 community-dwelling adults (21–90 years old), and assessed anthropometry, cognition, functional performance, and self-report sociodemographic, health and lifestyle questionnaires. Low muscle mass, and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria, were used to assess sarcopenia. Obesity was defined using percentage body fat and fat mass index. Osteopenia/osteoporosis was determined using lumbar spinal bone mineral density. Associated factors were examined using logistic regression, and OSO’s value investigated using linear regressions with functional performance. Results: OS and OSO prevalence were 1.8% and 0% (21–59 years), 12.9% and 2.8% (≥ 60 years), 17.3% and 4.1% (≥ 65 years), and 25.5% and 7.0% (≥75 years), respectively. OSO entity as defined was not a significant predictor (P > 0.05) and did not improve explanations for functional decline over sarcopenia or sarcopenic obesity. Age, sex, race and body mass index (BMI) were associated with OS, while age, sex, race and alcoholism were associated with OSO. Conclusions Our results do not support OSO as a distinct entity in relation to functional decline. Aside from biological age, sex, and race, amenable lifestyle factors such as BMI and alcohol intake are important variables that can influence the co-existence of osteopenia/osteoporosis, sarcopenia and obesity.

INTRODUCTIONHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genotyping resistance test (GRT) is essential for monitoring HIV-1 drug resistance mutations (DRMs). High cost and HIV-1 genetic variability are challenges to assay availability in Singapore. An in-house Sanger sequencing-based GRT method was developed at the Communicable Disease Centre (CDC), Singapore's HIV national treatment reference centre for both subtype B and non-subtype B HIV-1.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThe in-house GRT sequenced the fi rst 99 codons of protease (PR) and 244 codons of reverse transcriptase (RT) in the pol gene. The results were compared with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved ViroSeq™ HIV-1 Genotyping System.

RESULTSSubtype assignment for the 46 samples were as follows: 31 (67.4%) CRF01_AE, 14 (30.5%) subtype B and 1 (2.1%) subtype C. All 46 samples had viral load of ≥500 copies/mL, and were successfully amplified by the in-house primer sets. Compared to the ViroSeq™ test, our in-house assay showed drug-resistance conferring codon concordance of 99.9% at PR and 98.9% at RT, and partial concordance of 0.1% at PR and 1.1% at RT. No discordant result was observed.

CONCLUSIONThe assay successfully identified DRMs in both subtype AE and B, making it suitable for the efficient treatment monitoring in genetically diverse population. At less than half of the running cost compared to the ViroSeq™ assay, the broadly sensitive in-house assay could serve as a useful addition to the currently limited HIV genotyping assay options for resource-limited settings, thereby enhancing the DRM surveillance and monitoring in the region.

Anti-Retroviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; genetics ; Genes, pol ; genetics ; Genotyping Techniques ; methods ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; virology ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; methods ; Singapore

INTRODUCTIONThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of benzodiazepine (BZD) abuse among intravenous opioid users in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSEligibility criteria for inclusion in this study were all intravenous buprenorphine abusers, who presented to the Community Addictions Management Programme (CAMP) over a 1-year period from February 2005 to January 2006. One hundred and twenty subjects, who consented to the study, completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and underwent blood test for blood-borne viral infections.

RESULTSThe age of the 120 subjects ranged from 20 to 64 years, with a mean age of 39.0 (SD 8.0) years. The majority of the participants were male (90.0%); 48.3% were Chinese. Ninety-eight (81.7%) patients were using BZDs concomitantly. Midazolam was the most commonly used BZD. Buprenorphine abusers who were concomitantly using BZDs were significantly younger and reported an earlier age of onset of illicit drug abuse as compared to those not using BZDs. Those abusing BZDs were more likely to share syringes (x 2 = 5.8, P = 0.02), and were more likely to be seropositive for hepatitis C virus (x 2 = 4.3, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONSThis study highlights the extreme caution that needs to be exercised in prescribing BZDs to all patients in general and patients with injecting drug use or histories of drug abuse in particular. At a public health level, general practitioners (GPs) who prescribe buprenorphine should have compulsory training which highlights the potential dangers of abuse and concomitant abuse of BZDs.

Adult ; Buprenorphine ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; pharmacology ; Male ; Midazolam ; pharmacology ; Middle Aged ; Narcotics ; pharmacology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Substance-Related Disorders ; epidemiology

Neuropsychiatry is an emerging field at the intersection of neurology and psychiatry, driven by the unprecedented advances in neuroscience. The arbitrary demarcation between neurology and psychiatry, which largely existed only in the last century and a half, has become less tenable. We discuss the definition and scope of this emerging field. We also review the development of clinical neuropsychiatry in Singapore in the context of historical developments and recent changes in the field from other countries. At a more practical level, we discuss a few of the clinical settings in which neuropsychiatry operates, in particular, the stigma associated with psychiatric disorders locally, and the significant number of patients with psychiatric or psychosomatic symptoms presenting to neurology and general practice clinics. The stigma may be ameliorated by better understanding of the neurobiological basis of psychiatry. We see the future of neuropsychiatry in Singapore, as in other developed countries, as one approach to understand and manage complex brain disorders. We advocate training for both psychiatry and neurology residents in their counterpart fields, which will lead to greater understanding of both fields, and enhance collaboration in clinical care and research.
Brain Diseases ; diagnosis ; history ; physiopathology ; psychology ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Neurology ; history ; Neuropsychology ; history ; Neurosciences ; history ; Psychiatry ; history ; Singapore

INTRODUCTIONThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved buprenorphine or Subutex for the treatment of opiate dependence in October 2002. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist of the mu-opioid receptor; although initial animal research suggested a low abuse potential for buprenorphine, it was subsequently shown to have an abuse potential similar to that of morphine or hydromorphone. The objectives of this study were to establish the sociodemographic profile and help-seeking behaviour of buprenorphine abusers attending the deaddiction treatment clinics of the Community Addictions Management Programme.

MATERIALS AND METHODSOne hundred and twenty subjects, all buprenorphine abusers fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for opiate dependence, who consented to the study, completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

RESULTSThe mean age of those participating in the study was 39.2 [standard deviation (SD) 8.0] years. The majority of the participants were male (90%), 52.5% were currently employed and 98% had at least primary education. A family history of drug abuse was reported by 27% of the subjects. Illicit drug abuse occurred at an early age with mean age of onset of illicit drug abuse being 16.9 (SD 4.8) years with gateway drugs like marijuana and glue.

CONCLUSIONSIt is vital for our medical profession to be aware of the trend in the local population to move from the abuse of illicit substances, to the abuse of prescriptive medications. It makes it necessary to increase the understanding of addictions both amongst our practising medical fraternity, and amongst those training to enter the profession. At the hospital level, it necessitates a higher level of vigilance among our emergency room physicians and those treating infectious diseases.

Adult ; Buprenorphine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Narcotic Antagonists ; Opioid-Related Disorders ; rehabilitation ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; Singapore ; Socioeconomic Factors

Objective To discuss the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene heredity and morbidity of cerebral infarction by a random survey on the allele expression of HLA-A, B and DRB1 seats of patients with cerebral infarction. Methods The genotypes of HLA-A, B and DRB1 alleles in 94 patients with cerebral infarction and 122 healthy blood donors were detected by polymerase chain reaction-sequencing based typing (PCR-SBT) method. Results Sixteen alleles in HLA -A locus,32 alleles in HLA -B locus and 25 alleles in HLA -DRB1 locus expressed themselves in these patients with cerebral infarction. The gene frequency of HLA -A*1102 in patients was lower than that in healthy controls, and negative association was found between HLA -A* 1102 allele and cerebral infarction (RR=0.06,P=0.019). Conclusion The research reveals susceptibility association of HLA -A*1102 with patients having cerebral infarction, displaying close genetic immunity correlation between HLA alleles and pathogenesis of cerebral infarction. So, the research in this paper is useful in the clinical prediction of this disease.

Objective To compare the curative effects ofziprasidone and aripiprazole at acute stage on patients with drug-naive schizophrenia and their effects on metabolism of these patients.Methods Forty-six patients with drug-naive schizophrenia,admitted to our hospital from February 2010 to February 2011,were divided into ziprasidone treatment group (n=24,[165±13.51] mg/d) and aripiprazole treatment group (n=22,[28.86±3.06] mg/d); these patients were given the above treatment for 6 week.The scores of positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS),body mass index (BMI),insulin resistance index (IRI),and levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG),insulin (INS),C-Peptide (CP),total cholesterol (TC),high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),triglyceride (TG),apolipoprotein-a (APOA) and apolipoprotein-b (APOB) were obtained before and at the end of treatment.Results At the end of treatment,2 patients (9.1％) were cured,7 (31.8％)achieved obvious improvement,9 (40.9％) achieved improvement,and only 4 (18.2％) did not achieve any improvement in the aripiprazole treatment group.However,at the end of treatment,no patient (0％)was cured,7 (29.2％) achieved obvious improvement,12 (50％) achieved improvement,and 5 (20.8％)did not achieve any improvement in the ziprasidone treatment group.The total scores of PANSS after the treatment in both groups decreased significantly as compared with those before treatment (P＜0.05).The BMI ([20.14±2.63] kg/m2) in the ziprasidone treatment group at the end of treatment was obviously increased as compared with that ([19.68±2.76] kg/m2) before treatment (P＜0.05).The FBG ([4.38±0.59]mmmol/L) at the end of treatment decreased significantly as compared with those before treatment ([4.79±0.59] mmmol/L),and the BMI ([19.65±2.15] kg/m2) was obviously increased as compared with that before treatment ([19.19±2.28] kg/m2) in the aripiprazole treatment group (P＜0.05).The metabolic index in the 2 groups was not significantly different at the end of the treatment (P＞0.05).Conclusion Both ziprasidone and olanzapine are effective in the treatment of patients with drug-naive schizophrenia;both of them have mild effects on weight of patients with drug-naive schizophrenia,but no obvious effects on other metabolic indices.