Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
1972 to Present ISSN: 0304-4602
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Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2002;31(1):132-132.
Helicobacter pylori infection: epidemiology and occupational risk for health care workers.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2001;30(5):457-463.
INTRODUCTIONHelicobacter pylori has been recognised as a major cause of gastroduodenal diseases, including gastric and duodenal ulcers with faeco-oral, oro-oral and gastro-oral transmission occurring. With the close personal contact inherent in patient care, health care workers may be at an increased risk of acquiring H. pylori and subsequent development of associated conditions. The objective of this review was to review the transmission and the occupational risk for health care workers.
METHODSA literature search was performed using Pubmed (January 1990 to May 2001). Relevant key words were used and additional manual searches were made using the reference lists from the selected articles to retrieve other papers relevant to the topic.
RESULTSCurrent knowledge implies various pathways of agent transmission, favouring person-to-person mode of transmission early in life. Faeco-oral, oro-oral and gastro-oral transmissions are proposed and may be of different relevance among various populations. As for health care workers, after elimination of the methodological weak studies, the risk seems to be increased in gastroenterologists, endoscopy staff and intensive care nurses. Results in other groups are conflicting.
CONCLUSIONSH. pylori infection is an occupational risk in some groups of health care workers. Studies are needed to elucidate the risk in other occupational groups.
Assessment in problem-based learning (PBL).
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2001;30(4):347-352.
Diabetes and associated cardiovascular risk factors in Iran: the Isfahan Healthy Heart Programme.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2007;36(3):175-180.
INTRODUCTIONDiabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major health problems worldwide. The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of DM and its associated risk factors in Iran.
MATERIALS AND METHODSThis cross-sectional study was performed in 3 cities in the central part of Iran on participants over the age of 19 years. Sampling was conducted by multi-stage randomised cluster method. Initially, a questionnaire consisting of demographic information, drug intake and smoking status was filled out. Later, a physical examination was performed, including the measurement of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Fasting blood sample was drawn and analysed for sugar, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and 2-hour postprandial glucose. A fasting blood sugar (FBS) of >126 mg/dL or a 2-hour plasma glucose of over 200 mg/dL was considered an indication of diabetes. The impaired glucose tolerance test (IGTT) was defined with 2-hour plasma glucose of 140 to 200 mg/dL and FBS <126 mg/dL. The collected data were analysed with Student's t-test, chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis.
RESULTSThis study was performed on 12,514 subjects (48.9% males and 51.1% females). The total prevalence of DM was 6.7% and 5.3% in urban and rural areas and 5.4% and 7.1% in males and females, respectively. The mean blood glucose rose with age in both sexes, and blood glucose was higher in females and in urban areas. IGTT, known and new DM heightens as age increased and more than half of the diabetes cases in all age groups were newly diagnosed. The mean blood pressure, age, BMI, waist circumference and serum lipids were higher in people with DM and IGTT especially in females. Obesity, a family history of DM, high blood pressure, high WHR and ageing were associated with a higher probability of DM, but sex had no effect on this probability.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONConsidering the high prevalence of DM in the central regions of Iran, providing vast educational programme to prevent this disease is essential and screening FBS tests, especially for obese subjects and those with a family history of DM, should be taken into account.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2007;36(3):169-174.
INTRODUCTIONThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of violence-related behaviours among adolescents and the factors associated with it.
MATERIAL AND METHODSThis was a cross-sectional school survey conducted on 4500 adolescent students, using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected using the supervised self-administered questionnaire [a modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance in the Malaysian National Language (Bahasa Malaysia)].
RESULTSOur study showed that 27.9% of students had been involved in a physical fight, 6.6% had been injured in a fight, 5.9% had carried a weapon, 7.2% had felt unsafe, 18.5% had had their money stolen and 55.0% had had their property stolen. Adolescents who carried weapons to school, smoked, used drugs, felt sad or hopeless and played truant were more likely to be involved in physical fights after adjusting for age, sex, and ethnicity.
CONCLUSIONViolence-related behaviours among adolescents, especially involvement in physical fights, are common and are positively associated with certain factors such as smoking, taking drugs, playing truant, feeling sad or hopeless. Interventions designed at targeting adolescent violence should also address these factors and target the high-risk groups. There may be a need to identify and provide services for adolescents who exhibit these factors.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2007;36(3):165-168.
INTRODUCTIONPathological gambling has been defined as a persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behaviour that disrupts personal, family and work life. The present study reports on the sociodemographic features, gambling activity, comorbidity and legal problems in a sample of 150 pathological gamblers who sought treatment from the Community Addiction Management Programme (CAMP), Singapore over a 4-year period from 2002 to 2006.
MATERIALS AND METHODSData were collected on 150 consecutive subjects who sought treatment at CAMP. Patients were administered a semi-structured interview to elicit demographic data, age of onset, family history, onset games and types of games ever played, largest debt incurred due to gambling, triggers, illegal activities and suicidal attempts by their counsellor. Patients were then assessed by the clinicians to establish the primary and comorbid diagnoses.
RESULTSThe mean age of the subjects was 42.5 [standard deviation (SD) 10.2] years. The majority of them were males (87.3%) and of Chinese origin (97.3%). The most common comorbid disorders were mood disorders (n = 22, 14.7%), substance abuse (n = 11, 7.3%) and alcohol abuse or dependence (n = 7, 4.7%). Sixteen (10.7%) subjects had a history of suicidal attempts which had been precipitated by gambling-related issues.
CONCLUSIONSPathological gambling in our subjects appears to be associated with significant comorbidity and financial problems. These are the preliminary findings and further research is needed regarding the phenomenology, profile, course and response to treatment of pathological gambling disorders.
Chronic kidney disease: the ABC of nephrology.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2007;36(3):161-164.
Soft tissue manifestations of mycobacterial infection in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2007;36(2):152-153.
Rheumatoid-atlantoaxial disease associated syringomyelia: a causal link?
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2007;36(2):150-151.
Case reports of transient loss of vision and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.2007;36(2):146-149.
INTRODUCTIONNeuropsychiatric manifestations can occur in up to two-thirds of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The presentations as well as the underlying immunopathogenic mechanisms can be heterogeneous and therefore have an enormous impact on therapeutic options.
CLINICAL PICTUREWe describe 2 patients who presented similarly with acute onset binocular reversible visual loss. The first patient had anti-phospholipid syndrome and optic neuritis, while the second patient suffered from posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome.
TREATMENTPatient one was treated with anti-coagulation and immunosuppression while the second patient required the withdrawal of immunosuppression and supportive therapy.
OUTCOMEBoth patients responded favourably and had complete visual recovery.
CONCLUSIONSDifferent management strategies have to be employed for similar presentations having different aetiologies, underscoring the need for constant clinical vigilance.
Country
Singapore
Publisher
ElectronicLinks
Editor-in-chief
Abbreviation
Ann Acad Med Singap
Vernacular Journal Title
ISSN
0304-4602
EISSN
Year Approved
2008
Current Indexing Status
Currently Indexed
Start Year
1972
Description
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