Introduction: Adequate knowledge of diabetes is essential for effective self-management and glycemic control. Emerging trends in digital platforms, video-based education offer a scalable and accessible approach to patient learning. However, evidence on the effectiveness of validated YouTube-based diabetes education in the Malaysian population remains limited. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a newly developed, tri-language YouTube diabetes education programme on clinical and knowledge outcomes. Methodology: In this multicentre study, patients with diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned to intervention (YouTube-based education) and control groups (standard care). The intervention consisted of newly developed and validated short educational videos on YouTube regarding diabetes, complications and lifestyle changes, delivered weekly via WhatsApp over 9 weeks. Videos were available in English, Malay and Chinese. The control group received standard care and counseling. Demographic data, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and knowledge scores were collected at baseline and 3 months post-intervention. Results: A total of 109 patients (62.4% female; mean age 53.2 years; mean diabetes duration 16.3 years) were enrolled in the study, with similar baseline characteristics between groups. The intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in glycemic control compared to the control group (HbA1c: −1.22 ± 1.36% vs. −0.24 ± 1.05%; p <0.001). While knowledge scores improved in both groups, the increase was significantly greater in the intervention group (2.66 vs. 0.80; p = 0.001). Notably, improvement in knowledge score predicted HbA1c reduction (b = 0.091; 95% CI 0.01, 0.172; p = 0.028). Conclusion The tri-language YouTube-based diabetes education programme significantly improved both glycemic control and patients’ knowledge. This accessible, scalable video-based education represents an effective strategy to enhance diabetes selfmanagement, offering flexible, on-demand learning for diverse populations.
Social Media ; Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Central precocious puberty (CPP) is the premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, often compromising adult height and psychosocial well-being. Timely treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) such as triptorelin is critical to halt pubertal progression and preserve growth potential. This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of triptorelin therapy in CPP at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH). Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with CPP treated with triptorelin at the Paediatric Endocrine Clinic, SGH, including those currently receiving therapy and those who had discontinued treatment. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics summarized patient characteristics, while t-tests and non-parametric equivalents assessed treatment outcomes (p <0.05 significant). Results: Eleven patients were included (mean age 6.88 ± 2.21 years; 90.9% female). Two patients (18.2%) were obese at initial diagnosis, and the mean baseline body mass index was 17.64 ± 2.25 kg/m². Most cases were idiopathic (54.5%), while pituitary microadenoma was identified in 36.4%. At diagnosis, the bone age was advanced by a mean of 3.51 ± 1.39 years. Six patients discontinued therapy: four after completion and two at parental request. Among completers, mean treatment duration was 3.21 ± 2.42 years, ending at a mean age of 10.13 ± 0.95 years. Final height did not differ significantly from mid-parental height (p = 0.225). Triptorelin significantly improved final height standard deviation score (SDS) (p = 0.005) and reduced the bone age/ chronological age ratio (p = 0.049), though predicted adult height gains were not statistically significant (p = 0.321). No adverse effects were reported. Conclusion GnRHa therapy slowed pubertal progression and preserved growth potential in children with CPP, with favorable safety outcomes. Larger prospective studies are warranted to validate long-term benefits and identify predictors of optimal response.
Child ; Puberty, Precocious ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone

Background: The immune system plays a critical role in the development and progression of osteoporosis and fractures. However, the causal relationships between antibody immune responses, immune cells, and these bone conditions remain unclear. This study aimed to explore these relationships using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods: We collected complete blood count data from patients with fractures and healthy individuals and analyzed their differences. Then, we conducted a 2-sample, 2-step MR analysis to investigate the causal effects of antibody immune responses on osteoporosis and fractures, using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) as the primary method. We also explored whether immune cells mediate the pathway between antibodies and osteoporosis or fractures. Finally, we analyzed the functions and expression levels of key genes involved. Results: Overall, the fracture group exhibited increased white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, absolute monocyte count, platelet count, and their respective proportions, while absolute lymphocyte count, absolute eosinophil count, absolute basophil count, red blood cell count, and their proportions were decreased. We identified 44 causal relationships between antibodies and osteoporosis or fractures, with 7 supported by multiple MR methods, and 5 showing odds ratios significantly deviating from 1 in the IVW analysis. Epstein-Barr virus-related antibodies had a notable impact on osteoporosis and fractures. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene family, particularly HLA-DPB1, emerged as a significant risk factor. However, immune cells were not found to mediate these effects. Conclusions This study elucidated the causal relationships between antibody immune responses, immune cells, and osteoporosis or fractures. The HLA gene family plays a crucial role in the interaction between antibodies and these bone conditions, with HLA-DPB1 identified as a key risk gene. Immune cells do not serve as mediators in this process. These findings provide valuable insights for future research.

This review delves into the pivotal role of necrotic apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease(AD),with a focus on treatment strategies,drug development,prospects,and challenges,highlighting its significance in the progression of the disease.Firstly,necrotic apoptosis plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD,particularly in association with the abnormal metabolism of β-amyloid(Aβ)and Tau proteins.The primary focus of drug design is to regulate the metabolism pathways of these two proteins to slow down or inhibit the progression of necrotic apoptosis.Secondly,the progress in drug development further emphasizes the importance of necrotic apoptosis in treating AD.Current research mainly focuses on drugs that affect the metabolism of Aβ and Tau proteins,such as lecanemab.Still,inconsistent result underscore the necessity for a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of necrotic apoptosis.Finally,the prospects and challenges of necrotic apoptosis research in AD are thoroughly discussed.A deeper understanding of necrotic apoptosis contributes to a better comprehension of the pathological mechanisms of AD but also may reveal new therapeutic targets.However,challenges such as multifactorial influences and the selection of treatment timing necessitate further in-depth research in the future.In conclusion,this review advocates for future research to deepen the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of necrotic apoptosis,enhance research on treatment strategies,gain a deeper understanding of its cross-regulation with other cell death pathways,and promote collaboration between basic research and clinical practice to advance the comprehensive understanding and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and necrotic apoptosis.

Objective: : Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), particularly the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype type, represents a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. Despite advancements in medical imaging and its modalities, survival rates have not improved significantly, demanding innovative treatment planning and outcome prediction approaches. Methods: : This study utilizes a support vector machine (SVM) classifier using radiomics features to predict the overall survival (OS) of GBM, IDH-wildtype patients to short (<12 months) and long (≥12 months) survivors. A dataset comprising multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging scans from 574 patients was analyzed. Radiomic features were extracted from T1, T2, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and T1 with gadolinium (T1GD) sequences. Low variance features were removed, and recursive feature elimination was used to select the most informative features. The SVM model was trained using a k-fold cross-validation approach. Furthermore, clinical parameters such as age, gender, and MGMT (O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) promoter methylation status were integrated to enhance prediction accuracy. Results: : The model showed reasonable results in terms of cross-validated area under the curve of 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.90) with (p<0.001) effectively categorizing patients into short and long survivors. Log-rank test (chi-square statistics) analysis for the developed model was 0.00029 along with the 1.20 Cohen’s d effect size. Most importantly, clinical data integration further refined the survival estimates, providing a more fitted prediction that considers individual patient characteristics by Kaplan-Meier curve with p-value <0.0001. Conclusion : The proposed method significantly enhances the predictive accuracy of OS outcomes in GBM, IDH-wildtype patients. By integrating detailed imaging features with key clinical indicators, this model offers a robust tool for personalized treatment planning, potentially improving OS.

Objective: : Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), particularly the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype type, represents a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. Despite advancements in medical imaging and its modalities, survival rates have not improved significantly, demanding innovative treatment planning and outcome prediction approaches. Methods: : This study utilizes a support vector machine (SVM) classifier using radiomics features to predict the overall survival (OS) of GBM, IDH-wildtype patients to short (<12 months) and long (≥12 months) survivors. A dataset comprising multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging scans from 574 patients was analyzed. Radiomic features were extracted from T1, T2, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and T1 with gadolinium (T1GD) sequences. Low variance features were removed, and recursive feature elimination was used to select the most informative features. The SVM model was trained using a k-fold cross-validation approach. Furthermore, clinical parameters such as age, gender, and MGMT (O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) promoter methylation status were integrated to enhance prediction accuracy. Results: : The model showed reasonable results in terms of cross-validated area under the curve of 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.90) with (p<0.001) effectively categorizing patients into short and long survivors. Log-rank test (chi-square statistics) analysis for the developed model was 0.00029 along with the 1.20 Cohen’s d effect size. Most importantly, clinical data integration further refined the survival estimates, providing a more fitted prediction that considers individual patient characteristics by Kaplan-Meier curve with p-value <0.0001. Conclusion : The proposed method significantly enhances the predictive accuracy of OS outcomes in GBM, IDH-wildtype patients. By integrating detailed imaging features with key clinical indicators, this model offers a robust tool for personalized treatment planning, potentially improving OS.

INTRODUCTION: The primary objective of this guideline is to establish evidence-based recommendations for the clinical use of parenteral nutrition (PN) in adult patients within the acute hospital setting in Singapore. METHOD: An expert workgroup, consisting of healthcare practitioners actively involved in clinical nutrition support across all public health institutions, systematically evaluated existing evidence and addressed clinical questions relating to PN therapy. RESULTS: This clinical practice guideline developed 30 recommendations for PN therapy, which cover these key aspects related to PN use: indications, patient assess-ment, titration and formulation of PN bags, access routes and devices, and monitoring and management of PN-related complications. CONCLUSION This guideline provides recommendations to ensure appropriate and safe clinical practice of PN therapy in adult patients within the acute hospital setting.
Humans ; Singapore ; Parenteral Nutrition/adverse effects* ; Adult

INTRODUCTION: Paediatric sexual assault (SA) victims should be assessed for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to mitigate the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We describe the clinical characteristics of children and young persons (CYPs) presenting with SA at KK Women's and Children's Hospital in Singapore, viral PEP (human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] and hepatitis B virus [HBV]) prescribing practices, and STI evaluation at follow-up. METHOD: Medical records of CYPs ≤16 years who presented with SA between January 2022 and August 2023 were reviewed, including assault and assailant characteristics, baseline and follow-up STI screening, PEP prescription, adherence and follow-up attendance. CYPs with SA in the preceding 72 hours by HIV-positive or HIV-status unknown assailants with high-risk characteris-tics were eligible for HIV PEP. RESULTS: We analysed 278 CYPs who made 292 SA visits. There were 40 (13.7%) CYPs eligible for HIV PEP, of whom 29 (82.9%) received it. Among those tested at baseline, 9% and 34.9% of CYPs tested positive for Chlamydia trachomatis and Gardnerella vaginalis, respectively. None tested positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, HIV, HBV or hepatitis C. Majority of CYPs tested were HBV non-immune (n=167, 67.6%); only 77 (46.1%) received the vaccine. Out of 27 CYPs eligible for HBV PEP with immunoglobulin, only 21 (77.7%) received immunoglobulin. A total of 37 CYPs received HIV PEP, including 8 who were retrospectively deemed ineligible. Only 10 (27%) completed the course. Overall, 153 (57.7%) CYPs attended follow-up, and none seroconverted for HIV or HBV. CONCLUSION We report suboptimal rates of HBV post-exposure vaccination, and low compliance to HIV PEP and follow-up among paediatric SA victims. Factors contri-buting to poor compliance should be examined to optimise care for this vulnerable population.
Humans ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis/methods* ; Female ; Child ; Adolescent ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; HIV Infections/prevention & control* ; Male ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Hepatitis B/prevention & control* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Sex Offenses/statistics & numerical data* ; Child Abuse, Sexual

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common in Singapore, with moderate to severe OSA affecting around 30% of residents. These consensus statements aim to provide scientifically grounded recommendations for the management of OSA, standar-dise the management of OSA in Singapore and promote multidisciplinary collaboration. METHOD: An expert panel, which was convened in 2024, identified several areas of OSA management that require guidance. The expert panel reviewed the current literature and developed consensus statements, which were later independently voted on using a 3-point Likert scale (agree, neutral or disagree). Consensus (total ratings of agree and neutral) was set a priori at ≥80% agreement. Any statement not reaching consensus was excluded. RESULTS: The final consensus included 49 statements that provide guidance on the screening, diagnosis and management of adults with OSA. Additionally, 23 statements on the screening, diagnosis and management of paediatric OSA achieved consensus. These 72 consensus statements considered not only the latest clinical evidence but also the benefits and harms, resource implications, feasibility, acceptability and equity impact of the recommendations. CONCLUSION The statements presented in this paper aim to guide clinicians based on the most updated evidence and collective expert opinion from sleep specialists in Singapore. These recommendations should augment clinical judgement rather than replace it. Management decisions should be individualised, taking into account the patient's clinical characteristics, as well as patient and caregiver concerns and preferences.
Humans ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/diagnosis* ; Singapore ; Consensus ; Adult

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prototypical neurodegenerative disorder, encompasses multifaceted pathological processes. As pivotal cellular structures within the central nervous system, ion channels play critical roles in regulating neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, and neurotransmitter release. Extensive research has revealed significant alterations in the expression and function of ion channels in AD, implicating an important role of ion channels in the pathogenesis of abnormal Aβ deposition, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and disruptions in calcium homeostasis and neural network functionality. This review systematically summarizes the crucial roles and underlying mechanisms of ion channels in the onset and progression of AD, highlighting how these channel abnormalities contribute to AD pathophysiology. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of ion channel modulation in AD treatment, emphasizing the importance of addressing multifactorial nature and heterogeneity of AD. The development of multi-target drugs and precision therapies is proposed as a future direction of scientific research.
Alzheimer Disease/therapy* ; Humans ; Ion Channels/physiology* ; Oxidative Stress ; Animals ; Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism* ; Synaptic Transmission ; Calcium/metabolism*