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

This study investigated the mechanism of Chaishao Kaiyu Decoction in improving hippocampal neuroinflammation in depressed rats based on complement component 3(C3)/C3 receptor(C3aR). A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, high, medium, and low dose groups of Chaishao Kaiyu Decoction, and a positive drug group, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) was used to construct depression models in other groups. Sucrose preference, open-field experiment, forced swimming, and water maze were used to detect the changes in depression-like behavior in each group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the serum inflammatory factor level in rats, and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Nissl staining were employed to observe the pathological damage of hippocampal neurons. Golgi-Cox staining was used to observe the dendritic spine damage of hippocampal neurons, and immunofluorescence and Western blot were utilized to detect the expression of microglial marker Iba-1 and C3/C3aR protein in the hippocampus of rats. The behavioral results showed that compared with the model group, Chaishao Kaiyu Decoction could significantly strengthen the sugar water preference, increase the distance and number of voluntary activities, shorten the immobility time in forced swimming and the successful incubation period of positioning navigation, and prolong the stay time of space exploration in the target quadrant. ELISA results showed that the content of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus of depressed rats was significantly higher than that of the blank group, and the content of inflammatory factors decreased significantly after the intervention of Chaishao Kaiyu Decoction. In addition, Chaishao Kaiyu Decoction could relieve pathological damage such as cell swelling and loose arrangement of hippocampus tissue. In the Western blot experiment, the expression levels of C3 and C3aR proteins in the model group were higher than those in the blank group, while the expression of C3 and C3aR in Chaishao Kaiyu Decoction could be down-regulated. Immunofluorescence results showed that compared with the model group, the fluorescence intensity of microglia marker Iba-1 decreased significantly after the intervention of Chaishao Kaiyu Decoction and positive drugs. The antidepressant effect of Chaishao Kaiyu Decoction may be related to the down-regulation of C3/C3aR signaling pathway-related proteins, thus alleviating hippocampal inflammation.
Animals ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats ; Male ; Depression/metabolism* ; Complement C3/metabolism* ; Receptors, Complement/metabolism* ; Humans ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/genetics*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of interferon-λ1 (IFN-λ1) on glucocorticoid (GC) resistance in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) stimulated by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). METHODS: HBECs were divided into five groups: control, dexamethasone, IFN-λ1, RSV, and RSV+IFN-λ1. CCK-8 assay was used to measure the effect of different concentrations of IFN-λ1 on the viability of HBECs, and the sensitivity of HBECs to dexamethasone was measured in each group. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1). Western blot was used to measure the protein expression level of GR in cell nucleus and cytoplasm, and the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio of GR was calculated. RESULTS: At 24 and 72 hours, the proliferation activity of HBECs increased with the increase in IFN-λ1 concentration in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P˂0.05). Compared with the RSV group, the RSV+IFN-λ1 group had significant reductions in the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of dexamethasone and the mRNA expression level of p38 MAPK (P<0.05), as well as significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of GR and MKP-1, the level of GR in cell nucleus and cytoplasm, and the nuclear/cytoplasmic GR ratio (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS IFN-λ1 can inhibit the p38 MAPK pathway by upregulating MKP-1, promote the nuclear translocation of GR, and thus ameliorate GC resistance in HBECs.
Humans ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Glucocorticoids/pharmacology* ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid/analysis* ; Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1/physiology* ; Dexamethasone/pharmacology* ; Drug Resistance/drug effects* ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Interferons/pharmacology* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVE: Photodynamic therapy has become an important method in clinical tumor treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of hematoporphyrin on multiple myeloma (MM) and its potential applications. METHODS: The MM cell line RPMI 8226 was treated with hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD), and CCK-8 assay was used to determine cell viability, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured using a detection kit combined with flow cytometry, and Western blot assay was used to detect apoptosis-related proteins and key signaling pathway protein levels. RESULTS: The optimal incubation time for the maximum absorption of HPD in RPMI 8226 cells was 4 hours. HPD significantly inhibited the proliferation of RPMI 8226 cells in a dose- and illumination time-dependent manner ( r =0.981; r =0.961). Additionally, HPD induced apoptosis in RPMI 8226 cells, but had no significant inhibitory effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from healthy individuals. HPD combined with illumination treatment significantly increased the intracellular ROS level, upregulated the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, and down-regulated the expression of proteins that maintain cell survival, such as NF-κB and Akt. CONCLUSION The HPD can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/pathology* ; Hematoporphyrins/pharmacology* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Photochemotherapy ; Cell Survival/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To observe the effect of Anchang Formula(mainly composed of Agrimoniae Herba,Sanguisorbae Radix,Poria,Pulsatillae Radix,Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba)combined with Aluminum Phosphate Gel on inflammatory factors,immune function and intestinal flora in patients with radiation enteritis caused by radiotherapy for cervical cancer.Methods Seventy-eight patients with radiation enteritis caused by radiotherapy for cervical cancer were randomly divided into combined group(41 cases)and reference group(37 cases).The reference group was treated with Aluminum Phosphate Gel,and the combined group was treated with Anchang Formula combined with Aluminum Phosphate Gel.The course of treatment for the two groups lasted for 15 days.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,serum interleukin 2(IL-2),procalcitonin(PCT),T lymphocyte subsets CD4+,CD8+,CD4+/CD8+ levels and intestinal flora in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated.Results(1)After 15 days of treatment,the total effective rate of the combined group was 90.24%(37/41),and that of the reference group was 70.27%(26/37).The intergroup comparison showed that the clinical efficacy of the combined group was significantly superior to that of the reference group(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the scores of TCM symptoms of mucopurulent bloody stool,diarrhea,tenesmus and abdominal pain in the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the combined group was significantly superior to that in the reference group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the levels of serum inflammatory factors of IL-2 and PCT in the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the combined group was more obvious than that in the reference group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the levels of immune function indicators of T lymphocyte subsets CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ in the two groups were higher than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the level of CD8+ was lower than that before treatment(P＜0.05).The increase of CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ levels and the decrease of CD8+ levels in the combined group were more obvious than those in the reference group(P＜0.01).(5)After treatment,the levels of intestinal flora of Lactobacillus,Bifidobacterium and Escherichia coli in the two groups were higher than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the increase in the combined group was more obvious that in the reference group(P＜0.01).Conclusion Anchang Formula combined with Aluminum Phosphate Gel exerts significant efficacy for the treatment of patients with radiation enteritis caused by radiotherapy for cervical cancer.The combined therapy can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms of patients,reduce the inflammatory reaction,improve the immune function,and balance the intestinal flora.

Objective To observe the effect of remifentanil-based fast-track anesthesia on the quality of anesthesia recovery in children with congenital heart disease underwent transcatheter closure.Methods Children with congenital heart disease who underwent transcatheter closure were divided into treatment group and control group according to the anesthesia plan.The anesthesia plan of the control group was as follows:anesthesia induction(intramuscular injection of ketamine at 4 mg·kg-1,intravenous injection of propofol at 2.5 mg·kg-1,fentanyl at 10 μg·kg-1and cisatracurium at 0.1 mg·kg-1)and anesthesia maintenance(fentanyl at0.4μg·kg-1·min-1 and propofol at 8 μg·kg-1·min-1).The anesthesia plan of the treatment group was as follows:anesthesia induction(intramuscular injection of ketamine at 5 mg·kg-,intravenous injection of midazolam at 0.1 mg·kg-1,sufentanil at 1.0 μg·kg-1 and cisatracurium at 0.1 mg·kg-1)and anesthesia maintenance(remifentanil at 0.5 μg·kg-1·min-1 and propofol at 8 μg·kg-1·min-1).Anesthesia recovery,facial expression,leg posture,activity,crying and comfortability(FLACC)of 5 pain scores,Ramsay score,hemodynamics,myocardial injury indexes,and adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups.Results There were 64 cases in treatment group and 56 cases in control group.The spontaneous respiration recovery time,call time and extubation time of the treatment group were(4.87±1.22),(10.16±2.58)and(12.55±3.19)min,shorter than those in control group,which were(5.49±1.35),(13.34±3.27)and(15.67±3.62)min(all P＜0.05).At 1 h and 2 h after operation,Ramsay scores of treatment group were 2.58±0.35 and 3.69±0.42,were lower than 3.02±0.47 and 4.24±0.39 in control group(all P＜0.05).At 1 h and 2 h after operation,the FLACC scores of the treatment group were 3.03±0.81 and 3.75±0.84,lower than 3.78±0.62 and 4.36±0.51 in control group(all P＜0.05).Mean arterial pressure(MAP)of treatment group at the insertion of laryngeal mask,the insertion of occluder and the end of the operation were(102.45±10.26),(94.18±8.37)and(91.46±10.15)mmHg,lower than those in control group,which were(107.84±10.11),(100.57±9.84)and(97.33±8.53)mmHg(all P＜0.05).On day 1 and day 3 after operation,serum creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB)levels in the treatment group were(10.03±2.58)and(8.65±2.16)U·L-1,lower than those in control group,which were(12.44±3.07)and(10.16±2.35)U·L-1(all P＜0.05).On day 1 and day 3 after operation,serum cardiac troponin Ⅰ(cTn Ⅰ)levels in treatment group[(0.07±0.02)and(0.04±0.01)μg·L-1]were lower than those in control group[(0.09±0.03)and(0.06±0.02)μg·L-1](all P＜0.05).The incidence of adverse anesthesia reactions in treatment group was 6.25％(4 cases/64 cases),lower than 17.86％(10 cases/56 cases)in control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Remifentanil-based fast-track anesthesia can improve the quality of anesthesia recovery in children with congenital heart disease undergoing transcatheter closure,with good sedative and analgesic effects,stable hemodynamics during operation,and low incidence of adverse drug reactions.