INTRODUCTION: MyDiagnostick is an atrial fibrillation (AF) screening tool that has been validated in the Caucasian population in the primary care setting. METHODS: In our study, we compared MyDiagnostick with manual pulse check for AF screening in the community setting. RESULTS: In our cohort of 671 candidates from a multi-ethnic Asian population, AF prevalence was found to be 1.78%. Of 12 candidates, 6 (50.0%) had a previous history of AF and another 6 (50.0%) were newly diagnosed with AF. Candidates found to have AF during the screening were older (72.0 ± 11.7 years vs. 56.0 ± 13.0 years, P < 0.0001) and had a higher CHADSVASC risk score (2.9 ± 1.5 vs. 1.5 ± 1.1, P = 0.0001). MyDiagnostick had a sensitivity of 100.0% and a specificity of 96.2%. In comparison, manual pulse check had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 98.9%. CONCLUSION MyDiagnostick is a simple AF screening device that can be reliably used by non-specialist professionals in the community setting. Its sensitivity and specificity are comparable and validated across various studies performed in different population cohorts.
Humans ; Atrial Fibrillation/diagnosis* ; Heart Rate ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Risk Factors ; Electrocardiography ; Mass Screening

INTRODUCTION: Despite the challenges related to His bundle pacing (HBP), recent data suggest an improved success rate with experience. As a non-university, non-electrophysiology specialised centre in Singapore, we report our experiences in HBP using pacing system analyser alone. METHODS: Data of 28 consecutive patients who underwent HBP from August 2018 to February 2019 was retrospectively obtained. The clinical and technical outcomes of these patients were compared between two timeframes of three months each. Patients were followed up for 12 months. RESULTS: Immediate technical success was achieved in 21 (75.0%) patients (mean age 73.3 ± 10.7 years, 47.6% female). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 53.9% ± 12.1%. The indications for HBP were atrioventricular block (n = 13, 61.9%), sinus node dysfunction (n = 7, 33.3%) and upgrade from implantable cardioverter-defibrillator to His-cardiac resynchronisation therapy (n = 1, 4.8%). No significant difference was observed in baseline characteristics between Timeframe 1 and Timeframe 2. Improvements pertaining to mean fluoroscopy time were achieved between the two timeframes. There was one HBP-related complication of lead displacement during Timeframe 1. All patients with successful HBP achieved non-selective His bundle (NSHB) capture, whereas only eight patients had selective His bundle (SHB) capture. NSHB and SHB capture thresholds remained stable at the 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSION Permanent HBP is feasible and safe, even without the use of an electrophysiology recording system. This was successfully achieved in 75% of patients, with no adverse clinical outcomes during the follow-up period.
Humans ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Male ; Bundle of His ; Follow-Up Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial/adverse effects* ; Electrocardiography ; Ventricular Function, Left/physiology*

INTRODUCTION: Three doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines have been recommended for cancer patients to reduce the risk of severe disease. Anti-neoplastic treatment, such as chemotherapy, may affect long-term vaccine immunogenicity. METHOD: Patients with solid or haematological cancer were recruited from 2 hospitals between July 2021 and March 2022. Humoral response was evaluated using GenScript cPASS surrogate virus neutralisation assays. Clinical outcomes were obtained from medical records and national mandatory-reporting databases. RESULTS: A total of 273 patients were recruited, with 40 having haematological malignancies and the rest solid tumours. Among the participants, 204 (74.7%) were receiving active cancer therapy, including 98 (35.9%) undergoing systemic chemotherapy and the rest targeted therapy or immunotherapy. All patients were seronegative at baseline. Seroconversion rates after receiving 1, 2 and 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination were 35.2%, 79.4% and 92.4%, respectively. After 3 doses, patients on active treatment for haematological malignancies had lower antibodies (57.3%±46.2) when compared to patients on immunotherapy (94.1%±9.56, P<0.05) and chemotherapy (92.8%±18.1, P<0.05). SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported in 77 (28.2%) patients, of which 18 were severe. No patient receiving a third dose within 90 days of the second dose experienced severe infection. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the benefit of early administration of the third dose among cancer patients.
Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; Treatment Outcome ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Vaccination ; RNA, Messenger ; Antibodies, Viral ; Immunogenicity, Vaccine

Background: Insulin-treated patients with long duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk of ketoacidosis related to sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i). The extent of circulating ketone elevation in these patients remains unknown. We conducted this study to compare the serum ketone response between dapagliflozin, an SGLT2i, and sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, among insulin-treated T2DM patients. Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, active comparator-controlled study involving 60 insulin-treated T2DM patients. Participants were randomized 1:1 for 24-week of dapagliflozin 10 mg daily or sitagliptin 100 mg daily. Serum β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels were measured at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks after intervention. Comprehensive cardiometabolic assessments were performed with measurements of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), vibration-controlled transient elastography and echocardiography. Results: Among these 60 insulin-treated participants (mean age 58.8 years, diabetes duration 18.2 years, glycosylated hemoglobin 8.87%), as compared with sitagliptin, serum BHB levels increased significantly after 24 weeks of dapagliflozin (P=0.045), with a median of 27% increase from baseline. Change in serum BHB levels correlated significantly with change in free fatty acid levels. Despite similar glucose lowering, dapagliflozin led to significant improvements in body weight (P=0.006), waist circumference (P=0.028), HDL-C (P=0.041), CEC (P=0.045), controlled attenuation parameter (P=0.007), and liver stiffness (P=0.022). Average E/e’, an echocardiographic index of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, was also significantly lower at 24 weeks in participants treated with dapagliflozin (P=0.037). Conclusion Among insulin-treated T2DM patients with long diabetes duration, compared to sitagliptin, dapagliflozin modestly increased ketone levels and was associated with cardiometabolic benefits.

Purpose: Both primary and revisional bariatric surgery are on the rise due to global obesity pandemic. This study aimed to assess the indications for revision after one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) and the outcomes after laparoscopic conversion of OAGB to roux-en-y gastric bypass (RYGB). Materials and Methods: Retrospective review on patients that had undergone conversion of OAGB to RYGB between June 2007-June 2019 in a tertiary bariatric center, followed by literature review. Results: Out of 386 revisional bariatric surgery, a total of 14 patients underwent laparoscopic conversion of OAGB to RYGB. The mean age was 44.7 with 71% female. The mean pre-revision BMI was 29.2 kg/m2 . The primary indications for revision were bile reflux (n=7), marginal ulcer (n=3), inadequate weight loss or weight regain (IWL/WR) (n=3) and protein-calorie malnutrition (n=1). Conversion of OAGB to RYGB was completed laparoscopically in all cases.The mean length of stay was 4.1 days. There was no intraoperative or early post-operative complication. The mean total weight loss (rTWL%) after revision at year one, year three and year five post-revision were 11.5%, 18.1% and 29.1%, respectively. All patients achieved resolution of bile reflux and marginal ulcer. There was no mortality in this cohort. Conclusion Bile reflux, marginal ulcer, IWL/WR and malnutrition were the main indications for revision after OAGB in this study. In concordance with the available evidence, laparoscopic conversion of OAGB to RYGB was safe and effective in dealing with late complications of OAGB.

Purpose: Both primary and revisional bariatric surgery are on the rise due to global obesity pandemic. This study aimed to assess the indications for revision after one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) and the outcomes after laparoscopic conversion of OAGB to roux-en-y gastric bypass (RYGB). Materials and Methods: Retrospective review on patients that had undergone conversion of OAGB to RYGB between June 2007-June 2019 in a tertiary bariatric center, followed by literature review. Results: Out of 386 revisional bariatric surgery, a total of 14 patients underwent laparoscopic conversion of OAGB to RYGB. The mean age was 44.7 with 71% female. The mean pre-revision BMI was 29.2 kg/m2 . The primary indications for revision were bile reflux (n=7), marginal ulcer (n=3), inadequate weight loss or weight regain (IWL/WR) (n=3) and protein-calorie malnutrition (n=1). Conversion of OAGB to RYGB was completed laparoscopically in all cases.The mean length of stay was 4.1 days. There was no intraoperative or early post-operative complication. The mean total weight loss (rTWL%) after revision at year one, year three and year five post-revision were 11.5%, 18.1% and 29.1%, respectively. All patients achieved resolution of bile reflux and marginal ulcer. There was no mortality in this cohort. Conclusion Bile reflux, marginal ulcer, IWL/WR and malnutrition were the main indications for revision after OAGB in this study. In concordance with the available evidence, laparoscopic conversion of OAGB to RYGB was safe and effective in dealing with late complications of OAGB.

Betacoronavirus ; Communicable Disease Control ; organization & administration ; Coronavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Disaster Planning ; organization & administration ; Humans ; Nuclear Medicine ; organization & administration ; Pandemics ; prevention & control ; Pneumonia, Viral ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Singapore

Background: and Purpose Depression is common and debilitating illness accompanying many neurological disorders including non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this systematic review was to identify and critically appraise all published studies that have reported the frequency, severity and time course of depression after SAH, the factors associated with its development and the impact of depression on patients’ quality of life after SAH. Methods: The PubMed database was searched for studies published in English that recruited at least 40 patients (>18 years old) after SAH who were also diagnosed with depression. Results: Altogether 55 studies covering 6,327 patients met study entry criteria. The frequency of depression ranged from 0% to 61.7%, with a weighted proportion of 28.1%. Depression remained common even several years after the index SAH. Depression after SAH was associated with female sex, premorbid depression, anxiety, substance use disorders or any psychiatric disorders, and coping styles. Comorbid cognitive impairment, fatigue, and physical disability also increased the risk of depression. Aneurysmal SAH and infarction may be related to depression as well. Depression reduces the quality of life and life satisfaction in patients after SAH. Conclusions Depression is common after SAH and seems to persist. Further research is needed to clarify its time course and identify the neuroendocrine and neurochemical factors and brain circuits associated with the development of post-SAH depression. Randomized controlled treatment trials targeting SAH-related depression are warranted.

The importance of routine neck ultrasonography for the detection of unsuspected local or nodal recurrence of thyroid cancer following thyroidectomy (with or without neck dissection) is well documented in many journal articles and international guidelines. Herein, we present a pictorial summary of the sonographic features of benign and malignant central neck compartment nodules and cervical lymph nodes via a series of high-quality ultrasonographic images, with a review of the literature.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Neck Dissection ; Singapore ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thyroid Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Thyroidectomy ; methods ; Ultrasonography