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

BACKGROUND: Research has indicated that the disease burden of alopecia areata (AA) in China exceeds the global average. Therefore, accurate and updated epidemiological information is crucial for policymakers. In this study, we aimed to comprehensively assess the disease burden of AA in China. METHODS: The following four key indicators were utilized: the prevalence of cases; disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs); the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR); and the age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) of AA according to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021. We analyzed the epidemiological burden of AA in China during 2021, examined changes between 1990 and 2021, and performed a Bayesian age-period-cohort analysis to predict trends over the course of the next decade (2022-2030). Additionally, a Gaussian process regression model was applied to estimate the relationship between the gross domestic product (GDP) and the ASPR and ASDR of AA at the provincial level between 1992 and 2021. RESULTS: In 2021, the estimated number of patients with AA in China was approximately 3.49 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 3.37-3.62 million); of these patients, 1.20 million (95% UI, 1.16-1.25 million) were male and 2.29 million (95% UI, 2.20-2.37 million) were female. This large number of patients with AA resulted in a total of 114,431.25 DALYs (95% UI, 74,780.27-160,318.96 DALYs). Additionally, the ASPR and ASDR were 224.61 per 100,000 population (95% UI, 216.73-232.65 per 100,000 population) and 7.41 per 100,000 population (95% UI, 4.85-10.44 per 100,000 population), respectively; both of these rates were higher than the global averages. The most affected demographic groups were young and female individuals 25-39 years of age. Slight regional disparities were observed, with the northern and central regions of China bearing comparatively higher burdens. Between 1990 and 2021, the health loss and disease burden caused by AA in China remained relatively stable. The ASPR and ASDR of AA increased with the GDP when the annual GDP was less than 2 trillion Chinese yuan; however, a downward trend was observed as the GDP surpassed 2 trillion Chinese yuan. A slight upward trend in the disease burden of AA in China is predicted to occur over the next decade. CONCLUSIONS AA continues to be a public health concern in China that shows no signs of declining. Targeted efforts for young individuals and females are necessary because they experience a disproportionately high burden of AA.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Alopecia Areata/epidemiology* ; Global Burden of Disease ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Bayes Theorem ; Child ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Child, Preschool

Gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis (GCPM) is a common and lethal manifestation of advanced gastric cancer, with a median survival of only 5-11 months. This consensus was developed by 30 experts from Asia (China, Japan, Korea, and Singapore) using the Delphi method and the GRADE evidence grading system. A total of 29 statements were formulated, covering the diagnosis and assessment of GCPM, indications for laparoscopic exploration and NIPS (normothermic intraperitoneal and systemic treatment), treatment regimens, prevention and management of complications, criteria for conversion surgery, and postoperative intraperitoneal therapy. The consensus aims to standardize clinical practice and improve the prognosis of patients with GCPM.

For middle-aged and elderly patients with conditions such as spinal fractures and degenerative spinal diseases, spinal internal fixation is a core surgical procedure for reconstructing spinal stability, heavily relying on the biomechanical stability provided by pedicle screw systems. Whereas, these patients are often complicated by osteoporosis that can significantly compromise the stability of the bone-pedicle screw interface, leading to a marked increase in pedicle screw loosening and surgical failure rates. The bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique, which involves injecting bone cement into the vertebral body or screw trajectory to optimize the mechanical properties of the bone-pedicle screw composite, has been proven to significantly enhance fixation strength and effectively prevent screw-related failures, thereby reducing the incidence of internal fixation failure in high-risk populations undergoing spinal fusion. However, the widespread clinical application of this technique has faced challenges such as inaccurate clinical decision-making (indication and contraindication selection), non-standardized operative practices, and insufficient awareness of complication prevention, resulting in considerable variability in clinical outcomes and even severe complications. To address this, Prof. Luo Fei from First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University initiated the project and the Chinese Association Orthopaedic Surgeons organized relevant experts to develop the Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique ( version 2025), based on current evidence. The guidelines put forward 8 recommendations regarding the clinical value, scope of application, and operational standards of the technique, aiming to provide evidence-based medical support and technical standardization for clinical decision-making.

Objective To investigate the status of population dynamics and distribution changes of Aedes aegypti in Guangdong Province.Methods Continuous monitoring was conducted from May 2018 to July 2024 in Wushi Town and Qishui Town,Leizhou City,Zhanjiang City,Guangdong Province.Additionally,a survey of the distribution of Ae.aegypti along the Leizhou Peninsula coast was carried out.Results The density of Ae.aegypti in Zhanjiang showed a gradual decline from 2018 to 2024.The last detection of adult Ae.aegypti in Wushi Town was in September 2021,and the last larva was found in October 2023.No Ae.aegypti was detected in Qishui Town during surveys from 2021 to 2024.A survey of 18 coastal villages in the Leizhou Peninsula revealed no detections of Ae.aegypti.Conclusions This study provides a basis for understanding the distribution and population density fluctuations of Ae.aegypti,assessing its invasion risk,and scientifically conducting relevant prevention and control efforts.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of serum cholinesterase(CHE)and soluble growth stimula-tion gene 2 protein(sST2)for short-term death in patients with myocardial infarction and heart failure.Methods:A total of 100 patients with myocardial infarction and heart failure admitted in Nanjing Benq Hospital between March 2021 and March 2023 were screened.After 6-month follow-up,patients were grouped according to pres-ence of death.Multivariate Cox regression was used to analyze the factors associated with death during 6-month follow-up in patients with myocardial infarction and heart failure.The predictive value of CHE,sST2 and their combined detection for short-term death in patients with myocardial infarction and heart failure was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to compare short-term sur-vival rate between myocardial infarction and heart failure patients with different CHE and sST2 levels.Results:During 6-month follow-up,46 cases died.Compared to those in survival group,patients in death group had sig-nificant higher heart rate(HR)[(82.20±8.09)beats/min vs.(71.54±6.97)beats/min],mean arterial pressure(MAP)[(126.58±5.38)mmHg vs.(104.79±4.94)mmHg]and sST2[(76.48±4.82)ng/ml vs.(40.62±4.96)ng/ml],and significant lower CHE[(3.47±0.26)IU/L vs.(5.07±0.80)IU/L](P＜0.001 all).Multivariate Cox regression showed that HR(HR 1.046,95％CI 1.002～1.092,P=0.040),MAP(HR 1.988,95％CI 1.298～2.455,P＜0.001),and sST2(HR 1.068,95％CI 1.014～1.125,P=0.013)were independent risk factors for short-term death in patients with myocardial infarction and heart failure,while CHE was its independent protec-tive factor(HR=0.252,95％CI 0.145～0.561,P=0.023).ROC curve analysis indicated that the area under the curve(AUC)of CHE,sST2 and their combination for diagnosing short-term death in patients with myocardial in-farction and heart failure was 0.609(95％0.504～0.707),0.630(95％0.525～0.726)and 0.939(95％0.871～0.977)respectively,and the diagnostic efficacy of combined detection was significantly higher than CHE and sST2 alone(Z=5.814,5.524,P＜0.001 all).Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the survival rate of patients with low CHE level was significantly lower than that of patients with high CHE level,and the survival rate of pa-tients with high sST2 level was significantly lower than that of patients with low sST2 level(Log-rank x2=2.415,2.354,P＜0.001 all).Conclusion:CHE and sST2 were independent influencing factors for death during 6-month follow-up in patients with myocardial infarction and heart failure;their combined detection had good predictive value for short-term death in these patients.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of domestic RECO flow restoration device in endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke(AIS)patients in a real-world setting.Methods From January 2019 to June 2021,consecutive patients with acute intracranial vessel occlusion treated with RECO device from 8 stroke centers in Jiangsu Province were analyzed retrospectively.Baseline and clinical data were collected,including age,gender,baseline modified Rankin scale(mRS)scores,National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score on admission,trial of Org 10172 in acute stroke treatment(TOAST)classification,responsible location of occlusion,wake-up stroke,and medical history(hypertension,diabetes mellitus,hyperlipidemia,atrial fibrillation,coronary heart disease,peripheral arterial disease),smoking,and alcohol consumption.Furthermore,surgical parameters were collected,including time indicators(intervals between symptom onset,admission,puncture and recanalization),preoperative intravenous thrombolysis,general anesthesia,combination of aspiration,number of passes,first pass effect(modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction[mTICI]grade 3 achieved with s single stent-based thrombectomy),rescue therapy(including thrombectomy with other stents,intra-arterial urokinase thrombolysis,intra-arterial application of tirofiban,emergency angioplasty[stent implantation,balloon dilatation,balloon dilatation combined with stent implantation]),balloon guided catheter and NIHSS score at discharge.The effectiveness indicators included immediate successful recanalization after the operation(mTICI grade ≥ 2b),complete recanalization(mTICI grade 3),and a good prognosis at 90 d after the operation(mRS score ≤2).The safety indicators included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage(sICH)within 24 h after the operation,device-related intraoperative complications(such as thrombus escape,iatrogenic dissection,bleeding at the surgical site),and all-cause mortality within 90 days after the operation.All patients were divided into the anterior circulation occlusion group and the posterior circulation occlusion group according to the location of the responsible occluded vessel,and the effectiveness and safety indexes were analyzed.Results A total of 366 patients with AIS caused by intracranial vessel occlusion who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with the domestic RECO thrombectomy stent were included.The average age was(69±11)years,with 54 patients(14.8％)over 80 years old and 221 patients(60.4％)male.There were 296 patients in the anterior circulation occlusion group and 70 patients in the posterior circulation occlusion group.(1)Immediate successful recanalization(mTICI grade≥2b)was achieved in 337 patients(92.1％),and complete recanalization was achieved in 282 patients(77.0％)immediately after the operation.The average number of thrombectomies was(1.9±1.0)times,and 141 patients(38.5％)achieved recanalization on the first attempt.9 patients(2.5％)used other stents during the operation,and 65 patients(17.8％)underwent emergency angioplasty.The incidence of sICH within 24 h after the operation was 10.9％(40/366),the good prognosis rate at 90 d after the operation was 53.6％(196/366),and the all-cause mortality rate at 90 d after the operation was 23.0％(84/366).The incidence of device-related intraoperative complications was 3.6％(13/366).The median time from arterial puncture to recanalization was 75(52,110)min,and the median time from onset to recanalization was 370(280,488)min.(2)The good prognosis rates at 90 d after the operation in the anterior and posterior circulation occlusion groups were 55.1％(163/296)and 47.1％(33/70),respectively.The immediate successful recanalization rates were 93.2％(276/296)and 87.1％(61/70),respectively.The immediate complete recanalization rates were 79.1％(234/296)and 68.6％(48/70),respectively.The incidence of sICH within 24h after the operation was 12.2％(36/296)and 5.7％(4/70),respectively.The incidence of device-related intraoperative complications was 3.7％(11/296)and 2.9％(2/70),respectively.The all-cause mortality rate within 90 d after the operation was 21.6％(64/296)and 28.6％(20/70),respectively.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the above aspects(all P＞0.05).Conclusions The application of the domestic RECO thrombectomy stent in the treatment of AIS caused by intracranial vessel occlusion can effectively and safely achieve vascular recanalization.The results of this study still need to be further verified by prospective controlled studies.

Objectives:To investigate the predictive value of Murray's law-based quantitative flow ratio(μQFR)in side branches for long-term clinical prognosis in patients with non-left main bifurcation lesions who underwent simple main branch stenting,and to provide a potential functional assessment standard for intervention decision-making on coronary bifurcation lesions.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted in 408 patients with non-left main bifurcation lesions who underwent simple main branch stenting at Lianyungang First People's Hospital and Nanjing First Hospital between July 2018 and January 2021.The study utilized third-generation QFR software to analyze pre-and post-procedure anatomical and functional parameters of the target lesion's main branch and key branches.The primary endpoint was target vessel failure(TVF)events during the 3-year follow-up.Patients were stratified into TVF and non-TVF groups.Baseline characteristics,procedural data,and pre-/post-procedural parameters of target vessels were compared between groups.Multivariable Cox regression was performed to identify predictors of TVF.Diagnostic efficacy of predictors was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC)with DeLong's method for comparison.Patients were dichotomized based on the optimal cutoffof post-procedural side branch μQFR,with TVF incidence rates compared via Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results:During 3-year follow-up,54 patients(13.2%)experienced TVF(TVF group),data were compared with 354 patients(86.76%)without TVF(non-TVF group).The TVF group showed higher post-procedural side branch diameter stenosis([32.93±17.80]%vs.[22.62±11.96]%,P<0.001)and lower μQFR(0.80±0.10 vs.0.89±0.07,P<0.001).Multivariate Cox regression identified higher post-procedural side branch μQFR as an independent protective factor against 3-year TVF(per 0.01 increase:HR=0.903,95%CI:0.850-0.959,P<0.001).ROC curves indicated that post-procedural side branch μQFR had moderate diagnostic efficacy for predicting 3-year TVF(AUC=0.769,95%CI:0.678-0.861,P<0.001),with a significantly higher AUC value than post-operative side branch area stenosis and minimal lumen diameter(both P<0.001),the optimal cutoffvalue was 0.84.Multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed markedly higher 3-year TVF rates in patients with μQFR≤0.84 compared to patients with μQFR>0.84(HR=4.007,95%CI:2.342-6.855,P<0.001;28.3%vs.7.9%,log-rank P<0.001).Conclusions:For patients with bifurcation lesions not involving the left main,the immediate post-procedural side branch μQFR could better predict 3-year TVF than anatomical indices.Maintaining post-stenting side branch μQFR>0.84 may optimize clinical outcomes when using a single-stent strategy.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.