INTRODUCTION: Singapore has had three medical schools since 2013. We undertook a cross-sectional quantitative national survey to determine the financial impact of medical education on medical students in Singapore. METHODS: All 1,829 medical students in Singapore were invited to participate in this study. Information on demographics, financial aid utilisation and outside work was collected and analysed. RESULTS: 1,241 (67.9%) of 1,829 students participated in the survey. While the overall proportion of students from households with monthly incomes < SGD 3,000 was only 21.2% compared to the national figure of 31.4%, 85.4% of medical students expected to graduate with debts > SGD 75,000. There were significant differences in per capita incomes among the schools, with 54.5%, 23.3% and 7.8% of Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS), NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) students, respectively, reporting a per capita income of < SGD 1,000 (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in financial support: 75.0%, 34.1% and 38.8% of Duke-NUS, NUS Medicine and LKCMedicine students, respectively, received financial aid (p < 0.001). The top reasons for not applying for aid included a troublesome application process (21.4%) and the perception that it would be too difficult to obtain (21.0%). CONCLUSION Students in the three medical schools in Singapore differ in their financial needs and levels of financial support received. A national approach to funding medical education may be needed to ensure that financial burdens do not hamper the optimal training of doctors for Singapore's future.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Financial Stress ; Humans ; Schools, Medical ; Singapore ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective:To investigate the kinetic metrics of 68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)-04 in pancreatic cancers and normal organs by using total-body PET dynamic imaging. Methods:From December 2020 to December 2021, 68Ga-FAPI-04 total-body PET/CT dynamic imaging were performed on 6 pancreatic cancer patients (3 males, 3 females, median age 55.5 years) in Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Images were respectively analyzed. Manual delineations of volume of interests (VOIs) on multiple normal organs and pathological lesions were performed and time-to-activity curves (TACs) were generated. A reversible two-tissue compartment model (2TCM) was fitted for each tissue TAC. Rate constants including K1, k2, k3 and k4, and the total volume of distribution ( Vt) were obtained and compared by tissue types. Wilcoxon rank sum test and Spearman correlation analysis were used for data analysis. Results:Kinetic metrics varied significantly among normal organs and pancreatic cancer lesions ( z values: 2.00-1 240.00, all P<0.05). The highest K1 among lesions was observed in primary tumor (0.30 min -1), which was observed in the spleen (1.42 min -1) among normal organs. The highest k2 among lesions was observed in peritoneal metastases (0.24 min -1), which was observed in the spleen (2.59 min -1) among normal organs. Primary tumor showed the highest k3 of 0.17 min -1 among lesions, and the pancreas had the highest k3 of 0.16 min -1 among normal organs. Primary tumor had the highest k4 of 0.03 min -1 among lesions, and the heart, lungs, parotid glands had high k4(0.06 min -1) among normal organs. Vt were higher in pathological lesions compared to normal organs, with the highest in primary tumor (13.78 ml/cm 3). There were correlations between Vt in lesions and SUV mean( rs=0.86, P<0.001) or SUV max ( rs=0.77, P<0.001). Conclusion:The rate constants including K1, k2, k3 and k4, and Vt of 68Ga-FAPI-04 vary among normal organs and lesions.

Chromatin modification contributes to pluripotency maintenance in embryonic stem cells(ESCs).However,the related mechanisms remain obscure.Here,we show that Npac,a"reader"of histone H3 lysine 36 trimethylation(H3K36me3),is required to maintain mouse ESC(mESC)pluripotency since knockdown of Npac causes mESC differentiation.Depletion of Npac in mouse embryonic fibroblasts(MEFs)inhibits reprogramming efficiency.Furthermore,our chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing(ChIP-seq)results of Npac reveal that Npac co-localizes with histone H3K36me3 in gene bodies of actively transcribed genes in mESCs.Interestingly,we find that Npac interacts with positive transcription elongation factor b(p-TEFb),Ser2-phosphorylated RNA Pol Ⅱ(RNA Pol Ⅱ Ser2P),and Ser5-phosphorylated RNA Pol Ⅱ(RNA Pol Ⅱ Ser5P).Furthermore,depletion of Npac disrupts transcriptional elongation of the pluripotency genes Nanog and Rifl.Taken together,we propose that Npac is essential for the transcriptional elongation of pluripotency genes by recruiting p-TEFb and interact-ing with RNA Pol Ⅱ Ser2P and Ser5P.

INTRODUCTION: Haze is a recurrent problem in Southeast Asia. Exposure to haze is linked to ophthalmic, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and mortality. In this study, we investigated the role of demographic factors, knowledge and perceived risk in influencing protective behaviours during the 2013 haze in Singapore. METHODS: We evaluated 696 adults in a cross-sectional study. Participants were sampled via a 2-stage simple random sampling without replacement from a large residential district in Singapore in 2015. The questionnaire measured the participant's knowledge, perceived risk and behaviours during the Southeast Asian haze crisis in 2013. Reliability and validity of the questionnaire were assessed using comparative fit index (≥0.96) and root mean square error of approximation (≤0.05). We performed structural equation modelling to examine the relationship between the hypothesised factors and protective behaviours. RESULTS: More than 95% of the individuals engaged in at least 1 form of protective behaviour. Knowledge was strongly associated with protective behaviours via direct effect (β=0.45, 95% CI 0.19-0.69, CONCLUSION Knowledge was associated with protective behaviours, suggesting the importance of public education. Efforts should target those of lower education level and smokers. The wearing of N95 masks correlates with uptake of other protective behaviours.
Adult ; Asia, Southeastern ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Ethnic Groups ; Humans ; Minority Groups ; Reproducibility of Results ; Singapore/epidemiology*

Introduction: Assessment of root canal treatment (RCT) quality performed by undergraduate students is important in evaluating the teaching of endodontic. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the obturation quality of root canal treated teeth and the number of visits required by patients to complete RCT rendered by undergraduate students in School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Methods: All RCT cases performed by fourth year and final year undergraduate dental students in 2017/2018 were included in this study with a total of 258 teeth. Both digital and conventional periapical radiographs of all treated teeth were assessed. Evaluation of the obturation quality was classified as acceptable and unacceptable based on the length in relation to the radiographic apex and density of the obturation in relation to the presence of voids. The number of visits required to complete each RCT case by the students were also assessed. Results: Out of the total 258 teeth, 63.6% were maxillary and 36.4% were mandibular comprising 53.5% anteriors, 14.7% premolars and 31.8% molars. Overall acceptable obturation quality was 71.3%. There was significant association between obturation quality and type of teeth as well as location of teeth. Conclusion: Students in this institution performed significantly better obturation quality on anterior teeth than on premolars and molars as well as on maxillary teeth as compared to the mandibular teeth. Patients seemed to require more visits for RCT of molars than anteriors and premolars.

INTRODUCTIONFrequent admitters to hospitals are high-cost patients who strain finite healthcare resources. However, the exact risk factors for frequent admissions, which can be used to guide risk stratification and design effective interventions locally, remain unknown. Our study aimed to identify the clinical and sociodemographic risk factors associated with frequent hospital admissions in Singapore.

METHODSAn observational study was conducted using retrospective 2014 data from the administrative database at Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. Variables were identified a priori and included patient demographics, comorbidities, prior healthcare utilisation, and clinical and laboratory variables during the index admission. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for frequent admissions.

RESULTSA total of 16,306 unique patients were analysed and 1,640 (10.1%) patients were classified as frequent admitters. On multivariate logistic regression, 16 variables were independently associated with frequent hospital admissions, including age, cerebrovascular disease, history of malignancy, haemoglobin, serum creatinine, serum albumin, and number of specialist outpatient clinic visits, emergency department visits, admissions preceding index admission and medications dispensed at discharge. Patients staying in public rental housing had a 30% higher risk of being a frequent admitter after adjusting for demographics and clinical conditions.

CONCLUSIONOur study, the first in our knowledge to examine the clinical risk factors for frequent admissions in Singapore, validated the use of public rental housing as a sensitive indicator of area-level socioeconomic status in Singapore. These risk factors can be used to identify high-risk patients in the hospital so that they can receive interventions that reduce readmission risk.

INTRODUCTION: Medical school fees are rising globally. Student debt and financial background may affect residency choices, but few studies have been conducted in Asia. This study aimed to explore the relationship between financial background, student debt and postgraduate residency choices among medical students in Singapore. METHODS: An anonymised survey of all medical students in Singapore was conducted and had a response rate of 67.9%. RESULTS: 40.5% of our study population would graduate with debt. Medical students with monthly per capita household income < SGD 1,000 were more likely to graduate with debt (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-2.7; p < 0.001) and feel burdened by the cost of medical education (unadjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI 2.0-3.9; p < 0.001). Students with monthly per capita household income < SGD 1,000 (unadjusted OR 1.818, 95% CI 1.338-2.470, p < 0.001; adjusted OR 1.692, 95% CI 1.202-2.381, p = 0.003) and those with debt (unadjusted OR 1.623, 95% CI 1.261-2.090, p < 0.001; adjusted OR 1.393, 95% CI 1.048-1.851, p = 0.022) were more likely to rank at least one economic factor as 'very significant' in influencing their postgraduate training choices. CONCLUSION It is concerning that despite financial aid schemes, the cost of medical education remains a burden to students from lower-income households in Singapore. Student debt and financial background may distort postgraduate career choices, creating an undue push towards high-paying specialties.
Career Choice ; Choice Behavior ; Education, Medical ; economics ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; economics ; Odds Ratio ; Schools, Medical ; economics ; Singapore ; Social Class ; Students, Medical ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Training Support

Aged ; Asian People ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy/methods* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multimodal Imaging/methods* ; Prostate/pathology* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Rectum/diagnostic imaging* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Ultrasonography

INTRODUCTIONIncreasing financial challenges have resulted in great debt among medical graduates worldwide. In Singapore, more scholarships and bursaries have been disbursed in recent years to support students who are financially challenged. We aimed to study the financial status of medical students in National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (i.e. NUS Medicine), Singapore, and the financial support available to them.

METHODSA cross-sectional quantitative study was performed. Surveys were distributed and completed by medical students of NUS Medicine. Information regarding household income, financial assistance, monthly allowance and expense, and concurrent occupations was collected. We compared our findings with the results of a similar study performed in 2007 and national income data.

RESULTSA total of 956 (66.2%) out of 1,445 medical students completed the survey. 19.5% and 58.5% of respondents came from households with monthly incomes < SGD 3,000 and > SGD 7,000, respectively. 20.6% of students had loans, 18.9% had scholarships and bursaries, and 14.4% worked to support themselves.

CONCLUSIONMedical school fees have risen by more than 50% over the past ten years. Our study found that there were increases in the proportion of students from both the lower- and higher-income segments, with proportionally fewer students from the middle-income segment. A large number of students were working and/or had some form of financial support. More should be done to meet the needs of financially challenged medical students to ensure equal access to quality medical education.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The past decades have seen increasing incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in China. This article aimed to summarize the current status and characteristics of surgical management for IBD in China. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Chinese databases from January 1, 1990 to July 1, 2014 for all relevant studies on the surgical treatment IBD in China. Eligible studies with sufficient defined variables were further reviewed for primary and secondary outcome measures. RESULTS: A total of 74 studies comprising 2,007 subjects with Crohn's disease (CD) and 1,085 subjects with ulcerative colitis (UC) were included. The percentage of CD patients misdiagnosed before surgery, including misdiagnosis as appendicitis or UC, was 50.8%±30.9% (578/1,268). The overall postoperative complication rate was 22.3%±13.0% (267/1,501). For studies of UC, the overall postoperative complication rate was 22.2%±27.9% (176/725). In large research centers (n>50 surgical cases), the rates of emergency operations for CD (P=0.032) and in-hospital mortalities resulting from both CD and UC were much lower than those in smaller research centers (n≤50 surgical cases) (P=0.026 and P <0.001, respectively). Regarding the changes in CD and UC surgery over time, postoperative complications (P=0.045 for CD; P=0.020 for UC) and postoperative in-hospital mortality (P=0.0002 for CD; P=0.0160 for UC) both significantly improved after the year 2010. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical management of IBD in China has improved over time. However, the rates of misdiagnosis and postoperative complications over the past two decades have remained high. Large research centers were found to have relatively better capacity for surgical management than the smaller ones. Higher quality prospective studies are needed in China.
Appendicitis ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China* ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnostic Errors ; Emergencies ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Postoperative Complications ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies