- S E G A L A_ M A C A M_ P E N Y A K I T -

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Expert warns that next epidemic could be avian flu
By Chio Su-Mei, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 10 May 2008 2014 hrs



SINGAPORE: An expert on epidemics said that the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which appeared five years ago is unlikely to recur.

But he warns that the new wave of epidemics could stem from human-to-human transmission of avian flu.

This is according to Dr Zhong Nan Shan, who was one of the doctors at the frontline, when China was battling SARS.

Dr Zhong, who is in Singapore, shared his experience with participants at the Singapore Medical Association's annual lecture on Saturday. The decorated doctor is an expert in respiratory diseases.

He warned that if avian flu is not controlled, it could be the next epidemic.

Dr Zhong urged governments to exercise more effective quarantine and surveillance procedures. He also called on the public to exercise better hygiene.

He said: "At the moment, the pandemic of avian flu still exists in the world. For example, in Korea now, it is not under control of avian flu in poultry. In other parts, human flu still exists. If this cold exists, then it will be more possible to develop human avian flu." - CNA/vm

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Doctors say special overnight contact lenses can help reduce myopia
By Hiroshi Limmell, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 10 May 2008 2356 hrs



SINGAPORE : At least 7,000 people in Singapore underwent LASIK surgery last year to treat their short-sightedness, according to the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC).

However, not everyone is suitable for LASIK and some doctors have even advised against it.

Doctors said an alternative to LASIK is a pair of special contact lenses which can be worn overnight.

42-year-old business executive "John" underwent an unsuccessful LASIK surgery in 2003 in Singapore.

He spent over US$3,500 on the procedure. But two weeks after surgery, John said his vision got worse. It became blurry and distorted till today.

"I know some people who have also suffered the side effects of LASIK. They got very depressed and some even considered suicide because of the sudden loss in vision," said John.

John now has to use both contact lenses as well as glasses at the same time. He feels strongly that consumers should carefully consider LASIK, and not be swayed by the decreasing cost of the procedure.

"I think before they go for LASIK, perhaps they should consider some technology which are reversible, as LASIK is not reversible. I do know that there are some contact lens nowadays, which can mould your cornea," said John.

That is known as Orthokeratology, which is widely seen as an alternative to LASIK.

Orthokeratology requires users to put on special lenses on their eyes just before bedtime. After eight hours of sleep, the lenses are removed and users will have good vision for at least the following 12 hours.

"(Orthokeratology) changes the shape of the cornea or the front part of your eye so you can see clearly all day without wearing glasses or contact lenses. It's been around for about the last 10 years and is really a good alternative to other refractive error corrections," said Dr Jeffery Walline, Research Fellow at Ohio State University, USA.

A pair of such lenses cost over a US$1,000. So far, optometrists said there are fewer side effects compared to LASIK surgery.

Orthokeratology is suitable for those who cannot opt for LASIK surgery or are simply looking for alternatives to the procedure. - CNA /ls

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Elderly aches that hide deeper pain?
By Tan Hui Leng, TODAY | Posted: 10 May 2008 0703 hrs


Elderly Singaporeans

SINGAPORE: When elderly people complain about their perennial aches and pains, do not brush them off

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1,246 HFMD cases reported in week ending May 10
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 May 2008 2239 hrs

SINGAPORE : The worst of the hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak may be over. Some 1,246 cases were reported in the week ending May 10. That was 210 cases fewer than the week before.

The total number of cases this year, as at 3pm on Monday, stood at 11,896.

Currently six childcare centres and pre-schools are closed by order of the Health Ministry - down from 17 last week.

24 centres have been advised to consider voluntary closure - down from 48 last week.

The Ministry said closing a centre is vital in stopping the transmission of the virus. It also allows premises to be thoroughly cleaned.

For more information, members of the public go to this website - CNA/ms

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May 16, 2008         
Illegal sex drugs kill two more
By Ian Lim and Lee Hui Chieh


HSA on Friday reminded the public that that illegal health products from dubious sources are dangerous and can kill. -- ST PHOTO: JOSEPH NAIR

TWO more men have died after taking illegal sexual enhancement pills laced with overly high amounts of a drug for diabetics, bringing the death toll to four.

The two - a Chinese man in his 20s and a Malay man in his 50s - slipped into a coma after taking pills that contained a prescription drug, glibenclamide, at levels of up to five times the maximum dose for diabetics.

Their deaths were reported to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) last week.

In the last three weeks, the HSA was also told of five more men who developed dangerously low blood sugar levels after taking such pills, and 17 others suspected of doing so as they had similar symptoms.

Low blood sugar can cause tremors, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness and weakness.

The latest reports bring the total number of confirmed cases since January to 40, and the suspected cases to 87.

Ms Chan Cheng Leng, Assistant Director, Pharmacovigilance at HSA advised members of the public not to gamble with their health by buying and consuming these illiegal health products.

' All the seven patients who slipped into coma after consuming the contaminated products were seriously ill, and four of them have now passed away. The risk of using such products is not worth it. It should never be assumed that what happened to someone else will not happen to you.'

HSA on Friday reminded the public that that illegal health products from dubious sources are dangerous and can kill.

'There is no guarantee of their safety. These products are manufactured illegally with no quality control and may contain variable amounts of ingredients, wrong ingredients or toxic substances. The contents can also vary significantly from batch to batch,' it warned.

Consuming illegal health products can cause unexpected and dangerous effects such as death, coma, seizure, stroke and worsening of existing medical conditions.

HSA also urged the public to give feedback and information on suspected illegal activities involving such products.

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May 17, 2008         
Juice may beat fruit for preventing heart disease


Purple grape juice had the strongest effect to lower cholesterol levels, followed by purple grapes, apple juice and apples. -- ST FILE PHOTO

NEW YORK - GRAPES, apples and their juices can prevent the development of atherosclerosis in hamsters eating a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, French researchers have found.

Fruit juices had a more powerful anti-atherosclerotic effect than the fruit itself, Dr Kelly Decorde of the Universite Montpellier and colleagues found, showing for the first time that processing fruit can have a 'major impact' on its health benefits.

Most of the fruit people eat is processed, the researchers say, but information on the nutritional composition of a fruit is typically limited to its raw form.

To investigate how juicing might affect the content of phenolic compounds, which are powerful antioxidants contained in fruits, the researchers fed hamsters grapes, grape juice, apples, apple juice or water, along with a diet designed to promote atherosclerosis - the buildup of fatty plaque deposits in the arteries that can lead to heart attacks or strokes. A control group of animals ate normal chow.

The amount of fruit the hamsters consumed was equivalent to three apples or three bunches of grapes daily for a human.

Hamsters given juice drank the equivalent of four glasses daily for a person weighing 70 kilogrammes.

The apples and grapes had about the same phenol content, while the purple grape juice had 2.5 times more phenols than apple juice.

Compared with animals given water, those given fruit or fruit juice had lower cholesterol levels, less oxidative stress, and less fat accumulation in their aorta, the main vessel supplying oxygenated blood to the body. Purple grape juice had the strongest effect, followed by purple grapes, apple juice and apples.

The findings suggest that the amount of phenols contained in a food have a direct effect on its antioxidant properties, the researchers write. Other antioxidant compounds in the fruits, such as vitamin C and carotenoids, could also contribute to their effects.

The results, Dr Decorde's team writes, 'provide encouragement that fruit and fruit juices may have a significant clinical and public health relevance'. -- REUTERS

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May 17, 2008         
Listening to music found to lower blood pressure

NEW YORK - LISTENING to half an hour of music each day may significantly lower your blood pressure, according to research reported at the American Society of Hypertension meeting in New Orleans this week.

In the study, researchers found that people with mild hypertension (high blood pressure) who listened to classical, Celtic or Indian (raga) music for just 30 minutes a day for one month had significant reductions in their blood pressure.

'Listening to music is soothing and has often been associated with controlling patient-reported pain or anxiety and acutely reducing blood pressure,' study investigator Dr Pietro A. Modesti, of the University of Florence in Italy, noted in a written statement from the meeting. 'But for the first time, today's results clearly illustrate the impact daily music listening has on ambulatory blood pressure.' Ambulatory blood pressure refers to readings taken repeatedly over the course of a day.

A total of 48 adults ages 45 to 70 who were taking medication to control mild hypertension took part in the study.

Of these, 28 listened to 30 minutes of 'rhythmically homogenous' classical, Celtic or raga music daily while practising slow, controlled breathing exercises. The remaining 20 participants, serving as the control group, made no changes to their daily routine.

Blood pressure readings obtained one and four weeks later showed that systolic blood pressure - the top number in the blood pressure reading - dropped significantly in the music listeners. In contrast, the control group experienced only small, non-significant reductions in blood pressure.

'We are excited about the positive implications for both patients and physicians, who can now confidently explore music listening as a safe, effective, non-pharmacological treatment option or a complement to therapy,' Dr Modesti said.

'Sadly, despite the global focus on prevention, it is predicted that 56 billion people worldwide will be hypertensive by 2025,' he added.

'In light of these devastating statistics, it is reassuring to consider that something as simple, easy and enjoyable as daily music listening combined with slow abdominal breathing, may help people naturally lower their blood pressure.' -- REUTERS

SweetCandy

I agree.. listening to music memang best!!..

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MP Lim Hwee Hua says more education needed to counter dengue
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 May 2008 2115 hrs



SINGAPORE: 97 cases of dengue have been reported within the Serangoon constituency so far this year, mostly in landed properties. This is compared to just 16 cases over the same period last year.

Search and destroy operations have focused largely on landed properties in St Helier's Avenue, Marlene Avenue and Brighton Avenue. This area is the biggest dengue cluster in Singapore this year, with a total of 25 cases.

So far, 74 breeding sites have been found, with 68 detected within private premises.

Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, has been busy spreading anti-dengue messages.

"Education is very important. I don't think you will resolve the problem by simply raising fines. It's really because I don't think people are aware or have realised the possibilities of (mosquito) breeding within their own premises," she said.

Despite several rounds of checks, mosquito-breeding sites are still being found. Summonses have been issued to 63 households.


- CNA/so

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Drinking water can be harmful to smallest babies

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Babies younger than six months old should never be given water to drink, physicians at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore remind parents. Consuming too much water can put babies at risk of a potentially life-threatening condition known as water intoxication.

"Even when they're very tiny, they have an intact thirst reflex or a drive to drink," Dr. Jennifer Anders, a pediatric emergency physician at the center, told Reuters Health. "When they have that thirst and they want to drink, the fluid they need to drink more of is their breast milk or formula."

Because babies' kidneys aren't yet mature, giving them too much water causes their bodies to release sodium along with excess water, Anders said. Losing sodium can affect brain activity, so early symptoms of water intoxication can include irritability, drowsiness and other mental changes. Other symptoms include low body temperature (generally 97 degrees or less), puffiness or swelling in the face, and seizures.

"It's a sneaky kind of a condition," Anders said. Early symptoms are subtle, so seizures may be the first symptom a parent notices. But if a child gets prompt medical attention, the seizures will probably not have lasting consequences, she added.

Water as a beverage should be completely off limits to babies six months old and younger, Anders and her colleagues say. Parents should also avoid using over-diluted formula, or pediatric drinks containing electrolytes.

Anders said it may be appropriate in some cases to give older infants a small amount of water; for example to help with constipation or in very hot weather, but parents should always check with their pediatrician before doing so, and should only give the baby an ounce or two of water at a time.

If a parent thinks their child may have water intoxication, or if an infant as a seizure, they should seek medical attention immediately, she advised.

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HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
13-month-old boy critically ill in hospital
He suffered seizures and doctors fear he may have brain inflammation
By Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent


INTENSIVE CARE: Hafiz (above) has been infected with the virulent EV71 virus. He stopped breathing momentarily during a seizure on Monday. -- PHOTOS: LIM WUI LIANG, COURTESY OF MR BADRULHISHAM

LUCKY BREAK: 'It's a blessing we took him to the hospital early. If it had happened at home, I won't have known what to do.' -- MADAM JAMAIEDAH, on the seizure her son (above) suffered the day after he was admitted to KKH

A SECOND child in Singapore is critically ill following complications from hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Doctors fear he may have encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.

Muhammad Hafiz Badrulhisham, who turned 13 months old yesterday, was diagnosed with the childhood infection last Friday. He had a fever, no appetite and a rash.

By Saturday, the normally active infant was refusing to eat or drink. That night, he woke up crying several times.

The next day, his father, Mr Badrulhisham, 39, a technical officer with SMRT, took Hafiz to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), where he was warded.

On Monday night, while his parents were with him, little Hafiz had a seizure and stopped breathing momentarily; his blood pressure plummeted and his heart rate raced up.

Said his mother, Madam Jamaiedah, 29, an executive officer with the Central Provident Fund Board: 'It's a blessing that we took him to the hospital early. If it had happened at home, I wouldn't have known what to do.'

Hafiz was resuscitated and has been in intensive care since.

Dr Chong Chia Yin, head and senior consultant of infectious diseases at KKH, said yesterday that it was too early to know how he will fare, though his blood pressure has improved and he is now less dependent on a ventilator for breathing.

But she added: 'He had a new seizure this morning.'

Dr Chong said Hafiz has fever, mouth ulcers and rashes on his palms, soles and buttocks. He throws up what he eats and is also drowsy.

Madam Jamaiedah, who is expecting her second child in October, said Hafiz probably caught the bug from his older cousin.

The cousin's mother, who looks after Hafiz while his parents are at work, called on Wednesday night last week to say that her son had HFMD. So Madam Jamaiedah took leave the next day to look after her son at home. 'But it was too late,' she sighed.

More than 13,000 children here have come down with HFMD this year, including 156 who have been hospitalised.

While the epidemic seems to be tailing off - with a 25 per cent drop in cases from 1,246 for the week ending May 10 to 940 cases last week - the danger is not over yet.

This is because the number of kids getting infected with the virulent EV71 virus is still on the rise. So far, 32 per cent of all children infected here were hit by the EV71 bug - up from 29 per cent a week ago.

This is the virus that infected Hafiz.

Seven-year-old Sharmaine Lee, the other child who suffered from encephalitis, was infected by one of the other 80 HFMD viruses. She has recovered fully and is back at school.

It was the spread of the EV71 bug that caused the Health Ministry to compel childcare centres to close if they have more than a certain number of children infected over 15 days or more.

So far, 24 schools have been told to close, and another 75 urged to do so. The school that Hafiz's cousin goes to, Al-Amin Education Centre in Tampines, is not among them.

Madam Jamaiedah was upset that the centre did not inform parents that it had some children down with this illness, so parents could keep their children away. The centre operator could not be reached for comment last night.

HFMD is usually a mild childhood illness which is passed from child to child through bodily fluids such as saliva or nasal mucus.

The number of HFMD cases here has been climbing steadily in recent years, from about 6,000 a year in 2003 to just over 20,000 last year.

salma@sph.com.sg

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May 23, 2008         
Skip the pretzels - starving may fend off jet lag

CHICAGO - STARVING yourself before a long flight may help prevent jet lag, United States researchers said on Thursday.

Normally, the body's natural circadian clock in the brain dictates when to wake, eat and sleep, all in response to light.

But it seems a second clock takes over when food is scarce, and manipulating this clock might help travellers adjust to new time zones, they said.

'A period of fasting with no food at all for about 16 hours is enough to engage this new clock,' said Dr Clifford Saper of Harvard Medical School, whose study appears in the journal Science.

He said a person from the United States travelling to Japan must adjust to a 11-hour time change.

'Because the body's clock can only shift a small amount each day, it takes the average person about a week to adjust to the new time zone. And, by then, it's often time to come home,' Dr Saper said in a statement.

He and colleagues knew that when food is scarce, animals are able to override their normal biological clock to improve their chances of finding food.

Studies have shown that mice fed only during the time when they normally sleep shift their body clocks to this new schedule. 'They would be awake and alert and ready to go an hour or two before a meal was due to appear to have maximal chance of getting the food,' Dr Saper said in a telephone interview.

'This is built into the brain. The problem is, nobody knew how it worked,' he said.

He and colleagues set out to find this mechanism. They used a group of mice that had been genetically engineered to lack a master gene called BMAL1 that regulates the body's clock. They put this gene into the shell of a hollowed-out virus that acted as a vector to deliver the gene only to brain cells they were interested in studying.

When they put it into a small region of the hypothalamus known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which serves as the body's primary clock, the mice adjusted to a light-based schedule for waking and sleeping, but not eating.

'If you don't wake them up they will starve to death,' Dr Saper said.

However, when they restored the gene only in a section of the hypothalamus called the dorsomedial nucleus, which helps organise waking and feeding schedules, the mice adjusted to the eating schedule, but not daylight.

Dr Saper said when food is scarce, this second clock can override the body's primary clock. He said these same clock genes are known to be in all mammals, including humans.

While skipping meals ahead of a long flight or night shift has not been proven to work in humans, it may be worth a try.

'I'm certainly going to do it the next time I go to Japan,' he said. -- REUTERS

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Breast cancer most common in older men


Awareness about female breast cancer is high. Numerous campaigns persuade women to undergo mammogram screenings and pink ribbons are sold to raise the profile of the disease.

Also, there are numerous support groups here for female breast cancer patients, such as those run by hospitals, the Singapore Cancer Society and the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Female breast cancer survivors have even banded together. One such group formed a sports team, the dragon-boating Pink Paddlers who regularly train together and take part in international competitions.

While there are numerous avenues of support for female breast cancer patients, male sufferers of the same disease are very often adrift and isolated.

'Breast cancer in men is very rare,' said Dr Tan Su-Ming, head of breast service and acting chief of surgery at Changi General Hospital.

Figures from the Singapore Cancer Registry show that between 1998 and 2002, 25 men were diagnosed with breast cancer, compared to 5,499 women. This means that men made up less than 0.5 per cent of all breast cancer patients in Singapore.

While there are no differences between female and male breast cancers in terms of signs and symptoms, breast cancer does affect both genders differently.

'In men, the cancer tends to be closer to the chest wall because there is so little breast tissue. Hence, mastectomy (removal of the whole breast) is the most common operation,' said Dr Tan.

Also, because of the fact that breast cancer is perceived by many to be a 'female' disease, male patients face a unique set of psychological issues.

'Of course it is already difficult for anyone diagnosed with breast cancer,' said Dr Tan.

'Because it is more common to hear about breast cancer in women than in men, it may be particularly difficult for the men. They may feel very confused and isolated. It can even be difficult for them to believe such a diagnosis.'

As is the case of female breast cancer, early detection of male breast cancer is an important factor in successful treatment.

'The symptoms of breast cancer in men are no different from that of women - a lump, nipple discharge, nipple retraction and skin dimpling,' said Dr Tan.

'But because male breast cancer is so rare, there is no national screening programme. Hence, if a man should notice any of these symptoms, he should see a doctor immediately.'

There are also identifiable risk factors which increase the likelihood of a man suffering from breast cancer.

Age is a big risk factor, as breast cancer in men is most common between the ages of 60 and 70, said Dr Tan.

Family history is also important, she added, and 'if a man has a close relative, such as a mother or sister, with breast cancer, he may have a greater chance of developing the disease'.

Men who have undergone medical treatment in their early years that exposed their chest to radiation, or who have taken oestrogen-related drugs, are also likely to be at a higher risk of breast cancer.

Liver disease, or cirrhosis of the liver, may also be a contributing factor, as the body's androgen activity may be reduced and its oestrogen activity greater. This can increase a man's risk of breast cancer, said Dr Tan.

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Doctors seeing more cases of skin cancer in Singapore

By Hiroshi Limmell, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 May 2008 0031 hr


   
   

SINGAPORE: The National Cancer Centre said doctors in Singapore are seeing more cases of skin cancer. For men, it is the seventh most frequent cancer and for women, it ranks eighth.

Inadequate protection against the sun is one major cause of skin cancer.

Protecting himself against the sun was not a priority for 41-year-old Vincent Lam, who is a professional tennis and kiteboarding instructor. His wake-up call came when his buddy passed away from skin cancer.

"I had a very close friend whom I did a lot of outdoor activities with. She passed away from skin cancer," he said.

But Vincent said not many are serious about protecting their skin, so he makes it a point to remind his students.

He said: "We get kids from four years old onwards. We play tennis at noon when the sun gets pretty hot. Even with hats and sunglasses, it doesn't really help much, so I would advise them to put sunblock as well."

Experts said one should choose a sunscreen that provides protection against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays.

Dr Curtis Cole, a photobiologist, said: "The UV 'A' gives a lot of pigmenting effect on the skin and unless you provide the protection against both the UV 'B' and the UV 'A', the skin can get dark even with little sunlight exposure."

Besides using sunscreen, doctors said wearing protective clothing when outdoors can also reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.


- CNA/so

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HFMD-infected boy hospitalised with brain inflammation
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 27 May 2008 2222 hrs

SINGAPORE: Another child has been hospitalised with encephalitis or inflammation of the brain after contracting the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD).

The Health Ministry says the 10-year-old boy had been in contact with an active HFMD cluster in his school.

He developed symptoms on 19 May and was seen by a general practitioner who diagnosed the disease.

After he developed seizures on 23 May, he was admitted to the intensive care unit the same day.

His condition has since improved, and he is now in a general ward.

The boy's throat swab tested positive for Enterovirus 71 - which MOH says continues to show a high circulation, with 32% of the samples tested positive so far this year.

The latest development came amidst a declining number of HFMD cases.

It fell by 22% to 729 cases in the week ending 24 May.

940 cases were reported the week before.

The total number of infections so far this year is 13,401.

12 cases required hospitalisation because of poor feeding.

Last week, two preschools and childcare centres were ordered to close for 10 days while another five were advised to close voluntarily to break the chain of virus transmission. - CNA/ir

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S$180m set aside to fund translational, clinical research
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 28 May 2008 2138 hrs



SINGAPORE: Researchers in Singapore hope to shed more light on areas such as cancer, childhood leukaemia and sleep deprivation.

That is why the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have set aside about S$180 million for research into these areas.

Under a newly introduced Singapore Translational Research Investigator Award (STaR), four researchers can apply for up to a million dollars a year for a period of five years to conduct studies into their areas of interest.

STaR aims to recruit and nurture world-class clinician scientists to undertake cutting-edge translational and clinical research in Singapore. Some will also lead or contribute to the development of national flagship research programmes such as those that involve strategic disease areas.

Professor Michael Chee from the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Recipient of STaR, said: "I think in the modern society, especially in the age of the Internet, more and more people are spending their nights awake either at work or at play, and they don't realise that depriving yourself of sleep with the goal of improving life may actually bring more harm than good - so my focus is not on disease but in making the lives of people better.

"We are not only talking about brain effects - sleep deprivation also affects the immune system. It increases your risk of developing diabetes so it's got significant health effects and I think just like high blood pressure is labelled a silent killer. Sleep deprivation will be the silent killer, so to speak in health terms, of the 21st century."

Prof Chee said he has been studying sleep deprivation for five years, with a view to identify potential targets for intervention and to look at the basis for inter-individual differences and tolerance to sleep deprivation.

Another programme that researchers can tap on is the Clinician Scientist Award. Under this four-year-old programme, the chosen clinician scientists are awarded between S$225,000 and S$350,000 to conduct internationally competitive research.

From this year, the award will also fund 100 percent of the clinician scientist's salary to the host institution.

One of the recipients for this award is Associate Professor Allen Yeoh. Besides working with hospitals here, he is also collaborating with two hospitals in Malaysia to raise the survival rates of children with leukaemia.

When Prof Yeoh started on this area of work 20 years ago, only 20 percent of his patients became cancer-free. But now, more than eight in ten cancer patients can be cured.

In Singapore, about 120 children are stricken with cancer every year.

"What's unique about this study is how to personalise the medicine so that we can maximise the cure by minimising the side effects and costs of treatment. Probably more than 80 percent of our children with this form of cancer are curable, using the current technology," he said.

Prof Yeoh said without the grant, some tests conducted may take up to 10-15 years to produce results.

Other research topics that have received funding include retinal vascular imaging that will allow the prediction of diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

It is hoped that research excellence will translate into better healthcare delivery for all patients in Singapore.


- CNA/so

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So, what did we learn from SARS?
By Tan Hui Leng , TODAY | Posted: 30 May 2008 1058 hrs



SINGAPORE: Five years after SARS wreaked havoc on the initial blueprint, plans for the new Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC) are still on the drawing board.

In 2003, four years after the Nipah virus struck Singapore, the CDC, located within the Tan Tock Seng Hospital grounds, was designated to be rebuilt. It could have been completed by now

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HSA warns of dangerous substance in "Mentalk" candy
By Lau Joon-Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 May 2008 2301 hrs



SINGAPORE : A dangerous substance has been found in a brand of candy called "Mentalk".

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said it has detected the undeclared chemical substance aminotadalafil in the ginseng and coffee candy. The substance is similar to tadalafil, which is used to treat impotence.

HSA warned that aminotadalafil can cause serious adverse reactions such as heart attacks and strokes in susceptible individuals.

Heart patients who are on nitrate drugs may suffer severe hypotension, which could be fatal.

HSA has advised the public not to buy or eat the candy.

It said that based on current information, the candy is sold over the Internet and possibly through multi-level marketing.

HSA is working with the relevant agencies to determine the extent of its distribution and sales channels for follow-up action.

Anyone who feels unwell after eating the candy should see their doctor immediately. - CNA/ms

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Campaign to raise awareness that diabetes is a killer disease
Posted: 02 June 2008 1121 hrs


Doctor treating a diabetic patient
SINGAPORE: The Health Promotion Board will launch a campaign to raise awareness that diabetes is a serious disease with severe health complications. The campaign will also emphasise the importance of screening.

The campaign - with the theme Diabetes Be a-Ware - will last from June to November.

Diabetes is the seventh killer disease in Singapore, accounting for 3.3 per cent of all deaths here in 2006. The disease affects more than 180 million worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

The more common form of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes, which occurs mainly in older adults and is associated with obesity.

When poorly controlled, it can lead to severe consequences such as blindness, lower limb amputations, heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.

A National Health Survey carried out in 2004 showed that diabetes prevalence rises sharply with age, accounting for 7.9 per cent of those in the 40 to 49 age group, 16.7 per cent in the 50-59 age group and 28.7 per cent in the 60-69 age group.

For adults who are at risk of diabetes, the campaign will encourage early detection through regular screening.

For adult patients with diabetes, the campaign will encourage optimal management of the disease through maintaining a healthy weight, going for regular check-ups, regular blood glucose monitoring and complying with a care plan.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Health and Manpower) Hawazi Diapi will kick off the campaign at Suntec City Mall on June 7.

An interactive exhibition event will be held at five different locations in June and July to engage the public and underscore the key health messages about diabetes: that it is a 'silent killer' that can lead to complications, with obesity being a major risk factor.

The exhibits will also emphasise that diabetes is manageable and if treated early can lead to better health outcomes.

The promotion of diabetes awareness will also be extended beyond the launch and the roving interactive exhibition through other activities and programmes that will be organised until November.

To adopt a holistic approach and to ensure a continuum of care towards the management of not just diabetes but the chronic diseases including hypertension and lipid disorders, HPB introduced the Nurse Educator Programme in April this year to augment HPB's patient education efforts.

Under this programme, patients with a high-risk BMI, diabetes, hypertension or lipid disorders or at high risk of the conditions will be referred to Nurse Educators who will support the management of the chronic disease patient by providing counselling on self-management skills, and advise on nutrition, exercise and target setting.

They will also conduct group workshops at community venues to equip these patients with the knowledge and skills to manage their conditions and prevent the onset of complications.

A new programme, called the Integrated Screening Programme (ISP) - a nation-wide screening programme aimed at encouraging Singaporeans aged 40 years and above who have not been previously diagnosed with a chronic disease - will be introduced in June this year.

The screening will cover BMI screening, diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorders and cervical cancer, at the appropriate, recommended intervals.

Under the ISP, eligible Singaporeans will receive a letter from HPB on the importance of appropriate health screening and an invitation to attend for screening of the chronic conditions at a Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP)-registered GP clinic near their home.

Through a bulk purchase by HPB, the cost of the laboratory tests is S$8 for the blood test to screen for diabetes and lipid disorders, and S$10 for Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer for female patients.

To date, 728 GP clinics are taking part in the CDMP. - CNA/ir

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1.4m Singaporeans to be invited for screening of chronic conditions
By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 June 2008 1922 hrs



SINGAPORE: Singaporeans aged between 40 and 49 this year will receive a letter from the Health Promotion Board (HPB), urging them to go for a health screening for various chronic diseases, in particular, diabetes.

The letter can be used to get a discount of up to half the cost of screenings at 728 clinics.

Currently, it costs S$8 for a blood test to screen for diabetes and lipid disorders and S$10 for pap smears for female patients. Those with letters can go to the 728 Chronic Disease Management Programme-registered GP Clinics to enjoy the discount.

They will also get their body mass index - a measure of whether their weight is appropriate for their height and blood pressure - checked.

People who live in three-room flats or smaller units will have S$8 waived, but they will still need to pay the GP's consultation charges.

Meanwhile, women aged 40 and above can also get screened for cervical cancer, and those aged 50 and above for breast cancer, at subsidised rates.

Patients who are found to be obese, diabetic or have other chronic diseases such as hypertension, will be referred to HPB's nurse educators, who will counsel them on ways to improve their lifestyles over three weekly sessions.

HPB is embarking on this campaign because diabetic symptoms are mild and usually not discovered until they reach a later stage.

For example, 62-year-old retiree Chia Soon Keng said he used to work long hours. When he was 34 years old, he realised that he easily got tired and was often thirsty. He knew he had to seek help when he started to itch all over his body.

Doctors told him that he had diabetes. That was 28 years ago and since then, Mr Chia has learnt to manage his condition.

He owns a glucose meter which has become a tool that does a lot more than monitor his glucose level. Mr Chia uses the device to determine the Glycemic Index or GI, which tells him how the different carbohydrates affect his sugar level.

Experts said not all carbohydrate foods are created equal and they behave quite differently in our bodies. The GI describes this difference by ranking carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels.

Choosing low GI carbohydrates (the ones that produce only small fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels) is the secret to long term health, reducing our risk of heart disease and diabetes. It is also the key to sustainable weight loss.

Mr Chia said: "I use it to experiment. So I buy different types of whole wheat bread and I discovered that when I eat certain whole wheat bread, my sugar level is not that high. There is such a thing called Glycemic Index, where for certain bread, the GI, is very low.

"When the bread is eaten, it is changed to carbohydrate in a very gradual, slow level. If the GI is very high, then the carbohydrate changes very fast. And that's where your sugar level surges."

And like Mr Chia, doctors want more people to be aware of diabetes, especially for those who do not have the disease.

HPB will launch an integrated screening programme on June 7 to help Singaporeans better manage chronic diseases like diabetes in the long run.

This can be done by maintaining a healthy weight, going for regular check-ups, regular monitoring of blood glucose levels and complying with a care plan.

In fact, doctors said diabetes can be prevented.

Dr Sum Chee Fang, Director, Diabetes Centre, Alexandra Hospital, said: "Diabetes is often preceded by a state we call Impaired Glucose Tolerance - that is the state in between normal and full-blown diabetes.

"And these people certainly don't really have symptoms from their high sugars. And it will be good to uncover this group of people so that they have time to engage in healthy lifestyle practices and avoid getting into diabetes stage."

For more information about diabetes, you can log on to www.hpb.gov.sg/diabetes. - CNA/vm