News

The number of men who smoke and use tobacco is on the decline for the first time, marking a significant shift in a global epidemic that has killed tens of millions of people over past decades, according to a newly released World Health Organization (WHO) report. The change in global smoking trends also demonstrates how government-led efforts are working to “save lives, protect health, beat tobacco”, said WHO in the same report. WHO also said Southeast Asia has the highest rates of tobacco use, but it expects the rates to declineRead more

The recent news report (17 Dec) of a case of active tuberculosis (TB) found earlier this month at a PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots preschool in Bukit Batok took some members of the public, who were under the impression that the disease has long been eradicated in Singapore, by surprise. Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, Infectious Diseases Programme Leader, gives us the lowdown on tuberculosis, how it is transmitted, symptoms, the difference between active and latent TB, and why it remains endemic, or regularly found and common in Singapore. Read on

Over the last 50 years since its founding, the Singapore Cancer Registry (SCR) has captured data on all cancers by histological diagnosis, as well as notification by doctors through clinical assessment. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, SCR published a commemorative monograph dedicated to its founder, the late Emeritus Professor Kanagaratnam Shanmugaratnam. Hailed as Singapore’s ‘Father of Pathology’, Prof Shanmugaratnam established the SCR and served as its Director from 1968 to 2002. He was also a world-leading expert on nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Emeritus Professor at NUS and Emeritus Consultant at the

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) recently announced that a long term study it conducted has led to over 100 patients a year being taken off antibiotics after just a day, resulting in shorter hospital stays of about a week and cost savings of close to S$11,000 per patient. Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, Infectious Diseases Programme Leader, writes about the significance of the study and why we should care about how antibiotics are prescribed in Singapore hospitals. “One key way to improve antibiotic prescription in hospitals (as well as in primary care)

Singaporeans currently lead the world in life expectancy, with an average life span of approximately 85 years. This, along with an ageing population, has increased the need to identify and take measures to prevent the development of common conditions associated with old age such as cognitive impairment and dementia. A healthy diet comprising high intake of plant foods and low intake of animal foods in midlife could be associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment, according to findings from the Singapore Chinese Health Study (SCHS). In the recent study

It was recently reported that a teenager in the United Kingdom became blind after years of living on junk food. The boy, who was described as a ‘fussy eater’, lived on food like french fries, potato chips, white bread, ham and sausages. The lack of nutrients from his diet led to visual impairment, and the boy was subsequently declared legally blind. Assistant Professor Mary Chong shared the importance of developing correct eating habits from an early age. She reminded parents that when children adopt healthy eating habits from a young

Researchers from Changi General Hospital (CGH) reviewed the quit rates of smokers from the hospital’s inpatient smoking cessation programme in relation to habits and sociodemographic factors. They found that smokers who were older, married and less dependent on nicotine were more likely to be successful in quitting. The study also found that smoking motivations (such as habitual use and psychological dependence) did not influence quit rates, and therefore do not support the use of e-cigarettes. Instead, a cold turkey method of quitting was shown to contribute to cessation success. The

Congratulations to Associate Professor Fong Ngan Phoon on receiving the Wong Hock Boon Society–SMA Charity Fund (WHBS-SMACF) Outstanding Mentor Award 2019. The award recognises A/Prof Fong for his effort and dedication in guiding his students through their research work. Medical student Joshua Chia Chin Howe, who was the student group leader for the Community Health Project titled ‘Chronic Disease Self-Management in Queenstown’, had nominated A/Prof Fong as the project’s supervisor in appreciation for his effort, dedication and impact on the group’s research. A/Prof Fong received his award at the Wong

Globally, around 700,000 people die each year from infections resistant to the standard drugs used to treat them, and this number is projected to rise to 10 million deaths per year unless urgent, concerted action is taken to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this piece, Assistant Professor Clarence Tam and PhD student Ms Jane Lim illustrate the impact of AMR and the loss of effective antimicrobial drugs to treat infections. For example, without effective antibiotics, it will be difficult to perform advanced medical procedures that rely on antibiotics to prevent

Congratulations to Dr Andre Matthias Müller on winning the Young Investigator Traveller Award at the 51st Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) Conference. The Award encourages aspiring investigators to conduct quality research in public health.