Ann Acad Med Singap
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Suicide is a common and preventable event that is often reported by the media when there are sensationalistic elements or if the suicide involves a celebrity. Media reports of suicide can induce a copycat or "Werther effect". ⋯ Local reporting on suicides tends to be sensationalistic but also has a strong educational slant. The media should educate both the public and the medical professional about their role in suicide prevention.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Sep 2008
Observational study to determine factors associated with blood sample haemolysis in the emergency department.
Haemolysis of blood samples is a common problem encountered in the Emergency department (ED). It leads to inaccurate blood results and has cost implications as blood samples very often have to be retaken. The purpose of our study was to determine which factors in blood sampling were associated with higher rates of haemolysis. ⋯ We found blood sampling with the vacutainer system to have increased rates of haemolysis. This could potentially change attitudes towards equipment used for blood sampling in the ED.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Aug 2008
Obstructive sleep apnoea in Singapore: polysomnography data from a tertiary sleep disorders unit.
Comprehensive sleep architecture and respiratory event data in local patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) from overnight polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard for the evaluation of sleep-related breathing disorders, are not widely available. We present 1 year retrospective PSG data with the objective of describing PSG characteristics of patients evaluated for OSA in Singapore. ⋯ OSA is predominant in middle-aged, overweight Singapore males and much less common in females who tend to be older. A majority of patients have moderate to severe OSA, which significantly disturbs normal sleep architecture. The relatively lower BMI compared to Caucasian OSA populations may be related to local craniofacial characteristics and/or higher percentage of body fat for BMI which has been described in Singaporeans.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Aug 2008
ReviewBasic science review on circadian rhythm biology and circadian sleep disorders.
The sleep-wake cycle displays a characteristic 24-hour periodicity, providing an opportunity to dissect the endogenous circadian clock through the study of aberrant behaviour. This article surveys the properties of circadian clocks, with emphasis on mammals. ⋯ A review of human circadian rhythm sleep disorders follows, including recent discoveries of their genetic basis. The article concludes with a discussion of future approaches to the study of human circadian biology and sleep-wake behaviour.