Singap Med J
-
The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and toxicity, the frequency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) testing, and 25(OH)D variations with respect to patient gender, patient age and season in New South Wales, Australia. ⋯ We found that vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in both men and women, with a higher prevalence in the latter, despite the substantial increased demand for 25(OH)D testing in our population over the decade. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with elevated PTH levels. Vitamin D toxicity was rare and only observed once during our study period. 25(OH)D levels decreased with age and varied with season, with the highest levels observed in late summer and the lowest in early spring.
-
A clinical diagnosis of asthma is often considered when a child presents with recurrent cough, wheeze and breathlessness. However, there are many other causes of wheeze in a young child. These range from recurrent viral infections to chronic suppurative lung disease, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and rare structural abnormalities. Arriving at a diagnosis includes taking into consideration the symptomatology, triggers, atopic features, family history, absence of red flags and therapeutic trial, where indicated.
-
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular glucocorticoid (IAG) injections in our institution in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). ⋯ As per the recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology, we safely used IAG injections as the first-line therapy in our group of patients with oligoarticular JIA, and/or as an adjunct to systemic therapy in our patients with JIA.
-
A 56-year-old man presented to the Accident and Emergency Department with pleuritic chest pain of sudden onset. He gave a history of short-distance air travel ten days earlier. Chest radiograph showed a peripheral-based opacity in the right lower zone, which was not seen in a previous study done three months ago, suggestive of Hampton's hump. ⋯ Computed tomography pulmonary angiography confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in a right lower lobe segmental branch, with adjacent collapsed lung, consistent with lung infarction. The patient was started on heparin injection with significant relief of his symptoms. The clinical and imaging features of pulmonary embolism are described, with emphasis on the historical radiographic signs and the current dual-energy computed tomography innovations.
-
Sleep problems are a prominent feature in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Unlike existing studies that focused on extreme samples (i.e. normal vs. ADHD), our study investigated the associations of sleep-related behaviours and ADHD features in nonclinical Chinese preschoolers. ⋯ Our study underpins the importance of understanding the relationship between sleep-related behaviours and ADHD characteristics before the usual age of clinical diagnosis in children with ADHD.