Singap Med J
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Pityrosporum folliculitis (PF) is a common skin condition that can be easily misdiagnosed, especially by non-dermatologists. While the initial diagnosis is often made clinically, skin microscopy may help to confirm the same. However, there is scant literature regarding the clinical epidemiology of PF. To our knowledge, in Singapore, only one prior epidemiological study was performed in 1987. Through the present study, we aimed to provide an update regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of patients with PF in Singapore. ⋯ A typical Singapore patient with PF is a young man aged 21-30 years, with erythematous follicular papules or pustules over the trunk and the back.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparison of early and on-demand maternal feeding after Caesarean delivery: a prospective randomised trial.
This study aimed to compare early and on-demand maternal feeding after Caesarean delivery in terms of gastrointestinal complaints and patient satisfaction. ⋯ Early initiation of solid food in low-risk women after Caesarean delivery under regional anaesthesia was associated with high satisfaction and did not increase gastrointestinal complaints. We suggest having flexibility in terms of postoperative feeding time. This may shorten hospitalisation time and reduce hospitalisation costs.
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This review introduces a qualitative methodology called institutional ethnography (IE) to healthcare professionals interested in studying complex social healthcare systems. We provide the historical context in which IE was developed, and explain the principles and terminology in IE for the novice researcher. ⋯ We hope to demonstrate to healthcare professionals and researchers that healthcare systems can be analysed as social organisations, and IE may be used to identify and understand how higher-level processes and policies affect day-to-day clinical work. This understanding may allow the formulation and implementation of actionable improvements to solve problems on the ground.
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Image-guided thermal ablation, preferably with ultrasonography (US), is increasingly used for treatment of small liver tumours. Perfluorobutane-contrast-enhanced US (pCEUS) is a promising tool that may allow for targeting of tumours that are otherwise imperceptible on greyscale US. Although pCEUS has been reported to be effective, the literature has been limited outside of Japan and South Korea. We aimed to provide data that supports the use of pCEUS in the thermal ablation of sonographically occult liver tumours. ⋯ pCEUS has a role in US-guided thermal ablation of liver tumours, offering a high technical success rate that is comparable to reported data. Additional benefits may include improved procedural time and freedom from ionising radiation.