Singap Med J
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Breast cancer is the commonest cancer for females in Malaysia, with a prevalence of 86.2 per 100,000 women in 1996. Breast cancer mortality rate shows an increasing trend in Malaysia from 0.61 in 1983 to 1.8 per 100,000 women in 1992. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for breast cancer in women in Malaysia. ⋯ This study reconfirmed that similar risk factors identified in Western populations were responsible for the occurrence of breast cancer in Kelantan. It also supported the theory that breast cancer occurrence was related to oestrogen exposure and familial factors. It suggested the importance of having children, maintaining ideal body weight and caution for oral contraceptive users and women with a family history of breast cancer.
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Every year, a large number of patients with dysphagia are placed on feeding tubes to prevent aspiration pneumonia. This prospective study was planned to compare the incidence of aspiration pneumonia and death in patients with dysphagia who were either fed orally or through a nasogastric tube. ⋯ In our study, patients on nasogastric tube feeding did not have a better outcome against aspiration pneumonia and mortality when compared to those who were on oral feeding. The poorer outcome of nasogastric tube-fed patients could be attributed to their worse cognitive and functional statuses. Larger studies are needed to refute or confirm the usefulness of nasogastric tube in elderly patients with dysphagia.
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Biography Historical Article
Crawford Long (1815-1878): father of modern anaesthesiology.
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A 25-year-old man presented at the emergency department with complaints of fever and chest pain. The electrocardiogram (ECG) showed concave ST segment elevation that was not confined to any arterial territory. ⋯ The electrocardiographical changes associated with pericarditis are discussed. A second case of a 64-year-old man with uraemic pericarditis with similar ECG changes is illustrated.
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To study the clinical features and causes of anaphylaxis in consecutive adult patients referred to a clinical immunology/allergy centre in Singapore. ⋯ Food (crustaceans and molluscs) was the most common cause followed by insect stings or bites. The inability to identify the causative insect in 50 percent of cases with insect venom anaphylaxis limited the role of specific immunotherapy. Compared to other reported series, there were no cases of drug or latex anaphylaxis.