News &amp; Updates

Asians with extremely high or low fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) are at increased risk of mortality, suggests a study. However, the associations of FMI and FFMI with the mortality risk differ across subgroups and causes of death.

Fat mass, fat-free mass linked to mortality in Asians

Avacopan beneficial in ANCA-related vasculitis patients on rituximab

Avacopan, when added to background induction therapy with rituximab, is as efficacious as a prednisone taper in terms of inducing remission at week 26 and is associated with a higher rate of sustained remission at week 52 in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, according to the phase III ADVOCATE trial.

Avacopan beneficial in ANCA-related vasculitis patients on rituximab

In utero cannabis exposure tied to adverse neonatal health outcomes

Maternal cannabis use during pregnancy appears to contribute to increased risk of adverse neonatal health outcomes, including low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA), as reported in a study.

In utero cannabis exposure tied to adverse neonatal health outcomes

SG data affirm link between elevated BP and CVD mortality among individuals with T2D

Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who have high blood pressure (BP) levels are at increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a large registry cohort in Singapore. However, the risk increase is also present for those who have low diastolic BP.

SG data affirm link between elevated BP and CVD mortality among individuals with T2D

Immunosuppression does not raise risk of overall, cancer mortality

Use of immunosuppressants does not appear to increase the incidence of all-cause and cancer mortality in patients with noninfectious ocular inflammatory disease (OID) over a median follow-up of 10 years, a recent study has shown.

Immunosuppression does not raise risk of overall, cancer mortality

Major trauma cases down but domestic violence up during COVID-19 lockdown

During the COVID-19 lockdown period, major trauma cases such as road traffic accidents and worksite injuries have decreased while the opposite is true for interpersonal violence, which has shown a relative increase, according to a Singapore study.

Major trauma cases down but domestic violence up during COVID-19 lockdown

01 Dec 2023

Intimacy, sexual needs often unmet among partners of terminal cancer patients

There is an unmet need for some hospitalized patients with terminal cancer to have time for intimacy with their partners that requires attention, suggests a study.

Intimacy, sexual needs often unmet among partners of terminal cancer patients

Optoacoustic blood ‘stethoscope’ holds promise for CV monitoring

Researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore report on a flexible optoacoustic blood ‘stethoscope’ (OBS) for noninvasive, multiparametric, and continuous cardiovascular (CV) monitoring without the need for complex procedures.

Optoacoustic blood ‘stethoscope’ holds promise for CV monitoring

Mass RZV vaccination from age 50 years may reduce HZ burden in HK

Mass vaccination with recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in adults ≥50 years of age is expected to considerably reduce the public health burden of herpes zoster (HZ) in Hong Kong compared with no vaccination or vaccination with zoster vaccine live (ZVL), according to a mathematical modelling study by researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Mass RZV vaccination from age 50 years may reduce HZ burden in HK

Prior ICI therapy potentially improves COVID-19 outcomes in cancer patients

Previous exposure to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) does not appear to worsen COVID-19 outcomes but may even improve them in patients with cancer, according to a study.

Prior ICI therapy potentially improves COVID-19 outcomes in cancer patients