News &amp; Updates

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

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

Novel microbiome technology boosts Clostridioides difficile cure rate to >90 percent

A novel microbiome technology developed by researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) enhances faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) success rate to >90 percent in patients with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). FMT with the novel technology will become available in public hospitals in Hong Kong.

Novel microbiome technology boosts Clostridioides difficile cure rate to >90 percent

Seladelpar improves markers of cholestasis, reduces pruritus in patients with PBC

Treatment with seladelpar significantly improves serum markers of cholestasis, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin (TB), and reduces pruritus in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) who are at risk for disease progression, according to the RESPONSE trial presented at The Liver Meeting 2023.

Seladelpar improves markers of cholestasis, reduces pruritus in patients with PBC

Optimisation of glycemic control with empagliflozin/linagliptin combination in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus uncontrolled on multiple glucose-lowering drugs and reluctant to initiate insulin

Data has demonstrated the efficiency of utilizing a combination of empagliflozin and linagliptin to effectively manage glycemic levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) who are uncontrolled on metformin. In this retrospective analysis, we examine the combination of empagliflozin and linagliptin added to existing combination of multiple glucose-lowering medications sans insulin, which revealed significant improvements in both glycemic and cardio-renal outcomes for adults with T2D. This combination therapy was well-tolerated and showed promising clinical effectiveness when used in combination with commonly prescribed antidiabetic drugs for patients with inadequately controlled diabetes.

Sponsored as an educational program by Boehringer Ingelheim Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Optimisation of glycemic control with empagliflozin/linagliptin combination in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus uncontrolled on multiple glucose-lowering drugs and reluctant to initiate insulin

Hepatocellular carcinoma risk diminishes with time following HCV eradication

Among individuals with cirrhosis and cured hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma tapers off progressively through 6 years after HCV eradication, as shown in a study. However, the risk remains above thresholds that require screening.

Hepatocellular carcinoma risk diminishes with time following HCV eradication

30 Nov 2023

Mediterranean diet helps with gastrointestinal, psychological symptoms in IBS

Adopting a Mediterranean diet is feasible and may be beneficial to individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with a study suggesting that the diet improves gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms in this population.

Mediterranean diet helps with gastrointestinal, psychological symptoms in IBS

30 Nov 2023

Flexible ureteroscopy slightly better than shock wave lithotripsy for paediatric renal stones

Treatment with flexible ureteroscopy (FE) results in a significantly higher stone-free rate than shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in children with renal stones, reports a study. No difference is seen in complication rate or fluoroscopy exposure time between groups, but operative times and hospital stay are longer with FU.

Flexible ureteroscopy slightly better than shock wave lithotripsy for paediatric renal stones