Vertical COVID-19 transmission low in SG

​A cohort study conducted by NUH, KKH and SGH suggests that the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection from mothers to newborns is rare. Out of 371 mother-infant pairs studied, only four infants were diagnosed with COVID 19 after birth. The study found that vaccination during pregnancy reduced the risk of moderate-to-severe disease and ICU admission for both mothers and newborns.

Singapore study identifies immunity threshold for protection against COVID-19 in children

A study conducted by NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) and Duke-NUS Medical School enrolled 110 healthy children aged five to 12, administered two doses of Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and monitored them for a year. The study found that while antibodies wane, T cells and memory B cells provide durable protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Dr Zhong Youjia, Senior Clinical Lecturer from the Department of Paediatrics at NUS Medicine, Visiting Consultant at Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute (KTP-NUCMI), National University Hospital (NUH), and lead author of the study, emphasised the significance of T cells and memory B cells, which offer long-lasting protection even in the face of viral mutations.

Assistant Professor Elizabeth Tham and Professor Lynette Shek from the Department of Paediatrics at NUS Medicine, and Senior Consultants at KTP-NUCMI, NUH, were also listed as researchers for this study that was published in Nature Medicine.

Does BMI affect functional outcomes in stroke patients on rehab?

​In a study led by Dr Jong Sze Chin, Consultant, Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, NUH, findings underscore the importance of acute inpatient stroke rehabilitation in improving functional outcomes and reducing disability among stroke patients. The study also found that body mass index, whether underweight, normal or overweight, did not correlate with discharge functional independence measure (FIM).

Vitamin D and pregnancy: Why mother and baby need it – and why women should not supplement on their own

​A study involving 1,700 women between 18 and 38 years old in Singapore, New Zealand and the UK, and conducted by agencies including National University Hospital and NUS Yong Loo Lin School of  Medicine (NUSMed) found that nine out of 10 women in these countries had marginal or low levels of Vitamin D around the time of conception. A/Prof Chan Shiao-Yng from National University Hospital and NUSMed said a lack of Vitamin D has been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, as well as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.

1800人检测基因助医生更精准用药 (1,800 people undergo DNA tests, raising doctors’ precision in the prescription of medication)

National University Health System, whose participating institutions include National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and National University Hospital (NUH), is currently conducting a pilot study known as the PPGx (Pre-emptive Pharmacogenomics Programme) to enrol 2,000 participants by 2025, with the objective to get a sense of how the population reacts to common drugs. 

Prof Goh Boon Cher, Senior Consultant, Department of Haematology-Oncology at NCIS explained that one of the study’s key objectives is to help doctors identify which drug and dosage work best for the patient and which type of drug to avoid. Dr Elaine Lo, Lead Pharmacist of the PGx pilot and Principal Clinical Pharmacist, NUH shared that study outcomes, if positive, could provide the team with sufficient basis to convince the relevant authorities to incorporate PPGx as an approved approach towards precision medicine.

Lianhe Zaobao interviewed an NCIS patient living with an autoimmune disease who took part in the study, where she emphasised the importance of understanding genetic predispositions to medication reactions for individualised treatment.

• Lianhe Zaobao, 29 April 2024, 志愿者： 参加药物基因试点研究利人利己 (Volunteers: Participation in PPGx pilot study benefits others and oneself)
  

• Shin Min Daily News, 29 April 2024, 助医生更有效开药 1800志愿者加入试点研究 (1,800 volunteers join pilot research project to help doctors prescribe medication more effectively)
  

Professor William Ledger and Dr Huang Zhongwei on developments in assisted reproductive technology

​Dr Huang Zhongwei, Consultant, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, National University Hospital and Deputy Director of the Bia-Echo Asia Centre for Reproductive Longevity and Equality, and Prof William Ledger, Head of Discipline, Women’s Health at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of New South Wales explained how artificial intelligence is helping women better know their chances of conceiving as they get older.

• ScienMag, 26 April 2024, The quest for longevity starts in the ovaries
  

Research network to study ovarian ageing and its link to women’s health

​The NUS Bia-Echo Asia Centre for Reproductive Longevity and Equality (ACRLE) has joined forces with Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) to establish a collaborative research network to study ovarian ageing and its link to women’s health. Dr Huang Zhongwei, Consultant, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, National University Hospital and ACRLE's Deputy Director, underscored the synergies of this partnership in leveraging TLL's expertise in micro-level understanding alongside ACRLE's focus on translational research.

• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 25 April 2024, 国大研究：女性卵巢功能早衰或影响健康和寿命 (NUS research: Ovarian ageing and its link to women's health)
  

Acid reflux on the rise

​A/Prof Asim Shabbir, Senior Consultant, Division of General Surgery (Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery) at Alexandra Hospital and National University Hospital shared that hot weather may disrupt sleep cycles and lead to reduced exercise and weight gain, triggering episodes of acid reflux and GERD. Dr Kewin Siah, Senior Consultant, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, National University Hospital advised that susceptible individuals should stay hydrated, avoid large meals before outdoor activities in hot weather, and manage their stress levels.

Mr Ow Sing Fuak, a patient of Dr Siah, highlighted the importance of self-care and discipline for GERD sufferers and how he now leads a healthier lifestyle through adjustments to his diet and habits.

一心多用刷屏不断 当心“爆”出爆米花脑 (Multitasking and constant screen swiping, beware of “popcorn” brain)

​Ms Terri Chen, Head and Senior Principal Psychologist, Department of Psychological Medicine, said people who have trouble maintaining their focus is an increasingly common scenario. Dr Chan Hui Minn, Principal Psychologist, Department of Psychological Medicine, NUH, said some people may actually have a diagnosable disorder linked to the ageing brain, while others are presenting this way due to overexposure to social media and the Internet in general. 

Thyroid nodules

​Dr Donovan Eu and Dr Charmaine Tan, Consultants from the Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, NUH, explained what thyroid nodules are, as well their symptoms and treatment options, including a minimally invasive procedure known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) used to effectively reduce the size of benign thyroid nodules in symptomatic patients and improve their quality of life. They also answered questions sent in by listeners about the topic.

Accelerating advancements in healthcare

​SingHealth’s first supercomputer, CHROMA, is being used to train an AI model capable of evaluating an individual's risk for a severe cardiac event, which is a part of the project called APOLLO, a collaboration amongst agencies including NUH and A*STAR.

脊椎侧弯 别等到曲度变大才求医 (Scoliosis: Don’t wait until curves are big to seek medical attention)

​Prof Wong Hee Kit, Emeritus Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Hospital (NUH), and National University Spine Institute, National University Health System, said there is a genetic predisposition for scoliosis, but the risk and severity of its occurrence cannot be predicted.

His patient Faith Tan wore a brace to keep her scoliosis from getting worse, but she did not do so for the recommended 18 hours every day. She eventually had spinal fusion surgery in NUH when she was 14. Her mother also had mild scoliosis. Prof Wong said surgery is warranted if the spinal curvature is greater than 45 degrees and listed the two types of surgery for scoliosis.

Health Matters: How and why should you reduce thyroid nodules?

​Dr Donovan Eu, Consultant, Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, NUH, explained what thyroid nodules are and discussed treatment options, including a minimally invasive procedure known as radiofrequency ablation that is used to effectively reduce the size of benign thyroid nodules in symptomatic patients and improve their quality of life.

Osteopore launches first first-in-human clinical trials begin in Singapore

​Osteopore (ASX:OSX), an Australian-Singaporean regenerative medicine company announced the commencement of first-in-human clinical trials for knee preservation in Singapore, which was conducted at NUH. 

狮城有约：去年小一生超重率达9.5% 2013年以来新低 (Hello Singapore: Obesity rate for P1 pupils at 9.5% last year; lowest since 2013)

​According to the latest HPB statistics, the obesity rate for Primary 1 pupils last year was at 9.5 per cent, the lowest since 2013.  Dr Nicholas Ng, Consultant in the Division of Paediatric Endocrinology at KTP-NUCMI, shared that obesity figures seen at NUH have been quite stable over the past two years. He suggested involving children in meal planning and having parents serve as role model to promote healthy eating among children.