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S Y Chuah

Publications and source records attributed to S Y Chuah.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Genetic data for the 13 CODIS STR loci in Singapore Chinese.

Allele frequencies for the 13 CODIS STR loci included in the AmpFISTR Profiler Plus and AmpFISTR Cofiler kits (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, USA) were determined in a sample of 209 unrelated Chinese in Singapore. The combined random match probability for the 13 loci is about 6.6 x10(-15) and the overall probability of excluding paternity is 0.9999899. The results demonstrate that the loci are useful for forensic human identification and parentage testing for the Chinese population in Singapore.

China↗
PubMed2003

Dilated common bile duct in opium addicts with and without biliary symptoms --implication for research in AIDS cholangiopathy.

BACKGROUND: Opium addicts (OA) with no biliary symptoms have been shown to have dilated common bile duct (CBD). Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) without biliary drainage in such asymptomatic OA is hazardous. Hence it is not indicated unless there are clear clinical and laboratory evidences of biliary stasis. AIMS: To show that even when matched with controls with the same clinical diagnosis of the biliary system, OA still have significantly larger CBD diameters and that OA with biliary symptoms should be treated no differently from non-OA with biliary symptoms. METHOD: Seven OA (all Chinese males), four of whom had undergone ERCP (three for CBD stones and one for ampullary carcinoma), were compared, using t-test, to 7 age, sex, race and diagnosis-matched controls, four of whom had also undergone ERCP (three for CBD stones and one for ampullary carcinoma). When ERCP was not done, ultrasonography was used to assess the biliary system and measure the CBD diameter. RESULTS: The mean (SD) CBD diameters of OA and controls were 15.7 mm (5.65) and 8.3 mm (5.95) respectively (t = 2.399, p = 0.032). The mean (SD) weight of OA and controls were 55.8 kg (9.22) and 57.3 kg (9.21) respectively (t = -0.305, p = 0.763). Only two of the seven OA were born in China, the remaining five in Malaysia. CONCLUSIONS: OA do get CBD pathology like non-OA and if indicated there should be no qualms about performing ERCP in them. When matched for age, sex, race and clinical diagnosis, OA still have a significantly larger CBD despite no difference in body weight.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

Common anxieties of patients undergoing oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, colonoscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography.

AIMS & METHODS: To investigate the anxieties of patients undergoing oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD), colonoscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) in relation to their demographic features, their knowledge and understanding of the procedure, its indication, and their doctors' explanation. A standard questionnaire was filled in consecutively for 280 OGD patients, 64 colonoscopy patients and 50 ERCP patients. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: Majority of the anxious patients were afraid of pain. There was no difference between the "fearless" and "fearful" groups in terms of source of referral and inpatient/outpatient status. However for all 3 procedures, anxious patients were significantly younger by a mean of 10 years. Females, better educated and OGD patients undergoing the procedure for the first time were more anxious but this difference was not seen with the more complex colonoscopy and ERCP. The more sophisticated ERCP seemed to instill greater anxiety amongst Malay patients. Doctors were significantly more likely to explain the indication for OGD and colonoscopy than how it would be done. This discrepancy was not seen with ERCP where the endoscopists tend to adopt a more personal approach. Most patients prefer to be sedated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Common fears of patients undergoing bronchoscopy.

In the world of medical literature, little has been reported about the fears of patients undergoing bronchoscopy. The aim of this study was to identify the common fears of patients undergoing fibreoptic bronchoscopy and to determine whether any factors might contribute to reducing these fears. One hundred and four consecutive patients undergoing bronchoscopy were interviewed. Sixty one patients expressed fear about the procedure, as follows: afraid of pain (33); afraid of breathing difficulties (11); afraid of oropharyngeal irritation (5); afraid of the bronchoscopy findings (2); afraid of sedation, cross-infection and nasal lignocaine spray, respectively (3); and unable to be specific (7). There was no difference between the "no fear" and "fearful" groups in ethnicity, source of referral, education, previous endoscopy, doctors' explanation and the patients' understanding of the procedure and its indication. "Fearful" patients were significantly younger (t=2.082, p=0.037) and female (chi2=4.180, p=0.038). Doctors were more likely to explain the indication for bronchoscopy than how it would be performed (chi2=6.403; p=0.011), and patients were more likely to understand why they needed a bronchoscopy than how it would be performed (chi2=21.505; p<0.001). Fear preceding bronchoscopy is independent of patients' demographic features except for age and gender. Doctors tend to explain "why" but not "how" the procedure is performed. Provision of detailed information about sensations that are likely to be experienced in bronchoscopy could be used to allay some of these common fears.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1998

Blood lead levels of pregnant women from the Klang Valley.

A study was conducted to compare the blood lead levels of 97 pregnant women warded at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, according to their ethnicity, residence and place of work. The lead content of venous blood samples was determined with a graphic furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. Blood lead levels of Klang Valley women seem to have decreased from 17.3 micrograms/dl in 1982 to 7.71 micrograms/dl in the present study most probably attributed to the phasing out of leaded gasoline. This level is below the 10 micrograms/dl recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the public, even though 27.8% of them still have blood lead levels that are equal to or in excess of 10 micrograms/dl. The study shows that certain segments of the population such as Indians (geometric mean = 9.35 micrograms/dl) and housewives (geometric mean = 9.55 micrograms/dl) may still experience blood lead levels that are slightly elevated than the rest of the population.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed1997

Comparison of two 1-week low-dose omeprazole triple therapies--optimal treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection?

OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare the efficacy and tolerability of two 1-week regimen comprising omeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxycillin or metronidazole in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori, and to determine the influence of bacterial resistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin on the outcome of treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with unequivocal evidence of H. pylori infection based on culture, histology and rapid urease test of both antrum and corpus biopsies were recruited for the study. The study was a randomized, investigator-blind, comparative study. Patients received either omeprazole 20 mg o.m., clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. and amoxycillin 500 mg b.d. (OAC) or omeprazole 20 mg o.m., metronidazole 400 mg b.d. and clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. (OMC) for 1 week. Patients were assessed for successful eradication, which was defined as absence of bacteria in all tests (culture, histology and urease test on both antral and corpus biopsies), at least 4 weeks after completion of therapy. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were recruited for the study. Eradication rates on intention-to-treat analysis were--OAC: 36/41 (87.8%, 95% CI: 73.8, 95.9); OMC: 33/41 (80.5%, 95% CI: 65.1, 91.2). On per protocol analysis were--OAC: 36/40 (90%, 95% CI: 76.3, 97.2); OMC: 32/38 (84.2%, 95% CI: 68.7, 94.0). All side-effects encountered were mild and no patient discontinued treatment because of intolerance to medications. The most common side-effects were altered taste (OAC 31.7%, OMC 53.7%) and lethargy (OAC 14.6%, OMC 19.5%). Pre-treatment metronidazole resistance was encountered in 34/63 (54.0%) patients. No bacterial strains were found with primary resistance to clarithromycin. Metronidazole resistance did not significantly affect eradication rates. Emergence of resistance to clarithromycin was not seen post-therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Both the OAC and the OMC regimens were convenient and well-tolerated treatments for H. pylori. However, eradication rates were lower than anticipated.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Combination amoxycillin and metronidazole with famotidine in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori--a randomized, double-blind comparison of a three times daily and twice daily regimen.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of a three times daily (t.i.d.) versus a twice daily (b.i.d.) regimen of combination amoxycillin and metronidazole and famotidine in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and the influence of metronidazole resistance on the outcome of treatment. PATIENTS: Patients selected had unequivocal evidence of H. pylori infection based on the urease test, culture and histology and had either peptic ulcer disease or non-ulcer dyspepsia. DESIGN: The study was a comparative and double-blind study and patients were randomized to receive either amoxycillin 750 mg t.i.d. and metronidazole 500 mg t.i.d. for 12 days or amoxycillin 1000 mg b.i.d. and metronidazole 500 mg b.i.d. for 12 days. Both groups also received famotidine 40 mg for 6 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Patients were assessed for successful eradication, defined as absence of bacteria in all tests, at least 4 weeks after completion of antibiotic therapy by repeat gastroscopy. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-nine patients were recruited for the study. Two patients defaulted follow-up, two patients were withdrawn from the study and six patients were found to be non-compliant with medications. The eradication rates of the t.i.d. regimen was higher than the b.i.d. regimen (per protocol (PP) analysis: 83.3% (50/60) vs. 76.3% (45/59), P=0.337; intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis: 78.5% (51/65) vs. 75.0% (48/64), P=0.642). Seventy-five patients had pre-treatment cultures checked for metronidazole resistance, 33 (44.0%) were found to be resistant. Acquired resistance occurred in 3/40 (7.5%) patients. Eradication rates of metronidazole-sensitive and metronidazole-resistant patients: t.i.d. regimen - 100% (17/17) and 88.2% (15/17), b.i.d. regimen - 19/21 (90.5%) and 11/15 (73.3%). Side effects were reported in up to 70% of patients but were mild and tolerable in the majority. Two patients were withdrawn from the study because of a fixed drug eruption in one and generalized macular rash in the other. CONCLUSION: Combination amoxycillin and metronidazole is effective in eradicating H. pylori. There was a tendency for the t.i.d. regimen to be better than the b.i.d. regimen and for metronidazole-resistant infections to be associated with a lower eradication rate but these differences did not reach statistical significance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Liver biopsy--past, present and future.

Percutaneous liver biopsy is widely used for the diagnosis and management of liver diseases. With the advancement in medical technology, there are now different approaches to performing liver biopsy, using various biopsy needles. This review highlights the differences between these various techniques. It re-examines in detail, the contraindications and complications of liver biopsy. Haemorrhage accounts for about 50% of all major complications and is the main cause of mortality. About 25% of complications are pulmonary in nature. The rest consists mainly of infective complications. Day case liver biopsy has been repeatedly shown to be safe in selected patients, but is underpracticed. Routine practice of image-guided biopsy is advocated, even in the absence of discrete lesion. Medicine is constantly evolving. New indications for liver biopsy, eg of transplanted liver, are to be expected. Conversely, with the advent in other less invasive modalities of investigation, some indications will disappear from the list.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1996

Helicobacter pylori eradication with short-term therapy leads to duodenal ulcer healing without the need for continued acid suppression therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether duodenal ulcers continue to heal following successful Helicobacter pylori eradication with short-term eradication therapy without further acid suppression therapy. METHODS: Patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcers who were H. pylori positive were randomized to receive omeprazole 40 mg each morning and clarithromycin 500 mg three times daily or famotidine 40 mg twice daily and clarithromycin 500 mg three times daily for 2 weeks. No acid-suppressing agents nor ulcerhealing drugs such as bismuth compounds or sucralfate were prescribed after that. Patients were re-examined endoscopically at week 2 at the end of treatment, and at week 6, 4 weeks after the completion of treatment. RESULTS: Thirty of 44 (68.2%) patients from both treatment arms, in whom the bacteria were subsequently noted to have been eradicated, had healed ulcers at week 2; at Week 6, 42 of 44 (95.5%) were noted to have healed ulcers without further acid-suppressing or ulcer-healing treatment. CONCLUSION: Although a short-term acid-suppressing treatment is insufficient to heal ulcers, where an important putative factor such as H. pylori is eliminated, the ulcer healing process continues without further need for acid-suppressing or ulcer-healing agents.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody in risk groups and blood donors.

Anti-HCV antibody was detected in 1.9% of the blood donors in University Hospital. Among the risk groups, 33.3% of the patients with post-transfusion hepatitis were tested positive for anti-HCV antibody. The anti-HCV antibody was detected in 30% of the IDU. Haemodialysis patients, patients with acute and chronic hepatitis and patients with liver cirrhosis appeared to have increased risk of Hepatitis C virus infection. The results indicate that the frequency of HCV infection increases with the exposure to blood or blood products.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1994

Analysis of the D1S80 locus by amplified fragment length polymorphism technique in the Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore.

The distributions of the D1S80 alleles and genotypes in the Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore were determined by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AMP-FLP) analysis. The distributions of the observed genotypes for the three races conformed to Hardy-Weinberg expectations. The system was applied to 19 families whose paternity had been established by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. In all cases, Mendelian inheritance of the alleles at the D1S80 locus could be demonstrated. D1S80 typing on DNA recovered by differential extraction of forensic specimens which included vaginal swabs, urethral swabs and seminal stains yielded consistent results.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

A nationwide survey of liver biopsy--is there a need to increase resources, manpower and training?

A postal questionnaire survey was conducted to establish the pattern of current practice of liver biopsy, to estimate the frequency of adverse events and their possible associations, and to compare respondents' personal preferences with what they offer patients. Three hundred and sixty-four members of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) were questioned. There were 296 returns, of which 278 were appropriate, giving an overall response rate of 81.3%. Over the previous 2 years complications were reported in 80 patients who required blood transfusion, 11 who needed laparotomy (including 1 for pain), 13 with septicemic shock, 29 who had peritonitis, and 1 with a subphrenic collection; 53 had pulmonary complications (hemoptysis, pneumothorax and 1 hemothorax), and there were 19 deaths. The overall complication rate was 5.6 per 1,000, and the mortality rate 5.2 per 10,000. The complication rate gradually decreased with increasing number of biopsies performed until the number reached 20 per month, after which there was a significant increase in complications (chi 2 = 42.98, p < 0.001). Although 50% of the respondents were themselves prepared to have a liver biopsy on a day case basis, only 11% do it routinely on patients, and 72% do not offer it at all (chi 2 = 76.8, p < 0.001). There were no differences in complication and death rates between the above groups, but those who do occasional (< 50%) day case biopsies have a significantly higher complication rate (chi 2 = 24.3, p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biopsy, Needle↗