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Biomedical subjects

W F Tsoi

Publications and source records attributed to W F Tsoi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The effects of centrally acting drugs on the EEG correlates of meditation.

The present study investigated the effects of three centrally acting drugs on the significant increase in the intermediate alpha frequency of the electroencephalogram (EEG) that accompanied meditation in a male volunteer. When compared to the EEG recorded before each of the three drugs was administered, naloxone tended to enhance the increase in the power of the intermediate alpha EEG (9.4-10.4 Hz), while diazepam tended to spread the increase to the slow (7.4-9.4 Hz) alpha EEG, and flumazenil was without much effect on the overall EEG pattern. However, these EEG changes when compared to similar changes obtained with saline administration were not significantly different from the latter. Thus, it is unlikely that the EEG correlates of meditation are causally related to the rise or fall of endogenous opioid peptides or benzodiazepinelike substances in the brain.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Male and female transsexuals: a comparison.

The aim of this study is to describe and compare the characteristics of 320 male and 130 female transsexuals in Singapore. The subjects were given a semistructured psychiatric interview. The results showed that the males were slightly younger, had less education and held lower level jobs. Their occupational preferences were reversed. The male transsexuals started petting, sexual intercourse and having partners about one to two years earlier, but they cross-dressed four to seven years later. Both males and females were homosexually orientated. Other studies showed that late maternal age was associated with homosexuality, but not with transsexualism. These studies also confirmed that transsexualism had its onset in early childhood, and that cross-dressing was an early feature. The Singapore 'transsexuals went through a "homosexual" and a "transvestite" phase before they became a transsexual. Western transsexuals exhibited both homosexual and heterosexual behaviour, and some were married to the opposite sex partners. Male prostitution was reported in many studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Predicting the outcome of schizophrenia ten years later.

A total of 407 new admissions to Woodbridge Hospital, Singapore in 1975 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were examined 10 years later to determine which variables were predictive of outcome. Useful predictors were marital status, duration of illness and Feighner's diagnostic criteria. Fairly useful predictors were age, sex and educational status. Race, family history, suicidal behaviour, thought disorder, affective blunting, delusions and hallucinations were not useful for predicting long term prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A 15-year follow-up study of Chinese schizophrenic patients.

A cohort of 330 Chinese schizophrenic patients below age 40 were interviewed 5, 10 and 15 years later to determine which variables could predict their outcome. There were 189 males (57%) and 141 females (43%). At the end of 15 years, 48 (15%) died (34 (10%) from suicide). At the end of 5, 10 and 15 years, the percentages of patients still able to work were 55%, 54% and 48%, and still receiving treatment were 45%, 41% and 45% respectively. The patients who were well in 1990 had fewer readmissions. The only variables that consistently predicted outcome was duration of illness. Age and education level were fairly useful in predicting outcome. Sex, family history, work status, marital status, alcohol, drug and suicide history, and such symptoms as thought disorder, affective blunting, depression, delusions and hallucinations were not useful in predicting outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Insomnia: drug treatment.

This is a review and update on hypnotics. Insomnia is a symptom of many underlying conditions which have to be evaluated before resorting to medication. Hypnotics are useful for short term treatment. The benzodiazepines have replaced the barbiturates which have a low therapeutic index. The action of benzodiazepines depends on their absorption rate, lipophilicity, half-life and metabolites. They induce sleep, prolonged sleep time and reduced night wakenings. They increase stage 2 sleep, and reduce stage 1, 3, 4 and REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Flurazepam, triazolam and midaolam are described. The benzodiazepines suffer from many unwanted effects which include tolerance, dependence, withdrawal symptoms, rebound insomnia, hang over effect, alteration of memory process and synergism with ethanol. The ideal hypnotic should be free from these drawbacks. Three new generation hypnotics quazepam, zopiclone and zolpidem are described. Drugs suitable for long term hypnotic medication include antipsychotics, antidepressants and antihistamines.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1991

Suicide and schizophrenia in Singapore--a fifteen year follow-up study.

This is a prospective follow-up study of 482 schizophrenic patients. At the end of 15 years, 41 had died of suicide and 30 had died of natural causes, giving a suicide rate of 567 per 100,000 per year. Suicide patients were significantly younger and experienced less delusion at the time of their first presentation. There were otherwise no significant differences in the socio-demographic or clinical variables between the suicide group and the controls (surviving patients). Jumping from height was the commonest method of suicide and our rate of suicide for schizophrenia is comparable to those reported in the literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

New admissions to a psychiatric ward in a general hospital.

A study of 343 new patients in the first psychiatric department in a general hospital in Singapore revealed a large proportion (40%, n = 137) of neurotic patients, especially neurotic depressives (n = 76). The next largest group is the non-organic psychoses 35% (n = 120), most of which were schizophrenic psychoses (n = 73). The other major diagnostic groups were adjustment or acute stress reactions, alcohol or drug dependence and personality disorders. The neurotic patients were generally older than the psychotic patients at the time of admission (p less than 0.02). More of them were married (62.7%) compared with the psychotics of whom 51.5% remained unmarried (p less than 0.02). Comparison between neurotic depressives and manic-depressive psychotics should have no difference in sex ratio and marital status. However, the duration of admission for the latter was longer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Developmental profile of 200 male and 100 female transsexuals in Singapore.

Two hundred male and 100 female transsexuals compared with 100 male and 80 female heterosexuals were studied in Singapore. Transsexuals started their psychosexual development earlier than controls. Transsexual feelings started in childhood. Male transsexuals went through a homosexual phase followed by a transvestite phase, before they became transsexual. Female transsexuals did not go through distinct phases. Cross-dressing was one of the early signs of transsexualism and started earlier in females. None of the transsexuals were married, in contrast to reports showing that up to 50% of Caucasian transsexuals had been married. Cultural differences may explain the contrasts between Singapore transsexuals and patients from Western countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Serum protein markers in Chinese schizophrenics--haptoglobin types and transferrin and group-specific component subtypes.

Four hundred and thirty-nine Chinese schizophrenic male patients were investigated for the distribution of haptoglobin types; transferrin and group-specific component subtypes. The allelic frequencies of these three polymorphisms in the patient group were compared with those in healthy controls from published series. An excess of Gc2 over Gc1 (chi 2(1) 4.1; P less than 0.05) as well as a lack of Gc1S (chi 2(1) 15.3; P less than 0.001) was observed in schizophrenia. The relative risks of Gc1F, Gc1S and Gc2 have been estimated as 1.12, 0.76 and 1.15, respectively. It appears from this study that the presence of Gc2 renders individuals susceptible while Gc1S offers protection for schizophrenia. No such association was found for the haptoglobin or transferrin polymorphisms.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1990

Parental influence in transsexualism.

This is a study of parental influence in a group of Chinese male and female transsexuals compared with a group of male and female heterosexual controls. There was no difference in the parental ages of the transsexuals and controls at time of their birth. The fathers of the male transsexuals and the mothers of female transsexuals were less involved in their upbringing. Using a bonding instrument, the fathers of male transsexuals were found to be less caring, and mothers of female transsexuals were less overprotective than the fathers and mothers of the controls. Studies on parental involvement in male transsexuals showed a weak father figure and an overinvolvement with the mother, and in female transsexuals, an unsatisfactory mother-daughter relationship. Abnormal parental-child relationship, postulated as an important aetiological factor in transsexualism, needs to be further confirmed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Tardive dyskinesia.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed1988

The prevalence of transsexualism in Singapore.

The prevalence of transsexualism in Singapore was estimated by counting all the patients who sought sex-reassignment surgery and were subsequently diagnosed as transsexuals by psychiatrists. Up to 1986, there were a total of 458 Singapore-born transsexuals, of which 343 were males and 115 were females. This was a prevalence of 35.2 per 100,000 population age 15 and above (or 1/2900) for male transsexualism, and 12.0 per 100,000 (or 1/8300) for female transsexualism. The sex ratio was about 3 males to 1 female. The main reason for the high prevalence was the availability of sex-reassignment surgery.

Adolescent↗