Author: Gerald Ng

Malaysia woke to declining air quality earlier this month, with Penang and Sarawak hardest hit. Monitoring stations in Penang and Sarawak signal concerning levels of air quality due to haze. The Tanjung Bungah monitor near the Alila2 condominium and the Dalat International School posted air pollutant index (API) readings of 149 and 107. Mainland regions weren’t spared either, with Lorong Terinai and Seberang Jaya recording an API of 141 and 129, respectively. For context: API between 0 to 50 is good. 51 to 100 is moderate. 101 to 200 is deemed unhealthy. These alarming numbers surfaced swiftly from the early…

Singapore has one of the highest prevalence of myopia in the world among children, with 65 per cent of our children being myopic by Primary 6. This article is a guest article written by Dr Sun Chen-Hsin. Dr Sun Chen-Hsin is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the National University Hospital Singapore. In addition to his expertise in managing progressive myopia in children, Dr Sun is also an engineer, with special interests in developing paediatric ophthalmology technologies, including a wearable device that tracks outdoor time and near reading.

An often overlooked issue, jaw health can have a solid and lasting impact on the quality of life for the people it affects. Maintaining good health of the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is crucial.  In this article, we discuss TMJ disorders with Dr Yao Chao Shu, prosthodontist at Q&M Dental City Square Mall.

Genesis MedTech, a leading medical device company, today announced that its absorbable sutures with antibacterial protection have successfully obtained approval from the China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for market release.

Singapore’s National University Hospital (NUH) is enhancing accessibility for hearing health services by bringing its various services to the heartlands.  The audiology team from the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery has stretched their services to Singapore’s heartlands. What’s New? A new Satellite Hearing Clinic opens its doors in Jurong Medical Centre. Three new Mobile Audiology Clinics serve residents at Bukit Batok Polyclinic, Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic, and Queenstown Polyclinic. This move complements the NUH Mobile Hearing Clinic established in 2015, housed in a dedicated 24-footer container truck. Benefits to the Community Older individuals can now effortlessly access…

Chronic Kidney Disease, often abbreviated as CKD, is a condition characterised by a gradual loss of kidney function over time. The kidneys, a pair of bean-shaped organs below the ribcage, are essential in filtering waste and excess fluids from the blood. When CKD progresses, it can lead to kidney failure. When that happens, it necessitates dialysis or a kidney transplant. For this article, we consulted with Dato’ Dr. Ong  Yoke Meng. Dato’ Dr Ong is a nephrologist & physician at Island Hospital, Penang. He retired from the Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2022, where he served as the Head of Nephrology Services and the Head of the Department of Medicine at Penang Hospital.

In a shocking incident last month, a woman lost her vision following a dermal filler treatment at a clinic in Redhill, Singapore. This marked the first reported case in Singapore involving the AestheFill dermal filler, a product designed to reduce wrinkles and skin folds.

As postpartum depression shadows the joy of many new mothers, Zuranolone emerges as a promising oral alternative, addressing the constraints of the current intravenous treatment.

Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in about 6.5% to 20% of women[1]. While the birth of a child is traditionally associated with happiness and celebration, some find themselves grappling with a profound sense of sadness, anxiety, and emotional turmoil in the weeks or months following childbirth. Risk factors include depression prior to or during pregnancy, experiencing stressful events during pregnancy, low levels of social and familial support, obstetric complications etc. Not only does untreated PPD affect the mother, it can adversely impact the infant as well as their partners.  Women with PPD are at a higher risk of alcohol and/or substance abuse, while negative maternal-infant interactions have been known to affect cognitive functioning and emotional development in children [2]. 

Fresh revelations from a study conducted by Duke-NUS Medical School scientists have unearthed multiple strains of swine flu viruses circulating within Cambodian pigs over the past decade and a half. The discovery puts forth the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and warns of a potential pandemic risk.

Thailand bore witness to a unique medical occurrence: a 6-month-old’s dark brown eyes transitioned to indigo after a COVID-19 treatment.  After a brief day of fever and cough, the Thai infant was swiftly diagnosed with COVID-19. Upon the prescription of favipiravir, a well-regarded antiviral medication, the child’s condition began to show an unexpected side effect. Subsequently, just 18 hours post-treatment, a radiant blue replaced the familiar dark brown of his eyes.