Author: Sian Lin

Can cord blood be used for the treatment of all diseases in my child? Dr Teo Cheng Peng, answers questions about cord blood banking

Angina is chest discomfort or pain, usually symptomatic of underlying coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD is the blockage of blood flow through the coronary arteries (i.e. blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscles). Blockage occurs commonly due to deposition of fatty plaques in arteries, also known as atherosclerosis. As a result, the narrowing of coronary arteries restricts blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscles, causing angina. Angina can also occur due to spasms in the coronary artery walls, which likewise limit oxygenated blood flow to heart muscles. According to the WHO, there are about 54 million…

What is an Endoscopy? Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which an endoscope is inserted into an opening or small incision in the body. An endoscope is a long, thin and flexible tube with a light and camera attached at the end. The images inside the body are captured by the endoscope and projected onto a monitor. Endoscopy is carried out for: Diagnosis  by examining internal organs, surgeons may be able to determine cause of patient’s symptoms  for biopsy i.e. surgical removal of tissue for lab testing, to confirm diagnosis of cancer or other diseases Treatment Surgical removal of…

Globally, myopia is the leading cause of distance refractive error, affecting 1.45 billion or 27% of the world’s population in 2010, and expected to increase to 52% by 2050. In addition to the increase in prevalence of myopia, there is evidence of rise in the severity of myopia.  Myopia is a major public health concern in many East Asian countries where the condition affects 80-90% of high school graduates. Of these individuals, 10-20% have sight-threatening pathologic myopia. There is a significant impact on the economy and on the quality of life regarding a patient’s physical, emotional and social functioning due…

Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is Singapore’s national authority regulating health products, including medications. Every month, HSA publishes a list of medications that are newly approved or medications with newly approved indication(s). This list can be found on HSA’s website. February 2022 New drugs approved: 1 New drug indications approved: 4 New drugs approved Product name Active ingredient(s) Dosage Form Strength of dosage form Route of Administration Indication(s) Pharmaceutical company Approval Date Luconac Luliconazole Solution (Topical) 5% w/w Topical Topical treatment in adult patients with mild to moderate tinea unguium with symptoms of distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis Zuellig Pharma 14…

Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is Singapore’s national authority regulating health products, including medications. Every month, HSA publishes a list of medications that are newly approved or medications with newly approved indication(s). This list can be found on HSA’s website. January 2022 New drugs approved: 4 New drug indications approved: 4 New drugs approved Product name Active ingredient(s) Dosage Form Strength of dosage form Route of Administration Indication(s) Pharmaceutical company Approval Date Cibinqo Abrocitinib Tablet 50mg, 100mg, 200mg Oral Moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults (age 18 years and above) Pfizer 05 Jan 2022 Salonpas Diclofenac Gel 1% Topical Relief of aches,…

Always wondering what are the best skincare tips to keep your skin youthful-looking? What are the most crucial steps in making sure your skin does not age rapidly? Searching for many answers online but unsure if they are credible? Here are 10 skincare tips from Dr Meg Sison, a Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) Board-Certified Dermatologist specialising in both medical and cosmetic dermatology! Dr Meg Sison, PDS-Board-Certified Dermatologist from the Philippines Q1: How do moisturisers work? Dr Meg Sision: Moisturisers prevent moisture loss from the skin and prevent it from becoming dry and dehydrated. Q2: What are the different types of…

What’s the link between ischemic heart disease and COVID-19? Dr Julian Tan, Interventional Cardiologist answers these questions and more here.

Doctor On Call, or DOC for short, is a brand new series brought to you by Medical Channel Asia. This series aims to bring doctors and specialists from various fields to give you an introduction to common health and medical topics that you and the Asian population are interested in. In our 7th DOC, held on 19 Oct (Tuesday), from 8pm to 9pm (GMT+8), we have Dr Julian Tan, Interventional Cardiologist at The Cardiology Practice, to talk to us about Ischemic Heart Disease and how COVID-19 affects the heart. This 3-part cardiology webinar series aims to educate the Asian population…

Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is Singapore’s national authority regulating health products, including medications. Every month, HSA publishes a list of medications that are newly approved or medications with newly approved indication(s). This list can be found on HSA’s website. December 2021 New drugs approved: 3 New drug indications approved: 2 New drugs approved Product name Active ingredient(s) Dosage Form Strength of dosage form Route of Administration Indication(s) Pharmaceutical company Approval Date Oncaspar Pegaspargase Vial 750 U/mL Injection A component of anti-neoplastic combination therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) Servier 27 Dec 2022 Nufilong Pegfilgrastim Pre-Filled Syringe/Pen 6mg/0.6mL Injection Reduction in…