The new, once daily, single-tablet combination of olmesartan medoxomil, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), and amlodipine besylate, a calcium channel blocker (CCB), not only enables physicians to achieve therapeutic blood pressure (BP) goals but also ensures a 24-hour BP control that may confer additional benefits to the patients. The olmesartan/amlodipine combination (Azoren®, Pfizer) was [...]
The Health Promotion Board (HPB) is launching its Mental First Aid Kit to encourage seniors to take the first step in reducing their risk of dementia. To be launched in November 2011, the Mental First Aid Kit is a mental wellbeing programme that comprises a series of workshops and activities, with a module on cognitive [...]
Sanofi Pasteur recently launched Menactra® (Meningococcal [Groups A, C, Y and W-135] Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine), the first and only quadrivalent conjugate vaccine licensed for the prevention of meningococcal disease in Singapore. Menactra® vaccine offers protection against four of the five most common serogroups of the bacterium that cause meningococcal infection, Neisseria meningitidis serogroups [...]
The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) recently won the inaugural Grand Award for the Hospital of the Year at this year’s Asian Hospital Management Awards (AHMA). Besides the Grand Award, IMH also bagged a Winner award and two Excellence awards in different categories (see news in Medical Grapevine, September issue). AHMA was part of the [...]
Pacific Healthcare Holdings Ltd (Pacific Healthcare) has opened the Pacific Surgical and Colorectal Centre (PSCC), which specialises in the treatment and management of colorectal cancer and colorectal conditions. Located at the 12th floor of Paragon Shopping Centre, PSCC offers a wide range of services for all colorectal conditions including haemorrhoidal diseases, premalignant polyps and colorectal [...]
French emerging medical technology company Cerma, announced the launch of spin-off Cermavein to expand commercialisation of its proprietary Steam Vein Sclerosis (SVS™) technology for endovenous thermal ablation. SVS™ is the only product on the market designed to treat all types of varicose veins in a single session: patients need only visit the clinic once; physicians [...]
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is overseeing the voluntary market recall of Bayer Contour™ TS 2×25-count, 25-count and 10-count test strip vials by Bayer (South East Asia) Pte Ltd. The affected product codes include the following: 1833 – Bayer Contour™ TS 2×25-count test strip vials 1832 – Bayer Contour™ TS 25-count test strip vials 1837 [...]
Scientists at A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have made a landmark discovery suggesting that, contrary to the current accepted theory that antibodies can only bind to cancer proteins found on the cancer cell surface, antibodies can in fact directly target intracellular oncoproteins e.g. PRL-3 which reside within the cancer cells to suppress [...]
Following the release of the results of a phase 3B multinational trial showing its efficacy in treating patients with chronic systolic heart failure (HF), eplerenone (Inspra®), an aldosterone antagonist, is now available in Singapore. The Eplerenone in Mild Patients Hospitalization and Survival Study in Heart Failure (EMPHASIS-HF) trial showed that eplerenone, when added to Eplerenone [...]
The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) has won the inaugural Grand Award for the Hospital of the Year at this year’s Asian Hospital Management Awards (AHMA) held this month at the Resorts World Convention Centre, Singapore. Now in its 10th year, AHMA is recognised as the accepted hospital management awards programme IMH awarded Hospital of [...]