2 April 2008

• Topic: Pesticides and Breast Cancer - "A Wake Up Call"
• Speaker: Dr Meriel Watts, PAN AP Scientist & Coordinator of PAN Aotearoa, New Zealand
• Details:

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7 April 2008

• Topic: More Than Sum of Its Parts and Beyond The Numbers of BP and Lipio Lowering
• Speaker: Dr Karam Maximilian Kostner, Consultant Cardiologist, Australia
• Details:

  It is well established that aggressive risk factor modification results in improved cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in both primary and secondary settings. The newest guidelines for treating people with coronary artery disease (CAD) suggest benefit from statin-induced LDL cholesterol lowering regardless of baseline LDL cholesterol level. These guidelines were based on recent clinical trials that showed statistically significant statin-induced relative risk reductions (RRR) in cardiovascular events. Especially patients in the intermediate to high risk groups will benefit from aggressive risk factor modifications. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus for example, have a much higher baseline risk for cardiovascular events. As type 2 diabetes and hypertension commonly coexist, achievin recommended targets for diabetes, hypertension, and CVD requires aggressive management. We are fortunate in 2008 to have very effective medications to target two of the most prevalent risk factors: BP and LDL cholesterol effectively. Global risk reduction with aggresive low-density lipoprotein reduction and through the additional normalization of glucose levels and blood pressure can help to reduce absolute risk in this and other very high-risk populations. In this lecture I will discuss current treatment algorithms and ways to overcome the difficulties in achieving BP and cholesterol targets.

8 April 2008

• Topic: How I Manage A Patient with Thrombocytopaenia
• Speaker: Dr Chew Teng Keat, Consultant Haematologist, Department of Medicine, Hospital Penang
• Details:

  Thrombocytopaenia is a common haematology problem encountered by primary care physicians and specialist alike. It forms a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma especially when a patient has a very low platelet count or is planned for an invasive procedure. The diagnostic workup and management of these patients remains a problem for many doctors.

  In my talk I shall attempt to give an overview of the aetiology of thrombocytopaenia and the clues which leads to a diagnosis as well as discuss the management of the common disorders causing thrombocytopaenia with emphasis on management of immune thrombocytopaenia purpura (ITP).

22 April 2008

• Topic: Two Things About Stroke – “Young” and “Early”
• Speaker: Dr Haji Haniffah, Consultant Neurologist, Island Hospital
• Details:

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6 May 2008

• Topic: Current and New Application of Blood Stem Cells
• Speaker: Professor Aw Tar Choon, Co-Founder & Executive Director, StemLife
• Details:

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20 May 2008

• Topic: To Be Confirmed
• Speaker: To Be Confirmed
• Details:

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3 June 2008

• Topic: ABCs of Early Breast Cancer
• Speaker: Mr TJ Wong, Surgeon, Island Hospital
• Details:

  Mr TJ Wong will discuss cases of early breast cancer from his file. Their clinical diagnoses using breast ultrasound / mammography will be highlighted. The significance of clustered microcalcification in early breast cancer and the use of hook wire localization and excision will be shown. The pathology of ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma in situ be reviewed. The significance of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and C-erB2 receptors status will be explained.

  Wide excision and axillary clearance is the usual surgical operation followed by radiotherapy ± chemotherapy for early breast cancer.

17 June 2008

• Topic: Latest Advances In MRI Imaging
• Speaker: Dr Francis Lau, Consultant Radiologist, Island Hospital
• Details:

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