Level Type of Evidence + +High quality meta-analyses, systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), or RCTs with a very low risk of bias. +Well conducted meta-analyses, systematic reviews of RCTs, or RCTs with a low risk of bias. -Meta-analyses, systematic reviews of RCTs, or RCTs with a high risk of bias + +High quality systematic reviews of case control or cohort studies. High quality case control or cohort studies with a very low risk of confounding or bias and a high probability that the relationship is causal 2 + Well conducted case control or cohort studies with a low risk of confounding or bias and a moderate probability that the relationship is causal -Case control or cohort studies with a high risk of confounding or bias and a significant risk that the relationship is not causal 3Non-analytic studies, e.g. case reports, case series 4 Expert opinion Levels of evidence and grades of recommendation Statement of IntentThese guidelines are not intended to serve as a standard of medical care. Standards of medical care are determined on the basis of all clinical data available for an individual case and are subject to change as scientific knowledge advances and patterns of care evolve.The contents of this publication are guidelines to clinical practice, based on the best available evidence at the time of development. Adherence to these guidelines may not ensure a successful outcome in every case. These guidelines should neither be construed as including all proper methods of care, nor exclude other acceptable methods of care. Each physician is ultimately responsible for the management of his/her unique patient, in the light of the clinical data presented by the patient and the diagnostic and treatment options available. ForewordDementia represents a major public health concern in Singapore and worldwide. Being the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, dementia is expected to affect 55,000 patients in Singapore by the year 2020. The commonest cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease with vascular dementia being the next most important cause. Right from the stage of mild dementia up to the stages of severe dementia, this condition poses a significant health and socio-economic burden to patients, caregivers and the nation as a whole. Early diagnosis will allow appropriate use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. Along with disease stabilization, efforts to address caregiver burden, patient safety and medico legal concerns should form the principles of management. Clear practise guidelines will allow holistic and optimal care in dementia.I am pleased to present the revised clinical practise guidelines for dementia. In this regard the workgroup has performed a thorough review of the existing literature to recommend both pharmacological and nonpharmacological aspects of management for patients ranging from mild cognitive impairment to severe dementia. This revised guidelines also highlights issues related to the management of mild cognitive impairment, young onset dementia and e...

BackgroundThirty‐day readmission rates have been tied to hospital reimbursement in the United States, but remain controversial as measures of healthcare quality. We profile the timing, main diagnoses, and survival outcomes of inpatient and emergency department readmissions after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), based on a large regional database.Methods and ResultsPatients enrolled in the Alberta Provincial Project for Outcomes Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease (APPROACH) registry with an ACS hospitalization between April 2008 and March 2010 (n=3411) were included. Primary outcomes were inpatient and emergency department–only readmissions, at 30 days and 1 year. Predictors of 30‐day readmission were identified, and the association between 30‐day readmission status and mortality was evaluated. A total of 1170 (34.3%) patients had ≥1 hospital readmission within 30 days, reaching 2106 (61.7%) within 1 year of ACS discharge. Of first readmissions, 45% were emergency department only and 53% were for cardiovascular or possibly related diagnoses. Renal disease and diabetes predicted all‐cause readmissions at 30 days and 1 year, but there were no robust predictors of cardiovascular readmissions. Thirty‐day inpatient, but not emergency department, readmissions were associated with increased mortality.ConclusionsHospital readmissions within 30 days after discharge for ACS are common, and associated with increased mortality. However, our findings underline that readmissions are quite heterogeneous in nature, and that many readmissions are unrelated to index stay and thus not easily predicted with common clinical variables. All‐cause 30‐day readmission rates may be too simplistic, and perhaps even misleading, as a hospital performance metric.

Anaerobic bloodstream infection is responsible for a significant burden of disease in general populations. The data herein establish the extent to which anaerobes contribute to morbidity and subsequent mortality. This information is key in developing preventative, empiric treatment and research priorities.

Introduction Autoantibodies to the ribosomal P proteins represent a highly specific marker for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, where they have been associated with certain clinical manifestations. Historically, autoantibodies against ribosomal P proteins have been detected by indirect immunofluorescence, immunodiffusion, immunoblot, and other immunoassays. More recently, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and line and addressable laser bead immunoassays have become more widely used. The primary goal of this study was to determine the sensitivity of indirect immunofluorescence using conventional HEp-2 substrates in the detection of sera with ribosomal P antibodies as detected by other immunoassays.

Given that hypopigmented MF is an uncommon condition, it may not be clinically suspected in the pediatric population. Histopathologic, immunophenotypic, and/or molecular biologic studies are sometimes equivocal, with findings similar to inflammatory dermatoses or autoimmune vitiligo, which may initially lead to a misdiagnosis, as in this patient's case.