We aimed to study the prevalence of refractive conditions in Singapore teenagers. Grade 9 and 10 students (n = 946) aged 15–19 years from two secondary schools in Singapore were recruited. The refractive errors of the students’ eyes were measured using non‐cycloplegic autorefraction. Sociodemographic data and information on risk factors for myopia (such as reading and writing) were also obtained using an interviewer‐administered questionnaire. The prevalence of refractive conditions was found to be: myopia [spherical equivalent (SE) at least −0.50 D] – 73.9%, hyperopia (SE at least +0.50 D) – 1.5%, astigmatism (cylinder at least −0.50 D) – 58.7% and anisometropia (SE difference at least 1.00 D) – 11.2%. After adjusting for age and gender, currently doing more than 20.5 h of reading and writing a week was found to be positively associated with myopia [odds ratio 1.12 (95% CI 1.04–1.20, p = 0.003)], as was reading and writing at a close distance and a better educational stream. The prevalence of myopia (73.9%) in Singapore teenagers is high. Current reading and writing habits, reading at close distances and a better educational stream are possible risk factors for myopia.

A major goal of molecular biology is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying cancer development and progression in order to achieve early detection, better diagnosis and staging and novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. We feel that an understanding of Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3)-regulated biological pathways will directly impact our knowledge of these areas of human carcinogenesis. The RUNX3 transcription factor is a downstream effector of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathway, and has a critical role in the regulation of cell proliferation and cell death by apoptosis, and in angiogenesis, cell adhesion and invasion. We previously identified RUNX3 as a major gastric tumor suppressor by establishing a causal relationship between loss of function and gastric carcinogenesis. More recently, we showed that RUNX3 functions as a bona fide initiator of colonic carcinogenesis by linking the Wnt oncogenic and TGF-beta tumor suppressive pathways. Apart from gastric and colorectal cancers, a multitude of epithelial cancers exhibit inactivation of RUNX3, thereby making it a putative tumor suppressor in human neoplasia. This review highlights our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of RUNX3 inactivation in the context of cancer development and progression.

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