Om Mani Padme Hum
- wong chee tat :)
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
New diabetic retinopathy treatment more effective: experts
New diabetic retinopathy treatment more effective: experts
By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 06 November 2012 2133 hrs
SINGAPORE: The new anti-VEGF treatment option for diabetic retinopathy patients has been hailed by experts as being more effective than traditional laser treatments.
Diabetic retinopathy, a condition of the eyes affecting diabetics that causes swelling and blurred vision, plague an approximate 100,000 Singaporeans say experts.
"Anti-VEGF therapy is a new therapy which effectively reduces the swelling in the eye," said Professor Wong Tien Yin, Executive Director at the Singapore Eye Research Institute. "It works by suppressing growth factors that causes the blood vessels to leak and the retina to swell."
Diabetic retinopathy patients traditionally undergo laser treatment to treat their symptoms.
However Professor Wong noted that visual improvement after laser treatments was not common and that many continued to lose vision after treatment, adding that the laser option was "good but not completely satisfactory".
"The new anti-VEGF therapy essentially helps improve vision in patients... and therefore patients have a better quality of life," he said.
However, anti-VEGF treatments can cost up to S$42,000, compared to laser treatments which cost between S$500 and S$1,600.
Patients undergoing anti-VEGF undergo seven intro-ocular injections into the eye in the first year of treatment, followed by four injections in the second year and three in the third year. The each injection costs between S$1,200 and S$3,000.
Despite that, more than a thousand patients in Singapore have undergone anti-VEGF treatment since hospitals started offering it last September.
Professor Wong also noted that screening for diabetic retinopathy could be further streamlined to ensure better detection.
"In many countries, including Singapore, family general practitioners conduct screening for diabetic retinopathy," he said. "Despite their medical background and training, their evaluation may be limited due to busy clinic schedules".
Instead, non-physicians or eye research technicians should also be used to detect diabetic retinopathy said Professor Wong, citing a local study conducted in 2009 that showed trained eye research technicians outperforming family general practitioners in detecting diabetic retinopathy.
- CNA/jc
- wong chee tat :)
By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 06 November 2012 2133 hrs
SINGAPORE: The new anti-VEGF treatment option for diabetic retinopathy patients has been hailed by experts as being more effective than traditional laser treatments.
Diabetic retinopathy, a condition of the eyes affecting diabetics that causes swelling and blurred vision, plague an approximate 100,000 Singaporeans say experts.
"Anti-VEGF therapy is a new therapy which effectively reduces the swelling in the eye," said Professor Wong Tien Yin, Executive Director at the Singapore Eye Research Institute. "It works by suppressing growth factors that causes the blood vessels to leak and the retina to swell."
Diabetic retinopathy patients traditionally undergo laser treatment to treat their symptoms.
However Professor Wong noted that visual improvement after laser treatments was not common and that many continued to lose vision after treatment, adding that the laser option was "good but not completely satisfactory".
"The new anti-VEGF therapy essentially helps improve vision in patients... and therefore patients have a better quality of life," he said.
However, anti-VEGF treatments can cost up to S$42,000, compared to laser treatments which cost between S$500 and S$1,600.
Patients undergoing anti-VEGF undergo seven intro-ocular injections into the eye in the first year of treatment, followed by four injections in the second year and three in the third year. The each injection costs between S$1,200 and S$3,000.
Despite that, more than a thousand patients in Singapore have undergone anti-VEGF treatment since hospitals started offering it last September.
Professor Wong also noted that screening for diabetic retinopathy could be further streamlined to ensure better detection.
"In many countries, including Singapore, family general practitioners conduct screening for diabetic retinopathy," he said. "Despite their medical background and training, their evaluation may be limited due to busy clinic schedules".
Instead, non-physicians or eye research technicians should also be used to detect diabetic retinopathy said Professor Wong, citing a local study conducted in 2009 that showed trained eye research technicians outperforming family general practitioners in detecting diabetic retinopathy.
- CNA/jc
- wong chee tat :)
Life insurance sales post 8% rise in Q3
Life insurance sales post 8% rise in Q3
By Kristie Neo | Posted: 06 November 2012 1804 hrs
SINGAPORE : Life insurance sales in Singapore grew a modest 8 percent in the third quarter of this year, compared to a year back.
According to the Life Insurance Association of Singapore (LIA), the industry clinched S$562 million in weighted new business premiums in the three months ended September 30.
The growth was driven by annual premium sales, which rose 18 percent to S$408.6 million.
However single premium sales pulled back 13 percent to S$153.7 million.
For the first nine months of the year, weighted new business premiums hit S$1.6 billion, up 10 percent from the corresponding period the year before.
This growth was also driven by positive regular premium sales which stood at S$1.16 billion, registering a 20 percent growth over the same period.
Looking forward however, LIA says they will be taking a 'restrained' view in target estimates for the next quarter.
Mr Tan Hak Leh, President of the Life Insurance Association said: "Given the challenging economic environment, the performance of the life insurance industry for 2012 could potentially be impacted. However it is comforting to note the overall growth as well as the sustained and healthy performance of regular premium sales, which comprised long-term life insurance plans such as participating products which offer protection and savings."
This is in line with the latest review by the Monetary Authority of Singapore which indicated that the local economy is likely to see sluggish growth for the rest of the year and for 2013.
- CNA/ch
- wong chee tat :)
By Kristie Neo | Posted: 06 November 2012 1804 hrs
SINGAPORE : Life insurance sales in Singapore grew a modest 8 percent in the third quarter of this year, compared to a year back.
According to the Life Insurance Association of Singapore (LIA), the industry clinched S$562 million in weighted new business premiums in the three months ended September 30.
The growth was driven by annual premium sales, which rose 18 percent to S$408.6 million.
However single premium sales pulled back 13 percent to S$153.7 million.
For the first nine months of the year, weighted new business premiums hit S$1.6 billion, up 10 percent from the corresponding period the year before.
This growth was also driven by positive regular premium sales which stood at S$1.16 billion, registering a 20 percent growth over the same period.
Looking forward however, LIA says they will be taking a 'restrained' view in target estimates for the next quarter.
Mr Tan Hak Leh, President of the Life Insurance Association said: "Given the challenging economic environment, the performance of the life insurance industry for 2012 could potentially be impacted. However it is comforting to note the overall growth as well as the sustained and healthy performance of regular premium sales, which comprised long-term life insurance plans such as participating products which offer protection and savings."
This is in line with the latest review by the Monetary Authority of Singapore which indicated that the local economy is likely to see sluggish growth for the rest of the year and for 2013.
- CNA/ch
- wong chee tat :)
本地今年头9个月的人寿保险销售额 年比增一成
Updated: Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:20:44 GMT
本地今年头9个月的人寿保险销售额 年比增一成
数据显示：本地今年头9个月的人寿保险销售额，年比增加一成，达到大约16亿元。
数据显示：本地今年头9个月的人寿保险销售额，年比增加一成，达到大约16亿元。
新加坡寿险协会指出：由于定期保费产品的销量取得20%的季度增长，促使这个领域的整体业绩表现良好。不过，单期保费产品的业务则下跌10%，到4亿4千7百万元；其中，14%是动用公积金来支付保费的。
协会会长陈学旅指出：整体来说，寿险业自今年初便取得稳健增长。不过，由于经济情况不明朗，协会对下一季的业绩展望将有所保留。
- wong chee tat :)
本地今年头9个月的人寿保险销售额 年比增一成
数据显示：本地今年头9个月的人寿保险销售额，年比增加一成，达到大约16亿元。
数据显示：本地今年头9个月的人寿保险销售额，年比增加一成，达到大约16亿元。
新加坡寿险协会指出：由于定期保费产品的销量取得20%的季度增长，促使这个领域的整体业绩表现良好。不过，单期保费产品的业务则下跌10%，到4亿4千7百万元；其中，14%是动用公积金来支付保费的。
协会会长陈学旅指出：整体来说，寿险业自今年初便取得稳健增长。不过，由于经济情况不明朗，协会对下一季的业绩展望将有所保留。
- wong chee tat :)
Kari Jobe - Love Came Down
If my heart is overwhelmed
and I cannot hear Your voice
I'll hold on to what is true though I cannot see
If the storms of life they come
and the road ahead gets steep
I will lift these hands in faith I will believe
Pre-chorus:
I remind myself of all that You've done
And the life I have because Your Son
Chorus:
Love came down and rescued me
Love came down and set me free
I am Yours I am forever Yours
Mountain high or valley low
I sing out and remind my soul
I am Yours I am forever Yours
When my heart is filled with hope
and every promise comes my way
When I feel Your hands of grace rest upon me
Staying desperate for You God,
Staying humbled at Your feet
I will lift these hands and praise I will believe
[prechorus + chorus]
Bridge:
I am Yours, I am Yours,
all my days, Jesus, I am Yours
I am Yours, I am Yours
all my days, I am Yours
[chorus x2]
I am Yours
I am Yours
I am Yours
Jesus, I am Yours
- wong chee tat :)
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