Translating Research into Highest Quality Patient Care

Metabolic Diseases


15 April 2015

 

In this installment of NHG-NTU/LKCMedicine Research Seminar we revisited the theme “Metabolic Diseases”.


There were a total of 4 speakers - 2 each from NHG and LKCMedicine. They were Dr Daniel Chew (Head of Department and Senior Consultant, Endocrinology Department & Director Clinical Research, Clinical Research and Innovation Office (CRIO), Tan Tock Seng Hospital), Adj A/Prof Melvin Leow (Senior Consultant, Endocrinology Department, Tan Tock Seng Hospital), A/Prof Fabian Lim (Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU) and Asst Prof Yusuf Ali (Assistant Professor of Metabolic Disease, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU).

At the seminar Dr Daniel Chew kickstarted the session by sharing on the challenges faced by the clinicians when treating Diabetes due to the complexity and lack of understanding of the disease. Through case studies, Dr Chew demostrated that genetic and social differences between each patient may result in complication that affect disease development and treatment outcome. He also highlighted areas where research could result in better care for the patients.

The second speaker for the evening was A/Prof Fabian Lim who gave an interesting presentation titled “The Long and Short of Exercise as a Complement-modality for Promoting Cardio-metabolic Health”. In his presentation, A/Prof Lim have highlighted data from several studies which elaborated how exercising could intervene metabolic diseases.

Current thyroid replacement treatment may not be optimal as many patients are still experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism or thyroid excess despite having achieved hormonal level within the normal range after the treatment. Adj A/Prof Melvin Leow presented a mathematical model that he has developed which could help clinicians calculate a more accurate thyroid hormone dosing regime within a fraction of time normally required.

Asst Prof Yusuf Ali rounded up the presentations with how dysfunction to the molecular & cellular process, demonstrated in rat models in the laboratory could provide some clues on the cause of diabetes in humans.

There was also a panel discussion with the four speakers after the presentations segment. One of the content which was actively discussed during the session was on the mathematical model presented by A/Prof Melvin Leow. One other highly discussed topic was on exercising and its impact and application in patient with diabetes.


Presentation Title & Speaker

Presentation Slides

The Complexity of Patients with Diabetes: Research & Development Opportunities From The Perspective of Patient Needs and Challenges

 

Dr Daniel Chew

Head of Department and Senior Consultant, Endocrinology Department &

Director Clinical Research, Clinical Research and Innovation Office (CRIO), Tan Tock Seng Hospital

 

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The Long and Short of Exercise as a Complement-Modality for Promoting Cardio-Metabolic Health  

 

Assoc Prof Fabian Lim Chin Leong

Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology,  Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU

 

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Clinical Applications of a Math Model of the HPT axis for Personalized Euthyroid Targets

 

Adj. Assoc Prof Melvin Leow

Senior Consultant, Endocrinology Department, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

 

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Understanding Beta-cell Dysfunction in Diabetes

 

Asst Prof Yusuf Ali

Assistant Professor of Metabolic Disease, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU

 

Pending