Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Specific Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Older Persons in the Philippines: Results from the 8th Philippine National Nutrition Survey.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of deaths among adults in the Philippines, and this is true also among older persons aged 60 years and above. Identification of risk factors and diseases that lead to cardiovascular mortality among the elderly is important to have an impact on longevity.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and specific cardiovascular risk factors among older persons in the Philippines.

Risk Factors Associated with Prolonged Nasopharyngeal Carriage of SARS-CoV-2 and Length of Stay among Patients Admitted to a COVID-19 Referral Center in Manila, Philippines.

Objective: Prolonged nasopharyngeal carriage of SARS-CoV-2 has been linked to prolonged hospital stay and delayed radiologic recovery. To determine if clinical risk factors are associated with prolonged nasopharyngeal carriage or longer hospital stay, we performed a descriptive analysis of 169 moderate to severe COVID-19 patients admitted at the Philippine General Hospital from March to June 2020.

Methods: Length of nasopharyngeal RT-PCR positivity and clinical demographic data were extracted from existing patient records.

An Evaluation of the Technical Review Process of the UP PGH Department of Medicine.

Background And Objective: The technical review process involves an evaluation of the scientific merits of the research proposal and is a necessary part of the ethics review but can be done separately and ahead of the formal ethics evaluation. The aim of this paper is to determine the efficiency and quality of the technical review process of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Department of Medicine Research Office.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which involved retrieval of the technical review forms of protocols evaluated in the PGH Department of Medicine from the years 2018-2019, and then an evaluation of these metrics: timelines of the review process indicating efficiency, including time from (1) receipt of submission to receipt of reviewer (secretariat efficiency); (2) receipt of reviewer to first decision (reviewer metric); (3) initial receipt to final decision (total review time); and (4) number of re-submissions.

A Feasibility Study on Re-establishing the Bioavailability/Bioequivalence Unit of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine-University of the Philippines Manila.

Objectives: The Bioavailability/Bioequivalence Unit (BA/BE Unit) of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila which has not been operational since 2012, is due for renewal of its accreditation. To date, there are only three Philippine Food and Drug Administration-accredited laboratories that perform bioequivalence studies in the Philippines. One of the prerequisites of registering specific generic medicines is the conduct of Bioequivalence (BE) studies which are performed to ensure that the generic drug is at par with the innovator drug.

The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among Adult Filipinos with Hypothyroidism: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background And Objectives: Dyslipidemia in hypothyroidism results from the effects of thyroid hormones on lipid metabolism. These, in combination with hypothyroidism-induced hemodynamic changes, are risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases. We determined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among adult Filipinos with hypothyroidism and compared clinical and laboratory characteristics of those with versus without MS.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of metformin as adjunctive therapy among women with metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortalities. Metformin has been found to have direct and indirect antitumor mechanisms, and because of its availability and good safety profile, it has been investigated to be useful in various malignancies including breast cancer.

Objective: This study aims to determine the efficacy and safety of metformin administration as adjunctive therapy on mortality among females with breast cancer.

Executive summary of the 2020 clinical practice guidelines for the management of hypertension in the Philippines.

Hypertension is the most common cause of death and disability worldwide with its prevalence rising in low to middle income countries. It remains to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines with poor BP control as one of the main causes. Different societies and groups worked and collaborated together to develop the 2020 Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines of hypertension arising for the need to come up with a comprehensive local practice guideline for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow up of persons with hypertension.

Metformin extended-release versus metformin immediate-release for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of metformin extended-release (MXR) and the conventional metformin immediate-release (MIR) formulations in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) METHODS: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and other sources were searched until 19 March 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared equal daily doses of MXR and MIR in adults with T2DM. Random-effects model meta-analysis was performed to obtain pooled mean difference (MD) of change from baseline for continuous outcomes and risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes.

Association of sunlight exposure with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among working urban adult Filipinos.

Objectives: To determine the association of different levels of sunlight exposure, measured using the Filipino sunlight exposure questionnaire (SEQ) with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels among working urban adult Filipinos.

Methods: Seventy-five adult participants, living and working in Metro Manila, for at least 1 year, were grouped according to their perceived sunlight exposure pattern: low sunlight exposure (mostly indoor work); moderate sunlight exposure (both indoor and outdoor work); and high sunlight exposure (mostly outdoor work). After completion of the self-administered Filipino SEQ, they underwent serum 25-OHD level determination.

Factors Associated with Postoperative Diabetes Insipidus after Pituitary Surgery.

Background: Determining risk factors for diabetes insipidus (DI) after pituitary surgery is important in improving patient care. Our objective is to determine the factors associated with DI after pituitary surgery.

Methods: We reviewed records of patients who underwent pituitary surgery from 2011 to 2015 at Philippine General Hospital.

Targeted next generation sequencing of the entire vitamin D receptor gene reveals polymorphisms correlated with vitamin D deficiency among older Filipino women with and without fragility fracture.

This study aimed to discover genetic variants in the entire 101 kB vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene for vitamin D deficiency in a group of postmenopausal Filipino women using targeted next generation sequencing (TNGS) approach in a case-control study design. A total of 50 women with and without osteoporotic fracture seen at the Philippine Orthopedic Center were included. Blood samples were collected for determination of serum vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and as primary source for targeted VDR gene sequencing using the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine.

Comparison of Fixed versus Calculated Activity of Radioiodine for the Treatment of Graves Disease in Adults.

Background: Radioactive iodine as a treatment modality has been shown in several studies to be a safe and effective therapy for Graves disease. However, there is still no uniformity regarding optimal dosing method. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of calculated and fixed dosing of radioiodine for the treatment of Graves disease.

Risk Factors Associated with Disease Recurrence among Patients with Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer Treated at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital.

Background: The management of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in high-risk patients is well-standardized. However, this is not the case for low-risk patients. Filipinos show a high incidence of recurrence of thyroid cancer.

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: Experience of the Philippine General Hospital.

Background: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare type of thyroid malignancy and one of the most aggressive solid tumors, responsible for between 14% and 50% of the total annual mortality associated with thyroid cancer.

Methods: A retrospective study was made of all ATC cases diagnosed by biopsy in the Philippine General Hospital between 2008 and 2013.

Results: A total of 15 patients were identified, with a median age at diagnosis of 63 years.

Clinicopathological, Biochemical, and Sonographic Features of Thyroid Nodule Predictive of Malignancy among Adult Filipino Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in the Philippines.

Background: Thyroid nodules may harbor cancer in 5% to 15% of cases. Specific clinical and sonographic features predictive of malignancy have been investigated in various populations, but due to differences in epidemiology, risk factors and iodine nutrition status, these predictors may not be valid in the Philippines. This study determined the clinicopathological, biochemical, and sonographic features of thyroid nodules predictive of malignancy among adult Filipino patients at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH).

Accuracy of point-of-care blood glucose measurements in critically ill patients in shock.

A widely used method in monitoring glycemic status of ICU patients is point-of-care (POC) monitoring devices. A possible limitation to this method is altered peripheral blood flow in patients in shock, which may result in over/underestimations of their true glycemic status. This study aims to determine the accuracy of blood glucose measurements with a POC meter compared to laboratory methods in critically ill patients in shock.

Primary hyperparathyroidism from a probable ectopic parathyroid adenoma with severe skeletal disease and vitamin D deficiency.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) may lead to skeletal deformities, fractures and renal failure in symptomatic patients if untreated. We present a case of a 30-year-old woman presented with muscle weakness, weight loss, hypercalcaemia and a pathological fracture, eventually with rapidly progressive musculoskeletal disease. Subsequent biochemical, radiographic and scintigraphy findings were consistent with PHPT from an ectopic mediastinal adenoma, and concomitant vitamin D deficiency.

Fountain of steroid from an ectopic ACTH-producing tumour.

This case is of a 39-year-old Filipino woman who within 2 months developed, Cushing's features she had no known comorbidities and no history of steroid intake. The patient also presented with hyperpigmentation of knuckles and toes, metabolic alkalosis and persistent hypokalaemia noted as proximal muscle weakness. The patient was referred to our institution for acutely worsening behavioural and psychiatric changes.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of persons with type 2 diabetes in a rural community: phase I of the community-based Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) Program in San Juan, Batangas, Philippines.

Aims: 1. To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of persons with type 2 diabetes in the rural community of San Juan, Batangas, Philippines. 2.

The effect of Momordica charantia capsule preparation on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus needs further studies.

Background And Objectives: Momordica charantia, locally known as Ampalaya, is being widely used and advertised for its hypoglycemic effects. However, to date, no large clinical trial has been published on the efficacy of any type of preparation. The main objective of this study is to determine if addition of M.