Does caesarean section have an impact on exclusive breastfeeding? Evidence from four Southeast Asian countries.

Background: The effect of caesarean section (CS) on breastfeeding initiation has been extensively studied, but its influence on exclusive breastfeeding practices remains inconclusive. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of CS on exclusive breastfeeding using evidence from four countries in the Southeast Asian region.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used secondary data obtained from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between 2016 and 2022 in four countries within the Southeast Asian Region.

Early postnatal care contact within 24 hours by skilled providers and its determinants among home deliveries in Myanmar: Further analysis of the Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16.

Background: Access and use of early postnatal care (PNC) by skilled providers are crucial for reducing maternal and newborn deaths. However, use of PNC among the deliveries by skilled providers in some developing countries remains unsatisfactory. Furthermore, literature concerning PNC among home deliveries remains limited, particularly in resource-limited countries such as Myanmar.

Feasibility and readiness to implement Robson classification to monitor caesarean sections in public hospitals in Myanmar: Formative research.

Recent years have demonstrated an increase in caesarean section (CS) in most countries worldwide with considerable concern for the potential consequences. In 2015, WHO proposed the use of Robson classification as a global standard for assessing, monitoring and comparing CS rates. Currently, there is no standardized method to assess CS in Myanmar.

Introducing misoprostol for treatment of incomplete abortion: A feasibility and acceptability study in secondary-level health facilities in Myanmar.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of misoprostol as a treatment option for incomplete abortion in secondary hospitals in Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar.

Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed methods study was conducted. Women seeking treatment for an incomplete abortion with a uterine size <12 weeks were eligible to participate in the prospective cohort including sublingual administration of 400 μg misoprostol, clinical assessment 7-10 days after administration, and patient interview.

International virtual confidential reviews of infection-related maternal deaths and near-miss in 11 low- and middle-income countries - case report series and suggested actions.

Background: Obstetric infections are the third most common cause of maternal mortality, with the largest burden in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We analyzed causes of infection-related maternal deaths and near-miss identified contributing factors and generated suggested actions for quality of care improvement.

Method: An international, virtual confidential enquiry was conducted for maternal deaths and near-miss cases that occurred in 15 health facilities in 11 LMICs reporting at least one death within the GLOSS study.

Strongyloides stercoralis Infection in Immunocompromised Host.

is a soil-dwelling roundworm that causes an intestinal infection, Strongyloidiasis. In the United States, this helminth generally causes chronic asymptomatic infection, and severe symptomatic infections are reported in immunocompromised hosts like patients undergoing chemotherapy, receiving long-term corticosteroids, transplant patients, or patients with HIV. The clinicians should have a high index of suspicion to diagnose this infection, as the exposure is usually remote and symptoms are non-specific.

Pharmacological and surgical interventions for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux in adults and children with asthma.

Background: Asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) are common medical conditions that frequently co-exist. GORD has been postulated as a trigger for asthma; however, evidence remains conflicting. Proposed mechanisms by which GORD causes asthma include direct airway irritation from micro-aspiration and vagally mediated oesophagobronchial reflux.

Factors that affect the discontinuation of family planning methods in Myanmar: analysis of the 2015-16 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: Access to family planning contributes up to a 44% reduction in maternal deaths. Since the majority of unplanned pregnancies and abortions occur in women who were either not using contraception or not using it consistently, greater access to contraception and more consistent use of contraception are crucial in the reduction of unplanned pregnancies and abortions. This study aims to determine which types of contraceptives are most often discontinued, the reasons for discontinuation, and the factors that influence contraceptive discontinuation for women in Myanmar.

Septal GABA and Glutamate Neurons Express RXFP3 mRNA and Depletion of Septal RXFP3 Impaired Spatial Search Strategy and Long-Term Reference Memory in Adult Mice.

Relaxin-3 is a highly conserved neuropeptide abundantly expressed in neurons of the , which project to nodes of the septohippocampal system (SHS) including the medial septum/diagonal band of Broca (MS/DB) and dorsal hippocampus, as well as to limbic circuits. High densities of the G-protein-coupled receptor for relaxin-3, known as relaxin-family peptide-3 receptor (RXFP3) are expressed throughout the SHS, further suggesting a role for relaxin-3/RXFP3 signaling in modulating learning and memory processes that occur within these networks. Therefore, this study sought to gain further anatomical and functional insights into relaxin-3/RXFP3 signaling in the mouse MS/DB.

The salt between the beans: a qualitative study of the role of auxiliary midwives in a hard-to-reach area of Myanmar.

Background: Auxiliary Midwives (AMWs) are unpaid volunteer health workers assisting qualified paid midwives in maternal and child health care mainly in hard-to-reach areas of Myanmar. This paper describes the relationship between AMWs and the health system in providing maternal and child services as perceived by the community, AMWs themselves and health care providers in one remote township of Myanmar.

Method: A qualitative study was conducted in Ngape Township, Myanmar.

Women's knowledge on common non-communicable diseases and nutritional need during pregnancy in three townships of Ayeyarwaddy region, Myanmar: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Health systems in many countries do not adequately address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) during pregnancy, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Myanmar, most studies on NCDs have investigated risk factors and prevalence of NCDs in the general population. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of common NCDs and nutritional need during pregnancy and to identify the factors associated with such knowledge, in three townships of Ayeyarwaddy region in Myanmar.

Identification of UAP1L1 as a critical factor for protein O-GlcNAcylation and cell proliferation in human hepatoma cells.

Aged hepatocyte-specific-Mcl-1 knockout (MKO-hep) mice are prone to develop liver tumors mimicking human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we reported that a protein named UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase-1-like-1 (Uap1l1) is upregulated in the liver of young MKO-hep mice without any macroscopically detectable tumor nodules and is prominently expressed in the hepatic tumors developed in the aged MKO-hep mice. Intriguingly, human UAP1L1 is also significantly upregulated in a distinct subset of HCC tissues and patients with upregulated expression of UAP1L1 appeared to have poor prognosis.

RASAL2 promotes tumor progression through LATS2/YAP1 axis of hippo signaling pathway in colorectal cancer.

Background: Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have a high incidence of regional and distant metastases. Although metastasis is the main cause of CRC-related death, its molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown.

Methods: Using array-CGH and expression microarray analyses, changes in DNA copy number and mRNA expression levels were investigated in human CRC samples.

Granulin epithelin precursor promotes colorectal carcinogenesis by activating MARK/ERK pathway.

Background: Granulin epithelin precursor (GEP) is reported to function as a growth factor stimulating proliferation and migration, and conferring chemoresistance in many cancer types. However, the expression and functional roles of GEP in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain elusive. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the clinical significance of GEP in CRC and reveal the molecular mechanism of GEP in CRC initiation and progression.

The Effect of Obesity on the Quality of Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy: Results From a Large Observational Study.

Background: Obesity has been linked to suboptimal bowel preparation but this association has not been conclusively investigated in prospective studies.

Goals: Our objective was to determine whether any relationship exists between obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI) and quality of bowel preparation.

Study: Adult patients who presented for outpatient colonoscopy at a single urban ambulatory surgery center within a 6-month period and fulfilled inclusion criteria were prospectively enrolled for the study.

The potential of task shifting selected maternal interventions to auxiliary midwives in Myanmar: a mixed-method study.

Background: An estimated 282 women die for every 100,000 live births in Myanmar, most due to preventable causes. Auxiliary Midwives (AMWs) in Myanmar are responsible for providing a package of care during pregnancy and childbirth to women in rural hard to reach areas where skilled birth attendants (Midwives) are not accessible. This study aims to examine the role of AMWs in Myanmar and to assess the current practices of three proposed essential maternal interventions (oral supplement distribution to pregnant women; administration of misoprostol to prevent postpartum haemorrhage; management of puerperal sepsis with oral antibiotics) in order to facilitate a formal integration of these tasks to AMWs in Myanmar.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Nonagenarian Patients: Is It Really Safe?

Background/aims: Literature on the safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in elderly patients is divided. Based on this we decided to examine the safety of ERCP in nonagenarian patients.

Methods: A total of 1,389 patients, with a mean age of 63.

Safety of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tubes in Centenarian Patients.

Background/aims: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a relatively safe procedure; however, no study has evaluated the safety of PEG tube placement in patients over the age of 100 years.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patient records for patients who underwent PEG tube placement. Thirty patients aged 100 years and older were identified and a random sample of 275 patients was selected for comparison.

Dosimetric comparison of peripheral NSCLC SBRT using Acuros XB and AAA calculation algorithms.

There is a concern for dose calculation in highly heterogenous environments such as the thorax region. This study compares the quality of treatment plans of peripheral non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) using 2 calculation algorithms, namely, Eclipse Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA) and Acuros External Beam (AXB), for 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) data from 20 anonymized patients were studied using Varian Eclipse planning system, AXB, and AAA version 10.

Percutaneous endoscopic sigmoidopexy using T-fasteners for management of sigmoid volvulus.

Background: Sigmoid volvulus (SV) is the third leading cause of large bowel obstruction after colonic neoplasms and diverticular disease. SV has traditionally been managed via endoscopic detorsion and decompression followed by non-emergent surgical resection owing to the high risk of recurrence. Most cases of SV occur in elderly debilitated patients with multiple comorbidities and may not be candidates for surgical resection.

Aortic and splanchnic artery aneurysms: Unusual causes of biliary obstruction - A retrospective cohort from literature.

Mechanical obstruction of the biliary tree and resultant stasis are the cornerstone of a spectrum of diseases ranging from biliary colic to fulminant cholangitis. Infrequently acquired abnormalities of the abdominal vasculature can lead to biliary obstruction. In 2010, we reported a case of acute cholangitis resulting from compression of extra hepatic bile duct by an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Does Alkaline Colonic pH Predispose to Clostridium difficile Infection?

Objectives: Clostridium difficile caused nearly 500,000 infections and was associated with approximately 29,000 deaths in 2011, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. C. difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and, often, severe illness in healthcare facilities, as well as the community.