Stakeholder Perceptions towards a Mobile Application for Community-Led Monitoring of Tuberculosis Services in Metro Manila, Philippines: A Qualitative Study.

Objective: To determine the perceptions of persons with tuberculosis (TB) and health workers on Care TB - a mobile application for the community-led monitoring (CLM) of TB services.

Methods: We used a qualitative research method. Six people with tuberculosis and ten health workers were chosen through purposive sampling for semi-structured interviews.

Isolates of species in the marine environment in the Philippines.

spp. are considered the most commonly occurring free-living amoebae (FLA) in the environment. Their high resilience enables them to thrive in different types of environments.

Emergent robotic surgery conversions: improving operating room team performance through high fidelity simulations.

Background: Although robotic surgery has gained popularity, safety concerns remain due to potential delay in addressing intraoperative hemorrhages since the surgeon is not at the bedside. This study aimed to test whether a training program for emergency robotic undocking protocols improved the performance of thoracic operating room (OR) teams.

Methods: An emergency undocking protocol and checklists were created for massive hemorrhage during robotic thoracic surgery.

Safety of long-term esophageal stent use for multiple indications.

Background: Long-term (>30 days) esophageal stenting is controversial. Previous studies have documented complications associated with long-term esophageal stent use. This study's objective was to investigate complications associated with long-term esophageal stent use.

Digital Adherence Technologies and Differentiated Care for Tuberculosis Treatment and Their Acceptability Among Persons With Tuberculosis, Health Care Workers, and Key Informants in the Philippines: Qualitative Interview Study.

Background: Digital adherence technologies (DATs) are being studied to determine their potential to support tuberculosis (TB) treatment and address the shortcomings of directly observed therapy. Previous research has shown inconclusive results on whether DATs can enhance medication adherence among persons with TB.

Objective: This study aims to understand the acceptability of DATs, namely, medication labels and smart pillboxes, among persons with TB, health care workers (HCWs), and key informants (KIs) in the Philippines.

Clinical outcomes and staff satisfaction after adoption of digital chest drainage system for minimally invasive lung resections.

Background: Digital chest drainage systems (DCDS) provide reliable pleural drainage while quantifying fluid output and air leak. However, the benefits of DCDS in the contemporary era of minimally invasive thoracic surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have not been fully investigated. Additionally, hospital and resident staff experiences after implementation of a DCDS have not been fully explored.

Preoperative risk factors for anastomotic leak after esophagectomy with gastric reconstruction: A 6-year national surgical quality improvement (NSQIP) database analysis.

Background: Anastomotic leak is a serious complication after esophagectomy that has been associated with worse outcomes. However, identifying patients at increased risk for anastomotic leak remains challenging.

Methods: Patients were included from the 2016 to 2021 National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database who underwent elective esophagectomy with gastric reconstruction for cancer.

Enhanced recovery after surgery pathway leads to decreased length of stay for patients undergoing minimally invasive lung resection.

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in thoracic surgery have been demonstrated to impact length of stay (LOS), complication rates, and postoperative opioid use. However, ERAS protocols for minimally invasive lung resections have not been well described. Given most lung resections are now performed minimally invasively, there is a gap in the literature regarding the efficacy of ERAS protocols in this setting.

The Influence of Coffee on Reducing Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Review.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a liver disease characterized by hepatic fat accumulation associated with various severities of inflammation and scarring. As studies explore specialized treatments, emerging evidence suggests a potential protective effect of coffee consumption. Consumption of coffee or its components, such as caffeine and/or chlorogenic acid (CA), can reduce markers of liver injury and induce a myriad of other health benefits.

Feasibility, accuracy and acceptability of self-sampled human papillomavirus testing using careHPV in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Self-sampled human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is a potential option for cervical cancer screening, but research is scarce in Cambodia. We evaluated the feasibility, accuracy, and acceptability of self-sampled HPV testing using careHPV.

Methods: A cross-sectional study including women aged 20-49 years attending 2 national hospitals in the capital city was conducted.

Changes in Functional Outcomes After an Inpatient Rehabilitation Program for Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients.

Outpatient exercise training has been shown to be beneficial for solid organ transplant recipients. Little is known about the effects of inpatient rehabilitation programs for recipients with a more complicated postoperative course. This study was designed to (1) describe the changes in functional outcomes after an inpatient rehabilitation program, and (2) determine whether the changes in lower body strength and quadriceps strength are associated with changes in functional exercise capacity.

COVID-19-induced Esophageal Necrosis Requiring Emergent Total Esophagectomy in a Vaccinated Patient.

Acute esophageal necrosis may be a potential complication of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 has been associated with a variety of sequelae, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocarditis, and thromboembolic events. Here, we present a case of a 43-year-old male who was admitted for acute necrotizing pancreatitis and found to have COVID-19 pneumonia.

Association Between the Modified Frailty Index and Outcomes Following Lobectomy.

Introduction: Elective thoracic surgery is safe in well-selected elderly patients. The association of frailty with postoperative morbidity in elective-lobectomy patients is understudied. We examined frailty as defined by abbreviated modified frailty index (mFI-5), mFI-11 in the thoracic surgery population, and the correlation between frailty and postoperative complications.

Extra-axial Chordoma of the Sternoclavicular Joint.

Chordomas are rare, slowly growing, aggressive primary bone tumors that originate from notochord remnants and occur almost exclusively in the axial skeleton. Here, we describe a patient with an enlarging right-sided neck mass that was later diagnosed as a sternoclavicular joint chondroid chordoma. En bloc surgical resection was accomplished with negative margins.

Supervised preoperative walking on increasing early postoperative stamina and mobility in older adults with frailty traits: A pilot and feasibility study.

Background And Aims: Frail older adults are more than twice as likely to experience postoperative complications. Preoperative exercise may better prepare these patients through improved stamina and mobility experienced in the days following surgery. We measured the impact of a walking intervention using an activity tracker and coaching on postoperative stamina, and mobility in older adults with frailty traits.

Adenylate cyclase type 9 antagonizes cAMP accumulation and regulates endothelial signalling involved in atheroprotection.

Aims: The adenylate cyclase type 9 (ADCY9) gene appears to determine atherosclerotic outcomes in patients treated with dalcetrapib. In mice, we recently demonstrated that Adcy9 inactivation potentiates endothelial function and inhibits atherogenesis. The objective of this study was to characterize the contribution of ADCY9 to the regulation of endothelial signalling pathways involved in atherosclerosis.

Impact of the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) publication and Medicare Lung cancer screening payment on lung cancer incidence rates: An interrupted time series analysis.

Introduction: Explore the impact of the Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST-September-2011) and the Medicare approval for CT-screening (CT-LCS-AP-February-2015) on lung cancer incidence rates, mortality, and the percentage of early-stage lung cancer diagnosis (ESLCD-T1-T2N0M0).

Methods: Retrospective interrupted time series analysis using SEER-18 database. All individuals with lung cancer (LC) diagnosis from 2006 to 2016 were included.

Use of In-Situ Simulation Based Clinical Systems Test of Thoracic Robotic Surgery Emergencies.

Introduction: With the advancement of robotic surgery, some thoracic surgeons have been slow to adopt to this new operative approach, in part because they are un-scrubbed and away from the patient while operating. Aiming to allay surgeon concerns of intra-operative emergencies, an insitu simulation-based clinical system's test (SbCST) can be completed to test the current clinical system, and to practice low-frequency, high-stakes clinical scenarios with the entire operating room (OR) team.

Methods: Six different OR teams completed an insitu SbCST of an intra-operative pulmonary artery injury during a robot-assisted thoracic surgery at a single tertiary care center.

Factors associated with diagnosis of stages I and II lung cancer: a multivariate analysis.

Objective: To present the overall survival rate for lung cancer and identify the factors associated with early diagnosis of stage I and II lung cancer.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study including individuals diagnosed with lung cancer, from January 2009 to December 2017, according to the cancer registry at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Five-year overall survival and its associated factors were identified by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox's proportional hazards model.

COVID-19 Tracheostomy: Experience in a University Hospital With Intermediate Follow-up.

The benefits of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) placement have been well documented in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. However, the data regarding the benefit of PDT in coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) patients are scarce. The objective of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of a cohort of 37 patients who underwent tracheostomy as part of their COVID-19 care.

Surgical Management of Patients with Snakebite-Related Musculoskeletal Complication-A Single Institution Experience in Cambodia.

Background: Snakebite-related injury is a serious public health issue. In Cambodia, it is estimated that up to 21,500 cases of envenoming occurs from snakebites annually. Musculoskeletal disability is a major long-term complication associated with the injury.

Paraconduit Hiatal Hernia Following Esophagectomy: Incidence, Risk Factors, Outcomes and Repair.

Background: Paraconduit hiatal hernia (PCHH) is a known complication of esophagectomy with significant morbidity. PCHH may be more common with the transition to a minimally invasive approach and improved survival. We studied the PCHH occurrence following minimally invasive esophagectomy to determine the incidence, treatment, and associated risk factors.

Improving stamina and mobility with preop walking in surgical patients with frailty traits -OASIS IV: randomized clinical trial study protocol.

Background: Frail older surgical patients face more than a two-fold increase in postoperative complications, including myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, ileus, and others. Many of these complications occur because of postoperative loss of stamina and poor mobility. Preoperative exercise may better prepare these vulnerable patients for surgery.

The rates of second lung cancers and the survival of surgically-resected second primary lung cancers in patients undergoing resection of an initial primary lung cancer.

Background: The Lung Cancer Screening Trial demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) and lung cancer specific survival (LCSS), likely due to finding early-stage NSCLC. The purpose of our investigation is to evaluate whether long-term surveillance strategies (4+ years after surgical resection of the initial lung cancer(1LC)) would be beneficial in NSCLC patients by assessing the rates of second lung cancers(2LC) and the OS/LCSS in patients undergoing definitive surgery in 1LC as compared to 2LC (>48 months after 1LC) populations.

Methods: SEER13/18 database was reviewed for patients during 1998-2013.