International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU) guideline on staghorn calculi management.

Background: The stone burden based management strategy reported in the guidelines published by different associations is well known for a long time. Staghorn calculi, representing the largest burden and most complex stones, is one of the most challenging cases to practicing urologists in clinical practice. The International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU) has released a series of guidelines on the management of urolithiasis.

A systematic-search-and-review of registered pharmacological therapies investigated to improve neuro-recovery after a stroke.

Background: Stroke burden is largely due to long-term impairments requiring prolonged care with loss of productivity. We aimed to identify and assess studies of different registered pharmacological therapies as treatments to improve post-stroke impairments and/or disabilities.

Methods: We performed a systematic-search-and-review of treatments that have been investigated as recovery-enhancing or recovery-promoting therapies in adult patients with stroke.

Current and projected gaps in the availability of radiotherapy in the Asia-Pacific region: a country income-group analysis.

Background: Cancer incidence and mortality is increasing rapidly worldwide, with a higher cancer burden observed in the Asia-Pacific region than in other regions. To date, evidence-based modelling of radiotherapy demand has been based on stage data from high-income countries (HIC) that do not account for the later stage at presentation seen in many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to estimate the current and projected demand and supply in megavoltage radiotherapy machines in the Asia-Pacific region, using a national income-group adjusted model.

Osteoblastoma in the Proximal Phalanx of the Hand: A Case Report.

Osteoblastoma is a benign bone tumor that can spread aggressively and is commonly found in the spine and long bones. When present in other areas of the body, it can be difficult to diagnose. While this tumor is rarely found in the hand, in reported cases, it typically presents with pain.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in bacterial meningitis: A systematic review.

Purpose: Bacterial meningitis remains a global threat due to its high mortality. It is estimated that >1.2 million cases of bacterial meningitis are reported annually.

Improving fragility hip fracture care through data: a multicentre experience from a country with an emerging economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: In low-to-middle-income countries (LMIC), the orthogeriatric model of care is still in its early stages of development. This study describes the initial results of the first online fragility hip fracture database to be setup in the Philippines using a modified minimum common dataset to generate outcomes data based on current hospital practices.

Methods: A multicentre prospective cohort study among 12 Philippine hospitals was conducted from June 2020 to February 2021.

Challenges and opportunities in the implementation of advanced brachytherapy programs for cervical cancer in the Philippines.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer cause of morbidity and mortality in Filipino women; the age-standardized annual incidence is 15.2 as of March 2023. The majority are diagnosed at a locally advanced stage and in the reproductive and working age group.

Concordance and Accuracy of Teledermatology Using Mobile Phones in the Outpatient Clinic of Jose R Reyes Memorial Medical Center: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Dermatologists rely on visual findings; thus, teledermatology is uniquely compatible to providing dermatologic care. The use of mobile phones in a store-and-forward approach, where gathered data are sent to a distant health provider for later review, may be a potential bridge in seeking dermatologic care.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the agreement between face-to-face consultations and teledermatologic consultations through the store-and-forward approach using mobile phones and its accuracy compared to a histopathologic diagnosis.

The use of azithromycin and pyrimethamine for treatment of cerebral toxoplasmosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: a systematic review.

Purpose: is a parasite that is widely distributed around the globe and can cause brain inflammation, particularly in immunosuppressed patients such as those diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This paper reviews the efficacy of azithromycin and pyrimethamine combination therapy for cerebral toxoplasmosis in patients with HIV.

Methods: The scope of the studies included in this review was limited from 1992 to 2022, with studies primarily being randomized, controlled clinical trials available on online scientific journal databases.

Comparison between lymecycline with multidrug therapy and standard multidrug regimen (WHO-MDT) in the treatment of multibacillary leprosy patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Hansen's disease or leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease that has locally and globally afflicted all populations. Despite standard treatment with multidrug therapy (WHO-MDT), the incidence of drug resistance has been an increasingly prevalent global problem in leprosy management. This study compared the effectiveness between lymecycline with WHO-MDT and standard WHO-MDT in leprosy treatment.

Factors associated with having COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant and non-pregnant women in Metro Manila, Philippines: a multicentre longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: To determine the potential risk factors associated with having COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Design: A multicentre prospective cohort study among eligible women in Metro Manila, Philippines, from 2020 to 2022.

Setting: Five national and local hospital research sites altogether recruited and screened 500 consenting eligible individuals.

Extracapsular Resection of Pituitary Adenomas: A Systematic Review.

There is considerable variation in the surgical techniques for transsphenoidal excision of pituitary tumors. Recently, an extracapsular method has been developed that involves using the tumor pseudocapsule as a dissection plane to increase the extent of resection. This review assessed the outcomes of this new approach as compared with standard transsphenoidal surgery.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in tuberculous meningitis: A systematic review.

Background And Purpose: Tuberculous (TB) meningitis is a common type of central nervous system infection, and may cause multifocal cerebral infarctions due to the involvement of cerebral vasculature. This systematic review aims to review and synthesize the utility of transcranial Doppler (TCD) in TB meningitis.

Methods: This is a systematic review of observational studies on the use of TCD in patients diagnosed to have TB meningitis.

Predictive factors for clinical outcomes in Filipino patients with watershed infarction: A single center study.

Background And Purpose: Watershed infarcts denote ischemic lesions involving the distal territories of two major arteries. For years, hypotheses on its pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed. Yet, the cause is still widely debated.

Therapeutic role of memantine for the prevention of cognitive decline in cancer patients with brain metastasis receiving whole-brain radiotherapy: a narrative review.

Brain metastases are the most common central nervous system tumors. The mainstay treatment for this tumor in low to middle income countries is whole brain radiation therapy. Irreversible cognitive decline is associated with the use of whole brain radiotherapy.

Diagnosis and management of basal cell carcinoma: interdisciplinary consensus statements of Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, a Department of Health Tertiary Hospital in Manila, Philippines.

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cutaneous malignancy. Multiple risk factors are associated in the development of BCC, with ultraviolet light and genetics playing major roles.

Aims: The departments of dermatology, medical oncology, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery, plastic surgery, and radiation oncology of the Jose R.

Expert consensus on holistic skin care routine: Focus on acne, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, and sensitive skin syndrome.

Background: Treatment, cleansing, moisturizing, and photoprotection are four major components of holistic skin care for dermatological conditions. While treatment (T) is recognized as a key component in the management of dermatological conditions, there is a lack of practical guidance on the adjunctive role of cleansing, moisturizing, and photoprotection ("CMP"). Limited patient knowledge, confusion over product selection, and lack of guidance on how to choose and use CMP skin care products (in conjunction with pharmacological therapy) are the main barriers to establishing a holistic skin care routine for dermatological conditions.

Oral Tofacitinib and Systemic Corticosteroids, Alone or in Combination, in Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune hair loss mediated by CD8 + T cells. Treatment for moderate-to-severe AA is still challenging. Janus kinase inhibitors, such as tofacitinib, have been recently investigated as a promising treatment option for AA.

Development of Clinical Milestones in Parkinson's Disease After Bilateral Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation.

Objective: Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients does not halt disease progression, as these patients will progress and develop disabling non-levodopa responsive symptoms. These features may act as milestones that represent the overall functionality of patients after DBS. The objective of this study was to investigate the development of clinical milestones in advanced PD patients who underwent bilateral STN-DBS.

Tissue-specific and repeat length-dependent somatic instability of the X-linked dystonia parkinsonism-associated CCCTCT repeat.

X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP) is a progressive adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by insertion of a SINE-VNTR-Alu (SVA) retrotransposon in the TAF1 gene. The SVA retrotransposon contains a CCCTCT hexameric repeat tract of variable length, whose length is inversely correlated with age at onset. This places XDP in a broader class of repeat expansion diseases, characterized by the instability of their causative repeat mutations.

Percutaneous, implantless basal closing wedge osteotomy for hallux valgus: Surgical technique and preliminary results in 114 patients.

Background: Percutaneous, implantless basal closing wedge osteotomy (PIBCO) is a new technique for hallux valgus (HV) deformity correction that does not need internal fixation. We present this technique and its short-term clinical outcomes for moderate-to-severe HV deformities.

Methods: A retrospective review of 162 feet in 114 patients who underwent PIBCO of the first metatarsal (MT1) was conducted.