Pegcetacoplan controls hemolysis in complement inhibitor-naive patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disease characterized by complement-mediated hemolysis. Pegcetacoplan is the first C3-targeted therapy approved for adults with PNH (United States), adults with PNH with inadequate response or intolerance to a C5 inhibitor (Australia), and adults with anemia despite C5-targeted therapy for ≥3 months (European Union). PRINCE was a phase 3, randomized, multicenter, open-label, controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegcetacoplan vs control (supportive care only; eg, blood transfusions, corticosteroids, and supplements) in complement inhibitor-naive patients with PNH.

Epidemiological characteristics of Asian children with inflammatory bowel disease at diagnosis: Insights from an Asian-Pacific multi-centre registry network.

Background: There remains a dearth of Asian epidemiological literature for paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD).

Aim: To describe the presenting features of PIBD from 7 Asia-Pacific pediatric gastroenterology centers a central standardised electronic data platform.

Methods: Clinical, endoscopic and radiologic data at diagnosis from the registry were extracted between 1 January 1995 to 31 December 2019.

Global parental leave in surgical careers: differences according to gender, geographical regions and surgical career stages.

Background: There is a lack of information regarding the provision of parental leave for surgical careers. This survey study aims to evaluate the experience of maternity/paternity leave and views on work-life balance globally.

Methods: A 55-item online survey in 24 languages was distributed via social media as per CHERRIES guideline from February to March 2020.

A partially randomised trial of pretomanid, moxifloxacin and pyrazinamide for pulmonary TB.

Treatment for TB is lengthy and toxic, and new regimens are needed. Participants with pulmonary drug-susceptible TB (DS-TB) were randomised to receive: 200 mg pretomanid (Pa, PMD) daily, 400 mg moxifloxacin (M) and 1500 mg pyrazinamide (Z) for 6 months (6PaMZ) or 4 months (4PaMZ); 100 mg pretomanid daily for 4 months in the same combination (4PaMZ); or standard DS-TB treatment for 6 months. The primary outcome was treatment failure or relapse at 12 months post-randomisation.

Immediate and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delivery of surgical services.

Background: The ongoing pandemic is having a collateral health effect on delivery of surgical care to millions of patients. Very little is known about pandemic management and effects on other services, including delivery of surgery.

Methods: This was a scoping review of all available literature pertaining to COVID-19 and surgery, using electronic databases, society websites, webinars and preprint repositories.

Current state of acute stroke care in Southeast Asian countries.

Acute stroke care systems in Southeast Asian countries are at various stages of development, with disparate treatment availability and practice in terms of intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular therapy. With the advent of successful endovascular therapy stroke trials over the past decade, the pressure to revise and advance acute stroke management has greatly intensified. Southeast Asian patients exhibit unique stroke features, such as increased susceptibility to intracranial atherosclerosis and higher prevalence of intracranial haemorrhage, likely secondary to modified vascular risk factors from differing dietary and lifestyle habits.

The occurrence of neointimal hyperplasia after flow-diverter implantation is associated with cardiovascular risks factors and the stent design.

Background: Neo-intimal hyperplasia (NIH) is frequently observed after flow-diverter stent (FDS) implantation. Although mostly asymptomatic, this vascular response can sometimes lead to delayed ischemic strokes. This study intended to evaluate the factors potentially influencing the rates of NIH following FDS treatment.

Postgraduate training in psychiatry in Asia.

Purpose Of Review: To understand the current situation, needs and challenges in the area of postgraduate training in psychiatry in Asia and identify implementable solutions.Leaders in psychiatric education from nine Asia Pacific countries prepared country reports, based on a suggested list of items and met for a day to discuss and identify implementable solutions to improve the current unsatisfactory status of postgraduate training in psychiatry.

Recent Findings: Except Japan, all the other countries have a very low number of psychiatrists per 100 000 population - far lower than the global target of 10 psychiatrist per 100 000 population.

Ketogenic diet use in children with intractable epilepsy secondary to malformations of cortical development: A two- centre experience.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the ketogenic diet (KD) as a treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy secondary to malformations of cortical development.

Methods: A two-centre retrospective analysis of 45 paediatric patients with refractory epilepsy due to malformation of cortical development was carried out. Patients were divided into three groups based on malformation type: abnormal neural proliferation (Group 1); abnormal neural migration (Group 2) and abnormal post-migrational development (Group 3).

Asian venous thromboembolism guidelines: updated recommendations for the prevention of venous thromboembolism.

The Asian venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis guidelines were first published in 2012. Since its first edition, the Asian Venous Thrombosis Forum (AVTF) working group have updated the Asian VTE epidemiology and reviewed issues that were not addressed in the previous guidelines. The authors noted that the rising incidence of VTE across Asia may be attributable to aging population, dietary changes, and increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes.

Prior human papillomavirus-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccination prevents recurrent high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after definitive surgical therapy: Post-hoc analysis from a randomized controlled trial.

We evaluated the efficacy of the human papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine in preventing HPV-related disease after surgery for cervical lesions in a post-hoc analysis of the PApilloma TRIal against Cancer In young Adults (PATRICIA; NCT00122681). Healthy women aged 15-25 years were randomized (1:1) to receive vaccine or control at months 0, 1 and 6 and followed for 4 years. Women were enrolled regardless of their baseline HPV DNA status, HPV-16/18 serostatus, or cytology, but excluded if they had previous or planned colposcopy.

An International Observational Prospective Survey Assessing the Control of Atrial Fibrillation in Asia-Pacific: Results of the Record-AFAP Registry.

A prospective 1-year observational survey was designed to assess the management and control of atrial fibrillation (AF) in eight countries within the Asia-Pacific region. Patients (N = 2,604) with recently diagnosed AF or a history of AF ≤1 year were included. Clinicians chose the treatment strategy (rhythm or rate control) according to their standard practice and medical discretion.

Efficacy of human papillomavirus 16 and 18 (HPV-16/18) AS04-adjuvanted vaccine against cervical infection and precancer in young women: final event-driven analysis of the randomized, double-blind PATRICIA trial.

We report final event-driven analysis data on the immunogenicity and efficacy of the human papillomavirus 16 and 18 ((HPV-16/18) AS04-adjuvanted vaccine in young women aged 15 to 25 years from the PApilloma TRIal against Cancer In young Adults (PATRICIA). The total vaccinated cohort (TVC) included all randomized participants who received at least one vaccine dose (vaccine, n = 9,319; control, n = 9,325) at months 0, 1, and/or 6. The TVC-naive (vaccine, n = 5,822; control, n = 5,819) had no evidence of high-risk HPV infection at baseline, approximating adolescent girls targeted by most HPV vaccination programs.

Risk of newly detected infections and cervical abnormalities in women seropositive for naturally acquired human papillomavirus type 16/18 antibodies: analysis of the control arm of PATRICIA.

Background: We examined risk of newly detected human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical abnormalities in relation to HPV type 16/18 antibody levels at enrollment in PATRICIA (Papilloma Trial Against Cancer in Young Adults; NCT00122681).

Methods: Using Poisson regression, we compared risk of newly detected infection and cervical abnormalities associated with HPV-16/18 between seronegative vs seropositive women (15-25 years) in the control arm (DNA negative at baseline for the corresponding HPV type [HPV-16: n = 8193; HPV-18: n = 8463]).

Results: High titers of naturally acquired HPV-16 antibodies and/or linear trend for increasing antibody levels were significantly associated with lower risk of incident and persistent infection, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or greater (ASCUS+), and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 1/2 or greater (CIN1+, CIN2+).

Child care practices of mothers: implications for intervention in acute respiratory infections.

An epidemiological study of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in an urban community showed poor utilization of available health services. This prompted us to undertake this study to identify determinants of child care practices of mothers through a focus group discussion and survey of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers. The results will form the basis of appropriate health education strategy geared towards control of ARI.