Exploring Gender Differences in Receipt of the 5As for Smoking Cessation for Recently-Diagnosed Cancer Patients (ECOG-ACRIN EAQ171CD).

Introduction: Smoking cessation is important for men and women diagnosed with cancer. Oncology clinicians should encourage all patients to quit and offer resources to help them do so, following the 5As framework (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange follow-up).

Method: This study tests gender differences in self-reported receipt of the 5As by an oncology provider among 306 recently-diagnosed male and female cancer patients.

Single-arm Cohort Study on the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Radiation Treatment of Cancer Patients Referred to the Radiation Oncology Division of a Tertiary Hospital.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on radiation treatment delays, interruptions, and cancer outcomes if any, in a Philippine tertiary hospital.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted among patients living with cancer who were referred for radiation therapy from March to July 2020. Data on treatment delays, treatment interruptions, and average treatment times were collected and analyzed.

Antibody response to enterotoxigenic of Filipino colorectal cancer patients.

Background: Several species of the gut microbiota have been implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. The anaerobic bacterium enterotoxigenic (ETBF), has been identified to produce fragilysin, a toxin known to cleave E-cadherin, thereby leading to carcinogenesis.

Objective: To determine the antibody response of CRC patients against ETBF to ascertain whether significant difference exists or whether antibody response is related to tumor grade and tumor stage.

Validation of the Filipino Translation of the Impact of Vision Impairment for Children (IVI_C) Questionnaire among School Children.

Background: Quality of life questionnaires provide valuable information in assessing the effects of health interventions and public health campaigns. In the Philippines, we only have a few validated questionnaires targeted specifically for children.

Objective: To translate to Filipino and validate the translated Impact of Vision Impairment for Children Questionnaire (IVI_C).

Expression of specific microRNAs in tissue and plasma in colorectal cancer.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA/miR) play significant roles in the regulation of cell differentiation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. They become dysregulated during carcinogenesis and are eventually released into the circulation, enabling their detection in body fluids. Thus, this study compared the miRNA expression in tissue and plasma samples of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and clinically healthy controls and determined miRNA expression as a potential CRC biomarker.

Successful Implementation of Expanded Newborn Screening in the Philippines Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) began as a research project in the Philippines in 1996 and was mandated by law in 2004. The program initially included screening for five conditions, with a sixth added in 2012. As screening technology and medical knowledge have advanced, NBS programs in countries with developed economies have also expanded, not only in the number of newborns screened but also in the number of conditions included in the screening.

Detection of breast cancer by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy using artificial neural networks.

In this study, three (3) neural networks (NN) were designed to discriminate between malignant (n = 78) and benign (n = 88) breast tumors using their respective attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectral data. A proposed NN-based sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the most significant IR regions that distinguished benign from malignant samples. The result of the NN-based sensitivity analysis was compared to the obtained results from FTIR visual peak identification.

pks Escherichia coli more prevalent in benign than malignant colorectal tumors.

Background: Some E. coli strains that synthesize the toxin colibactin within the 54-kb pks island are being implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Here, the prevalence of pks E.

Successful Implementation of Newborn Screening for Hemoglobin Disorders in the Philippines.

The Philippine newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) program began in 1996 with 24 hospitals and was formalized by legislation in 2004. The NBS panel was recently expanded to include a number of additional hereditary congenital conditions. Expertise and experiences from other NBS programs already screening for hemoglobinopathies were essential to its successful integration into the ongoing dried bloodspot NBS program in the Philippines.

Discrimination of malignant from benign thyroid lesions through neural networks using FTIR signals obtained from tissues.

The current gold standard in cancer diagnosis-the microscopic examination of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained biopsies-is prone to bias since it greatly relies on visual examination. Hence, there is a need to develop a more sensitive and specific method for diagnosing cancer. Here, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of thyroid tumors (n = 164; 76 malignant, 88 benign) was performed and five (5) neural network (NN) models were designed to discriminate the obtained spectral data.

antibody response of colorectal cancer patients versus clinically healthy individuals.

Dysbiosis, defined as an imbalance in the gut microbiota caused by too few beneficial bacteria and an overgrowth of bad bacteria, yeast, and/or parasites, is now being associated with several diseases, including the development of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). In this study, the potential association of (formerly ) with CRC was investigated. Plasma samples obtained from preoperative histologically confirmed CRC patients (=39) and their age- and sex-matched clinically healthy controls (=39) were analyzed for antibodies to toxin B of (anti-tcdB) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as adjunct method to the microscopic examination of hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissues in diagnosing lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Since prognosis and treatment outcomes rely on fast and accurate diagnosis, there is a need for more cost-effective, sensitive, and specific method for lung cancer detection. Thus, this study aimed to determine the ability of ATR-FTIR in discriminating malignant from benign lung tissues and evaluate its concordance with H&E staining.

Human Papillomavirus Serologic Profiles of Selected Filipinos with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: The low prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and mRNA in biopsy samples of Filipinos with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been reported previously. Here, the HPV serologic profiles of HNSCC cases were analyzed and associated with life-style and sexual practices.

Methods: Serum samples were collected between May 2012 and September 2013 from HNSCC patients (n = 22) in the northwest region of the Philippines, and age- and sex-matched clinically healthy controls.

Clinical Course and Quality of Life in High-Risk Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators.

Background: High-risk patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are identified by contemporary risk stratification and effectively treated with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). However, long-term HCM clinical course after ICD therapy for ventricular tachyarrhythmias is incompletely understood.

Methods And Results: Cohort of 486 high-risk HCM patients with ICDs was assembled from 8 international centers.

Low prevalence of human papillomavirus in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the northwest region of the Philippines.

Background: Geographic heterogeneity of human papillomavirus (HPV) involvement in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been observed over the last few years. This trend has not been evaluated in the Philippines. Hence, this study aims to provide for the first time a data on the prevalence of HPV in HNSCC in the northwestern region of the Philippines.

Isolated tuberculous epididymitis presenting as a painless scrotal tumor.

Genitourinary tuberculosis, the second most common extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB), is very difficult to diagnose unless one maintains a high index of suspicion. Isolated tuberculous epididymitis (ITE), defined as tuberculous epididymitis without clinical evidence of either renal or prostate involvement, is a rare entity among genitourinary tuberculosis. When diagnosed correctly, ITE can be cured with anti-TB medications.

Pulp plasty after toe-to-hand transplantation.

Pulp plasty is a simple procedure that is used to debulk the bulbous-appearing pulp of a transplanted digit after toe-to-hand transplantation. A retrospective review of the effect of pulp plasty on the appearance and function of the debulked digit was conducted of 82 digits on 51 patients. Pulp plasty was performed on average of 14 months after toe-to-hand transplantation; the average follow-up interval was 20 months.

Computed tomography of primary aortocaval fistula.

Spontaneous aortocaval fistula is a rare but documented complication of arteriosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm. Most cases reported have presented clinically with a palpable aneurysm, abdominal bruit, and high output congestive heart failure. A diagnosis in such cases requires active demonstration of findings secondary to arteriovenous shunting, which can be optimized utilizing proper CT bolus technique and dynamic scanning.

Asymmetric field calculations.

A simple method for performing manual dose calculations in asymmetric fields is proposed. The method is based on a generalized central-axis dose calculation equation for which open- and wedged-field off-axis provisions have been made. A calculation form designed to document the calculation and simplify the calculation process is presented.

Hepatic encephalopathy induced by small bowel obstruction in a noncirrhotic child with portal vein thrombosis.

A case of hepatic encephalopathy in a noncirrhotic child, who has undergone a previous mesocaval shunt for extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis, is presented. Hepatic encephalopathy developed 5 years after the operation and is believed to have been precipitated by the presence of small bowel obstruction. Exploratory laparotomy and lysis of an adhesion relieved the obstruction and led to the resolution of the encephalopathy.

Toward becoming one self.

I communicated often with the patient's psychologist during her last hospitalization. As the patient moves slowly toward integration, she and I remain in contact through correspondence and occasional lunch meetings. This friendly relationship provides a much-needed ongoing support system for the patient, which is provided by one who is familiar with her diagnostic picture.

All that wheezes.

New onset wheezing in the young child can present an interesting differential diagnostic challenge, especially when there is an atypical presentation of a foreign body lodged in the airway. A thorough history and physical examination helps, but one must remember that a foreign body in the trachea or esophagus can masquerade as a respiratory illness. The chest x-ray is a useful part of the evaluation process.