Association between the Preoperative Standard Uptake Value (SUV) and Survival Outcomes after Robotic-Assisted Segmentectomy for Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

Background: Lung-sparing procedures, specifically segmentectomies and wedge resections, have increased over the years to treat early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigate here the perioperative and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent robotic-assisted segmentectomy (RAS) at an NCI-designated cancer center and aim to show associations between the preoperative standard update value (SUV) to tumor stage, recurrence patterns, and overall survival.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 166 consecutive patients who underwent RAS at a single institution from 2010 to 2021.

Safety and efficacy of the intranasal spray SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dNS1-RBD: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

Background: The live-attenuated influenza virus vector-based intranasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (dNS1-RBD, Pneucolin; Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise, Beijing, China) confers long-lasting and broad protection in animal models and is, to our knowledge, the first COVID-19 mucosal vaccine to enter into human trials, but its efficacy is still unknown. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy (but not the immunogenicity) of dNS1-RBD against COVID-19.

Methods: We did a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive design, phase 3 trial at 33 centres (private or public hospitals, clinical research centres, or Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) in four countries (Colombia, Philippines, South Africa, and Viet Nam).

Role of β-blockers in the cardiovascular disease continuum: a collaborative Delphi survey-based consensus from Asia-Pacific.

Objective: This Delphi method of consensus was designed to develop scientific statements for β-blockers in the continuum of cardiovascular diseases with a special focus on the role of bisoprolol.

Methods: Eleven experienced cardiologists from across the Asia-Pacific countries participated in two rounds of the survey. In the first round, experts were asked to rate agreement/disagreement with 35 statements across seven domains regarding the use of β-blockers for treating hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery diseases, co-morbidities, as well as their safety profile, usage pattern, and pharmacokinetic variability.

Effectiveness of interventions for academic burnout among nursing students: A systematic review.

Background: Nursing students experience higher stress and burnout compared to students in other health professions, with a prevalence rate of as high as 20%. More recently, they have been affected by changes in nursing education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as requirements for social isolation and distance learning. Although there are existing studies on interventions that address academic burnout among nursing students, there is no synthesis of randomized trials on this topic.

A Review of Clostridioides difficile Infection and Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) occur frequently among adults. The pathophysiology of CDI is related to disruption of normal gut flora and risk factors include hospitalization, use of antibiotic therapy, and older age. Clinical manifestations can range from mild disease to toxic megacolon.

The efficacy of hepatitis B treatments in achieving HBsAg seroclearance: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Current therapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) include nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and interferon (IFN), but their relative efficacy as monotherapy or in combination has not been examined systematically for HBsAg loss (functional cure). Hence, we systematically reviewed the evidence for HBsAg loss in CHB patients treated with IFN, NA or the combination. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and abstracts from EASL, Asia Pacific Association for study of the Liver and American Association for the Study of Liver Disease for randomized controlled trials of CHB patients, comparing NA, IFN or the combination.

Comparative aspects of the care of familial hypercholesterolemia in the "Ten Countries Study".

Background: There is a lack of information on the health care of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the health care of FH in countries of the Asia-Pacific region and Southern Hemisphere.

Methods: A series of questionnaires were completed by key opinion leaders from selected specialist centers in 12 countries concerning aspects of the care of FH, including screening, diagnosis, risk assessment, treatment, teaching/training, and research; the United Kingdom (UK) was used as the international benchmark.

Autoimmune-Associated Hemophagocytosis and Myelofibrosis in a Newly Diagnosed Lupus Patient: Case Report and Literature Review.

Bone marrow abnormalities in SLE are now becoming increasingly recognized, suggesting that the bone marrow may also be an important site of target organ damage. In this study, we present a rare case of concurrent autoimmune hemophagocytic syndrome and autoimmune myelofibrosis, potentially life-threatening conditions, in a newly diagnosed SLE patient. We report a case of a 30-year-old Filipino woman who presented with a one-year history of fever, constitutional symptoms, exertional dyspnea, joint pains, and alopecia and physical examination findings of fever, facial flushing, cervical lymphadenopathies, and knee joint effusions.

Seizure and Acute Vision Loss in a Filipino Lupus Patient: A Case of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome with Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare and poorly understood neurologic condition that has been described in some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Intracerebral hemorrhage is a unique and atypical presentation of PRES and has been described only in a small number of patients with SLE. We present the case of a 33-year-old female, diagnosed with SLE and active nephritis, who was admitted for seizures.

An update on Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adults.

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is common worldwide, but is rarely reported after hematopoietic transplantation (HSCT). We reviewed all TB cases among HSCT since 2010 to provide an update on its epidemiology, clinical presentation, management and outcome.

Methods: Several databases were reviewed from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2018 using key words tuberculosis and hematopoietic transplantation.

An enquiry based on a standardised questionnaire into knowledge, awareness and preferences concerning the care of familial hypercholesterolaemia among primary care physicians in the Asia-Pacific region: the "Ten Countries Study".

Objective: To determine physicians' knowledge, awareness and preferences regarding the care of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in the Asia-Pacific region.

Setting: A formal questionnaire was anonymously completed by physicians from different countries/regions in the Asia-Pacific. The survey sought responses relating to general familiarity, awareness of management guidelines, identification (clinical characteristics and lipid profile), prevalence and inheritance, extent of elevation in risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and practice on screening and treatment.

Ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens.

Background: Ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens (IBS) is a rare hyperkeratotic blistering condition caused by mutations in keratin 2e gene.

Main Observations: This is a case of a 18-year-old female with generalized blisters, erosions and thickened skin since she was 3 months old. As she aged, there was decrease in development of blisters and erosions, with accompanying increase in severity of hyperkeratosis.

Pericardial decompression syndrome in a patient with hypothyroidism presenting as massive pericardial effusion: a case report and review of related literature.

The authors present a case of a 44-year-old female with unrecognised hypothyroidism consulting for heart failure symptoms. Echocardiogram revealed massive pericardial effusion with tamponade physiology, attributed to primary hypothyroidism from a previous thyroidectomy. Levothyroxine was started at a dose of 0.

Universal neonatal hearing screening: applications for a developing country in the Asia-Pacific region.

Various centers around the world have implemented and evaluated universal hearing screening programs as a response to the US National Institute of Health policy statement on early identification of hearing loss. Several well conducted clinical trials have been devised to examine and evaluate various factors relevant to establishing a UNHS program. This paper aims to describe some of these factors and analyze their applications and implications for a UNHS program for a developing country in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Microvascular disease relevance in the hypertension syndrome.

Hypertension is not an isolated problem. Co-morbidities of smoking, obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia are all associated with microvascular disease (MVD) with abnormal PET scan and endothelial dysfunction. MVD may contribute to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) via an imbalance between hyperplasia and apoptotic signals.

Nature of drug resistance and predictors of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among patients seen at the Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines.

Setting: This study was conducted at the University of the Philippines--Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), Manila, Philippines.

Objectives: To determine the nature of drug resistance among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and to establish clinical predictors of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Design: Descriptive, prospective study.