Nasopharynx Cancer in the United States: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Stage at Presentation.

Introduction: Although nasopharynx cancer (NPC) is rare in the United States, global epidemiology varies greatly. Therefore, understanding NPC disparities in the diverse US setting is critical.

Methods And Materials: Data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB, 2004-2021) identified patients with NPC; NCDB allows disaggregation by Asian American (AA) subgroups.

Patient's experience as a tool in analyzing primary care in Catalonia.

Introduction: Primary health care is essential in a well-designed health system. A way of approaching the quality of an institution or service is evaluating different aspects like accessibility, treatment, satisfaction, and efficiency. The COVID-19 pandemic caused substantial disruptions in health systems.

Greater smoking intensity may be linked to early smoking initiation among Filipinos: Evidence from the 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey Philippines.

Introduction: Understanding the relationship between age at smoking initiation and later smoking intensity is crucial for assessing future health consequences of smoking early and informing strategies to prevent and reduce tobacco use. This study explores the relationship between the two smoking-related behaviors among Filipino daily smokers.

Methods: Secondary data analyses from the 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey Philippines were performed.

Effects of socio-therapeutic interventions on cognitive functions among institutionalized elderly.

Cognitive impairment affects over one billion people globally, with elderly individuals in institutions in China being particularly impacted. This study involved 60 elderly participants with mild cognitive impairment, who were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 30 in a control group receiving traditional programs from the elderly institution and 30 in an intervention group receiving socio-therapeutic methods. Cognitive function was assessed before the intervention, and at the end of the first, second, and third months (with unsupervised interventions in the third month).

Protocol development and feasibility of the PEACH in Asia study: A pilot study on PEri-anesthetic morbidity in CHildren in Asia.

Background: Comprehensive data on pediatric anesthesia outcomes, particularly severe critical events (SCEs), are scarce in Asia. This highlights the need for standardized research to assess anesthesia safety and quality in the diverse settings.

Aims: The PEACH in Asia pilot study aimed to test the feasibility of a standardized protocol for investigating SCEs in anesthesia practices across Asia, evaluate the data acquisition processes, and determine the sample size for a main study.

Network transformation-based analysis of biochemical systems.

A dynamical system obtains a wide variety of kinetic realizations, which is advantageous for the analysis of biochemical systems. A reaction network, derived from a dynamical system, may or may not possess some properties needed for a thorough analysis. We improve and extend the work of Johnston and Hong et al.

The Association Between Victimization and Perpetration of Physical Intimate Partner Violence and Unmet Healthcare Needs Among Married Women in South Korea.

This study assessed physical intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences and examined their association with unmet healthcare needs among married women in South Korea. We analyzed data from a nationally representative longitudinal survey of 6,533 women at baseline. Participants were asked yes/no questions about their experiences of physical IPV victimization and perpetration over the past year.

Dynamic modelling of improved diagnostic testing for drug-resistant tuberculosis in high burden settings.

Background: Limited diagnostic testing for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) may lead to high rates of misdiagnosis and undertreatment. Current diagnostic tests focus only on detection of rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB). This study aims to determine the impact of improved diagnostic testing for a wider range of drug resistance on DR-TB outcomes in high-burden TB settings, using the Philippines and Thailand as case studies.

Targeting Myeloperoxidase to Reduce Neuroinflammation in X-Linked Dystonia Parkinsonism.

Aims: Although the genetic locus of X-linked dystonia parkinsonism (XDP), a neurodegenerative disease endemic in the Philippines, is well-characterized, the exact mechanisms leading to neuronal loss are not yet fully understood. Recently, we demonstrated an increase in myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in XDP postmortem prefrontal cortex (PFC), suggesting a role for inflammation in XDP pathogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibiting MPO could provide a therapeutic strategy for XDP.

Enhanced Recovery After Craniotomy: Global Practices, Challenges, and Perspectives.

The global demand for hospital care, driven by population growth and medical advances, emphasizes the importance of optimized resource management. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to expedite patient recovery and reduce health care costs without compromising patient safety or satisfaction. Its principles have been adopted in various surgical specialties but have not fully encompassed all areas of neurosurgery, including craniotomy.

Vitamin D prophylaxis in persons with epilepsy?

Limited guidelines exist regarding osteoporosis prevention in the general population. Despite being a subject of controversy, the majority of research suggests that decreased vitamin D levels correlate with increased bone turnover, that is, an important risk factor for osteoporosis development. In most guidelines, daily vitamin D supplementation is recommended.

How do Patients and Managers Value Gold Standard Elements in Primary Health Care.

The study explores how Primary Health Care Team managers in Catalonia assess the gold standard criteria for excellence in Primary Health Care and whether there are differences in evaluations between the best and worst-rated centers by patients in a patient experience survey included in the Catalan Satisfaction Survey Plan (PLAENSA). The researchers used mixed methods to analyze 12 interviews done to Primary Care Team (PCT) managers. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed, yielding three themes and 12 subthemes.

Filipino Translation and Validation of the University of Washington - Quality of Life Questionnaire (Version 4) for Patients with Head and Neck Tumors in the Philippine General Hospital.

Objectives: This study aims to develop a Filipino translation of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL) version 4, and determine its internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

Methods: This was a cross sectional mixed methods study comprised of two parts. The first part consisted of Filipino translation of the UW-QOL version 4 questionnaire.

A Dysfunctional Larynx Dilemma: Carcinoma Recurrence or Radiation-induced Damage?

A 61-year-old male diagnosed with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma presented with hoarseness, progressive dysphagia leading to aspiration, and dyspnea one month after definitive radiation therapy. Examination revealed a diffusely swollen glottis, paralyzed vocal cords, and post-radiation fibrosis. Several glottic biopsies yielded results negative for malignancy and favored radiation-induced changes.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Properties of the Flavonoid-rich Ethyl Acetate Fraction of the Crude Methanol Leaf Extract of (Blume) Merr. (Myrtaceae) against MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the Philippines and about 3 in every 100 Filipina will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. There is a need to discover safe, yet inexpensive herbal extracts with potential cytotoxic properties as potential treatment modalities to treat breast cancer.

Objectives: This study seeks to explore the cytotoxic and apoptotic properties of the ethyl acetate fraction of the defatted crude methanol leaf extract of in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines.

The Utility of Ultrasound-guided Tru-cut Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Occult Breast Carcinoma Presenting as Ovarian Malignancy with Multiple Metastases: A Case of Unknown Primary.

This paper documents the utility of ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy in the diagnosis and subsequent management of a case of occult breast carcinoma presenting with multiple distant metastases in the absence of a primary breast lesion. She was initially diagnosed as primary ovarian malignancy with metastatic disease and subsequently underwent transvaginal ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy of the right ovarian mass. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies were consistent with a metastatic adenocarcinoma of breast origin.

Safety of BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescent Patients of UP-PGH.

Background: In response to the pandemic brought about by COVID-19, vaccines were developed immediately. Together with adhering to safety protocols, vaccines are needed to help decrease the mortality and morbidity. As with any other, COVID-19 vaccines are evaluated based on efficacy and safety.