METHOD: The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. In total, 40 patients were recruited. Patients were randomized to receive either microbial cell preparation (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) for 7 days prior to elective surgery. The primary end point was the time to return of normal gut function, while the secondary end point was the duration of hospital stay.
RESULTS: The treatment group demonstrated significantly faster return of normal gut function with a median of 108.5 h (80-250 h) which was 48 h earlier than the placebo group at a median of 156.5 h (94-220 h), p = 0.022. The duration of hospital stay in the treatment group was also shorter at a median of 6.5 days (4-30 days), in comparison to the placebo group at 13 days (5-25 days), p = 0.012.
CONCLUSION: Pre-surgical administration of microbial cell preparation promotes the return of normal gut function in patients after colorectal cancer surgery, thus associated with faster recovery and shorter duration of hospital stay.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to develop a new and clinically relevant POH classification system and to measure impact on quality of life of POH individuals.
METHODS: One hundred patients with POH were enrolled, of which all underwent clinical assessment by a clinician. Objective assessment with mexameter and digital analysis were performed. All recruited patients also completed a questionnaire based on dermatology life quality index (DLQI).
RESULTS: Assessments noted the commonest type of POH among the subjects was vascular (51%) with the least being pigmentary (6%). The location of POH majority involved both the upper and lower eyelids (65%). DLQI scoring shows that a majority (58%) did not disrupt their quality of life.
CONCLUSION: Vascular type POH was the frequent most form observed, and involvement tends to occur on both eyelids. A majority of noted that POH does not affect they QOL, but the due consideration must be given in those whom are moderately and minimally affected. A thorough and comprehensive holistic approach is required in managing POH despite its focal presentation as it does affect a patient's quality of life.
METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study was conducted involving 57 acne vulgaris patients and 57 age-, gender- and ethnicity-matched controls. All participants were aged 14 and above. The Comprehensive Acne Severity Scale (CASS) was used to categorise patients (grades 2 to 5) and controls (grades 0 to 1). Information such as the demographics, family history, smoking habits and dietary intake were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.
RESULTS: In the patient arm, the gender ratio of male to female was 1.5:1. 43 patients (75.4%) had a family history of acne vulgaris. No significant association was found for acne in patients with a history of smoking. Milk consumption was significantly higher in patients (63.2%, n=36) versus controls (43.9%, n=25), (OR=2.19, p<0.05). In addition, chocolate consumption was also significantly higher in patients (43.9%, n=25) versus controls (24.6%, n=14), (OR=2.4, p<0.05). No significant association was found with the intakes of sweets, potatoes, chips, nuts, yoghurt, ice-cream or carbonated drinks.
CONCLUSIONS: Dietary intake of milk and chocolate may play a role in acne vulgaris. Prospective cohort and intervention studies are recommended to explore whether a causal relationship might obtain.
METHODS: Participants took 6 mg of lutein and 1 mg of zeaxanthin, along with 100 mg elderberry extract once daily for a duration of 20 days. Ocular health was assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), while immune status was evaluated with the Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ).
RESULTS: Results showed that combined supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the OSDI scores in the intervention group from 38.15 ± 11.14 to 18.26 ± 5.57, reflecting a 52.2% reduction. A similar trend was observed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), indicating significant (p < 0.05) improvement from 5.31 ± 1.62 to 6.73 ± 1.74, equivalent to a 26.7% improvement. Although the intervention group showed a 15.9% improvement in ISQ scores by the study's end, this was not significantly different from the placebo group, suggesting that higher dosages or longer durations may be needed to observe a meaningful effect. Additionally, findings from the Food Frequency Questionnaire revealed that the average dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin among participants was only 663.49 µg, equating to just 5.5% of the suggested optimal daily intake. This low consumption is concerning, as it is inversely correlated with the risk of ocular diseases.
CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings support the use of combined supplementation as an adjuvant approach to improving ocular health.
METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional study was conducted at 13 hospitals and 44 primary health clinics in Perak from May to July 2017. Adults above 18 years, literate, and had experience in antibiotics consumption were selected through sequential sampling method. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire which included the three study domains i.e. belief, knowledge and practice. The questionnaire was pilot on 30 subjects.
RESULTS: Out of 2850 distributed questionnaires, 2773 returned and 2632 were included for analysis. Mean age of the respondents was 39.7 ± 14.5 years old. Most respondents were female (58.6%), Malay (74.7%) and underwent upper secondary school (45.6%). Mean score were generated for each domain with belief: 5.87 ± 3.00 (total score: 12), knowledge: 15.82 ± 3.85 (total score: 24), practice: 6.91 ± 2.07 (total score: 12). In the belief domain, 63.2% of respondents believed that antibiotics would help them to recover faster. In the knowledge domain, 52.7% of respondents inappropriately thought that antibiotics could work on viral infections. In the practice domain, 70% of respondents expected doctors to prescribe antibiotics if suffered from symptoms.
CONCLUSION: Majority of the respondents expect doctors to prescribe antibiotics for their illness, and most believes that antibiotics can speed up recovery of illness. Lack of awareness on antibiotic resistance was found to be a significant factor associated with inappropriate antibiotic use.
METHODS: Two cross-sectional, anonymized, online surveys were completed between July and December 2022 by physicians diagnosing and treating HCC (55 questions on risk factors, surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment) and patients ≥ 18 years old diagnosed with HCC (36 questions on disease knowledge, quality of life, and experiences of diagnosis and treatment).
RESULTS: Responses were received from 276 physicians in all 7 countries and 130 patients in Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam. From the physician's perspective, surveillance programs are widespread but identify insufficient HCC cases; only 18% are early-stage HCC at diagnosis. From the patient's perspective, knowledge of risk factors increases after diagnosis, but few seek support from patient associations; patients would benefit from better communication from their doctors. Treatment affordability and side effects are key issues for patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of the risk factors for HCC should be raised in primary care and the general population, and surveillance should identify early-stage HCC. Because patients rely on their doctors for support, doctors should better understand their patients' needs, and patients could be supported by trained nurses or case managers. Programs are needed to increase patients' access to proven HCC treatments.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is an open-label, multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 study of pembrolizumab plus PG for first-line treatment in subjects with R/M HNSCC in Malaysia. The study is conducted using the Optional Simon optimal 2-stage design. At the initial stage, 26 subjects will be enrolled and if seven or more patients achieve an objective response rate (ORR), then 63 patients will be enrolled. Subjects will be given pembrolizumab 200 mg3 every 3 weeks up to 35 cycles in combination with chemotherapy for up to six cycles of platinum (either cisplatin at 35 mg/m2 intravenous on day 1 and day 8 or carboplatin at area under the curve 5 intravenous on day 1 of each 3-week cycle) and gemcitabine at 1250 mg/m2 intravenous on days 1 and 8 of a 3-week cycle. The primary end point is the ORR as per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1. Secondary end points include the overall survival, progression free survival, response duration and safety. The exploratory objectives include relationships of microbiome profiles, prognostic and predictive biomarkers with the clinical responses.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the ethics committee of the University Malaya Medical Centre (202213-10884). Findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and peer review publications.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov (www.
CLINICALTRIAL: gov); NCT05286619.
PURPOSE: To compare the 1-year efficacy and safety of phacoemulsification combined with iStent Inject W (phaco/iStent) and phacoemulsification combined with micropulse transscleral laser therapy (phaco/MPTLT).
METHODS: Retrospective cohort study that included patients with mild-moderate open angle glaucoma (OAG) and cataract who underwent either phaco/iStent or phaco/MPTLT in a tertiary hospital in Singapore between August 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022. The primary outcome measures were cumulative probabilities of failure between the two groups with failure defined as disease progression by Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT-RNFL) or Visual Field Test (VFT), repeat glaucoma surgery, and inability to maintain intraocular pressure (IOP) lower than pre-operative baseline or the use of glaucoma medications for 2 consecutive visits after 1 month post-operatively. Additionally, post-operative mean IOP, average number of IOP lowering medications, visual acuity, and complications were analyzed.
RESULTS: Forty-six patients were included. 23 eyes underwent phaco/iStent and 23 had phaco/MPTLT. The two groups had comparable cumulative probabilities of failure (52.20% phaco/iStent, 47.80% phaco/MPTLT; P=0.994) and mean IOP (15.57+2.95 mmHg phaco /iStent, 14.39+2.25 mmHg phaco/MPTLT; P=0.136) after 1 year. The change in IOP before surgery to 12 months is -1.04+3.07 mmHg in the phaco/iStent group (P=0.593) and -2.43+4.12 mmHg in the phaco/MPTLT group (P=0.022). Both achieved significant medication reduction burden (P<0.05). Intra-operative and post-operative complication rates were similar.
CONCLUSION: Both groups showed comparable surgical efficacy and safety after 1 year. The phaco/MPTLT group demonstrated sustained IOP reduction 1 year post-operatively.