METHODS: A cross-sectional investigation was conducted at General Penang Hospital, Malaysia. Demographic criteria and laboratory tests of patients were investigated. Controlled glycemia (CG) was recognized as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≤7% depending on American Diabetes Association guidelines 2018. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was used to estimate the confounding influence of co-morbidities and predict ES-10Y. Data was managed by IBM-SPSS 23.0.
RESULTS: A total of 400 cases categorized to (44.25%) patients with CG, and (55.75%) cases had uncontrolled glycemia (UCG). HbA1c mean in CG and UCG group was (6.8 ± 0.9 vs 9.5 ± 1.6, P-value: 0.001). Fasting blood glucose was (7 ± 2.3 vs. 9.9 ± 4.3, P-value: 0.001) in CG and UCG group. CCI was (3.38 ± 2.38 vs. 4.42 ± 2.70, P-value: 0.001) and, ES-10Y was (62% vs 46.2%, p-value: 0.001) in CG vs. UCG respectively. Spearman test indicates a negative correlation between CG and CCI (r: 0.19, p-value: 0.001). Logistic regression confirmed HbA1c as a significant predictor of CCI (r2: 0.036, P-value: 0.001). CG has a positive correlation with survival (r: 0.16, P-value: 0.001) and logistic regression of survival (r2: 0.26, P-value: 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: More than one-half of the investigated persons had UCG. Controlled HbA1c was associated with lower co-morbidities and higher ES-10Y.
OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to explore the level of awareness, attitude, and practice of PM in Pakistan along with the challenges faced by the oncologists for the treatment of cancer using the PM approach.
METHODS: Phenomenology-based qualitative approach was used. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted using the purposive sampling approach among oncologists in Lahore, Pakistan. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis to identify themes and sub-themes.
RESULTS: Out of 14 physicians interviewed 11 were aware of PM. They were keen on training to hone their skills and agreed on providing PM. Oncologists believed PM was expensive and given to affluent patients only. Other impeding factors include cost, lack of knowledge, and drug unavailability.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite basic knowledge and will to practice, resource and cost constraints were marked as significant barriers. Additional training programs and inclusion into the curriculum may help to pave the way to PM implementation in the future. In addition, health authorities and policymakers need to ensure a cheaper PM treatment can be made available for all cancer patients.
METHODS: We included adult cancer patients receiving capecitabine at Sarawak General Hospital for at least two cycles from April 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. HFS rates, time to HFS, and proportions of HFS-related treatment modifications were determined. Characteristics between patients with and without HFS were compared and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for all-grade HFS and grade ≥2.
RESULTS: Among 369 patients, 185 (50.1%) developed HFS, with 14.6% experiencing grade ≥2 and 21.6% (40/185) underwent treatment modifications. Risk factors for all-grade HFS include older age (OR 1.03 95%CI 1.01, 1.06), prior chemotherapy (OR 2.09 95%CI 1.22, 3.58), higher capecitabine dose (OR 2.96 95%CI 1.62, 5.38), prolonged treatment (OR 1.36 95%CI 1.21, 1.51), folic acid intake (OR 3.27 95%CI 1.45, 7.35) and lower neutrophil count (OR 0.77 95%CI 0.66, 0.89). For HFS grade ≥2, older age (OR 1.04 95%CI 1.01, 1.08), female sex (OR 2.10 95%CI 1.05, 4.18), Chinese race (OR 2.10 95%CI 1.06, 4.18), and higher capecitabine dose (OR 2.62 95%CI 1.28, 5.35) are significant risk factors. Use of calcium channel blockers were associated with reduced risks of all-grade HFS (OR 0.27, 95%CI 0.12, 0.60) and grade ≥2 (OR 0.21 95%CI 0.06, 0.78).
CONCLUSION: This study provides real-world data on capecitabine-induced HFS in Malaysian patients and identifies risk factors that may offer insights into its understanding and management.
AIMS: This study intended to assess the association of peripheral neuropathy with statins therapy amongst Type 2 diabetic patients.
METHODS: At Penang General Hospital, 757 cases were categorized into two groups (564 with statins therapy and 193 without statins therapy). The diagnosis of PN was investigated retrospectively for a period of 10 years (2006-2016). Confounding risk factors as age, diabetes period, hypertension, glycemic control, other co-morbidity, and prescriptions were matched.
RESULTS: About 129 (22.9%) cases from 564 statins users had PN. Only 30 (15.5%) subjects had PN from 193 statins non-users. Chi-square test showed a significant variance among statins treatment cohort and statin-free cohort in the occurrence of PN (P-value: 0.001). Spearman's investigation presented a positive correlation (r: 0.078, p-value: 0.031) among statins use and PN prevalence. Binary logistic regression was statistically significant for statins therapy as a predictor of peripheral neuropathy incidence (r2: 0.006, p-value: 0.027) amid diabetic patients. The relative risk of peripheral neuropathy connected with statins therapy is (RR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.02-2.11). The excess relative risk is 47.1%. While the absolute risk (AR) is 7.3% and the number needed to harm (NNH) is 14.
CONCLUSIONS: The study indicated a positive association between peripheral neuropathy and statins utilization. Peripheral neuropathy was higher amongst statins users than the statins-free group.
METHODS: Medical records of breast cancer women with T2DM who received NACT from January 2016 to January 2021 at the medical center in the Gujranwala Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy, Pakistan, were identified and retrieved retrospectively. Variables, including pathological responses, diabetes status, and other clinical data, were collected. Patients were grouped as diabetic and nondiabetic based on the doctor's diagnosis or the diabetic's medication history recorded upon the breast cancer diagnosis. Factors influencing the pathological complete response (pCR) were determined using multivariate logistic regression utilizing IBM SPSS Statistics (version 20).
RESULTS: A total of 1372 patient files who received NACT and breast cancer surgery from January 2016 to January 2021 were selected. Out of 1372 breast cancer women receiving NACT, 345 (25.1%) had pre-existing diabetes, while 1027 (74.85%) were without pre-existing diabetes. The most common molecular subtypes of breast cancer were luminal A and B. Two hundred fifty-eight patients (18.8%) had a pCR after receiving NACT. The pCR in diabetic patients was 3.9%, and in nondiabetes, 14.9%. Most women had a pathological partial response (pPR) after the NACT 672 (48.9%). The pPR in diabetic patients was 11.0%, and in nondiabetic patients, it was 38.0%. In nondiabetics, the odds of achieving pPR increase more than pathological no response after the NACT with odd ratio: 1.71 (95% confidence interval: 1.24-2.37). The probability of pCR in patients with luminal B was 1.67 times higher than that in patients with triple-negative breast cancer with odd ratio: 1.67, 95% confidence interval (1.00-2.79), P = 0.05.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study show that T2DM may have an adverse impact on pCR and pPR following NACT and surgery. Further investigation is needed to explore how changes in blood glucose levels over time impact pathological responses.
METHODS: Medical records of renal transplant patients at Penang General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. A time-dissociated PKPD model with covariate effects was developed using NONMEM to evaluate renal graft function response, quantified as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), toward the cyclosporine cumulative exposure (area under the concentration-time curve). The final model was integrated into a tool to predict the potential outcome. Individual eGFR predictions were evaluated based on the clinical response recorded as acute rejection/nephrotoxicity events.
RESULTS: A total of 1256 eGFR readings with 2473 drug concentrations were obtained from 107 renal transplant patients receiving cyclosporine. An Emax drug effect with a linear drug toxicity model best described the data. The baseline renal graft level (E0), maximum effect (Emax), area under the concentration-time curve achieving 50% of the maximum effect, and nephrotoxicity slope were estimated as 12.9 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2, 50.7 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2, 1740 ng·h·mL-1, and 0.00033, respectively. The hemoglobin level was identified as a significant covariate affecting the E0. The model discerned acute rejection from nephrotoxicity in 19/24 cases.
CONCLUSIONS: A time-dissociated PKPD model successfully described a large number of observations and was used to develop an online tool to predict renal graft response. This may help discern early rejection from nephrotoxicity, especially for patients unwilling to undergo a biopsy or those waiting for biopsy results.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients aged <40 or >75 years, pregnant patients, and patients with type 1 diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus, or liver cirrhosis were excluded. Demographics, laboratory parameters, and prevalence of exposure to statin therapy were evaluated. This study was guided by the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association cholesterol guidelines. IBM SPSS software was used for data management.
Results: The study cohort involved 576 patients, with age being 58.3 ± 8.9 years. There were 50.5% of females and 49.5% of males. Overall 81.1% of patients aged 58.8 ± 8.8 years were statin users and 18.9% of patients aged 56.2 ± 9 years were statin nonusers. About 83.2% of females and 78.9% of males were prescribed statins. Statin medications included simvastatin 79.2%, atorvastatin 11.6%, lovastatin 5.8%, rosuvastatin 2.1%, and pravastatin 1.3%. Statin users' and nonusers' adherence was 56.5%, and 41.3% (P = 0.004), respectively. The adherence to medication plan of females and males was 55.7% and 51.6%, respectively (P = 0.004).
Conclusion: Patients with diabetes who are at high risk of cardiovascular events, exposure to statin treatment is significantly less than perfect position both in females and males. Nearly one-fifth of the patients with type 2 diabetes are not using statins despite therapeutic necessities.
METHODOLOGY: A total of 50 patients diagnosed with SCARs and 90 tolerant controls were recruited from Dr. Saad Al-Wattari Hospital for Neurological Sciences and Baghdad Hospital - Medical City. HLA genotyping was performed using PCR-SSO method from peripheral blood samples. Statistical comparisons were made using the t-test or chi-square test, while univariate logistic regression with Bonferroni's correction (p