INTRODUCTION: Sexual function is an important aspect of quality of life, and can be drastically affected in ill patients. Very few studies (and apparently none among Filipinas) looked into sexual dysfunction among females with breast cancer (BrCa); prevalence also is not well defined. This study evaluates the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among Filipino patients with BrCa, and assesses which treatment or if duration of illness, age, BMI, smoking history, diabetes, hypertension significantly contributed to the dysfunction.
METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among BrCa patients consulting at the outpatient medical oncology clinic of a government tertiary hospital. Study population included those diagnosed and was with breast cancer over a 3-months period, with a calculated sample size of 60 (within 81±10% prevalence rate, Cl 95%). A validated translated version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) 19-item questionnaire that looked into 6 domains (arousal, lubrication, desire, pain, orgasm, and satisfaction) was used. Sexual dysfunction was defined as an FSFI score of <26.55.
RESULTS: Of the 97 respondents, mean age was 49.4 years old and mean BMI of 24.8. About 78% received chemotherapy, 26% hormonal therapy. 15% radiotherapy, 82% modified radical mastectomy (MRM), and 71% received both MRM and chemotherapy at the time of interview. Duration of cancer was
months in 72% of subjects. There were 97.9% who had sexual dysfunction which is similar to prevalence rates (64-98%) in other studies. Age, BMI, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chemotherapy, surgery, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, and duration of illness were shown not to be significant predictors of sexual dysfunction among Filipinas with BrCa by bivariate analysis.
CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent among female Filipino BrCa patients. Knowing such high prevalence should prompt health care providers to include interventions to improve quality of life of BrCa patients, including their sexual life.

Human ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Quality Of Life ; Breast Neoplasms ; Prevalence ; Body Mass Index ; Smoking ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hypertension ; Medical Oncology ; Orgasm ; Arousal ; Lubrication ; Mastectomy

BACKGROUND: Determining risk factors for diabetes insipidus (DI) after pituitary surgery is important in improving patient care. Our objective is to determine the factors associated with DI after pituitary surgery. METHODS: We reviewed records of patients who underwent pituitary surgery from 2011 to 2015 at Philippine General Hospital. Patients with preoperative DI were excluded. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed and a predictive model was generated. The discrimination abilities of the predictive model and individual variables were assessed using the receiving operator characteristic curve. RESULTS: A total of 230 patients were included. The rate of postoperative DI was 27.8%. Percent change in serum Na (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15 to 1.69); preoperative serum Na (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.40); and performance of craniotomy (OR, 5.48; 95% CI, 1.60 to 18.80) remained significantly associated with an increased incidence of postoperative DI, while percent change in urine specific gravity (USG) (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.87) and meningioma on histopathology (OR, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.70) were significantly associated with a decreased incidence. The predictive model generated has good diagnostic accuracy in predicting postoperative DI with an area under curve of 0.83. CONCLUSION: Greater percent change in serum Na, preoperative serum Na, and performance of craniotomy significantly increased the likelihood of postoperative DI while percent change in USG and meningioma on histopathology were significantly associated with a decreased incidence. The predictive model can be used to generate a scoring system in estimating the risk of postoperative DI.
Area Under Curve ; Craniotomy ; Diabetes Insipidus* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Meningioma ; Neuroendocrinology ; Neurosurgery ; Patient Care ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors ; Specific Gravity ; Vasopressins

OBJECTIVES: Studies on the association of obesity and sarcopenia are conflicting. Some studies showed that obesity is associated with muscle loss and frailty while others showed that lower body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased sarcopenia. To date, there is paucity of data on sarcopenia and obesity among Filipinos. This study aims to determine the association of obesity and sarcopenia among Filipinos. METHODS: This is a cross sectional analytic study comparing sarcopenic versus nonsarcopenic in terms of obesity as measured by BMI and waist circumference (WC). Filipinos older than 40 years old were included. Obesity was defined using the World Health Organization (WHO) cutoff for BMI and WC. Sarcopenia was defined as low muscle mass and low muscle strength or physical performance. Population-specific cutoff points were used to define low muscle mass, strength, and performance. RESULTS: A total of 164 participants were included. The mean age is 60.33 years. Ten (6.10%) were sarcopenic and 4 (40.00%) of them were obese. Regression analysis showed that obesity is not significantly associated with increased sarcopenia (Incidence risk ratio [IRR], 14.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.96–221.92; P = 0.05). However, age (IRR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.09–1.21; P ≤ 0.01),WC (IRR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85–0.99; P = 0.02), smoking (IRR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.11–9.03; P = 0.03), and alcoholic beverage drinking (IRR, 3.71, 95% CI, 1.26–10.89; P = 0.02) were found to be significant predictors of sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: There is no statistically significant association between obesity and increased risk of sarcopenia among participants, however, older age, smaller WC, smoking, and alcoholic beverage drinking were significant predictors of sarcopenia.
Adult ; Alcoholic Beverages ; Body Mass Index ; Drinking ; Humans ; Muscle Strength ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Sarcopenia ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Waist Circumference ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) shows potential benefit in Graves' disease (GD) especially those with active Graves' ophthalmopathy(GO).  
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of Se supplementation among patients with GD and GO.
METHODOLOGY: We performed a meta-analysis of trials evaluating the efficacy of Se supplementation among adult patients with GD and active GO, versus either placebo or an alternative drug, and on top of standard therapy. Results were presented as mean differences, standard errors, and 95% confidence intervals,and graphically presented as forest plots.Estimates were calculated using the inverse variance method for continuous variables and pooled using the fixed effects model. I2 and Chi2 tests were used to assess heterogeneity.
RESULTS: Only  two  trials  were  ultimately  included  in  the  analysis. Both studies totaled 197 participants with GD and non-severe  GO  on  standard  therapy,  and  compared  Se  supplementation to placebo. The only common outcomes of  interest  were  changes  in  TSH  receptor  antibody  (TRAB)  and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAB) titers. We found no statistically significant difference in either TRAB (95% CI,-1.38  [-3.19,  0.44],  p=0.14)  or  TPOAB  (95%  CI,  36.66  [-32.56, 105.88], p=0.30) titers between Se and placebo groups on follow  up.However,our analysis was limited by the small number of included studies, a small sample size, and lack of other synthesizable outcomes.
CONCLUSION: This is the  first  meta-analysis  summarizing  the available data on Se supplementation in patients with GD and  non-severe  GO.We found no statistically significant differences in both TRAB and TPOAB titers between Se and placebo groups. We recommend larger studies to validate these findings. 

Thyrotropin-binding Inhibitory Immunoglobulin ; Graves Ophthalmopathy ; Selenium ; Iodide Peroxidase ; Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-stimulating ; Graves Disease ; Thyroid Microsomal Antibodies ; Autoantibodies ; Forests ; Thyroid Gland