Platinum based adjuvant chemotherapy is generally recommended for ovarian cancer to improve the survival rate. Intravenous route is commonly used, easily administered and less associated complications. However, intraperitoneal route is gaining its popularity as a single procedure or adjunctive to the intravenous route. Numerous questions on its eligibility and safety are still perplexed. A case review on a patient with non optimal debulking surgery of advanced ovarian cancer was studied. Intravenous platinum based chemotherapy combined with paclitaxel failed to bring her to clinical remission. Second line chemotherapy, gemcitabin rendered her to poor response with unresolved debilitating ascites needing recurrent drainage. Surprisingly, a trial of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatin revealed a great response with a complete clinical remission.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in gynaecological cancer patients is a disabling illness with signifi cant mental and physical suffering. Determining the risk factors of MDD in cancer patients enables us to pay more attention to those who are vulnerable and to device effective strategies for prevention, early detection, and treatment. The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of MDD and its associated risk factors in gynaecological cancer patients at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star. This is a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study of 120 gynaecological cancer patients in Gynae-Oncology Unit in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star. Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview (MINI) was used for diagnosis of MDD. Socio-demographic data and clinical variables were collected. MVFSFI (Malay version Female Sexual Function Index) was used to determine sexual dysfunction, and WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization – Quality of Life-26) was performed to assess quality of life. The prevalence of MDD in gynaecological cancer patients in the study was 18%. The variables found to be signifi cantly associated with MDD were lack of perceived social support, greater physical pain perception, presence of past psychiatric history, and poorer quality of life. Meanwhile, sexual dysfunction was not associated with MDD. Logistic regression analysis revealed that only the psychological health domain of QOL was signifi cantly associated with MDD, and contributed to 60% of the variation in MDD. The prevalence of MDD in gynaecological cancer patients is higher than those in the general population. In view that MDD can compromise cancer prognosis and patient’s well-being, psychosocial intervention is recommended as a part of multidisciplinary and comprehensive management of gynaecological cancer.

Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina is rare but aggressive. Various treatment options include surgery and adjuvant therapy has been advocated but the outcome remained unpredictable. Standard treatment protocol is yet to be established. We report a case of 54-year-old, Para 4+1, with malignant melanoma of the vagina. She underwent wide local excision but the surgical margin was not clear of malignant cells, hence adjuvant radiotherapy was given. Combination chemotherapy was initiated subsequently as her disease disseminated. She succumbed later due to septicaemic shock. The treatment options for vaginal melanoma were reviewed.

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction is common but not often assessed in the routine clinical care among males on opiate substitute treatment. Objective: To determine the association between clinical variables and erectile dysfunction (ED) among men on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 108 participants who attended the Drug Clinic, Hospital Kuala Lumpur. The instruments used include the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-I Disorder (SCID-I), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and International Index of Erectile Function-15 (IIEF-15). Results: Concurrent heroin abuse was significantly associated with presence of ED (p=0.024). Treatment factors including methadone dose and duration of methadone treatment were not significantly associated with ED. Conclusion: Education on sexual dysfunction as a potential adverse effect and its association with illicit heroin use should be considered in the doctor-patient consultation to encourage treatment adherence and abstinence from heroin.

To assess healthcare workers' knowledge of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the early phase of the outbreak in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 12 hospitals in Indonesia from March 6 to March 25, 2020. Healthcare workers' knowledge on COVID-19 was assessed, and demographic data, workplace characteristics, and medical professional characteristics as well as the current local situation of COVID-19 were collected. To characterize determinants associated with knowledge, a logistic regression analysis was employed. Results: Out of 288 healthcare workers who completed the interview-assisted questionnaire, 149 (51.7%) respondents had a good knowledge. Nurses and other types of healthcare workers had lower odds of having good knowledge compared to doctors: adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.38; 95% CI: 0.20-0.72 and aOR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.13-0.73, respectively. Compared to healthcare workers who had medical practice experience less than 5 years, those who had worked for more than 10 years had lower knowledge (aOR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.20-0.90). Healthcare workers who worked in the infection department had higher knowledge compared to those in the emergency room (aOR: 14.33; 95% CI: 3.67-55.88). Conclusions: The knowledge of COVID-19 among surveyed healthcare workers was relatively low. The COVID-19 response in Indonesia will require further education and enhancement of the capacity of healthcare workers in the emergency room where COVID-19 patients may be treated the earliest.