A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the physical activity levels among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) at Cheras Health Clinic in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 132 subjects (62 men and 70 women) aged 30 years and above participated in this study. Data was collected using an interview based questionnaire to obtain socio-demographic and health profile information. Physical activity was assessed using a shortened version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Anthropometric measurements and body fat were also taken. Glycaemic status, that is, HbA1c, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and 2 hours post-prandial (2-HPP) were obtained from medical records. Results showed that the mean age of the patients was 51.9 + 5.8 years. The majority of patients had poor glycaemic control based on HbA1c (70.7%), FBS (71.9%) and 2HPP (85.4%). Patients who were unmarried and aged(60 years and above had a lower physical activity level (p<0.05). In the older age group, low physical activity was associated with poor glycaemic control (p<0.05). Patients in the moderate and high physical activity level were motivated to perform physical activity so as to be healthy (68.1%). Low physical activity level among patients was due to lack of time (54.5%) and lack of energy (21.2%). In conclusion, physical activity levels of the patients were unsatisfactory and associated with poor glycaemic control, especially in the elderly. There is a need to encourage diabetic patients to undertake regular physical activity in order to achieve optimal glycaemic control.

We report a 4.7 kg infant who received a therapeutic leukapheresis as an immediate treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with severe hyperleukocytosis. By decreasing the number of circulating white blood cells, therapeutic leukapheresis helps prevent the risks of hyperviscosity and cerebrovascular and pulmonary leukostasis. In addition, it potentially reduces metabolic and renal complications associated with rapid cell lysis when applied before chemotherapy. This six-week-old female presented with vomiting for 15 days. Initial WBC count was 1,532,800/muL. After placement of 4 french two-lumen central venous catheter in both femoral vein, the CS 3000 plus was primed with 250 mL of paternal whole blood mixed with 150 mL of normal saline. After therapeutic leukapheresis, the CBC showed WBC count of 560,000/muL. Our successful experience in performing this procedure suggests that therapeutic leukapheresis be a feasible treatment even for very young infants with hyperleukocytosis.
Central Venous Catheters ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Femoral Vein ; Humans ; Infant* ; Leukapheresis* ; Leukocytes ; Leukostasis ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Vomiting

Background: Glomerulonephritis is often treated with kidney-saving, but potentially diabetogenic immunosuppressants such as glucocorticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors. Unfortunately, there are little data on dysglycemia before and after diagnosis and during treatment of glomerulonephritis. We aimed to evaluate the occurrence and risk factors for pre-diabetes and incident diabetes among non-diabetic patients with glomerular disease with or without treatment with immunosuppressants. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was performed on 229 non-diabetic immunosuppressantnaïve adults diagnosed with glomerulonephritis and renal vasculitis. Patients with known diabetes and prior immunosuppressant treatment were excluded. Outcomes of new-onset pre-diabetes and new-onset diabetes were defined according to American Diabetic Association criteria. Results: Pre-diabetes was present pre-biopsy in 74 of the 229 patients (32.3%). During the median follow-up of 34.0 (23.3-47.5) months, 29 patients (12.7%) developed new-onset diabetes and 58 (25.3%) had new-onset prediabetes. Immunosuppressive therapy in patients with pre-existing pre-diabetes was associated with increased odds of new-onset diabetes compared to those without either risk factor (26.0% versus 5.0%; odds ratio, 6.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41 to 31.64), P = 0.02). Conclusion New-onset diabetes after immunosuppressant treatment occurred in one-quarter of patients with glomerulonephritis and pre-existing pre-diabetes. Physicians should screen for pre-diabetes when planning treatment with immunosuppressants, as its presence significantly increases the risk of diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is a life-threatening lung complication after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). As long-term survival following allogenic HSCT has improved, the number of BOS patients has been steadily increased. However, the survival and treatment of BOS have not improved significantly for decades. Identification of risk factors of BOS would improve the clinical outcome of allogenic HSCT recipients.METHODS: We retrospectively investigated medical records of 147 allogenic HSCT recipients between 2005 and 2014 in Yonsei Cancer Center. Risk factors for BOS were analyzed with Chi-square test, logistic regression analysis, and the Student's t-test.RESULTS: BOS occurred to 23 patients (15.6%). Pulmonary function test (PFT) results before transplantation were similar in all patients, but patients with BOS had a significant decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) after transplantation compared with controls (68.4+/-26.4% vs. 91.6+/-21.0%, P<0.05). Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (OR 5.98, P=0.009) and peripheral blood as sources of stem cell (OR 4.00, P=0.031) increased risk for BOS, respectively. On the other hand, previously reported risk factors, such as age of donors and recipients, pulmonary infection within 100 days after allogenic HSCT and deference of immunosuppressant were not associated with increased the incidence of BOS in our study.CONCLUSION: We report here the result of a single-center study on the incidence, clinical factors, and outcome of BOS after allogenic HSCT. BOS is an important cause of post-transplantation morbidity and mortality. Risk reduction can be achieved by better prevention and control of BOS.
Bronchiolitis Obliterans ; Bronchiolitis ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hand ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Stem Cells ; Tissue Donors

Introduction and Objectives There are limited studies conducted on the needs of cancer survivorsin developing countries like Malaysia. This qualitative study aimed at exploring the post-treatmentimpact and needs of prostate cancer survivors.Method: A qualitative study design was used. One in-depth interview and four focus groupdiscussions were conducted with 24 prostate cancer survivors (age range: 58–79 years) fromgovernment and private hospitals in Malaysia in 2013. Trained researchers used a topic guide toguide the interviews, which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, checked and managed withNvivo 10 software. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data.Result: Three main themes emerged from the analysis: (a) impact of prostate cancer on thesurvivors, (b) support needed for coping and (c) information needs. Prostate cancer has animportant impact on the survivors’ lifestyle after treatment. Some of them have to live with thepost-treatment side effects. They were anxious about the possibility of relapse. In addition tofamily and peer support, there were participants who felt that spiritual support was important inhelping them cope with the possibility of relapse. The survivors felt that they did not receive enoughinformation about post-treatment care, dietary measures and supplements for relapse prevention,treatment and prognosis.Conclusion: Prostate cancer has a significant impact on the survivor’s lifestyle, emotional andphysical health. They need information and emotional support from the healthcare professionals,family and peers. Therefore, it is important for healthcare providers to explore the needs of prostatecancer survivors and provide the necessary support.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhan's cell histiocytosis disorder characterized by replacement of normal tissue by lipid-laden histiocytes affecting various organs. A few pediatric cases have been reported worldwide. Here we present a child with leukemia who was diagnosed as ECD. A 2-year and 11-month old boy diagnosed with high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the age of 17 months, received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at the age of 2 years old. Six months after the transplantation, the patient was admitted to the hospital with palpable left calf nodules. Bone marrow study suggested ECD without leukemia with complete chimerism status. Excisional biopsy of the left calf nodule showed ‘aggregation of non-Langerhan's cell type epitheloid histiocytes’; clinically suggestive of ECD. The patient was started on vinblastine and corticosteroid treatment.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Child* ; Chimerism ; Erdheim-Chester Disease* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytosis ; Humans ; Leukemia* ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Vinblastine