A middle-aged gentleman with history of left penetrating keratoplatsy presented with left eye perforated corneal graft secondary to infective keratitis. The affected eye was blind from absolute steroid-induced glaucoma. In view of expected poor graft survival in a blind eye, globe removal was offered. However, the patient refused the treatment and request for another corneal graft. This case highlights both the possibility of good outcome of cornea graft in such a case, and also illustrates that patient’s autonomy to refuse treatment option outweighs beneficence.
Blindness

Frontal mucocele is not commonly masked as upper lid abscess.A 72-year-old Chinese man with underlying hyperthyroidism complained of left upper eyelid swelling of 6 months duration. The swelling had persisted and worsen when intravenous antibiotic was changed oral type. Visual acuity on presentation was hand motion and reverse relative afferent pupillary defect was present. Because the swelling was large and resulted in mechanical ptosis and ophthalmoplegia, a CT imaging was performed, which showed huge left frontal mucocele eroding the supereromedial orbital rim. The left globe was displaced inferolaterally but there was no extension into brain parenchyma. Fundus examination showed pale optic disc with dull macula. Old laser marks were seen at peripheral fundus. Referral to ortholaryngologist was made and endoscopic sinus surgery and evacuation of mucopyocoele was done. Culture and sensitivity of the fluid showed no organism. He recovered well postoperatively with additional two weeks of antibiotics. We highlight the necessity of surgical drainage of mucocele, following a course of antibiotic.
Mucocele

Abdominal Pain ; etiology ; Adult ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Schistosomiasis mansoni ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Introduction: This was a retrospective study aimed to investigate the perioperative outcomes of long construct minimally invasive spinal stabilisation (MISt) using percutaneous pedicle screws (PPS) versus conventional open spinal surgery in the treatment of spinal fracture in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Material and Methods: Twenty-one patients with AS and DISH who were surgically treated between 2009 and 2017 were recruited. Outcomes of interest included operative time, intra-operative blood loss, complications, duration of hospital stay and fracture union rate. Results: Mean age was 69.2 ± 9.9 years. Seven patients had AS and 14 patients had DISH. 17 patients sustained AO type B3 fracture and 4 patients had type B1 fracture. Spinal trauma among these patients mostly involved thoracic spine (61.9%), followed by lumbar (28.6%) and cervical spine (9.5%). MISt using PPS was performed in 14 patients (66.7%) whereas open surgery in 7 patients (33.3%). Mean number of instrumentation level was 7.9 ± 1.6. Mean operative time in MISt and open group was 179.3 ± 42.3 minutes and 253.6 ± 98.7 minutes, respectively (p=0.028). Mean intra-operative blood loss in MISt and open group was 185.7 ± 86.4ml and 885.7 ± 338.8ml, respectively (p<0.001). Complications and union rate were comparable between both groups. Conclusion: MISt using PPS lowers the operative time and reduces intra-operative blood loss in vertebral fractures in ankylosed disorders. However, it does not reduce the perioperative complication rate due to the premorbid status of the patients. There was no significant difference in the union rate between MISt and open surgery.

Objective: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is associated with chemoresistance. Limited data exists regarding the efficacy of targeted therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and bevacizumab, and the role of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed genomic features and treatment outcomes of 172 OCCC patients treated at our institution from January 2000 to May 2022. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed where sufficient archival tissue was available. Results: 64.0% of patients were diagnosed at an early stage, and 36.0% at an advanced stage.Patients with advanced/relapsed OCCC who received platinum-based chemotherapy plus bevacizumab followed by maintenance bevacizumab had a median first-line progressionfree survival (PFS) of 12.2 months, compared with 9.3 months for chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio=0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.33, 1.45). In 27 patients who received an ICI, the overall response rate was 18.5% and median duration of response was 7.4 months (95% CI=6.5, 8.3). In 17 carefully selected patients with fewer than 3 sites of relapse, median PFS was 35 months (95% CI=0, 73.5) and median overall survival was 96.8 months (95% CI=44.6, 149.0) after SCS. NGS on 58 tumors revealed common mutations in ARID1A (48.3%), PIK3CA (46.6%), and KRAS (20.7%). Pathogenic alterations in PIK3CA, FGFR2, and NBN were associated with worse survival outcomes. Median tumor mutational burden was 3.78 (range, 0–16). All 26 patients with available loss of heterozygosity (LOH) scores had LOH <16%. Conclusion Our study demonstrates encouraging outcomes with bevacizumab and ICI, and SCS in select relapsed OCCC patients. Prospective trials are warranted.

Objective: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is associated with chemoresistance. Limited data exists regarding the efficacy of targeted therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and bevacizumab, and the role of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed genomic features and treatment outcomes of 172 OCCC patients treated at our institution from January 2000 to May 2022. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed where sufficient archival tissue was available. Results: 64.0% of patients were diagnosed at an early stage, and 36.0% at an advanced stage.Patients with advanced/relapsed OCCC who received platinum-based chemotherapy plus bevacizumab followed by maintenance bevacizumab had a median first-line progressionfree survival (PFS) of 12.2 months, compared with 9.3 months for chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio=0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.33, 1.45). In 27 patients who received an ICI, the overall response rate was 18.5% and median duration of response was 7.4 months (95% CI=6.5, 8.3). In 17 carefully selected patients with fewer than 3 sites of relapse, median PFS was 35 months (95% CI=0, 73.5) and median overall survival was 96.8 months (95% CI=44.6, 149.0) after SCS. NGS on 58 tumors revealed common mutations in ARID1A (48.3%), PIK3CA (46.6%), and KRAS (20.7%). Pathogenic alterations in PIK3CA, FGFR2, and NBN were associated with worse survival outcomes. Median tumor mutational burden was 3.78 (range, 0–16). All 26 patients with available loss of heterozygosity (LOH) scores had LOH <16%. Conclusion Our study demonstrates encouraging outcomes with bevacizumab and ICI, and SCS in select relapsed OCCC patients. Prospective trials are warranted.

Objective: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is associated with chemoresistance. Limited data exists regarding the efficacy of targeted therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and bevacizumab, and the role of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed genomic features and treatment outcomes of 172 OCCC patients treated at our institution from January 2000 to May 2022. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed where sufficient archival tissue was available. Results: 64.0% of patients were diagnosed at an early stage, and 36.0% at an advanced stage.Patients with advanced/relapsed OCCC who received platinum-based chemotherapy plus bevacizumab followed by maintenance bevacizumab had a median first-line progressionfree survival (PFS) of 12.2 months, compared with 9.3 months for chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio=0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.33, 1.45). In 27 patients who received an ICI, the overall response rate was 18.5% and median duration of response was 7.4 months (95% CI=6.5, 8.3). In 17 carefully selected patients with fewer than 3 sites of relapse, median PFS was 35 months (95% CI=0, 73.5) and median overall survival was 96.8 months (95% CI=44.6, 149.0) after SCS. NGS on 58 tumors revealed common mutations in ARID1A (48.3%), PIK3CA (46.6%), and KRAS (20.7%). Pathogenic alterations in PIK3CA, FGFR2, and NBN were associated with worse survival outcomes. Median tumor mutational burden was 3.78 (range, 0–16). All 26 patients with available loss of heterozygosity (LOH) scores had LOH <16%. Conclusion Our study demonstrates encouraging outcomes with bevacizumab and ICI, and SCS in select relapsed OCCC patients. Prospective trials are warranted.

The Asia-Pacific Working Group on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was established in Cebu, Philippines, under the auspices of the Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology with the goal of improving IBD care in Asia. This consensus is carried out in collaboration with Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis. With biologic agents and biosimilars becoming more established, it is necessary to conduct a review on existing literature and establish a consensus on when and how to introduce biologic agents and biosimilars in the conjunction with conventional treatments for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) in Asia. These statements also address how pharmacogenetics influence the treatments of UC and CD and provide guidance on response monitoring and strategies to restore loss of response. Finally, the review includes statements on how to manage treatment alongside possible hepatitis B and tuberculosis infections, both common in Asia. These statements have been prepared and voted upon by members of IBD workgroup employing the modified Delphi process. These statements do not intend to be all-encompassing and future revisions are likely as new data continue to emerge.
Adalimumab ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biological Factors ; Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals ; Colitis ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Consensus ; Cooperative Behavior ; Crohn Disease ; Gastroenterology ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Infliximab ; Pharmacogenetics ; Philippines ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Tuberculosis ; Ulcer