Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the benefits of using SaTScan (Boston, MA, USA), a cluster-detection software programme, and whole genome sequencing to investigate a suspected outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections in a tertiary government hospital in the southern Philippines. The hospital is part of the national Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program’s network of sentinel sites. Methods: The investigation followed national outbreak investigation protocols. In May 2022, when evaluation of daily hospital laboratory census data revealed an increase in the number of Serratia species in the hospital, an alert was triggered. A concurrent, routine SaTScan analysis of the hospital’s surveillance data by the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory confirmed a cluster of cases. The Reference Laboratory requested isolates from clinical specimens from the hospital for confirmation of bacterial identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing. Results: Six isolates were submitted for genomic analysis, two of which were from the identified cluster. Although originally identified as S. marcescens, five of the isolates were subsequently confirmed as S. sarumanii. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the two isolates from the cluster were closely related and belonged to the same clade, which may suggest a common source. Three antimicrobial resistance genes were identified, but their phenotypic expression was limited, with one isolate exhibiting resistance mechanisms. Discussion: This study highlighted the utility of SaTScan for the early detection of potential disease outbreaks. The use of whole genome sequencing enhanced the investigation by enabling the analysis of potential transmission pathways at the genetic level, identification of the outbreak source and the detection of novel species.

INTRODUCTION

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are both prevalent globally. The diagnosis and management of ACS in ESRD is difficult because the interplay of cardiovascular and renal disease is complicated. The guidelines for ACS may not be applicable to the ESRD population because the trials from which these are drawn mostly excluded ESRD patients.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical profile and outcomes of CKD patients on dialysis admitted for ACS in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

METHODS

We did a retrospective cohort study and employed a retrospective review of electronic medical records among ESRD patients presenting with ACS in PGH from May 2021 to November 2023. The collected data was analyzed using univariate and bivariate statistics using PRISM software.

RESULTS

A total of 48 patients with ESRD were admitted for ACS in this study – 8 with STEMI and 40 with NSTEMI. The mean age was 61 years old and 33 (68.8%) were male. Among those with STEMI, six (75%) presented with Kilip II or more. While among those with NSTEMI, 17 (42.5%) had a GRACE score >140 and 27 (67.5%) had an NSTEMI TIMI risk score >2. On average, the patients were on hemodialysis for 31 months prior to admission. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (91.7%) and heart failure (83.3%). On admission, 18 (37.5%) presented with SBP >160, 7 (14.6%) patients presented with shock, and 4 (8.3%) patients presented with cardiac arrest. 38 (79.2%) patients had anemia on admission. 21 (43.8%) patients had left ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiogram while 34 (70.8%) patients had cardiomegaly on chest radiography. The average left ventricular ejection fraction on echocardiogram was 46% and 27 (90%) patients had segmental wall motion abnormalities. The most common angiographic finding was 3-vessel coronary artery disease seen in 50% of patients. Almost all patients received dualantiplatelet therapy, high dose statin, and beta-blocker. The mortality rate was high at 43.8% with cardiovascular causes being the most common cause of death.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the high mortality rate among patients with ESRD presenting with ACS. Our study portrays that patients with ESRD present with higher risk features including abnormalities in vital signs, laboratories, imaging, high prognostications score, and high in-hospital morbidity.

Human ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; End-stage Renal Disease ; Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Myocardial Infarction

Knee pain is a common clinical complaint with a broad differential diagnosis. In critically ill patients, acute monoarticular pain and swelling typically raise concern for septic arthritis. However, alternative etiologies such as crystal-induced arthritis, trauma, and hemarthrosis must also be considered.

This report presents a rare case of spontaneous hemarthrosis in a patient receiving prophylactic enoxaparin. Although uncommon, spontaneous hemarthrosis is a significant complication of anticoagulation therapy, particularly with low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) like enoxaparin.

Human ; Male ; Aged: 65-79 Yrs Old ; Hemarthrosis ; Covid-19 ; Enoxaparin

Background: Problems related to sleep affect approximately 23-56% of the world’s population. In Mongolia, the prevalence of non-organic sleep disorders is estimated at 27.9%, among which 42.2% of the population have poor sleep quality. Long-term insomnia can have a negative impact on an individual’s normal work and life, increasing the risk of various health problems. Severe insomnia can reduce work efficiency and concentration, thereby causing serious harm. Traditional medicine has a long history of treating insomnia. However, there are currently no systematic studies on insomnia based on ancient traditional medical books. Goal: Based on the ancient medical literature of traditional medicine, identify the underlying diseases that cause insomnia and compare their symptoms. Materials and Methods: We adopted the checklist method to list the relevant information of insomnia from the literature, providing a prerequisite for further analysis and the issue of syndrome differentiation of insomnia was analyzed by using comparison methods.
The research protocol was reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences at its meeting on June 24, 2025 (No. 04), and ethical clearance was granted for the conduct of this study. Results: The research materials we selected did not describe insomnia as a dedicated chapter, but mentioned the content related to insomnia in the form of disease symptoms, such as terms like ”sleeplessness”, ”reduced sleep” and ”light sleep”. We explore the underlying diseases of insomnia based on the above symptoms related to insomnia and analyze the syndrome differentiation of insomnia. Exploring the underlying disease of insomnia:
1. Insomnia caused by diseases resulting from Wind include Wind delirium, palpitations, bone marrow Wind, heart Wind, lung Wind, Wind-induced diabetes, Wind tsbs.
2. Insomnia caused by diseases resulting from Bile include heat Bile, heart Bile, liver sdembu, deficiency heat, Invisible heat and epidemic heat.
3. Other diseases include mugpo spreads to the heart, heart chuser, trichomoniasis and childhood evil spirit disease.
We also compared the symptoms of the underlying diseases that cause insomnia and listed their similarities and differences. Conclusion The underlying etiologies of insomnia were categorized into Wind, Bile, Mugpo, yellow fluid, parasitic and evil spirit disorders. Accordingly, effective management of insomnia requires differentiation based on the primary disease and an individualized treatment approach that integrates both etiological and symptomatic therapies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Technological advancements are reshaping healthcare, particularly through mobile health (mHealth) applications that aid chronic disease management. Medication tracking apps, such as Simpill, have shown potential in improving outcomes for conditions like hypertension. However, disparities in digital literacy and concerns related to technology acceptance and privacy may hinder effective use. Grounded in the principles of the Design Thinking approach, this study sought to evaluate the relationship between health-seeking behavior (HSB), perceived barriers (PB), and the perceived usability (PU) of Simpill among middle-aged hypertensive adults. The research aimed to capture not only measurable associations but also to inform future app development through a user-centered lens that prioritizes empathy and real-world usability.

METHODS

A quantitative, descriptive-correlational research design was employed to assess respondents’ HSB, PB, and PU related to Simpill. The study was guided by core phases of the Design Thinking framework, particularly empathize and define, to ensure a deep understanding of user needs and usability constraints. Data were collected using a four-part, researcher-modified questionnaire administered to 138 purposively selected middle-aged adults (30–59 years old) residing in Barangay Industrial Valley, Zone 6, Marikina City, Philippines. All participants had a confirmed diagnosis of hypertension. Correlational analyses, including Kendall’s Tau B, were conducted to examine relationships among the variables. The integration of Design Thinking informed the development and interpretation of questionnaire items, aligning them with real-world challenges experienced by the target users.

RESULTS

The study investigated the relationship between HSB, PB, and the PU of Simpill among 138 middle-aged hypertensive individuals. Most respondents were female (55.8%), aged 50–59 (47.8%), and employed in non health-related sectors (95.7%). HSB levels were gene rally high (mean = 3.23), particularly in actively seeking health information, while lower engagement was noted in routine vital sign monitoring. PB were moderate (mean = 2.06), with unfamiliarity with the application cited as a common issue. PU was also rated as moderate (mean = 2.80), although ease of use received a low score (mean = 1.99). A weak positive correlation was found between HSB and PU (Kendall’s Tau B = 0.123, p = 0.049), while a moderate negative correlation existed between PB and PU (Tau B = -0.402, p < 0.001). These findings reflect insights derived from the Design Thinking "empathize" phase, suggesting that while proactive health behaviors may modestly support app engagement, unresolved user pain points—such as poor usability and lack of familiarity—remain significant obstacles to adoption. The results underscore the importance of moving to the "ideate" and "prototype" phases, where such user insights can directly shape the redesign and improvement of mHealth tools.

CONCLUSION

The study identified a high level of health- seeking behavior, reflecting the respondents’ engagement with their health and openness to guidance, consistent with the user-empathy foundation of Design Thinking. Moderate perceived barriers highlight existing challenges in technology adaptation, particularly among those who prefer traditional methods. The moderate PU rating of Simpill, especially in terms of ease of use, suggests the app’s current design does not fully align with user capabilities or expectations. In line with Design Thinking principles, particularly user-centered innovation, the findings emphasize the need to involve users in iterative co-design processes to improve mHealth solutions. Addressing perceived barriers through enhanced digital literacy, usability testing, and interface refinement could substantially boost app acceptance and effectiveness in real-world settings.

Human ; Hypertension ; Mobile Applications ; Health Behavior ; User-centered Design

The surface electrocardiogram (ECG) can provide many clues to a patient’s underlying medical condition or tendency for arrhythmogenesis. An 80-year-old man with severe aortic stenosis and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for advanced heart block presented with burping, chest discomfort and intermittent pounding sensations. His ECG showed atrial fibrillation with intermittent ventricular pacing at 60 bpm characterized by irregularly irregular rhythm, absent P waves, narrow intrinsic QRS complexes alternating with wide-paced beats (left bundle branch block [LBBB] morphology, superior axis) and visible pacing spikes. Device interrogation revealed ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm with multiple appropriate ICD shocks explaining his pounding sensations. This report highlights two key teaching points: recognizing atrial fibrillation during ventricular pacing—a frequently missed diagnosis affecting nearly half of patients with pacemakers—and managing VT storm to reduce shock burden. After device reprogramming and antiarrhythmic adjustment, the patient became asymptomatic.

Human ; Male ; Aged: 65-79 Yrs Old ; Thorax ; Teaching ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Electrocardiography ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Bundle-branch Block ; Constriction, Pathologic

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease of clinical importance in the Philippines. While its actual prevalence in the Philippines is unknown due to a lack of organized cohorts and community-level screening, Filipino females in the second and third decades of life are primarily affected, commonly presenting with mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal, hematologic, and renal involvements. Several risk factors have been described as influencing the development of SLE in Filipinos, including molecular/genetic, clinical, lifestyle, and environmental factors. The diagnosis of SLE in the Philippines still relies on international standards, such as the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics 2012 and the European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology 2019 classification criteria. Similarly, the lack of published local guidelines for SLE requires Filipino practitioners to rely on international management guidelines, which now include the Asia-Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology recommendations for the Asia-Pacific region, with management goals including the achievement of a low disease activity state, the prevention of organ damage, the prevention of flares, and the promotion of quality of life. Structural barriers still impede comprehensive lupus care in the country, manifesting as poor access to essential drugs and rheumatologists, low capacity for community-level surveillance, lacking research and guidelines in Philippine-specific nuances (i.e., common presentations and comorbidities such as tuberculosis), and education. The medical community in the country must be mobilized to ensure holistic care for SLE patients, as it is one of the most important rheumatologic conditions in the Philippines.

Objectives: PEERS® for Preschoolers (P4P) is an evidence-based, parent-assisted social skills program for young autistic children and children with other social challenges. The program aims to promote age-appropriate social skills and improve peer relationships. Parent employment status and cultural background may influence families’ engagement in the program and their relationship with providers, which can affect use of P4P skills outside weekly sessions. This study examined whether these parent demographic characteristics predicted program response in P4P. Methods: Participants were 46 autistic children (mean age=4.50 years; 78.3% male) and their caregivers who completed P4P between 2015 and 2019. Families took part in a 16-week curriculum with parallel child and parent groups. Program outcomes were measured using parent-report instruments, including the Social Responsiveness Scale–Second Edition, Social Skills Improvement System subscales of Social Skills and Problem Behaviors, Quality of Play Questionnaire, and Parenting Stress Index, Fourth Edition, Short-Form. Results: Significant improvements were found in child social responsiveness, social skills, behavior problems, number of playdates, and parenting stress from pre- to post-P4P. Parent employment status and race/ethnicity did not significantly predict any program outcomes. Conclusion Results indicate that P4P benefits families broadly, with no observed effect of parent employment status or race/ethnicity on outcomes. Future research should replicate these findings in a larger, more diverse sample and examine additional potential predictors of program response to inform clinical decision-making.

Background: In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that globally, 2.5 billion (43%) of adults aged 18 and older were overweight, with 890 million (16%) of these individuals classified as living with obesity. Some genes such as the FTO gene are strongly associated with obesity and overweigh. The FTO protein is crucial in regulating food consumption, appetite, energy equilibrium, and expenditure. Aim: The identify single nucleotide polymorphisms rs9939609 and rs17817449 of the FTO gene, which are associated with obesity, and to study their correlation with antropometric measurements and some laboratory test parameters. Materials and Methods: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 50 obese (BMI >30 kg/m²) were included in the case group, and 50 relatively healthy and normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m²) were enrolled in the control group, for a total of 100 people matched for age and gender (1:1). We took physical measurements and collected peripheral blood samples after obtaining informed consent from each participant. Laboratory analyses assessed some parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism. We used the PCR-RFLP technique on two genotype SNPs. A p-value below 0.05 was considered a statistically significant result. Results: In this study, including 100 people aged 23 to 75, the mean age was 46.81±11.54 years, with 60% being female. In terms of antropometric measurements, body mass index, waist circumference, and arterial pressure were markedly elevated in the case group compared to the control group (p<0.001). In laboratory measures, fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, and mean LDL mean levels were statistically significantly higher in the case group compared to the control group. On the other hand, HDL cholesterol levels were lower in the case group compared to the control group. The FTO gene rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism was identified in 62% of the total study individuals as TT, 35% as AT, and 3% as AA genotypes. Also, FTO gene rs17817449 single nucleotide polymorphism was identified in 62% of the total study individuals as TT, 33% as AT, and 5% as AA genotypes. Conclusion The rs9939609 AT/AA genotype of the FTO gene elevates the risk of obesity and is associated with increased body weight, waist circumference, and BMI.

Background: Globally, an estimated 13% of adolescents aged 10–19 are affected by mental disorders. As of 2020, the number of children under the age of 19 in Mongolia was reported to be 1,289,587, reflecting a 0.9% increase compared to 2015. A 2013 study on adolescents found that 60.5% were categorized as mentally healthy, 30.5% exhibited emotional and behavioral difficulties, and 9% were diagnosed with a mental disorder. A study conducted in Govi-Altai Province between 2018 and 2019 reported that 58.6% of adolescents were classified as healthy, 36.1% experienced psychological difficulties, and 5.2% were diagnosed with a mental disorder. Internationally, adolescent mental health has been widely assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), with an increasing number of studies employing artificial intelligence-based predictive models. However, in Mongolia, research utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning for analyzing large-scale mental health data remains limited. This gap underscores the need for the present study. Aim: Machine learning models were compared to determine adolescent emotional and behavioral problems using the SDQ. Materials and Methods: Data was collected from teenagers, teachers, and parents in Govi-Altai Province, and the databases were created for each group. The teenager database was divided into 10 folds by cross-validation, and the models were developed using machine learning methods and evaluated using their performance measures. The results were mainly analyzed using the Bayes model. Results: The teenagers have emotional and behavioral problems due to emotional and peer interactions, but they are at risk of developing disorders due to hyperactivity and behavioral changes. Conclusion Comparing the model performance results with previous studies, Bayesian model accuracy decreased by 0.03, sensitivity decreased by 0.08, and specificity increased by 0.01. Also, the difference between the performance evaluation metrics of the C50 and Bayesian models is very small, between 0.01 and 0.02. This shows that the performance of the Bayesian method is good when the number of attributes in the database increases. Compared to the results of the knowledge generated by the research, the participants are more likely to develop emotional and behavioral disorders due to their peer relationship indicators, such as other children generally not liking them, getting on better with adults, and due to emotional symptoms such as being unhappy and depressed.