Sixty five patients infected with liver fluke (Clonorchiasis or Opisthorchiasis) were treated with praziquantel and investigated for laboratory manifestation in the Hospital 103, Lao PDR. Eosinophil was found to increase significantly. Total bilirubin is higher than normal value in majority of the patients. Liver fluke was identified as Opisthorchis viverrini. There was no relation between the intensity of infection and egg counts of Opisthorchis viverrini
Fasciola hepatica ; Therapeutics ; Diagnosis ; Praziquantel

Glomerular Filtration Rate has conventionally been indexed to Body Surface Area (BSA). The Du Bois and Mosteller formulae are used in calculating BSA. Recently, the methodologies in GFR determination have been cited as possible sources of discrepancies. This study was done to determine if a statistically significant difference exists in the GFRs obtained using the BSA calculated by the Du Bois and the Mosteller formulae; if such differences are related to age, sex, height, weight, and BMI. A review of the GFR results obtained in our institution was done. A total of of 186 subjects were included. GFR results were normalized to BSA using the two formulae. The difference between the resulting GFRs were caculated and subjected to appropriate statistical methods to determine their relationship to age, sex, height, weight, and BMI. They were then classified into different CKD stages and observed for any shifts in classification when the formula was changed. No correlation was observed between the differences and sex (P value = 0.70). Negative correlation was noted between the differences and age, height, and weight. Individuals with normal BMIs had the smallest differences. Those that were underweight showed the biggest differences. Of the 186 subjects, 9 patients had a shift in CKD classification when the GFRs using the Du Bois formula was compared to those using the Mosteller formula. The differences between the surface-area-normalized GFRs obtained using the two formulae are statistically significant and may affect clinical decision-making, patient management, and long-term outcome.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged 80 And Over ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Preschool ; Infant ; Infant Newborn ; Body Mass Index ; Body Surface Area ; Body Weight ; Clinical Decision-making ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Health Facilities ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Thinness

We report a case of a 55-year old sexually active homosexual male who presented with one month duration of erythematous, non-pruritic papules on the forehead, nape, scalp, chest, back, extremities and genitals and the presence of coppery-red, slightly scaling macules on the palms and soles. RPR (>1:16 dilution) and TPPA were reactive. A 4-mm skin punch biopsy revealed hyperplasia of the epidermis, focal areas of erythrocytic exocytosis with mild spongiosis and vacuolar degeneration of the basal cell layer, and many superficial and deep moderately dense perivascular granulomous inflammatory infilitrates consisting of histiocytes, lymphocytes, many plasma cells, some neutrophils, nuclear dusts and few eosinophils. The patient was given a single dose of 2.4M units of benzathine penicillin G, divided into each buttock. A repeat quantitative RPR was scheduled after 6 and 12 months to monitor the patient's titer.

Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Buttocks ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Exocytosis ; Histiocytes ; Hyperplasia ; Neutrophils ; Penicillin G Benzathine ; Plasma Cells ; Scalp ; Sexual Minorities ; Skin

Whole-cell Pertussis (wcPertussis) vaccines combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids are effective in preventing clinical pertussis. The study aimed at determining the cost of managing fever and convulsions and cost of adverse events associated with wcPertussis. Parents who brought their children to health clinics and parents of children who were admitted for febrile convulsions were interviewed using structured questionnaire and the information were used to determine the cost of managing adverse events. Mean cost of managing mild fever per case was RM249, mean cost of managing high fever per case was RM1,036 and mean cost of managing convulsions was RM1,225. Total cost of managing adverse events was RM261 million for mild fever, RM66.7 million for high fever and RM1.3 million for convulsions. Costs of managing mild and high fever were less than the cost of managing convulsions. Total cost of managing mild fever was highest at RM261 million compared with RM66.7 million for high fever and RM1.3 million for convulsions. Thus, lower risk of adverse events actually contributed to higher costs of managing the adverse event.

Objective: This survey identifies the psychosocial aspects of caring for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients at the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC). Specifically it aims to determine the demographic profile, psychiatric morbidity, and perceived social support of this population. Methodology: This cross-sectional study describes the psychological impairment and perceived social support of 42 SCI patients, which were assessed through the Self-Reporting Questionnaire and Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire. Results and Conclusion: A mean age of 35.3 years was noted, with males accounting for 74 percent of the SCI patients studied. Most of them were skilled workers who had reached high school. About 66 percent had complete spinal cord transection. 57.1 percent of the study population had a score of 5 or more on SRQ items 1 to 20 which screen for anxiety and depressive symptoms, while 23.8 percent had a score of one or more SRQ items 21 to 24 which screen for psychotic symptoms. The spouses (33 percent) and the nursing staff (31.7 percent) were the most supportive.
Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; SPINAL CORD INJURIES ; SOCIAL SUPPORT

Objective: To determine the pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination using samples with. processed total motile count of 1.0 x 106 and less and describe the semen quality profile of Filipino males with severe male factor infertility in both the raw and processed semen samples. Design: Retrospective descriptive study. Setting: Andrology Laboratory, St. Luke's Medical Center. Patients: 307 infertile Filipino couples who underwent 426 IUI cycles. Main Outcome Measures: Pregnancy rate (PR) after intrauterine insemination. Results: A total of 10 pregnancies were obtained out of 426 IUI cycles, for a pregnancy rate per cycle of 2.4%. Seven of these eventually delivered to term, for a live birth rate of 1.6%. Among those who did not get pregnant with IUI, 8 had spontaneous pregnancies within 1 to 5 year period of follow-up for a spontaneous pregnancy rate of 1.9%. As expected, all the semen parameters analysed showed improvement after semen processing in all subjects. However, these improvements failed to result in a more acceptable pregnancy rate. Among the parameters, morphology was notably better among those who had pregnancies. Conclusion: The chance of pregnancy with IUI using semen samples with processed total motile count of 1.0 x 106 or less is relatively low. For these couples, it may be more prudent to proceed directly to IVF-ICSI than to try several cycles of IUI in futility.
INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION ; SEVERE OLIGOSPERMIA

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is an adult-onset upper and lower airway disease consisting of eosinophilic nasal polyps, asthma, and respiratory reactions to cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) inhibitors. Management includes guideline-based treatment of asthma and sinus disease, avoidance of COX-1 inhibitors, and for some patients aspirin desensitization followed by high-dose aspirin therapy. Despite this, many patients have inadequately controlled symptoms and require multiple sinus surgeries. In this review, we discuss the current standard approaches to the management of AERD, and we introduce several therapeutics under development that may hold promise for the treatment of AERD.
Aspirin ; Asthma ; Cyclooxygenase 1 ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Nasal Polyps

This article discusses some methods by which the facilitator can evaluate effectiveness of small groups in promoting learning. The paper focuses on evaluation of the small group process using the sociogram and Bales' checklist. Additionally, it presents checklists for evaluating facilitation skills. Combination of the tools presented in this article and revision of the content of the checklists to make it more context-specific and attuned to the realities of your small group settings is suggested to maximize the evaluative potential of these tools.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Checklist ; Group Processes ; Learning ; Evaluation Studies As Topic

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of diode laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation in lowering intraocular pressure and alleviating eye pain of patients with uncontrolled glaucoma, fifteen eyes of fifteen patients with uncontrolled glaucoma despite maximum medical therapy were studied.Charts of all patients were reviewed.Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation was performed using Oculight SLX diode laser with 780 - 820-nm wavelength delivered through an iris G probe with powers ranging between 1.5 - 2.0 watts at two seconds duration.At twelve months follow-up, 92% of the total population had an intraocular pressure at least 20% less than the pre-treatment level.Pain was nonexistent in all patients from one week post-treatment up to the last follow-up.Complications were few and included mild iritis and transient pain.Cyclophotocoagulation with a diode laser yields improvement of intraocular pressure and eliminates eye pain in patients with uncontrolled glaucoma
Human ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION ; CYCLOCRYOTHERAPY ; GLAUCOMA ; TRANSSCLERAL CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION

Aim: This study was performed to: (i) determine the association of breast cancer with dense breasts, and (ii) determine the breast cancer association with early onset of menarche, nulliparity, late age at first childbirth, not breast-feeding, and family history of breast cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective hospital-based case-control study. The 231 cases were women diagnosed with breast cancer on histology during the study period from July 1998 to April 2005. The 231 controls were age-matched and randomly selected women who did not have breast cancer but had mammography performed during the same time interval. Tabar classification was used to classify the mammographic parenchymal pattern of the 462 samples. The same radiologist analysed the parenchymal pattern based on the craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique views. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS package. Results: Majority of women with breast cancer (55%) had dense breasts (29% Type IB, 19% Type IC, 4% Type IV, 3% Type V). Majority of controls (58%) had dense breasts (22% Type IB, 26% Type IC, 6% Type IV, 4% Type V). The majority of women with breast cancer had menarche at 12 years or older (93%), were parous (89%), had the first childbirth before 35 years old (91%), had breast-fed (67%), and did not have family history of breast cancer (84%). For controls, the majority had menarche at 12 years or older (88%) were parous (87%), had the first childbirth before 35 years old (98%), had breast-fed (66%), and did not have family history of breast cancer (85%). All factors explored, including breast density, were not significantly associated with breast cancer. The odds ratio for breast cancer among those with dense breast compared to those with non-dense breast is 0.8 (95% CI=0.6, 1.2). Conclusion: This study found no association between breast cancer and dense breasts (p=0.398). There was also no association between breast cancer with early onset of menarche (p=0.174), nulliparity (p=0.448), older age at first childbirth (p=0.065), not breast-feeding (p=0.716) and family history of breast cancer (p=0.665).