A nonrestrictive interatrial communication is mandatory in some patients with complex cyanotic heart disease. Up to the present time, Park blade atrial septostomy with a Park blade catheter is performed only under fluoroscopic guidance. We successfully monitored only under transthoracic 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography (TTE), in a 7-week-old infant with d-Transposition of Great Arteries (d-TGA), a restrictive patent foramen ovale (PFO), and small ventricular septal defect (VSD), who presented with severe hypoxemia. TTE confirmed the position of the blade before and during pullback to the right atrium, followed by balloon septoplasty. There was an adequate enlargement of the interatrial communication with subsequent improvement in the oxygenation of the infant. This is the first reported case of the performance of blade atrial septostomy as a bedside TTE guided procedure here in the Philippines.

Human ; Male ; Infant ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Foramen Ovale, Patent ; Philippines ; Echocardiography ; Heart Atria ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Transposition Of Great Vessels ; Hypoxia

A 42-year-old male was admitted at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) for a 3-month history of non-healing wound in the medial side of his right leg in spite of multiple antibiotics. The wound worsened with multiple ulcerations and draining sinuses. The wound was shown to have suppurative and granulomatous infiltrates that yielded Mycrobacterium tuberculosis. An algorithm in the approach to a chronic or non-healing wound is discussed.

Human ; Male ; Adult ; Hospitals, General ; Anti-bacterial Agents ; Suppuration ; Tuberculosis ; Communicable Diseases ; Lower Extremity

This a case of a 39-year-old Filipino male with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosed in 2006, presenting with a 3-month history of non-healing wound on his right lower leg. This paper will discuss the etiologies of a non-healing wound and present an algorithm to guide the approach to diagnosis and management.

Human ; Male ; Adult ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Algorithms

INTRODUCTION: Cost has become a limiting factor for indigent breast cancer patients at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). The Department of Health-Philippine Cancer Society Inc (DOH¬PCSI) Access Program for Breast Cancer Medicine provided free chemotherapy through a patient navigation system in PGH starting January 2012 to improve breast cancer treatment quality. This study looked into the differences of quality care in the non-metastatic setting among enrolled patients in the first 6 months compared to patients outside of the program from 2011-2012.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort used follow-up rates and 19 quality care indicators linked to improved outcomes to look into quality of care among patients who were enrolled (n=58) and those who were not (n=118 for 2011 and 2012). Subgroup analyses compared patients in the program and those who were not included in the same period (n=28). Another analysis compared 2011 patients (n= 90) with those in 2012 (n=86). Z¬test for the difference of proportions was done.
RESULTS: Attrition rate decreased from 62% in 2011 to 18% in 2012 (p<.0001). There was a significant improvement in 12 quality care indicators in the program (95% Cl), with the greatest differences in the initiation of treatment (58.7%) and appropriate neo-adjuvant chemotherapy administration (58.3%). Similar trends were seen in the subgroup analyses.
Conclusion. The DOH-PCSI Access Program for Breast Cancer Medicine program improved care among breast cancer patients in PGH, noted as early as within its first six months.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms ; Patients ; Drug Therapy ; Breast ; Philippines

INTRODUCTION: Current international consensus confirms that certain histopathologic factors such as tumor morphology, histologic grade and presence of lymphovascular invasion are correlated with prognosis. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the correlation between histopathologic profile and time to disease progression (UP) within the first 1-2 years follow-up of Filipino Stage I-Ill early breast cancer patients.
METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study which included breast cancer patients enrolled in the Department of Health¬Breast Cancer Medicine Access Program (DOH-BCMAP) at the medical oncology clinics of two tertiary hospitals in Manila. Clinical and histopathologic factors were gathered from patient records, and the patients were grouped according to the modified St. Gallen definition of risk categories for patients with breast cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis determined the average UP as well as progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate logistic regression determined factors contributing to disease progression.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Of the 326 patients enrolled in this study, 18% showed progression, with a median HP of 14 months. UP was comparable among the low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups. PFS during the 1st 1-2 years follow-up was estimated to be at 78% for the high-risk group, 83% for the intermediate-risk group, and 86% for the low-risk group. During this 1st 1-2 years follow-up, no studied factors of interest were shown to be significantly correlated with outcome among this predominantly intermediate to high risk for recurrence breast cancer patients. Follow-up of this patients up to 5 or more years would define sustained gains from the DOH-BCMAP.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Consensus ; Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; Medical Oncology

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer remains to be the leading cause of malignancy among women and survival rates vary worldwide. Molecular and immunohistochemical (NC) profiling of breast cancer has emerged to improve treatment, which led to 6 different breast cancer subtypes luminal-A, luminal-B, Her-2 enriched, basal-like, daudin low, and normal breast. Essentially, this guides clinicians as to the choice of treatment and prognostication of disease. This study evaluates the characteristics of the different IHC subtypes of breast cancer among Filipinos as to pattern of recurrence and time to progression (TIP) within their 1st 2 years of follow-up.
METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study, approved by the University of the Philippines Manila Research Ethics Board (UPMREB). Study population included breast cancer patients enrolled in the DOH-BCMAP and managed at the medical oncology clinics of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) from 1 May 2011 to 31 December 2013. Patients' demographics, disease and treatment profile were gathered from the medical charts. Patients were grouped into 12 different IHC subtypes utilizing only IHC staining results of Her2neu, ER and PR. Disease progression/ relapse and time to progression (UP) were primary outcomes analyzed and compared between subtypes using SPSS.
RESULTS: There were 368 eligible patients; 50% were >50 years old, 48% postmenopausal, 34% stage IIA, and 94% had invasive ductal carcinoma. About 88% completed their chemotherapy regimen, mostly AC-T. At 1 to 2 years follow-up, 18% had disease progression, mostly distant metastasis, with HER2neu(-)/ER(-)/PR(-), HER2(+), and HER2neu(-)/ER(+)/PR(+) subtypes having the most number of disease progression. The HER2neu(-)/ER(-)/PR(-) subtype had the shortest median TTP (11 months 9sd). HER2(+) subtype had median TTP of 14±8 sd, while HER2neu(-)/ER(+)/PR(+) had median TTP at 11.6±7.41 sd. The median TTPs among the different IHC subtypes were statistically comparable.
CONCLUSION: Filipinas with non-metastatic breast cancer after surgery and mainly on adjuvant chemotherapy started to develop disease progression/ relapse within the first 2 years of follow-up; 82% had no relapse. At these early years of follow-up, the median TTPs among the different breast cancer IHC subtypes who went into relapse were comparable, although HER2neu(+) regardless of ER/PR subtype tended to have more disease progression, followed by HER2neu(-)/ ER(-)/ regardless of PR subtype, and then HER2neu(-)/ ER(+)/ regardless of PR subtype. IHC resultant HER2neu(+) regardless of ER/PR and HER2neu(-)/ER(-)/PR(-/+) subtypes can serve as early prognosticators of breast cancer relapse.  

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged 80 And Over ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; Neoplasms ; Survival Rate ; Carcinoma ; Drug Therapy ; Medical Oncology

INTRODUCTION: Cytotoxic chemotherapy places all cancer patients at risk of developing myelosuppression. Different chemotherapy regimens could lead to development of neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia which may lead to delays in facilitating chemotherapy and also may place cancer patients at risk of developing severe complications which may be life threatening. This study determined the incidence of neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia per cycle of chemotherapy starting after the 1st cycle among non-metastatic breast cancer patients. It also evaluated if age, size of primary tumor, number of positive lymph nodes, IHC result, BMI, co-morbidities and chemotherapy used were associated with the development of neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia during the 10 cycle of chemotherapy; this may help in ascertaining which patients may need more intensive monitoring during subsequent chemotherapy sessions.
METHODS: This is a time series study wherein the CBC results starting prior 1° chemotherapy cycle were gathered from medical charts of non-metastatic breast cancer patients receiving cyclophosphamide/ doxorubicin/ docetaxel/ fluororuracil chemotherapy at UP-PGH and JRRMMC Medical Oncology Clinics enrolled under the DOH-NCPAM BCMAP program, from 1 January 2009 to 31 June 2014. Incidence rates of neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia were recorded per cycle of chemotherapy. Severity of myelosuppression was graded based on the Common Toxicity Criteria of the National Cancer Institute Version 2.0. Possible predictors of myelosuppression were assessed focusing on the 1st cycle of chemotherapy where interventions were not yet done. Standard statistical methods were used for the descriptive analysis. Variables were analyzed using the Chi square test and logistic regression; level of significance was at p<0.05.RESULTS: 751 patients were included in the study, who had a total of 3,759 CBC results. The incidence of neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia for all 3,759 CBC results were 3%, 2.3%, and 0.5%, respectively. Among all recorded CBC results only 0.9% had grade 3-4 neutropenia and 0.3% grade 3-4 anemia. There was no severe thrombocytopenia.
After the 1st chemotherapy cycle, the incidence of neutropenia was 4.67% (35 patients), anemia 2.27% (17 patients), and thrombocytopenia 0.8% (6 patients). Of these patients, only 1.17% (9 patients) experienced severe neutropenia and 0.27% (2 patients) experienced grade 3-4 anemia. No patient experienced grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia.
Age, size of primary tumor, number of positive lymph nodes, IHC result, BMI, co-morbidities and chemotherapy used were not associated with risk for myelosuppression during the 1st cycle of chemotherappy.
CONCLUSION: Incidence rates of neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia were minimal in non-metastatic breast cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy, with low rates of severe myelosupression. Myelosupression from standard doxorubicin/ cyclophosphamide/ docetaxel/ fluoracil containing chemotherapy regimens can be given to non-metastatic breast cancer patients, completing required number of chemotherapy cycles with nil interruption or delay.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Neutropenia ; Anemia ; Thrombocytopenia ; Incidence ; Cyclophosphamide ; Drug Therapy

INTRODUCTION: Over the last two decades, psychosocial research has explored the experience of cancer patients. This study evaluated if demographic, socio-economic and cancer-specific factors impact and correlate with quality of life (QoL) scores at the time of first consult of newly-diagnosed cancer patients seen at medical oncology clinics of the University of the Philippines¬Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Cancer Institute from 2012-2013.
METHODS: Review of charts and interview with a pre-approved and validated questionnaire were done after informed consent. Age, gender, marital status, number of close friends, household income band, employment status, cancer site and stage were recorded. Outcomes were cancer-specific QoL EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and generic QoL EQ5D questionnaire. Scores were correlated with demographic, socio-economic, and cancer¬specific factors.
RESULTS: 535 patients were included, 257 male and 278 female. Mean age was 52 years (SD 13.5 years; range20-92 years). Majority (28.7%) belonged to income bracket P4,293-P8,583/month. Majority were married (74.31%) and unemployed (58.4%). Top 5 cancers were colorectal (28.09%), breast (20.70%), head and neck (16.63%), lung (9.97%), lymphoma (7.94%). According to EORTC QLQ-C30, physical functioning (p=0.0037) and cognitive functioning (p=0.003) were significantly correlated with younger patients while role functioning (p=0.04) and emotional functioning (p=0.03) showed negative correlation with older patients. Fatigue was less in female patients (p=0.0005) while being the household head (p=0.0005) was significantly correlated with increased fatigue. According to EQ5D, single patients (p=0.016) had better mobility than the rest of patients. Having 5  family members significantly reported less pain (p=0.038). Breast cancer patients had best QOL while bladder cancer patients had the worst QOL. As cancer stage increased, QOL decreased.
CONCLUSION: This is a first baseline study on self-reported QOL among newly-diagnosed Filipino cancer patients, an important relevant reference in the field of psychosocial issues among low-resourced cancer patients in the Philippines.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged 80 And Over ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Quality Of Life ; Marital Status ; Lymphoma ; Neoplasms ; Patients ; Philippines

INTRODUCTION: Sexual function is an important aspect of quality of life, and can be drastically affected in ill patients. Very few studies (and apparently none among Filipinas) looked into sexual dysfunction among females with breast cancer (BrCa); prevalence also is not well defined. This study evaluates the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among Filipino patients with BrCa, and assesses which treatment or if duration of illness, age, BMI, smoking history, diabetes, hypertension significantly contributed to the dysfunction.
METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among BrCa patients consulting at the outpatient medical oncology clinic of a government tertiary hospital. Study population included those diagnosed and was with breast cancer over a 3-months period, with a calculated sample size of 60 (within 81±10% prevalence rate, Cl 95%). A validated translated version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) 19-item questionnaire that looked into 6 domains (arousal, lubrication, desire, pain, orgasm, and satisfaction) was used. Sexual dysfunction was defined as an FSFI score of <26.55.
RESULTS: Of the 97 respondents, mean age was 49.4 years old and mean BMI of 24.8. About 78% received chemotherapy, 26% hormonal therapy. 15% radiotherapy, 82% modified radical mastectomy (MRM), and 71% received both MRM and chemotherapy at the time of interview. Duration of cancer was
months in 72% of subjects. There were 97.9% who had sexual dysfunction which is similar to prevalence rates (64-98%) in other studies. Age, BMI, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chemotherapy, surgery, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, and duration of illness were shown not to be significant predictors of sexual dysfunction among Filipinas with BrCa by bivariate analysis.
CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent among female Filipino BrCa patients. Knowing such high prevalence should prompt health care providers to include interventions to improve quality of life of BrCa patients, including their sexual life.

Human ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Quality Of Life ; Breast Neoplasms ; Prevalence ; Body Mass Index ; Smoking ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hypertension ; Medical Oncology ; Orgasm ; Arousal ; Lubrication ; Mastectomy

Primary liposarcomas constitute less than 1% of all mediastinal tumors. The posterior mediastinum is the location in 95% of cases. Literature search did not show a case that encompassed three mediastinal compartments.
A 32-year old man was diagnosed with high grade primary mediastinal liposarcoma (80% myxoid plus 20% round cell), after presenting with superior vena cava syndrome. CT-scan revealed lobulated masses on the superior, anterior, and the right middle mediastinum measuring 7.8 x 9.0 x 7.5 cm and compressing the superior vena cava. He underwent surgical debulking and palliative 3 cycles doxorubicin-based chemotherapy, but later succumbed to pneumonia.

Human ; Male ; Adult ; Liposarcoma ; Mediastinum ; Vena Cava, Superior ; Myxoid ; Doxorubicin ; Pneumonia