Stroke remains a major cause of death and disability, highlighting the intimate relationship between cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Despite substantial advances in diagnosis and treatment, marked disparities in access to care and clinical outcomes continue to exist. As such, stroke remains a shared challenge for primary care physicians, cardiologists, and neurologists, emphasizing the need for effective prevention, timely intervention, structured rehabilitation, and optimal secondary prevention. In this issue, we feature the Executive Summary of the 2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke and Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the Philippines, an important resource for promoting evidence-based, patient-centered care and improving stroke outcomes.

INTRODUCTION

Stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide and remains a major cause of death among Filipinos. Despite being the most common neurological disease, wide variations in management persist among clinicians. This CPG aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of acute stroke.

A systematic synthesis of evidence was conducted to address the diagnosis and management of both acute hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was followed. The process included: (1) generation of critical questions and outcomes (2) retrieval of current and relevant evidence, (3) synthesis and appraisal of the evidence base, (4) formulation of draft recommendations, (5) deliberation by a multi-sectoral stakeholder panel on feasibility, values and preferences to assess the strength of recommendations and (6) planning for dissemination, implementation, impact evaluation and updating.

Sixteen clinical questions were addressed leading to 21 recommendations. Most were strong recommendations supported by moderate to high certainty of evidence. The recommendations span the spectrum of acute stroke care, including early diagnosis with imaging, admission to stroke units, reperfusion therapies, surgical options, prevention of complications and the role of adjunctive treatments.

The recommendations in this CPG are intended to guide clinicians and other stakeholders in the diagnosis and management of acute stroke. They are meant to supplement, not replace, the sound clinical judgment of healthcare providers.

INTRODUCTION

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin plus P2Y12 receptor inhibitor has become a cornerstone in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the prevention of stent thrombosis. However, aspirin intolerance poses a problem in the lack of guideline-based alternatives with proven benefit. In this study, we aim to determine the efficacy and safety of cilostazol-based DAPT as an alternative treatment for aspirin among patients undergoing PCI.

A comprehensive literature search was performed. All studies that investigated cilostazol as an alternative to aspirin on top of P2Y12 inhibitors for patients undergoing PCI were included. Outcomes of interest in this meta-analysis were reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and bleeding.

Three cohort studies including 1,227 patients on cilostazol and 1,480 on aspirin, both with a P2Y12 inhibitor were analyzed. Pooled estimates showed no significant difference in MACE (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.79–2.23; p = 0.29) or acute myocardial infarction (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.46–1.89; p = 0.85) between groups. However, cilostazol-based DAPT was associated with significantly less bleeding (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27–0.99; p = 0.05). All outcomes were statistically homogeneous (p>0.1, I²CONCLUSION

Cilostazol compared to aspirin, both on top of a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, is as efficient in the reduction of MACE and acute myocardial infarction; and even safer in terms of bleeding. Cilostazol-based DAPT may serve as an alternative to standard DAPT among aspirin-intolerant patients undergoing PCI.

Stroke remains a major cause of death and disability, highlighting the intimate relationship between cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Despite substantial advances in diagnosis and treatment, marked disparities in access to care and clinical outcomes continue to exist. As such, stroke remains a shared challenge for primary care physicians, cardiologists, and neurologists, emphasizing the need for effective prevention, timely intervention, structured rehabilitation, and optimal secondary prevention. In this issue, we feature the Executive Summary of the 2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke and Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the Philippines, an important resource for promoting evidence-based, patient-centered care and improving stroke outcomes.

INTRODUCTION

Stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide and remains a major cause of death among Filipinos. Despite being the most common neurological disease, wide variations in management persist among clinicians. This CPG aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of acute stroke.

A systematic synthesis of evidence was conducted to address the diagnosis and management of both acute hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was followed. The process included: (1) generation of critical questions and outcomes (2) retrieval of current and relevant evidence, (3) synthesis and appraisal of the evidence base, (4) formulation of draft recommendations, (5) deliberation by a multi-sectoral stakeholder panel on feasibility, values and preferences to assess the strength of recommendations and (6) planning for dissemination, implementation, impact evaluation and updating.

Sixteen clinical questions were addressed leading to 21 recommendations. Most were strong recommendations supported by moderate to high certainty of evidence. The recommendations span the spectrum of acute stroke care, including early diagnosis with imaging, admission to stroke units, reperfusion therapies, surgical options, prevention of complications and the role of adjunctive treatments.

The recommendations in this CPG are intended to guide clinicians and other stakeholders in the diagnosis and management of acute stroke. They are meant to supplement, not replace, the sound clinical judgment of healthcare providers.

INTRODUCTION

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin plus P2Y12 receptor inhibitor has become a cornerstone in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the prevention of stent thrombosis. However, aspirin intolerance poses a problem in the lack of guideline-based alternatives with proven benefit. In this study, we aim to determine the efficacy and safety of cilostazol-based DAPT as an alternative treatment for aspirin among patients undergoing PCI.

A comprehensive literature search was performed. All studies that investigated cilostazol as an alternative to aspirin on top of P2Y12 inhibitors for patients undergoing PCI were included. Outcomes of interest in this meta-analysis were reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and bleeding.

Three cohort studies including 1,227 patients on cilostazol and 1,480 on aspirin, both with a P2Y12 inhibitor were analyzed. Pooled estimates showed no significant difference in MACE (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.79–2.23; p = 0.29) or acute myocardial infarction (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.46–1.89; p = 0.85) between groups. However, cilostazol-based DAPT was associated with significantly less bleeding (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27–0.99; p = 0.05). All outcomes were statistically homogeneous (p>0.1, I²CONCLUSION

Cilostazol compared to aspirin, both on top of a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, is as efficient in the reduction of MACE and acute myocardial infarction; and even safer in terms of bleeding. Cilostazol-based DAPT may serve as an alternative to standard DAPT among aspirin-intolerant patients undergoing PCI.

Introduction: While uterine leiomyosarcoma, an aggressive smooth muscle malignancy, has a strong propensity for hematogenous spread—most commonly to the lungs and liver—gastric metastasis remains exceedingly rare. When it occurs, it presents as a masquerading lesion that mimics primary gastric tumors, creating a significant diagnostic pitfall for both clinicians and pathologists. Case Description: A 75-year-old female presented with recurrent melena. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a friable, bell-shaped mass measuring 7 × 6 cm in the gastric fundus, suspicious for GIST. Histopathology showed spindle to epithelioid tumor cells arranged in intersecting fascicles and solid sheets with vesicular nuclei, conspicuous nucleoli, numerous mitosis, and tumor necrosis. IHCs demonstrated strong SMA positivity but negative CD117, raising consideration of undifferentiated GIST. However, subsequent DOG1 staining was negative, arguing strongly against GIST. Additional markers including S100, PanCK, CD3, CD20, CD15, and CD30 were negative. Further IHCs revealed diffuse, desmin and H-caldesmon positivity, supporting smooth muscle differentiation. Review of prior records revealed TAHBSO in 2023 for uterine leiomyosarcoma. Discussion: Metastatic involvement of the stomach is rare and most commonly arises from breast or lung primaries. Gastric metastases are rare and most commonly originate from breast or lung primaries. Metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma presenting as a solitary gastric mass is exceedingly uncommon and may closely mimic primary gastric tumors such as GIST both endoscopically and histologically, representing an important diagnostic pitfall. Conclusion This case highlights a rare metastatic pattern of uterine leiomyosarcoma presenting as an overt gastric mass with GI bleeding. Awareness of this deceptive presentation and careful clinicopathologic correlation are essential for accurate diagnosis. To our knowledge, this represents one of the few reported cases worldwide and possibly the first documented in the Philippines.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multiorgan autoimmune disease that affects 20-150 per 100,000 women. It is a mutagenic disease which causes formation of autoantibodies immune complexes that leads to inflammation in different organs leading to organ damage. We present a case of a young female who was newly diagnosed to have SLE. She presented with an elevated ANA, low C3 and elevated Anti-DS DNA. She first manifested with epistaxis and subsequently experienced the various complications of SLE such as infection, thrombosis, bleeding, ascites, etc. The initial presentation of normochromic, normocytic anemia and thrombocytopenia together with further work-ups supported another concomitant autoimmune disease, namely Evan’s syndrome. Evan’s syndrome is a rare manifestation of SLE, and is observed in only 2.73% of the population. In addition, the patient manifested with sudden onset of right-sided body weakness with Cranial CT scan findings of areas of focal infarction in the frontal lobe with concomitant acute intracranial hemorrhages. The evidence of both thrombosis and hemorrhage provided conflicting management strategies for this patient. The use of hydroxychloroquine, which is the cornerstone of lupus therapy, provided beneficial antithrombotic effects. A multidisciplinary approach to management and prudent choice of medications were vital in the success of treatment on such a complicated case.

INTRODUCTION: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the most common cause of acquired bleeding in childhood, but little is known about the clinical course and outcomes in infants with ITP. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of all infants (1-12 months of age) and toddlers (13-47 months of age) diagnosed with ITP from a single centre during a 13-year period. The following data were compared between the two patients groups: demographics, severity of bleeding, platelet counts, duration of illness, development of chronic ITP, treatment and association with recent vaccination. RESULTS: Twenty-two infants and 30 toddlers were diagnosed and followed up for ITP during the study period. Infants with ITP generally had minor or mild bleeding (19, 86.4%) and seldom required treatment (7, 31.8%), and their thrombocytopenia resolved at a mean of 1.90 months after diagnosis. Besides age, the sex ratio, severity of bleeding, platelet counts and proportion that required treatment were comparable between infants and toddlers. Fewer infants developed chronic ITP (1/22 vs. 9/30, P = 0.032), but more infants had a history of vaccination in the preceding 6 weeks prior to diagnosis of ITP (13/22 vs. 1/30, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION ITP in infants is almost always a self-limiting and transient illness, and the majority of cases do not require treatment.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Infant ; Male ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/complications* ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Platelet Count ; Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: China has made significant progress in medical accessibility and quality over the past decades, and quality improvements in gastroenterology and digestive endoscopy have been consistent. The study aimed to describe the status quo of gastroenterology and digestive endoscopy in the Chinese mainland based on the data from the National Clinical Improvement System (NCIS) and the Hospital Quality Monitoring System (HQMS). METHODS: Data were extracted from the NCIS and the HQMS. Data analysis included general information from the Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy centers, management of inpatients and outpatients, and annual volume and quality indicators of digestive endoscopy. Acute pancreatitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, and cirrhosis were identified as priority diseases and were subjected to detailed analysis. RESULTS: Data from 4620 and 7074 hospitals were extracted from the NCIS and HQMS, respectively. In 2023, 9.6 gastroenterologists, 6.7 endoscopists, and 37.3 gastroenterology beds per hospital nationwide were observed, achieving 19,252.4 outpatient visits, 1615.2 hospitalizations (97.0 for acute pancreatitis, 146.1 for gastrointestinal bleeding, 40.2 for inflammatory bowel disease, and 111.4 for cirrhosis), and 9432.7 digestive endoscopic procedures per hospital. Overall, the quality of practice improved significantly. The proportion of early cancer among gastrointestinal cancers increased from 11.1% in 2015 to 23.4% in 2023, and the adenoma detection rate during colonoscopy increased from 19.3% in 2019 to 26.9% in 2023. Regarding priority diseases, hospitalizations increased, and 31-day unplanned readmission rates decreased between 2019 and 2023. The median hospitalization costs and median proportion of medication costs decreased for acute pancreatitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and cirrhosis. However, it increased for inflammatory bowel disease. CONCLUSION This report evaluates the status quo and development of gastroenterology and digestive endoscopy in the Chinese mainland, providing guidance for future quality improvements.
Humans ; China ; Gastroenterology/statistics & numerical data* ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/statistics & numerical data* ; Endoscopy, Digestive System/statistics & numerical data*