Purpose: Corneal ulcer remains a major, ongoing health issue worldwide as it leads to blindness. The study analyzed the epidemiological patterns, microbiological profiles, antimicrobial resistance, and therapeutic outcomes trends across two time periods to assess changes associated with expanded diagnostic capacity. Methods: A 10-year retrospective research was conducted at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta (2015–2019, 2022– 2024). Clinical, microbiological, and treatment data were analyzed using chi-square tests and multivariable regression with propensity score matching to identify predictors of improvement. Results: A total of 1,100 eyes were examined. About two-thirds of patients were male, and the majority were aged 41 to 60 years, with trauma as the leading risk factor. Diagnostic testing increased markedly after 2022, revealing predominantly bacterial infections, most commonly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and coagulase-negative Staphylococci, with greater culture positivity and organism diversity. Antimicrobial resistance rose substantially, particularly to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides, whereas vancomycin (Gram-positive) and ceftazidime (Gram-negative) remained most effective. Clinical outcomes improved significantly in 2022–2024. Chi-square analysis showed ulcer location, size, depth, severity, and anterior chamber reaction were associated with improvement. Multivariable regression identified ulcer size, severity, surgical treatment, and later period as independent predictors of better outcomes, whereas antibiotic class did not independently influence healing. Conclusions Infectious corneal ulcer at our center remains predominantly bacterial, with evolving pathogen profiles and resistance patterns. Improved diagnostic access and standardized therapeutic protocols contributed to better outcomes. Routine culture testing and adherence to local resistance data are essential for guiding empiric therapy.

Factors Influencing Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Among Pregnant Women in Urban Malaysia Introduction Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is a growing public health concern due to its association with higher risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Recognising the key factors of underlying GWG incidence is thus crucial for developing targeted interventions. This study aims to determine the prevalence of excessive GWG and its associated factors among pregnant women in an urban district of Klang Valley, Malaysia. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted (betweenNovember 2017 and October 2018) among 472 pregnant women who gave birth between January 2015 and December 2016. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical illnesses, and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) were retrieved from the birth registry and maternal health records. The classification of GWG is based on the Institute of Medicine's recommendation Results The classification of GWG is based on the Institute of Medicine's recommendation. A total of 113 (23.9%) pregnant women had excessive GWG. Multiple logistic regression showed the odds of getting excessive GWG were higher among those with lower education levels (Adj. OR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.084, 3.147), being employed (Adj. OR = 2.30; 95% CI = 1.342, 3.928), nulliparous (Adj. OR = 2.46; 95% CI = 1.450, 4.164), and having pre-pregnancy BMI of ≥25kg/m2(Adj. OR = 6.47; 95% CI = 3.909, 10.721). Conclusions Lifestyle interventions, such as weight reduction programs and health education, should focus on women with high pre-pregnancy BMI, nulliparous women, working women and women with low education levels. Pre-pregnancy clinics and workplaces can serve as platforms to promote healthy dietary choices and encourage regular physical exercise.

Introduction: The 2021 IDF-DAR risk calculator had been previously evaluated in multiple studies and subsequently widely accepted and applied in clinical practice as a practical standardized tool for patient risk stratification. Recently updated, the 2026 IDF-DAR Risk calculator enables a more individualized, evidence-related evaluation of patientrelated and disease-related risk factors, incorporating modern diabetes technologies, including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, and advanced insulin formulations to enhance risk stratification. This tool allows medical professionals to tailor Ramadan practices based on overall factors toward promoting safe fasting. Methodology: This prospective multicentre observational study recruited adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes attending public hospitals nationwide. People with diabetes (PwD) intending to perform Ramadan fasting were invited to participate and assessed using the 2026 IDF-DAR Risk Calculator in the 6-week pre-Ramadan period between 30th January and 19th March 2026. Results: A total of 458 PwD were evaluated and stratified into low (15.7%), moderate (41%), and high risk (43.3%) categories. Most participants had Type 2 diabetes (83.6%), with 60.3% having a disease duration exceeding 10 years and 43% exhibiting poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c >9%). Insulin therapy was used by 76.4% of participants, including two individuals with Type 1 diabetes using AID systems. Most participants reported no recent hypoglycemia (76.4%), 81.0% performed glucose monitoring, and 3.3% used CGM. Severe comorbidities were uncommon, with 1.1% having unstable macrovascular disease and 4.4% advanced chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30). Notably, 72.2% received structured Ramadan education. Conclusion Majority of PwD attending tertiary diabetes clinics were in the moderate- to high-risk category and intended to fast despite medical advice against fasting in some cases. Although most participants were on insulin therapy, hypoglycemia was low in the pre-Ramadan period. Integration of modern technologies, advanced insulin therapies, and structured education may support safer fasting practices.
Risk Assessment ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hospitals ; Fasting

Introduction: Early identification of patients at risk for severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is essential for favourable clinical outcomes. This study aims to identify the clinical characteristics, factors and outcomes associated with severe MIS-C. Materials and methods: In this retrospective cohort study involving 14 major hospitals in Malaysia, children <15 years who met the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention case definition for MIS-C were included. Severe MIS-C was defined as children who required inotropic support, ventilatory support (invasive or non-invasive ventilation), or left ventricular ejection fraction of <55%. The factors investigated for severe MIS-C were demographic characteristics, the presence of comorbidities, clinical characteristics, and laboratory measures. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compute the adjusted odds ratio (aORs) of factors associated with severe MIS-C. Results: Among the 155 patients, 91 (58.7%) presented with severe MIS-C. Severe MIS-C was more likely in patients aged ≥5 years old (aOR 2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-4.21), with dehydration (aOR 3.80, 95% CI 1.53-9.45), lethargy (aOR 2.02, 95% CI 0.97-4.18), tachycardia (aOR 8.33, 95% CI 3.27-21.22), albumin <30g/L (aOR 3.36, 95% CI 1.58-7.13), creatine kinase >200U/L (aOR 3.68, 95% CI 1.57-8.64), D-dimer >3.0µg/mL (aOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.08-4.13), ferritin >500ng/mL (aOR 3.77, 95% CI 1.88-7.55), prothrombin time >12.7 seconds (aOR 3.22, 95% CI 1.61-6.43), and urea >6mmol/L (aOR 5.09, 95% CI 2.04-12.71). Conclusion: Identification of these associated factors of severity in MIS-C could aid in early recognition and prompt escalation of care, leading to better outcomes.

Background: Intrinsic capacity (IC) is defined as "all the physical and mental attributes possessed by the older person." This concept has gained momentum in recent years because it provides insights into the changes in the functional capacity of individuals during their life. This study examined common factors associated with IC decline among older adults in Mexico and Colombia. Methods: This cross-sectional, correlational study included 348 community-dwelling older adults. Sociodemographic, clinical, and family conditions were assessed as possible associated factors, and IC was analyzed across five domains: cognitive, locomotor, psychological, vitality (malnutrition through deficiency and excess), and sensory (visual and auditory). Parametric and non-parametric statistical analyses were performed. Results: The common factors associated with impairment according to domain were family dysfunctionality (cognitive domain); myocardial infarction, family dysfunctionality, age >80 years, home occupation, and not having a partner (locomotor domain); dysfunctional family and risk of falls (psychological domain); age >80 years and not having a partner (malnutrition by deficiency domain); age 60–79 years, walking <7,500 steps/day, and peripheral vascular disease (malnutrition by excess domain); risk of falling and being female (visual sensory domain); risk of falling (auditory sensory domain); and dysfunctional family and risk of falling (total intrinsic capacity). Conclusion Both populations had common sociodemographic, clinical, and familial factors that directly affected total IC stocks and their domains.

Background: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare hematologic disorder caused by uncontrolled terminal complement activation, which leads to intravascular hemolysis (IVH), thromboembolism (TE), renal failure, and premature mortality. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of data collected from patients enrolled in the Korean National PNH Registry to assess the relative importance of risk factors, specifically lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and hemoglobin (Hb), in predicting the incidence of TE, impaired renal function, and death in complement inhibitor-naïve patients with PNH. Results: Multivariate regression modeling indicated that LDH ≥ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN), male sex, and pain were associated with increased risk of TE (P = 0.016, 0.045, and 0.033, respectively), hemoglobinuria and pain were associated with an increased risk of impaired renal function (P = 0.034 and 0.022, respectively), and TE was associated with an increased incidence of death (P < 0.001). Hb < 8 g/dL was not a predictor of TE, impaired renal function, or death in multivariate regression analyses. Standardized mortality ratio analysis indicated that LDH ≥ 1.5 × ULN (P < 0.001), Hb < 8 g/dL (P < 0.001), and Hb ≥ 8 g/dL (P = 0.004) were all risk factors for death; in contrast, patients with LDH < 1.5 × ULN had similar mortality to the general population. Conclusion In complement inhibitor-naïve patients with PNH, LDH ≥ 1.5 × ULN was a significant predictor of TE, and TE was a significant predictor of death. Hb was not a significant predictor of TE, impaired renal function, or death. Therefore, controlling IVH will improve clinical outcomes for patients with PNH.

Purpose: Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) is widely used for simultaneously detecting clinically informative genetic alterations in a single assay. Its application in clinical settings requires the validation of NGS gene panels. In this study, we aimed to validate a targeted hybridization capture-based DNA panel (ONCOaccuPanel) using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. The panel allows the simultaneous detection of single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions, deletions, and copy number changes of 323 genes and fusions of 17 genes in solid tumors. Materials and Methods: We used 16 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples with previously known genetic mutations and one reference material (HD827) for validation. Moreover, we sequenced an additional 117 FFPE tumor samples to demonstrate the clinical utility of this panel. Results: Validation revealed a 100% positive percentage agreement and positive predictive value for the detection of SNVs, insertions, deletions, copy number changes, fusion genes, and microsatellite instability–high types. We observed high levels of reproducibility and repeatability (R2 correlation coefficients=0.96-0.98). In the limit of detection assessment, we identified all clinically relevant genes with allele frequencies > 3%. Furthermore, the clinical application of ONCOaccuPanel using 117 FFPE samples demonstrated robust detection of oncogenic alterations. Oncogenic alterations and targetable genetic alterations were detected in 98.2% and 27.4% cases, respectively. Conclusion ONCOaccuPanel demonstrated high analytical sensitivity, reproducibility, and repeatability and is feasible for the detection of clinically relevant mutations in clinical settings.

Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Mosaicism ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Prenatal Care ; Aneuploidy

This paper documents the first reported cases of patients in the country who underwent transvaginal ultrasound‑guided Tru‑cut biopsy of pelvic tumors in a tertiary level health institution in 2019. Different indications for Tru‑cut biopsy were demonstrated highlighting its clinical utility in the diagnosis and management of malignant pelvic tumors. All patients warranted histologic diagnosis for further planning of the most appropriate management. Adequate tissue samples were obtained from all three patients with no procedure‑related complications.

Context: Endometrial cancer is the third most common malignancy of the female genital tract in the Philippines, following cervical and ovarian cancer. Ultrasound as the first line in imaging has a major role in preoperative treatment and planning. Aims: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of subjective versus objective ultrasound measurement techniques in detecting cervical stromal invasion (CSI) and deep myometrial invasion (MI). Materials and Methods: Fifty‑seven patients were enrolled in this cross‑sectional study. Deep MI and CSI were evaluated both subjectively and objectively by measuring tumor‑free distance (TFD), distance from the outer cervical os to lowest edge of the tumor border (Dist‑OCO), and distance from the internal cervical os to caudal tumor border (Dist‑ICO). Histopathological result used as the gold standard. Results: Subjective assessment for deep (MI) had 79.3% sensitivity, 82.1% specificity, 82.1% positive predictive value (PPV), 82.1% negative predictive value (NPV), and 80.7%. Subjective assessment for CSI had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and overall accuracy of 80%, 90.4%, 44.4%, 97.9%, and 89.5%. Objective measurement (TFD ≤0.8 cm) to detect deep MI had 86.2% sensitivity, 57.1% specificity, 67.4% PPV, 80% NPV, and 71.9% overall accuracy. Adjusting TFD cutoff to 0.65 increased to 71.4% specificity, making it comparable with subjective assessment. Dist‑OCO (≤2.1 cm) yielded 100% sensitivity, 86.3% specificity, 30% PPV, 100% NPV, and 87% overall accuracy. Dist‑ICO was first used in this study, hence no cutoff yet. By using receiver operating characteristics, cutoff was 0.45 cm, which yielded a 60% sensitivity and 92% specificity (area under the curve 0.731, P = 0.09). Conclusions Subjective assessment of CSI and deep MI performs better than objective measurement techniques. TFD and Dist‑OCO as the objective measurements showed clinically comparable accuracy to subjective assessment by an expert. Dist‑ICO needs to be validated to a larger population to determine its clinical value in predicting CSI.
Endometrial Neoplasms