BACKGROUND: Adolescence was associated with suboptimal diabetes control. Studies supporting the use of mobile technology to improve glycemic control and adherence to treatment had mixed results.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of SMS reminders on improving glycemic control in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM)

METHODOLOGY: A randomized control study among adolescents with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus was done. Data were processed from 56 out of 64 subjects who were randomized into control (N=29) who received standard of care and SMS group (N=27), who received standard of care and a daily SMS reminder regarding diabetes self-care for 12 weeks. An adherence form was answered by all participants and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) before and after intervention was compared.

RESULTS: HbA1c did not significantly differ between SMS and control groups after 12 weeks of intervention (SMS 9.98+2.12 vs control 10.54+2.13, p value of 0.305). Post intervention, there was no significant difference between SMS and control group in terms of adherence to insulin injection (no p value), blood glucose (BG) monitoring (p value 0.106), and diabetic diet (p value 0.803). However, adherence on exercise was significantly higher among control group than SMS group (p value 0.003).

CONCLUSION: A 12-week SMS intervention reminder in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus did not significantly improve glycemic control and adherence to standard of care (insulin injection, blood glucose monitoring, diet and exercise).

RECOMMENDATION: Future researches could include a bigger study population and longer duration of intervention. Other forms of mobile technology could also be used as a form of reminder.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Child: 6-12 Yrs Old ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Text Messaging ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Therapeutics ; Technology ; Standard Of Care ; Self Care

Background: Management of COVID--19 patients during surges have been a challenge as hospitals have to deal with staff, room, and medication shortages. Among these medications is tocilizumab which is given to patients with severe/critical conditions. In Ospital ng Makati, patients are given baricitinib as alternative immunomodulator to prevent possible cytokine storm during tocilizumab shortages. The current recommendation for baricitinib is to give it in addition to dexamethasone and remdesivir for hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring low to high-flow oxygen, and non-invasive ventilation. However, there is not enough evidence to recommend it as an alternative to tocilizumab in COVID--19 patients. This study aims to find out the real-world efficacy of baricitinib in addition to standard of care among admitted patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia admitted in Ospital ng Makati. Methods: This is a retrospective, case control study that reviewed records of adult patients admitted at Ospital ng Makati from December 2020 to May 2021 due to severe COVID-19. Patients who were given standard of care was compared to those who were given baricitinib by measuring the duration of clinical improvement, in-hospital all-cause mortality, number of hospital stay, and progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and need for mechanical ventilator. Results: The use of baricitinib led to a faster improvement time (10 vs 12 days) however did not reach level of significance (p=0.069). There was also no significant difference in the mortality, number of hospital days, and progression to ARDS between the two groups. Conclusion There is not enough evidence to recommend baricitinib as an alternative to tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID--19 infection.
COVID-19 ; Standard of Care

Humans ; Aminoquinolines/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics* ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Mutation/genetics* ; Standard of Care

OBJECTIVE: To compare patient survival outcomes between completion hysterectomy and conventional surveillance in locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the cervix after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).METHODS: Patients with adenocarcinoma of the cervix after CCRT were identified in a tertiary academic center database from 2004 to 2018. Patients received completion hysterectomy or surveillance after CCRT. We compared the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between the patients with or without adjuvant hysterectomy. Surgery features, operative complications, and pathologic characteristics were documented. Patient outcomes were also analyzed according to clinicopathologic factors.RESULTS: A total of 78 patients were assigned to completion surgery and 97 to surveillance after CCRT. The PFS was better in the surgery group compared to the CCRT only group, at 3 years the PFS rates were 68.1% and 45.2%, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]=0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.282–0.749; p=0.002). Adjuvant surgery was also associated with a higher rate of OS (HR=0.361; 95% CI=0.189–0.689; p=0.002), at 3 years, 87.9% and 67%, respectively. Tumor stage, size, lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), lymphadenopathy were associated with PFS but not with OS. Hysterectomy specimens revealed 64.1% (50/78) of the patients had pathologic residual tumor. Patients age less than 60, tumor size over 4 cm, stage IIB and persistent residual disease after CCRT were most likely to benefit from hysterectomy. Hysterectomy was associated with a lower rate of locoregional recurrence but did not reach statistical significance (5.13% vs. 13.5%, p=0.067).CONCLUSION: Completion hysterectomy after CCRT was associated with better survival outcome compared with the current standard of care.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cervix Uteri ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Recurrence ; Standard of Care ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

standard of care, they pose considerable risks and require prolonged postoperative rehabilitation. Obtaining proper informed consent and establishing realistic outcome expectations are imperative for successful postoperative outcomes.]]>
Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Male ; Penile Induration ; Penile Prosthesis ; Penis ; Rehabilitation ; Sensation ; Standard of Care ; Surgeons ; Transplants

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a relatively rare and aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine malignancy. It is characterized by high rates of recurrence and metastasis, both to regional lymph nodes and to distant locations. Its characteristic clinical manifestation is a single, painless, hard, erythematous nodule on a sun-exposed area, particularly in older men. Surgical management of both the primary site and the sentinel lymph node is the standard of care. In this article, we describe the diagnosis and treatment of a case of MCC in the left cheek.
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; Cheek ; Diagnosis ; Head ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Merkel Cells ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Skin Neoplasms ; Standard of Care

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study involved the analysis of computed tomography (CT) scan data from 125 Indian subjects of 18 years or older with normal imaging findings. Scans were obtained from patients with head injuries as a part of the screening process along with brain CT scans.PURPOSE: To establish the dimensions of lateral masses of the atlas vertebrae in normal disease-free Indian individuals.OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Lateral mass fixation has become the standard of care in fixation of the supra-axial cervical spine. Many studies have investigated the dimensions of lateral masses in cadaveric specimens; however, studies involving the radiological morphometric analysis of the lateral masses of the atlas vertebra in living patients are lacking.METHODS: Subjects underwent craniovertebral junction CT scans during evaluations of head injury. All had normal radiology reports. The CT scans were obtained using a CT Philips Brilliance 64 machine (Philips, Amsterdam, Netherlands) with a slice thickness of 1 mm and then analyzed using Horos software ver. 2.0.2 (Horos Project, Annapolis, MD, USA) on a MacBook.RESULTS: Lateral masses of the atlas vertebrae were found to be larger in males than females and larger on the right than the left side. The angle of permissible medialization was found to be larger on the right side. The analysis of the average dimensions indicated the conventionally described screw positions to be safe.CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides information that may help to establish standard dimensions of lateral masses of the atlas vertebrae among the normal Indian population. We demonstrate that there is no significant difference when compared with the Western population. The results presented here will be of use to clinicians as they may inform preoperative planning for lateral mass fixation surgeries.
Brain ; Cadaver ; Cervical Atlas ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Observational Study ; Spine ; Standard of Care ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Mechanical thrombectomy has become the standard of care for acute stroke caused by large vessel occlusion. As more patients are treated endovascularly, the number of older patients with tortuous vessels has risen. In these patients, catheterizing the internal carotid artery via a transfemoral approach can be very difficult or even impossible. Therefore, in selected patients, alternative strategies to the transfemoral approach have to be applied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report a case series of six patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy via a combined transfemoral and transcarotid approach. Puncture of the carotid artery was conducted using roadmap guidance after an unsuccessful transfemoral attempt. Technical aspects and outcomes with this alternative approach were analyzed. RESULTS: Direct puncture of the carotid artery was achieved in five out of six patients (83%). In three out of six patients (50%), revascularization (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2b) was restored. No complications related to endovascular therapy were documented. One patient showed good neurological outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 5 at admission, mRS 1 at discharge). CONCLUSION: A combined transfemoral/transcarotid approach can be an alternative vascular access in patients with problematic vessel anatomy.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Catheters ; Cerebral Infarction ; Humans ; Punctures ; Standard of Care ; Stroke ; Thrombectomy

Endovascular recanalization therapy (ERT) has been a standard of care for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large artery occlusion (LAO) within 6 hours after onset, since five landmark ERT trials conducted by 2015 demonstrated its clinical benefit. Recently, two randomized clinical trials demonstrated that ERT, even in the late time window of up to 16 hours or 24 hours after last known normal time, improved the outcome of patients who had a target mismatch, defined as either clinical-core mismatch or perfusion-core mismatch, which prompted the update of national guidelines in several countries. Accordingly, to provide evidence-based and up-to-date recommendations for ERT in patients with acute LAO in Korea, the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of the Korean Stroke Society decided to revise the previous Korean Clinical Practice Guidelines of Stroke for ERT. For this update, the members of the writing group were appointed by the Korean Stroke Society and the Korean Society of Interventional Neuroradiology. After thoroughly reviewing the updated evidence from two recent trials and relevant literature, the writing members revised recommendations, for which formal consensus was achieved by convening an expert panel composed of 45 experts from the participating academic societies. The current guidelines are intended to help healthcare providers, patients, and their caregivers make well-informed decisions and to improve the quality of care regarding ERT. The ultimate decision for ERT in a particular patient must be made in light of circumstances specific to that patient.
Arteries ; Caregivers ; Cerebral Infarction ; Consensus ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Korea ; Mechanical Thrombolysis ; Reperfusion ; Standard of Care ; Stroke ; Writing

Endovascular recanalization therapy (ERT) has been a standard of care for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large artery occlusion (LAO) within 6 hours after onset, since five landmark ERT trials conducted by 2015 demonstrated its clinical benefit. Recently, two randomized clinical trials demonstrated that ERT, even in the late time window of up to 16 hours or 24 hours after last known normal time, improved the outcome of patients who had a target mismatch, defined as either clinical-core mismatch or perfusion-core mismatch, which prompted the update of national guidelines in several countries. Accordingly, to provide evidence-based and up-to-date recommendations for ERT in patients with acute LAO in Korea, the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of the Korean Stroke Society decided to revise the previous Korean Clinical Practice Guidelines of Stroke for ERT. For this update, the members of the writing group were appointed by the Korean Stroke Society and the Korean Society of Interventional Neuroradiology. After thoroughly reviewing the updated evidence from two recent trials and relevant literature, the writing members revised recommendations, for which formal consensus was achieved by convening an expert panel composed of 45 experts from the participating academic societies. The current guidelines are intended to help healthcare providers, patients, and their caregivers make well-informed decisions and to improve the quality of care regarding ERT. The ultimate decision for ERT in a particular patient must be made in light of circumstances specific to that patient.
Arteries ; Caregivers ; Cerebral Infarction ; Consensus ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Korea ; Mechanical Thrombolysis ; Reperfusion ; Standard of Care ; Stroke ; Writing