Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are acknowledged as key drivers in realizing health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The University of the Philippines Manila, College of Public Health (UP CPH) together with the Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH), hosted the 53rd APACPH International Conference last 21-23 September 2022. The conference discussed current issues relating to the attainment of SDGs and promoted collaboration of leading academic institutions and other stakeholders in addressing various public health challenges. The conference revolved around the challenges and opportunities in attaining health-related SDGs, and the good practices and roles of HEIs in addressing health disparities. The lack of certificati on framework of public health tertiary programs, pedagogy and infrastructure, and ambiguous roles and network of public health professionals were discussed. The conference served as a platform for discussing potential resolutions and ways forward in addressing these challenges. Opportunities for improvement such as updating of policies and curricula, strengthening of internship and community engagement programs, establishment of capacity-building partnerships and programs, and developing multidisciplinary-competent faculty and students were identified. This paper providesthe highlights of the conference focusing on the good practices and roles of HEIs in addressing health disparities, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, and other issues and challenges in attaining SDGs.

Background/Aims: Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been increasingly used for achalasia in Latin America, where Chagas disease is prevalent, and this makes POEM more challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the learning curve for POEM in Latin America. Methods: Patients undergoing POEM in Latin America with a single operator were included from a prospective registry over 4 years. Non-linear regression and cumulative sum control chart (CUSUM) analyses were conducted for the learning curve. Results: A total of 125 patients were included (52% male; mean age, 59 years), of which 80 had type II achalasia (64%), and 38 had Chagas disease (30%). The average pre-procedure and post-procedure Eckardt scores were 6.79 and 1.87, respectively. Technical success was achieved in 93.5% of patients, and clinical success was achieved in 88.8%. Adverse events occurred in 27 patients (22%) and included bleeding (4 patients), pneumothorax (4 patients), mucosal perforation (13 patients), mediastinitis (2 patients), and leakage (4 patients).
The CUSUM chart showed a median procedure time of 97 min (range, 45-196 min), which was achieved at the 61st procedure. Procedure duration progressively decreased, with the last 10 procedures under 50 min approaching a plateau (p-value <0.01). Conclusions Mastering POEM in Latin America requires approximately 61 procedures for both POEM efficiency and to accomplish the procedure within 97 minutes.

Background/Aims: Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been increasingly used for achalasia in Latin America, where Chagas disease is prevalent, and this makes POEM more challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the learning curve for POEM in Latin America. Methods: Patients undergoing POEM in Latin America with a single operator were included from a prospective registry over 4 years. Non-linear regression and cumulative sum control chart (CUSUM) analyses were conducted for the learning curve. Results: A total of 125 patients were included (52% male; mean age, 59 years), of which 80 had type II achalasia (64%), and 38 had Chagas disease (30%). The average pre-procedure and post-procedure Eckardt scores were 6.79 and 1.87, respectively. Technical success was achieved in 93.5% of patients, and clinical success was achieved in 88.8%. Adverse events occurred in 27 patients (22%) and included bleeding (4 patients), pneumothorax (4 patients), mucosal perforation (13 patients), mediastinitis (2 patients), and leakage (4 patients).
The CUSUM chart showed a median procedure time of 97 min (range, 45-196 min), which was achieved at the 61st procedure. Procedure duration progressively decreased, with the last 10 procedures under 50 min approaching a plateau (p-value <0.01). Conclusions Mastering POEM in Latin America requires approximately 61 procedures for both POEM efficiency and to accomplish the procedure within 97 minutes.

INTRODUCTION: Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is a circulating regulator of phosphate and vitamin D metabolism and has been implicated as a putative pathogenic factor in cardiovascular disease. The objectives of this study were: to compare serum FGF23 levels between systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and healthy controls and to investigate possible associations between FGF23 and serum lipid profile in SSc patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in San Cecilio Hospital, Granada (Spain) from November 2017 to May 2019. We enrolled 62 consecutive female patients affected by SSc and 62 healthy women who served as controls. Cardiovascular risk factors and related biochemical parameters were collected. Serum FGF23 was analyzed using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Linear regression was used to examine the cross-sectional associations of serum FGF23 concentrations with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c). RESULTS: There was no significant differences in FGF23 levels between the patients and controls (78.2 ± 60.5 vs. 80.3 ± 56.3 pg/mL, p= 0.662), but we found a statistically significant inverse relationship between FGF23 and HDL-c measurements (r= -0.27; p= 0.03) in women with SSc. In addition, in the linear regression model, higher FGF23 concentrations were associated with lower HDL-c [β = -1.45 95% CI (-2.81, -0.08); p < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: We report an association between circulating FGF23 and HDL-c in SSc female patients, representing a novel pathway linking high FGF23 to an increased cardiovascular risk.
Lipoproteins, HDL ; fibroblast growth factor 23 ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Fibroblast Growth Factors

No abstract available.
Biopsy*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients who have undergone Rouxen-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is challenging. Standard ERCP and enteroscopy-assisted ERCP are associated with limited success rates. Laparoscopy- or laparotomy-assisted ERCP yields improved efficacy rates, but with higher complication rates and costs. We present the first multicenter experience regarding the efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) or EUS. METHODS: All patients who underwent EDGE at two academic centers were included. Clinical success was defined as successful ERCP and/or EUS through the use of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS). Adverse events related to EDGE were separated from ERCP- or EUS-related complications and were defined as bleeding, stent migration, perforation, and infection. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included in the study. Technical success was 100%. Clinical success was 90% (n=10); five patients were awaiting maturation of the fistula tract prior to ERCP or EUS, and one patient had an aborted ERCP due to perforation. One perforation occurred, which was managed endoscopically. Three patients experienced stent dislodgement; all stents were successfully repositioned or bridged with a second stent. Ten patients (62.5%) had their LAMS removed. The average weight change from LAMS insertion to removal was negative 2.85 kg. CONCLUSIONS: EDGE is an effective, minimally invasive, single-team solution to the difficulties associated with ERCP in patients with RYGB.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Fistula ; Gastric Bypass ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Stents ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVE: We have carried out a bibliometric study on the scientific publications in relation to atypical or second-generation antipsychotic drugs (SGAs) in South Korea. METHODS: With the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases, we selected those publications made in South Korea whose title included the descriptors atypic* (atypical*) antipsychotic*, second-generation antipsychotic*, clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, ziprasidone, quetiapine, sertindole, aripiprazole, paliperidone, amisulpride, zotepine, asenapine, iloperidone, lurasidone, perospirone and blonanserin. We applied some bibliometric indicators of paper production and dispersion with Price's law and Bradford's law, respectively. We also calculated the participation index (PI) of the different countries, and correlated the bibliometric data with some social and health data from Korea (such as total per capita expenditure on health and gross domestic expenditure on research and development). RESULTS: We collected 326 original papers published between 1993 and 2011. Our results state fulfilment of fulfilled Price's law, with scientific production on SGAs showing exponential growth (correlation coefficient r=0.8978, as against an r=0.8149 after linear adjustment). The most widely studied drugs were risperidone (91 papers), aripiprazole (77), olanzapine (53), and clozapine (43). Division into Bradford zones yielded a nucleus occupied by the Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry (36 articles). A total of 86 different journals were published, with 4 of the first 10 used journals having an impact factor being greater than 4. CONCLUSION: The publications on SGAs in South Korea have undergone exponential growth over the studied period, without evidence of reaching a saturation point.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Benzodiazepines ; Biological Psychiatry ; Bipolar Disorder ; Clozapine ; Complement Factor B ; Dibenzothiazepines ; Dibenzothiepins ; Health Expenditures ; Heterocyclic Compounds with 4 or More Rings ; Imidazoles ; Indoles ; Isoindoles ; Isoxazoles ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Piperazines ; Piperidines ; Pyrimidines ; Quinolones ; Republic of Korea ; Risperidone ; Schizophrenia ; Subject Headings ; Sulpiride ; Thiazoles ; Quetiapine Fumarate ; Aripiprazole ; Lurasidone Hydrochloride

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nocturnal reflux is a largely undiagnosed and unmanaged condition predisposing to multiple esophageal complications. We evaluated the effects of rabeprazole and pantoprazole on nocturnal intragastric pH and gastric acid output during Day 1 of therapy following the consumption of standard meals. METHODS: The study had a double-blinded, randomized, two-way crossover design, and involved 15 patients with a history of mild reflux. Following an overnight fast, patients were given either rabeprazole (20 mg) or pantoprazole (40 mg) prior to the first of three standard Western meals. They then underwent overnight continuous intragastric pH monitoring and gastric acid output measurement. The drug effect was analyzed using a two-treatment, two-period crossover mixed model. RESULTS: The percentage of time during which the mean intragastric pH was greater than 4.0 and gastric acid output was less than 2.0 was higher for oral rabeprazole (p<0.05). The inhibition of acid output was greater for rabeprazole at almost all time points. Furthermore, the mean time-matched pH values differed significantly over the first 8.3 hours (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: On day 1, oral rabeprazole inhibited acid output to a greater extent and for a longer period than pantoprazole, and the intragastric pH was significantly higher for rabeprazole than for pantoprazole over the first 8.3 hours.
2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles ; Cross-Over Studies ; Gastric Acid ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Meals