BACKGROUND

Brugada syndrome is an inheritable syndrome that carries an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. This study aims to delineate the natural history, clinical and electrophysiologic profile, treatment strategies, and outcomes of patients with Brugada pattern electrocardiogram (ECG) and Brugada syndrome in a tertiary care hospital in the Philippines.

METHODOLOGY

This is a retrospective observational study of patients diagnosed with Brugada pattern ECG and Brugada syndrome admitted in a single center from 2004 to 2019.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients were included in the study. All patients were male. In both groups, the majority were nonsmokers (n = 13) and nonalcoholic beverage drinker (n = 14). In patients with Brugada pattern ECG, all presented as an incidental finding (n = 10; P < 0.001), whereas in Brugada syndrome, six patients presented with out-of-hospital resuscitated cardiac arrest (46.15%, P = 0.019). There were only three patients with a family history of sudden cardiac death. All patients had normal ejection fraction and sinus rhythm. Twenty-one patients had ST elevation (91.30%). Fourteen patients had spontaneous type 1 Brugada pattern ECG, whereas the rest were inducible to type 1 after flecainide test. Seven patients underwent implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation before discharge; one patient died at the time of diagnosis, and one had recurrent admission for arrhythmia. No single patient received medical management.

CONCLUSION

Clinical profile, ECG findings, and outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups of patients except for the clinical presentation upon diagnosis. Treatment strategies were guideline-directed.

Human ; Male ; Brugada Syndrome

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hearing loss and otologic diseases among Filipinos living in the Southern Tagalog Region IV-A: CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Philippines.

Methods:

               Design: Retrospective Review of Community Survey Data

               Setting: Communities in Region IV-A provinces, Philippines

               Participants: 3267 residents of the five provinces aged 0 months and above

 Results: About 71.29% and 74.60% had at least mild hearing loss, in right and left ears, respectively. For disabling hearing impairment, overall prevalence was 26.33%, distributed into 11.87% among 4 to 18-year-olds; 8.97% for 19 to 64-year-olds; and 3.17% for 65-year-olds and above. Absence of prevalent and hearing loss-associated diseases: serous otitis media [OR 0.362, 95% CI 0.167 to 0.782, p = .010], CSOM [OR 0.407, 95% CI 0.236 to 0.703, p = .001] COM [OR 0.229, 95% CI 0.106 to 0.494, p < .001] can decrease the risk for hearing loss development in the region. Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss or delay in the manifestation of presbycusis can reduce the risk of having hearing loss by as much as 75% [OR 0.253, 95% CI (0.180 to 0.355), p < .001]. All pure tone audiometry measurements were obtained with surrounding median ambient noise of 55dB (IQR 46 to 60dB).

Conclusion: The prevalence of hearing loss among surveyed residents of the Southern Tagalog Region IV-A provinces was high compared to the previous nationwide study but low compared to other low- and middle-income countries. The top otologic conditions of this population (ear occlusion with ear wax, chronic suppurative otitis media, chronic otitis media, presbycusis, noise-induced hearing loss) were associated with hearing loss and their absence decreased the risks for hearing impairment.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged (a Person 65 Through 79 Years Of Age) ; Middle Aged (a Person 45-64 Years Of Age) ; Prevalence ; Hearing Loss ; Pediatrics ; Adult ; Presbycusis ; Otoscopy ; Otolaryngology

Background: Weight loss, though difficult to attain and sustain over time, remains the cornerstone of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) treatment. We aimed to describe weight changes among NAFLD patients. Methods: This was a retrospective, cohort study of consecutively-identified NAFLD patients with >2 clinic visits from March2007–April2018. Weight changes from baseline were categorized into weight gain, weight loss, and no change. Baseline liver and metabolic biochemistries and non-invasive liver fibrosis tests were correlated with the final weight changes. Succeeding weight changes after the initial follow-up visits were used to determine sustainability of weight loss. Results: Of the 240 patients included, 123 (51.2%), 93 (38.8%), and 24 (10%) had weight gain, weight loss, and no change, respectively. Only 12.5% had >5% weight loss. Duration of follow-up was significantly longer for patients with weight loss (p<0.001). None of the baseline demographic and laboratory data were associated with weight loss. Patients with weight loss also did not have significant changes to their biochemistries and non-invasive liver fibrosis tests compared to patients with weight gain/no change. Compared to patients with weight gain after the initial follow-up, where only 11.8% were able to lose weight on the final visit, 73.1% of patients who lost weight after the initial follow-up were able to sustain their weight loss on the final visit. Conclusions Weight loss is achieved in only a third of NAFLD patients. Although 73% of patients who lost weight initially were able to sustain it, patients who gained weight after the 1st follow-up were unlikely to lose weight on further follow-up.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to measure the dimensions of the nasal septal cartilage in adult Filipino Malay cadavers and calculate the cartilage area as well as the amount of graft material that can be harvested from the septal cartilage.

METHODS:
Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional
Setting: Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Medicine Anatomy Laboratory
Subjects: Ten preserved adult cadavers dissected within a period from September 2010 to October 2010. The septal cartilages were harvested and the lengths of the cephalic margin, dorsal margin, caudal margin and ventral margin were measured. From these measurements, the total area of the cartilage and the amount of graft material that can be harvested were calculated.

RESULTS: The mean length of each margin of the septal cartilage was 25.9mm (cephalic edge), 22.3 mm (dorsal edge), 21.4mm (caudal edge) and 33.1 mm (ventral edge). The area of the septal cartilage had a mean value of 652.5 mm². The amount of septal cartilage which can be harvested had a mean area of 403mm².

CONCLUSION: This study showed a slight decrease in septal cartilage area to 652.5 mm² and in available graft material to 403 mm². While this decrease may reflect the apparently smaller noses of native Southeast Asians compared to East Asians and South Asians, the difference in values can also be due to the difference in the number of subjects or in methods of measurement and further studies are recommended to determine the extent of inter-racial variability.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; NASAL CARTILAGES ; CARTILAGE ; HYALINE CARTILAGE ; CADAVER