BACKGROUND

Rabies remains to be a neglected tropical disease in the Philippines, with the country reporting a higher number of cases compared to its counterparts in Asia.

To describe the demographics, animal bite characteristics, and post-exposure prophylaxis of animal bite patients coming in for care at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), a large government referral center for infectious diseases, and animal bites.

Electronic patient records from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 were obtained from the National Rabies Information System (NaRIS) database of the Department of Health, and summarized using applicable descriptive statistics.

A total of 14,614 patients were included over the two-year study period, and more than third of the patients were children below 15 years old, while more than half were adult males. Lower extremities were the most frequently affected area, while with children, more than a third of exposures were in the head and neck areas. Intradermal route was mostly used for the post-exposure prophylaxis, while WHO prequalified vaccines were utilized in more than 90% of the patients. Only 55.7% of patients completed the prophylaxis regimen at RITM.

These findings reflect the significant exposure of children from animal bites, and the non-compliance of patients to the prescribed post-exposure prophylaxis.

This study investigated the clinical effect of metformin on breast cancer patients with preexisting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We analyzed 177 patients with T2DM who underwent breast cancer surgery and assessed tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in patients who underwent tumor resection with or without metformin treatment using multiplex immunohistochemistry (IHC). Patients who received metformin either pre- or postoperatively exhibited reduced distant organ recurrence and improved postoperative recurrence-free survival compared to those of patients who did not. Additionally, in a subgroup of 40 patients receiving preoperative systemic therapy, metformin treatment was associated with increased rates of pathological complete response.IHC analysis revealed significantly lower levels of cluster of differentiation (CD) 68(+) CD163(+) M2-type TAMs (p < 0.01) but higher CD3(+) and CD8(+) TIL densities in the metformin-treated group compared with the same parameters in those without metformin treatment, with a significant difference in the CD8(+)/CD3(+) TIL ratio (p < 0.01). Despite the constraints posed by our small sample size, our findings suggest a potential role for metformin in modulating the immunological microenvironment, which may contribute to improved outcomes in diabetes patients with breast cancer.

Objective：We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of our rehabilitation program for abdominally based rehabilitation following autologous breast reconstruction, and investigate the changes in physical function and health-related quality of life in the early postoperative period.Methods：Fifteen patients who underwent breast reconstruction between September 2020 and October 2021 were included in this prospective, observational case series.The program composed of prehabilitation and postoperative home-based exercise until 12 weeks post-surgery. Adherence to home exercise program was surveyed using a self-reported workout check list. At postoperative 4th, 8th, 12th, and 24th weeks, a physio-/occupational therapist assessed the following objectives：i) Range of motion, muscle strength, and disability of upper extremity and trunk, ii) Quality of life using EQ-5D questionnaire, and iii) Patients' daily activities.Results：No adverse events were observed, and all patients completed the program. Overall adherence to daily exercise was 71.1％．Physical function of the upper extremities recovered in 8th postoperative week；however, truncal function, quality of life, and daily activities in 12th postoperative week remained lower than those observed preoperatively. Nevertheless, the program appeared useful for many patients, although some reported difficulty in continuing the exercise after returning to work.Conclusion：Rehabilitation programs directed by physio/occupational therapists may play a potentially advantageous role in facilitating a return to baseline function and quality of life during the early postoperative period.

Objective：We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of our rehabilitation program for abdominally based rehabilitation following autologous breast reconstruction, and investigate the changes in physical function and health-related quality of life in the early postoperative period.Methods：Fifteen patients who underwent breast reconstruction between September 2020 and October 2021 were included in this prospective, observational case series.The program composed of prehabilitation and postoperative home-based exercise until 12 weeks post-surgery. Adherence to home exercise program was surveyed using a self-reported workout check list. At postoperative 4th, 8th, 12th, and 24th weeks, a physio-/occupational therapist assessed the following objectives：i) Range of motion, muscle strength, and disability of upper extremity and trunk, ii) Quality of life using EQ-5D questionnaire, and iii) Patients' daily activities.Results：No adverse events were observed, and all patients completed the program. Overall adherence to daily exercise was 71.1％．Physical function of the upper extremities recovered in 8th postoperative week；however, truncal function, quality of life, and daily activities in 12th postoperative week remained lower than those observed preoperatively. Nevertheless, the program appeared useful for many patients, although some reported difficulty in continuing the exercise after returning to work.Conclusion：Rehabilitation programs directed by physio/occupational therapists may play a potentially advantageous role in facilitating a return to baseline function and quality of life during the early postoperative period.

Exercise training is reported to have beneficial effects on both lipid profile and exercise capacity in patients with coronary artery disease. In this retrospective study, we investigated the association between the effect of phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on lipid profile and that on exercise capacity in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We analyzed 104 consecutive patients with ACS on statin therapy (age 62 ± 8 years, men 86) who received phase II CR after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We examined lipid measurements and cardiopulmonary exercise test results before and after phase II CR. After 4 months of phase II CR, percentage of predicted aerobic threshold (%AT) based on age and gender significantly increased from 67 ± 11% to 76 ± 12% (p＜0.001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) significantly increased from 41.5 ± 11.8mg/dL to 51.4 ± 12.6mg/dL (p＜0.001), and ratio of lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol to HDL-C (LDLC/HDLC) significantly decreased from 2.3 ± 0.8 to 1.8 ± 0.6 (p＜0.001). A positive correlation was found between change in HDLC and change in %AT (r = 0.463), as well as between percent change in HDLC and percent change in %AT (r = 0.485). A negative correlation was found between change in LDLC/HDLC ratio and change in %AT (r =－0.379), as well as between percent change in LDLC/HDLC ratio and percent change in %AT (r =－0.374). Multiple regression analysis showed that change in %AT was the only factor associated with both change in HDLC and change in LDLC/HDLC and that percent change of %AT was the only factor associated with both percent change in HDLC and percent change in LDLC/HDLC ratio. In conclusion, improvement of lipids profile was correlated with improvement of %AT in phase II CR for patients with ACS on statin therapy after successful PCI.

Pericardial pacing wire placement may occasionally result in intravascular or intratracheal wire migration, infective endocarditis, and sepsis; reportedly, the incidence of complications is approximately 0.09 to 0.4%. We report a case of a retained epicardial pacing wire that migrated into the pulmonary artery. A 66-year-old man underwent coronary artery bypass grafting for angina pectoris, with placement of an epicardial pacing wire on the right ventricular epicardium, 6 years prior to presentation. Some resistance was encountered during wire extraction; therefore, it was cut off at the cutaneous level on postoperative day 8. Computed tomography performed 6 years postoperatively revealed migration of the pacing wire into the pulmonary artery, and it was removed using catheter intervention. Surgeons should be aware of complications associated with retained pacing wires in patients in whom epicardial wires are retained after cardiac surgery.

This study investigated the characteristics of emergency patients, including walk-in patients and those brought in by ambulance, who visited Akita Kousei Medical Center in the 6 months from April 2019, and the clinical features of elderly patients with heart failure. Elderly patients above 70 years of age accounted for 38.7% of emergency cases and up to 61.7% of ambulance cases. The most common diseases and disorders were orthopedic, digestive, otorhinolaryngeal, respiratory, neurological, dermatological, and cardiovascular disease, in that order. In total, 56 patients with heart failure were admitted during this period (age 83.5±8.3 years, male: female ratio, 1:1.67). Hospitalization from homes accounted for 66.1% of admissions, with the remainder from nursing homes. After treatment, 35.7% of patients moved to nursing homes and 19.6% died despite in-hospital care. Because heart failure is one of the most common conditions in elderly patients, it is pertinent to recognize the importance of quality of outpatient care to prevent hospitalization and also to preserve quality of life by focusing on alleviating overall pain and discomfort.

BACKGROUND: Leukotriene receptor antagonists have been used to prevent virus-induced asthma exacerbations in autumn. Its efficacy, however, might differ with age and sex. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether pranlukast added to usual asthma therapy in Japanese children during autumn, season associated with the peak of asthma, reduces asthma exacerbations. It was also evaluated the effect of age and sex on pranlukast's efficacy. METHODS: A total of 121 asthmatic children aged 1 to 14 years were randomly assigned to receive regular pranlukast or not according to sex, and were divided in 2 age groups, 1–5 years and 6–14 years. The primary outcome was total asthma score calculated during 8 weeks by using a sticker calendar related to the days in which a child experienced a worsening of asthma symptoms. This open study lasted 60 days from September 15 to November 14, 2007. RESULTS: Significant differences in pranlukast efficacy were observed between sex and age groups. Boys aged 1 to 5 years had the lower total asthma score at 8 weeks (p = 0.002), and experienced fewer cold episodes (p = 0.007). There were no significant differences between pranlukast and control group in total asthma score at 8 weeks (p = 0.35), and in the days in which a child experienced a worsening of asthma symptoms (p = 0.67). CONCLUSION: There was a substantial benefit of adding pranlukast to usual therapy in asthmatic children, especially in boys aged 1 to 5 years, during autumn season.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Leukotriene Antagonists ; Seasons

Intramural colonic hemorrhage is rare and often secondary to trauma or anticoagulation therapy. Idiopathic intramural hemorrhages in the alimentary tract have rarely been reported. While several reports of spontaneous perforation of an intramural rectal hematoma have been published, no reports of spontaneous perforation in the ascending colon due to a hematoma have. We describe a patient with an ascending colonic perforation secondary to spontaneous intramural hemorrhage. The patient is a 35-year-old male, who presented with acute abdominal pain and no history of trauma. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a high-density area around the ascending colon, and nonoperative management was instituted. On the eighth hospital day, the pain worsened, and abdominal computed tomography scan showed free air. An emergent right hemicolectomy was performed. Intramural hematoma and ischemia with perforation, with no obvious etiology, were found. The patient was discharged on the 14th postoperative day.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Colon* ; Colon, Ascending ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Male