Serum hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) was shown to predict the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients undergoing treatment. We investigated the longitudinal profile of HBcrAg in entecavir (ETV)-treated CHB patients with subsequent HCC develop-ment. We identified HCC cases diagnosed at ≥1 year after ETV initiation. CHB patients without HCC (matched for age, sex, cirrhosis status, baseline hepatitis B virus [HBV] DNA lev-el, and ETV treatment duration) were identified as controls at an HCC:non-HCC ratio of 1:2. Serum samples were retrieved at baseline (ETV initiation) and at 3 and 5 years of ETV therapy for HBcrAg measurement (log IU/mL). In total, 180 patients (60 HCC patients matched with 120 CHB patients without HCC; median age, 56.5 years; 80.6% male; baseline HBV DNA, 5.9 log IU/mL; median follow-up, 6.8 years) were recruited. The median time from ETV initiation to HCC de-velopment was 3.2 years. HBcrAg levels were higher in HCC cases than in controls at all three time points: 5.69 log IU/ mL versus 5.02 log IU/mL (p=0.025), 4.23 log IU/mL versus 3.36 log IU/mL (p=0.007), and 3.86 log IU/mL versus 3.36 log IU/mL (p=0.009), respectively. ETV led to similar rates of decline in HBcrAg from baseline to 3 years in both groups (0.34 log IU/mL/year vs 0.39 log IU/mL/year, p=0.774), al-though the decline from 3 to 5 years was slower in the nonHCC group (0.05 log IU/mL/year) than in the HCC group (0.09log IU/mL/year, p=0.055). ETV time-dependently reduced HBcrAg in HCC and non-HCC patients. HBcrAg interpretation should consider the antiviral treatment duration.

Objectives: This study assessed the technical feasibility and aimed to determine the factors influencing intention to use Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) at Marie Stopes International, Myanmar (MSI-M). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 112 participants who were working at the clinics and head office of MSI-M. Demographic information, type of office, technical feasibility, information communication technology knowledge, computer usage, and user acceptance towards the proposed system were obtained from the participants. Results: The results indicated low health information technology usage and network availability at MSI-M clinics. Positive perception of EMRs was found among the staff members of MSI-M, which was reflected by positive responses regarding perceived usefulness (average score of 4.15), perceived ease of use (average score of 4.03), and intention to use (average score of 4.10) on a 5-point Likert scale. Statistically, staff from the head office expressed less desire to implement an EMR system (odds ratio = 0.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.01–0.97), especially when they do not perceive the usefulness of the system (odds ratio = 5.05; 95% confidence interval, 2.39–10.69). Conclusions Since health information technology usage and network availability were low in MSI-M, it is important to strengthen the information and communication technology infrastructure and introduce a policy for capacity building at MSI-M. Adequate training and strong leadership support are recommended for the successful initial implementation and sustainability of an EMR system at MSI-M.

BACKGROUND: Airborne particulate pollution is more critical in the developing world than in the developed countries in which industrialization and urbanization are rapidly increased. Yangon, a second capital of Myanmar, is a highly congested and densely populated city. Yet, there is limited study which assesses particulate matter (PM) in Yangon currently. Few previous local studies were performed to assess particulate air pollution but most results were concerned PM alone using fixed monitoring. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess distribution of PM in different townships of Yangon, Myanmar. This is the first study to quantify the regional distribution of PM in Yangon City. METHODS: The concentration of PM was measured using Pocket PM Sensor (Yaguchi Electric Co., Ltd., Miyagi, Japan) three times (7:00 h, 13:00 h, 19:00 h) for 15 min per day for 5 days from January 25 to 29 in seven townships. Detailed information of eight tracks for PM pollution status in different areas with different conditions within Kamayut Township were also collected. RESULTS: The results showed that in all townships, the highest PM concentrations in the morning followed by the evening and the lowest concentrations in the afternoon were observed. Among the seven townships, Hlaingtharyar Township had the highest concentrations (164 ± 52 μg/m) in the morning and (100 ± 35 μg/m) in the evening. Data from eight tracks in Kamayut Township also indicated that PM concentrations varied between different areas and conditions of the same township at the same time. CONCLUSION Myanmar is one of the few countries that still have to establish national air quality standards. The results obtained from this study are useful for the better understanding of the nature of air pollution linked to PM. Moreover, the sensor which was used in this study can provide real-time exposure, and this could give more accurate exposure data of the population especially those subpopulations that are highly exposed than fixed station monitoring.
Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Cities ; Environmental Monitoring ; Myanmar ; Particulate Matter ; analysis

OBJECTIVES: To overcome challenges in the implementation of electronic dental record systems in a low-resource setting, it is crucial to know the level of users’ satisfaction with the existing system of paper-based dental records and their perceptions of electronic dental records. METHODS: A cross-sectional paper-based questionnaire survey was conducted among Myanmar dental professionals who worked in one of two teaching hospitals or in private dental clinics. Descriptive data were analyzed and regression analysis was carried out to identify factors influencing perceptions of electronic dental records. RESULTS: Most dental professionals (>60%) were satisfied with just three out of six aspects of paper-based dental records (familiarity, flexibility, and portability). In addition, generalized positive perceptions were found among decision makers towards electronic dental records, and 86% of dentists indicated that they were willing to use them. Financial concerns were identified as the most important barrier to the implementation of electronic dental records among dentists who were not willing to use the proposed system. CONCLUSIONS: The first step towards implementing electronic dental records in Myanmar should be improvement of the content and structure of paper-based dental records, especially in private dental clinics. Utilization of appropriate open-source electronic dental record software in private dental clinics is recommended to address perceived issues around financial barriers. For the long term, we recommend providing further education and training in health informatics to healthcare professionals to facilitate the efficient use of electronic dental record software in Myanmar in the future.
Delivery of Health Care ; Dental Clinics ; Dental Records* ; Dentists ; Education ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Informatics ; Myanmar* ; Pliability

To investigate the iron deficiency (ID) in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and find high risk factors of ID. Methods    The clinical data of 227 pediatric patients with CHD from February to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of ID according to the result of iron metabolism examination (serum ferritin <12 μg/L as the diagnostic criteria) was investigated. According to their basic CHD types, patients were divided into a cyanotic group and an acyanotic group. We tried to find the high risk factors of ID in those pediatric CHD patients by comparing their age, gender, growth condition and blood routine test results. Results    There were 19.8% pediatric CHD patients complicated by ID. The incidence of ID in the cyanotic patients was higher than that in the acyanotic patients (31.0% vs. 17.3%, P=0.045). In both groups, ID patients presented the characteristics of younger age, higher anemia rate, lower mean corpuscular volume (MCV), lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), lower mean corpuscular-hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and longer red blood cell distribution width (RDW). Conclusion    Cyanosis, younger age (infant), anemia, decreased MCV, decreased MCH, decreased MCHC and increased RDW are high risk factors of ID in CHD children.

Objective    To explore risk factors related to acute kidney injury (AKI) in children who underwent corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 726 children with corrective procedures for TOF aged less than 3 years in our hospital from March 1st 2010 to March 1st 2013. Children with AKI were picked using Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. Demographic and perioperative variables of the remaining patients were reviewed. Univariate analysis was performed to compare the AKI group (240 patients) with the non-AKI group (486 patients). Multivariable analysis was carried out to identify significant determinants of AKI. Results    A total of 240 children were with AKI. The result of univariate analysis showed that there was a statistical difference in age, Nakata index, McGoon ratio, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), transannular right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) patch, or fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in prime solution between the AKI group and the non-AKI group. Multivariable logistic regression showed that in older children (OR=1.425, 95% CI 1.071 to 1.983, P=0.011) with more transfusion of FFP in the priming solution (OR=1.486, 95% CI 1.325 to 2.674, P<0.001) led to higher morbidity of mild AKI. In addition, there was an increase in morbidity related to AKI when children had less Nakata index (OR=0.282, 95% CI 0.092 to 0.869, P=0.013). Conclusion    Postoperative AKI increases in older children group. Infusion of more FFP in priming solution increases morbidity of AKI. The less Nakata index is significantly associated with severe AKI.

Pharmacy education in Singapore adopts a patient-orientated approach. This article provides a general introduction to the education and practice of Pharmacy in Singapore through 3 major aspects,①Professional pharmacy degree;②Curriculum of the undergraduate and postgraduate pharmacy education;③Professional pharmacy practice and employment in Singapore.

BACKGROUNDBalloon release pressure may increase the incidence of no reflow after direct percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This randomized controlled study was designed to analyze the correlation between balloon release pressure and no-reflow in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing direct PCI.

METHODSThere were 156 AMI patients who underwent PCI from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012, and were divided into two groups according to the stent inflation pressure: a conventional pressure group and a high pressure group. After PCI, angiography was conducted to assess the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade with related artery. Examinations were undertaken on all patients before and after the operation including cardiac enzymes, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, blood glucose, homocysteine , β-thromboglobulin (β-TG), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS). After interventional therapy, the afore-mentioned parameters in both the conventional pressure group and high pressure group were again analyzed.

RESULTSThe results showed that CK-MB, HAMD, SAS were significantly different (P < 0.05) in all patients after PCI, especially the CK-MB in the high pressure group ((25.7 ± 7.6) U/L vs. (76.7 ± 11.8) U/L). CK-MB, HAMD, SAS, and β-TG were comparative before PCI but they were significantly changed (P < 0.05) after intervention. No-reflow phenomenon occurred in 13 patients in the high pressure group, which was significantly higher than in the conventional pressure group (17.11% vs. 6.25%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn stent implantation, using a pressure less than 1823.4 kPa balloon to release pressure may be the better choice to reduce the occurrence of no-reflow following direct PCI.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Homocysteine ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; surgery ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; methods

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of spectral karyotyping (SKY) combined with microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) for the diagnosis of complex ring chromosome aberration.

METHODSFor an 8-year-old boy featuring growth retardation, G-banding analysis has indicated a 46,XY,r(15)? karyotype, which was delineated by SKY in combination with array-CGH.

RESULTSThe ring chromosome has originated from chromosome 15 according to SKY analysis. Position of the breakpoint (15q26.3) and a 594 kb deletion were revealed by array-CGH.

CONCLUSIONMolecular cytogenetic technologies are efficient tools for clarifying complex chromosomal abnormality, which has provided a powerful tool for conventional cytogenetic analysis.

Child ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Mosaicism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Ring Chromosomes ; Spectral Karyotyping

BACKGROUNDChildhood cancer survivors were at risk of development of second malignant neoplasms. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence, risk factors and outcome of second malignant neoplasms in childhood cancer survivors in a tertiary paediatric oncology centre in Hong Kong, China.

METHODSWe performed a retrospective review of patients with childhood cancer treated in Children's Cancer Centre in Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China between May 1984 and June 2009. Case records of patients who developed second malignant neoplasms were reviewed.

RESULTSTotally 1374 new cases aged less than 21-year old were treated in our centre in this 25-year study period. Twelve cases developed second malignant neoplasms with 10-year and 20-year cumulative incidence of 1.3% (95% confidence interval 0.3% - 2.3%) and 2.9% (95% confidence interval 1.1% - 4.7%) respectively. Another 4 cases were referred to us from other centres for the management of second malignant neoplasms. In this cohort of 16 children with second malignant neoplasms, the most frequent second malignant neoplasms were acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 6) and central nervous system tumor (n = 4). Median interval between diagnosis of primary and second malignant neoplasms was 7.4 years (range 2.1 - 13.3 years). Eight patients developed second solid tumor within the previous irradiated field. Radiotherapy significantly increased the risk of development of second solid tumor in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (P = 0.027). Seven out of 16 patients who developed second malignant neoplasms had a family history of cancer among the first or second-degree relatives. Nine patients died of progression of second malignant neoplasms, mainly resulted from second central nervous system tumor and osteosarcoma.

CONCLUSIONSCumulative incidence of second cancer in our centre was comparable to western countries. Radiotherapy was associated with second solid tumour among patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Patients who developed second brain tumor and osteosarcoma had a poor outcome.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; epidemiology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Survivors ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult