Background: s/Aims: Atezolizumab/bevacizumab is the recommended first-line systemic therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) and may facilitate curative conversion through resection and locoregional therapies. However, there have been very few reports on curative conversion using microwave ablation (MWA). This study aimed to determine the curative conversion rate with MWA using atezolizumab-bevacizumab as the first-line treatment in patients with uHCC, and to compare the characteristics and survival of patients with and without curative conversion. Methods: Consecutive patients with uHCC who were started on atezolizumab-bevacizumab from May 2021 to December 2023 in a single tertiary center were included. Objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were based on the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria. Results: Twenty consecutive patients with uHCC (60% advanced-stage) were included, 90% exceeding the up-to-7 criteria. The ORR and DCR were 35% and 60%, 35% and 55% using RECIST and mRECIST, respectively. Five patients (25%) underwent successful curative conversion with MWA (four advanced and one intermediate stage) despite a median HCC size of 6.1 cm (range, 2.4-7.3). Two of these patients were tumor and drug-free 132-133 weeks from the 1st atezolizumab-bevacizumab dose. Patients who underwent curative conversion had significantly longer survival than those who did not (P=0.024). Other factors associated with survival were male sex, Child-Pugh class A, and an objective response. Conclusions Despite the relatively large tumor size, successful curative conversion with MWA was achieved with first-line atezolizumab-bevacizumab in uHCC. However, data from prospective multicenter trials are required to determine whether this strategy is universally applicable.

INTRODUCTION: Three doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines have been recommended for cancer patients to reduce the risk of severe disease. Anti-neoplastic treatment, such as chemotherapy, may affect long-term vaccine immunogenicity. METHOD: Patients with solid or haematological cancer were recruited from 2 hospitals between July 2021 and March 2022. Humoral response was evaluated using GenScript cPASS surrogate virus neutralisation assays. Clinical outcomes were obtained from medical records and national mandatory-reporting databases. RESULTS: A total of 273 patients were recruited, with 40 having haematological malignancies and the rest solid tumours. Among the participants, 204 (74.7%) were receiving active cancer therapy, including 98 (35.9%) undergoing systemic chemotherapy and the rest targeted therapy or immunotherapy. All patients were seronegative at baseline. Seroconversion rates after receiving 1, 2 and 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination were 35.2%, 79.4% and 92.4%, respectively. After 3 doses, patients on active treatment for haematological malignancies had lower antibodies (57.3%±46.2) when compared to patients on immunotherapy (94.1%±9.56, P<0.05) and chemotherapy (92.8%±18.1, P<0.05). SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported in 77 (28.2%) patients, of which 18 were severe. No patient receiving a third dose within 90 days of the second dose experienced severe infection. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the benefit of early administration of the third dose among cancer patients.
Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; Treatment Outcome ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Vaccination ; RNA, Messenger ; Antibodies, Viral ; Immunogenicity, Vaccine

INTRODUCTION: Linkage to care among individuals with substance misuse remains a barrier to the elimination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We aimed to determine whether point-of-care (PoC) education, screening and staging for liver disease with direct access to hospitals would improve linkage to care among this group. METHODS: All participants were offered PoC education and HCV screening. HCV-positive participants were randomised to standard care (controls) or direct access, which provided a direct pathway to hospitals. Linkage to care was determined by reviewing electronic medical records. Linkage of care cascade was defined as attendance at the specialist clinic, confirmation of viraemia by HCV RNA testing, discussion about HCV treatment and initiation of treatment. RESULTS: 351 halfway house residents were screened. The overall HCV prevalence was 30.5% (n = 107), with 69 residents in the control group and 38 in the direct access group. The direct access group had a significantly higher percentage of cases linked to specialist review for confirmatory RNA testing (63.2% vs. 40.6%, p = 0.025), HCV treatment discussion (p = 0.009) and treatment initiation (p = 0.01) compared to the controls. Overall, only 12.6% (n = 13) had treatment initiation during follow-up. PoC HCV screening with direct access referral had significantly higher linkage to HCV treatment initiation (adjusted odds ratio 9.13, p = 0.005) in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION PoC HCV screening with direct access improves linkage to care and simplifies the HCV care cascade, leading to improved treatment uptake. PoC education, screening, diagnosis and treatment may be an effective strategy to achieving HCV micro-elimination in this population.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Halfway Houses ; Hepacivirus/genetics* ; Hepatitis C/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Pilot Projects ; Point-of-Care Systems ; RNA ; Referral and Consultation ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/epidemiology*

Eating disorder (ED) referrals of school age children and adolescents, by their parents and school teachers, have become more common. Also, they are now presenting at an earlier age to the primary health care and school systems, with physical, medical and psychological symptoms. Nevertheless, there is an average of six months to two years between the onset of symptoms to formal assessment and treatment by specialist team. There are also more cases presenting to ED specialist clinic services, especially pre-pubertal children, with early onset and presentation before 14 years old. Mid and late adolescent presentations (after 14 years old) continue to make up more than two third of the cases. More than 60 percent of cases seen in specialist clinics are of the restrictive type anorexia nervosa, and often associated with persistent and excessive exercise. Thirty percent of cases presented are Bulimia nervosa, which tend to be episodic. Majority of single episode bulimia cases do not present themselves early to medical services but take on open source self-directed management. For patients with bulimia who comply to treatment program and recover after 6-12 months of therapy, they can also experience high relapse rate as they often discontinue their follow up. Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder is more closely related to pre-pubertal onset eating disorder with arrested sexual maturity and growth failure, if left untreated. Psychiatric co-morbidities arising from body image disturbance, overdrive high achievement needs, prior exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE), dysfunctional family or peer relationships, include anxiety, avoidance behavior, obsessive rumination, depression, suicidal ideation and attempt. Death can arise from acute presentation and chronic state of ED, when associated with medical complications from refeeding syndrome, severe malnourishment, accidents and suicide. Early identification and assessment by family physicians would significantly improve the prognosis and mitigate against long term chronicity when share care with ED specialist services.

Adult ; Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; complications ; therapy ; Critical Care ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Patient Positioning ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications ; therapy ; Prone Position ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; therapy ; virology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To determine incidence rates of uterine clear cell carcinoma among non-White US subpopulations. Methods: Data from the United States Cancer Statistics and National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2016 were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 488,811 women were diagnosed with uterine cancer from 2004–2016.Of these, 73.3% were endometrioid, 6.6% were serous, 5.3% were carcinosarcoma, 1.4% were clear cell, and 13.4% were other. Blacks had the highest incidence rate of uterine clear cell compared with Whites, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and American Indian/Alaska Natives (0.59 vs. 0.31, 0.29, and 0.24, respectively). Overall mean age at diagnosis was 68.6 years, with the youngest age in Asian/Pacific Islanders compared to Whites, Blacks, and American Indian/Alaska Natives (65.9 vs. 68.7, 68.6, and 66.3 years, respectively). Analysis of the Asian subpopulation revealed significantly younger age at diagnosis in Vietnamese women (55.8 years) compared with 72.4 years in Japanese, 68.6 years in Pacific Islander, 66.6 years in Indian/Pakistani, 65.9 years in Filipino, 65.8 years in Chinese, 65.2 years in Korean, and 63.7 years in other Asians. Conclusions Black women are two times more likely to be diagnosed with uterine clear cell carcinoma compared with other races. Asians present at younger ages, with Vietnamese women most likely to be diagnosed at the youngest age.

Eating disorder (ED) referrals of school age children and adolescents, by their parents and school teachers, have become more common. Also, they are now presenting at an earlier age to the primary health care and school systems, with physical, medical and psychological symptoms. Nevertheless, there is an average of six months to two years between the onset of symptoms to formal assessment and treatment by specialist team. There are also more cases presenting to ED specialist clinic services, especially pre-pubertal children, with early onset and presentation before 14 years old. Mid and late adolescent presentations (after 14 years old) continue to make up more than two third of the cases. More than 60 percent of cases seen in specialist clinics are of the restrictive type anorexia nervosa, and often associated with persistent and excessive exercise. Thirty percent of cases presented are Bulimia nervosa, which tend to be episodic. Majority of single episode bulimia cases do not present themselves early to medical services but take on open source self-directed management. For patients with bulimia who comply to treatment program and recover after 6-12 months of therapy, they can also experience high relapse rate as they often discontinue their follow up. Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder is more closely related to pre-pubertal onset eating disorder with arrested sexual maturity and growth failure, if left untreated. Psychiatric co-morbidities arising from body image disturbance, overdrive high achievement needs, prior exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE), dysfunctional family or peer relationships, include anxiety, avoidance behavior, obsessive rumination, depression, suicidal ideation and attempt. Death can arise from acute presentation and chronic state of ED, when associated with medical complications from refeeding syndrome, severe malnourishment, accidents and suicide. Early identification and assessment by family physicians would significantly improve the prognosis and mitigate against long term chronicity when share care with ED specialist services.

Tooth pain is a common presentation in primary care, with 32.4% of Singaporeans experiencing pain from dental caries in their lifetime. Some systemic conditions can have oral presentations, and oral conditions may be associated with chronic disease. A good history and examination is key in delineating odontogenic from non-odontogenic causes of tooth pain. Primary care physicians should accurately diagnose and assess common dental conditions and make appropriate referrals to the dentist. Common non-odontogenic causes of orofacial pain can be mostly managed in primary care, but important diagnoses such as acute coronary syndrome, peritonsillar abscess and temporal arteritis must not be missed. Ibuprofen has been shown to be effacious, safe and cost-effective in managing odontogenic pain. Antibiotics are indicated when there is systemic or local spread of dental infection. Without evidence of spread, antibiotics have not been shown to reduce pain or prevent subsequent dental infections.