Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Non-Typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) protein D, diphtheria or tetanus toxoid conjugates) in prevention of acute otitis media in children: A cohort study

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To compare the incidence of acute otitis media among children aged 2 to 6 months old in Sampaloc, Manila who were previously given 3 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Non-Typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) protein D, diphtheria or tetanus toxoid conjugates) and those who did not receive the vaccine over a period of one year.<br /><strong>METHODS:</strong> <br /><strong>Design:</strong> Cohort Study<br /><strong>Setting:</strong> Primary Health Center in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines<br /><strong>Participants:</strong> Medical records of well children aged 2 to 6 months were reviewed for inclusion. Participants were categorized into vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Both groups underwent baseline history and physical examination including otoscopy and any signs and symptoms of active ear infection were noted. Subjects were followed up for a period of one year on a monthly basis for signs or symptoms of acute otitis media. <br /><strong>RESULTS:</strong> A total of 176 subjects participated in the study. The overall incidence of AOM among participants was 5.11% (9 out of 176). An AOM incidence of 3.75% (3 out of 80) and 6.25% (6 out of 96) was found among the exposed and unexposed groups, respectively. Fisher's exact test (one-tailed) p value= .34, relative risk (RR) .6 (95% Cl 0.155, 2.323).<br /><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> The results of this study showed no difference in the development of AOM in the two groups. However, based on the relative risk, Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is still beneficial in preventing AOM in children.</p>

Diagnostic value of computerized dynamic posturography in the assessment of peripheral vestibular disorders

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVES:</strong> This study aims to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative  predictive  value  of  Computerized  Dynamic  Posturography  (CDP)  in  properly  labeling patients with peripheral vestibular disorders by Videonystagmography (VNG) as having vestibular dysfunction.<br /><strong>METHODS:</strong><br /><strong>Design:</strong> Case - Control Study<br /><strong>Setting:</strong> Tertiary Private Hospital<br /><strong>Subjects:</strong> Twenty-three (23) patients aged 18 and above with no history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease and no intake of anti-vertigo medications for at least 48 hours prior to testing and with complete VNG and CDP results obtained on the same day or at least  two  days  apart  were  included  in  the  study. Cases were defined as those  diagnosed with a peripheral  vestibular  disorder  by VNG  while  controls  were  defined as those with  normal VNG results.  Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative  predictive value of CDP in labeling those with peripheral vestibular disorders as vestibular were determined using VNG as gold standard.<br /><strong>RESULTS:</strong> There were 11 cases  (4  males, 7 females) and 12 controls (8  males,  4  females).  Using VNG  as  the  gold  standard  for  diagnosing  peripheral  vestibular  disorders,  CDP  had  a  sensitivity of 45.45% and specificity of 66.67% with Positive Predictive Value(PPV) of 55.56% and Negative Predictive Value(NPV) of 57.14%  in  assessing  peripheral vestibular disorders among the adults tested.  Interestingly, 33.33% of patients with normal VNG may actually have had a vestibular dysfunction that could be detected by CDP.<br /><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Prospective studies with larger sample sizes utilizing VNG and CDP are recommended in order to verify our findings.</p>

Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal malignancy with immunohistochemical features of diffuse large B cell lymphoma and undifferentiated carcinoma: A collision tumor?

@#p style=text-align: justify;strongOBJECTIVE:/strong To describe an unusual presentation of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal malignancy with immunohistochemical features of both diffuse B-cell lymphoma and undifferentiated carcinomastrong./strongbr /br /strongMETHODS:/strongbr /strongDesign:/strong Case Reportbr /strongSetting/strong: Tertiary Private University Hospital br /strongPatient:/strong Onebr /br /strongRESULTS:/strong A 49-year-old female whose initial nasopharyngeal biopsy interpretation was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma underwent three cycles of Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Hydroxydaunomycin, Oncovin and Prednisone (R-CHOP). Post-chemotherapy Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the nasopharynx revealed no change in tumor size or appearance. Repeat nasopharyngeal (NP) biopsy findings suggested an epithelial tumor lineage or post-chemotherapy reactive mucosal epithelial cells. No residual lymphoma was noted and immunostaining was positive for cytokeratin. The patient underwent 35 fractions of radiotherapy. Re-evaluation by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with contrast after four months showed significant tumor shrinkage. Repeat NP biopsy revealed necrotic tissues with foci of high-grade squamous cell carcinoma. Two months after the biopsy, repeat MRI with contrast of the nasopharynx and neck showed increase in the bulk of the nasopharyngeal tumor with inferior extension to the level of the orophaynx and possible contralateral involvement. A nasopharyngectomy via left maxillary swing was performed and the final histopathology was undifferentiated carcinoma.br /br /strongCONCLUSION:/strong Undifferentiated malignancies of the nasopharynx may contain lymphoma or carcinoma and rarely, both lineages in coexistence. In such cases, the possibility of a collision tumor should be considered. Immunohistochemical distinction is important for treatment and prognostication./p

Comparison of saccade, smooth pursuit and optokinetic nystagmus among Filipino patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, their siblings without schizophrenia and controls using the electronystagmogram: a pilot study at the Santo Tomas Hospital

Objectives: The structural abnormality implicated in schizophrenia was supported by eye movement abnormalities, which were considered biological or trait markers of this psychiatric disorder. We aimed to establish the presence of these changes in schizophrenia by comparing the smooth pursuit eye movement latency, fixed amplitude saccade latency and symmetry of optokinetic nystagmus using the electronystagmogram among Filipino patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, their siblings without schizophrenia and controls who were neither related to the patient nor diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods: Included were twenty patients 18-40 years old diagnosed of schizophrenia based on the DSM-IV Criteria, their siblings and twenty controls. All subjects underwent electronystagmography at the Ear Center, University of Santo Tomas Hospital where the following were measured: fixed amplitude saccade latency; horizontal smooth pursuit latency and symmetry of optokinetic nystagmus. The values obtained were then analyzed using paired t-test and two way ANOVA. Results: There was a significant difference in the latency of the fixed amplitude saccade and horizontal smooth pursuit among the three groups. PAtients with schizophrenia had the most delayed latency followed by their siblings. No delay was noted in controls. Significant asymmetry of the optokinetic nystagmus in schizophrenic patients was noted. Abnormalities present in the healthy siblings of patients indicated their latent vulnerability towards this disease. Conclusion: The findings of the study further strengthened the anatomical substrate of schizophrenia. These eye movement abnormalities are localized in the parietal and frontal cortex. These are the same areas that are necessary for attentional symmetry, for minimizing distractibility and maintaining the focus of attention on task relevant stimuli which are impaired in patients with schizophrenia.