Radiation-induced maculopathy and fluocinolone acetonide implant.

Purpose: This study evaluates the effectiveness of fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) implants in managing radiation maculopathy, a complication of ocular irradiation. The primary outcomes were the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT), and the impact on therapeutic burden and intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter, observational study conducted across three French oncology-ophthalmology reference centers.

Measurement of Sexual Behavior Stigma in Cisgender Mexican Sexual Minority Men: Contextual Considerations of Living in Mexico or the United States.

We used data from the 2018 and 2019 cycles of the American Men's Internet Survey (AMIS) and the Encuesta de Sexo Entre Hombres (ESEH) (2017) to investigate measurement invariance of a sexual behavior stigma scale among Mexican gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority men (SMM). Employing both a two- and three-group multiple group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA), we established configural invariance of the scale, suggesting a uniform factor pattern structure across Mexican SMM subgroups based on country of origin and country of residence: (1) Mexican SMM in the ESEH dataset (N = 15,015), (2) Mexican SMM born in Mexico in the AMIS data (N = 218), and (3) Mexicans born in the USA in the AMIS data (N = 1606). The three-group MGCFA models, which separated the Mexican SMM in the USA who were born in Mexico from those who were born in the USA, demonstrated greater robustness, suggesting that the experiences of stigma among individuals within each group were more similar than when the two AMIS groups were combined.

Sociodemographic and Health-Service Precursors of Local-Stage Lung Cancer Diagnosis: A Population-Based Study in New South Wales, Australia.

To investigate sociodemographic associations with medicated health conditions, general practitioner (GP) contacts, and computed tomography (CT) scans of the lung, as 12-month precursors of diagnosis of lung cancer at a local stage (cancers localized to the primary site of bronchus and lung). Cancer Registry data for New South Wales (NSW) adults diagnosed with lung cancer (ICD-10 C33-34) since the Census of August 2016 (n = 6160) were linked at person level with census and other administrative data. These included residents diagnosed with lung cancer from September 2016 to December 2018.

Characterization of Gα and Gα activation by catechol and non-catechol dopamine D1 receptor agonists.

The dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) couples to Gα and Gα and is crucial in regulating neurological and neuropsychiatric functions. In the brain, Gα is predominantly found in the striatum whereas Gα is expressed elsewhere. Our assays revealed that the tetracyclic catechol agonists dihydrexidine, methyl-dihydrexidine, doxanthrine, and the non-catechol compounds PF-8294, PF-6142 exerted full agonism for Gα coupling but only partial agonism for Gα coupling.

Determinants of breast screening participation using small-area data in South Australia: gaining past and future insights from geospatial evidence.

Purpose: To profile breast screening participation at small-area (SA2) level in South Australia (SA) and capture local variations in socio-economic factors, access to healthcare, and cultural influences screening behaviors in ways that larger administrative units might overlook.

Methods: SA2 demographic (2016 Census) and breast screening data in SA (2014-2015) were linked and analyzed. The dependent variable, biennial screening participation (ages 50-74 years), was classified as "low" if below the SA-wide biennial participation rate of 58%.

A fast protocol for photodynamic therapy in exudative choroidal circumscribed hemangioma: Early laser irradiance after end of verteporfin infusion.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to compare the risk of first-line photodynamic therapy (PDT) failure according to the PDT protocol performed in patients with exudative choroidal circumscribed hemangioma (CCH).

Methods: We retrospectively included patients from 11 European centres in France, Italy and Denmark. Two groups were established: patients treated with Standard Protocol PDT (SP-PDT) and patients treated with a 'Fast' Protocol PDT (FP-PDT), characterised by laser irradiation without delay after the end of the verteporfin infusion (8 min after start of infusion).

Preliminary Results of Paraclinoid Aneurysm Clipping With Indocyanine Green-Video Angiography: A Single-Center Experience in Vietnam.

Background: There are 2 main treatments for unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms: endovascular procedures and surgical clipping. Recent advancements such as intraoperative indocyanine green video angiography (ICG-VA) are improving the safety of clipping procedure in the surgical center without intraoperative imaging. This study is a single-center experience in Vietnam to evaluate the preliminary result of a surgical series in paraclinoid aneurysms with ICG-VA.

INTEREST OF REGULAR ASSAYS OF AQUEOUS HUMOR INTERLEUKIN-10 LEVELS IN MONITORING OF VITREORETINAL LYMPHOMA.

Purpose: To investigate the variation of interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in the aqueous humor (AH) of patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) throughout therapy and follow-up and analyze the relation of these variations with VRL clinical course and relapse.

Methods: This study retrospectively included consecutive patients diagnosed with VRL in a single center. AH IL-10 samples and patient clinical course were evaluated.

Risk Factors for In-Hospital Seizure and New-Onset Epilepsy in Coiling and Clipping Treatment of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with in-hospital seizures and new-onset epilepsy in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) who underwent coiling embolization or clipping surgery.

Methods: This retrospective descriptive study included 195 patients diagnosed with aneurysmal SAH and treated with coiling embolization or clipping surgery between January 2018 and June 2022.

Results: Among the 195 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 9 experienced an onset seizure at the time of SAH.

Guidance of Nerve Stimulator and Ultrasound for Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection in Lumbosacral Radicular Pain : A Single Institution Experience in Vietnam.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical feasibility of the combination of ultrasound and nerve stimulator guidance in transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TESIs) to manage lumbosacral chronic radicular pain.

Methods: Using the combination of nerve stimulator and ultrasound guidance, TESIs were performed in 125 segments of 78 patients who presented with chronic lumbar radicular pain. Demographic characteristics and surgical outcomes were recorded on admission, pre-procedural and post-procedural for 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups.

A Peer-Based Intervention to Increase HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Among Latinx Immigrant Sexual Minority Men in the US Pacific Northwest: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Conducted During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Hispanic and Latinx gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority men (SMM) are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. With the availability of self-testing services, HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing may be more accessible for Latinx immigrant SMM who face obstacles to obtaining HIV-related services. Combining the potential of self-testing kits and the influence of peer educators may present an opportunity to increase HIV and STI testing and preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake or linkage to HIV care among Latinx immigrant SMM.

Tumor-related epilepsy and post-surgical outcomes: tertiary hospital experience in Vietnam.

Seizures have a significant impact on the quality of life of those who suffer. This study aimed to evaluate the variables that influence the incidence of seizures during the perioperative period and effective measures to enhance epilepsy outcomes among individuals undergoing surgical resection of brain tumors. The authors carried out a prospective observational analysis of all patients who experienced seizures before their brain tumor surgery at UMC, HCMC between 2020 and 2022.

Fine-tuning GPCR-mediated neuromodulation by biasing signaling through different G protein subunits.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate neuromodulation through the activation of heterotrimeric G proteins (Gαβγ). Classical models depict that G protein activation leads to a one-to-one formation of Gα-GTP and Gβγ species. Each of these species propagates signaling by independently acting on effectors, but the mechanisms by which response fidelity is ensured by coordinating Gα and Gβγ responses remain unknown.

Accuracy of Subthalamic Nucleus Electrode Implantation in Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for Parkinson's Disease Treatment and Affecting Factors: Outcomes at Two Centers in Vietnam.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for Parkinson's Disease (PD) has become more and more popular in Vietnam. However, the accuracy of implantation and affecting factors are under investigation. The objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the subthalamic nucleus (STN)-DBS electrode implantation technique for treatment PD at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital and University Medical Center.

Ultrasound-guided lateral branch radiofrequency neurotomy for sacroiliac joint pain after lumbosacral spinal fusion surgery.

Our study evaluated the clinical feasibility of ultrasound-guided lateral branch radiofrequency neurotomy for sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain after lumbosacral spinal fusion surgery (LSFS). This prospective study included a total of 46 patients who were diagnosed with SIJ pain after LSFS, did not respond to conservative treatment and therefore underwent ultrasound-guided SIJ radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) from January 2019 to January 2022. These patients were followed up for twelve months after the procedure.

Visual outcomes of macular melanocytic lesions after early or delayed proton beam therapy.

Purpose: During their initial management, some macular melanocytic lesions can be closely monitored to wait for a documented growth before advocating a treatment by irradiation. However, the visual outcomes of this strategy have not yet been assessed. This study compares the visual outcomes of macular melanocytic lesions that underwent delayed proton beam therapy (PBT) after an initial observation to those treated early.

How to Manage a Patient with Ocular Metastases?

Ocular metastases are the most frequent ocular malignant tumors; their prevalence is estimated around 5-10% and is even higher in patients with breast or lung cancer. They represent various clinical situations, but they share the same hierarchical multidisciplinary therapeutic challenge with respect to the way systemic and local therapies should be selected in combination or sequentially in the personalized medical history of a patient. The challenges include tumor control, eye preservation, and the minimization of iatrogenic damage to sensitive tissues surrounding the tumor in order to preserve vision.

Epilepsy surgery program in a resource-limited setting in Vietnam: A multicentered collaborative model.

Objective: Although epilepsy surgery is more effective than medical therapy for drug-resistant patients, it is underutilized in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries. In light of our efforts to establish an epilepsy surgery program in a resource-limited setting, this study aimed to determine the outcome of the epilepsy surgery program in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam.

Methods: In 2018, we developed the HCMC epilepsy core multidisciplinary team with members from various hospitals and centers.

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CHORIOCAPILLARIS ALTERATIONS IN SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY-ANGIOGRAPHY DURING RADIATION RETINOPATHY.

Purpose: To evaluate choriocapillaris alterations following proton beam therapy irradiation using swept-source optical coherence tomography-angiography, and to assess their correlation with the grade of radiation retinopathy (RR).

Methods: Eyes with uveal melanoma evaluated before and after irradiation with proton beam therapy were included, as well as the healthy fellow eye. The gradation of RR was based on a previously published classification.

Thermal Radiofrequency Ablation Combined with Corticosteroid Injection in Management of Lumbar Facet Joint Pain: A Single-Center Study in Vietnam.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of thermal radiofrequency ablation combined with corticosteroid injection for medial branch block in the management of chronic low back pain, which originates from lumbar facet joint (LFJ) pain.

Methods: A prospective observational study of 82 patients with chronic LFJ pain undergoing thermal radiofrequency ablation combined with corticosteroid injection was conducted. Primary outcomes included pain relief and functional recovery, measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index, respectively.

Transforaminal injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma for lumbar disc herniation: A single-center prospective study in Vietnam.

Objective: Lumbar radiculopathy is a major health problem, which often treated by neurosurgery or guided lumbar epidural steroids for pain relief. We used autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) as a novel pharmaceutical agent that has strongly emerged in recent years to treat patients of lumbar disc herniation. From that, we evaluated the efficacy of PRP via transforaminal route in treatment of radicular pain in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Non-Cancer Effects following Ionizing Irradiation Involving the Eye and Orbit.

The eye is an exemplarily challenging organ to treat when considering ocular tumors. It is at the crossroads of several major aims in oncology: tumor control, organ preservation, and functional outcomes including vision and quality of life. The proximity between the tumor and organs that are susceptible to radiation damage explain these challenges.