Salcedo Village, Makati, Metro Manila, PhilippinesRockwell Center, Makati, Metro Manila, PhilippinesOrtigas Center, Pasig, Metro Manila, PhilippinesThe Ateneo de Manila University (Filipino: Pamantasang Ateneo de Manila; Spanish: Universidad Ateneo de Manila), also known simply as the Ateneo de Manila, the Ateneo, or AdMU, is a private, research, basic and higher education institution founded and run by the Society of Jesus in Quezon City, Philippines. Founded in 1859 as Escuela Municipal de Manila, it is the second-oldest Jesuit-administered institution of higher learning in Asia-Pacific.The university provides primary and secondary education as well as undergraduate and graduate instruction in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and business. It offers professional degrees through the Graduate School of Business, the School of Government, the School of Medicine and Public Health, and the Ateneo Law School. Known for its Jesuit liberal arts tradition, the humanities are a key feature of Ateneo education at all levels of study. This is especially pronounced in the undergraduate level as the Core Curriculum.The Ateneo is widely regarded and often cited as the highest-ranked private university and second overall in the country and admission is highly selective.
Background Premature termination of cardiovascular trials undermines evidence generation and wastes resources. Objectives The objective of the study was to evaluate trends, predictors, and recruitment adequacy among prematurely terminated cardiovascular trials. Methods We analyzed adult cardiovascular trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (2000-2025). Trial characteristics, early termination, and reported reasons were extracted. Computed low recruitment was defined as actual enrollment <80% of target. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of termination. Results Among 19,191 trials, 2,202 (11.5%) were prematurely terminated. Low recruitment was the most common reported reason (946/2,202, 42.9%), yet 625/1,571 (39.9%) underenrolled trials did not report recruitment failure. Termination peaked in 2020 (155/1,033, 15.0%). Termination risk was the highest in early-phase trials (phases 1/2 or 2; 371/2,325, 16.0%) and lowest for behavioral/lifestyle interventions (146/2,998, 4.9%) and female-only trials (23/475, 4.8%). In multivariable analysis, small sample size (1-100 participants; OR: 3.37; 95% CI: 2.98-3.80) and later-phase trials (phase 2/3 or 3; OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.41-1.97) were associated with higher odds of termination, whereas behavioral/lifestyle interventions (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.32-0.49), crossover designs (OR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.42-0.65), and non-U.S. government funding (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.31-0.78) were protective. Conclusions More than 1 in 10 cardiovascular trials terminate early, most often due to poor recruitment, which is frequently under-reported. Improved feasibility assessment and transparent reporting are needed. (Trends and Predictors of Premature Termination of Cardiovascular Trials: A Systematic Review; CRD420251155096)
Purpose/Objective(s) The optimal timing of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for resectable brain metastases remains unclear. Patients with brain metastases often receive stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) following surgical resection to reduce the risk of local recurrence based on current guidelines. However, preoperative SRS may enable more precise target delineation and decrease the risk of leptomeningeal dissemination (LMD), among other complications. This meta-analysis compares oncologic and toxicity outcomes between pre- and postoperative SRS. Materials/Methods We conducted a PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies of resectable brain metastases treated with pre- or postoperative SRS. Random-effects models were used to generate forest plots of pooled risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Prespecified outcomes included local relapse and overall mortality at 1 and 2 years, as well as radionecrosis (RN) and LMD rates. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata v19.5, with p-values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results Five studies (n=861) met the inclusion criteria. Local relapse did not differ between strategies at 1 year (RR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.65–1.42) or 2 years (RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.70–1.57; both I² = 0%). Overall mortality rates at 1 year (RR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.81–1.20; I² = 5.1%) and 2 years (RR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.83–1.12; I² = 0%) were also comparable. Radionecrosis favored the preoperative approach but was not statistically significant (RR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.37–1.37; I² = 42.0%). Preoperative SRS was associated with a significantly lower risk of LMD (RR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.25–0.78; I² = 0.4%), corresponding to a 56% relative risk reduction. Conclusion Preoperative SRS provides local control and survival equivalent to postoperative SRS and is associated with a significantly lower risk of LMD. Confirmation in prospective randomized trials is needed to establish causality and refine clinical selection criteria. Other factors that may impact outcomes, such as lesion or resection cavity size, tumor histology, extracranial disease status, and SRS dose and fractionation, should also be considered in future study designs.
Background and Objective:Evidence base on employment-related medical examinations is highly variable. The aim of this study is to build expert agreement on the appropriate medical and laboratory tests in major industries in Quezon City. Methods:An initial scoping review of local, national, and international policies on employment-related diagnostic testing was done. The determination of industries at the selected study site (Quezon City) was accomplished through Pareto analysis. Interviews of key informants and representatives, and a consensus-building process through an expert panel were carried out by the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine (PCOM) Quezon City Chapter. Data gathered was used in the study and analyzed. An initial list of medical tests and diagnostics was drafted and the Modified RAND appropriateness method was used as the choice of mixed methods consensus-building process by an expert panel. Results:Regulations often vary significantly within settings and implementers, particularly the scope, content, and procedures for medical examinations of workers. History taking (including occupational history) and physical examination are the cornerstones of the screening process. CBC and chest x-ray were deemed appropriate screening laboratory tests for asymptomatic pre-employment examination, while only chest x-rays were used during periodic examinations. Additional tests for medical surveillance should be based on job demands and specific exposure. For specific chemical exposure, standard references for medical requirements, like from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), can be referred to. Conclusion:A shift in how occupational health and safety measures are implemented is needed, particularly in the pre-employment and periodic examination practices, for more relevant screening while preventing unnecessary and low-yield testing and reducing costs for the employer and the employee. An occupational screening checklist/questionnaire based on the results of the study that includes appropriate clinical history-taking, review of systems (ROS), physical examination, and laboratories must be devised, which is to be followed by training in the proper conduction of these medical assessments.
Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are essential regulators of somatic growth and may also influence ocular development, yet their effects on specific ocular biometric parameters remain insufficiently defined. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the impact of GH deficiency and GH replacement therapy on ocular outcomes in paediatric populations. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up to January 2025 identified randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies comparing ocular parameters between GH-treated individuals and healthy controls. Eight observational studies met inclusion criteria. Pooled analyses showed that GH therapy was significantly associated with increased intraocular pressure (mean difference [MD] 1.95 mmHg), central corneal thickness (MD 22.62 µm), and spherical equivalent (MD 0.45 dioptres), accompanied by reduced axial length (MD –0.94 mm), all reaching statistical significance. No meaningful differences were observed in refraction. Moderate to high heterogeneity was noted across some outcomes but improved substantially in leave-one-out sensitivity analyses, supporting the robustness of the findings. Overall, the results indicate that GH therapy produces measurable alterations in ocular parameters among children with GH deficiency, reinforcing the role of the GH–IGF-1 axis in ocular development and intraocular physiology. These findings underscore the importance of routine ophthalmologic monitoring in GH-treated patients and highlight the need for well-designed prospective studies to clarify long-term visual consequences and the clinical relevance of these biometric changes.
OBJECTIVES:Sacituzumab govitecan (SG), a Trop-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, has demonstrated clinical activity in HER2-negative breast cancer. Our meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SG compared with standard chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. METHODS:We conducted a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases for RCTs comparing SG with standard treatment in patients with breast cancer. The primary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included objective response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), disease control measures, and treatment-related adverse events. Hazard ratios (HRs), mean differences (MDs), and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs were pooled using a random-effects model. RESULTS:Six RCTs encompassing 2481 patients were included. SG significantly improved PFS (HR=0.59), OS (HR=0.63), and ORR (RR=1.64) compared with chemotherapy. CBR was also significantly higher with SG (RR=1.89), and the rate of progressive disease was significantly lower (RR=0.62). Overall treatment-related adverse events were similar in both groups (RR=1.05). Neutropenia and diarrhea were significantly more frequent in the SG group. CONCLUSIONS:Our meta-analysis shows that sacituzumab govitecan significantly improves PFS, OS, and ORR compared with standard chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative breast cancer. Although associated with higher rates of neutropenia and diarrhea, its overall safety profile remains manageable. These results reinforce the role of SG as an effective treatment option for both metastatic TNBC and HR+/HER2- breast cancer and support its continued evaluation in earlier treatment settings and combination strategies, including immunotherapy.
