Browsing by Author "Umar, Tungki Pratama"

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    Advancing therapeutics for recurrent clostridioides difficile Infections : an overview of vowst's FDA approval and implications
    (2023-07-11) Jain, Nityanand; Umar, Tungki Pratama; Fahner, Anne Fleur; Ģībietis, Valdis; Faculty of Medicine; Department of Internal Diseases
    Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) are a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections with a high relapse rate. Current treatment guidelines recommend fidaxomicin as the primary therapy for initial CDI episodes and suggest alternative approaches for recurrent episodes, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). This paper explores the recent approval of Vowst, a novel oral FMT drug, by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a prophylactic therapy to prevent recurrent CDIs. Vowst comprises a formulation of live fecal microbiota spores and works by re-establishing the disrupted gut microbiota, limiting C. difficile spore germination, and promoting microbiome repair. Furthermore, this paper will discuss the product’s approval journey and the uncertainties regarding its efficacy in CDI patients beyond the ones who participated in the clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, cost estimates, and the need for a more stringent donor screening process. Overall, Vowst’s approval marks a significant step forward in the prevention of recurrent CDI infections with various beneficial implications for future gastroenterology.
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    Debunking the myth of using “quiet” in clinical departments : an integrative overview of available literature
    (2022-10-06) Umar, Tungki Pratama; Jain, Nityanand; Rīga Stradiņš University
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    The global response : how cities and provinces around the globe tackled COVID-19 outbreaks in 2021 - authors’ reply
    (2023-05) Jain, Nityanand; Khan, Zeeshan Ali; Umar, Tungki Pratama; Jau, William; Hung, I-Chun; An, Nguyen Thanh; Lin, Ho-Wei; Chen, Kai-Yang; Huy, Nguyen Tien; Faculty of Medicine
    We would like to thank Ngo et al., for expressing their interest in our work. In our recent work, we looked at the preventive measures that were undertaken by various cities and provinces across the globe to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. In their correspondence, Ngo et al., have raised potential concerns in association with the data presented and certain definitions used in the paper. Upon receipt of their letter, we revisited our data sources. Herein, we provide a point-by-point response to the concerns raised by Ngo et al.
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    Protective role of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine in Alzheimer's disease progression: : A systematic review and meta-analysis
    (2024-03-15) Umar, Tungki Pratama; Jain, Nityanand; Stevanny, Bella; Javed, Binish; Priandhana, Andyra; Siburian, Reynold; Kostiks, Andrejs; Faculty of Medicine
    UNLABELLED: Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents a significant societal challenge, highlighting the need to explore effective prevention and treatment approaches. Recent literature has suggested that Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine may be a viable therapeutic option for immune disorders associated with AD due to its immunomodulatory properties and protection against various diseases. METHODS: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association of BCG vaccine in the prevention of AD using six medical-scientific databases. A meta-analytical approach was undertaken to estimate the risk of AD incidence in patients with and without BCG vaccine exposure, followed by subgroup analyses. A risk of bias (RoB) assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). RESULTS: Six cohort studies meeting our inclusion criteria were included (47,947 participants) in the study. From our meta-analysis, intravesical BCG vaccine administration lowered the risk of incidence of AD by 26% in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (p < 0.00001). Subgroup analyses showed that BCG vaccination showed a potentially notable preventive effect on AD in older adults (>75 years) and female participants. Conversely, significant heterogeneity in results was observed among male participants and those aged <75 years. The RoB was low in three studies and unclear in the remaining studies. CONCLUSIONS: Although our results support the potential benefits of BCG vaccine in preventing AD in specific demographics, we remain cautious about interpreting such results. Further research examining the implications of BCG vaccination for prevention and possible treatment of AD should be undertaken in the future.