Addressing schistosomiasis in the Philippines:Need for a coordinated intersectoral effort

The World Health Organization(WHO)recognized schistosomiasis as one of the neglected tropical diseases(NTDs)caused by parasitic blood flukes.With a 4.68%national prevalence in 2017,schistosomiasis is endemic in 28 provinces in the Philippines[1,2].Having agriculture as a common source of livelihood,the country is vulnerable to schistosomiasis as this disease is transmitted when a larva,released by freshwater snails,penetrates the skin of a susceptible individual.In fact,it was estimated that 12.4 million Filipinos are at risk,while 2.7 million are directly exposed to the parasite[2].This remains to be a major public health concern as it contributes to a considerable morbidity and mortality.In children,this disease causes malnutrition and impaired cognitive development.Globally,schistosomiasis as an NTD puts the burden on poverty-stricken areas,especially in low-and middle-income countries,exacerbating the health inequality within a country and across the globe.

Frequency of typhoon occurrence accounts for the Poisson distribution of human leptospirosis cases across the different geographic regions in the Philippines

Objective: To study the distribution of human leptospirosis cases across the different geographic regions in the Philippines in 2015-2017 and to determine the relationship between the frequency of typhoon occurrence and human leptospirosis cases. Methods: Information on the frequency of leptospirosis cases and typhoon occurrence across the different regions in the Philippines from 2015 to 2017 was retrieved from the databases of the Department of Health and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, respectively. Descriptive measures on the prevalent cases and occurrence of typhoons across the different regions were summarized. Linear regression analysis was employed to establish the functional relationship between leptospirosis cases and typhoon occurrence. The distribution of human leptospirosis cases was assessed using the Poisson distribution. Results: The frequency of typhoon occurrence accounted for the significant linear variation in the geographic distribution of human leptospirosis cases in the Philippines(P<0.001). Moreover, the human leptospirosis cases obeyed a Poisson distribution(λ=6.89, P<0.001). Conclusions: The Philippines has frequently experienced severe weather perturbations such as typhoons resulting in flooding and subsequently increasing the risk of transmitting bacterial infections including leptospirosis. Information obtained regarding the determinants and distribution of human leptospirosis will provide better understanding of the disease propagation for subsequent design of optimal disease prevention measures, appropriate resource allocation, effective control strategies, and necessary public health programs.

The Application of Reinforcement Theory in the Review Stage of English Teaching and Learning in Chinese Higher Vocational and Technical Colleges

Reinforcement theory is a behavioral psychology theory proposed by Skinner,which has been widely applied in various fields such as management and education.Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement are the two types of reinforcement.By adopting these two different reinforcement methods appropriately,human behavior can develop in a positive direction.In the review stage of English teaching and learning in Chinese higher vocational and technical colleges,the use of different reinforcement methods based on various classes,individuals,conditions,and environments can effectively promote or change the behavior of teachers and students,thereby improving the effectiveness of the review.

An epidemiological report on the burden and trend of injuries in the Philippines from 2011 to 2018

Objective:To describe the epidemiological distribution of injury cases in the Philippines from 2011 to 2018.Methods:A retrospective review of records from the Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System involving trauma cases was done,and data were collated,tabulated,and statistically analyzed.Results:A total of 668?179 injury cases were recorded,and 68.99%of these cases involved males.Vulnerable individuals belonged to the group aged 15-29 years(34.01%).The most populated regions in the country,the National Capital Region(14.90%)and RegionⅣA(13.96%),incurred the highest number of recorded cases.Traffic crash(32.67%)was reported to be the major cause of injury;and open wounds(37.56%)and abrasion(26.23%)were found to be the most common types of injury.Conclusions:The burden of injury remains high in the Philippines due to the lack of resources and inadequate healthcare.The findings of the present study on the distribution of injury cases provide useful information for taking appropriate preventive measures,developing effective safety guidelines,allocating limited resources in an appropriate manner,and implementing necessary public health programs.

Soil-transmitted helminth egg contamination from soil of indigenous communities in selected barangays in Tigaon, Camarines Sur, Philippines

Objective:To provide baseline data on the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis egg contamination in the soil among indigenous communities.Methods:A total of 317 soil samples from three barangays of indigenous communities communities in Tigaon,Camarines Sur,Philippines were examined for soil-transmitted helminthiasis egg contamination using optimized sugar flotation method.Results:Of the soil samples examined,141(44.48%)were contaminated by Ascaris spp.,Toxocara spp.,and Trichuris spp.with cumulative prevalence varying across the study sites(P<0.01).Ascaris spp.was predominant in all study sites,followed by Toxocara spp.and Trichuris spp.with a prevalence of 41.96%,7.57%,and 5.36%,respectively.Interestingly,Toxocara pp.has the highest intensity of contamination,followed by Ascaris spp.and Trichuris spp.in term of geometric mean soil-transmitted helminthiasis eggs recovered per one gram soil sample(34.25,21.45,and 11.85 respectively).Each study site harbors significant amount of soiltransmitted helminthiasis eggs and zoonotic Toxocara eggs,which present high risk of soil-transmitted helminthiasis infection,particularly among children observed to play and cohabitate with animals known to be hosts of these parasites.Conclusions:The alarming rate of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and Toxocara egg contamination reported in this study suggests that additional measures should be undertaken to control soil-transmitted helminthiasis and zoonotic intestinal infections in the country.

Evidence of increasing risk of schistosomiasis among school-age children in municipality of Calatrava,Province of Negros Occidental,Philippines

Objective:To explore risk of school-age children being infected with schistosomiasis in selected villages in the municipality of Calatrava,province of Negros Occidental,Philippines.Methods:As part of the monitoring and evaluation of the helminth control program in the province of Negros Occidental,parasitological monitoring,through the use microscopy of stool samples processed using Kato-Katz technique,was conducted to describe the baseline and follow-up parasitological status of school-age children in 2010 and 2012.respectively.Seven villages from the municipality of Calatrava were selected as study sites.Results:During baseline assessment,only one case of schistosomiasis was reported from the village of Marcelo.During follow-up assessment,32 cases(6.9%) of schistosomiasis were reported and the prevalence of moderate-heavy intensity infection was 13% in six villages.Among the seven villages included in the follow-up,Minapasuk had the highest prevalence at 14.6%.while San Isidro reported no case of schistosomiasis.Conclusions:Non-endemic villages,which have reported positive cases in school-age children,may need to be assessed for possible cndemicity for schistosomiasis.Transmission of the disease may need to be determined in these villages through active parasitological and malacological surveillance.Other nonendemic villages adjacent to or share river networks with endemic villages in Calatrava may need to be explored for possible introduction of the disease,especially after typhoons and Hooding.Establishing endemicity for schistosomiasis in these villages will help infected and at risk individuals to receive yearly treatment to reduce morbidities caused by this disease.

Perceptions on the risk and management of unused pharmaceuticals toward the creation of guidelines on handling and disposal

The increased usage of pharmaceuticals, its introduction to and accumulation in the environment are growing environmental and health concerns and have been a topic of interests for several years now. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) were developed and used because of their biological activity. It is this very nature of medicines that they may also have an untoward effect on animals and microorganisms and to the environment and an indirect effect on public health.

Inappropriate antibiotic dispensing and use:A public health threat in the Philippines

A high rate of improper antibiotic dispensing was reported to patients with presumed viral infections even without a prescription from a physician in Vietnam[1]. Imprudent antibiotic dispensing and use were also observed in other countries, including the Philippines. A large number of patients experienced respiratory symptoms, such as cough and rhinorrhea during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated this problem with antibiotic use.

Molecular Phylogeny of the Philippine Endemic Genus <i>Antherostele</i>Bremek. (Rubiaceae) Inferred from ITS Data (nrDNA) and Its Conservation Status

Antherostele Bremek. is an understudied genus of Rubiaceae endemic to the Philippines formerly comprising four species of shrubs or small trees distributed in Luzon and Visayas. In this first molecular study of the genus, the ITS (nrDNA) was utilized to determine the monophyly of Antherostele, reconstruct its phylogeny, and resolve its placement in Rubiaceae. Furthermore, an update on the assessment of its conservation status of the included species in the genus was done. Antherostele is monophyletic and is nested within the tribe Urophylleae of subfamily Rubioideae which confirms its segregation from Urophyllum and its placement within Urophylleae as proposed by earlier authors based on morphology. However, the relationships of Urophylleae members remain unresolved. Antherostele is united by reflexed corolla, hairs on upper side of the corolla lobes and syngenesious stamens. The montane A. luzoniensis with small leaves is found to be sister to the rest of Antherostele species. Antherostele is hypothesized to originate from montane regions and diversified by forming larger leaves following dispersal to the shaded forest understory. From the five species of Antherostele currently recognized in the study, two are endangered (A. banahaensis, A. grandistipula) and three are critically endangered including a new species (A. callophylla, A. luzoniensis, A. sp. nov.) following the criteria of IUCN.

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Endophytic Fungus Isolated from <i>Cocos nucifera</i>(L.) Cotyledon against Medically-Important Pathogens

The study aimed to evaluate the endophytic fungi isolated from Cocos nucifera (L.) cotyledon for their possible antimicrobial activity. A total of twelve endophytic fungal species were successfully isolated, from which five were selected and presumptively identified, including Aspergillus niger, Raffaelea sp., Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium sp. and Pseudallescheria spp. based on their macro and microscopic characters. The agar blocks of actively growing pure culture were assessed for antibacterial activity against five human pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains: Escherichia coli (BIOTECH 1634), Bacillus subtilis (BIOTECH 1697), Staphylococcus aureus (BIOTECH 1592), Serratia marcescens (BIOTECH 1748), and Candida tropicalis (BIOTECH 2085). Among the selected five endophytic used for antimicrobial activity screening, the Raffaelea sp. (CN-EF 2) has shown a high zone of inhibition of 11 mm against Bacillus subtilis, 18 mm against Escherichia coli, 15 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, and 11 mm against Candida tropicalis. Correspondingly, Aspergillus niger (CN-EF 1) has shown a zone of inhibition of 16 mm against C. tropicalis. The endophytic fungus Raffaelea sp. was effective against all test organisms except for Serratia marcescens, while Aspergillus niger was only effective for pathogenic fungi C. albicans. Hence, further in-depth studies of the isolated endophytic fungi are needed to determine the mechanisms behind the endophytes’ inhibitory effects.

Work-related quality of life and performance appraisal among nurses at a tertiary hospital in Philippines

Objective:The objective of the study is to describe the work-related quality of life(WRQOL)among nurses and explore its association with performance evaluation ratings.Methods:A cross-sectional design was utilized measuring the WRQOL scale and the previous performance appraisal rating.Multistage sampling approach was utilized with nurses stratified based on their position and then systematically random sampled based on their unit assignment.Results:One hundred and eighty-two nurses were included.About half reported a high quality of work life(101;55.5%).Low scores were noted on the subscale working conditions(100;54.9%),low to average responses for home-work interface(109;59.9%),control at work(100;54.9%),and stress at work(90;49.5%).A higher proportion of nurses reported positive responses toward the areas of general well-being(113;62.1%)and job-career satisfaction(112;61.5%),than in the other subscales.There were notable differences between WRQOL ratings:(1)Head nurses had the highest perceived quality of work life,followed by nurse supervisors and charge nurses(F=6.1,P<0.01)and(2)Nurses in the pay-patient services reported lower quality of working life,while those in office and outpatient services had more positive scores(F=4.6,P<0.01).Conclusion:Only more than half of the nurses reported a high quality of work life,some of its dimensions,particularly job and career satisfaction and working conditions,appeared to vary in the perceived degree across years in service,work hours,and position.The assessment of the quality of work life may serve as an important tool to address staff burnout,absenteeism and other issues that affect job performance among health-care professionals.

The Benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program on Post-Tuberculosis Bronchiectasis

Pulmonary rehabilitation has emerged as a recommended standard of care for patients with chronic lung disease. As in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), persons with other forms of chronic respiratory disease commonly experience deconditioning and decreased quality of life. The aim of this prospective study is to determine the effect of a 4-week pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) on patients diagnosed with post-pulmonary tuberculosis bronchiectasis in the Philippines. The participants were above 18 years of age, diagnosed to have stable Post-Pulmonary tuberculosis bronchiectasis with chest computerized tomography (CT) scan or chest radiograph showing bronchiectatic changes, consented to attend the PRP sessions and be included in the study. The subjects underwent PRP for 4 weeks with a total of 8 sessions and determination of Forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), quality of life determination using the Saint George Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (SGRQ), and exercise endurance using the 6-minute walking test (6 MWT), before and after the PRP. A total of fourteen patients, six males and eight females, aged from 28 - 72 years old, completed the 4-week pulmonary rehabilitation program. There were four ex-smokers and ten non-smokers with concomitant asthma and COPD in some patients. There was significant improvement in the 6-minute walk test and quality of life after 4 weeks of rehabilitation program among the subjects with p value for 6 MWT at p = 0.0001 and p = 0.008 for SGRQ. Conclusion: Pulmonary rehabilitation program led to a significant improvement in exercise capacity and health related quality of life among patients with post-pulmonary tuberculosis bronchiectasis.

An immunoglobulin Y that specifically binds to an in silico-predicted unique epitope of Zika virus non-structural 1 antigen

Objective:To identify unique immunogenic epitopes of Zika virus non-structural 1(NS1)antigen and produce immunoglobulin Y(IgY)for potential use in he diagnosis of of Zika virus infection.Methods:Immunogenic epitopes were identified using in silico B-cell epitope prediction.A synthetic peptide analog of the predicted epitope was used to induce antipeptide IgY production in hens which was purified using affinity chromatography.Presence of purified IgY and its binding specificity were performed by gel electrophoresis and ELISA,respectively.Results:Out of the nine continuous epitopes identified,the sequence at position 193-208(LKVREDYSLECDPAVI)was selected and used to produce anti-peptide IgY.The produced IgY was found to bind to the synthetic analog of the Zika virus NS1 immunogenic epitope but not to other flaviviruses and random peptides from other pathogens.Conclusions:In this study,we identified an immunogenic epitope unique to Zika virus that can be used to develop a serodiagnostic tool that specifically detect Zika virus infection.

Predictive roles of organizational and personal factors in work engagement among nurses

Objective:To determine the work engagement levels of hospital nurses and the predictive roles that nurses’personal and organizational characteristics play.Methods:A cross-sectional design was employed in this study,which included 549 nurses working in the Central Philippines.Nurses were selected through purposive sampling,and a self-repor t questionnaire outlining personal and organizational characteristics was employed.The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale(UWES)was applied to gather data about nurse engagement.Results:The dedication score was the highest among the three dimensions of engagement while the vigor score was the lowest.Overall,Filipino nurses experienced an average level of work engagement.We observed significant relationships between a nurse’s age,years of experience in nursing,years in their present unit,and their position at work and their levels of engagement,vigor,sense of dedication,and absorption.Hospital capacity was a negative predictor of vigor,dedication,absorption,and overall work engagement.Fur ther,the type of nursing contract was a negative predictor of vigor and dedication.The type of hospital and the nurse’s position were positive predictors of vigor,dedication,and absorption.Conclusions:Filipino nurses were satisfactorily engaged at work.A number of nurses’personal and organizational characteristics play a predictive role in their work engagement.Thus,nursing administrators must suppor t,develop,and implement activities and measures that engage nurses at work.

Can Benzimidazole Resistance Undermine the Philippines’Success in Controlling and Eliminating Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections?A Mini-Review

Soil-transmitted helminth(STH)infections remain a significant global health burden,affecting over 1.5 billion people worldwide.In the Philippines,STH infections continue to be prevalent,despite ongoing control efforts.The Integrated Helminth Control Program,whose cornerstone is the mass drug administration with benzimidazole drugs,has shown some success in reducing STH prevalence in the country.However,the persistence of infection prevalence being above the national and global targets and the potential for benzimidazole resistance have raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of current control strategies.This review examines the development of benzimidazole resistance in STH,focusing on the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms in theβ-tubulin isotype that alter the protein’s amino acid composition,thereby negatively affecting benzimidazole binding efficiency.This review discusses the epidemiology of STH infections in the Philippines,the implementation of the Integrated Helminth Control Program and the potential challenges posed by benzimidazole resistance.This review highlights the need for further research to assess the occurrence of benzimidazole resistance in Philippine STH populations and to explore alternative control strategies.Understanding the mechanisms of benzimidazole resistance and developing effective countermeasures is crucial for achieving sustainable STH control and elimination in the Philippines.

Quality of monkeypox information in Wikipedia across multiple languages

In recent years,the Internet has become the primary source of health information for the general population,which may be attributed to improvements in digital technology and Internet accessibility[1].Since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a pandemic in March 2020[2],digital information has gained more importance,as seen through the rapid growth in the number of people searching online[3].As seen from previous infectious disease outbreaks,the recent increase in monkeypox cases might compel individuals worldwide to broaden their searches for relevant virtual health information[3,4].

Performance Prediction of an Optimized Centrifugal Pump with High Efficiency

The main structural parameters of the IR100-80-100A type chemical centrifugal pump have been optimized by means of an orthogonal test approach.The centrifugal pump has been modeled using the CFturbo software,and 16 sets of orthogonal-test schemes have been defined on the basis of 4 parameters,namely,the blade number,blade outlet angle,impeller outlet diameter,and impeller outlet width.Such analysis has been used to determine the influence of each index parameter on the pump working efficiency and identify a set of optimal combinations of such parameters.The internalflowfield in the centrifugal pump has been simulated by using the PumLinx software.These numerical results have shown that,compared with the prototype pump,the outlet pressure and shaft power of the optimized pump can be significantly reduced,and the pump working efficiency can be improved by 5.59%.In the present study,some arguments are also provided to demonstrate that,with respect to other optimization methods,the orthogonal test approach is more convenient,and requires less test times.

Dual histologic variants of schwannomas in orbital schwannomatosis

Dear Editor,We present an extremely rare case of orbital schwannomatosis with dual histologic variants.Schwannomas are tumors resulting from the slow proliferation of Schwann cells located in peripheral nerve sheaths[1].They are commonly seen in middle-aged individuals but had been reported in patients 20-70 years of age.

Intestinal parasitic infections in Aetas and domesticated swine in Pampanga,Philippines

Indigenous peoples account for about 6%of the world’s population and are highly vulnerable to parasitic infections[1,2].Aetas,one of the indigenous people groups in the Philippines,rely on backyard swine production as their primary means of livelihood[3].Literature indicated that zoonoses arise from close physical contact and the cohabitation of humans with domesticated animals[4].Ascaris spp.

A Report on Identification, Segregation, Disposal and Reduction of Chemical Wastes

The accumulation of generated chemical wastes posed a serious problem for the UP College of Pharmacy. The faculty from the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry devised a scheme for the identification and segregation of the chemical wastes and created a system for proper disposal of future chemical wastes. There were a total of 1,142 of accumulated chemical waste bottles, 804 of which were subjected to identification and segregation procedures. The wastes were preliminarily tested for its solubility/miscibility in water and acidity or basicity. The identification was done by qualitative tests for cyanide, sulfide, halogenated, non-halogenated, oxidizing, nitro, and heavy metal compounds. The final segregation was based on the presence of the most hazardous component or on pH and water-miscibility. The Department then developed and implemented a scheme for the proper disposal of the chemical wastes generated in laboratory experiments done in the College. Laboratory experiments were also modified to use less toxic and less amounts of chemicals.