No abstract available.
Genome, Human* ; Human Genome Project* ; Humans ; Humans*

No abstract available.
Genome, Human* ; Humans ; Humans*

No abstract available.
Human Rights ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study on visible display of Meridian on the dummy human body.

METHODSTube model-building method and computer technique were used, and data came from Voxel-Man dummy human body development platform.

RESULTSThe visual effect of re-building Meridian is very good and it can display the different layers of anatomic structures on the Meridian lines.

CONCLUSIONThe visible display of Meridian on the dummy human body is preliminary realized, which provides data carriers for establishing the platform of Meridian study.

No abstract available.
Human Growth Hormone* ; Humans*

Objectives: To evaluate abnormal Papanicolau smear results at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for the past four years by comparing abnormal smear cytology with histologic interpretations. Possible causes of discrepant results were also determined.

Methods: All Pap smears released as abnormal from January 2014 to December 2017 and the corresponding available biopsies were retrieved. Discrepancy between cytologic and histology diagnosis was assessed and pairs with major discordance were reviewed.

Results: There were a total of 30,237 conventional pap smears signed out of which 239 (0.79%) were abnormal and only 56 (23%) had a subsequent tissue biopsy. The overall concordance rate is 75% while strict or absolute concordance rate is 32%. The overall discordance rate is 25%. Positive predictive value is highest for pap smears signed out as atypical glandular cells favor neoplastic (AGC-NEO) (100%), followed by malignant (93%), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (83%), and then atypical squamous cells cannot exclude an HSIL (ASC-H) and atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance (ASCUS), both at 67%.

Conclusions: Considering that the Philippine General Hospital is a referral and academic center, we have a low percentage of abnormal pap smears compared to other developing countries and even a lower percentage of patients who had subsequent biopsies. Cytohistologic correlation detected interpretative as well as sampling errors, and the aim is to work on these deficiencies by improving quality assurance protocols and modifying current local practices of both pathologists and clinicians.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: IL-37b is a cytokine that may exist in several forms, including a full-length precursor protein and its putative mature forms (IL-37b cleaved at E21, 146, and K53, respectively). In recent years, the role of IL-37b has been associated with the regulation of inflammation and inflammatory diseases. Previous studies focused on the intracellular activity of the cytokine, while the bioactivities of its variants when introduced in the extracellular environment has been limited and require further investigation. To enable this, the study produced precursor and truncated forms of IL-37b in an E.coli expression system.

METHODOLOGY: Recombinant proteins of the full-length (FL) and shorter forms (E21, 146, and K53) of IL-37b were produced in IPTG-induced E. coli BL21-CodonPlus(DE3)-RIPL strain and subsequently purified using Ni2+ NTA affinity, ion exchange, and size exclusion chromatography. The identity of the proteins was confirmed through western blotting and LC-MS.

RESULTS: Findings showed that the masses of the expressed proteins correspond to their respective theoretical masses with 24,134.75 +0.04 Da for FL, 21,919.63 +0.80 Da for E21, 19,298.57 +0.04 Da for 146, and 18,551.21 +0.04 Da for K53 at 90-95% purity. This confirms that the correct proteins have been produced and at high purity. Further, the tendency of FL to homodimerize was observed in this study, which may have implications in the extracellular processing and bioactivity of FL.

CONCLUSION: This study describes the successful expression and purification of recombinant precursor and putative mature forms of IL-37b in E.coli, which can be utilized for downstream characterization. 

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Road safety in the Philippines has been increasingly significant with the increasing level of industrialization and urbanization over the last decade. The main objective of the study was to determine the road safety performance for Metro Manila by computing for an index based on data and variables of road traffic over the past years.

METHODOLOGY: The variables for index calculation included speed, alcohol, infrastructure, vehicle defect, and other unsafe driver behavior were drawn from the Metro Manila Development (MMDA) database complemented with literature review from several sources. Equal Weighting method was utilized, as this is the simplest, yet, least biased measurement suitable for the data at hand.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The Road Safety Performance Index for Metro Manila remains more or less constant over a five-year period, increasing and decreasing from 0.45 to 0.59 which means that Metropolitan Manila has fared poorly in all indicators. Metro Manila has a poor road safety performance as evidenced by the road safety index. There is a need to improve on all components of road safety identified in this study for the safety of road users. 

BACKGROUND: The Ibalois in La Trinidad, Benguet are witnesses to health negotiations that had been subjected to historical and material change.

OBJECTIVE: To present indicators of resistance - the struggles, apparent ambivalence, and aspirations of the Ibaloi people in relation to health negotiations, as indicative of their being active agents in confronting change. Its ultimate objective was to show how the Ibalois have managed to not allow themselves to be subjected to the biological reductionism of "medical gaze" as they assert the value of a number of traditional health and cultural practices amidst historical and material change.

METHODOLOGY: A case study research design with Key Informants Interview (KII) as data collection technique was used as design for the study. To collect data, fifteen key informants were interviewed, eight from the folk medical sector and seven from the professional medical sector. Emic viewpoint was used in the presentation of data to analyze cultural phenomena from the perspective of one who participates in the culture being studied. Data from the folk medical sector were triangulated with data coming from local and international studies and with reports coming from the professional health sector: records from barangay and provincial health clinics managed by nurses and midwives as well as data coming from a local tertiary hospital and a national media news coverage.

RESULTS: The struggles of the Ibalois are acts of resistance as they confront both traditional health practice or change. Their ambivalent emotions manifest creative responses to the diurnal or apparently humdrum occurrences that they encounter. Their aspirations indicate their hope and constant desire for a better future, and particular to this study, better health conditions. Indeed, health negotiations in Barangay Bahong, La Trinidad, Benguet and the continued relevance given to the mambonong are not indicative of a petrified indigenous.

CONCLUSION: Amidst the various historic turns and power shifts in the Cordillera region, the Ibalois have portrayed themselves as human agents, not just as one objective force in society - who define their culture (i.e. health practices) themselves in as much as this gives meaning and relevance to their lives. 

BACKGROUND: Improving the means to detect SARS-COV-2 infection is important in the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. STANDARDTM Q COVID-19 Ag Test offers an easy to use, cheap and rapid way of testing that must be evaluated first to optimize its utility.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of this test kit compared with Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-COV-2 diagnosis.

METHODS: Using retrospective cross-sectional study, seventy seven (77) nasopharyngeal swabs in viral transport media were used to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of STANDARDTM Q COVID-19 Ag Test compared with the reference method, RT-PCR.

RESULTS: Among all participants, the rapid antigen test has a sensitivity of 9.86%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 8.57%. The sensitivity increases among symptomatic participants and when Ct value is less than 20 to 25.00% and 31.58%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Despite the low sensitivity, STANDARDTM Q COVID-19 Ag Test has a high specificity and positive predictive value and could be a cheap and efficient test in the proper clinical context. Its use in conjunction with RT-PCR for those who tested negative initially should be emphasized in the implementation of the existing policies.