Prostate cancer is extremely rare in men under 40 years old, and current guidelines recommendagainst screening in this patient population. However, recent data show poorer prognosis in youngermen with prostate cancer, especially in those with advanced stage disease. Presented and discussed isthe case of a 38-year-old Filipino male diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma Gleason 9 (4+5)with bone metastasis presenting with urinary retention, suspicious rectal exam findings, and a markedlyelevated PSA. The patient underwent transurethral resection of the prostate and concurrent bilateralorchiectomy. With reports of cases such as this one, biopsy might still be indicated to confirm or ruleout cancer in a younger patient with a very high suspicion of prostate cancer based on clinical andlaboratory findings. Further studies are needed to identify risk factors for development of prostatecancer in this population to achieve early diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence of postoperative bacteriuria (PBU) in patients after undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) using sterile distilled water as irrigating fluid, and determine the possible risk factors for its development. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent TURP using distilled water as irrigating fluid from 2014-2018 at a tertiary government hospital was performed. Included were patients who had urine culture results upon admission, treated with antibiotics or received antibiotic prophylaxis within 24 hours prior to operation, as appropriate, and had a repeat culture prior to discharge. PBU was defined as the presence of significant (≥ 105 CFU/mL) bacteriuria upon catheter removal in patients with either no growth on preoperative urine culture or growth of a different organism from that of the preoperative culture. Chi-square and Student’s T-test were used to compare those with and without PBU and attributable risk (AR) values were determined for identified risk factors. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients with a mean age of 65 (± 6.32) years were included. Sixteen (19%) patients developed PBU. Preoperative catheterization and resection time of more than 30 minutes were found to be associated with the development of PBU (p=0.020 and 0.047, respectively), with AR of 24.24% (95% CI [13.90,34.58]) and 22.86% (95% CI [13.02,32.69]). Age, resected prostate weight, and diabetes mellitus were not found to be associated with PBU. CONCLUSION Postoperative bacteriuria rate of 19% was noted with the use of distilled water as irrigant during TURP. Significant risk factors for its development included preoperative catheterization and prolonged resection times.

Introduction: Movement restrictions and changes in medical education around the world due to the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic have been sources of stress, which affect sleep and compound the demands of medical education. In the Philippines, stay-at-home orders were implemented in the National Capital Region on 15 March 2020, and despite various readjustments and re-definitions, remain in effect to date, March 2022. Objectives. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the sleep quality and daytime sleepiness of Filipino medical students during prolonged stay-at-home orders, to compare them with pre-pandemic evaluations, and to explore associations between scores and participant characteristics. Methods: The medical student population of a state-run university in the City of Manila was included, while those on a leave of absence were excluded. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index which measure excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep quality, respectively, were disseminated via Google Forms from April to May 2021. Results: Response rate was 87.75% (n=709) with a mean age of 22.9 ± 2.0 years and a 1:1.09 male-to-female ratio. Among the respondents, 41.18% had excessive daytime sleepiness, and was significantly higher for first-year premedicine students. Compared to pre-pandemic scores, daytime sleepiness decreased during the pandemic. On the other hand, 62.34% of the respondents had poor sleep quality, with global scores being significantly higher for the first-year pre-medicine students. Relationships between participants' characteristics and their scores were extremely weak, while a moderately significant correlation existed between global daytime sleepiness and sleep quality scores. Conclusion Both excessive daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality remain prevalent during prolonged stay-athome orders. These reflect the effect of the pandemic on stress inherent to medical education, and may be additional facets to be regarded in evaluating the general well-being of medical students.
SARS-CoV-2

Introduction This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of mustard green leaf decoction as an adjunct to drug treatment in controlling blood glucose among Filipinos with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods Participants were randomly assigned to receive mustard decoction or a placebo solution for eight weeks on top of their oral anti-hyperglycemic medication. Fasting blood sugar and complete blood counts were determined at baseline, Week 4 and Week 8, and compared within and across the two groups. 

Results There was a decreasing trend in the blood sugar in the mustard green group while the opposite was noted in the placebo group. The mean FBS levels of the mustard green group were significantly lower than that of the placebo group at the Week 8 determination (6.10 vs 8.69 mmol/L, p=0.0004). The decrease in blood sugar level on the eight week in the mustard green group was significant compared with the baseline level (p=0.008).

Conclusion This study had demonstrated that the intake of Brassica juncea decoction can significantly decrease blood sugar level among type 2 diabetics compared to metformin alone. 

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of mustard green leaf decoction as an adjunct to drug treatment in controlling blood glucose among Filipinos with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to receive mustard green decoction or a placebo solution for eight weeks on top of their oral anti-hyperglycemic medication. Fasting blood sugar and complete blood counts were determined at baseline, Week 4 and Week 8, and compared within and across the two groups. RESULTS: There was a decreasing trend in the blood sugar level in the mustard green group while the opposite was noted in the placebo group. The mean FBS levels of the mustard green group were significantly lower than that of the placebo group at the Week 8 determination (6.10 vs 8.69 mmol/ L, p = 0.004). The decrease in blood sugar level on the eighth week in the mustard green group was significant compared with the baseline level (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION This study has demonstrated that the intake of Brassica juncea decoction can significantly decrease blood sugar levels among type 2 diabetics compared to metformin alone.

Background. Newborn screening (NBS) is a procedure for the immediate detection of genetic, metabolic, and endocrine disorders in neonates and is crucial for prompt treatment should such disorders be identified. In the Philippines, Republic Act 9288 requires health workers to properly inform mothers regarding NBS and its importance before the procedure.

Objective. To determine the knowledge, attitude, and awareness of primiparous postpartum mothers towards NBS Methods: A survey questionnaire was administered to primiparous mothers from Wards 15 and 16 of the Philippine General Hospital from April 11 through May 14, 2017. Results of primiparous postpartum mothers with or without previous prenatal check-ups were then compared.

Results. We surveyed 160 mothers, with half (56.3%) aged between 20 and 29 years. There were 149 mothers with and 11 without prenatal checkups. Mothers with previous prenatal checkups were more likely to be aware of NBS than those without prenatal checkups. Knowledge on NBS of mothers with previous prenatal checkups was higher on average compared to those without previous prenatal checkups. There was no significant difference in attitude between mothers with or without prenatal checkups.

Conclusion. Prenatal checkups increased the awareness and knowledge of primiparous mothers' towards NBS, and thus can be a potent vehicle where healthcare providers may inform the mother on the process and purpose of this procedure.

Background. Anxiety and depression are becoming increasingly prevalent today and are often aggravated by day-to-day stresses. Because current management strategies are usually accompanied by unpleasant side effects, there is a need to look into alternative treatment regimens - such as prebiotics - that may provide equally effective anxiolytic and antidepressant effects.

Objective. Therefore, the study aims to determine the effect of a combined fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and galactooligosaccharide (GOS) supplemented diet on anxiety and depression levels in mice subjected to Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress (UCMS).

Methods. Forty male BALB/C mice were subjected to UCMS under a pretest-posttest control group design where the treatment group received prebiotic supplementation throughout the study. Repeated measures ANOVA was run to evaluate between, within, and time interactions of the measured anxiety parameters using the light-dark box test, and depression parameter using the fur coat state assessment.

Results. Results show that (1) the FOS + GOS treatment did not give the treatment group an advantage over the control group during UCMS, (2) both groups grew more anxious and depressed over time, and (3) the treatment group grew more anxious with time in relation to control in terms of the total time spent in the light side.

Conclusion. These imply that the UCMS protocol was successful in inducing stress in mice, but the FOS + GOS regimen failed to provide anxiolytic and antidepressant effects on male BALB/C mice exposed to UCMS.

Objective: The study aimed to determine if Blumea balsamifera inhibits calcium oxalate stone formation in the kidneys through determination of the number of calcium oxalate stones in the renal cortex and the percent mass of calcium oxalate. Methods: Post-test only control group design was used using five treatment groups with placebo as the negative control, potassium citrate as the positive control, and 50%, 100%, and 200% sambong treatment. Urolithiasis was induced through ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride. Each treatment group was administered its corresponding treatment solution once daily for twenty-one days. Histopathologic examination and kidney homogenate analysis were done to determine the degree of deposition of calcium oxalate stones in renal tissues and the oxalate content, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Gabriel's Pairwise Comparisons Test. Results: The 100% sambong treatment group showed the least mean number of stones while the positive control and 50% sambong treatment group exhibited the highest anti-urolithiatic activity in terms of oxalate content of the kidney homogenate. Conclusion It can be concluded from the study that Blumea balsamifera inhibits calcium oxalate stone formation in the kidneys with the 100% and 50% sambong treatment most effective in decreasing number of stones and oxalate content of the kidney homogenate, respectively.
Urolithiasis ; Kidney