This study was conducted to determine current awareness, extent of usage and perception of food supplements among adults from households in randomly selected barangays of Metro Manila included in the 7th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) and to compare current data with the 1998 survey data. The multistage sampling design employed in the 7th NNS with the household as the ultimate sampling unit was used. The respondents’ awareness, usage, reasons for using food supplements, presence of illness or disease conditions, and perceived health status after using supplements were obtained by self-administered pretested questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to describe subjects’ profile. Test of proportions were computed to compare and determine any difference between the 1998 and 2008 survey data. A total of 1,809 adults from 148 sampled households were selected as respondents, 55.8% were females and 44.2% males. Majority of respondents, 85.6%, were aware of food supplements, compared with as only 37.5% in 1998. By gender, women were more aware and were users of food supplements than men in 1998 and 2008. Among food supplements, the single nutrient category had the highest consumption, (64.7%) by regular users, followed by combined nutrients 60.4% by regular and 36.9% sporadic users. Herbal supplements had 51.4% regular and 48.6% sporadic users. Some important reasons cited for using food supplements were: “they make me healthy,” and “they give me energy” and “they are doctor-recommended.” About 48% of users perceived themselves as “slightly improved,” 45% as “very much improved” and 6.7% perceived “no change.” Majority of respondents agreed that health supplements are needed if a person feels tired and run-down” and that “health supplements make one feel better physically.” The same proportion (53%) of respondents in both survey periods, agreed that “health supplements usually improve a person’s physical appearance.” For both survey periods, majority strongly disagreed that “one can skip meals and just take health supplements.” The level of awareness and usage of food supplements among adults in Metro Manila is significantly higher in 2008 than in 1998. For both survey periods, there is a strong belief on the positive effects of food supplements on one’s health status.

BACKGROUND: Endocrine malignancy in the Filipino population has not been well documented particularly on the incidence, prevalence, demographic profile and survival rate. It is the aim of this study to determine the prevalence rate and demographic profile of all endocrine malignancies diagnosed at a tertiary hospital.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study from March 2003 to March 2008. Data were obtained from the Tumour Registry of St. Luke's Medical Center Cancer Institute (SLMC-CI) and from the Annual Report of the Diabetes, Thyroid and Endocrinology Center (DTEC) Section of SLMC-Quezon City. Only individuals with retrievable histopathology at this institution were included in the study.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were calculated using percentages and proportions.
RESULTS: There were a total of 855 cases of endocrine malignancies documented in five years of which, 833 were cases of thyroid malignancies (97.4%). Fourteen cases of adrenal cancer (1.60%), seven cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma (0.79%), and one case of parathyroid carcinoma (0.14%). There was no note of pituitary cancer. There were a total of 833 newly diagnosed thyroid cancer: 652 papillary carcinoma (78.2%), 157 follicular carcinoma (18.8%), 11 anaplastic carcinoma (1.32%); nine medullary thyroid cancer (1.08%); two thyroid lymphoma (0.28%), one poorly differentiated carcinoma (0.14%) and one metastatic to the thyroid (0.14%). Among the 14 adrenal cancers, seven cases were due to adrenal cortical carcinoma, one case was due to adrenal neuroblastoma and six cases were due to adrenal metastases. Among the neuroendocrine carcinomas, four were pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma which included two malignant insulinoma and three patients were extra pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality from acute coronary syndrome (ACS) primarily depends on prompt evaluation and management of patients. Despite available recommendations on ACS management, there is limited data regarding Filipino physician's knowledge and adherence with these guidelines in the emergency room (ER).
OBJECTIVES: To describe the initial management of ACS patients by Filipino physicians at the ER and to document their adherence with the 2007 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) ACS guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina (UA)/ non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infraction (NSTEMI) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infraction (STEMI).
METHODS: This was an open-label, descriptive, multicenter, non-interventional study that enrolled patients ? 18 years of age, seen at the ER and suspected to have UA or MI with or without ST-segment elevation. Patient demographics, medical history, physical and laboratory examinations, medications or interventions done at the ER and the specialty of physicians who provided the initial management were recorded. Adherence with the 2007 ACC/AHAACS guidelines was also assessed. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics.
RESULTS: A total of 1,398 eligible patients (mean age 61.58+ 12.03 years) were included in the study. At least one cardiac enzyme test was requested in up to 93% of patients, with troponin I being the most common (72.53%). Upon diagnosis, 95.78% of patients were given antiplatelet therapy (16.95% clopidogrel alone, 15.31% aspirin alone and 1.07% other antiplatelet drugs), the combination therapy. Moreover, 86.27% were given anticoagulant therapy (75.75% enoxaparin, 5.94% fondaprinux and 3.97% IV UFH). Ninety-eight percent of patients we subsequently admitted in the hospital and 26.68% of patients were considered to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Majority of these patients were initially managed by ER physicians (52.22%).
CONCLUSION: Filipino physicians at the ER provide an appropriate management strategy to individual ACS patients because their management adheres to the 2007 and the current ACC/AHA ACS guidelines. The outcome and impact of these strategies should be assessed to encourage more physicians to conform with available recommendations. Moreover, a review of adherence of physicians to other disease management guidelines should be conducted to further improve care and outcomes in ER.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Acute Coronary Syndrome ; American Heart Association ; Angina, Unstable ; Anticoagulants ; Aspirin ; Disease Management ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Enoxaparin ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Ticlopidine ; Troponin I ; United States ; Myocardial Infarction

Essential alopecia syphilitica (AS) is a rare presentation of secondary syphilis, known to affect 3-7% of the population. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the country. Herein we present a rare case of alopecia syphilitica in a 27-year-old MSM.

A 27-year-old male presented with a 3-week history of irregularly-shaped, moth-eaten appearing alopecia without any history or presence of mucosal ulcers and copper penny-looking macules and plaques on the palms and soles. History-taking revealed multiple casual unprotected sexual practices. Syphilis enzyme immunoassay and rapid plasma reagin titer were reactive. Biopsy was consistent with syphilitic alopecia.

Syphilis, a highly prevalent STI presents in different spectra. Patients usually present with copper penny-looking erythematous to hyperpigmented macules and plaques on palms and soles, condylomata lata, erythematous papules and plaques on the trunk, and rarely as moth-eaten alopecia. Atypical presentation might lead to a missed diagnosis and untreated disease. This may give rise to an infectious and potentially debilitating deadly disease.

AS may be mistaken as any other alopecia. Keen clinical eye, high index of suspicion, thorough history-taking with emphasis on sexual history and complete physical exam are needed to prevent missed diagnoses in these cases. Prompt treatment, close follow-up and proper counselling are essential to completely diagnose and treat.

Human ; Male ; Adult: 25-44 Yrs Old ; Syphilis

BACKGROUND

Disorders of hyperpigmentation can affect the quality of life and pose a significant psychological burden for patients. However, little is known about sun protective behaviors within patient populations with hyperpigmentation disorders.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices on sun exposure and protection among patients with cutaneous hyperpigmentation.

METHODS

This was a single center analytical cross-sectional study which used a self-administered questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and practices on sun exposure and protection. Study subjects were 135 patients aged 13-59 years old who sought consult at a tertiary hospital and diagnosed with cutaneous hyperpigmentation. The level of knowledge, type of attitude, and practices on sun exposure and protection were determined. The association between the sociodemographic factors and knowledge, attitudes, and practices was determined using multivariate logistic regression model.

RESULTS

In this study, majority of the patients have adequate knowledge (80%), desirable attitudes (82%), and good practices (79%) towards sun exposure and protection. None of the demographic factors were found to be significantly associated with knowledge. The odds of having a desirable attitude among those in the construction sector was 803 times the odds for those in the transportation sector. Only the attribution of hyperpigmentation to the sun was a factor found to be significantly associated with good practices.

CONCLUSION

This study recommends that dermatologists caring for patients with cutaneous hyperpigmentation continue to emphasize patient education on sun exposure and protection since adequate knowledge consistently translates to good practices for this group of highly motivated patients.

Hyperpigmentation

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to determine whether postburn reduction of bone formation occurred earlier than 2–3 weeks after burn injury and whether that reduction was inversely related to marrow adiposity. METHODS: Using a rat model of burn injury with sacrifice at 3 days postburn, we measured serum osteocalcin, a biomarker of bone formation, as well as a regulator of glucose metabolism, and counted tibial marrow adipocytes. RESULTS: Serum osteocalcin was reduced as early as 3 days postburn, coinciding with a trend toward decline in marrow adipocyte number rather than demonstrating an inverse relationship with adipocyte count. CONCLUSIONS: Factors that may be responsible for the dissociation include lack of circulating sclerostin, previously reported, increased energy demands following burn injury, increased sympathetic tone and perhaps oxidative stress. The relationship between bone formation and marrow adiposity is complex and subject to a variety of influences.
Adipocytes ; Adiposity ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Burns ; Child ; Glucose ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Models, Animal ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats

Objective: This study aimed to: 1) describe the current state of research activity/involvement and capacity among selected tertiary level government and private hospital dietitians; 2) identify factors associated with research capacity and involvement; and 3) develop policy recommendations to improve the current research activity/involvement towards evidence-based practice among hospital dietitians.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. A total of randomly selected 181 hospital dietitians from selected hospitals in Metro Manila completed a pre-tested structured self-administered questionnaire, which elicited the socio-demographic characteristics, research activity/involvement, research capacity, perception, attitude and knowledge (PAK) of the respondents.

Descriptive statistics were generated. Pearson Correlation was determined between socio-demographic characteristics and research activity/involvement score and research capacity score. Linear multiple regression analysis was conducted to test whether perceptions, attitudes and knowledge score are factors that predicted research activity/involvement and research capacity.

Results: No significant difference was observed in hospital dietitians' research capacity scores based on gender, age, educational attainment, hospital affiliation, and job description. Majority (97%) of the hospital dietitians had very little participation (10%) or involvement in any type of research activity/involvement. The significant factors that were predictive of research activity/involvement scores and research capacity scores were percent of time for research and hours per week devoted to research, respectively. Percent of time for research was significantly predictive of research knowledge of respondents.

Conclusion: The findings in this present study showed the research activity/involvement and capacity of hospital dietitians in Metro Manila were dismally low. The significant factors that were predictive of research activity/involvement scores and research capacity scores were percent of time for research and hours per week devoted to research, respectively. To support the development of research capacity and involvement of hospital dietitians, policy-makers and healthcare organizations can optimize capability-building strategies at the academic level, hospital dietitian level, and institutional level.

Nutritionists