INTRODUCTION: Gadget use with its diverse range of functions from communication to navigation and
entertainment, has brought increasing concerns about its effects on psychological health. Despite
growing evidence on its effect among children, its effect on the adolescent age group, particularly on
the socio-emotional dimension remains uncertain.

METHOD: An analytical cross-sectional study was done to identify a possible association between duration
of gadget use and socio-emotional difficulties of an adolescent. A cluster sample of junior high school
students aged 13-17 years old from four selected private schools were invited to answer the Strengths
and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to measure socio-emotional difficulties and provide information on
the type and duration of gadget use. Scores derived from the SDQ were classified as normal, borderline
and abnormal based on the questionnaire's scoring guide. Association between duration of gadget use
and strengths and difficulties was tested using chi-square, controlling for sex and age groups.

RESULTS: Majority of the 315 respondents had normal scores on the strengths and difficulties sub-scales.
Regardless of the duration of gadget use, majority of the respondents had normal prosocial behavior
and likewise scored normal on all dimensions of the Difficulties subscale. There was no significant
association between duration of gadget use and Strength (p = 0.47) and Difficulties scores (p = 0.35).
Stratifying by sex and age groups likewise resulted in insignificant associations (p > 0.05). Those with
prolonged gadget use were 1.68 times more likely to have abnormal scores on the Difficulties subscale
compared with those with normal gadget use but the association was not significant (95% CI 0.82, 3.34).

CONCLUSION: There was no significant association between duration of gadget use and socio-emotional
difficulties of adolescents in selected private schools, controlling for sex and age groups.

INTRODUCTION: There is a consistent increase in the interest and demand for non-invasive modalities to
improve facial skin laxity and rhytides. Monopolar radiofrequency is one of such non-invasive modalities.
This systematic review aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of monopolar radiofrequency in
improving facial rhytides and skin laxity.

METHODS: Clinical studies that assessed the efficacy of monopolar radiofrequency to address clinically
observable facial rhytides and skin laxity were included. Outcome measures included improvement
in rhytides and skin laxity as documented by patient satisfaction scores, and investigator and third-person
observer ratings based on clinical photographs and clinical scales.

RESULTS: Three studies involving 29 participants were included in this review. All studies reported 25-
50% improvement in facial rhytides and skin laxity. Participants from the three studies were satisfied
with the results. Transient erythema was reported in several patients.

CONCLUSION: Monopolar radiofrequency appears to be beneficial and safe for patients with facial
rhytides and skin laxity. However, the evidence is inconclusive due to problems in the methodological
quality of each trial and the heterogeneity of the studies included in this review.

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: 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.

Human

Recently, traditional impression has been rapidly replaced by digital impression using intraoral scanning. There are more than 7 types of intraoral scanners available in the dental market. It is difficult to make effective strategic choices due to a lack of standards and guidelines for optimal intraoral scanning devices. So far, little has been reported about evaluating the ergonomic aspect of these scanners. This literature review compares current intraoral scanning systems based on different types of handles and suggests the most comfortable, user-friendly intraoral scanners from an ergonomic standpoint.
Human Engineering

Background: Recovery of maternal milk source is an urgent matter of many mothers in the breast feeding duration. Spinal hitting method of Nguyen Tham Tan has been applied on a lot of women lacked milk after giving birth but until now, there has not any resrearch on the method. Objectives: 1. To assess lactation effect resulting from spinal hitting method. 2. To evaluated effects of the method on milk quality and the concentration of prolactine in blood. Subjects and methods: 33 mothers who are lack milk after giving birth have been hit at points on their spine as follows: CS, C6, D2, L2-L3. These patients were treated during 15 days with one time a day, hitting duration of every time - 15 minutes. The study used open clinical method in comparison with the obtaining effects between pre and post reproducing. Results: Amount of breast milk per minute increases from 1.52ml \xb10.37ml (before treatment) to 2.20\xb10.42ml (after treatment). Number of children's feeding decreases and the concentrations of protein, lipid and glucose as well as vital elements in milk increase after treatment. The concentration of prolactine in blood increases from 2755.16m\xb5/ml (before treatment) to 3763.16m\xb5/ml (after treatment). Conclusion: Spinal hitting method has the effects of lactation, increase in prolactine concentration in bloods and positive effects on milk quality. \r\n", u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Milk ; Human

Infertility is a common health problem. For investigating the reason of infertility in the man, semen analysis plays very important role. Vitality stain is one of semen analysis. It is rare use for diagnosing and evaluating the result of infertility treatment. Our objectives: (1) To submit a fully worked-out of vitality staining technique. (2) To compare the effects of eosin and trypan blue staining for measuring live and death sperms. Methods: 52 semen samples were analyzed, compared the rate of death sperm base on the time after staining by eosin and trypan blue. Results: The average time for staining sperms by eosin: 16 seconds, by trypan blue: 19.67 seconds. The best process are: Mix 1 volume of eosin and 4-5 volume of semen, 1 volume of trypan blue and 2 volume of semen. Conclusions: (1) The more staining time, the more number of death sperm. (2) In vitality staining technique: The volume of semen should must be more than volume of stain chemical.
Spermatozoa, Human

No abstract available.
Influenza, Human*