Objective: To determine the efficacy Eucalyptus teritocornis ethanoloic leaf extract in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infected skin wound in Albino Spraque Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus). Design: Experimental design: four (4) treatment groups with 5 rats each. Population: Twenty (20) Albino Spraque Dawley rats of the same age, sex and weight (+/-20 grams) were randomly distributed into 4 treatment groups. Intervention: Each group was assigned, to either E. tereticornis ethanol extract, 2 percent Mupirocin cream. Plain normal saline solution and no treatment. Outcome measures: Cure rate, rate of epithelialization, Rate of granulation, Scar formation and Bacterial growth in culture Results: The study revealed a 100 percent cure rate for the E. tereticornis extract treated group 7 days post treatment which is clinically higher than the 40 percent cure rate of the no treatment group, 60 percent cure rate of the Plain NSS group and 80 percent cure rate of the 2 percent. Mupirocin cream treated group. On the histologic findings, the rate of epitheliazation and rate of granulation of tissue was found to be comparable in the E. tereticornis group and 2 percent Mupirocin cream group and was significantly higher than the NSS group and no treatment group. Growth of bacterial culture and scar formation were found not be statistically significant. Conclusion: Based on the data, there is no sufficient evidence to suggest that E. Tereticornis ethanolic leaf extract is efficacious in the treatment of S. aureus infected wound lesions, however, the rate of epithelialization and granulation of tissue was found to be statistically higher in the E. tereticornis group which is comparable to the rate of epitheliazation and granulation of tissue of the 2 percent Mupirocin group.
Child ; STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ; PLANTS, MEDICINAL ; RATS ; SPRAGUE-DAWLEY

OBJECTIVE: To determine the completeness and acceptability of the cause of (COD) statements in death certificates before and after the conduct of an educational intervention aimed at improving COD certification in Province X.

METHODS: A random sample of 7939 death certificates from the year 1986-2006 was obtained. Part 1 of the COD section of the certificates was evaluated for completeness and for acceptability of the COD. Interrupted time series study was employed with semi-annual as the time point used in the analysis. The study covered 42 time points from 1986-2006. The proportions of complete and acceptable COD for each time point were calculated and segmented linear regression was applied to compare the time trend before and after the educational intervention.

RESULTS: Of the 7939 death certificates, only 35.3% were completely filled up, of which 16.5% had acceptable overall COD. The average proportions of all the death certificates with acceptable item entries in the immediate, antecedent, and underlying causes are 30.1%, 57.0% and 25.0%, respectively. The time series data on the acceptability of the COD statement revealed a significantly higher trend after the educational intervention.

CONCLUSION: A large proportion of the COD section of death certificates have incomplete and unacceptable entries. However, the acceptability of the COD statement improved after the educational intervention.

Human ; Death Certificates ; Interrupted Time Series Analysis ; Certification ; Employment

Background: Health literacy is important in the self-management of hypertension. It is, thus, necessary to assess the health literacy of hypertensive patients to identify health literacy gaps and make appropriate interventions. A prerequisite to health literacy assessment is an accurate and efficient measurement of health literacy. Objective: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Filipino version of Health Literacy Short-Form 12 (HLS-SF12) among adult patients with hypertension. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 47 hypertensive patients from a selected barangay who were registered in the local health center. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis, Cronbach's alpha test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The acceptability was demonstrated by the absence of missing data, lack of significant floor and ceiling effects, and adequate distribution of scores. Cronbach's alpha was 0.78, and most corrected item-total correlations ranged from .31 to .58, which suggested satisfactory reliability. The pattern of interdomain correlations (r = .38-.69) and domain score-total score correlations (r = .76-.91) supported the construct validity of the instrument. Known-groups validity was also exhibited by the lower health literacy scores among those with primary education than those with secondary or tertiary education (median: 22.22 vs 29.17, p = 0.04). Conclusion Satisfying the set criteria, the Filipino version of HLS-SF12 is an acceptable, reliable, and valid instrument to measure the health literacy of adult hypertensive patients in a selected barangay in Manila.
Health Literacy ; Hypertension