Plasmodium is a blood protozoan parasite that is responsible for malaria. To date, Plasmodium falciparum has shown multi-drug resistance, particularly in Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia. The aim of the study is to screen the plant extracts that can effectively inhibit P. falciparum 3D7, a common lab strain malaria parasite. Nine plants were collected and processed through maceration using hexane, chloroform and ethanol, resulting in 24 crude plant extracts. Of these, extracts from Artabotrys crassifolius, Pericampylus glacus and Leuconotis eugeniifolia showed promising antiplasmodial activities at IC50 of 15.32 to 39.75 μg/mL in a modified schizont maturation assay. Further studies are warranted to explore its efficacies and lead compounds of these three plant extracts for the development of antiplasmodial drugs.

Purpose: To determine the effect of phacoemulsification on the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Methods: We conducted an electronic search of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register) on The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2005), MEDLINE, and the reference lists of identified trials evaluating the effects of phacoemulsification on the progression of diabetic retinopathy. There were no language or date restrictions in the electronic search. Two reviewers independently assessed the articles for inclusion. Odds ratio at 95 percent confidence interval was determined using Review Manager 4.2.2 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, United Kingdom). Results: No randomized controlled trials were found. Five non randomized, prospective, case-controlled trials involving a total of 804 eyes were included in this review. All 5 trials studied the effects of phacoemulsification on the progression of diabetic retinopathy using the fellow nonoperated eye as control. Pooled analysis showed weak evidence to support the progression of diabetic retinopathy (RR=1.36: 95 percent; CI 0.95-1.96) in eyes that underwent phacoemulsification compared with eyes that did not. Conclusion: The available literature consists mainly of retrospective case reviews and case-controlled trials that are difficult to compare and analyze due to variations in the definition of progression and retinopathy assessment and surgical technique. However, the 5 studies reviewed show that uncomplicated phacoemulsification had minimal or no effect on the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Further randomized, controlled trials are needed to confirm this finding.
DIABETIC RETINOPATHY ; PHACOEMULSIFICATION ; META-ANALYSIS ; RETROSPECTIVE STUDIES

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop and validate a simple questionnaire for chronic neuropathic pain that can be administered as a screening tool by general practitioners and internists in order to help them identify patients with probable neuropathic pain.
METHODS: Following a development phase and a pilot study, the revised version of the screening tool which included eleven descriptors associated with neuropathic pain both in English and Filipino languages was validated on 120 consecutive patients with any type of pain except psychogenic pain, recruited in the out-patient clinics of six hospitals. The questionnaire was validated by assessing the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of each item and the overall questionnaire. The internal consistency of the questionnaire items was assessed using the Kuder-Richardson formula 20.
RESULTS: Overall, the internal consistency of the SigN-PQ using the Kuder-Richardson formula 20 was 0.7837; the sensitivity was 91.89% with specificity of 80.22%, PV (+) was 65.38% and PV(-) was 96.0%. For the English version, the descriptors with the highest scores were burning (Sensitivity: 100%, Specificity: 93%) and electricity-like (Sensitivity: 100%, Specificity: 93%). For the Filipino version, mainit (burning) has the highest sensitivity of 88% with specificity of 82.6%, followed by gumagapang (tingling) with sensitivity of 86.96% and specificity of 85.42%. The sensation of saksak (stabbing) and hiwa (lancinating) have the lowest sensitivity, 60% and 54% respectively, although their specificity scores are high. Since this study is a validation of a screening tool for neuropathic pain, the investigators decided to choose descriptors with higher sensitivity. Thus, in the final version of the SignN-PQ, the descriptors saksak and hiwa were removed.
CONCLUSION: The SigN-PQ Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire has a high overall sensitivity of 91.89% and specificity of 80.22%. The pain descriptors in the questionnaire are consistent with the descriptors cited in the literature. It is a valid screening instrument for neuropathic pain that can be easily incorporated in the daily practice of general practitioners and internists.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Neuralgia ; Pain ; Diagnosis ; General Practitioners ; Outpatients ; Research Personnel ; Sensitivity And Specificity ; Surveys And Questionnaires

INTRODUCTION: Infant gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a significant cause of concern to parents. This study seeks to describe GERD prevalence in infants, evaluate possible risk factors and assess common beliefs influencing management of GERD among Asian parents. METHODS: Mother-infant dyads in the Singapore PREconception Study of long-Term maternal and child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) cohort were prospectively followed from preconception to 12 months post-delivery. GERD diagnosis was ascertained through the revised Infant Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire (I-GERQ-R) administered at 4 time points during infancy. Data on parental perceptions and lifestyle modifications were also collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of infant GERD peaked at 26.5% at age 6 weeks, decreasing to 1.1% by 12 months. Infants exclusively breastfed at 3 weeks of life had reduced odds of GERD by 1 year (adjusted odds ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.19-0.97, P=0.04). Elimination of "cold or heaty food" and "gas producing" vegetables, massaging the infant's abdomen and application of medicated oil to the infant's abdomen were quoted as major lifestyle modifications in response to GERD symptoms. CONCLUSION Prevalence of GERD in infants is highest in the first 3 months of life, and the majority outgrow it by 1 year of age. Infants exclusively breastfed at 3 weeks had reduced odds of GERD. Cultural-based changes such as elimination of "heaty or cold" food influence parental perceptions in GERD, which are unique to the Asian population. Understanding the cultural basis for parental perceptions and health-seeking behaviours is crucial in tailoring patient education appropriately for optimal management of infant GERD.
Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Parents/psychology* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Singapore/epidemiology*

Objective: This pilot study investigated whether serum B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) can be used to predict fluid overload and clinical outcomes in pediatric sepsis. Methods: Pediatric sepsis patients were enrolled. BNP, BIA, and LVEDD were obtained on admission and on Day 3. Diagnostic performances of BNP, BIA, LVEDD and correlation with fluid status were obtained. Results: Twenty-two patients were enrolled. Day 3 BNP was higher in non-survivors (9241 vs. 682.2 pg/mL, p=0.04) and day 3 LVEDD Z-score was lower in non-survivors (-3.51 vs. -0.01, p=0.023). There was no difference in the fluid balance between survivors and non-survivors. Admission BNP >670.34pg/mL predicted vasopressor use with a sensitivity of 85.71% and specificity of 86.67% while ΔBNP>5388.13pg/mL predicted mortality with 100% sensitivity. Day 3 LVEDD <22mm predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 94.74%. Cumulative fluid balance was strongly correlated with BIA and LVEDD (r=0.65, p=0.001; r=0.74, p<0.001 respectively). The median length of stay in hospital days for non-survivors was not significantly different from survivors (4 [1-12] vs. 8 [6-12] days,p=0.21). Conclusion Rise in BNP levels appear to be independent of fluid status and is a good predictor of mortality, vasopressor, and mechanical ventilator use but not of length of hospital stay. LVEDD and BIA are good estimates of cumulative fluid balance but not as predictors of mortality, vasopressor, mechanical ventilator use, and length of hospital stay. Significance of the outcomes of the study was limited due to the small sample size.
Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Echocardiography

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a progressive entrapment neuropathy that is commonly associated with dentists. If left untreated, permanent nerve and muscle damage may occur. The purpose of this study is to determine prevalence of CTS among private dentists in Klang Valley, Malaysia and to further identify the associated risk factors for CTS symptoms. In-person interviews of 78 subjects obtained using the convenience sampling method were carried out. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and clinical tests of Phalen and Tinel were used to examine signs and functional impact of CTS. The overall prevalence of CTS-related symptoms is 37.2%. Using BCTQ alone, 6.4% showed mild CTS symptoms through the level of functional state scoring (FSS) while 10.3% showed mild to moderate symptoms in the scale of the severity of symptoms (SSS). There is a significant correlation between the age of dentists and CTS symptoms (p = 0.007). The prevalence of CTS was more common in older dentists. Increasing age and working hours per week further enhance the risk of CTS. Findings from this study will serve as a useful baseline to establish further study in Klang Valley. Future work should examine the accounts underlying these risk factors for preventive measures.

BACKGROUND: Many of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the Philippines are controllable with nature-based products, either as agents of intervention, or prevention, as nutritional supplements or for the control of side-effects of medications. The different R&D programs on nature-based products in the Philippines are usually conducted in isolation, or through silos. These often lead to products that are shortsighted, duplicate products, or products with minimal innovation, not readily applicable to population and environmental sustainability.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to draft an internationally benchmarked and integrated blueprint for a population health and environmental health-led nature-based product development and conservation for the Philippines.

METHODS: The methodology consisted of a review of literature; regional educational visits; and a series of consultative meetings with stakeholders.

RESULTS: The study resulted in a stakeholder-validated blueprint that assigns the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) to lead the way for Filipinos to produce more nature-based products that are of international quality and attuned with local health needs. The blueprint has identified "9 Optimizations" in the realization of this aspiration, including an expanded role for PITAHC, a national database, an ethical researchers list, and to produce at least five commercial products and 20 intellectual property rights within 5 years with an estimated total investment of approximately PhP 816 M.

Patents