Background: Teenage pregnancy is a public health concern because of its increasing incidence and its dire consequences. Numerous studies document the role of family in initiating sexual activity and teenage pregnancy, but there is a lack of studies that assess the effects of families and peers on teenage sexual behavior in the Philippines. Objective: To determine the association between perceived family functionality as measured by the Family APGAR and teenage pregnancy in selected barangays in District 2, Quezon City, Philippines Methodology: The study enrolled 233 women who are residents of Barangays Commonwealth and Payatas in Quezon City. Cases consisted of 133 women aged 18 to 24 years at the time of the interview who have become pregnant in 2011-2016, while they were 13 to 19 years old, while controls (N=100) were similar but had never been pregnant before age 20. Consecutive respondents who consented to participate in the study were enrolled and interviewed using the Filipino version of the Family APGAR. Respondents were then classified as having functional or dysfunctional families. Odds ratio was computed to determine the relationship between family functionality and teenage pregnancy. Results: Family dysfunction based on the Family APGAR score was significantly associated with increased risk of teenage pregnancy with an OR 16.69, 1.93-144 (p=0.010) along with having both parents as caregivers with an OR of 29.69, 2.46-345, and teenage pregnancy in the mother with an OR of 15.87, 2.006-125. Conclusion Perception of dysfunction in the family based on the Family APGAR score, having both parents as caregivers and teenage pregnancy in the mother are associated with teenage pregnancy. Future researches should investigate the interactions of these factors but targeting family functionality may be key to curbing teenage pregnancies.
Pregnancy in Adolescence ; Pregnancy ; Female

Sulodexide was evaluated in an investigator-initiated, multi-center, randomized, controlled, open-labeled study to determine its safety and tolerability profile, and effect on the neurological recovery and functional outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Sixty-five (65) patients were randomized to Standard care group and 46 to Standard care plus Sulodexide Treatment group. Sulodexide was observed to be safe and well-tolerated among patients included in this study. Although not statistically significant, Modified Rankin Scale Responder Analysis consistently showed higher proportions of functionally improved patients in the Sulodexide group than in the Standard Care group on treatment days 10, 30, and 90 respectively.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Glucuronyl Glucosamine Glycan Sulfate ; Research Personnel ; Stroke ; Glycosaminoglycans

Nodal status is an important prognosticating factor in patients with melanoma. Metastasis to the lymph nodes would affect surgical treatment plan. Sentinel node mapping, otherwise known as lymphoscintigraphy, has become an integral part in the management of melanoma. This is a case report of the use of scintigraphic lymph node mapping in a patient with a very rare case of vulvar melanoma. The protocols and principles utilized in routine lymph node mapping have been applied in this case. The patient's lymphoscintigraphy revealed unilateral nodal drainage to the left, probably, corresponding to the obturator or internal and external iliac chains. This guided the attending physician to perform unilateral, left-sided nodal dissection only, as opposed to the usual bilateral nodal dissection. Thus, the possibility for post-operative morbidity was greatly minimized in this patient.

Human ; Female ; Adult ; Drainage ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoscintigraphy ; Melanoma ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Skin Neoplasms

Selective lymphadenectomy, based on prior lymphatic mapping and sentinel node identification and excision, is now the standard management for intermediate thickness melanomas in many cancer centers worldwide. In our country and our institution in particular, we have very limited experience on lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma due to the relative rarity of this lesion and also due to the prohibitive cost of the procedure and availability of equipments. These factors , however, should not be made as an excuse for us not to have an understanding of the usefulness of the procedure as well as the drawbacks in the technique. Thus, we would like to report on our experience with lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy using unfiltered technetium sulfur colloid and vital blue dye in a patient with intermediate thickness melanoma and perform a review of the literature regarding the clinical significance of the sentinel node localization procedure in the management of cutaneous melanoma.

Melanoma ; Biopsy ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy