1.Family communication of genetic risk: What is it and why does it matter?.
Acta Medica Philippina 2025;59(8):7-15
Inherited conditions have implications not only for the individual affected but for the entire family. It is in this context that family communication of genetic risk information is important to understand. This paper aims to provide an overview of the construct of family communication of genetic risk and provide implications for healthcare providers. A search of relevant literature was done with electronic databases including PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. The findings from the literature were organized based on the Family Communication of Genetic Risk (FCGR) conceptual framework which highlights the attributes of the family communication of genetic risk process including influential factors, communication strategy, communication occurrence, and outcomes of communication. Healthcare providers need to understand how individuals share genetic risk with their family members so that appropriate support and interventions can be provided to them. This is especially important across countries, including the Philippines, as genetic services and testing move beyond the traditional medical genetics clinic to other medical specialties, a development where we would expect an increase in individuals and family members undergoing genetic evaluation and testing.
Communication ; Family ; Genetic Predisposition To Disease ; Genetic Testing
3.Family communication of genetic risk: What is it and why does it matter?
Acta Medica Philippina 2024;58(Early Access 2024):1-9
Inherited conditions have implications not only for the individual affected but for the entire family. It is in this context that family communication of genetic risk information is important to understand. This paper aims to provide an overview of the construct of family communication of genetic risk and provide implications for healthcare providers. A search of relevant literature was done with electronic databases including PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. The findings from the literature were organized based on the Family Communication of Genetic Risk (FCGR) conceptual framework which highlights the attributes of the family communication of genetic risk process including influential factors, communication strategy, communication occurrence, and outcomes of communication. Healthcare providers need to understand how individuals share genetic risk with their family members so that appropriate support and interventions can be provided to them. This is especially important across countries, including the Philippines, as genetic services and testing move beyond the traditional medical genetics clinic to other medical specialties, a development where we would expect an increase in individuals and family members undergoing genetic evaluation and testing.
communication
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family
;
genetic predisposition to disease
;
genetic testing
4.Emerging roles of exosomes in oral diseases progression.
Jiayi WANG ; Junjun JING ; Chenchen ZHOU ; Yi FAN
International Journal of Oral Science 2024;16(1):4-4
Oral diseases, such as periodontitis, salivary gland diseases, and oral cancers, significantly challenge health conditions due to their detrimental effects on patient's digestive functions, pronunciation, and esthetic demands. Delayed diagnosis and non-targeted treatment profoundly influence patients' prognosis and quality of life. The exploration of innovative approaches for early detection and precise treatment represents a promising frontier in oral medicine. Exosomes, which are characterized as nanometer-sized extracellular vesicles, are secreted by virtually all types of cells. As the research continues, the complex roles of these intracellular-derived extracellular vesicles in biological processes have gradually unfolded. Exosomes have attracted attention as valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tools for their ability to transfer abundant biological cargos and their intricate involvement in multiple cellular functions. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent applications of exosomes within the field of oral diseases, focusing on inflammation-related bone diseases and oral squamous cell carcinomas. We characterize the exosome alterations and demonstrate their potential applications as biomarkers for early diagnosis, highlighting their roles as indicators in multiple oral diseases. We also summarize the promising applications of exosomes in targeted therapy and proposed future directions for the use of exosomes in clinical treatment.
Humans
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Exosomes
;
Quality of Life
;
Extracellular Vesicles
;
Biomarkers
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Cell Communication
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Mouth Neoplasms
5.Standardizing hazard signage in the Laboratory Research Division of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine:A step towards improved safety compliance
Philippine Journal of Pathology 2024;9(2):53-56
Old signage faced iconography, variable layouts, visual presentations, and contents, as well as degradation issues, undermine the effectiveness of hazard communication in the laboratory. A 2016 project was initiated to standardize all hazard signages at the Laboratory Research Division of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), incorporating standard colors and iconography for better compliance and safety. As part of a broader initiative to enhance biorisk practices within the institute, there are plans for improvement and expansion to non-laboratory areas.
Containment Of Biohazards ; Biosecurity ; Laboratories ; Communication ; Laboratory Personnel
6.Perceptions of incidents and incident reporting among staff nurses in a tertiary Philippine hospital.
Philippine Journal of Health Research and Development 2023;27(2):1-
INTRODUCTION:
The number of injuries and expenses from unsafe delivery of health care has heeded the call for a greater patient safety advocacy. The development of an effective reporting system contributes towards this cause. The study aimed to explore the perceptions of nurses regarding critical incidents and investigate the factors affecting their decision to report a certain event.
METHODS:
Focus group discussions including 28 nurses working in the service wards of a tertiary hospital, and the data gathered were analyzed using descriptive qualitative approach.
RESULTS:
Three key themes emerged from the discussions: (1) perceptions of an incident, (2) attitudes, norms, and culture of incident reporting in the workplace, and (3) perceptions and suggestions for management actions and improving the reporting system. The study showed that various factors tend to interplay in the identification of an incident as well as the consideration to perform the behavior.
DISCUSSION
The primary practice and education implications focus on changing the workplace culture and proper orientation of the staff, while further research regarding the role of reporting, and appropriate analysis of error reporting among other health care professionals would be recommended.
hospital communication systems
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nursing education
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critical incidents
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patient safety
7.Impact of communication campaigns to Blaan indigenous peoples covered by Community Health and Development Program, University of the Philippines Manila
Philippine Journal of Health Research and Development 2023;27(4):56-66
Background:
The Community Health and Development Program (CHDP) is a longstanding program of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, School of Health Sciences, Extension Campus in South Cotabato. While its service goes beyond teaching and extends to community development projects benefiting indigenous sectors, yet there has been no comprehensive and systematic evaluation on the program's health communication materials which promote culturally safe and acceptable health care practices that lead to normative changes.
Objective:
Using descriptive-interpretive qualitative approach, the researcher identified the communication approaches and documented their health knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) to identify any normative changes.
Methodology:
A total of 24 respondents gave their views on the program's dengue, malnutrition, teenage pregnancy, and family planning campaigns using a closed-ended survey, qualitative KAP analysis, and ethnovideography.
Results:
Results showed that information dissemination is limited to printed media and interpersonal
communication via small groups; contents of health communication campaigns are less understandable; and social mobilization efforts demonstrated low levels of community engagement. Also, communication between health workers and Blaan indigenous peoples is not transactional due to the lack of feedback and involvement in the decision-making process. The respondents' knowledge on health demonstrated low levels of end-user engagement reflective of unsustainable knowledge on modern medicine. Normative changes are only evident on family planning campaigns.
Conclusion
The long-term sustainability of health promotion among indigenous peoples may be inhibited due to non-evident normative changes that trigger societal transformation. The paper suggests that a specialized communication strategy intended for Blaan indigenous peoples must be considered and applied in order to react collectively and effectively to address health issues.
Health Communication
8.Single-cell profiling reveals Müller glia coordinate retinal intercellular communication during light/dark adaptation via thyroid hormone signaling.
Min WEI ; Yanping SUN ; Shouzhen LI ; Yunuo CHEN ; Longfei LI ; Minghao FANG ; Ronghua SHI ; Dali TONG ; Jutao CHEN ; Yuqian MA ; Kun QU ; Mei ZHANG ; Tian XUE
Protein & Cell 2023;14(8):603-617
Light adaptation enables the vertebrate visual system to operate over a wide range of ambient illumination. Regulation of phototransduction in photoreceptors is considered a major mechanism underlying light adaptation. However, various types of neurons and glial cells exist in the retina, and whether and how all retinal cells interact to adapt to light/dark conditions at the cellular and molecular levels requires systematic investigation. Therefore, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to dissect retinal cell-type-specific transcriptomes during light/dark adaptation in mice. The results demonstrated that, in addition to photoreceptors, other retinal cell types also showed dynamic molecular changes and specifically enriched signaling pathways under light/dark adaptation. Importantly, Müller glial cells (MGs) were identified as hub cells for intercellular interactions, displaying complex cell‒cell communication with other retinal cells. Furthermore, light increased the transcription of the deiodinase Dio2 in MGs, which converted thyroxine (T4) to active triiodothyronine (T3). Subsequently, light increased T3 levels and regulated mitochondrial respiration in retinal cells in response to light conditions. As cones specifically express the thyroid hormone receptor Thrb, they responded to the increase in T3 by adjusting light responsiveness. Loss of the expression of Dio2 specifically in MGs decreased the light responsive ability of cones. These results suggest that retinal cells display global transcriptional changes under light/dark adaptation and that MGs coordinate intercellular communication during light/dark adaptation via thyroid hormone signaling.
Animals
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Mice
;
Dark Adaptation
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Light
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Retina
;
Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/metabolism*
;
Adaptation, Ocular
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Neuroglia/physiology*
;
Cell Communication
;
Thyroid Hormones
9.Distinct mononuclear diploid cardiac subpopulation with minimal cell-cell communications persists in embryonic and adult mammalian heart.
Miaomiao ZHU ; Huamin LIANG ; Zhe ZHANG ; Hao JIANG ; Jingwen PU ; Xiaoyi HANG ; Qian ZHOU ; Jiacheng XIANG ; Ximiao HE
Frontiers of Medicine 2023;17(5):939-956
A small proportion of mononuclear diploid cardiomyocytes (MNDCMs), with regeneration potential, could persist in adult mammalian heart. However, the heterogeneity of MNDCMs and changes during development remains to be illuminated. To this end, 12 645 cardiac cells were generated from embryonic day 17.5 and postnatal days 2 and 8 mice by single-cell RNA sequencing. Three cardiac developmental paths were identified: two switching to cardiomyocytes (CM) maturation with close CM-fibroblast (FB) communications and one maintaining MNDCM status with least CM-FB communications. Proliferative MNDCMs having interactions with macrophages and non-proliferative MNDCMs (non-pMNDCMs) with minimal cell-cell communications were identified in the third path. The non-pMNDCMs possessed distinct properties: the lowest mitochondrial metabolisms, the highest glycolysis, and high expression of Myl4 and Tnni1. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing and immunohistochemical staining further proved that the Myl4+Tnni1+ MNDCMs persisted in embryonic and adult hearts. These MNDCMs were mapped to the heart by integrating the spatial and single-cell transcriptomic data. In conclusion, a novel non-pMNDCM subpopulation with minimal cell-cell communications was unveiled, highlighting the importance of microenvironment contribution to CM fate during maturation. These findings could improve the understanding of MNDCM heterogeneity and cardiac development, thus providing new clues for approaches to effective cardiac regeneration.
Animals
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Mice
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Diploidy
;
Heart
;
Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism*
;
Cell Communication
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Gene Expression Profiling
;
Mitochondria
;
Regeneration
;
Mammals/genetics*
10.Cognitive differences between Taoism and medical science in the location of "Jiaji".
Xin-Yue ZHANG ; Shu-Jian ZHANG
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2023;43(9):1070-1075
The differences in the cognition on the location of "Jiaji" between Taoism and medical science are summarized through literature searching. In the medical field, "Jiaji" is generally described as "Jiaji Xue (point)", which is considered as EX-B 2, while, in Taoism, it is expressed as "Jiaji Guan (pass)", focusing on the crucial parts of the body. Medical scholars lay their attention to the distance of "Jiaji" lateral to the spine, in which "Jia" (place on both sides) is mostly considered. In comparison, the Taoists emphasize the central axis on the back of human body expressed as "Jiaji Gu (bone)" and "Jiaji Sanguan (three crucial parts)", in which, "Ji (spine)" is the key. Due to the therapeutic purposes of acupuncture, medical scholars focus on the communication of "Jiaji" with the body surface ultimately. Based on the inner perspective of Taoism, "Jiaji" is connoted to be the three-dimensional structural space located deeply inside of the body. The cognitive differences in the location of "Jiaji" between Taoism and medical science reflect the discrepancy in the cognitive dimensions and approaches to the human body between them, which provide the references for the textual research of "Jiaji" in traditional Chinese medicine.
Humans
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Medicine
;
Religious Philosophies
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Cognition
;
Communication


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