Method Validation Study for SARS-CoV-2 Viral RNA Detection in Cervical, Rectal, Amniotic Fluid, Placental, Umbilical Cord Blood, and Breastmilk Specimens in a Cohort of Unvaccinated Women in Manila, Philippines.

Objectives: To validate a method in detecting SARS-CoV-2 via RT-qPCR in pregnant and non-pregnant samples other than nasopharyngeal swabs and/or oropharyngeal swabs such as cervical, rectal, amniotic fluid, placental, umbilical cord blood, and breastmilk.

Methods: We performed a validation experiment using MGI easy extraction kits and BGI PCR kits on non-conventional specimens, including cervical, rectal, amniotic fluid, placental, umbilical cord blood, and breastmilk to detect and confirm the presence of SARS-CoV-2. In addition, we tested the validated method on 572 purposively sampled field-collected non-conventional specimens from a cohort of 109 unvaccinated pregnant and 47 unvaccinated non-pregnant women to assess which candidate non-conventional maternal- and fetal-associated specimens may contribute to maternal-fetal viral vertical transmission.

Genetic Characterization of Ovarian Tumor Tissues from Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in a Philippine Tertiary Hospital: A Descriptive Study.

Objective: This study identified genetic variations in ovarian tumor specimens from Filipino epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients using next-generation sequencing.

Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded ovarian specimens from 8 chemosensitive and 8 chemoresistant EOC patients. Targeted next-generation sequencing was done to identify mutations in hotspot regions of common oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes.

Factors associated with having COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant and non-pregnant women in Metro Manila, Philippines: a multicentre longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: To determine the potential risk factors associated with having COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Design: A multicentre prospective cohort study among eligible women in Metro Manila, Philippines, from 2020 to 2022.

Setting: Five national and local hospital research sites altogether recruited and screened 500 consenting eligible individuals.

Risk factors of COVID-19 vertical transmission among pregnant and non-pregnant Filipinos in Metro Manila: a multicentre cohort study protocol.

Introduction: The novel (COVID-19 was first reported to have originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. This new strain, SARS-CoV-2, has spread rapidly worldwide, prompting the WHO to declare the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. The main objective of this cohort study is to determine the risk factors of COVID-19, the modes of COVID-19 vertical transmission, and the maternal and fetal outcomes among non-pregnant and pregnant women and their fetuses.

Co-infection of human papillomavirus and other sexually transmitted bacteria in cervical cancer patients in the Philippines.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. Based on several epidemiologic studies, human papillomavirus is strongly associated with cervical neoplasia. Aside from HPV, other bacterial infections in the genital tract were associated with cervical neoplasia.

Climate change, women's health, and the role of obstetricians and gynecologists in leadership.

Climate change is one of the major global health threats to the world's population. It is brought on by global warming due in large part to increasing levels of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity, including burning fossil fuels (carbon dioxide), animal husbandry (methane from manure), industry emissions (ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide), vehicle/factory exhaust, and chlorofluorocarbon aerosols that trap extra heat in the earth's atmosphere. Resulting extremes of weather give rise to wildfires, air pollution, changes in ecology, and floods.

Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer Knowledge, Perceptions, and Screening Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Community-Based Survey in Rural Philippines.

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the Philippines. Cervical cancer screening is an effective method to reduce incidence. However, screening utilization is limited.

Association of PIK3CA and MDM2 SNP309 with Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Philippine Population.

Background: PIK3CA and MDM2 SNP309 have been studied to be associated with cervical cancer. PIK3CA mutation is associated with poor treatment response and low survival rate while MDM2 is associated with tumorigenesis and poor prognosis in cervical cancer. Thus, we determined the prevalence of PIK3CA and MDM2 mutations in Filipino cervical cancer patients.