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.

Development and Safety Trial of the OstreaVent2™ Prototype for Mechanically Ventilated Adult Patients.

Background: With the surge of COVID-19 infections, there were concerns about shortage of mechanical ventilator in several countries including the Philippines.

Objective: To transform a locally made, low-cost, neonatal ventilator into a volume- and pressure-controlled, adult ventilator and to determine its safe use among ventilated, adult patients at the Philippine General Hospital.

Methods: The modification of the neonatal ventilator (OstreaVent1) to the adult OstreaVent2 was based on the critical need for adult ventilators, in volume or pressure mode, in the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Applicability of the hour of life approach in hyperbilirubinemia among Filipino term infants.

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia remains a common morbidity among infants. Additional research on bilirubin kinetics and associated risk factors will contribute to providing a more targeted management approach for the Filipino infant.

Objective: To develop a Filipino bilirubin nomogram by studying bilirubin patterns during the first 5 days of life.

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.

Cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination in the Philippines: A modeling study.

Introduction: Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) remains a leading cause of hospitalization and death in children under five years of age in the Philippines. Rotavirus (RV) vaccination was introduced into the national immunization program (NIP) in 2012 but has since been limited to one region due to cost considerations and conflicting local cost-effectiveness estimates. Updated estimates of the cost-effectiveness of RV vaccination are required to inform prioritization of national immunization activities.