The Carbon Flow Shifts from Primary to Secondary Metabolism during Xylem Vessel Cell Differentiation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Xylem vessel cell differentiation is characterized by the deposition of a secondary cell wall (SCW) containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. VASCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN7 (VND7), a plant-specific NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factor, is a master regulator of xylem vessel cell differentiation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Previous metabolome analysis using the VND7-inducible system in tobacco BY-2 cells successfully revealed significant quantitative changes in primary metabolites during xylem vessel cell differentiation.

Biopsy Method and Needle Size on Success of Next-Generation Sequencing in NSCLC: A Brief Report.

Introduction: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is essential to the care of patients with NSCLC. Nevertheless, NGS is dependent on adequate material from biopsy. We evaluated the impact of biopsy method and needle gauge necessary for optimizing success in tissue NGS.

Backbone of Care: Lived Experiences of Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors in Guadalupe, Cebu City.

This study explored the lived experiences of five family caregivers of stroke survivors in a village in Cebu City, Philippines. Data was gathered through individual in-depth interviews and underwent interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three themes emerged: (1) Altruism of caregiving: Of self and family, (2) Victories in caregiving, and (3) Burdens of caregiving.

Interrogating COVID-19 vaccine intent in the Philippines with a nationwide open-access online survey.

To mitigate the unprecedented health, social, and economic damage of COVID-19, the Philippines is undertaking a nationwide vaccination program to mitigate the effects of the global pandemic. In this study, we interrogated COVID-19 vaccine intent in the country by deploying a nationwide open-access online survey, two months before the rollout of the national vaccination program. The Health Belief Model (HBM) posits that people are likely to adopt disease prevention behaviors and to accept medical interventions like vaccines if there is sufficient motivation and cues to action.

Weekly Versus Daily Levothyroxine Tablet Replacement in Adults with Hypothyroidism: A Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Daily levothyroxine is the treatment of choice and standard of care in hypothyroidism, sufficient to restore thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to normal range. For many patients, daily lifelong therapy is required, making adherence a major issue. In such cases, weekly replacement may be a suitable alternative to improve adherence.

An Exploration of Knowledge and Themes on Diabetes during Outpatient Consultation in a Tertiary Referral Hospital.

Objectives: Effective communication has been correlated with improved outcomes in diabetes mellitus. Patient comprehension bears an effect on understanding, improving healthcare access and utilization, interaction with healthcare providers, caring for one's own health, and shared decision making. Currently, there is a gamut of information on diabetes-related terms from various sources.

Cardiometabolic Risk Factors leading to Diabetes Mellitus among the Young (YOD) from the 8 Philippine National Nutrition Survey.

Objectives: This study looked into the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and risks for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases among young adults with diabetes (age 20-44 years old, YOD) and late-onset DM (≥45 years old, LOD) in Filipinos.

Methodology: Weighted data from 546,580 adults with DM from the 8 Philippine National Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHeS) were utilized. Differences in sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical profiles and metabolic risks were compared between YOD and LOD.

Exosomal microRNAs in colorectal cancer: Overcoming barriers of the metastatic cascade (Review).

The journey of cancer cells from a primary tumor to distant sites is a multi‑step process that involves cellular reprogramming, the breaking or breaching of physical barriers and the preparation of a pre‑metastatic niche for colonization. The loss of adhesion between cells, cytoskeletal remodeling, the reduction in size and change in cell shape, the destruction of the extracellular matrix, and the modification of the tumor microenvironment facilitate migration and invasion into surrounding tissues. The promotion of vascular leakiness enables intra‑ and extravasation, while angiogenesis and immune suppression help metastasizing cells become established in the new site.

Brodalumab in an Organ Transplant Recipient With Psoriasis.

Immunocompromised patients, such as organ transplant recipients, require careful benefit-risk consideration when selecting a systemic agent for psoriasis. Brodalumab is an immunomodulatory biologic that binds to and inhibits IL-17RA, thereby inhibiting the actions of IL-17A, F, E, and C. Brodalumab has a rapid onset of action, sustained efficacy, and an acceptable safety profile, all of which serve to enhance its appeal as a systemic treatment option for psoriasis in immunocompromised patients.

Improving Evidence-Based Program Repositories: Introducing the Evidence-Based Cancer Control Programs (EBCCP) Web Repository.

To reduce the research to practice gap, promoting the utility of evidence-based repositories is essential among both practitioners and researchers. Organizing these repositories to address the needs of these audiences requires a user-centered design approach as proposed recently in an article by Harden et al, 2020. This commentary builds on the proposed solutions to introduce a recently redesigned Evidence-Based Cancer Control Programs (EBCCP) web repository (formerly Research-Tested Intervention Programs (RTIPs)) from the National Cancer Institute.

UP Philippine General Hospital Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Consensus Recommendations for In-Patient Management of Diabetes Mellitus among Persons with COVID-19.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known risk factor for morbidity and mortality among patients with COVID-19 based on recent studies. While there are many local and international guidelines on inpatient management of diabetes, the complicated pathology of the virus, the use of glucose-elevating drugs such as glucocorticoids, antivirals and even inotropes, and various other unique problems has made the management of in-hospital hyperglycemia among patients with COVID-19 much more difficult than in other infections. The objective of this guidance is to collate and integrate the best available evidence that has been published regarding in-patient management of diabetes among patients with COVID-19.

Who sees you matters: a population study examining topical corticosteroid prescribing patterns between primary care providers and dermatologists for atopic dermatitis.

Background: Many patients with atopic dermatitis seek care from both primary care physicians and dermatologists. However, little is known regarding topical corticosteroid prescribing patterns among these specialties.

Objective: We sought to determine if differences exist in topical corticosteroid prescribing patterns among dermatologists, family medicine physicians, and internal medicine physicians.

A High-Throughput Method as a Diagnostic Tool for HIV Detection in Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generated by Different Reprogramming Methods.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide a unique opportunity for generation of patient-specific cells for use in translational purposes. We aimed to compare iPSCs generated by different reprogramming methods regarding their reprogramming efficiency, pluripotency capacity, and the possibility to use high-throughput PCR-based methods for detection of human pathogenic viruses. iPSCs from skin fibroblasts (FB), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were generated by using three different reprogramming systems including chromosomal integrating and nonintegrating methods.

Evaluation of the Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. Web Portal.

Context: The Cancer Control P.L.A.

Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of unplanned extubation in adult patients in a resource-limited teaching hospital in the Philippines: a cohort study.

Objective: We aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of unplanned extubation among adult patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of adult intubated patients admitted to the charity wards of a government tertiary teaching hospital in the Philippines. Patients managed in both intensive care and nonintensive care settings were included.

Development and validation of a sunlight exposure questionnaire for urban adult Filipinos.

Objectives: To develop and validate a self-reported sunlight exposure questionnaire (SEQ) for urban adult Filipinos.

Methods: The study included adults (19-76 years old) in Metro Manila, Philippines, well-versed in the Filipino (Tagalog) language and had resided in Metro Manila for at least 1 year. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, active skin disorders, and immunocompromised states.

Efficacy and Safety of Sorafenib in a Racially Diverse Patient Population with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: There are few efficacy and toxicity data on sorafenib for patients treated for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are not Caucasian or Asian.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 67 patients treated with sorafenib for advanced HCC at an urban referral center. Patients were categorized by race, age, sex, status, stage, and dose.

Attitudes, Behaviors and Beliefs of Urban Adult Filipinos on Sunlight Exposure: A Qualitative Study.

Objective: To explore the attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs of urban adult Filipinos on sunlight exposure as an initial step in the development and validation of a culturally-appropriate questionnaire.

Methodology: Focus groups were conducted among urban Filipinos 19 years old and above (n=38). The transcribed results underwent qualitative content and thematic analyses and were used to develop a conceptual framework.

Prevalence of pregnancy-relevant infections in a rural setting of Ghana.

Background: Although infectious diseases still account for a high burden of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, simultaneous investigations on multiple infections affecting maternal and child health are missing.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, single-centre pilot study in a rural area of Ghana to assess the infectiological profile during pregnancy. Screening of 180 expectant mothers was done by vaginal swabs and serology to detect the most common pregnancy-relevant infections.

Primary Metabolism during Biosynthesis of Secondary Wall Polymers of Protoxylem Vessel Elements.

Xylem vessels, the water-conducting cells in vascular plants, undergo characteristic secondary wall deposition and programmed cell death. These processes are regulated by the VASCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN (VND) transcription factors. Here, to identify changes in metabolism that occur during protoxylem vessel element differentiation, we subjected tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY-2 suspension culture cells carrying an inducible VND7 system to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based wide-target metabolome analysis and transcriptome analysis.

Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: The Philippine General Hospital Experience.

Background: Well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) is the most common form of thyroid malignancy. While it is typically associated with good prognosis, it may exhibit higher recurrence and mortality rates in selected groups, particularly Filipinos. This paper aims to describe the experience of a Philippine Hospital in managing patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Reproductive health and endocrine disruption in women with breast cancer: a pilot study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess whether incorporation of an original reproductive health assessment and algorithm into breast cancer care helps providers appropriately manage patient reproductive health goals and to follow laboratory markers for fertility and correlate these with menstruation.

Methods: This prospective observational pilot study was set in an urban, public hospital. Newly diagnosed premenopausal breast cancer patients between 18 and 49 years old were recruited for this study prior to chemotherapy initiation.

Success using tacrolimus in patients with proliferative and membranous lupus nephritis and refractory proteinuria.

Standard treatment for class III, IV, and V lupus nephritis (LN) is a combination of oral corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). There is an estimated failure rate of 16%. Several small studies have looked at the use of tacrolimus in class III, IV, and V LN, both as induction treatment and as maintenance in patients refractory to other treatments.

Impact of isometric handgrip exercises on cephalic vein diameter in non-AVF candidates, a pilot study.

Purpose: Incident arteriovenous fistula (AVF) rates remain low. AVF placement is often not attempted because of small cephalic vein (CV) diameter. We postulated that isometric handgrip exercises would increase forearm CV diameter and allow successful AVF creation in non-AVF candidates.

Adipose tissue depot-specific differences in adipocyte apolipoprotein E expression.

Important differences in gene expression have been documented in adipocytes derived from specific adipose tissue depots. We have previously documented an important role for adipocyte apolipoprotein E (apoE) in modulating adipocyte and adipose tissue triglyceride and lipoprotein metabolism. We now evaluate the endogenous expression of apoE in adipocytes isolated from unique adipose tissue depots in 4 different species.