The Effects of Lifestyle Intervention Using the Modified Beliefs, Attitude, Subjective Norms, Enabling Factors Model in Hypertension Management: Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: Hypertension is a serious health issue and a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Although various health education models have been used to improve lifestyle in patients with hypertension, the findings have been inconsistent.

Objective: This study aims to assess the effects of a lifestyle intervention program using a modified Beliefs, Attitude, Subjective Norms, Enabling Factors (BASNEF) model among nonadherent participants with hypertension in managing elevated blood pressure (BP) levels.

Redefining public health and sustainable economy: Covid-19 from pandemic to endemic.

With the recent claim that the maintenance of population immunity will not depend on continued vaccinations but on the endemic presence of the virus, the proper understanding of the value of public health allows us to configure human living conditions as it thrives in a world where the novel Corona Virus Disease in 2019 (Covid-19) becomes endemic. World leaders and economic managers need to redefine public health not just as a means that enables economic productivity but as a substantially primordial goal-an end that every functional society must achieve via living an economically sustainable lifestyle. This paper argues that economic and societal sustainability thus must be framed and delimited within the human ecological boundary-a crucial viewpoint that could sustain public health amid a Covid-19 endemic world while preventing another viral pandemic from occurring.

From anxious loneliness to meditation: a mental health self-care strategy to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has been a matter of public knowledge that physical and mental health are intertwining concerns. With a high association between the individuals' experience of the novel Corona Virus Disease in 2019 (COVID-19) and their psychological distress, mental health experts recognized mental health as a coterminous public health concern with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this journal, a systematic review study pointed out that mental health is the most affected issue concerning implementing governments worldwide adopted policies like staying at home, social distancing and 'lockdown' measures.

Take-home and digital Lenten filter ashes for Ash Wednesday: creative ritual practices of faith during COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, previous research cautioned that complex and meaningful quotidian rituals involving intimate touch need re-evaluation as these pose a hygienic concern in pandemic culture. Faith-based practices entail human-to-human contact that could inevitably cause the virus infection contagion if not appropriately addressed. In a World Health Organization document, the crucial role of inter-faith collaboration and sharing of best practices to combat the spread of the virus are encouraged.

The possible threat of faking Covid-19 diagnostic tests and vaccination certifications: a call to an immediate action.

The pandemic's recessive effect on the global economy created a 'de-globalized' process that detrimentally causes financial turmoil to countries whose economy depends on tourism, urban passenger transport services and civil aviation, among others. The need to help the most vulnerable industries non-resilient to the pandemic reopen to aid economic recovery amid the pandemic's threat is a very urgent concern. With the move to start the vaccination program against the threat of Covid-19, faking Covid-19 diagnostic testing certification pose a severe problem to matters of ethics and economics.

First molecular detection and identification of Trypanosoma evansi in goats from Cebu, Philippines using a PCR-based assay.

The increasing number and severity of surra outbreaks in the Philippines led the government to consider it as the second most important disease of livestock in the country. It is one of the most economically important animal parasitic diseases and has been reported in several animal species, including water buffaloes, cattle, and horses in different regions of the Philippines. However, it has not yet been reported in Cebu, the usual gateway of livestock trade in the area that raises 6% of the 3.

Modeling the lockdown relaxation protocols of the Philippine government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: An intuitionistic fuzzy DEMATEL analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which started at Wuhan, has shut down world economies, prompting governments to impose drastic lockdown measures of the economy and the society. As these measures are exhausted, non-COVID-19 related issues such as those associated with the mental and physical well-being of people under lockdowns became an emerging concern. As these issues are evident, not to mention the economic downturn, governments are currently looking at designing lockdown relaxation efforts by simultaneously considering both public health and economic restart.

TroCCAP recommendations for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of parasitic infections in dogs and cats in the tropics.

The Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites Ltd. (TroCCAP) is a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to independently inform, guide and make best-practice recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment and control of companion animal parasites in the tropics and sub-tropics, with the aim of protecting animal and human health. In line with this primary mission, TroCCAP recently developed guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and control of feline and canine parasites in the tropics.

Review on the Current Trends of Toxoplasmosis Serodiagnosis in Humans.

Toxoplasmosis is a widely distributed zoonotic infection caused by the obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite . It is mainly transmitted through the ingestion of oocysts shed by an infected cat acting as its definitive host. The key to effective control and treatment of toxoplasmosis is prompt and accurate detection of infection.

Molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens infecting backyard cattle and water buffaloes in Quezon province, Philippines.

Tick-borne diseases (TBD) cause enormous losses for farmers. Backyard raising comprises majority of the livestock population in the Philippines, but TBD information in backyard livestock is scarce. In this study, 48 cattle and 114 water buffalo samples from Quezon province, Philippines were molecularly screened for tick-borne pathogens.

Host range and geographical distribution of Babesia sp. Mymensingh.

Bovine babesiosis represents a serious threat to the cattle industry in the tropics and subtropics. Although several Babesia species infect cattle, only B. bovis, B.

Genome-wide transcriptional response of papain-like cysteine protease-mediated resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in rice.

Transgenic rice overexpressing PLCP attenuated the virulence of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae through extensive activation of transduction signal and transcription activities that orchestrate downstream responses including the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and up-regulation of several pathogenesis-related proteins. High-throughput transcriptome investigations of plant immunity highlight the complexity of gene networks leading to incompatible interaction with the pathogen.

Evaluation on the presence of , , and spp. in goats () in Cebu, the Philippines.

Background: Tick-borne diseases are caused by a wide variety of viruses, pathogens, and diseases. , , and spp. are among the most known tick-borne pathogens in Asia.

Detection of canine Schistosoma japonicum infection using recombinant thioredoxin peroxidase-1 and tandem repeat proteins.

Humans and dogs live very close together and share various pathogens causing zoonotic parasitoses like schistosomiasis. A previous population genetics study done for schistosomes in the Philippines suggested that there is a high transmission level of Schistosoma japonicum among humans and dogs proving that the latter are important reservoirs for this zoonotic parasite. A more sensitive and specific test detecting schistosome infection in dogs will therefore strengthen the zoonotic surveillance, which might help in the possible elimination of this ancient disease.

Survivors' Social Construction of Intimate Partner Violence in Cebu City, Philippines.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a worldwide social issue perpetrated by intimate male partners against their wives. Studies on IPV have generated accurate comparative information since the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women to guide strategy and track progress in attempts to comprehend the IPV issues. In many attempts to understand violence against women, the social construction of IPV was not well documented in the literature.

Endemicity of Toxoplasma infection and its associated risk factors in Cebu, Philippines.

Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled intracellular apicomplexan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. It is capable of infecting humans and nearly all warm-blooded animals including pigs, but cats are the only known definitive host. This ubiquitous zoonotic pathogen can cause abortion, stillbirth and fetal abnormalities, and has been associated with mental and behavioral changes in humans.

The detection of gastrointestinal parasites in owned and shelter dogs in Cebu, Philippines.

Background: Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) parasites affect the health of dogs and may also be zoonotic. The prevalence of these parasites has been well studied in several countries, but reports in the Philippines have been limited.

Aim: This study generally aimed to detect the presence of common GIT parasites in owned and shelter dogs in Cebu, Philippines.

Molecular evidence of hemotropic mycoplasmas in goats from Cebu, Philippines.

Hemotropic mycoplasma (hemoplasma), a neglected vector-borne pathogen in goats, causes extensive economic damage to farmers due to production losses. In this study, 107/295 (36.27%) goats sampled from 4 farms (Barili, Danao City, Dumanjug and Minglanilla) in Cebu, Philippines tested positive for PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Mycoplasma.

Toxicity and Toxin Composition of the Greater Blue-Ringed Octopus from Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

The toxicity of the greater blue-ringed octopus whose bite is fatal to humans, was examined to better understand and prevent deaths from accidental bites. Living specimens were collected from tide pools on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, in November and December of 2015, 2016, and 2017. The specimens were examined for the anatomical distribution of the toxicity, which was expressed in terms of mouse units (MU), by the standard bioassay method for tetrodotoxin (TTX) in Japan.

First molecular detection and characterization of tick-borne pathogens in water buffaloes in Bohol, Philippines.

The water buffalo industry is a vital part of the Philippine livestock economy and is an essential contributor to the developing local dairy industry. Although relatively less susceptible to diseases, water buffaloes can still be infected and can act as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). However, limited information is available regarding the prevalence of tick-borne infections in water buffaloes in the Philippines.

First molecular detection of Mycoplasma wenyonii and the ectoparasite biodiversity in dairy water buffalo and cattle in Bohol, Philippines.

Hemoplasmosis caused by Mycoplasma spp. have been associated with major economic losses in the global dairy production. Hemoplasma studies in the Philippines are limited despite its potential impact.

Detection of gastrointestinal parasites in small-scale poultry layer farms in Leyte, Philippines.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites can affect poultry productivity by compromising its health. It is well studied in other countries, but the documented reports in the Philippines have been limited.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of GIT parasites in selected small-scale poultry layer farms in Leyte, Philippines.

(Melastomataceae), a new species from ultramafic soils in the Philippines.

A new species, Fernando, from ultramafic soils on Dinagat and Mindanao Islands, Philippines is described and illustrated. The species is characterized by its terrestrial erect habit, non-setose nodes, 3-plinerved, lanceolate and coriaceous leaves arranged in whorls, cauline or axillary and pendulous inflorescences, rounded flower buds, 4-merous flowers, and straight anthers. It is compared with other similar species in the Merr.

Serological and molecular detection of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Philippine horses.

Theileria equi and Babesia caballi are tick-borne protozoan parasites that can cause anemia in horses. In the Philippines, serological detection of these parasites has only been reported in the Northern area (Luzon). In this study, 105 horses from Cebu and Bohol, Philippines were tested using peripheral blood smear examination (PBSE), immunochromatographic test (ICT) strips, and PCR.

Detection of , and spp. in dogs of Cebu, Philippines.

Background: , , and spp. are canine pathogens transmitted by the tick which can cause varied clinical signs. These pathogens have been investigated in the Philippines, but coinfection has not been reported yet.