An ultra-simplified protocol for PCR template preparation from both unsporulated and sporulated Eimeria oocysts.

Molecular biological techniques have enabled the accurate identification of the avian Eimeria parasite, however, the preparation of PCR template remains a bottleneck due to contaminants from feces and the robust oocyst's wall resistant to chemical and mechanical force. Generally, the preparation of PCR template involves three main steps: (1) pretreatment of oocysts; (2) disruption of oocysts; and (3) purification of genomic DNA. We prepared PCR templates from both unsporulated and sporulated E.

Update on the therapeutic role of metformin in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome: Effects on pathophysiologic process and fertility outcomes.

Influential guidelines have supported the role of metformin in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) for a number of years. However, regulatory approvals for this therapeutic indication are still exceptional and exist only in a few countries, including for the originator, Glucophage®. PCOS is an insulin-resistant state, which drives hyperandrogenism and anovulatory infertility.

A glimpse on influences of ginger and its derivatives as a feed additive in finfish farming: A mini-review.

Ginger () has emerged as a promising feed additive in aquaculture due to its reported benefits for fish health and growth. Possessing a range of bioactive compounds, ginger exhibits antimicrobial, anti-parasite, immunostimulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and growth-promoting properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent research on dietary ginger and its derivatives for fish.

Benzimidazole resistance-associated mutations improve the dimerization of hookworm tubulin: An additional resistance mechanism.

Background And Aim: Mutations in the β-tubulin genes of helminths confer benzimidazole (BZ) resistance by reducing the drug's binding efficiency to the expressed protein. However, the effects of these resistance-associated mutations on tubulin dimer formation in soil-transmitted helminths remain unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of these mutations on the dimerization of hookworm α- and β-tubulins using open-source bioinformatics tools.

Anti-adherent effects of bark and leaf extracts and computational prediction of the effects of its compound on β-tubulin interaction in genotype 4.

Background And Aim: , an opportunistic protozoan, exists widely in natural sources and can cause infections in humans and animals. The absence of effective monotherapy after the initial infection leads to chronic disease and recurrence. Tubulin protein is a vital target for design-targeted drug discovery.

Nutritional Evaluation of Therapeutic Diets for Cardiovascular Diseases in Hospitals of General Santos City, Philippines: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional adequacy and compliance with cardiovascular disease (CVD) guidelines in therapeutic diets implemented in four hospitals in General Santos City, Philippines.

Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional study and analyzed the one-day therapeutic menus of four hospitals using the Philippine Food Composition Table and the United States Department of Agriculture nutrient database. The nutrient contents calculated in this study were compared among hospitals and benchmarked against the Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes (PDRI) and CVD-specific guidelines, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC).

Clinical Profile and Prescribing Patterns of Therapy in Children with Bronchial Asthma in a Rural Site in the Philippines: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases encountered in the primary care setting. Adherence to recommendations from clinical practice guidelines on asthma can be utilized as an indicator of quality of care when evaluating the implementation of the universal health care in the Philippines.

Objectives: To determine the clinical profile of pediatric patients with bronchial asthma; and to evaluate the prescription patterns for asthma treatment in a primary care setting.

Comparison of Ectasia versus Pseudoectasia using the Ectasia Risk Factor Score System.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare ectasia and pseudoectasia in post-myopic LASIK patients presenting with corneal topographic changes indicative of ectasia using the Ectasia Risk Factor Score System (ERFSS).

Methods: Single-center retrospective comparative case series of a consecutive chart review of cases in 18 years who underwent bilateral myopic-LASIK and showed topographic changes indicative of ectasia.

Results: Four patients were included.

R-CHOP and Consolidation Radiotherapy for Limited-stage and Low-IPI High-Grade B-Cell Lymphoma with and and/or rearrangements: a Single-center Case Series and Review of Literature.

High-Grade B-Cell Lymphoma (HGBCL) with gene rearrangements in and and/or is an aggressive malignancy usually presenting in advanced stages. Current recommendations suggest the use of regimens more intensive than R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisone), which are based on retrospective studies and single-arm prospective trials that included patients who are mostly in the advanced stage, and did not receive consolidation radiotherapy. The optimal approach and treatment of HGBCL, whether limited-stage (LS) or advanced-stage, remains to be determined.

Coping Strategies to Achieve Food Security among Households with Children in an Urban Poor Community in Quezon City during COVID-19.

Background: In the Philippines, the prevalence of food insecurity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting the nutritional status of communities nationwide. Urban areas in particular are vulnerable to the harmful effects of food insecurity, and the effects are extended and magnified when it comes to children.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the coping strategies of households with children aged 0-10 years old in an urban poor community in Quezon City.

Clinical Profile and Outcomes of COVID-19 Positive Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in a Tertiary Government COVID-19 Referral Center.

Introduction: It is anticipated that Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has greater risk in acquiring COVID-19 infection and poorer outcome. However, current worldwide data are conflicting.

Objectives: This study primarily aims to compare the outcomes of COVID-19 patients with COPD and those without COPD in terms of length of hospital stay (LOS), recovery or mortality, treatment received, and predictors of mortality.

Job-related Factors Associated with Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Government Hospital in Metro Manila during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background And Objectives: Ensuring the total well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs), including their mental health and psychological well-being, is an essential aspect in the delivery of patient care and the preservation of the health workforce. This study aimed to determine the level of mental well-being and emotional state of HCWs in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress using the DASS-21 scale in a tertiary government hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines and to identify the job-related factors that may be associated with these outcomes.

Methods: This is an analytical, cross-sectional study among HCWs involved in direct patient care in a tertiary government hospital in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of a Brief Training Program on the Knowledge of Filipino Primary Care Providers in a Rural and a Remote Setting: a Before and After Study.

Background And Objective: Primary care providers are key players in providing quality care to patients and advancing Universal Health Care (UHC). However, effective and quality healthcare delivery may be affected by inadequate knowledge and failure to adhere to evidence-based guidelines among providers. The Philippine Primary Care Studies (PPCS) is a five-year program that pilot tested interventions aimed at strengthening the primary care system in the country.

Economic Evaluation of Oral Ivermectin, Alone or in Combination with Permethrin, versus Permethrin, in the Treatment of Classic Scabies in the Philippine Setting.

Background And Objective: Oral ivermectin is recommended as an alternative to topical permethrin in Japanese, European, and CDC-STI guidelines for treating classic scabies. The combination of oral ivermectin and topical permethrin is also used in some settings. Partial economic evaluations conducted in India and Egypt have conflicting results, and no cost-effectiveness analysis in the Philippines has compared ivermectin-based regimens to permethrin for scabies treatment.

A core outcome set for maternal and neonatal health research and surveillance of emerging and ongoing epidemic threats (MNH-EPI-COS): a modified Delphi-based international consensus.

Background: Disease outbreaks significantly affect maternal and neonatal health. Variability in reporting health outcomes hinder evidence generation. We aimed to develop a core outcome set (COS) for maternal and neonatal health research and surveillance during emerging and ongoing epidemic threats and to agree on outcomes' definitions.

Pre‑exposure Prophylaxis Awareness and Endorsement among Adolescents and Young Adults in Tanzania: Insights from the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey.

Pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective measure for preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among people at risk, including adolescents and young adults (AYA). This study evaluates the prevalence of PrEP awareness and endorsement, as well as the factors associated with these outcomes, using data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. The analysis included participants aged 15-24 years.

The complete chloroplast genome of (L.) Kurz (Lecythidaceae).

Genomic resources for (L.) Kurz, a pantropical beach forest species native to the Philippines, have not been published to date, despite its medicinal importance and potential for biomedical applications. In this study, we assembled and characterized the first complete chloroplast genome of using Illumina paired-end sequencing technology.

Deployment and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines for refugees and migrants in regular and irregular situations: a mixed-method multicountry study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has widened inequities, affecting migrant and refugee populations in vulnerable situations, who may face elevated risks of infection, constrained healthcare access and discrimination. Inclusive vaccination campaigns are recommended, but barriers persist. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators and estimate vaccination coverage among refugees and migrants in low- and middle-income countries, emphasising inclusive policies for effective rollout.

Pre-service education for registered nurses on mandatory reporting of child maltreatment: An integrative review.

Problem: The aim of this review is to examine the international literature about pre-service education for registered nurses and identify how it prepares them for their role as mandatory reporters of child maltreatment, to be applied to an Australian context.

Methods: All peer-reviewed papers about nurses' pre-service education on legally mandated reporting of child maltreatment written in English were eligible. Papers based on nurses working in various settings were included, from both Australian and international sources between 1994 to present.

Exploring the chemical composition and bioactivities of the essential oil of Roxb.

Piperaceae family includes numerous species used for food, spices, and medicinal purposes. In this study, the chemical composition and bioactivities (antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and anti-inflammatory activities) of the essential oil from Roxb. were investigated.

Access to employee assistance programs and employee wellbeing: a cross-sectional study of employees in Southeast Asia.

Background: The average person spends of their lives working. However, approximately 15% of working adults worldwide are struggling with a mental disorder at any given time. The COVID-19 pandemic has spearheaded the importance of employee mental health, highlighting the role that employers can play in preserving employee wellbeing.

Conservative medical therapy for a macroprolactinoma presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus.

Obstructive hydrocephalus is a rare complication of pituitary prolactinomas, especially in women, where symptoms of amenorrhoea rarely go unnoticed. In this study, a case of a female in her 20s with a 2-month history of frontotemporal headache, acutely worsening over 3 days, is presented. Cranial imaging showed a sellar-suprasellar mass (2.

Identifying consensus and areas for future research in chondrosarcoma : a report from the Birmingham Orthopaedic Oncology Meeting.

Aims: The Birmingham Orthopaedic Oncology Meeting (BOOM), held in January 2024, convened 309 delegates from 53 countries to discuss and refine 21 consensus statements on the optimal management of chondrosarcoma.

Methods: With representation from Europe (43%; n = 133), North America (17%; n = 53), South America (16%; n = 49), Asia (13%; n = 40), Australasia (5%; n = 16), the Middle East (4%; n = 12), and Africa (2%; n = 6), the combined experience of treating bone sarcomas among attendees totalled approximately 30,000 cases annually, equivalent to 66 years of experience in the UK alone. The meeting's process began with the formation of a local organizing committee, regional leads, and a scientific committee comprising representatives from 150 specialist units across 47 countries.

The Digital Health Competencies in Medical Education Framework: An International Consensus Statement Based on a Delphi Study.

Importance: Rapid digitalization of health care and a dearth of digital health education for medical students and junior physicians worldwide means there is an imperative for more training in this dynamic and evolving field.

Objective: To develop an evidence-informed, consensus-guided, adaptable digital health competencies framework for the design and development of digital health curricula in medical institutions globally.

Evidence Review: A core group was assembled to oversee the development of the Digital Health Competencies in Medical Education (DECODE) framework.