The nexus of macroplastic and microplastic research and plastic regulation policies in the Philippines marine coastal environments.

The Philippines was reported as one of the top plastic polluters (macroplastics and microplastics (MPs)) to the marine coastal environment, which necessitated the development and enforcement of plastic regulation policies. However, the nexus between the growing research on macroplastic/MP and the plastic regulation policies in the country is unexplored. Current review suggests that macroplastic/MP research in the Philippines is still in its infancy owing to methodological and technological constraints to apportion the sources and fluxes, characterize macroplastics/MPs, and identify influencing socio-environmental factors.

Identification of Novel Candidate Genes and Variants for Hearing Loss and Temporal Bone Anomalies.

Hearing loss remains an important global health problem that is potentially addressed through early identification of a genetic etiology, which helps to predict outcomes of hearing rehabilitation such as cochlear implantation and also to mitigate the long-term effects of comorbidities. The identification of variants for hearing loss and detailed descriptions of clinical phenotypes in patients from various populations are needed to improve the utility of clinical genetic screening for hearing loss. Clinical and exome data from 15 children with hearing loss were reviewed.

Low microplastic abundance in Siganus spp. from the Tañon Strait, Central Philippines.

Microplastic (MP) occurrence is a major global issue, though data on MP occurrence in the Philippines is limited and the potential effects of MPs on biota are still poorly studied. MP occurrence in fishes remains a concern, especially in economically and ecologically important species such as Siganus spp. This study determined MP occurrence in the gastrointestinal tract of wild rabbit fishes from Tañon Strait, the largest marine protected area in the Philippines.

Stunting, IQ, and final school attainment in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey birth cohort.

School attainment is an important aspect of human capital, and a key determinant of long-term health and well-being. Early life deprivation and poor nutritional status are well known predictors of school entry and progression. We examine the persistence of early life influences and subsequent socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) across the multiple school continuation decisions that lead to final school attainment.

Preliminary Assessment on the Histological Changes in Juvenile Siganus guttattus (Bloch, 1787) Exposed to Plastic Debris.

Plastic debris is ubiquitous in the marine environment and many of this is polyethylene based plastic bags. Its potential effect on marine organisms is still understudied. Hence, this study determined the histological changes induced in the intestine and liver of the juvenile rabbit fish, Siganus guttatus.

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight.

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution.

Self-inflicted transorbital pontine stab injury with a retained pen.

Self-inflicted transorbital stab injuries are not commonly seen in clinical practice. These lesions usually lead to major disability depending on the intracranial structures transected. We present a case of a 34-year-old man with a self-inflicted stab injury in his right orbit from a pen.

Development of a surgical competency assessment tool for sentinel lymph node dissection by minimally invasive surgery for endometrial cancer.

Introduction: Sentinel lymph node dissection is widely used in the staging of endometrial cancer. Variation in surgical techniques potentially impacts diagnostic accuracy and oncologic outcomes, and poses barriers to the comparison of outcomes across institutions or clinical trial sites. Standardization of surgical technique and surgical quality assessment tools are critical to the conduct of clinical trials.

Effects of alternatively used thermal treatments on the mechanical and fracture behavior of dental resin composites with varying filler content.

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (i) to investigate whether the thermal treatment of direct dental resin composites (RCs) using microwave or autoclave heating cycles would modify the materials' strength as compared to the protocol without heating (control); and (ii) to compare the mechanical performance of direct and indirect RCs. Three RCs (from 3M ESPE) were tested: one indirect (Sinfony); and two direct materials (microhybrid - Filtek Z250; and nanofilled - Filtek Z350). Specimens from the direct RCs were prepared and randomly allocated into three groups according to the thermal treatment (n = 10): Control - no thermal treatment was performed; Microwave - the wet heating was performed using a microwave oven; and Autoclave - the wet heating was performed in an autoclave oven.

Chemosensitizing activity of peptide from Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) on cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human lung cancer cells.

The limitations of cisplatin, a standard chemotherapy for lung cancer, have been documented with serious adverse effects and drug resistance. To address the need for novel therapy, this study firstly reveals the potential of peptide from Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant for cisplatin treatment.

Density Functional Theory-Based Calculation Shed New Light on the Bizarre Addition of Cysteine Thiol to Dopaquinone.

Two types of melanin pigments, brown to black eumelanin and yellow to reddish brown pheomelanin, are biosynthesized through a branched reaction, which is associated with the key intermediate dopaquinone (DQ). In the presence of l-cysteine, DQ immediately binds to the -SH group, resulting in the formation of cysteinyldopa necessary for the pheomelanin production. l-Cysteine prefers to bond with aromatic carbons adjacent to the carbonyl groups, namely C5 and C2.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Activity of Aglaforbesin Derivative Isolated from Aglaia loheri Merr. on HCT116 Human Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Background: The genus Aglaia (Meliaceae) is an established source of many anticancer compounds. The study evaluated the leaf extracts of Aglaia loheri, a tree native to the Philippines, as potential source of anticancer compounds.

Methods: Using bioassay-guided fractionation, A.

Mothers for Others: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Gestational Surrogates' Child Relinquishment Experiences.

Background: Previous studies have shown that surrogates reported high satisfaction with the surrogacy process and no psychological difficulties as a result of child relinquishment. However, the experiential dimension of child relinquishment is an understudied area.

Objective: This study sought to provide a more detailed portrait of gestational surrogates' child relinquishment experiences and the meanings they give to this experience.

Predictors of maternal-origin microchimerism in young women in the Philippines.

Objectives: Microchimerism is the presence of a small quantity of cells or DNA from a genetically distinct individual. This phenomenon occurs with bidirectional maternal-fetal exchange during pregnancy. Microchimerism can persist for decades after delivery and have long-term health implications.

Executive functions form a single construct and are associated with schooling: Evidence from three low- and middle- income countries.

Measuring executive function (EF) among adults is important, as the cognitive processes involved in EF are critical to academic achievement, job success and mental health. Current evidence on measurement and structure of EF largely come from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic (WEIRD) countries. However, measuring EF in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) is challenging, because of the dearth of EF measures validated across LMICs, particularly measures that do not require extensive training, expensive equipment, or professional administration.

Tungsten Ligand-Based Sulfur-Atom-Transfer Catalysts: Synthesis, Characterization, Sustained Anaerobic Catalysis, and Mode of Aerial Deactivation.

The synthesis, properties, X-ray structures, and catalytic sulfur-atom-transfer (SAT) reactions of W(μ-S)(μ-S)(dtc)(dped) [; dtc = SCNR, where R = Me, Et, Bu, and Bn; dped = SCPh] and W(μ-S)(dtc)(dped) () are reported. These complexes represent the oxidized () and reduced () forms of anaerobic SAT catalysts operating through the bidirectional, ligand-based half-reaction (μ-S)(μ-S) ↔ (μ-S) + S. The catalysts are deactivated in air through the formation of catalytically inactive oxo complexes, (dtc)WO(μ-S)(μ-dped)W(dtc)(dped) (), prompting us to recommend that group 6 SAT activity be assessed under strictly anaerobic conditions.

Adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the central nervous system.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a disorder characterized by aberrant function and proliferation of mononuclear phagocytic cells called Langerhans cells, usually occurs in those <15 years of age. Adult-onset LCH is extremely rare. We present a case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with multiple episodes of confusion, rapidly progressive cognitive decline, and multiple endocrinopathies, including diabetes insipidus.

A new distributional record of the black coral Antipathes cf. griggi in Mactan Island, Philippines.

The black coral Antipathes cf. griggi was reported for the first time outside the Hawaiian Archipelago. This short report provides details and short description of the newly recorded species in Mactan Island, Philippines.

Differential influences of early growth and social factors on young children's cognitive performance in four low-and-middle-income birth cohorts (Brazil, Guatemala, Philippines, and South Africa).

Background: Studies relating childhood cognitive development to poor linear growth seldom take adequate account of social conditions related to both, leading to a focus on nutrition interventions. We aimed to assess the roles of both biological and social conditions in determining early childhood cognition, mediated by birthweight and early linear growth.

Methods: After exploratory structural equation modelling to identify determining factors, we tested direct and indirect paths to cognitive performance through birthweight and child height-for-age at 2 years, assessed between 4 and 8.

Microstructure and molecular vibration of mannosylerythritol lipids from Pseudozyma yeast strains.

This work highlights microstructure and molecular vibration of mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) from Pseudozyma aphidis B1 and Pseudozyma hubeiensis TS18 strains collected from brown algae and mangrove sediments. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows the elongated structures with polar budding in the cells of B1 and TS18 yeast strains. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) identifies large lipid bodies that contain MELs confirmed by the anthrone test and thin layer chromatography.

Pretreatment of Mango (Mangifera indica L. Anacardiaceae) Seed Husk for Bioethanol Production by Dilute Acid Treatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis.

One of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals is clean and affordable energy. This is also the aim of the Biofuels Act of 2007 in the Philippines. However, this law is confronted with challenges such as the limitation of lignocellulosic feedstock, specifically available for bioethanol production.

Comparison of Batch and Continuous Wet-Processing of Coffee: Changes in the Main Compounds in Beans, By-Products and Wastewater.

Many technical challenges still need to be overcome to improve the quality of the green coffee beans. In this work, the wet Arabica coffee processing in batch and continuous modus were investigated. Coffee beans samples as well as by-products and wastewaters collected at different production steps were analyzed in terms of their content in total phenols, antioxidant capacity, caffeine content, organic acids, reducing sugars, free amino group and protein content.

Early life stress and HPA axis function independently predict adult depressive symptoms in metropolitan Cebu, Philippines.

Objectives: Alterations in adult hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity have increasingly been linked with early life stress and adult depression, but a limited number of studies have used longitudinal data to explore HPA axis dysregulation as an underlying mechanism driving the long-term depressive impacts of early stressors. Here we address potential long-term impacts of early life, family-based stress on depressive symptoms among young adults in a longitudinal birth cohort study begun in 1983 in the Philippines.

Materials And Methods: We relate a composite measure of family-based stressors experienced between birth and adolescence to circadian dynamics in adult salivary cortisol and depressive risk measured at 21-22 years of age.

Prolonged Distribution of Tranilast in the Eyes after Topical Application onto Eyelid Skin.

Tranilast, a lipophilic drug with various ophthalmic applications, was used as a model drug to establish the possibility of delivering lipophilic drugs through the eyelid skin. Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution studies were conducted employing three application methods (topical application onto eyelid skin, eye drops, and intravenous injection in rats) to broaden the significance of delivering drugs through the eyelids. A two-compartment open model analysis was used for intravenous route while a non-compartmental evaluation was used for topical applications to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters.