A qualitative study of type 2 diabetes mellitus outpatients' perspectives on readiness, acceptance and barriers of mobile apps for medication adherence.

Objectives: This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perspectives of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) outpatients in adopting mobile apps for medication adherence management.

Methods: Through 25 semi-structured in-depth interviews, themes were identified using thematic analysis, guided by the Technology Readiness and Acceptance Model (TRAM).

Results: Anticipated convenience and benefits, openness to new technologies acted as drivers, while limited digital literacy and concerns about data privacy and security served as inhibitors of readiness to adopt health apps.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound in dystonia: a scoping review.

Background: Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive therapeutic technique that utilizes focused ultrasound waves to generate heat at specific tissue targets within the brain. This emerging technology holds promise for its precision and potential benefits in comparison to traditional surgical interventions. This investigation involves a scoping review, summarizing insights from various studies that explore the advantages, limitations, and outcomes associated with MRgFUS in the treatment of dystonia.

Adverse events associated with the delivery of telerehabilitation across rehabilitation populations: A scoping review.

Objective: This scoping review aimed to map existing research on adverse events encountered during telerehabilitation delivery, across rehabilitation populations. This includes identifying characteristics of adverse events (frequency/physical/non-physical, relatedness, severity) and examining adverse events by different modes of telerehabilitation delivery and disease states.

Introduction: Telerehabilitation, a subset of telemedicine, has gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic for remote service delivery.

Fetal microchimeric cells influence maternal lung health following term and preterm births.

Fetal microchimerism, the presence of fetal cells in maternal tissues, has garnered interest for its potential role in maternal physiology. In this study, we aimed to explore the impact of fetal microchimeric cells on maternal lung health following term and preterm delivery, particularly in the context of infection-induced preterm birth and subsequent allergic challenges. We characterized the immune cells in maternal lungs using a transgenic mouse model (mT+ Ve, Td Tomato) and high dimensional mass cytometry (CyTOF) techniques.

Selective protease inhibitors from secondary metabolites of Philippine medicinal plants against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus: A computational veterinary drug discovery approach.

Background: Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a recurring coronavirus that causes severe diarrhea in pigs with high mortality and morbidity rates, especially in neonatal pigs. Despite the availability of vaccines, their efficacy is limited owing to antigenic differences between the vaccine and field strains, which poses a challenge to infection control. Antiviral drugs targeting conserved PEDV proteins show promise for complementing vaccination strategies.

Nasopharynx Cancer in the United States: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Stage at Presentation.

Introduction: Although nasopharynx cancer (NPC) is rare in the United States, global epidemiology varies greatly. Therefore, understanding NPC disparities in the diverse US setting is critical.

Methods And Materials: Data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB, 2004-2021) identified patients with NPC; NCDB allows disaggregation by Asian American (AA) subgroups.

Greater smoking intensity may be linked to early smoking initiation among Filipinos: Evidence from the 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey Philippines.

Introduction: Understanding the relationship between age at smoking initiation and later smoking intensity is crucial for assessing future health consequences of smoking early and informing strategies to prevent and reduce tobacco use. This study explores the relationship between the two smoking-related behaviors among Filipino daily smokers.

Methods: Secondary data analyses from the 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey Philippines were performed.

Enhanced Recovery After Craniotomy: Global Practices, Challenges, and Perspectives.

The global demand for hospital care, driven by population growth and medical advances, emphasizes the importance of optimized resource management. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to expedite patient recovery and reduce health care costs without compromising patient safety or satisfaction. Its principles have been adopted in various surgical specialties but have not fully encompassed all areas of neurosurgery, including craniotomy.

Vitamin D prophylaxis in persons with epilepsy?

Limited guidelines exist regarding osteoporosis prevention in the general population. Despite being a subject of controversy, the majority of research suggests that decreased vitamin D levels correlate with increased bone turnover, that is, an important risk factor for osteoporosis development. In most guidelines, daily vitamin D supplementation is recommended.

Filipino Translation and Validation of the University of Washington - Quality of Life Questionnaire (Version 4) for Patients with Head and Neck Tumors in the Philippine General Hospital.

Objectives: This study aims to develop a Filipino translation of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL) version 4, and determine its internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

Methods: This was a cross sectional mixed methods study comprised of two parts. The first part consisted of Filipino translation of the UW-QOL version 4 questionnaire.

A Dysfunctional Larynx Dilemma: Carcinoma Recurrence or Radiation-induced Damage?

A 61-year-old male diagnosed with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma presented with hoarseness, progressive dysphagia leading to aspiration, and dyspnea one month after definitive radiation therapy. Examination revealed a diffusely swollen glottis, paralyzed vocal cords, and post-radiation fibrosis. Several glottic biopsies yielded results negative for malignancy and favored radiation-induced changes.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Properties of the Flavonoid-rich Ethyl Acetate Fraction of the Crude Methanol Leaf Extract of (Blume) Merr. (Myrtaceae) against MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the Philippines and about 3 in every 100 Filipina will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. There is a need to discover safe, yet inexpensive herbal extracts with potential cytotoxic properties as potential treatment modalities to treat breast cancer.

Objectives: This study seeks to explore the cytotoxic and apoptotic properties of the ethyl acetate fraction of the defatted crude methanol leaf extract of in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines.

The Utility of Ultrasound-guided Tru-cut Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Occult Breast Carcinoma Presenting as Ovarian Malignancy with Multiple Metastases: A Case of Unknown Primary.

This paper documents the utility of ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy in the diagnosis and subsequent management of a case of occult breast carcinoma presenting with multiple distant metastases in the absence of a primary breast lesion. She was initially diagnosed as primary ovarian malignancy with metastatic disease and subsequently underwent transvaginal ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy of the right ovarian mass. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies were consistent with a metastatic adenocarcinoma of breast origin.

Safety of BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescent Patients of UP-PGH.

Background: In response to the pandemic brought about by COVID-19, vaccines were developed immediately. Together with adhering to safety protocols, vaccines are needed to help decrease the mortality and morbidity. As with any other, COVID-19 vaccines are evaluated based on efficacy and safety.

Cardiac Specific Troponin I as Prognostic Factor among Non-COVID-19 Mechanically Ventilated Patients in a Tertiary Government Hospital: A Prospective Study.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) level and prognosis among mechanically ventilated patients in terms of mortality, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and tracheostomy rate.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study conducted at Quirino Memorial Medical Center, a tertiary government hospital, over a period of ten (10) months. Seventy-six (76) mechanically ventilated adult patients admitted at the medical intensive care unit, surgical intensive care unit, medical wards, and centers for neurologic sciences were included in the study.

Conformity Evaluation of Afinion 2 Analyzer Maintainability: Compliance Practicality for Philippine National Standard PNS ISO 15189:2013 Accreditation.

Objectives: The implementation of Philippine National Standard PNS ISO 15189:2013 to support the medical laboratory to produce competent results is a recognised challenge. It is apparent that the approach of ensuring the equipment availability can be specifically optimised. No known research has focused on exploring on the conduct of conformity evaluation of Afinion 2 Analyzer maintainability for the PNS ISO 15189:2013 accredited medical laboratory.

Adherence of Physicians to Local Guideline Recommendations among Patients with COVID-19 in Two Tertiary Public Hospitals in Metro Manila, Philippines: A Rapid Assessment Study.

Objectives: Adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPG) has been shown to reduce inter-physician practice variation and improve quality of care. This study evaluated guideline adherence of physicians in two tertiary public hospitals to local CPG on COVID-19.

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective chart review, rapid assessment method study.

Galactosemia among Positive-screened Patients who Underwent Lactose Challenge: A Review of Records of the Newborn Screening Program.

Background: Newborns screened positive for Galactosemia through Expanded Newborn Screening (ENBS) with borderline levels undergo lactose challenge that requires interruption of breastfeeding temporarily then shifting to soy-based formula.

Objective: To determine the percentage of Classical Galactosemia (CGal), Non-classical Galactosemia (NCGal), probable mild variant form, and negative Galactosemia among newborns screened positive for Galactosemia who underwent lactose challenge.

Methods: This is a retrospective study.

Antimicrobial Activity of (Cavs.) Pers. Ethanolic and Aqueous Leaf Extract on the Growth and Biofilm Formation of Selected Bacterial Isolates.

Background: (Aunasin) is an endemic Philippine plant of the family Primulaceae, with several studies showing the genus Ardisia as having potential antibacterial, antiangiogenic, cytotoxic, and antipyretic properties.

Objective: This study aims to determine the antibacterial and antibiofilm-forming activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts on , Methicillin-Sensitive (MSSA), and Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA).

Methods: This is an experimental study testing the activity against bacterial strains of , MSSA, and MRSA using ethanolic and aqueous extracts of leaves.