University of the Philippines

About: University of the Philippines is a education organization based out in Quezon City, Philippines. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 4589 authors who have published 4437 publications receiving 114846 citations. The organization is also known as: UP.

Keep or adopt: a study of factors influencing pregnant adolescents' plans for their babies.

Abstract: The 1976 U.S. census lists 235.3 births for every 1,000 unmarried women below the age of nineteen [1]. From these figures it appears that in spite of the availability of contraceptive methods adolescent pregnancy continues to be a problem in this country. It is one problem that has always been of interest to mental health practitioners and fortunately various services are available which provide social, medical and educational support. Several facilities offer comprehensive care, but the services are usually confined to the time of pregnancy and two to three months following the birth. While such services seem appropriate for a large number of young women, for some, however, care is needed for a longer period.

Use of Short Message Services (SMS) for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract: Objectives. The primary objective is to determine if 3 times a week SMS will improve adherence to diet and exercise. The secondary objective is to determine the mean change in body weight, body mass index and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Methodology. This is an open-randomized controlled trial conducted for 6 months which included 104 subjects. Z test of two proportions was used to determine difference in dietary and exercise adherence. Mean change in body weight, BMI and HbA1c were also determined. After 3 months, significant difference is observed in mean HbA1c (SMS= 7.13 + 0.99, control= 7.53 + 0.91, p= 0.034). At 6 months, significant difference is seen in mean number of meals/day (SMS=2.61 + 0.63, control= 2.29 + 0.72, p= 0.018), mean number of minutes/exercise (SMS= 37.40 + 14.87, control=31.44 + 10.82, p= 0.021) and mean HbA1c (SMS=6.99 + 0.86, control= 7.34 + 0.90, p= 0.0452). Conclusion. The use of SMS as an adjunct to the standard of DM care improved adherence to diet after 6 months in terms of mean number of meals, improved adherence to exercise after 6 months in terms of mean number of minutes/exercise and significant reduction in HbA1c levels after 3 and 6 months.

Characterization and expression analysis of a newly identified glutathione S-transferase of the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis during blood-feeding.

Abstract: Ticks are obligate hematophagous parasites important economically and to health. Ticks consume large amounts of blood for their survival and reproduction; however, large amounts of iron in blood could lead to oxidative stress. Ticks use several molecules such as glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), ferritins, and peroxiredoxins to cope with oxidative stress. This study aimed to identify and characterize the GSTs of the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis in order to determine if they have a role in coping with oxidative stress. Genes encoding GSTs of H. longicornis were isolated from the midgut CDNA library. Genes have been cloned and recombinant GSTs have been expressed. The enzymatic activities, enzyme kinetic constants, and optimal pH of the recombinant GSTs toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) were determined. The gene transcription and protein expression profiles were determined in the whole ticks and internal organs, and developmental stages using real time RT-PCR and Western blotting during blood feeding. The localization of GST proteins in organs was also observed using immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). We have isolated two genes encoding GSTs (HlGST and HlGST2). The enzymatic activity toward CDNB is 9.75 ± 3.04 units/mg protein for recombinant HlGST and 11.63 ± 4.08 units/mg protein for recombinant HlGST2. Kinetic analysis of recombinant HlGST showed K m values of 0.82 ± 0.14 mM and 0.64 ± 0.32 mM for the function of CDNB and GSH, respectively. Meanwhile, recombinant HlGST2 has K m values of 0.61 ± 0.20 mM and 0.53 ± 0.02 mM for the function of CDNB and GSH, respectively. The optimum pH of recombinant HlGST and recombinant HlGST2 activity was 7.5–8.0. Transcription of both GSTs increases in different developmental stages and organs during blood-feeding. GST proteins are upregulated during blood-feeding but decreased upon engorgement in whole ticks and in some organs, such as the midgut and hemocytes. Interestingly, salivary glands, ovaries, and fat bodies showed decreasing protein expression during blood-feeding to engorgement. Varying localization of GSTs in the midgut, salivary glands, fat bodies, ovaries, and hemocytes was observed depending on the feeding state, especially in the midgut and salivary glands. In summary, a novel GST of H. longicornis has been identified. Characterization of the GSTs showed that GSTs have positive correlation with the degree and localization of oxidative stress during blood-feeding. This could indicate their protective role during oxidative stress.

Risk of first cervical HPV infection and pre-cancerous lesions after onset of sexual activity: analysis of women in the control arm of the randomized, controlled PATRICIA trial

Abstract: More information is needed about time between sexual initiation and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and development of cervical precancer. The objectives were to investigate the time between first sexual activity and detection of first cervical HPV infection or development of first cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and associated factors in women from the double-blind, multinational, 4-year PATRICIA trial. PATRICIA enroled women aged 15-25 years with no more than 6 lifetime sexual partners. Women were randomized 1:1 to the HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine or to control, but only women from the control arm who began sexual intercourse during the study or within 6 months before enrolment, and had no HPV infection detected before the recorded date of their first sexual intercourse, were included in the present analysis. The time between onset of sexual activity and detection of the first cervical HPV infection or development of the first CIN lesion was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and univariate and multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models. A total of 9337 women were enroled in the control arm of PATRICIA of whom 982 fulfilled the required inclusion criteria for analysis. A cumulative total of 28%, 44%, and 62% of the subjects had HPV infection within 12, 24, and 48 months, respectively. The overall incidence rate was 27.08 per 100 person-years. The most common oncogenic types associated with 6-month persistent infection were HPV-16 (incidence rate: 2.74 per 100 person-years), HPV-51 (2.70), HPV-52 (1.66), HPV-66 (1.14), and HPV-18 (1.09). Increased infection risk was associated with more lifetime sexual partners, being single, Chlamydia trachomatis history, and duration of hormone use. CIN1+ and CIN2+ lesions were most commonly associated with HPV-16, with an overall incidence rate of 1.87 and 1.07 per 100 person-years, respectively. Previous cervical HPV infection was most strongly associated with CIN development. More than 25% of women were infected with HPV within 1 year of beginning sexual activity. Without underestimating the value of vaccination at older ages, our findings emphasize its importance before sexual initiation. clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00122681 .