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.

Digitalis for treatment of congestive heart failure in patients in sinus rhythm

Abstract: Background: Digitalis glycosides have been in clinical use in the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) for more than 200 years. In recent years several trials have been conducted to address concerns about efficacy and toxicity. Although a systematic review of the literature was published in 1990, an update is required to include more current trials. Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of digitalis glycosides in treating CHF in patients with normal sinus rhythm. To examine the effect of digitalis in patients taking diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and beta-blockers; patients with varying severity and duration of disease; patients with prior exposure to digitalis versus no prior exposure; and patients with "CHF due to systolic dysfunction" versus "CHF with preserved systolic function". Search strategy: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on The Cochrane Library Issue 4 2008, MEDLINE (1966 to November 2008), EMBASE (1990 to November 2008) and Dissertation Abstracts (to November 2008) were searched. Annual meeting abstracts of the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and European Society of Cardiology were also searched from 1996 to November 2008. In addition, reference lists provided by the pharmaceutical industry (GlaxoSmithKline) were searched. Selection criteria: Included were randomized placebo-controlled trials of 20 or more adult patients of either sex with symptomatic CHF who were studied for seven weeks or more. Excluded were trials in which the prevalence of atrial fibrillation was 2% or greater, or in which any arrhythmia that might compromise cardiac function or any potentially reversible cause of CHF such as acute ischemic heart disease or myocarditis was present. Data collection and analysis: Articles selected from the searches described above were evaluated as a joint effort of the coauthors. The staff of the Cochrane Heart Group ran searches on the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE and EMBASE. Main results: Thirteen studies (7896 participants) meeting the defined criteria were identified, and major endpoints of mortality, hospitalization, and clinical status, based respectively upon 8, 4, and 12 of these selected studies, were recorded and analyzed. The data show that there is no evidence of a difference in mortality between treatment and control groups, whereas digitalis therapy is associated with a lower rate of hospitalization and of clinical deterioration. The largest study showed a significant rise in other cardiac deaths, possibly due to arrhythmias. However collectively these findings were based on studies done before beta-blockers became widely used to treat CHF. Authors' conclusions: The literature indicates that digitalis may have a useful role in the treatment of patients with CHF who are in normal sinus rhythm. New trials are needed to elucidate the importance of digitalis dosage, and its usefulness in the era of beta-blockers.

The Impact of Parents’ Overseas Employment on Educational Outcomes of Filipino Children

Abstract: Family structure, household resources, numbers of siblings competing for those resources, and parents’ own educational attainment are often important predictors of children’s education outcomes. Overseas migration of parents from the Philippines has resulted in increasing numbers of long-term separations of parents from each other and from their children. Western-based analyses might predict negative education outcomes for children as a result of parental absence. We find that separations caused by overseas migration often are either neutral or can have positive effects on schooling outcomes, at least among older children. Girls fare better in terms of educational attainment than do boys overall. Boys are often more affected by background variables, including parents’ international migration.

Influence of the Environment On Development and Sex Differentiation of Root-Knot Nematodes

Abstract: Maleic hydrazide (MH) sprayed on tomato or tobacco seedlings infected by Meloidogyne incognita or M. javanica reduced the rate of development and affected the direction of sexual differentiation of the nematode larvae. The highest male percentage was obtained when plants were sprayed immediately after inoculation. The most effective dose of MH-30 was 12 mg/plant. Nematode larvae freely entered the plant roots during the first 24 hours following MH application. Fewer nematodes invaded the roots during the second and third day following application and invasion was later inhibited completely. Immersion of larvae in a 10% solution of MH-30 for various periods of time did not affect the rate of development or sex differentiation of the larvae. Female intersexes of M. javanica were obtained for the first time from plants treated with high rates of MH. They probably developed from advanced second stage female larvae through incomplete sex reversal.

Catastrophic rockslide-debris avalanche at St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, Philippines

Abstract: On 17 February 2006, a rockslide-debris avalanche cascaded down the steep slope of Mt. Can-abag, burying the entire village of Guinsaugon in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, Philippines. Casualties include 139 dead with 980 still missing and presumed dead, making it perhaps the most catastrophic landslide in Philippine history. The landslide started at the ridge top along a fault plane associated with the active Philippine Fault Zone. It started as a block slide that transformed into an avalanche. The entire event lasted for only a few minutes. Estimated maximum landslide velocity is 120–130 m/s. The landslide left behind a deep, wedge-shaped scarp. The central part of the deposit exhibits a hummocky topography typical of avalanches, in contrast to the flatter surface of the debris-flow-type marginal deposit. High amounts of soil in the matrix were derived from the scouring of ancient landslide deposits and rice fields in the valley. The landslide has a total area of 3.2 km2 and a runout distance of 4.1 km. Estimated volume of debris is approximately 20 Mm3. At least four streams were dammed by the landslide debris. Intense precipitation and earthquakes preceding the landslide are the potential triggers. Preliminary back analyses assuming a planar and wedge slip surface yielded very low factors of safety even under dry conditions. A more rigorous analysis of the failure mechanism of the landslide is needed.