University of the Philippines Manila

About: University of the Philippines Manila is a education organization based out in Manila, Philippines. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 2218 authors who have published 2357 publications receiving 88781 citations. The organization is also known as: UPM.

Facilitators and barriers to condom use among Filipinos: A systematic review of literature.

Abstract: Background: Between 2010 and 2018, the Philippines had a 203% increase in new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. The use of condoms is an effective and practical means to prevent HIV transmission. The purpose of this study was to identify facilitators and barriers to condom use among Filipinos guided by the Ecological Model of Health Promotion. Methods: A systematic review of literature using electronic databases was performed using the following keywords: "condom," "Filipinos," and "Philippines." To be included in this review, papers should be (1) research studies, (2) studies that examined condom use, and (3) studies that sampled Filipinos residing in the Philippines. The final sample comprised of 27 articles. Results: Multiple and interrelated factors at the individual and social environment levels influence condom use among different groups of Filipinos. Majority of these factors originated at the intrapersonal level. Some of the facilitators to condom use were knowledge on HIV, higher perceived HIV risk, peer support, positive manager attitude, health provider engagement, and city ordinances. In contrast, some of the barriers to condom use were discomfort and displeasure on condom use, low parental communication, lack of sex education, social stigma, and the high price of condoms. Conclusion: A collaborative, culturally-sensitive, and population-specific approach is essential to develop and implement acceptable, sustainable, and successful condom use interventions.

Efficacy and safety of amantadine for the treatment of fatigue in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: Background: Fatigue is a debilitating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) affecting at least 75% of patients. Amantadine has been tested for MS-related fatigue treatment but efficacy and safety remain unclear. Materials & methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of qualified literatures searched until 30 April 2020. Results: A total of 11 clinical trials were included. The meta-analysis revealed improvement of MS-related fatigue with amantadine treatment using the patients' subjective responses and validated fatigue scales. Conclusion: Amantadine is the most studied drug that has shown improvement of MS-related fatigue, with mild side effects and good tolerability. Larger studies using a standard measurement for MS-related fatigue are recommended to improve the quality of evidence. Safety and efficacy on long-term use needs further investigation.

Knowledge, attitudes, and related practices of Filipino seafarers regarding cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract: Background: Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of mortality. Due to the nature of their work and lifestyle on board, Filipino seafarers have a high propensity towards acquiring CVD. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to CVD of Filipino seafarers. Materials and methods: This study utilised a descriptive cross-sectional study design. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed among 136 male seafarers who went into a private general hospital for their pre-employment medical examination. Results: Eating fatty foods (77.0%), cigarette smoking (68.4%) and lack of exercise (65.4%) were identified by the respondents as the top three most common risk factors for CVD. Avoiding fatty or oily foods (85.3%) and exercising regularly (83.1%) were identified by the respondents as preventive measures for CVD. High blood pressure and shortness of breath were identified by more than half of the respondents as a sign and symptom of CVD, respectively. But the respondents failed to identify other equally important signs and symptoms. Majority of the respondents (> 80%) had high level of perception with respect to the six constructs of the health belief model. Some respondents had admitted engagement in risk-taking behaviours such as smoking (36.0%) and physical inactivity (27.2%). Majority were into high fat and salt diet (70.6%) and current alcohol consumption (79.4%). Conclusions: Although the respondents had favourable attitudes towards CVD, there were knowledge gaps in risk factors, preventive measures, and recognition of signs and symptoms. Hence, some were still engaging in risk-taking behaviours such as smoking, irregular involvement in physical activity, unbalanced diet, and alcohol intake.

The role of genital mycoplasma infection in female infertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract: PROBLEM Recent studies show that lower genital tract infection with genital mycoplasma may be associated with the pathology of female infertility. However, this association remains controversial due to the variable prevalence, sample sizes, and different methods used to diagnose genital mycoplasma infection. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to gain better understanding of the specific impact of genital mycoplasma on female infertility. METHOD OF STUDY A systematic review of literature on the association of genital mycoplasma (Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum, and Ureaplasma urealyticum) infection and female infertility was performed using three electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL, from January 2000 to January 2020. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for genital mycoplasma infection and female infertility were derived from a fixed effects model. RESULTS This meta-analysis included eight studies conducted in six countries. Based on the results, women with infertility had a statistically higher odds of having any genital mycoplasma infection (p < .0001) compared to the control group. The pooled OR of all the included studies was 3.82 (95% CI: 2.55, 5.72). There was an unremarkable heterogeneity in all the studies included in this meta-analysis (I2 = 0%, p = .48). A subgroup analysis also showed that M. genitalium, M. hominis, and U. urealyticum infections are significantly associated with female infertility. CONCLUSION Our meta-analysis showed a significant association between M. genitalium, M. hominis, and U. urealyticum infections and female infertility. This evidence supports the development of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of genital mycoplasma infections to prevent female infertility.

Development of Fertile Egg Detection and Incubation System Using Image Processing and Automatic Candling

Abstract: This paper presents the development of an incubation system for autonomous temperature and humidity control using Arduino microcontroller interfaced and coded using LabView programming. The proposed system also includes important functions to hatch eggs which are candling through infertile egg identification using basic image acquisition, and egg turning that employs crank-rocker mechanism and a hatching chamber. It revolves around fusing all the elements of egg incubation and turning it into one device. It functions autonomously without having to consistently check and adjust to obtain optimal parameters. By using its monitoring features, the user can have real-time data of the day-to-day status of the incubator’s parameters. The speed of its automatic candling program is 1.129 seconds while the performance of the incubator held an optimal temperature of 36o Celsius with humidity between 40% and 60% with an optimal level of 50%. Lastly, the hatch rate percentage of the incubation using the proposed system is 69.44% while the percentage accuracy result for detecting fertile eggs is 91.43%.