Introduction of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 infection in the Philippines.
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The aim of this study was to describe and document the first case of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) in the Philippines by using serological and molecular techniques and to compare the diversity of this strain to that of strains from other countries. With the introduction of HIV-2 into the country and the presence of diversified strains of HIV-1, the use of highly sensitive assays to detect all these strains is recommended. (+info)
Quantitative assessment of total body stores of vitamin A in adults with the use of a 3-d deuterated-retinol-dilution procedure.
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BACKGROUND: The conventional deuterated-retinol-dilution (DRD) technique provides a quantitative estimate of total body stores of vitamin A in humans. The procedure requires equilibration of serum deuterated retinol with nondeuterated retinol after administration of an oral dose of deuterated vitamin A. Equilibration takes approximately 3 wk to complete. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to develop a predictive mathematical formula for quantitative assessment of total body stores of vitamin A in adults by using a procedure that takes less time to perform because serum isotope equilibration is not required, so that blood drawing can be done 3 d, instead of approximately 3 wk, after isotope dosing. DESIGN: Ratios of serum deuterated to nondeuterated retinol (D:H retinol) were determined in Filipino adults (n = 68) 3 and 20 d after an oral dose of 0.015 mmol [(2)H(4)]retinyl acetate and in Guatemalan adults (n = 15) 3 and 21 d after a 0.030-mmol dose. D:H retinol values 20 or 21 d after the isotope dose were used in a mathematical formula to obtain quantitative estimates of total body stores of vitamin A that were then correlated with serum D:H retinol values 3 d after the isotope dose. RESULTS: The relation between these variables was nonlinear and was described by the following equation: total body stores of vitamin A (in mmol retinol) = 0.00468 x 10(37(isotope dose in mmol))/D:H retinol in serum 3 d after the isotope dose. CONCLUSION: A 3-d DRD technique could be used for quantitative assessment of total body stores of vitamin A; this technique takes less time than does the conventional DRD technique. (+info)
Outbreak of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with mebendazole and metronidazole use among Filipino laborers in Taiwan.
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OBJECTIVES: This study sought to identify the risk factors associated with an outbreak of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) among Filipino laborers in Taiwan. METHODS: Forty-six SJS/TEN patients were matched to 92 controls according to month of arrival in Taiwan, sex, and age. RESULTS: The odds ratio for development of SJS/TEN was 9.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.9, 23.9) among workers who had used both metronidazole and mebendazole sometime in the preceding 6 weeks. In addition, a gradient increase in the occurrence of SJS/TEN was found with an increasing level of exposure to metronidazole. CONCLUSIONS: This outbreak highlights the risk of SJS/TEN resulting from the use of both metronidazole and mebendazole and the need for control measures. (+info)
A comparison of the efficacy of single doses of albendazole, ivermectin, and diethylcarbamazine alone or in combinations against Ascaris and Trichuris spp.
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OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of single doses of albendazole, ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine, and of the combinations albendazole + ivermectin and albendazole + diethylcarbamazine against common intestinal helminthiases caused by Ascaris and Trichuris spp. METHODS: In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, infected children were randomly assigned to treatment with albendazole + placebo, ivermectin + placebo, diethylcarbamazine + placebo, albendazole + ivermectin, or albendazole + diethylcarbamazine. The Kato-Katz method was used for qualitative and quantitative parasitological diagnosis. The chi2 test was used to determine the significance of cure rates, repeated measures analysis of variance for the comparison of mean log egg counts, the Newman-Keuls procedure for multiple comparison tests, and logistic regression for the comparison of infection rates at days 180 and 360 after treatment. FINDINGS: Albendazole, ivermectin and the drug combinations gave significantly higher cure and egg reduction rates for ascariasis than diethylcarbamazine. For trichuriasis, albendazole + ivermectin gave significantly higher cure and egg reduction rates than the other treatments: the infection rates were lower 180 and 360 days after treatment. CONCLUSION: Because of the superiority of albendazole + ivermectin against both lymphatic filariasis and trichuriasis, this combination appears to be a suitable tool for the integrated or combined control of both public health problems. (+info)
Lipid profiles in adolescent Filipinos: relation to birth weight and maternal energy status during pregnancy.
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BACKGROUND: The finding that persons with low birth weight have a higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk than do persons with higher birth weight remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that maternal arm fat area (MAFA) in the third trimester of pregnancy and birth weight of offspring are inversely related to the offspring's risk of CVD. DESIGN: In a 1-y birth cohort study (1983-1984), 296 male and 307 female offspring were followed up (1998-1999) to measure their lipid profiles. Participants came from randomly selected communities of Cebu, Philippines. RESULTS: MAFA (log cm2) was positively associated (beta) with HDL cholesterol (0.12 log mg/dL; P < 0.01) and inversely associated with total cholesterol (-10.0 mg/dL; P < 0.10), LDL cholesterol (-13.1 mg/dL; P < 0.01), and the ratios of total to HDL cholesterol and LDL to HDL cholesterol (both P < 0.001) in males. These relations were independent of birth weight, present adiposity, energy and fat intakes, maturity, and income. Birth weight < or = 2.6 kg was associated with elevated LDL cholesterol (9.9 mg/dL; P < 0.01) and an elevated ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol (0.22; P < 0.10) only in males. In females, MAFA related positively to total (15.5 mg/dL; P < 0.05) and LDL (11.9 mg/dL; P < 0.05) cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: In this Filipino population, mothers with low energy status during pregnancy gave birth to male offspring who had a high CVD risk in adolescence, as indicated by lipid profiles. The findings in females are less consistent with the fetal origins hypothesis and suggest sex differences in the relation between fetal nutrition and postnatal lipid metabolism. (+info)
Response of a deciduous forest to the Mount Pinatubo eruption: enhanced photosynthesis.
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Volcanic aerosols from the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption greatly increased diffuse radiation worldwide for the following 2 years. We estimated that this increase in diffuse radiation alone enhanced noontime photosynthesis of a deciduous forest by 23% in 1992 and 8% in 1993 under cloudless conditions. This finding indicates that the aerosol-induced increase in diffuse radiation by the volcano enhanced the terrestrial carbon sink and contributed to the temporary decline in the growth rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide after the eruption. (+info)
Private practitioners and tuberculosis control in the Philippines: strangers when they meet?
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and perspectives of the Filipino private physicians (PPs) on tuberculosis (TB) control issues in the Philippines and their implications for future governmental public health policies. DESIGN: Cross-sectional telephone survey from June to October 2001. PARTICIPANTS: In each of the 78 provinces of the Philippines we randomly selected 10 PPs from the provincial capital city, five PPs from an urban centre with more than 50,000 population, and one PP from 15 rural villages with <50,000 population, making a total of 30 PPs per province. These data were complemented with information from focus group discussions with health workers and policy makers working in TB control, and through personal interviews with PPs. RESULTS: We interviewed 1355 (57.9%) of 2340 PPs identified. TB was diagnosed mainly through X-ray (87.9%) and usually treated with inappropriate regimens of anti-TB drugs (89.3%). The PPs did not follow-up their TB patients, did not trace the defaulters (97.9%) and did not identify contacts (91.4%). Only 24.2% knew the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) policies in depth. They defined the NTP's weakest points as diagnosis through sputum microscopy (59.2%) and the management of smear negative patients (29.7%). Most PPs were willing to collaborate with the NTP (83.3%) provided they were paid (38.4%). More than a half (51.5%) objected to obligatory reporting of new TB cases. The PPs based their success in attracting TB patients to their offices on confidentiality (46.1%) and on the kind treatment and flexibility given (43.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis and treatment of TB patients is a daily issue for the PPs in the Philippines, although they did not follow usually the NTP guidelines. The majority of the PPs wished to collaborate with the NTP provided they were paid. (+info)
Bone mineral density in postmenopausal Caucasian, Filipina, and Hispanic women.
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BACKGROUND: Previous bone mineral density (BMD) studies have suggested Asian women have lower BMD and Hispanic women have similar or higher BMD compared with Caucasian women, partially explained by ethnic differences in body size. This study compared the effect of different variables representing body size on BMD in postmenopausal women aged 50-69 years from three ethnic groups in San Diego County, CA: 354 Caucasians, 285 Filipinas, and 164 Hispanics. METHODS: In all three groups, BMD was measured by DXA (Hologic 2000) at the hip, lumbar spine, and total body. Lifestyle variables and anthropometric measures were assessed by standard methodology; medication and supplement use were validated by a nurse. RESULTS: Regardless of the variables used to represent body size in the regression modelling, either body mass index or lean and fat tissue mass, ethnic differences were minimal across the three groups. The only significant differences observed using the two fully adjusted models (age, height, body mass index or lean and fat tissue mass, smoking, alcohol, exercise, current oestrogen and calcium supplement use, and osteoarthritis) were at the total body BMD site where Filipinas had significantly higher BMD than the Caucasians or Hispanics, whose total body BMD was similar to one another. The independent variables in the fully adjusted models explained approximately 20-40% of the variation in BMD at each of the four sites. Income or occupation did not help explain BMD differences, but a pattern of increased BMD among those with some college education in all three groups was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Accounting for body size using either body mass index or fat and lean tissue mass along with height and other lifestyle variables minimizes ethnic differences and explains a considerable amount of variation in mean BMD among older ethnic minority and Caucasian women. (+info)