Over the past 15 years, cutting-edge research has made it possible to better understand cancer. It is a genetic disease that is borne out of genomic disruptions that drive gene expression changes or activate or silence genes, thereby altering gene networks and pathways. Global efforts to study multiple cancer types are opening up opportunities for […]
The global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically, with about half of the world’s population now at risk. In fact, dengue incidence in the last 50 years has increased 30-fold, expanding to new countries, from urban to rural settings. The Philippines is among the top countries where dengue is endemic, and for several months now, […]
Over the past few decades, specialization in emergency medicine has grown and developed in response to a burgeoning need in the Philippines. An emergency physician diagnoses and treats patients with critical illnesses or injuries, particularly trauma victims with multiple organ dysfunction who require immediate care. Time is of the essence in an emergency. The […]
In the latter part of 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorized and recommended two updated COVID-19 boosters. These boosters target two Omicron sub-variants, BA.4 and BA.5. These are bivalent vaccines, meaning they contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of the coronavirus. Half […]
Climate change is said to be the greatest threat to public health. There are multiple and complex pathways for the negative impacts of climate change, from issues on food security, injuries, and disasters, to catastrophic events. Climate change also triggers slow onset events (SOE) like rising sea levels, which may threaten archipelagos like […]
A new COVID-19 Omicron sub-variant named XBB1.5 or “Kraken” has rapidly spread worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that it is the most transmissible variant of Omicron so far. It is a descendant of the subvariant XBB which has recently swept Singapore. Fortunately, there is no evidence that it causes more severe illnesses. However, […]
The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) has recently observed an increase in women consulting for pelvic pain, later diagnosed as endometriosis. Unfortunately, limited awareness seems to lead to delayed treatment and undue suffering. Endometriosis is a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, causing pain and even […]
Physical activity is a major factor in staying healthy. It improves overall well-being and contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. It also reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety and enhances the mental capacity. However, 80 percent of the world’s population is considered physically inactive. With the holidays fast approaching, let’s take […]
The COVID-19 pandemic’s most far-reaching impact is its huge toll on people’s mental health. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 23 to 46 percent of healthcare workers experience anxiety symptoms, while 20 to 37 percent have depression. Burnout has also reportedly spiked among the population, even more so heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Control […]
The past two and a half years have been a rollercoaster ride of trials and errors in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the harder obstacles that had to be dealt with was how to keep the workforce afloat while protecting employees not only at work but even as they go home to their […]
