Lowland and highland Varieties of Dioscorea esculenta tubers stimulate growth of Lactobacillus sp. over enterotoxigenic E. coli in vitro

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objectives:</strong> Probiotic supplementation often only leads to transient improvement in the gut microbiome. Potential prebiotics, such as the oligosaccharide-rich varieties of Dioscorea esculenta tubers, can potentially bridge the gap between supplementation and persistent colonization. Thus, this study aimed to assess the ability of D. esculenta tubers to promote the growth of probiotic Lactobacillus sp. in vitro selectively.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods:</strong> The prebiotic activity of the selected varieties of Dioscorea esculenta tubers was evaluated via compe titive growth assay, wherein the ratios of probiotic Lactobacillus sp. over enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) or "prebiotic ratios" were compared following treatment.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> Negative control (0.9% NaCl solution) produced a ratio of 0.88, Lowland and Highland varieties produced ratios of 1.26 and 1.29, respectively, and positive control (inulin) produced 1.54. The two varieties had comparable ratios to one another (p > 0.05), and significantly higher ratios than the negative control (p < 0.05). Both varieties have significant prebiotic activity. Compared to inulin, the two varieties' prebiotic activity was 84% as effective.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Overall, the tubers promoted the growth of Lactobacillus sp. over ETEC. The crude tuber samples, given their availability and affordability, can be easily integrated into the local diet to contribute to the improvement of the general population's health.</p>

In vitro quorum quenching activity of eleusine indica crude ethanolic extract against pseudomonas aeruginosa and serratia marcescens

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Introduction:</strong> Nosocomial contaminants such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens are increasingly developing resistance to many antibiotics. One of the promising alternatives that may complement, if not substitute, the use of antibiotics is quorum quenching, the process of interfering with chemical signals that mediate communication between microorganisms. Eleusine indica, a ubiquitous grass used traditionally to treat infections, has been shown to contain metabolites, such as fatty acid derivatives and p-coumaric acid, capable of quorum quenching. To date, there has been no study on the quorum quenching activity of E. indica.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objectives:</strong> This study aimed to determine the in vitro activity of crude ethanolic extract of E. indica leaves against selected quorum-sensing regulated virulence factors of P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methodology:</strong> E. indica leaves were collected, washed, air-dried, and homogenized. Following ethanolic extraction and rotary evaporation, the extract was screened for antimicrobial activity through disk diffusion test and broth microdilution assay. The quorum quenching activity of the extract against P. aeruginosa was measured through swarming motility assay, while the activity against S. marcescens was measured through swarming motility and pigment inhibition assays. The quorum quenching assays were conducted in triplicates, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to identify differences among the treatment groups.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> Disk diffusion test revealed that no zones of inhibition formed against both P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens for varying concentrations of up to 200 mg/mL of the crude extract. Likewise, the MIC of the extract against both P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens was determined to be >200 mg/mL. However, it was shown that the extract, at 50 mg/mL, has statistically significant activity (p<0.05) against the swarming motility of P. aeruginosa, and it is 71.6% as effective in reducing the swarming area of the bacteria compared to cinnamaldehyde. This was not observed when the extract was tested against the swarming motility of and pigment production by S. marcescens.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> In this study, the quorum quenching activity of the crude ethanolic extract of E. indica leaves was found to be effective against P. aeruginosa but not against S. marcescens. The compounds that will be identified by further studies may conceivably be used as an adjunct therapy in P. aeruginosa infections and as coating agents in medical devices.</p>

Factors associated with utilization of primary preventive services of Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya (TSeKaP) among PhilHealth indigent members in Manila

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> The primary preventive services of TSeKaP promote disease prevention among marginalized groups. The threat of non-utilization, however, undermines the effective implementation of the program. To fill in the knowledge gap regarding utilization of primary preventive services, rate of utilization and factors associated with utilization of primary preventive services must be determined.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To determine the rate of utilization and the association of selected factors with utilization of primary preventive services of TSeKaP among PhilHealth Indigent Member of Manila.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS:</strong> Using a two-stage cluster sampling, 145 PhilHealth Indigent Members were randomly selected and interviewed. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to determine associations. FGDs were also conducted to gather reasons related to utilization.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:</strong> Among those surveyed, 68.28% were found to have utilized at least one primary preventive service. Age (p-value=0.021), knowledge (p-value=0.015), familiarity (p-value=0.029), and accessibility (p-value=0.013) were found to be associated with utilization. Utilization generally increases as the age group increases. Those with satisfactory knowledge on TSeKaP, those familiar with their health center, and those who report that their health center is accessible were 1.45 times, 2.12 times and 2.83 times more likely to utilize than their counterparts, respectively. Results showing a significant proportion of non-utilization emphasize the need to improve implementation strategies by improving not only the knowledge of respondents' on TSeKaP but also their familiarity with their health centers. The use of various communication channels, such as barangay bulletin, public address system, radio or television, may aid the dissemination of pertinent information regarding the program as perceived by the respondents.</p>