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>

Optimized Tube Dilution Technique and Sole Carbon Utilization Assay for Anti-leptospiral In Vitro Screening of Plant Extracts

Introduction@#Leptospirosis is one of the neglected reemerging zoonoses that is of public health concern globally. The need to discover novel therapeutic alternatives for leptospirosis through screening for and elucidating the mechanism/s of the anti-leptospiral activity of plant extracts is therefore necessary. This study analyzes the optimized tube dilution technique and the BiologTM sole carbon utilization phenotype microarray as screening tool for anti-leptospiral activity of plant extracts. @*Methods@#The suitability of the optimized tube dilution technique was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and motility inhibition property of a plant extract and an antimicrobial control (pen G) against 4 dominantly circulating Leptospira serovars/serogroup in the Philippines. Likewise, the suitability of the BiologTM sole carbon utilization assay was evaluated using a plant extract and selected antimicrobials against L. interrogans serovar Manilae strain K64 and L. interrogans serovar Losbanos strain K37. @*Results@#The MIC, MBC, and motility inhibition property of a plant extract and the antibiotic controls as well as its effect on the carbon utilization phenome of the Leptospira serovars gave consistent results, within and between several runs. With standard deviation = 0 for all serovars. The MIC and MBC of the antimicrobial control (pen G), the positive control, was 10 ug/ml. The growth control (leptospires without treatment), the negative control, showed presence of motile leptospires. The MIC and the MBC of the test plant extract was 250 ug/ml – 500 ug/ml. Results of the carbon utilization phenome or pattern of carbon utilization were consistent within the 3 replicates and between two runs. @*Conclusion@#The optimized tube dilution technique and the BiologTM sole carbon utilization assay is a potential in vitro screening tool for determining anti-leptospiral activity of plant extracts.

Frequency of typhoon occurrence accounts for the Poisson distribution of human leptospirosis cases across the different geographic regions in the Philippines

Objective: To study the distribution of human leptospirosis cases across the different geographic regions in the Philippines in 2015-2017 and to determine the relationship between the frequency of typhoon occurrence and human leptospirosis cases. Methods: Information on the frequency of leptospirosis cases and typhoon occurrence across the different regions in the Philippines from 2015 to 2017 was retrieved from the databases of the Department of Health and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, respectively. Descriptive measures on the prevalent cases and occurrence of typhoons across the different regions were summarized. Linear regression analysis was employed to establish the functional relationship between leptospirosis cases and typhoon occurrence. The distribution of human leptospirosis cases was assessed using the Poisson distribution. Results: The frequency of typhoon occurrence accounted for the significant linear variation in the geographic distribution of human leptospirosis cases in the Philippines (P<0.001). Moreover, the human leptospirosis cases obeyed a Poisson distribution (λ=6.89, P<0.001). Conclusions: The Philippines has frequently experienced severe weather perturbations such as typhoons resulting in flooding and subsequently increasing the risk of transmitting bacterial infections including leptospirosis. Information obtained regarding the determinants and distribution of human leptospirosis will provide better understanding of the disease propagation for subsequent design of optimal disease prevention measures, appropriate resource allocation, effective control strategies, and necessary public health programs.

Seroprevalence of leptospirosis among water buffaloes, pigs, and dogs in selected areas in the Philippines, 2007 to 2008

@#<p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Domestic animals are known to be either maintenance or accidental hosts of Leptospira. Determination of seroprevalence of leptospirosis among these animals is of great importance due to their close association with humans, economic loss as well as the public and veterinary health problems caused by the said zoonosis.</p><p><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of leptospirosis among water buffaloes, pigs, and dogs in selected areas in the Philippines.</p><p><b>METHODS:</b> Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was used to test for leptospirosis. Testing was done from January 2007 to August 2008.</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> With the cut-off titer set at 1:80, the MAT-positivity rates were 82%, 67%, and 79% for 190 water buffaloes, 45 pigs, and 106 dogs, respectively. The most common prevailing serovars detected were Hardjo, Tarassovi, and Hebdomadis for water buffaloes; Semaranga, Grippotyphosa, and Patoc for pigs; and, Manilae, Patoc, and Autumnalis for dogs. MAT-positivity rates among these animals in terms of age (except for water buffaloes), sex and sample collection sites were not statistically significant. No Leptospira was isolated from the blood, urine, and kidney samples of these animals.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Results indicate a high seroprevalence of leptospirosis among the animals studied and that several pathogenic leptospires are causing infection in these animals.</p>

Lessons learned from government-academe-civil society partnership to improve the assessment and management of drug dependence in the Philippines

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>This paper presents the experiences of, and lessons learnt from, a seven-year government-academe-civil society collaboration in the development, implementation, and evaluation of a training program for Filipino physicians and rehabilitation practitioners on the management of drug dependence.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS:</strong> Review of memoranda, records, and reports relevant to the initiation and implementation of the training activity. Where relevant, we also perused internal notes and minutes of meetings written by the authors, who are also members of the training team.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULTS:</strong> A tripartite collaboration between government, academe, and professional organizations developed a training program on the management of drug dependence for physicians and rehabilitation practitioners. Learner-centered approaches to education were adopted in the delivery of training content. Participation in the training is a prerequisite for government accreditation as rehabilitation professionals. A ladderized approach to the training was adapted, with participants first obtaining a broad introduction to the program, followed by in-depth focus on the assessment and management of drug dependency. This was done as a response to the perception that a single, two-week training program is insufficient to fully capacitate physicians and rehabilitation practitioners with the requisite knowledge and skills necessary to manage persons with drug dependence. Future plans include an executive course for established practitioners, and a course on community-based management of drug dependency.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> The current perspective on drug use and dependence is transitioning from a politico-legal issue to a public health concern. Attaining the sustainable development goals in 2030 will necessitate the development of a cadre of professionals who are, among others, capable of assessing and treating persons who suffer from drug dependence. The Philippine experience may serve as a model for other countries struggling with the drug menace.</p>

Dissemination of health communication materials for the prevention and control of leptospirosis in the National Capital Region, Philippines

BACKGROUND: Dissemination of health communication materials is one of the most important strategies to increase awareness on the prevention and control of leptospirosis. One of the projects under the Program on the Prevention and Control of Leptospirosis in the Philippines (LepCon) is the dissemination of health communication materials.OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the dissemination of health communication materials to 14 city and municipal health offices in the National Capital Region (NCR), Philippines. Specifically, this study determined: (1) how the health communication materials were disseminated by the city and municipal health offices; (2) the placement of the materials in the health facilities; and (3) the challenges encountered during the dissemination process.RESULTS: The city/municipal health offices used different approaches in disseminating the healthcommunication materials and these are classified into distribution for public consumption, utilization as health education materials, and maintenance of supply by reproducing the materials in other forms. Eleven (11) out of the 14 city/municipal health offices (78.6%) still had leptospirosis posters. Seven (50%) of them posted the poster in the health facility. However, only four (28.6%) facilities placed the posters in locations where health facility clients can easily see and read them. Two of the 14 city/municipal health offices (14.3%) had an information, education and communication (IEC) display area where the LepCon fan is one of the health communication materials on display. The number of materials provided to the health offices was noted to be inadequate to reach the health facilities' target audiences. Finally, the monitoring and evaluation of health communication materials disseminated to facilities under health offices' jurisdiction was also a big challenge.CONCLUSIONS: Different approaches were used in disseminating the posters and fans to the health facilities under the jurisdiction of the city/municipal health offices. It was also noted that the number of materials provided to the health offices was not adequate to reach the health facilities' target audiences. Although three-fourths of the health offices covered still have health communication materials in their facility, only less than 25% of these facilities have posters placed in strategic locations in the facility. A formal scheme of monitoring the dissemination of the materials was expressed by the informants.