Effect of body image perception and skin-lightening practices on mental health of Filipino emerging adults: a mixed-methods approach protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The rampant distribution of idealised images on the internet may lead the general public to improve their body appearance in a way that is sometimes excessive, compulsive or detrimental to other aspects of their lives. There is a decreasing appreciation of body image among emerging adults and an increasing trend on skin-lightening practices linked with psychological distress. This protocol describes the mixed-method approach to assess the relationships among body image perception, skin-lightening practices and mental well-being of Filipino emerging adults and determine the factors that influence them. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: An explanatory sequential mixed-method approach will be used. A cross-sectional study design will involve an online self-administered questionnaire of 1258 participants, while a case study design will involve in-depth interviews with 25 participants. Data analysis will use generalised linear models and structural equation modelling with a Bayesian network for the quantitative data. Moreover, the qualitative data will use an inductive approach in thematic analysis. A contiguous narrative approach will integrate the quantitative and qualitative data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The University of the Philippines Manila Review Ethics Board has approved this protocol (UPMREB 2022-0407-01). The study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed articles and conference presentations.

Molecular characterization of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Filipino patients derived from the national tuberculosis prevalence survey Philippines 2016.

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a high burden disease and leading cause of mortality in the Philippines. Understanding the genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis strains in the population, including those that are multi-drug resistant (MDR), will aid in formulating strategies for effective TB control and prevention. By whole genome sequencing of M. tuberculosis isolates (n = 100) from patients of the Philippine 2016 National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey, we sought to provide a baseline assessment of the genotypic and phylogenetic characteristics of the isolates. The majority (96/100) of the isolates were EAI2-Manila strain-type (lineage 1), with one Lineage 2 (Beijing), one Lineage 3 (CAS1), and two Lineage 4 (LAM9) strains. The EAI2-Manila clade was not significantly associated with patient's phenotypic and in silico drug resistance profile. Five (5/6) MDR-TB isolates predicted by in silico profiling were concordant with phenotypic drug resistance profile. Twenty-one mutations were identified in nine drug resistance-related genes, all of which have been reported in previous studies. Overall, the results from this study contribute to the growing data on the molecular characteristics of Philippine M. tuberculosis isolates, which can help in developing tools for rapid diagnosis of TB in the country, and thereby reducing the high burden of disease.

Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Belonging to the B.1.1.7 Lineage in the Philippines.

We report the sequencing and detection of 36 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) samples containing lineage-defining mutations specific to viruses belonging to the B.1.1.7 lineage in the Philippines.

A look at the ASEAN-NDI: building a regional health R&D innovation network.

Globally, there are growing efforts to address diseases through the advancement in health research and development (R&D), strengthening of regional cooperation in science and technology (particularly on product discovery and development), and implementation of the World Health Assembly Resolution 61.21 (WHA61.21) on the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property (GSPA-PHI). As such, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is responding to this through the establishment of the ASEAN-Network for Drugs, Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Traditional Medicines Innovation (ASEAN-NDI). This is important in the ASEAN considering that infectious tropical diseases remain prevalent, emerging, and reemerging in the region. This paper looks into the evolution of the ASEAN-NDI from its inception in 2009, to how it is at present, and its plans to mitigate public health problems regionally and even globally.

A molecular epidemiologic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Filipino patients in a suburban community in the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: The Philippines is designated as one of the high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries by WHO. We conducted a molecular epidemiologic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates collected from patients consulting at the health clinics in the city of Santa Rosa, Laguna, a suburban community in the Philippines. METHODS: A total of 116 M. tuberculosis isolates were characterized and genotyped using spoligotyping and 15 loci of variable number of tandem repeats of mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (15 MIRU-VNTR). The strains were then compared with the international spoligotyping database (SpolDB4). Cluster analyses were done using 15 MIRU-VNTR and spoligotyping. RESULTS: Majority of the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were young (18-29 year age group at 41.4%) and male (62.1%). 86/116 (74.1%) were sputum-smear positive and 43/116 (37.1%) had severe pulmonary tuberculosis. When the genotyping results were compared to the SpolDB4, there were 10 identified Spoligo-International-Types (SITs) with SIT 19 as the predominant SIT (89/116, 76.7%). 10 out of 116 (8.6%) did not match any SIT in the SpolDB4. The distribution of strains according to major M. tuberculosis clades was as follows: EAI2_Manilla (101/116, 87.1%; U 2/116, 1.7%; LAM2 1/116, 0.9%; EAI3_Ind 1/116, 0.9%; MANU2 1/116, 0.9%. Using univariate and multivariate analysis, there was no significant association shown between the EAI2_Manilla clade and SIT with patient characteristics such as sex and age groups as well as bacillary load based on sputum-smear positivity and severity of pulmonary tuberculosis. Using logistic regression, no patient characteristic, as well as bacillary load or severity of TB, were significant predictors for clade or SIT. Based on the molecular typing method used, spoligotyping identified 4 clusters and 20 genotypes (16 unique strains) with a Hunter-Gaston discrimination index (HGDI) of 0.409. 15 MIRU-VNTR identified 16 clusters and 69 genotypes (53 unique strains) with an HGDI of 0.960. The combination of spoligotyping and 15 MIRU-VNTR identified 11 clusters and 79 genotypes (68 unique strains) with the highest HGDI at 0.970. High case rate of TB among young people in this community suggests the high transmission rate of infection. However, in the absence of significant association between clustering and age, the interpretation of observed high cluster rate warrants caution, and requires further molecular and epidemiological observation. CONCLUSION: This is the first molecular epidemiology study to show the distribution of genotypes of the M. tuberculosis strains, systematically and prospectively sampled, of the patient population in a suburban community in the Philippines. The combination of spoligotyping and 15 MIRU-VNTR identified 11 clusters and 79 genotypes (68 unique strains) with the highest HGDI at 0.970. High case rate of TB among young people in this community suggests the high transmission of infection. However, in the absence of significant association between clustering and age, the interpretation of observed high cluster rate warrants caution, and requires further molecular and epidemiological observation.

Characterization of the Manila family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Forty-eight Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were obtained from patients living in metropolitan Manila, Republic of the Philippines. Three molecular typing methods, IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism, spoligotyping, and DNA sequencing of the oxyR, gyrA, and katG loci, established that these strains have restricted diversity and are members of a related genetic group of organisms. Comparison of the DNA fingerprint patterns with those in international databases confirmed the uniqueness of this group of isolates, which we designate the Manila family of M. tuberculosis.