Animo Repository - De La Salle University Research
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The impact of academic stress on gastrointestinal health in DLSU COS students: A cross-sectional analysis
No full textHigh levels of academic stress have been studied to be associated with gastrointestinal complications such as functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). As such, this study aims to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by De La Salle University-Manila College of Science undergraduate students and determine the relationship of these symptoms to academic stress. The study was carried out via a cross-sectional study design, making use of an online survey questionnaire that utilized the Perceived Stress Scale (α = 0.843236) and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (α = 0.832731). Following normal data distribution, descriptive statistics and parametric tests— including Pearson correlation test, t-test, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)—were performed via Excel and Statistica. 156 students participated in the study, with the majority comprising of females (N = 96, 61.54%), ID 121 students (N = 77, 49.36%), and students from the Department of Biology (N = 98, 62.82%), mostly Medical Biology students (N = 63, 40.38%). While little correlation was observed between age and perceived stress, females were found to have significantly higher perceived stress levels (M ± SD = 17.1875 ± 4.4256) than males (p = 0.0085), possibly due to biological and hormonal differences. PSS scores across departments did not statistically differ, but there was a significant difference between the stress levels of ID 119 and ID 122 (p = 0.017326), suggesting differences in academic load and internal factors. Between the two stress groups present, the moderate stress group (N = 113, M ± SD = 3.652802 ± 1.239875) scored significantly higher, which explains the more severe gastrointestinal health outcomes among those with higher stress. There is also a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.418) between perceived stress and gastrointestinal symptoms, wherein stressors like stressful academic weeks and study workload are seen to induce academic stress. Gastrointestinal disorders such as GERD, gastroenteritis, amoebiasis, and gastritis, and symptoms such as abdominal pain, indigestion, and reflux are also reported as prevalent among the students. It is recommended for future studies to target a larger sample size, consider data collection timing, and include questions that specify the academic stressors
A preliminary plant diversity assessment and ethnobotanical survey in post-lahar landscapes of La Salle Botanical Gardens, Porac, Pampanga
No full textBotanical gardens are increasingly recognized for their important role in biodiversity research, serving as valuable resources for understanding plant diversity and ecosystem dynamics. However, their potential contribution to ecological succession and restoration remains largely underexplored. Hence, the researchers aimed to conduct a plant species survey, describe the changes in plant species diversity, and determine the ethnobotanical uses of plant species across five different sites located in the La Salle Botanical Gardens in Porac, Pampanga. Surveys were conducted using a 25-meter transect, which included five 1×1 m2 quadrats per study site, across two visits in June and September 2024. Through this process, 21 morphospecies were documented. Paspalum conjugatum was recognized as the dominant species in terms of both density and cover, while Trifolium repens was the least abundant overall. The species were categorized as native or introduced, and the survey identified eleven native species and ten introduced species, with no endemics present. Notably, no single species occurred across all sites, highlighting distinct ecological preferences and exclusivity within the plant community. The Shannon Diversity Index was used to evaluate biodiversity across five study sites over two visits. The species diversity index ranged from 0.73 to 1.96 across the different habitats. However, the species diversity index was highest in the shaded area near the nursery garden, with an index of 1.96 during the first visit, and lowest in the trail, with a 0.73 index during the second visit. Additionally, the Jaccard Similarity Index was used to assess how similar different habitats are to each other. The open, sloped grassland was notably similar to both the trail (0.333) and the shaded area near the nursery garden (0.304). The abandoned rice field also showed moderate similarity to the shaded area near the nursery garden (0.318). In contrast, the shaded area with secondary trees had very low similarity (0.056 to 0.136) with all other habitats. Furthermore, the ethnobotanical study found traditional applications for the identified plant species, such as medicinal uses, industrial uses, livestock feed, and cultural practices. More than half of the plant species were reported by the local Aeta to have traditional uses, highlighting their continued cultural relevance and functional importance. Overall, this highlights the essential role of botanical gardens in conserving biodiversity and providing a platform for community-led research, which fosters learning and awareness about ecological relationships
Isolation and identification of culturable lactic acid bacteria from gut microbiota of cultured milkfish (Chanos chanos) in brackish water
No full textMilkfish (Chanos chanos) holds a vital role in Philippine aquaculture, contributing significantly to the nation\u27s food security and economic prosperity. This study aimed to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the gut microbiota of cultured milkfish in brackish water using comprehensive characterization methods. Five milkfish samples were utilized for the initial isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria present in the fish’s gut microbiome. Thirteen bacterial isolates underwent morphological, biochemical, and molecular analysis. Morphological examination revealed all isolates to be Gram-positive, cocci-shaped, and non-spore-forming, consistent with Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). Biochemical testing further aligned most isolates with Enterococcus species, exhibiting catalase-negative reactions, positive Methyl Red and Voges-Proskauer tests and negative indole and Citrate tests. In addition to biochemical testing, most isolates possessed proteolytic activity, a trait known in Enterococcus species. Molecular identification through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and BLAST analysis confirmed a strong predominance of Enterococcus species where 8 out of 13 isolates suggesting a lactic acid bacteria. Identified species included E. faecium, E. durans, and E. lactis, valued for their adaptability, tolerance to bile salts and low pH, adherence, and antimicrobial production, making them suitable lactic acid bacteria (LAB) candidates for enhanced growth and disease resistance. Two isolates also resembled uncultured bacteria, highlighting unexplored gut diversity. This approach provides strong evidence for the identification of these Enterococcus strains as LAB, suggesting their valuable application in sustainable aquaculture practices
MicroRNA 21 (miR-21) expression in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) among Filipinos
No full textIn the Philippines, lung cancer is one of the top causes of cancer-related deaths. This is worsened by the continuous incidence of resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). MicroRNA-21 (miR-21), because of its role in invasion, metastasis, and chemoresistance, is a good candidate for targeted therapy. This study seeks to determine the expression of miR-21 in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) among Filipinos. Five (5) formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary lung tumor tissue samples and 5 FFPE nonneoplastic lung tissue samples were retrieved from Tondo Medical Center\u27s Department of Pathology and Laboratory. RNA was isolated and purified, which was then subjected to reverse transcription. The resulting complementary DNA (cDNA) was analyzed through quantitative PCR using miR-21 primers. The CT values were used as a basis to determine if an amplification occurred. Expression of miR-21 between NSCLC and nonneoplastic lung tissues was compared. All nonneoplastic lung tissues were diagnosed with chronic granulomatous inflammation. Two of five nonneoplastic lung tissues expressed miR-21, which both had extensive fibrosis. Age ranges from 15 to 48 years with female predominance. Two of five NSCLC tissues similarly expressed miR-21, one of which demonstrated squamous cell carcinoma with vascular invasion. This also had the lowest CT value (suggesting highest expression) across all nonneoplastic and NSCLC tissues. The other one was diagnosed as invasive lung adenocarcinoma. Upon microscopic review, the remaining three without miR-21 expression had very minute foci of tumor cells that may have contributed to this qRT-PCR outcome. Age ranges of patients with NSCLC were 64 to 72 years with male predominance. The high expression of miR-21 in the squamous cell carcinoma with vascular invasion is consistent with the association of miR-21 to tumor aggressiveness and lymphatic metastases. The results can provide the groundwork for future studies further investigating the potential miRNA-21 features as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent in assessing non-small cell lung carcinoma. Thus, a prospective multi-centered study with a larger cohort is warranted
First report of the apoptotic-inducing properties of alpinia elegans (C.presl) K.Schum (Tagbak) leaves and pseudostems on an HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line
No full textColorectal cancer is ranked third among all malignancies nationally and world-wide. Current treatments are expensive, have toxic side effects, yet fail to guarantee a cure. Thus, there is an imminent need for therapeutic alternatives that offer comparable levels of efficacy while keeping the poorest populations of the Philippines in mind. Alpinia elegans (C.Presl) K.Schum, or “tagbak”, is a well-known indigenous plant because of its deep folkloric profile. However, the medicinal properties it is heralded for, like anti-pneumonic and cytotoxicity effects, have yet to be validated. This study aims to corroborate the cytotoxicity claims by investigating the pro-apoptotic effect of A. elegans leaves and pseudostems crude extract towards an HT-29 colorectal cancer cell culture. The workflow involved the procurement of A. elegans samples, obtaining the crude extract and phytochemical profile, a PrestoBlue, and Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide analysis. Secondary metabolites present in both leaves and pseudostem are triterpenes, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, and tannins. However, sterols were only present in leaves and flavonoids were only observed in the pseudostems. This difference is suspected to contribute to findings of this study where the leaves scored an IC50 of 0.0766 ppm (R2 = 0.01497) and experienced a peak in apoptotic rate at 24 hours (95.49%), significantly higher than all other experimental groups, but decreased with time. The pseudostems scored an IC50 of 73.49 ppm (R2 = 0.9513) and peaked in apoptosis at 48 hours (77.81%) after a significant increase from 24 hours. The low R2 value of the leaves present confounding results, which may be because of enzymes and other cellular debris present in a crude extract. These entities may have modified the reduction of resazurin increasing fluorescence. Nonetheless, the dual staining technique revealed crucial similarities and differences in their possible mode of action. Both leaves and pseudostems successfully created significant apoptotic rates in comparison to the negative controls (p value \u3c 0.0001), but the leaves experienced a decrease in potency, while the pseudostems increased with time. The difference in secondary metabolite profile provides a possible basis to these temporal differences. While the sterols present in leaves prefer intrinsic and extrinsic pathways that may plateau with time, flavonoids present in pseudostems utilize gene expression regulation that needs more time before exhibiting its highest apoptotic potential. However, future research must be conducted to confidently determine the reasons behind their pro-apoptotic potential and the mechanisms of action each phytochemical A. elegans possess
Trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms among human rights defenders in the Philippines: The moderating role of coping flexibility and perceived social support
No full textPromoting and protecting human rights through the collective efforts of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) requires a prompt and coordinated response to human rights violations. HRDs provide legal, medical, or psychological assistance to the victim-survivors, and may also handle evidence directly. Due to the sensitive and high-risk nature of these tasks, HRDs are often exposed to potentially traumatic events (EPTEs), which have been linked to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Guided by the Conservation of Resources Theory (COR), this study examined whether the HRDs’ personal and social resources, such as Coping Flexibility (CF) and Perceived Social Support (PSS), buffer the relationship between EPTEs and PTSD symptoms. Participants were recruited through formal invitations and conducting social media inquiries to their respective organizations. Using hierarchical multiple regression and after controlling for their previous psychological interventions, the analysis showed that none of the proposed moderators buffered between EPTEs and PTSD symptoms. These findings highlight that resource-based interventions may require more tailored approaches to effectively mitigate PTSD symptoms among Filipino HRDs.
Keywords: human rights defenders, PTSD, coping flexibility, perceived social support, trauma exposure, perceived organizational suppor
Understanding dietary patterns through stability-based validation using cluster and network analysis
No full textUnderstanding dietary patterns is crucial in explaining the widespread problem of triple-burden malnutrition. Common approaches include cluster and network analysis of food intake to identify dietary patterns by grouping food consumption. The framework developed in this study clustered food consumption determined through DNA trnL metabarcoding of plant taxa from collected 1,001 stool samples. Both approaches are utilized as a clustering solution to determine the most stable cluster through stability-based validation. Results indicate that the Leiden algorithm formed the most stable cluster with 3 group diets having different dietary patterns. Profiling done showed that participants of all group diets are at risk for obesity and are vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies, while undernutrition was not evident in any of the groups. These findings can guide future research and the community to improve diets, lifestyles, and overall health, as well as lessen the impact of triple-burden malnutrition