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Potential antioxidant and protective effect of the crude methalonic Syzygium aromaticum bud extract to cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male mice (Mus musculus).
No full textThe present study aims to evaluate the effects of cadmium toxicity in the liver and the efficiency of crude methanolic Syzygium aromaticum bud extracts in alleviating liver damage. Cadmium is a heavy metal that mainly targets the liver upon exposure. Though the exact mechanism of toxicity is still unclear, cadmium is believed to induce the formation of reactive oxygen species which binds to cellular lipids and causes lipid peroxidation. S. aromaticum is reported to have relatively high concentrations of antioxidants which combat reactive oxygen species and subsequently inhibit oxidative damage. Twenty-four adult male mice of BALB/c strain were grouped into four treatment groups. Group I was given only rat chow and water. Group II was treated only with S. aromaticum bud extracts. Group III was treated only with cadmium acetate. Group IV was pretreated with crude methanolic S. aromaticum bud extracts before administration of cadmium acetate. Mice were sacrificed after 30 days and livers were excised. Livers were subjected to histopathological analysis and TBARS assay. Livers in all treatment groups show inflammatory activity. HAI scores among livers indicate no significant difference. The Cd acetate treated group had the highest malondialdehyde concentrations while the control and clove bud extract treated groups were relatively similar in their malondialdehyde concentrations. There is a significant difference between the treatment groups in terms of lipid peroxidation. These findings suggest that the natural antioxidants in clove can offer possible protective effects against Cd-toxicity. However, the histopathological findings did not show the same protective effects in terms of hepatic morphology
Evaluation of short-term memory in monosodium glutamate-fed fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) using adverse phototaxic suppression.
No full textAversive phototaxic suppression (APS) is a behavioral assay in which fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) are repeatedly trained to avoid light by associating it with an aversive stimulus (quinine). In this study, the assay was used to test the effect of increasing food medium concentration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on short-term memory (STM) formation in adult flies. To assess potential MSG impact on STM retention as well, three extension protocols were evaluated based on their capacity to measure one-hour memory performance. Results indicate that MSG adversely affected STM in a dosedependent manner, and its formation (at threshold dose between 0.5 mM and 5 mM) was more hampered than its retention (at threshold dose between 5 mM and 50 mM). The negative effect of the compound in Drosophila cognition observably occurs only upon reaching minimum effective concentration levels, suggesting that such disruption may be avoided through MSG intake dose regulation
Effect of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinale) on the memory and hippocampal neuronal count of cigartte smoke-exposed mice (Mus musculus).
No full textSecondhand smoke from cigarettes contains reactive oxygen species which can cause oxidative stress when inhaled. Dietary enrichment with antioxidants can help mitigate oxidative stress, thereby reducing brain damage and probably improving cognitive function. In the present study, the neuroprotective effect of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinale) against oxidative stress caused by cigarette smoking was tested. The test subjects were divided into four groups and were treated as follows: Group 1 and Group 2 mice were not given any supplementation; Group 3 mice were supplemented with 0.25 g vitamin C per kg body weight and Group 4 mice were supplemented with 0.1 g ginger extract per kg body weight. All mice except Group 1 were then exposed to cigarette smoke in an improvised smoke chamber for 15 minutes per day for a period of 10 days. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was administered to test mice before supplementation, during supplementation and after smoke exposure to assess memory-related skills. The density of neurons in the hippocampus was measured histologically via a modified planimetric method. Linear regression analysis was used to test if there is a relationship between cognitive ability and neuron density. Results indicate that the ginger extract has no apparent memory enhancing ability. Both the ginger extract and vitamin C did not show any ability to increase neuron density. Linear regression analysis of the Group 2 mice revealed that cognitive ability and neuron density have a negative correlation. These results may be attributed to the selective property of the blood brain barrier and the adequate defenses of the brain against inhaled contaminants on normal test subjects. However, the mitigating effects of dietary ginger may be more apparent in test animals subjected to invasive procedures than in intact individuals. The implications of the findings with regard to the disruption of synaptic connections due to cigarette smoke exposure during cognitive development are discussed
Medical tourism in Philippine healthcare.
No full textThe continuously increasing medical costs in the global north have pushed differents countries into promoting medical tourism. The Philippine Government has acknowledged the brimming potential of this industry and, through the collaboration of private and public sectors, has launched the Philippine Medical Tourism Program. Nevertheless, the negative and positive effects of Medical Tourism to Philippine healthcare are yet to be seen. This paper presents the history and current condition of medical tourism in the global context and applies it to the Philippine situation. This research work also peeks into the positive and negative effects brought about by medical tourism in different private hospitals. This paper also looks into how the general public perceives medical tourism. Lastly, this paper put forward several recommendations to guarantee that the success of medical tourism will not be at the expense of the Philippine public health system
A Comparative study on the social skills of adolescents and young adults with separated and non-separated parents.
No full textThis study aimed to identify the level of social skills of adolescents and young adults with separated and/or non-separated parents, and determine whether the separation or unity (non-separation) of parents yields a low or high level of social skills of the respondents. Also, the study aimed to determine a relationship between the length of the separation of parents and the study habits and financial handling of the respondents. The sample for the study are adolescents and young adults, ages 12 to 24, residing in Metro Manila. The research utilized a survey questionnaire which consisted of three sections: a socio-demographic profile, a scale which measures the social skills of respondents (group skills, communication skills and emotional skills), and questions that will assess the study habits and financial handling of the respondents. The results revealed that based on the 119 sample, respondents who grew up with non-separated parents possessed a higher level of grouping, communication, and emotional skills than those who grew up with separated parents. Results regarding the study habits and financial handling of the respondents correlated to the length of separation of parents revealed that respondents whose parents are separated tend to study more frequently and spend more (for leisure); while respondents who grew up from parents living together or have separated in a lesser time tend to review more, maintain a to-do-list, have better organization when studying and spend less (for food, transportation and school supplies)
Chronic sorrow and coping mechanisms of parents of children with cerebral palsy and parents of children with Tourette syndrome
No full textThe study tackled on the nature of chronic sorrow among parents of children with cerebral palsy and Tourette syndrome. Chronic sorrow is believed to be a natural response to the unexpected "loss" of having a normal child that includes related feelings of grief such as sadness, anxieties, anger and mourning. Cerebral palsy and Tourette syndrome were the chosen cases of children because of its pervasive and crippling nature.
The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences of the parents and to understand how they cope with the condition of their children. Another aim was to find out the comparison between the levels of chronic sorrow and to determine gender differences in terms of their coping mechanisms within and across groupings. Finally, correlation of certain socio-demographic variables in accordance with the level of chronic sorrow and management of coping mechanisms among them was also examined in the study.
Mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative approaches were applied. Survey questionnaires were administered to 32 participants and interviews were conducted to 11 more participants using purposive sampling. The surveys were administered in order to measure the degree of chronic sorrow and to analyse their ways of coping. Interviews were carried out so as to explore and to come up with a more comprehensive understanding of their personal experiences.
Measures of statistical tests showed that within and across groupings, the levels of chronic sorrow and management of coping mechanisms among parents had no significant differences. But it was found out that the manifestation of feelings of sorrow towards the condition of their children was more persistent and prolonged among fathers as compared to mothers. Findings also revealed several sources of stressors that caused parents to endure more lasting chronic sorrow such as financial incapacity, lack of information about the nature of the disability, reactions of other people that form stigmatization and discrimination, and apparent problems encountered in the developmental milestones of their children.
The study also presented an explanation on the ways on how parents manage to adjust and adapt to their children’s condition. Results indicated the importance of support systems and networks from families and other relatives, friends, and other institutions that aided assistance on the health management and intervention and other needs of their children with special condition.
Given with the results of statistics and findings from direct personal accounts of the parents, it shows the importance of voicing out their feelings and emotions by recognizing their remarkable efforts of living with the challenges and hardships of caring for their children with cerebral palsy and those with Tourette syndrome. By conducting this study, it could help raise awareness and call for advocacy not only for children with cerebral palsy and those with Tourette syndrome but for all people with special cases and needs; most especially, children
May ginhawa ba sa paglaya? : a phenomenological study of post-imprisonment coping mechanisms of former female prisoners.
No full textThis study aimed to explore and describe the coping mechanisms of former female prisoners on family-related and on community-related problems they encountered after release from imprisonment. Former female prisoners were the informants in this study who were sentenced for not less than 3 years and who were released from prison for not less than 6 months. The sampling strategy used for this study was snowball or chain sampling, where informants were collected through asking for contacts from previous informants or institutions, while the chain of contacts continued. The sample size acquired for this study was 14 informants. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews. Inductive data analysis procedures with support from certain theories were utilized. Themes were constructed from the answers given by the informants. The results attained from the analysis categorized post-imprisonment family problems into six themes, namely: financial and health problems, being an adjusting beginner, feeling conscious and shy, death or loss of family members, marriage or leaving of their children, and distant relationship with their children; and the post-imprisonment community problems into four themes, specifically: being ridiculed by neighbors, labeling and judgment from others, feeling conscious and shy, and fear and pressure on self. The coping mechanisms from family-related problems were through repression, anger, intellectualization, positive thinking, crying, spirituality, productively distracting oneself, serving and adjusting oneself for the family, and self-motivation. Lastly, for the community-related coping, they were avoidance, humor, spirituality, intellectualization, productively distracting oneself, motivating oneself, giving love, and disproving misconceptions
Analyzing decision making: how top-level managers select a solution to a job headhunting or piracy offer.
No full textDecision makers in organizations, specifically top-level managers, created decisions that caused crisis in organizations because of the complexity involved in decision making. Individual decision making starts internally and research showed that intrapersonal processes can lead to understanding of interpersonal and organizational behaviours. Company transfers through job headhunting by top-level managers interviewed were internally deliberated well since their career and future were at stake. Hence, the phenomenon was used to understand how top-level managers choose a solution to the job offer.
The purpose of the study was to describe how top-level managers decide for a job headhunt offer. The selecting a solution stage of the rational model and the three concepts in the bounded rationality model, which were: bounded rationality, judgmental heuristics, and satisficing, were used to describe the decision making process. The research was of qualitative nature, used the case study approach through semi-structured interview. The interview questions were guided by the research objectives and the definition of the concepts in the bounded rationality model.
Results showed that the decision making process in selecting a solution for a job headhunt offer started with the top-level managers’ judgmental heuristics as their basis for comparison for the offers. The bounded rationality used was the criteria in selecting a solution. The following bounded rationality was used by top-level managers: intrapersonal or environmental constraints, quality and quantity of information and significance of the decision, monetary considerations and organizational environment. Lastly, top-level managers satisfice by choosing to accept the offer since it is better than the past situation. However, accepting the offer was not necessarily the best decision
A critical analysis of the socio-Economic condition of informal sector vendors in the selected flea markets in Greenhills, San Juan and Divisoria, Manila.
No full textThe Filipinos have a unique way of using the term tiangge to refer to what is known as the flea markets or bazaars. A tiangge is a place where a pool of sellers creates makeshift stalls and vends a wide variety of goods at a low price. This type of micro-enterprise is common in the Philippines and is chosen by most Filipino petty traders because of the ease of entry, minimal capital requirements, and source of income for everyday living.
Through changing times and changing market conditions, flea markets continue to proliferate and vendors in this industry keep on growing in number as a result of displacement and unemployment. Vendors in the flea market belong to the so-called informal sector where there is adversity in working conditions, social protection, and regular income, which are key ingredients of a decent work; yet, this sector has catered to the needs of the poor by providing income opportunities that the formal sector otherwise could not provide. The informal sector is both a boon and a bane to the poor. Despite the growing visibility of the informal sector and the increasing number of vendors under this type of economy, the government has done minimal actions in order to provide the necessary assistance and solution for the people under this sector.
This research looks at the social and economic condition of flea market vendors and how they work with great effort in order to make it through the day and sustain their needs for survival. Also, this research has recognized that while the informal sector has been a widespread topic of interest and discussion in the field of social sciences, there have been few resolutions and policies have rarely been lobbied, especially for the welfare of those involved in this sector
Global realities of organ transplant tourism: a case study of kidney trade in Kasiglahan Village I, Rodriguez, Rizal.
No full textand can be bought with the right amount of money, the kidney organ is no exception. Because of the organ shortage, compensating donors for their organ was seen as the solution for the inadequacy. Cases of kidney trade are no longer a hidden fact. The problem and issues of commercializing kidney is now recognized worldwide. Organ transplant tourism is one of the manners where the trade of organs is perpetuated. A pattern that can be observed is that vendors of kidney organ are usually poor people from Third World Countries while patients are from rich countries. The researcher was able to collect information that will support this claim. The kidney trade has flourished in many parts of the world and many people engaged in this lucrative business. In the Philippines, many public and private institutions and even syndicates have been collaborating to recruit donors from impoverished communities and remote areas in different provinces in the country. The researcher studied the experiences and the conditions of past kidney donors/ sellers in one of the kidney zones in the Philippines- Kasiglahan Village I in Rodriguez, Rizal