“Non-see Binay”

(c) When In Manila

8 May 125 Permalink

THE UNSUNG FILIPINA WHO CURED HIV


Time Magazine’s 2013 listing of the 100 most influential people in the world included two Filipinos: President Benigno Aquino and Dr. Katherine Luzuriaga, a pediatric immunologist from the University of Massachusetts.

And yet, despite the groundbreaking impact of her work, she remains largely unacknowledged in her own country.

Luzuriaga —whose father is Filipino and who still does, in fact, speak Filipino— was part of an all-woman medical team acknowledged for the first cure of a baby with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS.

The cured baby was born in Mississippi more than two years ago to a mother who had HIV but was not diagnosed until she had gone into labor. The mother apparently did not have prenatal care because if she did, she would have been diagnosed early and given three drugs to prevent the fetus from being infected. 

In this case, the child was first given the drugs 30 hours after she was born. Right before being given the medicines, the baby was tested for HIV, the results of which came back positive. Within the first month of therapy, tests could no longer find the virus. However, doctors kept the child on the drugs, standard practice in the United States and developed countries because of the possibility of reservoirs or “hideouts” for the virus that allow it to continue to replicate.

With time though, the mother began to become irregular with her hospital visits for her child. When the child was brought in for a check-up around the age of two, the mother admitted that the child had missing out on the drugs. Yet when tests were conducted, the child’s HIV levels still remained undetectable, which means a “functional cure”.

Luzuriaga herself explains the breakthrough in a brief interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LtskyZ5lO4w

The other two members of the team, Dr. Hannah Gay of the University of Mississippi and Dr. Deborah Persaud, a virologist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, were also included in Time’s 100.

The child’s cure brings hopes into the rather bleak AIDS research front. HIV is a retrovirus and several anti-retroviral drugs have been developed over the last few years but these only slow down the replication of the virus. It does not cure AIDS and the expensive treatment has to be maintained for a lifetime. Efforts to develop a vaccine have been unsuccessful, the latest trial just halted this week after researchers reported the vaccine did not seem to be making a difference, and might even have led to an increase in the risk of infection.

Luzuriaga and her colleagues presented their case report at a conference last March, cautiously pointing out that while this cure is unprecedented, it is only one case. It does, however, suggest that early and aggressive treatment of pediatric AIDS could result in a cure, without children having to take the drugs for the rest of their life. Pediatric AIDS is still a major problem, with some 300,000 new infections each year in the world.

What struck me was that the local press initially only picked up on the president’s making it to the list. After the Time awards ceremony on April 23, there has been some, but, I feel, not enough, mention of Luzuriaga, who is acknowledged as one of the experts in the field of pediatric AIDS. She is also professor of pediatrics and molecular medicine at the University of Massachusetts, and directs the university’s Center for Clinical and Translational Medicine. (If you’re wondering, translational medicine involves linking research to actual applications in clinical practice.)

Even more importantly, the work of Luzuriaga and her two colleagues once again emphasize the contributions of women scientists, and how they remain all too invisible..

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/305872/scitech/science/sense-and-science-the-unsung-filipina-who-cured-hiv

2 May 186 Permalink

Source: matabangutak

26 April 401 Permalink

For future reference.

http://www.gov.ph/2013/04/25/infographic-list-of-nationwide-holidays-2013/

January 1, 2013 – New Year’s Day (Regular Holiday)
February 25, 2013 – EDSA Revolution anniversary (Holiday for all schools)
March 28, 2013 – Maundy Thursday (Regular Holiday)
March 29, 2013 – Good Friday (Regular Holiday)
March 30, 2013 – Black Saturday (Special non-working day)
April 9, 2013 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Regular Holiday)
May 1, 2013 – Labor Day (Regular Holiday)
May 13, 2013 – Election day (Special public non-working holiday)[2]
June 12, 2013 – Independence Day (Regular Holiday)
August 21, 2013 – Ninoy Aquino Day (Special non-working day)
August 26, 2013 – National Heroes Day (Regular Holiday)
November 1, 2013 – All Saints Day (Special non-working day)
November 2, 2013 – Additional special (non-working) day
November 30, 2013 – Bonifacio Day (Regular Holiday)
December 24, 2013  - Additional special (non-working) day
December 25, 2013 – Christmas Day (Regular Holiday)
December 30, 2013 – Rizal Day (Regular Holiday)
December 31, 2013 – Last day of the year (Special non-working day)

25 April 165 Permalink

Winner! I’m happy na makakita ng mga ganitong simpleng bagay :D Regram from Miss Karen Davila. Level up na level up si Kuya!

“Level Up! Tricycle driver plays games/Facebook on his tablet habang walang pasahero!”

2 April 113 Permalink

Im living a wonderful life. #isaw #pinoy #streetfood #daminghashtag

2 February 121 Permalink

Fed up of being tagged looking terrible? Check out our tips for mastering the perfect pose and start looking your best in every shot.

1. Look to your right

A US study conducted by Wake Forest University has revealed that the left side of the face is more attractive than the right, apparently due to the fact that this side of the face shows more emotion. To capture the perfect profile picture, look slightly to the right to reveal your “best” side. This can also help to give the illusion of a slimmer face for those with rounder faces.

2. Choose your makeup carefully

For the perfect photo-ready appearance, make sure you avoid light reflective or mineral foundations containing high amounts of titanium dioxide (a reflective pigment). Although these foundations are great for an everyday luminous look, the flash of a camera can quickly transform your dewy complexion to a ghostly white one as the white light reflects back from the camera. Once you have applied a suitable foundation, finish your look with some face powder to help eliminate shine.

3. Accentuate your best features

To look your sparkling best in photos, make sure you emphasize your favorite features to make them the standout feature in your snapshot. Try playing up your eyes with some eyeliner or false lashes. Alternatively, perk up your pout with some bright lipstick. Also, make the most of your best body features with an outfit that complements your shape and coloring.

4. Look away from the lens

Nobody wants glaring red or half-shut eyes ruining an otherwise great photo, so make sure you avoid this by focusing your eyes just slightly above or below the lens. Looking directly at the lens causes light to flash off the retina, leading to the red eye effect. Looking slightly away from the camera will also reduce the risk of those mid-blink shots.

5. Avoid ‘red eye’ shots

As ‘red eye’ in photographs is caused by light reflecting off the back of the eye, those with large pupils are more likely to suffer from this pesky problem. If averting your gaze from the camera is not doing the trick, another tip for alleviating the red eye effect is to make sure photos are taken in well lit environment or to look at a bright light just prior to the photograph being taken to make your pupils smaller.

6. Banish the double chin

There’s nothing worse than spotting a picture of yourself sporting a double chin where you previously only had one, yet sadly this happens to the best of us. To avoid the appearance of a double chin in photographs, make sure that the camera is just above or at your eye level. Also, try tilting your head up and jutting your jaw out slightly – you may want to practice this one first in the mirror to stay looking natural!

7. Avoid direct light

It may not always be possible to control the lighting for your photographs and, unless you happen to be a professional model, you most likely won’t have someone on hand to make sure it’s just right. However, it is worth bearing in mind that direct light from above can cast shadows on your face and accentuate the appearance of under-eye shadows. Opt for areas with softer lighting or head to the shade if outdoors.

8. Pose like a pro

If you’re posing for a full body shot, try the classic celeb pose of turning your body three quarters of the way towards the camera, with one shoulder closer to the camera and one foot in front of the other. This will make you body appear slimmer than if you were facing the camera face on. Try keeping your back straight with your shoulders back and your stomach in (just try not to suck it in too much, you won’t be fooling anyone!).

10. Master the perfect smile

Many of us focus on our mouths when smiling; however, in the words of supermodel Tyra Banks, it’s all about the “smeyes” (smiling with your eyes). Rather than forcing a grin, think about something that makes you happy for a more natural smile. You may also want to perfect your personal smile to work with your features. For instance, a beaming smile works great for those with good teeth, while a more relaxed half smile will make small eyes appear larger and lips appear fuller.

11. Practice your pose

If you’re really keen to capture the perfect photo, the best thing you can do is practice beforehand. Experiment with different face and body angles, smiles and facial expressions to find what works for you, either in front of the mirror or with your own camera. Once you have discovered which looks you like best, you are ready to unleash them at every photo opportunity, making sure you look perfect each time. Read more at www.realbuzz.com.

28 January 129 Permalink