SHOPPING | H&M Sale from February to March 2020

Heads up, H&M shoppers! Your favorite clothing store is now on sale. This started last February 20. 

Promo Period: February 20- March 15, 2020
Applicable to all H&M stores nationwide

Are you ready to go shopping? Ready, SALE, Go! #HMSale

SALE | Saucony Shoe Sale this February 22-29, 2020!

Saucony Shoe Sale
Promo Period: February 22-29, 2020

Check out Saucony’s top shoe models in 2020 Pantone (Color of the Year). Shop for up to 50% off until Feb. 29!

Chooose from a variety of Saucony shoes now on sale: from the cult runnning fave Kinvara to the top stability choice Guide to the plush and cushioned Triumph. 

Get awesome deals on these Saucony shoes and more through its Saucony stores in Ayala lls Manila Bay, Glorietta 3, and Trinoma. Visit Saucony online at www.saucony.com.ph.

FOOD | Jollibee's Buko Pie is Back!

Guess what? Your all-time favorite Jollibee Buko Pie is back! Yes, you are hearing that right!

Jollibee’s Buko Pie with sweet-creamy filling and real buko chunks is back for a limited time! Get yours at the nearest Jollibee restaurant and be delighted with every bite! Only P30 per piece. #JollibeeBukoPie #RealBukoDelight

HEALTH | Ano ang 2019 Novel Coronavirus at COVID-19?

Madalas itong lumalabas sa news nitong mga nakaraang linggo. Laman ng mga bakita na may novel o bagong coronavirus na nagsimulang kumalat sa Wuhan (sentro ng outbreak o sakuna) at iba pang probinsya ng China ngayon na nakikita na din sa iba't ibang parte ng mundo. 

Minsan na din itong naging source ng panic dito sa Pilipinas dahil sa kakulangan natin ng kaalaman tungkol dito. Sabi nga nila, we fear the unknown. Marami tayong katanungan na hindi pa masagot-sagot dahil mas binibigyang-importansya ngayon ng gobyerno ng China na mahanap yung mga may sakit nang sa ganoon ay maalagaan at mabantayan sila  asagad. Ang suliraning ito ay mas mahirap sagutin kumpara sa tanong na "bakit niya ako iniwan?"

Pero ano nga ba ito at ano ang naidudulot nito? Ang 2019 novel coronavirus o 2019-nCoV ay isang bagong uri ng coronavirus. Ang coronavirus ay isa sa mga mikrobyong dahilan kung bakit tayo nagkaka-sipon. ng

Ang pinagkaiba lang ng 2019 nCoV sa mga coronavirus na karaniwang nagdudulot ng sakit sa atin ay hindi pa natin masyadong natutukoy o nalalaman kung papaano ito gumagalaw o umatake sa katawan dahil nga bago ito.

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia

Ang alam lang natin ay nakakapagdulot ito ng iba't ibang sintomas na may kinalaman sa baga o lungs natin gaya ng ubo, hirap sa paghinga, tsaka lagnat. Dahil sa mga sintomas na ito, ang nakikitang epekto nito'y para kang may pulmonya o pneumonia. Ang opisyal na tawag sa sakit na ito ay COVID-19 o coronary virus disease. 19 kasi nitong December 2019 nadiskubre ang sakit na ito.

So, 2019-nCoV ang nagdudulot ng sakit na COVID-19. Okay? Malinaw na?

Karamihan sa natatamaan ng sakit na COVID-19, batay sa current data na mayroon ang China at ang World Health Organization, ay nakakaranas ng mild symptoms (ubo, lagnat na kusang nawawala) lang kung kaya't napapauwi sila matapos maadmit sa hospital ng maraming araw. 

Sa ngayon, nasa 2% ng mga nagkaka-COVID-19 (o dalawa kada 100 taong may COVID-19) ang namamatay sa Wuhan, kung kaya't yung mga taong may sintomas na binanggit sa itaas na nanggaling ng China (hindi lang sa Wuhan ha, pati na rin sa Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong) ay kailangang matingnan ng doktor. Mas magandang maaga silang magpakonsulta para maagang malaman kung positibo ba sila sa 2019-nCoV o COVID-19 virus at mas tumaas yung chance na maagapan yung paglala ng pulmonya ng mga ito. Early detection is key. Karamihan sa mga namamatay ay mga matatanda (elderly) o di kaya'y may kasamang iba pang pangmatagalang sakit (sakit sa puso, immunocompromised).

Pero papaano nga ba natin maiiwasan ang pag-laganap ng virus na ito? Paano ba maiiwasan ang hawaan? Basahin ang mga payo sa ibaba. 

Image Courtesy: DOH

Please, wag na wag niyong kalilimutang maghugas lagi ng kamay. Ito ang pinaka-importanteng advice na dapat sundin. Sa paggamit ng sabon at tubig sa paghahand wash, mas mapapanatiling malinis ang ating mga kamay na siyang pangunahing parte ng katawan na ginagamit natin sa araw-araw na gawain.

Image Courtesy: DOH

Maraming nagtatanong kung kailangan nga ba nating magsuot ng face mask. Ang mga sumusunod lamang ang higit na nangangailangan ng face mask. Pakitingnan po ang susunod na infographics.

Ginagamit ito ng mga pasyenteng positibo sa nCoV para hindi sila makahawa sa mga kamag-anak nila o sa mga mag-aalagang nurse, doctor, at staff. Proteksyon din ito ng mgo doktor at mga kamag-anak ng mga pasyenteng may COVID-19 para di sila mahawa, Tandaan na maaring makahawa ang pasyenteng may COVID-19 sa  pamamagitan ng pag-ubo within 6 feet. Kung malayo ka naman sa kanya all the time at hindi ka laging exposed ay ibigay na lamang ang face masks sa mga kamag-anak niyang nagbabantay.

Iwasan nating maghoard ng face masks dahil kawawa iyong mga pasyente, kamag-anak nila, at mga doktor, nurse at iba pang nagtratrabaho sa loob ng ospital. Sa kasalukuyan, wala pang naitalang bagong kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa. Sa tatlong nagpositibo nitong nakaraang buwan, isa ang namatay at dalawa ay na-discharge na.

Image Courtesy: DOH

Ngayon, kung isa ka sa mga dapat magsuot ng face mask, heto ang mga tips kung papaano ang tamang pagsuot ng surgical face mask.

Image Courtesy: DOH

Makakatulong din na ugaliin ang proper cough etiquette nang sa gayon ay makaiwas din tayo sa paghawa ng ubo o sipon sa mga kasama natin sa bahay o sa trabaho.

Image Courtesy: DOH

Kung may mga katanungan, maaari po lamang ay magcomment kayo sa ibaba o i-message ako sa Facebook. Sana'y nakatulong ito kahit papaano. Salamat po. 

MED | PLE Pharmacology Review - Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Drugs Mnemonics

So as I was studying for the 2019 Physician Licensure Examination or PLE, I made it a point to make drafts of some of the things I learned that I can immediately recall from the notes and tables I got during my review period.

Writing this here somehow enabled me to at least aggregate what I know and identify the weak areas that I still need to be familiar with to better prepare myself for the Pharmacology part of the PLE. Please take note that I was just an average performing student in school, but at this moment, I tried to catch up on the lessons and at the same time, aimed to be helpful to others given the limited knowledge and resources that I have.

Today's topic is about drugs used in congestive heart failure (CHF).

Side note:

• Left-sided heart failure will usually present with orthopnea, pulmonary congestion and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
• Right-sided heart failure will come with symptoms of bipedal edema, neck vein engorgement, and hepatomegaly.

Some points to remember:

• Because the heart is failing, cardiac output is decreased relative to the requirement of the body.
• So the goals is to either
• Push the heart to contract stronger (positive inotropes)
• To lower the resistance the heart must pump against (also called afterload) for less stress (vasodilators)
• Use other drugs to help alleviate accompanying heart failure symptoms

Enlisted below are the drugs used in congestive heart failure (CHF). Please do note that I only included what I feel are important or must-knows, given that I only have a limited amount of time. Take these with a grain of salt.

POSITIVE INOTROPES 

1. Cardiac Glycoside (DIGOXIN)

MOA: inhibits Na-K ATPase, increases contractility

Side effects: narrow therapeutic index, arrhythmia, yellow halos

Note: arrhythmogenesis risk increases with HYPOKALEMIA (from use of loop diuretics or thiazides), HYPOMAGNESEMIA, HYPERCALCEMIA

Mnemonics: Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs

2. Beta-agonist (DOPAMINE, DOBUTAMINE)

Note: useful in ACUTE heart failure, not recommended in CHRONIC heart failure due to arrhythmogenic effects

3, PDE inhibitors (MILRINONE)

MOA: inhibits phosphodiesterase breakdown, increases cAMP, vasodilation

Side effects: bronchospasm, HYPOKALEMIA

Note: acts as an "ino-lator" (inotropes + vasodilator), increases morbidity and mortality in CHRONIC heart failure patients

VASODILATORS

1, NITROGLYCERIN, NITROPRUSSIDE - for ACUTE severe heart failure WiTH CONGESTION

2. HYDRALAZINE, ISOSORBIDE DINITRATE - reduces mortality in African Americans

Note: ISDN should not be taken with PDE inhibitor Sildenafil to prevent severe hypotension

OTHER IMPORTANT DRUGS

1. Ace inhibitors (-PRILS) and ARBs (-SARTANS) - FIRST LINE for CHRONIC heart failure

Note: Valsartan usually combined with SACUBITRIL (when activated, inhibits neprilysin, an enzyme that degrades BP-lowering peptides, in effect, lowering the BP)

2. Diuretics - first line for ACUTE and CHRONIC heart failure (systolic and diastolic)

• FUROSEMIDE - loop diuretic, used to immediately address pulmonary congestion and severe bipedal edema, WOF hypokalemia
• SPINOROLACTONE - K-sparing diuretic, acts as an non-selective aldosterone antagonist via competitive inhibition at the DCT, reduced mortality in CHRONIC CHF when added to loop diuretics

3. Beta blockers (-OLOLs) - slows progression of CHRONIC CHF, NOT useful in ACUTE CHF

4. Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) analog (NESIRITIDE) - for ACUTE DECOMPENSATED heart failure

Note: BNP is secreted by the cardiomyocytes in response to ventricule stretch from increased ventricular blood volume

Mnemonics: Drugs that Improve Survival in chronic Heart Failure

 

I guess that's it. If I ever committed any mistake here, please let me know. I am no expert on these matters. Just like you, I've gone through the strenuous, anxiety-inducing days of the review. I just jotted down what I learned from my Topnotch lecturers and reviewer notes. Hope this  short review  on CHF drugs has helped you in some way.

Don't be scared. Carry on. :) Check out this brief PLE Pharmacology review on Anti-arrhythmic drugs.

ALERT | Typhoon Tisoy Updates: #WalangPasok, Class Suspensions (December 2, 2019)

(Updated 4:00 AM, December 02, 2019)

Schools and local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas have suspended classes on Monday, December 2, 2019, due to the inclement weather brought about by Typhoon Tisoy (Kammuri).

Check out the list of provinces, cities and towns with class suspensions on Monday, December 2, 2019.

METRO MANILA
Caloocan City - all levels (public and private)
Las Piñas City - all levels (public and private)
Mandaluyong City - all levels (public and private)
City of Manila - preschool (public and private)
Marikina City - all levels (public and private)
Muntinlupa City - all levels (public and private)
Parañaque City - all levels (public and private)
Pasig City - all levels (public and private)
Pateros - all levels (public and private)
Quezon City - all levels (public and private)
Taguig City - all levels (public and private)
Valenzuela City - all levels (public and private)

BICOL REGION

Albay – all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
Camarines Norte – all levels (public and private)
Camarines Sur – all levels (public and private)
Naga City – all levels (public and private)
Catanduanes – all levels (public and private)
Masbate – all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
Sorsogon – all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3

CALABARZON

Batangas

• Alitagtag - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Batangas City - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Bauan - all levels (public and private)
• Calaca - all levels (public and private)
• Lipa City - all levels (public and private)
• Sto Tomas - preschool to elementary (public and private)
• Tanauan City - all levels (public and private)

Cavite province - all levels (public and private) 

Laguna - all levels (public and private). Earlier announcements by mayors:

• Bay - preschool to senior high school (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Calamba - all levels (public and private)
• Cavinti - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Famy - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Liliw - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Los Baños - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Lumban - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Mabitac - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Magdalena - all levels (public and private), until Wednesday, December 4
• Majayjay - all levels (public and private), until Wednesday, December 4
• Nagcarlan - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Pagsanjan - all levels (public and private)
• Pila - all levels (public and private)
• Santa Cruz - all levels (public and private), until Wednesday, December 4
• Santa Maria - all levels (public and private)
• San Pablo City - all levels (public and private)
• Siniloan - all levels (public and private)
• Victoria - all levels (public and private)

Quezon province - all levels (public and private). Earlier announcements by mayors:

• Agdangan - all levels (public and private)
• Alabat - all levels (public and private), until Wednesday, December 4
• Buenavista - preschool (public and private)
• Catanauan - all levels (public and private), until Wednesday, December 4
• General Luna - all levels (public and private)
• Guinangayan - all levels (public and private)
• Gumaca - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Lucban - all levels (public and private)
• Lucena City - preschool to senior high school (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Mulanay - all levels (public and private)
• Pagbilao - all levels (public and private)
• Patnanungan - all levels (public and private), until Wednesday, December 4
• Pitogo - all levels (public and private), until Wednesday, December 4
• Plaridel - all levels (public and private)
• Quezon municipality - all levels (public and private), until Wednesday, December 4
• Real - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3
• Sampaloc - all levels (public and private)
• San Narciso - all levels (public and private)
• Sariaya - all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3

Rizal province - all levels (public and private). Earlier announcement by mayor:

• Taytay - all levels (public and private)

MIMAROPA REGION

Marinduque – all levels (public and private)

Occidental Mindoro

• Magsaysay – all levels (public and private)

Oriental Mindoro – all levels (public and private), until Tuesday, December 3

Romblon – all levels (public and private). Earlier announcements by mayors:

• Calatrava – all levels (public only), until Wednesday, December 4
• Corcuera – all levels (public and private)

CENTRAL VISAYAS REGION

Cebu

• Asturias - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Bantayan Island - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Bogo - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Borbon - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Camotes Island - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Carmen - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Catmon - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Compostela - preschool to elementary (public and private)
• Consolacion - preschool to elementary (public and private)
• Cordova - preschool to elementary (public and private)
• Daanbantayan - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Danao - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Liloan - preschool to elementary (public and private)
• Mandaue - preschool to elementary (public and private)
• Medellin - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Minglanilla - preschool to elementary (public and private)
• Naga - preschool to elementary (public and private)
• San Fernando - preschool to elementary (public and private)
• San Remegio - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Sogod - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Tabogon - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Tabuelan - preschool to senior high school (public and private)
• Talisay - preschool to elementary (public and private)
• Tuburan - preschool to senior high school (public and private)

EASTERN VISAYAS REGION

Biliran

• Almeria – all levels (public and private)
• Biliran municipality – all levels (public and private)
• Cabucgayan – all levels (public and private)
• Caibiran – all levels (public and private)
• Kawayan – all levels (public and private)
• Naval – all levels (public and private)

Eastern Samar

• Guiuan – all levels (public and private)

Northern Samar – all levels (public and private)

Tacloban City – all levels (public and private)

Source: Rappler

SPORTS | Philippines bags its first gold medals in 30th SEA Games

Image Courtesy: PHISGOC

Philippines took home its first gold medals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games with athletes John Rambo Chicano, Kim Mangrobang, and Agatha Wong winning in the men's triathlon, women's triathlon, and Wushu women's taijiquan events respectively.

Rambo Chicano took the top spot in  men's triathlon after reaching 00:21:19 (swimming), 01:00:07 (biking), and 00:31:04 in running. For the women's category, triathlete Kim Mangrobang also clinched the top spot.

Image Courtesy: Russel Palma (The STAR)

In an attempt to defend her title in Wushu women event held at the World Trade Center, Agatho Wong succeeded after beating the rest of her competitors with a final round score of 9.67.

At the dancesport competition,  duo Sean Aranar and Nana Manalo won a gold each for Tango, Viennese Walts and Five dance categories. Meanwhile, duo Mark Jason Gayo and Mary Joy Reigen won golds for Foxtrot and Standard Waltz. This brings the current tally of gold medals won by Philippines to 8.

Other athletes who won medals are listed below:

• Andrew Remolino - silver, men's triathlon
• Kim Kilgroe - silver, women's triathlon

The 30th SEA Games will be played by 11 competing Southeast Asian neighbors until December 11.

Sources: Philstar Global, Inquirer