To protect against certain infectious diseases, the immune system must be able to recognize and attack certain pathogens or disease-causing microorganisms. This can typically be acquired through either natural immunity—where one contracts the disease, generates a sufficient immune response, and remembers how to fight it—or vaccination, a type of medical intervention that aims to train…
Category: Vanguard
Developing an effective treatment against COVID-19 is one challenge, but ensuring access to these medical services is another altogether. The latter problem is what a team of DLSU faculty and researchers—led by Dr. Charlle Sy from the Industrial Engineering Department and Dr. Kathleen Aviso from the Chemical Engineering Department—has come together to address. By building…
A flattened graph, whether it refers to cases, mortalities, or healthcare-related costs, means a slowdown in the spread of COVID-19. These graphs are constructed using data based on thousands of recorded cases across the country, data that is updated and published in near real-time to keep up with the spread of infection. The collection and…
From skin dryness to acne, many people use cosmetic products with varying ingredients and formulations to address different skin conditions. But as cosmetic chemists develop new solutions for skin care, the debate on whether average consumers should consider “organic” over “synthetic” products continues to ensue. It is no secret that the organic cosmetics industry is…
“Rabies has a fatality rate of almost 100 percent…It is responsible for the death of about 200 to 300 Filipinos every year,” emphasizes Dr. Ronaldo Quintana, program manager of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (NRPCP) of the Department of Health (DOH) Infectious Disease Office. The disease in question causes the inflammation of the…
Prior to the eruption of Taal Volcano or the standstill brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, most Filipinos had probably never heard of N95 respirators. Even now, six months and counting under one form of community quarantine or another, there persists the idea that N95 respirators act like a net or a colander—that they easily…
Typically seen as concerning only an individual’s physical wellness, the effects of eating disorders can often go beyond surface-level attributes. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) published by the American Psychiatric Association, feeding and eating disorders (EDs) are “characterized by a persistent disturbance of eating or…
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has left a large impact on the Philippines. Months of quarantine have resulted in job losses, limited human mobility, and a huge dip in the country’s economy. With news honing in on the struggles of the country, scientists and researchers have been observing another aspect that the pandemic has affected: the…
A haven of biodiversity, the Philippines is home to 645 endangered and threatened species—like the Philippine eagle or the Mindoro dwarf buffalo, whose population numbers are dwindling rapidly—due to various factors such as habitat loss and human exploitation. Wildlife sanctuaries are vital in carrying out animal conservation and preservation efforts. These serve as a refuge…
Infectious disease is a constant companion to societies, propelling research and innovation to understand its transmission and prevention, and assess distribution of health resources. The COVID-19 pandemic has characterized the scientific foundations behind vaccines and its underlying issues to empower the public during a health crisis. These conversations were enriched by COVID-19 Vaccine: The Race…