PCOS: Understanding it; its impact on women’s health
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Approximately one in every 10 women worldwide experiences one of the most common reproductive health issues among women, the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is a common hormonal condition that affects women of reproductive age which commonly causes hormonal imbalances, irregular periods, and hampers ovulation necessary for pregnancy. Lilian, 23, is.....»»
ME/CFS study offers clues to chronic fatigue syndrome
Sanna Stella, a chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patient, recently made headlines as she participated in a groundbreaking study on ME/CFS conducted by the National Institutes.....»»
Russia has yet to establish official cause of Navalny death, spokeswoman says
Alexei Navalny's mother, Lyudmila, is told he died from 'sudden death syndrome,' a vague term for heart conditions that end in death. Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, says Russian authorities were lying and stalling......»»
What we know so far about the death of Alexei Navalny, Putin’s top critic
Russian prisons are brutal and his team had repeatedly raised fears that he would be harmed or killed. They were told he had succumbed to 'sudden death syndrome.'.....»»
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Associated with Cognitive Decline, Study Reveals
New Study Reveals Potential Cognitive Dysfunction Linked to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) A new research study has shed light on the potential cognitive dysfunction that.....»»
Celine Dion documentary will explore rare illness Stiff-Person Syndrome
Pop megastar Celine Dion, who is suffering from a rare neurological disorder, is hoping to raise awareness about her condition with a new documentary that will soon stream on Amazon Prime Video......»»
Celine Dion lost control over muscles due to Stiff Person Syndrome — sister
The sister of Celine Dion has given an update on the singer's health condition as the latter continues to battle a rare neurological disease......»»
Lapu-Lapu City logs 69 HIV cases from Jan. to Aug. 2023
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The Lapu-Lapu City Health Office (LLCHO) has recorded 69 cases of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) for the first eight months or from January to August this year. This was confirmed by Dr. Neil Victor Pajugot, medical officer III of LLCHO. However, Pajugot said they saw a drop in.....»»
Celine Dion appears in public for first time in almost 4 years after Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis
Singer Celine Dion appeared in public for the first time in three-and-a-half years since she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune neurological disorder......»»
Florida man convicted of two murders executed by lethal injection
A Florida man convicted of murdering two women in 1996 was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday, local media said. Michael Zack, 54, was put to death at the Florida State Prison in the town of Raiford, the Pensacola News Journal reported. The newspaper said the lethal drug cocktail was administered at 6:02 p.m. and Zack was pronounced dead 12 minutes later. Zack was sentenced to death in 1997 for the June 1996 sexual assault, robbery, and murder of Ravonne Smith, a woman he met at a bar. He was also convicted of the murder of another woman, Laura Rosillo, who had befriended him at another bar. Zack's defense attorneys had sought to block his execution on the grounds that he suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome and was intellectually disabled. His appeals were denied by lower courts and eventually the Supreme Court. The group Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty released a final statement from Zack. "Twenty-seven years ago, I was an alcoholic and a drug addict," it said. "I did things that have hurt a lot of people -- not only the victims and their families and friends, but my own family and friends as well. "I have woken up every single day since then filled with remorse." There have been six executions in Florida this year and 19 in the United States. The post Florida man convicted of two murders executed by lethal injection appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
INQUIRER.net employee battling Guillain-Barré syndrome needs your help
MANILA, Philippines — Kenn Gapac’s kind demeanor and sharp skills help keep the gears of INQUIRER.net running. He works diligently in the Information Technology department to help ensure that the public is kept informed. But Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare condition that attacks the peripheral nerves, is now threatening his life. Kenn has been in.....»»
Star Music artist Maki’s Saan spawns countless TikTok videos
With his emotive lyrics and warm voice that encapsulate the confusion of lost love, singer-songwriter Maki has transformed his heartbreaks into a collection of songs in his Tanong EP, which includes the LSS (Last Song Syndrome)-inducing hit Saan?.....»»
Creating inclusive spaces through SM’s sensitivity training
When people are accepted, they become empowered and feel appreciated and recognized. In celebration of the International Day of Sign Language, SM Cares of the SM Group continues its mission to provide inclusive spaces as a mall for all through its yearly sensitivity training for its frontline employees. The training equips them with skills to better serve customers with different needs or persons with disabilities. Engr. Bien Mateo, senior vice president for Mall Operations and program director of SM Cares Disability Affairs, noted the company’s dedication to creating positive impacts within its communities. “Genuine inclusion starts with us,” he said. “One of the integral steps in line with this effort is by conducting sensitivity training for our employees.” Apart from SM Supermalls’ facilities, the shopping malls of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. promote inclusive spaces through features such as ramps, handlebars in comfort rooms and Braille-labeled elevator buttons. The efforts to promote inclusivity within the malls also rely on equipping its workers with the knowledge and best practices for assisting PWDs. Jay Jess Aquino, a security personnel in SM Mall of Asia for 15 years, shared how helpful the annual sensitivity training is in learning how to respectfully assist customers who have different needs. With daily interactions from different PWD communities, he shared how a simple act of acknowledging guests on the autism spectrum or persons with Down syndrome every time they playfully salute them goes a long way. “Pagpasok po nila sa mall, sumalaudo po sila sa amin mga guards, he said. “Natutuwa rin po kami kasi kahit sa simpleng pag-acknowledge po namin, eh napapangiti na po namin sila.” (They salute us guards as they enter the mall. We are also pleased because even with our simple acknowledgment, we can already make them smile.) As SM front-liners, they must be quick to recognize guests with mobility issues to provide alternative solutions such as wheelchairs and even drive them via golf karts when available. The mall’s administration office is also open to serve as a safe and quiet space for guests who may be sensitive to several sensory inputs. His colleague and fellow security staff Rebecca Flores in Mall of Asia expressed how the sensitivity training has made her more confident to assist patrons with autism spectrum disorder over her nine-year experience in SM. She emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication and building rapport with customers on the spectrum before they enter. This approach helps dismiss any notion that security guards are intimidating. “Opo. Sa entrance pa lang talaga hina-hi (saying hi/hello) na namin sila,” Flores said. “Nagrerespond sila. Bumati ka sa kanila para di sila matakot sa guard. Para kahit mawala sila, di sila matatakot lumapit sa guard. Kasi maalala nila ay ito yung bumati sa akin.” (We see to it that we give them a lively greeting as they enter the mall because they remember you. Even in the unfortunate event of being lost in the mall, they won’t hesitate to approach you to find their way since they will recall the friendly face who said hi to them.) Flores recalled her experience when a child on the autism spectrum playfully kicked her. She remembered how shocked she was during the exchange, although the child’s parent immediately explained the situation. Flores said the child tried to get her again on the way out, but “Di ako nagalit. Mas nagpasalamat ako sa training kasi may kaalaman kami,” she said. (I didn’t get mad. I’m thankful because the training imparted learnings on this.) SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls and a division of SM Foundation, Inc., ensures a barrier-free and disability-inclusive environment for PWDs in all of its malls nationwide. The post Creating inclusive spaces through SM’s sensitivity training appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Focusing on the beauty of daily life
The paintings on display at the ongoing exhibit at ARTablado in Robinsons Galleria are by an artist with a strong faith in a higher power. In fact, when asked who her favorite artist is, Marie Claire Olondriz chose God. “He’s the ultimate artist who created everything… matter, space, time, the entire universe.” In the years that she has spent honing her painting style, she has come up with canvases awash in color and light. Some of them are of Marian images like Our Lady of Aranzazu and Our Lady Star of the Sea but there are also her floral paintings including a beautiful one of a magnolia flower in full bloom. Another theme is the Madonna and Child although the artist opts to leave their faces blank, inscrutable. When she was younger, she would grab a sketch pad and her pencils and draw whatever caught her eye — sketching and coloring based on how she felt. [caption id="attachment_185923" align="aligncenter" width="525"] 'Floracion.'[/caption] Marie Claire came up with her style of painting when she was confined in the hospital. She started out scribbling in her sketch pad which led to continuous circles that initially seemed directionless. “Later, I expanded this to my paintings, using contrasting colors against the backdrop to create a textured look. What I enjoy is the sense of playfulness these scribbles bring to my art,” she said. “Amidst the sea of realist styles in my art group, mine feels unique. That’s why I began calling it ‘olondrizism,’ after my own name. It reflects my heart and soul when doing art.” When the time came to pick a title for her ARTablado exhibit, she chose Obra ni Maria Clara. Coming up with new paintings for the exhibit, however, took a while as she struggled with tennis elbow as well as carpal tunnel syndrome, the latter afflicting both hands. “On top of that, fibromyalgia would give me pain every single day,” she recounted. [caption id="attachment_185922" align="aligncenter" width="525"] 'Amor Y Cuidado.'[/caption] She took a break for a while and entertained thoughts she might not be able to meet the deadline. “Instead of having an operation, I tried therapy and kept trusting in God, believing He’d bless this exhibit somehow. I couldn’t let the doctors operate on my hands [because] that would mean no painting for over a month, or maybe even no more painting at all.” The exhibit that runs until 15 September will highlight Marie Claire’s take on “the beauty of everyday life, of common things we seldom appreciate.” The artist is grateful to Roseann Villegas, corporate public relations director of Robinsons Land Corporation for approaching her after spotting a painting Marie Claire had made for a group show. Established in 2020, Robinsons Land ARTablado, a portmanteau of “art” and “entablado” is Robinsons Land’s very own stage in showcasing the Filipino ingenuity and creativity. The post Focusing on the beauty of daily life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Intensified info drive on HIV/AIDS sought
Health experts of Baguio are seeking an intensified education and information dissemination on human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) as cases are increasing......»»
What is anemia?
Our body needs oxygen to survive, and our blood helps oxygen get to all parts of the body. When you don’t have enough of a component of the blood called red blood cells or hemoglobin, this is called anemia, a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Some patients only find out they have anemia when they have routine tests done on an annual examination, in preparation for surgery or before donating blood. [caption id="attachment_178293" align="aligncenter" width="630"] ANEMIA is the lack of healthy red blood cells in the body. | photograph courtesy of 1MG[/caption] There are a few different reasons for having anemia. A common reason is not having enough iron. This is called iron deficiency anemia and can happen when: You have lost a large amount of blood. This can happen slowly over time or all of a sudden. It is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia. Menstrual periods and pregnancy are common reasons. Bleeding can also come from tumors in the intestines or colon which bleed slowly and in small amounts, so it is not noticeable in your bowel movements. Your body cannot absorb enough iron from food. This can happen in conditions like celiac disease or after surgery of your stomach or intestines. Some medications can also interfere with iron absorption. You do not get enough iron in your food. This can happen if infants or those on restrictive diets do not get enough iron from food or supplements. Vegetarians who eliminate meat can develop iron deficiency anemia. Other causes of anemia are: Deficiency in vitamins like B12 and folate Inherited causes — Thalassemia, sickle cell anemia Aplastic anemia — A rare condition where the body stops producing enough new blood cells Hemolytic anemia — Where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be produced Chronic kidney disease — This can affect how red blood cells are made. Patients with anemia sometimes do not have any symptoms when the anemia is mild or when they have had it for a long time as a chronic illness. Those who do have symptoms might have the following: Fatigue and weakness Irritability Pale skin Cold hands and feet Shortness of breath Dizziness or lightheadedness Irregular heartbeat Headaches Difficulty concentrating Abnormal cravings that make them want to eat ice or substances like clay (a condition termed as “pica”) “Restless legs syndrome,” where the legs feel like they need to keep moving, especially at night. Unexplained or easy bruising Anemia is diagnosed with a blood test called a complete blood count or CBC. Depending on the CBC results and your other symptoms, your doctor will order other tests to determine the underlying cause of your anemia. The treatment for anemia will depend on its type and severity. These include: Blood transfusion in severe cases Dietary changes to increase iron or vitamin intake Iron or vitamin supplements as prescribed by your doctor Treatment of other medical conditions contributing to anemia Anemia is a manageable condition but it requires attention and care. While some types of anemia are not preventable, you can reduce your risk by eating a balanced diet with iron, vitamins and minerals and having regular medical check-ups. [caption id="attachment_178294" align="aligncenter" width="525"] MEDICATIONS can interfere with iron absorption. | photograph courtesy of unsplash/ kateryna-hliznitsova[/caption] If you suspect you have anemia, seek prompt medical advice and only take supplements upon the advice of your doctor. With proper diagnosis and treatment, individuals with anemia can lead long, healthy and fulfilling lives. The post What is anemia? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rosé Curse?: BLACKPINK’s Rosé reacts to Andrea Brillantes- Ricci Rivero split
Andrea Brillantes remains a lucky fan girl when it comes to the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. On 8 August, coinciding with the mega group’s seventh anniversary, BLACKPINK member Rosé went on Instagram live to talk and celebrate with her fans (commonly known as BLINKs). Among the many BLINKs who tuned in to watch Rosé’s Instagram live was Andrea Brillantes, who also went to the girl group’s sold-out concert at the Philippine Arena last March 2023 with her then-boyfriend Ricci Rivero and was singled out by BLACKPINK from among the crowd. The Kadenang Ginto actress had held up a “promposal” sign,” which Rosé and Lisa noticed in the middle of the show. During the livestream, the singer asked BLINKs their most memorable moments as fans of the group. Brillantes immediately whipped up an answer: “My fave memory was when you noticed me for my promposal.” Rosé caught Brillantes’ comment and reacted to it: “When I noticed you for your proposal. Oh, was that you? I think it was somewhere in Southeast Asia, where was it? I don’t know (where it was), but I do remember (the proposal). I do. We have never done that before,” Rosé said. Brillantes responded by updating the K-pop star on her relationship status: “We broke up now.” Rosé looked shocked upon reading the reply. She covered her mouth and said, “Oh no, I’ll pretend I didn’t see that.” Brillantes quickly assured the BLACKPINK star that she was happy and doing well now, to which Rosé replied: “I’m happy that you’re happy.” In April last year, Brillantes and Rivero officially became a couple. However, the relationship was short-lived following cheating allegations against the basketball player. This is not the first time Brillantes has proven her “lucky girl syndrome” when it comes to interacting with foreign artists. Last July, she got to talk to Sabrina Carpenter during the latter’s Manila concert. There is also a running joke on social media about the “Rosé Curse” — that celebrities who take a photo with Rosé allegedly invariably end up splitting with their respective partners. The “Rosé Curse” began in September 2021 when model Gigi Hadid had a photo with Rosé — only to announce her break-up with singer Zayn Malik a few weeks later. Since then, other celebrity couples have supposedly also fallen victim to the curse, such as Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn, Florence Pugh and Zach Braff, Bella Poarch and her non-showbiz husband, and Kendall Jenner and basketball player Devin Booker. The post Rosé Curse?: BLACKPINK’s Rosé reacts to Andrea Brillantes- Ricci Rivero split appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What is Stiff Person Syndrome? Celine Dion s diagnosis that made her cancel tour
Stiff Person Syndrome or SPS is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms, often starting in the legs and back......»»
Fantasy reality
I’m a Barbie Girl… in the Barbie world, life in plastic, it’s fantastic… I bet you sang that part, right? All I know is that one day I opened my social media account and almost everyone was wearing pink, from celebrities to influencers, even politicians were jumping into the Barbie era. Almost all of my online friends were uploading photos of themselves in a Barbie box frame posing like real-life dolls. Even while I was doing my groceries and inside shopping malls, I encountered people dressed as Barbies and Kens, and sometimes I would ask myself, am I being different for not diving into the Barbie madness? Little did I know the Barbie effect was working on me subconsciously. I wore pink and white for an online interview and the interviewer told me I was being a Barbie on cam. At that moment I realized I was indeed living in a Barbie world now, and that the Barbie effect was unknowingly consuming me, too. I am now one of those people who have dived into this Barbie madness. The Barbie effect is superb! Maybe this could help too with government projects where we can get people involved in so many creative and positive ways, especially if it relates to them. But since it’s Thirstday, I bet you’re looking for thirst-quenching facts about Barbie. Did you know that the first Barbie was based on a postwar German cartoon? Barbie has been the subject of debates for supposedly creating the stigma of a perfect body for kids and young adults. If Barbie was, in fact, a real person, her measurements according to researchers would be 32-17-28, nearly impossible for a real woman. In fact, research conducted in the 1990s concluded that not only are Barbie’s weight and body proportions not attainable but they are also unhealthy. In the movie, Barbies lead a matriarchal society. We Barbies lead the world and our Kens are just beach dudes! In a sudden twist of fate, the Kens realized they were second-class citizens, so they mounted a coup and established a patriarchal society just like what we actually have right now in the real world. Oh, so sad. But unlike in the former matriarchal setup, the Barbies let the Kens and the outcast share power, leadership, and the most important thing, responsibility! Wow! Way to go, Barbies! We can draw important lessons from the movie where real-world Barbies like us can be part of making a positive change in society. We must embrace our inner strengths as we accept that we are not perfect. We must, and we can show the world that, yes, we can lead. In the Philippine context, the situation of women is not ideal but is constantly improving steadily. Some of the socio-economic and political affairs to which we can channel our natural feminine touch and strength include foreign affairs and diplomacy, conflict resolution, food security, social welfare, information industry, tourism and shipping, and much more! Let us take a closer look at food security and tourism. Why? Well, Barbies love food and love to travel! There are what we call Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas or GIDAs — these possess the most abundant natural resources suitable for food production and are home to splendid picturesque spots of nature so suited for tourism! But we need roads leading to those places and we need robust transport systems to make it work. Most of the GIDAs can be reached only through unreliable trails using “habal-habal.” Barbies with our Kens can be rallying figures in those aspects where we can best help those in need. The movie told us to embrace our femininity but I say let us embrace the wholeness of society whether you are a Ken or a Barbie. Women cannot exist alone and so with men. That Barbie effect? I hope we can draw a positive impact from that one and set ideal, yet realistic, goals and standards to cater to the needs of the public. Remember when Barbie released their dolls with Down syndrome this year? In recent years they also created dolls with prosthetic limbs, and curvy and black Barbies to cater to the clamor of groups that said Barbies did not represent real women. You see? We can always meet halfway, especially when it comes to providing solutions to the common problems of people, whether in a local or national government setup. We listen and modify, and we get feedback if projects are effective or not. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter whether a Barbie or a Ken leads and steers. All that matters is that we need to act together, be together, and move together to arrive at our intended destination because... Barbies and Kens, we are in the same boat. The post Fantasy reality appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rosé Curse?: BLACKPINK’s Rosé reacts to Andrea Brillantes-Ricci Rivero split
Andrea Brillantes remains a lucky fan girl when it comes to the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. On 8 August, coinciding with the mega group's seventh anniversary, BLACKPINK member Rosé went on Instagram live to talk and celebrate with her fans (commonly known as BLINKs). Among the many BLINKs who tuned in to watch Rosé's Instagram live was Andrea Brillantes, who also went to the girl group's sold-out concert at the Philippine Arena last March 2023 with her then-boyfriend Ricci Rivero and was singled out by BLACKPINK from among the crowd. The Kadenang Ginto actress had held up a "promposal" sign", which Rosé and Lisa noticed in the middle of the show. During the livestream, the singer asked BLINKs their most memorable moments as fans of the group. Brillantes immediately whipped up an answer: "My fave memory was when you noticed me for my promposal." Rosé caught Brillantes' comment and reacted to it: "When I noticed you for your proposal. Oh, was that you? I think it was somewhere in Southeast Asia, where was it? I don't know [where it was], but I do remember [the proposal]. I do. We have never done that before," Rosé said. Brillantes responded quickly to the K-pop star, updating her on her relationship status: "We broke up now." Rosé looked shocked upon reading the reply. She covered her mouth and said, "Oh no, I'll pretend I didn't see that." Brillantes quickly assured the BLACKPINK star that she was doing well now and happy, to which Rosé replied: "I'm happy that you're happy." In April last year, Brillantes and Rivero officially became a couple. However, the relationship was short-lived following cheating allegations about the basketball player. This is not the first time Brillantes has proven her "lucky girl syndrome" when it comes to interacting with foreign artists. Last July, Sabrina Carpenter talked to Brillantes mid-stage during her Manila concert. But there is also a running joke on social media about the "Rosé curse" — that celebrities who take a photo with Rosé allegedly invariably end up splitting with their respective partners. The "Rosé curse" began in September 2021 when model Gigi Hadid had a photo with Rosé – only to announce her break-up with singer Zayn Malik a few weeks later. Since then, other celebrity couples have supposedly also fallen victim to the "Rosé curse," such as Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn, Florence Pugh and Zach Braff, Bella Poarch and her non-showbiz husband, and Kendall Jenner and basketball player Devin Booker. The post Rosé Curse?: BLACKPINK’s Rosé reacts to Andrea Brillantes-Ricci Rivero split appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»