the power of personalized medicine

The power of Personalized Medicine

The Medical City introduces breakthrough medicine and how actress Liezl Martinez survives cancer through this

By Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman

Published: July 23, 2013

The IPMM, at the newly-renovated 12th floor of the Nursing Tower, the Medical City, houses an out-patient clinic with consultation and treatment facilities, as well as modern in-patient rooms.

Our bodies have the power to heal themselves --- this is the inspiration behind Regenerative Medicine. However, it does not mean that we no longer need medical intervention. And for some, personalized, tailor-fit treatments may be most suitable.
With this in mind, the Medical City introduces a breakthrough in molecular medicine with its Institute of Personalized Molecular Medicine (IPMM), which offers a range of clinical and laboratory services in molecular and cellular levels.
“Personalized Molecular Medicine holds on to the belief that each patient is unique and has (his or her) own genetic make-up and history. This means that no two patients with the same disease must undergo the same, default treatment. The potential benefits of personalized molecular medicine include prevention, early detection, and optimized treatment,” IPMM consultant and adviser Dr. Samuel D. Bernal says.
IPMM depends on Regenerative Medicine, or the engineering of cells and other biomaterials to prevent disease and maintain wellness. It restores or replaces the structure and function of damaged tissues and organs by harnessing the body’s ability to heal itself.
IPMM includes stem cell transplant, molecular profiling, individualized chemotherapy, and umbilical cord services.
Stem cell transplant refers to the infusion of healthy cells into the patient’s body. The stem cells used are from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood. It does not use aborted fetal cells, embryonic stem cells, or animal stem cells that are believed to have caused the death of three Filipino solons.
“The uses of stem cell for cancer are already well-established; that is stem cell from the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord. And for many types of cancer, it is curative; in fact, in the instances of leukemia, lymphoma, or even multiple myeloma, it is the only hope, because chemotherapy by itself does not,” Bernal adds.
He also says that the best way to cure cancer is through the alternating combination of stem cell therapy and chemotherapy. This world-renowned cancer specialist and molecular biologist is a cancer survivor himself and is currently the Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of California-Los Angeles.
Molecular profiling, another IPMM service, meanwhile identifies genes that help in predicting a patient’s response to treatments. This is solely designed for cancer tissues hence, for cancer patients only. The results from the molecular profiling will be administered by doctors through individualized chemotherapy, where the most effective chemotherapeutic agents will be selected.  The umbilical cord services include the collection, processing, expansion, and storage of the whole umbilical cord and cord blood as rich future source of stem cells.
Cancer survivor shares story
Cancer warrior, survivor, and actress Anna-Lissa “Liezl” Martinez was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 3 in 2008. She had chemotherapy and as a result, lost her hair, which devastated her. She survived the disease. However, three years after, the cancer recurred and metastasized to her left lung.
She then decided to have stem cell therapy and chemotherapy with molecular profiling, which Dr. Bernal suggested. Understanding the unique biomarkers found in patients’ tumors can give them the option to forgo undergoing cancer treatments that are less likely to be that effective. This approach spares healthy cells and thus has less severe side effects.
The alternating combination of chemotherapy and stem cell therapy is the most effective way of curing Liezl’s disease. She went to full remission, the period where the symptoms of the disease have subsided, after her fifth chemotherapy and sixth stem cell injection. Because of the combination treatments, Liezl didn’t lose her crowning glory, unlike her previous experience that was sans the stem cell therapy. Looking younger and feeling more energetic is actually one of the effects of undergoing stem cell treatment.
“When you think about it, you might say that it’s just hair. But I didn’t want to lose my hair again, so I’m very thankful for the stem cell therapy and chemotherapy with molecular profiling,” Liezl says.
Now, she is enjoying her life and have become daring enough to cross out some items in her bucket list that includes bungee jumping and scuba diving.
The Medical City is one of the pioneers in Regenerative Medicine; it has been practiced in the country since 2004. For more information, visit www.themedicalcity.com.

Anatomy of a cigarette

 

5

Anatomy of a cigarette

On increasing female and youth smokers, TAPS, e-cigarettes, and ‘Yosi Kadiri’

By Nickky Faustine De Guzman

Published: July 16, 2013

Warnings about the hazards of smoking abound, including the point that smoking can cause death. Yet many smokers do not seem to heed these precautions until the effects of smoking have taken a toll on their health. The government is not short on reminding everyone about the dangers posed by cigarettes. Various campaigns and laws have been passed and issued in the hope of addressing the perils of puffing. In fact, illnesses related to smoking such as tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and lower respiratory infection are included among the top 10 causes of death in the world.
During the ‘90s, the Department of Health gave life to the Yosi Kadiri mascot, who depicted stained and crooked teeth, pale skin, and red eyes. Yosi Kadiri has been recently revived to inform and remind the public of the dangers of smoking in public places. This resurgence marks the annual celebration of the World No Tobacco Day, which is observed every May 31.
At the world celebration, health advocates strongly urged the government to immediately and effectively ban all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) in order to reduce the number of smokers, especially the youth, who are the target market of today’s tobacco industry.
According to world research, about one third of the youth experimentation on cigarettes ensues as a result of exposure to TAPS. Seventy eight percent of the teens aged 13-15 worldwide are regularly exposed to TAPS. The 2009 Philippine Global Tobacco survey meanwhile says that 28% of Filipinos aged 15 and over (or about 17.3 million) are smokers.
“The youth are the target of advertising because the older smokers are now dying, so they will replace them. Tobacco companies continue to entice young people to start smoking through the aggressive ads, promotions, and marketing strategies such as product placements in strategic and visible areas like restaurants, convenience stores, malls, and sponsorships in concerts. These create major brand recall among the youth,” Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines (FCAP) Executive Director Dr. Maricar Limpin says.
The banning of TAPS is incorporated among the provisions of the Republic Act 9211 or Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. The law also includes the prohibition on selling tobacco within 100 meters away from schools, playgrounds, and other facilities frequented by minors, and smoking in public places.
The FCAP, DOH, Philippine College of Chest Physicians, Novartis Healthcare, and Marikina City pledge to support the TAPS-ban and be vigilant against the undermining of RA 9211.

Soaring number of female smokers
Meanwhile, there is also an upsurge in the number of Filipina smokers with 10.2% percent of the population, the most recent Tobacco Atlas data say. It also reveals that 6.4% of the female students aged 13-15 are already smokers. It also discloses that Philippine ranking on women smokers soared from number 26 in 2006 to top 16 two years after.
“This is because of the notion that women who smoke are sosyal. They also feel empowered when they smoke,” the DOH’s National Center for Health Promotion Supervising Health Program Officer, Luz B. Tagunicar explains. Concerns with weight, social acceptance, rebellion, and individuality also explain the reasons why females smoke.

E-cigarettes
While the electronic cigarettes are widely perceived as effective smoking cessation devices, the US Food and Drug Administration found that they contain traces of tobacco specific nitrosamine (cancer-causing compounds usually found in traditional cigarettes), diethylene glycol (component of antifreeze and brake fluids that can cause kidney damage and respiratory failure), and some particles of silver, iron, aluminum, silicate, and nano particles of tin, chromium, and nickel. Ergo, e-cigarettes are as harmful as conventional cigarettes.
“Electronic cigarettes are not advisable since you don’t kick the habit. Humihithit ka pa rin. Kung gusto mong tumigil sa paninigarilyo, take anti-nicotine drugs,” DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said on a television interview.

Addressing elephants in the workplace

Addressing elephants in the workplace

The fight against non-communicable diseases is everyone’s concern

By Nickky Faustine De Guzman

Published: July 16, 2013

Workplaces serve as the second home to employees hence they should be conducive and relaxing. However, the opposite appears to be happening instead. Our offices are slowly becoming toxic, creating a niche for growing elephants in the room that results into threats of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The developing elephants in the workplace pertain to issues that are too important to be unnoticed yet are often ignored. These include overworked employees who are obliged to seat for extended hours, a practice that often leads to slouching. Studies say that improper posture and seating for long periods can cause heart problems, obesity, and back pains among others. Some of the employees also find an excuse to smoke and take comfort in caffeine and junk foods when stressed, which also causes poor health. In addition to these, few workplaces have neither gymnasium that promotes exercise nor cafeterias that offer healthy food options.
These scenarios lead to NCDs, which are the top causes of deaths in the world. According to the World Health Organization, NCDs are responsible for the 36 million fatalities in 2008, or 63% of the world total, where 78% of these occur in the middle and low-income countries, which includes the Philippines.
In the country, the four major NCDs are cardio vascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes. These account for 61% of the total deaths in the country in 2010. The burden of chronic NCDs is expected to rise worldwide to 74% by 2030. Also, chronic NCDs concern 61% of the total disability-adjusted life years of people aged 15-59, which comprise the workforce who are the economic backbone of a nation.
“Change can come easily when the elephants and riders move together. The elephants are the patients or the employees while the riders are the decision makers, doctors, and employers. If the riders don’t know how to direct well, they don’t take time to motivate, then the elephants won’t move. You can’t force an elephant to stop smoking, to diet, or to exercise without motivating him to do so,” the Department of Health Consultant on Lifestyle Diseases Dr. Anthony C. Leachon says in the recently concluded 5th Doña V. Tytana Memorial Lecture of the GT-Metro Foundation.
He suggests simple tricks such as using stairways, creating one’s own healthy baon, and a workplace intervention to change the sedentary lifestyle by educating the employees, promoting exercises through intramurals, gym membership, and having stand-up tables, among others.
The government and local agencies should also work hand-in-hand in helping curb the problems of NCDs in schools and workplaces. In fact, the Department of Health has recently introduced its “Pilipinas Go4Health” program that aims to curtail health issues on smoking, drinking, exercising, and eating healthy food via Go Smoke-free, Go Slow sa Tagay, Go Sigla, and Go Sustansiya programs. They aim for public awareness of the NCDs.
Workplaces feel the impact of NCDs through decreased productivity due to illnesses and absenteeism. In some cases, deaths and disabilities affect the functions of the company and create more costs for hiring of replacements. NCDs create domino effects on the overall welfare of workers, employers, economy, and nation, thus the need to address the elephants in the workplace and community.

k-beauty

K-beauty

PH welcomes the latest Korean aesthetic technologies

By Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman, Photos by Noel Pabalate

Published: July 3, 2013

The Copper Bromide laser is a high-tech machine that resolves skin problems.

Anna’s gentle hands glide, knead, slap, and massage my face in circular and upward motions, sometimes positioning her hands on my jaws and chubby cheeks. This promotes blood circulation and plump skin, she says. After this, different machines start to work their magic of endorsing and promising a healthy and porcelain-like complexion. Then, a relaxing facemask clay caps off my Korean facial experience.

Unlike the traditional local practice, Korean facials veer away from manually pricking one’s blackheads and acnes. The Cosmedics Dermaster clinic in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, uses stem cell and Cryo-lifting treatment machines, Aqua peel technology, facial massage, and clay mask in one procedure sans the piercing of one’s skin. This lasts for almost two hours. I felt like a K-pop star after.

With the Korean aesthetics slowly making impressions in the local beauty and wellness department, it is not surprising to see health and wellness centers to ride the waves on the latest machines from South Korea. The Copper Bromide (Cu Br) Laser and Ultra V-Lift machines for instance, are just one of the few technologies that are already available in the market. The Cu Br Laser is exclusively found in Cosmedics Dermaster while the clinic initiates the introduction ofUltra V-Lift technology in the country.

“The Copper Bromide is the first melasma-treating machine in the country that uses micropulses to evenly whiten one’s skin. It is originally from Korea and has only been here since last month (June). We also pioneered the introduction of the Ultra V-Lift, which is a non-invasive skin lifting procedure,” Dr. Alvin M. Jorge of Cosmedics Dermaster says.

The Copper Bromide laser is a high-tech machine that resolves skin problems like uneven skin tone, warts, scars, freckles, and acnes among others, quickly and effectively. It uses dual wavelengths (CVL and CBL) that equally distribute laser heat, which promotes skin whitening and tightening.

The machine works through the same principle of walking barefoot on fire where the heat is evenly distributed on the skin hence, the painless experience. An ultrasound gel is first applied on a clean face where the machine will smoothly glide on. The fleeting warm sensation ensures the effectiveness of the technology. An immediate improvement in appearance is very visible after the five-minute session. A minimum of five sessions guarantee a healthy and glowing skin.

Then, there is also the Ultra V-Lift technology that uses fine threads to lift a depressing or sagging skin. This technique from Korea uses absorbable threads that last for six to eight months. The threads injected on skin stimulate collagen production that lift wrinkles, define jaw lines, nose, and forehead, and tighten arms, abdomens, and breasts.

Dr. Jorge says that there is a growing fashion in beauty enhancements and a seemingly wish to pattern one’s skin after the Korean’s flawless and blemish-free complexions. “This is becoming a trend in the Philippines and is now already accepted by the society,” Jorge explains.

The Cosmedics Dermaster Aesthetic Center mandates a patient to a comprehensive skin-analyzing machine that assesses one’s skin type and problems and what procedure will best answer the problem.