HEPATITIS

It is a chronic viral infection of the liver that can result in disastrous consequences such as liver failure, cirrhosis, even liver cancer.

a c cording to the Hepatitis B Foundation, there are about two billion people (about one out of three) infected around the world, with an estimated 1.5 million newly infected annually, and about 300 million suffering from chronic infection. t h e foundation noted that approximately 820,000 perish each year from the virus and related complications such as liver cancer, or an estimated two people dying every minute a c cording to the World Health Organization (WHO), many in the Philippines may have been infected by the virus but may not be aware of it. t h ere are about one in 10 people that have chronic Hepatitis B in the Philippines, and six in 1,000 have chronic hepatitis C, according to the global health agency. Hepatitis is a huge public health concern in the Philippines, it said, “but due to lack of awareness, many of those who have this viral disease may not even know they have it until it’s too late.”

A silent killer t H e WHO said that Hepatitis, which is caused by a virus that has no symptoms, is a silent killer. It quietly damages the liver for decades before ending in liver cancer and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver that reduces its ability to detoxify blood), says the agency. Deaths due to hepatitis have increased over the past two decades, with 1.4 million lives lost every year. But many leaders and members of the public are still not well-informed about the disease.

Dr. Jose s o llano, Jr., a Professor of Medicine at the University of s t o. to mas (U s t ) F aculty of Medicine and s u rgery and Hepatology s e ction Chief at the U s t Hospital, said that at present, the treatment modality for both hepatitis B and C are in the oral kind. He said there has been success in the cure of hepatitis C which, unfortunately, is not available for Hepatitis B yet.

He suggests that for people over 60 years of age and experiencing bone disease due to heavy use of steroids, and those with kidney issues, their medication for hepatitis B treatment be shifted to t D F or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or entecavir ( e t V ).

“Most of these drugs today are very inexpensive we hope today’s patients can be convinced to shift to these safer medications,” explains Dr. s o llano during the Philippines College of Physicians Health Forum held recently.

He said the Philippines is in the midst of a high density of people infected with hepatitis, yet the uptake on anti-viral therapy is quite low. “We need to increase awareness that people should seek treatment and consult with physicians so that they can identify patients who need treatment.”

Antiviral resistance

D r s o llano noted that one of the biggest issues with regard to hepatitis treatment is antiviral resistance, which became an issue in the 2020s and beyond globally despite the wide availability of et V a nd t DF. He noted that there were earlier treatments like lamivudine, telbivudine and ad - efovir, which were all implicated in antiviral resistance and its use were all discouraged. t he message here, Dr. s o llano said, is to switch to high barrier resistance drugs, which he said is the best way moving forward.

“What we found disturbing is that there are still family medicine physicians who are still treating their patients with lamivudine. We reiterate the continuity of the campaign among physicians on the proper use of the correct medication for patients with hepatitis B because the lack of awareness in the use of lowbarrier antiviral drugs contribute to our very bad success rates in the control of hepatitis B in the region,” he continued.

Diabetes and Obesity

FO r patients who are obese and suffering from Diabetes Mellitus (DM), DM alone, even if they don’t have hepatitis B, is already an independent risk factor for the development of liver cancer.

“What I’m emphasizing is that for patients with hepatitis B and metabolic syndrome, there is really a need to institute a good strategy to avoid further harm on the patient. t h ere’s a need to control diabetes, obesity, make sure they are not drinking alcohol or taking any drugs that will negatively impact further on their liver. Harm reduction is the key,” he concluded.

Parents call on gov’t to go after online shops that sell vape products

By Claudeth Mocon Ciriaco

tH e n ew scientific statement from the a m erican Heart a s sociation ( a H a ) s aid that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or vaping products may pose dangerous risks for a person’s heart and lungs due to its components which include nicotine and flavoring agents. t h e a H a said that e-cigarettes deliver numerous substances into the body that are potentially harmful, including chemicals and other compounds that are either not known or understood by the user. t h e new scientific statement published on July 17, 2023 titled “Cardiopulmonary Impact of e l ectronic r e search increasingly revealed that health risks of e-cigarette use, and more studies are needed about the long-term impact e-cigarettes

Cigarettes and Vaping Products,” details the latest usage data and trends, identifies current health impacts, highlights existing basic and clinical scientific evidence surrounding ecigarettes and recommends research priorities to further understand the short- and long-term health effects of e-cigarette use.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

By Candy P. Dalizon Contributor

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and a similar trend is observed in the Philippines.

a c cording to the Philippine Cancer s o ciety (PC s ), about 70 percent of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage and only 30 percent in its early stages. For treatment to be highly effective, it is important to detect the disease at an early stage. to p rovide a platform for discussion on breast cancer, the sw iss Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (s w issCham Philippines) organized a roundtable series called “Inspiring Conversations on Breast Cancer in the Philippines.” t h e initiative was led by the PC s and ICan s e rve Foundation and supported by Novartis Healthcare Philippines. t h e first of the roundtable series was held on July 12, 2023 at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.

t h e speakers included Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary r o sario Vergeire; PC s President Dr. Corazon Ngelangel; Dr. a n n Meredith Garcia-tr inidad, head, s e ction of Medical Oncology, Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital; Dr. Maria Cecilia Pagdanganan, head, Breast Center, s t . Luke’s Medical Center (s L MC), Quezon City; Dr. Maria Belle Francia, head, Cancer Institute, s L MC- BGC; a d ora Perez, Vice President, Corridor of Hope, and Joel Chong, Country President, Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

Patient journey may have on the heart and lungs, according to a new scientific statement in the a s sociation’s flagship journal Circulation.

Go after e-commerce platforms

W I t H t his, the Parents a g ainst Vape (PaV ) urged the Department of tr ade and Industry (D t I ) to not only go after physical stores but ecommerce platforms that selling units of non-compliant vaporized nicotine and non-vaporized nicotine products that appeal to teens and young adults. e - cigarette shops saw an opportunity to push their product using all digital platforms including social media marketplaces,” PaV said as they reiterated that mandatory compliance with Joint a d ministrative Order 22-01 applies not only to physical stores but online stores. a l though PaV l auded the efforts of the joint forces of the D t I a nd Bureau of Internal r e venue (BI r ) t hat led to the closure of vape stores and confiscation of units of non-compliant vaporized nicotine and nonnicotine products in Manila on June 19, 2023, they stressed that r e public a c t ( r a ) N o. 11900, also known as the “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-

Nicotine Products r egulation a ct,” should be strictly implemented on e-platforms as well.

Take necessary action e ar L I e r, the Philippine Medical a ss ociation (PM a ) s ent a letter to the s e nate and other relevant government agencies, appealing to them to take the necessary action against the proliferation of illicit vapor products and tobacco products on Lazada, s h opee and other online platforms.

“We are bedazzled why these noncompliant, unregistered and possible non-tax paid tobacco and vapor products are allowed to be openly advertised, sold and distributed in the local market, especially online,” PM a said. t h e PM a , h owever, said that they were unable to verify whether these products have been registered and the correct taxes paid due to a lack of required internal tax stamps, packaging or labeling requirements.

Unsafe aCCO r D ING t o the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults.

Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. e - cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine and that young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future. t h e products may also contain other substances, most commonly tetrahydrocannabinol ( t H C), the psychoactive element of cannabis, as well as methamphetamine, methadone or vitamins. t h e liquids also include humectants (hygroscopic carriers such as propylene glycol and vegetable glycerol) that act as solvents and create a water aerosol or vapor, flavoring agents, cooling agents such as menthol and sweeteners, in addition to metals from the heating coil and other chemicals.

Vaping products, also known as e-cigarettes, are battery-operated systems that heat a liquid solution, or e-liquid, to create aerosol that is inhaled into the lungs.

Most e-liquid formulations deliver nicotine, which has been established as having negative health effects as well as strong addictive properties.

SkinSTATiOn LAUncheS eLiTe, An UPScALe, memberS excLUSive Skin-cAre hAven

sk IN s tat I ON , o ne of the nation’s leading skin clinics with a network of 102 clinics nationwide, celebrates the thriving launch of s k in s t ation e l ite. Located at the 2nd Floor, High s t reet s o uth Corporate Plaza to wer 1, 26th s t . corner 9th av e., BGC, ta guig City, this upscale extension offers a heightened skincare experience, thanks to the advanced facilities and treatments in a luxurious members-exclusive setting.

Fred C. r e yes, Founder and Chairman of s k in s t ation, highlights the family’s role in business longevity.

“Our commitment to s k in s t ation is family driven. Working with my sons, we aim to offer exceptional skin-care solutions and an exclusive skin-care journey for our members at s k in s t a - tion e l ite,” said r e yes. t h e new facility revolutionizes skin care by merging high-end treatments with advanced aesthetic technology. It features treatments like Pico Laser for pigmentation correction and r a dio Frequency Fractional Machine for skin rejuvenation. r e yes further explained the importance of the s k in a n alyzer, stating, “It enables us to take a data-driven approach to skin care, tailoring treatments to each client’s unique needs.” s k in s t ation e l ite is not just about treatments; it’s about crafting an exclusive, comforting environment. e c hoing this commitment to integrity and customers’ genuine needs, Francis r eyes, Managing Director, stated, “We ensure our practices align with our core values.” t h e success of s k in s t ation and its industry-leading Painless Diode Laser Hair r e moval, combined with its extensive customer base, has paved the way for this luxurious expansion.

Members can relax in the lounge while e njoying complimentary snacks and drinks and receive treatments in private rooms.

Gerard r e yes, C e O o f s k in s t ation, emphasized rewarding their loyal customers. “With s k in s t ation e l ite, we provide an exclusive sanctuary filled with premium skincare treatments to our faithful clients,” he said.

Dr. a l mira k a ye Cuadra r e yes, Medical Director, stressed the ongoing training of their team. “Our staff stay updated with cutting-edge skincare technologies to offer elevated services while ensuring comfort and privacy.” s k in s t ation e l ite takes the existing membership program a step further. Offering heightened exclusivity and priority access to its state-of-theart facilities and treatments, members can experience this elevated skin-care journey for just P1,000. s k in s t ation combines nature and science for unparalleled skin and body solutions. It offers the latest in cutting-edge technology, allowing clientele to enjoy innovative skincare procedures. For more information, visit www.skinstation.ph. health promotion and early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive breast cancer management. t h e speakers were each asked this question: If resources were not an issue, what is the one barrier or gap that we can address together, and that will help strengthen the healthcare system and achieve the GBCI targets? s h e explained that if we are able to reverse this which means getting 30 percent advanced breast cancer diagnosis and 70 percent early-stage diagnosis, the government can reduce its expenses. e a rly diagnosis means that it is easier to treat and there is a better chance of a cure.

For Dr. Ngelangel, it is an organized breast cancer screening program.

“If we don’t do this we will keep on getting 70 percent advanced stages of breast cancer and only 30 percent early stage diagnosis. e c onomic wise, expenditure for late-stage breast cancer is very, very high,” said Dr. Ngelangel.

Organized screening t h e discussion likewise touched on the targets of the World Health Organization’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI). e s tablished in 2021, the GBCI brings together stakeholders from around the world and across sectors “with the shared goal of reducing breast cancer by 2.5 percent per year, which over a 20-year period would save 2.5 million lives.”

Dr . Francia echoed this adding that having an organized screening is one way to diagnose breast cancer early.

“With early-stage breast cancer the chance of cure is higher and the patient can go back to the community and become productive again. When we say organized screening, if the patient comes in and we find something that should be evaluated, we must follow through. If we are able to go through screening up to diagnosis to cure, that would be very ideal,” added Dr. Francia.

Dr. Ngelangel tackled the breast cancer patient journey, specifically the stages they go through that correspond to the different medical processes. t h ese are diagnosis/ unmasking stage, surgery/cleaning out the cancer, chemotherapy/loss of identity, radiotherapy/transition to normality, follow-up care/the “new” day-to-day, relapse/starting over, and metastatic/time-limited chronic breast cancer.

Dr. tr inidad shared patient stories on their survivorship journey while Dr. Pagdanganan and Dr. Francia discussed “Breast cancer journey in s L MC from a surgeon’s perspective” and “Patient journey and pain points in advanced breast cancer care” respectively.

Three key strategies tH e G BCI employs three key strategies to achieve these objectives namely

On the other hand, Vergeire, Drs. tr inidad and Pagdangan said health literacy is something critical especially when it comes to addressing misinformation about health issues.

“I believe that health literacy is one important component of seeking care. We know that there is a scarcity of correct information out there and there is so much misinformation that our patients get confused with. It would be good to include health literacy into the school curricula as well as for all healthcare professionals to educate patients, give them the correct information, or lead them to the correct resources and teach them how to identify and address misinformation,” said Dr. tr inidad. t h e roundtable discussion highlighted the need for a coordinated effort to address breast cancer among Filipinos. “ t h is is something we need to do, and we need to do it together. I will always tell people that the national government alone cannot overcome or address all of these gaps in our healthcare system. But during the time that the pandemic was happening, we saw the Filipino spirit. We saw that every sector worked together. Now, I hope that all of our voices are heard as one, and we unify all of our efforts so that we can give more hope to our breast cancer patients,” said Vergeire.

Discover colorful, creative world of new LEGO Certified Store at the Shang

BUILD new memories brick by brick at the newly opened LEGO Certified Store (LCS) at Shangri-La Plaza, which aims to present the future of play to loyal collectors and enthusiasts, and to a new generation of creators.

The latest store opening signifies a new milestone for LEGO, as the Shang store is designed to be a modern and futuristic paradise that showcases several new collections and inventive in-store attractions. The 166.20-square-meter “retailtainment” space promises interactive fun and play for all ages and geekdoms with sought-after collections such as BTS Dynamite, Disney, Super Mario, Harry Potter, Marvel, DC, and Star Wars.

This LEGO store at Shang is also expected to offer one-ofa-kind experiences that encourage anyone to explore, touch, and interact with the iconic toy bricks. Check out the curated stall to play with opened LEGO sets, or the disruptor bay with an oversized moveable magnifying glass to appreciate the intricate details of meticulously crafted LEGO sets and marvel at the artistry of the designs.

Looking for something more personal? Stop by the Build A Mini-Figure area to customize LEGO mini-figures that can match a person’s hair color, facial features, and clothes. There’s more: bring builds to life by simply scanning them using the AI-powered Digibox that instantly displays and animates sets right inside the Shang store.

“This is the first new retail platform LEGO Certified Store in the Philippines, which has a whole new modern and futuristic look and feel to the store’s interior, designed with unique features not found in other stores,” says Justin Bautista, sales and marketing head of LEGO Certified Stores at Ban Kee Trading, Inc.

The opening of the new LEGO store expands Shang’s dynamic amusement offerings that already include indoor playgrounds Kidzoona and Heroes Headquarters for kids, and the escape room Breakout Philippines for adults.

“We’re so excited to welcome one of the most iconic and beloved brands in the world here at Shangri-La Plaza,” shares Joy R. Polloso, EVP for retail and commercial at Shang Properties. “The opening of the new LEGO Certified Store is an essential part of the Shang’s mission to build for the better, and to bring exciting offerings to our valued mall guests. It is surely going to become a fun destination that has something for everyone, a Shang spot that fans of all ages will surely love for years.”