Future of pediatric cardiology
"The future offers unlimited potential," said Dr. Asuncion Reloza of the directions and challenges in pediatric cardiology in her Mariano M. Alimurung Lecture during the 38th annual convention of the Philippine Heart Association in May. Cardiac imaging, perinatal cardiology, interventional catheterization, pediatric heart surgery, pediatric rehabilitation, preventive pediatric cardiology, and pediatric electrophysiology and pacing have all galloped forward in the last few years, she noted.
But Reloza said the future of pediatric cardiology lies in molecular cardiology, which can bring about "dramatic shifts" in therapeutic strategies and prevention of diseases. Those with heart failure, essential hypertension, essential atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, rheumatic fever, and rheumatic heart disease can potentially benefit from this.
"Studies on intracellular signals by gene therapy have shown that it is the messenger RNA, and in particular, the alpha and the beta-myosine heavy chain that is most influential in the contractile protein function," Reloza said. Gene-therapy studies in heart failure suggest possible benefits of preventing a decline in the alpha myosine heavy chain, which is seen in end-stage heart failure, she added.
In essential hypertension the environment plays a role together with multiple gene abnormalities. The natural history in childhood is that there's more than a 50-percent chance that the child would eventually develop hypertension if both parents are hypertensive, she noted. This could help doctors identify prehypertensive children to prevent them from becoming hypertensive by instituting preclinical intervention. And in the future, transcription-modulated drugs or therapy can possibly be used.
As far as atherosclerosis is concerned, Reloza emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. "1993 autopsy studies have already shown that 50 percent of children 10 to 14 years old already had arterial fatty streaks. Currently, studies have shown that children as young as two years old have the beginnings of arteriosclerosis," Reloza said.
Prevention of such conditions can be made possible by liver-directed gene therapy to control lipoprotein metabolism in high-risk individuals, reduce low-density lipoproteins, and increase high-density lipoproteins through control of ipoligands and surface receptors.
Does genetic therapy have a future for congenital heart disease? "Yes, because current studies are being done on genes responsible for certain abnormalities such as those in China that have identified the cx43 gene in conotruncal abnormalities," Reloza said. But it would take a long while before direct delivery of specific or genetically altered cells can be made possible.
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Club marks Allergy Day
The Allergy Club marked National Allergy Day on July 8 to create public
awareness of the burden of allergic diseases in the face or rising
pollution, global warming, and economic problems that the world faces today.
The club held its third national assembly at the University of Santo Tomas grounds, featuring a fun run, mini sports festival, and Allergy Bulilit contest. Members of the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (PSAAI) led by Dr. Cherrie Padua, PSAAI president, and Drs. Hiyasmin Lim and Linda Varona, Allergy Club coordinators.
The Allergy Club is a support group for people suffering from allergy founded by the PSAAI. Seeing the increasing global burden for allergic diseases worldwide, the society has taken responsibility for helping ease this health problem. One of this is by educating patients with allergies and creating public awareness on how to prevent and recognize allergic diseases. Since allergy often runs in the family, the Allergy Club focuses on helping both the patient and their family so that this "miserable" allergy attacks can be controlled and properly handled when the attack comes.
Survey shows that as much as 10 to 20 percent of the general population suffer from various forms of allergy, which is a major cause of lost work and school hours and an added burden in terms of treatment costs. The most common allergic diseases in the country are allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, urticaria, food and drug allergy, and atopic eczema.
Two years ago, the World Allergy Organization proclaimed July 8 as World Allergy Day to be celebrated every two years. Through the efforts of the PSAAI and the Department of Health, President Gloria Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 256 mandating the observance of July 8 as National Allergy Day.
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A PLANET for psoriasis patients
Less than two years ago, a bunch of strangers met in cyberspace sharing their pains of having an incurable skin condition-psoriasis. They now lead a national campaign to improve the living conditions of millions of Filipinos with psoriasis.
With a handful of members, Psoriasis Online Community (PsorPhil) served as a medium for a few Filipinos suffering from psoriasis to vent their anger, frustrations, agonies, and aspirations. Quickly, it became a support group for more than 200 Filipinos with psoriasis.
Most people with psoriasis choose to hide and withdraw from society for fear of being ridiculed and disliked by the public. They find it very difficult to get a job. A number of patients go to the extent of taking their own lives because of depression. About 850,000 to 1.7 million Filipinos are believed to be suffering from the disease in silence.
The need to help the poorest members of the psoriasis community will be at the heart of PsorPhil's second anniversary on August 18 with the support of LEO Pharma Philippines. During the celebration, PsorPhil will launch the Psoriasis Livelihood Network (PLANET) for the benefit of the most economically challenged members of the psoriasis community.
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