Microfinance institutions’ mission is to assist micro-entrepreneurs in improving their business conditions. However, the status quo has shifted significantly since the COVID–19 pandemic struck the country. Hence, the purpose of this study is to examine the role of microfinance in improving the current conditions of the businesses of the micro-entrepreneurs. The descriptive-correlational design was utilized with a validated survey questionnaire constructed by the researcher as the primary research instrument and data collection tool. The study was conducted in the twenty-six (26) Barangays considered as rural areas of Santiago City. The number of micro-entrepreneurs chosen for this study in Santiago City was one hundred thirty (130), as determined by the G*Power 3.1 Software. The study's findings revealed that financial intermediation, social intermediation, enterprise development, and social services are important roles of micro financing in improving their businesses. Meanwhile, microfinance's financial intermediation, social intermediation, enterprise development, and social services roles had a significant impact on the micro-businesses of marginalized micro-entrepreneurs. The findings further revealed a significant relationship between the financial intermediation roles of microfinance and the effects of enterprise development on the respondents' micro-businesses. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the micro-businesses of marginalized micro-entrepreneurs. As a result, there is a significant relationship between and among the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the growth and sustainability of the respondents’ businesses.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has resulted in severe difficulties, especially for those who are traditional business owners. Thus, there are different challenges that business owners have experienced. This study was designed to identify the coping mechanisms of traditional business owners when a pandemic hit them. The participants in this study were ten selected traditional business owners from Santiago City. The researchers used a narratology design that focuses on the life of a person to obtain a precise and correct response. In addition, the researchers used an open-ended interview method through an interview guide. The study found that the traditional business owners experienced business closures, the emergence of online selling, a downtrend in sales, heightened business compliance to safety protocols, financial difficulties and emphasizing products and services, strengthening customer relationships and loyalty, adapting personalized public health measures, aligning the traditional business to innovative business trends and promotion through virtual channels are their ways to cope up and keep their business afloat amidst COVID-19 Pandemic.

We report a 22-year-old homosexual man, a known case of HIV-1 infection but non-compliant to medications, who presented with a 5-month history of progressive painless non-pruritic coin-shaped skin lesions and recent gradual bilateral blurring of vision. His history divulged a primary syphilitic event 1 year prior to the present clinical manifestations. Investigation led to the diagnosis of neurosyphilis with ocular involvement with concurrent signs of secondary syphilis. Treatment with aqueous crystalline penicillin G, ophthalmic steroid and tropicamide drops, and topical emollients resulted in significant clinical improvement of ocular symptoms and skin lesions. The diagnosis of neurosyphilis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion and should be included in the differential diagnosis of unexplained ocular symptoms, particularly in men who have sex with men and HIV-infected patients. This is necessary for the early diagnosis, appropriate management, and good outcome of these patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged healthcare systems worldwide. In the Philippines, long-term care for patients with conditions identified through newborn screening (NBS) is coordinated through Newborn Screening Continuity Clinics (NBSCCs). These clinics are integral to achieving optimal outcomes by providing follow-up oversight and assistance for individuals identified through screening. Continuity of NBSCC care for NBS during the COVID-19 pandemic was both challenging and necessary and was accomplished through innovative strategies of dedicated personnel. Following the discontinuation of the community quarantine, a situation assessment survey was completed by each NBSCC to better understand the challenges encountered and their effect on patient care. Performance data from each NBSCC were reviewed both before and after an extended community quarantine (2018-2021) to evaluate the impact of NBSCC disaster contingency plans in overcoming the resultant challenges (transportation, supply chain, etc.). Thematic analysis of the survey showed three primary challenges: Operations, communications, and safety. In 2018 and 2019, successful patient contacts were 70.6% and 70.2%, respectively. During the pandemic, successful contacts were 74.9% in 2020 and 76.8% in 2021, demonstrating that the contact approaches taken by the NBSCCs were sufficient to maintain (and even improve) patient contacts. The number of unresponsive patients decreased during the pandemic likely due to decreased mobility and improved follow-up actions from the NBSCCs.

<p><span>The COVID-19 triggers technologically-oriented learning and is critical in ensuring that education continues after schools close physically. The internet has a plethora of learning opportunities but may invite privacy risks to users. Using descriptive-comparative research design, the study determined the contents and artifacts exchanged in online portals, the extent of use of social media sites, teaching-learning platforms, and educational websites. The sample was 341 college students of a family-owned private higher education institution. Finally, the difference in online privacy risk management practices was determined when grouped by selected demographic variables. Using means, t-test, and ANOVA, findings from an online survey showed that personal information is shared the most in online portals. For online learning, students heavily relied on Facebook, Microsoft Teams, and Google. To protect their privacy, respondents from all classes follow online management practices. Generally, the respondents' good affordances and decorum in the online media imply that they have good behavior and value creation. Still, a comprehensive strategy to safeguard data among learners in the utilization of online productivity platforms is a must.</span></p>

<p class="abstract">Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been used successfully in the practice of orthopedics to reduce perioperative blood loss, particularly in total hip and knee arthroplasty and spine surgery. The use of TXA has shown potential to reduce blood loss, transfusion rates and volumes, perioperative hemoglobin change and hospital-related costs at various degrees. This review aimed to evaluate the clinical results of the intraoperative use of TXA in long bone fracture surgeries. Relevant electronic articles were reviewed through a systematic search and selection process, resulting in the selection of five randomized control trials with a total of 295 participants. These studies compared the primary outcome of this meta-analysis, which was blood loss. Four of the studies included post-operative hemoglobin levels as their outcomes. Furthermore, two studies compared drop in hemoglobin levels, while three studies included blood transfusion events. Results showed a significant difference in terms of total blood loss when intraoperative administration of TXA was compared to placebo in long bone surgeries with a mean difference of -76.94 [-106.62, -47.26] (95% CI) (p≤0.00001). There was no significant difference in terms of post-operative hemoglobin levels (p=0.27) with a mean difference of 0.31 [-0.24, 0.86] (95% CI). No significant difference was also shown between the two groups as to drop in hemoglobin levels (p=0.29) with a mean difference of -0.34 [-0.97, 0.29] (95% CI). This meta-analysis showed that intraoperative use of TXA given during long bone fracture surgeries can effectively reduce total blood loss and reduce risk of transfusion events or avoid transfusion events.</p>

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare clinical and histopathologic syndrome characterized by calcium phosphate deposition in peri-articular soft tissue regions, most commonly in the large joints of the hips, shoulders, and elbows. We present the case of a 49-year old female with 8 months history of gradual increasing, painless swelling along her left distal thigh. Plain radiography demonstrated a dense lobulated cluster of calcific nodules within soft tissues consistent with a diagnosis of tumoral calcinosis, as confirmed by histopathological examination. Using this case as illustration, the first case of such nature in our institution, we reviewed pertinent literature related to the management of tumoral calcinosis. Although the pathogenesis in tumoral calcinosis is controversial, the ideal management is surgical excision with complete removal of abnormal tissue to prevent recurrence and to focus on the reduction of serum phosphate levels.

An aneurysmal bone cyst is a locally destructive lesion considered to be a pseudotumor arising from the bone. Although this benign-like lesion is generally considered rare, several approaches for treatment have been presented. We report a case involving a 15-year-old female diagnosed with aneurysmal bone cyst of the lateral malleolus. Applying the Masquelet technique enabled the treatment of the lesion without causing instability to the ankle joint and the prevention of recurrence through the application of polymethylmethacrylate. To our knowledge this is the first documented case in our region and possibly in the Philippines.