Journal of Sciences, Technology and Arts Research : a Scholarly Journal.

Includes references.

In Vitro Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition of Acorus calamus (Lubigan) Rhizome Fractions for Alzheimer's Disease -- Physiological and Psychological Responses of Breast Cancer Patients to Chemotherapeutic Regimen -- Partial Purification of the Mammalian Alpha-glucosidase Inbibitor from Melothria sp. (Fam. Cucurbitaceae) Leaves and Stem Extract: In Vitro -- Phytochemical Characterization and In-vitro a-glucosidase Inhibitory Effects of the Methanolic Extract of Musa errans var. botoan (Musaceae) -- In Silico Screening of Selected Natural Product Compounds Against Human Neutrophil Elastase -- The Effect of Swaddle Bath in the Thermoregulation and Quality of Sleep among Infants -- Correlating Caring-Rearing Practices and Child's Academic Performance -- A Tracer Study of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Graduates at National University.

[Article Title: In Vitro Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition of Acorus calamus (Lubigan) Rhizome Fractions for Alzheimer's Disease/ Leah Eryn T. Adarlo, Ma. Angelu M. Andal, Faith Lorica M. Magpayo, Jose Miguel M. Reyes, and David Charles B. Alejandro, p. 4-20]<br/><br/>Abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which neurons degenerate or lose their structure and function leading to memory impairment and cognitive deficiency due to decreased levels of acetylcholine via acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Substances that inhibit and reduce the activity of this enzyme were found to ameliorate the symptoms of AD. Acorus calamus (Lubigan), is an herb that has been used for memory loss and reported to have neuroprotective activity. This study focuses on the potential in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the plant's rhizomes. Maceration of the powdered rhizomes of Acorus calamus was done with ethanol. The extract was then subjected to solvent-solvent extraction using hexane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and water. Phytochemical screening revealed phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids in the chloroform fraction (LRChF) while the other fractions and the ethanolic extract had the same constituents with additional higher alcohols, sterols, triterpenes, essential oils, and steroids. The samples were assayed using Ellman's method on microwell-plates to determine the percent inhibition and inhibitory concentration (ICso) with Donepezil as the positive control. All samples inhibited AChE to some degree. LREE at 1000 ug/mL had the highest significant percent inhibition across all test samples while LRChi and LRWF at 1000 Mg/mL were found to be comparable to donepezil at 500 g/mL. Among the fractions, the LRWF had the most potent inhibitory activity at 129.1 Mg/ml [95% CI: 121.9 10 136.31. In view of the results obtained, Acorus calamus may be further developed as an alternative acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for the management of AD.

[Article Title: Physiological and Psychological Responses of Breast Cancer Patients to Chemotherapeutic Regimen/ Dennis B. Brosola, p.21-43]<br/><br/>Abstract: This descriptive correlational research was conducted to determine the physiological and psychological responses of breast cancer patients to chemotherapeutic regimen. A self- made survey questionnaire was validated and underwent reliability testing with a result of 0.952. The standardized items result was 0.954. Total population sampling was utilized. The study involved sixty (60) breast cancer patients in East Avenue Medical Center. The results revealed that majority of the respondents belonged to the age group of 51 to 60 years old (23, 38.3%), married (44, 73%), self- employed (26, 43%, earning for about 8,000 to 10,000 pesos (21, 35%), college undergraduate (21, 35%, and on their 4th cycle of chemotherapy (15, 25%). In addition, majority of the physiological side- effects are at high extent. Cutaneous (3.60), gastrointestinal (3.77) and neurotoxicity (3.52) while hematological responses were on moderate extent (3.11). Interestingly, majority of the psychological responses were also on high extent. All or nothing behavior (3.66), limiting behavior (3.48) and practical support seeking (3.72), while the emotional support seeking was on moderate extent (3.25). The findings also revealed that there is no significant relationship between and among the variables of Physiological and the Psychological aspects. The findings of the study suggest that hospital should develop a holistic clinical nursing care framework to establish a holistic recovery of the patients.

[Article Title: Partial Purification of the Mammalian Alpha-glucosidase Inbibitor from Melothria sp. (Fam. Cucurbitaceae) Leaves and Stem Extract: In Vitro/ Edmark C. Kamantigue, Noel S. Quiming, Judylynn N. Solidum, and Marilou G. Nicolas, p. 44-51]<br/><br/>Abstract: Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (DM2) is a chronic disease characterized by insufficient insulin levels, pancreatic beta cells function loss and insulin resistance in peripheral tissue. Voglibose and acarbose are the clinically used alpha-glucosidase inhibitor; however, adverse effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and bloating hinder the utilization of these agents. Hence, there is a need to explore for an alternative drug that has fewer side effects, better activity, and more affordable than the current commercial drugs. In this study, Melothria sp. was purified using normal phase column chromatography. Seven fractions (fraction A-G) were separated and tested for mammalian alpha-glucosidase assay in vitro and phytochemical screening was conducted to determine the metabolites present in each fraction. Fraction F showed a promising activity against the enzyme and comparable to other natural products and commercial alpha-glucosidase agent, acarbose. Phenolic compounds such as tannins and flavonoids based on the phytochemical screening were detected present in the sample which can be responsible in the inhibition activity of the semi-purified extracts.

[Article Title: Phytochemical Characterization and In-vitro a-glucosidase Inhibitory Effects of the Methanolic Extract of Musa errans var. botoan (Musaceae)/ Adeline A. Dañas, Maicheryll I. De Castro, Jelyn C. San Francisco, Reian Kyla S. Villanueva, Glynizze Jennel M. Ylagan, David Charles B. Alejandro, and Priscilla M. Evangelista, p. 52-59]<br/><br/>Abstract: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are used to control blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes. Musa errans, locally known as botoan, is an endemic form of banana that grows in the Philippines. A study reported on the hypoglycemic potential of M. errans in- vivo (Feliciano, Galecio, Labutong, Reyes & Serrano, 2014) but there are no current studies on the in-vitro inhibitory potential of this plant. The study aims to investigate the phytochemical characteristics and the antidiabetic activity of the methanolic extract of M. errans through a-glucosidase inhibition. Thin layer chromatography detected the presence of phenols, tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, essential oils, and indoles. Percent inhibition of the M. errans extract is ar 97+0.27 using concentrations of 500, 250, 125, and 62.5 ug/m.l. The a-glucosidase ICso of M. errans was found to be 0.0002634 (95% Cl: 00009154 to 0.0011781) while the ICso of Acarbose is 783 gliml (95% CI: 73.89 to 83.25). The results of the study indicate the anodiabetic potential of M. errans and will serve as additional knowledge for developing antidiabetie drugs from natural sources.

[Article Title: In Silico Screening of Selected Natural Product Compounds Against Human Neutrophil Elastase/ Johnalyn C. Go and Edmark C. Kamantigue, p. 60-67]<br/><br/>Abstract: Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is one of the key proteases present in the neutrophil and is involved in the pathogenesis of different inflammatory disorders. In recent years, the investigation for potential HNE inhibitors are increasing and one of the strategies in drug discovery is the use of in silico drug screening of the reported isolated compounds from natural products. In this study, the docking behavior of HNE with a series of compounds isolated from herbs that inhibit lung inflammation was investigated. iGEMDOCK v.2.1. (Graphical Environment for Recognizing Pharmacological Interactions and Virtual Screening) was used for the docking, virtual screening, and post-screening analysis of pharmacological interactions between the enzyme HNE and various lead compounds as the ligand. And based on the results, Compound 22 (IR,3R, 4S, 650-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6 {[(2R)-5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxypheny10-4-0x0-2,3-dihydro-1-benzopyran-7-ylloxy} oxan-2-yl]methyl(2E)-3-4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate has the highest inhibition potential according to the calculated Gibbs free energy. The finding of this study is the first to be reported based on the current knowledge of the authors. It is recommended that further analysis of the test compound must be performed both in vitro and in vivo to validate its bioactivity.

[Article Title: The Effect of Swaddle Bath in the Thermoregulation and Quality of Sleep among Infants/ Ma. Angela Andal, Gellie De Belen, Derryck Lehi Guarino, Jennelyn Losanta, Camille Manalo, Ma. Kristel Mae Parungao, Rob Valeriano, and Ma. Reina Rose D. Gulmatico, p. 68-80]<br/><br/>Abstract: Provision of routine newborn care, specifically bathing has a significant impact to maintaining effective thermoregulation and improving quality of sleep among infants. Thermoregulation is the ability to balance heat production and heat loss in order to maintain body temperature with certain normal range. On the other hand, rocking an infant to sleep is being done to provide warmth and security. This study determined the effect of swaddle bath in the thermoregulation and quality of sleep among infants in the community. This quantitative, quasi-experimental, pre-posttest research design compared Swaddle and Conventional Bath on the thermoregulation and quality of sleep among 36 infants using a self-made research tool adapted from the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ). A purposive sampling design was used; eighteen participants were assigned in the experimental group and another eighteen in the control group. Weighted mean measured the average difference on the temperature and quality of sleep of the experimental group before and after receiving the Swaddle Bath. T-test evaluated the significant difference between the temperature and quality of sleep of both groups. The study showed that there is a significant difference on the thermoregulation of the infants before and after the bath in the swaddle bath group. Moreover, there is a significant difference between the swaddle and conventional group in terms of the average number of wakefulness and duration to put the infant to initial sleep. Overall, swaddle bath is effective in maintaining thermoregulation and improving quality of sleep among infants.

[Article Title: Correlating Caring-Rearing Practices and Child's Academic Performance/ Alfred Raymund C. Panopio, p. 81-98]<br/><br/>Abstract: Caring interventions and rearing practices of the family have a significant role in the holistic development of the child. The family and the care that they render belong to the immediate milieu of the child, care practices that are undeniably a factor in shaping the future of the child. This research study aimed at determining the childcare practices that are relevant and is cognizant with a performing child in the school in terms of the academic domain. The participants were chosen based on their inclusion in the top performing public schools in Batangas City. The parents were the respondent for care practices while the teachers assessed the academic ability of the child. A total of 215 students from grades 4 to 6 were selected as the target sample. Descriptive correlational design was utilized to determine the relationship between the childcare practices and their academic performance. A researcher made questionnaire was formulated and used face validity and content reliability to come up with the most appropriate instrument. Frequency distribution, weighted mean and chi square were the statistical tests utilized to aid in the analysis of data. Results suggest that rationalizing the purpose of hygiene to the child affects their academic performance. Furthermore, allowing them to join family conversation and giving them monetary allowance for school significantly relates to their performance in the school. Having known these practices will be a good guide as parents strive to give their child a better assured future and eventually as they become parents themselves.

[Article Title: A Tracer Study of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Graduates at National University/ Dennis B. Brosola, p. 99-121]<br/><br/>Abstract: This tracer study aimed to evaluate the employability of Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates at National University. This descriptive design study involved the graduates from academic year (AY) 2007 up to 2018. Most of the information was provided by the Alumni Affairs Office and the Registrar's Office. The total population sampling was utilized. The total number of graduates from AY 2007 to 2018 is 349. However, only 85 graduates participated. The tool utilized was validated and underwent reliability testing which obtained a reliability coefficient of 0.95. The tool sent to the graduates through email and Facebook Messenger. The results showed that there were few graduates who completed higher academic degrees: one point two percent currently taking Doctor of Medicine; one point two percent completed the Master of Arts in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degrees. Meanwhile, one point two percent obtained a Master of Business Administration degree; one point two percent had taken foreign licensure examinations for nurses. Meanwhile, thirty-two point nine percent were employed as hospital Staff Nurse; twenty-seven percent took almost a year to get a job after graduation; forty-seven percent accept their current job because of its relatedness to the nursing profession. It is concluded that there may be many challenges in finding jobs for nurses, still the graduates managed to land a job related to nursing. It is recommended that other methods and strategies should be employed to increase the response rate in the survey. The continuity of a graduate tracer study would be implemented.