Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

05 Dec 2024

UP Diliman

Advising in Language Learning complements the Flipped Classroom in teaching foreign language

The Flipped Classroom Approach is a novel methodology used in language learning. In this set-up, students are tasked to study...

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04 Dec 2024

UP Open University

Artificial intelligence allows detection of heart problems using only sound

This paper explores a new way to detect heart disease by using sound. Just like a doctor listens to your...

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03 Dec 2024

UP Diliman

Public school teachers in the Philippines perform various tasks that can be considered health work

While the chronically overburdened state of public school teachers in the Philippines is well-established, little is known about how they...

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19 Nov 2024

UP Manila

BPO workers are prone to physical and mental stress which could cause other health problems

This study looked at how to keep people healthy and safe while working in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry...

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22 Oct 2024

UP Diliman

An active learning system which generates training sequences comparable to randomly labeled video sequences has potential use in vehicle tracking

The development of an efficient and reliable transport system has a direct impact on the economy of the country. One...

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12 Sep 2024

UP Mindanao

Tarsiers need small forest fragments to survive, making it crucial to protect these isolated environments

The Philippine tarsier Carlito syrichta (Linnaeus, 1758) is considered a specially protected flagship species in the Philippines. However, the species is threatened...

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20 Aug 2024

UP Mindanao

In Visayan and Mindanao epics, the “Man With No Breath” is seen as deathless and invulnerable, contrary to the common view of continuous breathing as a sign of wellbeing

In Visayan and Mindanao epics, one encounters the figure of an enigmatic character called the “Man With No Breath”. This...

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09 Aug 2024

UP Diliman

Height and height differences impact different areas of life including jobs, education, sports and social interactions

This review article examines the meanings and materialities of human stature, from serving as a marker of human difference to...

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02 Aug 2024

UP Los Baños

Saba banana peels offer many health benefits including potential effectiveness in treating obesity and related disorders

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the potential health benefits of saba banana peel (SBP). The study reveals that...

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29 Jul 2024

UP Manila

Pharmacy students are skilled in nonverbal communication and language use, but less confident in developing and managing treatment plans

Pharmacists are in a unique position to provide important medication information, prevent errors, and help improve patient outcomes. Patient medication...

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19 Jul 2024

UP Los Baños

Large-scale study involving samples from 90 countries reveals that butterflies originated approximately 100 million years ago in what is now the Americas

The research, conducted over seven years and involving over 80 scientists worldwide, aims to contribute to our understanding of butterfly...

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16 Jul 2024

UP Diliman

The dozens of animal engravings discovered in the Atxurra cave in Basque Country, Spain prove that there is planning before artistic production during the Upper Palaeolithic

The Atxurra cave (Basque Country, Spain) is an exceptional place to learn about the Magdalenian artists in Europe. A unique...

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Research

The success rate of treating colorectal cancer (CRC) can be greatly increased through the early and accurate diagnosis of the disease. However, the current standard diagnostic procedures for CRC often take a lot of time and lack sensitivity and specificity since most rely on visual examination by expert pathologists. As the number of expert pathologists in the country is limited, delays may be observed from the initial diagnosis and second opinion which results in the postponement of medical treatments.

The research makes use of 6 microRNAs (miRNAs) derived from plasma and tissue samples to differentiate cancerous and non-cancerous samples. Like DNAs, miRNAs are biological codes in our body that specifically determine what features will be expressed from our genes. The selected 6 miRNAs were specifically chosen since they are largely expressed or inhibited among CRC patients. Using machine learning, the study was able to distinguish cancerous and non-cancerous samples with an accuracy of 99.35% using plasma samples, and 99.30% using tissue samples, respectively. The high model accuracy utilizing plasma samples indicates that a less invasive screening procedure, using blood, may be used instead. This screening is significantly less traumatic than the current one since it will only necessitate a blood sample from the patient.

With a faster and more accurate diagnosis, patients will be able to receive prompt and personalized treatment. And in fact, also significantly reduces the chances of misdiagnosis, consequently eliminating the high risk and financial burden that comes with it.

Authors:

Aamer Sultan (College of Science, University of Santo Tomas), Aaron Austin de Asa (College of Science, University of Santo Tomas), Tesah Mae Guimbangunan (College of Science, University of Santo Tomas), Ezekiel Dmitri Serapio (College of Science, University of Santo Tomas), Allan Fellizar (The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas | Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Batac), Pia Marie Albano (College of Science, University of Santo Tomas) | The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas | Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas) and Rock Christian Tomas (Department of Electrical Engineering, University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.56899/152.04.12