Physiology

Vision

To continuously develop faculty, personnel and students by lifelong learning. Conducting relevant community based and occupational researches. Use and develop technology. Create and maintain linkages in local and foreign institutions to share informatics and technology and collaborate in researches.

Mission

We are a department of highly trained and motivated individuals with integrity, spirituality and social consciousness. Committed to the improvement of knowledge in the physiological services through excellence in education and research and its application towards achieving delivery of optimal health care for all.

A Synopsis

We celebrated our Centennial with the College of Medicine in 2005. The Dept. of Physiology, originally the Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology was one of the eight original departments when the Charter of the Philippine Medical School was approved in 1905. In 1922, the year before the Philippine Medical School was renamed UP College of Medicine, the Department separated into the Department of Pharmacology and Department of Physiology and Biochemistry. Five years later, the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry transferred from the main building to the 2nd floor of the newly built Medical Annex Building (now called Juan Salcedo Hall). During the Liberation of Manila, this building was heavily damaged but it was rebuilt in 1946. Finally, in 1953 the Dept. of Physiology and Biochemistry separated into two separate departments, the Department of Physiology and the Department of Biochemistry.

All through its 100-year history, the Department of Physiology has remained a trailblazer in the field of Physiology both in teaching and research. The department is fortunate to have had in its roster of faculty eminent leaders in the field which include Drs. Isabelo Concepcion, Narciso Cordero, Esperidion Reyes, Emilio Bulatao, Augusto Litonjua and Bayani Baylon to name some. The period during the chairmanship of Dr. Santiago Guzman (1962-1970) is often referred to as the “Golden Years” of the department, characterized by the unprecedented productivity in research. On the other hand, under the leadership of Dr. Zenaida Bagabaldo (1975-1985), Physiology was the first department of the College to adopt new trends and innovations in medical education. This was to a large extent due to the influence of one of its faculty, Dr. Corazon Gonzales, the first Director of the then National Teachers’ Training Center (NTTC) for the Health Professions. The department also takes pride in the fact that two of its faculty, Drs. Alberto Romualdez and Cecilia Tomas have become deans of the College, while Dr. Dolores Bonzon as Associate Dean. In addition, Drs. Juan Salcedo and Romualdez became Secretaries of the Dept. of Health. Some of the world renowned physiologists such as Klaus Thurau, Silvio Weidman, John Brobeck, John West and John Nichols have walked through the corridors of the department and gave lectures to students and faculty.

The years approaching the new millennium saw the department grow in maturity. The openness to innovate and change in pursuit of improvement and relevance continued. In testimony of this desire for excellence, the department under the leadership of Dr. Xenia Tigno was awarded “Most Outstanding Department in the Basic Sciences” for four consecutive years (1995-1999). At the same time, its faculty has received and continues to receive distinguished University and national awards and recognitions. In 2000, a complete makeover of the department to its present state was initiated and gave birth to the Center for Enhancement of Human Performance (CEHP), the research and service arm of the department, whose main objectives include the establishment of standards of human performance of the Filipino worker, as well as methods for determining impact on human performance of interactions between environment, disease and host factors.

True to its commitment as a leader in the community, the department has shared the expertise of its faculty through postgraduate courses and extension services. The first Filipino textbook in Integrative Physiology was published by the department in 1998, and in 1999, in collaboration with the CHED developed the basic Human Anatomy and Physiology course for the nationwide implementation of the Associate in Health Science Education. To this date, the department remains in the forefront of teaching and research in the disciplines related to normal functions of the human body. It continues to move towards a holistic, context-based and humane curriculum. Cognizant of an illustrious past and looking towards the future, the Department of Physiology remains committed to its mission of being a “department of highly trained and motivated professionals with integrity, spirituality and social consciousness, committed to the improvement of knowledge in the physiological sciences through excellence in education and research and its application towards achieving delivery of optimal health care and community development.”

The Master of Science in Physiology program is designed for students who wish to pursue an academic career in Physiology. It is intended also for Health Professionals engaged in either clinical practice or in the teaching profession, who would like to strengthen their mastery of principles of Physiology, because the curriculum is enriched with hands-on experimental course, it also provides the prospective researcher with a variety of models for future research in the discipline. The program can also be fine-tuned to serve the needs of the non-health professionals, such as engineers, physicists and the computer scientists, who may wish to find their niche in the biomedical sciences.

Description of Courses:

Physio 202 Physiology for Graduate Students – Fundamental concepts of physiology in the Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Gastrointestinal and Endocrine systems.

Physio 203 Neuroscience for Graduate Students – Essential principles of Neurophysiology correlated with Neuroanatomy.

Physio 204 Correlative Physiology – Integrated analysis of human physiological mechanisms.

Physio 205 General Techniques in Physiology – The theory and practice of basic laboratory methods and techniques needed for teaching undergraduate physiology.

Physio 211 Advanced Physiology – Theoretical and experimental analysis of physiological concepts.

Physio 298 Special Problems in Physiology – A specific research project undertaken with focus on a particular system to include experimental procedure, statistical analysis and discussion of results.

Physio 298.1 Special Problems in Cardiovascular Physiology – Specific problems in the Cardiovascular system.

Physio 298.2 Special Problems in Endocrine Physiology – Specific problems in the Endocrine system.

Physio 298.3 Special Problems in Gastrointestinal Physiology – Specific problems in the Gastrointestinal system.

Physio 298.4 Special Problems in Neurophysiology – Specific problems in the Nervous system.

Physio 298.5 Special Problems in Renal Physiology – Specific problems in Renal and Body fluid physiology.

Physio 298.6 Special Problems in Pulmonary Physiology – Specific problems in the Pulmonary system.

Center for the Enhancement of Human Performance

The Department of Physiology recognizes the pressing need to address the effects of industrialization on today’s worker population. While other institutions promote physiology as a “basic” science, preferring to study biologic systems in isolation, we at the U.P. College of Medicine believe it has a resounding relevance because it improves our understanding of how man can best adapt to his environment.

We believe that we can achieve this goal through the Center for the Enhancement of Human Performance (CEHP). The CEHP vision is to produce a highly effective and physiologically fit Filipino workforce. Its mission is to apply scientific methodology in the assessment of the work performance of Filipinos for the development of strategies and recommendations to maximize their ability to adapt to the constantly changing demands of the work environment. Work Stations

• Pulmonary Workstation
• Cardiac Work Station
• Metabolic Work Station
• Neurologic and Muscular Work Station
• Gastrointestinal Workstation

RESEARCHES UPDATE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY

1. JAL Gabat JAL, Faltado AL, Sedurante MB, Tee ML. Association of obesity and sarcopenia among adult Filipinos. Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2018 Sep; 4 (2018)109:113.
2. Chiu HHC, Francisco CN, Bruno R, Jorge II M, Salvaña ES, Hypermucoviscous capsular 1 (K1) serotype Klebsiella pneumoniae necrotising fasciitis and metastatic endophthalmitis. BMJ Case Rep 2018;11:e226096. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-226096.
3. Constantino, Christopher, MD and Teresita Joy Ples Evangelista, MD.  “An Atypical Case of Upper Limb Paralysis: Man in the Barrel Syndrome”.  PARM Proceedings, (official Journal of PARM) ISSN 2244-2405, Vol 9, No.1, February 2017
4. Evangelista, Teresita Joy Ples, MD.  “Physiatry Day”. Editorial. PARM Proceedings.  Vol 10, No 1, February 2018
5. Evangelista, Teresita Joy Ples, MD. “Liberating Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine”.  Editorial. PARM Proceedings. Vol 10, No 2, February 2018
6. Evangelista, Teresita Joy Ples, MD. “Re-Search”. Editorial. PARM Proceedings. Vol 9. No. 1, February 2017
7. Montemayor ES.  Prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy by cordyceps among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary procedures using intravenous contrast.  ACTA MEDICA PHILIPPINA 2018;52; no. 1.
8. Houssiau FA, Thanou A, Mazur M, Ramiterre E, Mora DAG, et al Tee ML.  IFN-α kinoid in systemic lupus erythematosus: results from a phase IIb, randomised, placebo-controlled study. Ann Rheum Dis 2020;79:347-355.
9. The Effect of Local Application of Neurtralizing Antibody to Interleukin-1B on the Development of Vein Graft Intimal Hyperplasia”. R Quintos, D Dasig, X Tigno, Philippine Journal of Surgical Specialties, Volume 73, Number 1, January-June, 2018.
10. Body Composition of Filipino Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients in Relation to Their Lung Function, Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life. JR Chua, AB Albay and ML Tee. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2019; 14: 2759–2765.
11. Cohen SB, Radominski SC, Kameda H, Kivitz AJ, Tee ML, et al. Long-term Efficacy, Safety, and Immunogenicity of the Infliximab (IFX) Biosimilar, PF-06438179/GP1111, in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis After Switching from Reference IFX or Continuing Biosimilar Therapy: Week 54–78 Data From a Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase III Trial. BioDrugs 2020 Apr;34(2):197-207.
12. Alacapa LF, Sandoval MAS, Dimacali CTD, Orillaza NS. Glucosuria without diabetes: key to the diagnosis of fragility fractures due to Fanconi syndrome BMJ Case Rep 2018. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-223350
13. Macalalad-Josue AA, Palileo-Villanueva LA, Sandoval MA, Panuda JP. Development of a patient decision aid in the choice of diabetes medication for Filipino patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2019, 34 (1): 44-55. doi.org/10.15605/jafes.034.01.08<  
14. Macalalad-Josue AA, Palileo-Villanueva LA, Sandoval MA, Panuda JP. Development of a patient decision aid in the choice of diabetes medication for Filipino patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2019, 34 (1): 44-55. doi.org/10.15605/jafes.034.01.08
15. Omar AT, Sandoval MAS, Pascual JLR III, Khu KJO. Management of hydrocephals in Paget’s disease of bone: systematic review and illustrative case.  World Neurosurgery published online 24 Dec 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2019.12.099
16. Sandoval MAS and Bruno RG. Nail hyperpigmentation in ACTH-secreting pitutary adenoma (Cushing’s disease) and its resolution after successful trans-sphenoidal excision.  BMJ Case Rep 2020; 13: e234905. doi:10.1136/bcr-2020-234905
17.  Roxas MCA, Sandoval MAS, Salamt MS, Matias PJ, Cabal NP, Bartolo SS. Bilateral adrenal histoplasmosis presenting as adrenal insufficiency in an immunocompetent host in the Philippines. BMJ Case Rep 2020;13:e234935.
18. S Papageorgiou , TY Kim , L Baldrias , E Aguilar , T Kelly,  ML Tee. One Health workers:  innovations  in  early  detection  of  human,  animal,  and  plant disease outbreaks M Wilkes, Journal of Global Health Reports. 2019; 3:e2019093. doi:10.29392/joghr.3.e2019093
19. DLJ Caro, JMH Catipay, MJY Benedicto, KO Shirabe, MT Garcia, ML Tee, EA Aguilar. Monitoring Application for Farmer Pesticide Use.. 2019 10th International Conference on Information, Intelligence, Systems and Applications (IISA), PATRAS, Greece, 2019, pp. 1-3

Book Chapter

1. Sandoval, MAS 2018. Tumor-induced osteomalacia in Camacho P. (Ed.) Metabolic Bone Diseases. Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 137 (pp. 136-168)https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03694-2_11

2. At First Glance: Best practices in early obstetric care. Velayo C, Sumpaico W, Torres M (Editors); November 2019, Makati: OVT-Graphic Line, Inc.; ISBN 978-621-96207-0-3

Chapter Authorized:

• Ch 1 Introduction and how to use this book (pp. 1-2)
• Ch 2 The first trimester prenatal consult (pp. 3-7)
• Ch 4 Prenatal testing: early screening for genetic

3. Clinical Practice Guidelines on Preterm labor and birth. Molon KT (ed.); November 2019, Makati: OVT-Graphic Line, Inc.; ISBN 978-971-94602-8-2

Chapter Co-Authored:     Ch 5 Predictors of preterm birth

In response to the escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was imposed in much of Luzon beginning March 16, 2020, effectively locking down the entire metro. This time of isolation may have felt like a “prison sentence” to most of us. Moreover, the constant influx of saddening and worrisome news regarding the pandemic has brought about a pervasive chill in our hearts. Fears over our health, safety, and security and that of our loved ones may have crippled us from going about our day-to-day activities, thus suspending us in this uncomfortable state of limbo. However, as faculty of the University, we realized that we cannot simply abscond from our noble responsibilities as educators who are tasked with helping students reach their full potentials and required competencies. As members of the greater community, we must urgently and efficiently respond to the pressing needs of society in light of the COVID-19 health crisis.

With this, different faculty members of the Department of Physiology have partaken in the following endeavors:

A. Services

1. Volunteered to remain as frontliners in the UP-PGH
2. Coordinated donations for UP-PGH
3. Personally donated to UP-PGH through Globe, banks, etc.
4. Helped craft UP Manila's Safe and Efficient Work Environment Guidelines
5. Continued to participate in the mentoring program
6. Continued to help national agencies and international agencies: Mental Health Act, Colorectal Cancer screening
7. Continued to participate in the mentoring program
8. Continued to work in RGAO and UP Manila

B. Teaching

1. Resumed synchronous or asynchronous sessions for undergraduate and graduate students through online platforms like ZOOM, Google Classrooms
2. Participated in online interview of applicants to UP College of Medicine
3. Advised undergraduate and graduate students on their research projects or thesis
4. Revising instructional designs of different undergraduate and graduate courses to incorporate significant online teaching-learning activities
5. Organized educational webinars

C. Research

1. Did technical reviews of research proposal for Ethics Review Board or Committees
2. Completed or writing research proposals on:
   1. Study on musculoskeletal signs and symptoms of patients post-COVID
   2. Role Models of Internal Medicine residents
   3. Doctor as COVID-19 Patients: Qualitative study exploring the experiences of physicians who became sick with COVID-19
   4. Genetics of Inflammatory Arthritis in The Philippines: Genetic Research On Rheumatoid Arthritis Development
   5. Lupus Low Disease Activity State Study - Extension Phase
   6. Depression and Anxiety during COVID-19 Pandemic
3. Started data collection:
1. Utility of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and Superb Microvascular Imaging (SMI) in Evaluating Joint Swelling in Filipino patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
4. Submitted for publication:
1. Resistant hypertension from cortisol-secreting adrenal adenoma developing only after shockwave lithotripsy
2. 19-year survival of a patient with recurrent metastatic adrenal cancer,
3. Klebsiella pneumoniae bilateral leg abscesses and liver abscess in uncontrolled diabetes,
4. Prevailing food intake, physical activity and health beliefs in a rural agricultural community
5. IISA/IEEE: Explainable Machine Learning applied to Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Prediction
6. Rheumatology International: Development of Genetic Risk Score to Predict SLE
7. Journal of affective disorder: Psychological impact of social distancing policy as a measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines

D. Training and Continuing Professional Development - Attended numerous, almost daily, educational webinars

As the days of evolving COVID-19 knowledge and shifting lockdown protocols pass by, may we all persist in our efforts to help one another, especially those who are most in need. We hope to develop a sense of cautious optimism and resilient hope. May we continue to believe that despite these uncertain and trying times, we can still grow into the best versions of ourselves towards becoming a transformed Filipino people.