University of Saint Louis

Adult-onset food allergy (AOFA), referring to food allergies that first develop in adulthood, has received growing attention in recent years, reflecting the broader rise of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergies. Despite limited dedicated research, a small but expanding body of observational and clinical data offers insight into its characteristics, particularly the frequency of implicated allergens. In this narrative review, the widely cited claim that shellfish are the most common allergen associated with AOFA is critically examined. To assess this claim, relevant peer-reviewed observational studies, published in English and primarily indexed in the PubMed database between 2000 and 2025, were reviewed. Studies were selected based on their focus on adult populations and the availability of specific allergen data.Shellfish were consistently identified as one of the most frequently reported allergens in multiple studies conducted across diverse geographic regions. However, substantial variation in study design, population characteristics, diagnostic criteria, and reporting practices hindered direct comparisons. Variability in reported prevalence rates and methodological differences further complicated interpretation. Additionally, limitations such as reliance on self-reported diagnoses and inconsistent use of diagnostic tests were identified as factors that limit the generalizability of current findings.In summary, although shellfish are frequently reported as a leading allergen in AOFA, current evidence remains inconclusive. Misidentification of the most prevalent allergens could potentially influence clinical guidance and public health interventions. The need for rigorous, large-scale epidemiological studies employing standardized definitions and diagnostic protocols is therefore emphasized. A clearer understanding of allergen prevalence in AOFA will enable more effective clinical risk assessments and support the development of targeted public health strategies.

Mental health services encompass a range of activities aimed at promoting mental well-being, preventing mental disorders, and providing treatment for those affected. The array of mental health programs and services encompasses a wide range of strategies and initiatives tailored to meet the intricate needs of individuals, particularly undergraduate students, to promote psychological well-being. However, a significant number of undergraduate students hesitate to access mental health services, creating a gap between the availability of resources and their utilization. This study assessed the utilization of mental health services among undergraduate students in a university in the northern part of the Philippines. This descriptive correlational research was conducted among 358 undergraduate students. The respondents were selected using a stratified random sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using frequency and percentage, and the Chi-square test of independence was used to determine factors that may be associated with the utilization of mental health services. Results showed that the majority of students demonstrated poor health-seeking behavior towards mental health services (51.7%). Moreover, the majority of the students demonstrated a negative attitude (61%) and poor utilization of mental health services (69.3%). The students also received a poor to moderate level of social support (79.6%) towards the use of mental health services. Students' gender (p=0.043), religion (p=0.001), and attitude towards mental health services (p=0.001) were also found to be significantly associated with their utilization of these services. It can be concluded that despite the availability of mental health services in the university, the students are facing a multitude of barriers preventing them from seeking or utilizing these services. Therefore, programs to improve the utilization, attitudes, and health-seeking behaviors of the students towards mental health services must be implemented.

Developing strong writing proficiency empowers young minds to engage with the world around them in meaningful ways. The main goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ProAct Feedback (Proofreading Activity + Written Corrective Feedback) on grade 5 learners’ writing mechanics proficiency in Filipino. The study employed the one-group-pretest-posttest experimental research design. The researcher also utilized four-day proofreading progress scores, which were used to assess the writing mechanics proficiency of grade 5 pupils per day in the treatment phase. The participants in this study were the 20 purposively sampled grade 5 pupils in one section at the University of Saint Louis. Results show that the ProAct Feedback intervention substantially improves the pupils’ writing mechanics proficiency. The progression from "moderate" to "excellent" progress over the four-day treatment phase indicates that the ProAct Feedback is effective in enhancing writing mechanics proficiency levels, helping the participants reach and maintain high levels of competency from the third to the fourth day. Additionally, the analysis of the proofreading activity progress scores indicates that the intervention had a larger significant effect at the beginning of the intervention phase, with smaller effects over time. From the study’s findings, it can be inferred that learners instantly improve their writing proficiency through the use of innovative, engaging, self-corrective, and informative techniques such as ProAct Feedback. Hence, this research provides guidance for new policies intended to improve elementary learners’ writing proficiency.

This study presents an innovative acoustic surveillance system utilizing TinyML to detect illegal logging in the rainforests of the Philippines. To overcome the limitations of traditional methods, the researchers integrated acoustic data capture with machine learning algorithms on the RP2040 microcontroller. Two feature extraction methods—spectrogram and Mel Filterbank Energy (MFE)—were compared for training machine learning models in both binary and multiclass sound classification tasks. The spectrogram-based binary model demonstrated exceptional accuracy, efficient resource utilization, and fast execution, making it ideal for resourceconstrained environments. Meanwhile, the MFE binary model excelled in real-world acoustic analysis and performed well in multiclass classification, achieving 84.4% accuracy at an 8 kHz sampling rate and 89.6% at 16 kHz. Furthermore, tests confirmed reliable chainsaw sound detection up to 20 meters away. These findings offer an effective solution for illegal logging detection and provide valuable insights into optimizing models based on context and hardware configurations. This system contributes significantly to global efforts in ecosystem monitoring and conservation.

This study introduces an innovative waste disposal method by incorporating technology into a plastic bottle trash bin that offers Wi-Fi access as a reward for proper waste management. The “smart bin” is designed to collect plastic bottles and grant internet time to users. It operates using a microcontroller with sensors that detect deposited bottles, displaying the number collected and the corresponding internet access time. Users can press a button to transfer this time to a TP-Link module, which provides a voucher code for internet access. Testing revealed that the bin's infrared (IR) sensor effectively counted bottles when inserted one at a time but struggled with multiple bottles, often registering just one. After five bottles, the system successfully generated a voucher code and reset the count. The study concluded that the smart bin accurately tracks bottles and provides corresponding internet access, ensuring a reliable user experience.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Leptin and ghrelin are important markers in PCOS due to their correlation with obesity, insulin resistance, and fertility. There is currently a debate in the literature about whether altered leptin and ghrelin levels in women with PCOS are a result of the disease itself or if they are due to factors such as the hyperinsulinemic state characteristic of PCOS. This meta-analysis aims to assess if insulin levels impact leptin and ghrelin levels in PCOS. Eight case-control studies assessing the relationship between insulin and leptin, as well as five case-control studies assessing the relationship between insulin and ghrelin, were identified in PubMed. Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC) and the sample size were extracted, and two meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model. Total heterogeneity (I2) with a confidence interval of 95% was then determined. "Leave-one out" diagnostics were calculated for each case. If a study was identified as being significantly influential, the study was removed from the data set, and the trim and fill procedure was applied. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's regression test and rank correlation test. Our results showed a moderate positive relationship (r=0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.42, 0.71), with substantial heterogeneity I2=81.35%, 95% CI (25.2799, 88.2451)) between insulin and leptin levels, and a moderate negative relationship (r=-0.33, 95% CI (-0.43, -0.24)), with low heterogeneity (I2=0.00%, 95% CI (0.0000, 80.8159)) between insulin and ghrelin levels. Therefore, there is a significant relationship between insulin and higher leptin and lower ghrelin levels in women with PCOS. Better insulin control may have a positive effect on fertility, appetite, weight, body image, and quality of life in these women. This correlation is likely multifactorial, and further studies are needed to isolate factors influencing these hormones.

This study assessed the level of health system responsiveness of Rural Health Units (RHUs) in Cagayan Valley Region along seven domains of responsiveness namely dignity, autonomy, confidentiality, choice of provider, prompt attention, communication, and quality of basic amenities, and five core components of the health system namely health governance, health human resource, health information system, access to medicines and technology, and service delivery. A cross-sectional research design was adopted using survey as the primary means of data collection using a researcher-developed questionnaire. The study was conducted in RHUs of 15 identified municipalities in the region. The municipalities were chosen based on their low performance in the LGU health score cards for 2019. A total of 618 clients and 235 health workers were included in the study. Frequency, percentage, and mean were used to analyze the profile and level of health system responsiveness. T-test and one-way ANOVA were used to test significant differences. The results showed that the RHUs included in the study have very good level of health system responsiveness, with overall percentage scores ranging from 73.55 to 88.08, in all domains assessed. However, choice of providers within the facilities (62.71%) and access to medicine and technology (77.45%) were the least responsive among all the identified domains. Significant differences in the clients' assessment of the responsiveness of the RHUs were seen when grouped according to their sex, age, educational attainment, income level, overall level of health, frequency of visits, and distance of home to facility. The RHUs' location, whether in an urban or rural area, number of staff, and number of barangays catered also were found to determine the level of health system responsiveness. Moreover, not all RHUs were able to comply with basic requirements of the Department of Health specifically along the services offered. It can be concluded therefore that the RHUs, despite the limitations in certain aspects are still able to meet the expectations of the clients and health workers in the delivery of health services. However, in order to maximize responsiveness of these facilities, DOH requirements for these facilities should be met.

The emergence of the Novel Corona Virus in 2019 has been the root cause of severe disruptions in economic opportunities and educational curriculum implementation, affecting people's daily lives worldwide. The pandemic has brought about changes in the educational system. The mode of learning and teaching has shifted from face-to-face to online education. This study aimed to explore the experiences of the pre-service science teachers as well as their recommendations to improve the implementation of online teaching delivery in their virtual internship. This basic qualitative research was carried out to explore the experiences of the pre-service science teachers as well as their recommendations to improve the implementation of online teaching delivery in their virtual internship. Twenty pre-service teachers took part in this study through an online interview. The findings revealed three major recurring themes: (1) Pre-deployment experiences of pre-service science teachers in their virtual internship; (2) Deployment experiences of pre-service science teachers in their virtual internship; and (3) Post-deployment experiences of pre-service science teachers in their virtual internship. The study concludes that pre-service science teachers have both positive and negative experiences during their virtual teaching internship. The recommendations of the informants focused primarily on the implementation of virtual internship program during the pandemic.

This study aimed to map the accessibility of the existing isolation facilities in Cabagan, Isabela, and propose probable locations suitable for establishing isolation facilities using the Geographic Information System (GIS). Digital datasets of the current isolation facilities were used in the study, along with factors such as land uses, hazards, landfills, and road networks that should be taken into consideration when choosing potential locations for isolation facilities. These factors follow the guidelines set by the Department of Health (DOH). The processing and generation of layers related to the criteria were done using GIS techniques, specifically overlay analysis tools. In order to project an appropriate map of potential isolation facilities in Cabagan, Isabela, the layers were combined and overlaid. The existing isolation facilities are accessible to Milagros Albano District Hospital (MADH) since all of them are adjacent to national or barangay roads. More than half, or 65.38%, of the isolation facilities, belong to areas with low to moderate susceptibility to flooding, and 26.92% are in areas with high susceptibility to flooding. Furthermore, all isolation facilities are open to the public, with 53.85% of existing isolation facilities in residential areas, 7.69% in commercial areas, and 38.46% in agricultural areas. The suitability map of proposed isolation facilities was successfully generated, showing that 100% of the proposed isolation facilities are accessible from any road network in the municipality with low and moderate susceptibility to flooding and low susceptibility to landslides.

The English language is known to be a universal language as it is used in different parts of the world. It connects nations, links people from different places, is widely used in education and the business world, and is most notably used for globalization. Although people were given all of the chances and opportunities to study the said language, some were still struggling to use it orally or in writing. With all the interventions made, others are yet to improve and have a low or poor English language proficiency. Hence, the objective of this descriptive study is to determine the English language proficiency of elementary pupils. The respondents of the study were all of the grade IV pupils enrolled in the school year 2020-2021 at one private institution in the Northern Philippines. The results revealed that the overall English language proficiency of the pupils is at an advanced level, regardless of whether they are in the transitional year from using their mother tongue to using the English language, which is grade IV. Meanwhile, the profile variables included in the study were not significantly associated with the pupils' English language proficiency. Thus, a manifestation that respondents' profile does not prompt pupils' proficiency level because no relationship was revealed as suggested by the results of this study.