Unveiling the positive impact of biofloc culture on Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection of Pacific white shrimp by reducing quorum sensing and virulence gene expression and enhancing immunity

This study aimed to evaluate and unveil the positive impact of biofloc culture on Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection of Pacific white shrimp by reducing quorum sensing (QS) and virulence gene expression and enhancing shrimp's immunity. The shrimp with an average body weight of 0.50 ± 0.09 g were reared in containers with a volume of 2.5 L, 21 units, and a density of 20 shrimp L-1. The shrimp were cultured for 5 days, with each treatment including biofloc system maintenance with a C/N ratio of 10 and a control treatment without biofloc, followed by a challenge test through immersion using V. parahaemolyticus at densities of 103, 105, and 107 CFU mL-1 initially. The results of the in vitro experiment showed that biofloc suspension can inhibit and disperse biofilm formation, as well as reduce the exo-enzyme activity (amylase, protease, and chitinase) of V. parahaemolyticus. Furthermore, the biofloc treatment significantly reduced the expression of the QS regulatory gene OpaR, the PirB toxin gene, and the virulence factor genes T6SS1 and T6SS2 in both in vitro and in vivo. The biofloc system also increased the expression of shrimp immunity-related genes (LGBP, proPO, SP, and PE) and the survival rate of white shrimp challenged with V. parahaemolyticus.

The influence of the acid water of the Banyupait River on the community health in Bantal village, Asembagus, Indonesia

The pH of Mount Ijen crater water is 0-2, resulting in water that is acidic and sulfurous. A fault near the Mount Ijen Crater causes seepage so that acidic water flows into the Banyupait River. Chemical elements and heavy metals originating from the river pollute groundwater and plants. As a result, people around the river consume heavy metals. This research aims to determine the quality of river water and groundwater, as well as determine community factors that are susceptible to dental fluorosis. The methodology used is field mapping and laboratory analysis. For water samples, the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) method is used. The pH of river water at the research location exceeds the quality standard, namely pH 4-5.5. Meanwhile, groundwater fluorine and sulfate elements exceed quality standards, namely fluorine of 0.6171 mg/L and 0.6870 mg/L, and sulfate ranging from 325-683 mg/L. These two elements cause symptoms of dental fluorosis. Meanwhile, the community factors most susceptible to dental fluorosis are people in the adult age category, and the last level of education is elementary school. This is because the Banyupait River water and groundwater are exposed to fluorine and sulfate water originating from seepage from the Mount Ijen Crater.

Diverging likelihood of colon and rectal cancer in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: A cross sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Colon and rectal cancer are associated with different risk factors and prognostic. However, this discrepancy has not been widely explored in the local population. This study aimed to investigate the site-specific likelihood of colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in the Yogyakarta province, Indonesia.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study analyses 1,295 CRC cases diagnosed in 2008-2019 registered in the Yogyakarta population-based cancer registry (PBCR) database. Cases were grouped into colon and rectal cancer. Log-binomial regression was used to determine the relative risk of either colon or rectal cancer across different gender, age group, and rurality of residence. The age-specific rates were calculated by age group and temporal trend for each group were analyzed using joinpoint regression.

RESULTS

Females displayed higher odds of colon cancer (relative risk/RR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.02-1.41) and lower odds of rectal cancer (RR = 0.92, 95%CI = 0.85-0.99). Elevated odds of colon cancer were observed in younger age group, especially 30-39 (RR = 1.87, 95%CI = 1.10-3.19), while decreased odds of rectal cancer was apparent in age group 30-39 and 40-49 (RR = 0.75, 95%CI = 0.60-0.93 and RR = 0.82, 95%CI = 0.69-0.98, respectively). Living in urban or rural areas did not significantly influence the odds of either having colon (RR = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.82-1.17) or rectal cancer (RR = 1.01, 95%CI = 0.93-1.10). During 2008-2019, trends of colon cancer in age <50 increased by 8.15% annually while rectal cancer displayed a 9.71% increase annually prior to 2017, followed by a 17.23% decrease until 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

Yogyakarta population shows higher odds of young-onset colon cancer, especially between age 30-39 years old. Overall observation of trend shows increasing incidence in young-onset colon cancer, and non-significant decrease in rectal cancer.

Extraction Process Optimization of Curcumin from Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Using Ethanol as a Cosolvent

Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb., known as temulawak, Javanese ginger, or Javanese turmeric, is a plant species belonging to the ginger family. This plant originated in Indonesia, more specifically on Java Island, and is usually used as medicine. It contains a high amount of a phenolic compound, namely, curcumin. A supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technique was employed to extract curcumin from C. xanthorrhiza. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of temperature, pressure, and CO2 flow rate on the extraction yield and curcumin recovery from C. xanthorrhiza, which was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide and ethanol as a cosolvent. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) experimental design and response surface methodology were used to optimize the extraction yield and curcumin recovery. The extraction conditions at a temperature of 40 °C, a pressure of 25 MPa, and a CO2 flow rate of 5.34 mL/min produced the optimum extraction yield of 10.4% and curcumin recovery of 3.2%. From Fourier transform infrared analysis, although the physical-chemical structure in the residue of the starting material was almost similar, the quantity of all functional groups in the residue decreased from the starting material. From scanning electron microscopy analysis, it was confirmed that the cell was broken due to the high-pressure effect, so that the extraction process runs easily.

The role of high fat diet on serum uric acid level among healthy male first degree relatives of type 2 diabetes mellitus

First-degree relatives (FDR) of type 2 diabetes mellitus have increased risk of developing insulin resistance-related disorders including hyperuricemia. We investigated metabolic profile and serum uric acid (SUA) metabolism in response to high-fat diet among healthy male FDR in comparison to those without family history of diabetes. A total of 30 FDR and 30 non-FDR subjects completed a 5-days-hypercaloric diet with fat added to regular daily intake. Despite similar insulin response, FDR displayed different changes in SUA compared to non-FDR subjects (0.26 ± 0.83 mg/dL vs - 0.21 ± 0.78 mg/dL, p = 0.028). In subgroup analyses stratified by body mass index and waist circumference, significant different SUA changes between FDR and non-FDR subjects were only found in obese (0.48 ± 0.87 mg/dL vs - 0.70 ± 0.71 mg/dL, p = 0.001) and centrally obese (0.59 ± 0.83 mg/dL vs - 0.55 ± 0.82 mg/dL, p = 0.011) subgroups. In multivariate analysis, visceral adiposity seemed mediating the different response in SUA metabolism between FDR and non-FDR subjects induced by short-term obesogenic diet.

Evaluation of Biosurfactant Production by Bacillus Species Using Glucose and Xylose as Carbon Sources

Lignocellulosic material is one of the raw materials that can be used to reduce the cost of biosurfactant production because it is cheap, abundantly available, and contains cellulose and hemicellulose which can be hydrolyzed to glucose and xylose as carbon sources. This study aimed to evaluate biosurfactant production by Bacillus species using glucose and xylose as carbon sources, which are the most abundant sugar monomers from the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. In this study, biosurfactants were produced by six bacterial isolates belonging to the Bacillus genus. The six bacterial isolates were identified molecularly through 16S rRNA sequencing. The results showed that the six bacterial isolates were identified as B. subtilis ITBCC46, B. subtilis ITBCC40, B. subtilis ITBCC31, B. siamensis ITBCC36, B. xiamenensis ITBCC43, and B. subtilis ITBCC30. All Bacillus species used in this study could be grown on glucose or xylose media. Biosurfactants produced by B. subtilis ITBCC46, B. subtilis ITBCC40, B. subtilis ITBCC31, and B. siamensis ITBCC36 could reduce surface tension below 40 mN/m (32.70 to 39.15 mN/m). All biosurfactants produced by these Bacillus species had more than 50% emulsification stability. These characteristics indicated that the biosurfactants had the desired quality.

Unrevealing tunable resonant excitons and correlated plasmons and their coupling in new amorphous carbon-like for highly efficient photovoltaic devices

An understanding on roles of excitons and plasmons is important in excitonic solar cells and photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Here, we produce new amorphous carbon (a-C) like films on Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) generating PV cells with efficiency three order of magnitude higher than the existing biomass-derived a-C. The amorphous carbon films are prepared from the bioproduct of palmyra sap with a simple, environmentally friendly, and highly reproducible method. Using spectroscopic ellipsometry, we measure simultaneously complex dielectric function, loss function as well as reflectivity and reveal coexistence of many-body resonant excitons and correlated-plasmons occurring due to strong electronic correlations. X-ray absorption and photoemission spectroscopies show the nature of electron and hole in defining the energy of the excitons and plasmons as a function of N or B doping. Our result shows new a-C like films and the importance of the coupling of resonant excitons and correlated plasmons in determining efficiency of photovoltaic devices.

Valorization of Salmo salar Skin Waste for the Synthesis of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-1 (ACE1) Inhibitory Peptides

One of potential inhibitors which is widely used for the clinical treatment of COVID-19 in comorbid patients is Angiostensin Converting Enzyme-1 (ACE1) inhibitor. A safer peptide-based ACE1 inhibitor derived from salmon skin collagen, that is considered as the by-product of the fish processing industry have been investigated in this study. The inhibitory activity against ACE1 was examined using in vitro and in silico methods. In vitro analysis includes the extraction of acid-soluble collagen, characterization using FTIR, Raman, UV-Vis, XRD, cytotoxicity assay, and determination of inhibition against ACE1. In silico method visualizes binding affinity, molecular interaction, and inhibition type of intact collagen and active peptides derived from collagen against ACE1 using molecular docking. The results of FTIR spectra detected amide functional groups (A, B, I, II, III) and imine proline/hydroxyproline, while the results of Raman displayed peak absorption of amide I, amide III, proline/hydroxyproline ring, phenylalanine, and protein backbone. Furthermore, UV-Vis spectra showed typical collagen absorption at 230 nm and based on XRD data, the chain types in the samples were α-helix. ACE1 inhibition activity was obtained in a concentration-dependent manner where the highest was 82.83% and 85.84% at concentrations of 1000, and 2000 µg/mL, respectively, and showed very low cytotoxicity at the concentration less than 1000 µg/mL. In silico study showed an interaction between ACE1 and collagen outside the active site with the affinity of - 213.89 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the active peptides of collagen displayed greater affinity compared to lisinopril, namely HF (His-Phe), WYT (Trp-Tyr-Thr), and WF (Trp-Phe) of - 11.52; - 10.22; - 9.58 kcal/mol, respectively. The salmon skin-derived collagen demonstrated ACE1 inhibition activity with a non-competitive inhibition mechanism. In contrast, the active peptides were predicted as potent competitive inhibitors against ACE1. This study indicated that valorization of fish by-product can lead to the production of a promising bioactive compound to treat COVID-19 patient with diabetic comorbid.

Graphical Abstract

Fabrication and compatibility evaluation of polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite/collagen-based fiber scaffold for anterior cruciate ligament injury

Knee injuries are musculoskeletal system injuries, including the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). ACL injuries are most common in athletes. This ACL injury necessitates biomaterial replacement. It is sometimes taken from the patient's tendon and a biomaterial scaffold is used. The use of biomaterial scaffolds as artificial ACLs remains to be investigated. The purpose of this study is to determine the properties of an ACL scaffold made of polycaprolactone (PCL)–hydroxyapatite (HA) and collagen with various composition variations of (50 : 45 : 5), (50 : 40 : 10), (50 : 35 : 15), (50 : 30 : 20), and (50 : 25 : 25) wt%. The scaffold was created using the electrospinning method with a voltage of 23 kV, a needle–collector distance of 15 cm, and a solution flow rate of 2 mL h⁻¹. The average fiber diameter in all samples was less than 1000 nm. The model with the best characterization was PCL : HA : collagen with a weight-to-weight (wt%) ratio of 50 : 45 : 5 and an average fiber diameter of 488 ± 271 nm. The UTS and modulus of elasticity for braided samples were 2.796 MPa and 3.224 MPa, respectively, while the non-braided samples were 2.864 MPa and 12.942 MPa. The estimated time of degradation was 9.44 months. It was also revealed to be non-toxic, with an 87.95% viable cell percentage.

An ACL scaffold made of polycaprolactone (PCL)–hydroxyapatite (HA) and collagen is fabricated using an electrospinning method.

Amperometric microbial biosensor for sugars and sweetener classification using principal component analysis in beverages

Sugar and artificial sweeteners are additives in packaged food and beverage products that are widely used, where excessive sugar consumption can cause an increase in various diseases. Detection and classification of natural sugars sucrose, fructose, glucose, and artificial sweetener aspartame are needed to determine the effects of consuming these sweeteners. This study uses an amperometric biosensor integrated biochip-D, which uses Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a bioreceptor through cellular metabolic respiration activity expressed in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. The variations of sweetener concentration used were in the range of 50 mM to 250 mM. The measurement results showed that the higher the concentration of sugar and artificial sweeteners, the lower DO levels would be measured. It was due to the yeast cell respiration in consuming oxygen (O2) and producing carbon dioxide (CO2), where the decrease in DO levels of sucrose was 14.24%, fructose was 18.02%, glucose was 16.59%, and aspartame was 20.45% at a concentration of 250 mM. The measurement data was clustered and classified using principal component analysis (PCA), which resulted in data variance percentages of 92.80% and 89.40% for the two main components. In the application studies of the biosensor, sensitive determination of sugar in the beverage samples was investigated.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05625-8.

Characterization of thermostable serine hydroxymethyltransferase for β-hydroxy amino acids synthesis

β-hydroxy amino acids, such as serine, threonine, and phenylserine, are important compounds for medical purposes. To date, there has been only limited exploration of thermostable serine hydroxylmethyltransferase (SHMT) for the synthesis of these amino acids, despite the great potential that thermostable enzymes may offer for commercial use due to their high stability and catalytic efficiencies. ITBSHMT_1 (ITB serine hydroxylmethyltransferase clone number 1) from thermophilic and methanol-tolerant bacteria Pseudoxanthomonas taiwanensis AL17 was successfully cloned. Biocomputational analysis revealed that ITBSHMT_1 contains Pyridoxal-3'-phosphate and tetrahydrofolatebinding residues. Structural comparisons show that ITBSHMT_1 has 5 additional residues VSRQG on loop near PLP-binding site as novel structural feature which distinguish this enzyme with other characterized SHMTs. In silico mutation revealed that the fragment might have very essential role in maintaining of PLP binding on structure of ITBSHMT_1. Recombinant protein was produced in Escherichia coli Rosetta 2(DE3) in soluble form and purified using NiNTA affinity chromatography. The purified protein demonstrated the best activity at 80 °C and pH 7.5 based on the retro aldol cleavage of phenylserine. Activity decreased significantly in the presence of 3 mM transition metal ions but increased in the presence of 30 mM β-mercaptoethanol. ITBSHMT_1 demonstrated Vmax, Km, Kcat, and Kcat/Km at 242 U/mg, 23.26 mM, 186/s, and 8/(mM.s), respectively. The aldol condensation reaction showed the enzyme's best activity at 80 °C for serine, threonine, or phenylserine, with serine synthesis showing the highest specific activity. Biocomputational analysis revealed that high intramolecular interaction within the 3D structure of ITBSHMT_1 might be correlated with the enzyme's high thermal stability. The above data suggest that ITBSHMT_1 is a potential and novel enzyme for the production of various β-hydroxy amino acids.

Comparing the performance of Kernel PCA Mix Chart with PCA Mix Chart for monitoring mixed quality characteristics

Along with the development of information and technology, the quality characteristics of a product cannot be monitored separately in the different types of control charts. In the past, conventional control charts were developed to monitor only one type of quality characteristic. The variable control charts are used to observe the variable or metric quality characteristics. Meanwhile, in monitoring non-metric characteristics or categorical data, attribute control charts are employed. To accommodate these two types of data, the PCA Mix control chart is suggested to simultaneously monitor these two types of data in one chart. However, some drawbacks occur when this chart is applied to monitor non-metric data which has an imbalanced proportion. Therefore, the Kernel PCA Mix control chart is created to overcome the gaps that occurred in the PCA Mix chart. Similar to the previous chart, this chart is also constructed using Hotelling's T2 statistics with Kernel Density Estimation control limit. Several simulations are used to evaluate the performance of the proposed control charts. The simulation results show that the proposed chart has a better result than the previous control chart, especially for a small mean shift with an imbalanced proportion of non-metric data. However, the PCA Mix chart has a similar performance to the proposed chart when it is applied to monitor the balanced proportion of categorical data with a large mean shift. The application with simulated data with various scenarios and the real-world case also shows that the Kernel PCA Mix chart performs better compared to the performance of the PCA Mix chart.

Seed Halopriming Improves Salinity Tolerance of Some Rice Cultivars During Seedling Stage

BACKGROUND

Saline land in coastal areas has great potential for crop cultivation. Improving salt tolerance in rice is a key to expanding the available area for its growth and thus improving global food security. Seed priming with salt (halopriming) can enhance plant growth and decrease saline intolerance under salt stress conditions during the subsequent seedling stage. However, there is little known about rice defense mechanisms against salinity at seedling stages after seed halopriming treatment. This study focused on the effect of seed halopriming treatment on salinity tolerance in a susceptible cultivar, IR 64, a resistant cultivar, Pokkali, and two pigmented rice cultivars, Merah Kalimantan Selatan (Merah Kalsel) and Cempo Ireng Pendek (CI Pendek). We grew these cultivars in hydroponic culture, with and without halopriming at the seed stage, under either non-salt or salt stress conditions during the seedling stage.

RESULTS

The SES scoring assessment showed that the level of salinity tolerance in susceptible cultivar, IR 64, and moderate cultivar, Merah Kalsel, improved after seed halopriming treatment. Furthermore, seed halopriming improved the growth performance of IR 64 and Merah Kalsel rice seedlings. Quantitative PCR revealed that seed halopriming induced expression of the OsNHX1 and OsHKT1 genes in susceptible rice cultivar, IR 64 and Merah Kalsel thereby increasing the level of resistance to salinity. The expression levels of OsSOS1 and OsHKT1 genes in resistant cultivar, Pokkali, also increased but there was no affect on the level of salinity tolerance. On the contrary, seed halopriming decreased the expression level of OsSOS1 genes in pigmented rice cultivar, CI Pendek, but did not affect the level of salinity tolerance. The transporter gene expression induction significantly improved salinity tolerance in salinity-susceptible rice, IR 64, and moderately tolerant rice cultivar, Merah Kalsel. Induction of expression of the OsNHX1 and OsHKT1 genes in susceptible rice, IR 64, after halopriming seed treatment balances the osmotic pressure and prevents the accumulation of toxic concentrations of Na⁺, resulting in tolerance to salinity stress.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that seed halopriming can improve salinity tolerance of salinity-susceptible and moderately tolerant rice cultivars.

Analysis of real-time PCR Melanocortin 3 (MC3R) gene expression to identify new biomarkers inflammation in tuberculosis

Background

Diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in the era of technological sophistication requires accuracy and speed to provide as much information as possible so that TB treatment can be carried out quickly and precisely. New studies have also begun to be carried out to diagnose TB, one of which is by examining genes, either by looking at polymorphisms, mutations, or expressions. Several previous studies have confirmed the association of MC3R and TB genes with polymorphisms; MC3R is a gene that participates in the regulation of the inflammatory process and is also found in macrophages; therefore, we tried to analyze gene expression in the active TB group, household contacts, and healthy controls for looked at the differences between the three groups and confirmed the correlation of MC3R with TB by seeing which group's gene expression increased the most expression of the three groups so that the results can be considered as a TB diagnostic biomarker in the future.

Methods

This study included 122 people, 49 patients with confirmed TB, 46 close relatives of patients, and 27 healthy controls. This study used a real-time PCR technique to analyze MC3R gene expression in the three groups, and all data were analyzed using Bio-Rad CFXTM software version 3.1 and one-way ANOVA using SPSS 21.0.

Results

The value of MC3R gene expression in the active TB group increased 3.6-fold in the healthy group (p = 0.143), and that of gene expression in the healthy control group increased 1.09-fold in the healthy group (p = 0.007).

Conclusion

There is a relationship between MC3R and TB based on the results of gene expression analysis that increased in the active TB group compared to the household contact group and healthy controls.

Molecularly Imprinted Affinity Membrane: A Review

A molecularly imprinted affinity membrane (MIAM) can perform separation with high selectivity due to its unique molecular recognition introduced from the molecular-printing technique. In this way, a MIAM is able to separate a specific or targeted molecule from a mixture. In addition, it is possible to achieve high selectivity while maintaining membrane permeability. Various methods have been developed to produce a MIAM with high selectivity and productivity, with their respective advantages and disadvantages. In this paper, the MIAM is reviewed comprehensively, from the fundamentals of the affinity membrane to its applications. First, the development of a MIAM and various preparation methods are presented. Then, applications of MIAMs in sensor, metal ion separation, and organic compound separation are discussed. The last part of the review discusses the outlook of MIAMs for future development.

Vitamin D status in breast cancer cases following chemotherapy: A pre and post observational study in a tertiary hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Objectives

To observe pre- and post-treatment vitamin D level and its association with treatment and concomitant factors in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

Methods

We performed a pre-post observational analysis that nested in an ongoing prospective cohort study of breast cancer patients at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 136 subjects were recruited from the main study. Information on subjects’ socio-demographic characteristics clinical status, and tumour profile was assessed at baseline. Number of chemotherapy cycles and chemotherapy-induced nausea vomiting (CINV) were also recorded. Vitamin D concentration was measured using ELISA methods at baseline and post-treatment. Vitamin D level of <20 ng/ml and <12 ng/ml were defined as deficiency and severe deficiency. Correlation between socio-demographic and clinical profile with baseline vitamin D was tested using Spearman correlation. Paired t-test was used to evaluate changes in post-treatment vitamin D concentration. The odds ratio for a subject to experience post-treatment vitamin D decrease was assessed based on number of chemotherapy cycles and CINV severity.

Results

The mean vitamin D level before chemotherapy was very low (8.80±3.64 ng/ml) in the whole panel. Higher AST level were associated with lower vitamin D level at baseline (r = -0.188, p = 0.028). Severe deficiency was found in 82.4% subjects at baseline and the rate increased to 89.0% after chemotherapy. Eighty-five cases showed a decrease level whereas 51 showed a slight improvement. Overall, a significant decrease of the vitamin D level was observed after chemotherapy (median change 3.13±4.03 ng/ml, p <0.001). Subjects who received >6 cycles of chemotherapy were less likely to experience a decreased level of post-treatment vitamin D (OR = 0.436, 95% CI = 0.196–0.968, p = 0.039).

Conclusions

Indonesian breast cancer patients showed pre-existing severe vitamin D deficiency and deterioration of vitamin D after chemotherapy. Future research is needed to explore its implication towards patients’ survival in the local setting. Evidence-based approach also needs to be taken to address this modifiable condition, including increasing awareness of the importance of maintaining vitamin D sufficiency both in patients and the general population.

Noncommunicable diseases risk factors and the risk of COVID-19 among university employees in Indonesia

Introduction

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are still a major public health problem in Indonesia. Studies have shown that risk factors of NCDs are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and mortality. However, it is unclear whether NCD risk factors are also risks for new COVID-19 cases. This study aimed to obtain an NCD risk profile among university employees and its associations with contracting COVID-19.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2021. Participants were administrative employees of Universitas Indonesia (UI), Depok City, West Java. Assessment of NCD risk factors was based on the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (WHO STEPS). Demographic, working, and medical-history data were obtained electronically by using a Google Form. Physical and laboratory examinations were done in the Integrated Post for NCDs. Risks were expressed as adjusted odds ratio (OR_adj) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in multivariate analyses.

Results

A total of 613 employees were enrolled. Men were predominant (54.8%), and about 36% of them work in shift as security personnel. About 66.7% were overweight or obese and 77.8% had hypertension. There were 138 (22.8%) employees who had COVID-19. Nearly all (95.6%) had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. At-risk waist circumference (OR_adj 1.72, 95% CI 1.15–2.56, p = 0.008) and total cholesterol level of 200–239 mg/dL (OR_adj 2.30, 95% CI 1.19–4.44, p = 0.013) were independent risk factors, but shift work (OR_adj 0.52, 95% CI 0.34–0.80, p = 0.003) was protective against COVID-19.

Conclusion

The prevalence of NCD risk factors among university administrative employees was high, increasing the risk of contracting COVID-19. A behavioral intervention program to manage NCD risk factors at the university level is urgently needed according to the Health Promoting University framework.

Annealing and TMOS coating on PSF/ZTC mixed matrix membrane for enhanced CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 separation

Recently, natural gas (mostly methane) is frequently used as fuel, while hydrogen is a promising renewable energy source. However, each gas produced contains impurity gases. As a result, membrane separation is required. The mixed matrix membrane (MMM) is a promising membrane. The huge surface area and well-defined pore structure of zeolite templated carbon (ZTC)-based MMM allow for effective separation. However, the interfacial vacuum in MMM is difficult to avoid, contributing to poor separation performance. This research tries to improve separation performance by altering membrane surfaces. MMM PSF/ZTC was modified by annealing at 120, 150, and 190°C; coating using 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05 mol tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS); and a combination of both, i.e. annealing at 190°C and coating using 0.03 mol TMOS. MMM PSF/ZTC successfully significantly improved CO₂/CH₄ selectivity by a combination of annealing at 190°C and coating 0.03 mol TMOS from 1.37 to 5.90 (331%), and H₂/CH₄ selectivity by coating with 0.03 mol TMOS from 4.58 to 65.76 (1378%). The enhancement of selectivity was due to structural changes to the membrane that became denser and smoother, which SEM and AFM observed. In this study, annealing and coating treatments are the methods investigated for improving the polymer matrix and filler particle adhesion.

Diverse human and bat-like rotavirus G3 strains circulating in suburban Bangkok

Although rotavirus vaccines are available in many parts of the world and are effective in reducing the overall incidence of rotavirus infection, it remains a major cause of diarrhea in less-developed countries. Among various rotavirus group A (RVA) strains, the increasingly common genotype G3 (defined by the VP7 gene) has been identified in both humans and animals. Our previous epidemiological surveillance in Bangkok found several unusual non-vaccine-like G3 strains in patients with diarrhea. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the genomes of seven of these G3 strains, which formed combinations with genotypes P[4], P[6], P[9], and P[10] (defined by the VP4 gene). Interestingly, we identified a bat-like RVA strain with the genome constellation G3-P[10]-I3-R3-C3-M3-A9-N3-T3-E3-H6, which has not been previously reported in the literature. The amino acid residues deduced from the nucleotide sequences of our G3 strains differed at the antigenic epitopes to those of the VP7 capsid protein of the G3 strain in RotaTeq vaccine. Although it is not unusual for the segmented genomes of RVA to reassort and give rise to emerging novel strains, the atypical G3 strains identified in this study suggest possible animal-to-human RVA zoonotic spillover even in urban areas.

Identification and characterization of drought-tolerant local pigmented rice from Indonesia

Water is essential to support life. Because limited water availability may affect their life cycles, plants have developed multiple responses to drought stress. Plant physiological and metabolic changes during drought may reflect changes that occur at the level of gene expression. In this study, we investigated the variation in drought-mitigating strategies employed by pigmented rice (Oryza sativa) varieties and the genes involved in their possible drought tolerance. We screened 21 local pigmented rice cultivars from Indonesia for increased drought tolerance using the fraction transpirable soil water method to exert precise control of the drought stress imposed on plants. We then determined the expression of OsDREB1A, OsNAC6, OsNHX1, OsCuZnSOD2, OsOSCAT2, and OsCAT3 in plants grown under well-watered conditions and under moderate or severe drought stress. Among the pigmented rice cultivars, Merah Pari Eja had the greatest drought tolerance, while the red rice Inpari 24 had the highest mortality rate (60%). We also included the white rice cultivar Putih Payo, which is fully sensitive to drought (with 100% mortality under the conditions used) as a negative control. Gene expression profiling revealed a general upregulation of drought-related genes in Merah Pari Eja and a downregulation of such genes in the other two cultivars. Measurements of antioxidant enzyme activity, leaf damage, free radicals, chlorophyll, and anthocyanin contents provided further evidence that Merah Pari Eja is more drought tolerant than the other two cultivars. We conclude that OsDREB1A, OsNAC6, OsNHX1, OsCuZnSOD2, OsOSCAT2 and OsCAT3 expression patterns can reveal plants that have increased drought tolerance.

Structural Properties and Hopping Conduction in the Normal State of Electron-Doped Superconductor Cuprate Eu2-x Ce x CuO4+α-δ

Electron-doped superconducting cuprate of Eu_2-x Ce _x CuO_4+α-δ has been studied in the whole doping regime from x = 0.10-0.20 with reducing oxygen content to investigate the relation between the crystal structure and the hopping conduction in the normal state. Parameter of the crystal structure has been extracted from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement while hopping conduction parameters have been obtained from resistivity measurements. The Eu-O bond length decreases with the increasing doping concentration, indicating the successful doping by the partial replacing of Eu³⁺ with Ce⁴⁺. The resistivity increases with decreasing temperature in all measured samples. This is an indication of bad metal-like behavior in the whole regime in the normal state of electron-doped superconducting cuprate of Eu_2-x Ce _x CuO_4+α-δ. The temperature dependence of resistivity was analyzed by the Arrhenius law and the variable range hopping model. It is found that the hopping conduction mechanism more likely follows the variable range hopping rather than the Arrhenius law, indicating that the hopping mechanism occurs in three dimensions. The Cu-O bond length probably plays an important role in decreasing the activation energy. The decreasing value of the activation energy correlates with the increase in the localization radius.

Nursing care recommendation for pediatric COVID-19 patients in the hospital setting: A brief scoping review

BACKGROUND

The hospitalization of children during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their physical and mental health. Pediatric nurses have faced challenges in providing high-quality nursing care for children and their families. However, the pediatric nursing care recommendations for COVID-19 patients in the hospital setting remain unclear. The current scoping review provides recommendations for nursing interventions for pediatric COVID-19 patients in the hospital setting.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

The selected articles containing management and nursing recommendations for COVID-19 that have occurred in pediatric patients ages 0-19 years old. A search strategy was developed and implemented in seven databases. We included peer-reviewed articles that reported observational or interventional studies, as well as policy papers, guides or guidelines, letters and editorials, and web articles. A total of 134 articles and other documents relevant to this review were included. We categorized the results based on The Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) taxonomy which consists of six domains (e.g., Physiological: Basic); eleven classes (e.g., Nutrition Support); and eighteen intervention themes (e.g., Positioning, Family Presence Facilitation, Family Support, and Discharge Planning).

CONCLUSION

Apart from the intervention of physical problems, there is a need to promote patient- and family-centered care, play therapy, and discharge planning to help children and families cope with their new situation.

Kinetic Study of Copyrolysis of the Green Microalgae Botryococcus braunii and Victorian Brown Coal by Thermogravimetric Analysis

The copyrolysis of the green microalgae Botryococcus braunii and Victorian brown coal was studied by thermogravimetric analysis using the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), and Friedman methods. This research aims to study the synergistic effect of mixing B. braunii and Victorian brown coal in pyrolysis reactions on the kinetic parameter using thermogravimetric analysis. Copyrolysis was carried out at four heating rates, 10, 15, 20, and 25 °C/min. The copyrolysis reaction of B. braunii and Victorian brown coal occurred from 155.79 to 545.27 °C; this temperature range was lower than that for the pyrolysis of only B. braunii under the same conditions. However, mixing the two samples increased the thermal decomposition temperature for each conversion value (α), as well as the average activation energy, due to the presence of compounds that require high temperatures to undergo pyrolysis in the Victorian brown coal. The average activation energies of the copyrolysis reaction of B. braunii and Victorian brown coal determined using the KAS, FWO, and Friedman methods were 195.20 ± 17.40, 195.60 ± 17.70, and 225.93 ± 32.39 kJ/mol, respectively.

The genetic variation and relationship among the natural hybrids of Mangifera casturi Kosterm

Mangifera casturi Kosterm., a mango plant from Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia, has limited genetic information, severely limiting the research on its genetic variation and phylogeny. We collected M. casturi's genomic information using next-generation sequencing, developed microsatellite markers and performed Sanger sequencing for DNA barcoding analysis. These markers were used to confirm parental origin and genetic diversity of M. casturi hybrids. The clean reads of the Kasturi accession were assembled de novo, producing 259 872 scaffolds (N50 = 1 445 bp). Fourteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed from 11 040 microsatellite motif-containing sequences. In total, 58 alleles were produced with a mean of 4.14 alleles per locus. Microsatellite marker analysis revealed broad genetic variation in M. casturi. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using internal transcribed spacers (ITS), matK, rbcL, and trnH-psbA. The phylogenetic tree of chloroplast markers placed Kasturi, Cuban, Pelipisan, Pinari, and Hambawang in one group, with M. indica as the female ancestor. Meanwhile, the phylogenetic tree of ITS markers indicated several Mangifera species as ancestors of M. casturi. Thus, M. casturi very likely originated from the cross-hybridization of multiple ancestors. Furthermore, crossing the F1 hybrids of M. indica and M. quadrifida with other Mangifera spp. may have generated much genetic variation. The genetic information for M. casturi will be a resource for breeding improvement, and conservation studies.

Film-Forming Spray of Water-Soluble Chitosan Containing Liposome-Coated Human Epidermal Growth Factor for Wound Healing

Human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) has been known to have excellent wound-healing activity. However, direct application to the wound area can lead to low hEGF bioavailability due to protease enzymes or endocytosis. The use of liposomes as coatings and carriers can protect hEGF from degradation by enzymes, chemical reactions, and immune reactions. Sustained release using a matrix polymer can also keep the levels of hEGF in line with the treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a film-forming spray of water-soluble chitosan (FFSWSC) containing hEGF-liposomes as a potential wound dressing. The hEGF-liposomes were prepared using the hydration film method, and the preparation of the FFSWSC was achieved by the ionic gelation method. The hydration film method produced hEGF-liposomes that were round and spread with a Z-average of 219.3 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 99.87%, whereas the film-forming solution, which provided good sprayability, had a formula containing 2% WSC and 3% propylene glycol with a viscosity, spray angle, droplet size, spray weight, and occlusion factor of 21.94 ± 0.05 mPa.s, 73.03 ± 1.28°, 54.25 ± 13.33 µm, 0.14 ± 0.00 g, and 14.57 ± 3.41%, respectively. The pH, viscosity, and particle size of the FFSWSC containing hEGF-liposomes were stable during storage for a month in a climatic chamber (40 ± 2 °C, RH 75 ± 5%). A wound healing activity test on mice revealed that hEGF-liposomes in FFSWSC accelerated wound closure significantly, with a complete wound closure on day 6. Based on the findings, we concluded that FFSWSC containing hEGF-liposomes has the potential to be used as a wound dressing.

Long-term exposure of marine mussels to paracetamol: is time a healer or a killer?

Pharmaceuticals pose a major threat to the marine environment, and several studies have recently described their negative effects on marine organisms. Pharmaceutical compounds are constantly being released into aquatic ecosystems, and chronic exposure, even at low concentrations, may have a major impact on marine organisms. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the biological changes induced by one of the most widely used pharmaceuticals-paracetamol-in the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, after a long-term exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations. We present our data alongside and in comparison with results from a previous short-term exposure, to demonstrate the significance of exposure period on the effects of paracetamol in adult blue mussels. After 24 days of laboratory exposure, seven potential target genes were selected to examine toxicological effects in mussels' gonads and possible disruptive effects on reproductive processes. The results show the modulation of some important reproduction-related genes: estrogen receptor-2 (ER2), vitelline envelope zona pellucida domain-9 (V9), and vitellogenin (VTG). Variations in mRNA expression of four other genes involved in apoptosis (HSP70, CASP8, BCL2, and FAS) are also highlighted. Histopathological alterations caused by paracetamol, together with neutral red retention time response in mussels' hemocytes, are presented herein. Overall, this study highlights the exacerbated effects of low concentration of paracetamol after chronic exposure, similar to the damage induced by higher concentrations in a short exposure scenario, thus emphasizing the importance of length of exposure period when studying the effects of this substance. Additionally, this study also discusses the potential of paracetamol to inflict several major changes in the reproductive system of mussels and thus possibly affect the survival of populations.

Improving the Separation of CO2/CH4 Using Impregnation of Deep Eutectic Solvents on Porous Carbon

The separation of CO₂/CH₄ using porous carbon can be increased by the presence of a functional group of nitrogen on the carbon surface. This study explores the potential of porous carbon derived from the palm kernel shell (C-PKS) impregnated with a deep eutectic solvent (DES), which is one of the chemicals containing a nitrogen element. The DES was composed of a quaternary ammonium salt of choline chloride (ChCl) and a hydrogen bond donor of alcohol. Three alcohols of 1-butanol (-ol), ethylene glycol (-diol), and glycerol (-triol) were employed to study the effects of a number of hydroxyl groups in the separation performance. The research steps included (i) the preparation of DES-impregnated porous carbon synthesized from the palm kernel shell (DES/C-PKS), (ii) characterization of the material, and (ii) a separation test of CO₂/CH₄ with a breakthrough system. Materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), N₂-sorption analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. SEM images showed a significant morphological difference of pristine carbon and DES/C-PKS. There was a significant decrease in the range of 67-73% of a specific surface area with respect to pristine carbon, having initially 800 m²/g. However, the N element on the carbon surface increased after impregnation treatment, which was shown from the intensity of the FTIR graphs and EDX analysis. Adsorption isotherm revealed that DES/C-PKS could enhance up to 1.6 times the adsorption capacity of CO₂ at 1 atm and 30 °C while increasing the selectivity of CO₂/CH₄ up to 125%. The breakthrough experiment showed that all DES/C-PKS materials displayed a better performance for the separation of CO₂/CH₄, indicated by a longer breakthrough time and enhancement of CO₂ uptake. The best separation performance was achieved by DES/C-PKS using glycerol as a hydrogen bond donor with 15.4 mg/g of CO₂ uptake or equivalent to 95% enhancement of the uptake capacity compared to pristine porous carbon. Also, the cycling test revealed that DES/C-PKS can be used repetitively, which further highlights the efficiency of the material for the separation of CO₂/CH₄.

Properties Enhancement of High Molecular Weight Polylactide Using Stereocomplex Polylactide as a Nucleating Agent

As one of the most attractive biopolymers nowadays in terms of their sustainability, degradability, and material tune-ability, the improvement of polylactide (PLA) homopolymer properties by studying the utilization of stereocomplex polylactide (s-PLA) effectively and efficiently is needed. In this sense, we have studied the utilization of s-PLA compared to poly D-lactide (PDLA) homopolymers as a nucleating agent for PLA homopolymers. The mechanical and thermal properties and crystallization behavior of PLA homopolymers in the presence of nucleating agents have been evaluated using a universal testing machine, differential scanning calorimeter, and X-ray diffractometer instruments, respectively. PDLA and s-PLA materials can be used to increase the thermal and mechanical properties of poly L-lactide (PLLA) homopolymers. The s-PLA materials increased the mechanical properties by increasing crystallinity of the PLLA homopolymers. PLLA/s-PLA enhanced mechanical properties to a certain level (5% s-PLA content), then decreased them due to higher s-PLA materials affecting the brittleness of the blends. PDLA homopolymers increased mechanical properties by forming stereocomplex PLA with PLLA homopolymers. Non-isothermal and isothermal evaluation showed that s-PLA materials were more effective at enhancing PLLA homopolymer properties through nucleating agent mechanism.

Educational Video Improves Knowledge about Outpatients' Usage of Antibiotics in Two Public Hospitals in Indonesia

The inappropriate use or misuse of antibiotics, particularly by outpatients, increases antibiotic resistance. A lack of public knowledge about "Responsible use of antibiotics" and "How to obtain antibiotics" is a major cause of this. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an educational video about antibiotics and antibiotic use to increase outpatients' knowledge shown in two public hospitals in East Java, Indonesia. A quasi-experimental research setting was used with a one-group pre-test-post-test design, carried out from November 2018 to January 2019. The study population consisted of outpatients to whom antibiotics were prescribed. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique; 98 outpatients at MZ General Hospital in the S regency and 96 at SG General Hospital in the L regency were included. A questionnaire was used to measure the respondents' knowledge, and consisted of five domains, i.e., the definition of infections and antibiotics, obtaining the antibiotics, directions for use, storage instructions, and antibiotic resistance. The knowledge test score was the total score of the Guttman scale (a dichotomous "yes" or "no" answer). To determine the significance of the difference in knowledge before and after providing the educational video and in the knowledge score between hospitals, the (paired) Student's t-test was applied. The educational videos significantly improved outpatients' knowledge, which increased by 41% in MZ General Hospital, and by 42% in SG General Hospital. It was concluded that an educational video provides a useful method to improve the knowledge of the outpatients regarding antibiotics.

Reutilization of Algal Supercritical Water Gasification Waste for Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris Cultivation

Effluents obtained through a supercritical water gasification (SCWG) process at 400 and 600 °C were mixed with Bristol Medium to cultivate Chlorella vulgaris. Improvement of growth rate was observed only for the medium with the effluent at 600 °C. Low non-purgeable organic carbon implied that the inhibiting material was decomposed due to the high temperature of 600 °C. Thus, SCWG effluents might be more suitable for algae cultivation than hydrothermal liquefaction effluents. Phosphorus accumulation in C. vulgaris was improved in the SCWG mixed medium, irrespective of the treatment temperature. The media with SCWG effluents showed 2.5 times higher phosphorus accumulation in the algae, indicating the possibility of using a combination of C. vulgaris and SCWG for nutrient recycling processes.

"I would do something if I could!": experiences and reflections from ethics teachers on how to respond when hearing alarming cases from medical students

BACKGROUND

Previous studies show that teachers can feel disturbed by alarming cases brought up by students during their teaching activities. Teachers may feel uncertain about how to deal with these cases, as they might feel responsible to take action to prevent further harm. This study aims to explore how ethics teachers in medical schools would respond to a student report of unethical or unprofessional behaviour during the clinical training phase (clerkship) that is alarming and potentially harmful for patients or students themselves.

METHODS

This study used qualitative methods with purposive sampling. We conducted in-depth interviews with 17 teachers from 10 medical schools in Indonesia. We asked if they had heard any alarming and harmful cases from students and provided two cases as examples.

RESULTS

Four teachers shared their own cases, which they perceived as disturbing and alarming. The cases included power abuse, fraud and deception, violation of patient's rights and autonomy, and sexual harassment. Regarding teachers' responses in general, we found three main themes: (1) being assertive, (2) being careful, (3) barriers and facilitators. Most teachers were convinced of the need to take action despite numerous barriers, which they identified, leading to doubts and concerns in taking action. Our study shows that formal education in ethics might not necessarily influence how teachers respond to alarming cases, and that their responses are mainly influenced by how they perceive their role and responsibility as teachers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that teachers should carefully consider the risks and consequences before taking action upon alarming cases to prevent further harm, and that support from higher authorities might be crucial, especially in the Indonesian context. Our study also shows that taking action as a group might be appropriate in certain cases, while personal approaches might be more appropriate in other cases. Most importantly, school leaders and administrators should develop effective organisational culture and support students and teachers for their ethical responsibility commitment.

Impact of early detection and vaccination strategy in COVID-19 eradication program in Jakarta, Indonesia

OBJECTIVE

Several essential factors have played a crucial role in the spreading mechanism of COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) in the human population. These factors include undetected cases, asymptomatic cases, and several non-pharmaceutical interventions. Because of the rapid spread of COVID-19 worldwide, understanding the significance of these factors is crucial in determining whether COVID-19 will be eradicated or persist in the population. Hence, in this study, we establish a new mathematical model to predict the spread of COVID-19 considering mentioned factors.

RESULTS

Infection detection and vaccination have the potential to eradicate COVID-19 from Jakarta. From the sensitivity analysis, we find that rapid testing is crucial in reducing the basic reproduction number when COVID-19 is endemic in the population rather than contact trace. Furthermore, our results indicate that a vaccination strategy has the potential to relax social distancing rules, while maintaining the basic reproduction number at the minimum possible, and also eradicate COVID-19 from the population with a higher vaccination rate. In conclusion, our model proposed a mathematical model that can be used by Jakarta's government to relax social distancing policy by relying on future COVID-19 vaccine potential.

Microencapsulation of lime (Citrus aurantifolia) oil for antibacterial finishing of cotton fabric

Functional cotton fabric incorporated with antibacterial microcapsules of lime (C. aurantifolia) essential oil (LO) was prepared. The coacervation method, employing two biopolymers of alginate and gelatin as the shells, was preferentially selected to produce the LO microcapsules, whereas immobilization of the LO microcapsules onto the fabric was done using the pad-dry-cure method using various concentrations of citric acid binder. The antibacterial inhibition zone of the functional fabric was subsequently analysed using the Kirby Bauer method. The LO microcapsules were produced with a yield, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and oil content (OC) of 47 ± 4%, 84 ± 11%, and 58 ± 4%, respectively. The homogenous spherical and soft microcapsules (1.554 μm) bonded effectively by 4% citric acid onto the surface of the fabric and detached back by only 3% after 15 cycles of washing. Overall, the optimized functional fabric exhibited the highest antibacterial activities among others against typical skin bacteria, such as S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and S. epidermidis, and thus it can be potentially applied to obtain antibacterial functional textile.

Participation in community-based health care interventions (CBHIs) and its association with hypertension awareness, control and treatment in Indonesia

BACKGROUND

Little attention has been paid to whether CBHIs improve awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the contexts of low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). This study therefore aims to examine participation in CBHIs for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and its association with awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among Indonesians.

METHODS

This study used data from the 2014 Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS), drawn from 30,351 respondents aged 18 years and older. Participation in CBHIs was measured by respondents' participation in CBHIs for NCDs (Posbindu PTM and Posbindu Lansia) during the 12 months prior to the survey. Logistic regressions were used to identify the relationships between participation in CBHIs for NCDs and awareness, treatment, and control of blood pressure among respondents with hypertension.

RESULTS

The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 31.2% and 29.2% in urban and rural areas, respectively. The overall age-adjusted prevalence was 30.2%. Approximately 41.8% of respondents with hypertension were aware of their condition, and only 6.6% of respondents were receiving treatment. Participation in CBHIs for NCDs was associated with 50% higher odds of being aware and 118% higher odds of receiving treatment among adults with hypertension. There was no significant association between participation in CBHIs for NCDs and controlled hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Our data emphasise the importance of CBHIs for NCDs to improve the awareness and treatment of hypertension in the Indonesian population.

New proposed cut-off of waist circumference for central obesity as risk factor for diabetes mellitus: Evidence from the Indonesian Basic National Health Survey

BACKGROUND

Waist circumference (WC) measurement is practical to define central obesity. However, WC cut-off point might be differ based on different race or ethnicity. This study aims to analyze the optimal WC cut-off point to identify T2DM risk among Indonesian population.

METHOD

We analyzed the secondary data of national based cross-sectional study of the Indonesian Basic National Health Research 2013, comprising 24,660 adults aged ≥ 18 years who were assessed for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The new proposed cut-off point for WC was calculated using ROC curve analysis and Youden index. The odds ratio of having T2DM was calculated using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Increased WC was associated with worsening dysglycemia status among men and women (p<0.001). The optimal cut-off point of WC for detecting T2DM from ROC analysis was 76 for men and 80 for women. Based on this WC cut-off point, the odds ratio for having T2DM was 1.64 [95% CI 1.45-1.86, p<0.01] for men and 1.90 [95% CI 1.71-2.11 p<0.01] for women.

CONCLUSION

The newly proposed WC cut-off point of 76 for men and 80 women can be used to screen the risk of T2DM among Indonesian population.

Molecular analysis of a fibrin-degrading enzyme from Bacillus subtilis K2 isolated from the Indonesian soybean-based fermented food moromi

The screening of proteolytic and fibrinolytic bacteria from moromi (an Indonesian soybean-based fermented food) yielded a number of isolates. Based on morphological and biochemical analyses and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, the isolate that exhibited the highest proteolytic and fibrinolytic activity was identified as Bacillus subtilis K2. The study was performed to analyze molecular characteristic of a fibrin-degrading enzyme from B. subtilis K2. BLASTn analysis of the nucleotide sequence encoding this fibrinolytic protein demonstrated 73.6% homology with the gene encoding the fibrin-degrading enzyme nattokinase of the B. subtilis subsp. natto, which was isolated from fermented soybean in Japan. An analysis of the putative amino-acid sequence of this protein indicated that it is a serine protease enzyme with aspartate, histidine, and serine in the catalytic triad. This enzyme was determined to be a 26-kDa molecule, as confirmed with a zymogram assay. Further bioinformatic analysis using Protparam demonstrated that the enzyme has a pI of 6.02, low instability index, high aliphatic index, and low GRAVY value. Molecular docking analysis using HADDOCK indicated that there are favorable interactions between subtilisin K2 and the fibrin substrate, as demonstrated by a high binding affinity (ΔG: - 19.4 kcal/mol) and low Kd value (6.3E-15 M). Overall, the study concluded that subtilisin K2 belong to serine protease enzyme has strong interactions with its fibrin substrate and fibrin can be rapidly degraded by this enzyme, suggesting its application as a treatment for thrombus diseases.

Effects of short-term exposure of paracetamol in the gonads of blue mussels Mytilus edulis

A growing body of literature suggests that pharmaceutical contamination poses an increasing risk to marine ecosystems. Paracetamol or acetaminophen is the most widely used medicine in the world and has recently been detected in seawater. Here, we present the results of 7 days' exposure of blue mussel adults to 40 ng/L, 250 ng/L and 100 μg/L of paracetamol. Histopathology shows that haemocytic infiltration is the most observed condition in the exposed mussels. The mRNA expression of VTG, V9, ER2, HSP70, CASP8, BCL2 and FAS in mussel gonads present different patterns of downregulation. VTG and CASP8 mRNA expression show downregulation in all exposed mussels, irrespective of sex. The V9, HSP70, BCL2 and FAS transcripts follow a concentration-dependent variation in gene expression and may therefore be considered good biomarker candidates. ER2 mRNA expression shows a downregulated trend, with a clearer dose-response relationship in males. In conclusion, this study suggests that paracetamol has the potential to alter the expression of several genes related to processes occurring in the reproductive system and may therefore impair reproduction in blue mussels.

General synthesis of hierarchical sheet/plate-like M-BDC (M = Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zr) metal-organic frameworks for electrochemical non-enzymatic glucose sensing

Two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (2D MOFs) are an attractive platform to develop new kinds of catalysts because of their structural tunability and large specific surface area that exposes numerous active sites. In this work, we report a general method to synthesize benzene dicarboxylic acid (BDC)-based MOFs with hierarchical 3D morphologies composed of 2D nanosheets or nanoplates. In our proposed strategy, acetonitrile helps solvate the metal ions in solution and affects the morphology, while polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) serves as a shape-control agent to assist in the nucleation and growth of MOF nanosheets. PVP also acts as a depletion agent to drive the assembly of the hierarchical sheet/plate-like M-BDC under solvothermal conditions. Further, we also demonstrate the flexibility of the proposed method using numerous coordinating metal ions (M = Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zr). The potential of these MOFs for electrochemical glucose sensing is examined using the hierarchical sheet-like Ni-BDC MOF as the optimum sample. It drives the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose over a wide range (0.01 mM to 0.8 mM) with high sensitivity (635.9 μA mM-1 cm-2) in the absence of modification with carbon or the use of conductive substrates. It also demonstrates good selectivity with low limit of detection (LoD = 6.68 μM; signal/noise = 3), and fast response time (<5 s).

Foot self-care behavior and its predictors in diabetic patients in Indonesia

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have shown that diabetic foot ulcers are principally associated with improper foot self-care. Since appropriate foot self-care is essential to prevent diabetic foot-ulcers, any factors which can predict foot self-care behavior should be identified. However, until now, foot self-care behavior data and predictors of foot-care behavior in Indonesia remain unclear since such studies on Indonesian diabetic patients is very limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate foot self-care behavior and to identify its predictors in Indonesia. The design of this study was cross-sectional. Cluster sampling was used, involving 546 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients registered in 22 primary healthcare centers. The questionnaires used in this study included the Diabetes Distress Scale, Beck Depression Inventory II, Family APGAR, Foot-Care Knowledge and Modified Diabetic Foot Care Behaviors.

RESULTS

Foot self-care behavior and knowledge about foot care were poor. The predictors of foot self-care behavior were age, educational level, diabetes distress, family support, and knowledge. It needs the program to improve foot self-care knowledge and the program to reduce the diabetes distress in Indonesian diabetic patients. In performing of these programs, families should be involved to improve the support toward foot self-care behavior in patients.

E-test versus agar dilution for antibiotic susceptibility testing of Helicobacter pylori: a comparison study

OBJECTIVE

For evaluating the antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori, the agar dilution method is the gold standard; however, using this method in daily practice is laborious. E-test has been proposed to be an uncomplicated method. This study was aimed at validating the E-test and detecting the presence of any bias between the agar dilution method and E-test.

RESULTS

The agar dilution method and E-test were performed using five antibiotics for 72 strains of H. pylori obtained from clinical patients in Indonesia. The E-test's results showed a higher prevalence of resistance to all the antibiotics tested but the difference was not significant. Results showed high essential agreement (> 90.0%) for all the antibiotics, but only 84.7% for metronidazole. The agreement for MIC value was acceptable for levofloxacin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole. For amoxicillin, it showed only fair agreement (0.25) by the Kappa analysis and significant difference by Passing-Bablok regression. Even though some discrepancies were found, the E-test has an acceptable agreement for levofloxacin, metronidazole, tetracycline, and clarithromycin but further confirmation may be necessary for amoxicillin.

The synthesis of nanofiber membranes from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) waste using electrospinning for use as air filtration media

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) waste has been successfully recycled into nanofiber membranes by an electrospinning method for air filter applications. The ABS precursor solutions were made by dissolving the ABS waste in three different solvents, DMAc, DMF, and THF, with various concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 wt%. The solvent and solution concentrations affected the fiber properties (size and morphology) and membrane properties (wettability, crystallinity, and mechanical). Accordingly, we tested the fabricated membranes using SEM, FTIR, XRD, water contact angle, and tensile strength test measurements. The SEM images depicted three different morphologies, i.e. beads, beaded fibers, and pure fibers. The FTIR spectra showed that the solvents completely evaporated during the electrospinning process. The water contact angle test exhibited the hydrophobic properties of all the membrane samples. The XRD spectra showed the amorphous structures of all the membranes. The tensile strength test showed that the membranes fabricated using DMF and DMAc solvents had the best mechanical properties. Considering the fiber size, wettability, and mechanical properties, the membranes fabricated using DMAc and DMF solvents had the best criteria as air filter media. Filtration tests on the membranes fabricated using DMAc and DMF solvents with various solution concentrations depicted that the beads affected the membrane pressure drop and efficiency. The beads gave more space among the fibers, which facilitated the air flow through the membrane. The beads greatly reduced the pressure drop without an overly reduced membrane filtration efficiency. This led to a high-quality factor of the membranes that demonstrated their applicability as potential air filter media.

Five alternative Helicobacter pylori antibiotics to counter high levofloxacin and metronidazole resistance in the Dominican Republic

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori resistance to levofloxacin and metronidazole was high in the Dominican Republic. We used two-fold agar dilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of five alternative antibiotics in 63 Dominican strains. We also assessed the genetic mutations associated with the antibiotic resistance using next-generation sequencing. We revealed that all 63 strains were sensitive towards sitafloxacin, furazolidone, and rifabutin. In contrast, the prevalence of rifaximin and garenoxacin resistance were high (82.5% and 34.9%, respectively). Patients more than or equal to 60 years old had the highest risk of double-antibiotic resistance (7/9, 77.8%, OR = 31.5, P = 0.009) and garenoxacin resistances (8/9, 88.9%, OR = 45.33, P = 0.002) with an increasing risk simultaneously by age (P = 0.004, r = 0.357). Almost all rifaximin resistant strains possessed multiple mutations with more than three mutations within rpoB including the most frequent novel mutations of S352L, I2726L, and V2465A. There was a significant association between vacA genotype and rifaximin resistance (P = 0.042). Among 23 levofloxacin-resistant strains, 82.6% (19/23, P <0.001) were also resistant to garenoxacin, and 39.1% (9/23) had a high minimal inhibitory concentration ≥8 μg/mL with positive trend correlation (P = <0.001, r = 0.84). Among 19 garenoxacin resistant strains, 16 (84.2%) contained mutations at D91 and N87 of gyrA. In conclusion, sitafloxacin, rifabutin, and furazolidone might be considered as alternative antibiotics to be included in H. pylori eradication regimen in regions with high prevalence of levofloxacin and metronidazole resistance, such as the Dominican Republic.

Pathological profiles and clinical management challenges of breast cancer emerging in young women in Indonesia: a hospital-based study

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer diagnosed at a young age is often associated with aggressive biology, advanced stage, and unfavorable prognosis. The median age of breast cancer diagnosis in Indonesia is younger (48 vs. 68 years-old in Europe) with a relatively higher proportion of patients younger than 40 years old. Although prognosis and outcome of young breast cancer are well studied in developed nations, research evaluating biological characteristics, delivered treatment, and clinical outcomes is very limited in Indonesia.

METHODS

We analyzed all breast cancer patients who underwent surgery at Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Indonesia, in 2012-2017. Details of pathology profiles, treatment administrated, and outcomes, as well as reproductive factors among patients younger than 40 years old, were collected and analyzed. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to assess conditional survival based on baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

From the total of 1259 breast cancer patients (median age 51 years), 144 (11.4%) were younger than 40 years old (median age 37 years). Of these young patients, 19 (13.2%) were bilateral and 92 (64%) were diagnosed in advanced stages (stages IIIA-C and IV). Median tumor diameter was 5.5 cm and nodal infiltration was present in 73%. Distant metastasis was found in 16% at the time of diagnosis. Moderate and poor differentiation of tumor were 20.8 and 78.5%, respectively, and lymphovascular invasion was found in 90.3%. Around 40% were hormone receptor-positive, 30.6% human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive, and 38.2% triple negative. Patients underwent radical surgery in 121 cases (84%) and breast conserving surgery in 7 cases (4.9%). Adjuvant chemotherapy was administrated in 68% and hormonal therapy in 34%. Progression-free survival was significantly shorter in patients with advanced stage, skin and chest wall involvement (T4), positive lymph node infiltration, positive hormonal receptor, and triple negative subtype (log-rank Mantel-Cox tests, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We found a high frequency of young breast cancer with biologically more aggressive tumors, late diagnosis, frequent relapse, and poor prognosis. Further actions to improve clinical management and meet psychosocial needs in young breast cancer patients are warranted.