Effect of light and cytokinin on growth and curculin gene expression of Curculigo latifolia on in vitro culture.

Despite being valuable for producing a natural sweetener Curculin, Curculigo latifolia has a low growth and difficult to domestificate. So, to solve this problem, propagation on in vitro culture will be an alternative method to propagated this spesies under different cytokinins and light condition. Cytokinins and light has major role in organogenesis, growth and gene expression of many species. Thus, in this study, we aimed to improve the Curculigo latifolia growth on in vitro condition and expression of curculin gene by combining cytokinins addition and different light exposure. Four weeks seedlings were sub-cultured into medium (MS free hormone) containing 3 mg/L benzyladenine (BA) and various concentrations of meta-Topolin (mT) including 0.1 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, and 5 mg/L. The cultures then incubated under different light types (red, blue, white LED lights and white fluorescence light) with 16-h light/ 18-h dark photoperiod for 14 weeks at 25 ± 2°C. Several parameters, including plant height, leaf number, chlorophyll contents, stomatal structure, and density and curculin expression, were observed every week. Unexpectedly, our results showed that C. latifolia growth displayed significant improvement when it was treated under white LED light without any additional cytokinins. In sum, white LED light further improves plantlets phenotype, such as plant height, leaf number, chlorophyll production, and stomatal number and structure, whereas, red LED light lead to a decreased phenotypes but increase the curculin gene expression.

High fibre and fluid intake increase the success of hypospadias surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Hypospadias is a congenital malformation of the urethral meatus in the ventral penis that requires surgery. Fibre and fluid intake can accelerate the healing process, act as an anti-inflammatory and support the success of surgery. Based on hypospadias objective scoring evaluation (HOSE) scoring, this study aims to determine whether a high-fibre diet and adequate fluid intake affect the outcome of hypospadias surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This analytic observational study used a case-control study design on 104 post-operative hypospadias patients at Ulin and Siaga Hospital Banjarmasin from 2018 to 2023 with quota sampling. Data were collected using personal data forms with hypospadias objective scoring evaluation (HOSE) and semi-quantitativefood frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ), which were analysed using a multinomial logistic regression test. RESULTS: Patients with less-fibre-intake had a 99.10% lower chance of having an excellent surgical outcome than patients with moderate-fibre-intake (Adjusted Odds Ratio, Adj. OR: 0.009, 95% Confidence Intervals; 95%CI: 0.000, 0.249), and it was statistically significant. The study did not find any association between fluid intake and surgical outcome, this could be due to the fact that most of the patient had good fluid intake. CONCLUSION: The study found that high fibre intake increases the success of hypospadia surgery.

Comparison of Outcomes Between All-Inside Single-Bundle and Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: ACL rupture is the most common type of knee injury. The All-inside ACL reconstruction procedure features some distinguished components including closed-socket tunnels with less bone expulsion, double suspensory fixation, and smaller incisions. We aimed to compare the outcomes between the All-inside Single-bundle and the Double-bundle ACL reconstruction techniques. Materials and methods: This study was a retrospective study which analysed the patient-reported and the clinical outcomes on patients who underwent ACL reconstruction between January and December 2020 at Dr Kariadi General Hospital Semarang, Indonesia. We compared the patient-reported and the clinical outcomes at 6- and 12-month follow-ups between the All-inside Single-bundle and the Double-bundle groups. The patient-reported outcomes were determined using the IKDC and Tegner-Lysholm scores while the clinical outcomes included the measurement of Thigh Circumference, Single Hop test, Anterior Drawer test, Lachman test, Range of motion, and the patient's level of return to sport. Results: A total of 24 subjects were divided into two groups, namely the All-inside Single-bundle and the Double-bundle groups, consisting of 12 subjects in each group. Most of the subjects were male in both groups, including 9 (75%) subjects in the All-inside Single-bundle group, and 11 (91.67%) subjects in the Double-bundle group. The mean age of the subjects were 25.75±7.57 years old in the All-inside Single-bundle group, and 24.5±6.87 years old in the Double-bundle group. In terms of the side of the knee that suffered the most injuries in both groups were the right knees. The result of the patient-reported outcomes using IKDC and Tegner-Lysholm scores showed no statistically significant differences in both groups at 6- and 12-month follow-ups (p=0.864; p=0.293 and p=0.589; p=0.233, respectively). The results of clinical assessments at 6- and 12-month follow-ups also showed no statistically significant differences in both groups. Conclusion: Our study showed no significant differences in the patient-reported and the clinical outcomes between the All-inside Single-bundle and the Double-bundle ACL reconstruction techniques at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

Comparison of Outcomes Between All-Inside SingleBundle and Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Retrospective Study

@#Introduction: ACL rupture is the most common type of knee injury. The All-inside ACL reconstruction procedure features some distinguished components including closed-socket tunnels with less bone expulsion, double suspensory fixation, and smaller incisions. We aimed to compare the outcomes between the All-inside Single-bundle and the Double-bundle ACL reconstruction techniques. Materials and methods: This study was a retrospective study which analysed the patient-reported and the clinical outcomes on patients who underwent ACL reconstruction between January and December 2020 at Dr Kariadi General Hospital Semarang, Indonesia. We compared the patientreported and the clinical outcomes at 6- and 12-month follow-ups between the All-inside Single-bundle and the Double-bundle groups. The patient-reported outcomes were determined using the IKDC and Tegner-Lysholm scores while the clinical outcomes included the measurement of Thigh Circumference, Single Hop test, Anterior Drawer test, Lachman test, Range of motion, and the patient’s level of return to sport. Results: A total of 24 subjects were divided into two groups, namely the All-inside Single-bundle and the Double-bundle groups, consisting of 12 subjects in each group. Most of the subjects were male in both groups, including 9 (75%) subjects in the All-inside Single-bundle group, and 11 (91.67%) subjects in the Double-bundle group. The mean age of the subjects were 25.75±7.57 years old in the Allinside Single-bundle group, and 24.5±6.87 years old in the Double-bundle group. In terms of the side of the knee that suffered the most injuries in both groups were the right knees. The result of the patient-reported outcomes using IKDC and Tegner-Lysholm scores showed no statistically significant differences in both groups at 6- and 12-month follow-ups (p=0.864; p=0.293 and p=0.589; p=0.233, respectively). The results of clinical assessments at 6- and 12-month follow-ups also showed no statistically significant differences in both groups. Conclusion: Our study showed no significant differences in the patient-reported and the clinical outcomes between the All-inside Single-bundle and the Double-bundle ACL reconstruction techniques at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

The role of pentoxifylline in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in coronary angiography/intervention - systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the latest evidence on pentoxifylline effect on the contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and whether the quality evidence is sufficient to make a definite conclusion MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search on topics that assesses pentoxifylline and CIN in coronary angiography/intervention up until 01 April 2021 using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and hand-sampling. Primary outcome was CIN defined as ≥0.5 mg/dL or 25% rise in the SCr 48 h after procedure. RESULTS: There were a total of 1142 subjects from 6 studies. There was no difference between pentoxifylline and control group in terms of serum creatinine at baseline (p=0.46) and after the procedure (p=0.33). The incidence of CIN was 51/571 (8.9%) in the pentoxifylline group and 61/571 (10.7%) in the control group. Pentoxifylline was not significantly associated with increase or decrease in the risk of CIN (RR 0.84 [0.59, 1.19], p=0.32; I2: 0%, p=0.89). Subgroup analysis for elective studies showed a non-significant result (RR 0.77 [0.47, 1.27], p=0.31; I2: 0%). Meta-regression analysis showed that the association between pentoxifylline and mortality was not affected by age (p=0.994), gender (reference: male, p=0.562), hypertension (p=0.336), diabetes (p=0.536), baseline serum creatinine (p=0.344), contrast used (p=0.431), and CIN incidence (p=0.521). GRADE Approach showed a low certainty of evidence for the effect estimate of pentoxifylline on CIN. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis showed that pentoxifylline was not associated with the risk of CIN with low certainty of evidence. Hence, larger, multicentre, double-blind randomized controlled trials are required.

The association between serum prealbumin and poor outcome in COVID-19 - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between the prealbumin and severity and mortality in COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search from PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases up until 2 February 2021. The primary outcome was the poor outcome, a composite of mortality and severity. Severe COVID-19 was defined as COVID-19 that fulfill the criteria for severe pneumonia or patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome/disease progression/need for intensive care unit or mechanical ventilation. The effect estimates were a mean difference between patients with and without a poor outcome in mg/dL and odds ratio (OR) per 1 mg/dL decrease in prealbumin level. The effect estimates were reported with their 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: Nine studies comprising of 2104 patients were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Patients with poor outcome have lower prealbumin level (mean difference -71.48 mg/dL [95% CI -93.74, -49.22], p<0.001; I2: 85.9%). Every 1 mg/dL decrease in prealbumin level was associated with 1% increase in poor outcome (OR 0.992 [0.987, 0.997], p=0.004, I2: 81.7%). Meta-regression analysis showed that the association between the prealbumin level and poor outcome varies with gender (male) (coefficient: 3.50, R2: 100%, p<0.001), but not age, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS: Low serum prealbumin was associated with poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

The effect of trimetazidine on contrast-induced nephropathy in patients undergoing coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether the trimetazidine administration before CAG and/or PCI reduces the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). We also aimed to evaluate the factors affecting the effect and the certainty of the evidence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed to obtain studies that assess trimetazidine's effect on the incidence of CIN in CAG/PCI patients up until 21 January 2021 through PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. The main outcome is CIN, defined as the increase in serum creatinine level ≥ 0.5 mg/dL (44.2 mmol/L) or > 25% of the baseline value 48-72 h after contrast media (CM) administration. RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis includes seven studies involving a total of 1590 patients. The prevalence of CIN was 11% [8%, 14%]. CIN's prevalence was 6% [4%, 8%] in the trimetazidine group and 16% [12%, 20%] in the control group. Trimetazidine use is associated with a lower incidence of CIN (RR 0.46 [0.34, 0.63], p<0.001; I2: 0%) with a high certainty of evidence, with an absolute risk reduction of 78 fewer per 1000. Subgroup analysis in patients with renal insufficiency showed that trimetazidine lowers the risk of CIN (RR 0.40 [0.26, 0.61], p<0.001; I2: 0%). The CIN reducing effect of trimetazidine was not significantly influenced by the age (p=0.960), body mass index (p=0.816), hypertension (p=0.595), diabetes (p=0.362), ejection fraction (p=0.261), baseline serum creatinine (0.579), and contrast media volume (p=0.958). CONCLUSIONS: Trimetazidine administration decreases the risk of CIN in patients undergoing CAG/PCI.

Malaysianol B, an oligostilbenoid derivative from Dryobalanops lanceolata.

A new oligostilbenoid tetramer, malaysianol B (1), was isolated from the acetone extract of the stem bark of Dryobalanops lanceolata along with seven oligostilbenoids tetramers; hopeaphenol (2), stenophyllol A (3), nepalensinol B (4), vaticanol B (5) and C (6), upunaphenol D (7), and flexuosol A (8). The structures of the isolated compounds were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data evidence. The antibacterial activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated using resazurin microtitre-plate assay.

Malaysianol A, a new trimer resveratrol oligomer from the stem bark of Dryobalanops aromatica.

A new resveratrol trimer, malaysianol A (1), five known resveratrol oligomers: laevifonol (2), ampelopsin E (3), α-viniferin (4), ε-viniferin (5), diptoindonesin A (6), and bergenin (7) have been isolated from the acetone extract of the stem bark of Dryobalanops aromatica by combination of vacuum and radial chromatography techniques. Their structures were established on the basis of their spectroscopic evidence and comparison with the published data. The cytotoxic activity of the compounds was tested against several cell lines in which compound 4 was found to inhibit strongly the growth of HL-60 cell line.

Congener specific analysis of polychlorinated terphenyls.

In order to identify and to quantify polychlorinated terphenyls (PCT) in environmental matrices, the chromatographic behavior of coplanar and non-coplanar congeners was evaluated. A mixture of 16 single PCT congeners was used for method development. Four of these compounds were synthesized for the first time by SUZUKI-coupling reaction. These were p-PCT (2,2'',6,6''-tetrachloro-, 2',3,3'',4,4'',5',-hexachloro-, 2',3,3'',5,5',5''-hexachloro-) and m-PCT (2,2'',3,3'',5,5''-hexachloro-). They were characterized by NMR ((1)H,(13)C) spectroscopy. By means of the new column chromatographic clean-up reported here, a good matrix removal and the separation of the coplanar PCT congeners from the non-coplanar ones was obtained. The recovery rates for all congeners were good for the PCT in different test matrices like fat, charcoal, and soil. The quality of the clean-up, the separation and the recovery rates were determined by GC/MS analysis. The method was applied for the first time to a real sample from a fire accident, where different PCT, obviously formed during the combustion process, were found. The conclusion is drawn that this method is suitable for the analysis of PCT in different environmental samples.

Evaluation of a rapid assay for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in outpatient clinics in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted comparing a commercially available chlamydial optical immunoassay (OIA) to the chlamydial ligase chain reaction (LCR). Endocervical samples from 415 outpatients visiting clinics from three hospitals in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, were evaluated. Relative to the LCR, the overall sensitivity and specificity of the OIA were 31.6 and 98.9%, respectively. The sensitivity of the OIA varied among the three hospital laboratories, ranging from 20 to 50%. The OIA performance was slightly lower on samples from patients attending dermatovenereology clinics than on samples from nondermatovenereology clinic patients. The results indicate that the OIA did not perform well compared to LCR.

Ageing in the South-East Asian region.

PIP: The increasing trend in the aging population of countries in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) transforms these countries from "mature societies" to "aging societies.¿ The elderly population in this region would be increasing from 18.1% in 1995 to 21.4% of the world elderly population in 2025. Since women have a longer life expectancy than men, the proportion of elderly women in the region would increase to 13.2% by 2025, while the proportion of elderly men would be 11.6%. In SEAR, 11.8 million people reportedly suffered from blindness in 1998; 50-80% of these cases are caused by cataract, which is most common in those aged 60 years and above. Although the aged is one of the most vulnerable population groups, little attention is given to geriatric care. Health services in many countries still focus largely on communicable diseases, maternal care, and child care, rather than on the enormous needs of the elderly population. Care of the elderly should be a priority of the primary health care system, focusing on the promotion of a healthy old-age lifestyle and prevention of behaviors that are hazardous to health.^ieng

Acute erythroleukemia: evaluation of 48 cases with reference to classification, cell proliferation, cytogenetics, and prognosis.

We evaluated 48 archival cases of acute erythroleukemia and divided them into 3 groups: M6a, corresponding to the traditional French-American-British M6 category; M6b, which is pure erythroleukemia; and M6c, in which myeloblasts and pronormoblasts each account for more than 30% of cells by the French-American-British exclusion criteria. No significant differences were noted among the subtypes for ratio of males to females; age; or exposure to toxins, alcohol, or both. However, compared with the patients in the M6a group, patients in the M6b and M6c groups demonstrated a statistically significant increase in cytogenetic aberrations, proliferation markers (proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki67), and ringed (type III) sideroblasts. Marked survival differences were noted between the M6a (30.1 +/- 29.5 months) and M6b (3.15 +/- 4.2 months) groups, with patients in the M6c group demonstrating an intermediate prognosis (10.5 +/- 12.7 months). Chemotherapeutic regimens induced remission in all treated patients in the M6a and M6c groups but did not appear to affect the M6b group. However, the patients in the M6c group remained in remission for a significantly shorter period of time than did patients in the M6a group. Overall, survival appeared to depend on the ratio of pronormoblasts to myeloblasts at diagnosis and demonstrated a rapid decline with increasing pronormoblast and decreasing myeloblast counts. We must, therefore, devise chemotherapeutic regimens that target both blastic components of this disease.

Adult acute leukemia: hand mirror cell variant.

Two patients with numerous hand mirror cells in the bone marrow were investigated by morphologic, cytochemical, immunohistochemical, flow cytometric, cytogenetic, and gene rearrangement analysis. Both demonstrated a mixed immunophenotype with expression of myeloid and T-lymphoid features. Interestingly, both strongly expressed CD2 (adhesion molecule) and CD7. Review of the literature uncovered additional cases of acute mixed leukemia--hand mirror variant with strong expression of CD2, CD7, and CDIIb, suggesting a unique subset. Under normal physiologic conditions lymphoid cells and monocytes assume a hand mirror configuration when adhesion molecules (i.e., CD2, CDIIb) are triggered by their corresponding ligands. Evidently not all acute leukemias with surface adhesion molecules form hand mirrors, which suggests an additional stimulatory event. The presence of adhesion molecules on these activated cells is important to homing, trafficking, spread of the malignant cells, clinical course, prognosis, and treatment. Therefore all HMC cases require detailed analysis to ensure accurate diagnosis. In-depth evaluation of such cases should give new insights into clinical presentation, prognosis, and treatment of these unusual cases.

Angiodysplasia of colon revisited: pathologic demonstration without the use of intravascular injection technique.

The recognition of angiodysplasia either at the time of surgery or at the time of routine gross and microscopic examination has often been difficult. Until now the primary methodology used in defining the lesion has been the intravascular injection of radiopaque dyes and other compounds. This technique, however, is prohibitively time consuming and expensive, and does not encourage routine use in surgical pathology practice. We report two cases of angiodysplasia, both occurring in unlikely areas, in which the pathologic lesion was demonstrated without the use of an intravascular injection technique. One case involved 35 cm of proximal transverse colon and the other involved 23 cm of colon distal to the ileocecal valve. A simple method of demonstrating angiodysplasia by intraluminal formalin fixation (37% concentrated, unbuffered), with tying of both resected ends for 3 hours, followed by dissection of the mucosa from the muscle wall, is described. Areas of ectatic, pericryptal, thin-walled blood vessels with adjacent dilated, engorged submucosal veins are readily seen on gross direct inspection highlighted by transillumination. Histologic sections taken from these areas show early lesions of angiodysplasia characterized by ectatic, engorged submucosal veins and some dilated venules and capillaries in the mucosal lamina propria.

MPTP-induced duodenal ulcers in rat. Prevention by reuptake blockers for serotonin and norepinephrine, but not dopamine.

Abnormal activity of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine may contribute to the pathophysiology of duodenal ulcers. We therefore studied the effects of neuropharmacological manipulations on 1-methly-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced duodenal ulcers. Duodenal ulcers were produced in rats by 12 subcutaneous injections of a neurotoxin, MPTP, over 4 days. At an MPTP dose of 20 mg.kg. injection, duodenal ulcers developed in 91% (43 of 47) of animals with low mortality. When neuropharmacological agents were preadministered before MPTP, the following effects on duodenal ulcers incidence were obtained. MAO-B inhibitors (pargyline [55%], deprenyl [43%]) but not MAO-A inhibitors (clorgyline [91%]) significantly decreased the frequency of duodenal ulcers suggesting that, like MPTP-induced parkinsonism, formation of a toxic metabolite, probably 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium is involved. Reuptake blockers for serotonin (fluoxetine [18%], indalpine [25%]) also decreased the frequency of duodenal ulcers. Reuptake blockers for norepinephrine (desmethylimipramine [17%], tomoxepine [31%], but not amfonelic acid [82%]) decreased the frequency of duodenal ulcers. Reuptake blockers for dopamine (benztropine [73%], amfonelic acid [82%], GBR-12909 [80%]) did not protect against duodenal ulcers. However, GBR-12909 significantly decreased the severity of those duodenal ulcers that were produced. These data suggest that abnormally low levels of synaptic transmission in serotonergic and possibly noradrenergic neurons play an important role in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer while the role of dopamine may be limited to modulation of ulcer severity.

Standard setting in occupational health: "philosophical" issues.

This paper discusses various "philosophical" issues in standard setting in occupational and environmental health, i.e., general principles, actual procedures for standard setting, inter- and intra-agency discrepancies in procedures and criteria, and choices and decisions in the preparation of criteria documents and in the evaluation of the toxicology databases. Unpublished, possibly confidential information should be made available to expert committees, workers, and the general public. There is an urgent need to improve the validity of the toxicology databases that have to underpin occupational and environmental exposure limits. Standard setting requires various ethically loaded choices and decisions by experts, employees, managers, government officials, and politicians.

Exposure of dentists and assistants to mercury: mercury levels in urine and hair related to conditions of practice.

A study of 162 dentists' and their assistants' mercury levels in hair and urine, and of questionnaire items regarding mercury consumption, revealed some striking relations. The mercury concentrations in both hair (Hg-H) and urine (Hg-U) were somewhat higher in the dentists than the assistants. There was no relation between concentrations in hair and urine. The method of condensation of amalgam was positively related to Hg-U; the vibration method was negatively related. Hg-U was also positively related to number of fillings and hours in own practice. The relation of Hg-U to ventilation in the surgery applied only to the dentists.