Japanese encephalitis in Bali, Indonesia: ecological and socio-cultural perspectives.

The increasing number of cases of acute encephalitis syndrome, a key presenting clinical sign of Japanese encephalitis infection in humans, along with increasing laboratory confirmed cases in Bali over recent years have led to the Indonesian government developing a national program of vaccination against Japanese encephalitis virus. In order to inform multidisciplinary management, a review was conducted to assess Japanese encephalitis virus-related cases in humans and animals including their determinants and detection in vectors. Along with published literature, key data from local authorized officers in Bali have been used to convey the recent situation of the disease. Related surveys detected up to 92% of the local children had antibodies against the virus with the annual incidence estimated to be 7.1 per 100,000 children. Additionally, reports on young and adult cases of infection within international travellers infected in Bali were documented with both non-fatal and fatal outcomes. Further seroprevalence surveys detected up to 90% with antibodies to the virus in animal reservoirs. The detection of the virus in certain Culex mosquito species and high levels of seropositivity may be associated with greater risk of the virus transmission to the human population. It was also highlighted that local sociocultural practices for agriculture and livestock were potentially associated with the high density of the vector and the reservoirs, which then may lead to the risk of the disease transmission in the ecology of Bali.

The role of caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways of apoptosis in the premature rupture of the membranes: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Premature rupture of membrane (PROM) remains a problem in obstetrics, the mechanisms of PROM have not been clearly defined. Apoptosis is thought to play a key role in the mechanism, via caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways. Caspase-3, Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and anti-apoptosis B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) are hypothesized to be involved in PROM. OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways in the mechanism of PROM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a case-control study involving 42 pregnant women with gestational age between 20-42 wk. Participants were divided into the case group (with PROM) and control group (without PROM). Amniotic membranes were collected immediately after the delivery, and samples were taken from the site of membrane rupture. Immunohistochemical examination was done to determine the expression of Caspase-3, AIF, and Bcl-2. RESULTS: The expressions of Caspase-3 (OR = 9.75; 95% CI = 2.16-43.95; p = 0.001) and AIF (OR = 6.60; 95% CI = 1.48-29.36; p = 0.009) were significantly increased, whereas, Bcl-2 expressions (OR = 8.00; 95% CI = 1.79-35.74; p = 0.004) were significantly decreased in the case group. CONCLUSION: High Caspase-3, AIF, and low Bcl-2 expression were the risk factors for PROM. Thus, it is evident that caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways are involved in the mechanism of PROM.

The Role of Caspase-3, Apoptosis-Inducing Factor, and B-cell Lymphoma-2 Expressions in Term Premature Rupture of Membrane.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of caspase-3, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expressions in term premature rupture of membrane (PROM). METHODS: An analytic observational study with case-control design was conducted, involving 52 subjects (37-42 weeks of gestation) who were divided into 2 groups: 26 cases of term delivery with PROM, and 26 controls of term delivery without PROM. The expressions of caspase-3, AIF, and Bcl-2 in the amniotic membrane were determined by immunohistochemistry. Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test. The risk of PROM was expressed by odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, parity and body mass index between the two groups (p > 0.05). High caspase-3 and AIF expressions increased the risk of PROM 17.64 times (OR = 17.64; 95% CI = 4.44-70.07; p = 0.001) and 9.45 times (OR = 9.45; 95% CI= 2.62-34.07; p = 0.001), respectively, while low Bcl-2 expression increased 10.39 times (OR = 10.39; 95% CI = 2.73-39.56; p = 0.001)the risk of PROM . CONCLUSION: High caspase-3 and AIF expressions and low Bcl-2 expression were risk factors for term PROM. Caspase-dependent and independent pathways of apoptosis were involved in the mechanism of PROM in term pregnancy.

The role of caspase-3, apoptosis-inducing factor, and B-cell lymphoma-2 expressions in term premature rupture of membrane

Abstract Objective To determine the role of caspase-3, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and Bcell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expressions in term premature rupture of membrane (PROM). Methods An analytic observational study with case-control design was conducted, involving 52 subjects (37-42 weeks of gestation) who were divided into 2 groups: 26 cases of term delivery with PROM, and 26 controls of term delivery without PROM. The expressions of caspase-3, AIF, and Bcl-2 in the amniotic membrane were determined by immunohistochemistry. Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test. The risk of PROM was expressed by odds ratio (OR). Results There were no significant differences in age, parity and body mass index between the two groups (p > 0.05). High caspase-3 and AIF expressions increased the risk of PROM 17.64 times (OR = 17.64; 95% CI = 4.44-70.07; p = 0.001) and 9.45 times (OR = 9.45; 95% CI= 2.62-34.07; p = 0.001), respectively, while low Bcl-2 expression increased 10.39 times (OR = 10.39; 95% CI = 2.73-39.56; p = 0.001)the risk of PROM . Conclusion High caspase-3 and AIF expressions and low Bcl-2 expression were risk factors for term PROM. Caspase-dependent and independent pathways of apoptosis were involved in the mechanism of PROM in term pregnancy.

Isolation and characterization of a pathogenic Newcastle disease virus from a natural case in indonesia.

This study was performed to isolate a velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain currently found in Indonesia for establishing a domestic reference virus for future pathological and molecular epidemiological studies. A chicken suspected to have contracted Newcastle disease (ND) in a local outbreak in Bali was selected for NDV isolation. Atrophy of lymphoid tissues such as the bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen; intestinal haemorrhage; and oedema of the brain were observed in the chicken. Histopathological examination revealed severe non-suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis characterised by neuronal necrosis, multifocal to diffuse gliosis, and perivascular cuffing of mononuclear cells, hemorrhagic necrosis of the trachea, intestines and bursa of Fabricius, and various degree of lymphoid depletion and necrosis of the lymphoid tissues. After ND was confirmed immunohistochemically, the NDV was propagated by inoculating tissue homogenate of the diseased chicken in embryonated eggs. Phylogenetic analysis based on the F gene nucleotide sequence revealed that this isolate belonged to genotype VII. The deduced amino acid sequence of the isolated NDV F protein at the cleavage site was (112)RRQKRF(117), which is typically found in virulent NDV isolates. Pathogenicity indexes such as the mean death time (MDT) and intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) were 54 hr and 1.77, respectively. Pathological findings, phylogenetic analysis, amino acid sequence of the F protein cleavage site, and pathogenicity index test results revealed the NDV isolate, designated as NDV/Bali-1/07, to be a novel Indonesian velogenic NDV strain belonging to group VII.