Indonesian and Vietnamese Information Seeking Behaviour Related to COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Southeast Asia countries had been among the worst-hit countries by COVID-19. The misinformation was spread along with the increasing number of cases. This study aims to describe how Indonesians and Vietnamese behave in seeking information related to COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional design with purposive sampling technique (n=167). Targeted population was limited to 18 - 59 years of age. An online form was shared via WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram of each contributor. Data collected includes sociodemographic data (age, gender, marital status, educational background, occupation, and residences), and data on information seeking behaviour. Data was analysed using SPSS V.20. RESULTS: Almost 95.70% of Indonesians and 89.20% of Vietnamese accessed the online information. A 75.68% Vietnamese and 46.24% Indonesians shared information with others, 59.14% of Indonesians and 20.3% of Vietnamese stated that they discussed the information with health workers. CONCLUSION: Both countries have implemented proper online-based information. However, a good mass communication strategies were needed to protect people from the misinformation.

Gastric B-cell clonal expansion and Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with autoimmune diseases and with dyspepsia. A follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: It is not clear whether gastric B-cell clonal expansion, a possible precursor of mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT) lymphoma, is exclusively linked to Helicobacter pylori infection and virulence. METHODS: In this study we followed up, for up to 33 months, 16 VDJ polymerase chain reaction-positive patients (4 with dyspepsia, 9 with Sjögren's syndrome, and 3 with other autoimmune diseases). Of these, 12 were H. pylori-positive. In addition, in H. pylori-positive patients we tested whether the serum anti-cag-A (a potential marker of virulence) was preferentially associated with B-cell clonality. RESULTS: In all but one patient clonality appeared temporally unrelated to H. pylori infection. The prevalence of anti-cagA was not higher in H. pylori/VDJ-positive patients than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that, in addition to H. pylori, gastric B-cell clonality may be sustained by other agents/mechanisms. Anti-cag-A does not appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of clonality.

B-cell clonality and infection with Helicobacter pylori: implications for development of gastric lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Although Helicobacter pylori has been implicated in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) and MALT lymphoma, it is not known how it may trigger these lesions and whether there is an identifiable pre-neoplastic stage. AIMS: To investigate the relation between MALT, H pylori infection, and B-cell clonality (a potential marker of pre-neoplastic lesions). PATIENTS: 141 subjects with simple dyspepsia. METHODS: Gastric biopsy specimens from all patients were examined for MALT and H pylori. Of these, 25 consecutive MALT positive specimens were scored for features of MALT lymphoma and VDJ clonality studied by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Overall, prevalence was 62% for H pylori and 46% for MALT. VDJ clonality was frequent in the sub-group studied (nine of 25), mostly associated with lymphoid follicles (eight of nine or 89%), and with a high scoring for MALT lymphoma. VDJ clonality was equally frequent in patients with and without H pylori (seven of 20 and two of five or 35% and 40% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: B-cell clonality is unexpectedly common in subjects with simple dyspepsia and MALT raising clinical management questions. These findings also suggest that the cascade MALT formation--B-cell clonality--MALT lymphoma may not be uniquely associated with H pylori infection.

Beneficial effects of an anabolic steroid during cytotoxic chemotherapy for metastatic cancer.

To investigate the effects of concurrent administration of an anabolic steroid upon hematopoiesis and metabolism in patients with cancer who were receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy, a randomized trial was conducted. Thirty-three evaluable patients received intensive multiple-agent chemotherapy: 17 received in addition nandrolone decanoate ("Deca-Durabolin"), 200 mg intramuscularly each week. The nandrolone-treated patients showed significantly better maintenance of hemoglobin concentrations and body weight, and a highly significant reduction in number of blood transfusions. Improved survival in the androgen-treated patients did not achieve significance. There were no differences in neutrophil or platelet counts or in tolerance of cytotoxic drugs. Toxicity from nandrolone therapy was minimal.