Determination of black soldier fly larvae performance for oil palm based waste reduction and biomass conversion.

Oil palm biomass, such as empty fruit bunches and palm kernel meal, has low digestibility. Thus, a suitable bioreactor is urgently needed to efficiently convert oil palm biomass into high-value products. The polyphagous black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) has gained global attention for its role in biomass conversion. However, there is scarce information on the ability of the BSF to sustainably manage highly lignocellulosic matter, such as oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the performance of the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) in oil palm biomass management. Several formulations were fed to the BSFL five days after hatching (DAH), and the effects on oil palm biomass-based substrate waste reduction and biomass conversion were analyzed. Furthermore, the resulting growth parameters correlating to the treatments were evaluated, including feed conversion rate (FCR), survival rates, and developmental rates. The most optimal results were obtained by mixing 50% of palm kernel meal (PKM) with 50% of coarse oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB), resulting in an FCR of 3.98 ± 0.08 and a survival rate of 87% ± 4.16. Moreover, this treatment is a promising method for waste reduction (11.7% ± 6.76), with a bioconversion efficiency (corrected for residue) of 71.5% ± 1.12. In conclusion, the study findings indicate that incorporating PKM into OPEFB substrate can substantially alter BSFL growth, reduce oil palm waste, and optimize biomass conversion.

The Outcome of Complex Pelvic Fracture after Internal Fixation Surgery.

Introduction: Complex pelvic fracture, which has a very high mortality and even higher morbidity, needs internal fixation surgery as an integral part for its management. It was necessary to conduct a study regarding outcome of complex pelvic fractures after internal fixation surgery. Material & Method: Twenty-six patients with complex pelvic fractures that had been treated with internal fixation surgery during 2011-2014 were enrolled. These patients had an open pelvic fractures or Tile type B or C pelvic fracture who had undergone internal fixation surgery with at least 6 months follow-up. Evaluation of the morbidity and functional scoring was performed using Majeed and Hannover Score. Results and Discussions: Average of age was 31 years old and follow up time was 25 months. There were 7 patients with open pelvic fracture and 19 with closed fracture. Excellent Majeed Score were found on 78.6% cases in Tile B fractures and 50% in Tile C. Good Hannover Score was found in 64.3% Tile B cases and 80% Tile C cases. Fracture type was statistically insignificant with acquired sexual dysfunction (p>0.05), but significant with the chronic pain (p=0,.017). We also found that urogenital injury is associated with sexual dysfunction (p=0.005). Conclusions: The outcome of complex pelvic fracture after internal fixation surgery was excellent. More than 90% patients got an excellent and good result on Majeed Score, and also very good and good result on Hannover Score.

Acute hepatitis at the Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Sumatra/Dr. Pirngadi Hospital Medan.

A retrospective study was done during 1984-1988 in the pediatric ward of Dr. Pirngadi Hospital revealing 41 cases of acute hepatitis, consisted of 61.0% boys and 39.0% girls. The majority of patients were below five years of age (68.3%). There were 37.1% cases with malnutrition. The common symptoms were fever, jaundice, vomiting and dark urine. On laboratory examination there were 10 cases with positive HBs Ag. Accompanying diseases were malnutrition, bronchopneumonia, anemia, bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis. A total of 63.4% of patients were healed, 29.3% discharged against medical advice and 7.3% died because of bronchopneumonia and hepatic coma.

Cerebral palsy.

Epidemiology of cerebral palsy is complex, being influenced by various factors, some of which are unknown and it is commonly accompanied by other abnormalities, thus involving a variety of specialization in their treatment. In a period of 1978-1985, a retrospective study of cerebral palsy cases was performed at the Child Neurology Subdivision Department of Child Health School of Medicine, University of Sumatera/Dr. Pirngadi Hospital, Medan. There were 40 cases (1.59%) out of 2,505 new child neurological cases, consisting of 20 males (50%) and 20 females (50%). The youngest was 4 months and the oldest was 7 years and 5 months of age. Thirty two cases (80%) appeared predominantly with the age less than 3 years. The predominant cause was neonatal asphyxia in 11 cases (27.5%), the uncertain causes were found 8 cases (20%). Spastic cerebral palsy was found in 28 cases (70%) and there were 13 cases (32.5%) accompanied by microcephaly.

Gastroenteritis in the pediatric ward of Dr. Pirngadi Hospital Medan in 1983.

PIP: In 1983, 2869 infants and children were hospitalized in the pediatric ward of the Dr. Pirngadi Hospital Mecan. Of these, 1317 (46.2%) were gastroenteritis cases; 635 of these patients (48.2%) were those ages 0-1 year. The highest prevalence is found among this group. The months of July and August accounted for the majority of gastroenteritis cases, 15.6% in the 1st and 14.2% in the 2nd. This condition held true for all age groups. Mild, moderate, and severe dehydration were encountered in 4.3%, 35.7%, and 60.6% of the cases. The over 3 year olds had the highest number of severe dehydration cases; 76.5% of all patients in the same age group. Most of these cases occurred in July; 71.2% in that month. A significant inverse correlation between age and diarrhea duration was evident--the younger the age, the longer the duration of diarrhea (p0.01). Administration of oral electrolyte solution did not significantly alter the duration of diarrhea. The overall mortality rate was 13%. The highest age specific fatality rate was found among those ages 0-1 (20.3%). Mortality for those children older than 3 was 1.8%.^ieng