Association between vitamin D levels with IL-6 and IL-10 in umbilical cord blood of infants.

A worldwide issue, vitamin D deficiency affects pregnant mothers and babies everywhere, including Indonesia. It involves the adaptive immune system by controlling the production of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the balance between humoral (Th2) and cell-mediated (Th1) immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between vitamin D and the cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 in infants.

Identification of Nontuberculous Mycobacterium and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Sputum Patients with Suspected Tuberculosis.

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is predominantly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and can also involve nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). These pathogens pose significant global health challenges, particularly in developing countries. Differentiating between MTBC and NTM in clinical specimens is often difficult using conventional acid-fast staining methods, leading to an underestimation of NTM prevalence in TB-endemic regions.

Safety and immunogenicity of a SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protein subunit vaccine adjuvanted with Alum + CpG 1018 in healthy Indonesian adults: A multicenter, randomized, comparative, observer-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 study.

Globally, dozens of COVID-19 vaccines are licensed under emergency or conditional authorization, but especially in low and middle-income countries, their availability varies. Indonesia decided to become independent and produce its own vaccines locally. This study investigated the safety and immunogenicity of a SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protein subunit vaccine adjuvanted with Alum + CpG 1018.

Endophthalmitis patients in Makassar City: molecular identification of pathogenic fungal profile.

Background: Endophthalmitis is a severe inflammation of the internal ocular structures, usually caused by bacterial or fungal infections, and can lead to rapid, irreversible blindness. Fungal endophthalmitis (FE), primarily due to Candida albicans and Aspergillus, is less common than bacterial endophthalmitis but has shown an increase in prevalence over the past two decades. Diagnosing FE is challenging and often delayed due to the time-consuming nature of traditional culture methods.

Factors related to first COVID-19 booster vaccine acceptance in Indonesia: A cross-sectional multi-center study.

A positive community perception of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is crucial for increasing vaccination coverage and achieving herd immunity. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the acceptance of a COVID-19 booster vaccine in Indonesia. It was conducted as a cross-sectional, multicenter study using a validated questionnaire distributed online to Indonesian participants aged 18 years and older.

Diagnostic accuracy of GeneXpert in the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tuberculosis remains a significant global health issue, with spinal tuberculosis being a severe form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Despite the high morbidity associated with spinal tuberculosis, effective and rapid diagnostic methods are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the GeneXpert compared to other microbiological methods in diagnosing spinal tuberculosis.

Fluorescent probes for neuroscience: imaging brain tissue sections.

Neurobiological research relies heavily on imaging techniques, such as fluorescence microscopy, to understand neurological function and disease processes. However, the number and variety of fluorescent probes available for tissue section imaging limits the advance of research in the field. In this review, we outline the current range of fluorescent probes that are available to researchers for brain section imaging, including their physical and chemical characteristics, staining targets, and examples of discoveries for which they have been used.

Preliminary investigations into the use of the ancient pigments Han blue and Han purple as luminescent dusting powders for the detection of latent fingermarks.

Here we present our preliminary studies into the inorganic pigments Han blue (BaCuSiO) and Han purple (BaCuSiO) as near-infrared luminescent fingerprint dusting powders. These pigments were developed in ancient China around 800 BCE and both show luminescence in the NIR region. There remains, however, ambiguity in the literature concerning their photophysical properties.

Preclinical pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity of novel small-molecule GPR119 agonists to treat type-2 diabetes and obesity.

The escalating global prevalence of type-2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity necessitates the development of novel oral medications. Agonism at G-protein coupled receptor-119 (GPR119) has been recognized for modulation of metabolic homeostasis in T2D, obesity, and fatty liver disease. However, off-target effects have impeded the advancement of synthetic GPR119 agonist drug candidates.

Correlative multimodal optical and X-ray fluorescence imaging of brominated fluorophores.

Imaging with multiple modalities can maximise the information gained from the analysis of a single sample. probes for optical fluorescence and X-ray fluorescence microscopy based on brominated 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide and BODIPY scaffolds have been successfully designed and synthesised. Herein we show that these prototype probes, based on each of these scaffolds, can be imaged in two different cancer cell lines, and that the respective optical fluorescence and X-ray fluorescence signals are well correlated in these images.

Elucidating the Mechanism of Efficient Eu(III) and Yb(III) Sensitisation from a Re(I) Tetrazolato Triangular Assembly.

The reaction of Re(CO)Br with deprotonated 1H-(5-(2,2':6',2''-terpyridine)pyrid-2-yl)tetrazole yields a triangular assembly formed by tricarbonyl Re(I) vertices. Photophysical measurements reveal blue-green emission with a maximum at 520 nm, 32 % quantum yield, and 2430 ns long-lived excited state decay lifetime in deaerated dichloromethane solution. Coordination of lanthanoid ions to the terpyridine units red-shifts the emission to 570 nm and also reveals efficient (90 %) and fast sensitisation of both Eu(III) and Yb(III) at room temperature, with a similar rate constant k on the order of 10 s.

Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene I/D polymorphism with the risk of knee OA: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Background: Previous studies have linked genetics to knee osteoarthritis. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene I/D polymorphism may cause OA. However, evidence remains inconsistent.

Development of a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay with novel quantitative pH biosensor readout method for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) is a molecular amplification method that can detect SARS-CoV-2 in a shorter time than the current gold-standard molecular diagnostic reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). However, previously developed RT-LAMP assays have mostly relied on highly subjective visual colorimetric interpretation. In this study, an RT-LAMP assay was developed with quantitative measurement of reaction pH using a novel portable pH biosensor compared to qualitative colorimetric interpretation and gel electrophoresis, with 57 clinical COVID-19 samples used for validation of the test.

Neutral rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes with sulfur-donor ligands: anti-proliferative activity and cellular localization.

Rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes are widely studied for their cell imaging properties and anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities, but the complexes with S-donor ligands remain relatively unexplored. A series of six -[Re(NN)(CO)(SR)] complexes, where (NN) is 2,2'-bipyridyl (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and RSH is a series of thiocarboxylic acid methyl esters, have been synthesized and characterized. Cellular uptake and anti-proliferative activities of these complexes in human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) were generally lower than those of the previously described -[Re(NN)(CO)(OH)] complexes; however, one of the complexes, -[Re(CO)(phen)(SC(Ph)CHC(O)OMe)] (3b), was active (IC ∼ 10 μM at 72 h treatment) in thiol-depleted MDA-MB-231 cells.

Analysis of interleukin 7 and platelet-derived growth factor-BB mRNA expression as potential markers in erythema nodosum leprosum.

Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an immunological complication of leprosy characterized by acute inflammation of the skin, nerves, and other organs. Identifying laboratory parameters is important for early diagnosis of leprosy reactions. Various cytokine biomarkers have been examined and only a few studies have reported on angiogenesis in leprosy.

Designing Ionic Ir(III) Cyclometalated Complexes as Photocatalysts for Light Assisted ATRP of MMA. A Combined Experimental and Mechanistic Study.

A new family of ionic Ir(III) cyclometalated complexes with general formula [Ir(CN)(NN)][Br], was designed and prepared to be assessed as photocalysts for the visible light assisted ATRP polymerization of MMA. To this purpose, our design strategy involved both: i) the decoration of the cyclometalating (CN) and the ancillary (NN) ligands with various electron withdrawing and/or electron donor substituents and, ii) the use of Br as the counter anion for these cationic Ir(III) species. After an extensive screening in which the [Ir(CN)(NN)][Br]-type compounds were compared to the model neutral complex fac-[Ir(ppy)], the "fully" amino-substituted ion pairs abbreviated as [10][Br] and [11][Br], exhibited the best photocatalytic performances under irradiation with CFL lamps.

Secretome of Hypoxia-Preconditioned Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Liver Regeneration and Anti-Fibrotic Effect in Liver Fibrosis Animal Model.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Liver fibrosis (LF) is a most common pathological process characterized by the activation of hepatocytes leading to the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Hypoxia precondition treated in MSCs (H-MSCs) could enhance their immunomodulatory and regeneration capability, through expressing robust anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, known as H-MSCs secretome (SH-MSCs) that are critical for the improvement of liver fibrosis. However, the study regarding the efficacy and mechanism of action of SH-MSCs in ameliorating liver fibrosis is still inconclusive.

Synthesis and cellular uptake of neutral rhenium(I) morpholine complexes.

Morpholine motifs have been used extensively as targeting moieties for lysosomes, primarily in fluorescence imaging agents. Traditionally these imaging agents are based on organic molecules which have several shortcomings including small Stokes shifts, short emission lifetimes, and susceptibility to photobleaching. To explore alternative lysosome targeting imaging agents we have used a rhenium based phosphorescent platform which has been previously demonstrated to have an improved Stokes shift, a long lifetime emission, and is highly photostable.

Major Drug Resistance Mutations on Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 in Indonesia: A Systematic Review.

Purpose Of Review: The prevalence of HIV-1 in Indonesia is on a concerning upward trajectory, with a concurrent rise in the development of drug-resistant strains, challenging the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Many mutations have been found in the pol gene that makes HIV resistant to ART. We aim to review the major drug resistance mutations (DRMs) of reverse transcriptase (RT) of pol gene in HIV-1 cases in Indonesia.

Randomized controlled trial of vitamin d supplementation on toll-like receptor-2 (tlr-2) and toll-like receptor-4 (tlr-4) in tuberculosis spondylitis patients.

Background: Tuberculosis spondylitis accounts for approximately 50% of all cases of skeletal tuberculosis. Vitamin D plays a role in the immune system. Vitamin D helps in the activation of TLR-2 and TLR-4, which play a role in the process of tuberculosis infection.

The knowledge mapping of HIV/AIDS in Indonesians living on six major islands using the Indonesian version of the HIV-KQ-18 instrument.

Indonesia's total number of HIV/AIDS cases is still high. Inadequate knowledge about the risk of HIV infection will influence HIV prevention and therapy. This study aimed to map the level of HIV-related knowledge among Indonesians living on six major islands in Indonesia and investigate the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and HIV/AIDS knowledge.

Dual adversarial deconfounding autoencoder for joint batch-effects removal from multi-center and multi-scanner radiomics data.

Medical imaging represents the primary tool for investigating and monitoring several diseases, including cancer. The advances in quantitative image analysis have developed towards the extraction of biomarkers able to support clinical decisions. To produce robust results, multi-center studies are often set up.