Community-based psychosocial support interventions to reduce stigma and improve mental health of people with infectious diseases: a scoping review.

Background: Stigma experienced by people with infectious diseases impedes access to care, leading to adverse psychosocial consequences. Community-based interventions could prevent or mitigate these consequences but lack robust evidence. This scoping review aimed to identify and critically appraise community-based psychosocial support interventions to reduce stigma and improve mental health for people affected by stigmatizing infectious diseases including tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and leprosy.

miR-21 and miR-145 as Prognostic Biomarkers for Radiotherapy Responses in Cervical Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Study.

Radioresistance poses a significant challenge in the effective treatment of cervical cancer, often leading to poor patient outcomes. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) and MicroRNA-145 (miR-145) are oncogenic micro-RNAs associated with various cancers, including cervical cancer, but their potential as predictive biomarkers for radioresistance remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the association between miR-21 and miR-145 expressions and the response to radiation therapy in cervical cancer patients.

Bridging the gap: financing health promotion and disease prevention in Indonesia.

Background: Spending on preventive care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Indonesia, is much lower than spending on curative care. There has been a pressing need to develop a clear pathway to increase spending on preventive care. This study aimed to assess the current financing landscape for health promotion and disease prevention in Indonesia and, subsequently, to develop a framework and recommendations for future health promotion financing in the country.

Semiquantitative assessment of phosphatase and tensin homolog value with immunohistochemistry in colorectal cancer.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer has emerged as a concerning health problem, ranking the third most common form of cancer in both men and women. The phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) protein is widely known for its role as an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase-B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway, playing a major role inhibiting tumor development. Previous studies investigated the role of this protein in the PI3K pathway and how it affected colorectal cancer.

Estimating the budget impact of a Tuberculosis strategic purchasing pilot study in Medan, Indonesia (2018-2019).

Background: Indonesia has the world's second-highest tuberculosis (TB) burden, with 969,000 annual TB infections. In 2017, Indonesia faced significant challenges in TB care, with 18% of cases missed, 29% of diagnosed cases unreported, and 55.4% of positive results not notified.

Resilience in Relation to Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in People Living With HIV: A Qualitative Study.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence significantly impacts the survival and quality of life of people living with HIV (PLWH). Despite the challenges faced by PLWH, adherence remains crucial. Thus, cultivating resilience in ART is essential for optimal treatment outcomes.

Role of CD44 and CD24 Expression on 2-years Disease Free Survival in Patients with Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma.

Objective: Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers with a high mortality rate worldwide. Despite optimal surgical therapy and chemotherapy, recurrence is still common. Cancer stem cells expressing CD44 and CD24 are thought to be contributing factors in recurrence.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis control in Indonesia: a nationwide longitudinal analysis of programme data.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis control in high-burden countries has not been adequately assessed. We aimed to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the national tuberculosis programme in Indonesia, in association with indicators of human development and health-system capacity across all 514 districts in 34 provinces.

Methods: We did a nationwide longitudinal analysis to compare tuberculosis case notification, treatment coverage, and mortality rates in Indonesia before (2016-19) and during (2020-21) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental Health Status and Its Associated Factors Related to Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Primary Health Care Centre in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Background: Mental disorders in TB patients are due to long-term treatment, drug side effects, and relapse. This study aimed to analyse the mental health status among TB patients and its associated factors.

Methods: The study was carried out on 107 Pulmonary TB patients from 5 Primary Healthcare centres in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Validity and reliability test of the brief symptom rating scale 5 (BSRS-5) questionnaire in Indonesian version as an assessment tool for psychological disorders in Indonesia.

Background: Psychological disorders in workers is associated with physical health problems and decreased work productivity costing the impact of workplace accidents. We can minimize these problems by introducing screening programs with a simple screening tool for psychological disorders. One of the questionnaires used in several countries to assess psychological disorders is the Brief Symptom Rating Scale - 5 (BSRS-5).

Proposed Algorithm for Integrated Management of TB-SARS-CoV-2 Co-Infection in a TB-Endemic Country.

Tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 have become significant health problems globally, especially in countries with high prevalence. Therefore, this research aims to examine all possibilities and predict the impact of TB-SARS-CoV-2 co-infection to anticipate the cascade effect of both diseases in all sectors. The conceptual strategy of the algorithm in TB-COVID-19 is needed to create an integrated management system.

Noncommunicable diseases risk factors and the risk of COVID-19 among university employees in Indonesia.

Introduction: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are still a major public health problem in Indonesia. Studies have shown that risk factors of NCDs are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and mortality. However, it is unclear whether NCD risk factors are also risks for new COVID-19 cases.

The long-term impact of the Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) program on leprosy incidence: A modelling study.

Background: The Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) program explored the feasibility and impact of contact tracing and the provision of single dose rifampicin (SDR) to eligible contacts of newly diagnosed leprosy patients in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. As the impact of the programme is difficult to establish in the short term, we apply mathematical modelling to predict its long-term impact on the leprosy incidence.

Methodology: The individual-based model SIMCOLEP was calibrated and validated to the historic leprosy incidence data in the study areas.

Acetic Acid and Iodine Staining for Determining Malignancy in Solid Tumors.

Objective: Surgical margin is an important prognostic factor in solid cancer surgery. Frozen section (FS), the gold standard for intraoperative surgical margin evaluation, requires extensive waiting time and expensive FS devices. The purpose of this diagnostic study was to verify whether multi-staining (MS) method with acetic acid and iodine could be used to differentiate malignant and non-malignant lesions of solid tumor.

Leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis with single-dose rifampicin (LPEP): an international feasibility programme.

Background: Innovative approaches are required for leprosy control to reduce cases and curb transmission of Mycobacterium leprae. Early case detection, contact screening, and chemoprophylaxis are the most promising tools. We aimed to generate evidence on the feasibility of integrating contact tracing and administration of single-dose rifampicin (SDR) into routine leprosy control activities.

Low vitamin D-25(OH) level in Indonesian multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optic patients.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is commonly found in multiple sclerosis (MS) and Neuromyelitis Optic (NMO) patients and can impair the immunological status. As a tropical country, Indonesia has a lot of sunshine throughout the year as a source of vitamin D. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the serum vitamin D-25(OH) level in Indonesian MS and NMO patients to healthy individuals.

The Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) programme: update and interim analysis.

Innovative approaches are required to further enhance leprosy control, reduce the number of people developing leprosy, and curb transmission. Early case detection, contact screening, and chemoprophylaxis currently is the most promising approach to achieve this goal. The Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) programme generates evidence on the feasibility of integrating contact tracing and single-dose rifampicin (SDR) administration into routine leprosy control activities in different settings.

Knowledge and perception of tuberculosis and the risk to become treatment default among newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated in primary health care, East Nusa Tenggara: a retrospective study.

Background: Despite the high efficacy of tuberculosis (TB) drug regiments, one of the barriers in the TB control program is the non-compliance to treatment. Morbidity, mortality, and risk to become resistant to drugs are emerging among defaulters. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify the factors, especially knowledge and perceptions of TB and association with treatment default among patients treated in primary care settings, East Nusa Tenggara.

Effectiveness of the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine in an Indonesian population with D543N NRAMP1 polymorphism.

Introduction: Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination remains a routine immunization in primary care in tuberculosis (TB)-endemic areas, though several studies found that its efficacy was inconclusive. Natural resistance-asociated machrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) polymorphism has been shown to result in higher susceptibility to TB. Information on genetic susceptibility in populations will be useful in planning the application of the BCG vaccine.

Primary Health Centre disaster preparedness after the earthquake in Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Background: The West Sumatra earthquake that occurred on September 30, 2009, caused severe damage in some districts, including Padang Pariaman. As Padang Pariaman is an earthquake-prone area, disaster and emergency management is necessary. Due to the limited health facilities, the health services completely rely on Puskesmas (Primary Health Centres, PHCs).

Zinc and vitamin A supplementation fails to reduce sputum conversion time in severely malnourished pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Indonesia.

Background: A previous study showed that combination of zinc and vitamin A reduced sputum conversion time in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients.

Objective: We studied the efficacy of which single micronutrient contributed more to the sputum conversion time.

Methods: In a double-blind randomized community trial, newly sputum smear positive pulmonary TB patients were assigned randomly to receive zinc, vitamin A, zinc + vitamin A or placebo on top of TB treatment.

Vitamin A deficiency and other factors associated with severe tuberculosis in Timor and Rote Islands, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia.

Background: Plasma zinc and vitamin A concentrations have been reported to be low in tuberculosis (TB) patients in some studies, although it is not clear whether this constitutes a risk for a more severe clinical presentation among TB patients. The acute phase reaction may also deplete zinc and vitamin A in the plasma. Therefore, we further studied these associations.

Malnutrition and socio-demographic factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in Timor and Rote Islands, Indonesia.

Objective: To identify nutritional and socio-demographic factors for the development of tuberculosis (TB) in Timor and Rote Island, Indonesia, so that intervention programmes can be developed to address these factors.

Methods: In a case-control study, we enrolled new sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB patients as cases, and neighbours matched for sex and age as controls. Data obtained included history of TB, socio-demographic factors and nutritional status.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis population structures differ significantly on two Indonesian Islands.

Comparison of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype distributions in different areas might help to find determinants of the emergence of certain genotypes, such as the Beijing family. In this study, M. tuberculosis isolates originating from patients from two Indonesian islands were genotyped, and possible associations with patients' characteristics and drug resistance were explored.