Increased serum activin A level in congenital heart disease-associated pulmonary artery hypertension: A comparative study from the COHARD-PH registry.

Activin A, a member of TGF-β superfamily, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH due to congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH) is a major problem in developing countries. Activin A may have a role in PAH development and progression among uncorrected CHD.

Physical activity virtual intervention for improving mental health among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Co-creation process and evaluation using the Behavior Change Wheel.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were reductions in university students' physical activity, which further increased their mental distress, calling for technology-based physical activity interventions to address the challenges in delivering in-person interventions. This study aimed to develop a technology-based physical activity intervention and pilot test it.

Methods: We developed a virtually-delivered team-based physical activity challenge using the Behavior Change Wheel and Co-creation Framework based on Self-determination Theory.

Global research trends in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the global profile of the literature in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) research.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a clinically heterogeneous condition characterized by fat accumulation in the liver and the absence of significant alcohol consumption or underlying genetic disorders. These manifestations are associated with inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis that can develop into cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma.

A longitudinal controlled signage intervention to increase stair use at university buildings: Process and impact evaluation using RE-AIM framework.

Introduction: Stair climbing intervention could be suggested to address low occupational physical activity amongst university students and employees. Strong evidence showed the effectiveness of signage intervention in increasing stair use in public areas. However, evidence in worksite settings, including university settings, was inconclusive.

Update on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Associated Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Their Involvement in Liver Steatosis, Inflammation, and Fibrosis: A Narrative Review.

Genetic factors are involved in the development, progression, and severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Polymorphisms in genes regulating liver functions may increase liver susceptibility to NAFLD. Therefore, we conducted this literature study to present recent findings on NAFLD-associated polymorphisms from published articles in PubMed from 2016 to 2021.

Significance of BMPR2 mutations in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a debilitating disease that results from progressive remodeling and inflammation of pulmonary arteries. PAH develops gradually, is difficult to diagnose, and has a high mortality rate. Although mutation in the bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) gene has been identified as the main genetic cause of PAH, the underlying pathways involving the pathophysiology of PAH are complex and still not fully understood.

The neuroprotective effect of ethanolic extract Ocimum sanctum Linn. in the regulation of neuronal density in hippocampus areas as a central autobiography memory on the rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

The aim of this study was to identify the effects of Ocimum sanctum Linn. ethanolic extract (OSE) on the neurons of the CA1, CA3, and DG hippocampal areas with the use of in vivo and in vitro models of Alzheimer's diseases (AD). Twenty-one two-month-old male rats were divided into three groups: untreated (Group A, n = 3), AD rats model pretreated with OSE followed by induction for Trimethyltin (TMT) on day 7 (group B, n = 9), and AD rats model treated with OSE both as pre-TMT introduction for 7 days and post-TMT induction for 21 days (group C, n = 9).

Mothers' knowledge of breastfeeding and infant feeding types affect acute respiratory infections.

Introduction: World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for new-borns until 6 months of age. However, exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia only reached 52.3% in 2014 and 65.

Effects of Yacon on Colonic IFN-γ and Goblet Cells of 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-Induced Colitis Mouse Model.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. Supplementation of yacon tubers has been known to have positive effect on intestinal health. Therefore, we conducted the present study to investigate the effect of yacon tuber powder on Th1 activation pathway by evaluating IFN-γ levels and the number of goblet cells in the colon of colitis mouse models.

"Sarcopenia and intramuscular fat deposition are associated with poor survival in Indonesian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study".

Background: A large-scale Japanese study showed that low skeletal muscle index (SMI) and intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) survival. Here, we evaluated the effects of SMI and IMF on the survival of Indonesian HCC patients, whose characteristics differ from those of Japanese patients.

Methods: SMI and mean muscle attenuation (MA) were evaluated using computed tomography images of the third lumbar vertebra (L3) in a prospective cohort of 100 Indonesian HCC patients.

Effects of low and moderate treadmill exercise on liver of d-galactose-exposed aging rat model.

Aging increases liver susceptibility to diseases and it causes inflammation in liver tissue which can lead to fibrosis. Studies suggest that aging is caused by the accumulation of free radicals. Lack of physical activity can lower hormone levels and increase free radicals that can accelerate the aging process.

Association Between HBx Variations and Development of Severe Liver Disease Among Indonesian Patients.

Multi-site mutations in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) X gene are often found in patients with advanced liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It has been reported that modifications in the X protein play crucial roles in the development of HBV-related severe liver disease. However, the prevalence of genetic variations in Indonesian strains has not been systematically assessed.

Profile of Mutations in the Reverse Transcriptase and Overlapping Surface Genes of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in Treatment-Naïve Indonesian HBV Carriers.

Mutations in the reverse transcriptase (RT) region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome are an important factor in low therapeutic effectiveness. Nonetheless, the prevalence of these mutations in HBV strains isolated previously in Indonesia has not been systematically examined. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the profile of mutations in the RT region and the associations of these mutations with amino acid changes in the surface protein in the virus of treatment-naïve Indonesian HBV carriers.

Genetic polymorphisms of HLA-DP and isolated anti-HBc are important subsets of occult hepatitis B infection in Indonesian blood donors: a case-control study.

Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is defined as the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the serum and/or liver in HBsAg-negative individuals. OBI is associated with the risk of viral transmission, especially in developing countries, and with progressive liver disease and reactivation in immunosuppressive patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation of OBI to HLA-DP single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) encoding antigen-binding sites for the immune response to HBV infection.

Different Variants in Reverse Transcriptase Domain Determined by Ultra-deep Sequencing in Treatment-naïve and Treated Indonesian Patients Infected with Hepatitis B Virus.

A nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) is the common antiviral drug available for directly treating hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, its application has led to the emergence of NA-resistant mutations mostly in a conserved region of the reverse transcriptase domain of HBV polymerase. Harboring NA-resistant mutations decreases drug effectiveness and increases the frequency of end-stage liver disease.

Protective effects of HLA-DPA1/DPB1 variants against Hepatitis B virus infection in an Indonesian population.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DPA1/DPB1 variants have been reported to influence Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HLA-DPA1/DPB1 plays a pivotal role in antigen presentation to CD4(+) helper T cells and influences the outcome of HBV infection. To investigate the influence of HLA-DP variants on the outcome of HBV infection in an Indonesian population where it has the third-highest prevalence of HBV infection worldwide, we performed a case-control study of 686 participants, including patients with HBV-related advanced or nonadvanced liver disease, patients with spontaneously resolved HBV, and healthy controls.

Ultradeep Sequencing for Detection of Quasispecies Variants in the Major Hydrophilic Region of Hepatitis B Virus in Indonesian Patients.

Quasispecies of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with variations in the major hydrophilic region (MHR) of the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) can evolve during infection, allowing HBV to evade neutralizing antibodies. These escape variants may contribute to chronic infections. In this study, we looked for MHR variants in HBV quasispecies using ultradeep sequencing and evaluated the relationship between these variants and clinical manifestations in infected patients.

A deep-sequencing method detects drug-resistant mutations in the hepatitis B virus in Indonesians.

Objective: The long-term administration of a nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B may encourage the emergence of viral mutations associated with drug resistance. Minor populations of viruses may exist before treatment, but are difficult to detect because of technological limitations. Identifying minor viral quasispecies should be useful in the clinical management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.