Post-Diagnosis HCV RNA Testing Rates Prior to HCV Treatment Among People Living With HIV With HCV Antibody Positivity in the Asia-Pacific Region.

HCV RNA test determines current active infection and is a requirement prior to initiating HCV treatment. We investigated trends and factors associated with post-diagnosis HCV RNA testing rates prior to HCV treatment, and risk factors for first positive HCV RNA among people living with HIV (PLHIV) with HCV in the Asia-Pacific region. PLHIV with positive HCV antibody and in follow-up after 2010 were included.

The Potential Anti-psoriatic Effects of Andrographolide: A Comparative Study to Topical Corticosteroids.

Background: Andrographolide (AP), a bioactive anti-inflammatory compound of Sambiloto, inhibits NF-κB, TNF-α, and interleukin IL-6. Nowadays, molecular docking simulation between AP and dexamethasone against NF-κB receptor presented the energy AP higher than dexamethasone. This becomes a potential treatment for psoriasis.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with severe COVID-19 in Indonesia: Lessons from the first wave.

Background: Indonesia's national response to COVID-19 evolved rapidly throughout 2020. Understanding pandemic response and outcomes is crucial for better mitigation strategies ahead. This study describes the characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to ICU during the early stages of the pandemic.

The changing characteristics of a cohort of children and adolescents living with HIV at antiretroviral therapy initiation in Asia.

Despite improvements in HIV testing and earlier antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation in children living with HIV through the years, a considerable proportion start treatment with advanced disease. We studied characteristics of children and adolescents living with HIV and their level of immunodeficiency at ART initiation using data from a multi-country Asian cohort. We included children and adolescents who were ART-naïve and <18 years of age at ART initiation from 2011 to 2020 at 17 HIV clinics in six countries.

Topographical Analysis of Pacinian Corpuscle in the Pulp of Human Cadaver Finger Tip Pulp: A Pilot Cadaver Study.

The human hand is a specialised organ for fine motion and sensation and has a relatively large representation in the homunculus. The pathway of sensation starts from information sent by mechanoreceptors in the hand. This study reports the topography of the Pacinian corpuscle in the fingertips of a human cadaver.

Disease-Related Malnutrition in Pediatric Patients with Chronic Disease: A Developing Country Perspective.

Malnutrition is widely known to affect growth in children. There are many studies focusing on malnutrition globally in relation to limited food access; however, there is only limited research on disease-related malnutrition, especially in chronic conditions and particularly in developing countries. This study aims to review articles on the measurement of malnutrition in pediatric chronic disease, especially in developing countries where there are resource limitations in identifying nutritional status in pediatric chronic disease with complex conditions.

Radius palmar plate removal without carpal tunnel release: Correlation between plate position and median nerve symptoms.

We aimed to report the clinical results of volar plate removal without carpal tunnel release in patients with late-onset median neuropathy and to evaluate the relationship between plate position and median nerve symptoms. Part I. Twelve consecutive patients with late-onset median neuropathy treated with volar plate removal without carpal tunnel release were enrolled for analysis.

The role of CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ and neutrophile to lymphocyte ratio in predicting and determining COVID-19 severity in Indonesian patients.

Background: Biomarkers that are cost-effective and accurate for predicting severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are urgently needed. We would like to assess the role of various inflammatory biomarkers on admission as disease severity predictors and determine the optimal cut-off of the neutrophile-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for predicting severe COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in six hospitals in Bali and recruited real-time PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients aged >18 y from June to August 2020.

Disclosure of HIV status and associated clinical outcomes of children and adolescents living with HIV in Asia.

Disclosure of HIV status is an important part of pediatric care. We studied disclosure and clinical outcomes in a multi-country Asian cohort of children and adolescents with HIV. Those 6-19 years of age who initiated combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) between 2008 and 2018, and who had at least one follow-up clinic visit were included.

Paediatric COVID-19 mortality: a database analysis of the impact of health resource disparity.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric populations varied between high-income countries (HICs) versus low-income to middle-income countries (LMICs). We sought to investigate differences in paediatric clinical outcomes and identify factors contributing to disparity between countries.

Methods: The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 database was queried to include children under 19 years of age admitted to hospital from January 2020 to April 2021 with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

CD4/CD8 Ratio Recovery Among People Living With HIV Starting With First-Line Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors: A Prospective Regional Cohort Analysis.

Background: We evaluated trends in CD4/CD8 ratio among people living with HIV (PLWH) starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) with first-line integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) compared with non-INSTI-based ART, and the incidence of CD4/CD8 ratio normalization.

Methods: All PLWH enrolled in adult HIV cohorts of IeDEA Asia-Pacific who started with triple-ART with at least 1 CD4, CD8 (3-month window), and HIV-1 RNA measurement post-ART were included. CD4/CD8 ratio normalization was defined as a ratio ≥1.

Hepatitis C Seroconversion Remains High among Patients with Regular Hemodialysis: Study of Associated Risk Factors.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study involving patients from 2 dialysis units (1 referral hospital and 1 private dialysis unit) in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, from January 2020 to December 2021. We evaluated age, gender, duration of hemodialysis, vascular access, history of transfusion, history of surgery, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and type of dialyzer as possible risk factors of hepatitis C seroconversion among hemodialysis patients.

Results: A total of 338 hemodialysis patients were enrolled in this study.

Adjunctive platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid injection after arthroscopic debridement in Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 and 4 knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of pain and disability, predominantly affecting the knee. The current management of knee OA falls short of completely stopping disease progression, particularly in Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade 3 and 4 knee OA. As such, joint replacement is often recommended, although only 15%-33% of candidates accept it.

Expert Opinion on Diabetes Management Challenges and Role of Basal Insulin/GLP-1 RA Fixed-Ratio Combination in People with Type 2 Diabetes from Indonesia.

Indonesia is struggling with a rapidly growing burden of diabetes due to rapid socioeconomic transition. People with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) need appropriate treatment strategies to maintain glycemic control. New modalities with simplicity, such as fixed-ratio combination of basal insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), further referred to as FRC, have proven to be an effective and practical therapeutic approach that may address this issue.

Factors associated with anti-retroviral therapy adherence among patients living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic causes fear and anxiety symptoms on some vulnerable populations such as patients living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH). Physical distancing (during consultation in the clinic) and isolation restrictions will likely have a negative impact on/disruption to all care continuum services of HIV diseases although healthcare services and access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) have continued to operate.

Objective: To investigate the factors associated with ART adherence among PLWH during the COVID-19 pandemic.

High Pretreatment Level of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio, Monocyte to Lymphocyte Ratio and Other Factors Associated with Delayed Sputum Conversion in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Introduction: Patients with delayed intensive phase sputum conversion have a higher risk of multidrug resistant-tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and poorer treatment outcomes. Both, host (immune response and comorbidity) and pathogen factors play important roles in determining sputum conversion after treatment initiation. Impaired host immune response, especially the cellular components, as defined by the increased pre-treatment level of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and other additional factors, were associated with severe active TB.

Virological failure and treatment switch after ART initiation among people living with HIV with and without routine viral load monitoring in Asia.

Introduction: Viral load (VL) testing is still challenging to monitor treatment responses of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV treatment programme in Asia. We assessed the association between routine VL testing and virological failure (VF) and determine factors associated with switching to second-line regimen.

Methods: Among 21 sites from the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD), people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged ≥18 years initiating ART from 2003 to 2021 were included.

Factors associated with high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and cirrhosis in people living with HIV on combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) in the Asia-Pacific.

Liver disease is a growing burden among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in resource-limited settings. As an indicator of liver disease, risk factors of high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and cirrhosis were assessed among PLHIV in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD). Patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with a pre-cART ALT measurement and at least one follow-up ALT measurement were included.

Similar Blood Glucose Pattern with Highest Peak at Minute 45 on Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Despite Higher Fasting Insulin and Insulin Resistance in Healthy Obese than Non-Obese Subject.

Background: Obesity increase the risk for type 2 diabetes through induction of insulin resistance. Diagnosis of diabetes were based on blood glucose level. However, insulin resistance may had happened far before diagnosis itself.

Practical Guidance on Basal Insulin Initiation and Titration in Asia: A Delphi-Based Consensus.

The global health burden of diabetes is on the rise and has affected more than half a billion people worldwide, particularly in Southeast Asia, North Africa, Africa, and the Western Pacific, Middle East, and South and Central America regions of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Despite many new treatments being available for the management of diabetes, glycemic control remains suboptimal in Asia, compared to the rest of the world. Delay in timely insulin initiation and inadequate titration of insulin are regarded to be some of the important reasons for inadequate glycemic control.

BMI as a predictor of high fasting blood glucose among people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region.

Background: Non-Asian body mass index (BMI) classifications are commonly used as a risk factor for high fasting blood glucose (FBG). We investigated the incidence and factors associated with high FBG among people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region, using a World Health Organization BMI classification specific to Asian populations.

Methods: This study included people living with HIV enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study from 2003 to 2019, receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and without prior tuberculosis.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients in Bali, Indonesia.

Introduction: The spectrum of illness and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients may vary. This study reports the characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Bali, Indonesia, and evaluates the diagnostic value of their clinical symptoms.

Method: This observational study was conducted in eight hospitals.

Importance of Sclerostin as Bone-Muscle Mediator Crosstalk.

Loss of bone and muscle mass is a frequent aging condition and has become a growing public health problem. The term "osteosarcopenia" denotes close links between bone and muscle. Mechanical exercise was once thought to be the only mechanism of crosstalk between muscle and bone.