Detection and molecular characterization of vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus from clinical isolates

Until now, few strains of vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) have been reported worldwide. The disk diffusion method for determination of vancomycin sensitivity frequently misclassifies intermediately susceptible isolates to fully susceptible. However, non-automated minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) detection methods are the gold standards. In the present study, 439 Gram positive clinical isolates were collected. Among them, 220 Staphylococcus aureus were identified. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection method for vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA) was developed for detection of both vanA gene (for vancomycin resistance) and nuc gene (specific for S. aureus) in a single step PCR compared to conventional non-automated disc diffusion and MIC detection methods. Molecular typing of VRSA isolates was performed using randomly amplified polymorphic (RAPD) DNA assay technique. The results show 10 VRSA isolates detected by disc diffusion method and MIC determination. Five out of them harbored vanA gene that were detected by multiplex PCR and most of them showed low clonal diversity.Key words: Molecular characterization, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), vanA gene, nuc gene, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay technique

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Children with Supraventricular Tachycardias: Intermediate Term Follow Up Results

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Nurturing Nationalism Character Values at the Primary Schools in Jayapura, Papua

Abstract: Several surveys conducted by non-governmental organizations indicated the decline of nationalism sense in Indonesia and a real threat of separatist movements insisting to separate from Indonesia. To anticipate it, schools as the guard of education need to be the agents of nationalism through the learning process. This study aims to explore the information, activities and constraints faced by schools in nurturing nationalism character values at school as well as to formulate the problem solving model. This study employed qualitative descriptive approach. The sample of the study was taken from some rural and urban schools in Jayapura district. These schools have been appointed as the role model for character education reinforcement by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia. Jayapura District was chosen since several studies revealed that Papua still indicated active separatist movements. This research began with a secondary data analysis about nationalism in some countries and some regions in Indonesia. Focus group discussion was subsequently conducted with some local teachers and officials to verify and validate the data. The information obtained was then analyzed step by step. The result of the study shows that schools have done possible and creative programs to nurture nationalism character values at school as well as involving their neighbourhood in the reinforcement of nationalism values. Keywords: nationalist, school, education, character   PENUMBUHAN NILAI KARAKTER NASIONALIS PADA SEKOLAH DASAR DI KABUPATEN JAYAPURA PAPUA   Abstrak: Dari hasil beberapa survei yang dilakukan oleh lembaga swadaya masyarakat mengindikasikan adanya penurunan rasa nasionalisme di Indonesia dan masih nyata adanya ancaman gerakan separatis yang ingin memisahkan diri dari Indonesia. Guna mengantisipasi hal tersebut, sekolah sebagai garda terdepan pendidikan harus bisa menjadi agen penjaga nasionalisme melalui proses pembelajaran. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menggali informasi dan aktivitas serta kendala sekolah dalam upaya menumbuhkan nilai-nilai karakter nasionalis sekaligus memformulasikan dalam sebuah model.  Penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kualititatif. Sampel penelitian adalah Kabupaten Jayapura yang terdiri atas beberapa sekolah yang berada di perkotaan dan perdesaan yang telah menjadi role model penguatan pendidikan karakter oleh Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. Kabupaten Jayapura terpilih karena berdasarkan hasil dari beberapa penelitian Papua masih terindikasi sebagai daerah yang masih cukup aktif gerakan separatisnya. Penelitian ini diawali dengan analisis data sekunder terkait nasionalisme di beberapa negara, beberapa daerah di Indonesia yang kemudian dilanjutkan dengan diskusi kelompok terpumpun dengan guru-guru dan aparat daerah  setempat dalam rangka verifikasi dan validasi data. Informasi yang didapat kemudian dianalisis secara bertahap. Hasil penelitian ini memperlihatkan bahwa sekolah sudah berupaya semaksimal mungkin dan sekreatif mungkin dalam menumbuhkan nilai karakter nasionalis di sekolah maupun dengan mengikutsertakan lingkungan di sekitar sekolah. Kata Kunci: nasionalis, sekolah, pendidikan, karakte

Non-infectious Complications of Peritoneal Dialysis among Sudanese Patients: Five Years Experience

Introduction: The technique of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) is known to be associated with various infectious and non-infectious complications. The latter term includes anatomical/mechanical complications as well as hemoperitoneum, inflow pain, electrolyte disturbances, metabolic derangements and delayed gastric emptying. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all patients who were maintained on CAPD for a minimum of 90 days in Sudan, in the period between May 2005 and Apr 2010. We examined the incidence of various non-infectious complications and their possible associations. Results: The analysis included 296 patients including 71 children (24%). Males constituted 62.2% of the study population and 13.9% were diabetic. The incidence per 100 patient-years of various non-infectious complications was as follows: hypokalemia (30.4), catheter dysfunction (10.8), dialysate leak (5.3), hernia (4.7), hemorrhagic effluent (4.7), inflow pain (2.3), upper gastrointestinal symptoms (2) and cuff extrusion (0.9). Catheter block and hernia were diagnosed with a median duration after catheter insertion of 6 and 7.5 months, respectively. Catheter block was significantly more prevalent among children (22.5% versus 9.3%; P = 0.006). A high body mass index (BMI) was the only identified independent predictor for leak (OR 1.4, P = 0.005). More than half of the 16 hernias were umbilical, and four of the five inguinal hernias were bilateral. Non-infectious complications were responsible for 32% of technique failures. Conclusion: Non-infectious complications were fairly common among our CAPD patients and led to catheter removal in a considerable number of patients. Care is, therefore, needed to screen CAPD patients for these complications in order to timely address and manage problems. Keywords: Peritoneal Dialysis; Non-infectious Complications; Sudan; Herni

Sprouty2 mediated tuning of signalling is essential for somite myogenesis

Background: Negative regulators of signal transduction cascades play critical roles in controlling different aspects of normal embryonic development. Sprouty2 (Spry2) negatively regulates receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) and FGF signalling and is important in differentiation, cell migration and proliferation. In vertebrate embryos, Spry2 is expressed in paraxial mesoderm and in forming somites. Expression is maintained in the myotome until late stages of somite differentiation. However, its role and mode of action during somite myogenesis is still unclear. Results: Here, we analysed chick Spry2 expression and showed that it overlaps with that of myogenic regulatory factors MyoD and Mgn. Targeted mis-expression of Spry2 led to inhibition of myogenesis, whilst its C-terminal domain led to an increased number of myogenic cells by stimulating cell proliferation. Conclusions: Spry2 is expressed in somite myotomes and its expression overlaps with myogenic regulatory factors. Overexpression and dominant-negative interference showed that Spry2 plays a crucial role in regulating chick myogenesis by fine tuning of FGF signaling through a negative feedback loop. We also propose that mir-23, mir-27 and mir-128 could be part of the negative feedback loop mechanism. Our analysis is the first to shed some light on in vivo Spry2 function during chick somite myogenesis

Mapping environmental sustainability of knitted textile production facilities

To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, it is important to investigate the sustainability of both products and manufacturing facilities to identify the areas to improve. The number of published research works on measuring the eco-indices of fashion products are plenty, while ignoring the measurement of the eco-indices of fashion production facilities. Therefore, this study investigated the environmental sustainability of knit-dyeing facilities linked to fast fashion production in Bangladesh. The Facility Environment Module (FEM) of the Higg index tool 2.0 from Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) was applied to detect the sustainability scores. Multiple case study approach was adopted for this study. Seven tools of FEM related to the environmental management system, energy use, GHG emissions, water use, wastewater, air emissions, waste management, and chemical management were applied to collect data. Scores of these categories were calculated using the FEM tool. Qualitative data was collected through short interviews using a questionnaire. A varying range of scores (from low to high) was found for all the categories. The scores reveal the technical, managerial, and resource limitations on practicing sustainable production approaches in knit-textiles facilities. The overall finding urges all stakeholders, including manufacturers, researchers, buyers, and policymakers, to pay serious attention and reformulate strategies and resources to reduce the negative impact of knit manufacturing on the environment