The Genotyping of Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD-d) in Malaria Endemic South Central Timor, East Nusa Tenggara, Eastern Indonesia

Approximately 18 million people live in malaria-endemic areas with 218,450 reported confirmed cases and 161 reported deaths in Indonesia. Currently, primaquine (PQ), the 8-aminoquinolines, is still the only drug for radical cure and preventing relapse of malaria. However, the individuals with G6PD deficiency (G6PD-d) have risk of hemolysis. Currently, few data of the prevalence of G6PD-d and genotyping are available. This study will provide the prevalence of G6PD-d and the genotyping in malaria cases in South Central Timor (TTS) district. G6PD status was analyzed with quantitative (Randox G6PD test, UK) follow with PCR-RFLP and sequencing to identify the variant of G6PD-d genotyping. Malaria was confirmed by n-PCR (Promega, Madison, USA). A total 64 of 181 individuals with G6PD-d from South Central Timor (TTS) district were analyzed. About 25 of 64 cases of G6PD-d were tested positive for malaria with P. vivax as the dominant species 56% (14/25) and most of the cases were female 73.3% (11/15). Among the 64 G6PD-d the genotyping Vanua Lava (10,883 T>C) WHO classifies G6PD-d genetic variants class II with severe deficiency <10% the enzyme activity were dominant. The variant of Vanua Lava is dominant and the high G6PD-d indicated that screening for G6PD deficiency is necessary

Sedentary Screen Time as a Coping Strategy of Distance Learning-induced Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical students might be vulnerable to excessive screen time exposure to cope with distance learning-induced distress. This study aimed to evaluate the distress and screen time before and after distance learning was initiated. Data were collected from 215 subjects. Statistical significance was accepted at P&lt;0.05. The prevalence of distress among medical students was 25.61% and 27.06% before and after distance learning was executed, respectively. Academic-related stressor (ARS) was reported by 49.28% and 63.29% of students during the first and second surveys. The proportion of students with daily screen time ≥7 hours was 51.21% and 63.77% for the first and second surveys, respectively. ARS, interpersonal and intrapersonal-related stressor (IRS), social-related stressor (SRS), and average daily screen time significantly rose in 3-month-time (P&lt;0.0001, P=0.0014, P=0.0261, P=0.0022). There was a significant association between distress and screen time (P=0.0313). ARS was the leading cause of distress. The majority of respondents had a daily screen time ≥7 hours. Both distress and screen time levels significantly increased as distance learning kept progressing.Keywords: COVID-19; distance learning; mental distress; medical students;                        screen time

Body Mass Index, a Body Shape Index, and Waist-to-Height Ratio in Predicting Elevated Blood Pressure

Background: One of the complications of obesity is an elevation in blood pressure  which can increase the risk of hypertension. This study aimed to explore body mass index (BMI), a body shape index (ABSI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in predicting elevated blood pressure (BP).Methods: This study was conducted in a cross-sectional design on 215 medical students from October 2019 to September 2020. Respondents measured their own weight, height, waist circumference and BP. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were analyzed using IBM SPSS v.23. Results: Of the 215 medical students who participated in this study, only 102 met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the students were female (n=71, 69.6%) with a mean age of 19.37 years, and normal blood pressure (n=90, 88.2%). Area under the ROC curve (AUC) of WHtR and ABSI were 0.774 (p-value= 0.002) and 0.766 (p-value= 0.003) respectively, which were still acceptable. However, the AUC of BMI (p-value=0.589) was 0.11, which was considered poor.Conclusion: The indicators of obesity can be used as a screening value for increased blood pressure in adults, with BMI being the weakest indicator compared to ABSI and WHtR. Further research is needed to examine ABSI and WHtR indicators as predictor of increased blood pressure in adults

Body Mass Index, a Body Shape Index, and Waist-to-Height Ratio in Predicting Elevated Blood Pressure

Background: One of the complications of obesity is an elevation in blood pressure  which can increase the risk of hypertension. This study aimed to explore body mass index (BMI), a body shape index (ABSI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in predicting elevated blood pressure (BP).Methods: This study was conducted in a cross-sectional design on 215 medical students from October 2019 to September 2020. Respondents measured their own weight, height, waist circumference and BP. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were analyzed using IBM SPSS v.23. Results: Of the 215 medical students who participated in this study, only 102 met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the students were female (n=71, 69.6%) with a mean age of 19.37 years, and normal blood pressure (n=90, 88.2%). Area under the ROC curve (AUC) of WHtR and ABSI were 0.774 (p-value= 0.002) and 0.766 (p-value= 0.003) respectively, which were still acceptable. However, the AUC of BMI (p-value=0.589) was 0.11, which was considered poor.Conclusion: The indicators of obesity can be used as a screening value for increased blood pressure in adults, with BMI being the weakest indicator compared to ABSI and WHtR. Further research is needed to examine ABSI and WHtR indicators as predictor of increased blood pressure in adults

Pharmacogenomic Role in Cytochrome P450 Enzymes-Mediated Metabolism for Drug Therapy

The rapid development of genetic science in recent decades has provided opportunities for clinical implementation. In the field of pharmacology, this opens up hope for the use of more targeted drugs with fewer side effects.Genetic variation's influence on pharmacological response has been well-established in practice. Patients' responses to pharmacological therapies can be varied, ranging from positive effects to serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Numerous genetic variations have been found to have a major impact on how people react to routinely prescribed medications over time, according to experts. In order to use this genetic information to inform treatment choices, a pharmacogenomic (PGx) profile can be used. PGx works on identifying and validating genomic variations that affect drug response. The generic approach to healthcare has given way to a more individualized and precise treatment paradigm as it has developed. Keywords: Adverse Drug Reactions - Genetic Variants – Pharmacogenomics - Cytochrome P45

The first evaluation of glucose-6-phospate dehydrogenase defciency (G6PD) gene mutation in malaria endemic region at South Central Timor (SCT) district, Eastern Indonesia 2014–2015

Primaquine (PQ) is a key drug in the malaria pre-elimination stage. However, PQ can trigger acutehemolysis for people with G6PD defciency (G6PDd). In 2013, 15–25 million Indonesian people were infected with malaria, with 30,000–38,000 deaths each year mostly in eastern Indonesia with API= 15.6 %. Recently, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia announced a plan to reach the pre-elimination stage based on WHO guidelines. This study assesses whether eastern Indonesia should proceed with the activities of malaria pre-elimination. A total 555 healthy people in fve subdistricts in eastern Indonesia were selected by systematic random samping. All data were collected using a standard questionnaire, physical examination, and laboratory tests. PCR and DNA sequencing protocols followed respective manufacture’s instructions. Statistical analysis by bivariate with α= 0.05 and 95% CI were performed using the SPSS software package. Based on the nested PCR, the result showed a malaria prevalence of 32.6% with being the dominant species (52.5%). Malaria cases were found in all study sites and not using a bed net was the moost signifcant risk factors with Exp B= 1.54 with 95% CI= 0.99–2.38. G6PDd prevalence was 16.6%, the highest G6PDd ever found in Indonesia with variant molecular dominant 10.883 T>C and one sample with a heterozygous female. Malaria pre-elimination in eastern Indonesia should be delayed. High risk patients should be tested for enzyme G6PD activities before antimalarial administration

Prevalence of E-cigarette Users Students and Determinant Factors Affecting Their Use Behavior

Pendahuluan: Prevalensi pengguna rokok tembakau pada remaja di Indonesia terus meningkat dari 7,2% pada tahun 2013 menjadi 9,1% pada tahun 2018, tingkat penggunaannya dianggap dapat dikurangi dengan menggunakan rokok elektrik. Namun sebenarnya rokok elektrik belum dapat disebut sebagai terapi berhenti merokok konvensional karena belum terdapat bukti yang cukup kuat dan dampak penggunaannya pada kesehatan yang tidak dapat dikesampingkan. Sementara itu, beberapa studi menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan rokok elektrik juga berdampak buruk bagi kesehatan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui prevalensi pengguna dan faktor determinan yang memengaruhi perilaku penggunaan rokok elektrik pada mahasiswa. Metode: Studi ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif dengan desain studi potong lintang atau cross sectional. Sampel yang digunakan sebanyak 410 orang dengan kriteria inklusi berupa mahasiswa aktif Unika Atma Jaya serta orang yang telah setuju untuk menjadi responden penelitian setelah membaca informed consent, dan kriteria eksklusi yaitu responden yang mengisi kuesioner dengan tidak lengkap. Perhitungan sampel dilakukan dengan metode proportional stratified random sampling. Pengambilan data responden menggunakan kuesioner secara daring melalui Google Forms. Analisis data menggunakan uji Chi Square dan Mann-Whitney.   Hasil: Prevalensi pengguna rokok elektrik pada mahasiswa sebesar 21,7%. Pada penelitian ini faktor yang berpengaruh pada keputusan penggunaan rokok elektrik adalah jenis kelamin (p&lt;0,001), persepsi (p&lt;0,001), tersedianya suplai (p&lt;0,001), dukungan keluarga (p=0,002), dan dukungan teman (p&lt;0,001). Simpulan: Tingginya tingkat penggunaan rokok elektrik pada mahasiswa menunjukkan perlunya informasi dan edukasi serta promosi kesehatan mengenai dampak merugikan dari penggunaan rokok elektrik.Introduction: The prevalence of cigarette use among adolescents continues to increase in Indonesia every year, and this use is considered to be reduced by using e-cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes cannot be called conventional smoking cessation therapy because there is no strong enough evidence and because the impact of their use on health cannot be ruled out. Meanwhile, several studies show that the use of e-cigarettes also has a negative impact on health. This study aims at the prevalence of e-cigarette users and determinant factors that influence the behavior of using e-cigarettes in university students. &nbsp; Methods: This study is a non-experimental study with a cross-sectional study design. The sample used was 410 people, with inclusion criteria being active students of Atma Jaya University and people who agreed to become respondents after reading the informed consent; the exclusion criteria were respondents who filled out the questionnaire incompletely. Data were obtained through online questionnaires via google form. Data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test and Mann-Whitney. Results: The Prevalence of e-cigarette users is 21,7%. In this study, the variables that affect the use of e-cigarettes are gender (p&lt;0,001), perception (p&lt;0,001), availability of supply (p&lt;0,001), family support (p=0,002), and friend support (p&lt;0,001). Conclusion: The high-level use of e-cigarettes by university students show the need for information, education, and health promotion regarding the harmful effects of using the e-cigarette

Kualitas Hidup pada Pasien Lanjut Usia dan Kanker selama Pandemi COVID-19

Latar Belakang: Kualitas hidup dapat memengaruhi gejala, perawatan, dan rehabilitasi pasien. Kebutuhan pasien untuk memperoleh kualitas hidup yang baik dapat dicapai melalui unit perawatan paliatif, seperti rumah perawatan lansia dan rumah singgah yang membantu dan mendampingi pasien dalam melakukan pengobatan.Tujuan: Artikel ini akan membahas kualitas hidup pada pasien lanjut usia dan kanker selama pandemi COVID-19 di rumah perawatan lansia “247 Wulan Health & Care”, Bekasi dan rumah singgah “Rumah Bernaung Sehati”, Jakarta Barat dan meningkatkan pengetahuan kesehatan di masa Pandemi.Metode: Kegiatan dilaksanakan dengan menerapkan protokol kesehatan saat pandemi, memberi materi kesehatan dengan cara penyuluhan dan melakukan pemeriksaan kualitas hidup. Data kegiatan didapatkan dengan menggunakan kuesioner SF-36 (36-Items Short Form Survey).Hasil: Fungsi keterbatasan mental mendapatkan nilai tertinggi dari seluruh skala pengukuran. Rumah perawatan dan rumah singgah dapat meningkatkan fungsi keterbatasan mental melalui dukungan sosial dalam kelompok. Fungsi fisik dan keterbatasan fisik memiliki nilai terendah karena penurunan tingkat kesehatan pada pasien lanjut usia dan kanker.Simpulan: Berdasarkan pemeriksaan dengan kuesioner SF-36 terhadap 14 pasien, fungsi keterbatasan mental terdapat dalam kategori baik, sementara fungsi fisik dan keterbatasan fisik dalam kategori kurang baik. Kegiatan ini diharapkan dapat bermanfaat meningkatkan kesehatan bagi komunitas pasien lanjut usia dan kanker