Malaria di Pulau Samosir, Kabupaten Toba Samosir, Provinsi Sumatera Utara Tahun 2003

MALARIA DI PULAU SAMOSIR, KABUPATEN TOBA SAMOSIR, PROVINSI SUMATERA UTARA TAHUN 200

Control of Anthracnose Disease (Colletotrichum Gloeosporioides) Using Nano Chitosan Hydrolyzed by Chitinase Derived From Burkholderia Cepacia Isolate E76

Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) is one of the important diseases of fruit crops that need to be controlled. This study was aimed to obtain the best formula of hydrolyzed nano chitosan and its potensial in controlling anthracnose. The hydrolyzed chitosan was prepared using chitinase enzyme extracted from Burkholderia cepacia isolate E76. Chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized using ionic gelation method by reacting hydrolyzed chitosan (0.2%) with Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) (0.1%) as cross-linking agent using 30–60 minutes stirring condition. The bioactivity of the nano chitosan formula was tested to C. gloeosporioides under in vitro and in vivo assays. The specific enzymatic activity of the purified chitinase was higher (0.19 U/mg) than that of crude enzyme (supernatant) with the purity increased by 3.8 times. Of the four formula tested, Formula A (hydrolyzed chitosan to STPP volume ratio of 5 : 1 with 60 minutes stirring condition) was found good in terms of physical characteristic of the particle. The formula nano chitosan particle had the spherical-like shape with an average particle size of 126.2+3.8 nm, polydispersity index (PI) of 0.4+0.02, and zeta potential (ZP) value of 27.8+0.2 mV. Nano chitosan had an inhibitory activity to C. gloeosporioides in vitro up to 85.7%. Moreover, it could inhibit 61.2% of C. gloeosporioides spores germination. It was shown that nano chitosan was also effective to reduce anthracnose disease severity in vivo when applied as a preventive measure on Chili and papaya fruits. This study could be used as a reference for further fruit coating application using nano chitosan as a promising postharvest biocontrol agent to C. gloeosporioides

Malaria prevalence in Nias District, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: The Nias district of the North Sumatra Province of Indonesia has long been known to be endemic for malaria. Following the economic crisis at the end of 1998 and the subsequent tsunami and earthquake, in December 2004 and March 2005, respectively, the malaria control programme in the area deteriorated. The present study aims to provide baseline data for the establishment of a suitable malaria control programme in the area and to analyse the frequency distribution of drug resistance alleles associated with resistance to chloroquine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine.\ud METHODS: Malariometric and entomology surveys were performed in three subdistricts. Thin and thick blood smears were stained with Giemsa and examined under binocular light microscopy. Blood blots on filter paper were also prepared for isolation of parasite and host DNA to be used for molecular analysis of band 3 (SAO), pfcrt, pfmdr1, dhfr, and dhps. In addition, haemoglobin measurement was performed in the second and third surveys for the subjects less than 10 years old.\ud RESULTS: Results of the three surveys revealed an average slide positivity rate of 8.13%, with a relatively higher rate in certain foci. Host genetic analysis, to identify the Band 3 deletion associated with Southeast Asian Ovalocytosis (SAO), revealed an overall frequency of 1.0% among the 1,484 samples examined. One hundred six Plasmodium falciparum isolates from three sub-districts were successfully analysed. Alleles of the dhfr and dhps genes associated with resistance to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, dhfr C59R and S108N, and dhps A437G and K540E, were present at frequencies of 52.2%, 82.5%, 1.18% and 1.18%, respectively. The pfmdr1 alleles N86Y and N1042D, putatively associated with mefloquine resistance, were present at 31.4% and 2%, respectively. All but one sample carried the pfcrt 76T allele associated with chloroquine resistance. Entomologic surveys identified three potential anopheline vectors in the area, Anopheles barbirostris, Anopheles kochi and Anopheles sundaicus.\ud CONCLUSION: The cross sectional surveys in three different sub-districts of Nias District clearly demonstrated the presence of relatively stable endemic foci of malaria in Nias District, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Molecular analysis of the malaria parasite isolates collected from this area strongly indicates resistance to chloroquine and a growing threat of resistance to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine. This situation highlights the need to develop sustainable malaria control measures through regular surveillance and proper antimalarial drug deployment

Trends in CD4 counts in HIV-infected patients with HIV viral load monitoring while on combination antiretroviral treatment: results from The TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between trends in CD4 counts (slope) and HIV viral load (VL) after initiation of combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) in Asian patients in The TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Treatment-naive HIV-infected patients who started cART with three or more and had three or more CD4 count and HIV VL tests were included. CD4 count slopes were expressed as changes of cells per microliter per year. Predictors of CD4 count slopes from 6 months after initiation were assessed by random-effects linear regression models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 1676 patients (74% male) were included. The median time on cART was 4.2 years (IQR 2.5-5.8 years). In the final model, CD4 count slope was associated with age, concurrent HIV VL and CD4 count, disease stage, hepatitis B or C co-infection, and time since cART initiation. CD4 count continues to increase with HIV VL up to 20 000 copies/mL during 6-12 months after cART initiation. However, the HIV VL has to be controlled below 5 000, 4 000 and 500 copies/mL for the CD4 count slope to remain above 20 cells/microliter per year during 12-18, 18-24, and beyond 24 months after cART initiation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>After cART initiation, CD4 counts continued to increase even when the concurrent HIV VL was detectable. However, HIV VL needed to be controlled at a lower level to maintain a positive CD4 count slope when cART continues. The effect on long-term outcomes through the possible development of HIV drug resistance remains uncertain.</p