BALB/c Mice as Animal Model in Dengue Infection Research: Role of Endothelial Activation

Introduction. There were various challenges in using experimental animals model for dengue infection studies aside from the fact that dengue infection only naturally affects humans and does not manifest clinical signs as in humans. Various experimental animals have been used in dengue research, but the mouse model is more widely used since it is easier to obtain although sometimes they do not show clinical symptoms but may still measure the immune response. BALB/c mice are immunocompetent mice that have the potential to be used in dengue infection research. Endothelial cell activation plays a role in the pathogenesis of dengue virus infection which contributes to plasma leakage. One of the biomarkers of endothelial cell activation is soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1).Method. An analytic observational study was conducted using BALB/c mice aged 8 weeks and weighed 40 grams. Selected BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to serotype 2 dengue virus containing 2.1 x 106 pfu/ml intraperitoneally, given only once. A total of 11 mice were injected with dengue virus serotype 2 and 11 mice were not injected with dengue virus. On the second day of virus injection, non structural (NS) 1 antigen dengue examination was carried out to prove that the BALB/c mice were indeed infected with dengue virus. In BALB/c mice that were proven to be infected with dengue virus, sICAM-1 levels were examined in serum after 7 days of infection. Mice that were not injected with dengue virus also examined sICAM-1Results. All of BALB/c mice injected with dengue virus were proven to be infected, as indicated by the detection of NS1 antigen in their serum. The mean serum level of NS1 antigen was 88.35 ng/ml (mean 95.34 ng/ml and standard deviation 21.94). The level of sICAM-1 in BALB/c mice infected with dengue virus (mean = 1.34) was significantly higher than mice that were not infected (mean =  0.79), with a p-value 0.045Conclusions. BALB/c mice were proven to be infected with dengue virus by detecting ns1 dengue virus antigen in the serum. The sICAM-1 levels in the group of BALB/c mice infected with dengue serotype 2 were significantly higher than the BALB/c mice that were not infected with dengue virus

Peer facilitators’s role to support pregnant women in utilizing HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence on pregnant women in Indonesia is estimated around 0.3%. The prevention of mother-to-child disease transmission (PMTCT) program has been implemented nationally since 2008, though, less than 50% of the total pregnant women each year get an HIV test and only 18% of those who are HIV positive get antiretroviral (ARV) treatment until now. COVID-19 pandemic, occurred since 2019, has brought significant changes to public health aspects including the utilization of HIV services. This study is aimed to determine factors influencing the PMTCT program services utilization during pandemic. This study used mix method approach with quantitative approach using a cross-sectional study design (174 HIV mothers from six provinces in Indonesia) and qualitative approach with in-depth interviews of 13 informants consisting of HIV mothers, health workers, program holders and peer facilitators. The results showed the HIV services utilization during pandemic was 52.3%. The most influenced factor was peer facilitators support (POR 2.96; 95% CI=1.45-6.03), HIV mothers who did not receive assistance from peer facilitators had 2.96 times chance of not utilizing the services compared to them who received. It requires to strengthen cooperation between health services and peer facilitators to support HIV mothers in accessing HIV services

MRSA Infection in Patients Hospitalized at Sanglah Hospital: A Case Series

This is the first report of MRSA infection in Sanglah Hospital. We reviewed eight patients with MRSA infection from microbiologi laboratory records between January and May 2011, than followed by tracing medical records to obtained data of the patients. Five of cases with sepsis, 1 case with osteomyelitis, and the two others with mediastinitis and pneumonia. The patients were kept in private isolated room and barrier-nursing technique was strictly followed. Further action was culturing specimen taken from the patients nose, throat, axilla, and samples taken from the health care workers, with no MRSA colonization were found. Five patients demonstrated good respond to intravenous administration of either vancomycin or linezolide. Three were died due to septic shock before the laboratory culture and antimicrobial susceptibility availabled. All of the strains isolated more than 48 hours after admission and also demonstrated clinical risk factors for hospitalized acquired MRSA (HAMRSA). These strains had  resistance to ß-lactams but remain susceptible to many non ß-lactam antibiotics, as reported in some community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) isolates. Future study using molecular typing required to fully understand the magnitude and ongoing evolution of MRSA infections.Key words: MRSA, Antimicrobial susceptibility, treatmen

Predictors to Achieve Normal Nutrition Status: Longitudinal Study Among HIV Children on Antiretroviral Treatment in Bali

Background and purpose: Malnutrition is common in children with HIV/AIDS. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves the nutritional status; however, information about predictors affecting the changes of nutritional status is limited and inconsistent.Methods: The retrospective survival study analyzed secondary data of 84 undernourished children receiving ART in Sanglah Central Hospital in 2010 to 2015. Demographic, clinical and socio-economic characteristics at ART initiation were linked to the achievement of normal nutritional status (z-score ? -2 SD). Kaplan Meier analysis was used to obtain the incidence rate and median time and cox proportional hazards models to identify its predictors.Results: Of the 73.81% of children achieved a normal nutrition status with the incidence of children achieving normal nutritional was 19 per 100 child months, and a median time of 4 months 10 days. Children with birth weight ?2500 gr (AHR=5.41; 95%CI: 1.76-16.61), without candidiasis (AHR=3.72; 95%CI: 1.27-10.93), Clinical WHO Stage III (AHR=1.6; (95%CI: 1.08-4.24), Clinical WHO Stage II (AHR=4.49; 95%CI: 1.95-10.79) and early ART intiation (AHR=0.91; 95%CI: 0.83-0.98) were predictors to achieve normal nutritional status.Conclusion: Clinical characteristics of children are predictors of achieving a normal nutritional status

Predictors of Loss to Follow Up and Mortality Among Children ?12 Years Receiving Anti Retroviral Therapy During the First Year at a Referral Hospital in Bali

Background and purpose: Many HIV-infected children in Bali have started antiretroviral therapy (ART), but loss to follow up (LTFU) is a continuing concern, and the issue of childhood adherence is more complex compared to adults.Methods: This was a retrospective study among cohort of 138 HIV+ children on ART in Sanglah General Hospital, Denpasar, Bali from January 2010 to December 2015. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to describe incidence and median time to LTFU/mortality and Cox Proportional Hazard Model was used to identify predictors. Variables which were analysed were socio-demographic characteristics, birth history, care giver and clinical condition of the children.Results: Mean age when starting ARV therapy was 3.21 years. About 25% experienced LTFU/death by 9.1 month resulting in an incidence rate of 3.28 per 100 child month. The higher the WHO stage, the higher the risk for LTFU/mortality along with low body weight (AHR=0.90; 95%CI: 0.82-0.99).Conclusion: Clinical characteristics were found as predictors for LTFU/mortality among children on ART

Perceptions dynamics about antiretroviral treatment among HIV patients in Bali

Perceptions of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) about antiretroviral treatment (ART) is crucial for improving adherence. This study aims to examine the dynamics of perceptions during the early phase of ART. A longitudinal study involving newly diagnosed PLHIV was conducted. Interviews were carried out at the time of HIV diagnosis and at three months after ART initiation. Data were analyzed by comparing proportion of good perception across the continuum of HIV diagnosis, ART initiation and threemonths follow-up, and were tested using Chi-square. From 170 PLHIV participated in the study, 81.76% had initiated ART and 73.4% remained on ART at three-months of follow-up. Several positive perception items were significantly decreased: ability to take ART at work and ability to continue treatment if experiencing side effects, effectiveness of ART, confidentiality, unwanted disclosure, and level of support from outreach workers. Ability to follow instruction from physician was significantly increased, and negative attitudes toward ART were decreased across the continuum. Adherence to ART is a continuous process, and is influenced by the dynamics perceptions among PLHIV. Understanding these dynamics is crucial to formulate strategies that can promote and maintain positive attitudes toward ART as well as living with HIV more broadly

Differences in Lipid Measurements by Antiretroviral Regimen Exposure in Cohorts from Asia and Australia

We explored the mean differences in routinely measured lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) according to exposure to different combination antiretroviral regimens in Asian (n = 2051) and Australian (predominantly Caucasian, n = 794) cohorts. The regimen was defined as at least 3 antiretroviral drugs with at least 2 nucleoside-reverse transcriptases (NRTIs) and either of at least one protease inhibitor (PI) or non-nucleoside-reverse transcriptases (NNRTIs). We categorised cART regimens as: NRTIs as tenofovir based or not; NNRTIs as nevirapine or efavirenz (but not both); and PI as atazanavir based or not. We found that the impact of various antiretroviral regimens on lipids in Asian and Australian cohorts was only different by cohort for total cholesterol (P for interaction between regimen and cohort: <0.001) but not in case of other lipids (P for interaction: >0.05). The differences in total cholesterol were however small and unlikely to be of clinical significance. Overall, tenofovir with nevirapine or atazanavir was associated with the most favorable lipids, while the PI regimens without tenofovir and atazanavir were associated with least favorable lipids. We conclude that the impact of various ART regimens on lipids is largely similar in Asian and Australian cohorts and that the newer drugs such as tenofovir and atazanavir are likely to provide similar benefit in terms of lipid profiles in both populations