Althea Medical Journal
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Relationship between the Risk of Eating Disorders and the Concentration Capacity of High School Students
Get PDFBackground: Eating disorder is a change in eating behaviour that affects daily activities, resulting in a vulnerability towards diseases that have several effects on the organ systems, including the neurological system. In teenagers, these disturbances, including a decline in memory, cognitive function, and concentration, will significantly affect daily activities, especially in their studies. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the risk of eating disorders and the concentration capacity of high school students aged 12–19 years old. Methods: This study was an observational analytic study conducted cross-sectionally among high school students. Data were collected from September to October 2019. Data were taken using Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) Questionnaire filled out by the respondents, followed by a Stroop test. Data analysis was performed by the chi-square test.Results: Of 294 students, 56.5% had a risk of eating disorder, of whom 66.7% did eating restrain. Of all respondents, 54.8% had poor concentration capacity. There was a relationship between the risk of eating disorder and concentration capacity (p=0.002).Conclusion: The risk of eating disorders has a significant relationship with concentration capacity. An urgent measurement is needed to promote an eating behaviour among adolescents to increase good and productive daily activity
Knowledge and Perception of Diabetes Mellitus among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Five Public Health Centers in Karawang, West Java, Indonesia
Get PDFBackground: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease that causes various complications, leading to a high mortality rate and high medical costs. Good knowledge and perception are essential for patients in understanding the disease and how to prevent the complications. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perceptions of DM among patients with type 2 DM from the Public Health Centers (Pusat Kesehatan Masyarakat, Puskesmas), the primary health care facility in West Java.Methods: The research design was quantitative observational with a cross-sectional method and descriptive approach. Data were collected in 2019 from all DM patients living in five working areas of the Puskesmas in Karawang Regency, West Java, Indonesia. Data collection was performed by trained interviewers, using a validated translation of the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ) (Cronbach’s alpha 0.723) and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) (Cronbach’s alpha 0.74) to measure knowledge (24 questions) and to explore perception (8 questions), respectively. Results: Of the 211 respondents, 165 were predominantly female (76.4%) and aged 52–61 years old (35.2%). Knowledge was moderate (55.8%), however, they had a negative perception of the disease (50.9%).Conclusions: Although most of the respondents have a moderate level of knowledge, their perception of DM is still negative. Therefore, education for patients and the community needs to be evaluated to enhance knowledge and perceptions about diabetes mellitus
Anticandidal Activity of Lactoferrin, Apolactoferrin, and Oligosaccharides on Mueller-Hinton and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar against Fluconazole Resistant-Candida Albicans
Get PDFBackground: The demand for novel, useful, potential, and safe antifungal drugs and rapid fungal susceptibility test methods due to antifungal resistance and high prevalence of Candida albicans infection are continuing. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and compare the antifungal activity of lactoferrin, apolactoferrin, and oligosaccharides isolated from human, bovine, goat, and formula milk against C. albicans on Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with 2% glucose and 5 µg/mL methylene blue and sabouraud dextrose agar.Methods: Lactoferrin, apolactoferrin, and oligosaccharides were extracted from human, bovine, goat, and formula milk. Lactoferrin was identified using the Bradford test and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis. Oligosaccharides were identified using Thin-Layer Chromatography. The antifungal activity of lactoferrin, apolactoferrin, and oligosaccharides against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans ATCC 10231 was determined and compared using the disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar and sabouraud dextrose agar. The inhibition zone formed around the disk was observed after 24 hours of incubation.Results: Lactoferrin showed an inhibition zone on sabouraud dextrose agar against C. albicans, but not on Mueller-Hinton agar. Meanwhile, apolactoferrin and oligosaccharides showed no antifungal activity on both agar media.Conclusions: Different agar media in the diffusion disk test can give different results even though using the same test method and substance. These results could shed light and become the useful references on why some potential antifungals could yield a different results in in-vitro studies, in-vivo studies, or clinical trials
Therapeutic Outcomes of Pediatric Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in Bandung, Indonesia
Get PDFBackground: Acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) is a subtype of leukemia characterized by myeloid infiltration into the bone marrow, blood, and other tissues. AML ranks 5th malignancy in children and the prognosis is poor. After chemotherapy, the outcomes vary. Therefore, this study aimed to provide further insight into the therapeutic outcomes of pediatric AML patients. Methods: This study was conducted with a cross-sectional descriptive method. The data were obtained from the medical records of children diagnosed with AML at the Department of Child Health of Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital in 2017–2019 with the total sampling method. Data including age at determination, gender, laboratory values including hemoglobin, leukocyte, thrombocyte as well as blast cell count on peripheral blood smear were collected. Also, the bone marrow punctures gathered were clustered based on the French-American-British (FAB) classification. Data were presented in tables.Results: In total, 46 data of AML patients were retrieved, with the age category at first diagnosis was >5–12 years (48%) and predominantly males (63%), children with moderate anemia (41%), leukocytosis (35%), severe thrombocytopenia (46%), and blast cell count ≥20% (83%). AML-M2 was the most common subtype (30.4%). The majority of patients (91%) underwent chemotherapy and most (45%) patients died during chemotherapyConclusion: The outcome of AML therapy among children is mostly poor, and particularly die during chemotherapy. Early detection and follow-up of patients to continue therapy are important aspects to reduce the mortality rate of AML
Hygiene and Sanitation Factors Affecting Contamination of Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Household Water Sources in Jember, Indonesia
Get PDFBackground: Water sources used by households are at risk of contamination by soil-transmitted helminths (STH). Hygiene and sanitation have an essential role in the transmission and contamination of STH. The objective of this study was to analyze whether there was an association between hygiene and sanitation factors with STH contamination in household water sources in Jember Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia.Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study was carried out from December 2020 to March 2021, including 46 samples from 23 respondents in Sukowono District and 23 respondents in Sukorambi District, Jember Regency, selected using a purposive sampling technique. Primary data on hygiene and sanitation risk factors were obtained from questionnaire interviews. The STH contamination in household water sources was examined by sedimentation and flotation methods. Data were analyzed using Fisher Exact test.Results: The identification of STH contamination in household water sources using microscope examination found hookworm species contaminated 8.7% (n=4) of water sources. There was a significant association between the type of human sewage disposal with STH contamination in household water sources (p=0.037). There was no association between hygiene and other sanitation factors with STH contamination in household water sources (p>0.05).Conclusions: Human sewage disposal that goes directly to sewers and rivers can cause contamination of water sources by STH. Therefore, it is important to dispose of human waste in septic tanks that comply with health requirements to prevent the transmission of STH to humans through water sources
Dietary Intake, Nutritional Status, and Quality of Life in Patients with Thalassemia Major
Get PDFBackground: Impaired growth and inadequacy of dietary intake in thalassemia patients may affect the quality of life. This study aimed to determine and examine the relationship between dietary intake, nutritional status, and quality of life in in patients with thalassemia major.Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted from February to October 2020. Twelve respondents who were registered at the Yayasan Thalassemia Indonesia and the blood transfusion unit at Fatmawati Hospital participated. This study conducted a physical examination and distributed food record questionnaires and WHOQOL-BREF. Data analysis was performed using Nutrisurvey 2007 and Fisher’s exact test.Results: The majority of the respondent were male (58.3%), categorized in the age group 5–18 years (58.3%), had normal nutritional status (50%) and quality of life. Interestingly, the respondents had an excess intake of protein and fats, while the intake of energy and carbohydrates was normal. Respondents had less intakes of all micronutrients. Conclusion: The majority of respondents have normal nutritional status and quality of life but have a low intake of micronutrients. Both patients and parents need to be further educated on dietary intake to meet their nutritional need
Association of Maternal Obesity and Pregnancy Outcomes
Get PDFBackground: The prevalence of obesity is increasing globally, causing various possible disorders and complications. Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality might potentially be affected by maternal obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the association between maternal obesity and pregnancy outcomes.Methods: This retrospective cohort study was part of a larger cohort study performed from July 2016 to July 2017 in West Java, including 223 pregnant women with normal fetuses, who were obese or non-obese pre-pregnancy. Underweight women were excluded. Data on pregnancy outcomes consisting of Caesarean section, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membrane (PROM), preterm birth, post-term birth, small for gestational age (SGA), and large for gestational age (LGA) were collected. The association with maternal obesity was analyzed using the Fisher’s Exact Test to determine the association with a 95% confidence interval, and a p-value <0.05 was considered significant.Results: There was an association between maternal obesity and Caesarean section, with an increased risk in obese mothers compared to non-obese mothers (RR 2.398 CI 1.328-4.329). There was no significant association between maternal obesity and preeclampsia, PROM, preterm birth, post-term birth, SGA, and LGA.Conclusion: Maternal obesity is associated with Caesarean section. A more comprehensive approach is essential for obese pregnant women to ensure the health of both the mother and the infant
Level of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of General Physicians in West Java, Indonesia on Middle Ear Inflammation
Get PDFBackground: The prevalence of middle ear inflammation in West Java is still relatively high. General practitioners are at the forefront who see and treat the patients directly; thus, the number of cases can be reduced by increasing the competence of general practitioners. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of general practitioners in West Java towards middle ear inflammation, as an evaluation for improving health services in the community.Methods: This research was a descriptive study with a questionnaire conducted in August–December 2021 conducted online with a probability sampling technique of at least 368 general practitioners in West Java. The level of knowledge, attitude, and practices were calculated using the Guttman scale. The data were presented as a frequency distribution.Results: The results showed that the majority of the general practitioners still had poor knowledge of middle ear inflammation (n=325; 84.6%) as well as the attitude (n=333; 86.7%) and the level of practice (n=340; 88.5%).Conclusions: The level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of general practitioners in West Java towards middle ear inflammation is poor. Special interventions and approaches are needed to improve the competence of general practitioners in West Java based on the Standard Competency of Indonesian Doctors
Larvicidal Effects of Citrus Peels Extracts against Culex Pipiens Mosquitoes
Get PDFBackground: Mosquitoes transmit severe diseases such as malaria, lymphatic filariasis, dengue fever, and yellow fever. These diseases result in significant morbidity and mortality in humans around the world. This study aimed to provide information on the larvicidal potential of different Citrus species peels against Culex mosquito larvae.Methods: Ethanol extracts of the peels of four Citrus species, such as Citrus sinensis (sweet orange), Citrus reticulata (tangerine), Citrus latifolia (lime), and Citrus paradisi (grape) fruits were tested for larvicidal properties against Culex pipiens at different concentration (3 mg, 5 mg, 7 mg and 8 mg in 100 mL) on 25 larva per concentration. Percentage mortality was recorded for each of the concentrations used. Results: Only Culex latifolia induced the death of all the mosquito larvae (100%) at 5 mg/mL concentration of the extract, meanwhile Culex reticulata resulted in the lowest mortality rate (80%). However, a hundred percent (100%) mortality of the larvae, was observed at 8 mg/mL of all the types of extracts evaluated.Conclusion: The result indicates that the peels of these Citrus species, especially Culex latifolia, hold potential for control of Culex pipiens mosquito larvae