Makara Journal of Health Research
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Development of a Tuberculosis Vaccine Seed: Construction of Resuscitation-Promoting Factor B DNA Vaccine and its Expression in Vitro and in Vivo
No full textBackground: Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infection disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and has a high death-rate worldwide. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin is the only TB vaccine which is currently available with several drawbacks, such as its different efficacy for different individuals, lack of protection for lung TB in adults and subsequent reactivation which lead the research for novel TB vaccine approach. Resuscitation-promoting factor (rpf) protein in Mtb is a protein cluster which play a big role in TB dormancy during latent infection. Member from this cluster protein is rpfB which shows the greatest biological and immunological characteristics among other proteins in the rpf family, now is widely explored as novel TB vaccine candidate. Methods: In this study, the rpfB gene of the Mtb Beijing strain was amplified using PCR and then cloned into pcDNA3.1 plasmids. The ability of recombinant pcDNA-rpfB to induce humoral immune response was tested through Balb/C mice immunization. Results: A positive recombinant rpfB protein ~66 kDa was detected through western blot analysis using immunized mice sera. Meanwhile, recombinant pcDNA-rpfB was transfected in to CHO-K1 mammalian cell line and recombinant rpfB antigen expression was confirmed through immunostaining. Conclusions: Therefore, we have succesfully express the recombinant rpfB proten of M.tb strain Beijing in mammalian expression system which proven to be antigenically induced humoral immune response in mice model
Infections of Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma hominis as Risk Factors for Abnormal Cervical Cells
No full textBackground: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women across the world. Recent studies have shown that cervical cancer is not only caused by persistent infection of human papillomavirus (HPV), but sexually transmitted infections (STIs) also play a role in the pathogenesis of abnormal cervical cells. STIs frequently occur with no specific symptoms, such as the infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma hominis. Asymptomatic STIs could lead to persistent infection. Persistent infections caused by STIs have been hypothesised to increase the access of HPV into the deeper cervical tissue and cause cervical cell abnormalities. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the association between C. trachomatis and M. hominis infections and abnormal cervical cells. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 58 outpatients at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. Abnormal cervical cells were detected by a liquid-based cytology Pap smear, and bacterial identification was done by conducting conventional duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: 58 patients, 14 (24.1%) showed abnormal cervical cells, whereas 44 (75.9%) patients showed normal cervical cells. The conventional duplex PCR demonstrated a positive result for C. trachomatis and M. hominis bacterial infections in only 1 (7.1%) and 2 (14.3%) patients with abnormal cervical cells, respectively. The statistical analysis revealed no significant association between the bacterial infections and the abnormal cervical cytology in the patients (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Infections caused by C. trachomatis and/or M. hominis were not associated with abnormal cervical cells
Children's HIV Status and the Acceptance Stage of Grief amongst HIV-Positive Women
No full textBackground: Women living with HIV (WLWH) commonly grieve but may pass through the grieving process until reaching the acceptance stage. We try to identify the relationship between children's HIV status and the acceptance stage of grief amongst WLWH. Method: This cross-sectional study utilised consecutive sampling of 235 HIV-positive women in Jakarta, Indonesia. The women were assessed with the Acceptance of Disease and Impairments Questionnaire (ADIQ). Results: Most of the respondents were housewives (65.5%), had been diagnosed over one year previously (74.5%), had an HIV-positive spouse (60.4%), had more than one child (51.5%) but none who were infected (73.6%) and assumed that their HIV status was caused by their spouse (50.2%). The respondents' median score of acceptance of their HIV status was relatively high (3 on a 1-4 scale). This showed a significant negative correlation between children's HIV status and the acceptance stage amongst HIV-positive women (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Mother-to-child HIV transmission may disrupt the mother's acceptance stage because of feelings of guilt and difficulty disclosing their status. Because the children's HIV status was correlated with the mother's acceptance stage, WLWH must comply with the Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program during the perinatal period
Mentorship Programme Criteria and Performance Outcomes of Nurses’ Perceptions
No full textBackground: Mentoring of new staff nurses is a common practice, and international studies have shown it to be associated with increased retention rates, better acquisition of nursing professional identity and increased job satisfaction. However, the outcomes of mentoring programmes in Malaysia are unclear, and in this study, we aimed to explore them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via convenience sampling at two hospitals. A Mentoring Novice for Medical Surgical Nurse (MNMSN) questionnaire was distributed to recent graduates/full-time nurses. It consisted of 50 items pertaining to the assessment of patient, clinical decision making, cultural competency, commitment to professional nursing standards, positive feeling about nursing at this hospital and willingness to remain in the nursing profession. Results: A total of 61 nurses responded (response rate 100%). Significant differences pre- and post-mentorship programme were observed (patient assessment r = 0.304, p = 0.009; clinical decision-making r = 0.394, p = 0.006; cultural competency r = 0.202, p = 0.01; commitment to professional nursing standards r = 0.423, p = 0; positive feeling about nursing at this hospital r = 0.404, p = 0.001; and willingness to remain in the nursing profession r = 0.312, p = 0.007). Conclusion: The mentorship programme had a positive impact on the clinical component of nursing among hospital-based nurses
Quality of Life in Pre- and Post-Treatment among Head and Neck Cancer Survivors at A Tertiary Centre, Malaysia
No full textBackground: Treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC) may result in a variety of long term consequences that impair their health and quality of life (QoL). HNC patients often are prone to have a poor health related QoL due to significant changes in vital functions. Despite researches being done in the area cancer survivors' QoL internationally, those done locally were relatively scares and not clear. The study aim to determine and compares the pre and post treatments QoL in HNC patients. Methods: A cohort study was carried out to recruit 81 newly diagnosed HNC patients purposively; pre and six months post treatment using QoL Cancer Survivor and Questionnaire-Head &Neck 35 questionnaires. .Data was analyzed for descriptive and inferential analysis. Results: A total of 40 (50%) patients participated and the result shows that QoL of HNC patients were at medium level (6.22 ± 1.8) pre-treatment, and however reduced (4.84 ± 1.16) at 6 months post treatment), despite the symptoms or problems that occur reduced post treatment compared (1.58 ± 1.25). The Pearson coefficient correlation test result shows that QoL of HNC patients pre and post treatment were strong but negatively correlated (r = -0.447, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Understanding of QoL and affecting factors in HNC patients' QoL is very crucial as it may potentially assist in designing interventions that lessen the adverse impact of this disease process and more accurately support those in active treatment, survivors, and caregivers
Oral Antidiabetic Utilization and Various Factors as an Indicator for HbA1c Control Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
No full textBackground: Diabetes mellitus requires aggressive long-term therapy to decrease morbidity and mortality. Non-adherence to oral antidiabetic therapy represents a barrier to treatment that could lead to the deterioration of patient health. This study aimed to develop an indicator for predicting glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This unmatched case-control study recruited 110 patients from the Primary Health Care center in Palembang City. The chi-square test was used for certain variables, and multivariate analysis was performed using unconditional logistic regression to assess the effects of different variables after considering certain sociodemographic and economic characteristics as potential confounding variables. Results: The results revealed no statistically significant association of sociodemographic and economic variables (sex, age, education, and employment) with glycemic control. Family history of diabetes, duration of diabetes, body mass index, adherence, monitoring, therapy, and comorbidity were associated with glycemic control. Conclusions: Continuous education of primary care physicians is one way of improving skills for managing hyperglycemic patients. However, the challenge in treating patients with type 2 diabetes is to shift the main criterion from a disease-oriented to patient-centered approach in the context of patients' circumstances. Additionally, our developed indicator can be used as a screening test for assessing glycemic
Low-Level Laser Therapy to the Major Salivary Glands Increases Salivary Flow and MUC5B Protein Secretion in Diabetic Patients with Hyposalivation: A Preliminary Study
No full textBackground: To investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy to salivary gland function in diabetic patients with hyposalivation. Methods: Twelve diabetic patients were recruited. A 940-nm indium-gallium-arsenide-phosphide low-power semiconductor diode laser was used to stimulate the major salivary glands with an irradiation time of 40 s; this was done three times a week for 2 consecutive weeks. Patients were given questionnaires related to dry mouth symptoms. Salivary flow rates, questionnaire responses as well as MUC7, MUC5B and histatin 5 protein salivary concentrations were assessed at the first and sixth visits after laser therapy as well at the 6-week follow-up visit. Results: The unstimulated salivary flow rate and MUC5B concentration at the follow-up visit significantly increased (p < 0.01). Histatin 5 concentration significantly decreased at the follow-up visit compared with that at the first visit (p < 0.05). The mean dry mouth score revealed a significant decrease in dry mouth symptoms at the sixth visit and follow-up visit compared with those at the first visit (p < 0.001). The positive correlation between dry mouth score and flow rate was the strongest at the sixth visit (rs = 0.549). Conclusions: Low-level laser therapy increased the salivary flow rate and decreased dry mouth symptoms in diabetic patients. 
Changes in Contrast Sensitivity in Young Adults with Diabetes
No full textBackground: This study compared contrast sensitivity and visual acuity of young adults with diabetes to that of controls and attempted to identify predictors of dry eye symptoms in patients with diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study, which included 37 patients with diabetes and 37 age-matched controls, was conducted in the Optometry Clinic of Kulliyyah Allied Health Science. All participants were aged between 19 and 39 years. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of diabetes without any evidence of ocular disease, abnormalities in colour vision or media opacity. Results: The contrast sensitivity significantly differed between patients and controls (p = 0.045). A multiple regression analysis showed that contrast sensitivity was a significant predictor of ocular symptoms in patients with diabetes, and this was statistically significant (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Contrast sensitivity may be affected during early ocular changes among young adults with diabetes. It may also predict the occurrence of dry eye symptoms in such patients
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dry Eye Disease in Kuantan, Malaysia
No full textBackground: To determine the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) at Jalan Hospital Eye Care, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Kuantan, Malaysia. Methods: The dry eye symptoms and tear breakup time test (TBUT) values retrieved from the medical records of 643 patients were retrospectively analysed. Dry eye cases with one or more symptom were included. ‘Yes’ or ‘no’ responses were used in discriminant analysis of tear abnormality (TBUT < 5 seconds). Results: The crude prevalence of DED was 48.5%, the age-adjusted prevalence was 43% in women <50 years of age, and 68.4% in those ≥50 years of age. Contact lens wear and low TBUT values were associated with DED risk in men. Age of ≥50 years and a low tear meniscus height (TMH) score were associated with risk of DED symptoms in women. Conclusions: The prevalence of DED in optometric outpatients at IIUM was relatively high, especially in the elderly population. Symptoms and signs were poorly associated with DED. TBUT performed well in diagnosing dry eye and may be useful to improve the assessment of patients with dry eye problems in this region
Efficacy of Essential Oil Strips Containing Thymol, Eucalyptol, Menthol, Methyl Salicylate, and Peppermint Against Dental Caries
No full textBackground: Strips containing essential oils are commonly used as an alternative treatment for dental caries prevention. However, their efficacy is unknown. This study aimed to test the efficacy of oral strips containing essential oils on caries prevention. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study with 15 subjects divided into two groups: A and B. In the first week, group A (N = 8) was given strips containing thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate, and peppermint (TEMMP) three times in 24 hours while group B (N = 7) was given placebo strips. In the second week, after a one-week washout period, each group was given the other product. Pre- and post-treatment evaluation was performed by measuring plaque acidity using a pH plaque indicator and determining the number of S.mutans colonies using a hand counter. Results: There was no significant difference between plaque pH and S.mutans count in subjects given TEMMP strips compared to placebo. Conclusions: The use of TEMMP essential oil strips does not significantly inhibit the growth of S.mutans or the production of plaque