Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxicity of the Traditional Indonesian Medicine Tahongai (Kleinhovia hospita L.) Extract

We investigated the leaves of Kleinhovia hospita, a plant which has been traditionally used in Indonesia as phytotherapy to cure liver disease, to describe antioxidant materials from plant sources. K. hospita leaves were extracted with methanol and further partitioned into n-hexane, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate. The antioxidant activity of each fraction and the residue was assessed using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method and their cytotoxicity on HepG2 liver cancer cells was determined by a MTT assay. The K. hospita leaf methanol extract showed strong antioxidant activity (96%) compared with vitamin C (98%) by the DPPH method and the measured activity from the subsequent extracts of the methanol extract were 48.9% for n-hexane, 74.0% for diethyl ether, 84.3% for ethyl acetate, and 77.1% for the residue. The MTT assay showed the cytotoxicity of the methanol extract on HepG2 cells at 14%, 76%, and 80% at concentrations of 50μg/mL, 87.5μg/mL, and 125μg/mL, respectively. Leaf extracts of the medicinal plant K. hospita showed potent antioxidant activity and moderate cytotoxicity on HepG2 liver cancer cells.     

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Optimism and its Relationship to Mental and Self-Rated Health: A Study of Aging Twins

Optimism has been shown to be important in maintaining wellbeing into old age, but little is known about the sources of variation in optimism and its links to mental and somatic health. Optimism, mental, and self-rated health were measured in 3,053 twin individuals (501 MZF, 153 MZM, 274 DZF, 77 DZM, and 242 DZ opposite-sex twin pairs and 561 single twins) over 50 years using the life orientation test, the General Health Questionnaire and a single-item question for self-rated health. Additive genetic factors explained 36, 34, and 46% of the variation in optimism, mental, and self-rated health, respectively, with the remainder being due to non-shared environmental influences. Genetic influences accounted for most of the covariance between the variables (14–20% of the genetic variance) indicating that in older adults genes predisposing to high optimism also predispose to good mental health and self-rated health.     

采用干预对策减少珠海市6所医院抗菌药及注射剂的过度使用

目的:验证WHO倡导的监测-培训-计划(MTP)模式对我国医疗机构不合理用药的干预效果。方法:以卫生部用药指导原则及WHO或国家级治疗指南为标准,开展培训、改变用药习惯、经过3轮以上MTP干预。收集2006年7月～2007年7月干预前后珠海市6所二级以上医院门诊上感及住院清洁手术预防性抗菌药及注射剂使用数据,分析用药合理性。结果:MTP干预使呼吸内科及儿科门诊上感患者的抗菌药使用率、注射剂使用率、抗菌注射剂使用率、抗菌药平均费用均大幅降低;3种清洁手术中,预防性抗菌药国家级指南遵从率干预后明显升高,用药合理性与卫生经济效益显著提高。结论:抗菌药与注射剂的过度使用是当今全球性严重影响医疗安全的问题,处方点评、临床路径、治疗监护以及MTP干预都是纠正大处方/用药过度的有效方法。欲以较低成本达到尽量扩大基本医疗覆盖面的目的,可采用MTP对策,其对处方者和患者充分循证说理的和谐方式,证明是实施合理用药的重要策略,有必要加以推广应用。     

High Toxoplasma antibody prevalence among inhabitants in Jakarta,Indonesia

We examined IgG antibody to Toxoplasma in sera from 1,693 inhabitants aged 20-85 years in Jakarta. The seroprevalence rate was 70%, without any significant differences between males (71%) and females (69%). Some epidemiological factors contributing to the high prevalences of antibody to Toxoplasma in inhabitants of urban areas in Indonesia were discussed.     

Intestinal parasitic infections in Bekasi district,West Java,Indonesia and a comparison of the infection rates determined by different techniques for fecal examination

This study was undertaken to determine the current status of intestinal parasitic infections among schoolchildren in West Java, Indonesia, and to compare the infection rates obtained by three different methods of fecal examination. A total of 285 fecal samples were collected from 131 males and 154 females at a junior high school. Samples were brought to the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, and were examined for parasites by the Kato-Katz thick smear method (K-K). The residual samples were suspended in more than five volumes of 2% potassium dichromate solution and brought to the Department of Parasitology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan, where they were examined for parasites by the Army Medical School method (AMS III) and by the Sucrose Centrifugal Flotation method (SFL). The K-K revealed a total of two helminths with a prevalence of 10% (29/285). In contrast, nine species of parasites, 31% (89/285) positive, were obtained by AMS III, while 10 species, 22% (62/285) were found by SFL. Overall, 12 species of parasites were detected by the three methods: four species of nematoda (Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, and Enterobius vermicularis); five species of protozoa (Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica-like cyst, E. coli, Cyclospora sp, Blastocystis hominis); two unidentified species of nematode eggs; and one unidentified species of mite egg.     

Successful orthotopic liver transplantation for treatment of a hepatic yolk sac tumor

Yolk sac tumors (YSTs) represent 3% of malignancies in childhood and most commonly arise in the gonads. Hepatic YSTs are rare and previous reported cases were treated with resection and/or chemotherapy with mixed results. We present the first case of an unresectable hepatic YST in a 2-year-old boy treated successfully with liver transplantation.     

An evaluation of information dissemination during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak among selected rural communities in Kuala Kangsar

To assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on SARS and its preventive measures among the rural population of Kuala Kangsar district. This KAP study was also done to identify the expectation and preference of rural population upon obtaining health information. This is a cross-sectional study of 201 households from four villages in Kuala Kangsar. Face-to-face interview was done regarding knowledge, attitude and practice on SARS and its preventive measures. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS (Version 10.0). A scoring system was used to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice towards SARS. Ninety one percent of the study population was aware of SARS. Majority of them have good attitude towards SARS based on the formulated scoring system. Television was found to be the first hand information about SARS and most preferred source of information by the rural population. Knowledge and attitude of respondents concerning SARS were good. Television was found to be the preference among the rural population in obtaining health information.