Methods Used to Investigate the Plasmodium falciparum Digestive Vacuole

Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a global health problem as parasites continue to develop resistance to all antimalarials in use. Infection causes clinical symptoms during the intra-erythrocytic stage of the lifecycle where the parasite infects and replicates within red blood cells (RBC). During this stage, P. falciparum digests the main constituent of the RBC, hemoglobin, in a specialized acidic compartment termed the digestive vacuole (DV), a process essential for survival. Many therapeutics in use target one or multiple aspects of the DV, with chloroquine and its derivatives, as well as artemisinin, having mechanisms of action within this organelle. In order to better understand how current therapeutics and those under development target DV processes, techniques used to investigate the DV are paramount. This review outlines the involvement of the DV in therapeutics currently in use and focuses on the range of techniques that are currently utilized to study this organelle including microscopy, biochemical analysis, genetic approaches and metabolomic studies. Importantly, continued development and application of these techniques will aid in our understanding of the DV and in the development of new therapeutics or therapeutic partners for the future.

Implementation Of Clean and Healthy Living Behavior Efforts to Prevent the Spread of Covid 19 Padang Sambian Kelod Village

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new type of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which has now become a global health problem that can cause respiratory system disorders, ranging from mild symptoms such as flu to lung infections. The most effective effort currently being made is to create community awareness starting from the household level, namely through the implementation of Clean and Healthy Life Behavior (PHBS). PHBS culture is very influential in preventing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Through this KKN activity, it will be practiced as well as empowered by the community in implementing PHBS efforts. The data collection technique in this community service activity is in the form of socialization using interview and documentation techniques. This activity is expected to be entrenched in the community so that it can become a new habit that is not only valid during the COVID-19 pandemic but will be sustainable in the order of daily life. Increased community participation in PHBS, where people are able/empowered to make cloth masks to avoid splashing droplets when talking/coughing/sneezing and making natural hand sanitizers made from betel leaf and lime, so that they can suppress/control cases of illness and death due to COVID-19.

Total flavonoid in Epimedium koreanum Nakai alleviated chronic renal failure via promoting AMPK activation

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a result of the progression of chronic kidney diseases (CKD), a global health problem with high cost of treatment and no ideal therapy. The aim...

Synthesis of sialic acid conjugates of the clinical near-infrared dye as next-generation theranostics for cancer phototherapy

Cancer is a multifaceted global health problem that requires continuous action to develop next-generation cancer theranostics. Inspired by the emerging use of indocyanine green (ICG), the only clinical approved near-infrared...

Modality analysis in Joe Biden’s speech delivered on the anniversary of the Covid-19 shutdown

Covid-19 has been global health problem and become the concern of global leaders in the world. One of them is Joe Biden, current president of American. He delivered his speech on Anniversary Covid-19 Shutdown on March 11, 2021. The clauses in his speech contain modality. Modality is included in interpersonal meaning where language is used to encode interaction between the speaker and the hearer. This research aims to analyze the type of modality used by Biden in his speech and utilize it to find his self-representation. The research uses Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) in term of modality analysis as the tool and discourse analysis as the approach. The finding shows that three types of modalities found; inclination, probability and obligation. The self-representation of Biden found are being visionary, being determined, showing sadness, being powerful, and showing respect. DOI: 10.26905/enjourme.v6i2.6531

Characterization of antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Denmark

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is a major global health problem as it leads to hospital outbreaks all over the world and is becoming more difficult to treat due to its increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Optimization and development of new treatments of KP requires understanding of its population structure and AMR properties. Therefore, in this study, we collected and sequenced 491 KP strains from four major Danish microbiology departments covering 51% of the Danish population. The isolates were whole genome sequenced (WGS), phenotypically characterized and compared with 2,124 KP strains from 13 different countries (PATRIC strains). We found that while genomic content varies significantly across the Danish strains, they also differ significantly from strains from other countries, due to the lack of certain AMR sequence types (e.g. ST258 and ST307) in Denmark. Genomic and experimental analysis suggest that Danish strains contain fewer virulence mechanisms and are more susceptible to antimicrobials compared to strains from other countries, likely due to the relatively low antibiotic usage in Denmark where 70% of hospital antibiotic usage is penicillins. We also identified potential novel AMR determinants to tigecycline through statistical analysis of genomic and phenotypic data. To conclude, we obtained a more comprehensive understanding of the KP strains in Denmark and provided valuable insights for future experiments and strategies to combat AMR in KP.

Proteomic study of the effect of metformin on C. albicans

Fungal infections are a global health problem. Of them, those produced by Candida albicans are the most important, with a reduced arsenal of antifungals and an increasing problem of antifungal resistance. Thus, the discovery of new antifungal targets and drugs remains interesting. Metformin is a biguanide administered as a first-line treatment for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and it has recently been published its anti-Candida action, especially against C. glabrata, and its synergistic effect with other antifungals. Our studies of the effect of metformin on C. albicans have revealed an inhibition of growth, filamentation and other phenotypes important for virulence. Although metformin has been described as an AMPK agonist, its mechanism of action is partly unknown. To deepen into the anti-Candida mechanism of action, we have addressed the differential proteomic study. A set-up of the conditions for the proteomic study has been carried out, fixing a concentration of 50mM of metformin, 6 h of treatment at 37°C in RPMI medium and with 60 rpm of agitation. The proteomic study using the Labelfree technique and 4 biological replicas, allowed the identification and quantification of a total of 1899 proteins, 206 of them presenting differences in abundance due to metformin exposure. Of these, 127 increased and 79 decreased due to the action of the drug. The most relevant functions of these proteins are related to antifungal response, filamentation, biofilm formation and metabolism, being 9 essential proteins for the microorganism that could be new antifungal targets.

Analysis of MTb Rapid Molecular Test Performance Towards Microscopical Acid Fast Bacilli Examination at Labuang Baji General Hospital

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem, which is the third leading cause of death of all infectious diseases aroundthe world, included Indonesia. Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) smear and rapid molecular assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)are the old and new examinations required for MTB laboratory diagnosis. This study aimed to compare the performance ofMTB rapid molecular assay and AFB smear in diagnosis and screening for TB patients. This observational retrospective studyused a cross-sectional approach, with a purposive sampling technique of 559 patients with suspected TB in Labuang BajiHospital, Makassar. This study was conducted from March 2019 to June 2019 by taking data from medical records fromJanuary 2018 to December 2018 at Labuang Baji Hospital, Makassar. Three hundred and forty-nine subjects were males(62.4%), and 210 subjects were females (37.6%). This study revealed sensitivity and specificity of 98.57% and 84.96%,respectively for MTB rapid molecular assay, and 68.65% and 99.44%, respectively for AFB smear, this shows that MTB rapidmolecular assay was superior to AFB smear in diagnosing TB patients.

An Overview Knowledge and Usage of Herbal Medicines during The COVID-19 Pandemic by Students of Poltekkes Kemenkes Jakarta II

COVID-19 has now become a global health problem. In Indonesia, there are 828.026 confirmed cases as of January 10, 2021.(1) To deal with this current situation, prevention efforts are needed. One of them increases endurance by using herbal remedies. In addition to having been used for generations, several studies have shown that herbal medicines have the potential to increase endurance.The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge and usage of herbal medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic.This study using the purposive sampling method with one hundred respondents. Data were collected based on primary data using a google form questionnaire with univariate analysis. On Preliminary results are Most of respondents had pretty good knowledge in forty eight point eight percent, and jamu on sixty nine point five percent as the herbal medicine of choice, when pharmacies to get herbal medicines. Moreover, the implications are the knowledge of using herbal medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic is good and Jamu is the most used herbal medicine based of the types. This research will be continued with more samples to better represent the conclusions. Keywords: Knowledge, Usage, Herbal Medicines

Modeling the impact of campaign program on the prevalence of anemia in children under five

Anemia, a global health problem, is increasing worldwide and affecting both developed and developingcountries. Being a blood disorder, anemia may occur in any stages of life but it is quite common in childrenunder the age of five. Globally, iron deficiency is the supreme contributor towards the onset of anemia. In thispaper, a general model based on the dynamics of anemia among children under five is formulated. The populationis divided in three classes such as susceptible, affected and treated. A time-dependent control measurenamely campaign program is considered. The model has an equilibrium point and the stability of the pointis analyzed. Moreover, sensitivity of the equilibrium point is also performed to discover the critical parameters.Numerical simulations are carried out to observe the dynamic behavior of the model. Results showthat campaign program is effective in minimizing the disease progression. The number of child patients andyearly deaths significantly decrease with accelerated campaign program that is implemented earlier whereastermination of the applied measure may upturn the burden. Findings also reveal that application of controlmeasure helps to reduce the prevalence of anemia but may not eliminate the disease.