Vol. 23 No. 1, Page 1-38

January 1, 2004

Protective effect of cathechin on endothelial cell in hypercholesterolemia

By Sri Agus Sudjarwo

Endothelium dependent vascular relaxations are impaired in numerous disease states, including hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and chronic heart failure. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of cathechin on endothelial cell in cholesterol fed rabbits. A total 30 white rabbits were randomized into five groups: negative control was fed a standard diet, positive control with 2% cholesterol, cathechin groups were fed with cathechin 100 mg/kg BW/day, 200 mg/kg BW/day and 400 mg/kg BW/day.  These results showed that the cholesterol-rich diet markedly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) in the plasma, as reflected by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), inhibited endothelium-dependent vascular relaxations to acetylcholine compared to vessels from normal rabbits. In cholesterol-fed rabbits, cathechin treatment decreased MDA in plasma production and improved endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine. These study concluded that dietary treatment of rabbits with cathechin may prevent superoxide anion (O2-) induced inactivation of endothelium-dependent relaxing factor (EDRF) and improve the endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine in the aortic blood vessels of cholesterol-fed rabbits.

Language : English

Vitamin C as a dominant factor for hemoglobin concentration in women 20 - 35 years old

By Guntur Argana *, Kusharisupeni ** Diah M. Utari **

The objective of this study is to obtain the prevalence of anemia among women age 20-35 years old and the most dominant factors in relation to level of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration. The design was cross sectional and by a systematic random sampling, the number of sample obtained was 150. Several important variables in this study  are level of Hb, body mass  index (BMI), upper arm circumference (UAC), macro and micronutrient consumption were collected through laboratory study, physical examination and using questionnaire. The prevalence of anemia was 65.3% showing that anemia in this area was a severe public health problem. Further analysis shows that UAC, consumption of vitamin C and expenditure per capita per month had significant relation with  Hb concentration, while consumption of vitamin C and UAC were dominant factors for Hb concentration. This study suggested that the cut off point for UAC must be further investigated in future trial to predict anemia.

Language : Indonesia

Effect of aerobic exercise on cardiorespiratory capacity in spinal cord injured patients

By Maria Regina Rachmawati

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise program on cardiorespiratory function in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients, and also their relationship with injury level and onset of injury. In this study two parameters were used to evaluate cardiorespiration function, which were VO2 max (maximal aerobic capacity), and VE (minute ventilation). The study was a pre and post test design on single group of 27 spinal cord injured patients. Samples that passed the inclusion criteria were given first exercise test to evaluate their first VO2 max. After exercise test, they underwent exercise program 3 times a week, at least 25 minute duration each session. After 6 weeks, an exercise test to evaluate VO2 max and spirometry examination to measure VE. This study showed that VO2 max and VE significantly increasing after exercise program 24.43±  4.68 ml.kg–1.mn and 10.17±  4.08 L.mn–1 (p 0.0001). No significant correlation between onset and injury level with VO2 max and VE.. There was a decrease of VO2 max in spinal cord injury people, which increased significantly after aerobic exercise program.

Language : Indonesia

Sex differences in hemoglobin concentration during infancy

By Adi Hidayat*, Budi Utomo**

            It is well known that there are differences in hemoglobin (Hb) levels between males and females in adolescence and adulthood. These differences are considered to be primarily attributable to menstrual losses of iron in fertile women. Recent studies in adolescens and adults also suggest hormonal difference was the risk factor of iron status difference between sexes. However, little has been reported about sex differences of Hb levels in infants. The objective of this study was to determine sex differences in Hb levels in infants. This study was a part of a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial to evaluate combined iron and zinc supplementation on Hb concentration, growth and morbidity in infants. This study only analysed the placebo group, and evaluated the Hb concentrations in males and females in infant. A total of 200 infants 4 to 6 months of age were supplemented with placebo for 6 months, and Hb concentration was measured from capillary wheel prick using HEMOCUE-B, Angelholm Sweden. The Hb levels were measured at base line and after 6 months supplementation. At 4-6 months of age, the Hb concentration between boys (105 ± 14 g/L) and girls (103 ± 9 g/L) was not significantly different (P=0.617). And after 6 months supplementation, the difference of Hb concentration in girls (8.5 ± 13 g/L) were significantly higher than boys (-1.1 ± 13 g/L) (P = 0.022). There are substantial sex differences in Hb concentrations during infancy.

Language : Indonesia

Current diagnosis and treatment for vascular dementia

By Riani Indiyarti

            Dementia is one of the most frequent disorders in the elderly. In the developed countries, vascular dementia is the second leading cause dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, but it is the most frequent type of dementia in Asia. Vascular dementia is the dementia that due to cerebrovascular disease. The term vascular dementia is now used for dementia syndromes likely to be the consequence of ischemic, hemorrhagic or hypoxic lesions of the brain. There are some criterias for diagnosis of vascular dementia including diagnostic and statictical manual of mental disorders fourth editions (DSM-IV), pedoman penggolongan dan diagnosis gangguan jiwa (PPDGJ) III, international clasification of diseases (ICD-10), the state of California Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic and treatment centers (ADDTC), and national institute of neurological disorders and stroke and the association internationale pour la recherche et l’enseignement en neurosciences (NINDS-AIREN). The mechanisms of vascular disease are multiple lacunar infarcts, strategic single infarct, Binswanger disease, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, hypoperfusion and other mechanisms including inflammatory or non inflammatory arteriopathies. Clinical manifestation of vascular dementia is combination of focal neurologic signs, neurophysiological disturbances and neuropsychiatric signs. Vascular dementia is the dementia that has possibility of prevention.

Language : Indonesia

Clostridium difficile: a cause of pseudomembranous colitis and diarrhea due to using irrational antibiotic

By Widyasari Kumala

        Clostridium difficile is an apportunistic, Gram positive and obligately anaerob microorganism. It is proven to be the mayor cause of pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) and antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) as the negative effect of irrational antibiotic use against infection. Clostridium difficile either toxigenic or nontoxigenic is normal flora in the digestive system of neonatus and children. This microorganism can spread in the form of spores or in its original form through food ingestion and nosocomial infection. The prevalence of infection in PMC patients is very high, approximately 99%. The prevalence in AAD is 20-25%. Diagnosis using laboratory tests can be done by microbiology examination, serologic and cytotoxicity tests. The diagnostic approach and therapy for PMC or AAD are usually costly. Therefore, there should be more attention in determining the length in using antibiotics, as well as the doses, when dealing with infected patients.

Language : Indonesia