Vol. 21 No. 1, Page 1-46

January 1, 2002

Detection of butirilkolinesterase variant C5+ with poliacrilamide electrophoresis

By Elly Herwana*, Franciscus D. Suyatna**, Rianto Setiabudy**

       Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is an enzyme which involved in the metabolism of succinylcholine. Alteration in enzyme activity influenced the duration of action of succynilcholine. The objective of this study is to find out the distribution of C5+ variant of BChE and its relation to the increase of enzyme activity.  Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was used to detect C5+ variant of BChE. The measurement of butyrylcholinesterase activity was also done in this study. The study was done on 246 individuals from Javanese ethnic residing in Jakarta. Variant C5+ was characterized by PAGE developed by Laemmli, and BChE activity determined by the methods developed by Kallow. PAGE identified 54 individuals (22%) with C5+ and 192 individuals (78%) with C5-. The distribution of BChE activity using benzoylcholine as substrate, ranged between 450 u/l – 1380 u/l, 19 individuals (7,7%) had low enzyme activity. Related to C5+ variant, it was found that the mean enzyme activity of C5+ was slightly higher than that of C5-. The average level activity of BChE  ( ± SD) of C5+ variant and C5- were 987,77 u/l ±  205,59 and 942,76 u/l ±  168,69 respectively. Statistical analysis using t-test showed that the difference was not statistically significant.

Language : Indonesia

Sensitivity of PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) method in detection of clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolate

By Maria Lina Rosilawati*, Pratiwi Sudarmono**, Fera Ibrahim**

            The PCR method was carried out to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis from sputum of tuberculosis patients, and atypical  mycobacteria strains. The bacteria were cultured on Lowenstein Jensen medium. DNA extraction was done by using phenol-chloroform method after lysing the bacterial cells with lyzozyme, proteinase-K, and SDS. Serial dilution of extracted DNA was done to determine the sensitivity of the PCR assay. Primers used for DNA amplification were Pt8 and Pt9. The primers were designed from insertion sequence (IS)6110 of M. tuberculosis. Amplification product was analysed by gel agarose electrophoresis. Gel was stained with ethidium bromide solution and visualized under ultraviolet transilluminator. Results showed that the detection limits of amplified DNA of M. tuberculosis isolates were 100 fg - 500 pg, equivalent to 20 - 100.000 bacteria cells. PCR assay on isolate IMt3 and isolate IMt4, resulted the highest and the lowest sensitivities, respectively. The ampllified fragment DNA of 541 bp was resulted by using the primers mentioned above. Amplification of DNA did not occur on atypical mycobacteria strains.The result shows that the PCR using Pt8 and Pt9 primers is  a specific assay.

Language : Indonesia

Stakeholder perception on adolescent reproductive health clinics

By Nugroho Abikusno

       This study assessed stakeholder perception on adolescent reproductive health clinics in Indonesia. A series of stakeholder specific focus group discussions were held in a randomly selected sub-district in south Jakarta and informants (n=30) were taken from the community related to a senior high school in its vicinity. Each group was requested to provide their comments on several themes related to the existence of an adolescent reproductive health (ARH) clinic in their community. Stakeholders were mostly female, Javanese, Muslim, and had intermediate education. Most of the stakeholders did not know that an ARH clinic was available in their community. Major source of RH information of stakeholders was from other peers. Most of the stakeholders felt ashamed to discuss sexual matters in the community. Family support was considered by all of the stakeholders as a major factor influencing quality of ARH services. We recommend that the ARH clinic be more proactive in communicating their ARH service to the community. In our case there is potential for peer educator recruitment and peer group development in particular for parents.

Language : English

Sleep pattern disturbance in older persons and its management

By A. Prayitno

       Sleep is a periodic state of rest for the body which is absolutely essential for its efficient functioning. Sleep pattern is different in the elderly compared to younger patients. Sleep requirements diminish with ageing. From nine hours sleep per night at the age of 12 the average sleep needs decrease to eight hours at the age of 20, seven hours at 40, six and half hours at 60 and six hours at 80. There are sleep pattern changes in the elderly causing them to complain of sleep discomfort. A large proportion of older people  are at risk dor disturbances of sleep that may caused by many factors such as retirement, changes in social patterns, increased use of medications, concurrent diseases and changes in circadian rhythms. Evaluation of sleep disorders begins with  careful clinical evaluation. Emphasis was given to non-specific intervention to induce sleep in elderly patients. Drug therapy starting with small effective doses is recommended to prevent drug cumulative effects on the elderly. Counseling is important to promote sleep hygiene exercise, which eventually decreases the use of drug therapy. For short term insomnia, elderly patients are given Trazolam 0.125-0.25 mg, while for long term patients are given small dose neuroleptics such as Chlorpromazine, Levomepromazine, and Tioridazine. Elderly patients with insomnia and depression may be given Tricyclic antidepressants, SSRI, and MAOI.

Language : Indonesia

Homocysteine new (non-traditional) risk factor of cardiovascular disease

By Pusparini

       Cardiovascular disease is primary cause of death in developed country. Homocysteine recognized as nontraditional risk factor for atherosclerosis. Correlation between increasingly homocysteine with cardiovascular disease has been reported by Mc Cully in 1969. Homocysteine is a sulfur containing aminoacid formed during the metabolism of methionine. Homocysteine is metabolized by one of two pathways : remethylation and transulfuration. Factors influenced homocysteine metabolism are genetic, age, sex, renal function, nutrition, disease like as psoriasis and cancer. Study about the correlation of hyperhomocysteine and cardiovascular disease has been reported. Patofisiology atherogenesis in hyperhomocysteinemia are effects on endothelium. Hyperhomocysteinemia are treated by replacement with folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12.

Language : Indonesia

Advantage of zinc supplementation of older persons

By Adi Hidayat

       The rise in number and proportion of older people has led to much concern about societal consequences, including health. Aging is associated with increased disability and loss of independence with functional impairments such as loss of mobility, sight, and hearing. Natural killer (NK) cells play a role in natural immunity against tumor and infected cells. Advanced aging is associated with functional impairment of NK cells and increased susceptibility to nutritional deficiencies. Older persons with inadequate dietary habits tend to be at risk for mild to moderate zinc deficiency. Symptoms of zinc deficiency include slow wound healing, increased risk of infection, and a loss of taste and smell acuity. Zinc deficiency in the elderly is suspected as a possible factors in Alzheimer’s disease. Studies with zinc supplementation in Alzheimer patients result in improvement of memory, communication, understanding, and social contact.  Most older persons can achieve an adequate zinc intake by eating a variety of foods each day, including meat, fish, and poultry. Zinc supplementation in the elderly corrected zinc deficiency, significantly increased thymulin activity, and counteracts with the low immune function associated with aging.

Language : Indonesia