International Journal of Biomedical Science and Travel Medicine

Ocular Manifestation and Visual Outcome of Zika Virus Infection Associated with Congenital Zika Syndrome

Anak Agung Dewi Adnya Swari — 2024-10-02

Introduction: Zika virus disease is an acute infectious disease caused by Zika virus transmitted through Aedes mosquitoes. The ocular findings in children with zika virus, cause a broad spectrum of ocular manifestations and present up to 55% of affected infants. This review explores its ocular manifestations and visual acuity of zika virus infection. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) from the PubMed databases. Assessment of study quality and risk of bias were assessed by using checklist from Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Results: We included 9 literatures with most literatures came from Brazil. Zika virus result in various ocular manifestations, ranging to congenital glaucoma, microphthalmia, congenital cataract, lens subluxation, iris coloboma, and retinopathy. The ocular manifestations of zika virus significant impact on visual outcome. Conclusion: Children with zika virus infection present of ophthalmological abnormalities and high risk for severe visual impairment.

Update on the Diagnosis of Traveler’s Diarrhea: Current Strategies and Emerging Trends

Kennedy Winata — 2024-10-02

Traveler’s diarrhea (TD) remains a prevalent condition affecting individuals traveling to regions with varying sanitation standards. The diagnosis of TD has evolved with advancements in diagnostic tools and a better understanding of its etiology. Traditionally diagnosed based on clinical presentation and exposure history, current approaches increasingly incorporate molecular techniques to identify causative pathogens more accurately. Recent updates highlight the integration of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and other molecular diagnostic methods that offer rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens. These advances enable differentiation between infectious and non-infectious causes of diarrhea, which is crucial for effective management and treatment. Additionally, the role of stool cultures, although less commonly used in rapid diagnostics, remains important for comprehensive pathogen identification. Emerging research emphasizes the need for a tailored diagnostic approach considering geographic region, patient history, and symptom profile. The use of multiplex assays and metagenomic sequencing is showing promise in identifying a broad spectrum of pathogens and understanding the complex microbiological landscape of TD. This update underscores the importance of adopting a multifaceted diagnostic strategy to improve the accuracy of TD diagnosis, thereby enhancing patient care and contributing to the development of targeted treatment and preventive measures.

Syndromic testing as a diagnostic modality for gastrointestinal infection

Olivia Jocelyn — 2024-10-02

Indonesia continues to grapple with sanitation issues, contributing to high incidence of gastrointestinal infections. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial to minimize the use of empirical antibiotics and medical expenses. Microbial culture, the current gold standard for diagnosing infections, has certain limitations in terms of duration and accuracy. There is a novel multiplex PCR (mPCR)-based diagnostic approach for infections called syndromic testing that can identify up to 20 pathogens simultaneously within 1–2 hours. This evidence-based case report aims to evaluate its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) in diagnosing gastrointestinal infections. Literature search was conducted on February 21, 2024, across several databases which were PubMed, Scopus, Wiley Online Library, and ProQuest. Two prospective cross-sectional studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria which were then critically appraised. Both studies measured the diagnostic accuracy of syndromic testing for Salmonella and Shigella, yielding sensitivity of 75–95.2%, specificity of >98%, PPV up to 88.2%, and NPV of >99%, indicating its good accuracy. Syndromic testing presents as a promising alternative diagnostic modality for infections, addressing the limitations of culture-based methods.

The active compound of the sponge Niphates olemda against Plasmodium falciparum phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase (pfpmt) based on in silico study

F. Frederick — 2024-10-02

Antimalarial drug resistance to P. falciparum has become a global problem in recent decades. This encourages the need for exploration to find alternative treatments, which come from marine product like Sponge Niphates olemda that contain active substrat. This research was conducted to determine the activity sponge Niphates olemda on P. falciparum phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase (PfPMT) through an in silico study.This research is a pure experimental research using the One Shot Experimental Study research design method. Observations were only made once between the variables studied through three analyzes, namely molecular docking analysis, ADME prediction analysis, and active compound toxicity analysis.The results showed that there were 4 active compounds (Niphateolide A, Kapakahine A, Kapakahine B, and Kapakahine F) that had a better binding affinity than artemisinin so that they had antimalarial potential. However, only Niphateolide A met Lipinski's criteria in ADME analysis, but was more toxic than the other three active compounds and also artemisinin. Based on the results of molecular docking analysis, it was found that the active compound Niphateolide A from the sea sponge Niphates olemda has antimalarial potential on target protein Plasmodium falciparum phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase.

Impact of Ethanol Exposure on Survival and the Expression of Endogenous Antioxidants in Drosophila melanogaster

L.M Alif Fauzan Tamar — 2024-10-02

Background Ethanol, a widely consumed psychoactive substance, disrupts cellular and molecular processes, leading to a range of adverse physiological effects. Prolonged exposure to ethanol has been associated with severe neurological disorders, underscoring the importance of investigating its toxicological impact. This study aims to evaluate the effects of ethanol exposure on the phenotypical characteristics of Drosophila melanogaster, with a particular focus on survival and the expression of endogenous antioxidant-related genes.

Methods The study utilized an ethanol exposure assay on male w1118 flies, assessing survival and the expression of the sod1, sod2, and cat genes through reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).

Results Ethanol exposure negatively affected survival in a concentration-dependent manner, with lower survival rates observed in Drosophila groups exposed to higher ethanol concentrations. Additionally, molecular analysis highlighted the significant role of the endogenous antioxidant gene cat in promoting survival in Drosophila under ethanol exposure.

Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that ethanol exposure is lethal to D. melanogaster in a concentration-dependent manner, with catalase playing a key role in mitigating its toxic effects and enhancing fly survival.