This article describes the ways in which women in the coastal Papuan (Indonesian) town of Manokwari understand and represent HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Having employed focus group interviewing and other qualitative research methods during long-term fieldwork conducted in Manokwari, I argue that my subjects frame ideas about disease aetiology less in biomedical terms and more through a Christian worldview. AIDS is understood to be a fatal 'disease' (not disease syndrome) that is sent ultimately from God but that was recently brought to Papua by outsiders to the west. It is thought that people most likely to become afflicted with AIDS are those who breach Christian codes of conduct. In particular, women who sell sex, not homosexuals, not men who buy sex from women and not intravenous drug users, are attributed with having the greatest chance of suffering from and transmitting HIV. Even though Manokwari women discussed HIV and the aetiology of AIDS in moral terms, and even though they do not regard themselves as sinful, they nevertheless fear 'catching' AIDS, even though this is physically impossible. This fear motivates the scape-goating of female sex workers and the exhibition by community members of distancing behaviours toward people who display clinical symptoms of AIDS.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; seconds ; Human Females ; HIV ; Christian

Depression has become one of the most commonly reported and studied psychiatric co-morbidities of epilepsy. While different forms of depression have been specifi cally related to epilepsy, this paper focuses on neurobiological and psychosocial factors that predict major depression in patients with intractable focal epilepsy. It then examines how these factors may affect patient trajectories and outcome following epilepsy surgery. This provides a model of relevant clinical markers for epilepsy clinicians to identify patients at risk of depression so that preventative treatment strategies can be implemented.

It is well-established that the diagnosis of a chronic or life-threatening illness typically gives rise to signifi cant adjustment issues, as an individual seeks to make the necessary changes to lifestyle and self-perceptions to accommodate the diagnosis. Despite this, an understanding of the psychosocial adjustment process surrounding newly-diagnosed epilepsy is only beginning to emerge, with available evidence suggesting that management of this process may signifi cantly impact longer-term medical and psychosocial outcomes.

Personal identification in forensic investigation is not an easy process. Lip print analysis is one of the techniques that can be used to assist in human identification. This study was conducted to investigate the sex based on lip print pattern among Malaysian Malay population in Klang Valley, using photograph on lipstick-cellophane tape technique and the Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification. A total of 360 subjects (180 males and 180 females) aged 15 and above were included in this study. The lip print was taken by pressing a cellophane tape to the lipstick applied on lip, pasted it onto a plain A4 paper and then photographed using a smart phone camera (OPPO F1). The images were then analysed using Adobe Photoshop software. A lip print image were divided into six sections: upper left, upper middle, upper right, lower right, lower middle and lower left. The Pearson chi-square test showed that there are significant differences between sexes in each section except for the upper middle section. Type V (irregular pattern) was the dominant pattern for the upper left, upper right, lower right and lower left sections (ranging from 71.1% to 86.7% for males and 80.6% to 83.9% for females) while type IV (reticular pattern) was mostly found in upper middle and lower middle section. Malaysian female displayed type V as the dominant lip print pattern in every section (ranging from 39.4% to 83.9%) except upper middle section and for Malaysian male, type V dominated the lip print pattern in all section (ranging from 71.1% to 86.7%) except for the upper and lower middle section. The result of this study can be applied in assisting the human identification for forensic science investigation.

The forensic potential of microorganisms is becoming increasingly apparent as a consequence of advances in molecular sciences and genomics. This review discusses instances in which microbes, and in particular bacteria, can impact upon forensic investigations. There is increasing evidence that humans have an extremely diverse ‘microbiome’ that may prove useful in determining ethnicity, country of origin, and even personal identity. The human microbiome differs between regions of the body and may prove useful for determining the nature of stains such as those caused by saliva and vaginal fluid: it may even be possible to link the stains to the person responsible for them. Similarly, the composition of the microbiome present in a soil sample may prove a useful indicator of geographic origin or as a means of linking people, animals, or objects together or to a specific location. Microorganisms are important in the decay process and also influence the presence and concentration of alcohol, drugs, and other chemicals of forensic relevance. There is also a possibility that the entry of microorganisms into the body during the agonal period may prove useful for the diagnosis of drowning. The transmission of infectious diseases, and in particular sexually-transmitted diseases, can provide evidence linking a victim and a suspect. Microorganisms that cause fatal infections are not always identified at the time of death and may lead to the death being considered ‘suspicious’. If a fatal infection can be linked to a hospital or medical procedure it can lead to prosecutions and therefore it is important to determine when and where an infection was acquired. Similarly, naturally acquired infections need to be distinguished from those that result from malicious transmission. Microorganisms can therefore provide evidence in many different forensic scenarios but most of the work is still at the experimental stage and there are therefore many opportunities for further research.

The World Health Organization’s Regional Office for the Western Pacific has developed an interactive online influenza platform linking data from National Influenza Centres and Influenza Surveillance in the Western Pacific Region. This platform for regional monitoring of influenza enhances the accessibility of data and information for international and national authorities.

To probe the effect of reduced form coenzyme Ⅰ(NADH) in antagonizing cardiac muscle toxicity induced by doxorubicin and its underlying mechanism. Primary culture of myocardial cells of SD rat and doxorubicin injury model were established. MTT assay, laser confocal microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and biological oxygen monitor were used to observe the morphology and function of mitochondria. The results showed that the killing rate was increased in the group of doxorubicin, and that in the group of NADH/doxorubicin was greatly decreased. Doxorubicin could induce ultrastructural damage of cardiomyocyte mitochondria, manifested as swelling, disintegration, disruption of cristae and fusion. Cardiac mitochondria were protected against injuries in the group treated with NADH/doxorubicin. There was a significant difference in the fluorescence intensity of mitochondria membrane potentional and ROS between the groups treated with doxorubicin and NADH/ doxorubicin. It is suggested that NADH can significantly antagonizing cardiac muscle toxicity induced by doxorubicin and can protect mitochondrial structure and function.

Information regarding out of hospital cardiac arrest incidence including outcomes in Malaysia is limited and fragmented. This study aims to identify the incidence and adherence to protocol of out of hospital cardiac arrest and also to explore the issues faced by pre-hospital personnel in regards to the management of cardiac arrest victim in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A mixed method approach combining qualitative and quantitative study design was used. Two hundred eighty five (285) pre-hospital care data sheet for out of hospital cardiac arrest during the year of 2011 were examined by using checklists to identify the incidence and adherence to protocol. Nine semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions were performed. Based on the overall incidence for out of hospital cardiac arrest cases which occurred in 2011 (n=285), the survival rate was 16.8%. On the adherence to protocol, only 89 (41.8%) of the cases adhered to the given protocol and 124 did not adhere to such protocol. All the relevant qualitative data were merged into few categories relating to issues that could affect the management of out of hospital cardiac arrest performed by pre-hospital care team. The essential elements in the handling of out of hospital cardiac arrest by pre-hospital care teamwasto ensure increased survival rates and excellent outcomes. Measures are needed to strengthen the quick activation of the pre-hospital care service, prompt bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early defibrillation and timely advanced cardiac life support, and also to address all other issues highlighted in the qualitative results of this study.

Background: The detection and analysis of microsatellites is very important for the mapping of genetic diseases because they are commonly used as genetic markers. Microsatellite marker D19S884 has been associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common reproductive endocrine disease of women in their childbearing years. It is responsible for an estimated 70% of cases of anovulatory infertility. In this work, we detected microsatellites in DNA extracted from the blood of PCOS patients. Methods: DNA microsatellites were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a pair of specific primers tagged with fluorescence to yield products of 160–200 base pairs in length. Alleles were separated on 4% low-melting agarose gels; stained with a safe gel staining, GelRed™, which is an alternative to ethidium bromide; and visualised by ultraviolet illumination. Results: Bands were observed, but their base-pairs differences were difficult to distinguish. To identify each allele clearly, the PCR products were also analysed using capillary gel electrophoresis for fragment analysis where it was possible to discriminate even in case of difference between two pairs of bases between the alleles. Conclusion: In this article, we present a protocol that combines the use of gel electrophoresis and fragment analysis in the identification of genetic biomarkers for PCOS.

This article documents the life and achievements of Judy Yaiyon Aupae from the perspectives of her three daughters. Judy was born in Enga Province and raised by her mother, who was the second wife of a chief. The article explores the origins of Judy's interest in health care as a child. It further explores her commitment to helping others through training as a nurse and, later, through working in physiotherapy. The article also documents Judy's recent gaining of further qualifications in physiotherapy through her completion of a degree at Divine Word University in Madang.