Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of loss to follow-up (LTFU) among tuberculosis (TB) patients in Indonesia and to identify associated factors. Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2022 Tuberculosis Information System in Indonesia. A total of 71,665 drug-sensitive TB patients were included in the analysis. Age, sex,employment status, diagnosis type, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, diabetesmellitus, TB type, mode of treatment, treatment standard, referral status, and type of residence.Categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square tests, followed by multivariable logistic regression to identify confounder-adjusted independent predictors of LTFU. Results: The prevalence of LTFU was 18.4%. A higher likelihood of LTFU was observed amongolder adults aged ≥65 years (adjusted-prevalence-odds-ratio [aPOR], 1.862), men (aPOR, 1.187), unemployed individuals (aPOR, 1.136), non-referred patients (aPOR, 1.547), patients with HIV (aPOR, 3.712), and those obtaining TB drugs out of pocket (aPOR, 4.998). The strongest predictorwas receipt of non-standard treatment, which was associated with a markedly increasedlikelihood of LTFU (aPOR, 26.912). In contrast, rural residence demonstrated a protective association (aPOR, 0.610). All associations were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion This study highlights a substantial burden of LTFU among TB patients in Indonesia,with nearly one in five patients discontinuing treatment. Multiple sociodemographic and clinical factors—particularly non-standard treatment, non-referral status, and HIV co-infection—were strongly associated with LTFU, underscoring gaps in the TB care continuum.These findings emphasize the need for targeted, patient-centered interventions, strengthenedreferral pathways, improved communication, and enhanced care coordination to reduce LTFU in high-risk groups.

Background: Mortality among tuberculosis patients while on treatment is a public health concern in Malaysia. Exploring the risk factors for tuberculosis mortality is important to evaluate the effectiveness of national tuberculosis control programs and to identify vulnerable patients. This study aimed to estimate the 5-year proportion of mortality among tuberculosis patients on treatment and determine its associated factors in Malaysian setting. Methods: A case-control study was conducted between deceased and survived groups in Terengganu state of Malaysia. All notified cases that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria from 1st January 2016 until 31st December 2020 were included in the study. Descriptive statistics, simple and multiple logistic regressions were employed for data analysis. Results: There were 3,603 tuberculosis cases notified and 12.4% of total notified patients had died during their course of treatment. Multiple logistic regression revealed older age, working group, prison inmate, positive HIV status, far advanced lesion on chest radiographs and disseminated form of tuberculosis were the significant factors associated with mortality among tuberculosis patients with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.06 (95%CI: 1.04, 1.07; p<0.001); 0.48 (95%CI: 0.33, 0.68; p<0.001); 0.26 (95%CI: 0.09, 0.79; p=0.017); 12.18 (95%CI: 7.15, 20.75; p<0.001); 3.56 (95%CI: 1.46, 8.64; p=0.005); and 6.95 (95%CI: 2.02, 23.97; p=0.002), respectively. Conclusion About 1 in 10 patients had died during the treatment of tuberculosis in Terengganu attributed to the pinpointed socio-demographic and clinical factors. The identified risk factors were useful in improving the current screening programme and clinical management to avert mortality among vulnerable patients.
Tuberculosis

CD88, which stands for "Cluster of Differentiation 88," is also known as C5aR, which stands for "Complement 5a receptor." This complement receptor has 7 transmembrane domains and is found on various cell types, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, epithelial cells, adipocytes, and endothelial cells. Atherosclerosis is a condition associated with chronic inflammation of the arterial walls. It's marked by lipid retention and building, monocyte and T lymphocyte recruitment into the intima, foam cell generation, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and collagen and protein accumulation. C5a has been found in a wide range of atherosclerotic lesions, from fatty streaks to advanced plaques. The expression of CD88 has been linked to both proatherogenic and antiatherogenic effects in atherosclerosis. Initial activities of C5a in atherosclerosis include chemotaxis, oxidative burst, and vascular adhesion molecule activation. CD88 expression has also been linked to the formation of atherosclerosis plaques via adaptive immune cell activation. Regulation and effector functions require ligand-receptor binding (C5a-C5aR) in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. CD88 expression has been linked to all stages of atherosclerosis. Myeloid cells have been identified to express CD88, which is responsible for many of C5a's biological properties. During atherogenesis, macrophages and dendritic cells are two important antigen presentation cells (APCs) that carry and display the CD88 surface marker. The proliferation and division of CD4+ T helper cells are controlled by macrophages, dendritic cells, and mast cells, which are also responsible for the release of both proatherogenic and antiatherogenic cytokines. However, there is no evidence that naive CD4+ T helper cells express CD88 from any of the research that has been done. Since CD88 is expressed by a wide variety of immune cells in atherosclerotic plaques, including macrophages, dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes, this review will focus on the influence of CD88 expressing immune cells in atherosclerosis formation.
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes

Introduction: The prevalence of children with autism spectrum disorder is increasing each year. Intervention programmes towards improving the occupational needs such as daily activities of these children are limited. This study aimed to collect opinions from advisory panel for the content validation of the three developed intervention programmes to be implemented among children with autism spectrum disorder aged between 6 to 12 years. The intervention programmes are; i) self-regulated learning, ii) sensory integration intervention and iii) activity-based intervention. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Twenty occupational therapists with more than three years’ experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders were recruited as advisory panel members. Researchers-developed questionnaire was used. The questionnaire consists of nine to eleven items. Each item consists of a five-point Likert scale for quantitative responses and open-ended questions for qualitative responses. Results: Advisory panel ratings of ‘Good’ to ‘Excellent’ was reported across most items in all three intervention programmes. Overall results suggested that the intervention programmes content was rated to be suitable for children with autism spectrum disorder. Constructive comments were adopted to clarify the activities and structure of the intervention programmes. Final development of the intervention programmes is presented. Conclusion: This study provides confidence for the interventions to be incorporated into the future randomised controlled trial.

To investigate the status of Strongyloides(S.) stercoralis infections among migrant workers in Malaysia for the first time and identify risk factors. Methods: Four diagnostic methods were employed for the detection of S. stercoralis including microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a commercial kit, ELISA using the rSs1a antigen and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Low and semi-skilled workers from five working sectors (i.e. manufacturing, food service, agriculture and plantation, construction and domestic service) were tested on a voluntary basis. Results: The overall seroprevalence of S. stercoralis from 483 workers employing the ELISA commercial kit for IgG was 35.8% (n=173; 95% CI: 31.5%-40.1%) whereas seroprevalence using the rSs1a-ELISA was 13.0% (n=63; 95% CI: 10.0%-16.0%). Cross tabulation between the ELISA commercial kit and rSs1a-ELISA showed that only 6.4% (n=31; 95% CI: 4.2%-8.6%) of the samples were positive in both tests. Microscopic examination of all 388 fecal samples were negative; however subsequent testing by a nested PCR against DNA from the same samples successfully amplified DNA from three male subjects (0.8%; 3/388). Male workers, India and Myanmar nationality, food service occupation and those living in the hostel were statistically significant with seroprevalence (P<0.005). Conclusion: This is the first report on the epidemiology of S. stercoralis infections among the migrant workers in Malaysia. Our results highlight the importance of using appropriate diagnostic tools for detection. The presence of anti-S. stercoralis antibodies in the study population calls for improvements in personal hygiene and sanitation standards among migrant workers in Malaysia through control strategies including health education campaigns and programs aimed at increasing awareness and healthy behaviors.