Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare disease with an estimated incidence of between 1/25,000 and 1/10,000 globally. The main treatment for OI is the administration of bisphosphonate drugs. Research on clinical, radiographic, and biochemical markers to monitor patients with OI treated with zoledronate can be challenging in countries in which patients have limited national health insurance. We aimed to examine patients with OI treated in Indonesia with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Methods: An observational study was conducted of all patients with OI treated with zoledronate between 2021 and 2023 at a tertiary hospital in Indonesia. We evaluated the paediatric quality of life (PedsQL), bone mineral density (BMD), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level before and after zoledronate treatment. To monitor safety, serum creatinine and calcium levels were also measured. Results: Eleven boys (55%) and nine girls (45%), with an average age of 6.9 years (range, 4–17 years), were included. After 2 years of zoledronate treatment, the total PedsQL score increased from 66.7 to 76.9 (P=0.0001) and the mean lumbar and total body BMD increased from 0.467 and 0.501 to 0.599 g/cm2, and 0.626 g/cm2 (P=0.001), respectively. The ALP level decreased from 310.6 to 186.4 mg/mL (P=0.0001). Neither serum creatinine (P=0.586) nor calcium (P=0.53) levels changed from the pre-treatment to 2 years post-treatment time points. Conclusions Zoledronate was safe and effective for the treatment of OI. There were significant improvements in the quality of life and BMD in patients with OI. The ALP level decreased, but serum creatinine and calcium levels were not affected by zoledronate.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare disease with an estimated incidence of between 1/25,000 and 1/10,000 globally. The main treatment for OI is the administration of bisphosphonate drugs. Research on clinical, radiographic, and biochemical markers to monitor patients with OI treated with zoledronate can be challenging in countries in which patients have limited national health insurance. We aimed to examine patients with OI treated in Indonesia with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Methods: An observational study was conducted of all patients with OI treated with zoledronate between 2021 and 2023 at a tertiary hospital in Indonesia. We evaluated the paediatric quality of life (PedsQL), bone mineral density (BMD), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level before and after zoledronate treatment. To monitor safety, serum creatinine and calcium levels were also measured. Results: Eleven boys (55%) and nine girls (45%), with an average age of 6.9 years (range, 4–17 years), were included. After 2 years of zoledronate treatment, the total PedsQL score increased from 66.7 to 76.9 (P=0.0001) and the mean lumbar and total body BMD increased from 0.467 and 0.501 to 0.599 g/cm2, and 0.626 g/cm2 (P=0.001), respectively. The ALP level decreased from 310.6 to 186.4 mg/mL (P=0.0001). Neither serum creatinine (P=0.586) nor calcium (P=0.53) levels changed from the pre-treatment to 2 years post-treatment time points. Conclusions Zoledronate was safe and effective for the treatment of OI. There were significant improvements in the quality of life and BMD in patients with OI. The ALP level decreased, but serum creatinine and calcium levels were not affected by zoledronate.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare disease with an estimated incidence of between 1/25,000 and 1/10,000 globally. The main treatment for OI is the administration of bisphosphonate drugs. Research on clinical, radiographic, and biochemical markers to monitor patients with OI treated with zoledronate can be challenging in countries in which patients have limited national health insurance. We aimed to examine patients with OI treated in Indonesia with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Methods: An observational study was conducted of all patients with OI treated with zoledronate between 2021 and 2023 at a tertiary hospital in Indonesia. We evaluated the paediatric quality of life (PedsQL), bone mineral density (BMD), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level before and after zoledronate treatment. To monitor safety, serum creatinine and calcium levels were also measured. Results: Eleven boys (55%) and nine girls (45%), with an average age of 6.9 years (range, 4–17 years), were included. After 2 years of zoledronate treatment, the total PedsQL score increased from 66.7 to 76.9 (P=0.0001) and the mean lumbar and total body BMD increased from 0.467 and 0.501 to 0.599 g/cm2, and 0.626 g/cm2 (P=0.001), respectively. The ALP level decreased from 310.6 to 186.4 mg/mL (P=0.0001). Neither serum creatinine (P=0.586) nor calcium (P=0.53) levels changed from the pre-treatment to 2 years post-treatment time points. Conclusions Zoledronate was safe and effective for the treatment of OI. There were significant improvements in the quality of life and BMD in patients with OI. The ALP level decreased, but serum creatinine and calcium levels were not affected by zoledronate.

Objectives: This study investigated factors associated with the retention of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) during the first 3 years of treatment. Methods: A retrospective study using electronic health records was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. Adult HIV-positive patients who started ART from 2010 until 2020 were included. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with ART retention in the first 3 years. Results: In total, 535 respondents were included in the analysis. The ART retention rates for the first, second, and third years were 83.7%, 79.1%, and 77.2%, respectively. The multivariate analysis revealed a negative association between CD4 count when starting ART and retention. Patients with CD4 counts >200 cells/mL were 0.65 times less likely to have good retention than those with CD4 counts ≤200 cells/mL. The year of starting ART was also significantly associated with retention. Patients who started ART in 2010-2013 or 2014-2016 were less likely to have good retention than those who started ART in 2017-2020, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.52 and 0.40, respectively. Patients who received efavirenz-based therapy were 1.69 times more likely to have good retention than those who received nevirapine (95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 2.72). Conclusions Our study revealed a decline in ART retention in the third year. The CD4 count, year of enrollment, and an efavirenz-based regimen were significantly associated with retention. Patient engagement has long been a priority in HIV programs, with interventions being implemented to address this issue.

Trypanosoma brucei parasites are flagellated kinetoplastid protozoan which is responsible for Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). Current chemotherapy drugs have a number of side effects and drug resistance has emerged as a major issue in current treatment. Active bisindole alkaloid compound ochrolifuanine was previously isolated from the leaves of Dyera costulata. In vitro antitrypanosomal activity of ochrolifuanine against Trypanosoma brucei brucei strain BS221 showed strong activity with an IC50 value of 0.05 ± 0.01 µg/ml. We compared the effect of ochrolifuanine and reference compound staurosporine in T. b. brucei apoptosis. The apoptosis-inducing activity of ochrolifuanine was evaluated using TUNEL assay and cell cycle analysis. Trypanosoma brucei brucei was shown to undergo apoptotic cells death as demonstrated by the appearance of several conical hallmarks of apoptosis. Ochrolifuanine was found to induce apoptosis in parasites in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The cell cycle study revealed 0.025 and 0.05 µg/ml of ochrolifuanine arrested the growth of T. b. brucei at two different growth phases (G0/G1 and in S phases). While at concentration 0.10 µg/ml arrested at the G2/M phase. In conclusion, the results indicate that ochrolifuanine displayed an antitrypanosomal effect on T. b. brucei by inducing apoptosis cell death and causing the arrest of parasite cells at different growth phases. The results suggested that ochrolifuanine may be a promising lead compound for the development of new chemotherapies for African trypanosomiasis.

In Malaysia, chronic respiratory disease including COPD is responsible for 7% of the total Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Sleep disturbance in COPD patients is often underestimated and overlooked clinically. Respiratory symptoms caused by COPD often leads to poor sleep quality and insomnia. Poor sleep quality contributes to frequent episodes of exacerbation which directly increases mortality risk. This study aims to determine health-related quality of life and sleep quality among COPD patients and their associations with severity. In this cross-sectional study, 102 COPD patients classified according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease were evaluated. EQ5D and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires were used to assess health-related quality of life and sleep quality respectively. Results showed the severity of COPD is significantly associated (p<0.05) with all 5 dimensions of EQ5D among COPD patients in Kuala Lumpur. In this study, 71 patients (69.9%) were reported to be poor sleepers (PSQI>5) with a mean g l o b a l score of 6.93 ± 4.072. Sleep quality was also found to be significantly associated (p <0.05) with COPD severity, in which patients with lower severity showed better sleep quality. In this study, COPD severity was found to be significantly associated with health-related quality of life. As the disease severity progresses, both quality of life and sleep quality worsens gradually. Findings from this study highlight the importance to consider the quality of life and sleep quality as part of the management plan for COPD patients.

ABSTRACT Functional appliances have been used over a century in clinical orthodontic treatments for skeletal Class II malocclusion patients. Its popularity is attributed to its high patient adaptability and ability to produce rapid treatment changes. The twin block and lip bumper can be combined depending on the patient’s cases. The purpose of therapy with twin block is effective in mandibular growth deficiencies to induce supplementary lengthening of mandibular by stimulating increased growth at the condylar cartilage. The patient was a ten-year-old male patient with skeletal Class II malocclusion. He had a convex facial profile, SNA (sella, nasion, A point) angle of 77.5°, SNB (sella, nasion, B point) angle of 73.0°, ANB (A point, nasion, B point) angle of 4.5°, overjet of 6.5 mm, overbite of 11/41 = 5.0 mm, 21/31 = 4.5 mm, abnormal upper labial frenulum, crossbite in the second left premolar of maxilla, crowded anterior teeth of mandibular, deficiency of mandibular growth, lower lip sucking habit, anterior teeth of maxilla with diastema and proclination. Orthodontic treatment for patient is a combination of twin block and lip bumper appliances. After seven months, frenectomy is used to eliminate and correct the spacing in the frenulum. After 10 months, the patient’s skeletal and profile had improved to skeletal Class I malocclusion, SNA angle of 78.0°, SNB angle of 75.0°, ANB angle of 3.0°, overbite and overjet of 4.0 mm, and the lower lip sucking habit had stopped. Twin block and lip bumper appliances are particularly good alternative treatment in managing selected cases of skeletal Class II malocclusion.
Malocclusion, Angle Class II

Introduction: Stunting is known to be a major public health problem among Indonesian children. We aimed to examine the association between dietary diversity and vitamin D intake with stunting in children aged 6-23 months. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in Bantul District, Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. A total of 79 subjects aged 6-23 months were selected for each case and control group based on their stunting status. We assessed potential explanatory variables at the child, parental, household, and community levels. Results: Factors which were significantly associated with stunting included young children aged 1823 months (adjusted OR = 3.84; 95% CI: 1.17-12.26), birth length ≥48 cm (adjusted OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.16-0.83), inadequate intake of vitamin D (adjusted OR = 5.18; 95% CI: 1.03-26.02), and diversified diet (adjusted OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.03-0.92). Other variables such as household economic status, living residency, history of exclusive breastfeeding, and infectious diseases, as well as intakes of energy and protein were not significantly related to stunting. Conclusion: Minimum dietary diversity, vitamin D intake from complementary foods, and birth length were associated with stunting status among children. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on stunting prevention programmes in the first two years of life, or even since the preconception period.

Motorcycle seats undeniably provides good comfort to motorcyclists but there are some that offers less affirmation on ushering comfort, whilst some even results in harm to users, resulting in back pains, neck, shoulders, and other parts of the body over prolonged riding periods. This research aims to investigate the discomforts faced by motorcyclist and the best seat concept based on an ergonomic design, fit for the masses through a subjective evaluation. A study that includes a survey was conducted to study the subjective assessment against the motorcycle seat comfort. The study is divided into two parts, where in part 1, the anthropometric data were collected from a total of 100 respondents, representing 88 males and 12 females. Mean from the anthropometric data was used for two new seat redesigns, designated Seat A and Seat B. For part 2, sets of questionnaire were distributed to 130 respondents to measure their perception of seat design A and design B. Based on the results produced, 86.2% respondents suffered discomforts while riding a motorcycle. Most suffered discomforts at particular body areas: lower back, buttock and shoulder, while no discomfort reported around leg, feet and thigh. Results also proved that current seat designs needed an improvement with a majority of respondents opting an added backrest and to increase surface around buttock area. Based on the evaluation of designs, Seat B was selected as a better option as compared to seat A in terms of comfort usage.

Background: Regarding the long-term safety issues with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and the clinical predominance of dual bronchodilators in enhancing treatment outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ICS is no longer a “preferred therapy” according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease except on top of a dual bronchodilator. This has necessitated a change in the current therapy for many COPD patients. Objective: To determine a standardised algorithm to reassess and personalise the treatment COPD patients based on the available evidence. Methods: A consensus statement was agreed upon by a panel of pulmonologists in from 11 institutes in Malaysia whose members formed this consensus group. Results: According to the consensus, which was unanimously adopted, all COPD patients who are currently receiving an ICS-based treatment should be reassessed based on the presence of co-existence of asthma or high eosinophil counts and frequency of moderate or severe exacerbations in the previous 12 months. When that the patients meet any of the aforementioned criteria, then the patient can continue taking ICS-based therapy. However, if the patients do not meet the criteria, then the treatment of patients need to be personalised based on whether the patient is currently receiving long-acting beta-agonists (LABA)/ICS or triple therapy. Conclusion: A flowchart of the consensus providing a guidance to Malaysian clinicians was elucidated based on evidences and international guidelines that identifies the right patients who should receive inhaled corticosteroids and enable to switch non ICS based therapies in patients less likely to benefit from such treatments.