Stunting remains a major global health issue and is associated with impaired physical and cognitive development, as well as increased susceptibility to oral diseases such as dental caries. Environmental factors, including acidic peatland water, may further aggravate oral health conditions among children living in swamp areas. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between salivary pH, dental caries severity (def-t index), and oral hygiene status (OHI-S) in preschool children with stunting living in peatland regions of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. An analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving 32 preschool children aged 2–5 years residing in the working area of the Martapura Timur Public Health Center. Data collection included clinical examination of caries using the WHO criteria, salivary pH measurement with a Krisbow digital pH meter, and assessment of oral hygiene using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). Statistical analysis was performed using the Spearman correlation test. The results showed that salivary pH ranged from 5.5 to 7.0, def-t scores ranged from 2 to 8 (mean = 5.34 ± 1.78), and OHI-S scores were 0.00 in 22 children (68.7%) and >0.00 in 10 children (31.3%). A significant association was found between salivary pH and dental caries severity (p = 0.005; α = 0.05), indicating that lower salivary pH is associated with higher caries prevalence. In conclusion, stunted preschool children in peatland areas exhibited acidic salivary conditions and a high caries burden despite relatively good oral hygiene status. These findings highlight the importance of integrating nutritional rehabilitation and oral health education programs to reduce the risk of dental caries in children living in environmentally vulnerable swamp regions.

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) exposure can trigger inflammation and inhibit skin regeneration by decreasing Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) and increasing Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its effectiveness as a topical gel has not been widely studied. This study aims to evaluate the effect of Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea L) extract gel on IL-6 and PDGF expression in Wistar rats exposed to UVB. This study is an in vivo experimental study with a post-test-only control group design. A total of 20 Wistar rats (200–250 g) were divided into four groups consisting of 5 rats per group: K1 (healthy control), K2 (gel base + UV-B), K3 (5% Clitoria ternatea gel + UV-B), and K4 (10% Clitoria ternatea gel + UV-B). UV-B exposure was carried out for 20 minutes/day (160 mJ/cm²) for 7 days. PDGF and IL-6 expression were analyzed by RT-qPCR. Statistical tests using Shapiro-Wilk, Levene, Kruskal-Wallis for PDGF expression, and One-Way ANOVA for IL-6 expression. Studies have shown that PDGF expression did not show significant differences between groups (p=0.455), with an average expression of K1: 1.39±0.62, K2: 1.39±0.61, K3: 1.66±0.87, and K4: 1.52±1.88. IL-6 expression was also similar (p=0.663), an average of K1: 1.02±0.18, K2: 1.11±0.33, K3: 1.22±0.23, and K4: 1.16±0.26. Conclusion: Administration of Clitoria ternatea L. extract gel did not have a significant effect on PDGF and IL-6 expression in the skin of Wistar rats exposed to UVB light. Both 5% and 10% doses showed no significant difference in the expression of the two markers; further studies with larger sample sizes, longer treatment durations, and improved topical delivery systems are needed. are recommended to better evaluate its therapeutic potential.

Thalassemia disease remains incurable and causes many complications. People with thalassemia major require routine lifelong blood transfusions. A main risk of transfusion is infection with diseases transmitted through blood, which is among the most frequent causes of death in thalassemia patients. Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) include hepatitis B and hepatitis C. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C in thalassemia patients in Ciamis Regency and examine the relationship between transfusion frequency and these infections. The method was a cross-sectional study on thalassemia patients who received blood transfusions. The study included 191 thalassemia patients at Ciamis Hospital from January to June 2023. Purposive sampling selected 89 patients as the sample. Hepatitis B and C tests used immunochromatography. The prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus and Hepatitis B Virus infections in thalassemia patients in Ciamis Regency was 2.2% and 3.4%, respectively. The chi-square test showed a significant relationship (p < 0.05) between transfusion frequency and hepatitis B and C infection in thalassemia patients. This result suggests a risk of hepatitis B and C infection. Thalassemia patients are potentially susceptible to blood-borne Hepatitis C Virus and Hepatitis B Virus. These infections increase morbidity due to transfusion therapy. Routine inspection for Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus is essential for thalassemia patients. These results emphasize the need for strict screening protocols in blood transfusion processing.

Dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that occurs in 69.8% of women. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) contains various secondary metabolites with anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to determine its characteristics, including nutritional value and stability, product safety through toxicity testing, and product efficacy. The research stages include research ethics testing and the production of instant powder from a mixture of red and white ginger. Nutritional content analysis included total fat, saturated fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Physical and chemical stability testing was carried out for three months. Subchronic toxicity testing used Wistar rats for 28 days by drawing blood before and after treatment, accompanied by liver delivery. Blood samples were analyzed for SGPT and SGOT levels. The test was conducted on 10 women aged 18-20, divided into two groups. The treatment group was given 20 grams of instant ginger in the morning and evening for 10 days, and compared with the control group without treatment. Pain was measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after the study. The study showed that instant ginger herbal medicine contained 0.83% total fat, 0.17% saturated fat, 3.73% total protein, and 35.42% total carbohydrates. The stability test results showed no changes in the physical and chemical parameters of the test. The results of the subchronic toxicity test showed that the body weight of mice, liver weight, SGOT levels, and SGPT levels of mice were normal. The activity test showed a decrease in pain from before to after administration of instant ginger, with an average VAS value of 7.8 to 4.2. This study concluded that instant ginger, a mixture of red and white ginger, has good nutritional content, is physically and chemically stable, is non-toxic, and is effective in reducing dysmenorrhea.

Kombucha is a fermented beverage known for its various health benefits, including antibacterial activity. This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial potential of mango ginger (Curcuma mangga)-based kombucha against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi, as well as to analyze the effect of fermentation duration on the physicochemical properties of kombucha. Fermentation was conducted for 5, 7, 10, and 14 days, with total acidity, pH, and antibacterial activity measurements using the well diffusion method. The results showed total acidity increased as fermentation progressed, while pH decreased. Antibacterial tests demonstrated that mango ginger kombucha exhibited inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi, with the largest inhibition zones observed on day 10 of fermentation (8.2 mm for Escherichia coli and 9.2 mm for Salmonella typhi). Although its inhibitory effect was moderate compared to the positive control (ciprofloxacin), these findings suggest the potential of mango ginger kombucha as a functional beverage with antibacterial properties. Further research is needed to identify the active compounds responsible for its antimicrobial activity and to optimize the fermentation process to enhance its effectiveness.

The increasing prevalence of obesity and its associated complications necessitates the exploration of functional foods as therapeutic interventions. This study aimed to analyze the effects of fermented buffalo milk (dadih) fortified with red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) and selenium on adiponectin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) levels in obese rats. This experimental study employed a pretest-posttest control group design involving 20 Wistar rats divided into four groups: K1 (healthy control), K2 (obese control), P1, and P2 (obese intervention). K2, P1, and P2 were in obesity conditions induced by a high-fat-fructose diet (HFFD) for 28 days, and K1 was a healthy control group. Furthermore, dadih only and dadih fortified with red dragon fruit and selenium at 1.8 g/200 g body weight/day were administered to P1 and P2 groups, respectively. Treatment using dadih fortified with red dragon fruit and selenium significantly reduced weight gain (p=0.000) compared to K2 and P1. In addition, the P2 group showed increased adiponectin levels and decreased TNF-α levels (p=0.000) compared to the K2 and P1 groups. A strong negative correlation was found between adiponectin levels and TNF-alpha and body weight, while TNF-alpha and body weight showed a strong positive correlation. To conclude, fortifying dadih with red dragon fruit and selenium is more effective in improving the metabolic condition of obese rats compared to non-fortified dadih. This fortification significantly enhances adiponectin levels and reduces TNF-alpha levels. These findings suggest that functional food fortification could be a promising approach for managing obesity-related inflammation and metabolic disorders in humans, highlighting the potential application of dadih in dietary interventions.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative pathogen associated with nosocomial infections and increased resistance to carbapenems, often linked to porin OprD inactivation. This study aimed to analyse amino acid substitutions in the OprD protein of two meropenem-sensitive Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (AK36 and AK237b) after 12 days of in vitro exposure to subinhibitory meropenem concentration (0.5 µg/mL). DNA was extracted at three time points (days 0, 5, and 12) and the oprD gene was sequenced using Sanger sequencing. Protein sequences were aligned and modelled using Swiss-Model to identify mutations and to assess structural changes. By day 12, AK36 had Gln67Lys and Gly68Ser substitutions, whereas AK237b had Glu169Lys. Structural modelling suggests these mutations may alter porin conformation and reduce membrane permeability. Despite no increase in the MIC, oprD expression was suppressed, indicating early adaptation. These findings support the hypothesis that prolonged meropenem pressure induces molecular changes that precede phenotypic resistance. This study highlights the importance of monitoring porin mutations as an early indicator of carbapenem resistance in clinical microbiology. This could help to improve antibiotic stewardship by identifying isolates at risk of developing resistance before it becomes clinically apparent.

COVID-19 immunization is a government initiative to prevent transmission and reduce the incidence of disease and death associated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although the SARS-CoV-2 virus is no longer a significant threat, older adults with comorbidities or people who are immunosuppressed should remain vigilant by maintaining a distance of at least one meter from others, covering their mouths with their elbows when coughing or sneezing, washing their hands regularly, and wearing masks. However, many groups oppose vaccination for various reasons, including the perception that the COVID-19 vaccine is less effective and efficient in preventing SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. This study compared COVID-19 antibody titers in participants who had arrived, without mentioning the vaccine brand, with those who had not yet arrived but had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study design used a cross-sectional study; the number of samples in the study was 34, the location of this study was the Palembang Public Health Laboratory Center, and the statistical test in the study used the Independent T-test. The study results indicate that the mean antibody titer in the vaccinated group was 98.123. In contrast, in the unvaccinated group, it was 70.641, demonstrating a statistically significant difference with a p-value of 0.000. Further research suggests whether there is a relationship between antibody titers in subjects who have been vaccinated for the second and third time with a history of exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

Dyslipidemia is a lipid metabolism disorder characterized by abnormal elevations or reductions in one or more lipid fractions within the plasma. This condition is a critical component of both metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aims to see the potential of curd administration on Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in dyslipidemia patients. This study is an experimental study with a pre-post test control group design consisting of a control group and a treatment group totaling 42 people taken randomly at the DR Drs M Hatta Bukittinggi Brain Hospital in June and July 2024. In the three groups, LDL and IL-6 examinations were carried out and measured before and after curd for 14 days. Treatment group 1 was given curd as much as 150 grams, treatment group 2 was given curd as much as 200 grams, given 1x a day, and the control group was not given curd. Data analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon statistical test and paired t-test. Results: There was no significant difference in LDL (p=0.360) and IL-6 (p=0.932) levels after giving curd for 14 days. However, there was a decrease in LDL and IL-6 levels after giving curd for 14 days. Conclusion: The results showed that giving curd for 14 days in the treatment group 1 (150gram) and treatment 2 (200gram) can reduce LDL and IL-6 levels. Consuming probiotics for 14 days can reduce LDL and IL-6 levels.

Preeclampsia is a dangerous pregnancy issue that causes hypertension at ≥20 weeks of gestation. Oxidative stress is known to play a role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia by raising the activity of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and causing endothelial dysfunction. As a result, antioxidants are utilized as a therapy in preeclampsia to protect the body from the impacts of free radicals. This study aims to determine the effect of soybean extract on sFlt-1 levels in HUVECs cultures exposed to preeclamptic plasma. The benefit of this study is the consideration for clinicians to provide soybean ethanol extract supplements (Glycine max) to increase the potential of antihypertensive therapy. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell cultures (HUVECs) were used in the study, which was conducted in vitro. HUVECs cultures were exposed to preeclampsia plasma and subsequently treated for 24 hours with various dosages of soybean extract. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured the sFlt-1 levels in each observation group. The hypothesis was tested using One-Way ANOVA analysis with SPSS version 25 software. This study found a significant difference (p <0,05) between the mean value of the positive control group and the negative control group. A significant difference was also found (p <0,05) in the mean value of sFlt-1 between the positive control group and the treatment group that was given soybean extract at doses of 17,5 ppm. Soybean extract had a significant effect on decreasing sFlt-1 levels in HUVECs cultures exposed to preeclamptic plasma. Thus, soybeans isoflavones have the potential to treat preeclampsia by reducing anti-angiogenic factors.