Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health concern. The new challenge in TB control is the development of TB multi drug resistance (MDR-TB). Indonesia ranks 8th highest in the incidence of MDR-TB with 8,900 MDR-TB cases in 2004. A case was defined as MDR-TB if the Mycobacterium tuberculosis was resistant to rifampicin dan isoniazid. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the success of multi drug resistance (MDR-TB) tuberculosis treatment. Subjects and Method:This was an analytic observational study using case control design. The study was conducted at Dr. Moewardi Hospital, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, in October 2014. The case population were MDR-TB patients visiting Dr. Moewardi Hospital for TB treatment from 2011 to October 2014. A sample of 84 TB cases consisting of 26 patients who dropped out, defaulted, or died, and 58 patients who successfully completed TB treatment, were selected for this study. The independent variables were sex, age, marital status, nutrional status, education, employment status, drug side effect, family support, and distance to health facility. The dependent variable was success of treatment. The data were collected by direct interview, questionnaire, and medical record. Logistic regression was employed for data analysis. Results: Age (OR= 0.93; 95% CI= 0.88 to 0.97; p= 0.004) and drug side effect (OR= 6.84; 95% CI= 2.50 to 18.74; p<0.001) affected the success of TB treatment and statistically significant. Sex (OR= 0.66; 95% CI= 0.17 to 2.58; p= 0.556), education (OR= 0.90; 95% CI= 0.52 to 1.58; p= 0.724), employment status (OR= 0.87; 95% CI= 0.59 to 1.28; p= 0.485) affected the success of TB treatment but statistically not significant. Conclusion: Success of TB treatment is affected by age and drug side effect.

Anemia is a global public health problem which female adolescents are one of the most vulnerable age groups. Anemia in female adolescents which is caused by micronutrients deficiency can influence physical growth and academic performance. Vitamin and mineral have important roles in erythrocyte formation and enhancement of iron absorption. Hence the objective of this study was to determine association between intake of vitamins, minerals and anemia in female adolescents. This study was conducted in 3 Senior and 2 Vocational High Schools in Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java. There were 120 female adolescents who participated in this study, aged 13-17 years old, and were at year X and XI. They did not have menstruation and worm infection. Anemia was determined from Hb concentration using the cyanmethemoglobin method while vitamins and minerals intake were obtained from 24-hour recall questionnaire in two alternating days. Association between vitamins and minerals intake and anemia was analyzed using chi-square test (p<0.05). Anemia was found in 37.5% female adolescents and the result of chi-square analysis indicated a positive association between folic acid (OR=1.6), Magnesium (OR=1.17) and Manganese (OR=1.97) and anemia, but it was not significant. Inadequate vitamin B 12 intake increased 1.78 times anemia risk. Higher risk of anemia was found in female adolescents with inadequate intake of Vitamin B 1 (OR=1.65) and Magnesium (OR=1.11). Whereas adequate intake of Manganese decreased 0.537 times anemia risk. Vitamins and minerals intake do not associate with anemia but it increases anemia risk in female adolescents in Sukoharjo Regency.

Objective: This study aims to determine whether there is a relationship between ferritin levels and the ultrasound of genu joints in Major-beta Thalassemia patients who undergo repeated transfusions. Methods: 43 major-beta thalassemia patients who met the inclusion criteria had their genu joint examined by ultrasonography in the Radiology Department of Dr. Moewardi Hospital Surakarta. We analyzed several variables related to synovial thickening, synovial vascularization and joint effusion in these patients. Results: From 43 samples, the median value of ferritin was 2976.8 (702.2-8897.7) ng/mL and the median of average transfusion was 15 (5-67) times. Analysis with Mann Whitney's non-parametric hypothesis test showed a statistically significant relation between ferritin levels and the presence or absence of ultrasonographic genu joint manifestations in general (p = 0.006) and hypoechoic synovial joint thickening (p = 0.020) Conclusion: Major-beta thalassemia patients with ferritin levels> 2976.8 ng/mL had a 1.73 times higher risk for thickening of the synovial joints and 1.50 times higher for having genu joint manifestations. The frequency of transfusion showed a statistically significant relationship with the thickening of the synovial joint. Repeated transfusions more than 15 times increased the prevalence of the synovial joints thickening by 1.57 times.

Homocysteine in one of the compounds used to induced alzheimer’s disease in rats. Hyperhomocysteinemia triggers oxidative stress, nerve inflammation and the formation of amyloid-beta in the brain. This can affect a brain region involved in appetite regulation, which leads to weight loss. This study aimed to analyzed weight changes of rats injected with homocysteine for 7, 14 and 21 days. Nine of Sprague dawley rats, aged 8-12 weeks with weight ranging between 150-200 grams, were randomly divided into three groups. The first group was injected with homocysteine for 7 days. The second and third groups received injections with homocysteine for 14 and 21 days respectively. The rats were weighed before treatment and in 7, 14, and 21 days after homocysteine injection. The average weight of rats in each group increases of 3.33±1.15, 5.00±2.00, and 2.33±3.51 grams, respectively. There was a significant difference in weight between before and after homocysteine injection for 7 days in the first group (p=0.038) and 14 days in the second group (p=0.049), while the weight of rats in the third group did not have a significant change (p=0.369). There was no significant difference in weight among the group after homocysteine injection (p=0.182). The weight of alzheimer’s model rats increased slowly after being injected with homocysteine for 7, 14, and 21 days. The low weight gain is similar to the condition of alzheimer’s patients who generally experience weight loss. It is necessary to monitor the food intake of alzheimer’s patients to prevent further weight loss.