BackgmundThalassemia is the most cormnon hereditary haemolyticanaemia in the world, including in Indonesia. The main treatmentfor thalassemia is regular transfusions, but these are knO\vn to causeiron overload. Moreover, iron overload in jJ􀁮thalassemia patientsgenerates oxygen free radicals and peroxidative lipid injury. Ferritinserum concentration is used as indirect measurement of iron overload.Malondialdehyde (MDA), a terminal compound oflipid peroxidation,is used as an index of oxidative stress status.Objective To assess the correlation between iron overload (serumferritin level) and MDA as a marker of oxidative stress in thalassemiamajor patients.Methods This c ross􀁮sectional study was conducted at CiptoMangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, from May􀁮June 2009. Subjectswere thalassemia major patients (homozygous jJ􀁮thalassemia orjJ􀁮thalassemia;HbE) who received regular blood transfusions, iron􀁮chelation, and vitamin E as an antioxidant. Data was collected by his􀁮tory􀁮taking, physical examination, medical records, and questionnaires.Blocd specimens were dra\Vll from the thalassemia major subjects beforetransfusion and examined for serum ferritin and MDA levels.Results Fifty􀁮five subjects Mth thalassemia major (34 homozygousjJ􀁮thalassemia and 21 jJ􀁮thalassemia;HbE) were included in ourstudy. Mean serum ferritin level was 3693.2 (SD 21423),ug/L andme811 MDA level was 0.641 (SD 0.283) nmolimL. No cor relationwas found between serum ferritin and MDA levels in thalassemiamajor subjects (r=0.147, P=0.285). As additional results, this studyalso showed no correlation between MDA to reguler vitamin Econsumption (r=0.277, P=0.028) as well as MDA and nutritionalstatus (F0371, P􀁯0.()J4).Conclusion There was no cor relation between serum ferritin leveland plasma MDA level in thalassemia major subjects, no cor relationsbetween MDA and regular vitamin E consumption, as well as MDAand nutritional status. [paediatr Indones. 2012;52:125,31].

Background Thalassemia is the most common hereditary haemolytic

Background. Based on health research in 2007 found that infections were the cause of death of newborn number 3 (12%). Diagnosis Early-Onset neonatal sepsis (EO) was not easy to get prove of kind of microorganism, if only based on clinical symtomps due to systemic respons. Objective. Knowing the type of microorganisms (MO) in EO with gram staining and from ear-swab cultures. Methods. We collected the data of neonates who were born in three hospitals; General Hospital of South Tangerang City, Women & Children Hospital Permata Sarana Husada, and Hospital of Syarif Hidayatullah with diagnosis EO. We do gram staining and ear-swab cultures. Results. Out of 20 babies, 55% were females, gestational age similar between less of 37 weeks and more than 37 weeks, majority of birth weight were ≤ 2500 grams (60%), and majority of babies deliver through sectio caesaria (60%), and babies went home alive were 85%. Type of MO found was Staphylococcus haemophylus (gram positive). The ears-swab cultures positive found were 16 of 20 samples, and MO found were 18 of 20 samples. Conclusions. EO was found majority in low birth weight babies. Culture of ears swab majority was found MO gram positive, which normal flora in the skin. Blood culture as a gold standard to take a MO to diagnosed EO rather than culture of ears swab.