Introduction Growing evidence suggest that cycle threshold (CT)-value of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is correlated with transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and some kits set different CT-value cut-off. This report presents the discordant results of two widely used RT-PCR kits in Indonesia due to different CT-value cut-offs and highlights its potential consequence in SARS-CoV-2 containment. Methods Nasopharyngeal swab samples with SARS-CoV-2 negative with a RT-PCR kit (manufacture pre-set CT-value cut-off was 35 amplification cycles) were retested with another RT-PCR kit with a higher pre-set CT-value of 40 amplification cycles. All procedures were performed according to the manufacturer protocols. Results In total, 30 samples with SARS-CoV-2 negative for the first kit were retested. We found that 25 out of 33 samples (75.5%) were positive using the second RT-PCR kit that had a higher manufacture pre-set CT-value cut-off. In addition, among 500 RT-PCR tests using the first RT-PCR kit, 103 of them (20.6%) were categorized as inconclusive results based on the second manufacturer’ guideline. Discussion and conclusion Our data suggest the possibility of discordant results of SARS-CoV-2 detection due to different pre-set cut-offs by the companies. As consequence, this could leave a fraction of individuals who were misclassified that could act as source of virus transmission within community.

Our body needs an adequate supply of antioxidants to maintain physiological functions. Antioxidant compounds are found in natural plants, including inside of kepok bananas peel. This research was conducted to determine the potential of kepok banana peels to maintain testosterone concentration in male rats (Rattus norvegicus) with a high-fat diet. This study used 20 male rats 2.5-3 months old, which grouped into 5 groups: normal group given standard feed (K1), negative control group given high-fat diet (K2), positive control group given high-fat diet and simvastatin (K3), high-fat diet group and banana peel extract administered at 100 mg/kg BW (K4), and high-fat diet group and banana peel extract administered at 200 mg/ kg BW (K5). The blood serum was collected after 60 days of the treatment. The blood serum testosterone levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method at a wavelength of 450 nm. The major findings of this study were that there is a significant difference between testosterone concentrations by the K4 group compared to K2 and K5 groups (p<0,05). The result suggests that the dose 100 mg/kg BW of banana peel extract has the potential to maintain the testosterone concentration in male rats with a high-fat diet.

The impact of free radicals on testicular Leydig cells can result in the disruption of male reproductive health. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a high-fat diet on Leydig cells and the potential of kepok banana peel extract as a medication to mitigate these effects. In total of 20 adult male Wistar rats were assigned to five groups and treated with standard feed (P1), high-fat feed (P2), high-fat feed with simvastatin (P3), and high-fat feed with banana peel extract at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg BW (P4 and P5). After 60 days of treatment, the number of Leydig cells was determined using HE staining methods. Data were analyzed using an One Way ANOVA test. The results showed that the administration of 100 mg/kg BW of kepok banana peel extract (P4) was able to maintain the number of Leydig cells and counteract the negative effects of a high-fat diet. These findings suggest that kepok banana peel extract may have the potential as a herbal medicine for supporting male reproductive health.

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The gut microbiota has a major contribution in human physiology and influences disease pathogenesis, including in tuberculosis (TB) lung infection. Gut-lung axis has demonstrated the interplay of these two organs, mediated by metabolites produced by the gut microbes or derived from host molecules transformation. Tryptophan (Trp) is one of the essential aromatic amino acids catabolized as kynurenine, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), and indole derivatives, including indole propionic acid (IPA), via 3 pathways. The latter was microbiota-derived Trp catabolism, which has known to have an immunomodulatory role, as ligands for Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR). Intriguingly, Mycobacterium tuberculosis required Trp as a nitrogen source, especially in CD4+ T cells-generated stress, to survive in the phagosome of macrophage and to cause disease. Recently, IPA is identified as a new anti-mycobacterial compound, which is specific and has broad spectrum of anti-mycobacterial activity. The structural similarity of this gut microbiota-derived metabolite and Trp allows IPA to inhibit the TrpE anthranilate synthase in Trp biosynthesis pathway in Mtb. In this review, we summarize findings from recent work by focusing on the role of Trp metabolites in host cells in TB infection.  A better understanding of this chemical signal could potentially serve as a novel strategy for managing this chronic inflammatory disease.