Anemia can be caused by a decrease in hemoglobin (Hb) levels, chronic disease, severe bleeding, nutritional deficiency, and infectious diseases. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia (50%). Vitamin C has an important role in increasing absorption of iron in the body which can indirectly affect the increase in Hb formation. This study was conducted to determine whether iron and vitamin C supplementation affect the changes of Hb levels in women. This study was done by quasi experimental with single blind pretest posttest control group and with a stratified random sampling technique. Respondents were female students in Faculty of Medicine UNIKA Atma Jaya. The total number of sample was 58 which was categorized into two groups. The first group was given iron and vitamin C supplementation. The second was only given iron supplementation. There were 16 respondents (27,6%) aged 16-18 and 42 respondents (72,4%) aged 19-21. The average change in Hb level before and after intervention in group 1  was 1,934 g/dL, and P = 0,000 (P <0,05), the average change in Hb level before and after intervention in group 2 was 1,086 g/dL, and P = 0,000 (P <0,05). The difference of change in Hb levels in groups 1 and 2 had an average of 0,848 g/dL, and P = 0,005 (P <0,05). For conclusion, Iron and vitamin C supplementation has a greater impact on the changes of Hb levels compared to iron supplementation only.

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Children under 5 years of age are particularly vulnerable to malaria. Malaria has caused 445,000 deaths worldwide. Currently, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are the fastest method to diagnose malaria. However, there are limitations that exist such as low sensitivity in detecting infections with low parasitemia. Practical, non-invasive and high ability tests to detect parasite are needed to find specific biomarkers for P. falciparum infection to determine the potential of P. falciparum 4 thioether in breathomics analysis by GC-MS as a practical non-invasive method in diagnosing malaria in pediatrics. Literature reviews from Google Scholar and ProQuest were published no later than the last 5 years. The concept of breathomics is that the breath’s volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile is altered when the health condition changes. Breath samples from individuals infected with P. falciparum malaria were taken by exhalation. Through GC-MS analysis, it was found that 4 thioether compounds (allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), 1-methylthio-propane, (Z) -1-methylthio-1-propene and (E) -1-methylthio-1-propene) underwent a significant change in concentration during the infection. Based on experiments conducted on mice and humans, the breathomics method is known to be able to detect parasitemia levels up to <100 parasites/µL, has a sensitivity level of about 71% to 91% and a specificity of about 75% to 94%. The discovery of 4 thioether compounds by GC-MS is a strong indication of malaria, because it has the potential for high sensitivity and specificity, and the detection power exceeds the ability of RDTs.

Introduction: Aedes aegypti is the major vector of dengue virus. Dengue virus can cause dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF is dangerous because it can cause death. World Health Organization (WHO) noted Indonesia as state with the highest dengue cases in Southeast Asia. Effort to control A. aegypti vector that can be done is by using natural substances that have the effect of biolarvicides. This study aims to determine natural biolarvicides potencial of fruit seeds and leaf papaya (Carica papaya) extracts against A. aegypti larvae. Methods: This study was an experimental study and conducted in 2016 using two groups of samples with the design before and after intervention. Samples were A. aegypti larval instar III and IV with the number of 10 larvaeper concentration and 10 larvae of control for each types of extracts. The concentration used was 0 mg / L (control), 50 mg / L, 100 mg / L, and 150 mg / L for both types of extracts, then observed at 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, and 24 hours after exposure. Results: This study using Kruskal Wallis test, p value = 0.352. (P> 0.05) means there is no significant difference in the effect of biolarvicides concentration between the two types of extracts that used to the number of dead larvae of A. aegypti. Conclusion: Fruit seeds and leaf papaya extracts (C. Papaya L.) with concentrations of 50 mg / L, 100 mg/ L, and 150 mg / L are not effective to kill the larvae of A. aegypti. Other studies show concentrations above 21.9 ppm of leaf extract and 442 ppm of fruit seed extract can effectively kill larvae, therefore future studies are needed to determine effective extract concentrations to kill the larvae of A. aegypti.