AIM:To identify a novel material with biomechanical properties identical to the nucleus pulposus in the lumbar vertebrae of goats for use in intervertebral disc herniation surgery. MATERIAL and METHODS:In this laboratory-based experimental study, the silicone rubber material test group consisted of sample compositions 35PVA65SR, 30PVA70SR, and 40PVA60SR. Axial compression mechanical tests were conducted to assess the biomechanical properties of the resulting material in terms of stress, strain, load, and displacement. RESULTS:The mechanical compression test results revealed that the stress (MPa) and strain (%) values of the 40PVA60SR material were closest to the control group (p=1.00) with a load of 684 N in each group. The value of material displacement (mm) for 40PVA60SR was also the closest to control (p=1.00) with a loading of 684 N. CONCLUSION:The new material presents biomechanical properties closest to human nucleus pulposus and is promising in nucleus pulposus replacement therapy. Further clinical research is needed to evaluate other biomechanical properties and the bioavailability of the novel material.

Citra Karya Metal is a mould maker and injection service for industries that produce plastic products such as brackets for washing machines. Defective products in the bracket's production are serious problems since the number is large. The existence of this defective product is quite challenging for the company in terms of time and cost. Products that do not comply with the standards will be reworked by flushing them from excessive plastic or destroying them to become plastic pellets for rework. This research aims to provide recommendations for the optimum injection moulding machine settings to reduce defects in bracket production. The Response Surface Method is used to optimize three independent variables: injection speed, pressure, and screw backstop position. The research finds that the most influential factors were injection speed and pressure. The optimum factor level values for injection speed and pressure were 47.5 per cent and 61.5 bar, respectively.

A carotid-cavernous sinus fistula (CCF) is a clinical condition when there is an abnormal communication between the internal carotid artery, external carotid artery (ECA), or any of their branches to the cavernous sinus. Traumatic CCF (TCCF) is the most common type of all CCFs. This study aims to find clinical improvement of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas (TCCF) after endovascular treatment. We predict the degree of clinical recovery in an attempt to make the treatment of TCCF safe and effective. This study reported a series of 28 patients with TCCFs undergoing coiling and ballooning in a period of 3 years, i.e., from December 2014 to December 2017. This is a novel case report about CCF in our country, Indonesia, especially in Surabaya. We performed clinical, angiographical, and radiological assessments before and at regular time periods after the procedure until 6 months. All patients had a partial and complete occlusion of the fistula. Angiographic occlusion of fistula, visualization of the ophthalmic artery, and disappearance of bruit predicted a good clinical outcome. All patients made a recovery at different times, depending on the degree of fistulas and treatment. Improvement in clinical symptoms had a direct correlation with the degree of occlusion. Treatment was divided into coiling and ballooning depending on patient's condition and angiographic examination. Trans femoral cerebral angiography is still very important diagnostic tool in the diagnosis and treatment of TCCFs.

Infeksi Saluran Pernafasan Akut (ISPA) adalah penyebab utama morbiditas dan mortalitas pada anak-anak di negara berkembang. Di Kota Palangka Raya tahun 2016, penyakit ISPA menempati urutan pertama dari 10 penyakit. Puskesmas Pahandut memiliki kejadian ISPA tertinggi tiap tahunnya. Faktor yang berkaitan dengan tingginya angka insiden ISPA antara lain status gizi balita. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui hubungan status gizi (berat badan menurut umur) terhadap kejadian Infeksi Saluran Pernafasan Akut (ISPA) pada balita di Puskesmas Pahandut, Kota Palangka Raya pada bulan Maret-Februari tahun 2017. Jenis penelitian ini adalah observasional analitik dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Sampel dalam penelitian ini yaitu balita berusia 1-5 tahun berjumlah 70 responden yang didapat dengan teknik simple random sampling. Status gizi dinilai berdasarkan data antropometri berupa berat badan/umur dan diinterpretasi dengan Z-score menurut standar WHO 2005. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan kuesioner dan wawancara. Analisis data menggunakan Uji Chi Square (x2). Hasil penelitian ini diperoleh balita yang terkena ISPA 31,4% dengan gizi kurang 18,6 % dan status gizi baik 12,9%. Analisis hubungan variabel diperoleh P value 0,000 (P<0,05) yaitu secara statistik terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara status gizi terhadap kejadian ISPA pada balita. Kesimpulan penelitian ini ada hubungan status gizi (berat badan menurut umur) terhadap kejadian Infeksi Saluran Pernafasan Akut (ISPA) pada balita di Puskesmas Pahandut, Kota Palangka Raya pada bulan Maret-Februari tahun 2017.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents a once in a century challenge to human health care with over 4.5 million cases and over 300,000 deaths thus far. Surgical practice has been significantly impacted with all specialties writing guidelines for how to manage during this crisis. This study reported the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the neurosurgical practice, especially neurospine, in the outpatient visit, emergency department, and the surgical procedure. Methods: This study is the comparative retrospective about neurospine practice in the outpatient visit, emergency department, and the surgical procedure among before and during COVID-19 pandemic. We recorded data from January to December 2019 (before COVID-19 pandemic) and compared with the same period in the 2020 (during a COVID-19 pandemic). Results: A total of the outpatient visits, the average number per month was 28 ± 10.5 visits per month before the pandemic. The average number outpatient visit per month during the pandemic was 19 ± 11.1 visits per month, with the lowest in July 2020. The result of the average monthly neurospine surgical procedure before the pandemic was 5 ± 1.9 operations per month. Compared during the pandemic, there was decreased in the neurospine surgical procedure with the average number was 2 ± 2.7 operations per month. The decreased number significantly happens in the surgical procedure and emergency department patient (P < 0.05), while in the outpatient visit, the decreased statistically not significantly (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic changed all scopes of medical practice and training. Considering the limitation in the available resources, the number of educational cases may decrease in subspecialized disciplines such as neurospine neurosurgery. The COVID-19 pandemic affects in the neurospine and neurosurgery treatment policy in the referral tertiary hospital.