There were 211,000 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims going to Mecca through 11 main airports in 2015 who were at risk of contracting the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). We aimed to find out whether there was any occurrence of MERS-CoV by performing screening on 28,197 returning pilgrims. Those with a body temperature of > 38 °C and respiratory symptoms were sent to the airport clinic to have an oropharyngeal swab and a bacterial culture. Fifteen pilgrims had fever (> 38 °C) accompanied by respiratory symptoms; of these, 12 patients were diagnosed with upper and lower respiratory tract infections and three patients with pneumonia. However, none of them were found to be infected with MERS-CoV. The bacterial cultures showed evidence of normal flora growth.

Background: The adipokine is a group of protein secreted from the adipose tissues, producing among other the anti-inflammatory adiponectin. Serum adiponectin concentration decreases at asthma and has reverse correlation with the worse prognosis. Adiponectin correlation with asthmatic patients currently is still a controversy, though adiponectin and its receptor are expressed within the cells of airway. The purpose of this research is to verify the correlation between adipokine, especially the role of the adiponectin in influencing airway obstruction degree measured under FEV1 scores in asthmatic patients. Methods: Observational analytical research with cross section design in Policlinic of Asthma/PPOK Regional General Hospital of Dr. Soetomo Surabaya from March to April 2018 was conducted to 40 qualified inclusion and exclusion asthmatic patients as the research samples. There were spirometry and venous blood tests to measure the FEV scores and the serum adiponectin levels respectively, using the Sandwich Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Results: No significant correlation between FEV towards adiponectin levels (r = 0,174; 95% CI = -0,145 – 0,461; P = 0,283). No significant ratio different between FEV1 scores towards adiponectin group (P = 0,885). The highest FEV1 average was found on the lower adiponectin group. No significant different between serum adiponectin levels on the mild / moderate / severe obstruction degree groups (P = 0,259). The highest serum adiponectin levels in obstruction degree groups (ADP = 57,08 ng/ml) was found in the mild, followed with the moderate (ADP = 49,72 ng/ml), and severe groups (ADP = 45,58 ng/ml). Conclusion: No significant correlation between FEV1scores and serum adiponectin levels in asthmatic patients. But there was parallel correlation trend, such as the decrease of serum adiponectin levels, and of the FEV scores, though it was insignificant. (J Respir Indo 2019; 39(2))