Objective: To assess the performance of serum cytokine IL-6 and IL-6/IL-10 ratio as biomarkers for the diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and for determining its progression. Methods: In this study, 20 POAG patients and 21 healthy individuals from the Indonesian population were enrolled. The serum concentration of IL-6 and IL-10 were quantified. Comparative analysis was performed in addition to assessment of the diagnostic performance of cytokines using receiver-operating-curve (ROC) analysis. Results: POAG patients had a higher IL-6 ( p < 0.0001) and IL-6/IL-10 ratio ( p < 0.0001) than controls. Among the POAG subjects, advanced-stage patients exhibited a higher IL-6/IL-10 ratio than those in the early-moderate stage ( p = 0.001; p = 0.006). The ROC curve analysis showed that both IL-6 level and IL-6/IL-10 ratio exhibited an excellent capability of diagnosing POAG (cut-off of 20.5 pg/mL (100% sensitivity and 94% specificity) and 4.4 (88% sensitivity and 94% specificity), respectively). Serum IL-6/IL-10 ratio displayed a better performance than IL-6 in discriminating POAG severity with cut-off of at least 6.6 (sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 90%) and 9.1 (sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 78%) classified according to C/D ratio and MD of VF, respectively. Conclusion: The balance between IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels is potentially useful in discriminating POAG severity.
Although previously large-scale social restrictions were implemented by the Indonesian government, the total number of coronavirus cases is overcome China in the global ranking per July 18th, 2020, implying a higher infection rate among Indonesian residents. The surge of new coronavirus cases started since the loosening of large-scale social restrictions, thereby implicating that public gathering (including religious gathering) evidently increases transmission
[1]
. It has been reported that Indonesia's coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) mortality rate is the second-highest among Southeast Asian Nations, which may be associated with several health determinants, including biochemical factors and health comorbidity
[2]
,
[3]
,
[4]
,
[5]
,
[6]
,
[7]
. Because people's adherence to control measures is affected by their attitudes, religious perspectives, and practices (ARP) towards COVID-19. Hence, the information regarding Indonesian's ARP towards COVID-19 post-large-scale social restrictions is required. The data were collected via an online questionnaire, including demographic information (7 items), attitude and practice (5 items), and religious perspective and practice (5 items), from July 11 – 18, 2020, collecting a total of 1,345 respondents. Although our data collection did not provide other precautionary measures (e.g., adequate ventilation). It is notable that most of the religious venues are having a close ventilation system. Hence, this may contribute to the propagation of SARS-CoV-2 transmission
[8]
. Altogether, these data will help in determining non-health-related factors to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Bacterial biofilms gained attention in the medical field with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. The potency of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), isolated from kefir, against the development of a biofilm populated by the multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae was accessed in this study. The ability of LAB to inhibit biofilm formation was screened using the crystal violet method, and the morphology of the biofilms was analyzed using electron microscopy. Cell viability of K. pneumoniae after administration of LAB cell free supernatant was determined by MTT assay. Lactobacillus isolates were characterized using partial sequencing against 16S rRNA. Quorum sensing inhibition of K. pneumoniae by LAB was conducted with the help of the AHL reporter strain. Result showed that addition of cell free supernatant (CFS) as well as pellet of 40 isolates LAB on to K. pneumoniae culture could decrease their culture absorbance. Among those isolates, LAB G24 and G25 from grain kefir and LAB K10 and K15 from milk kefir demonstrated the strongest effect by reducing the absorbance by eight to nine-fold. Analysis of biofilm morphology showed that the CFS of Lactobacillus could prevent the attachment between K. pneumoniae cells. In addition, cell viability of K. pneumoniae was significantly reduced after the addition of the LABs CFS. Partial sequencing of 16S rRNA identified the LAB isolate as Lactobacillus helveticus. In conclusion the L. helveticus isolated from kefir demonstrated anti-biofilm activity against MDR K. pneumoniae. L. helveticus are potential probiotic strains for therapeutic application in the clearance of MDR K. pneumoniae.
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