Reactivity of Blood Samples Spotted onto Filter Papers in the WST-8 Method for Screening of G6PD Deficiency.

Deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) causes acute hemolytic anemia triggered by oxidative drugs such as primaquine. It is therefore essential in malaria-endemic areas for malaria patients to be confirmed for their G6PD activity before taking primaquine. The WST-8 method, a newly established screening method for G6PD deficiency, has been demonstrated to be suitable for field conditions, particularly for on-site malaria surveys. Here we report a laboratory evaluation by this method of the reactivity of blood-spotted filters. A time-course experiment was conducted to evaluate the reactivity of blood samples spotted onto 4 types of filter paper, Whatman 31ET Chr (ET), 3MM Chr (3MM), P81, and Advantec No. 2 (AD2). The rank of the relative reaction intensity was ET &#62; 3MM = AD2 &#62; P81. Blood-spotted filters stored at 4 degrees centigrade gradually decreased G6PD reactivity with the passage of storage time, whereas those stored at room temperature rapidly reduced their reactivity. Unexpectedly, saponin supplementation reduced the reactivity of blood-spotted filters. In conclusion, 1) ET is the most suitable filter for the WST-8 method ; 2) blood-spotted filters stored in cold condition can be assayed within 14 days, or those stored at room temperature should be tested within 3 days ; and 3) reaction mixtures should not contain saponin.</p

Nine Different Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Variants in a Malaysian Population with Malay, Chinese, Indian and Orang Asli (Aboriginal Malaysian) Backgrounds

The Malaysian people consist of several ethnic groups including the Malay, the Chinese, the Indian and the Orang Asli (aboriginal Malaysians). We collected blood samples from outpatients of 2 hospitals in the State of Selangor and identified 27 glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient subjects among these ethnic groups. In the Malay, G6PD Viangchan (871G&#65310;A, 1311C&#65310;T, IVS11 nt93T&#65310;C) and G6PD Mahidol (487G&#65310;A) types, which are common in Cambodia and Myanmar, respectively, were detected. The Malay also had both subtypes of G6PD Mediterranean:the Mediterranean subtype (563C&#65310;T, 1311C&#65310;T, IVS11 nt93T&#65310;C) and the Indo-Pakistan subtype (563C&#65310;T, 1311C, IVS11 nt93T). In Malaysians of Chinese background, G6PD Kaiping (1388G&#65310;A), G6PD Canton (1376G&#65310;T) and G6PD Gaohe (95A&#65310;G), which are common in China, were detected. Indian Malaysians possessed G6PD Mediterranean (Indo-Pakistan subtype) and G6PD Namoru (208T&#65310;C), a few cases of which had been reported in Vanuatu and many in India. Our findings indicate that G6PD Namoru occurs in India and flows to Malaysia up to Vanuatu. We also discovered 5 G6PD-deficient cases with 2 nucleotide substitutions of 1311C&#65310;T and IVS11 nt93T&#65310;C, but without amino-acid substitution in the G6PD molecule. These results indicate that the Malaysian people have incorporated many ancestors in terms of G6PD variants.</p

Virulence factors and genetic characteristics of methicillin-resistant and - susceptible staphylococcus aureus isolates in Myanmar

Staphylococcus aureus produces virulence factors, including various exotoxins and adhesins, which are associated with a variety of symptoms caused by its infections. In the present study, the prevalence of these virulence factors was analyzed for 23 S. aureus strains isolated from wound infections in hospitals, nasal swabs, or vomit from patients and cooks in a food poisoning case and from healthy adults in Yangon, Myanmar. Among these strains, five were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) derived from pus (four strains, SCCmec III, ST239) and a healthy adult (one strain, SCCmec-IVa, ST5). The Panton-Valentine leukocidine (PVL) gene was detected in five methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) clinical strains belonging to ST121 (CC121). The MRSA clinical strains had only a few or no staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) genes, whereas PVL-positive MSSA and an MRSA strain from a healthy adult possessed an enterotoxin gene cluster (seg, sei, sem, sen, seo, and selu). Strains from the food poisoning case had either SE genes or only etd and edin-B. Adhesin genes, which are associated with binding to fibronectin, fibrinogen, and elastin, were detected in all the MRSA and most of the MSSA strains examined. However, the bone sialoprotein-binding protein gene (bbp) and the variant form of the elastin-binding protein gene (ebpS-v) with an internal 180 bp deletion were identified only in the MSSA strains harboring the PVL gene. These findings suggest that those genetic traits are characteristic of PVL-positive ST121 S. aureus strains in Myanmar

Seven Different Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Variants Including a New Variant Distributed in Lam Dong Province in Southern Vietnam.

We conducted a survey for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency using blood samples from male outpatients of a local hospital in southern Vietnam. Most of the samples were from the Kinh (88.9%), the largest ethnic group in Vietnam, with a small number (11.1%) coming from the K'Ho, Chauma, Nung, and Tay minorities. We detected 25 G6PD-deficient cases among 1,104 samples (2.3%), and read the open reading frame of G6PD. A novel mutation (352T&#62;C) predicting an aminoacid change of 118Tyr&#62;His was found in a 1-year-old Kinh boy. His G6PD activity was estimated to be less than 10% residual activity, although he did not show chronic hemolytic anemia. Thus, we categorized this variant as Class II and named it G6PD Bao Loc. In the Kinh population, G6PD Viangchan (871G&#62;A, 1311C&#62;T, intron 11 nt93T&#62;C), one of the most common variants in continental Southeast Asian populations, was the highest (6/19), followed by variants originating from the Chinese such as G6PD Canton (1376G&#62;T) (5/19), G6PD Kaiping (1388G&#62;A) (3/19), G6PD Gaohe (95A&#62;G) (1/19), and G6PD Quing Yuan (392G&#62;T) (1/19). In addition, G6PD Union (1360C&#62;T) (2/19), which originated from the Oceania, was also detected. These findings suggest that the Kinh people are derived from various ancestries from continental Southeast Asia, China, and Oceania. In contrast, all of the 5 deficient cases in the K'Ho population were G6PD Viangchan, suggesting that they were very close to Southeast Asian populations such as the Khmer in Cambodia and the Lao in Laos. It is interesting that G6PD Mahidol (487G&#62;A), another common variant in continental Southeast Asian populations in Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia, has not been detected from the Vietnamese

Nitrogen Flow to Duodenum of Steers Grazing on Orchardgrass and Meadowfescue Pastures

This experiment was conducted to evaluate nitrogen flow to the duodenum of steers grazing on orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L., OG) or meadowfescue (Festuca elatior L., MF) pasture. Holstein steers fitted with cannulas in the rumen and duodenum were used. Nitrogen content and in vitro dry matter digestibility of herbage did not differ between OG and MF pastures. Herbage nitrogen intake of steers grazing on OG and MF pastures averaged 229 and 271 g/day, respectively. Nitrogen flows to the duodenum of steers grazing on orchardgrass and meadowfescue pastures averaged 187 and 195g/d, respectively. Microbial nitrogen flow to the duodenum also did not differ between OG and MF pastures. Efficiencies of nitrogen utilization for microbial protein synthesis per kg organic matter apparently digested in the rumen of steers grazing on OG and MF pastures averaged 31.4 and 29.0g, respectively. There was no significant difference in nitrogen absorption from the intestine between steers grazing on OG and MF pastures. In both pastures, steers were supplied with more than 3.5 times metabolizable protein as much as required for maintenance without supplements

The Role of Social Media in Strengthening the Conservation Movement as a Sustainable Trend in Indonesian Tourism

The digital era has inspired new trends in the world of tourism, in which environmental and sustainability issues, the travel experience, and social media are barometers for the selection of tourist destinations. This research was conducted to determine the effectiveness of (1) tourism development, (2) strengthening conservation activities, and (3) the use of mass media in conservation-based tourism activities at Bangsring Underwater Beach in Banyuwangi Regency. This research was conducted with a qualitative approach and data were obtained from discussions and in-depth interviews. Secondary data such as literature about social media and tourism were used to support this research. The results showed that the development of Bangsring Underwater Beach tourism was able to accommodate changes in tourism trends. Keywords: conservation, social media, sustainability, touris

Water Conflict Prevention Model in Indonesia

This study aims to formulate a model of water conflict prevention involving various groups of interest actors that spread after the era of decentralization was implemented in Indonesia. This research uses a qualitative approach with a narrative research strategy. Three cases of water conflicts that occurred in Batu (East Java), Klaten (Central Java), and Sleman (Yogyakarta) were used as the basis for formulating a water conflict prevention model. The data in this study were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observations, documentation, and literature research. Research informants consisted: each research location selected three informants who had been involved in water conflict cases, activists of Yogyakarta environmental forums, one of Walhi East Java, an activist of Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute, Surabaya Legal Aid Institute. The literature search was used to collect data from books, articles, research reports, theses, dissertations, and online mass media reports. Data analysis uses cyclical models through data collection, condensation, display, verification, and conclusions. The results showed that the formulation of the model needed for water conflict prevention in Indonesia includes: the participation of affected communities in policy planning of regional heads, monitoring systems for licensing information that is transparent, credible, accountable, and easily accessible to the public, firm and consistent enforcement of laws and regulations, providing a balance of finding aspirations and water rights from all stakeholders, prioritizing the sustainability of water resources, without criminalization of environmental warriors. Keywords: model, prevention, water, conflict, decentralizatio

Proses Transisi Pemuda Penjoki Mobile Legends di Kota Malang dalam Konteks Masyarakat Risiko

Game terus berkembang tidak hanya digunakan sebagai hiburan, tetapi juga sumber pendapatan.  Mobile Legends merupakan salah satu game dimanfaatkan untuk menjadi sumber pendapatan melalui adanya pekerjaan joki.  Pelaku joki atau penjoki Mobile Legends ini dilakukan oleh para pemuda di Kota Malang yang dimana dalam fase ini pemuda akan dihadapi pilihan-pilihan yang berkaitan dengan kedewasaan. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian fenomenologi dari Edmund Hussler. Penentuan subjek penelitian menggunakan teknik snowball sampling terhadap pelaku pemuda pejoki Mobile Legends di Kota Malang sebagai subjek penelitian. Jumlah informan dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 15 informan dengan rincian 8 informan kunci dan 7 informan pendukung. Pelaksanaan penelitian dilakukan selama 11 bulan dari bulan Desember sampai Oktober. Penelitian ini menggunakan Teori Masyarakat Risiko Ulrich Beck dalam menganalisis risiko yang dihadapi oleh pemuda penjoki dari proses transisi yang dilakukan dan solusi untuk menghadapi risiko. Dimana para pemuda ini melakukan proses transisi menjadi seorang penjoki Mobile Legends dengan sudah menemukan solusi terhadap risiko yang dihadapi yaitu menjadikan pekerjaan joki sebagai pekerjaan part-time dan secara perlahan kembali ke kehidupan masyarakat