Herdiman T. Pohan

Human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in an Indonesian prison: prevalence, risk factors and implications of HIV screening.

Objective  To determine the prevalence and behavioural correlates of HIV, HBV and HCV infections among Indonesian prisoners and to examine the impact of voluntary counselling and testing for all incoming prisoners on access to antiretroviral treatment (ART).

Lactate clearance as a simple bedside instrument to predict short-term mortality of severe septic patients

Severe sepsis is major health problem with a high mortality rate, and still its incidence continues to rise [1-5]. Lactate clearance, measurement of the lactate level at two consecutive times, is an inexpensive and simple clinical parameter that can be obtained by a minimally invasive means [6-8]. This parameter represents kinetic alteration of the anaerobic metabolism that makes it a potential parameter to evaluate disease severity and intervention adequacy. Lactate clearance early in the hospital course may indicate a resolution of global tissue hypoxia and is associated with improved outcome [7-9]. Nevertheless, the relationship between lactate clearance and short-term mortality in severe septic patients is still poorly understood. Understanding the presence of confounder factors is also important to strengthen the role of lactate clearance in the treatment of severe septic patients.