Sofa D. Alfian

Complementary and alternative medicine use decreases adherence to prescribed medication in diabetes patients

Context: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Indonesia and may potentially affect adherence to prescribed diabetes medication, leading to uncontrolled blood sugar levels and complications. Aims: The objectives of this study were to analyze the association of CAM use with adherence to prescribed diabetes medication and to identify predictors of low adherence to prescribed diabetes medication. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional survey was done in a secondary health care facility in Bandung city, Indonesia. Data were collected between February and April 2014 from 114 respondents selected through consecutive sampling. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: The result showed that 64.9% of the respondents used CAM with herbal products (54.4%), ceragem (16.7%), and massage (12.3%) as the most widely used types. CAM use was found to significantly decrease adherence to prescribed diabetes medication (P < 0.05). The multivariate analysis suggested that the predictors of low adherence were CAM used [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 6.16; 2.44-15.52], gender (ORadj2.57; 1.05-6.31), and age (ORadj4.25; 1.53-11.31). Conclusions: CAM use decreased adherence to prescribed medication in T2DM patients. Gender and age were also associated with adherence. Instead of ignoring CAM use among patients, health professionals should have increased awareness and better training about CAM so that they can provide patients with relevant information and assist them in their decision-making regarding CAM use.

Psychological Distress Induces Poor Sleep Quality: A Cross-Sectional Study of Pharmacy Students in Bandung City, Indonesia

Results: The prevalence of psychological distress was well (43.1%), mild (28.6%), moderate (20.7%), and severe (7.6%). The overall sleep quality was poor and good in 84.5% and 15.5% of the students. There was a significant association between psychological distress and poor sleep quality (p=0.006). The multivariate analysis suggested that psychological distress was a predictor of poor sleep quality (OR 1.991; 95% CI, 1.311−3.026).

Identification of Dysbiosis Related Bacteria from New Zealand’s White Rabbit Intestinal Treated With Lactobacillus plantarum IS-10506 as Probiotics Food Supplementation

The gastrointestinal microoganisms encompass thousands of bacterial species that constitute a relatively stable ecosystem inside human body. Dysbiosis is an imbalance condition of beneficiary microbacteria cause by newer microorganism. This research aimed to investigate the effect of L. plantarum IS-10506 as probiotics supplementation on total bacterial and Enterobacteriaceae count; and also to identify the dysbiosis causing bacteria. Total bacterial and Enterobacteriaceae number on both control and test group were determined by Total Plate Count method. Identification of dysbiosis related bacteria were determined by fermentation test, gram staining, and Microbact™ 12A kit. The TPC result of total bacterial population on control group was 222.67 x 10 6 cfu/ml, while the probiotics induced group was 210.33 x 10 6 cfu/ml. As for the TPC result for Enterobacteriaceae population from control group was 12.00 x 10 6 cfu/ml, Enterobacteriaceae population in the probiotics induced group was 11.66 x 10 6 cfu/ml. Four genera related to dysbiosis has been isolated from the intestinal sample and all are rod-shaped Gram negative bacteria. In conclusion, the use of L. plantarum IS-10506 as food supplementation has reduced the total bacterial count. Four genera of dysbiosis related bacteria has been identified from the intestinal sample which include Eschericia, Serratia, Enterobacter, and Citrobacter .

DNA methyltransferase 3A gene polymorphism contributes to daily life stress susceptibility

Daily life stress markedly affects the response toward stressful stimuli. DNA methy-lation is one of the factors that regulate this response, and is a normal mechanism of somatic cell growth, but its regulatory gene variations may cause alterations in the stress response. The aim of the present study was to investigate genotypic variants of the DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) gene in 129 healthy subjects and evaluate its association with daily life stress. Blood samples were collected, and genomic DNA was isolated. DNA was amplified using specific tetra primers for DNMT3A (C/T) rs11683424 and visualized following 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. The association of DNMT3A genetic variants with daily life stress was analyzed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). We observed that the distribution of subjects with genotype CC (wild type), CT (heteromutant), and TT (homomutant) was 13.95%, 81.4%, and 4.65%, respectively. Genetic variations significantly affected the daily life stress condition (p=0.04) in Indonesian healthy subjects, but most of the subjects with the CT phenotype were classified in a stress condition.