Integrated genomic network analysis revealed potential of a druggable target for hemorrhoid treatment.

Hemorrhoids are a prevalent medical condition that necessitates effective treatment options. The current options for treatment consist of oral medications, topical applications, or surgery, yet a scarcity of highly effective drugs still exists. Genetic markers provide promising avenues for investigating the treatment of hemorrhoids, as they may reveal intricate biological mechanisms and targeted drug therapies, ultimately enhancing more precise treatment tailored to the patient. This study aims to identify new drug candidates for treating hemorrhoids through a meticulous bioinformatics approach and integrated with genomic network analysis. After extracting 21 druggable target genes using DrugBank from 293 genes connected to hemorrhoids, 87 possible drugs were selected. Three of these drugs (ketamine, methylene blue, and fulvestrant) hold potential in addressing issues associated with hemorrhoids and have been supported by clinical or preclinical studies. Eighty-four compounds present new therapeutic possibilities for managing hemorrhoids. We highlight that our findings indicate that NOX1 and NOS3 genes are promising biomarkers, with NOS3 gaining significance owing to its robust systemic functional annotations. Sapropterin, an existing drug, is closely associated with NOS3, providing a clear target for biomarker-driven interventions. This study illustrates the potential of combining genomic network analysis with bioinformatics to repurpose drugs for treating hemorrhoids. Subsequent research will explore the mechanisms for utilizing NOS3 targeting in the treatment of hemorrhoids.

Streptococcus Mutans Serotype Analysis from Dental Plaque of Caries Patients in Banda Aceh Based on the GTF Gene.

Background: Dental caries is an oral disease that is widely suffered by the population of Aceh caused by Streptococcus mutans. S. mutans serotypes c and d are widely isolated in the human oral cavity. This research was focused on detecting the presence and variability of S. mutans in supragingival dental plaque of caries teenager and young adults' patients. Methods: Subjects involved in this study were patients who treated at the Rumah Sakit Gigi dan Mulut of Dentistry Faculty of Universitas Syiah Kuala. The approach used in this research was molecular microbiology technique. To determine the presence of S. mutans, supragingival plaque from caries patients was cultivated in TYS20B. The culture findings were utilized to detect the presence of bacteria using PCR. The primers utilized in the PCR were S. mutans specific primers, GTFB (517 bp) for S. mutans serotype c and GTFI (712 bp) for S. mutans serotype d. Results: Culture results on TYS20B media showed the growth of S. mutans colonies isolated from the supragingival plaque of research subjects. PCR results also revealed the presence of S. mutans in the supragingival plaques of caries patients, with the variability of S. mutans discovered to be a serotype c and a serotype d. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that S. mutans can be found in the supragingival plaques of caries patients with the serotypes c and d variability.

Bioactive phytoconstituents of ethanolic extract from Chromolaena odorata leaves interact with vascular endothelial growth factor and cyclooxygenase-2: A molecular docking study.

Chromolaena odorata is an invasive plant with a broad spectrum of medicinal properties, including wound healing. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction of the already identified bioactive phytoconstituents from ethanolic extracts of C. odorata leaves with two angiogenesis-related proteins - vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in silico. A molecular docking protocol was performed on AutoDock Vina employing the molecular structure of VEGF (3HNG) and COX-2 (3LN1) downloaded from the Protein Data Bank. The results reveal that most of the phytoconstituents possess strong binding affinity, where ß-tocopherol and squalene have the highest values. In conclusion, it is highly possible that the phytoconstituents of C. odorata from the ethanolic leaf extract perform an interaction with VEGF and COX-2 and affect their activities.

Quality of life and its predictors among people living with HIV in Muslim majority region: A cross-sectional study in Aceh.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) remain significant global health challenges addressed by countries worldwide. The advent of antiretroviral therapy (ARV) has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality of people living with HIV (PLHIV), transforming HIV/AIDS from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic disease. However, the increasing number of elderly individuals with HIV who experience early frailty syndrome presents new challenges and potential for diminished quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life and to identify its significant predictors in PLHIV patients who have received ARV therapy in Banda Aceh, a Muslim-majority region in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on all PLHIV who received ARV therapy at the voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) polyclinic at Dr. Zainoel Abidin Hospital, Banda Aceh, Indonesia between January and February 2023. The WHOQOL-HIV BREF instrument, a multi-dimensional tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), was used to assess the quality of life of the PLHIV, and potential predictors were assessed. The Chi-squared test was used to determine the predictors associated with the quality of patient's lives. Our data indicated that the majority of PLHIV were male (88%), 26-35 years old (78%), employed (92%), and unmarried (54%). Poor quality of life was dominant for the physical health (100%) and social relationships (76%) domains. In contrast, good quality of life was observed in aspects of independence, psychology, and spirituality, all reporting 100% results. Significant associations were found between married status (p=0.004) and medication adherence (p<0.001) with higher quality of life among PLHIV. In conclusion, married PLHIVs that received support from their partners regarding adherence to therapy exhibited a better quality of life. These results underscore the significance of sustained support systems and adherence strategies to enhance PLHIV's quality of life.

Haematological Features of White Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Infected with S. pyogenes and Administered with Probiotics (Yogurt).

This study aimed to study the inhibition activity of lactic acid bacteria probiotics deriving from Acehnese fermented Etawa goat's milk (yogurt) against Streptococcus pyogenes bacterial infection in rats (Rattus norvegicus). Haematological analysis of the rats' blood was performed on the following parameters: platelets, leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes, where the data were further processed using ANOVA and Duncan's test with a confidence level of 95% (0.05). The results revealed that administering yogurt containing probiotics could reduce infections in the throats of rats caused by S. pyogenes. Based on the haematology examination, the probiotic yogurt could maintain the number of platelets, leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes. Statistical significance was obtained when the infected rats were administered with a ±1.00 mL/day dose for seven days of treatment (p < 0.05).

Effects of Binahong (Anredera cordifolia (Tenore) Steenis) Extracts on the Levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in Cataract Goat Lenses.

Cataracts are one of the most causes of blindness in the world. Oxidative stress can form pathological conditions such as cataracts. This oxidative stress ability can be measured by the malondialdehyde (MDA) biomarker. Binahong leaves (Anredera cordifolia (Tenore) Steenis) are native plants from Indonesia that are used to treat various diseases including cataract treatment. Binahong leaf (Anredera cordifolia (Tenore) Steenis) has a high amount of flavonoids and is rich in antioxidants that can be used to treat cataracts. Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of binahong leaf extract on the levels of MDA in a goat lens with cataract-induced material. Method. As many as possible, 40 goat eye lenses were divided into several groups, namely, group I normal lenses as controls (glucose 5.5 mM), group II lenses were cataract induced with glucose concentration of 55 mM, group III lenses with glucose 55 mM + binahong leaf extract (100 µg/ml), group IV lens with glucose 55 mM + binahong leaf extract (200 µg/ml), and group V lens with glucose 55 mM + quercetin (positive control). Biochemical parameters measured in the lens homogenate are malondialdehyde lens morphology in all groups' observations and comparisons made. Results. The results of the study found that the lens group with the addition of binahong extract showed more results transparency compared to lens groups induced by glucose concentrations of 55 mM). This shows that the diabetic cataract group experienced high oxidative stress due to the accumulation of sorbitol compounds derived from glucose which caused turbidity in the goat eye lens and increased levels of lens MDA. Binahong levels at concentrations of 100 or 200 can inhibit MDA production. Conclusion. Binahong (Anredera cordifolia (Tenore) Steenis) extract has the ability to inhibit the production of MDA levels. In glucose-induced goat lenses, binahong extract and quercetin show antioxidant and anticataract properties.

Identification of Staphylococcus species isolated from preputium of Aceh cattle based on 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis.

AIM: This research aimed to identify Staphylococcus species isolated from preputial swabs of healthy Aceh cattle, based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bacterium was isolated from preputial swabs of healthy Aceh cattle. The total DNA from the isolated bacteria was extracted using the Genomic DNA Mini Kit followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 16S rRNA gene. The product of PCR amplification was then sequenced and aligned to the known sequences in the GenBank database by multiple alignments and was also analyzed by bioinformatics software to construct a phylogenetic tree. RESULTS: The results revealed that the bacterial isolate 3A had genetically closed relation to Staphylococcus pasteuri with <97% maximum identity. Data derived from the phylogenetic tree revealed that the bacterial isolate 3A was also related to Staphylococcus warneri, yet, it shows a different evolutionary distance with the ancestors (S. pasteuri). CONCLUSION: The results of this research suggested that the bacterium 3A, isolated from preputial swabs of healthy Aceh cattle, is a Staphylococcus species.