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BACKGROUND: Syphilis infection can be asymptomatic and difficult to diagnose based on clinical symptoms. Early detection and treatment are critical for preventing and controlling syphilis as well as long-term serious complications. A serological examination based on the diagnostic algorithm was used to confirm the diagnosis of syphilis. Syphilis is frequent in high-risk groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). Treponema pallidum (TP) rapid can be used for early syphilis detection. The diagnostic value of TP rapid with diagnostic algorithm (RPR-TPHA) utilizing whole blood in MSM should be studied. OBJECTIVES: To determine the diagnostic value of TP rapid syphilis test compared to a diagnostic algorithm (RPR-TPHA) among MSM. METHODS: A diagnostic test with a cross-sectional design at Dr Mohammad Hoesin Palembang General Hospital from November 2022 to January 2023. The sampling method was consecutive sampling with a total sample of 83 MSM based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. All samples were tested for RPR, TPHA, and TP rapid. The diagnostic value of TP rapid was evaluated with RPR-TPHA as a diagnostic algorithm for syphilis. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity value of the TP rapid compare diagnostic algorithm as gold standard were 95.8% and 96.6% respectively. Other metrics: positive predictive value (PPV) 92%, negative predictive value (NPV) 98%, positive likelihood ratio (PLR) 28.27, negative likelihood ratio (NLR) 0.04, accuracy 96% and AUC 0.962. CONCLUSION: The TP rapid test has a high diagnostic value and can be used to establish an early diagnosis of syphilis in MSM.
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This study employed response surface methodology to optimize the preparation of biocomposites based on whey protein isolate, glycerol, and nanocrystalline cellulose from pineapple crown leaf. The effects of different concentrations of nanocrystalline cellulose as a filler and glycerol as a plasticizer on the thickness, the tensile strength, and the elongation at break on the resulting biocomposite films were investigated. The central composite design was used to determine the optimum preparation conditions for biocomposite films with optimum properties. The regression of a second-order polynomial model resulted in an optimum composition consisting of 4% glycerol and 3.5% nanocrystalline cellulose concentrations, which showed a desirability of 92.7%. The prediction of the regression model was validated by characterizing the biocomposite film prepared based on the optimum composition, at which the thickness, tensile strength, and elongation at break of the biocomposite film were 0.13 mm, 7.16 MPa, and 39.10%, respectively. This optimum composition can be obtained in range concentrations of glycerol (4-8%) and nanocrystalline cellulose (3-7%). Scanning electron microscope images showed that nanocrystalline cellulose dispersed well in the pure whey protein isolate, and the films had a relatively smooth surface. In comparison, a rough and uneven surface results in more porous biocomposite films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that nanocrystalline cellulose and glycerol showed good compatibility with WPI film by forming hydrogen bonds. The addition of nanocrystalline cellulose as a filler also decreased the transparency, solubility, and water vapor permeability and increased the crystallinity index of the resulting biocomposite film.
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Among the main bio-based polymer for food packaging materials, whey protein isolate (WPI) is one of the biopolymers that have excellent film-forming properties and are environmentally friendly. This study was performed to analyse the effect of various concentrations of bio-based nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) extracted from pineapple crown leaf (PCL) on the properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) films using the solution casting technique. Six WPI films were fabricated with different loadings of NCC from 0 to 10 % w/v. The resulting films were characterised based on their mechanical, physical, chemical, and thermal properties. The results show that NCC loadings increased the thickness of the resulting films. The transparency of the films decreased at higher NCC loadings. The moisture content and moisture absorption of the films decreased with the presence of the NCC, being lower at higher NCC loadings. The water solubility of the films decreased from 92.2% for the pure WPI to 65.5% for the one containing 10 % w/v of NCC. The tensile strength of the films peaked at 7% NCC loading with the value of 5.1 MPa. Conversely, the trend of the elongation at break data was the opposite of the tensile strength. Moreover, the addition of NCC produced a slight effect of NCC in FTIR spectra of the WPI films using principal component analysis. NCC loading enhanced the thermal stability of the WPI films, as shown by an increase in the glass transition temperature at higher NCC loadings. Moreover, the morphology of the films turned rougher and more heterogeneous with small particle aggregates in the presence of the NCC. Overall, the addition of NCC enhanced the water barrier and mechanical properties of the WPI films by incorporating the PCL-based NCC as the filler.
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Pineapple crown leaf fiber (PCLF) is one of the major biomass wastes from pineapple processing plants. It consists mostly of carbohydrate polymers, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. It can be further processed to form a more valuable and widely used nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). This study investigates the effect of hydrolysis time on the properties of the produced NCC. The acid hydrolysis was conducted using 1 M of sulfuric acid at hydrolysis times of 1-3 h. The resulting NCCs were then characterized by their morphology, functional groups, crystallinity, thermal stability, elemental composition, and production yield. The results show that the NCC products had a rod-like particle structure and possessed a strong cellulose crystalline structure typically found in agricultural fiber-based cellulose. The highest NCC yield was obtained at 79.37% for one hour of hydrolysis. This NCC also displayed a higher decomposition temperature of 176.98 °C. The overall findings suggest that PCLF-derived NCC has attractive properties for a variety of applications.
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BAKCGROUND AND AIM: Testis and epididymis are male reproductive organs that play an important role in spermatogenesis. These two organs are rich in the content of hormones and other molecules needed in the process of spermatogenesis which affect the quality of the spermatozoa. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the administration of epididymis and testicular extracts and their combination on testosterone, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), and protamine 1 (PRM1) concentrations in the serum of male chicken. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty male chickens (broiler strain Cp707), aged 3 weeks and weighing 800-1000 g, were randomly divided into four different groups including a control group (T0) = injected with 1 ml normal saline and treatment groups: T1 = injected with 1 ml epididymis extract, T2 = injected with 1 ml testicular extract, and T3 = injected with a combination of 1 ml epididymis + 1 ml testicular extract. The experiment was conducted for 13 days and at the end of the study (day 14), the chickens were sacrificed to obtain the serum. Furthermore, the concentrations of testosterone, PACAP, and PRM1 were then measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. RESULTS: The concentrations of PACAP and PRM1 did not show a significant difference between treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3) and control group (T0) (p>0.05). However, the concentration of testosterone showed a significantly higher difference in a group injected with a combination of 1 ml epididymis and 1 ml testicular extracts (T3) compared to the control group (T0) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The administration of epididymis and testicular extracts and their combination did not affect the increase of PACAP and PRM1 concentration. However, a combination of these extracts significantly affects the increase of testosterone concentration in the serum of male chicken.
