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We present a low-cost and simple method to fabricate a novel lock-and-key mixer microfluidics using an economic stereolithography (SLA) three-dimensional (3D) printer, which costs less than USD 400 for the investment. The proposed study is promising for a high throughput fabrication module, typically limited by conventional microfluidics fabrications, such as photolithography and polymer-casting methods. We demonstrate the novel modular lock-and-key mixer for the connector and its chamber modules with optimized parameters, such as exposure condition and printing orientation. In addition, the optimization of post-processing was performed to investigate the reliability of the fabricated hollow structures, which are fundamental to creating a fluidic channel or chamber. We found out that by using an inexpensive 3D printer, the fabricated resolution can be pushed down to 850 µm and 550 µm size for squared- and circled-shapes, respectively, by the gradual hollow structure, applying vertical printing orientation. These strategies opened up the possibility of developing straightforward microfluidics platforms that could replace conventional microfluidics mold fabrication methods, such as photolithography and milling, which are costly and time consuming. Considerably cheap commercial resin and its tiny volume employed for a single printing procedure significantly cut down the estimated fabrication cost to less than 50 cents USD/module. The simulation study unravels the prominent properties of the fabricated devices for biological fluid mixers, such as PBS, urine and plasma blood. This study is eminently prospective toward microfluidics application in clinical biosensing, where disposable, low-cost, high-throughput, and reproducible chips are highly required.

BACKGROUND: Policosanol is a cholesterol-lowering drug isolated from sugar cane wax with concomitant antiplatelet effects. Previous studies have shown that policosanol prevents lipofundin-induced atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits and rats, including [...]

Thalassemia is a genetic disease caused by disruption of globin chain synthesis leading to severe anemia and thus regular blood transfusion is necessary. However, there have been known transfusions-related consequences, including iron overload and multi-organ damage. The aims of this study were to evaluate liver and cardiac function in youth and adult transfusion-dependent Indonesian thalassemic patients and to assess its correlation with serum ferritin levels, as well as T2∗magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Transfusion-dependent thalassemic (TDT) outpatients (n = 66; mean age, 21.5 ± 7.2 years) were carried out for the complete assessment consisting of blood test including liver enzyme and serum ferritin, followed by electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography. Subjects were also divided by serum ferritin levels into three groups: < 2500 ng/mL, 2500–5000 ng/mL, and >5000 ng/mL. Additionally, subgroup analysis in patients with T2∗ MRI assessment was conducted. In terms of age of first blood transfusion, subjects with ferritin >5000 ng/mL were the youngest among others. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in group with serum ferritin >5000 ng/mL were significantly higher than those of the group with serum ferritin 5000 ng/mL had significantly lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) when compared with those who had serum ferritin

Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) is widely used in industry, toxic to the environment and humans, and most often used as a model of acute liver damage and liver fibrosis in experimental animals. Liver damage can deteriorate the hematological profile. The roots of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica L.) have been used as traditional medicine due to its antioxidant activity. This study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, from January to March 2019. The study aimed to investigate whether the cogongrass roots ethanol extract (CGRE) can ameliorate the disturbance in the hematological profile in acute CCl4-injected mice. CGRE in dose 150 and 200 mg/kgBW was given orally to mice for four weeks before intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 1 mL/kgBW in olive oil (1:1 v/v). After 48 hours, mice were sacrificed, and the whole blood was drawn for hematological analysis. As a result, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was reduced in CCl4-induction mice treated with CGRE in dose 150 mg/kgBW (49.25±3.06 vs 43.38±2.13 fl, p

Sepsis causes damage for cells, behavioral phenotype regression, and will end in most patients' death. The ethanol extract of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica L.) acts as an antioxidant. This study aimed to observe the effect of giving ECGR to body weight (BW) and the sepsis score of the sepsis mice model by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction. This study was an in vivo study with a randomized post-test controlled group design at the Animal Laboratory of Universitas Padjadjaran, 2018. We used 4 (four) groups of male mice (Mus musculus) DDY strains. Group 1 as a control, group 2: LPS 10 μL/kgBW, group 3, and 4: LPS+ECGR (90 mg/kgBW, and a dose of 115 mg/kgBW, respectively). This treatment was performed for two weeks. Every three days, we measured their body weight. After two weeks, group 2, group 3, and 4 were injected with LPS for 8 hours to induce sepsis. Next, we measured body weight and sepsis score using murine sepsis score (MSS). Then statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The results showed no differences in body weight were found in the treatment groups (3 and 4) compared with control, suggesting no effect of ECGR in decreasing mice body weight. The sepsis score was more than 21 in groups treated with LPS (2, 3, and 4), suggesting LPS can induce sepsis. There was a slight decrease in scores in-group 3 and 4 compared with group 2. This study concludes that the treatment of ECGR caused no harm to body weight and slightly decreased sepsis score in the sepsis mice model. EKSTRAK ETANOL ALANG-ALANG (IMPERATA CYLINDRICA L.) TERHADAP BOBOT BADAN DAN SKOR SEPSIS MENCIT MODEL SEPSIS Sepsis menyebabkan kerusakan sel, regresi fenotipe perilaku, dan akan berakhir kematian pada sebagian besar pasien. Ekstrak etanol akar alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica L.) (ECGR) berperan sebagai antioksidan. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui pengaruh pemberian ECGR terhadap bobot badan (BB) dan skor sepsis pada mencit model sepsis yang diinduksi lipopolisakarida (LPS). Penelitian ini adalah penelitian in vivo dengan desain randomized post-test controlled group di Laboratoium Hewan Universitas Padjadjaran tahun 2018. Kami menggunakan 4 (empat) kelompok mencit jantan (Mus musculus) strain DDY. Kelompok 1 sebagai kontrol, kelompok 2 diinduksi LPS 10 μL/kgBB, kelompok 3 dan 4 diinduksi LPS+ECGR (dosis 90 mg/kgBB dan 115 mg/kgBB masing-masing). Perlakuan ini dilakukan selama 2 minggu. Setiap tiga hari dilakukan pengukuran bobot badan mencit. Setelah dua minggu, kelompok 2, kelompok 3, dan kelompok 4 diinjeksi LPS selama 8 jam untuk menginduksi sepsis. Selanjutnya, diukur bobot badan dan skor sepsis menggunakan murine sepsis score (MSS). Analisis statistik menggunakan ANOVA dan Uji Kruskal-Wallis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbedaan bobot badan pada kelompok perlakuan (3 dan 4) dibanding dengan kelompok kontrol yang menunjukkan ECGR tidak berpengaruh dalam menurunkan bobot badan mencit. Skor sepsis lebih dari 21 pada kelompok yang diinduksi LPS (2, 3, dan 4) menunjukkan LPS dapat menyebabkan sepsis. Terdapat sedikit penurunan skor pada kelompok 3 dan 4 dibanding dengan kelompok 2. Simpulan penelitian ini, pengobatan ECGR tidak membahayakan bobot badan dan mengakibatkan sedikit penurunan skor sepsis pada mencit model sepsis.

Pemilihan jenis krioprotektan merupakan salah satu kunci keberhasilan dalam mempertahankan motilitas dan viabilitas sperma pascavitrifikasi. Secara konvensional, vitrifikasi menggunakan konsentrasi krioprotektan dan laju kecepatan pembekuan yang tinggi untuk menghindari pembentukan kristal es intra dan ekstraseluler yang menyebabkan kerusakan dan kematian pada sel. Berdasar atas kemampuan menembus membran sel, krioprotektan dibedakan menjadi krioprotektan ekstra dan intraseluler. Sperma manusia memiliki struktur morfologi yang sangat padat dan sedikit mengandung sitoplasma sehingga perpindahan cairan selama proses vitrifkasi sangat kecil. Selain itu, sperma manusia juga mengandung beberapa jenis protein yang dapat berfungsi sebagai krioprotektan intraseluler. Berdasar atas kondisi tersebut, penggunaan krioprotektan pada vitrifkasi sperma manusia memerlukan studi lebih lanjut. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Laboratorium Sentral Universitas Padjadjaran dan dilaksanakan pada bulan Desember 2017–Januari 2018.Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui motilitas dan viabilitas sperma pascavitrifikasi dengan menggunakan tipe krioprotektan yang berbeda dan kombinasi keduanya. Earle’s balanced salt solution digunakan sebagai krioprotekan ekstraseluler, sementara EG 0,57% sebagai krioprotektan intraseluler. Sampel yang telah ditambahkan medium vitrifikasi diequilibrasi selama 10 menit, kemudian dikemas di dalam straw 0,25 mL dan langsung dipaparkan ke dalam nitrogen cair. Evaluasi dilakukan dengan melakukan thawing setelah 24 jam penyimpanan. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa motilitas dan viabilitas sperma tertinggi pada kelompok yang menggunakan media vitrifikasi krioprotektan ekstraseluler, walaupun secara statistik tidak berbeda nyata dengan kelompok lainnya (34%; 50%; p

The spread of zoonoses between humans and animals can increase with the presence of specific contacts between the two. As well as intensive contact between farmer and goat. Anemia is a common hematologic change encountered in infection and zoonoses so it can be used as an early indicator for zoonoses. Nevertheless, anemia itself cannot lead to a specific etiology thus differential leukocyte count and goat fecal examination can be a good supporting test. Understanding the etiologies of the disease is critically important in preventing the decline in human’s quality of life as well as economic losses. This cross-sectional study included 30 farmers who were recruited by purposive sampling method. They agreed to do a CBC examination with 22 parameters. From the test, 37% of them showed mild anemia. There were 45% farmers with microcytic hypochromic anemia while the rest had normocytic normochromic anemia. There was an increased number in eosinophil and segmented neutrophil from anemic farmers, 18% and 9% respectively. Besides, 13% of goats physical examination indicated as below normal conditions characterized by lean bodies, lymph node swelling, and pale mucosa. Whereas 38% goat’s fecal test showed evidence of Strongyle eggs. The research suggests a possible interrelation between animals, humans, and the environment with an increased risk of zoonoses. Anemia and eosinophilia that occur can be an early marker which will be decisive not only for the success of the disease progression reduction but also the long term suppression of the economic loss.

Sperm morphology is an important parameter to be observed in the male fertility. Some of the bioactive compounds of cogongrass root such as alkaloid and terpenoid, affect male fertility by interference the spermatogenesis. The objective of the study was to observe the effect of cogongrass root ethanol extract on mouse sperm morphology. This study was carried out by oral administration of two different doses i.e 90 and 115 mg/kg body weight of cogongrass root ethanol extract into 8-10 weeks old DDY strain mice for 14 days to evaluated the acute effect due to the administration of cogongrass root ethanol extract on mouse sperm morphology. The results showed that treatment with cogongrass root ethanol extract significantly increased sperm abnormalities followed a dose depending pattern (p

ABSTRAK. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui pengaruh keberadaan corpus luteum (CL) pada ovarium domba umur pubertas awal terhadap kualitas oosit hasil koleksi dan tingkat maturasinya secara in vitro (IVM). Sebanyak 279 oosit digunakan, terbagi pada kelompok tanpa CL (CL-) sebanyak 143 dan dengan CL (CL+) sebanyak 136. Oosit dipilih berdasarkan homogenitas sitoplasma dan dikelompokkan sesuai jumlah lapisan sel kumulus yaitu grade 1 (4 lapis), grade 2 (3–4 lapis) dan grade 3 (0–2 lapis). Media IVM menggunakan Tissue Culture Media 199 ditambah antibiotik, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, dan 10% Fetal Bovine Serum. Maturasi dilakukan pada inkubator 38,5°C, 5% CO2 selama 24 jam. Pasca IVM, tingkat kematangan oosit dievaluasi berdasar kemunculan Polar Body I (PB I). Hasil menunjukkan bahwa keberadaan CL tidak berpengaruh terhadap kualitas oosit yang dikoleksi pada semua grade. Keberadaan CL berpengaruh pada tingkat kematangan oosit pada grade 1 sebesar 48,64% dibandingkan CL- sebesar 47,19% (p0,05). Berdasarkan hasil penelitian disimpulkan bahwa berpengaruh pada tingkat kematangan oosit setelah IVM. Hasil penelitian menggambarkan potensi penggunaan oosit ternak umur pubertas awal untuk digunakan lebih lanjut dalam program produksi embrio secara in vitro. (Effect of the presence of corpus luteum on oocytes quality and in vitro maturation rate of ewes at early puberty) ABSTRACT. This study aims to know effect of presence of corpus luteum (CL) to collected oocytes quality and its maturation rate post in vitro maturation (IVM), on local ewes ovary at early puberty. In total 279 oocytes were collected, 143 without CL (CL-) and 136 with CL present (CL+). Oocytes were selected according to sitoplasma hemogenity, divided into 3 grades according to cumulus cell (CC) layer namely Grade 1, 2 and 3 indicated by 4, 3–4, and 0–2 CC layers, respectively. The IVM media was Tissue Culture Media 199 supplemented with antibiotic, Follicel Stimulating Hormone, and 10% Fetal Bovine Serum following culture at 38.5°C and 5% CO2. Twenty four hours post IVM, oocytes were evaluated on the presence of Polar Body I. Result showed that oocytes quality were not different among group in all grades. The present of CL gives better maturation rate in grade 1 compared to CL- (48.64 vs 47.19%; p0.05). The present finding show that the presence of CL improves oocytes maturation rate post IVM. Moreover, this study shows the potency of using oocytes from ewes ovary at early puberty for further in vitro embryo production program

Objective: To examine the association between different concentrations of leukocyte and sperm recovery rate after sperms are prepared using density gradient method and pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination (IUI). Increased leukocytes in semen have been associated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) that reduces sperm quality. Methods: Semen samples that were collected from 31 male partners of couples undergoing infertility investigation were analyzed for sperm concentration, motility, and leucocytes concentration. Semen samples were then divided in two groups based on their leucocytes concentrations (category A: >0 to 1 x 106/mL. Semen samples were processed using density-gradient centrifugation technique. Results: There was a significant difference in the number of sperms harvested and sperm motility after preparation. Interestingly, pregnancy rate after IUI was higher (p

Food deprivation is one of the extreme conditions that mammals have to survive. The majority of the tissues, excluding the brain and red blood cells, depend on the fatty acids (FA) utilization to produce energy. We recently showed in mice lacking for CD36 (CD36−/−), the uptake of FA is limited with dramatically increased of glucose uptake in heart and skeletal muscle in fasted condition, indicating a compensatory mechanism of organ to fulfill an energy demand. The liver is the central tissue maintaining metabolic homeostasis in fasted state. Synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the mitochondria via beta-oxidation was mediated by carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a). The objective of this research was to explore the role of CD36 in CPT1a expression in the fasted state. This research was conducted at Gunma University Japan in 2015. The method was in vivo-experimental, that we used CD36−/− and wild-type (WT) mice, as a control. The gene expression of CPT1a was measured by real-time PCR. Fasting condition up regulated mRNA expression of CPT1a in both WT and CD36−/− mice in 24 h and 48 h. However in CD36−/− mice, the mRNA expression of CPT1a in 24 h fasted state was lower very significantly than WT mice (p

Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) has been known as traditional herb because of its antioxidant activity. The oxidant level in the body increases linearly with age. Antioxidant works by decreasing the vulnerability of mammalian spermatozoa towards free radical attack. This study aimed to determine whether the active compound of Imperata cyclindrica root extract improved or damaged sperm function in old mice. This was a complete randomized study performed in the Mouse Animal Laboratory Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran during the period of August to December 2017. This study was carried out by oral administration of three different doses i.e 115, 230, and 345 mg/kg body weight of cogon grass root ethanol extract into 24- weeks-old DDY strain mice for 14 days. Results showed no significant difference in body weight and testicular index before and after treatment (p