Showing papers by "Gadjah Mada University published in 2006"

Pygmoid Australomelanesian Homo sapiens skeletal remains from Liang Bua, Flores: population affinities and pathological abnormalities.

Abstract: Liang Bua 1 (LB1) exhibits marked craniofacial and postcranial asymmetries and other indicators of abnormal growth and development. Anomalies aside, 140 cranial features place LB1 within modern human ranges of variation, resembling Australomelanesian populations. Mandibular and dental features of LB1 and LB6/1 either show no substantial deviation from modern Homo sapiens or share features (receding chins and rotated premolars) with Rampasasa pygmies now living near Liang Bua Cave. We propose that LB1 is drawn from an earlier pygmy H. sapiens population but individually shows signs of a developmental abnormality, including microcephaly. Additional mandibular and postcranial remains from the site share small body size but not microcephaly.

Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment in Indonesia

Abstract: OBJECTIVE A major reason for poor survival of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in developing countries is treatment refusal or abandonment This can be associated with parental socioeconomic status and attitudes of health care providers Our study examined the influence of 2 socioeconomic status determinants, parental income and education, on treatment in an Indonesian academic hospital METHODS Medical charts of 164 patients who received a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia between 1997 and 2002 were abstracted retrospectively Data on treatment results and parental financial and educational background were collected Open interviews were conducted with parents and health care providers RESULTS Of all patients, 35% refused or abandoned treatment, 23% experienced treatment-related death, 22% had progressive or relapsed leukemia, and 20% had an overall event-free survival Treatment results differed significantly between patients with different socioeconomic status; 47% of poor and 2% of prosperous patients refused or abandoned treatment Although poor and prosperous patients used the same protocol, the provided treatment differed Poor patients received less individualized attention from oncologists and less structured parental education Strong social hierarchical structures hindered communication with doctors, resulting in a lack of parental understanding of the necessity to continue treatment Most poor patients could not afford treatment Access to donated chemotherapy also was inadequate Treatment refusal or abandonment frequently resulted There was no follow-up system to detect and contact dropouts Health care providers were not fully aware that their own attitude and communication skills were important for ensuring compliance of patients and parents CONCLUSIONS Children9s survival of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in developing countries could improve if problems that are associated with parental financial and educational background and medical teams9 attitudes to treatment and follow-up could be addressed better

Single-Assay Combination of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) EBNA1- and Viral Capsid Antigen-p18-Derived Synthetic Peptides for Measuring Anti-EBV Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA Antibody Levels in Sera from Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients: Options for Field Screening

Abstract: Assessment of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody responses to various Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigen complexes, usually involving multiple serological assays, is important for the early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Through combination of two synthetic peptides representing immunodominant epitopes of EBNA1 and viral capsid antigen (VCA)-p18 we developed a one-step sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the specific detection of EBV reactive IgG and IgA antibodies in NPC patients (EBV IgG/IgA ELISA). Sera were obtained from healthy donors (n = 367), non-NPC head and neck cancer patients (n = 43), and biopsy-proven NPC patients (n = 296) of Indonesian and Chinese origin. Higher values of optical density at 450 nm for EBV IgG were observed in NPC patients compared to the healthy EBV carriers, but the large overlap limits its use for NPC diagnosis. Using either EBNA1 or VCA-p18 peptides alone IgA ELISA correctly identified 88.5% and 79.8% of Indonesian NPC patients, with specificities of 80.1% and 70.9%, whereas combined single-well coating with both peptides yielded sensitivity and specificity values of 90.1 and 85.4%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively) for the combined EBNA1 plus VCA EBV IgA ELISA were 78.7% and 93.9%, respectively. In the Indonesia panel, the level of EBV IgA reactivity was not associated with NPC tumor size, lymph node involvement, and metastasis stage, sex, and age group. In the China panel the sensitivity/specificity values were 86.2/92.0% (EBNA1 IgA) and 84.1/90.3% (VCA-p18 IgA) for single-peptide assays and 95.1/90.6% for the combined VCA plus EBNA1 IgA ELISA, with a PPV and an NPV for the combined EBV IgA ELISA of 95.6 and 89.3%, respectively. Virtually all NPC patients had abnormal anti-EBV IgG diversity patterns as determined by immunoblot analysis. On the other hand, healthy EBV carriers with positive EBV IgA ELISA result showed normal IgG diversity patterns. By using EBV IgG immunoblot diversity as confirmation assay for EBV IgA ELISA-positive samples, the sensitivity and specificity for NPC diagnosis increased to 98% and 99.2%, respectively, in the Indonesian NPC samples. The use of these combined methods for seroepidemiological screening studies is proposed.

‘If I don’t smoke, I'm not a real man'—Indonesian teenage boys' views about smoking

Abstract: With a lack of tobacco control and regulation at the national level, Indonesia has been targeted by many national and transnational tobacco companies. The prevalence of youth smokers in Indonesia in 2005 was 38% among boys and 5.3% among girls. The aim of this study was to describe and analyse beliefs, norms and values about smoking among teenage boys in a rural setting in Java, Indonesia. Six focus group discussions with boys aged 13-17 years were conducted using a thematic discussion guide. Four themes were derived from the descriptive content analysis: (i) smoking as a culturally internalized habit, (ii) striving to become a man, (iii) the way we smoke is not dangerous and (iv) the struggle against dependency. Cultural resistance against women smoking in Indonesia remains strong. The use of tobacco in the construction of masculinity underlines the importance of gender-specific intervention. National tobacco control policy should emphasize a smoking-free society as the norm, especially among boys and men, and regulations regarding the banning of smoking should be enforced at all levels and areas of community. A comprehensive community intervention programme on smoking prevention and cessation should be a major focus of tobacco control policies in Indonesia.

Preventable risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in rural Indonesia: prevalence study using WHO STEPS approach

Abstract: Objective To gain a better understanding of the health transition in Indonesia, we sought to describe the prevalence and distribution of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases and to identify the risk-factor burden among a rural population and an urban population. Methods Using the protocol of the WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS), risk factors for noncommunicable diseases were determined for 1502 men and 1461 women aged 15–74 years at the Purworejo Demographic Surveillance Site in 2001. Findings Smoking prevalence was high among men (913/1539; weighted percentage = 53.9.%) in both rural and urban populations; it was almost non-existent among women. A higher proportion of the urban population and the richest quintile of the rural population had high blood pressure and were classified as being overweight or obese when compared with the poorest quintile of the rural population. Those classified as being in the richest quintile who lived in the rural area were 1.5 times more likely to have raised blood pressure and 8 times more likely to be overweight than those classified as being in the poorest quintile and living in the rural area. Clustering of risk factors was higher among those classified as being in the richest quintile of those living in the rural area compared with those classified as being in the poorest quintile; and the risks of clustering were just 20–30% lower compared with the urban population. Conclusion Both the rural and urban populations in Purworejo face an unequally distributed burden of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases. The burden among the most well-off group in the rural area has already reached a level similar to that found in the urban area. The implementation of the WHO STEPS approach was feasible, and it provides a comprehensive picture of the burden of risk factors, allowing appropriate health interventions to be implemented to address health inequities.

Reduction in Phytic Acid Levels in Soybeans During Tempeh Production, Storage and Frying

Abstract: Tempeh was prepared from Delmar variety soybeans inoculated with the traditional Indonesian inoculum (usar) and two pure culture strains of the mould Rhizopus oligosporus (BTU3K1 and CT11K2). The preparatory treatments during tempeh production decreased the phytic acid content (% dry weight) of soybeans, except for the fist soaking which significantly increased the phytic acid content. The phytic acid content of soaked soybeans was halved during tempeh fermentation and was further reduced when tempeh was stored for 72 hr at 5° and at 30°C. Deep fat frying of tempeh in peanut oil further halved the phytic acid content. Less than 10% of the phytic acid remained after tempeh fermentation, storage and frying.

Combining risk factors and demographic surveillance: Potentials of WHO STEPS and INDEPTH methodologies for assessing epidemiological transition:

Abstract: AIMS: Demographic surveillance systems (DSSs) create platforms to monitor population dynamics. This paper discusses the potential of combining the WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) with ...

AQP and the Control of Fluid Transport in a Salivary Gland

Abstract: Experiments were performed with the perfused rat submandibular gland in vitro to investigate the nature of the coupling between transported salt and water by varying the osmolarity of the source bath and observing the changes in secretory volume flow. Glands were submitted to hypertonic step changes by changing the saline perfusate to one containing different levels of sucrose. The flow rate responded by falling to a lower value, establishing a new steady-state flow. The rate changes did not correspond to those expected from a system in which fluid production is due to simple osmotic equilibration, but were much larger. The changes were fitted to a model in which fluid production is largely paracellular, the rate of which is controlled by an osmosensor system in the basal membrane. The same experiments were done with glands from rats that had been bred to have very low levels of AQP5 (the principal aquaporin of the salivary acinar cell) in which little AQP5 is expressed at the basal membrane. In these rats, salivary secretion rates after hypertonic challenges were small and best modelled by simple osmotic equilibration. In rats which had intermediate AQP5 levels the changes in flow rate were similar to those of normal rats although their AQP5 levels were reduced.

Development to the blastocyst stage, the oxidative state, and the quality of early developmental stage of porcine embryos cultured in alteration of glucose concentrations in vitro under different oxygen tensions

Abstract: Recent work has shown that glucose may induce cell injury through the action of free radicals generated by autooxidation or through hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase inhibition. The effect of glucose during early in vitro culture (IVC) period of porcine embryos on their developmental competence, contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH), and the quality of the blastocysts yielded was examined. In vitro matured and fertilized porcine oocytes were cultured for the first 2 days (Day 0 = day of fertilization) of IVC in NCSU-37 added with 1.5 to 20 mM glucose (Gluc-1.5 to -20 groups) or pyruvate and lactate (Pyr-Lac group). The embryos in all groups were cultured subsequently until Day 6 in NCSU-37 with 5.5 mM added glucose. The ROS and GSH level were measured at Day 1 and 2. DNA-fragmented nuclei and the total cell numbers in blastocyst were evaluated by TUNEL-staining at Day 6. Under 5% oxygen the blastocyst rates and total cell numbers in the blastocysts in all glucose groups were significantly lower than that in the Pyr-Lac group. Similar result in blastocyst rate was found under 20% oxygen (excluding the Gluc-10 group), but total cell numbers in the blastocysts was similar among the groups. At both oxygen tensions, the H2O2 levels of Day 1 embryos in all glucose groups were significantly higher than that in the Pyr-Lac group, while only the Gluc-1.5 group of Day 2 embryos showed a significantly higher H2O2 level than that in the Pyr-Lac group. The GSH contents of either Day 1 or Day 2 embryos developed under 5% oxygen were similar among the groups. Only the content of Day 2 embryos in 1.5 mM group was significantly lower than the embryos in the Pyr-Lac group under 20% oxygen. Total cell numbers in the blastocysts (except in the Gluc-20 group) were significantly lower in the embryos cultured under 20% oxygen than 5% oxygen. Only the Gluc-20 blastocysts developed under 5% oxygen showed significantly higher DNA fragmentation rate than those of Pyr-Lac blastocysts. These results show that a decrease in developmental ability of embryos cultured by use of glucose instead of pyruvate and lactate after the ferilization may be due to the rise in ROS generation in Day 1 embryos. Moreover, results from this study suggest that the concentration of glucose in the medium that can be used by the Day 1–2 embryos is limited to 3.5 mM and exposure to higher glucose concentrations does not improve embryo development.

Studies on callus induction, plant regeneration and transformation of Javanica rice cultivars

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop a reproducible efficient procedure for the transformation of Javanica rice cultivars from Indonesia. Five rice cultivars cultivated in Indonesia now were examined for their capacity on the callus growth, plant regeneration and transformation. Their potential was affected by genotype and medium. Regarding the quality of callus, type I calli produced higher plant regeneration frequency than type II calli. So type I calli were inoculated with A. tumefaciens harboring binary plasmid pAFT14, which had a hygromycin resistance (hpt) gene and a gus gene. In this study, we examined two media for two steps in the tissue culture process for transformation, i.e. callus inducing and plant regeneration. The results show that C-modified medium was the suitable media for callus induction in the most Javanica rice cultivars. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system has been extended to five Javanica rice cultivars. Among them, Rojolele consistently gave the best performance.

Molecular phylogeny of Dipterocarpaceae in Indonesia based on chloroplast DNA

Abstract: In order to construct a molecular phylogeny of Indonesian Dipterocarpoideae (Dipterocarpaceae), PCR-RFLP of the chloroplast regions rbcL, petB, psbA, psaA, and trnL-F was performed with seven restriction enzymes in 129 samples including 58 species from nine genera. In the strict consensus tree with Monotes kerstingii as outgroup Indonesian Dipterocarpaceae were divided into two major clades. One clade (bootstrap value=71) consisted of Upuna, Cotylelobium, Anisoptera, Vatica, Dipterocarpus (tribe Dipterocarpeae, bootstrap value=83) and Dryobalanops (tribe Shoreae, bootstrap value=99) in a basal position. The second clade consisted of Hopea, Parashorea, and Shorea (tribe Shoreae) with 95% bootstrap support. Tribe Dipterocarpeae is monophyletic, tribe Shoreae is polyphyletic since Dryobalanops is sister to tribe Dipterocarpeae. In the neighbour-joining tree the sister group position of Dryobalanops to tribe Dipterocarpeae is not supported by the bootstrap analysis. Alternatively, we used Upuna borneensis as outgroup. The effect of outgroup selection on tree topology, taxonomic classification and the interpretation of character evolution is discussed.

Protective effect of the isoflavone equol against DNA damage induced by ultraviolet radiation to hairless mouse skin

Abstract: Equol, an isoflavonoid metabolite produced from the dietary isoflavone daidzein by the gut microflora in mammals, has been found to protect not only against ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced cutaneous inflammation and photoimmune suppression, but also have anti-photocarcinogenic properties in mice. Because the state of DNA damage has been correlated with suppression of the immune system and photocarcinogenesis, we have therefore examined the potential of equol to offer protection from solar-simulated UV (SSUV) radiation-induced DNA damage in hairless mice by the immunohistochemical approach using monoclonal antibody specific for cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs; H3 antibody). Topical application of 20 µM equol lotion, which was applied both before and after SSUV significantly reduced the number of CPDs. This reduction was evident immediately after SSUV exposure, at 1 h after exposure, and at 24 h after exposure, revealing 54%, 50%, and 26% reduction in CPDs, respectively. When the same concentration was applied for 5 consecutive days after SSUV exposure, there was no significant difference in the reduction of CPDs immediately after SSUV irradiation or at 1 hour afterwards, but there were significant reductions of 23% and 42% at 24 and 48 h after SSUV exposure, respectively. Despite apparently reducing the number of CPDs post-SSUV, topically applied equol did not appear to increase the rate of dimer removal. To conclude, equol applied topically prior to SSUV irradiation offers protection against CPD formation in hairless mice, possibly by acting as a suncreen and thus inhibiting DNA photodamage.

Zebra Mussel Antifouling Activity of the Marine Natural Product Aaptamine and Analogs

Abstract: Several aaptamine derivatives were selected as potential zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) antifoulants because of the noteworthy absence of fouling observed on Aaptos sponges. Sponges of the genus Aaptos collected in Manado, Indonesia consistently produce aaptamine-type alkaloids. To date, aaptamine and its derivatives have not been carefully evaluated for their antifoulant properties. Structure–activity relationship studies were conducted using several aaptamine derivatives in a zebra mussel antifouling assay. From these data, three analogs have shown significant antifouling activity against zebra mussel attachment. Aaptamine, isoaaptamine, and the demethylated aaptamine compounds used in the zebra mussel assay produced EC50 values of 24.2, 11.6, and 18.6 μM, respectively. In addition, neither aaptamine nor isoaaptamine produced a phytotoxic response (as high as 300 μM) toward a nontarget organism, Lemna pausicostata, in a 7-day exposure. The use of these aaptamine derivatives from Aaptos sp. as potential environmentally benign antifouling alternatives to metal-based paints and preservatives is significant, not only as a possible control of fouling organisms, but also to highlight the ecological importance of these and similar biochemical defenses.

Morphological Study of the Transition of Haematopoietic Sites in the Developing Mouse During the Peri‐natal Period

Abstract: Summary The transition of fetal haematopoietic sites in mice was examined histologically from 12.5-day embryos (E12.5) until 10 days of age (D10), and the expression of the adhesive molecules VCAM-1 and fibronectin was examined immunohistologically. Erythropoiesis occurred in the liver (E12.5–18.5), spleen (E18.5–D4) and bone marrow (D6–10), in that sequence. Even at D10, some erythropoiesis occurred in the liver, and more so in the spleen, although the active haematopoietic site was the bone marrow. Similarly, granulopoiesis of neutrophils occurred in the liver, spleen and bone marrow in turn. Granulopoiesis still occurred in the spleen at D10, but no neutrophils were found in the liver after D4. VCAM-1 appeared in the liver, spleen and bone marrow in parallel with active erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis. The co-expression of VCAM-1 and fibronectin was recognized in the endothelial cells of the sinus at the onset of haematopoiesis. This study showed that haematopoiesis in the liver, spleen and bone marrow overlapped peri-natally, although it shifted sequentially. VCAM-1 appears to be closely associated with erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis, and the co-expression of VCAM-1 and fibronectin plays a role in inducing haematopoietic stem cells to move to the tissues.

The Best Biobriquette Dimension and its Particle Size

Abstract: Indonesia has abundant supply of biomass, where some portions become waste after its utilization. In order to minimize environmental pollution and extract its energy content, the waste must be burned. However it can not be used directly due to its disadvantageous characteristics. Normally it is densified in form of briquettes. Some experiments have been carried out to investigate the best briquette dimension. Briquettes are formed cylindrical with a diameter of 13 mm and made from 75% of wooden saw dust added with 25% of lignite in order to improve its heating value and combustibility. Additionally they are mixed with 40% natural binder. In order to obtain the same initial weight of the briquette group, the following amount of biobriquettes are selected : 20 pieces of 3 gram briquette, 15 pieces of 4 gram briquette, and 12 pieces of 5 gram briquette. Combustion air are supplied with three different velocities (i.e. 0.3 m/s, 0.4 m/s, and 0.5 m/s), meanwhile its temperature is held constant at 70 o C. Those biobriquettes are placed onto a 11.7 cm diameter perforated plate which is located within a cylindrical combustion furnace where combustion air flows upward. The plate is suspended by a wire which hangs down from a constantly measuring electronic scale. As expected, it is concluded that smaller biobriquettes produce better combustion characteristics (especially combustion rate) due to larger specific surface area available for reaction. Other experiments have been conducted to investigate the influence of particle sizes which come together to form biobriquettes, however rice husk is used entirely to create the biobriquettes. There are 5 different particle sizes, i.e. more than 100 mesh, between 70 and 80 mesh, between 60 and 70 mesh, between 50 and 60 mesh, and between 40 and 50 mesh. The investigations reveal that the smaller the particle size, the lesser will be the porosity, and on the contrary, the more will be the density. Briquettes made from coarser rice husks tend to expand more significantly shortly after released from the briquetting machine. Results from the combustion tests show that lower porosities will hinder drying, devolatilization and char burning processes due to fewer free spaces for mass diffusion. Consequently its combustion rates will be lower. The combustion period will be longer. On the average, briquettes from the largest particle burn only for 19.25 s, while those from the smallest particle react until 28 s. Furthermore more unburned carbon is left at the combustion termination, i.e only 16% for briquettes from the largest particle compared to 33% for briquettes from the tiniest particles. It can be concluded from those experiments that briquette dimensions should be as small as possible but their composing particles should be as coarse as possible. Combining those requirements, each briquette should be an impervious single very small unit.

Genetic variation at AFLPs for the Dipterocarpaceae and its relation to molecular phylogenies and taxonomic subdivisions.

Abstract: Genetic differentiation was investigated among 54 Indonesian species of Dipterocarpaceae, a dominant tree family in Asian tropical rainforests, using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. The tree developed from the resultant unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages clearly separated all investigated dipterocarps into two major groups that corresponded to tribe Dipterocarpeae and tribe Shoreae, respectively. These results are in accordance with the topology of molecular phylogenetic trees derived from PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of chloroplast DNA and generally support the traditional taxonomic assessments. The possibility of interspecific hybridization is also discussed.

Comparison of multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification to immunohistochemistry for assessing HER-2/neu amplification in invasive breast cancer

Abstract: The HER-2/neu transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor is both a prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for breast cancer. Accurate determination of HER-2/neu status is a prerequisite for selecting breast tumors for HER-2/neu immunotherapy or for taxan based chemotherapy. Unfortunately, there is no consensus concerning how this determination should be reached. We compared assessment of HER-2/neu status using Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The patient group comprised 60 Indonesian breast cancers patients. IHC was performed on paraffin sections using the CB11 antibody from Novocastra. Results were scored according to the Hercept test. For MLPA, DNA was extracted from frozen samples, PCR amplified with a probe set containing three hemi-primer sets for the HER-2 locus and another nine control probes spread over chromosome 17 and other chromosomes, and analyzed on a gene scanner. A ratio above two for at least two HER-2 locus probes compared to the control probes was regarded as amplification. IHC for HER-2/neu was negative in 36 cases, and 24 cases (40%) showed expression. Seven, eight and nine of the latter cases were 1+, 2+ and 3+ positive, respectively. Forty-seven cases showed no amplification by MLPA, and 13 cases (22%) were amplified. Comparison of IHC and MPLA showed that none of the 36 IHC-negative or seven IHC 1+ cases was amplified. Five of the eight (63%) 2+ cases were amplified, and eight of nine (89%) of the IHC 3+ tumors showed gene amplification by MLPA assay. For HER-2/neu, there is a good correlation between gene amplification detected by MLPA and overexpression by IHC in invasive breast cancer. It appears that MLPA can detect the HER-2 amplified cases in the IHC 2+ class. Because MLPA is quick and inexpensive, it is an attractive method for detecting HER-2/neu amplification in daily laboratory practice.

Studi atas Belanja Modal pada Anggaran Pemerintah Daerah dalam Hubungannya dengan Belanja Pemeliharaan dan Sumber Pendapatan

Abstract: Indonesian Abstract: Pembuatan kebijakan pengalokasian anggaran belanja modal berbeda dengan pengalokasian belanja pemeliharaan untuk aset tetap yang dihasilkan dari belanja tersebut (Bland & Nunn 1992). Selain itu, untuk belanja modal tertentu terkait dengan sumber pendapatan atau pendanaan yang tersedia. Hasil studi yang dilakukan dengan model yang sederhana menunjukkan bahwa alokasi untuk belanja modal berasosiasi positif terhadap belanja pemeliharaan untuk konteks pemerintahan daerah di Indonesia setelah otonomi daerah dilaksanakan. Besaran belanja modal berasosiasi dengan pendapatan daerah yang bersumber dari pemerintah pusat, tapi tidak dengan pendapatan sendiri.

Review : Animal Models Of Diabetes Mellitus : Pathology And Mechanism Of Some Diabetogenics

Abstract: Animal models of diabetes mellitus were made and used in laboratorium according to the pathology of diabetic patient and its complications. Animal models of diabetes mellitus were designed by two methods: induced method such as pancreatectomy, chemicals (diabetogenic), viruses, and spontaneous method such BB (bio breeding) rats and NOD (non-obese diabetic) mice. The techniques of animal models of diabetes mellitus frequently used in the research were usage of diabetogenic such as alloxan and streptozotocin. Alloxan and its reduction metabolite (dialuric acid) establish a redox cycle and form superoxide radicals, and they undergo dismutation to hydrogen peroxide. By Fenton reaction, the formation of reactive hydroxyl radicals was stimulated. These radicals with high concentration of cytosolic calcium cause rapid destruction of I² cells. Besides, streptozotocin enters the I² cell through a glucose transporter (GLUT2), and stimulates superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals which in turn causes rapid destruction of I² cells. Streptozotocin also releases toxic amounts of nitric oxide that inhibits aconitase activity and contributes in DNA damage.© 2006 Jurusan Biologi FMIPA UNS SurakartaKey words: animal models, diabetes mellitus, alloxan, streptozotocin.

Biological monitoring of solar UV radiation at 17 sites in Asia, Europe and South America from 1999 to 2004.

Abstract: A small and robust dosimeter for determining the biologically effective dose of ambient UV radiation has been developed using UV-sensitive mutant spores of Bacillus subtilis strain TKJ6312. A membrane filter with four spots of the spores was snapped to a slide mount. The slide was wrapped and covered with two or more layers of polyethylene sheet to protect the sample from rain and snow and to reduce monthly-cumulative doses within the measurable range. From 1999, monthly data were collected at 17 sites for more than 1 year, and data for 4 to 6 consecutive years were obtained from 12 sites. Yearly total values of the spore inactivation dose (SID) ranged from 3200 at subarctic Oulu to 96 000 at tropical Denpasar, and the mean yearly values of SID exhibited an exponential dependence on latitude in both hemispheres with a doubling for about every 14 degrees of change. During the observation period, increasing trends of UV doses have been observed at all sites with more than 5 years of data available. Year-to-year variations at high and middle latitude sites are considered due mostly to climatic variation. At three tropical sites, negative correlations between the yearly doses and the column ozone amounts were observed. The results verified the applicability of spore dosimetry for global and long-time monitoring of solar UV radiation, in particular at tropical sites where no monitoring is taking place.

Antioxidant activities, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of ethyl acetate extract of Mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia, L) fruit and its fractions

Abstract: This present study was carried out to evaluate antioxidant activities, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of ethyl acetate extract of Mengkudu fruit and its fractions. Ethyl acetate extract was fractionated by column chromatography and yielded 15 fractions based on the identical TLC (thin layer chromatography) profile. Antioxidant activities in ethyl acetate extract and its fractions were determined by radical scavenging assay using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl) radical. The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically. Among 15 fractions of ethyl acetate extract evaluated, fraction 8 (IC50 5,49 μg/mL) and fraction 7 (IC50 7,90 μg/mL) revealed antioxidant activities that higher than that of vitamin E (IC50 8,27 μg/mL). The total phenolic contents ranged from 5.94 ± 0.08 to 36.52 ± 0.35 g of gallic acid equivalent/100 gram dry material whereas the total flavonoid contents ranged from 1.19 ± 0.02 to 17.65 ± 0.17 g of quercetin equivalent/100 gram dry material. A linier positive relationship existed between the antioxidant activities and total phenolic contents of the tested ethyl acetate extract and its fractions y = -1.220x + 44.022; r2 = 0.67, while the correlation between antioxidant activities and total flavonoid contents revealed a linier regression y = -2.202 x + 35.82; r2 = 0.4278. Key words: antioxidant activity, Morinda citrifolia , L, Fraction

Flower Bud Culture of Shallot ( Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group) with Cytogenetic Analysis of Resulting Gynogenic Plants and Somaclones

Abstract: Unpollinated flower culture was applied for induction of gynogenesis and somatic organogenesis in three shallot strains, ‘Dili-white’, ‘Yogya’ and ‘Dili-red’, from Indonesia. Chromosome surveys were performed on the plants obtained. From a total of 6,812 flowers, 89 plantlets were obtained by gynogenesis, of which 10 could be acclimated. Most of the plantlets were induced from ‘Dili-white’. Of the gynogenetic plants examined, two were haploid (2n = 8), four were naturally doubled haploid (2n = 16) and the remaining four were mixoploid (2n = 8, 16 or 2n = 16, 32, 64). ‘Dili-red’ showed the highest frequency of somatic organogenesis. Fifty-nine directly regenerated plants and 293 callus-derived plants were obtained from somatic organogenesis from the cultured flowers. Based on the chromosome number, frequencies of somaclonal variation were high both in the directly regenerated plants and the callus-derived plants. The frequency of tetraploid plants (2n = 32) in the former (50%) was higher than in the latter (33%). From these results we conclude that unpollinated flower culture is an effective method for chromosome doubling simultaneously with haploid induction in shallot.

Breast cancer in young women: prognostic factors and clinicopathological features

Abstract: Objective A young age at diagnosis of breast cancer as a negative prognostic factor is a controversial issue. Some reports indicate that breast cancer in young women has different clinicopathological characteristics than in the elderly, while others found no correlation between prognosis and age. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of breast cancer in young women compared with elderly patients. Material and methods Thirty-seven operable breast cancer patients below 40 years of age, treated with mastectomy or breast conserving treatment and radiation therapy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy and tamoxifen, were assessed clinically and pathologically. Tumor size, lymph node status, histological grade, mitotic index, presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors, c-erbB2 expression, p53 and the MIB-1 proliferation index were evaluated histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Prognostic factors were compared to those for breast cancer patients age 60 years and older, with special attention to recurrence, distant metastasis and five-year survival between two groups. Results Breast cancer in young women showed a more aggressive phenotype than in elderly patients, with a larger tumor size, more lymph node involvement, and higher c-erbB2 and p53 expression, although the latter were usually limited to more advanced stages. A higher MIB-1 proliferation index than in the elderly group was also noted, despite higher positivity and ER and PR. While adjuvant chemotherapy, including tamoxifen treatment, was more common, recurrence, metastasis and death were still higher than in elderly patients. Conclusion Thus a young age is associated with a poor prognosis in Indonesia.