The insidious progression of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) at early stages often hampers timely screening and diagnosis, resulting in delayed intervention and poor clinical outcomes. Ki-67 and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) have been widely studied for their roles in tumor proliferation and survival. However, comparative studies assessing their clinicopathological relevance in CRC progression remain limited, and their relative contributions to tumor aggressiveness are unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological significance and association of Ki-67 and STAT3 expression with tumor aggressiveness, focusing on their roles in tumor infiltration and size as indicators of CRC progression. Thirty-eight formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) CRC tissue specimens were collected from patients undergoing surgical resection for this cross-sectional study. Ki-67 and STAT3 expression were assessed using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Clinicopathological data were retrieved from medical records. Protein expression was quantified using inverted mean gray values via digital image analysis. Ki-67 and STAT3 expression levels significantly correlated with tumor infiltration (Ki-67: r = 0.322, p = 0.049; STAT3: r = 0.429, p = 0.007) and size (Ki-67: r = 0.425, p = 0.008; STAT3: r = 0.452, p = 0.004). No significant correlation was found between Ki-67 and STAT3 (r = 0.225, p = 0.175). Only STAT3 was independently associated with infiltration (OR per 1-standard deviation: 4.11, p = 0.043) and size (OR per 1-SD: 3.41, p = 0.047). While both markers are associated with CRC progression, only STAT3 shows an independent association with tumor aggressiveness, underscoring its role beyond cell proliferation and suggesting broader involvement in tumor invasion and progression pathways.

The growing global interest in herbal medicines underscores the importance of safety assessments for traditional plants. Physalis angulata L. (Ciplukan) demonstrates therapeutic potential, yet data on Indonesian extracts remain limited. This study evaluated the acute oral toxicity and determined the median lethal dose (LD50) of Indonesian Ciplukan extract. Twenty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups (n=5): control (aqueous), and four groups that received extract at 100, 400, 800, or 1200 mg/kg body weight. Over 14 days, researchers monitored clinical signs, body weight, food intake, and organ weights in accordance with Acute Oral Toxicity (OECD Test Guideline 425). Major organs were examined histopathological using the modified International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria. No mortality or significant behavioral changes were observed at any dose. Rats maintained normal body weight gain and food intake. The LD50 was determined to be exceeded 1200 mg/kg, indicating favourable acute safety. However, histopathological analysis revealed significant dose-dependent necrotic changes (p < 0.05) in the lungs, kidneys, liver, and spleen at doses of 400 mg/kg and above. Liver and spleen damage were detected first at this threshold. These findings indicate an LD50 above 1200 mg/kg body weight for Indonesian Ciplukan extract, supporting its acute safety. Nonetheless, subclinical organ toxicity occurred at doses of 400 mg/kg or higher, emphasizing the need for dose optimization in phytomedicine. The study provides regulatory-grade toxicological data to support evidence-based standardization of Indonesian herbal medicines and highlights the necessity for further research on sub chronic and chronic toxicity to establish safe therapeutic doses.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a disease characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from either insulin deficiency or insulin resistance. Candida albicans is a fungus generally found on the surface of the mucous membrane, which usually dominates and overgrows among DM patients. This study aims to identify the presence of the C. albicans fungus on the oral mucosa of individuals with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus at Bahteramas Hospital, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. A descriptive study was employed, and a purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 62 patients. Swab samples were cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar medium for Gram staining and carbohydrate assimilation tests. The resulting culture was tested using CHROMagarTM Candida (CAC) media. Among the 62 samples, 56 samples were identified to have a convex colony, a cream-color surface, a smooth texture, and a Gram-positive nature. The carbohydrate assimilation test showed that the indicated samples could ferment glucose and maltose, but not lactose and sucrose. Green colonies are formed through CHROMagarTM Candida differential media testing. There are 56 identification results for C. albicans from oral mucosal swab samples from 62 patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus at the Bahteramas Hospital, Southeast Sulawesi Province, yielding six other patients with negative results.

A pandemic known as COVID-19 is brought on by the RNA virus SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 has some protease enzymes, such as main proteases (Mpro), that regulate the expression of viral non-structural proteins. The Mpro protein is a possible target for SARS-CoV-2 antiviral therapy because the inhibition of Mpro will disrupt the virus replication process and stop the virus life cycle. Lemongrass is an Indonesian spice with bioactive compounds whose benefits have not been widely explored, especially as an antiviral for SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to identify potential bioactive chemicals in lemongrass that have antiviral properties for treating COVID-19. This methodology research began by preparing the bioactive compounds of lemongrass and Mpro protein. Using Lipinski’s rule of five, the nine bioactive chemicals found in lemongrass were examined to see how similar they were as therapeutic compounds. Next, PyRx 0.8 (Virtual Screening Tool) and PyMOL were used to perform molecular docking and its interaction with the Mpro protein. Diethyl phthalate has antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity with low binding energy (-5.8 kcal/mol) for Mpro and is stably bound (RMSF < 3Å) via hydrophobic bonds (His41, Met165) and hydrogen bonds (Phe140, His163, His164, Glu166, Gln189). It is concluded that diethyl phthalate on lemongrass demonstrated high promise as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 viral replication based on the findings of the comprehensive investigation of these bioactive chemicals.

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a critical global health concern, necessitating the exploration of novel antibacterial solutions. Endophytic bacteria, which colonize plant tissues without causing harm, have gained attention as potential sources of bioactive metabolites. This study aimed to isolate and characterize endophytic bacteria from Bambusa vulgaris leaves and evaluate their antibacterial potential against pathogenic microorganisms. Leaf samples were collected from Bekasi, West Java, and subjected to a surface sterilization process prior to bacterial isolation. A total of 12 bacterial strains were successfully obtained and screened for antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Propionibacterium acnes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus epidermidis using the agar well diffusion assay. Three isolates exhibited notable inhibitory activity, with P8 demonstrating the strongest antibacterial effects against B. subtilis, P. acnes, and S. epidermidis. The two most potent isolates, P8 and K3, were characterized via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Genomic DNA extraction was performed, followed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification using the universal primers 27F (5′-AGAGTTTGATYMTGGCTCAG-3′) and 1492R (5′-GGTTACCTTGTTACGACTT-3′). Sequencing and The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis confirmed that isolate P8 exhibited 100% similarity to B. subtilis strain LZH-H1, whereas isolate K3 shared 99.85% similarity with Pantoea stewartii subsp. indologenes strain SR2-12. These findings suggest that endophytic bacteria from B. vulgaris endohytic bacteria hold promise as potential sources of antibacterial compounds. Further research is necessary to purify and characterize these bioactive metabolites for potential pharmaceutical applications.

Mosquito coils are made from incense products and are designed to repel insects using pyrethrins and pyrethroids as their main active ingredients. However, the use of these coils poses significant public health and ecological risks due to the emitted toxic fumes. These fumes can have long-term damaging effects on humans and the environment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of various durations of subacute exposure to mosquito coil smoke (MCS) on lung histology and blood hematology in white male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). Rats were divided into four groups (n = 6): control; P1, P2, and P3, exposed to MCS for 5, 7, and 9 h per day, respectively, for 21 days. Hematological blood analyses (red cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct)) were performed, and lung histopathology was evaluated using Manja Roenigk's criteria. The group exposed to MCS for 9 h/day showed a significant decrease in mean body weight (185.00 ± 9.59) (p = 0.008) compared with the control group. All treated groups had normal Hb and Hct levels and RBC indices, with no significant differences compared with the control group. The 9-hour exposure group had significantly lower lung weights than the control group (p<0.05), and all treatment groups showed significant differences in lung weight (p<0.05). Histopathological analysis revealed significant loss of alveolar septal integrity, leading to alveolar lumen rupture and development of emphysema. This study provides clear evidence of emphysema due to subacute allethrin-based MCS inhalation, although it did not affect hematological parameters in rats.

Escherichia coli is a type of bacteria that often found in wound infections. The use of antibiotics to treat these uncontrolled infections has resulted in the emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of pathogenic bacteria. This rapid increase in MDR E. coli strains has led to significant morbidity and mortality in human populations. Consequently, the exploration of natural antibacterial agents is urgently needed. One promising resource is mango extract, which is recognised for its antibacterial properties and is obtained through solvent extraction using 96% ethanol. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of seed extracts from seven different mango cultivars (Mangifera indica L.), against MDR E. coli. The study focused on determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) using dilution method. The concentrations examined for both MIC and MBC were 5, 10, 50, and 100 mg/mL. The results indicate that the mango seed extract exhibit significant antibacterial activity against MDR-E. coli., with the kweni cultivar showing the largest inhibition zone measuring 23.25 mm. The ethanol extract from the kweni seeds yielded the most favorable results, with an MIC value of ≥0.078 mg/mL and an MBC value that ranged from 1.25-10 mg/mL. In conclusion, mango seed extract, particularly from the kweni cultivar, has substantial potential to be developed as an effective antibacterial agent against MDR-E. coli.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and aids in protection against foreign microorganisms. Any physical changes to the skin structure would eventually promote microbial colonization that leads to soft tissue and skin infections. This study was conducted to establish the effectiveness of bromelain extraction from Ananas comosus in treating Staphylococcus aureus skin infections in BALB/c mice. A total of 18 male mice aged 9 - 12 weeks were divided into three groups: bromelain-treated, iodine-treated, and negative control groups. The skin infection was inflicted on the dorsal area of the mouse by first removing the hair and applying the tape-stripping method before inoculating it with S. aureus. The microbial samples from the infected skins of the mice were collected on days 1, 4, and 7 after infection using a Q-Swab apparatus and streaked on blood agar. The samples were incubated at 37°C for 24 h and the S. aureus colony formation unit (CFU) from each group was calculated. The results indicated that mice treated with bromelain had a lower average number of S. aureus CFU (2.55x10-2 CFU/mL) compared with iodine-treated mice (1.56x10-2 CFU/mL) and had a significantly different count compared with the negative control group (8.24x10-2 CFU/ml) on day 7 post-infection. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Student’s t-test for significant differences with p<0.05. In conclusion, the findings of this study showed that bromelain can be developed and applied as an antimicrobial agent against S. aureus skin infection.

The marine symbiont Staphylococcus epidermidis strain CGF-6, a protease-producing bacterium, has been successfully isolated from Rusip Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas). S. epidermidis is a non-spore-forming, Gram-positive coccus commonly found in marine environments due to their ability to tolerate high salinity. The aim of this study was to identify proteolytic bacteria from Rusip fermented C. gigas as potential candidates for the development of anticoagulant agents. Bacterial isolation was performed through the fermentation process of Rusip. After seven days, bacterial colonies were purified three times using Nutrient Agar. The selection of proteolytic bacterial was conducted qualitatively using a skim milk agar medium. The bacterial isolates exhibiting the highest protease activity were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing using universal primers Bact 27F and UniB 1492R. Phylogenetic tree analysis, conducted with the MEGA X program, helped determine the relationships between species. Out of the 18 bacterial isolates obtained from the Rusip fermentation of C. gigas, three isolates (CGF-1, CGF-6, and CGF-11) exhibited hydrolysis zones around their colonies on skim milk agar, indicating protease activity. Among these, isolate CGF-6 showed the highest proteolytic index of 0.5 and was identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis strain CGF-6. S. epidermidis strain CGF-6 has the potential to serve as a valuable source of protease production for the development of anticoagulant agents. However, further studies, including enzyme characterisation, optimisation, and both in vitro and in vivo anticoagulant activity tests, are necessary to assess the efficacy and safety of this enzyme as a candidate for anticoagulant agents.