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Background: A recent study has indicated the potential of metformin therapy for lupus in animal models, but there has been no study evaluating the effect on pristane-induced lupus. This study aims to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal versus oral metformin on interferon (IFN)-γ levels and FOXP3 mRNA expression on pristane-induced female BALB/c mice. Methods: In total, 31 female BALB/c mice, aged 6 weeks, were intraperitoneally induced with 0.5 ml of pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane). After 120 days, the mice were grouped and treated with various treatments: normal saline 100 MCL, oral metformin 100mg/kg-BW, or intraperitoneal metformin 100mg/kg-BW. After 60 days of treatment, all treatment groups were sacrificed, and kidney specimens prepared and stained using hematoxylin and eosin. Results: IFNγ levels of saline controls vs. oral metformin group was 309.39 vs. 292.83 pg/mL (mean difference 16.56 pg/mL; 95% CI 0.74-32.37; p=0.042), and saline control vs. intraperitoneal metformin group was 309.39 vs. 266.90 pg/mL (mean difference 42.49 pg/mL; 95% CI 29.24-55.73 pg/mL; p

Introduction: Post-concussion syndrome is common in young adults and can greatly interfere with the quality of daily life. It has a wide range of symptoms that require prompt and well-targeted treatment to avoid further brain impairment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a promising regenerative treatment option for these patients to help prevent the progression of post-concussion syndrome. This study aims to determine whether HBOT accelerates the healing process and reduces symptoms in patients with post-concussion syndrome. Methods: 20 patients with post-concussion syndrome participated in this randomized controlled trial study. After receiving standard mild traumatic brain injury treatment in accordance with the Advanced Trauma Life Support guidelines, the patients were divided into HBOT and control groups. Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) levels and Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) scores were used to compare the two groups (before HBOT & after 1st, 3rd, and 5th week). Results: The study sample was predominantly male (65%) with an average age of 60 years old. HBOT reduced serum MMP-9 levels by nearly 20 ng/mL (p < 0.001) compared with the control treatment. The efficacy of HBOT was also reflected in the RPQ scores, which were significantly lower in the HBOT group than the control group (before HBOT & after 1st, 3rd, 5th week) (-3.80 on RPQ-3, p = p Conclusion: HBOT ameliorated the symptoms associated with post-concussion syndrome through a mechanism that involves MMP-9 activity. The accelerated recovery observed in the present study supports the use of HBOT to treat post-concussion syndrome and potentially other forms of traumatic brain injury.

Background: A recent study has indicated the potential of metformin therapy for lupus in animal models, but there has been no study evaluating the effect on pristane-induced lupus. This study aims to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal versus oral metformin on interferon (IFN)-γ levels and FOXP3 mRNA expression on pristane-induced female BALB/c mice. Methods: In total, 31 female BALB/c mice, aged 6 weeks, were intraperitoneally induced with 0.5 ml of pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane). After 120 days, the mice were grouped and treated with various treatments: normal saline 100 MCL, oral metformin 100mg/kg-BW, or intraperitoneal metformin 100mg/kg-BW. After 60 days of treatment, all treatment groups were sacrificed, and kidney specimens prepared and stained using hematoxylin and eosin. Results: IFNγ levels of saline controls vs. oral metformin group was 309.39 vs. 292.83 pg/mL (mean difference 16.56 pg/mL; 95% CI 0.74-32.37; p=0.042), and saline control vs. intraperitoneal metformin group was 309.39 vs. 266.90 pg/mL (mean difference 42.49 pg/mL; 95% CI 29.24-55.73 pg/mL; p Conclusion: Metformin is a potential new therapy to reduce the levels of IFNγ and increase FOXP3 mRNA expression in mice models of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Glioma is one of the most common primary brain tumours and conveys a dismal prognosis despite aggressive treatment. Several biomarkers have been studied in the hope of yielding better diagnostic accuracy and improving patient management. Besides survival, functional and neurological disability are concerns that have no lesser importance. In 2017, a disease-specific assessment tool – the Neurologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) scale – was developed to measure neurologic function in neuro-oncology cases. We sought to determine biomarkers that might be associated with neurological scale improvement in glioma patients. Methods: Glioma grade II-IV patients were recruited from three major hospitals in Jakarta-Tangerang. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter gene methylation were tested, as well as patients’ neurological function before surgery and three months after. Improvement in neurological scale (NANO scale) was considered positive if there was a decrement of ≥1 of the scale. Results: There were 54 patients included in the study. Mean age was 43.63 (14.723) years old, and 61.1% were male. As much as 16 (29.6%) carried a mutation in codon 132 of the IDH1 gene, and 33 (61.1%) were MGMT methylated. Median NANO scale score before and three months after surgery was 4 (0-12) and 3 (0-12), respectively. Neurological improvement was found in 44 (81.5%) of the patients. Among patients with MGMT promoter gene methylation, 90.9% showed neurological improvement (p=0.035; OR=5; 95%CI 1.122-22.272). Conclusions: Gliomas with MGMT promoter gene methylation are more likely to show neurological improvement three months after surgery.

Background: Glioma is one of the most common primary brain tumours and conveys a dismal prognosis despite aggressive treatment. Several biomarkers have been studied in the hope of yielding better diagnostic accuracy and improving patient management. Besides survival, functional and neurological disability are concerns that have no lesser importance. In 2017, a disease-specific assessment tool – the Neurologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) scale – was developed to measure neurologic function in neuro-oncology cases. We sought to determine biomarkers that might be associated with neurological scale improvement in glioma patients. Methods: Glioma grade II-IV patients were recruited from three major hospitals in Jakarta-Tangerang. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter gene methylation were tested, as well as patients’ neurological function before surgery and three months after. Improvement in neurological scale (NANO scale) was considered positive if there was a decrement of ≥1 of the scale. Results: There were 54 patients included in the study. Mean age was 43.63 (14.723) years old, and 61.1% were male. As much as 16 (29.6%) carried a mutation in codon 132 of the IDH1 gene, and 33 (61.1%) were MGMT methylated. Median NANO scale score before and three months after surgery was 4 (0-12) and 3 (0-12), respectively. Neurological improvement was found in 44 (81.5%) of the patients. Among patients with MGMT promoter gene methylation, 90.9% showed neurological improvement (p=0.035; OR=5; 95%CI 1.122-22.272). Conclusions: Gliomas with MGMT promoter gene methylation are more likely to show neurological improvement three months after surgery.

Background: Valeriana officinalis has often been used to treat sleep disorders as a traditional medicine for 2000 years. The sedative effect of valerian extract is facilitated by the GABA A receptor β3 subunit. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of valerian extract on GABRB3 gene mRNA expression and sedative effect in BALB/c mice. Methods: This is an experimental preclinical study using a posttest-only control group design. A total of 20 BALB/c mice were randomly allocated into four groups consisting of five mice each. Group I was given 5 ml of Aqua Dest (distilled water), group II was given 0.025 mg/10 g of diazepam, group III was given 2.5 mg/10 g of valerian extract, and group IV was given 5 mg/10 g of valerian extract. The drugs were administrated for seven days through a gastric gavage. The rotarod test was performed on the seventh day. A blood sample was taken on the first day before drug administration and after the rotarod test on the seventh day to be analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: GABRB3 gene mRNA expression showed a significant increase in groups II, III, and IV (p Conclusions: GABRB3 gene mRNA expression was significantly increased after the administration of valerian extract. Based on the rotarod test, valerian extract and diazepam had a clinically similar sedation effect. A higher dose of valerian extract does not yield a higher level of GABRB3 gene mRNA expression nor sedative effects.

Background: A recent study has indicated the potential of metformin therapy for lupus in animal models, but there has been no study evaluating the effect on pristane-induced lupus. This study aims to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal versus oral metformin on interferon (IFN)-γ levels and FOXP3 mRNA expression on pristane-induced female BALB/c mice. Methods: In total, 31 female BALB/c mice, aged 6 weeks, were intraperitoneally induced with 0.5 ml of pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane). After 120 days, the mice were grouped and treated with various treatments: normal saline 100 mcl, oral metformin 100mg/kgBW, or intraperitoneal metformin 100mg/kgBW. After 60 days of treatment, all treatment groups were sacrificed, and kidney specimens prepared and stained using hematoxylin and esosin. Results: IFNγ levels of saline controls vs. oral metformin group was 309.39 vs. 292.83 pg/mL (mean difference 16.56 pg/mL; 95% CI 0.74-32.37; p=0.042), and saline control vs. intraperitoneal metformin group was 309.39 vs. 266.90 pg/mL (mean difference 42.49 pg/mL; 95% CI 29.24-55.73 pg/mL; p Conclusion: Metformin is a potential new therapy to reduce the levels of IFNγ and increase FOXP3 mRNA expression in mice models of systemic lupus erythematosus. Intraperitoneal metformin, i.e intravenous administration in human, could provide a novel route of administration to improve the effect of metformin for lupus patients.