BACKGROUND:Repetitive traumatic brain injury (RTBI) has gained much attention in this decade, especially in contact sports athletes and military personals. This injury is correlated with early neurodegenerative changes that are marked with the increased of tau protein. Turmeric extract (TE) is a well-known anti-inflammation and antioxidant that decreases tau protein expression in neurodegenerative disease.AIM:This study aimed to prove the effect of TE on tau protein level after RTBI.METHODS:Forty Sprague Dawley mice were divided into four groups, i.e. negative sham control group, the control group, and two treatment groups. A weight drop model was used by applying a 40-gram mass that was dropped from a 1-meter height onto the vertex of the head, with a total frequency of 12 times, divided into 4 days (day 0, 1, 3, and 7; 3 traumas on each day). TE was given to all treatment groups with 500 mg/kg BW doses once daily. The first treatment group had TE for seven days along the trauma. The second treatment group had pretreatment TE extract, given from seven days before first trauma and continued along the trauma protocol days. Tau protein level was measured on brain and serum using ELISA method.RESULTS:There was a significant reduction of tau protein level in both treatment groups compared to trauma group, either in serum or brain, but we also found significant differences regarding brain tau level between the treatment and pretreatment group.CONCLUSION:This study might provide evidence of with the role of pretreatment TE in RTBI.

Introduction: Face mask is mandatory during the Covid-19 Pandemics as personal protection and limits the virus transmission in the community. The government of Indonesia has issued regulations regarding face masks and social distancing in the community. Due to that, it is important to explore the adherence to face masks and social distancing. This study aimed to assess communities' adherence to face masks and social distancing and the associated factors in Medan.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Medan, Indonesia, in November 2020. A total of 572 residents were enrolled using a convenience - multistage sampling method from public spaces. Data were collected using direct observation.Results: Most subjects were women (55.1%) from the adults' age group (61.9%). Only 34.3% of the subjects wore face masks properly, and only 10.6% maintained social distancing. The most common face mask used was a cloth mask (25.8%). Women and older age tended to use face mask compared. The prevalence of face mask use is significantly higher with strict regulation and control (p=0.0001). We also found a correlation between the type of face mask and adherence (p=0.0001).Conclusions: We found that the adherence to face masks and social distancing was low in Medan. Therefore, it is very important to initiate interventions to foster face mask adherence in a community in Medan.

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BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common problem that caused morbidity and mortality in the world. Secondary brain injury is a complex cascade that causes brain cell apoptosis. Curcumin is a natural product that has neuroprotective properties. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin toward heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) expression against the expression apoptosis marker (apoptosis-inducing factor [AIF], caspase-3, and TUNEL assay) in brain tissue after TBI. METHODS: Thirty-three Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into three treatment groups, that is, sham-operated controls, closed head trauma (CHT), and CHT with curcumin extract (treatment group). In the treatment group, curcumin was given 500 mg/kg per oral for 7 days, then brain tissues were investigated (marker AIF, caspase-3, TUNEL assay, and HSP 70) through immunohistochemistry. Statistical test using one-way ANOVA test and Tukey honestly significant difference as post hoc test. RESULTS: The mean of positive AIF stained cells in Group A was 5.36 ± 2.11, Group B was 12.82 ± 1.40, and Group C was 3.82 ± 1.40, with a significant difference of AIF expression between Groups C and B (p < 0.05). Mean of positive caspase-3 stained cells in Group A was 5.45 ± 2.30, Group B was 13.82 ± 2.44, and Group C was 3.82 ± 1.54, with a significant difference of caspase-3 expression between Groups C and B (p < 0.05). Mean of positive TUNEL assay stained cells in Group A was 4.82 ± 2.04, Group B was 11.55 ± 1.51, and Group C was 3.55 ± 1.70, with a significant difference between Groups C and B (p < 0.05). Mean of positive HSP 70 stained cells in Group A was 6.82 ± 2.14, Group B was 3.91 ± 2.26, and Group C was 10.27 ± 2.45 with a significant difference of HSP 70 expression distribution within groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Curcumin may protect brain cells from apoptosis after close head trauma by upregulated HSP 70 expression.

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