Objective: This study aimed to formulate tea tree oil into a nanoemulsion gel dosage form and evaluate its physical stability and antibacterial activity.Methods: Nanoemulsion gels were formulated with various concentrations of tea tree oil, namely, 5%, 7%, and 9%, using Tween-80 as a surfactant and propylene glycol as a cosurfactant. The tea tree oil nanoemulsion gels showed a stable physical appearance over 8 weeks of storage at low temperature (4±2°C) and room temperature (25±2°C), cycling test, and centrifugation test. Results:The best formula was nanoemulsion gel formulation 1 (F1), which contained 5% tea tree oil, due to its good stability, smaller globule size, and greater viscosity. The results for antibacterial activity, determined by in vitro study, showed that the tea tree oil nanoemulsion gels exhibited antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes through the formation of an inhibition zone. Conclusion:Higher concentrations of tea tree oil in nanoemulsion gels (5%, 7%, and 9%) showed greater mean inhibition zones (28.33±0.88 mm, 30.33±0.33 mm, and 31.67±0.33 mm, respectively).

BACKGROUND Leprosy is an infectious disease that is still a health problem worldwide, including in Indonesia. The clinical symptoms are similar to other skin diseases and it is difficult to establish a diagnosis for paucibacillary (PB) leprosy. Current serological and histopathological tests have limitations, especially in patients with negative acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Serological tests often give false-negative results, while histopathological results often consist of non-specific inflammation. Probe-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays is an alternative test that may be more sensitive and more specific to detect Mycobacterium leprae.METHODS This study was done in June 2015 until March 2016; detected M. leprae in PB patients with negative AFB smears using TaqMan® probe-based RT-PCR assay on slit skin scrapings and skin biopsy specimens from 24 patients. The skin scrapings were obtained from skin tissue on ear lobes, skin lesions, as well as those from biopsy. Samples were tested with RT-PCR while histopathological examinations were only performed on skin from biopsy. RESULTSThe RT-PCR assay showed positive results of 21%, 25%, and 96% for specimens obtained from skin scrapings of the ear lobe, skin lesions, and skin biopsy, respectively. On the other hand, the positive rate for the histopathological test from skin biopsy was 79%. It indicated that the TaqMan® RT-PCR assay could increase the diagnostic capacity of histopathological examination by as much as 17%.CONCLUSIONS TaqMan® PCR assay can improve the diagnostic capacity of histopathological examinations, which could be used as the new gold standard for the diagnosis of leprosy.

Latar belakang: Pulmonary Aspergillosis merupakan infeksi oportunistik pada populasi immunocompromised. Metode Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) diharapkan dapat menjadi pengganti kultur jamur sputum dengan hasil yang lebih cepat dan akurat. Metode: Dilakukan pencarian di PubMed, CENTRAL, EbscoHost, dan ProQuest sejak tanggal 1 -13 Oktober menggunakan kata kunci “Aspergillosis”, “Pulmonary Aspergillosis”, “sputum”, “PCR”, “sputum fungal culture”. Hasil pencarian di evaluasi menggunakan kriteria inklusi dan eksklusi. Studi yang terseleksi kemudian diperoleh full text nya dan dievaluasi kembali. Hasil akhir dari seleksi kemudian ditinjau secara kritis validity, importance, dan applicability-nya oleh ketiga penulis. Hasil: Didapatkan empat studi,dengan level of evidence 4, yang kemudian ditinjau secara kritis. Tiga studi menggunakan PCR pada sampel sputum sebagai index test, sementara satu studi menggunakannya sebagai refference test. Luaran dari tiga studi melaporkan sensitivitas dan spesifisitas dari PCR dengan sampel sputum, sedangkan satu studi melaporkan proporsi dari hasil PCR. Dua studi melaporkan sensitivitas PCR pada sampel sputum sebesar 100%, sementara satu studi melaporkan sensitivitas sebesar 38%. Dua studi juga melaporkan spesifisitas diatas 70%, sementara satu studi melaporkan spesifisitas sebesar 38.5%.Kesimpulan: Studi menunjukkan nilai sensitivitas dan spesifisitas yang menjanjikan terutama dengan hasil diperoleh dengan cepat. Akan tetapi rendahnya level of evidence dan biayanya yang cukup mahal, menyebabkan deteksi dengan metode PCR belum dapat digunakan sebagai modalitas diagnosis rutin.