Sapporo Medical Journal

Abstract : Abstract Viruses have evolved to become highly efficient at nucleic acid delivery to specific cell types while avoiding immunosurveillance by an infected host. Because of these characteristics, viruses are appealing gene delivery vehicles, or vectors, for gene therapy. Several viruses, including retrovirus, adenovirus, AAV, and herpes simplex virus, have been mutated for lab use in gene therapy applications. Because each of these vector systems has its own set of advantages and limitations, it is best suited to certain applications. Retroviral vectors can permanently integrate into the infected cell's genome, although transduction requires mitotic cell division. Adenoviral vectors may successfully carry genes to a wide range of dividing and nondividing cell types, but in vivo gene expression is generally limited by the immune clearance of infected cells. Herpes simplex virus can transport enormous quantities of foreign DNA; yet, cytotoxicity and transgenic expression maintenance remain challenges. AAV can infect both non-dividing and dividing cells, although it has a limited DNA capacity. On the other hand, Chimeric viral-vector systems, which combine favourable traits of two or more viral systems, are also being investigated. Although viral-mediated gene delivery has shown to be the most effective method of gene transfer, nonviral methods are also being researched. Many of these nonviral technologies combine elements of viral vectors to improve gene delivery or expression e

Abstract : Objective: Perimenopause, or the menopausal transition, is a period when physiologic changes mark progression toward the end of the menstrual period. Physiological changes in perimenopause produce hormonal changes that manifest invariable symptoms that significantly affect a woman's quality of life, so complex clinical treatment is required. Ajwa dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.), one of the alternative treatments for perimenopausal women, have many benefits for reproductive function. The antioxidant and pro-apoptotic effects of ajwa dates are considered to improve the clinical features of perimenopause. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a pre-post control design involved 44 perimenopausal women aged 42–48 years, which were divided into 2 groups randomly (28 subjects consumed 7 ajwa dates daily for 8 weeks as the intervention group, and 16 subjects did not consume any dates as the control group). Results: There were significant improvements in sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, and mood changes in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively). There were no significant improvements in irregular menstrual cycles (p = 0.375) or vasomotor symptoms (p =0.063). Conclusion: Consumption of ajwa dates was effective in improving clinical features and perimenopausal women's quality of life.

Abstract : The determinants of unmet need for contraception vary between regions, so they have different influences for each location. Therefore, it is necessary to map cases and risk factors for unmet need for contraception in Indonesia based on the district/city level. This research aims to determine the determinants of the unmet need for contraception by considering spatial aspects. This research was carried out in 155 Muaro Jambi Regency, Indonesia and using secondary data for 2020 and 2021, with an analysis unit of 155 villages in Muaro Jambi Regency. This research uses an ecological study research design with analysis of Moran's index, Moran's scatterplot, and spatial regression SAR. This research was carried out from March to December 2022. There has been an increasing unmet need for contraception from 16.8% in 2020 to 20.6% in 2021. In addition, there is positive spatial autocorrelation between villages in Muaro Jambi Regency, seen from the p-value <0.05. Based on the results of spatial regression SAR, the variables that are significantly related in 2020 are the number of cadres (0.001), early marriage (0.022), and education level (0.00). Meanwhile, in 2021, education level has a significant influence, with a p-value of 0.000. This research is expected to provide a contribution in the form of information and input for central and regional governments in prioritizing intervention programs to reduce the unmet need for contraception at the district or city level.

Abstract : A worker is an individual who does work for life and is a social being who lives a family life [1]. Roles as workers and family members will experience conflict if not managed properly. When workers encounter a problem at work, it can negatively influence their lives and cause work-family conflict [2]. The contradictions between work and family happenings found by workers can also be the main reason for it [11]. This cross-sectional study determined the relationship between work type and family conflict. Work type and family conflicts were taken from the 2021 National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) in Tangerang Regency and South Tangerang City, where 1,048,573 data were obtained and spread across ten types of work, including those who are unemployed or serve both as heads of families and homemakers. Based on the results of the tests conducted, the relation result between the type of work and the incidence of family conflict were as follows: without greeting (for three consecutive days) p = 0.068, domestic violence p = 0.737, leaving the house/running away (for two consecutive days) p = 0.347, and separate beds between husband and wife (for seven consecutive days) p = 0.141. These data show no significant relation between work and the incidence of family conflict among the Tangerang population. However, the writer suggests researching more diverse types of family and work-family conflicts and covering all the problems that can arise in families.

Abstract : Abstract— Background: SARS-CoV-2 patients with obesity have a high risk for severe and critical clinical conditions that require intensive care and have a poor chance of outcome. The aim of this study was to determine association of obesity with length of stay and mortality of SARS-CoV-2 patients in a national referral hospital Indonesia. Methods: This study used a retrospective cohort. The research sample was SARS-CoV-2 patients who were treated by pulmonary specialists in the intensive room of Dr. M. Djamil Hospital Padang. The number of samples in this study was 100 subjects. The inclusion criteria in this study were patients aged > 18 years and patients with severe and critical clinical SARS-CoV-2 confirmed who were undergoing treatment in the SARS-CoV-2 isolation intensive room for the period January – December 2021 and there were data on weight and height in the initial assessment on medical record. Data analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was significant, and the data were analyzed using the SPSS version 21.0 program. Results: SARS-CoV-2 patients with obese who had a length of stay ≥ 14 days (25.0%) more than non-obese (9.6%). This study found that there was an association between obesity and length of stay of SARS-CoV-2 patients (OR = 3.13, 95% CI 1.01-9.70). The majority of obese patients died (81.3%) more than non-obese (57.7%). This study found that there was an association between obesity and mortality of SARS-CoV-2 patients (OR = 3.18, 95%