Triple-action of the standardized antidiabetic polyherbal extract; Synacinn™ through upregulation of GLUT4 and inhibition of DPP(IV), α-amylase, and α-glucosidase activity

INTRODUCTION

Synacinn^™ is a standardized polyherbal supplement for diabetes mellitus which is formulated from Andrographis paniculata, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Eugenia polyantha, and Orthosiphon stamineous.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study aimed to elucidate the antidiabetic potential of Synacinn^™ on three specific actions, including 1) the insulin sensitivity and glucose transport on dexamethasone-induced insulin-resistance 3T3-L1 adipocytes, 2) the inhibitory capacity on postprandial enzyme activity (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), and 3) the inhibitory activity of hepatic DPP(IV) enzyme.

RESULTS

Results showed that insulin resistance of 3T3-L1 adipocytes may be developed by prolonging the exposure of 1μg/ml of dexamethasone for >48 hours. The insulinresistance condition was minimized by the treatment of 10 μg/ml of Synacinn^™ which significantly improved the insulin-stimulated glucose utilization by 10.6%. Meanwhile, insulin-stimulated glucose utilization in normal adipocytes was also attenuated by 9.2%. At the cellular level, Synacinn^™ attenuated glucose utilization mainly by upregulating GLUT₄ protein expression by 1.71 fold. Additionally, Synacinn^™ is a potent inhibitor for the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ of 0.467 mg/mL and 0.245 mg/mL, respectively. Synacinn^™ also controlled the glycemic index through inhibition of hepatic DPP(IV) enzyme with IC₅₀ of 1.11 mg/mL.

CONCLUSION

Results suggested that Synacinn^™ reduced diabetes mellitus through sensitizing the cellular glucose utilization, reducing the postprandial carbohydrate degradation, and inhibiting the hepatic DPP(IV) enzyme function.

Respiratory health among office workers in Malaysia and endotoxin and (1,3)-β-glucan in office dust

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between endotoxin and (1,3)-β-glucan concentrations in office dust and respiratory symptoms and airway inflammation among 695 office workers in Malaysia.METHODS: Health data were collected using a questionnaire, sensitisation testing and measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Indoor temperature, relative air humidity (RH) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) were measured in the offices and settled dust was vacuumed and analysed for endotoxin and (1,3)-β-glucan concentrations. Associations were analysed by two level multiple logistic regression.RESULTS: Overall, 9.6% of the workers had doctor-diagnosed asthma, 15.5% had wheeze, 18.4% had daytime attacks of breathlessness and 25.8% had elevated FeNO (≥25 ppb). The median levels in office dust were 11.3 EU/mg endotoxin and 62.9 ng/g (1,3)-β-glucan. After adjusting for personal and home environment factors, endotoxin concentration in dust was associated with wheeze (P = 0.02) and rhinoconjunctivitis (P = 0.007). The amount of surface dust (P = 0.04) and (1,3)-β-glucan concentration dust (P = 0.03) were associated with elevated FeNO.CONCLUSION: Endotoxin in office dust could be a risk factor for wheeze and rhinoconjunctivitis among office workers in mechanically ventilated offices in a tropical country. The amount of dust and (1,3)-β-glucan (a marker of indoor mould exposure) were associated with Th2 driven airway inflammation.

Optically observed multiple inter-chain interactions in polyblend semiconducting polymer nanoparticles

Tunable nanoparticle photoluminescence was observed in nanoparticles formed from a polyblend of F8BT, MEH-PPV, and CN-PPV. This phenomena was attributed to direct and indirect inter-chain interactions between the polymers within each nanoparticle.

Quality of Kelantan drinking water and knowledge, attitude and practice among the population of Pasir Mas, Malaysia

OBJECTIVES

Information about the quality of drinking water, together with analysis of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) analysis and health risk assessment (HRA) remain limited. The aims of this study were: (1) to ascertain the level of KAP regarding heavy metal contamination of drinking water in Pasir Mas; (2) to determine the concentration of heavy metals (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cd) in drinking water in Pasir Mas; and (3) to estimate the health risks (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic) caused by heavy metal exposure through drinking water using hazard quotient and lifetime cancer risk.

METHODS

Information on KAP was collected using a standardized questionnaire. Heavy metal analysis of drinking water samples was performed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

RESULTS

The population of Pasir Mas has good knowledge (80%), a less positive attitude (93%) and good practice (81%) towards heavy metal contamination of drinking water. The concentrations of heavy metals analysed in this study were found to be below the permissible limits for drinking water set by the Malaysian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization. The HRA showed no potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks from the intake of heavy metal through drinking water.

CONCLUSION

By investigating the quality of drinking water, KAP and HRA, the results of this study will provide authorities with the knowledge and resources to improve the management of drinking water quality in the future.

Knowledge, attitude and perception of second-hand smoke and factors promoting smoking in Malaysian adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To identify the relationship between knowledge, attitude and perception regarding environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and smoking among Malaysian adolescents living in states with complete or partial smoke-free legislation (SFL).

METHODS

A total of 898 respondents aged 13-14 years were randomly selected from 21 secondary schools. The Malay version of the modified Global Youth Tobacco Survey questionnaire was used. Hierarchical logistic regression was performed in examining predictors of smoking attempt among adolescents.

RESULTS

Participants exposed to ETS >5 h/day were more likely to have smoked compared to those exposed to ETS <1 h/day (OR 4.1, 95%CI 1.03-16.0). Living in a state with partial SFL was associated with a two-fold increase in self-reported smoking attempts (OR 1.95, 95%CI 1.10-3.43) compared to living in a state with complete SFL. Negative attitudes and perceptions towards smoking and ETS exposure were linked to lower smoking attempts in states with complete SFL.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents with limited ETS exposure who lived in a state with complete SFL were less likely to attempt smoking compared to those exposed more regularly to ETS and living in a state with partial SFL. Preventing adolescents from becoming smokers is the key to reducing national prevalence rates in smoking. There is a need to implement comprehensive smoke-free legislation nationally across Malaysia.

Relationship between blood lead concentration and nutritional status among Malay primary school children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the relationship between blood lead concentration and nutritional status among primary school children in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 225 Malay students, 113 male and 112 female, aged 6.3 to 9.8 were selected through a stratified random sampling method. The random blood samples were collected and blood lead concentration was measured by a Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The nutrient intake was determined by the 24-hour Dietary Recall method and Food Frequency Questionnaire. An anthropometric assessment was reported according to growth indices (z-scores of weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height). The mean blood lead concentration was low (3.4 +/- 1.91 ug/dL) and was significantly different between gender. Only 14.7% of the respondents fulfilled the daily energy requirement. The protein and iron intakes were adequate for a majority of the children. However, 34.7% of the total children showed inadequate intake of calcium. The energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate intakes were significantly different by gender, that is, males had better intake than females. Majority of respondents had normal mean z-score of growth indices. Ten percent of the respondents were underweight, 2.8% wasted and 5.4% stunted. Multiple linear regression showed inverse significant relationships between blood lead concentration with children's age (beta = -0.647, p < 0.001) and per capita income (beta = -0.001, p = 0.018). There were inverse significant relationships between blood lead concentration with children's age (beta = -0.877, p = 0.001) and calcium intake (beta = -0.011, p = 0.014) and positive significant relationship with weight-for-height (beta = 0.326, p = 0.041) among those with inadequate calcium intake. Among children with inadequate energy intake, children's age (beta = -0.621, p < 0.001), per capita income (beta = -0.001, p = 0.025) and protein intake (beta = -0.019, p = 0.027) were inversely and significantly related with blood lead concentration. In conclusion, nutritional status might affect the children's absorption of lead and further investigation is required for confirmation.

Blood lead levels of urban and rural Malaysian primary school children

The objective of this article is to study the influence of exposure and socio-economic variables on the blood lead level of Malaysian school children. Data on respirable lead and blood lead of 346 school children were obtained from Kuala Lumpur (urban), Kemaman (semi-urban) and Setiu (rural). Respirable lead and blood lead were highest for Kuala Lumpur (95 ng/m3 and 5.26 micrograms/dL) followed by Kemaman (27 ng/m3 and 2.81 micrograms/dL) and Setiu (15 ng/m3 and 2.49 micrograms/dL), and the differences were statistically significant. The percentage of school children with excessive blood lead of 10 micrograms/dL or greater was 6.36% overall, and highest for Kuala Lumpur (11.73%). Regression analyses show that urban children are at higher risk of exhibiting excessive blood lead levels. Kuala Lumpur's school children have a 25 times greater risk of having excessive blood lead levels when compared to Kemaman's and Setiu's school children. Respirable and blood lead were correlated (r = 0.999, p = 0.021). Urban school children acquire higher blood lead levels than their rural and semi-urban counterparts, even after controlling for age, sex, parents' education and income levels. In conclusion, it is time that lead in the Malaysian environment and population be monitored closely, especially its temporal and spatial variability. Only then can a comprehensive preventive strategy be implemented.

Interindividual variation in circulating zinc concentrations among healthy adult men and women

Circulating zinc concentrations were measured in 73 healthy adult males and females 19-52 years of age who were volunteers for eight different metabolic studies at the University of California, Berkeley. The interindividual variation in the eight studies varied from 5 to 20%; the global coefficient of variation for all studies was 12 +/- 7% (mean +/- SD). The analysis of a reference plasma sample on six different days showed a mean coefficient of variation of 3.8%. Thus, only a small portion of the intraindividual variation is due to day-to-day analytical differences. There was no relationship between circulating zinc concentrations and age, height, or body mass index. Nor were there any significant differences due to gender. Information regarding dietary zinc and protein intakes was available from three-day weighed food intake records from 44 of the subjects. Plasma zinc concentrations were unrelated to the intake of either zinc or protein in those subjects. The results of this study show that the impact of age, gender, body size and dietary zinc or protein on circulating zinc concentrations are too small to be detected in the presence of the analytical and endogenous factors that influence plasma/serum zinc concentrations. Also, within a population of healthy adults, circulating zinc concentrations may vary by as much as 15%.

Resonant photoemission from complex cuprates and nickelates

Synchrotron-excited resonant-photoemission measurements at rare-earth 4d --> 4f and transition-metal 3p --> 3d thresholds have been carried out using a variety of complex cuprates and nickelates on stations 6.1 (grazing-incidence monochromator) and 6.2 (toroidal-grating monochromator) at the SRS CLRC Daresbury Laboratory. The systems studied are Nd(2)Ni(1 - x)Cu(x)O(4), La(2 - x)Sr(x)Ni(1- y)Fe(y)O(4 + delta) and Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(1 - x)Y(x)Cu(2)O(8 + delta). A combination of EDC and constant-initial-state data is used to examine the 4f and 3d contributions to the valence-band density of states and their binding-energy positions relative to the Fermi energy. This allows the study of the valence states of the transition-metal ions and their modulation on doping. For La(2 - x)Sr(x)Ni(1 - y)Fe(y)O(4 + delta), this approach is used to infer a valence state of >/= 3.0 for Fe. In the case of Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(1 - x)Y(x)Cu(2)O(8 + delta), the effect of Cu valence modulation on the 3p resonance is observed as x is varied. This is discussed in the light of controversy surrounding shifts in core-level photoemission with doping for this system.

Evaluation of trace trace elements iron, zinc, copper and lead in the diet of female university students

Food consumption of 50 female students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia was recorded for 7 days. Foods and drinks most frequently consumed were selected for analysis of iron, zinc, copper and lead content. The mean daily intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat among the students are 6.5±1.4 MJ (1550±335 kcal), 59.8±18.5g, 227.1±54.6 g and 46.0±11.5 g respectively. This diet contributed 19.6-6.4 mg Fe, 7.0-2.0 mg Zn and 1.6-0.6 mg Cu per day which were lower than the Malaysian RDA for Fe and US RDA for Zn, while Cu is within the recommended range. The main sources of these minerals in the student's diet were rice, rice products, meat and animal products. Lead concentration in the diet (134±77 ug/day) is below the acceptable daily intake (ADI) value suggested by Codex Alimentarius Commission (1984). This study indicated concern regarding the low intake of the essential trace elements on long term basis among the students.

Energy intake and activity pattern during pregnancy in relation to infant birth weight

The study was designed to determine if the activity pattern of pregnancy women on an intake of energy lower than that recommended will affect fetal growth. Subjects who volunteered were either attending public or private hospitals. Pregnant women in the "private" group were significantly older (p < 0.001) weighed somewhat less and significantly taller (p < 0.001) when compared to the "public" group. Differences in energy intake during the second and third trimesters between the "public" and "private" groups were small; 1608 +/- 334, 1726 +/- 271 kcal and 1627 +/- 367, 1778 +/- 260 kcal, respectively. However, daily activity patterns revealed that the "public" group was more active as reflected by the higher energy expenditure of 1412 +/- 74 kcal and 1578 +/- kcal during the second and third trimesters respectively. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) in birth weight between the "public" and "private" groups; 2951 +/- 377 g and 3173 +/- 357 g respectively. This study indicates that energy intakes lower than recommended and sedentary lifestyles have no direct influence on birth weights of babies.