1.Minocycline Protects Against LPS-induced Neuronal Death and Memory Impairment in the Rat
Entesar Yaseen Abdo Qaid ; Zuraidah Abdullah ; Rahimah Zakaria ; Idris Long
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2022;18(No.6):220-227
Introduction: Minocycline has been demonstrated to have potent effects on neurologic structures and functions in
several animal models. However, its neuroprotective properties following a single injection of lipopolysaccharide
(LPS) in an adult rat model have not been clearly elucidated. This study investigated minocycline’s neuroprotective
effects in the LPS-induced neuroinflammation rat model. Methods: Fifty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were split
into five groups at random: (i) control, (ii) distilled water-treated LPS, (iii) 25 mg/kg minocycline-treated LPS, (iv) 50
mg/kg minocycline-treated LPS, and (v) 10 mg/kg memantine-treated LPS. On day 5, LPS (5 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally once, whereas minocycline and memantine were given once daily for 14 days. Results: LPS was found
to significantly induce β-amyloid peptide deposition and neuronal damage, and impair recognition memory, while
administration of minocycline dose-dependently reversed these effects. These data suggest that LPS-induced recognition memory impairment by inducing β-amyloid peptide deposition and neuronal damage in the cortical and hippocampal areas. Furthermore, we compared minocycline with memantine administration, and these data suggested
better effects in minocycline (50 mg/kg) and comparable effects between minocycline (25 mg/kg) and memantine (10
mg/kg) treatments in reducing β-amyloid peptide deposition, neuronal damage and recognition memory impairment
induced by LPS. Conclusion: Minocycline may be a strong contender as an effective preventive-therapeutic drug for
neuroinflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) based on these findings.
2.Impact of Pandemic COVID-19 towards Food Insecurity and Dietary Diversity Among B40 Mothers Living in Urban Areas in Selangor
Nur Asyiqin Abdullah ; Zuraidah Nasution ; Syahrul Bariah Abdul Hamid
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2024;20(No.1):3-11
Introduction: Food security and dietary diversity are critical in ensuring the nutritional and dietary adequacy of mothers. However, since the COVID-19 outbreak, it has become more challenging for mothers to maintain a healthy and varied diet, as more households are reported to be food insecure. Thus, this study aimed to assess food insecurity and its determinants, as well as to determine how it relates to dietary diversity. Methods: A cross-sectional study comprising 200 of B40 mothers with children under the age of two who resided in metropolitan regions of Selangor was conducted. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDDW)
questionnaires were used to measure food insecurity and dietary diversity, respectively. Results: About 67% of mothers experienced food insecurity and 29.5% experienced dietary monotony. Less than 12 years of education (AOR=4.89, 95% CI=1.87-12.83) and living in a family with six or more people (AOR=3.48, 95% CI=1.20-11.20) were significantly associated with food insecurity. Besides, mothers with a monotonous diet were eight times more likely to be food insecure (AOR=8.03, 95% CI=2.67-24.05). Higher odds of dietary monotony were associated with less than 12 years of education (AOR=2.46, 95% CI=1.13-5.35) and household income contributor of not more than
one person (AOR=3.78, 95% CI=1.66-8.60). Conclusion: Food insecurity was associated with an increased chance of dietary monotony among low-socioeconomic women residing in urban community. Therefore, identifying and addressing issues related to poor dietary diversity may allow for preventive and proactive measures to improve their nutritional status and well-being.