Objective: The activity of enzymes participating in the systems of antioxidant protection was assayed in the peel and pulp of sunflower. The essential roles of proteases in food stimulate research to find other sources of the enzyme especially from non-conventional sources. In the present work, we study several biochemical parameters in the pulp and peel of sunflower. Methods: Pulp and peel of sunflower was extracted, antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidant were measured. Alkaline protease was measured and purified from pulp in sunflower. Results: High carbohydrate concentration, beta-carotene, catalase and ascorbate perox-idase activities, free radical scavenging capacity and free flavonoid content were observed in the peel of sunflower. Whereas, MDA and ceruloplasmin activities were high in the pulp of sunflower. Conclusions: The present study concluded that peel in sunflower are strong radical scavengers and can be considered as good sources of natural antioxidants for medicinal and commercial uses. Further analysis showed that protease activity was a significantly high in the pulp compared to the peel.

Profound weight loss with painful symmetrical peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients was first described as diabetic neuropathic cachexia more than 4 decades ago. It is a distinct type of diabetic peripheral neuropathy that occurs in the absence of other microvascular and autonomic complications of diabetes. The mechanism and precipitating cause are unknown. It was reported to have good prognosis with spontaneous recovery within months to 2 years. However, it was frequently missed by clinicians because the profound weight loss is the most outstanding complaint, rather than the pain, numbness, or weakness. This often leads to extensive investigation to exclude more sinister causes of weight loss, particularly malignancy. We report a case of a young woman with well-controlled diabetes who presented with profound unintentional weight loss (26 kg), symmetrical debilitating thigh pain, and clinical signs of peripheral neuropathy. As the disease entity may mimic an inflammatory demyelinating cause of neuropathy, she was treated with a trial of intravenous immunoglobulin, which failed to give any significant benefit. However, she recovered after 6 months without any specific treatment, other than an antidepressant for the neuropathic pain and ongoing rehabilitation.
Cachexia ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Immunoglobulins ; Neuralgia ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Prognosis ; Rehabilitation ; Thigh ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: The rising prevalence of alternative tobacco and nicotine products (ATNPs) use among adolescents is a global concern that has been attributed to the reemergence of preexisting alternative tobacco products and emergence of new ones in the market. This study examined ATNP use among late adolescents. The association between ATNP use and reasons for using them was explored. METHODS: This cross-sectional study conducted in 2016 involving 388 late adolescents from six government colleges in Kelantan, Malaysia, aged 18 to 19 years. They were requested to answer self-directed questionnaires with items on sociodemographic information and types of ATNP used. Other variables obtained include the environmental influence and reasons for using the products. Regression analyses between the dependent and independent variables were conducted using IBM SPSS ver. 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: The prevalence of ATNP use among late adolescents was 14.4%. The male sex, cigarette smoking status, and peer use were significantly associated with ATNP use. Several reasons for use were not significantly associated with ATNP use: perception of ATNP being less harmful and less addictive compared with cigarettes, curiosity, less expensive than cigarettes, to aid smoking cessation, and pleasurable flavors and taste. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ATNP use among late adolescents studying in government colleges in Kelantan is significant. There is higher perception on ATNP being less harmful and addictive than the conventional cigarette among the users compared with non-users. Significant associations are seen for the male sex, peer use, and concurrent cigarette smoking.
Adolescent ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Exploratory Behavior ; Humans ; Malaysia ; Male ; Nicotine ; Prevalence ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco

Objective: To verify possible associations between adenosine aminohydrolase (ADA) and AMP-aminohydrolase (AMPDA) to E3 SUMO-protein ligase NSE2 (NSMCE2) in patients with renal stones. And to isolate, purify and characterize ADA in patients with renal stones and healthy group. Methods: A total of 60 renal stones patients and 50 control were enrolled in a case- control study. The blood urea, creatinine, uric acid, protein, albumin, ADA and AMPDA were measured by colorimetric tests. The serum NSMCE2 was measured by ELISA. Results: Serum ADA, AMPDA and specific activity of enzymes showed significant decrease (P < 0.05) in patients with renal stones compared to control group, mean levels of sera NSMCE2 and uric acid had a significant increase (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) in patients compared to control group. Conclusions: The present study suggests that ADA, AMP deaminase and NSMCE2 can be used as a indicator to monitor the DNA damage and inflammation disorders in the patients with kidney stones.

Objective: To verify possible relations between 5'-nucleotidase, xanthine oxidase to E3 small ubiquitin-like modifier-protein ligase non structural maintenance of chromosomes elements 2 in sera patients with kidney stones and to evaluate the possibility of a new biomarker for the evaluation of kidney damage. Methods: A sixty patients with known kidney stones who appeared the government health clinics in Kuantan-Pahang and fifty apparently healthy were taken as control group. The 5'- nucleotidase, xanthine oxidase and other biochemical parameters were measured by colorimetric tests. The serum NSMCE2 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean serum xanthine oxidase [(39.98 ± 19.70) IU/L] and ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity (40.03 ± 9.53 IU/L) were significantly higher than the controls' levels of (18.04 ± 6.26) and (16.06 ± 4.61) IU/L respectively. There were 85.00% and 83.33%, of patients with kidney stones who had abnormal ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity and uric acid respectively while xanthine oxidase activity was less sensitive 58.33%. Conclusions: The present study suggests that the increase in serumof xanthine oxidase,ecto- 5'-nucleotidase activities E3 small ubiquitin-like modifier-protein ligase NSE2 concentration can be used as biomarkers for diagnosis of kidney damage in patients with kidney stone, also in developments of change DNA damage and inflammation disorders in these patients.

OBJECTIVENephrolithiasis is one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. The aim of this study was to examine a possible relationship between DNase I/II activity and E3 SUMO-protein ligase NSE2 in the sera of nephrolithiasis patients to evaluate the possibility of a new biomarker for evaluating kidney damage.

METHODSSixty nephrolithiasis patients and 50 control patients were enrolled in a case-control study. Their blood urea, creatinine, protein levels and DNase I/II activity levels were measured by spectrometry. Serum NSMCE2 levels were measured by ELISA. Blood was collected from patients of the government health clinics in Kuantan-Pahang and fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

RESULTSThe result indicated that mean levels of sera NSMCE2 have a significantly increase (P<0.01) in patients compared to control group. Compared with control subjects, activities and specific activities of serum DNase I and II were significantly elevated in nephrolithiasis patients (P$lt;0.01).

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that an increase in serum concentrations of DNase I/II and E3 SUMO-protein ligase NSE2 level can be used as indicators for the diagnosis of kidney injury in patients with nephrolithiasis.

Adult ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Creatinine ; blood ; Deoxyribonuclease I ; blood ; Endodeoxyribonucleases ; blood ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Ligases ; blood ; Malaysia ; Middle Aged ; Nephrolithiasis ; blood ; enzymology ; Urea ; blood

Objective The activity of enzymes participating in the systems of antioxidant protection was assayed in the peel and pulp of sunflower. The essential roles of proteases in food stimulate research to find other sources of the enzyme especially from non-conventional sources. In the present work, we study several biochemical parameters in the pulp and peel of sunflower. Methods Pulp and peel of sunflower was extracted, antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidant were measured. Alkaline protease was measured and purified from pulp in sunflower. Results High carbohydrate concentration, beta-carotene, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities, free radical scavenging capacity and free flavonoid content were observed in the peel of sunflower. Whereas, MDA and ceruloplasmin activities were high in the pulp of sunflower. Conclusions The present study concluded that peel in sunflower are strong radical scavengers and can be considered as good sources of natural antioxidants for medicinal and commercial uses. Further analysis showed that protease activity was a significantly high in the pulp compared to the peel.

Objective To prove probable relations between serum E3 SUMO-protein ligase NSE2 (NSMCE2) concentration, peroxynitrite related to oxidative stress in nephrolithiasis patients. Methods A total of 60 patients with nephrolithiasis and 50 healthy volunteers were involved in this study. Colorimetric method was used to detect blood urea, creatinine, uric acid, protein, albumin, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, peroxynitrite, nitric oxide and oxidative stress index. Glutathione, NSMCE2 and superoxide dismutase were measured by ELISA. Results A significant increase in level of peroxynitrite, total oxidant status, NSMCE2 and oxidative stress index in patients was observed, while total antioxidant status and glutathione were significantly decreased. Conclusions The study concluded that serum NSMCE2 significantly correlated with peroxynitrite and oxidative stress in patients with nephrolithiasis.

In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), haematological abnormalities are frequent, although they are an uncommon cause of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS). AVWS is a rare condition that can cause a bleeding disorder. We presented a case of AVWS in the early diagnosis of SLE. One month before admission, the patient had a history of recurrent epistaxis. He presented to the hospital with symptomatic anaemia and was noted to have severe anaemia with iron deficiency. During hospitalisation, recurrent epistaxis recurred and was found to have prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), presence of lupus anticoagulant (LA), and lower von Willebrand factor (VWF), and factor 8 (VIII) levels. Simultaneously, he was diagnosed with SLE based on Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria. He underwent blood transfusions and was treated with immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, and an anti-fibrinolytic agent; he subsequently stopped bleeding and showed clinical improvement.

Introduction: There is limited evidence on dietary patterns and the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to their non-GDM counterparts, especially in the Asian population. The pilot study investigated dietary patterns in women with a history of GDM (HGDM) and without a history of GDM (non-HGDM), and the association with T2D risk. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study involved 64 women (32 HGDM, 32 non-HGDM). Food intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Principal component analysis derived the dietary patterns. T2D risk score was determined using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score tool. Results: HGDM group had significantly higher proportion of first-degree family history of diabetes; higher risk of T2D and better diabetes knowledge; lower gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention; and consumed more fast food than nonHGDM. ‘Rice-noodle-pasta-meat’ dietary pattern was significantly associated with increased T2D risk after adjusting for age (β=0.272, p=0.032). ‘Bread-cereals-fast food-meat’ dietary pattern was positively and significantly associated with T2D risk after adjusting for confounders, including age, education level, family history of diabetes, diabetes knowledge score, gestational weight gain, and postpartum weight retention (β=0.251, p=0.012). Conclusion: Dietary patterns high in bread, cereals and cereal products, fast food and meat, as well as rice, noodle, pasta and meat were associated with an elevated T2D risk. A more extensive study is warranted to establish the association between dietary patterns and risk of T2D, focusing on women with a history of GDM.