1.Mechanism Identification Of Ficus Deltoidea Aqueous Extract In Rat Uterine Contractions
Farah Wahida IBRAHIM ; Nor Idayu DERASED ; Umi Romaizatul Amiera Zainudin ; Nor Fadilah RAJAB
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2018;16(Special Issue (Article)):75-81
Ficus deltoidea or ‘mas cotek,’ is a uterotonic herb traditionally consumed by women to improve menstrual circulation,assist labour, remove retained placenta and treat postpartum bleeding. The aim of the study was to elucidate the mechanismof F. deltoidea in uterine contraction. Crude extracts from 2 different variants of F. deltoidea were used in the study; F.deltoidea var. Deltoidea (FDD) and F. deltoidea var. Angustifolia (FDA). This study was conducted ex vivo on the strips ofisolated rats uterus treated with either FDD or FDA aqueous extract with increasing concentrations ranging from 10 µg/ml until 1280 µg/ml at time intervals of 5 minutes between doses. The frequency and intensity of the uterine contractionswere monitored via Powerlab software. Maximum contractions for both extracts were identified, recorded and the uterinestrips samples at maximum contraction were selected and homogenized in order determine the role of prostaglandinF2α (PGF2α) in the mechanism of uterine contraction. Other than that, phosphorylated 42/44 (p42/44) of mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK) expression was also detected via immunoblotting. The results showed that the maximumcontraction induced by FDD was at the concentration of 320 µg/ml, whereas for FDA was at 960 µg/ml. Both FDD andFDA increased the intensity of uterine strips contractions and there were notable trend of increased PGF2α expression aswell. Further analysis revealed that the uterine contractions involved the MAPK pathway through the phosphorylation ofp42/44 protein. In conclusion, Ficus deltoidea of both variants have the ability to stimulate uterine contraction throughthe mechanism of MAPK pathway.
2.Stress and its relationship with body mass index among biomedical science students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nur Zakiah Mohd Saat ; Ismarulyusda Ishak ; Syarif Husin Lubis ; See Huong Wen ; Siti Nor Lily Suriyanee Mohd ; Norul Sahira Zakaria ; Tan Xin Ee ; Marlini Othman ; Tang Hui Shein ; Zahirah Zulkifli ; Tan Liy Si ; Law Ngiik Ling ; Surayya Razali ; Umi Romaizatul Amiera Zainudin ; Yeoh Thong Wei ; Luqman Osman ; Kholilul Syafiq Baharuddin
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2010;11(2):190-197
Objective: The objective of this study
was to assess the relationship between stress score and body mass index (BMI) of students of Science in Kuala Lumpur. Methods: A cross-sectional study
was carried out among 126
students. Data about stress score
were collected using a questionnaire,
the Student-Life Stress Inventory
(SLSI) Data about BMI were calculated from
height and weight of the respondents.
Results: A total of 117 (92.85%)
out of 126 students had responded.
The mean difference of stress score
among first, second and third year
students were 87.6 ± 17.0, 83.4 ± 16.9
and 86.7 ± 15.4 respectively. The mean
difference of stress scores between the
Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra students
were 87.9 ± 16.5 and 83.2 ± 15.9 .The
mean of body mass Index(BMI) between
first, second and third year students
were 21.0 ± 3.5, 20.3 ± 2.7 and 21.8 ± 4.3
respectively. Conclusions: This study showed
that the stress level is higher in first year,
female and bumiputra student. There was no
significant relationship between stress score
and BMI.