Protective effects of Tualang honey on bone structure in experimental postmenopausal rats

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Tualang honey on trabecular structure and compare these effects with those of calcium supplementation in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Forty female, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n =8): four controls and one test arm. The control arm comprised a baseline control, sham-operated control, ovariectomized control, and ovariectomized calcium-treated rats (receiving 1% calcium in drinking water ad libitum). The test arm was composed of ovariectomized, Tualang honey-treated rats (received 0.2 g/kg body weight of Tualang honey). Both the sham-operated control and ovariectomized control groups received vehicle treatment (deionized water), and the baseline control group was sacrificed without treatment. RESULTS: All rats were orally gavaged daily for six weeks after day one post-surgery. The bone structural analysis of rats in the test arm group showed a significant increase in the bone volume per tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular number (Tb.N) and a significant decrease in inter-trabecular space (Tb.Sp) compared with the ovariectomized control group. The trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) in the test arm group was significantly higher compared with the ovariectomized-calcium treated group, and the inter-trabecular space (Tb.Sp) in the test arm group was significantly narrower compared with the ovariectomized-calcium treated group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, ovariectomized rats that received Tualang honey showed more improvements in trabecular bone structure than the rats that received calcium.

Chronic atrophic antral gastritis and risk of metaplasia and dysplasia in an area with low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori.

Introduction The Northeastern region of Peninsular Malaysia is an area with exceptionally low prevalence for Helicobacter pylori infection. The risk of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and its association with Helicobacter pylori is unknown in this region. Methods This was a cross-sectional study on gastric biopsies from 234 consecutive patients (mean age 53.5 [14.8] years) who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between January 2006 and December 2006. Results There were 137 (59%) men and 185 (79%) Malay patients. Among 234 biopsies, CAG was found in 99 and non-atrophic gastritis in 135. Intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia were detected in 8 and 6 atrophic gastritis biopsies, respectively, and in 10 and 3 of non-atrophic gastritis biopsies, respectively. H. pylori were detected in 16 (9 Malays, 7 non- Malays) biopsies (p=0.024); intestinal metaplasia was detected in 4 biopsies (p=0.3) and dysplasia in 5 biopsies (p=0.3). Of the 218 biopsies negative for H. pylori, intestinal metaplasia was found in 14 and dysplasia in 4. The risk of intestinal metaplasia as well as dysplasia was associated with presence of H. pylori infection (p=0.029 and p<0.001 respectively). Conclusion Even in a setting of low prevalence of H. pylori, intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia were significantly associated with H. pylori infection. The frequency of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia was similar different between biopsies with atrophic gastritis and non-atrophic gastritis.

Association of colorectal carcinoma with metabolic diseases; experience with 138 cases from Kelantan, Malaysia.

OBJECTIVE: Kelantan in Malaysia has a high prevalence of diabetes and colorectal cancer is also on the rise. This study is to determine the association of metabolic diseases, particularly diabetes type 2 [DM2] and hypertension, with colorectal cancer patients in our population. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on all colorectal carcinomas in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) in Kelantan from ythe ears 2001-2006. The data were retrieved from the Registry in Pathology laboratory and the clinical details from the patients' clinical records and analyzed using SSPS Version 12.0, with a value of p<0.05 taken to be statistically significant. RESULTS: 138 CRC cases with complete clinical records were included. The age ranged from 16.0 to 88.0 years, with a mean of 56.9 -/+ SD 15.4. The male 90(65%) to female 48(35%) ratio was 1.7:1.0 and 47.8% were suffering from metabolic diseases; 18(13.0%) with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2(DM2), and 48(34.8%) with hypertension (HT). Diabetes Type 2 and hypertension also demonstrated significant association (p<0.05) with the stage and the site of the cancer. Patients with diabetes type 2 88.8%(16/18) and Hypertension 85.4% (41/48) were strongly associated with cancers located in the distal to transverse colon (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There is a high proportion of metabolic diseases; hypertension and diabetes type 2 among colorectal carcinomas seen in Kelantan population. In this preliminary study we noted a strong association of metabolic diseases with the stage and site of the cancer. To reduce CRC incidence, the high prevalence of DM2 in Kelantan needs to be addressed.

Is Kelantan joining the global cancer epidemic?--experience from hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia; 1987-2007.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the trend of cancer cases in one major hospital in Kelantan over a 20 year period from 1987 to 2007 and to speculate the change in trend due to the socio-economic and other health status in the state. METHODOLOGY: All data on clinically diagnosed cancer cases in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia [HUSM] were retrieved from the hospital medical records. The cancers were classified according to ICD10 and scrutinized to avoid duplicate or more entries. The increment in cancer incidence was calculated based on total numbers of cancer cases per each 5-6 year period. RESULTS: A total of 12,228 solid cancers were diagnosed during the period. There is an increment of 20.1% for 1991-1996 from 1987-1990 period, 67.4% for 1997-2001 from 1991-1996 period and 305.9% for 2002-2007 from the 1997-2001 period. The rise was steep in the last 5-6 years. After excluding referred cases from states outside Kelantan, the increments were 20.1%, 67.4% and 143.6% for the consecutive 5-6 year periods. The predominant rising trends were seen for cancers of the female organs, digestive tract and endocrine organs. CONCLUSION: Cancer cases in HUSM are showing a rising trend, associated with increasing prevalence of smoking, obesity and diabetes in the community served by the hospital. Since HUSM is the only hospital managing cancer in the state of Kelantan, to reduce cancer incidence in the state, life-style issues need to be addressed.