Relationship between topography of the residential area of breastfeeding mothers with zinc and calcium level in breast-milk in West Sumatera

Background: Natural environment, the topography of the residential area affects the nutritional intake of the community greatly. Geographically (including the topography of the residential area), the nutritional intake will affect breastfeeding mothers, because the quantity and quality of breast milk is influenced by the food consumed by mothers every day.Methods: This was observational research with a comparative cross-sectional design. The research was conducted at the Integrated Laboratory of LLDIKTI region X in December 2018 to January 2019 using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).  Samples were 80 breastfeeding mothers consisting of 40 mothers living in lowland and 40 mothers in Highland. Data analyzed using the Kolmogorov Smirnov normalization test and Mann-Whitney test, if p = 0.05, was considered significant.Results: Research showed that there was a significant relationship between the topography of residential area with zinc (p = 0.00) and calcium levels (p = 0.00).  Zinc and calcium levels in breastfeeding mothers were higher in mothers who live in the lowlands than in the highlands.Conclusions: The conclusion of this study, there is a significant relationship between the topography of the residential area of breastfeeding mothers with zinc and calcium levels in breast milk.

The analysis of matrix metalloproteinase-8 in gingival crevicular fluid and periodontal diseases

Periodontal disease, also generally called periodontitis or gum disease, is a chronic infection-induced inflammatory disease that causes tooth loss if not properly treated, and is considered as a modifying factor in systemic health. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) is an inflammatory marker found in periodontal pathologic conditions. Gingivitis, a nondestructive type of periodontal disease, can progress to periodontitis if left untreated. Therefore, assessing the level of MMP-8 with comfortable methods and no tissue intervention can determine the progression of the periodontal disease for a better treatment. Objective: The purpose of the present study is to determine the relationship between MMP-8 in GCF and periodontal disease. Setting and Design: This is a cross-sectional study that took place in West Sumatra, Indonesia from June to December 2013. Materials and Methods: This study involves 60 respondents who are divided into three groups based on the periodontal disease index. The samples consist of 20 healthy individuals, 20 with mild gingivitis, and 20 periodontitis initial. GCF was collected from each group. MMP8 level in GCF was tested by using ELISA technique. Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed with SPSS version 17 Software. ANOVA test was used to determine the differences in average levels of MMP-8. Bonferroni post hoc test was used to discover which spesific means differed. Results: The level of MMP-8 is significantly different between the healthy group and mild gingivitis group, between the healthy group with mild periodontitis group, and also between groups with mild gingivitis and mild periodontitis (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study can be used by practitioners of dentistry to establish a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment of periodontal disease by measuring the scale of MMP-8, to prevent or to minimize further complication in periodontitis patients.

Changes in expression of proteasome in rats at different stages of atherosclerosis / 대한해부학회지

It has been suggested that proteasome system has a role in initiation, progression, and complication stages of atherosclerosis. Although there is still controversy, there has been no research that compares the expression of proteasome in tissue and serum at each of these stages. This study aimed to investigated the expression of proteasome at different stages of atherosclerosis using rat model. We measured the expression of aortic proteasome by immunohistochemical analyses and were then analyzed using ImageJ software for percentage of area and integrated density. We used Photoshop version 3.0 to analyze aortic proteasome expression as a comparison. We measured serum proteasome expression by enzyme linked immunosorbents assays. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare mean value of percentage of area and serum proteasome. Analysis of variance test was used to compare mean value of integrated density. Correlation test between vascular proteasome expression and serum proteasome expression was made using Spearman test. A P-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Compared with normal, percentage of area was higher in initiation, progression, and complication. Compared with normal, integrated density was higher in initiation and further higher in progression and complication. Data from Image J is similar with data from Photoshop. Serum proteasome expression was higher in initiation compared with normal, and further higher in progression and complication. It was concluded that there were different vascular proteasome expression and serum proteasome expression at the stages of atherosclerosis. These results may be used in research into new marker and therapeutic target in atherosclerosis.

Comparing level of 4HNE in acute phase of ischemic stroke patients and its association with cognitive function after stroke event

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the productive age, not only because of physical disability, but also due to impaired cognitive function following a stroke event. Brain damage-related stroke can be triggered by increasing the level of free radicals. 4HNE is the main and most toxic product that is released from free radical attack on polyunsaturated fatty acids. To determine plasma level of 4HNE in patients recovering from acute phase of stroke and these with normal subjects and calculate its relationship with cognitive function after 3 months of stroke event. Eighty four patients suffering from ischemic stroke and 42 normal subjects [controls] were studied. In patients plasma 4HNE was measured between 24-72 hours of stroke and cognitive function was examined using MoCA-Ina after 3 months of stroke. Plasma 4HNE was 2.5-fold increased in patients than controls [p < 0.05]. The elevation was found in patients having cognitive impairment as compared to those who did not have cognitive impairment, but this was not statistically significant and no relationship was found between plasma 4HNE level and cognitive impairment after stroke. Cognitive impairment at three months after stroke was found in 56% cases. Elevation of plasma 4HNE was seen in acute phase of stroke but it was not associated with impaired cognitive function after 3 months of stroke event