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@#Introduction: Adolescent health is a priority considering they represent the future generation. Data from the Adolescent Nutrition Survey 2017 were analysed to determine the prevalence of micronutrient inadequacy, particularly calcium and iron, and the relationship with body mass index (BMI) among Malaysian secondary school students. Methods: This cross-sectional study included students aged 13 to 17 years old studying at public and private schools. Twenty-four hours dietary recall via face-to-face interview was conducted by trained nutritionists to obtain data on dietary intake. For nutritional status, BMI-for-age z-score (BAZ) was analysed using WHO Anthroplus software. Results: From 999 respondents, 449 were boys and 550 were girls. Overall findings indicated that both boys and girls had inadequate intakes of calcium and iron in their daily diet. Mean intakes of calcium (695.7±463.2 mg/day) and iron (23.4±21.0 mg/day) were higher among boys aged 16 to 17 years old. Mean intake of iron were higher among the older age groups. Majority of the respondents (boys: 94%; girls: 97%) did not meet the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) for calcium and more than half (boys: 50%; girl: 80%) did not achieve the RNI for iron. Current findings also found significant positive but weak correlations between calcium (r=0.112, p=0.001) and iron (r=0.084, p=0.008) intakes with BMI-for-age. Conclusion: BMI-for-age was related to calcium and iron intakes among secondary school students in Malaysia. Thus, intervention strategies should focus on early screening and nutrition education on food choices of high calcium and high iron contents, including iron supplementation programmes, if needed.
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Objective: To investigate the effect of deguelin on mitochondrial permeability transition pore of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Methods: The inhibitory effect of deguelin on cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay; cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry with AnnexinV FITC/PI double staining; MDA-MB-231 cells were stained by Rhodaminel23 to detect the changes of mitochondrial transmembrane potential by FCM; alteration of protein of Cyt c outside of mitochondria was detected by Western blotting analysis; caspase-3 activity was assessed by colorimetric assay; and MDA-MB-231 cells were stained by Fluo-3/AM to detect changes of intracellular Ca 2+ concentration by FCM. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. Results: Deguelin significantly inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner ( P < 0.05). After treatment with deguelin, mitochondrial transmembrane potential was decreased, the expression of Cyt c outside of mitochondria was increased, and caspase-3 activity was significantly increased compared with negative control group(P<0.01). FCM analysis showed that the apoptotic rate of MDA-MB-231 cells and intracellular Ca2+ concentration increased gradually with the increase of deguelin concentration. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein was down-regulated and that of Bax was up-regulated after deguelin treatment. Conclusion: Deguelin can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells, and the induction of apoptosis might be related to increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration and changes of mitochondrial permeability transition pore induced by altered Bcl-2, Bax expression.
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The inhibitory effect of phytate on the bioavailability of iron, zinc and calcium was determined by measuring their molar ratios. A total of 29 food samples consisting of 12 rice and rice products, 5 wheat and wheat products, 5 grains and cereal based products and 7 different popular varieties of cooked rice and rice products were selected. The phytate content was analysed using anion-exchange chromatography whereas mineral contents were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry(AAS). One-way ANOVA test was used to statistically analyse the mean difference between the phytate and mineral contents between the food group samples. In general, results show that cooked products have lower content of phytate and minerals as compared to raw products. This could be due to the influence of the cooking method on phytate and mineral content in the food. Based on one-way ANOVA test, there were no significant difference in phytate and zinc content between four food groups (p >0.05). Significant differences were found only in iron and calcium content (p 1, 5 food samples had a phytate/zinc molar ratio > 15 and 23 food samples had a phytate/ calcium molar ratio of 0.24. These results show that although many of the food samples analysed had high mineral content, the high phytate content may impair the bioavailability of the mineral in the body.
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Objective To explore the effect of emodin on the apoptisis and intracellular Ca2+ concentration of Hepatic Stellate Cell-T6.Methods The immortalized rat hepatic stellate cell line HSC-T6 was commonly allocated into normal control group and treated groups with different concentrations emodin(the extreme concentration are 10?mol/ml, 20?mol/ml, 40?mol/ml respectively). The cell apoptosis rate were analyzed by flow cytometry, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration of HSC-T6 were detected by Furo-3/Am fluorescence assay and confocal laser microscopy.Results After intervention of different concentration emodin,the apoptosis rate of HSC-T6 is 4.0?0.5%, 4.3?0.6%, 6.9?1.1% respectively,and there are statistical significance compared with the control group(P