The Moderate Correlation Between 25(OH)D Serum and Saliva in Healthy People with Low Vitamin D Intake.

PURPOSE: The routine examination of vitamin D levels is carried out by checking serum 25(OH)D levels, while serum 1.25(OH)D levels are less frequently utilized. The proposition that testing for salivary vitamin D can show a correlation with serum levels in healthy people is questionable, especially with low vitamin D intake. This study aimed to find the correlation between vitamin D levels, which were assessed as 25(OH)D and 1.25(OH)D in saliva, and serum 25(OH)D and 1.25(OH)D levels in people with low vitamin D intake. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study involving healthy men and women, aged 18-60 years, carried out from August to November, 2020, in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The parameters studied were the 25(OH)D and 1.25(OH)D levels in saliva and serum, and vitamin D intake. The statistical analysis used was the Spearman correlation test, performed to determine the correlation between each parameter. RESULTS: This study involved 56 study subjects, who were rural adults (male or female) with a 78.6% deficiency in 25(OH)D found by examining saliva, and a 76.8% deficiency found by examining the serum. All of the subjects were categorized as having low vitamin D intake (less than 15 micrograms per day). The analysis showed a moderate correlation between levels of saliva 25(OH)D and serum 25(OH)D (p = 0.424), and a weak correlation between levels of saliva 1.25(OH)D and serum 25(OH)D (p = 0.339). CONCLUSION: In people with low vitamin D intake, there was a moderate correlation between serum 25(OH)D and saliva, but a weak correlation was found in the 1.25(OH)D assay. The use of saliva 25(OH)D levels to detect 25(OH)D in the circulation is a possible non-invasive alternative to serum testing.

Positive Correlation Between General Public Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding COVID-19 Outbreak 1 Month After First Cases Reported in Indonesia.

The increasing number cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in the general population in Indonesia raises questions concerning the public's knowledge and attitudes regarding this pandemic. To determine the correlation between the general public's knowledge and attitudes regarding the COVID-19 outbreak 1 month after the first cases were reported in Indonesia. This cross-sectional study was conducted between early March and the end of April 2020 in the general population of Indonesia, beginning with the North Sumatra region, where the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia began. Questionnaires were randomly distributed online in the red zone in Indonesia. Data were collected by collecting people's responses to the questionnaire, which were distributed via WhatsApp (WA) application and were competed independently by the participants. A descriptive analysis was conducted to describe the demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes of the general population. A total of 201 people had good knowledge (98%) and a positive attitude (96%) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents had a negative attitude in relation to two aspects of the COVID-19 outbreak: having to always maintain a distance of 1.5 m when in crowds, and not being able to regularly exercise or eat nutritious food (78.6% and 79.1%, respectively). Most people in Indonesia have good knowledge and a positive attitude regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. However, negative attitudes were still found in this study, and as a result, transmission prevention measures cannot reach their maximum effectiveness by simply publicizing the increase in day-to-day cases to the general public.

Analysis of phenolic compounds and immunomodulatory activity of areca nut extract from Aceh, Indonesia, against Staphylococcus aureus infection in Sprague-Dawley rats.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of areca nut extract. The phytochemical content and phenolic composition of the extract were also determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An extract of areca nut was prepared using 96% ethanol and subsequently screened for phytochemical content using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The immunomodulatory activity of the extract was tested in 35 Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into four groups: One control group and three experimental groups in which the rats received 500, 1000, or 1500 mg/kg of oral areca nut extract biweekly (BW). The extract was orally administered 14 days before the intraperitoneal challenge with Staphylococcus aureus (1×108 CFU/mL). On the 14th day of the experiment, rats in all the four groups were sacrificed. Measurement of the levels of red blood cells, hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBCs), lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophil, and macrophages were recorded. The activities of serum glutamate oxalate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, urea, and creatinine were also determined. RESULTS: Areca nut was found to contain an alkaloid, tannin, and flavonoid compounds. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of catechin as the major compound along with quercetin. Administration of areca nut extract in rats infected with S. aureus produced a significant increase in the concentration of WBC but did not affect Hct, Hb, and other cell types. Among the different doses tested, 1000 mg/kg BW was found to be most effective in cellular immunity models. No harmful effects on the liver and kidney functions were observed. CONCLUSION: The antioxidant activity of areca nut might be attributed to the presence of catechin and quercetin. Administration of areca nut extract increased the number of WBCs and improved the activity and capacity of macrophages significantly in rats infected with S. aureus.

Areca nut extract demonstrated apoptosis-inducing mechanism by increased caspase-3 activities on oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a neoplasm of keratinocyte cells of oral mucosa epithelium that can potentially spread through lymphatic tissue or blood vessel. Although areca nut is one of the plants with a risk of inducing that cancer, areca nut is believed to have high antioxidant properties. Due to the current interest in the apoptosis effects from areca nut for oral cancer treatment, we investigated its ability to induce apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in oral cancer cell lines: HSC-2 and HSC-3. Methods: We examined the effect of areca nut on apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in HSC-2 and HSC-3 cells. Flow cytometry was conducted for the quantification of the cells that were apoptotic and expressing the caspase-3 enzyme for 24 and 48 hours. Results: Areca nut induced a significant increase (p<0.01) in late apoptosis of HSC-2 cells and mostly occurred over 48 hours. The study also found that in HSC-3, there were significant increases (p<0.01) the percentage of cells in early apoptosis after 24 hours and late apoptosis at 48 hours. Caspase-3 activity increased after 24 and 48 hours of areca nut exposure in both cells. Conclusions: The study showed that areca nut could be considered as a potential anticancer agent through its capability in inducing a caspase-dependent apoptosis.