Association of DNA damage with vitamin D and hair heavy metals of obese women

Ng Chiat Yin,Amini Farahnaz,Ahmad Bustami Normina,Tan Eugenie Sin Sing,Tan Pui Yee,Mitra Soma Roy 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2021 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.17 No.4

Background Obesity has been linked to DNA damage. The modifiable risk factors may modulate the impact of obesity on DNA damage. Objective This study aimed to assess DNA damage and its association with dietary nutrient, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and concentration of hair heavy metals of obese and non-obese women. Method A case–control study was conducted involving 134 women aged between 20 and 50 years. Serum 25(OH)D, fasting glucose, and lipid profile were assessed. Indicators of DNA damage such as percentage of tail DNA, tail moment, tail olive moment, tail intensity and tail length were measured using an alkaline-comet assay. Concentrations of hair heavy metals were quantified using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). Participants' daily energy, macro, and micronutrient intake were collected using the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Results Mean values of serum 25(OH)D was 31.8 ± 0.9 nmol/L. 96.3% of participants were vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/L). The mean BMI was 26.3 ± 0.5 kg/m2. Half of the participants (50.7%) have a high frequency of DNA strand breaks. Mean concentration of hair heavy metals (mg/kg) were 0.1 ± 0.03 (arsenic), 0.2 ± 0.1 (cadmium), 1.0 ± 0.4 (mercury), 2.8 ± 0.8 (lead),and 6.2 ± 0.4 (chromium). There was no significant difference for the mean of serum 25(OH)D, indicators of DNA damage, concentrations of hair heavy metals and dietary nutrients between obese and non-obese groups (p > 0.05). Obese women with serum 25(OH)D level of ≥ 31 nmol/L had a significantly lower tail moment (p = 0.029) and tail olive moment (p = 0.031); thus, indicating less DNA damage. Additionally, obese women with hair chromium concentration of ≥ 5.88 mg/kg had a significantly higher tail moment (p = 0.047), indicating more DNA damage. Conclusion DNA damage among obese women correlated with serum 25(OH)D and hair chromium. Background Obesity has been linked to DNA damage. The modifiable risk factors may modulate the impact of obesity on DNA damage. Objective This study aimed to assess DNA damage and its association with dietary nutrient, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and concentration of hair heavy metals of obese and non-obese women. Method A case–control study was conducted involving 134 women aged between 20 and 50 years. Serum 25(OH)D, fasting glucose, and lipid profile were assessed. Indicators of DNA damage such as percentage of tail DNA, tail moment, tail olive moment, tail intensity and tail length were measured using an alkaline-comet assay. Concentrations of hair heavy metals were quantified using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). Participants' daily energy, macro, and micronutrient intake were collected using the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Results Mean values of serum 25(OH)D was 31.8 ± 0.9 nmol/L. 96.3% of participants were vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/L). The mean BMI was 26.3 ± 0.5 kg/m2. Half of the participants (50.7%) have a high frequency of DNA strand breaks. Mean concentration of hair heavy metals (mg/kg) were 0.1 ± 0.03 (arsenic), 0.2 ± 0.1 (cadmium), 1.0 ± 0.4 (mercury), 2.8 ± 0.8 (lead),and 6.2 ± 0.4 (chromium). There was no significant difference for the mean of serum 25(OH)D, indicators of DNA damage, concentrations of hair heavy metals and dietary nutrients between obese and non-obese groups (p > 0.05). Obese women with serum 25(OH)D level of ≥ 31 nmol/L had a significantly lower tail moment (p = 0.029) and tail olive moment (p = 0.031); thus, indicating less DNA damage. Additionally, obese women with hair chromium concentration of ≥ 5.88 mg/kg had a significantly higher tail moment (p = 0.047), indicating more DNA damage. Conclusion DNA damage among obese women correlated with serum 25(OH)D and hair chromium.

Antibacterial activity by ZnO nanorods and ZnO nanodisks: A model used to illustrate “Nanotoxicity Threshold”

Soh Fanny Chiat Orou,Kee Jeik Hang,Myo Thuya Thien,Ying Yuet Lee,Le Cheng Foh,Nguyen Duong Ngoc Diem,Goh Boon Hee,Pung Swee Yong,Pung Yuh Fen 한국공업화학회 2018 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.62 No.-

Many studies suggested that waste water treatment using metal oxide nanoparticles, in particular the zinc oxide nanoparticles, appears to be an economical and efficient solution. However, antibacterial activities reported from various research groups were often confusing and contradicting. The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effects and the underlying mechanisms on the custom-engineered Zinc oxice (ZnO) nanorods and ZnO nanodisks. Firstly, antibacterial activities of ZnO nanorods and ZnO nanodisks were studied on both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The antibacterial performance of these ZnO nanoparticles were bench marked with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2). In antibacterial susceptibility assay, both types of ZnO nanoparticles showed potent inhibition on Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 128 and 256 ug/ml, respectively. Nevertheless, no inhibition was found against Gram negative bacteria. Interestingly, no inhibition was found against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria for TiO2 nanoparticles, and thus TiO2 nanoparticles were omitted in the subsequent study. In the time-kill kinetics assay, the inhibitory effect of both types of ZnO nanoparticles on B. subtilis was significant as early as 90 min after treatment at 128 μg/ml. Besides different types of bacteria, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), surface area, surface charges, polarity were also examined. Our study suggested that the antibacterial effects of ZnO nanorods and ZnO nanodisks were mediated through not one but multiple chemical and physical properties of nanoparticles. This is the first report introducing a new concept on ‘Nanotoxicity Threshold’, i.e. the maximal tolerance level in bacteria before any damage manifested. Our study warrants that a more holistic view on the mechanistic insights of nanoparticles is required to minimize adverse health effect on human.

Chinese Music in Malaysia: Sustainability and Convergence

Loo Fung Ying,Loo Fung Chiat 아시아음악학회 2019 Asian Musicology Vol.30 No.-

Multiracial Malaysia displays a rich cultural diversity that justifies the popular label of ‘truly Asian’ featuring the three major races Malay, Chinese and Indian, and a smaller population of indigenous groups. This chapter first takes a nostalgic journey to the settlement of the Chinese diasporic community in Malaysia from the 15th century who brought with them musical traditions from the China mainland. The practice of different traditional and folk music, mostly from the South of China, where the Chinese migrants originated, continued in the country. This essay also reviews how these cultural practices were sustained pre- and post-World War 2. A discussion on the development of Chinese musical practices in the country, along with reasons for its decline and challenges to survival as a minority, provides some thoughts about opportunity and conflict. Efforts in sustaining tradition that led to new directions of Malaysian Chinese identity musical formation in this multiracial country are considered. The final part of the chapter documents how a new identity has been shared between a Chinese core and its multiracial peripheries, a phenomenon that presents a new creative output from the younger generations that mirrored the code-switching culture in Malaysia in the age of convergence.

Creation of Consistent Burn Wounds: A Rat Model

Elijah Zhengyang Cai,Chuan Han Ang,Kong Bing Tan,Eileen Chor Hoong Hing,Yihua Loo,Yong Chiat Wong,Hanjing Lee,Jane LIM,Shabbir M Moochhala,Charlotte AE Hauser,Thiam Chye LIM,Ashvin Raju 대한성형외과학회 2014 Archives of Plastic Surgery Vol.41 No.4

Background: Burn infliction techniques are poorly described in rat models. An accurate studycan only be achieved with wounds that are uniform in size and depth. We describe a simplereproducible method for creating consistent burn wounds in rats. Methods: Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and dorsum shaved. A 100 gcylindrical stainless-steel rod (1 cm diameter) was heated to 100°C in boiling water. Temperature was monitored using a thermocouple. We performed two consecutive toe-pinchtests on different limbs to assess the depth of sedation. Burn infliction was limited to theloin. The skin was pulled upwards, away from the underlying viscera, creating a flat surface. The rod rested on its own weight for 5, 10, and 20 seconds at three different sites on eachrat. Wounds were evaluated for size, morphology and depth. Results: Average wound size was 0.9957 cm2 (standard deviation [SD] 0.1845) (n=30). Wounds created with duration of 5 seconds were pale, with an indistinct margin of erythema. Wounds of 10 and 20 seconds were well-defined, uniformly brown with a rim of erythema. Average depths of tissue damage were 1.30 mm (SD 0.424), 2.35 mm (SD 0.071), and 2.60mm (SD 0.283) for duration of 5, 10, 20 seconds respectively. Burn duration of 5 secondsresulted in full-thickness damage. Burn duration of 10 seconds and 20 seconds resulted infull-thickness damage, involving subjacent skeletal muscle. Conclusions: This is a simple reproducible method for creating burn wounds consistent insize and depth in a rat burn model.

Creation of Consistent Burn Wounds: A Rat Model

Cai, Elijah Zhengyang,Ang, Chuan Han,Raju, Ashvin,Tan, Kong Bing,Hing, Eileen Chor Hoong,Loo, Yihua,Wong, Yong Chiat,Lee, Hanjing,Lim, Jane,Moochhala, Shabbir M.,Hauser, Charlotte A.E.,Lim, Thiam Chye Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surge 2014 Archives of Plastic Surgery Vol.41 No.4

Background Burn infliction techniques are poorly described in rat models. An accurate study can only be achieved with wounds that are uniform in size and depth. We describe a simple reproducible method for creating consistent burn wounds in rats. Methods Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and dorsum shaved. A 100 g cylindrical stainless-steel rod (1 cm diameter) was heated to $100^{\circ}C$ in boiling water. Temperature was monitored using a thermocouple. We performed two consecutive toe-pinch tests on different limbs to assess the depth of sedation. Burn infliction was limited to the loin. The skin was pulled upwards, away from the underlying viscera, creating a flat surface. The rod rested on its own weight for 5, 10, and 20 seconds at three different sites on each rat. Wounds were evaluated for size, morphology and depth. Results Average wound size was $0.9957cm^2$ (standard deviation [SD] 0.1845) (n=30). Wounds created with duration of 5 seconds were pale, with an indistinct margin of erythema. Wounds of 10 and 20 seconds were well-defined, uniformly brown with a rim of erythema. Average depths of tissue damage were 1.30 mm (SD 0.424), 2.35 mm (SD 0.071), and 2.60 mm (SD 0.283) for duration of 5, 10, 20 seconds respectively. Burn duration of 5 seconds resulted in full-thickness damage. Burn duration of 10 seconds and 20 seconds resulted in full-thickness damage, involving subjacent skeletal muscle. Conclusions This is a simple reproducible method for creating burn wounds consistent in size and depth in a rat burn model.