Preliminary study of heavy metals pollution in freshwater fishes of Sungai Simpang Empat, Penang. / F. Widad and M. Abdullah

A study was conducted to determine heavy metals content in different body parts of fish collected from five sampling stations in Sungai Simpang Empat, Penang from July to December, 2005. The liver, head, gills, muscles and bones of dried fish samples were extracted by the AOAC acid digestion method whilst iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Based on Interim National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia (INWQS), dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, ammonia, sulphate, nitrate and phosphate were within the recommended levels suggested for fish to survive except for turbidity levels in some stations, exceeding the recommended of 50 mg/L limit. Fe was accumulated at the highest levels while Cd was the lowest. Only Fe and Mn levels have exceeded the permissible limit of the Malaysian Food Act (1983) and Food Regulations (1985). In most of the fish, liver accumulated the highest concentration of all heavy metals compared to head, gills, muscles and bones. Snakeskin gouramy or Sepat Siam (Trichogaster pectoralis) and black tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) are good candidates for potential bioindicator for metals pollution in this study

Salivary Interleukin 6 is A Valid Biomarker for Diagnosis of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women

Background: Interleukin 6 (IL6) is pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with decline in ovarian function during menopause which is involved in the pathophysiology of postmenopausal bone loss. Objective: To investigate validity of salivary IL6 as a biomarker to diagnose osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Patients and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 75 postmenopausal women. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to diagnose osteoporosis. Salivary IL6 was measured for all postmenopausal women by using Human ELISA kit. Results: Of a total 75 individual involved in the study, 25 were healthy postmenopausal women, 25 had osteopenia, and 25 had osteoporosis. There was no statistical significant differences between age and body mass index in all groups (p>0.05). Mean level of salivary IL6 was significantly different among healthy controls, osteopenic group, and osteoporotic group (11.66 ± 4.44 vs 14.51 ± 6.5 vs 23.9 ±5.52 pg/ml; p<0.001) respectively. The mean salivary IL-6 was significantly higher in osteoporosis group (23.9 pg/ml) compared to control group (11.66 pg/ml). Salivary IL-6 was a valid parameter to predict osteoporosis in postmenopausal woman (ROC area=0.91, p<0.001).Salivary IL-6 showed positive strong significant linear correlation with bone t- score (r=0.62,     P<0.001). Salivary IL6 at the optimum cut off value ≥19.45 pg/ml has highest accuracy (81.3%) to diagnose osteoporosis in postmenopausal women  with sensitivity was 84.%, specificity 80 %, positive predictive value (PPV) at pretest probability 50% was 80.8%,  and PPV at pretest probability 90% was 97.4 %,  and  negative predictive value (NPV) at pretest  probability 10% was 97.8 %. Conclusions: Salivary IL6 was a simple, easy, and a valid biomarker to diagnose osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with high accuracy. This may indicate a hopeful measure for early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Keywords: Salivary IL6, Menopause, Proinflammatory cytokines, Osteoporosis

Stable Isotopes Approach to Infer the Feeding Habit and Trophic Position of Freshwater Fishes in Tropical Lakes

A study was conducted on the stable isotope variation of muscle tissues from selected freshwater fish species from Temenggor Lake and Chenderoh Lake, Perak, Malaysia from December 2014 to March 2015. The objective is to assess the stable isotopes of δ13C to identify the carbon sources and δ15N of fish species from Temenggor and Chenderoh Lake, Perak, Malaysia to infer the trophic position of these fishes. Four types of fish species were analyzed by using stable isotope approach which were Hampala barb (Hampala macrolepidota), Oxygaster cyprinus (Oxygaster anomalura), Peacock Bass (Cichla ocellaris) and Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N were analysed using an elemental analyser Thermo Finnigan Flash EA 2000 connected to Finningan DELTA V AVANTAGE plus isotope ratio mass spectrometry by a ConFlo II interface. The δ13C values from both lakes implies a C3 phytoplankton as reported from the literature. Based on δ15N values of fish species, O. anomalura occupies the highest trophic level in Temenggor Lake, reflecting its carnivorous feeding habit despite its small size while C. ocellaris was the highest in Chenderoh Lake, implying its predatory behaviour. Further analysis should be carried out to incorporate primary producers and consumers to elucidate the food web in the tropical lake ecosystem. This study provides a reference record for conducting stable isotopes in the food web of tropical lake ecosystem for better management and deeper understanding of the ecosystem functioning

Cubeb (Piper cubeba L.): nutritional value, phytochemical profiling and dermacosmeceutical properties

IntroductionCubeb, Piper cubeba L., has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and culinary practices, with a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities.ObjectiveHerein, we determined the phytochemical profile, mineral, fatty acids, and amino acid contents of P. cubeba berries and assessed the dermacosmeceutical properties of their water extract and essential oil (EO). These included assessing their antioxidant and antibacterial activities as well as their in vitro inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and elastase enzymes. In addition, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies were performed on the major identified compounds of the EO.Results and discussionA total of forty-three compounds belonging to organic acids, phenolic acids and flavonoids were found in the water extract, while 36 volatile compounds were identified in the EO with Z-isoeugenol, dihydroeugenol, β-pinene, E-caryophyllene, and 1,8-cineole as major constituents. The berries were found to be rich in sodium and iron, have moderate zinc content along with low contents of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Amino acid analysis revealed a considerable concentration of isoleucine and phenylalanine, whereas 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid and linoleic acid were identified as the major fatty acids. In the DPPH and FRAP assays, the water extract elicited considerable antioxidant activity compared to the reference compounds. Enzyme inhibitory assays revealed that the EO had a potential to inhibit tyrosinase and elastase enzymes with IC50 values of 340.56 and 86.04 μg/mL, respectively. The water extract and EO completely inhibited the bacterial growth at MIC of 50 mg/mL and 20%, respectively. At sub-MIC concentrations, the extract and the EO substantially reduced the biofilm formation by up to 26.63 and 77.77%, respectively, as well as the swimming and swarming motilities in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics showed that the five main components of P. cubeba EO could be the major contributors to the elastase and tyrosinase inhibitory effect.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the promising potential of P. cubeba as a valuable source of natural compounds that can be utilized for the development of innovative pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, and dermacosmeceutical agents

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e. a controlling message) compared to no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly-internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared to the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly-internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing: Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

Language of Advertising in Women Magazine: A Study of Macro Functions Elements Found in Women Care Product in Femina Advertisements

The writer would like to examine the language functions used by the advertisements, particularly women care product. The writer uses descriptive qualitative method to analyze and explain the data. This study is included in discourse analysis since the writer uses Element of Macro Functions which are consist of the emotive function, the directive function, the phatic function, the poetic function, the referential function, the metalinguistic function, the contextual function to analyze women care product advertisement. Then the writer analyzes the findings with the theory of women language. The writer choose seven women care products advertisement, which are Vaseline healthy white body lotion, Jean Yip Beauty and Slimming, Ultima II Hydro Botanic, SK-II Signs Treatment Totality, Dove Therapy Conditioner, Erha Clinic in Femina magazine issue number 43-44 November edition. Based on the data analysis, the writer finds that there are four elements of macro functions are used in women care products advertisement. Those are the referential function, the directive function, the referential function and contextual function. While, the phatic function is not used because mostly ads print do one way communication, they only communicate the products with their audience. The metalinguistic function is not used in women care products advertisement because there is no any sentence focus attention upon the code, to clarify something or renegotiate something. Moreover, the emotive function is not used in women care products advertisement because there is no any exclamation that is used to communicate the inner states and emotions of the addresser

Effect of Fat Replacement with Tahena on the Quality Properties of Shortened Cake

The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of replacing fat(shortening) with different percentages of tahena on the quality properties (physiochemical and sensory ) of shortened cake.The percentages of moisture,protein ,fat and ash of cake increased significantly(

<i>Cupressus arizonica</i> Greene: Phytochemical Profile and Cosmeceutical and Dermatological Properties of Its Leaf Extracts

For many decades, natural resources have traditionally been employed in skin care. Here, we explored the phytochemical profile of the aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Cupressus arizonica Greene and assessed their antioxidant, antiaging and antibacterial activities in vitro. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis led to the tentative identification of 67 compounds consisting mainly of phenolic and fatty acids, diterpene acids, proanthocyanidins and flavonoid and biflavonoid glycosides. The aqueous extract demonstrated substantial in vitro antioxidant potential at FRAP and DPPH assays and inhibited the four target enzymes (collagenase, elastase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase) engaged in skin remodeling and aging with IC50 values close to those of the standard drugs. Moreover, the aqueous extract at 25 mg/mL suppressed biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterial pathogen causing common skin manifestations, and decreased its swarming and swimming motilities. In conclusion, C. arizonica leaves can be considered a promising candidate for potential application in skin aging