Background<br />Chronic and degenerative diseases are closely related to modern lifestyles that tend to be deficient in physical activity but excessive in food intake. One method used to overcome this problem is dietary restriction through intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting decreases the risk of chronic and degenerative diseases, e.g. by lowering oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can be determined from the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and lipid profile in the blood. The present study aimed to determine the effect of intermittent fasting on plasma MDA levels and lipid profile of Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus).<br /><br />Methods<br />This research was a laboratory experimental research using a post test control group design. Twenty four male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were randomly assigned to 4 groups, ie control group (C), fasting group (F), non-fasting obese group (NFO), and fasting obese group (FO). Fasting treatment given in this research was intermittent fasting, comprising one day of fasting for 12 hours alternating with one day of normal feed ad libitum in the span of 8 weeks. After completion of treatment, blood was taken transcardially for examination of MDA levels and lipid profiles using spectrophotometry.<br /><br />Results<br />There were significant between-group differences in MDA levels and lipid profiles (p&lt;0.05 for all parameters). Groups treated with intermittent fasting had lower levels of MDA, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and ow-density lipoprotein (LDL) than those without intermittent fasting. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were higher in the intermittent fasting group than the other groups.<br /><br />Conclusion<br />Intermittent fasting has an effect on the oxidative stress parameters of Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Background A high prevalence of anxiety in the elderly often leads to decreased quality of life (QOL). A restrictive diet can increase the production of ketone bodies that encourage mood enhancement, neural protection and pain reduction. This study aimed to identify whether Dawood fasting could increase the QOL of the elderly by reducing anxiety. Methods This research was a quasi-experimental study involving a pretest–post-test control group design. The subjects were pre-elderly and elderly or healthy people aged more than 50, and a consecutive sampling method was employed. The fasting group observed the fast of Dawood, in which they abstained from eating, drinking, or having sexual intercourse from the break of dawn to dusk with the expressed intent to fast every other day. The fast was observed for 22 days (11 fasting days). Anxiety was examined using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRS-A), while QOL was identified using the Indonesian version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life (WHOQOL). Results A total of 48 respondents participated in this study with 24 respondents observing the fast of Dawood and 24 others not fasting. Results showed that the 22 days of Dawood fast reduced respondents’ complaints about anxiety by 4.37% and was significantly different from the non-fasting group (p=0.001). There was an increase in the QOL of the fasting group (p=0.019), although no significant difference was found when compared to the non-fasting group. Conclusions The fast of Dawood reduced anxiety in the pre-elderly and elderly.

Introduction<br />Aging is characterized by gradual impairment in all physiological functions. Increases in free radicals and changes in organ morphology occur with aging. The purpose of this study was to determine age-related changes in serum free radicals, body weight, organ weights, and relative organ weights in male mice. <br /><br />Methods<br />An experimental animal study was performed on 25 male mice (Mus musculus), which were randomized into 5 groups according to age at termination, i.e. 12 (group K1), 24 (K2), 32 (K3), 40 (K4) and 48 weeks (K5), respectively. Retro-orbital venous blood was taken for examination of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. After termination, liver, heart, kidneys, testes, brain, thymus and spleen were weighed using an analytical balance. ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to analyze the data, with p&lt;0.05 being considered significant. <br /><br />Results<br />Significant changes were found with age in serum MDA level (p=0.000), body weight (p=0.000), and weights of all organs except thymus (p&gt;0.05) (liver p=0.023, heart p=0.000, kidneys p=0.002, testes p=0.000, brain p=0.012 and spleen p=0.006). Significant changes in relative weight of brain (p=0.001) and spleen (p=0.049) were also found with age. <br /><br />Conclusion<br />This study demonstrated increases in serum MDA levels, body weight, and weights of the liver, heart, kidneys, testes, brain and spleen with age. Peak increases in weights of kidneys and thymus were found earlier than those in MDA levels and weights of other organs.

Deficiency of vitamin D in the world is high. Vitamin D deficiency has numerous negative effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of vitamin D deficiency in male adolescents in Yogyakarta Indonesia. This research is a cross-sectional study. The height, weight, physical activity, lipid profile laboratory data and vitamin D levels of subjects were recorded in the study. Body mass index (BMI) is calculated as body weight divided by height. Moderate exercise in physical is determined as enough activity for 150 minutes in week for moderate exercise and 75 minutes in week for strenuous exercise. Dyslipidaemia is diagnosed as an abnormal lipid level of three criteria: Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) ≥140 mg/dl, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) <40 mg/dl, and triglyceride ≥150 mg/dl.Vitamin deficiency was determined using the enzymes linked immunoassay method by measuring the activity of 25hydroxy vitamin D using serum samples of subjects. A total of 60 male adolescents aged 19-25 years participated in the study. A total of 30 subjects (50%) had obesity with an average BMI of 29.65 kg/m2. A total of 38 subjects had increased dyslipidaemia, with the highest proportion having low HDL (15%). A total of 39 subjects (65%) had had sufficient physical activity. The proportion of vitamin D deficiency was experienced by 26 subjects (43.3%) while the proportion of vitamin D insufficiency was experienced by 31 subjects (51.7%). Statistical analysis showed there was no correlation between the occurrence of vitamin D deficiency and obesity, dyslipidaemia and physical activity (Χ 2 = 0.778, p = 0.6779; Χ 2 = 1.8, p = 0.4065; Χ 2 = 0.087, p = 0.575). Proportion of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was quite high among male adolescents but not related to physical activity. Interventions are needed to treat conditions of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency.

Background<br />Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that plays a role in the pathogenesis of anxiety and depression. Dopamine secretion occurs when there is a pleasurable stimulus. Blood dopamine levels have the potential to be developed as biomarkers of depression or anxiety, but previous studies related to the relationship between dopamine levels and levels of anxiety and depression are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between anxiety and depression score with dopamine level in young adults. <br /><br />Methods<br />This was an observational cross sectional study. A total of 43 subjects aged 18 to 40 years were recruited by consecutive non-random sampling according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Beck anxiety inventory and Beck depression inventory-II questionnaire. Dopamine plasma level was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Spearman rho correlation test was used to analyze the data and p&lt;0.05 was considered significant.<br /><br />Results <br />The median dopamine levels in respondents with mild, moderate and severe anxiety were respectively: 77.79; 63.43; 62.51 ng/mL (p=0.043). The median dopamine levels in respondents with reasonable depression, mood disorder, moderate and severe depression were respectively: 79.2; 61,32; 62,51; 60.24 (p=0.001). Correlation test results showed a weak correlation between dopamine and anxiety (r=- 0.310) and a moderate correlation for depression (r=-0.505).<br /><br />Conclusion<br />Mild anxiety and depression were associated with elevated dopamine level in young adults. Further studies are required to confirm the role of dopamine metabolism in anxiety and depression in young adults.

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Background:A diet high in carbs and fat puts people at risk of obesity. Obesity causes changes in the immune system and increases the risk of premature ageing, including in the lymphoid organs ― such as the thymus and spleen. Fasting is expected to improve the immune system. The purpose of this research is to determine the effects of intermittent fasting on images of the structure of the thymus, the number of fat cells, Hassall’s corpuscles of the thymus, the area and density of pulp white spleen, and the number of leukocytes in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) fed a diet high in carbs and fat. Methods:An experimental study with post-test only control group design, with 15 male rat subjects aged 2.5 months were divided into three groups: first group had a diet that was ad libitum (AL); second group were given a diet high in fats and carbohydrates for 1 month then were fed ad libitum (HCL); and third group were given a diet high in fat and carbohydrates for 1 month continued with alternating 12 hour fasting periods for 72 days (F). Results: Total Hassall’s corpuscles of AL, HCL, and F groups were 1.33 ± 077; 2.58 ± 1.35; and 0.69 ± 0.27, respectively(p = 0.008). Fat cells were not found in the thymus. The largest white pulp in the spleen was found in group F, followed by AL, while the smallest was found in group of HCL (p = 0.01). The most depleted white pulp density was the HCL group. There is no significant difference in the number of leukocytes and different leukocyte count between the groups (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Intermittent fasting for 72 days affects the number of Hassall’s corpuscles in the thymus and the width of white pulp in the spleen of Wistar rats.

AIM: The aim of this study is to provide a comparative histopathological evaluation of the regeneration of bone defect filling with perforated antibiotic-impregnated bone allograft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two healthy rabbits (24 rabbits in each group) were used for this study. Bone defects (3-mm diameter, 10-mm depth) were created in the femur. Human femoral head prepared according to the Marburg bone bank system was used as a bone allograft. The control group did not receive any filling. The experimental groups were as follows: Group 1 – the defects were filled with bone allografts and Group 2 – Perforated gentamycin-impregnated bone allografts. The animals were euthanized after 14, 30, and 60 days. Evaluations consisted of histology at 14-, 30-, and 60-days post-surgery. RESULTS: A mature bone formation in the group without a bone allograft occurred after 30 days and the group with an allograft after 14 days. In the groups with an allograft, a bone marrow defect was noted as complete closure after 30 days. Histomorphometric analysis showed that in the group with an antibiotic-impregnated bone, allograft leads to increased resorption of the allograft in the intramedullary space compared to group without antibiotic. CONCLUSION: We believe that a perforated allograft as a result of clinical trials may be obvious and economically affordable in the treatment of bone defects. The use of gentamycin-impregnated bone allografts may be of value in the prevention and treatment of bone infections.