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HbF production is affected by the α/β-globin chain imbalance due to the lack of β-globin gene expression as well as inversely correlates to the amount of functional hemoglobin available in the cells.

: Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability worldwide. Both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors can affect the occurrence of ischemic stroke at varying degrees. Among them, atherosclerosis has been well recognized as one of the main culprits for the rising incidence of stroke-related mortality. Hence, the current review aimed to summarize the prominent role of lipid metabolism genes such as PCSK9, ApoB, ApoA5, ApoC3, ApoE and ABCA1 in mediating ischemic stroke occurrence.

Hematoprotection lipid peroxidation protein hydrolysate simulated gastrointestinal digestion stigma maydis thermal stability A B S T R A C TThe aim of this study was to examine the antioxidant capacity of Trypsin-hydrolyzed corn silk proteins, specifically radical scavenging, ferric reducing and anti-lipid peroxidation activities, as well as stability after heating and simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Among the 1-5-h hydrolysates, the 1-h Trypsin hydrolysate (T1H) was the strongest. T1H exhibited stronger H 2 O 2 [half maximal effective concentration (EC 50 ) = 156.44 µg/mL] and superoxide (EC 50 = 0.33 mg/mL) scavenging activities than glutathione, carnosine and N-acetylcysteine. Radical scavenging activities of T1H were heat-stable (25-100°C), although lost by 20-58% after gastrointestinal digestion. Ferric reducing activity of T1H was heat-stable, even enhanced by 20% after gastrointestinal digestion. Lecithin liposome assay found anti-lipid peroxidation activity of T1H resistant to gastrointestinal peptidases. By contrast, 100°C incubation reduced anti-lipid peroxidation activity of 0.5 mg/mL T1H to 3.5-fold lower than that of 25°C incubation. At 30 µg/mL, T1H (3% hemolysis) was stronger than glutathione (32% hemolysis) in protecting human red blood cells. T1H was 1.5-fold more potent than glutathione and carnosine in alleviating lipid peroxidation in the cells. Overall, T1H demonstrated strong, heat-stable radical scavenging activities, besides partial resistance to gastrointestinal peptidases. T1H was also hematoprotective. T1H is a promising antioxidant for the development of functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals.

Beta-thalassemia is one of the most prevalent inherited diseases and a public health problem in Malaysia. Malaysia is geographically divided into West and East Malaysia. In Sabah, a state in East Malaysia, there are over 1000 estimated cases of β-thalassemia major patients. Accurate population frequency data of the molecular basis of β-thalassemia major are needed for planning its control in the high-risk population of Sabah. Characterization of β-globin gene defects was done in 252 transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients incorporating few PCR techniques. The study demonstrates that β-thalassemia mutations inherited are ethnically dependent. It is important to note that 86.9% of transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major patients in Sabah were of the indigenous population and homozygous for a single mutation. The Filipino β(0)-deletion was a unique mutation found in the indigenous population of Sabah. Mutations common in West Malaysia were found in 11 (4.3%) patients. Four rare mutations (Hb Monroe, CD 8/9, CD 123/124/125 and IVS I-2) were also found. This study is informative on the population genetics of β-thalassemia major in Sabah.

The NaOH method is a simple method that uses minimal equipment and reagents that make it labour- and cost-effective. This method could be adopted by poorer countries to extract DNA for beta-thalassaemia mutation characterization.

Globally, peptide-based anticancer therapies have drawn much attention. Marine organisms are a reservoir of anticancer peptides that await discovery. In this study, we aimed to identify cytotoxic oligopeptides from Sarcophyton glaucum. Peptides were purified from among the S. glaucum hydrolysates produced by alcalase, chymotrypsin, papain, and trypsin, guided by a methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on the human cervical cancer (HeLa) cell line for cytotoxicity evaluation. Purification techniques adopted were membrane ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, solid phase extraction (SPE), and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Purified peptides were identified by de novo peptide sequencing. From papain hydrolysate, three peptide sequences were identified: AGAPGG, AERQ, and RDTQ (428.45, 502.53, and 518.53 Da, respectively). Peptides synthesized from these sequences exhibited cytotoxicity on HeLa cells with median effect concentration (EC 50) values of 8.6, 4.9, and 5.6 mmol/L, respectively, up to 5.8-fold stronger than the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil. When tested at their respective EC 50 , AGAPGG, AERQ, and RDTQ showed only 16%, 25%, and 11% cytotoxicity to non-cancerous Hek293 cells, respectively. In conclusion, AERQ, AGAPGG, and RDTQ are promising candidates for future development as peptide-based anticancer drugs.