Introduction: Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is known for its health and therapeutic benefits. However, the immunomodulatory effects of VCO have not been extensively investigated. Objective: The present study was devoted to examining the effects of VCO on cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced toxicity of lymphoid tissues. Methods: Thirty healthy male Wistar rats were sorted into 5 groups of 6 animals. The first control (NC) group was given distilled water via gavage at 5 ml/kg once daily. The second (CY) group received CY orally at 10 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. Rats in the other three groups (CV5, CV10, and CV15) were given 10 mg/kg/day CY for 4 weeks, 5 m/kg/day, 10 ml/kg/day and 15 ml/kg/day VCO for 6 weeks, respectively. Rats were sacrificed at the end of 6th week; blood sample from the animals was collected for full blood count and biochemical analysis. The thymus and spleen of each animal was processed for histological examination. Results: The thymus and spleen showed marked reduction in lymphoid cellularity following daily administration of CY. The thymus also showed a marked reduction in the size of the medulla, and the white pulp areas of spleen had reduction in the follicle number and size. Supplementation with 10 ml/kg and 15 ml/kg VCO showed evidence of restoration of both the thymus and splenic lymphoid architecture. The total white cell counts, absolute lymphocyte counts and plasma globulin levels of the VCO groups were significantly increased compared to CY group. Conclusion: VCO displayed potential protective effects on CYinduced histological changes in lymphoid tissues.

Approximately 100 million people are exposed to arsenic worldwide, majorly through drinking water and anthropogenic activities. Monosodium methylarsonate (MSMA) is a potent organoarsenical content of herbicides used in many Asian countries. Epidemiological studies have linked inorganic arsenic exposure with atherosclerosis, whereas organoarsenicals toxicological studies are scanty. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) enzyme suppresses systemic Ox-LDL generation, thereby preventing atherosclerosis. We investigated effects of MSMA oral exposure on PON1, lipid peroxidation and atherosclerosis development. Five groups (n=11) of Sprague -Dawley rats received daily intubation of MSMA at 0 (control), 42.1, 63.2, 126.4 and 210.7 mg/kg BW respectively for 16 weeks. Serum samples were analysed for PON1 activities, Ox-LDL and MDA levels. Histomorphometric evaluation (H&E and VVG) and immunohistochemistry (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) were done on aorta. High mortality rate led to discontinuation of 126.4 and 210.7 mg/kg BW treatment groups. Groups treated with 42.1 and 63.2 mg/kg B.W. MSMA had a significantly higher MDA (p=0.004,CI: 2.73-0.82) and Ox-LDL (p<0.0001,CI: 2425.07-955.45) levels but lower PON1:Ox-LDLratio (p<0.0001,CI: 0.49-1.07) compared to control. Microscopically, treatment groups showed early atherosclerotic intima thickening and positive VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expressions. In conclusion, chronic MSMA exposure reduced PON1 ability to hydrolyse Ox-LDL and also induced inflammation by elevating oxidative stress that supports early atherosclerosis development.

MGMT (O 6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase) suppresses tumor development by removing alkyl adduct, while SPOCK2 (SPARC/Osteonectin CWCV and Kazal-like domains proteoglycan) abolishes the inhibition of membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMP) which leads to angiogenesis. Hence, MGMT methylation may initiate malignant cells transformation. In contrast, SPOCK2 methylation is hypothesized not to be a common event in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In this study, we examined the methylation status of MGMT and SPOCK2 in DLBCL as in Malaysia the information is extremely lacking. A total of 88 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue of patients diagnosed with DLBCL from the year 2006 to 2013 were retrieved from

INTRODUCTION: Acute myeloid leukaemia is a haematological malignancy with diverse cytogenetic abnormalities and molecular mutations. Amongst the important mutations are FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) gene mutations. These mutations have been shown to be of prognostic significance. A cross-sectional study to examine the frequency of these mutations and their association with the haematological and cytogenetic characteristics of the cases was carried out in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 43 cases were included in the study. Polymerase chain reaction-based assays were employed for mutation detection from the retrieved trephine biopsy tissue blocks. Mutation positivity was subsequently validated by Sanger DNA sequencing. RESULTS:  Six of the 43 cases (14.0%) of the acute myeloid leukaemia were positive for FLT3-type internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD) and a similar proportion (6/43, 14.0%) were positive for NPM1 mutations. FLT3 mutations at codon D835 (FLT3-D835) mutation was identified in three of the cases (7.0%) while concurrent mutations of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD were seen in two of the mutation-positive cases (4.7%). The total white cell count was found to be significantly higher in patients with FLT3 mutations (p=0.001).  Other haematological parameters and the cytogenetic results did not reveal any significant association with the mutational status. CONCLUSION: The frequency of FLT3-ITD, FLT3-D835, and  NPM1 mutations among AML patients were 14%, 7%, and 14% respectively. Follow-up studies to include the clinical parameters and the treatment outcomes are advocated.

Introduction: Although there is a growing insight into the causes and mechanisms of kidney diseases, preventive and therapeutic measures are still few. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the renoprotective effect of tualang honey against high cholesterol diet induced acute kidney disease in an animal model. Materials and method: Ten female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: high cholesterol diet (HCD) group, fed with 12% cholesterol diet with 0.3% cholic acid, and high cholesterol diet with tualang honey (HCD + TH) group, fed with HCD with oral daily dose of 1.4 g/kg/day of tualang honey by gavage. Biochemical analysis of lipid profile and renal function were performed at 48 hours, 7 days, and 6 weeks of the experiment. The animals were sacrificed at 6 weeks and the kidneys were harvested for histological examination. Results: There was no significant difference between the HCD and the HCD+TH groups in the level of TC. The mean serum LDL-c, TG and vLDL levels at completed 48 hours and 7 days for the HCD+TH group were lower as compared to the HCD group. The only significant difference in renal function test between HCD and HCD + TH groups reported were theserum creatinine at completed 48 hours. Histological examination of the kidney tissue of the HCD and HCD+TH groups at 6 weeks revealed segmental mesangial hypercellularity and mesangial matrix expansion of the glomeruli. Conclusion: Tualang honey supplementation has resulted in an improvement of the renal profile which is suggestive of its renoprotective effect. However, the histopathological examination of the kidneys revealed similar changesin both groups and this may be related to the dose of honey used in the study. Additionally, tualang honey showed improvement in LDL-c, triglyceride and vLDL levels indicating its lipid lowering activities.