Chronic mix-pesticide exposure among workers involved in mosquito control has possible association with depression of diazoxonase and the increase in ox-LDL, brachial and aortic DBP and SBP, and heart rate. This study raises concerns that those using pesticides may be exposed to hitherto unrecognized CVS risks among others. If this is confirmed by further studies, greater efforts will be needed to protect these workers.

Nipa palm sap (NPS) as source of medicine traditionally used to treat various diseases. This study identified good radical scavenging activity in NPS with the IC50 value of 33.36 μg/mL using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. NPS comprises of moisture (72.44%), ash (1.04%), protein (7.04%), carbohydrate (19.48%), fat (0%), and energy level (106 kcal). Glucose (0.3%) and fructose (1.8%) were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography. Maleic acid, cinnamic acid, chlorogenic acid, and kaempferol were the predominant compounds revealed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Overall, NPS has the potential antioxidants sources with significant health benefits and values for commercialisation.

INTRODUCTION: Chlorpyrifos is one of the most commonly used organophosphates in agriculture. Report on animal models of chronically exposed chlorpyrifos showed significant histo-structural renal damage. Moreover, evidence of high incidence of diabetes mellitus were observed among agricultural workers exposed to organophosphates. Available evidence linking derangement of glucose metabolism pathway with renal damage in this chronically exposed chlorpyrifos is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the involvement of advanced glycation end-products formation in the development of nephrotoxicity in animals with chronic subcutaneous exposure to chlorpyrifos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen rats were divided into three groups, with six rats in each group. Group 1 served as a control group, while Groups 2 and 3 received subcutaneous 3% dimethyl sulfoxide and 97% volume per volume soy oil as a vehicle or chlorpyrifos, respectively, alternate day for 180 days. Blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis. Kidney tissues were examined for immunohistochemistry and gene expression of pathways related to oxidative stress and advanced glycation end-products. RESULTS: Serum fasting glucose, creatinine, advanced glycation end-products and malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased (p<0.05), whereas paraoxonase-1 level was decreased in chlorpyrifos-treated rats compared with the control groups (p<0.05). The proximal tubular cells and the glomeruli of chlorpyrifos-exposed kidney showed strong malondialdehyde and advanced glycation end-products expression respectively. Gene expression of catalase and glutathione reductase were downregulated in the chlorpyrifos-treated rats. CONCLUSION: Glucose derangement and oxidative stress are the possible mechanisms of organophosphate-induced kidney damage.

Background Recently, screening of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients for mismatch repair/microsatellite instability (MMR/MSI) status is widely practiced due to its potential predictive and prognostic roles and a screening tool to reveal Lynch Syndrome (LS). The purpose of the study was to evaluate concordance between immunohistochemistry (IHC) and MSI analysis methods for detection of MMR/MSI status in colorectal cancer patients in Kuantan, Pahang. Methods Fifty selected CRC cases of deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) and proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) which were identified immunohistochemically in the previous study were subjected to MSI analysis. MSI Analysis System 1.2 (Promega) was utilized. Results The results of MSI analysis method showed MSI-High: 26% (13/50), MSI-Low: 6% (3/50), and Microsatellite Stable: 68% (34/50). The concordance was perfect (0.896, Kappa value) between MSI analysis and IHC methods for the assessment of MMR/MSI status in CRC patients. The discordance was only 4% (2/50). MSI analysis identified all dMMR cases determined by IHC except one case. The obtained frequency of dMMR and pMMR patients was 11.4% (14/123) and 88.6% (109/123) by IHC method, respectively. Conclusion Our findings support the universal practice of evaluating the MMR/MSI status in all newly diagnosed CRC patients. Based on the perfect concordance of two methods, the method of choice is based on the availability of expertise and equipments. IHC is highly appreciable method due to its feasibility and reproducibility.