Ocimum basilicum alleviates blood glucose, lipid profile and iNOS in diabetes gestational rat model.

OBJECTIVES: Gestational diabetes (GDM) complications affect maternal and fetus in utero. GDM's vascular dysfunction showed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) alteration and was linked to the higher production of nitrogen species, leading to diabetic embryopathy. Ocimum basilicum (O. basilicum) has been reported for its anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects. Thus, the present study investigates the anti-diabetic effect, lipid-lowering effect, and iNOS expression in GDM animal models treated with O. basilicum extract. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES: Four groups of pregnant rats consist of control and GDM groups. One GDM group was set for control positive. Two GDM groups were treated with O. basilicum extract in two doses (100 and 200 mg/kg BW) for 14 days. Blood glucose of all groups was observed at 72 h after STZ injection and 14 days after administration of O. basilicum extract. Lipid profile and iNOS expression using real-time PCR were measured afterward. RESULTS: O. basilicum extract lowered blood glucose levels in both doses, from 262.60 mg/dL±6.89-136.80 mg/dL ± 15.6 mg/dL and 113.20 mg/dL±5.25 mg/dL. Total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride showed a reduction, especially in 200 mg/kg BW dose extract from 122.37 mg/dL ± 14.84 mg/dL, 69.75 mg/dL±3.78 mg/dL and 137.51 mg/dL ± 8.12-74.64 mg/dL±8.71 mg/dL, 40.26 mg/dL±3.31 mg/dL and 87.57 mg/dL±6.29 mg/dL, respectively. iNOS expression downregulated in both doses, from 2.17±0.39 to 0.94±0.3 and 0.41±0.08. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that O. basilicum extract has a potential therapeutic activity in lowering blood glucose, improved lipid profile, and downregulating iNOS in GDM.

A genetic approach to study the relationship between maternal Vitamin D status and newborn anthropometry measurements: the Vitamin D pregnant mother (VDPM) cohort study.

PURPOSE: Adverse effects of maternal vitamin D deficiency have been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We investigated the relationship between maternal vitamin D status and newborn anthropometry measurements using a genetic approach and examined the interaction between genetic variations in involved in vitamin D synthesis and metabolism and maternal vitamin D concentrations on newborn anthropometry. METHODS: The study was conducted in 183 pregnant Indonesian Minangkabau women. Genetic risk scores (GRSs) were created using six vitamin D-related single nucleotide polymorphisms and their association with 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and newborn anthropometry (183 infants) were investigated. RESULTS: There was no significant association between maternal 25(OH)D concentrations and newborn anthropometry measurements (P > 0.05, for all comparisons). After correction for multiple testing using Bonferroni correction, GRS was significantly associated with 25(OH)D in the third trimester (P = 0.004). There was no association between GRS and newborn anthropometric measurements; however, there was an interaction between GRS and 25(OH)D on head circumference (P = 0.030), where mothers of neonates with head circumference < 35 cm had significantly lower 25(OH)D if they carried ≥4 risk alleles compared to those who carried ≤3 risk alleles. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the impact of vitamin D-related GRS on 25(OH)D and provides evidence for the effect of vitamin D-related GRS on newborn anthropometry through the influence of serum 25(OH)D levels among Indonesian pregnant women. Even though our study is a prospective cohort, before the implementation of vitamin D supplementation programs in Indonesia to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes, further large studies are required to confirm our findings.

Children's Perception and Belief about Medicines: Effectiveness and Its Autonomy.

BACKGROUND: The use of medicines in children is usually always under the supervision of parents. Children are considered not to understand the concept of medicine properly. Children's perceptions of medicine are mostly formed from everyday experience. This can have an impact on children's beliefs about medicines which they are also required to be active and rational medicine users. AIM: This study aims to look at children's perceptions and beliefs about medicines, especially in the perspective of medicine efficacy and children's autonomy in using them. METHOD: The study was conducted with an analytical method with a cross-sectional approach using a questionnaire instrument in grade V elementary school children in Padang City, Indonesia. The total sample size obtained was 503 students. RESULTS: Children still think that medicine efficacy is influenced by taste, colour, size, medicine price, a place to buy medicine and how to get medication. 10.1% of children have stored the medicine at home, and 48.5% of children always depends on waited for their parents when they wanted to take medicine. Regarding children's access to medicines, 11.5% of children have bought their own over-the-counter medicine to a pharmacy or medicine store without the parents' knowledge. 31.4% of children have taken medicine at home without the parents' knowledge. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that children's perceptions of medicine efficacy are still very limited. Even though the child has used the medicine alone in a limited way, the child's autonomy in using the medicine still needs to be monitored by the parent. Therefore, this is the reason for the need for medical education given to children, especially in schools as an integral part of health education.

The Knowledge and Attitudes about the Benefits, Risks and Use of Medicine in Aged Primary Students in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Medication always has a ratio of benefits and risks to become a safety measure. Therefore, its use must be careful, especially for children, because it can potentially occur drug incidents in children. As drug users, children are required to be active in using it, but children's knowledge and attitudes about benefits, risks (dangers) and use of medicine are still very shallow and fragmented. AIM: This study aims to look at the description of children's knowledge and attitudes about medicine from the perspective of the benefits, risks or dangers and use of medicine and the factors that influence them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted by the analytic method with a cross-sectional approach using a questionnaire instrument in grade V elementary school-age children in Padang City, Indonesia. The total sample size obtained was 503 students. RESULTS: The results showed that children's knowledge of medicine was generally categorised as low, with an average score of 4.70 (SD 1.82) from a scale of 9. Knowledge of drug use was much lower, namely the average score of 1.21 (0.74), followed by knowledge of drug hazards an average score of 1.69 (1.03) and drug benefits an average score of 1.80 (0.69). Age variables, address of residence, family income, the existence of families working as health workers and sources of drug information significantly influence students knowledge (P < 0.05). Whereas students attitudes towards medicine tend to be more positive with an average score of 7.18 (1.77), where the average score of attitudes towards benefits, risks (hazards) and drug use are 1.79 (0.46), respectively, 1.10 (0.58) and 4.29 (1.37). Address of residence, companion during illness, achievement in school and experience in hospital care have a significant effect on student attitudes (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that indicate that students knowledge of benefits, risks and use of medicine is still low and very limited. While related to student attitudes, in general, it tends to be more positive, except about the dangers of medicine that show a negative attitude. The low level of knowledge and limited attitudes of children are the reason for the need for drug education given to children, especially in schools as an integral part of health education.