Night eating and its relationship with BMI, stress, sleep quality and duration of study among university students.

INTRODUCTION: Night eating is a very common dietary behaviour among university students. This study aims to investigate the relationship between night eating and BMI, stress, sleep quality and duration of study among university students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 385 university students including foundation and undergraduate students took part in this study. Self-administered online surveys were used to obtain sociodemographic data, and anthropometry measurements including weight and height, night eating during studying, duration of the study, opinion on eating and academic performance, sleep quality, level of depression, anxiety, and stress of the respondents. Questionnaires were validated and IBM SPSS Statistics Software version 26.0 was used to analyse categorical and continuous variables. RESULTS: The findings showed that there was an association between night eaters and coffee consumption with BMI (p<0.001) and sleep quality (p<0.05). However, there was no association (p>0.05) found between the types of food eaten during night studying and the mean duration of the study. The results showed drinking coffee had an association with depression, anxiety, and stress (p<0.05) among Malaysian university students. CONCLUSION: Coffee consumption was common among undergraduate students during studying. Awareness of the risk of overconsumption of caffeine intake should be implemented in the future. However, this study did not include all types of food choices and drinks. Thus, frequency of eating energy dense food during night studying among students should be conducted in the future.

Anticolitic activity of prodigiosin loaded with selenium nanoparticles on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease associated with extensive mucosal damage. Prodigiosins (PGs) are natural bacterial pigments with well-known antioxidant and immunosuppressive properties. In the current study, we examined the possible protective effect of PGs loaded with selenium nanoparticles (PGs-SeNPs) against acetic acid (AcOH)-induced UC in rats. Thirty-five rats were separated into five equal groups with seven animals/group: control, UC, PGs (300 mg/kg), sodium selenite (Na2SeO3, 2 mg/kg), PGs-SeNPs (0.5 mg/kg), and 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA, 200 mg/kg). Interestingly, PGs-SeNPs administration lessened colon inflammation and mucosal damage as indicated by inhibiting inflammatory markers upon AcOH injection. Furthermore, PGs-SeNPs improved the colonic antioxidant capacity and prevented oxidative insults as evidenced by the upregulation of Nrf2- and its downstream antioxidants along with the decreased pro-oxidants [reactive oxygen species (ROS), carbonyl protein, malondialdehyde (MDA), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nitric oxide (NO] in the colon tissue. Furthermore, PGs-SeNPs protected intestinal cell loss through blockade apoptotic cascade by decreasing pro-apoptotic proteins [Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3] and increasing anti-apoptotic protein, B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2). Collectively, PGs-SeNPs could be used as an alternative anti-colitic option due to their strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic activities.

An evidence for surface expression of an immunogenic epitope of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase2a on antigen-presenting cells from naive mice in the mediation of autoimmune myocarditis.

We recently reported identification of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase2a (SERCA2a) 971-990, which induces atrial myocarditis by generating autoreactive T cells in A/J mice. However, it was unknown how antigen-sensitized T cells could recognize SERCA2a 971-990, since SERCA2a-expression is confined to an intracellular compartment. In this report, we present evidence that antigen-presenting cells (APCs) from lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs in naïve animals present SERCA2a 971-990 and stimulate antigen-specific T cells. Using major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II dextramers for SERCA2a 971-990, we created a panel of T cell hybridomas and demonstrated that splenocytes from naïve A/J mice stimulated the hybridoma cells without exogenous supplementation of SERCA2a 971-990. We then recapitulated this phenomenon by using SERCA2a 971-990 -specific primary T cells, verifying that the T cell responses were MHC-restricted. Furthermore, SERCA2a 971-990 -sensitzed T cells exposed to APCs from naïve mice were found to produce the inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, and interleukin-17A, which are implicated in the induction of myocarditis. Finally, while T cells exposed to mononuclear cells (MNCs) obtained from heart and liver also responded similarly to splenocytes, endothelial cells (ECs) generated from the corresponding organs displayed opposing effects, in that the proliferative responses were suppressed with the heart ECs, but not with the liver ECs. Taken together, our data suggest that the surface expression of SERCA2a 971-990 by naïve APCs can potentially trigger pathogenic autoreactive T cell responses under conditions of autoimmunity, which may have implications in endothelial dysfunction.

Bodybuilding supplementation and tooth decay.

Supplementation is a key component in bodybuilding and is increasingly being used by amateur weight lifters and enthusiasts to build their ideal bodies. Bodybuilding supplements are advertised to provide nutrients needed to help optimise muscle building but they can contain high amounts of sugar. Supplement users are consuming these products, while not being aware of their high sugar content, putting them at a higher risk of developing dental caries. It is important for dental professionals to recognise the increased risk for supplement users and to raise awareness, provide appropriate preventative advice and be knowledgeable of alternative products to help bodybuilders reach their goals, without increasing the risk of dental caries.

In vitro antimicrobial activities of different fractions of Swertia chirata ethanolic extract.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of pet-ether, dichloromethane and methanol fractions of Swertia chirata (Family: Gentianaceae) ethanolic extract. Disc diffusion technique and food poison method were used for antibacterial and antifungal activity, respectively. Dichloromethane fraction from both leaf and stem showed significant antimicrobial activities against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and mild to moderate activity against some fungi. A large zone of inhibition was observed (19 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus. Test materials at a concentration of 400 microg disc(-1) were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity while Kanamycin at a concentration of 30 microg disc(-1) was used as positive control in this study. Among different fractions, dichloromethane fraction showed significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and fungi. The most significant antimicrobial activity was seen against Staphylococcus aureus which reflects it potentiality to be used in skin infections.

Two triterpenes lupanone and lupeol isolated and identified from Tamarindus indica linn.

Tamarindus indica, a useful medicinal plant was subjected to phytochemical investigation. Two triterpenes (lupanone and lupeol) have been isolated from the leaves of this plant. Their structures were elucidated with the help of physico-chemical methods and spectroscopic techniques. The lupanone and lupeol from this plant are being reported for the first time.

A new acylated steroid glucoside from Perovskia atriplicifolia.

Atroside (1), an acylated steroid glucoside, has been isolated from Perovskia atriplicifolia along with other known compounds.

Betel nut and tobacco chewing; potential risk factors of cancer of oesophagus in Assam, India.

Cancer of the oesophagus is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males in Assam, in north-eastern India, and ranks second for females. The chewing of betel nut, with or without tobacco and prepared in various ways, is a common practice in the region and a case-control study has been designed to study the pattern of risk associated with different ways of preparing and chewing the nuts. 358 newly diagnosed male patients and 144 female have been interviewed together with 2 control subjects for each case chosen at random from among the attendants who accompanied patients to hospital. There were significant trends in risk ratios associated with the frequency of chewing each day, with the duration of chewing in years and with the age at which the habit was started that were apparent for both males and females and which remained significant after allowance was made for other known risk factors, notably tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption. The adjusted ratios, in comparison with non-chewers, were 13.3 M and 5.7 F for chewing more than 20 times a day, 10.6 M and 7.2 F for persons who had chewed for more than 20 years and 10.3 M and 5.3 F for those who had started before the age of 20. Among the different combinations of ingredients that were chewed the adjusted odds ratios were highest for those who had been using fermented betel nut with any form of tobacco (7.1 M and 3.6 F). The risk associated with tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption, which are high in some parts of the world, were less in Assam than those associated with the chewing of betel nut.

Antiproliferative activity of diarylheptanoids from the seeds of Alpinia blepharocalyx.

The 95% EtOH extract of the seeds of Alpinia blepharocalyx (Zingiberaceae) showed significant antiproliferative activity towards human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma and murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells. Chemical investigation of the extract led to the isolation of forty-four new (1-44) and one known (45) diarylheptanoids, eleven phenolic compounds (46-56) together with beta-sitosterol glucoside (57). Almost all the isolated compounds showed significant antiproliferative activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the compounds, epicalyxin F (17) exhibited the most potent activity against the proliferation of colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells with an ED50 value of 0.89 microM, while calyxin B (2) exhibited the most potent activity against human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells with an ED50 value of 0.69 microM. Moreover, calyxins B (2) and K (11), epicalyxins F (17), I (20) and K (22), 6-hydroxycalyxin F (25), blepharocalyxin B (27) and mixtures of 7 and epicalyxin G (18) and of calyxin J (10) and epicalyxin J (21) possessed more potent activity than a clinically used anticancer drug, 5-fluorouracil, towards HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. Analysis of the structure activity relationship suggested that the position of the attachment of a chalcone or a flavanone moiety does not affect the activity, although their presence in association causes a substantial enhancement of the antiproliferative activity. Moreover, the conjugated double bond of the chalcone moiety and the phenolic hydroxyl group potentiate the antiproliferative activity of the compounds.

Six new diarylheptanoids from the seeds of Alpinia blepharocalyx.

Chromatographic separation of part of an EtOH extract of the seeds of Alpinia blepharocalyx resulted in the isolation of six new (1-6) and two known (7, 8) diarylheptanoids together with 12 known compounds. The structures of the new compounds, including their absolute stereochemistry, were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods as (3S,5S)- (1) and (3S,5R)-3-hydroxy-5-methoxy-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-6E-heptene (2), (3S,5S)- (3) and (3S,5R)-3-hydroxy-5-ethoxy-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-6E-heptene (4), (3S)-methoxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6E-hepten-5-one (5), and 1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-4E,6E-dien-3-one (6). Among the isolated compounds, 5, (3S,5S)-3,5-dihydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)heptane (8), 4'-hydroxy-5,6-dehydrokawain (14), and/or phloroglucinol (20) showed significant antiproliferative activity against murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma (ED(50): 5, 5.2 microM; 8, 12.8 microM; 14, 20.7 microM; 20, 26.4 microM) and human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma (ED(50): 5, 10.1 microM; 14, 20.1 microM; 20, 20.9 microM) cells.

Eleganoside-A, B and C from Pseudocalymma elegans, a native of Brazil.

The toxic methanol-soluble part of Pseudocalymma elegans (leaves), a native of Brazil, yielded three new iridoidglucosides (1a-3a) as their acetate-derivatives (1-3) named eleganoside-A (1a), B (2a) and C (3a) which have been characterized with the aid of spectroscopic techniques, including 2D NMR.

Two new diterpenoids from Salvia triloba.

Two new diterpenoids, trilobic acid (1) and trilobiol (2), have been isolated from the methanolic extract of Salvia triloba. Their structures were elucidated with the aid of NMR spectroscopy including two-dimensional-NMR techniques.

Epicalyxin F and calyxin I: two novel antiproliferative diarylheptanoids from the seeds of Alpinia blepharocalyx.

[formula: see text] Epicalyxin F (1) and calyxin I (2), two novel diarylheptanoids, were isolated from a residual fraction of an EtOH extract of Alpinia blepharocalyx. Calyxin I (2) represented a new carbon skeleton, and epicalyxin F (1) possessed potent antiproliferative activity toward HT-1080 fibrosarcoma and colon 26-L5 carcinoma with ED50 values of 1.71 and 0.89 microM, respectively.

Bucharioside and buchariol from Salvia bucharica.

A new monoterpene-glycoside (2-exo-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1,8-cineol) named bucharioside from the methanol-soluble part and a new sesquiterpenoid (4,10-epoxy-6alpha-hydroxyguaiane) named buchariol from the hexane-soluble part of Salvia bucharica were obtained. Their structures were elucidated with the help of NMR spectroscopy including 1D and 2D experiments.

Isolation of antitumor polysaccharide fractions from Yucca glauca Nutt. (Lilliaceae).

An aqueous alcoholic extract of fresh flowers of Yucca glauca Nutt. showed striking antitumor activity against B16 melanoma in mice. Systematic fractionation of the extract by means of solvent extraction and gel permeation chromatography led to separation of two galactose containing polysaccharide fractions with marked inhibitory activity against B16 melanoma in mice. The extraction, fractionation, purification and preliminary characterization of the active polysaccharide fractions are described. The materials showed no activity against L1210 or P388 leukemias in mice. The implications of the findings for searches for both natural and synthetic anticancer agents are discussed.