Visible-light-driven photocatalytic dual-layer hollow fibre membrane ameliorates the changes of bisphenol A exposure in gastrointestinal tract.

Various treatments of choice are available to overcome contamination of bisphenol A (BPA) in the environment including membrane technologies; however, the treatment still releases contaminants that threaten the human being. Therefore, the present study is conducted to investigate the degradation of BPA by recently developed visible-light-driven photocatalytic nitrogen-doping titanium dioxide (N-doped TiO2) dual-layer hollow fibre (DLHF) membrane and its efficiency in reducing the level of BPA in contaminated water. Fabricated with suitable polymer/photocatalyst (15/7.5 wt.%) via co-extrusion spinning method, the DLHF was characterized morphologically, evaluated for BPA degradation by using submerged photocatalytic membrane reactor under visible light irradiations followed by the investigation of intermediates formed. BPA exposure effects were accessed by immunohistochemistry staining of gastrointestinal sample obtained from animal model. BPA has been successfully degraded up to 72.5% with 2 intermediate products, B1 and B2, being identified followed by total degradation of BPA. BPA exposure leads to the high-intensity IHC staining of Claudin family which indicated the disruption of small intestinal barrier (SIB) integrity. Low IHC staining intensity of Claudin family in treated BPA group demonstrated that reducing the level of BPA by N-doped TiO2 DLHF is capable of protecting the important component of SIB. Altogether, the fabricated photocatalytic DLHF membrane is expected to have an outstanding potential in removing BPA and its health effect for household water treatment to fulfil the public focus on the safety of their household water and their need to consume clean water.

Association of zinc level with DNA methylation and its consequences: A systematic review.

Background: DNA methylation is an effective epigenetic process that is frequently linked to changes in gene expression. Zinc is a vital micronutrient that plays a crucial role in DNA methylation. Therefore, abnormal zinc levels may cause aberrant DNA methylation and other diseases. Objectives: To investigate the influence of zinc on gene-specific and global DNA methylation in humans and rodents, their tissues and their cells. Method: Systematic literature searches were conducted using Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases. Studies that met the inclusion criteria and were published in English language were included. Data including the first author, sample size, subjects, targeted genes, tissue types or cells analysed, zinc level, molecular techniques, DNA methylation outcomes, and consequences were extracted. Results: From a total of 2360 articles screened by title and abstract, 15 met the inclusion criteria. Qualitative analysis indicates that there are associations between zinc deficiency and gene-specific hypomethylation in humans and between zinc deficiency and hypermethylation in rodents. Zinc did not influence LINE-1 methylation in humans. Depending on cell type, zinc could have a positive or negative effect on global methylation in humans and rodents. As predicted, in general, gene expression was elevated by DNA hypomethylation and the corresponding protein levels were also upregulated. However, some studies showed that zinc deficiency led to reduced gene expression or no alteration in mRNA levels and corresponding protein levels. Conclusion: Our study shows links between zinc levels and DNA methylation. However, greater significance may be achieved if more than one independent investigator analyses the same set of genes in the same cell type. Therefore, gene-cell and animal-specific investigations are recommended to reduce variability and allow comparisons across studies.

Role of ErbB1 in the Underlying Mechanism of Lapatinib-Induced Diarrhoea: A Review.

Lapatinib, an orally administered small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (SM-TKI), is an effective treatment for ErbB2-positive breast cancer. However, its efficacy as one of the targeted cancer therapies has been hampered by several adverse effects, especially gastrointestinal toxicity, commonly manifested as diarrhoea. Although it can be generally tolerated, diarrhoea is reported as the most common and most impactful on a patient's quality of life and associated with treatment interruption. Severe diarrhoea can result in malabsorption, leading to dehydration, fatigue, and even death. ErbB1 is an epidermal growth factor profoundly expressed in normal gut epithelium while lapatinib is a dual ErbB1/ErbB2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Thus, ErbB1 inhibition by lapatinib may affect gut homeostasis leading to diarrhoea. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This review article provides evidence of the possible mechanisms of lapatinib-induced diarrhoea that may be related to/or modulated by ErbB1. Insight regarding the involvement of ErbB1 in the pathophysiological changes such as inflammation and intestinal permeability as the underlying cause of diarrhoea is covered in this article.

The Effect of BPA-Treated Water on the Small Intestine via an In Vivo Study.

Since the major route of BPA exposure is via the oral route, BPA may have effects on the gastrointestinal tract, especially on the intestinal barrier, where most digestion and absorption processes occur. In this study, the effects of BPA-treated water on the small intestine (SI) and SI tight junction proteins (TJPs) of both pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats and their fetuses were investigated. Previously, hybrid photocatalytic filtration treatment by a visible light driven N-doped TiO2 membrane has successfully removed up to 81.6% of BPA in water. The effect of BPA-untreated (5.00 ± ppm) and BPA-treated water (0.9 ± ppm) after 21 days of exposure on the jejunum and ileum, as well as the expressions of claudin proteins, were investigated by Western blotting (WB) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) in order to investigate the potential of the photocatalytic membrane in removing the detrimental effect of BPA. The results suggest that BPA exposure altered the morphology of villi, and affected the expression level of claudin-2, -3, and -4 proteins in the jejunum and ileum of both pregnant rats and their fetuses. Interestingly, villi and claudins expressions were undisrupted in a treated-BPA water group, which indicated that the degradation of BPA via membranes effectively mitigates the effect on BPA on gastrointestinal tract.

Visible-Light Active Photocatalytic Dual Layer Hollow Fiber (DLHF) Membrane and Its Potential in Mitigating the Detrimental Effects of Bisphenol A in Water.

The presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in various water sources has potentially led to numerous adverse effects in human such as increased in blood pressure and derangement in liver function. Thus, a reliable treatment for the removing BPA is highly required. This present work aimed to study the efficiency of visible light driven photocatalytic dual-layer hollow fiber (DLHF) membrane for the removal of BPA from water and further investigated its detrimental effects by using an in-vivo model. The prepared membranes were characterized for their morphology, particles distribution, surface roughness, crystallinity and light absorption spectra. The removal of 81.6% and 86.7% in BPA concentration was achieved for N-doped TiO2 DLHF after 360 min of visible and UV light irradiation, respectively. No significant changes for all three groups were observed in liver function test meanwhile the rats-exposed to untreated BPA water shows significance blood pressure increment contrary to rats-exposed to treated BPA water. Similarly, the normal morphology in both jejunum and ileum were altered in rats-exposed to untreated BPA water group. Altogether, the presence of N-doped TiO2 in DLHF are shown to significantly enhance the photocatalytic degradation activity under visible irradiation, which effectively mitigates the effect of BPA in an in-vivo model.

Histopathological studies of cardiac lesions after an acute high dose administration of methamphetamine.

Eighteen male Wistar rats aged six weeks were divided equally into Methamphetamine (MA), Placebo and Control group. MA group were injected with 50mg/kg body weight of Methamphetamine hydrochloride (MAHCl) in normal saline, Placebo group were injected with normal saline only, while Control group not injected with anything. Five MA group rats died within four hours of injection and their hearts collected on the same day. Another MA group rat was sacrificed two days after injection. Placebo and control group were sacrificed at similar intervals. Collected hearts were studied for cardiac lesions under light microscopy using special staining and immunohistochemistry. Microscopic examination of the myocardium of the rats that died on the first day of injection showed loss of nuclei in some myocytes, indicating cell death. Some areas in the sub-endocardium region showed internalization and enlargement of myocyte nuclei, consistent with regeneration of cells. There were very few foci of necrosis observed in these samples. The heart samples from the single rat that survived injection for two days showed foci of infiltration of macrophage-like cells that were later revealed to be regenerating myocytes. There were also spindle-like fibroblasts, macrophages and a few leucocytes found within these foci. The overall appearance of the myocardium did not indicate any inflammatory response, and the expected signs of necrosis were not observed. These results suggest a need to re-evaluate the toxic and lethal dosages of MA for use in animals testing. Cause of death was suspected to be due to failure of other major organs from acute administration of MA. Death occurred within a time period where significant changes due to necrosis may not be evident in the myocardium. Further investigations of other organs are necessary to help detect death due to acute dosage of MA.

Pattern of Sexual Offences Attended at Accident and Emergency Department of HUSM from Year 2000 to 2003: A Retrospective Study.

This paper investigates the pattern of sexual offence cases attended at the One Stop Crisis Center (OSCC) of the Accident and Emergency Department, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan. A total of 439 reported sexual offence cases were examined over a period of 4 years from 2000 to 2003. Sexual offence constituted by male partner or boyfriend in 18.9%, by relatives in 27.3% and by "others" in 53.8% of cases. Only 0.7% of victims did not attempt to lodge a police report. There is a significant relationship between occupation and the risk of experiencing sexual violence. Students were mostly targeted by the perpetrator throughout the study period. Among the offences, rape cases were the highest in number, among those who attended at the OSCC, HUSM with a total of 72.7%; followed by 27.3% of incest; 26.4% of child sexual abuse; 4.8% of sodomy and lastly 1.6% of gerontophilia cases. Only 70% of the specimens obtained from sexual offences victims were sent for laboratory analysis. The result remained negative in 82.4% specimens and thus the laboratory analysis result is merely functioning as a supportive evidence for sexual offence cases attended at OSCC. The studies showed that most of the sexual assault perpetrators were known to the victims. The place of crime was also known to the perpetrators. Health sectors of various levels should be working in conjunction to promote a societal changes to improve more of the women's right and thus to reduce the violence crime.

Leave methamphetamine to be alive--Part II.

Series of experiments have been completed with Methamphetamine (MA). Some were with the higher, medium or lower duration of MA administration and some were with acute or chronic doses. Whatever may be the dose or duration the ultimate result came out with the further establishment of cardio-toxic effect of this drug. Cardiovascular symptoms related to MA toxicity include chest pain, palpitations, dyspnoea, hypertension, tachycardia, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and myocardial ischemia. MA abusers often go through a repeated pattern of frequent drug administrations followed by a period of abstinence. Previous studies have focused largely upon the chronic effect of MA intake to major organs, such as the brains and the heart, by using animal experiments. However, there is a lack of research into the effects of acute dose of MA, especially pertaining to the heart. To clarify the effect of MA on myocardium, 22 male Wister rats aged six weeks were divided into MA, Placebo (P) and Control (C) group were examined following single intraperitoneal administration of MA at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. Normal saline was similarly injected in P group. Light microscopic changes was seen in the myocardium of MA treated group including cellular infiltration, with clusters of macrophage-like cells having large nuclei and little cytoplasm evident in the sub-endocardium region. There were presence of few macrophages, leucocytes, and spindle-like fibroblasts. Bringing in to account of cardiac changes by a single dose of MA, slogan should be voiced out to leave methamphetamine.