Signatory metabolomics biomarkers of stress, anxiety, and depression: a proof of concept for precision health among university students: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: The highly competitive nature of tertiary education and the pressure to perform academically have increased psychological morbidity like emotional distress. Untargeted metabolomics was used to analyze serum samples of university students for biomarkers and perturbated metabolism due to stress, anxiety, and depression (SAD).Methods: Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) was used to assess the severity of SAD in university students. The metabolite fingerprint of each subject was obtained using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry quadrupole time-of-flight (LC/MS QTOF). The signature metabolites for each trait were determined by projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) with variable importance for the projection (VIP) score > 1.0 (P<0.05) and subjected to analysis using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Potential biomarkers with an area under the curve (AUC) value exceeding 0.65 were identified.Results: Various groups of glycerophospholipids were upregulated in the studied traits. On the other hand, metabolites such as glycocholic acid was upregulated in depression, while hypoxanthine was upregulated in anxiety, and PE-Cer(d14:1(4E)/22:1(13Z)) was upregulated in stress.Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the relationship of the differentially expressed metabolites in university students of different categories of SAD using the DASS-21 screening tool in Malaysia as we move forward with precision health.

In silico genotyping of blood group alleles using WGS data: a comparative study of the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia

Differences in the distribution of RBC antigens defining the blood group types among different populations have been well established. Fewer studies exist that have explored the blood group profiles of indigenous populations worldwide. With the availability of population-scale genomic datasets, we have explored the blood group profiles of theOrang Aslis, who are the indigenous population in Peninsular Malaysia and provide a systematic comparison of the same with major global population datasets. Variant call files fromwhole genome sequence data (hg19) of 114 Orang Asli were retrieved from The Orang Asli Genome Project. Systematic variant annotations were performed using ANNOVAR and only those variants mapping back to genes associated with 43 blood group systems and transcription factors KLF1 and GATA1 were filtered. Blood group-associated allele and phenotype frequencies were determined and were duly compared with other datasets including Singapore SequencingMalay Project, aboriginal western desert Australians and global population datasets including The 1000 Genomes Project and gnomAD. This study reports four alleles (rs12075, rs7683365, rs586178 and rs2298720) of DUFFY, MNS, RH and KIDD blood group systems which were significantly distinct between indigenous Orang Asli and cosmopolitanMalaysians. Eighteen alleles that belong to 14 blood group systems were found statistically distinct in comparison to global population datasets. Although not much significant differences were observed in phenotypes of most blood group systems, major insights were observed when comparing Orang Asli with aboriginal Australians and cosmopolitanMalaysians.This study serves as the first of its kind to utilize genomic data to interpret blood group antigen profiles of the OrangAsli population. In addition, a systematic comparison of blood group profiles with related populations was also analysed and documented.

Meta-Analysis of the Genetic Factors that Predisposed Asian Women to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the significant risk alleles which increase the risks of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Asian to help in decision-making for genotyping of women at risk. PubMed, Science Direct and HuGE navigator were used to identify relevant studies from January 2000 to November 2018. Data extraction was done by five reviewers. Using Review Manager 5.3, association between 11 SNPs and risks of GDM was determined. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), test of heterogeneity and publication bias were calculated. The result was considered significant if p-value ≤ 0.05. Twenty-one studies were identified based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. From 11 genetic variants studied, 9 were found to have significant association with GDM susceptibility with different heterogeneity. Allelic, dominant and recessive genetic models show MTNR1B (rs138753, rs10830963) and CDKAL1 (rs7754840) are significantly associated with GDM. IGF2BP2 (rs4402960) was found to have significant association with GDM using allelic and recessive models. For TCF7L2 (rs7903146), significant association was found using allelic, dominant and over dominant models. KCNQ1 (rs2237892) showed association with GDM in dominant model only. Strong associations with increased susceptibility for GDM were also found for GSTM1 (deletion), GSTT1 (deletion) and GSTP1 (rs1695). However, MTNR1B (rs10830962) and PPARγ2 are lack of association with GDM risk in Asian population. Nine genetic variants were associated with increased GDM risk in Asian population. Screening of these polymorphisms to identify pregnant women at risk is recommended for prevention and personalised intervention.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Dicranopteris linearis leaf extract against paracetamol-induced liver intoxication in rats

Context: Dicranopteris linearis L. (Gleicheniaceae) leaves have been reported to exert hepatoprotective activity.Objective: The hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of ethyl acetate partition of D. linearis (EADL) are investigated.Materials and methods: EADL was subjected to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory studies, and phytochemical analyses. In vivo study involved six groups (n = 6) of overnight fasted Sprague Dawley rats. The test solutions [10% DMSO (normal), 10% DMSO (negative), 200 mg/kg silymarin (positive) or EADL (50, 250 or 500 mg/kg)] were administered orally once daily for 7 consecutive days followed by oral vehicle (only for normal) or hepatotoxic induction using 3 g/kg paracetamol (PCM).Results: EADL exerted ≈ 90% radical scavenging effects based on the DPPH and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays, high antioxidant capacity in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (≈ 555,000 units), high total phenolic content (≈ 350 mg GAE/100 g extract) (p < 0.05), but low anti-inflammatory effect. EADL also attenuated PCM-induced liver intoxication as indicated by reduced level of serum liver enzymes; increased activity of endogenous enzymatic antioxidant (superoxide dismutase - 8.3 vs. 4.0 U/g tissue; catalase - 119 vs. 52 U/g tissue) and; reduced level of lipid peroxidation marker (2.7 vs. 5.0 µM). Preliminary screening of EADL revealed the presence of saponins, tannins and flavonoids with further HPLC analysis demonstrating the presence of rutin and quercetin.Discussion and conclusion: EADL exerted hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities; thus, these data support the potential use of D. linearis as a new source for future hepatoprotective drug development.

Relative proteome quantification of alpha, beta, gamma and delta globin chains in early eluting peaks of Bio-Rad variant II® CE-HPLC of hemoglobin from healthy and beta-thalassemia subjects in Malaysia

This is the first report of QQQ-mass spectrometric identification and quantification of the Hb subunits, alpha, beta, delta and gamma globin peptides, derived from enzymatic-digestion of proteins in the early unknown peaks of the Bio-Rad cation-exchange chromatography of haemoglobin. The objectives were to assess the relationship of the quantity of the free alpha, beta, delta and gamma globin chains with the phenotypic diversity of beta-thalassaemias (β-thal). The results demonstrate that the pools of free globin chains in red blood cells were correlating with the severity of the disease in patients with different phenotypes of β-thal. The mechanism and the regulation of synthesis of free globin chains pool in a normal individual and in patients with different β-thal phenotypes could arise from several mechanisms which will require further investigation. The role of the free globin pool in patients with β-thal for development of novel therapeutic approaches based on these potential targets requires further investigation. Pertinent biomarkers improves the diagnosis of the β-thal, especially in low-income countries where they are most common and allows more effective therapeutic intervention leading to more successful therapeutic outcome.

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Globin chains exist in the fast-eluting unknown HPLC peaks in normal human red blood cells.

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Larger pools of globin chains in patients with β-thal are correlated with the severity of the disease.

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Regulation and mechanisms of free globin chains pool in patients with β-thalassemias requiring further investigation.

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Biomarker with diagnostic and prognostic utility allows more effective therapeutic outcome.

Metabolomic profiling of serum in aging mice supplemented with tocotrienol-rich fraction for identification of female reproductive aging biomarkers

Ovarian aging has been associated with increased oxidative stress leading to loss of ovarian function and infertility. Tocotrienol, a potent antioxidant, has been proven to exert beneficial effects in the female reproductive system. Serum metabolites were analyzed to examine the biochemical changes and to identify biomarkers related to reproductive aging that could lead to poor embryo quality and development. Female Mus musculus mice were divided into four groups. Six-month-old mice were given tocopherol-stripped corn oil as a vehicle control while other groups were supplemented orally with tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) at doses of 90, 120, and 150 mg/kg bodyweight for two months, respectively. After two months, mice from all groups were super ovulated, and euthanized. Embryos were collected at the 2-cell stage and cultured to monitor their development while serum was used for metabolomic analysis. The percentage of normal embryos and development of embryos to blastocyst stage were significantly higher in groups supplemented with TRF. A total of 71 metabolites that are related to reproductive aging were identified in all groups and significant changes were detected in metabolic pathways that include fatty acids, amino acids metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis. These changes suggest that aging has a negative impact on cellular energy storage, energy metabolism and oxidative stress that subsequently affect female fertility. Supplementation with TRF prevented the impact of age related metabolic changes on the embryo. Thus, it appears that TRF exerts a protective mechanism towards female reproductive aging.

Combined extract of Moringa oleifera and Centella asiatica modulates oxidative stress and senescence in hydrogen peroxide-induced human dermal fibroblasts

Moringa oleifera Lam. and Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. leaves have been previously reported to exhibit antioxidant activity. The objective of the present study is to determine the in vitro antioxidant activity of the combined extracts of M. oleifera and C. asiatica (TGT-PRIMAAGE) and its effect on hydrogen peroxide (H 2O2)-induced oxidative stress in human dermal fibroblasts. TGTPRIMAAGE acted on the mechanism of hydrogen transfer as it showed scavenging activity in the DPPH assay. This is due to the presence of phenolics and flavonoids in TGT-PRIMAAGE. TGT-PRIMAAGE effectively reduced cellular generation of reactive oxygen species induced by H O2. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were also increased in cells treated with TGT-PRIMAAGE. 2 Treatment with TGT-PRIMAAGE showed significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the number of senescent cells. Significant reduction (P < 0.05) of malondialdehyde was also seen in cells treated with TGT-PRIMAAGE. The p53 protein level was reduced in TGT-PRIMAAGEtreated cells, which indicates its potential in protecting the cells from oxidative stress induced by H2O2.

The Implication of the Polymorphisms of COX-1, UGT1A6, and CYP2C9 among Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Patients Treated with Aspirin

PURPOSE

  Enzymes potentially responsible for the pharmacokinetic variations of aspirin include cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A6) and P450 (CYP) (CYP2C9). We therefore aimed to determine the types and frequencies of variants of COX-1 (A-842G), UGT1A6 (UGT1A6*2; A541G and UGT1A6*3; A522C) and CYP2C9 (CYP2C9*3; A1075C) in the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia. In addition, the role of these polymorphisms on aspirin-induced gastritis among the patients was investigated.

METHODS

A total of 165 patients with cardiovascular disease who were treated with 75-150 mg daily dose of aspirin and 300 healthy volunteers were recruited. DNA was extracted from the blood samples and genotyped for COX-1 (A-842G), UGT1A6 (UGT1A6*2 and UGT1A6*3) and CYP2C9 (CYP2C9*3; A1075C) using allele specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR).

RESULTS

Variants UGT1A6*2,*3 and CYP2C9*3 were detected in relatively high percentage of 22.83%, 30.0% and 6.50%, respectively; while COX-1 (A-842G) was absent. The genotype frequencies for UGT1A6*2 and *3 were significantly different between Indians and Malays or Chinese. The level of bilirubin among patients with different genotypes of UGT1A6 was significantly different (p-value &lt; 0.05). In addition, CYP2C9*3 was found to be associated with gastritis with an odd ratio of 6.8 (95 % Cl OR: 1.39 - 33.19; P = 0.033).

CONCLUSION

Screening of patients with defective genetic variants of UGT1A6 and CYP2C9*3 helps in identifying patients at risk of aspirin induced gastritis. However, a randomised clinical study of bigger sample size would be needed before it is translated to clinical use.

Genome Sequencing and Annotation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis PR08 strain

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an acid fast bacterial species in the family Mycobacteriaceae and is the causative agent of most cases of tuberculosis. Here, we report the genomic features of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a patient diagnosed with both pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The isolated strain was identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis PR08 (MTB PR08). Genomic DNA of the MTB PR08 strain was extracted and subjected to whole genome sequencing using MiSeq (Illumina, CA,USA). The draft genome size of MTB PR08 strain is 4,292,364 bp with a G + C content of 65.2%. This strain was annotated to have 4723 genes and 48 RNAs. This whole genome shotgun project has been deposited at DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under the accession number CP010895.

Mechanisms of gastroprotection of methanol extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves

BACKGROUND

Melastoma malabathricum L. (Melastomaceae) is a small shrub with various medicinal uses. The present study was carried out to determine the gastroprotective mechanisms of methanol extract of M. malabathricum leaves (MEMM) in rats.

METHODS

The extract's mechanisms of gastroprotection (50, 250, 500 mg/kg) were studied using the pylorus-ligation in rat model wherein volume, pH, free and total acidity of gastric juice, and gastric wall mucus content were determined. The involvement of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and sulfhydryl (SH) compounds in the gastroprotective effect of MEMM were also measured. MEMM was subjected to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and phytochemical analysis and HPLC profiling.

RESULTS

MEMM contained various phyto-constituents with quercitrin being identified as part of them. MEMM and quercitrin: i) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the volume and acidity of gastric juice while increasing the pH and gastric wall mucus content.; ii) significantly (p < 0.05) increased the level of SOD, GTP and GTR while significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the level of CAT, MPO and TBARS activities.; iii) exerted gastroprotective activity when assessed using the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer assay, which was reversed by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl esters (L-NAME; an inhibitor of NO synthase) and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM; a sulfhydryl (SH) blocker). MEMM inhibited the lipoxygenase (LOX) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities with the highest affinity for the former while quercitrin showed high affinity for XO activity.

CONCLUSIONS

MEMM exhibited a gastroprotective activity due partly to the presence of quercitrin, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and via the modulation of NO and SH groups.

Nodamura virus B2 amino terminal domain sensitivity to small interfering RNA

Nodamura virus (NoV) B2, a suppressor of RNA interference, binds double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) corresponding to Dicer substrates and products. Here, we report that the amino terminal domain of NoV B2 (NoV B2 79) specifically binds siRNAs but not dsRNAs. NoV B2 79 oligomerizes on binding to 27 nucleotide siRNA. Mutation of the residues phenylalanine49 and alanine60 to cysteine and methionine, respectively enhances the RNA binding affinity of NoV B2 79. Circular dichroism spectra demonstrated that the wild type and mutant NoV B2 79 have similar secondary structure conformations.

Effect of methanol extract of Dicranopteris linearis against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in rats

Background

Dicranopteris linearis (family Gleicheniaceae) has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities but no attempt has been made to study its hepatoprotective potential. The aim of the present study was to determine the hepatoprotective effect of methanol extracts of D. linearis (MEDL) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver injury in rats.

Methods

6 groups (n = 6) of rats received oral test solutions: 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 200 mg/kg silymarin, or MEDL (50, 250, and 500 mg/kg), once daily for 7 consecutive days, followed by hepatotoxicity induction with CCl₄. Blood and liver were collected for biochemical and microscopic analysis. The extract was also subjected to antioxidant studies (e.g. 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)- and superoxide anion-radical scavenging assays, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) test and total phenolic content (TPC) determination), phytochemical screening and HPLC analysis.

Results

Pretreatment with MEDL and silymarin significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP, which were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in DMSO-pretreated group following treatment with CCl₄. Histological analysis of liver tissues in groups pretreated with MEDL and silymarin showed mild necrosis and inflammation of the hepatocytes compared to the DMSO-pretreated group (negative control group). The MEDL showed higher DPPH- and superoxide anion-radical scavenging activity as well as high TPC and ORAC values indicating high antioxidant activity.

Conclusions

MEDL exerts hepatoprotective activity that could be partly contributed by its antioxidant activity and high phenolic content, and hence demands further investigation.

Mechanisms of α-Mangostin-Induced Antinociception in a Rodent Model

Objective:

Elucidate the antinociceptive mechanisms of α-mangostin isolated from Garcinia malaccensis Linn.

Methods:

Male mice/rats ( n = 6/group) were used in this between-group study. To determine α-mangostin’s antinociceptive profile, animals were given α-mangostin orally (3, 30, or 100 mg/kg) 60 min before the start of the abdominal constriction or formalin tests. In the hot plate test, the noxious stimulus was applied before and 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 210 min after treatment with test solutions. Positive controls received 100 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; oral) or 5 mg/kg morphine (intraperitoneal injection) for the abdominal constriction and hot plate tests, respectively, and either ASA or morphine for the formalin test. Negative controls received vehicle only. To explore α-mangostin’s mechanisms of action, we performed (i) the hot plate test with naloxone (5 mg/kg) pretreatment to verify involvement of opioid receptors; (ii) the abdominal constriction test with 20 mg/kg l-arginine, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl esters (l-NAME), methylene blue (MB), l-arginine plus l-NAME, or l-arginine plus MB or 10 mg/kg glibenclamide pretreatment to verify involvement of the l-arginine/nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and K+-ATP pathways; and (iii) the paw-licking test using capsaicin (1.6 μg capsaicin/paw), glutamate (10 μmol glutamate/paw), or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 0.05 µg/paw) to verify involvement of vanilloid receptors, the glutamatergic system, and protein kinase C (PKC).

Results:

α-mangostin significantly inhibited nociception ( p < .05) in all models. Only naloxone, l-arginine, methylene blue, PMA, and glibenclamide affected α-mangostin antinociception significantly ( p < .05).

Conclusion:

α-mangostin exhibits peripheral and central antinociception through modulation of opioid and vanilloid receptors, the glutamatergic system, and the l-arginine/NO/cGMP/PKC/K+-ATP pathways.

Antinociceptive activity of methanolic extract of Muntingia calabura leaves: further elucidation of the possible mechanisms

Background

Muntingia calabura (Elaecoparceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used, particularly, by the Peruvian people to alleviate headache and cold, pain associated with gastric ulcers or to reduce the prostate gland swelling. Following the recent establishment of antinociceptive activity of M. calabura leaf, the present study was performed to further elucidate on the possible mechanisms of antinociception involved.

Methods

The methanol extract of M. calabura (MEMC) was prepared in the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg. The role of bradykinin, protein kinase C, pottasium channels, and various opioid and non-opioid receptors in modulating the extract’s antinociceptive activity was determined using several antinociceptive assays. Results are presented as Mean ± standard error of mean (SEM). The one-way ANOVA test with Dunnett's multiple comparison was used to analyze and compare the data, with P < 0.05 as the limit of significance.

Results

The MEMC, at all doses, demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in both the bradykinin- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced nociception. Pretreatment of the 500 mg/kg MEMC with 10 mg/kg glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel inhibitor), the antagonist of μ-, δ- and κ-opioid receptors (namely 10 mg/kg β-funaltrexamine, 1 mg/kg naltrindole and 1 mg/kg nor-binaltorphimine), and the non-opioid receptor antagonists (namely 3 mg/kg caffeine (a non-selective adenosinergic receptor antagonist), 0.15 mg/kg yohimbine (an α₂-noradrenergic antagonist), and 1 mg/kg pindolol (a β-adrenoceptor antagonist)) significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the MEMC antinociception. However, 10 mg/kg atropine (a non-selective cholinergic receptor antagonist), 0.15 mg/kg prazosin (an α₁-noradrenergic antagonist) and 20 mg/kg haloperidol (a non-selective dopaminergic antagonist) did not affect the extract's antinociception. The phytochemicals screening revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins and triterpenes while the HPLC analysis showed the presence of flavonoid-based compounds.

Conclusions

The antinociceptive activity of MEMC involved activation of the non-selective opioid (particularly the μ-, δ- and κ-opioid) and non-opioid (particularly adenosinergic, α₂-noradrenergic, and β-adrenergic) receptors, modulation of the ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel, and inhibition of bradikinin and protein kinase C actions. The discrepancies in MEMC antinociception could be due to the presence of various phytochemicals.

Antinociceptive activity of a synthetic oxopyrrolidine-based compound, ASH21374, and determination of its possible mechanisms

This study was carried out to determine the antinociceptive activity of a novel synthetic oxopyrrolidine-based compound, (2R,3R,4S)-ethyl 4-hydroxy-1,2-dimethyl-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylate (ASH21374), and to elucidate the involvement of the opioid, vanilloid, glutamate, and nitric oxide - cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) systems in modulating the observed antinociception. ASH21374, in the doses of 2, 10, and 100 mg/kg body mass, was administered orally to mice 60 mins prior to exposure to various antinociceptive assays. From the results obtained, ASH21374 exhibited significant (P < 0.05) antinociceptive activity in the abdominal constriction, hot-plate, and formalin tests that was comparable with 100 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid or 5 mg/kg morphine, respectively. ASH21374 also attenuated capsaicin- and glutamate-induced paw licking. Pre-treatment with 5 mg/kg naloxone significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the activity in all assays, while pretreatment with 10 mg/kg β-funaltraxamine, 1 mg/kg naltrindole, or 1 mg/kg nor-binaltorphimine significantly (P < 0.05) reversed the activity in the abdominal constriction test. l-Arginine, N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl esters (l-NAME), methylene blue, and their combinations, failed to inhibit the ASH21374 antinociceptive activity. In conclusion, ASH21374 demonstrated antinociceptive activities on the peripheral and central nervous systems, mediated through the activation of opioid receptors, inhibition of the glutamatergic system, and attenuation of vanilloid-mediated nociceptive transmission. Further studies have been planned to determine the pharmacological potential of ASH21374.