This study was conducted to observe the genotoxic effects of aqueous, methanol, hexane and dichloromethane extracts of “belacan” (shrimp paste) taken from three local districts in Melaka, Malaysia (Kelemak, Batang T...This study was conducted to observe the genotoxic effects of aqueous, methanol, hexane and dichloromethane extracts of “belacan” (shrimp paste) taken from three local districts in Melaka, Malaysia (Kelemak, Batang Tiga & Pantai Puteri). The umu test which was used as the screening test was conducted with and without the presence of metabolic activation system. Without the presence of metabolic activation system, aqueous extracts from Kelemak showed mutagenicity activity at 5 mg/ml with IR (Induction Rate) = 1.52 ± 0.57 and the methanol extracts showed mutagenic activities at 0.625 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml, which the IR was the highest at 5 mg/ml (2.08 ± 0.09). On the other hand, samples from Batang Tiga, Melaka showed mutagenic effects at all five concentrations for the dichloromethane extract, with IR = 2.09 ± 0.64 as the highest value at 1.25 mg/ml. Methanol extracts also showed positive results at 1.25 mg/ml and 2.5 mg/ml with IR = 1.70 ± 0.33 and IR = 2.12 ± 0.51 respectively, and aqueous extract at 0.625 mg/ml with IR = 1.54 ± 0.48 and 5 mg/ml with IR = 1.74 ± 0.50. There was a significant difference of the mean values of IR between the four different types of “belacan” extracts from Batang Tiga (p < 0.05). All four “belacan” extracts from Pantai Puteri, Melaka did not show any mutagenic effect. With the presence of metabolic activation system, there was no mutagenic effect observed in all four extracts from the three districts. Further study to analyze the contents in the food samples should be done in the future to determine the possible contents in the food samples that might be responsible for the mutagenic activities.展开更多
Amphibians show a variety of reproductive modes and strategies. The cyclicity and continuity of reproduction can often be predicted from the annual gonadosomatic index trends in a species specific manner. This researc...Amphibians show a variety of reproductive modes and strategies. The cyclicity and continuity of reproduction can often be predicted from the annual gonadosomatic index trends in a species specific manner. This research aims to document the female and male gonadosomatic index profiles and to ascertain the reproductive cyclicity or continuity of Fejervarya lirnnocharis （Anura： Ranidae） caught in Mac Sot, Tak Province, Thailand. Frogs were collected monthly between November 2007 and October 2009 in rice fields and their surrounding areas in the study site. For each frog, total weight and ovarian/testicular weight were measured to obtain the female and male gonadosomatic index. The number of female individuals with mature eggs （postvitellogenic eggs） was also counted. The results showed that female frogs had two main surges of increased GSI in March and September of 2008. Alternatively, male frogs showed a more gradual increase and decrease in gonadosomatic index, thus the index remaining high throughout the year. This study concluded that while F. limnocharis in this area is essentially a continuous breeder, it is more optimized for a cyclic reproduction mode with two breeding cycles during the rainy season.展开更多
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need to strengthen public health systems.In response,the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction(UNDRR) Public Health System Resilience Scorecard(Scorecard) was applied in w...The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need to strengthen public health systems.In response,the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction(UNDRR) Public Health System Resilience Scorecard(Scorecard) was applied in workshops across multiple countries.The aim of our research was to explore the workshop findings to develop priority strategies for strengthening public health system resilience.We conducted a workshop from 14 to 16 March 2023,at the UNDRR Global Education and Training Institute in Incheon,Republic of Korea.A sequential modified Delphi method was utilized to develop a set of prioritized resilience strategies.These were drawn from 70 strategies identified from 13 distinct workshops in eight countries.After two surveys,23 strategies were finalized.Ten received ratings of "High" or Very High" from89% of participants.These related to the inclusion of public health risks in emergency plans,integrating multidisciplinary teams into public health,enabling local transport mechanisms,and improving the ability to manage an influx of patients.The Scorecard provides an adaptable framework to identify and prioritize strategies for strengthening public health system resilience.By leveraging this methodology,our study demonstrated how resilience strategies could inform disaster risk reduction funding,policies,and actions.展开更多
We investigated the effects of prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure on maternal thyroid hormones and fetal growth outcomes within a cohort from Saudi Arabia. In this prospective study, 672 pregnant women provided 1957 ...We investigated the effects of prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure on maternal thyroid hormones and fetal growth outcomes within a cohort from Saudi Arabia. In this prospective study, 672 pregnant women provided 1957 urine samples, which were analyzed for BPA concentrations using UPLC-MS/MS throughout three trimesters. We recorded BPA detection rates and median concentrations, using mixed-effects models to examine the influence on maternal thyroid hormones, specifically free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Additionally, we explored the impact on fetal growth markers such as head circumference (HC) and placental weight (PWT) through multivariable regression, adjusting for confounders. Findings indicated that BPA was present in over 95 % of samples, with a notable decrease in median concentrations from the 1st to the 3rd trimester. Higher BPA exposure correlated with a 2.96 % increase in FT4 levels and a 14.58 % reduction in TSH in the top exposure quartile. Fetal growth analysis showed a decrease of 3.8 % in HC and 15.3 % in PWT associated with high first-trimester BPA levels. Furthermore, FT4 levels in the first and 2nd trimesters mediated the relationship between BPA exposure and fetal growth outcomes by 21.1 % for PWT and 19.1 % for HC, while gestational age mediated 12.1 % of the change in HC. The study highlights significant disruptions in thyroid function and detrimental effects on fetal development due to high BPA exposure, underscoring the need for rigorous monitoring and preventive measures during pregnancy.展开更多
文摘This study was conducted to observe the genotoxic effects of aqueous, methanol, hexane and dichloromethane extracts of “belacan” (shrimp paste) taken from three local districts in Melaka, Malaysia (Kelemak, Batang Tiga & Pantai Puteri). The umu test which was used as the screening test was conducted with and without the presence of metabolic activation system. Without the presence of metabolic activation system, aqueous extracts from Kelemak showed mutagenicity activity at 5 mg/ml with IR (Induction Rate) = 1.52 ± 0.57 and the methanol extracts showed mutagenic activities at 0.625 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml, which the IR was the highest at 5 mg/ml (2.08 ± 0.09). On the other hand, samples from Batang Tiga, Melaka showed mutagenic effects at all five concentrations for the dichloromethane extract, with IR = 2.09 ± 0.64 as the highest value at 1.25 mg/ml. Methanol extracts also showed positive results at 1.25 mg/ml and 2.5 mg/ml with IR = 1.70 ± 0.33 and IR = 2.12 ± 0.51 respectively, and aqueous extract at 0.625 mg/ml with IR = 1.54 ± 0.48 and 5 mg/ml with IR = 1.74 ± 0.50. There was a significant difference of the mean values of IR between the four different types of “belacan” extracts from Batang Tiga (p < 0.05). All four “belacan” extracts from Pantai Puteri, Melaka did not show any mutagenic effect. With the presence of metabolic activation system, there was no mutagenic effect observed in all four extracts from the three districts. Further study to analyze the contents in the food samples should be done in the future to determine the possible contents in the food samples that might be responsible for the mutagenic activities.
基金part of a graduate research project titled "Using the Rice Frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) as Sentinel Species for Cadmium Contamination in Tak Province, Thailand"supported by the National Center of Excellence for Environmental and Hazardous Waste Management (NCE-EHWM)+2 种基金the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University Fund and a new staff development grant (Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund)the MUA-TRF researchgrant (MRG4980120) to Noppadon KITANAsupport was also obtained from NIH Fogarty ITREOH (D43TW007849)
文摘Amphibians show a variety of reproductive modes and strategies. The cyclicity and continuity of reproduction can often be predicted from the annual gonadosomatic index trends in a species specific manner. This research aims to document the female and male gonadosomatic index profiles and to ascertain the reproductive cyclicity or continuity of Fejervarya lirnnocharis （Anura： Ranidae） caught in Mac Sot, Tak Province, Thailand. Frogs were collected monthly between November 2007 and October 2009 in rice fields and their surrounding areas in the study site. For each frog, total weight and ovarian/testicular weight were measured to obtain the female and male gonadosomatic index. The number of female individuals with mature eggs （postvitellogenic eggs） was also counted. The results showed that female frogs had two main surges of increased GSI in March and September of 2008. Alternatively, male frogs showed a more gradual increase and decrease in gonadosomatic index, thus the index remaining high throughout the year. This study concluded that while F. limnocharis in this area is essentially a continuous breeder, it is more optimized for a cyclic reproduction mode with two breeding cycles during the rainy season.
基金the World Health Organization Centre for Health Development (WHO Kobe Centre)United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Global Education and Training Institute+2 种基金the UNDRR Regional office for the Americas and Caribbean for supporting this projectsupported by the World Health Organization Centre for Health Development (WHO Kobe Centre-WKC:K21002)The Scientific and Technological Research Institution of Turkey (TüBITAK) also provided support for the workshops in Turkey
文摘The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need to strengthen public health systems.In response,the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction(UNDRR) Public Health System Resilience Scorecard(Scorecard) was applied in workshops across multiple countries.The aim of our research was to explore the workshop findings to develop priority strategies for strengthening public health system resilience.We conducted a workshop from 14 to 16 March 2023,at the UNDRR Global Education and Training Institute in Incheon,Republic of Korea.A sequential modified Delphi method was utilized to develop a set of prioritized resilience strategies.These were drawn from 70 strategies identified from 13 distinct workshops in eight countries.After two surveys,23 strategies were finalized.Ten received ratings of "High" or Very High" from89% of participants.These related to the inclusion of public health risks in emergency plans,integrating multidisciplinary teams into public health,enabling local transport mechanisms,and improving the ability to manage an influx of patients.The Scorecard provides an adaptable framework to identify and prioritize strategies for strengthening public health system resilience.By leveraging this methodology,our study demonstrated how resilience strategies could inform disaster risk reduction funding,policies,and actions.
基金funded by the King Salman Center for Disability Research(RCS-0011-2017-PR)The project was approved by the Research Advisory Council,King Faisal Specialist Hospital,and Research Centre(RAC#2180005).
文摘We investigated the effects of prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure on maternal thyroid hormones and fetal growth outcomes within a cohort from Saudi Arabia. In this prospective study, 672 pregnant women provided 1957 urine samples, which were analyzed for BPA concentrations using UPLC-MS/MS throughout three trimesters. We recorded BPA detection rates and median concentrations, using mixed-effects models to examine the influence on maternal thyroid hormones, specifically free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Additionally, we explored the impact on fetal growth markers such as head circumference (HC) and placental weight (PWT) through multivariable regression, adjusting for confounders. Findings indicated that BPA was present in over 95 % of samples, with a notable decrease in median concentrations from the 1st to the 3rd trimester. Higher BPA exposure correlated with a 2.96 % increase in FT4 levels and a 14.58 % reduction in TSH in the top exposure quartile. Fetal growth analysis showed a decrease of 3.8 % in HC and 15.3 % in PWT associated with high first-trimester BPA levels. Furthermore, FT4 levels in the first and 2nd trimesters mediated the relationship between BPA exposure and fetal growth outcomes by 21.1 % for PWT and 19.1 % for HC, while gestational age mediated 12.1 % of the change in HC. The study highlights significant disruptions in thyroid function and detrimental effects on fetal development due to high BPA exposure, underscoring the need for rigorous monitoring and preventive measures during pregnancy.
