UNIVERSA MEDICINAHigh serum iron and zinc decrease glutathione S-transferase among women with breast cancer Nendyah Roestijawati*, Dwi Arini Ernawati*, and Diah Krisnansari* BACKGROUND Breast cancer in Indonesia ranks second as the most common cancer found in women after cervical cancer. Tumor cells express increased levels of antioxidant proteins to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is known to play a key role in the detoxification and reduction of ROS. Trace elements have nutritional benefits as essential cofactors for physiologic processes, but some can be toxic to humans. Accumulated evidence suggests that deficiency or excess of certain trace elements may be associated with risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. The aim of this research was to determine the correlation of the trace elements iron and zinc with the oxidative stress level of GST activity in women with breast cancer. METHODSAn observational analytic study with cross sectional design was conducted involving 35 breast cancer women. Research subjects were women with breast cancer diagnosed by biopsy. Measurements of iron and zinc levels were performed using atomic absorption spectrometry, GST activity was measured using spectrophotometry. Data analysis was done with the Pearson correlation test. RESULTSThe results showed that there was a significant relationship of serum iron with GST (r=-0.487; p<0.05) and serum zinc with GST (r=-0.409; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONOur study demonstrated that the higher zinc and iron level, the lower GST level among breast cancer women. It is recommended to use zinc, iron and GST levels as biomarkers for breast cancer and its progression.

Background: Nowadays, cardiovascular disease caused by hypercholesterolemia has become the main cause of death. Propolis has been used widely to reduce plasma cholesterol levels.Objective: The aims of this research was to study the effect of propolis on lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic Sprague Dawley rats.Method: This was an experimental study with pre-post test. Twenty four (24) male Sprague Dawley rats aged 12-16 week old, weighing 125-200 g were allocated into 4 groups. Group I received standard meal + aquadest-gavage; group II received high cholesterol meal + PTU 0,01 + aquadest gavage; group III received high cholesterol meal + PTU 0,01 + 0,027 g propolis gavage; group IV received high cholesterol meal + PTU 0,01 + 0,054 g propolis gavage. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels before and after treatment were measured. The data were then analyzed with One Way Anova.Results: The study showed that there were no significant differences in changes of body weight. There were significant differences in total cholesterol levels between all groups of treatment. Triglyceride levels were significantly different among all groups, except between group I and IV. Furthermore, the HDL cholesterol levels of group I vs III and group I vs IV were significantly different. However, there were no differences found in LDL cholesterol levels among all groups of treatment.Conclusion: Provision of 0,027 g and 0,054 g propolis improve lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels) of hypercholesterolemic rats.

Farmers in Linggasari Village often mix pesticides, did not use pesticides that follow the dose, did not use PPE completely, eat, drink or smoke did not clean themselves after spraying. Some types of pesticides can reduce cholinesterase enzyme and hemoglobin levels. The study aimed to analyze the factors that correlated with cholinesterase enzyme and hemoglobin levels of spraying farmers. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from March to April 2022. The population of this study was all farmers who use pesticides, as many as 30 farmers qualify the inclusion criteria, namely male spraying farmers aged over 18 years, the maximum last contact time with pesticides was two months before the study was conducted. The independent variables were age, BMI, working period, frequency of spraying, duration of spraying, and PPE usage score. The dependent variables included cholinesterase and hemoglobin levels. Bivariate analysis was assessed with Pearson Correlation Test or Spearman Correlation Test, while multivariate analysis used linear regression. The results showed that age (p=0,032, r=0,391) and BMI (p=0,036, r= 0,385) correlated with cholinesterase enzyme, and age (p=0,000, r=0,615) correlated with farmers' hemoglobin levels. The results of multivariate analysis that the most influential factor on cholinesterase enzyme and hemoglobin levels was age.

This study aimed to examine the effects of antioxidant rich coffee on blood pressure, glucose blood response, levels of MDA and SOD serum, and liver tissue of Wistar diabetic rats. The study used 24 Wistar rats in which 18 rats were induced with Streptozotocin of 60 mg/kg BW for 4 days to make them diabetic (fasting blood glucose level >250 mg/dL). Rats than divided into 4 groups: 1) control group (non-diabetic group), given distilled water, 2) diabetic control group, given sugar cane coffee of 0.45 gram/200 g BW/day, 3) diabetic group, given antioxidant rich coffee of 0.45 g/200 g BW/day, 4) diabetic group, given antioxidant rich coffee of 0.90 gram/200g BW/day. Weekly observations were made on blood pressure, fasting blood sugar levels, body weight and blood pressure, as well as serum and tissue levels of SOD and MDA. The results showed that coffee rich in antioxidant significantly reduced oxidative stress in diabetic rats with lower blood pressure, serum MDA values, and the tissue MDA value than that in the diabetic rats given sugar cane coffee. This illustrates that consuming 0.90 g/day antioxidant rich coffee in mice, or the equivalent of 60 g/day in humans, can reduce oxidative stress in diabetes.

Prostate cancer can be caused by heavy metals exposure that can be identified from increasing levels of metallothionein. Exposure to heavy metals is carcinogenic through the formation of ROS in the oxidative stress process. One of the markers of oxidative stress in prostate cancer is malondialdehyde. Purpose of study to determine the relationship between levels of metallothionein and malondialdehyde in prostate cancer. Research design was cross sectional with subjects were 30 patients with prostate cancer at district hospital at Purwokerto, Indonesia. Measurement levels of metallothionein and malondialdehyde used ELISA sandwich method. Data analysis used Spearman correlation test. There was a correlation between levels of metallothionein and malondialdehyde (p <0.05, r = 0.36). The increase of metallothionein level cause enhancement malondialdehyde level. As a conclusion, study report that there was corelation between metallothionein and malondialdehyde levels illustrates the process of oxidative stress on prostate cancer due to heavy metals exposure.