Rizky Abdulah

Selenium enrichment of broccoli sprout extract increases chemosensitivity and apoptosis of LNCaP prostate cancer cells

BackgroundBroccoli is a Brassica vegetable that is believed to possess chemopreventive properties. Selenium also shows promise as an anticancer agent. Thus, selenium enrichment of broccoli has the potential to enhance the anticancer properties of broccoli sprouts.MethodSelenium-enriched broccoli sprouts were prepared using a sodium selenite solution. Their anticancer properties were evaluated in human prostate cancer cell lines and compared with those of a control broccoli sprout extract.ResultsSelenium-enriched broccoli sprouts were superior to normal broccoli sprouts in inhibiting cell proliferation, decreasing prostate-specific antigen secretion, and inducing apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, selenium-enriched broccoli sprouts but, not normal broccoli sprouts, induced a downregulation of the survival Akt/mTOR pathway.ConclusionOur results suggest that selenium-enriched broccoli sprouts could potentially be used as an alternative selenium source for prostate cancer prevention and therapy.

Molecular targets of selenium in prostate cancer prevention (Review)

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among males. Although use of the micro-nutrient selenium in prostate cancer clinical trials is limited, the outcomes indicate that selenium is a promising treatment. Furthermore, selenium inhibits prostate cancer through multiple mechanisms, and it is beneficial in controlling the development of this disease. This review highlights the latest epidemiological and biomolecular research on selenium in prostate cancer, as well as its prospects for future clinical use.

Depressed serum selenoprotein P: possible new predicator of increased risk for cerebrovascular events

Selenium protection against cellular damage by oxygen radicals is accomplished through selenoproteins. Thus, selenium protection during the development of stroke, an oxidative stress-related disease, may not be appropriately reflected in the total serum selenium concentration. Therefore, we hypothesized that serum selenoproteins should also be measured to understand the relationship between selenium status and oxidative stress. To establish whether stroke is associated with changes in serum selenoprotein levels, a population-based, nested case-control study was performed. The subjects were recruited from 1632 residents older than 40 years who had completed health examinations in 1992. Blood samples collected from 30 controls and 30 initial stroke victims between 1992 and 1994 were analyzed for total serum selenium and selenium-containing protein distribution. Selenium-containing proteins were separated using 2 high-performance liquid chromatography columns in tandem and detected by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The mean serum selenium concentration was lower in the patients who had a stroke than in the controls (105.2 vs 116.5 microg/L). Selenium contents in glutathione peroxidase and albumin did not show any significant difference; however, selenoprotein P was significantly lower in the stroke cases than in the controls (54.5 vs 63.0 microg/L, P = .006). Results from multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that reduced serum level of selenoprotein P was associated with a higher risk of stroke (odds ratio = 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.85).

Rapid and direct determination of selenium, copper, and zinc in blood plasma by flow injection-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

A flow injection-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (FI-ICP-MS) with a simple sample preparation procedure was developed for the determination of selenium, copper, and zinc in blood serum/plasma. A serum/plasma sample was filtered through a 0.45-μm membrane filter and diluted with a mixture of trace elements in a standard solution (9∶1, v/v). Measurement of the reference serum sample confirmed the accuracy of our method for selenium, copper, and zinc concentration. In the case of blood plasma samples obtained from six healthy adult males, the selenium, copper, and zinc concentrations were similar to those of a typical healthy male in Japan. These results suggest that the sample prepartive procedure coupled with FI-ICP-MS can be used for the routine determination of selenium, copper, and zinc in human blood serum/plasma.

Reduced serum selenium concentration in miscarriage incidence of Indonesian subjects.

Selenium is an essential nutrient for human health, and maternal selenium concentration has been reported to be associated with pregnancy outcome. To further investigate the possible role of selenium (Se) in miscarriage, we conducted a case–control study to evaluate the correlations among selenium status, glutathione peroxidase activity, and spontaneous abortion. A total of 46 subjects with normal pregnancies and 25 subjects with spontaneous abortion were recruited, and their serum selenium concentrations and serum glutathione peroxidase activities were analyzed. The total serum selenium concentrations in subjects with normal pregnancies were significantly higher than those of subjects with spontaneous abortion; however, the glutathione peroxidase activities were similar in both groups. We further separated the subjects into smoking and nonsmoking groups, and the logistic regression analysis suggested that total serum selenium concentration, but not serum glutathione peroxidase activity or smoking, was significantly correlated with the incidence of miscarriage. The present study thus reaffirms that low serum selenium levels are associated with miscarriage and that selenium plays an important role in pregnancy maintenance.

Selenium-induced apoptosis-like cell death in Plasmodium falciparum

Plasmodium falciparum has for some time been developing resistance against known anti-malarial drugs, and therefore a new drug is urgently needed. Selenium (Se), an essential trace element, in the form of inorganic Se, selenite (SeO32-), has been reported to have an anti-plasmodial effect, but its mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-plasmodial effect of several Se compounds against P. falciparum in vitro. The anti-plasmodial effect of several Se compounds was analysed and their apoptosis-inducing activity was evaluated by morphological observation, DNA fragmentation assay and mitochondrial function analysis. SeO32-, methylseleninic acid, selenomethionine and selenocystine have anti-plasmodial effects with 50% inhibition concentration at 9, 10, 45, and 65 μm, respectively, while selenate and methylselenocysteine up to 100 μm have no effect on parasite growth. The effective Se compounds caused the parasites to become shrunken and pyknotic and significantly increased mitochondrial damage against P. falciparum compared to the untreated control. In conclusion, SeO32-, methylseleninic acid, selenomethionine and selenocystine have anti-plasmodial activities that induce apoptosis-like cell death in P. falciparum, and the anti-plasmodial effects of Se seem to be based on its chemical forms. The apoptosis-like cell-death mechanism in P. falciparum can be beneficial to respond to the growing problem of drug resistance.

Selenium supplementation and blood rheological improvement in Japanese adults.

In order to study the prevention effect of selenium in the development of cardiovascular disease, we investigated the effects of selenium supplementation on the blood rheological properties. Eleven healthy adults were administered with 200 μg of selenium in the form of selenium yeast per day for 1 wk. Before and after the supplementation, serum selenium concentration, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, biochemical indices, and the blood fluidity of the subjects were measured. The blood fluidity was measured using a (microchannel array flow analyzer) by the passage time of 100 μL of heparinized whole blood through the microchannel array. The selenium supplementation significantly (p=0.001) shortened the mean blood passage time from 44.0±5.7 to 37.5±2.8 s. Serum selenium concentration significantly (p=0.008) increased from 109.8±10.2 to 124.5±16.7 μg/L. Meanwhile, the GPx activity did not increased significantly (p=0.058). The mean GPx activity of the subjects before supplementation was 171.0±16.1 Δmmol NADPH/min/L and 180.9±17.8 Δmmol NADPH/min/L after supplementation. Factor analysis of the passage time and biochemical indices of the subjects showed that blood fluidity improvement was related to the metabolic modification of lipoproteins during the selenium supplementation. These results showed that selenium supplementation improved the blood fluidity, without increasing the GPx activity of the subjects.

Anticancer potential of Syzygium aromaticum L. in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines

Background: The common treatment for cancer is unfavorable because it causes many detrimental side effects, and lately, there has been a growing resistance toward anticancer drugs, which worsens the future of cancer treatment. Therefore, the focus has now shifted toward natural products, such as spices and plants, among many others, to save the future of cancer treatment. Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum L.) are spices with the highest antioxidant content among natural products. Besides acting as an antioxidant, cloves also possess many other functions, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic, which makes them an ideal natural source to be developed as an anticancer agent. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of cloves toward MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: Different concentrations of water extract, ethanol extract, and essential oil of cloves were investigated for their anticancer potential in vitro through a brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) and an MTT assay. Results: In both BSLT and MTT assays, the essential oil showed the highest cytotoxic effect, followed by ethanol and water extract. The LD50 concentration of essential oil in the 24 hours BSLT was 37 μg/mL. Furthermore, the IC50 values in the 24 hours and 48 hours MTT assays of the essential oil were 36.43 μg/mL and 17.6 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Cloves are natural products with excellent cytotoxicity toward MCF-7 cells; thus, they are promising sources for the development of anticancer agents.

Antibiotic Resistance in Sepsis Patients: Evaluation and Recommendation of Antibiotic Use

Background: The appropriate selection of empirical antibiotics based on the pattern of local antibiotic resistance can reduce the mortality rate and increase the rational use of antibiotics. Aims: We analyze the pattern of antibiotic use and the sensitivity patterns of antibiotics to support the rational use of antibiotics in patients with sepsis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in adult sepsis patient at one of Indonesian hospital during January-December 2011. Data were collected from the hospital medical record department. Descriptive analysis was used in the processing and interpretation of data. Results: A total of 76 patients were included as research subjects. Lung infection was the highest source of infection. In the 66.3% of clinical specimens that were culture positive for microbes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus hominis were detected with the highest frequency. The six most frequently used antibiotics, levofloxacin, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and erythromycin, showed an average resistance above 50%. Conclusions: The high use of antibiotic with a high level resistance requires a policy to support its rational use. Local microbial pattern based on site infection and pattern of antibiotics sensitivity test can be used as supporting data to optimize appropriateness of empirical antibiotics therapy in sepsis patients.

Polymorphism Of PXR Gene Associated With The Increased Risk Of Drug-induced Liver Injury in Indonesian Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Tuberculosis is still a major infectious disease in Indonesia. Patients are treated mostly using fixed‐dose combination treatment in primary public health facilities. The incidence of antituberculosis drug‐induced liver injury (AT‐DILI) is approximately 10% among Indonesian tuberculosis patients who used standard fixed combination regimens during the intensive phase of treatment. However, information regarding genetic polymorphism associated with the increase risk of drug‐induced liver injury is still limited. The aim of this study was to investigate pregnane X receptor (PXR) gene polymorphisms as one of the risk factors of AT‐DILI.