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  1. Sharif R, Ooi TC
    Genes Environ, 2024 Feb 08;46(1):5.
    PMID: 38326915 DOI: 10.1186/s41021-024-00300-0
    The prevalence of cancer is increasing globally, and Malaysia is no exception. The exposome represents a paradigm shift in cancer research, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach that considers the cumulative effect of diverse exposures encountered throughout life. The exposures include dietary factors, air and water pollutants, occupational hazards, lifestyle choices, infectious agents and social determinants of health. The exposome concept acknowledges that each individual's cancer risk is shaped by not only their genetic makeup but also their unique life experiences and environmental interactions. This comprehensive review was conducted by systematically searching scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, by using the keywords "exposomes (environmental exposures AND/OR physical exposures AND/OR chemical exposures) AND cancer risk AND Malaysia", for relevant articles published between 2010 and 2023. Articles addressing the relationship between exposomes and cancer risk in the Malaysian population were critically evaluated and summarized. This review aims to provide an update on the epidemiological evidence linking exposomes with cancer risk in Malaysia. This review will provide an update for current findings and research in Malaysia related to identified exposomes-omics interaction and gap in research area related to the subject matter. Understanding the interplay between complex exposomes and carcinogenesis holds the potential to unveil novel preventive strategies that may be beneficial for public health.
  2. Ooi TC, Mohammad NH, Sharif R
    Biol Trace Elem Res, 2014 Dec;162(1-3):8-17.
    PMID: 25326781 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-014-0153-y
    The aim of this study is to investigate the ability of zinc carnosine to protect the human lymphoblastoid (WIL2-NS) cell line from hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage. Cells were cultured with medium containing zinc carnosine at the concentrations of 0.4, 4, 16 and 32 μM for 9 days prior to treatment with 30 μM of hydrogen peroxide (30 min). Zinc carnosine at the concentration 16 μM was optimal in protecting cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity and gave the lowest percentage of apoptotic and necrotic cells. Results showed that zinc carnosine was able to induce glutathione production and protect cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress at all concentration and the highest protection was observed at 32-μM zinc carnosine culture. Cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay showed that cells cultured with 4-32 μM of zinc carnosine showed significant reduction in micronuclei formation, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear bud frequencies (p 
  3. Ooi TC, Chan KM, Sharif R
    Biol Trace Elem Res, 2016 Aug;172(2):458-464.
    PMID: 26749414 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-015-0615-x
    This study aimed to investigate the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathway in the anti-inflammatory effects of zinc carnosine (ZnC) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Cells were pretreated with ZnC (0-100 μM) for 2 h prior to the addition of LPS (1 μg/ml). Following 24 h of treatment, ZnC was found not to be cytotoxic to RAW 264.7 cells up to the concentration of 100 μM. Our current findings showed that ZnC did not protect RAW 264.7 cells from LPS-induced "respiratory burst". Significant increment in intracellular glutathione (GSH) level and reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration can only be observed in cell pretreated with high doses of ZnC only (50 and 100 μM for GSH and 100 μM only for TBARS). On the other hand, pretreatment of cells with ZnC was able to inhibit LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression significantly. Furthermore, results from immunoblotting showed that ZnC was able to suppress nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation, and highest suppression can be observed at 100 μM of ZnC pretreatment. However, pretreatment of ZnC did not inhibit the early activation of MAPKs. In conclusion, pretreatment with ZnC was able to inhibit the expression of inflammatory mediators in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, mainly via suppression of NF-κB activation, and is independent of the MAPKs signaling pathway.
  4. Ooi TC, Chan KM, Sharif R
    Nutr Cancer, 2017 Feb-Mar;69(2):201-210.
    PMID: 28094570 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2017.1265132
    Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide, and the incidence and mortality rates of cancer are expected to rise tremendously in the near future. Despite a better understanding of cancer biology and advancement in cancer management, current strategies in cancer treatment remain costly and ineffective. Hence, instead of putting more efforts to search for new cancer cures, attention has now been shifted to the development of cancer chemopreventive agents as a preventive measure for cancer formation. It is well known that neoplastic transformation of cells is multifactorial, and the occurrence of oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and genomic instability events has been implicated in the carcinogenesis of cells. Zinc l-carnosine (ZnC), which is clinically used as gastric ulcer treatment in Japan, has been suggested to have the potential in preventing cancer development. Multiple studies have revealed that ZnC possesses potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and genomic stability enhancement effects. Thus, this review provides some mechanistic insight into the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and genomic stability enhancement effects of ZnC in relevance to its chemopreventive potential.
  5. Ooi TC, Chan KM, Sharif R
    Biol Trace Elem Res, 2020 Mar 08.
    PMID: 32146577 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-020-02108-9
    Zinc L-carnosine (ZnC) is the chelate form of zinc and L-carnosine and is one of the zinc supplements available in the market. This study aims to determine the protective effects of ZnC against L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO)-induced oxidative stress in CCD-18co human normal colon fibroblast cell line. CCD-18co cells were pretreated with ZnC (0-100 μM) for 24 h before the induction of oxidative stress by BSO (1 mM) for another 24 h. Results from this present study demonstrated that ZnC up to the concentration of 100 μM was not cytotoxic to CCD-18co cells. Induction with BSO significantly increased the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and reduced the intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels in CCD-18co cells. Pretreatment with ZnC was able to attenuate the increment in intracellular ROS level in CCD-18co cells significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. However, ZnC did not have any effects on intracellular GSH levels and Nrf2 activation. Mechanistically, pretreatment with ZnC was able to upregulate the expression of metallothionein (MT) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in CCD-18co cells. Results from dual-luciferase reporter gene assay reported that ZnC was able to increase the MRE-mediated relative luciferase activities in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that the induction of MT expression by ZnC was due to the activation of MTF-1 signaling pathway. Taken together, our current findings suggest that ZnC can protect CCD-18co cells from BSO-induced oxidative stress via the induction of MT and SOD1 expression.
  6. Ooi TC, Chan KM, Sharif R
    Free Radic Res, 2020 May;54(5):330-340.
    PMID: 32366187 DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2020.1763333
    Zinc L-carnosine (ZnC) is a chelated compound of zinc and L-carnosine. The present study aims to determine the protective effects of ZnC against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress and genomic damage in CCD-18co human normal colon fibroblast cells. Generally, cells were pretreated with ZnC (0-100 µM) for 24 h before challenged with 20 µM of H2O2 for 1 h to induce oxidative damage. Results showed that pretreatment with ZnC was able to reduce the intracellular ROS level in CCD-18co cells after being challenged with H2O2. Moreover, pretreatment with ZnC demonstrated protection from H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks and micronucleus formation. Our current findings revealed that pretreatment with ZnC could induce the activation of MTF-1 signaling pathway and expression of metallothionein (MT) in a dose-dependent manner. However, ZnC did not have any effects on Nrf2 signaling pathway and the expression of glutathione, superoxide dismutase 1, and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). Furthermore, pretreatment with ZnC did not induce the expression of OGG1 and PARP-1 in CCD-18co cells, suggesting that these two DNA repairing enzymes are not related to the genoprotective effects of ZnC. Since the expression of MT has been demonstrated to protect cells from oxidative DNA damage induced by various genotoxic agents, the genoprotective effects of ZnC might be due to the ability of ZnC to induce the expression of MT. In conclusion, ZnC pretreatment was able to protect CCD-18co cells from H2O2-induced genomic damage via the activation of the MTF-1 signalling pathway and the induction of MT expression.
  7. Ooi TC, Chan KM, Sharif R
    Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 2017 Oct;39(5):259-267.
    PMID: 28697633 DOI: 10.1080/08923973.2017.1344987
    CONTEXT: Zinc L-carnosine (ZnC) is a chelate of Zn and L-carnosine and is used clinically in the treatment of peptic ulcer.

    OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to investigate the involvement of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the anti-inflammatory effects of ZnC in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophages.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used immunoblotting analysis to evaluate the involvement of HO-1 in the anti-inflammatory effects of ZnC and the signaling pathway involved was measured using Dual luciferase reporter assay.

    RESULTS: Results from immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that pretreatment of cells with ZnC enhanced the expression of HO-1 in RAW 264.7 cells. Pretreatment of cells with HO-1 inhibitor (tin protoporphyrin IX dichloride) significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of ZnC on nitric oxide (NO) production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and NF-κB activation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, suggesting that HO-1 play an important role in the suppression of inflammatory responses induced by ZnC. Furthermore, results from co-immunoprecipitation of Nrf2 and Keap1 and dual luciferase reporter assay showed that pretreatment of ZnC was able to activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Treatment of cells with p38 inhibitor (SB203580), c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor (SP600125), and MEK 1/2 inhibitor (U0126) did not significantly suppress the induction of HO-1 by ZnC. Moreover, our present findings suggest that the effects of ZnC on NO production, HO-1 expression, and Nrf2 activation were attributed to its Zn subcomponent, but not l-carnosine.

    CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with ZnC was able to activate Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, thus suppressing the expression of inflammatory mediators, such as NO and iNOS in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells.

  8. Ooi TC, Yaacob M, Rajab NF, Shahar S, Sharif R
    Saudi J Biol Sci, 2021 May;28(5):2987-2994.
    PMID: 34025176 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.039
    Oxidative stress, DNA damage, and unresolved inflammation are the predisposing factors of many chronic and degenerative diseases, including cancer. Stingless bee honey (SBH) is recognized to have high medicinal value by traditional medicine practitioners and has been used to treat various illnesses traditionally. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and genoprotective effects of SBH by using in vitro cell culture models. The sugar content, total phenolic content, radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of SBH were determined in this study. Then, the protective effect of SBH against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell death and DNA damage was studied by using WIL2-NS human lymphoblastoid cell line, while the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophages cell line was used to study the anti-inflammatory effects of SBH. Results from this present study showed that the major sugar contents of SBH were fructose (19.39 + 0.01%) and glucose (14.03 ± 0.03%). Besides, the total phenolic content, the radical scavenging activity, and the FRAP value of SBH were 15.38 ± 0.02 mg GAE/100 g of honey, 34.04 ± 0.21%, and 206.77 + 1.76 μM AAE/100 g honey respectively. Pretreatment with SBH protected WIL2-NS cells from H2O2-induced cell death and DNA damage (p 
  9. Ooi TC, Ahmad A, Rajab NF, Sharif R
    Nutrients, 2023 Jul 18;15(14).
    PMID: 37513601 DOI: 10.3390/nu15143184
    Senescence is a normal biological process that is accompanied with a series of deteriorations in physiological function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of bovine colostrum milk supplementation on metabolic changes and the expression of various biomarkers on inflammation, antioxidant and oxidative damage, nutrient metabolism, and genomic stability among older adults. Older adults (50-69 years old) who participated in the 12-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial were instructed to consume the IgCo bovine colostrum-enriched skim milk or regular skim milk (placebo) twice daily. Following 12 weeks of intervention, participants in the intervention group had lower expression levels in pro-inflammatory mediators (CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α), with significant (p < 0.05) interaction effects of the group and time observed. However, no significant interaction effect was observed in the vitamin D, telomerase, 8-OHdG, MDA, and SOD activities. UPLC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that 22 metabolites were upregulated and 11 were downregulated in the intervention group compared to the placebo group. Glycerophospholipid metabolism, along with cysteine and methionine metabolism were identified as the potential metabolic pathways that are associated with bovine colostrum milk consumption. In conclusion, consuming bovine colostrum milk may induce metabolic changes and reduce the expression of various pro-inflammatory mediators, thus improving the immune function in older adults.
  10. Ooi TC, Meramat A, Rajab NF, Shahar S, Sharif R
    J Nutr Health Aging, 2022;26(3):272-281.
    PMID: 35297471 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-022-1757-0
    OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the relationship between oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and metabolic biomarkers as the mediating factor between Islamic Sunnah intermittent fasting (IF) practice and cognitive function among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

    DESIGN: This study was a 36 months prospective cohort study.

    SETTING: Community-dwelling older participants recruited through a stratified random sampling method from four states representing Malaysia's central, north-west, northeast and southern regions.

    PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-nine Malay Muslim older adults (n= 99) aged 60 and above with MCI and no known critical illnesses were included in the current analysis. The participants were divided into regularly practicing IF (r-IF), irregularly practicing IF (i-IF) and not practicing IF (n-IF) groups.

    MEASUREMENTS: Fasting venous blood was collected and used to determine the levels of oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers. Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Digit Span and Digit symbol were used to evaluate the cognitive function. Then, the mediation analysis was conducted using a multistep regression model to determine the mediating role of various biomarkers between IF practice and cognitive function.

    RESULTS: When comparing the r-IF and n-IF groups, higher SOD activity, lower DNA damage (percentage of DNA in tail), lower CRP levels and higher HDL-cholesterol levels established partial mediation while lower insulin levels established complete mediation between IF practice and better cognitive function. Meanwhile, when comparing the r-IF and i-IF groups, higher SOD activity and lower CRP levels completely mediated the effects of IF practice on better cognitive function.

    CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that changes in antioxidant function, DNA damage, inflammation and a limited set of metabolic biomarkers (insulin and HDL cholesterol) may mediate improvements in cognitive function among older participants with MCI who practice Islamic Sunnah IF.

  11. Naqeebullah, Farina Y, Chan KM, Mun LK, Rajab NF, Ooi TC
    Molecules, 2013 Jul 22;18(7):8696-711.
    PMID: 23881054 DOI: 10.3390/molecules18078696
    Three diorganotin(IV) complexes of the general formula R2Sn[RcC(O)N(RN)O] (Rc = aryl, RN = Alkyl) have been synthesized by refluxing in toluene the corresponding diorganotin(IV) oxides with the free ligand N-methyl p-fluorobenzohydroxamic acid, using a Dean and Stark water separator. The ligand was derived from the reaction of the corresponding p-fluorobenzoyl chloride and N-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride in the presence of sodium hydrogen carbonate. The isolated free ligand and its respective diorganotin compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and 1H-, 13C-, 119Sn-NMR spectroscopies. The crystal structures of the diorganotin complexes have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The investigations carried out on the diorganotin(IV) complexes of N-methyl p-fluorobenzohydroxamic acid confirmed a 1:2 stoichiometry. The complex formation took place through the O,O-coordination via the carbonyl oxygen and subsequent deprotonated hydroxyl group to the tin atom. The crystal structures of three diorganotin complexes were determined and were found to adopt six coordination geometries at the tin centre with coordination to two ligand moieties.
  12. Ooi TC, Meramat A, Rajab NF, Shahar S, Ismail IS, Azam AA, et al.
    Nutrients, 2020 Aug 30;12(9).
    PMID: 32872655 DOI: 10.3390/nu12092644
    Intermittent fasting (IF) refers to various dietary regimens that cycle between a period of non-fasting and a period of total fasting. This study aimed to determine the effects of IF on cognitive function among elderly individuals who practice IF who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 99 elderly subjects with MCI of Malay ethnicity without any terminal illness were recruited from a larger cohort study, LRGS TUA. The subjects were divided into three groups, comprising those who were regularly practicing IF (r-IF), irregularly practicing IF (i-IF), and non-fasters (n-IF). Upon 36 months of follow-up, more MCI subjects in the r-IF group reverted to successful aging with no cognitive impairment and diseases (24.3%) compared to those in i-IF (14.2%) and n-IF groups (3.7%). The r-IF group's subjects exhibited significant increment in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reduction in body weight, levels of insulin, fasting blood glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and DNA damage. Moreover, metabolomics analysis showed that IF may modulate cognitive function via various metabolite pathways, including the synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, butanoate metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways. Overall, the MCI-afflicted older adults who practiced IF regularly had better cognitive scores and reverted to better cognitive function at 36 months follow-up.
  13. Ooi TC, Singh DKA, Shahar S, Rajab NF, Vanoh D, Sharif R, et al.
    BMC Geriatr, 2021 03 02;21(1):154.
    PMID: 33653312 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02103-2
    BACKGROUND: Falls incidence rate and comprehensive data on factors that predict occasional and repeated falls from large population-based studies are scarce. In this study, we aimed to determine the incidence of falls and identify predictors of occasional and recurrent falls. This was done in the social, medical, physical, nutritional, biochemical, cognitive dimensions among community-dwelling older Malaysians.

    METHODS: Data from 1,763 Malaysian community-dwelling older persons aged ≥ 60 years were obtained from the LRGS-TUA longitudinal study. Participants were categorized into three groups according to the presence of a single fall (occasional fallers), ≥two falls (recurrent fallers), or absence of falls (non-fallers) at an 18-month follow-up.

    RESULTS: Three hundred and nine (17.53 %) participants reported fall occurrences at an 18-month follow-up, of whom 85 (27.51 %) had two or more falls. The incidence rate for occasional and recurrent falls was 8.47 and 3.21 per 100 person-years, respectively. Following multifactorial adjustments, being female (OR: 1.57; 95 % CI: 1.04-2.36), being single (OR: 5.31; 95 % CI: 3.36-37.48), having history of fall (OR: 1.86; 95 % CI: 1.19-2.92) higher depression scale score (OR: 1.10; 95 % CI: 1.02-1.20), lower hemoglobin levels (OR: 0.90; 95 % CI: 0.81-1.00) and lower chair stand test score (OR: 0.93; 95 % CI: 0.87-1.00) remained independent predictors of occasional falls. While, having history of falls (OR: 2.74; 95 % CI: 1.45-5.19), being a stroke survivor (OR: 8.57; 95 % CI: 2.12-34.65), higher percentage of body fat (OR: 1.04; 95 % CI: 1.01-1.08) and lower chair stand test score (OR: 0.87; 95 % CI: 0.77-0.97) appeared as recurrent falls predictors.

    CONCLUSIONS: Having history of falls and lower muscle strength were predictors for both occasional and recurrent falls among Malaysian community-dwelling older persons. Modifying these predictors may be beneficial in falls prevention and management strategies among older persons.

  14. Tang W, Liu H, Li X, Ooi TC, Rajab NF, Cao H, et al.
    Aging (Albany NY), 2022 Nov 14;14(21):8688-8699.
    PMID: 36375474 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204380
    BACKGROUND: A complex of Zn and carnosine, called Zinc-L-carnosine (ZnC), enjoys a wide application as part of a Zn supplement therapeutic method as well as in treating peptic ulcers. However, researches fail to confirm the biological functions possessed by ZnC as well as tumor immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer (CRC).

    METHODS: Cell counting kit 8(CCK8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), transwell and wound healing assays were conducted to study the influence of ZnC in the proliferating, invading and migrating processes of CRC cell lines (HCT116, LOVO) in vitro. The antitumor activity ZnC as well as its effects on tumor immune microenvironment were then assessed using CRC subcutaneous tumors in the C57BL/6 mouse model.

    RESULTS: According to CCK8, EdU, transwell and wound healing assays, ZnC inhibited CRC cell lines in terms of proliferation, invasion and migration. ZnC could inhibit miR-570 for up-regulating PD-L1 expression. In vivo experiments showed that gavage (100 mg/kg, once every day) of ZnC inhibited the tumor growth of CRC, and the combination of ZnC and anti-PD1 therapy significantly improved the efficacy exhibited by anti-PD1 in treating CRC. In addition, mass cytometry results showed that immunosuppressive cells including regulatory T cells (tregs), bone marrow-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), and M2 macrophages decreased whereas CD8+ T cells elevated after adding ZnC.

    CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals that ZnC slows the progression of CRC by inhibiting CRC cells in terms of proliferation, invasion and migration, meanwhile up-regulating PD-L1 expression via inhibiting miR-570. The ZnC-anti-PD1 co-treatment assists in synergically increasing anti-tumor efficacy in CRC therapy.

  15. Ooi TC, Singh DKA, Shahar S, Rajab NF, Sharif R
    Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2021 Nov;21(11):1026-1032.
    PMID: 34590402 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14284
    AIM: The present study aims to determine the association of trace elements and oxidative and DNA damage biomarkers with fall incidence among community-dwelling older adults.

    METHODS: This study is part of the Long-term Research Grant Scheme - Towards Useful Ageing cohort study in Malaysia. Of a total of 174 participants with complete trace elements and oxidative and DNA damage data during baseline, only 147 (84.5%) were successfully followed up after 18 months. Participants who experienced any fall events in the previous 18 months during the follow-up were categorized as fallers.

    RESULTS: Thirty participants (20.4%) reported at least one fall in the previous 18 months. The mean concentrations of aluminium, lead and zinc were significantly higher (P 

  16. Tang W, Liu H, Li X, Ooi TC, Rajab NF, Cao H, et al.
    J Oncol, 2023;2023:2611105.
    PMID: 36908705 DOI: 10.1155/2023/2611105
    BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% of cancer patients worldwide have colorectal cancer (CRC), a prevalent gastrointestinal malignancy with substantial mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this work was to investigate the APOC1 gene's expression patterns in the CRC tumor microenvironment and, using the findings from bioinformatics, to assess the biological function of APOC1 in the development of CRC.

    METHODS: The TCGA portal was employed in this investigation to find APOC1 expression in CRC. Its correlation with other genes and clinicopathological data was examined using the UALCAN database. To validate APOC1's cellular location, the Human Protein was employed. In order to forecast the relationship between APOC1 expression and prognosis in CRC patients, the Kaplan-Meier plotter database was used. TISIDB was also employed to evaluate the connection between immune responses and APOC1 expression in CRC. The interactions of APOC1 with other proteins were predicted using STRING. In order to understand the factors that contribute to liver metastasis from CRC, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was done on one patient who had the disease. This procedure included sampling preoperative blood and the main colorectal cancer tissues, surrounding colorectal cancer normal tissues, liver metastatic cancer tissues, and normal liver tissues. Finally, an in vitro knockdown method was used to assess how APOC1 expression in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) affected CRC cancer cell growth and migration.

    RESULTS: When compared to paracancerous tissues, APOC1 expression was considerably higher in CRC tissues. The clinicopathological stage and the prognosis of CRC patients had a positive correlation with APOC1 upregulation and a negative correlation, respectively. APOC1 proteins are mostly found in cell cytosols where they may interact with APOE, RAB42, and TREM2. APOC1 was also discovered to have a substantial relationship with immunoinhibitors (CD274, IDO1, and IL10) and immunostimulators (PVR, CD86, and ICOS). According to the results of scRNA-seq, we found that TAMs of CRC tissues had considerably more APOC1 than other cell groups. The proliferation and migration of CRC cells were impeded in vitro by APOC1 knockdown in TAMs.

    CONCLUSION: Based on scRNA-seq research, the current study shows that APOC1 was overexpressed in TAMs from CRC tissues. By inhibiting APOC1 in TAMs, CRC progression was reduced in vitro, offering a new tactic and giving CRC patients fresh hope.

  17. Ooi TC, Ibrahim FW, Ahmad S, Chan KM, Leong LM, Mohammad N, et al.
    Molecules, 2021 May 29;26(11).
    PMID: 34072474 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113287
    Ficus deltoidea var. deltoidea is used as traditional medicine for diabetes, inflammation, and nociception. However, the antimutagenic potential and cytoprotective effects of this plant remain unknown. In this study, the mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of F. deltoidea aqueous extract (FDD) on both Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 strains were assessed using Salmonella mutagenicity assay (Ames test). Then, the cytoprotective potential of FDD on menadione-induced oxidative stress was determined in a V79 mouse lung fibroblast cell line. The ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay was conducted to evaluate FDD antioxidant capacity. Results showed that FDD (up to 50 mg/mL) did not exhibit a mutagenic effect on either TA 98 or TA 100 strains. Notably, FDD decreased the revertant colony count induced by 2-aminoanthracene in both strains in the presence of metabolic activation (p < 0.05). Additionally, pretreatment of FDD (50 and 100 µg/mL) demonstrated remarkable protection against menadione-induced oxidative stress in V79 cells significantly by decreasing superoxide anion level (p < 0.05). FDD at all concentrations tested (12.5-100 µg/mL) exhibited antioxidant power, suggesting the cytoprotective effect of FDD could be partly attributed to its antioxidant properties. This report highlights that F. deltoidea may provide a chemopreventive effect on mutagenic and oxidative stress inducers.
  18. Ooi TC, Ishak WS, Sharif R, Shahar S, Rajab NF, Singh DKA, et al.
    Clin Interv Aging, 2021;16:2033-2046.
    PMID: 34949916 DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S340432
    Purpose: This study evaluates the prevalence of and the multidimensional risk factors associated with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) among community-dwelling older adults in Malaysia.

    Patients and Methods: A total of 253 participants aged 60 years and above participated in this cross-sectional study. The participants were subjected to pure tone audiometric assessment. The hearing threshold was calculated for the better ear and classified into pure-tone average (PTA) for the octave frequencies from 0.5 to 4 kHz and high-frequency pure-tone average (HFA) for the octave from 2 to 8kHz. Then, the risk factors associated with PTA hearing loss (HL) and HFAHL were identified by using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

    Results: The prevalence of ARHL based on PTA and HFA among the community-dwelling older adults was 75.5% and 83.0%, respectively. Following multifactorial adjustments, being older (OR: 1.239; 95% CI: 1.062-1.445), having higher waist circumference (OR: 1.158; 95% CI: 1.015-1.322), lower intake of niacin (OR: 0.909; 95% CI: 0.831-0.988) and potassium (OR: 0.998; 95% CI: 0.996-1.000), and scoring lower in RAVLT T5 (OR: 0.905; 95% CI: 0.838-0.978) were identified as the risk factors of PTAHL. Meanwhile, being older (OR: 1.117; 95% CI: 1.003-1.244), higher intake of carbohydrate (OR: 1.018; 95% CI: 1.006-1.030), lower intake of potassium (OR: 0.998; 95% CI: 0.997-0.999), and lower scores on the RAVLT T5 (OR: 0.922; 95% CI: 0.874-0.973) were associated with increased risk of having HFAHL.

    Conclusion: Increasing age, having higher waist circumference, lower intake of niacin and potassium, higher intake of carbohydrates and having lower RAVLT T5 score were associated with increased risk of ARHL. Modifying these risk factors may be beneficial in preventive and management strategies of ARHL among older persons.

  19. Ooi TC, Nordin FJ, Rahmat NS, Abdul Halim SN', Sarip R, Chan KM, et al.
    PMID: 36868695 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2022.503581
    Complexes of coinage metals can potentially be used as alternatives to platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs. Silver is a coinage metal that can potentially improve the spectrum of efficacy in various cancers treatment, such as malignant melanoma. Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer that is often diagnosed in young and middle-aged adults. Silver has high reactivity with skin proteins and can be developed as a malignant melanoma treatment modality. Therefore, this study aims to identify the anti-proliferative and genotoxic effects of silver(I) complexes with mixed-ligands of thiosemicarbazones and diphenyl(p-tolyl)phosphine ligands in the human melanoma SK-MEL-28 cell line. The anti-proliferative effects of a series of silver(I) complex compounds labelled as OHBT, DOHBT, BrOHBT, OHMBT, and BrOHMBT were evaluated on SK-MEL-28 cells by using the Sulforhodamine B assay. Then, DNA damage analysis was performed in a time-dependent manner (30 min, 1 h and 4 h) by using alkaline comet assay to investigate the genotoxicity of OHBT and BrOHMBT at their respective IC50 values. The mode of cell death was studied using Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry assay. Our current findings demonstrated that all silver(I) complex compounds showed good anti-proliferative activity. The IC50 values of OHBT, DOHBT, BrOHBT, OHMBT, and BrOHMBT were 2.38 ± 0.3 μM, 2.70 ± 0.17 μM, 1.34 ± 0.22 μM, 2.82 ± 0.45 μM, and 0.64 ± 0.04 μM respectively. Then, DNA damage analysis showed that OHBT and BrOHMBT could induce DNA strand breaks in a time-dependent manner, with OHBT being more prominent than BrOHMBT. This effect was accompanied by apoptosis induction in SK-MEL-28, as evaluated using Annexin V-FITC/PI assay. In conclusion, silver(I) complexes with mixed-ligands of thiosemicarbazones and diphenyl(p-tolyl)phosphine exerted anti-proliferative activities by inhibiting cancer cell growth, inducing significant DNA damage and ultimately resulting in apoptosis.
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