Comprehensive miRNA and DNA Microarray Analyses Reveal the Response of Hepatic miR-203 and Its Target Gene to Protein Malnutrition in Rats

Adequate protein nutrition is essential for good health. Effects of protein malnutrition in animals have been widely studied at the mRNA level with the development of DNA microarray technology. Although microRNAs (miRNAs) have attracted attention for their function in regulating gene expression and have been studied in several disciplines, fewer studies have clarified the effects of protein malnutrition on miRNA alterations. The present study aimed to elucidate the relationship between protein malnutrition and miRNAs. Six-week old Wistar male rats were fed a control diet (20% casein) or a low-protein diet (5% casein) for two weeks, and their livers were subjected to both DNA microarray and miRNA array analysis. miR-203 was downregulated and its putative target Hadhb (hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase β subunit), known to regulate β-oxidation of fatty acids, was upregulated by the low-protein diet. In an in vitro experiment, miR-203 or its inhibitor were transfected in HepG2 cells, and the pattern of Hadhb expression was opposite to that of miR-203 expression. In addition, to clarifying the hepatic miRNA profile in response to protein malnutrition, these results showed that a low-protein diet increased Hadhb expression through downregulation of miR-203 and induced β-oxidation of fatty acids.

The effect of ethanol extract of pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia Jack.) on neurogenesis and neuroinflammation of rat post protein malnutrition

Protein malnutrition may affect changes in morphology, neurochemistry, neurogenesis and immune system in the brain. Pasak bumi is often used as an aphrodisiac which is almost the same as Ginseng. The neurogenesis development can be stimulated by ginseng extract intervention. This study aimed to prove the effect of pasak bumi on neurogenesis and neuroinflammation in post-protein malnutrition rats. Experimental research design, rats were divided into 6 groups: KN=normal rats+standard feed, P1=malnutrition rats+aquadest, P2=malnutrition rats + 70% ethanol extract of pasak bumi (EPB) 7.5 mg/kg BW, P3=malnutrition rats + EPB 15 mg/kg BW, P4=malnutrition rats + EPB 22.5 mg/kg BW, P5=malnutrition rats + EPB 30 mg/kg BW. EPB administration for 5 weeks. Parameters examined were levels of BDNF, IL6, TNFα, and serotonin by ELISA method. Statistical analysis using ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis test with 95% confidence level. The results of the study: the mean BDNF level in the P3 group was significantly highest (p=0.047). However, there was no significant difference between groups in IL6, TNFα, and serotonin. Conclusion: The 70% ethanol extract of pasak bumi did not affect neuroinflammation and brain serotonin levels in post-malnutrition rats, but increased BDNF levels in post-malnourished rats at a dose of 22.5 mg/kg BW.

Between colonial medicine and global health: protein malnutrition and UNICEF milk in the Belgian Congo

During the last decades of colonial rule, Belgian colonial authorities, health agencies and researchers intensely engaged with kwashiorkor, a severe syndrome that was deemed widespread among young children in some parts of the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi and chiefly attributed to protein malnutrition. To fight kwashiorkor, the Belgian government, in the early 1950s, set up a joint milk distribution campaign with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization, the first of its kind in colonial Africa. Placing this campaign in the context of mounting international and inter-imperial concern about kwashiorkor and other nutritional problems in Africa and across the globe, this article explores its rationales, mechanisms and consequences, and in particular, how the campaign was shaped and publicised by FORÉAMI, one of the main health providers on the ground. It not only contributes to the history of European colonial medicine and nutritional policies, but also opens new perspectives on international health collaboration during late colonialism. It argues that Belgian authorities were wary of international interference in colonial policies, but that especially FORÉAMI also viewed and used the campaign as an opportunity to display its ‘mastery’ in rural and infant healthcare and control the narrative on Belgium’s colonial medicine.

Hubungan Tingkat Pengetahuan Ibu Tentang Gizi Dengan Kejadian Kurang Energi Protein Pada Anak Usia 2-5 Tahun Di Desa Situdaun Kabupaten Bogor

ABSTRACT: CORRELATION BETWEEN BETWEEN MATERNAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT NUTRITION WITH PROTEIN-ENERGY LACK IN CHILDREN AGED 2-5 YEARS IN SITUDAUN VILLAGE, BOGOR REGENCY Background of the study: PEM (Less Protein Energy) is one of the most important nutritional disorders in Indonesia and other developing countries. PE patients have various pathological conditions caused by a lack of energy and protein in varying proportions. PEM disease was given an international name, namely Calory Protein Malnutrition (CPM), then converted into Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM). This disease began to be widely investigated in Africa, and in that continent, PEM is known by the local name kwashiorkor which means red hair disease.Objective: To be able to know the description of mother's knowledge about nutrition for toddlers on things that support nutrition improvement and its relationship with the state of Protein Energy Deficiency in children 24 - 60 months at Posyandu Melati II Kp. Pasir Ipis Situdaun Village, Tenjolaya District, Bogor Regency and the factors that influence it.Research Methods: This research is primary data using an observational approach with a cross-sectional study design (cross-sectional). This analysis is used to determine whether or not there is a relationship between the two variables using the Chi-Square (X2) test because the dependent and independent variables are categories with a 95% confidence level.Research Results: It can be seen from 79 respondents that the mother's level of knowledge is mostly 40 people (50.6%), and a small portion as many as 39 people (49.4%) in Posyandu Melati II, Situdaun Tenjolaya Village, Bogor Regency. And p-value 0.00 (<0.05). This indicates that there is a significant relationship between the mother's level of knowledge about nutrition and the incidence of protein-energy deficiency in children aged 2-5 years.Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between the level of knowledge of mothers about nutrition with the incidence of protein-energy deficiency in children aged 2-5 years in the village of situdaun, Bogor district, with a p-value = 0.000. Keywords: Mother's knowledge about nutrition, Protein Energy Lack, Children INTISARI: HUBUNGAN TINGKAT PENGETAHUAN IBU TENTANG GIZI DENGAN KEJADIAN KURANG ENERGI PROTEIN PADA ANAK USIA 2-5 TAHUN DI DESA SITUDAUN KABUPATEN BOGOR Latar Belakang: KEP (Kurang Energi Protein) merupakan salah satu penyakit gangguan gizi yang penting di Indonesia maupun di negara yang sedang berkembang lainnya. Penderita KEP memiliki berbagai macam keadaan patologis yang disebabkan oleh kekurangan energi maupun protein dalam proporsi yang bermacam-macam. Penyakit KEP diberi nama secara internasional yaitu Calory Protein Malnutrition (CPM), kemudian diubah menjadi Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM). Penyakit ini mulai banyak diselidiki di Afrika, dan di benua tersebut KEP dikenal dengan nama lokal kwashiorkhor yang berarti penyakit rambut merah.Tujuan: Untuk dapat Mengetahui gambaran pengetahuan ibu tentang gizi balita terhadap hal hal yang mendukung perbaikan gizi dan hubungannya dengan keadaan Kurang Energi Protein pada anak 24 - 60 bulan di Posyandu Melati II Kp. Pasir Ipis Desa Situdaun Kecamatan Tenjolaya, Kabupaten Bogor serta faktor yang mempengaruhinya.Metode Penelitian: Penelitian ini merupakan data primer dengan menggunakan pendekatan observasional dengan desain studi cross sectional (potong lintang). analisis ini digunakan untuk mengetahui ada atau tidaknya hubungan antara dua variebel tersebut dengan menggunakan uji Chi-Square (X2) karena variabel dependen dan independennya adalah kategori dengan tingkat kepercayaan 95%.Hasil Penelitian: Didapatkan dapat diketahui dari 79 responden bahwa tingkat penegtahuan ibu sebagian besar 40 orang (50.6%), dan sebagian kecil sebanyak 39 orang (49.4%) di Posyandu Melati II Desa Situdaun Tenjolaya Kabupaten Bogor. Dan p value 0.00 (<0.05). Menandakan adanya hubungan yang significant antara hubungan tingkat pengetahuan ibu tentang gizi dengan kejadian kurang energi protein pada anak usia 2-5 tahun.Kesimpulan: Terdapat korelasi yang bermakna antara hubungan tingkat pengetahuan ibu tentang gizi dengan kejadian kurang energi protein pada anak usia 2-5 tahun di desa situdaun kabupaten bogor, dengan p-value= 0.000. Kata Kunci: Pengetahuan Ibu tentang gizi, Kurang Energi Protein , Anak