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Protein is an essential macronutrient for the growth and development of infants. Protein levels in lactating mothers are dynamic and influenced by various factors, particularly the environment and maternal characteristics. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the complex correlation between maternal blood lead levels (BLLs), maternal diet, and total milk protein. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare total milk protein in the three groups of lead exposure, while Spearman's correlation was used to assess the correlation between maternal diet, BLLs, and total milk protein. The multivariate analysis used multiple linear regression. The results showed that the median of maternal BLLs and total milk protein were 3.3 µg/dL and 1.07 g/dL, respectively. Maternal protein intake and current BMI had a positive correlation with total milk protein, while BLLs had a negative correlation. BLLs ≥ 5 μg/dL had the most significant impact on reducing the total milk protein (p = 0.032). However, increasing maternal protein intake can effectively maintain total milk protein levels in mothers with BLLs under 5 μg/dL (p < 0.001). It is crucial to measure BLLs in lactating mothers residing in areas exposed to lead because high maternal protein intake can only maintain total milk protein levels when the BLLs are <5 μg/dL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast milk is the best choice food for a baby’s growth and development of infants at some point of the primary 6 months of life. Fulfillment of nutrition during breastfeeding is an important requirement, one of which is the intake of the amino acid leucine which is said to affect prolactin as a regulator of breast milk production and protein synthesis in breast milk. This can support the quality and quantity of breast milk to meet the nutritional needs of infants support infant growth and development and reduce the incidence of stunting at the age of toddlers. This research aims to determine the relationship between leucine intake and levels of prolactin and protein in breast milk in breastfeeding mothers. This research is an analytic observational study with a cross-sectional method. This study carried out normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and using the Pearson correlation test to determine the relationship between variables. Based on the test results of the relationship between leucine intake and serum prolactin levels, a significance value of 0.005 (p<0.05) was obtained with a correlation coefficient value of 0.183 and the relationship between leucine intake and breast milk protein levels obtained a significance value of 0.033 (p<0.05) with a correlation coefficient of 0.147. The results of this test showed a significant relationship between these variables. There is a weak correlation between leucine intake and levels of prolactin and protein in breast milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Retinoic acid, which is the active ingredient of retinol and vitamin A, has a stimulating activity termination trigger the cell cycle and apoptosis. The mechanism of apoptosis is important role in cancer treatment. This study aims to determine the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line (ATCC CCL-98). Materials and Methods: This study used BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line (ATCC CCL-98) cultures which derived from choriocarcinoma and was exposed to ATRA. This study is divided into six experimental treatment groups ATRA with various dose of 50 μg/ml, 100 μg/ml, 200 μg/ml, 400 μg/ml, and 800 μg/ml. Results: The results obtained that there was a significant deterioration and increasing of the Bcl-2 expression and Bax expression due to ATRA administration treatment. The Bcl-2 expression was significantly decreased from the dose of 200 μg/ml (P = 0.020), 400 μg/ml (P = 0.013), and 800 μg/ml (P = 0.020), with decreased expression happened the lowest dose group of 400 μg/ml. Increased expression of Bax was significantly obtained by ATRA-exposed groups at 200 μg/ml (P = 0.005), 400 μg/ml (P = 0.000), and 800 μg/ml (P = 0.000), with highest expression of Bax at a dose of 400 μg/ml. Conclusion: This indicates that administration of ATRA decreased the expression of Bcl-2, the lowest is in the dose of 200-800 μg/ml, and increased the expression of Bax in BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line, the highest is in 400 μg/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]