Browse publications by year: 2001

Detection of amplified int-2/FGF-3 gene in primary breast carcinomas using differential polymerase chain reaction

Naidu R, Wahab NA, Yadav M, Kutty MK, Nair S

Int J Mol Med, 2001 Aug;8(2):193-8.
PMID: 11445874

Amplification of int-2/FGF-3 gene was investigated by differential polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) in 440 archival primary breast carcinoma tissues. Of these, 23 were comedo ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), 18 were non-comedo DCIS, 41 were comedo DCIS with adjacent invasive ductal carcinomas, 19 were non-comedo DCIS with adjacent invasive ductal carcinomas, 270 were invasive ductal carcinomas, 33 were invasive lobular carcinomas, 21 were colloid carcinomas and 15 were medullary carcinomas. Int-2 was amplified in 22% (96/440) of the primary breast carcinomas. It was shown that int-2 was amplified in 13% (3/23) of the comedo DCIS, 17% (7/41) of the comedo DCIS and 29% (12/41) of the adjacent invasive ductal carcinomas, 26% (71/270) of the invasive ductal carcinomas, 18% (6/33) of the invasive lobular carcinomas, 10% (2/21) of the colloid carcinomas and 13% (2/15) of the medullary carcinomas. In contrast, int-2 was not amplified in non-comedo DCIS and invasive ductal carcinomas with adjacent non-comedo DCIS lesions. A significant association was observed between int-2 amplification in the in situ components and adjacent invasive lesion (P<0.05). All tumors with int-2 amplification in the in situ lesions (7/7) also demonstrated same degree of amplification in the adjacent invasive components. However, 9% (5/53) of the tumors with no amplified int-2 gene in the in situ components showed int-2 amplification in the adjacent invasive lesions. A significant relationship was noted between amplification of int-2 and lymph node metastases (P<0.05) and poorly differentiated tumors (P<0.05) but not with estrogen receptor status (P>0.05) and proliferation index (Ki-67 and PCNA) (P>0.05). In Malaysia, majority of the patients belong to younger age group (<50 years old) but a comparison of the age groups showed that the amplification of int-2 was not statistically associated with patient age (P>0.05). These observations indicate that amplification of int-2 tends to strengthen the view that int-2 may have the potential to be an indicator of poor prognosis regardless of the age of the patient. Moreover, the presence of int-2 amplification in preinvasive, preinvasive and adjacent invasive lesions, and invasive carcinomas suggest that int-2 could be a marker of genetic instability occurring in early and late stages of tumor development.

MeSH terms: Adult; Breast Neoplasms/genetics*; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism; Breast Neoplasms/pathology; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/genetics*; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/metabolism; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/pathology; Female; Fibroblast Growth Factors/genetics*; Humans; Middle Aged; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics*; Receptors, Estrogen/genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods; Carcinoma, Lobular/genetics*; Carcinoma, Lobular/metabolism; Carcinoma, Lobular/pathology; Carcinoma, Medullary/genetics*; Carcinoma, Medullary/metabolism; Carcinoma, Medullary/pathology; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/metabolism; Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism; Fibroblast Growth Factor 3
Genetic study of the Paleolithic and Neolithic Southeast Asians

Oota H, Kurosaki K, Pookajorn S, Ishida T, Ueda S

Hum Biol, 2001 Apr;73(2):225-31.
PMID: 11446426

DNA samples were extracted from six prehistoric human remains, found on the Malay Peninsula, dating to the Paleolithic and the Neolithic periods. Nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA were determined by the polymerase chain reaction-direct sequencing method. A phylogenetic tree between prehistoric and present humans was constructed based on the nucleotide sequence data. Mitochondrial DNA phylogenetic relationships and ethnoarchaeological evidence suggest that there is a continuity beetween the pre-Neolithic humans and the present Semang and that the Neolithic humans in this area might be an ancestral group of the Senoi.

MeSH terms: Asia, Southeastern; DNA, Mitochondrial/analysis*; Genetics, Population*; Humans; Malaysia; Pacific Islands; Paleodontology/methods*; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*
Reliability and validity of the International Prostate Symptom Score in a Malaysian population

Quek KF, Low WY, Razack AH, Loh CS

BJU Int, 2001 Jul;88(1):21-5.
PMID: 11446839

OBJECTIVE: To validate the English version of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) in patients with and without urinary symptoms in a Malaysian population.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Validity and reliability were assessed in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and in patients with no LUTS. Reliability was evaluated using the test-retest method and internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. Sensitivity to change was expressed as the effect size in the score before and after intervention in additional patients with LUTS who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
RESULTS: Internal consistency was excellent; there was a high degree of internal consistency for each of the seven domains and for the total score (Cronbach's alpha > or = 0.60 and > or = 0.79, respectively) in the populations studied. The test-retest correlation coefficient for the seven domain scores was highly significant. The intra-class correlation coefficient was high (> or = 0.59). There was a high level of sensitivity and specificity for the effects of treatment, with a very significant change between the seven scores domains in the treated group but not in the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: The IPSS is suitable, reliable, valid and sensitive to clinical change in the Malaysian population.

MeSH terms: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Humans; Malaysia/ethnology; Male; Middle Aged; Prostatic Hyperplasia/diagnosis*; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity of Illness Index*; Transurethral Resection of Prostate/methods
11Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase bioactivity is increased in the colon but not kidneys of rats given supplementary thyroxine

Ruszymah BH, Zaiton Z, Aminuddin S, Khalid BA

Exp. Clin. Endocrinol. Diabetes, 2001;109(4):227-30.
PMID: 11453035

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of altered thyroid status on 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD type 1) and type 2 (11beta-HSD type 2) bioactivity in rat kidney and colon. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 g) were treated with either L-thyroxine (T4) or propylthiouracil (PTU) for 4 weeks. Blood were then analysed for serum thyroxine, sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+). The kidneys and colon were assayed for 11beta-HSD type 1 and 11beta-HSD type 2 bioactivity. In T4 treated rats the serum thyroxine was significantly elevated (p<0.05) whilst PTU decreased serum thyroxine significantly (p<0.001) compared to controls. Serum Na+ and K+ were within normal limits. There were no significant changes in 11beta-HSD type 1 bioactivity in both treatment groups compared to controls. However, the 11beta-HSD type 2 bioactivity in rats given thyroxine was significantly higher in the colon (p<0.003) compared to controls. We conclude that altered thyroid status had no effect on 11beta-HSD type 1 bioactivity but 11beta-HSD type 2 bioactivity was elevated in the colon of rats given supplementary thyroxine.

MeSH terms: Animals; Colon/drug effects*; Colon/enzymology*; Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/metabolism*; Kidney/drug effects*; Kidney/enzymology*; Male; Propylthiouracil/pharmacology; Thyroxine/blood; Thyroxine/pharmacology*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; Rats
Removal of fluoride ion from aqueous solution by a cerium-poly(hydroxamic acid) resin complex

Haron MJ, Yunus WM

J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng, 2001 May;36(5):727-34.
PMID: 11460327

A cerium-loaded poly(hydroxamic acid) chelating ion exchanger was used for fluoride ion removal from aqueous solution. The resin was effective in decreasing the fluoride concentration from 5 mM down to 0.001 mM in acidic pH between 3 and 6. The sorption followed a Langmuir model with a maximum capacity of 0.5 mmol/g. The removal is accomplished by an anion exchange mechanism. The rate constant for the sorption was found to be 9.6 x 10(-2) min-1. A column test shows that the fluoride ion was retained on the column until breakthrough point and the fluoride sorbed in the column can be eluted with 0.1 M NaOH. The column can be reused after being condition with hydrochloric acid at pH 4. The resin was tested and found to be effective for removal of fluoride from actual industrial wastewater.

MeSH terms: Cerium/chemistry*; Chelating Agents/chemistry*; Fluorides/chemistry*; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydroxamic Acids/chemistry*; Industrial Waste; Kinetics; Resins, Plant/chemistry; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods*
Phylogenetic analysis of enterovirus 71 strains isolated during linked epidemics in Malaysia, Singapore, and Western Australia

McMinn P, Lindsay K, Perera D, Chan HM, Chan KP, Cardosa MJ

J Virol, 2001 Aug;75(16):7732-8.
PMID: 11462047

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a frequent cause of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) epidemics associated with severe neurological sequelae in a small proportion of cases. There has been a significant increase in EV71 epidemic activity throughout the Asia-Pacific region since 1997. Recent HFMD epidemics in this region have been associated with a severe form of brainstem encephalitis associated with pulmonary edema and high case fatality rates. In this study, we show that four genetic lineages of EV71 have been prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region since 1997, including two previously undescribed genogroups (B3 and B4). Furthermore, we show that viruses belonging to genogroups B3 and B4 have circulated endemically in Southeast Asia during this period and have been the primary cause of several large HFMD or encephalitis epidemics in Malaysia, Singapore, and Western Australia.

MeSH terms: Amino Acid Sequence; Australia/epidemiology; Enterovirus Infections/epidemiology; Enterovirus Infections/virology*; Enterovirus/genetics*; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Singapore/epidemiology; Sequence Alignment; Genome, Viral*
The application of Artocarpus integer seed lectin-M in the detection and isolation of selective human serum acute-phase proteins and immunoglobulins

Hashim OH, Ahmad F, Shuib AS

Immunol Invest, 2001 May;30(2):131-41.
PMID: 11465670

Champedak (Artocarpus integer) lectin-M is a lectin with high specificity and affinity for the core-mannosyl residues of the N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. We have studied the interaction of the champedak seed lectin with human serum glycoproteins that were resolved by 2-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. The lectin demonstrated strong interaction with haptoglobin beta chain, orosomucoid, alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha2-HS glycoprotein, transferrin, hemopexin, alpha1B-glycoprotein, and the heavy chains of IgA, IgM and IgG of the human serum. With exceptions of the heavy chains of the immunoglobulins and alpha1B-glycoprotein, all the other lectin-M-probed glycopeptides are acute-phase proteins. The use of champedak lectin-M to probe for serum glycoproteins that were separated in a 2-D gel electrophoresis and Western blotting technique may be conveniently applied to analyse the acute-phase and humoral immune responses simultaneously. Subjecting human serum to immobilised-lectin-M affinity chromatography was able to isolate intact haptoglobin, alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha1B-glycoprotein, hemopexin and IgA.

MeSH terms: Acute-Phase Proteins/metabolism*; Glycoproteins/metabolism; Humans; Immunoglobulins/metabolism*; Interferon Inducers/metabolism*; Oxidation-Reduction; Seeds; Moraceae; Lectins/metabolism*; Plant Lectins
Sundapolystoma chalconotae n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) from Rana chalconota (Schlegel) of Peninsular Malaysia

Lim LH, Du Preez LH

Syst Parasitol, 2001 Jul;49(3):223-31.
PMID: 11466483

Sundapolystoma chalconotae. n. g., n. sp. (Polystomatidae, Polystomatinae) is proposed for a new polystomatid from the urinary bladder of Rana chalconota (Schlegel) in Peninsular Malaysia. This is the first species of polystomatid to be described from the amphibians of Peninsular Malaysia and the second for the Southeast Asian region. This new genus, as exemplified by S. chalconotae, differs from other polystomatids, and in particular Parapolystoma Ozaki, 1935 (P. bulliense (Johnston, 1912) Ozaki, 1935 and P. johnstoni Pichelin, 1995), in having a tubular uterus and a single diffuse testis. P. crooki Vande Vusse, 1976 is similar to S. chalconotae in having a similar type of uterus and testis, and is re-assigned as Sundapolystoma crooki (Vande Vusse, 1976) n. comb. S. chalconotae differs from S. crooki in having anchors with a longer outer root rather than a longer inner root and 7-8 genital spines compared to 9-13 in S. crooki.

MeSH terms: Animals; Urinary Bladder/parasitology; Malaysia; Ranidae/parasitology*; Trematoda/anatomy & histology; Trematoda/classification*; Trematoda/growth & development; Trematode Infections/parasitology; Trematode Infections/veterinary*
Thermal application of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis for dengue vector control

Seleena P, Lee HL, Chiang YF

J Vector Ecol, 2001 Jun;26(1):110-3.
PMID: 11469179
MeSH terms: Aedes*; Aerosols; Animals; Bacillus thuringiensis/pathogenicity*; Dengue/prevention & control*; Dengue/transmission; Insect Vectors*; Larva; Mortality; Pest Control*; Survival Analysis
Composition and biting activity of Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) attracted to human bait in a malaria endemic village in peninsular Malaysia near the Thailand border

Hassan AA, Rahman WA, Rashid MZ, Shahrem MR, Adanan CR

J Vector Ecol, 2001 Jun;26(1):70-5.
PMID: 11469187

Nine species of Anopheles mosquitoes were collected biting humans indoors and outdoors in a malaria endemic village in northern Peninsular Malaysia. Outdoor biting was higher than that observed indoors. Biting of An. maculatus was observed throughout the night. Peak indoor biting occurred at 2130 h while outdoor biting was higher after midnight. Outdoor biting of Anopheles barbirostris and An. sinensis was observed throughout the night with several peaks after the second half of the night. Outdoor biting activities of An. kochi and An. philippinensis were primarily active after dusk and steadily declined after 2130 h.

MeSH terms: Animals; Anopheles*; Behavior, Animal*; Bites and Stings*; Circadian Rhythm; Housing; Humans; Insect Vectors*; Malaria/transmission; Pheromones
GASTRO 2001 annual scientific meeting. 5-8 April 2001. Abstracts

Med J Malaysia, 2001 Apr;56 Suppl A:1-133.
PMID: 11469230
MeSH terms: Animals; Digestive System*; Gastroenterology*; Gastrointestinal Diseases*; Humans
ANN modeling of the penetration across a polydimethylsiloxane membrane from theoretically derived molecular descriptors

Agatonovic-Kustrin S, Beresford R, Yusof AP

J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2001 Sep;26(2):241-54.
PMID: 11470201

A quantitative structure-permeability relationship was developed using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling to study penetration across a polydimethylsiloxane membrane. A set of 254 compounds and their experimentally derived maximum steady state flux values used in this study was gathered from the literature. A total of 42 molecular descriptors were calculated for each compound. A genetic algorithm was used to select important molecular descriptors and supervised ANN was used to correlate selected descriptors with the experimentally derived maximum steady-state flux through the polydimethylsiloxane membrane (log J). Calculated molecular descriptors were used as the ANN's inputs and log J as the output. Developed model indicates that molecular shape and size, inter-molecular interactions, hydrogen-bonding capacity of drugs, and conformational stability could be used to predict drug absorption through skin. A 12-descriptor nonlinear computational neural network model has been developed for the estimation of log J values for a data set of 254 drugs. Described model does not require experimental parameters and could potentially provide useful prediction of membrane penetration of new drugs and reduce the need for actual compound synthesis and flux measurements.

MeSH terms: Algorithms*; Dimethylpolysiloxanes/chemistry*; Permeability; Silicones/chemistry*; Neural Networks (Computer)*; Coated Materials, Biocompatible/chemistry*
Total thyroidectomy: the procedure of choice for multinodular goitre

Hisham AN, Azlina AF, Aina EN, Sarojah A

Eur J Surg, 2001 Jun;167(6):403-5.
PMID: 11471662 DOI: 10.1080/110241501750243725

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience of total thyroidectomy for bilateral multinodular goitre.
DESIGN: Prospective open study.
SETTING: Teaching hospital, Malaysia.
SUBJECTS: 98 consecutive patients whose bilateral multinodular goitres were treated by total thyroidectomy, January 1998-November 1999.
INTERVENTION: A revised technique of total thyroidectomy in which more attention than is customary was paid to the exposure and safety of the laryngeal nerves and the parathyroid glands. All patients had at least 1 parathyroid gland autotransplanted.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity and mortality
RESULTS: There were no injuries to the recurrent laryngeal nerves and no patient developed persistent hypocalcaemia; 27/98 developed transient hypocalcaemia, but this had settled by 6 months postoperatively. 59 patients had persistent symptoms of pressure preoperatively, and these all resolved by 3 months postoperatively. 6 patients had occult malignant disease discovered on histological examination, and 3 developed minor wound infections.
CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy is the procedure of choice for bilateral multinodular goitres, provided that sufficient attention is paid to the preservation of the laryngeal nerves and the parathyroid glands.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Goiter, Nodular/surgery*; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Parathyroid Glands/transplantation; Prospective Studies; Transplantation, Autologous
Allomonal and hepatotoxic effects following methyl eugenol consumption in Bactrocera papayae male against Gekko monarchus

Wee SL, Tan KH

J Chem Ecol, 2001 May;27(5):953-64.
PMID: 11471947 DOI: 10.1023/A:1010387020135

Methyl eugenol (ME), is converted into two major phenylpropanoids, 2-allyl-4,5-dimethoxyphenol and trans-coniferyl alcohol, following consumption by the male fruit fly Bactrocera papayae. Chemical analysis of wild male B. papayae rectal glands, where the compounds are sequestered, revealed the presence of ME metabolites in varying quantities. These phenylpropanoids are shown to be involved in the fruit fly defense both in no-choice and choice feeding tests against the Malayan spiny gecko, Gekko monarchus. After being acclimatized to feeding on fruit flies, geckos consumed significantly fewer ME-fed male flies than controls that consumed all the ME-deprived male flies offered throughout a two-week period. Diagnosis of dissected livers from geckos that consumed ME-fed male flies revealed various abnormalities. These included discoloration and hardening of liver tissue, whitening of the gallbladder, or presence of tumor-like growths in all geckos that consumed ME-fed male flies. Control geckos fed on ME-deprived male flies had healthy livers. When given an alternative prey, geckos preferred to eat untreated house flies, Musca domestica to avoid preying on ME-fed fruit flies.

MeSH terms: Animals; Diptera/physiology*; Eugenol/analogs & derivatives*; Eugenol/metabolism*; Eugenol/pharmacokinetics; Eugenol/toxicity*; Feeding Behavior*; Liver/pathology*; Liver Neoplasms/chemically induced; Liver Neoplasms/veterinary; Lizards*; Male; Mutagens/metabolism*; Mutagens/toxicity*
Ethnicity and glycaemic control are major determinants of diabetic dyslipidaemia in Malaysia

Ismail IS, Nazaimoon W, Mohamad W, Letchuman R, Singaraveloo M, Hew FL, et al.

Diabet Med, 2001 Jun;18(6):501-8.
PMID: 11472471 DOI: 10.1046/j.1464-5491.2001.00494.x

AIMS: To define the prevalence of dyslipidaemia in young diabetic patients in Peninsular Malaysia and the contributory factors of dyslipidaemia in these subjects.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 848 young diabetic patients from seven different centres, with representation from the three main ethnic groups. Clinical history and physical examination was done and blood taken for HbA1c, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides.

RESULTS: The overall lipids were suboptimal, worse in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients compared with Type 1 DM patients. Of the Type 2 patients, 73.2% had total cholesterol > 5.20 mmol/l, 90.9% had LDL-cholesterol > 2.60 mmol/l, 52.6% had HDL-cholesterol < 1.15 mmol/l and 27.3% had serum triglycerides > 2.30 mmol/l. There were ethnic differences in the lipid levels with the Malays having the highest total cholesterol (mean 6.19 mmol/l), and the highest LDL-cholesterol (mean 4.16 mmol/l), while the Chinese had the highest HDL-cholesterol (geometric mean 1.24 mmol/l). Ethnicity was an important determinant of total, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol in Type 2 DM, and LDL- and HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in Type 1 DM. Glycaemic control was an important determinant of total, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in both Type 1 and Type 2 DM. Waist-hip ratio (WHR) was an important determinant of HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in both types of DM. Gender was an important determinant of HDL-cholesterol in Type 2 DM, but not in Type 1 DM. Socioeconomic factors and diabetes care facilities did not have any effect on the dyslipidaemia.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dyslipidaemia was high especially in Type 2 DM patients. Ethnicity, glycaemic control, WHR, and gender were important determinants of dyslipidaemia in young diabetic patients. Diabet. Med. 18, 501-508 (2001)

MeSH terms: Adult; Blood Glucose/analysis; China/ethnology; Cholesterol/blood; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus/blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications; Ethnic Groups*; Female; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/analysis; Humans; Hyperlipidemias/blood; Hyperlipidemias/complications; Hyperlipidemias/epidemiology*; India/ethnology; Cholesterol, HDL/blood; Cholesterol, LDL/blood; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Triglycerides/blood; Prevalence; Diabetes Complications*
Fulltext Toxocara seroprevalence and childhood asthma among Malaysian children

Chan PW, Anuar AK, Fong MY, Debruyne JA, Ibrahim J

Pediatr Int, 2001 Aug;43(4):350-3.
PMID: 11472577 DOI: 10.1046/j.1442-200X.2001.01421.x

BACKGROUND: The larva of Toxocara spp., a common animal roundworm, may infect non-compatible hosts, causing a profound immunological reaction with marked eosinophil and IgE responses, not unlike in atopy. In this study, we determined the seroprevalence of Toxocara exposure in 66 asthmatic and 58 non-asthmatic children.
METHODS: Exposure to Toxocara was determined by examining the serum samples of the children for specific IgG antibodies to L2 Toxocara larvae, using a commercially available diagnostic kit.
RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean age, sex, social class, residence type and presence of domestic pets at home between the two children groups. Children with bronchial asthma were observed to have higher Toxocara seropositivity than that of the non-asthmatic controls (21.2 vs 8.6%, P=0.047).
CONCLUSION: The observed relationship between exposure to Toxocara infection and bronchial asthma in Malaysian children warrants further evaluation. An understanding of any possible contribution to the pathogenesis of childhood asthma provides a potential avenue for prevention.
Study site: Paediatric Asthma clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

MeSH terms: Asthma/epidemiology*; Asthma/parasitology*; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hospitals, University; Humans; Malaysia; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Toxocariasis/epidemiology*; Prevalence; Case-Control Studies; Seroepidemiologic Studies
Isolation and bioactivities of constitutents of the roots of Garcinia atroviridis

Permana D, Lajis NH, Mackeen MM, Ali AM, Aimi N, Kitajima M, et al.

J Nat Prod, 2001 Jul;64(7):976-9.
PMID: 11473441

Two new prenylated compounds, the benzoquinone atrovirinone (1) and the depsidone atrovirisidone (2), were isolated from the roots of Garcinia atroviridis. Their structures were determined on the basis of the analysis of spectroscopic data. While compound 2 showed some cytotoxicity against HeLa cells, both compounds 1 and 2 were only mildly inhibitory toward Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Anti-Infective Agents/isolation & purification*; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification*; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry; Aspergillus ochraceus/drug effects; Bacillus cereus/drug effects; Candida albicans/drug effects; Colchicine/pharmacology; Doxorubicin/pharmacology; Escherichia coli/drug effects; HeLa Cells; Humans; Lactones/isolation & purification*; Lactones/pharmacology; Lactones/chemistry; Malaysia; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*; Spectrophotometry, Infrared; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects; Streptomycin/pharmacology; Tumor Cells, Cultured/drug effects; Molecular Structure; Benzoquinones/isolation & purification*; Benzoquinones/pharmacology; Benzoquinones/chemistry; Plant Roots/chemistry
Fulltext Facial lesions resembling leprosy

Mohamed KB

Int. J. Lepr. Other Mycobact. Dis., 2001 Mar;69(1):35-7.
PMID: 11480315
MeSH terms: Aged; Antibodies, Bacterial/blood; Diagnosis, Differential; Facial Dermatoses/diagnosis*; Female; Hemagglutination Tests; Humans; Hyperplasia/diagnosis; Leprosy/diagnosis*; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Sebaceous Gland Diseases/diagnosis; Treponema pallidum/immunology; Yaws/blood; Yaws/diagnosis
Biological treatment of fishery washing water using Bacillus sphaericus coupled with production of spores that are toxic to mosquito larvae

Ariff AB, Rosfarizan M, Sobri MA, Karim MI

Environ Technol, 2001 Jun;22(6):697-704.
PMID: 11482390

Research was undertaken to investigate the treatment of fishery washing water using Bacillus sphaericus, and to recover the spores for subsequent use as bioinsecticide to control the population of mosquitoes. This treatment method could reduce pollution due to organic matter by decreasing the value of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) by about 85% and 92%, respectively. The maximum concentration of spores (83.3 x 10(7) spores ml(-1)) using normal concentration of filtered fishery washing water was only about 27% lower than that obtained in fermentation using 0.25% (w/v) yeast extract. The larvicidal activity of the spores produced in fermentation using fishery washing water to Culex quinquefaciatus, as measured by LD50 after 48 h, was almost the same as the larvicidal activity of spores obtained from fermentation using yeast extract.

MeSH terms: Animals; Bacillus*; Biodegradation, Environmental; Conservation of Natural Resources*; Environmental Pollution/prevention & control; Fermentation; Fisheries*; Insect Control; Larva; Lethal Dose 50; Culicidae; Oxygen/metabolism; Spores; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods*; Toxicity Tests
Speciation patterns of heavy metals in tropical estuarine anoxic and oxidized sediments by different sequential extraction schemes

Ngiam LS, Lim PE

Sci Total Environ, 2001 Jul 25;275(1-3):53-61.
PMID: 11482403

The speciation patterns of Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Fe and Mn in sediment samples under anoxic and oxidized conditions were investigated using three-stage, four-stage and five-stage sequential extraction schemes. All the extraction schemes identify the non-residual metal among three basic operationally-defined host fractions, namely, exchangeable, reducible and organic/sulfide bound. The anoxic sediment samples were found to have been oxidized during the extraction stage for the reducible fraction under the three-stage and four-stage schemes and the moderately reducible fraction under the five-stage scheme despite the maintenance of an oxygen-free environment. This artifact has resulted in an over-representation of the reducible fraction and an under-representation of the organic/sulfide fraction in the heavy metal speciation patterns of anoxic sediment samples. For Cd, Zn and Pb which had > 70% associated with the acid volatile sulfide in the organic/sulfide fraction, this artifact has resulted in the observation of a decrease in the reducible fraction and, in some cases, an increase in the organic/sulfide fraction upon oxidation of the anoxic sediment samples.

MeSH terms: Lead; Oxygen; Sulfides; Zinc; Artifacts; Metals, Heavy

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