Browse publications by year: 2008

Fulltext Ginger Extract (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) Triggers Apoptosis in Hepatocarcinogenesis Induced Rats

Yasmin Anum, M.Y., Shahriza, Z.A., Looi, ML, Shafina Hanim, M.H., Harlianshah, H., Noor Aini, A.H., et al.

Medicine & Health, 2008;3(2):263-274.
MyJurnal

Ginger extract has been reported previously by our group to exhibit anticancer and an-tioxidant effects by reducing tumour burden and lipid peroxidation respectively in he-patocarcinogenesis induced rats. The current study examined the expression of pro-apoptotic protein caspase-8 and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in hepatocarcinogenesis treated rats. Thirty normal male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups based on the diet given: i) control (normal rat chow), ii) olive oil, iii) ginger extract (100mg/kg body weight), iv) choline deficient diet + ethionine, CDE (to induce liver cancer) and v) CDE+ ginger extract. Rats were killed at week 8, and liver tissues were excised for immuno-histochemical study to identify pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins, caspase-8 and Bcl-2. The observation on H&E staining confirmed the CDE diet induced liver can-cer as indicated by the presence of numerous oval cells. Identification of Bcl-2 expres-sion showed that 91.6% (11/12) of the samples from the CDE group revealed positive staining while treatment with ginger extract however inhibited the expression with only 8.4% (1/12) samples showing positive staining for Bcl-2. As for caspase-8 protein, 41.7% (5/12) of the samples from CDE group showed positive staining, which in-creased to 100% (12/12) with ginger extract treatment. Our findings suggest that gin-ger extract has an anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis in liver cancer cells via up-regulation of the expression of pro-apoptotic protein, caspase-8 and down-regulation of the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.

MeSH terms: Olive Oil; Animals; Body Weight; Choline; Diet; Ethionine; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Staining and Labeling; Lipid Peroxidation; Down-Regulation; Up-Regulation; Rats, Wistar; Apoptosis; Ginger; Tumor Burden; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Rats; Caspase 8
Fulltext Gamma-tocotrienol Alters Protein Expression of HepG2 Cell Line

Farahani, A.S.R., Zakiah, J., Abdul Rahman, M., Karsani, S.A., Wan, Ngah Wz

Medicine & Health, 2008;3(2):256-262.
MyJurnal

Gamma-tocotrienol (GTT) has been shown to exhibit significant antitumor activity in a variety of tumor cells. Previous findings have demonstrated that GTT had antiprolifera-tive effects on a liver cancer cell line (HepG2) with an IC50 value of 170μM. In this study, two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) was used to determine changes in protein expression in HepG2 cell line following treatment with GTT. The ultimate aim is to identify the possible molecular mechanisms involved in GTT antitumor activity. This study is focused on obtaining a 2DE protein profile for HepG2 cell line with and without
GTT treatment. In the preliminary analysis of the resulting 2DE profiles, 18 protein spots were found to be differentially expressed in cells treated with GTT. This observa-tion is confirmed by extending the analysis to a larger sample size. By studying the effects of GTT treatment on differential protein expression in HepG2 cells the underly-ing mechanisms involved in the antitumor activity of GTT may be elucidated.

MeSH terms: Cell Line; Chromans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Liver Neoplasms; Vitamin E; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; Sample Size; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Hep G2 Cells
Fulltext Effects of Palm Tocotrienols on Oxidative Stress and Bone Strength in Ovariectomised Rats

Nazrun, A.S., Khairunnur, A., Norliza, M., Norazlina, M., Iman Nirwana, S.

Medicine & Health, 2008;3(2):247-255.
MyJurnal

Oxidative stress has been associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis which pre-disposes to risk of fracture. Palm tocotrienol is a potent antioxidant and has the poten-tial to be used for treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis. The aim of the study is to determine if palm tocotrienol supplementation could alleviate oxidative stress in ovariectomised rat model and improve its bone strength. The rats were di- vided into four groups: (i) sham-operated group (SHAM) (ii) ovariectomised-control group (OVX) (iii) ovariectomised and given 60mg/kg α-tocopherol by oral gavage (OVX + ATF) (iv) ovariectomised and given 60mg/kg palm tocotrienols by oral gavage (OVX + PTT). After eight weeks of treatment, blood samples were taken to measure oxida-tive status (MDA, SOD and GPX) while the femurs were biomechanically tested for strength and resistance to fracture. Ovariectomy was shown to induce oxidative stress as shown by the raised MDA levels and reduced GPX activity. Palm tocotrienols seemed to offer protection against the ovariectomy-induced oxidative stress as shown by the suppression of MDA levels and raised GPX and SOD activities in the OVX+PTT group. In comparison, α-tocopherol was only able to raise the SOD but not as high as palm tocotrienols. The biomechanical tests have shown that ovariectomy has not af-fected the bone strength significantly after eight weeks. Palm tocotrienols supplemen-tation for eight weeks was effective in preventing oxidative stress in a post-meno-pausal rat.

MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants; Bone and Bones; Female; Femur; Humans; Ovariectomy; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; Oxidative Stress; Dietary Supplements; alpha-Tocopherol; Tocotrienols; Control Groups; Rats
Fulltext Clinical Pathway as a Strategy in Improving Healthcare Quality and Cost Containment

Anizal, I., Saperi, S., Aljundi, M.

Medicine & Health, 2008;3(2):239-246.
MyJurnal

The increasing health care cost and public awareness on the delivery of high quality services has forced healthcare service providers to look into the healthcare delivery system. Clinical Pathway (CP) has been introduced in many hospitals and has been accepted as a beneficial tool in assisting healthcare organizations worldwide. Further, the CP also provides consistently high quality and coordinates services with minimum resources. It is proven to be a beneficial tool in other countries. CP is recently being introduced into the Malaysian healthcare system. The aim of this article was to high-light the benefits of CP in improving healthcare quality and controlling the medical cost. The relevant articles have been reviewed. The majority of literature reviewed con-cluded that there were positive effects in implementing CP. The CP was found to be significant in reducing length of stay and medical cost. The introduction of evidence based medicine, clinical outcomes, clinical audit, multidisciplinary communication, teamwork and care planning were also improved by CP. The challenges for healthcare providers and healthcare managers are to participate and be fully committed in path-way development and implementation in order to improve healthcare quality and cost control.

MeSH terms: Cost Control; Health Personnel; Health Resources; Humans; Length of Stay; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Costs; Critical Pathways; Evidence-Based Medicine; Interdisciplinary Communication; Clinical Audit
Comparison of Sybr Green I, ELISA and conventional agarose gel-based PCR in the detection of infectious bursal disease virus

Hairul Aini H, Omar AR, Hair-Bejo M, Aini I

Microbiol Res, 2008;163(5):556-63.
PMID: 16971101

The current available molecular method to detect infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). However, the conventional PCR is time consuming, prone to error and less sensitive. In this study, the performances of Sybr Green I real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and conventional agarose detection methods in detecting specific IBDV PCR products were compared. We found the real-time PCR was at least 10 times more sensitive than ELISA detection method with a detection limit of 0.25pg. The latter was also at least 10 times more sensitive than agarose gel electrophoresis detection method. The developed assay detects both very virulent and vaccine strains of IBDV but not other RNA viruses such as Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus. Hence, Sybr Green I-based real-time PCR is a highly sensitive assay for the detection of IBDV.

MeSH terms: Animals; Chickens; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods*; Infectious bursal disease virus/genetics; Infectious bursal disease virus/isolation & purification*; Organic Chemicals/analysis*; Poultry Diseases/virology*; RNA, Viral/analysis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*; Birnaviridae Infections/veterinary*; Birnaviridae Infections/virology
Vitamin D status and its association with parathyroid hormone concentrations in women of child-bearing age living in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur

Green TJ, Skeaff CM, Rockell JE, Venn BJ, Lambert A, Todd J, et al.

Eur J Clin Nutr, 2008 Mar;62(3):373-8.
PMID: 17342165

OBJECTIVE: To describe the vitamin D status of women living in two Asian cities,--Jakarta (6 degrees S) and Kuala-Lumpur (2 degrees N), to examine the association between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations, and to determine a threshold for plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D above which there is no further suppression of PTH. Also, to determine whether dietary calcium intake influences the relationship between PTH and 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional.
SETTING: Jakarta, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 504 non-pregnant women 18-40 years.
MAIN MEASURES: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and PTH.
RESULTS: The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 48 nmol/l. Less than 1% of women had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration indicative of vitamin D deficiency (<17.5 nmol/l); whereas, over 60% of women had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration indicative of insufficiency (<50 nmol/l). We estimate that 52 nmol/l was the threshold concentration for plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D above which no further suppression of PTH occurred. Below and above this concentration the slopes of the regression lines were -0.18 (different from 0; P=0.003) and -0.01 (P=0.775), respectively. The relation between vitamin D status and parathyroid hormone concentration did not differ between women with low, medium or high calcium intakes (P=0.611); however, even in the highest tertile of calcium intake, mean calcium intake was only 657 mg/d.
CONCLUSION: On the basis of maximal suppression of PTH we estimate an optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of approximately 50 nmol/l. Many women had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D below this concentration and may benefit from improved vitamin D status.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Indonesia; Malaysia; Nutritional Status*; Parathyroid Hormone/blood*; Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D/blood*; Vitamin D Deficiency/blood*; Vitamin D Deficiency/physiopathology*; Women's Health
A computer-aided multidisease diagnostic system using MRCP

Logeswaran R

J Digit Imaging, 2008 Jun;21(2):235-42.
PMID: 17345003

Automated computer analysis of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) (a focused magnetic resonance imaging sequence for the pancreatobiliary region of the abdomen) images for biliary diseases is a difficult problem because of the large inter- and intrapatient variations in the images, varying acquisition settings, and characteristics of the images, defeating most attempts to produce computer-aided diagnosis systems. This paper proposes a system capable of automated preliminary diagnosis of several diseases affecting the bile ducts in the liver, namely, dilation, stones, tumor, and cyst. The system first identifies the biliary ductal structure present in the MRCP images, and then proceeds to determine the presence or absence of the diseases. Tested on a database of 593 clinical images, the system, which uses visual-based features, has shown to be successful in delivering good performance of 70-90% even in the presence of multiple diseases, and may be useful in aiding medical practitioners in routine MRCP examinations.

MeSH terms: Biliary Tract Diseases/diagnosis*; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods*; Sensitivity and Specificity; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance*
Prevalence of sexual problems and its association with social, psychological and physical factors among men in a Malaysian population: a cross-sectional study

Quek KF, Sallam AA, Ng CH, Chua CB

J Sex Med, 2008 Jan;5(1):70-6.
PMID: 17362280 DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2006.00423.x

INTRODUCTION: Sexual problems are common in the general population. Studies have shown that most of these sexual problems are related to their social lives, medical illnesses, and psychological status. Among the sexual problems in men, premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most frequent, yet it is the least well-understood of the sexual dysfunctions of men.
AIM: To determine the prevalence of sexual problem particularly PE and erectile dysfunction (ED) among people living in urban areas and to investigate the characteristics associated with these sexual problems in a Malaysian population.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The PE which is defined as an intravaginal ejaculation latency time less than 2 minutes was assessed in the ED and non-ED group.
METHODS: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale is used as a measure of the psychological status [30]. The ED status was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire.
RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported sexual problems for ED and PE were 41.6% and 22.3%, respectively. In those subjects with ED, 33.5% reported to have PE. Of the total of 430 subjects, anxiety was present in 8.1%, while depression was 5.3%. The prevalence of PE accounted for 25% anxiety and 14.6% for depression respectively in the population. EDs were associated with diabetes and hypertension (OR [95% CI]: 5.33 [2.33, 10.16], 3.40 [1.76, 6.57], P < 0.05), respectively, while factors associated with PE were anxiety and depression (OR [95% CI]: 1.29 [0.68, 2.45], 1.39 [0.69, 2.78]), respectively.
CONCLUSION: Prevalence of ED is associated with medical symptoms such as diabetes and hypertension and a rise in the prevalence of age while psychological distress such as anxiety and depression also contribute to a higher PE rate.

MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety/diagnosis; Anxiety/epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression/diagnosis; Depression/epidemiology; Ejaculation*; Humans; Erectile Dysfunction/diagnosis*; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology*; Erectile Dysfunction/psychology; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Sexual Behavior/statistics & numerical data*; Socioeconomic Factors; Urban Population/statistics & numerical data*; Comorbidity; Prevalence; Confidence Intervals; Odds Ratio; Age Distribution; Men's Health
Effect of fluidising velocity on the combustion of rice husk in a bench-scale fluidised bed combustor for the production of amorphous rice husk ash

Rozainee M, Ngo SP, Salema AA, Tan KG, Ariffin M, Zainura ZN

Bioresour Technol, 2008 Mar;99(4):703-13.
PMID: 17379511

This study was focused on investigating the optimum fluidising velocity during the combustion of rice husk in a bench-scale fluidised bed combustor (ID 210mm) to obtain low carbon ash in the amorphous form. When all other parameters are held constant, the optimum fluidizing velocity aids in almost complete combustion, thereby releasing the entrapped carbon for further conversion. This results in ash with consistently low carbon content (less than 2wt%). The range of fluidising velocities investigated was from as low as 1.5U(mf) to as high as 8U(mf). It was found that the optimum fluidising velocity was approximately 3.3U(mf) as the mixing of rice husk with the bed was good with a high degree of penetration into the sand bed. The resulting ash retained its amorphous form with low residual carbon content (at 2.88wt%) and minimal sand contamination as shown by the X-ray diffraction analysis.

MeSH terms: Carbon/analysis; Carbon/chemistry*; Equipment Design; Heating/instrumentation*; Heating/methods; Pilot Projects; Rheology/instrumentation*; Rheology/methods; Oryza/chemistry*; Bioreactors*; Equipment Failure Analysis; Plant Components, Aerial/chemistry*; Soot/analysis; Soot/chemistry*
X-linked dyskeratosis congenita in Malaysia

Hamidah A, Rashid RA, Jamal R, Zhao M, Kanegane H

Pediatr Blood Cancer, 2008 Feb;50(2):432.
PMID: 17417794
MeSH terms: Child; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Mutation; Nuclear Proteins/genetics*; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics*; Dyskeratosis Congenita/diagnosis*; Dyskeratosis Congenita/genetics*
Flowrate targeting for threshold problems and plant-wide integration for water network synthesis

Foo DC

J Environ Manage, 2008 Jul;88(2):253-74.
PMID: 17433530

Water reuse/recycle has gained much attention in recent years for environmental sustainability reasons, as well as the rising costs of fresh water and effluent treatment. Process integration techniques for the synthesis of water network have been widely accepted as a promising tool to reduce fresh water and wastewater flowrates via in-plant water reuse/recycle. To date, the focus in this area has been on water network synthesis problems, with little attention dedicated to the rare but realistic cases of so-called threshold problems. In this work, targeting for threshold problems in a water network is addressed using the recently developed numerical tool of water cascade analysis (WCA). Targeting for plant-wide integration is then addressed. By sending water sources across different geographical zones in plant-wide integration, the overall fresh water and wastewater flowrates are reduced simultaneously.

MeSH terms: Environmental Monitoring; Waste Disposal, Fluid*; Water Supply*; Water Purification/instrumentation*; Water Purification/methods
Amelanotic spitzoid melanoma in a prepubescent boy

Goh EH, Zarina AL, Thambidorai CR, Maizaton AA, Siti AM, Somasundram S

Pediatr Surg Int, 2008 Apr;24(4):447-9.
PMID: 17437116

The diagnosis of malignant melanoma (MM) in children is difficult due to its uncommon occurrence as well histological similarities to Spitz nevus. A case of MM of the foot in an 11-year-old boy is reported illustrating the histological overlap between Spitz nevus and MM. In our patient, both the primary foot lesion and the regional inguinal metastases were amelanotic, further increasing the diagnostic difficulty. The literature on MM in children is limited and the documentation of such unusual cases is necessary to improve the knowledge on this disease.

MeSH terms: Biopsy; Child; Diagnosis, Differential; Groin; Heel/surgery; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Skin Neoplasms/pathology*; Skin Neoplasms/surgery; Melanoma, Amelanotic/pathology*; Melanoma, Amelanotic/secondary; Melanoma, Amelanotic/surgery; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell/pathology*; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell/surgery
A holistic framework for design of cost-effective minimum water utilization network

Wan Alwi SR, Manan ZA, Samingin MH, Misran N

J Environ Manage, 2008 Jul;88(2):219-52.
PMID: 17449168

Water pinch analysis (WPA) is a well-established tool for the design of a maximum water recovery (MWR) network. MWR, which is primarily concerned with water recovery and regeneration, only partly addresses water minimization problem. Strictly speaking, WPA can only lead to maximum water recovery targets as opposed to the minimum water targets as widely claimed by researchers over the years. The minimum water targets can be achieved when all water minimization options including elimination, reduction, reuse/recycling, outsourcing and regeneration have been holistically applied. Even though WPA has been well established for synthesis of MWR network, research towards holistic water minimization has lagged behind. This paper describes a new holistic framework for designing a cost-effective minimum water network (CEMWN) for industry and urban systems. The framework consists of five key steps, i.e. (1) Specify the limiting water data, (2) Determine MWR targets, (3) Screen process changes using water management hierarchy (WMH), (4) Apply Systematic Hierarchical Approach for Resilient Process Screening (SHARPS) strategy, and (5) Design water network. Three key contributions have emerged from this work. First is a hierarchical approach for systematic screening of process changes guided by the WMH. Second is a set of four new heuristics for implementing process changes that considers the interactions among process changes options as well as among equipment and the implications of applying each process change on utility targets. Third is the SHARPS cost-screening technique to customize process changes and ultimately generate a minimum water utilization network that is cost-effective and affordable. The CEMWN holistic framework has been successfully implemented on semiconductor and mosque case studies and yielded results within the designer payback period criterion.

MeSH terms: Algorithms; Cities; Conservation of Natural Resources/economics*; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Water Supply/economics*; Waste Management; Models, Economic*
Assessment of global and regional left ventricular function using 64-slice multislice computed tomography and 2D echocardiography: a comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance

Annuar BR, Liew CK, Chin SP, Ong TK, Seyfarth MT, Chan WL, et al.

Eur J Radiol, 2008 Jan;65(1):112-9.
PMID: 17466480

To compare the assessment of global and regional left ventricular (LV) function using 64-slice multislice computed tomography (MSCT), 2D echocardiography (2DE) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

MeSH terms: Echocardiography/methods*; Female; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*; Male; Middle Aged; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*; Observer Variation; Chi-Square Distribution; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/diagnosis*
Nutrient removal in a pilot and full scale constructed wetland, Putrajaya city, Malaysia

Sim CH, Yusoff MK, Shutes B, Ho SC, Mansor M

J Environ Manage, 2008 Jul;88(2):307-17.
PMID: 17467147

Putrajaya Wetlands in Malaysia, a 200ha constructed wetland system consisting of 24 cells, was created in 1997-1998 to treat surface runoff caused by development and agricultural activities from an upstream catchment before entering Putrajaya Lake (400ha). It was designed for stormwater treatment, flood control and amenity use. The water quality improvement performance of a section of the wetland cells is described. The nutrient removal performance was 82.11% for total nitrogen, 70.73% for nitrate-nitrogen and 84.32% for phosphate, respectively, along six wetland cells from Upper North UN6 to UN1 from April to December 2004. Nutrient removal in pilot scale tank systems, simulating a constructed wetland and planted with examples of common species at Putrajaya, the Common Reed Phragmites karka and Tube Sedge Lepironia articulata, and the capacity of these species to retain nutrients in above and below-ground plant biomass and substrate is reported. The uptake of nutrients by the Common Reed and Tube Sedge from the pilot tank system was 42.1% TKN; 28.9% P and 17.4% TKN; 26.1% P, respectively. The nutrient uptake efficiency of the Common Reed was higher in above-ground than in below-ground tissue. The results have implications for plant species selection in the design of constructed wetlands in Malaysia and for optimizing the performance of these systems.

MeSH terms: Ammonia/chemistry; Environmental Monitoring; Malaysia; Nitrates/chemistry; Nitrogen/chemistry; Phosphates/chemistry; Pilot Projects; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry*; Water Pollution, Chemical/prevention & control; Wetlands*
Transverse testicular ectopia: correlation of embryology with laparoscopic findings

Thambidorai CR, Khaleed A

Pediatr Surg Int, 2008 Mar;24(3):371-4.
PMID: 17492292

Two patients with unilateral transverse testicular ectopia (TTE) without the persistence of Mullerian duct structures are described. Each presented with unilateral impalpable testis and a contralateral inguinal hernia. The diagnosis of unilateral TTE was made during laparoscopic evaluation for undescended testis. The first patient had unilateral TTE on the right side and the second on the left. In both patients, a long thin band resembling the round ligament of the uterus was seen extending from the region of the internal inguinal ring (IIR) on the side of the undescended testis to the opposite inguinal canal. In both patients, there was no patent processus vaginalis on the side of the undescended testis and on the contralateral side the internal rings were widely patent with large hernial sacs. In the second patient, the right vas was seen extending from the right IIR towards the right side of the pelvis. The right vas showed a short segment of discontinuity at the level of the right IIR while its proximal end extended into the left inguinal canal in close relation to the right spermatic vessels. The vasal anomaly was probably ischemic in origin, resulting from excessive mobility of the ectopic testis and its vas in TTE. Correlation of the current hypotheses on the embryology of TTE with the above mentioned laparoscopic findings is discussed.

MeSH terms: Choristoma/diagnosis; Choristoma/surgery*; Hernia, Inguinal/diagnosis; Hernia, Inguinal/surgery; Humans; Infant; Male; Mullerian Ducts/abnormalities; Laparoscopy*; Testis*
Parapharyngeal abscess complicated by endophthalmitis: a rare presentation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Tan VE, Jeevanan J, Lee BR

J Laryngol Otol, 2008 Aug;122(8):867-70.
PMID: 17498332 DOI: 10.1017/S0022215107008195

We report an extremely rare case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma presenting as a lateral neck abscess complicated by endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis. Endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis complicating a neck abscess has not been reported in the recent English literature. We discuss the possible pathophysiology of neck abscess as a presenting feature of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and the relationship between the parapharyngeal abscess and endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis.

MeSH terms: Abscess/etiology*; Abscess/radiography; Carcinoma/complications*; Carcinoma/radiography; Humans; Klebsiella Infections/radiography; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Male; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/complications*; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/radiography; Neck/radiography; Endophthalmitis/etiology*; Endophthalmitis/radiography; Pharyngeal Diseases/etiology*; Pharyngeal Diseases/radiography
Development of a flow-through optosensor for determination of Co(II)

Yusof NA, Ahmad M

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc, 2008 Feb;69(2):413-8.
PMID: 17531526

A flow-through optical fibre chemical sensor for the determination of Co(II) at trace level using immobilised 2-(4-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) as the reagent phase is proposed. PAR is physically adsorbed onto XAD-7. This method provided a great sensitivity and simplicity with wide linear response range from 1x10(-2) to 1x10(3)ppm and detection limit of 20ppb. This method also showed a reproducible result with relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 1.78% and response time of approximately 5min. The response towards Co(II) was also reversible using acidified KCl as the regenerating solution. Interference studies showed that Cr(III) significantly interfered during the determination. Excellent agreement with reference to inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICPOES) method was achieved when the developed sensor was applied for determination of Co(II) in aqueous samples.

MeSH terms: Cobalt/analysis*; Cobalt/chemistry*; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Resorcinols; Spectrum Analysis/instrumentation*; Spectrum Analysis/methods*; Molecular Structure
Heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu and Cr(III)) removal from water in Malaysia: post treatment by high quality limestone

Aziz HA, Adlan MN, Ariffin KS

Bioresour Technol, 2008 Apr;99(6):1578-83.
PMID: 17540556

This paper presents the results of research on heavy metals removal from water by filtration using low cost coarse media which could be used as an alternative approach to remove heavy metals from water or selected wastewater. A series of batch studies were conducted using different particle media (particle size 2.36-4.75 mm) shaken with different heavy metal solutions at various pH values to see the removal behaviour for each metal. Each solution of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr(III)) with a concentration of 2 mg/L was shaken with the media. At a final pH of 8.5, limestone has significantly removed more than 90% of most metals followed by 80% and 65% removals using crushed bricks and gravel, respectively. The removal by aeration and settlement methods without solid media was less than 30%. Results indicated that the removal of heavy metals was influenced by the media and not directly by the pH. Investigations on the removal behaviour of these metals indicated that rough solid media with the presence of carbonate were beneficial for the removal process. Adsorption and precipitation as metals oxide and probably as metals carbonate were among the two mechanisms that contributed to the removal of metals from solution.

MeSH terms: Adsorption; Cadmium/chemistry*; Cesium/chemistry; Chromium/chemistry*; Copper/chemistry*; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lead/chemistry*; Malaysia; Nickel/chemistry*; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods; Water Pollutants, Chemical*; Zinc/chemistry*; Water Purification/methods*
Melatonin, environmental light, and breast cancer

Srinivasan V, Spence DW, Pandi-Perumal SR, Trakht I, Esquifino AI, Cardinali DP, et al.

Breast Cancer Res Treat, 2008 Apr;108(3):339-50.
PMID: 17541739

Although many factors have been suggested as causes for breast cancer, the increased incidence of the disease seen in women working in night shifts led to the hypothesis that the suppression of melatonin by light or melatonin deficiency plays a major role in cancer development. Studies on the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea experimental models of human breast cancer indicate that melatonin is effective in reducing cancer development. In vitro studies in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line have shown that melatonin exerts its anticarcinogenic actions through a variety of mechanisms, and that it is most effective in estrogen receptor (ER) alpha-positive breast cancer cells. Melatonin suppresses ER gene, modulates several estrogen dependent regulatory proteins and pro-oncogenes, inhibits cell proliferation, and impairs the metastatic capacity of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The anticarcinogenic action on MCF-7 cells has been demonstrated at the physiological concentrations of melatonin attained at night, suggesting thereby that melatonin acts like an endogenous antiestrogen. Melatonin also decreases the formation of estrogens from androgens via aromatase inhibition. Circulating melatonin levels are abnormally low in ER-positive breast cancer patients thereby supporting the melatonin hypothesis for breast cancer in shift working women. It has been postulated that enhanced endogenous melatonin secretion is responsible for the beneficial effects of meditation as a form of psychosocial intervention that helps breast cancer patients.

MeSH terms: Breast Neoplasms/etiology*; Breast Neoplasms/physiopathology*; Circadian Rhythm/physiology; Female; Humans; Light; Lighting/adverse effects*; Melatonin/physiology*; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects

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