Browse publications by year: 2008

1. Delayed diagnosis of cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease with distinctive histologic features in a Malayan man

   Choon SE, Moktar Z, Ghani GA

   Arch Dermatol, 2008 Jan;144(1):120-1.

   PMID: 18209186 DOI: 10.1001/archdermatol.2007.19

   MeSH terms: Biopsy, Needle; Diagnosis, Differential; Facial Dermatoses/diagnosis; Facial Dermatoses/pathology; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid/diagnosis; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid/pathology*; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid/therapy; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Time Factors; Histiocytosis, Sinus/diagnosis; Histiocytosis, Sinus/pathology*; Histiocytosis, Sinus/therapy; Treatment Outcome; Risk Assessment; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Laser Therapy/methods
2. Current status and future trends in Cryptosporidium and Giardia epidemiology in Malaysia

   Lim YA, Ahmad RA, Smith HV

   J Water Health, 2008 Jun;6(2):239-54.

   PMID: 18209286 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2008.023

   Abstract

   Cryptosporidium and Giardia are major causes of diarrhoeal diseases of humans worldwide, and are included in the World Health Organisation's 'Neglected Diseases Initiative'. Cryptosporidium and Giardia occur commonly in Malaysian human and non-human populations, but their impact on disease, morbidity and cost of illness is not known. The commonness of contributions from human (STW effluents, indiscriminate defaecation) and non-human (calving, lambing, muck spreading, slurry spraying, pasturing/grazing of domestic animals, infected wild animals) hosts indicate that many Malaysian environments, particularly water and soil, are sufficiently contaminated to act as potential vehicles for the transmission of disease. To gain insight into the morbidity and mortality caused by human cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis, they should be included into differential diagnoses, and routine laboratory testing should be performed and (as for many infectious diseases) reported to a centralised public health agency. To understand transmission routes and the significance of environmental contamination better will require further multidisciplinary approaches and shared resources, including raising national perceptions of the parasitological quality of drinking water. Here, the detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia should be an integral part of the water quality requirement. A multidisciplinary approach among public health professionals in the water industry and other relevant health- and environment-associated agencies is also required in order to determine the significance of Cryptosporidium and Giardia contamination of Malaysian drinking water. Lastly, adoption of validated methods to determine the species, genotype and subgenotype of Cryptosporidium and Giardia present in Malaysia will assist in developing effective risk assessment, management and communication models.

   MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Child; Cryptosporidiosis/epidemiology*; Cryptosporidiosis/transmission; Cryptosporidium/classification; Cryptosporidium/isolation & purification; Disease Reservoirs/parasitology*; Fresh Water/parasitology; Giardia/classification; Giardia/isolation & purification; Giardiasis/epidemiology*; Giardiasis/transmission; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Middle Aged; Soil/parasitology; World Health Organization; Zoonoses; Public Health Practice*
3. Fulltext Alpha1B-adrenoceptors mediate adrenergically-induced renal vasoconstrictions in rats with renal impairment

   Khan MA, Sattar MA, Abdullah NA, Johns EJ

   Acta Pharmacol Sin, 2008 Feb;29(2):193-203.

   PMID: 18215348 DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2008.00727.x

   Abstract

   This study examined whether alpha1B-adrenoceptors are involved in mediating adrenergically-induced renal vasoconstrictor responses in rats with pathophysiological and normal physiological states.

   MeSH terms: Adrenergic beta-Agonists/pharmacology; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/pharmacology; Animals; Clonidine/analogs & derivatives; Clonidine/pharmacology; Diabetic Nephropathies/physiopathology; Kidney Diseases/physiopathology*; Male; Muscle Tonus/drug effects; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Inbred WKY; Renal Circulation/drug effects; Sympathetic Nervous System/physiology*; Vasoconstriction/drug effects; Vasoconstriction/physiology*; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1/physiology*; Rats; In Vitro Techniques
4. Fulltext Identification of the progenitors of Indonesian and Vietnamese avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses from southern China

   Wang J, Vijaykrishna D, Duan L, Bahl J, Zhang JX, Webster RG, et al.

   J Virol, 2008 Apr;82(7):3405-14.

   PMID: 18216109 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02468-07

   Abstract

   The transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus to Southeast Asian countries triggered the first major outbreak and transmission wave in late 2003, accelerating the pandemic threat to the world. Due to the lack of influenza surveillance prior to these outbreaks, the genetic diversity and the transmission pathways of H5N1 viruses from this period remain undefined. To determine the possible source of the wave 1 H5N1 viruses, we recently conducted further sequencing and analysis of samples collected in live-poultry markets from Guangdong, Hunan, and Yunnan in southern China from 2001 to 2004. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of 73 H5N1 isolates from this period revealed a greater genetic diversity in southern China than previously reported. Moreover, results show that eight viruses isolated from Yunnan in 2002 and 2003 were most closely related to the clade 1 virus sublineage from Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, while two viruses from Hunan in 2002 and 2003 were most closely related to viruses from Indonesia (clade 2.1). Further phylogenetic analyses of the six internal genes showed that all 10 of those viruses maintained similar phylogenetic relationships as the surface genes. The 10 progenitor viruses were genotype Z and shared high similarity (>/=99%) with their corresponding descendant viruses in most gene segments. These results suggest a direct transmission link for H5N1 viruses between Yunnan and Vietnam and also between Hunan and Indonesia during 2002 and 2003. Poultry trade may be responsible for virus introduction to Vietnam, while the transmission route from Hunan to Indonesia remains unclear.

   MeSH terms: Animals; China/epidemiology; Influenza in Birds/epidemiology; Influenza in Birds/virology*; Molecular Sequence Data; Neuraminidase/genetics; Phylogeny; Poultry; Poultry Diseases/epidemiology; Poultry Diseases/virology*; RNA, Viral/genetics*; Viral Proteins/genetics; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Molecular Epidemiology; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/genetics; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/classification*; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/genetics*; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/isolation & purification
5. Frontoethmoidal encephalocele: treatment and outcome

   Arshad AR, Selvapragasam T

   J Craniofac Surg, 2008 Jan;19(1):175-83.

   PMID: 18216685 DOI: 10.1097/scs.0b013e3181534a77

   Abstract

   This is a study on 124 patients who were treated by the authors over a 19-year period. There were 48 male and 76 female patients. The age range of these patients at the time of treatment was between 4 months and 32 years. There was no family history of similar deformity. All of these patients come from a socially low-income group. Fourteen patients had accompanying congenital amputation of fingers, toes, or limbs. Two had oral cleft lip and palate. The surgical treatment was medial orbital wall osteotomy and excision of encephalocele. There were two mortalities and five patients who had complications that needed secondary surgical intervention. Thirty-eight patients are still under follow up without any complaints.

   MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea/etiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Encephalocele/complications; Encephalocele/surgery*; Ethmoid Bone/surgery*; Female; Fingers/abnormalities; Follow-Up Studies; Frontal Bone/surgery*; Humans; Infant; Male; Orbit/surgery; Osteotomy/methods; Postoperative Complications; Poverty; Retrospective Studies; Surgical Wound Infection/etiology; Toes/abnormalities; Survival Rate; Treatment Outcome; Limb Deformities, Congenital/complications; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures/methods*
6. Enhancement of hippocampal CA3 neuronal dendritic arborization by Centella asiatica (Linn) fresh leaf extract treatment in adult rats

   Gadahad MR, Rao M, Rao G

   J Chin Med Assoc, 2008 Jan;71(1):6-13.

   PMID: 18218554

   Abstract

   BACKGROUND: Centella asiatica (CeA) is a creeper, growing in moist places in India and other Asian countries. Leaves of CeA are used for memory enhancement in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, an alternate system of medicine in India. In the present study, we investigated the role of CeA fresh leaf extract treatment on the dendritic morphology of hippocampal CA3 neurons, one of the regions concerned with learning and memory, in adult rats.

   METHODS: In the present study, adult rats (2.5 months old) were fed with 2, 4 and 6 mL/kg body weight of fresh leaf extract of CeA for 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively. After the treatment period, the rats were killed, brains were removed and hippocampal neurons were impregnated with silver nitrate (Golgi staining). Hippocampal CA3 neurons were traced using camera lucida, and dendritic branching points (a measure of dendritic arborization) and intersections (a measure of dendritic length) were quantified. These data were compared with those of age-matched control rats.

   RESULTS: The results showed a significant increase in the dendritic length (intersections) and dendritic branching points along the length of both apical and basal dendrites in rats treated with 6 mL/kg body weight/day of CeA for 6 weeks. However, the rats treated with 2 and 4 mL/kg body weight/day for 2 and 4 weeks did not show any significant change in hippocampal CA3 neuronal dendritic arborization.

   CONCLUSION: We conclude that constituents present in Centella asiatica fresh leaf extract has neuronal dendritic growth-stimulating properties.

   MeSH terms: Animals; Dendrites/drug effects*; Dendrites/physiology; Female; Hippocampus/cytology; Hippocampus/drug effects*; Male; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Triterpenes/pharmacology*; Rats, Wistar; Plant Leaves; Rats
7. Fulltext Levels and correlates of awareness of tobacco promotional activities among adult smokers in Malaysia and Thailand: findings from the International Tobacco Control Southeast Asia (ITC-SEA) Survey

   Yong HH, Borland R, Hammond D, Sirirassamee B, Ritthiphakdee B, Awang R, et al.

   Tob Control, 2008 Feb;17(1):46-52.

   PMID: 18218808 DOI: 10.1136/tc.2007.021964

   Abstract

   To examine the impact of tobacco advertising policy on adult smokers' awareness of tobacco promotion in two developing countries--Malaysia and Thailand.

   MeSH terms: Adult; Advertising as Topic*; Attitude to Health; Awareness*; Data Collection/methods; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Smoking/adverse effects; Smoking/psychology*; Thailand; Tobacco Industry/economics; Tobacco Industry/legislation & jurisprudence; Marketing/methods
8. Fulltext The distribution of inflammation and virus in human enterovirus 71 encephalomyelitis suggests possible viral spread by neural pathways

   Wong KT, Munisamy B, Ong KC, Kojima H, Noriyo N, Chua KB, et al.

   J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol., 2008 Feb;67(2):162-9.

   PMID: 18219253 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e318163a990

   Abstract

   Previous neuropathologic studies of Enterovirus 71 encephalomyelitis have not investigated the anatomic distribution of inflammation and viral localization in the central nervous system (CNS) in detail. We analyzed CNS and non-CNS tissues from 7 autopsy cases from Malaysia and found CNS inflammation patterns to be distinct and stereotyped. Inflammation was most marked in spinal cord gray matter, brainstem, hypothalamus, and subthalamic and dentate nuclei; it was focal in the cerebrum, mainly in the motor cortex, and was rare in dorsal root ganglia. Inflammation was absent in the cerebellar cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, peripheral nerves, and autonomic ganglia. The parenchymal inflammatory response consisted of perivascular cuffs, variable edema, neuronophagia, and microglial nodules. Inflammatory cells were predominantly CD68-positive macrophage/microglia, but there were a few CD8-positive lymphocytes. There were no viral inclusions; viral antigens and RNA were localized only in the somata and processes of small numbers of neurons and in phagocytic cells. There was no evidence of virus in other CNS cells, peripheral nerves, dorsal root autonomic ganglia, or non-CNS organs. The results indicate that Enterovirus 71 is neuronotropic, and that, although hematogenous spread cannot be excluded, viral spread into the CNS could be via neural pathways, likely the motor but not peripheral sensory or autonomic pathways. Viral spread within the CNS seems to involve motor and possibly other pathways.

   MeSH terms: Central Nervous System/physiopathology; Central Nervous System/virology*; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Inflammation/etiology; Inflammation/virology*; Male; Neural Pathways/physiopathology; Neural Pathways/virology; Enterovirus A, Human/metabolism*
9. Genomewide selection in oil palm: increasing selection gain per unit time and cost with small populations

   Wong CK, Bernardo R

   Theor Appl Genet, 2008 Apr;116(6):815-24.

   PMID: 18219476 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-008-0715-5

   Abstract

   Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) requires 19 years per cycle of phenotypic selection. The use of molecular markers may reduce the generation interval and the cost of oil-palm breeding. Our objectives were to compare, by simulation, the response to phenotypic selection, marker-assisted recurrent selection (MARS), and genomewide selection with small population sizes in oil palm, and assess the efficiency of each method in terms of years and cost per unit gain. Markers significantly associated with the trait were used to calculate the marker scores in MARS, whereas all markers were used (without significance tests) to calculate the marker scores in genomewide selection. Responses to phenotypic selection and genomewide selection were consistently greater than the response to MARS. With population sizes of N = 50 or 70, responses to genomewide selection were 4-25% larger than the corresponding responses to phenotypic selection, depending on the heritability and number of quantitative trait loci. Cost per unit gain was 26-57% lower with genomewide selection than with phenotypic selection when markers cost US $1.50 per data point, and 35-65% lower when markers cost $0.15 per data point. With population sizes of N = 50 or 70, time per unit gain was 11-23 years with genomewide selection and 14-25 years with phenotypic selection. We conclude that for a realistic yet relatively small population size of N = 50 in oil palm, genomewide selection is superior to MARS and phenotypic selection in terms of gain per unit cost and time. Our results should be generally applicable to other tree species that are characterized by long generation intervals, high costs of maintaining breeding plantations, and small population sizes in selection programs.

   MeSH terms: Chromosome Mapping*; Computer Simulation; Genetic Markers; Models, Genetic; Phenotype; Selection, Genetic*; Genome, Plant*; Arecaceae/genetics*; Chromosomes, Plant*; Quantitative Trait Loci
10. Tooth mortality in smokers and nonsmokers in a selected population in Sana'a, Yemen

    Al-Bayaty FH, Wahid NA, Bulgiba AM

    J Periodontal Res, 2008 Feb;43(1):9-13.

    PMID: 18230101 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0765.2007.00988.x

    Abstract

    Tobacco smoking has been shown to be a major risk factor for tooth loss. The present study was designed to examine tooth mortality and the patterns of tooth loss in smokers and nonsmokers over a wide age range in a selected population from Sana'a, Yemen.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Humans; Male; Mandibular Diseases/etiology; Maxillary Diseases/etiology; Middle Aged; Smoking/adverse effects*; Tooth/drug effects; Yemen; Tooth Loss/etiology*; Tooth Loss/epidemiology
11. Cuban anticancer vaccine to be clinically tested in Malaysia

    Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res, 2008 Feb;8(1):5-9.

    PMID: 20528350 DOI: 10.1586/14737167.8.1.5
12. Polymorphisms of HER2 Ile655Val and cyclin D1 (CCND1) G870A are not associated with breast cancer risk but polymorphic allele of HER2 is associated with nodal metastases

    Naidu R, Yip CH, Taib NA

    Neoplasma, 2008;55(2):87-95.

    PMID: 18237245

    Abstract

    The HER2 codon Ile655Val and Cyclin D1 (CCND1) G870A polymorphisms were analyzed in a hospital-based Malaysian population using PCR-RFLP method. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 230 breast cancer patients, and 200 normal and healthy women who had no history of breast disease or breast cancer. We evaluated the association between HER2 or CCND1 polymorphisms and breast cancer risk, and clinico-pathological parameters in the population. The genotype and allele frequencies of HER2 (P=0.163 vs P=0.0622) and CCND1 (P=0.377 vs P=0.284) polymorphisms were not significantly different between the breast cancer cases and normal subjects, respectively. Women who were Ile/Val heterozygotes (OR=1.48; 95% CI, 0.91-2.43), Val/Val homozygotes (OR=1.93; 95% CI, 0.51-7.77) and carriers of Val allele genotype (OR=1.53; 95% CI, 0.95-2.45) were not significantly associated with increased breast cancer risk. Similarly, women who were homozygous (OR=1.34; 95% CI, 0.77-2.34) or heterozygous (OR=0.98; 95% CI, 0.60-1.60) for A allele, or carriers of A allele genotype (OR=1.10; 95% CI, 0.70-1.73) were not associated with breast cancer risk. Analysis on clinico-pathological parameters showed that Val allele genotype was significantly correlated with nodal metastases but A allele genotype was not associated with any of the variables. Our findings suggest that the polymorphic alleles of HER2 and CCND1 may not play an important role as genetic markers for breast cancer risk, but presence of Val allele may be useful for tumor prognosis.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Breast Neoplasms/etiology; Breast Neoplasms/genetics*; Breast Neoplasms/pathology; Female; Genotype; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Genetic*; Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics*; Cyclin D1/genetics*; Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
13. Advanced abdominal pregnancy resulting from late uterine rupture

    Naim NM, Ahmad S, Siraj HH, Ng P, Mahdy ZA, Razi ZR

    Obstet Gynecol, 2008 Feb;111(2 Pt 2):502-4.

    PMID: 18239000 DOI: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000279451.51446.c1

    Abstract

    Advanced abdominal pregnancy is rare, and one that occurs after uterine rupture with delivery of a viable fetus is exceptional.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Abdominal/diagnosis*; Pregnancy, Abdominal/etiology*; Pregnancy, Abdominal/surgery; Uterine Rupture/diagnosis*; Uterine Rupture/etiology*; Uterine Rupture/surgery
14. Assessment of the likelihood of the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease through importation of live animals into the Malaysia-Thailand-Myanmar peninsula

    Wongsathapornchai K, Salman MD, Edwards JR, Morley PS, Keefe TJ, Van Campen H, et al.

    Am J Vet Res, 2008 Feb;69(2):252-60.

    PMID: 18241023 DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.69.2.252

    Abstract

    To assess the likelihood of an introduction of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) into the Malaysia-Thailand-Myanmar (MTM) peninsula through terrestrial movement of livestock.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Buffaloes; Myanmar/epidemiology; Cattle; Cattle Diseases/epidemiology; Cattle Diseases/prevention & control; Foot-and-Mouth Disease/prevention & control*; International Cooperation; Malaysia/epidemiology; Models, Biological; National Health Programs; Thailand/epidemiology; Models, Statistical; Prevalence; Risk Assessment
15. Adverse impact of sexual dysfunction in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

    Lee SW, Liong ML, Yuen KH, Leong WS, Cheah PY, Khan NA, et al.

    Urology, 2008 Jan;71(1):79-84.

    PMID: 18242370 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2007.08.043

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of sexual dysfunction in our primary care referral population.
    METHODS: Participants seeking treatment for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) were recruited from general urology clinics. The subjects completed the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, International Index of Erectile Function-5, and selected questions from the University of Washington Symptom Score. Additional information on demographics and medical and treatment history were also obtained. Sexual dysfunction was defined as self-reported erectile dysfunction (ED) or ejaculatory difficulty, or both.
    RESULTS: Of 296 participants with CP/CPPS, 214 (72.3%) reported sexual dysfunction. The National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index total score averaged 22.5 +/- 6.9 for participants with sexual dysfunction compared with 20.4 +/- 7.8 for participants who did not report sexual dysfunction (P = 0.03). Of the 214 participants with sexual dysfunction, 54 (25.0%) complained of ED only, 71 (33.4%) complained of ejaculatory difficulties only, and 89 (41.6%) complained of both ED and ejaculatory difficulties. Men reporting both ED and ejaculatory difficulty reported worse CP/CPPS symptoms (analysis of variance, P = 0.042) and worse quality of life (analysis of variance, P = 0.006) than men without sexual dysfunction.
    CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dysfunction was reported by almost three quarters of patients with CP/CPPS. Patients with CP/CPPS and sexual dysfunction experienced substantially worse symptoms, particularly worse quality of life, than other patients with CP/CPPS. Sexual dysfunction merits consideration as an important aspect of CP/CPPS and a potential outcome measure.
    
    Study site: general urology clinics
    in Penang

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ejaculation; Hospitals, General; Humans; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Prospective Studies; Prostatitis/epidemiology*; Severity of Illness Index; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology*; Syndrome; Prevalence; Pelvic Pain/epidemiology*
16. Scale-up synthesis of lipase-catalyzed palm esters in stirred-tank reactor

    Keng PS, Basri M, Ariff AB, Abdul Rahman MB, Abdul Rahman RN, Salleh AB

    Bioresour Technol, 2008 Sep;99(14):6097-104.

    PMID: 18243690 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2007.12.049

    Abstract

    Lipase-catalyzed production of palm esters by alcoholysis of palm oil with oleyl alcohol in n-hexane was performed in 2L stirred-tank reactor (STR). Investigation on the performance of reactor operation was carried out in batch mode STR with single impeller mounted on the centrally located shaft. Rushton turbine (RT) impellers provide the highest reaction yield (95.8%) at lower agitation speed as compared to AL-hydrofoil (AL-H) and 2-bladed elephant ear (EE) impellers. Homogenous enzyme particles suspension was obtained at 250 rpm by using RT impeller. At higher impeller speed, the shear effect on the enzyme particles caused by agitation has decreased the reaction performance. Palm esters reaction mixture in STR follows Newtons' law due to the linear relation between the shear stress (tau) and shear rate (dupsilon/dy). High stability of Lipozyme RM IM was observed as shown by its ability to be repeatedly used to give high percentage yield (79%) of palm esters even after 15 cycles of reaction. The process was successfully scale-up to 75 L STR (50 L working volume) based on a constant impeller tip speed approach, which gave the yield of 97.2% after 5h reaction time.

    MeSH terms: Catalysis; Chromatography, Gas; Esters/metabolism*; Lipase/metabolism*; Rheology; Viscosity
17. Fulltext Influence of combined hypertension and renal failure on functional alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes in the rat kidney

    Hye Khan MA, Sattar MA, Abdullah NA, Johns EJ

    Br J Pharmacol, 2008 Mar;153(6):1232-41.

    PMID: 18246093 DOI: 10.1038/bjp.2008.13

    Abstract

    This study investigated whether the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor responsiveness of the renal vasculature was altered in the state of hypertension combined with renal failure.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Hypertension/complications; Hypertension/physiopathology*; Kidney/blood supply; Kidney/physiopathology; Male; Rats, Inbred SHR; Vasoconstriction/drug effects; Vasoconstriction/physiology; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1/drug effects; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1/metabolism*; Rats; Renal Insufficiency/complications; Renal Insufficiency/physiopathology*
18. Determination of the herbicide fluroxypyr in oil matrices

    Muhamad HB, Ai TY, Sahid IB

    J Environ Sci Health B, 2008 Feb;43(2):134-40.

    PMID: 18246505 DOI: 10.1080/03601230701795072

    Abstract

    The purpose of this study was to develop a method for the determination of fluroxypyr (4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluro2-pyridyloxyacetic acid) residue in palm oil namely crude palm oil (CPO) and crude palm kernel oil (CPKO). The method involves the extraction of the herbicide from the oil matrix followed by low temperature precipitation and finally quantification of the residues using the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The extraction efficiency of the method was evaluated by conducting recovery studies. The recovery of fluroxypyr from the fortified CPO samples ranged from 78%-111% with the relative values for the coefficient of variation ranging from 1.4 to 8.6%. Furthermore, the recovery of fluroxypyr from the spiked CPKO samples ranged from 91-107% with the relative values for the coefficient of variation ranging from 0.6 to 4.5%. The minimum detection limit of fluroxypyr in CPO and CPKO was 0.05 microg/g. The method was used to determine fluroxypyr residues from the field-treated samples of CPO and CPKO. When fluroxypyr was used for weed control in oil palm plantations no residue was detected in CPO and CPKO irrespective of the sampling interval and the dosage applied at the recommended or double the manufacturer's recommended dosage.

    MeSH terms: Acetates/analysis*; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods; Consumer Product Safety; Food Contamination/analysis*; Herbicides/analysis; Humans; Pesticide Residues/analysis*; Plant Oils/chemistry*; Chemical Precipitation; Pyridines/analysis*
19. Early manifestation of macrovasculopathy in newly diagnosed never treated type II diabetic patients with no traditional CVD risk factors

    Rahman S, Ismail AA, Ismail SB, Naing NN, Rahman AR

    Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2008 May;80(2):253-8.

    PMID: 18249457 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2007.12.010

    Abstract

    Type II diabetes patients have increased risk of macrovascular complications compared with the general population. Arterial stiffness is considered as an independent predictor of macrovascular events. This study investigated arterial stiffness in newly diagnosed never treated diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) patients without any traditional cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors. After preliminary screening of 1620 individuals, 30 diabetic and 30 IGT patients were recruited and compared with age- and sex-matched 30 normoglycaemic subjects. The subjects were newly diagnosed, never treated, normotensive, non-obese, non-hyperlipidaemic and non-smoker. Haemodynamic variables, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AI) were measured. The PWV was significantly higher in diabetic patients (10.37+/-2.64m/s vs. 8.70+/-1.29m/s; p=0.035) and was of borderline significant in IGT subjects (9.54+/-1.56m/s vs.8.70+/-1.29m/s, p=0.078) compared to normoglycaemic individuals. Augmentation index was higher of borderline significant in diabetic (134.53+/-17.32% vs. 129.17+/-11.18%, p=0.055) and IGT patients (132.02+/-16.11% vs. 129.17+/-11.18%, p=0.059) compared to normoglycaemic individuals. The study demonstrated that newly diagnosed never treated diabetic patients without any CV complications had early manifestation of macrovascular diseases as evident by increased arterial stiffness. The findings also revealed early manifestations of preclinical vasculopathy and potentially increased risk for development of macrovascular diseases at an early age in diabetic patients.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Blood Pressure; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications*; Diabetic Angiopathies/diagnosis*; Diabetic Angiopathies/epidemiology; Female; Glucose Tolerance Test; Heart Rate; Humans; Lipids/blood; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Vascular Diseases/diagnosis*; Vascular Diseases/epidemiology; Glucose Intolerance/epidemiology
20. Postmortem abdominal radiographic findings in feline cadavers

    Heng HG, Teoh WT, Sheikh-Omar AR

    Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 2008 2 7;49(1):26-9.

    PMID: 18251290

    Abstract

    Postmortem radiographic examinations of animals are commonly performed in judicial investigations to rule out gunshot and fractures. However, there was no available data on radiographic postmortem changes of animals. Forty-one sets of abdominal radiographs of feline cadavers made within 12 h of death were evaluated for postmortem changes. Intravascular gas was detected in 11 of 41 (27%) cadavers. The most common site of intravascular gas was the liver. Intravascular gas was also present in the aorta, femoral artery, celiac and cranial mesenteric arteries, and caudal superficial epigastric artery. Intrasplenic gas was detected in two cadavers. Only two cadavers had distended small intestine. One cadaver had pneumatosis coli. The changes detected were most likely due to putrefaction.

    MeSH terms: Abdominal Injuries/pathology; Abdominal Injuries/veterinary*; Animals; Animal Welfare/legislation & jurisprudence; Autopsy/veterinary; Cat Diseases/pathology*; Cats; Postmortem Changes; Radiography/veterinary; Retrospective Studies