Browse publications by year: 2008

1. Fulltext Take-off and landing kinetics of a free-ranging gliding mammal, the Malayan colugo (Galeopterus variegatus)

   Byrnes G, Lim NT, Spence AJ

   Proc Biol Sci, 2008 May 7;275(1638):1007-13.

   PMID: 18252673 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2007.1684

   Abstract

   Arboreal animals negotiate a highly three-dimensional world that is discontinuous on many spatial scales. As the scale of substrate discontinuity increases, many arboreal animals rely on leaping or gliding locomotion between distant supports. In order to successfully move through their habitat, gliding animals must actively modulate both propulsive and aerodynamic forces. Here we examined the take-off and landing kinetics of a free-ranging gliding mammal, the Malayan colugo (Galeopterus variegatus) using a custom-designed three-dimensional accelerometry system. We found that colugos increase the propulsive impulse to affect longer glides. However, we also found that landing forces are negatively associated with glide distance. Landing forces decrease rapidly as glide distance increases from the shortest glides, then level off, suggesting that the ability to reorient the aerodynamic forces prior to landing is an important mechanism to reduce velocity and thus landing forces. This ability to substantially alter the aerodynamic forces acting on the patagial wing in order to reorient the body is a key to the transition between leaping and gliding and allows gliding mammals to travel long distances between trees with reduced risk of injury. Longer glides may increase the access to distributed resources and reduce the exposure to predators in the canopy or on the forest floor.

   MeSH terms: Animals; Gravitation; Locomotion; Malaysia; Mammals/physiology*; Orientation; Singapore
2. Fulltext Working conditions, self-perceived stress, anxiety, depression and quality of life: a structural equation modelling approach

   Rusli BN, Edimansyah BA, Naing L

   BMC Public Health, 2008 Feb 06;8:48.

   PMID: 18254966 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-48

   Abstract

   BACKGROUND: The relationships between working conditions [job demand, job control and social support]; stress, anxiety, and depression; and perceived quality of life factors [physical health, psychological wellbeing, social relationships and environmental conditions] were assessed using a sample of 698 male automotive assembly workers in Malaysia.

   METHODS: The validated Malay version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) were used. A structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis was applied to test the structural relationships of the model using AMOS version 6.0, with the maximum likelihood ratio as the method of estimation.

   RESULTS: The results of the SEM supported the hypothesized structural model (chi2 = 22.801, df = 19, p = 0.246). The final model shows that social support (JCQ) was directly related to all 4 factors of the WHOQOL-BREF and inversely related to depression and stress (DASS). Job demand (JCQ) was directly related to stress (DASS) and inversely related to the environmental conditions (WHOQOL-BREF). Job control (JCQ) was directly related to social relationships (WHOQOL-BREF). Stress (DASS) was directly related to anxiety and depression (DASS) and inversely related to physical health, environment conditions and social relationships (WHOQOL-BREF). Anxiety (DASS) was directly related to depression (DASS) and inversely related to physical health (WHOQOL-BREF). Depression (DASS) was inversely related to the psychological wellbeing (WHOQOL-BREF). Finally, stress, anxiety and depression (DASS) mediate the relationships between job demand and social support (JCQ) to the 4 factors of WHOQOL-BREF.

   CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that higher social support increases the self-reported quality of life of these workers. Higher job control increases the social relationships, whilst higher job demand increases the self-perceived stress and decreases the self-perceived quality of life related to environmental factors. The mediating role of depression, anxiety and stress on the relationship between working conditions and perceived quality of life in automotive workers should be taken into account in managing stress amongst these workers.

   MeSH terms: Adult; Anxiety/epidemiology*; Automobiles; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder/epidemiology*; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology; Psychometrics; Quality of Life*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Stress, Psychological/epidemiology*; Work Schedule Tolerance/psychology; Occupational Health/statistics & numerical data; Workload/psychology*; Men's Health
3. Alpha1A- and alpha1D-adrenoceptors are the major functional subtypes of renal alpha1-adrenoceptors in streptozotocin-induced diabetic and normal Sprague-Dawley rats

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

   Auton Autacoid Pharmacol, 2008 Jan;28(1):1-10.

   PMID: 18257746 DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-8673.2007.00412.x

   Abstract

   1 The present study investigated the effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat renal resistance vessels. 2 Studies on renal haemodynamics were carried out 7 days after the last streptozotocin. Changes in renal blood flow were recorded in response to electrical stimulation of the renal nerve (RNS) and a range of adrenergic agonists; noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE) and methoxamine (MTX), either in the absence or the presence of nitrendipine (Nit), 5-methylurapidil (MEU), chlorethylclonidine (CEC) or BMY 7378. 3 In non-diabetic animals, Nit, MEU and BMY 7378 significantly attenuated renal vasoconstriction induced by adrenergic agonists, while CEC showed a significant accentuation in RNS-induced responses without having a significant effect on responses to adrenergic agonists. In diabetic rats, renal vasoconstriction was also significantly reduced in Nit-, MEU- and BMY 7378-treated groups and CEC potentiated RNS-induced contractions caused a change similar to that observed in non-diabetic rats. BMY 7378 significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated the PE- and MTX-induced vasoconstrictions but did not cause any significant (P > 0.05) alteration in the RNS- and NA-induced responses. 4 The results showed functional co-existence of alpha(1A)- and alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors in the renal vasculature of SD rats irrespective of the presence of diabetes. A possible minor contribution of prejunctional alpha-adrenoceptor subtype has also been suggested in either experimental group, particularly possible functional involvement of alpha(1B)-adrenoceptor subtypes in non-diabetic SD rats.

   MeSH terms: Adrenergic alpha-Agonists/pharmacology; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists/pharmacology; Animals; Clonidine/analogs & derivatives; Clonidine/pharmacology; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism*; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/physiopathology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electric Stimulation; Kidney/blood supply*; Kidney/drug effects; Kidney/innervation; Kidney/metabolism; Kidney/physiopathology; Male; Methoxamine/pharmacology; Nitrendipine/pharmacology; Norepinephrine/pharmacology; Phenylephrine/pharmacology; Piperazines/pharmacology; Renal Artery/drug effects; Renal Artery/metabolism*; Renal Artery/physiopathology; Vasoconstrictor Agents/pharmacology; Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1/drug effects; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1/metabolism*; Rats
4. Fulltext Land clearing and the biofuel carbon debt

   Fargione J, Hill J, Tilman D, Polasky S, Hawthorne P

   Science, 2008 Feb 29;319(5867):1235-8.

   PMID: 18258862 DOI: 10.1126/science.1152747

   Abstract

   Increasing energy use, climate change, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels make switching to low-carbon fuels a high priority. Biofuels are a potential low-carbon energy source, but whether biofuels offer carbon savings depends on how they are produced. Converting rainforests, peatlands, savannas, or grasslands to produce food crop-based biofuels in Brazil, Southeast Asia, and the United States creates a "biofuel carbon debt" by releasing 17 to 420 times more CO2 than the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions that these biofuels would provide by displacing fossil fuels. In contrast, biofuels made from waste biomass or from biomass grown on degraded and abandoned agricultural lands planted with perennials incur little or no carbon debt and can offer immediate and sustained GHG advantages.

   MeSH terms: Brazil; Carbon; Energy-Generating Resources*; Indonesia; Malaysia; Soil*; Time Factors; United States; Greenhouse Effect; Ecosystem*; Biomass*; Crops, Agricultural; Plant Development
5. Effect of luting cements on the compressive strength of Turkom-Cera all-ceramic copings

   Al-Makramani BM, Razak AA, Abu-Hassan MI

   J Contemp Dent Pract, 2008;9(2):33-40.

   PMID: 18264523

   Abstract

   The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of different luting agents on the fracture strength of Turkom-Cera all-ceramic copings.

   MeSH terms: Aluminum Oxide; Analysis of Variance; Bicuspid; Cementation*; Crowns*; Dental Porcelain*; Dental Stress Analysis; Glass Ionomer Cements*; Humans; Materials Testing; Silanes; Zinc Phosphate Cement*; Chi-Square Distribution; Statistics, Nonparametric; Compressive Strength; Resin Cements*
6. Fulltext Metabolic control in type 2 diabetes correlates weakly with patient adherence to oral hypoglycaemic treatment

   Loke SC, Jong M

   Ann Acad Med Singap, 2008 Jan;37(1):15-20.

   PMID: 18265892

   Abstract

   INTRODUCTION: Patient adherence to treatment is viewed as essential to good metabolic control in diabetes. Our primary objective was to determine if self-reported patient adherence correlated strongly with metabolic control. Our secondary objective was to determine the natural grouping of factors which influence adherence.
   
   MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected using a questionnaire set with 5-point Likert scales. Primary analysis was done using Spearman's correlation coefficient between self-reported composite adherence scores and HbA1c. Secondary analysis was done using exploratory factor analysis.
   
   RESULTS: The primary analysis suggests that patient adherence to the treatment regime is weakly correlated to metabolic control. Calculated Spearman's rho was 0.197, with a two-tailed P value of 0.027. The secondary analysis demonstrates the natural clustering of factors that influence patient adherence to treatment. A 6-factor solution was found to account for most of the variance in the data. We also found that feelings of frustration, anxiety, and depression were associated with a lack of knowledge about diabetes treatment. In addition, belief in traditional medicine correlated strongly with ethnicity.
   
   CONCLUSION: A good treatment regime for type 2 diabetes mellitus influences metabolic outcome far more than patient adherence.

   MeSH terms: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism*; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/drug effects; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage*; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome
7. Molecular identification of Candida orthopsilosis isolated from blood culture

   Yong PV, Chong PP, Lau LY, Yeoh RS, Jamal F

   Mycopathologia, 2008 Feb;165(2):81-7.

   PMID: 18266075 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-007-9086-8

   Abstract

   The incidence of candidemia and invasive candidiasis have increased markedly due to the increasing number of immunocompromised patients. There are five major medically important species of Candida with their frequency of isolation in the diminishing order namely Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata and Candida krusei. In addition, there are numerous other species of Candida which differ in their genetic makeup, virulence properties, drug susceptibilities and sugar assimilation capabilities. In this report, an unusual Candida species was isolated from the blood of two leukaemic patients. Conventional culture and biochemical tests identified the Candida species as C. parapsilosis. Using fungal-specific oligonucleotide primers ITS1 and ITS4, we managed to amplify the ribosomal RNA gene and its internal transcribed spacer region from the genomic DNA of these isolates. The PCR products were then purified and subjected to automated DNA sequencing using BLAST and CLUSTAL sequence analysis identified these isolates to be Candida orthopsilosis. Candida orthopsilosis is a new species recently identified in 2005, being morphologically indistinguishable from C. parapsilosis and was previously classified as a subspecies of C. parapsilosis. This report highlights the importance of complementing traditional culture and biochemical-based identification methods with DNA-based molecular assays such as PCR as the latter is more superior in terms of its discriminatory power and speed.

   MeSH terms: Base Sequence; Candida/classification; Candida/genetics*; Candida/isolation & purification*; Candidiasis/blood; Candidiasis/microbiology; Female; Humans; Leukemia/microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sequence Analysis, DNA; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics
8. Socio-economic variations in tobacco consumption, intention to quit and self-efficacy to quit among male smokers in Thailand and Malaysia: results from the International Tobacco Control-South-East Asia (ITC-SEA) survey

   Siahpush M, Borland R, Yong HH, Kin F, Sirirassamee B

   Addiction, 2008 Mar;103(3):502-8.

   PMID: 18269370 DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02113.x

   Abstract

   Aim To examine the association of socio-economic position (education, income and employment status) with cigarette consumption, intention to quit and self-efficacy to quit among male smokers in Thailand and Malaysia. Design and setting The data were based on a survey of adult smokers conducted in early 2005 in Thailand and Malaysia as part of the International Tobacco Control-South-East Asia (ITC-SEA) project. Participants A total of 1846 men in Thailand and 1906 men in Malaysia. Measurement Participants were asked questions on daily cigarette consumption, intention to quit and self-efficacy to quit in face-to-face interviews. Findings Analyses were based on multivariate regression models that adjusted for all three socio-economic indicators. In Thailand, higher level of education was associated strongly with not having self-efficacy, associated weakly with having an intention to quit and was not associated with cigarette consumption. Higher income was associated strongly with having self-efficacy, associated weakly with high cigarette consumption and was not associated with having an intention to quit. Being employed was associated strongly with having an intention to quit and was not associated with cigarette consumption or self-efficacy. In Malaysia, higher level of education was not associated with any of the outcomes. Higher income was associated strongly with having self-efficacy, and was not associated with the other outcomes. Being employed was associated moderately with higher cigarette consumption and was not associated with the other outcomes. Conclusion Socio-economic and cultural conditions, as well as tobacco control policies and tobacco industry activities, shape the determinants of smoking behaviour and beliefs. Existing knowledge from high-income countries about disparities in smoking should not be generalized readily to other countries.

   MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Health Surveys; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Smoking/epidemiology*; Smoking/psychology; Socioeconomic Factors; Thailand/epidemiology; Smoking Cessation/psychology*; Self Efficacy*; Intention*
9. Multiresidue analysis of pesticides in fruits and vegetables using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatographic methods

   Lal A, Tan G, Chai M

   Anal Sci, 2008 Feb;24(2):231-6.

   PMID: 18270414

   Abstract

   A new extraction and cleanup procedure with gas chromatography was developed for the sensitive determination of acephate, dimethoate, malathion, diazinon, quinalphos, chlorpyrifos, profenofos, alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, chlorothalonil and carbaryl using 1-chloro-4-fluorobenzene as an internal standard in fruits and vegetables. Several extracting and eluting solvents for solid-phase extraction were investigated. The overall extracting solvent with a mixture of acetone:ethyl acetate:hexane (10:80:10, v/v/v) and a eluting solvent of 5% acetone in hexane used with the RPC18 cartridge gave the best recovery for all of the investigated pesticides, and minimized the interference from co-extractants. Under the optimal extraction and clean-up conditions, recoveries of 85 - 99% with RSD < 5.0% (n = 3) for most of the pesticides at the 0.02 - 0.5 mg/kg level were obtained. The limit of detection was between 0.005 - 0.01 mg/kg and the limit of quantification was 0.01 mg/kg. This analytical procedure was characterized with high accuracy and acceptable sensitivity to meet requirements for monitoring pesticides in crops.

   MeSH terms: Chromatography, Gas/instrumentation; Chromatography, Gas/methods; Food Analysis/instrumentation; Food Analysis/methods*; Food Contamination/analysis*; Fruit/chemistry*; Pesticides/analysis*; Sensitivity and Specificity; Time Factors; Vegetables/chemistry*; Reproducibility of Results; Solid Phase Extraction/instrumentation; Solid Phase Extraction/methods*
10. Optimization of headspace solid-phase microextraction for the determination of pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits

    Chai M, Tan G, Lal A

    Anal Sci, 2008 Feb;24(2):273-6.

    PMID: 18270422

    Abstract

    A headspace solid-phase microextraction method has been developed for the determination of 8 pesticides in vegetables and fruits by using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. Two types of fibers (polyacrylate, 85 microm and polydimethylsiloxane, 100 microm) have been assayed and compared. The main factors: extraction and desorption parameters, ionic strength, and the effects of dilution and organic solvents, were studied and optimized. The optimized procedures resulted in more than 80% recovery for all the investigated vegetable and fruit samples with RSD values below 10%.

    MeSH terms: Acetone/chemistry; Acrylates/chemistry; Methanol/chemistry; Chromatography, Gas/methods; Dimethylpolysiloxanes/chemistry; Electrons; Food Contamination/analysis*; Fruit/chemistry*; Pesticide Residues/analysis*; Sensitivity and Specificity; Silicones/chemistry; Sodium Chloride/chemistry; Time Factors; Vegetables/chemistry*; Water/chemistry; Reproducibility of Results; Solid Phase Extraction/methods*
11. Self-perceived depression, anxiety, stress and their relationships with psychosocial job factors in male automotive assembly workers

    Edimansyah BA, Rusli BN, Naing L, Mohamed Rusli BA, Winn T, Tengku Mohamed Ariff BR

    Ind Health, 2008 Jan;46(1):90-100.

    PMID: 18270454

    Abstract

    Depression, anxiety and stress have been recognized as important mental outcome measures in stressful working settings. The present study explores the prevalence of self-perceived depression, anxiety and stress; and their relationships with psychosocial job factors. A cross-sectional study involving 728 male automotive assembly workers was conducted in two major automotive assembly plants in Malaysia using the validated Malay versions of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) and Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Based on the DASS cut-off of > or =78 percentile scores, the prevalence of self-perceived depression, anxiety and stress was 35.4%, 47.2% and 31.1%, respectively. Four (0.5%), 29 (4.0%) and 2 (0.3%) workers, respectively, reported extremely severe self-perceived depression, anxiety and stress. Multiple linear regression analyses, controlling for age, education, salary, duration of work and marital status, revealed that psychological job demand, job insecurity and hazardous condition were positively associated with DASS-Depression, DASS-Anxiety and DASS-Stress; supervisor support was inversely associated with DASS-Depression and DASS-Stress. We suggest that reducing psychological job demand, job insecurity and hazardous condition factors may improve the self-perceived depression, anxiety and stress in male automotive assembly workers. Supervisor support is protective for self-perceived depression and stress.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Anxiety/epidemiology*; Automobiles*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression/epidemiology*; Humans; Industry*; Male; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology; Quality of Life; Stress, Psychological/epidemiology*; Occupational Health/statistics & numerical data; Workplace/psychology*
12. Cytotoxic xanthones from Garcinia penangiana Pierre

    Jabit ML, Khalid R, Abas F, Shaari K, Hui LS, Stanslas J, et al.

    Z Naturforsch C J Biosci, 2008 2 16;62(11-12):786-92.

    PMID: 18274278

    Abstract

    Two new xanthones, characterized as 4-(1,1-dimethylprop-2-enyl)-1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (1) and penangianaxanthone (2), with three known xanthones, cudratricusxanthone H (3), macluraxanthone C (4) and gerontoxanthone C (5), as well as friedelin and stigmasterol were isolated from the leaves of Garcinia penangiana. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison of the NMR data with the literature ones. Significant cytotoxicity against DU-145, MCF-7 and NCI-H460 cancer cell lines was demonstrated by compounds 1-5, with IC50 values ranging from 3.5 to 72.8 microM.

    MeSH terms: Malaysia; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Garcinia/chemistry*; Xanthones/analysis*; Xanthones/toxicity*; Xanthones/chemistry
13. Oral celecoxib versus oral diclofenac for post-perineal repair analgesia after spontaneous vaginal birth: a randomised trial

    Lim SS, Tan PC, Sockalingam JK, Omar SZ

    Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 2008 Feb;48(1):71-7.

    PMID: 18275575 DOI: 10.1111/j.1479-828X.2007.00808.x

    Abstract

    To compare oral celecoxib with oral diclofenac as pain reliever after perineal repair following normal vaginal birth.

    MeSH terms: Celecoxib; Administration, Oral; Adult; Analgesia; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/administration & dosage*; Diclofenac/administration & dosage*; Episiotomy; Female; Humans; Pain Measurement; Perineum/injuries; Perineum/surgery*; Pregnancy; Pyrazoles/administration & dosage*; Rupture; Sulfonamides/administration & dosage*; Delivery, Obstetric/adverse effects*
14. Fulltext Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) 30-bp deletion and Xho I-loss is associated with type III nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Malaysia

    See HS, Yap YY, Yip WK, Seow HF

    World J Surg Oncol, 2008;6:18.

    PMID: 18275617 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7819-6-18

    Abstract

    Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a human epithelial tumour with high prevalence amongst Chinese in Southern China and South East Asia and is associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The viral genome harbours an oncogene, namely, the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) gene and known variants such as the 30-bp deletion and loss of XhoI restriction site have been found. Less is known about the relationship between these variants and the population characteristics and histological type.

    MeSH terms: Base Sequence; Binding Sites; China/ethnology; Cytoskeletal Proteins; DNA, Viral; Herpesvirus 4, Human/genetics*; Female; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Mutation; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/blood; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/genetics*; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/epidemiology; Pilot Projects; Genetic Variation; Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics*; Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific/metabolism*; Incidence; Gene Deletion*; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics*; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; LIM Domain Proteins
15. Salmon poisoning disease in two Malayan sun bears

    Gai JJ, Marks SL

    J Am Vet Med Assoc, 2008 Feb 15;232(4):586-8.

    PMID: 18279100 DOI: 10.2460/javma.232.4.586

    Abstract

    2 captive sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) were evaluated because of acute onset of vomiting, mucoid diarrhea, lethargy, and anorexia 1 week after eating live trout from a northern California reservoir.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use; Antiplatyhelmintic Agents/therapeutic use; Ursidae*; Doxycycline/therapeutic use; Feces/parasitology; Female; Food Contamination; Foodborne Diseases/diagnosis; Foodborne Diseases/drug therapy; Foodborne Diseases/veterinary*; Malaysia; Male; Oxytetracycline/therapeutic use; Parasite Egg Count/veterinary; Praziquantel/therapeutic use; Trematoda/isolation & purification; Trematoda/microbiology*; Trout/microbiology*; Trout/parasitology*; Famotidine/therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Neorickettsia/isolation & purification*
16. Fulltext Combined use of maxillomandibular swing approach and neurosurgical ultrasonic aspirator in the management of extensive clival chordoma: a case report

    Hassan S, Abdullah JM, Wan Din SJ, Idris Z

    J Med Case Rep, 2008;2:49.

    PMID: 18279530 DOI: 10.1186/1752-1947-2-49

    Abstract

    Chordoma is a rare malignant tumour with an incidence of metastasis of less than 10 percent. Usually arising from clivus its posterior extension may involve the brainstem before presenting as nasal mass and obstruction. Surgery is the main mode of treatment with adjuvant radiotherapy. However surgery is rarely possible for a large intracranial lesion.
17. Phylogeny of Hopea (Dipterocarpaceae) inferred from chloroplast DNA and nuclear PgiC sequences

    Choong CY, Wickneswari R, Norwati M, Abbott RJ

    Mol Phylogenet Evol, 2008 Sep;48(3):1238-43.

    PMID: 18280183 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2008.01.004

    MeSH terms: Chloroplasts/metabolism; Cytosol/enzymology; Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase/genetics*; Models, Genetic; Phylogeny; Plant Proteins/genetics*; Ploidies; Species Specificity; Genes, Plant; DNA, Chloroplast/genetics*; Gene Duplication; Dipterocarpaceae/genetics*
18. Equilibrium, kinetics and mechanism of malachite green adsorption on activated carbon prepared from bamboo by K(2)CO(3) activation and subsequent gasification with CO(2)

    Hameed BH, El-Khaiary MI

    J Hazard Mater, 2008 Sep 15;157(2-3):344-51.

    PMID: 18280648 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.12.105

    Abstract

    In this work, the adsorption of malachite green (MG) was studied on activated carbon prepared from bamboo by chemical activation with K(2)CO(3) and physical activation with CO(2) (BAC). Adsorption studies were conducted in the range of 25-300 mg/L initial MG concentration and at temperature of 30 degrees C. The experimental data were analyzed by the Freundlich isotherm, the Langmuir isotherm, and the multilayer adsorption isotherm. Equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir model with maximum adsorption capacity of 263.58 mg/g. The rates of adsorption were found to confirm to pseudo-second-order kinetics with good correlation and the overall rate of dye uptake was found to be controlled by pore diffusion throughout the entire adsorption period. The results indicate that the BAC could be used to effectively adsorb MG from aqueous solutions.

    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Carbon Dioxide/chemistry; Carbonates/chemistry; Charcoal/chemistry*; Kinetics; Potassium/chemistry; Rosaniline Dyes/chemistry*; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry*; Molecular Structure; Water Purification/methods; Sasa/chemistry
19. Identification and analysis of a prepro-chicken gonadotropin releasing hormone II (preprocGnRH-II) precursor in the Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer, based on an EST-based assessment of its brain transcriptome

    Tan SL, Mohd-Adnan A, Mohd-Yusof NY, Forstner MR, Wan KL

    Gene, 2008 Mar 31;411(1-2):77-86.

    PMID: 18280674 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2008.01.008

    Abstract

    Using a novel library of 5637 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the brain tissue of the Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer), we first characterized the brain transcriptome for this economically important species. The ESTs generated from the brain of L. calcarifer yielded 2410 unique transcripts (UTs) which comprise of 982 consensi and 1428 singletons. Based on database similarity, 1005 UTs (41.7%) can be assigned putative functions and were grouped into 12 functional categories related to the brain function. Amongst others, we have identified genes that are putatively involved in energy metabolism, ion pumps and channels, synapse related genes, neurotransmitter and its receptors, stress induced genes and hormone related genes. Subsequently we selected a putative preprocGnRH-II precursor for further characterization. The complete cDNA sequence of the gene obtained was found to code for an 85-amino acid polypeptide that significantly matched preprocGnRH-II precursor sequences from other vertebrates, and possesses structural characteristics that are similar to that of other species, consisting of a signal peptide (23 residues), a GnRH decapeptide (10 residues), an amidation/proteolytic-processing signal (glycine-lysine-argine) and a GnRH associated peptide (GAP) (49 residues). Phylogenetic analysis showed that this putative L. calcarifer preprocGnRH-II sequence is a member of the subcohort Euteleostei and divergent from the sequences of the subcohort Otocephalan. These findings provide compelling evidence that the putative L. calcarifer preprocGnRH-II precursor obtained in this study is orthologous to that of other vertebrates. The functional prediction of this preprocGnRH-II precursor sequence through in silico analyses emphasizes the effectiveness of the EST approach in gene identification in L. calcarifer.

    MeSH terms: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Brain Chemistry*; Chickens; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/genetics*; Molecular Sequence Data; Perciformes/genetics*; Phylogeny; Protein Precursors/genetics*; RNA Precursors; Gene Expression; Sequence Alignment; Protein Isoforms; Expressed Sequence Tags*; Gene Expression Profiling
20. Giving a hand for Nias: a testimony of relief work during the Nias earthquake disaster

    Idrose AM

    J Emerg Med, 2008 Feb;34(2):209-11.

    PMID: 18282539 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.05.029

    MeSH terms: Disasters*; Emergency Medical Services*; Humans; Malaysia; Relief Work*