Browse publications by year: 2008

  1. Shareef BT, Ang KT, Naik VR
    Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal, 2008 Nov;13(11):E693-6.
    PMID: 18978708
    Objective: The main purpose of this study is to emphasize the relevance of exfoliative cytology as an additional tool to aid in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

    Materials & methods: This is a comparative cross-sectional study. Oral smears were obtained from 10 diabetic patients and 10 healthy individuals. These smears were stained with Papanicolaou stain. The nuclear (NA) and cytoplasmic (CA) areas of 20 integral cells predominant in the buccal mucosa were measured using the Leica Qwin Version 2.1 image analysis system (LEICA GMBH GERMANY).The cytoplasmic/nuclear ratio (C/N) was then calculated. For comparing cytomorphometric parameters (NA, CA & C/N ratio) the Mann-Whitney test was used. Significance was set at P < or = 0.05.

    Results: The morphologic alterations seen in buccal mucosal epithelial cells of the diabetic group were nuclear enlargement, karyorrhexis, binucleation and infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The NA was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the diabetic group. The CA between these two groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The C/N mean was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the diabetic group.

    Conclusion: Exfoliative cytology is useful as an additional tool to aid in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis*; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa/cytology*
  2. Yusof ZY, Han LJ, San PP, Ramli AS
    J Dent Educ, 2008 Nov;72(11):1333-42.
    PMID: 18981212
    The objective of this study was to assess dentists' knowledge and use of evidence-based practice (EBP), including their attitudes toward and perceptions of barriers that limit the use of EBP. A cross-sectional survey was used with self-administered questionnaires involving dental practitioners in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. One hundred ninety-three replies were returned, for a response rate of 50.3 percent. More than two-thirds (135/193, 69.9 percent) of the respondents had heard of EBP. Out of the 135 respondents who had heard of EBP, a majority agreed it was a decision-making process based on evidence (127/135, 94.2 percent) and involved a series of steps from formulating the research question, locating and assessing the evidence, to applying it if suitable (129/135, 95.6 percent). Out of the 135 respondents who had heard of EBP, a high percentage agreed that EBP improved their knowledge and skills (132/135, 97.8 percent) and treatment quality (132/135, 97.8 percent). For advice, a majority of the 135 respondents frequently consulted friends and colleagues (123/135, 91.1 percent), made referrals (120/135, 88.9 percent), consulted textbooks (112/135, 83.0 percent), and referred to electronic databases (90/135, 66.7 percent). Out of the 135 respondents, many perceived EBP as very important (59/135, 43.7 percent) and important (58/135, 43.0 percent) and were interested to learn further information about EBP (132/135, 97.8 percent). The main reported barriers were lack of time (87/135, 64.4 percent), financial constraints (54/135, 40.0 percent), and lack of knowledge (38/135, 28.1 percent). A majority of the 135 respondents had knowledge of and positive attitudes towards EBP. However, due to barriers, a majority of them preferred colleagues, textbooks, and referrals for advice instead of seeking evidence from electronic databases.
    MeSH terms: Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence; Cross-Sectional Studies; Decision Making; Dental Care; Dentists*; Education, Dental; Ethnic Groups; Female; Foreign Professional Personnel; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Malaysia; Male; Quality of Health Care; Referral and Consultation; Research Design; Textbooks as Topic; Time Factors; Databases as Topic
  3. Goh YH
    Perit Dial Int, 2008 11 5;28(6):626-31.
    PMID: 18981393
    BACKGROUND: Omental wrap is a common cause of catheter obstruction. Current laparoscopic techniques for correcting obstruction include omentopexy and omentectomy. This study evaluates the efficacy of a new laparoscopic technique for revision of obstructed peritoneal dialysis catheters.

    METHODS: Between November 2005 and November 2006, the technique was applied in 18 patients (6 female, 12 male; median age 50 years, range 16 - 73 years) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis with catheter malfunction secondary to omental wrap. Pneumoperitoneum was induced under general anesthesia. Three ports were inserted. The catheter was released from the omentum and repositioned in the pelvis. The omentum was then folded onto itself in a cephalad direction using silk sutures. This shortened the omentum. The risk of catheter migration was minimized with a polypropylene sling passed through the abdominal wall and around the catheter, then knotted subcutaneously. The sling allowed catheter removal without a new laparoscopy. The outcomes were prospectively evaluated.

    RESULTS: Median operating time was 90 minutes (range 35 - 160 minutes). Adhesiolysis was performed in 4 patients: 1 patient had port-site leakage of dialysate, which settled with abdominal rest; 1 patient had bleeding during adhesiolysis and laparoscopic hemostasis was successful; 1 patient had recurrent catheter obstruction 2 weeks post-operatively and was converted to hemodialysis; and 1 patient had recurrent malfunction secondary to small bowel wrap after 5.5 months; re-salvage was successful. The success rate of the first salvage procedure was 89%(16/18). The catheters were still functioning after a mean follow-up of 16.5 +/- 6.3 months (range 0.5 - 24 months). The 1-year catheter survival rate was 83.3%.

    CONCLUSIONS: Omental folding is a safe and effective technique for salvaging peritoneal dialysis catheters.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Catheterization; Equipment Failure; Female; Foreign-Body Migration/surgery; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Omentum/surgery*; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/instrumentation*; Laparoscopy/methods*; Young Adult
  4. Ong HT, Cheah JS
    Chin Med J (Engl), 2008 Aug 20;121(16):1588-94.
    PMID: 18982874
    The aim of this review is to objectively access the trial evidence on the role of omega-3, red yeast rice and garlic in preventing clinical cardiovascular events. Given the large number of clinical trials favoring statin use in cardiovascular disease, it is important to see if evidence is available for these supplements and whether they could replace statin therapy.
    MeSH terms: Biological Products/administration & dosage*; Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control*; Garlic*; Humans; Phytotherapy*; Prospective Studies; Fatty Acids, Omega-3/administration & dosage*; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
  5. Moorthy M, Fakurazi S, Ithnin H
    Pak J Biol Sci, 2008 Aug 01;11(15):1901-8.
    PMID: 18983031
    This study was conducted to identify and to compare the mitochondrial morphological alterations in livers of rats treated with various doses of diclofenac and ibuprofen. Hundred and forty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were dosed with 3, 5 and 10 mg kg(-1) diclofenac and ibuprofen in saline via intraperitoneal injection for 15 days. The control group was administered with saline in a similar manner. Four rats were euthanised every 3 days until day 15. While 200 mg kg(-1) diclofenac and ibuprofen-treated rats (n = 4) were euthanized 10 h posttreatment. The livers were removed, cleaned and a section across the right lobe was taken and fixed in 4% (v/v) glutaraldehyde for electron microscopy analysis and the remaining samples were kept at -80 degrees C for Western blot analysis. Five milligram per kilogram and 10 mg kg(-1) diclofenac-administered rats for 15 days revealed the presence of enlarged mitochondria, irregular and ruptured mitochondrial membranes. While rats administered with 10 mg kg(-1) ibuprofen also showed the presence of mitochondria with irregular membrane structure and ruptured membranes. Western blotting analysis of mitochondrial fractions revealed the expression of cytochrome c in all samples and complete absence of cytochrome c expression in the cytosolic fraction of all samples after day 15. Analysis in 200 mg kg(-1) diclofenac and ibuprofen-treated groups, revealed expression of cytochrome c in both mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions. This observation indicates that both diclofenac and ibuprofen may alter the morphology of mitochondria, leading to cytochrome c release into the cytosol. Further studies needs to be conducted to investigate on the activity of the mitochondria following both treatments.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Cytosol/enzymology; Diclofenac/administration & dosage; Diclofenac/pharmacology*; Ibuprofen/administration & dosage; Ibuprofen/pharmacology*; Liver/enzymology; Male; Mitochondria/drug effects*; Mitochondria/enzymology; Mitochondria/ultrastructure; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Cytochromes c/metabolism; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Rats
  6. Ooi JS, Abdul Rahman MR, Shah SA, Dimon MZ
    Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, 2008 Dec;16(6):468-72.
    PMID: 18984756
    A prospective study was carried out to compare the outcomes of patients with preexisting non-dialysis-dependent renal dysfunction who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. Elective off-pump coronary artery bypass was performed in 29 patients with renal dysfunction. Their results were compared with those of a similar group of 35 patients who underwent the conventional on-pump coronary artery grafting. There was a significant deterioration in creatinine clearance in the on-pump group on days 1, 2, and 4 after surgery, while creatinine clearance in the off-pump group remained close to the baseline level. Both groups had improved to the preoperative creatinine clearance values on follow-up at 4 weeks. It was concluded that off-pump surgery provided better renal protection than the conventional on-pump technique in patients with preexisting non-dialysis-dependent renal dysfunction.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Coronary Artery Bypass/adverse effects*; Coronary Artery Disease/complications; Coronary Artery Disease/physiopathology; Coronary Artery Disease/surgery*; Creatinine/blood; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Humans; Kidney Diseases/complications*; Kidney Diseases/physiopathology; Kidney Diseases/surgery; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump/adverse effects*
  7. Wang J, Luo E, Hirai M, Arai M, Abdul-Manan E, Mohamed-Isa Z, et al.
    Acta Med Okayama, 2008 Oct;62(5):327-32.
    PMID: 18985093
    The Malaysian people consist of several ethnic groups including the Malay, the Chinese, the Indian and the Orang Asli (aboriginal Malaysians). We collected blood samples from outpatients of 2 hospitals in the State of Selangor and identified 27 glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient subjects among these ethnic groups. In the Malay, G6PD Viangchan (871GA, 1311CT, IVS11 nt93TC) and G6PD Mahidol (487GA) types, which are common in Cambodia and Myanmar, respectively, were detected. The Malay also had both subtypes of G6PD Mediterranean:the Mediterranean subtype (563CT, 1311CT, IVS11 nt93TC) and the Indo-Pakistan subtype (563CT, 1311C, IVS11 nt93T). In Malaysians of Chinese background, G6PD Kaiping (1388GA), G6PD Canton (1376GT) and G6PD Gaohe (95AG), which are common in China, were detected. Indian Malaysians possessed G6PD Mediterranean (Indo-Pakistan subtype) and G6PD Namoru (208TC), a few cases of which had been reported in Vanuatu and many in India. Our findings indicate that G6PD Namoru occurs in India and flows to Malaysia up to Vanuatu. We also discovered 5 G6PD-deficient cases with 2 nucleotide substitutions of 1311CT and IVS11 nt93TC, but without amino-acid substitution in the G6PD molecule. These results indicate that the Malaysian people have incorporated many ancestors in terms of G6PD variants.
    MeSH terms: China/ethnology; Female; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase/genetics*; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/blood; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/ethnology; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/genetics*; Humans; India/ethnology; Malaysia; Male; Genetic Variation/genetics*
  8. Ibrahim K, Daud SS, Seah YL, Yeoh AE, Ariffin H, Malaysia-Singapore Leukemia Study Group
    Ann Clin Lab Sci, 2008;38(4):338-43.
    PMID: 18988926
    Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a heterogenous disease in which oncogene fusion transcripts are known to influence the biological behaviour of the different ALL subtypes. Screening for prognostically important transcripts is an important diagnostic step in treatment stratification and prognostication of affected patients. We describe a SYBR-Green real-time multiplex PCR assay to screen for transcripts TEL-AML1, E2A-PBX1, MLL-AF4, and the two breakpoints of BCR-ABL (p190 and p210). Validation of the assay was based on conventional karyotyping results. This new assay provides a rapid, sensitive, and accurate detection method for prognostically important transcripts in childhood ALL.
    MeSH terms: Child; Female; Humans; Karyotyping; Male; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnosis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics; RNA, Messenger/metabolism; RNA, Neoplasm/metabolism; Translocation, Genetic; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics*; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics*; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics*; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit/genetics*; Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/genetics*; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics*
  9. bin Sabir Husin Athar PP, bte Ahmad Norhan N, bin Saim L, bin Md Rose I, bte Ramli R
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 2008 Sep;37(9):788-3.
    PMID: 18989497
    INTRODUCTION: Metastatic adenocarcinoma from the gastrointestinal tract to the sinonasal tract is rare. The histological morphology of this lesion is indistinguishable from the colonic variant of primary sinus adenocarcinoma or intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (ITAC).

    CLINICAL PICTURE: This is a report of a case of metastatic adenocarcinoma of colorectal origin to the paranasal sinuses in a 52-year-old female who was previously treated for adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. A histologic study of the surgical specimen from the sinonasal cavity demonstrated a tumour identical to the patient's prior primary tumour of the colon. The sinonasal neoplastic tissue showed marked positivity for carcinoembryonic antigen and expressed cytokeratin 20, which differentiates metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma from ITAC.

    TREATMENT/OUTCOME: The patient received palliative radiation but died 3 months after the diagnosis.

    CONCLUSION: Distinguishing metastatic adenocarcinoma from gastrointestinal tract from ITAC can be difficult. In view of the resemblance, immunohistochemical staining can help in differentiating them. It is important to recognise these as metastatic lesions as the treatment is mainly palliative.

    MeSH terms: Adenocarcinoma/metabolism; Adenocarcinoma/radiotherapy; Adenocarcinoma/secondary*; Carcinoembryonic Antigen/metabolism; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Palliative Care; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms/metabolism; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms/radiotherapy; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms/secondary*; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology*; Fatal Outcome; Keratin-20/metabolism
  10. Salam A, Zainuddin Z, Latiff AA, Ng SP, Soelaiman IN, Mohamad N, et al.
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 2008 Sep;37(9):814-6.
    PMID: 18989506
    MeSH terms: Clinical Competence*; Competency-Based Education*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Collection; Humans; Malaysia; Postal Service; Students, Medical*
  11. Shameem H, Yip CH, Fong E
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2008 Jul-Sep;9(3):409-12.
    PMID: 18990011
    INTRODUCTION: Mastectomy is an essential but disfiguring operation in cancer treatment. The negative impact on body image can however be prevented by immediate reconstruction.
    AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the reasons why patients choose to have or not to have immediate breast reconstruction.
    METHODOLOGY: This is a cross sectional descriptive study of breast cancer patients post-mastectomy who had and had not undergone immediate breast reconstruction. The patients were asked a series of questions to ascertain the reasons why they chose or did not choose immediate breast reconstruction.
    RESULTS: 136 patients in total were interviewed of which 23 had undergone immediate breast reconstruction. 36.8% of the patients had been offered reconstruction. In the non-reconstructed group, the main reason for not having reconstruction were fear of additional surgery. In the group that had reconstruction done, the main reason was to feel whole again. Low on the list were reasons such as trying to improve marital or sexual relations.
    CONCLUSION: Only a third of patients undergoing mastectomy were offered immediate reconstruction. In public hospitals in developing countries, limited operating time and availability of plastic surgery services are major barriers to more women being offered the option.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Body Image; Breast Neoplasms/pathology; Breast Neoplasms/surgery*; Combined Modality Therapy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Graft Survival; Humans; Malaysia; Mastectomy/methods*; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Self Concept; Time Factors; Mammaplasty/methods*; Mammaplasty/statistics & numerical data; Treatment Outcome; Patient Satisfaction/statistics & numerical data*; Risk Assessment
  12. Velaiutham S, Taib NA, Ng KL, Yoong BK, Yip CH
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2008 Jul-Sep;9(3):445-8.
    PMID: 18990019
    INTRODUCTION: CA15-3 is a well-known tumour marker for breast cancer. Currently it is not recommended for screening or diagnosis of breast cancer and its main application is in monitoring response to treatment in women with metastatic breast cancer. The aim of this study was to correlate serum CA15-3 at presentation with the stage of disease and overall survival in women with breast cancer in the University Malaya Medical Centre.

    METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 437 women who had CA15-3 levels determined at initial presentation of breast cancer to UMMC between Jan 1999 and Oct 2003.

    RESULTS: Of those patients who were adequately staged, CA15-3 was found to be elevated (defined as >51 U/ml) in 0% of Stage 1, 7.9% of Stage 2, 36.7% of Stage 3 and 68.6% of Stage 4 cases. In a subset of 331 patients with survival data, patients with normal CA15-3 had a 85% five year overall survival rate compared to 38% in their counterparts with elevation of the tumor marker. The level of elevation was also significantly related to survival; patients with values more than 200 U/ml exhibited only a 28% five year survival. The association of elevated CA15-3 at initial presentation with poor outcome was maintained over univariate and multivariate analyses.

    CONCLUSION: Estimation of CA15-3 at presentation of breast cancer is important as it is an independent prognostic indicator and may prompt the physician to investigate for metastases if elevated.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Breast Neoplasms/blood; Breast Neoplasms/mortality*; Breast Neoplasms/pathology*; Breast Neoplasms/surgery; Female; Hospitals, University; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Malaysia; Mastectomy/methods*; Neoplasm Staging; Predictive Value of Tests; Preoperative Care/methods; Probability; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Biomarkers, Tumor/blood*; Cohort Studies; Multivariate Analysis; Confidence Intervals; Proportional Hazards Models; Survival Analysis; Mucin-1/blood; Mucin-1/genetics; Risk Assessment; Disease-Free Survival
  13. Othman NH, Nor ZM, Biswal BM
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2008 Jul-Sep;9(3):473-8.
    PMID: 18990023
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the trend of cancer cases in one major hospital in Kelantan over a 20 year period from 1987 to 2007 and to speculate the change in trend due to the socio-economic and other health status in the state.

    METHODOLOGY: All data on clinically diagnosed cancer cases in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia [HUSM] were retrieved from the hospital medical records. The cancers were classified according to ICD10 and scrutinized to avoid duplicate or more entries. The increment in cancer incidence was calculated based on total numbers of cancer cases per each 5-6 year period.

    RESULTS: A total of 12,228 solid cancers were diagnosed during the period. There is an increment of 20.1% for 1991-1996 from 1987-1990 period, 67.4% for 1997-2001 from 1991-1996 period and 305.9% for 2002-2007 from the 1997-2001 period. The rise was steep in the last 5-6 years. After excluding referred cases from states outside Kelantan, the increments were 20.1%, 67.4% and 143.6% for the consecutive 5-6 year periods. The predominant rising trends were seen for cancers of the female organs, digestive tract and endocrine organs.

    CONCLUSION: Cancer cases in HUSM are showing a rising trend, associated with increasing prevalence of smoking, obesity and diabetes in the community served by the hospital. Since HUSM is the only hospital managing cancer in the state of Kelantan, to reduce cancer incidence in the state, life-style issues need to be addressed.
    MeSH terms: Diabetes Mellitus/diagnosis; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology; Female; Health Surveys; Hospitals, University; Humans; Life Style*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Medical Records; Neoplasms/diagnosis*; Neoplasms/epidemiology*; Obesity/diagnosis; Obesity/epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Smoking/adverse effects; Smoking/epidemiology; Socioeconomic Factors; Global Health*; Prevalence; Survival Analysis; Risk Assessment
  14. Dhillon HK, Singh HJ, Mahmood NM, Ghaffar NA
    Climacteric, 2008;11(6):518-24.
    PMID: 18991079 DOI: 10.1080/13697130802491031
    OBJECTIVE:
    Documentation of self-care actions for vasomotor complaints by some postmenopausal women in Kelantan.

    METHODS:
    A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 326 naturally menopausal women to determine the prevalence and types of self-care actions taken for vasomotor complaints.

    RESULTS:
    Fractionally more women took self-care actions for night sweats than hot flushes. The choice of self-care action depended upon the area of residence and the educational level. The most common action taken for night sweats was to sleep either in an air-conditioned room or under a ceiling fan. About one-quarter of the complainants used hormone replacement therapy, the majority of who were urban-living and with secondary education. Only a small fraction used traditional remedies.

    CONCLUSION:
    A large proportion of women complaining of vasomotor complaints took self-care actions and the choice of self-care actions depended on the area of residence and educational level. The use of modern remedies and less of the traditional remedies was more common amongst the more affluent and educated women than women in rural areas who either did nothing or resorted to the more simple type of self-care actions. Contrary to our expectations, the use of traditional remedies was low.
    MeSH terms: Female; Health Status; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Self Care/psychology; Self Care/statistics & numerical data*; Sweating*; Vasomotor System/physiopathology; Prevalence; Women's Health; Postmenopause*; Hot Flashes/epidemiology*; Hot Flashes/prevention & control
  15. Hazni H, Ahmad N, Hitotsuyanagi Y, Takeya K, Choo CY
    Planta Med, 2008 Dec;74(15):1802-5.
    PMID: 18991205 DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1088340
    The methanolic extract of the leaves of CASSIA ALATA was sequentially partitioned in increasing polarity to afford the hexane, chloroform, butanol and residual extract. Crude extracts were evaluated against MRSA using the agar well diffusion assay. The butanol and chloroform extracts both exhibited inhibition against MRSA with inhibition indexes of 1.03 +/- 0.16 and 0.78 +/- 0.07 at the concentration of 50 mg/mL. The butanol extracts were further purified using silica gel and reverse phase chromatography to afford kaempferol ( 1), kaempferol 3- O-beta-glucopyranoside ( 2), kaempferol 3- O-gentiobioside ( 3) and aloe emodin ( 4). The four constituents showed varying degrees of inhibition against MRSA. Both 1 and 4 exhibited MIC (50) values of 13.0 +/- 1.5 microg/mL and 12.0 +/- 1.5 microg/mL, respectively. The kaempferol glycosides 2 and 3 were less active with MIC (50) values of 83.0 +/- 0.9 microg/mL and 560.0 +/- 1.2 microg/mL, respectively. A free hydroxyl group at C-3 of the flavonol structure is a structural requirement for the inhibition of MRSA.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Cassia/chemistry*; Phytotherapy*; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plant Extracts/isolation & purification; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Molecular Structure; Plant Leaves/chemistry; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects*
  16. Loh KY, Nalliah S
    Med Educ, 2008 Nov;42(11):1127-8.
    PMID: 18991988 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03217.x
    MeSH terms: Education, Medical, Undergraduate/methods*; Education, Medical, Undergraduate/standards; Educational Measurement/methods*; Educational Measurement/standards; Ethics, Medical/education*; Great Britain; Humans; Malaysia; Primary Health Care*
  17. Mazlyzam AL, Aminuddin BS, Saim L, Ruszymah BH
    Arch Med Res, 2008 Nov;39(8):743-52.
    PMID: 18996287 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2008.09.001
    Standard fibroblast culture medium usually contains fetal bovine serum (FBS). In theory, unknown risks of infection from bovine disease or immune reaction to foreign proteins may occur if standard culture method is used for future human tissue-engineering development. Human serum (HS) theoretically would be another choice in providing a safer approach and autologous clinically reliable cells.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Animals; Cattle; Cell Cycle/physiology; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Fibroblasts/cytology; Fibroblasts/physiology*; Humans; Skin/cytology*; Gene Expression; Cell Culture Techniques*; Tissue Engineering*; Serum/metabolism*; Cell Shape
  18. Zarnowski R, Jaromin A, Certik M, Czabany T, Fontaine J, Jakubik T, et al.
    Z Naturforsch C J Biosci, 2008 11 13;59(5-6):321-6.
    PMID: 18998394
    The oil of Adenanthera pavonina L. seeds was analysed by chromatographic and instrumental means. The oil was found to be rich in neutral lipids (86.2%), and low in polar lipids (13.8%). The neutral lipids consisted mainly of triacylglycerols (64.2%). Unsaturated fatty acids were found as high as 71%, while the percentage of saturated fatty acids was only 29%. GC and GC/MS analyses revealed linoleic, oleic and lignocerotic acid to be predominant among all fatty acids in the A. pavonina oil, whereas stigmasterol was the major steroid identified within this study. Subsequently, the oil was used for preparation of submicron oil-in-water (o/w) lipid emulsions. Lipid emulsions were formulated by using soybean lecithin (SL) to investigate their particle size, Zeta potential and stability at the different oil and SL ratios. The results obtained indicate possible applications of the tested oil in pharmaceutical and medical fields as drug and cosmetic active ingredient carriers.
    MeSH terms: Africa; Chromatography, Gas; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Demography; Emulsions; Fatty Acids/analysis; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/analysis; Lipids/isolation & purification; Lipids/chemistry*; Malaysia; Pacific Islands; Plant Oils/isolation & purification*; Seeds/chemistry*; Sterols/analysis; Sterols/chemistry; West Indies; Mimosa/chemistry*
  19. Sangetha S, Zuraini Z, Sasidharan S, Suryani S
    Nihon Ishinkin Gakkai Zasshi, 2008;49(4):299-304.
    PMID: 19001757
    The fungicidal activity of Cassia spectabilis leaf extracts was investigated using the disk diffusion technique and the broth dilution method. The extract showed a favorable antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans with a minimum inhibition concentration(MIC) value of 6.25 mg / ml. Apart from the fungicidal effects, imaging using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was done to determine the major alterations in the microstructure of the C. albicans. The main abnormalities noted in the SEM studies were the alterations in morphology and complete collapse of the yeast cells after 36 h of exposure to the extract. The in vitro time-kill study performed using the leaf extract at 1/2, 1 or 2 times of the MIC significantly inhibited the yeast growth with a noticeable drop in optical density (OD) of yeast culture, thus confirming the fungicidal effect of the extract on C. albicans. In addition, in vivo antifungal activity studies on candidiasis in mice showed a 5-fold decrease in Candida in kidneys and blood samples in the groups of animals treated with the extract (2.5 g / kg body weight). In an acute toxicity study using mice, the acute minimum fatal dose of the extract was greater than 2000 mg / kg, and we found no histopathological changes in macroscopic examination by necropsy of mice treated with extract. We conclude that the extract may be safely used as an anticandidal agent.
    MeSH terms: Administration, Oral; Animals; Antifungal Agents/administration & dosage; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology*; Candida albicans/drug effects; Cassia*; Plant Extracts/administration & dosage; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Plant Extracts/toxicity; Plant Structures/toxicity*; Mice
  20. Tarmizi AH, Lin SW
    J Oleo Sci, 2008;57(12):639-48.
    PMID: 19001776
    Extending the frying-life of oils is of commercial and economic importance. Due to this fact, assessment on the thermal stability of frying oils could provide considerable savings to the food processors. In this study, the physico-chemical properties of five palm products mainly palm oil, single-fractionated palm olein, double-fractionated palm olein, red palm olein and palm-based shortening during 80 hours of heating at 180 degrees C were investigated. Heating properties of these products were then compared with that of high oleic sunflower oil, which was used as reference oil. The indices applied in evaluating the quality changes of oils were free fatty acid, smoke point, p-anisidine value, tocols, polar and polymer compounds. Three palm products i.e. palm oil, single-fractionated palm olein and double-fractionated palm olein were identified to be the most stable in terms of lower formation of free fatty acid, polar and polymer compounds as well as preserving higher smoke point and tocols content compared to the other three oils. The low intensity of hydrolytic and oxidative changes due to prolonged heating, suggests that these palm products are inherently suitable for frying purposes.
    MeSH terms: Aniline Compounds/analysis; Fats/chemistry*; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/analysis; Food Technology/methods*; Hot Temperature*; Plant Oils/standards*; Plant Oils/chemistry*; Quality Control; Reference Standards; Time Factors; Tocopherols/analysis
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