Browse publications by year: 2010

  1. Ngeow WC, Nair R
    PMID: 20219585 DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2009.03.021
    This article illustrates a case of persistent trigeminal neuralgia in a medically compromised 65-year-old female who did not respond to pharmacotherapy. She had undergone several peripheral neurectomies as well as a failed right posterior fossa exploration that resulted in a cerebrospinal fluid leak. Persistent pain over the right external nasal area and right mental region was relieved for several hours after daily injections of bupivacaine. A trial of a single dose of 100 units of botulinum toxin type A (BOTOX) diluted in 2.5 mL saline was injected into the external nasal trigger zone (60 units) and to the mental nerve region (40 units). She achieved complete pain relief in the external nasal region for 5 months. Pain recurred and the site was again injected with 100 units of botulinum toxin type A (BOTOX). Pain relief at the mental region was partial. This was finally controlled with peripheral neurectomy. The patient was pain free with a maintenance dose of 200 mg carbamazepine daily for about 1 year, after which she elected to undergo stereotactic gamma knife radiosurgery when pain recurred at the external nasal region.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Carbamazepine/therapeutic use; Facial Pain/drug therapy; Facial Pain/etiology; Female; Humans; Myofascial Pain Syndromes/complications; Myofascial Pain Syndromes/drug therapy*; Nerve Block/methods*; Neuromuscular Agents/administration & dosage*; Pain, Intractable/drug therapy; Pain, Intractable/etiology; Trigeminal Neuralgia/complications; Trigeminal Neuralgia/drug therapy*; Retreatment; Botulinum Toxins, Type A/administration & dosage*
  2. Mohajeri S, Aziz HA, Isa MH, Zahed MA, Bashir MJ, Adlan MN
    Water Sci Technol, 2010;61(5):1257-66.
    PMID: 20220248 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2010.018
    In the present study, Electrochemical Oxidation was used to remove COD and color from semi-aerobic landfill leachate collected from Pulau Burung Landfill Site (PBLS), Penang, Malaysia. Experiments were conducted in a batch laboratory-scale system in the presence of NaCl as electrolyte and aluminum electrodes. Central composite design (CCD) under Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the electrochemical oxidation process conditions using chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color removals as responses, and the electrolyte concentrations, current density and reaction time as control factors. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed good coefficient of determination (R(2)) values of >0.98, thus ensuring satisfactory fitting of the second-order regression model with the experimental data. In un-optimized condition, maximum removals for COD (48.77%) and color (58.21%) were achieved at current density 80 mA/cm(2), electrolyte concentration 3,000 mg/L and reaction time 240 min. While after optimization at current density 75 mA/cm(2), electrolyte concentration 2,000 mg/L and reaction time 218 min a maximum of 49.33 and 59.24% removals were observed for COD and color respectively.
    MeSH terms: Aerobiosis; Color; Electrochemistry/methods*; Electrodes; Electrolytes/chemistry; Equipment Design; Hydrogen/chemistry; Models, Chemical; Oxygen/analysis; Oxygen/chemistry*; Refuse Disposal/methods*; Software; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis; Models, Statistical; Water Purification/methods
  3. Ibrahim Z, Amin MF, Yahya A, Aris A, Muda K
    Water Sci Technol, 2010;61(5):1279-88.
    PMID: 20220250 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2010.021
    Textile wastewater, one of the most polluted industrial effluents, generally contains substantial amount of dyes and chemicals that will cause increase in the COD, colour and toxicity of receiving water bodies if not properly treated. Current treatment methods include chemical and biological processes; the efficiency of the biological treatment method however, remains uncertain since the discharged effluent is still highly coloured. In this study, granules consisting mixed culture of decolourising bacteria were developed and the physical and morphological characteristics were determined. After the sixth week of development, the granules were 3-10 mm in diameter, having good settling property with settling velocity of 70 m/h, sludge volume index (SVI) of 90 to 130 mL/g, integrity coefficient of 3.7, and density of 66 g/l. Their abilities to treat sterilised raw textile wastewater were evaluated based on the removal efficiencies of COD (initial ranging from 200 to 3,000 mg/L), colour (initial ranging from 450 to 2000 ADMI) of sterilised raw textile wastewater with pH from 6.8 to 9.4. Using a sequential anaerobic-aerobic treatment cycle with hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 24 h, maximum removal of colour and COD achieved was 90% and 80%, respectively.
    MeSH terms: Bacteria/metabolism*; Biodegradation, Environmental; Color; Coloring Agents/metabolism; Industrial Waste*; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods; Phylogeny; Sewage; Textiles; Time Factors; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry; Water Purification/methods*; Bioreactors/microbiology
  4. Harasstani OA, Moin S, Tham CL, Liew CY, Ismail N, Rajajendram R, et al.
    Inflamm Res, 2010 Sep;59(9):711-21.
    PMID: 20221843 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-010-0182-8
    OBJECTIVES: We evaluated several flavonoid combinations for synergy in the inhibition of proinflammatory mediator synthesis in the RAW 264.7 cellular model of inflammation.

    METHODS: The inhibitory effect of chrysin, kaempferol, morin, silibinin, quercetin, diosmin and hesperidin upon nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion from the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 monocytic macrophage was assessed and IC(50) values obtained. Flavonoids that showed reasonable inhibitory effects in at least two out of the three assays were combined in a series of fixed IC(50) ratios and reassessed for inhibition of NO, PGE(2) and TNF-alpha. Dose-response curves were generated and interactions were analysed using isobolographic analysis.

    RESULTS: The experiments showed that only chrysin, kaempferol, morin, and silibinin were potent enough to produce dose-response effects upon at least two out of the three mediators assayed. Combinations of these four flavonoids showed that several combinations afforded highly significant synergistic effects.

    CONCLUSIONS: Some flavonoids are synergistic in their anti-inflammatory effects when combined. In particular chrysin and kaempferol significantly synergised in their inhibitory effect upon NO, PGE(2) and TNF-alpha secretion. These findings open further avenues of research into combinatorial therapeutics of inflammatory-related diseases and the pharmacology of flavonoid synergy.

    MeSH terms: Animals; Cell Line; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Flavonoids/pharmacology*; Flavonoids/therapeutic use; Inflammation/drug therapy; Inflammation/metabolism*; Lipopolysaccharides/toxicity; Macrophages/drug effects*; Nitric Oxide/antagonists & inhibitors*; Nitric Oxide/metabolism; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitors*; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism; Dinoprostone/antagonists & inhibitors*; Dinoprostone/metabolism; Mice
  5. Rajudin E, Ahmad F, Sirat HM, Arbain D, Aboul-Enein HY
    Nat Prod Res, 2010 Mar;24(4):387-90.
    PMID: 20221945 DOI: 10.1080/14786410903421826
    Seven flavonoid compounds have been isolated from the aerial parts of tiger's betel (Piper porphyrophyllum), which were identified as 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, 4',5,7-trimethoxy-flavone, 3',4',5,7-tetramethoxyflavone, 4'-hydroxy-3',5,7-trimethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3',4',7-trimethoxyflavone, 4',5-dihydroxy-3',7-dimethoxyflavone and 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone. The identification of all compounds was achieved by physical properties and spectroscopically. These data were also confirmed by comparison with previously reported spectral data. Flavonoid compounds with high content in P. porphyrophyllum can probably be used as a chemical marker for this Piper species.
    MeSH terms: Chromatography, Thin Layer; Flavonoids/isolation & purification*; Flavonoids/chemistry; Spectrum Analysis/methods; Piperaceae/chemistry*
  6. Koh PS, Roslani AC, Vimal KV, Shariman M, Umasangar R, Lewellyn R
    World J Gastroenterol, 2010 Mar 14;16(10):1296-8.
    PMID: 20222177
    Infective colitis can be a cause of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding requiring acute surgical intervention. Causative organisms include entamoeba and histoplasma species. However, concurrent colonic infection with both these organisms is very rare, and the in vivo consequences are not known. A 58-year-old male presented initially to the physicians with pyrexia of unknown origin and bloody diarrhea. Amoebic colitis was diagnosed based on biopsies, and he was treated with metronidazole. Five days later, the patient developed massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding with hemorrhagic shock. Emergency total colectomy with end-ileostomy was performed. However, he deteriorated and died on the second postoperative day. Histopathological examination revealed multiple deep ulcers at the hepatic flexure where fungal bodies of mycelial and yeast forms were noted. Isolated lymph nodes showed abscess formation with fungal bodies. Infective fungal colitis with Histoplasma capsilatum was diagnosed. In vitro, amoebic parasites can increase virulence and pathogenicity of histoplasma which may account for the fulminant presentation in this patient. Although rare, this unusual dual infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infective colitis, as appropriate antimicrobial treatment may prevent progression to massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding, obviating the need for urgent surgical intervention.
    MeSH terms: Dysentery, Amebic/complications*; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology*; Histoplasmosis/complications*; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Fatal Outcome
  7. Tan HT, Lee KT, Mohamed AR
    Bioresour Technol, 2010 Jul;101(14):5719-27.
    PMID: 20223656 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.02.023
    Recently, second-generation bio-ethanol (SGB), which utilizes readily available lignocellulosic biomass has received much interest as another potential source of liquid biofuel comparable to biodiesel. Thus the aim of this paper is to determine the exergy efficiency and to compare the effectiveness of SGB and palm methyl ester (PME) processes. It was found that the production of bio-ethanol is more thermodynamically sustainable than that of biodiesel as the net exergy value (NExV) of SGB is 10% higher than that of PME. Contrarily, the former has a net energy value (NEV) which is 9% lower than the latter. Despite this, SGB is still strongly recommended as a potential biofuel because SGB production can help mitigate several detrimental impacts on the environment.
    MeSH terms: Ethanol/chemistry; Bioelectric Energy Sources*; Biotechnology/methods; Esters; Gasoline; Lignin/chemistry*; Malaysia; Plant Oils/chemistry*; Temperature; Thermodynamics; Biomass
  8. Mindell JA, Sadeh A, Kohyama J, How TH
    Sleep Med, 2010 Apr;11(4):393-9.
    PMID: 20223706 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2009.11.011
    BACKGROUND: To assess the prevalence of parental behaviors and other factors of sleep ecology and to analyze their relationships with sleep outcomes in a large sample of children ages birth to 36months in multiple countries/regions.
    METHODS: Parents of 29,287 infants and toddlers (48% boys; Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam) completed an internet-based expanded version of the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire.
    RESULTS: Overall, there is a high level of parental involvement in sleep onset and sleep maintenance for young children, with significant differences in parenting behaviors across cultural groups. For predominantly-Caucasian, the most common behavior occurring at bedtime is falling asleep independently in own crib/bed (57%), compared to just 4% of those children living in predominantly-Asian regions. Parental behaviors and sleep ecology, including parental presence at sleep onset, bedtime, and bedtime routine, significantly explain a portion of the variance in sleep patterns. Overall, parental behaviors are more highly predictive of nighttime sleep outcomes in predominantly-Caucasian regions. Finally, parental involvement in sleep onset mediates the relationship between cosleeping and sleep outcomes.
    CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the best predictors of nighttime sleep are related to parental behaviors at bedtime and during the night. Furthermore, sleep disruption and decreased total sleep associated with bed sharing and room sharing are mediated by parental presence at bedtime. These findings provide additional support for addressing parental behaviors in behavioral interventions for infant and toddler sleep problems.
    MeSH terms: Child, Preschool; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Parent-Child Relations*; Sleep/physiology*; Parenting*
  9. Kadir MR, Syahrom A, Ochsner A
    Med Biol Eng Comput, 2010 May;48(5):497-505.
    PMID: 20224954 DOI: 10.1007/s11517-010-0593-2
    Human bones can be categorised into one of two types--the compact cortical and the porous cancellous. Whilst the cortical is a solid structure macroscopically, the structure of cancellous bone is highly complex with plate-like and strut-like structures of various sizes and shapes depending on the anatomical site. Reconstructing the actual structure of cancellous bone for defect filling is highly unfeasible. However, the complex structure can be simplified into an idealised structure with similar properties. In this study, two idealised architectures were developed based on morphological indices of cancellous bone: the tetrakaidecahedral and the prismatic. The two architectures were further subdivided into two types of microstructure, the first consists of struts only and the second consists of a combination of plates and struts. The microstructures were transformed into finite element models and displacement boundary condition was applied to all four idealised cancellous models with periodic boundary conditions. Eight unit cells extracted from the actual cancellous bone obtained from micro-computed tomography were also analysed with the same boundary conditions. Young's modulus values were calculated and comparison was made between the idealised and real cancellous structures. Results showed that all models with a combination of plates and struts have higher rigidity compared to the one with struts only. Values of Young's modulus from eight unit cells of cancellous bone varied from 42 to 479 MPa with an average of 234 MPa. The prismatic architecture with plates and rods closely resemble the average stiffness of a unit cell of cancellous bone.
    MeSH terms: Bone and Bones/anatomy & histology*; Bone and Bones/physiology; Humans; Models, Anatomic*; Stress, Mechanical; Finite Element Analysis; X-Ray Microtomography; Elastic Modulus
  10. Zahed MA, Aziz HA, Isa MH, Mohajeri L
    Bull Environ Contam Toxicol, 2010 Apr;84(4):438-42.
    PMID: 20224975 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-010-9954-7
    The effects of initial oil concentration and the Corexit 9500 dispersant on the rate of bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons were investigated with a series of ex-situ seawater samples. With initial oil concentrations of 100, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/L, removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) with dispersant were 67.3%, 62.5%, 56.5% and 44.7%, respectively, and were 64.2%, 55.7%, 48.8% and 37.6% without dispersant. The results clearly indicate that the presence of dispersant enhanced crude oil biodegradation. Lower concentrations of crude oil demonstrated more efficient hydrocarbon removal. Based on these findings, bioremediation is not recommended for crude oil concentrations of 2,000 mg/L or higher.
    MeSH terms: Biodegradation, Environmental; Fertilizers/analysis; Lipids/chemistry*; Petroleum/metabolism*; Seawater/chemistry*; Surface-Active Agents/chemistry*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism
  11. Vashu R, Liew NS
    Childs Nerv Syst, 2010 May;26(5):697-701.
    PMID: 20225088 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-010-1093-2
    Double neural tube defect is a rare congenital problem. A case illustration and current literatures on neural tube closure theory are discussed. The available theories are summarised and compared with regard to the case report.
    MeSH terms: Encephalocele/complications*; Encephalocele/pathology; Encephalocele/surgery; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Meningomyelocele/complications*; Meningomyelocele/pathology; Meningomyelocele/surgery; Pregnancy; Thoracic Vertebrae; Premature Birth; Neural Tube/embryology
  12. Ismail FW, Shamsudin AM, Wan Z, Daud SM, Samarendra MS
    J Exp Clin Cancer Res, 2010 Mar 12;29(1):25.
    PMID: 20226047 DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-29-25
    BACKGROUND: Giant cell tumor is an infrequent and unpredictable bony lesion. Although numerous attempts have been made to predict the behaviour of GCT, there are no definite biological or histological parameters to determine the prognosis or aggressiveness of this lesion

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed Ki 67 immuno-histochemistry of 31 consecutive cases staged III giant cell tumor to determine the clinico-pathological correlation. There were 19 male patients compare to 12 females. The mean age was 33.8 years ranged from 18 to 59 years. Five cases presented with local recurrence prior to wide resection and one case had multiple recurrences there after. Six cases had pulmonary metastases. Expression of Ki 67 antigen was evaluated by immuno-histochemical staining techniques using the avidin-biotin perioxidase complex method using an LSAB2 kit (Dako, Glostrup, Denmark). The primary antibody used in this study was Ki-67 (MIB-I clone, dilution 1:25; Dako).

    RESULTS: The mean value of Ki-67 index obtained as a percentage of 1000 background cells was 8.15 (ranged 1.00 - 20.0). The median Ki 67 index was 7.5 with standard deviation of 5.12. The Ki 67 index of recurrence tumor was 4.323 compared to 6.05 without recurrence and was not statistically significant (mean difference of 0.865 with p value in independent t test of 0.736). The Ki 67 index was also not statistically significant in the presence of pulmonary metastases with the mean value of metastases group of 6.681 compared to 2.890 without metastases (mean difference of 1.895 with p value in independent t test of 0.424).

    CONCLUSION: Ki 67 index is not use-full prognostic marker for aggressive type of giant cell tumor of the bone.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis*; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis*; Carcinoma, Giant Cell/diagnosis*; Ki-67 Antigen/analysis*
  13. Liu WJ, Hooi LS
    Perit Dial Int, 2010 03 12;30(5):509-12.
    PMID: 20228175 DOI: 10.3747/pdi.2009.00083
    OBJECTIVE: To analyze the complications after Tenckhoff catheter insertion among patients with renal failure needing dialysis. ♢

    PATIENTS AND METHODS: The open, paramedian approach is the commonest technique to insert the 62-cm coiled double-cuffed Tenckhoff peritoneal catheter. All patients with catheters inserted between January 2004 and November 2007 were retrospectively analyzed for demographics and followed for up to 1 month for complications. We excluded patients whose catheters had been anchored to the bladder wall and who underwent concurrent omentectomy or readjustment without removal of a malfunctioning catheter (n = 7). Intravenous cloxacillin was the standard preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis. ♢

    RESULTS: Over the 4-year study period, 384 catheters were inserted under local anesthetic into 319 patients [201 women (62.8%); mean age: 49.4 ± 16.7 years (range: 13 - 89 years); 167 (52.2%) with diabetes; 303 (95%) with end-stage renal disease] by 22 different operators. All Tenckhoff catheters were inserted by the general surgical (n = 223) or urology (n = 161) team. There were 29 cases (7.6%) of catheter migration, 22 (5.7%) of catheter obstruction without migration, 24 (6.3%) of exit-site infection, 12 (3.1%) of leak from the main incision, 14 (3.6%) of culture-proven wound infection, 11 (2.9%) post-insertion peritonitis, and 1 (0.3%) hemoperitoneum. No deaths were attributed to surgical mishap. ♢

    CONCLUSIONS: The most common complication was catheter migration. The paramedian insertion technique was safe, with low complication rates.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bacterial Infections/etiology; Bacterial Infections/microbiology; Bacterial Infections/epidemiology; Catheterization/adverse effects*; Catheterization/methods; Catheters, Indwelling/adverse effects*; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Foreign-Body Migration/etiology; Foreign-Body Migration/epidemiology; Foreign-Body Migration/physiopathology; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic/diagnosis; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy*; Male; Middle Aged; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/adverse effects*; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/instrumentation; Peritonitis/etiology*; Peritonitis/microbiology; Peritonitis/epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Cohort Studies; Incidence; Risk Assessment; Young Adult
  14. Stankov L, Saucier G, Knežević G
    Psychol Assess, 2010 Mar;22(1):70-86.
    PMID: 20230154 DOI: 10.1037/a0016925
    In the present article, the authors report on the development of a scale for the measurement of the militant extremist mind-set. A previous pilot study identified 56 statements selected from writings of various terrorist groups as well as from psychological, historical, and political texts on terrorism. These statements, together with measures of personality, social attitudes, values, and social cynicism, were administered to participants from 9 countries (N = 2,424). A series of exploratory factor analyses of 56 statements produced 3 factors: Proviolence, Vile World, and Divine Power. Correlations of these factors with external variables indicate that Divine Power is a traditional religiosity scale, whereas Proviolence and Vile World scales cannot be accounted for by the existing psychological constructs. The distribution of scores on the Proviolence scale is skewed, indicating that the majority of participants disapprove of this attitude. The authors also present means for the countries included in the analysis. Participants from Malaysia endorse Vile World and Divine Power statements stronger than participants from other countries. The 3 Asian countries (China, Korea, and Malaysia) endorse Proviolence more strongly than countries from other parts of the world.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Female; Humans; Male; Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data*; Pilot Projects; Psychometrics; Reference Values; Religion and Psychology*; Violence/psychology*; Reproducibility of Results; Terrorism/psychology*; Young Adult
  15. Wu TY, Mohammad AW, Jahim JM, Anuar N
    J Environ Manage, 2010 Jul;91(7):1467-90.
    PMID: 20231054 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.02.008
    Palm oil production is one of the major industries in Malaysia and this country ranks one of the largest productions in the world. In Malaysia, the total production of crude palm oil in 2008 was 17,734,441 tonnes. However, the production of this amount of crude palm oil results in even larger amounts of palm oil mill effluent (POME). In the year 2008 alone, at least 44 million tonnes of POME was generated in Malaysia. Currently, the ponding system is the most common treatment method for POME but other processes such as aerobic and anaerobic digestion, physicochemical treatment and membrane filtration may also provide the palm oil industries with possible insights into the improvement of POME treatment processes. Generally, open ponding offers low capital and operating costs but this conventional method is becoming less attractive because the methane produced is wasted to the atmosphere and the system can not be certified for Carbon Emission Reduction trading. On the other hand, anaerobic digestion of POME provides the fastest payback of investment because the treatment enables biogas recovery for heat generation and treated effluent for land application. Lastly, it is proposed herewith that wastewater management based on the promotion of cleaner production and environmentally sound biotechnologies should be prioritized and included as a part of the POME management in Malaysia for attaining sustainable development. This paper thus discusses and compares state-of-the-art POME treatment methods as well as their individual performances.
    MeSH terms: Industrial Waste*; Malaysia; Plant Oils*; Water Pollution, Chemical/prevention & control*; Waste Management*
  16. Yusof AM, Malek NA, Kamaruzaman NA, Adil M
    Environ Technol, 2010 Jan;31(1):41-6.
    PMID: 20232677 DOI: 10.1080/09593330903313794
    Zeolites P in sodium (NaP) and potassium (KP) forms were used as adsorbents for the removal of calcium (Ca2+) and zinc (Zn2+) cations from aqueous solutions. Zeolite KP was prepared by ion exchange of K+ with Na+ which neutralizes the negative charge of the zeolite P framework structure. The ion exchange capacity of K+ on zeolite NaP was determined through the Freundlich isotherm equilibrium study. Characterization of zeolite KP was determined using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. From the characterization, the structure of zeolite KP was found to remain stable after the ion exchange process. Zeolites KP and NaP were used for the removal of Ca and Zn from solution. The amount of Ca2+ and Zn2+ in aqueous solution before and after the adsorption by zeolites was analysed using the flame atomic absorption spectroscopy method. The removal of Ca2+ and Zn2+ followed the Freundlich isotherm rather than the Langmuir isotherm model. This result also revealed that zeolite KP adsorbs Ca2+ and Zn2+ more than zeolite NaP and proved that modification of zeolite NaP with potassium leads to an increase in the adsorption efficiency of the zeolite. Therefore, the zeolites NaP and KP can be used for water softening (Ca removal) and reducing water pollution/toxicity (Zn removal).
    MeSH terms: Calcium/isolation & purification*; Calcium/chemistry; Computer Simulation; Models, Chemical*; Solutions; Water/chemistry*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry; Zinc/isolation & purification*; Zinc/chemistry; Zeolites/isolation & purification*; Zeolites/chemistry*; Water Purification/methods*
  17. Khambalia AZ, Seen LS
    Obes Rev, 2010 Jun;11(6):403-12.
    PMID: 20233309 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00728.x
    Like other nations experiencing rapid industrialization, urbanization and a nutrition transition, there is concern in Malaysia of a possible escalation in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. In 1996, the National Health and Morbidity Survey reported a 16.6% and 4.4% prevalence of overweight and obesity, respectively. In the following decade, there have been several national and community surveys on overweight and obesity in Malaysia. The objective of this systematic review is to describe the trend from 1996 to 2009 in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults in Malaysia nationally and by gender, age and race. Results indicate that there has been a small rise in overweight adults in the years 1996, 2003 and 2006 (20.7%, 26.7% and 29.1%) and a much more dramatic increase in obesity in 1996, 2003, 2004 and 2006 (5.5%, 12.2%, 12.3% and 14.0%). Evidence showed a greater risk for overweight and obesity among women compared with men. Based on the highest-quality studies, overweight and obesity levels were highest among adults 40-59 years old. Overweight levels were highest among Indians, followed by Malays, Chinese and Aboriginals, with less consistency across studies on the order of risk or obesity by ethnicity.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Age Factors; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Obesity/epidemiology*; Risk; Sex Factors; Prevalence; Overweight/epidemiology*
  18. Loo SS, Blake DP, Mohd-Adnan A, Mohamed R, Wan KL
    Parasitology, 2010 Jul;137(8):1169-77.
    PMID: 20233491 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182010000119
    Limitations with current chemotherapeutic and vaccinal control of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria species continue to prompt development of novel controls, including the identification of new drug targets. Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (G6-PI) has been proposed as a valid drug target for many protozoa, although polymorphism revealed by electrophoretic enzyme mobility has raised doubts for Eimeria. In this study we identified and sequenced the Eimeria tenella G6-PI orthologue (EtG6-PI) from the reference Houghton strain and confirmed its position within the prevailing taxonomic hierarchy, branching with the Apicomplexa and Plantae, distinct from the Animalia including the host, Gallus gallus. Comparison of the deduced 1647 bp EtG6-PI coding sequence with the 9016 bp genomic locus revealed 15 exons, all of which obey the intron-AG-/exon/-GT-intron splicing rule. Comparison with the Weybridge and Wisconsin strains revealed the presence of 33 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 14 insertion/deletion sites. Three SNPs were exonic and all yielded non-synonymous substitutions. Preliminary structural predictions suggest little association between the coding SNPs and key G6-PI catalytic residues or residues thought to be involved in the coordination of the G6-PI's substrate phosphate group. Thus, the significant polymorphism from its host orthologue and minimal intra-specific polymorphism suggest G6-PI remains a valid anti-coccidial drug target.
    MeSH terms: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Coccidiosis/drug therapy*; Coccidiosis/parasitology; Coccidiostats/pharmacology*; Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase/drug effects*; Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase/genetics*; Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase/chemistry; Molecular Sequence Data; Drug Design; Eimeria tenella/drug effects*; Eimeria tenella/enzymology*; Eimeria tenella/genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA
  19. Shunmugaperumal T
    Recent Pat Drug Deliv Formul, 2010 Jun;4(2):153-73.
    PMID: 20236065
    Upon implantation or insertion into patient's body for exerting the intended purpose like salvage of normal functions of vital organs, the medical devices are unfortunately becoming the sites of competition between host cell integration and microbial adhesion. Moreover, since there is an increased use of implanted medical devices, the incidence of biofilm-and medical devices-related nosocomial infections is also increasing progressively. To control microbial colonization and subsequent biofilm formation of the medical devices, different approaches either to enhance the efficiency of certain antimicrobial agents or to disrupt the basic physiology of the pathogenic microorganisms including novel small molecules and antipathogenic drugs are being explored. In addition, the various lipid-and polymer-based drug delivery carriers are also investigated for applying antibiofilm coating of the medical devices especially over catheters. The main intention of this review is therefore to summarize the major and/breakthrough inventions disclosed in patent literature as well as in research papers related to microbial colonization of medical devices and novel preventive strategies. This review starts with an overview of the preventive strategies followed by a short description about the potential of different lipidic-and polymeric-drug delivery carriers in eradicating the biofilm-associated infections from the medical devices.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents/administration & dosage*; Drug Carriers/chemistry; Equipment and Supplies/microbiology*; Humans; Lipids/chemistry; Patents as Topic; Polymers/chemistry; Prosthesis-Related Infections/microbiology; Prosthesis-Related Infections/prevention & control; Biofilms/drug effects; Prostheses and Implants/microbiology*
  20. Bujang-Safawi E, Halim AS, Khoo TL, Dorai AA
    Burns, 2010 Sep;36(6):876-82.
    PMID: 20236771 DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2009.07.001
    Facial burns are common and have a significant impact on patient function and psychosocial well being. Human amnion has been used for many years as a temporary biological wound dressing in the management of partial thickness burns. The observed advantages of human amnion treatment include pain relief, ease of use, prevention of infection and acceleration of wound healing.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Amnion/transplantation*; Biological Dressings*; Burns/pathology; Burns/therapy*; Child; Child, Preschool; Cicatrix/pathology; Desiccation; Epithelium/pathology; Facial Injuries/therapy*; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Wound Healing/physiology; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
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