Browse publications by year: 2010

  1. Community pharmacists' views on adverse drug reactions reporting in Malaysia: a pilot study
    Ting KN, Stratton-Powell DM, Anderson C
    Pharm World Sci, 2010 Jun;32(3):339-42.
    PMID: 20336371 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-010-9382-0
    OBJECTIVES: To investigate community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes and views on adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting. Setting Seven community pharmacies in Malaysia.

    METHOD: Structured interviews with community pharmacists. Informed consent was obtained and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Content analysis of themes on awareness of ADR reporting, reporting activities, attitudes and views on patient reporting.

    RESULTS: All pharmacists claimed to have some knowledge of a reporting system but only one had submitted a report directly to the regulatory authority. Despite the low level of reporting activities, all participants agreed that it was part of their professional obligation to report an ADR. Most participants were not aware of the direct patient reporting scheme and were skeptical about its success. Lack of awareness and patients' limited knowledge about their medications were viewed as barriers to patient reporting. Local attitudinal issues including pharmacists' attitude towards ADR reporting were described as possible contributing factors.

    CONCLUSION: Community pharmacists have an important role in reporting ADRs. Many Malaysian patients are still perceived to be ill-informed of their medications, an important determinant to the success of patient reporting. There is a need for further training about ADRs and ADR reporting for health professionals and further education for patients.

    MeSH terms: Attitude of Health Personnel; Community Pharmacy Services/standards*; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Pharmacists/standards*; Pilot Projects; Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems/standards*; Professional Role*; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/epidemiology*
  2. Motor imaginary-based brain-machine interface design using programmable logic controllers for the disabled
    Jeyabalan V, Samraj A, Loo CK
    Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin, 2010 Oct;13(5):617-23.
    PMID: 20336561 DOI: 10.1080/10255840903405678
    Aiming at the implementation of brain-machine interfaces (BMI) for the aid of disabled people, this paper presents a system design for real-time communication between the BMI and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to control an electrical actuator that could be used in devices to help the disabled. Motor imaginary signals extracted from the brain’s motor cortex using an electroencephalogram (EEG) were used as a control signal. The EEG signals were pre-processed by means of adaptive recursive band-pass filtrations (ARBF) and classified using simplified fuzzy adaptive resonance theory mapping (ARTMAP) in which the classified signals are then translated into control signals used for machine control via the PLC. A real-time test system was designed using MATLAB for signal processing, KEP-Ware V4 OLE for process control (OPC), a wireless local area network router, an Omron Sysmac CPM1 PLC and a 5 V/0.3A motor. This paper explains the signal processing techniques, the PLC's hardware configuration, OPC configuration and real-time data exchange between MATLAB and PLC using the MATLAB OPC toolbox. The test results indicate that the function of exchanging real-time data can be attained between the BMI and PLC through OPC server and proves that it is an effective and feasible method to be applied to devices such as wheelchairs or electronic equipment.
    MeSH terms: Electroencephalography; Disabled Persons*; Humans; Man-Machine Systems*; User-Computer Interface; Fuzzy Logic
  3. Calcium phosphate-based composites as injectable bone substitute materials
    Low KL, Tan SH, Zein SH, Roether JA, Mouriño V, Boccaccini AR
    J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater, 2010 Jul;94(1):273-86.
    PMID: 20336722 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.31619
    A major weakness of current orthopedic implant materials, for instance sintered hydroxyapatite (HA), is that they exist as a hardened form, requiring the surgeon to fit the surgical site around an implant to the desired shape. This can cause an increase in bone loss, trauma to the surrounding tissue, and longer surgical time. A convenient alternative to harden bone filling materials are injectable bone substitutes (IBS). In this article, recent progress in the development and application of calcium phosphate (CP)-based composites use as IBS is reviewed. CP materials have been used widely for bone replacement because of their similarity to the mineral component of bone. The main limitation of bulk CP materials is their brittle nature and poor mechanical properties. There is significant effort to reinforce or improve the mechanical properties and injectability of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) and this review resumes different alternatives presented in this specialized literature.
    MeSH terms: Biocompatible Materials/metabolism; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry; Bone Cements/metabolism; Bone Cements/chemistry; Calcium Phosphates/metabolism; Calcium Phosphates/chemistry*; Humans; Injections; Materials Testing; Bone Substitutes/metabolism; Bone Substitutes/chemistry*
  4. Differential expression of Notch receptors and their ligands in desmoplastic ameloblastoma
    Siar CH, Nakano K, Han PP, Nagatsuka H, Ng KH, Kawakami T
    J Oral Pathol Med, 2010 Aug 1;39(7):552-8.
    PMID: 20337864 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2009.00871.x
    In mammals, the Notch gene family encodes four receptors (Notch1-4), and all of them are important for cell fate decisions. Notch signaling pathway plays an essential role in tooth development. The ameloblastoma, a benign odontogenic epithelial neoplasm, histologically recapitulates the enamel organ at bell stage. Notch has been detected in the plexiform and follicular ameloblastoma. Its activity in the desmoplastic ameloblastoma is unknown.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Ameloblastoma/pathology*; Calcium-Binding Proteins/analysis; Cell Membrane/ultrastructure; Cell Nucleus/ultrastructure; Cytoplasm/ultrastructure; Epithelial Cells/pathology; Epithelium/pathology; Female; Fibroblasts/pathology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Ligands; Male; Mandibular Neoplasms/pathology; Maxillary Neoplasms/pathology; Membrane Proteins/analysis; Middle Aged; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/analysis; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/analysis; Endothelial Cells/pathology; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Receptors, Notch/analysis*; Receptor, Notch1/analysis; Receptor, Notch2/analysis
  5. The portrayal of men and women in television advertisements: an updated review of 30 studies published since 2000
    Furnham A, Paltzer S
    Scand J Psychol, 2010 Jun 1;51(3):216-36.
    PMID: 20338017 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2009.00772.x
    In 1999, Furnham and Mak published a review of 14 content-analytic studies of sex roles stereotyping in television commercials. All these studies were based on the McArthur and Resko (1975) content categories. This paper updates that review considering 30 studies in over 20 countries published between 2000 and 2008. Studies were from Australasia, Austria, Bulgaria, Ghana, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. They examined over 8,000 advertisements. National and cultural differences in gender stereotypes are also considered in the light of this data. The popularity of, and the problems associated with, the research paradigm are considered.
    MeSH terms: Advertising as Topic*; Female; Gender Identity; Humans; Male; Men*; Stereotyping*; Television; Women*
  6. Fulltext Extragonadal germ cell tumor presenting in a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report
    Shahrir M, Halim A, Zainudin S, Mohamad R, Yuen LC, Saidin R, et al.
    J Med Case Rep, 2010;4:97.
    PMID: 20338049 DOI: 10.1186/1752-1947-4-97
    Germ cell tumor of the pituitary gland is a very rare occurrence.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Malaysia; Malaysia/ethnology; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Pituitary Gland
  7. Removal of cholesterol by lactobacilli via incorporation and conversion to coprostanol
    Lye HS, Rusul G, Liong MT
    J Dairy Sci, 2010 Apr;93(4):1383-92.
    PMID: 20338415 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2009-2574
    Fifteen strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were screened based on their ability to adhere to hydrocarbons via the determination of cellular hydrophobicity. Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 314, L. acidophilus FTCC 0291, Lactobacillus bulgaricus FTCC 0411, L. bulgaricus FTDC 1311, and L. casei ATCC 393 showed greater hydrophobicity and, thus, were selected for examination of cholesterol-removal properties. All selected strains showed changes in cellular fatty acid compositions, especially total fatty acids and saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the presence of cholesterol compared with those grown in the absence of cholesterol. In addition, we found that cells grown in media containing cholesterol were more resistant to sonication and enzymatic lysis compared with those grown without cholesterol. We further evaluated the location of the incorporated cholesterol via the insertion of fluorescence probes into the cellular membrane. In general, enrichment of cholesterol was found in the regions of the phospholipid tails, upper phospholipids, and polar heads of the cellular membrane phospholipid bilayer. Our results also showed that lactobacilli were able to reduce cholesterol via conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol, aided by the ability of strains to produce cholesterol reductase. Our results provided experimental evidence to strengthen the hypothesis that probiotics could remove cholesterol via the incorporation of cholesterol into the cellular membrane and conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol. The strains studied may be potential health adjunct cultures in fermented dairy products with possible in vivo hypocholesterolemic effects.
    MeSH terms: Bifidobacterium/enzymology; Bifidobacterium/metabolism*; Cell Membrane/metabolism*; Cell Membrane/chemistry; Cholesterol/metabolism*; Cholestanol/metabolism*; Fatty Acids/analysis; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia/therapy; Lactobacillus/enzymology; Lactobacillus/metabolism*; Oxidoreductases/metabolism; Sonication; Probiotics; Cultured Milk Products/microbiology
  8. Multispecies impingement in a tropical power plant, Straits of Malacca
    Azila A, Chong VC
    Mar Environ Res, 2010 Jul;70(1):13-25.
    PMID: 20338631 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2010.02.004
    Marine organisms comprised about 70% of the total impinged materials by weight at water intake screens in the Kapar Power Station (KPS), Malaysia. The general groupings of 'fish', 'shrimp', 'crab', 'cephalopod' and 'others' contributed 26% (87 species), 65% (29), 2% (17), 2% (3) and 5% (42) of the total number of impinged organisms, respectively. In general, higher impingement occurred during spring tide, at nighttime and in shallow water. The glass perchlet, anchovies, ponyfishes, mojarra, catfishes, hairtail, scat and young croakers were the most vulnerable fishes. Vulnerable invertebrates included cephalopods, sea urchin, rockshells and jellyfishes, but penaeid shrimps were the most susceptible in terms of both mortality and body injury. Annually, KPS is estimated to kill 8.5 x 10(6) marine organisms (42 tons) by impingement. This amount, however, is minimal compared to commercial fishery harvests. Multispecies impingement at Malaysian power plants poses the problem of finding the best mitigation options for tropical situations.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Environment*; Environmental Monitoring*; Filtration; Malaysia; Mortality*; Power Plants/statistics & numerical data*; Seasons
  9. Effect of acute exercise on the levels of salivary cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide
    Rahman ZA, Abdullah N, Singh R, Sosroseno W
    J Oral Sci, 2010 Mar;52(1):133-6.
    PMID: 20339244
    The aim of the present study was to assess the levels of salivary cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) before, during and after acute exercise. Acute exercise was induced using a standard treadmill test with Bruce protocol in ten physically active male participants. Unstimulated saliva was collected before, during and after exercise. The levels of salivary cortisol and TNF-alpha were assessed by enzyme immunoassays. Salivary NO was determined by the Griess reagent. The results showed that both salivary cortisol and TNF-alpha increased and peaked at 14 min during exercise and then decreased. The levels of NO were increased up to 1 h after exercise and subsequently lowered after 24 h. The results of the present study suggest that acute exercise may induce high levels of salivary cortisol, TNF-alpha and NO.
    MeSH terms: Heart Rate; Humans; Hydrocortisone/analysis; Hydrocortisone/secretion*; Male; Nitric Oxide/analysis; Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis*; Physical Endurance/physiology; Saliva/chemistry*; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/analysis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/secretion*; Exercise/physiology*
  10. Removal of NOx and CO from a burner system
    Jaafar MN, Ishak MS, Saharin S
    Environ Sci Technol, 2010 Apr 15;44(8):3111-5.
    PMID: 20345095 DOI: 10.1021/es903606y
    This paper presents the development of an emissions-controlling technique for oil burners aimed especially to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Another emission of interest is carbon monoxide (CO). In this research, a liquid fuel burner is used. In the first part, five different radial air swirler blade angles, 30 degrees , 40 degrees , 45 degrees , 50 degrees , and 60 degrees , respectively, have been investigated using a combustor with 163 mm inside diameter and 280 mm length. Tests were conducted using kerosene as fuel. Fuel was injected at the back plate of the swirler outlet. The swirler blade angles and equivalence ratios were varied. A NOx reduction of more than 28% and CO emissions reduction of more than 40% were achieved for blade angle of 60 degrees compared to the 30 degrees blade angle. The second part of this paper presents the insertion of an orifice plate at the exit plane of the air swirler outlet. Three different orifice plate diameters of 35, 40, and 45 mm were used with a 45 degrees radial air swirler vane angle. The fuel flow rates and orifice plate's sizes were varied. NOx reduction of more than 30% and CO emissions reduction of more than 25% were obtained using the 25 mm diameter orifice plate compared to the test configuration without the orifice plate. The last part of this paper presents tests conducted using the air-staging method. An industrial oil burner system was investigated using the air staging method in order to reduce emission, especially NOx. Emissions reduction of 30% and 16.7% were obtained for NOx and CO emissions, respectively, when using air staging compared to the non-air-staging tests.
    MeSH terms: Carbon Monoxide/isolation & purification*; Nitric Oxide/isolation & purification*
  11. A bite by the Twin-Barred Tree Snake, Chrysopelea pelias (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Ismail AK, Weinstein SA, Auliya M, Sabardin DM, Herbosa TJ, Saiboon IM, et al.
    Clin Toxicol (Phila), 2010 Mar;48(3):222-6.
    PMID: 20345298 DOI: 10.3109/15563650903550964
    The Twin-Barred Tree Snake, Chrysopelea pelias, is a colubrine that, like other members of the genus Chrysopelea, is able to glide in the arboreal strata. Little is known about the effects of its bite. This report is the first clinically documented bite by this relatively uncommon rear-fanged species.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Hemoglobinuria/etiology; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Leukocytosis/etiology; Malaysia; Neutrophils/metabolism; Snake Bites/physiopathology*; Snake Venoms/toxicity*; Colubridae*; Young Adult
  12. Fulltext Development and evaluation of polymerase chain reaction assay to detect Burkholderia genus and to differentiate the species in clinical specimens
    Suppiah J, Thimma JS, Cheah SH, Vadivelu J
    FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2010 May;306(1):9-14.
    PMID: 20345378 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.01923.x
    Molecular-based techniques are becoming desirable as tools for identification of infectious diseases. Amongst the Burkholderia spp., there is a need to differentiate Burkholderia pseudomallei from Burkholderia cepacia, as misidentification could lead to false treatment of patients. In this study, conventional PCR assay targeting three genes was developed. Primers were designed for the amplification of Burkholderia genus-specific groEL gene, B. pseudomallei-specific mprA gene and B. cepacia-specific zmpA gene. The specificity and sensitivity of the assay was tested with 15 negative control strains and 71 Burkholderia spp. isolates including positive controls B. pseudomallei K96243 and ATCC B. cepacia strain. All B. pseudomallei strains were positive for groEL (139 bp) and mprA (162 bp), indicating a sensitivity of 100%. All B. cepacia strains produced amplicons for detection of groEL and zmpA (147 bp). Specificity using negative strains was 100%. In this study, a PCR assay specific for the detection of Burkholderia spp. and differentiation of the genus B. pseudomallei and B. cepacia was developed. The conventional assay has to be performed separately for each species due to the similar size of the PCR products amplified. This format may therefore be recommended for use as a diagnostic tool in laboratories where real-time PCR machines are not available. However, the real-time PCR was able to detect and differentiate the genus and species in single duplex assay.
    MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics; Bacteriological Techniques/methods*; DNA, Bacterial/genetics; Humans; Metalloendopeptidases/genetics; Sensitivity and Specificity; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*; DNA Primers/genetics; Chaperonin 60/genetics; Burkholderia/classification*; Burkholderia/genetics; Burkholderia/isolation & purification*; Burkholderia Infections/diagnosis*; Burkholderia Infections/microbiology*
  13. Deforestation and avian extinction on tropical landbridge islands
    Sodhi NS, Wilcove DS, Lee TM, Sekercioglu CH, Subaraj R, Bernard H, et al.
    Conserv Biol, 2010 Oct;24(5):1290-8.
    PMID: 20345403 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01495.x
    There are few empirical data, particularly collected simultaneously from multiple sites, on extinctions resulting from human-driven land-use change. Southeast Asia has the highest deforestation rate in the world, but the resulting losses of biological diversity remain poorly documented. Between November 2006 and March 2008, we conducted bird surveys on six landbridge islands in Malaysia and Indonesia. These islands were surveyed previously for birds in the early 1900 s, when they were extensively forested. Our bird inventories of the islands were nearly complete, as indicated by sampling saturation curves and nonparametric true richness estimators. From zero (Pulau Malawali and Pulau Mantanani) to 15 (Pulau Bintan) diurnal resident landbird species were apparently extirpated since the early 1900 s. Adding comparable but published extinction data from Singapore to our regression analyses, we found there were proportionally fewer forest bird extinctions in areas with greater remaining forest cover. Nevertheless, the statistical evidence to support this relationship was weak, owing to our unavoidably small sample size. Bird species that are restricted to the Indomalayan region, lay few eggs, are heavier, and occupy a narrower habitat breadth, were most vulnerable to extinction on Pulau Bintan. This was the only island where sufficient data existed to analyze the correlates of extinction. Forest preservation and restoration are needed on these islands to conserve the remaining forest avifauna. Our study of landbridge islands indicates that deforestation may increasingly threaten Southeast Asian biodiversity.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Birds/physiology*; Conservation of Natural Resources/statistics & numerical data*; Geography*; Indonesia; Malaysia; Population Dynamics; Regression Analysis; Species Specificity; Biodiversity*; Extinction, Biological*
  14. Fulltext Germinated brown rice (GBR) reduces the incidence of aberrant crypt foci with the involvement of beta-catenin and COX-2 in azoxymethane-induced colon cancer in rats
    Latifah SY, Armania N, Tze TH, Azhar Y, Nordiana AH, Norazalina S, et al.
    Nutr J, 2010 Mar 26;9:16.
    PMID: 20346115 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-9-16
    Chemoprevention has become an important area in cancer research due to the failure of current therapeutic modalities. Epidemiological and preclinical studies have demonstrated that nutrition plays a vital role in the etiology of cancer. This study was conducted to determine the chemopreventive effects of germinated brown rice (GBR) in rats induced with colon cancer. GBR is brown rice that has been claimed to be richer in nutrients compared to the common white rice. The male Sprague Dawley rats (6 weeks of age) were randomly divided into 5 groups: (G1) positive control (with colon cancer, unfed with GBR), (G2) fed with 2.5 g/kg of GBR (GBR (g)/weight of rat (kg)), (G3) fed with 5 g/kg of GBR, (G4) fed with 10 g/kg of GBR and (G5) negative control (without colon cancer, unfed with GBR). GBR was administered orally once daily via gavage after injection of 15 mg/kg of body weight of azoxymethane (AOM) once a week for two weeks, intraperitonially. After 8 weeks of treatment, animals were sacrificed and colons were removed. Colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were evaluated histopathologically. Total number of ACF and AC, and multicrypt of ACF, and the expression of beta-catenin and COX-2 reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in all the groups treated with GBR (G2, G3 and G4) compared to the control group (G1). Spearman rank correlation test showed significant positive linear relationship between total beta-catenin and COX-2 score (Spearman's rho = 0.616, p = 0.0001). It is demonstrated that GBR inhibits the development of total number of ACF and AC, and multicrypt of ACF, reduces the expression of beta-catenin and COX-2, and thus can be a promising dietary supplement in prevention of colon cancer.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Azoxymethane; Carcinogens; Colon/pathology; Colon/chemistry; Colonic Neoplasms/chemically induced; Colonic Neoplasms/pathology; Colonic Neoplasms/prevention & control*; Diet; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Oryza/chemistry*; Seeds/growth & development*; Seeds/chemistry; Anticarcinogenic Agents/administration & dosage*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Germination; beta Catenin/analysis*; Rats; Cyclooxygenase 2/analysis*
  15. QSAR study of substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole naphthyridines as HIV-1 integrase inhibitors
    Ravichandran V, Shalini S, Sundram K, Sokkalingam AD
    Eur J Med Chem, 2010 Jul;45(7):2791-7.
    PMID: 20347187 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2010.02.062
    A linear quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model is presented for modeling and predicting the inhibition of HIV-1 integrase. The model was produced by using the stepwise multiple linear regression technique on a database that consists of 67 recently discovered 1,3,4-oxadiazole substituted naphthyridine derivatives. The developed QSAR model was evaluated for statistical significance and predictive power. The key conclusion of this study is that valence connectivity index order 1, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and dielectric energy significantly affect the inhibition of HIV-1 integrase activity by 1,3,4-oxadiazole substituted naphthyridine derivatives. The selected physicochemical descriptors serve as a first guideline for the design of novel and potent antagonists of HIV-1 integrase.
    MeSH terms: Models, Molecular; Naphthyridines/pharmacology*; Naphthyridines/chemistry*; Oxadiazoles/chemistry*; Regression Analysis; Software; HIV Integrase/metabolism*; HIV Integrase Inhibitors/pharmacology*; HIV Integrase Inhibitors/chemistry*; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship*
  16. Knowledge, attitudes, and communication around human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination amongst urban Asian mothers and physicians
    Chow SN, Soon R, Park JS, Pancharoen C, Qiao YL, Basu P, et al.
    Vaccine, 2010 May 14;28(22):3809-17.
    PMID: 20347631 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.03.027
    To determine why HPV vaccination uptake is low in Asia, we surveyed attitudes, knowledge and communication about cervical cancer and HPV vaccination amongst 480 physicians and 1617 randomly selected urban mothers who could afford HPV vaccines in Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand. HPV vaccine rejection by mothers was linked with poor knowledge and low perceptions of self-relevance. Physicians' likelihood of raising the subject and/or recommending vaccination was linked to how proactively they advocate preventive health, their attitude to the subject's sensitivity and their knowledge levels. Because most Asian mothers seek doctors' advice and prefer them to take the initiative, physicians should be more proactive in discussing and recommending HPV vaccination.
    MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology; Communication; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia; Mothers/psychology*; Physician-Patient Relations; Physicians*; Taiwan; Thailand; Urban Population; Papillomavirus Infections/prevention & control; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Papillomavirus Vaccines*; Republic of Korea
  17. Fulltext Eurycoma longifolia Jack in managing idiopathic male infertility
    Tambi MI, Imran MK
    Asian J Androl, 2010 May;12(3):376-80.
    PMID: 20348942 DOI: 10.1038/aja.2010.7
    This study investigated the effect of treatment with the proprietary standardized, water-soluble extract of the root of the Malaysian plant, Eurycoma longifolia Jack, which is thought to enhance male fertility with regard to higher semen volumes, sperm concentrations, the percentage of normal sperm morphology and sperm motility in male partners of sub-fertile couples with idiopathic infertility. A total of 350 patients were given 200 mg of the extract daily and follow-up semen analyses were performed every 3 months for 9 months. Of these 350 patients, 75 patients completed one full cycle of 3 months. Follow-up semen analyses in these patients showed significant improvement in all semen parameters. The proprietary extract of Eurycoma longifolia Jack significantly improved the sperm quality in these patients, allowing for 11 (14.7%) spontaneous pregnancies.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aphrodisiacs/pharmacology*; Female; Humans; Infertility, Male/drug therapy*; Infertility, Male/physiopathology; Male; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Pregnancy; Semen/cytology; Semen/drug effects*; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility/drug effects; Spermatozoa/cytology; Spermatozoa/drug effects*; Pregnancy Rate; Eurycoma/chemistry*
  18. Effect of prenylated flavonoids and chalcones isolated from Artocarpus species on platelet aggregation in human whole blood
    Jantan I, Mohd Yasin YH, Jamil S, Sirat H, Basar N
    J Nat Med, 2010 Jul;64(3):365-9.
    PMID: 20349149 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-010-0410-0
    Five prenylflavonoids and two prenylchalcones from Artocarpus lowii King, A. scortechinii King and A. teysmanii Miq., and acetylated derivatives of cycloheterophyllin and artonin E were investigated for their ability to inhibit arachidonic acid (AA), collagen and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation in human whole blood by using an electrical impedance method. Among the tested compounds, only cycloheterophyllin inhibited AA-induced platelet aggregation with an IC(50) value of 100.9 microM. It also showed strong inhibition against ADP-induced aggregation, with an IC(50) value of 57.1 microM. Isobavachalcone, 2',4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-3'-prenyldihydrochalcone, cycloartobiloxanthone, artonin E and artonin E triacetate showed selective inhibition against ADP-induced aggregation, with IC(50) values ranging from 55.3 to 192.0 microM, but did not show such effect against other inducers.
    MeSH terms: Flavonoids/isolation & purification*; Flavonoids/pharmacology*; Flavonoids/chemistry; Humans; Platelet Aggregation/drug effects*; Molecular Structure; Artocarpus/chemistry*; Chalcones/isolation & purification*; Chalcones/pharmacology*; Chalcones/chemistry
  19. Role of renal sympathetic nervous system in the control of renal potassium handling
    Salman IM, Sattar MA, Abdullah NA, Ameer OZ, Basri F, Hussain NM, et al.
    J Nephrol, 2010 May-Jun;23(3):291-6.
    PMID: 20349424
    It is well established that renal sympathetic nerves are primarily involved in renal sodium and water regulation. However, the relationship between renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and renal potassium handling is not extensively known. The present study was performed to investigate the role of the renal sympathetic nervous system in the regulation of tubular potassium reabsorption and secretion.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Kidney/innervation*; Kidney/metabolism*; Male; Potassium/metabolism*; Sympathetic Nervous System/physiology*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats
  20. Spontaneous bilateral anterior lens dislocation in an 8-year-old girl
    Ismail S, Khairy-Shamel ST, Hussein A, Shaharuddin B, Embong Z, Ibrahim M
    J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus, 2010 Mar-Apr;47(2):111-3.
    PMID: 20349906 DOI: 10.3928/01913913-20100308-11
    The authors describe recurrent lens dislocation into the anterior chamber in a young girl with homocystinuria. The patient's 12-year-old sister died after a cerebrovascular accident caused by the same disease. This report highlights the importance of early dietary restrictions and treatment.
    MeSH terms: Anterior Chamber; Child; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Homocystinuria/complications; Humans; Lens Subluxation/diagnosis; Lens Subluxation/etiology*; Lens Subluxation/surgery; Ophthalmoscopy; Visual Acuity; Vitrectomy; Phacoemulsification/methods
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