Browse publications by year: 2010

  1. Lim SL, Chu WL, Phang SM
    Bioresour Technol, 2010 Oct;101(19):7314-22.
    PMID: 20547057 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.04.092
    The potential application of Chlorella vulgaris UMACC 001 for bioremediation of textile wastewater (TW) was investigated using four batches of cultures in high rate algae ponds (HRAP) containing textile dye (Supranol Red 3BW) or TW. The biomass attained ranged from 0.17 to 2.26 mg chlorophyll a/L while colour removal ranged from 41.8% to 50.0%. There was also reduction of NH(4)-N (44.4-45.1%), PO(4)-P (33.1-33.3%) and COD (38.3-62.3%) in the TW. Supplementation of the TW with nutrients of Bold's Basal Medium (BBM) increased biomass production but did not improve colour removal or reduction of pollutants. The mechanism of colour removal by C. vulgaris is biosorption, in accordance with both the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The HRAP using C. vulgaris offers a good system for the polishing of TW before final discharge.
    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/analysis; Biodegradation, Environmental; Chlorophyll/metabolism; Color; Oxygen/analysis; Phosphates/analysis; Temperature; Textiles*; Waste Disposal, Fluid*; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification; Water Purification*; Chlorella vulgaris/growth & development; Chlorella vulgaris/metabolism*
  2. Liew JC, Tan WS, Alitheen NB, Chan ES, Tey BT
    J Biosci Bioeng, 2010 Sep;110(3):338-44.
    PMID: 20547346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2010.02.017
    Serum deprivation inhibits cell growth and initiates apoptosis cell death in mammalian cell cultures. Since apoptosis is a genetically controlled cell death pathway, over-expression of anti-apoptotic proteins may provide a way to delay apoptosis. This study investigated the ability of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) to inhibit apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Study includes evaluation of the ability of XIAP to prolong culture period and its effect on cell proliferation in serum-deprived media. The full length human XIAP was introduced into CHO-K1 cell lines and the effects of XIAP over-expression on the inhibition of apoptosis induced by serum-deprived conditions were examined. In batch cultures, cells over-expressing XIAP showed decreased levels of apoptosis and a higher number of viable cell under serum-deprived conditions compared to the control cell lines. The viability of control cells dropped to 40% after 2days of serum deprivation, the XIAP expressing cells still maintained at a viability higher than 90%. Further investigation revealed that the caspase-3 activity of the CHO-K1 cell line was inhibited as a result of XIAP expression.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Cricetulus; Gene Expression Regulation/physiology; Cricetinae; Humans; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism*; Up-Regulation/physiology; CHO Cells; Culture Media, Serum-Free/metabolism*; Apoptosis/physiology*; Genetic Enhancement/methods*; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein/genetics; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein/metabolism*
  3. Kosugi A, Tanaka R, Magara K, Murata Y, Arai T, Sulaiman O, et al.
    J Biosci Bioeng, 2010 Sep;110(3):322-5.
    PMID: 20547348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2010.03.001
    Old oil palm trunks that had been felled for replanting were found to contain large quantities of high glucose content sap. Notably, the sap in the inner part of the trunk accounted for more than 80% of the whole trunk weight. The glucose concentration of the sap from the inner part was 85.2g/L and decreased towards the outer part. Other sugars found in relatively low concentrations were sucrose, fructose, galactose, xylose, and rhamnose. In addition, oil palm sap was found to be rich in various kinds of amino acids, organic acids, minerals and vitamins. Based on these findings, we fermented the sap to produce ethanol using the sake brewing yeast strain, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kyokai no.7. Ethanol was produced from the sap without the addition of nutrients, at a comparable rate and yield to the reference fermentation on YPD medium with glucose as a carbon source. Likewise, we produced lactic acid, a promising material for bio-plastics, poly-lactate, from the sap using the homolactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus lactis ATCC19435. We confirmed that sugars contained in the sap were readily converted to lactic acid with almost the same efficiency as the reference fermentation on MSR medium with glucose as a substrate. These results indicate that oil palm trunks felled for replanting are a significant resource for the production of fuel ethanol and lactic acid in palm oil-producing countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.
    MeSH terms: Ethanol/isolation & purification; Ethanol/metabolism*; Industrial Waste/prevention & control; Plant Extracts/isolation & purification; Plant Extracts/metabolism*; Plant Oils/isolation & purification; Plant Oils/metabolism*; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism*; Wood/microbiology*; Lactic Acid/biosynthesis*; Lactic Acid/isolation & purification; Araceae/microbiology*
  4. Latif IK, Karim AJ, Zuki AB, Zamri-Saad M, Niu JP, Noordin MM
    Poult Sci, 2010 Jul;89(7):1379-88.
    PMID: 20548065 DOI: 10.3382/ps.2009-00622
    Aftermath in several air pollution episodes with high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons did not significantly affect health and performance of broilers despite its renowned sensitivity to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The aim of the study was to elucidate the previous lack of response in birds exposed to such severe episodes of air pollution. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was used to simulate the influence of air pollution on hematology, selected organ function, and oxidative stress in broilers. One-day-old chicks were assigned to 5 equal groups composed of a control group, tricaprylin group, and 3 groups treated with BaP (at 1.5 microg, 150 microg, or 15 mg/kg of BW). The BaP was intratracheally administered to 1-d-old chicks for 5 consecutive days. The hematology, liver and kidney function, P450 activity, and malondialdehyde level especially in the group receiving 15 mg of BaP/kg of BW demonstrated evidence of hemato- and hepatoxicity via BaP-induced oxidative stress. The deleterious effect of exposure to high concentration of BaP in broiler chickens was probably due to the anatomy of this species and the half-life of BaP. Although the effect of BaP may be transient or irreversible, pathogen challenges faced during the period of suppression may prove fatal.
    MeSH terms: Air Pollutants/toxicity*; Alanine Transaminase/blood; Alkaline Phosphatase/blood; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood; Benzo(a)pyrene/toxicity*; Blood Cell Count/veterinary; Chickens/blood; Chickens/physiology*; Creatine Kinase/blood; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood; Glutathione Transferase/blood; Hematocrit/veterinary; Hemoglobins/analysis; Liver/drug effects; Liver/metabolism; Lung/drug effects; Lung/metabolism; Lung Diseases/chemically induced*; Lung Diseases/metabolism; Male; Malondialdehyde/blood; Microsomes/enzymology; Microsomes/metabolism; Random Allocation; Oxidative Stress/drug effects*; Lactic Acid/blood; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/etiology*; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/metabolism
  5. Sim KS, Sri Nurestri AM, Sinniah SK, Kim KH, Norhanom AW
    Pharmacogn Mag, 2010 Jan;6(21):67-70.
    PMID: 20548939 DOI: 10.4103/0973-1296.59969
    Pereskia bleo and Pereskia grandifolia, belonging to the botanical family Cactaceae, have been traditionally used by the locals in Malaysia for treatment of various ailments. The current study reports the outcome of acute oral toxicity investigation of Pereskia bleo and Pereskia grandifolia, on ICR mice. No mortalities or evidence of adverse effects have been observed in ICR mice following acute oral administration at the highest dose of 2500 mg/ kg crude extracts of Pereskia bleo and Pereskia grandifolia. This is the first report on the acute oral toxicity of Pereskia bleo and Pereskia grandifolia and the findings of this study are in agreement with those of in vitro experiments and thus provide scientific validation on the use of the leaves of Pereskia bleo and Pereskia grandifolia.
  6. Abdul Kadir NB, Bifulco A
    Cult Med Psychiatry, 2010 Sep;34(3):443-67.
    PMID: 20549550 DOI: 10.1007/s11013-010-9183-x
    Standard psychiatric criteria for depression developed in the United States and United Kingdom are increasingly used worldwide to establish the prevalence of clinical disorders and to help develop services. However, these approaches are rarely sensitive to local and cultural expressions of symptoms or beliefs about treatment. Mismatch between diagnostic criteria and local understanding may result in underreporting of depression and underutilization of services. Little such research has been conducted in Malaysia, despite the acknowledged high rate of depression and low access to services. This study examines depression in Moslem Malay women living in Johor Bahru, Southern Peninsular Malaysia, to explore depression symptoms using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. The 61 women interviewed were selected on the basis of high General Health Questionnaire scores from a large questionnaire survey of 1,002 mothers. The illustrative analysis looks at descriptions of depressed mood, self-depreciation and suicidal ideation, as well as attitudes toward service use. The women gave full and open descriptions of their emotional symptoms, easily recognizable by standard symptom categories, although somatic symptoms were commonly included, and the spiritual context to understanding depression was also prevalent. However, few women had knowledge about treatment or sought medical services, although some sought help from local spiritual healers. Attending to such views of depression can help develop services in Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use; Cross-Cultural Comparison*; Depressive Disorder, Major/diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy; Depressive Disorder, Major/ethnology*; Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology; Female; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Islam/psychology*; Malaysia; Mental Health Services/utilization; Mothers/psychology*; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/ethnology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology; Religion and Psychology*; Social Values; Somatoform Disorders/diagnosis; Somatoform Disorders/ethnology; Somatoform Disorders/psychology; Spiritual Therapies; Spirituality; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*; Suicidal Ideation
  7. Sanagi MM, Miskam M, Wan Ibrahim WA, Hermawan D, Aboul-Enein HY
    J Sep Sci, 2010 Jul;33(14):2131-9.
    PMID: 20549667 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201000172
    A three-phase hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction method coupled with CE was developed and used for the determination of partition coefficients and analysis of selected nitrophenols in water samples. The selected nitrophenols were extracted from 14 mL of aqueous solution (donor solution) with the pH adjusted to pH 3 into an organic phase (1-octanol) immobilized in the pores of the hollow fiber and finally backextracted into 40.0 microL of the acceptor phase (NaOH) at pH 12.0 located inside the lumen of the hollow fiber. The extractions were carried out under the following optimum conditions: donor solution, 0.05 M H(3)PO(4), pH 3.0; organic solvent, 1-octanol; acceptor solution, 40 microL of 0.1 M NaOH, pH 12.0; agitation rate, 1050 rpm; extraction time, 15 min. Under optimized conditions, the calibration curves for the analytes were linear in the range of 0.05-0.30 mg/L with r(2)>0.9900 and LODs were in the range of 0.01-0.04 mg/L with RSDs of 1.25-2.32%. Excellent enrichment factors of up to 398-folds were obtained. It was found that the partition coefficient (K(a/d)) values were high for 2-nitrophenol, 3-nitrophenol, 4-nitrophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol and 2,6-dinitrophenol and that the individual partition coefficients (K(org/d) and K(a/org)) promoted efficient simultaneous extraction from the donor through the organic phase and further into the acceptor phase. The developed method was successfully applied for the analysis of water samples.
    MeSH terms: Chromatography, Liquid/instrumentation; Chromatography, Liquid/methods*; Nitrophenols/analysis*; Solvents/chemistry; Uncoupling Agents/analysis; Water/chemistry; Electrophoresis, Capillary/instrumentation; Electrophoresis, Capillary/methods*; 2,4-Dinitrophenol/analysis*; 1-Octanol/chemistry; Limit of Detection
  8. Saini R, Khim TP, Rahman SA, Ismail M, Tang TH
    Virol J, 2010;7:131.
    PMID: 20550718 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-7-131
    Association of High-risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) with oral cancer has been established recently. Detecting these viruses in oral cavity is important to prevent oral lesions related to them. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HR-HPV in the oral cavity of women with cervical cancer, and their children. A total of 70 women, previously diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 46 children of these women, born by vaginal delivery only, were selected for this study. Buccal swabs were collected from their oral cavity and HPV detection was carried out using Hybrid Capture 2 high-risk HPV (HC2 HR-HPV) detection system.
    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/epidemiology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology*; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth/virology*; Risk Factors; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*; Papillomavirus Infections/epidemiology*; Papillomavirus Infections/transmission*; Papillomavirus Infections/virology; Alphapapillomavirus/genetics; Alphapapillomavirus/isolation & purification*; Young Adult
  9. Neoh KB, Lee CY
    Environ Entomol, 2010 Jun;39(3):835-40.
    PMID: 20550796 DOI: 10.1603/EN09212
    Misotermes mindeni Disney and Neoh is a solitary endoparasitoid of Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen) (Termitidae: Macrotermitinae), exclusively parasitizing the head of major soldiers. In this study, behavioral and morphological changes in the parasitized termite host were evaluated. We also observed the larval parasitoid emerging from the host. We found that parasitism mainly occurred in termite mounds overgrown with grass and mounds that had been broken up previously for other experiments. The parasitized soldiers showed a significantly lower level of interspecific aggressiveness compared with healthy soldiers (P < 0.05). Parasitized soldiers also changed in habitat preference to one isolated chamber of the nest. This might be an adaptive strategy that facilitates parasitoid dispersal, provides protection to parasitoids, and reduces the risk of parasitism to host colony. An abnormally rounded head capsule and remarkably short mandibles are characteristics of a parasitized soldier. The older larval fly stages were found only in major soldiers. We suggest that parasitization may first start in fourth or even earlier larval termite instars. The fly larva develops in the termite soldier's head capsule and pupates inside the host's body.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Behavior, Animal*; Diptera/physiology*; Host-Parasite Interactions*; Larva/physiology; Isoptera/anatomy & histology; Isoptera/parasitology*
  10. Baig MR, Rajan G
    J Oral Implantol, 2010;36(3):219-23.
    PMID: 20553176 DOI: 10.1563/AAID-JOI-D-09-00048
    Abstract This article describes the clinical and laboratory procedures involved in the fabrication of laboratory-processed, provisional, screw-retained, implant-supported maxillary and mandibular fixed complete dentures incorporating a cast metal reinforcement for immediate loading of implants. Precise fit is achieved by intraoral luting of the cast frame to milled abutments. Effective splinting of all implants is attained by the metal substructure and retrievability is provided by the screw-retention of the prosthesis.
    MeSH terms: Dental Abutments; Acrylic Resins/chemistry; Chromium Alloys/chemistry; Dental Alloys/chemistry; Dental Implantation, Endosseous; Dental Impression Technique; Dental Materials/chemistry; Denture Design*; Denture Retention/instrumentation; Denture Retention/methods*; Denture Bases; Denture, Complete, Immediate*; Denture, Complete, Lower; Denture, Complete, Upper; Humans; Jaw Relation Record; Titanium/chemistry; Tooth, Artificial; Dental Implants*; Dental Prosthesis Design; Dental Marginal Adaptation; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported*; Resin Cements/chemistry
  11. Yeo JL, Tan BT, Achike FI
    Eur J Pharmacol, 2010 Sep 10;642(1-3):99-106.
    PMID: 20553918 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.05.040
    Acidosis modulates physiologic and pathophysiologic processes but the mechanism of acidotic vasodilatation remains unclear. We therefore explored this in aortic rings from normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats. Phenylephrine (PE)-induced contraction in endothelium-intact and -denuded rings were recorded under normal and acidotic pH with or without drug probes. Acidosis exerted a relaxant effect in endothelium-intact and -denuded euglycaemic and diabetic tissues. l-NAME or methylene blue partially inhibited acidotic relaxation in these endothelium-intact but not the -denuded tissues, with greater inhibition in the diabetic tissues, indicating that acidosis induces relaxation by endothelium-dependent and -independent mechanisms, the former being EDNO-cGMP mediated. Indomethacin had no effect on the tissues, indicating that cyclooxygenase products are neither involved in acidosis-induced vasodilatation nor in the modulation of phenylephrine-contraction. In euglycaemic tissues under normal pH, no K(+) channel blocker altered phenylephrine-contraction, but all (except glibenclamide) enhanced diabetic tissue contraction, indicating that normally, these channels (K(ir), K(V), BK(Ca), K(ATP)) do not modulate phenylephrine-contraction, but they (except K(ATP)) are expressed in diabetes where they attenuate phenylephine-induced contraction and modulate acidosis. Only the K(ir) channel modulates acidotic relaxation in euglycaemic tissues. Only tetraethylammonium and iberiotoxin enhanced phenylephrine-induced contraction in endothelium-denuded diabetic tissues indicating that BK(Ca) attenuates phenylephrine-contraction and that acidotic relaxation in this condition is modulated by a tetraethylammonium-sensitive mechanism. In conclusion, acidosis causes vasodilatation in normal and diabetic tissues via endothelium-dependent and -independent mechanisms differentially modulated by a combination of a NO-cGMP process and K(+) channels, some of which are dormant in the normal state but activated in diabetes mellitus.
    MeSH terms: Acidosis/physiopathology*; Animals; Aorta/drug effects; Aorta/pathology*; Aorta/physiopathology*; Chlorides/pharmacology; Diabetes Mellitus/pathology; Diabetes Mellitus/physiopathology*; Endothelium, Vascular/drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular/pathology*; Endothelium, Vascular/physiopathology*; Glyburide/pharmacology; Indomethacin/pharmacology; Male; Methylene Blue/pharmacology; Peptides/pharmacology; Glucose Clamp Technique; 4-Aminopyridine/pharmacology; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Barium Compounds/pharmacology; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/pharmacology; Tetraethylammonium/pharmacology; Rats
  12. Khalid PI, Yunus J, Adnan R, Harun M, Sudirman R, Mahmood NH
    Res Dev Disabil, 2010 Nov-Dec;31(6):1685-93.
    PMID: 20554150 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2010.04.005
    Previous researches on elementary grade handwriting revealed that pupils employ certain strategy when writing or drawing. The relationship between this strategy and the use of graphic rules has been documented but very little research has been devoted to the connection between the use of graphic rules and handwriting proficiency. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the relative contribution of the use of graphic rules to the writing ability. A sample of 105 first graders who were average printers and 65 first graders who might experience handwriting difficulty, as judged by their teachers, of a normal primary school were individually tested on their use of graphic rules. It has been found that pupils who are below average printers use more non-analytic strategy than average printers to reproduce the figures. The results also reveal that below average printers do not acquire the graphic principles that foster an analytic approach to production skills. Although the findings are not sufficient to allow definitive conclusions about handwriting ability, it can be considered as one of the screening measures in identifying pupils who are at risk of handwriting difficulties.
    MeSH terms: Biomechanical Phenomena; Child; Female; Handwriting*; Humans; Learning Disorders/diagnosis*; Learning Disorders/epidemiology; Male; Motor Skills*; Movement; Surveys and Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Motor Skills Disorders/diagnosis*; Motor Skills Disorders/epidemiology
  13. Siar CH, Nakano K, Ng KH, Tomida M, Nagatsuka H, Kawakami T
    Eur J Med Res, 2010 Apr 08;15(4):180-4.
    PMID: 20554499
    BACKGROUND: Squamous odontogenic tumor (SOT) is a rare benign odontogenic epithelial neoplasm. A slow-growing painless expansive swelling is the common presenting symptom. Histopathologically, SOT can be easily misdiagnosed as an acanthomatous ameloblastoma. Although Notch receptors and ligands have been shown to play a role in cell fate decisions in ameloblastomas, the role of these cell signaling molecules in SOT is unknown.

    CASE REPORT: This paper describes a case of SOT affecting the anterior mandible of a 10-year-old Indian female. The patient was treated by local surgical excision and there has been no follow-up clinical record of recurrence 5 years after primary treatment. Histo?pathological examination revealed a solid, locally-infiltrative neoplasm composed of bland-looking squamatoid islands scattered in a mature fibrous connective tissue stroma and the diagnosis was SOT. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed positive reactivity of varying intensity in the neoplastic epithelial cells for Notch1, Notch3, Notch4, and their ligands Jagged1 and Delta1. Expression patterns showed considerable overlap. No immunoreactivity was detected for Notch2 and Jagged2.

    CONCLUSIONS: Present findings suggest that Notch receptors and their ligands play differential roles in the cytodifferentiation of SOT.

    MeSH terms: Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism*; Child; Connective Tissue/pathology; Female; Humans; Mandibular Neoplasms/genetics*; Mandibular Neoplasms/metabolism; Mandibular Neoplasms/pathology; Mandibular Neoplasms/surgery; Membrane Proteins/metabolism*; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism*; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism*; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Odontogenic Tumor, Squamous/genetics*; Odontogenic Tumor, Squamous/metabolism; Odontogenic Tumor, Squamous/pathology; Odontogenic Tumor, Squamous/surgery; Receptors, Notch/metabolism*; Receptor, Notch1/metabolism*; Receptor, Notch3; Serrate-Jagged Proteins; Jagged-1 Protein
  14. Gao XL, Hsu CY, Xu YC, Loh T, Koh D, Hwarng HB
    J Dent Res, 2010 Sep;89(9):985-90.
    PMID: 20554887 DOI: 10.1177/0022034510372896
    Policymakers' understanding of and ability to reduce health disparities are pivotal for health promotion worldwide. This study aimed to verify the behavioral pathways leading to oral health disparities. Oral examinations were conducted for 1782 randomly selected preschoolers (3-6 yrs), and 1576 (88.4%) participants were followed up after 12 months. Parents were surveyed on their knowledge (K), attitude (A), and practices (P) regarding their children's oral health homecare (infant feeding, diet, and oral hygiene) and dental attendance. Structural equation modeling substantiated the links between specific KAs and corresponding practices, while generic KA did not affect practices. KAP pathways partly explained the ethnic and socio-economic disparities in oral health. Deprivation had a direct effect (not mediated by KA) on dental attendance, but not on oral health homecare. Ethnicity directly influenced oral health homecare practices, but not dental attendance. These behavioral pathways, furthering our understanding of health disparity, may have practical implications for health promotion and policy-making.
    MeSH terms: Child; Child, Preschool; China/ethnology; Dental Caries/ethnology*; Dental Caries/epidemiology; Dental Caries/psychology*; Diet, Cariogenic; Educational Status; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; India/ethnology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia/ethnology; Male; Oral Hygiene/utilization; Parents/psychology; Prospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Singapore/epidemiology; Socioeconomic Factors; Toothbrushing/utilization; Health Behavior/ethnology*; Incidence; Least-Squares Analysis; Principal Component Analysis; Health Status Disparities*
  15. Lee S, Park H
    Water Sci Technol, 2010;61(12):3129-40.
    PMID: 20555209 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2010.454
    This study deals with the overcapacity problem of water treatment plants in Korea, and mainly discusses status, causes, and engineering options. To this end, we first statistically analyze the recent trend of demand, revealing that the demands of small- and mid-size systems are still increasing while that of large-size systems is now decreasing. Since the existing approach to plan capacity implicitly assumes that demand will increase at a regular rate, we estimate excess capacities and system utilizations of large-size systems. From these results it is found that the large-size systems are suffering from serious overcapacity, thus necessitating that engineers make very difficult decisions given that systems are still expanding the capacities of plants due to a lack of awareness of the current demand trend. For other systems where there is a better understanding of the transition of demand, planners have ceased to expand plants or have closed down relatively old plants in efforts to reduce O&M costs. To address this problem, quick recognition of the transition of demand is being highlighted by the concepts of integrated resources management and cybernetics. Therefore, we examined how quickly the new trend of the Seoul case could be precisely recognized and appropriately addressed. Using the Bayesian parameter estimation method, we found that a new trend can be recognized six years after the transition of demand.
    MeSH terms: Bayes Theorem; Health Services Needs and Demand/standards; Humans; Japan; Korea; London; Paris; Population Density; Predictive Value of Tests; Public Health; United Nations; United States; Urban Population*; Water Supply/standards*; Uncertainty
  16. Haflah NH, Ibrahim S, Sapuan J, Abdullah S
    J Pediatr Orthop B, 2010 Sep;19(5):459-61.
    PMID: 20555271 DOI: 10.1097/BPB.0b013e32833b6032
    Elbow dislocations associated with a medial epicondyle fracture and ulnar nerve palsy are uncommon injuries. We present the case of an 11-year-old girl with an elbow dislocation treated by closed manual reduction. The medial epicondyle fracture was missed initially until she developed an ulnar nerve palsy 2 months later. Intraoperatively we discovered the bony epicondyle piercing the joint capsule and compressing the ulnar nerve. Removal of the bony fragment relieved her symptoms and she returned to normal activities at 1 year follow-up. We would like to highlight this rare occurrence and present the detailed history and management of this case.
    MeSH terms: Child; Dislocations/complications; Dislocations/pathology*; Dislocations/therapy; Elbow Joint/pathology*; Elbow Joint/surgery; Female; Humans; Humeral Fractures/complications; Humeral Fractures/diagnosis*; Treatment Outcome; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes/complications; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes/pathology*; Ulnar Neuropathies/etiology; Ulnar Neuropathies/pathology*; Delayed Diagnosis*
  17. Che Yaakob CA, Dzarr AA, Ismail AA, Zuky Nik Lah NA, Ho JJ
    PMID: 20556784 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007801.pub2
    BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic complications are much higher in pregnancy due to procoagulant changes. Heparin does not cross the placenta and the use of unfractionated heparin (UFH) is the current established practice in prophylaxis and treatment for thromboembolism in pregnancy.

    OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of anticoagulant therapies for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis in pregnancy. The anticoagulant drugs included are UFH, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and warfarin.

    SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (March 2010) and reference lists of retrieved studies.

    SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials comparing any combination of warfarin, UFH, LMWH and placebo in pregnant women.

    DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used methods described in the Cochrane Handbooks for Systemic Reviews of Interventions for assessing the eligibility of studies identified by the search strategy. A minimum of two review authors independently assessed each study.

    MAIN RESULTS: We did not identify any eligible studies for inclusion in the review.We identified three potential studies; after assessing eligibility, we excluded all three as they did not meet the prespecified inclusion criteria. One study compared LMWH and UFH in pregnant women with previous thromboembolic events and, for most of these women, anticoagulants were used as thromboprophylaxis. There were only three women who had a thromboembolic event during the current pregnancy and it was unclear whether the anticoagulant was used as therapy or prophylaxis. We excluded one study because it included only women undergoing caesarean birth. The third study was not a randomised trial.

    AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence from randomised controlled trials on the effectiveness of anticoagulation for deep vein thrombosis in pregnancy. Further studies are required.

    MeSH terms: Anticoagulants/therapeutic use*; Female; Heparin/therapeutic use; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/therapeutic use; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic/drug therapy*; Warfarin/therapeutic use; Venous Thrombosis/drug therapy*
  18. Chong VC, Lee PK, Lau CM
    J Fish Biol, 2010 Jun;76(9):2009-66.
    PMID: 20557654 DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02685.x
    A total of 1951 species of freshwater and marine fishes belonging to 704 genera and 186 families are recorded in Malaysia. Almost half (48%) are currently threatened to some degree, while nearly one third (27%) mostly from the marine and coral habitats require urgent scientific studies to evaluate their status. Freshwater habitats encompass the highest percentage of threatened fish species (87%) followed by estuarine habitats (66%). Of the 32 species of highly threatened (HT) species, 16 are freshwater and 16 are largely marine-euryhaline species. Fish extinctions in Malaysia are confined to two freshwater species, but both freshwater and marine species are being increasingly threatened by largely habitat loss or modification (76%), overfishing (27%) and by-catch (23%). The most important threat to freshwater fishes is habitat modification and overfishing, while 35 species are threatened due to their endemism. Brackish-water, euryhaline and marine fishes are threatened mainly by overfishing, by-catch and habitat modification. Sedimentation (pollution) additionally threatens coral-reef fishes. The study provides recommendations to governments, fish managers, scientists and stakeholders to address the increasing and unabated extinction risks faced by the Malaysian fish fauna.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Conservation of Natural Resources*; Fresh Water; Malaysia; Risk Management; Seawater; Water Pollution; Ecosystem; Biodiversity*; Extinction, Biological*; Endangered Species
  19. Ng TH, Tan HH
    J Fish Biol, 2010 Jun;76(9):2238-60.
    PMID: 20557661 DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02642.x
    Etroplus suratensis, a southern Asian cichlid, has established populations in Singapore. The fish, which was first collected in 1995, was probably introduced via the aquarium trade or through the Johor River in Malaysia. The growth, feeding and reproductive characteristics were found to follow its ecology in its native range in southern Asia, and its establishment in Singapore could be due to the similarity in environment and availability of food. Changes in intestinal length indicated diet shifts from a predominantly herbivorous to an omnivorous one as it matured. Stomach contents did not provide comparable evidence. Diet similarity to two other introduced cichlids may imply that interspecies resource competition exists. Closer monitoring is needed to determine its effects on the local environment.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Diet; Female; Male; Reproduction; Singapore; Ecosystem*; Cichlids/anatomy & histology; Cichlids/physiology*
  20. Chan M, Cheong TG, Kurunathan S, Chandrika M, Ledon T, Fando R, et al.
    Microb Pathog, 2010 Nov;49(5):211-6.
    PMID: 20558271 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2010.06.001
    Cholera caused by the O139 serogroup still remains a public health concern in certain regions of the world and the existing O1 vaccines do not cross-protect cholera caused by this serogroup. An aminolevulinic acid (ALA) auxotroph vaccine candidate against the O139 serogroup, designated as VCUSM2, was recently developed. It was found to be immunogenic in animal model studies but showed mild reactogenic effects due to the presence of two intact copies of Vibrio cholerae toxin (CTX) genetic element. In the present study we have modified the ctx operon by systematic allelic replacement methodology to produce a mutant strain, designated as VCUSM14. This strain has two copies of chromosomally integrated and mutated ctxA gene, encoding immunogenic but not toxic cholera toxin A subunit (CT-A). The amino acids arginine and glutamic acid at position 7th and 112th, respectively, in CT-A of VCUSM14 were substituted with lysine (R7K) and glutamine (E112Q), respectively. Two copies of the ace and zot genes present in the ctx operon were also deleted. Cholera toxin-ELISA using GM1 ganglioside showed that the both wild type CT and mutated CT were recognized by anti-CT polyclonal antibodies. VCUSM14 produced comparatively less amount of antigenic cholera toxin when compared to the VCUSM2 and Bengal wild type strain. VCUSM14 did not elicit fluid accumulation when inoculated into rabbit ileal loops at doses of 10(6) and 10(8) CFU. The colonization efficiency of VCUSM14 was one log lower than the parent strain, VCUSM2, which can be attributed to the ALA auxotrophy and less invasive properties of VCUSM14. VCUSM14, thus a non-reactogenic auxotrophic vaccine candidate against infection by O139 V. cholerae.
    MeSH terms: Aminolevulinic Acid/metabolism*; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial/immunology; Antitoxins/immunology; Cholera Toxin/genetics*; Cholera Toxin/immunology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Ileum/pathology; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Rabbits; Vaccines, Attenuated/genetics; Vaccines, Attenuated/immunology; Virulence; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Amino Acid Substitution/genetics; Cholera Vaccines/genetics*; Cholera Vaccines/immunology*; Vibrio cholerae O139/genetics*; Vibrio cholerae O139/immunology*; Vibrio cholerae O139/metabolism; Vibrio cholerae O139/pathogenicity; Mutant Proteins/genetics; Mutant Proteins/immunology; Mice
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