The shrimp paste called belacan is a traditional umami taste condiment extensively used in Malaysia that is rich in glutamate and 5'-nucleotides. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of glutamate and 5'-nucleotides of various types of foods prepared with belacan and to measure their sensory attributes. The concentration of free glutamic acid found in different brands of belacan was 180-530mg/100g and in local dishes 601-4207mg/100g. The total amount of 5'-nucleotides in belacan samples ranged from 0.85 to 42.25μg/g. A Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) using a list of 17 sensory attributes showed a good correlation between belacan concentration in the final food and a range of positive sensory attributes, except for bitter, sweet, sour taste and astringency. Belacan also contains bitter, sweet and sour compounds that change the positive attributes of belacan at higher concentrations. The highest aroma attributes were linked to nasi goreng belacan (belacan fried rice) while the highest flavour attributes were found in sambal belacan. There was a 32 folds significant increase of umami attributes with the addition of belacan to final foods. The optimum amount of belacan was 0.45% for asam pedas (tamarind flavoured dish with belacan), 18% for sambal belacan (chilli belacan), 1.5-2.5% for kangkong goreng belacan (stir fried water convolous with belacan), and 2% for nasi goreng belacan.
Bioactive peptides, as products of hydrolysis of diverse food proteins, are the focus of current research. They exert various biological roles, one of the most crucial of which is the antioxidant activity. Reverse relationship between antioxidant intake and diseases has been approved through plenty of studies. Antioxidant activity of bioactive peptides can be attributed to their radical scavenging, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and metal ion chelation properties of peptides. It also has been proposed that peptide structure and its amino acid sequence can affect its antioxidative properties. This paper reviews bioactive peptides from food sources concerning their antioxidant activities. Additionally, specific characteristics of antioxidative bioactive peptides, enzymatic production, methods to evaluate antioxidant capacity, bioavailability, and safety concerns of peptides are reviewed.
Several environmental toxins with toxic effects to the bone marrow have been identified. Pathology associated with lead intoxication is due to the cellular damage mediated by free radicals. In the current study, we examined the effect of Etlingera elatior extract on lead-induced changes in the oxidative biomarkers and histology of bone marrow of rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 500 ppm lead acetate in their drinking water for 14 days. E. elatior extract was treated orally (100mg/kg body weight) in combination with, or after lead acetate treatment. The results showed that there was a significant increase in lipid hydroperoxide, protein carbonyl content and a significant decrease in total antioxidants, super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione--S-transferase in bone marrow after lead acetate exposure. Treatment with E. elatior decreased lipid hydroperoxides and protein carbonyl contents and significantly increased total antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes. Treatments with E. elatior extract also reduced, lead-induced histopathological damage in bone marrow. In conclusion, these data suggest that E. elatior has a powerful antioxidant effect, and it protects the lead acetate-induced bone marrow oxidative damage in rats.
MeSH terms: Ethanol; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism; Animals; Bone Marrow/drug effects; Bone Marrow/enzymology; Bone Marrow/metabolism*; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism; Lead/blood; Lead Poisoning/enzymology; Lead Poisoning/pathology; Lead Poisoning/prevention & control*; Lipid Peroxides/metabolism; Male; Organometallic Compounds/toxicity*; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use; Solvents; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects; Biomarkers; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism; Oxidative Stress/drug effects*; Protective Agents*; Zingiberaceae/chemistry*; Protein Carbonylation/drug effects; Rats
The present study was aimed to investigate the anti-diabetic potential of the leaves of Tetracera scandens Linn. Merr. (Dilleniaceae) in vivo with regard to prove its efficacy by local herbalists in the treatment of diabetes frailties.
Concomitant adenocarcinoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, both located in the intestinal tract, are unusual. Collision tumors of the colon on the other hand are extremely rare neoplasms. A case of true collision tumor of a marginal zone lymphoma and a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon (hepatic flexure) is reported. Simultaneously, a third primary is identified as follicular lymphoma involving the terminal ileum. Correlation with clinical history, radiology investigations, endoscopic findings and histological examination of the resected specimen as well as the use of ancillary techniques such as immunohistochemistry are the most useful in making the correct diagnosis of a synchronous three primaries involving the small bowel and colon. Therefore, we present these three primary synchronous neoplasms involving two different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, with two of these three primaries colliding at one organ.
We report a case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by a gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a 50-year old man. The patient was having melena for two months, and on admission he was hemodynamically stable. Upper G.I endoscopy showed diffuse gastritis and an extrinsic compressing mass in the upper part of the stomach. CT scan of the abdomen showed exophytic mass in the fundus of the stomach, with central necrosis. The patient was submitted to operative management. There were no features of dissemination but there was invasion of the hilum of the spleen. Wide local resection and splenectomy performed. Post operative course was complicated by a bleeding from the anastomotic site that required re-exploration and suturing of the bleeding vessel. Histologic examination revealed that it was composed of spindle-shaped cells with elongated nuclei. Post operatively the patient received adjuvant treatment with Imatinib [Gleevec]. The patient has an uneventful follow-up period so far.
There is a general consensus that individuals with conspicuous strabismus are perceived more negatively with respect to physical appearance, personality and capability. Such social biases can potentially lead to social alienation and negative psychosocial development, particularly when experienced at a young age. This study aims to explore young children's perception of peers with noticeable exotropia.
The purpose of the study was to investigate whether a combination of sago and soy protein ingested during moderate-intensity cycling exercise can improve subsequent high-intensity endurance capacity compared with a carbohydrate in the form of sago and with a placebo. The participants were 8 male recreational cyclists with age, weight, and VO2max of 21.5 +/- 1.1 yr, 63.3 +/- 2.4 kg, and 39.9 +/- 1.1 ml . kg(-1) . min(-1), respectively. The design of the study was a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover comprising 60 min of exercise on a cycle ergometer at 60% VO2max followed by a time-to-exhaustion ride at 90% VO2max. The sago feeding provided 60 g of carbohydrate, and the sago-soy combination provided 52.5 g of carbohydrate and 15 g of protein, both at 20-min intervals during exercise. Times to exhaustion for the placebo, sago, and sago-soy supplementations were 4.09 +/- 1.28, 5.49 +/- 1.20, and 7.53 +/- 2.02 min, respectively. Sago-soy supplementation increased endurance by 84% (44-140%; p < .001) and by 37% (15-63%; p < .05) relative to placebo and sago, respectively. The plasma insulin response was elevated above that with placebo during sago and sago-soy supplementations. The authors conclude that a combination of sago and soy protein can delay fatigue during high-intensity cycling.
Many carnivorous mammals consume fruits and disperse the intact seeds to specific sites. Few studies have attempted to quantify this seed dispersal or evaluate its effectiveness, despite its potential importance and functional uniqueness. In the study reported here, we found that a frugivorous carnivore, the common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), generated seed shadows that are distinct from those of the sympatric frugivore, the pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina), and played a unique and important role in the regeneration of Leea aculeata (Leeaceae). We found that macaques dispersed the seeds randomly, while civets dispersed them non-randomly to sites such as the banks of small rivers, rain-flow paths, abandoned trails, and treefall gaps, which are characterized by low stem density and canopy cover. Seeds of L. aculeata that were dispersed by civets to the banks of rivers and gaps had significantly higher survival and growth rates than those dispersed to rain-flow paths or abandoned trails. Seeds dispersed by macaques or to random locations also had low survival. Although the effects of the civets on seed fate were not straightforward, compared with macaques and random dispersal, civets significantly enhanced the survival and growth of L. aculeata seeds after 1 year. These results indicate that non-random dispersal by civets is important for the persistence of L. aculeata. Civets may disperse other plant species and thus could have profound effects on forest dynamics.
To evaluate a live recombinant Lactococcus lactis vaccine expressing aerolysin genes D1 (Lac-D1ae) and/or D4 (Lac-D4ae) in protection against Aeromonas hydrophila in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).
Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor and the Philippines constitute peninsular and island South-East Asia. For reasons of largely shared ethnicity, with Chinese elements added to the basic Austromalaysian populations, as well as geographical contiguity, they can be usefully grouped together for studies of chronic disease prevalence and underlying risk factors. The fact of problems are shared in common, particularly regarding increasing cancer rates, underlines the necessity for a coordinated approach to research and development of control measures. To provide a knowledge base, the present review of available data for cancer registration, epidemiology and control was conducted. The most prevalent cancer site in males is the lung, followed by the liver, colon or the prostate in the majority of cases, while breast and cervical cancers predominate in most female populations. However, there are interesting differences among the racial groups, particularly regarding the stomach. General tendencies for increase in adenocarcinomas but decrease in squamous cell carcinomas and gastric cancer, point to change in environmental influence over time. Variation in risk factors depends to some extent on the level of economic development but overall the countries of the region face similar challenges in achieving effective cancer control. A major task is persuading the general populace of the efficacy of early detection and clinical treatment.
This prospective observational study was to evaluate the efficacy of combining phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (phIGFBP-1) and transvaginal ultrasound cervical length (CL) compared with either indicator alone in predicting pre-term labour (PTL). Women with singleton pregnancy between 24 and 36 weeks' gestation with evidence of PTL were subjected to phIGFBP-1 and CL tests. Of the 51 women, five were tested positive (phIGFBP-1 positive and CL <2.5 cm) for combination of phIGFBP-1 and CL (four delivered within 1 week), whereas 46 tested negative, of which, only one delivered. A much higher negative predictivity (NP), positive predictivity (PP) and specificity (SP) in the combination test was seen compared with phIGFBP-1 or CL alone (NP: 97.8% vs 97.7% vs 97.1%; PP: 80.0% vs 51.1% and CL 23.5%; SP: 97.8% vs 93.5% vs 71.1%, respectively). The cervical os dilatation of 2 cm with combined positive test (p = 0.001) indicated a higher likelihood of PTL.
MeSH terms: Adult; Cervix Uteri/metabolism; Cervix Uteri/secretion; Cervix Uteri/ultrasonography*; Female; Humans; Obstetric Labor, Premature/metabolism; Obstetric Labor, Premature/ultrasonography*; Phosphorylation/physiology; Predictive Value of Tests; Pregnancy; ROC Curve; Sensitivity and Specificity; Reproducibility of Results; Biomarkers/metabolism; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1/metabolism*; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1/secretion; Cervical Length Measurement*; Young Adult
Induction strategies for the periplasmic production of recombinant human IFN-alpha2b (interferon-alpha2b) by recombinant Escherichia coli Rosetta-gami 2(DE3) were optimized in shake-flask cultures using response surface methodology based on the central composite design. The factors included in the present study were induction point, which related to the attenuance of the cell culture, IPTG (isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactoside) concentration and induction temperature. Second-order polynomial models were used to correlate the abovementioned factors to soluble periplasmic IFN-alpha2b formation and percentage of soluble IFN-alpha2b translocated to the periplasmic space of E. coli. The models were found to be significant and subsequently validated. The proposed induction strategies consisted of induction at an attenuance of 4 (measured as D600), IPTG concentration of 0.05 mM and temperature of 25 degrees C. The optimized induction strategy reduced inclusion-body formation as evidenced by electron microscopy and yielded 323.8 ng/ml of IFN-alpha2b in the periplasmic space with translocation of 74% of the total soluble product. In comparison with the non-optimized condition, soluble periplasmic production and the percentage of soluble IFN-alpha2b translocated to the periplasmic space obtained in optimized induction strategies were increased by approx. 20-fold and 1.4-fold respectively.
Electrodeposition of Ni-Co-Fe-Zn alloys was done in a chloride ion solution with the presence and absence of a Permanent Parallel Magnetic Field (PPMF). The PPMF was applied parallel to the cathode surface. The deposition profile was monitored chronoamperometrically. It was found that the electrodeposition current was enhanced in the presence of PPMF (9 T) compared to without PPMF. The percentage of current enhancement (Gamma%) was increased in the presence of PPMF, with results of Gamma% = 11.9%, 16.7% and 18.5% at -1.1, -1.2 and -1.3 V respectively for a 2400 sec duration. In chronoamperometry, the Composition Reference Line (CRL) for Ni was around 57%, although the nobler metals (i.e. Ni, Co) showed anomalous behaviour in the presence of Zn and Fe. The anomalous behaviour of the Ni-Co-Fe-Zn electrodeposition was shown by the Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) results. From Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurements, it was found that the surface roughness of the Ni-Co-Fe-Zn alloy films decreased in the presence of a PPMF.
The C3435T, a major allelic variant of the ABCB1 gene, is proposed to play a crucial role in drug-resistance in epilepsy. The C/C genotype carriers reportedly are at higher risk of pharmacoresistance to AEDs, but only in some studies. The hypothesis of the C-variant associated risk and resistance to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has been hampered by conflicting results from inadequate power in case-control studies. To assess the role of C3435T polymorphism in drug-resistance in epilepsy, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted.
MeSH terms: Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use*; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Drug Resistance/genetics*; Epilepsy/drug therapy*; Epilepsy/genetics*; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Humans; Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics; Research Design; Genetic Variation; P-Glycoproteins; Risk Assessment; P-Glycoprotein/genetics*
HIV-infected prisoners face an inordinate number of community re-entry challenges. In 2007, 102 HIV-infected prisoners in Malaysia were surveyed anonymously within six months prior to release to assess the prevalence and correlates of community re-entry challenges. Staying out of prison (60.8%), remaining off drugs (39.2%), finding employment (35.3%) and obtaining HIV care (32.4%) were the re-entry challenges reported most frequently. Global stigma, negative self-image and public attitudes-related stigma were independently associated with challenges to obtaining HIV care. In multivariate analyses, those with previous incarcerations (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-7.6), higher HIV-related symptoms (AOR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0-4.1) and higher public attitudes-related stigma (AOR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2-5.1) had a significantly higher likelihood of identifying more re-entry challenges. Targeted interventions, such as effective drug treatment, HIV care and public awareness campaigns, are crucial for stemming the HIV epidemic and improving health outcomes among HIV-infected prisoners in Malaysia.
MeSH terms: Adult; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; HIV Infections/drug therapy; HIV Infections/epidemiology*; Prevalence; Logistic Models; Social Stigma
Formation of compost from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) and decanter cake slurry by adding palm oil mill effluent (POME) with regular turning operation was investigated. The experiment was conducted in a commercial composting plant under the normal production process. The addition of decanter cake slurry has hastened the composting process of the EFB. The C/N ratio after 51 days for the mature compost with the decanter cake slurry was 18.65 while that of the matured compost without the decanter cake slurry remained high at 28.96. The compost formed from the addition of decanter cake to EFB and POME had 46.4% nitrogen, 17.9% phosphorus, 17.7% potassium and 23.1% calcium more than that without decanter cake. The use of compost produced from EFB, POME and decanter cake slurry could solve more environmental problems and enhance economic benefits in the oil palm industry.
An injury to the left ventricle after a chest tube insertion is a rare but lethal phenomenon that is likely to occur if precautions are not seriously addressed. We present a 15-year-old girl who was diagnosed a left empyema thoracis. An attempt to place a chest drain in this young girl was almost fatal. A left ventricular repair together with thoracotomy and decortication were successful. This case emphasizes the rarity of this lethal complication and the importance of the correct technique for chest tube insertion.
Imatinib, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is the first line treatment against chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Several fatal cases have been associated with imatinib hepatotoxicity. Acetaminophen, an over-the-counter analgesic, anti-pyretic drug, which can cause hepatotoxicity, is commonly used in cancer pain management. We assessed renal and hepatic toxicity after imatinib and acetaminophen co-administration in a preclinical model. Four groups of male ICR mice (30-35 g) were fasted overnight and administered either saline solution orally (baseline control), imatinib 100 mg/kg orally (control), acetaminophen 700 mg/kg intraperitoneally (positive control) or co-administered imatinib 100 mg/kg orally and acetaminophen 700 mg/kg intraperitoneally (study group), and sacrificed at 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h and 6 h post-administration (n = 4 per time point). The liver and kidneys were harvested for histopathology assessment. The liver showed reversible cell damage like feathery degeneration, microvesicular fatty change, sinusoidal congestion and pyknosis, when imatinib or acetaminophen were administered separately. The damage increased gradually with time, peaked at 2 h but resolved by 4 h. When both drugs were administered concurrently, the liver showed irreversible damage (cytolysis, karyolysis and karyorrhexis) which did not resolve by 6 h. Very minor renal changes were observed. Acetaminophen and imatinib co-administration increased hepatoxicity which become irreversible, probably due to shared P450 biotransformation pathways and transporters in the liver.