Browse publications by year: 2012

  1. Jendek E, Chamorro ML
    Zookeys, 2012.
    PMID: 23226712 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.239.3966
    Six new species of Agrilus Curtis, 1825 with affinities to the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888, are described from the Oriental Region: Agrilus crepuscularissp. n. (Malaysia); Agrilus pseudolubopetrisp. n. (Laos); Agrilus sapphirinussp. n.(Laos); Agrilus seramensissp. n.(Indonesia); Agrilus spineussp. n. (Malaysia); and Agrilus tomentipennissp. n. (Laos). The genus Sarawakita Obenberger, 1924 syn. nov. is considered a junior synonym of Agrilus.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Indonesia; Laos; Malaysia; Fraxinus
  2. Sulaiman W, Seung OP, Ismail R
    Oman Med J, 2012 Nov;27(6):505-8.
    PMID: 23226825 DOI: 10.5001/omj.2012.121
    OBJECTIVE: In Rheumatology, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been widely prescribed and used. However, despite their clinical benefits in the management of inflammatory and degenerative joint disease, NSAIDs have considerable side effects, mostly affecting the upper gastrointestinal system, which therefore, limit their use. This study was conducted to determine the patients' knowledge and perception regarding the used of NSAIDS.
    METHODS: A total of 120 patients who attended the rheumatology clinic Hospital, Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Malaysia, and received NSAIDs more than 3 months were interviewed irrespective of their rheumatological conditions. Patient's knowledge and perception on the side effects of NSAIDs were recorded.
    RESULT: Fifty-four percent of the patients obtained information regarding the side effect of NSAIDs either from the rheumatologist, rheumatology staff nurse or other medical staffs (75.4%). The remaining 45.8% were naive of such knowledge. Fifteen percent obtained the information by surfing the internet and 9.2% from printed media. Twenty-four (24.2%) patients, experienced indigestion and/or stomach discomfort attributed to NSAIDs used. Two patients (1.7%) had hematemesis and malena once.
    CONCLUSION: This study shows that half of the patients who attended the rheumatology clinic were unaware of the side effect of NSAIDs. Available data showed that most of the knowledgeable patients are more conscience and self-educated. This study also reveals the important roles of clinicians, trained staff nurses as well as the pharmacist in providing the guidance and knowledge of any medication taken by patients.
    KEYWORDS: Knowledge; NSAIDs; Rheumatology; Side effects

    Study site: rheumatology clinic Hospital, Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Malaysia,
    MeSH terms: Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Hospitals, General; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Malaysia; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
  3. Gholami K, Muniandy S, Salleh N
    J Biomed Biotechnol, 2012;2012:596084.
    PMID: 23226939 DOI: 10.1155/2012/596084
    Under progesterone (P) dominance, fluid loss assists uterine closure which is associated with pH reduction. We hypothesize that P inhibits uterine fluid secretion and HCO3⁻ transport.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Estrogens/pharmacology*; Female; Ovariectomy; Progesterone/pharmacology*; Rats, Inbred WKY; RNA, Messenger/genetics; RNA, Messenger/metabolism; Uterus/drug effects; Uterus/metabolism*; Blotting, Western; Down-Regulation/drug effects; Down-Regulation/genetics*; Antiporters/genetics*; Antiporters/metabolism; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator/genetics*; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator/metabolism; Anion Transport Proteins; Rats; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  4. Safara F, Doraisamy S, Azman A, Jantan A, Ranga S
    Adv Bioinformatics, 2012;2012:327269.
    PMID: 23227043 DOI: 10.1155/2012/327269
    Heart murmurs are the first signs of cardiac valve disorders. Several studies have been conducted in recent years to automatically differentiate normal heart sounds, from heart sounds with murmurs using various types of audio features. Entropy was successfully used as a feature to distinguish different heart sounds. In this paper, new entropy was introduced to analyze heart sounds and the feasibility of using this entropy in classification of five types of heart sounds and murmurs was shown. The entropy was previously introduced to analyze mammograms. Four common murmurs were considered including aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, aortic stenosis, and mitral stenosis. Wavelet packet transform was employed for heart sound analysis, and the entropy was calculated for deriving feature vectors. Five types of classification were performed to evaluate the discriminatory power of the generated features. The best results were achieved by BayesNet with 96.94% accuracy. The promising results substantiate the effectiveness of the proposed wavelet packet entropy for heart sounds classification.
  5. Tajudin TJ, Mat N, Siti-Aishah AB, Yusran AA, Alwi A, Ali AM
    PMID: 23227094 DOI: 10.1155/2012/127373
    Methanolic extract of Cynometra cauliflora whole fruit was assayed for cytotoxicity against the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 and the normal mouse fibroblast NIH/3T3 cell lines by using the MTT assay. The CD(50) of the extract for 72 hours was 0.9 μg/mL whereas the value for the cytotoxic drug vincristine was 0.2 μg/mL. The viability of the NIH/3T3 cells was at 80.0% when treated at 15.0 μg/mL. The extract inhibited HL-60 cell proliferation with dose dependence. AO/PI staining of HL-60 cells treated with the extract revealed that majority of cells were in the apoptotic cell death mode. Flow cytometry analysis of HL-60 cells treated at CD(50) of the extract showed that the early apoptotic cells were 31.0, 26.3 and 19.9% at 24, 48, and 72 hours treatment, respectively. The percentage of late apoptotic cells was increased from 62.0 at 24 hours to 64.1 and 70.2 at 48 and 72 hours, respectively. Meanwhile, percent of necrotic cells were 4.9, 6.6, and 8.5 at 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. This study has shown that the methanolic extract of C. cauliflora whole fruit was cytotoxic towards HL-60 cells and induced the cells into apoptotic cell death mode, but less cytotoxic towards NIH/3T3 cells.
    MeSH terms: Methanol; Animals; Flow Cytometry; Fruit; Humans; Necrosis; Plant Extracts; Staining and Labeling; Vincristine; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Apoptosis; HL-60 Cells; NIH 3T3 Cells; Cell Proliferation; Mice
  6. Lim BN, Choong YS, Ismail A, Glökler J, Konthur Z, Lim TS
    Biotechniques, 2012 Dec;53(6):357-64.
    PMID: 23227986 DOI: 10.2144/000113964
    Directed evolution of nucleotide libraries using recombination or mutagenesis is an important technique for customizing catalytic or biophysical traits of proteins. Conventional directed evolution methods, however, suffer from cumbersome digestion and ligation steps. Here, we describe a simple method to increase nucleotide diversity using single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as a starting template. An initial PCR amplification using phosphorylated primers with overlapping regions followed by treatment with lambda exonuclease generates ssDNA templates that can then be annealed via the overlap regions. Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) is then generated through extension with Klenow fragment. To demonstrate the applicability of this methodology for directed evolution of nucleotide libraries, we generated both gene shuffled and regional mutagenesis synthetic antibody libraries with titers of 2×108 and 6×107, respectively. We conclude that our method is an efficient and convenient approach to generate diversity in nucleic acid based libraries, especially recombinant antibody libraries.
    MeSH terms: DNA Polymerase I/chemistry; Exonucleases/metabolism*; Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry; Models, Genetic; Bacteriophage lambda/enzymology*; Viral Proteins/metabolism*; Gene Library*; Directed Molecular Evolution/methods*
  7. Yip CH, Taib NA
    Future Oncol, 2012 Dec;8(12):1575-83.
    PMID: 23231519 DOI: 10.2217/fon.12.141
    The incidence of breast cancer is rising in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to 'westernization' of risk factors for developing breast cancer. However, survival remains low because of barriers in early detection and optimal access to treatment, which are the two main determinants of breast cancer outcome. A multidisciplinary approach to treatment gives the best results. An accurate diagnosis is dependent on a reliable pathology service, which will provide an adequate pathology report with prognostic and predictor information to allow optimal oncological treatment. Stratification of clinical practice guidelines based on resource level will ensure that women will have access to treatment even in a low-resource setting. Advocacy and civil society play a role in galvanizing the political will required to meet the challenge of providing opportunities for breast cancer control in LMICs. Collaboration between high-income countries and LMICs could be a strategy in facing these challenges.
    MeSH terms: Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis*; Breast Neoplasms/therapy*; Delivery of Health Care/economics; Delivery of Health Care/methods; Developing Countries; Female; Humans; Income; Medical Oncology/economics; Medical Oncology/organization & administration; Palliative Care; Radiation Oncology/statistics & numerical data; Early Detection of Cancer*
  8. Baddam R, Kumar N, Shaik S, Suma T, Ngoi ST, Thong KL, et al.
    Gut Pathog, 2012;4(1):20.
    PMID: 23234298 DOI: 10.1186/1757-4749-4-20
    Salmonella Typhi is a human restricted pathogen with a significant number of individuals as asymptomatic carriers of the bacterium. Salmonella infection can be effectively controlled if a reliable method for identification of these carriers is developed. In this context, the availability of whole genomes of carrier strains through high- throughput sequencing and further downstream analysis by comparative genomics approaches is very promising. Herein we describe the genome sequence of a Salmonella Typhi isolate representing an asymptomatic carrier individual during a prolonged outbreak of typhoid fever in Kelantan, Malaysia. Putative genomic coordinates relevant in pathogenesis and persistence of this carrier strain are identified and discussed.
    MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Malaysia; Salmonella Infections; Salmonella typhi; Typhoid Fever; Salmonella enterica; Genomics; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  9. Azad MA, Rabbani MG, Amin L
    Int J Mol Sci, 2012;13(12):17065-76.
    PMID: 23235330 DOI: 10.3390/ijms131217065
    Plant regeneration and somatic embryogenesis through interspecific hybridization among different Carica species were studied for the development of a papaya ringspot virus-resistant variety. The maximum fruit sets were recorded from the cross of the native variety C. papaya cv. Shahi with the wild species C. cauliflora. The highest hybrid embryos were recorded at 90 days after pollination and the embryos were aborted at 150 days after pollination. The immature hybrid embryos were used for plant regeneration and somatic embryogenesis. The 90-day-old hybrid embryos from the cross of C. papaya cv. Shahi × C. cauliflora showed the highest percentage of germination, as well as plant regeneration on growth regulators free culture medium after 7 days pre-incubation on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L BAP, 0.5 mg/L NAA and 60 g/L sucrose. The 90-day-old hybrid embryos from the cross of C. papaya cv. Shahi × C. cauliflora produced maximum callus, as well as somatic embryos when cultured on half-strength MS medium containing 5 mg/L 2,4-D, 100 mg/L glutamine, 100 mg/L casein hydrolysate and 60 g/L sucrose. The somatic embryos were transferred into half-strength MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L BAP and 0.2 mg/L NAA and 60 g/L sucrose for maturation. The highest number of regenerated plants per hybrid embryo (10.33) was recorded from the cross of C. papaya cv. Shahi × C. cauliflora. Isoenzyme and dendrogram cluster analysis using UPGMA of the regenerated F(1) plantlets confirmed the presence of the hybrid plantlets.
    MeSH terms: Chimera/embryology*; Chimera/genetics; Carica/embryology*; Carica/genetics; Plant Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques*
  10. Ooi CP, Loke SC
    Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2012 Dec 12;12:CD009361.
    PMID: 23235674 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009361.pub2
    BACKGROUND: Colesevelam is a second-generation bile acid sequestrant that has effects on both blood glucose and lipid levels. It provides a promising approach to glycaemic and lipid control simultaneously.

    OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of colesevelam for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

    SEARCH METHODS: Several electronic databases were searched, among these The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2012), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS, OpenGrey and Proquest Dissertations and Theses database (all up to January 2012), combined with handsearches. No language restriction was used.

    SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared colesevelam with or without other oral hypoglycaemic agents with a placebo or a control intervention with or without oral hypoglycaemic agents.

    DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently selected the trials and extracted the data. We evaluated risk of bias of trials using the parameters of randomisation, allocation concealment, blinding, completeness of outcome data, selective reporting and other potential sources of bias.

    MAIN RESULTS: Six RCTs ranging from 8 to 26 weeks investigating 1450 participants met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the risk of bias of these trials was unclear or high. All RCTs compared the effects of colesevelam with or without other antidiabetic drug treatments with placebo only (one study) or combined with antidiabetic drug treatments. Colesevelam with add-on antidiabetic agents demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in fasting blood glucose with a mean difference (MD) of -15 mg/dL (95% confidence interval (CI) -22 to - 8), P < 0.0001; 1075 participants, 4 trials, no trial with low risk of bias in all domains. There was also a reduction in glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in favour of colesevelam (MD -0.5% (95% CI -0.6 to -0.4), P < 0.00001; 1315 participants, 5 trials, no trial with low risk of bias in all domains. However, the single trial comparing colesevelam to placebo only (33 participants) did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the two arms - in fact, in both arms HbA1c increased. Colesevelam with add-on antidiabetic agents demonstrated a statistical significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol with a MD of -13 mg/dL (95% CI -17 to - 9), P < 0.00001; 886 participants, 4 trials, no trial with low risk of bias in all domains. Non-severe hypoglycaemic episodes were infrequently observed. No other serious adverse effects were reported. There was no documentation of complications of the disease, morbidity, mortality, health-related quality of life and costs.

    AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Colesevelam added on to antidiabetic agents showed significant effects on glycaemic control. However, there is a limited number of studies with the different colesevelam/antidiabetic agent combinations. More information on the benefit-risk ratio of colesevelam treatment is necessary to assess the long-term effects, particularly in the management of cardiovascular risks as well as the reduction in micro- and macrovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, long-term data on health-related quality of life and all-cause mortality also need to be investigated.

    MeSH terms: Colesevelam Hydrochloride; Allylamine/analogs & derivatives*; Allylamine/therapeutic use; Blood Glucose/metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy*; Fasting/blood; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/metabolism; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use*; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  11. John CM, Ramasamy R, Al Naqeeb G, Al-Nuaimi AH, Adam A
    Curr Med Chem, 2012;19(30):5181-6.
    PMID: 23237188
    Gestational diabetes (GD) is a common complication during pregnancy. Metabolic changes in GD affect fetal development and fetal glucose homeostasis. The present study utilized a rat model of GD to evaluate the effects of nicotinamide on diabetic parameters; antioxidant gene expression viz, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT); reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by neutrophils and enhancement of lymphocyte mediated immune response. Nicotinamide (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) was orally supplemented to gestational diabetic rats from days 6 through 20 of gestation. After GD induction, the control group had elevated glucose and reduced insulin while nicotinamide (100 & 200 mg/kg) supplementation reversed these changes. The same doses of nicotinamide upregulated mRNA expressions of SOD and CAT genes in liver but reduced the oxidative burst activity of neutrophils in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) or E. coli activation. Nicotinamide (100 & 200 mg/kg) supplementation also increased expression of activated T helper (CD4+CD25+) cells and induced proliferation of splenocytes. These findings provide evidence for utilizing nicotinamide as supplement or adjunct to support existing therapeutic agents for gestational diabetes and in pregnant individuals with weakened immune systems.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Blood Glucose/analysis; Catalase/genetics; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/immunology; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/prevention & control*; Female; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/cytology; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/drug effects; Insulin/blood; Liver/drug effects; Liver/metabolism; Neutrophils/drug effects; Neutrophils/metabolism; Niacinamide/pharmacology; Niacinamide/therapeutic use*; Pregnancy; Spleen/cytology; Superoxide Dismutase/genetics; Vitamin B Complex/pharmacology; Vitamin B Complex/therapeutic use*; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/drug effects; Diabetes, Gestational/immunology; Diabetes, Gestational/metabolism; Diabetes, Gestational/prevention & control*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism; Oxidative Stress/drug effects; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Rats
  12. Tohidi R, Idris IB, Panandam JM, Bejo MH
    Avian Pathol, 2012 Dec;41(6):605-12.
    PMID: 23237374 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2012.739680
    Salmonella Enteritidis is a major cause of food poisoning worldwide, and poultry products are the main source of S. Enteritidis contamination for humans. Among the numerous strategies for disease control, improving genetic resistance to S. Enteritidis has been the most effective approach. We investigated the association between S. Enteritidis burden in the caecum, spleen, and liver of young indigenous chickens and seven candidate genes, selected on the basis of their critical roles in immunological functions. The genes included those encoding interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2), immunoglobulin light chain (IgL), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Two Malaysian indigenous chicken breeds were used as sustainable genetic sources of alleles that are resistant to salmonellosis. The polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment-length polymorphism technique was used to genotype the candidate genes. Three different genotypes were observed in all of the candidate genes, except for MD-2. All of the candidate genes showed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the two populations. The IL-2-MnlI polymorphism was associated with S. Enteritidis burden in the caecum and spleen. The TGF-β2-RsaI, TLR-4-Sau 96I, and iNOS-AluI polymorphisms were associated with the caecum S. Enteritidis load. The other candidate genes were not associated with S. Enteritidis load in any organ. The results indicate that the IL-2, TGF-β2, TLR-4, and iNOS genes are potential candidates for use in selection programmes for increasing genetic resistance against S. Enteritidis in Malaysian indigenous chickens.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Chickens/genetics*; Chickens/immunology; Chickens/microbiology; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Immunoglobulin Light Chains/genetics; Interferon-gamma/genetics; Interleukin-2/genetics; Intestine, Large/microbiology; Liver/microbiology; Malaysia; Poultry Diseases/genetics; Poultry Diseases/immunology*; Poultry Diseases/microbiology; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length/genetics*; Salmonella enteritidis/immunology; Salmonella enteritidis/pathogenicity*; Salmonella Infections, Animal/genetics; Salmonella Infections, Animal/immunology*; Salmonella Infections, Animal/microbiology; Spleen/microbiology; Linear Models; DNA Primers/genetics; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics; Lymphocyte Antigen 96/genetics; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta2/genetics
  13. Rafiq S, Russell ML, Webby R, Fonseca K, Smieja M, Singh P, et al.
    PLoS One, 2012;7(12):e51498.
    PMID: 23240030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051498
    BACKGROUND: To evaluate if, among children aged 3 to 15 years, influenza vaccination for multiple seasons affects the proportion sero-protected.

    METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Participants were 131 healthy children aged 3-15 years. Participants were vaccinated with trivalent inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine (TIV) over the 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-8 seasons. Number of seasons vaccinated were categorized as one (2007-08); two (2007-08 and 2006-07 or 2007-08 and 2005-06) or three (2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08). Pre- and post-vaccination sera were collected four weeks apart. Antibody titres were determined by hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assay using antigens to A/Solomon Islands/03/06 (H1N1), A/Wisconsin/67/05 (H3N2) and B/Malaysia/2506/04. The proportions sero-protected were compared by number of seasons vaccinated using cut-points for seroprotection of 1:40 vs. 1:320. The proportions of children sero-protected against H1N1 and H3N2 was high (>85%) regardless of number of seasons vaccinated and regardless of cut-point for seroprotection. For B Malaysia there was no change in proportions sero-protected by number of seasons vaccinated; however the proportions protected were lower than for H1N1 and H3N2, and there was a lower proportion sero-protected when the higher, compared to lower, cut-point was used for sero-protection.

    CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The proportion of children sero-protected is not affected by number of seasons vaccinated.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Humans; Male; Vaccination*; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/immunology; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/immunology
  14. Widyahening IS, van der Heijden GJ, Moy FM, van der Graaf Y, Sastroasmoro S, Bulgiba A
    Perspect Med Educ, 2012 Dec;1(5-6):249-61.
    PMID: 23240103 DOI: 10.1007/s40037-012-0029-9
    Clinical epidemiology (CE) and evidence-based medicine (EBM) have become an important part of medical school curricula. This report describes the implementation and some preliminary outcomes of an integrated CE and EBM module in the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia (UI), Jakarta and in the University of Malaya (UM) in Kuala Lumpur. A CE and EBM module, originally developed at the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), was adapted for implementation in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Before the start of the module, UI and UM staff followed a training of teachers (TOT). Student competencies were assessed through pre and post multiple-choice knowledge tests, an oral and written structured evidence summary (evidence-based case report, EBCR) as well as a written exam. All students also filled in a module evaluation questionnaire. The TOT was well received by staff in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur and after adaptation the CE and EBM modules were integrated in both medical schools. The pre-test results of UI and UM were significantly lower than those of UMCU students (p 
    MeSH terms: Adaptation, Physiological; Curriculum; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Faculty; Humans; Indonesia; Learning; Surveys and Questionnaires; Schools, Medical; Students; Evidence-Based Medicine
  15. Premsenthil M, Salowi MA, Siew CM, ak Gudom I, Kah T
    BMC Ophthalmol, 2012;12:64.
    PMID: 23241197 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2415-12-64
    To report a case of spontaneous malignant glaucoma in an Asian female. To propose the term "positive vitreous pressure glaucoma" to reflect the pathophysiology, treatment and prognosis of the condition.
    MeSH terms: Female; Humans; Iris/surgery; Middle Aged; Terminology as Topic; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure/physiopathology; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure/surgery*; Microscopy, Acoustic; Laser Therapy*
  16. Aziz DA, Sehat SI, Osman M, Zaki FM
    BMJ Case Rep, 2012;2012.
    PMID: 23242081 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2012-006956
    Meckel's diverticulum has several known complications including diverticulitis and perforation. The presence of mesodiverticular band or a band from the diverticulum to the anterior abdominal wall is also described and can cause obstruction or rotation of the small bowel leading to volvulus. Meckel's diverticulum is also well known as the lead point for intussusception. It may be lined by ectopic gastric mucosa and can cause life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a neonate who presented with acute intestinal obstruction secondary to a large, mobile Meckel's diverticulum which due to a direct compression effect on the adjacent small bowel caused mechanical intestinal obstruction. Diagnosis was confirmed at laparoscopy, and treated by curative surgical resection. This is the first report of a large mobile Meckel's diverticulum causing small bowel obstruction due to direct compression that was managed by minimally invasive surgical resection.
    MeSH terms: Humans; Ileal Diseases/etiology*; Ileal Diseases/surgery; Infant, Newborn; Intestinal Obstruction/etiology*; Intestinal Obstruction/surgery; Male; Meckel Diverticulum/complications*; Meckel Diverticulum/surgery; Laparoscopy
  17. Usman MS, Ibrahim NA, Shameli K, Zainuddin N, Yunus WM
    Molecules, 2012 Dec 14;17(12):14928-36.
    PMID: 23242252 DOI: 10.3390/molecules171214928
    Herein we report a synthesis of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) in chitosan (Cts) media via a chemical reaction method. The nanoparticles were synthesized in an aqueous solution in the presence of Cts as stabilizer and CuSO(4)·5H(2)O precursor. The synthesis proceeded with addition of NaOH as pH moderator, ascorbic acid as antioxidant and hydrazine( )as the reducing agent. The characterization of the prepared NPs was done using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, which showed a 593 nm copper band. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) images were also observed, and found to be in agreement with the UV-Vis result, confirming the formation of metallic Cu-NPs. The mean size of the Cu-NPs was estimated to be in the range of 35-75 nm using X-ray diffraction. XRD was also used in analysis of the crystal structure of the NPs. The interaction between the chitosan and the synthesized NPs was studied using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, which showed the capping of the NPs by Cts.
    MeSH terms: Ascorbic Acid/chemistry; Copper/chemistry*; Hydrazines/chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Particle Size; Sodium Hydroxide/chemistry; Water/chemistry; X-Ray Diffraction; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Chitosan/chemistry*; Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry*
  18. Hassan H, Shohaimi S, Hashim NR
    Geospat Health, 2012 Nov;7(1):21-5.
    PMID: 23242677
    Dengue fever is a recurring public health problem afflicting thousands of Malaysians annually. In this paper, the risk map for dengue fever in the peninsular Malaysian states of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur was modelled based on co-kriging and geographical information systems. Using population density and rainfall as the model's only input factors, the area with the highest risk for dengue infection was given as Gombak and Petaling, two districts located on opposite sides of Kuala Lumpur city that was also included in the risk assessment. Comparison of the modelled risk map with the dengue case dataset of 2010, obtained from the Ministry of Health of Malaysia, confirmed that the highest number of cases had been found in an area centred on Kuala Lumpur as predicted our risk profiling.
    MeSH terms: Aedes/virology*; Animals; Dengue/epidemiology*; Dengue/transmission; Dengue/virology; Disease Reservoirs/virology*; Humans; Insect Vectors/virology*; Malaysia/epidemiology; Models, Biological; Population Density; Rain/virology; Incidence; Risk Assessment/methods; Geographic Information Systems; Geographic Mapping
  19. Musa MI, Shohaimi S, Hashim NR, Krishnarajah I
    Geospat Health, 2012 Nov;7(1):27-36.
    PMID: 23242678
    Malaria remains a major health problem in Sudan. With a population exceeding 39 million, there are around 7.5 million cases and 35,000 deaths every year. The predicted distribution of malaria derived from climate factors such as maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall and relative humidity was compared with the actual number of malaria cases in Sudan for the period 2004 to 2010. The predictive calculations were done by fuzzy logic suitability (FLS) applied to the numerical distribution of malaria transmission based on the life cycle characteristics of the Anopheles mosquito accounting for the impact of climate factors on malaria transmission. This information is visualized as a series of maps (presented in video format) using a geographical information systems (GIS) approach. The climate factors were found to be suitable for malaria transmission in the period of May to October, whereas the actual case rates of malaria were high from June to November indicating a positive correlation. While comparisons between the prediction model for June and the case rate model for July did not show a high degree of association (18%), the results later in the year were better, reaching the highest level (55%) for October prediction and November case rate.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anopheles/growth & development; Anopheles/parasitology*; Climate*; Forecasting/methods; Humans; Humidity; Insect Vectors/parasitology*; Malaria/epidemiology; Malaria/parasitology; Malaria/transmission*; Models, Biological; Rain/parasitology; Sudan/epidemiology; Temperature; Fuzzy Logic; Risk Assessment/methods; Statistics, Nonparametric; Geographic Information Systems; Spatial Analysis
  20. Rajavel V, Abdul Sattar MZ, Abdulla MA, Kassim NM, Abdullah NA
    PMID: 23243433 DOI: 10.1155/2012/195367
    Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) leaves extract (OPLE) has antioxidant properties and because oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN), we tested the hypothesis that OPLE prevents diabetes renal oxidative stress, attenuating injury. Sprague-Dawley rats received OPLE (200 and 500 mg kg(-1)) for 4 and 12 weeks after diabetes induction (streptozotocin 60 mg kg(-1)). Blood glucose level, body and kidney weights, urine flow rate (UFR), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and proteinuria were assessed. Oxidative stress variables such as 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxides (LPO) were quantified. Renal morphology was analysed, and plasma transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) was measured. Diabetic rats demonstrated increase in blood glucose and decreased body and increased kidney weights. Renal dysfunction (proteinuria, elevations in UFR and GFR) was observed in association with increases in LPO, 8-OHdG, and TGF-β1 and a decrease in GSH. Histological evaluation of diabetic kidney demonstrated glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. OPLE attenuated renal dysfunction, improved oxidative stress markers, and reduced renal pathology in diabetic animals. These results suggest OPLE improves renal dysfunction and pathology in diabetes by reducing oxidative stress; furthermore, the protective effect of OPLE against renal damage in diabetes depends on the dose of OPLE as well as progression of DN.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetic Nephropathies; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Glutathione; Kidney; Lipid Peroxides; Proteinuria; Streptozocin; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats; Transforming Growth Factor beta1
External Links