Browse publications by year: 2012

  1. Al-Atabi M, Ooi RC, Luo XY, Chin SB, Bird NC
    Med Eng Phys, 2012 Oct;34(8):1177-83.
    PMID: 22217515 DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2011.12.006
    Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of the three-dimensional flow structures in realistic cystic ducts have been performed to obtain quantitative readings of the flow parameters to compare with clinical measurements. Resin casts of real patients' cystic ducts lumen that possess representative anatomical features were scanned to obtain three-dimensional flow domains that were used in the numerical analysis. The convoluting nature of the studied cystic ducts resulted in strong secondary flow that contributed towards a dimensionless pressure drop that is four times higher than those of a straight circular tube of an equivalent length and average diameter. The numerical pressure drop results across the cystic duct compared very well with those obtained from clinical observations which indicate that CFD is an appropriate tool to investigate the flow and functions of the biliary system. From the hydrodynamic point of view, the cystic duct lumen seems to serve as a passive resistor that strives to provide a constant amount of resistance to control the flow of bile out of the gallbladder. This is mainly achieved by the coupling of the secondary flow effects and bile rheology to provide flow resistance.
    MeSH terms: Bile/metabolism*; Computer Simulation*; Cystic Duct/metabolism*; Cystic Duct/physiopathology; Humans; Gallbladder Emptying; Hydrodynamics*
  2. Ho CC, Nor A'tikah T
    J Clin Nurs, 2012 Feb;21(3-4):597.
    PMID: 22221276 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03978.x
    MeSH terms: Cross Infection/complications*; Female; Hip Fractures/complications*; Humans; Male; Urinary Tract Infections/complications*
  3. Lee YY, Ismail AW, Mustaffa N, Musa KI, Majid NA, Choo KE, et al.
    Helicobacter, 2012 Feb;17(1):54-61.
    PMID: 22221617 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-5378.2011.00917.x
    The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is exceptionally low among the Malays in the north-eastern region of Peninsular Malaysia. The reasons are unknown. Our aim was to compare environmental factors that differed in relation to H. pylori prevalence among Malays born and residing in Kelantan.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Female; Food Habits*; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Socioeconomic Factors; Prevalence; Case-Control Studies; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter Infections/epidemiology*; Drinking Water
  4. Wan Safwani WK, Makpol S, Sathapan S, Chua KH
    PMID: 22221649 DOI: 10.1186/1477-5751-11-3
    Adipose tissue is a source of multipotent adult stem cells and it has the ability to differentiate into several types of cell lineages such as neuron cells, osteogenic cells and adipogenic cells. Several reports have shown adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) have the ability to undergo cardiomyogenesis. Studies have shown 5-azacytidine can successfully drive stem cells such as bone marrow derived stem cells to differentiate into cardiomyogenic cells. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect 5-azacytidine on the cardiogenic ability of ASCs.
    MeSH terms: Adipose Tissue/cytology*; Adult; Azacitidine/pharmacology*; Cell Differentiation/drug effects*; Culture Media/pharmacology; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects; Humans; Middle Aged; Organ Specificity/drug effects; Organ Specificity/genetics; Stem Cells/cytology*; Stem Cells/drug effects*; Stem Cells/metabolism; Myocytes, Cardiac/cytology*; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism; Cell Shape/drug effects; Embryonic Stem Cells/cytology; Embryonic Stem Cells/drug effects; Embryonic Stem Cells/metabolism
  5. Taher M, Susanti D, Rezali MF, Zohri FS, Ichwan SJ, Alkhamaiseh SI, et al.
    Asian Pac J Trop Med, 2012 Feb;5(2):136-41.
    PMID: 22221758 DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(12)60012-1
    OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of stembark of Garcinia malaccensis (G. malaccensis) together with apoptotic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

    METHODS: Purification and structure elucidation were carried out by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, respectively. MTT and trypan blue exclusion methods were performed to study the cytotoxic activity. Antibacterial activity was conducted by disc diffusion and microdilution methods, whereas antioxidant activities were done by ferric thiocyanate method and DPPH radical scavenging.

    RESULTS: The phytochemical study led to the isolation of α,β-mangostin and cycloart-24-en-3β-ol. α-Mangostin exhibited cytotoxic activity against HSC-3 cells with an IC(50) of 0.33 μM. β- and α-mangostin showed activity against K562 cells with IC(50) of 0.40 μM and 0.48 μM, respectively. α-Mangostin was active against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) with inhibition zone and MIC value of (19 mm; 0.025 mg/mL) and (20 mm; 0.013 mg/mL), respectively. In antioxidant assay, α-mangostin exhibited activity as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation.

    CONCLUSIONS: G. malaccensis presence α- and β-mangostin and cycloart-24-en-3β-ol. β-Mangostin was found very active against HSC-3 cells and K562. The results suggest that mangostins derivatives have the potential to inhibit the growth of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. In addition, α-and β-mangostin was found inhibit the growth of Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria and also showed the activity as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation.

    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Antioxidants/pharmacology*; Bacillus anthracis/drug effects*; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects*; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects; Apoptosis/drug effects*; K562 Cells; Plant Bark/chemistry; Garcinia/chemistry*; Xanthones/isolation & purification; Xanthones/pharmacology*; Cell Line, Tumor; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology*
  6. Atshan SS, Shamsudin MN, Lung LT, Ling KH, Sekawi Z, Pei CP, et al.
    Gene, 2012 Feb 25;494(2):219-24.
    PMID: 22222139 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2011.12.010
    The development of fast, reliable and inexpensive phenol protocol is described for the isolation of RNA from bacterial biofilm producers. The method was tested on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and other biofilm-producing gram-negative microorganisms and provided the highest integrity of RNA recovery in comparison to other methods reported here. In parallel experiments, bacterial lysis with Qiagen, NucleoSpin RNAII, InnuREP RNA Mini, Trizol and MasterPure RNA extraction Kits using standard protocols consistently gave low RNA yields with an absence of integrity. The boiling method presented here yielded high concentration of RNA that was free from 16S and 23S rRNA, contained 5S RNA. Higher yields due to improved biofilm bacterial cell lysis were achieved with an added hot phenol incubation step without the need for a bead mill or the enzyme. This method when used in conjunction with the Qiagen RNeasy Mini kit, RNA isolation was a success with greater integrity and contained undegraded 16S and 23S rRNA and did not require further purification. Contaminating DNA was a problem with the RNA processing samples; we used quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) to measure the recovery of RNA from bacterial biofilm cells using the method described here.
    MeSH terms: RNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification*; Staphylococcus aureus/genetics*; Biofilms*; Phenol; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  7. Saedi TA, Moeini H, Tan WS, Yusoff K, Daud HM, Chu KB, et al.
    Mol Biol Rep, 2012 May;39(5):5785-90.
    PMID: 22223294 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-011-1389-7
    White tail disease (WTD) is a serious viral disease in the hatcheries and nursery ponds of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in many parts of the world. A new disease similar to WTD was observed in larvae and post larvae of M. rosenbergii cultured in Malaysia. In the present study, RT-PCR assay was used to detect the causative agents of WTD, M. rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV) using specific primers for MrNV RNA2 and XSV. The results showed the presence of MrNV in the samples with or without signs of WTD. However, XSV was only detected in some of the MrNV-positive samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the RNA2 of our Malaysian isolates were significantly different from the other isolates. Histopathological studies revealed myofiber degeneration of the tail muscles and liquefactive myopathy in the infected prawns. This was the first report on the occurrence of MrNV in the Malaysian freshwater prawn.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Base Sequence; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Geography; Haplotypes/genetics; Malaysia; Phylogeny*; RNA Virus Infections/pathology; RNA Virus Infections/virology*; RNA, Viral/genetics; Software; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Gene Expression Profiling*; Nodaviridae/genetics*; Nodaviridae/isolation & purification; Palaemonidae/virology*
  8. Majid HA, Emery PW, Whelan K
    Nutr Clin Pract, 2012 Apr;27(2):252-60.
    PMID: 22223668 DOI: 10.1177/0884533611431986
    Diarrhea is a common complication in patients receiving enteral nutrition (EN), and understanding this problem among patients and healthcare professionals is required. The aim of the study was to investigate patients', nurses', and dietitians' definitions of diarrhea during EN, the attitudes of nurses and patients toward it, and the management practices of nurses and dietitians in response to diarrhea during EN.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Attitude of Health Personnel*; Attitude to Health*; Clothing; Cross-Sectional Studies; Defecation*; Diarrhea/etiology; Diarrhea/nursing; Diarrhea/therapy*; Dietetics; Enteral Nutrition/adverse effects*; Feces; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nurses; Odors; Perception; Practice Patterns, Physicians'*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Patient-Centered Care; Disease Management*; Health Care Surveys
  9. Arzmi MH, Abdul Razak F, Yusoff Musa M, Wan Harun WH
    FEMS Yeast Res., 2012 May;12(3):351-8.
    PMID: 22225549 DOI: 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2011.00786.x
    Phenotypic switching is characterized as a virulence factor of Candida spp. This study was carried out to evaluate the phenotypic switching ability of C. krusei ATCC 14243 and to determine its effect on the biological properties, adherence capacity and susceptibility towards chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX). To induce switched generations C. krusei was cultured under nitrogen-depleted growth conditions by adding phloxine B. These phenotypically switched colonies were designated as the 1st generation. Subsequent sub-culturing was performed to produce the 2nd, 3rd and 4th switched generations. The recovery of the 3rd generation was the highest at 85.7% while that of the 4th generation was lower at 70.8%, and the recovery of the 1st and 2nd generations gradually reduced to 46.6% and 36.4%, respectively. All generations of C. krusei were susceptible towards CHX. The unswitched C. krusei was the most susceptible but the least adherent to coated hard surfaces. The 2nd generation was the least susceptible, but with the highest adherent ability. The minimum inhibition concentration and minimal fungicidal concentration of C. krusei of all generations were determined at 0.4 mg mL(-1) . These observations suggest that the switching activity of C. krusei induces changes to its biological properties and susceptibility towards CHX.
    MeSH terms: Antifungal Agents/pharmacology*; Candida/classification; Candida/drug effects*; Candida/pathogenicity; Candida/physiology*; Cell Adhesion; Chlorhexidine/analogs & derivatives*; Chlorhexidine/pharmacology; Glass/chemistry; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phenotype; Saliva/microbiology; Colony Count, Microbial; Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests
  10. Ibrahim Abdelwahab S, Syaed Koko W, Mohamed Elhassan Taha M, Mohan S, Achoui M, Ameen Abdulla M, et al.
    Eur J Pharmacol, 2012 Mar 5;678(1-3):61-70.
    PMID: 22227329 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.12.024
    Columbin, a diterpenoid furanolactone, was isolated purely for the first time from the plant species Tinspora bakis. The anti-inflammatory effects of columbin were studied in vitro, in silico and in vivo. The effect of columbin on nitric oxide was examined on lipopolysaccharide-interferon-gamma (LPS/IFN) induced RAW264.7 macrophages. In vitro and in silico cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activities of columbin using biochemical kit and molecular docking, respectively, were investigated. Mechanism of columbin in suppressing NF-kappaB-translocation was tested using Cellomics®NF-κB activation assay and ArrayScan Reader in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, effects of columbin in vivo that were done on carrageenan-induced mice paw-oedema were tested. Lastly, the in vitro and in vivo toxicities of columbin were examined on human liver cells and mice, respectively. Treatment with columbin or N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) inhibited LPS/IFN-γ-induced NO production without affecting the viability of RAW264.7. Pre-treatment of stimulated cells with columbin did not inhibit the translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus in LPS-stimulated cells. COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory activities of columbin were 63.7±6.4% and 18.8±1.5% inhibition at 100μM, respectively. Molecular docking study further helped in supporting the observed COX-2 selectivity. Whereby, the interaction of columbin with Tyr385 and Arg120 signifies its higher activity in COX-2, as Tyr385 was reported to be involved in the abstraction of hydrogen from C-13 of arachidonate, and Arg120 is critical for high affinity arachidonate binding. Additionally, columbin inhibited oedema formation in mice paw. Lastly, the compound was observed to be safe in vitro and in vivo. This study presents columbin as a potential anti-inflammatory drug.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology*; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/toxicity; Cell Line; Cell Survival/drug effects; Diterpenes/isolation & purification; Diterpenes/pharmacology*; Diterpenes/toxicity; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods; Edema/chemically induced; Edema/drug therapy; Lactones/isolation & purification; Lactones/pharmacology*; Lactones/toxicity; Male; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis*; Protein Binding/drug effects; Dinoprostone/biosynthesis; NF-kappa B/metabolism*; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors/pharmacology*; Mice
  11. Chia YY, Liong SY, Ton SH, Kadir KB
    Eur J Pharmacol, 2012 Feb 29;677(1-3):197-202.
    PMID: 22227336 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.12.037
    The activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) are influenced by active glucocorticoids which are activated by 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) while hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH) influences the activities of 11-βHSD1 in a cofactor manner. Dysregulation of PEPCK and H6PDH has been associated with the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. Sixteen male Sprague Dawley rats, fed ad libitum, were assigned to two groups, control and treated, with the treated group being given GA at 100mg/kg for one week. Blood and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, abdominal and quadriceps femoris muscle, liver and kidney were examined. GA treatment led to an overall significant decrease in blood glucose while HOMA-IR. PEPCK activities decreased in the liver but increased in the visceral adipose tissue. H6PDH activities also decreased significantly in the liver while 11β-HSD1 activities decreased significantly in all studied tissues except for subcutaneous adipose tissue. Adipocytes in the subcutaneous and visceral depots showed a reduction in size. Though increased glycogen storage was seen in the liver, no changes were observed in the kidneys and muscles. Results from this study may imply that GA could counteract the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus by improving insulin sensitivity and probably by reduction of H6PDH, 11β-HSD1 and a selective decrease in PEPCK activities.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Carbohydrate Dehydrogenases/metabolism*; Coenzymes/metabolism; Glucocorticoids/pharmacology; Gluconeogenesis/drug effects*; Glucose/metabolism*; Homeostasis/drug effects*; Kinetics; Male; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP)/metabolism*; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/drug effects; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Glycyrrhizic Acid/pharmacology*; 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1/metabolism*; Rats
  12. Ahmad FU, Sattar MA, Rathore HA, Abdullah MH, Tan S, Abdullah NA, et al.
    Ren Fail, 2012;34(2):203-10.
    PMID: 22229751 DOI: 10.3109/0886022X.2011.643365
    The coexistence of hypertension and diabetes results in the rapid development of nephropathy. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is claimed to control the vascular and renal functions. This study tested the hypothesis that exogenous H2S lowers the blood pressure and decreases the progression of nephropathy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) that were diabetic. Eighteen SHR were divided into three groups: SHR, SHR diabetic, and SHR diabetic treated with a group of Wistar-Kyoto rats serving as normotensive nondiabetic control. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (STZ) in two groups and one diabetic group received sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a H2S donor for 5 weeks. Blood pressure was measured in conscious and anesthetized states and renal cortical blood perfusion in acute studies. Plasma and urinary H2S levels, creatinine concentrations, and electrolytes were measured on three different occasions throughout the 35-day period. Diabetic SHR had higher blood pressure, lower plasma and urinary H2S levels, and renal dysfunction as evidenced by increased plasma creatinine, creatinine clearance, and decreased urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio and renal cortical blood perfusion. NaHS reduced blood pressure, increased H2S levels in plasma and urinary excretion, and reversed the STZ-induced renal dysfunction. The findings of this study suggest that the administration of exogenous H2S lowers the blood pressure and confers protection against the progression of STZ-induced nephropathy in SHR.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Blood Pressure/drug effects*; Diabetic Nephropathies/etiology; Diabetic Nephropathies/prevention & control*; Hydrogen Sulfide/pharmacology*; Hydrogen Sulfide/therapeutic use*; Hypertension/complications; Hypertension/drug therapy*; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Inbred WKY; Disease Progression; Rats
  13. Leong YH, Rosma A, Latiff AA, Izzah AN
    Int J Hyg Environ Health, 2012 Apr;215(3):368-72.
    PMID: 22230243 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2011.12.005
    Aflatoxins are one of the major risk factors in the multi-factorial etiology of human hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, the information on aflatoxins exposure is very important in the intervention planning in order to reduce the dietary intake of aflatoxins, especially among the children. This study investigated the relationship between aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) lysine adduct levers in serum and socio-demographic factors and dietary intake of aflatoxins from nuts and nut products in Penang, Malaysia. A cross-sectional field study was conducted in five districts of Penang. A survey on socio-demographic characteristics was administered to 364 healthy adults from the three main ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese and Indian). A total of 170 blood samples were successfully collected and tested for the level of AFB(1)-lysine adduct. 97% of the samples contained AFB(1)-lysine adduct above the detection limit of 0.4 pg/mg albumin and ranged from 0.20 to 23.16 pg/mg albumin (mean±standard deviation=7.67±4.54 pg/mg albumin; median=7.12 pg/mg albumin). There was no significant association between AFB(1)-lysine adduct levels with gender, district, education level, household number and occupation when these socio-demographic characteristics were examined according to high or low levels of AFB(1)-lysine. However, participants in the age group of 31-50 years were 3.08 times more likely to have high AFB(1) levels compared to those aged between 18 and 30 years (P=0.026). Significant difference (P=0.000) was found among different ethnic groups. Chinese and Indian participants were 3.05 and 2.35 times more likely to have high AFB(1) levels than Malay. The result of AFB(1)-lysine adduct suggested that Penang adult population is likely to be exposed to AFB(1) but at a level of less than that needed to cause direct acute illness or death.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Diet; Female; Humans; Lysine/blood*; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Nuts/microbiology*; Nuts/chemistry; Socioeconomic Factors; Aflatoxin B1/blood*
  14. Amid A, Samah NA, Yusof F
    Proteome Sci, 2012;10(1):1.
    PMID: 22230661 DOI: 10.1186/1477-5956-10-1
    In this study, proteomics methods have been used to study the effects of different currents and voltages used to stun chickens. Protein profiles of chicken hearts were constructed to detect differences in protein expression and modification. The different voltages studied were 10 V, 40 V and 70 V, while the currents examined were 0.25 A, 0.5 A, and 0.75 A. The profiles obtained from these stunning conditions were compared to the non-stunned (0 A, 0 V) sample.
  15. Amin ZA, Abdulla MA, Ali HM, Alshawsh MA, Qadir SW
    J Sci Food Agric, 2012 Jul;92(9):1874-7.
    PMID: 22231455 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.5554
    Recently much attention has been paid to biologically active plants because of their low production cost and fewer adverse effects compared with chemical drugs. In the present investigation the bioactivity of Phyllanthus niruri ethanol and aqueous extracts was evaluated in vitro.
    MeSH terms: Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology*; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Antioxidants/pharmacology*; Bacteria/drug effects*; Biphenyl Compounds/metabolism; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects*; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology; Picrates/metabolism; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects; Streptococcus agalactiae/drug effects; Sulfonic Acids/metabolism; Thiazoles/metabolism; Phyllanthus/chemistry*; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Benzothiazoles
  16. Abd Elgadir M, Akanda MJ, Ferdosh S, Mehrnoush A, Karim AA, Noda T, et al.
    Molecules, 2012 Jan 09;17(1):584-97.
    PMID: 22231495 DOI: 10.3390/molecules17010584
    A binary mixture of starch-starch or starch with other biopolymers such as protein and non-starch polysaccharides could provide a new approach in producing starch-based food products. In the context of food processing, a specific adjustment in the rheological properties plays an important role in regulating production processing and optimizing the applicability, stability, and sensory of the final food products. This review examines various biopolymer mixtures based on starch and the influence of their interaction on physicochemical and rheological properties of the starch-based foods. It is evident that the physicochemical and rheological characteristics of the biopolymers mixture are highly dependent on the type of starch and other biopolymers that make them up mixing ratios, mixing procedure and presence of other food ingredients in the mixture. Understanding these properties will lead to improve the formulation of starch-based foods and minimize the need to resort to chemically modified starch.
    MeSH terms: Whey Proteins; Biopolymers/chemistry*; Carbohydrate Conformation; Caseins/chemistry; Colloids/chemistry; Flour; Food Technology; Milk Proteins/chemistry; Plant Extracts/chemistry*; Plants/chemistry; Starch/chemistry*; Viscosity; Complex Mixtures/chemistry
  17. Choong SS, Latiff ZA, Mohamed M, Lim LL, Chen KS, Vengidasan L, et al.
    Clin Genet, 2012 Dec;82(6):564-8.
    PMID: 22233476 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2012.01841.x
    Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a highly penetrant, autosomal dominant disorder where affected individuals carry a 50% risk of developing cancer before 30 years of age. It is most commonly associated with mutations in the tumour suppressor gene, TP53. Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a very rare paediatric cancer, and up to 80% of affected children are found to carry germline TP53 mutations. Hence, we propose using childhood ACC incidence as selection criteria for referral for TP53 mutation testing, independent of familial cancer history. Under the auspices of the Malaysian Society of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, four eligible children diagnosed with ACC over a 30-month study period were referred for mutation testing. Three had a germline TP53 mutation. Subsequent TP53 testing in relatives showed two inherited mutations and one de novo mutation. These findings strongly support paediatric ACC as a useful sentinel cancer for initiating a germline TP53/LFS detection programme, particularly in countries where the lack of structured oncogenetic practice precludes the identification of families with LFS features.
    MeSH terms: Child; DNA Mutational Analysis; Genetic Testing/methods*; Genetic Testing/standards; Humans; Malaysia; Pedigree; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics*; Li-Fraumeni Syndrome/diagnosis*; Li-Fraumeni Syndrome/genetics; Germ-Line Mutation/genetics*; Adrenocortical Carcinoma/genetics; Adrenocortical Carcinoma/pathology*; Sentinel Surveillance
  18. Mohammed IA, Hamidi RM
    Molecules, 2012 Jan 10;17(1):645-56.
    PMID: 22233565 DOI: 10.3390/molecules17010645
    The phenolic Schiff bases I-VI were synthesized by condensation reactions between various diamines, namely o-dianisidine, o-tolidine and ethylenediamine with vanillin or p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and subsequent reactions between these phenolic Schiff bases and epichlorohydrin to produce new diglycidyl ethers Ia-VIa. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by CHN, FT-IR, (1)H-NMR, and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. Their thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). All the diglycidyl ethers prepared exhibit nematic mesophases, except for Va and VIa, which did not show any transition mesophases, but simply flow to liquids.
    MeSH terms: Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Diglycerides/chemical synthesis*; Diglycerides/chemistry; Ethers/chemical synthesis*; Ethers/chemistry; Microscopy, Polarization; Phenols/chemical synthesis*; Phenols/chemistry; Schiff Bases/chemical synthesis*; Schiff Bases/chemistry; Molecular Structure; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Liquid Crystals/chemistry*
  19. Nor-Anuar A, Ujang Z, van Loosdrecht MC, de Kreuk MK, Olsson G
    Water Sci Technol, 2012;65(2):309-16.
    PMID: 22233910 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2012.837
    Aerobic granular sludge has a number of advantages over conventional activated sludge flocs, such as cohesive and strong matrix, fast settling characteristic, high biomass retention and ability to withstand high organic loadings, all aspects leading towards a compact reactor system. Still there are very few studies on the strength of aerobic granules. A procedure that has been used previously for anaerobic granular sludge strength analysis was adapted and used in this study. A new coefficient was introduced, called a stability coefficient (S), to quantify the strength of the aerobic granules. Indicators were also developed based on the strength analysis results, in order to categorize aerobic granules into three levels of strength, i.e. very strong (very stable), strong (stable) and not strong (not stable). The results indicated that aerobic granules grown on acetate were stronger (high density: >150 g T SSL(-1) and low S value: 5%) than granules developed on sewage as influent. A lower value of S indicates a higher stability of the granules.
    MeSH terms: Acetates/metabolism; Aerobiosis; Algorithms; Flocculation; Sewage/microbiology*; Temperature; Biomass; Bioreactors/microbiology*
  20. Moo EK, Herzog W, Han SK, Abu Osman NA, Pingguan-Murphy B, Federico S
    Biomech Model Mechanobiol, 2012 Sep;11(7):983-93.
    PMID: 22234779 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-011-0367-2
    Experimental findings indicate that in-situ chondrocytes die readily following impact loading, but remain essentially unaffected at low (non-impact) strain rates. This study was aimed at identifying possible causes for cell death in impact loading by quantifying chondrocyte mechanics when cartilage was subjected to a 5% nominal tissue strain at different strain rates. Multi-scale modelling techniques were used to simulate cartilage tissue and the corresponding chondrocytes residing in the tissue. Chondrocytes were modelled by accounting for the cell membrane, pericellular matrix and pericellular capsule. The results suggest that cell deformations, cell fluid pressures and fluid flow velocity through cells are highest at the highest (impact) strain rate, but they do not reach damaging levels. Tangential strain rates of the cell membrane were highest at the highest strain rate and were observed primarily in superficial tissue cells. Since cell death following impact loading occurs primarily in superficial zone cells, we speculate that cell death in impact loading is caused by the high tangential strain rates in the membrane of superficial zone cells causing membrane rupture and loss of cell content and integrity.
    MeSH terms: Algorithms; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cartilage/metabolism*; Cell Membrane/metabolism; Computer Simulation; Elasticity; Humans; Models, Biological; Models, Theoretical; Osteoarthritis/pathology; Pressure; Software; Stress, Mechanical; Tensile Strength; Time Factors; Models, Statistical; Chondrocytes/cytology*; Finite Element Analysis
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